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Marcos, VP Duterte’s approval scores decline – Pulse Asia
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte's approval ratings plummeted in September amid West Philippine Sea developments, rising commodity prices, and concerns about proposed confidential funds. Latest survey from opinion polling firm Pulse Asia on Monday showed that Marcos' approval rating fell 15 basis points from 80 percent in June to 65 percent in September. Meanwhile, Duterte's approval rating fell 11 basis points from 84 percent in June to 73 percent in September. Still, the Vice President, daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, outperformed Marcos. "Although the President and the Vice-President continue to enjoy majority approval scores at the national level and across geographic areas and socio-economic classes, both experience significant erosions in their respective approval ratings during the period June 2023 to September 2023," the pollster said. Marcos and Duterte still enjoy majority trust ratings at 71 percent and 75 percent trust scores, respectively. Meanwhile, half of adult Filipinos had an upbeat assessment of the work done by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri. Half of the respondents could not say if they approved or disapproved of the performance of Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo. Pulse Asia conducted the survey using face-to-face interviews from 10 to 14 September 2023. This nationwide survey is based on a sample of 1,200 representative adults 18 years old and above. It has a ± 2.8 percent error margin at the 95 percent confidence level. The post Marcos, VP Duterte’s approval scores decline – Pulse Asia appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Philippine director puts women at the ‘heart’ of drug war film
Widows and mothers are at the "heart" of a gritty documentary by Philippine filmmaker Sheryl Rose Andes, who turns the camera on women left behind by former president Rodrigo Duterte's deadly drug war. More than 6,000 people were killed in police anti-drug raids during Duterte's six-year term, which ended in June 2022, government data shows. Rights groups estimate the real figure was in the tens of thousands, mostly poor men living in slums who died at the hands of law enforcers, hitmen and vigilantes. Many of the victims had wives or partners and mothers, who have had to deal with the heartbreak and hardship of losing a loved one and often the family's main breadwinner. In her new documentary "Maria", Andes follows two of these women, Mary Ann Domingo and Maria Deparine, as they struggle to survive and find justice. "We have to register that this thing really happened. And now people need to see what has happened to their families," Andes told AFP in an interview. Andes said she was inspired to make the film out of fear that Filipinos could forget, or never learn, about the brutal period in their nation's history. She got a "huge wake-up call" when one of her students in a filmmaking course she teaches at Mapua University in Manila expressed surprise that the drug war was "really happening". That moment in 2020 -- four years into Duterte's drug war, which made headlines around the world and sparked an international investigation into alleged human rights abuses -- left her aghast. Three years later, "Maria" is the first full-length documentary to compete in the country's independent film festival Cinemalaya, which opened August 4. "Maria" -- a common name for women in the Catholic-majority Philippines -- focuses on the harrowing experiences of Domingo and Deparine, which Andes says gives the film "heart and emotion". The documentary shows the women doing menial jobs to support their families and making tearful visits to the tombs of their loved ones. "I zoomed in on the details because it should not just be about numbers," said Andes. "This is a story about women. I don't want this to be remembered as a drug war story." 'It is very difficult' Deparine lost two of her sons within days of each other in September 2016. One was with a local drug dealer when they were abducted by unidentified men. They were both shot in the head and their bodies dumped under a bridge. Six days later, a second son was arrested by police at the home of a drug-dealing couple. He was later found dead under another bridge. Since their deaths, Deparine, who works in a fish cannery and voted for Duterte in 2016, has moved multiple times with her husband and surviving son as they struggle to make enough money to pay the rent. In the same month Deparine lost her sons, Domingo's partner and teenage son were killed in a nighttime police raid while the family slept in their shanty home. Later, she and three of her surviving children had to flee for fear of their safety. Lawyer Kristina Conti, who is helping Domingo seek justice for their deaths, said the four officers who allegedly shot dead her partner and son had been freed on bail and were back in uniform after serving short suspensions. That's despite the men facing a homicide trial. "As a mother who lost her partner, it is very difficult. At times I just wanted to give up, and at times I actually did," Domingo, 49, told AFP in an interview. "This (film) is our chance to show to the world what happened to us." 'Political stand' Catholic priest Flaviano Villanueva, who appears in "Maria", said widows, mothers and grandmothers endured "unimaginable" hardships to keep their remaining family members alive. Villanueva, who runs a support group for the families of the drug war's dead, said there was a "social stigma" that led to discrimination against those left behind. Orphans were "bullied" at school and widows excluded from government assistance because "her husband got killed for being a drug addict", he told AFP. Another woman who features prominently in the film is former Philippines vice president Leni Robredo, a vocal critic of the drug war who is seen consoling Domingo and Deparine. Robredo ran in the 2022 presidential election but lost by a huge margin to the son and namesake of the country's late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who has continued the drug war. Andes, who spent a decade working for a non-government organisation before turning her hand to filmmaking, refuses to shy away from difficult subjects. She said documentaries were a "powerful tool" in retelling history, but she feared that Filipinos preferred "escapism" and were not prepared to face grim reality. Despite Duterte stepping down more than a year ago and Marcos Jr vowing to take the drug war in a new direction, Andes said the killings "never stopped". "A documentary takes a political stand," she said. "We are not fiction and we are not here to titillate." The post Philippine director puts women at the ‘heart’ of drug war film appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
