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USAID, DepEd sign P4.8-B deal to improve education system

THE United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of Education (DepEd) have signed a P4.8-billion assistance agreement to improve the education sector, the US Embassy in the Philippines said in a statement Thursday.

Lawrence Hardy II, USAID Philippines mission director, said the new bilateral deal “marks a new era in our longstanding partnership” to achieve quality education.

“These programs will strengthen Philippine institutions to provide quality education.  They also recognize the important and unique contributions the private sector and civil society bring to partnerships in achieving better education results,” he was quoted as saying in the statement.

The five-year agreement will “continue and deepen” the US commitment to help out-of-school youth, the embassy said, by improving literacy rates, math competency, social skills, and employment and life skills for out-of-school youth, as well as strengthen education governance, it added.

The agreement is one of the four new assistance agreements with the US signed in 2020 and 2021 totaling about P32.7 billion over five years.

The other agreements signed were with the Health department, to improve the health system, the Department of Finance, to develop the economy, and the National Economic and Development Authority, in aid of protecting the environment.

The US Embassy said the US has provided about P228.8 billion worth of assistance to the Philippines in the past 20 years. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Pork industry warns of lost pricing leverage if imports expand

HOG RAISERS said plans to expand pork imports may actually result in higher pork prices if supplier countries gain leverage on pricing when the Philippines signals a high degree of dependence on foreign produce.

“We could be giving the wrong signal. From 54,000 (MT), naging 400,000 (MT) kailangan natin… (we indicated demand of over 400,000 MT). We will not be surprised if pork import prices rise from $1.50 per kilo to $2.00-$2.50,” according to the National Federation of Hog Farmers, Inc. President Chester Warren Y. Tan, who was speaking at a joint hearing Thursday of the House Committee on Agriculture and Food and the House Committee on Trade and Industry Thursday.

He was referring to the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) proposal to expand the minimum access volume (MAV) quota for pork imports to 404,000 metric tons (MT) from the current 54,000 MT, in order to raise the supply of pork after domestic growers saw their herds diminished by African Swine Fever.

The DA is also proposing to lower tariffs on pork imports to 5% for quantities within the MAV quota and 15% on out-of-quota volumes over six months. The current settings are 30% and 40% respectively.

Mr. Tan said the DA should actually increase tariffs “so we can compete on a level playing field.”

Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura Chairman Rosendo So said at current tariff settings, importers are still profitable, and added that their profits will rise further if tariffs drop.

He added that the government will be disadvantaged by a lowering of tariffs because it will collect less revenue.

“Makakakolekta pa rin tayo ng P12 billion… Kung ang taripa ay binaba sa 5%, ang makokolekta lang natin ay P2.8 billion (We can collect P12 billion from current pork tariffs… If they are lowered to 5%, we will only collect P2.8 billion),” he said at the hearing, using Bureau of Customs (BoC) estimates of pork import prices.

The DA has estimated pork import prices on a per-kilo basis at $3. The BoC estimate is $1.70. — Gillian M. Cortez

New CALAX segment expected to service 5,000 cars daily upon completion by third quarter

THE 7.2-kilometer segment of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX), which runs between the Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road Interchange and the Silang East Interchange, may open by the third quarter of the year, MPCALA Holdings, Inc. said Thursday.

MPCALA President and General Manager Roberto V. Bontia announced at an online briefing Thursday that the new subsection, known as Subsection 5, is targeted for completion by the third quarter.

Subsection 5 is currently 83% complete and is part of the 45-kilometer CALAX expressway running from Kawit, Cavite to Mamplasan Interchange in Biñan, Laguna.

“As soon as the right of way is handed over to us, we will double our construction efforts to avoid any unnecessary delay,” Mr. Bontia said.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark A. Villar and MPCALA Holdings executives inspected Subsection 5 Thursday.

“As travel restrictions are slowly but surely being lifted, this new subsection of CALAX will help accelerate economic progress in Laguna and Cavite by providing interconnection between the two provinces of Region 4-A,” Mr. Villar noted.

“This segment is crucial since it is expected to serve almost 5,000 cars per day, and will ease traffic along Governor’s Drive, Aguinaldo Highway, and Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road once opened,” he added.

Mr. Villar also said that the acquisition of right of way has been a challenge for the company and the Department of Public Works and Highways.

“We are giving our full effort to deliver and eventually open with as little deviation to the original timeline as possible.”

The first segments of CALAX that are currently operational run from Mamplasan to Santa Rosa in Laguna.

The operational segments are servicing about 10,000 vehicles daily, according to Mr. Villar.

“We target to finish the whole… stretch of CALAX and serve 50,000 cars before 2022 ends,” he said.

The project has eight subsections: Kawit to Open Canal (subsection 1), Open Canal to Governor’s Drive (subsection 2), Governor’s Drive to Silang (subsection 3), Silang to Silang East (subsection 4), Silang East to Santa Rosa (subsection 5), and Santa Rosa to Mamplasan (subsections 6, 7, & 8).

Once fully operational, the P35.43-billion project is expected to cut travel time between the Manila-Cavite Expressway and South Luzon Expressway to 45 minutes from the current 2.5 hours.

MPCALA Holdings is a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., the tollways unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which is one of three key Philippine units of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT, Inc.

Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Conducive climate for startups should be gov’t priority, not funding

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT for startups should focus on creating a positive regulatory environment for private investment, rather than trying to “do it all” by funding the sector itself, experts said at an Asian Development Bank (ADB) webinar.

Developing economies can help develop startups more effectively by paying more attention to improving governance rather than providing capital themselves, according to Nitin Pangarkar, an associate professor at National University of Singapore.

“The mistake that many governments make is they try to do it all… They cannot replicate the incentives that these private providers of capital have,” Mr. Pangarkar said.

“Some of the governments in the region are trying too hard to provide the funding themselves. I think that’s not the solution. The solution is to provide a conducive environment to attract providers of capital and let the market magic work its thing,” he added.

He said governments should focus on promoting ease of doing business so investors can set up shop painlessly, as well as building quality infrastructure, particularly internet connectivity.

Governments also need to avoid overtaxing the private sector, support immigration to improve access to global talent, and improve the quality of education.

“It’s a journey. It cannot be done 1-2 years but will take a long time. Even Singapore took a long time, but it can be done,” added Mr. Pangarkar.

Paul Vandenberg, a senior economist at ADB’s Economic Research and Operational Support Division, said clear regulation, tax and bankruptcy procedures, and efficient courts are attractive to the venture capital (VC) that bets on startups.

In the Philippines, VC funding for startups lags the region because of risk aversion in the Philippine investment community, according to Katrina R. Chan, director at startup platform QBO Innovation Hub Philippines.

Ms. Chan said there is enough money available for funding but the money is not reaching companies because of bottlenecks.

“There is also a lack of mature founders, very few success stories. How do we break that cycle? How do we get actual risk capital flowing into companies to get that momentum going and have enough pipeline that companies can mature,” she added.

Winston Damarillo, the chief strategy officer of regulatory technology startup UNAWA, said Filipinos overseas should be tapped to provide funding.

“(The issue is) how do you organize that diaspora capital and how do you repatriate them both in terms of skills and money?” Mr. Damarillo said. — Beatrice M. Laforga

Legislator says housing budget of P50B needed to address shortages

A MEMBER of a House of Representatives committee said she will propose an increase in the housing budget to at least P50 billion next year, following the panel’s approval of a resolution declaring a housing crisis.

In a statement Thursday, the House Committee on Housing and Urban Development said it will also collaborate with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and the National Housing Authority (NHA) to achieve a goal of building 6.7 million housing units.

San Jose Del Monte City Representative Florida P. Robes said the committee “will move to increase the budget for socialized housing to at least P50 billion starting next year and increase it every year thereafter to enable the government to address the issue.”

On Wednesday, the panel adopted House Substitute Resolution No. 1458 declaring a housing crisis in the Philippines. The resolution said only about 800,000 housing units were constructed between 2016 and 2020, against a projected demand for over six million units by 2022.

The government allocated an average of 0.74% of the national budget for socialized housing between 2010 and 2021.

The House committee plans to fast-track 18 pending measures meant to ease the housing crisis.

Ms. Robes heads the technical working group created by the House Resolution.

“This is an ambitious goal I know because it is not easy especially now that we have the pandemic but we have housing officials who are passionate about their work and are very much willing to work together to fulfill their mandate of providing decent and affordable housing to all underserved Filipino families,” she said. — Gillian M. Cortez

Aquaculture industry given go-ahead to more fully exploit mangrove crab resource

THE aquaculture industry has been given the go-ahead to catch more juvenile mangrove crabs and crablets to help with restocking, an order which authorities billed as an aid to the industry’s recovery.

According to Administrative Circular No. 2 issued by the Department of Agriculture. “There is a clamor for stakeholders whose livelihoods are affected by the implementation of the (fisheries administrative order) to allow them to catch, transport, trade, and sell crablets less than five centimeters carapace width for aquaculture purposes, in order to augment their income during this coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and also to support the recovery of the aquaculture industry.”

Circular No. 2 partially suspends the implementation of Section 3 of Fisheries Administrative Order No. 264, which prohibited catching and trading of those resources.

Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar, who signed the circular on March 5, said the juvenile mangrove crabs and mangrove crablets can be caught only for further growing by aquaculture operations.

Mr. Dar also ordered the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to provide immediate assistance to mangrove crablet gatherers, consolidators, traders, and growers affected by the pandemic.

Mr. Dar also instructed BFAR regional offices to implement conservation and management measures such as mangrove reforestation, ensure the release of egg-bearing crabs, and establish crab sanctuaries.

The circular will be automatically lifted after one year or once Proclamation No. 922 declaring the state of public health emergency is withdrawn by President Rodrigo R. Duterte. — Revin Mikael D. Ochave

Mandatory OFW insurance recommended for agency hires only

LABOR OFFICIALS told Congress that mandatory insurance for overseas workers should only apply to agency hires for now, citing the need to clear up some legal and budgetary hurdles before such a policy is legislated.

At a House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs hearing Thursday, the administrator of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Bernard P. Olalia, said amendments are needed to current law before insurance payments can be required of some classes of overseas workers like direct hires and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) employed under government-to-government agreements.

“We recognize that only agency hires shall be subjected to the mandatory insurance coverage,” he said in the hearing, adding that labor officials have long sought the amendment of Republic Act 10022, or the Migrant Workers Act of 1995, in order to expand the types of OFW subject to compulsory welfare insurance.

Legislators are considering seven bills dealing with OFW insurance coverage.

Deputy Speaker Rufus B. Rodriguez said at the hearing that his House Bill (HB) 3811 was meant to address overseas workers experiencing abuse.

Benefits contemplated by HB 3811 include an accidental-death payout of up to $15,000; a natural death benefit of up to $10,000; a permanent disability benefit of up to $7,500; and repatriation and burial insurance of up to $15,000. The scheme proposed in the bill also provides for subsistence allowances and payment for wage claims.

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac said at the hearing that while he supports the bill, more study is needed for some cases, such as when OFW deaths are ruled to be suicides.

“The employer or the authorities might easily pass off a domestic worker’s death as a suicide without proper investigation,” he said, noting that suicides invalidate many life insurance claims.

In terms of funding, Mr. Cacdac said some of the bills also place responsibility for premiums on OWWA, which it might not be able to afford on its annual income of over P2 billion annually.

“If we spend our money on just insurance premiums, the funds will be gone immediately and we will lose money for social benefit programs,” he said. — Gillian M. Cortez

Metro placed under curfew as daily virus tally soars

By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporter

The mayors of Manila, the capital and nearby cities on Thursday night approved a two-week curfew that will start on March 15 to curb a fresh surge in coronavirus infections.

The curfew will run for seven hours starting at 10 p.m., Benjamin de Castro Abalos, Jr., who heads the Metro Manila Development Authority, said by telephone.

“It will be very intensive in the sense that we will implement massive testing, more contact-tracing, quarantine and coordinated granular lockdowns,” he added.

The Department of Health (DoH) reported 3,749 coronavirus infections on Thursday — the highest daily tally since September — bringing the total to 607,048.

The number was the highest since Sept. 19, when the agency reported 3,962 cases, according to past health bulletins.

The death toll rose 12,608 after 63 more patients died, while recoveries increased by 406 to 546,671, it said in a bulletin.

There were 47,769 active cases, 91.6% of which were mild, 4.4% did not show symptoms, 1.6% were critical, 1.6% were severe and 0.77% were moderate.

The Health department said nine duplicates had been removed from the tally, while 24 recovered cases were reclassified as deaths. Four laboratories failed to submit data on Mar. 10.

Mr. Abalos said 360 policemen would be deployed on the streets of the capital region to enforce social distancing. The cops will also serve as contact-tracing officers.

Business operations would still be allowed, he added.

The curfew would be lifted once the cases subside, Mr. Abalos said. “Whatever health experts would tell mayors, we will follow.”

About 8.6 million Filipinos have been tested as of Mar. 9, according to DoH’s tracker website.

The coronavirus has sickened about 118.7 million and killed more than 2.6 million people worldwide, according to the Worldometers website, citing various sources including data from the World Health Organization.

About 94.3 million people have recovered, it said.

Meanwhile, more than 9,000 soldiers have been vaccinated against the coronavirus as of March 10, the Defense department said on Thursday.

Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana said 9,043 soldiers had been inoculated with CoronaVac shots donated by China. The military received 100,000 out of the 600,000 shots made by Sinovac BioTech Ltd. that the government took delivery on Feb. 28.

The Philppine military is seeking to vaccinate 25,000 more troops in the coming days, he told a televised news briefing.

Mr. Lorenzana said a number of soldiers had initially refused to get vaccinated with the Chinese vaccine but eventually decided to get the shots amid a fresh spike in coronavirus infections in the country.

“Fewer soldiers are declining to get vaccinated,” he said in Filipino. “If infections continue to soar in the coming days, maybe no one will refuse the shots anymore.”

MISSED GOAL

Military spokesman Maj. Gen Edgard A. Arevalo earlier said vaccination is mandatory for soldiers, but they may choose a different brand at their own expense. The Armed Forces had been tapped to help distribute vaccines nationwide.

The Philippine government has been unable to vaccinate at least 250,000 Filipinos daily to meet its 50-million goal this year due to supply problems, Vivencio B. Dizon, the country’s deputy chief enforcer of anti-coronavirus efforts, said on Wednesday.

The government could hit the daily goal of 250,000 to 300,000 vaccinations once the bulk of the vaccines arrive, he added.

The government had only inoculated about 36,000 people as of March 7 since it started its vaccination drive this month, presidential spokesman Harry L. Roque, Jr. said on Tuesday.

Vaccine czar Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. earlier said the main volume of vaccines bought from drugmakers and secured under a global initiative for equal access would arrive by the third and fourth quarters.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte has said Manila was having difficulty getting more vaccine supplies, citing problems in the global supply chain. Rich countries were being prioritized by drugmakers, he said.

With a gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of $9,471, the Philippines ranked 76th among the poorest countries last year.

But poorer nations such as Bangladesh, Cambodia and Còte d’Ivoire, with a GDP per capita of  $5,028, $4,664 and $4,457, respectively, got their vaccines before the Philippines, according to the website Our World in Data.

The Chinese government earlier donated 600,000 doses of CoronaVac made by Sinovac Biotech Ltd.

The Philippines on March 4 also took delivery of 487,200 vials of the vaccine developed by British drugmaker AstraZeneca Plc. Almost 40,000 more doses arrived on March 7.\

The vaccine doses were secured under the World Health Organization (WHO)-led COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX).

A million more doses of CoronaVac are expected to arrive this month under a P700-million purchase deal with Sinovac.

Manila will take delivery of about 117,000 vials of the vaccine developed by Pfizer, Inc. under COVAX by April, Mr. Dizon said.

The first batch of Pfizer doses was due to arrive in February but was delayed after the government failed to submit documents freeing the drugmaker from potential lawsuits.

