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OVP permanent office ‘still in the pipeline’
The Office of the Vice President is still looking to build a permanent office, OVP chief of staff Atty. Zuleika Lopez said Monday. During the budget deliberation for the proposed P2.385 billion budget of the Office of the Vice President, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian asked the OVP whether it has plans to construct a permanent office. “There is a plan. We are still under negotiations for land acquisition for the construction of our OVP permanent office," Lopez told the Senate Committee on Finance. Asked if the budget for the construction of the permanent office of the OVP is included in the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year, Lopez reiterated that the OVP is still under negotiations for land acquisition. “It's still in the pipeline because it's still undergoing negotiations as to the matter of land acquisition. We are considering sites for the said OVP building,” she said. “It is a planned project for the term of the Vice President,” she added. Vice President Sara Duterte, who physically attended the budget deliberation, previously vowed to erect a permanent office for the succeeding vice presidents of the country. Last year, OVP spokesperson Reynold Munsayac said the move aims to “reduce cost in office operations.” Currently, the OVP, headed by Duterte, is leasing an office in Mandaluyong City. The previous vice presidents of the country such as lawyers Leni Robredo and Jejomar Binay held office at the Quezon City Reception House and Coconut Palace, respectively. The post OVP permanent office ‘still in the pipeline’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
P6.99-B allocated for Zambales 2nd District dev’t
BOTOLAN, ZAMBALES — A total of P6.99-billion worth of funding was infused for the development of the Second Legislative District of Zambales. This was revealed by Representative Doris “Nanay Bing” Maniquiz during her "Ulat sa Pangalawang Distrito ng Zambales” last week, as the official sourced funds for crucial infrastructure projects like flood-control dikes and roads. The solon cited that the one-year budget has doubled the infrastructure allocation received by the Second District in the last eight years. She added that P4.46 billion of the budget will be used for the construction of 59 flood-control structures and road dikes designed to protect low-lying areas threatened by perennial flooding, as well as lahar surges during heavy rains. “These are not your ordinary kind of dikes that simply hold back water,” Maniquiz pointed out. “These are road dikes that residents will also use to access their farms and other remote areas, as well as to transport local products safely and efficiently.” The infrastructure allocations Maniquiz rolled out also included 37 new concrete road constructions; the improvement of 22 national road sections; 22 school buildings; 12 public buildings and facilities; 38 irrigation projects; three solar water systems; and other miscellaneous projects like bridge construction and installation of solar lights. Maniquiz pointed out that these projects, as well as similar initiatives in her I-HELP program for infrastructure, health, education, livelihood, and people’s welfare, became possible with the help of House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romuladez and other officials who provided development funds for the Second District. “I cannot thank the Speaker well enough for all his help, as well as his wife Congresswoman Yedda Romualdez of Tingog Partylist and Tingog 2nd nominee Congressman Jude Acidre, since the bulk of my funds for social services came from them,” she added. Other than these, the Zambales solon cited financial assistance from Cong. Jocelyn Tulfo of ACT-CIS Partylist; Rep. Sandro Marcos; Diwa Partylist; and Senators Imee Marcos, Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay, Bong Go, Raffy Tulfo, Jinggoy Estrada, Loren Legarda, Lito Lapid, and Koko Pimentel. She added that the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Department of Labor and Employment also provided funding under their respective financial assistance programs to add to the money she had sourced out after becoming Second District congresswoman last year. “The generous help from our friends in Congress and in the Senate is the only reason why we were successful with a lot of development projects and constituent service in the Zambales Second District,” Maniquiz said. The post P6.99-B allocated for Zambales 2nd District dev’t appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Senate tackles airlines’ booking glitches, offloading mess
Growing complaints from various passengers against budget carrier, Cebu Pacific’s overbooking, offloading, and booking glitches have reached the Senate inquiry on Wednesday. This came after Senate committee chairperson, Senator Nancy Binay, filed Senate Resolution No. 575 pushing for an investigation on the customers’ complaints against Cebu Pacific due to recent flight cancellations. During the hearing, Binay said her office was able to compile at least 3,000 complaints from the passengers, which have been aired through social media platforms. “We have since seen it fit to invite our other airlines to this hearing because these problems, it seemed, have only grown in number. Our passengers face inconveniences on multiple fronts on account of flight delays, cancelations, offloading, and overbooking,” Binay stressed. Overseas worker, James Bartolome, said he has yet to receive his refund from Cebu Pacific after his flight going to Qatar was canceled. After knowing that his original flight was canceled, Bartolome opted to book another airline as the budget carrier won’t be able to give him an earlier flight. Senator JV Ejercito said the airport and airline operations will provide the “first and last impressions” to the tourists and potential investors entering the country. “We need to systematize this for our tourism and business climate,” he said, sharing that he was not even spared from experiencing flight delays. Binay emphasized the need to identify problems and immediately craft strategies to prevent similar complaints in the future. Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said that Cebu Pacific and other similar airline companies should acknowledge the impacts of flight cancellations and other airline mess. “Incidents like these could discourage tourists so this hearing should serve as a platform to air the grievances of the frustrated and helpless passengers,” Go said, citing that these may affect the country’s tourism industry and the economy. “Remember that we are still reviving from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he added. Go said the airlines must immediately act and rectify these issues by imposing proper mechanisms for compensating affected passengers—which includes food provisions during flight cancellation and alternative flight schedules. During the hearing, several Cebu Pacific passengers also complained about apparent website errors that resulted in them being charged multiple times for transactions yet it appeared to be unsuccessful. Cebu Pacific chief marketing and customer experience officer, Candice Iyog, explained that there is a part of the flow where if a passenger clicks proceed, it commits the changes even before the passenger pays. “We recognize that and we are taking that feedback as well,” Iyog said. The Cebu Pacific, she added, is already working on “a fix or an enhancement” to the interface of the website, which will likely be ready at the end of this month. “Depending on when it's ready, we're looking at possibly, end of July that we will be able to implement this change in the user experience,” she said. Senator Risa Hontiveros lamented that in several instances when passengers’ original flights were canceled, Cebu Pacific offered flight rebooking and passengers were immediately made to pay before they could confirm their purchase of travel tickets. Citing a passenger’s experience, the airline’s website technical issue made them pay a bill of P16,000-worth of add-ons after availing of Cebu Pacific’s free rebooking option, following the cancellation of flights. Iyog said they recently reminded their customer service agents to allow passengers to get back to their original flight or to remove add-ons that were “accidentally added.” “We don’t want to cancel flights for our passengers. It’s bad business and we don’t want to disrupt our passengers—that’s why we give options,” Iyog noted. Tougher passengers’ rights Meanwhile, Senator Grace Poe slammed the budget carrier for lacking customer service agents directly responding to these complaints. Poe called on for a tougher policy on air passengers' rights to address the cancellations and delays in flights by local airlines besetting travelers. "This pressing public service issue calls for urgent effective solutions as it involves not only the air passengers' rights but also the overall impact on the country's tourism and economy,” she added. While overbooking is a globally accepted practice, Poe said "systematic delays and cancellations are not." Also, Hontiveros pressed that the government agencies should step in to prevent more passengers from being disrupted in their travels due to canceled, rescheduled, and delayed flights in Cebu Pacific and other airline companies. “These kinds of inconveniences disrupt the travel experiences also of tourists, and as the chair said, could negatively affect the tourism sector,” she added. Aside from the reported overbooking, offloading, booking, and flight cancellations, Senator Raffy Tulfo said that adding extra flights daily amid lacking proper airplane maintenance can be called “abuses of the airline companies.” He lamented that it could pose danger and compromise the safety of all airline passengers, “There were safety issues surrounding the uploading, overbooking, and flight cancellations of airlines. If these airlines don’t care about fulfilling their obligations to provide air transport for their passengers, I will not be surprised that they are cutting corners when it comes to safety as well,” Tulfo pressed on. Tulfo said extra flights can also cause fatigue in pilots and flight attendants. For his part, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa wants the Civil Aeronautics Board to become proactive in resolving the massive airline mess in the country. Dela Rosa asked CAB if it is amenable to institutionalize the Air Passenger Bill of Rights in order to protect the public from erring airline companies. "What is your position? Do you agree with the proposal to create a law that will institutionalize the Air Passenger Bill of Rights?" asked Dela Rosa. In response, CAB Executive Director Carmelo Arcilla, said they have been very supportive of the proposal. “But it seems it is not among the priorities of Congress,” he said. Dela Rosa said he is mulling to proposed the bill in the Senate “not to discourage the airline industry but to protect the public interest. The post Senate tackles airlines’ booking glitches, offloading mess appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
No state pension funds in MIF
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday assured the public the national government will not use state pension funds Social Security System and Government Service Insurance System as “seed funds” to finance the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund. The Chief Executive made the assurance in an interview with reporters at the 86th-anniversary celebration of GSIS, hours after the Senate passed Senate Bill 2020 creating the MIF. The Senate approved the controversial sovereign fund bill, voting 19-1-1 at around 2:30 in the morning of Wednesday following 12 hours of deliberations. Marcos explained, however, that the pension funds themselves could invest in the proposed sovereign wealth fund if they believe it is a “good investment.” “We will not use it as a seed fund. However, if a pension fund decides the Maharlika Fund is a good investment, it’s up to them if they want to invest in it, not only pension funds but corporations,” Marcos said. “Those funds, that’s all they do, they grow their money so they have something to give,” Marcos added. Marcos said this is what GSIS has been doing. He said GSIS makes sure that “they are very solid (and) that they are very stable” so that they could give out all the payments (to its members). “We have to differentiate those two things,” he added. In a separate interview, GSIS president Jose Arnulfo “Wick” Veloso said they would abide by the lawmakers’ decision regarding the MIF. “I don’t have any idea about what other discussions are happening about those things. We will only do one thing, whatever the decision of the lawmakers is because they listen to our people, whatever they want, that’s what we will follow,” Veloso told reporters. “So we are just guided by the direction that is given to us,” he added. Unanimous approval During Tuesday’s plenary session which ran until early Wednesday, senators unanimously approved the fund measure shortly after it was approved on second reading. A total of 19 senators voted in favor of the passage of the Maharlika bill, while only one senator voted against it and one abstained. Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros objected to the measure while Senator Nancy Binay abstained from voting. Senators Aquilino Pimentel III and Imee Marcos, who also opposed the measure, were not present. During the period of individual amendments, senators introduced several changes to the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund, including a ban on government financial institutions such as the SSS, GSIS, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, OWWA Fund, Philippine Veterans Affairs Pension Fund, Office Pension Fund, and other government social welfare entities investing in the sovereign wealth fund. The amendment, which was introduced by Senator Raffy Tulfo, was accepted by Senator Mark Villar, the principal author, and sponsor of the measure. With the approval of the measure in the Upper Chamber, the Maharlika bill is now closer to enrollment for the President’s signature. Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri designated Senators Villar, Pia Cayetano, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Francis Tolentino and Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III as the Senate contingent to the bicameral conference committee. Contingents from both the House of Representatives and Senate are to convene at 11 a.m. today to reconcile the disagreeing provisions in their respective versions of the Maharlika bill. Economic team lauds Senate Meanwhile, Marcos’ economic team lauded the Senate for passing the Maharlika Investment Fund. “The economic team commends Senate President Miguel Zubiri and Senator Mark Villar for their thorough deliberation and prioritization of the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund Act,” Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said. “The Senate leadership pulled out all the stops to ensure that the bill we bring to the President reflects the administration’s objective of creating a profitable and secure investment fund,” he added. The bill’s speedy approval was backed by Diokno, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Felipe M. Medalla, who were all present during the prolonged Senate session. Budget Secretary Pangandaman, for her part, said the Senate’s version of the MIF has “multiple” safeguards against potential misuse. “This is a great stride towards our long-term progress and will boost our efforts for economic growth,” Pangandaman said. “This includes multiple safeguards — we have an audit committee, there’s an advisory board, and there’s a congressional oversight committee. It adheres to the internationally known Santiago principles, there’s the (Commission on Audit), and it has (a) procurement law, so I think we have enough safeguards,” she added. She highlighted potential financial resources from the Land Bank of the Philippines, the Development Bank of the Philippines, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, central bank dividends, and income from privatization. @tribunephl_tiz @tribunephl_jom The post No state pension funds in MIF appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Go-sponsored regional center bill to bring gov’t closer to people
In a significant step toward enhancing the healthcare system in the country, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go expressed his gratitude to his fellow lawmakers as his proposed Senate Bill No. 2212, also known as the Regional Specialty Centers Act, passed the third and final reading in the Senate. In a manifestation on Monday, 29 May, Go, as sponsor of the measure, placed significant emphasis on the invaluable role of the Filipino people in shaping public policies especially on the healthcare system, stating, "It is your experiences and stories that have driven us to create a healthcare system that is compassionate, accessible, and designed to meet the needs of every Filipino." He further emphasized the impact of the people's voices, affirming, "Today, your voices have been heard. Let us continue to work hand in hand, united in our commitment for the well-being of our community." "Ito pong regional specialty centers ay isang paraan para mailapit natin ang serbisyo medikal sa ating mga kababayan lalung-lalo na po yung mga mahihirap," he added. The proposed bill mandates the Department of Health to establish specialty centers in DOH hospitals in every region within five years. This approach leverages the expertise and availability of healthcare professionals already working in these regional hospitals. The proposal also aligns with the Philippine Development Plan 2023 to 2028, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., which includes the establishment of specialty centers as part of the health-related legislative agenda. Particular emphasis will be placed on establishing heart, lung, and kidney centers that replicate the capabilities of the National Specialty Centers in Metro Manila. To ensure the effectiveness of the specialty centers, the DOH will collaborate with the National Specialty Centers to provide expert personnel, specialized training, and necessary equipment. The bill also outlines the authorization for specialty centers to contract medical specialists and experts to provide training and technical assistance. Moreover, if enacted into law, the DOH will be required to allocate capital outlay investments through the Health Facilities Enhancement Program and work closely with the Department of Budget and Management to develop staffing patterns and standards for the specialty centers, securing positions for healthcare workers serving in these facilities. In his speech, Go also acknowledged and thanked his colleagues for their unwavering support and dedicated efforts in bringing the bill to fruition. “This measure is a steadfast commitment, and a collective vision to improve our healthcare system. It demonstrates our dedication to delivering efficient specialized health care to every Filipino,” said Go. The senator likewise extended his appreciation to the DOH for their support and collaboration in ensuring the passage of this proposed legislation. “(Salamat) sa kanilang suporta at pakikiisa upang maipasa ang panukalang ito sa Senado,” said Go. “Sana po magtulungan din po tayo na mapondohan ang specialty centers na ito, Mr. President, para masiguro natin na maging maayos po ang implementasyon nito,” he added. The measure was also authored by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senate Majority Floor Leader Joel Villanueva, Senators Sonny Angara, JV Ejercito, Pia Cayetano, Jinggoy Estrada, Imee Marcos, Robin Padilla, Win Gatchalian, Francis Escudero, Ronald dela Rosa, Ramon Revilla Jr., Cynthia Villar and Loren Legarda. It was also co-authored by Senators Francis Tolentino, Raffy Tulfo and all other members of the Senate. Go highlighted that the Regional Specialty Centers Act is a fulfillment of a campaign promise made by Senate President Zubiri, saying, “Congratulations din po at sana madagdagan ang pondo nito para maparami pa ang specialty centers sa lahat ng rehiyon. Nakasalalay sayo, Mr. President, ang mga karagdagan para dumami pa ang specialty centers sa buong Pilipinas.” The senator also expressed his gratitude to the senators who supported the bill, including Senators Grace Poe, Alan Peter Cayetano, Nancy Binay, Mark Villar, and Lito Lapid. He also acknowledged the invaluable inputs shared by Senate Minority Floor Leader Senator Aquilino Pimentel III and Senator Risa Hontiveros, emphasizing the collaborative efforts of the Senate in making healthcare services accessible to all Filipinos. The post Go-sponsored regional center bill to bring gov’t closer to people appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Binay presses aid release to storm-hit LGUs
Former Vice President Jejomar Binay on Wednesday reiterated his call to the Department of Budget and Management to immediately process and release the national government’s assistance to local government units affected by Typhoon Ulysses......»»
PRA to review policy on retirees’ age requirement
The Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA), an attached agency of the Department of Tourism (DOT), is set to reassess the age requirement for foreign nationals seeking retirement in the country after senators raised concerns over national security on Monday. The issue stemmed during the Senate budget hearing for the DOT when the senators were caught by surprise after PRA general manager Atty. Bienvenido Chy revealed that the agency has been accepting foreign immigrants as retirees who are as young as 35 years old. Sen. Richard Gordon and Sen. Nancy Binay were alarmed as Chinese topped the list of foreign retirees, at a time when the country faces the threat of the growing number of illegal Chinese workers from the Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGOs). But Chy cited that he had already inherited the policy and did not attempt to change it, to which Gordon expressed dismay. In a message to reporters, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, who also chairs the agency, said the Board of Trustees will meet to reassess the policy, stressing that they will move for its immediate repeal. “I have directed GM Bienvenido Chy of the PRA to review and change this long-standing policy,” she said. Based on the Cumulative Gross Enrollment of foreign retirees in the Philippines as of Dec. 31, 2019, there are 26, 969 Chinese nationals from China who decided to retire in the country, followed by Korea (13, 912), India (5,971), Taiwan (4, 801), Japan (3, 950), United States of America (3, 615), Hong Kong (1, 836), Great Britain (1, 571), Germany (778), and Australia (743). An additional 4, 069 foreign nationals also chose to enroll as retirees in the Philippines. According to PRA, the Cumulative Gross Enrollment also includes all active retirees or active Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) holders. These are retirees who continue to keep their retirement visa as their status of stay in the Philippines. Aside from the principal retiree, SRRV holders were also joined by their spouses and dependents to stay in the Philippines. The PRA data also revealed that Chinese top the list of foreign principal retirees belonging to the 35 to 49 years old age bracket, which prodded the senators to grill the PRA chief for job sufficiency issue. The data said that the greater majority of foreign retirees reside in the National Capital Region with 36,862 immigrants or 52.63 percent. Others were scattered in Region 1, Cordillera Administrative Region, Region 2, among others. .....»»
PSC& rsquo;s & lsquo;21 budget gets Senate nod
The proposed budget of the Philippine Sports Commission for 2021 was approved on committee level of the Senate on Tuesday in a virtual hearing presided over by Chairperson of the Committee on Sports, Senator Bong Go, along with Senators Imee Marcos and Nancy Binay......»»
Binay: P21B nasayang sa delay project ng DOTr
Siniwalat ni Senador Nancy Binay ang nasayang na P21 bilyong budget ng Department of Transportation (DOTr) n amula sa foreign loan dahil sa kabiguan nitong makompleto ang Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project sa Cebu at Metro Manila. The post Binay: P21B nasayang sa delay project ng DOTr first appeared on Abante......»»
PNVF forms coaching staff for world meet
Seasoned coach Dante Alinsunurin will make a comeback as one of the deputies for the national men’s team as host Philippines pulls out all the stops to parade a competitive squad against the best of the best in the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championships 2025......»»
PH media slam Chinese foreign ministry’s claims of manipulating WPS reports
Philippine media groups criticized the Chinese foreign ministry for suggesting that recent reports on Chinese harassment of Filipino vessels in the West Philippine Sea involved video manipulation and sensationalism to portray the Philippines as a victim. The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (Focap) and National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) expressed offense.....»»
Baltimore bridge accident: Freighter pilot called for tugboat help before plowing into bridge
BALTIMORE — The pilot of the cargo freighter had radioed for tugboat help and reported a power loss minutes before the Baltimore bridge accident, federal safety officials said on Wednesday, citing audio from the ship’s “black box” data recorder. The head of the National Transportation Safety Board also said that Francis Scott Key Bridge, a.....»»
China: PH is ‘straying down a dangerous path’
MANILA, Philippines — China continued to blame the Philippines and its ally, the United States, for the continued tensions in the disputed West Philippine Sea. In a statement on Thursday, Chinese Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Wu Qian warned that the Philippines is going down a dangerous path. READ: No letup in Chinese water cannon attacks.....»»
Belmonte, Binay call for climate action funding from development banks
The C40 coalition of cities, a network of nearly 100 mayors, asked MDBs to increase urban climate investment, integrate urban climate action into their strategies, and implement tailored programs to support city projects. .....»»
Kaspersky Shares Cybersecurity Tips for a Peaceful Getaway during the holy week
As the holiday season approaches, the urge to unwind and kick back is natural. And it’s all too common for people to let their guard down completely when connecting to the Internet too– but shouldn’t. Recently, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group shared its findings on identity theft cases in the country. Between November […].....»»
Hoffman boosts bid for Paris Paris
Olympics hopeful Lauren Hoffman yesterday set a new national record in the women’s 400-meter hurdles with a gold medal performance in the Hurricane Collegiate Invitational in Coral Gables, Florida......»»
PNVF forms coaching sataff for world meet
Seasoned coach Dante Alinsunurin will make a comeback as one of the deputies for the national men’s team as host Philippines pulls out all the stops to parade a competitive squad against the best of the best in the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championships 2025......»»
Women empowering women
As we celebrate National Women’s Month in March, here are inspiring messages from women leaders of different industries and sectors......»»
Security Council warns of foreign interference in 2025 polls
There may be foreign interference in next year’s midterm elections and the Department of Information and Communications Technology should prepare to counter cyberattacks, the National Security Councilwarned yesterday......»»
India backs Philippines in dispute with China
New Delhi has drawn a strong response from Beijing after reiterating its support for Manila in a territorial dispute India has "firmly reiterated" its support for the Philippines and its "national sovereignty," as Manila remains locked in a territorial dispute with Beijing in the South China Sea. Ten.....»»