AN accounting system for the country’s natural resources would produce data that would more accurately represent the country’s economic output, an official of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) told a joint Senate hearing.  

PSA Assistant National Statistician Vivian R. Ilarina said the current economic framework does not cover the base value of natural resources such as mineral reserves and their subsequent use. 

“In the accounting of the national accounts of the gross domestic product (GDP) and gross national income, we are not accounting for the mineral resources because [they are] capital resources,” she told senators.   

“You are growing economically by ‘dismatch’ at the expense of the resources. They may be fully degraded but you are not accounting them,” Ms. Ilarina said.   

Ms. Ilarina said natural resource calculations are possible, citing a test on physical accounting for copper, gold, nickel and chromium under the Wealth Accounting and the Valuation of Ecosystem Services (Phil-WAVES), a World Bank-led project with 89 pilot countries, including the Philippines.  

“This is to test whether is it feasible to do the asset accounts… we look at the, first, the inventory: what are the stocks at the start of the year and then look at the changes that affects the beginning stock and at the end of the year, you have then the closing stock,” she said.   

“Imagine if this is done for our forests, for our mangroves, for all minerals for even the quality of our air,” Senator Lorna Regina B. Legarda, who presided over the hearing, said. 

The Senate panel is deliberating a measure that would establish an information system and accounting framework on the country’s natural inputs and outputs and its impact on the country’s economy.   

Two of the three measures filed said the proposed Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System (PENCAS) will follow international standards approved by the United Nations Statistical Commission.   

According to the measures, natural capital includes air, water, soil, minerals, forests, coral reefs, seagrass beds, and all living things.  

The proposed PENCAS is under the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council’s (LEDAC) common legislative agenda.  

“These bills will more accurately reflect the true state of the nation’s wealth,” Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Maria Antonia “Toni” Yulo-Loyzaga told the hearing.   

“It will enable strategic planning for sustainable development and climate and disaster resilience by establishing the baseline accounts for the Philippine Development Plan,” she said.   

The committee will conduct another hearing in June to discuss the measure. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

A SENATOR has filed a resolution seeking to investigate the cease-and-desist order issued by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) against an orphanage.  

“While the safety and adequacy of living standards are important concerns, it is also important to determine whether or not the correct processes were followed in the removal of the children from a childcare facility subject to a cease-and-desist order,” Senator Ana Theresia “Risa” N. Hontiveros-Baraquel said in Senate Resolution No. 643.    

Ms. Hontiveros-Baraquel was referring to the case of Gentle Hands, Inc. (GHI), an accredited social welfare agency managing the orphanage, which called the DSWD’s actions “traumatizing for the children.” 

According to the cease-and-desist order, the GHI “failed to comply with the department’s minimum standards for residential facilities for children.”  

The DSWD conducted a surprise visit to the orphanage following the complaint of a private individual that GHI was violating Republic Act No. 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.  

DSWD Secretary Rexlon T. Gatchalian said the orphanage only had five housemaids, and that no houseparents or social workers were present at the time. The fire exits had also been sealed or covered with metal grills, he said.   

“It is imperative for the Senate to exercise the necessary oversight to check adherence to State policies and most importantly, to ensure that the best interests of the child are always upheld,” Ms. Hontiveros-Baraquel said. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz  

NEGROS Oriental Rep. Arnolfo A. Teves, Jr. may take legal action if he is expelled as a member of the House of Representatives, his lawyer said on Monday. 

“We will explore all legal avenues. We may go to the Supreme Court, we may go to the Ombudsman… but it’s too early to tell,” Ferdinand S. Topacio, Mr. Teves’ legal counsel, told reporters. 

Meanwhile, the House Ethics Committee is looking to impose stiffer penalties on Mr. Teves for his continued no-show in Congress.  

“The Committee on Ethics and Privileges unanimously decided to recommend to the plenary the imposition of a stiffer disciplinary action to our colleague” for “disorderly behavior,” Committee Chairman and COOP-NATCCO Party-list Rep. Felimon M. Espares told reporters after the panel’s closed-door hearing on Monday.  

He said Mr. Teves has violated House Rule No. 20, which states that “a member shall act at all times in a manner that shall reflect creditably on the House,” and that “a member shall adhere to the spirit and the letter of the Rules of the House and to the rules of the committees.”   

Mr. Espares said the rejection of Mr. Teves’ request to attend the plenary session online was the committee’s decision.   

Mr. Topacio appeared in Congress onsite on Mr. Teves’ behalf, but Ethics Committee Vice-Chairperson and AKO BICOL Party-list Rep. Raul Angelo D. Bongalon said he may only take on an advisory role for his client, who must attend physically.  

“Despite the call of the house leadership from the very first imposition of suspension, there was a continuing defiance on his part,” Mr. Bongalon told reporters.   

“We don’t want to be labeled as a Congress that is consenting to this kind of disorderly behavior,” he said.  

Mr. Teves was suspended for failing to report physically in Congress after his travel authority expired on March 9. The 60-day suspension expired on May 22.  

The whereabouts of Mr. Teves, who has been linked to the murder of the Negros Oriental governor, is unknown. He has cited threats against his family and himself as the reason for his refusal to appear onsite in Congress.   

Mr. Espares said the panel aims to submit its committee report on Tuesday. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz