Marcos rejects Senate push to suspend jeep modernization plan

August 7, 2024 | 8:41 pm

JEEP_VISAYASAVE — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Wednesday rejected a proposal to suspend the government’s jeepney modernization program, denying criticisms that the plan had been rushed.

About 80% of public utility vehicle (PUV) operators have consolidated their franchises under cooperatives or corporations so they can buy new transport vehicles, he told reporters in Pampanga.

“I disagree with them because they said this was rushed,” the President said. “This has been postponed seven times… Those who have been objecting or have been crying out and asking for suspension are in the minority.”

“Are we going to allow the remaining 20% to decide the life of everyone?” he said in Filipino.

Twenty-two senators last week filed a resolution calling for the suspension of the modernization program, saying it had been rushed.

The consolidation rate has hit 83.38%, with the Office of Transport Cooperatives accrediting 1,781 cooperatives with 262,870 members, according to data from the Department of Transportation.

The government is now finishing the route rationalization component, which will determine the number of PUV units to serve on every route.

“Ignoring the Senate’s call for the suspension of the Public Transport Modernization Program reveals a deliberate refusal to acknowledge the suffering caused by this program,” PISTON National President Mody T. Floranda said in a statement.

“It seems this regime’s priorities lie in benefiting businesses and bureaucrats, even if it means burdening hardworking citizens with excessive debts and fares.”

He said the modernization program “can only be truly progressive” if the National Government prioritizes local manufacturers.

“In the face of growing poverty, unemployment and the soaring cost of living, we cannot achieve genuine modernization as long as our leaders prioritize foreign and corporate interests over the well-being of the people,” he added.

Also on Wednesday, Senate President Francis G. Escudero said the chamber is not against the jeepney modernization program, adding that they sought its suspension to prevent ruining the livelihood of drivers and operators.

“Perhaps some sectors have misinterpreted the Senate’s appeal… What we want is for this to be implemented properly and honestly, according to the intention of the modernization itself,” he told a news briefing in Filipino.

Mr. Escudero said there is nothing alarming about the Executive and legislative branches having differences in opinion. “This is our perspective and view… This is called democracy.”

“This is how the relationship between the Executive and legislative branches should be, it cannot be one-sided all the time,” he added.

At the weekend, Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said suspending the modernization program would waste investments that have been made to roll out the plan.

Mr. Escudero earlier sought to halt the program since operators are finding it difficult to buy expensive modern jeepneys that cost at least P2.6 million.

The deadline for jeepneys to consolidate into cooperatives lapsed on Dec. 31, but public utility vehicles were allowed to keep operating until Jan. 31. The President later extended the deadline to April 30.

The modernization program started in 2017, aiming to replace traditional jeepneys with units that have at least a Euro 4-compliant engine to cut pollution.

Transport groups have asked the Supreme Court to halt the modernization program, which they said is illegal.

“The request for postponement is to revisit the process and determine when it can be implemented comprehensively,” Mr. Escudero said.

“The Senate’s intention is not to stop the program, but to ensure it is executed properly and fairly without harming our drivers who are already struggling.” — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza and John Victor D. Ordoñez

Philippines cuts housing target due to slow private financing

August 7, 2024 | 8:40 pm

Housing-workers — PHILIPPINE STAR/ BOY SANTOS

THE GOVERNMENT has cut its housing target to 4 million from 6 million units until 2028 due to slow private financing, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said in a Facebook post on Tuesday night after a meeting with housing officials.

“To ensure that the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) program is successful and sustainable, I have directed the concerned agencies to adjust housing targets based on need and demand until 2028,” he said.

Meanwhile, the state would issue funding guarantees for the mass housing program, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development said on Wednesday, citing slow private funding.

The sovereign guarantee would cover the P1.65-trillion funding needed to build 1.2 million housing units in the pipeline under the state program, Human Settlements Secretary Jose “Jerry” Rizalino L. Acuzar told a news briefing.

“We had been using private money, but the funding was so slow,” he said in Filipino.

The agency has cut its 6-million target through 2028 due to construction issues and delayed loans.

“I’m optimistic that this guarantee will make a difference in finally addressing homelessness in our country,” Mr. Acuzar said.

