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DBP in aquaculture tie-up with Charoen Pokphand Foods

CPF-PHIL.COM

THE Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) said on Thursday that it signed an aquaculture financing agreement with Charoen Pokphand Foods Philippines Corp. (CP Foods).

The DBP’s Aquaculture Value Chain Financing Program will support small and micro enterprises and cooperatives with loans of between P5 million and P15 million to finance 90% of the total project cost, the DBP said in a statement.

For medium to large enterprises, the deal will fund a minimum of P15 million or up to 70% of the total project cost, the state-run lender added.

“This new tie-up further strengthens our longstanding partnership with CP Foods and cements our continuing commitment to help ensure food security and productivity in the country,” DBP President and Chief Executive Officer Michael O. de Jesus said.

CP Foods is a major producer of animal feed, with a network of customers who may require the DBP’s funding for working capital, fixed assets, support facilities, pond development or improvement, and post-harvest facilities.  

“This partnership is in support of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) commitment to intensify the fishery sector by increasing the shrimp production to 276,320 tons from 2023-2027,” Mr. De Jesus said.

The DBP said projects planned under the agreement are valued at P7 billion this year.

“We are confident that CP Foods’ decades-long aquaculture expertise will greatly contribute towards our collective goal of a more competitive and sustainable Philippine aquaculture,” Mr. De Jesus said.

“CP Foods is a subsidiary of Thailand’s Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Co. Ltd. (CPFPC) which operates vertically integrated agro-industrial and food businesses, harnessing its investments and partnerships in 17 countries worldwide,” the DBP said.

The DBP is the country’s eighth largest bank by terms of assets and serves borrowers involved in infrastructure and logistics; the environment; social services and community development; as well as micro, small and medium enterprises. 

It reported a net profit of P5.6 billion in 2022, up 50%, on the back of improved interest income and loan volumes. — Aaron Michael C. Sy

CA affirms mediator approval of seafarer’s disability claim

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE Court of Appeals (CA) has upheld a ruling by the National Conciliation and Mediation Board’s (NCMB), which had ordered Magsaysay Maritime Corp. to pay a seafarer $60,000, following a permanent injury to his leg sustained while on duty.

In a 16-page decision dated March 31, the CA Eighth Division concurred with the NCMB, which found that Joselito Q. Baculto could no longer perform his duties as a seafarer after a trolley hit his left leg.

“Like other overseas workers, Filipino seafarers are our true diplomats, they who show the world the resilience, patience, and creativity of our people,” Associate Justice Edwin D. Sorongon said in the ruling.

“It is the duty of this Court, given the facts and the applicable laws, to approximate justice due them.”

It said the seafarer was not entitled to moral damages as he failed to prove that Magsaysay Maritime Corp. acted in bad faith in denying his initial disability claim. The court added that he was entitled to lawyer’s fees provided under the New Civil Code.

Mr. Baculto was hired as a chef de partie baker and was tasked to operate and maintain the ship’s baking machinery. He had a monthly salary of $476 for a period of eight months.

In 2019, the seafarer was diagnosed with an “umbilical hernia” by a company-approved doctor after a fellow crew member lost control of a trolley that hit his leg.

A year later, he told the doctor that he still experienced pain despite undergoing surgery for the injury.

Mr. Baculto consulted three doctors whose conflicting assessments failed to arrive at a determination of his fitness to continue working as a seafarer.

Citing the Labor Code, the tribunal said a disability is total and permanent if the employee is unable to perform any “gainful” occupation for a continuous period exceeding 120 days.

It said none of the company-approved doctors made a definite disability assessment, which made Mr. Baculto’s injury permanent under the law.

