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Human rights in Phl ‘improved’ under Marcos admin – EU chief
The state of human rights in the Philippines has improved under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday. In a television interview, Von der Leyen, who is currently in Manila for a two-day visit, said the Philippine government is now “more cooperative.” "The government now is much more cooperative with the United Nations and other international organizations; this is very important. Therefore, we see progress," she said. "As I said, there's much improvement, still topics that we have to discuss, issues that are raised in the constant dialogue that we have with the Philippines. But the environment is much better and this is important for us that there's improvement in the steps forward," she added. Earlier this year, European Union’s Subcommittee on Human Rights Chair Hannah Neumann made a similar observation when she visited the Philippines. Neumann noted that the human rights in the country is “better” than it was during the term of Marcos’ predecessor, former President Rodrigo Duterte. “It was better than it was under President Duterte. I think that it is what we can clearly state,” she said. “We had an impression that everyone is very willing to discuss human rights issues with us which has not been the case during the previous administration,” she added. Neumann, likewise, welcomed the new approach of government under the Marcos administration in terms of its anti-narcotics campaign. Duterte is accused of committing crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court in relation to his bloody war on drugs that killed at least 7,000 people, according to government data. However, both local and International human rights groups disagreed with the figures, stressing that it was way higher than the said numbers. ‘GSP+ extended’ Von der Leyen also announced the Philippines would still be able to enjoy the EU's Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), as it was extended until 2007. "We evaluated the situation, and we found that we can extend the status quo, that is good news... till 2027," she said. Under the EU's Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), developing countries will be given special incentives which include cutting import duties to zero on more than two-thirds of the tariff lines of their exports. The Philippines is among the developing nations that currently enjoy the perks of the EU’s GSP+. The trade preference allows 6,274 Philippine products into Europe duty-free. In 2021, the European Parliament warned then-president Duterte that it will suspend the country’s trade privileges under the GSP+ unless it complies with human rights obligations and ensures free and fair elections during last year’s elections.. The post Human rights in Phl ‘improved’ under Marcos admin – EU chief appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Investment targets enhancement within reach — PEZA
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s first State of the Nation Address was all about the economy, which primarily discussed how to grow it and how to ramp up investment across all industries to sustain the growth momentum. “Productivity-enhancing investments will be promoted. Our country must become an investment destination, capitalizing on the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises or the CREATE Law and the economic liberalization laws such as the Public Service Act and the Foreign Investments Act,” Marcos said. “Ecozones will be fully supported to bring in strategic industries such as those engaged in high-tech manufacturing, health and medical care, and all emerging technologies. This is also seen to facilitate economic growth outside of Metro Manila,” he added. One year since then, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority or PEZA, a state-run agency that promotes the establishment of economic zones in the Philippines for foreign investments, believes that most of the national targets are at arm’s reach. Growth trajectory sustained “We remain optimistic that we will sustain our positive growth trajectory for the 2nd half of the year, given the notable increase in our KPIs on investments, jobs, and exports from a more aggressive whole-of-government approach in investment promotion,” PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga said. The positive outlook was buoyed by the fact that PEZA is on track to achieve its investment targets for the year. The PEZA Board approved 102 ecozone developer-locator projects with a capital investment of P80.585 billion for the first semester of the year, 2.5x bigger than the investment pledges approved for the same period last year under the Duterte administration. For the first year of the Marcos administration, PEZA has by far generated investments of P198.796 billion worth of investments from 206 projects, actual direct jobs of 1,805,770 (cumulative), and actual direct exports of $ 58.494 billion. Big-ticket projects Among the 206 projects, 11 big-ticket projects with a minimum P1 billion capital investment have also been approved and registered by PEZA during this time. These big-ticket projects with total capital investments of P154.966 billion came from the following sectors: ecozone development with P119.259 billion; export manufacturing with P33.946 billion; and ecozone facilities with P1.761 billion. “We continue to contribute to the overall positive performance of the administration and serve as a tool to constantly attract investments in the country and promote the Philippines as an investment haven in Asia,” Panga said. “With the inclusion of the ecozone development program in the country’s medium-term plan (2023- 2028), we aim to develop more ecozones in rural and new growth areas and introduce new frontiers catering to emerging and niche industries,” explained the PEZA chief. It can be recalled that the PEZA Board has approved Board Resolution No. 23-138 to streamline the ecozone proclamation process, making it easier to do business within the ecozones. The move, according to the agency, effectively makes the Philippines ready to accept more investments from global market players, and ultimately, increase exports, create more job opportunities, and hasten countryside development for the foreseeable future. In 2022, the PEZA Board has approved P140.7 billion worth of investments — more than double the P69.3 billion approved in 2021 The post Investment targets enhancement within reach — PEZA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Without ‘soul, progress is meaningless
Reduced budgets against big, supportive words paint a grainy picture of how the Marcos Jr. administration is prioritizing the arts and culture sector of the Philippines. In 2022, “proposed budget cuts for four key agencies tasked with preserving history and culture,” as said in a report, got critics’ hackles up, implying that the Marcoses had no love lost for history as it was allegedly bent on revisionism. However, a source from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts acknowledges that this has been a “period of recovery,” and that “the administration has continuously supported and assisted in the recovery of the sector, which is one of most adversely affected by the pandemic. Through the government’s cultural agencies, support to the culture still continues” to this day, one year into the term of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. For its part, the Duterte government, at the height of the pandemic, took steps to alleviate the needs of all those affected in the arts and culture sector. Assistance Data from the Cultural Center of the Philippines reveals that during that time, about 800 events were canceled, losing about 800,000 audiences or participants, and at least P90 million in revenues. About 3,000 artists, cultural workers and other kinds of workers were affected. This was the same all over the