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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......»»
Property developer invests P64 billion to build Grand Westside Hotel
Megaworld Corporation has allocated P64 billion to build the Grand Westside Hotel in Paranaque’s Westside City. Envisioned as the country’s biggest hotel, the first tower of the 19-story buildings is scheduled for completion this year and the second by 2024. Construction is expected to conclude before 2023 ends. The 1,500-room property will offer various room types, including queen suites (up to 48 square meters), twin suites (up to 48 square meters) and executive suites (up to 48 square meters) and twin and queen suites (up to 35 and 37 square meters) designed for specially-abled guests. It will also feature four function rooms that, when combined, can accommodate up to 300 people. Additionally, it will house four dining outlets, including an all-day dining restaurant with a capacity of nearly 250 guests. [caption id="attachment_163850" align="aligncenter" width="1386"] ROOM at Grand Westside Hotel.[/caption] The hotel’s amenities include an expansive pool area, a children’s pool, a gazebo, a fitness gym, massage rooms and outdoor seating. It will also have a two-level retail and commercial space covering 1,995 square meters. Grand Westside Hotel is Megaworld’s 19th hotel property and the second homegrown hotel brand within Westside City. It is the fourth resort complex within Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.’s Entertainment City project, following Solaire Manila, City of Dreams and Okada Manila. Megaworld is the only Philippine real estate development company to earn a “Hall of Fame” distinction as “Best Developer” after winning the Outstanding Developer Award at the Property and Real Estate Excellence Award by FIABCI Philippines for three straight years (2015, 2016 and 2017). The company was also named the “Best Developer” at the prestigious Philippines Property Awards by PropertyGuru for three consecutive years (2016, 2017 and 2018). The post Property developer invests P64 billion to build Grand Westside Hotel appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
On Earth Day: DBM pushes climate change planning
As the world observed Earth Day, the Department of Budget and Management on Saturday called on its fellow government agencies to intensify climate change planning and programming. “The serious implications that climate change pose are not just a problem for the next generation but also a present danger that is undeniably felt in our time,” DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said. “We need to act now by protecting our planet and its natural resources before it’s too late,” she added. The DBM chief said stakeholders must identify environment-related programs and projects in the preparation of the national budget in line with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028. “May we keep in mind that we are doing all these to ensure that our economic progress is moving towards a track that is truly inclusive and sustainable for all,” she pointed out. The DBM allocated P2.39 billion for the National Greening Program, which includes provisions for the Protected Areas Development and Management Program, Manila Bay Rehabilitation, and Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management Program. It also increased the 2023 budget for climate change initiatives. Earth Day is observed every 22 April to mobilize policymakers and society to address the climate crisis. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change highlighted in 2018 the scale of the challenge required to keep warming to 1.5 degrees centigrade. This year, it stressed that global greenhouse gas emissions “have continued to increase, with unequal historical and ongoing contributions arising from unsustainable energy use, land use and land-use change, lifestyles, and patterns of consumption and production across regions, between and within countries, and among individuals.” In addition, it warned that the pace and scale of climate action are still insufficient to tackle climate change. The post On Earth Day: DBM pushes climate change planning appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Agusan Sur highway gets huge chunk of road rehab fund for Caraga
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur (MindaNews / 10 March) —The 122-kilometer Daang Maharlika Highway segment in Agusan del Sur has been allocated P3.19 billion of the P4.4 billion budget for major road rehabilitation projects along the Surigao-Agusan and Agusan-Davao Sections of the national highway within the Caraga Region, the Department of Public Works and Highways […].....»»
PSE has until 2025 to spend money it raised in 2018
The PSE disclosed that its board of directors voted to approve an extension of the timeline for its disbursement of the P2.8 billion in net proceeds that it raised through a 2018 stock rights offering......»»
PH Allocates Over P32 Billion to Boost Workforce
The Philippine government has allocated billions of funds to enhance employment and livelihood programs in the 2024 budget. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary, Mina F. Pangandaman announced a substantial allocation of P32.720 billion under the Fiscal Year 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA). The budget includes important initiatives spearheaded by the Department of […].....»»
NEWSBRIEFS | 1 February 2024
Panguil Bay Bridge completed by June 2024 CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews / 1 February)—The final span of the Panguil Bay Bridge would be connected by June this year, completing the project that started in November 2018, according to the Northern Mindanao director of the National Economic Development Authority, Mylah Faye Aurora Cariño. The P7.135-billion […].....»»
MMFF 2023 is now highest-grossing edition of all time
The 49th Metro Manila Film Festival is officially the highest-grossing edition of all time, having surpassed the box-office earnings of the 2018 edition at P1.069 billion as of Jan. 7......»»
10 entry sa MMFF 2023 kumita na ng P1.069-B, winasak ang record noong 2018
WINASAK ng Metro Manila Film Festival 2023 ang record ng pinakamalaking kinita ng taunang filmfest na naitala noong 2018. Umabot na sa P1.069 billion ang gross sales ng 10 official entry sa ika-49 edition ng MMFF na tumakbo mula December 25, 2023 hanggang January 7, 2024. Nalagpasan na nito ang kinita ng walong pelikulang kalahok.....»»
Cliffhanger
One of the challenges of operating a convenience store is theft by shoplifters. In the United States alone, the losses of small city retail stores were estimated at over $94 billion in 2021, Bloomberg reported. Washington State recorded the highest retail store losses from theft in the country, according to the National Retail Federation. Local stores have installed security cameras, motion sensors, and inventory control systems to help prevent shoplifting, an NRF survey showed. It remains to be seen if such high-tech security measures work, but location and size are definitely effective in discouraging shoplifters for one remote convenience store in China. The tiny wooden store at the Shiniuzhai Scenic Area in the Chinese province of Hunan is only two square meters. Opened in 2018, the store recently trended online after a popular military blogger with 889,400 followers posted on the popular Chinese social network Weibo a photo with the caption: “The most inconvenient convenience store,” CNN reported. Few customers are served by the store but not because of its limited offerings. It just so happens to be located along a route less traveled called via ferrata. The pathway for climbers consists of steel bars driven into the mountainside to serve as steps and metal anchors for fastening climbing ropes. In any case, the store is convenient for adventurers summiting the mountain, as they can get a water refill or buy a beverage for hydration while perched on the side of a vertical cliff. At the same time, the store looks inconvenient for its sole attendant as it hangs halfway to the top of the cliff, 120 meters from the ground, with its floor supported only by steel brackets bolted to the cliffside. Moreover, restocking requires the storekeeper to pull up supplies from the ground with a rope, according to Oddity Central. To others, inconvenient is an understatement for the store hanging from a cliff. Scary should be a more accurate description......»»
LTO innovates responses to backlogs
The Land Transportation Office, or LTO, now under the leadership of Atty. Vigor Mendoza II, has committed to implementing innovative solutions to immediately address the piles of problems “inherited” from the previous leaderships. Mendoza, whom Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista tasked to help the agency improve its current state, expressed confidence that he could turn the LTO around and make it more efficient and effective. He said this aligns with the Marcos administration’s marching orders to digitalize and bring government services closer to the people seamlessly. Mendoza has already begun to execute some changes, such as streamlining the driver’s license application process, implementing a new online vehicle registration system, and reducing the number of fixers at LTO offices, among others. Speaking in a recent interview on DAILY TRIBUNE’s Straight Talk, Mendoza disclosed that his agency is studying cost-effective ways to produce license plates. Presently, the LTO has a manufacturing plant with eight machines working to produce license plates, but as recently directed by Bautista, the agency is looking at outsourcing them instead of producing them. “We make the plates ourselves, although we are studying if maybe it is high time to review whether the LTO should produce or outsource the plates. I told Secretary Bautista that in terms of efficiency, it might be less costly and faster if we outsource it,” Mendoza said. “We are thoroughly studying those options to weigh which will be less costly to the government. Thus, finally, we could resolve all the backlogs,” he added. Million plates a month Mendoza added that the agency’s plate-making plant could produce a million monthly plates to replace all the backlogs — from the old green plates to the new white ones. He said before the end of November, the license plate backlog will hopefully be fully addressed. With production in full swing, a motorist with a newly acquired four-wheel vehicle can claim his license plates within 10 days. In the meantime, new motorcycle owners can now get their plates immediately. This significantly improved from the previous year when motorists took years to get their plates. To recall, in March, ex-LTO chief Jay Art Tugade issued a memo suspending the production of license plates due to a shortage of materials. Online portal needs full utilization Mendoza said the LTO is also working on finally utilizing the Land Transportation Management System, or LTMS, a P3.14-billion portal created to address Filipinos’ motoring concerns. He lamented that the underutilization of the online portal, which he described as just one of the many inherited problems of the agency, was a misuse of government funds. “The system design is incomplete, and you know that as much as possible, we want to be fully digital as instructed by the President. We want motorists to be able to apply for a license and register their vehicles through that platform,” Mendoza said. “We supposedly have all the facilities. There will be no need to go to LTO offices as it will also address the issues of fixers. However, we cannot do all these until we fully resolve the website’s functionalities,” he said, adding that the LTO would need the developers to provide them with some missing source and application codes. The LTMS was jointly developed by German technology firm Dermalog and its local partners, Holy Family Printing Corp., Microgenesis, and Verzontal Builders Inc. The project went through competitive bidding in May 2018. The LTO’s online portal is a one-stop shop that will integrate all LTO services in a single contactless database system and digital platform. “We are waiting for their reply. I have been open since my first day in office, and I’ve been very open to them. There is a problem, let us talk about it. However, they have not replied to my letters on the source code and application code issue. We have to protect the government’s interest, and the government’s interest is to get the source and application codes so we can do the enhancements ourselves,” Mendoza said. According to the new LTO chief, hiring another third-party team to resolve the LTMS issues might cost the government at least another billion pesos. Mendoza asked why the government does not just find another software developer, saying: “We already paid for the contract.” “If we do it, maybe they will spend another billion just to complete everything, so the government will save a lot if we do it ourselves. We have DICT with us, and LTO is also hiring technical people for us to be able to do it ourselves. So, we can do it, we don’t need foreigners to teach us.” The post LTO innovates responses to backlogs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Healthcare facilities getting P50B in 2024
The Department of Budget and Management, or DBM, said the planned national budget for next year would include funds worth almost P50 billion to improve regional hospitals and other healthcare facilities. In a statement on Monday, DBM said the Department of Health, or DoH, would get about P49.75 billion to pay for hospital units under the 2024 National Expenditure Program to improve the services of basic healthcare facilities. The amount planned to be given to DoH’s hospitals and health facilities was P1.31 billion more than the P48.44 billion allocated in the 2023 General Appropriations Act, or GAA. The DBM attributed the increase to adjustments made in the normative financing of DoH hospitals, including funds needed for expanding specialty centers. Budget divided to 68 hospitals Such suggested budget amount would be divided among 68 hospitals in different regions, such as the National Capital Region, Regions I through X, and Regions XI through XIII, the DBM said. Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said the allocation is a tangible representation of the government’s commitment to augmenting the capabilities of our primary healthcare facilities, securing the well-being of Filipino families and warding off potential future health crises. “The allocation is part of government’s efforts to strengthen primary healthcare facilities in the country, ensure the health of Filipino families, and to avoid another health crisis,” Pangandaman said. The post Healthcare facilities getting P50B in 2024 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
What’s up in the House?
The House is crumbling. This after they had a fiesta trying to impugn the proposed confidential and intelligence funds for the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education. Speaker Martin Romualdez must be smiling from ear to ear, watching his disciples repudiate the proposed CIFs. His ever-loyal sidekick, Reginald Velasco, joined the fray by articulating Romualdez’s statement that the CIF for the OVP and DepEd would be realigned to other government agencies, making it sound like the funds had already been allocated. How can you realign something that does not exist? In short, all the sound bites from the House of Romualdez were only early and divisive politicking. In short, the Unity Ticket is now just a jumbled heap of a wreck. In the case of the ACT Teachers, Bayan and Gabriela party lists, theirs is a dire act of political survival. They have lost their influence on the mass base with the massive surrender of NPA combatants who had returned to the fold of the law. They are mad specifically at VP Inday Sara Duterte for getting rid of the CPP-NPA-NDF in Davao City, which was the first place to be declared insurgent-free. This was to be followed later by the rest of the provinces and cities in the Davao Region. Finally, the rest of Mindanao has been declared free of the CPP-NPA-NDF by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. All these developments happened because of the proper use of confidential and intelligence funds and the information gathered in the process. The commies are mad at the Vice President because it was during her incumbency as mayor that the NPAs finally lost their total grip on Davao City. Furiously mad because they were aware that the city allocated CIF funds to totally cripple and eradicate several decades of communist insurgency in the now progressive and most livable city in the country. I must, however, say here that credit should go to the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict and the AFP. NTF-ELCAC is the task force organized by the government in 2018, whose job is to respond to and raise awareness of the communist rebellion in the country. The task force operates in tandem with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and local government units. Now, the legal fronts of the CPP-NPA-NDF are extremely furious and apprehensive because VP Sara Duterte co-chairs NTF-ELCAC. That spells doom for the armed insurgents in the Philippines. As if the attacks on Sara were not enough to demonize and diminish her popularity, France Castro trivialized the warnings of former President Rodrigo Duterte against the feeble House action in dispensing with the proposed CIF allocations for the OVP and DepEd. With bravado, Castro declared she would file a case against the ex-president, comfortable in the assurance of Speaker Romualdez and House Secretary General Velasco that she would be given security. If the present House leadership believes it can further discredit VP Sara by attempting to diminish the immense and unprecedented fame and popularity of her father, then they are in for some surprises. Digong has been a virtual recluse, but now that he has been dragged into the fray, we can expect exciting fireworks. The post What’s up in the House? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Rice farmers happy with PBBM’s support
Filipino rice farmers expressed their gratitude Thursday for the assistance they got from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. who also headed the Department of Agriculture. In a statement, Fernando Salvador, who represents rice farmers of San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, said they are not only enjoying better prices from their recent harvests but are also happy about it. He thanked President Marcos for his support to them through the DA seedlings and fertilizers assistance program, especially during this wet season. Salvador said President Marcos' assurance that he will make agricultural productivity a “top priority” is a sign that the country is not any more focused on importing the basic Filipino staple. He said over a hundred sacks of rice were harvested in every hectare of rice farmland compared to previous years. The Department of Agriculture, on the other hand, reported that around 532,980 metric tons of palay were harvested this October in Nueva Ecija alone, and an expected 153,000 more metric tons for the November harvest. Salvador added that they were also grateful when President Marcos announced that he had allocated P4.73 billion for the agricultural sector's mechanization and modernization during the 70th Founding Anniversary of the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF). This was aside from the President's promise that the government would work to strengthen farmers' organizations and cooperatives for additional opportunities for their members. Marcos also encouraged small farmers to be members of these organizations and cooperatives as it served as a fundamental tool of agricultural development to attain food security. He said farmers as members of cooperatives have high participation in supporting cooperatives to make products or business activities. Marcos also said in the FFF event that he would initiate social reform and rural development which were the priority of his late father, former president Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. The post Rice farmers happy with PBBM’s support appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Govt. to boost agri, fishery sectors
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday underscored the need to address the systemic issues plaguing Philippine agriculture for years due to the longstanding neglect of this sector. During his speech at the 70th anniversary of the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) in Quezon City, Marcos Jr said the welfare of farmers and fisherfolk has been forgotten for decades, dating back to the inception of agricultural reform during his father and namesake's tenure. "We have a significant amount of work ahead of us because we need to fix the entire agricultural system that has been neglected for a long time, perhaps since the start of agricultural reform, during (the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.'s) time," Marcos Jr. said. "Now, many changes have occurred, the world has changed, and it has revolved several times. Therefore, we need to examine the needs of our farmers and fishermen to improve their lives because we often hear that we need to increase our yield, improve our harvest, and our productivity," he added. The latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that agricultural production in the country decreased by 1.3 percent during the year's second quarter. The figures unveiled by the PSA showed that the production value in agriculture and fisheries, calculated at constant 2018 prices, totaled P427.69 billion, a decline from the P433.10 billion recorded during the same period the previous year. Minimum wages for agricultural laborers in the Philippines vary by region, ranging from P306 in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to P573 in the National Capital Region. These wage rates, determined by tripartite boards, differ based on the specific region. “But let's not forget that the livelihood of our farmers and fishermen should also be taken care of and improved because that is our goal for all our farmers and fishermen,” Marcos said. Marcos emphasized the pressing need for his administration to boost the agricultural sector, with more than P92 billion set aside for upcoming agri-fisheries projects next year. Additionally, the Department of Agriculture has allotted P4.73 billion to improve large-scale agriculture and fishery mechanization and modernization, aiming to decrease post-harvest losses and cost-effectively enhance farmers' yields. However, the President underlined the enormity of the task ahead and called upon the public for their support and collaboration. "So, this is a massive task. That's why we need your help because the government alone cannot do all of this. We need your diligence, we need your advice because you are the ones facing the problems in agriculture that we are going through now,” Marcos said. “Rest assured, your government is here to do everything in its power to assist our farmers in producing a bountiful harvest, catching enough fish for our fellow citizens, and selling these products at prices affordable to our people,” Marcos added. The post Govt. to boost agri, fishery sectors appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Food stamp program to be implemented nationwide July next year — DSWD
From the pilot implementation of the food stamp program, targeting an initial 3,000 families this year, it will be scaled up to 300,000 households by July 2024, just in time for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s Executive Order No. 44 aiming for the “Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program” to be implemented in full swing. Department of Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary for Innovations Eduardo Punay disclosed this at yesterday:s Saturday News Forum in Quezon City. Punay said the Department is finishing the pilot implementation of the program in five pilot sites –Tondo, Manila; Dapa, Siargao; San Mariano in Isabela; Garchitorena in Camarines Sur; and Parang, Maguindano that will run until mid-next year. It includes 3,000 families identified by the pilot implementer, the World Food Program funded with a $3 million grant from the Asian Development Bank. "Now, come next year, we’ll have the full run, the full implementation of the program which targets one million households po talaga iyan nationwide – our food-poor families nationwide. And next year when we scale-up, there will be 300,000 beneficiaries (number), household. And parte po nitong declaration ni President, EO44, ng kaniyang order is iyong provision ng budget po. Kasama po iyan kaya na-institutionalize, may budget na po—magkakaroon po tayo ng budget sa GAA, sa national budget ng ating pamahalaan," Punay explained referring to the P6 billion budgetary requirement for the program which the Department of Budget and Management has already committed. Punay said they will prioritize 30 to 40 provinces identified by the National Nutrition Council with the highest incidence of malnutrition and hunger. Under the program, the DSWD will provide electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards that will be loaded with food credits amounting to P3,000 per month to purchase a select list of food commodities from DSWD-registered or -accredited retailers. The food credits shall be allocated to carbohydrate-rich foods such as rice at P1,500, 30 percent for proteins like meat at P900, and 20 percent for fruits, vegetables, oil, salt, as well as condiments at P600. The food stamp Program will run until 2027 and will require a total estimated budget of P40 billion as it targets one million food-poor families or those earning less than P8,000 in a month. Punay said they will gradually increase the number of beneficiaries from 300,000 in the first year, to another 300,000 in the second year, and 400,000 in the third for a total of one million food-poor household beneficiaries. The post Food stamp program to be implemented nationwide July next year — DSWD appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Napoles convicted anew on P20.91-M graft case
The Sandiganbayan has found convicted plunderer Janet Lim Napoles guilty of graft and malversation of the P20.91-million pork barrel of ex-South Cotabato lawmaker Arthur Pingoy intended for livelihood projects that turned out to be ghost or non-existent projects. In a 66-page ruling handed down on Friday, the Sandiganbayan Special Second Division sentenced Napoles to up to 60 years in prison on four counts each of graft and malversation. Pingoy, however, walked free from the same charges, including direct bribery — notwithstanding whistleblower Benhur Luy’s testimony — “for the failure of the prosecution to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.” Aside from Napoles, the anti-graft court also convicted erstwhile officials of the now defunct National Agribusiness Corporation’s Rhodora Mendoza, Maria Ninez Guanizo and Victor Roman Cacal; and Evelyn de Leon of the Philippine Social Development Foundation Inc. Pingoy, who served three terms in the House of Representatives from 2001 to 2010, was accused of funneling his P20.91-million Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel to bogus non-government organizations set up by Napoles in exchange for kickbacks. The Ombudsman’s probe showed the projects supposedly to finance farm implements, livelihood materials, and training turned out to be “ghost” projects as borne out by Commission on Audit reports and the testimonies of whistleblowers. The Sandiganbayan, however, ruled that “there was no sufficient evidence” that Pingoy had received kickbacks or commissions from Napoles. The PDAF was a lump sum discretionary fund allocated to lawmakers “to identify and fund key projects that local government units could not fund.” The Supreme Court abolished it in November 2013 after it became a source of corruption and was declared unconstitutional. Napoles, the principal suspect in the case, has been detained at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City since 2018 on plunder charges involving the unlawful disbursement of Senator Ramon Revilla Jr.’s pork barrel worth P224 million. She is still facing several graft charges, all related to the pork barrel scam. The post Napoles convicted anew on P20.91-M graft case appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Saavedra to appeal dismissal of cases vs Tomas, ex-city officials over Kawit Island deal
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Businessman and whistleblower Crisologo Saavedra is not yet giving up on the criminal and administrative complaints that he filed against former Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena and his City Council on the controversial P18 billion Kawit Island deal. Saavedra said he will be filing a petition to ask the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas to reconsider its earlier decision to dismiss the criminal and administrative complaint that he filed. “I’ll file an MR (motion for reconsideration),” said Saavedra in an interview with CDN Digital. In 2018, Saavedra filed criminal and administrative complaints over the controversial P18 billion Kawit Island deal. The project paved the way for Gokongwei-owned Universal Hotel and Resorts Inc. (UHRI) to establish an integrated casino and resort in the South Road Properties (SRP). But acting Assistant Ombudsman for the Visayas Jane Aguilar, in a 21-page decision promulgated January 27, junked the criminal and administrative cases for ‘lack of substantial evidence’. A copy of the decision was furnished to the media on Oct. 20. Osmeña’s co-respondents in the case were then Councilors Margarita Osmeña, Dave Tumulak, Sisinio Andales, Alvin Arcilla, Eugenio Gabuya Jr., Gerry Guardo, Joy Augustus Young, Mary Ann delos Santos and Franklyn Ong who approved the ordinance that allowed the Gokongwei-owned company to establish an integrated casino and resort in Kawit Island, SRP and UHRI executives Frederick Go, Lance Gokongwei, James Go, Robina Gokongwei-Pe and Patrick Henry Go. Saavedra insisted that Ombudsman-Visayas should look into the technicalities of how the city government awarded the P18-billion project in 2018. He mentioned City Ordinance No. 2154 as his basis, saying that members of the private sector, when entering into joint venture agreements with the government, must meet the “technical and financial qualifications” prescribed by law. “The private participants should have technical and financial capability. I never questioned the financial capability… It is the track record of the corporation, not of the individual offices,” Saavedra added. The Camp of Osmeña has since welcomed the decision of the Ombudsman. ALSO READ: Ombudsman upgrades Saavedra complaint against Tomas Osmeña, 9 others over Kawit Island deal.....»»
Janet Napoles to serve 60 more years imprisonment sentence
The Sandiganbayan found convicted plunderer Janet Lim Napoles guilty of graft and malversation anew for her involvement in the P20.91 million pork barrel of ex-South Cotabato lawmaker Arthur Pingoy intended for livelihood projects that turned out to be ghost or non-existent. In a 66-page ruling handed down on Friday, the Sandiganbayan Special Second Division sentenced Napoles to up to 60 years in prison for four counts each of graft and malversation. Pingoy, however, walked free from the same charges, including direct bribery -- notwithstanding whistleblower Benhur Luy's testimony -- " for the failure of the prosecution to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt." Aside from "pork barrel queen" Napoles, the anti-graft court likewise convicted erstwhile officials of the now-defunct National Agribusiness Corporation Rhodora Mendoza, Maria Ninez Guanizo, Victor Roman Cacal, and Evelyn de Leon of the Philippine Social Development Foundation Inc. Pingoy, who served three full terms as a member of the House of Representatives from 2001 to 2010 -- was accused of funneling his P20.91 million Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel through bogus non-government organizations allegedly governed by Napoles in exchange for kickbacks. The Ombudsman’s probe disclosed that the projects nominated as financial assistance for farm implements, livelihood materials, and training turned out to be "ghost” projects as borne out by the Commission on Audit report and testimonies of the whistleblowers. The Sandiganbayan, however, ruled that "there is no sufficient evidence" that the erstwhile lawmaker indeed received kickbacks or commissions from Napoles. PDAF allocated to lawmakers is lump-sum and discriminatory funds intended to empower them "to identify key projects that local government units could not fund." It was later abolished by the Supreme Court in November 2013 after it became a source of corruption and was declared unconstitutional. Napoles, the principal suspect in the case, has been detained at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City since 2018 for plunder charges involving the unlawful disbursement of Senator Bong Revilla Jr.'s pork barrel worth P224 million. She is still facing several graft charges, all related to the pork barrel scam. The post Janet Napoles to serve 60 more years imprisonment sentence appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DoE eyes OSW, taps USAID
Due to the lack of financial allocation, the Department of Energy or DoE is turning to the United States Agency for International Development or USAID to bankroll the inclusion of offshore wind or OSW and floating solar energy, among other new technologies, into the country’s competitive renewable energy zones or CREZ. In a recent interview with reporters, Assistant Secretary Mylene C. Capongcol said these new power technologies should be included in the CREZ so that its integration into the grid will be efficient. “The first stage of CREZ, that finished does not include offshore wind and floating solar and other bodies of water. So the second stage, hopefully, will be supported by a USAID grant because we don’t have the budget here,” Capongcol said. “We will talk officially with USAID but we have sent our official request so we will just have a meeting about what is the scope of work and the timeline,” she added. OSW potential high Based on the Philippines OSW Roadmap launched in 2022, the country has about 178 gigawatts or GW of OSW potential. To date, the DoE has awarded a total of 79 OSW Contracts with a total potential capacity of 61.931 GW, spread mainly North of Luzon, West of Metro Manila, North and South of Mindoro, Panay and Guimaras Strait. Meanwhile, in terms of floating solar energy ventures, one of the latest developments was the Laguna Lake Development Authority’s move to offer 2,000 hectares of the Laguna de Bay for floating solar projects. Of these, 800 hectares were taken by ACEN Corp. Half, or 1,000 hectares were leased by renewable energy firm SunAsia Energy, which aims to develop a 1300-MW facility for $1.2 billion. The remaining 200 hectares, on the other hand, were allocated to Singapore-based firm Vena Energy. Capongcol reiterated that the CREZ project will significantly complement the government’s drive to augment the country’s supply of clean energy. By proactively focusing transmission expansion to these resource areas, clean energy generation development obstacles such as transmission access, energy curtailment, land permitting, and regulatory barriers will be resolved. Thus, reducing the risk for private players who will invest in the sector. Relatedly, the DoE official bared that the 2023-2050 Philippine Energy Plan or PEP will also highlight the adoption of modern technologies, smart grid systems, and demand-side management to bring down overall energy consumption and cut down greenhouse gas emissions. The government set the target of a 35 percent share of renewable energy in the country’s energy mix by 2035 and increased it further to 50 percent by 2040. However, it is still notable that despite an aggressive stance on clean energy utilization, the Philippines continues to heavily rely on coal. Coal, which is cheaper than 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 20 percent of the mix. The post DoE eyes OSW, taps USAID appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»