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Well-milled rice prices average P56.21/kg in early Feb.

JCOMP-FREEPIK

THE national average retail price of well-milled rice in early February was P56.21 per kilogram (kg), according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The PSA reported on Tuesday that prices rose 1.43% during the Feb. 1-5 period, which it calls the first phase of the month, compared with the P55.42 per kg average in late January.

Central Luzon posted the highest average retail price during the period, with well milled rice selling for P58 per kg.

At the low end was Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) with well-milled rice prices at P53.08 per kg during the period.

The PSA said that the average price for a kilogram of regular-milled rice was P50.36 per kg during the first phase of February.

It reported that BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) posted the highest average price of P54.37 per kg for this variety of rice, while Western Visayas was at the low end at P44.28 per kg.

During the period, brown sugar averaged P77.08 per kg.

The PSA reported that prices were the highest in Calabarzon at P88.88 per kg. The lowest price was reported in the Zamboanga Peninsula at P64.9 7per kg.

Refined sugar, on the other hand, averaged P87.95 per kg in early February. The high and low were set in Calabarzon and Zamboanga Peninsula at P97.06 per kg and P78.96 per kg, respectively.

Additionally, galunggong or round scad posted an average retail price of P214.78 per kg in early February, up from P213.34 per kg during the second phase of January.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) expects fish prices, including galunggong, may drop 30% with the end of the closed fishing season in Visayan and Mindanao waters.

Commercial fishing was banned in several major fisheries starting in the fourth quarter, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

The closed fishing season is a conservation measure aimed at allowing fish stocks to regenerate. — Adrian H. Halili

Philippines to sue China if evidence shows cyanide use in Scarborough

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporter

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said on Tuesday that the Philippine government would file cases against China once it is proven that Chinese fishermen had used cyanide in Scarborough Shoal, a traditional fishing ground that is well within Manila’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.

“If we feel that there is enough ground to do so, we will,” he told reporters on the sidelines of an event in Manila.

Citing reports from Filipino fishermen, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) last week said Chinese and Vietnamese fishermen have been using the deadly chemical compound in Scarborough Shoal.

“The best that we know is that there really is as far as we can tell. According to BFAR, it is really being used, some are also saying that it has been happening for a long time now,” Mr. Marcos said.

He said it is more alarming that cyanide use has been prevalent in Philippine waters.

“I do know that there have been cases of cyanide fishing before, even here in the Philippines, but I think the reason that it has been more alarming is that it has become more prevalent,” he said.

On Monday, Jonathan E. Malaya, spokesman of the National Security Council, said a national task force handling tensions in the South China Sea had ordered the fisheries bureau to gather pieces of evidence to support its claims.

Mr. Malaya said once the report is confirmed, it will be submitted to the Office of the Solicitor General and the Department of Justice “to determine if there’s prima facie evidence of wrongdoing and who’s responsible.”

“Our lawyers will take it from there,” he said.

A 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea recognized the traditional fishing rights of small-scale Filipino and Chinese fishermen in Scarborough Shoal, which is locally known as Bajo de Masinloc.

BFAR spokesperson Nazario C. Briguera on Feb. 17 said, “the Chinese intentionally destroy Bajo de Masinloc to prevent Filipino fishing boats from fishing in the area,” noting that parts of the shoal have already been destroyed with estimated damage exceeding P1 billion.

“This destruction of coral reefs in Bajo de Masinloc is a clear case of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing,” he said.

The Philippine Coast Guard’s spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, Jay Tristan Tarriela, had said they didn’t have “any scientific study or any evidence that would suggest that cyanide fishing in Bajo de Masinloc can be attributed to the Chinese or the Vietnamese fishermen.”

Fisherfolk group Pamalakaya said recently that Filipino fishermen have long reported their Chinese counterparts’ use of cyanide, adding that the Philippine government under various administrations “has taken no action to stop the destruction of the Philippine fisheries.”

China has already dismissed the BFAR’s claim, calling it a “sheer fabrication.”

“The Chinese government attaches great importance to the protection of eco-environment and conservation of fishing resources and resolutely fights against fishing activities that violate laws and regulations,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a Monday briefing.

The Chinese embassy in Manila, meanwhile, accused the Philippine government of “continuous disinformation,” which it said has “led up to nothing but exacerbation of the maritime tensions and destabilization of bilateral relations.”

Scarborough Shoal has been a major source of tensions between the countries, with the Chinese Coast Guard preventing Filipino fishermen from doing fishing activities in the area.

The shoal is 240 kilometers west of the Philippine main island Luzon and is nearly 900 kilometers from Hainan, the nearest major Chinese landmass.

