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Lawyer asks Supreme Court to set village election in May 2023 

SANLORENZOGUIMARAS.GOV.PH

AN ELECTION lawyer on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court (SC) to set the voting for village leaders in May next year after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said this was the earliest possible date to hold the postponed electoral exercise.  

“Aware of the competence and wide experience of Comelec in conducting elections, be it manual or automated, and Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia being a very experienced election lawyer, petitioner honestly submits that the said election could be held at an earlier date,” lawyer Romulo B. Macalintal said in a four-page plea filed on Monday.  

The petition was filed after the oral arguments on Oct. 21 for a related plea he filed last month, which sought to stop the postponement of the elections from December 5 to October next year.  

“Thus, I asked the SC that pending resolution of my petition the Comelec be directed to resume its timeline of activities and its preparation to hold the elections in May 2023,” Mr. Macalintal said.  

During the arguments, the election body told the high court that Comelec could hold the village elections in May 2023 instead of October.  

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. signed a law on Oct. 10 that moved the elections from December this year to October 2023.  

The elections will be held on the last Monday of October 2023 and every three years thereafter, according to the new law.  

Mr. Macalintal earlier said Congress does not have the power to defer the elections.  

The Comelec chief earlier said his agency had spent more than a billion pesos on preparations.  

In August, Mr. Garcia told a Senate hearing that postponing the elections would require as much as P18 billion, more than double its original budget of P8.44 billion. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Philippines named world’s top destination for diving, beaches 

ALFREDO MEDINA VIA DOT DAVAO REGION

THE PHILIPPINES bagged the leading dive and beach destination awards at the 29th World Travel Awards held in Muscat, Oman on Nov. 11, the Tourism department announced.  

“These Awards are a source of inspiration for us in the Department of Tourism to work even harder… As we anticipate the influx of more tourists, we shall continue the work to improve the overall tourist experience in the Philippines, and herald the best of the Filipino brand to the world,” Tourism Secretary Christina G. Frasco said in a statement on Monday.  

The country won the same recognition in September for the Asia cluster.   

“The Philippine dive portfolio continues its four-year winning streak for the World’s Leading Dive Destination title as it lorded over the world’s finest diving destinations, which include the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the Cayman Islands, Maldives, Fiji, Mexico, Azores Islands, French Polynesia, Galapagos Islands, St. Kitts, and Belize,” the department said.   

For the beach destination award, the Philippines bested previous awardees such as Maldives, The Algarve in Portugal, Jamaica, Galapagos Islands in Ecuador, and Turks and Caicos Islands.  

Three tourism establishments in the Philippines were also recognized in the 2022 awards.   

These are: Amanpulo as the World’s Leading Dive Resort; City of Dreams Manila, World’s Leading Casino Resort 2022; and Ascott Bonifacio Global City Manila, World’s Leading Serviced Apartments 2022.  

Ms. Frasco said among the department’s “objectives are to further enhance the development and promotion of key destinations and to equalize development by supporting lesser-known areas across our Regions.” — MSJ 

Security forces, MILF to form joint peace team in Basilan

AFP WESMINCOM

THE MILITARY, police, and former rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will form a joint team to ensure peace and security in the southern island province of Basilan after a recent clash that authorities have called an isolated incident of misunderstanding.   

“With a broader perspective instilled in both parties, we are certain that what had transpired will never happen again,” Domingo B. Gobway, commander of the existing Joint Task Force Basilan, said during a meeting on Monday led by Peace Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr.  

Under the joint team, MILF members will be working side by side with the police and military in thwarting criminal and local terror threats, including remnants of the Abu Sayyaf group in Basilan.    

Leaders of the MILF, which signed a peace deal with the government in 2014, are currently at the helm of the Bangsamoro regional government under transition. A decommissioning process for its armed combatants is still ongoing.  

Joint Peace and Security Teams have already been formed in other parts of the region where decommissioning has been completed.     

MILF and Philippine Army troops engaged in a firefight on Nov. 8 in the Basilan town of Ungkaya Pukan where at least three soldiers and four MILF members were killed while several others were wounded.   

The site of the battleground was being monitored by security forces as it is allegedly being used by criminal groups, Mr. Gobway said earlier. The MILF group, on the other hand, were asserting that it is their area.    

A ceasefire was declared on the 10th with the intervention of authorities from all sides.  

Defense Senior Undersecretary Jose C. Faustino, Jr., currently officer in charge of the department, said in a separate statement that the military will fully cooperate and support peace initiatives.    

“We have gained so much when it comes to addressing our internal security, what happened in Basilan is an isolated case,” Mr. Faustino said following a meeting with representative of the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Peace, Reconciliation and Unity in Zamboanga City on Friday.   

Mr. Galvez, in a statement issued on Nov. 9, said peace mechanisms were immediately tapped when the gunfight was reported.     

“The signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro ushered an era of unprecedented peace and security in the Bangsamoro,” the Peace secretary said.   

“We cannot allow this latest incident in Basilan to negate the major gains we have achieved over the years.” — MSJ

Bill calls for virtual one-stop shop of support services for online MSMEs

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

A SENATOR has filed a bill that will create a virtual one-stop shop of support services for online micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), including access to loan windows.   

“We must recognize the importance of e-commerce in the development and recovery of our economy from the effects of the pandemic,” Senator Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid said in a statement on Tuesday.  

“So, it is appropriate to pay attention to the potential of small online businesses once they are formalized and registered in order to provide them with adequate support services,” he added.  

Senate Bill 1499 or the Support Services for Online MSMEs Act, filed on Monday, seeks to provide mechanisms for the integration of online MSMEs into the formal economy by offering incentives to register.   

Such services will include loans from government financial institutions, regulatory relief and extensions, technical training, product development services, marketing assistance, and logistics support.  

“This proposal also aims to provide sufficient capital and credit access to those who wish to build an online business, and to have an online one-stop portal for all support services to provide adequate information, updates on developments and technological advancements,” Mr. Lapid said.  

MSMEs account for 99.58% of the 1.08 million businesses in the Philippines, based on 2021 government data.   

Mobility restrictions during the pandemic prompted existing MSMEs to adopt online selling while new online entrepreneurs have also emerged.    

Under the proposed law, agencies that will be involved in the portal are the Department of Trade and Industry, Credit Information Corporation, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and the Department of Information and Communications Technology.  

The Department of Agriculture will also be mandated to help farmers and fisherfolk find direct market access in the online space and to duly register as enterprises.    

When passed into law, implementation will be funded through an allocation in the annual government budget. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

Solons file bill mandating benefits to private health workers 

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

OPPOSITION lawmakers on Tuesday filed a bill that seeks to provide benefits such as hazard pay, subsistence allowance and longevity pay to private health workers.   

“Despite the fact that health workers in public and private facilities perform the same tasks and face the same risks in providing health services and saving the lives of Filipinos disparities exist with regards to wages, salaries, benefits and others,” said three House representatives under the Makabayan bloc in the bill’s explanatory note.   

The benefits listed in House Bill 6132 are similar to those provided under the Magna Cart of Public Health Workers.   

The measure also covers provisions on security of tenure for health workers in private institutions.   

It also prohibits all forms of contractualization and fixed-term employment, while project-based employees are considered regular for the duration of the project.   

The bill also entitles private sector health workers to benefits, including maternity and paternity leave, separation pay, paid emergency leaves and retirement benefits, among others.   

If passed into law, private employers will have to submit data on their workforce, including number of employees and corresponding years of service, to the Department of Labor and Employment annually for a computation of the estimated fund required to cover the benefits.   

The Labor department will also monitor compliance to the mandated benefits.  

“This bill aims to provide for the rights, welfare and benefits of private health workers to encourage them to stay in the country and serve the Filipino people,” said the measure’s authors. — Matthew Carl L. Montecillo

IPOPHL says Quezon City posted highest intellectual property filings in 2021

QUEZON City in the capital region Metro Manila had the most intellectual property filings in 2021, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) reported on Tuesday.   

In a statement, IPOPHL said Quezon City posted 7,609 IP filings and registrations last year, followed by Manila City at 4,980, and Makati City at 4,082, both also within Metro Manila.    

Meanwhile, the top municipality in terms of IP filings was Cainta, Rizal at 335, followed by Taytay, Rizal at 173, and Echague, Isabela at 171.    

According to the IPOPHL, the IP category was included in the awarding ceremony held Oct. 20 for frontrunners of the annual Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI), which ranks localities based on five pillars such as economic dynamism, government efficiency, infrastructure, resiliency, and innovation.    

“IP application and registration is one of the 10 indicators of the Innovation Pillar — the newest CMCI pillar that focuses on creating, developing and implementing new innovative products, services or processes,” the IPOPHL said.    

The CMCI was created by the National Competitiveness Council and is managed by the Trade department’s Competitiveness and Innovation Group.    

The framework provides a tool that can be used for policy making, development planning, and investment promotion for the government; business strategy development for the private sector; and a take-off point for research and the academic sector. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

8 billionth baby

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

A BABY girl named Vinice was designated as the Philippines’ symbolic 8 billionth person in the world after she was born at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila past midnight Tuesday. The United Nations had said the global population was projected to reach 8 billion by Nov. 15, a ‘milestone’ as population growth is at its slowest rate since 1950.

Cebu BRT phase 1 contract awarded to Chinese company

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

By Arjay L. Balinbin, Senior Reporter

CHINA’s Hunan Road and Bridge Construction Group Ltd. bagged the contract for the first phase of the World Bank-funded bus rapid transit (BRT) project in Cebu City, according to the Department of Transportation (DoTr).

The notice of award was issued on Nov. 2 to Guo Yangxiao, the general manager of Hunan Road and Bridge, according to a copy of the document obtained by BusinessWorld. The company is based in Changsha City, Hunan Province.

The contract, which is worth P919.658 million, has two major components: the construction of the BRT infrastructure, including trunklines, sidewalk improvements, stations, and other appurtenances, from the Cebu Capitol to the existing South Bus Terminal and an urban realm enhancement, consisting of a link to the port, along Osmeña Boulevard.

“You are requested to furnish the performance security within 28 days,” Transportation Undersecretary for Administration and Finance Kim Robert C. de Leon said in his letter to the Chinese company.

According to the Philippine Information Agency, Hunan Road and Bridge is also undertaking the P2.43-billion Camalaniugan Bridge project, which will connect Aparri and Camalaniugan in Cagayan Province. The company’s Philippine partner is Agafer Construction and Trading.

Among the prospective bidders that attended the pre-bid conference for the first package of the Cebu BRT project in March 2021 were Aboitiz Construction, Inc., Megawide Construction Corp., Makati Development Corp., Socor Construction Corp., Marubeni Corp., China Civil Engineering Construction Corp., and Ascentia Construction, Inc.

The full Cebu BRT project, which is also funded by the Agence Française de Développement, and the Philippine government, has three packages. The first package, which will start in 2023, will have four stations.

According to the DoTr, the BRT project is part of the “basket of solutions” for Metro Cebu’s transport situation.

Such solutions include “pedestrian access and urban realm revitalization for the city,” the department said.

The objective of the project is “to improve the overall performance of the urban passenger transport system in the project corridor in terms of the quality and level of service, safety, and environmental safety,” it added.

Visitor arrivals exceed 2 million since February reopening of borders

Passengers are seen at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City, June 23, 2022. — PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

VISITOR arrivals since the Philippines eased its border restrictions exceeded 2 million two weeks into November, according to the Department of Tourism (DoT).

The DoT said in a statement on Tuesday that it tallied 2.025 million visitor arrivals as of Nov. 14, consisting of 1.487 million foreign tourists and 538,078 returning overseas Filipinos.

The DoT added that visitor arrivals in the February to September period generated P100.7 billion in visitor spending, much higher than the year-earlier P4.94 billion.

The government removed many entry requirements for foreign visitors starting Feb. 10.  

Tourism Secretary Maria Esperanza Christina G. Frasco said the arrival totals exceed the DoT’s forecast of 1.7 visitors for 2022.

“This goes to show that there is huge demand for travel into our beautiful country and that the Marcos administration’s prioritization of tourism is placing our country on the right track to recovery,” Ms. Frasco said.

“We therefore must (continue to) convey not only the country’s openness to welcome more tourists but also conduciveness to tourism business and livelihood opportunities for our fellow Filipinos,” she added.

According to the DoT, visitors’ countries of origin were led by the US at 385,121, equivalent to 19.01% of the total, followed by South Korea with 285,583 (14.10%), Australia 96,297 (4.75%), Canada 89,248 (4.41%), and the UK 77,267 (3.81%).

Other leading nationalities were Japanese at 75,564 (3.73%), Indian 41,292 (2.04%), Singaporean 39,801 (1.97%), Malaysian 35,128 (1.73%), and Vietnamese 32,970 (1.63%). — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Customs exceeds 2022 collection target

Trucks enter the port area in Manila. — PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) said on Tuesday that it has surpassed its 2022 revenue collection target, based on preliminary estimates.

As of Nov. 11, the bureau collected a record P745.5 billion, exceeding its 2022 target by 3.32%.

All 17 collection districts hit their respective collection targets, the bureau said.

The BoC exceeded its target for a 10th straight month in October, when collections for the month hit P75.5 billion.

During the 10-month period, collections hit P714.3 billion.

The BoC said it continues to focus on streamlining its processes to encourage trade flows and thereby attracting investment in the Philippines, while minimizing revenue leakage and upgrading border security. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

New BIR commissioner sworn in

ROMEO D. Lumagui, Jr. has been sworn in as the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, after having served as the agency’s deputy commissioner of operations, the Palace announced.

Mr. Lumagui, a tax lawyer, took his oath on Tuesday, the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) said in a statement.

Mr. Lumagui headed various task forces at the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), such as the Assets Recovery Task Force, which generated collections of P833.69 million, and the Task Force on Direct Selling/Multi-Level Marketing and Investment Scams, where assessments totaled P792.56 million, the OPS said.

He has served as technical assistant to the commissioner, and tax fraud head for Revenue Region No. 6 (Manila), Revenue Region No. 4 (Pampanga), and Revenue Region No. 7B (East National Capital Region).

He also served with the BIR’s project management and implementation service, which develops and oversees the BIR’s modernization program. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

PHL poverty reduction strategy focused on job quality, safety nets

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

THE government’s approach to reducing poverty will focus on enhancing the quality of jobs and expanding social protections, the Palace said.

Acting Press Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil added that the government remains confident that it can reduce the poverty rate to 9% by the end of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s six-year term. 

“The 9% goal by 2028 will be accomplished by bringing growth to a higher level, (creating) quality jobs and improving the social protection system, among others,” Ms. Velicaria-Garafil said in a statement after Mr. Marcos met with the National Economic and Development Authority.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan was quoted in the statement as saying that “growth and jobs and paying attention to social protection to address shocks like typhoons and crises (will) enable us to achieve faster reduction of poverty from where it is today to the single digits.”

Bringing down the poverty rate to 9% by 2028 is achievable even with the uncertain global economy and the challenges of inflation, Mr. Balisacan said.

The poverty reduction target was first announced by Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno in July, when inflation rose to 6.4% from 6.1% in June. In August, Mr. Balisacan said the government was on track to meet the poverty goal.

The World Bank forecast in October a Philippine poverty rate of 17.1% this year, against 18.1% in 2021.

In a separate statement, the Office of the Press Secretary said the government will present the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) for 2023 to 2028 next month. This is the first time the PDP will be presented before the start of the first full year of a sitting President.

“It will come out next month and we already briefed (the President) on the major elements… the key elements of those plans, and he provided comments, suggestions moving forward,” Mr. Balisacan was quoted as saying.

The plan involves “actionable strategies” to develop the domestic market considering its potential for attracting investment, according to Ms. Velicaria-Garafil.

Mr. Marcos asked that the plan “address the concerns of… local markets,” Mr. Balisacan said, to ensure “that they receive the same assistance.”

Mr. Marcos told Cambodian business leaders in a roundtable discussion last week that domestic markets and manufacturers are among his priorities.

Last month, Mr. Balisacan said sustained “inflation shock” could cut gross domestic product by 0.6 percentage points in 2023. Inflation rose to 7.7% in October from 6.9% a month earlier.

The Global Multidimensional Poverty Index of the United Nations and Development Program and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative indicates that the “multidimensional” poor in the Philippines or those who “suffer from multiple disadvantages” aside from low income, accounted for 5.8% of the population in 2020, equivalent to 6.503 million people.

The monetary poverty index, meanwhile, came in at 2.7% of the population. Monetary poverty refers to those living below the $1.90-per-day poverty threshold in 2011 purchasing power parity terms. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

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