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Fitch Ratings downgrades PHL growth forecast to 4.8%

REUTERS

FITCH RATINGS said it downgraded its gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for the Philippines to 4.8% this year from the 6.8% issued in May.

“We have revised down our forecast for 2023 growth to 4.8% from 6% at the time of the Outlook revision in May 2023,” Fitch Ratings said in a brief dated Oct. 9.

If borne out, the growth indicator would come in well below the government’s 6-7% growth target for the year.

“Headwinds to growth include high interest rates, the weak external sector as well as adverse weather conditions,” Fitch Ratings said in a follow-up e-mail.

However, it noted that these obstacles to growth are “temporary.”

According to Fitch Ratings, growth is expected to accelerate to 6.2% next year and further to 6.3% in 2025. These are both below the government’s 6.5-8% targets for 2024 to 2028.

“We forecast real GDP growth of above 6% over the medium term, considerably stronger than the ‘BBB’ median of 3%, after a record outturn of 7.6% in 2022, reflecting normalization of activity after the pandemic and the government’s investment program,” it added.

The Philippine economy grew 4.3% in the second quarter, the weakest reading for the indicator in over two years. Third-quarter GDP data will be released on Nov. 9.

Meanwhile, Fitch Ratings expects the National Government’s (NG) outstanding debt as a share to GDP to decline to 53.7% this year, 53.1% in 2024, and 52.3% in 2025.

It said this was due to “strong nominal growth and narrowing fiscal deficits.”

The government is hoping to reduce the debt-to-GDP ratio to below 60% by 2025.

At the end of June, the NG’s debt-to-GDP ratio stood at 61%, still above the 60% threshold considered by multilateral lenders to be manageable for developing economies.

It cited risks that could hamper the reduction of the debt-to-GDP ratio, including slowing fiscal consolidation in order to support growth.

Meanwhile, Fitch Ratings also noted that inflation will continue to remain a cause for concern.

“Inflation has fallen to more comfortable levels in many places, although El Niño is a risk, particularly for sovereigns that have food as a large weight in the consumer price index (CPI), such as India, the Philippines and Thailand,” it added.

Headline inflation accelerated to 6.1% in September. This marked the 18th straight month that inflation exceeded the central bank’s 2-4% target.

In the nine months to September, inflation averaged 6.6%, still above the central bank’s revised 5.8% full-year forecast. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

Green energy Round 2 winners given more time to submit post-auction requirements

THE Department of Energy (DoE) said it provided another deadline extension to winners of the second Green Energy Auction (GEA-2) program to submit their post-auction requirements.

In an advisory, winners were given until Nov. 13 to comply with the requirements. The DoE had originally set the deadline at Sept. 10, and then extended it to Oct. 10.

It said work suspensions due to inclement weather and holidays were partly behind the latest extension, though it was also responding “to the findings in the focus group discussion where the participants in GEA 1 found the timelines to be too strict,” Energy Undersecretary Felix William B. Fuentebella, the official who signed the advisory, said in a Viber message.

The DoE said it will issue the certificates of award to post-auction qualified winning bidders on or before Dec. 13.

Winning bidders that fail to submit post-auction requirements before Oct. 25 are required to extend the validity of their bid bond from Oct. 31 to Nov. 31, the DoE said. Proof of bond extension must be submitted not later than Oct. 27.

“Failure to submit such proof of bid bond validity extension within the prescribed timeline shall result in the post-auction disqualification of the bid and the corresponding forfeiture of the bid bond,” the DoE said.

GEA-2 was conducted on July 3, after which the DoE issued notices of award for 105 winning bids, covering projects generating 3,440 megawatts (MW), well below the 11,600-MW capacity on offer.

The project timelines are between 2024 and 2026.

The GEA program aims to promote renewable energy (RE) as a primary source of energy through competitive selection.

The DoE said that it will also help the government reach its goal of increasing the RE share of the energy mix to 35% by 2030 and 50% by 2040. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

PCCI urges education system to stay up to speed on tech developments

PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

THE Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) said the education system must keep up to date on technological developments that will raise businesses competitiveness when their students enter the workforce. 

“Our educational system should be able to keep up with the rapid advances in technology and innovation for us to create a future of skilled and technology-savvy workforce,” PCCI President George T. Barcelon said in a statement.

He cited the need to review and upgrade the Philippines’ competencies and skill sets to stay regionally competitive.

He said this will be one of the discussions in the upcoming 49th Philippine Business Conference and Expo (PBC&E) on Oct. 25- 26.

PBC&E Chairman Felino A. Palafox, Jr., said education plays a key role in making work opportunities fair, alleviating poverty and enhancing communities.

“Education is a long-term investment for the growth and prosperity of the country. There is an unmistakable correlation between access to quality education and economic and social progress,” he added.

The PCCI said that the Philippines has been slipping behind its Southeast Asian neighbors in reading, writing and arithmetic, citing a 2019 survey conducted by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund.

It said that the educational disparities were further exacerbated by school closures during the pandemic as the abrupt shift to online learning disrupted access to education.

“The biggest obstacles stem from the inability to adapt to online learning owing to a lack of resources, as well as access to digital equipment and internet connectivity, particularly in remote regions,” the PCCI said. 

“Given this, institutions and businesses must redesign, rethink, and invest in present and future workforce education and training,” it added.

Mr. Barcelon said that PCCI believes in the value of education in improving the Philippine economy.

“(We) are working hard and continuously collaborating with the government and other private organizations to assist the Philippines in meeting the changing demands of the labor market,” he added.

The PBC&E session, which will discuss the ways the public and private sectors can contribute to shaping the future of earning and learning in the country on education, will be led by Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

Petroleum database made open-access to encourage exploration, investment

THE Department of Energy (DoE) has authorized access to all data and reports on the Philippines’ petroleum resources.

The DoE said in a circular that it “desires to attract more Exploration and Production (E&P) companies to spur exploration activities which may provide new discoveries of oil and gas fields leading to their development and production by declassifying petroleum data and providing free access.”

The circular was signed by Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla on Sept. 29.

The data and reports covered by the circular are those stored in the Energy Data Center of the Philippines (EDCP) — the sole repository of petroleum, coal, and geothermal energy data in the Philippines.

The DoE has also given access to petroleum data and reports that were submitted in accordance with active petroleum service contracts and multi-client agreements upon the expiration of their respective exclusivity periods.

“This Circular shall apply to all petroleum data and reports stored in the EDCP and all other petroleum data and reports that are in the possession, control, and custody of third persons, whether as owners, interest partners or otherwise,” the DoE said.

The DoE said that all petroleum data and reports that are required to be submitted to the DoE must be received and stored in the EDCP.

Those allowed free data access are government agencies and instrumentalities, service contractors, potential investors, researchers, students, and others that may be allowed by the DoE upon written request.

Access to all declassified petroleum data and reports given to any eligible person or entity is free of charge but is subject to payment of a processing fee.

A fee of P1,400 must be paid for each general report, well report, wire line, seismic data per line or series, while P1,500 will be charged for well core and samples per section. The processing fee will be waived for students requesting access to data.

The DoE directed its Review and Evaluation Committee to supervise the implementation of the circular and gave authorization to review and update policies as needed. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

Regulator announces incentive scheme favoring use of eco-friendly pesticides

REUTERS

THE Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) said that it is planning an incentive scheme to help farmers reduce the use of harmful pesticides.

The FPA said that the United Nations-backed project, “Promoting eco-friendly crop protection solutions for persistent organic pollutant and highly hazardous pesticide reduction in Asia,” seeks to reduce the use of persistent organic pollutants (POP) and highly hazardous pesticides (HHP).

“The project aims to establish sustainable financing, investment, and incentive mechanisms in the formulation, production, and application of eco-friendly crop protection solutions for the reduction of POPs and HHPs, enhancing livelihood, food safety, and protection,” it added.

The FPA is currently in talks with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and “other stakeholders” to implement the project.

It is funded by the Global Environment Facility and will run until Oct. 31, 2028.

The project is also aimed at enhancing finance and investment in the development, production, and application of biopesticides, safe chemical alternatives, and other biocontrol agents.