In mid-January, a China Coast Guard ship deployed a rubber boat to chase a small boat of Filipino fishermen collecting shells in the vicinity of the shoal. One of the five Chinese personnel forced them to return the shells to the sea before being allowed to leave. They were subsequently driven away.

China has effectively controlled Scarborough, which is also claimed by several other countries, in 2012 after maintaining constant coast guard presence there, according to the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative.

PhilHealth urged to halt premium contributions

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

By Beatriz Marie D. Cruz, Reporter

A CONGRESSMAN wants to suspend premium contributions to state-run Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to provide workers financial relief amid the agency’s excess funds.

Marikina City Rep. Stella Luz A. Quimbo said in House Resolution No. 1595 that suspending PhilHealth premium contributions would result in a P400 monthly wage increase for non-agricultural workers in the capital region.

“The unspent premium of PhilHealth can very well cover the premium contributions of minimum wage earners for at least a year,” Ms. Quimbo said in a statement.

Ms. Quimbo, who is also a senior vice chairperson of the House appropriations committee, said suspending premium contributions would offer financial relief to PhilHealth’s members.

She noted that PhilHealth had excess funds amounting to P39 billion out of the P79 billion Congress earmarked last year.

She added that the agency did not spend P24 billion despite its P80-billion subsidy in 2022 for the premium contributions of poor families, senior citizens, and persons with disability (PWD).

“The 2022 unspent appropriations for premium subsidies can be utilized to subsidize the employee share in premium contributions of minimum wage earners and the premium contributions of self-employed individuals earning minimum wage in 2024,” Ms. Quimbo said in the resolution.

Last week, she said that a legislated wage hike could fan inflation.

The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading a P100 across-the-board wage increase for all private sector workers. Congressmen are also studying a proposed P350 to P400 wage hike.

Ms. Quimbo said the suspension of premium contribution would take effect until PhilHealth finalizes its contribution adjustments.

“This temporary suspension is not just about providing short-term economic relief but also about initiating a comprehensive review of PhilHealth’s benefits and contribution structure,” she said.

Last week, PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel R. Ledesma, Jr. told congressmen that the state insurer will increase its benefit package by 30% to cover half of patient-members’ hospital bills.

Marcos: PHL neither denies nor approves ICC presence

PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

WHILE maintaining that he has not approved an International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation of the previous administration’s bloody war on drugs in the country, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. hinted on Tuesday that he allows the presence of its investigators on Philippine soil.

“I don’t approve or deny [ICC presence in the country]. You know, they haven’t done anything illegal. Once they do, of course, we will do something about it,” Marcos told reporters. “We are an open country; we are not a closed country.”

Still, Mr. Marcos made it clear that his administration, like that of his predecessor Rodrigo R. Duterte, would not cooperate with the ICC because it has no jurisdiction over the Philippines.

The ICC probe covers alleged crimes committed in Davao City from November 2011 to June 2016 when Mr. Duterte was still its mayor, as well as cases during his presidency up until March 16, 2019, the day before the Philippines withdrew from the treaty that established the ICC.

A Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted on Dec. 8 to 11 last year showed that 53% of Filipinos agreed with the ICC probe of the drug war, up from 45% in March. The pollster, in a Feb. 20 report, said 26% were undecided and 20% disagreed.

The net trust that the ICC would be impartial in its investigation rose to +12 from +1 “but uncertainty continues to dominate,” according to the poll.

Meanwhile, an OCTA Research poll on Dec. 10 to 14 showed 55% of adult Filipinos were in favor of the Philippine government cooperating with the Hague-based tribunal’s investigation of the drug war.

On the other hand, 45% are opposed to cooperating with the ICC probe, OCTA said.

It said 59% of adult Filipinos were in favor of rejoining the ICC, while 41% opposed the idea.

In Congress, lawmakers called on Mr. Marcos to allow the Philippines to rejoin the ICC and send the “correct signal” to foreigners on the country’s stand on human rights.

“It’s all about sending the correct signals to our foreign friends and investors,” Party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo L. Gutierrez said. “We want to show them that we respect and uphold the rule of law, human rights.”

Last year, Mr. Gutierrez and Manila Rep. Bienvenido M. Abante, Jr. filed House Resolution No. 1477, urging the Philippine government to cooperate with the ICC’s investigation of the Duterte administration’s anti-drugs campaign.

“Rejoining the ICC would provide a critical mechanism for holding the government accountable, particularly concerning grave human rights abuses,” Assistant Minority Leader Arlene D. Brosas said in a statement.

“Given the widespread human rights violations in the Philippines, having independent oversight and accountability mechanisms is crucial,” she added.

When asked whether his government would change its stance on the ICC probe given the results of the latest opinion polls on the matter, Mr. Marcos said: “It’s still those questions of jurisdiction and sovereignty. I haven’t yet seen a sufficient answer for it.”

“Until then, I do not recognize their (ICC’s) jurisdiction in the Philippines,” he added.

The government estimates that at least 6,117 people were killed in Mr. Duterte’s drug war between July 1, 2016 and May 31, 2022, but domestic and international human rights groups say the death toll could be as high as 30,000.

The December SWS poll also showed that the percentage of those who had extensive knowledge of the ICC investigation rose to 14% from 10%, while those with partial but sufficient knowledge rose to 30% from 24%.

“On the other hand, those who had only a little knowledge slightly fell from 37%, while those who had almost no or no knowledge at all fell from 30%,” the pollster said.

Mr. Marcos in January said his government would not, in any way, cooperate with the ICC. But that was before his successor openly attacked his administration and called him a drug addict in a political rally in the southern Philippine city of Davao on Jan. 29.

Mr. Marcos had vowed to shift the focus of the drug war to rehabilitation, but the University of the Philippines Third World Studies Center’s Dahas project had reported that a year into his term, a total of 342 people had been killed by state actors in connection with illegal drugs.

Earlier this month, Dahas reported that at least 28 people had been killed in the anti-narcotics campaign in January, over a dozen of which were done by unidentified assailants. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza with a report from Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

LTO to begin 24-hour production of license plates

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

THE LAND Transportation Office (LTO) will shift to a 24-hour operation to clear its backlog of about 12 million license plates for motor vehicles by next year, the agency told congressmen on Monday.

LTO administrative officer for property Maria Clarissa G. Ogsimer said the agency’s plant will operate on a “three-shift’ model to increase plant productivity by 27.9% to 48,600 plates per day.

“This shift will enable the agency to complete the production of the entire backlog before the end of second quarter of 2025,” she told the House transportation committee.

A three-shift system would include a night shift to the standard two eight-hour shift, covering the proposed 24-hour production of license plates.

The LTO also has a shortage of 3.2 million plastic driver’s license cards as of Feb. 14. LTO Central office administrative division chief Louella V. Mutia said the backlog was caused by a court injunction issued against its supplier, Banner Plasticard, Inc.

This temporarily stopped the office’s P240.1-million contract with Banner Plasticard, Inc., with the LTO resorting to printed paper licenses.

The government has tapped the National Printing Office, the central bank, and government-owned APO Production Unit to supply plastic license cards.

Ms. Mutia said documents for the procurement of plastic license cards have been submitted to the Transportation department for review. Its memorandum of agreement (MoA) will be signed two weeks after the bids and awards committee’s approval.

If the TRO on the injunction is denied, the LTO will request an additional budget of P132.03 million to procure the remaining backlog, Ms. Mutia added. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Philippine military defends joint air patrols with US

Two fighter jets of the Philippine Air Force fly with a bomber plane of the US Pacific Air Force over the West Philippine Sea during the third iteration of the two countries' Maritime Cooperative Activity on Feb. 19, 2024. — PHILIPPINE AIR FORCE

THE ARMED Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Tuesday that its joint air patrol with the United States over the South China Sea early this week had followed international rules and was aimed at boosting their interoperability.

Three Philippine fighter jets and a US bomber aircraft flew over the disputed waterway on Monday, over a week after their navies held drills at sea.

In a statement, the AFP said it was the air component of its 3rd Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) with the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) which began in early February.

The activity was aimed at boosting the AFP’s capability to “perform its mandate and maintain its presence over the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).”

“[It] demonstrates the commitment of both armed forces to enhancing interoperability and advancing regional peace and security in the Indo-Pacific.”

The Chinese military earlier accused the Philippines of stirring up trouble in the South China Sea by conducting a joint air patrol with “extraterritorial countries” and then openly hyping it up.

The activity is “in no way directed towards any country,” Philippine Air Force spokesperson Ma. Consuelo Castillo told reporters.

It is in line with the international rules, “as we were operating within our territory and within the Philippines’ EEZ,” she added.

The joint air patrol covered areas 90 nautical miles west of Candon, Ilocos Sur and 50 nautical miles northwest of Lubang, Occidental Mindoro.

Last Feb 9, the third iteration of the MCA involved the Philippine Navy’s BRP Gregorio del Pilar and the US Navy’s USS Gabrielle Giffords. Exercises included passing, communication, and division tactics to enhance coordination between the two forces in maritime scenarios.

Previous iterations took place in January and November last year.

The Philippines, particularly under the Marcos administration, has sought closer ties with the US amid escalating tensions with China, which claims vast portions of the South China Sea, including areas within Manila’s exclusive economic zone. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Lanao provinces under tight guard

COTABATO CITY — State forces have tightened security at the border of Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte provinces to forestall possible retaliations by Dawlah Islamiya gunmen, following clashes last Sunday that exacted fatalities on both sides.

Muslim religious leaders and local officials in Lanao del Norte told reporters on Tuesday that seven Dawlah Islamiya terrorists and six Philippine Army soldiers from the 44th Infantry Battalion were killed in the two-hour gun battles in the village of Ramain in Munai town, right next to Lanao del Sur towns.

“We are not taking chances. We are guarding against possible retaliations by these terrorists. This group is known for attacking helpless people to avenge the deaths of companions in clashes with pursuing government forces,” Brig. Gen. Allan C. Nobleza, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, said.

According to local leaders, two of the wounded Dawlah Islamiya members were one “Monid” and another named “Ariado,” who are alleged cousins of Khadafi K. Mimbesa, earlier identified by authorities as the mastermind of the deadly bombing of a Catholic mass held at the gymnasium of the Mindanao State University Gymnasium in Marawi City last Dec. 3.

Mr. Mimbesa was one of the nine Dawlah Islamiya terrorists killed in an encounter with soldiers in Piagapo, Lanao del Sur last Jan. 26.

The soldiers killed in last Sunday’s clash were Corporals Rey Anthony K. Salvador, Reland F. Tapinit, and Rodel C. Mobida, Private 1st Class Arnel L. Tornito, and Privates Michael John G. Lumingkit and James N. Porras. — John Felix M. Unson

House OK’s financial literacy bill

PHILIPPINE STAR/MICHAEL VARCAS

THE HOUSE of Representatives has approved on second reading a proposed measure that requires employers to establish a financial literacy program for all their workers and employees.

During the plenary session on Tuesday, House Bill No. 9875, the proposed Personal Finance Education in the Workplace Act, was approved through voice voting.

As a proposed amendment to the Labor Code of the Philippines, the bill mandates that the program include topics on behavioral finance, savings, fund development, debt management, investment, insurance, and retirement planning.

In his sponsorship speech, Bukidnon Rep. Jose Manuel F. Alba said “enlightened and financially secure workers and employees contribute more effectively, fostering a more robust and stable economy.”

According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) 2021 financial inclusion survey, only 2% of Filipinos can correctly answer basic financial literacy questions.

The poll showed that 7% have attended a financial literacy seminar or webinar, and around half of the respondents, or 54%, said they were interested in attending the BSP’s financial literacy training session.

Less than half of the respondents (42%) noted the impact of inflation to their purchasing power, the central bank said.

“A lack of financial acumen leads to debilitating debt, stress-induced decision making, and consequently, a ripple of negative outcomes,” Mr. Alba told the plenary.

He added that the lack of financial literacy results in poor work performance, increased absences, financial dissatisfaction, and even violence in the workplace or at home. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Energy expected for W. Visayas

JEROME CMG-UNSPLASH

A TOTAL of 258 megawatts (MW) of capacity is expected to be generated from the committed generating plants located in the Western Visayas islands of Panay and Guimaras, the Department of Energy (DoE) said.

“Our committed projects to be coming in the next few years… most of these are renewable energy,” Irma C. Exconde, director of the DoE Electric Power Industry Management Bureau, said in a virtual forum on Tuesday.

Committed projects are those that are already in the construction phase or have a financial close in place.

Among the projects cited is the 40-MW Luca solar power project by the Apolaki Eight, Inc., which was one of the winning bids under the second round of the Green Energy Auction Program.

There is also the 13.2-MW wind power project of PetroWind Energy, Inc., with a second phase targeted to be completed by 2024.

“Panay and Guimaras areas have many potential wind resources and also other renewable energy,” Ms. Exconde said.

She said that potential wind power projects in Panay and Guimaras have a total capacity of 5,807 MW, while other renewable energy projects have 550 MW.

To recall, multiple power plants tripped on the second day of the year on Panay Island, causing a widespread power outage in the Western Visayas. Power was restored three days after. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

PBEd offers digital skills to youth

THE PHILIPPINE Business for Education (PBEd) forged fresh partnerships with the local governments of Samar province and the municipality of Arteche in Eastern Samar to bridge the youth’s technology skills gap, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning.

Backed by the Citi Foundation, the JobsNext program was launched in these areas last year to train young Filipinos in digital skills that would help them adapt and contribute to a modern and environmentally sustainable workplace.

“Through the combined efforts and collaboration of the public and the private sector, the dream of empowering Filipino youth looking for employment has come true,” said Justine B. Raagas, PBEd executive director.

She noted that the program will be pursued for a second straight year after over 1,500 young participants were trained last year. This year, the program targets the upskilling of at least 1,000 in Eastern Samar and Samar provinces.

“At Citi, we have a long track record of using our resources and expertise to empower the communities we serve,” said Citi Philippines chief executive officer Paul Favila. “Through the efforts of Citi Foundation and Citi Philippines, we hope to continue to enable growth and economic progress in support of our Filipino youth.”

In a study released in May 2023, online job portal JobStreet said technology-based work remains in high demand among jobseekers in the Philippines and other countries in Southeast Asia, despite layoffs by tech companies.

The Philippines ranked 84th out of 134 economies in the 2023 Global Talent Competitiveness Index compiled by Institut Européen d’Administration des Affaires in collaboration with the Descartes Insitute for the Future and Human Capital Leadership Institute.

“If we do not engage with the demands of digitization, we will be left behind,” Samar Governor Sharee Ann T. Tan-Delos Santos said. “I hope our youth will take advantage of this opportunity.” — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Gov’t distributes farm equipment

THE PHILIPPINE Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) has distributed at total of P302 million worth of farming equipment to farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) in the provinces of Bohol in Central Visayas and South Cotabato in Mindanao.

The agency said P225 million worth of machines were distributed to 26 qualified FCAs in South Cotabato, while P77.5 million worth of farming equipment went to 41 FCAs in Bohol.

“These machines are poised to modernize traditional farming methods, offering mechanized solutions to every agricultural process,” a PhilMech statement said.

Among the machines distributed to farming communities were rice combine harvesters, four-wheel tractors, floating tillers, hand tractors, mobile rice mills, precision seeders, walk-behind and riding-type transplanters, combine harvesters, rice threshers, single-pass rice mills, and a recirculating dryer.

The agricultural equipment was funded under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund’s (RCEF) mechanization program, which is intended to modernize the rice industry.

In a related development, PhilMech said that a rice processing facility is set to be constructed in Bukidnon, which includes a multi-stage rice mill and two mechanical dryers. — Adrian H. Halili

Apex answers environmentalists blaming mining for Maco landslide

APEX Mining Co., Inc. has reiterated the findings of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau 11 (MGB 11) that attributed the Feb. 6 landslide in the mining town of Maco, Davao de Oro to “natural factors” and not the company’s mining operations.

Still, the company which has been operating in the town for over five decades, expressed willingness to cooperate with inquiries, underscoring their commitment to Maco’s welfare.

The company’s statement follows environmentalists’ calls for accountability over the incident which killed scores of people, many of them Apex Mining employees on their way home from work.

Last week, Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability, Inc. (IDIS), an environmental watchdog, urged authorities to hold both Apex Mining and government agencies accountable for the tragedy.

In response, Apex Mining stood behind the MGB 11’s assessment, which stated: “As has been reiterated by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, the landslide was caused by natural factors.”

Geologists from MGB 11 highlighted rainfall and fault lines in Davao de Oro as major contributors to the Masara landslide. “It was rain-induced… steep terrain, weak geology due to materials in the area, and the Philippine fault zone penetrating Davao de Oro contribute to the province’s susceptibility to landslides,” said Capter John Tubo, supervising geologist at MGB 11.

Regarding the location of the landslide, Apex Mining clarified it occurred outside the mine operations area and serves as a vehicle terminal for employees and community members, approximately 500 meters from the company gate.

Last Friday, disaster authorities reported that the death toll in the landslide that struck Barangay Masara in Maco reached 96, with at least 18 more people still missing.

In light of the incident, Apex Mining disclosed operational adjustments, including reduced milling activities and limited capacity due to restricted access. The company affirmed its focus on disaster relief efforts and supporting provincial government-led search and rescue operations.

Meanwhile, IDIS’s previous statement highlighted concerns about mining activities in Masara, noting the area’s designation as a “no-build zone” since 2008 due to recurring landslides. The environmental group underscored the region’s susceptibility to geological hazards and fault lineation.

IDIS called for a halt to mining operations, criticizing Apex Mining for alleged inadequate compensation and emergency response programs. The group pointed out the company’s establishment of infrastructure in designated hazard zones, implying negligence in adhering to safety regulations. — Maya M. Padillo

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