Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube
Home Blog Page 1332

US taking ‘bold new steps’ to quicken progress of alliance with Philippines

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. is flanked by US Deputy Chief of Mission Y. Robert Ewing and Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya at commemoration rites of Day of Valor in Bataan on April 9, 2025. — PPA POOL/NOEL B PABALATE

By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio and Adrian H. Halili, Reporters

THE US is taking bold new steps to accelerate its military partnership with the Philippines, an American envoy said on Wednesday, citing the alliance as a “pillar of security” in the Indo-Pacific region.

“As Secretary of Defense Hegseth announced a few weeks ago, we are taking bold new steps to accelerate the progress of the alliance,” US Deputy Chief of Mission Y. Robert Ewing said in a speech at a Day of Valor ceremony in Bataan province livestreamed on Facebook.

“Today, the US-Philippine alliance stands as a pillar of security and stability in the Pacific. Our forces work shoulder to shoulder, 365 days a year to advance our shared goal of a free and open Indo-Pacific where international law is respected,” he added.

The Day of Valor, a national holiday, commemorates the fall of Bataan and the resistance on Corregidor Island against Japanese troops during World War II.

Mr. Ewing said the shared experience of the US and Philippines during and after the war forged unbreakable bonds. “These bonds are now the foundations of the ironclad US-Philippine alliance.”

Last month, US Defense Secretary Peter Brian Hegseth visited Manila where he vowed to help arm the country with deterrence capabilities by deploying advanced weaponry, such as an anti-ship missile system and unmanned sea vessels to counter China’s aggression in the South China Sea.

Mr. Ewing said the US is also keen on deepening cooperation on cyber-defense to reduce the Philippines’ vulnerabilities, increase security and enable more advanced operational cooperation.

US and Philippine forces are set to hold Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) exercises later this month until the first week of May.

For his part, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya said the Philippines holds a critically strategic position for Japan and the entire region because it is situated in “a vital sea lane and a crossroad of geopolitical significance.”

“The current global security landscape is fraught with challenges,” Mr. Endo said in a speech at the same event. “Unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force continue to intensify, creating a complex and uncertain environment.”

He added that Japanese and Philippine relations have reached “unprecedented levels,” demonstrated by their shared efforts to enhance security and law enforcement capabilities.

China and the Philippines have been at loggerheads over confrontations near disputed features in the South China Sea, with Manila accusing China’s coast guard of aggression and Beijing furious over what it calls repeated provocations and incursions.

A United Nations-backed tribunal based in The Hague in 2016 voided China’s claim to more than 80% of the South China Sea, where more than $3 trillion worth of trade passes through each year, for being illegal.

At the same event, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. cited the need to boost peace-building cooperation with other countries to stop more wars from happening.

“The lessons we have learned teach us that the solution to war is not more war, but peace,” he said in a speech. “Peace cannot be attained by a single person or a single country. We must bring together all parties involved. These are the lessons we hope to have learned.”

PHL-AUSTRALIA TALKS
Meanwhile, top generals of the Philippine and Australian armies concluded on Tuesday a two-day meeting in Manila, where they discussed ways to deepen security ties, including possible joint military exercises in the next two years.

In a statement, the Philippine Army said they held talks with their Australian counterparts to boost defense cooperation and security ties amid China’s expansive claim in the South China Sea.

Philippine Army acting Chief-of-Staff Ferdinand B. Napuli met with Australian Army Deputy Chief-of-Staff Chris Smith and Australia’s defense attache to the Philippines Emma McDonald-Kerr at Fort Bonifacio, the army’s headquarters in the Philippine capital.

The military officials discussed activities that the Philippines and Australian armies could do in the next two years, such as “combined arms training” to help enhance interoperability.

“The activity’s outcome reflects both armies’ shared commitment and collaborative efforts and will serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of regional unity in ensuring security and stability,” Mr. Napuli said in the statement.

The meeting between the Philippines and Australia came on the heels of Manila’s recent string of defense engagements with Canada, Japan and coincided with ongoing joint military drills between Philippine and US forces ahead of the annual Balikatan exercises.

Australia’s Defense department on Monday said military training activities between Manila and Canberra’s forces are set to increase this year, signaling deeper military ties between the two nations.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines and Australian Defense Force will conduct more than 20 training drills and military exchanges in a program called the Joint Australian Training Team-Philippines this year, “more than doubling the number delivered in 2024,” it added.

“The Philippines is one of Australia’s most important regional defense partners, and we share a commitment to a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region,” Australia Defense department Chief of Joint Operations Justin Jones said in the statement.

The Philippines is boosting security ties with western nations and regional allies in the eastern hemisphere, including Australia, as they grapple with tensions involving China, such as Manila’s sea disputes and Canberra’s spying concerns.

Philippine forces have repeatedly sparred with Chinese ships and aircraft in the South China Sea over competing claims on Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal, among other sea features. Beijing asserts sovereignty over almost the entire sea based on a 1940s nine-dash line map that overlaps with the maritime zones of the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Australia expressed concerns with China in February after the People’s Liberation Army Navy conducted live-fire drills in international waters within the Tasman Sea — more than 8,000 kilometers away from Hainan Island, China’s nearest major landmass — which separates Australia and New Zealand.

China did not inform the Australian government of its planned exercise, leading to some commercial planes having to change their flight plans, Reuters reported.

Political analysts said the Philippines could benefit from deeper security ties with Japan and the US, as the country seeks to modernize its armed forces.

“As a security partner, the Philippines will have preferential treatment to procurement and acquisition of military material to improve our military modernization,” Chester B. Cabalza, founding president at think tank International Development and Security Cooperation in Manila, said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

He said Manila would benefit from both countries’ advanced weapon system, war experience, interoperability and strategies.

Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. earlier said he would ensure funding to fast-track the country’s military modernization program before his term ends in 2028. The government has allotted $35 billion in the next decade for its modernization plan.

“The US and Japan can help the Philippines more in the South China Sea by pursuing functional cooperation and the peaceful settlement of disputes with China and other parties,” Rommel C. Banlaoi, chairman of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research, said in a Viber message.

The Philippines has been seeking more foreign defense deals with countries like the US, Japan, Australia and Canada amid worsening tensions with Beijing in the South China Sea.

“The trilateral defense cooperation with Japan and the US is founded on common security, confidence building mechanisms, and treaty alliance to allow reciprocal and visiting military forces,” Mr. Cabalza said.

Michael Henry Ll. Yusingco, a fellow at the Ateneo de Manila Policy Center, said the Philippines should learn to be more self-reliant in its defense capabilities instead of relying on alliances.

“The national security narrative should be shifting now,” he said via Messenger chat. “The public’s attention should be focused on the challenges that must be overcome to establish a self-reliant defense posture. The constant edifying of these defense alliances fosters a dependency mentality amongst the population.”

He added that for the Philippines to be fully independent, taxpayers should “accept the burden of paying for the cost of establishing a self-reliant defense posture.”

“Taxpayers, in particular, should now accept that they will have to shoulder the bill for this initiative to be truly successful,” Mr. Yusingco said. “This is the fact that is always lost when defense pacts with stronger nations are elevated to a higher status in the public discourse.”

PCG to send 17,000 officers to safeguard Holy Week travels

PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD

THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will deploy 17,000 officers to secure the sea travels of more than a million Filipinos heading to the provinces during Lenten break, its chief said on Wednesday.

The PCG personnel will coordinate with the Transportation department’s maritime offices to prevent maritime incidents and casualties, PCG Commandant Ronnie Gil L. Gavan said in a statement.

The coast guard will conduct a round-the-clock monitoring of sea lanes of the country’s western and eastern seaboards and inter-island routes, while deploying its K-9 units and security teams at seaports, where they will also conduct vessel inspections, he added.

The predominantly Catholic nation observes the week leading up to Easter Sunday as a religious tradition, with many Filipinos flocking to major transportation hubs such as seaports so they can head home.

The Philippine Ports Authority expects to see 1.73 million passengers next week, it said in a statement on Tuesday, 3.5% higher than the 1.67 million it logged last year. About 3 million Filipinos already went to ports in March alone, the port regulator said.

“This influx presents challenges, such as overcrowding, vessel overloading and heightened risks of maritime-related crimes,” Mr. Gavan said.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Tuesday ordered the Transportation department and its attached agencies to inspect terminals, ports and airports to ensure the safety and convenience of all passengers, according to Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Clarissa A. Castro.

Mr. Gavan will place its PCG stations, substations and districts on a “heightened alert” status from April 13 to 20 to help personnel manage the influx of port passengers.

“Maritime crimes, such as robbery incidents, are still a prevalent threat considering the influx of passengers across ports… necessitating heightened security in busy ports and anchorages,” he said.

Coast guard rescue units will help lifeguards in seaside tourist destinations, while ships will conduct regular coastal patrols within their assigned jurisdictions, Mr. Gavan said. “PCG seaborne patrol units also prepare for possible search and rescue missions.” — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Philippines completes resupply at Second Thomas Shoal

BRP SIERRA MADRE, a marooned transport ship which Philippine Marines live in as a military outpost, sits on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, part of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. — REUTERS

THE PHILIPPINE military on Wednesday said it had completed a routine resupply mission to its marooned naval ship at Second Thomas Shoal, a hotly contested maritime feature in the South China Sea where the Philippines and China had clashed.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines carried out its routine troop rotation and resupply mission to its beached vessel alongside the coast guard “without any untoward incident,” it said in a statement.

A handful of Filipino marines are stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre, a World War II-era warship that Manila grounded at the shoal in 1999 to assert its sovereignty.

Philippine forces conduct resupply missions about every two months to rotate stationed troops and bring in provisions. China had in the past tried to block Philippine ships from resupplying BRP Sierra Madre before Manila and Beijing agreed on a “provisional agreement” to de-escalate tensions in July last year.

The Philippines and China have been at loggerheads over disputed features in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost in its entirety. A United Nations-backed tribunal based in The Hague in 2016 voided China’s claim for being illegal. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

House bill eyes higher taxes on pre-mixed alcoholic drinks to limit use

EESHAN GARG-UNSPLASH

A BILL that seeks to curb the Philippines’ alcohol consumption by increasing the taxes on pre-mixed alcoholic beverages was filed at the House of Representatives last week.

House Bill No. 11493, filed by Party-list Rep. Percival V. Cendaña on April 2, seeks to reclassify pre-mixed alcohols as fermented liquors instead of distilled spirits under the Philippine Tax Code. That means a P252 tax per liter of alcoholic content by 2031, according to a copy of the bill obtained by BusinessWorld.

Pre-mixed alcoholic drinks are described as beverages with less than 10% alcohol content and are made by combining them with fruit juices or carbonated water.

“The adjustment in excise tax rates on pre-mixed alcoholic beverages aims to reduce the harmful effects of alcohol consumption by discouraging excessive drinking, particularly among the youth and vulnerable sectors,” Mr. Cendaña said in the bill’s explanatory note.

A 2024 World Health Organization report said alcohol consumption contributes to 2.6 million deaths each year globally, with about 400 million people having alcohol use disorders, including 209 million living with alcohol dependence.

The Philippines ranked fifth in alcohol consumption compared with its regional peers, with Filipinos drinking at least six liters of alcoholic drinks in 2023, according to a Southeast Asia Stats report last year.

Pre-mixed alcoholic beverages in the Philippines are subject to a 22% ad valorem tax on top of a P69.60 specific tax per proof liter, according to excise tax rates on the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) website.

“This bill seeks to reclassify pre-mixed alcoholic beverages as fermented liquors, imposing a revised excise tax structure that progressively increases specific tax rates from P82 per proof liter in 2026 to P252 per proof liter in 2031, with a 6% annual increase thereafter,” Mr. Cendaña said.

The proposed specific tax schedule for pre-mixed drinks is set to increase to P103 in 2027, P129 in 2028, P161 in 2029, and P201 in 2030, according to the bill.

All manufacturers or importers of pre-mixed alcoholic beverages must report their total sales and unshelved products to the BIR so the government could keep track of their inventory.

Establishments that inaccurately report their data to the BIR face the risk of having their business permits revoked. They may also be required to pay deficiency taxes with interest.

“Any person liable for any of the acts or omissions prohibited under this section shall be criminally liable and penalized,” according to the bill. Foreigners who violate the proposed law could be immediately deported after serving their criminal sentence. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

BARMM electoral code could serve as model to curb political dynasties

BW FILE PHOTO

By Chloe Mari A. Hufana, Reporter

THE Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) could serve as a legislative model for the National Government in curbing political dynasties, a political analyst said, following the Supreme Court’s (SC) move to compel both chambers of Congress to respond to petitions pushing for the enactment of an anti-dynasty law.

“There’s precedent for the BARMM law to be the jump-off point for anti-dynastic legislation,” Hansley A. Juliano, political science lecturer at the Ateneo de Manila University, told BusinessWorld in a Facebook Messenger chat on Wednesday. “Local legislation and policies have been borrowed by national policy multiple times.”

The Bangsamoro Electoral Code, signed into law on March 8, 2023, includes a provision that prohibits nominees of regional parliamentary political parties from being related within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity. 

This means that individuals such as children, siblings, parents, or spouses of other nominees cannot be nominated by the same party.

However, Mr. Juliano noted the need to observe at least one or two more electoral cycles before assessing the law’s full impact, noting the differences in the implementing rules and regulations.

BARMM is set to hold its first parliamentary elections on Oct. 13, after being postponed from May 12 due to Sulu’s exclusion from the region.

In an October 2024 report, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism found that 216 of 253 districts are represented by individuals who at least have one other relative previously or currently elected in public office, or hoping to get elected in 2025.

Also, among the candidates gunning for a Senate seat are the two brothers of Senator Rafael T. Tulfo, reelectionist Senator Pilar Juliana S. Cayetano, and the sister of Senator Mark A. Villar, whose term-limited mother is running for Las Piñas City’s district representative. Should they win, there will be a total of nine senators who are siblings, including the Ejercito-Estrada brothers.

Mr. Juliano also weighed in on the growing clamor for judicial intervention to bypass legislative inertia on the national level, following the High Court’s order on Tuesday.

“Judicial intervention is definitely understandable at this point — it’s much delayed, even,” he noted. “So far, judicial intervention based on petitioner filings does not seem to violate separation of powers, at least compared to judicial activism (i.e., making case decisions that will compel jurisprudence to be imposed on legislation).”

Still, Mr. Juliano emphasized that the biggest obstacle lies not in legality but in political will.

“Of course, the real block here is the good faith of the actors involved. With the bulk of the House still comprised of dynasties or aspiring dynastic politicians, it’s like asking the turkeys to vote for Thanksgiving.”

The SC en banc on Tuesday gave the Senate and the House of Representatives a non-extendible period of ten days from notice to comment on the consolidated petition filed by Kapatiran Party (Alliance for the Common Good) and, Wilfredo Trinidad, and 1Sambayan Coalition.

The Kapatiran Party earlier argued that the failure of Congress to pass an enabling law for over three decades constitutes a grave abuse of discretion.

Citing Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution, the petition emphasizes that the provision, which sought to “prohibit political dynasties,” is not merely aspirational but imposes a clear directive on the legislature to act.

The petitioners asked the SC to order both chambers of Congress to enact the necessary law and to recognize that the legislature’s long-standing inaction has effectively nullified a constitutional safeguard intended to promote equal access to public service and prevent the monopolization of political power.

Following this, the 1Sambayan Coalition filed a similar petition, which likewise asserted that the continued failure of lawmakers to define and prohibit political dynasties represents a constitutional violation.

1Sambayan also highlighted the detrimental impact of dynastic politics on governance, accountability, and social mobility in the country. Their petition strengthens the argument for judicial intervention, stressing that the legislative gridlock can no longer be tolerated given its far-reaching consequences on democratic processes.

Missing Filipino in Myanmar confirmed dead — DFA

Commuters drive past a building that collapsed, in the aftermath of a strong earthquake, in Mandalay, Myanmar, March 30, 2025. — REUTERS

THE REMAINS of one of the four missing Filipinos killed in the 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar has been found, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed on Wednesday.

“The remains of one of the four missing Filipinos in Mandalay, Myanmar have been positively identified. The family of the deceased Filipino has been so informed,” the DFA Undersecretary Eduardo A. De Vega said in a statement.

“Out of respect for their privacy in this time of grief, we are withholding further information on the matter,” Mr. De Vega added.

The DFA said that it will continue to “work and hope for the best” for the three unaccounted-for Filipinos in Myanmar.

The Philippine Embassy in Yangon earlier said that it had already relocated 15 Filipinos in distress as of April 3.

A 7.7-magnitude quake struck Myanmar and parts of Thailand on March 28, crippling major infrastructure like airports, bridges and highways and killing more than 3,000 people. The recent quake is considered to be one of the biggest in the last century.

The Philippines sent a 91-member humanitarian aid team, composed of army and air force soldiers and people from the Office of Civil Defense, Bureau of Fire Protection to assist earthquake victims in Myanmar. — Adrian H. Halili

Improve lives of others — Marcos

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. spoke before veterans during the commemoration of the 83rd Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) in Pilar, Bataan on Wednesday. — PPA POOL/NOEL B PABALATE

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Wednesday urged Filipinos to advance causes that would “improve the lives of our fellow Filipinos.”

“In honoring our forebears, may we recognize that valor is not solely about strength and resolve in the face of adversity but also about small acts of compassion, generosity, and kindness that creates meaningful ripples of positive change in our communities,” he said in a statement.

Mr. Marcos also ordered all government agencies to speed up the processing of benefits for members of uniformed personnel killed in action.

“So to all of you, the beneficiaries of our programs for the families of those who have fallen while serving the country, today I can say that we will finally provide everything you have been waiting for, which has taken so long,” he said in Filipino at the awarding of certificates from the National Housing Authority and financial assistance to the families of fallen soldiers and members of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Boost MSMEs through Bagong Pilipinas Marketplace, DTI told

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. attended the opening ceremony of the Department of Trade and Industry’s National Food Fair at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong on Wednesday. — REVOLI CORTEZ/PPA POOL

PHILIPPINE President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Wednesday called on the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to make full use of its digital marketplace platforms to expand the market of micro, small, medium enterprises (MSMEs) as well as large businesses, especially those in the food services industry.

At the DTI’s National Food Fair in Mandaluyong City, streamed live on YouTube, he cited the importance of the upcoming DTI Bagong Pilipinas Marketplace digital platform to expand supply chains and to make delivery of goods and services more efficient for these smaller businesses.

“The DTI will lead the implementation of a sustainable framework that aims to ensure the long-term functionality and support for MSMEs in today’s digital economy,” he said.

In a statement, the Trade and Industry department said its Bagong Pilipinas Marketplace, which aims to be the largest business-to-business e-commerce platform, is set to launch the platform this year to promote MSMEs to a global audience of culinary enthusiasts and business buyers.

“We must therefore work hand in hand to provide our local businesses with the knowledge and the resources that they need to navigate this new digital landscape,” Mr. Marcos said.

“But we are also committed to ensuring that our entrepreneurs and consumers are protected through secure cashless payment systems.” — John Victor D. Ordoñez

UN treaty sought for elderly

PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE DEPARTMENT of Foreign Affairs  (DFA) said that the Philippines is calling for the United Nations (UN) to draft a treaty supporting the rights of older persons globally.

In a statement, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique A. Manalo said that the Philippines “will push further until we have a substantive UN treaty honoring the rights and dignity of older persons worldwide.”

The DFA said that Argentina, Brazil, Gambia, and Slovenia also support the strengthening of human right protection, including older persons globally.

An intergovernmental working group is set to convene before the end of the year to establish the foundations for future negotiations.

“The Philippines recognizes the challenges faced by the older population, including violence and discrimination based on age and exclusion from access to social security and decision-making processes,” the DFA added. — Adrian H. Halili

Duterte lawyer’s ID request slammed

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

AN International Criminal Court (ICC)-accredited lawyer on Wednesday slammed the recent proposals made by the lead legal counsel of former Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte regarding identification requirements and legal representation for the victims in ongoing investigations.

Center for International Law (CenterLaw) President Joel Ruiz Butuyan rejected Mr. Duterte’s lead counsel, Nicholas Kaufman’s suggestion that victims be required to present government-issued identification such as passports or driver’s licenses.

While still not the official representative of the victims before the ICC, Mr. Butuyan handled drug war-related cases in the Philippines.

He argued that such documents are inaccessible to the “poorest of the poor”—those who, he said, comprise the majority of individuals killed during Mr. Duterte’s bloody anti-drug campaign.

“The kind of IDs being demanded by Mr. Kaufman are documents that are badges of wealth and privilege in the Philippines,” he said in a statement. “They are unavailable to victims who wallow in poverty and who constitute the overwhelming number of the people killed by his client.”

He accused Mr. Kaufman of making proposals that reflect “total ignorance” of the local socioeconomic conditions, adding that the British-Israeli lawyer is likely “speaking from his experience as a citizen of a wealthy country.”

Mr. Butuyan, who is one of the five Filipino lawyers accredited in the international tribunal, warned that enforcing stringent identification requirements would effectively deny recognition to victims’ families, compounding the harm they have already suffered.

“To refuse them recognition because of their lack of government-issued IDs is to make them suffer grave injustice twice over,” he said.

The lawyer also rebuffed Mr. Kaufman’s suggestion that the Office of Public Counsel for Victims (OPCV) be appointed to represent the victims, calling it “totally abhorrent” that Duterte’s camp would attempt to influence the choice of legal representation.

Mr. Kaufman, the victims must have the say on who should speak for them, and not you, who speaks for the mass murderer,” he said.

The ICC is currently probing alleged crimes against humanity committed during Mr. Duterte’s anti-drug campaign. The crackdown, a cornerstone of his administration, has been widely criticized by international human rights groups for its brutality and disregard for due process.

Official government figures estimate the death toll at over 6,000, but rights organizations claim the number could be as high as 30,000, with many victims coming from poor and marginalized communities.

In 2018, the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute — the treaty that founded the ICC — after the court announced its preliminary examination of the drug war.

Under the court’s framework, victims are allowed to present their views and concerns through legal representatives.

Mr. Duterte was arrested on March 11, upon his arrival at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, acting on a warrant issued by the ICC.

The tough-talking leader was then flown to The Hague, the Netherlands, where the ICC is based. He is still currently detained there. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

DILG to launch infra audit tool

A VIEW of buildings in Makati City. — PHILIPPINE STAR/MICHAEL VARCAS

THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Wednesday that it is preparing to launch a nationwide infrastructure audit tool designed to assess the structural resilience of buildings in Metro Manila and surrounding regions ahead of a possible major earthquake.

The initiative comes amid growing concerns about the so-called “Big One,” a high-magnitude quake projected along the West Valley Fault that could devastate the capital and nearby provinces.

Marlo L. Iringan, DILG Undersecretary for Local Government, said the new Harmonized Infrastructure Audit tool will introduce a national standard for evaluating the earthquake readiness of public structures.

In a statement, Mr. Iringan said that the tool will help local government units prioritize which buildings require urgent inspection.

The tool will first be deployed in Metro Manila, Region III (Central Luzon), and Region IV-A (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) — areas considered most vulnerable to seismic activity.

To address a lack of technical manpower, the DILG is partnering with academic institutions to involve senior engineering students in conducting structural assessments.

According to data from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, over 3,000 buildings sit directly on the West Valley Fault.

Officials estimate that 12-13% of residential buildings could suffer severe damage in the event of the “Big One.” — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Transfer of 7 Sulu parliamentary districts mulled

COTABATO CITY — Members of the 80-seat Bangsamoro parliament will work out the reallocation to other areas of the seven parliamentary districts in the province of Sulu, which is no longer part of the autonomous region.

The Supreme Court, in a final ruling early this year, took out Sulu from the core territory of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) based on a petition filed by its governor, Hadji Abdusakur Mahail Tan, Sr.

Two members of the BARMM parliament, Jose Iribani Lorena and Omar Yasser Crisostomo Sema, separately explained on Monday that the transfer of the seven districts in Sulu, which had an appointed lawmaker each, has to be accomplished prior to BARMM’s first-ever parliamentary elections in October 2025.

“There are legal complexities related to that. All issues and concerns about that shall be studied carefully,” Mr. Lorena told reporters present in the press briefing at the BARMM capitol in uptown Cotabato City.

Mr. Sema said the setting up of seven new parliamentary districts in other provinces and cities in BARMM shall be based on the real and well validated necessity for ample representation in the regional lawmaking body of the areas each shall cover.

“That can be done. We in the parliament shall work that out,” Mr. Sema said.

The transfer of the seven parliamentary districts in Sulu to other areas in the BARMM is one of the priority thrusts of Chief Minister Abdulrauf Abdul Macacua, which he mentioned in his message to regional lawmakers during a session on Monday.

Mr. Macacua was appointed chief minister of the Bangsamoro regional government by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. just last month, along with several other members of the regional parliament.

He replaced the region’s first-ever appointed chief minister, Ahod Balawag Ebrahim. They are both senior members of the central committee of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. — John Felix M. Unson

1...1,3311,3321,333...13,838Page 1,332 of 13,838
© 2024 BusinessWorld Publishing.
All rights reserved.
Read our privacy guidelines
Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube