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Cha-cha momentum
Two kinds of Charter change: One, amendment and two, revision. Amendment is like changing the old dirty oil of a car engine. Revision is like overhauling a car’s engine or replacing the engine altogether.....»»
LEGAL RIPPLES: “It’s not Amendment, it’s Revision Stupid!”
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 11 January) — Last January 6, 2024, Liberal Party President Edcel Lagman, Representative of the 1st district of Albay, issued a press statement on Charter Change via People’s Initiative launched by Congressmen from the supermajority coalition using People’s Initiative as a mode of amending the Constitution. Lagman raised among others, three basic questions: who […].....»»
Davao co-op hits expansion bills
Northern Davao Electric Cooperative or NORDECO blasted the proposed House Bills 5077, 6740, 6995 and 7047, all seeking to expand the franchise area of Davao Light and Power Company Inc. as a possible source of a “constitutional crisis.” In a press statement on Tuesday, NORDECO legal counsel Atty. Jeorge Rapista lamented that these four bills, if passed into law, might substantially amend the existing franchises of electricity distributors in Mindanao, including the one it is maintaining. “The constitution does not allow laws that impair contracts. With HBs 5077, 6740, 6995 and 7047, existing contracts of NORDECO will be substantially impaired. For example, power supply contracts will be servicing a much smaller franchise area,” Rapista explained. The bills were recently deliberated upon by lawmakers on the possible violation of the Constitution and Republic Act 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001. As such, instead of a franchise area amendment that may adversely affect the industry, some policymakers recently pointed out that what Mindanao needed is a measure to help improve the services of the island’s power distributors. Congressmen APEC Partylist Rep. Sergio Dagooc and PHILRECA Partylist Rep. Presley de Jesus, at a recent hearing, proposed that the House should work on creating measures that will protect the existing contracts of electric cooperatives. Project areas reviewed Likewise, they agreed that policymakers should adopt a bill instituting proper administrative processes to review franchise areas. It can be recalled that in July 2022, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., vetoed the bill proposing to expand the franchise of the Davao Light “due to, among others, its susceptibility to infringe on the franchise coverage area of the NORDECO.” NORDECO currently serves most of the municipalities and cities that were proposed to be transferred to Davao Light. Meanwhile, Davao Light’s franchise area covers Davao City, areas of Panabo City, and the municipalities of Carmen, Dujali and Santo Tomas in Davao del Norte. MBr The post Davao co-op hits expansion bills appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Davao power coop hits pending franchise change
Northern Davao Electric Cooperative or NORDECO has warned that proposed House Bill Nos. 5077, 6740, 6995, and 7047 — all seeking to expand the franchise area of Davao Light and Power Company, Inc. — might trigger a “constitutional crisis” that may be detrimental to end-users. NORDECO legal counsel Atty. Jeorge Rapista lamented that these four bills, if passed into law, might substantially amend the existing franchise rules in Mindanao, including the one it is maintaining. “The Constitution does not allow laws that impair contracts. With HBs 5077, 6740, 6995, and 7047, existing contracts of NORDECO will be substantially impaired. For example, power supply contracts will be servicing a much smaller franchise area,” Rapista said in a press statement on Tuesday. The bills were recently deliberated upon by lawmakers for their alleged violations of the Constitution and the Republic Act 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001. As such, instead of a franchise area amendment that may adversely affect the industry landscape, some policymakers recently pointed out that what Mindanao needs is a measure to help improve the services of the island’s power distributors. APEC Partylist Rep. Sergio Dagooc and PHILRECA Partylist Rep. Presley De Jesus, at a recent hearing, proposed that the House should work on creating measures that will protect the existing contracts of electric cooperatives. Likewise, they agreed that policymakers should adopt a bill instituting proper administrative processes to review said franchise areas. In July 2022, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., vetoed the bill proposing to expand the franchise of the Davao Light “due to, among others, its susceptibility to infringe on the franchise coverage area of the NORDECO.” NORDECO currently serves most of the municipalities and cities that were proposed to be transferred to Davao Light. Meanwhile, Davao Light’s franchise area covers Davao City, areas of Panabo City, and the municipalities of Carmen, Dujali and Santo Tomas in Davao del Norte. The post Davao power coop hits pending franchise change appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Reinsert ‘imminent danger’ in Charter, Robin asks
The recent incident involving the use of a water cannon and dangerous maneuvers by China against Philippine vessels in Ayungin Shoal warrants an amendment to the Constitution, Senator Robin Padilla said Monday. During his manifestation following Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri’s privilege speech on China’s recent actions in the West Philippine Sea, Padilla pushed anew for amendments to the 1987 Constitution. “If we are reaching the point where the whole Senate is really frustrated about the actions of China, I want to remind you all that we also have a responsibility in these four walls of the Senate,” he said in Filipino. “We have a provision in our Constitution that we need to amend and that is about the declaration of martial law,” he said. He said the deletion of the phrase “imminent danger” in the 1987 Constitution, which had been an important factor in the declaration of martial law on 21 September 1972, must be corrected. “When are we going to act? That is my question. Do we have to wait for an invasion?” he asked. “Are we going to wait for them to land in Palawan before we amend the Constitution and insert back the phrase ‘imminent danger?’” he added. He continued: “The imposition of martial law does not mean we will have a flashback of what happened in 1972. It is not like that. Martial law is a thing utilized to organize the Filipino people correctly.” ROTC Padilla stressed the importance of the legislation of the proposed mandatory Reserve Officers Training Corps program for higher education institutions and technical-vocational students. “It is undeniable that China has military reservists. Maybe they will just walk on us or pee on us — we will get drowned already,” he said. “What I am saying to my beloved colleagues in the Senate is let us level our anger at China with an action like the mandatory (ROTC),” he added. He continued: “I am hoping that at least with the ROTC, let us prepare our fellow Filipinos. The same goes with the imminent danger.” The post Reinsert ‘imminent danger’ in Charter, Robin asks appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Padilla invokes Martial Law to deal with China-WPS row
The recent incident involving the use of water cannon and dangerous maneuvers by China against Philippine vessels in Ayungin Shoal warrants an amendment in the country’s Constitution, Senator Robinhood “Robin” Padilla said Monday. In his manifestation during Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri’s privilege speech about China’s recent actions in the West Philippine Sea, Padilla pushed anew his desire to amend the 1987 Constitution. “If we are reaching the point where the whole Senate is really frustrated about the actions of China, I want to remind you all that we also have a responsibility in these four sides of the Senate,” he said in Filipino. “We have a provision in our Constitution that we need to amend and that is about the declaration of martial law,” he added. He pointed out the deletion of the phrase “imminent danger” in the 1987 Constitution. The provision was among the requirements for declaring martial law under the 1973 Constitution, but was no longer included in the new Charter. The 1987 Constitution must be amended, he stressed, to bring back the "imminent danger" requirement. “When are we going to act? That is my question. Do we have to wait for an invasion?” Padilla demanded. “Are we going to wait for them to land in Palawan before we amend the Constitution and insert back the phrase ‘imminent danger’?” He continued: “The imposition of martial law does not mean we will have a flashback to what happened in 1972. It is not like that. Martial law is a thing we can use to organize the Filipino people correctly.” Padilla likewise stressed the importance of the proposed mandatory Reserve Officers' Training Corps program for higher education institutions and technical-vocational institution students. “It is undeniable that China has military reservists. Maybe they will just walk on us or pee on us — we will get drowned already,” he said. “What I am saying to my beloved colleagues in the Senate is, let us level our anger to China with an action like the mandatory [ROTC]. I am hoping that at least [with] the ROTC, let us prepare our fellow Filipinos. The same goes with the 'imminent danger' [provision].” The post Padilla invokes Martial Law to deal with China-WPS row appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Loyzaga wants to empower ‘mangangalakal’ in solid waste management
Environment Secretary Antonia Loyzaga on Saturday wants to empower "mangangalakal" (waste pickers) by improving their livelihood and ensuring their full integration into an evolving solid waste management sector. Loyzaga underscored the need to enhance the status and work conditions of the informal waste sector and to invest in capacity building to transform their vulnerability. “This sector is still locked out of the value chain of solid waste management, but they are in fact, critical and essential as part of the supply chain,” Loyzaga pointed out. “Through the EPR (extended producer responsibility) and the circular economy, there is an opportunity for us in government and for you all to promote social inclusion,” she added. The informal waste sector in the Philippines includes waste pickers in dump sites and communal waste collection points. Waste pickers play a key role in waste management and segregation, but are often not included in discussions on policies to improve their lives and livelihoods. Following the enactment of Republic Act No. 11898 or the EPR Act of 2022, Loyzaga has been supportive of the integration of the informal waste sector in the EPR system to ensure that no one is left behind as the country tries to build a circular economy for plastics. An amendment to RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, the EPR law requires large companies to adopt and implement policies for the proper management of plastic packaging wastes. Loyzaga called the EPR law a “concrete start and a strategic approach to waste reduction that maintains an environmental responsibility with producers throughout the lifecycle of the product.” “EPR has been proven to address packaging collection and recycling meaningfully through various EPR schemes and certainly these require companies to pay for the collection, sorting, and recycling of their plastic packaging,” Loyzaga said. She said the EPR mechanism is one transformative way to promote a sustainable consumption and production economy. “It provides a more sustainable way of doing business and leads to green job creation,” she added. Moreover, the DENR chief said the EPR system provides an opportunity to promote the social inclusion of waste pickers by ensuring their rights and protection to guarantee their income and survival. To improve the lives of waste pickers, Loyzaga said there is a need to partner with local government units (LGUs) in rolling out financial literacy programs and to build their skills for entrepreneurship and other types of activities in order for them to build capital to transform their current situation. She said there is also a need to capacitate LGUs and other sectors to implement a robust system of data recording, tracking, and reporting. “By doing so, we can enhance the direction and the strategic impact of social protection programs and direct them specifically to address this sector’s needs,” she stressed The post Loyzaga wants to empower ‘mangangalakal’ in solid waste management appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mandaue seen as green housing pilot city
By RICO MIRASOL OSMEÑA The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and Habitat for Humanity announced that they have chosen Mandaue City as the inclusive green housing program pilot city for low-income families. DHSUD OIC-director for Public Housing and Settlements Service Rowena Dineros said they identified Mandaue City as the pilot local government unit as it has strong adoption of green initiatives. She cited that the city has a 500-unit socialized housing development project in Barangay Tipolo as a green project. Dineros added that green development involve projects that reduce the use of carbon footprints and make use of resources that promote sustainability and energy efficiency. Green and inclusive finance focuses on all instruments, products and services that address climate change; mitigation and adaptation; solutions for waste, water and sanitation management; land management and ecosystem conservation; organic farming; access to clean and reliable energy and energy efficiency. “Going green is not expensive... We can adopt ways and strategies to bring down the cost within their means. We can devise ways such as updating the housing microfinance product manual that sets the process and requirements for every household on how to avail themselves of this green technology under the microfinance program,” Dineros said. To recall, the Mandaue City Council approved an ordinance giving tax incentives to those who construct buildings that contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and help minimize the impact of buildings on health and the environment. Ordinance 163-2023, an amendment to City Ordinance 13-2015-1047 is known as the “green building” ordinance enacted in 2015. Meantime, Habitat for Humanity-Terwilliger Center Philippines country director Jessan Catre said that Mandaue is the “green spot” in the industry because it has been one of the early adopters. “With the mayor’s intent that green is inclusive, we look at Mandaue as perfect area where national policies would be tested,” Catre said. Previously, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes disclosed that the city has 14,000 housing units backlog. “We will map out the areas where the green microfinance will be tested. We don’t want to go wide immediately. We will work with Mandaue LGU and the concerned government agencies,” Catre said. Affordability remains a major block for many Filipinos to own houses, especially those considered climate-resilient ones. The post Mandaue seen as green housing pilot city appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Race against time for US debt crisis bill in Congress
The bill hammered out by US leaders to prevent the country from a catastrophic default on its debts will face one last hurdle this week: Passing Congress. Top Republicans and Democrats scrambled Monday to secure congressional support for the measure, with President Joe Biden feeling "very good" about its prospects despite having just days left before the government starts running out of money. The deal, finalized Sunday by Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy after weeks of frantic negotiations, faces opposition from the progressive and hard-right wings of their respective parties. Ultra-conservative Republicans feel McCarthy should have secured far deeper spending cuts in exchange for raising the debt ceiling and allowing the government to keep borrowing money. The left wing of the Democratic Party is equally unhappy that Biden agreed to any spending limits at all. The House Rules Committee will meet Tuesday to set the parameters for the upcoming vote, now scheduled for Wednesday. Delay tactics Biden and McCarthy both say they believe the bill will pass the House and then move swiftly to the Senate. "I never say I'm confident what the Congress is going to do. But I feel very good about it," Biden said Monday, adding that he had spoken to lawmakers. But organized dissent could force some nerve-shredding delays. The key deadline is June 5 -- when, according to Treasury estimates, the government will no longer have the funds required to pay all its debts and bills. If that scenario morphs into a full-fledged default, the repercussions would be disastrous for the US and the wider global economy. The basic framework of the deal lifts the federal debt ceiling, which is currently $31.4 trillion, for two years — enough to get past the next presidential election in 2024. In return, the Republicans secured some limits on federal spending over the same period. As they finalized the text Sunday, Biden and McCarthy both went into hard-sell mode to shore up support in their parties. Biden's message to dissident Democrats, he said Monday: "Talk to me." Win, win Both Biden and McCarthy were backed by vocal spin operations insisting the agreement clearly represented a victory for their side. "You want to try to make it look like I made some compromise on the debt ceiling -- I didn't," Biden told reporters. McCarthy, for his part, touted the agreement as a "historic series of wins." But like Biden, McCarthy will have to quell members of his own party who aren't keen on the bill. "I want to raise the debt ceiling. It'd be irresponsible not to do it," Senator Lindsey Graham told Fox News Sunday. "But what I will not do is adopt the Biden defense budget and call it a success," Graham said, calling for bigger increases to the Pentagon's budget than currently agreed. "I will not be intimidated by June 5." In reality, the agreement represents a mutual climb down of sorts from Democratic and Republican negotiators. Biden had initially refused to negotiate over spending issues as a condition for raising the debt ceiling, accusing the Republicans of taking the economy, hostage. And the big cuts that Republicans wanted are not there, although non-defense spending will remain effectively flat next year, and only rise nominally in 2025. McCarthy's wafer-thin majority in the House will require significant Democratic backing to balance out Republican dissent. One Republican tweeted out a vomit emoji in response to the deal, with another calling it "an insult to the American people." At the same time, a member of the House Progressive Caucus, Ro Khanna, said a large number of fellow Democrats were still "in flux as to where they're going to be on this." Democrats hold the majority in the Senate, but individual senators could try and hold up the bill with amendment votes that would bring the process perilously close to the June 5 deadline. One element likely to rile Democratic environmental hawks was the surprise inclusion of a measure to accelerate the completion of an oil pipeline project that has been stalled by green concerns. Both the House and Senate are expected to return on Tuesday, after a long holiday weekend. The post Race against time for US debt crisis bill in Congress appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Padilla wants four-year term limit for president
Senator Robin Padilla on Thursday said he is planning to push for political amendments in the 1987 Constitution such as limiting the term of the president and elected officials to four years. In a press conference at the Senate, Padilla said this is his “alternative plan” after failing to gain enough support to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution via constitutional assembly. “We have another bill about the extension of terms, the reelection of [former] presidents, four-year term for local officials,” he said in Filipino. “If they don’t want [amendments] on the economic provision, we will try political [amendments],” he added. Asked about the basis of his plan to allow former presidents to run for office again, the neophyte senator answered: “Six years are not enough for a wise president, but for a foolish president, it is too much.” ‘Cha-cha not dead’ Padilla, who chairs the Senate panel on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, insisted that his aspiration for charter change (cha-cha) is “not yet dead.” “Maybe the [amendments on] economic provision but not cha-cha,” he said. The lawmaker is advocating for the amendment of the economic provisions through a constitutional assembly or con-ass while the House of Representatives is pushing for a constitutional convention. He explained that one of the reasons cha-cha in Congress “died” is due to the issue of Speakership in the House of Representatives. “It ultimately died after the row in the lower chamber,” he said. Last week, reports about the speakership row emerged after former president and now Pampanga 2nd District Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was stripped of her title as senior deputy Speaker. Arroyo was replaced by Pampanga 3rd District Representative Aurelio Gonzales. The move fueled speculations that it was related to a failed attempt by the former president to oust Speaker Martin Romualdez, who is a cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The veteran politician had admitted that she was gunning for the speakership last year but that is “no longer part” of her “political objectives” at this point. The post Padilla wants four-year term limit for president appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Charter stumbling block in joint oil search
Senator Robinhood Padilla on Thursday said the “outdated” economic provisions of the Philippine 1987 Constitution are a “stumbling block” to the Philippines and China’s possible joint oil and gas exploration in the West Philippine Sea. “For so many times, the limitations in our Constitution have been an issue in discussions on oil and gas exploration,” Padilla said in a statement. “Thus, with the upcoming resumption of the talks, does this mean our DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) is open to amending outdated economic provisions of our Charter, particularly Sec. II, Art. XII that states the exploration, development and utilization of natural resources shall be under the full control and supervision of the State?” he continued. Earlier this month, the DFA announced that the Philippines and China will hold their “preparatory talks” in Beijing for the possible joint oil and gas exploration in the West Philippine Sea in May. Padilla, who is pushing for an economic charter amendment through a Constitutional Assembly, also cited the recent Supreme Court ruling which invalidated and declared unconstitutional the 2005 Tripartite Agreement for Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking as one of the “stumbling blocks.” “Another stumbling block is the decision of our Supreme Court last January, ruling as unconstitutional the Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking,” he said, referring to a tripartite agreement signed by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that allowed the Philippines with China and Vietnam to conduct explorations for oil resources in the South China Sea. Padilla stressed that time should not be wasted in amending the Constitution. “There is no time to lose. Filipinos have long felt the effects of a shortage of oil: joblessness, lack of sufficient income, and rising transport costs and prices of basic goods,” he said. “Because of these, I am one with those hoping for the success of the discussions, as well as a solution between the Philippines and China to end the suffering of ordinary Filipinos,” he added. The DFA previously said that the Philippines is open to restarting negotiations with China, so long as discussions fall within the limits stipulated in the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines. In 2018, the Philippines signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with China on joint oil and gas development in the West Philippine Sea during the administration of then-President Rodrigo Duterte. However, Duterte, a week before stepping down from office in June last year, ordered then Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. to terminate the discussion on joint exploration with China, citing that “three years on and we had not achieved our objective of developing oil and gas resources so critical for the Philippines but not at the price of sovereignty; not even a particle of it”. The post Charter stumbling block in joint oil search appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Dela Rosa, Tolentino seek charter amendment on democratic representation
Two pro-administration senators are seeking changes to the 1987 Constitution on "democratic representation" apart from economic provisions of the charter, a resolution filed in the chamber showed......»»
Survey shows Cha-cha still unpopular with Filipinos — Senate leaders
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said that the findings of the survey by private pollster Pulse Asia, which was released on Wednesday, show that Charter change is an "unpopular move.".....»»
88% of Pinoys oppose Cha-cha – Pulse Asia
Public opinion on Charter change, which last year was roughly divided among Filipinos, is now largely skewed toward those opposed to changing the country’s Constitution, a survey conducted by Pulse Asia showed......»»
House leaves Quiboloy’s fate to Senate
The House of Representatives will no longer pursue and implement the warrant of arrest it issued against pastor Apollo Quiboloy after it approved on final reading the bill revoking the franchise of the evangelist’s alleged TV network......»»
Yogi Ruiz: Salaries, incentives for City Hall employees must be paid on time
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Job order (JO) employees at the Cebu City Hall have not been paid their salaries from January to March 2024. They have not also received their share of the Charter Day incentive amounting to P5, 000 each. Councilors Noel Wenceslao and Nestro Archival have raised a concern on the delay in.....»»
Most Filipinos reject Charter change, lifting foreign ownership restrictions
An overwhelming majority of Filipinos oppose changing the 1987 Constitution at this time, according to a new Pulse Asia Survey, with results showing Filipinos in all regions and all socio-economic classes did not support the lifting of foreign ownership restrictions in key industries......»»
From the Newsrooms: March 17 to 23, 2024
By: CMFR StaffPosted on: March 25, 2024, 8:00 amUpdated on: March 25, 2024, 1:00 am THIS WEEK, "From the Newsrooms" looks at the media coverage of two events. On March 20, a hearing in the House on the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) revealed that Chinese nationals were included in the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA). On March 21, Arnolfo Teves, the alleged mastermind of the Pamplona.....»»
House arrest warrant vs Quiboloy moot – lawyer
Pastor Apollo Quiboloy’s lawyer says the arrest warrant issued by a House of Representatives panel is moot as the panel’s hearings are already adjourned......»»
‘Senate rules on Cha-cha on the right track’
The Senate rules on amending the 1987 Constitution are “on the right track” and ready even before the sub-committee wraps up its discourse on the Resolution of Both Houses 6 pushing Charter change, a senator said......»»