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Senate eliminates Bataan freeport incentives from bill

THE Senate passed on second reading a bill strengthening the powers and functions of the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) with its proposed fiscal incentives removed.
The chamber deleted the fiscal incentives proposed in Senate Bill No. 2133 for registered enterprises within the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB), such as the subsidies for research and development, cost of power and lease of properties as well as the deduction of the cost of necessary infrastructure projects within the area.
Other proposed fiscal incentives, such as the generation of up to 100% income for sources within the customs territory without losing incentives for FAB enterprises engaged in priority investments, was removed.
The provision exempting the AFAB itself from payment of all national and local taxes was removed as well.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon earlier raised concerns that the bill, if enacted, may run into conflict with the government’s second package of the tax reform program, which seeks to rationalize the country’s fiscal incentives system and to lower corporate income tax.
In response, Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian, chair of the Senate committee on economic affairs, moved for the removal of the fiscal incentives proposed in the bill, after consultation with the AFAB and the bill’s co-author Senator Richard J. Gordon.
“After an extensive meeting with the management of AFAB, the management and also the proponent of this bill, as well as this sponsor agrees that we will remove the proposed fiscal incentives. And in effect, the fiscal incentives will be status quo as to the previous law,” Mr. Gatchalian said during the Feb. 6 Senate session.
The proposed measure seeks to expand FAB’s territory to include the rest of Mariveles outside the former Bataan Economic Zone and its municipal waters as well as the alienable and disposable public lands and municipal waters of the expansion areas.
Proposed additional powers to the AFAB include the authority to authorize or undertake the establishment, operations, and construction of airport operations, shipping, and other similar services.
The bill also gives AFAB the authority to operate or to license tourism related activities such as games, amusements, nature parks, recreational and sports facilities, online gaming, and other related activities.
The roles of the AFAB administrator and chairman were separated as well to balance the additional powers of AFAB.
Its counterpart measure in the House of Representatives, House Bill No. 6524, bagged third reading approval last Nov. 27, 2017. — Camille A. Aguinaldo

Social welfare attaché bill for OFWs to be elevated to Palace for signing

THE Senate has adopted the House version of the bill calling for the creation of social welfare attachés in countries with high concentrations of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
House Bill No. 8908 amends Republic Act No. 8042 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 and requires the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to deploy social welfare attachés.
With the adoption of the measure, a bicameral conference committee is no longer required, and the measure will be sent directly to the President for signature.
Under the bill, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) will determine which countries will have social welfare attachés.
According to Senator Joel J. Villanueva, chair of the Senate committee on labor, employment and human resources development, there are only eight social welfare attachés deployed around the world as of May 2018. The Philippine Embassies in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Doha, Qatar have social welfare officers to assist OFWs.
The attachés are tasked to manage the cases of OFWs needing psychological services, especially in cases of human trafficking, sexual abuse or maltreatment. The officers should also respond and monitor the problems and complaints of OFWs and their families.
The social welfare attaché is also directed to establish networks with overseas-based social welfare agencies and individuals which may provide assistance to distressed OFWs.
A databank of OFWs and their families will also be maintained by the attaché in order to effectively provide appropriate social services.
The social welfare attaché is also tasked to submit regular reports to the DSWD and DFA and provide recommendations and updates on the situation of OFWs, especially those encountering difficulties in their host country. — Camille A. Aguinaldo

Vietnam pork imports banned after African Swine Fever finding

AGRICULTURE Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol announced a ban on pork and pork products from Vietnam on Sunday, after traces of African Swine Fever (ASF) were discovered in some products from that country.
“Ordered a ban based on the recommendation of BAI (Bureau of Animal Industry),” Mr. Piñol said in a mobile message.
Vietnam is the latest country to warrant a ban on pork and products after similar imports from Japan were banned on Feb. 10, also due to ASF.
“Bureau of Animal Industry Director Dr. Ronnie Domingo made the recommendation following the publication of reports from Taiwan saying that quarantine authorities intercepted pork from Vietnam which tested positive for ASF,” Mr. Piñol said in a social media post.
“While a memorandum implementing the ban will be signed tomorrow (Monday), I have ordered BAI to implement the ban effective today,” Mr. Piñol added.
Other countries banned from exporting pork and pork products to the Philippines are: China, Hungary, Belgium, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Moldova, South Africa and Zambia. — Reiceline Joy N. Ignacio

PRC relaxes license renewal requirements during CPD ‘transition period’

Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) logo
THE Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) said it will temporarily relax its requirements for continuing professional development credits for professionals seeking to renew their licenses.
The PRC said it will observe a “transition period” as it builds the capacity to comply with the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Law.
In PRC Resolution No. 2019-1146 dated Feb. 13, the PRC amended parts of its Resolution 1032 series of 2017 or the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the CPD Act of 2016.
Despite CPD still being mandatory for the renewal of professional licenses, the Resolution calls for the PRC to observe a “transition period” in the implementation of the CPD Law which will allow both the Commission and professionals to adjust.
“The implementation of this provision shall provide a transition period to develop the necessary standards, processes, capacity, and infrastructure while minimizing the cost and inconvenience covered by the requirement,” according to the resolution.
Required CPD Units under the old IRR amounted to a minimum of 45 credits, which will fall to 15 once Resolution No. 2019-1146 comes into force on March 1.
“The various CPD Councils shall reduce the required CPD credit units to a minimum, which shall not be more than fifteen (15), as provided for under applicable laws,” PRC said in the resolution.
Only professions covered under certain Professional Regulatory Laws (PRLs) that require a specific number of CPD credits are subject to the transition-period rules. Professions regulated by international, regional, or bilateral agreements such as the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) are also not included.
During the transition period, the PRC exempted professionals working overseas and newly licensed professionals. The requirements kick in for the latter’s first renewal cycle since obtaining their licenses.
The transition period will last until “all antecedents had been met, upon the recommendation of the CPD Councils through their respective Boards and approved by the Commission.” The CPD Law will then be implemented and applied in its entirety.
Last year, the Senate first held a hearing regarding revising the mandatory nature of some provisions in the CPD Law’s IRR following complaints of professionals over the challenges in obtaining CPD Laws due to lack of facilities and personnel to carry out the law’s mandate.
During a consultation meeting with the Senate earlier this month, the PRC proposed the transitory period in order to give the Commission and other stakeholders time to build their capacity before fully implementing the law. — Gillian M. Cortez

NEA urges power co-ops to embrace broadband opportunities

THE National Electrification Administration (NEA) ordered electric cooperatives to form partnerships with cable television service providers and telecommunication companies, and be ready for opportunities from the government’s national broadband plan (NBP).
“Interconnectivity will open doors of opportunity for our people. You should not allow the issues between you to drag the NBP down. The greater good is (more important) than what besets you,” NEA Administrator Edgardo R. Masongsong said in a statement on Sunday.
He was referring to the issues between electric cooperatives (ECs) and cable TV operators, which he said were indirectly affecting the implementation of the NBP in rural areas.
Mr. Masongson called on the parties to “approach the issues with eyes open to the opportunities the NBP offers, and with the good of the greater number in mind.”
On Aug. 17, 2018, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), NEA and the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association, Inc. (Philreca) entered into a memorandum of understanding “to realize the objectives of the NBP, including but not limited to the co-use of fiber optic cables.”
Under the agreement, the NEA and Philreca will coordinate with the electric cooperatives regarding the project. The DICT will be allowed to access the ECs’ existing nodes so that it may link with other government agencies.
On June 8, 2018, the DICT, in its tripartite agreement with the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) and the National Transmission Corp. (TransCo), was given the right to use these firms’ dark fiber network.
Mr. Masongsong made the call during the NBP forum at the Grand Meng Seng Hotel in Davao City on Feb. 15. During the event, DICT Acting Secretary Eliseo M. Rio, Jr. said the collaboration would not only advance the program, but would also “benefit all parties and stakeholders.”
Mr. Rio called for the “convergence” of all industry stakeholders, including the local cable television operators, electric cooperatives and telecommunication companies, not only to settle existing concerns among themselves, but to create more opportunities to help the government realize the goal of “inclusivity in the access to interconnectivity.”
“With the NBP, we hope to create a new class of OFWs, not the kind who need to leave the country for jobs abroad. Soon, as online trade and businesses flourish along with English language teachers for our Asian neighbors, Online Filipino Workers will rise and contribute more to the economy,” he said. — Victor V. Saulon

