Commission okays solid waste plans of 22 local gov’t units

June 1, 2021 | 8:26 pm

THE National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) approved the solid waste management plans (SWMPs) of 22 local government units (LGUs) in May, bringing up its nationwide total of approved plans to 1,082 or 63% of the target, according to a statement from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu chairs the NSWMC.

In its statement Tuesday, the DENR said the approvals include four SWMPs in Misamis Oriental, three in Camarines Sur and two each in Misamis Occidental, Ilocos Norte, Benguet, and Lanao del Norte.

The department’s environmental management bureau reports that 558 SWMPs are being evaluated, with 332 deemed “almost completed,” requiring only some additional data relating to budget requirements and specifics on disposal facilities.

“Enabling our local executives to strengthen their capacities for effective solid waste management is a priority of the DENR and the NSWMC, especially LGUs facing difficulties with their solid waste management programs,” Mr. Cimatu was quoted as saying.

He noted the “continued upward trend” of LGUs whose plans were approved by the NSWMC.

NSWMC Alternate Chair Benny D. Antiporda said that the SWMPs will be vital even for LGUs which cannot set up disposal facilities in their own territory.

“(We) are looking at the clustering of these LGUs sharing a single sanitary landfill, and the approved (SWMP) plans will serve as a blueprint for how these sanitary landfills will be optimized by these clustered LGUs,” Mr. Antiporda said.

Sanitary landfills are waste disposal sites that seek to control significant environmental impacts. Mr. Antiporda said such sites remain the primary method of long-term waste disposal allowed under the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

Last week, the DENR announced that it has achieved its target of shutting down all 335 open dumpsites. Open dumpsites take in solid waste without further planning or consideration for environment and health standards. They are illegal to operate.

With the closure of dumpsites, LGUs are now required to dispose of their waste in sanitary landfills or residual containment areas. — Angelica Y. Yang

Farmers claim lack of public hearings on coco levy

June 1, 2021 | 8:25 pm

THE CONSULTATIONS being carried out on the draft implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) No. 11524 or the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act should include public hearings, according to the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF).

FFF Chairman Leonardo Q. Montemayor said in a virtual briefing Tuesday that coconut farmers and other interested parties were only asked by the Department of Finance (DoF) to submit their comments on the draft IRR between May 27 and June 3.

“This should be cleared up. The DoF posted in its website that there will be a public consultation. I think this means that you receive position papers, and then virtual or actual public hearings will be conducted after,” Mr. Montemayor said.

“It is still not clear if the DoF will conduct that sort of consultation. We see this as an act of gross disrespect to the sector. The law is very clear. It is for the benefit of the coconut farmers,” he added.

On May 27, the DoF announced that it is conducting a public consultation to prepare the draft for the IRR of Sections 9 to 11 of the law and solicited public comment.

“This law will set in motion reforms in the coconut industry and provide efficient utilization of the trust fund in accordance with the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan for the benefit of 2.5 million coconut farmers and their families, and the coconut industry in general,” the DoF said in its announcement.

Asked to comment, Finance Assistant Secretary Paola Sherina A. Alvarez said in an e-mail that the law does not require a public hearing before the IRR is issued and implemented.

Ms. Alvarez cited Executive Order No. 297 or the Administrative Code of 1987, specifically Book 7 Chapter 2 Section 9 on public participation which provided that “if not otherwise required by law, an agency shall, as far as practicable, publish or circulate notices of proposed rules and afford interested parties the opportunity to submit their views prior to the adoption of any rule.”

“We have complied with this requirement by posting the draft IRR in the DoF website and soliciting comments from the public and other stakeholders,” Ms. Alvarez said.

“We wish to point out that the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) is mandated to submit the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan not later than July 12, 2021. The IRR must already be in effect prior to July 12 to ensure smooth implementation of the plan,” she added.

RA 11524, signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Feb. 26, allows coconut farmers to benefit from taxes collected from them during the Marcos years, which were instead diverted towards the purchase of corporate assets for the gain of Marcos associates. The law creates a Trust Fund Management Committee which includes representatives from the DoF, Department of Budget and Management, and the Department of Justice.

The law designates the DoF as the Trust Fund Manager with responsibility for portfolio management.

According to the FFF, the fund is now estimated at P100 billion worth of cash and non-cash assets.

Under the law, the Bureau of the Treasury is required to transfer P10 billion to the trust fund in the first year; P10 billion in the second year; P15 billion in the third year; P15 billion in the fourth year; and P25 billion during the fifth year. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

COVID-19 deaths top 21,000; more Pfizer shots on the way

June 1, 2021 | 8:10 pm

CORONAVIRUS deaths in the Philippines rose to more than 21,000 on Tuesday after health authorities reported 46 more deaths.

The Department of Health (DoH) reported 5,177 more coronavirus infections to 1.24 million, a day after President Rodrigo R. Duterte extended the general lockdown in the capital region until June 15 after a fresh surge in cases.

The death toll rose to 21,012, while recoveries increased by 6,230 to 1.16 million, it said in a bulletin.

There were 53,203 active cases, 1.4% of which were critical, 93.1% were mild, 2.3% did not show symptoms, 1.8% were severe and 1.30% were moderate.

Eleven duplicates had been removed from the tally, eight of which were tagged as recoveries. Fifteen recoveries were reclassified as deaths.

Ten laboratories failed to submit data on May 30, the agency said. About 12.6 million Filipinos have been tested for the coronavirus as of May 30, according to DoH’s tracker website.

The coronavirus has sickened about 171.5 million and killed 3.6 million people worldwide, according to the Worldometers website, citing various sources including data from the World Health Organization.

About 153.8 million people have recovered, it said.

Meanwhile, the Philippines will take delivery this month of at least two million doses of the vaccine made by Pfizer, Inc., vaccine czar Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. told a televised news briefing.

As many as 2.2 million doses of Pfizer vaccines obtained under a global initiative for equal access will arrive on June 11, he said. The Pfizer vaccines will be given out in Metro Manila, Davao and Cebu, he added.

The country earlier took delivery of about 193,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

Thousands of Filipinos flocked to vaccination sites in Manila, the capital and a nearby city last month to get the Pfizer shot, which many Filipinos supposedly prefer.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte earlier ordered health authorities to give the Pfizer vaccines to indigent Filipinos.

Mr. Galvez said the Pfizer vaccines that will arrive next week will be given to health workers, senior citizens and seriously ill people.

He said the country would have a steady supply of coronavirus vaccines starting next month. He added that the country’s vaccine portfolio would include vaccines made by AstraZeneca Plc, Moderna, Inc. and Russia’s Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology.

At the same briefing, national pandemic plan deputy chief enforcer Vivencio B. Dizon said the government seeks to vaccinate as many as five million Filipinos this month.

Mr. Galvez said more than five million Filipinos have received their initial dose. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza and VMMV

Duterte says records on deadly drug war a national security issue

June 1, 2021 | 8:10 pm

Duterte-PCOO — PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO/ JOEY DALUMPINES

THE PHILIPPINES won’t give full access to records on its deadly war on drugs and anti-insurgency drive, President Rodrigo R. Duterte said on Monday night, citing national security concerns.

“We can’t open everything up not because we are hiding some facts,” he said at a televised address in mixed English and Filipino. “This is a national security issue.”

The President issued the statement after Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo M. Año said more than 20 people died in police anti-drug operations from May 26 to 30.

Mr. Duterte said deaths were avoidable in the government’s anti-illegal drug campaign.

“The drug suspects fight back,” he said.

The tough-talking leader said there were records that he was not privy to, adding that he is only briefed by his security officials when big personalities are involved.

“They only tell me who they are, but as to where they are and how they should be arrested, it’s none of my business really as President,” Mr. Duterte said of prominent Maoist rebels.

The President’s order is a “clear and undeniable pronouncement that this government openly encourages impunity — and that it is not intent on pursuing any form of justice for the victims of state violence and human rights abuses,” Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay said in an e-mailed statement on Tuesday.