Mr. Dizon said the government seeks to vaccinate about 3.5 million health workers by May. — with Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Main Philippine gov’t portal hacked after death of 9 activists

THE PHILIPPINE government’s main website was hacked on Wednesday supposedly by a group claiming to protest the country’s worsening human rights situation under President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

In a statement, CyberPH for Human Rights claimed responsibility for the distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack on gov.ph, which remained inaccessible as of Thursday evening.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), which confirmed the cyber-attack, said the attack was made “for bragging purposes” or “plain and simple activism.”

The hackers claimed to have stolen some data “but it is yet to be proven,” NBI Cyber-crime Division chief Victor V. Lorenzo told a televised news briefing on Thursday.

The hackers identified themselves as a group of “ordinary Filipinos united to defend human rights in the Philippines through cyber-space.” They said they launched the “political cyber-attack” to send a message to Mr. Duterte and his government to stop the killing of civilians.

The group said Mr. Duterte must be held accountable for the deaths of nine activists in separate operations in the provinces of Rizal, Batangas and Laguna on Mar. 7, which came after the country’s top leader ordered soldiers to “kill” Maoist rebels and “ignore human rights.”

The hackers said they would launch another round of “sustained DDoS attacks on government websites that had been complicit in perpetuating barefaced lies on the killing of unarmed civilians and the worsening of the nation’s human rights situation.”

The palace pledged to hold accountable any law enforcers found to have killed the activists.

“Impunity has no place in the Duterte administration,” presidential spokesman Herminio L. Roque, Jr. said at the same briefing. “Whoever violated the law will be held accountable and will be punished under our laws.”

Mr. Roque also appealed to the European Union delegation in the Philippines to give the government a chance “to discharge its obligation to investigate, punish and prosecute those who may have breached our domestic laws.”

He earlier said the President did not bring up the incident during his meeting with Cabinet officials two days after the raids.

Also on Thursday, Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana said military troops in a way were already enforcing the President’s shoot-to-kill order against communist rebels engaged in the armed battle.

National Security Adviser Hermogenes C. Esperon, Jr. earlier said defeating the rebels should be the main concern of the government rather than upholding human rights.

“We have seen no government, after the Marcos dictatorship, such as this one urging openly and repetitively the military and the police to ‘Kill, kill, kill,’” Jose Colin M. Bagaforo, a Catholic Church activist, said in a statement on Thursday.

“What is more dangerous to my mind is the fact that seemingly, we have grown to be accustomed to tolerating this blatant disregard of the rule of law, by disrespecting the integrity of public office,” the Catholic bishop added. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Cops to enforce social distancing measures in Manila, nearby cities

THE PHILIPPINE government will deploy more cops to enforce physical distancing measures amid a fresh surge in coronavirus infections in Manila, the capital and nearby cities, according to the Presidential Palace.

Presidential spokesman Herminio L. Roque, Jr. cited a need for increased police presence on the streets as Filipinos continue to ignore health protocols.

“If we have to use more policemen and soldiers for this, we will do it,” he told a televised news briefing in Filipino on Thursday.

Filipinos don’t seem to mind wearing face masks but have a hard time following social distancing measures, Mr. Roque said. “So law enforcers are really needed for this.”

Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Jonathan E. Malaya on Tuesday said about 180 more cops had been deployed in Pasay City to help local authorities enforce quarantine rules.

More cops will be sent to the cities of Navotas and Malabon to ensure people follow health protocols especially in coronavirus hotspots, he said.

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III earlier said coronavirus cases in Metro Manila were alarming.

The cities of Pasay and Malabon were at a critical risk level, while Navotas, Makati and San Juan were high-risk areas, he said at a televised meeting with President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Monday night.

Coronavirus cases in Metro Manila have been rising faster, hitting levels last seen in July, the OCTA Research Group from the University of the Philippines said on Sunday.

There had been 1,025 infections daily in the capital region in the past seven days, 42% higher than a week earlier and more than double the number two weeks ago, it said. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Nationwide round-up (03/11/21)

WWF Philippines to showcase educational flicks before Earth Hour on Mar. 27

WORLD Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines announced on Thursday that it would be holding an online watch party featuring educational flicks about wildlife conservation and plastic pollution, among others, before the annual Earth Hour global event. WWF Philippines said Earth Hour 2021 would be observed on Mar. 27 at 8:30 p.m. local time, when people are encouraged to switch off their lights for an hour. Leading up to the switch off, WWF Philippines will run educational films in the afternoon during its “EH PHLIX” event. In a virtual media briefing on Thursday, the environment group said that some of the films lined up are: Wildlife Conservation for Kids at 3:30 p.m.; Feed the Future: Sustainable Dining 101 at 4:30 p.m.; Tackling the Plastic Problem at 6 p.m.; and Countdown to Earth Hour at 7 p.m. These films will be livestreamed on World Wide Fund Philippines’ Facebook page. “We never really had this kind of ‘webinar series type’ that’s available for everyone to understand in different kinds of topics. We’ve always had it stand alone, and just (for a) specific audience but this one is going to be available for everyone,” WWF Philippines’ Climate Change and Energy Program Head Angela Consuelo S. Ibay said. She added that the films would also promote how the public can practice sustainability in their homes. Earth Hour, organized by World Wide Fund, is a global grassroots movement that aims to unite people “to take action on environmental issues and protect the planet.” The annual event encourages the public to switch off their non-essential lights for an hour as a symbol of their commitment to the planet. — Angelica Y. Yang

Defense dep’t asserts military general as anti-communist task force spokesperson not ‘unconstitutional’

LIEUTENANT General Antonio G. Parlade, Jr.’s appointment as an official and spokesperson of the Duterte administration’s anti-communist task force is not unconstitutional, the Department of National Defense said on Thursday. The Philippine Senate on Wednesday recommended the immediate relief of Mr. Parlade from his duty as spokesman of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), citing a provision in the 1987 Constitution barring an active military officer from holding a civilian position in government. In a senate hearing on Wednesday, Senator Franklin M. Drilon, a lawyer, said the general’s appointment violates Article 16, Section 5 of the 1987 Constitution, which states that “No member of the armed forces in the active service shall, at any time, be appointed or designated in any capacity to a civilian position in the government, including government-owned or controled corporations or any of their subsidiaries.”

‘COMPLICATED’
Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana acknowledged that the matter is a “very complicated one” since the task force is headed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). In a televised press briefing Thursday, Mr. Lorenzana said if Mr. Parlade would be removed from the post, the government might as well take out the whole AFP leadership from the NTF-ELCAC. Mr. Parlade’s expertise as a soldier is “being utilized” as the spokesman of the task force, Mr. Lorenza said. Mr. Parlade currently heads the military’s command in southern Luzon, where nine activists were killed and several others arrested in simultaneous police operations last Sunday. Authorities assert that the activists were in members of the New People’s Army, the armed unit of the communist movement. Presidential Spokesman Herminio L. Roque, Jr. said the decision whether or not to remove Mr. Parlade from the post must be made by the defense chief. “Hinihinayaan na po natin ang decision na iyan kay (We leave that decision to) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana ng National Defense,” he said in a separate press briefing on Thursday. The NTF-ELCAC, chaired by President Rodrigo R. Duterte, was formed in 2018 to quell the longest-running communist insurgency in Asia. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza 

Online interviews set Friday for 3 Supreme Court chief justice nominees

INTERVIEWS of three nominees for the chief justice position will proceed online on Friday despite the suspension of work at the Supreme Court building from Thursday to Sunday for disinfection. “Offices who will be in charge of the interview and livestreaming like the JBC (Judicial and Bar Council) and SC PIO (Public Information Office) will be reporting for work,” SC PIO Chief Brian Keith F. Hosaka said on Thursday. The three nominees to be interviewed are Justices Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe, Alexander G. Gesmundo, and Ramon Paul L. Hernando. The interviews will be done via Zoom from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., starting with Ms. Perlas-Bernabe and ending with Mr. Hernando. After a successful test run on Thursday, Mr. Hosaka said the interviews will be broadcast live over the government’s PTV4 station. Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta, who has opted for early retirement a year ahead of the mandatory age, will leave his post effective Mar. 27. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago

Regional Updates (03/11/21)

DoJ to give ‘special attention’ to cop caught planting evidence on video

THE Department of Justice (DoJ) is conducting its own investigation on the cop caught on video in Valencia City planting a gun as evidence against a suspect killed in a drug operation. Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said on Thursday the review panel led by the department “will certainly give special attention to this particular incident in Valencia City.” He said regardless of the outcome of the Philippine National Police’s own probe, “the DoJ-led review panel will continue looking into incidents of death during illegal drug operations in other parts of the country, including Region X (Northern Mindanao).” He added that if the video footage of the incident is authenticated, “it will be a very useful and relevant piece of evidence in determining where liability lies.” The policeman on the video, which has gone viral on social media, has been identified as Police Corporal Benzon Gonzales. The cop was recorded firing a gun three times then putting the gun beside the body of a slain drug suspect identified as Pol L. Estañol. The suspect was later reported to have fired at  policemen during the drug buy-bust operation. The incident reportedly took place on Feb. 20 in the city in Bukidnon province. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago 

Red tide warning lifted in several Eastern Visayas areas

SEVERAL areas in the Eastern Visayas Region are now free from red tide contamination, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) announced. Based on its latest shellfish bulletin, BFAR said the red tide warning has been lifted in Daram Island, Zumarraga, San Pedro Bay, and Cambatutay Bay, all in Western Samar; Carigara Bay and Ormoc Bay in Leyte; Biliran Islands; and Guiuan and Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar.

STILL POSITIVE
On the other hand, BFAR said areas that are still positive for red tide include Inner Malampaya Sound, Palawan; Sorsogon Bay, Sorsogon; Dauis and Tagbilaran in Bohol; Tambobo Bay, Negros Oriental; and Calubuian and Cancabato Bay, Leyte. In Mindanao, affected areas are: Dumanquillas Bay, Zamboanga del Sur; Murcielagos Bay (Sapang Dalaga and Baliangao) and Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental; Taguines Lagoon, Camiguin; Balite Bay in Davao Oriental; and Lianga Bay and Hinatuan in Surigao del Sur. All types of shellfish and Acetes sp. or alamang harvested from affected areas are not safe for human consumption. However, other marine species can be eaten with proper handling. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Negros Oriental lifts RT-PCR test requirement; upgraded sea, air ports formally launched

THE DUMAGUETE-Sibulan Airport development project covered a runway upgrade for bigger aircraft and an expanded terminal building to accommodate more passengers. — DUMAGUETECITY.GOV.PH

TRAVELERS to Negros Oriental province are no longer required to present a negative RT-PCR test result for coronavirus starting Mar. 10. Governor Roel R. Degamo issued an order Wednesday in line with the national government’s policy on lessening documentary requirements for domestic travel. Barangay-level monitoring and tracing will be observed until the province fully adopts the national contact tracing system, Mr. Degamo said. “This set of guidelines shall be binding in all component cities and municipalities within the Province,” the order states. The more relaxed rules come as the renovated air and sea ports in the capital Dumaguete City are formally launched on Mar. 11. The Dumaguete-Sibulan airport was upgraded at a cost of P259 million under the Build, Build, Build program. Improvements include expansion of the terminal building and the runway to accommodate bigger aircraft. “We are excited to formally inaugurate the newly-developed facilities of the Dumaguete Airport this week. These improvements are what the Philippine aviation industry badly needs right now, given the adverse impact of the pandemic. We are excited to finally witness, once again, a vibrant atmosphere in the country’s airports,” Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Director General Jim C. Sydiongco said in a statement on Wednesday. The P114-million seaport improvement, on the other hand, covers a new two-storey building for operations and passenger terminal. The building is “designed to address the need for the proper monitoring of vessel arrival and departure, as well as provide state-of-the-art passenger terminal building for passengers bound for nearby islands like Siquijor, Cebu, Bohol, among others,” the Department of Transportation said in a separate release. — MSJ

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