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CoA flags DAR land distribution to ineligible beneficiaries

KIRIL DOBREV-UNSPLASH

THE Commission on Audit (CoA) has flagged the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) for distributing lands to ineligible individuals under a landmark land distribution law due to the lack of a monitoring system, leaving hundreds of redistributed farmlands idle or abandoned.

In a December report, state auditors said that DAR gave 235 unqualified individuals with ownership of farmlands nationwide, with 117 beneficiaries receiving lots spanning over three hectares, both contrary to the 1998 Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

DAR did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

“The lack of effective monitoring system by the DARPOs (Department of Agrarian Reform Provincial Office) on the performance of each ARB (Agrarian Reform Beneficiary) has led to the unproductive or untilled lands awarded to the beneficiaries,” a part of the CoA report stated.

“To wit: 235 ARBs recipients of the Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) in 18 provinces did not meet the eligibility requirement… [while] 117 ARBs in 16 provinces received land in excess of the established three-hectare limit or a total of 72.50 hectares,” it added.

Signed into law during the administration of late former President Maria Corazon S. Cojuangco-Aquino, CARP paved the way for the state to redistribute agricultural lands to landless farmers.

Agricultural land set for distribution could also be granted to farmworkers, tillers and cooperatives, according to the land law.

“A basic qualification of a beneficiary shall be his willingness, aptitude, and ability to cultivate and make the land as productive as possible,” Sec 7. of the 26-year-old law stated.

“The DAR shall adopt a system of monitoring the record or performance of each beneficiary, so that any beneficiary guilty of negligence or misuse of the land or any support extended to him shall forfeit his right to continue as such beneficiary,” it added.

CoA observed that the 235 unfit beneficiaries were not residents of the barangays or municipalities of the distributed lands; neither were they willing to make the farm lots agriculturally productive.

This led to some of the lands being sold for non-agricultural purposes, resulting in the construction of houses or buildings.

“The inaction or failure to resolve said issues by the DARPOs defeated the purpose for which the CARP was implemented,” CoA stated. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

42 OFWs from Lebanon to return

PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Thursday said a total of 42 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from war-torn Lebanon are set to return to the Philippines in two batches.

DMW Undersecretary Felicitas Q. Bay in a virtual briefing said 12 OFWs will return on Dec. 7, followed by 30 others on Dec. 9.

This brings the total number of repatriated OFWs to 1,298, plus 52 dependents, as conflict continues to ensue in the Middle East.

“For our caregivers and hotel workers, we have plans to coordinate with the office of our policy cluster on the needs of our European markets,” Ms. Bay said in Filipino.

For Israel, Ms. Bay said 54 OFWs, who were working as caregivers, are set to return on Dec. 5.

This brings the total number of OFWs repatriated from Israel to 1,100, plus 30 dependents. Of this, 949 were caregivers and 151 were hotel workers.

After arrival, the OFWs will receive P150,000 in cash assistance from DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

Returning OFWs will also get immediate medical attention from the Department of Health, livelihood assistance from the Social Welfare department and skill training vouchers from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

Tensions in the region intensified after Hamas launched missile attacks on Israel on Oct. 7 last year, killing about 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages to Gaza, according to Israeli figures.

Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group that supports Gaza, attacked Israel to show solidarity. Alert Level 3 is in effect in Lebanon, allowing Filipinos to opt for voluntary repatriation.

While Alert Level 2 is in effect in Israel, which restricts movement and allows Filipinos for voluntary repatriation. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Coast Guard beefs up workforce with 4,000 new posts

PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD PHOTO

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved new 4,000 uniformed posts to boost the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) operations during calamities and West Philippine Sea monitoring.

In a media statement on Thursday, DBM said the positions consist of 19 officers and 3,181 non-officers for the PCG.

“The creation of additional positions aims to bolster PCG’s core functions, including maritime safety administration, marine environmental protection, maritime security and law enforcement, and maritime search and rescue,” DBM said.

Budget Secretary Amenah “Mina” F. Pangandaman said this will bolster the operations of the operational capabilities of the PCG.

DBM said in addition to disaster response, the PCG is responsible for enhancing surveillance and maintaining order in the West Philippine Sea to safeguard the country’s territory from any foreign ship abuses and incursions.

“The said Recruitment Plan, with a total ideal number of 37,869 positions distributed following the PCG’s pyramidal organization structure, is set to be implemented until FY 2026,” DBM said.

The additional posts increase the manpower of the PCG to 34,430. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

Australia launches P1.5-B social protection program with DSWD

AUSTRALIA and the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Thursday launched a five-year P1.5-billion program that would boost social protection programs in the Philippines, which includes better welfare programs for indigenous peoples, according to the Australian Embassy in the Philippines.