“What is clear and apparent is that these violations are brazenly conducted, at many times in full view of an audience, and while these violations continue, President Duterte is shielding the police by blocking access to records of police killings in the drug war,” she added.

The President in November said progressive party-list congressmen were communist fronts.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on May 25 said it would let the Department of Justice (DoJ), which is leading a probe of drug-related deaths, access the records of 61 investigations against policemen in anti-drug operations.

A human rights group has said these make up less than 1% of more than 7,800 drug-related deaths.

The PNP later said it was willing to open the rest of the cases upon the DoJ’s request.

Fatou Bensouda, former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, earlier said there was reasonable basis to believe that crimes against humanity had been committed under the administration’s drug war.

Her office said those crimes, including murder and torture, happened between July 1, 2016 and March 16, 2019.

Presidential spokesman Herminio L. Roque, Jr. said Mr. Duterte’s order only covered active cases under investigation. He also said some cases were not covered by “freedom of information.”

“The President has said he would back up the police when they do their job,” he said in Filipino. “If they violate the law, they’re on their own.”

Meanwhile, the DoJ and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) have completed talks with the United Nations (UN) about a joint program on technical cooperation on human rights. 

“This joint program arose from the resolution of the UN Human Rights Council pertaining to the Philippines last year,” Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra told reporters in a Viber group message. 

Mr. Guevarra declined to give more details.

Meanwhile, the PNP said it would soon turn over 53 out of 7,884 cases of extrajudicial killings, including those involving policemen, after the cases are authenticated. 

“I’ve communicated to the secretary of Justice last night, that these 53 cases are just being authenticated and they will be turned over to the DoJ for their further review,” national police chief Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar told an online news briefing.

Mr. Guevarra said the DoJ might share the records with the Commission on Human Rights. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza and Bianca Angelica D. Añago

Court junks cyber-libel case vs Rappler founder

June 1, 2021 | 8:08 pm

A Makati trial court on Tuesday dismissed the cyber-libel case against a journalist who is critical of President Rodrigo R. Duterte after the private complainant lost interest in the case.

Judge Andres Bartolome Soriano junked the case against Rappler founder Maria Angelita Ressa after businessman Wilfredo D. Keng sought to be excused from participating in the case.

“Upon careful reflection, the private complainant has decided to redirect his focus towards helping out with the pandemic, instead of being preoccupied with the prosecution of this case,” the businessman said in a May 25 pleading.

Government prosecutors also told the court they could no longer prove Ms. Ressa’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt after Mr. Keng turned hostile to their cause.

The judge ordered that Ms. Ressa’s cash bail worth P24,000 be released. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago

Gov’t reiterates warning vs selling medicines online

June 1, 2021 | 8:07 pm

THE HEALTH and Trade departments on Tuesday reiterated its warning against selling medicines and other pharmaceutical supplies online, which is prohibited unless the trader has a physical store and corresponding permits.

Anna Melissa S. Guerrero, division chief of the Health department’s Pharmaceutical Division, said these requirements ensure the presence of licensed pharmacists who could advise patients before dispensing the medication.

“I think for the Food and Drug Administration, you are only allowed online selling if you have a physical drug store or device store with a license to operate. But otherwise, they are not allowed,” Ms. Guerrero, speaking in a mix of English and Filipino, said in an online briefing.

Trade Undersecretary Ruth B. Castelo said the Trade department has a team monitoring online sellers who report to the FDA and communicate with online platforms to remove illegal sellers.

Ms. Castelo said they have received 4,000 consumer complaints involving online transactions as of May 28, which included medicines. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Ruling party’s Pacquiao camp still ready to support Duterte

June 1, 2021 | 8:07 pm

PDP-Laban-meeting-Cebu05212021-@OPAVPH — @OPAVPH

THE RULING party’s executive director on Tuesday asserted that the national council meeting on Monday violated their charter, but said the entire PDP-Laban remains prepared to support President Rodrigo R. Duterte in 2022 should he run as vice president.

Ronwald F. Munsayac, executive director of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), said the meeting held in Cebu was “flawed” because it was not properly coordinated with the party’s president, Senator Emmanuel “Manny” D. Pacquiao.

Mr. Duterte, the party chairman, had ordered Energy Secretary and party vice chair Alfonso G. Cusi to start the assembly, Presidential spokesman Herminio L. Roque, Jr., said on Monday.

The party passed a resolution during the meeting urging Mr. Duterte to run for vice president and asked him to choose his preferred presidential bet.

Mr. Munsayac said Mr. Pacquiao has requested to meet with the President to discuss protocols on calling a national council as well as ask on his plans for 2022.

“If President Duterte really wants to run, the whole of PDP-Laban will be supportive of him,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Meanwhile, Mr. Roque said Mr. Pacquiao is still considered an ally of the administration despite the tension between him and some partymates. “He remains to be party president as of now,” he told a televised news briefing on Tuesday.

Mr. Pacquaio last month criticized the administration’s handling of the country’s territorial dispute with China. He had also called out his partymates who initiated premature calls urging the President to run for the country’s second highest position.

Mr. Roque said the President is yet to decide whether he would accept the call for him to run in the upcoming polls.

Michael Henry Ll. Yusingco, a senior research fellow at the Ateneo de Manila University Policy Center, earlier told BusinessWorld that the cracks within the ruling party would most likely split the Mindanao vote, “as both the Duterte brand and Pacquiao brand are very potent as vote-getters in this region.” — Vann Marlo M. Villegas and Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

SC rules OSG has no right to meddle in retired general’s plunder case

June 1, 2021 | 8:07 pm

THE HIGH Court has ruled that the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) has “no power of control over the Office of the Ombudsman” and dismissed its petition relating to a plunder case of a retired military general.

“The government was already rightfully represented by the Office of the Ombudsman in the plunder case before the Sandiganbayan. Thus, the (OSG) overstepped its bounds by insisting on providing additional representation,” reads the decision penned by Justice Marvic Mario Victor F. Leonen released on Monday.

The case involves the plunder charge against Carlos F. Garcia, a retired major general of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

In 2013, the Supreme Court (SC) ordered a temporary restraining order on Mr. Garcia’s case as the OSG filed a petition for review on the anti-graft court’s Special Second Division and the Ombudsman’s office over the plea bargain granted to Mr. Garcia.

The Supreme Court, in a news release on Tuesday, said the acceptance of a plea bargain is “purely upon the discretion of the prosecutor, while its approval is subject to the judicial discretion of the court trying the facts.”

The high court also held that the Sandiganbayan did not abuse its discretion in approving the plea as the prosecution failed to prove Mr. Garcia’s guilt for plunder and money laundering beyond reasonable doubt.

With the ruling, the high court has lifted the temporary restraining order, thereby allowing the Sandiganbayan to continue its criminal proceedings against Mr. Garcia and to implement its Dec. 2010 resolution granting him bail.

The Supreme Court stressed that “the OSG’s authority to represent the government is not plenary or all-encompassing, adding that the mandate to represent the government in the proceedings before the Sandiganbayan generally lies with the Ombudsman, with the exception of the Marcos ill-gotten wealth cases.” — Bianca Angelica D. Añago

High Court associate justice post open for application

June 1, 2021 | 8:06 pm

THE JUDICIAL and Bar Council (JBC) has opened the application and recommendation period for the position vacated by recently-retired Associate Justice Edgardo L. Delos Santos.

Applications and recommendations will be accepted until July 16, the JBC announced Tuesday.

Mr. Delos Santos’ early retirement took effect Monday. He still had about a year before reaching the mandatory retirement age but opted to leave his post early “for reasons pertaining to his current state of health,” according to the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo has approved the conduct of fully remote video-conferencing hearings for all judges of all first and second level courts in the country.

The online operation is intended to ensure the continued trial of cases and court processes despite varying levels of quarantine restrictions.

