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Import permit process for non-sugar sweeteners to be streamlined

PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) said it will revise the rules for importing sugar alternatives which will reduce red tape, later facilitated further by the use of an online portal.

The streamlining follows consultations with users, which surfaced concerns over bureaucratic inefficiencies. Users had lobbied against plans to impose new import clearance fees for some non-sugar sweeteners.

“We listened to their concerns. Their most basic concern is delay, red tape,” Administrator Pablo Luis S. Azcona told reporters at the SRA Research Facility in La Carlota, Negros Occidental.

Mr. Azcona told BusinessWorld during a visit to a sugar mill that it takes three to five working days for the SRA to issue import clearances.

“We will include in the sugar order that if the SRA still has no response after five working days, the application is deemed approved,” he said.

He said the SRA is set to issue the order in March.

The SRA in late January decided to postpone the effectivity of Sugar Order (SO) No. 6, which sought to impose a P60 per metric ton clearance fee on imported sweeteners covered by tariff codes 1701, 1702 and 1704.

These include sucrose, lactose, glucose, maltose, maple syrup, honey and caramel, and flavored syrups.

Food and beverage manufacturers, industry associations and chambers of commerce have cited the order’s potential impact on confectionery and beverage prices.

They also called on the SRA to conduct a Regulatory Impact Assessment before any policy changes, and urged it to adopt the Anti-Red Tape Authority’s ease of doing business framework, which sets timelines for approving permits based on the complexity of the transaction, and deems as approved those applications for which processing exceeds the prescribed timelines.

Mr. Azcona said the new rules will allow prospective importers to present a sales invoice from the supplier to kick off the application process.

The SRA will also require a soft copy of the bill of lading or the contract between a carrier and a shipper to issue the import clearance, he added.

“Since our import clearances is on a per bill of lading basis, sometimes there is a delay in the BL. It takes a few days for the BL to come out. So, we agreed. They can apply using their invoices first,” he said.

The idea is to “get the process going,” he added. “And then finalize once the BL is there.”

Mr. Azcona said the SRA is in the process of developing an online portal for importers.

He did not comment on whether the proposed fee will still be imposed.

Consultations are expected to conclude in time for the new rules to go into force by March. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

BIR collects over P4B after ‘ghost receipts’ crackdown

BW FILE PHOTO

MORE THAN P4 billion has been collected from issuers of so-called “ghost receipts,” with further assessments and prosecutions ongoing, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said.

“We have collected more than P4 billion for 2024,” BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui, Jr. told reporters on Thursday from users of such receipts, whose issuers are non-existent corporations, facilitating the evasion of value-added tax.

He said collections are expected to at least double as prosecutions make their way through the courts.

In 2023, the BIR estimated up to P370 billion in foregone revenue due to the use of ghost receipts.

Mr. Lumagui said the challenges include locating violators.

Separately, Mr. Lumagui estimated up to P40 billion in foregone revenue due to the illicit cigarette trade last year.

“Recently, our raid in Bulacan and Valenzuela (resulted in) a criminal case — that’s P8.5 billion,” he said.

On Feb. 24, the BIR is set to destroy all the illicit cigarettes seized nationwide in Porac, Pampanga.

The BIR collected P130.91 billion in tobacco excise taxes in the first 11 months of 2024, well behind the pace needed to hit the year’s target of P185.34 billion. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

Exporters urged to explore market for beauty products in Middle East

THE Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (Philexport) is urging its members to venture into mass-market beauty products in the Middle East.

Citing a report by global market intelligence firm Mintel obtained by the Department of Trade and Industry’s Export Marketing Bureau, Philexport said that consumer spending on beauty and personal care products in Saudi Arabia has “slightly increased.”

“(This is) supported by stable oil and gas reserves, booming tourism and significant government infrastructure investment, making it the top market for beauty products like makeup in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council),” it added.

To tap this market, Philexport noted that Saudi customers associate high cost with high quality, but lower-spending segments of the market are an opportunity.

“Middle Eastern consumers, especially in the beauty sector, refuse to compromise on quality due to the importance of these products in their lives,” it said. “Although consumer spending power is increasing, it’s important to engage with overlooked, less affluent consumers.”

Customers from the Middle East also have a strong preference for in-store shopping, with 29% of Saudi adults buying beauty and personal-care products in stores, with only 13% buying online.

“This trend provides mass-market brands a chance to enhance in-store experiences, leveraging the prevalent mall culture in the Middle East,” it said.

However, Philexport said that mass-market brands should build on “heritage storytelling and local culture” to compete better.

“Consumers seek brands that value and use local resources and preserve indigenous traditions, contributing to a more authentic and memorable product experience,” it added.

Exporters were also advised to cater to the evolving lifestyle needs of the younger generation, which is now looking for “clean beauty” products.

“While not new to the West, sustainability is gaining traction in the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia’s NEOM Green Hydrogen Plant being the world’s largest green hydrogen producer and Egypt aiming to be a green-energy hub,” it said. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

PHL deemed ‘bystander in US trade wars, chipmakers urged to diversify markets

REUTERS

By Aubrey Rose A. Inosante, Reporter

THE Philippine chip industry is a peripheral player in the trade wars the US appears to be heading into, and must not take sides while taking care to diversify its markets, analysts said.

“At this point, the Philippines is considered a bystander economy in the brewing trade wars. In the short run, the Philippines, together with the rest of its ASEAN peers, should refrain from directly participating in trade conflicts,” Adrian R. Mendoza, assistant professor at the University of the Philippines School of Economics, said.

US President Donald Trump said on Feb. 19 that he will impose tariffs on semiconductors and pharmaceutical imports starting at 25% over the course of the year.

He also announced plans to adopt reciprocal tariffs on countries that tax US imports, as well as an additional 10% levy on Chinese goods.

Mr. Mendoza said in an email that “another medium-run risk-spreading strategy” for the government is to advocate for greater diversification in export markets.

“In a worst-case scenario where Trump imposes tariffs on all imported semiconductors regardless of source, the risk exposure of Philippine exports is larger, given that, electronics take up more than half of Philippine exports,” Mr. Mendoza said.

The chip industry is deeply integrated with supply chains in Singapore, China, Taiwan, and Japan, and will be significantly affected in the worst case.

In 2024, electronics exports fell 6.7% to $39.08 billion due to soft global demand. Semiconductor shipments fell 13.5% to $29.16 billion.

Overall, merchandise exports declined 0.5% to $73.21 billion, well short of the government’s 4% growth projection.

Mr. Mendoza also highlighted the potential for heightened economic losses if countries targeted by US tariffs retaliate.

Philip Arnold P. Tuaño, Dean of the Ateneo School of Government, proposed that the Philippines weight its exports more towards the European Union, Japan, Australia, and China.

The US remained the top destination for Philippine-made goods with exports valued at $12.12 billion or 16.8% of the total in 2024.

This was followed by Japan ($10.33 billion), Hong Kong ($9.60 billion), China ($9.44 billion), Thailand ($2.96 billion), and Singapore ($2.94 billion).

Jonathan L. Ravelas, senior adviser at Reyes Tacandong & Co., warned that the proposed tariffs could raise the cost for Philippine exports, reducing their competitiveness in the US market.

“To mitigate this, the Philippine government might negotiate trade agreements, offer subsidies, and explore alternative markets. Strengthening industries and investing in innovation could also help buffer the impact,” he said.

Next to electronics, the top Philippine export commodities in 2024 were other manufactured goods ($4.66 billion), machinery and transport equipment ($2.65 billion), ignition wiring sets and other wiring sets used in vehicles, aircraft and ships ($2.45 billion) and coconut oil ($2.19 billion).

Joseph P. Purugganan, convenor of Trade Justice Pilipinas the Philippines, which specializes in low-value segments of the chip supply chain like assembly, testing and packaging, could feel the impact of the tariffs from multiple directions – from the US itself, and from buyers of Philippine products whose own exports to the US experience slowdowns.

Citing US-China trade disputes in 2018 and 2019, Mr. Mendoza said there was a missed oppotunity to step in as an alterative supplier, adding that at the time, the Philippines was deemed to have as good a chance as Vietnam to fill the vacuum.

“While Vietnam benefited from the relocation of big multinationals from China, the Philippines seemed unprepared to reap the same benefits due to fundamental weaknesses underlying domestic industrial capacity,” he said.

He cited high production costs, expensive labor and electricity, and elevated transaction costs due to weak spots like logistics, broadband infrastructure, internet speed, and ease of doing business.

Financial institutions: regulatory priorities in 2025

First of two parts

IN BRIEF:

• The past years highlighted several critical issues for financial institutions and regulators, ranging from geopolitical and macroeconomic issues to growing challenges in balancing support for technology innovation with protecting consumer and markets from the attendant risks.

• While international coordination among regulators will continue, the EY 2025 Global Financial Services Regulatory Outlook cites further fragmentation of regulatory regimes as policymakers are expected to prioritize country-specific approaches to issues such as financial stability, artificial intelligence (AI) and data governance.

• Operational and financial resilience will continue to be scrutinized, with regulators and supervisors focusing on contagion risks from dependencies on critical third parties, including technology providers, especially as AI adoption accelerates.

The financial landscape is constantly evolving, and 2025 is set to be a particularly challenging year for banks and financial services firms. The past years highlighted several critical issues for financial institutions and regulators, ranging from geopolitical and macroeconomic issues to growing challenges in balancing support for technology innovation with protecting consumer and markets from the attendant risks. Regulatory fragmentation is expected to continue as policymakers prioritize country-specific approaches to matters such as financial stability, financial inclusion, sustainability, artificial intelligence (AI), resilience, and governance. 

The EY 2025 Global Financial Services Regulatory Outlook identifies four critical themes that will shape the regulatory landscape over the coming year: increased fragmentation, building resilience to external threats, delivering positive consumer outcomes, and managing risk in a changing environment.

The first half of this article explores the following key regulatory priorities for financial institutions in 2025 and offers strategies for navigating these challenges effectively: navigating the fragmented regulatory landscape driven by national interests and emphasizing operational and financial resilience.

FRAGMENTED REGULATORY LANDSCAPE
While international coordination among regulators will continue, the outlook cites further fragmentation of regulatory regimes as policymakers are expected to prioritize country-specific approaches to issues such as financial stability, artificial intelligence (AI) and data governance. Globally, the impact of Basel 3.1 banking and capital reforms is already clear, and rules are being drafted or implemented in varying degrees and pacing around the world, though certain jurisdictions may face increased pressure for deregulation amid concerns on international competitiveness.

On innovation and technology, countries are expected to adopt different standards, whether in relation to AI regulation or in digital policies. Financial institutions can benefit from continuing to develop and building operating models that would allow the addressing of local rules and risks when operating across borders, without significantly impacting cost. 

There is currently no uniform global strategy for AI regulation, but regulatory efforts often take into account the specific context of AI usage and its possible effects. Lawmakers are adopting varying strategies regarding the extent to which regulations are enforced across the AI value chain. For example, in a “risk-based” approach to AI regulation, the purpose for which AI is employed dictates the compliance standards that the technology must fulfill.

The EU AI Act is now in force, with other jurisdictions either proposing or undergoing consultation for similar laws. There are also guiding principles and ethical frameworks being implemented, with some jurisdictions like Hong Kong and Singapore providing financial sector-specific guidance and initiatives.

Whether there are enabling laws or circulars, financial institutions are advised to consider actions such as: building and maintaining an inventory of AI systems and use cases, ensuring that their risk profiles are understood in the current legal and regulatory context; implementing governance and control frameworks based on standards such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) AI Risk Management Framework; safeguarding the confidentiality of financial institution and client data against exposure through public AI solutions trained on sensitive queries and feedback; and focusing on a risk-based approach toward critical AI infrastructures and on the outcomes of AI applications.

To navigate this fragmented landscape, firms should invest in political and regulatory monitoring to anticipate changes and develop strategies to protect their businesses. Scenario planning can help explore the implications of different outcomes, allowing firms to prepare for various regulatory scenarios. Additionally, identifying local divergences in regulation and addressing the resulting risks, while combining insights at the global level, can provide a comprehensive view of the market and help firms manage the complexities of operating internationally.

RESILIENCE TO THIRD-PARTY, NON-BANK RISK EXPOSURE
Operational and financial resilience will continue to be scrutinized, with regulators and supervisors focusing on contagion risks from dependencies on critical third parties, including technology providers, especially as AI adoption accelerates. Contagion risks from non-bank financial institutions will also remain a focus area.

Both regulators and the industry are concerned about the financial sector’s resilience against vulnerabilities and external threats, which are often linked to technology dependency that is in turn creating more potential points of failure given relationships with unregulated third parties. How financial institutions can withstand major disruptions — whether from IT outages, natural events, or conflicts — would require action such as revisiting business continuity arrangements to prepare for renewed supervisory focus and regulatory scrutiny, incorporating tech disruption scenarios in stress testing exercises, and identifying the risks in an institution’s end-to-end processes to deliver services, including exposures from third-party providers, and putting in place measures to mitigate the risk of disruption.

Organizations can expect heightened scrutiny of third-party and non-bank risks. The BSP has issued a circular on Operational Resilience that provides an integrative approach to emerging and existing nonfinancial risks and programs like recovery planning, cyber and digital resilience, financial crimes and sanctions, operational risk management, and business continuity management. Operational resilience will be much more than this, however — the manner by which Philippine financial institutions will be evaluated and informed by developments in other jurisdictions.

For instance, the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) regulations put into much sharper focus the technology dependencies that many firms have on the same small group of providers. This adds weight to the Basel Committee’s call for a rigorous approach to “critical third parties,” with some regulators preparing to extend their oversight to technology providers and requiring tech disruption scenarios in stress testing exercises. This “regulatory perimeter” principle is now observed locally as systemic risk management, with an expansive yet connected view that disruption could and would arise from a broader ecosystem and affect the financial system and the broader economy.

Firms should map their exposures to third-party technology providers and revisit risk mitigation measures to ensure they are adequately protected. Preparing for greater supervisory scrutiny of risk management and exposures to less transparent markets, such as private finance, is also crucial. This includes addressing counterparty, concentration, and liquidity risks. Furthermore, firms must ensure that financial crime initiatives have an appropriate level of oversight, with clearly defined roles and responsibilities to mitigate risks effectively.

THE EVOLVING REGULATORY LANDSCAPE
A convergence of risk factors, including geopolitical change, economic pressures, and technological advancements, is creating an uncertain outlook for financial institutions and regulators. Geopolitical change is leading to a fragmented regulatory landscape, increasing costs and complexity for international firms. In this regard, resilience and risk management have never been more vital.

The second half of this article will continue exploring the remaining key regulatory priorities from the EY Regulatory Outlook: focusing on securing positive outcomes for consumers and managing risk in an evolving environment.

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional advice where the facts and circumstances warrant. The views and opinions expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of SGV & Co.

 

Christian G. Lauron is the Financial Services Organization (FSO) leader of SGV & Co.

Manila told to beef up defense after Chinese navy’s ‘dangerous’ maneuvers

SCREENGRAB FROM PAF AVP

By John Victor D. Ordoñez, Reporter

THE PHILIPPINES must beef up its military modernization program and build its ties with other countries after a Chinese navy helicopter endangered the safety of a Philippine government aircraft patrolling a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, analysts said at the weekend.

“It is now totally necessary for our political leaders to display a stronger resolve towards beefing up our national defense capabilities,” Michael Henry Ll. Yusingco, a fellow at the Ateneo de Manila University Policy Center, said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

“It will also mean convincing taxpayers to support a bigger allocation for defense and security in the national budget.”

The Philippines on Feb. 18 said it was “deeply disturbed” by the Chinese navy’s “unprofessional and reckless” flight actions and that it would file a diplomatic protest.

Manila’s coast guard said the Chinese navy helicopter performed dangerous flight maneuvers when it flew close to a government aircraft conducting surveillance over Scarborough Shoal, endangering the lives of its pilots and passengers.

The People’s Liberation Army Navy helicopter flew as close as three meters to the aircraft, which the Philippine Coast Guard said was a “clear violation and blatant disregard” of aviation regulations.

China disputed the Philippines’ account, saying on Tuesday its aircraft “illegally intruded” into China’s airspace and accused its Southeast Asian neighbor of “spreading false narratives.”

The Philippines is on the third phase of its modernization program called “Horizons.” It has earmarked $35 billion for the buildup over the next decade as it aims to counter China’s military might in the region.

Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Romeo S. Brawner, Jr. has said that the country is looking to buy more military hardware to modernize its arsenal, including additional BrahMos missiles from India and at least two submarines.

In 2022, the Philippines bought $375 million worth of BrahMos anti-ship missile systems from India and has orders for more. “We are getting more of this (system) this year and in the coming years,” Mr. Brawner earlier said.

“By continuing to challenge Beijing’s expansionism Manila sends the message that it will not go quietly into the night,” Raymond M. Powell, a fellow at the Stanford University’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, said in an X message.

“The Philippines does not have the means to evict China from the West Philippine Sea. Resistance movements are protracted by nature, because the aim is to convince the occupier that cost of occupation outweighs any gains.”

China claims over 80% of the waterway in the South China Sea, but the Permanent Court of Arbitration voided its claim in 2016. China rejects this claim.

The country’s expansive claims over the South China Sea, a vital waterway for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce, puts it at odds with Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Delay in full cashless toll collection could hinder efforts to advance transport system

DPWH

By Ashley Erika O. Jose, Reporter

THE Department of Transportation’s (DoTr) move to postpone the implementation of full cashless toll collection at major expressways would likely hinder the country’s capacity to advance its transport system, an analyst said.

“We can’t do without it as it will impede our ability to compete in the economic realm among our ASEAN neighbors and the rest of the world. Transportation is a basic building block of economic development, and the more timely we address ‘roadblock’ the better equipped we will be in building a better country,” Nigel Paul C. Villarete, senior adviser on PPP (public-private partnership) at Libra Konsult, Inc., said in a Viber message.

Last week, newly appointed Transportation Secretary Vivencio B. Dizon said he had ordered the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) to suspend the implementation of full cashless collection across all tollways which is scheduled for implementation on March 15.

“To keep on postponing what the government already decrees as a good governance scheme does not speak well of its ability to execute well... The government agencies must study well all its execution functions and its ability to do them within a reliable and achievable timeframe,” Mr. Villarete said. 

This is the third time the planned implementation has been postponed. Fines for motorists passing through expressway without RFID or radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, under Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2024-001, were supposed to be enforced starting Oct. 1 last year.

However, the Transportation department deferred the implementation to 2025 to give tollway operators and concerned agencies time to fine-tune their operations.

The planned implementation of cashless toll collection will not be implemented for the foreseeable future, Mr. Dizon said, describing the scheme as “anti-poor.”

He added he plans to work with the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) and San Miguel Corp. (SMC) to make it more efficient.

BusinessWorld sought comments from MPTC and SMC on the postponement of the cashless only toll collection system, but it had yet to receive a response by the deadline.   

To recall, the TRB said that cashless or contactless toll collection on major toll expressways will be implemented on March 15.

The TRB said previously that the implementation of a cashless toll collection is needed for the planned electronic toll collection interoperability. The TRB also plans to introduce a unified RFID wallet system that can be used in various tollways.

Motorists passing through expressways without valid RFID or electronic toll collection (ETC) device will be allowed to enter the toll plaza and shall be installed with an ETC device.

Although allowed to pass through, motorists without valid RFID tags will be issued a temporary operator’s permit or a show cause order for violating the policy and a penalty will be imposed.

Just last week, NLEX Corp., a unit of MPTC, said it is investing approximately P1.4 billion to modernize and enhance technology across its expressway network in preparation for full cashless toll transactions.

In a statement in January, SMC Infrastructure, which operates SMC’s toll road network, said the company is prepared to implement a cashless toll payment and that all of its toll roads are equipped to support its implementation.

More than 90% of tollway users already have RFID tags, TRB said.

Meanwhile, Rene S. Santiago, former president of the Transportation Science Society of the Philippines, called DoTr’s decision a welcome development.

“As I stated years ago, TRB is favoring toll operators over motorists. There should always be a cash lane; non-regular users would not need RFID,” Mr. Santiago said in a Viber message.

Senator Grace Poe-Llamanzares, likewise, backed DoTr’s decision to defer the full cashless payment on expressways, noting that cash lane options for motorists should always be in place for “unforeseen circumstances.”

“The no-cash scheme is ideal, but it cannot be imposed until operators can guarantee that all defects in the system are fixed, such as malfunctioning booms, unreadable stickers and broken RFIDs,” she said in a statement on Saturday.

Extensive power sector reforms needed, lawmakers told

NGCP.PH

By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, Reporter

PHILIPPINE lawmakers should craft more extensive power sector reforms as current efforts have fallen short of expectations, analysts said over the weekend.

Attempts by Congress to amend the 2001 Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) that liberalized the country’s power sector remain lacking, they added, noting the need for more substantial reforms to make electricity cheaper and more reliable.

“While the 19th Congress has taken steps toward improving the energy sector and is working on amendments to EPIRA, these efforts remain incomplete,” Nic Satur, Jr., chief advocate officer of Partners for Affordable and Reliable Energy, said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

Mr. Satur noted the current EPIRA amendments overlook key concerns as lawmakers failed to resolve issues about tax charges and system loss charges passed on to consumers.

“Congress must enact stricter accountability laws with higher penalties for non-compliance across power generation, transmission, and distribution,” he added.

He also raised the need for Congress to ensure broader representation of consumer groups for policymakers to gain a deeper understanding of how the inefficient energy sector affects Filipino consumers.

Amendments to the 24-year-old law are among the priority bills set by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. for the 19th Congress, which is set to end its session in June.

“We would have wanted to see EPIRA reforms within the 19th Congress but the 20th Congress can nonetheless work on this by the latter half of the year,” Terry L. Ridon, a public investment analyst and convenor of think tank InfraWatch PH, said in a Facebook chat.

EPIRA was widely believed to have failed in its intent to lower electricity consumer costs, with Philippine electricity rates among the highest in the Southeast Asian region, according to a 2022 Ateneo de Manila University report.

The House of Representatives last year approved a bill rationalizing the government’s power assets management body, which Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez touted as an amendment to EPIRA.

Another measure seeking to strengthen the Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) functions was approved by the House on second reading in early February. Its counterpart bill remains pending at the Senate energy panel.

Party-list Rep. Sergio C. Dagooc, who sponsored House Bill No. 11373 that seeks to strengthen the ERC, told BusinessWorld that he’s optimistic the measure can still pass the 19th Congress.

Lawmakers should also look at expanding ERC’s manpower, according to Mr. Ridon. “Its current staffing limits its efficiency in resolving cases and concerns in a timely manner.”

They should also consider “anti-oligopoly measures” to police power companies and prevent market manipulation, said Jose Enrique “Sonny” A. Africa, executive director at think tank IBON Foundation.

“This will enable the government to more fully address the structural failures of EPIRA and take more decisive steps toward energy sovereignty and public interest-driven electricity provision,” he said in a Viber message.

Moreover, Congress should look at nationalizing the Philippines’ power sector, he added. “Public ownership can be steadily expanded towards eventual full nationalization and restructuring the power sector towards a non-profit, public-interest and national development model.

“The current approach to amending EPIRA is fundamentally constrained by remaining private sector-driven rather than moving toward state-led development and public control of electricity,” said Mr. Africa.

Legislated wage hike pushed as jeepney fare increase looms

PHILIPPINE STAR/RYAN BALDEMOR

By Chloe Mari A. Hufana, Reporter

A LAWMAKER pushed for the immediate passage of a P200 legislated wage hike ahead of the two-peso jeepney fare hike set to take effect as early as April, warning that failure to increase wages alongside rising transport costs will push workers deeper into financial hardship.

In a statement to BusinessWorld, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said the looming back-to-back fare hike this April shows Congress cannot delay a P200 minimum wage increase any longer.

“Raising fares without raising wages will crush workers and their families,” TUCP President and House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza said.

He added that increased transportation costs will significantly affect minimum wage earners who already struggle to make ends meet.

“If fares go up, wages must go up too. Our workers desperately need higher take-home pay to cover additional transportation costs just to get to work and back home,” he added.

He said that delaying the wage hike until June, when Congress would need to reconcile the House-approved P200 increase with the Senate’s P100 proposal, poses a severe risk to workers.

He also underscored the broader economic benefits of a wage hike, arguing that additional income would not only support workers but also boost local businesses.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is expected to decide by April on a P2 provisional fare hike requested by transport groups Pasang Masda, the Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP), and the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO).

Once approved, the minimum fares for traditional jeepneys will increase to P15 from P13 and to P17 from P15 for modern jeepneys.

This coincides with the approved P5 fare increase for Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1), set to take effect on April 2.

Jeepney operators who modernized their units said they are struggling financially as they are also still paying amortization.

During a hearing at the LTFRB office in Quezon City last week, ALTODAP said their new petition would only be temporary due to the high price of diesel.

The group said they can also lower the fare automatically as they do not want to burden passengers.

Still, LTFRB chief Teofilo E. Guadiz III said the LTFRB board would need to review the petition, especially since jeepney operators already receive fuel subsidies whenever the benchmark Dubai crude price reaches $80 per barrel.

OSG asks SC for 5-day extension

BW FILE PHOTO

THE Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) asked the Supreme Court (SC) for a five-day extension to comment on a petition questioning the legality of the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

In a document dated Feb. 19, Solicitor-General Menardo I. Guevarra sought an extension to comment on a petition for certiorari and prohibition, filed by former Presidential Spokesman Victor D. Rodriguez and others regarding the 2025 national budget.

Mr. Guevarra, in the 4-page document, said they received copies of the High Court’s order on Feb. 12, which gives the agency until Feb. 22 to submit its comment.

While the draft comment has been finished, it is still undergoing further revision and correction before it can be filed, the Solicitor-General noted.

“It respectfully begs the kind indulgence of this Honorable Court for an additional period of five days from February 22, 2025, or until February 27, 2025, within which to file the comment,” he added.

“The instant motion is not intended to delay the proceedings but solely due to the foregoing reasons.”

Mr. Guevarra added the OSG is ready to comply with the SC’s order to submit original copies of the GAA.

On Jan. 27, Mr. Rodriguez asked the High Court to declare the GAA illegal for failing to include mandatory funding for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., illegally increasing appropriations over the President’s recommendations, and giving the most budget to infrastructure over education.

The petition added the 2025 national budget is illegal as the Bicameral Committee Report on the General Appropriations Bill had blank items. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Dictator claims vs Marcos dismissed

SCREENSHOT FROM HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FACEBOOK

THE EXECUTIVE Secretary on Sunday dispelled former President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s accusations of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. pursuing a dictatorship when his term ends in 2028 as “baseless” and “ridiculous.”

“As our actions have consistently demonstrated, we will stay the course in upholding the Constitution, in adhering to the rule of law, and in respecting the rights of the people,” Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin said in a statement.

Former presidential legal counsel Salvador S. Panelo did not immediately reply to a Viber message seeking comment.

During a political rally at the weekend, the former President accused Mr. Marcos of likely imposing martial law to extend his time in power after his term ends in 2028, citing late former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, Sr. who imposed martial rule in 1972.

A popular street uprising toppled the late dictator’s regime in February 1986, forcing him and his family to flee into exile in the United States.

“We will not backslide into the oppressive ways of the previous administration, when critics were jailed upon trumped-up charges and when kill orders were publicly issued with glee and obeyed blindly.”

The government estimates that at least 6,117 people died in Mr. Duterte’s anti-illegal drug campaign between July 1, 2016, and May 31, 2022, but human rights groups say the death toll could be as high as 30,000. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

BoC urges voluntary payment

BW FILE PHOTO

THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio urged buyers-in-good-faith of imported goods to settle the right duties via a voluntary payment scheme to meet the P1.06-trillion target this year.

The BoC revenue rose by 6.51% to P931.05 billion last year from P874.17-billion target in 2023.

According to the Department of Finance, the agency logged P79.3 billion in January this year, 8.1% higher than the same month a year ago.

“The voluntary payment scheme is a proactive approach which empowers the bureau to significantly bolster its revenue collection efforts while effectively recognizing the equitable rights of unsuspecting innocent purchaser for value of imported goods,” Deputy Commissioner Juvymax R. Uy said in a statement on Sunday.

Customs also has called on buyers of imported luxury motor vehicles such as Ferrari, Porsche, and McLaren — subjected to a Letter of Authority and recently served in Pasay to settle their obligations through the payment scheme.

Last week, a series of raids by the agency, seized high-end cars in Metro Manila resulted in the seizure of around P900 million worth of expensive vehicles in a Taguig warehouse. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

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