The project is also expected to raise capacity building and awareness of alternative pest controls.

The FPA’s Pesticide Regulatory Division will serve as the project’s national coordinating entity.

“Coordinating agencies include the member agencies of the Department of Agriculture and Local Government Units of selected farmer groups,” it added.

Other participants include the Department of Science and Technology. — Adrian H. Halili

VP stripped of P650M in confidential budget

PHILIPPINE STAR/ RUSSELL PALMA

By Beatriz Marie D. Cruz and John Victor D. Ordoñez, Reporters

PHILIPPINE congressmen on Tuesday stripped several agencies including the Office of the Vice President (OVP) of their confidential funds, transferring P1.23 billion worth of these funds to security agencies amid worsening tensions with China.

“The Office of the Vice President and Departments of Education (DepEd), Information and Communications, Agriculture and Foreign Affairs are getting zero confidential funds under the 2024 General Appropriations bill,” Marikina Rep. Stella Luz A. Quimbo told a news briefing.

The decision showed there are tensions within the ruling coalition involving key players like Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio and Speaker Martin G. Romualdez, Arjan P. Aguirre, who teaches political science at the Ateneo de Manila University, said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

“It was a political masterstroke to indirectly attack VP Sara under the guise of a national security imperative brought by the West Philippine Sea territorial disputes,” he said.

Ms. Duterte-Carpio is seeking confidential funds worth P500 million for her office and P150 million for DepEd, which she also heads.   

Last week, she said anyone who opposes confidential funds opposes peace. “Whoever opposes peace is an enemy of the nation.”

Mr. Aguirre said Ms. Duterte-Carpio’s demand for confidential funds would affect her public image. “She is now painted as a privileged and powerful person who cannot wait to win the presidential election in 2028. This is something that is in stark contrast with how the Dutertes want themselves to be perceived by the public — disinterested in power and wealth.”

Under the proposed changes to the 2024 budget, P300 million in intelligence funds will be given to the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), P100 million to the National Security Council (NSC) and P200 million to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

The Transportation department will get P381.8 million for airport development and expansion of the air strip on Thitu Island, a Philippine-occupied territory in the Spratlys that it calls Pag-asa.

“The bulk of the funding will be channeled to agencies in charge of ensuring national security especially in the West Philippine Sea,” Ms. Quimbo said, referring to areas of the South China Sea within the country’s exclusive economic zone.

‘VOLATILE SITUATION’
The House also allotted P1 billion to the Philippine Fisheries Authority so it can build fishery and post-harvest facilities in Palawan and the Spratly Islands.

“The volatile situation in the West Philippine Sea calls for immediate and decisive action to protect our national sovereignty,” Ms. Quimbo said.

Instead of confidential funds, allocations under agencies’ maintenance and other operating expenses now include P30 million for the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), P25 million for the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), P30 million for the Department of Foreign Affairs, P50 million for the Office of the Ombudsman and P150 million for DepEd’s aid to students and teachers.

The House committee also allotted an additional P20 billion for the Agriculture department’s rice subsidy program and P40 billion for the National Irrigation Administration solar-driven irrigation pumps.

The Philippine Coconut Authority will get P2 billion more for seed planting, and P1.5 billion was earmarked for African Swine Fever vaccines.

“The main goal was to rationalize the allocation of resources to fight inflation, and to invest in human capital and our country’s future,” Ms. Quimbo said.

Congressmen also allocated P43.9 billion in medical aid and P1 billion for poor patients at the Philippine General Hospital.

They also allotted P35 billion in aid for the Social Welfare department and P17.5 billion for the Labor department’s jobless and internship programs.

The Commission on Higher Education will get P17.1 billion for its financial assistance program, while the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) will receive P10.4 billion.

The Senate is still conducting hearings on their version of the budget, which it expects to approve next month.

Meanwhile, Senator Francis N. Tolentino moved to increase the budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) so it could build military infrastructure including those in the South China Sea.

“I think they (defense agencies) deserve to have a bigger chunk of the pie,” he told a hearing on the DPWH budget.

Public Works Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan said P3.8 billion of the agency’s P822.2-billion budget for next year would be used to improve facilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. This is P6 billion lower than this year’s allocation.

“The Department of National Defense (DND) will endorse to us facilities that it would want to be incorporated in its programs,” he said.

The Philippines is planning to replace a dilapidated ship that it grounded at Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 with a permanent structure, Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command chief Alberto Carlos told reporters last month.

Tensions between the Philippines and China have worsened after the latter’s coast guard fired water cannons at Philippine vessels trying to deliver food and other supplies to the grounded BRP Sierra Madre.

Philippine senators have been pushing higher budgets for the Philippine Coast Guard and other security agencies.

Senator Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero earlier proposed to build a pier and lodging structures for Filipino soldiers and fishermen at Second Thomas Shoal, locally known as Ayungin.

A United Nations-backed tribunal in 2016 voided China claim to more than 80% of the South China Sea based on a 1940s map.

The five-member court said China violated Philippine sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone by building artificial islands and for failing to prevent its citizens from fishing in the zone.

China has largely ignored the ruling, calling it void. Aside from the Philippines and China, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also claim parts of the waterway.

38 Filipinos in Israel want to come home

A VIEW OF ROCKETS fired by Palestinians in response to Israeli airstrikes during an operation in Gaza City, Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023. — REUTERS

THIRTY-EIGHT Filipinos in Israel want to come home amid a worsening war between Israeli forces and Hamas militants that started at the weekend, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said on Tuesday.

The Philippines would not ban the deployment of Filipino workers to Israel just yet, DMW officer-in-charge Hans Leo J. Cacdac told a palace briefing.

“The situation we are in is that we have a government-to-government hiring arrangement with our Israeli counterparts so it’s a two-way street,” he said. “We have to be well-coordinated with our Israeli Labor and Immigration counterparts before we proceed even without a deployment ban.”

At the weekend, Hamas militants backed by a barrage of rockets stormed from the blockaded Gaza Strip into nearby Israeli towns, killing dozens and kidnapping others in an unprecedented surprise attack.

A stunned Israel launched air strikes in Gaza, with its prime minister vowing to inflict an “unprecedented price” on the Palestinian Islamist militants.

Among the 38 Filipinos who want to come home are 17 children aged two to 15 years from nine families, Foreign Affairs spokesperson Maria Teresita C. Daza told reporters in a WhatsApp message.

Eleven of the spouses are Palestinians, she said.

Mr. Cacdac, citing a DMW survey, said 313 Filipinos said they were safe from the hostilities. The government was verifying a possible death of a Filipino worker in Israel, he added.

Filipino hotel workers would still be deployed to Israel in the absence of a deployment ban, he said.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega told the same briefing Philippine embassies in Tel Aviv, Amman, Jordan and Cairo have recommended raising the alert level to 3, which would call for the voluntary repatriation of Filipinos.

He said there were more than 30,000 Filipinos in Israel, 95% of whom do not live near Gaza. Seven Filipinos were still missing, he added.

“The situation is different in Gaza where you have about 137 Filipinos, Mr. De Vega said. “They are not overseas Filipino workers (OFW) but they are married to Palestinians.”

“We’re not telling you not to go (to Israel), but we’re advising you to postpone (trips) until hostilities end.”

Meanwhile, Party-list Rep. Ron P. Salo filed a resolution that seeks to create a task force to help OFWs in Israel and Gaza. 

“The crisis management and response task force [should] provide regular updates to the public to raise awareness of the government’s commitment and efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of our OFWs in Israel and Gaza,” he said in House Resolution 1369.   

The task force will monitor the whereabouts of Filipinos and their families in Israel and Gaza and work with neighboring countries for possible exit points.

It will also work with international groups like the International Organization for Migration, Red Crescent and Red Cross to help Filipinos in the area, as well as communicate directly with Filipino nationals for security and psychological support.   

“Effective around-the-clock monitoring and tracking of Filipino nationals in the region is essential in ensuring immediate assistance and repatriation, when necessary,” Mr. Salo said. — John Victor D. Ordoñez and Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Quezon City is Philippines’ richest city for third straight year

QUEZON MEMORIAL CIRCLE FACEBOOK PAGE

QUEZON CITY was the richest local government in the Philippines in 2022, with assets hitting P433.4 billion, according to the Commission on Audit (CoA).

This was 1% lower than a year earlier, CoA said in its annual financial report released on Monday.

Makati City came in second place with assets worth P239.48 billion, followed by the city of Manila with P77.51 billion.

In 2020, Quezon City grabbed Makati City’s spot as the richest city with assets reaching P452.33 billion.

Cebu was the richest province with assets hitting P235.74 billion, or a 9.51% increase from a year earlier. Rizal was the second-richest province with assets reaching P35.6 billion, followed by Batangas with P32 billion.

The richest municipality was Carmona, Cavite with P6.5 billion in assets, followed by Limay, Bataan with P5.79 billion and Silang, Cavite with P4.45 billion.

Other cities that made it to the top 10 richest in 2022 were Pasig (P52.1 billion), Taguig (40.8 billion), Mandaue (34.2 billion), Mandaluyong (P32.5 billion), Cebu (P30.5 billion), Davao (P29.7 billion) and Parañaque (27.3 billion).

Making it to the top 10 richest municipalities were Caluya, Antique (P3.82 billion), Cabugao, Ilocos Sur (P3.80 billion), Cainta, Rizal (P3.76 billion), Taytay, Rizal (P3.67 billion), Claver, Surigao del Norte (P3.56 billion), Binangonan, Rizal (P3.49 billion) and Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur (P3.26 billion).

The fourth-richest province was Davao De Oro (P23.11 billion), followed by Bukidnon (P21.06 billion), Ilocos Sur (21.56 billion), Iloilo (P19.98 billion), Negros Occidental (19.42 billion), Cavite (19.34 billion) and Pampanga (19.13 billion).

According to CoA, total assets were computed based on the local governments’ current assets, which are composed of cash and cash equivalents, investments, receivables, inventories and pre-payments and deferred changes.

Also part of the assets were investments, receivables, investment property, property, plant and equipment, biological and intangible assets. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

NPC warns public against sharing, copying leaked PhilHealth data

By Justine Irish D. Tabile, Reporter

THE NATIONAL Privacy Commission (NPC) has issued a “critical warning” to the public against any attempt to download and share personal data leaked by hackers following the recent ransomware attack on the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

“It has come to our attention that the personal data exfiltrated from PhilHealth is being shared illicitly,” NPC said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

“We want to emphasize the gravity of this situation and the severe consequences that await anyone involved in processing, downloading, or sharing this data without legitimate purpose or without authorization,” the NPC said.

Under Section 25 of the Data Privacy Act (DPA) of 2012, those found guilty of unauthorized processing of personal information will face penalties that include imprisonment for one to three years and a fine ranging from P500,000 to P2 million.

Meanwhile, unauthorized processing of sensitive personal information carries more substantial penalties that include three to six years imprisonment and a fine ranging from P500,000 to P4 million.

“Sharing such leaked data exposes affected individuals to a range of risks, including identity theft, fraud, extortion, blackmail, and other malicious activities,” the NPC said.

“We urge you, as responsible citizens, to refrain from resharing this data and to promptly report its presence to the relevant authorities, including the NPC and law enforcement agencies,” it added.

The NPC also called on personal information controllers and processors to strengthen their data protection measures.

“Compliance with the DPA and other relevant laws and regulations is not just essential; it is a collective responsibility to protect the rights and privacy of every Filipino,” it said.

In an interview with One Balita Pilipinas on Tuesday, National Bureau of Investigation Cybercrime Division Executive Officer Efren Abantao advised the PhilHealth members to update their online credentials.

“That is why it is better if we will have strong username and password and even better if we will employ two-factor authentication,” Mr. Abantao said in Filipino.

Mr. Abantao also said that the NBI has suggested the change of PhilHealth numbers and employee identification numbers to the concerned agencies noting that it is just right as it is a shared responsibility.

However, he said that although the sharing and download of the data violates the DPA, it will be hard to trace the people involved especially if they will be able to preserve their anonymity.

