Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube
Home Blog Page 6387

PTV4 hired contract workers in violation of memo — senator

THE STATE television hired more than 500 contract workers in violation of a Civil Service Commission memo, according to a senator.

Under the memo, contract workers may only be hired for special projects, Senator Franklin M. Drilon told a budget hearing on Monday.

The People’s Television Network (PTV 4) has hired 534 contract workers this year, General Manager Katherine C. de Castro told the hearing, adding that she was not aware of the government circular.

She also said the network needed technical assistants for its operations.

“You are not aware of it, that’s why you just keep on hiring contract of service personnel in total disregard of the circular,” Mr. Drilon said. He added that the circular seeks to limit the bureaucracy, which “can invent one thousand reasons why they need additional personnel.”

The Senate committee also questioned the alleged underpayment by the Presidential Communications Operations Office, which operates PTV, of its 1, 479 contract workers.

Senator Richard J. Gordon said he would not sponsor the agency’s budget on the floor unless officials come up with a satisfactory explanation. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan

CoA authority to audit Pagcor has limits, says court 

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

STATE AUDITORS’ power to review the books of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) is limited to the state company’s franchise tax remittances and the government’s share in its gross earnings, the Supreme Court ruled. 

In a decision published on Sept. 24, the High Court reversed a Commission on Audit (CoA) ruling that disallowed Pagcor’s P2-million financial assistance to a homeowners’ association in Los Baños, Laguna in 2013. 

The tribunal noted that under the CoA charter, “the funds of the corporation to be covered by the audit shall be limited to the 5% franchise tax and 50% of the gross earnings pertaining to the government as its share.” 

“It is a cardinal rule in statutory construction that when the law is clear, there is no room for construction or interpretation,” the court said. “There is only room for application.” 

In 2010, the Pleasant Village Homeowners’ Association sought financial assistance worth P2 million from Pagcor so it could build a flood control and drainage system. The company’s board approved the request, the funding for which was taken from its marketing expenses. 

In 2017, state auditors said the Pagcor assistance did not cover a public property and did not serve a public purpose. 

CoA also said the subject roads and streets build under the project, while for public use, remained private property. 

The High Court did not pass upon the issue, saying the lawsuit only covered the fact that state auditors had “acted with grave abuse of discretion” in auditing Pagcor accounts beyond the law. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago 

Shares up on hopes over virus, consumer data

REUTERS

PHILIPPINE shares started the week in the green as hopeful investors in the country’s fight to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) added to the positive sentiment driven by the release last week of the latest consumer and business confidence data.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) rose 4.73 points or 0.06% on Monday to close at 6,956.26, while the all shares index went up by 6.31 points or 0.14% to end at 4,329.95.

“With MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) Chairman [Benjamin de Castro] Abalos, [Jr.] talking [about] the easing of restrictions by next month to Level 3 while reproduction number and growth rates of the pandemic virus on the downtrend by OCTA, this further [improved] the sentiment among investors, thus local market continued its uptrend on the third trading session,” Diversified Securities, Inc. Equity Trader Aniceto K. Pangan said in a text message.

Metro Manila’s quarantine classification is expected to be updated this week as the alert level 4 currently imposed under the government’s granular lockdown with alert level systems end on Sept. 30.

Mr. Abalos is hoping that the region’s alert level will be brought down to alert level 3 as the virus growth rate declines.

Philstocks Senior Research Analyst Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco said in a separate Viber message, “Investors remained hopeful that the COVID-19 situation in the country would continue to improve, leading to the easing of social restriction measures.”

On Sunday, the Health department reported 20,755 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total active cases to 161,447. The national tally stands at over 2.49 million.

“The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) latest confidence surveys which show that consumers and businesses are optimistic towards the upcoming quarter also gave a boost to sentiment,” Mr. Tantiangco said.

Last week, the BSP reported that the country’s consumer confidence index saw an improvement in the third quarter to –19.3% from the second quarter’s -30.9%.

However, the business confidence index went down to –5.6% after three consecutive quarters of optimism due to a surge in COVID-19 infections.

Meanwhile, consumer sentiment for the fourth quarter improved to 2.7% from 1.3% as the spending outlook also went up to 31.4% from 26.4%. The business confidence index for the fourth quarter was at 31.9%.

On Monday, sectoral indices were split.

Mining and oil dipped by 192.36 points or 2.03% to finish at 9,244.18; financials shed 15.26 points or 1.07% to 1,411.53; and property lost 25.35 points or 0.83% to 3,029.96.

Meanwhile, services climbed 24.74 points or 1.28% to 1,948.20 on Monday; holding firms improved by 15.44 points or 0.22% to 6,937.39; and industrials rose 12.71 points or 0.12% to end at 10,272.14.

Value turnover declined to P7.61 billion on Monday with 1.64 billion shares switching hands, down from the P8.95 billion with 2.11 billion issues traded on Friday.

Decliners beat advancers, 120 against 78, while 42 names closed unchanged.

Net foreign selling nearly doubled to P623.43 million on Monday from the P352.05 million logged in net outflows on Friday. — Keren Concepcion G. Valmonte

Bill extending voter registration hurdles Congress

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

A PROPOSED law that will extend the voter registration period, currently set to end Sept. 30, was approved unanimously Monday on third and final reading in both chambers of Congress.

The Senate adopted the House of Representatives’ version, which provides that the registration period will be extended by 30 days from effectivity into law.

Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri, principal author of the Senate version, said they adopted the House counterpart “to do away with the bicameral conference committee meeting.”

A copy of the measure can now be submitted to Malacañang for the President’s review and approval.

“Hopefully the President will sign this request,” said Mr. Zubiri during the plenary session.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has previously rejected an extension, citing other scheduled election preparations as well as limitations due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, 25 business and professional organizations together with 135 educational institutions and associations on Monday released a joint statement in support of congressional bills extending the voter registration deadline.

The statement cited survey results and information gathered by schools indicating an “overwhelming intent” to register among first-time eligible voters in student bodies all over the country.

“The month-long extension could make a big difference in accommodating people who want to register for the coming elections,” said Mr. Zubiri. “The extension would prevent the disenfranchisement of about 12 million eligible voters.”

Comelec Spokesperson James B. Jimenez said in a news briefing that the management committee met Monday on a possible extension, and the recommendation will be presented on Wednesday for approval by the Comelec en banc. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan, Russell Louis C. Ku, and Bianca Angelica D. Añago

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

1...6,3866,3876,388...13,178Page 6,387 of 13,178
© 2024 BusinessWorld Publishing.
All rights reserved.
Read our privacy guidelines
Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube