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Sea lanes bill hurdles special committee

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By John Victor D. Ordoñez, Reporter

A SENATE bill seeking to establish Philippine sea lanes in the Balintang Channel, the Celebes and Sulu Seas, and other waterways has hurdled the Special Committee on Maritime and Admiralty Zones.

As tension heats up between the Philippines and China over disputed territories in the South China Sea, Senator Francis N. Tolentino, the special committee chairman, was set on sponsoring the Committee Report of Senate Bill No. 2665 before the plenary on Monday.

The Committee Report, dated May 8, seeks to define Philippine Archipelagic Waters along the axis lines connecting the Philippine Sea, Balintang Channel and the South China Sea.

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

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

The measure also bars foreign ships and aircraft from conducting war games and other military exercises within the sea lanes.

“Foreign ships or aircraft shall refrain from any activity other than those incidental to continuous, expeditious and unobstructed transit unless rendered necessary by force majeure or by distress, in which case such shall be subject to Philippine approval, when appropriate,” read a copy of the bill.

Foreign civilian ships and aircraft that conduct unauthorized fishing, research, and unloading of goods within Philippine sea lanes would be liable to jail time of six months to two years or a fine of $1.2 million or both depending on a Philippine court’s ruling.

The master of the ship or the captain or the aircraft would face the penalties.

“It is hereby the declared policy of the state to ensure the protection of its maritime domain and to safeguard the sovereignty of the state and the integrity of national territory,” the bill stated.

Gov’t, firms to offer 8,000+ jobs

Applicants look at job postings at a job fair in Manila. — PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

THE DEPARTMENT of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved the creation of over 4,000 contractual positions to expand the implementation of the government’s conditional cash transfer program.

A total of 4,265 Project Development Officer II positions were created under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) field offices, Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said.

This would support the DSWD’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), which provides cash transfers to the poorest households to address key issues like health, education and nutrition.

Meanwhile, job hiring platform Bossjob and over 120 companies will offer more than 4,000 jobs in July at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City on July 13 and 14.

The event will be with Philippine Dragon Media Network (PDMN) as the 2nd Fil-Chi Job Fair to offer more inclusivity for multilingual job seekers. Interested parties may visit www.filchi-jobfair.com or follow the event’s official Facebook page.

On the part of the government, the contractual positions seek to increase 4Ps staffing, in which one officer would be tasked to handle 300 households. This would ensure that direct attention is given to each beneficiary.

“Supporting the 4Ps is crucial in inclusive development, empowering families, and breaking the cycle of poverty in the Philippines,” said Ms. Pangandaman. “With this move, we are also generating employment opportunities, which in some ways, help stabilize our economy.”

Budgetary support for the new positions would be sourced from the DSWD’s available funds, as well as the appropriations under the 2024 national budget.

As of Aug. 31 last year, the program hit 90.38% of its 4.4 million target beneficiaries, serving nearly four million households in 41,676 villages nationwide.

The DBM previously approved the creation of 12,637 4Ps implementing positions, with 5,291 working as “case managers” for its beneficiaries.

The government seeks to lower poverty incidence to 16.4% this year, 13.2% next year, and 9% by 2028.

On the other hand, Bossjob said its event in July offers careers in food and beverage, e-commerce, construction, financial services, mining and energy, and business process outsourcing (BPO), among others.

It would conduct workshops for attendees to equip them with skills to navigate the job market and guide them in their careers.

An advice desk, mock interview booth, and career photo booth will be at the two-day event to aid the attendees. Government agencies, such as the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Social Security System (SSS), and Pag-IBIG, will also have their own assistance booths.

“This year’s Merged 2024 Job Fair is about establishing profound connections between industries and talent,” Bossjob Country Manager Kimberly Chen said in a statement. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz and Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Private schools’ calendar different

RUBEN RODRIGUEZ-UNSPLASH

PRIVATE schools would be exempted from the Department of Education’s (DepEd) swift move to revert to the old academic calendar beginning in June and ending in March, a DepEd official said in a House panel on Monday.

Asked whether private schools need to follow DepEd’s school calendar shift, DepEd Director Leila P. Areola said: “No, because RA (Republic Act No.) 11480 and 7797 mentions that a private school can actually start the school year not earlier than June 1 and (later than) the last day of August.”

Public schools would potentially conduct Saturday classes for the upcoming academic year to compensate the reduction of school days due to the shift, she added.

“For school year 2024 to 2025, we’re going to start the school year (on) July 29,” Ms. Areola said. “We are taking the aggressive shift, and so we’re considering March 31 as the end of the school year.”

Sweltering heat experienced by students and teachers during the months of April and May drove the DepEd to shift the end of the academic calendar in March 2025, before temperatures start rising dangerously.

“The plan is to revert back to the old academic calendar because of the heat,” Pasig City Rep. Roman T. Romulo said during the House panel hearing in mixed English and Filipino. “To be honest, it’s really hot, our students and teachers find it difficult (to learn and teach).” — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Labor leader joins SSS board

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PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has appointed labor leader Eva B. Arcos to join the Social Security Commission (SSC).

“Commissioner Arcos will continue to be critical in shaping the policies that govern the SSS,”  Social Security System (SSS) President and Chief Executive Officer Rolando L. Macasaet said in a statement on Monday.

Ms. Arcos was previously appointed as an acting member of the SSC on March 23, 2023 until her appointment as a full-fledged member last month.

“She also served in the SSC in 2015 and 2016 as one of the three Workers’ Group Representatives,” the SSS said. 

Ms. Arcos took her oath of office on April 24 before Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) Secretary and Ex-Officio SSC Member Bienvenido E. Laguesma.

Concurrently, Ms. Arcos is a member of several SSC committees including the Information Technology and Collection Committee, Risk Management and Investments Committee, Audit Committee, and Governance Committee.

She is also a member of the Global and Asia-Pacific IndustriALL Executive Committee and Women’s Committee.

Ms. Arcos obtained her bachelor’s degree in Business Economics as well as her masteral studies in Labor Policy and Administration, and Psychology from the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.

She also obtained diplomas and certificates in the areas of labor, psychology, theology, and spirituality from various institutions such as Notre Dame University, Indiana, USA; Mexican American Cultural Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA; Turin International Training Centre, Italy; the Asian Productivity Organization and Iranian Productivity Organization, Tehran, Iran; Centro de Enseñanza para Extranjeros, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico; and International Institute – Histadrut, Israel. — Aaron Michael C. Sy

Bill boosts state secret protection

LIFE imprisonment and a fine of at least P2 million will be the punishment for individuals leaking top secret government information if a bill filed before the Senate on Monday is passed into law.

Under Senate Bill No. 2667, Senator Francis N. Tolentino added a provision that would bar violators from running for public office.

It defines top secret information as materials that would cause “exceptionally grave damage” to national security; secret information as those that cause “serious damage to national security;” and confidential information as those that cause damage to national security.

The minimum punishment for those that disclose classified documents without authority would face a penalty of six to 12 years in jail and a fine of not more than P200,000.

The bill was filed as the Senate is in the middle of its investigation into leaked Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) drug watchlist that supposedly includes the President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and famous actors.

“Government documents are always at constant risk of being accessed for a purpose inimical to our national interest,” Mr. Tolentino said in the bill’s explanatory note. “The addition of concomitant liability, on any person who violates the provisions of this proposed measure, will strengthen and safeguard to integrity of public officials and employees in the conduct of their work.” — John Victor D. Ordoñez

File raps against China — lawmaker

Chinese dredging vessels are purportedly seen in the waters around Mischief Reef in the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea in this still image from video taken by a P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft provided by the United States Navy May 21, 2015. — U.S. NAVY/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS/FILE PHOTO

THE PHILIPPINE government should consider filing Writ of Kalikasan charges against China for its island-building activities on maritime features in South China Sea, a congressman said on Monday.

“Among the response options should also be the filing of a Writ of Kalikasan against China for the destruction they have brought upon Panganiban Reef (Mischief Reef), Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal), and Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), to name a few,” Manila Rep. Joel R. Chua said in a statement.

These should include maritime claims against China before the Philippine admiralty courts in Subic municipality and Palawan province, he added. 

Around 6,200 acres of coral reefs along maritime features in South China Sea have been damaged by island-building activities, with China being responsible for 75% or 4,650 acres of the degraded area in the waterbody, according to an Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative report in 2023.

Escoda Shoal, located 75 nautical miles off the coast of Palawan island, is the closest feature reportedly damaged by China due to island-building activities, Philippine Coast Guard Spokesperson Jay Tristan Tarriela said in an X post on Friday.

“After more than three weeks of monitoring, the PCG (Philippine Coast Guard) has… observed that crushed corals were dumped and it is likely that the maritime features were altered,” Mr Tarriela said, referring to the physical characteristics of the Escoda Shoal during low tide.

“I don’t want to speculate or alarm the public but for me, this is the closest, which is why it’s very alarming,” Mr. Tarriela said in a media briefing on Saturday.

China claims more than 80% of the South China Sea based on a 1940s nine-dash line map, which has since been voided by a UN-backed tribunal court in 2016.

The ruling said Beijing has violated Philippine sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone by building artificial islands within the waterbody’s features.

“Over the past many months and years, enough evidence has been available to support the filing of the Writ of Kalikasan,” according to Mr. Chua’s statement.

“China has played the largest role, destroying or severely damaging at least 21,183 acres of coral reef — and likely much more — through island expansion and giant clam harvesting,” the 2023 Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative report stated.

The Philippine government has also enough evidence to support its freedom of navigation disruption case against Beijing before the Subic and Palawan admiralty courts, Mr. Chua said.

Tensions between Manila and Beijing have worsened in the past year as China’s coast guard continues to block resupply missions to a grounded ship off Second Thomas Shoal.

“It is time to assert our sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea through the legal and diplomatic means available,” said Mr. Chua. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Scrap EO that authorized BI to issue student visas — congressman

PHILIPPINE President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. should scrap an executive order (EO) allowing the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to convert tourist visas into student visas, a congressman said Monday.

Executive Order No. 285 (EO 285) by former President Joseph E. Estrada allowed the conversion of tourist visas into student visas for foreigners seeking to take up higher education in the country, a move seen as promoting the Philippines as a center for education in Southeast Asia.

“In today’s setting, this particular power by the BI can be abused,” Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace S. Barbers said in a statement. “This arbitrary power to convert visas is the worst legalized scheme that can be used by unscrupulous personnel for monetary gain.”

The statement was issued amid concerns over the influx of Chinese students in Cagayan province in northern Philippines. Congressmen earlier raised alarms over the arrival of these students, citing that some of them could be spies.

There are two new Enhanced Defense Cooperation Arrangement (EDCA) sites in Cagayan province: Naval Base Camilo Osias in Santa Ana municipality and Cagayan North International Airport in Lal-lo municipality.

A total of 1,516 Chinese nationals in Cagayan had been provided with student visas, Immigration Commissioner Norman G. Tansingco said on Sunday. More than 400 Chinese students are enrolled in schools in the province, with only 96 Chinese nationals physically attending classes.

The BI issued 16,190 student visas to Chinese nationals in the country, he added, with the majority of them enrolled in the National Capital Region.

“The 16,200 student visas that the BI granted to Chinese nationals in 2023 is simply unacceptable,” Mr. Barbers said. “Never mind if other countries grant more, we should never use that as our yardstick given our tense relationship with China,” Barbers said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs should be the sole agency granting visas to foreigners, he added. “(The department) alone possess the expertise to determine whether the applications are eligible or not.” — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

No Filipinos hurt in heavy flooding in Indonesia

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THE DEPARTMENT of Migrant Workers (DMW) said on Monday it has yet to receive reports of Filipinos hurt in the severe flooding in West Sumatra, Indonesia at the weekend.

In a statement, the agency said it is monitoring affected Filipinos through its Migrant Workers Office in Singapore, since it does not have an office in Indonesia.

It is also working with the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta to keep an eye on Filipinos killed or hurt in the heavy flooding, which has killed 37 people and an unconfirmed number of missing people.

The National Search and Rescue Agency in Central Jakarta earlier reported the flash floods hit the Agam and Tanah Datar districts at around 10:30 pm Saturday in Indonesian time after hours of heavy rain.

Local governments in the areas have set up evacuation centers and emergency posts in several areas in the two districts, it said.

“The Migrant Workers Office in Singapore is coordinating closely with the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta to monitor the situation,” the DMW said. “The DMW Head Office shall issue further bulletins as necessary.”

Convicts in Cagayan get jobs on Labor Day

PRISONERS in Quirino, Cagayan, were given job opportunities by the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) under the TUPAD program last Labor Day.

Under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program, 20 prisoners received emergency employment assistance.

They will receive P4,500 each for 10 days of community work.

DoLE with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) gave starter kits for welding, dishwashing liquid-making, rags-making, and carpentry to four convicts through DoLE’s Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP).

The agency in the Cagayan Valley region also distributed over P7 million worth of assistance under the TUPAD Program and DILP.

It also identified 196 people eligible for livelihood programs and 650 TUPAD beneficiaries, such as farmers affected by El Niño, persons with disabilities, and victims of armed conflicts. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Creamline Cool Smashers PVL All-Filipino champions

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THE CREAMLINE Cool Smashers, like everybody else in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL), will get the rest that they all deserve following one of the toughest, if not the toughest, conferences in league history.

But there is a certain air in the Cool Smashers that when they return from their much needed respite, you could be assured they will be back in the hunting grounds of preying on everybody as alpha predators and collecting championships.

“For now, we just celebrate,” said triumphant Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses late Sunday night, moments after he steered the dynastic franchise to an unmatched league record eighth championship with a two-game finals sweep and spanking of younger sibling Choco Mucho.

It would also be the start of the proud club’s soul-searching of what it needed to do to keep up with the forever revolving improvement of the league landscape and rival squads eyeing to tear down its dynastic reign.

And it would begin inside every Creamline team member.

“Our losses were our lessons,” said Creamline unquestioned leader and the country’s face of the sport — Alyssa Valdez.

“It was really a difficult conference for us, probably because we’re really trying to figure out where are we at this point in our lives and our career and as a team where to improve.”

“But at the end of the day, we take this win as hope to all of us that no matter what, before coming into the semis, there is hope and chance that you cannot give up,” she added.

There is also the one concerning the big possibility, if not an inevitable occurrence, of veteran setter Jia de Guzman returning to the team after a stint in Japan last year.

“Yes,” said Meneses, when asked if Ms. De Guzman is returning to the team.

“She will always be with Creamline,” he added.

Creamline could also add some young blood via the historic first rookie draft by the league tentatively set in July when it will pick 12th and last being the champion of this conference.

If the pieces fit in and the stars align again, there is a chance fate would make a prophet out of reigning Finals MVP Jema Galanza, who blurted out what could be immortal words and portents of things to come for the rest of the field: “We will make it nine, 10, 11 forever.” — Joey Villar

Gin Kings battle Bolts at Philippine Cup semifinals

BARANGAY GINEBRA — PBA.PH

BARANGAY Ginebra and Meralco are gathering the forces and sharpening their weapons with their eighth postseason battle in the last eight seasons on the horizon.

The second-seeded and twice-beat Gin Kings and the No. 3 Bolts have lined themselves up for this PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinals entanglement by making short work of No. 7 Magnolia (99-77) and No. 6 NLEX (via 2-0 series sweep).

“It’s always tough and hard when we face Ginebra. They’re well-coached, they got depth and then they added some guys like (Ralph) Cu who are really great role players,” Meralco coach Luigi Trillo said of their old playoffs rivals. “We know we’re going to get our hands full but we’re looking forward to it.”

Ginebra counterpart Tim Cone is equally wary of the Bolts, who handed them a 73-91 beating in their elims meeting last March 15.

“It’s going to be a battle. Meralco is the hottest team entering the playoffs and they already beat us up in the elims,” Mr. Cone told The STAR on Monday.

He also noted how the Bolts have “gotten a good feel” for the system of Mr. Trillo and active consultant Nenad Vucinic.

“They’re executing it at a high level. We’ll have to play great in the series to have a chance,” said Mr. Cone.

Ginebra and Meralco have built a post-elims rivalry that dates back to Season 41. The Bolts have won the most recent one, the Season 47 Philippine Cup quarterfinals, 2-1, to snap a string of six losses in different stages, including three Governors’ Cup finals.

Meanwhile, Mr. Trillo hopes to harness rookie slotman Brandon Bates’ full potential in this duel.

“We really need him against Ginebra,” Mr. Trillo said of the 6-foot-9 Mr. Bates who must help skipper Raymond Almazan man for fort versus Ginebra’s deadly tower of Christian Standhardinger and Japeth Aguilar.

“You see what Mr. Standhardinger has been doing. You have Japeth (Aguilar) there. We need another big to help Raymond Almazan,” he added.

The 27-year-old Fil-Aussie was a big contributor in Meralco’s 100-81 clincher over NLEX Sunday, hauling down seven rebounds and swatting three blocks while scoring two points.

“Brandon (Bates) does a lot of the dirty work. He is a great pickup for us. A character guy all the way. He’s learning. He has the vets to take care of him,” Mr. Trillo said, even comparing Mr. Bates to Alaska great Sonny Thoss. “He reminds us a little bit of Sonny Thoss, who comes in and does the dirty work. He’s a little bit in that mold, where he’s an important guy when it comes to certain things that we want to do.” — Olmin Leyba

Saso shoots a closing 70 for joint 29th place at LPGA Founders Cup

FIL-JAPANESE YUKA SASO — REUTERS

FILIPINA-JAPANESE Yuka Saso finished joint 29th in the LPGA Founders Cup while Pinay aces Dottie Ardina and Clariss Guce shared 13th in the Epson Tour’s Carlisle Arizona Women’s Golf Classic in separate locations Sunday.

Ms. Saso birdied four of the last 10 holes to negate two bogeys and card a closing one-under 70 en route to a final three-under 285 in the $3-million event in New Jersey.

The 22-year-old former US Women’s Open titlist earned $22,504 (around P1.3 million) as she finished 21 shots off Rose Zhang, who claimed her second professional triumph.

Ms. Zhang rattled off four birdies in her final five holes to submit a closing 66 for 264 overall, beating Sweden’s Madelene Sagstrom (266 after a fourth-round 69) by two.

Over in Scottsdale, Arizona, Ms. Ardina matched par 71 while erstwhile contender Ms. Guce stumbled with a 73 to miss out on a Top 10 finish.

Ms. Ardina, fresh from her joint second effort in last week’s Casino del Sol Golf Classic, closed with a two-birdie, two-bogey round for a 278 total, eight short of the winning 270 of Chinese Ruixin Lu (64).

Ms. Guce, who was in contention after a hot 65 in the second round but bombed out on back-to-back 73s, equaled Ms. Ardina’s six-under aggregate in the final standings.

Pauline del Rosario, the other Filipina in the meet, placed in a tie for 26th with 281 after a final-round 73.

Mmess. Ardina and Guce banked $6,440 (P372,000) each while Del Rosario netted $3,737 (P216,000). — Olmin Leyba

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