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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 government’s 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 families’ inability 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 disaster” will 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 Manila’s 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 Pilipinas’ operations 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 City’s 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 on “poor water service” and 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 BACIWA’s 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 Quirino’s 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.  

“LANDBANK’s 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

Court issues arrest order on ex-jail chief over broadcaster’s murder 

Former Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Q. Bantag gives a thumbs up sign to the media after attending the preliminary investigation on the murder of broadcast journalist Percy Lapid on December 5, 2022 at the Department of Justice in Manila. — PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

A TRIAL court in Muntinlupa City has ordered the arrest of former Bureau of Corrections (BuCoR) director Gerald Q. Bantag over the killing of radio broadcaster Percival C. Mabasa. 

In an arrest warrant dated April 12, Presiding Judge Gener M. Gito said the crime of murder was non-bailable.   

Mr. Bantag’s former deputy was also cited in the arrest order. 

The magistrate directed arresting officers to wear at least one body camera and another recording device during execution of the warrant following rules issued by the Supreme Court.  

Last month, government prosecutors indicted the ex-prison chief, his deputy, the self-confessed gunman and a former inmate of the national penitentiary after they found probable cause to charge them with the murder.  

Mr. Bantag had denied his involvement in the murder, saying he had nothing to gain from it.   

Two gunmen on a motorcycle shot the 63-year-old radio journalist on his way home in Las Piñas City on the evening of Oct. 3.    

Police filed a murder complaint against Mr. Bantag in November for allegedly ordering the murder of Mr. Mabasa and the supposed middleman in the incident. 

Global watchdog Reporters Without Borders has said at least 187 journalists have been killed in the past 35 years in the Philippines, including 32 killed in a single incident in 2009.  

The Philippines has accepted 200 recommendations from the United Nations Human Rights Council, including investigation on extralegal killings and protecting journalists. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Security forces on alert for retaliation in Cotabato after IS-linked group members killed  

SECURITY forces are bracing for potential retaliation by local terrorists over the deaths of five associates tagged in high-profile crimes who were killed Wednesday in Tulunan, Cotabato during a shootout with policemen serving arrest warrants.    

Local leaders, police and military intelligence officials told reporters Thursday that the criminal group’s leader known as Danny Cabakungan and his four henchmen had links with both the Dawlah Islamiya and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.  

Both groups, fashioned from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, have been linked to deadly bombings since 2014 in central parts of Mindanao, the southern Philippine islands.  

In a statement Thursday, Police Soccsksargen Regional Director Jimili L. Macaraeg said police units in Cotabato province had been alerted about possible attacks by sympathizers of Mr. Cabakungan, who was wanted for stockpiling of high-powered guns and explosives.  

The Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Division is also monitoring potential attacks. “Tulunan is not under our jurisdiction but there are towns nearby that are covered by the 602nd Brigade,” 6th ID Commander Alex S. Rillera said.  

Local leaders had confirmed that Cabakungan’s group collected “protection money” on a monthly basis from farmers in remote villages and from owners of public transport vehicles operating in the town. — John M. Unson

House bill filed on comprehensive penalties vs illegal recruitment schemes

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

A LAWMAKER has filed a bill that provides comprehensive definitions and penalties against illegal recruitment activities for overseas workers. 

“Illegal recruiters employ various deceptive schemes to prey on the need and desires of migrant workers lured by the promise of higher-paying jobs,” OFW Party-list Rep Marissa P. Magsino is quoted in House Bill No. 7865. 

“One of the identified gaps contributing to the evolving problem of illegal recruitment is the absence of a single penal law,” she added. 

Under the bill, anyone found guilty of illegal recruitment will be imprisoned for up to 20 years and pay a fine of up to P4 million.

Illegal recruitment as economic sabotage, or when a group of three or more persons conspire with each other, is punishable by up to P10 million and lifetime imprisonment. 

Those guilty of other prohibited acts like requiring an overseas Filipino worker to avail of a loan, training, or undergo health examinations from specific persons, entities, or clinics, among others, will be jailed for up to 12 years and be fined up to P2 million. 

A law enforcement officer or internet intermediary and service provider who fails to provide data needed to investigate cases of illegal recruits will also face imprisonment of up to six years and pay up to P500,000. 

If the person illegally recruited is younger than 18 years, maximum penalties will be imposed. An offender who is not a Filipino citizen will be deported.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) last month rescued six Filipinos from crypto-scam syndicates who offered jobs supposedly in e-gaming companies and business process outsourcing firms. They were promised a monthly salary of $800 to $1,000 on the condition that they leave the country disguised as tourists. 

According to an investigation by Senator Ana Theresia “Risa” N. Hontiveros-Baraquel, syndicates pay BI agents as much as P100,000 for every trafficked Filipino. 

“This bill seeks to consolidate all existing laws on illegal recruitment into a single penal law to facilitate a more effective and efficient enforcement and implementation to combat the inimical practice,” Ms. Magsino said. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

  

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CSB Lady Blazers gun for second title sweep against Lady Pirates

COLLEGE OF SAINT BENILDE LADY BLAZERS — NCAA/SYNERGY-GMA NETWORK

Games Today
(Filoil EcoOil Centre)
10 a.m. — Awarding ceremony
12 p.m. — San Beda vs UPHSD (men)
2 p.m. — LPU vs CSB (women)

COLLEGE of St. Benilde (CSB) will try to accomplish what hasn’t been done in a long while in the NCAA as it shoots for a second straight title sweep against Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) today (April 14) in the Season 98 Volleyball at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

The fabulous Lady Blazers were nothing short of exceptional when they manhandled the Lady Pirates, 25-17, 25-19, 25-19, in last Tuesday’s opener that positioned them closer from sweeping their way to the crown for the second straight season.

CSB coach Jerry Yee said there was no special formula when his charges dominated Game One except that they just needed to stay calm.

“My job was just to calm them down,” said Mr. Yee, who is one triumph closer to handing the school its third league championship.

Game time is at 2 p.m.

A decider, assuming LPU’s prayer for a miracle happens in Game Two, is on Sunday.

But just by looking at how Mr. Yee was farseeing, it may just not reach that far.

“We expect them to make adjustments so we just have to be ready to adjust on our own during the game,” said Mr. Yee.

Mr. Yee also went deep with his rotation as he utilized 12 players, including Jhasmin Gayle Pascual who fired a match-high 15 points, with 10 of them chipping in at least a point. It included Ma. Camill Avila and Weilyn Estoque, who scored late in the decisive third set in sealing the deal.

In men’s action, University of Perpetual Help (UPHSD) shoots for a title sweep of its own as it tangles with San Beda College at 12 p.m. — Joey Villar

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