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AMLA amendments may ‘over-regulate’ property sector

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS to the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) that will prevent the Philippines from being grey listed, as proposed in the Senate, may “over-regulate” the real estate industry, stakeholders said.

Senate Bill No. 1412, which will amend Republic Act No. 9160, proposes to include real estate developers and brokers among covered persons, and single cash transactions amounting to more than P1 million among the covered transactions that must be reported to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

“We register our objection to the proposed amendments to the AMLA, particularly within the context of the growing housing backlog, existing constraints to production, which refutes the necessity to regulate some more an already overly-regulated sector,” Christopher Ryan T. Tan of the Organization of Socialized and Economic Housing Developers of the Philippines, Inc. (OSHDP) said in an online hearing on Wednesday.

Mr. Tan spoke before the Senate Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries, tackling measures strengthening the AMLA in compliance with the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

The FATF had earlier given the government one year until this month to address gaps in its AML laws and anti-terrorism measures. However, this was extended until February due to the pandemic.

Mr. Tan argued that FATF Recommendation 22 specifies real estate agents, rather than developers and brokers. He added the P1-million threshold is also not provided by the FATF and was lower than the P3 million they had proposed.

“OSHDP specifically requested to exclude low-cost economic housing and socialized housing from covered persons and transactions — that would mean price points above P3 million. The P1-million transaction is not something we agreed to,” he said.

AMLC Executive Director Mel Georgie B. Racela said in the same hearing that the recommendation took into account discussions with social housing representatives.

“Because it will affect the social housing initiatives and project of the government, we were able to agree that the P1-million cash transaction will not be covered [and] more than P1 million will be covered…,” he said.

He added that inclusion of the real estate industry as covered persons was considered as they confirmed that the sector is being used to launder funds.

Senator Grace S. Poe-Llamanzares, who chairs the panel, and Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon proposed the mandatory reporting of covered transactions be placed under the Registry of Deeds instead of developers and brokers. The senators also proposed to increase the threshold to P3 million.

The Professional Regulation Commission reported there are currently more than 11,000 real estate salespersons and about 31,000 brokers.

Mr. Drilon also said the government should amend the AMLA according to interest of the country versus simply complying with the recommendations of the FATF.

“Let us pass what we believe is reasonable. What we believe is consistent with our national interest and submit it to FATF and debate to them that this is compliant with regulations. These brokers agents, to me, it is unreasonable to require 41,000,” he said.

The bill also proposes allowing the AMLC to investigate suspicious transactions, upon its own determination; interview witnesses, conduct surveillance undercover investigations, and court-approved searches and seizures.

The council may also subpoena persons and documents relevant to the investigation as well as implement targeted financial sanctions, such as freezing assets either directly or indirectly owned by individuals identified by the United Nations Security Council. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

COVID-19 impact on income less severe than before; Filipinos among most optimistic about recovery

COVID-19 impact on income less severe than before; Filipinos among most optimistic about recovery

How PSEi member stocks performed — October 28, 2020

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Wednesday, October 28, 2020.

PHL stocks extend decline on increased selling

By Denise A. Valdez, Senior Reporter

THE MAIN INDEX continued to decline on Wednesday as selling pressure grew and overseas concerns over rising coronavirus cases loomed on the market.

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) lost 37.29 points or 0.58% to close at 6,377.79. The broader all shares index also gave up 9.82 points or 0.25% to end at 3,808.29.

“More investors are now securing profits from the recent rally, which is giving investors who have not been able to ride the rally a chance to pick up shares at lower prices,” AAA Southeast Equities, Inc. Research Head Christopher John Mangun said in an e-mail.

The PSEi is now on its second consecutive day of decline and has been down 113.4 points or 1.75% since its six-day rally ended.

Foreign investors have also returned to selling, ending five straight days of bullishness, after it posted P442.88 million worth of net outflows on Wednesday.

“I think this is due to investors taking profits amid uncertainties in US markets as virus cases are surging again,” Philstocks Financial, Inc. Research Associate Piper Chaucer E. Tan said in a text message.

“The market may test the 6,000 level… thus we expect selling pressure coming off from the investors,” he added.

The United States reported 66,784 new coronavirus cases as of Tuesday, raising its total case count to 8.7 million, based on data from Johns Hopkins University.

Increasing concern over the growing cases weighed on US markets on Tuesday’s trading, resulting in a 0.80% and 0.30% drop for the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 indices, respectively. The Nasdaq Composite index increased 0.64%.

Despite this, the release of third quarter earnings reports are still expected to be the main driver of the PSEi in the coming days.

“As more Q3 earnings reports come in, investors are realizing that the numbers are not as bad as what was expected. With more mobility and business restrictions lifted by the day, economic activity will continue to pick up,” Mr. Mangun said.

Sectoral indices ended mixed at Wednesday’s close. Industrials added 42.16 points or 0.49% to 8,571.93 and services increased 2.19 points or 0.14% to 1,473.71.

However, property dropped 63.33 points or 2.04% to 3,040.36; mining and oil slid 75.71 points or 0.99% to 7,571.19; holding firms shed 26.07 points or 0.39% to 6,610.65; and financials trimmed 0.67 points or 0.05% to 1,251.68 at the end of trading.

Value turnover on Wednesday stood at P6.8 billion with 1.75 billion issues switching hands, down from the previous day’s P8.02 billion with 6.49 billion issues.

Advancers outpaced decliners, 112 against 89. Some 46 names ended unchanged.

Peso ends flat against the dollar on uncertainty over US stimulus

THE PESO was steady versus the dollar on Wednesday after the House of Representatives transmitted the 2021 national budget bill to the Senate and amid further delays in the passage of a stimulus measure in the United States.

The local unit closed at P48.375 versus the dollar on Wednesday, unchanged from its previous finish, data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines showed.

The peso opened slightly stronger at P48.35 on Wednesday, peaking at P48.33 per dollar. Meanwhile, its weakest showing intraday was at P48.40 against the greenback.

Dollars traded declined to $534.6 million on Wednesday from $838.37 million on Tuesday.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said the peso was flat after the House of Representatives submitted to the Senate its proposal for a P4.5-trillion national budget for next year, earlier than Malacañang’s Oct. 28 deadline.

Meanwhile, a trader said the peso was steady versus the dollar as hopes for the approval of a stimulus before the US presidential elections on Nov. 3 faded. The stimulus is meant to help sectors affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

US President Donald Trump acknowledged on Tuesday that a coronavirus economic relief deal would likely come after the Nov. 3 election, with the White House unable to bridge differences with fellow Republicans in the US Senate as well as congressional Democrats, Reuters reported.

Mr. Trump and House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi have traded blame for the impasse over another large stimulus package worth around $2 trillion to help Americans weather the pandemic.

Ms. Pelosi, the top elected Democrat, led the House to pass a $3-trillion coronavirus relief bill in May, but Republicans who control the Senate balked at another large bill. They pushed a much smaller measure, which failed, then left Washington after confirming Mr. Trump’s nominee, Amy Coney Barrett, to the Supreme Court.

The White House has said aid to state and local governments has been the main sticking point in the talks, while Democrats also cited the lack of a national coronavirus testing plan.

Infections are surging again in the United States and 36 out of 50 states have seen an increase for at least two weeks in a row, according to the Reuters analysis. Deaths have also more than doubled in seven states.

For Thursday, Mr. Ricafort expects the peso to move from P48.32 to P48.42 versus the dollar, while the trader sees it ranging from P48.35 to P48.45. — KKTJ with Reuters

Justice dep’t forms core group to investigate state corruption

THE DEPARTMENT of Justice (DoJ) has formed a “core group” that will lead investigations of various agencies for corruption, in line with President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s earlier order, it said in a statement on Wednesday.

Justice  Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra met with senior officials of the agency on Tuesday, including Prosecutor General Benedicto A. Malcontento and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Officer-in-Charge Eric B. Distor to discuss how to proceed with the probe.

The officials discussed “methods of securing information regarding incidences of corruption in government, and possible approaches for the conduct of the investigations,” DoJ said.

The probe will take into account the gravity of the allegations and their  impact on the delivery of government services, according to the statement.

The core group will consist of  members of the task force that probed corruption allegations at the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

The group will be headed by the DoJ and its members are the NBI, Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), Office of the Special Assistant to the President, National Prosecution Service and Anti-Money laundering Council, DoJ said.

“The task force shall also invite the Commission on Audit, Civil Service Commission and the Office of the Ombudsman to work together with the task force, with due consideration for their independence as constitutional bodies,”  it added.

Mr. Duterte on Tuesday ordered the Justice department to probe all agencies for corruption, effective until 2022.

The DoJ was also authorized to create separate task forces for the probe.

Mr. Guevarra, whom the President ordered to probe the Agriculture and Public Works departments, earlier said the job was the toughest he had received from the President.

In a televised speech on Monday, Mr. Duterte read a memo for Mr. Guevarra asking him to investigate “the entire government” until his six-year term ends in less than two years.

Mr. Duterte flagged former officials from PhilHealth, adding that their resignation does not absolve them of the charges.

The President, whom critics have faulted for failing to disclose his net worth despite his vow of transparency, earlier ordered the DoJ to form a task force that investigated corruption at the state health insurer.

Lawmakers allegedly involved in corruption at the Public Works department get as much as a 15% cut for every infrastructure project, PACC Commissioner Greco Belgica told the ABS-CBN News Channel this week.

District contractors and engineers also get kickbacks, he added.

Mr. Belgica said only half of the fund goes to the infrastructure project, resulting in substandard work.

He said the agency was investigating the entire Public Works department and was building up its case against some officials.

Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar on Tuesday said he had formed a task force that will probe the allegations.

The investigation will cover all engineers regardless of their ranks, he told GMA News, adding that they won’t favor anybody. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Senator rejects bill honoring dictator with special holiday

A senator on Wednesday rejected a bill that seeks to declare Sept. 11 as a special nonworking holiday to remember the birth of the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos.

In a statement, Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay said she had left the hearing by the Senate local government committee on Monday by the time the panel voted to endorse the bill to the plenary.

“I wish to reiterate that I did not vote for the approval of the bill and will not support any bill that would cause historical revisionism,” she said.

The committee approved in principle the Marcos holiday bill and nine other bills on local holidays upon Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian’s motion. Senator Francis N. Tolentino, who heads the body, approved the move.

The motion sought the approval of all the measures subject to a technical working group that might look at the “wording requirements,” Mr. Tolentino said at that time.

Eight members of the committee — Ms. Binay, Mr. Tolentino, Mr. Gatchalian and Senators Cynthia A. Villar, Christopher Lawrence T. Go, Ronald M. de la Rosa, Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva and Marcos daughter Imee R. Marcos — attended the virtual hearing.
BusinessWorld had reported that the lawmakers agreed to adopt the Marcos holiday measure.

Mr. dela Rosa and Mr. Villanueva confirmed in separate mobile phone messages on Wednesday that they had not voted for the measure. Mr. Go had left the hearing after manifesting support for the bill, his legislative staff John Cyril E. Santiago said by telephone.

Mr. Gatchalian also issued a statement last night saying he had not voted for the approval of the Marcos holiday bill.
“I merely moved to have the bill, along with other local bills, tackled by the local government committee in last Monday’s hearing, subject to further study by the technical working group,” he said in a statement.

Roughly 3,000 people died and thousands more were tortured when Mr. Marcos suspended elections and declared martial law in the 1970s.

The Senate body has eleven members from the majority bloc, two minority senators and three ex-officio members.
“It would be inappropriate to honor a tyrant and a thief,” Senator Francis N. Pangilinan, a committee member, said in a statement on Monday.

He said Congress passed a bill in 2013 that allotted P10 billion in payments to thousands of Marcos human rights victims, “recognizing the widespread abuses and atrocities committed by the Marcos regime.”

The fund was taken from the Marcos family’s ill-gotten wealth recovered by the government. “The amount of P10 billion was declared as ill-gotten by no less than our Supreme Court,” Mr. Pangilinan said.

He also asked why the bill was being pushed while the country was battling a coronavirus pandemic.

Congressmen approved the bill on final reading on Sept. 2, with 197 yes and seven no votes, and one abstention. A similar bill hurdled the previous House of Representatives but was not approved by the Senate.

Ilocos Norte Rep. Angelo Marcos Barba, the dictator’s nephew, told senators the province, the dictator’s hometown, had always dedicated a week to celebrate his birthday. The committee tackled nine other local holiday bills.

He said the proposed holiday is seen to boost tourism and create jobs in the region. If enacted, Sept. 11 will be called “President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos Day.”

In 2017, President Rodrigo R. Duterte issued a proclamation declaring Sept. 11 a special nonworking holiday in Ilocos Norte to remember Mr. Marcos’s birth centennial.

He also allowed the dictator to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City near the capital after the Supreme Court in 2016 ruled this was legal.

About 3,200 people died, 70,000 were jailed and 34,000 were tortured during Mr. Marcos’s two-decade rule. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

COVID-19 infections more than 375,000; deaths at 7,114 — DoH

THE DEPARTMENT of Health (DoH) reported 2,053 coronavirus infections on Wednesday, bringing the total to 375,180.

The death toll rose by 61 to 7,114, while recoveries increased by 540 to 329,111, it said in a bulletin.

There were 38,955 active cases, 83% of which were mild, 11.1% did not show symptoms, 3.8% were critical and 2.2% were severe.

Caloocan City reported the highest number of new cases at 108, followed by Quezon City at 103, Negros Occidental at 97, Benguet at 93 and Rizal at 85.

DoH said 11 of 140 laboratories had failed to submit data on the cases.

More than 4.3 million people have been tested for the coronavirus as of Oct. 26, according to the agency’s COVID-19 tracker website.

The coronavirus has sickened 44.3 million and killed 1.2 million people worldwide, according to the Worldometers website, citing various sources including data from the World Health Organization.

About 32.5 million people have recovered, it said. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

High court asked to resolve anti-terror lawsuit

A FORMER Supreme Court justice and ex-Ombudsman on Wednesday asked the high tribunal to resolve a number of lawsuits seeking to void the law that expanded terror crimes in the country.

In a 12-page motion, former Justice Antonio T. Carpio, former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, law professors and a student party reiterated their plea for the court to stop the law’s enforcement.

They said the right to freedom of speech and expression, the right against warrantless arrest, due process, bail and presumption of innocence are in “imminent danger of being transgressed by the vague and overbroad” provisions of the law.

“This honorable court must step in to prevent any imminent and threatened enforcement of the Anti-Terrorism Act,” the plaintiffs said, noting that the rules enforcing the law have taken effect.

They also questioned the validity of the rules, which provide that advocacy, protest, dissent and similar actions are considered “acts of terrorism” if they were “intended to cause death or serious physical harm to a person, to endanger a person’s life, or to create a serious risk to public safety.”

The plaintiffs said people or groups may suffer injury if they are classified by the Anti-Terrorism Council as terrorists.

More than 30 petitions were filed questioning the anti-terror law. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Speaker vows funding for cancer control law

THE HOUSE of Representatives will push adequate funding for Republic Act 11215 or the National Integrated Cancer Control Act of 2019 during the bicameral conference on the proposed national budget for next year, its Speaker said on Wednesday.

“The importance of this law and its full implementation cannot be overstated,” Speaker Lord Allan Q. Velasco said in a statement.

“We have to make sure that it is sufficiently funded so it could effectively serve its purpose of strengthening government efforts to combat cancer and increasing the fighting chance of patients to overcome the disease,” he added.

The measure, which President Rodrigo R. Duterte enacted last year, sets up a National Integrated Cancer Control Program, which serves as the framework for all cancer-related activities of the government.

The program will provide timely access to optimal cancer treatment and care for all cancer patients, make treatment and care more affordable and accessible and support the recovery and reintegration to society of cancer survivors.

Mr. Velasco, citing a study by the University of the Philippines Institute of Human Genetics, said 189 of 100,000 Filipinos are afflicted with cancer, while 96 cancer patients die daily.

“The economic burden of cancer care and treatment is overwhelming and it has the potential to drive Filipino families deeper into poverty,” the Speaker said, citing a report by Cancer Coalition Philippines.

A breast ultrasound costs as much as P3,000, while a colonoscopy costs as much as P14,000, he added.

The House version of the budget bill has been sent to the Senate . — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Nationwide round-up (10/28/20)

Survey shows 60% of Filipinos unaware, not informed of climate change

MORE THAN half of Filipinos or 60% have not heard or feel that they are not ‘well-informed’ about climate change, according to a research conducted by the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI) published on October 20.

The study, titled “Public Perception of Climate Change and DisasterPreparedness: Evidence from the Philippines,” indicates that only 12% of respondents feel that they are extremely knowledgeable about the global phenomenon.

“Bicol stood out as the region with the highest percentage of people who never heard of climate change at 38%,” the study said.

The research by HHI was based on data collected from a random survey involving 5,184 adults across the country, and was conducted between the months of March and April 2017.

“Though collected three years ago, these data continue to be relevant today as the impacts of climate change have only worsened,” HHI Resilient Communities Program Director Vincenzo Bolletino said.