SWS: LGBTQ+ trust levels now equal with straight, cisgender
A recent survey conducted by private pollster Social Weather Stations reveals that most Filipino adults believe that gays and lesbians possess the same level of trustworthiness as any other Filipino. The private pollster's First Quarter 2023 Social Weather Survey, which took place from 26 March to 29 March, coincided with the upcoming nationwide pride marches, which aim to celebrate the freedom to love and advocate for the enactment of the sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression (SOGIE) Equality bill. SWS asked 1,200 Filipino adults nationwide about their perceptions about gays, lesbians, and Muslims in the country. According to the survey, an overwhelming majority of 79 percent, approximately 4 out of 5 Filipino adults, agreed that "gays or lesbians are just as trustworthy as any other Filipino." This figure demonstrates a significant increase compared to a previous SWS survey conducted in September 2013, where only 67 percent of respondents agreed with the same statement. Regarding whether gay individuals or lesbians have made substantial contributions to the progress of society, 73 percent of respondents agreed. In the 2013 survey, only 54 percent of participants agreed with this statement. In addition to the favorable findings regarding attitudes towards gays and lesbians, the survey results revealed that 43 percent of the participants believed that sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, were limited to individuals within that community. Furthermore, the poll indicated that 40 percent of respondents desired for their gay or lesbian family members to undergo a transformation and become heterosexual individuals. Additionally, the survey disclosed that 26 percent of participants held the belief that being gay or lesbian is contagious. Muslims equally trustworthy Meanwhile, many Filipino adults agreed that "Muslims are equally trustworthy to any other Filipino." This year's SWS survey revealed that about 65 percent of Filipinos agreed with the said notion. This is a high jump from September 2013's 44 percent figure or not even half of the respondents. Based on the 2020 census by the Philippine Statistics Authority, approximately 6.4 percent of the Philippine population identifies as Muslim. As a religious minority within a predominantly Catholic country, some Filipino Muslims have faced challenges such as anti-Muslim comments from politicians and microaggressions from non-Muslim individuals. The post SWS: LGBTQ+ trust levels now equal with straight, cisgender appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Duterte to vaccine-hesitant Pinoys: Trust your government
With a number of Filipinos still not keen on getting vaccinated, President Duterte warned that COVID-19’s cycle of infection will not be broken if the majority of Filipinos are not vaccinated......»»
Satisfaction with AFP at 86% – OCTA poll
A large majority of Filipinos remain satisfied with the performance of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the fourth quarter of 2023, a survey conducted by the OCTA Research group showed......»»
Marcos not changing stance on ICC
President Marcos is not changing his stance that the International Criminal Court has no jurisdiction over the Philippines despite a recent poll suggesting that the majority of Filipinos are in favor of the government cooperating with the tribunal on its probe on the deaths tied to the previous administration’s drug war......»»
51 percent against passage of divorce law – OCTA poll
A slim majority of Filipinos is against the passage of a law that would legalize divorce in the country, a survey conducted by the OCTA Research group showed......»»
Nearly all Filipinos support free higher education — survey
Around 98% of Filipinos surveyed support the free tuition law in tertiary education, according to a poll commissioned by Senate basic education panel chairperson Sherwin Gatchalian, signaling majority support for the landmark program that has consistently been doubted for its long-term sustainability. .....»»
On leaving PDP Laban
On Friday, 20 October, I submitted my resignation as the Secretary-General and as a member of the PDP Laban Party. In my resignation letter, I expressed my utmost gratitude to former President Rodrigo Duterte, our party chairman, for the trust and confidence conferred during my incumbency as the PDP Laban Secretary-General. I served the party under him with loyalty and delivered on the duties and responsibilities assigned to me. As a contributing opinion writer in this newspaper, I want to express my opinion on matters concerning national issues affecting ordinary Filipinos without being tied to the political stand of PDP Laban. I was always for nation-building. I believe that after the political season, we can discuss political, economic, and social matters in a manner that is not corrosive but beneficial to our country’s economic well-being. I believe that the incumbent knows their pact with the Filipinos and that they will fulfill it in a manner befitting the proud Filipino class. All of these are written in our Constitution. It is very important for us to support the incumbent, especially when they have a clear political mandate. It is not about the personalities but about protecting our institutions of leadership, like the three branches of our government. This is the only way to have a truly strong republic and attain economic growth. There is this one hypothesis that institutional weaknesses caused by political instability may have been one of the huge reasons why we have left the boat to industrialization. (Jeffrey G. Williamson & Emmanuel S. de Dios, 2014. “Has the Philippines forever lost its chance at industrialization?” Philippine Review of Economics, University of the Philippines School of Economics and Philippine Economic Society, vol. 51(2), pages 47-66, December.) The hypothesis is that perennial political instability and legitimacy crises hinder investment and growth. Between 1983 and 1986, the economy plunged. Then came the Edsa revolt. There was political instability, too, in the incumbency of President Cory Aquino, given the seven coup attempts. Further political instability in the 2000s because of the question of corruption led to another revolt to replace President Estrada. However, questions of PGMA’s legitimacy led to mass rallies and attempted coups- political instability. The political instability during the 1990s prompted investor services to grade the Philippines as a “high political risk” from 1984 to 1991. The timing of the political uncertainties was unfortunate, too. It coincided with the spillover and relocation of Japanese manufacturing to Southeast Asia; Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia benefitted but not the Philippines. As a result, Foreign direct investments to Thailand from 1987 to 1991 were USD 24 billion, while the Philippines only had a measly USD 1.6 billion for the same period. It is clear to me that political stability is the path to economic growth. To not undermine the institutions created under our Constitution. Confidential Funds I wanted to elaborate on my stand regarding the issue of confidential funds in local government. I hope Congress will tackle this not to find fault or to blame anybody but to craft a law prohibiting the practice of it. Giving the discretion to local executives to appropriate confidential funds in their favor is inimical to the interests of the Filipinos. LGUs earn revenues from taxing landholders, however small. It will be similar to the Philippines in the 1800s, with small farmers paying tributes to their Spanish conquistadors without explaining where the money was going. This is why Filipino farmers refused to work on their lands, prompting the Spanish friars to wrongfully brand the Filipinos as indolent. The practice of confidential funds will create dynasties and tyrants at the local level, and soon, even the barangay captains will appropriate for themselves confidential funds. They will claim they have the same rights as their mayor since they maintain peace and order at the barangay level. It is absurd and unjust. It will plunge us into chaos. The elections will be dirty and bloody. Confidential funds in the LGUs will not bring us peace and order, only greater income inequality and poverty. Congress must act. Our nation’s well-being is at stake. The post On leaving PDP Laban appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Less than half of Pinoys know about climate change: survey
Nearly half of Filipinos blame disasters on those who routinely abuse the environment, while less than half of Pinoys admitted they have “enough” or “little” knowledge about climate change, private pollster Pulse Asia said on Monday. Data from Pulse Asia, conducted from 10 September to 14 September, showed that 46 percent of Filipinos think that people who frequently mistreat the environment are to blame for disasters. While roughly 21 percent think that natural disasters happen as a warning from God, Pulse Asia said that 32 percent of Filipinos blame "natural processes" for such catastrophes. “For the period June 2022 to September 2023, there is an increase in the percentage of those who believe calamities occur either due to natural processes (+13 percentage points) or as a warning from God (+6 percentage points),” Pulse Asia said. “The reverse occurs as far as those who blame calamities on the destructive ways of human beings are concerned (-18 percentage points),” it added. The majority of respondents in Metro Manila (64 percent) Mindanao (48 percent) and Classes D and E (47 percent) believe that human destructive activity is to blame for disasters. However, between June 2022 and September 2023, this perspective fell in every class (-15 percentage to -26 percentage points), Visayas (-23 percentage points), and Luzon (-28 percentage points). The remainder of Luzon, Visayas, and Class ABC attributed tragedies to global natural processes (35 to 40 percent) or human damaging behaviors (38 to 46 percent). On the other hand, Pulse Asia said that 44 percent of Filipinos know much about climate change, while 40 percent have limited knowledge. “From June 2022 to September 2023, there is an increase in the percentage of Filipinos with enough knowledge about climate change (+10 percentage points) while the reverse occurs in terms of those with little knowledge (-6 percentage points),” the survey said. While just 41 percent of Filipinos in Metro Manila claim to have a limited understanding of the issue, 48 percent claim to be sufficiently informed about climate change. All socioeconomic classes and the majority of Filipinos in Luzon and Mindanao, however, claimed to know little or nothing about climate change. Despite this, 68% of Filipinos believe that climate change is harmful to the environment, with Visayas and Mindanao having a higher prevalence of this opinion. The survey added that only 11 percent of respondents think that climate change is not hazardous and 21 percent are ambivalent about the issue. In the meantime, 71 percent of adult Filipinos think that climate change is harmful to them and their families, 12 percent disagree, and 17 percent aren't sure. Around 1,200 adults from around the country participated in Pulse Asia's "Ulat ng Bayan" poll. At a 95 percent confidence level, the error margin is 2.8 percent. Subnational estimates for the areas covered in the survey have the following error margins at 95 percent confidence level: ± 5.7 percent for Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The post Less than half of Pinoys know about climate change: survey appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Approvals drop
Double-digit drops were seen in the trust and approval ratings of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte, as published by Pulse Asia. These numbers may have been normal for certain officials of past administrations, but for Marcos and Duterte, these figures could be unsettling. We must be reminded that our top officials were elected by the majority of the voting public in a virtual landslide against their competition. Further, this steep decline was not realized by our previous populist president. Thus, this should be taken seriously by our leaders. President Marcos Jr. downplayed the decline, saying he was “not surprised” by it. He correctly pointed out that among the reasons for the drop would be the government’s failure to lower the price of rice — a campaign promise often repeated. Another reason could be his concurrent holding of the Agriculture Secretary position, which is a delicate Cabinet post since it relates directly to bringing food to the table of every Filipino. Rice matters in the Filipino household. The United States Department of Agriculture reported that the Philippines is now the world’s top rice importer, overtaking China. According to its report titled “Grain: World Markets and Trade,” the USDA projected that the Philippines would reach 3.8 million metric tons of rice imports for the marketing year 2023-2024, compared to China’s decreased projection of 3.5 million MT. This is a sad statistic, considering the Philippines used to be known as a leading rice producer, even the go-to country for our neighbors to learn about rice production. Our Banaue Rice Terraces is a heritage and tourist site that may very well belong in a museum since rice irrigation may be a thing of the past. Food security was a campaign promise that should be endeavored to be achieved. There is no rice crisis because of the incessant importation of rice by prominent businessmen, but it has become difficult to encourage other investors to put their capital into rice farming. The government should provide the answer by incentivizing farmers and businesses to invest in rice farming, but all this is easier said than done. As for our Vice President, her ratings drop should be related to the controversial confidential and intelligence funds she defended heavily in the budget hearings. I cannot fathom a worthy explanation for why the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education should have P650 million in these funds without proper accounting and explanation. As for the reported realignment of these funds by the House of Representatives to agencies tasked with the protection of our national sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea, we are still waiting to see if this will happen after it hurdles the Senate and is later signed by the President. The ratings drop may be ignored, but it’s continuing cannot be risked. The ratings can be expected to rise, especially if the surveys are taken during the Christmas season when the Filipino nation becomes forgiving. The leadership should take concrete action on how to cause an uptick, such as by providing concrete solutions to the promises made during the campaign. If something can be learned from former President Rodrigo Duterte, it would help to be very visible locally to show your genuine and sincere compassion and empathy for your countrymen. But as I have written before, it is unfair to compare two leaders with varying styles. Let’s trust our President, and he has the privilege of time to make a huge turnaround. For comments, email him at darren.dejesus@gmail.com. The post Approvals drop appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Filipinos spend more on rice in the past three months — Pulse Asia
A majority of Filipino adults spent most of their expenses on rice in the past three months, poll firm Pulse Asia's latest survey showed. .....»»
Taking a tumble
All top five government leaders slid in their approval ratings, according to the latest survey conducted by Pulse Asia from 10 to 14 September. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. fell 15 points from 80 in June to 65 this September. Vice President Sara Duterte took an 11-point slide from 84 to 73 in the same time frame. From 56 in June, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri’s rating slid to 50 in September — six points down. Approval of House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s also decreased, from 52 to 41, another 11-point slide. In the judiciary, Supreme Court Justice Alexander Gesmundo’s approval rating fell 10 points — now only 34 from 44 in June. It’s no mystery why disappointment ruled sentiments in the last quarter. Gas prices climbed every week; the Chinese incursions had made a grievous comeback in the public consciousness; and the “confidential funds” brouhaha had made its way to meme-dom. The numbers are not too alarming; some say they are within a range that still shows confidence in our leaders. Why this is significant at this point lies in one truth we refuse to see: a country will see no substantial progress unless the people respect their leaders. Think of our situation today — how many presidents do we need to try to “save” us from poverty and inequality? We keep saying the Philippines is rich — and perhaps we are, indeed, in natural resources and a workforce and talent that can rightly compete in any part of the world. And yet, we go through perennial problems like hunger and unemployment, a weak peso, corruption scandals, and a massive national debt hanging over our heads. It seems nothing will ever change with this cycle of leadership we can never get rid of. Over the last few decades, we may have learned enough that political feuds among powerful families only slow down the nation. And we may have realized that power struggles continue to diminish our productivity, impeding our forward movement. Research published in July 2016 focused on political dynasties in the Philippines and said: “Despite overwhelming recognition that political dynasties breed patronage politics and corruption, no substantial steps have been taken to address this issue.” Nothing changed after the so-called People Power Revolution, as the same family names continued dominating Congress. The trend continues till today, election after election, with only the occasional new name rising out of the morass because, perhaps, the voting public could no longer stomach the way power and resources are concentrated on a few. And even so, after some time, some of these promising new leaders end up as trapped in the dirt as the ones they removed from power. Either they end up playing the game, now so deeply entrenched, or they leave. Only “a few good men” ever make it past a certain political lifespan. At the same time, we continue to be bogged down by mysteries like why the Philippine General Hospital is getting a zero budget when, obviously, it is the only affordable good hospital that caters to the majority of Filipinos. We continue to wonder why some agencies are getting hefty funds, some even under wraps, when these could be funneled into so many other things like food sustainability, road improvements, solutions to environmental problems, modernizing the agriculture sector, supporting local inventions, and so on. The people look up to their leaders for direction and vision. People will follow — and feel the need to pull their weight and contribute to the work — when they see their leaders as upright and having their welfare always in view. When people feel taken advantage of or taken for granted, they lose faith. Their attitudes change. The country slows to a stop. The post Taking a tumble appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marcos inks jobs act
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed into law Republic Act 11962, or the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act on Wednesday, a landmark measure addressing the challenges plaguing the Philippine labor sector and laying the foundation for sustainable and inclusive development. In a ceremonial signing held at Malacañang, Marcos thanked the Senate and the House of Representatives for the timely passage of the bill, one of his administration’s priority legislative measures. “The Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act is a significant milestone towards our country’s sustainable and inclusive development,” Marcos said. “It will help us solve the various challenges plaguing our labor sector such as low-quality jobs, skills mismatch, and underemployment, among others,” he added. The law also addresses the need to update the skills of Filipino workers and promote the use of digital technologies, particularly for micro, small and medium enterprises. The Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act will establish the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Interagency Council, which will craft a master plan for employment generation and recovery. The council will be chaired by the Director General of the National Economic and Development Authority, or NEDA, and co-chaired by the secretaries of the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Labor and Employment, with representatives from other agencies and various sectors. All government agencies, including local government units, were enjoined to cooperate and coordinate with the council to ensure the effective integration of the plan into their policies and programs. Marcos directed the council and all government agencies concerned to fast-track the issuance of the law’s implementing rules and regulations so that workers and stakeholders could immediately benefit from it. He also urged the DoLE and NEDA to harmonize the Labor and Employment Plan 2023-2028 and the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Plan to ensure that all government efforts and resources will be effectively and efficiently managed. Marcos said the government will continue to provide support and other incentives to businesses, especially MSMEs, such as increased access to financing and capital to promote self-reliance and spur employment generation. Under the law, the government will also incentivize employers, industry stakeholders, and private partners to facilitate skills development, technology transfer, and knowledge sharing among businesses and workers. “With this concerted effort, I am confident that we will not only achieve the goals of this law, but we will also realize our vision of Bagong Pilipinas,” Marcos said. The President added that the government knows Filipinos desire decent, stable and dignified jobs. “With the passage of this law, we are opening a new chapter in our country where there will be sufficient and high-quality employment opportunities for everyone,” he said. He called on everyone to join the government in ensuring the law’s success and shaping a prosperous and new Philippines. In a separate statement, NEDA Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan welcomed the passage of the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act. “We support the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act as it contributes to the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, which aims to increase employability, expand access to employment opportunities, and achieve shared labor market governance,” Balisacan said. “With the passage of the TPB, this will facilitate stronger coordination and partnership among relevant agencies and stakeholders for the efficient implementation of employment programs,” he added. The TPB Plan shall serve as the State’s master plan for employment generation and recovery, aiming to achieve short-term goals and a long-term vision of a “Matatag, Maginhawa, at Panatag na Buhay Para sa Bawat Pilipino.” The latest figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed 2.27 million unemployed Filipinos in July of this year. This resulted in a 4.8-percent unemployment rate in July, higher than the 4.5 percent in June. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva lauded President Marcos for signing the Trabaho Para sa Bayan bill. “I am thankful to President Marcos for his trust and support to me to lead the legislation of this important measure, which is the key to addressing various challenges and creating jobs in the country,” Villanueva said in a statement. The new law, which Villanueva principally sponsored and authored, aims to institutionalize a National Employment Master Plan to promote jobs-led economic growth and enhanced industry collaboration, provide overall services for worker development, and push for support and incentives to businesses. Under the law, the government shall establish a national employment generation and recovery master plan with a three-, six-, and 10-year development timeline. The post Marcos inks jobs act appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
54 percent satisfied with House, Senate – survey poll
A small majority of Filipinos are satisfied with the performance of the Senate and the House of Representatives, according to a recent survey conducted by the OCTA Research group......»»
Phl tourism industry needs sustainable champions
Senator Christopher "Bong" Go emphasized the importance of sustainable tourism and environmental protection during the Philippine Councilor's League Occidental Mindoro General Assembly held on 3 August at Acacia Hotel in Davao City. A Davaoeño, Go began his speech by warmly welcoming the participants to his home city of Davao and expressing his gratitude for the trust and opportunity to serve the Filipino people. “Alam n’yo, parati naming naririnig kasi na pinapasalamatan kami ni dating pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte sa mga tulong, sa mga proyekto, sa mga Malasakit (Center) o ano pa man,” said Go. “Huwag ho kayong magpasalamat sa akin. Sa totoo lang po, kami po ang dapat magpasalamat sa inyo dahil binigyan n’yo po kami ng pagkakataon na makapagserbisyo po sa inyo," he added. Go, known for his relentless work ethic, recounted his travels across the country and his efforts to provide assistance during natural disasters such as typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. "Kung trabaho naman po ang pinag-uusapan, wala akong pili. Twenty-four hours po, mula umaga, tanghali, hapunan, kahit sa panaginip, kahit sa kubeta, nagtatrabaho ako,” he said. The senator's speech took a focused turn toward the theme of the assembly, "Mobilizing Legislation and Governance through Sustainable Tourism and Environmental Protection," emphasizing the importance of sustainable tourism practices and the need to preserve the country's natural resources. "Tourism can be a powerful catalyst for economic growth, creating jobs and generating revenue. However, it must be done in a manner that respects our ecosystems and preserves the very attractions that draw visitors to our shores," Go stated. He also emphasized the importance of community-based tourism initiatives, saying, “Engaging in community-based tourism initiatives can empower our people, allowing them to actively participate in decision-making processes and benefit equitably from tourism-related activities.” In addition to tourism, Go talked about the critical importance of environmental protection. He called on the councilors to pass ordinances that safeguard natural heritage, regulate land use, and curb activities that degrade the environment. "Our biodiversity is a treasure that must be preserved for future generations. From our lush forests to our pristine beaches, every ecosystem plays a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance," he said. Go co-authored Senate Bill No. 1841, which seeks to enhance the preservation and safeguarding of the cultural heritage of the Philippines by means of cultural mapping. Meanwhile, Go also shared his priorities as chairperson of the Committee on Health, including the expansion of the Malasakit Center program and the establishment of Super Health Centers (SHCs). Malasakit Centers bring together representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. These one-stop shops aim to support impoverished patients in reducing their hospital costs to the least possible amount. Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program. To date, 158 operational centers have helped more than seven million Filipinos nationwide, according to DOH. He also reiterated his commitment to support the establishment of more SHCs across the country, considering how they can significantly help reduce hospital occupancy rates while bringing government medical services closer to the grassroots. Services offered in the SHCs include database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy, and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation center, and telemedicine. "Nalulungkot po ako tuwing naririnig ko ‘yung mga kababayan nating mga mahihirap po na ayaw magpa-checkup, ayaw pumunta ng hospital dahil sa takot sa babayaran sa ospital... Tulungan po natin ang mga mahihirap po nating kababayan," he urged. Go then took the time to acknowledge all local officials present at the assembly, expressing his gratitude for their support and trust. He called for unity and collaboration across political affiliations and geographical boundaries. He likewise encouraged the councilors to learn from successful initiatives in other regions and adapt them to the unique needs of Occidental Mindoro. “Let us unite and rise to the occasion, embracing the theme of this assembly with determination and dedication. Together, we can create a legacy of responsible stewardship that will leave a lasting impact on future generations," he said. "Mahalin po natin ang ating kapwa Pilipino, hinding-hindi po tayo magkakamali. Iyan po ang natutunan ko kay dating pangulong Duterte,” concluded Go. The post Phl tourism industry needs sustainable champions appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Meeting between FPRRD and PBBM an occasion to come together—Bong Go
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said the meeting between former president Rodrigo Duterte and incumbent President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., marked a rare occasion where two leaders from different administrations come together. In an interview after his visit to Tuy, Batangas on Thursday, August 3, Go stressed the importance of the said meeting on the country's foreign relations and domestic political landscape. It can be recalled that Duterte just came back from a recent personal trip abroad, where he was given an opportunity to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. “Isinama lang po ako ni dating pangulong Duterte sa pulong nila ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos. Sila naman po ang nag-usap muna. Sa pagkaalam ko ang napag-usapan nila ay tungkol doon sa pagbisita ni former president sa China kung saan po ay naimbitahan siya sa inagurasyon ng building na pinangalanan po sa kanyang yumaong nanay, si Soledad Duterte,” Go said. “Bilang dating presidente ng bansang Pilipinas at kaibigan n’ya si President Xi ng China, naimbitahan po siya sa pagpupulong. Napag-usapan nila ang kanilang pinagsamahan noon bilang parehong lider at si (dating) pangulong Duterte naman po ay pumunta kay Pangulong Bongbong Marcos para ireport po, bilang kanyang obligasyon as a citizen nitong bansa natin, na ireport po sa Pangulo kung ano ang napag-usapan nila doon at ano po ang makakatulong sa ating bansa,” he added. Go underscored the significance of such dialogues, stating that they foster a sense of continuity in governance and allow for the exchange of valuable experiences and wisdom between the two leaders. He added that the Philippines values its relations with China while upholding its sovereign rights and pursuing a rules-based approach in handling disputes in the West Philippine Sea. “I’m sure interest po ng Pilipino ang uunahin ni (dating) pangulong Duterte sa kanyang pakikipagpulong sa bansang Tsina. Kung ano po ang atin ay kanyang ipinaglalaban parati yan. Interes ng Pilipino — yun po ang dapat nating ipaglaban. Ang atin ay atin. What is ours is ours,” he said. Go said “kaya natutuwa po ako na siya mismo si (dating) pangulong Duterte ang bumisita kay Pangulong Bongbong Marcos para mag-usap po ang kasalukuyang Pangulo at dating Pangulo na dati pa namang magkaibigan po... kung ano po ang detalye (ng pag-uusap nila), hayaan na nating ang Palasyo ang maghayag nito.” Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who served as secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs under the Duterte administration, previously suggested the possibility of appointing Duterte as a special envoy to China in light of the former president's positive rapport with Chinese authorities. He argued that Duterte's capacity to earn the trust of both the Chinese government and his fellow Filipinos could make him a suitable option if Marcos desires it. Go said that with Duterte's unique communication style and his success in gaining China's confidence, he has consistently remained devoted to what is best for the Philippines. The post Meeting between FPRRD and PBBM an occasion to come together—Bong Go appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hypocrites humbled
The Ombudsman’s decision to throw out the complaint of New York-based Filipino-Americans who keep stirring controversy in the country led by billionaire Loida Nicolas-Lewis exposes a deeper agenda in the effort. Lewis is known to be the heavy gun behind the Liberal Party who provided the bulk of the funding for the candidacy of Vice President Leni Robredo’s lost pink cause in the 2022 polls. The long-distance meddling had been repeatedly disclosed in the past with no less than former President Rodrigo Duterte pointing to a rich Filipino-American, who was obviously Nicolas-Lewis, as leading the effort to destabilize the government. In one of his abrasive speeches, Duterte foretold the international offensive against him emanating from the group of Nicolas-Lewis. “For all I care, I do not have any illusions, do not give me a reason to leave because you might get your wish,” he had said. “A certain financier, a rich woman who married a black (American) and is now a millionaire, she is planning to do protests,” he added. The plot was confirmed by then Communications Secretary Martin Andanar who recalled rumors in the Filipino-American community about plans to oust Duterte because of his alleged human rights violations and continuous attacks against the US. Duterte then mockingly told Nicolas-Lewis he’d follow her advice and even provide staff for her. “If you think that you can help, tell me because I will appoint a group of presidential advisers and (I will give you) a Cabinet position without a portfolio but with Cabinet rank. And I will follow your instructions to a tee,” he said. “I was listening to the tapes of their conversation. It was provided to me by another country but the conversation was somewhere in the Philippines and New York,” Duterte said of the plot. He said the recordings included one in which Lewis told another person, “See you in the headquarters when the case is filed.” Being referred was the International Criminal Court case that was a successful campaign considering the recent decision of the tribunal to proceed with an investigation into the war on drugs of Mr. Duterte. Nicolas-Lewis had led a 25-person delegation from the US-Philippines Society, a private group comprised of executives and diplomats, who met with Duterte a week before his inauguration on 1 June 2016. The top-notch mission included tycoons, retired American diplomats, executives of Coca-Cola, SGV, JP Morgan, and other top corporations. Nicolas-Lewis’s sister was former National Anti-Poverty Commission chairperson Imelda Nicolas who was part of the “Hyatt 10” — members of the Cabinet who turned on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2005. Imelda and most of the Hyatt 10 members were recruited to key posts in the succeeding administration of the late President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. Imelda was appointed head of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas. Duterte is being targeted for investigation for the complaint of crimes against humanity as a result of the methods undertaken in the anti-drug campaign. The late plaintiff Jude Sabio admitted using manufactured numbers that at one point reached 20,000 so-called extrajudicial killings, which a Senate investigation found dubious since it came from Philippine National Police figures that tallied all forms of deaths investigated, including those unrelated to police operations since Duterte assumed office. Veteran lawyer Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile said that from the start, he was against the proceedings at the ICC. “We’re an independent sovereign country and they want to unduly interfere in our internal affairs,” Enrile said. He pointed out the drug war was a policy to rid the country of its narcotics problem and involved law enforcement. “Who are they to tell us what is good for our society?” Enrile asked. “In the case of the insurgency, the government conducts operations. Are we going to answer to the ICC on the way that we defend ourselves from an internal threat?” Enrile demanded. The persistence of the ICC was discovered to have a sinister origin, based on information that Duterte had gathered. It all started with the designs of meddling Filipinos living overseas who wanted to impose their brand of hypocrisy on the hapless nation but were effectively foiled. The post Hypocrites humbled appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Graft buster clears Cusi
Citing the presumption of regularity, the Office of the Ombudsman threw out the graft complaint of a New York-based billionaire against former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, other Department of Energy officials, Davao City-based executive Dennis Uy, and several others over the sale of 90 percent of the shares of the Malampaya natural gas consortium. On 18 October 2021, US-based geologist Balgamel Domingo and Filipino-American anti-Duterte leaders Rodel Rodis and Loida Nicolas-Lewis filed charges against Cusi, Uy, and the others involved in the sale of the Malampaya stake to the Udenna group of Uy. In a copy of the ruling obtained by the Daily Tribune, the Ombudsman said it could not delve into the complaint on the legality of the transaction since “the authority to make such a determination belongs to the court.” “Seemingly, this complaint is in actuality a collateral attack on the validity of the Share Sale and Purchase Agreement,” it said. The decision declared that “matters of such tenor are not determinable in a preliminary investigation before the Ombudsman’s Office.” “Without any judicial determination decreeing the illegality of the Share Sale and Purchase Agreement, this Office is left with nothing but to acknowledge its validity,” the ruling said. The Ombudsman cited a precedent in the case of Teresita Buenaventura vs Metrobank, in a ruling that stated: “The burden of showing that a contract is simulated rests on the party impugning the contract.” “This is because of the presumed validity of the contract that has been duly executed,” the Ombudsman ruling read. “Wherefore, the criminal charges for violation of Section 3(e) and of Republic Act 3019 against the respondents are dismissed for lack of probable cause.” The ruling was signed by members of a Special Panel of Investigators composed of Ronald Allan Ramos, Josephine Mae Rosapapan, Francisco Alan Molina and Bonifacio Mandrilla. Prime takes control The operation of the Malampaya project was recently assumed by the Razon group’s Prime Energy which bought a 45-percent stake from Malampaya Energy XP, or MEXP, of the Udenna group. MEXP had bought the shares of Shell Philippines Exploration B.V., or SPEX, in the consortium. The Department of Energy had branded the complaint a political move since the two Fil-Am lawyers in the suit were prominent in the “Oust Duterte” movement in the United States. The complaint alleged that Cusi and other energy officials had granted “unwarranted benefits and advantage” to Uy’s UC Malampaya in the buyout of Chevron’s share in the consortium. Udenna, through spokesperson Raymond Zorilla, said there is “no law requiring approval of the transfer of shares of companies that have an interest in Malampaya.” Zorilla said the transfer of Chevron and Shell shares underwent strict bidding processes and due diligence by both multinational oil and gas players. “The share sales were above board and legal and had to pass scrutiny by Philippine regulators, international lenders, and the said private multinationals involved,” Zorilla added. Cusi, in an interview with Daily Tribune, had said the DoE was not involved in choosing the buyer of the shares of Shell and Chevron in the Malampaya project. “The DoE did not get involved in the sale (of shares). We don’t know that they are selling. Our question was what their standards are for choosing Udenna. Why didn’t you choose the big companies, and why Udenna?” he said. Industry experts said the sale of shares was a private transaction that the accusers, who are US lawyers, should have been very familiar with. Cusi said the DoE, during his watch, went beyond its mandate by reviewing the technical, legal, and financial aspects of the transactions, the results of which were provided to the public. Political agenda The complaint, he said, had an underlying political agenda connected to his being the head of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan or PDP Laban. “It is not only political propaganda against me, but it also has a destabilization background… because I’m the president of the PDP.” The complaints, in turn, stemmed from the unending Senate inquiries on the Malampaya deals. The DoE said the Senate probes and the controversies that resulted from them had caused costly delays in the review process that would ultimately affect the country’s energy security. To refute a recent remark by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, the DoE, in a statement said: “The inquiries of Senator Gatchalian are causing undue delay to the timeline of the consortium corporations, and this may eventually take its toll and put our energy security at risk.” The DoE’s approval of the sale of shares of stock of Chevron Malampaya LLC, one of the three corporations in the Malampaya Gas Field Project Consortium, had been dubbed by Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy, as “lutong Macau.” It also backed the Udenna assessment that the deals were above-board. “When the sales were made, both Chevron Philippines, which owned Chevron Malampaya, and Shell Petroleum NV, owner of SPEX, followed rigorous global standards,” the DoE said. Nicolas-Lewis was part of a 25-person delegation from the US-Philippines Society, a private group comprising business executives and diplomats, who met with Duterte a week before his inauguration as president in 2016. Nicolas-Lewis was then accompanied by former Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia, PLDT chair Manuel V. Pangilinan, retired American diplomats, and executives of Coca-Cola, SGV, JP Morgan, and other top corporations. Nicolas-Lewis is the sister of former National Anti-Poverty Commission chairperson Imelda Nicolas, who was one of the “Hyatt 10” Cabinet members who turned against then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2005. Imelda and most of the Hyatt 10 members ended up getting key posts in the administration of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. Imelda was made head of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas. Nicolas-Lewis plot bared In February 2018, former President Duterte bared intercepted conversations that indicated Nicolas-Lewis was behind efforts to push the International Criminal Court, or ICC, to probe his war on drugs. Duterte revealed a recorded conversation between Lewis and another political opponent whom he did not name. “I was listening to the tapes of their conversation. It was provided to me by another country, but the conversation was somewhere in the Philippines and New York,” Duterte said. He said that among the recordings was one in which Lewis allegedly told another person: “See you in the headquarters when the case is filed.” Duterte then said in a public address that he was aware of developments on the ICC case and that lawyer Jude Sabio, the main complainant in the case, was a paid hack of Magdalo Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Rep. Gary Alejano, both failed putschists. Sabio withdrew his complaint before the ICC and revealed that the case was the handiwork of the dirty tricks factory of Trillanes. In 2016, Duterte pointed to Lewis as the financier of an alleged destabilization plot against his administration. Nicolas-Lewis invested heavily in the failed presidential campaigns of Liberal Party bets Mar Roxas in 2016 and Vice President Leni Robredo in 2022. The post Graft buster clears Cusi appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
GCash sees Paleng-QR as deterent vs.cybercrime
An executive of Globe Telecom’s GCash said e-wallet providers should help further expand the use of QR codes at public markets to teach most Filipinos about cybersecurity in various digital financial services, including digital banking. “You cannot educate someone if he or she is not using the digital platform payment, so we make people part of the digital economy, even in marginalized areas,” said Migs Geronilla, GCash chief information and security officer, during the cybersecurity forum organized by Digital Pilipinas, Bank of the Philippine Islands, and Global Fintech Institute last Friday, 28 July 2023. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ Paleng-QR uses QR codes that consumers can scan through their mobile phones and draw funds from their e-wallets to pay for goods at public markets. Cash-lite payments Conceptualized in 2021, this program was launched by the BSP along with the Department of the Interior and Local Government to promote cash-lite payments as the world made a shift to the digital economy. Regarding Paleng-QR, Geronilla said, “We’re very aggressive on it, making this digital payment a part of the daily lives of users. That’s the point of doing financial education and cybersecurity because when we see that it’s good for them, we can pinpoint where they can actually absorb the information.” With the proliferation of e-wallets and digital banks, Lawrence Ferrer, president and CEO of Bayad, a payments collector, said cybercrimes among Filipinos remain rampant and their trust in companies shaky. Organized and well-funded “Cyberfraudsters are organized and well-funded,” he said, recounting a time when “I got an SMS informing me that my bank account was unlocked. I’ve been getting this since last year, so you can imagine the amount of effort they put in. I don’t think this comes only from the Philippines but also outside.” Research group Tangere found in a recent survey it conducted that 80 percent of Filipinos receive scam attempts through text messages and 15 percent of them are alerted with such messages at 2 in the morning. Majority or 90 percent of the 1,000 respondents in the survey said they mostly fear phishing, a method where fraudsters obtain personal information of victims, such as their credit card numbers, by sending them emails or text messages. The post GCash sees Paleng-QR as deterent vs.cybercrime appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»