Senior legislator to take up fuel excise freeze in next Congress

June 1, 2022 | 8:03 pm

gasoline-station-gas-pump — PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

A SENIOR LEGISLATOR who could be in line for a leadership post in the next Congress said he wants to suspend the collection of fuel excise taxes when the new administration takes over.

Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez, the current deputy Speaker, said he plans to refile a bill shelving the collection of fuel taxes for four years — the period he estimates is needed to recover from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the effects of the Ukraine-Russia war.

“Enacting the bill will cut pump prices by P6 per liter for diesel, P3 per kilogram for liquefied petroleum gas, P5 for kerosene, and P5.65 per liter for gasoline,” he said in a statement on Wednesday. The proposal addresses the tax increase on fuel imposed under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

“The suspension will bring immediate relief to our people,” he added.

Oil prices are expected to rise further after the European Union’s (EU) decision to ban oil imports from Russia by the end of the year, equivalent to 90% of the current shipments. Russia currently supplies 27% of the EU’s imported oil and 40% of its gas. Similarly, the UK has also said that it will phase out Russian oil, which accounts for 8% of its oil demand, by year’s end.

Some international price benchmarks for crude oil rose past $110 per barrel following the EU’s decision, Mr. Rodriguez said.

Mr. Rodriguez expects the bill to benefit those hardest hit by the pandemic — including the tourism and aviation industries. The cost of goods is also expected to drop.

The proposed law will also cover bunker fuel oil, he added, which is used for generating electricity and whose tax under the TRAIN Law is P6 per liter.

Mr. Rodriguez also opposed a proposal by the Finance department to impose new taxes to pay down the P12.7-trillion national debt, saying, “Let’s not add to our people’s financial burden.” — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

Economic reopening seen bolstering growth into Q2 — FMIC, UA&P

June 1, 2022 | 8:02 pm

vaccinated — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

THE second quarter is expected to reflect continued recovery momentum on the back of higher employment and domestic demand, First Metro Investment Corp. (FMIC) and the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) said.

In their market call report on Wednesday, FMIC and UA&P said the growth will continue despite the constraints on government resources and the impact of inflation. However, growth is expected to slow compared with the first quarter.

According to the report, the 8.3% gross domestic product (GDP) growth seen in the first quarter was largely due to the 3.4 million jobs created between the fourth quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2022, which is also expected to flow onto the second-quarter growth result.

“As the best performer in ASEAN and East Asia, the Philippine economy’s impressive 8.3% Q1 GDP growth has brought the economy to pre-pandemic levels (Q1 of both 2019 and 2021) and has likely kindled greater optimism among firms,” it added.

“To be sure, a good part of the gains may be attributed to pre-election spending, but it will likely spill over into (the second quarter), since the present administration still has much cash to spare,” the report said.

However, FMIC and UA&P said the government’s limited fiscal space is expected to start reflecting in the results for the second half.

Whether or not growth will continue into the second half “will likely hinge on the quality of technocrats that the new President will bring into his economic team,” the report said.

The report said industries like mining, manufacturing, and construction are expected to post gains and lead growth for the second half.

FMIC and UA&P forecast inflation to average 5% for the remainder of the year, naming it the most significant headwind to growth. This is expected to hold true unless the Ukraine-Russia war comes to a swift conclusion and crude oil prices drop significantly.

“The war remains unpredictable, but the second-round effects of unusually elevated crude oil prices have affected other commodities,” the report said.

Crude oil prices stayed above $100 a barrel, including benchmarks West Texas Intermediate and Brent, which averaged $101.78 and $104.58 a barrel respectively in April.

The Philippine Statistics Authority will release May inflation data on June 7.

The report also warned that early tightening by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will result in “too tight” of a monetary situation.

The BSP said it is likely to raise key interest rates by another 25 basis points at its next policy review this month.

“We are probably inclined to have another 25-basis-point adjustment on our next Monetary Board meeting which is on June 23,” BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said. — Tobias Jared Tomas

Wholesale price growth accelerates to 8.3% in April

June 1, 2022 | 8:02 pm

VEGETABLES — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

PRICE GROWTH of wholesale general goods for April was 8.3%, the highest level in almost 11 years amid robust demand and election spending, according to preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The rise in the general wholesale price index (GWPI) was stronger than the previous month’s gain of 7.6% and the year-earlier rise of 2.7%.

The April indicator was the highest reading in nearly 11 years since the 9.1% growth posted in September 2011.

In the four months to April, the GWPI averaged 6.6%, against 2.5% a year earlier.

The GWPI is used to monitor the wholesale trade sector and serves as a basis for price adjustments in business contracts and projects.

“Across the country, the faster growth pace in bulk prices was evident. This, I would attribute to the continued reopening of the economy, pent-up demand and, to a certain extent, election spending. It is fitting to note that higher prices of oil may have contributed as well to April GWPI rise,” Union Bank of the Philippines Chief Economist Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion said in an e-mail.

April was the second month in a row that the relatively permissive Alert Level 1 quarantine setting was in force over Metro Manila and other areas.

Less restrictive quarantine conditions allowed more economic activity. Similarly, national election preparations ramped up during the month before voters cast their ballots on May 9.

Candidates have yet to file their elections expenditure reports. Under election law and a Supreme Court ruling, candidates are required to file their Statement of Contributions and Expenditures. This year’s deadline is June 8. National candidates are allowed to spend up to P10 per registered voter.

The PSA said the acceleration in bulk prices during the month was led by food (9% in April from 8.2% in March), beverages and tobacco (6.5% from 4.0%), mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (53.3% from 45.3%), manufactured goods classified chiefly by materials (7.8% from 7.3%), and miscellaneous manufactured articles (1.7% from 1.5%).

Mr. Asuncion also noted significant growth were seen in commodities in April, as mirrored in the S&P Global Philippines Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) reading that month.

The April manufacturing PMI of 54.3 was the highest in more than four years, or since the 54.8 in November 2018. A reading above 50 denotes an expansion; below 50 signals a contraction. The PMI is considered a leading indicator of future manufacturing activity because they reflect the extent to which manufacturers are ordering raw materials for processing.

Meanwhile, growth eased for crude materials, inedible except fuels (29.1% in April from 29.2% in March), chemicals including animal and vegetable oils and fats (8.4% from 8.5%), and machinery and transport equipment (1.7% from 2.4%).

Luzon’s GWPI rose by 8.8%, accelerating from 8.2% in March and the 2.8% posted a year earlier. Luzon price growth was the highest in 126 months or since the 9.3% growth posted in October 2011.

In the Visayas, the bulk prices rose by 4.3% from 4.1% the previous month, and higher than the 0.7% in April 2021. Price acceleration was the strongest since the 4.9% also seen in August 2011.

Mindanao’s GWPI grew by 3.3% in April from 3.0% in March. However, this was slower than the year-earlier 4.6%. The April reading was the highest since the 4.2% logged in January.

Mr. Asuncion sees the impact of pent-up demand and election spending to be temporary. He also expects “softer growth” for wholesale prices of general goods in the coming months. — Ana Olivia A. Tirona

Incoming Trade Secretary Pascual focused on expanding MSME markets

June 1, 2022 | 8:01 pm

sari-sari-store-NFA — PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

TRADE DEPARTMENT nominee Alfredo E. Pascual plans to focus on expanding markets for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that were affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

“We need to focus on MSMEs. Those small businesses that closed due to the pandemic and find a way for them to start their businesses again,” Mr. Pascual, the incoming Trade Secretary, said in a television interview on Wednesday.

“We will (also) help them have the capability to participate in the bigger market through e-commerce. So, we also need the capability for digital transactions, accounting and record keeping, which can be helped by digital technology,” he added.

Mr. Pascual said he plans to focus on improving the mix of job skills available to better serve the information technology and business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) industry.

He added that the industry is one of the country’s top earners, but its stands to improve to fulfill its potential.

“I’d plan to coordinate with our counterparts in the education sector on how to address the job skills mix. That has been an issue for a long time,” Mr. Pascual said.

“The graduates of our schools must be job-ready. They should be ready right away. The turnover rate (in IT-BPOs) is 30%, sometimes 50% per year. The companies are pirating among themselves for (skilled employees) because it is difficult to acquire new skills. If we are to support the growth of this industry, we need to produce skilled people who can do the work,” he added.

Mr. Pascual has said he will also focus on promoting digital transformation and encourage technology investment.

On May 26, President-elect Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. announced that Mr. Pascual has been tapped as the successor of Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Diokno touts ‘promising economy’ to investors

June 1, 2022 | 8:00 pm

BANGKO SENTRAL ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin E. Diokno, who will be the next government’s Finance Secretary, said the Philippine economy is “promising” and has much to offer potential investors.

“We thank our partners in Spain who have played significant roles in the Philippine economic narrative,” Mr. Diokno said during his presentation to the BBVA Investor Roundtable Discussion in Spain, “Over the years, Spain has been an important ally, contributing to our trade growth.”

“And for those who have yet to do business with the Philippines, we urge you to take a look at our promising economy as we soar to new heights.”

Mr. Diokno said the Philippines is currently in a demographic sweet spot, with a young cohort entering or currently in the work force.

“The country has a younger population compared with the rest of the world. It has a rich talent pool, having an annual average of 750,000 graduates across disciplines, forming a deep manpower pool of 45 million (who are) well-educated and hard-working. In an ageing world, having a population with a median age of 25.7 is an asset,” Mr. Diokno said.

“Moreover, the Philippines’ location is favorable for key markets as it is situated at the heart of major trading routes,” Mr. Diokno said.

“At the height of the pandemic, as I said earlier, we didn’t sit idly by and wait for the virus to recede. Instead, we pushed for game-changing reforms. We continued to invest in physical infrastructure and human capital. All these are meant to improve the Philippines’ competitiveness, boost its productive capacity, and make the Philippines an even more attractive investment destination.”

Mr. Diokno highlighted how the country “successfully managed” the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) health crisis through structural reforms and macroeconomic management.

“After the pandemic-driven recession in 2020, the economy grew by 5.7% last year and 8.3% in the first quarter this year. We attribute this to much-relaxed mobility and activity restrictions as the country was able to manage the spread of COVID-19,” Mr. Diokno said.

HSBC VIEW ON GROWTH
Separately, the Philippines was identified as a strong market for future growth, HSBC Ltd. said, citing the results of a survey.

“Known for its competitive price of labor, the Philippines is expected to attract investment in the years ahead, with US companies playing a leading role. The survey shows that 1 in 5 companies (21%) planned to expand in the country in the next two years, making the Philippines a close second as the most preferred destination for investment in the region,” HSBC said in a statement on Wednesday.

The survey noted that in the absence of a downturn arising from geopolitics or a COVID-19 resurgence, the future is bright for the Philippine market.

“From demographics to digitization to pure dynamism, so much is going in favour of the Philippines as part of Southeast Asia,” HSBC Philippines Head of Wholesesale Banking Mimi Concha said.

“The country is home to a large young population that is digitally native, increasingly affluent and educated, and with growing purchasing power. Their enterprising nature has produced a startup scene that rivals any other in the world. We are indeed brimming with potential,” she added. — Keisha B. Ta-asan

Convenience vs tax savings: Weighing individual tax rate options

June 1, 2022 | 7:59 pm

As prices rise in response to the Ukraine-Russia crisis, Filipinos may be on the lookout for alternative sources of income, which would be an opportunity to engage their entrepreneurial side. Entrepreneurship is in fact abundant in our society — according to the 2020 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Statistics from the Department of Trade and Industry, some 88.77% of establishments in the Philippines are micro enterprises.

Individuals, whether self-employed or employed by others, are taxed at graduated rates of 0-35% based on net taxable income. Additionally, self-employed individuals (which include professionals) are also subject to business taxes on gross sales/receipts (namely, value-added tax [VAT] or percentage tax).

The TRAIN Law, which we welcomed in 2018, offered an alternative taxation regime for self-employed individuals or mixed-income earners (or those who earn both a salary from employment and income from business or practice of a profession). This alternative is the 8% income tax on gross sales or receipts (otherwise known as gross income tax or GIT) from business or practice of a profession, in excess of P250,000.

For the business income to qualify for the 8% GIT, the individual should meet the following conditions as laid down by Revenue Memorandum Order (RMO) No. 23-2018:

• Gross sales/receipts and other non-operating income should not exceed the VAT threshold of P3,000,000 during the taxable year;

• The taxpayer should be registered as a non-VAT taxpayer; and

• The taxpayer must have signified the intention to elect the 8% GIT upon initial registration or upon filing their quarterly income tax return (ITR) for the first quarter of the taxable year. Such election will be irrevocable for that year.

The 8% GIT is in lieu of the regular income tax and percentage tax. Thus, taxpayers opting for this special rate only need to pay one tax instead of paying income tax and percentage tax separately every quarter. Thus, they only need to file the Quarterly ITR, unless exempted by any revenue issuances and the Annual ITR (Financial Statements are not required to be attached).

In contrast, self-employed individuals who have not opted for the 8% GIT, are generally subject to the 3% percentage tax or 12% VAT. The 3% percentage tax rate is temporarily reduced to 1% until June 30, 2023 under the CREATE Law and reverts to 3% subsequently.

Effectively, opting for the 8% GIT saves a taxpayer from the inconvenience of filing two returns and paying two types of taxes quarterly. As a quick review, ITRs are filed every May 15 (Q1), August 15 (Q2), November 15 (Q3), and April 15 of the following year for the annual return. On the other hand, percentage tax returns are filed 25 days after the close of each taxable quarter.

But what is the cost of this convenience? When is it beneficial to avail of the 8% GIT? Looking at tax costs alone, let’s do the math.

Taking as an example a self-employed individual with no deductible operating expenses, at P3,000,000 gross sales, the taxpayer must pay only P220,000 under the 8% GIT. It is computed by multiplying 8% to P3,000,000 less the P250,000 exempt income.

For the taxpayer to be indifferent about availing of this option, the gross profit rate (or GP rate) given the applicable percentage tax is 1%, should be 33.33% of the gross sales/receipts. It is at this GP rate (8% GIT breakeven point) that tax due under 8% GIT and graduated rates are the same at P220,000. If the GP rate is more than 33.33%, the taxpayer will be better off availing of the 8% GIT. Conversely, if its GP rate is less than 33.33%, it will be worse off applying the 8% GIT. At 40% operating expenses, the 8% GIT breakeven point is a 55.56% GP rate.

From this calculation, we can infer that those individuals with margins greater than the breakeven point are more likely to benefit from the 8% GIT. For individuals with relatively stable and high GP rates and lower operating expenses, 8% GIT may be a good option. It will mean tax savings and less administrative costs on filing returns. However, for those with a low GP rate and who have a significant level of operating expenses, 8% GIT may not be the best option — taxwise. The taxpayer will lose the benefit of deducting his expenses.

Either way, availing of the 8% GIT may save the individual precious time which can be devoted to running the business. Since the irrevocable option is signified during the first quarter, the downside is that there is no turning back. Like all other aspects of the business, careful study is required. By conducting a diligent cost-benefit analysis, taxpayers can evaluate the most efficient tax rates to apply in order to maximize the sought-after returns.

The views or opinions presented 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.

Erika Mae D. Buenaventura is an assistant manager at the Tax Services Department of Isla Lipana & Co., the Philippine member firm of PwC network.

erika.mae.buenaventura@pwc.com

Villar drops bid for Senate leadership

June 1, 2022 | 7:10 pm

SENATOR Cynthia A. Villar has dropped her bid for the upper chamber’s top position, saying she wants a “simple life,” following political jockeying even before the proclamation of the 12 winning legislators in the May 9 elections.

She told reporters in an ambush interview on Wednesday that she is also not considering a term-sharing arrangement with other contenders for the Senate president seat.

“I’d rather not. I want a simple life.”

Instead, the senator seeks to maintain her chairmanship in the Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform Committee; and Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change Committee.

“I’ll take care of my advocacy, agriculture and environment,” she said.

Prior to her announcement, Senator Ronald M. Dela Rosa said eight of the 24 senators for the incoming 19^th Congress, including himself, were backing Ms. Villar’s leadership.

This group, Ms. Villar said, will now be supporting current Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri, who reportedly already has at least 10 other senators behind him.

Ms. Villar said she has already informed Mr. Zubiri about her decision. “He was very joyful.”

In a statement on Wednesday, Mr. Zubiri said, “A united Senate is a productive one, so from the very beginning, I’ve always wanted to form a supermajority in the Senate… so I would like to thank Ma’am Cynthia Villar from the bottom of my heart for her support, graciousness, and magnanimity in helping me form a supermajority.”

“If I become the next senate president, the Senate will continue to be the Senate of the people, and a Senate where every senator is free to express their own views and beliefs,” he added.

Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian and incoming Senator Francis Joseph “Chiz” G. Escudero were also said to be gunning for the top post.

MINORITY
Meanwhile, Senators Ana Theresia “Risa” N. Hontiveros-Baraquel and Aquilino Martin “Koko” L. Pimentel III, who are headed to comprise the minority bloc, have reached out to four other senators to join them.

“Well, we hope that at least three, if not more, and as I said before, the most important thing is not the absolute number of the minority, the most important thing is that we are a real minority, no matter how we are — little or more,” Ms. Hontiveros said in a press briefing on Wednesday.

“It is true that we can fulfill the duty to check and balance, to fiscalize, while like the minority today, we are also able to work with the majority in common advocacies,” she added.

Mr. Zubiri also announced on Wednesday a tentative list of chairmanships for the different committees. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

Congress ratifies bill creating transportation safety board

June 1, 2022 | 7:10 pm

CONGRESS has ratified the reconciled report of a bill creating the Philippine Transportation Safety Board (PTSB), an agency that will have authority to set and implement policies to ensure safety in the country’s transport sector.

“Mr. President, this measure is long overdue. Versions of the bill have been filed as far back as the 13^th Congress — almost two decades ago,” Senator Mary Grace S. Poe-Llamanzares, the primary sponsor of the bill, said during the plenary on Wednesday.

Under the consolidated measure, the PTSB will be an independent investigatory body covering all transport-related accidents or incidents.

“It is now also a standard-setting agency tasked with evaluating and developing evidence-based safety standards that are at par with international standards,” she said.

The board will consist of seven members, including representatives from the land, rail, air and sea transportation sectors, and from the commuting public.

“This ensures that in addition to experts, commuters will also be given a voice in decisions regarding the tightening of transportation security in our country,” Ms. Poe said.

PTSB board members and employees will not be allowed to hold any other office, employment, profession or business during their tenure.

“PTSB has a crucial and life-saving mandate, and thus the integrity of its board and employees should not in any way be jeopardized or compromised,” said Ms. Poe.

Under the proposed law, the board would be required to report their factual findings — which will be binding and taken judicial notice by the courts — and their conclusions and recommendations, which will not be admissible except in administrative cases, in every investigation.

“This is in line with the universally accepted principle in accident investigation of prioritizing safety by encouraging free and full disclosure,” the senator said.

Ms. Poe said that the passage of the bill “couldn’t be more timely,” noting the “unforgivably high number of transport-related deaths and accidents in recent history.”

She cited that from 2016 to 2020, there were 483 accidents recorded in the maritime sector, while annual average deaths due to road crashes were at 12,487.

“The agency really needs to investigate accidents like this and take steps to prevent it from happening in the future,” Ms. Poe said.

The ratified bill will now be sent to the office of outgoing President Rodrigo R. Duterte for review and approval. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

PCOO plan to accredit social media influencers questioned amid proliferation of fake news

June 1, 2022 | 7:09 pm

A MEDIA freedom advocate on Thursday urged the incoming chief of the presidential palace’s communications team to consult the Malacañang Press Corps (MPC) and other sectors on their plan to include social media influencers in press briefings.

Incoming press secretary Rose Beatrix “Trixie” Cruz-Angeles on Wednesday said the accreditation of social media influencers for presidential briefings is among the top priorities of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).

“We are pushing for the accreditation of bloggers to be invited to some of the briefings, especially those conducted by the President-elect,” she told a televised news briefing.

Danilo A. Arao, a press freedom advocate and journalism professor at the University of the Philippines, said the PCOO, which serves as a bridge between the Palace and legitimate media, should clarify whether it has consulted the MPC and other sectors like the academe regarding the plan.

The MPC is a group of journalists accredited by the state to cover presidential events.

Mr. Arao also said that the communications office should make public its guidelines on the planned accreditation of bloggers, content creators and influencers.

“Given the toxic media landscape, this is a dangerous proposal given that ‘fake news’ peddling is being perpetrated by certain ‘influencers’ and there is ongoing harassment and intimidation of certain journalists toward ‘de-legitimizing’ them,” Mr. Arao said in a Messenger chat.

Ms. Cruz-Angeles said the Marcos camp would likely “open up discourse” and look at “issues of disinformation that seem to be a hot button topic nowadays.” — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

4^th witness retracts allegations against De Lima

June 1, 2022 | 7:08 pm

DeLima-PHILSTAR-FILE — PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

A FOURTH witness has taken back his allegations against detained Senator Leila M. de Lima, who has been imprisoned since Feb. 2017 on drug trafficking charges.

In a four-page affidavit dated May 24 and sent to reporters on Wednesday, Marcelo L. Adorco said that he was coerced into implicating the senator, one of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s most outspoken critics, and other individuals in the illegal drug trade.

“The truth is I was only forced to sign my previous affidavit which accused these people of being involved in illegal drugs because I feared for my life and safety,” according to a copy of his statement.

He claimed that a former high-ranking police officer had forced him to sign affidavits in 2016 and 2017, which said that Ms. De Lima and self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa met up in Baguio City.

“The affidavit was written by a police officer in a police station in Albuera, Leyte, by the orders of the former chief of the Albuera police,” Mr. Adorco said.

Three other witnesses have earlier retracted their testimonies implicating Ms. De Lima in the illegal drug trade. They all claimed to have been coerced by government officials into falsely accusing her.

Another witness, Joel Capones, testified on Monday during Ms. De Lima’s bail hearing in a Muntinlupa court that he did not have knowledge of drug money worth P1.4 million that was allegedly pocketed by her.

Last week, a Muntinlupa court dismissed a contempt case against the senator and her lawyer.

The incoming Department of Justice secretary, Jesus Crispin C. Remulla, said last week that he is open to reviewing the case against the senator. He noted that courts generally frown upon retractions. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

MGB says nickel mining in Davao Oriental outside protected area, not an open-pit mine

June 1, 2022 | 7:08 pm

THE MINES and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has clarified that the nickel mining project in Davao Oriental is not an open-pit mine and confirmed a local government’s earlier statement that its location is outside the Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, a declared protected area and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

“Please be informed that the Austral-Asia Link Mining Corporation and Hallmark Mining Corporation (ALMC/HMC)… are nickel mines with valid and existing Mineral Production Sharing Agreements… and employ strip or contour mining method only,” the bureau’s Davao regional office said in a statement.

It also said that the companies have “already waived a portion of their mining claims to be part of the protected wildlife sanctuary.”

HMC says on its website that it “relinquished 7,200 hectares to adequately expand the Hamiguitan World Heritage Site.”

The delineation of the buffer zone boundaries was undertaken in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), according to the mines bureau.

“This office acknowledges the concerns raised by various environmental groups and advocates,” it said. “Rest assured that you are heard and that the DENR is likewise putting its best foot forward to keep our environment and natural resources sustainably managed.”

The local government of Mati City, Davao Oriental’s capital and host of the project, earlier allayed public concern over the project following photos posted on social media about the mining site’s location.

Advocacy group Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS), Inc. said the mining project’s close proximity to Mt. Hamiguitan as well as the Pujada Bay Seascape, also a protected area, poses a serious environmental threat.

“Regardless of the claim that it is outside the protected area delineation, we strongly uphold and fight for the ecological rights and integrities of these watersheds from ridge to reef,” IDIS said. — Maya M. Padillo

PEF needs P56M for new center to relocate Philippine eagles

June 1, 2022 | 7:08 pm

eagle-Geothermica-PEF — PHILIPPINE EAGLE FOUNDATION

THE PHILIPPINE Eagle Foundation (PEF) will need P56 million to build a new center to protect its flock of eagles from Avian Flu and other threats due to increasing human activities around its current location in Davao City.

PEF Development Manager Andi Baldonado said the new site will still be within the city and the local government is providing a 50-hectare land.

“We are working with the city government of Davao to allow us to use land owned by the city in Barangay Eden. We are working on the release of the usufruct to allow us to use the facility for captive breeding and rescue rehabilitation center,” she said during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao on Monday.

“We are still in the initial phase but we are grateful that the city government is supportive of this emergency plan,” she said.

No Avian Flu case had been recorded in the city, but Ms. Baldonado said the recent outbreak in Magsaysay town in Davao del Sur, which is about 90 kilometers southwest of the PEC, already puts their 34 Philippine eagles at risk.

She said the relocation is also part of a long-term plan to have a site that is more conducive for breeding and other conservation activities.

The current center in Malagos has become more “susceptible to infection,” she said, citing the rise of more game farms around the area, among other human activities.

The annual Philippine Eagle Week will be celebrated on June 4 to 13 with “AgiLaya: Lasting Freedom for the Philippine Eagle” as this year’s theme. PEF will stage an exhibit at the SM Lanang Premier highlighting conservation milestones and continuing threats to the country’s national bird. — Maya M. Padillo