“LET’S NOT confuse people.”

This was the reply of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano when asked to respond to a statement by Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio on not calling the West Philippine Sea as “disputed.”

Mr. Carpio, who formed part of the legal team of the Philippines when it challenged its claim before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague in 2016, said in an interview with ANC that the international court has already ruled in favor of the Philippines.

“It’s not called disputed before because wala pang (there was no) arbitration case. It’s called disputed because bago lang ’yung Law of the Seas, 1982. (The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea [UNCLOS] was new at the time.) And before that pa, mayroon nang dispute in two terms (there was already a dispute in two terms) ( — a) territorial dispute (and a) dispute (as) to the application of the law of UNCLOS. ’Yung (The) arbitration award deals with the 1982 UNCLOS, (which itself says) they don’t deal with territorial disputes,” Mr. Cayetano said in an interview with reporters at the House of Representatives.

Mr. Cayetano added that even if Filipinos stop using the term disputed, other countries, particularly those with their own claims in the region, and international publications will still use the word to describe the area.

“China refuses to recognize the arbitration award and there is no enforcement mechanism under UNCLOS. So what are we going to do? Magkukunwari tayo, hindi (We’ll pretend that it is not) disputed? So let’s be practical. Hindi ibig sabihin (It doesn’t mean that just) because we’re calling it disputed, it doesn’t mean we’re not saying it’s ours,” Mr. Cayetano said. — Minde Nyl R. Dela Cruz

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is set to open additional outlets to address the delay in the processing of passports.

In an interview with reporters at a congressional inquiry on Tuesday, March 6, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano said: “Itong (This) March, we will open two new offices then… itong (this) June may dadating tayong (we are expecting) another six vans with five machines each. And in between now and then, the other six offices would start. So I’m expecting na (that) by June, 60, 70, 80% of the problem will be solved at hindi na gano’n katagal ang hintayan (and the waiting won’t take that long).”

DFA announced last month that the Office of the Consular Affairs (OCA) at Aseana Business Park in Parañaque would be open on Saturdays.

“Pinag-aaralan na rin kung kaya ng two shifts o 16 hours patakbuhin ang ibang mga opisina. Then kumukuha kami ng extra machines na ilagay sa mga mall, opisina, para mas makapagkuha ng passport. And then sa mga kapatid nating Muslim na magha-Hajj, mayroon na rin tayong action plan especially in Mindanao and near Muslim Mindanao para madali silang makakuha ng passport,” Mr. Cayetano said. (We are looking into the possibility of having two shifts or having some offices operate for 16 hours. Then we’re also getting extra machine to be placed in malls and offices which can process passports. And then for our Muslim brothers and sisters who are going to the Hajj, we have an action plan especially in Mindanao and near Muslim Mindanao so they can get passports easily.)

Mr. Cayetano said delays in passport applications are mainly due to the huge demand, but he also noted that additional offices and vans will have double the department’s capacity and reduce the waiting time in the appointment.

He said he has told APO Printing Unit (APO-PU), which prints the passports for DFA, to buy additional machineries to handle the surge in applications.

“Pero in a few weeks or few months, mapupunuan na rin ’yon. So kailangan maaga pa lang, ngayon pa lang, bumili na sila ng additional na mga makina. And then para bumilis — kasi nababagalan ako sa 10 days, 20 days, mas matagal pa pagdating sa US, sa Europe, sa Middle East — gusto ko maglagay sila ng printing, either sa Europe or Middle East then sa US for Northern America,” Mr. Cayetano said. (But in a few weeks or few months, we can meet the demand. So as early as now, APO should buy additional machines. And then, to expedite the process — because 10 days, 20 days is too slow and it’s even slower [with regards to the] US, Europe, and [the] Middle East — I want them to put up printing in either Europe or Middle East then in the US for Northern America.) — Minde Nyl R. Dela Cruz

THE National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) has warned a broadcasting company against using an IP term as title for a mythological television series.

“The Bagani is real, not a fictional and not even a mythological group of warriors which the ABS-CBN TV series would like to portray. Bagani is an exclusively indigenous term that refers to the peace-keeping force of the Manobo Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) and other ICCs/IPs in Mindanao. The Bagani defends and protects lives, properties and territory,” the NCIP said in a statement dated March 5 and released today.

The commission said portraying Bagani “as merely fictional or mythological, and without reference to its historical and cultural significance, the TV fantasy show distorts, misleads and confuses rather than educate the Filipino TV viewers.” Members of the Manobo and other ICCs/IPs have earlier expressed their disapproval on the use of the term. NCIP said ABS-CBN must “immediately rectify the injustice committed in using the word Bagani,” or the commission, together with the ICCs, would “take all necessary remedies to protect and fulfill the rights of the indigenous peoples to their cultural integrity as guaranteed by the Constitution and by law.”

A FORMER MEMBER of the Charter change (Cha-cha) commission under the Arroyo administration said federalism would be good for the business sector with government processes devolved, but disagrees with the proposed federal-presidential system.