Despite veto, ‘aggressive’ PCA reforms seen in next Congress

By Charmaine A. Tadalan
Reporter
MALACAÑANG and Congress are expected to be “more aggressive” in reforming the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and the management of coconut levy funds even after President Rodrigo R. Duterte wielded his veto power on previous legislation this month, analysts said.
“I think the matter of reforming the PCA (Philippine Coconut Authority) will still be a top priority for both Malacañang and the next Congress. I do not expect advocates for reforming the PCA to just hit the brakes because of the presidential veto,” Ateneo Policy Center research fellow Michael Henry Ll. Yusingco said in an e-mail interview with BusinessWorld on Sunday.
“On the contrary, I expect them to be more aggressive in pursuing the correct reforms so that the Coco Levy Fund is managed properly.”
University of the Philippines political science professor Maria Ela L. Atienza said there is a good chance the vetoed measure, which outlined the composition of the PCA board, will be refiled in the following Congress, noting that the bill’s sponsors will still be in Congress after the election.
“There is a high (probability) that the bill will be refiled or revised in some form and pushed in the next Congress. Farmers’ groups will continue to push for it and lobby supportive Senators and members of the House,” Ms. Atienza said via e-mail on Sunday.
“Senator (Francis N.) Pangilinan, who authored a stronger version of the bill originally (which was the one backed by farmers’ groups but watered down in the current bill vetoed by the President), will still be in the Senate. Senator Cynthia (A.) Villar will likely be re-elected.”
The President vetoed bills that will establish the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Trust Fund and reconstitute the Philippine Coconut Authority to include more farmer representation.
The Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Trust Fund Act is among those identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) as among the priority measures of the 17th Congress.
“I applaud the administration’s effort to prioritize the agriculture sector. For a country with a population of almost 110 million, food security is extremely important. It is laudable that President Duterte’s team recognizes this reality. But their approach lacks coherence. It does seem they are instituting reforms piece-meal and not pursuant to a coordinated and planned strategy,” Mr. Yusingco said.
Ms. Atienza said: “There is no clear indication that the administration has a coherent policy on agriculture vis-a-vis its whole economic policy. Agriculture does not seem to be a priority given that the administration’s emphasis is more on the ‘Build, Build, Build’ projects and no coherent agricultural strategy to strengthen our agricultural production and develop alternative or new agricultural products.”
She added that while the President prioritized other agricultural measures, such as the signing of the Free Irrigation Act, the signing of the Rice Tariffication Bill also sends “mixed signals” to the industry.
“The rice tariffication law states that the tax proceeds for imported rice will go to programs that will help farmers such as mass irrigation, rice shortage and research initiatives. These are actually good on paper but it is important to combine these with accountability mechanisms in terms of how these programs will be carried out,” she said.

Data is power: Using analytics for a Customs audit

Our last four Suits the C-Suite articles have emphasized the need for importers to be audit-ready in the event that the Bureau of Customs (BoC) conducts a Post Clearance Audit (PCA). The BoC has already issued 32 Audit Notification Letters (ANLs) to importers; anyone could be next on the list.
Audit readiness can be achieved by conducting a Customs Health Check or a Customs Compliance Review (CCR) to identify areas of risk and potential exposures prior to a PCA, to ensure that importation records are complete, and to enable the importer to determine the issues and amounts for a possible availment of the BoC’s Prior Disclosure Program (PDP), which is an option available to importers to voluntarily disclose errors in good declarations and pay deficiency duties, taxes, and other charges that may arise in lieu of a full audit.
Given the limited time for importers to be ready for a customs audit — which can occur at any moment — or to consider to do a prior disclosure, how can this be done?
Data analytics offers an alternative and possibly, a more efficient approach to audit readiness.
DEFINING ‘DATA ANALYTICS’
Data analytics is the application of tests on information that is electronically available, either from the company’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems or through brokers’ database and other digital sources. The aim is to identify key focus areas which uncover risks and opportunities, while also providing basis to make strategic decisions over core processes and compliance activities. In doing so, data analytics can help allocate resources to areas of highest saving potential, or for risk mitigation.
Data analytics can be used to perform the following:

1. Identify errors in order to take appropriate actions to minimize exposure;

2. Discover potential tax and cash flow savings, and tax recovery opportunities;

3. Detect process inefficiencies or risks, as well as consider opportunities to remove inherent risks, and;

4. Provide management insight to help address the company’s key trade and value-added tax (VAT) concerns and priorities.

THE ROLE OF DATA ANALYTICS IN A PCA
The insights gleaned from an importer’s electronic data could be used to identify customs and trade-related risks, issues with noncompliance, and financial exposures. The use of these data will facilitate an accurate and timely disclosure to the BoC, and even to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
By using available digital data, importers may also avoid resource constraints such as lack of manpower, or the tedious task of manual vouching importation documents. This will also minimize risks of error and oversight that come with purely manual processes. There is also ample possibility of testing 100% of all import transactions, which is preferable to just a sampling. The process involved with data analytics will provide instantaneous multilevel perspectives, allowing an importer to make informed decisions supported by evidence.
Some examples of core tests involving trade analytics include:

• Import overview — This allows for a quick, “get a sense” of the business, as it illustrates total customs value, duties, or VAT paid, per year, month, or day. It could diagnose unusual dips or increases from the expected or average amounts, allowing the company to investigate the underlying import transactions which may have caused them.

• Duty analysis — This creates a pictorial identification of the duty rates paid by the importer, which could show potential variations in duty rates used for similar products. Duty analysis may be able to show product groups with more than one distinct Tariff Classification, which could indicate if one or more products are being incorrectly classified.

• Incoterms — The Incoterms (or the International Commercial Terms) are a series of pre-defined commercial terms published by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) relating to international commercial law. Trade analytics can identify suppliers using multiple Incoterms which may be contrary to those agreed or desired. Additionally, analytics may point out risks on the use of Ex-Works, that could give rise to findings of underpayment of duties and taxes since customs values should be based on Free on Board (FOB) or Free Carrier At (FCA) value. Ex-Works is an international term by which a seller makes the product available at a designated location, and the buyer incurs transport costs.

• Free Trade Agreement (FTA) usage and opportunities — This would identify where FTAs have been utilized and thus, would point out a need to provide documentation to support the lower duty rate used on specific imports. It will also help identify where FTAs are available (but not currently utilized) to help save costs.

• Related party transactions — Analytics may also identify anomalies in related party transactions against unrelated parties.

• Physical supply chain — This will identify unusual or inefficient routes, and the value or weight and method of transportation used.

Importers also have the option to perform customized tests to compute total landed cost for importations per month, quarter, and year. This will address the question on whether the landed cost per VAT returns tallies with landed cost per the BoC’s summary of importations. Tests can also be devised to compute for the correct customs duties and taxes per import entry, to determine any possible underpayment that may be considered for a voluntary disclosure.
Since a PCA covers three years of importation (potentially involving thousands of importations), but only provides a limited time of 15 days to respond to findings of noncompliance and/or assessment of underpaid duties and taxes, it is vital that importers take every available measure to be audit-ready. If applicable, they should also consider the benefit of the PDP.
A PCA may result in heavy consequences for importers, since penalties during a PCA range from 125% to 600% of the revenue loss to the Government, depending on the degree of culpability. Upfront disclosure may bring significant material savings to affected importers.
With the recent issuance of Customs Administrative Order (CAO) No. 01-2019, it is expected that the BoC will intensify PCAs and issue numerous ANLs. Thus, unprepared importers may face steep penalties, interests and surcharge on noncompliance. This is why the BoC is encouraging importers to seriously consider the PDP.
In this age of Information Technology, it will be most prudent to consider harnessing the power of data analytics to sift through and utilize all information that may just be sitting dormant in the company’s database and systems.
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional advice where the facts and circumstances warrant. The views and opinion expressed above are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of SGV & Co.
 
Arlyn A. Sarmiento-Sy is a Senior Director for Indirect Tax Services – Global Trade & Customs at SGV & Co.

