Category: General

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III on Tuesday said he will ask the Department of Agriculture (DA) and its attached agencies to give a full account of the PHP2.3 billion budget given to them from the 2023 General Appropriations Act. At the hearing of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights and Senate Committee on Food and Agriculture, Pimentel said there must be full accountability of the PHP2.3 billion budget intended for the First Border Facility (FBF) as next year's budget deliberation is nearing. 'Hahanapin natin ito, saan na-release ang halagang ito, malapit na ang budget cycle (We have to ask for it, where it was released as the budget cycle nears)," Pimentel said. In the same hearing, Senator Cynthia Villar blamed the DA for not implementing FBF when she funded it in 2019. The FBF, according to Villar, was the first testing center for imported agricultural products including various meats -- pork, beef and chicken. Villar said the absence of FBF was the main reason for the spread of African swine fever (ASF) and other diseases coming from imported products. 'Ang DA, ayaw mag-construct, kahit may ibigay sa kanilang pondo (The DA don't want to construct even if we gave them funds)," Villar said. Under the 2023 budget, she said, FBF must be constructed in Bulacan, Cebu and Davao City, adding the fund was allocated years ago despite the private sectors agreeing to lend their establishment for FBF. Last December, Villar asked the support of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to establish at least three FBF in different areas of the country

Source: Philippines News Agency

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has reiterated that the price freeze covering most of the province will remain in effect until June 18, even while the power situation here improves. In an interview on Tuesday, a representative from the DTI's Consumer Protection Group (DTI-CPG) said that their office continues to monitor possible violators of the freeze order, even while local government units (LGUs) are primarily responsible for enforcement. The DTI-CPG representative explained that the price freeze automatically took effect as soon as a state of calamity was declared in the province on April 20. A state of calamity was declared under Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution 136-2023 in response to a shortage in electricity which earlier triggered 15 to 16-hour daily brownouts. The price freeze will remain in effect until its 60-day term lapses, or if otherwise revoked by authorities. Out of the 11 municipalities in Occidental Mindoro, only the towns of Lubang and Looc are currently not under a state of calamity. Basic commodities subject to the price freeze include canned sardines and other marine food products, processed milk, coffee, laundry and detergent soaps, iodized salt, instant noodles and bottled water. Meanwhile, Malacañang last week announced that an end to the power crisis was imminent after an agreement was reached to operate three power plants belonging to Occidental Mindoro Consolidated Power Corp. The power plants have a combined capacity of 30 megawatts, which is sufficient to supply Occidental Mindoro's electricity needs during peak hours, according to the National Electrification Administratio

Source: Philippines News Agency

The weather bureau issued an El Niño alert on Tuesday, saying the weather phenomenon might emerge between June and July at 80 percent probability and might persist until the first quarter of 2024. El Niño increases the likelihood of below-normal rainfall conditions, which could have negative impacts, such as dry spells and droughts, in some areas of the country. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), however, said above-normal rainfall conditions during the southwest monsoon season ('habagat') may also be expected over the western part of the country. "With this development, the PAGASA El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Alert and Warning System is now raised to El Niño Alert. El Niño (warm phase of ENSO) is characterized by unusually warmer than average sea surface temperatures at the central and eastern equatorial Pacific. When conditions are favorable for the development of El Niño within the next two months at a probability of 70 percent or more, an El Niño alert is issued," PAGASA said. On April 18, PAGASA Deputy Administrator Esperanza Cayanan said the chances for an El Niño between June and August have increased from 55 percent to 80 percent. The probability of El Niño between November and January 2024 also rose to about 87 percent. Drought or dry spells may be felt towards the last quarter of 2023 and it is possible to experience heavy rainfall before seeing the effects of El Niño because of the 'habagat' season in June to September, she added. PAGASA said it would continue to closely monitor the development of the phenomenon. "All concerned government agencies and the general public are encouraged to keep on monitoring and take precautionary measures against the impending impacts of El Niño," it said. (

Source: Philippines News Agency

The positivity rate or the number of people testing positive for coronavirus is not a good basis in determining the real picture of the country's Covid-19 situation. In a media briefing on Tuesday, Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire noted that the computation of positivity rate is dependent on the recorded results of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests which, recently, have shown a tremendous decrease. "Hindi po magandang basehan ang positivity rate sa ngayon para mabase natin kung ano ang sitwasyon natin sa Covid (Currently, the positivity rate is not a good basis to determine to real situation on Covid-19)," she said. Positivity rate is affected by the number of individuals getting tested through RT-PCR. However, most Filipinos are using antigen tests now, she said. "Some of our citizens are not having any tests at all but are just isolating themselves when they are sick," she added. Hence, the exact number of individuals infected with Covid-19 is not recorded. In the recent week, the DOH recorded 4,456 new infections with an average of 637 cases per day. The figure was 42 percent higher than the previous week (April 17 to 23). Vergeire assured the public that the hike in infections does not translate to increased hospital admission, severe and critical cases, and number of deaths. 'Our healthcare utilization rates remain low risk and this is all because of the wall of immunity that we have more than 100 percent coverage for the fully vaccinated Filipinos," she said. The DOH data for the recent week also showed that only 15 percent of 2,021 beds in intensive care units (ICU) were used and only 18.1 percent of 17,480 non-ICU beds were occupied. As of March 20, more than 78.4 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated. More than 23.8 million have received their first booster dose and almost 4.4 million have received their 2nd booster shot. When asked about some people treating Covid-19 just like the common flu, Vergeire said it was important to isolate themselves as soon as they have the symptoms. 'That's the moving forward direction, na ang sakit na ito ay kelangan lamang ma-manage, at alam mo kung paano mo ma-manage ang sarili mo, alam mo kung paano mo po-proteksyunan ang sarili mo (That's the moving forward direction, that this disease needs to be managed, and you know how to manage yourself, and you know how to protect yourself)," she added

Source: Philippines News Agency

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has recorded a PHP74 million surplus in its revenue collection for April. In a statement on Tuesday, the BOC said last month's PHP68.274 billion collection surpassed its target collection of PHP68.199 billion. The amount is 3.97 percent higher than last year's collection of PHP65.669 billion for the same period. Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio attributed their collection performance to its higher rate of assessment, which is mainly due to improved valuation of non-oil importation, according to the Revenue Collection Monitoring Group - Financial Service. At the same time, he announced that the agency's total revenue collection for the first four months of 2023 reached PHP281.902 billion. The figure surpassed the target collection of PHP265.220 billion by 6.29 percent or PHP16.682 billion. The revenue is also 10.89 percent higher than the previous year's collection of PHP254.226 billion for the same period. In addition, the BOC recorded its highest daily collection for the year on April 30, amounting to over PHP7.51 billion, which is an encouraging indication of the agency's continued efforts to improve its collection performance. "We will continue to uphold our commitment to transparency, accountability, and service excellence as we strive to meet our revenue targets and contribute to the growth and development of our country," the BOC chief added. He said the BOC's consistent increase in revenue collection is a positive development for the Philippine government, as it strives to generate revenue to fund its various programs and projects

Source: Philippines News Agency

The Northern Samar provincial government has lauded the Philippine Army for its successful operation that left seven New People's Army (NPA) combatants killed on the outskirts of Bobon, Northern Samar on Sunday. Governor Edwin Ongchuan, chair of the provincial task force to end local communist armed conflict, said in a statement Tuesday the victory is proof of the government's commitment to pursue peace in the province. 'Our government troops deserve our highest recognition for successfully defending our people from communists who continued in their harassment and extortion activities. While we believe peace can be achieved through the whole-of-nation approach, combating with stubborn communist terrorist group forces is only possible through a strong Philippine Army, which they have effectively delivered,' Ongchuan said. On April 30, at least seven NPA members were killed during an encounter with soldiers in upland Santander village in Bobon town. Troops from the Army's 803rd Infantry Brigade had an armed encounter with 40 rebels following a tip from residents of sightings of armed men on the outskirts of their village. The armed rebels belong to the subregional guerrilla unit and remnants of the dismantled front committee-2, subregional committee emporium of the NPA Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee led by Mario Sevillano. Sevillano is a notorious rebel leader who perpetrated numerous atrocities in Northern Samar province. Soldiers called for close air and artillery support from the Philippine Air Force since the NPA lair was heavily fortified and surrounded by prohibited anti-personnel mines. Soldiers recovered one R4 rifle, two M16 rifles, an AK47 rifle, anti-personnel mine and subversive documents. 'We continue our appeal to the constituents of the province to support the call for the return of those who were waylaid by communists and live a normal and peaceful life, with their families and loved ones,' Ongchuan added. Northern Samar is the most affected province in Eastern Visayas by insurgency with the operation of two active NPA guerilla fronts. The military said although front committees 1 and 15 are still active, they are not in control of any village in Northern Samar. The two remaining fronts are hiding in the upland villages of Catubig, Las Navas, Silvino Lobos, Palapag, Mapanas and Gamay towns. Front committee 2 operating in the boundary of Samar and Northern Samar has been dismantled this year after the capture and surrender of some of their combatants and the recovery of several firearms. The NPA front committee 3, which operates near the boundaries of Northern Samar and Eastern Samar provinces, has also been weakened after the series of operations conducted by government forces.