“Business don’t have to go to Manila to get permits… Only (President Rodrigo R. Duterte) openly declared that he wants to restructure government, which is very important. This is our opportunity especially for Davao,” said Lito Monico C. Lorenzana, former Cha-cha commission member and president of the Centrist Democracy Political Institute (CDPI).

However, Mr. Lorenzana said in a chance interview last Friday, March 2, that the federal-presidential system — versus a federal-parliamentary system — voted on last week by the current Consultative Committee for Cha-cha would not really change the existing political setup.

”The problem is it’s the same as we have right now… we want a parliamentary federal system,” Mr. Lorenzana said, adding that the CDPI will campaign nationwide to push for the parliamentary system. — Maya M. Padillo

THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) lowered on Tuesday, March 6, the alert level around Mayon Volcano to 3, which means a “decreased tendency towards hazardous eruption.” However, the agency warned the public that “sudden explosions, lava collapses… and ashfall can still occur and threaten areas in the upper to middle slopes” of the volcano.

Phivolcs has also recommended that a 7-kilometer (km) no-go zone be maintained, particularly in the south-southwest to east-northeast sector, stretching from Anoling, Camalig to Sta. Misericordia, Sto. Domingo. The 6-km radius around the active volcano is declared a permanent danger zone. The previous alert level 4, meaning a hazardous eruption is imminent, was raised last Jan. 22. Phivolcs said in its bulletin yesterday that Mayon’s condition in the past week “has been characterized by a general decline in unrest,” adding that, “should there be a persistent downtrend in monitoring parameters, then the alert level will be further lowered to alert level 2.”

THE Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange is now 68.47% complete and is expected to be completed by April, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) announced yesterday.

In a post on its official facebook page, DoTr said: “This intermodal transport facility is envisioned to be a modern transportation hub, providing a seamless interconnectivity of the different modes of transportation from the neighboring provinces south of Metro Manila. It will facilitate seamless transfers and will offer fixed departure schedules and a centralized ticketing system.” The six-level facility will connect the Light Rail Transit-Line 1, city and provincial buses, UV express vans, and public utility jeepneys. DoTr said the transport hub would be able to accommodate an average of 200,000 passengers daily.

THE Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC) has called on borrowers of closed Empire Rural Bank, Inc. to pay their loans notwithstanding the closure of the bank. Empire Rural Bank, a single-unit bank in Lipa City, Batangas, was closed by virtue of Monetary Board Resolution No. 297 dated Feb. 22.

PDIC, in a statement issued Tuesday, March 6, advised borrowers “to transact only with authorized PDIC representatives, emphasizing that it has not engaged any person, agent or agency to collect the loan payments for and in behalf of the bank.” Queries may be directed to the PDIC-Public Assistance Department through telephone no. (02) 841-4630 or 841-4631 or the toll-free hot line 1-800-1-888-PDIC (7342), e-mail address pad@pdic.gov.phor, or send a message at PDIC’s Facebook account www.facebook.com/OfficialPDIC.

THE Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is aiming to file charges within the next 60 days against local and/or national officials who would be found responsible for the environmental problems in Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan.

DILG-Western Visayas Regional Director Anthony C. Nuyda said in a press conference that an investigating team formed by DILG officer-in-charge Secretary Eduardo M. Año already started the inspection of the area last week. “The objective of DILG as per the directive of the President is to identify who are liable for these problems in Boracay. And if there are people who are liable, local or national officials, should be identified and cases should be filed against them,” said Mr. Nuyda, who is the regional representative in the 12-man team.

He said they will look into the issue of establishments that were allowed to operate despite the absence of business permits and fire safety inspection certificate. “We hope that within 60 days or two months we can already file charges. The charges will still depend on the documents that we will gather but definitely it will be some case of neglect of duty, etc,” he added. — Louine Hope U. Conserva

THE Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-Region 11 office has set up a desk at the Davao International Airport to provide immediate assistance to returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Kuwait who would be displaced by the current ban on the Gulf state. TESDA-11 Information Officer Mafel Joan N. Gamale told media in a forum that they will be offering free skills training to the OFWs, who can also opt to transfer the training scholarship to a dependent.

“Anybody who is interested and able will be accepted for the training. This is a free skills training program to equip the people in a way that it is easy for them to land jobs,” she said. Ms. Gamale said the free skills training program is also open to rebel returnees, or former members of the New People’s Army.

“They will be able to join in the community without stigma because they have skills to bank on,” she said. For 2018, TESDA-11 has P160 million worth of scholarships, covering tuition fee, starter tool kits such as welding machines and ovens, and allowance for mobilization or transportation. Ms. Gamale said some scholarship programs include free meals. — Maya M. Padillo

A BUNKHOUSE at a construction site in Luz, Cebu City collapsed around 3 a.m. on March 6, leaving five dead as of 9 a.m. and 55 others injured, according to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. The city’s Office of the Building Official has suspended all developments being undertaken by the contractor, J.E. Abraham C. Lee Construction. Cebu City Legal Officer Joseph U. Bernaldez said they may sue the construction company as the bunkhouse was built illegally.

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