Jardeleza still richest SC magistrate
SUPREME COURT (SC) Associate Justice Francis H. Jardeleza, a former longtime corporate lawyer, remains the richest magistrate for 2017 with a net worth of P261.08 million based on his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN), which was released yesterday by the SC.
A former senior vice president and general counsel of San Miguel Corporation from 1996 to 2010, Mr. Jardeleza’s net worth increased by P8.9 million from P252.17 million in 2016. His recorded real properties were P58.93 million and personal properties were P202.14 million without liabilities.
He also served as solicitor general from February 2012 until his appointment to the SC on Aug. 20, 2014.
The lowest SALN, meanwhile, was that of Associate Justice Marvic Mario Victor F. Leonen, with P2.96 million.
He reported a P479,102.65 increase from P2.49 million in 2016. His real properties were P3.44 million and his personal properties totalled P3.14 million, while his liabilities tallied P3.62 million.
Following Mr. Jardeleza is Associate Justice Mariano C. Del Castillo with a P141.54 million net worth, which increased by P2.63 million from P138.91 million the previous year.
His real properties were P57.35 million and personal properties were P84.75 million with liabilities of P558,134.06.
Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa has a net worth of P123.8 million, higher by P2.25 million from P121.55 million in 2016. He has real properties worth P60.8 million and personal properties worth P63 million with no liabilities
Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio is fourth with P105.88 million.
His net worth increased the most in 2017 with an additional P23.24 million from P82.64 million in 2016. His real properties totalled P38.39 million and personal properties worth P67.56 million, and P75,000 in liabilities.
Associate Justice Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe’s net worth increased by P3 million to P81.3 million from P78.3 million in 2016. Her real properties were P55.73 million while her personal properties totalled P25.57 million. She has no liabilities.
Associate Justice Diosdado M. Peralta came sixth with P48.21 million, a P4.67 million increase from his 2016’s P43.54 million. His real properties amounted to P25.5 million and personal properties were P22.76 million with P50,000 liabilities.
Associate Justice Lucas P. Bersamin has a net worth of P44.45 million, a P3.14 million increase from P41.3 million in 2016. His real properties amounted to P33.15 million while his personal properties were P29.3 million. His liabilities were worth P18 million.
Former associate justice and now Ombudsman Samuel R. Martires’ net worth totalled P41.88 million. His real properties were P13.34 million while his personal properties were P28.54 million with no liabilities.
Ousted chief justice Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno’s net worth increased by P3.09 million to P27.34 million from P24.25 million in 2016. Her real properties were P8.72 million and her personal properties were P18.87 million. She had P252,017 in liabilities.
Retired associate justice Presbitero J. Velasco, Jr.’s net worth was P22.08 million, an increase of P4.33 million from P17.75 million 2016. His real properties were P1.36 million while his personal properties were P20.73 million with no liabilities.
Recently retired chief justice Teresita J. Leonardo-De Castro had a total net worth of P19.77 million in 2017, which is a P2.03 million jump from P17.73 million in 2016. Her total real properties accounted were P11.79 million and personal properties were P17.09 million. Her liabilities were P9.12 million.
Associate Justice Noel G. Tijam has a net worth of P19.1 million. His real properties amounted to P4 million while his personal properties were P15.11 million with P5,235.52-worth of liabilities.
Newest Associate Justices Andres B. Reyes, Jr. and Alexander G. Gesmundo had a total net worth of P5.7 million and P8.25 million, respectively. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas
IRR for occupational safety, health standards law out soon
THE IMPLEMENTING guidelines for the Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHS) Law is scheduled to be released as early as next month, Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) Secretary Silvestre H. Bello said.
In an interview with reporters on Tuesday, Mr. Bello said they will soon issue the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for Republic Act (RA) 11058 or An Act Strengthening Compliance with Compliance with Occupational Safety and health Standards and Providing Penalties for Violations.
“We will give that in 60 days,” Mr. Bello said, adding that its submission could be even earlier.
Meanwhile, Senator Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva, committee on labor chairman, said the labor secretary pledged to him that they will submit it next month.
“We are just waiting for the IRR which the Department of Labor and Employment promised that they will complete before their anniversary next month,” he told reporters, also on Tuesday.
The OSHS Law was signed into law by President Rodrigo R. Duterte last August 17.
Section 32 of the law tasks DoLE to formulate the IRR within 90 days of the law’s effectivity.
Mr. Villanueva said the OSHS will apply to all sectors to ensure safety for all workers, regardless of industry.
“This (law) cuts all sectors whether you’re in construction or in agriculture or service, etc.,” he stressed.
Besides emphasizing the rights of works to a non-hazardous work environment, Mr. Villanueva said this law also specifies the role of the employer in terms of compliance with the standards.
“Claro ang (It’s clear what the) responsibility of the employers at claro din po sa (and it’s also clear for the) labor law compliance officers,” he said.
After the enactment of the OSHS Law, Mr. Villanueva said he now wants to focus on passing the Security of Tenure (SOT) bill.
The SOT is already on second reading at the Senate plenary. — Gillian M. Cortez
DA to allocate P150M for ice-making facilities in fishing villages
THE DEPARTMENT of Agriculture (DA) will allocate at least P150 million as loan for ice-making facilities in 50 fishing communities, targeted for installation within the first two month of 2019, DA Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said on Tuesday.
In a statement, Mr. Piñol said each ice-making facility could produce between one to five tons of ice flakes daily, which could help in decreasing post-harvest losses by about 40% of the total daily catch.
Mr. Piñol said the installation of the machines would be in time for the lifting of the three-month moratorium on commercial fishing in March 2019.
“Under this program, the fishermen’s groups or organized wives and daughters of fishermen will be given access to loans equivalent to the cost of the Ice-Making Equipment and a minimal operational fund for a shed, electrical connections and working capital,” Mr. Piñol said.
“The groups will be allowed to choose the brand of Ice-Making Equipment thus giving them a leeway in acquiring a machine that fits their requirements,” he added.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) under the DA has identified the different fishing communities in need of the equipment.
The distribution of ice-making facilities will be conducted under the DA’s Agriculture and Fisheries Machinery and Equipment (AFME) loaning program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), which has a 2% interest rate, payable in eight years.
“The next level of the campaign to lower post-harvest losses will be the establishment of cold storage facilities to enable fishermen to store their excess catch and release this to the market during the lean months to stabilize supply and prices,” Mr. Piñol said.
Earlier, BFAR National Director Eduardo B. Gongona said there is a need for cold storage facilities in the country to keep fish for later consumption and help avoid importation.
According to Mr. Piñol, President Rodrigo R. Duterte has approved the increase of DA’s rural credit funds to P3.4 billion. — Reicelene Joy N. Ignacio
