Home Blog Page 11052

Palace to certify BBL as urgent measure

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte will certify as urgent the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) “anytime soon” to expedite its approval, Malacañang said on Tuesday, a week before the scheduled adjournment of Congress.
“Anytime soon po, kasi ‘yan naman ang napagkasunduan din para mapabilis (because that is what has been agreed upon and to expedite [its passage]),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said in a press briefing on Tuesday, May 22.
He added: “The President promised to certify it. I cannot absolutely guarantee that the version of the House will be certified, because I haven’t seen the text. But if it is in conformity with what was agreed upon, then there should be no problem. The President should certify it.”
In his meeting with leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Davao City last March, Mr. Duterte said he would use his “residual powers” to fulfill his promise should Congress fail to pass the BBL.
The President also stated that he would “assist even to the extent of relaying to both chambers of Congress his determination to help push for the passage of the BBL that is compliant with the comprehensive agreement of the Bangsamoro and as close as possible to the new draft law submitted by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC).”
Last April, Mr. Duterte directed Congress to pass the proposed BBL before it adjourns in June through separate letters sent by the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) to then Senate President Aquilino L. Pimentel III and House Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez.
The Senate on Tuesday also asked Mr. Duterte to certify the Senate bill on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) as an urgent measure.
The request was coursed through a letter dated May 21, as signed by Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III and Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri.
“May we once again respectfully request that Senate Bill No. 1717 under Committee Report No. 255 entitled ‘An Act Providing for the Basic Law for the Bangsamoro and Abolishing the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao…’ be certified as urgent by your Administration,” the letter stated.
The letter also indicated that the Senate aims to pass the proposed BBL on third and final reading before the Congress sine die adjournment on June 2.
The proposed BBL remained pending on second reading in the Senate while its version in the House of Representatives remained in the committee level.
For his part, Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez remained confident the Bangsamoro Basic Law will be passed ahead of the sine die adjournment.
“We can still pass it,” Mr. Alvarez told reporters on Tuesday.
“The GRP (Government of the Republic of the Philippines) has proposals and the BTC asked for three days so they can discuss these.”
“And I believe we can come to an agreement on these issues,” he added.
The House leadership on Tuesday held a closed-door meeting with the BTC as well as the government’s peace panel to discuss amendments on the provisions of the draft bill. — Arjay L. Balinbin, with Camille A. Aguinaldo and Charmaine A. Tadalan

Marawi struggles to recover a year after siege

IT WAS a year ago today, May 23, when fighting broke out between government forces and terrorists led by the Maute family in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, which resulted in the destruction of the city and mass exodus of thousands of residents there by the end of the year.
The clashes in Marawi City prompted President Rodrigo R. Duterte to declare martial law in the whole of Mindanao. The President also issued Administrative Order No. 03 creating an inter-agency task force for the rehabilitation of Marawi and other affected localities.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said in a press briefing on Tuesday morning that the Palace is “satisfied” with the ongoing rehabilitation of the city, noting that “70% of the residents” who evacuated have already gone back to their homes.
The spokesman likewise said Mr. Duterte is expected to visit Marawi for its first-year commemoration today.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Spokesperson Edgard A. Arevalo said in a televised interview on Tuesday that the military has cleared at least “85% of the unexploded ordnance” in the city.
For his part, Joint Task Force Ranao deputy commander Colonel Romeo S. Brawner, Jr. said in his interview with DZBB that “clearing operations are still ongoing.”
BusinessWorld reported last Tuesday that the Swiss challenge period for Marawi’s rehabilitation has been scheduled to start “next week,” beginning “May 26.”
According to Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Chairman Eduardo D. del Rosario, the city’s rehabilitation is expected to cost “about P77 billion over a period of four years.”
Mr. del Rosario likewise said in a radio interview that his agency is expecting that, within this year, “all evacuation centers will be closed and all of the evacuees will be housed in temporary shelters.”
According to the housing czar, the HUDCC has already constructed “around 1,000 temporary housing units” for the affected families.
For its part, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in a statement said more than 100,000 children remain displaced a year after the siege.
“Risks for children affected by the conflict are increasing, especially for young children becoming malnourished and school-age children being unable to return to school. UNICEF calls for a province-wide approach throughout Lanao del Sur to ensure that children and their families fully recover from the emergency,” the UNICEF said.
It noted that the situation of children in Lanao del Sur, one of the poorest provinces, “was among the worst in the country even before the conflict.”
“While recognizing the good progress made to assist over 40,000 families to return to their homes in Marawi City, many children’s lives are still far from returning to normal. A comprehensive approach is needed to focus not only on children from Marawi City but… children in all of the 39 municipalities in the province,” said Lotta Sylwander, UNICEF representative to the Philippines.
For his part, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Mujiv S. Hataman called on the Bangsamoro people to “stand united” and continue to be vigilant as the national government prepares to implement a major rehabilitation program in the city.
“The safety of our people lies not only in ensuring security against crimes and conflict, but in ensuring education for all — an education that is affirmed not only by our schools but by our communities. Peace and security is achieved not only through law enforcement and state offensives, but through constant dialogue that seeks to engage each and every Bangsamoro,” Mr. Hataman said in a statement.
“As we struggle and work towards rebuilding the city of Marawi, we must also strive to rebuild the foundations of local leadership and reestablish safe spaces for the most vulnerable in our communities,” he added. — Arjay L. Balinbin with Mindanao Bureau

