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Taiwan OFW Ugnayan shelter makes do sans MECO support
A shelter run by a Filipino priest in Taiwan, which has been assisting overseas Filipino workers in distress, will no longer be receiving support from the Philippine representative office there. Father Joy Tajonera, who runs the Ugnayan shelter in Taichung, said that under the new administration, the Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taiwan has decided to halt support for his work at Ugnayan. Tajonera, in a recent interview with Daily Tribune’s Usapang OFW digital show, revealed that “MECO has decided not to support the work of Ugnayan to help Filipinos in Taiwan.” “This is the first time for us not to receive support from the government; from the time of GMA up to Duterte, we got support from MECO,” Tajonera said, referring to former presidents Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Rodrigo Duterte. He added that the pullout of support has nothing to do with the changes that had been put in place with the enactment of RA 11641, or the Department of Migrant Workers Act, replacing the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration. Among the changes were the setting up of the Migrant Workers Office, replacing the Philippine Overseas Labor Office, to address the needs of OFWs, whether legal or undocumented, and assigning support for non-OFWs like tourists, students, business people, and the like — to embassies and consulates, and in the case of Taiwan, to MECO. “That has nothing to do with the pullout of support because the assistance that we provide is for all who need help regardless of race, not just OFWs, although they are the ones we give assistance to the most,” Tajonera said. The MECO is the Philippine representative office in Taiwan in keeping with the One-China policy adopted by the Philippines in 1975. “MECO decided under this new administration that they would not support us anymore. No reason was given, and I decided not to pursue an explanation anymore as we continue to provide support with the help of our ministry. We have not stopped with our services to fellow Filipinos, regardless of reason or situation,” Tajonera said. Tajonera added that he will not be seeking financial help from the Taiwan government despite the pullout of support from MECO. “We want to keep Ugnayan independent. I believe that our mission in Ugnayan is to help people without conditions, especially when it comes to providing shelter,” he said. Tajonera has been running Ugnayan since 2002, getting funding from its ministry, and donations from the masses, and locals in the community. The post Taiwan OFW Ugnayan shelter makes do sans MECO support appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BCDA welcomes amended charter
State-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority, or BCDA, welcomed the approval of House Bill 8505, citing the impact of the measure in the development of the economic zones managed by the state-run firm, and in beefing up the state coffers to support the military’s pension fund. Approved on third and final reading last 22 August, House Bill 8505 is a consolidated substitute bill of Pampanga Representatives Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales that seeks to amend Republic Act 7227 or the Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992. The bill ensures the continuity of the BCDA’s function as a builder of great cities and a prime mover of national development, while also helping the state-run firm conquer legislative hurdles that could restrict the full development of its properties, from Fort Bonifacio in Metro Manila to Poro Point in La Union. “Our economic landscape is evolving at a tremendous pace, thus the need for BCDA to take big, bold moves to adapt with these changes and deliver the socioeconomic transformation we envision for our development areas in Clark,” BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Joshua Bigcang said. “The bill will address gaps in the current charter and we couldn’t be more happy to express our gratitude to our friends in the House of Representatives for passing this bill on third and final reading,” Bingcang added. Under the proposed bill, the BCDA’s corporate term will be extended for another 50 years from its current remaining corporate life of 19 years. This extension will increase the confidence of investors when transacting with BCDA, as well as allow BCDA to continue its support to the AFP Modernization Program. Bill to raise capital to P400B The bill will also increase the authorized capital of the BCDA to P400 billion from P100 billion. Lastly, the bill seeks to convert five percent of BCDA’s economic zones to freehold status from leasehold, authorizing the BCDA to sell these properties for residential purposes. At present, lands within BCDA economic zones are only available on leaseholds, preventing the entry of affordable housing developers. Converting portions of the ecozones to freehold will liberalize the residential market for an average Filipino and allow full ownership of the property. “Once this is implemented, workers within our economic zones will be able to have their own homes, be closer to their jobs and live comfortably with their families,” Bingcang said. The BCDA estimates that this provision will free up 1,856 hectares of land, which can potentially generate P451.26 billion up to P1.45 trillion in revenues. This revenue may be earmarked for the military pension fund, a priority of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. The post BCDA welcomes amended charter appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pork’s different strokes
Efforts have begun in the House of Representatives to raise the Motor Vehicle Road Users Charge or the Road Users Tax after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. identified the levy as a main source of precious funds. The eagerness of the members of the House to comply with the proposal to hike the tax makes people wary. Proceeds from the tax are the favorite source of legislative pork. Albay Rep. Joey Salceda’s bill indicates the MVUC which ranges from P120 to P4,000 will be raised to between P2,080 and P10,400 for cars, depending on their gross weight. Under the proposal, the MVUC will be increased by a fixed rate yearly until 2025, and by 5 percent from 2026 onwards. Salceda is looking at collecting P151 billion more in revenue from 2024 to 2027 through the higher MVUC. The higher collections should be earmarked for road improvements which is under the Department of Public Works and Highways after President Rodrigo Duterte signed a law abolishing the graft-tainted Road Board. The disposition of the MVUC sparked the feud between House members and the Department of Budget and Management during the initial years of the Duterte term after then Budget Secretary Ben Diokno refused to release the MUVC proceeds until the Road Board was dissolved. Moreover, the late former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III exploited the RUT funds using them as leverage to get House members to impeach former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez and to obtain the legislators’ approval for his political agenda, such as a measure seeking to postpone the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao election to allow Noynoy to place his appointees in the Muslim region. The Road Board had an unusual collection setup that practically freed its state audit, making it a perfect “cash cow” as termed by some senators. Gutierrez was impeached overwhelmingly in the House after Noynoy first dangled the pork barrel, saying through his House allies that those who would vote against the impeachment would not receive their pork barrel while those who signed the measure would get a P20-million bonus taken from the Road Board.Later, Gutierrez, knowing that she was in a losing situation, resigned from her post despite her having a guaranteed term. She was replaced by Noynoy’s favorite associate justice, Conchita Carpio-Morales, who carried out the yellow brand of selective justice. Gutierrez had displeased Noynoy when she dismissed the case against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in connection with the P729-million fertilizer fund scam. Former Chief Justice Renato Corona Jr. was also ousted through impeachment and the leverage used, in turn, were the DAP funds. It was ironic that Noynoy’s allies vowed to abolish the Road Board, which under the law that created it, had full discretion on its use. Its disposition was beyond the scope of the Commission on Audit since the RUT was not part of the budget. Former Sen. Franklin Drilon, for instance, said the body would be abolished by the Senate despite the House allies of former President Arroyo’s withdrawal and eventual rescinding of the bill that sought to terminate the anomalous 2001 creation. Congressmen turned the RUT proceeds into a source of fast money through collusion with Road Board officials. Since the DPWH is now the custodian of the funds, attention must also be directed at the agency in the proper disposition of the MUVC proceeds. Increasing the audit-free funds plus the recently discovered P215 billion in insertions in the budget through the generic flood mitigation projects exposed maneuvers to pilfer public funds. The post Pork’s different strokes appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Courting disaster (2)
“The judiciary,” once intoned Alexander Hamilton, “has no influence over either the sword or the purse; no direction either of the strength or of the wealth of society; and can take no active resolution whatever. It may truly be said to have neither force nor will, but merely judgment.” Thus, is the Judiciary said to be the “weakest” of the Three Great Branches of Government under the Constitution, as it, to paraphrase Hamilton, holds neither the purse (controlled by Congress) nor the sword (under the command of the Chief Executive)? Someone once joked that in the case, however, of then-Chief Justice Enrique Fernando, he holds the umbrella for Imelda Marcos, but that is something those born after the 1980s will not get. This is why the framers of our Constitution, in their infinite wisdom (and I use the phrase advisedly) had deemed it fit to elevate what had hitherto been merely ruling case law into a constitutional injunction. Section 3 of Article VIII reads: “The Judiciary shall enjoy fiscal autonomy. Appropriations for the Judiciary may not be reduced by the legislature below the amount appropriated for the previous year and, after approval, shall be automatically and regularly released.” Looks good. But in practice, it reduces judicial independence to a chimera. While the budget of the courts may not be reduced from that of the previous year, if a nasty Legislature wants to starve out a nonconformist Judiciary, it may simply opt to maintain its budget at the same level year after year after year. After a few years, with inflation, the courts will be reduced to tatters. And this happens every year, with the high officials of the Supreme Court practically reduced to bringing a begging bowl to Congress when budget deliberations come up in the agenda. This year, around P14 billion was arbitrarily lopped off the proposed budget for the Judicial branch. Now, the court administration is asking that some P6.7 billion be restored if only to upgrade the salaries of court personnel, the hazard pay for judges (who lately have been at the receiving end of gun barrels from disgruntled litigants) and costs for their security in the form of judicial marshals, the creation of more courts to serve a burgeoning caseload, and for the Judicial Integrity Board (who keeps erring judges in line). Methinks this is not too much to ask for, and as a lawyer and therefore an officer of the court, it pains me to see the Supreme Court looking like the poorer relations of Congress begging for alms. This is especially since Congress has notoriously been seen to have granted unto itself huge allocations for its members per district, the combined value of which is far and away higher than what the High Tribunal is asking for. The importance of a strong, independent Judiciary cannot be overestimated in a constitutional government such as ours. Aside from adjudicating private rights amongst competing parties, it is the final bulwark against governmental abuse. As former President Jose P. Laurel, when he was a Supreme Court magistrate, so emphatically articulated in the landmark case of Angara v. Electoral Commission, “(i)n cases of conflict, the judicial department is the only constitutional organ which can be called upon to determine the proper allocation of powers between the several departments of the government.” That is why I wish to make this call to our lawmakers to be not niggardly with the monetary allocation to our courts. It will not serve the ends of good governance well to be penny-wise and pound-foolish with the nation’s coffers. By the same token, kudos to Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Senate President Miguel Zubiri and neophyte Senator Raffy Tulfo, who have all filed bills seeking to strengthen the Judiciary’s fiscal autonomy. For to neglect the courts would necessarily be courting disaster. The post Courting disaster (2) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos arrives at Secretary Ople’s wake
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos paid their respect to the late Migrant Workers Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople on Wednesday evening. The First Couple arrived at the Heritage Memorial Park at 7:29 p.m. and left the venue at 8:05 p.m. Former President and current Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco, former Senator Manny Villar, and his spouse Senator Cynthia Villar also visited Ople’s wake. House Speaker Martin Romualdez also joined the officials in paying respect to the late Migrant Workers secretary. Earlier this week, Marcos said he and the Philippines lost a friend after Ople succumbed to breast cancer at 61. “Secretary Ople is a special person with a deep compassion really really for the people that she had cared for, mainly the migrant workers,” Marcos said. The post PBBM, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos arrives at Secretary Ople’s wake appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Impertinent lawmaker
A leftist party-list representative, one among those who foist their nationalistic pretense, who has been critical of the previous administration’s war on drugs but couldn’t for once slam the communist rebels for their terroristic activities, and always engaged in either wrong or misleading narratives, has once again unleashed a thoughtless and unstudied declaration, poking her finger in the West Philippine Sea dispute vis-a-vis China’s claim that the Philippines had committed to removing the BRP Sierra Madre which has been aground for a long time at the Ayungin Shoal. This time she has targeted former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for the latter’s alleged silence on the issue in the face of former presidents Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s, Joseph Estrada’s and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s denial of making such a commitment to China. She has cast suspicion on the former maverick President’s and the latter’s daughter’s (Vice President Sara Duterte) alleged non-issuing a denunciation statement against China’s attacking the resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre and failing to deny having made the aforementioned pledge. In the first place, there is no need to dispute China’s claim because, for one, it has not submitted proof as to the identity of a government official who made such a commitment, and on what occasion and year it was made. For another, assuming a commitment was made by whomsoever, the same could not be undertaken given that the ship in question is in Ayungin Shoal, which is within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, over which place the latter has sovereign rights under international law and the United Nation Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS, and therefore it can do whatever it pleases. Moreover, the arbitral ruling handed by the Permanent Arbitration Court has affirmed the Philippines’ sovereign rights’ claim to it while it rejected China’s expansionist claim over the West Philippine Sea — hence, any contrary claim over the use of the same or invocation of whatever commitment made in regard thereto not only has become moot if not irrelevant but — and more importantly no basis in international law. There is no need for FPRRD to issue a statement to deny or dispute China’s claim simply because as aforestated, it has not validated its allegation with any semblance of proof. Moreover, it is irrelevant at this stage owing to the arbitral award. Even if it is relevant, the denial of the existence of such commitment by no less than the current head of state is more than sufficient. Unlike this impertinent lawmaker, FPRRD abhors calling attention to himself. To require the Vice-President to issue a similar denial and a denunciation against China’s assault on the Philippine Coast Guard is redundant, with PBBM having already an official statement on the matter. The lady solon nastily insinuates that FPRRD has been sleeping with the enemy citing instances that she did not particularize forgetting that even if he has developed a friendship with China’s President, his virtual speech before the United Nations, asserting our sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea and his raising the arbitral ruling in a face-to-face dialogue with President Xi Jinping on his first state visit to China spoke eloquently of his position that he is fiercely opposed to China’s unlawful incursions on Philippine waters. This member of the Lower House has also repeated the lie started by some anti-Duterte critics that the latter has described the arbitral ruling as a mere piece of paper. For her education and others. PRRD was describing how China is treating the favorable decision by not only ignoring it but committing repeated acts of aggression against the Philippines. China is demonstrating its rejection of the international arbitral court ruling by treating it as a worthless piece of paper. In other words, it is telling the world that the Philippines may have the decision (paper) but it has control over the territory it has won in the arbitration. There is wisdom in the suggestion that she zips her lips and halt her rants and focus on legislation. The post Impertinent lawmaker appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘I have lost a friend’—PBBM on the death of Sec. Toots Ople
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday expressed his sadness over the passing of Migrant Workers Secretary Susan "Toots" Ople, who died at 61. "I have lost a friend; the Philippines has lost a friend," Marcos told the reporters in a media interview following his visit to Toyota Manufacturing Plant in Laguna. "Secretary Toots was a special person. With the deep compassion really for the people she had to care for, namely the migrant workers, and she was very very—she's a big loss," Marcos added. Ople was a former senator and the daughter of the late labor leader Blas Ople. She was appointed labor secretary by Marcos in May 2022. In his remarks, Marcos said that Ople was "very much following the tradition of Ka Blas Ople, of excellence, of compassion." "It is a great loss for all of us," Marcos said. "It is a great loss to the Philippines for the service we know she could have still rendered." DMW announced Ople's death in a statement, saying: "Secretary Toots peacefully joined our Creator at around 1 PM today, August 22, 2023, surrounded by her family and loved one." While DMW said it would release more details soon, it said on 25 July that Ople underwent a wellness break to mourn and spend time with her family. "Our family lost two good men within a span of five days. They are now in a much better place, free from pain and reunited with our beloved parents and brother, Raul," Ople had said in the DMW's announcement as she went on leave. Ople's passing follows the recent demise of her two brothers, Blas Ople Jr. and Felix "Toti" Ople, who succumbed to lung cancer. Susan Ople, on the other hand, faced breast cancer. Ople has a history of assisting overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) within and outside the government before Marcos Jr. appointed her as a Migrant Workers secretary. She held the position of labor undersecretary in the Gloria Arroyo administration, and she also established and guided the Blas F. Ople Policy and Training Center, a non-governmental organization dedicated to supporting overseas Filipino workers. Furthermore, she is the daughter of Blas Ople, who was the labor secretary under former president Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. and later took on the role of foreign affairs secretary during the Arroyo administration. The post ‘I have lost a friend’—PBBM on the death of Sec. Toots Ople appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Manila mayor expresses gratitude
Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna has expressed her heartfelt gratitude to all who condoled the family on the passing of their patriarch, former Vice Mayor Danny Lacuna. “On behalf of the Lacuna family, I would like to send our sincerest gratitude. Words cannot express our heartfelt thanks for the sympathy, love, and prayers you have offered to our family during these difficult times,” said Lacuna in a statement. Former and current government officials paid their respects to the late vice mayor including former President Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo and former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, former Vice President Jejomar Binay, former Senator and now Batangas Representative Ralph Recto, former House Speaker Sonny Belmonte and Senator Bong Revilla Jr. Even Senator Jinggoy Estrada — whose father, former President Joseph Estrada with whom the Asenso Manileno had a previous falling out — went to the wake and even recounted how the former vice mayor visited the Estradas while they were detained in Camp Crame. The Manila mayor, on the other hand, vowed to continue the legacy of her father which is putting God above all else and letting Him be the guide in providing service while in public office. The post Manila mayor expresses gratitude appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Lacuna family expresses gratitude to everyone who offered their condolences
On behalf of the Lacuna family, Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna would like to thank everyone who offered their condolences to her and the entire family following the passing of their patriarch, former Manila Vice Mayor Danny Lacuna. "Words cannot express our heartfelt thanks for the sympathy, love, and prayers you have offered to our family during these difficult times," she added in a statement. Former and current government officials paid their last respects to VM Danny, including former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and ex-First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, former Vice President Jejomar Binay, former Senator and now Batangas representative Ralph Recto, former Speaker Sonny Belmonte, and Senator Bong Revilla. Even Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, whose father former President Joseph Estrada with whom the Asenso Manileño had a previous falling out, went to the wake and even recounted how VM Danny visited the Estradas while they were detained in Camp Crame. Mayor Honey has vowed to uphold her father's legacy of placing God above everything else and allowing Him to guide her in serving the public while in office. She also said that Asenso Manileño, which was founded and nurtured by the late Vice Mayor, will do its best to make the party retain its status as the dominant local party in the city. Under VM Danny's tutelage, the party has so far produced two mayors—former Mayor Isko Moreno and incumbent Mayor Honey Lacuna. The party was also successful in winning all local elective positions, including the mayor, vice mayor, congressmen, and city councilors. The post Lacuna family expresses gratitude to everyone who offered their condolences appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
I never made such a promise to China : GMA breaks silence on BRP Sierra Madre removal
Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has firmly denied claims that she promised China to remove the Philippine Navy vessel BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea......»»
Teddy Boy named special envoy to China
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Teodoro “Teddy Boy” Locsin Jr. as the President’s Special Envoy to the People’s Republic of China for Special Concerns, the Presidential Communications Office announced on Wednesday in a Facebook post. Locsin’s recent appointment came amid the resurgence of tensions in the West Philippine Sea between China and the Philippines. In a Viber message to Palace reporters, Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said Marcos appointed Locsin to boost the bilateral relations between the two countries. Locsin, who is the Foreign Affairs Secretary of then-President Rodrigo R. Duterte from 17 October to 30 June 2022, takes on the new task “in a concurrent position” as the Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Chief Executive appointed Locsin UK ambassador with jurisdiction over Ireland, Isle of Man, Bailiwick of Jersey, and Bailiwick of Guernsey on 30 August 2022. During his tenure, he frequently lodged numerous diplomatic complaints and occasionally used the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to criticize China. The newly-appointed special envoy is the son and namesake of Teodoro Locsin Sr., a journalist who was imprisoned during the 1970s for criticizing President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., the father of now President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Following the overthrow of Marcos Sr. in 1986, the younger Locsin became the speechwriter and legal advisor to President Corazon Aquino. Subsequently, he wrote speeches for Presidents Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He was elected Makati 1st District representative in 2001, a seat he held until 2010. Holding a master’s degree in law from Harvard University, Locsin is a lawyer and a media figure. The post Teddy Boy named special envoy to China appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Gibo not aware of Phl ‘promise’ to remove BRP Sierra Madre
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said the Philippines did not commit to China any “promise” about the removal of the BRP Sierra Madre in the Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. “Wala akong alam na supposed agreement na yan. Wala akong alam na agreement sa Ayungin na aalisin ang barkoMaglalagay ka ng barko diyan na Philippine vessel. ‘Di mo nga dini-deregister, pagkatapos aalisin mo?,” Teodoro said in a chance interview with reporters during his recent visit in Gamu, Isabela. Teodoro, who held the same post in the Department of National Defense during the term of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, insisted the Philippines did not seal an agreement on the matter. However, Teodoro said the agreement is considered null if it was made in the past. “Si Presidente na ang nagsabi, kung meron mang agreement na hindi namin alam (The President said himself—‘If there is an agreement that we don’t know, that’s rescinded,” he stressed. The post Gibo not aware of Phl ‘promise’ to remove BRP Sierra Madre appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
No public money spent for fashion show — Palace
The government did not cover the expenses for the “Isang Pilipinas” fashion show at Malacañang for fashion designer Michael Leyva, a Palace official clarified Monday. In a statement sent to Palace reporters, Deputy Social Secretary Dina Arroyo-Tantoco said the designers and private organizations with which they collaborated covered the expenses for the Goldenberg Fashion Series, a First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos project to rehabilitate the Goldenberg Mansion. Arroyo-Tantoco added that the output is a joint effort among different creatives in the industry. “The objective of the series is to provide a platform for Filipino artists to show their work in a historical setting relevant to our Cultural Identity,” Tantoco said. “The government did not spend anything on the event because it is paid for by the designers and private institutions they partnered with,” the official added. The recent fashion presentation held on 8 August showcased a lineup of personalities. These people include Heart Evangelista, who is married to Senator Chiz Escudero; Audrey Tan-Zubiri, the spouse of Senator Migz Zubiri; Tootsy Angara, wed to Senator Sonny Angara; Em Aglipay-Villar, the partner of Senator Mark Villar; Lani Mercado, the representative of Cavite and the wife of Senator Bong Revilla Jr.; Kathryna Pimentel, who is married to Senator Koko Pimentel; Gladys Villanueva, the wife of Senator Joel Villanueva; and Mariel Padilla, the wife of Senator Robin Padilla. The post No public money spent for fashion show — Palace appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
JV: Not my father who made ‘deal’ to remove BRP Sierra Madre
Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Monday refuted claims that it was his father, former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada, who made an alleged agreement with China to remove the BRP Sierra Madre from the Ayungin Shoal. Ejercito said the claim that it was his father who committed to removing the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal is “impossible,” since it was Estrada who ordered the grounding of the World War II ship in the low-tide elevation. “That claim seems inconsistent. The mere fact President Estrada was the one who ordered the BRP Sierra Madre be grounded in Ayungin Shoal, it’s impossible he will commit to remove the same,” he told reporters in a Viber message. He also took a swipe against columnist Rigoberto Tiglao, who claimed it was his father who made such a commitment to China. “At least President Erap had the courage to fight for our sovereignty,” he said. “Unlike them who paved the way for NBN-ZTE, the first salvo of Chinese intrusions in our country,” he added, referring to the canceled National Broadband Network project with ZTE Corp., a Chinese telecommunications firm, during the time of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, now Pampanga 2nd District Representative. Tiglao served as the former presidential spokesperson and Chief of Staff of Arroyo, who served as the 14th president of the Philippines following the ouster of Estrada during the second People Power Revolution or EDSA II in 2001. China is insisting on its territorial rights over the Ayungin Shoal, which is located 105 nautical miles west of Palawan and is part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. It also claimed the Philippine government had repeatedly made promises to tow away the grounded BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal. “Who was closer to China? Was it Erap? The VFA was in fact approved also during his time,” said Ejercito, referring to the Visiting Forces Agreement between the Philippines and the United States. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippines decided in 1999 to deploy the BRP Sierra Madre as a permanent station on Ayungin Shoal in response to China’s illegal occupation of Panganiban Reef in 1995. It also explained that the Philippine station on Ayungin Shoal was deployed in 1999, years ahead of the conclusion in 2002 of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. “[It] is therefore not a violation of the DOC,” the DFA pointed out. The post JV: Not my father who made ‘deal’ to remove BRP Sierra Madre appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Palace: No gov’t money spent on First Lady’s fashion show
The government did not cover the expenses for the "Isang Pilipinas" fashion show at Malacañang for fashion designer Michael Leyva, a Palace official clarified Monday. In a statement sent to Palace reporters, Deputy Social Secretary Dina Arroyo-Tantoco said the designers and private organizations with whom they collaborated covered the expenses for the Goldenberg Fashion Series, a project by First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos to rehabilitate the Goldenberg Mansion. Arroyo-Tantoco added that the output was a joint effort among different creatives in the industry. “The objective of the series is to provide a platform for Filipino artists to show their work in a historical setting relevant to our cultural identity,” Tantoco said. “The government does not spend anything on the event because it is paid for by the designers and private institutions they partner with," the official added. The fashion presentation held on 8 August showcased a lineup of congressional wives, among them Heart Evangelista, married to Senator Chiz Escudero; Audrey Tan-Zubiri, the spouse of Senator Migz Zubiri; Tootsy Angara, wife of Senator Sonny Angara; Em Aglipay-Villar, wife of Senator Mark Villar; Lani Mercado, the representative of Cavite and wife of Senator Bong Revilla Jr.; Kathryna Pimentel, who is married to Senator Koko Pimentel; Gladys Villanueva, wife of Senator Joel Villanueva; and Mariel Padilla, wife of Senator Robin Padilla. The post Palace: No gov’t money spent on First Lady’s fashion show appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Michael Ted Macapagal: Making tracks in public service
If life were a train, then Michael Ted Macapagal’s has been quite a ride. Raised by a labor leader and human rights lawyer father who served the people of Olongapo, including the workers of the US American Base in Subic, Michael Ted Macapagal had always wanted to become a public servant. It took Ted, though, a long journey to reach his goal, first achieving success in the insurance field in the United States where he lived for 20 years starting in 1991. Today, he is the chairman of the Philippine National Railways, a position “that allows me to make a difference in the lives of my countrymen,” he shared during his recent visit to the Daily Tribune office in Makati. Ted, good-looking and affable, proudly spoke of a father, his namesake, Atty. Teddy C. Macapagal who, early on, exposed his son to a firsthand view of a gentleman who looked beyond himself and his personal interests, and instead dedicated his career to protecting the common man and bettering their lot. The elder Ted served as a city councilor for 10 years. In 1984, he ran for the Batasang Pambansa, and in the late 1980s, for city mayor. “In all these electoral processes, I was involved and saw for myself how my father related to the people. He was a sincere man who helped them in the best way he could. He provided free legal services to those in need,” Ted recounted. Ted grew up in Olongapo, his place of birth. It was in the neighboring province of Pampanga, though, at the Don Bosco Institute in Bacolor town, where he first studied, but he eventually returned home to Olongapo, where he finished high school at the St. Columban. Aiming to become a lawyer, he enrolled at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, where he majored in History, which he intended as his pre-law course. Not unexpectedly, he joined the Upsilon Sigma Phi, his father’s fraternity. He also joined rallies where he stood with those who wanted the retention of US bases in the Philippines, in keeping with the sentiments of his townsmen. “It was the one concern where the whole of Olongapo was united,” he recalled, “because the people’s livelihood was connected to the base and the American presence in the community.” As a lawyer who specialized in labor, his father himself handled cases for the base employees. In 1988, his father lost his mayoralty bid in Olongapo. He fought against his fraternity brother, Richard Gordon. Actually, the two had been fighting it out for decades. “Olongapo became too small for them,” shared Ted. “A vivid memory to me to this day was the night I cried after my father lost. I was heartbroken because, for the most part of my life, I saw him give his all to the people. Throughout all those years, I just loved assisting my father. I followed him whenever he visited his constituents. I was a witness to everything that happened to him, his conflict with his political adversary and the loyalty of the people who believed in him and saw in him the man who would change the face of politics in our city.” The elder Macapagal became OIC-Mayor in 1986, but only two months after he received his appointment from the new president because the incumbent mayor did not easily give up his post which he was required to vacate under the new revolutionary government. “The next local election was the most expensive political exercise that our family ever waged,” Ted recounted. “It was then that my father decided that I pursue a new life in the United States, away from politics back home. “All the while, my heart never left the Philippines. Even before I left, I promised myself I would return to continue what my father started.” First non-white president Ted stayed in San Francisco for 20 long years. He had a tough time at the beginning of his new life. “I started off doing odd jobs. I worked as a security guard, janitor and waiter in a pizza parlor. “I also guarded the heavy equipment in a construction site in San Francisco. Thievery was a problem in that kind of situation. We would sleep in a trailer. “I transferred to a construction firm because I found out it offered a bigger salary. But I didn’t know the technical aspects of construction. Once, I made a portable ladder, but it fell apart, for which I was scolded by the owner of the company. I was fired on my third day on the job. Too bad because it paid high.” Ted then decided to pursue another degree, one that would be more useful in the United States. He took up Human Resource Management, a four-year course at the University of California in Berkeley. When he finally entered the corporate world, his first job was as a clerk. It wasn’t long before he became Division President of Stewart Title Company, one of the largest underwriters in the world, with offices across the United States, and in some 80 countries around the globe. He was based in the San Francisco Bay Area. “I may have been the first non-white president,” he said. “And I was a division president for the whole of North America. I was the first Filipino to reach that level.” Of his trailblazing accomplishments, he shared, “I was able to bring cultural diversity to the company, which enhanced its value. I got the top post because I asked for a meeting with the president. I told him we were not diverse enough to appeal to the non-white clients, and there were many of them who were first-time home buyers. Then, I told him to make the rounds. He would see that none of the home buyers was white. They were of different ethnic groups. I told him that if he appointed me as vice president, I would give him multi-cultural buyers because I would appeal to them and they would be our first-time buyers. So, he appointed me, and one month later, he made me president.” As an adjunct, he lectured on the topic of title insurance and escrow procedures in several community colleges in and around the San Franciso Bay Area. Through it all, he chose to keep his Filipino citizenship. The ‘Railway President’ For all the successes he was enjoying, the Philippines beckoned. He felt he still had a mission to accomplish. “My father was surprised. He asked me why I would still want to go home when I was doing well in the States. I insisted, so I came back and I plunged into political life. I worked on difficult campaigns, like the one for Rodrigo Duterte.” Back to his first love and passion, the political arena, he was in his element and served as president of PDP LABAN in Olongapo City from 2016 to 2021. In 2022, he joined LAKAS-CMD as its local chairman. This engagement led to his original target, as his father had achieved in his lifetime — serving the people. This time, he would be appointed to key posts in the government. He became director of the Clark Board and Gulf Oil Philippines. He took his oath of office as chairman of the Philippine National Railways on 28 April 2023. It is a job in a government agency where he is confident “I could make a difference because I can see that President Bongbong Marcos is really intent on improving the railway system of the country. “On my part, I want to make a difference. I want to be able to contribute whatever I can to help the president to achieve that objective. I call him now the ‘Railway President’ because I consider him the father of the railway system in our country.” Of course, he noted that many plans have been formulated during the time of President Rodrigo Duterte. Moreover, he recognized that President Gloria Arroyo “navigated our country through the global crisis. I was in the United States when the global economic crisis happened, and the Philippines was one of the countries spared, and I give credit to her. The economic fundamentals were very strong during her time. Being an economist, she was there at the right time when the country needed her the most.” With President BBM at the helm, he is confident “we will be able to push through with our development plan and finish the projects we have started, like the North-South Commuter Railway, which is a 147-kilometer stretch from Clark to Laguna. We hope to have the dry run in 2026 and it will be fully operational in 2027.” He also looks forward to the completion of the Bicol South Long Haul project. He is equally hopeful for the North Long Haul, the Subic-Clark and the Mindanao railways. He clarified that “we are now talking with the proponents, while some negotiations are being undertaken.” Working boots and a hard hat It would seem that this successful insurance executive was out of place in the railway sector. He pointed out, though, that “coming from the outside, I have the technical advantage of being able to look outside the box. So, I’m looking at it from outside the box, looking in. I am able to see the problems that need to be fixed. Stoppage is one of the problems so we have a bus augmentation program. We will also deploy UV Express units. We are closely coordinating with the LTFRB to provide emergency alternative transportation.” On the other hand, his exposure to people of all backgrounds from his youth, being his father’s son, has given him the advantage of “knowing how it is to be one of the boys. Something that I also experienced in the United States. “When people ask me what my management style is, I tell them straight I like to go down to the ground. I like hands-on supervision. I want my hands to be dirty. If you open the trunk of my car, you will find my working boots and my hard hat. I enjoy going to the construction sites and seeing for myself the progress, the problems, whatever it is that needs to be attended to. “Finally I want those working in the field doing the most difficult tasks to be satisfied and never to be hungry. Gusto ko, busog sila lagi. I am not happy when I get invited by the constructors and I am honored with a feast-like lunch or dinner, and not knowing what the workers are eating. I am on a diet anyway, so I make sure that my hosts bring the food to where the workers are eating. I can only eat so much and I would rather that the workers and the staff are full and happy. I am vocal about my displeasure when the construction workers are not eating the same food that is served to me. I may not be able to invite them to where I am eating but I can have the food brought to them.” Smiling from heaven Without a doubt, the old man Atty. Teddy C. Macapagal is smiling happily from his heavenly perch. He had served his fellowmen well, but he had done right as well by raising a son who took after his heart, to whom service to the people and compassion for the less fortunate matter more than any personal gain. His father, according to Ted, “died a broken man at the young age of 63. But whatever he lacked in longevity and riches, he made up for it with his compassion for others, for the free legal services that he gave to the people of Olongapo. “If you didn’t have money, you went to him because he was generous with his time and expertise. He would even give you some cash to use for your transportation fare to go home. That was my father. “The people whom he helped in turn would come to our home and bring him gifts like eggs, fruits, fish, vegetables and native chickens that they raised in their backyards. My father accepted them all. When I came home and saw all this, I teased him and said that he should probably open a sari-sari store so he could resell them. “Of course, we had a good laugh. But beyond the laughter, we both knew in our hearts that doing good to one’s fellowmen is its own reward and nothing in this world can take the place of personal fulfillment for having put a smile on people’s faces because you somehow made their lives better. “I am grateful that I have been raised by such a great father.” The post Michael Ted Macapagal: Making tracks in public service appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Nani Perez, Escaler lose bid to dismiss forfeiture case
Former Arroyo administration justice secretary Hernani Perez and a businessman have lost their bids before the Supreme Court to dismiss their forfeiture case over alleged extortion of $2 million from the late Manila congressman Mark Jimenez, clearing the way for the continuation of trial......»»
Time for the Philippines to go nuclear
With the scorching heat of the sun still going on and the looming dry spell as a result of the El Niño phenomenon, more Filipinos are using electricity to beat the soaring temperature. Unfortunately, the supply of power cannot cope with the demand, so power outages have also become common. [caption id="attachment_167841" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Many Filipinos are increasingly unable to afford power costs, with the cost of electricity in the country among the highest in Southeast Asia. | Photographs Courtesy Of The Philippine Nuclear Research Institute.[/caption] Many Filipinos are also increasingly unable to afford power costs. The cost of electricity in the country is among the highest in Southeast Asia, according to a paper penned for the Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development. In the Philippines, the kilowatt per hour is $0.16. Compare that to Thailand and Indonesia ($0.10/kWh) and Malaysia ($0.05/kWh). At $0.18/kWh, only Singapore surpasses the country’s Philippines rates. About 50 percent of the country’s power generation comes from coal, with natural gas and renewables accounting for just over 20 percent and the rest coming from oil-fired boilers. The country’s electricity consumption is expected to triple by 2040 — from the 90.2 TWh (Terawatt-hour) in 2018 — due to the rapidly growing economy. It’s time for the Philippines to transition away from its reliance on coal. The adoption of nuclear power is the fastest option and would make electricity costs more affordable, according to the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute. PNRI Director Carlo A. Arcilla said including nuclear power in the country’s energy mix would be beneficial to consumers as it would bring down expensive electricity rates and provide a stable source of power. Gayle Certeza, convenor of Alpas Pinas, a group that educates and advocates for nuclear energy, agrees. “We believe that nuclear energy will positively impact the lives of Filipinos because it will mean lower electricity rates that will better allow for more savings,” she said in a Daily Tribune feature. During the presidency of Rodrigo R. Duterte, Executive Order 164 was signed to include nuclear power in the country’s energy mix. Under the policy, the country “shall ensure the peaceful use of nuclear technology anchored on critical tenets of public safety, national security, energy self-sufficiency, and environmental sustainability.” Energy security The Department of Science and Technology supported EO 164, saying: “Nuclear power is envisioned to bring down the cost of electricity and to contribute to energy security considering the various limitations now being encountered in the other sources which includes natural gas, geothermal, hydro and coal.” The DoST is a member of the Nuclear Energy Program Interagency Committee, tasked to study the adoption of a national position on nuclear power. Nuclear power is one of two major alternatives to fossil fuels; the other is renewable energy (solar power, wind power, hydroelectric, geothermal energy and biomass energy). “Renewables and nuclear can complement each other,” said Arcilla in an interview. “Wind and solar depend on the status of the weather, and they only a 30-percent capacity factor unless you have an expensive battery.” Solar energy also requires one hectare of land to produce one megawatt. “This will become more challenging since the Philippines is an archipelagic country,” Arcilla said. Nuclear, on the other hand, “is more of a baseload energy, meaning it is more reliable due to its continuous production of energy. It could provide backup for wind and solar.” Threats and risks Groups such as the World Nuclear Association, the International Atomic Energy Agency and Environmentalists for Nuclear Energy contend that nuclear power is a sustainable energy source that reduces carbon emissions. But opponents, such as Greenpeace International and Nuclear Information and Resource Service, warn that nuclear power poses many threats to people and the environment, including the problems of processing, transport and storage of radioactive nuclear waste, the risk of nuclear weapons proliferation and terrorism, as well as health risks and environmental damage from uranium mining. Because of these risks, Dr. Art Romero, a geoscientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley, California, emphasizes the need to conduct due diligence, technical hazard studies and engineering and safety reviews. If the Philippines went nuclear, where would it put nuclear waste? “It is very challenging to manage nuclear waste as it will last up to 10,000 years,” acknowledged Arcilla. “We need to isolate them from the human environment.” Arcilla suggests deep borehole disposal. “In the Philippines, we have the capability to drill up to three kilometers. So what we can do is to go to an isolated island, drill up to one kilometer, then we plug in bentonite.” It’s not the first time the Philippines will go nuclear. The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant was built by Westinghouse during the time of Ferdinand Marcos at a cost of $2.2 billion, but it was mothballed in 1986 due to safety concerns and allegations of corruption, even before it could begin operations. During the administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, proponents wanted the BNPP rehabilitated. But the project was projected to cost a hefty $1 billion. In 2019, a public perception survey indicated that 79 percent of Filipinos supported the rehabilitation of the shelved BNPP. In addition, 65 percent approved the building of new nuclear power plants. Nuclear power is the second largest source of low-carbon electricity today. With almost 500 operating reactors globally, it provides 10 percent of global electricity supply. It’s time for a rapidly developing country like the Philippines to take a second look at this critical power supply option. The post Time for the Philippines to go nuclear appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Lotilla: Regulators easing power rates
Government regulators are thoroughly reviewing existing power supply contracts to amend provisions that would help lower electricity prices, especially in off-grid areas where consumers have been reeling from spiking power rates. “We can assure our consumers that the Energy Regulatory Commission is reviewing all the power supply contracts as well as the policies that we have to lay down to bring down the rates,” Energy Secretary Raphael Perpetuo Lotilla said in an interview on Straight Talk, the online show of Daily Tribune. He said: “We have made the policy decision not to subsidize electricity. So we cannot just tell the distributor or even our people that prices are going to drastically go down. We are still dependent on imported fuel.” The Department of Energy, he said, is carefully studying Republic Act 9136, the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001, or EPIRA, to ensure that the more than two-decades-old law can keep up with the changing energy landscape while upholding the interest of the consumers. Energy mix Lotilla said the EPIRA amendments can be related to the ERC’s powers and the penalties it may impose and the Philippine Competition Commission’s powers relative to the energy sector. “It’s important to clarify where the lines of defense lie. The first line of defense is with the electric cooperative itself and therefore as consumers and members of the electric cooperative, our consumers must take an active role in the management of the electric cooperatives,” he said. The EPIRA, passed during the time of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, mandates ERC and PCC to promote competition, encourage market development, ensure consumer choice, and penalize abuse of market power in the restructured electricity industry. The law also promotes competition by creating a level playing field, among other things, in the competitive retail electricity market. The government has been exploring ways to lower the prices of power in the provinces, which are mostly controlled by electric cooperatives. One of the solutions that has been on the table is the development of nuclear power, particularly the potential deployment of small modular reactors or SMRs on small islands that are not yet connected to the main grid. Early this week, Manila Electric Co., or Meralco, the country’s largest power distributor, signified its plan to tap an American partner to jointly explore the country’s potential to develop nuclear energy as a viable power source. Meralco chairman and chief executive officer Manuel V. Pangilinan, in an interview with reporters, said the company recently signed a non-disclosure agreement with an American firm with expertise in nuclear development. However, Pangilinan noted that since nuclear energy requires a new technology, it would be “at least five years away from commercial production.” Last year, Meralco sought a United States Trade and Development Agency grant to generate additional funding to bankroll a feasibility study on nuclear energy. The government has been supportive of the exploration of nuclear power as an energy source in line with the global push to reduce fossil fuel use due to its hazardous carbon emissions. According to Lotilla, the government would need the support of Congress to ratify a law that would help jumpstart the integration of nuclear power into the country’s energy mix. Pending the passage of the law, the DoE and all other government agencies concerned are actively looking for possible sites where a nuclear power plant can be built, he added. The post Lotilla: Regulators easing power rates appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl halfway through energy security bid
The Philippines, being a net importer of fuel, still has plenty of room to grow in terms of delivering an energy-secure landscape for the people. Energy Secretary Raphael Perpetuo Lotilla, however, said he is optimistic the country can achieve its targets, guided by the Philippine Energy Development Plan, hopefully within the Marcos administration. “On a scale of one to 10, with 10 representing 100 percent energy security, and we are importing 56 percent, I place that at around five then. “But it can even be lower because our ability to respond to extreme events and natural disasters still needs many improvements,” said Lotilla Tuesday in an interview on Straight Talk, Daily Tribune’s online show. He added: “Now one way of addressing this of course is through the diversification of sources, primarily indigenous, and that’s where renewable energy comes in.” According to Lotilla, the government’s push to increase the share of renewable energy in the country’s power mix is a driving force that would help deliver its targets. Lotilla, who was also the Energy secretary during the term of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, noted that the country’s clean energy take-up had dwindled over time. Last November, the Department of Energy amended a section of the Implementing Rules and Regulations or IRR of the Renewable Energy Act of 2008. Energy mix To guide the government in reaching its targets, the DoE has set a target of 35 percent share of renewable energy in the country’s energy mix by 2035, increasing it further to 50 percent by 2040. Heavy reliance on coal It is still notable, however, that despite an aggressive stance on clean energy utilization, the Philippines still heavily relies on coal. Coal, which is cheaper compared to other forms of power but more detrimental to the environment, is still the highest contributor to the power generation mix at nearly 60 percent. Renewable energy only takes a little over 22 percent of the mix. “The last time I was in the department, it was around 40 percent renewables. Now we are at around 22 percent. That is why we are ramping up the exploration for indigenous gas, which is locally available to us,” Lotilla said. Oil exploration Since the Philippines is under-explored, the DoE recently signed a 50-50 joint agreement with the Bangsamoro government to begin oil exploration in the Sulu Sea. “It’s joint because whatever is found the net proceeds will be divided 50-50 between the national government and the Bangsamoro,” he said. The agreement, finalized last month, allows for the exploration, development, and utilization of uranium and fossil fuels such as petroleum, natural gas, and coal within the territorial jurisdiction of the Bangsamoro. The DoE signed the Intergovernmental Energy Board Circular on the Joint Award of Petroleum Service Contracts and Coal Operating Contracts with the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARMM. The IEB Circular operationalized the provision in Section 10, Article XIII of Republic Act 11054, or the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, to jointly grant rights, privileges, and concessions for power source development in Bangsamoro. Lotilla suggested that utilizing the energy resources in the area could entice investments, create job opportunities, promote sustainable growth, and ultimately enhance the quality of life for the residents. The post Phl halfway through energy security bid appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»