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El Niño task force reactivated at DA

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it has reactivated its El Niño task force to mitigate the impact of the expected dry spell on crops.

“When there is a calamity, whether it’s El Niño or typhoons, the biggest hit is always to agriculture,” Agriculture Deputy Spokesman Rex C. Estoperez told reporters.

Mr. Estoperez said that the task force consists of representatives from the various DA agencies and led by a steering committee of undersecretaries and assistant secretaries and assisted by a technical working group.

The government weather service, known as PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration), is projecting the onset of the El Niño later this year, persisting until 2024.

Citing PAGASA rainfall forecast data, the DA said at least 16 provinces in the Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, the Caraga Administrative Region, and Calabarzon, will be affected by unusually dry conditions.

In a statement, the DA said that the mitigation and adaptation plan for this year focuses on building more water-related infrastructure.

“Part of the government’s masterplan to address El Niño is to save vulnerable areas through appropriate water management, while irrecoverable areas will be rehabilitated,” the DA said.

It said that it will develop and rehabilitate water systems including irrigation canals, diversion dams, and small-scale irrigation projects before the start of the El Niño.

Earlier Wednesday, Danilo H. Ramos, who chairs Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, asked for the government’s action plan to mitigate a possible drought.

“We need effective and coordinated action from both national agencies and local government units to address the impending water shortage to be aggravated by the onset of El Niño. Agriculture and farming will be most affected by possible dry spells and drought,” he said.

The DA’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Unit said the first storm of the season, a cyclone named Amang, may affect about 632,706 hectares of standing crops — 602,728 hectares planted to rice and 29,978 to corn.

The DA has advised farmers to consider an early harvest ahead of the weather disturbance. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

GOCC regulator to revamp evaluation process to measure state firms’ customer satisfaction

THE Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) and the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) have entered into a partnership to improve the evaluation process for customer satisfaction at government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs).

“With this streamlined and harmonized performance measurement system, we can clearly envision a clearer platform for analyzing government performance that will help us improve and enhance our systems for the Filipino people,” ARTA Director General Ernest V. Perez said in a statement on Wednesday.

The GCG and ARTA signed a joint memorandum circular to provide guidance to GOCCs regarding the performance evaluation system.

The partnership will also introduce new requirements to measure client satisfaction.

“The Customer Satisfaction Survey serves to integrate direct citizen participation in the performance evaluation of GOCCs by giving weight to their experience as customers,” GCG Commissioner Gideon D.V. Mortel said.

“At least 80% of the customers of a GOCC must be satisfied with its services; otherwise, it automatically receives a zero score for this performance indicator,” he added.

All GOCCs will also need to conduct client satisfaction surveys for all their external and internal services either through a third-party service provider or an in-house survey. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

Fitch Solutions maintains 5.9% PHL growth forecast 

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

FITCH SOLUTIONS said on Wednesday that it maintained its 5.9% growth forecast in 2023 for the Philippines with inflation cooling though interest rates remain elevated.

“We are forecasting GDP (gross domestic product) growth to slow from 7.6% in 2022, to 5.9% in 2023, slightly more downbeat than the official government forecast range of 6-7%,” Fitch Solutions Country Risk Analyst Low Shi Cheng said in a Webinar.

Despite cooling inflation, pressures remain high which could result in the central bank raising borrowing costs further and weigh on consumption and investment growth, he added.

Mr. Low forecasts inflation to remain on a downward track for the rest of the year, eventually hitting the government’s 2-4% forecast range in the second half of the year. 

Headline inflation in March cooled to a six-month low of 7.6% from 8.6% in the previous month amid lower prices of food and transport, according to preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.

March inflation was the weakest reading since the 6.9% posted in September. It remained much higher than the year-earlier 4%.

“Signs of the economy’s weakness will also become increasingly evident in the data, which will set the stage for the policy rate to be kept on pause beyond the next meeting,” he added.

Fitch Solutions expects the central bank to raise benchmark interest rates by another 25 basis points (bps) at its May 18 meeting, before keeping the policy rate on pause at 6.5% thereafter.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) last month hiked benchmark interest rates by 25 bps to help bring down inflation, raising its key rate to 6.25%.

Since May 2022, the central bank has raised borrowing costs by a total of 425 bps.