House panels OK’s bill on appropriation of Sanofi refund

By Charmaine A. Tadalan
THE Committee on Appropriations on Tuesday approved the bill seeking to appropriate the P1.16-billion refund from Sanofi Pasteur for families of alleged victims in the Dengvaxia controversy “effective until fully spent.”
House Bill 7449, authored by Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez, sought to appropriate the fund for fiscal year 2018, but the Committee proposed instead to remove that period.
The Department of Health (DoH) appealed to committee chair Karlo Alexei B. Nograles to extend the duration of the supplemental budget, anticipating they will not be able to fully exhaust the funds until 2019.
“P900 million is enough to cover admissions for 40,000 patients,” Health undersecretary Rolando Enrique D. Domingo said.
THE revised Dengvaxia Assistance Program proposal allotted P945.8 million, or 81% of the P1.16 billion fund, for a medical assistance program which will cover both admitted patients as well as outpatients.
Mr. Domingo explained mild cases of hospitalization will range from P6,000 to P13,000; slightly severe cases, P16,000; and catastrophic cases, up to P500,000.
“When we average all of this, (it) is about P13,000 to P14,000,” Mr. Domingo said. “Kahit na 40,000 ang bandwidth natin for 2018 and 2019, merong susobra (There will be excess budget even if our bandwidth is 40,000 for 2018 and 2019).”
Rep. Johnny Ty Pimentel shared the same concern, saying “what will happen if we did not utilize this P945 million? If ever we pass this supplemental budget, we should include in the provision that this will sort of (become) a trust fund that there will be no expiration.” Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno last week proposed to extend appropriation of the fund up to fiscal year 2019.
Further, Mr. Domingo noted the proposed supplemental Health Assistance Program for those who availed themselves of the Dengvaxia program has already been certified as urgent by the Office of the President. Mr. Nograles had requested the Health department to provide the certification to the Committee.
“I plan to have this approved on the floor by next week, for second and third reading. We still have to send it to the Senate,” Mr. Nograles said.
The DoH program will cover patients affected by any illnesses that are arguably related to Dengvaxia.
Also proposed is a P148-million budget for public health management, P78 million of which will be for assessment and monitoring of Dengvaxia cases, while the other P70 million will be for supplies and medicines.
Initially, the health agency proposed allotting P45 million of the supplies budget to the issuance of a Dengvaxia assistance card and P25 million to supplies and medicines; but the Committee on Appropriations moved to reverse the allocation.
“I think that is enough, the P25 million [for the ID cards],” Mr. Nograles said. “So the P45 million will now be for the supplies and medicines needed.”
The health agency projects 1,250 nurses will be deployed for three months to cover for the 900,000 inoculated, each nurse with a target of 12 patients a day.
The remaining P 67.5 million will be used for follow-up checkups with complaints. The nurses will also be tasked to provide counselling, lecture sessions, disease prevention and health promotion.
The bill was consolidated with House Resolutions 1724, urging the Department of Budget and Management to reallocate the amount of P1 billion from available savings to augment the allocations of the DoH and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); and with House Joint Resolution 20, which proposed appropriating the amount for hospital expenses of children vaccinated with Dengvaxia.

Jose Maria Sison, wife get P1.2 million each in human rights-abuse reparations

By Arjay L. Balinbin, Reporter
Malacañang is “delighted” over the release of reparations for human-rights abuse victims during martial law, including Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison and his wife, Julie de Lima.
Talaga namang naging biktima sila ng martial law. At nagagalak naman po ang Palasyo na lahat ng mga biktima ay nakakatanggap na ng mga tseke nila ngayon, dahil importante po iyong konsepto ng reparation, bigyan sila ng kompensasyon, dahil nalabag ang kanilang karapatan noong panahon ng martial law,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said in press briefing on Tuesday, May 22.
(It is true that they were victims of martial law. And the Palace is delighted that victims can now accept their checks, because the concept of reparation is important. They should be compensated because their rights were violated during the martial-law era.)
In his televised interview with ABS-CBN in The Netherlands on Tuesday, Mr. Sison said he and his wife, Julie, received “P1.2 million each” from the government.
Mr. Sison and his wife are among the first batch of 4,000 eligible claimants for partial compensation, according to the Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board (HRVCB).
The monetary compensation for martial law victims is guaranteed under Republic Act No. 10368, an act approved by then president Benigno S.C. Aquino III in 2013, providing for reparation and recognition of victims of human-rights violations during the Marcos dictatorship.
Mr. Roque also reassured Mr. Sison that steps will be taken to ensure his safety if he returns home for the renewed peace negotiations.
Mr. Sison had said earlier he is ready to come home once he sees there is “substantial progress” in the peace process between his camp and the government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP).

House version on systems loss bill shelved in view of ERC resolution

By Minde Nyl R. Dela Cruz, Reporter

Photo by Victor V. Saulon

THE House committee on energy “might take a step back” from passing a draft bill on recoverable systems loss after noting that the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is already implementing a resolution with similar provisions.
“I think the committee on energy in the lower House might take a step back and look at the effect first of the resolution of the ERC, Resolution No. 10, on how it will affect [the electricity rates],” said Marinduqe Rep. Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco, chairman of the House energy committee.
The draft substitute to House bills 942, 2297, and 6341, which all seek the systematic lowering of systems loss cap, was deferred to the technical working group chaired by 1-CARE party-list Rep. Carlos Roman Uybarreta after PBA party-list Rep. Mark Aeron H. Sambar noted similarities with the ERC resolution which was implemented on May 8.
The unnumbered substitute bill gradually reduces the systems loss cap for large private distribution utilities (PDUs) to 7-6.5% in 2019 and to 6-5.5% in 2022 while the loss cap for electric cooperatives (ECs) will be lowered to 12% in 2019 and to 10.25% or 8.5% in 2023.
Under the ERC resolution, systems loss cap for PDUs will be decreased to 6.5% in 2018 and to 5.5% in 2021 and ECs to 12% in 2018 and to 10.25% or 8.25% in 2022 onwards. The new rates will apply in the next billing cycle (May 8 to June 8) this year.
Mr. Velasco said the long congressional break starting on June 2 will give the committee more time to study the measure. However, if the bill will “just [be] a duplication of the resolution, there’s really no need to pass the legislation,” he said.
AKO BIKOL party-list Rep. Rodel M. Batocabe suggested during the hearing that the energy committee provide instead a “policy to promote the efficiency of distribution utilities and fixing the rate of systems losses will just be incidental.”
Should there be significant easing of electricity bills as an effect of the ERC resolution, the committee may “just consider the bill moot and academic and then I’ll just ask Hon. Batocabe to file another bill specifically for that efficiency he [mentioned],” Mr. Velasco said of the priority measure as cited in the Common Legislative Agenda.
The Senate in February passed on third reading its version of the bill. Senate bill 1623, sponsored by Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian, provided for reduction of systems loss cap of 5% from 8.5% for PDUs while systems loss cap for ECs was lowered to 10% from 13%.