Focus on bailiwicks: Analysts on LP bets

By Camille A. Aguinaldo and Charmaine A. Tadalan
Reporters
THE Otso Diretso senatorial slate of the opposition Liberal Party (LP) should bank on their strengths and bailiwicks to increase their chances in the 2019 midterm elections, analysts said Sunday.
Analysts were sought for comment on the heels of poor showing by the LP’s candidates in recent surveys, in contrast to the increase in rankings among candidates associated with President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
“Negative ads do not usually work. The opposition candidates should not waste their time and money on negative campaigns. They have to capitalize on their strengths and must stick to the main issues like how they will ensure press freedom, put limits to, if not eliminate disinformation, how they will manage inflationary prices, and how a military solution will never bring us peace,” political science assistant professor Perlita M. Frago-Marasigan of the University of the Philippines told BusinessWorld in a phone message Sunday.
“They will have to stress how democracies need checks and balances. That a democratic Senate should not be monolithic. And if elected, how will they ensure that an all-too powerful president will not thrive in this country. They should just focus their campaign in regions where they are strong. Keep their base solid.”
The Otso Diretso lineup consists of reelectionist Senator Paolo Benigno A. Aquino IV, former senator and interior secretary Manuel A. Roxas II, Magdalo Party-List Representative Gary C. Alejano, human rights lawyer Jose Manuel I. Diokno, civic leader Samira A. Gutoc, former solicitor-general Florin T. Hilbay, election lawyer Romulo B. Macalintal, and former Quezon representative Lorenzo R. Tañada III.
Of the eight senatorial aspirants, only Messrs. Roxas and Aquino made the cut of the top 15 candidates preferred by the public, three months ahead of the May polls.
“It’s a difficult position for the opposition candidate, for so many reasons: number one, the admin parties remained popular. ‘Yung popularity ni Presidente (the popularity of the President) has rubbed off on the candidates they’ve endorsed,” Political Science Department chairperson Dennis C. Coronacion of the University of Santo Tomas said in a phone interview Sunday.
“Number 2, itong mga (these) opposition senatorial candidates, some of them are not in the national political arena. Eh alam mo naman ang (you already know the) voting preference ng (of) Filipinos, they’ve always voted for the established political names.”
BAILIWICKS
Mr. Coronacion said Otso Diretso candidates should take advantage of their bailiwicks and regions.
Mr. Tañada could focus on the vote-rich province of Quezon, Mr. Roxas on Negros and Iloilo, and Ms. Gutoc on the Lanao area.
“Concentrate on their bailiwicks, para doon sa mga walang bailiwicks (so that for those who have no known bailiwicks), like Attorney Macalintal, Attorney Hilbay…I suggest that they concentrate on areas which have historically voted for LP candidates, example, Bicol or Tarlac. Identified ‘yan as yellow region, yellow provinces,” Mr. Coronacion said.
In a statement on Sunday, the opposition slate’s campaign manager Senator Francis N. Pangilinan acknowledged their current standing in the senatorial surveys, but said they will continue to work hard to improve the numbers of its candidates.
“We recognize where we are taking off in this campaign. It is a battle with meager resources and against the giants. But we are buoyed by the support of the people that we are seeing in the first few days of the campaign. We will continue to work hard knowing we are fighting the good fight,” Mr. Pangilinan said.
In a statement on Sunday, the opposition slate’s campaign manager Senator Francis N. Pangilinan acknowledged their current standing in the senatorial surveys, but said they will continue to work hard to improve the numbers of its candidates.
“We recognize where we are taking off in this campaign. It is a battle with meager resources and against the giants. But we are buoyed by the support of the people that we are seeing in the first few days of the campaign. We will continue to work hard knowing we are fighting the good fight,” Mr. Pangilinan said.
Mr. Aquino said the opposition slate would continue with its house-to-house and consultation campaign with voters, a strategy associated with then LP vice-presidential candidate Diosdado Macapagal, who eventually was elected to that post in the late 1950s.
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
Also sought for comment, Ateneo Policy Center research fellow Michael Henry Ll. Yusingco said via email: “I think they (opposition slate) are too focused on personality differentiation. I think they are assuming voters will not be able to distinguish the character of (De La Salle University College of Law) Dean Chel Diokno from (Ilocos Norte) Gov. Imee Marcos. In fact, the way the opposition is running their campaign is exactly the same way the administration is running theirs.”
“Very personality-based as they would always emphasize personal struggles and achievements, personal endorsements from powerful and famous people, and indeed all their campaign materials focus on their image,” he added.
“I think the opposition can distinguish itself from the administration more dramatically if they engage the electorate in a genuine dialogue, instead of just pandering to voters and pleading for their support. In this regard, they should do more townhall type of meetings and interactive podcasts,” Mr. Yusingco also said.
“Ultimately, what should matter in an election campaign is not the number of provinces or cities a candidate steps in but the number of people the candidate has connected with.”
With the current standing of senatorial candidates in the Pulse Asia’s January survey, Mr. Yusingco said the recent poll figures could not yet “be seen as gauge of their winnability.”
On the survey standing of Mr. Duterte’s aide Christopher Lawrence T. Go, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos and former senators Ramon “Bong” B. Revilla and Jose “Jinggoy” E. Estrada, Mr. Yusingco said: “Their presence in the Top 12 now does not mean anything except that you can actually get in the list if you spend such a huge amount of money.”
“Note that Filipinos are notoriously known for making voting decisions as close as a day before the election,” he said.
“So this survey cannot be seen as gauge of their winnability, but it does open the four candidates to more scrutiny. I anticipate they will have a truly drama-filled campaign in the coming weeks.”
Mr. Yusingco also pointed out that “it is good to bear in mind at this stage in the campaign period that we should also be seeking a clear and viable legislative agenda from senatorial and congressional aspirants.”
“Indeed, we also need to hear from these particular candidates a firm and unequivocal commitment to pursue the necessary reforms once elected to Congress.”

Palace on Venezuela leadership crisis: ‘We're friends to all, enemies to none’

By Arjay L. Balinbin
Reporter
ANALYSTS SOUGHT for comment had varying opinions on whether the Philippines should take a stand amid pressure from the United States for countries to “pick a side” on the leadership crisis in Venezuela, a matter on which the Philippines has no official stand so far.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has urged the international community to “pick a side” and the United Nations to “recognize” opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s new president, in place of Nicolas Maduro.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s spokesman Salvador S. Panelo said the matter was not tackled at the Cabinet meeting on Feb. 6. “Wala. Hindi namin napag-usapan (None. It was not tackled),” he said. “Basta ang policy is friends to all, enemies to none.”
Richard J. Heydarian, nonresident fellow of Stratbase ADR Institute, said in a phone interview on Feb. 6 that the best thing for the Philippine government is “to abstain and keep its statement as generic and non-partisan as possible because the issue is definitely a minefield.”
He added: “If you look at the European Union and the Union of South American Nations, they all support the opposition. So it will be kind of weird for the Philippines to take the side of the opposition because [the country] has sided against EU and the West on issues like Burma, North Korea, among others. On the other hand, if we side with the Maduro administration, it will also put us in a very strange situation whereby we are more aggressively opposing the United States, EU, and other countries. That also has its own implications, so I think the best thing for the Philippines is just to issue a generic statement saying that the sovereignty of the country has to be supported and that we have to support also peaceful political transition.”
He explained that the emphasis on the political transition is “the most important thing, which would mean political transition in terms of the opposition giving up its challenge or Maduro giving way, and that is the safest thing for the Philippines to emphasize without necessarily taking the side of the opposition which is supported by the West or the Maduro administration….”
Mr. Heydarian said further that if the Philippines will openly support the opposition, it would mean “we are supporting external interference and coups, which I don’t think serves the interest of the Duterte administration or the Philippine government in general.”
University of Santo Tomas Political Science Department chairperson Dennis C. Coronacion said in a phone message on Feb. 15: “It is not in our nation’s interest to side with any of the political factions in Venezuela.”
“We have no considerable number of Filipinos working in that country. Also, Venezuela is neither our major trading partner nor a source of huge investments. But we’re hoping that the crisis the country is going through will be resolved soon and peacefully, and that the outcome be in accordance with the desire of the Venezuelans,” he also said.
Also in a phone message, political history assistant professor Marlon B. Lopez of the Mindanao State University-Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography said: “The Philippines should definitely take a side on this and it should be on the side of the people’s will and in the name of genuine democracy and not by cold war politics and superpower assertions.”
Mr. Lopez said this will serve as “a test for the world powers to be more responsible in their foreign policies and create a world fertile for democracy and freedom. The government should side with states condemning unilateral and provocative actions which undermine Venezuelan sovereignty and government which is currently under attack by sanctions and under…military threats.”
For its part, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), in its Jan. 25 statement, said: “[We] call on the Filipino people to condemn the underhanded tactics of the US government under Trump in manipulating the political climate, supporting the attempts of US-backed anti-Maduro elite at coup d’etat and artificially creating strife and chaos in Venezuela.”
Also in a statement last month, the Philippines-Bolivarian Friendship Association (PBVFA) said: “People all over the world are outraged to witness yet another attempt by US Imperialism to overthrow a duly-elected leader whose vision for his people challenges a global system based on war and occupation and one that can only reap profits for the 1% through oppression and exploitation of the world’s working poor.”
“The Philippines-Bolivarian Venezuela Friendship Association attests to the isolated status of the right wing Popular Will Party led by Juan Guaidó as well as to the Bolivarian people’s overwhelming support of the Maduro presidency. President Nicólas Maduro was reelected last year by 67% of voters. During his inauguration on January 11, 2019, thousands upon thousands of joyful Venezuelans took to the streets of Caracas and other places to express their full support and joy in renewing their collective promise to fulfill the goals of the Bolivarian Revolution, against all odds.”
Alex Veliz, a netizen, has put up a petition on Change.org asking “the Filipino government to recognize Juan Guaido as president of Venezuela.”
“We request in earnest for your support to help improve the political landscape of Venezuela and in turn, reinstate democracy in our country. Interim President Juan Guaido is leading the way for the greatest and most positive change that Venezuela has had after two decades of mounting crisis, shortage and tyranny. He has received extensive support and recognition from many nations and we hope The Philippines can recognize him too. We, the Venezuelan citizens residing in the Republic of the Philippines, advocate for this cause and we hope to obtain your support,” the petition reads.

