Olango fishermen receive pump boats, relief goods
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Some fishermen in Barangay Pangan-an, Olango Island, received pump boats and relief goods from Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan, this Saturday, August 22, 2020. In a Facebook post, Chan announced that he has turned over four pump boats and handed out relief goods to the fishermen, who were the chosen […] The post Olango fishermen receive pump boats, relief goods appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
P400M+ income lost due to Mindoro oil spill
Seawater around Oriental Mindoro still showed low-level contaminants or pollycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, while seaweed collected and analyzed from select sites in Catluys, Antique on 9 March showed low-level contaminants or PAH, the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources reported over the weekend. PAH, according to DA-BFAR, are "harmful to humans and other living organisms, and may accumulate in the flesh of marine organisms over time. Seaweeds and other sessile organism have greater chances of accumulating PAH due to their immobility." Thus, the BFAR is still keeping the fishing ban in oil-spill hit municipalities of Oriental Mindoro, which has accumulated P441.25 million losses in income in 22 fishing days. The agency said the amount came from the more than 26,000 fishermen who have been directly affected by the oil spill as of March 31, based on a daily income of P714. The damage in terms of inputs and produce, fishing gear and paraphernalia, and facilities and equipment was placed at P445,333,928.00. These include: Fisheries Production Losses from MIMAROPA’s Commercial and Municipal Fisheries valued at P14,138,400.00, and damage to 119 metric tons of seaweed production in Western Visayas valued at almost P3 million. The "DA-BFAR detected minimal levels of PAH, including benzo(a)pyrene or B(a)p, from the initial samples collected," BFAR director Demosthenes Escoto said. He added that 86 fish and other marine samples were taken on 10-11 March from seven municipalities in Mindoro (Bongabong, Bulalacao, Gloria, Mansalay, Najuan, Pinamalayan and San Jose) for testing. "These did not show the presence of petroleum-related products," Escoto said. However, from seven seaweed samples collected on 31 March in Caluya, Antique, three showed the presence of petroleum-related products. Some 23 water samples collected from 9 March to 4 April from 10 municipalities of Oriental Mindoro (Bansud, Bongabong, Bulalacao, Calapan, Gloria, Mansalay, Naujan, Pinamalayan, Pola, and Roxas) and Caluya in Antique had minimal levels of oil and grease, within the standard set by the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources. BFAR also said 15 fish samples collected from Oriental Mindoro from March 4 to 10 showed low levels of PAH. Likewise, seaweed taken from Caluya, Antique on March 4 yielded low-level PAH. 'Since the Bureau found low-levels of PAH in seafood samples, it recommended keeping fishing bans in areas concerned while the time-series analyses are still ongoing," BFAR said in its Bulletin No.2 . The Bureau meanwhile, added that a total of P22 million worth of livelihood assistance has been allocated to affected fishing communities. This includes P4.4 million worth of post-harvest technology packages for 10 fisherfolk associations and cooperatives or 689 families. It also includes P12 million worth of fuel subsidy for fisherfolk who had to seek alternative fishing grounds. The BFAR said it is considering providing affected fisherfolk some fiberglass-reinforced plastic boats. As for food and relief goods, the BFAR said it has earmarked P1.5 million for food assistance to 5,689 affected fisherfolk in Mimaropa. Meanwhile, P580,500 has been used to help displaced fishing groups in Western Visayas, the BFAR said. For cleanup operations in Oriental Mindoro, the agency said it deployed P720,945 worth of PPE, ropes and other materials. The MT Princess Empress sank on 28 February off Najuan, Oriental Mindoro while carrying 900,000 liters of industrial fuel. The post P400M+ income lost due to Mindoro oil spill appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Filipino fisherman chased by China coast guard in disputed waters
Filipino fisherman Arnel Satam guns the motor of his tiny wooden boat as he makes a dash for the shallow waters of Scarborough Shoal in the disputed South China Sea, with Chinese coast guard speedboats in hot pursuit. In a high-seas chase lasting several minutes, Satam tries in vain to outrun the faster boats in the hope of slipping inside the ring of reefs controlled by China, where fish are more abundant. Friday's pursuit was witnessed by AFP journalists on board the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ship BRP Datu Bankaw, which was delivering food, water and fuel to Filipino fishermen plying the contested waters, sometimes for weeks on end. The fishermen complained that China's actions at Scarborough Shoal were robbing them of a key source of income and a place to shelter safely during a storm. "I want to fish in there," a defiant Satam, 54, told journalists as he stood barefoot on his light blue outrigger bearing a Superman "S" emblem. "I do this thing often. They already chased me earlier today," he said, adding the Chinese speedboats had bumped his vessel. "I just laughed at them." Scarborough Shoal is 240 kilometres (150 miles) west of the Philippines' main island of Luzon and nearly 900 kilometres from the nearest major Chinese land mass of Hainan. Under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which China helped negotiate, countries have jurisdiction over the natural resources within about 200 nautical miles (370 kilometres) of their shore. China, which claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, snatched control of Scarborough Shoal from the Philippines in 2012. Since then, it has deployed coast guard and other vessels to block or restrict access to the fishing ground that has been tapped by generations of Filipinos. Philippine officials also accused the Chinese coast guard of laying a 300-metre (-yard) long floating barrier across the entrance to the shoal shortly before the BRP Datu Bankaw arrived. The temporary barrier "prevents Filipino Fishing Boats from entering the shoal and depriving them of their fishing and livelihood activities," the Philippine coast guard and fisheries bureau said in a joint statement condemning its installation. Resupply missions It took 18 hours for the BRP Datu Bankaw to make the more than 300 kilometre journey to Scarborough Shoal from a port in Manila Bay. More than 50 wooden outrigger fishing vessels, which Filipinos call "mother boats", were operating in the deep waters outside the shoal when the Philippine ship dropped anchor last Wednesday. Some of the fishing crews had been there for two weeks already using nets, lines and spears to catch tuna, grouper and red snapper. To enable them to stay at sea for longer and catch more fish, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources carries out regular resupply missions. Four Chinese coast guard boats patrolled the waters, keeping the BRP Datu Bankaw and Filipino fishermen away from the shoal. The voice of a Chinese coast guard radio operator crackled over the airwaves 15 times, ordering the BRP Datu Bankaw to "immediately" leave "Chinese territory". The instruction was repeated in English on a scrolling digital message board on one of the Chinese coast guard vessels. Unfazed by the warnings, the 12 crew members of the BRP Datu Bankaw distributed 60 tonnes of fuel in blue plastic jerry cans to the fishing boats, as well as food packs for those running low on provisions. The supplies were free for the fishermen, but some showed their gratitude by giving the BRP Datu Bankaw crew tubs of freshly caught fish. 'This is ours' "We are very grateful for this assistance," said Johnny Arpon, 53, whose 10-metre boat "Janica" arrived at the shoal in time to stock up on extra diesel. Some of the Filipino fishermen crowding around the BRP Bankaw in small outriggers to receive provisions climbed aboard to eat snacks and drink fresh water. They told journalists they had been chased and water cannoned by Chinese vessels in the past and even had their anchors cut. "They should give it back to us because this is ours," said Nonoy de los Reyes, 40, referring to Scarborough Shoal. "They should leave this place." After decades of overfishing by countries surrounding the waters, the men have to spend longer at sea to catch enough fish to cover their costs and, hopefully, make a small profit. China's blocking of the shoal had made the situation even tougher and the fishermen said they hated them for it. "We barely have any catch so we'll probably need to stay two more weeks," said Alex del Campo, 41, who had already spent more than a week at sea. A day earlier, del Campo and two other fishermen had made a daring bid to enter the shoal in their small boats, but were chased away by Chinese coast guard personnel in rigid-hulled inflatable vessels. "We are defenceless because they are armed and there was just one fisherman in each of our three boats," del Campo said. "If they ram and sink our boats who will save us?" The post Filipino fisherman chased by China coast guard in disputed waters appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Oil tax freeze clash looms
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III yesterday supported — while Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno strongly opposed — a proposal to suspend the excise tax on imported oil products amid the skyrocketing fuel prices at the pump. “Every week, our fellow Filipinos face the challenge of ever-increasing fuel prices. They need a lifeline now. I hope the government understands the gravity of the situation and the urgency of intervention to alleviate their hardship,” Pimentel said. “The suspension of the excise tax would offer a temporary respite and serve as an effective lifeboat for Filipinos struggling to cope with the sky-high fuel prices,” he stressed. House Deputy Majority Leader and ACT-CIS Partylist Representative Erwin Tulfo on Monday proposed a three-month suspension of the excise tax on imported oil and bio-ethanol to address the continuing surge in oil prices. Tulfo’s proposal to temporarily suspend the excise tax until December came after Speaker Martin Romualdez held a meeting with representatives of the oil industry players on the same day. In a media briefing, Tulfo gave the impression that the House leadership would be inclined to recommend to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. the suspension of the fuel excise tax. For Pimentel, suspending the excise tax would “unburden” many Filipinos from the expected increase in the prices of basic commodities. “The rising cost of crude oil will ultimately be borne by every Filipino because it leads to increased prices of goods, electricity, and more,” he said. Earlier, oil companies raised gasoline and kerosene prices by P2 per liter, with a more significant increase of P2.50 per liter for diesel. Diesel and kerosene prices in the last 11 consecutive weeks rose by a cumulative P17.30 and P15.95 per liter, respectively, while gasoline prices in the last 10 weeks climbed by P11.85 per liter. The global price of crude oil from the United States has risen to $92 per barrel, while European crude has increased to $95 per barrel since November last year. ‘Only rich will benefit’ But Diokno quickly put a damper on Tulfo’s proposal, saying that suspending the excise tax on petroleum products would benefit only the rich and severely damage the economy. “We recognize the public sentiment to address the elevated fuel prices. However, as the government, it is our responsibility to be cautious in implementing policies that could negatively impact the macro-fiscal stability and sustainability of the country,” he told reporters. Suspending the excise tax would be “regressive,” Diokno said, as it would delay infrastructure and social development projects for long-term economic growth under the Marcos administration, which aims to make the country a predominantly upper middle-income society by 2025. He pointed out that only the top 10 percent of households with the highest incomes would benefit from a suspension as they consume nearly 50 percent of all fuels. He noted that the lower half of households use up only 10 percent of all oil-based fuels. “When you formulate policy, you always think of what’s the greatest good for the greatest number,” Diokno said. Likewise, suspending the excise tax on fuel would not help stave off inflation in the long run, he added. “Any of the proposals will adversely affect our economic and fiscal recovery, our international credit rating, and our overall debt management strategy,” he said. He explained that the government would lose billions in revenue if it suspended the excise tax on fuel and its associated value-added tax. For the fourth quarter of 2023 alone, Diokno said, the losses in government revenue from foregone VAT and fuel excise taxes would reach P31.2 billion and P72.6 billion, respectively. Doom and gloom “In total, for the whole year of 2024, the government will lose P280.5 billion,” he said. Diokno averred that the lost revenue would lead to a higher budget deficit — from 5.1 percent to 6.2 percent of gross domestic product — and a higher debt-to-GDP ratio in 2024 of 60.2 percent to 61.3 percent. With a restricted revenue collection, Diokno added, the government will be forced to borrow more to support its projects and to repurpose some of its future revenues to debt payments. “Higher borrowings will further increase our interest payments and budget deficit in the future,” he said. The solution, Diokno said, is to give targeted subsidies to those who will be most negatively affected by the higher fuel prices, such as jeepney drivers, farmers and fishermen. He also said that eliminating the fuel tax would require time-consuming legislative action. “Once the elevated oil prices subside, it may not be easy to restore the taxes on oil products. It is politically unpopular. That’s the political economy of tax legislation. This has serious implications for fiscal sustainability,” he warned. The post Oil tax freeze clash looms appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Zambo fire victims receive aid
ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Zamboanga Peninsula on Tuesday distributed food packs and other relief goods to 233 families displaced by the Sunday night blaze in Barangay Camino Nuevo in this city. DSWD-9 director Riduan Hadjimuddin said that his office responded after learning that many of those who reside in the village failed to bring with them anything during the fire that lasted for about seven hours from 9 p.m. on Sunday to 3 a.m. the following day. Hadjimuddin said the distribution of relief goods was held at the cover courts of Camino Nuevo and Canelar, the temporary evacuation centers set up by the local government of Zamboanga. The post Zambo fire victims receive aid appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Japan donates 300 metric tons of rice; DSWD ensures aid extended to Mayon evacuees
The Department of Social Welfare and Development on Friday assured continuous relief assistance to families affected by the abnormal activities of Mayon Volcano, with the 300 metric tons of rice donated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries of Japan. During the ceremonial turnover of donations on Thursday, 18 August, at the Albay Provincial Agricultural Office, DSWD Disaster Response Management Bureau (DRMB) Director Michael Cristopher Mathay said the rice donation would significantly help in the relief operations and ensure that aid is extended to Mayon evacuees. “Fully provided that’s what Secretary (Rex) Gatchalian wanted and that warehouses of DSWD should always be filled with relief goods plus non-food items so that all is well for the Mayon evacuees while staying at temporary shelters,” the DSWD director for disaster response said. The donation from Japan is equivalent to 10,000 bags, with each bag containing 30 kilograms of rice, that are intended to be distributed to the affected population by the DSWD, the National Food Authority (NFA), and affected local government units (LGUs) such as Daraga, Camalig, Guinobatan, Tabaco City, Malilipot, Sto. Domingo, and Ligao City. Embassy of Japan in the Philippines Minister for Economic Affairs Nihei Daisuke, ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) Secretary General Manager Choomjet Karnjanakesorn, and Japan Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries representative Akinori Ando handed over the bags of milled rice to DSWD and Albay officials. Mathay emphasized the holistic approach needed to address calamities, praising the spirit of collaboration enshrined in the APTERR agreement, and recognizing the necessity of international cooperation in facing such disaster threats. “The Philippine government, especially the DSWD, whose mandate is to provide immediate assistance to those affected by disasters, finds comfort in Japan's continuous life-saving interventions. This donation ensures that the necessary nutritious support will reach the most vulnerable during these uncertain times,” Dir. Mathay pointed out. The DSWD official said that the Department is in constant coordination with the City/Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officers to implement the distribution plan of rice per evacuation centers to ensure that everyone will receive the rice donated by the people of Japan. This is in accordance with DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian’s commitment to the Bicolanos that all affected families with receive their needed assistance from the agency, Dir. Mathay noted. Mayon Volcano remains under Alert Level 3, which means there is still potential explosive activity within weeks or even days. The post Japan donates 300 metric tons of rice; DSWD ensures aid extended to Mayon evacuees appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM reiterates vow for priority MSME assistance
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is reiterating the government’s resolve to prioritize assistance for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in the country In his speech delivered during the distribution of various government assistance to people in Northern Samar last Friday, Marcos said the government wants to invigorate and revive the MSME sector and assure cooperatives of government aid. “We are here to ensure that those who slumped because there are a lot who were hit hard, their savings were exhausted, their businesses closed, those who find it hard to recover, those are what we are looking for to help because they are the roots of our economy, the small businesses, the MSMEs,” the President said, speaking in the vernacular. Concurrent Agriculture Secretary Serving as concurrent Agriculture Secretary, Marcos led the distribution of assistance from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Department of Labor and Employment. During the event, Marcos presided over the turnover of two four-wheel drive tractors, three multi-cultivators, four pump irrigation systems, a cacao processing facility, various agricultural livelihood projects, four units of hand tractors, four rice thrashers, and four rice cutters to beneficiaries. Some 1,220 farmer-beneficiaries in Northern Samar received some 21,480 bags of certified rice seeds, 300 bags of hybrid rice seeds, fertilizer discount vouchers, and P5,000 each of financial assistance. Supervised distribution of assistance The President likewise supervised the distribution of assistance from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources including the 16 deep sea fish aggregating devices (payao), three high-density polyethylene cages, 150 sets of seaweed farm implement and fingerlings, and feeds for tilapia production in ponds. Some 20 units of 30-foot and five 22-foot fiberglass boats, mangrove crablets, and formulated feeds were also provided to fishermen. The Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority, meanwhile, donated two hectares of abaca mother block nursery to local government units while four infrastructure projects were handed over to the provincial government. Eight distressed overseas Filipino workers also received financial assistance amounting to P150,000 and scholarship assistance worth P10,000 each to two dependents under the OFW Dependent Scholarship Program. The post PBBM reiterates vow for priority MSME assistance appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM admin prioritizing help for MSMEs
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reiterated the government’s resolve to prioritize assistance for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in the country. In his speech during the distribution of various government assistance in Northern Samar last Friday, Marcos said the government wants to invigorate and revive the MSME sector and assured cooperatives of government aid. “We are here to ensure that those who slumped because there are a lot who were hit hard, their savings were exhausted, their businesses closed, those who find it hard to recover, those are what we are looking for to help because they are the roots of our economy, the small businesses, the MSMEs),” the President speaking in vernacular. Serving as the concurrent Agriculture Secretary, Marcos previously led the distribution of assistance from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Department of Labor and Employment. During the event, Marcos graced the turnover of two four-wheel drive tractors, three multi-cultivators, four pump irrigation systems, a cacao processing facility, various agricultural livelihood projects, four units of hand tractors, four rice thrashers, and four rice cutters to beneficiaries. Some 1,220 farmer-beneficiaries in Northern Samar received around 21,480 bags of certified rice seeds, 300 bags of hybrid rice seeds, fertilizer discount vouchers, and PHP5,000 each of financial assistance. Marcos likewise supervised the distribution of assistance from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources including the 16 deep sea fish aggregating devices (payao), three high-density polyethylene cages, 150 sets of seaweed farm implement and fingerlings, and feeds for tilapia production in ponds. Some 20 units of 30-foot and five 22-foot fiberglass boats, mangrove crablets, and formulated feeds were also provided to fishermen. The Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority, meanwhile, donated two hectares of abaca mother block nursery to local government units while four infrastructure projects were handed over to the provincial government. Eight distressed overseas Filipino workers also received financial assistance amounting to P150,000 and scholarship assistance worth PHP10,000 each to two dependents under the OFW Dependent Scholarship Program. Marcos also led the distribution of medical assistance worth P30,000 for two beneficiaries under the Welfare Assistance Program and financial assistance worth P20,000 to a bereaved OFW family. The President also graced the “Kadiwa ng Pangulo” in Catarman, held at the provincial capitol-covered court. The event was participated in by 39 sellers from four farmer associations, 15 DTI "Diskwento (Discount) Caravan" exhibitors, DSWD Sustainable Livelihood Program Associations, and LGU exhibitors. To date, the government has already launched 7,283 Kadiwa stores nationwide, generating P697.87 million in sales and benefiting 1.84 million households and 3,017 farmers' cooperatives and associations and agri-fishery enterprises. The post PBBM admin prioritizing help for MSMEs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mayon evacuees get more PAGCOR relief aid
A second batch of relief goods has been delivered to Mayon Volcano evacuees courtesy of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. With the support of the Philippine Army, PAGCOR recently handed over 2,400 food and non-food packs for the Mayon evacuees to Albay Governor Edcel Greco Lagman. The goods were delivered a week after PAGCOR donated 6,000 food and non-food packs to displaced Albay residents now numbering at almost 20,000. The governor thanked PAGCOR for the additional donation. “I hope the agency will not get tired of helping our countrymen here in Albay affected by the renewed unrest of Mayon,” Lagman said. Among the thousands of beneficiaries of the PAGCOR relief mission was housewife Crystal dela Cruz from Barangay Old Budiao in Daraga town, who immediately evacuated with her family after their community was included in the seven-kilometer permanent danger zone by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. “It’s hard to live in the evacuation center so donations of big companies are big help to us,” Dela Cruz said. Barangay Old Budiao village chief Condi Loveres said that despite the difficulties being experienced by the evacuees who are staying in cramped temporary shelters around their town, they consider themselves fortunate to receive aid from various sectors. “The evacuees’ basic needs are met by the continuous flow of relief goods from different organizations,” Loveres said. The post Mayon evacuees get more PAGCOR relief aid appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bridging healthcare gap
While the government has consistently strived to improve medical access, the reality remains that access to hospitals providing specialized healthcare services is still limited. Almost all specialty hospitals are located in Metro Manila. We have here the Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center of the Philippines, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, and the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, among others. As these specialty hospitals are some of the best in our country, many of our Filipinos from the provinces who suffer from serious diseases are constrained to travel to Manila just to ensure that they receive quality, affordable and specialized healthcare services necessary for their conditions. Having to worry over transportation and accommodation expenses on top of the already burdensome medical costs is simply too much, especially for our poor Filipinos who can barely earn enough for their daily needs. As I visited many disadvantaged communities nationwide, scores of our kababayans sought me out not only for medical assistance but also for help with their transportation expenses going to Manila, where the only hospitals that can address their health needs are located. The glaring need to bring these specialized medical services closer to our people in the provinces encourages me to continue advocating for a measure that will mandate the establishment of regional specialty centers nationwide. It is high time that we unburden our fellow Filipinos of unnecessary long travels and additional expenses just to get these services needed to save their lives. On 17 May, I sponsored Senate Bill 2212, which seeks to mandate the Department of Health to establish specialty centers in existing DoH hospitals in different regions within five years, rather than constructing entirely new specialty hospitals — a cost-efficient, faster and practical solution to address the issue. The proposal also aligns with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which includes the establishment of specialty centers as part of the health-related legislative agenda of the administration. Moreover, if enacted into law, the DoH will be required to allocate capital outlay investments and work closely with the Department of Budget and Management to develop staffing patterns and standards for the specialty centers, securing positions for healthcare workers serving in these facilities. Particular emphasis will be placed on establishing heart, lung, and kidney centers that replicate the capabilities of the National Specialty Centers in Metro Manila. This is also a way to decongest our existing specialty hospitals. For instance, the establishment of mental health centers in various DoH hospitals would help decongest the National Center for Mental Health in Mandaluyong City. As chair of the Senate Committee on Health, I believe that physical, emotional, and mental health are all equally important, and I will continue to support measures that would protect and promote the different aspects of health as a whole. Thus, on the same day, I also co-sponsored the proposed Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act filed by Senator Win Gatchalian. If said bill is passed into law, a Care Center in basic education schools will be established. This will not only benefit the students but also the teaching and non-teaching personnel. Previously, I likewise filed SBN 1786 which aims to mandate Public Higher Education Institutions to establish Mental Health Offices in their respective campuses. Meanwhile, together with my team, I was in Cagayan on 18 May to join in the Sarakat Festival, attend the inauguration of the Super Health Center, and provide aid to 1,500 indigents in the town of Santa Praxedes, where I was honored to be its adopted son. We then headed to Lal-lo town where I witnessed the groundbreaking of another Super Health Center and also led another relief operation for 1,500 more struggling residents in the town. The following day, I visited Jordan, Guimaras, where I attended a volleyball tournament as part of the Manggahan Festival of the province and personally checked on the operations of the Malasakit Center at Dr. Catalino Gallego Nava Provincial Hospital. We also aided 217 patients and 512 frontliners in the hospital while the Department of Social Welfare and Development assisted 118 qualified patients. Later that day, we visited Buenavista, Guimaras where I led the groundbreaking of the town’s Super Health Center, spearheaded a relief operation for 1,462 indigents, and visited local infrastructure initiatives we earlier supported during the Duterte administration such as the Buenavista Wharf and seawall. Last week, my outreach teams also helped many of our fellow Filipinos in need, including 50 indigents in Libertad, 50 in Salay, and 1,735 in Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental; 153 in Agusan del Norte; 255 in Belison, Antique; 419 in Laurel, Batangas; 150 in Quezon City; 1,550 in Manila City; 666 in Limay, Bataan; 108 in Malolos City, Bulacan; 233 in Maria Aurora in Aurora; 366 in Kalawit and 333 in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte; and 1,912 families affected by armed conflict in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur. Fire-hit households, including 21 in Lapu-Lapu City, 99 in Mandaue City, and 171 in Cebu City in the province of Cebu; and six in Angeles City, Pampanga were also assisted. Aside from pushing for the establishment of regional specialty centers, I continue to support our Malasakit Centers and Super Health Centers to provide more accessible medical assistance programs and basic health services, respectively, to more of our fellow Filipinos. It is my hope that, with the support of our fellow workers in the government, we can continue bringing medical services closer to the people, particularly the economically disadvantaged and those residing in far-flung areas, to help address the urgent need to bridge the healthcare gap across the country. After all, it is enshrined in our Constitution, as a matter of state policy, that “the State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people” and that “the State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all the people at affordable cost.” As elected representatives of the Filipino people, it is our solemn duty to realize these state policies. These programs and measures will not only protect and promote such rights but will make this a living testament to our collective desire to help provide a more comfortable life for Filipinos. The post Bridging healthcare gap appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Maribago causeway: Pump boats plying Olango-Lapu-Lapu route can now use this alternative port
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Philippines — Pump boats traversing from or to Olango Island can now have an alternative port to dock or use in the main island of Lapu-Lapu with the completion and turnover of the Maribago Causeway Project to the Lapu-Lapu City government. The P50 million project was turned over officially on Feb. 16 by […] The post Maribago causeway: Pump boats plying Olango-Lapu-Lapu route can now use this alternative port appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Flashflood-hit families in Antique town receive relief goods
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique -Fifty-seven families affected by flashflood in Barangay Tigbalua I of Sibalom town were provided Sunday with relief goods from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 6 Office."The 57 family food packs had a total cost of PHP27,588 and.....»»
Mandaue flood victims receive cash, relief goods
MANDAUE CITY, Philippines – The thousands of families affected by the floods last October 2020 here received their financial assistance from the city government on Tuesday, December 29, 2020. In barangay Paknaan alone, there were about 3,600 affected families who received cash assistance worth P1,000. Malak Soco, Paknaan Barangay Captain said the residents also received […] The post Mandaue flood victims receive cash, relief goods appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Agrarian reform beneficiaries in SarGen receive relief goods
GENERAL SANTOS CITY - Faced with limited farming and livelihood activities due to community quarantine measures, more than 2,000 farmers and IPs who are Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) in Sara.....»»
120 Moncada Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries receive aid from DAR
TARLAC CITY, May 29 (PIA) -- About 120 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) at barangay Ablang-Sapang in Moncada town received relief goods from Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).Secretary.....»»
Ex-employee questions BI chief’s appointment
The job of Immigration Commissioner Norman Garcera Tansingco may be in limbo following the revelation by a former bureau employee that Tansingco has a pending case before the Office of the Ombudsman. Based on a document obtained by DAILY TRIBUNE, Tansingco is among the respondents in a human smuggling complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman by former Bureau of Immigration Intelligence Division employee Richard de Leon Cabochan Jr. on 21 April 2015. “One of the respondents in the complaint is Atty. Norman Garcera Tansingco. Based on my records, the last pleading I filed in the case was a supplemental affidavit dated 24 June 2015. In addition, I also filed two other cases with your honorable office docketed as OMB CASE NO. IC-OC-14-1351° and OMB CASE NO. IC-0C-14-4768,” Cabochan told DAILY TRIBUNE when sought for comment. Cabochan was prompted to question Tansingco’s appointment through a letter addressed to Ombudsman Samuel Martires dated 19 September 2022, after a clearance was released by Maria Agnes L. Forteza, Graft Investigation Officer I, dated 1 September 2022. An Ombudsman clearance is a requirement for a Presidential appointee. Cabochan, in his letter, said Tansingco is not fit to be installed as BI commissioner because of his pending case before the Ombudsman. “To my displeasure, I came to know that Atty. Tansingco, a respondent in the abovementioned case, was the newly appointed commissioner of the BI. The said event had me surprised because it is my understanding that to be a confirmed appointee of a head of a government agency, one must possess a clean record or background as evidenced by various clearances issued by concerned government offices of the Republic of the Philippines,” Cabochan’s letter to Martirez read. Cabochan said Tansingco was able to fool Malacañang’s steering committee — the Presidential Management Staff — by saying that he was not involved in any criminal or administrative cases. “An investigation of the matter showed that Atty. Tansingco obtained a ‘clearance’ stating that he had no pending criminal or administrative cases with your honorable office. To reiterate, the same was issued last 1 September 2022,” Cabochan said. “I was surprised about this development, considering that it is to my knowledge that the complaint for the alleged human smuggling that I had filed is still being heard by your honorable office and has yet to be resolved, considering that I have yet to receive any document of the results of the proceedings conducted,” Cabochan letter to Martirez read. “Despite such fact, it appears from the abovementioned document that the case I had filed was already resolved without me, the complainant, being duly informed of the same,” he added. Not notified He further asked Martirez why the Ombudsman did not notify him that Tansingco was given a clearance by the Ombudsman, a clear violation of his right to the due process of law. “It is my understanding that this runs counter to the established procedures in the resolution of filed complaints in your honorable office wherein the parties should be duly informed of the results of the proceedings. I further understand that this right to be informed of the results of the proceedings is part of the due process of law as it would allow the parties to seek relief from the decision by filing the appropriate action in case they disagree with the outcome of the proceedings,” the letter said. The post Ex-employee questions BI chief’s appointment appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Senate to reallocate CIFs to agencies engaged in WPS patrol too — Zubiri
The Senate on Wednesday mimicked the House of Representatives’ plan to reallocate confidential and intelligence funds to government agencies involved in protecting the country’s sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea such as the Philippine Coast Guard and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. According to Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, senators have agreed to follow the same path the lower chamber has taken regarding the controversial allocation of secret funds to non-security and defense agencies in the upcoming fiscal year. Zubiri said the “intelligence community” would also receive additional secret funds. “We have agreed in the Senate to do the same. We also will [be] reallocating funds that we feel are not necessary for the use of certain agencies and allocate them to our Intelligence Community as well as our Coast Guard and AFP,” he said in a Viber message sent to reporters. The decision came after various political party leaders in the lower chamber issued a joint statement to push the redirection of secret funds to agencies in charge of intelligence and security amid China’s latest actions in the West Philippine Sea. Citing China’s moves which include the installation of the floating barrier in Scarborough Shoal, political party leaders sought the allocation of more secret funds for the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, the National Security Council, and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. “Recognizing the rising security threats in the West Philippine Sea and the need to secure top officials, these agencies are better positioned to counteract security threats, protect our territorial waters, and secure the rights and access of Filipino fishermen to traditional fishing grounds,” the joint statement read. "This decision also underscores the need to ensure that resource allocation aligns with national priorities and the urgent needs of the citizenry, reflecting our commitment to a budget that is balanced, equitable, and serves the true needs and aspirations of the Filipino people,” it added. The joint statement was signed by Rizal Rep. Michael John Duavit of the Nationalist Peoples Coalition, Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel of the PDP Laban, Agusan del Norte 1st District Rep. Jose Joboy Aquino of the Lakas CMD, BHW Party List Rep. Angelica Natasha Co of the Party List Coalition, Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona of the Nacionalista Party, and Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. LRay Villafuerte of the National Unity Party. How about OVP, DepEd? Zubiri was asked if the same thing would happen to the secret funds allocated to the offices headed by Vice President Sara Duterte. “We shall review all agencies,” he simply replied. Duterte, who heads the OVP and Department of Education, is requesting a total of P650 million worth of confidential funds for the two agencies, P500 million and P150 million, respectively. Under the proposed P.768-trillion National Expenditure Program for next year, a total of P9.2 billion was allocated for confidential and intelligence funds of government agencies and offices. The post Senate to reallocate CIFs to agencies engaged in WPS patrol too — Zubiri appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Teodoro: Phl ‘not provoking trouble’ in Scarborough Shoal; ‘We are just reacting’
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Wednesday clarified that the Philippines is not provoking any trouble in Scarborough shoal as accused by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Wenbin. “Sila po ang nagpo-provoke. Hindi naman ho tayo (They are the ones provoking. It’s not us),” Teodoro said during the Senate’s public hearing on the Proposed 2024 national expenditure program of the Department of National Defense and attached agencies. During the hearing, Senator Robinhood Padilla asked Teodoro’s response to Wang’s recent advice to the Philippines “not to stir up trouble” in Huangyan Island—the Chinese name for Scarborough shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc. “Sino po ba talaga ang nagpo-provoke? Sila o Tayo? (Who is really provoking? Is it them or us?” Padilla asked. Teodoro denied any provocation from the Philippines, saying the country is only "reacting to China’s actions” against Filipinos who just wanted to enter their traditional fishing ground in the Bajo de Masinloc. “Hindi po tayo ang nagpo-provoke sa kanila. Ang ginagawa lang po natin… nagre-react lang tayo sa ginagawa po nila. Sila po ang nangunguna, sila po ang humaharang ng ating mangingisda, sila po ang naglagay ng barrier doon sa Scarborough (We are not provoking them. What we are doing is that... we are just reacting to their actions. They are ones provoking, they are blocking our fishermen, they put up barrier in Scarborough shoal)," Teodoro lamented. Wang on Tuesday warned the Philippines not to “provoke or stir up trouble” after the Philippine Coast Guard removed a 300-meter-long floating barrier installed by the Chinese Coast Guard in the southeast entrance of Bajo de Masinloc. The Chinese official admitted that the floating barrier is intended to "block and drive away” Filipino boats and fishermen from entering the shoal. As the PCG entered and removed the floating barrier, Wang accused the Philippines of intruding shoal “without China’s permission.” The PCG said it removed the "hazardous" barrier upon the instructions of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, who heads the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea. Meanwhile, Teodoro maintained that the shoal has been a “traditional fishing ground” for Filipino fishermen over the years. "If it triggers something from China, it is just proving that it really has total disregard for maritime safety," he said, noting that Filipinos should benefit from the rich marine resources of the Philippine territory. The defense chief also noted that the Armed Forces of the Philippines has already removed the thought of provocation since disputed waters “is legally owned by the Philippines under the international law.” Padilla asked about Marcos' order to the National Security Council to "civilianize the approach" in the WPS. Teodoro said: “Kami po ay hindi tutol sa pag-uusap. Kailangan po ng diplomasya dito. Ngunit dapat sang-ayon po ito sa prinsipyadong pag-uusap (We actually support diplomatic dialogue because it is needed. But it should be in accordance with the principled conversation)—open and transparent." Teodoro underscored that the defense sector and the AFP firmly support the government’s whole-of-nation approach in confronting maritime challenges in the country. He pointed out that there’s a need to strengthen the armed forces and prepare the country for possible circumstances that would affect the country’s sovereign rights over its territorial waters. “Sa panig po natin, nakikita natin itong West Philippine Sea po ang focus. Kapag hindi po natin pinatatag ang ating sandatahang lakas baka naman po sa Philippine Rise mangyari, baka maunahan po tayo. Kaya po dapat unahan na natin (In our side, we are focusing on the West Philippine Sea. If we don’t strengthen our armed forces, it may happen in the Philippine Rise, they might get ahead of us. That’s why we should prepare),” Teodoro stressed. The post Teodoro: Phl ‘not provoking trouble’ in Scarborough Shoal; ‘We are just reacting’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
China warns Philippines not to ‘stir up trouble’ over disputed reef
Beijing warned Manila on Tuesday not to "stir up trouble" after the Philippine Coast Guard said it had removed a floating barrier at a disputed reef that was allegedly deployed by China to block Filipinos from the traditional fishing ground. Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea has long been a source of tension between the countries. China seized the ring of reefs from the Philippines in 2012 and has since deployed patrol boats to keep out Filipino fishermen. The latest spat was sparked by a 300-metre (328-yard) floating barrier that was found across the entrance of the shoal last week during a routine Philippine government resupply mission to Filipino fishermen plying the waters near the shoal. The Philippines condemned the installation and its coast guard announced on Monday that it had "successfully" removed the barrier from the reef, which Manila calls Bajo de Masinloc, in a special operation ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin hit back on Tuesday, saying Beijing "firmly upholds the sovereignty and maritime rights and interests of the Huangyan island", referring to the shoal by its Chinese name. "We advise the Philippines not to provoke or stir up trouble," Wang added. 'Well within rights' Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano responded to the warning by saying his country was "well within its rights" to remove any barrier at the reef. China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, despite a 2016 international court ruling that its stance has no legal basis. Scarborough Shoal sits 240 kilometers (150 miles) west of the Philippines' main island of Luzon and nearly 900 kilometers from the nearest major Chinese land mass of Hainan. Under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which China helped negotiate, countries have jurisdiction over the natural resources within about 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) of their shore. The Philippine Coast Guard released a video on Monday showing a man wearing snorkeling gear using a knife to sever a rope attached to white buoys, while another showed an anchor being hauled from the water into a wooden outrigger boat. "Upon checking with our intelligence operatives in Bajo de Masinloc, the Chinese government removed already the barrier," Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, told local media Tuesday. The floating barrier had prevented fishing boats from entering the shoal's shallow waters where fish are more abundant. Philippine officials previously accused the Chinese coast guard of installing the barrier before a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources resupply ship arrived at the shoal last Wednesday. The Philippine foreign ministry said on Monday it would "take all appropriate measures to protect our country's sovereignty and the livelihood of our fisherfolk", without elaborating. © Agence France-Presse The post China warns Philippines not to ‘stir up trouble’ over disputed reef appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PCG eyes entry of Filipino fishermen in Scarborough Shoal
The Philippine government will help Filipino fishermen to once again enter and go fishing in the lagoon of Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, in the West Philippine Sea. Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesperson of the Philippine Coast Guard for WPS, said they are collaborating with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and Armed Forces of the Philippines to enter the area after it removed the floating barriers installed by the Chinese Coast Guard in the southeast entrance of shoal. “The PCG together with the BFAR, and of course with the support of our AFP, through the intelligence cooperation that we have already established, we will be able to sustain this patrol with the end goal of once again allowing fishermen to be able to go inside the lagoon,” Tarriela said in a television interview on Tuesday. “And also to open this, as you said it was already decided by the arbitral award that it is not just for Filipinos but this is a traditional fishing ground for Chinese, Vietnamese, and Filipinos. So we are going to abide by the decision of the international ruling and that is our end goal,” he added. Tarriela said it was still possible for the Philippines to assert its rights over Scarborough Shoal, after the 2012 standoff—wherein Chinese vessels began guarding the lagoon and barred Filipino ships and fishing boats from entering the area. “As I have said, since the new administration took office, we have already strategized how can we be able to take control once again of Bajo de Masinloc, especially the lagoon,” he stressed. “For so many months, we were able to calibrate our deployment in such time that we can already anchor the distance of 300 meters,” he added. Tarriela said these efforts by the Philippines will continue. “This will be sustained in the next coming days but I don't want to detail in public how are we going to do that,” he noted. Tarriela said the removal of the floating barriers was done upon the instructions of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, who also heads the National Task Force on the WPS. "The decisive action of the PCG to remove the barrier aligns with international law and the Philippines’ sovereignty over the shoal," he said. The post PCG eyes entry of Filipino fishermen in Scarborough Shoal appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sulu bans commercial fishing boats
JOLO, Sulu Province — The provincial government here announced on Monday that commercial fishing companies in the Zamboanga Peninsula and from other regions in the country were banned from entering and fishing inside their territorial waters. This comes as Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan ordered to seize fishing boats found entering and fishing inside the Sulu Sea effective on 13 September. Tan said talks between officials from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and officials from major fishing companies in ZamPen and other parts of the country are ongoing. Pending results from their ongoing talks, the provincial government will ban all fishing boats from entering and fishing inside the Sulu Sea and if they are inside, authorities will seize their fishing vessels. The governor stressed that the presence of big commercial boats or vessels fishing inside the Sulu Sea is depriving local fishermen earnings for their families. A formal advisory was also issued to fishing ports in Zamboanga City informing the management of fishing ports that “fishing boats caught entering and fishing their territorial waters would be seized and confiscated.” While Tan is considering that about 20,000 workers of these fishing companies will temporarily lose their job or income, he insisted that the province have more than one million residents and most of them defend fishing as their primary source of livelihood. The affected fishing company workers are under no work, no pay arrangements with most of them being poor farmers from the province across the Visayas and Mindanao regions. “If we continue to allow these fishing boats to fish inside the Sulu Sea, our people will also suffer and lose their income,” Tan said. “Sulu is predominantly agricultural with farming and fishing as its main livelihood activities and fishing is the most important industry since the Sulu Seas is one of the richest fishing grounds in the country,” he added. The post Sulu bans commercial fishing boats appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»