Former SAF budget officer admits holding on to P37M in allowances to ‘secure’ the money

SENATOR Panfilo M. Lacson (left), with Senator Gregorio B. Honasan II, investigate the alleged illegal withholding of Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) allowances on Tuesday, May 22. — SENATE PRIB PHOTO

A FORMER budget officer of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP SAF) on Tuesday admitted that he kept the P37 million unreleased allowances of SAF men even after he was relieved from duty.
“It was in my custody, Sir, after we were relieved from SAF,” Senior Superintendent Andre P. Dizon said during the Senate investigation on the withholding of daily additional subsistence allowance (ASA) of the PNP SAF.
Mr. Dizon has returned the P37 million, supposedly coming from the undisbursed allowances in 2016 and 2017, to the SAF in two tranches last April, about three months after he was relieved.
It has since been distributed to the PNP SAF troopers.
Mr. Dizon and several other high-ranking PNP officials, including former police chief Benjamin B. Lusad, are facing plunder and malversation charges before the Office of the Ombudsman after a group of SAF officers filed a complaint over the unreleased ASA.
Mr. Dizon said he kept the money because he was accountable for it while his position remained vacant after being sacked.
“During the time that we were relieved, my replacement has not yet arrived to SAF. I am accountable for the money, Sir, I better secure it,” he said.
Senator Panfilo M. Lacson, chair of the committee on public order and dangerous drugs, was not convinced, though, of Mr. Dizon’s justification.
“What really is the source of the P37 million? Because keeping that amount for that long period, you know, raises a big question mark. Where did it come from? Is it in your vault? You said you were already relieved,” Mr. Lacson said.
Former PNP chief Ronald M. Dela Rosa, in an interview with reporters, also said that Mr. Dizon should have immediately released the allowances or transferred it to his replacement.
“That is the problem. Why did he keep it? Why was the money in his custody when he was supposed to pass it on to the next comptroller,” Mr. Dela Rosa said.
Mr. Lacson, also a retired police director general, said he believes that the former budget officer had no honest intention to return the money, but was compelled to do so given the threat of legal charges.
“If there was no threat… would they even think of returning or distributing? Perhaps not… And it looked like it was forced on them to return the funds,” the senator told reporters. — Camille A. Aguinaldo

Bigwigs lead call for more assertive stance vs China militarization

By Dane Angelo M. Enerio

ACTING CHIEF Justice Antonio T. Carpio

ACTING CHIEF Justice Antonio T. Carpio is among the prominent voices calling for a more assertive Philippine government stance amid the reported sightings of Chinese long range bombers in the Paracel Islands.
“The Philippine government must formally protest the increasing militarization of the South China Sea (SCS) by China,” Mr. Carpio said on Tuesday in a press statement.
The Chinese Air Force announced on Friday, May 18, that it successfully landed a Xian H-6K long-range bomber on one of its military bases in Woody Island of the Paracels as part of its training exercises, a move condemned by countries such as the United States, Vietnam, and Australia.
According to the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, China’s latest move puts the Philippines within striking distance of the nuclear-capable bombers, along with several other countries in the region.
Mr. Carpio said the Duterte administration’s “failure to formally protest means the Philippines is acquiescing or consenting to the militarization, and worse, to the claim of China that all the islands, waters, and resources within the nine-dashed line form part of Chinese territory.”
“A formal protest is necessary to preserve our sovereignty over Fiery Cross Reef… A formal protest is also necesssary to preserve our sovereignty over Subi Reef… Moreover, a formal protest is also necessary to preserve our exclusive sovereign rights over Mischief Reef which the arbitral tribunal ruled forms part of the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Philippines,” read Mr. Carpio’s statement.
Former Foreign Secretary Albert F. del Rosario, in an opinion piece published on the Philippine Star Tuesday, also called on the government to be more assertive of the country’s rights against China.
Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo, a member of the opposition party, shared the sentiments of Messrs. Caprio and Del Rosario, describing the presence of the bombers as “alarming.”
In a press statement Tuesday, Ms. Robredo called on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to “file a diplomatic protest in front of these events” as these “will express our strong opposition to the actions of the Chinese nation.”
“The Filipino community expects its government to defend our security boldly. If the government itself does not stand for the integrity of our territory, where will our country be?” her statement read in Filipino.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte, reacting to the calls, said, “I cannot afford at this time to go to war.”
Addressing a crowd of naval officers at the celebration of the Philippine Navy’s 120th anniversary on Tuesday, Mr. Duterte said, “I cannot go into a battle which I cannot win and would only resolve in the destruction and probably a lot of losses for our armed forces.”
“I really want to do something to assert,” he said, but explained that, “whether you accept it or not, it’s the reality… I cannot rely on one nation and country to defend us.”
Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, meanwhile, announced that equipment that will be used to monitor missile deployments in the SCS and West Philippine Sea (WPS) will be delivered by August this year. — with reports from Arjay L. Balinbin and Charmaine A. Tadalan

DoTr-CAR top officers suspended for alleged corruption

TWO EXECUTIVES of the Department of Transportation (DoTr) have been placed under a 90-day suspension beginning May 21 for alleged corruption, the department announced yesterday.
In a statement, DoTr said it has filed charges against Regional Director Jesus Eduardo Natividad and Assistant Regional Director Datu Mohammad Abbas from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) for “grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service and gross neglect of duty.”
The department charged Mr. Natividad for allegedly taking bribes to influence an ongoing application for Certificates of Public Convenience (CPC) and demanding monthly remittances from district leaders.
On top of that, he is also being questioned for habitual absences and inability to eliminate colorum vehicles in the region.
Mr. Abbas, on the other hand, has been accused of releasing impounded vehicles in exchange of money, and displaying his firearms.
The two top regional officials have been given 72 hours to respond to the charges, after which formal investigations will commence.
They will be axed if found guilty.
The suspension came a day after a Tourism assistant secretary, Mark Kristopher G. Tolentino, was fired by President Rodrigo R. Duterte. He was accused of making deals with a presidential sister.
Malacañang spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. echoed the call of the President on Monday not to entertain anyone who uses the name of his relatives to peddle influence in government.
DoTr Secretary Arthur P. Tugade shared the same sentiment in the statement, saying he will not tolerate corruption in his department.
“The list of names of those fired from the department will keep getting longer if you will not quit your illegal activities. Heads are rolling. I will not regret losing you,” Mr. Tugade was quoted as saying in Filipino.
DoTr said a number of officers have already been removed from office under the leadership of Mr. Tugade, while several others are undergoing investigation. — Denise A. Valdez

Angara laid to his final resting place

FORMER SENATE president Edgardo J. Angara was laid to rest on Tuesday morning at his hometown in Baler, Aurora. Mr. Angara passed away last May 13 at his Tagaytay residence at the age of 83. His son, Senator Juan Edgardo M. Angara, vowed to continue his father’s advocacy on education and health. “I am truly proud of my father’s achievements and it is very important that his legacy continues. My father was a true champion of the people’s right to education and all his advocacies as a politician and educator are all worth pursuing,” he said in a statement. — Camille A. Aguinaldo

One of 33 unearthed pipes has very high coliform bacteria level

Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu (center) looks at the bundle of unearthed pipes at the beach front in Boracay over the weekend. Teams from the Department of Environment and Natural Resource have been ordered to use ground penetrating radar to detect buried pipes, some of which have been found to be discharging wastewater directly into the sea. — DENR

ONE of 33 pipes so far found buried right at Boracay’s famed White Sand Beach area has tested positive for very high coliform bacteria levels, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Western Visayas Region (DENR-6). Regional Director Jim O. Sampulna said the pipe’s coliform level was at 74,000 most probable number per 100 milliliters (MPN/100ml), way above the standard safe level of 400 MPN/100ml. “Secretary (Roy A. Cimatu) was worried because he did not expect that,” Mr. Sampulna said. The owner of the tested pipe has yet to be identified, he said. All the unearthed pipes will be tested, he added. DENR-6 has previously found three pipes discharging wastewater directly to the sea. — Louine Hope U. Conserva

Green energy, tourism, and agro-industry ideal for Iloilo ecozones — PEZA advisor

ILOILO CITY — Green energy, tourism, and agro-industry have been put forward as the ideal sectors for special economic zones in Iloilo considering available resources and the needs of the province as well as the city.
Joseph Timothy Rivera, appointed Philippine Economic and Zone Authority (PEZA) special advisor for the Middle East and Northern Europe, said renewable energy would do well for improving Iloilo’s power supply.
“I suggest solar power generation and wind power turbine generation. So that the rates of Panay Electric Company (PECO) will become lower and power outages of Iloilo Electric Cooperative (ILECO) will reduce,” Mr. Rivera, a native of Iloilo, told the local media at the sidelines of last week’s Ecozone Property Development Forum.
PECO is the sole power distributor in Iloilo City while ILECO serves the province.
For tourism, Mr. Rivera, a realtor, suggested building retirement villages within ecozones, where incentives are given to investors.
He cited that the Philippine Countryside Farms & Homeland Development Corp. (PhilCoF) is already setting up two retirement villages in Western Visayas — one in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo and the other in the island province of Guimaras.
Mr. Rivera said he is assisting PhilCoF in its PEZA registration for the two projects.
The PEZA advisor also pointed to the vast idle lands in the province as potential sites for agro-industrial centers.
“Because with more economic zones, more jobs will be generated which is sustainable for the (shift to) federal… government. It is one of the tools and mechanisms to make federalism possible. Each region cannot effectively develop under federalism if they don’t have their own economic growth,” he said.
The Duterte administration is aiming to establish two new economic zones in every city and province in the country.
Mr. Rivera said PEZA is currently coordinating with the planning office of Iloilo City and the provincial government for the identification of the potential sites.
Meanwhile, PEZA is organizing a visit by a Qatar and Kuwaiti business delegation to the province in October for possible investments in ecozones.
He said PEZA is following a “reverse approach” wherein they let investors determine what industry they want to venture into, then the local government would scout for a potential site.
“Seldom could we have investors, like the Arabs, that will just lend you money and let you decide on what type of industry to choose. Normally, investors already have their target,” he said.
Mr. Rivera stressed that ecozones generate more jobs and increase the value of land in the surrounding area. — Louine Hope U. Conserva

Davao hopes to draw more tourists from Down Under with PHL-Australia Friendship Week

DAVAO CITY’S hosting this year of the Philippines-Australia Friendship Week from May 21 to 27 is expected to bring in more tourists from Australia. “The Australian Embassy’s action of holding the Philippines-Australia Friendship Day is a vote of confidence in a peaceful Davao,” City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) Chief Generose D. Tecson said at the event’s launch Monday. Ms. Tecson said Australians are among the top 10 foreign visitors in the city, with 5,930 recorded in 2017. Internationally-renowned aboriginal art advocate Jeremy Donovan opened the celebration by playing the didgeridoo, a wind instrument developed by Australia’s aboriginal people. The Philippines-Australia Friendship Day is celebrated every May 22 to highlight the ties between the two countries. Among the activities lined up this year are turnover of books and educational resources, unveiling of an Australian Corner at the Davao City Library and Information Center, grant handover to the Philippine Eagle Foundation, outdoor games, and a barbecue party at the University of Mindanao. — Carmencita A. Carillo