However, Mr. Low said that the BSP could hike rates beyond 6.5% if inflation remains elevated and if the peso remains vulnerable.

Fitch Solutions forecasts the current account deficit to narrow to 4.1% of GDP by the end of this year from 4.7% in 2022, on the back of lower commodity prices and resilient remittances.

“High imports of capital goods on the back of infrastructure projects will prevent a sharper narrowing. Moreover, timelier data showed that export growth has started to contract. It seems that this downward trend will likely continue amid faltering global demand,” Mr. Low said. — Aaron Michael C. Sy

Registered births, deaths fall at end-Nov.

PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

REGISTERED BIRTHS and deaths in the Philippines declined by 8% and 31.6% year on year, respectively, in the 11 months to November, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported on Wednesday.

Preliminary data indicated that births during the period totaled 1.15 million from 1.25 million a year earlier.

Calabarzon — consisting of the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon — posted the most registered births of any region at 175,952 or 15.4% of the national total.

The National Capital Region (NCR) accounted for 120,204 births or a 10.5% share.

Cavite was the top province with 46,569 births or 4.1% of the total, followed by Bulacan (40,493 or 3.5%) and Cebu (38,414 or 3.4%).

Registered deaths, meanwhile, totaled 563,465 in the 11 months to November, down from the 823,227 posted in 2021.

The leading cause of death remained ischaemic heart diseases, accounting for 18.4% of the total, with 103,628 cases recorded during the period. This total was down 28.6% from a year earlier.

It was followed by cerebrovascular diseases (57,411 or 10.2%), neoplasms (587,354 or 10.2%), diabetes mellitus (35,712 or 6.3%), and hypertensive diseases (32,339 or 5.7%).

Deaths associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) totaled 16,080, down 85.6% from a year earlier.

Deaths recorded with COVID-19 identified as the cause were the 11th leading cause of death, down from 3rd a year earlier. Deaths suspected to be COVID-19-related but with the virus not definitively identified totaled 4,703, to become the 22nd leading cause of death, down from 8th a year earlier.

Quezon City (766 or 19.6% of the total) registered the most COVID-19 deaths in the NCR, followed by the city of Manila (569 or 14.5%) and Pasig (432 or 11%).

The number of registered marriages in the 11 months to November rose 21% year on year to 367,932.

Calabarzon topped the regions with 54,212 marriages or 14.7% of the national total.

The NCR logged 42,863 marriages or an 11.6% share.

Cavite (13,026 or 3.5%), Batangas (12,896 or 2.5%), and Cebu (12,205 or 3.3%) topped all provinces for registered marriages.

The PSA tracked data generated by the various Offices of the City of Municipal Civil Registrar. They do not include data from overseas Filipinos.

COVID-19 statistics in the report vary from those issued by the Department of Health, which is based on the findings of its surveillance system, while PSA bases it estimates on death certificates from local government units. — Miguel Hanz L. Antivola

World Bank argues for more resiliency during crises of PHL youth, family programs

DSWD.GOV.PH

YOUTH and family development programs need to be insulated from potential shocks and be more adaptive to emerging beneficiary needs, according to the World Bank.

“In particular, it proposes regular updating of module content to maintain relevance and applicability, strengthening alternative modes of program delivery to increase coverage, providing training to facilitators to improve capacity, raising awareness to increase program uptake, creating a clear monitoring and evaluation system to track progress, leveraging the use of technology, and providing post-program exit support to sustain positive behavioral changes among beneficiaries,” the World Bank said in a policy note.

The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) is a conditional cash transfer program that aims to reduce poverty. Beneficiaries are required to attend family and youth development sessions.

“Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, these were regular face-to-face sessions providing practical information on topics such as parenting, early childhood care, and disaster preparedness to adult beneficiaries and guidance on adolescent dynamics to young children in 4Ps households, with the overall aim of promoting positive behavioral changes,” the World Bank said.

“Due to the pandemic, the delivery of FDS (Family Development Sessions) has relied mostly on broadcast and social media platforms, with options for small group neighborhood sessions in areas with low rates of COVID-19 infections, while YDS (Youth Development Sessions) have been mostly suspended due to school closures nationwide, without in-person gatherings,” it added.

The World Bank said that the government should also use technology to ensure the continuation of the development sessions.

“The onset of the COVID-19 crisis, with restrictions on face-to-face meetings, became an opportunity to explore other modalities to deliver the development sessions. Using alternative learning platforms, including web-based modules and digital tools, can be further explored in the current context. Virtual delivery of social programs can be beneficial to participants, as it can enhance their digital literacy,” it added.

It also noted that most of the target youth beneficiaries are digital natives and would benefit from utilizing online platforms.

“To prepare for future shocks, development of an online learning platform could be part of 4Ps reforms. Likewise, through capacity building activities, facilitators can be equipped with much needed digital skills and techniques in holding virtual sessions and providing training,” it added. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

Don’t delay — avail of the SEC amnesty today

Many of us are always on the lookout for bargains, whether these be the monthly sales offered in online shopping sites or seat sales for air travel. Bargains are opportunities for most people to get more value for money. For corporations, the recent amnesty offered by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) appears to be one of the best bargains in years. This time, the amnesty is available to certain corporations until the end of April.

As part of the SEC’s continuing efforts to encourage regulatory compliance, on March 16, it issued Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2, series of 2023 (MC 2-2023) granting domestic and foreign corporations and other regulated entities amnesty for non-compliance with its documentary and reporting requirements and with MC No. 28, series of 2020 (MC 28-2020) or the submission of the e-mail addresses and mobile numbers.

The amnesty does not apply to public and publicly listed corporations, corporations with intra-corporate dispute or with disputed General Information Sheets (GIS), and other corporations covered under Sec. 17.2 of RA No. 8799 or the Securities Regulation Code.

As a rule, non-compliance with the SEC’s reporting requirements results in administrative penalties, monetary penalties, and in the worst case, revocation of a company’s registration. More often than not, the SEC discovers the non-compliance whenever companies go through the monitoring process, which is an indispensable requirement in some applications filed with the SEC (e.g., increase in authorized capital stock, mergers).

With the amnesty granted on the unassessed and/or uncollected fines and penalties for the non-filing or late filing of the GIS, Financial Statements (FS), and its attachments, for the latest and prior years, SEC-regulated entities are provided ample and cost-effective opportunities to return to compliance with the SEC. 

The fixed amnesty amount of P5,000 for non-compliant corporations and prescribed amnesty rate of 50% of the assessed fines for suspended and revoked corporations (including those which have filed for the lifting of suspension/revocation), encompasses all violations for non-filing and late filing of the GIS, and AFS and its attachments.  Additionally, the penalty for failure to submit the e-mail addresses and mobile numbers as required under MC 28-2020 in the amount of P10,000, will be waived.

To avail of the amnesty, corporations should file an Online Expression of Interest Form (EoI) via eFAST. In addition, revoked and suspended corporations also need to file a Petition to Lift Order of Suspension/Revocation in addition to the EoI. The eFAST will automatically generate a Payment Assessment Form (PAF) reflecting the fixed amnesty amount or the petition fees, as the case may be. Once the payment is settled, the applicant must then upload via eFAST the Notarized Application for Amnesty Form together with the required documents such as latest due FS, GIS and proof of compliance with MC No. 28-2020. 

While the application process is fairly straightforward for non-compliant corporations, revoked and suspended corporations will have to wait for verification of their corporate status. Once the assessment and monitoring process is completed by the SEC, revoked and suspended corporations will receive an e-mail notification with the PAF reflecting 50% of the total assessed fines which may be settled through eSPAYSEC or the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) On-Coll Facility.

When all the conditions set forth in MC 2-2023 have been fully complied with, a Confirmation of Payment for Amnesty on Fines and Penalties (Confirmation) will be issued to the company’s registered e-mail address.

The amnesty granted is final and irrevocable, covering the period/s indicated in the Confirmation. This, however, does not exempt corporations from filing their subsequent mandatory reporting requirements in a timely manner. And in the case of revoked or suspended corporations, the amnesty does not automatically lift their suspended or revoked status, which will be a separate proceeding with the Company Registration and Monitoring Department of the SEC.

Note that only those which have filed an amnesty application, secured a PAF through the eFAST, and paid through the eSPAYSEC or LANDBANK On-Coll Facility on or before April 30 are eligible for amnesty. Thereafter, the existing SEC scale of fines and penalties will apply.

In a notice issued by the SEC on March 23, effective April 1, the accounts of all corporations enrolled in the eFAST with revoked, suspended and non-compliant registration status are to be put on “on-hold” as a window in availing of this amnesty. Should such companies fail to avail of the amnesty this month, they will have to undergo the standard process of requesting for monitoring, and of filing the necessary petition for the lifting of their suspension or revocation should they wish to revive their registration. They must likewise settle the assessed fines and penalties in full to reactivate their accounts in eFAST.     

The recent Easter holidays has provided time to pause and reflect on our mistakes and shortcomings. For some, it has also provided the chance to seek forgiveness and renew commitment to the faith. Perhaps it is an opportune time as well to renew our corporations’ conformity with SEC’s documentary and reporting requirements for a bargain price before the month ends.

The views or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Isla Lipana & Co. The content is for general information purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for specific advice.

 

Anika Mae Fierro  is a senior associate at the Tax Services department of Isla Lipana & Co., the Philippine member firm of the PwC network.

+63 (2) 8845-2728

anika.mae.fierro@pwc.com

Philippines: Military bases may be used in ‘emergency situations’

PHILIPPINE STAR/WALTER BOLLOZOS

By John Victor D. Ordoñez, Reporter

PHILIPPINE military bases under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the US may be used by both countries during “emergency situations” aside from disaster relief, according to the Philippine military. 

“EDCA facilities may be used by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in ordinary days but of course, this will also be made available during emergency situations for combined use by the US and AFP,” military spokesman Colonel Medel M. Aguilar told a news briefing in Manila on Wednesday.

“These properties will remain to be under our possession, our own properties, facilities and everything that will be brought in inside these facilities will be coordinated and cleared with the AFP,” he added.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Monday ruled out the use of Philippine military bases, access to which by American troops under the 2014 military pact has been widened, to launch offensives. 

“We will not let our bases be used for whatever offensive actions,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a commemoration event for Filipino heroes of World War II.

Mr. Aguilar said the Philippines would benefit from the deal because these facilities will one day be turned over to the country’s military.

The US has committed to allot more than $100 million to develop Philippine military bases under EDCA by the end of the year, against the $83 million it had set aside, US Secretary Lloyd James Austin III told a separate livestreamed news briefing from Washington.

He said his Philippine counterpart, Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., and Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique A. Manalo had agreed to complete a roadmap for US security assistance in the next five to 10 years.

Mr. Galvez and Mr. Manalo were also at the briefing in Washington.

“I think it’s too early to try to discuss specific numbers and the timing of military rotations, but certainly, these are things that Secretary Galvez and I will continue to work on going forward,” Mr. Austin said.

“Whatever we do in terms of rotations and numbers of troops, it is a joint decision between the Philippine government and the US government.”

Mr. Austin said Washington’s investments in the military bases would boost job creation and economic growth in Philippine communities.

The military assistance roadmap would tackle the delivery of military equipment such as radars, unmanned aerial systems, military transport aircraft and coastal and defense systems.

Mr. Marcos in February gave the US access to four more military bases under EDCA on top of the five existing sites. China has criticized the EDCA expansion, accusing the US of endangering “regional peace and stability.”

The Philippines and US kicked off their biggest joint military exercises on Tuesday, which will run until April 28. There will be observers from Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, France, India and other Southeast Asian countries.

Mr. Aguilar said Mr. Marcos had shown “great interest” in the military exercises.

At the Washington briefing, Mr. Galvez said he does not expect any negative reactions from China amid the war games.

“We’ve been doing Balikatan yearly,” he said. “We don’t expect any violent reaction, considering that these exercises are intended for our collective defense with the US and other allies.”

Mr. Manalo said the use of the EDCA sites by American troops was still up for discussion.

EDCA is a supplementary deal to the 1999 visiting forces agreement, which allows the US to rotate troops in the Philippines and build and operate facilities on agreed locations for both their military forces.

Three of the four new EDCA locations will be in northern Philippines — Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport, also in Cagayan; and Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela.

Cagayan is about 1,000 kilometers away from self-ruled Taiwan, which China considers part of its territory. Balabac Island in Palawan, which is facing the South China Sea, is also on the list.

The Balikatan war games come after a three-day Chinese military exercise that simulated targeted strikes and a blockade of Taiwan.

‘FORGING NEW TIES’
“Exchange and cooperation between relevant countries should not target any third party and should be conducive to regional peace and stability,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a news briefing on Wednesday, based on a transcript sent to reporters.

He said the Philippine-US cooperation should not be allowed to interfere in disputes in the South China Sea involving Asian countries.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning earlier said the move would inevitably increase military tensions.

The South China Sea is subject to overlapping territorial claims involving China, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. It is a key global shipping route that is believed to be rich in fish and gas. China claims 80% of the waterway based on a 1940s map.

Hansley A. Juliano, a political economy researcher studying at Japan’s Nagoya University, said the commitment to invest in the bases showed the US is serious about keeping good relations with its Southeast Asian allies.

“America wants to keep spending on its overseas presence to ensure its soft power,” he said in a Facebook Messenger chat. “It also wants elites in those countries to remain friendly to American interests.”

The Philippines is eyeing security partnerships with other countries, including a three-way security pact with Japan and the US. It is also in talks to include Australia and Japan in planned joint South China Sea patrols with the US.

“We’re forging new ties between our militaries and expanding the breadth of our cooperation,” Mr. Austin said.

Inflation dents President Marcos’ approval ratings

PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

PHILIPPINE President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s approval ratings dipped in March amid public dissatisfaction over his government’s handling of inflation, but he remains popular, an opinion poll showed on Wednesday.

A poll by Pulse Asia Research found that 78% of 1,200 Filipino adults approved of the president’s performance, lower than the 82% he got in November, while 80% said they trusted the president, down from 83%.

Since taking office in June 2022, Mr. Marcos has had to grapple with inflation that has soared to levels not seen in 14 years due largely to rising food and fuel prices.

Inflation slowed for a second straight month in March to 7.6% but remained well above the government’s 2%-4% target for the year.

Controlling costs of living was the top concern of 63% of the respondents.

Slightly more than half, or 52%, of Filipinos disapproved of the government’s handling of inflation, with 25% saying they approved, while the rest were undecided.

Mr. Marcos’ approval ratings were slightly lower than the 83% that his vice president, Sara Duterte-Carpio, got in March.

The daughter of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte serves as Education secretary, while Mr. Marcos helms the Agriculture department.

In the same poll, 61% of Filipinos approved of the government in terms of “defending the integrity of Philippine territory against foreigners,” up from 58% in November.

Majority approval scores were enjoyed by the president and vice president in all geographic areas — 68% to 93% and 72% to 98%, respectively — and socioeconomic groupings at 65% to 87% and 70% to 95%, respectively, Pulse Asia said.

Senate President Juan Miguel F. Zubiri and Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez had approval ratings of 51% each.

Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo had an approval rating if 43%

Mr. Zubiri posted majority approval figures in Metro Manila (54%), the Visayas (70%), Mindanao (73%) and Class E (69%).

For the rest of Luzon, indecision was the predominant sentiment toward the latter’s work (53%).

Half of those in Class ABC could say if they approved or disapproved of the Senate president’s performance, while a similar percentage of those in Class D (50%) had a positive assessment of his work.

Most Metro Manilans (57%), Visayans (77%), Mindanawons (58%) and those in Class E (66%) were appreciative of the work done by Mr. Romualdez. Half of those in Class D shared this assessment. However, near to bare majorities in the rest of Luzon (48%) and Class ABC (51%) were unable to say if they approved or disapproved of his performance.

About the same approval and indecision ratings were registered by Mr. Gesmundo in Metro Manila (47% versus 42%), the rest of Luzon (38% versus 48%), the Visayas (40% versus 34%), Class D (45% versus 41%), and Class E (42% versus 38%).

Approval was the plurality opinion regarding his performance among Mindanawons (49%) and among those in Class ABC, while almost half (48%) were ambivalent on the matter. — Norman P. Aquino with Reuters

Gov’t condoned rights abuses during drug war — ICC prosecutor 

PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE PHILIPPINE government under ex-President Rodrigo R. Duterte had condoned human rights abuses, the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) prosecutor said, citing the lack of efforts to probe extralegal killings related to his deadly war on drugs. 

“Nothing about these crimes, committed in large part by law enforcement personnel entrusted with protecting citizens from violence, suggests that the potential cases before the court are of marginal gravity,” ICC Prosecutor Karim Ahmad A. Khan said in his response dated April 4 to the Philippine’s appeal to suspend the probe. 

“To the contrary, they are extremely serious, and appear to have been at the very least encouraged and condoned by high-level government officials, up to and including the former president.” 

The ICC in January reopened its probe of Mr. Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs, saying it was not satisfied with the government’s efforts to probe human rights abuses.  

The Hague-based tribunal on March 28 rejected the Philippine government’s plea to suspend the probe of the drug war. It said the Philippines had failed to persuade the court to defer its investigation. 

The Philippines earlier asked the ICC pre-trial chamber to suspend its probe of the drug war, citing a lack of authority on the part of the ICC prosecutor. It said it encroaches on Philippine sovereignty. 

Mr. Khan said the Philippines had failed to raise new points to justify halting the probe. He added that the ICC has the authority to probe human rights violations during the period since they were committed while the Philippines was still a member of the court. 

Mr. Duterte canceled Philippine membership in the tribunal in 2018. President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has said the Philippines would not rejoin the ICC. 

The government estimates that at least 6,117 suspected drug dealers were killed in police operations. Human rights groups say as many as 30,000 suspects died. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

April 17 tax deadline will not be extended, says BIR chief

PHILIPPINE STAR/ RUSSELL A. PALMA

THIS year’s April 17 deadline for filing and payment of income taxes will not be extended, the Bureau of Internal (BIR) chief said on Wednesday.

“There is no reason for non-compliance because the processes have been made simpler and more convenient,” BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui, Jr. said in a statement, citing the introduction of the “file and pay anywhere” scheme and the availability of tax assistance centers nationwide. 

“There is also no reason for an extension because any delay in the filing and payment of taxes will result into inadequate funding of government programs,” he said.  

Authorized agent banks have also been directed to extend their operating hours until 5 p.m. from April 1 to 17 to accommodate the collection of tax payments.  

Taxpayers who miss the deadline will be charged corresponding interests, surcharges, and compromise penalties, Mr. Lumagui said.  

The BIR has also posted a series of webinars on its official Facebook page that provide step-by-step instructions on filling out tax returns and payment options. — MSJ

DoTr to release P1.2-B subsidy to transport operators, but fare reduction still unlikely 

PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE GOVERNMENT will be releasing a P1.2-billion subsidy to public transport operators later this year, with priority to be given to those serving “unprofitable routes,” Department of Transportation (DoTr) Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said on Monday.   

At the same time, he said the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is still reviewing calls for a reduction in transport fares after state-funded free bus rides ended on Dec. 31.    

“That (fare discount) is what the LTFRB is still evaluating, although the P1.2 billion is not a big amount considering there are many routes. That’s why it is being reviewed so that those who will benefit are the ones who really need it,” he said in Filipino at the sidelines of the General Membership Meeting of the Management Association of the Philippines.  

The LTFRB is expected to complete its assessment of which routes will receive subsidies and how much by end-May or early June.  

“We will subsidize drivers for them to continue their operations,” Mr. Bautista said. —Justine Irish D. Tabile

PHL general population can now get COVID vaccine 2nd booster shot

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

THE DEPARTMENT of Health (DoH) on Wednesday said the general public can now get their second booster shot of coronavirus vaccine after the Food and Drug Administration and health authorities gave the green light. 

At a livestreamed press briefing, Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said the guidelines for the rollout of more second booster doses is now being finalized.

“As we see an increase in cases among unvaccinated individuals, we continue to remind our people to get our jabs done and boosters done to remain protected against the virus,” she said. 

Previously, only health workers, senior citizens, and those with conditions that make them vulnerable to the virus were given priority to take their fourth vaccine doses.

More than 78.4 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated, with 23.8 million who received a 1st booster dose and almost 4.4 million having a 2nd booster shot, Ms. Vergeire said citing the latest data from the DoH.

The Philippines has also secured over a million doses of Pfizer, Inc.’s bivalent vaccines from a United Nations-backed vaccine platform, but delivery has been put on indefinite hold as the contract is still under review, the DoH said earlier this month. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

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