Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube
Home Blog Page 1461

NAIA T3 lease payment rises to P489M

PHILIPPINE STAR/AJ BOLANDO

THE Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has signed a new memorandum of agreement (MoA) featuring higher annual lease payment for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 (T3) site.

The BCDA signed the new agreement with the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) on Tuesday.

“This new agreement follows the expiration of the 25-year lease in 2023,” the BCDA said in a Facebook post late Tuesday.

“Under the revised terms, BCDA secured a higher annual lease payment of P489 million, a significant increase from the previous P180 million,” it added.

According to BCDA, the MoA also grants MIAA a three-year option to either purchase the property for P48.89 billion, which is the property’s zonal value, or continue leasing from the BCDA.

“Acquiring the property would enable MIAA to gain full ownership of the land and infrastructure, allowing for substantial investments in the airport’s development, modernization, and expansion,” the BCDA said.

“This would ultimately enhance its capacity to accommodate the growing demands of both domestic and international air travel,” it added.

The MIAA in January said that NAIA posted passenger throughput of 50.26 million in 2024, up 10.9%.

This year, the MIAA is targeting a 20-30% increase in passenger numbers.

The signing ceremony, which took place at the MIAA office, was attended by BCDA Chairperson Hilario B. Paredes, BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Joshua M. Bingcang, and MIAA General Manager Eric Jose Castro Ines.

Earlier this year, the BCDA reported a 3% increase in revenue to P11.3 billion in 2024, boosted by a joint venture deal for a mixed-use development in Taguig City.

It also cited a 39% increase in toll and airport concession revenue to P3.2 billion and a 48% increase in dividends from affiliates to P1 billion.

In April 2024, the BCDA said that it remitted P1.1 billion in dividends to the Bureau of the Treasury in 2023, which is double the P527 million it remitted in 2022.

Since its creation, BCDA’s dividends have amounted to P9.6 billion. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

PHL a top climber in trade facilitation rankings

THE PHILIPPINES was among the “lead reformers” in the Asia-Pacific region on trade facilitation, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said in a report.

Trade facilitation refers to measures that streamline and simplify technical and legal procedures for products at the border.

According to the OECD’s 2025 Trade Facilitation Indicators, the Philippines scored 14.97 across 11 indicators, putting it among the “leading reformers” like Laos, Kiribati, Cambodia, Maldives, Tonga, Vanuatu, Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar and Vietnam.

The “lead reformers” refer to countries that had the highest percentage change between their average trade facilitation performance in 2022-2024 from 2020-2022.

The Philippines ranked 15th out of 33 Asia-Pacific countries.

“Being one of the fastest nations to adopt positive reforms on trade facilitation is a welcome sign that the country is catching up with its neighboring countries,” Oikonomia Advisory and Research, Inc. economist Reinielle Matt M. Erece told BusinessWorld via Viber.

However, Mr. Erece emphasized that the Philippines must cut red tape and embrace digital integration to sustain its progress.

“Improvements in these areas will ensure faster trade activity while improving security and transparency on the borders,” he added.

The leading performers in the region in 2024 were Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Australia; New Zealand, China, Malaysia, Thailand, and India, the OECD said.

Overall, South Korea was the best performer in the Asia-Pacific region with a 20.83 score, while the Federal States of Micronesia was last with a 3.41 score.

The OECD said nearly one in two economies in the Asia-Pacific improved their performance in areas of domestic border agency co-operation and information availability.

“The report shows that border bottlenecks and red tape, as measured by the OECD, were reduced on average by 3%-7% since 2022 across the 163 countries and regions covered,” it said.

The OECD also added that this resulted in trade facilitation reforms that reduced trade costs by up to 5% over the last decade. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

BIR wins P5.7-B tax evasion case

BW FILE PHOTO

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) won a P5.7-billion tax evasion case against a Chinese-run illicit cigarette business.

In a statement on Tuesday, BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui, Jr. said the tax evasion case against five Chinese nationals linked to the cigarette operations emerged after its largest raid against illicit cigarettes in 2024.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) ruled in favor of the BIR after the case was filed by the BIR on Feb. 7. The DoJ then forwarded the complaint to the Court of Tax Appeals on March 13.

“The case filed by the BIR with the DoJ came after a multi-city raid executed by the BIR and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group on Nov. 6 and 7 in Valenzuela and Bulacan,” the BIR said.

The BIR said the total tax liability in the case amounted to P5.76 billion after 21,000 master cases of illicit cigarettes were seized during the operation. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

Top US defense official’s visit shows ‘ironclad’ commitment to Philippines

PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, Reporter

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said US Defense Secretary Peter Brian Hegseth’s visit to Manila reaffirms the US’ “ironclad” commitment to its oldest treaty ally in Asia.

“This visit reaffirms what our ally, the US, has long been saying — that their commitment to supporting us and strengthening our alliances with them is ironclad,” military spokesperson Francel Margareth Padilla-Taborlupa told a news briefing in Filipino.

The Philippine military did not say whether Mr. Hegseth would visit military camps, including joint Philippine-US military sites, during his engagement.

“These items will be discussed further with the Defense department as they coordinate for the particular visit of the US secretary of Defense,” Xerxes A. Trinidad, chief of the AFP’s Public Affairs Office, told the same briefing.

Mr. Hegseth will visit the Philippines on March 28 to 29 for a meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr., with talks expected to center on advancing Manila and Washington’s defense ties, the US Embassy in Manila said in a statement last week.

The US Defense chief’s trip to the Philippines comes on the heels of his tour to Hawaii and Guam, where he would meet military leaders overseeing the Pacific region. He will also visit Japan, another Asian ally of the US that has been at odds with China over Senkaku Islands.

China claims more than 80% of the South China Sea based on a 1940s map, which a United Nations-backed arbitration court voided in 2016 for being illegal.

The Philippines and China have repeatedly clashed in the South China Sea, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, due to overlapping claims over disputed maritime features.

Manila has been at the forefront of efforts to contest Beijing’s expansive sea claim, forging deeper security ties with western countries and regional allies like Japan and Australia.

Meanwhile, the AFP said it would welcome the deployment of another American-made Typhon missile launcher in the Philippines should the US send another one.

“The more, the merrier,” Ms. Taborlupa said, reacting to speculations that the US had shipped a second unit of the midrange missile system to the Philippines. A March 18 report by Defense News said the US Army is preparing the deployment of another Typhon battery in the Pacific region.

The Typhon system can launch missiles, including SM-6 missiles and Tomahawks with a range exceeding 1,600 kilometers, capable of reaching the Chinese mainland. It was flown to the Philippines in April last year and has since drawn sharp criticism from Beijing.

The People’s Daily, the newspaper of the governing Communist Party, has urged the Philippines to give up the Typhon missile system, which was deployed by US forces to the Philippines as part of joint military exercises to keep the peace in the region.

Deploying another Typhon missile battery in the Philippines is not intended to escalate tensions in the region, Philippine Navy Rear Admiral Roy Vincent T. Trinidad said.

“The defense posture of the Republic of the Philippines is not designed against any other country,” he said at the Tuesday’s briefing. “We have been abiding by the rules-based international order.”

FA-50 GREENLIGHT
Also on Tuesday, the Philippine Air Force said it might lift an order that grounded its FA-50 fleet, allowing it again to conduct patrols in the South China Sea, air force spokesperson Ma. Consuelo N. Castillo told the same news briefing.

“We are committed to bringing this fleet back to full operational status very soon, hopefully within this week so they can get back to their essential missions of maritime patrol and airspace security,” she said.

The air force grounded its 11 FA-50 jets, the most advanced fighter plane in its arsenal, after one crashed in southern Philippines early this month.

The Philippines bought 12 Korean-made FA-50 light fighter jets for a total of P18.9 billion in 2014 as part of efforts to modernize its aging military arsenal amid sea tensions with China.

Ms. Castillo said the air force is waiting for the findings of the crashed jet’s data analysis before giving the fleet the greenlight to fly again.

Philippine airmen would also be sent as observers to a joint military exercise between Australian and US forces in late March, she said.

“The Philippine Air Force will participate in the Talisman Sabre 2025, which is a biennial joint military exercise hosted by Australia, in partnership with the United States,” Ms. Castillo said. “Nineteen Philippine Air Force officers and enlisted personnel will be present as spectators, allowing them to observe and gain valuable insights into large-scale multinational operations.”

Exercise Talisman Sabre is the largest military exercise between Australia and the US, comparable to the Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) exercise between Philippine and US forces.

The Australian war games will take place on March 29 to April 5, Ms. Consuelo said.

House prosecutors ask Senate to summon VP over impeachment raps

VICE-PRESIDENT SARA DUTERTE-CARPIO — FACEBOOK.COM/MAYORINDAYSARADUTERTEOFFICIAL

CONGRESSMEN who will serve as prosecutors in Vice-President (VP) Sara Duterte-Carpio’s impeachment trial on Tuesday asked the Senate to compel her to comment on her ouster complaint.

In a motion, the lawmakers also urged the Senate to summon Ms. Duterte to inform her of the charges against her, which could jumpstart the stalled impeachment process. The congressmen want her to answer in 10 days, according to a copy sent to reporters.

“The move… is a critical step to compel the Vice-President to respond to the articles of impeachment and to avoid unnecessary delays in the conduct of the impeachment trial,” the House of Representatives prosecution panel said in a statement.

The House impeached the Vice-President on Feb. 5, alleging secret fund misuse, unexplained wealth, acts of destabilization and plotting the assassination of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and his family. Ms. Duterte has denied any wrongdoing.

The impeachment complaint was filed and signed by more than 200 congressmen, more than the one-third legal requirement before it could be sent to the Senate.

House of Representatives Minority Leader and Party-list Rep. Marcelino C. Libanan, who has been appointed lead prosecutor, said they filed the motion more than a month after Ms. Duterte’s impeachment since they thought the Senate had halted all legislative work to give way for the May midterm elections.

“We didn’t file it immediately because we thought it was their break,” he said in a separate statement in Filipino.

Mr. Libanan said senators should start Ms. Duterte’s impeachment trial immediately despite being on a legislative break since they are still holding congressional hearings.

“The premise is that they’re on a break because it’s the campaign period,” he said. “But what we see is that the Senate is still able to hold hearings. So, if they can do this, then let’s follow the Constitution,” he told a news briefing in Filipino.

The Senate has yet to convene as an impeachment court since Senate President Francis G. Escudero insists they could not do so while Congress is on recess. Senators plan to present the articles of impeachment and approve the revised impeachment rules once it reconvenes for a two-week session in June.

Congress has been on a four-month break since February for the midterm elections. Filipinos will pick a new set of congressmen, 12 of the 24-member Senate and other local government officials on May 12.

“We are not pressuring [the senators],” Mr. Libanan said. “We are doing our job. We also want to campaign, but we would be guilty of a culpable violation of the Constitution if we fail to fulfill our duty.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Escudero said he would ask the Senate legal team to discuss the House motion.

“I have not seen it yet,” he told reporters in a Viber message. “I will refer it to the Senate legal team and discuss with them tomorrow. We will act on this accordingly and in due course.”

Based on the proposed impeachment trial schedule, the prosecution’s presentation and the approval of updated impeachment trial rules were set for June 2. The Senate is expected to convene as an impeachment court the day after. The issuance of summonses was set for June 4.

The proposed start of the trial was scheduled for July 30, once newly elected senators take their oath as impeachment judges on July 29.

Mr. Escudero earlier said the impeachment trial would likely be concluded before the October recess. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio and Adrian H. Halili

Labor department clarifies pay rules for April holidays

THE Department of Labor and Employment has issued an advisory detailing the pay guidelines for regular and special nonworking holidays in April.

The advisory, signed by Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma, covers Eid’l Fitr (April 1), Day of Valor (April 9), Maundy Thursday (April 17), Good Friday (April 18) and Black Saturday (April 19).

On regular holidays — April 1, 9, 17 and 18 — employees who do not work are entitled to 100% of their daily wage, provided they report to work or take an approved leave on the preceding working day.

Employees working on these days will receive double their wage for the first eight hours, with an additional 30% premium for overtime work.

If the holiday coincides with an employee’s rest day and they are called to work, they are entitled to an additional 30% of the basic wage on top of the doubly pay.

For April 19, a special nonworking day, a “no work, no pay” policy applies unless a company’s internal policy or a collective bargaining agreement specifies otherwise.

Employees working on this day are entitled to an additional 30% of their daily wage for the first eight hours, with a 50% premium if the special day falls on a rest day.

Overtime hours on this day will also be subject to a 30% increase in the hourly rate, according to the labor advisory. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Petition seeking former President Duterte’s release not moot, SC told

FORMER PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. DUTERTE — INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT / COUR PÉNALE INTERNATIONALE

THE YOUNGEST child of former Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte maintained her petition seeking the release of her father remains valid despite his current custody under the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In a 34-page comment filed on March 24 before the Supreme Court (SC), Veronica A. Duterte argued that the government’s claim — that it can no longer produce the Mr. Duterte’s body because he is already in the Netherlands — is not moot.

“Petitioner hereby reiterates that the respondents should not be allowed to escape the extraordinary writ of habeas corpus by simply claiming that [Mr. Duterte] is no longer in their custody,” it added.

“The fact that the former President is under ICC custody does not render the consolidated petitions moot. Indeed, he is still illegally detained on the basis of a warrant of arrest issued by a court with no jurisdiction,” it read.

Ms. Duterte also argued against the mootness of the petition, maintaining that her father was “illegally detained” having been served a warrant of arrest issued by a court with no jurisdiction.

She asserted the ICC failed to timely exercise its jurisdiction after it authorized prosecutors to begin investigation in 2021, long after the Philippines’ withdrawal took effect in 2019.

In a separate comment, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Z. Duterte likewise said the warrant is “void and unenforceable,” citing that the Constitution provided that no person could be arrested or detained without a warrant issued by a Philippine court.

For the same reason, Davao City Rep. Paolo Z. Duterte said in a separate comment that the arrest violated Philippine sovereignty.

The three Duterte siblings also said that the arrest was in violation of former President Duterte’s constitutional right against unlawful seizures, claiming it did not undergo due process.

OSG’S RECUSAL
Ms. Duterte also noted the Office of the Solicitor General’s (OSG) decision to recuse itself from the case, calling it “unsurprising.”

The OSG, under Solicitor-General Menardo I. Guevarra’s leadership, recused itself as it “may not be able to effectively represent respondents in these cases” due to its firm stance that the international tribunal has no jurisdiction over the Philippines.

“The Philippine Government has no legal obligation to cooperate with the ICC nor recognize any process emanating from the ICC following the effectivity of the country’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute,” Mr. Guevarra, who was Mr. Duterte’s Justice Secretary, wrote in his recusal on March 17.

“The OSG’s recusal is therefore [a] clear indication that Mr. Duterte’s abduction and transfer to The Hague pursuant to the ICC warrant of arrest is illegal and indefensible,” the youngest Duterte added.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) is now representing the Philippine government in the petitions.

Among the respondents cited by the three Duterte siblings — Veronica, Paolo, and Sebastian — were Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla, and Philippine National Police Chief Police General Rommel D. Marbil.

Ms. Duterte noted that while the territorial limitations of the writ of habeas corpus may restrict the SC’s jurisdiction over the ICC, the respondents remain within its authority.

The High Court can, therefore, compel the respondents to seek Mr. Duterte’s return from the ICC, Ms. Duterte’s comment read.

Former President Duterte, who served from 2016 to 2022, was arrested on March 11 in Manila, marking the biggest step yet in the ICC’s probe of his alleged crimes against humanity in connection with his anti-illegal drug crackdown that killed thousands and drew condemnation around the world.

The Hague-based tribunal has been investigating the firebrand leader for crimes he allegedly committed when he was Davao City mayor and during the first three years of his government when the Philippines was still a party to the international tribunal.

In an ambush interview also on Tuesday, DoJ chief Jesus Crispin C. Remulla declined to comment on Ms. Duterte’s traverse, saying the matter is already pending before the SC.

“We’ll just answer. We’ll file a pleading,” he said. “I think that we were able to give the legal basis for everything that happened on March 11. I stand by everything that we did.”

Meanwhile, Palace Press Officer and Presidential Communications Undersecretary Clarissa A. Castro said on the same day that President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has not yet discussed any plans of rejoining the ICC.

“The last time we spoke with the President, we asked him about it personally, and he just smiled and said that there hasn’t been any discussion about it yet,” she said in Filipino.

“When it comes to the alleged incoming freeze order to be issued by the ICC, there is no commitment on our part, on the part of the administration, if we will comply with any order issued by the ICC considering that the ICC as of the moment has no jurisdiction over the Philippines,” she added.

The 79-year-old former president’s hearing for the confirmation of charges is scheduled for Sept. 23, following his initial appearance before the ICC in The Hague on March 14. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Timor-Leste ASEAN bid at risk — DoJ

JESUS CRISPIN C. REMULLA — PHILIPPINE STAR/JOHN RYAN BALDEMOR

TIMOR-LESTE’S denial of the Philippines’ extradition request of a former lawmaker accused of murder may not bode well for its bid to be a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Department of Justice (DoJ) said on Tuesday.

“It’s not going to be pleasant for Timor-Leste because they’re applying to be in the ASEAN, and we are one of the founding fathers of the ASEAN,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla told reporters in an ambush interview in Manila.

He was referring to former Negros Oriental’s 3rd District Representative Arnolfo A. Teves, Jr., accused of killing Negros Oriental Governor Roel R. Degamo in 2023 and others.

Mr. Teves, whose Philippine passport was canceled by the Department of Foreign Affairs last year, is currently in Timor-Leste.

The Justice chief said all Timor-Leste has to do is deport him because Mr. Teves is an undocumented Filipino.

“This matter is just a very simple matter of an undocumented Filipino who’s accused of a crime to be returned to the country. For them to complicate it is a big stretch,” he added. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Fake goods top BoC’s smuggling list

MEMBERS of the Bureau of Customs-Customs Intelligence Investigation Service inspect various counterfeit shirts, perfumes and other luxury goods at a warehouse in Las Piñas City. — PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

COUNTERFEIT goods, assorted items, and nicotine products topped the list of seized items in 2024 based on value, the Bureau of Customs (BoC) said.

In its 2024 annual report, the BoC said it confiscated illicit goods valued at P85.167 billion in 2,116 anti-smuggling operations. This was 97% higher than the P43.4 billion worth of smuggled goods seized in 2023.

Broken down, 41% or P34.7 billion came from fake goods, followed by “multiple various items,” such as kitchenware, appliances, and apparel among others, and cigarettes, tobacco, and vape products which accounted for 39% (P33.44 billion) and 11% (P9.29 billion), respectively.

Other smuggled products on the list are vehicles, accessories, and vessels (P4.24 billion), and illegal drugs (P1.9 billion) that were mostly marijuana, methamphetamine and ecstasy.

In comparison to 2023, the top five seized goods were counterfeit goods (P25.38 billion), illegal drugs (P7.71 billion), cigarettes/tobacco (P3.82 billion), agriculture products (P3.46 billion), and general merchandise (P974.07 billion).

Preliminary data from the BoC showed that revenue collections grew by 4.5% to P931.05 billion last year from P890.45 billion in 2023.  It, however, missed the P939.7-billion target in 2024 set by the Development Budget Coordination Committee.

“Throughout 2024, the BoC disposed of a total of 358 forfeited containers, which included 146 that were auctioned, 186 that were condemned, and 26 that were donated to different government entities,” the BoC said.

Customs said the smuggled frozen mackerel worth P178.5 million was donated on December 14, after confirming their safety for consumption with the Department of Agriculture.

“The donation benefited 150,000 families, particularly those in marginalized communities and care facilities,” it added. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

LRMC to extend LRT-1 operations

Passengers get off at a Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) station. — PHILIPPINE STAR/RYAN BALDEMOR

LIGHT RAIL Manila Corp. (LRMC) is set to extend the night operations of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) by 30 minutes starting Wednesday, the rail line’s private operator said.

“LRMC supports the call of the Department of Transportation (DoTr) to provide extended service for the benefit of the riding public,” LRMC President and Chief Executive Officer Enrico R. Benipayo said in a media release on Tuesday.

Starting March 26, LRMC will extend its operating hours on weekdays, it said, noting that the last train would leave Dr. Santos station at 10:30 p.m., a 30-minute extension from the previous 10 p.m. schedule. Fernando Poe Jr. station would also see a 30-minute extension with the last train leaving at 10:45 p.m. from the previous 10:15 p.m., LRMC said.

Meanwhile, there will be no change in schedule for the first train leaving both Dr. Santos and Fernando Poe Jr. stations at 4:30 a.m. on weekdays.

The LRT-1 operator said it had considered the impact of the extension period to the rail line’s maintenance window, Mr. Benipayo said, adding that the LRMC will ensure continuous availability, reliability, and safety of its service.

“We shall continue to monitor the situation and adjust accordingly, and rest assured that we will continue to implement initiatives that will allow us to better serve our passengers,” Mr. Benipayo said.

LRMC said it is also working to enhance its services and studying the deployment of an expanded fleet and possible addition of trains if necessary.

To recall, the Transportation department has also ordered to extend the night operations of Metro Rail Transit Line 3 by at least an hour starting on Monday to serve more passengers.

LRMC is the joint venture of Ayala Corp., Metro Pacific Light Rail Corp., and Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines) Pte Ltd. Metro Pacific Light Rail is a unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which is one of three Philippine subsidiaries of Hong Kong’s First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being PLDT Inc. and Philex Mining Corp.

Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., maintains interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Food prices to go down once CALAX operates — Palace

CAVITE-LAGUNA Expressway (Laguna section - Mamplasan entry) — LMP 2001

FOOD PRICES are expected to go down once the 44-kilometer Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) is fully operational by the third quarter of 2025, the Palace said on Tuesday.

In a news briefing, Palace Press Officer and Presidential Communications Undersecretary Clarissa A. Castro said the reduction of travel time could also lessen fuel consumption, leading to reduced food prices.

“If we can reduce the travel time, it will definitely also reduce the fuel consumption, and it will benefit all travelers and also those that will transport the food and other necessities,” she said. “[Food] prices will also go down.”

This comes after President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., visited the ongoing construction of CALAX Subsection 3, or the Governor’s Drive Interchange in Cavite province.

CALAX is expected to reduce travel time between the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (CAVITEX) and the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) by 45 minutes.

Ms. Castro said this will benefit about 95,000 motorists every day.

The interchange is currently 44% complete.

The other subsections of the Cavite segment include the Cavitex Connection and the Open Canal Interchange, while the fully operational Laguna segment consists of the Sta. Rosa, Tagaytay, Laguna Boulevard, Laguna Technopark, and Mamplasan Toll Barrier interchanges.

It will also establish a seamless connection between Metro Manila and Region IV-A (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon), enhancing the region’s competitiveness as a prime investment destination, the Palace said in a separate statement on March 21. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

30 trafficking victims return to PHL

DMW FACEBOOK PAGE

THIRTY FILIPINO victims of illegal recruitment and human trafficking in Myanmar have safely returned to the Philippines, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed on Tuesday.

The victims arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 in Pasay City on Tuesday, via Philippine Airlines flight PR 0733.

Upon arrival, the victims were immediately provided with assistance, including psychosocial support, financial aid, and legal assistance from a multi-agency team composed of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Bureau of Immigration, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the National Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Justice, and the NAIA Task Force Against Trafficking.

Each of the repatriated victims received P50,000 in financial assistance from the DMW’s AKSYON Fund and an additional P10,000 from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

“Aside from financial assistance, one of the most important things we can provide is legal assistance to help them seek justice,” DMW Undersecretary Bernard P. Olalia said in a statement.

The victims will also be referred to DMW’s reintegration programs, including upskilling and livelihood training through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, to help them rebuild their lives and reintegrate into society.

DMW officials also said that an additional 176 Filipino victims of human trafficking are expected to arrive on a chartered flight on March 26.

The DMW reiterated its warning to overseas Filipino workers and job seekers to remain vigilant against fraudulent job offers circulating on social media, particularly cryptocurrency and love scams, known as “pig-butchering scams.” — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

1...1,4601,4611,462...13,891Page 1,461 of 13,891
© 2024 BusinessWorld Publishing.
All rights reserved.
Read our privacy guidelines
Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube