Calls mount for Senate probe into LTFRB’s low funds utilization
“The LTFRB failed to fully deliver the Service Contracting Program within its original timeframe. Even with the extension of the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, they still flopped in fully utilizing their allocated budget for the program. These delays raise serious concerns on the capacity of the LTFRB to implement the program in the first place.".....»»
& lsquo;P40B Bayanihan funds idle& rsquo;
With almost P40 billion of the funds allotted to address gaps in the country’s COVID-19 response measures still not released, Senator Francis Pangilinan sought Thursday a Senate probe on the snail-paced disbursement and utilization of funds under Bayanihan 2......»»
Go calls for prudent utilization of DOH funds
Sen. Bong Go has commended the collaborative efforts that led to a significant increase in the 2024 budget for the Department of Health......»»
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......»»
Confidential funds: Case for transparency
The allocation of confidential funds in the national budget has been a long-standing practice aimed at providing the government with the flexibility to address unforeseen circumstances and sensitive issues. However, recent controversies in Congress have ignited a debate on whether these confidential funds should be scrutinized and possibly scrapped in the pursuit of greater transparency and accountability. Confidential funds have historical roots in the need for the government to respond swiftly to emergencies and delicate situations without compromising national security. These funds are often earmarked for intelligence activities, diplomatic initiatives, and crisis response. The inherent secrecy surrounding these allocations has traditionally been justified as essential for the effective functioning of government in critical times. The recent controversies in Congress, however, have cast a spotlight on potential abuses of confidential funds. Allegations of misappropriation, lack of oversight, and misuse of these funds have fueled calls for their elimination. In fact, militant groups have called on the government to stop what they termed a confidential fund spree that it fears has become a tradition in the Philippine budget system that deprived Filipinos of better living conditions. Critics argue that the secrecy surrounding these allocations fosters an environment ripe for corruption and undermines the principles of transparency and accountability. The confidential nature of these funds makes it challenging to establish a robust system of checks and balances. Without adequate oversight, there is a risk that these funds could be misused or diverted for purposes other than that originally intended, leading to a lack of accountability. The lack of transparency can create an environment conducive to corruption. The clandestine nature of confidential funds may tempt individuals to exploit these resources for personal gain, away from the scrutiny of auditors and oversight mechanisms. As recent controversies have demonstrated, public trust in government institutions can be severely eroded when mismanagement or corruption occurs. The perception that public funds are being used inappropriately can damage the relationship between citizens and their government. In weighing the advantages and disadvantages of retaining or scrapping confidential funds in the national budget, a delicate balance must be struck. Now that Congress is mulling realigning the confidential funds of multiple government agencies toward national security, lawmakers should ensure that the confidential funds of agencies that have nothing to do with national security would be realigned to public services. While the need for flexibility in crisis response and the imperative to safeguard national security remain compelling arguments in favor of maintaining confidential funds, the recent controversies in Congress highlight the risks associated with their lack of transparency and accountability. Rather than an outright elimination, a more prudent approach may involve instituting reforms to enhance oversight mechanisms and ensure the responsible use of confidential funds. Implementing robust auditing processes, increasing transparency in reporting, and involving independent bodies in overseeing these allocations could help strike a balance between the need for confidentiality and the imperative of public accountability. Ultimately, the debate over confidential funds should be approached with the recognition that the challenges faced by the government are dynamic and multifaceted. Striking the right balance between secrecy and accountability is crucial to ensuring that confidential funds serve their intended purposes without compromising the principles of good governance and public trust. As societies evolve, so too should the mechanisms in place to ensure that the allocation and utilization of public funds align with the values of transparency, accountability, and the common good. The post Confidential funds: Case for transparency appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Dela Rosa: FPRRD not nosy on VP Sara’s political issues
Former President Rodrigo Duterte is not prying on political issues concerning his daughter, Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, said Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa. “Hindi naman nakikialam si Pangulong Duterte, ‘no, pagdating sa gano’ng mga bagay. Hindi kami nakapag-usap tungkol diyan. Hindi siya nakikialam (President Duterte is not nosy when it comes to such thing. We have not talked about that. He is not interfering),” Dela Rosa said in a radio interview Sunday night. Earlier this week, some members of the House of Representatives eyeing realigning the confidential and intelligence funds of some civilian agencies, including the Department of Education and Office of the Vice President, to augment budgets of the intelligence and security forces tasked to resolve the increasing tensions in the West Philippine Sea. Dela Rosa emphasized that the former President respects the separation of the powers between the executive and legislative bodies. “The power of the purse solely belongs to the Congress. He never intervened even when he was the President, he respects the separation of powers of the executive and legislative branches of government,” he said. “On a personal note, wala siyang ginawang tawag, wala siyang ginawang pagbanggit at wala kaming ginawang pag-uusap patungkol diyan (On a personal note, he did not make any calls, he did not mention it and we did not talk about that matter,” he added. Dela Rosa was asked if the Senate would do the same plan to realign the civilian intelligence and confidential funds. He replied: “I can’t speak for and on behalf of my colleagues ‘no? The Senate is composed of 24 republics. May kanya-kanyang desisyon ‘yan, baka mamaya magkakamali ako sa aking forecast kasi pwedeng magbago, pwedeng magbago ‘yung isip ng isang senador pagdating sa botohan (They have their own decisions, maybe later I could make mistake in my forecast because it could change, a senator could always change his mind when voting time comes).” Dela Rosa said the chamber’s decision will always come out from the plenary session's result. “Hindi talaga ako makapagbigay sa’yo ng fearless forecast. Wala akong nakikita pa na magiging desisyon collectively ng ating Senado. So hintayin na lang natin (I couldn’t give you a fearless forecast right now. I still couldn’t see the collective decision in the Senate. So let’s just wait),” he stressed. As an ally to Dutertes, Dela Rosa sees the questioning of the OVP and DepEd’s CIF serves as “clear politicking” by the opposition. “So that’s... klarong pamumulitika ‘yan. Hindi naman lumabas ‘yang issue na ‘yan noon noong ang Vice President ay miyembro ng oposisyon (That’s a clear politicking. It does not came when the previous vice president was a member of the opposition). They were mum about that tackling of confidential and intelligence fund,” he said. Dela Rosa pointed out that the issue came with the opposition’s “aggressiveness” to downplay the possibility of Sara’s running as president in the next national elections. “Most likely pulitilka. May halong pulitika at ‘yun nga, meron din namang katuturan ‘yung mga sinasabi nila pero ‘yun nga, makikita mo ‘yung aggressiveness ay masasabi mo talaga may pamumulitika,” he said. The OVP has been in the limelight after the Commission on Audit reported that it has spent the P125 million CIF in just 11 days. Dela Rosa defended Sara noting that the COA’s report was only an observation and did not explicitly state that the OVP used its CIF in corruption. “Hindi naman sinabi ng COA na ‘yan ay corruption. That was an observation of COA na naubos (that it was exhausted) within that period of time. So is there a violation?" Dela Rosa said. Dela Rosa challenged Sara’s “detractors” to come out with evidence over the allegation that OVP and DepEd, under the vice president’s leadership, had utilized their CIF into graft and corruption. “Maghanap sila ng ebidensya na ito’y ibinulsa para siguruhin natin na ‘yung mga taong kurap ay hindi dapat manatili sa gobyerno. Pero kung ito’y ginamit sa tamang paraan (Find evidence that it was pocketed to make sure that corrupt individuals won’t last in the government. But if it is used appropriately), then my God, that’s Government Appropriations Act,” he said. The post Dela Rosa: FPRRD not nosy on VP Sara’s political issues appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Former Iloilo solon hurdles graft charges
The Sandiganbayan announced on Friday that it has cleared former Iloilo lawmaker Niel Tupas Jr. of graft and malversation raps over the alleged anomalous utilization of his P4.8-million pork barrel funds to a non-government organization in 2008. In a 99-page ruling dated 13 September but was released only on Friday, the anti-graft court’s Special Fourth Division found Tupas not guilty of breaching Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019) and Malversation through Falsification of Public Documents. His co-accused, Rhodora Mendoza and Romulo Relevo, ex-administrative and finance head, and ex-general services unit head respectively, of the now-defunct National Agri-Business Corporation or NABCOR, were also acquitted of the same charges for failure of the prosecution to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Filed by the Ombudsman in 2018, the case stemmed from the supposed misuse of Tupas’ Priority Development Assistance Fund worth P4,850,000 in 2008, supposedly intended to fund agricultural livelihood programs for Iloilo farmers. The funds were supposed to buy hand tractors, water pumps and grafted fruit seedlings, according to the Ombudsman. Tupas was accused of funneling his pork barrel to dubious NGO Kabuhayan at Kalusugan Alay Para sa Masa Foundation Inc. by utilizing the NABCOR as an intermediary. According to the Ombudsman, Tupas “unilaterally chose” and “indorsed” KKAMFI as a project partner to implement his livelihood projects for his district, notwithstanding that the foundation was “unaccredited” and “unqualified” to undertake such. Tupas and his co-respondents were accused of acting with manifest partially and evident bad faith by giving unwarranted benefits and advantages to the KKAMFI. The probe revealed that NABCOR and KKMFI entered into a memorandum of agreement on the purported implementation of Tupas’ PDAF-funded projects. NABCOR’s Mendoza and Relevo facilitated the disbursement of P4,850,000 to the foundation. The post Former Iloilo solon hurdles graft charges appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hontiveros calls for Senate probe into cult in Surigao abusing minors
The organization allegedly receives funding from pensions, and financial assistance of its members through the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and Assistance to Individuals in Crisis program.....»»
Solon expects stronger SK programs
Constituents of those who would be elected in the upcoming Sangguniang Kabataan elections could expect stronger and more progressive programs from their respective leaders, according to Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara on Sunday. Angara, who chairs the Senate Committee on Youth, said with the completion of the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 11768 which introduced new reforms to the SK system, the youth sector can expect better performance from their representatives. “Critics of the SK have questioned its relevance and see it as being politicized,” Angara said. “We introduced the amendments to the SK system in RA 11768 in response to these criticisms with the hope that the young members of the community who will be part of the body will do more as youth leaders and become strong partners of the government in nation-building,” he added. The lawmaker stressed that, for years, the SK has been criticized for undertaking the same activities that do little to benefit youth development such as organizing sportsfests and pageants. To address this, the law provides clear guidelines on the types of programs, projects, and activities that can be undertaken by the SK using the funds provided to them. These include the provision of student stipends, food, book and transportation allowances; sports and wellness projects; skills training, summer employment, cash-for-work, on-the-job training, and livelihood assistance; projects promoting the participation of the youth and their initiation in agricultural, fishery, and forestry enterprises; programs and activities that will locate the youth at the forefront of climate action, environmental protection and conservation efforts; capacity building for grassroots organization and leadership; and programs and activities that address context-specific and intersectional vulnerabilities of young people. “We want to ensure that the SK stays true to its mandate of providing the youth in the communities with programs that will be useful to them and help them become productive members of society,” Angara said. The new measure also addresses the waning interest of the youth in joining the SK, including the absence of honoraria for most of its members. Under the law, the SK members, secretaries and treasurers will now be entitled to allowances that will be charged against the SK funds. A cap of 25 percent on the utilization of SK funds for personnel services was included in the law to ensure that the bulk of the budget will go to programs, projects and activities that will benefit the youth. At present, only the SK chairpersons are entitled to honoraria by virtue of their status as ex-officio members of the Sangguniang Barangays. The measure also authorizes the local government units to provide additional honoraria, as well as social welfare contributions and hazard pay to the SK chairpersons and members through their own local ordinances. SK officials and members will be exempted from taking any components of the National Service Training Program. They will also be entitled to the appropriate civil service eligibility based on the years of service to the barangay, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Civil Service Commission. The post Solon expects stronger SK programs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Road rage
Those with sharp memories and local crime story buffs will never forget three road rage cases that hogged print and broadcast news headlines toward the end of the 20th century and into the millennium. These high-profile cases involving detainees Inocencio Gonzales, Rolito Go, and Jason Ivler ended in their conviction and sentencing to long prison terms, with their names forever etched in the annals of heinous crimes recorded in the country. A brief refresher. On 2 July 1991, a De La Salle University engineering student was driving on a one-way street in San Juan City, Metro Manila, when he ran into construction firm executive Rolito Go, plying the road from the opposite direction. After a brief altercation, Go shot Eldon Maguan in the head, who died in the aftermath. Go served 25 years in prison before he was released. Seven years later, in the middle of a heated argument over a parking slot, real estate developer Inocencio Gonzales Jr. lost his cool, which led to the fatal shooting of a pregnant woman and the wounding of two younger children with her and her husband at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City on 21 October 1998. Gonzalez was meted a 14-year prison term. In 2009, a nephew of music celebrity Freddie Aguilar, Jason Ivler, shot dead a son of former Malacañang official Renato Ebarle Sr. after a tiff on a Quezon City road. An earlier road incident in 2004 that snuffed the life of another Malacañang official, Nestor Ponce, also pointed to Ivler as the accused in Ponce’s death. A Quezon City court found Ivler guilty of the murder of Renato Ebarle Jr. and sentenced him to 40 years in jail. There are no available statistics on road rage incidents in the Philippines, but observers have noted an alarming increase in recent years. But in the United States, statistics show 413 people were hurt in road rage shootings in 2022, or a 135 percent increase from 2018. US traffic experts say confrontational driving is more often the case that could be caused by traffic conditions, inconsiderate motorists, and high stress levels among motorists with ages ranging from 19 to 39. Not too long ago, two road rage incidents that have gained public attention because of social media posts that had gone viral involved men in uniform. In the viral video of an incident in Quezon City, Wilfredo Gonzales, a policeman dismissed from the service for grave misconduct in 2018, was shown brandishing a gun and threatening a cyclist in a traffic row. Even more controversial was a press conference conducted by the QC police days later that suggested they were “lawyering” for Gonzales, a former QC policeman. The PNP has no mandate to host such a press conference, it was later learned. In a separate incident, a Pasay City policeman, SSgt. Marsan Dolipas was also shown in a video post holding down an armed Angelito Velasquez Rencio, who said he was an Intelligence agent, after a traffic dispute in Makati City when the latter allegedly sideswiped the policeman. Both incidents prompted the usual calls for an investigation. Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senator Rafael Tulfo have called for a Senate probe into the escalation of road rage cases in the country. It is interesting to note that even President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. filed Senate 2923 when he was still a senator back in 2011. The bill “hopes to once and for all stomp rood rage as on unnecessary and reprehensible evil, and define such as a circumstance that could aggravate, or even qualify, on offense occasioned by it. The incidents involve public order and safety, particularly “road sharing,” a concept that they said is often ignored or alien to many Filipino motorists, added the senators. For his part, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos, whose jurisdiction includes the control of the PNP, said: “For the sake of a peaceful and orderly society, we cannot allow a culture of impunity. We cannot allow bullies to intimidate people with deadly weapons. There must be consequences here.” Still, the incidents persist. Behavioral scientists attribute road rage to several reasons: A need to control other drivers who violate their space, unchecked anger or aggression, huge egos, or a need to be dominant. Others think the rise in incidents lately came about by the advent of Covid-19 when stress levels reached abnormally unreachable heights caused by depression, the loss of jobs or loved ones to the pandemic, and the inability to cope with such. Solutions have been suggested. Push for continuing driver anger management education. Discard the “it’s the other driver’s fault” excuse. Don’t allow anyone to push your “rage buttons” by staying calm and collected when an altercation appears to be headed your way. Yield to others. These may be easier said than done, but why not take the chance? As an anger management expert said: Realize road rage is ridiculous, life-threatening, and not something you have to participate in — ever. And you can arrive at your destination safe and sure. The post Road rage appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Dela Rosa: Amend cybercrime law to check suspects’ mobile data
The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs is eyeing amendments to Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 to allow the disclosure of computer data, including the content of calls or text messages by individuals who are subjects of case investigations. This suggestion came during Monday’s public hearing on the ambush of Aparri Vice Mayor Rommel Alameda in Nueva Vizcaya last 19 February, where Lt. Col. Christopher Luyun, officer in charge of the Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Unit of Cagayan Valley cited restrictions provided in RA 10175 as among the hurdles hampering the probe into the ambush of Alameda and five others. "We applied for a warrant to disclose computer data doon sa number ni Mayor Chan based sa affidavit ni Mrs. Alameda. However, noong una, sinagot ng (telecommunications firm) Globe na they don't have the equipment to save ‘yung traffic data. Pero nung inamend ‘yung warrant, nag-reapply kami Sir, nag-submit naman ‘yung Globe pero walang content" (At first, Globe responded saying they didn't have the equipment to save traffic data. But when we amended the warrant and reapplied, Globe submitted but there was no content), Luyun told the committee chaired by Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa. Aparri Mayor Bryan Chan was among the persons of interest in the attack on Alameda and his five companions in Purok 5, Sitio Kinakao, Baretbet, Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya. Under Section 14 of RA 10175, “law enforcement authorities, upon securing a court warrant, shall issue an order requiring any person or service provider to disclose or submit, within 72 hours from receipt of such order, subscriber’s information, traffic data or relevant data in his/its possession or control, in relation to a valid complaint officially docketed and assigned for investigation by law enforcement authorities, and the disclosure of which is necessary and relevant for the purpose of investigation.” Traffic data or non-content data refer to any computer data other than the content of the communication, including, but not limited to the communication’s origin, destination, route, time, date, size, duration or type of underlying service. "So maybe i-amend natin ‘yang batas na ‘yan na pagdating sa investigation ng isang krimen ay dapat obligado ang service provider like Globe to disclose to the investigating agencies ‘yung contents ng kanilang cellphone" (Maybe we should amend that law when it comes to the investigation of a crime, so service providers like Globe should be required to disclose to the investigating agencies the contents of their cellphone), Dela Rosa said. The committee also tackled several measures requiring the installation of closed-circuit television, the proposed Law Enforcement Body-worn Camera Act and the Checkpoint Regularization Act. The post Dela Rosa: Amend cybercrime law to check suspects’ mobile data appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bato calls for sustainability of AFP assets
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa emphasized the need for the government to prepare for sustainability and ensure the maintenance of procured defense assets while modernizing the Armed Forces of the Philippines. “As we move (toward) modernizing our Armed Forces, we must likewise prepare for the sustainability of these procured assets,” he said. Dela Rosa made the suggestion during Monday’s Senate public hearing on the National Defense Act and Self-Resilience Defense Posture Revitalization by the Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation held jointly with the Committees on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation, Ways and Means and Finance. “While we aim to modernize and strengthen our Armed Forces through the procurement of defense equipment and materiel, improvements should not only be limited to the development of defense capabilities,” Dela Rosa said. He said the country’s foreign policy and defense capability were constantly challenged by China, notably with the series of harassment incidents in the West Philippine Sea. Hence, he stressed, the modernization of the AFP should include military structures that are also adaptable to the changing times. “This was likewise the call of President Bongbong Marcos during his first State of the Nation Address when he recognized the need to amend the decades-old National Defense Act of 1935,” Dela Rosa said, noting that he has been advocating for legislative measures that will protect the country’s sovereignty against both internal and external security threats. Dela Rosa said the government should not only focus on acquiring modern defense equipment but also consider the training and retooling of soldiers so they could better use the procured AFP assets. “We acknowledge and welcome the call of the President to prioritize this legislative measure. Indeed, we must not surrender even a single inch of our territory,” he said. “While we rally behind him and his wisdom in peacefully resolving our territorial dispute, we also recognize and support his moves to accelerate the modernization of our troops,” he added. Dela Rosa said the issue of insufficient funds for the procurement of spare parts of various defense assets had been raised during the budget hearing last year. The post Bato calls for sustainability of AFP assets appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Left behind’ hospitals, clinics to benefit from mergers, acquisitions
Fortman Cline Capital Markets or FCCM, a corporate finance advisory and consulting firm, said Monday that small and independent hospitals as well as community clinics are now being left behind due to a “highly-fragmented” healthcare industry landscape. This landscape presents opportunities for mergers and acquisitions or M&A among the big players, which according to FCCM services managing director Francis S. Del Val could help small players to keep up and sustain operations. “It is something that we need to collectively focus on, those in the middle such as the independent hospitals, are the ones feeling the squeeze — those experiencing financial challenges and unavailable to grow their utilization because they don’t have enough allied healthcare professionals,” Del Val told reporters at a press briefing. Del Val noted that these players particularly need access to bigger capital to sustain their operations. “Before, we have community clinics in the poblacion, in the center of the town. If they fail, it means our patients would need to travel further. They are the ones at most risk,” he added. The FCCM executive also noted that consolidations and alliances will allow the industry to become more efficient and respond faster to emerging trends in the healthcare industry as well as to the impact of the Universal Health Care or UHC signed in 2019. Aside from the growing middle class and the impact of the UHC, the local healthcare industry also has the potential to grow further through medical tourism, he said. Several equity investors, with as much as $200 billion in funds, have reached out to FCCM to look for industry partners and local partners, he added. According to the Department of Health, there are 1,071 private hospitals and 721 public hospitals. Among the public hospitals, 70 are being operated by the DOH. The country’s leading hospital owners are led by Metro Pacific Health, with 3,895 beds; United Laboratories’ Mount Grace Hospitals, with 1,700 beds; St. Luke’s Medical Center, with 1,250 beds; The Medical City, with 1,040 beds, and AC Health, with 531 beds and over 100 clinics. Citing a research study by Congress, the country’s healthcare expenditure — including building healthcare facilities as well as paying for claims — reached P1.16 trillion in 2021, which represented a growth of 15 percent from the previous year. FCCM is a Hong Kong-based management consultancy firm focused on providing strategic advisory services to emerging conglomerates operating in specialized industries in Southeast Asia, among others. The post ‘Left behind’ hospitals, clinics to benefit from mergers, acquisitions appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Senate probe on school resumption proposed
To ascertain if basic education institutions are prepared to hold classes for school year 2023–2024, a Senate investigation is being sought. With the lifting of the public health emergency caused by Covid-19 and the threat of the El Niño phenomenon, proposed Senate Resolution 689 aims to shed light on how schools are preparing for classes. The sponsor of the motion pointed out that this year’s school break, which runs from 8 July to 27 August has become shorter due to the change in the academic calendar. On the other hand, remedial sessions will continue through 26 August in public schools. The draft resolution also calls for an immediate evaluation of the benefits and difficulties of holding in-person classes and using other forms of education. The public’s demand for the school vacation to be reinstated on its previous April-May schedule will also be taken into account. The Department of Education has previously stated that 29 August as opposed to 28 August may be the first day of classes. According to the DepEd, the department order for the school year 2023-2024 is currently being finalized. The post Senate probe on school resumption proposed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
ICC probe: Allow now, challenge later
The Philippines may just let the International Criminal Court’s investigation into the bloody drug war of the previous administration roll in the meantime and then challenge its jurisdiction later, according to Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez Thursday. The government, whose plea to block the probe fell on deaf ears, has high hopes the international tribunal would eventually grant its appeal to lay off the country. “The proper and only course of action for the Republic of the Philippines is to raise the issue of jurisdiction when the case is eventually filed in the ICC. Jurisdiction can be questioned at any stage of the proceedings,” said Rodriguez, a lawyer. “When the case is brought to the ICC, we raise the issue of jurisdiction, and the Philippines will surely secure its dismissal for lack of jurisdiction,” he added. Calls have been made to end the ICC’s probe into former President Rodrigo Duterte’s “war on drugs” that claimed thousands of lives during his six years in office that started in 2016. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has firmly maintained that the country would not engage with the ICC, insisting the government would not let the court interfere in the country’s business. ‘Oplan Tokhang’ Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who during the Duterte administration led the anti-drug campaign known as “Oplan Tokhang,” had previously said he was ready in case a warrant of arrest was served on him, but only if by Philippine authorities and not by any foreigner directed by the ICC. But for Rodriguez, the government officials concerned should compose themselves and study the ICC decision well. “There is no need for our government officials to make many extraneous comments on the decision,” he said. Some 6,000 persons were reportedly killed in Duterte’s drug war, according to government data, the majority of whom were from low-income families. However, local and international human rights organizations estimated the number of victims at more than 30,000. Meanwhile, senators expressed dismay at the ICC decision that turned down the Philippine appeal, saying there was no need for it since the Philippines has a “working justice system.” Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. on Thursday said the ICC should not be allowed to meddle in the country’s affairs. “We do not need to remind them that we are a free, independent, and sovereign nation governed by our laws,” he said. Revilla said that since Philippine government officials will be held liable for violations, the laws of the country should prevail and not of foreign prosecutors. “I am befuddled by the ICC’s pursuit of this obvious baseless persecution while legitimate concerns and crimes against humanity are being perpetrated in other parts of the world as we speak. It is obvious the ICC’s interest here is not justice but something else entirely,” he said. Operating very well Senator Mark Villar said there was no need for any international body to intervene in the country’s justice system, stressing that Philippine democracy is fully functioning. He said the Philippine justice system is “operating very well” and it could address its own human rights concerns. “Our government has a very strong justice system that is working so I don’t think we need international interference. We have our courts, we have a strong justice system, that’s what I believe,” Villar said in a recent interview. Aside from Duterte and Dela Rosa, the ICC report included Senator Christopher “Bong” Go and incumbent Vice President Sara Duterte in the probe. Unfazed Dela Rosa has remained unfazed by the ICC ruling and is even mulling another Senate term, although he said the ICC probe will affect a reelection bid. “Since I am identified with the former president, I may not get the votes. The votes I will get will be those in support of [former] president Duterte. But the support may even grow since many Filipinos are also angered by [the ICC’s] interference in our sovereignty, so its impact on my reelection bid may even be positive,” he said. Dela Rosa reiterated that the drug war was launched by the Duterte administration not for any personal gain but “to protect the Filipino people from the drug menace, especially our youth.” The post ICC probe: Allow now, challenge later appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Multiple grammars of land reform law
The newly-minted Republic Act No. 11953 is a class legislation, at least insofar as it is pro-landless poor, but that is not to say that the landowners will not be justly compensated in the same breath. The latter may turn out to be not even the “silent losers” in this highly experimental stroke of legislative genius. Some cynics might even suspect it to be Adam Smith’s concept of the “invisible hand.” Recall that in another imminent enactment, namely, the “Maharlika Investment Fund,” the Land Bank of the Philippines will contribute P50 billion as its equity as if this will not badly affect its capital build-up as a government financing institution. With the New Agrarian Emancipation Act of 2023, the P58 billion that agrarian reform beneficiaries owed to Land Bank was, in effect, written off. It is as though this huge sum of “foregone revenues” coupled with the seed money it will download to the MIF would still allow Land Bank to sail on an even keel. Pareto efficiency has become the name of the game — “an economic state where resources cannot be reallocated to make one better off without making at least one individual worse off.” How clever of the government to turn Land Bank into neither victim nor villain. Never strange bedfellows, the Department of Agrarian Reform and Land Bank will formulate the necessary Implementing Rules and Regulations. Meanwhile, there’s always a lone voice in the Lower Chamber who plays harbinger of unfolding scenarios. He calls the new land reform law the “best and biggest accomplishment’ of FM Jr. in his first year, it being “historic in scale, in world view, and in what it will bring to the people,” and an “important step toward rural and agrarian justice.” If that were not preaching to the choir, what is? As it now graphically appears, the P500-billion capitalization, “fund-raising project” if you will, for the Maharlika Investment Corporation is akin to an empty vault that has to be filled with tons of money. We are all led to believe that funds create wealth when it should be the other way around. As Jim Morrison says, “Whoever controls the media, controls the mind.” No less than the House Speaker plays poster boy for the administration’s policy agenda. Recall that Executive Order No. 4 signed on the President’s 65th birthday (i.e. 13 September 2022) is “implementing a moratorium on the payment of the principal obligation and interest of the amortization due and payable by agrarian reform beneficiaries.” Wonder how a supposedly one-year relief from the debt burden has been lifted forever when RA No. 11953 supersedes EO No. 4 as a mere placeholder. In the one-year freeze or if not enabling Land Bank to collect payment from the farmer-beneficiaries of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, the former loses billions in revenue. What adds insult to injury in the context of the new policy configuration is that all 30 annual amortizations will be written off. How well Land Bank can absorb the shock seems behind us. With the new emancipation law, the good President has written off P58 billion, benefiting around 654,000 ARBs and involving a total of 1.18 million hectares of awarded lands. When FM Jr. thought of “continuing economic relief to ARBs” to help them “recover and ensure food security in the county amidst global uncertainties,” the requisite impact report implementing the order has become moot and academic. That original Senate Bill No. 1112 authored by the President’s senator-sister is meant to emancipate ARBs from the debt burden through the free award of agricultural lands — individually titled rather than collectively; zero compensation for the Land Bank instead of P58 billion in receivables (i.e. amortization payments); a CLOA free of the 10-year restriction; and condonation and individual titling that will complete the emancipation of landless farmers. Once duly titled — fast-forwarding to the future — into whose hands will the agricultural lands fall? The post Multiple grammars of land reform law appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Maharlika bill in Marcos’ hands
Malacañang on Wednesday confirmed that the controversial Maharlika Investment Fund Bill has already been transmitted to the Office of the President. The Palace made the confirmation through Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil after the office of Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said on Tuesday that House Speaker Martin Romualdez signed the final version of the MIF bill. Zubiri’s office added that the MIF bill was transmitted to the OP on Tuesday through the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office. “Maharlika bill received yesterday by Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs,” said Garafil in a Viber message to reporters. The bill now solely requires President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s endorsement and signature to be enacted as a law. However, Garafil said there is no announced date yet for Marcos to sign the Maharlika bill. To recall, Marcos mentioned last month that he would “immediately sign” the bill once he received it, but he clarified that he would still need to review the changes made in the Congress’ approved version of the proposed sovereign fund, which he said should be independent of the government to become successful. In an interview following the 85th anniversary of the Securities and Exchange Commission last month, Marcos underscored that the MIF would be “independent” from the government once established through law. “Even I proposed to the House was to remove the president as part of the board, to remove Central Bank chairman, to remove the Department of Finance because it has to operate as an independent fund, well managed professionally,” Marcos said. The MIF bill introduces a sovereign wealth fund that aims to invest in various assets such as foreign currencies, fixed-income instruments, domestic and international corporate bonds, commercial real estate, and infrastructure projects. This initiative is intended to boost economic development. The bill calls for the creation of the Maharlika Investment Corporation, which will serve as the exclusive entity responsible for mobilizing and utilizing the MIF for investment transactions, with the goal of generating optimal returns on investments. According to the proposed legislation, the MIF will not utilize the funds of the Social Security System, Government Service Insurance System, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or Home Development Mutual Fund. The post Maharlika bill in Marcos’ hands appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Frasco gets love amid video ad fiasco
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco received a bunch of love and support from various government officials after her department got involved in the brouhaha surrounding the “Love the Philippines” campaign video that featured tourist scenes that turned out to have been shot in other countries. On Wednesday, former Tourism Secretary Mina Gabor sent a letter of support to Frasco, saying that she was backing the “Love the Philippines” rebrand and that she “genuinely believes it is authentic and has the legs to go global.” “Keep on moving forward! This is just a tiny bump on the road,” said Gabor, the chairperson and president of the International School of Sustainable Tourism. Meanwhile, Cebu 5th District Board Member Andrei Duterte signed a resolution expressing Cebu officials’ support for the DoT’s tourism campaign slogan “Love the Philippines” and for Frasco, “a true-blooded Cebuana and former mayor of Liloan, Cebu.” Lawmakers’ backing For Senator Christopher Lawrence Bong Go, a member of the Senate Committee on Tourism, what is important is not to lose sight of what the campaign is all about — which is to love the Philippines and share the love that Filipinos are known for. “Being a member of the Senate committee on tourism, we must work together to correct any mistakes, improve our efforts to promote our country, and give our support to the efforts of the present administration to uplift our economy and the lives of the poor,” Go said in a statement. He said what is important is the sincerity to perform the duty well and to serve the nation by ensuring that no public funds go to waste. “With this, I continue to support Secretary Frasco and the rest of the DoT for their efforts to further improve our country’s tourism sector. I laud their immediate action in addressing the issue that the promotional video has caused and in ensuring that public funds are not wasted. Instead of dwelling on the problem, let us work together to provide solutions,” he said. Senator Sonny Angara said the video mess “should not diminish” the accomplishments of Frasco in promoting the country to the world. Angara commended Frasco for swiftly terminating the DoT’s contract with advertising agency DDB Philippines. “Clearly there were issues with what was presented by the advertising agency but what is important is that Secretary Frasco acted immediately to address the issue and ensure that no public funds were wasted for this purpose,” he said. Angara said Frasco should be given a chance to redeem herself, citing the latter’s efforts to revive the country’s tourism industry hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. “What the DoT has done over the past two years following the pandemic has been remarkable and with Secretary Frasco leading the charge in declaring the Philippines open for tourists, I am confident that Philippine tourism will be able to reach new heights and the world will see the many reasons to love the Philippines,” he said. Records show the DoT has logged 2.67 million international visitor arrivals as of 29 June this year, 2.44 million of them foreigners. The DoT is targeting a baseline of 4.8 million international tourist arrivals. In 2022, the industry contributed 6.2 percent to the country’s gross domestic product, churning P1.87 trillion in tourism revenues. Limbo Meanwhile, Senator Nancy Binay said the campaign for the country’s new tourism slogan is now in “marketing limbo.” Binay said the DoT should “accept” that the enhancement of the Philippine tourism brand is going through uncertainties following the video mess of its contracted advertising agency. The DoT said an “exhaustive” investigation into the use of non-original video footage by the agency, DDB Philippines, is ongoing. The probe follows the DoT’s termination of the contract with the ad agency for more promotional tourism videos. “We appreciate the actions taken by the DoT against the ad agency. But the big question right now is whether or not to continue with the ‘Love’ campaign,” Binay said. Ending deal with DDB On Monday, the DoT announced it was terminating its contract with DDB Philippines, stating that they are one with Filipinos in expressing outrage and extreme disappointment at the use of non-original/stock footage purporting to be scenes from the Philippines as a component of the launch of the enhanced tourism branding campaign, “Love the Philippines.” Under the terms of the DoT’s contract with DDB Philippines, “material/s produced by the winning bidder should be original and aligned with the DoT’s advocacies.” “The DoT reserves the right to change, suspend, or discontinue temporarily or permanently the contract at any time should the DoT deem the agency incapable of the project,” the statement read. @tribunephl_raf @tribunephl_Lade The post Frasco gets love amid video ad fiasco appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Controversial MIF already with the Office of the President
The controversial measure seeking to create a Maharlika Investment Fund was already transmitted to the Office of the President, Malacañang confirmed on Wednesday. The Palace made the confirmation through Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil after the office of Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said on Tuesday that House Speaker Martin Romualdez signed the final version of the MIF bill. Zubiri's office added that the MIF bill was transmitted to the OP yesterday through the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office. "Maharlika bill received yesterday by Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs," said Garafil in a Viber message to reporters on Wednesday. The bill now solely requires Marcos' endorsement and signature to be enacted as a law. However, Garafil said there is no announced date yet for Marcos to sign the Maharlika bill. To recall, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. mentioned last month that he would "immediately sign" the bill once he received it. But the Chief Executive said he would still need to review the changes made in the Congress' approved version of the proposed sovereign fund, which he said should be independent of the government to become successful. In an interview following the 85th anniversary of the Securities and Exchange Commission last month, Marcos underscored that the MIF would be "independent" from the government once established through law. "Even I proposed to the House was to remove the president as part of the board, to remove Central Bank chairman, to remove the Department of Finance because it has to operate as an independent fund, well managed professionally," Marcos said. The MIF bill introduces a sovereign wealth fund that aims to invest in various assets such as foreign currencies, fixed-income instruments, domestic and international corporate bonds, commercial real estate, and infrastructure projects. This initiative is intended to boost economic development. The bill calls for the creation of the Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC), which will serve as the exclusive entity responsible for mobilizing and utilizing the MIF for investment transactions, with the goal of generating optimal returns on investments (ROIs). According to the proposed legislation, the MIF will not utilize the funds of the Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), or Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF). The post Controversial MIF already with the Office of the President appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Gov’t eyes natural park within Mayon’s 6-km danger zones
The Office of Civil Defense is proposing the development of a natural park within the six-kilometer permanent danger zones of the Mayon Volcano in Albay province. In a news forum on Saturday, OCD Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said the agency is still assessing the current situation in the province amid the ongoing restiveness of the Mayon Volcano. There’s an ongoing discussion on the feasibility of the proposed development project, he added. “It has been discussed but the drafting of the proposal is yet to be done,” Nepomuceno said, noting that the OCD is still weighing the challenges brought by the volcano’s unrest, including evacuation of residents and provision of sufficient resources for the affected residents. Nepomuceno said OCD sees the natural park project as the long-term solution during disasters. “It would ease the burden of both the local and national governments and would better manage their respective disaster and relief funds,” he stressed. He emphasized that there should be no structures and no residents residing within the declared permanent danger zone. Hence, Nepomuceno said, the OCD is planning to conduct thorough research on related legislation that may be pending or existing policies for enforcement such as the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas or Republic Act 11038. He added that the law declares Mount Mayon Natural Park as among the 94 sites declared as protected areas. Nepomuceno said that they are already in talks with the members of Congress and the Senate to push legislation for a park development project in the area. “We will lobby for that,” he said. The post Gov’t eyes natural park within Mayon’s 6-km danger zones appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Contradictions welcome
The debate among University of the Philippines economists is encouraging, considering that the best minds in the land are supplying their views on the Maharlika Investment Fund or MIF. The current crop of state university sages, who include former government officials and the economic team led by Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno and who are mostly professors at the UP School of Economics or UPSE, have taken center stage after UPSE published a discussion paper labeling the MIF bill as “still beyond repair” after the measure hurdled Congress. The paper said the MIF is a violation of “fundamental principles of economics and finance” that could “pose serious risks to the economy and the public sector.” The MIF, among its biggest shortcomings, is it’s being a topic that most Filipinos find too complex, the understanding of which is better left to the elected officials. Beyond the calls for political action, such as President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. vetoing the MIF proposal and sending it back to Congress, which is highly unlikely, valid points were raised in the UPSE paper, which is much more than the potshots of the obstructionists in the Senate. One of the UPSE issues about the MIF is it’s not being “in accordance with the Philippine Development Plan for the next six years.” “The MIF’s macroeconomic implications on, say, inflation and the deficit have also not been explored and articulated by its proponents. This, even if SIFs (sovereign investment funds) should ideally aim for ‘macroeconomic coherence’ by aligning with the government’s overall development plan, including, for example, its fiscal program,” the authors argued. Diokno urged his colleagues to further review the evolving measure which is still being ironed out before its submission to President Marcos for his signature. As the Senate had introduced several provisions in the bill, the academicians may have used outdated data. From there, the intelligentsia should allow the benefit of the doubt and infuse trust in the administration. While the UPSE encourages “inherent contradiction,” which deepens the discussion and thus allows for clearer and deeper perspectives, Diokno encourages the use of current data. “I think they have to read the Senate version first. I think it’s just another one, you know. It will become a matter of trust. It’s like there’s so much distrust. Didn’t they put numerous safeguards in the Senate?” Diokno said. Public discussion of the issue redounds to a deeper understanding of the use of the sovereign wealth fund which many Filipinos remain clueless about. The detractors use this vague understanding of the MIF to capitalize on mudslinging with sweeping allegations, such as it will be prone to corruption and the pension funds will be pilfered. The MIF’s basic element, however, is it’s being a tool for funding priority infrastructure projects, such as the construction of new roads, railways, and airports, as the government plans to spend 10 to 12 percent of GDP on infrastructure in the next few years. The main source of government revenue is taxes that mostly fall short of the required spending for development, thus the ever-rising fiscal deficits yearly. Debts then cover the gap between funds raised through taxes and the cost of government programs. The MIF opens a new source of earnings for the government to cut its reliance on borrowings to cover revenue shortfalls. The discussion also helps since, as Diokno said, there is no turning back on the MIF as it already received congressional approval and will likely be signed by President Marcos soon. The Supreme Court will be the last venue to challenge the law after President Marcos signs it but legal experts said the tribunal will likely defer to the separation of powers of the branches of government to reject its intervention. Discussions on the measure, nonetheless, must continue for a wider understanding of its aims which are all about keeping the economy strong. The post Contradictions welcome appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»