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CoA suspends special audit, release of reports on candidates for 2022 polls to avoid partisanship allegations

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

STATE AUDITORS have suspended the creation of special audit teams and releasing reports involving candidates who will run in the 2022 elections to avoid allegations of political partisanship.

“Immediate but untimely action on these complaints and appeals would create a dangerous impression that this Commission is favoring or disfavoring any election candidate,” the Commission on Audit (CoA) said in its latest resolution.

CoA Resolution 2021-024, issued by CoA chair Michael G. Aguinaldo and commissioner Roland C. Pondoc, puts on hold special or fraud audits involving politicians who filed certificates of candidacy or nomination before the Commission on Elections.

These audit activities will resume after May 9, 2022, the scheduled voting day.

However, initial assessment and evaluation of requests for special audits will not be suspended. Audit teams not affected by this resolution would also continue to operate.

“When election period approaches, a number of complaints and request for special (or) fraud audits against election candidates are normally received by this commission,” according to the resolution.

The resolution also comes as the Senate continues their investigation on the procurement of pandemic supplies following the CoA’s findings that there are flagged fund transfers to the Budget department’s procurement arm.

Mr. Aguinaldo said before the Senate Blue Ribbon committee that state auditors have launched a special audit on the government’s deals with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp.

House lawmakers, mostly allies of the current administration, have insisted that the government’s deals with Pharmally were above board. They have already terminated their probe into the matter. — Russell Louis C. Ku 

Senate body tells DepEd to clarify procurement of digital devices with proposed budget to double in 2022 

DEPED.GOV.PH

THE SENATE Finance committee asked the Education department to explain its purchases of digital devices for teachers and students this year as the allocation for this budget item is proposed to be doubled in 2022.

Senator María Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos, during Thursday’s hearing, said this year’s procurements did not meet the target and questioned the supposed fluctuation in prices cited by Education officials.

This year’s fund for digital learning devices such as tablets and laptops was P6 billion and this will go up to P11.3 billion in the proposed 2022 expenditure program.

Education Undersecretary Alain Del B. Pascua said that initially, the department planned to purchase about 37,000 packages of devices this year, but this was changed to about 109,000 after the previous Congress deliberation. Only 65,000 packages were purchased and delivered.

Ms. Marcos said increases in computer prices could not have been so high that the department was only able to buy 60% of the target. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

Detained Pharmally exec files petition vs Senate committee

@SENATEPH

PHARMALLY PHARMACEUTICAL Corp. executive Linconn U. Ong has filed a petition before the Supreme Court against the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee for his alleged unconstitutional detention and arrest due to contempt during the probe on pandemic funds.

In his 50-page petition filed on Thursday, Mr. Ong sought a temporary restraining order against the committee and nullification of the Senate’s order for his arrest “for being unconstitutional and for having been issued with grave abuse of discretion.”

Mr. Ong cited Section 21, Article 6 of the Philippine Constitution, which states that both houses of Congress “may conduct inquiries in aid of legislation” but that “(t)he rights of persons appearing in or affected by such inquiries shall be respected.”

In an interview before the petition was filed, Donn Rico G. Kapunan, one of Mr. Ong’s lawyers, said “this is a chance for us to have a definitive resolution by the (Supreme Court) with regard to the exercise of the Blue Ribbon’s power to cite people in contempt.”

He added that if the Senate has evidence, “we will face them in court in the proper forum already because this has gone far enough.”

The respondents named in the petition are Blue Ribbon Committee Chair Richard J. Gordon, Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III, and Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Rene C. Samonte.

Mr. Ong, a member of Pharmally’s board of directors and its supply chain manager, is supposedly one of those who received the Budget department’s purchase orders for the procurement of allegedly overpriced personal protective equipment for the Health department. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago

Tropical depression Maring enters PHL as Lannie leaves 2 dead; minimal agri, infra damage

TROPICAL DEPRESSION Lannie exited the Philippine area Wednesday, leaving at least two people dead and triggered flooding and landslides in more than 80 areas in central Philippines, according to the national disaster management council.

As of Oct. 7, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the two reported deaths, both due to drowning, were still being validated.

Lannie, the 12th typhoon to enter the country this year, made 10 landfalls across northern Mindanao, the Visayas, and Palawan.

The Western Visayas or Region 6 reported the most damage in infrastructure and agriculture, including three totally destroyed houses and 16 partially damaged.

NDRRMC said damage to agriculture was so far estimated at P12.22 million with 942 hectares of farm areas affected.

MARING
Meanwhile, the low pressure area being monitored by state weather bureau PAGASA developed into a tropical depression as it entered the Philippine area Thursday afternoon.

Designated the local name Maring, the tropical depression was located 505 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes as of 4 p.m.  Maring was packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kms per hour (kms/h) near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kms/h.

“Current track and intensity forecast shows that there is a moderate to high likelihood that Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals (TCWS) will be hoisted over several provinces in Northern Luzon by Saturday morning or afternoon. The highest possible wind signal for this tropical cyclone is TCWS #2,” PAGASA said.

“However, due to the uncertainty in the intensity forecast, there is a possibility that higher TCWS may be raised,” it added. — Marifi S. Jara

Expropriation on the table to meet Mindanao Railway launch target

By Arjay L. Balinbin, Senior Reporter

THE DEPARTMENT of Transportation (DoTr) said Thursday that its October 2022 target to achieve partial operations for the China-funded Mindanao Railway Project is still “achievable” despite delays posed by right-of-way (ROW) acquisition, adding that expropriation of land remains an option to expedite the process.

In response to a BusinessWorld query, DoTr-Mindanao Railway Project Manager Clipton J. Solamo said in a Viber message: “Based on our current pace, partial operation by October 2022 is achievable.”

He said some of the steps being undertaken “to hasten” the ROW acquisition include: “Streamlining of site validation activities and review of documents; further digitalization of programs; institution of a local inter-agency committee for the relocation and resettlement of informal settler families; continuous coordination meetings between partner local government units and other stakeholders; and advancement of the organizational structure by requesting additional manpower.”

The department will resort to “expropriation of property” when necessary, Mr. Solamo noted, citing the Right-of-Way Act.

“If the property owner does not accept the price offer, the implementing agency shall initiate expropriation proceedings.”

“The property owner is given 30 days to decide whether or not to accept the offer as payment for his/her property. Upon refusal or failure of the property owner to accept such offer or fails and/or refuses to submit the documents necessary for payment, the implementing agency shall immediately initiate expropriation proceedings,” Mr. Solamo also said.

At a budget hearing last week, the Senate sub-finance committee chaired by Senator Mary Grace Natividad S. Poe-Llamanzares questioned the zero funding for the project in the Transportation department’s proposed budget for 2022.

Transportation Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John R. Batan said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) did not include the DoTr’s proposed budget for the project in the National Expenditure Program for next year.

DBM Officer-in-Charge and Undersecretary Tina Rose Marie L. Canda said the project is “slow moving” and is still in the ROW acquisition phase.

The department will need P2 billion for “advance payment and progress payments” for the P3.08-billion project management consultancy contract awarded to a consortium composed of China Railway Design Corp. and Guangzhou Wanan Construction Supervision Co., Ltd., according to Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope O. Libiran.

Transportation Assistant Secretary for Project Implementation-Mindanao Cluster Eymard D. Eje said the department will work with the House of Representatives “on the amendment of our budget.”

Philippines ranks last in COVID-19 recovery performance index

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE PHILIPPINES was ranked in last place in a global index that measured the recovery of 121 countries from the coronavirus pandemic.

The Philippines was ranked in the 121st spot by the Nikkei Asia COVID-19 Recovery Index, which assessed the infection management, vaccine rollout, and social mobility of economies, scoring them on a scale of zero to 90.

The Nikkei Asia report estimated that only 30% of the Philippine population was fully vaccinated as of Sept. 30. This is “low among ASEAN countries,” it said.

Nikkei Asia also noted that while the Philippines has enforced granular lockdowns in the capital region, minors and seniors are still required to stay home.

“The country is gradually easing restrictions on businesses to revive the economy, allowing gyms to reopen and increasing restaurant dining and salon capacities for vaccinated individuals,” the report said.

Within Southeast Asia, Indonesia was 54th, Singapore 70th, Cambodia 76th, Malaysia 102nd, Myanmar 105th, Thailand 109th, Vietnam 118th, and Laos 120th.

Nikkei Asia’s study was conducted at a time when the Philippines was experiencing a fresh surge in new coronavirus cases, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire said at a televised briefing Thursday.

“The infection rates were measured at a time when the number of cases in our country were really high compared with other countries which had already reached their peak,” she said, noting that Nikkei Asia used a seven-day period in September to analyze and compare coronavirus data of various countries.

The Philippine mortality rate remained below the global average, Ms. Vergeire said.

She said that the World Health Organization has rated the Philippines as having a low case fatality rate for Asia, “which means we’re doing well in terms of managing severe and critical cases.”

Ms. Vergeire also claimed that more cases were detected because the country’s testing capacity had improved. 

Earlier this week, the Health agency’s spokesperson said there had been fewer swab tests for the coronavirus in 14 regions including Metro Manila.

The biggest decline in RT-PCR tests was in the capital region, whose positivity rate decreased to 16.4% in the past week from 19.3% a week earlier, she said.

Swab tests in the metro fell by 37,383 or 14.1% to 266,042, she said, leading to fewer people who tested positive for the virus.

Meanwhile, Ms. Vergeire said the country’s vaccination was hampered by an “increase in the number of cases here in the country.” 

The country’s vaccine supply and access was “erratic because of this widespread infection during this outbreak that we had,” she said.

The Philippines, which scored poorly in Bloomberg’s COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) resilience study, is struggling to vaccinate its entire adult population amid a spike in infections believed to be triggered by the highly contagious Delta variant.

Presidential Spokesman Herminio L. Roque, Jr. told a televised news briefing that 48.39 million coronavirus vaccines had been given out as of Oct. 6. Nearly 22.66 million people of 29.37% of the target adult population had been fully vaccinated, he added.

The country took delivery of more than a million doses of the Pfizer vaccine on Wednesday night, Mr. Roque said. The shipment was paid for by the National Government.

The Palace official said the country will receive more than two million doses of the Moderna vaccine on Oct. 8. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

SMC Global Power unit applies to link battery storage facility to grid

UNIVERSAL POWER Solutions, Inc. (UPSI), a unit of SMC Global Power Holdings Corp., has asked the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for approval to link its 60-megawatt battery energy storage system (BESS) in Concepcion, Tarlac to the Luzon grid.

In a UPSI filing posted by the commission on its website, the company sought approval to invest P93.81 million in a dedicated transmission line connecting BESS project to a National Grid Corp. of the Philippines 69 kiloVolt (kV) substation.

Construction is expected to take around eight months.

“The dedicated facility project is the most cost-effective and viable option for the immediate connection of the Concepcion BESS,” the company said.

It added that the construction of the line is a prerequisite for the testing, commissioning and commercial operations of its BESS project, which aims to provide regulating reserves to the power grid.

The ERC said it has scheduled virtual hearings on the matter on Oct. 21 and Oct. 28.

The Energy department has said that UPSI is developing 43 committed power projects with an installed capacity of 1,500 MW in Luzon, as of the end of June, including the Concepcion BESS.

Committed projects are those that have obtained financial closing with their investors or bankers. — Angelica Y. Yang

NGO calls on toymakers to comply with norms on lead paint levels

REUTERS

THE EcoWaste Coalition has urged manufacturers and sellers of toy and childcare products to comply with the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) standards after noting high levels of lead in a toy gardening set.

The group said in a statement Thursday that dealers in such products, including those online, must check whether their products are registered with the FDA, and if they hold a certificate of conformity signifying compliance with national lead paint standards.

EcoWaste conducted chemical sampling using an x-ray fluorescence device on a toy shovel and spade from a product called “Jin Feng Kinder-Gartengerate” set, which yielded lead content of up to 27,100 parts per million (ppm).

They said this was over the 90 ppm threshold of the Environment department’s Chemical Control Order for Lead and Lead Compounds, which covers toys, paints and cosmetics.

“The group finds the detection of lead on the Jin Feng kiddie shovel and spade worrisome as the lead-containing paint will surely age, peel and break with frequent use and cause the lead in paint to get discharged into the soil,” EcoWaste said.

According to the group’s Chemical Safety Campaigner Thony Dizon, complying with the registration scheme will help implement lead paint regulations meant to protect children.

He added that retailers should only offer registered products which meet safety standards, including the 90 ppm lead paint limit.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is no safe level of lead exposure for children.

Exposure to lead may “adversely” impact children, causing brain and nervous system damage, slowed growth, and hearing and speech problems, the CDC said. — Angelica Y. Yang

EU-ASEAN council urges greater use of online processes to boost regional trade

BUSINESSES within ASEAN must make use of online tools to facilitate trade within the region, an official with the European Union (EU)-ASEAN Business Council said.

Chris Humphrey, EU-ASEAN Business Council executive director, said in a virtual briefing Thursday that online tools currently provided by the EU can help companies in the region recover from the pandemic.

Mr. Humphrey said the ASEAN Trade Repository (ATR) and ASEAN Solutions for Investments, Services and Trade (ASSIST) platforms can help companies get past trade bottlenecks.  

“One of the great benefits of these tools is that at the moment, you cannot travel and meet governments. You cannot meet government officials face to face and ask them questions. These tools are allowing us to get answers from governments,” Mr. Humphrey said. 

“These tools, if they are used and if companies find out about them, will help them navigate bureaucracy and regulations. The tools will help them be more compliant and reduce their trading costs since the companies will not be issued fines,” he added.

ATR is a free online repository that “provides a single point of access to all the trade-related information of ASEAN Member States. 

ASSIST offers a “non-binding and consultative mechanism for the expedited and effective solution of operational problems encountered by ASEAN Enterprises on cross-border issues related to the implementation of ASEAN economic agreements.”

Both online tools are supported by the ASEAN Regional Integration Support from the European Union (ARISE) Plus initiative that aims to extend the EU’s commitment in assisting ASEAN with trade facilitation.

However, Mr. Humphrey said the online tools will only serve their purpose if both the private and public sectors use them.

“The private sector actually needs to use the system and put those filings on there. Equally, the ASEAN member states need to respond in a very timely fashion with full and comprehensive responses. The more that states do that, the more trust will be there from the private sector and this will benefit everybody,” Mr. Humphrey said.

ARISE Plus expert Paolo Roberto Vergano said the low level of utilization within ASEAN is due to lack of awareness and skepticism of businesses in engaging with governments.

“Our plea is to use it. The tools can be used through a mobile phone. The penetration of mobile phones in Southeast Asia is incredible,” Mr. Vergano said.

According to the European Commission, the EU is ASEAN’s third largest trading partner after China and the US. The bloc accounts for 10.6% of ASEAN trade. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave 

Australia to discontinue anti-dumping measures on PHL canned pineapple

PHILSTAR

AUSTRALIA has lifted anti-dumping measures imposed on canned Philippine pineapple, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

The DA cited a report from Australia’s Anti-Dumping Commission on Oct. 6 that the measures were discontinued after a determination that their expiration “will neither lead to the dumping of the products concerned nor cause material injury to the domestic industry.”

The Philippines can begin exporting canned pineapple duty-free to Australia once the measures expire, as provided for under the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement.

The measures expire on Oct. 17 for consumer canned pineapple, and Nov. 13 for food service industrial canned pineapple. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

TnT, San Miguel in key Game Three battle; Magnolia goes for 3-0 lead

THE TnT Tropang Giga and San Miguel Beermen, currently tied at 1-1 in their PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven semis series, go for the upper hand when they collide in Game Three on Friday at 6 p.m. — PBA IMAGES

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

PIVOTAL Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup Game Three semifinal action takes place on Friday at the Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU) Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.

The TnT Tropang Giga and San Miguel Beermen, currently tied at 1-1 in their Philippine Basketball Association best-of-seven semis series, go for the upper hand when they collide in the scheduled 6 p.m. contest while the Magnolia Pambansang Manok Hotshots shoot for a commanding 3-0 lead in their own series with the Meralco Bolts in the 3 p.m. match.

San Miguel successfully came from behind and took Game Two, 98-96, from TnT on Wednesday, punctuated by the game-winning putback by Marcio Lassiter.

The win thrusted the Beermen to leveling the series and reducing their semifinal joust to a race-to-three wins.

TnT was in control of the contest for much of the time, even holding a 19-point lead, 80-61, at one point.

But the Beermen were undeterred, and led by Terrence Romeo they made a ferocious comeback in the fourth quarter.

Off a time out with six seconds left to play, and the count knotted at 96-all, the Beermen went to June Mar Fajardo, but his attempt to the basket was defended well by the TnT defense.

Arwind Santos got to tip the ball to the direction of the basket, but also missed to connect before Mr. Lassiter grabbed the rebound and drained the putback as the seconds ticked away.

“We were drained physically, but the players just would not quit. It’s pure heart and determination,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria in the postgame press conference, describing the efforts of his team.

For TnT, while it lamented not being able to complete the win that would have pushed it to a 2-0 lead, it is moving on, looking to correct its mistakes and get better for the rest of the series.

COMMANDING 3-0 LEAD
Meanwhile, Magnolia tries to push Meralco to the brink of elimination in their grind-it-out matchup.

The Hotshots fortified their hold of the series after winning Game Two, 92-78, also on Wednesday to go up 2-0.

Paul Lee starred for Magnolia in the win, finishing with 28 points, going 5-of-9 from beyond the arc. Ian Sangalang and Calvin Abueva also came up big, finishing with a double-double each.

It was a close match for the first three quarters until the Hotshots made their move in the fourth, creating a considerable distance from the Bolts and never looking back.

They may be ahead in the series, but the Hotshots are not getting ahead of themselves.

“We’re not claiming anything yet. It’s one game at a time for us. We’re going to prepare for the next game,” said Magnolia coach Chito Victolero.

Meralco big man Raymond Almazan was not able to finish Game Two after injuring his left ankle. His status for Game Three is still to be determined.

Thirdy says trailblazing Japan B.League foray comes with responsibility

THE first homegrown player to play in the Japan B.League, Thirdy Ravena brims with pride, but also recognizes that it comes with responsibility and standards to live up to. — B.LEAGUE

THE first Filipino homegrown player to play in the Japan B.League, Thirdy Ravena brims with pride, but also recognizes that it comes with responsibility and standards to live up to.

Now on his second season with the San-en NeoPhoenix in Division 1 of the Japanese league, former Ateneo King Eagle Mr. Ravena is very excited more so that other Filipino athletes have come to join him to showcase and share their talent in the Land of the Rising Sun.

“It’s a great feeling to be the first out here and it’s an even greater feeling to see other people coming in after me, after opening the door for them. It’s something bigger than me,” said Mr. Ravena during the virtual press conference for the documentary Local Hero: Thirdy Ravena on Wednesday.

“But it’s a big responsibility as well, especially now that I’m still playing,” he quickly added. “I have to make sure that I stay strong to be an inspiration to others, especially to the young ones, who someday dream of playing. Also, you want to show that you can do it. And that you are up for the challenge.”

Joining Mr. Ravena this season in B.League Division 1 play are his brother Kiefer, who plays for the Shiga Lakestars, Javi Gomez de Liaño (Ibaraki Robots), Kobe Paras (Niigata Albirex BB), Dwight Ramos (Toyoma Grouses) and Ray Parks, Jr. (Nagoya Diamond Dolphins).

Two others, Juan Gomez de Liaño (Earth Friends Tokyo Z) and Kemark Cariño (Aomori Wat’s), meanwhile, are seeing action in Division 2.

Mr. Ravena said that playing in Japan has enhanced further his growth as a player, and he expects the same thing to happen for the others who have followed suit.

But he also said that the arrival of Filipino players is a boon to the B.League across various levels.

For one, he said, the fan base of the league has been shored up with more Filipinos based in Japan as well as those here in the Philippines paying attention to the league.

“It’s really nice to see Filipino basketball fans here watching the games live and cheering for us and our teams. They even travel for hours just to see us. And that’s good for the league,” Mr. Ravena said.

Also, the NeoPhoenix player said Filipino players bring added dimension to the B.League in how they play the game.

“Our style of play is different from them, but when you combine these, good things can happen. Whether it’s athleticism, scoring and grit, we can do a lot of things and bring to the league,” he said.

Meanwhile, further chronicling Mr. Ravena’s B.League journey is Local Hero.

Produced by Empower Asia by Gatsby, the documentary will be streamed on VivaMax Philippines.

“This is about what went through here in Japan on and off the court when I started my journey. I hope people will be inspired by it, especially in believing in themselves and going for their dreams,” Mr. Ravena said. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

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