Bicameral panel approves coco levy fund

August 1, 2018 | 8:42 pm

By Camille A. Aguinaldo, Reporter
THE bicameral conference committee on Wednesday approved the proposed measure allowing farmers to benefit from the coconut levy funds collected by the government during the Marcos regime.
The proposed Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Trust Fund Act seeks to convert P100 billion in coconut levy assets into a trust fund for farmers and the coconut industry. It was identified as among the priority bills of Congress by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).
About 3.5 million farmers are expected to benefit from the long overdue measure once enacted into law.
“This will serve as a foundation of our future in our continued quest for sustainable development, poverty alleviation and food security. Our farmers have long waited for the moment where they could enjoy the funds which are rightfully theirs,” Senator Cynthia A. Villar, who chairs the Senate committee on agriculture and food, said in a statement.
She also told reporters that the committee adopted the provisions of the Senate version regarding a reconstituted Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), the body that would manage the trust fund..
Under the House version, the bill called for the creation of a Trust Fund Committee composed of five government officials and six farmer representatives.
“The Senate version was adopted and then it will be managed by a reconstituted PCA. No committee will be formed, just the reconstituted PCA,” Ms. Villar told reporters.
The PCA will be composed of a representative from the agency, Department of Finance (DoF), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), one coconut industry stakeholder, and six coconut farmers with two representatives each from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Ms. Villar also said the trust fund will be invested in treasury bills for the PCA to spend on scholarships for children of farmers, health benefits, a shared facilities program, farm improvement programs to encourage self-sufficiency, and empowerment of coconut farmer organizations including their cooperatives. The bicameral panel set P5 billion as the annual amount to be spent from the coconut levy fund.
At least P10 billion will also be automatically appropriated as the yearly budget of PCA sourced from the General Appropriations Act for the development of the coconut industry. The amount will be spent on infrastructure, planting, replanting and establishment of nurseries, research and development, disease control and eradication, fertilization, new products and derivatives of coconut oil products, and credit through Landbank and the Development Bank of the Philippines.
The Senate panel included Ms. Villar and Senator Francis N. Pangilinan while the House of Representatives contingent was composed of ANAC-IP partylist Rep. Jose T. Panganiban, Jr., Quezon Reps. Danilo E. Suarez and Angeline Helen D. Tan, Bohol Rep. Arthur C. Yap, AAMBIS-OWA partylist Rep. Sharon S. Garin, Zamboanga City Rep. Celso L. Lobregat, Negros Oriental Rep. Manuel T. Sagarbarria, Albay Rep. Edcel C. Lagman, Sorsogon Rep. Evelina G. Escudero, and BUTIL partylist Rep. Cecillia Leonila V. Chavez.

Arroyo agrees to separate voting by two chambers on charter change

August 1, 2018 | 8:42 pm

By Charmaine A. Tadalan
HOUSE Speaker Gloria M. Arroyo has agreed to separate voting when the two chambers of Congress convene into a Constituent Assembly to amend the 1987 Constitution.
“We want to move forward, to be realistic. Better to move forward and achieve something rather than be stubborn and achieve nothing,” Ms. Arroyo said in an ambush interview Wednesday.
“We will work with the Senate. We are going to constitute a committee on Constitutional Amendments,” she added.
A resolution convening the Senate and the House of Representatives (HoR) as a Constituent Assembly was adopted by the House as early as January 2018.
For his part, opposition Senator Francis N. Pangilinan, who heads the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, said in a phone message: “Looking at the voting record of the Supreme Court in the last two years, a ruling in favor of Con-Ass voting jointly is not far-fetched.”
He added: “The SC already rendered the Senate inutile and inconsequential in removing (the) Chief Justice through impeachment. What will prevent it from doing it yet again in the constitutionally mandated process of amending the Charter?”
Senator Aquilino Martin L. Pimentel III, on the other hand, welcomed Ms. Arroyo’s remarks. “That helps because at least that should settle the issue on how the vote is taken and counted; Hence we can now focus on the substance of federalism,” he said.

Garin, others indicted anew over Dengvaxia

August 1, 2018 | 8:38 pm

By Gillian M. Cortez
A NEW case was filed before the Department of Justice (DoJ) against the companies behind Dengvaxia and former and incumbent officials of the Department of Health (DoH), in connection with the death of 11-year-old John Paul R. Rafael in 2016 soon after his inoculation with the vaccine that year.
A Report and Recommendation Memorandum by the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), dated July 31, endorsed the filing of the charges of Reckless Imprudence Resulting to Homicide and Violation of the Anti-Torture Act of 2009 against Dengvaxia manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur Inc. and distributor Zuellig Pharma Corporation, as well as former health secretary Janette L. Garin and incumbent officials of the DoH, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.
According to the PAO report, Mr. Rafael died on April 11 last year, following his inoculation on March 31 despite his being “feverish at that time.” His death certificate states his causes of death as pulmonary edema (immediate cause), congenital heart disease (antecedent cause), and acute gastroenteritis with moderate dehydration (underlying cause).
The report said Sanofi and Zuellig “maliciously and arbitrarily did not inform the public of the dangers and risks related to Dengvaxia.”
On the other hand, Ms. Garin and other former officials were cited for the “haste” in the mass distribution of the vaccination which was “not doctor-assisted.”
This will be the 12^th complaint against the former health secretary in connection with the Dengvaxia controversy.
Other DoH officials recommended to be charged are Dr. Vicente Belizario Jr., Dr. Kenneth Hartigan-Go, Dr. Gerardo Bayugo, Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy, Dr. Irma Asuncion, Dr. Julius Lecciones, Dr. Joyce Ducusin, Rosalind Vianzon, and Mario Baquilod.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials Maria Lourdes C. Santiago and Melody Zamudio; and Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) officials Socorro P. Lupisan and Maria Rosario Z. Capeding were also included in the list of respondents.
The report also said the respondents violated the Consumer Act of the Philippines “for their defective and mislabeled products.”

Nationwide round-up

August 1, 2018 | 8:37 pm

LP commemorates Cory’s role in restoring democracy

ON THE 9^th death anniversary of former President Maria Corazon “Cory” Cojuangco-Aquino, the Liberal Party (LP) commemorated her significant role in restoring Philippine democracy.
“For us who spent our youth under the rule of a dictator, President Cory was a symbol of a new day. She was a woman of strength and had done right by her duty to country. It was by no means an easy choice — but she, like all people fighting for our freedom back then, chose what is right. Now, we face similar choices as we continue to battle against tyranny and age-old injustices,” Senator Francis N. Pangilinan, LP president, said in a statement.
He recalled that last Saturday, LP member Sen. Leila M. De Lima, who has been detained for more than a year now, was awarded the Liberal International’s Prize for Freedom “in recognition of her achievements and her continuing fight for human rights even while wrongly imprisoned.”
Ms. Aquino was the first Filipina to receive the annual award, according to Mr. Pangilinan, “in her fight for democracy.”
Senator Paolo Benigno A. Aquino IV, a nephew of the late president, said: “She is often referred to as the Mother of our Democracy, but to me, she was primarily a loving, thoughtful, humble and gracious aunt. She inspired a generation to continue the work of safeguarding our freedom and improving the lives of our countrymen. “
“I don’t have any formula for ousting a dictator or building democracy. All I can suggest is to forget about yourself and just think of your people. It’s always the people who make things happen,” the senator quoted Ms. Aquino as saying.
The lawmaker also said that Ms. Aquino “reminds us, to this day, that it is up to all of us, together, to move this country forward and create a better Philippines.” — Arjay L. Balinbin

De Lima files bill vs premature campaigning

SENATOR LEILA M. De Lima has filed a bill prohibiting premature campaigning for prospective candidates a year before the official campaign period for both national and local elections.
Senate Bill No. 1893, titled Anti-Premature Campaigning Act of 2018, seeks to amend related provisions in Batas Pambansa Bilang 881, the Omnibus Election Code.
“The bill defines a prospective candidate as any person aspiring for or seeking an elective public office, whether or not he has explicitly declared his intention to run as a candidate immediately preceding elections,” Ms. De Lima said in a statement.
Under the bill, premature campaigning activities that will be banned include endorsing any product or service whether for a fee or not; appearing in any infomercial; appearing in any documentary or movie whether for a fee or not; appearing or guesting in any television or radio program, except for legitimate news coverage; accepting any employment in any media outfit as a news anchor, writer or regular talent; and buying any print, radio, television or internet space to advertise himself or any product or service. — Camille A. Aguinaldo

Duterte says daughter Sara not gunning for a national post

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte on Tuesday said his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara “Inday” Duterte-Carpio, will not be running for a national post in the 2019 elections.
“Inday, I can tell you, I know her. Hindi magtatakbo ‘yan ng national (she will not run for a national post),” Mr. Duterte said in his speech at the 68^th anniversary celebration of the National Security Council and the 69^th founding anniversary celebration of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency in Pasay City on Tuesday evening, July 31.
The President also took a swipe at political families whom he said have “superstar complex.” — Arjay L. Balinbin

Military, police step up security measures in mainland Mindanao after Basilan blast

August 1, 2018 | 8:36 pm

HEIGHTENED SECURITY measures have been activated in various parts of Mindanao following Tuesday’s blast in the island of Basilan that killed 11, including the suspected bomber. In Zamboanga City, the jump-off point to Basilan, Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar convened a meeting on Tuesday and ordered all security forces “to tighten all checkpoints at the entry and exit points of the city, including coastal and sea patrols.” Owners of private jetties have also been requested to strengthen security at their facilities. Ms. Salazar also appealed to the public to cooperate with the stricter security rules as well as be vigilant and report suspicious activities in their areas.
NORTHERN MINDANAO
The Philippine National Police-Northern Mindanao regional office (PRO 10), meanwhile, said “precautionary action” is in place to avoid a possible spillover of terrorists into the region. In a statement, PCSupt. Timoteo G. Pacleb said they are “intensifying target hardening intervention in all vital installations and security measures.” PRO-10 Spokesperson Surki A. Sereñas said among these measures are checkpoints in strategic areas.
MARAWI CITY
Prior to the Basilan blast, the Marawi Traffic Management Group already announced that traffic passing through the Mapandi-Lilod Papandayan road will be rerouted beginning the first week of August. This 1.5-kilometer stretch is within Marawi City’s tagged most affected area (MAA), or what was previously referred to as ground zero, by last year’s seige. The Lanao del Sur provincial government said the rerouting was approved following “the discovery of possible unexploded bomb entry points along the said thoroughfare.” Marawi Mayor Majul Gandamra said, “It is in the best interest of the City Government to ensure that we do not expose the Maranaos to unnecessary risks that could cause loss of life and property.” Last week, teams from the military’s Combat Engineers and Explosive and Ordinance Division (EOD) were able to identify “three possible entry holes of unexploded bombs” along the Mapandi-Lilod-Panandayan route. The EOD said such unexploded bombs can take “as long as two to three weeks to excavate and requires strict protocols as any sudden vibration, shock or heat build-up can cause the bombs to explode.”
Vice-President Maria Leonor G. Robredo, in a statement late Tuesday, said the Basilan incident should all the more strengthen the country’s efforts in attaining peace and order in Mindanao. “Ang isang lipunang may kapayapaang nakabatay sa katarungan ang pinakamatibay nating kasiguruhan laban sa ganitong uri ng karahasan (A society with peace based on justice is our strongest assurance against these kinds of violence),” Ms. Robredo said. The vice-president also condoled with the families of the victims of the tragedy, trusting also that authorities are ensuring those liable will be charged. — with a report from Charmaine A. Tadalan

SMC’S proposed TPLEx extension to Ilocos Sur now under assessment

August 1, 2018 | 8:36 pm

PUBLIC WORKS and Highways Secretary Mark A. Villar on Wednesday said his office has already received the complete proposal of San Miguel Corp. (SMC) for the extension of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx) tollroad to Ilocos Sur.
“They submitted the proposal. We’re in the process of analyzing the effect (if there is a need for changes in the technical aspect,” Mr. Villar said in a press briefing at the Palace.
The DPWH chief said the assessment period should not take too long because the proposal simply involves a continuation of the existing toll road, with the endpoint in Rosario, La Union expected to be completed by next year.
The unsolicited proposal will have to go through a review by the engineers of the Public-Private Partnership Service office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
The TPLEx extension also requires an original proponent certification from the DPWH, and an approval from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
It would then be subjected to a Swiss challenge, where other interested firms may submit counterproposals. — Arjay L. Balinbin

LRT-1 fare hike may be delayed

August 1, 2018 | 8:35 pm

By Denise A. Valdez
THE DEPARTMENT of Transportation (DoTr) said the target implementation of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) fare hike this month, as proposed by operator Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC), may not push through as public consultations still need to be conducted.
Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade said the department will have to hear the position of other stakeholders before assessing and making a decision on the LRMC petition.
LRMC filed a P5 to P7 fare increase petition in March, the second time it applied since the company took over the train system in September 2015.
The current fare in LRT-1 is P15, P20 and P30, depending on distance travelled. No fare hike has been implemented since January 2015.
In a text message to BusinessWorld, LRMC Corporate Communication head Rochelle A. Gamboa said current operations will not be affected if the fare hike petition will not be granted this August.
“We will continue to operate and remain hopeful that Concession Agreement will be honored,” she said.
“For now, we would just comply with the process. LRTA (Light Rail Transit Authority) Board has yet to conduct a public consultation,” she added.
Part of the government’s concession agreement with LRMC is a 5% increase in LRT-1 fares every two years and the extension of the train line from Baclaran to Bacoor, Cavite.
LRMC President Juan F. Alfonso, in a briefing in May, said, “Under the concession agreement, for example hindi mabigay yung fare increase, government yung magsa-subsidize nung P5 (if we are not granted the fare increase, the government would have to subsidize the P5).”
Mr. Tugade said on Wednesday that he certainly would not want the government to subsidize anything.
“I really do not want that government subsidy. When a proponent wants to enter a business, they should be capable,” he said in Filipino.
The transportation secretary also said that the extension of the LRT-1 to Cavite, Bacoor should not depend on the approval of LRMC’s fare hike petition.
LRMC said in a statement on July 12 that the fare hike is essential to push through with the Cavite extension plans for LRT-1.
“A P5 increase in LRT1 fare will assure the construction of its extension to Sucat, Las Piñas and Bacoor, allowing at least 300,000 of residents each day to get to and from home in just minutes from Baclaran without traffic,” it said.
Construction work for the P2.874-billion Cavite extension was originally scheduled to begin in October, and will take four years to complete. It will add eight new stations, namely: Redemptorist, NAIA Avenue, Asia World, Ninoy Aquino, Dr. Santos, Las Piñas, Zapote and Niog.
LRMC is the consortium of Ayala Corp., Metro Pacific Light Rail Corp., of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines) Pte. Ltd.
Metro Pacific Investment Corp. is one of three Philippine subsidiaries of Hong Kong’s First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being PLDT, Inc. and Philex Mining Corp. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., maintains an interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group.

Jalaur dam groundbreaking set Oct. 2018

August 1, 2018 | 8:35 pm

ILOILO CITY — After more than five years of delay, the ceremonial groundbreaking of the P11.2-billion Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Phase II (JRMP II) in Calinog, Iloilo is finally being eyed by October and completion set in late 2021.
Engr. Jonel B. Borres, division manager for engineering of the National Irrigation Administration-Western Visayas (NIA-6), said the timetable was mutually set by NIA, the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) of South Korea, and the winning Korean contractor, Daewoo Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd.
The schedule was finalized following a coordination meeting among top officials of NIA, Daewoo executives, and the Korean Export-Import Bank (KEXIM Bank) on July 25, 2018 at the NIA Central Office.
During the meeting, the contract signing was also planned for the first week of September.
Mr. Borres said they are confident that the work schedule will be met provided the timeline of activities is followed.
“After the contract signing, a notice to proceed will then be issued so we could already go with the groundbreaking by October and start with the construction,” he said.
The several years of delay, according to Mr. Borres, was due to compliance with additional requirements set by the bank such as environmental and social safeguards.
The JRMP II is funded through an approved loan from the EDCF amounting to P11.212 billion.
It covers the construction of the 109-meter Jalaur high dam, 38.5-meter afterbay dam, 10-meter Alibutan catch dam, 80.74-kilometer highline canal, and its appurtenant structures. — Louine Hope U. Conserva

No Boracay water rate adjustment, says Manila Water

August 1, 2018 | 8:34 pm

WATER RATES in Boracay will not be adjusted after the decision of the island’s water regulator to discontinue the 14.34% decrease in the company’s foreign currency differential adjustment (FCDA), Manila Water Co., Inc. told the stock exchange on Wednesday.
Manila Water said the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority-Regulatory Office will implement the discontinuance of the existing FCDA, which took effect on Sept. 25, 2015, thus applying a 0% forex differential starting on Aug. 17, 2018.
In effect, water rates on the island will stay the same, with the residential “A” at P472.41 for those consuming up to 10 cubic meters (cu.m.).
In the same residential consumer grouping, those using between 11 and 20 cu.m. will have a base rate of P89.76, while those using between 21 and 50 cu.m. will have a rate of P132.27.
Residential “B” consumers will also keep their rate of 313.48. Those consuming more than 10 cu.m. under this grouping will pay the rate of the residential “A” segment.
Residential “A” consumers that exceed a consumption of 50 cu.m. will follow the rates of commercial “B” consumers.
Commercial “B” consumers are imposed a base rate of between P708.60, for those using no more than 10 cu.m., and P177.15 for those consuming more than 100 cu.m.
Water concessionaires are allowed to recover losses or give back gains through the FCDA tariff mechanism that factors in the movements of the peso against foreign currencies.
The FCDA mechanism has been set because water concessionaires pay foreign currency-denominated concession fees to the MWSS, as well as loans to fund service improvement projects for water and wastewater.
It also allows them to sustain their program to cut water losses or non-revenue water and bring the supply to the underserved and unserved sectors within their service areas.
Boracay Water is a subsidiary of Manila Water Philippine Ventures, Inc., which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Manila Water Co., Inc. — Victor V. Saulon

Mindanao railway construction to start Jan. 2019

August 1, 2018 | 8:33 pm

By Carmencita A. Carillo, Correspondent
DAVAO CITY — Construction of the first phase of the P85-billion Mindanao Railway Project, which covers the Tagum-Davao-Digos segment, is targeted to start in January 2019 and operations expected by 2021.
“We hope to finish the right of way (ROW) acquisition along the alignment and the stations by December 2018. We expect to award the winning contractor, since this is a design and build contract, also by end of this year so we can start construction of railway by January next year,” Mindanao Railway System (MRS) Project Manager Patricia Melizza B. Ruivivar said in an interview.
Ms. Ruivivar, who presented the plan to the Davao city council on Tuesday, said the MRS has been tagged a priority project and President Rodrigo R. Duterte wants the trains running a year before he leaves office in 2022.
“We need the support of the local government units (LGUs) because they will play a big role in the implementation of a project as big as the Mindanao Railway,” she said.
Mr. Duterte, who was previously mayor of Davao City, wants the LGUs to lead in the negotiations for the site acquisition since they would know the landowners and this would allow for stronger project support at the community level.
Ms. Ruivivar assured that the government is prepared to pay fair market prices.
The 102-kilometer phase 1 has a budget of P36 billion, to be sourced from the General Appropriations Act (GAA) up to 2021.
Work on the detailed engineering design is ongoing, with the plan now adjusted to a single-track electric system from an earlier two-track plan.
Ms. Ruivivar said they are hoping to get approval from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) on this new adjustment within August.
“We hope to get the NEDA approval by August, and by November the bid documents will also be released and awarded by December this year,” she said.
STATIONS
Ms. Ruivivar said they are also tapping the LGUs for the planning of the stations, which could have tourism and commercial establishments.
Phase 1 of the railway will have eight stations: Tagum City, Carmen, and Panabo City in Davao del Norte; Mudiang, central Davao, and Toril in Davao City; and Sta. Cruz and Digos City in Davao del Sur.
A 10-hectare depot will also be built in Tagum.
Ms. Ruivivar said academic institutions will also have a role to play by opening engineering courses relating to railways.
“We want the city council’s support to develop a plan on educating human resource to support the development of the railway industry,” she said.

Mansaka IP member named national outstanding nutrition scholar

August 1, 2018 | 8:33 pm

A MEMBER of the Mansaka indigenous people (IP), Angelita Aquino, has been awarded as the country’s Most Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar this year in ceremonies held in Manila Tuesday. Ms. Aquino, who won over some 40,000 other scholars nationwide, is from the remote village of Mapaang in Maco, Compostela Valley. “We are very proud that an IP is this year’s national awardee and she can be an inspiration to our indigenous peoples,” Dr. Maria Teresa L. Ungson, National Nutrition Council (NNC) Regional Nutrition Program coordinator, said in an interview. Ms. Ungson said Ms. Aquino has been able to convince her fellow Mansaka to go beyond the barrier of culture and accept health and nutrition services from government. Ms. Aquino has also been able to tap the military for her feeding program. “When she asks, people help and she has the support of her barangay committee, especially the recipients such as mothers who cooperate in her program because of her tribal background,” Ms. Ungson said. — Maya M. Padillo

Nation at a Glance — (08/02/18)

August 1, 2018 | 8:32 pm

News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.