Source: Philippines News Agency

A total of 4,728 job applicants were hired on the spot (HOTS) during Monday's simultaneous Labor Day job fairs. The number includes 2,525 female and 2,203 male appplicants, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said in its initial Labor Day Job Fair Report released on Tuesday. This is from a total of 30,837 applicants who registered for the events -- 16,206 of whom were women while 14,631 were men. The number of HOTS is 15.33 percent of the total number of registrants. It reported that the top positions filled were service crew, 248; cashier, 139; call center agents, 77; bagger, 57; and merchandiser, 57. On the other hand, 1,603 jobseekers were provided with training opportunities at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), while 619 job hunters were provided with livelihood assistance opportunities under the Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns. The DOLE also reported that 447 individuals were referred to entrepreneurship opportunities at the Department of Trade and Industry. A total of 4,233 jobseekers have availed of one-stop shop services from various government agencies. Meanwhile, four areas are set to hold jobs fairs in the coming days - at the NCCC Mall, Tagum City, Davao del Norte on Tuesday; People's Center, Balanga City, Bataan on Wednesday; Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium, Malolos City, Bulacan on Thursday; and at the third level of the Alabang Public Market on Friday

Source: Philippines News Agency

Semirara Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC) chairman Isidro Consunji said the listed company's remittance to the government as royalties in 2022 surged by 151 percent to nearly PHP16 billion. During SMPC's virtual annual stockholders' meeting Tuesday, Consunji said the firm posted its highest remittance to the government and host communities in 2022 for the past 25 years. The SMPC remitted PHP5.9 billion in royalties to the government in 2021. 'Because of our all-time high coal revenues, government share surged by 151 percent to nearly PHP16 billion, the highest ever contributed by our company to the national government and our host communities,' Consunji said. He reported that SMPC's consolidated revenues last year increased by 74 percent to PHP91.1 billion from PHP52.4 billion in 2021, while net income also surged by 146 percent to PHP39.9 billion from PHP16.2 billion in the same comparable period. Likewise, the firm's operating cash flow almost doubled to PHP40.8 billion in 2022, also a record-high for SMPC in the past 25 years from PHP21.3 billion in 2021. Consunji also reported that SMPC's coal production grew by 19 times to 16 million tons last year -- the maximum allowable capacity under its environmental compliance certificate -- from 800,000 metric tons in 1997. He added SMPC's domestic coal sales have powered 4,000 megawatts of power plants in the country, or accounting for 20 percent of the energy mix. 'I am proud of our organization transformation, and even prouder of our meaningful contribution to national energy security and poverty alleviation,' Consunji said. SMPC president Maria Cristina Gotianun said despite the 55-percent decline in coal shipments from China, the company's coal sales only slipped by 3 percent last year. 'We reduced our dependence on China and redirected our marketing efforts to local coal buyers,' she said. Gotianun said the higher average selling prices for coal and electricity increased by double digit last year due to supply and demand imbalances in the global energy market. The appreciation of US dollar against Philippine peso and Japanese yen also led to foreign exchange gains from SMPC's coal exports and Japan imports. Business expansion Meanwhile, Consunji bared SMPC's plan to seek mining opportunities outside Semirara Island. The company is also open to venturing into liquefied natural gas (LNG) business. 'The Calaca location is ideal for LNG as well as coal. So the question is really an issue of business viability, but basically and technically, there's no reason why SMPC will not go to LNG,' he added

Source: Philippines News Agency

Senator Francis Tolentino on Tuesday said the government is serious in fighting smuggling as he vows to find ways to strengthen the judicial system that will prosecute smugglers in the country. At the joint hearing of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, Food and Agriculture, Tolentino said that despite the enactment into law of Republic Act 10845 or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016, smugglers are still rampant in the country. 'Kahit naipasa na ang RA 10845, tuluy-tuloy pa din ang pagpasok ng (Even if we passed the RA 10845, smuggling still continue) smuggled products to the detriment of our local farmers,' he said. One of the solutions, according to Tolentino, is to create special courts each in Bulacan, Manila, Cebu and Davao City, whose primary function is to prosecute smugglers, but a thorough study must be conducted since it is complicated and requires a huge budget. The National Bureau of Investigation, on the other hand, proposed that the Regional Trial Courts must hear the smuggling cases instead of creating special courts. Rosendo So, chairman of the Samahan ng Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), told the Senate hearing that smuggling continue from the previous administrations wherein the Manila Port ranked first, followed by Subic Port and Batangas City Port, as well as Davao City and Cebu. Tolentino said that smuggling of agricultural products is conducted in layer operation, meaning smuggled products are hidden into layers and through 'ukay-ukay'. Meanwhile, Sen. Cynthia Villar said she will support any amendments of anti-smuggling laws to ensure an effective fight against it. She said hoarding, price manipulation and cartel will be included in the amendments as economic sabotage, which is a non-bailable offense.

Source: Philippines News Agency

The Philippine National Police (PNP) will deploy policemen in barangays identified by the local police forces as crime-prone areas as part of preemptive efforts against criminality.

PNP chief information officer Col. Redrico Maranan said the move is a strategic action plan as the national police do not have enough manpower to guard over 100 million Filipinos in all parts of the country.

Maranan explained that police visibility has been proven as a crime deterrent over the years.

‘The identification of crime-prone barangays is necessary for our deployment. These are the areas where our personnel would be deployed and our commanders were already advised to properly implement it and conduct supervision so that these are done properly,’ Maranan said in a radio interview.

He emphasized the importance of cooperation of the barangay officials in maintaining peace and order.

He said that strong coordination between the police and the community lies on the cooperation between the two, adding that it is the police commanders who are given the task to initiate it.

‘The PNP cannot deploy policemen in each of the barangay. What we do is to cluster the barangay and then we either put up Police Community Precincts, police assistance desks or even a police outpost,’ said Maranan. ‘We believe that if this is properly implemented, we would be able to reduce the crime, especially in the crime-prone barangays’

The end goal, according to Maranan, is to reduce crime which eventually leads to the peace of mind of the people.

Another action plan that would be initiated by the new PNP chief, according to Maranan, is to ensure that all complaints of the people are properly addressed and acted in the soonest possible time.

Maranan said that PNP personnel on the ground has required to conduct regular visits to schools in their respective areas of responsibility as part of the measures to strengthen ties between the police and the community.

He said the program is part of the Oplan Bisita Eskwela wherein policemen are tasked to coordinate with the barangay officials for school visitation.

‘Our policemen in the barangays are required to conduct patrols and coordinate with the principal and teachers in order to prevent our students from being victimized by criminal elements,’ said Maranan.

He explained that there are also crimes reported in schools which include hazing and clashes among students.

‘Our policemen will also ensure that our students would not engage in smoking, including vape,’ said Maranan.

He explained that this is part of the security measures being implemented by the PNP in accordance with the existing anti-smoking ordinances and other ordinances of the local government units relating to peace and order in the communities.

Maranan explained that barangay, city and municipal ordinances if properly implemented, contribute a lot in maintaining peace and order in the community.

‘So all of these will be among those that would be implemented by our policemen in the barangays,’ Maranan said.

 

 

Source: Philippines News Agency

The Department of Labor and Employment in Bicol (DOLE-5) is expecting about 300 jobseekers or at least 15 percent of 2,000 applicants who preregistered will be hired on the spot during the Labor Day job fair held at the Ayala Malls here on Monday.

DOLE-5 Regional Director Ma. Zenaida A. Angara-Campita, in an interview with local reporters, said the expectation was based on the good grades and quality of performance indicated in the job seekers preregistration documents.