“It will be hard for us to trace them but there is still the possibility we will be able to trace who downloaded the data,” he added.

In September, PhilHealth was hit by a ransomware attack, in which the hackers demanded $300,000 from the government in exchange for decryption keys.

Last week, the hackers were said to have started publishing personal data including employee records, picture, payroll details, and hospital bills from about 600 gigabytes of data taken from the state health insurance agency.

Trading with Israel continues

AS ISRAEL has declared itself at war with the Palestinians, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Tuesday that the conflict is not likely to cause a major disruption to the Philippines’ long-standing agricultural trade with the Jewish state.

“The Israel government has been a long-time partner of the DA in various initiatives particularly in water management and fertilization, and so we hope for the immediate resolution of the conflict in the Middle East,” DA spokesman Arnel V. de Mesa said in a statement.

He said Israel purchases desiccated coconut, pineapple juice and concentrates, and other mixtures from local producers. “Part of the trading agreement between the Philippines and Israel is the importation of different processed products, including orange and grape juice, as well as other fructose,” he added.

Mr. De Mesa said that both countries have also been closely collaborating on various initiatives in improving local food production.

“Fertigation, an Israeli-technology which combines the efficient distribution of plant nutrients through drip irrigation, has been adapted in various rice areas in the Philippines,” the DA statement read.

Local farmers have already been practicing fertigation as the method enables them to apply the precise amount of nutrients in their crops while conserving water, explained Mr. De Mesa.

From January to October, a total of 4,555 metric tons of muriate of potash have been imported, according data to the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority. — Adrian H. Halili

CHR probes labor leader’s slay

THE COMMISSION on Human Rights (CHR) revealed on Tuesday that it had already started its own investigation into the death of a Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) labor organizer, who was fatally shot by policemen last month.

“CHR is already conducting its motu proprio (on its own) independent investigation on the case of the KMU leader,” CHR Chairman Richard P. Palpal-latoc told BusinessWorld in a text message, responding to a question on the incident.

He added that the CHR’s Region 4-A office (covering Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) is “on the case,” since the fatal shooting of the 67-year-old KMU labor organizer Jude Thaddeus Fernandez happened in Binangonan, Rizal.

However, Mr. Palpal-latoc declined to provide more details until the CHR’s investigation into the Sept. 29 incident is completed.

In a statement earlier in the day, KMU cited the need for the international and domestic bodies to seek accountability for these human rights abuses, citing the tragic fate of Mr. Fernandez. “Jude’s death mirrors the worsening situation of labor in the Philippines,” KMU secretary general Jerome Adonis said in Filipino.

The KMU leader renewed calls made last week to the CHR as well as the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the United Nations to investigate trade unionist killings and other human rights violations against labor activists.

The KMU noted that Mr. Fernandez’s fatal shooting is the 72nd case of labor-related killings in the Philippines since 2016 and the fourth since the ILO sent its High-Level Tripartite mission in January to meet with trade unions and state officials on the need to address various forms of abuse against workers.

In November last year, the Philippines accepted 200 recommendations from the United Nations Human Rights Council, which included measures to investigate extralegal killings and protect journalists. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

LTFRB now led by board member

THE DEPARTMENT of Transportation (DoTr) confirmed on Tuesday that Mercy P. Leynes is now the officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), following the suspension of its chairman Teofilo E. Guadiz III for alleged corruption.

In a special order, Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said the appointment of Ms. Leynes, who currently serves as LTFRB board member, will be effective on Oct. 10, 2023 to Oct. 9, 2024.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. ordered the relief of Mr. Guadiz as LTFRB chairman after Jeffrey G. Tumbado, a former executive assistant of the suspended official, appeared in a transport group’s press conference to expose alleged corruption in the agency.

In a separate statement on Monday, DoTr has asked Mr. Guadiz to explain the allegations against him.

“We already launched an investigation on the allegations against the LTFRB. While we are already evaluating the alleged irregularities involving [Chairman Guadiz], we also issued a notice to explain against Guadiz for him to shed light on the allegations,” Mr. Bautista said.  — Ashley Erika O. Jose

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