Peso unchanged as market awaits new restrictions

September 28, 2021 | 9:00 pm

THE PESO ended flat against the greenback on Tuesday as the market awaits the announcement of new restriction measures in Metro Manila.

The local unit closed at P51 per dollar on Tuesday, unchanged from its Monday close, which was the peso’s weakest finish since it ended trading at P51.07 on March 26, 2020.

The peso opened Tuesday’s session slightly stronger at P50.95 against the dollar. Its weakest showing was its closing level, while its intraday best was at P50.85 versus the greenback.

Dollars exchanged slipped to $1.209 billion on Tuesday from $1.261 billion on Monday.

The peso closed unchanged ahead of the announcement of new lockdown measures for Metro Manila, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said.

Department of Health Epidemiology Bureau Director Alethea De Guzman on Monday said Metro Manila may remain under Alert Level 4 next month, based on current infection data. Current restrictions are in effect until Sept. 30.

On the other hand, Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Benjamin D. Abalos, Jr. said over the weekend that Alert Level 3 could be imposed in Metro Manila in October, citing the declining coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) reproduction rate in the area, based on data from the OCTA Research Group.

Meanwhile, a trader said the peso was unchanged due to “uncertainty after the US Senate failed to suspend the US debt ceiling”.

Bloomberg reported that Republicans in the Senate blocked a measure that would suspend the debt ceiling into December 2022. This meant Democrats were forced to seek a new strategy to address two fast-approaching deadlines with acute economic consequences.

For Wednesday, Mr. Ricafort gave a forecast range of P50.85 to P51.05 per dollar, while the trader expects the local unit to move within P50.90 to P51.10. — LWTN with Bloomberg

Stocks decline on fears of extended lockdown

September 28, 2021 | 9:00 pm

PHILIPPINE shares closed in the red on Tuesday on fears of an extended lockdown in Metro Manila and after the peso closed lower against the greenback on Monday.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) went down by 70.90 points or 1.01% to close at 6,885.36 on Tuesday, while the broader all shares index shed 45.23 points or 1.04% to finish at 4,284.72.

“[Fears] of extended lockdown and vaccination slowdown negated earlier optimism about the economy’s reopening, spurring foreign selling as the PSEi approached 7,000,” First Metro Investment Corp. Head of Research Cristina S. Ulang said in a Viber message. “Other headwinds include rising inflation this month and currency weakness.”

The Health department said Metro Manila may remain under Alert Level 4 of the government’s alert level system in October as current quarantine classifications lapse on Thursday, Sept. 30. New restrictions for the region are expected be announced this week.

Meanwhile, the peso dropped to P51 per dollar on Monday, its weakest showing in over a year, due to concerns on the upcoming tapering of asset purchases by the US Federal Reserve as well as higher oil prices. This was also 35 centavos lower than its P50.65 close on Friday.

“The local bourse closed lower together with most Asian markets as market participants remained in a cautious stance over the China Evergrande debt crisis and its potential impact to the broader economy,” Darren Blaine T. Pangan, trader at Timson Securities, Inc., said in a separate Viber message.

Most sectoral indices closed in the red on Tuesday except for financials, which rose 2.63 points or 0.18% to end at 1,414.16, and property, which went up by 0.32 point or 0.01% to 3,030.28.

Meanwhile, services shed 35.50 points or 1.82% to close at 1,912.70; industrials dropped 177.77 points or 1.73% to 10,094.37; mining and oil lost 152.05 points or 1.64% to 9,092.13; and holding firms went down by 89.54 points or 1.29% to finish at 6,847.85.

Value turnover surged to P15.04 billion on Tuesday with 2.14 billion issues switching hands, almost twice as much as the P7.61 billion with 1.64 billion shares recorded the previous day.

Decliners outnumbered advancers, 135 against 75, while 38 names closed unchanged.

Net foreign selling ballooned to P1.94 billion on Tuesday from the P623.43 million seen on Monday.

“In the coming days, we’ll see if its nearest support at 6,780 holds. 7,000 seems to be the significant resistance area to watch,” Timson Securities’ Mr. Pangan said.

“The final PMI (purchasing managers’ index) reading and end of [the third quarter] will continue to have investors’ attention for the rest of the week,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan said in a Viber message. — K.C.G. Valmonte

Mining industry environmental compliance report due next year

September 28, 2021 | 8:12 pm

THE REPORT of the Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) on large-scale metallic mines will likely be made available to the public by the second quarter of next year, and will indicate the failure of some companies to comply with environmental rules according to Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III.

Mr. Dominguez, who co-chairs the MICC with Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, said the report is targeted for completion by May 2022 and will be released to the public in the second quarter of that year. It will contain the results of the two-phase audit of the industry along with the review of mines in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“The report should be in such a form that can be used by the ordinary reader and the public, and that it be made widely available, not only to government officials, the legislature, maybe even in the judiciary, but also to the public in general,” he said in a statement Tuesday, which outlined his remarks during a Sept. 17 meeting of the council.

So far, the review has covered 44 large-scale metallic mines in which a “majority” registered passing marks on legal and technical matters, “but required major reforms in the environmental, social and economic aspects of their operations.”

Mines and Geosciences Bureau Director Wilfredo G. Moncano said the audit turned up “marked improvements” after the Environment department issued administrative orders aimed at addressing the deficiencies of the sector.

Executive Order (EO) No. 79 issued in 2012 created the MICC to audit mining companies based on the economic, sociocultural, technical, environmental and legal aspects of their operations, as well as to review current laws and regulations.

“This is the only administration that has actually done a serious review of the mining operations as mandated by the EO,” Mr. Dominguez said.

He said making the report available to the public will enhance trust and confidence in the government. It will also showcase the capacity of Philippine experts to conduct mining audits. — Beatrice M. Laforga

Senate working out details for increasing SB Corp. budget

September 28, 2021 | 8:12 pm

THE SENATE expressed support for an increase in funding for the Small Business (SB) Corp. microfinance program helping distressed enterprises, known as COVID-19 Assistance to Restart Enterprises (CARES).

At a hearing Tuesday to discuss the 2022 budget for the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), which controls SB Corp., Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez briefed the Senate on how the company will be funded going forward.

“There is currently no budget for CARES, but the SB Corp. will be allocated P1.5 billion,” Mr. Lopez said, noting that the DTI can channel funds for the program as before.

Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri recommended a separate, increased budget allocation for the CARES program in 2022. “We will work out the numbers to help you.”

Mr. Zubiri noted the need to improve the circumstances of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in light of the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

“They want to make an honest living in an impossible situation. No jobs to apply for even with their economies back at full swing; no capital to start their own businesses. We have to have something for them to go back to,” Mr. Zubiri told the hearing.

The CARES program was established to help MSMEs recover from the pandemic. A total of P8 billion was released out of the second stimulus package, known as Bayanihan II. Out of the P8 billion, P4 billion was allocated for the MSMEs while the balance of P4 billion was to go to the tourism sector.

“It has zero interest rate, no collateral, but includes a service or management fee ranging from 2% to 4% a year,” Mr. Lopez said.

MSMEs, the DTI said, got P5.5 billion in low-interest loans to 34,926 applicants. Mr. Lopez added that the excess of P1.5 billion was sourced from the funds allocated for the CARES for Tourism Rehabilitation and Vitalization of Enterprises and Livelihood sector, since its utilization was only P225 million.

Senator Juan Edgardo M. Angara, who chairs the Senate finance committee, suggested that the DTI make it easier for MSMEs to obtain loans by reducing the requirements, especially for smaller loans.

“Let’s make it easy. Look into providing an express lane or less requirements for loans below a certain amount,” Mr. Angara told the hearing.

“If the loan being applied for is P20,000 or below, let’s not ask for numerous requirements. The cost of enforcement and administration might even be higher than the loan itself,” he added.

Mr. Lopez told the committee the process is easier for small businesses, particularly those belonging to the informal sector. He said the only requirement was proof of operations, such as “parking fees” or other documents that are available from their barangays.

Medium-sized enterprises can avail of up to P5 million in loans, small enterprises P3 million, and micro enterprises P600,000. For those without Bureau of Internal Revenue documentation, such as street vendors, P100,000 is the maximum loan, Mr. Lopez said.

The number of MSMEs is now 2 million, up from, 1.7 million in 2020 and 1.5 million. Although many businesses closed since the pandemic began, many new registrations offset the losses, Mr. Lopez said. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

Electric vehicle bill sets parking quotas, charging station mandate

September 28, 2021 | 8:08 pm

LEGISLATORS approved on third reading late Monday a House bill promoting the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and laying out how they are to be regulated, setting parking quotas and providing incentives for setting up charging stations.

With a vote of 195-0 with 0 abstentions, the chamber approved House Bill 10213 or the proposed Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act.

The bill will require establishments with 20 or more designated parking slots to dedicate 5% of their space for the use of EVs and provide charging points.

The law, if passed, also establishes tax incentives for EV manufacturers, entities maintaining charging stations, and research and development centers.

Electric vehicles, charging stations, and materials for their assembly will also be exempt from customs duties and value-added tax for five years from the effectivity of the proposed law.

The bill will establish an Electric Vehicles Advisory Board composed of officials from various government agencies, including the Department of Energy and Department of Transportation, to formulate policy encouraging the development and commercialization of EVs.

The Comprehensive Roadmap on Electric Vehicles (CREV) will become the national plan to help boost the electric vehicle industry. The CREV will be integrated with the Philippine Energy Plan and the National Transport Policy.

The measure was approved by five House committees on Sept. 14 and passed on second reading Sept. 23.

The Senate approved its counterpart measure, Senate Bill 1382, on May 31.

The Department of Energy has endorsed a P2.5-billion investment project to bring in 20,000 imported vehicles and is targeting the establishment of up to 5,000 electric vehicle charging stations within five years.

Philippine Institute for Development Studies Supervising Research Specialist Maureen D. Rosellon said in July that shortcomings in electric vehicle charging infrastructure and manufacturing technology have left the Philippines behind in the regional competition for trade and investment. — Russell Louis C. Ku

DTI says no funding for RA 11293 innovation law

September 28, 2021 | 8:08 pm

THE DEPARTMENT of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Tuesday that it has received no funding for its innovation programs, which are entitled to receive a P1-billion grant annually under Republic Act (RA) 11293.

The DTI said at a Senate hearing that the Philippine Innovation Act aims to improve innovation governance and adopt long-term goals.

“When it comes to the innovation program, it really needs to be supported. Right now, we’re not really getting the support or the budget needed,” Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said during the hearing Tuesday.

“This is a great need that will help us support companies to innovate,” he added, saying that the department hopes to provide businesses with the latest equipment, “at least the integrated, functioning equipment where the mechanisms are connected to the computer.”

Mr. Lopez said that current projects for innovation rely on funds sourced elsewhere, since funding from the current national expenditure program went to training initiatives. “When you talk of the actual funding support for innovation that can help us elevate manufacturing companies, there really is no support.”

He was confident that if funding is properly provided, the department will be able to address the country’s weaknesses pointed out in the Global Innovation Index (GII).

Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian, vice-chairman of the Senate committee on economic affairs, noted that he has been pointing out the program’s lack of funds every year, yet no change has occurred.

The Philippines ranked 51^st out of the 132 economies in the 2021 GII, down one spot from a year earlier. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

PHL expected to benefit from profit-shifting rules

September 28, 2021 | 8:07 pm

THE PHILIPPINES is expected to benefit modestly from international tax rules to deter profit shifting by multinationals, the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) said.

In an analysis published Tuesday, AMRO said the proposed two-pillar solution under the proposed inclusive framework on base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) can reallocate at least $100 billion worth of tax rights and generate $150 billion in additional global tax revenue each year.

The first pillar hopes to shift the right to tax a multinational company where the revenue is generated, instead of the current practice of collecting taxes where the business is incorporated. The second part of the framework aims to establish a proposed 15% global minimum tax rate for the sector.

In reallocating a portion of taxable profit to economies where the revenue is generated, AMRO said populous countries with high income and large digital economies will benefit the most.

“China and Japan will likely receive a significant portion of the reallocated residual profit. Populous middle-income economies, such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, are expected to gain moderately,” it said.

In an e-mail Tuesday, AMRO said the estimates were arrived at based on the potential number of consumers within a given population and income per capita. These inputs helped determine the new tax base once the framework has been rolled out.

To increase potential revenue of the country, AMRO said the Philippines needs to launch reforms that will scale down the use of tax incentives to attract investment from multinational companies.

Aside from population, AMRO said the concentration of multinational regional headquarters in certain countries will also affect government tax collection.

Foregoing revenue-based digital service taxes, as proposed under pillar one to avoid double taxation, however, would result in lower collections. The Philippines is yet to adopt taxes for digital services.

AMRO said the second pillar of the framework, which would set a floor on tax rates for multinational companies, will likely hurt regional economies with low corporate tax rates such as Cambodia, Hong Kong, South Korea and Singapore, whose rates are currently below 15%.

“These economies will be less attractive to existing multinational enterprises and potential investors as the attractiveness of their tax incentives diminishes,” it said.

The Philippines reduced its corporate income tax to 25% this year from 30% previously, and will further cut the rate by one percentage point annually until it reaches 20% in 2027. It also removed the 10% preferential tax rate for regional operating headquarters.

The framework aims to create a more “stable and fairer” global tax structure to address BEPS practices that transnational companies undertake to arbitrage tax regimes and shift profits to locations with low or zero tax rates.

Citing estimates from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, AMRO said governments are losing $100-400 billion annually in tax revenue due to these profit-shifting schemes.

“Achieving global consensus on such global tax reform is a complicated process. It would require economies with competing interests to find common ground and redefine the ways of doing cross-border business,” it said.

The Department of Finance has said that the Philippines is making progress in joining the inclusive framework, which was first established in 2015 and has 134 signatories which pledge to implement 15 action plans to address tax avoidance. — Beatrice M. Laforga

Pesticide advisory issued against smuggled vegetables

September 28, 2021 | 8:05 pm

SMUGGLED Chinese vegetables have entered the market via Subic port, such as carrots and cabbage, and must be avoided because of the uncertainty regarding their pesticide content, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

At a virtual briefing Tuesday, Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said that the shipments had been misdeclared as “other items.”

“The best thing we can do, meanwhile, is not to buy (the smuggled vegetables) since we do not know their content in terms of pesticide residue,” Mr. Dar said.

Mr. Dar said the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) did not issue import permits for the smuggled vegetables.

The BPI only issues import permits for frozen mixed vegetables and processed vegetables “intended for embassies and hotels,” he said.

“The BPI continues to work with the Bureau of Customs (BoC). We will confiscate all smuggled vegetables,” Mr. Dar said.

Agriculture spokesman Noel O. Reyes said at a Laging Handa briefing Monday that a task force was created to check into the entry of smuggled vegetables, consisting of representatives from the DA, BoC, Department of Trade and Industry, and the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

In a separate statement, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), a farm workers’ organization, urged the House of Representatives to check into the smuggling of vegetables.

KMP Chairman Emeritus Rafael V. Mariano called on the House Committee on Agriculture and Food to arrange for the detection of imported carrots and other vegetables in markets, and to exercise its oversight powers under Republic Act No. 10845 or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act.

“This month, a large volume of allegedly smuggled fresh carrots were seen proliferating in markets nationwide, according to various vegetable trading associations and cooperatives,” the KMP said.

“In August, farmers, and traders called the attention of the DA to contraband cabbages being distributed in the Divisoria market in Metro Manila at P70 per kilogram, much lower than the price of Benguet cabbage, which sells for P115 to P125 per kilogram,” it added.

Mr. Mariano said the DA and the BoC should be held accountable for the smuggling of vegetables.

“It is within their mandate to prevent the smuggling of agricultural products. However, ‘legitimate imports’ and smuggled produce go through the same processes and mechanisms. Massive importation of agricultural products makes it easier for smugglers to do business,” Mr. Mariano said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

IPOPHL ties up with film council to curb piracy

September 28, 2021 | 8:04 pm

THE intellectual property office has signed a deal with the Film Development Council of the Philippines to promote copyright awareness and enforcement after piracy worsened during the pandemic.

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) in a statement Tuesday said the two groups will promote copyright awareness among members of the film industry and the public through a partnership signed on Sept. 23.

“The two agencies will work together to prevent and suppress all forms of piracy of Filipino films both locally and globally,” IPOPHL said.

They aim to curb a spike in piracy seen during the pandemic, IPOPHL said, adding that a 2020 slump in Metro Manila Film Festival revenue to P31 million from P955 million a year earlier was largely caused by piracy.

“As the film industry is an integral part of the Philippine creative industries, in turn, a high-value contributor to the economy, it is mission-critical to help local cinema restart and rebuild stronger,” IPOPHL Director General Rowel S. Barba said.

The film industry was among the worst-hit sectors during the pandemic, he added.

The Creative Economy Council found that creative sectors that saw the most losses during the pandemic include cinema-based film, performing arts, and heritage sites and museums.

Intellectual property rights violation reports sent to IPOPHL spiked during the lockdown last year, with a majority of complaints related to piracy and counterfeiting. Most of the violations, the agency said, are done online. — Jenina P. Ibañez

Gov’t OK’s COVID shots for children, rest of public

September 28, 2021 | 7:46 pm

vaccination — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

THE PHILIPPINES will start vaccinating the general population and minors against the coronavirus next month as it tries to reach herd immunity, according to the presidential palace.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte had approved the proposal by an inter-agency task force, his spokesman Herminio L. Roque, Jr. told a televised news briefing on Tuesday. He did not specify the age group for children.

The country is struggling to vaccinate its entire adult population amid a spike in infections believed to be triggered by a more contagious Delta coronavirus variant.

The first priority groups covered health workers, senior citizens, seriously ill people, essential workers and the poor. The government would continue to prioritize them for vaccines, Mr. Roque said.

Vaccine chief Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. earlier said the Philippines would have enough vaccine supply to inoculate 12 million children aged 12 to 17.

Mr. Roque urged parents to have their children registered for the vaccination.

“We have enough supply,” he said in Filipino. “We are just preparing the master list. Once we have a master list, let us wait for the announcement on who will be first.”

The Department of Health (DoH) reported 13,846 coronavirus infections on Tuesday, bringing the total to 2.52 million.

The death toll rose to 37,686 after 91 more patients died, while recoveries increased by 39,980 to 2.35 million, it said in a bulletin.

There were 132,139 active cases, 76.6% of which were mild, 16.4% did not show symptoms, 2.1% were severe, 3.99% were moderate and 0.9% were critical.

The agency said 58 duplicates had been removed from the tally, 40 of which were reclassified as recoveries and one as a death, while 37 recoveries were reclassified as deaths. Seven laboratories failed to submit data on Sept. 26.

The digital platform that the Health department uses to manage COVID-19 information had reached its maximum capacity, which led to technical glitches in the past days, said Alethea de Guzman, director of the agency’s Epidemiology bureau.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology is trying to identify fixes to expand the Health department’s server capacity, she told an online news briefing.

Mr. Roque said 44.36 million coronavirus vaccines had been given out as of Sept. 27. More than 20.58 million people or 26.68% of adult Filipinos have been fully vaccinated, he added.

Mr. Duterte on Monday night said he might force Filipinos to get vaccinated to protect public health. “The police must go in and intervene in your private life so that you cannot be a danger to society,” he said in a taped Cabinet meeting.

In June, Mr. Duterte said he would order the arrest of those who refuse to get vaccinated. He also threatened to require village officials to prepare a list of vaccine decliners.

Those who don’t want to get vaccinated may leave the country, he said.

In his taped address on Monday night, Mr. Duterte asked government workers who refuse to get vaccinated to leave public service.

“I guess the President will start requiring mandatory vaccination among those working in the government,” Mr. Roque said on Tuesday. “But this is without prejudice to Congress passing a law.”

The Philippines aims to reach population protection by vaccinating 50-60% of its population by year-end.

The government expects to take delivery of about 100 million coronavirus vaccines next month, Mr. Galvez told Mr. Duterte at the Cabinet meeting on Monday.

The government is seeking to give out 55 million COVID-19 vaccine doses next month. This could still go up depending on the capacity of local governments, he said.

The state expects to raise the number of vaccines given out to 45 million by the end of the month, Mr. Galvez said. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

SC moves bar exams to next year amid COVID-19 pandemic

September 28, 2021 | 7:46 pm

SupremeCourt-PHILSTARFILE — PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE SUPREME Court (SC) has moved the bar examinations to January from November to prevent coronavirus transmissions, it said in a bulletin posted on its website on Tuesday.

The tribunal did not extend the application period for the exams.

Bar exam chairman Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen said magistrates reached the unanimous decision “after considering the COVID-19 situation nationally.” The court also received advice from experts.

The bar exams would now be held on Jan. 16, 23, 30 and Feb. 6. The preparation schedule for the exams would be followed, including the selection of bar applicants of their venue.

Mr. Leonen reminded bar applicants to treat the postponement as an opportunity and to “keep your momentum.”

“Remember that you study not only to pass the bar examinations but also, so that you will best serve others,” he said. “Study well, purposively and with passion.”

The High Court postponed the 2020 bar exams amid the pandemic to Nov. 7, 14, 21 and 28 this year.

It also approved a digitalized, localized and proctored mode of exams, where examinees must bring their own WiFi-enabled laptops. Handwritten exams will only be allowed for those who have a physical disability that bars them from taking the exams using a computer.

Last month, Mr. Leonen said the High Court was working with an inter-agency task force to also prioritize bar applicants for coronavirus vaccines.

Court spokesperson Brian Keith F. Hosaka said it was unlikely for the court to require testers to get vaccinated first. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago

Government urged to prioritize bill on whistleblower safety

September 28, 2021 | 7:44 pm

By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporter

HUMAN rights lawyers urged President Rodrigo R. Duterte to certify as urgent a bill that seeks to protect whistleblowers after the Senate lost contact with a potential witness in an allegedly anomalous P8-billion contract for medical supplies.

“The current witness protection program is not sufficient,” former congressman Neri J. Colmenares said by telephone. He added that the country needs whistleblowers given the extent of government corruption.

The former lawmaker, who lawyered for Rodolfo Noel I. Lozada, Jr., a key witness in a $329-million broadband deal between the government of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and China’s ZTE Corp., said his client ended up facing legal charges.

The witness had tagged Ms. Arroyo’s husband Jose Miguel Arroyo and former election Commissioner Benjamin S. Abalos as masterminds of the allegedly anomalous contract, accusing them and several Cabinet officials of having received bribes from the Chinese company.

The country’s anti-graft court later dismissed graft cases against the ex-President, her husband and Mr. Abalos. “In the end, Gloria Arroyo and the rest of the gang got scot-free,” Mr. Colmenares said.

A Senate committee is investigating the government for buying overpriced medical goods from Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp., a unit of Taiwan-based Pharmally International, at the start of the pandemic last year.

Krizle Grace Mago, Pharmally’s head for regulatory affairs, told a Senate hearing last week the company had swindled the government by selling face shields that were either damaged or expired. She also said she was only following orders from company management.

On Sunday, Senator Richard J. Gordon, who heads the blue ribbon committee, said they could no longer contact Ms. Mago.

In a taped address aired on Monday night, Mr. Duterte questioned why the expiration date of the face shields delivered to the Health department should be an issue.

He said it was hard to believe that a piece of plastic would expire, adding that senators have run out of issues to hurl against Executive officials. “I am not bothered at all,” he said.

Party-list Rep. Carlos Isagani T. Zarate said Mr. Duterte should certify the bills protecting whistleblowers as urgent if he is sincere about his anti-corruption drive. “They should walk the talk,” he said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

“Put your money where your mouth is, Mr. President,” Mr. Colmenares said. “You have so many allies in Congress, and I’m sure that even those who are not your allies will support the bill because it is a popular measure.”

Mr. Duterte in 2016 urged Congress to legislate a similar bill.

The House of Representatives bills seek to encourage more witnesses and to come forward and expose corruption.

Global corruption watchdog GraftMap earlier urged the Philippines to pass a whistleblower protection law. Whistleblowing can expose bribery of public officers, fraud in bid screening and conflict of interests in both public and private transactions, it said.