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Economists: 25-bps rate hike likely if inflation rises anew
Economists believe the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas might further raise its policy rate by 25 basis points to 6.75 percent next month if food supply issues and high global oil prices persist. Dan Roces, chief economist of Security Bank, said the BSP might make this decision at its meeting on 16 November to help temper inflation faster. “The higher policy interest rate is driven by mounting local inflation risks, attributed to supply chain disruptions and increasing global commodity prices, including the threat of crude price spikes brought about by tensions in the Middle East,” he told the Daily Tribune in a Viber message. Last Thursday, the central bank hiked its rate by 25 bps to 6.25 percent on an off-cycle period to arrest further inflation uptrend due to the aforementioned factors. Risks might linger Jun Neri, chief economist of Bank of the Philippine Islands, said these inflationary risks might linger until the government finds solutions to increase supply of rice, the main driver of re-accelerated inflation at 6.1 percent last month. While Neri said managing food supply is not the BSP’s responsibility, he agreed with the central bank that rate hikes can help slow inflation by restraining consumer spending. “The rate hike is a statement from the BSP that it is determined to bring inflation back to its target. Inflation expectations may shoot up further if the market doesn’t see any action from the BSP,” the economist said. Exacerbated by Israel-Hamas war “The risk of El Niño, as well as higher global crude oil prices recently among 11-month highs led to higher local fuel pump prices especially since July 2023. This could be exacerbated by the Israel-Hamas war that is still uncertain” Michael Ricafort, chief economist of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., added. The post Economists: 25-bps rate hike likely if inflation rises anew appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Enrile’s ex-aide fails anew to have plunder case dismissed
The Sandiganbayan has denied the appeal of Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes, the former chief of staff of presidential legal counsel Juan Ponce Enrile, to file a demurrer to evidence that would allow her to seek the dismissal of the plunder case against her without presenting her defense......»»
DSWD chief joins FL Liza’s ‘LAB 4 All’ caravan in Pangasinan
Department of Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian joined anew First Lady Marie Louise "Liza" Araneta Marcos as she brought free medical consultations, medicines, and other health services to the residents of Pangasinan on Tuesday, 24 October, through her "LAB For All Project". The LAB for All Project, which stands for "Laboratoryo, Konsulta at Gamot Para sa Lahat," was initiated by the First Lady in partnership with the local government units, other national government agencies, and private partners to provide health care services to the vulnerable and disadvantaged populations. The initiative is one of the Marcos administration's efforts toward the full implementation of Republic Act No. 11223, also known as the Universal Health Care Act, which guarantees all Filipinos equitable access to quality and affordable healthcare goods and services. Aside from Gatchalian, joining the First Lady were Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Dir. Gen. Suharto Mangudadatu, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman J. Prospero De Vera III, Public Attorneys Office (PAO) Chief Atty. Persida Acosta, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Dir. Gen. Samuel Zacate, as well as Pangasinan Gov. Ramon “Mon-Mon” Guico III, Congressman Ramon “Monching” Guico Jr., and Pampanga Vice Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda. The post DSWD chief joins FL Liza’s ‘LAB 4 All’ caravan in Pangasinan appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pag-IBIG sets record anew as home loans reach P76.94-B in Jan-Aug, up 6%
Pag-IBIG Fund has released P76.94 billion in home loans in the last eight months, breaking its record on the highest home loan disbursement for any January to August period, agency officials announced on Friday, 15 September. “We are happy to report that Pag-IBIG Fund has once again set a record high in terms of home loan releases during the first eight months of the year. The sustained growth of our home loans means that more and more Filipino workers are being helped by the Pag-IBIG Fund to have homes they can call their own. This is one of our ways to heed the call of President Marcos to provide sustainable and inclusive housing for Filipinos,” said Secretary Jose Rizalino L. Acuzar, who heads the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and the 11-member Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees. Acuzar added that the amount of home loans released by the agency during the period is P4.23 billion or 6 percent higher compared to the P72.71 billion released during the same period in 2022, and financed 59,840 homes of Pag-IBIG Fund members. He further noted that out of this total number, 7,450 or 12 percent are members from the minimum-wage and low-income sectors, who were able to secure a total of P3.15 billion in socialized home loans. Meanwhile, Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Marilene C. Acosta noted that the agency expects to sustain its performance for the remainder of the year, mainly driven by the agency’s move to lower its home loan rates last July. “We thank our members for choosing and trusting the Pag-IBIG Housing Loan to help them achieve their dream of homeownership. We assure our borrowers that we shall do all that we can to maintain the low rates of their loans and keep their monthly payments affordable. This is because we at Pag-IBIG Fund highly value sustainability, so that our current borrowers can maintain their ability to pay their loans and allow even more members to avail of our home financing programs. With four months to go before we end the year, we are optimistic that we shall once again set a banner year in the home loan front, and thus empower more Filipinos to become homeowners,” Acosta said. The post Pag-IBIG sets record anew as home loans reach P76.94-B in Jan-Aug, up 6% appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bureau of Plant Industry should only get P1 budget — Tulfo
Rookie lawmaker Erwin Tulfo wants a meager P1 budget for the "useless" Bureau of Plant Industry for failing to exercise its monitoring power over the supply of onions in the Philippine market, reportedly subject anew to hoarding and price manipulation. "This BPI is so useless. Don't give this a budget. Just give it maybe five cents. You guys are not doing your job.... Might as well, we will give you a P1 budget," Tulfo said during the House Committee on Agriculture and Food probe into the possible hoarding of onion in the country. The congressional probe, which had previously concluded in May, reopened anew following reports that the commodity's price is being manipulated through hoarding activities. The probe was triggered by the agricultural produce shortage, primarily in onions, which saw prices reaching as high as P500 to P700 per kilo in the last quarter. The BPI, under the Department of Agriculture, was on the receiving end of the panel's wrath due to its failure to effectively mitigate the persistent surge in the price of onions nationwide. Tulfo quizzed the BPI on why they "cannot do anything" to cease the unscrupulous scheme despite possessing the jurisdiction to oversee or monitor cold storage facilities and ascertain if there is indeed an onion supply shortage. "The oversight committee was even better when Congress stepped up. So we'll just do your work and don't give you a budget. What is the use of the department?" Tulfo said. He emphasized that the price of onion only went down after the members of the House led by Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez toured the markets. "It took the oversight committee of Congress and it is not the job of Congress to go round and round to do your job. Mr. Chair, this should be the work of the BPI, and it's the responsibility of the BPI to do that," Tulfo added. "We wouldn't be here today if government agencies had just done their jobs. Something is lacking here. Contrary to the claims, BPI officer-in-charge division chief Sheree Samala told the panel that they monitored cold storage and also had a consultation meeting with the farmers involved. "As we've mentioned during past hearings, we also conducted monitoring in our cold storages and also had a consultation meeting with our farmers. And we requested that the local supply be released first and they agreed and committed that there would still be supply throughout last year in November and December," Samala told lawmakers. Moreover, Samala admitted that the drop in the onion supply had been observed, but proposals were also considered to meet the necessary demand by importation. "We allow farmers as to their claim that they would be able to supply... at the time of November," she said. Tulfo was clearly not buying the BPI's assertion, as he remained steadfast in his position that there would be no congressional probe if there were no supply shortages due to hoarding and that the agency did its part. "If you monitor the cold storage, thousands of sacks are there. We know that's why we're here because there is hoarding Mr. Chair. There is hoarding, so the price has increased. If you are monitoring, it will not reach there. If you have anticipated, then you have given the directive to the traders to release the supply," he stressed. Echoing Tulfo, Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga likewise chided the BPI for failing to take swift action to cease hoarding and price manipulation. Barzaga said suppliers would buy the onions at an earlier date but would only release them in the market when the supply is depleted, causing the prices of the commodity to soar. "You have to tell us honestly. You hide it. That we have DA Circular No. 1. And under that circular or administrative order, the BPI has the right...you also have the power to regulate the cold storage facilities," he said. According to Barzaga, the BPI can impose the necessary sanctions, given that it has the power to regulate. Several supermarket firms, namely Puregold, Robinsons, Gaisano Mall, and Powerplant Mall, who could have shed light in the onion probe, were subpoenaed by the panel due to their no-show. The post Bureau of Plant Industry should only get P1 budget — Tulfo appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bantag faces new murder rap over Facebook page
Former Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag was charged with murder anew over the killing of an inmate who allegedly ran a Facebook page that criticized how he managed the New Bilibid Prison, the Department of Justice said yesterday......»»
Makati City scores anew
Six days after taking over the management and supervision of the 14 schools affected by the dragging boundary dispute between Makati and Taguig City, the Department of Education gave Makati City the go-signal to distribute school supplies to the affected students in 10 EMBO barangays the Supreme Court had ordered transferred to Taguig City. In a letter to Makati City Mayor Abby Binay dated 22 August, DepEd Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Michael Wesley Poa said Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte had approved the former’s request to distribute the school supplies, including the use of the school facilities. Binay earlier wrote to Vice President Duterte seeking permission to distribute school supplies in the 14 public schools to alleviate the financial burden on parents who would otherwise have to purchase new school supplies. “On behalf of the city government and all the intended beneficiaries in the 14 public schools, I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte. We are thankful that she has the best interest of the students at heart in making a prudent and just decision,” Binay said, adding that the distribution would go on until 29 August when classes start. The 14 public schools are Fort Bonifacio Elementary School, Cembo Elementary School, South Cembo Elementary School, Pitogo Elementary School, East Rembo Elementary School, Rizal Elementary School, Comembo Elementary School, West Rembo Elementary School, Pembo Elementary School, Makati Science High School, Benigno “Ninoy” S. Aquino High School, Tibagan High School, Fort Bonifacio High School and Pitogo High School. Parents, school kids cheer Mayor Binay, accompanied by her husband, Makati 2nd District Rep. Luis Campos, distributed school supplies at Pembo Elementary School and Pitogo High School yesterday. School supplies will be given to all 45,000 students in the 14 public schools in 10 former barangays within Fort Bonifacio — Pembo, Comembo, Cembo, South Cembo, West Rembo, East Rembo, Pitogo, Rizal, Northside and Southside. Upon arriving at the Pembo Elementary School, Binay and her entourage were cheered by the parents and students who had been waiting for her since 10 a.m. Her arrival at 2 p.m. elicited applause and shouts of “Abby, Abby” from the crowd, many of whom were crying, including the children who rushed to hug the mayor. The parents were particularly ecstatic because they said the school supplies they received from Taguig were not comparable to what they received from Makati. Package contents Under the expanded Project FREE (Free Relevant and Excellent Education) of Makati, public school students from kindergarten to senior high school, including Special Education students in elementary and high school, receive school uniforms and supplies. Students in all levels each receive school uniforms, PE T-shirts and jogging pants. School bags, caps and anti-dengue kits are also given to kindergarten pupils. Elementary students each receive a pair of black leather shoes, three pairs of white socks, Randoseru bags (Grades 1 and 4), dengue kits, and school supplies consisting of 10 notebooks, five intermediate pads, and five ballpoint pens and pencils. Junior and senior high school students receive black shoes and socks, and the same school supplies package given to elementary students, with a Math graphing notebook added. Grades 11 and 12 students also get a jacket with hoodie. For SPED students in elementary and high school, the city provides a school supplies package, uniforms, leather shoes and three pairs of socks, and anti-dengue kits for elementary SPED. Schools to be rented out Asked what would happen to the 14 schools formerly under Makati City, Binay said they would be rented out to Taguig as the former held the titles to them. In a Facebook post, Binay said there was a “last-minute attempt” by the Taguig City government to halt the distribution even if Makati had written authorization to carry it out. Taguig City has also started distributing school packages to the students of the city, including those at the EMBO schools. Duterte issued DepEd Order No. 023 last week, titled “Assumption of authority of the Department of Education over the 14 public schools affected by the Supreme Court decision in G.R. No. 235316.” According to the order, DepEd is mandated to promote every Filipino’s right to accessible, equitable, and quality education which is consistent with its mandate to provide a safe and enabling environment for learners, teachers, and personnel. Duterte, in her order, said that relative to the SC’s final and executory decision in the case titled Municipality of Makati vs Municipality of Taguig (G.R. No. 235316), the Department of is cognizant of the increasing tension present in the 14 schools affected by the ruling, that caused uncertainty as to the peaceful and orderly reopening of schools on 29 August 2023. It further stated that in the pursuit of protecting the best interest and welfare of the learners, teachers, and non-teaching personnel, “the Office of the Secretary shall directly supervise the management and administration of all 14 schools, pending a transition plan, effective immediately.” Duterte created a transition committee composed of the regional director (assigned outside of the National Capital Region); DepEd Schools Division Superintendent of Taguig-Pateros; the DepEd Schools Superintendent of Makati City; City Legal Officer of Makati and City Legal Officer of Taguig. Binay has since stood her ground that all 14 public schools are titled to Makati City and therefore Taguig City has no jurisdiction over it, though Mayor Lani Cayetano refuted the claim saying it was included in the SC order that is final and executory. The post Makati City scores anew appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Salceda’s MUP bill stirs hornets’ nest
Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. took potshots yesterday at the substitute bill recently approved by a House of Representatives ad hoc committee that would require military and uniformed personnel, or MUPs, to contribute to their pension funds. “I do not subscribe to the proposed blanket mandatory contributions for military personnel, especially for those who have already completed at least 20 years of active service,” Teodoro said. Teodoro’s statement came as grumblings in the military and the police and other uniformed services, both active and retired, heightened anew after dying down in the past few months. The Defense chief hinted at the reasons MUPs were becoming restless anew. He said the substitute bill of the ad hoc committee chaired by Albay Rep. Joey Salceda does not conform to the government’s intent regarding their pensions. For one, Teodoro explained that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s proposed pension reform plan should have the least negative impact on active-duty military personnel. Forced contribution “The President envisions a carefully transitioned introduction of any pension reform plan so that those in active service will be impacted in the least possible way,” he said. But the imposition of mandatory monthly contributions without a transition phase, under the substitute bill, will “definitely” affect the soldiers, Teodoro warned. “As Secretary of National Defense, it is also incumbent upon me to look after the welfare of our military pensioners,” he said. “Ensuring the non-diminution of their retirement benefits is the least we can do in recognition of their sacrifices to the country,” he added. The substitute bill would require those in active service to contribute 5 percent of their base and longevity pay during the first to three years of the MUP pension reform implementation, 7 percent in the fourth to sixth year, and 9 percent in the seventh year onward. The government will contribute its counterpart 16 percent to the pension fund of those in active service during the first three years, 14 percent during the fourth to sixth year, and 12 percent in the seventh year onward. Sui generis New entrants to the uniformed services like the police and military will contribute 9 percent of their base and longevity pay toward their pension with a 12-percent government contribution. Salceda said the ad hoc panel has committed to approving its version on the third and final reading “as soon as possible.” He insisted the panel heard all the statements and comments of the various services. But Teodoro was clearly not buying Salceda’s assurance as he remained firm in his position on the soldiers’ pensions and entitlements, “including that the 100-percent automatic indexation shall remain unchanged.” Automatic indexation means the pensions of retired MUPs are adjusted according to the pay scale of active service personnel of the same rank. Meanwhile, the Defense chief stressed the “substantial distinction” members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines enjoyed over all other uniformed personnel. “The AFP performs a sui generis mandate emanating from the 1987 Constitution — to secure the sovereignty of the Philippines and the integrity of our national territory,” Teodoro pointed out. “Despite wearing uniforms and having ranks similar to those of other uniformed personnel, there is no uniformity in terms of the nature of their duties and responsibilities,” he noted. Teodoro underscored that the risks that soldiers face with the “multifarious” roles they play in nation-building and in times of crisis are “well known.” He pointed out that soldiers do not receive additional financial support from local government units, “unlike some of the other services.” He added that soldiers are governed by “strict rules of military law from the moment they first train until the last day of their service.” “The AFP continues to obtain the highest approval, satisfaction, and trust ratings. Adding to their burdens will only serve to distract them from focusing on their crucial mission,” he said. Cops are sore, too Many police officers are also antagonistic toward the substitute bill. “With that abomination of a substitute bill, Salceda threw into the dumpster the President’s ideas on an MUP reform law that would have been acceptable to us,” a police colonel retiring in a few months told Daily Tribune. He said that they in the PNP thought the MUP reform measure had been placed on the back burner, thus many of those who had filed for early retirement tried to pull out their papers. “Those who would want to retire now before the lawmakers rob us blind would surely increase. The veterans are leaving and Salceda has only himself to blame if we are swamped with rookies,” the police officer said. No contributors Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno started the MUP pension reform ball rolling when he warned that the next administration would have a “huge problem” if the present MUP pension system was not overhauled. With no contributions from MUPs to the pension fund, Diokno said the liabilities were previously estimated at P9 trillion, compared to the country’s GDP of around P20 trillion. “The pension system of the military is not a real pension system in the following sense — there are no contributors. A pension system is where the beneficiaries of the pension fund contribute to it and there is a government counterpart fund. But in this particular sense, there is no contribution on the part of the beneficiaries, and we only appropriate it annually,” Diokno said. Under the 2024 National Expenditure Program, the government is pushing a P164-billion allocation for the MUP pension fund, reflecting a 3.5-percent increase over the fund this year. The post Salceda’s MUP bill stirs hornets’ nest appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
QC barangay chair suspended anew
Two 30-day suspension was again slapped against Quezon City Barangay Pasong Tamo chairperson Mae Tagle by the City Council’s Special Investigation Committee Friday. Tagle who was supposed to be back next month as barangay chairperson (village chief) from a 90-day suspension over abuse of power charges was meted another two months’ suspension over three cases filed against her by concerned citizen and the Sangguniang Kabataan officials at City Council’s SIC. The SIC Administrative Order 449-23 was issued for violation of Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Grave Misconduct, when Tagle allowed the space used as the Barangay Pharmacy to be rented by a private individual. The Botika ng Barangay located at Barangay Pasong Tamo Annex along Luzon Avenue has been turned into a fish and meat store. Such act, the SIC noted, required the concurrence of the Barangay Council documented by a resolution. The second charges for Acts Prejudicial to the Best Interest of Service was due to Tagle’s appointment of Diosdado Velasco as the Barangay Administrator. Velasco ran and lost during the May 2022 polls but Tagle after the polls appointed him, violating the one-year prohibition ban for those who ran and lost in the last national and local elections. The case of nepotism for appointing her daughter as Barangay clerk was dismissed, leaving the two cases to impose a 30-day suspension each, thereby prohibiting Tagle to assume as the Barangay Pasong Tamo Chairman. The SIC resolution order was concurred by the City Council to be implemented for the month of September and October where the next barangay election slated on the 30th. The Special Investigation Committee was an offshoot of a Memorandum of Agreement between the Office of the Ombudsman and the Quezon City Council’s 38 members, led by Quezon City Vice Mayor Gian Sotto as the presiding officer, granting the council authority to hear cases against barangay officials to lessen the Ombudsman office of loads of this kind of cases. The post QC barangay chair suspended anew appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
LTO cites temporary setback as license plastic card production delayed anew
Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Vigor Mendoza II on Friday said the temporary restraining order issued by a Quezon City court on the awarding of contract for the production of driver's license plastic cards is just a temporary setback. Mendoza said the TRO issued was not a permanent injunction for Banner Plasticards to refrain from producing and delivering plastic cards to the LTO. “This is just for 20 days, the hearing is already on August 22. By that time, we are confident that the court will see that there is no basis for permanent injunction, which means that the TRO could be lifted,’ Mendoza said. “The bidding underwent a fair and transparent process. While I was not still the LTO chief when the bidding process was done, my initial review of the documents revealed that it went through a proper procedure,” he added. Meanwhile, Mendoza questioned the arguments raised by Allcards Inc., the losing bidder, on the issue of fair and transparent conduct of the bidding process. He, however, said that he will leave the legal discussion before the QC Regional Trial Court Branch 215 between the lawyers of the Allcards Inc. and the Office of the Solicitor General that will represent the Department of Transportation and the LTO. “This is what the OSG would certainly do, for the early lifting of the TRO,” he said. Mendoza expressed confidence that the court will be able to appreciate the arguments that would be raised by government lawyers in refuting the allegations made by Allcards in the case it filed. In a bid to solve the issue of shortage of plastic cards, the DOTr held a bidding process which was won by Banner Plasticard, Inc. The first delivery of around 100,000 plastic cards was made in late July by the Banner Plasticards. Mendoza said he does not see any reason that the awarding of the contract to the Banner Plasticard constitutes grave and irreparable damage. “What would Allcards Inc. lose in the awarding of the contract to Banner Plasticards? The contract is subject to pecuniary estimation, which means that the discussion focuses on the money,” said Mendoza. “So there is no grave and irreparable damage to that. And if there is no grave and irreparable damage, the public interest should prevail over the business interest of one or two,” he stressed. The post LTO cites temporary setback as license plastic card production delayed anew appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Shell Pilipinas profitable anew despite snags
Driven by continued innovation in serving a growing customer base, Shell Pilipinas Corp. or SPC, the local unit of oil giant Royal Dutch Shell, has returned to profitability in the first half of the year. In a report over the weekend, the company disclosed that its net income as of end-June reached P123 million, translating to a significant improvement from a net loss of P310.22 million in the first quarter. The first-half bottom line profit, however, was still far from the P7.8 billion it posted in the same period last year. Meanwhile, SPC said its core earnings from January to June reached P1.4 billion due to marketing rebounds. Total marketing volume increased by 9 percent while premium products increased across key sectors. Non-fuel retail also posted a double-digit growth of 14 percent from last year and is 33 percent higher than the pre-pandemic period. However, this remarkable marketing delivery was tempered by the aforesaid factors that affected the industry. “We have built momentum and we will finish strong in 2023 with exceptional customer experience and continued innovation in serving our growing customer base with world-class Shell products and services,” SPC President and Chief Executive Officer Lorelie Quiambao-Osial said. “We are committed to delivering value to our customers, to our shareholders, and to our staff and business partners. This includes our commitment to deliver shareholder return.” Across its mobility business, SPC also grew its total volume delivery by 9 percent while premium fuel, lubricants, and bitumen products penetration remain high. Within the second quarter, the company opened seven new sites — bringing the total to 14 new mobility destination sites for the year. The post Shell Pilipinas profitable anew despite snags appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Leave Agriculture, solon asks Marcos anew
Minority leader Marcelino Libanan renewed his call for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to leave the Department of Agriculture, which he concurrently heads, as he aims to help the country attain food security and sufficiency and address the deepening woes in the farming industry. In his counter SoNA delivered yesterday before House members, Libanan, who heads the Minority Bloc, said Marcos should appoint a full-time DA chief and focus on the business on the executive as it needs “undivided attention.” “The President’s mind needs to be freed from the nitty-gritty of a department-level affair,” the 4Ps solon contended during his speech. He continued by saying, “The whole bureaucracy — nay, the whole country — needs his undivided attention at the helm of the ship of the state. The Chief Executive should leave the agriculture portfolio to someone in his bosom confidence. The lawmaker further questioned why Marcos could not place a permanent DA chief just like he did in the Department of National Defense, now headed by Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, after months of being shepherded by caretakers. “Why can’t this administration find the same intelligence, the same gravitas for the full-time stewardship of the Agriculture department?” he asked. Libanan first aired a similar question during a probe into the sugar fiasco (Sugar Order 4) in the House of Representatives last year, which the Malacañang refused to comment. Libanan pointed out that while food security is a pressing concern, it is, however, subsumed in the far larger concern of national security. “The former can be delegated to a subaltern, but the grander national security should be handled by no less than the Chief Executive himself,” Libanan continued. Marcos maintaining his position in the Agriculture portfolio drew mixed reactions from several lawmakers, with others agreeing he should stay in the post. Last June, Mr. Marcos announced that he would remain in the position as the Agriculture chief in light of the deepening woes hounding the industry of agriculture. He also expressed confidence that he can push reforms in the sector since he is in a position where stakeholders “cannot say no” to him as the President. The post Leave Agriculture, solon asks Marcos anew appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DILG to LGUs: Monitor tropical cyclone ‘Egay’, implement Operation L!sto
With the onslaught of Tropical Storm ‘Egay’, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos on Sunday reminded local chief executives (LCEs) anew to be present and stay in their posts before, during, and after a typhoon hits to implement the Operation L!STO Protocols within their area of jurisdiction. “It has been proven that the Operation L!STO Protocols saves lives. We continue to remind our LCEs to stay in their posts in time of typhoons at pangunahan ang pagpapatupad nito sa kanilang mga nasasakupan. It needs LCEs to ensure that its guidelines will be implemented well lalo ngayon may parating na bagyo,” Abalos said. According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Egay’ maintains its strength as it accelerates west-north-westward over the Philippine Sea and is forecast to intensify into a severe tropical storm and may reach peak at super typhoon category on Tuesday or Wednesday while over the Philippine Sea east of Extreme Northern Luzon. Abalos said that the LCEs’ presence is critical in the swift implementation of the L!STO protocols, especially down at the grassroots level. He said that all steps in the protocols will be set in motion by the LCEs, to be assisted by the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (LDRRMO). He said that part of the LCEs' responsibilities within the Operation L!STO Protocols are to get organized by convening the LDRRM Councils within 24 hours upon receiving a severe weather bulletin; reviewing LDRRM/Contingency Plans and Hazard Risk Maps; and, organizing Search, Rescue and Retrieval, Security, and Clearing Operations Teams, among others. The L!STO protocols also prescribe that the LCEs lead in the conduct of the Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment (PDRA) and the preparation of appropriate response plans; assessment of the functionality of evacuation centers; and, activation of the Incident Command System, according to Abalos. “Preparation pa lang po ito, so you see, to say that LCEs’ presence during calamities is critical is an understatement.” The DILG Chief likewise underscored the preparation of evacuation centers and the conduct of pre-emptive and forced evacuation especially in flood and landslide-prone areas, and advise their constituents to avoid danger zones. He said LCEs are also expected to lead in carrying out grassroots actions, such as issuance of prohibitions for sea voyages and fishing and preventing people to cross any body of water; and dissemination of public warnings thru established warning systems and weather bulletins. “Operation L!STO remains to be the blueprint for LGUs to prepare for disasters. Kaya inaasahan nating pangungunahan nila [LCEs] ang pagsunod sa mga preparedness measures nito,” he added. The post DILG to LGUs: Monitor tropical cyclone ‘Egay’, implement Operation L!sto appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Stalled CoC tabled anew
The long-delayed negotiations for a Code of Conduct or CoC on the West Philippine Sea resume next month reviving hopes for a binding agreement that China will adhere to in defusing maritime tensions, the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed. Talks between ASEAN members and China are scheduled in Manila in August. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague issued an award that basically invalidated the nine-dash line claim of China but did not settle sovereignty issues. China refused to participate in the proceedings and said it did not recognize the ruling. Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo announced the latest development following the completion of the second reading of the Single Draft CoC negotiating text. Pandemic stalled talks Constraints brought about by the pandemic prevented ASEAN and China from holding CoC negotiations over the past two years. According to Manalo, Manila anticipates adopting an “effective and substantive” agreement next month. In addition, the DFA chief advocated for stronger cooperation on several issues related to ASEAN and Beijing relations, saying that everyone involved “must ensure that gains are not undercut by threats to regional peace, security, and stability, as well as major power rivalries.” “Regarding developments in the South China Sea, we call for the effective management and peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law,” Manolo said. Both ASEAN and China reiterated through a joint statement their intent to expedite the negotiations on the long-stalled CoC. Back in November 2022, Manalo bared that at least two or three rounds of negotiations were expected to take place this year. China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei are at odds over the resource-rich South China Sea, with China claiming the disputed waterway entirely. China remained firm over its territorial claims, notwithstanding the 2016 arbitral award. Last week, the Philippines, joined by its allies, celebrated the seventh anniversary of the country’s victory in the United Nations-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration. The post Stalled CoC tabled anew appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Belmonte lauds QCJ Male Dormitory
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte over the weekend lauded the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory for bagging the best jail institution in the entire metropolis. The QCJMD under the leadership of Supt. Michelle Ng-Bonto bagged anew the ‘Top 1 - Best City Jail’ award given by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology - National Capital Region (BJMP-NCR). "Quezon City is very happy that our QCJ Male Dormitory won as the best jail institution that received the recognition for the second time. This is proof that they have effectively implemented their duty to be a temporary home for our countrymen who are bouncing back from the cases they are facing,” Belmonte said. The all-male QCJMD is led by a female warden. Bonto said she could not carry out her job as jail warden effectively without the support of the BJMP higher-ups and the city government led by Mayor Belmonte and City Administrator Mike Alimurung. She also lauded the detainees who have been cooperative in respecting the policies as well as rules and regulations being enforced at the detention facility. “Gone are the days that there were riots and violent confrontations among detainees who belong to different groups or what they call gangs, they have been cooperative to the jail authorities,” Bonto said. BJMP-NCR Director Chief Supt. Efren Nemeno handed the recognition on Bonto during the bureau’s 8th Regional Management Meeting and Awarding Ceremony as the former hailed her for keeping the QCJMD drug-free. The BJMP said QCJMD’s achievement could be attributed to the "winning hearts and minds approach” being advocated by the female jail warden toward the persons deprived of liberty (PDL) and jail personnel. “She has been effective in espousing positive engagement of jail personnel in the implementation of welfare and development programs for PDL,” the BJMP said. Meanwhile, the QCJMD remains to be a "drug-free jail" following the latest greyhound operation that yielded no illegal drugs but improvised bladed weapons and other nuisance contrabands. The latest operation was carried out by Bonto's team and members from the nearby Kamuning Police Station (PS-10) as well as Explosive Ordnance Disposal/K9 Units from the police district headquarters, the jail warden said. Bonto added that greyhound operations are being conducted almost daily in order to ensure that no illegal contrabands particularly illegal drugs will be kept inside the detention facility. “Our campaign inside QCJMD is also in support to the ‘Buhay, Ingatan, Ayawan’ (BIDA) program of the Department of the Interior and Local Government which calls for the support of local government units, partner government agencies, local stakeholders, and organizations in order to effectively advocate drug demand reduction to all sectors of the community,” the jail warden said. The post Belmonte lauds QCJ Male Dormitory appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Dominating 5G speeds
Leading digital solutions platform Globe emerged as the fastest 5G mobile network for the first quarter of 2023 in Makati City, a key business hub in the Philippines. Based on Ookla® Speedtest Intelligence® Q1 2023 data, Globe edged out its closest competitor with a median download speed of 171.814 Mbps from January to March this year. Makati City is an important financial center in the Philippines, hosting the headquarters of majority of the Philippines’ top 1,000 companies as well as multinational corporations operating locally. 5G’s faster speeds, higher bandwidth, and more stable internet connection offer big corporations numerous benefits, including enhanced mobility, new business opportunities, and improved customer experience. These can give enterprises a competitive edge and help them stay ahead of the curve in today’s fast-paced market. As of the first quarter of 2023, Globe deployed 66 new 5G sites in 74 cities and towns across the Philippines. This expanded its 5G outdoor coverage to 97.21% of the National Capital Region and 90.28% of key cities in Visayas and Mindanao. Globe also logged 4.3 million devices in its 5G network as of March 2023. “With 5G, we are opening doors to endless possibilities and opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and development. We believe that everyone deserves to experience the benefits of 5G, and we are committed to making this a reality for all our customers,” said Globe Chief Transformation and Customer Experience Officer Rebecca Eclipse. As a leading provider of 5G connectivity, Globe has always been committed to providing a #1stWorldNetwork to Filipinos, in line with its commitment to economic growth and development under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Its efforts were rewarded with the Ookla® recognition as the Most Reliable Mobile Network for four straight quarters — from the second quarter of 2022 to the first quarter of 2023. Based on Ookla® Speedtest Intelligence® Q1 2023 data, Globe dominated the industry anew after obtaining the highest All Technology Consistency Score of 83.39 percent in the first quarter of 2023, an improvement from 83.13 percent in the fourth quarter of last year. It also topped All Technology Availability with a higher score of 93.18 percent in the first quarter from 92.38 percent in the previous quarter. The post Dominating 5G speeds appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DoE mulls NGCP audit within year
The Department of Energy may order within the year the holding of the long-delayed comprehensive system and performance audit of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, the country’s lone transmission system operator. “We will be issuing the necessary orders to commence this, of course within the year. We’re just waiting for all the audit reports to be in and accepted by the Energy Regulatory Commission,” Lotilla said in a recent interview with reporters. Lotilla reiterated that a comprehensive review is needed to get to the bottom of all the country’s transmission problems, which usually causes power interruptions. “Our job is to make sure that we have the proper, called for comprehensive study and audit that will be the basis for finding out what is the solution for finishing three major interconnection projects,” the Energy chief said. “We need to finish these projects first and foremost because these will free up stranded power. There’s 600 megawatts or even more that gets stranded in Bataan, for instance,” he explained. ERC holds review Currently, the ERC is conducting a full regulatory performance audit of the NGCP, while Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management and National Transmission Corporation will also launch a contract performance review of the operator. The DoE had floated anew the call to subject NGCP to a comprehensive audit after the Luzon grid was placed in yellow and red alerts early this month due to the tripping of the transmission line that caused some power plants to fail. For its part, the NGCP already relayed that it will continue to open its gates to any government-funded audit of its systems and operations. However, NGCP spokesperson Atty. Cynthia Alabanza said Thursday that the China-backed company will only open its doors on the condition that any audit proceedings will follow its regulatory framework. “On the audit, for as long as it is within the regulatory framework that NGCP works under its franchise and concession agreement, we are open to that,” Alabanza said. The NGCP holds a 25-year franchise to solely operate the power transmission assets of the government and secure power reserves for contingency. Among others, NGCP is undertaking the P52-billion Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project or MVIP. The DoE previously said the project will launch within the first half of the year but will be pushed back anew to an indefinite date still within the year. The MVIP will link together all three major Philippine islands to create one grid. The NGCP was authorized by the ERC to start building the project way back in 2017. It was initially scheduled to be completed in 2020 but it was delayed due to the pandemic. Energy Undersecretary Rowena Guevara stated if NGCP had completed the Visayas-Mindanao connectivity project, Mindanao might have augmented Luzon’s electricity delivery. Still, Reyes pointed out that the resulting power outages have threatened the lives of the people, who are in critical need of life support services and medical attention throughout the summer months. He then emphasized that the reliability of power supply is necessary for the delivery of medical services and other life-affirming medical treatments, and these power interruptions caused by the lack of proper ancillary service agreements “clearly stems from NGCP’s failure to recontract these services early on.” The post DoE mulls NGCP audit within year appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DILG seeks probe over ‘balete’ collapse
Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. ordered the Bureau of Fire Protection to investigate incident on Thursday night where several houses near a creek in Recto, Manila collapsed after a tree fell on them. In a statement on Friday, Abalos directed the BFP to submit its recommendation as soon as possible to his office to prevent similar incidents from occurring anew. “I gave the BFP a directive to investigate the incident and I expect them to submit their report and recommendations in the coming days,’’ Abalos said. Initial reports from the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office disclosed that three persons died and nine others were injured from the incident that occurred at Alvarado Street in Barangay 294. The fatalities included a two-year-old child. Aside from the BFP and the MDRRMO, other fire volunteer groups responded to the incident and assisted in bringing the affected residents to safer grounds. Abalos sympathized with the families of the victims and instructed the local officials to provide the necessary assistance to them. “We condole with the family of the victims of this tradegy. We also call on the local officials to ensure that the affected residents are provided with the assistance and to do everything to make sure that similar tragedies of this nature do not happen or occur again,’’ Abalos said. The DILG chief also commended the BFP and the MRRDMO for their immediate response to the incident. The post DILG seeks probe over ‘balete’ collapse appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bantag, Zulueta indicted anew for grave coercion
Former Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag and his deputy Ricardo Zulueta have again been indicted by the Department of Justice this time for grave coercion in connection with a 2020 shootout at the Iwahig Penal Colony in Palawan......»»
BIMP-EAGA nations’ trade cooperation pressed
In his recent trip to Indonesia for the Asean meeting President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. urged collaboration to foster the progress of the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia -Malaysia-Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area or BIMP-EAGA due to its substantial potential for development. The Chief Executive made the call as he joined the intervention of the 15th BIMP-EAGA Summit on the sidelines of the 42nd ASEAN Summit and Related Summit here. Marcos said the Philippines supports the increased focus of the BIMP-EAGA Vision 2025 on broad strategies to align sub-regional pandemic recovery and transformation efforts with the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework, particularly in the areas of food security, creative industries and E-commerce, tourism recovery, and green recovery. “So, let us continue this impetus for growth in BIMP-EAGA and thereby position our very own sub-region as a well-connected, economically thriving, multi-country trade, investment and tourism destination. There lies our future,” Marcos said. However, Marcos noted that the pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine demonstrated the need to maintain the physical connectivity that underpins the region’s extensive and comprehensive logistics chain in all its aspects. Hence, the President mentioned that the efforts to revive the tourism industries should be the utmost priority following the pandemic. Linkages must move forward “Our collective effort towards rebuilding the air and sea linkages disrupted by geopolitical challenges and the pandemic still remains the key towards our full economic recovery,” he said. “So, let us work together with our National Tourism Organizations and our private sector counterparts to breathe life into the Joint BIMP-EAGA and IMT-GT Tourism Recovery Communications Plan 2022-2024. Let us spread the tidings that a visit to the BIMP-EAGA sub-region is a safe, stress-free return to nature,” Marcos added. Increased tourism will also reinvigorate the sub-regions micro, small and medium enterprises or MSMEs, the backbone of the economy fundamental to achieving sustainable economic growth and narrowing the development gap, and instrumental in wealth and employment creation, raising standards of living and poverty reduction. The President also rallied anew for support for “nano businesses,” or the kind of self-employed businesses that fall outside of the category of MSMEs, such as dry cleaners, corner shop owners, single retail marketers, repairers and painters, among others. “Though they constitute a large portion of all economies, viable, and play an important role across the country, they remain unrecognized… aiding them will contribute to our overall economic growth and will narrow those development gaps,” Marcos said. The President also emphasized the importance of BIMP-EAGA’s synergies and partnerships with external partners, such as the Asian Development Bank, Japan, Republic of Korea, China and the Northern Territory of Australia. Calling for sustained partnerships with those entities, the Philippine leader also welcomed the BIMP-EAGA-Korea Cooperation Fund or BKCF and the increase of the Republic of Korea’s contribution from $1 million in 2021 to $3 million in 2022. He reported that the Philippines, in particular, continue to benefit from the BKCF Fund from projects in the Environment, Tourism, and Connectivity Sectors, with a total support worth an estimated $1.2 million. At the same time, BIMP-EAGA must achieve strategic coherence within the larger ambit of ASEAN initiatives and sustain platforms of dialogue through regional mechanisms, including APT, RCEP, APEC, AANZFTA, and the ASEAN Plus 1 FTAs. Launched in 1994, BIMP-EAGA has delivered impressive results with the current numerous transport networks spanning the sub-region, buttressed by enhanced economic policies facilitating the movement of goods, people, and services. The post BIMP-EAGA nations’ trade cooperation pressed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»