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BoP swings to $404-M deficit in June

THE country’s balance of payments (BoP) registered a deficit in June, as the government made principal and interest payments on its foreign debts, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported on Friday.

Latest available central bank data showed that BoP — a summary of the Philippines’ economic transactions with the rest of the world for a given period — stood at a $404-million deficit in June from the $1.177-billion deficit in the same month in 2018.

On a month-on-month basis, the BoP position swung from a $928-million surplus tallied in May. The last time the BoP position was in a deficit was in October 2018.

Still, the balance of payments stood at a $4.788-billion surfeit in the first half of 2019, a turnaround from the $3.257 billion deficit during the same period a year ago.

“The substantial outflow in June 2019 stemmed from the principal and interest payments of the National Government (NG) on its foreign exchange obligations. This outflow was partially tempered, however, by the NG’s net foreign currency deposits, and the BSP’s foreign exchange operations as well as income from its investments abroad during the month in review,” the central bank said.

As the country’s monetary authority, the BSP sometimes conducts “tactical interventions” to temper any sharp swings that may cause the peso to appreciate or depreciate.

Meanwhile, the BoP surplus in the first semester was partly attributed to remittance flows from overseas Filipinos in the first five months of the year and net inflows of foreign direct investments (FDI) in the January-April period.

Cash sent home by Filipinos overseas grew 4.5% to $12.349 billion in the five months ended May from the $11.822 billion booked during the comparable period in 2018.

On the other hand, FDI net inflows in the first four months stood at $2.903 billion, 14% less than the $3.377 billion recorded in 2018’s January-April period.

“The BoP position reflects the final gross international reserves (GIR) level of $85.77 billion as of end-June,” the BSP said. “At this level, the GIR represents a more than ample liquidity buffer and is equivalent to 7.5 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income.”

The GIR level is also equivalent to 5.1 times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and 3.7 times based on residual maturity, the central bank added.

Michael L. Ricafort, economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. said the BoP deficit in June may “reflect some net foreign selling in the local stock market as well as higher global oil prices that may have increased oil imports.”

The central bank expects the country to post a BoP surplus of $3.7 billion this year versus its previous projection of a $3.5-billion gap.

The Philippines ended 2018 with a $2.306-billion BoP deficit. — Karl Angelo N. Vidal

Super consortium submits revised plan for NAIA rehabilitation

A “super consortium” composed of seven of the country’s top conglomerates submitted a revised proposal for the rehabilitation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), in line with the Department of Transportation (DOTr)’s instructions to pattern the plan after Clark International Airport’s concession agreement.

Jose Emmanuel P. Reverente, spokesperson for the NAIA consortium, said the group submitted hard copies of the proposal to the DOTr’s office in Ortigas and the Manila International Airport Authority on Friday morning.

Copies were also delivered to the transport department’s headquarters in Clark in the afternoon.

“We complied with the instruction to follow the Clark template,” Mr. Reverente said in a text message.

The resubmission comes after Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade said that they will require all proponents of airport projects to draft concession agreements patterned after the one signed with the North Luzon Airport Consortium (NLAC) for the operation and maintenance (O&M) of the Clark International Airport.

NLAC is composed of Gotianun-led Filinvest Development Corp.; Gokongwei-led JG Summit Holdings, Inc.; Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions, Inc. (PAGSS) and Changi Airports Philippines Pte. Ltd.

The concession agreement for Clark specifies separate government and private sector roles for the project.

The adoption of the Clark O&M concession agreement as a template is seen to make regulatory approvals much faster, since it will include the same terms that regulatory bodies will have already studied.

Under current rules, the DOTr must draw up concession terms for the group awarded with original proponent status (OPS) after negotiations with private sector groups concerned. These are then submitted to the National Economic and Development Authority’s Investment Coordination Committee (NEDA-ICC) for evaluation.

The project will need final approval from the NEDA Board, led by President Rodrigo R. Duterte, before implementation.

The NAIA consortium wants to rehabilitate and expand NAIA over a 15-year period for P102 billion. This should increase the capacity of the Manila gateway to 47 million in two years, from the current 30.5 million annual passengers. The capacity will further rise to 65 million after four years.

The consortium is composed of Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc.; AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp.; Alliance Global Group, Inc.; Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp.; Filinvest Development Corp.; JG Summit Holdings, Inc.; and Metro Pacific Investments Corp.

Aside from the NAIA consortium, three other unsolicited airport development proposals with OPS are pending with the NEDA-ICC: Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc. for the Bohol-Panglao International Airport; Chelsea Logistics and Infrastructure Holdings Corp. for the Davao International Airport; and Mega7 Construction Corp. for the Kalibo International Airport. — Arra B. Francia

Dengue deaths reach 94 in Western Visayas

NINETY-FOUR people have died of dengue in Western Visayas — the region with the highest number of cases — as of July 19, according to data from the Department of Health-Center for Health Development-Region 6 (DOH-CHD-6).

A total of 18,834 cases of the mosquito-borne disease have been recorded between January and July 19 in Western Visayas, up 259% from the same period last year.

Among those reported to have died from the disease is the only daughter of former Janiuay town mayor Jose L. de Paula. The two daughters of Maasin Mayor Francis A. Amboy and Iloilo City Councilor Ely A. Estante were among those who tested positive for dengue.

Gyms in the towns of Maasin and Banate have been converted into temporary medical facilities for dengue patients to augment the 590 beds in the 11 district and provincial hospitals around the region.

DoH-6 Regional Director Marlyn W. Convocar announced earlier this week that all the private hospitals in Iloilo have agreed to accept dengue patients endorsed by government hospitals.

Moreover, 229 healthcare personnel have been deployed in the region to monitor the dengue cases.

Amidst the outbreak, the West Visayas Regional Blood Center of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has assured that there is a sufficient supply of blood for dengue patients.

“We have sufficient blood supply mainly because of the continuous blood donation activities conducted recently, but we have to sustain it to replenish the blood supply,” Dennis Roy M. Pasadilla, PRC-Iloilo Chapter director and manager of the blood center, said in a phone interview.

In Iloilo City, a massive clean-up drive will be conducted on July 20 in all the 180 barangays to address mosquito breeding grounds.

As of July 13, the four regions with the highest number of dengue cases aside from Western Visayas are: Calabarzon (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon) with 11,474 cases; Central Visayas, 9,199; Soccsksargen (South Cotabato-Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat-Sarangani-General Santos City, 9,107; and Northern Mindanao with 8,739. — Emme Rose S. Santiagudo

DoJ panel formed to look into sedition charges vs. Robredo et. al.

THE Department of Justice (DoJ) has formed a panel of prosecutors to look into a complaint against several prominent figures who are supposedly involved with a series of videos that linked President Rodrigo R. Duterte and his family to illegal drugs.

On Friday, Justice Undersecretary Markk L. Perete said that the DoJ has created a panel of special state prosecutors to look into the charges filed by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) against 35 people including senators, church leaders, lawyers, and Vice-President Maria Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo.

“Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra has formed a panel of three state prosecutors to conduct a preliminary investigation on the complaint filed by the PNP-CIDG in relation to the alleged Project Sodoma,” he said in a message to reporters.

In the DoJ’s Department Order 366 issued on July 19, Mr. Guevarra assigned Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Olivia L. Torrevillas, Assistant State Prosecutor Michael John M. Humarang, and Assistant State Prosecutor Gino Paolo S. Santiago to handle the preliminary investigation.

“The Order shall take effect immediately and shall remain in force until further orders,” the Department Order said.

On Thursday, the PNP-CIDG filed a complaint that recommended charges of sedition, inciting to sedition, cyberlibel, libel, estafa, harboring a criminal, and obstruction of justice be filed against 35 people allegedly involved in the so-called Project Sodoma.

Peter Joemel Advincula, the self-confessed drug dealer who was featured in the videos, is among the 35 charged. He is also the witness in the case. — Gillian M. Cortez

IBP dropping petition for West Philippine Sea Writ of Kalikasan

THE Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) on Friday announced that it is withdrawing its petition made on behalf of Palawan-based fisherfolk which asked the Supreme Court (SC) to issue a Writ of Kalikasan to protect the country’s shoals in the West Philippine Sea.

On Friday, IBP National President Domingo Egon Q. Cayosa said that the motion was set to withdraw the petition. “With due regard to the plight and position of the fishermen petitioners, the views and recommendations of the handling lawyers and the IBP Chapters involved, and the matters raised and guidance by the Honorable Supreme Court, a motion has been filed for the withdrawal or discharge of the counsels for the fishermen and for the withdrawal of the petition,” said Mr. Cayosa in an IBP update regarding the petition.

The petitioners are members of the Kalayaan Palawan Farmers and Fisherfolk Association who said that the respondents, including Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol, and Philippine Coast Guard Admiral Elson E. Hermogino, refused to take legal action against violators of environmental laws and thus they sought the Court to compel the government to protect Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal), Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) and Panganiban Reef (Mischief Reef).

Representing the IBP are lawyers Andre C. Palacios and Jose Manuel “Chel” I. Diokno.

Last week, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo claimed in a Palace briefing that the IBP Lawyers representing the case “manipulated” the fishermen into filing the petition. Around the same time, Solicitor General Jose C. Calida said that some of the fishermen has backed out of the petition. — Gillian M. Cortez

Trust in China falls, while trust in US improves — SWS

THE Social Weather Stations (SWS) reported that even more Filipinos are distrustful of China since its last survey, while their trust of the United States has been increasing.

On Friday, SWS said in a statement that the net trust rating of Filipinos towards China is now “poor” according to its June 2019 survey.

“The Second Quarter 2019 Social Weather Survey, conducted from June 22-26, 2019, found 51% of adult Filipinos with little trust, 21% undecided, and 27% with much trust in China, for a net trust rating (% much trust minus % little trust) of -24, classified by SWS as poor,” the survey firm said in its report. SWS noted that China’s Net Trust Rating is -18 points lower than its “neutral” score in the March 2019 survey of -6. This is the China’s lowest since the “bad” -35 net trust rating in June of 2018.

The non-commissioned survey had 1,200 participants across the country.

SWS Net Trust Ratings are classified as the following: +70 and above is “excellent”; +50 to +69, “very good”; +30 to +49, “good”; +10 to +29, “moderate”; +9 to -9, “neutral”; -10 to -29, “poor”; -30 to -49, “bad”; -50 to -69, “very bad”; -70 and below, “execrable.”

On the other hand, SWS said that 81% of Filipinos trust the US, with only 8% saying they had little trust, while 11% answered they were undecided. This makes the US’ Net Trust Rating +73 or “Excellent.” This was 13 points higher than the +60 the country got in the March 2019 survey.

Other countries monitored by the SWS in the June 2019 survey also got mostly “Good” Net Trust Ratings, with SWS saying “It was +46 (63% much trust, 16% little trust, correctly rounded) for Canada, +46 (62% much trust, 15% little trust, correctly rounded) for Australia, +45 (63% much trust, 18% little trust) for Japan, +38 (55% much trust, 17% little trust) for New Zealand, and +34 (53% much trust, 18% little trust, correctly rounded) for Malaysia.”

Regarding the intentions of other countries towards the Philippines, 43% of respondents disagreed with the statement “Most of what the Chinese government wants to happen in the Philippines is good for the Filipinos” (25% strongly disagree and 18% somewhat disagree) while only 27% agreed (8% strongly agree and 19% somewhat agree). Thirty percent were undecided. This gives a Net Agreement Score of -16 (% agree minus % disagree) which SWS added is a “moderately weak” rating. In the December 2018 survey, China received a -17.

Meanwhile, the US’s Net Agreement Score for the same statement (“Most of what the American government wants to happen in the Philippines is good for the Filipinos”) was +39, with 55% of Filipinos agreeing (20% strongly agree and 35% somewhat agree) while 17% disagreed.

SWS classified net Agreement Ratings as follows: +50 and above, “extremely strong”; +30 to +49, “very strong”; +10 to +29, “moderately strong”; +9 to -9, “neutral”; -10 to -29, “moderately weak”; -30 to -49, “very weak”; -50 and below, “extremely weak.” — Gillian M. Cortez

Survey says: pay, inflation, and China are on public’s SONA wish list

WORKERS’ pay, inflation, employment, and the country’s controversial relations with China are the major issues that Filipinos want President Rodrigo R. Duterte to tackle in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, according to Pulse Asia’s June 2019 Ulat ng Bayan Survey which was released on Friday.

The Pulse Asia poll involved 1,200 adults nationwide, who were interviewed face to face between June 24 to 30. The survey has an error margin of ± 2.8 percent.

Pulse Asia reported that the issues its respondents would most like the President to mention during the SONA are those related to increasing the pay of workers (17.1%), reducing the prices of basic goods (17.1%), and creating more jobs or livelihood opportunities (15.2%).

Meanwhile, 9.2% of respondents want want issues surrounding relations between the Philippines and China tackled during the SONA: 6.1% of them said that Mr. Duterte should assert Philippine sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea while 3.1% said he should explain his administration’s policy in relation to China.

The survey was conducted two weeks after the June 9 ramming incident involving a Filipino fishing boat and a Chinese vessel at the Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea.

The survey also showed that a majority of Filipino adults (75%) were aware of Mr. Duterte’s previous SONAs.

By socio-economic classes, Pulse Asia said the most common cited issue of those in Class ABC concerned the country’s relations with China (21.3%).

Class D’s leading concerts were workers’ pay (18.8%), inflation (16.4%), employment (15.2%), and Philippine-China relations (9.7%), it noted.

Class E would most like Mr. Duterte to discuss inflation (20.8%), creating more jobs or livelihood opportunities (16.5%), fighting illegal drugs (10.3%), and increasing their wages (9.3%). — Arjay L. Balinbin

Sandiganbayan drops charges vs. accused in Morong 43 case

THE Sandiganbayan Seventh Division has dismissed the charges filed by a group of health workers known as the “Morong 43” against seven military and police officers who allegedly detained and tortured them in Morong, Rizal in 2010.

The court granted the demurrer to evidence filed by military officials Jorge Segovia, Aurelio Baladad, Brigadier Joselito Reyes, Cristobal Zaragoza, and police officials Jovily Cabading, Marion Balonglong, and Allan Nobleza.

“Hence, the court finds the evidence adduced by the prosecution insufficient to sustain indictment or to support a verdict of guilt thus, warranting the dismissal of the herein cases,” the anti-graft court said in a resolution dated July 1.

The accused were charged with violating Republic Act No. 7438 or “An Act Defining Certain Rights of Person Arrested, Detained or Under Custodial Investigation as well as the Duties of the Arresting, Detaining and Investigating Officers.”

The complainants were Jane Balleta, Samson Castillo, Mercy Castro, Dr. Merry Mia Clamor, Gary Liberal, Reynaldo Macabenta, Dr. Alexis Montes, Ma. Teresa Quinawayan.

The charges were filed by the medical workers who said that they were illegally arrested, detained, and tortured by uniformed men following a Feb. 6, 2010 raid on a farm house in Morong, Rizal where they were conducting a medical training session.

The law enforcement agencies, on the other hand, alleged that the 43 persons arrested were members of the communist New People’s Army and were, instead, training for handling explosives.

“The testimonies of the complaining witnesses failed to show accused’s participation in an alleged conspiracy. Conspiracy must, like the crime itself, be proven beyond reasonable doubt. Suppositions based on mere presumptions and not on solid facts do not constitute proof beyond reasonable doubt,” said the resolution. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

SC will look into Duterte’s complaint on TROs

SUPREME Court (SC) Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin said the High Court will look into which particular incident triggered President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s complaint about judges issuing Temporary Restraining Orders (TROs) on government infrastructure projects.

In an interview with reporters on Friday, Mr. Bersamin said “I do not know which incident the president might have been referring to. The court administrator is addressing this. I am sure of that.”

Earlier this week, Mr. Duterte said in an interview with the The Daily Tribune that he will investigate judges who release TROs on government infrastructure projects. He was also quoted as saying some judges also easily approve plea bargains in cases related to drug charges.

Mr. Bersamin added that trial court judges are well aware that the issuance of TROs on national infrastructure projects is prohibited and that they should observe this prohibition

“We have a standing order to all the trial judges and other courts to be self restrained in the issuance of TROs and they have to be mindful that we have a law really that bans the issuance of TROs and injunctive orders as far as national infrastructure projects are concerned,” he said.

Administrative Circular No. 07-99 states that issuing a TRO on cases that involve the implementation of national infrastructure projects is banned. The Circular was issued in 1999 as a directive by then President Joseph E. Estrada who asked the SC to follow the Presidential Decree 1818.

