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Gatchalian to PhilHealth: Update mental health package
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation should present an update on the rollout of its package for mental health illnesses, Senator Win Gatchalian said Thursday. Gatchalian cited that PhilHealth earlier planned to roll out its mental health outpatient package in July. The senator flagged the unreleased package despite “the country is facing a pandemic of mental health issues.” To date, Gatchalian said that PhilHealth only offers a P7,800 case rate for confined patients having specific conditions such as dementia, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, and anxiety disorders. He lamented that the high cost of mental health services makes it inaccessible to many Filipinos to acquire fair mental care. Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Committee on Basic Education, noted that a cursory search on the internet would point to packages costing up to P43,800. "Sisingilin ko ang PhilHealth sa mental health package dahil nangako sila. Noong una natuwa kami dahil may acknowledgement sila na may problema tayo sa mental health at mababa ang ating package, pero wala namang aksyon na nangyari,” he said. “Sisingilin talaga namin sila dahil nga kung titignan natin yung datos, mahigit 4,000 ang nagpakamatay sa isang taon at 400 ang nagpakamatay mula sa mga paaralan natin kaya talagang may problema tayo pagdating sa mental health," he added. Gatchalian described the increasing deaths of Filipinos due to suicide as logged National Center for Mental Health as “alarming.” In 2019, the NCMH recorded 3,129 calls, of which 325 or 10 percent were suicide-related. In the same year, the Philippine Statistics Authority recorded 2,810 deaths due to suicide. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the calls to the NCMH related to mental health problems had almost quadrupled to 11,017. While suicide-related calls rose to 15 percent or 1,382. The deaths by suicide almost doubled to 4,892 in the same period. In 2022, the number of calls to the NCMH and deaths by suicide remain high. Out of the 18,011 total calls to the NCMH that year, 6,853 were suicide-related. That same year, the PSA recorded 3,103 deaths by suicide. Gatchalian further emphasized how mental health issues affect learners with 404 learners dying by suicide during the School Year 2021-2022. The Senate recently approved on third and final reading of the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act. The proposed measure, which was authored and sponsored by Gatchalian, seeks to institutionalize the School-Based Mental Health Program to promote and ensure the mental health and well-being of learners in public and private basic education institutions. The post Gatchalian to PhilHealth: Update mental health package appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PHAPi: Cyber-attack on PhilHealth to further delay unpaid claims reimbursement
The Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. on Wednesday said it is expecting further delays in the reimbursement of arrears of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation to private hospitals due to the cyber-attack on the agency’s online system. According to PHAPi president Dr. Rene de Grano, the cyber-attack on the state-run health insurer’s online system is expected to cause further delay in its promise to settle its outstanding debts to hospitals amounting to P27 billion. “During the past hearing, PhilHealth president [Emmanuel] Mandy Ledesma promised to pay by December the P27 billion-worth of supposed arrears of PhilHealth to different hospitals,” De Grano told reporters in a chance interview. “Of course, we are hoping that it will be pushed through. But then this problem (cyber-attack) came, which made PhilHealth’s entire system down, then of course, we will be expecting more delays,” he added. Over the weekend, PhilHealth confirmed reports that there was an “information security incident” on its online system. The Department of Information and Communications Technology previously stated that the agency’s system was attacked by Medusa ransomware. As defined by Trend Micro, a multinational cyber security software company, ransomware is 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. In the state-run health insurer’s case, the Medusa ransomware group was said to be demanding $300,000 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. Worst case scenario Earlier this month, Ledesma made a commitment before lawmakers in the budget deliberation of the House Committee on Appropriations on the proposed P199 billion budget of the Department of Health for next year that the state-run health insurer would settle “a bulk or majority” of its P27 billion unpaid claims to various hospitals in the country. Of the P27 billion worth of unpaid claims by PhilHealth to various hospitals, P10 to P15 billion are estimated to be from private hospitals. Unlike big private hospitals that have “buffer funds,” De Grano said that further delays in payment would cripple the operations of smaller private hospitals. “Most of the small private hospitals rely on or are very dependent on patients who are NBB, charity patients, or no balance billing,” he said. “If there would be further delay in payments, smaller private hospitals will run out of money to the point that it will affect their cash flow. It will affect their operations.” If the non-payment of PhilHealth continues, he warned that smaller private hospitals would require their patients to pay their bills from their pockets. “The worst that will happen, initially, perhaps smaller private hospitals would no longer accept [PhilHealth] beneficiaries. They would ask patients to pay their bills out of their pockets,” he said. “Because, otherwise, we can no longer provide these services. Private hospitals are paying for their nurses, medicines, and supplies. If PhilHealth won’t pay them, it would empty their funds,” he added. Delayed HEA Meanwhile, De Grano also expressed his support for the complaint filed by a group of private healthcare workers against several DOH regional offices before the Anti-Red Tape Authority over the long overdue distribution of their health emergency allowances or HEA. “They prioritized the government facilities. The private [hospitals] were left,” he said. “They should tell the truth. They must tell if there are no longer funds available.” Earlier this week, the United Private Hospital Unions of the Philippines, whose members are part of at least 26 private hospitals in the country, filed a complaint against DOH regional offices over its failure to distribute P5.8 billion worth of HEA. Under Republic Act No. 11494, also known as the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, healthcare workers who were at the frontline of the government's fight against COVID-19 are mandated to receive HEA and other benefits. The post PHAPi: Cyber-attack on PhilHealth to further delay unpaid claims reimbursement appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Manufacturers temporarily forgo price increases — DTI
The Department of Trade and Industry has announced that several manufacturers have temporarily forgone their requests for price increases after Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual requested them to be mindful of the consumer’s plight amid the skyrocketing prices that they have to endure these days, as a result of their meeting last Thursday afternoon. On 21 September 2023, the DTI convened a meeting with manufacturers of basic necessities and prime commodities, where a total of 29 manufacturers and two associations of canned sardines, coffee, processed milk, bread, salt, detergent, candles, condiments, bottled water, canned meat, toilet soap and batteries participated in the said dialogue. According to DTI Undersecretary Communications and Legislative Affairs Kim Lokin, Secretary Pascual’s meeting with manufacturers went well, as these firms are willing to hold off on a price increase for now. “Although of course, they raised concerns that on the production level, there is indeed an increase in cost. Sec Pascual is very appreciative of the gesture,” she said. Manufacturers assured On the other hand, the Trade chief assured manufacturers that he would also consider their plight, and the need to sustain their businesses and provide jobs. Lokin said the DTI will hold another round of consultations, especially for those who have serious or urgent concerns, which will be on a case-to-case basis. Further, the DTI undersecretary stressed that this does not mean that forgoing the price increase is definite until Christmas. “For now, we can say the manufacturers are willing to hold off any increase for as long as they can. It is difficult to say when they will adjust prices because the cost of raw materials and ingredients used are also subject to market forces. Sec Pascual would have to consider all stakeholders, although of course in his mind, consumers’ needs are paramount,” Lokin stressed. Concerns During the dialogue, manufacturers expressed their concerns about various issues, including the imposition of pass-through fees; lack of local supply of raw materials; the compliance requirements of other government agencies, and other regulatory concerns. As of 19 September 2023, 14 manufacturers of 46 Stock Keeping Units covering 10 categories of BNPCs requested retail price adjustments due to the high cost of major raw materials, packaging materials, fuel costs, wages, and other costs that affect the production of essential goods. In their statement, the Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. said that manufacturers of Noche Buena products decided to absorb the bulk of rising costs. “In our commitment to observing the Christmas spirit and ensuring everyone can enjoy the festival season,” PAMPI said. “We are working diligently to manage rising costs. Production costs have risen by an estimated 10-15 percent, most of these products will only see a modest price increase of 0-4 percent”, PAMPI added. Meanwhile, Pascual said he is also committed to closely working with the salt and canned sardine manufacturers to address their specific concerns. The DTI secretary ensured that all concerns raised were taken into consideration and vowed to support the manufacturing sector, urging them to go into value addition. The post Manufacturers temporarily forgo price increases — DTI appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Malacañang reviewing proposed rice tariff reduction
The Executive Department is currently discussing the proposal to reduce import tariffs on rice as part of a comprehensive strategy to decrease prices and mitigate a potential shortage of the staple, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said on Monday. This is after several farmers from different provinces protested in front of the Department of Finance (DOF) to denounce Diokno's proposal to cut import tariffs on rice and demand the removal of the Finance secretary from his post. In a Viber message to reporters, Diokno said the review is part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce prices for consumers and mitigate a potential shortage of the staple due to the impact of the ongoing El Niño phenomenon. "As discussions are underway, the DOF maintains its support for an appropriate policy response that promotes the greatest good for the greatest number of Filipinos," Diokno said. "Rest assured that the DOF, in coordination with other relevant government agencies and stakeholders, shall pursue programs and support measures to balance the interests of domestic rice farmers while keeping rice affordable for consumers — especially the poorest households," he added. In a separate statement, the National Food Authority (NFA) Council, chaired by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., set a new price range for palay buying price on Monday in response to the changing production and market conditions to improve farmers' income and ensure sufficient supply of the staple. "I called for a meeting of the NFA Council to discuss how we can adjust the purchasing price of NFA for rice, both wet and dry because we need to reevaluate the situation," Marcos said following a meeting by the NFA Council. "That's exactly what we discussed, and we decided that the buying price of NFA from now on will be 19 to 23 for dry and 16 to 19 for wet. That was the decision of the NFA Council," he added. The council came up with the new palay buying price range to provide Filipino farmers with a better income, the President said, considering today's reasonable palay production cost. "So, they will now have a profitable venture. And aside from that, we have the price cap in place to stabilize the rice prices," Marcos said. The originally proposed P20 and P25 per kilo buying prices are just too high and will spike retail prices, according to the NFA, noting that the new decided price range balances the profit of farmers and will not affect the retail prices as much. The agency said that if the new buying price of dry palay is at P23, the procurement fund needed will be P15 billion at the maximum; while if it is pegged at P25, P16 billion will be needed for palay procurement. For its part, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said it would support the NFA proposal but at a level of P23 a kilo. The agency added that at P22 or P23, farmers are satisfied with it since they are now being paid P16 to P19. DA noted that P25 is just too high. Asked by the President on the influence of NFA’s buying price as well as the public reaction, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) chief Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said that at the farm gate level, NFA procurement will be concentrated in areas where there is excess supply relative to local demand. “In that case, it can help elevate farm gate price,” Balisacan said. The post Malacañang reviewing proposed rice tariff reduction appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Rice price spike offers preview of climate food disruption
A 15-year high in rice prices, prompted by top exporter India's restrictions on overseas sales, should be a wake-up call on how climate change can disrupt food supplies, experts say. Rice prices jumped 9.8 percent in August, bucking decreases in other staples, the Food and Agriculture Organization said last week. That followed the July decision by India, which accounts for 40 percent of global rice exports, to ban the overseas sale of non-basmati rice. The government cited soaring domestic prices for the staple, caused by geopolitics, the El Nino weather pattern and "extreme climatic conditions." This year is expected to be the hottest in human history, and the impacts of the seasonal El Nino weather pattern could make conditions even harsher. Despite severe flooding in parts of northern India, this August was the country's hottest and driest on record. The monsoon season that brings up to 80 percent of the country's annual rain has been far below normal levels. India's July restrictions followed a decision last September to ban exports of another variety of rice that is a staple in parts of Africa. Up to eight percent of global rice exports for 2023/24 could now be taken out of the market, according to analysis by BMI, Fitch Group's research arm. - Drought fears - For now, the crisis offers an opportunity for India's rivals, including number two and three exporters, Thailand and Vietnam. Both have increased exports this year, with Nguyen Nhu Cuong, an official with Vietnam's agriculture and rural development ministry, touting a "bumper crop" and plans to increase planting. But the dry conditions that tend to accompany El Nino mean smooth sailing ahead is unlikely, warned Elyssa Kaur Ludher, from the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute's Climate Change in Southeast Asia program. "My question is whether they can continue to do this once El Nino comes into force towards the end of this year, when water becomes more scarce," she told AFP. "I think the end of this year and especially the beginning of next year will be very, very tough," she added. A naturally occurring weather phenomenon, El Nino typically lasts nine to 12 months and is expected to strengthen late this year. Even before India's latest restrictions, its effects were boosting rice export prices, according to BMI. And in Thailand, national rainfall levels are currently 18 percent lower than expected for the time of year, the Office of National Water Resources said this month. Late rains could still make up the difference, but the agency said it is "concerned about a drought caused by El Nino." - 'New normal' - The consequence is one of price rather than supply, said Charles Hart, agricultural commodities analyst at Fitch Solutions. "This is not a running out of rice moment," he stressed, noting India's restrictions have not been followed by other exporters. Instead, the situation is likely to force the drawdown of stocks rebuilt after pandemic-era depletions, and prompt importers to seek new deals and impose local limits. Top importer the Philippines this month signed a deal with Vietnam to help stabilize supply, days after announcing a national price cap. For some though, unaffordable prices amount to the same as a lack of supply: less food. "It's not just a food availability issue, but it's also a social stability issue, it's a political issue," said Ludher. The current disruptions should be a wake-up call for policy-makers, she added, with more attention needed to the plight of farmers across various sectors. Climate change can affect productivity, with lower crop yields as temperatures rise, but also increases the likelihood of extreme events like the 2022 Pakistan floods. "Global grain export markets are relatively concentrated, so that kind of extreme weather risk accumulates in a few markets," Hart added. In India, policymakers need to develop better early-warning systems and new planting patterns, said Avantika Goswami, a climate change researcher at the Centre for Science and Environment. "Erratic weather patterns are the new normal," she told AFP. "Now, it's a case of early adaptation. In the long-term, global emissions have to come down." burs-sah/ssy © Agence France-Presse The post Rice price spike offers preview of climate food disruption appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Malaysian court upholds ex-leader Najib’s audit tampering acquittal
A Malaysian court upheld on Tuesday the acquittal of jailed former prime minister Najib Razak on an audit tampering charge in the investigation into corruption at the 1MDB state wealth fund. Najib is serving a 12-year prison term on other graft charges related to the 1 Malaysia Development Berhad financial scandal. The plundering of the fund led to investigations around the world, including in the United States, Switzerland and Singapore, into the use of their financial systems to launder money. But Malaysia's Court of Appeal struck out the appeal by state prosecutors against the acquittal of the audit tampering charge after prosecutors did not submit documents in time, Najib's lawyer Mohamed Shafee Abdullah told AFP. "In this case, the prosecution evidently found no grounds for appeal, resulting in no petition being filed," he said in a statement. Najib, the 70-year-old leader of Malaysia for nine years until 2018, was acquitted in March after a Kuala Lumpur High Court judge ruled prosecutors failed to provide sufficient evidence that he had tampered with an audit report on scandal-racked 1MDB. That charge focused on allegations that Najib ordered a report by the government's official audit body on the 1MDB sovereign wealth fund to be altered in February 2016. Najib's co-accused, former 1MDB chief Arul Kanda Kandasamy, was also acquitted. The former Malaysian premier's acquittal from the tampering charge does not affect his current jail sentence and he faces dozens more charges that could lengthen that term. Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor was found guilty of graft in 2022 and sentenced to 10 years in prison. She remains on bail pending an appeal. The post Malaysian court upholds ex-leader Najib’s audit tampering acquittal appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NBI clarifies role in interception
The Bureau of Immigration on Wednesday clarified its role in the interception of Filipinos with arrest warrants at ports of entry and exit. Commissioner Norman Tansingco said arresting Filipinos is not within the immigration’s mandate, pointing out that BI officers cannot serve warrants of arrest against Filipinos. Tansingco made this clarification in response to a query made by Senator Robin Padilla on 5 September during his privilege speech, citing the case of Mohammad Said, a 61-year-old man who allegedly attempted to depart the country for Malaysia on 10 August but was stopped by the BI. The BI chief added that it is the local law enforcement agencies — the NBI and the PNP — who are authorized to conduct arrests. He also clarified that they implement derogatory records as received from courts, Interpol, foreign governments and other competent authorities. If encountered, those with criminal records are turned over to the NBI or the PNP, who in turn, affect the investigation and arrest. Tansingco further clarified that Said was intercepted for being the subject of an Interpol red notice issued in 2017. The said record contained Said’s full name, sex, date of birth, place of birth, and even his passport number. The post NBI clarifies role in interception appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Elvie Vergara continued to suffer violence under employer’s daughter
Elvie Vergara, a domestic helper from Occidental Mindoro who lost her sight as a result of years of torture at the hands of her employers, continued to experience violence at the hands of her employer's daughter. Senator Francis Tolentino revealed this during the resumption of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights’ investigation into Vergara’s case on Tuesday. According to Tolentino, Vergara, who was already blind, continued to experience maltreatment after she was transferred to Danica Gerlyn Ruiz’s residence in Batangas City, the daughter of her alleged abusive employers France and Gerry Ruiz. “When Elvie Vergara was transferred, apparently, for medical assistance to a place in Batangas city, to another member of the household of the Ruiz family, she was also asked to do the same work,” he said. Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Richard Fadullon Jr. supported Tolentino’s presumption, stressing that the nature of the offense to Vergara was continued since she was only transferred to the younger Ruiz. Maria Fe Guillermo Villar, the domestic helper of the younger Ruiz in Batangas City, also validated the claim in her sworn statement. Meanwhile, Danica’s parents, France and Gerry denied Vergara’s claims that they maltreated her for several years which led to her blindness. According to France, Vergara’s wounds were self-inflicted. “She got her wounds because she was too lazy to take baths sometimes. Sometimes, it would take her four to five days before took a bath. She got wounds because she was scratching herself,” she said. France also denied that they took part in Vergara’s loss of sight, as well as the deformation of her nose, attributing it to the latter’s fights with her fellow domestic helpers. “That was caused by her fights with her fellow domestic helpers at the back [of the house]. I only learned about it recently,” she said. For her part, Vergara stood by her claims that she was physically abused by the Ruizes. During the hearing, opthalmologist Dr. Airene Oloroso said fractures in Vergara’s skull, as seen in her computerized tomography or CT scan, could possibly attributed to the latter’s blindness. “If the fracture is severe, it can affect one’s [eye] globe,” Oloroso said. She also noted that Vergara’s left eye, which had already shrunk, may be due to previous injury or trauma. Vergara accused her previous employers of physically assaulting her such as ramming her head in the comfort room’s wall and sink and hitting her with solid materials like belts and clothes hangers. The post Elvie Vergara continued to suffer violence under employer’s daughter appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DICT confirms ‘registered SIM for sale’ modus
After the National Privacy Commission recently revealed the “registered SIM for sale” modus operandi of shadowy syndicates, the Department of Information and Communications Technology confirmed such crime, stating that six individuals have already been collared by authorities for selling 25,000 pieces of registered SIM cards in Pasay City. In a radio interview on Saturday, DICT secretary Ivan Uy confirmed that there are syndicates selling SIM cards in bulk, coming from citizens who already registered them under their names. Uy said each SIM is worth at least P500. "Each of these sellers register 10 SIM cards under their names. What they don’t know is that kapag naghabla tayo dahil ginamit ang mga SIM cards sa panloloko, kasama sila sa habla ng criminal case" according to Uy. (What they don’t know is that when a case is filed against those using the SIM cards intending to con people, they will also be involved in the criminal case). Syndicates apprehended He said currently, the Philippine National Police is already able to apprehend "many" syndicates involved in this type of fraud, the latest of which involved six individuals operating on 25,000 pre-registered SIMs in Pasay City. “About P1 billion worth of registered SIM cards were already seized by authorities,” Uy said, warning the public from participating in selling their registered SIMs. The National Telecommunications Commission earlier said they have already logged over 118 million subscribers. Pursuant to the provisions of the SIM Registration Act, severe penalties shall be imposed upon those involved in the sale or transfer of a registered SIM without complying with required registration or without properly informing the telco concerned, particularly Section 11 (g) of the SIM Registration Act, wherein individuals found guilty of selling or transferring a registered SIM card without complying with the required registration under Section 6 of the same law may be subject to imprisonment ranging from six months to six years, or a fine of P100,000 to P300,000, or both. Alert raised On Thursday, the National Privacy Commission raised an alert on the modus operandi of registered SIMs being sold, prompting the agency to caution the public on the serious ramifications it can affect Filipino mobile users. The NPC maintained that “the practice is not only prohibited under the SIM Registration Act (RA 11934) but also places data subjects in a vulnerable position, exposing them to potential legal repercussions, risks, and harm if a SIM card, registered in their name, is misused for illicit activities.” The post DICT confirms ‘registered SIM for sale’ modus appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NEDA should be consulted regarding halted Manila Bay projects—Balisacan
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) might need to see how the halted development projects in Manila Bay could affect the economy and society, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said on Wednesday. In a press briefing, Balisacan said NEDA should also be involved in whether or not these reclamation projects in Manila Bay are approved following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s suspension order. He also said that even though Marcos suspended the projects, NEDA's advice "have not been sought for advice or for our perspective." Given the significance and importance of Metro Manila in the country's social and economic landscape, Balisacan said NEDA should be a part of that decision. "As you know, NEDA approves big infrastructure projects, particularly those that will have an impact on the economy and society and… in the case of Metro Manila, the whole of Metro Manila," the NEDA chief said. "We are not a (part of the approval party for) these reclamation projects, but given the significance and importance in our… the economic landscape of Metro Manila, NEDA should be part of that exercise," Balisacan added. Marcos suspended the Manila Bay reclamation projects after different groups raised worries about the environment and flooding in nearby provinces. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said that all 22 reclamation projects in Manila Bay were approved during the previous Duterte government. However, President Marcos put a stop to them all. In light of the recent flooding in Bulacan and Pampanga, the DENR has put together a group of scientists and other experts to look at how the dredging work at Manila Bay affects the environment as a whole. The Philippine Reclamation Authority is the main government agency in charge of regulating reclamation, making recovered land that is good for the environment, promoting coastal resilience, and developing government property to help the country reach its development goals. The post NEDA should be consulted regarding halted Manila Bay projects—Balisacan appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
TVJ’s trademark cancellation case remains—IPOPHL
The trademark cancellation case that original Eat Bulaga hosts, former Senator Vicente Tito Sotto, his brother Vic and Joey De Leon, filed against Television and Production Exponents, or TAPE Inc., has no bearing with the recently awarded renewal of TAPE Inc.’s trademark for 10 years, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines clarified on Monday. In an earlier interview by the DAILY TRIBUNE, IPOPHL director general Atty. Rowel Barba disclosed that the 10-year trademark registration renewal of TAPE Inc.’s “Eat Bulaga” “is purely ministerial and has no opposition period.” “On queries from various quarters about the renewal of the Eat Bulaga trademark of Television and Production Exponents, Inc., IPOPHL confirms the approval on 14 June 2023 of the request to extend the term of registration over EAT BULAGA AND EB covered by TM Reg. No. 42011005951, for Nice Classes 16, 18, 21 and 25 for another 10 years,” the IPHOPHL statement on Monday said. Further, the IPOPHL said the renewal process strictly observes an ex-parte nature prescribed by Republic Act 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code. “Under the law, requests for renewal should be granted primarily if the registrant can prove the actual and continuous use of the mark,” the statement added. On the other hand, the IPOPHL maintained that “as the renewal requests and other pending applications at the Bureau of Trademark are separate from the trademark cancellation case at the Bureau of Legal Affairs, they do not affect the BLA’s disposition of the merits of the trademark cancellation case.” The IPOPHL earlier said that a separate agency office is hearing TVJ’s original hosts’ complaint for cancellation of Tape’s trademark registration. TAPE Inc. was then mandated to answer TVJ's complaint within 30 days. On 31 May, TVJ ended its 44 years of partnership with TAPE Inc. Amid the fracas, TVJ moved on and transferred to TV 5 operated by Manny Pangilinan, and started its new program, E.A.T. last 1 July, while TAPE Inc. retained its program title “Eat Bulaga” in GMA 7 with a new set of hosts. The post TVJ’s trademark cancellation case remains—IPOPHL appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sandigan junks Razon reconsideration bid
The Sandiganbayan has affirmed the graft and malversation raps filed against former Philippine National Police chief Avelino Razon Jr. and several others in connection with the anomalous “ghost” repair of vehicles worth P409 million in 2007 and 2008. In a 40-page resolution promulgated on 10 August, the anti-graft court’s Fourth Division turned down Razon’s bid for reconsideration of the court’s 21 June resolution, which also denied the top cop’s same bid. The Sandiganbayan previously dismissed two criminal charges against Razon but denied his demurrers to evidence in four other cases, which he sought the court to reconsider in his current motion. The bids of Razon’s co-accused, namely, P/CInsp. Analee Forro, P/SSupt. Emmanuel Ojeda, NUP (non-uniformed personnel) Patricia Enaje, P/SSupt. Reuel Leverne Labrado, Tyronne Ong and Tyronne Arejola were likewise denied by the court. Their case involves the alleged anomalous transactions relating to the repair and maintenance of 28 units of V-150 Light Armored Vehicles of the PNP amounting P409.74 million in 2007 and 2008. The complaint, filed by the Fact Finding Investigation Bureau of the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Law Enforcement Office, involves 25 officers of the PNP, two officials from the Commission on Audit, and 13 private individuals. Razon, in his current motion, argued that the prosecutors failed to prove the alleged ghost repairs, claiming the Commission on Audit “could not definitely conclude that the PNP’s 28 V-150 Light Armored Vehicles (V-150) were not repaired since they failed to check their operational logs.” But according to the Sandiganbayan, Razon’s reliance on the possibility that the CoA may have incorrectly concluded that there were “ghost repairs” due to its belated inspection and the fact that some of the vehicles were still operational at the time is “unfounded” and “cannot affect” the court’s evaluation of the evidence thus far. Further, the erstwhile PNP chief pointed out that the prosecution failed to establish that there was indeed conspiration with any of his co-accused in all cases. The post Sandigan junks Razon reconsideration bid appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NDCP@60: Taking the lead in national security
This year, the National Defense College of the Philippines celebrates its Diamond Jubilee. Sixty years ago, on 12 August 1963, President Diosdado Macapagal signed EO No. 44, ordering the establishment of the National Defense College of the Armed Forces of the Philippines or the NDCAFP. Its mission was to prepare potential defense leaders to assume and discharge the responsibilities of high command, staff, and policy-formulating functions within the national government and the national and international security structure. The NDCAFP evolved when, on 11 May 1973, President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. issued PD No. 190 creating the National Defense College of the Philippines or NDCP and providing an Academic Board therefor. The college was given the power to confer the degree of Master in National Security Administration or MNSA on its students who would have satisfactorily completed the prescribed course of studies. The decree, and subsequently the Revised Administrative Code of 1987, likewise gave graduates of the regular course of the college the “authority to use with honor the abbreviations MNSA after their names.” On 29 February 2012, through Department of National Defense Circular No. 04, the MNSA, or its equivalent, was made a requisite for designation to O-7 (Brigadier General and Commodore) rank in the AFP. The NDCP is the highest national security policy and strategy school in the country. Its mission is to prepare and develop potential national security leaders for positions of responsibility and command and undertake research and special studies geared toward the enhancement of national defense and security policy formulation and decision-making at the strategic level. The MNSA program is the main educational program of NDCP. It is a one-year, full-time, and intensive master’s degree course earned through various forms of classroom work, case studies, regional security and development studies, and academic enhancement travels. Since the college opened its first Resident Course or RC in 1966, it has produced roughly 3,000 national security graduates who have occupied and continue to occupy top positions in government and the private sector. It has produced a President and a Vice President of the Republic. In the legislature, it has had at least five Senators and numerous members of the House of Representatives. Several of its graduates have occupied top positions in civilian government as Cabinet Secretaries, Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries, and Directors and their equivalents. In local government, several of its graduates have become Governors, Vice Governors, Board Members, Mayors, Councilors, and local government administrators and executives. It has several graduates in the judiciary and the foreign service. In the military, NDCP has produced AFP Chiefs of Staff, Major Service Commanders, and numerous Generals and Flag Officers. In the private sector, its graduates have occupied top positions in their respective companies. The basic principle that all MNSA graduates commit to live by is the strengthening of national security. The NDCP operational definition of national security is “the state or condition wherein the people’s way of life and institutions, their territorial integrity and sovereignty, including their well-being, are protected and enhanced.” Every MNSA graduate will not only look at national security from the point of view of territorial integrity and sovereignty but will consider all matters that affect the people’s way of life, institutions, and well-being. An MNSA graduate automatically looks at the politico-legal, economic, socio-cultural, techno-scientific, environmental, and military or PESTEM aspects of problems, situations, and issues, with the end view of protecting and enhancing national security. Today, 60 years after its establishment, NDCP continues its mission of producing national security leaders and experts who will face the current and future security challenges of the nation. In a constantly changing world and security environment, the Filipino people can be assured that NDCP and its alumni will be there for them. The post NDCP@60: Taking the lead in national security appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Confidential and intelligence funds increase P120M in 2024, UP budget cut P2.93B
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman on Thursday confirmed that there will be a P120-million increase in confidential and intelligence funds for the fiscal year 2024. In a Malacañang press briefing, Pangandaman said the increase is due to additional confidential funds allocated to three government agencies. These agencies include the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), and the Presidential Security Group (PSG). A 2015 joint circular released by five government agencies defines confidential expenses as those of surveillance activities in civilian government agencies. According to the same 2015 joint circular, intelligence funds are those related to intel information-gathering activities of uniformed and military personnel that directly impact national security. Pangandaman justified the increase in the CIF, saying it is necessary to support the government's efforts to protect national security and ensure the safety of the President and other government officials. "The additional funds were allocated for specific purposes. For example, in the case of DICT, the increase is for cybersecurity, which is essential as we push for digitalization," Pangandaman said. "Cybersecurity investment is parallel to our digitalization efforts. Why does it need to be confidential? It's because of the procurement process. You cannot disclose the technical specifications of your cybersecurity projects in the Terms of Reference (TOR) because hackers might see it. If they have access to the specs, our cybersecurity projects and programs won't be effective," she added. Pangandaman said the administration is confident that the proposed allocations for intelligence funds are well-justified. "The additional funds were allocated for specific purposes. We can assure the public that these intelligence and confidential funds will be beneficial to the country," Pangandaman said. In a separate statement, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said there also an increase in the CIF in the Armed Forces of the Philippines; National Security Council; Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, and; the Office of the Ombudsman. Meanwhile, there has been a decrease in the CIF allocated for the Philippine Competition Commission, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, and the Department of Justice. On the other hand, the confidential funds of the Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President remain at the same level as the 2023 General Appropriations Act. DBM likewise emphasized the declining percentage contribution of CIF in the national budget in recent years, decreasing from 0.215 percent in 2018, 0.192 percent in 2019, 0.235 percent in 2020, 0.212 percent in 2021, 0.183 percent in 2022, 0.190 percent in 2023, to 0.176 percent in 2024. "With these, the public can remain confident that the disbursement and utilization of the CIF will be done by government agencies with utmost transparency and accountability, in strict adherence to existing guidelines set forth by the Commission on Audit (COA) on the appropriate allocation and use of these funds," DBM said. Budget Cuts Meanwhile, DBM said the budget cut for the University of the Philippines (UP) under the proposed 2024 expenditure plan will not affect student admissions. In the Palace briefing, Pangandaman said the P2.93 billion reduction in the UP budget for 2024 resulted from the removal of budgetary requirements for several infrastructure projects scheduled for completion this year. “So if it's for completion in 2023, we don’t need the funding for 2024,” Pangandaman said. Asked if the budget cut will translate to a reduction in the number of students admitted to UP, Pangandaman said none. The DBM added it also took into account how much of UP's budget was used the year previously when determining the proposed NEP's budget allocation. “Hence, in our review and evaluation of UP’s budget proposals, we considered its absorptive capacity, which is 69.48% as of end-2022,” it said. The post Confidential and intelligence funds increase P120M in 2024, UP budget cut P2.93B appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Graft buster clears Cusi
Citing the presumption of regularity, the Office of the Ombudsman threw out the graft complaint of a New York-based billionaire against former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, other Department of Energy officials, Davao City-based executive Dennis Uy, and several others over the sale of 90 percent of the shares of the Malampaya natural gas consortium. On 18 October 2021, US-based geologist Balgamel Domingo and Filipino-American anti-Duterte leaders Rodel Rodis and Loida Nicolas-Lewis filed charges against Cusi, Uy, and the others involved in the sale of the Malampaya stake to the Udenna group of Uy. In a copy of the ruling obtained by the Daily Tribune, the Ombudsman said it could not delve into the complaint on the legality of the transaction since “the authority to make such a determination belongs to the court.” “Seemingly, this complaint is in actuality a collateral attack on the validity of the Share Sale and Purchase Agreement,” it said. The decision declared that “matters of such tenor are not determinable in a preliminary investigation before the Ombudsman’s Office.” “Without any judicial determination decreeing the illegality of the Share Sale and Purchase Agreement, this Office is left with nothing but to acknowledge its validity,” the ruling said. The Ombudsman cited a precedent in the case of Teresita Buenaventura vs Metrobank, in a ruling that stated: “The burden of showing that a contract is simulated rests on the party impugning the contract.” “This is because of the presumed validity of the contract that has been duly executed,” the Ombudsman ruling read. “Wherefore, the criminal charges for violation of Section 3(e) and of Republic Act 3019 against the respondents are dismissed for lack of probable cause.” The ruling was signed by members of a Special Panel of Investigators composed of Ronald Allan Ramos, Josephine Mae Rosapapan, Francisco Alan Molina and Bonifacio Mandrilla. Prime takes control The operation of the Malampaya project was recently assumed by the Razon group’s Prime Energy which bought a 45-percent stake from Malampaya Energy XP, or MEXP, of the Udenna group. MEXP had bought the shares of Shell Philippines Exploration B.V., or SPEX, in the consortium. The Department of Energy had branded the complaint a political move since the two Fil-Am lawyers in the suit were prominent in the “Oust Duterte” movement in the United States. The complaint alleged that Cusi and other energy officials had granted “unwarranted benefits and advantage” to Uy’s UC Malampaya in the buyout of Chevron’s share in the consortium. Udenna, through spokesperson Raymond Zorilla, said there is “no law requiring approval of the transfer of shares of companies that have an interest in Malampaya.” Zorilla said the transfer of Chevron and Shell shares underwent strict bidding processes and due diligence by both multinational oil and gas players. “The share sales were above board and legal and had to pass scrutiny by Philippine regulators, international lenders, and the said private multinationals involved,” Zorilla added. Cusi, in an interview with Daily Tribune, had said the DoE was not involved in choosing the buyer of the shares of Shell and Chevron in the Malampaya project. “The DoE did not get involved in the sale (of shares). We don’t know that they are selling. Our question was what their standards are for choosing Udenna. Why didn’t you choose the big companies, and why Udenna?” he said. Industry experts said the sale of shares was a private transaction that the accusers, who are US lawyers, should have been very familiar with. Cusi said the DoE, during his watch, went beyond its mandate by reviewing the technical, legal, and financial aspects of the transactions, the results of which were provided to the public. Political agenda The complaint, he said, had an underlying political agenda connected to his being the head of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan or PDP Laban. “It is not only political propaganda against me, but it also has a destabilization background… because I’m the president of the PDP.” The complaints, in turn, stemmed from the unending Senate inquiries on the Malampaya deals. The DoE said the Senate probes and the controversies that resulted from them had caused costly delays in the review process that would ultimately affect the country’s energy security. To refute a recent remark by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, the DoE, in a statement said: “The inquiries of Senator Gatchalian are causing undue delay to the timeline of the consortium corporations, and this may eventually take its toll and put our energy security at risk.” The DoE’s approval of the sale of shares of stock of Chevron Malampaya LLC, one of the three corporations in the Malampaya Gas Field Project Consortium, had been dubbed by Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy, as “lutong Macau.” It also backed the Udenna assessment that the deals were above-board. “When the sales were made, both Chevron Philippines, which owned Chevron Malampaya, and Shell Petroleum NV, owner of SPEX, followed rigorous global standards,” the DoE said. Nicolas-Lewis was part of a 25-person delegation from the US-Philippines Society, a private group comprising business executives and diplomats, who met with Duterte a week before his inauguration as president in 2016. Nicolas-Lewis was then accompanied by former Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia, PLDT chair Manuel V. Pangilinan, retired American diplomats, and executives of Coca-Cola, SGV, JP Morgan, and other top corporations. Nicolas-Lewis is the sister of former National Anti-Poverty Commission chairperson Imelda Nicolas, who was one of the “Hyatt 10” Cabinet members who turned against then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2005. Imelda and most of the Hyatt 10 members ended up getting key posts in the administration of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. Imelda was made head of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas. Nicolas-Lewis plot bared In February 2018, former President Duterte bared intercepted conversations that indicated Nicolas-Lewis was behind efforts to push the International Criminal Court, or ICC, to probe his war on drugs. Duterte revealed a recorded conversation between Lewis and another political opponent whom he did not name. “I was listening to the tapes of their conversation. It was provided to me by another country, but the conversation was somewhere in the Philippines and New York,” Duterte said. He said that among the recordings was one in which Lewis allegedly told another person: “See you in the headquarters when the case is filed.” Duterte then said in a public address that he was aware of developments on the ICC case and that lawyer Jude Sabio, the main complainant in the case, was a paid hack of Magdalo Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Rep. Gary Alejano, both failed putschists. Sabio withdrew his complaint before the ICC and revealed that the case was the handiwork of the dirty tricks factory of Trillanes. In 2016, Duterte pointed to Lewis as the financier of an alleged destabilization plot against his administration. Nicolas-Lewis invested heavily in the failed presidential campaigns of Liberal Party bets Mar Roxas in 2016 and Vice President Leni Robredo in 2022. The post Graft buster clears Cusi appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Rule 108 on substantial change
Ramon filed a petition under Rule 108 of the Rules of Court, with the trial court for the correction of his name on his birth certificate from “Ramon Corpuz Tan Ko” to “Ramon Corpuz Tan”. He argued that all his life, he only went by the latter name; that is without the “Ko”. He submitted as evidence all documents he deemed necessary to justify the correction of his birth certificate. The trial court went through the proceedings. The court, upon rendition of judgment, dismissed his petition. It decreed that while Rule 108 was correctly invoked, Ramon did not comply with what is incumbent upon him in adversarial proceedings. The court noted that his petition involved a substantial correction, which under the rules, clearly mandated adversarial proceedings and not merely a summary. It opined that Ramon should have impleaded his mother in the proceedings. For his failure to do so, his petition could not be granted. Of course, Ramon did not agree to this. He argued that the dropping of the name “Ko” was no substantial correction and thus, his mother was not necessarily a party. The trial not giving in to his plea, Ramon elevated the matter to the Court of Appeals. The higher court, however, disagreed with him. It affirmed that the lower court that it is indeed a substantial correction. Ramon thus now had no other alternative but to resort to Supreme Court. The issue to be resolved before the Highest Court is whether his request for correction, that is the removal of the name “Ko” from his name is substantial or not. If it is, then indeed adversarial proceedings should have been observed. If not, then a mere summary hearing could be had. Thus the Supreme Court ruled: “Rule 108 of the Revised Rules of Court governs the proceeding for the cancellation or correction of any entry concerning the civil status of persons which has been recorded in the civil register. “In Republic of the Philippines v. Valencia, the Court declared that a petition for correction of entry under Rule 108 of the Rules of Court covers not only clerical errors, but also substantial changes. The difference lies only in the procedure which would govern the correction sought. “If the correction is clerical, then the procedure to be adopted is summary. If the rectification affects the civil status, citizenship, or nationality of a party, it is deemed substantial, and the procedure to be adopted is adversary. “A clerical error is one which is visible to the eyes or obvious to the understanding; an error made by a clerk or a transcriber; a mistake in copying or writing, or a harmless change such as a correction of a name that is clearly misspelled or of a misstatement of the occupation of the parent. On the other hand, substantial or contentious alterations may be allowed only in adversarial proceedings, in which all interested parties are impleaded and due process is properly observed. Substantial and controversial alterations include those which may affect the citizenship, legitimacy of paternity or filiation, or legitimacy of marriage. The issue to be resolved before the Highest Court is whether his request for correction, that is the removal of the name ‘Ko’ from his name is substantial or not “Corrections in the name, whether of the owner of the Certificate of Live Birth or any of the parents indicated therein, may also involve substantial and controversial matters which would require an adversarial proceeding. “In this case, the alleged error could not be considered a clerical error or a readily apparent mistake. Contrary to the petitioner’s claim, the correction sought would definitely have an effect on his filiation with the persons named in his Certificate of Live Birth. “As aptly observed by the appellate court, the name ‘Tan Ko’ has been consistently used not only in the entries for petitioner’s name, but also for that of his parents. In entry No. 7, the name of petitioner’s father was entered as ‘Tan Ko,’ while his mother’s name was entered as ‘Trinidad Corpus Tan Ko’ in entry No. 12. Furthermore, his mother, as the informant for petitioner’s birth certificate, signed as ‘T.C. Tan Ko’ in entry No. 17. “Verily, the ‘correction’ of petitioner’s name from ‘Ramon Corpus Tan Ko’ to ‘Ramon Corpuz Tan’ would necessarily affect not only his name, but also the names of his parents as entered in his Certificate of Live Birth. “As correctly explained by the appellate court, altering petitioner’s surname from ‘Tan Ko’ to “Tan” would, in effect, be an adjudication that the first name of his father is indeed ‘Ko’ and his surname ‘Tan.’ Clearly, the correction would affect the identity of petitioner’s father. Moreover, there would be a need to correct his mother’s name from ‘Trinidad Corpus Tan Ko’ to ‘Trinidad Corpuz Tan.’ This would require deleting the word ‘Ko’ from ‘Tan Ko’ and changing the letter “s” to ‘z’ in ‘Corpus.’ Following Benemerito, to effect the correction, it would be essential to establish that ‘Trinidad Corpus Tan Ko’ and ‘Trinidad Corpuz Tan’ refer to the same person. A summary proceeding would certainly be insufficient to effect such substantial corrections.” The facts and quoted part of the decision are from Ramon Corpus Tan v. Office of the Civil Registrar et al. G.R. 211435 promulgated on 10 April 2019. The post Rule 108 on substantial change appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ICC probe: Allow now, challenge later
The Philippines may just let the International Criminal Court’s investigation into the bloody drug war of the previous administration roll in the meantime and then challenge its jurisdiction later, according to Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez Thursday. The government, whose plea to block the probe fell on deaf ears, has high hopes the international tribunal would eventually grant its appeal to lay off the country. “The proper and only course of action for the Republic of the Philippines is to raise the issue of jurisdiction when the case is eventually filed in the ICC. Jurisdiction can be questioned at any stage of the proceedings,” said Rodriguez, a lawyer. “When the case is brought to the ICC, we raise the issue of jurisdiction, and the Philippines will surely secure its dismissal for lack of jurisdiction,” he added. Calls have been made to end the ICC’s probe into former President Rodrigo Duterte’s “war on drugs” that claimed thousands of lives during his six years in office that started in 2016. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has firmly maintained that the country would not engage with the ICC, insisting the government would not let the court interfere in the country’s business. ‘Oplan Tokhang’ Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who during the Duterte administration led the anti-drug campaign known as “Oplan Tokhang,” had previously said he was ready in case a warrant of arrest was served on him, but only if by Philippine authorities and not by any foreigner directed by the ICC. But for Rodriguez, the government officials concerned should compose themselves and study the ICC decision well. “There is no need for our government officials to make many extraneous comments on the decision,” he said. Some 6,000 persons were reportedly killed in Duterte’s drug war, according to government data, the majority of whom were from low-income families. However, local and international human rights organizations estimated the number of victims at more than 30,000. Meanwhile, senators expressed dismay at the ICC decision that turned down the Philippine appeal, saying there was no need for it since the Philippines has a “working justice system.” Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. on Thursday said the ICC should not be allowed to meddle in the country’s affairs. “We do not need to remind them that we are a free, independent, and sovereign nation governed by our laws,” he said. Revilla said that since Philippine government officials will be held liable for violations, the laws of the country should prevail and not of foreign prosecutors. “I am befuddled by the ICC’s pursuit of this obvious baseless persecution while legitimate concerns and crimes against humanity are being perpetrated in other parts of the world as we speak. It is obvious the ICC’s interest here is not justice but something else entirely,” he said. Operating very well Senator Mark Villar said there was no need for any international body to intervene in the country’s justice system, stressing that Philippine democracy is fully functioning. He said the Philippine justice system is “operating very well” and it could address its own human rights concerns. “Our government has a very strong justice system that is working so I don’t think we need international interference. We have our courts, we have a strong justice system, that’s what I believe,” Villar said in a recent interview. Aside from Duterte and Dela Rosa, the ICC report included Senator Christopher “Bong” Go and incumbent Vice President Sara Duterte in the probe. Unfazed Dela Rosa has remained unfazed by the ICC ruling and is even mulling another Senate term, although he said the ICC probe will affect a reelection bid. “Since I am identified with the former president, I may not get the votes. The votes I will get will be those in support of [former] president Duterte. But the support may even grow since many Filipinos are also angered by [the ICC’s] interference in our sovereignty, so its impact on my reelection bid may even be positive,” he said. Dela Rosa reiterated that the drug war was launched by the Duterte administration not for any personal gain but “to protect the Filipino people from the drug menace, especially our youth.” The post ICC probe: Allow now, challenge later appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
El Niño creates ‘downside risk’
Rice prices in Southeast Asia could increase sharply if El Niño becomes more severe than expected, making it more expensive for the Philippines to import rice. BMI, a unit of the Fitch Group, made the assessment on Thursday in an emailed commentary as the effects of El Niño could jeopardize the Philippines’ plans to import rice to meet its domestic demand. “We draw attention to the now-confirmed El Niño as posing a downside risk to our outlook for global output and an upside risk to prices, to those of major Southeast Asian rice exporters in particular, which will support prices in the interim,” BMI’s commentary read. Sought for insights, Ateneo de Manila University economist Leonardo Lanzona explained that improving production to increase rice availability could help maintain a stable price for the commodity. “The El Niño, however, will affect every exporter in any country, including the Philippines. Hence, rice prices are unlikely to decrease,” Lanzona added. State statisticians showed that the adjusted palay production for the first quarter reached 5.02 million metric tons, indicating a 2.6 percent improvement compared to the preceding quarter. Depending on imports will not be ideal since rice prices will still not retreat, Lanzona said. “This is the case, even if RCEP goes into full swing, especially because the country is already trading with Viet Nam and Thailand which sell rice at relatively lower prices,” he said. FTA can help In a separate emailed commentary, ING Manila senior economist Nicholas Antonio Mapa said the Philippines could rely on free trade agreements to accumulate additional stock if there is a shortage of rice supply. “...Although the onset of El Niño is projected to negatively impact food production, we note that this will be the first occurrence post-RCEP implementation with the government able to bring in additional supplies should palay output drop substantially,” he said in an emailed commentary on Wednesday. The post El Niño creates ‘downside risk’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
9-dash-line in ‘Barbie’ movie ‘injurious’ to Phl prestige — Sen. Tolentino
Senator Francis Tolentino on Wednesday warned that the depiction of China’s nine-dash line over the South China Sea in the upcoming fantasy comedy film “Barbie” is “injurious to the prestige” of the Philippines. In a television interview, Tolentino said that screening of the movie in the country would cause a “dilute” in Philippine sovereignty. A scene in the movie shows a map with the nine-dash line, a representation of the territorial claims of China in the South China Sea that overlaps with the exclusive economic zone claims of the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations such as Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam. “Allowing the local screening of the motion picture… would not just be injurious to the Republic of the Philippines but would be contrary to what our country fought for and achieved under that Arbitral Ruling in 2016. What that effect would be? Something that would dilute our sovereignty,” said Tolentino, the vice-chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Tolentino earlier urged the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board to prevent the upcoming screening of the Barbie movie, produced by Warner Bros. Pictures, in the Philippines. “The Vietnamese government already decided to totally ban the screening of Barbie following a review, in which, the depiction of the nine-dash line scene was first noticed,” he said. However, Tolentino said he would still be leaving it up to the MTRCB to decide on the banning of the film. “It’s up to [the] leadership of the MTRCB on whether to forbid the showing of Barbie, similar to what the said the agency did when it decided not to allow the local screening of the films ‘Abominable’ and ‘Unchartered’ in 2019 and 2022 respectively, due to their depiction of the nine-dash line,” he said. “The Arbitral Ruling clearly stated that the claim of China here has no legal basis,” he added. Meanwhile, Senator Robin Padilla said he cannot make a personal call at this time on whether to allow the showing of “Barbie” in the Philippines without first watching it. “But this is clear: The decision of whether to allow the showing of this film due to its scene about China’s 9-dash line — which contradicts the arbitral ruling favoring the Philippines — ultimately depends on the messaging of the film,” he said in a separate statement. “If the scene or scenes will affect the arbitral ruling, but if the producers would agree to edit it or them out, then I have no problem having it shown,” he added. However, the actor-turned-senator said if an agreement cannot be reached to make sure the film does not become a geopolitical issue, then there is no choice but to disallow its showing here. Padilla believes the showing of the movie will depend on the context of the film, and the extent the producer is willing to address concerns on the arbitral ruling. In 2016, The Hague Tribunal invalidated Beijing’s ‘nine-dash line doctrine’ over the entire SCS region following an arbitration case filed by the Philippine government on 22 January 2013. The Tribunal ruled that China’s nine-dash line unilaterally encroached on territories of other member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.### The post 9-dash-line in ‘Barbie’ movie ‘injurious’ to Phl prestige — Sen. Tolentino appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Preempting ‘nurseless’ Phl
For thousands of Filipino nurses, working abroad can offer exciting opportunities to further their careers, gain new experiences, earn higher salaries, and work under better conditions than they would otherwise have in the Philippines. My late mother, a former head nurse at the Philippine General Hospital, was almost among them. One of the first batches of nurses who were offered an attractive employment package in the United States back in the 1970s, she processed the documentary requirements with eagerness only to defer at the last minute. Deciding not to be away from two children was easy at a time when the peso-dollar exchange rate was around P6.40. Rina’s case is different. As one of the 3,246 who failed the last two nursing licensure exams, Rina would rather keep her job as a BPO agent where she earns more or less P28,000 monthly, excluding benefits, rather than work as a nursing aide in a government hospital that gives lower pay. A nursing graduate in 2020, she plans to work abroad as a caregiver, which pays almost P100,000 a month. Just like all the other nursing graduates, they want to help their families, send children and siblings to school, and have a better future. Who wouldn’t be enticed by the direct hiring of foreign employers, where you don’t need an employment agency, which means no additional fees or charges? The brain drain of Philippine nurses, licensed or not, to the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, or any country, is a several decades-old phenomenon driven by a combination of economic, social, and political factors. Locally, our nurses are forced to work long hours for low pay in both public and private facilities. This sorry state drives them to jobs not at all related to nursing. According to the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc., at least 40 percent of nurses in various private hospitals resigned in the last two and a half years. Neither private nor public hospitals can match the salaries being offered to nurses abroad. The unabated brain drain of Philippine nurses will inevitably lead to a shortage of nurses in the country that will, in turn, affect the quality of healthcare services and create challenges for the government in providing adequate healthcare to its citizens. Health Secretary Ted Herbosa’s proposal to hire unlicensed nursing graduates to work in public hospitals earned the private sector’s support. These graduates would be given scholarships to study and pass the board exams. Should the plan push through, they will have to repay the government with four years of service. It looks doable but we will lose the trained nurses again after four years. It will be a vicious cycle of providing nursing board scholarships for a return of service, only to later lose the nurses. Professional Regulation Commission’s chief Jose Cueto Jr. has a different point of view — that there may be no need to hire flunkers of the nursing boards to fill the vacancies in government-run hospitals. PRC data, he said, has shown a higher passing rate in the Nursing Licensure Examination since last year. The passing rate in the NLE for the past six years was only 60 percent with only 70,000 passing the exams out of 130,000 examinees. He said there can be no shortage because approximately 80,000 nursing students graduate each year (Dahl et al., 2021) from 470 universities in the Philippines that offer nursing programs. How about the shortage attributed to the continuous migration of licensed nurses abroad for higher pay? While we take pride in the country’s focus on education, our high level of English proficiency, and the strong work ethic ingrained in Filipino culture, we should confront with practical and pragmatic solutions the imminent threat of a “nurseless” Philippines by 2026 or 2028. Unless the national government addresses the depressing pay and benefits for nurses in the private and public sectors, and even if they double or triple the existing 4,500 vacant plantilla positions for nurses in government hospitals across the country, the Philippines will continue to be the largest supplier of nurses to the world. The post Preempting ‘nurseless’ Phl appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»