The directive took effect Monday. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago

Capacity increased for dining, personal care businesses in Metro Manila, nearby areas

June 1, 2021 | 8:05 pm

Restaurants-newnormal — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

THE TASK force handling the coronavirus pandemic response has adopted a resolution increasing the operational capacity of several businesses in areas under general lockdown, according to the presidential palace.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Monday night extended the general community quarantine (GCQ) in Metro Manila and nearby cities and provinces for two more weeks until June 15, amid a continuing surge in coronavirus infections.

Presidential Spokesman Herminio L. Roque, Jr. said the seating capacity of indoor dine-in services in areas under GCQ with heightened restrictions was increased to 30% from the current 10% capacity, while outdoor dining was maintained at 50% of venue capacity.

He said the capacity of business establishments with Safety Seal Certificates would be increased by 10%.

The operational capacity of personal care services has also been increased up to 40% of venue capacity.

The Palace official said venues for meetings, conferences and exhibitions are now allowed to operate up to 30% of venue capacity.

Mr. Roque said inter-zonal travel from and within the greater Manila area was also allowed. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Land travel to Bicol suspended as tropical storm Dante brings rains to central Philippines

June 1, 2021 | 8:05 pm

HEAVY rains were dumped by tropical storm Dante, with international name Choi-wan, over central parts of the country as it shifted towards a more westward track on Tuesday, weather bureau PAGASA reported.

In its 2 p.m. bulletin on June 1, the agency raised typhoon signal #2 in a 5-level system over provinces in the Eastern Visayas Region and Bicol. Signal #2 means the storm could bring damaging gale-force winds.

Signal #1 was also up southern parts of Luzon, Central and Western Visayas, and the northeastern side of Mindanao in the country’s south.

The Land Transportation Office’s Bicol office ordered a suspension of travel for all public and private vehicles to avoid long lines towards the Matnog Port and other ports in the region.

“Travel of vehicles bound for the islands of Visayas, Mindanao, Catanduanes and Masbate is hereby suspended starting June 1, 2021 to avoid congestion of vehicles along Maharlika Highway and the Port of Matnog in Sorsogon and all other ports in the Bicol Region,” the agency said in its memorandum.

The suspension will be in effect until typhoon warning signals are lifted, it said.

Sea travel along the eastern parts of the country were also suspended.

At least three people were reported to have died in the regions of Davao and Soccsksargen in Mindanao over the past two days due to flooding and landslides, but the national disaster management agency said the casualties were still being verified as of Tuesday.

As of 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dante was located 125 kilometers southeast of Guiuan town and was forecasted to make landfall over either Eastern Samar or Leyte by Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning.

It was moving with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center and gustiness of up to 90 km/h. — MSJ

LTO officials charged for delays

June 1, 2021 | 8:05 pm

THE ANTI Red Tape Authority (ARTA) has filed complaints against two Land Transportation Office officials for delays in processing motor vehicle registrations and implementing cut-off schemes.

The agency filed the complaints with the Office of the Ombudsman for alleged violation of the Ease of Doing Business law.

Motorcycle dealers Du Ek Sam, Inc, Des Marketing, Inc., Des Strong Motors, Inc., Desmark Corp. and Premio Corp. started the complaint against the regional director of LTO in Central Visayas.

“Investigation showed that the complainant corporations applied for initial registration of motor vehicles and initial accreditation and renewal of accreditation of their branches in Region VII from 2019 to 2020,” the red tape watchdog said in a statement on Tuesday.

While initial and renewal of registration for motor vehicle should take 80 to 160 minutes, Du Ek Sam, Inc. said official receipts for 15 motor vehicle registrations were released days to months after the company submitted the applications.

“The same pattern was seen in hundreds of motor vehicle registrations filed by the complainant corporations from 2019 to 2020,” ARTA said.

The agency also charged an LTO official from Taguig City for allegedly implementing a cut-off scheme within his office hours.

ARTA said failure to entertain applicants before the end of official working hours violated the law. — J.P. Ibañez