The Human Settlements department has 53 projects under the mass housing program.

It said its target of 1.2 million housing units yearly would only be met by 2028 through the guarantee, which may be increased to P4 trillion if the agency manages to build 3.2 million housing units in four years.

In a statement, the presidential palace said that through the sovereign guarantee, government financial institutions (GFI) could extend developmental loans to the National Housing Authority (NHA) and Social Housing Finance Corp.

The loan evaluation process could be fast-tracked, he added.

The Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund would take care of beneficiaries’ housing loans.

“Pag-IBIG shall then release the loan proceeds directly to the GFIs that granted the developmental loans,” it said. “Upon payment to the GFIs, the loan obligation is fulfilled, and the guarantee is extinguished,” it said.

The cancelation rate for socialized housing loans is 9.11%, the palace said, citing Pag-IBIG data.

But rising property values could outpace holding costs, “such that Pag-IBIG still stands to gain upon resale of the property.”

Mr. Acuzar said the President has approved the sovereign guarantee in principle, but the target amount is yet to be decided.

The Human Settlements department would propose the amount to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and his economic team would evaluate the recommendation.

Mr. Acuzar said the government guarantee would be less costly for the state since it would eliminate the cost of doing business with contractors.

He said his agency is set to turn over 12,000 housing units this year. — KATA

Angara breezes through CA confirmation

August 7, 2024 | 8:39 pm

senate-budget-angara — PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

By John Victor D. Ordonez, Reporter

THE Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday swiftly confirmed the appointment of former Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara as Education secretary, without having to answer questions.

Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund F. Villafuerte, Jr. moved to skip Mr. Angara’s opening statement to fast-track his confirmation, which senators and congressmen seconded.

“I’m confident that we can entrust into his capable hands our biggest investment, that is the education of our youth,” Senator Rafael T. Tulfo, who heads the CA’s education committee, told the Senate floor later in the afternoon.

At the same session, Senator Ramon R. Revilla, Jr. cited laws on education that Mr. Angara co-wrote, including one raising the allowance of public school teachers, and a 2017 law on free tuition in state universities.

Under Republic Act 1197, which President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. signed into law in June, teachers will get a yearly allowance of P10,000 from P5,000.

Lawmakers were set to sign the implementing rules and regulations of the law at the Senate late Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Angara’s office told reporters in a Viber message.

“Sonny’s strength lies in his wisdom and understanding that his appointment to the Department of Education (DepEd) is not about what he has done but what he is expected to do,” Senator Lorna Regina B. Legarda said during her co-sponsorship speech.

“It is about our shared responsibility in government to ensure that every Filipino child can dream ambitiously and have the tools and opportunities to pursue those dreams.”

Mr. Marcos appointed the former senator on July 2 after Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio quit.

He resigned from the senate to take his oath for his new post on July 19.

The Vice President left her post amid Filipino students faring poorly in global education assessments.

Filipino students were still among the world’s weakest in math, reading and science, according to the 2022 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA). It ranked 77th out of 81 countries and performed worse than the global average in all categories.

Nine of10 Filipino students can’t read basic text.

“I hope that he is able to listen to all the stakeholders, the teachers, the students, the administration, the parents and the DepEd officials,” Mr. Tulfo said.

“With a holistic approach in addressing DepEd’s concerns, I know he will be able to come up with solutions that are practical and efficient.”

Senate OKs sea lane bill

August 7, 2024 | 8:38 pm

THE SENATE on Wednesday approved on second reading a bill that seeks to set up sea lanes at the Balintang Channel, Celebes and Sulu Seas, among other waterways, to protect Philippine sovereignty over these.

Senate Bill No. 2665 or the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, seeks to establish Philippine archipelagic territories along three axis lines, with the first connecting the Philippine Sea, Balintang Channel and the South China Sea.

The second axis will fall within the Celebes Sea, Sibutu Passage, Sulu Sea, Cuyo East Pass, Mindoro Strait and the South China Sea.

A third axis lies within the Celebes Sea, Basilan Strait, Sulu Sea, Nasubata Channel, Balabac Strait and the South China Sea.

The measure also bars foreign ships or aircraft from conducting war games and other military exercises within these sea lanes. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

PHL has 5M new voters

August 7, 2024 | 8:37 pm

crowd-election-voters — PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

THE COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) had processed more than five million voter applications as of Aug. 3.

Of the total 2.59 were females and 2.42 million were males, according to data released by Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia to reporters on Tuesday night.

Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Quezon) had the highest number of new voters at 833,812, followed by the National Capital Region with 669,372 voters.

This brought the total registered Filipino voters to almost 66 million.

Meanwhile, Comelec said 5.27 million voters had been deactivated, mostly due to failure to vote in two succeeding elections. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Marikina Innovation Center on track

August 7, 2024 | 8:37 pm

THE DEPARTMENT of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Wednesday said it had tapped Alpha & Omega General Contractor and Development Corp. and Eight J’s Construction to develop the P400-million Marikina City Innovation Center.

In a statement, the agency said it had completed the three phases of the facility, which seeks to promote entrepreneurship in Marikina.

The construction of the multi-purpose building started in 2022. DPWH said phases four to seven are now under the design stage.

The five-story innovation center, also called the National Cottage Industries Development Authority Incubator Facility, has a floor area of 6,500 square meters.

The project is expected to be completed next year. Once finished, the building will have designated spaces for one-stop shop areas, showrooms, restaurants, conference and laboratory rooms, it said. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Duterte faces new complaint

August 7, 2024 | 8:36 pm

A FORMER senator filed another corruption complaint before the Department of Justice on Wednesday against ex-President Rodrigo R. Duterte and 11 others over the Philippine Navy’s P16-billion frigate acquisition project.

In a 50-page complaint, ex-Senator Antonio F. Trillanes said the Duterte government allowed changes to the contract that allegedly favored the private contractor.

Also sued was Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” T. Go. Mr. Duterte’s chief of staff.
He told reporters after filing the complaint that the contract to buy two frigates was signed under the late President Benigno S.C. Aquino III.
“Once the bidding was won, the contractor suddenly changed the items agreed upon,” he said in Filipino. “They forced the Philippine Navy to accept and favor the private contractor. When the Philippine Navy didn’t comply, they faced pressure.”

Mr. Trillanes said the state-of-the-art warships were downgraded to ordinary naval ships under Mr. Duterte’s watch.

Mr. Go in a statement called the allegations “rehashed” and “recycled.” “This is a clear case of destructive politics and a sure sign of desperation out to malign me and the former President.”

Former presidential spokesman Herminio “Harry” L. Roque, Mr. Duterte’s legal counsel, told BusinessWorld in a WhatsApp message he had not seen the complaint. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

P1B eyed for Pampanga irrigation

August 7, 2024 | 8:36 pm

Rice-field-irrigation — DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE HANDOUT

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Wednesday said his government would spend about P1 billion next year for the third tranche of the National Irrigation Administration’s fleeting program.

He made the announcement at the inauguration of a P7.57-billion flood control project in Pampanga province.

The project in Masantol, Pampanga seeks to increase and improve the capacity of the Third River, Eastern Branch River, Caduang Tete River and Sapang Maragul River which are all connected to the Pampanga River.

The project is funded by the Export-Import Bank of Korea-Economic Development Cooperation Fund. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

P579M out for climate projects

August 7, 2024 | 8:35 pm

THE BUDGET department has released P579.31 million for climate-related projects, it said in a statement on Wednesday.

Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman approved the release of a notice of cash allocation to the Department of Finance-Bureau of the Treasury to help implement projects under the People’s Survival Fund.

“We are giving all the necessary aid for our local government units to undertake projects crucial for enhancing resilience and sustainable development,” she said in the statement.

The funding will go to six development grants, five full-scale projects and two ongoing projects in Northern and Eastern Samar, Mountain Province, Bukidnon, Isabela, Quezon, Sarangani and Agusan del Norte, it said. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Senators push learning camps

August 7, 2024 | 8:35 pm

PHILIPPINE senators on Wednesday pushed mandatory learning camps to help Filipino students keep up with basic subjects.

“We need to stop the bleeding now in the next 10 months and that should be addressed by focusing all of our energies and look for those who need intervention,” Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian told a Senate basic education hearing.

Only 52% of students in grades 1 to 3 have “grade-ready” reading abilities, he said, citing data from the Department of Education.

“We need to make it mandatory because we are already in a crisis situation and can’t be too lenient,” said Mr. Gatchalian, who heads the basic education committee.

“This has to be incorporated in the school year because I don’t think one camp will cure their problems,” Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay-Angeles told the same hearing in mixed English and Filipino. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

It’s a bronze for neophyte Olympian boxer Villegas

August 7, 2024 | 7:33 pm

PARIS, France — Aira Villegas’ journey in the 2024 Olympics ended in a semifinal windup.

No gold, no silver, but she had played her part in Team Philippines’ memorable, historic ride — her bronze feat to be celebrated and looked upon by the next generations of Filipino Olympic medal hopefuls.

Ms. Villegas’ Cinderella run as a neophyte Olympian came to an end at the hands of bemedaled Turkish fighter Buse Naz Cakiroglu, a former world champion and the Tokyo Games silver winner who dazzled her way to a unanimous 5-0 victory before a packed crowd at Court Philippe Chatrier inside Roland Garros.

“She is real good, more technical,” said Ms. Villegas of her opponent, also her conqueror in a quarterfinals bout in the 2022 World Championship.

Overwhelmed and beaten, Ms. Villegas settled for the bronze but vowed her journey as a boxer isn’t stopping in her semis finish in the Paris Games.

Boxing is Ms. Villegas’ bread and butter, her monthly allowance and incentives helping the family in their daily lives. It had helped them recover from the devastation of Yolanda in their province in 2013.

“I’m not in Tacloban then, it wreck our home,” said Ms. Villegas, then already training in the ABAP (Alliance of Boxing Association of the Philippines) camp after being discovered in the Philippine National Games.

She’s one of five from six Villegas siblings who took boxing, taking the cue from eldest Ruel and the second eldest Rominic, who’s still in the sport as a referee.

And she’s been doing the same since becoming a national boxer — long way she’s gone from being a peanut vendor, daughter of a balut vendor.

At 29, Ms. Villegas said she’s still chasing an Olympic gold as she pursues her criminology course at the University of Baguio.

She’s good for bronze at the moment as she ran smack into Ms. Cakiroglu who’s now heading to the gold-medal bout versus China’s Wu Yu, a 4-1 point winner over Kazakh Nazym Kyzaibay.

Ms. Villegas lost to a better fighter but the Philippine camp believed the Filipina fighter could have gotten a chance if Ms. Cakiroglu’s fall in the second round wasn’t ruled a slip.

It was Ms. Villegas who’s given a standing eight count in the opening round.

In the end, everybody agreed though that Ms. Cakiroglu deserved the win.

Ms. Villegas, meanwhile, deserved adulation in punching her way to a podium finish in her very first Olympics.

She’s the latest from boxing to medal in the Olympics, joining Jose Villanueva (1932), Anthony Villanueva (1964), Leopoldo Serantes (1988), Roel Velasco (1992), Onyok Velasco (1996), Nesthy Petecio (2020), Carlo Paalam (2020) and Eumir Marcial (2020). — Nelson Beltran

Rianne Malixi advances to match play stage of US Women’s Amateur

August 7, 2024 | 7:32 pm

RIANNE MALIXI advanced to the match play stage of the US Women’s Amateur despite slowing down with a three-over 74 in the second day of stroke play Tuesday at the oven-baked Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The leader after the first 18 holes with a hot 67, Ms. Malixi mixed two birdies with two bogeys in the first nine holes of a backside start then tumbled with a bogey on No. 2 and a double bogey on No. 5 to settle for a 38-36 scorecard.

With her 36-hole aggregate of one-under 141, the Pinay ace fell short in her bid for low medal honors as she finished the elims in a share of fourth behind Colombian medalist Maria Jose Marin (138 after a 69) and Americans Melanie Green (139 after a 69) and Zoe Antoinette Campos (140 after a 68).

The 17-year-old Ms. Malixi, who is seeking a followup to her US Girls’ Junior Championship last month, will enter the Last-64 stage as the sixth seed.

Her opponent will be determined after Wednesday’s Playoff featuring a record 20 players disputing 10 spots to the knockout rounds. — Olmin Leyba