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Filipino workers in Baghdad told to go on leave

THE Philippine Embassy in Iraq advised Filipino workers there to go on leave after a US strike killed a top Iranian commander in Baghdad’s international airport.

Filipino workers on vacation should ask for an extension from their Iraqi employers amid tensions, the embassy said.

“Don’t hesitate to ask for an extension of your leave until the situation eases,” Charge d’Affaires Jomar T. Sadie said in Filipino at a briefing streamed over the embassy’s Facebook page on Sunday.

“If you are here in Iraq and have similar worries, don’t hesitate to ask for a leave of absence so you can go home to the Philippines,” he added.

Mr. Sadie reminded Filipino workers overseas that under their contracts, help in times of danger is guaranteed by their employers.

Meanwhile, undocumented Filipino migrants should reach the embassy for assistance.

Top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani was killed in a US strike at Baghdad’s international airport on Friday.

The Pentagon said Mr. Trump had ordered the killing after a pro-Iran mob laid siege on the US embassy.

Mr. Trump on Saturday threatened to hit 52 Iranian sites “very hard” if Iran attacks Americans or US assets in retaliation.

There are 1,190 documented Filipinos in Iraq and 450 undocumented ones, according to the Foreign Affairs department.

The agency also said the crisis alert level for all areas in Iraq had been raised to 3 or voluntary repatriation, except for the Iraqi Kurdistan region, which is still under Alert Level 1 or precautionary phase.

A deployment ban of new workers and household workers to Iraq has also been put in place.

Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Eduardo Matin R. Menez earlier said the situation in Iraq was being closely monitored and the Philippines was prepared to send a rapid-response team if necessary. “Direct conflict in Iran itself is presently unlikely,” he said.

Philippine congressmen cited economic and security concerns as a result of the tension.

“The expected escalation of regional tensions in the Middle East could mean an overseas Filipino worker deployment ban in the region and at least two million OFWs in the Gulf countries would be put in danger,” Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani T. Zarate said in a statement on Sunday.

“For us here on the homefront, this would mean higher oil prices and that would mean higher prices of basic goods and services as well as higher poverty incidence especially with the third tranche of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law,” he added.

Mr. Zarate said the US attack “may even lead to more wars and high-level conflicts in the region and elsewhere, where the US has presence or influence, like the Philippines.”

The international community should intervene and pressure the US to avoid more attacks, Mr. Zarate said.

Party List Rep. Rowena Niña O. Taduran called on the government to come up with contingency plans should tensions in the Middle East escalate.

“We should prioritize the safety of our Overseas Filipino workers in the Middle East should there be a retaliation after the death of Iran’s commander of the elite Quds forces,” she said.

Meanwhile, labor groups called on the government to intensify protection measures for Filipino workers in the Middle East, who make up more than half of the 2.3 million overseas Filipino workers.

The Federation of Free Workers on Sunday said the government should have an evacuation plan for 1.2 million Filipinos in the Middle East.

It added that the government should prioritize household workers in Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Lebanon because they are the most vulnerable in case of war. — Charmaine A. Tadalan and Genshen L. Espedido

Travelers from China asked to check for flu-like symptoms

THE Health department warned Filipino travelers to check themselves for flu-like conditions after reports of a mysterious respiratory disease that is affecting people in China.

“I urge the public, especially those with a history of travel from China, to seek immediate medical consult if they’re experiencing any flu-like symptoms,” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said in a statement on Sunday.

He said he had ordered the Bureau of Quarantine to monitor seaports and airports and be on the lookout for incoming travellers who have signs of fever or respiratory infection.

The Health department said a “viral pneumonia of unknown origin” had caused an outbreak in China, affecting 44 people. Chinese authorities are investigating the source of the outbreak, in which 11 of the 44 cases were considered “severe,” according to BBC report on Friday.

Hong Kong and Singapore were also monitoring incoming travelers after reports of the mysterious illness.

Chinese authorities were investigating 27 cases of infection after rumors on social media suggested the outbreak could be linked to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), according to Reuters.

The World Health Organization said it was aware of the reports and was is in contact with the Chinese government about it.

“Investigations are still being carried out and authorities cannot yet confirm what pathogen is causing this illness,” WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said. He added that there were several potential causes of viral pneumonia, many of which are more common than SARS. — Gillian M. Cortez

Legislators to appeal Supreme Court ruling on bus ban

A GROUP of legislators will ask the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision denying jurisdiction over the provincial bus ban along the main thoroughfare EDSA in Metro Manila. “With all due respect, and without prejudice to the filing of our Motion for Reconsideration, the SC should have taken jurisdiction over the petition on the provincial bus ban as in other cases they decided wherein direct resort to SC is allowed when there are genuine issues of constitutionality that must be addressed at the most immediate time,” AKO Bicol Party-list Rep. Alfredo A. Garbin Jr., one of the petitioners, told reporters Sunday via Viber message. In a resolution released Friday, the country’s highest court said the petition should be referred to the lower courts first. Last August, a Quezon City Regional Trial Court issued an injunction to stop the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) from implementing the ban based on a petition filed by provincial bus operators. Mr. Garbin defended that their petition “raises a genuine issue of constitutionality” over the MMDA issuance in March 2019 of Regulation No. 19-002, which prohibits provincial buses from picking-up or dropping-off passengers along EDSA as a measure to ease the congestion along the highway. The policy also orders local government units to stop issuing business permits to all public utility bus terminals along EDSA. The petition also argued that the MMDA “exceeded its powers” when it issued the ban “because it does not possess legislative nor police powers.” It also pointed out that city buses and private vehicles, not provincial buses, are the main causes of congestion. Other legislators who filed the petition were AKO Bicol Party-list Rep. Ronald S. Ang, Albay Rep. Jose Maria Clemente S. Salceda, Bayan Muna Chair Neri J. Colmenares, and Makabayan bloc legislators. — Genshen L. Espedido

Northern Iloilo Fish Port project gets initial $1M fund

THE REHABILITATION and expansion of the Concepcion fish port, which was damaged by typhoon Haiyan in 2013, will soon be underway after the initial $1 million fund was downloaded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to the provincial government of Iloilo last month. In a statement on Friday, the local government said the fund transfer for the $3-million Northern Iloilo Fishery Rehabilitation and Development Project was completed following the signing of the memorandum of agreement by KOICA, Iloilo provincial government, and the Concepcion municipal government. The fund is an official development assistance from the Korean government. The provincial government will handle the procurement and construction of the project, which covers site development, administration building, fish market, public toilets, causeway, and rockwall revetment. The municipal government will provide the power, water, sewerage, and drainage as well as the resettlement costs for affected residents. Concepcion Mayor Raul N. Banias said the Provincial Engineering Office is now finalizing the cost computation and the procurement process is expected to start soon. Construction is expected to commence by March. The project is targeted for completion within a year and a half. Concepcion is located in the northeastern part of Panay Island and includes 16 other surrounding smaller islands.

Sto. Tomas town adopts ‘no contact policy’ and 1-day business permit processing

STO. TOMAS, a first class municipality in Davao del Norte, has adopted a “no contact policy” in the registration and renewal of business permits through the establishment of a business one-stop shop (BOSS), where documents will simply be submitted for immediate processing. Mayor Ernesto T. Evangelista, in a statement last week, said the policy means there should be no interaction between the applicants and the local government employees processing the applications. The goal, the statement said, is to eliminate red tape and reduce the processing time from a week to just one day. “Under the Ease of Doing Business law, business permits applicants have to process their documents in three steps: ‘File, Pay and Claim’,” Ana Jane C. Gatillo, head of the Business Permits and Licenses Office, said. She added that registration and renewal of business permits and licenses will be completed in a day if applicants submit all the requirements. The municipal government expects to process about 2,000 applications during the license renewal period from January 2 to 20. “We believe that it is high time that we prioritize measures that will make public service more effective, efficient, and pro-people,” Ms. Gatillo said. Earlier, Trade and Industry Regional Director Ma. Belenda Q. Ambi called on local government units to institute reforms in their business processes despite poor connectivity in the Davao Region, which poses a challenge to the adoption of technological innovations. “We really need a better connectivity if we want this (better ease of doing business) to happen,” she told BusinessWorld on the sidelines of the annual achievements presentation last December. — Carmelito Q. Francisco

Residential, commercial lots in Luzon, Iloilo up for bidding

THE PHILIPPINE Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) is holding a bidding on Feb. 6 at its Makati City office for 62 closed banks’ assets consisting of residential and commercial lots with a combined minimum disposal price of PhP 57.7 million. The properties, which will be sold on an “as-is, where is” basis, are located in Metro Manila, Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Pangasinan, Rizal, Tarlac, and Iloilo. PDIC, in an announcement Friday, said bids will be accepted from direct buyers between 9:00 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. on Feb. 6. “Bidders are advised to physically inspect the properties they are interested to buy, examine and verify the titles and other evidence of ownership, and determine any unpaid taxes, fees, charges and/or expenses before submitting their bids,” PDIC said. The complete list of assets is posted in the PDIC Assets for Sale site, www.assetsforsale.pdic.gov.ph. PDIC is the liquidator of closed banks.