On Thursday, the SC said in a statement that all judges must practice caution and judiciousness when issuing TROs and writs of preliminary injunctions by reminding them to follow the 1999 Administrative Circular and the succeeding circulars that reinforce it. — Gillian M. Cortez

Duterte promises Customs officials due process

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte on Thursday met with “several” officials and employees of the Bureau of Customs (BoC) whom he had placed on floating status for alleged corruption.

“The Office of the President confirms that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte met with several officials and employees of the Bureau of Customs today here at the Malacañan Palace,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo said in a statement he issued late Thursday.

Mr. Panelo said the President told the Customs employees and officials during the meeting that they will be given their day in court, consistent with due process.

“Administrative charges over allegations of corrupt practices in office will be filed against them before the Office of the Ombudsman, unless they opt to resign, and the prosecutors will ask for their immediate suspension,” the spokesman said.

Mr. Duterte, the spokesman also said “that [President Duterte] would not begrudge them if they would avail of legal remedies to question their removal from office.”

“The President has been forthright in telling these customs officials and employees that corruption has no place under his watch,” he added.

Mr. Duterte also thanked the Customs officials and employees for accepting his invitation to meet him at the Palace, which according to him, showed they still have respect for him, Mr. Panelo noted.

But pending the filing of cases, they shall be on “floating status without authority to act on official matters,” the Palace official said.

“Let this serve as a reminder to all those officials or employees in the government that they cannot escape liability or accountability for their acts of corruption under the Duterte administration,” he said.

On July 11, the president had said that he would be axing 64 ranking officials of the Bureau of Customs due to their involvement in corruption. He made the announcement in a speech after the official signing of a $1.3-billion loan agreement for the Malolos-Clark Railway Project at the Malacañan Palace.

“I will be dismissing 64 Customs employees. In the meantime, I want them to report here in Malacañang,” he said. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Supreme Court launches its own app

THE Supreme Court (SC) has launched its namesake app with the aim of increasing the public’s access to data on courts and lawyers. This is part of the judiciary’s effort to keep up to date with technology.

On Friday, the High Court formally launched the Supreme Court Philippines App, designed to be used on mobile devices and tablets. This is the SC’s latest dive into technological innovation after it launched the SC E-Library last month and revamped its website.

Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin said during the app’s launch that the SC App, “will seamlessly connect the public to data on the courts and lawyers.”

The SC App will contain the following features which are meant to be useful to the public, especially to students and lawyers: a court locator, a lawyers list, Judiciary Memorabilia which contains information on the history of the High Court, and the SC Directory which contains contact information for the offices and departments it handles.

SC Public Information Chief Brian Keith F. Hosaka said that even if the app had just been released, they are already eyeing different ways to improve it. One of the features being planned is the inclusion of the SC E-Library in the app, so court decisions can be easily accessed.

“As early as now, there are updates and improvements being planned for the SC App. One of which is to improve information by showing if the lawyer is suspended from the practice law due to administrative sanctions… and one very important upgrade is the inclusion of the E-Library,” he said during the launch. — Gillian M. Cortez

No charges to be filed against Estrada — DILG

THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Friday that there is no need to file charges against former Manila City mayor Joseph E. Estrada for allegedly not turning over official city government documents to his successor, Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagaso.

DILG Undersecretary Jonathan E. Malaya said that the agency’s investigation showed that Mr. Estrada’s team had turned over the documents to the DILG Manila Office, which were then submitted to the new administration on July 2.

“Our DILG Manila Field Office reviewed and validated the transition documents and the same were forwarded to the Office of the City Administrator Felixberto Espiritu, copy furnished the Office of the City Mayor on July 2, 2019,” said Mr. Malaya in a statement.

Mr. Estrada did not attend the turn-over ceremony on June 28 at the Quirino Grandstand.

Mr. Malaya noted that despite the absence of the former city mayor, the former city administrator had endorsed the transition documents to DILG City Director Rolynne Javier in the afternoon of the same day after the staff of the incoming Secretary to the Mayor refused to receive the documents.

“The turnover ceremony is just ceremonial to symbolize the transition of power from an outgoing official to the next. Even if there is no formal ceremony or even if Estrada failed to attend the turnover rites, what’s important is that the transition documents are intact and are now in the possession of Mayor Isko’s team,” said Mr. Malaya.

The DILG has earlier issued Memorandum Circular No. 2019-39 which requires the creation of Local Governance Transition Teams to ensure smooth leadership and management transition. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

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