14 public schools now under DepEd management amid Makati-Taguig land dispute

August 17, 2023 | 8:25 pm

Students — PHILIPPINE STAR/ WALTER BOLLOZOS

THE EDUCATION department has taken over the management of 14 public schools affected by a Supreme Court decision on a territorial dispute between the cities of Makati and Taguig.

In an Aug. 16 order, the agency cited “increasing tension” between the two cities, which it said could affect the “peaceful and orderly reopening of schools” on Aug. 29.

“The Office of the Secretary shall directly supervise the management and administration of all 14 schools, pending a transition plan, effective immediately,” according to the order. It cited the need to protect the students, teachers and nonteaching personnel.

The 14 schools are Makati Science High School, Comembo Elementary School, Rizal Elementary School, Pembo Elementary School, Benigno “Ninoy” S. Aquino High School and Tibagan High School.

Also on the list are Fort Bonifacio Elementary School, Fort Bonifacio High School, Pitogo Elementary School, Pitogo High School, Cembo Elementary School, East Rembo Elementary School, West Rembo Elementary School and South Cembo Elementary School.

The Department of Education (DepEd) has created a committee that will create a transition plan.

During the transition period, all school activities must be approved by DepEd.

School heads must directly report to and defer to the Education secretary on matters related to the daily operations of the schools.

The Philippine National Police has been tasked to enforce the DepEd order.

In 2021, the Supreme Court ruled that the Fort Bonifacio Military Reservation is part of Taguig City. In 2022 and 2023, it denied Makati’s motion for reconsideration.

The dispute has affected about 30,000 students from the so-called EMBO (enlisted men’s barrios) schools in 10 villages that were formerly part of Makati City, with Taguig being accused of forcibly taking over the public schools. Taguig has denied the claim.

Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay earlier said the court ruling on the cities’ territorial row did not cover the ownership rights of the public schools, which she said were paid for and are owned by Makati.

In a statement, Ms. Binay welcomed DepEd’s decision to take over management of the schools, saying it would “ease the worries and concerns” of students, parents and teachers.

“We look forward to working wholeheartedly with the transition team created by the Vice President,” she said. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Gov’t told to include more Pinoys in cash transfer program

August 17, 2023 | 8:25 pm

A CONGRESSMAN on Thursday urged the Social Welfare department to include more Filipinos in its conditional cash transfer program.

“Why are we lowering the [beneficiaries] while more and more Filipinos are becoming poor?” Assistant Minority Leader and Party-list Rep. Arlene D. Brosas told a House of Representatives hearing on the P5.768-trillion national budget for next year.

This was after Social Welfare Secretary Rexlon T. Gatchalian said the agency had briefly halted its delisting of beneficiaries under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps to reassess the number of poor Filipino families.

“Whenever we delist [beneficiaries,] we have them replaced as we have an existing database of waitlisted families who are needing to go into the program,” he told the hearing.

He said they would need a bigger budget to accommodate more beneficiaries. “We will always push for adding more 4Ps members if the budget allows it.”

Only 13.46% of the P94.34-billion 4Ps budget for 2023 has been given to beneficiaries pending review, Mr. Gatchalian said.

The government expects to complete the review of beneficiaries of its conditional cash transfer program by September, he told a news briefing this week.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is looking at 1.4 million families, including 700,000 people who had been tagged as nonpoor before the pandemic, Mr. Gatchalian said.

He said the 700,000 people previously tagged as nonpoor had been heavily affected by the pandemic, pulling them back into poverty.

Another 700,000 people had not been assessed because of pandemic-induced lockdowns, he said. He added that the cash transfer program accounts for half of the agency’s budget for 2023.

At Thursday’s hearing, Mr. Gatchalian said the program targets 4.4 million beneficiaries by October or November.

DSWD expects a 94% utilization rate for the program by yearend, or P96.55 billion including operating costs.

Out of the agency’s proposed P209.9-billion budget for next year, P112.8 billion is earmarked for 4Ps.

The program provides cash grants to the poorest households on the condition that they commit to help raise key development metrics, like submitting to nutrition and health checks, and keep children in school. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Saudi unlikely to settle unpaid OFW wages this year

August 17, 2023 | 8:25 pm

By John Victor D. Ordoñez, Reporter

A FINAL settlement on the unpaid wages of more than 10,000 Saudi Arabia-based overseas Filipino workers (OFW) is unlikely to materialize this year even with promises given by the Saudi government to Manila in November.

“The DFA will be frank — early this year our embassy [in Saudi Arabia] reported that it is not realistic to expect the payment to come this year,” Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Eduardo Jose A. de Vega told a Senate migrant workers committee hearing on Thursday.

Senator Rafael “Raffy” T. Tulfo, who heads the committee, had asked officials from DFA and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) why they have not issued a definite date for the settlement.

The Saudi government promised President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. it would settle the unpaid wages and other benefits of Filipino workers who were laid off by private Saudi employers from 2015 to 2016.

The commitment was made during bilateral talks at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Bangkok, Thailand in November.

Mr. De Vega said the embassy report he was quoting came before a trip made by DMW officials to Saudi Arabia a few months after the commitment was given to the President.

Mr. Tulfo advised DMW and DFA to avoid issuing premature announcements that the wages would be paid to avoid giving OFWs false hope.

“We keep saying that the wages will be paid, but we should also pressure those in Saudi Arabia to give us an exact date of when these will be given,” he said in Filipino.

Migrant Workers Undersecretary Bernard P. Olalia said a Saudi minister would visit the country later this year to coordinate with state officials about the settlement.

In March, Migrant Workers Secretary Maria Susanna V. Ople said Saudi Arabia would hire about a million skilled Filipino workers in the next 18 to 24 months through a special employment program.

Gov’t told to ensure rice supply

August 17, 2023 | 8:24 pm

THE COUNTRY needs a backup plan to ensure rice sufficiency ahead of the expected bad weather and El Niño dry spell in the coming months, Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian said on Wednesday.

During a Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) briefing on the proposed 2024 budget before the Senate finance committee, the senator said rising prices could worsen inflation.

“Submit to us a contingency plan,” he told DBCC officials. “I’m really worried that this export ban from other countries will affect us not only in terms of supply but also in terms of prices.”

Global rice prices have jumped by about 20% to 15-year highs since India, which accounts for 40% of world supplies, banned non-basmati white rice exports last month, Reuters reported.

The Department of Agriculture had recommended that the private sector import an additional 500,000 metric tons (MT) of rice because El Niño-induced dry spells could affect crop production later this year.

“I would like to urge the government to seriously look into the situation because it’s not only going to affect inflation but more importantly food on the table for our own constituents,” Mr. Gatchalian said. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

DTI warns vs overpriced items

August 17, 2023 | 8:23 pm

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) warned consumers on Thursday against overpriced school supplies, saying they should buy these from outlets that sell the items at lower prices.

Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual led a price-monitoring team to Divisoria, Manila to ensure school supplies were being sold at DTI’s suggested retail prices, the agency said in a statement. “All the prices match what’s on the price guide,” he said.

Mr. Pascual said consumers should avoid stores that sell school supplies at overpriced rates. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Samal needs gensets for polls

August 17, 2023 | 8:23 pm

DAVAO CITY — To ensure stable power supply in Samal, Davao del Norte for the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections in October, the island needs to have a total of 16 generator sets.

The Department of Energy-Mindanao (DoE-Mindanao) said on Monday that local government units (LGUs) in two of the three districts of Samal have already signified their intention to procure gensets required to ensure that the elections are not disrupted.

At present, DoE-Mindanao has been coordinating with the Commission on Elections and private distribution utilities to validate the electricity requirements for the polls and the request for alternative power-generating capacities for Samal. — Maya M. Padillo

Intel agents step in bomb probe

August 17, 2023 | 8:22 pm

COTABATO CITY — Police and military agents have intensified investigation into Tuesday’s grenade attack on the house of former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sheriff M. Abas.

Intelligence agents of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region and the Army’s 6th Infantry Division have stepped in to help local police identify the motorcycle rider who lobbed the grenade at Mr. Abas’ front yard on Narra Street, Barangay Rosary Heights 3, here.

While the explosion caused property damage, no one was injured. A P300,000 reward was offered for information leading to the arrest of the attacker.

Police Director Brig. Gen. Allan C. Nobleza said probers were reviewing security camera footage in the area that could help their investigation. — John Felix M. Unson

Climate change deal inked

August 17, 2023 | 8:22 pm

THE PHILIPPINES and Germany vowed to boost their climate cooperation on Thursday when President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. received German Ambassador Andreas Michael Pfaffernoschke in Malacañang.

“Let’s look in that direction,” Mr. Marcos told Mr. Pfaffernoschke about addressing concerns on the economy, climate change and energy, among other things.

“The Chief Executive agreed that the partnership between the Philippines and Germany would greatly benefit the country, especially in promoting the climate agenda in both the local and international settings,” the palace said in a statement.

The two countries have signed a joint declaration of intent on consultations for technical cooperation projects in the fields of climate, energy and biodiversity. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Rebel camp seized in CAR

August 17, 2023 | 8:22 pm

BAGUIO CITY — Mountain Province policemen and intelligence agents from the Naval Intelligence Security Group-North Luzon seized an abandoned rebel encampment in the hinterland village of Suquib, Besao town on Wednesday.

Seized from the camp site were an M-16 rifle, a portable radio, five magazines for an M-14 rifle, assorted clothes, educational paraphernalia and flags of the New People’s Army (NPA) and their affiliate groups.

On Tuesday, Brig. Gen. David K. Peredo, Cordillera police director, said a rebel had surrendered to police in the village of Bantay, Paracelis, also in Mountain Province. For surrendering his long firearm, the rebel will receive benefits under the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program, he said. — Artemio A. Dumlao

Driver’s license contract halted

August 17, 2023 | 8:22 pm

A QUEZON CITY court has stopped the Land Transportation Office (LTO) from awarding the supply contract for driver’s license cards to the winning bidder.

“I see this as a temporary setback,” LTO Chief Vigor D. Mendoza II told a news briefing in Filipino on Thursday. He vowed to clear up the matter at the next court hearing on Aug. 22 so the LTO could resolve the shortage in driver’s license cards.

“The cessation in the delivery of the cards will cause a delay, instead of us being able to address the problem now,” Mr. Mendoza said. “So, we will have to resort to temporary measures like extending the validity of existing licenses.”

The trial court issued the 20-day restraining order based on a petition filed by disqualified bidder Allcard, Inc. Named respondents in the lawsuit were the LTO, the bids and awards committee of the Transportation department and rival Banner Plasticard, Inc., which won the P219.24-million contract to supply materials for 5.2 million driver’s licenses.

AllCard said it was disqualified even if it had offered the lowest bid. – Justine Irish D. Tabile

No polls for Teves post

August 17, 2023 | 8:21 pm

THE HOUSE of Representatives will not seek a special election for the Negros Oriental post vacated by former congressman Arnolfo A. Teves, Jr. after his expulsion from Congress, the chamber’s secretary general said on Thursday.

“A special election may be difficult [to conduct] because of the time constraints,” House Secretary General Reginald S. Velasco told a media briefing.

He pointed out that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is already busy preparing for the nationwide Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in October as well the midterm elections in 2025.

“We have also informed Comelec officially that there’s a decision from the House on Mr. Arnolfo Teves, Jr., so we will be awaiting their response whether they will call for special election or just leave it at that,” Mr. Velasco said.

In past instances, the House Speaker either assumes the vacant post as “caretaker” or assigns another member of the chamber to take on the responsibility.

“I’m sure there’s already a budget for the district [for next year.] That’s the duty of the caretaker, to see that these projects are appropriated and implemented,” said Mr. Velasco.

Congressmen on Wednesday voted to expel Mr. Teves for his continued absence in Congress and “indecent behavior” shown on social media. Murder charges brought up against him over three killings in his province and his being tagged as a “terrorist” by the government did not help his cause.

Mr. Teves’ office has received a copy of the House Ethics and Privileges’ Committee Report No. 717 which the House adopted to expel him, according to Mr. Velasco.

However, the House leadership is yet to decide on who will be the caretaker of the third district of Negros Oriental, which Mr. Teves previously served. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Clarkson, Gilas face Ivory Coast in a close-door tune-up game

August 17, 2023 | 5:55 pm

IT’S TIME for Jordan Clarkson and Gilas Pilipinas to play ball against fellow FIBA World Cup (WC)-gearing squads.

The Nationals face Ivory Coast tonight in a closed-door tune-up at the PhilSports Arena that serves as Mr. Clarkson’s first action gig since entering camp while kicking off Gilas’ three-game final test before Friday’s WC opening.

After the Ivorians, the Filipino dribblers are booked for similar pre-tournament duels with Montenegro and Mexico on Sunday and Monday, respectively.

Gilas coach Chot Reyes said it is by design that Mr. Clarkson and Co. are tackling against the three squads from different continents a few days before their actual battle against the Dominican Republic, Angola and Italy.

“The way we structured the tune-up games is a replica of the teams that we’re going to play — European, African and Latin/South American teams,” Mr. Reyes said recently in The Game on One Sports.

“Those are the teams we’re going to face in the actual World Cup so we made sure that we mimic the kind of competition. And in fact, even the schedule, we tried to make it as close as possible to what we’ll actually face in the World Cup.”

Ivory Coast, which will compete in Group G in the Jakarta side of the competition, will stand in for its African rival, Angola. Europe’s Montenegro and Americas’ Mexico, which are bracketed together in Group D at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena, will approximate the styles of the Italians and the Dominicans, respectively.

Gilas aims to make the most of the three pre-WC matches to squeeze in valuable playtime for Mr. Clarkson and his 15 teammates in the last seven days before tipoff.

It may also be the last chance of the pool members to pitch for their inclusion in the Final 12.

“These games will solidify the coaches’ mind on the Final 12,” said Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas President Al Panlilio.

Gilas’ Dirty Dozen will be named on or before Wednesday, the Fiba’s final deadline for submission of rosters in the Aug. 25 to Sept. 10 basketball showpiece.

First up for the Nationals are Karl Anthony Towns and the Dominican Republic on Friday at the Philippine Arena followed by Angola on the 27^th and Italy on the 29^th, both at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. — Olmin Leyba