Nation at a Glance — (01/05/20)

News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.

Nation at a Glance — (03/02/20)

Antitrust body wants dawn raids without writ

THE Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) wants Congress to empower it to conduct dawn raids without a court order, as it bolsters its probe of dishonest or fraudulent rivalry in trade and commerce, according to the agency’s year-end report.

Dawn raids — surprise inspections at business premises to search for evidence of anti-competitive behavior — are expected to improve the agency’s case-building and increase the number of cartel prosecutions, PCC Chairman Arsenio M. Balisacan said in a report released on Friday.

The Supreme Court upheld the competition body’s inspection powers in November, allowing it to conduct dawn raids through orders issued by special commercial courts in the cities of Quezon, Manila, Makati, Pasig, Cebu, Iloilo, Davao and Cagayan De Oro.

Antitrust bodies in some countries are not required to get a court order and only have to secure an inspection decision from the competition authority. Of the 28 European Union member states, half require a court warrant before business premises can be inspected.

Mr. Balisacan said they would also like to raise the fines on erring companies and reinforce the PCC’s “primary, original, and exclusive jurisdiction over all competition cases.”

The PCC said it might also seek to expand its mandate into consumer protection because it complements its work in competition cases.

Competition analysis and enforcement in 2020 will focus on the telecommunications, retail, energy and electricity, transportation, construction, health and pharmaceuticals, and food sectors.

“Our initiatives in these sectors are intended to unlock the economic potential of these industries that have long been protected by regulations,” Mr. Balisacan said.

The commission said it was prioritizing the probe of anti-competitive conduct, making sure violations are detected and prosecuted.

The PCC also plans to analyze sector regulations and market conditions to support their merger reviews and competition enforcement functions. The body will also look at the impact of its decisions as well as the effect of government subsidies on competition.

Mr. Balisacan said that PCC expects to expand its enforcement network through partnerships with its counterparts in Asia-Pacific countries such as the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore and the Hong Kong Competition Commission.

“With the continued rise of populist sentiments and trade frictions, the need for international cooperation and the exchange of knowledge and expertise has become even more urgent,” he said.

The competition body plans to formalize ties with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Intellectual Property Office and Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

Starting August, the commission will adjust its schedule of administrative fines to reflect their real value in the three years after the competition law was enacted.

The Philippine Competition Act was signed into law in 2015 to guard against monopolies and cartels, among other things. — Jenina P. Ibañez

Business group eyes GDP growth of as much as 7.5%

A BUSINESS chamber said the economy would probably grow by as much as 7.5% this year, thanks to continuing reforms, increased infrastructure spending and a benign inflation environment.

“We at the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. are optimistic about strong and resilient Philippine economic growth of 6.5% to 7.5%,” chamber President Henry Lim Bon Liong told reporters at a forum on Friday.

The businessman cited increased domestic and foreign investments, continuing economic reforms, a benign inflation rate and higher infrastructure expenditure.

The forecast matches the government’s 6.5% to 7.5% growth target this year until 2022.

The expected enactment of this year’s national budget on Jan. 6, though a week late, was unlikely to stunt growth, another business chamber said.

“This will definitely be a better year,” Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairwoman Alegria Sibal-Limjoco told reporters at a forum on Friday. “First, the budget is going to be signed on Monday. So we have a P4.1 trillion budget, plus the P400 billion that was not used for 2019.”

Ms. Limjoco also said a robust tourism sector could boost the economy.

Mr. Liong cited the need to build more hotels given the influx of Chinese tourists. “The two million Chinese tourists coming here is just a drop in the bucket,” he pointed out.

Alexander R. Magno, a political science professor from the University of the Philippines, said the economy was unlikely to be affected by a global economic slowdown because of domestic consumption.

“The year 2020 will probably be one of the best economic years we have on record,” Mr. Magno said. “Even if our exports declined in the last two years, the economy continued to grow,” he pointed out.

He said local consumption, which is fueled by public spending and dollar remittances from Filipinos overseas, has shielded the local economy from shocks.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s infrastructure program will have “palpable effects” on the economy this year, Mr. Magno said. “I share the earnest optimism that the economy will grow by 6.5% and possibly as high as 7.5% despite the global slowdown.”

The government should address the shortage in skilled workers, which constrains growth, Mr. Magno said. The risk of inflation become higher because of the labor shortage, he said.

A labor shortage often causes inflationary pressure. Workers are in a position to demand higher wages if companies struggle to employ sufficient labor, which can lead to higher inflation. — Jenina P. Ibañez

Creation of OFW agency sought after tragedies

Agusan del Norte Rep. Lawrence H. Fortun — WWW.CONGRESS.GOV.PH

A CONGRESSMAN on Friday renewed his call for the creation of a Department of Filipinos Overseas and Foreign Employment after the latest tragedies involving Filipino workers in Kuwait and Singapore.

Agusan del Norte Rep. Lawrence H. Fortun sought the swift passage of House Bill 5832, which he co-authored, as soon as sessions resume on Jan. 20.

The agency for Filipino workers overseas would make the bureaucracy more efficient and streamline government functions to protect their rights, Mr. Fortun said.

The lawmaker also said the Philippines should abandon the market for household service workers because it has created a “very wrong impression” for Filipino workers overseas.

Mr. Fortun said most Filipino housemaids are skilled and should be trained to upgrade their skills for jobs in the hotel and tourism markets worldwide “where work is dignified and decently compensated.” “It is time for our country to stop sending domestic workers abroad.”

The body of a second Filipina who died in a car crash in Singapore arrived in the Philippines on Friday and was immediately brought to Tuguegarao City in Cagayan province, the Foreign Affairs department said.

Abigail D. Leste’s mother and children received her remains. The other was Arlyn P. Nucos, whose body was brought home on Jan. 1.

Both died in a car accident at the Lucky Plaza in Singapore on Dec. 29. Meanwhile, Jeanelyn Padernal Villavende, a domestic helper in Kuwait, also died last month after her employer allegedly beat her to death.

Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III has said the government would stop sending household workers to Kuwait. — Genshen L. Espedido and Charmaine A. Tadalan

Mindanao still under state of emergency, Palace says

THE Mindanao region remains under a state of national emergency even as martial rule expired on Dec. 31, presidential spokesman Salvador S. Panelo said on Friday.

This is in keeping with Proclamation 55 issued in September 2016, which ordered the Armed Forces and Philippine National Police to suppress all forms of lawless violence in the region, he said.

Mr. Panelo said President Rodrigo R. Duterte has the power to call out the Armed Forces, place any part of the country under martial law and suspend the privilege of writ of habeas corpus.

“While this calling out power is contained in the same provision which sanctions the imposition of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, the same is unique in that it can be used independently without the participation of Congress,” he added.

“Its actual use cannot be subjected to judicial review unless constitutional boundaries are violated,” Mr. Panelo said.

Mr. Duterte first placed Mindanao under martial rule in 2017 for 60 days, after terrorists linked to Islamic State attacked Marawi City.

Congress extended this until the end of 2017 upon Mr. Duterte’s request and again until December 2018. It was extended anew until December 2019. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

High court rejects lawsuits vs EDSA bus ban

THE Supreme Court has dismissed several lawsuits seeking to stop the government from banning provincial buses from the main EDSA highway.

In a three-page notice, the court said the three lawsuits separately filed by lawmakers violated the doctrine of hierarchy of courts.

It said the plaintiffs should have first gone to a trial or appellate court, which can resolve factual questions raised by the suit. The high court said it could only look at the lawsuit if it exclusively raises legal questions.

“Petitioners question the manner by which the challenged regulation was approved, which necessitates the presentation of evidence on the procedure undertaken by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA),” the tribunal said.

“The issue of whether the ban of provincial bus terminals along EDSA eases traffic congestion is likewise factual in that it requires showing of verified data or statistics,” it added.

“These factual questions require reception of evidence and/or hearing, which must be relegated to the Court of Appeals or to the proper trial court,” it added. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

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