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Senate hearing flags pace of Boracay cleanup

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Jino Nicolas
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By Camille A. Aguinaldo
THE chairperson of the Senate committee on environment and natural resources expressed doubt that Boracay can be opened prior to its six-month period of rehabilitation, given its pace.
Interior Assistant Secretary Epimaco V. Densing III on Wednesday said the government is looking at a possible “soft opening” of the tourist island by the first week of September, a month before the closure period prescribed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte lapses.
“Even prior to the closure, we’ve already pinpointed specific milestones of the possibility of having a soft opening prior to the six months period given to us…At least prior to the closure, we have discussed at least the first week of September,” Mr. Densing told senators during the hearing on Boracay’s environmental woes. But he also said Task Force Boracay has yet to discuss the definition of soft opening.
Mr. Duterte had approved Boracay’s closure starting Apr. 26 after he described the tourist island as a “cesspool” due to its environmental problems. Senator Cynthia A. Villar, chairperson of the Senate committee on environment and natural resources, called for a hearing on Wednesday to hear updates on Boracay’s rehabilitation.
Mr. Densing clarified that the target date for the soft opening was not yet final as certain conditions had to be met before lifting the closure.
Part of the conditions, he said, was to ensure that the quality of water coming out of the island should be within standards set by the government for 30 days. He also said 50% of the illegal structures in the wetlands should have been dismantled already.
He also added that 70% of the road and drainage system being put up by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) should have been in place, establishments of the easement rule violators should have been completely dismantled, the five wetlands in Boracay where structures were built on should have been reclaimed, and the drainage issue should have been addressed as well.
“We will be finalizing it (referring to the conditions) in our next task force meeting,” he said of the inter-agency rehabilitation task force led by Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu that had been formed by the President through an executive order.
Ms. Villar, for her part, said, “With your condition, I don’t think you can open.”
She said the committee would be conducting a monthly hearing to monitor the progress of the rehabilitation.
Ms. Villar later told reporters: “Of course, two months pa lang tayo (we’re just two months), we still have four months to go. Kaya nga gusto namin every month maghi-hearing kami to give us an update para may some sort of pressure sa kanila to be able to accomplish something every month.” (Which is why we want a hearing every month to give us an update, so there will be some sort of pressure on them to be able to accomplish something every month.)
“I’m crossing my fingers na magsa-succeed sila (that they will succeed),” she also said.
It was also revealed during the hearing that government authority over the water utilities in Boracay remained unresolved. Both the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) and the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) are asserting regulation authority over the water concessionaires. According to Mr. Densing, the matter remained pending before the Office of the President (OP).
As a result, Ms. Villar said proper wastewater disposal has not been fully solved in the area since the two water concessionaires, Boracay Island Water Company Inc. and Boracay Tubi System Inc., have not yet divided which area they would supply water to and dispose the wastewater from.
“If you cannot resolve this issue, how can you open in six months?” she said.
For his part, Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon pushed for the creation of a single body that would manage Boracay Island, similar to the current Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA)
“What we would suggest is a strong administrator which can manage a place like this. It cannot be left to where it is today. All that we have now are ad-hoc solutions. We need a master plan and a master plan to be implemented by a single authority,” he said in a statement.
The senator has filed Senate Bill No. 1765 creating the “Boracay Island Council,” tasked to manage, develop, regulate, protect and maintain the island.

New Comelec commissioner, appellate court justice appointed

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Jino Nicolas
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PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has appointed Marlon S. Casquejo as Commission on Elections (Comelec) ad interim commissioner replacing Christian Robert S. Lim who retired in February, Malacañang announced on Wednesday.
“Pursuant to the provisions of Section, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution and existing laws, you are hereby appointed ad interim commissioner, Commissioner on Elections, for a term expiring on 02 February 2025, vice Christian Robert S. Lim,” stated Mr. Casquejo’s appointment paper which was released by the Palace on Wednesday morning.
The President signed Mr. Casquejo’s appointment on June 18.
The Palace also announced the appointment of Emily R. Geluz as new associate justice of the Court of Appeals. Mr. Duterte signed her appointment on April 30. — Arjay L. Balinbin

SC’s Martires apologizes to Sereno, says no intention to ‘faith-shame’