Despite the low level of awareness, the Harvard study revealed that 71% of Filipinos believe that they can be “somewhat affected” by climate change, with about 46% thinking that they will be injured, harmed, or get ill from its effects.

Among the 17 regions in the Philippines, residents in the National Capital Region (NCR) were the most concerned that they will contract a disease or be harmed due to the effects of climate change.

Mr. Bolletino said the research data points out that Filipinos who are concerned about the effects of climate change actually prepare and take action for possible disasters in the future.

“These findings support efforts taken to raise awareness of climate change and its anticipated impacts on the Philippines,” he said.

According to the study, other climate change risks that respondents see include income loss, damage to crops, house and property damage, farms becoming inarable farming, and change of livelihood.

Meanwhile, the study said that 47% believe that climate change was caused by a combination of natural and human factors, while 42% said the disasters that they experienced were caused by the phenomenon.

“However, 47% of those living in Zamboanga Peninsula, for instance, strongly disagreed that climate change was linked to disasters,” the study said.

In conclusion, the HHI research said Filipinos who perceive that climate-related changes will directly affect their households and those who have been directly affected by such changes have undertaken preparations like material improvements to their homes and planning their future actions.

“The findings of their study imply that adaptation to climate change and disaster preparedness are inherently associated and potentially mutually reinforcing,” HHI said.

Since 2015, HHI has been doing research and training programs on disaster and climate resilience and humanitarian leadership in the Philippines. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Solon nudges Senate on pending bill for OFW department

A MEMBER of the House of Representatives called on Senate to fast-track the passage of a bill creating a separate department for Filipino workers abroad, following the alleged maltreatment committed by the Philippine ambassador to Brazil against her Filipino household staff.

“The House of Representatives sent House Bill No. 5832 to the Senate last March 16, 2020, so it is now up to the Senate whether Congress can give our OFWs (Overseas Filipino workers) and other overseas Filipinos a new law meant to create as separate department to address their needs,” ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Jocelyn P. Tulfo said.

The proposed law aims to create a Department of Filipinos Overseas and Foreign Employment, which will be in charge of OFW-related policies and programs.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Tuesday also called on lawmakers to expedite the bill, but citing the urgent need to have an agency that will focus on OFW concerns, especially amid displacements prompted by the global coronavirus pandemic.

Mr. Duterte said the Department of Labor and Employment cannot solely handle the needs of OFWs given its responsibilities on in-country policies and programs. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Local governments ordered to resume road clearing program

THE DEPARTMENT of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday directed on local government officials to resume road clearing operations by November 15, with consideration on the quarantine status of the area.

In a briefing on Wednesday, DILG Undersecretary Jonathan E. Malaya said a new memorandum has been issued ordering the resumption of the program intended to clear roads and sidewalks of all obstructions.

“We acknowledge the threat posed by COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), hence, we still take into consideration the quarantine classification of the LGU (local government unit),” he said.

The road clearing operations were suspended in March following the declaration of lockdown measures.

Under the new directive, local governments have until January 15 to complete the clearing operations. — Gillian M. Cortez 

Red-tagging of legislators, celebrities justifies TRO vs anti-terrorism law

THE RELENTLESS red-tagging of cause-oriented legislators and celebrities is another reason for the Supreme Court to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the implementation of the controversial anti-terrorism law, a solon said Wednesday.

Albay Rep. Edcel C. Lagman said the enactment of the Anti-Terrorism Act has emboldened military officials like Lt. Gen. Antonio G. Parlade, Jr. to label lawmakers of the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives as “terrorists” for allegedly being “card-bearing” members of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

Mr. Lagman said  granted that the members of the Makabayan bloc are indeed affiliated with the CPP, “Parlade forgets that membership in the CPP is legal after the Anti-Subversion Law was repealed in 1992 or 28 years ago.”

Mr. Parlade is the spokesman of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

A total of 37 petitions are pending before the Supreme Court against the law.

“The persecution and execution of human rights advocates and defenders will intensify if the implementation of the constitutionally-infirm law is not restrained pending final adjudication of the 37 petitions,” Mr. Lagman said.

Meanwhile, House Deputy Minority leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani T. Zarate on Wednesday denied National Security Adviser Hermogenes C. Esperon’s statement that there are underground organizations inside the Makabayan bloc and other progressive groups.

“Like his paranoid protege, Gen. Parlade, Esperon is just spouting out lies and fake news but does not present evidence that would stand up in court,” Mr. Zarate said. “Obviously, they don’t want to settle the issue with solid evidence  in court that is why they would rather further malign us in public.” — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

Regional Updates (10/28/20)

Typhoon Quinta death toll reaches 9, several injured and missing; tropical depression could  become typhoon by weekend

THE DEATH toll from typhoon Quinta (international name: Molave) has increased to nine people, while two are still missing and at least six injured, according to the October 28 report from the disaster management council. The number of affected families has also gone up to almost 50,000 composed of over 209,000 people in the regions of Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, and Eastern Visayas. There were still more than 14,500 families displaced from their homes as of Wednesday, mostly staying in evacuation centers. Agricultural damage, meanwhile, has increased to P705.87 million from the initial estimate of P401.73 million, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said. In a bulletin on Wednesday, the DA said losses from Quinta are now at 33,545 metric tons and 25,483 farmers and fisherfolk affected.

TYPHOON ROLLY
Meanwhile, the tropical depression east of Luzon could intensify into a severe tropical storm by Friday morning when it enters the Philippine area. Weather bureau PAGASA’s forecast indicates it could reach typhoon category before landfall on Saturday morning, at which time the center of the storm will be 600 kilometers east of Daet, Camariñes Norte. The typhoon, which will be named Rolly,  is likely to brings rains throughout Luzon and the Visayas. — with a report from Revin Mikhael D. Ochave 

Red tide warning raised in Dumanquilas Bay

THE BUREAU of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has warned consumers against eating shellfish harvested from Dumanquilas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur after it tested positive for red tide contamination. In its 24th shellfish bulletin, BFAR said Dumanquilas Bay joins other red-tide areas such as Bataan, particularly the areas of Mariveles, Limay, Orion, Pilar, Balanga, Hermosa, Orani, Abucay, and Samal; Honda and Puerto Princesa bays and Inner Malampaya Sound in Palawan; Milagros in Masbate; Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol; and Tambobo Bay in Negros Oriental. Other areas that are affected by red tide include Daram Island, Zumarraga, Irong-irong, San Pedro, Maqueda, and Villareal Bays in Western Samar; Cancabato Bay and Carigara Bay in Leyte; Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar; 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 these areas are not safe for human consumption. Other marine species, however, can be eaten with proper handling. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Implementation of mandatory cashless toll collection moved to Dec. 1

THE TRANSPORTATION department said on Wednesday it is postponing the start of the mandatory implementation of cashless payments on all toll roads  to Dec. 1 from Nov. 2. The delay is in consideration of motorists who have yet to acquire radio-frequency identification (RFID) stickers on their vehicles, the department said in a statement. However, the agency said there will be no further extensions. Toll Regulatory Board (TRB)  Executive Director Abraham P. Sales said the deferment will  “give motorists, especially infrequent toll road users, more time to comply with the department order, and to prevent the long queues currently being experienced at toll roads in the rush to get the RFID stickers.” Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade signed a department order on Aug. 13 directing all concerned agencies to “formulate new processes and procedures within three months to ensure the smooth implementation of the new policy.” Under the order, the TRB was directed to come up with rules and regulations requiring concessionaires and operators of toll expressways to transition to an electronic toll collection system. The contactless payment policy will be implemented in South Luzon Expressway, Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway, North Luzon Expressway, South Metro Manila Skyway, Southern Tagalog Arterial Road Tollway, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, and Cavite-Laguna Expressway. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Property owner readying legal action vs Davao-Samal bridge project

LEGAL ACTION against the Davao-Samal bridge project is “in the works,” according to the lawyer of the Rodriguez family, owner of the affected properties at the Samal landing site. “As a last recourse, we will eventually file the petition in court,” lawyer Ramon Edison C. Batacan said in a text message. The Rodriguez family, owner of Paradise Island and Beach Resort and the adjacent Costa Marina Beach Resort, has requested the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to stick to the original bridge alignment under the study funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency. They claim that the new alignment will have adverse environmental impacts. Mr. Batacan said he is now preparing the filing for a Writ of Mandamus, a legal remedy relating to the constitutional right to a healthy and balanced environment. “We are open for talks. But apparently DPWH does not want to talk to the lawyers. It is still pursuing the ECC (environmental compliance certificate),” he said. “DPWH is ignoring all efforts to resolve the issues amicably,” he added. DPWH Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain has said the design is final and that it is “based on a long, prudent and factual study.” — Maya M. Padillo

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