Philippines and Singapore affirm peaceful end to maritime dispute

September 7, 2022 | 9:14 pm

Chinese-ship-PCG — SCREENGRAB FROM PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD

THE PHILIPPINES and Singapore have affirmed the need to resolve the sea dispute in the South China Sea peacefully, while citing the need to keep freedom of navigation, the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement on Wednesday.

Both countries reaffirmed the importance of peace, stability, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in and above the disputed water, the agency said. They also reaffirmed peaceful resolution of disputes without resorting to threat or force, DFA said.

Mr. Marcos arrived in Singapore on Tuesday for a two-day state visit, during which he met with Singapore President Halimah Yacob and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

The leaders reiterated the importance of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, DFA said.

They agreed to hold talks for a Code of Conduct in the waterway in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS.

The leaders want the Conduct to safeguard the rights and interests of all parties in the South China Sea, DFA said.

China has ignored a 2016 United Nations-backed arbitral award that voided its claim to more than 80% of the South China Sea, parts of which are claimed by the Philippines.

The South China Sea, a key global shipping route, is subject to overlapping territorial claims involving the Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam and China. Each year, trillions of dollars of trade flow through the sea, which is also rich in fish and gas.

Singapore has stayed neutral on the sea dispute.

DFA said the leaders also expressed deep concern about the situation in Myanmar, including the prolonged political crisis in the country and the recent execution of four opposition activists.

The Philippines and Singapore urged Myanmar to avoid actions that would harm national reconciliation, DFA said.

“They also expressed deep disappointment at the limited progress in and lack of commitment of the military authorities to the timely and complete implementation of the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus, including the lack of cooperation by the Myanmar military authorities to facilitate the ASEAN Special Envoy to engage in constructive dialogue with all parties concerned.”

The leaders support multilateral and UN-backed engagement on Myanmar and “called for UN representatives and agencies to be granted full access to Myanmar.”

“While upholding ASEAN’s principle of noninterference, the leaders expressed support for ASEAN’s active role in assisting Myanmar, an integral member of the ASEAN Family, to overcome the current crisis and to return to the path of democratization,” it added. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Storm intensifies before entry to Philippine area

September 7, 2022 | 9:12 pm

A TROPICAL depression set to enter the Philippine area of responsibility had intensified into a tropical storm and would be called Inday, according to the state weather bureau.

The storm, which was expected to enter the Philippines on Wednesday evening, was expected to intensify further into a typhoon while moving northwest over the Philippine Sea, it added.

The cyclone was not forecast to hit land, the agency said in an 11 a.m. bulletin.

The storm was spotted 1,445 kilometers east of Northern Luzon, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and up to 80 kph gusts.

The agency said the cyclone might cause moderate to rough seas over the seaboards of extreme Northern Luzon during at weekend. “Such a condition may be risky for those using small seacraft. Mariners are advised to continue monitoring for updates.”

Meanwhile, more than 2,000 people from about 700 families were affected by Typhoon Henry, the local disaster agency said in a report. Most of the victims were in the Ilocos, Central Luzon and Cordillera regions.

Only one evacuation facility remained active, giving refuge to five families, it said.

Authorities were still validating reports of one death in the Ilocos region. Damage from the typhoon has hit P61.37 million in the Cordillera Administrative Region alone. — K.A.T. Atienza

Baguio Museum gets P7.5-M grant

September 7, 2022 | 9:11 pm

Baguio_Museum_interior — SECOND floor of the Baguio Museum in northern Philippines — TEEMU VÄISÄNEN

THE PHILIPPINES has received a P7.5-million grant from the Unites States for the rehabilitation of the Baguio Museum, the US Embassy said in a statement on Wednesday.

“Through the State Department’s Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation, we are working together to build the museum’s capacity to care for its wonderful collection of artifacts and cultural objects from the seven major tribes of the Cordilleras,” US Ambassador to the Philippines Mary Kay L. Carlson said.

“These are incredible pieces of Philippine history, and we share your dedication to maintaining the collection for future generations,” she added.

The fund will also be used to install climate control and monitoring equipment, and staff training, the embassy said. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

Comelec chief confirmed

September 7, 2022 | 9:10 pm

THE COMMISSION on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday approved the nomination of George Erwin M. Garcia as Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman.

The body also confirmed the appointment of Civil Service Commission Chairman Karlo Alexei B. Nograles.

“This man was born for the job,” commission Chairman and Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri told a hearing streamed live on YouTube. “He is a very knowledgeable official who has a plan for his employees, the next elections and the bedrock of our democracy.”

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. appointed Mr. Garcia, who served as his election lawyer, Comelec chairman for a term that lasts until Feb. 2, 2029.

In June, his appointment as election commissioner by ex-President Rodrigo R. Duterte, along with other officials, was bypassed by the Commission on Appointments because they were considered midnight appointments.

“When I accepted this position, I did so for the public, and I will always maintain the impartiality of my offices and the independence of Comelec,” Mr. Garcia told the hearing. He said he would build regional election offices in 17 regions of the country. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

DoJ told to address jail congestion

September 7, 2022 | 9:09 pm

Jail-prisoners — 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

September 7, 2022 | 9:08 pm

hamburger-7422976_1920 — 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

September 7, 2022 | 9:08 pm

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

September 7, 2022 | 9:07 pm

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

September 7, 2022 | 9:07 pm

Dugong Elementary School in Bucay, Abra — 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

September 7, 2022 | 9:05 pm

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

September 7, 2022 | 9:04 pm

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

September 7, 2022 | 9:00 pm

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