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DavOro guv refutes claims she barred dept heads from attending SP budget proceedings
DAVAO de Oro Governor Dorothy "Dotdot" Gonzaga clarified the information released by the Office of Vice Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy that among the factors of the delay of the approval of the Calendar Year Executive Budget for 2024 was because she prevented the department heads of the provincial local government unit from attending the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) proceedings......»»
DavNor vice guv denies involvement in ayuda scam
The Vice Governor of Davao del Norte has denied any involvement in the alleged ayuda scam following claims made during a Senate hearing chaired by Senator Ronald Bato Dela Rosa. The hearing revealed that public officials in Davao de Oro and Davao del Norte were linked to illegally using cash assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and funds from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for political campaigns. Vice Governor De Carlo Oyo Uy refuted the allegations, stating that there is no truth to the claims. In response, Governor Edwin Kuya Gov Jubahib emphasized that he was protecting the welfare of his constituents and the country's budget. He called for the punishment of those involved. The governor had previously requested an investigation into the ayuda scam after individuals in the provinces received less than the intended assistance. The vice governor announced plans for a separate investigation to clear his name and clarified that the DSWD is solely responsible for the identification, assessment, validation, and distribution of cash assistance to beneficiaries......»»
SC denies Senate certiorari petition
To maintain the separation of powers between the three departments of the government, the Court cannot exercise a power that belongs to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. This was stated in an SC en banc decision penned by Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, denying the petition for certiorari and prohibition filed by the Senate of the Philippines challenging the constitutionality of a memorandum issued by then President Rodrigo Duterte. In 2021, the SBRC started an investigation on the budget utilization of the Department of Health following a report from the Commission on Audit that there was a deficiency of P67,322,186,570.57 in public funds intended for the government’s Covid-19 response. The committee then conducted hearings on the following matters: the DoH’s underutilization of its 2020 budget; the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines by local government units; unspent funds, misstatements, irregularities, and deficiencies of the DoH, as found by CoA; and payment claims issues between the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and private hospitals. Concerned officials from the executive department, including then DoH Secretary Francisco Duque lll, attended the hearings. But then Pesident Duterte, through Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea, stopped the executive officials from attending the hearings, by issuing a memorandum dated 4 October 2021 directing all officials and employees of the Executive Department to cease attending the SBRC hearings on the government’s disbursement of the Covid-19 funds. The Memorandum also asserted that the SBRC inquiry has turned into a preliminary investigation of sorts meant to identify the persons allegedly liable for irregularities that existing statutes already defined and punish. It claimed that the SBRC has stepped into the mandates of other branches of government. Viewing the memorandum as an obstruction to the Senate’s constitutional function to conduct inquiries in aid of legislation, Senate Resolution 131 was passed, authorizing the filing of the present petition before the Court. In denying the Senate’s petition, the Court found that it failed to meet the requisites for a petition for certiorari to prosper. The post SC denies Senate certiorari petition appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Senators denounce China’s ‘abhorrent’ actions in WPS
Senators on Sunday condemned China for performing “dangerous blocking maneuvers” that resulted in a collision with the Unaiza May 2, an indigenous boat contracted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines for a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre. In separate statements, Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, Senators Risa Hontiveros, and Francis Tolentino expressed their anger over the collision that put the safety of the Filipino crew at risk. “I am one with peace-loving Filipinos in strongly condemning this latest abhorrent actions of the China Coast Guard and Chinese maritime militia that put in danger the lives of our brave countrymen who were on a routine resupply mission to our troops in Ayungin Shoal,” Zubiri said. “Let me salute our personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for displaying courage and restraint in continuing their resupply missions despite the hostile and treacherous acts of China Coast Guard and their maritime militia,” he added. Zubiri called on CCG to “respect human lives and abide by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and other international laws governing safe maritime travel.” “Our freedom of navigation in our own exclusive economic zone within our own continental shelf should be recognized and upheld,” he stressed. The Senate chief also reiterated his support for his colleagues' efforts to beef up the PCG and AFP’s budget for the next fiscal year to “better capacitate them in safeguarding our exclusive economic zones from illegal foreign intrusions.” “As leader of the Senate, I will make sure that our troops will get sufficient funds under the 2024 national budget to bankroll the much-needed upgrade of their equipment,” he said. The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea accused the CCG of performing "dangerous blocking maneuvers" that resulted in a collision with the Unaiza May 2, an indigenous boat contracted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines for a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre. The NTF-WPS condemned the “provocative, irresponsible, and illegal action” of the China Coast Guard ship which “imperiled the safety” of the Unaiza May 2 crew. In the same resupply mission, a Chinese Maritime Militia vessel “bumped” the Philippine Coast Guard BRP Cabra’s port side which was escorting the Philippine vessels while it was lying approximately 6.4 nautical miles northeast of Ayungin Shoal. The NTF-WPS said it “condemns in the strongest degree the latest dangerous, irresponsible, and illegal actions of the CCG and the Chinese maritime militia done this morning.” ‘Enough’ Hontiveros echoed Zubiri’s call on China to “stop” its activities in the West Philippine Sea which she said clearly violates international law. “This latest collision is squarely the China Coast Guard’s fault,” she said in a separate statement. “The 2016 Arbitral Award has resolutely invalidated China’s claims in the West Philippine Sea, making this incident a clear violation of international law,” she added. Hontiveros said the PCG “has every right to be in the West Philippine Sea.” “China has no right to drive our forces into our own seas. Furthermore, they do not have the right to hurt and bump Philippine vessels that are only performing their jobs in our territories,” she stressed. “Chinese vessels have chased, blocked, and harassed our Philippine Coast Guard daily, 24/7 every single time we conduct our resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre,” she added. The opposition lawmaker also called on the international community to join the Philippines’ condemnation of China’s most recent violence against the Filipino people. “Our nations should not stop fighting for the rule of law. It is the only way to have a chance at true peace and stability across the region and the world,” she said. For his part, Tolentino said the recent confrontation between the Philippines and China clearly shows China’s continuous disregard for international law. He noted that the incident should be investigated by the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and the Code for Investigation ng Marine Casualties and Incidents of the International Maritime Organization. Ayungin Shoal, also known as Second Thomas Shoal, is located 105 nautical miles west of Palawan and is part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. China claims the vast South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea. On 12 July 2016, the Philippines won its arbitral case against China in the Permanent Court of Arbitration – a landmark decision that China continues to reject. The post Senators denounce China’s ‘abhorrent’ actions in WPS appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Seized Iran arms, ammo sent to Ukraine
The ongoing political crisis in the United States threatening to cut aid to Ukraine has President Joe Biden worrying. “It does worry me,” Biden told reporters when asked whether the ousting of Republican House speaker Kevin McCarthy by hardliners in his own party could derail more funds for Ukraine’s war effort. However, the president indicated there was “another means by which we may be able to find funding” without congressional approval, but would not give further details. A 45-day stopgap budget law was passed by the US Congress and signed by Biden last week, but it doesn’t contain funding for Ukraine. The Pentagon says the government still has authority to withdraw $5.4 billion in equipment for Ukraine from US military stocks. In the meantime, the US military has given Ukraine small arms ammunition seized from Iran last year. “The US government transferred approximately 1.1 million 7.62mm rounds to the Ukrainian armed forces” on Monday, the military’s Central Command said in a statement. The ammunition was seized by US naval forces in December 2022 while it was “being transferred from the IRGC to the Huthis in Yemen,” CENTCOM said, referring to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Yemeni rebel forces they support. “The government obtained ownership of these munitions on July 20, 2023, through the Department of Justice’s civil forfeiture claims” against the IRGC, it added. The post Seized Iran arms, ammo sent to Ukraine appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
P1B for Marawi victims, a cruel joke (2)
Throwback. Through our pen, we appealed to the government several times to create a Truth Commission to investigate the ruination of Marawi City so that it may pick up one or two ideas on how to combat urban terrorism and be ready to deal with a similar tragedy. But our pleas fell on deaf ears. Our unspoken purpose was to prove that while the siege triggered the war, the heavy loss of lives and damage were inflicted by government forces. And this could have been minimized if the government had adopted an open mind about solutions to the impasse. There were overtures for the surrender of the much-outnumbered and outgunned rebels, but these were rejected by the government. For what reason? This column does not buy the claim of critics that it was to justify the imposition of martial law, which did happen, or the wild indictment that the government wanted to test the modern new armaments it had acquired from foreign countries, including fighter jets and pilot training. Marawi presented an opportunity for the experiment. It was not likewise the bravado of army centurions who wanted to show that their forces were capable of fighting in dense forest jungles where they were trained and in the jungle of high-rise urban structures. These are innuendoes and claims which could have been validated or invalidated through investigation. What was proven was the recklessness, if not sheer incompetence, of our jet fighter pilots who bombed places kilometers from their intended targets. In our barangay, Tolali, there was a disastrous mis-hit of a target that killed about 10 Marines, which some Maranaws described as the law of “morka” or karma in action. Why resuscitate these tales? It is to show that the heavy damage was caused by government forces which, by the dictates of any law of any society, be it international or international human rights, moral, divine, including the Code of Hammurabi and Kalantiaw, the culprit is obliged to pay for the damage it inflicted. The amount of reparations should be reasonable or at least proximate to their claim. That is why when the Department of Budget and Management dangled the amount of P1 billion as compensation for Marawi victims, it was met with disbelief, which led to a spirited protest. Unkind words were expressed by victims whose consciences were revolted. They could not believe that the policymakers could be so insensitive to the cry for justice by a segment of Philippine society that had suffered historical injustice from foreign invaders and their own government. The radicals among them cried state terrorism — no wonder the fire of secession and independence still burns in the hearts of many Moros. The situation tends to ignite more hostility towards the government. We hate to picture a situation where about half of the validated claims of victims will be paid and the other half unpaid after five years when the compensation stops. God forbid we will see dystopia and brewing sedition or revolution in our midst, and there is no need for millions in confidential and intelligence funds to predict its occurrence. The deliberations in the House of Representatives, which were uploaded on social media, were revealing. Rep. Mujiv Hataman of the lone district of Basilan, a veteran legislator who expresses his views vividly with his command of the national language, was in his element asking scathing questions of the sponsor of the budgetary bill, Congresswoman Stella Quimbo. Very clearly, she was groping for facts, figures, and explanations from officials of the Department of Budget to answer Rep. Hataman. Even with masteral and doctorate degrees tucked in her belt, she was no match for Hataman, who displayed Socratic maieutic in fielding questions. In another session, the region’s favorite son, Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, bewailed the inequity and injustice of proposing only P1B for the Marawi victims. He got the DBM’s commitment to find a way to increase the Marawi compensation budget. And so we pray our policymakers will open their hearts and minds to the clamor for increased appropriations for the Marawi victims in the name of justice, equity and magnanimity. *** amb_mac_lanto@yahoo.com The post P1B for Marawi victims, a cruel joke (2) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PhilHealth hospital payment on track
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation on Monday expressed confidence that it would be able to settle its outstanding debts to hospitals amounting to P27 billion ahead of its self-imposed deadline in December. In a press briefing, PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. said that at least 76 percent of the P27 billion unpaid claims have been paid. “It’s been roughly 30 days since we made the announcement and already 76 percent have been paid,” Ledesma said. “Clearly, we are on track. We will probably be able to complete it ahead of time,” he added. Earlier this month, Ledesma made a commitment before lawmakers that the state-run health insurer would settle “a bulk or majority” of its P27 billion unpaid claims to various hospitals in the country within 90 days. He said it during the budget deliberation of the House Committee on Appropriations on the proposed P199 billion budget of the Department of Health for the upcoming fiscal year. According to the state-run health insurer’s top official, the Debit-Credit Payment Method would also be used to accelerate the payment for unpaid hospital claims. “It will make the reconciliation faster,” he said. Under the paying scheme, PhilHealth will only pay at least 80 percent of the total unpaid claims of the hospitals. The remaining unpaid claims will be settled after the completion of processing requirements. The post PhilHealth hospital payment on track appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PhilHealth ‘on track’ to pay P27-B outstanding debt to hospitals
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation on Monday expressed confidence that it would be able to settle its outstanding debts to hospitals amounting to P27 billion ahead of its self-imposed deadline in December. In a press briefing, PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. said that at least 76 percent of the P27 billion unpaid claims have been paid. “It’s been roughly 30 days since we made the announcement and already 76 percent have been paid,” Ledesma said. “Clearly, we are on track. We will probably be able to complete it ahead of time,” he added. Earlier this month, Ledesma made a commitment before lawmakers that the state-run health insurer would settle “a bulk or majority” of its P27 billion unpaid claims to various hospitals in the country within 90 days. He said it during the budget deliberation of the House Committee on Appropriations on the proposed P199 billion budget of the Department of Health for the upcoming fiscal year. According to the state-run health insurer's top official, the Debit-Credit Payment Method would also be used to accelerate the payment for unpaid hospital claims. “It will make the reconciliation faster,” he said. Under the paying scheme, PhilHealth will only pay at least 80 percent of the total unpaid claims of the hospitals. The remaining unpaid claims will be settled after the completion of processing requirements. The post PhilHealth ‘on track’ to pay P27-B outstanding debt to hospitals appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
P1B for Marawi victims a cruel joke (1)
I beg my readers’ kind indulgence for using this column as a platform to air our grievances. This is something personal to us, and it is my moral obligation to add my voice to the public indignation sweeping a part of Morolandia. For transparency and disclosure, my family was a victim of the war and is seeking compensation for the damage to our precious possessions. Having said that, as the national budget deliberations for 2024 draw to a near conclusion, the public discourse in Morolandia on the compensation for the 2017 Marawi Siege victims heightened. It’s the issue much discussed in public fora, coffee shops, and social media platforms of Muslims. The Moro attention is largely riveted to the budget deliberations in the House of Representatives, where the budget bill originates by provision of the Constitution. Social media likewise reported the hearing conducted by the Oversight Committee for the Marawi Compensation Law jointly chaired by Senator Ronald dela Rosa and Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong. According to reports, P1 billion is proposed in the 2024 budget for compensation, which is the same amount appropriated in the current budget, alarmed resident victims. They have reason to fear that P1 billion is becoming the appropriation template for the ensuing years. The Marawi Compensation Board or MCB, created to process, approve and pay legitimate claims, will fold the tent and become a functus oficio in 2028 because the law provides for a five-year life span. Let’s do the math. If the budget is not increased, the aggregate appropriation for Marawi victims will only be P5 billion, which is ridiculously insufficient vis-a-vis the number of victims and the magnitude of their claims. From an unofficial report, we gathered that “as of 18 September 2023, there were 75 death claims, 74 structural claims, 1,858 other properties claims, and 4,041 multiple claims. Hence, there were 6,048 claims as of the latest report by the in-take team from July to September. (And) 362 claims have been evaluated or are ready for final deliberation.” The claims statistics are increasing exponentially by the day, with the list of claimants getting longer. The MCB asks for something like P10 billion or more as an aggregate ballpark figure to compensate all the victims. The sparse appropriation has triggered unkind comments from citizens calling the proposed amount outrageously deficient, cruel jokes and insulting the victims. While the public is amused by the stories in tri- and social media on funding for projects that are less urgent — like the millions needed for the confidential and intelligence funds of agencies to address “kuno” (allegedly) the threat of terrorism — here we have a situation where the threat of terrorism is real. Our security and intelligence authorities will tell you that the remnants of the ISIS-affiliated Maute Dawliyah Islamia group are just around the corner, engaged in sporadic hit-and-run guerrilla ambushes to make their presence known. Terrorist cells are confirmed to be existing in the hinterlands of Morolandia. The disgruntled victims of the Marawi war are easy prey for recruitment by the dissidents. There is no denying the depth and scale of the damage sustained by the Marawi victims of the war. The whole world was watching on their television sets for months the daily telenovela-like bombing of the city in what Confucious described as “burning the house to catch a rat.” We have written numerous published articles pleading for cessation of the bombing, but the thrashing by state authorities continued. We note with gratitude the public expression of support by Senator De la Rosa, chair of the Special Committee on Marawi Rehabilitation, who spent years studying at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City, along with Muslim Senator Robinhood Padilla. Senator Risa Hontiveros, in her recent trip to Marawi, saw for herself the progress of the claims processing and has likewise committed support. The list of senators and House representatives joining the chorus of support is getting longer. (To be continued) amb_mac_lanto@yahoo.com The post P1B for Marawi victims a cruel joke (1) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Herbosa no-show, but DOH 2024 budget hurdles Senate Finance panel
The Senate Committee on Finance on Thursday approved the proposed P311.3 billion budget of the Department of Health for the upcoming fiscal year without the attendance of Health Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa. Herbosa skipped the DOH’s budget deliberation, normally led by the agency’s head, days after he failed to secure the approval of the Commission on Appointment. During the budget deliberation, DOH senior officials led by Undersecretary Lilibeth David, former Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario-Vergeire and Undersecretary Gloria Balboa presented the agency’s proposed budget. Senator Francis Tolentino specifically questioned Herbosa’s absence in the budget deliberation, fearing that the agency is now in an “auto-pilot mode”. Senator Pia Cayetano, who presided over the agency’s budget deliberation, quickly clarified that the DOH is not “headless”. “Actually, all of the senior members of the team approached me a while ago and they acknowledged that, of course, it is a bit of an awkward situation,” Cayetano said. “But as you all know, Usec Dr. Vergeire was the OIC for many years and was very actively exercising her leadership not just in the past year, but even during the time of President Duterte. Dr. Usec. David is the most senior undersecretary. So I’m quite confident in the presentation today that they can answer,” she added. Tolentino explained that he is asking for Herbosa’s presence because “budget presentations would require answers concerning accountability.” “And perhaps the head of the department should be the one doing that. Otherwise, it would be in an auto-pilot mode,” he said. For her part, Senator Loren Legarda also expressed confidence in the senior officials of the DOH. “Let me just say that I’m certain that our very competent Usecs. and Asecs. down the line would be able to communicate the policies of the Secretary who still has to be confirmed,” Legarda said. “I am very confident that they will be able to answer our questions. I do not think that they would divert from any policy of the Secretary or say anything that would be against his policies,” she added. Cyber-attack on PhilHealth Senators also touched on the recent cyber-attack on the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHealth. Legarda quizzed PhilHealth officials about the effect of the cyber-attack on the state-run health insurer’s operation, as well as the steps being taken by the agency to prevent similar cases in the future. Responding to the lawmaker’s query, Atty. Eli Dino D. Santos, PhilHealth’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, said the agency has yet to restore its online system. “All transactions are offline, and we've resume operations meaning membership, employer submission, and payment over the counter,” Santos said. “Our benefits availment continues. We have already informed our partner providers that while the system is turned off, they can still submit claims or prepare the submission of claims,” he added. “At present, to confirm the statement of our President, we are set to turn on our systems today, but we are still completing the preventive measures before we turn it on. We are targeting to turn on our PhilHealth website, member portal, as well as the e-claims.” Over the weekend, PhilHealth confirmed reports that there was an “information security incident” on its online system, which prompted them to turn it off as part of its “containment measures”. The Department of Information and Communications Technology previously stated that the agency’s system was attacked by Medusa ransomware. A multinational cyber security software company, Trend Micro, defines “ransomware” as a type of malware that prevents or limits users from accessing a system, either by locking the system’s screen or by locking the users’ files until a ransom is paid. The Medusa ransomware group was demanding $300,000 from PhilHealth in exchange for access to its system. The group threatened to leak the personal information of PhilHealth members if it did not pay the ransom. The state-run health insurer previously stated that it would not give in to the group’s demand. The post Herbosa no-show, but DOH 2024 budget hurdles Senate Finance panel appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DOH budget for 2024 hurdles Senate Finance panel without Herbosa
The Senate Committee on Finance on Thursday approved the proposed P311.3 billion budget of the Department of Health for the upcoming fiscal year without the attendance of Health Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa. Herbosa skipped the DOH’s budget deliberation, normally led by the agency’s head, days after he failed to secure the approval of the Commission on Appointment. During the budget deliberation, DOH senior officials led by Undersecretary Lilibeth David, former Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario-Vergeire, and Undersecretary Gloria Balboa, presented the agency’s proposed budget. Senator Francis Tolentino specifically questioned Herbosa’s absence in the budget deliberation, fearing that the agency is now in an “auto-pilot mode”. Senator Pia Cayetano, who presided over the agency’s budget deliberation, quickly clarified that the DOH is not “headless”. “Actually, all of the senior members of the team approached me a while ago and they acknowledged that of course, it is a bit of an awkward situation,” Cayetano said. “But as you all know, Usec Dr. Vergeire was the OIC for many years and was very actively exercising her leadership not just in the past year, but even during the time of President Duterte. Dr. Usec. David is the most senior undersecretary. So I’m quite confident in the presentation today that they can answer,” she added. Tolentino explained that he is asking for Herbosa’s presence because “budget presentations would require answers concerning accountability.” “And perhaps the head of the department should be the one doing that. Otherwise, it would be in an auto-pilot mode,” he said. For her part, Senator Loren Legarda also expressed her confidence in the senior officials of the DOH. “Let me just say that I’m certain that our very competent Usecs. and Asecs. down the line would be able to communicate the policies of the secretary who still has to be confirmed,” Legarda said. “I don't think that the DoH body institution system comprised of career people who -- it may be a headless agency this is insofar other secretaries concerned -- but all the systems are covered by the Usecs. and Asecs,” she added. She continued: “I am very confident that they will be able to answer our questions. I do not think that they would divert from any policy of the secretary or say anything that would be against his policies.” Cyber-attack on PhilHealth Senators also touched on the recent cyber-attack on the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHealth. Legarda quizzed PhilHealth officials about the effect of the cyber-attack on the state-run health insurer’s operation, as well as the steps being taken by the agency to prevent encountering a similar case in the future. Responding to the lawmaker’s query, Atty. Eli Dino D. Santos, PhilHealth’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, said that the agency has yet to return its online system. “All systems now are all transactions are offline and we resume operations meaning membership, employer submission, and payment over the counter,” Santos said. “Our benefits availment continues. We have already informed our partner providers that while the system is turned off, they can still submit claims or prepare the submission of claims,” he added. He continued: “At present, to confirm the statement of our President, we are set to turn on our systems today, but we are still completing the preventive measures before we turn it on. We are targeting to turn on our PhilHealth website, member portal, as well as the e-claims.” Over the weekend, PhilHealth confirmed reports that there was an “information security incident” on its online system, which prompted them to turn it off as part of its “containment measures”. The Department of Information and Communications Technology previously stated that the agency’s system was attacked by Medusa ransomware. A multinational cyber security software company, Trend Micro defined “ransomware” as a type of malware that prevents or limits users from accessing their system, either by locking the system’s screen or by locking the users’ files until a ransom is paid. The Medusa ransomware group was demanding $300,000 from PhilHealth in exchange for access to its system. The group threatened to leak the personal information of PhilHealth members if it did not pay the ransom. The state-run health insurer previously stated that it would not give in to the group’s demand. The post DOH budget for 2024 hurdles Senate Finance panel without Herbosa appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PHAPi: Cyber-attack on PhilHealth to further delay unpaid claims reimbursement
The Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. on Wednesday said it is expecting further delays in the reimbursement of arrears of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation to private hospitals due to the cyber-attack on the agency’s online system. According to PHAPi president Dr. Rene de Grano, the cyber-attack on the state-run health insurer’s online system is expected to cause further delay in its promise to settle its outstanding debts to hospitals amounting to P27 billion. “During the past hearing, PhilHealth president [Emmanuel] Mandy Ledesma promised to pay by December the P27 billion-worth of supposed arrears of PhilHealth to different hospitals,” De Grano told reporters in a chance interview. “Of course, we are hoping that it will be pushed through. But then this problem (cyber-attack) came, which made PhilHealth’s entire system down, then of course, we will be expecting more delays,” he added. Over the weekend, PhilHealth confirmed reports that there was an “information security incident” on its online system. The Department of Information and Communications Technology previously stated that the agency’s system was attacked by Medusa ransomware. As defined by Trend Micro, a multinational cyber security software company, ransomware is a type of malware that prevents or limits users from accessing their system, either by locking the system’s screen or by locking the users’ files until a ransom is paid. In the state-run health insurer’s case, the Medusa ransomware group was said to be demanding $300,000 in exchange for access to its system. The group threatened to leak the personal information of PhilHealth members if it did not pay the ransom. Worst case scenario Earlier this month, Ledesma made a commitment before lawmakers in the budget deliberation of the House Committee on Appropriations on the proposed P199 billion budget of the Department of Health for next year that the state-run health insurer would settle “a bulk or majority” of its P27 billion unpaid claims to various hospitals in the country. Of the P27 billion worth of unpaid claims by PhilHealth to various hospitals, P10 to P15 billion are estimated to be from private hospitals. Unlike big private hospitals that have “buffer funds,” De Grano said that further delays in payment would cripple the operations of smaller private hospitals. “Most of the small private hospitals rely on or are very dependent on patients who are NBB, charity patients, or no balance billing,” he said. “If there would be further delay in payments, smaller private hospitals will run out of money to the point that it will affect their cash flow. It will affect their operations.” If the non-payment of PhilHealth continues, he warned that smaller private hospitals would require their patients to pay their bills from their pockets. “The worst that will happen, initially, perhaps smaller private hospitals would no longer accept [PhilHealth] beneficiaries. They would ask patients to pay their bills out of their pockets,” he said. “Because, otherwise, we can no longer provide these services. Private hospitals are paying for their nurses, medicines, and supplies. If PhilHealth won’t pay them, it would empty their funds,” he added. Delayed HEA Meanwhile, De Grano also expressed his support for the complaint filed by a group of private healthcare workers against several DOH regional offices before the Anti-Red Tape Authority over the long overdue distribution of their health emergency allowances or HEA. “They prioritized the government facilities. The private [hospitals] were left,” he said. “They should tell the truth. They must tell if there are no longer funds available.” Earlier this week, the United Private Hospital Unions of the Philippines, whose members are part of at least 26 private hospitals in the country, filed a complaint against DOH regional offices over its failure to distribute P5.8 billion worth of HEA. Under Republic Act No. 11494, also known as the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, healthcare workers who were at the frontline of the government's fight against COVID-19 are mandated to receive HEA and other benefits. The post PHAPi: Cyber-attack on PhilHealth to further delay unpaid claims reimbursement appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Brawner denies 2 activists tortured
Armed Forces of the Philippines chief, General Romeo Brawner Jr., on Wednesday denied the allegations of torture by the two young activists who claimed they were abducted by soldiers in Bataan province. Brawner clarified that environmentalists Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano have undergone the military’s standard operating procedure for the rebel returnees. “We applied everything that is stipulated in our SOP when someone surrenders. We let them undergo medical examination the very first hour that they were brought to our custody when they surrendered,” Brawner said during the Senate deliberation on the proposed 2024 national budget of the Department of National Defense and its attached agencies. Brawner stood firm that Castro and Tamano “voluntarily surrendered” to the Philippine Army’s 70th Infantry Battalion in Plaridel, Bulacan, after going missing on 2 September. “When they surrendered. The first hour, we called for a doctor to do a physical examination on them. That’s why their statements that they were tied up with their other allegations of torture — are not true,” he said. In a government-sponsored press conference last week, Tamano and Castro made a surprising statement that they were “coerced to surrender” and “threatened” by the military. Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said Brawner’s assertion about the surrendering of Tamano and Castro could be backed by the statement of Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Rueda-Acosta. “Everything that they said was properly debunked by PAO chief Acosta. In that alone, their claims were already destroyed,” Dela Rosa said. Perjury raps Meanwhile, Defense Chief Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the government is preparing perjury charges against the two activists after they recanted their earlier statements, which were put through a “handwritten affidavit.” “There is a case preparation now, multi-agency case preparation for the filing of perjury charges against them. The sworn statements of the witnesses are being reviewed,” Teodoro said. The post Brawner denies 2 activists tortured appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Brawner denies military torture vs activists Tamano, Castro
Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Romeo Brawner Jr. on Wednesday denied the allegations of torture by the two young activists who claimed they were abducted by the soldiers in Bataan province. Brawner clarified that environmentalists, Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano, have undergone the military’s standard operating procedure for the rebel returnees. “We applied everything that nandoon po sa ating SOP kapag meron pong nagsu-surrender In fact, ang ginawa po natin pina-medical examination po natin the first hour na nadala po sa ating custody when they surrendered (We applied everything that is stipulated in our SOP when someone surrenders. In fact, what we did was we let them undergo medical examination the very first hour that they were brought to our custody when they surrendered),” Brawner said during the deliberation of the Senate Committee on Finance on the proposed 2024 national budget of the Department of National Defense and its attached agencies. Brawner stood firm that Castro and Tamano had “voluntarily surrendered” to the Philippine Army’s Philippine Army’s 70th Infantry Battalion in Plaridel, Bulacan after going missing for weeks. “When they surrendered. The first hour, we called for a doctor to do a physical examination on them. That’s why, their statements that they were tied up with their other allegations of torture—are not really true,” the AFP chief stressed. In a government-sponsored press conference last week, Tamano and Castro said they were “coerced to surrender” and “threatened” by the military. Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said Brawner’s assertion about the surrendering of Tamano and Castro could be backed by the statement of Public Attorney's Office chief Persida Rueda-Acosta. “Everything that they said was properly debunked by PAO chief Acosta. Wala talaga, sirang-sira sila doon (In that alone, their claims were already destroyed),” said Dela Rosa. Meanwhile, Defense Chief Gilberto Teodoro Jr. noted that the government is preparing perjury charges against the two activists after they recanted their earlier statements which were put through a “handwritten affidavit.” "There is a case preparation now, multi-agency case preparation for the filing of perjury charges against them. The sworn statements of the witnesses are being reviewed,” said Teodoro. The post Brawner denies military torture vs activists Tamano, Castro appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Solon: OVP ‘fund shift’ constitutional
One of the vice chairpersons of the House Committee on Appropriations on Sunday has joined other members of the panel in clarifying that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s transfer of P125 million to the office of Vice President Sara Duterte was not unconstitutional. Iloilo Representative Janette Garin stressed that the transfer of the Office of the President’s P221.42-million fund to the Office of the Vice President — which included the P125-million confidential fund allegedly spent by in just 19 days, was sourced from Marcos’ contingent fund. “The problem was that there was confusion about contingent funds versus confidential funds. And in my opinion, that was the first mistake because the people were confused because they thought that the used contingent fund of the Office of the Vice President was confidential,” Garin said in a radio interview on Sunday. “What happened here is that the confidential fund was tainted because it was not immediately answered or clarified. Just to be factual, what the Office of the Vice President used was a contingent fund that was included in the special purpose fund,” she added. The lawmaker explained that the special purpose fund is a fund of the President that he can use for current or new programs when a Cabinet official or an office requests it. The issue of the fund transfer first came when the Commission on Audit report revealed that the OVP spent P125 million in confidential funds for 2022. Then-Vice President Leni Robredo, who then prepared the 2022 budget of the OVP, said there was no line item for confidential funds in the budget they crafted. Confidential funds are used for discreet costs associated with surveillance operations carried out by civilian government agencies in support of their mandate or operations. Lawmakers Elizaldy Co and Stella Quimbo, the panel’s chair and the senior vice chair, earlier shed light on the issue, saying the transfer of the funds was allowed in the 2022 General Appropriations Act, despite opposition solons claims that it breached the law since there was no line item in the OVP’s 2022 budget on confidential funds. The Department of Budget and Management likewise defended the legality of such transfer in a letter sent to Co last week, which the latter has yet to provide a copy to the House reporters. Co said that the P125 million released to OVP came from the P7-billion budget set aside as contingent funds for 2022 and “was intended to support the OVP’s Good Governance Engagements and Social Services Projects,” citing DBM chief Amenah Pangandaman. Pangandaman, however, cleared that they did not bypass the House’s power over the purse when it released contingency funds to the OVP. The post Solon: OVP ‘fund shift’ constitutional appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
P17.5B worth of claims filed by Marawi siege victims
A total of P17,456,836,830 worth of claims have been filed by the victims of the 2017 Marawi siege, according to the chairperson of the Marawi Compensation Board. During the hearing of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act of 2022 on Monday, MCB chairperson Maisara Dandamun Latiph said the applications for compensation were filed by 4,762 claimants from 4 July to 31 August. The number represents only 19 percent of the estimated 23,489 individuals affected by the conflict. "These are people or individuals who claim that they have structure na nasira (that were destroyed) or they have a death claim. That 4,762 are claims filed. These are based on verified claims application forms (VCAF) that were filed by the claimants. VCAF means that they have filed a claim under oath," she added. Dandamun-Latiph said the filing of VCAF is just part of the step 1 process. Step 2 includes the second layer of evaluation by the lawyers and engineers. “Ibig sabihin, dadaan na naman siya sa second layer of verification which is yung (It means the claim still has to undergo a second layer of verification which is the) legal and technical evaluation," she said. So far, only 220 have been assessed while 120 claims worth P395 million have already been processed. Citing data from his office, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who chairs the panel, said the MCB needs to process at least P89 billion to compensate all the war victims. The government had initially earmarked only P1 billion for the compensation, which is being lodged under the MCB budget. Created under Republic Act 11696 or the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Law, MCB was tasked to oversee the process of application and payment of compensation to qualified claimants. Meanwhile, compensation rates are provided based on the implementing rules and regulations of MCB. A damaged structure will be compensated P12,000 per square meter (sqm) if it is concrete; P9,000 if mixed concrete and wood; and PP6,000 if made of light materials. Individuals with destroyed properties are to be paid P18,000 per square meter if structures were made of concrete; P13,500 per sqm if mixed concrete and wood; and P9,000 if made of light materials or mainly wood. A compensation of P350,000 will be given to kin or heirs of victims who died from the siege. Latiph said the Board is eyeing to complete the compensation process within five years. She said they are targeting to accommodate 200 claims daily, 150 recommendations a week, and 600 decisions a month. Dela Rosa said the MCB should make sure that the payments for siege victims will not put into corruption." As early as now, nakikita na namin dito kung gaano ka-importante yung role ninyo talaga diyan sa Marawi Compensation Board dahil nandiyan kayo sa gitna eh (we can see how important your role there in the Marawi Compensation Board because you are in the middle). You have to make sure that you are operating within the budget and fiscal capability ng ating gobyerno (of our government)," Dela Rosa said. "At the same time, you have to ensure duly and justly compensated lahat ng victims di ba? Ambigat ng papel niyo (all of the victims, right? Your role is very important). So, good luck. We are here to support you," he added. The data of the Task Force Bangon Marawi showed there are more than 17,000 households residing within the 24 most affected barangays in Marawi City, excluding businesses and other establishments. The five-month armed conflict in Marawi started on 23 May 2017 when members of the local Daesh-inspired Maute rebel group attacked the city. The government forces declared the war-torn city liberated on 17 October of the same year. But, the conflict left over 1,100 people dead and the center of Marawi City in shambles. The post P17.5B worth of claims filed by Marawi siege victims appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Trabaho lang, walang drama’: Hontiveros, VP Sara spar over confidential funds
“Trabaho lang, walang drama" (Just work, no drama). This was what Senator Risa Hontiveros said in reply to Vice President Sara Duterte's barb that she "amuses" the nation with her flair for drama over the VP office’s request for confidential funds. “VP Sara, I thought the OVP (Office of the Vice President) can live without confidential funds? Then why do you seem to be sweating over a budget hearing? All agencies are releasing their proposed budget,” Hontiveros asked in statement. “You are not special. If you’re so confident about those confidential funds, then defend them publicly,” she added. Duterte, who heads the OVP and Department of Education, is requesting a total of P650 million worth of confidential funds for the two agencies — P500 million and P150 million, respectively. The Vice President had earlier slammed Hontiveros and ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro, who both inquired about the confidential funds sought by offices under her watch. “Senator Risa Hontiveros, while she amuses the nation with her flair for drama, could only wish the 2022 OVP [confidential fund] was accessed illegally. It’s a shame they still cannot produce any proof to support their dirty imagination,” Duterte said in her statement. “The indignity they have caused Congress and the Senate should be enough for us not to give them serious attention,” she added. Hontiveros and Castro both condemned the transfer of P125 million worth of confidential funds from the Office of the President to the OVP, which Duterte admitted during the Senate Committee on Finance’s deliberations on the proposed P2.385 billion budget last week. In refuting Duterte’s claims, Hontiveros stressed that she is only doing her job as a legislator and budget scrutinizer. “It feels like the standards of the OVP have gone very low now. One is only doing one's job, and yet is accused of amusing the nation right away?” she said. “If there is anything amusing, it’s the almost half-hour of pointing fingers, evading questions, giving winding answers, and twisting the situation. They made the basic process of scrutinizing the people’s money a circus,” Hontiveros added. The lawmaker also maintained her position that the transfer of funds from the OP to the OVP last year was “illegal” and “unconstitutional.” “I don’t need to wish to have access to your office’s illegal confidential funds,” she said. “At least two former Senate Presidents -- Senator [Franklin] Drilon and Senator (Koko) Pimentel -- have said that the transfer of funds from the OP to OVP was illegal and unconstitutional.” Hontiveros urged the Vice President to answer what she described as the “real issue”; “Why does Duterte, the VP and Secretary of the Department of Education, have bigger confidential funds compared to the combined confidential funds of the DND (Department of National Defense) and the NICA (National Intelligence Coordinating Agency)?” “Why does she need a huge funding that will not be audited or disclosed to the public?” she asked. “Given the significant responsibility of government officials, I demand a shred of competence when it comes to fiscal matters — like any Filipino taxpayer,” she added. She continued: “Instead of spewing personal attacks and avoiding questions, it would be better if VP Sara herself just clarified the funds of her office for a national budget that is more transparent, more effective, and more responsive to the needs of our countrymen.” The post ‘Trabaho lang, walang drama’: Hontiveros, VP Sara spar over confidential funds appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PhilHealth vows to pay P27-B debt to hospitals in 90 days
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation on Wednesday promised to settle its outstanding debts to hospitals amounting to P27 million within 90 days. “I’m confident that within 90 days from today, a bulk or majority, if not all, of the P27 billion will be paid off,” PhilHealth President and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. said. “Hopefully, that will make the hospitals and the doctors happy,” Ledesma added. He made the commitment during the budget deliberation of the House Committee on Appropriations on the proposed P199 billion budget of the Department of Health for next year. According to the state insurer top official, the debit-credit payment method will be used to accelerate the payment for the unpaid hospital claims. Under the payment scheme, PhilHealth will only pay a certain portion of the unpaid claims of the hospitals. The remaining unpaid claims will be settled after the completion of processing requirements. In 2021, several private hospitals threatened to disengage with the state insurer purportedly due to its failure to settle its ballooning unpaid claims. The post PhilHealth vows to pay P27-B debt to hospitals in 90 days 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......»»
Logo redesign cheapest, says PAGCOR chair
The once-controversial redesign logo of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation that drew criticism from the public for costing P3 million in government funds is already the “cheapest,” said its chairperson Alejandro Tengco on Monday. Responding to Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel’s query during PAGCOR’s briefing on the 2024 national budget before the House Committee on Appropriations, Tengco justified the agency’s spending of P3 million for rebranding the logo was already a steal. In fact, he said, the graphic artist’s act of rebranding the old PAGCOR logo design for P3 million could be perceived as an act of charity. “That’s why that P3 million was very cheap,” Tengco said. During his interpolation, Manuel asked the top PAGCOR official why there was a need to spend such a vast amount, given that other international top brands such as Coca-cola, Twitter and Nike do not spend millions of dollars for such redesigning. “We, in the government, shouldn’t be saving more? And we claim we don’t have fiscal space for other budget items, but for that logo, there is,” Manuel said. The Makabayan lawmaker further noted that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, which is also a part of the bureaucracy, did not spend millions of funds to redesign its 10-year-old logo, released in 2020. Manuel also said that the country has many graphic artists that could come up with logos that would not cost much. Tengco, on the other hand, countered that the P3 million paid by PAGCOR not only accounts for the logo itself since the graphic designer also has other deliverables, such as traveling the country to examine various divisions and departments of the agency to install the new logo. Moreover, the PAGCOR chief disclosed to the panel that the modification of their logo was to counter thousands of counterfeit licenses now in circulation. Tengco bared that there have been reports from various regions in the Philippines and other international jurisdictions that there are close to a thousand fake licenses going around now. These fake licenses, he said, are being used for illicit operations worldwide, particularly in London, Turkey, Curacao, and also within the country’s borders. “So we decided to redesign the logo immediately to be able to counter such,” Tengco said, brushing off allegations that the revision of the logo was solely for the luxury of the chairman and the board. “So we have to rebrand. When you rebrand, that means you don’t just do a logo specifically. One, the graphic designer, who was awarded the design, has to ensure that the said logo’s implementation and use will be properly done,” the PAGCOR chief told the panel. Meanwhile, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez raised concerns that PAGCOR’s new logo could have infringed on the copyrights of Petron, which many believe have comparisons to PAGCOR’s logo. “It’s not only about the expedite of P3 million, but the fact that the logo that you have has a big similarity to the Petro logo. It looks the same,” Rodriguez said. Tengco, however, confidently answered Rodriguez that he himself examined the logo and denied claims that there was intent to duplicate Petron’s. “I have asked the artist, and we have also asked the artist of Petron. So far, nothing. Actually, eight logos were presented to the board,” he said. “Unfortunately, for some, that’s what the board chose. But definitely, the graphic artist had assured us that there was no infringement and there was no attempt to copy such,” Tengco added. The post Logo redesign cheapest, says PAGCOR chair appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»