In a joint statement, the embassy and the DSWD said the Social Protection, Inclusion, and Gender Equality (SPRING) program will involve capacity-building programs and policy reforms for Philippine social protection programs. The program will run from 2024 to 2029.

“Australia is committed to working with the Philippines to achieve its development objectives, and through SPRING we are stepping up our support for the most disadvantaged Filipinos,” Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Hae Kyong Yu during the agreement signing event on Thursday, based on the statement.

Canberra in October launched its five-year development plan with the Philippines, which will provide more than P4 billion each year in mostly official development assistance to support mining, infrastructure, renewable energy and agriculture.

“SPRING builds on Australia’s long-standing support for social protection in the Philippines, driven by the shared ambition of both nations to build a more prosperous and resilient Philippines,” the embassy added.

Trade and investment between Canberra and Manila could grow by 10% this year, Luisa Rust, minister-counselor and senior trade and investment commissioner of the Australian Embassy, earlier told reporters.

Ms. Yu earlier said funding assistance from Australia to the Philippines has reached about P63 billion in the past two decades.

“The DSWD understands that our country is diverse and constantly evolving. That is why we continue to build partnerships and innovate our approach to be just as dynamic and responsive,” DSWD Secretary Rexlon T. Gatchalian said at the same event. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Minority lobbies for impeachment rap

OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE OF VP INDAY SARA DUTERTE

A BLOC of minority lawmakers at the House of Representatives on Thursday started efforts to gather support from fellow congressmen for an impeachment complaint against Vice-President Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio.

“We, the Makabayan bloc in Congress, have initiated efforts to gather the required one-third of signatures from House members to sign the Resolution of Impeachment against Vice-President Sara Duterte,” a joint statement by the House minority faction stated.

Two impeachment complaints containing allegations of graft and corruption, bribery, and betrayal of public trust among other crimes have been lodged at the House this week.

Meanwhile, the majority caucus is yet to discuss the filed impeachment complaints as most lawmakers are focused on lawmaking and ongoing congressional investigations, according to Deputy Majority Leader and La Union Rep. Francisco Paolo P. Ortega V.

“There have been no moves from the majority yet, and nothing has been discussed by the majority,” he said in a media briefing on Thursday. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

2 Davao roads operationalized

PRESIDENT FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR. — PCO.GOV.PH

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Thursday said the government is set to operationalize two key road projects in Davao region by 2026.

He was referring to the Tagum City Bypass Road and the Island Garden City of Samal Circumferential Road.

The government is also working on the completion of the Carmen-Tagum City Coastal Road, he added in a speech at the distribution of certificates of condonation and e-titles to land reform beneficiaries in Panabo City, Davao del Norte.

Meanwhile, Mr. Marcos said two flood-control projects in Sarangani province were nearing completion.

The President distributed 1,251 Certificates of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs) and 13,527 Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (CoCROMs) to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in central Mindanao.

In his speech, he said the 11,709 beneficiaries from Sarangani, Cotabato, South Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat will be freed from P939 million in loans, interests, and surcharges.

In Davao region, he distributed 11,559 CoCROMs and 816 CLOA titles and E-titles to ARBs, who will be freed from their debt amounting to P678.1 million — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Truck driver, 7 villagers die in Cotabato highway mishap

COTABATO CITY — A driver and seven others died when his wayward ten-wheeler truck rammed vehicles and houses along a stretch of a highway in Barangay Malasila in Makilala, Cotabato on Thursday morning.

In initial statements an hour after the incident, Lt. Col. Rolly D. Oranza, acting chief of the Makilala Municipal Police Station, and officials of the Cotabato Provincial Police Office said that truck driver Leopoldo G. Ibañez lost control of the wheel due to mechanical trouble while maneuvering through a downhill stretch of the highway, causing the deadly accident.

Mr. Ibañez himself and seven others, among them are Joey Pamplona, his wife Tina, and their son, Jeremiah, a kindergarten pupil, perished in the accident, according to police investigators and personnel of the Cotabato Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).

The light truck, four-wheeled vehicles, motorcycles and houses hit by the large truck driven by Mr. Ibañez, loaded with commercial fertilizers, were badly damaged. — John Felix M. Unson

Cagayan SP declares Cagayan ‘rebel-free’

BAGUIO CITY — The Cagayan Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) has declared the province as “insurgency-free and in a state of stable internal peace and security” during its 117th regular session on Wednesday, the Northern Luzon Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines said.

Philippine Army Capt. Gavin Salalima, spokesperson of the 502nd Infantry Brigade cited the East and West Front and the Komiteng Probinsiya (KOMPROB) Cagayan, formed in 2011, was dismantled giving the main reason for this declaration.

He also cited the neutralization of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) ranking officials in Cagayan, and the mass abandonment of former rebels and supporters to CTG, including Michael Cedrick Casano and Patricia Nicole Cierva as additional reasons for this declaration.

Brig. Gen. Eugene M. Mata, commander of the 502nd Infantry Brigade, said that “even if there are still nine remaining members of the Cagayan Valley Regional Committee (KRCV), an area can now be declared “insurgency-free” in accordance with the guidelines in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) PLEDS Plan 2023-2028.”

The government has totally destroyed the structure of the red and white area, referenced on the Peace, Law Enforcment, and Development Support Cluster’s Plan Pagkakaisa 2023-2028, Mr. Mata added.

The Cagayan Provincial Peace and Order Council first passed the resolution for an “insurgency-free” Cagayan during the 4th quarter meeting led by Gov. Manuel N. Mamba.

The formal declaration is set on December 30, 2024. — Artemio A. Dumlao

Men’s and women’s rematch in UAAP Season 87 basketball finals

Games on Sunday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
10 a.m. – UST vs FEU-D (JHS Final Four)
1 p.m. – NU vs UST (Women’s Finals)
5:30 p.m. – DLSU vs UP (Men’s Finals)

IT’S a double rematch in the UAAP Season 87 basketball finals.

Like De La Salle University  (DLSU) and University of the Philippines (UP) in the men’s side, reigning champion University of Santo Tomas (UST) likewise arranged a finale date with former titlist and unbeaten National University (NU) in the women’s basketball finale after a 71-59 knockout win over Adamson University on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Tigresses lived up to their lofty billing as the No. 2 seed, racing to a fiery 21-4 start en route to a convincing victory against the Lady Falcons in the stepladder playoffs.

The Lady Falcons climbed to the second phase of the ladder after a 59-53 overtime win against Ateneo Blue Eagles last weekend but the Tigresses proved just too much for them.

Santo Tomas and NU, which advanced straight into the best-of-three finals via 14-0 sweep of the two-round eliminations, begin their titular showdown on Sunday before the La Salle-UP duel in the men’s division at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Tigresses unseated the Lady Bulldogs from a seven-year reign last year with a thrilling three-game series win marked by a 71-69 win in the decider.

Mythical Team member Kent Pastrana stamped her class with 23 points, including 13 in the first half, 16 rebounds and eight assists for a near triple-double performance.

Ms. Pastrana added two steals and a block in only 29 minutes of play, CJ Maglupay chipped in 13 points while Tacky Tacatac and Brigette Santos contributed 10 each.

“It’s all total team effort and at the end of the day, our defense dictated the game, especially in the second half,” said coach Haydee Ong.

Santo Tomas, despite a hot start, was outscored 25-11 in the second period to trail by 35-37 at the break before making Adamson bleed for only 22 points the rest of the way.

Elaine Etang and Oluwakemi Adeshina scored 12 points each in the commendable bronze-medal finish of the Lady Falcons mentored by former Falcon Ryan Monteclaro.

In junior high school basketball, top-seeded University of the East dethroned champion National U-Nazareth School, 85-64, to barge into the finals as No. 3 Santo Tomas forced a knockout match against No. 2 Far Eastern U-Diliman in the other semifinal pairing, 84-75. — John Bryan Ulanday

The Scores:

UST 71 – Pastrana 23, Maglupay 13, Tacatac 10, Santos 10, Ambos 7, Danganan 4, Sierba 4, Soriano 0, Bron 0, Relliquette 0, Amatong 0, Pescador 0.

Adamson 59 – Etang 12, Adeshina 12, A. Alaba 9, Apag 7, Agojo 6, Limbago 4, Bajo 4, Padilla 3, Manlimos 2, Meniano 0, Mazo 0, E. Alaba 0, Ornopia 0.

Quarterscores: 21-12, 35-37, 56-48, 71-59.

Bolts, Dyip tweak imports in Commissioner’s Cup

Games on Friday
(Ninoy Aquino Stadium)
5 p.m. – Meralco vs Terrafirma
7:30 p.m. – Eastern vs TNT

MERALCO sets out to continue its charge while Terrafirma tries to change its fortunes in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup with new reinforcements in tow.

The Bolts handed DJ Kennedy the mantle after regular import Akil Mitchell sustained a broken nose 11 seconds into their previous game against Rain or Shine last Sunday.

The reigning Philippine champions need not break in Mr. Kennedy as the 6-foot-6 wing man has been playing with them as second import in the East Asia Super League (EASL) already. Mr. Kennedy, a teammate of Ginebra’s Justin Brownlee at St. John’s, has averaged 20.3 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists for Meralco in the Continental hoopfest.

