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DoJ told to address jail congestion 

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

A LAWMAKER on Wednesday asked the Department of Justice (DoJ) to review the cases of inmates who have served more time than necessary, which is one of the causes of prison congestion. 

“Some of the accused are serving more time in detention than what their sentence provides,” Party-list Rep. France L. Castro told a House of Representatives hearing on the agency’s budget. “Can the DoJ please review these cases?” 

She also asked government prosecutors to dismiss trumped-up cases against activists for lack of probable cause.  

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said he had ordered the Public Attorney’s Office, whose 2023 budget was increased by 6% to P5.03 billion, to look for inmates eligible for parole. 

The House committee on appropriations also asked the DoJ to detail its plan to relocate the national penitentiary from Muntinlupa City. 

The Budget department has proposed a P28.19-billion budget for DoJ next year, 11.7% higher than this year. 

With 215,000 prisoners nationwide, Philippine jails and prisons are overfilled more than five times their official capacity, making it the most overcrowded prison system in the world, according to the World Prison Brief (WPB). 

As of 2017, it had 933 jails — seven national prisons and 926 city, district, municipal and provincial jails, which are not enough to contain inmates, three-quarters of whom are at the pretrial stage, WPB said on its website. 

Many jails in the Philippines fail to meet the minimum United Nations standards given inadequate food, poor nutrition and unsanitary conditions. — K.A. Bulan 

Tax junk food, House told 

STOCK PHOTO | Image by Chil Vera from Pixabay

THE DEPARTMENT of Health (DoH) on Wednesday asked the House of Representatives to pass bills that will tax junk food and those that have high salt, fat and calorie content.  

The tax would hopefully force Filipinos to eat healthy food, Health Undersecretary Kenneth G. Ronquillo told a congressional hearing.  

The agency also wants lawmakers to increase the excise tax on tobacco products and sweetened beverages.  

The Finance Department in May said the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act, tax amnesty programs, and “sin” tax laws raised P228.6 billion last year. — MCLM

Coverage of fishermen in magna carta sought 

PHILSTAR

THE DEPARTMENT of Migrant Workers on Wednesday asked the Senate to include Filipino fishermen in the coverage of a bill that seeks to improve the working conditions of seafarers. 

These fishers need to be covered by the proposed Magna Carta for Filipino Seafarers because many of them are victimized overseas, Migrant Workers Undersecretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac told a hearing. 

He said it is high time to improve the condition of Filipino seamen given their contribution to the Philippine economy. Seafarers sent home $6 billion in remittances amid a coronavirus pandemic, he pointed out. 

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Administrator Arnaldo A. Ignacio said they support the bill and would help the Senate body refine the details of the bill. 

Labor Division Chief Kristine Carol S. Ramos said the Senate bill would make the maritime industry more sustainable, while providing decent work to Filipino seamen. — ANOT 

Senate bill to give free houses but not lots 

FLICKR/JAYO SANTIAGO

A SENATOR has filed a bill that seeks to give homeless Filipinos free housing, as long as the government keeps ownership of the land. 

Senator Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid’s Senate Bill 1232 or the Free Housing Through Usufruct bill seeks to solve the problem of Filipinos who end up selling house and lots given to them by the state. 

“We have had many government housing programs but these usually operate under the principle of selling housing to beneficiaries at an affordable price that they will pay over time,” he said in a statement on Wednesday. 

“However, in many cases, the beneficiaries sell the units awarded to them for income instead of using them for their families,” he said. “This is contrary to the purpose of our housing programs that want to provide a home to every Filipino family.” 

Mr. Lapid noted that since the early 1990s, various housing finance programs have offered long-term and low-interest rate loans to poor Filipinos, but failed due to mortgage defaults and poor collection efforts. 

“Even with the existence of low-cost housing, which should be inexpensive, the same cannot still be afforded by the intended beneficiaries,” he added. 

Under the bill, only Filipinos with no property will be covered by the program. Local governments and other agencies may extend the benefit to their workers. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan 

Repair of quake-hit schools to be prioritized 

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE DEPARTMENT of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will prioritize the repair of school buildings damaged by earthquakes, an official told a congressional hearing on Wednesday.   

“The seismic rehabilitation program is limited to earthquake-affected structures, and these are only major defects on structures,” Public Works Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain told congressmen.  