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Jino Nicolas
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SUPREME Court (SC) Associate Justice Samuel R. Martires on Wednesday defended his alleged “faith-shaming” against ousted chief justice Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno, saying his intention was to actually help her.
“It was not meant to shame her,” Mr. Martires told members of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) during his interview for the post of Ombudsman. He is competing with nine other nominees vying to replace outgoing Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales who is set to retire on July 26.
Mr. Martires asked Ms. Sereno last April 10 in the oral arguments on her ouster petition if invoking God as a source of strength and happiness can be considered a mental illness.
Following the remarks, Ms. Sereno sought Mr. Martires’s inhibition from the quo warranto case against her, accusing him of “faith-shaming” her.
“I apologize to her. It was not meant to shame her. My intention was to actually defend her and that there is nothing wrong for a person to invoke God, to speak about God every minute of his life,” Mr. Martires said.
He explained the question was “a follow up” to the question of Associate Justice Presbitero J. Velasco, Jr. who mentioned bipolar disorder at the oral arguments.
“I did not faith-shame any person and never in my life have I faith-shamed a person, nor did I shame a person in public or even in private,” Mr. Martires told the JBC.
He pointed out: “I may sometimes utter bad words, but I never, never shamed a woman, either in public or in private.”
This was in response to a letter submitted last Monday, June 17 by a group of Catholic priests, evangelic pastors, and religious academics to the JBC’s Ex-Officio Chairman and Acting Chief Justice Antonio T. Carpio. The letter said Mr. Martires lacked probity for not inhibiting himself from the case.
Mr. Martires was one of eight justices who, in a landmark decision on May 11, ruled in favor of Solicitor-General Jose C. Calida’s quo warranto petition seeking to void Ms. Sereno’s appointment. The ruling was affirmed with finality and with the same vote on Tuesday, June 19.
Aside from Mr. Martires, the top magistrate also sought the recusal of Associate Justices Diosdado M. Peralta, Teresita L. De Castro, Francis H. Jardeleza, Lucas P. Bersamin, and Noel G. Tijam, the author of the decision, for allegedly showing bias and partiality towards her.
All six voted to grant the quo warranto petition together with Associate Justices Andres B. Reyes, Jr. and Alexander G. Gesmundo. — Dane Angelo M. Enerio

Nationwide Round-Up

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Jino Nicolas
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Study finds low awareness, compliance with PWD law among LGUs

Wheelchair ramp at the municipal hall of Lubao, Pampanga. —LUBAO.GOV.PH

MAJORITY OF local government units (LGU) have shown to have low awareness and compliance to the provisions of the law requiring services and programs for persons with disabilities (PWD), according to a study by the Center for Local and Regional Governance (CLRG).
“Through a non-randomized survey, CLRG found low awareness among its local legislators on the requirements of RA (Republic Act) 10070,” CLRG said in a press statement for its PWD Policy forum held June 19.
RA 10070, which amends RA 7277 or the magna carta for disabled persons, was signed into law in 2010.
Only six out of 10 LGUs, for example, were shown to have complied with the requirement to create a PWD Affairs Office (PDAO).
“Poor compliance to the creation of a PDAO has consequences on meeting SDG (Sustainable development goals) targets, particularly for the PWD sector.” CLRG Director Erwin Gaspar A. Alampay said.
In his paper, with co-authors Elyzabeth L. Cureg and Don Jeffery A. Quebral, CLRG found that only seven LGUs give wide access of services for PWDs.
The study also found that 58% of provinces and 68% of higher income municipalities are not compliant with RA 10070.
CLRG stressed that the “absence of a PWD office would lessen the chance of change happening for the sector.” — Gillian M. Cortez

Alejano calls for more support to fishermen in Luzon western seaboard

REP. GARY C. Alejano of Magdalo Party-list on Wednesday urged the government to provide additional support to Filipino fishermen in the western seaboard. “Harassment of Filipino fisherfolk by the Chinese, in the West Philippine Sea is real and happening,” the solon said in a statement. Among his recommendations are setting guidelines in dealing with tensions and developing a scheduled fishing system in which fishermen will be accompanied by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). Mr. Alejano also proposed to enhance PCG capability as well as provide fishing vessels and other equipment. “Being a maritime nation, there should be no question in modernizing our coast guard,” Mr. Alejano said. There are currently two pending bills seeking the modernization of the PCG, one of which was authored by Mr. Alejano. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

Set clear guidelines on anti-loitering campaign, Poe says

SENATOR GRACE Poe-Llamanzares on Wednesday said the implementation of “anti-tambay operations” ordered by President Rodrigo R. Duterte needs clear guidelines and safeguards on human rights. “The Philippine National Police should orient its enforcers on the ground on how to handle the so-called loiterers, mindful of their rights and exercising the highest degree of restraint that authorities should observe. We want this to succeed so that our streets would be ridden of criminals and unscrupulous elements without instilling fear and misery among the public,” she said in a statement. — Camille A. Aguinaldo

Camarines Sur to build pili nut-inspired capitol complex

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Jino Nicolas
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THE PROVINCIAL government of Camarines Sur is building a new capitol complex worth P400 to P500 million, with the design inspired by one of the Bicol Region’s main products, pili nut. “We will push to ground-break this in 2019. (According to the architect), it will be broken down into three phases. So phase one, we will push to ground-break next year, phase two, maybe the year after that,” Camarines Sur Governor Miguel Luis R. Villafuerte told BusinessWorld Wednesday, June 20, on the sidelines of the project launch. “It’s gonna be P400 to 500 million. It looks very sophisticated and modern, but in fact it’s just basic materials that are abundantly available in CamSur, such as cement, metal and steel. It’s gonna be environmentally friendly and disaster resilient,” he said. The governor added that the budget will initially come from existing local funds, but they will eventually push for national funding as they see the capitol building, to be located at the capital Pili, becoming a national icon. Rep. Luis Raymund F. Villafuerte Jr., for his part, said the “iconic” design will “put the province in the map.” “We really thought of building an iconic building that will set apart (CamSur) from the rest,” the solon said. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

Cebu’s National Science High School lacks funds to pay for electricity

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Jino Nicolas
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THE CEBU CITY National Science High School (CCNSHS) upgraded its facilities to cater to the demands of the implementation of the K-12 program. But technology needs electricity and the school does not have enough money to pay for its ballooning power consumption. Last June 19, the school’s principal, Dr. Evelyn R. Pielago, told Councilor Joy Augustus G. Young that the school owes the Visayan Electric Company, Inc. P369,984.23. “Our electrical consumption increases… for the past years,” Ms. Pielago said. She noted that the school, with more than 900 students in junior and senior high school, only has a P95,000 budget for maintenance and other operating expenses, which covers janitorial services, utilities, internet connection, office supplies, and trainings and seminars for teachers, among others. Mr. Young, for his part, said the city is willing to help and in fact used to subsidize the school’s electricity bill. However, this was stopped after the Commission on Audit questioned the expense. The councilor said the situation at CCNSHS should be a wake-up call for the Department of Education, which implemented the K-12 program despite the lack of budget and classrooms, among others. — The Freeman

Taxis to start plying Zamboanga City streets as council calls for hiring of traffic expert

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Jino Nicolas
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KATHY WEE SIT VIA BENG CLIMACO FB PAGE

TAXIS OPERATED by Asia’s Latin City Transport Services Cooperative will start plying Zamboanga City streets on June 25 following the release of its franchise by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board. “Now we already have the franchise so we can start taxi operation,” said the cooperative’s chairman, Chairman Jerson Monteverde, during a media briefing earlier this week. The launching of taxi services in the city was pushed by the local government and the Department of Tourism.
TRAFFIC
Meanwhile, the city council has called on the local administration to hire a traffic expert who can help solve the worsening traffic problem. “The immediate solution now is to hire someone who is trained and know how to manage traffic with a scientific approach,” said Councilor Miguel C. Alavar III. Mr. Alavar said the council has passed more than 30 resolutions related to the traffic congestions, but some of these were not considered by the city government. “Among the resolutions passed by the council was asking for additional traffic aides and traffic lights in the major intersections of the city,” he said. — Albert F. Arcilla

Moro boat tradition

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Jino Nicolas
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Brightly colored ancient Moro boats called ginakit are paraded at Sarangani Bay in Malapatan as part of the 13th Pakaradyan Festival and the town’s 49th founding anniversary, celebrated from June 19-21. The ginakit was a main mode of transportation for Muslim royals and tribal chieftains around the inland waters of Mindanao during the pre-colonial and Spanish periods. Malapatan is known for the inaul hand-woven Maguindanaoan fiber and home of Bai Estelita Bantilan, a Blaan mat weaver, who was proclaimed a National Living Treasure last year. The town’s name comes from the ethnic Blaan words Malah and fatan, which means a place where pepper is abundant.

Nation at a Glance — (06/21/18)

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

Phoenix keeps flickering PBA playoff hopes alive

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Jino Nicolas
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By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
THE Phoenix Fuel Masters snapped out of a telling four-game losing streak yesterday, defeating the GlobalPort Batang Pier, 135-108, to keep their flickering playoff hopes in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup alive.
Now at 4-6 with one game left to play in the elimination round, the Fuel Masters need to win their last game and hope other teams on the fringes of the playoff picture fall short to get at least a shot at the eighth and final spot via a playoff.
In beating GlobalPort, Phoenix used an explosive opening quarter to create some distance and just kept its opponent at bay the rest of the way en route to the victory.
Phoenix raced to a 9-2 lead in the first two minutes of the contest before GlobalPort narrowed its deficit to just four points, 17-13, in the next five minutes.
A 9-0 blast by the Fuel Masters, led by Matthew Wright and import Eugene Phelps, extended their lead to 13 points, 26-13, at the 3:16 mark.
They continued to build on it thereafter, outscoring the Batang Pier for the remainder of the opening quarter, 15-9, to hold a 41-22 advantage at the end of the first quarter.
In the second canto, GlobalPort tried to make up for lost real estate.
But the Fuel Masters were not a willing party to what Batang Pier wanted to do, matching everything the latter threw at them.
By the halftime break, Phoenix continued to hold sway, 70-51.
The onslaught continued for Phoenix to start the third quarter as Mr. Wright and JC Intal found the mark from beyond the arc.
The count stood at 89-56, with Phoenix on top, midway into the frame.
The Fuel Masters stretched their lead to 36 points, 97-61, with 3:28 to go before settling for a 107-77 lead heading into the final quarter.
GlobalPort started the fourth period with a jacked-up defensive stance and more aggressiveness on offense, allowing it to cut Phoenix’s lead to 109-88 after two and a half minutes.
Phoenix though would establish order anew, padding its cushion to 28 points, 116-88, at the eighth-minute mark.
GlobalPort tried to recover from the Phoenix recoil after but it hardly made headway on that front as it saw itself slump to the defeat.
Mr. Phelps led Phoenix with a triple-double of 37 points, 23 rebounds and 10 assists.
Mr. Wright had 24 points before fouling out while Jason Perkins had 13 and RJ Jazul 11.
GlobalPort (4-5), meanwhile, was led by Malcolm White with 24 points and Sean Anthony and Stanley Pringle finishing with 15 and 14 points, respectively.
“I guess we are still alive. But more than that, I hope this is a start of something big for us moving forward,” said Phoenix coach Louie Alas after their win.
Phoenix will have a long break before its big match against the Alaska Aces on July 6 where it hopes to get the win and possibly secure a spot for a playoff for a place in the quarterfinals while GlobalPort next plays on June 22 against Columbian Dyip.

Russia beats Egypt to close in on last 16 slot

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Jino Nicolas
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SAINT PETERSBURG — Host nation Russia have one foot in the last 16 of the World Cup after a resounding 3-1 win over Egypt on Tuesday despite the return from injury of Mohamed Salah.
After a tight first half in a rain-drenched Saint Petersburg, Egypt captain Ahmed Fathy scored an own goal before goals from Denis Cheryshev and Artem Dzyuba sealed a win that raises Russian hopes of defying pre-tournament expectations that they would struggle to qualify from their group.
Salah did score Egypt’s first goal at a World Cup since 1990 with a penalty after he had been hauled down 17 minutes from time, but it was too late to regain the momentum for the disappointing Pharaohs.
Russia will be guaranteed a place in the last 16 and Egypt eliminated unless Saudi Arabia beat Uruguay on Wednesday.
Salah was making his first appearance since injuring his left shoulder when falling heavily after being dragged to the ground by Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos in the Champions League final just over three weeks ago.
Russia thrashed a poor Saudi Arabia team 5-0 in the tournament opener last week, but Egypt had been expected to pose a stiffer challenge.
But after Fathi put into his own net, an inspired Cheryshev slotted in his third goal of the tournament, putting him equal with Cristiano Ronaldo in the top scorers’ chart.
Dzyuba’s third goal sent the 65,000-capacity crowd into raptures.
JAPAN MILESTONE
Japan made history in the early game, beating 10-man Colombia 2-1 to become the first Asian side to conquer a South American team at a World Cup.
The complexion of the game was changed radically when Colombia’s Carlos Sanchez was shown the first red card of Russia 2018 for handball in the opening minutes of the contest.
Shinji Kagawa scored from the penalty spot and although Juan Quintero equalized late in the first half, Japan made their superior numbers count, with Yuya Osako heading a winner in the 73rd minute.
Japan’s build-up to Russia has been tumultuous after coach Vahid Halilhodzic was sacked in April and replaced by Akira Nishino, despite steering the team to the finals.
But they will be delighted to start their Russian campaign with a victory after failing to notch a single win in Brazil four years ago — including a painful 4-1 defeat at the hands of Colombia.
“I said at halftime that if we can keep the ball moving, we can deprive the Colombia players of their stamina,” said Nishino.
“Our players were aggressive from the start and I think that worked very well for us. This is just one win and three points, so we will save our celebration.”
SENEGAL PIP POLAND
In the other Group H clash on Tuesday, Senegal recorded the first African win at this World Cup when they beat Poland 2-1, thanks to a deflected Thiago Cionek own goal and a terrible error by Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, which resulted in a goal for man-of-the-match Mbaye Niang.
West Bromwich Albion midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak got Poland back in the game with an 86th-minute minute header but Senegal hung on at Moscow’s Spartak Stadium.
In a match billed as a straight fight between Robert Lewandowski and Sadio Mane, neither scored but Liverpool striker Mane set up Idrissa Gueye for the shot that took a wicked deflection off Cionek, leaving Szczesny totally wrong-footed in the Polish goal for Senegal’s opener on 37 minutes.
Senegal coach Aliou Cisse said the whole of Africa was closely monitoring the progress of Senegal.
“Senegal today represents the whole of the African continent,” he said.
“Of course we represent our country but I can also guarantee that the whole of Africa is supporting us. I’m getting phone calls from everywhere.” — AFP

In-form Portugal star Ronaldo looms over Morocco while Spain faces Iran

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Jino Nicolas
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ROSTOV-ON-DON, RUSSIA — Cristiano Ronaldo will hone in on Morocco on Wednesday after his stunning hat-trick in Portugal’s World Cup opener, while 2010 winner Spain plays Iran in Group B.
The five-time world player of the year bagged a sublime treble against Spain in the heat of Sochi on Friday in Russia 2018’s stand-out match so far, the 51st of his glittering career.
“I’m very happy, it’s a nice personal record to have, one more in my career,” Ronaldo said on Tuesday.
“For me the most important thing is to emphasize what the team did against one of the favorites to win this World Cup.”
Spain heads to Kazan to face Iran still counting the cost of a chaotic run-up to the tournament during which Julen Lopetegui was sensationally sacked just two days before they opened their campaign.
Former international defender Fernando Hierro is now at the helm but barely a week into the tournament Spain — expected to join Brazil, Germany and France in the latter stages — have endured more drama than they would have wanted or expected.
“It’s a crucial match that will determine our World Cup destiny,” said midfielder Isco of the Iran showdown.
“We want to score from the opening minute, even though that won’t be easy.”
Iran kicked off their campaign with a 1-0 win against Morocco, thanks to a late own goal by Aziz Bouhaddouz, piling the pressure on Spain at Kazan Arena on Wednesday.
Iran sit top of the pile as the only Group B team with a win so far, an achievement that sparked widespread celebrations in the streets of Tehran and elsewhere throughout the Islamic republic.
Coach Carlos Queiroz concedes Iran now face one of the biggest challenges in their World Cup history, but maintains they can “make the impossible possible.”
“If the game against Morocco was the World Cup final for us, the game against Spain will be the Universe Cup final,” said the former Real Madrid coach.
Iran have never beaten a European side at a World Cup — their only previous victory was a 2-1 win over the United States in France in 1998.
Morocco need to bounce back from their agonizing defeat against Iran but Portugal and Ronaldo in particular pose Herve Renard’s men a monumental challenge at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.
“We lost a battle but we haven’t lost the war. We’re not dead,” said midfielder Faycal Fajr, one of 17 foreign-born players in Morocco’s squad.
100 UP FOR SUAREZ
Uruguay take on Saudi Arabia in Wednesday’s other game, with forward Luis Suarez set to mark his 100th appearance for the Celeste in the Group A clash in Rostov-on-Don.
The Barcelona man has exited the last two World Cups in disgrace after being sent off for a goal-line handball against Ghana and he infamously sank his teeth into Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini in 2014.
The game itself should be straightforward for Uruguay, who won their opener 1-0 against a Mohamed Salah-less Egypt, as they face a Saudi Arabia team hammered 5-0 by hosts Russia in the tournament’s curtain-raiser.
The Saudis’ preparations were jolted by a mid-air mishap on Monday when the plane carrying them to Rostov suffered a fire in one of its engines.
The aircraft landed safely after what one of the Saudi players called a “simple malfunction”.
Hosts Russia stand on the verge of the knockout stages after Tuesday’s 3-1 win over Egypt in Saint Petersburg.
After a goalless first half, Ahmed Fathi scored an own goal before Denis Cheryshev struck and Artem Dzyuba added a third. Salah scored a consolation penalty late on but it was not enough for the Pharaohs.
Earlier, Senegal secured a first win for an African nation at this tournament, benefiting from a terrible error from Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny to beat Poland 2-1 in Moscow.
Tuesday’s other Group H clash saw Japan come out surprise winners against 10-man Colombia after midfielder Carlos Sanchez received the tournament’s first red card for a handball minutes into the game. — AFP

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