country and the world. The NCCA’s Assistance Program for Cultural Workers Under the State of Calamity aimed to provide quick cash assistance in the amount of P5,000 to around 800 beneficiaries. Artists and cultural workers who were not under an employer-employee relationship, without regular income or were working freelance, with no benefits, and/or had no employers to run to, and those whose source of income were gone due to the pandemic, were prioritized. The executive council members of the NCCA’s 19 national committees, which represent the different fields of culture and the arts, were tasked to list 35 priority beneficiaries. The NCCA “is the overall policy-making body, coordinating and grants-giving agency for the preservation, development and promotion of Philippine arts and culture; an executing agency for the policies it formulates; and tasked to administer the National Endowment Fund for Culture and the Arts — a fund exclusively for the implementation of culture and arts programs and projects.” Executive Order 80’s. 1999, under then President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, put the NCCA on top of other cultural agencies: the Cultural Center of the Philippines, National Historical Institute (now the National Historical Commission of the Philippines), National Museum, The National Library (now, The National Library of the Philippines) and the Records, Management and Archives Office (now, the National Archives of the Philippines). In 2001, Section 8 of Republic Act 9155 added the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino/Commission on the Filipino Language under the NCCA umbrella tied up with education goals. It states: “The Komisyon ng Wikang Pilipino, National Historical Institute, Record Management and Archives Office and the National Library shall now be administratively attached to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and no longer with the Department of Education. The program for school arts and culture shall remain part of the school curriculum.” Putting these cultural agencies together was meant to synergize efforts to strengthen the Filipinos’ sense of heritage and nationhood. Budget allocations In 2023, a year after President Marcos first stepped into office, what “resources” are we talking about? When budgets were being deliberated on in 2022, reports came out on calls for an increase in the proposed budget for arts and culture. At the hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance, NCCA chairman Rene Escalante said, “…we are proposing additional funding of a total of P33 million” to cover expenses for “more manpower and space as some regulatory functions of the National Museum of the Philippines were transferred to it.” Department of Budget Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman in her newspaper column wrote last 31 May: “For 2023, DBM has released funding for our cultural agencies to sustain their projects. It has allocated P212 million for the National Historical Commission of the Philippines; P33 million for NCCA; P164 million for the National Archives; P70 million for the Commission on the Filipino Language; P356 million for CCP and P444 million for the National Museum.” ‘Full support’ Prior to his State of the Nation Address this year after one year in office, expressed his “commitment to promoting Philippine culture, as well as the preservation and protection of the country’s cultural heritage, In a speech at the NCCA Ani ng Dangal (Harvest of Honors) awarding ceremony in Malacañang, he said: “Makaaasa kayo na kaisa ninyo ang pamahalaan at administrasyong ito sa pagsusulong at pagpapayaman ng ating sining at kultura (You may rest assured the government and this administration is one with you in the promotion and development of our arts and culture),” pointing out its importance in and interconnection to efforts to boost our economy while uplifting the image of Filipinos across the globe. [caption id="attachment_161350" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] TRADITIONAL style of mat weaving. | PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF LIKHA[/caption] [caption id="attachment_161351" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Banig weavers.[/caption] ‘Who we are’ What a rich and thriving culture means to a nation cannot be emphasized enough. In October 2018, when Malacañang hosted the awarding of the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan, Philippine Heritage Award and the Order of National Artist, then President Rodrigo Duterte noted the role that cultural heritage plays in the formation of the Filipino identity. “We must recognize and fulfill our duty to stay true to who we are, remember where we came from and honor the timelessness of our culture and traditions,” he said. His commitment was evident as the pandemic went on, with the NCCA offering assistance to the affected workers in the arts and culture sector. The unspoken benefit from that experience was that the arts community bounced back immediately, as artists and cultural workers continued to create, to entertain, to impart insights, to provoke and stimulate, to inspire. Creativity might have taken a pause during the pandemic but not for long as artists began to turn to cyberspace to share their works and interact with their audiences mainly in their social media accounts. Taking this cue, cultural institutions and companies, arts organizations and culture-related groups took the online route, creating virtual events such as online galleries, webinars and talks, film showings, workshops and tutorials, live-streamed musical shows and even presentations of recorded theatrical and dance performances. The digital arts have blossomed and traditional artforms have found themselves increasingly and suddenly in the digital world. Post-pandemic, establishments reopened, but cultural spaces such as museums, galleries and theaters were among the last ones to reopen. Local artistry In the first year of Marcos’ presidency, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos took on the role of promoting Filipino culture by spearheading projects like the Malacañang museums and Likha exhibits, which shone the limelight on local artistry and craftsmanship. One of the legacies of the pandemic that will continue in the coming years is incorporation of streaming or recording for posting and sharing in social media and other mediums. This is true for certain events such as launchings and talks. We have discovered the far-reaching reach of online platforms as well as the convenience of it, saving us time and money. With online platforms, we can reach thousands and disseminate information further beyond borders. Our audiences are not limited to certain geography, certain spheres. However, for theatrical productions, dance, films and music, we have to devise ways to monetize them so that the creatives involved can make a living out of their crafts. That is one of the challenges that the sector will be facing, which is part of the recovery process from the pandemic. One other important factor to be considered is the creative industries or creative economy. The Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 was launched in 2017, and for the first time, arts and culture and the creative industries are included in the national agenda. An inter-agency board has been created focusing on the creative industries, with the NCCA as one of the key agencies. This entails creating a collective vision and aspiration of Filipinos for themselves and for the country, and is an acknowledgment of the power of arts and culture to shape and elevate consciousness and ways of life and inspire communities. In that chapter, the government promises to “boost the development of Filipino creativity as tool for social cohesion and impetus for culture-based industry and creative economy.” Let’s not forget that a thoughtful and caring governance and industry would indeed include arts and culture in order to prosper in all aspects, recognize the important roles of their artists and cultural workers, and would preserve their cultural legacy, which contribute to realizing a deeper sense of self and national identity. True prosperity does not dwell on the material level but must include the nourishment and nurturing of the soul. The post Without ‘soul, progress is meaningless appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Nuke dev’t needs the backing of Congress
Filipinos may finally benefit from nuclear energy, touted as a cheaper and more reliable power source, within the decade or by 2030, as authorities rush to augment the country's power supply to match the growing demand. Energy Secretary Raphael Perpetuo Lotilla, however, reiterated that the government would need the support of Congress in ratifying a law that would help jumpstart the integration of nuclear power into the country’s energy mix. “The Congress is working on one important requisite, the legal and regulatory framework. It is for Congress to decide on whether or not we should go for nuclear power, and even the timing will be determined by them,” Lotilla said during a forum. “Within the decade, I am sure that we can be on, or we can place ourselves on track for that,” the Energy chief added. Pending the law, Lotilla pointed out that the DoE and all other concerned government agencies are actively looking out for possible sites where a nuclear power plant can be built. “We intend to work with the Congress, so in the meantime, we are making sure that when that decision is made when the Congress gives the green light, we won’t be starting from scratch,” he said. To recall, the House Nuclear Energy Committee approved a consolidated substitute bill last March that seeks to comprehensive atomic regulatory framework and establish the Philippine Atomic Regulatory Commission. Since the government is prohibited from taking on any power generation endeavor, the DoE has also tapped the National Economic and Development Authority to work on the private sector’s participation in nuclear development. “If the private sector can do it, we should support it,” Lotilla added. In his first State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. signified his support for the adoption of nuclear energy as part of the country’s power mix. “I believe it is time to re-examine our strategy towards building nuclear power plants in the Philippines,” Marcos said. To recall, former President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order No. 164 entitled, “Adopting a National Position for a Nuclear Energy Program, and Other Purposes. The post Nuke dev’t needs the backing of Congress appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go lauds current admin’s pandemic recovery efforts
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, expressed his appreciation and support for the pandemic recovery efforts undertaken by the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. As the country continues to grapple with the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Go commended the administration's proactive approach and strategies to address the challenges faced by the Filipino people since President Marcos took oath last year. “So far, the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. is doing very good, especially in steering the country towards recovery from the pandemic as an immediate goal on his first year in office,” expressed Go. The Senator also stressed the importance of the efforts done by the past administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte in ensuring that the country is now able to better cope with the challenges brought about by the health crisis. “Sana ay ipagpatuloy ng kasalukuyang administrasyon ang mga magagandang nasimulan nito sa kanilang unang taon at pati na rin yung mga magagandang programa ng nakaraang administrasyon ni dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Sana ay madagdagan pa ang mga ito, lalo na yung mga proyekto at programang nakakatulong talaga sa mga mahihirap nating kababayan,” he continued. Meanwhile, Go has urged the Department of Health (DOH) to carefully assess the prevailing situation before making any decision regarding the lifting of the state of public emergency due to COVID-19 in the country. Recognizing the importance of balancing public health and the gradual resumption of economic activities, the senator emphasized the need for a cautious and data-driven approach, saying, “We have to consider everything and make sure that the proposed lifting of the State of Public Health Emergency due to COVID-19 is evidence-based and dictated by good science.” “This includes ensuring that our present healthcare system is strong enough should there be an alarming increase again in the number of COVID-19 cases,” he emphasized. Go likewise stressed the significance of considering key indicators such as infection rates, vaccination coverage, hospital capacity, and the readiness of local health systems before easing restrictions. The post Bong Go lauds current admin’s pandemic recovery efforts appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Follow science
The government should decide whether or not it should remove the mothballs from the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant since the country’s need for electricity begs for a strong will and an intelligent decision on the fate of the idled facility. The BNPP was ready in 1986 to become the first nuclear power plant as a source of electricity in Southeast Asia, had not vicious politics intervened. Had the obstructionists been prevented from having their way, the curse of the periodic brownouts would not have been inflicted on Filipinos. Among the notable achievements of the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte was laying the framework for nuclear technology as an option in the energy mix. The post-pandemic world is furiously trying to recoup lost grounds from the two-year infestation. The economic surge in the Philippines is projected to be among the fastest in the world based on the growth momentum thus far. Duterte signed Executive Order 164 which opened the door for a nuclear program by including the technology among the options in generating electricity. It offers a solution to the pursuit of meeting the rising power demand while keeping with international commitments to reduce carbon emissions. Being an archipelago with a limited land area, developing large-scale renewable energy projects like wind or solar farms has become a challenge. In the solar farm development, the direction now is to use the vast marine areas for floating solar panels that would, however, ramp up the cost of the solar project. In comparison, nuclear power plants require relatively small land areas and can produce large amounts of electricity. Heavy dependence on imported fossil fuels exposes the country to price volatility and supply disruptions, unlike nuclear energy, which, once operational, is not subject to supply and price risks, as nuclear fuel can be stored for years. A former energy executive said the former regime has a good appreciation of the nuclear option. Prices of oil and coal are erratic, so way back in 2017, the Duterte administration started planning for the integration of nuclear energy in anticipation of global distractions “caused by several factors similar to the current geopolitical conflict and the suspension of coal exports of Indonesia,” according to the former energy official. It will be up to the current administration to take the next steps to realize the promises of nuclear technology. “We need a to do lot of things before we finally achieve this but we need to do it so that when the country is hit by natural or man-made crises we can rely on a stable electricity supply,” the former official said. During the campaigns for the 2022 polls, then-candidate Bongbong Marcos vowed to study the revival of the BNPP among the options to bring the country back on track in the use of nuclear energy. BNPP, worth $ 2.2 billion, is the country’s first and only nuclear power plant. “We have to look at nuclear power. Don’t let politics get in the way, follow the science,” Marcos has said. Former Prime Minister Cesar Virata, who was also the finance minister of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., had the prescience to warn the administration of former President Cory Aquino from decommissioning the plant. He warned then that the policy was based on political considerations as Virata said that the economy at the time when the construction of the power plant started, was picking up and required a steady source of electricity. BBM said at the time when the BNPP was ready to operate, both the International Atomic Energy Agency and the World Bank gave their approval on BNPP as feasible, at a time when the Philippines was 95 percent dependent on imported energy. Another former Marcos official, now Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile said several successful programs including the shift to nuclear energy were discarded during the administration of Cory on the instigation of leftist officials who of course were then working to keep the country in a backward state that is conducive to their sinister plans which are based on the level of hate among the populace. They spread baseless fears about a nuclear holocaust through the BNPP. BBM struck the best formula to settle the debates on BNPP: Follow the science. The post Follow science appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Moderating oligarchs’ greed
Last July 13, President Rodrigo Duterte spoke before soldiers in Jolo, Sulu and triumphantly declared he “dismantled the oligarchy that controlled the country’s economy without the need to declare martial law.” This came a few days after a committee in the House of Representatives rejected ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal bill. During his penultimate State of the Nation Address on July 27, Duterte took another swipe at the oligarchs whose great wealth has enabled them “to influence public policy to their advantage.” He cited as an example the Lopezes “who used their media outlets in their battles with political figures” including himself during the 2016 elections. People seem to forget that Duterte’s avowed mission to put oligarchs in their proper place was part of his 2016 campaign promise to stamp out corruption. At that time, he said the corruption in the Bureau of Customs and the Bureau of Internal Revenue was “small change in comparison to the high-level corruption that runs in the billions among the economic elite.” Oligarchy means the rule of the few, but its meaning has evolved to refer to powerful individuals or groups outside of government who are able to benefit from political connections to amass vast amounts of wealth and gain control of major industries. The term “oligarch” started popping up recently in mainstream and social media but its context in relation to what is happening in our society has become warped and obfuscated. To be fair, the President has given credit where credit is due, even to the so-called oligarchs when they helped the government in this COVID-19 crisis, but he said it is their abuses that he abhors. On several occasions, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano pointed out how oligarchs use their wealth to gain power, while the political elite used their power to amass wealth. He expressed full support to Duterte’s advocacy in changing the current system where he believes the people “willingly consent to being held back by the few who control the economy and through that, the running of the nation.” According to Cayetano, the real threat to the stability of our socio-political and economic systems are those backroom deals that make exploitation legal – “the quiet acquiescing to a system that naturally favors the ultra-rich and very powerful.” He believes that not all oligarchs are bad, saying in a media interview: “Just like every entrepreneur wanting to expand their business, these would-be oligarchs might very well have started off with the most benign or even benevolent intentions. But the malignant DNA of unabated, uncontrolled capitalism, especially corporate capitalism, eventually comes to play, leading to people and systems being abused and exploited.” Cayetano clarified, though, that capitalism and democracy work as we have seen in other economies. He thinks the situation in the Philippines is not hopeless, and we can begin to change this corrupt system by acknowledging there is a problem and we are part of it. “This is a battle between those who are willing to fight their self-interest and change with the system, versus those who deny that there is anything wrong with the status quo, specifically as it relates to themselves, and instead simply choose to blame the politicians and officials in government,” he said. This brings to mind the statement attributed to a Cabinet member of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who advised another top official to “moderate your greed.” Another cautionary tale is found in the recently re-launched book of Ricardo Manapat, who served as National Archives Director during the Arroyo and Ramos administrations. Manapat’s book is titled “Some Are Smarter Than Others: The History of Marcos’ Crony Capitalism” which is a classic work on anti-cronyism exposing the ill-gotten wealth of former President Ferdinand Marcos. Oligarchs may not be totally wiped out in the Philippines, since developed economies even have to contend with their presence. But Duterte’s relentless campaign against them could very well result in moderating their greed and freeing the country from their tight grip. nextgenmedia@gmail.com.....»»
Let next administration worry about death penalty –Atienza
An independent House member thinks it is better to just let the next administration tackle the sensitive topic that is the reimposition of death penalty. Buhay Partylist Rep. Lito Atienza (FACEBOOK / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) “The government should concentrate on saving lives and quelling the coronavirus pandemic now and allow the next administration to worry about the proposal to bring back the death penalty,” BUHAY Party-List Rep. Lito Atienza said in a statement Sunday. “We’re now in the middle of a public health disaster that has already demolished the livelihood and jobs of millions of Filipinos,” stressed Atienza, a former three-term mayor of Manila. In his State of the Nation Address (SoNA) before a joint session of Congress last July 24, President Duterte called on legislators to revive capital punishment on certain crimes under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002. Atienza made his call even as the thousands of daily new infections from the incurable disease threaten to overwhelm the country’s health care system. The pro-life solon described the pursuit of death penalty as an “exercise in futility” given the current circumstances. “First of all, Congress realistically lacks the time to work on the death penalty. Second, in less than 22 months, we will be electing a new president and a new Congress, so we might as well let the next administration worry about the highly divisive proposal,” Atienza said. “Third, even assuming Congress reinstates the death penalty tomorrow, the President still won’t see any judicial executions being carried out for the remainder of his term,” he said. Duterte will finish his six-year term in 2022. The last time Congress passed a law reimposing capital punishment in 1993, the first death verdict was not carried out until 1999, or until six years later, due to legal challenges and mandatory reviews, Atienza pointed out. A death penalty bill was actually passed by the House on third and final reading during the previous 17th Congress. However, the measure faced a roadblock in the Senate and was not taken up......»»
Hontiveros files resolution seeking admin assistance for ICC’s drug war probe
SENATOR Risa Hontiveros filed on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, a resolution urging Malacañang to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) which seeks to probe the human rights situation in the country amid claims of violations due to the controversial drug war of the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte......»»
Message of PM Anwar Ibrahim
Crisis brings out the best and the worst in man. It reveals his true persona behind the façade of photo-shopped and public relations-created images. Amidst the Israel-Hamas war, former president Rodrigo Duterte outrageously advised Israel President Benjamin Netanyahu to make “Gaza the world’s biggest cemetery.” And just recently, our ambassador to the United Kingdom twitted on social media (taken down later) that “Palestinian children should be killed . . .” These comments went viral among Moro netizens who unleashed a barrage of angry libelous words against the source. Now, juxtapose this with the public statements by regional leaders about the crisis. And from the gallery of regional statesmen, I pick Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’Seri Anwar Ibrahim whose poignant messages earned the praise of not a few, including non-Muslims. The reaction of these leaders betrays the dichotomy of opinions along religious lines. The Muslim countries, true to their affiliation with the Muslim Palestinians, as members of the World Brotherhood of Muslims or “Ummah Islamiyyah” stood should-to-shoulder with the Palestinians. On the flip side are the non-Muslims led by the United States which condemned the 7 October surprise attack by Hamas on Israel. The world is now on edge because of the strong words of revenge of rightist President Benjamin Netanyahu using the world media stage for his threats of annihilation and cutting off of basic supplies of food, medicines, water, electricity, and fuel to the Palestinians of the Muslim City of Gaza. According to jurists, these are crimes against International Humanitarian Law and other UN covenants and Geneva Conventions. And they claim that while Israel has the right to defend itself, that is not a license to commit genocide. Prime Minister Ibrahim stood tall among Muslim leaders in expressing the sentiment of his government. He had been vocal at every turn of the crisis. He must have had a premonition of the impending catastrophe. His eloquent speech before the United Nations General Assembly on 22 September, which in my book is in the same league as the “What it means to be a Muslim” speech of King Abdullah of Jordan, has earned praise from many observers. He said, “In the Middle East, the politics of dispossession continues with a vengeance with more illegal settlements being built, stripping Palestinians of land that rightfully belongs to them. This constitutes a gross violation of international law. It also poses an insurmountable obstacle to a two-state solution, not to mention the continued killings. There is also flagrant hypocrisy in dealing with the issue of Palestine. The international community must speak up against the atrocities committed towards the Palestinians even as they so vehemently speak out against human rights violations, injustice, and abusive regimes.” When the war broke out on 7 October, one of the countries that reacted immediately was Malaysia. PM Ibrahim issued a statement expressing his country’s solidarity with the struggles of the Palestinians and reiterated his indictment of the international community for its “one-sided actions regarding . . . cruelty and oppression against the Palestinians. The confiscation of land and property belonging to the Palestinian people . . . done relentlessly by the Zionists.” After the bombing of the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza, which killed more than 500 innocent civilians, PM Ibrahim described it as being “on an insane and inhumane level. What is most regrettable is that Western countries, which speak about human rights, seem to differentiate between peoples, with some considered first-class and others as subordinates.” PM Ibrahim knows how geopolitics works. There will be consequences for standing up against the position of the world powers, the US and Europe, which had expressed total support for Israel. There might be a price to pay. Economic, trade, and political relationships might be put in jeopardy. But the Islam in him outweighed other interests. And for that, Muslims salute him. We are proud to belong to the Malay race. amb_mac_lanto@yahoo.com The post Message of PM Anwar Ibrahim appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM eager to resolve diplomatic tensions with Kuwait
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants to successfully resolve the diplomatic tensions between Kuwait and the Philippines following a brief meeting with Kuwait's Crown Prince, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. In a roundtable interview with the reporters on Saturday morning (Manila time), Marcos said Kuwait's Crown Prince approached him at the sidelines of the first Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Riyadh. According to Marcos, Kuwait's Crown Prince requested a brief meeting to address the ongoing discord between the two nations. "He said, 'Can we have a quick chat for just 3 to 5 minutes?' He assured me it wouldn't take long, and we readily agreed," Marcos told the reporters, describing how the impromptu meeting started. In the discussion, the Crown Prince expressed his dissatisfaction with the actions of his people and disapproved of the strained relations between Kuwait and the Philippines. "The words that he used are 'Do not listen to them. These words come from small people. I do not agree with what they have been doing'," Marcos said. He added that the Crown Prince absolved the Philippines of any need to apologize. According to the Chief Executive, the Crown Prince told him: "There is no reason for you to apologize to us. In fact, I will apologize to you." He cited the enduring support of President Marcos's father for Kuwait, emphasizing the historical ties between the nations. "We will fix it, and we will make it right because we love the Philippines," the Crown Prince affirmed, promising resolution and reconciliation between the two countries. Earlier this year, Kuwait told the Philippines to honor the Gulf state's sovereignty after the Middle Eastern country halted issuing new entry visas to citizens of the Southeast Asian country due to a labor agreement dispute. Kuwait has announced that it will extend the temporary prohibition on all types of visas for Filipino workers. However, they have also confirmed that they will renew visas for those who hold valid residence permits and wish to continue their employment in Kuwait. In 2018, the Philippines and Kuwait entered into a labor agreement aimed at regulating domestic workers. This agreement came about following a dispute between the two nations, which resulted in a ban on Filipino workers after a domestic worker was tragically murdered. This year, another distressing incident occurred when a 35-year-old Filipina maid was killed by a Kuwaiti teenager, prompting the Philippines to reevaluate its labor agreement with Kuwait. This incident occurred nearly five years after the murder of Joanna Daniela Demafelis, a Filipina domestic worker whose body was discovered in a freezer after being killed by her employers. These events caused a diplomatic strain and led the then-president, Rodrigo Duterte, to temporarily ban Filipinos seeking employment in the Gulf country. The post PBBM eager to resolve diplomatic tensions with Kuwait appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marcos admin urged to allow ICC probe Duterte s drug war anew
The Magdalo group on Monday urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s administration to allow the International Criminal Court investigators into the country to hold former President Rodrigo Duterte accountable for alleged "crimes against humanity.".....»»
PhilHealth hospital payment on track
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation on Monday expressed confidence that it would be able to settle its outstanding debts to hospitals amounting to P27 billion ahead of its self-imposed deadline in December. In a press briefing, PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. said that at least 76 percent of the P27 billion unpaid claims have been paid. “It’s been roughly 30 days since we made the announcement and already 76 percent have been paid,” Ledesma said. “Clearly, we are on track. We will probably be able to complete it ahead of time,” he added. Earlier this month, Ledesma made a commitment before lawmakers that the state-run health insurer would settle “a bulk or majority” of its P27 billion unpaid claims to various hospitals in the country within 90 days. He said it during the budget deliberation of the House Committee on Appropriations on the proposed P199 billion budget of the Department of Health for the upcoming fiscal year. According to the state-run health insurer’s top official, the Debit-Credit Payment Method would also be used to accelerate the payment for unpaid hospital claims. “It will make the reconciliation faster,” he said. Under the paying scheme, PhilHealth will only pay at least 80 percent of the total unpaid claims of the hospitals. The remaining unpaid claims will be settled after the completion of processing requirements. The post PhilHealth hospital payment on track appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sovereign interest
The Philippines is earning plaudits for the Marcos administration’s tough balancing act of asserting its territorial claim on the West Philippine Sea while preventing the tense situation with China from escalating. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has made it his policy to improve relations with the United States that were strained under the last administration, while continuing to engage with China but recognizing the need to respect each country’s position. Sydney-based think tank Lowy Institute cited recent moves by the country that showed it will not back down from China’s assertiveness, but neither will it take actions to provoke its anger. “While Beijing attempts to tighten its grip on the region with a new ten-dash line, a multi-billion dollar military modernization drive is underway in the Philippines,” a Lowy report said. It said many analysts believe that Manila’s pronouncements about confrontation are “gestures” rather than real attempts to challenge China. An open conflict would have tremendous geopolitical and economic costs for the Philippines. “Beijing remains Manila’s top trade partner and import supplier,” Lowy said. It cited instances in which the Philippines stepped back from adding fuel to the fire. “The Philippines’ decision to skip last month’s joint military exercise with the United States, Australia and Japan in the South China Sea is seen as a way of avoiding conflict with China,” it noted. It said that Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro had refused to cooperate with Taiwan on security issues, which has been viewed as the country’s continued adherence to the One-China policy. “Despite his harsh remarks on Beijing, some Chinese international relations experts are optimistic about the appointment of Teodoro Locsin as Manila’s Special Envoy to China as he has not only favored cooperation with Beijing but has been critical of the West,” it added. Lowy said Locsin’s appointment is read as Manila’s attempt to stabilize ties with Beijing, adding that “others are disappointed with the choice.” This recognition from independent observers indicates the Marcos administration is skillfully threading a thin line to show it is insisting on its sovereign stake while pushing back against Beijing. Manila’s resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre landing craft, for instance, which is considered the eye of the storm in the current friction, has been a pure play by Philippine forces. Manila’s supply and coast guard ships are constantly in a game of tag with huge Chinese Coast Guard vessels which try to frustrate the provision of supplies to the platoon of Marines guarding the outpost. Last month, China’s coast guard water-cannoned a Navy supply boat. Beijing’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs justified this as “safeguarding our sovereignty in accordance with law” and criticized Manila for “ignoring China’s goodwill and sincerity.” China then demanded the Philippines remove the beached Sierra Madre. Lowy reported that “Manila has further aggravated Beijing by describing the danger of conflict in the Taiwan Strait as a ‘major security concern,’ in its newly published National Security Policy.” It quoted various state mouthpieces in China as having criticized former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s condemnation of the ten-dash line and his claim that Manila “wouldn’t resist a fight” for its maritime rights. China has always referred to the Duterte period as when an ideal engagement had existed with the Philippines. Duterte initially exerted efforts to win the trust of the Chinese but had always indicated to President Xi Jinping that he would have to raise at some point the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration that favored the Philippines. China continues to follow its playbook that the Philippines is being manipulated by the US to take bold actions in the West Philippine Sea conflict. Beijing glosses over the fact that when the late President Noynoy Aquino bungled the handling of the 2012 faceoff with China, it was the US that abandoned the Philippines as it did nothing to stop the reclamation of features in the disputed area. Similarly, China has advocated dialogue but, thus far, nothing has come of it, even after the Philippines gave way to its wishes over the past six and more years. The post Sovereign interest appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Indonesia launches Southeast Asia’s first high-speed rail
Indonesia launched Southeast Asia's first high-speed railway on Monday, a delayed, multibillion-dollar project backed by China that President Joko Widodo hailed as "a symbol of our modernization". With a top speed of 350 kilometers (220 miles) per hour, the bullet train "Whoosh" can get between the capital Jakarta and Bandung in 45 minutes. The 140 km journey would previously have taken about three hours by train. "The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train marks our efficient, friendly, and integrated mass transportation system," Widodo said during a ceremony at the capital's central station. "It is a symbol of our modernization in the public transport, seamlessly connecting with other modes of transportation." Widodo said the 600-capacity train was the first high-speed rail transportation in Southeast Asia. It is part of Beijing's Belt and Road initiative -- a decade-old program of China-backed infrastructure projects. The president said the name was actually an acronym, standing for a tagline of "Waktu Hemat, Operasi Optimal, Sistem Handal" -- which in Bahasa Indonesia means "Saving time, optimal operation, reliable system". It was built by PT KCIC, which is made up of four Indonesian state companies and Beijing's China Railway International Co. The project was initially set to cost less than $5 billion and be completed by 2019. However, delays caused by construction challenges and the Covid-19 pandemic led to a surge in costs. In preparation for its opening, officials have conducted public trials for the new high-speed route. Last week, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi confirmed that the government would extend the high-speed train route from Bandung to the country's second-biggest city Surabaya. Last month, Chinese Premier Li Qiang joined Senior Minister Luhut Pandjaitan on a ride aboard the train during his Jakarta visit for summits with Southeast Asian leaders. Pandjaitan told reporters on Thursday that Widodo plans to welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping in the future to ride the train, but did not give more specifics. agn/ebe/sn/leg © Agence France-Presse The post Indonesia launches Southeast Asia’s first high-speed rail appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PhilHealth ‘on track’ to pay P27-B outstanding debt to hospitals
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation on Monday expressed confidence that it would be able to settle its outstanding debts to hospitals amounting to P27 billion ahead of its self-imposed deadline in December. In a press briefing, PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. said that at least 76 percent of the P27 billion unpaid claims have been paid. “It’s been roughly 30 days since we made the announcement and already 76 percent have been paid,” Ledesma said. “Clearly, we are on track. We will probably be able to complete it ahead of time,” he added. Earlier this month, Ledesma made a commitment before lawmakers that the state-run health insurer would settle “a bulk or majority” of its P27 billion unpaid claims to various hospitals in the country within 90 days. He said it during the budget deliberation of the House Committee on Appropriations on the proposed P199 billion budget of the Department of Health for the upcoming fiscal year. According to the state-run health insurer's top official, the Debit-Credit Payment Method would also be used to accelerate the payment for unpaid hospital claims. “It will make the reconciliation faster,” he said. Under the paying scheme, PhilHealth will only pay at least 80 percent of the total unpaid claims of the hospitals. The remaining unpaid claims will be settled after the completion of processing requirements. The post PhilHealth ‘on track’ to pay P27-B outstanding debt to hospitals appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tropical storm ‘Jenny’ intensifies
State weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration on Sunday announced that tropical storm “Jenny” has further intensified and may reach typhoon category in the next three days. PAGASA said that the center of “Jenny” was located 835 kilometers east of Central Luzon packing maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 105 kph while moving northwestward at 20 kph. Jenny is forecast to steadily gather strength and may become a severe tropical storm on Sunday and may reach typhoon category on Monday evening or on Tuesday. The state weather bureau also said that at present, Jenny is not directly affecting the country but due to the proximity of the track forecast to extreme Northern Luzon, “heavy rainfall may be experienced over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and the northern portions of the mainland of Cagayan, Apayao and Ilocos Norte on Wednesday or Thursday.” The post Tropical storm ‘Jenny’ intensifies appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
LPA enters PAR, develops into tropical depression ‘Jenny’
The low-pressure area tracked over the east of Central Luzon has entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) and developed into Tropical Depression Jenny, the state weather bureau said Friday. In its latest weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration reported that the LPA entered the country and developed into a tropical depression around 2 p.m. on Friday. PAGASA said TD Jenny is not directly affecting the country. However, it is expected to bring heavy rains over Batanes and Babuyan Islands in the next five days. PAGASA said TD Jenny may enhance the Southwest Monsoon or ‘habagat’ beginning on Sunday, resulting in possible occasional rains over the western portions of Central and Southern Luzon. The tropical depression is forecast to track generally westward or west-northwestward until Saturday before turning further north over the Philippine Sea east of Northern and Central Luzon. It will then be expected to have a close approach over the Batanes area by Wednesday. PAGASA sees the TD may landfall over Batanes-Babuyan or northeastern mainland Cagayan. Jenny is also expected to steadily intensify throughout the forecast period and may reach the tropical storm category tomorrow afternoon. It may be upgraded into a typhoon category by Wednesday during its close approach over the Batanes area. Jenny is currently moving westward at 20 kilometers per hour with maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph. No tropical cyclone wind signal is currently hoisted. The post LPA enters PAR, develops into tropical depression ‘Jenny’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Herbosa no-show, but DOH 2024 budget hurdles Senate Finance panel
The Senate Committee on Finance on Thursday approved the proposed P311.3 billion budget of the Department of Health for the upcoming fiscal year without the attendance of Health Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa. Herbosa skipped the DOH’s budget deliberation, normally led by the agency’s head, days after he failed to secure the approval of the Commission on Appointment. During the budget deliberation, DOH senior officials led by Undersecretary Lilibeth David, former Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario-Vergeire and Undersecretary Gloria Balboa presented the agency’s proposed budget. Senator Francis Tolentino specifically questioned Herbosa’s absence in the budget deliberation, fearing that the agency is now in an “auto-pilot mode”. Senator Pia Cayetano, who presided over the agency’s budget deliberation, quickly clarified that the DOH is not “headless”. “Actually, all of the senior members of the team approached me a while ago and they acknowledged that, of course, it is a bit of an awkward situation,” Cayetano said. “But as you all know, Usec Dr. Vergeire was the OIC for many years and was very actively exercising her leadership not just in the past year, but even during the time of President Duterte. Dr. Usec. David is the most senior undersecretary. So I’m quite confident in the presentation today that they can answer,” she added. Tolentino explained that he is asking for Herbosa’s presence because “budget presentations would require answers concerning accountability.” “And perhaps the head of the department should be the one doing that. Otherwise, it would be in an auto-pilot mode,” he said. For her part, Senator Loren Legarda also expressed confidence in the senior officials of the DOH. “Let me just say that I’m certain that our very competent Usecs. and Asecs. down the line would be able to communicate the policies of the Secretary who still has to be confirmed,” Legarda said. “I am very confident that they will be able to answer our questions. I do not think that they would divert from any policy of the Secretary or say anything that would be against his policies,” she added. Cyber-attack on PhilHealth Senators also touched on the recent cyber-attack on the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHealth. Legarda quizzed PhilHealth officials about the effect of the cyber-attack on the state-run health insurer’s operation, as well as the steps being taken by the agency to prevent similar cases in the future. Responding to the lawmaker’s query, Atty. Eli Dino D. Santos, PhilHealth’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, said the agency has yet to restore its online system. “All transactions are offline, and we've resume operations meaning membership, employer submission, and payment over the counter,” Santos said. “Our benefits availment continues. We have already informed our partner providers that while the system is turned off, they can still submit claims or prepare the submission of claims,” he added. “At present, to confirm the statement of our President, we are set to turn on our systems today, but we are still completing the preventive measures before we turn it on. We are targeting to turn on our PhilHealth website, member portal, as well as the e-claims.” Over the weekend, PhilHealth confirmed reports that there was an “information security incident” on its online system, which prompted them to turn it off as part of its “containment measures”. The Department of Information and Communications Technology previously stated that the agency’s system was attacked by Medusa ransomware. A multinational cyber security software company, Trend Micro, defines “ransomware” as a type of malware that prevents or limits users from accessing a system, either by locking the system’s screen or by locking the users’ files until a ransom is paid. The Medusa ransomware group was demanding $300,000 from PhilHealth in exchange for access to its system. The group threatened to leak the personal information of PhilHealth members if it did not pay the ransom. The state-run health insurer previously stated that it would not give in to the group’s demand. The post Herbosa no-show, but DOH 2024 budget hurdles Senate Finance panel appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DOH budget for 2024 hurdles Senate Finance panel without Herbosa
The Senate Committee on Finance on Thursday approved the proposed P311.3 billion budget of the Department of Health for the upcoming fiscal year without the attendance of Health Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa. Herbosa skipped the DOH’s budget deliberation, normally led by the agency’s head, days after he failed to secure the approval of the Commission on Appointment. During the budget deliberation, DOH senior officials led by Undersecretary Lilibeth David, former Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario-Vergeire, and Undersecretary Gloria Balboa, presented the agency’s proposed budget. Senator Francis Tolentino specifically questioned Herbosa’s absence in the budget deliberation, fearing that the agency is now in an “auto-pilot mode”. Senator Pia Cayetano, who presided over the agency’s budget deliberation, quickly clarified that the DOH is not “headless”. “Actually, all of the senior members of the team approached me a while ago and they acknowledged that of course, it is a bit of an awkward situation,” Cayetano said. “But as you all know, Usec Dr. Vergeire was the OIC for many years and was very actively exercising her leadership not just in the past year, but even during the time of President Duterte. Dr. Usec. David is the most senior undersecretary. So I’m quite confident in the presentation today that they can answer,” she added. Tolentino explained that he is asking for Herbosa’s presence because “budget presentations would require answers concerning accountability.” “And perhaps the head of the department should be the one doing that. Otherwise, it would be in an auto-pilot mode,” he said. For her part, Senator Loren Legarda also expressed her confidence in the senior officials of the DOH. “Let me just say that I’m certain that our very competent Usecs. and Asecs. down the line would be able to communicate the policies of the secretary who still has to be confirmed,” Legarda said. “I don't think that the DoH body institution system comprised of career people who -- it may be a headless agency this is insofar other secretaries concerned -- but all the systems are covered by the Usecs. and Asecs,” she added. She continued: “I am very confident that they will be able to answer our questions. I do not think that they would divert from any policy of the secretary or say anything that would be against his policies.” Cyber-attack on PhilHealth Senators also touched on the recent cyber-attack on the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHealth. Legarda quizzed PhilHealth officials about the effect of the cyber-attack on the state-run health insurer’s operation, as well as the steps being taken by the agency to prevent encountering a similar case in the future. Responding to the lawmaker’s query, Atty. Eli Dino D. Santos, PhilHealth’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, said that the agency has yet to return its online system. “All systems now are all transactions are offline and we resume operations meaning membership, employer submission, and payment over the counter,” Santos said. “Our benefits availment continues. We have already informed our partner providers that while the system is turned off, they can still submit claims or prepare the submission of claims,” he added. He continued: “At present, to confirm the statement of our President, we are set to turn on our systems today, but we are still completing the preventive measures before we turn it on. We are targeting to turn on our PhilHealth website, member portal, as well as the e-claims.” Over the weekend, PhilHealth confirmed reports that there was an “information security incident” on its online system, which prompted them to turn it off as part of its “containment measures”. The Department of Information and Communications Technology previously stated that the agency’s system was attacked by Medusa ransomware. A multinational cyber security software company, Trend Micro defined “ransomware” as a type of malware that prevents or limits users from accessing their system, either by locking the system’s screen or by locking the users’ files until a ransom is paid. The Medusa ransomware group was demanding $300,000 from PhilHealth in exchange for access to its system. The group threatened to leak the personal information of PhilHealth members if it did not pay the ransom. The state-run health insurer previously stated that it would not give in to the group’s demand. The post DOH budget for 2024 hurdles Senate Finance panel without Herbosa appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»