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Malacañang tells gov’t agencies, LGUs to support Elderly Filipino Week
All national and local government agencies must support events for the "Linggo ng Katandaang Filipino" (Elderly Filipino Week), Malacañang said. In a memorandum that Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin signed on 29 September, Marcos ordered the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) to lead Elderly Filipino Week activities and programs following Republic Act (RA) 11350, the "National Commission of Senior Citizen Act," to fully implement laws, government policies, and programs for seniors. Proclamation No. 470-1994 mandates Elderly Filipino Week in the first week of October to promote senior persons' rights and welfare. "All [national government agencies] and instrumentalities, including GOCCS (government-owned and controlled corporations), GFIS (government financial institutions), and SUCs (state universities and colleges) are hereby directed, and all LGUs are hereby encouraged to extend full support for and cooperation with the NCSC in the conduct of relevant activities and programs for senior citizens during the annual celebration of the Elderly Filipino Week," the memorandum states. The Palace suggested supporting Elderly Filipino Week activities through agency appropriations. NCSC chair Franklin Quijano said the Philippine Plan of Action for Senior Citizens and guidelines for Philippine Age-Friendly Local Governments, Cities, Municipalities, and Communities would be launched to create a “homegrown, age-friendly approach” for seniors. Over 2.8 million seniors have enrolled online with the NCSC. The NCSC hopes to register nine million seniors by December. The post Malacañang tells gov’t agencies, LGUs to support Elderly Filipino Week appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Removal of Chinese barrier in WPS necessary — PBBM
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday defended the removal of a Chinese floating barrier in the West Philippine Sea, saying that it was necessary to protect the country's fishermen and maritime territory. In an interview with reporters in Siargao, Marcos said that the barrier was inside Philippine territory, preventing fishermen from accessing their traditional fishing grounds. "I don't see what else we could do because those fishermen, when the rope was cut, the fishermen who entered on that day caught 164 tons of fish, just in one day. That's what our fishermen are losing. So, it's not right to put up a barrier like that, and it's clearly inside the Philippines," Marcos said. "We're not looking for trouble. We're just going to continue to defend the Philippines, the maritime territory of the Philippines, and the rights of our fishermen who have been fishing in those areas for hundreds of years," Marcos added. He added that he did not understand why China had installed the barrier, but that the Philippines was "avoiding conflict" and "heated words." "We are steadfast in defending the territory of the Philippines," Marcos said. In recent months, China's actions in the West Philippine Sea have been marked by an increasing level of aggression, asserting control over nearly the entire South China Sea. China has also disregarded the 2016 arbitral ruling that upheld the Philippines' exclusive economic zone and rejected China's historical claims. Last week, Chinese Coast Guard ships placed a barrier made of ropes and nets, supported by buoys, when a Philippine government fisheries vessel was approaching, and over 50 Philippine fishing boats gathered around the shoal, as reported by the Philippine Coast Guard. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said earlier this week that the Philippines might submit a new protest to a tribunal after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) uncovered damaged coral reefs in a region of the West Philippine Sea frequently visited by Chinese militia vessels. In an interview with Anthony Taberna, Bersamin affirmed that China knew the Philippines' preference for a multilateral approach in its foreign relations. The executive secretary verified that the President issued the directive to eliminate the floating barriers. "When such orders are given, they come directly from the President after consulting with officials involved in the matter. We cannot disclose the details of how it was done. Still, a decision-making process was established, and they convened to decide to go there," Bersamin said. The post Removal of Chinese barrier in WPS necessary — PBBM appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl can do without China — Bersamin
Executive Secretary Justice Lucas Bersamin on Thursday said that the Philippines can live without China despite their strong economic ties, adding that the country should avoid being dependent on its Asian neighbor. Nonetheless, Bersamin said in a recent TV interview that Philippine-China relations have many aspects, and that he is not in a position to talk about them because of his closeness with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “We are dealing with issues diplomatically. It is still possible for us to go with China, but about the economic viability of our relations or the economic dimensions if we were to go against China. You know, we can’t say that we are dependent on China,” Bersamin said. “China might be our trading partner or supplier, or it gives us some products that we may need, but we should not be too dependent on China. I don’t think China will even want us to be dependent because China knows that we have a multilateral approach,” Bersamin added. Bersamin’s statement comes as the Philippines is facing increasing pressure from China in the South China Sea. China has been militarizing islands and reefs in the disputed waters despite a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration that invalidated its claims. He maintained that the Philippines has exclusive rights to the fisheries and natural resources in the West Philippine Sea, which China is claiming as part of its nine-dash line territory (recently expanded to 10-dash line) in the South China Sea. “That’s probably why China is acting like that. But beyond that, we do not want to have a conflict with China. We do not want to provoke a conflict with China because we can coexist with China,” Bersamin said. He refused to contrast the Marcos administration with the previous Duterte government, which was seen to be close to China. “I don’t want to compare,” he said. “We leave that to the Presidents to make those decisions, the directions that they take.” Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that China has become the Philippines’ primary trade partner. As of May, total exports to the Philippines reached $6.44 billion, with China having 16.6 percent of the trade volume. The post Phl can do without China — Bersamin appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bersamin: ‘Phl can live without China’
Executive Secretary Justice Lucas Bersamin on Thursday said that the Philippines can live without China and that it should avoid overdependence on its Asian neighbor despite the two countries' strong economic ties. In a recent interview with journalist Ka Tunying, he asked Bersamin whether the Philippines is dependent on China. He responded that the question has many aspects and that he is not in a position to speak about it because he is too close to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. However, Bersamin did say that the Philippines is dealing with the issue of its relationship with China diplomatically. He also said that it is still possible for the Philippines to go with China but that the country should not be too dependent on its Asian neighbor. "We are dealing with (several) issues diplomatically. It is still possible for us to go with China, but about the economic viability of our relations or the economic dimensions if we were to go against China. You know, we can't say that we are dependent on China," Bersamin said. "China might be our trading partner or supplier, or it gives us some products that we may need, but we should not be too dependent on China. I don't think China will even want us to be dependent because China knows that we have a multilateral approach," Bersamin added. Bersamin's statement comes when the Philippines is facing increasing pressure from China in the South China Sea. China has been militarizing islands and reefs in the disputed waters despite a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration that invalidated its claims. When asked if he thinks China needs the Philippines more than the Philippines needs China, Bersamin said that the Philippines has exclusive rights to the fisheries and natural resources in that area. "Perhaps China is acting this way because they know that in the eyes of other countries, we are the ones who should be recognized as having the exclusive right to own these fisheries and natural resources in that area," Bersamin said. "That's probably why China is acting like that. But beyond that, we do not want to have a conflict with China. We do not want to provoke a conflict with China because we can coexist with China." Ka Tunying, meanwhile, said that more countries are siding with the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea dispute because the current administration is being more transparent about what China is doing. "The biggest news today regarding China's aggression is that more countries are siding with us because this administration is becoming transparent about what China is doing in the WPS (West Philippine Sea). Did you notice that during the previous administration, they intentionally did not report what China was doing because we didn't want to upset China back then?" Ka Tunying asked Bersamin. Bersamin said that he was not paying much attention to the issue during the previous administration. Still, he said that he wants to avoid comparing the two administrations' foreign policy directions. "I don't want to compare," he said. "We leave that to the Presidents to make those decisions, the directions that they take," he added. Despite the dispute, the Philippines and China have maintained close economic ties. Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that China has become the Philippines' primary trade partner, representing a significant portion of the nation's exports and serving as the leading provider of imported products. As of May, exports reached a total of $6.44 billion, with China carrying out 16.6 percent of total exports during the month. Import costs, meanwhile continued to surpass export receipts, hitting $10.84 billion during the month. China was also the country's biggest source of imported goods, supplying 24 percent of the country's total imports. The post Bersamin: ‘Phl can live without China’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marcos imposes rice price cap of P41/P45
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has imposed a price cap on rice amid what the Palace described Thursday as supply chain challenges and widespread hoarding to effect an artificial shortage. Mr. Marcos’ Executive Order 39, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, set a mandatory price ceiling of P41 per kilo for regularly milled rice and P45 per kilo for well-milled rice. With the order released yesterday, Malacañang said the President seeks to ease “the considerable economic strain on Filipinos, particularly the underprivileged and marginalized,” arising from the spiking inflation. In justifying the price cap, the EO cited reports from the Department of Agriculture and Department of Trade and Industry that members of a rice cartel have been actively engaged in hoarding and price manipulation. These illegal activities, coupled with global supply issues like the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the oil price swings, have contributed to the rising rice prices, it added. Nonetheless, the EO said the arrival of imported rice and the expected local production surplus are seen to stabilize the rice supply. Marcos, who concurrently heads the DA, last week inspected several rice storage facilities and ordered the Bureau of Customs and other agencies to raid warehouses storing hoarded rice. He also ordered the Philippine Competition Commission to take action against the cartels. Likewise, he ordered penalties for merchants who leverage their dominant market position or who collude with one another to mark up rice prices. Rice price increased The National Economic and Development Authority said the price of rice in the Philippines increased by 1 percent from January 2022 to 4.2 percent in July 2023. Early in his administration, Marcos said his aspiration was to bring down the price of rice to P20 per kilo. The DA last month projected the supply of rice for the second semester would hit 10.15 million metric tons (MMT), of which 2.53 MMT is ending stock from the first semester. Of the volume, 7.20 MMT is the expected output from domestic production, with 0.41 MMT representing imported rice. The overall supply would result in an ending stock of 2.39 MMT which would be good for 64 days, more than enough to meet the present demand of 7.76 MMT, the DA said. The price cap shall remain in force until lifted by the President upon the recommendation of the Price Coordinating Council and the agriculture and trade departments. The DA and the DTI will lead in the implementation of EO 39 by doing price checks in wet markets and supermarkets. “The EO primarily mandates the DTI and the DA to strictly implement the price ceilings. We will visit major wet markets and retail stores in the coming days,” DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual told reporters. “This is not the sole responsibility of the DTI and DA because it’s a whole of government approach to ensure that rice in the markets is reasonably priced and remains a conveniently accessible staple food to Filipinos,” Pascual added. The DTI chief pointed out during the Laging Handa Public Briefing yesterday that the EO is not mainly on the retail price of rice but also its supply. Not a price freeze “There is no price freeze but a price cap, to be clear. Traders can still lower their prices. This EO is being implemented to prevent price manipulation in the market. Despite the ample supply, prices of rice surged in the past few days,” Pascual said. He maintained the price cap does not apply to other varieties of rice and is only meant for regular-milled rice and well-milled rice. “We have premium varieties that are not covered by the price cap. During our rounds, we will ensure that the subjects of EO 39 are not mislabeled as premium,” he added. Under the Price Act, retailers violating the price ceiling face imprisonment of from one to 10 years and/or fines of P5,000 to P1 million. Price manipulators and hoarders, on the other hand, face prison sentences from five to 15 years and fines of from P5,000 to P2 million. In a media interview in Palawan yesterday, where he opened the celebration of National Peace Consciousness Month, Marcos said the DA and DTI will be joined by the Department of Justice and Department of the Interior and Local Government in enforcing the price ceiling. “We have put together a structure for the continuing monitoring,” the President said. “These agencies already have regular inspections when it comes to other issues, so they will now apply the price ceilings that I have ordered in the EO that I signed on Thursday.” Focus on Metro Marcos said the government will focus on Metro Manila, where the problem of rising rice prices is most acute. However, he urged the public to report retailers who are selling rice above the price ceiling to the police, the DA, the DTI, or their local government. “If you find someone selling rice above the price ceiling, please report it,” he said. “We need your help to ensure that everyone has access to affordable rice.” The price ceiling on rice was set in response to the recent surge in rice prices. As of 28 August, the average price of regular milled rice in Metro Manila was P42 per kilo, while the average price of well-milled rice was P48 per kilo. The post Marcos imposes rice price cap of P41/P45 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Gov’t agencies required, LGUs urged, to put up health facilities
Malacañang has instructed all government agencies and local government units to implement the health facility plan to create medical establishments in various communities. Under Memorandum Circular No. 26 signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Malacañang said all government agencies and local government units are required to embrace the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan 2020-2040. This plan mandates that government entities establish health facilities to cater to the healthcare needs of their respective constituents. “In accordance with their respective mandates, all concerned agencies and instrumentalities of the National Government, including government-owned or -controlled corporations, are hereby directed, and all LGUs are hereby encouraged, to undertake efforts in support of the implementation of the PHFDP, and the plans and programs specified therein,” the MC read. MC No. 26 mandates that the Department of Health should collaborate with the Department of the Interior and Local Government to facilitate the distribution and ensure the successful execution of the PHFDP at the local level. Additionally, the DOH is responsible for aiding LGUs in translating the plan into a comprehensive long-term local health facility development strategy, and coordinating with LGUs in devising policies for the establishment of primary care provider networks and health care provider networks. The DOH will closely monitor the implementation of the local health facility development plan and promote the engagement of LGUs in public-private partnerships to address any gaps in the PHFDP. It will have to issue guidelines to effectively carry out the circular, and if necessary, seek assistance from other relevant government agencies and offices in developing these guidelines. “Moreover, the DOH, in collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry-Board of Investments and the Fiscal Incentives Review Board, shall study, formulate, and implement policies that will encourage both domestic and international enterprises from the private sector to invest in health facilities aimed at addressing gaps in the PHFDP,” the circular furthered. The circular's execution will be funded using the existing allocations of the respective agencies and LGUs. MC No. 26 acknowledged that the DOH formulated the PHFDP to serve as the nation's comprehensive strategy for investing in medical infrastructure, with the ultimate goal of establishing a robust primary care and integrated health system accessible to all Filipinos. This aligns with the Universal Health Care Act of 2019. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 11223 emphasizes the State's commitment to adopt a framework that encourages a collaborative approach involving all sectors -- government, society and individuals -- in the development and execution of health policies, programs and plans aimed at providing people-centric health services. The health plan's implementation supports one of the strategies outlined in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, particularly on enhancing human and social development by strengthening the healthcare system and making it more accessible and efficient. The post Gov’t agencies required, LGUs urged, to put up health facilities appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Gov’t agencies, LGUs asked to support Phl’s health facility dev’t plan
MALAYSIA — Malacañang instructed all government agencies and local government units to implement the health facility plan to create medical establishments in various communities. Under Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 26 signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Malacañang said all government agencies and local government units are required to embrace the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PHFDP) 2020-2040. This plan aims to encourage and gain support from these entities in establishing health facilities to cater to the healthcare needs of their respective constituents. “In accordance with their respective mandates, all concerned agencies and instrumentalities of the National Government, including government-owned or -controlled corporations, are hereby directed, and all LGUs are hereby encouraged, to undertake efforts in support of the implementation of the PHFDP, and the plans and programs specified therein,” the MC read. MC No. 26 mandates the Department of Health (DOH) to collaborate with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in facilitating the distribution and ensuring the successful execution of the PHFDP at the local level. Additionally, the DOH has been assigned the responsibility of aiding Local Government Units (LGUs) in translating the plan into a comprehensive long-term local health facility development strategy. Moreover, they are to coordinate with LGUs in devising policies for the establishment of primary care provider networks and health care provider networks. Furthermore, the DOH will closely monitor the implementation of the local health facility development plan and promote the engagement of LGUs in public-private partnerships (PPPs) to address any gaps in the PHFDP. The DOH will also issue guidelines to effectively carry out the circular, and if necessary, seek assistance from other relevant government agencies and offices in developing these guidelines. “Moreover, the DOH, in collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry-Board of Investments and the Fiscal Incentives Review Board, shall study, formulate, and implement policies that will encourage both domestic and international enterprises from the private sector to invest in health facilities aimed at addressing gaps in the PHFDP,” the circular furthered. The circular's execution will be funded using the existing allocations of the respective agencies and LGUs. MC No. 26 acknowledged that the DOH formulated the PHFDP to serve as the nation's comprehensive strategy for investing in medical infrastructure, with the ultimate goal of establishing a robust primary care and integrated health system accessible to all Filipinos. This aligns with the Universal Health Care Act of 2019. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 11223 emphasizes the State's commitment to adopt a framework that encourages a collaborative approach involving all sectors - government, society, and individuals - in the development and execution of health policies, programs, and plans, with the aim of providing people-centric health services. The health plan's implementation supports one of the strategies outlined in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, particularly focused on enhancing human and social development by strengthening the healthcare system, making it more accessible and efficient. The post Gov’t agencies, LGUs asked to support Phl’s health facility dev’t plan appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Money laundering crackdown ordered
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has instructed all governmental entities and offices to implement the latest approach to combating money laundering and the funding of terrorism. In Executive Order 33 signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on 4 July, Marcos ordered government agencies to adopt the National Anti-Money Laundering, Counter-Terrorism Financing, and Counter-Proliferation Financing Strategy, or NACS, 2023-2027. Aside from departments, agencies, and bureaus, all national government offices, as well as government-owned and -controlled corporations, were urged to implement relevant plans and programs to execute the NACS 2023-2027. Marcos’ order was apparently in response to the Philippines’ inclusion in the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force’s “Jurisdictions Under Increased Monitoring.” The list tags countries that have not demonstrated substantial and favorable advancements in addressing the FATF’s essential recommendations outlined in its Third Mutual Evaluation Report. The previous version of the strategy was implemented in 2018 by then-President Rodrigo Duterte and took effect until 2022. In the current version, Marcos has authorized the National AML/CT Coordinating Committee, or NACC to restructure its subcommittees. The NACC will be overseen by the executive secretary, with the governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas as vice chair. Comprising the NACC are government departments and agencies. The Philippines is currently on the FATF’s grey list, which means the country has some deficiencies in its AML/CTF regime. NACS 2023-2027 aims to address these deficiencies and help the Philippines exit the grey list. To improve the Philippines’ AML/CTF regime, NACS 2023-2027 will move to strengthen the legal framework for AML/CTF; improve the coordination and cooperation between government agencies; increase the capacity of financial institutions to detect and report suspicious transactions; and raise public awareness of AML/CTF risks. The post Money laundering crackdown ordered appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
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