Police call on gun owners to renew expired licenses, surrender firearms

NATIONAL Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Guillermo T. Eleazar said the police will observe a strict enforcement on expiring or expired gun licenses through “Oplan Katok,” as part of the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) crime prevention and security measures for the upcoming midterm elections. Mr. Eleazar said door-to-door operations will be based on a list of gun owners who are candidates for gun license renewal from the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office. “Kaya ang ginagawa natin is ire-remind natin yung mga bahay, kakatukin natin, bibigyan ng letter, tapos sasabihan na mag–e-expire na o expired,” said Mr. Eleazar in a phone interview with BusinessWorld on Sunday, Feb. 17. (So what we are doing is we will remind gun owners, go to their houses, give them letters, and inform them if their firearms licenses are expiring or have already expired.) The NCRPO chief said police will assist gun owners in renewing their licenses while the surrendered firearms are in police safekeeping. “We will not arrest them, we will not charge them. Pero kung alam namin na expired license at hindi man lang sinu-surrender and then may impormasyon na involved with other activities, we can conduct a case with the operation para ma-file-an ng search warrant (But if we discover that a license has expired and the firearm not surrendered, then there’s information on their involvement in other activities, we can conduct a case with the operation so we can file a search warrant),” Mr. Eleazar said. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

House OKs bills on mining-free zone in Davao Oriental, parts of Palawan

THE bills declaring Davao Oriental and some parts of Palawan a mining-free zone have been approved on third and final reading at the House of Representatives. House Bills No. 8815 and 8816, which will hurdle all forms of mining operations and activity both large-scale and small-scale in Davao Oriental and the third district of Palawan, respectively, hurdled the chamber each with 187 affirmative and zero negative votes. House Bill No. 8816 will only cover the City of Puerto Princesa and the Municipality of Aborlan. If enacted, the bills will amend Republic Act No. 7942, or the Mining Act of 1995, and RA No. 7076, or the People’s Small-Scale Mining Act. Among others, the bills will prohibit exploration activities in the covered areas and cancel small-scale mining contracts upon effectivity. Moreover, the bills provided that any person, natural or juridical, found guilty of violations shall be subjected to six to 12 years imprisonment and a fine of P1 million to 10 million. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

Kick-off campaign in Caloocan

OTSO Diretso senatorial candidates of the opposition Liberal Party kick off their campaign last week in Caloocan City, a hotspot in the government’s drug war, where the candidates conducted a door-to-door campaign.

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