“Considering Baculto’s persistent and unresolved pain, it is highly improbable for him to perform his usual tasks in any vessel which effectively disabled him from earning wages in the same kind of work or similar nature for which he was trained,” the court ruled. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

China hits back at US, PHL as it asserts claim over disputed sea

AN AERIAL photo of Philippine-occupied Thitu Island, locally known as Pag-asa, in the contested Spratly Islands. — REUTERS

CHINA has slammed the United States and the Philippines for condemning its presence in South China Sea areas legally claimed by Manila, reiterating its rejection of the landmark ruling that invalidated its sweeping claims over the disputed waterway.

“China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea Islands and the adjacent waters,” Wang Wenbin, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, told a regular briefing on Wednesday.

He said the joint statement of the US and the Philippines “misrepresents and discredits the legitimate and lawful maritime law enforcement activities of the Chinese side and even makes false accusations against China.”

“We strongly oppose this.”

In a statement following a 2+2 meeting dialogue, the Philippines and the US strongly opposed China’s “unlawful maritime claims, militarization of reclaimed features, and threatening and provocative activities in the South China Sea.”

They cited alleged recent attempts of China to disrupt the Philippines’ lawful operations at and around the Second Thomas Shoal and the “repeated massing” of Chinese maritime militia vessels at several sites within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, including, but not limited to, maritime areas in the vicinity of Iroquois Reef, Sabina Shoal, Second Thomas Shoal, and Whitsun Reef.

Such activities affect the livelihoods of Filipino fisherfolk as well as undermine food security in the Philippines, they said.

Manila and Washington also urged China to fully comply with the 2016 United Nations-backed arbitral ruling, which invalidated China’s claims to more than 80% of the South China Sea.

But Mr. Wang of China said “the so-called arbitral award on the South China Sea gravely violates international laws, including UNCLOS.”

“The award is illegal, null and void. China’s position of not accepting or recognizing it is clear and firm,” he said.

‘PROPER MANNER’
“We stand ready to work with relevant countries to handle maritime disputes in a proper manner through negotiation and consultation, while resolutely protecting our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests,” he added.

In the joint statement, Washington and Manila also reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, saying it is “an indispensable element of global security and prosperity.”

They also stressed the importance of “multilateralism, sustained dialogue and cooperation, and the peaceful settlement of disputes based on international law” in maintaining regional stability.

The statement highly critical of China was issued amid the escalating tension between Beijing and Washington, which has vowed to defend Taiwan in case of a Chinese invasion.

“I don’t think we should concern ourselves with the China-US conflict, or any conflict between states for that matter,” Michael Henry Ll. Yusingco, a policy analyst who has been closely observing the Philippines’ engagement with both China and the US, said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

“We should leave that to international and regional organizations such as the UN and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN),” he added. “We can express our intentions through these organizations.”

“Expressing them directly would mean a direct engagement in the conflict and this is not something our Constitution allows.”

Last week, Mr. Marcos said Philippine military bases under Manila’s 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with Washington would not be used for any offensive activities.

The president first announced the EDCA expansion in February, giving the US access to four more military bases on top of five existing sites.

China has criticized the EDCA expansion, accusing Washington of endangering “regional peace and stability.”

“We shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that our goal is to strengthen national defense. EDCA and the (annual) Balikatan exercises is just one aspect of this goal,” Mr. Yusingco said.

“The fact that China feels insecure about this shouldn’t really be a concern for us because our focus should always be to strengthen our national defense.”

He said the Philippines has “to do everything” that it can to ensure that it can defend itself against any external threat. “If that means we have to forge alliances with like-minded states, then so be it.”

On Wednesday, military spokesman Medel M. Aguilar said EDCA sites may be used by both countries during “emergency situations” aside from disaster relief.

Hansley A. Juliano, a political economy researcher, said China’s reaction to the increased US-Philippines partnership “seems consistent with its calculation on America.”

“US presence in Asian waters is always seen as a threat to China’s hegemony,” he said via Messenger chat.

The US and the Philippines on Tuesday kicked off their biggest joint military exercises, which are being participated in by 17,600 members of the Philippine and US military.

This year’s activities include live-fire exercises near disputed waters of the South China Sea.

