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Health worker groups reject DoH’s ‘singular allowance’ proposal   

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

HEALTHCARE WORKER organizations on Monday rejected the Health department’s “singular allowance” proposal as it reduces current benefit packages and sets inaccurate categories in terms of risk exposure. 

Filipino Nurses United President Maristela P. Abenojar called the proposal a “divisive and unjust cost-cutting measure that reflects little regard to the selfless work and sacrifice exerted by our health workers in this time of pandemic” during a media conference.

The Department of Health (DoH) earlier suggested providing monthly allocations of P3,000 to low-risk workers, P6,000 to medium-risk, and P9,000 for those at high-risk.   

Alliance of Health Workers President Robert Mendoza said there was a discriminatory notion in a categorization based on “risk exposure,” stressing that all health workers must receive equal coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) benefits.

“The DoH’s proposal to categorize the risk exposure of the health workers in hospitals and health facilities is completely unacceptable because the virulent virus can infect anyone,” he said. “Our data showed many health workers assigned in non-COVID areas are getting infected due to lack of protection, so everyone in the vicinity of the hospital and health facility are all considered high risk to COVID-19.”

The groups’ counter proposal includes no change in the P3,000 monthly provision for Active Hazard Duty Pay; P5,000 monthly pay Special risk allowance; P8,000 monthly pay for meals, accommodation and transportation allowance; and life insurance, adding that these should no longer be prorated.

They also called for the mass hiring of healthcare workers and enticing them by offering regular job positions, and better pay and benefits.

Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment has recommended to the Commission on Higher Education to reopen schools that offer health-related courses, citing a gap in the supply of nurses in the country. 

Labor Assistant Secretary Dominique R. Tutay acknowledged in a mobile message that “about 77,000 nurses are in unspecified practice or they could be working in some other sectors outside the medical/healthcare industry.” — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan and Bianca Angelica D. Añago

Senate finance committee promises increase in Judiciary’s 2022 budget 

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE SENATE finance committee vowed to increase the judicial branch’s 2022 budget at the plenary level after court officials pointed out that next year’s allocation is lower than this year’s, which is unconstitutional.

At the Senate committee hearing on Monday, Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez requested an increase of at least P7.47 billion for next year.   

Sandiganbayan Justice Karl B. Miranda also pointed out the need to correct the “injustice” in the judiciary’s annual budget as it was only given 1% of the Philippine government’s P45-trillion budget for 2021. He added that the Budget department annually submits a proposed allocation for the judicial branch that is lower than what was appropriated by Congress the year before.

Committee Chairman Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara promised to increase it at the plenary level after approving the judiciary’s P44.98-billion budget at the committee level, which is lower than the P45.31-billion budget this year.

“The chair has no issues with the judiciary and in fact would like to reiterate his continuing support for all the courts and for the increase in the budget which we will do at the appropriate time,” Mr. Angara said.

Of the P7.47 billion requested increase, P4.38 billion will be allocated to the Supreme Court for 510 new positions in new offices such as the Judicial Integrity Board; P2.01 billion for the Court of Appeals due to higher building rentals in Cebu and Cagayan de Oro; P834.46 million for the Sandiganbayan; P231.15 million for the Court of Tax Appeals; and P16.56 million for the Presidential Electoral Tribunal. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago 

Cash aid, anti-dynasty law among Makabayan bloc’s agenda as it names candidates for 2022 elections

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

THE MAKABAYAN BLOC, a group of progressive party-lists, have named their candidates for the 2022 national elections.   

The coalition said during its national convention on Monday that their platform would push for measures such as P10,000 cash aid per family, proposed anti-dynasty law, ending contractualization, junking the National Task Force to End Local Armed Communist Conflict, and resuming peace talks with communist rebels, among others.   

Former representatives Teodoro A. Casiño and Antonio L. Tinio seek a return to the House of Representatives as nominees for Bayan Muna and ACT Teachers, respectively.   

Former agrarian reform secretary Rafael V. Mariano would also run for congressman under Anakpawis. He previously served as its House representative from 2004 to 2013.

Incumbent representative Ferdinand R. Gaite and Moro-Christian People’s Alliance Secretary-General Amirah A. Lidasan were named Bayan Muna’s second and third nominees.   

Gabriela’s Party-list Rep. Arlene D. Brosas and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France L. Castro would also run for their third and final term in the House.

Kabataan Partylist selected its national president Raoul Danniel A. Manuel as their first nominee with incumbent Rep. Sarah Jane I. Elago no longer qualified to be nominated under the group as she is over 30 years old by the 2022 polls.

The coalition also backed the senatorial runs of Bayan Muna chair Neri J. Colmenares and Kilusang Mayo Uno chair Elmer “Bong” Labog.

Among significant legislative measures authored by the Makabayan bloc were House Bill 8512, which was enacted into Republic Act 11548, a law that allows the President to defer increases in contributions to the Social Security System during state of calamity.

Its members were also instrumental in the enactment of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, Republic Act 11037 or the Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act, and Republic Act 11036 or the Mental Health Act. — Russell Louis C. Ku

DoH to investigate alleged expired face shields revealed in Senate hearing

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

THE DEPARTMENT of Health (DoH) on Monday said it is investigating the alleged expired face shields for healthcare workers supplied by a private company that was awarded more than P8 billion in contracts.

“There is no (expiration date) placed (on the face shields), but I’m still having that investigated because of the revelation of the officer of the Pharmally,” DoH Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said in a House of Representatives hearing.

Krizel Grace U. Mago, regulatory affairs head of Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp., confirmed in a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing Friday the claim of a warehouse worker that the certificates of some two million face shields that expired last year were changed to 2021.

DoH Undersecretary Ma. Carolina Vidal-Taino said during Monday’s House hearing that the face shields were already distributed to various healthcare facilities nationwide.

Ms. Mago said the tampering of the face shield certificates had the blessing of the company management, particularly Pharmally Treasurer Mohit Dargani.

Mr. Dargani denied the allegation at the House hearing, saying he believed Ms. Mago was “pressured” by the Senate to admit about the alleged expired face shields.

“I think after what she saw what happened to Mr. Linconn Ong, one of her bosses, I think that really frightened her and put her in a position to just keep saying yes. I have not spoken to Ms. Mago so I don’t know exactly,” he said.   

He also said that he didn’t ask Ms. Mago to go into hiding.   

Senator Richard J. Gordon, Jr., chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, said on Sunday that Ms. Mago can no longer be reached by the panel following her admission on the expired face shields.

The House originally planned to end its investigation on government contracts with Pharmally by Monday but decided to hold another hearing on Oct. 4 following Ms. Mago’s revelations. — Russell Louis C. Ku

Magnitude 5.7 earthquake jolts Mindoro, parts of Luzon

A MAGNITUDE 5.7 earthquake struck Looc, Occidental Mindoro at around 1 a.m. Monday, with the tremor felt in parts of Luzon, including cities in the capital region Metro Manila.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded the earthquake’s depth at 64 kilometers.

Phivolcs said aftershocks were expected and more than 20 were recorded as of Monday morning with the strongest magnitude at 4.5.

Intensity 4 was felt in most of Metro Manila and parts of the provinces of Oriental Mindoro, Batangas, Cavite, Bulacan, and Rizal.

Lower intensities were felt in parts of Laguna, Pampanga, and Nueva Ecija.

No casualties or major damage were reported as of Monday early afternoon. — MSJ

Food security group warns vs proposed offshore mining in Pangasinan 

EIA.EMB.GOV.PH

THE PROPOSED offshore mining project in Lingayen Gulf poses danger to nearby aquaculture and fisheries industries, according to food security advocacy group Tugon Kabuhayan.

Norberto O. Chingcuanco, Tugon Kabuhayan co-convener, said the proposed project will affect the livelihood of fishers and aquaculture operators in Pangasinan.    

The group said Lingayen Gulf has around 3,000 cages for milkfish (bangus), and numerous fishponds and fishpens, with an estimated annual output of 125,000 to 150,000 metric tons (MT).   

“At a farmgate price of P110 pesos per kilogram, revenue from bangus production in Pangasinan alone is at least P16.5 billion,” Mr. Chingcuanco said in a statement on Monday.    

A fishers’ group has earlier expressed opposition to the project, likewise citing its negative impact on the aquaculture industry in the area.    

The Iron Ore Pangasinan Offshore Magnetite Mining project covers the waters of Sual, Labrador, Lingayen, Binmaley, and Dagupan City spanning 9,252.45 hectares.  

[Text Wrapping Break]The project, covered under Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement No. 07-2020-IOMR issued by the government last year, aims to extract 25 million dry MT of magnetite sand annually. The project proponent is Iron Ore, Gold, and Vanadium Resources (Phils), Inc.   

According to Tugon Kabuhayan, the project will affect the livelihood of fisherfolk as the excavation is allowed 500 meters from shore seaward, which houses the coral reef, sea grass and soft bottom ecosystems.   

“Lingayen Gulf is one of the major fishing grounds in the Philippines covering 2,064 square kilometers of water, surrounded by the towns of Agoo, Alaminos, Anda, Aringay, Bani, Bauang, Binmaley, Bolinao, Caba, Dagupan, Labrador, Lingayen, Rosario, San Fabian, San Fernando (La Union), Santo Tomas, and Sual,” the group said.    

Tugon Kabuhayan added that the area is also where spawning and nursery, egg and larval dispersal of economically important species happen.    

“It is difficult to comprehend why some government agencies would allow a project that will further compromise our fish food security especially since government is projecting that we need to import fish in the coming months,” Tugon Kabuhayan convener Asis G. Perez said.    

“It is fair to assume that suctioning and processing raw silt along with sea water from where the magnetite will be taken are likely to kill the eggs, larvae, fry as well as small fishes,” he added. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave  

Banks support expanded mobility for vaccinated people

THE bankers’ association said it supports measures that will allow greater mobility for fully vaccinated people to boost spending and help the economy rebound from the pandemic.

“The Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP) strongly supports efforts to grant greater mobility to fully vaccinated individuals,” BAP President Jose Arnulfo A. Veloso said in a statement Monday.

He said offering mobility incentives in Metro Manila and surrounding areas, where 50% of the population is fully inoculated, can spur economic activity.

“The mobility of fully vaccinated Filipinos will encourage spending on various goods and services including in tourism, hospitality, and transport industries that are among those hit the hardest by this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” added Mr. Veloso, who is also the president and CEO of the Philippine National Bank.

He said bringing back domestic consumption will aid in bringing about a sustained economic recovery.

The consumption-driven economy grew by 3.7% in the first half and needs to achieve at least a 4.3% expansion in the fourth quarter to meet the lower end of the government’s 4-5% growth target.

Around 17.7% of the population has been fully vaccinated as of Sept. 23, according to the Our World in Data website.

Since the economic rebound has yet to gain traction, ING Bank Senior Economist Nicholas Antonio T. Mapa warned that a premature relaxation of quarantine measures and policy support can also delay the recovery as this will make the country prone to “reinfection.”

“Just like a wound that has yet to completely heal, the Philippine economy remains stuck in low gear and is clearly in need of additional support. Giving in to the itch and quickly reversing these support measures will inevitably backfire on the recovery process and work to undermine the full healing of the economy,” he said in a note Monday.

Mr. Mapa said signs of recovery have emerged after second quarter gross domestic product growth came in at 11.8% but the Philippines is still a year and a half away from returning to its pre-pandemic growth trend.

He said monetary and fiscal support for the economy is still needed to sustain the recovery, after the central bank reported that both businesses and consumers remain pessimistic about the third quarter while bank lending is only starting to pick up.

“Patience and determination throughout the recovery and healing phase will be crucial as we avoid costly removal of support just when the economy needs it the most,” he added. — Beatrice M. Laforga

Senate approves private school tax relief bill on third and final reading

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE SENATE unanimously approved on third and final reading a bill that makes private schools eligible for a concessional tax rate to help them recover from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.

Senate Bill No. 2407 amends Section 27(B) of the National Internal Revenue Code to make explicit the industry’s eligibility for a temporary 1% tax under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act.

The measure also grants non-profit hospitals and proprietary educational institutions a tax rate of 10% once the temporary relief measures expire. Without such concessions, these institutions are liable for the regular corporate rate of 25%.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue had issued a ruling that restricted the eligibility of private schools to non-profits based on its interpretation of the law, a ruling that has since been withdrawn.

The CREATE Act had provided for a concessional tax rate of 1% for enterprises hit hard by the pandemic, with the rate in force between July 2020 and June 2023.

“Private schools are the government’s partner in education. This partnership is even more important today, as our nation deals with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disrupted educational systems and the formal learning of our current generation of students,” Senator Pilar Juliana S. Cayetano said in a statement.

Ms. Cayetano noted that many private schools are in a critical state, citing data from the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines showing that enrollment among member-schools has declined by 60% compared to 2020.

According to the Department of Education’s Learning Enrollment Survey Quick Count data, as of Sept. 13, the enrollment in private schools was 1.4 million, down 57% from a year earlier, and down 66% from 2019. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

DICT launches redundant system for national broadband network

REUTERS

THE DEPARTMENT of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) launched Monday a redundant system designed to make the first phase of the government’s National Broadband Program (NBP) more resilient.

“Today, your Department of Information and Communications Technology launches the supplemental infrastructure or resiliency route for Phase 1 of the NBP as part of our ongoing efforts to future-proof the program,” DICT Secretary Gregorio B. Honasan II said during the ceremony.

“Providing fast, reliable, and affordable digital connectivity to our country’s centers of economic activity is central to our efforts to rebuild the economy, which has been severely affected by the pandemic,” he said.

The department said the so-called “resiliency route” is supplemental infrastructure that will serve as a redundancy and protection loop connecting to the international gateway access through Singapore.

“This will play an integral role in the continuity of internet connectivity to the busiest areas of Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao, and soon every Filipino, bridging the digital divide,” the DICT said in a statement.

The NBP seeks to trigger policy and regulatory reforms, investing in broadband infrastructure such as the national fiber backbone, and stimulate broadband demand.

The national fiber backbone component has three phases: lighting up fiber on the national electrical transmission system, constructing domestic submarine fiber to connect Luzon to the Visayas and the Visayas to Mindanao, and completing the national fiber backbone with multiple loops. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Proposed wealth tax seen generating over P467B

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

PROCEEDS FROM a proposed tax on wealthy individuals’ assets have been estimated at P467.1 billion, with the exercise in “redistribution” holding the potential to fund health and social welfare programs, according to a left-wing think tank.

IBON Foundation said in a statement Monday that the proposed wealth tax on individuals with taxable assets exceeding P1 billion will affect about 2,919 people.

“At the very top are around 2,919 Filipino billionaires with some P8.1 trillion in wealth. They comprise less than 0.003% of the population but hold 16% of the nation’s wealth,” IBON said.

The estimated revenue would be “more than enough” to provide P10,000 in emergency aid to 18.6 million vulnerable households, subsidies for micro, small, and medium enterprises to support a wage increase of P100 per day for three months, and hiring additional health workers, among others.

“Collecting just a fraction of the huge wealth of the few is a step to redistributing wealth towards the working people who did so much to create it,” IBON said.

Legislators from the minority Makabayan bloc filed House Bill 10253 or the proposed Super-Rich Tax Act of 2021 that will impose a tax of 1-3%, depending on the extent the assets exceed P1 billion.

As drafted, the bill proposes a 1% rate on taxable assets exceeding P1 billion; a 2% rate on assets above P2 billion; and a 3% rate on assets above P3 billion.

The bill proposes an effectivity date for the tax of Jan. 1, 2022, if passed.

According to the bill, revenue from the tax is to be used for medical assistance and investment in education, employment, social protection, and housing for poor families.

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said that the proposed tax will drive capital out of the Philippines.

Albay Rep. Jose Ma. Clemente S. Salceda, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, proposed instead to tax the inefficient use of land, including golf courses and low-density subdivisions. — Russell Louis C. Ku

SINAG says palay farmgate price at P10-13

THE Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), an agriculture industry association, said the farmgate price for palay, or unmilled rice, is at P10-13, well below production costs of about P15, and blamed the rice import policy for depressing farmer incomes.

SINAG Chairman Rosendo O. So said the low prices farmers receive for their crop “is the Department of Agriculture’s failure. As if this is not enough, the DA even pushed for the eventual reduction of rice tariffs this year,” Mr. So said in a statement Monday.  

President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed Executive Order No. 135 in May which reduced the most favored nation tariff rates on rice imports, both in-quota and out-of-quota, to 35% for one year.

Previously, in-quota rice imports were charged 40% while out-of-quota rice imports paid 50%.

“How can millers or traders afford to buy the fresh harvest of palay at P16/kg or P19/kg for dry palay, which would mean an operating cost of P32/kg of milled rice, versus the P23/kg landed cost of imported rice from China and Myanmar?” Mr. So said.

Citing data from the Bureau of Customs, Mr. So said rice import shipments since 2019 have topped 7.2 million metric tons (MT).

He said rice shipments during the nine months to September of 2.1 million MT have surpassed the import volume for 2020, which totaled 2.06 million MT. A total of 3.13 million MT of rice imports arrived in 2019.  

Mr. So added that the retail price of regular milled rice ranges from P38 to P42/kg, higher than the P27 to P30/kg recorded five years ago.

Meanwhile, Mr. So said the DA, along with the National Economic and Development Authority and Malacañang’s economic team, should organize a purchasing drive for the domestic harvest.

“There is no other way. The DA should buy the palay. It cannot just let the local government units (LGUs) buy the palay from farmers in order to address low farmgate prices,” Mr. So said.

“The DA’s actions are bordering on criminal neglect. It should not burden other government agencies for their anti-farmer, anti-consumer and anti-Filipino stance in the past years,” he added.  

Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar recently called on the LGUs of top rice producing provinces to purchase palay directly from farmers to address low farmgate prices.

Under Republic Act No. 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law, the limits on rice imports were removed in exchange for importers paying a 35% tariff, the proceeds of which were to fund the rice industry’s modernization.

Asked to comment, Agriculture Undersecretary Fermin D. Adriano said in a mobile phone message that the money used to import rice has come from the private sector since the rice tariffication law was passed, “unlike before… when government through the National Food Authority (NFA) had incurred a total debt of P170 billion.”

“The Rice Tariffication Law liberalizes trade to stabilize rice supply and temper prices, and imposes tariffs which are plowed back via the P10-billion Rice Competitive Enhancement Fund (RCEF) to enable farmers to increase their productivity and incomes,” he added. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave  

ERC orders two electric co-ops to halt collection of charges for reinvestment fund

THE ENERGY Regulatory Commission (ERC) has issued two separate orders to electric cooperatives (ECs) based in Camiguin and Bukidnon to stop collecting additional charges related to the reinvestment fund for sustainable capital expenditures (RFSC).

The fund seeks to finance the amortization or debt incurred by power providers in expanding, restoring or upgrading their power systems in line with their capex plans approved by the regulator.

In a statement Monday, the commission said Camiguin Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Camelco) did not comply with an earlier order to submit a third-party audit report on its additional RFSC fees, while Bukidnon Second Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Buseco) has yet to submit an update on its additional RFSC collected from August 2014 up to the present.

“In view of the said directive… Camelco’s RFSC rate shall be pegged at P0.5324 per kilowatt-hour (/kWh), while Buseco’s RFSC shall be pegged at P0.2508/kWh until further notice of the Commission,” ERC Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer Agnes VST Devanadera said.

Under an ERC resolution issued in 2009, ECs are required to collect their member-consumers’ contributions which will cover their respective RFSCs.

Ms. Devanadera said the commission will closely monitor Camelco and Buseco’s compliance.

“Their failure to comply with the said directives shall constrain the commission to impose the appropriate sanctions, if warranted,” she added.

Earlier this year, ERC announced it has hired professional services firm Reyes Tacondong & Co. to conduct an independent audit on how ECs are collecting and disbursing the RFSC.

Reyes Tacondong & Co. previously won the ERC’s bid for consulting services on the fund. — Angelica Y. Yang

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