The Dyip enlisted Brandon Walton Edwards in place of the ineffective Ryan Richards after dropping their first three assignments. The 6-foot-6 Edwards gets his long-delayed stint with Terrafirma after a left knee injury forced him out of the squad’s roster before the previous Governors’ Cup started last August.

Messrs. Kennedy and Edwards go under the microscope right away as the Bolts (2-0) and the Dyip (0-3) tangle today in the 5 p.m. curtain raiser at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The day’s main gig features back-to-back Governors’ Cup titlist TNT, with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson back on board, launching its bid versus guest team Hong Kong Eastern (2-1) at 7:30 p.m.

With Mr. Mitchell sidelined, the Bolts chose between Mr. Kennedy and 6-foot-11 naturalized player Ange Kouame from their EASL roster. The Bolts went with the 35-year-old Mr. Kennedy.

Mr. Edwards is expected to give Terrafirma the mobility that the 6-foot-11 Mr. Richards couldn’t provide, not to mention familiarity with the system and players. After hyperextending his left knee in a pre-season tuneup game, Mr. Edwards stayed in Manila for his rehab and continued to train with the Dyip before taking a job with an Indonesian club.

Meanwhile, the Tropang Giga get an early test in its quest for a twin kill in Season 49 versus Eastern, a foreign power bannered by import Cameron Clark and former Bay Area stalwarts Hayden Blankley, Kobey Lam and Glen Yang.

TNT coach Chot Reyes braces for a bumpier road to glory in the mid-season conference.

“If the Governors’ Cup was difficult, I find the Commissioner’s is going to be doubly, if not, 10 times more difficult,” he said. — Olmin Leyba

LPGA gender policy bars players who have gone through male puberty

THE Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) updated its gender policy on Wednesday, and players assigned male at birth and who have gone through male puberty will not be eligible to compete.

The new policy comes into effect in the 2025 season, and covers the LPGA Tour, Epson Tour, Ladies European Tour, and all other elite LPGA competitions, where athletes who are assigned female at birth are eligible to compete.

“Our policy is reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach,” LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan said in a statement.

“The policy represents our continued commitment to ensuring that all feel welcome within our organization, while preserving the fairness and competitive equity of our elite competitions.”

The policy was informed by a working group of top experts in medicine, science, sport physiology, golf performance and gender policy law, the LPGA said.

This working group advised that the effects of male puberty give competitive advantages in golf performance compared to players who have not undergone male puberty.

A player whose sex assigned at birth is male must satisfy an expert panel that they have not experienced any part of male puberty, and since receiving gender reassignment treatment the concentration of testosterone in their serum must remain below a set limit.

Trans golfer Hailey Davidson, who came up short in an LPGA qualifying event in October, had hoped to get into a few Epson Tour events next year but said on social media on Wednesday that she was “banned” from both circuits.

“All the silence and people wanting to stay ‘neutral’ thanks for absolutely nothing,” she wrote on Instagram. “This happened because of all your silence.”

Several sports governing bodies moved to limit transgender athletes’ access to elite competition in recent years and the England and Wales Cricket Board said in October it will bar transgender women from the top level of the women’s sport. — Reuters

Tay Tung defends Rebisco Volleyball League national title

BACOLOD Tay Tung reasserted its status as the best high school girls’ volleyball team in the Philippines after capping its Rebisco Volleyball League (RVL) national championship defense with a 25-16, 25-20, 25-13 victory over the University of Batangas in the title game last Monday.

Camila Bartolome and Donna de Leon scored 14 points apiece, while Rhose Almendralejo added 10 markers to lead the way for the Thunderbolts to finish the championship game at the Gameville Ball Park in Mandaluyong.

For the University of Batangas, Ann Shairinie Pesigan paced the team with nine points.

University of San Jose-Recoletos took home the bronze medal after holding off Kings’ Montessori School, 26-24, 25-23, 25-20, behind Angel Mae Almonia’s 13 points.

While Bacolod Tay Tung achieved team success, some teenage spikers introduced themselves individually among the best 18-and-under women’s players in the country.

The biggest private nationwide grassroots development tournament that’s now on its sixth year unveiled this season’s RVL Select 21, composed of the league’s best players in each position — five outside hitters, five middle blockers, four opposite spikers, four setters, and three liberos.

RVL Commissioner Ysay Marasigan earlier said the 21 players will take part in all-expense-paid training camps handled by champion Thai coach and current Criss Cross mentor Tai Bundit, and will have a chance to practice with Rebisco flagship clubs Creamline and Choco Mucho.

Ms. Almendralejo, who was named RVL National Finals MVP, and teammate setter Jan Rose Bulak banner the elite group that also has two from runner-up University of Batangas in middle blocker Scarlett Escalante and libero Stephanie de Chavez.

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