Grammys scrap & lsquo;secret& rsquo; nomination committees
The organizers of the Grammys said Friday they were scrapping the "secret" committees that select which acts get nominated for the prestigious music awards following criticism from artists and allegations of rigging......»»
RSBS revisited
All it required, inherent vulnerabilities notwithstanding, to “screw up” the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Retirement and Separation Benefits System, was a meeting of minds between the Chief of Staff of the AFP and the Secretary of National Defense. In short, it was a classic case of “partners in crime” — what one administered, the other approved. Under Presidential Decree 361, the CSAFP administered the RSBS through a board organized by himself, subject to the SND’s approval. There was a nine-man Board of Trustees that the CSAFP appointed, from its president down. PD 361 stipulated that the retirement benefits of retiring AFP personnel would be paid out of annual congressional appropriations for the AFP. Per the proviso, when the payment of retirees’ pensions exceeded P100 million in any year, the excess would be paid out of the RSBS funds. After the initial seed capital of P200 million had been given to RSBS, no further sums were appropriated/paid into RSBS. No Congress — across the terms of Presidents Corazon Aquino, Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada — initiated appropriations for the RSBS pension system. Since then, the retirement benefits for retiring AFP personnel were included in the regular annual appropriation for the AFP in the General Appropriations Act. Under PD 1656 dated 21 December 1979, 5 percent of the monthly base pay of AFP personnel was to be deducted as their compulsory contribution to their retirement fund. RSBS thus became an investment company mandated to “provide perpetually the cash requirement for the retirement benefits of military personnel on a self-sustaining basis.” However, the yearly cash requirement for the retirement benefits shall come from the annual general appropriation for the AFP until “perpetual self-sufficiency of the funds is attained as determined by actuarial evaluation.” The truth, however, was that the national government continued to fund the annual pension requirement for retired and retiring military members to which the RSBS contributed nothing or ever took up the burden. Apparently, the only “statutory obligation of the RSBS was to return the compulsory contributions of members of the AFP upon retirement.” What was quite strange was that RSBS was allowed to use the contributions of AFP personnel to generate investment revenues that were tax-exempt, without paying compensation for its use. It was a good thing that on 25 February 1992, a standard operating procedure provided for a “grant” of 4 percent interest per annum on members’ contributions compounded yearly effective January 1992 and it was tax-exempt. Again, effective in January 1996, the tax-exemption granted to members’ contributions was increased to 6 percent per annum compounded annually. These compulsory contributions constituted a continuing significant source of investible funds. For example, the aggregate total of members’ contributions returnable upon members’ compulsory retirement at year-end 2002 stood at P3.5 billion. However, the yearly inflow of members’ contributions in the last five years (1998 to 2002 inclusive) was around P2.5 billion. Apparently, RSBS aggressively went into real estate investment and portfolio loans to new companies. It also plunged into heavy short-term borrowing to expand these two-fold pursuits. The 1997 Asian Financial Crisis that precipitated a drop in real estate values in the country affected RSBS, resulting in losses over the years 1998 to 2001, not to mention the interest expense over the same period due to short-term borrowings which may well have run to P1.8 billion (1997 to 1999). The Senate Committees on Accountability of Public Officers and Blue Ribbon did a joint inquiry on alleged anomalies at RSBS where it was found that “very extensive real estate acquisitions by RSBS were attended by massive overpricing.” The initial report came out on 21 December 1998 and the final one on 20 May 1999. Verily, the Senate committee reports, together with the principal findings and recommendations of the fact-finding commission on the RSBS problem, were well documented and instructive to policymakers. Ideally, an AFP Service and Insurance System must be insulated from the reach of both the CSAFP and the SND, lest the vicious cycle recur. (Note. The RSBS was dissolved by Executive Order 590 on 31 December 2006.) The post RSBS revisited appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Confidential funds stay, but more questions arise
Amid questions raised from within and outside Congress, the proposed budgets for 2024 of the Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President – including their controversial secret funds totaling P5.21 billion – were summarily passed this week by the respective appropriations committees of the House and the Senate......»»
ROTC games end on high note
ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Mindanao Qualifying Leg of the Philippine ROTC Games culminated on Saturday with a resounding success as it highlighted sports development and the discovery of new talents and promotion of the Reserve Officers Training Corps. ROTC Games honorary chairperson Senator Francis Tolentino lauded the athletes and people behind the successful Mindanao Qualifying Leg of PRG during the closing rites held at the Zamboanga Peninsula Polytechnic State University gymnasium here last Saturday. The senator stressed that the PRG is aimed at boosting greater engagement among college students in both the ROTC and sports as he commended the efforts of Zamboanga City Mayor John Dalipe and the organizing committees for the very successful conduct of the Mindanao leg games held on 27 August to 2 September. The PRG Mindanao leg tournament featured cadet-athletes from various Reserve Officers’ Training Corps units from different colleges and universities in six regions in Mindanao — Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), Region 10 (Northern Mindanao), Region 11 (Davao Region), Region 12 (SOCCSKSARGEN), Region 13 (Caraga), and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The post ROTC games end on high note appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM designates Crespillo as new WesMinCom chief
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. designated MGen. Steve Crespillo as the 17th Commander of the Western Mindanao Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Department of National Defense announced Saturday. Crespilllo is a member of the Philippine Military Academy’s “Bigkis Lahi” Class of 1990. Before his new designation, Crespillo served as the vice commander of the Philippine Army. He also chaired various boards and committees of the Philippine Army and performed oversight functions on the Army’s key policies, plans, and programs. Crespillo was a former commander of the 501st Infantry Brigade, leading troops in efforts to end the local communist armed conflict in Apayao and Cagayan. He was also designated as chief of staff and assistant division commander for reservist and retiree affairs of the 6th Infantry Division, and acting commander of the 601st Infantry Brigade. Crespillo previously served the WesMinCom as the chief of the Unified Command Staff—overseeing operations in the Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The post PBBM designates Crespillo as new WesMinCom chief appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
SC stops Cagayan governors House detention
The Supreme Court has stopped the House of Representatives from detaining Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba over his failure to attend the hearings of the House committees on public accounts and on suffrage and electoral reforms......»»
Roles and responsibilities of board of directors
An effective and well-functioning board starts with knowing the roles, responsibilities, and liabilities of all members as well as their functions in different committees they are assigned to......»»
Complaint filed for use of Leachon identity
Dr. Anthony C. Leachon lodged a complaint with the National Bureau of Investigation yesterday seeking to address the unauthorized and deceitful use of his professional identity for endorsing dubious health products. The eminent physician, health reform advocate, and past president of the Philippine College of Physicians, was accompanied by his legal counsel, Atty. John Paul Nabua in filing the complaint. Dr. Leachon, a recognized expert in the medical field and an internist and cardiologist at the prestigious Manila Doctor’s Hospital, has been at the forefront of public health efforts. He was appointed as special adviser of the National Task force against Covid-19 at the height of the pandemic, due to his extensive experience and dedication to public health advocacy. Only recently, he was appointed as Special Adviser for Noncommunicable Diseases under the Department of Health, where he lends his extensive expertise and experience to promote public health. The focal point of the complaint pertains to the unscrupulous exploitation of Dr. Leachon’s revered identity for the endorsement of unverified health products such as Dianorm, Jointlab, Glufarelin, GrandSure Gold, through deceptive online promotions. Leachon said the unethical conduct not only deceives the public but also threatens their health and well-being. In his official complaint, Dr. Leachon delineated several instances where his image and standing were wrongfully misused: Unidentified parties capitalized on his prominence by endorsing questionable products with fictitious curative claims. Unauthorized websites falsely attributed scientifically inaccurate declarations to Dr. Leachon, including the false endorsement of products as diabetes cures. Dr. Leachon’s photograph and name were harnessed without consent on various websites, creating a misleading illusion of his endorsement. False assertions and misattributed statements were used to manipulate the public into believing that Dr. Leachon advocates for these unverified health products. The known doctor firmly repudiates endorsing any of these products and has used his official Facebook page “Dr. Tony Leachon” to disseminate clarifications. Moreover, he has proactively initiated measures to raise awareness about these deceptive endorsements and has officially notified the public. The gravity of these fraudulent acts prompted the Senate to consider a comprehensive investigation into the matter. Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada introduced P.S. Res. 666, urging Senate committees to conduct a probe into these fraudulent online advertisements. Health Secretary Ted Herbosa has taken a stand against fraudulent practices by pledging to instruct Dr. Samuel Zacate, Director of the Food and Drug Administration, to collaborate with the NBI to combat the proliferation of fake online ads using prominent endorsers of drug and food supplements. The post Complaint filed for use of Leachon identity appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
House panel orders Mamba detained
Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba, the principal subject of a joint investigation by two House panels, was cited in contempt yesterday for repeatedly failing to attend the hearings despite being summoned. The House Public Accounts and Electoral Committees carried out Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop’s motion to penalize Mamba with detention. “Since the governor of Cagayan was not able to obey the processes of these two committees, in the spirit of equitable provision of the law, may I move to cite the governor of Cagayan?” Acop said. The panel is looking into the alleged illegal use of government funds by Cagayan during the 2022 election campaign period. The province was accused of distributing cash and other assistance to registered voters and barangays. Lawmakers, during its probe on 7 August, cited in contempt five officials of Cagayan province over their non-appearance in the investigation. While the panel issued a stern summons for the five, it, however, allowed 12 others, including Mamba to explain their absence to the committee. The post House panel orders Mamba detained appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Congress terminates BuCor probe, Catapang says will not resign
The investigation being conducted at the House of Representatives by the joint Committees on Justice and Public Order and Safety on the disappearance of a person deprived of liberty inside the New Bilibid Prison has been terminated. Both committees were informed by Bureau of Corrections Director Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. that another angle is being pursued by BuCor investigators: that Michael Cataroja, the PDL under investigation, might still be alive. He was reported missing on 15 July 2023. Catapang said bureau operatives visited and talked to Cataroja’s mother, Florence, residing at Sitio Manahan Bato, Brgy. San Isidro, Angono, Rizal, on 5 August. Florence told the investigating officer that the last conversation she had with her son was sometime in June when Cataroja asked her to send him P200. If her son will contact her again, she will surrender him to Senator Raffy Tulfo to secure his safety, said Cataroja's mother. Another BuCor operative also obtained information from a female informant that she saw Cataroja roaming around the area in the latter part of July, while another male informant claimed to have seen Cataroja in the vicinity around 22 July. The BuCor has also coordinated with the Angono Municipal Police as well as barangay police and tanod in Angono, Rizal to arrest Cataroja or alert them should Cataroja reappear in the area. In terminating the hearing, Rep. Dan Fernandez, chairman of the Committee on Public Order and Safety, said the objective of the committee is to have different agencies such as the Bureau of Corrections, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the National Bureau of Investigation strengthen their coordination efforts. Fernandez urged the BuCor to renew its coordination with PDEA by forging a memorandum of agreement and provide them with an office inside the BuCor to assist them in their fight to eliminate the drug problem inside the NBP. Responding to the challenge by Rep. Bienvenido Abante of the 6th District of Manila for him to resign if he fails to reform and solve corruption in the bureau, Catapang said he serves “at the pleasure of the Filipino people, the President, and the Secretary, but right now I will not resign. Just give me more time because sinalo ko lahat ng problemang ito.” The post Congress terminates BuCor probe, Catapang says will not resign appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Belmonte named Presidential Lingkod-Bayan awardee
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has been named regional winner of the Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award from the Civil Service Commission National Capital Region for its 2023 Search for Outstanding Government Workers. The certificate, issued 19 May and presented yesterday, was signed by CSC NCR Committee Chairperson Judith Dongallo-Chicano and Committee Members Maverick Sevilla, Joselito Florendo, Hans Alcantara, and Vlademir Villacorta, in recognition of Belmonte’s outstanding performance as a public servant. “We thank the CSC for this big honor. This is not for me but for all our city government workers serving our QCitizens,” Belmonte said. “If not for them, we would have not received this recognition for our service, programs and projects,” she added. Established by virtue of Executive Order No. 508, s-1992, the Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award is given for outstanding work performance and contributors with national impact. According to the CSC process, the names of the regional winners will then be forwarded to the Honor Awards Program National Secretariat for review before a national qualifier will be determined. The Committee on Awards for the Presidential Lingkod Bayan and CSC Pagasa, and the Committee on the Outstanding Public Officials and Employees (Dangal ng Bayan) Award will deliberate at the national level. The said committees are composed of government officials appointed by the President of the Philippines, members of the Commission, heads of constitutional bodies, and prominent Filipino citizens who are not in government service. The semifinalists will be determined after the first round of deliberations and they will undergo background investigation to verify their accomplishments, as well as clearances from appropriate government agencies. These will be considered during the second round of deliberations before the list of finalists is submitted to the Office of the President for vetting and approval. Several QC government officials, led by City Administrator Michael Alimurung, were also nominated for the Pagasa Award, along with Chief of Staff Rowena Macatao, Business Permits, and Licensing Department Head Margarita Santos, City Engineer Atty. Dale Perral, and City Treasurer Edgar Villanueva. The late traffic enforcer Jeffrey Antolin was also nominated for the Dangal ng Bayan Award for giving his life to save a commuter from harm. The post Belmonte named Presidential Lingkod-Bayan awardee appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Did a councilor quit committee leadership over squabble with Duterte?
A senior Davao City councilor resigned from his chairmanship of two key committees during Tuesday’s session, August 8, raising speculation of a rift with the city mayor......»»
Bong Go bats for improved compensation, benefits for BHWs
During a public hearing conducted by the Health Subcommittee on the Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers, and joint with the Committees on Local Government, Ways and Means, and Finance on 7 August, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go reiterated the importance of prioritizing and elevating the status of Barangay Health Workers (BHWs). Go stressed the critical need to harmonize benefits for barangay personnel to align with the principles of the Local Government Code. The code delegates the provision of essential services, including health and social welfare, to local government units and, by extension, to the barangay level. He also underlined the vital role of BHWs in driving the primary healthcare approach towards health empowerment. "Naiintindihan ko po ang inyong trabaho. Sa kakaikot ko sa buong Pilipinas, sa kaka-inaugurate namin ng mga Super Health Centers (SHCs), groundbreaking ng SHCs, nandiyan talaga ‘yung mga BHW. Talagang kayo po ang nagsasakripisyo,” Go said. He went on to acknowledge the BHWs' sacrifices, especially during the pandemic, and underscored their continued service to both the elderly and youth in the community. "Salamat po sa inyong sakripisyo. Maging matanda, o maging bata, kita ninyo, nagtatrabaho pa rin sila. Dapat po'y bigyan sila ng kompensasyon. Makikita ninyo sa lahat, sa buong Pilipinas, na willing po sila magtrabaho. Tulungan po natin sila,” he added. Go also highlighted the BHWs' indispensable role in providing health services in remote areas where doctors are either scarce or unavailable. “Ang ating mga barangay health workers ang nagsisilbing frontliners lalung-lalo na po sa malalayong lugar. Sila po ang nag-aasikaso. Sila po ang tumutulong sa paggamot ng ating mga kababayan, lalung lalo na sa mga komunidad na walang doktor,” he said. To recognize this, Go filed Senate Bill No. 427, also known as the Barangay Health Workers Compensation Act, which if enacted, will offer a monthly honorarium of P3,000 for BHWs. Once passed, the bill would ensure that BHWs will be entitled to allowances, benefits, privileges, security of tenure, Christmas bonus, annual training and skills upgrading, and civil service eligibility. The post Bong Go bats for improved compensation, benefits for BHWs 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......»»
Determine PCG liability in Rizal boat sinking, House urged
A lawmaker wants concerned committees in the House of Representatives to look into the circumstances behind the recent sinking of motor boat Aya Express in Binangonan, Rizal, which left 27 people dead and six others missing......»»
DepEd: ‘Beautiful opening’ for Palaro, no plans for extension
The Department of Education has no plan to extend the 2023 Palarong Pambansa despite bad weather hampering the annual sports meet. "We give full credit to the City of Marikina for hosting of this year's Palarong Pambansa, particularly the very fabulous opening program," DepEd Assistant Secretary for Operations and Palarong Pambansa 2023 Secretary General Fancis Cesar Bringas told reporters in an interview. "Despite the rain, we were able to get through this. The Marikina City and the Department of Education has delivered its promise for a beautiful opening program today," Bringas added. He, however, stressed that there will be some adjustments in the schedules of the different games depending on how long the rain is going to be. "For the indoor sports, I don't think there's going to be some any extension in the number of days. But for the outdoor events, we will be looking at adjustments in schedules based on the rules of these specific games. There are going to be alternative schedules for that. We will not be extending that long because an extension of more than one day would be costly for the city as well as the delegations," Bringas said. He also said that the city government has stationed medical teams in the billeting quarters and playing venues to ensure the health and safety of the delegations. "The city has stationed a medical team and even the delegations themselves brought their own medical teams," Bringas said. The DepEd official also said that the city government will shoulder the hospitalization of delegates in case of injuries and accidents during the Palaro. "If there are going to be hospitalizations, the city has covered hospitalization fees in 10 private and public hospitals in the City of Markina," Bringas said. According to him, around 7,200 athletes, coaches, assistant coaches and trainers from various regions are now in Marikina City to compete in the sporting event. "In total, our delegations are a little over 11,000 and that includes all the committees of the different delegations," he said. Bringas also thanked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for supporting the programs of the Department of Education. "You know it's very important that we get always the affirmation of the President when it comes to the different programs of the Department of Education," he said. "This has got to show that it takes a Vice President and a President to lead the direction for the Department of Education, not only for the academic skills of learners but also their holistic development -- and that includes sports," the DepEd official added. President Marcos and Vice President Duterte led the formal opening of this year's Palarong Pambansa at the Marikina Sports Center. The post DepEd: ‘Beautiful opening’ for Palaro, no plans for extension appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DENR accelerates water security initiatives
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Thursday said it will ramp up efforts to improve the country’s water supply situation, amidst lingering shortage concerns over the El Niño climate pattern and growing population demand. Aside from working with other government agencies and the private sector to identify potential sources of surface water for over 1,400 barangays at higher risk of dry spells, the DENR’s newly-created Water Resources Management Office (WRMO) is set to release an Integrated Water Resources Management Plan that will account for all water resources in the country and set directions on optimizing the use of existing supply through impoundment, treatment, and recycling. “The solution to our problems starts with fixing the disconnected and fragmented management of water by more than a dozen agencies of government,” Environment Secretary Antonia Loyzaga said, noting that aside from the DENR, several other government agencies and other entities are involved in managing water resources for a variety of uses such as power generation, irrigation, and household distribution. These agencies include the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, the Local Water Utilities Administration, over 500 water districts, the Laguna Lake Development Authority, and the National Water Resources Board. Aside from these, there are thousands of private water providers primarily servicing residential communities nationwide. “There are long-standing institutional issues which we now have a strong chance of solving and this unlocks some of the barriers in managing water. It also opens the possibility of coordinating projects between agencies to enter with more efficient programs like the construction of multi-use dams and reservoirs,” she added. On top of the creation of the WRMO, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said in his State of the Nation Address that his administration will give a "special focus" on improving water security, with efforts that should be "cohesive, centralized, and systematic." Around P14.6 Billion has been allocated in the 2023 national budget for water supply projects. Further, a portion of the P276 Billion flood control budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways will be repurposed for initiatives such as offline storage to address multiple needs for irrigation, power generation, industry, and domestic uses. The WRMO is a transitory body pending the creation of the Department of Water Resource Management which is covered by several bills pending before both houses of Congress, including House Bill 2880, authored by AGRI Party-list Representative Wilbert Lee, Senate Bill 1021 filed by Senator Jinggoy Estrada, and Senate Bill 102, filed by Senator Grace Poe. Meanwhile, the National Economic and Development Authority submitted the revised draft executive version of the bill to the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office. The bill was referred to the Senate Committees on Public Services; Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation; and Finance. The post DENR accelerates water security initiatives appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Without ‘soul, progress is meaningless
Reduced budgets against big, supportive words paint a grainy picture of how the Marcos Jr. administration is prioritizing the arts and culture sector of the Philippines. In 2022, “proposed budget cuts for four key agencies tasked with preserving history and culture,” as said in a report, got critics’ hackles up, implying that the Marcoses had no love lost for history as it was allegedly bent on revisionism. However, a source from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts acknowledges that this has been a “period of recovery,” and that “the administration has continuously supported and assisted in the recovery of the sector, which is one of most adversely affected by the pandemic. Through the government’s cultural agencies, support to the culture still continues” to this day, one year into the term of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. For its part, the Duterte government, at the height of the pandemic, took steps to alleviate the needs of all those affected in the arts and culture sector. Assistance Data from the Cultural Center of the Philippines reveals that during that time, about 800 events were canceled, losing about 800,000 audiences or participants, and at least P90 million in revenues. About 3,000 artists, cultural workers and other kinds of workers were affected. This was the same all over the country and the world. The NCCA’s Assistance Program for Cultural Workers Under the State of Calamity aimed to provide quick cash assistance in the amount of P5,000 to around 800 beneficiaries. Artists and cultural workers who were not under an employer-employee relationship, without regular income or were working freelance, with no benefits, and/or had no employers to run to, and those whose source of income were gone due to the pandemic, were prioritized. The executive council members of the NCCA’s 19 national committees, which represent the different fields of culture and the arts, were tasked to list 35 priority beneficiaries. The NCCA “is the overall policy-making body, coordinating and grants-giving agency for the preservation, development and promotion of Philippine arts and culture; an executing agency for the policies it formulates; and tasked to administer the National Endowment Fund for Culture and the Arts — a fund exclusively for the implementation of culture and arts programs and projects.” Executive Order 80’s. 1999, under then President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, put the NCCA on top of other cultural agencies: the Cultural Center of the Philippines, National Historical Institute (now the National Historical Commission of the Philippines), National Museum, The National Library (now, The National Library of the Philippines) and the Records, Management and Archives Office (now, the National Archives of the Philippines). In 2001, Section 8 of Republic Act 9155 added the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino/Commission on the Filipino Language under the NCCA umbrella tied up with education goals. It states: “The Komisyon ng Wikang Pilipino, National Historical Institute, Record Management and Archives Office and the National Library shall now be administratively attached to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and no longer with the Department of Education. The program for school arts and culture shall remain part of the school curriculum.” Putting these cultural agencies together was meant to synergize efforts to strengthen the Filipinos’ sense of heritage and nationhood. Budget allocations In 2023, a year after President Marcos first stepped into office, what “resources” are we talking about? When budgets were being deliberated on in 2022, reports came out on calls for an increase in the proposed budget for arts and culture. At the hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance, NCCA chairman Rene Escalante said, “…we are proposing additional funding of a total of P33 million” to cover expenses for “more manpower and space as some regulatory functions of the National Museum of the Philippines were transferred to it.” Department of Budget Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman in her newspaper column wrote last 31 May: “For 2023, DBM has released funding for our cultural agencies to sustain their projects. It has allocated P212 million for the National Historical Commission of the Philippines; P33 million for NCCA; P164 million for the National Archives; P70 million for the Commission on the Filipino Language; P356 million for CCP and P444 million for the National Museum.” ‘Full support’ Prior to his State of the Nation Address this year after one year in office, expressed his “commitment to promoting Philippine culture, as well as the preservation and protection of the country’s cultural heritage, In a speech at the NCCA Ani ng Dangal (Harvest of Honors) awarding ceremony in Malacañang, he said: “Makaaasa kayo na kaisa ninyo ang pamahalaan at administrasyong ito sa pagsusulong at pagpapayaman ng ating sining at kultura (You may rest assured the government and this administration is one with you in the promotion and development of our arts and culture),” pointing out its importance in and interconnection to efforts to boost our economy while uplifting the image of Filipinos across the globe. [caption id="attachment_161350" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] TRADITIONAL style of mat weaving. | PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF LIKHA[/caption] [caption id="attachment_161351" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Banig weavers.[/caption] ‘Who we are’ What a rich and thriving culture means to a nation cannot be emphasized enough. In October 2018, when Malacañang hosted the awarding of the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan, Philippine Heritage Award and the Order of National Artist, then President Rodrigo Duterte noted the role that cultural heritage plays in the formation of the Filipino identity. “We must recognize and fulfill our duty to stay true to who we are, remember where we came from and honor the timelessness of our culture and traditions,” he said. His commitment was evident as the pandemic went on, with the NCCA offering assistance to the affected workers in the arts and culture sector. The unspoken benefit from that experience was that the arts community bounced back immediately, as artists and cultural workers continued to create, to entertain, to impart insights, to provoke and stimulate, to inspire. Creativity might have taken a pause during the pandemic but not for long as artists began to turn to cyberspace to share their works and interact with their audiences mainly in their social media accounts. Taking this cue, cultural institutions and companies, arts organizations and culture-related groups took the online route, creating virtual events such as online galleries, webinars and talks, film showings, workshops and tutorials, live-streamed musical shows and even presentations of recorded theatrical and dance performances. The digital arts have blossomed and traditional artforms have found themselves increasingly and suddenly in the digital world. Post-pandemic, establishments reopened, but cultural spaces such as museums, galleries and theaters were among the last ones to reopen. Local artistry In the first year of Marcos’ presidency, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos took on the role of promoting Filipino culture by spearheading projects like the Malacañang museums and Likha exhibits, which shone the limelight on local artistry and craftsmanship. One of the legacies of the pandemic that will continue in the coming years is incorporation of streaming or recording for posting and sharing in social media and other mediums. This is true for certain events such as launchings and talks. We have discovered the far-reaching reach of online platforms as well as the convenience of it, saving us time and money. With online platforms, we can reach thousands and disseminate information further beyond borders. Our audiences are not limited to certain geography, certain spheres. However, for theatrical productions, dance, films and music, we have to devise ways to monetize them so that the creatives involved can make a living out of their crafts. That is one of the challenges that the sector will be facing, which is part of the recovery process from the pandemic. One other important factor to be considered is the creative industries or creative economy. The Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 was launched in 2017, and for the first time, arts and culture and the creative industries are included in the national agenda. An inter-agency board has been created focusing on the creative industries, with the NCCA as one of the key agencies. This entails creating a collective vision and aspiration of Filipinos for themselves and for the country, and is an acknowledgment of the power of arts and culture to shape and elevate consciousness and ways of life and inspire communities. In that chapter, the government promises to “boost the development of Filipino creativity as tool for social cohesion and impetus for culture-based industry and creative economy.” Let’s not forget that a thoughtful and caring governance and industry would indeed include arts and culture in order to prosper in all aspects, recognize the important roles of their artists and cultural workers, and would preserve their cultural legacy, which contribute to realizing a deeper sense of self and national identity. True prosperity does not dwell on the material level but must include the nourishment and nurturing of the soul. The post Without ‘soul, progress is meaningless appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Trump expects arrest, more indictments
WASHINGTON (AFP) — As special counsel Jack Smith winds down his high-stakes investigation of Donald Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, the former US president faces a slew of potential charges. The 77-year-old Trump said Tuesday he had received a letter from Smith confirming he was a target of the probe and added that he expected to be arrested and indicted soon. The special counsel, who was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November, declined to comment, but US media reports said the letter cited three federal criminal statutes: conspiracy to defraud the United States; obstruction of an official proceeding, and deprivation of rights. Trump has already been indicted and pleaded not guilty in two other criminal cases — for mishandling top secret government documents after leaving the White House and for allegedly paying 2016 election-eve hush money to a porn star. Here is a look at the charges Trump — the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination — may face in connection with efforts to overturn his election loss to Democrat Joe Biden and the January 6, 2021 storming of the US Capitol by his supporters: The conspiracy statute makes it a crime if “two or more persons conspire either to commit any offense against the United States, or to defraud the United States.” Daniel Richman, a former federal prosecutor who now teaches at Columbia University, said the statute is “very broad” and can be applied in a number of ways to Trump’s conduct before and after the election, which he baselessly claimed was “stolen.” “I’m assuming that a fraudulent effort to mislead Congress and to delay or prevent the certification of the election would be very plausible,” Richman told AFP. It could be applied to Trump’s attempts to pressure Mike Pence into not certifying Biden’s election victory at the January 6 joint session of Congress — which the then-vice president ultimately refused to do. It could also be used to prosecute Trump for another failed bid to stay in power — the submission of false slates of electors in seven states which Biden won. Michigan charged 16 “false electors” this week with conspiracy, forgery and fraud for their role in the scheme, which was guided by two attorneys close to Trump, Rudy Giuliani and John Eastman. Trump also called the secretary of state in Georgia and urged him to “find” enough votes to reverse Biden’s victory in the southern state, according to a recording of the phone call. Giuliani and Eastman, along with other Trump associates, are believed to be a focus of Smith’s investigation and there would need to be other defendants in addition to Trump for prosecutors to bring a conspiracy charge. Conspiracy to defraud the government is punishable by up to five years in prison. The charge of corruptly obstructing, influencing or impeding an official proceeding — the January 6 joint session of Congress — has been brought against more than 300 Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol that day. When it comes to Trump, “there could be multiple obstruction counts, there could be a multiple-prong obstruction conspiracy with different aspects to it,” Richman said. “One basis for an obstruction charge might be dealings that Trump and those around him had with witnesses in the case, those testifying before congressional committees, or doing other things to cover their tracks after January 6,” he said. Trump did not personally go to Congress on 6 January, but before his supporters stormed the Capitol he delivered a fiery speech nearby repeating his election-fraud falsehoods and urging the crowd to “fight like hell.” Obstruction of an official proceeding carries a maximum prison term of three years. Deprivation of rights This statute stems from the post-Civil War era in US history when it was used to prosecute attempts to prevent formerly enslaved African Americans from exercising their voting rights. It makes it a crime “for a person acting under color of law to willfully deprive a person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States.” That includes the right to vote and have it counted. “In more recent times, the statute has been used against election fraud or election misconduct,” Richman said. “What’s important about this charge, unlike the others, is it really puts front and center that the victims are not just government actors,” the former prosecutor said, but ordinary Americans who risked being deprived of their votes. Deprivation of rights is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The post Trump expects arrest, more indictments appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DILG launches ‘rationalized’ charges program
The Department of the Interior and Local Government announced on Thursday that it has orchestrated a program that aims to “rationalize” the fees and charges in the Zamboanga Peninsula local government units to reasonable levels. In partnership with the Bureau of Local Government Finance, the DILG Region IX Office stressed that the main objective of the initiative is to “offer valuable guidance to LGUs’’ in creating a consistent procedure for determining reasonable rates, ensuring the recovery of costs, and fostering a business-friendly atmosphere. It added that the program also targets to provide the LGUs with the essential knowledge and abilities to optimize their fee and charge systems to enable them to create a business-friendly environment while ensuring the recovery of service costs provided to the public. The agency also stressed that the training aims to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of local treasurers, BPLO personnel, budget officers and SB committee members, empowering them to fulfill their roles more effectively within the LGUs. Training sessions are tailored for individuals holding positions such as local treasurers, BPLO personnel, budget officers, and members of relevant committees within the Sangguaniang Bayan. During the training, distinguished speakers from the BLGF IX, renowned for their expertise in local fees and charges, were invited to share their valuable insights and experiences regarding the complexities involved in fee rationalization and the effective utilization of the Local Fees and Charges Toolkit. The focal point of the training was the inclusive workshop centered on the LFC Toolkit, which delved into Local Fees and Charges. During this hands-on session, the participants actively participated in various activities, acquainting themselves with the LFC Toolkit and grasping its application to their respective LGUs. The post DILG launches ‘rationalized’ charges program appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
United House gets things done
As the 19th Congress convened on 25 July 2022, then newly-elected House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez immediately saw the need for quick delivery of government services to help the country and our people recover from the ravages of the coronavirus pandemic. Romualdez stressed that the key to achieving this daunting task is for everyone to pull together — and that is what he set himself to do and the impressive performance the House for the First Regular Session of the 19th Congress indicated the wisdom of the path he has chosen. When the House adjourned sine die on 2 June 2023, it managed to approve 33 out of 42 bills listed as priority measures of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council. Moreover, through Romualdez’s stewardship, the bigger chamber was able to process a total of 9,600 measures consisting of 8,490 House bills, 1,109 resolutions, and one petition, with 577 bills approved on third reading. This means the House processed 30 measures per session day, or 10 percent higher than the previous Congress for the same period. In his speech at the House plenary just before the sine die adjournment of the First Regular Session of the 19th Congress recently, Romualdez credited the hard work of the House members for the past 10 months, which helped shape the successes achieved by the legislature in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s socio-economic development agenda. “Needless to say, our first regular session has been both eventful and productive,” Romualdez said. “Congratulations to everyone for this impressive performance. You did not take your jobs lightly. You conducted yourselves with a sense of pride, professionalism and responsibility. You have carried out your individual roles with zest, making sure that you serve as effective voices of your respective constituents.” Likewise, Romualdez expressed gratitude for the significant contributions of the Minority Block, led by Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan. “Your close scrutiny of every piece of legislation has allowed us to bring depth, richness and nuance in the performance of our legislative duties,” Romualdez said. “We also thank all the Deputy Speakers, the Majority Leader, Honorable Manuel Jose ‘Mannix’ M. Dalipe, together with all the Deputy and Assistant Majority Leaders, and Chairpersons of the Standing and Special Committees. With your incessant support, the House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading, 33 out of the 42 priority measures listed in our common legislative agenda.” Among the measures that the House approved on third and final reading during the past 10 months include the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund, Magna Carta of Seafarers, E-Governance Act/E-Government Act, Negros Island Region, Virology Institute of the Philippines, Passive Income and Financial Intermediary Taxation Act, National Disease Prevention Management Authority or Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Medical Reserve Corps, Philippine Passport Act; Internet Transaction Act/E-Commerce Law, Waste-to-Energy Bill, Free Legal Assistance for Police and Soldiers and Apprenticeship Act. Also passed on third reading were the Build-Operate-Transfer Law, Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers, Valuation Reform, Eastern Visayas Development Authority, Leyte Ecological Industrial Zone, Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery, National Citizens Service Training Program and National Government Rightsizing. During the final week of sessions, the House gave final approval of LEDAC measures, House Bill 8203, or the proposed Bureau of Immigration Modernization Act; and HB 8278, or the proposed Philippine Salt Industry Development Act. The Speaker reported that the House of Representatives ratified the bicameral conference committee report relative to establishing specialty centers in hospitals under the direct supervision and control of the Department of Health. Moreover, he said it is worthy to note that both Houses of Congress have agreed on a version of the Maharlika Fund, the country’s first-ever sovereign investment fund, designed to promote economic development by making strategic and profitable investments in key sectors including public road networks. The post United House gets things done appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»