Kwei-Bo Huang, director of Center for Global and Regional Risk Assessment at Taipei-based National ChengChi University, said the ongoing military drills between the Philippines and the US “will not become a big issue for Beijing so long as it is not aimed obviously at the deployment of the People’s Liberation Amy and/or the disputed areas in the South China Sea.”

“The scale of this exercise has been one of the largest in Southeast Asia, but apparently Beijing authorities haven’t yet lodged a formal protest against it,” he added. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Old jeepneys can keep operating if they are ‘roadworthy’ — DoTr

PHILIPPINE STAR/WALTER BOLLOZOS

OLD jeepneys can keep operating as public transport if these are properly maintained amid government’s push for a shift to more environment-friendly and modern units, the Transport chief said on Thursday.

“We really encourage them to avail new units but if they really can’t, we’d just see to it that their equipment are roadworthy,” Department of Transportation (DoTr) Secretary Jaime J. Bautista told reporters at the sidelines of the United Nations (UN) media briefing on road safety in the Philippines.

“Although, we really encourage them to modernize,” he said.

According to Mr. Bautista, the Philippines currently has 6,000 modern jeepneys and owners of 60% of traditional jeepneys have been consolidated, which will ease access to government support on the modernization program.

Meanwhile, UN Special Envoy for Road Safety Jean Todt said the Philippines should focus on education, stronger law enforcement, maintenance of vehicles and roads, and post-crash care to improve passengers’ road safety.

“If people are not scared, they are more vulnerable,” Mr. Todt said in the same media briefing.

Mr. Bautista noted that there were around 11,500 road fatalities in the Philippines in 2022, with drunk driving, over speeding, and driving while texting as the common causes of accidents.

He said the Philippines should aim to reduce road fatalities by 20% in the medium-term and 50% long-term.

“You need to create more awareness… [because people have the tendency to] leave their homes feeling that nothing bad will happen,” Mr. Todt said, noting that drivers’ behavior is the key factor in ensuring road safety.

The Transportation department is finalizing the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan for 2023 to 2028, which will focus on improving and intensifying road safety education and training.

Mr. Bautista added that the department is looking to improve road signs nationwide and address hazards such as electric posts situated in the middle of roads that have been expanded.

Mr. Todt also called on the government to ensure that motorcycle drivers are licensed and use the proper gear such as helmets, noting that two-wheeled vehicles are widely-used in the country.

A 2016 World Bank report said that the cost of road crashes represents 4.1% of the Philippines’ gross domestic product. Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Marcos welcomes Temasek projects on climate change, agriculture

PCO PHOTO

THE PHILIPPINE government looks forward to working with Singapores Temasek Foundation on climate change mitigation and agricultural programs, the presidential palace said on Thursday.  

Were looking at some of the prospective projects that are directed towards climate change, towards agriculture, and sustainability,” President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr told the board members of Temasek Foundation in a Thursday meeting in Malacañang, based on a press release from the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).  

The Temasek Foundation, a Singapore-based non-profit organization, funds and supports programs that aim to build capabilities of communities in Asia. It is an arm of Singapores state sovereign fund, Temasek Holdings.  

The PCO said the foundation had forged agreements with the Philippines to enhance competencies across industries,through technical-vocational training, digitalization, health care management, and a program on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) with Design Thinking.  

During the meeting, a Temasek official told Mr. Marcos that they had “very good discussions” with Science and Technology Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr., Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma, and Migrant Workers Secretary Maria Susana V. Ople on collaborations in the future,the palace said.  

The Singapore delegation is led by Temasek Foundation chair Jennie Chua Kheng Yeng. 

Among the attendees were Singaporean Ambassador to the Philippines Gerard Ho Wei Hong, Temasek board members Tony Tan Caktiong, Goh Yong Siang, Arich Rachmat, and Senior Directors Gerald Yeo Teng Han, and James Chan Yong Kiat.     

The palace said the Philippines and Singapore are also planning to renew a 2019 memorandum of understanding between the PhilippinesDepartment of Education and Nanyang Polytechnic International. Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Tropical depression leaves some Bicol areas flooded as it dissipates

TROPICAL depression Amang, which has weakened into a low pressure remnant Thursday morning, left 36 areas in the Bicol region flooded after making landfall Wednesday, the national emergency response agency reported.   

The flooded areas, including villages and road sections, were in the provinces of Albay, Naga, Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur, according to the April 13 bulletin of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).  

A total of 81 families composed of 280 individuals were temporarily evacuated, all in the town of Guinobatan in Albay. Assistance worth about P48,300 were immediately distributed to the affected residents, NDRRMC said.   

AGRICULTURAL DAMAGE
Agricultural damage in Bicol, meanwhile, was initially estimated at P12.3 million, the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported on Thursday.    

Rains damaged about 1,097 hectares of farmland and affected over 1,324 farmers, resulting in a production loss of 664 metric tons.  

Of the total farm damage, rice accounted for 65.57% and amounted to P8.07 million in value losses. This was followed by high-value crops valued at P4.15 million and livestock and poultry at P126,000.  

Losses were mainly reported in the provinces of Camarines Sur and Sorsogon.  

The DA said that it has been monitoring the effects of the tropical depression and conducting assessment of damage and losses to the agri-fisheries sector.  

The department also said that the assistance available for distribution are seeds of rice, corn, and assorted vegetable to affected farmers; drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry farmers; and fingerlings to fisherfolks.  

Almost all of our rice areas there are irrigated, draining is the most important so that they will not be waterlogged,U-Nicholas A. Manalo, officer-in-charge of DA Field Operations Service, told a news briefing in Filipino. 

He said impact to overall production is relatively minimal as the losses still can be recovered with the wet cropping season having just started.  

Operations at all seaports resumed Thursday after almost 4,000 passengers were stranded since Tuesday, according to the NDRRMC report.  

State weather agency PAGASA said the low pressure area is expected to still bring scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms within Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon until Friday morning.   

The remnant circulation of Amang is forecast to track generally northwestward or west northwestward towards Polillo Islands and northern mainland Quezon,PAGASA said in its 11 a.m. Thursday update.   

This weather disturbance may dissipate in the next 24 hours. 

CASH TRANSFER BILL
In another development, a senator reiterated his push for a bill that will automatically enroll victims of calamities in the governments cash transfer program to aid recovery.  

The 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program cash transfer aid of the government) was made to break cases of intergenerational poverty, and one of its causes are familiesinability to recover from calamities,Senator Alan Peter S. Cayetano said in a statement on Thursday.   

Mr. Cayetano urged lawmakers to pass Senate Bill No. 302 or the 4Ps for Disaster Victims Act. 

“This measure proposes to strengthen the 4Ps Law to aid our countrymen placed in unfortunate situations without their fault, such as disasters,” he said.  

Under the proposed measure, victims deemed poor due to natural or man-made disasters will receive a one-time financial assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).  

Within 15 to 30 days from the disaster, the DSWD will conduct an assessment to determine whether disaster victims are still eligible for full benefits under the 4Ps Act,Mr. Cayetano said in the bill.  

Those still rendered poor as a result of the disasterwill immediately be enrolled as full beneficiaries, the senator said.  

The bill is still pending at the committee level. Marifi S. Jara, Sheldeen Joy Talavera and Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Manila Water ramps up additional water sources in preparation for El Niño 

MANILA Water Co., Inc. is ramping up the construction of its two water supply systems to bring an additional 130 million liters per day (MLD) in preparation for a looming dry spell this year. 

“Manila Water is preparing for the onset of El Niño this year, as noted by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA),” Manila Water said in a media release on Thursday. 

Manila Water’s Calawis water supply system can bring an additional 80 MLD, while the East Bay water supply system can add 50 MLD.

In February, Manila Water announced that the Wawa-Calawis water supply system is nearing completion, currently at 82%. 

The east zone concessionaire said it is also looking at deploying a portable water treatment plant and other possible contingency and augmentation measures.

“Given the peak water demand during the ongoing drought season and the impending El Niño, these initiatives are given the utmost importance because they will reduce dependence on the current water supplies, Angat, La Mesa and Cardona TP (Laguna Lake),” it said.

The company also said that it is also preparing other projects associated with Calawis and East Bay water supply systems. 

“Manila Water is also preparing the reliability lines through the Novaliches-Balara Aqueduct 4 and the Angat Water Transmission Improvement Project (AWTIP) Tunnel 5 projects to evaluate and fix the existing aqueducts,” it said.

Meanwhile, Manila Water announced that it spent a total of P20.6 billion in capital expenditures in 2022. 

To be well-positioned to serve the public even amid the economic challenges, we want to ensure that our capital spending meets both our water supply and sewerage service obligations,” J.V. Emmanuel A. De Dios, Manila Water president and chief executive officer, said in a statement. 

Manila Water serves Metro Manilas east zone network with a population of about seven million. The concession area covers Marikina, Pasig, Makati, Taguig, Pateros, Mandaluyong, San Juan, portions of Quezon City and Manila, and several towns of nearby Rizal province. Ashley Erika O. Jose

Tubig Pilipinas to construct septage treatment plant in Coron

DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM

TUBIG Pilipinas Group, Inc. is planning to construct its first septage treatment plant in Coron, Palawan by yearend to expand sewage services outside Metro Manila. 

We are preparing for the actual construction which we are targeting to start before the end of 2023,Ryan T. Yapkianwee, president of Tubig Pilipinas, said in a statement on Thursday. 

Tubig Pilipinas currently has five projects under contract with wastewater treatment as part of its service obligations, including the partnership with Coron Rural Waterworks and Sanitation Association (CRWASA).

“One of which is with CRWASA Tubig Coron wherein the planning, design, land purchase, and clearing operation were already done,” Mr. Yapkianwee said.

“Having a wastewater treatment infrastructure is critical for top tourist destinations such as Coron as this protects natural resources such as beaches and wildlife from pollution and contamination,he said. 

Tubig Pilipinas said it is also working with different entities and local government units to ensure the protection of Coron’s water source, the Mabentangen Watershed. 

“The watershed is a critical component in Tubig Pilipinasoperations as it is one of the major sources of water of the two water service providers in Coron — supplying domestic and commercial water supporting the tourism industry, which is the major economic driver of the municipality,” it said. 

The company said the Coron septage treatment plant will be the first among its 12 operation sites in Luzon and the Visayas. Ashley Erika O. Jose

House lawmakers seek probe on poor water supply service, high rates in Bacolod City 

BW FILE PHOTO

LAWMAKERS on Thursday filed a resolution seeking to investigate the joint venture agreement between Bacolod Citys water district and a private company, questioning the poor water supply service to consumers and labor issues. 

The three-person opposition coalition filed House Resolution No. 909 urging a probe on the partnership between Bacolod City Water District (BACIWA) and PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. following complaints onpoor water serviceand the displacement of employees.  

The 25-year joint venture agreement which began on June 17, 2020 was opposed by the residents of Bacolod City and consumers of BACIWA, according to the resolution.  

There were numerous complaints about water services tainted with color, mud, and sand particles, as well as the unpredictable availability of supply in some areas of Bacolod,the lawmakers said in the resolution.   

The resolution also indicated that after the joint venture agreement, PrimeWater retained only 45 out of BACIWAs 474 employees. The rest were illegally separated or availed themselves of the early retirement package,it said.   

The Commission on Audit said in its 2020 annual financial report that BACIWA ranked 6th in terms of total income and total comprehensive income among all water districts in the Philippines.  

State auditors also said that the BACIWA incurred a net income loss of P33.34 million in 2021.  

Congress must initiate legislative measures to reverse water privatization, improve water access and services to the people, and save the public from the profiteering of big private companies,the lawmakers said. 

The coalition is composed of Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France L. Castro, Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene D. Brosas, and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Danniel A. Manuel.   

BACIWA and PrimeWater have yet to reply to e-mails seeking comments. Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

LANDBANK loans P67M to Quirino province for digital infra project 

BW FILE PHOTO

LAND Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) on Thursday said it approved a P67-million loan to the provincial government of Quirino to finance its digital infrastructure. 

This brought the total loans released for COVID-19 recovery to P113 billion, covering 408 local government units as of Feb. 28, the state-run lender said in a statement. 

Under the Restoration and Invigoration package for a Self-sufficient Economy towards UPgrowth for LGUs (RISE UP) program, the bank will finance Quirinos procurement of an internet service provider, installation of towers, and other provisions.   

It will also cover the installation of Wifi equipment for the provincial government, which is already underway, LANDBANK said.   

LANDBANK said the Quirino LGU is prioritizing the installation of Wifi in schools, public markets, rural health units, municipal and barangay halls, and other public spaces.  

LANDBANKs financing facility is a big boost to the initiatives of LGUs. It provides relief to struggling LGUs while we ramp-up our efforts to mitigate the impact of the pandemic,Quirino Governor Dakila C. Cua said.  

Once completed this year, students and residents will be able to access free internet with a speed of up to two gigabytes per second, LANDBANK said.  

The RISE UP LGUs program allows local governments to borrow from LANDBANK to finance their development projects geared to rebuild their communities and economies.  

The fund allocation for the program was increased to P150 billion, 15 times higher from P10 billion in 2020 to accommodate more LGUs, the bank said.  

The program has also been extended to be made available until July 2025, it added. Aaron Michael C. Sy

DITO, Smart call for 120-day extension of SIM card registration

PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

DITO Telecommunity Corp. called for a 120-day extension of the subscriber identity module (SIM) registration, citing low compliance so far with less than 50% of subscribers having signed on.

“Considering that more than 50% of nationwide subscribers of all telcos have yet to register, disallowing the extension may result in disenfranchisement of subscribers that may prove detrimental to the current government initiative,” the company said in a press release on Thursday.

PLDT, Inc. wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc., in a separate press release, said it has submitted a formal request letter to the government for a 120-day extension.

DITO said while it acknowledges that a percentage of the still unregistered subscribers have no clear intention to register, there are also active users “who are merely experiencing difficulty in registering.”

The company said it has already sent a position paper to Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Secretary Ivan John E. Uy.

Meanwhile, Smart First Vice President and Head of Group Corporate Communications Cathy Y. Yang said on Thursday that the time provided for the over 160 million subscribers nationwide to register is significantly shorter in comparison to the time window allotted in other countries.

“Comparatively, in other countries, like Indonesia and India, public telco entities were given 1 to 2 years of a registration window,” she said.

“We don’t want to alienate or leave behind the remaining 50% who have not registered. So, we are supporting another 120 days extension from April 26,” she added in mixed English and Filipino.

As of April 11, the ICT department recorded 66.22 million registered SIMs, accounting for 39.41% of the total 168.98 million subscribers nationwide.

Of the total registered SIMs, 32.93 million were from Smart, 28.33 million from Globe Telecom, Inc., and 4.95 million from DITO. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

Over P1B released for rice assistance to gov’t workers

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE DEPARTMENT of Budget and Management has released around P1.18 billion for the one-time rice assistance to qualified national government employees.

The fund was released to the National Food Authority and will benefit around 1.89 million government workers, including job order and contract of service personnel. 

We shall ensure the welfare of our government workers by giving them assistance for their household needs and, at the same time, boosting the production of our rice farmers,” Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said in a statement on Thursday. 

Under Administrative Order No. 2-2022, qualified beneficiaries include those in or engaged in by government agencies as of Nov. 30, 2022, with each to receive 25 kilograms of rice. Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson