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DMW chief set for talks in Saudi

DEPARTMENT of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac said on Monday that he will be visiting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) next month to follow up on unpaid monetary claims of thousands of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

In November 2022, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s meeting with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman paved the way for the allotment of 2 billion Saudi riyals for the claims, allowing some 1,500 OFWs to receive their checks from the Saudi Alinma Bank between November and December last year.

About 10,000 OFWs were displaced in KSA from companies that went bankrupt from 2015 to 2016.

“On our list of topics for discussion with our Saudi counterparts is the continuing disbursement of claims due our workers,” said Mr. Cacdac.

He added that recruitment and employment mechanisms for OFWs in KSA and its request for more OFWs to aid its Vision 2030 development program would also be discussed during his visit. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Senator files ConCon resolution

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SENATOR Robin C. Padilla has filed a resolution calling for a Constitutional Convention (ConCon) to tackle proposals to amend the 1987 Constitution.

Under Resolution of Both Houses No. 8 which was filed on April 24, a ConCon would be a “participatory and democratic way” of revising the Constitution,” said Mr. Padilla.

Under the resolution, lawmakers from both the House of Representatives and the Senate would vote separately to decide if they would convene in a Constitutional Convention. A two-thirds vote from each chamber would be needed.

“To dispel any doubt that a proposed revision to the 1987 Constitution would only advance the interests of a few, a Constitutional Convention is deemed to be the more appropriate mode of doing said revision,” the senator said in a statement on Monday.

Earlier, he filed Resolution of Both Houses No. 6 which seeks to extend the terms of elected senators to eight-years. It also seeks to increase the number of senators to 54, with 30 being from each legislative region.

The Senate is also set to resume committee debates on a separate measure seeking to ease foreign ownership restrictions in education, public utilities and advertising to boost foreign investment in these sectors. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Marcos warns vs separatism

PRESIDENT FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR. — PHILIPPINE STAR/RYAN BALDEMOR

PHILIPPINE President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Monday warned against advocates of separatism during his visit to the southern Philippine province of Maguindanao.

“As we defend the gains that we have achieved, we will be vigilant against the enemies of peace. We will bear the full force of the state against terrorist elements, to those who preach the discarded and debunked ideology of dismemberment,” he said in a speech at the 10th anniversary commemoration of a landmark peace deal on the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

“The people will reject your selfish agenda.”

His predecessor Rodrigo R. Duterte and his allies in January bared efforts for a separate Mindanao, a call that has been rejected by many national and local government officials.

Replacing the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, BARMM was inaugurated in 2019 following a peace negotiation between Moro separatists and the Philippine government in 2014 that paved the way for an organic law in 2018.

The first-ever parliament elections in the region was originally set for May 2022 but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic and the failure to come up with an electoral code.

The Bangsamoro Transition Authority in March last year passed an electoral code that paved the way for the creation of political parties in the region with representatives from women, youth, indigenous people, and settler communities.

Mr. Marcos, in his speech, warned against any attempt to derail the parliament elections, despite pleas from local civic groups for another three-year term extension for the transition authority.

Civic groups have been citing unimplemented provisions of the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement for the Bangsamoro, which compelled the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to surrender its firearms and decommission its armed group.

“Let this also serve as a warning to those who may plan to threaten and derail this upcoming election,” Mr. Marcos said. “Don’t think about that anymore because your enemy is the government.”

“Instead, channel your energy to help build productive and thriving communities where citizens are offered wide livelihood opportunities and healthy living spaces,” he added.

The decommissioning program has been hounded by allegations of corruption, an issue that the Government of the Philippines and MILF described as “baseless” in February.

“Contrary to baseless allegations on corruption, especially in the decommissioning, the GPH-MILF Peace Implementing Panels assured the public that proper mechanisms and procedures are in place to guarantee accountability, and trust and confidence in the process,” according to a statement signed by GPH Panel Chair Cesar B. Yano and MILF Panel Chair Mohagher Iqbal.

“Informed by lessons of the past, best practices, and internationally accepted norms on processing combatants and weapons, the Independent Decommissioning Body undertakes stringent verification and validation, among other established safeguards, before MILF combatants and weapons undergo decommissioning,” the parties said.

BARRM recorded a 20% reduction in poverty rate from 2018 to 2021, the Philippine anti-poverty commission said in January, citing the rehabilitation of Marawi City after it was pulverized in 2017 due to a months-long battle between state forces and an Islamic State-inspired group.

Still, BARMM has the highest poverty incidence in the southern island of Mindanao, it said. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Senator targets Quiboloy passport

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

A PHILIPPINE senator has asked the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to cancel the passport of wanted televangelist Apollo C. Quiboloy for failing to appear before Congress or local courts to face sex-trafficking allegations.

“Instead of showing up to the Senate or the court, he records audio messages that insult the capacity of the government to track him down,” Senator Ana Theresia N. Hontiveros-Baraquel said in a statement in Filipino released on Monday. “This is appalling. This should not be allowed to pass, but only challenge government more to exhaust all means to exhaust his movements.”

Last week, the Department of Justice said it asked the Supreme Court to transfer the criminal cases against the televangelist in Davao City to Pasig City.

Justice Spokesperson Jose Dominic F. Clavano IV earlier said that Mr. Quiboloy, who faces child, sexual abuse and qualified human trafficking charges, is still in the country.

The preacher is wanted in the United States for the same allegations.

The Senate earlier issued an arrest order against him for failing to appear before a committee looking into these allegations.

“The world is closing in on him. He is accused of crimes that transcend continents and nationalities,” Ms. Hontiveros-Baraquel said. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

BARMM political coalition formed

SOME 200 political leaders and over 20,000 sectoral representatives from Christian, Moro and indigenous people’s communities converged on Sunday in Marawi City for the launch of a coalition for peace ahead of next year’s first Bangsamoro elections. — PHILIPPINE STAR/JOHN FELIX M. UNSON

COTABATO CITY — Influential leaders across the Bangsamoro provinces converged in Marawi City on Sunday to launch a peace coalition among once-opposing political groups in preparation for next year’s first parliamentary elections in the autonomous region.

The event at the Sarimanok Stadium in Marawi City had in attendance Governors Hadji Abdusakur Mahail Tan, Sr. of Sulu, Mariam Sangki of Maguindanao del Sur, and Mamintal Alonto Adiong, Jr. of Lanao del Sur; Basilan Rep. Mujiv Salliman Hataman, Marawi City Mayor Majul Usman Gandamra, and Suharto Tan Mangudadatu, executive-director of the Technical Skills Education and Development Authority.

More than 20,000 people attended the event for launching the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Grand Coalition or BGC, which aims to boost governance by the Bangsamoro regional government via essential technical, administrative and political interventions.

On Monday, the regional Serbisyong Inklusibo Alyansang Progresibo (SIAP) party chaired by Lanao del Sur Vice Gov. Mohammad Khalid Rakiin Adiong, was lauded for organizing the event which brought together political leaders who once disliked one another.

Mr. Hataman had served as regional governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao which got replaced by the BARMM through a plebiscite in 2019, while Mr. Mangudadatu was former governor of Sultan Kudarat province in Region 12.

The Mangudadatus also have their regional political party, the Al-Ittihad, that also has thousands of members in Bangsamoro towns in Central Mindanao.

BARMM covers Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi and the cities of Lamitan, Marawi and Cotabato. — John Felix M. Unson

Senate OK’s bill creating 12 Shari’a courts

SENATE.GOV.PH

THE PHILIPPINE SENATE has approved on third and final reading a bill creating 12 additional Shari’a courts in different parts of the country, including the capital region.

Twenty senators unanimously approved Senate Bill No. 2594, which seeks to set up these courts in the provinces of Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental and Occidental, Camiguin, Cagayan de Oro, and Cebu, as well as in Metro Manila.

“This will give them (Muslims) an opportunity to listen to and hear their cases where they reside, whether it is northern Luzon, Central Visayas, or in Mindanao,” Senate President Juan Miguel F. Zubiri told the Senate floor following the measure’s approval.

The bill, filed by Senator Robin C. Padilla, who is a practicing Muslim, would increase the number of Shari’a judicial districts, particularly in the major cities of Davao in Mindanao, Cebu in Central Visayas, and the nation’s capital, Manila.

“This is to ensure that our Muslim brothers and sisters across the archipelago will have better access to the specialized knowledge and expertise of shari’a judges, promoting fair and equal treatment of Muslims under the law, regardless of their geographic location,” Mr. Padilla said in the bill’s explanatory note. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Workers’ woes not solved by extended contracts — Bohol lawmaker

PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

THE STATE should look to resolving the underlying problems hounding government contractual workers instead of just extending their contracts, which is not a solution, a lawmaker from Bohol said on “(Extending) means the underlying problems and situations of contractual workers in government remain unsolved by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Department of Budget and Management,” Bohol Rep. Kristine Alexis Besas-Tutor said in a statement.

Last week, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. ordered government agencies to extend the tenure of contractual and job order government workers until the end of 2025.

The government should look into formulating specific solutions for contractual government workers in local government units (LGUs), national government agencies, and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), Ms. Tutor said

“A one-size-fits-all solution will not work, but three sets of solutions calibrated to match these three sets of employment situations of government ‘contractuals’ could work,” she added.

The CSC should consider a law that factors in the experience and competency of government officials who are ineligible for plantilla positions due to deficiencies in educational attainment, Ms. Tutor said.

“Equivalency already exists as an established means to “substitute” years of experience and other factors,” she said. “CSC should develop its equivalency system and align it to the equivalency systems of CHED (Commission on Higher Education) and DepEd (Department of Education).” — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

SC rules illegally dismissed probationary employees entitled to back wages till reinstatement

PHILSTAR

THE PHILIPPINE Supreme Court (SC) ruled that illegally dismissed probationary employees are entitled to back wages until their reinstatement.

The SC En Banc said these employees are not only entitled to back wages until the end of their probationary period but until their actual reinstatement, if possible.

The decision penned by Justice Antonio T. Kho, Jr. held that a “mere lapse of the probationary period without regularization does not by itself sever the employment relationship.”

“Without any valid grounds to dismiss a probationary employee, there is no basis to terminate the employment. Thus, the employee is entitled to work even beyond the probationary period,” it added.

The issue stemmed from a nurse of a private hospital, who was illegally dismissed citing her “negative performance feedback.”

The appellate court ruled in favor of the nurse, saying she had “successfully met” the hospital’s standards and was illegally dismissed.

“The Court found her dismissal baseless since she obtained the passing grades needed to meet the standards for regularization based on the probationary employment contract,” the High Court’s decision read.

It ruled that she is entitled to reinstatement, full back wages, and other benefits. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Restore NFA’s authority to sell cheap rice to public — Tulfo

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

THE GOVERNMENT should consider giving back control to the National Food Authority (NFA) to sell rice in public markets amid increasing prices of basic goods, a congressman told a House panel hearing on Monday.

“By taking away the authority (of the NFA) to sell rice to the public at a lower cost, you removed the ability of the people, the poor, to buy cheaper rice,” Party-list Rep. Erwin T. Tulfo said.

Aside from deregulating the importation of rice products, the Rice Tariffication Law (Republic Act No. 11203) also removed the ability of the NFA to sell rice directly to public markets, only allowing the agency to monitor and ensure ample rice stocks for use during times of emergency.

“Our people are looking for NFA rice. There’s no more NFA rice in the markets today,” Mr. Tulfo said.

The enactment of Republic Act (R.A.) 11203 allowed the NFA to directly sell rice to the public, NFA Officer-in-Charge and Deputy Administrator Mario G. Andrada told the House Agriculture and Food Committee.

The NFA can only sell rice to local governments, he added. “LGUs (Local Government Units) can buy rice stocks from us, with them selling it to the public,” he said in Filipino.

A review of the law should include considering the restoration of the NFA’s authority to sell rice to public markets, Mr. Tulfo said.

While the current law disallows the selling of NFA rice to public markets, the Department of Agriculture (DA) could utilize its buffer fund to stockpile rice stocks to be provided in Kadiwa stores, DA Assistant Secretary Paz Benavidez II said.

“Not all towns in the Philippines have Kadiwa (stores). Kadiwa only exists three to four times a week,” Mr Tulfo said.

‘EXTEND RICE FUND’
The DA has proposed the extension of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) up to 2030 as the fund is set to expire next year.

DA Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development Christopher V. Morales is also seeking to increase the funding of farm machinery under the RCEF to 55% from its current share of 50% in the P10-billion annual allocation.

Amending the Rice Tariffication Law to allow the department secretaries of the agriculture and trade agencies to import rice under “specified conditions” is also recommended by Mr. Morales, allowing the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and DA to secure buffer stocks alongside the NFA.

Suggested amendments to empower the secretaries of DA and DTI to import rice under specified conditions alongside allowing the NFA to secure buffer stocks through alternative schemes

“We’re also recommending disallowing exports during food security emergencies during time,” he said. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Peso strengthens on US spending data

BW FILE PHOTO

THE PESO inched up against the dollar on Monday as the March US personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index posted a moderate increase.

The local unit closed at P57.675 per dollar on Monday, strengthening by 3.5 centavos from its P57.71 finish on Friday, Bankers Association of the Philippines data showed.

The peso opened Monday’s session weaker at P57.75 against the dollar. Its intraday best was at P57.60, while its worst showing was at P57.77 versus the greenback.

Dollars exchanged went down to $1.46 billion on Monday from $1.69 billion on Friday.

“The peso gained following the milder US PCE inflation report last Friday,” a trader said in an e-mail.

While the US Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge was slightly faster than market expectations on a year-on-year basis, the monthly rate was broadly in line with assumptions, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said in a Viber message.

US monthly inflation rose moderately in March, but stubbornly higher costs for housing and utilities suggested the Federal Reserve could keep interest rates elevated for a while, Reuters reported.

The report from the Commerce department on Friday, which also showed strong consumer spending last month, offered some relief to financial markets spooked by worries of stagflation after data on Thursday showed inflation surging and economic growth slowing in the first quarter.

The PCE price index increased 0.3% last month, matching the unrevised gain in February, the Commerce department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis said.

In the 12 months through March, inflation rose 2.7% after advancing 2.5% in February. The increase in inflation last month was broadly in line with economists’ expectations.

Fed policy makers are expected to leave rates unchanged next week. The central bank has kept its benchmark overnight interest rate in the 5.25%-5.5% range since July. It has raised the policy rate by 525 basis points since March 2022.

Financial markets initially expected the first rate cut to come in March. That expectation got pushed back to June and then September as data on the labor market and inflation continued to surprise on the upside.

Excluding the volatile food and energy components, the PCE price index increased 0.3% in March after rising by the same unrevised margin in February. Core inflation increased 2.8% on a year-on-year basis in March, matching February’s advance.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr.’s statement on the regulator’s readiness to manage peso volatility if necessary also supported the peso on Monday, Mr. Ricafort added.

The BSP has enough foreign exchange (FX) reserves to stabilize the peso, Nomura said in a note on Monday.

“Overall, we remain bearish on peso and continue to see negatives including a weak balance of payments position on a widening current account deficit and strong local demand for FX,” Nomura said.

“We believe BSP is one of the few central banks in the Asia Ex-Japan region that has ample FX reserves to stabilize the peso for a prolonged period (if there is a desire),” it added.

It expects the peso to soften in the near term due to “asymmetric” data releases, it said.

“This is based on our view on long dollar positions/repricing of the US Federal Reserve and how the dollar will likely react more to slightly softer US data than slightly stronger,” Nomura said.

For Tuesday, the trader said the peso could weaken again due to a potentially softer manufacturing report out of China. The trader sees the peso moving between P57.50 and P57.75, while Mr. Ricafort expects it to range from P57.55 to P57.75 per dollar. — AMCS with Reuters

Bargain-hunting lifts PSE index to 6,700 level

PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

THE MAIN INDEX returned to the 6,700 level on Monday, posting its best close in nearly a month, on bargain hunting and as positive sentiment in the US spilled over to the local market.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) rose by 2.12% or 140.89 points to end at 6,769.64 on Monday, while the broader all shares went up by 1.44% or 50.53 points to close at 3,543.28.

This was the PSEi’s best finish in almost a month or since April 4’s close of 6,827.06.

“The PSEi surged by 140.89 points (2.12%) as investors continued to hunt for bargain stocks after the market’s decline in the past few weeks,” Philstocks Financial, Inc. Research Analyst Claire T. Alviar said in a Viber message.

“The positive cues from the US markets last Friday and the easing tensions in the Middle East contributed to the market’s gain. Foreign investors also helped lift the market…,” she added.

Net foreign buying ballooned to P1.18 billion on Monday from P241.78 million on Friday.

US stocks closed higher on Friday, buoyed by a rally in mega-cap growth stocks following robust quarterly results from technology heavyweights Alphabet and Microsoft in addition to moderate inflation data, Reuters reported.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 153.86 points or 0.4% to 38,239.66; the S&P 500 gained 51.54 points or 1.02% to 5,099.96; and the Nasdaq Composite gained 316.14 points or 2.03% to 15,927.90.

US Commerce department data showed monthly inflation rose moderately in March on an annual basis while coming in line with estimates on a monthly basis.

The report offered some relief to financial markets spooked by worries of stagflation a day after data showed inflation surging and economic growth slowing in the first quarter.

“Philippine shares returned near the 6,800 mark as month-end window dressing approached…,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan added in a Viber message.

Almost all of the market’s sectoral indices ended higher, with mining and oil being the lone decliner, dropping by 0.81% or 72.19 points to 8,802.57.

Meanwhile, financials rose by 2.89% or 59.33 points to 2,110.03; services climbed by 2.29% or 42.16 points to 1,878.41; property went up by 1.94% or 48.72 points to 2,560.44; industrials surged by 1.47% or 130.81 points to 9,014.57; and holding firms added 1.47% or 90.48 points to end at 6,227.05.

“Among the index members, Universal Robina Corp. returned above P100, gaining by 8.7% to P104.90 after its steep decline in the previous days. Meanwhile, Monde Nissin Corp. was at the bottom, losing 2.94% to P10.58,” Ms. Alviar said.

Value turnover rose to P5.32 billion on Monday with 603.99 million stocks changing hands from the P3.31 billion with 505.07 million shares traded on Friday.

Advancers beat decliners, 120 against 74, while 49 names ended unchanged. — R.M.D. Ochave with Reuters

Maharlika considers investing in BCDA Clark, Poro Point projects

BCDA.GOV.PH

THE Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC) said it is considering investing in five projects of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

On Monday, the MIC and BCDA signed a partnership to “explore investment opportunities within BCDA properties.”

The five projects are the Clark International Airport expansion; the New Clark City affordable housing project; the Clark Integrated Public Transport System; the Poro Point Seaport Modernization Program; and Clark Central Business District.

“Of course, we most definitely welcome MIC participation because… it’s a show of confidence in our projects that we can show to our investors abroad that the National Government is behind us in developing these programs,” BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Joshua M. Bingcang told reporters.

These projects will require a total investment of about $4 billion. The MIC has yet to announce how much it plans to invest in these projects.

“Normally, when we do PPPs like this, the majority (60%) of the project cost will be by private sector. The 40% can be discussed among government partners. One of which is Maharlika, of course,” Mr. Bingcang said.

Some of these projects can also start as soon as this year, he added. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

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