He was answering a question from Davao de Oro Rep. Maria Carmen S. Zamora, who asked if the budget for repairing schools damaged by earthquakes can be treated as flagship projects. 

The Department of Education (DepEd) would have to pay for repairs caused by aging, Mr. Sadain said. 

DepEd said 475 schools in the Cordillera Administrative Region were damaged by the magnitude 7 quake in July. 

Mr. Sadain said the agency already has a list of schools that were damaged by recent earthquakes. — Matthew Carl L. Montecillo 

Israel to push agri cooperation 

ISRAEL has vowed to advance agricultural cooperation with the Philippines, particularly on food productivity and technological advancements. 

“We are happy to share our expertise in the field of agriculture with the Philippines to address productivity and food security,” Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss said at a Philippine-Israel joint commission meeting on Sept. 5, according to a statement from its embassy. 

Israel would also pursue solar-powered irrigation projects and dairy programs. 

Agriculture capacity building for Filipinos was also discussed at the meeting, the Embassy of Israel said, noting that the country has been teaching the Philippines advanced farming practices and data-driven agricultural management to lowering costs and achieve long-term food security. 

Both countries also discussed ways to counter terrorism and expand cooperation in defense. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan 

Leaked data to text scammers likely limited 

BW FILE PHOTO

THE NATIONAL Privacy Commission (NPC) on Wednesday hinted that the names and numbers of people were the only information used in personalized text scams, allaying fears that more data were held by scammers.   

“They want you to sign up because they want more personal information that they can use to victimize people,” commission Division Chief Michael R. Santos told an online forum in Filipino on Wednesday. 

Deputy Privacy Commissioner Leandro Angelo Y. Aguirre said smishing messages were unlikely to be sent by data aggregators.  

“The National Privacy Commission, through its Complaints and Investigation Division, has observed from the smishing reports it received, that the smishing messages appear to have been sent using specific mobile numbers registered to certain texting services,” he said. 

“As confirmed with the telecommunication companies, smishing messages which are sent using mobile numbers are possible through a phone-to-phone (P2P) transmission,” Mr. Aguirre said. “Such transmission is usually coursed through a telecommunication company’s regular network and does not pass through data aggregators.” — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave 

PSEi sinks as strong US data fan hawkish Fed bets

BW FILE PHOTO

PHILIPPINE SHARES slumped on Wednesday as the peso continued to hit new lows, with the dollar finding support from strong US services sector data that could give the US Federal Reserve a reason to continue raising benchmark interest rates aggressively.

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) declined by 155.52 points or 2.31% to close at 6,554.08 on Wednesday, while the broader all shares index lost 60.88 points or 1.71% to 3,490.07.

“Stocks moved lower today as strong economic data in the US brought concerns that the US Fed can be aggressive in raising interest rates,” AB Capital Securities, Inc. Vice-President Jovis L. Vistan said in a Viber message on Wednesday.

“All these are causing investors to go on strike as stocks become less attractive against risk-free assets that are seeing rising yields,” Mr. Vistan said.

A survey from the Institute for Supply Management showed the US services industry picked up in August for the second straight month. The non-manufacturing purchasing managers’ index edged up to 56.9 last month from 56.7 in July, above the 50 mark that separates expansion from contraction.

“The local bourse plunged 155.52 points or 2.31% to 6,554.08 amid the depreciating peso and negative sentiment abroad. So far, the peso is depreciating, trading at P57 levels. This has negative effects on our country, especially since we rely heavily on imports, making goods more costly,” Philstocks Financial, Inc. Research Analyst Claire T. Alviar said in a Viber message.

The local unit closed at another record low of P57.135 against the dollar on Wednesday after stock market trading ended. The peso tested new lows throughout the session, with its intraday worst at P57.33 and its best showing at P57, which was its Tuesday finish.

“Moreover, weak global economic growth weighs on sentiment after China’s trade data missed estimates while recession fears grow in Europe,” Ms. Alviar added.

All sectoral indices ended lower on Wednesday. Holding firms sank by 205.73 points or 3.17% to 6,273.43; financials lost 38.81 points or 2.38% to end at 1,588.47; mining and oil decreased by 270.93 points or 2.28% to 11,577.06; property went down by 51.70 points or 1.72% to 2,947.43; services shaved off 24.87 points or 1.46% to close at 1,677.45; and industrials declined by 93.22 points or 0.94% to 9,762.38.

Value turnover went up to P4.85 billion with 916.47 million shares on Wednesday changing hands from the P4.69 billion with 562.76 million issues seen the previous day.

Decliners overwhelmed advancers, 115 against 59, while 50 names closed unchanged.

Net foreign buying declined to P42.72 million on Wednesday from the P526.37 million seen on Tuesday.

AB Capital Securities’ Mr. Vistan put the PSEi’s initial support at 6,550 and resistance at 6,800. — J.I.D. Tabile

Low utilization blamed for health budget cuts

PHILIPPINE STAR/ WALTER BOLLOZOS

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said on Wednesday that low cash utilization rates led to the reduction of 2023 funding for some programs run by the Department of Health (DoH), adding that some of them were also not at a stage where they were implementable soon, bumping them down the budget priority list.

“First, allow us to note that the National Government is in a tight fiscal position. Thus, the DBM recognizes the need to carefully prioritize programs and projects based on available budget, and uphold sound fiscal management,” the DBM said in a statement.

“When DBM allocates budget, it also takes into consideration the utilization rate of the agency. The decrease in the provision for Public Health Management was due to its low utilization rate,” it added, noting its disbursement rate of only 76.7% last year.

On Tuesday, ACT Teachers Party-list Representative Francisca L. Castro expressed concern over cuts in the budgets for epidemiology and surveillance, health regulation, public health and health emergency management.

“Without funding for the Epidemiology and Surveillance Program for the regions, how can we ensure the health and safety of our people? These (budget cuts) are alarming,” Ms. Castro said in a statement, noting how as much as 98.73% was slashed from the funding for regions.

“The National Expenditure Program (NEP) budget level for the Epidemiology and Surveillance Program for fiscal year 2023 pertains to budget proposal(s) which were substantiated with details by the DoH. Other items proposed for these programs were not supported with details and hence, had been considered as not yet ready for implementation,” the DBM said in explaining why the program’s budget decreased by P115 million.

Ms. Castro also flagged a P4.17 billion reduction in the budget for the Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases, which the DBM said was due to the lower requirement for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requested by the DoH.

According to the DoH, since PPE procurement is now the responsibility of individual hospitals, it only sought P1.020 billion for 2023, against P5.304 billion in 2022.

The budget proposed for the Health Emergency Program was P752.341 million, down P61.484 million from 2022.

The responsibility of paying vaccinators was also transferred to local government units, prompting the DBM to provide no allocation for COVID-19 Human Resource for Health Emergency Hiring, resulting in a P4.33-billion budget reduction.

“On the zero provision for procurement of COVID-19 vaccine boosters, it is noted that a standby fund amounting to P22 billion has been provided for vaccines under unprogrammed appropriations,” the DBM said.

Ms. Castro also flagged a 13.22% decrease in the allocation for the Health Regulatory Program, which the DBM said was due to a P4.7 million congressional adjustment in this year that was not considered for the proposed 2023 budget.

“Note that despite the tight fiscal position of the National Government, the health sector received a 10.4% budget increase at P296.3 billion in the fiscal year 2023 NEP. This is inclusive of the budgets of the DoH and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth),” the DBM said.

ALLOWANCES FOR PANDEMIC FRONTLINERS
Meanwhile, the DBM said it is still awaiting the fulfillment of documentary requirements by the DoH before it can release allowances for pandemic frontliners.

“The DBM is yet to receive the DoH’s request for One COVID Assistance (OCA) or health emergency allowance covering January to June 2022,” DBM Undersecretary Goddes Hope O. Libiran said in a Viber message, noting that the allowances amount to P11 billion.

With regard to the P63-billion OCA that remains unpaid from previous years, Ms. Libiran also confirmed that the DBM still has not received the necessary documents from the DoH.

“Essentially, we asked them to substantiate their request by sending us the budget breakdown, segregation, actual names of claimants, and other relevant documents for us to clearly determine the universe of eligible beneficiaries,” the DBM said in a statement last week.

However, “the DoH complied with their commitment to submit requested document for special risk allowances (P1.041 billion) to cover an additional 55,211 eligible public and private healthcare workers from Sept. 15, 2020 to June 30, 2021,” Ms. Libiran said. — Diego Gabriel C. Robles

Three ADB-funded Marikina River bridges expected to start construction next year

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE GOVERNMENT expects to start building three Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded bridges across the Marikina River in 2023, the Department of Public Works and Highways  said on Wednesday.

The civil works for the bridges, valued at a combined P12.03 billion, are set to be completed in 2026, Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain said in briefing the House of Representatives on flagship programs and projects.

The bridges are the 1,606.3-meter Marcos Highway-Saint Mary Avenue Bridge, the 691-meter Homeowner’s Drive-A. Bonifacio Ave. Bridge, and the 726.3-meter Kabayani Street-Matandang Balara Bridge.

“Ceremonial exchange of loan documents between the government of the Philippines and the ADB took place on March 30,” Mr. Sadain said.

The detailed engineering design for the project has been completed.

The previous government considered the project a “crucial component of the Build, Build, Build program that will help our economy bounce back from the adverse effects of the pandemic,” former Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said in a recent statement.

“With their high multiplier effect and job-generating potential, investments in infrastructure will be the engine for our rapid economic recovery,” he added.

He said the bridges will have the ability to “absorb strong earthquake shocks and reduce flood risks in the area, making them climate- and disaster-resilient.”

The administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. aims to build more bridges across the Marikina and Pasig rivers, according to Public Works Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan.

Last year, San Miguel Corp. and the government broke ground on the 19.37-kilometer Pasig River Expressway project. The P95-billion project will link the eastern and western cities of Metro Manila and will connect to the Skyway system, integrating the elevated road network to link the north, south, east, and west corridors of the capital.

Mr. Marcos has promised to continue studying existing proposals, calling infrastructure development of primary importance.

“Infrastructure development spending will be sustained at 5% to 6% of GDP (gross domestic product),” he said in his first address to Congress. — Arjay L. Balinbin

China inspectors clear way for imports of Philippine durian

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

AN inspection team from China has given the green light for imports of Philippine durian starting this year, China’s ambassador said.

“Fresh durian from the Philippines will soon be available in the Chinese market,” Ambassador Huang Xilian said in a Facebook post on Wednesday. “It is expected that fresh durian from Davao will be permitted for import into China as soon as this year.”

The team went to Davao region for a market access investigation, conducting a risk assessment after inspecting orchards, packaging plants, pest monitoring operations, chemical controls, coronavirus disease 2019 prevention methods, and determining the traceability of produce.

China, a leading durian importer, shipped in 822,000 tons of durian worth $4.21 billion in 2021, up 82.4%. In the first half of 2022, China’s durian imports increased by a further 60%, making it the Chinese market’s most imported fruit.

“Durian from the Davao region is high in quality and good in taste. It is expected to win the hearts of Chinese durian lovers,” Mr. Huang said.

“As one of the most lucrative agricultural products, the entry of high-quality fresh durian from the Philippines into China with a population of 1.4 billion will benefit hundreds of thousands of Philippine fruit farmers and greatly increase the income of local growers in the Mindanao area,” he added.

Last month, Davao City’s agriculture office had to source durian from neighboring provinces to augment supply for the expected influx of tourists for the Kadayawan festival.

Edgardo A. Haspe, head of the city agriculturist’s office, attributed the shortage to unusual weather patterns which affected the fruit-bearing cycle.

He said that the harvest of durian in Davao City was 15,485 MT in 2019 and over 17,000 MT in 2020. It fell to 12,930 MT in 2021.

In the first half, the harvest was only 3,000 MT.

Land planted to durian rose to 3,389 hectares last year, from a base of 3,222 hectares in 2019.

In 2020, China was the Philippines’ top trading partner — the third-biggest export market and top source of imports, according to the Department of Trade and Industry. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

Coconut industry dev’t plan seeks to upgrade safety nets for farmers

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE coconut industry development plan, backed by a trust fund worth P75 billion, will seek to provide social protections and set up local businesses for the benefit of the estimated 2.9 million farmers in the industry, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

The Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan will draw from the trust fund to modernize the industry, with a 50-year time horizon for full industrialization, as well as support research to improve productivity, the DA said.

The Philippine Coconut Authority is currently updating its database of registered farmers to come up with a reliable list of eligible beneficiaries.

The Integrated Information Management System for the industry will also be developed to automate submissions, reporting, monitoring and data collection. The system will enable such reports to be accessed by the government, implementing agencies, and the public.

The trust fund’s capital was generated from seized assets improperly purchased using a levy extracted from coconut farmers during the administration of President Ferdinand E. Marcos, Sr. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

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