Senate bill filed on benefits for child development workers

August 3, 2018 | 7:49 pm

By Camille A. Aguinaldo, Reporter
SENATOR Leila M. De Lima has filed a bill creating a magna carta law for about 50,000 child development workers (CDWs) in the country.
Senate Bill No. 1894, filed on July 30, provides child development workers security of tenure and social protection measures in times of sickness, disability or retirement.
“With millions of our youth dependent on them, it is high time for government to recognize their important role in society and grant them as much support as possible to ensure that they are cared for the way they care for our young,” said Ms. De Lima, who chairs the senate committee on social justice, welfare, and rural development.
The bill proposes at least one permanent position each for CDW I and CDW II in all child development centers nationwide.
It also calls for the creation of a special personnel selection board tasked to ensure that qualified CDWs are assigned in every center.
The proposed measure further ensures CDWs are provided with overtime pay, hazard allowance, subsistence allowance, free legal services, health benefits, as well as access to livelihood, loans and grants.
CDWs are also given access to continuing education, skills training and other knowledge enhancement programs that will be equivalent to formal or academic training units.
“These workers, exercising special parental authority over children under their care, play a crucial role in the development of the minds of these children, thereby requiring a commensurate response from government in ensuring that their work conditions are ideal and their needs are met,” Ms. De Lima said.

Palace: Death penalty up to Senate

August 3, 2018 | 7:48 pm

By Charmaine A. Tadalan
MALACAÑANG on Friday said the reimposition of capital punishment is up to the Senate, following the Vatican’s move to declare death penalty as “inadmissible.”
“I think the matter of the death penalty is in the hands of the senators now. So we leave it to the Senate whatever decision they may have. The President would still try gentle persuasion but it’s really a decision of the senators now,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said in a press briefing.
He added, nevertheless, that the death penalty on drug-related offenses and other heinous crimes, such as murder and rape, remains a priority of the Duterte administration.
The House of Representatives in March 2017 passed on third and final reading the measure imposing capital punishment. Said bill is now with the Senate. However, all Senate bills relating to the imposition of death penalty remain pending at the committee level.
Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III, for his part, said he will find a common ground to push for the proposed measure.
“Let me think it over. I’ll try to find some kind of a compromise,” Mr. Sotto said in a phone message to reporters Friday. “But I have a formula ready if death penalty for high level drug traffickers is not possible.”
On the other hand, Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon said, “There is no death penalty vote in the Senate. It will die if put to a vote today. Malacañang knows this. I do not think they will waste their political capital on the death penalty bill. Thus, the decision to leave to the senators the decision to approve or junk the measure.”
Senator Francis N. Pangilinan said Liberal Party senators “oppose the restoration of the death penalty. We do not see it as a deterrent to crime.”

Palace: Carandang’s dismissal up to incoming Ombudsman Martires

August 3, 2018 | 7:48 pm

By Charmaine A. Tadalan
MALACAÑANG on Friday urged incoming Ombudsman Samuel R. Martires to “immediately” implement the dismissal order on Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur H. Carandang.
“Well, as far as I know… it is the OP (Office of the President) that should also implement that but we leave it to the incoming Ombudsman how it will be implemented,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said in a press briefing.
“We will await Ombudsman Martires’s assumption into his new office and we would hope that decision be executed as soon as possible,” he added. The President last week announced the appointment of Mr. Martires, succeeding retired Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.
Malacañang, in a decision dated July 30, ordered Mr. Carandang’s dismissal for making public statements on an ongoing investigation on President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s wealth and disclosing related confidential information.
Mr. Roque said Mr. Carandang can avail himself of “judicial review,” but maintained the order was “founded on facts and law.”
“Clearly, he violated the Anti-Money Laundering Act himself when he made public certain documents, which was later on confirmed by AMLC not to be accurate,” Mr. Roque said.
“So it was really ‘tsismis’ (gossip) on a matter that should have been handled on a confidential basis, and I think that merits the order of dismissal,” he added.

Duterte on kidnapped OFWs in Libya: ‘I will send the frigate’

August 3, 2018 | 7:47 pm

By Camille A. Aguinaldo, Reporter
PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte on Friday said the Philippines will send two warships to Libya in efforts to secure the release of three kidnapped Filipinos and a South Korean national in the North African country.
South Korea on Thursday has deployed its own warship, the 4,000 tonne Munmu the Great, to Libya in an apparent show of force.
“The Koreans (have) — nagpadala ng barko doon (They sent ships there). You know I’m not joking, magpadala rin ako (I will send, too). If they begin to hurt the three Filipinos there, I will send the frigate,” he said in his speech during the inauguration of the Northern Mindanao Wellness and Rehabilitation Center in Bukidnon.
Mr. Duterte said he will raise the matter in his command conference next week. He further plans to direct members of the Cabinet to “raise the bar higher,” especially on anti-piracy measures.
“I’d like to make (the) announcement in the next Cabinet meeting and the command conference. I want you to come up with modality raising bar higher so — I cannot swallow the — ‘yung mga pirata pasabugin na ninyo (bomb the pirates),” he said.
According to reports, three Filipino engineers and a South Korean national working as technicians at a water plant in Libya were kidnapped early July. Risks for foreign workers have been high in Libya due to the presence of various armed groups, including Islamist militants linked to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State.
A video shared on social media last week showed the four kidnapped workers with an armed guard seen behind them. Their captors remained unidentified.
“Kayo ang putulan ko ng ulo… Trabahante lang sa barko tapos kidnapin nila (It’s your heads I will behead….They are just workers then they are kidnapped),” Mr. Duterte said.
Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Elmer G. Cato said there are continuing efforts by the Department of Foreign Affairs to ensure the kidnapped workers’ “safe and early release.”

Senator urges House bill on free Wi-Fi, clean restrooms in transport terminals

August 3, 2018 | 7:45 pm

SENATOR Grace Poe-Llamanzares in a statement on Friday urged the House of Representatives to approve a counterpart measure on her bill for clean restroom facilities and free internet access in transport terminals.
Ms. Poe cited Senate Bill 1749 or “Act to Improve Land Transportation Terminals, Stations, Stops, Resto Areas and Roll-on/Roll-off Terminals” as having been approved on third and final reading last week.
“The Senate has done its part, we hope the House will pass a counterpart measure, so that the public can be assured of a worthwhile experience when traveling using our terminals,” she said in her statement.
The bill also mandates that terminals must have separate lactating stations for breastfeeding mothers.
The Senate bill further instructs the Department of Information and Communications Technology, in coordination with the Department of Transportation and other concerned agencies to provide free internet access in the terminals.
The senator also noted that several bills seeking the provision of hygienic public restrooms in transportation terminals are pending at the House.
Ms. Poe said that when her bill becomes law, she would ensure adequate funding for clean toilets and free Wi-Fi service in transport terminals.

Special envoy in shortlist for WHO Western Pacific regional director

August 3, 2018 | 7:45 pm

By Camille A. Aguinaldo, Reporter
SPECIAL Envoy for Global Health Initiatives and physician Susan P. Mercado is among the official list of nominees to become the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Regional Director,the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Friday.
In a statement, the DFA said Dr. Mercado is among four nominees in the list, the others being from Malaysia, Japan and New Zealand.
“The acceptance of Dr. Susan P. Mercado’s nomination by the WHO is proof of her expertise and experience in th field of public health, which was evident when President Rodrigo Duterte appointed her as Special Envoy this year. We wish her all the best in her candidature,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano said in a statement.
The new Western Pacific Director will be elected during the WHO’s regional consultative meetings of the Western Pacific scheduled in Manila in October.
In May, the Philippines nominated Dr. Mercado for the position, citing her track record in the field of public health. If named to the position, she will be the first woman to head the Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO).
Dr. Mercado has worked for the WHO for more than 15 years, serving as the Director for Noncommunicable Disease and Health, and Regional Adviser for Health Promotion under WPRO. She was also the Team Leader of the organization’s Tobacco Free Initiative and Urban Health Equity of the WHO Kobe Center in Japan.
Prior to her work in WHO, she was an undersecretary and chief of staff in the Department of Health (DoH). She obtained her philosophy undergraduate degree (magna cum laude) and her doctor of medicine and master in public health degrees at the University of the Philippines.
“As the Philippine candidate, I am campaigning on a platform of responsiveness and empowerment. I believe that being approachable and accessible is the key to effective leadership,” Dr. Mercado said in a statement.
“WHO can do a better job in enabling self-determination and creating new spaces in public health discourse and governance where member states can freely discuss how best to effectively optimize and share resources in ways that are culturally appropriate and sensitive to local contexts,” she added.

PHL’s top diplomat hits back at ex-president over maritime dispute

August 3, 2018 | 7:44 pm

By Camille A. Aguinaldo, Reporter
THE country’s top diplomat took to social media on Friday to respond to recent statements against him by former president Benigno S.C. Aquino III over the issue of transparency on the South China Sea issue.
In an open letter posted on Facebook, Mr. Cayetano lamented that the former president “chose to play with words” and compared the issue with their hairstyles. “While we both lost some of our hair, your administration lost control of Scarborough and a great opportunity to expand tourism, infrastructure and agriculture,” Mr. Cayetano said.
“We also lost many opportunities for cooperation in fields like science and technology, protection of the environment, among others, all because of the approach you, together with former Sec. (Albert F.) Del Rosario and Senator (Antonio F.) Trillanes (IV), chose to adopt and implement,” he added.
Mr. Aquino earlier criticized the Foreign Affairs Secretary over the Duterte administration’s lack of disclosure regarding its responses on China’s militarization activities in the disputed waters. He later called on Mr. Cayetano to be transparent with his politics as they were with their “hairstyle.”
Mr. Cayetano on Friday then listed 11 questions which revolved around the Aquino administration’s response regarding the standoff between Chinese and Philippine ships in Scarborough Shoal back in 2012. He said he hoped the former President would answer the questions to “help enrich public discussion on the issue.”
“How did we lose control of Scarborough shoal in 2012 during your watch? Who made the decision to end the stand-off by ordering Philippine ships to leave, and on (whose) advice?” he said.
He also questioned the involvement of Mr. Trillanes during the standoff and the latter’s refusal to disclose the “purpose and nature of his trips” to China as emissary.
Back in 2012, a Philippine Navy ship was about to apprehend Chinese fishing boats poaching in Scarborough Shoal when two Chinese surveillance ships blocked them. The surveillance ships placed themselves between the Philippine warship and the Chinese fishing vessels, preventing the Filipino Navy from making arrests.
“What exactly was Sen. Trillanes (‘s) role and mandate? He made 16 trips to China as your emissary. Where are the reports and what were the agreements reached?” Mr. Cayetano said.
Mr. Cayetano also asked about Mr. Aquino’s discussion with then United States President Barack Obama and whether there was any commitment he secured from the US on dealing with the maritime issue.
“(Mr. Obama) reportedly affirmed to Japan that the mutual defense treaty will be put into action if the Senkaku Islands are threatened. Did Mr. Obama tell you that the US does not get involved with territorial disputes like in the WPS (West Philippine Sea)? How did you respond to that?” he said.
He also asked if the Aquino administration had plans or proposals to explore oil and gas in the West Philippine Sea.
“Our people await your response to these questions in earnest, to be fully informed finally of the background of our complicated situation. Your response will help us decide on how to proceed further in shaping our policy with China,” Mr. Cayetano said.
“If, indeed, transparency is important to you as you claim, then consider your early response to these questions as crucial,” he added.
His last additional question was: “May we have your alternatives or proposals instead of merely criticizing the government today?”

Arroyo assures no zero budget for congressmen

August 3, 2018 | 7:43 pm

By Charmaine A. Tadalan
HOUSE Speaker Gloria M. Arroyo on Friday assured there will be no zero budget for lawmakers on her watch.
“I was supposed to make a proper announcement pero nasabi ko na, meron nga akong listahan and halos lahat nga was opposing me. Pero ganun pa man, as a gesture of goodwill, hindi sila bibigyan ng zero,” Ms. Arroyo told reporters in an ambush interview. (I was supposed to make a proper announcement, but I already mentioned it, I have a list, which includes most of those opposing me. But nevertheless, as a gesture of goodwill, they won’t be given zero.)
“That’s why I won’t give zero budget even to those congressmen (who) don’t like me at all,” she added.
District representatives critical of the administration were once threatened with budget cuts or zero funding for their constituents.
For his part, House Majority Leader Rolando G. Andaya, Jr. said the Speaker had given orders to ensure funds are allocated for every district.
“Appropriations proposed by the executive for projects and programs in a congressional district represented by a non-majority coalition member will not be drastically cut or reduced to zero,” Mr. Andaya said. “On the contrary, if the funds are found to be lacking, there is always the possibility of an augmentation, yan po ang sabi ni Speaker (that’s what the Speaker said),” Mr. Andaya said.
He added: “Gusto ko rin po klaruhin, na wala naman talagang distrito sa kasalukuyan na absolutely zero budget, kasi merong mga national projects (si) President Duterte.”
(I would also like to clarify that there are really no districts now that have absolutely zero budget, because President Duterte has national projects [in the countryside].)

PHL to become ASEAN’s most coal-dependent economy by 2030 — ADB

August 3, 2018 | 6:44 pm

THE PHILIPPINES is expected to become the most coal-dependent country in Southeast Asia in 12 years, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said.
“The Philippines will overtake Indonesia and have the highest share of coal in the power mix for Southeast Asia in 2030 at 50%,” ADB said in a working paper, The Impact of Nationally Determined Contributions On the Energy Sector Implications for ADB and its Developing Member Countries.
In 2014, the Philippines had a 43% share of coal in power generation.
Indonesia in 2014 had a 52% coal share in its power mix, but this is expected to decline to 48% by 2030. Malaysia is projected to have the second-highest coal share at 45% by 2030, from 40% in 2014.
Thailand will continue as the least coal-dependent country in the region with a share of 25% by 2030 from 21% in 2014.
However, the growth of renewable energy use in the Philippines is expected to outpace the growth of coal use, at 151% between 2014 to 2030 against 75% for coal over the same period.
“The substantial addition of coal capacity will result in locking in high emission assets for the long term. As such, a set of coordinated policies and the technologies are needed to satisfy short-term objectives while being consistent with longer-term ambitions,” the paper read.
“Governments must enhance support to investment in renewable technologies, emphasize the importance of investing in a diverse generation mix, as well as promote higher efficiency coal technologies and investment in carbon capture and storage,” it added.

The Philippines addressed its dependence on coal by imposing additional excise taxes on imported and domestic coal to P50 per metric ton this year, from P10 previously.
The law will increase it further to P100 per metric ton next year and P150 per metric ton by 2020.
However, domestic coal is still exempt from value-added tax. — Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan

DoF affirms priority status for Sasa Port modernization, Davao-Samal Bridge

August 3, 2018 | 6:44 pm

DAVAO CITY — Two longstanding proposed projects for Davao — the Sasa Port modernization and the Davao-Samal Bridge — will be pursued under the government’s Build, Build, Build program, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez said.
“These projects are part of the 75 flagship projects comprising the Build, Build, Build program,” Mr. Dominguez said during last week’s 50^th anniversary celebration of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc.(DCCCII).
The Department of Transportation is currently updating the terms of reference for the Sasa Port project, and Mr. Dominguez said rollout could come within the year.
The project, involving the biggest government-owned seaport in the Davao Region, covers an upgrade of the general cargo berths and construction of a back-up area to accommodate increasing cargo volume.
Based on the previously published bid invitation, Sasa Port has a total area of 18.1 hectares (ha), including a 4.15-ha container yard and an annual capacity of 550,000 20-foot equivalent units.
The Davao-Samal Bridge, meanwhile, is now in the initial stages of a feasibility study and detailed design stge under the Infrastructure Preparation and Innovation Facility (IPIF) funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The planned bridge has an estimated cost of over P17.8 billion, based on the IPIF Project Administration Manual.
“The Davao-Samal Bridge will link the city with the Island Garden City of Samal. It will reduce travel time between the two cities from 26 to 30 minutes using RoRo (roll-on, roll-off) or ferry operations to only two to five minutes using the link bridge,” Mr. Dominguez said.
Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark A. Villar, during a visit to Davao City in June, said he is optimistic that construction of the 1.2-kilometer bridge, which will cross the Pakiputan Strait, could start by 2019.
Several other big-ticket projects within the Davao Region that are expected to be completed by 2022 are: Phase 1 covering the Digos-Davao-Tagum segment of the Mindanao Railway System; upgrade of the Davao International Airport; the Davao City Coastal Road Project; Mindanao Logistics Infrastructure Network involving the construction or improvement of 2,567 kilometers of roads across the Davao, CARAGA and Northern Mindanao regions; the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project; Davao Expressway Project; the Davao City Bypass Road; and the Asbang Small Reservoir Irrigation Project in Davao del Sur.
“Davao City’s economic prospects can only get even better. The city and its environs will benefit from the massive infrastructure investments over the next few years… The city and the whole Davao region have been gearing up for this growth surge for years,” Mr. Dominguez said.
At the same time, the finance Secretary, who hails from Davao City, told businessmen to be ready for expansion and opening new enterprises by tapping digital tools to improve efficiency.
“Be assured that your government stands squarely behind you. But we can only assist. It is for you to convert opportunities into created wealth. It is for you to do the innovation required for new businesses to prosper. It is for you to catalyze risk into profit,” Mr. Dominguez said. — Maya M. Padillo

PSALM denies blaming ERC for interest costs incurred

August 3, 2018 | 6:44 pm

POWER Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) said it is not blaming the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for the interest cost it incurred in securing funding to pay maturing debt.
“The computation of PSALM simply presents the cost of contracting loans to supplement the needed funds to pay maturing debts while awaiting approvals of its UC-SCC (universal charge-stranded contract costs) and SD (stranded debts) applications filed with the ERC,” PSALM President and Chief Executive Officer Irene Joy B. Garcia, said in a statement on Thursday night.
PSALM is reacting to statement by a group of electric cooperatives claiming that the agency tasked to privatize government power assets was blaming the ERC for its rising costs. The cooperatives were citing proceedings during a Senate hearing.
On Wednesday, the ERC clarified that some of the applications of PSALM to recover stranded debt and stranded contract costs have yet to complete the legal process or hearings. Other petitions that are up for decision need rulings from the commission sitting en banc.
The ERC needs a vote of three of its five commissioners to decide rate-setting cases. It currently has only its Chairperson Agnes T. Devanadera as two commissioners retired, while the two others were suspended.
PSALM also clarified that it is not accurate to state that it has “ballooning debts.”
It said the total liabilities that PSALM assumed from the National Power Corp. (Napocor) amounted to P1.24 trillion in 2003. It said as of June 30, 2018, the remaining principal debt of PSALM is down to P246.73 billion, while the remaining obligations under its independent power producer (IPP) contracts amount to P202.7 billion.
PSALM said it had cut down the financial obligations to P449.4 billion or equivalent to a 64.35% reduction.
“PSALM adheres to full transparency. Its records show that privatization proceeds are utilized to pay its financial obligations. The Commission on Audit validates PSALM’s books,” Ms. Garcia said.
PSALM said it had generated privatization proceeds from assets amounting to P918.5 billion, of which it had collected P545.2 billion. The the balance is based on a payment schedule.
The agency said it had recently privatized more than 900 hectares of real estate power assets. It has also sold Power Barge 104 and the decommissioned Sucat Thermal Power Plant.
The privatization process of the Manila Thermal Power Plant will start this month, while the privatization of the Malaya Thermal Power Plant will also start before the end of the year, PSALM said. — Victor V. Saulon

Alternergy seeks ERC approval for transmission line

August 3, 2018 | 6:43 pm

By Victor V. Saulon, Sub-editor
ALTERNERGY Sembrano Wind Corp. (ASWC) is seeking regulatory approval for its plan to build a point-to-point transmission facility to connect its 81-megawatt (MW) wind power plant to the power line of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).
ASWC holds a wind energy service contract granting it the exclusive right to explore, develop and utilize wind resources within an area in the provinces of Rizal and Laguna.
“Pursuant to the Service Contract, ASWC is developing the Sembrano Wind Farm, which is targeted to commence operations in the second half of 2019,” the company said.
ASWC, an expansion of the 54-MW wind farm under Alternergy Wind One Corp., will build the transmission line within the vicinity of Mt. Sembrano and span across the town of Pililla in Rizal province, and the towns of Mabitac and Pakil in Laguna.
Alternergy is led by former Energy Secretary Vicente S. Perez Jr.
In its application with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), ASWC placed the cost of the transmission line at around P715.2 million. It will connect the Sembrano wind farm to the Luzon grid through Meralco’s 115-kilovolt (kV) Malaya-Teresa line.
ASWC said under Republic Act No. 9513, or the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, it enjoys the benefit of priority dispatch as a generating unit utilizing an intermittent renewable energy resource.
“Given the RE Law’s objective to accelerate the development of the country’s renewable energy resources and increase the utilization of renewable energy, it is in the interest of the government to help RE developers such as ASWC achieve commerciality and commence operations at the soonest practicable time,” ASWC said.
The interconnection of the Sembrano wind farm to the Luzon grid involves the construction along the public road of a three phase 115-kV line. The line is around 10.2 kilometers and spans the high voltage substation of the project to the proposed Pililla switching station.
The dedicated facility will be owned, operated, maintained and used exclusively by ASWC for the connection of the wind farm to the grid. Meralco and ASWC have an interconnection agreement dated March 23, 2017.
“A provisional authority is needed to enable ASWC to achieve the target commercial operations date . . . in the second half 2019 and avoid adverse consequences to [the company],” ASWC said.
The ERC is set to tackle ASWC’s application next month.