“Nakita naman namin na sila ay marurunong, and maganda ang kanilang mga credentials. I hope na na mamakakuha sila ng trabaho this time. Tinitingnan din naman, hindi namin sila kakalimutan, pag na-profile na namin sila, mahanapan pa sila ng angkop na trabaho para sa kanila. This will not end in Labor Day. Patuloy namin imo-monitor ung paghahanap nila ng trabaho (We have seen that they are smart and their credentials are good. I hope that they will get a job this time. We will also look into it, we will not forget them, once we have profiled them we will find a suitable job for to them. This will not end on Labor Day. We will continue to monitor their job search),” Campita said.

Some 14,000 vacancies are available at the job fair, she noted.

Campita also said the event dubbed “Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan” is one way of helping not only those who are looking for employment but also those seeking better opportunities.

She said as part of the event, some 20,617 beneficiaries are set to receive PHP95 million worth of livelihood assistance from the DOLE and Technical Education Skills Development Authority in Bicol (TESDA-5).

Nine beneficiaries will receive livelihood kits under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) for nail care services, dressmaking, beauty care, hair and make-up, street food vending and cooked viand vending.

There will also be awarding of Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) wages to some 20, 496 beneficiaries.

 

 

Source: Philippines News Agency

A former ranking official of militant labor group, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), on Monday claimed that the organization was responsible for the closure of at least 500 factories nationwide that resulted in the displacement of half a million workers over the past several years.

Crispin Tandog Jr., a former national executive council member of KMU, revealed that the organization was responsible for massive loss of jobs following the infiltration by underground operatives of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

“For decades, KMU has instigated and infiltrated labor unions and organizations to stage strikes that led to the closure of more than 500 factories across the country. Half a million workers lost their jobs because of them,” he saidd during the “Tagged Reloaded: Debunking Lies by Telling the Truth,” the online weekly press conference organized by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

Tandog admitted that he joined the underground movement after he became a student activist in 1986. He was a member of another communist terrorist group (CTG) front organization, League of Filipino Students, and was recruited in the underground youth organization, Kabataang Makabayan.

Later, he was deployed as a cadre in the labor sector, ending up as an official of KMU and various leftist labor groups in Central Luzon.

“I formed labor organizations, agitated them to hate capitalists and organized strikes to cripple the operations in their work places. I have some comrades who died during bloody confrontations in those strikes,” Tandog added.

Tandog said the CPP-NPA-NDF orchestrated the infiltration of labor organizations through the KMU by drumbeating issues on wages, job security and workers’ rights.

Following his return to the folds of the law, Tandog helped organize “Hugpong Obrero” which he described as an ‘alternative labor center’ that espouses “industrial peace.”

“We no longer believe in strikes and we are promoting a harmonious relationship between management and labor. We are batting for makatuwirang sahod (just salaries) and promote responsible unionism,” he said.

“You can increase productivity by making the government, the investors, and industrial workers work harmoniously to achieve industrial peace. No worker wants to lose his job,’ Tandog added.

At the same time, Tandog warned workers in the business processes outsourcing (BPO) industry to beware of CPP-NPA-NDF operators who are ‘inching their way to BPOs, targeting them through social media.”

Meanwhile, Jose A. Descallar, Technical Education and Skills Development (TESD) Specialist, reported that the NTF-ELCAC’s Poverty Reduction and Livelihood Cluster (PRLEC) has conducted intervention programs on labor and livelihood issues.

In addressing the problems besetting marginalized sectors in geographically isolated or “conflict-vulnerable barangays”, Descallar said the labor department, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Agrarian Reform and the Department of Agriculture provided “assessment, developments and interventions” for barangays already cleared of CPP-NPA-NDF control or influence.

In terms of jobs and livelihood, he said the DOLE’s “Tupad Program” has disbursed PHP553 million to 123,336 jobs in the 683 priority barangays. And its Integrated Livelihood Program totaled PHP157 million awarded to 12,138 beneficiaries.

“Dati, hindi natin nagagawa dahil kontrolado ang kanilang area ng CTGs (Before, we cannot do that as their areas were controlled by the CTGs),” Descallar, who was guest in the same forum, explained.

To date, Descallar said identification of priority projects in barangays previously controlled by CTGs is already being done by “the locals themselves through their Sangguniang Barangay, their LGUs and even their municipal and provincial leaderships.”

 

 

Source: Philippines News Agency