Recent News

  • By Jose Cielito Reganit, March 21, 2024; Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1221283 MANILA – The proposed New Government Procurement Reform Law may be ready for signing by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in May. Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. said he met with Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Tuesday to discuss the proposed new procurement law. “Pinag-usapan po namin ni Senate President Migz na maipapasa by May. At siguro po, before SONA (the President’s State of the Nation Address in July), okay na po ‘yung ating (bagong) Procurement Law, (I discussed with Senate President Migz that it will be passed by May. And hopefully, before the President’s SONA in July, we already have a New Procurement Law)” Gonzales said in a press conference at the House of Representatives on Thursday. The proposed New Government Procurement Act, principally authored by Speaker Martin Romualdez and Gonzales, is one of the priority measures included in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC). The House passed House Bill 9648 (HB) on Dec. 12 last year. The Senate opened second-reading deliberations on its version on Monday. Gonzales noted that the enactment process for the proposed new law could be shortened further if the Senate would just adopt HB 9648, which seeks to repeal and replace Republic Act (RA) 9184, the present procurement statute. “So, ang gusto ko po sana kung pupuwede, kaming dalawa ni (Budget) Secretary Mena (Amenah Pangandaman) at ni Speaker, gusto namin talaga mapabilis itong (My point is if it’s possible. I and Budget Secretary Pangandaman, and Speaker Romualdez want to hasten the passage of the) Procurement Act,” he said. He said in the case of the judiciary, the Supreme Court has “pipeline projects all over the country,” like more courtrooms, but cannot be immediately bid out because RA 9184 has to be amended first. Among the salient features of the new law is the reduction of the procurement process from 120 days to just 27 days, “starting from the advertisement up to the notice of award, notice to proceed, and signing of contract and (with) one publication only.” The measure aims to adopt a “single electronic portal” known as the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) for all procurement activities — from planning to implementation. Another salient feature of the proposed new procurement law is the removal of the requirement for the post-qualification of bidders. On Tuesday, Pangandaman said passing the New Procurement Act would be a “significant step” in promoting transparency and good governance and, at the same time, help government agencies utilize their budget efficiently. “This is a significant step that will promote transparency, efficiency, and good governance, aligning with President Bongbong Marcos’ vision of Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines),” Pangandaman said in a statement.

  • By Jean Mangaluz, March 19, 2024; Philippine Daily Inquirer https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1920525/fwd-zubiri-on-ledac MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Tuesday said that the Senate is still on track to pass all the priority bills of the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) by June. According to a Palace statement, Zubiri made the pledge to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. himself. Zubiri, Marcos, House Speaker Martin Romualdez and the country’s economic chiefs met in a Ledac meeting in Malacañan Tuesday morning. “Mayroon pa kaming, of course, utang dahil hindi pa namin natatapos. But we committed to the President all 23 measures, hopefully, will be done by June before the Senate break or sine die break. So ‘yan ang commitment namin sa House of Representatives together with the President. But we’re on track to pass all of these by June,” said Zubiri. (We committed to the President all 23 measures, which hopefully will be done by June before the Senate break or sine die break. So that is our commitment to the House of Representatives together with the President. We’re on track to pass all of these by June.) A total of 15 measures will be completed before the Senate Sine die adjournment and another eight will be done by June, said Zubiri. According to Zubiri, however, many laws are already on the Bicameral Conference Committee Meetings level, while others only need Marcos’ signature. For the House of Representatives, all Ledac priority measures have been passed, according to Romualdez. In January, the Ledac determined that there were 15 priority bills to be passed before June, namely: Amendments to Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act/Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act Self-Reliant Defense Posture Act Philippine Maritime Zones Act Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System Negros Island Region Act Anti-Financial Accounts Scamming Act Value Added Tax on Digital Services Amendments to the Government Procurement Reform Act Blue Economy Act Waste-to-Energy Bill Mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps and National Service Training Program Unified System of Separation, Retirement, and Pension of Military and Uniformed Personnel E-Government Act/E-Governance Act Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Program Act

  • By William B. Depasupil, March 18, 2024; The Manila Times https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/03/18/news/national/bi-cfo-launch-joint-database-system/1937317 The Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) have integrated their database systems to provide efficient and faster service to departing and arriving overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) while making it doubly hard for illegal and undocumented workers or victims of human trafficking. Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said over the weekend that the BI-CFO joint system agreement aims to provide a simplified and more efficient means of processing, collecting, verifying, and sharing information or data needed by both agencies. The joint system seeks to address and eliminate illegal recruitment, human trafficking, and irregular migration incidents in the Philippines while generating accurate data on migration. “Interoperability is an important part of modern governance,” said Tansingco. “The integration of our systems to share real-time data will provide streamlined and efficient services to the public,” he added. He said BI officers have encountered several instances of fake CFO Guidance and Counseling Program (GCP) certificates presented during immigration inspections. GCP is a required pre-departure seminar conducted by the CFO to equip Filipinos in intermarriages and bi-national relationships with adequate information on cultural and social realities overseas. The certificates purport to show that holders have attended the GCP and, therefore, can leave for abroad. Aside from the CFO, the BI has also linked up with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). BI records show that the GCP certificate and the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) from the DMW are the most common government certificates being faked by human trafficking syndicates. Under the law, Filipinos who are leaving to permanently settle abroad are required to register with the CFO and obtain certificates that they attended the commission’s pre-departure orientation seminar or peer counseling sessions. The OEC, on the other hand, is a requirement for departing OFWs and first-time migrants. Tansingco said the joint system would allow immediate detection of fake CFO certificates and prevent future attempts of fraud. “With the creation of the shared information system between the BI and the CFO, schemes like this will not be able to pass,” he said.

  • By Kristine Daguno-Bersamina, March 16, 2024; Philippine Star https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/03/16/2341061/marcos-signs-new-law-online-passport-applications-philippines Manila, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved the “New Philippine Passport Act,” designed to modernize passport application processes nationwide. The law aims to greatly improve accessibility and streamline procedures, especially benefiting senior citizens, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and individuals with special needs or exceptional circumstances, according to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on Friday. The recently enacted law, signed on March 11, replaced Republic Act No. 8239, also known as the Passport Act of 1996. “The new passport law now authorizes DFA to provide offsite and mobile passport services in areas outside of the consular offices and foreign service posts (FSPs),” the PCO said. “The DFA is also mandated by the new law to arrange accommodations for the applications of regular passports by senior citizens, PWDs, pregnant women, minors aged seven years old and below, solo parents, OFWs, and individuals with emergency and exceptional cases,” it added. To ensure passport security, the PCO explained that the law sets tough penalties for unauthorized passport handling. Offenders could face at least 12 years in prison and fines ranging from P1 million to P2 million. The New Philippine Passport Act addresses offenses such as passport forgery and misuse, with penalties including imprisonment for six to 15 years and fines ranging from P100,000 to P250,000. It also targets unfair practices in passport issuance, prescribing penalties like suspension, dismissal, fines of up to P250,000, and imprisonment for a maximum of six years. According to the PCO, regular passports, meant for Filipino citizens ineligible for diplomatic or official passports, will be issued under the new law, serving government officials or employees traveling abroad for personal reasons. “Government officials and employees and members of their families may, during their incumbency in office, hold two passports simultaneously,” the PCO said. The New Philippine Passport Act will take effect 15 days after its publication in either the Official Gazette or a widely circulated newspaper.

  • House approves economic Cha-cha

    By Delon Porcalla, March 14, 2024; The Philippine Star https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/03/14/2340401/house-approves-economic-cha-cha MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives approved on second reading last night Resolution of Both Houses 7 (RBH7) amending restrictive economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution, just before Congress goes on a Holy Week break. Administration lawmakers overwhelmingly endorsed through a voice vote the economic Charter change ostensibly aimed at relaxing foreign ownership restrictions in public utilities, education and advertising. Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chairman of the House committee on constitutional amendments, suggested that in light of the Philippines’ rift with China over the West Philippine Sea, the government can “exclude Chinese and other risky investors in the economic Charter amendment enabling law.” He said the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” is proposed to be inserted in the Charter’s economic provisions to give Congress the power to change foreign investment limitations, but this would not mean that all foreign capital would be accepted. Rodriguez said Congress can include a “screening process” in the enabling law that would prevent countries engaged in conflict with the Philippines from coming in with their investments. “I can mention China, with which we have a dispute over the West Philippine Sea. In other words, Congress can craft a law to make sure that risky countries or investments with implications on our national interest and security can be checked and barred from coming in,” he said. Another proponent, Rep. Teodorico Haresco Jr. of the second district of Aklan, said RBH7 can create two million jobs and double the foreign direct investments in the country, which is very much needed as government tries to recover from the adverse effects of the pandemic. “We hold the highest foreign investment restrictions among the ASEAN-5 because of the limitations set in our Constitution and it’s also the reason why we cannot maximize foreign investments which could generate jobs and alleviate poverty,” he said.Data presented by Haresco also showed the Philippines lagging behind its ASEAN neighbors, where it is the last in foreign investment inflows among the five biggest ASEAN economies – Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand – from 2010 to 2020.“The fruits of our economic and fiscal policies in the past decade are almost ripe. It’s high time we remove the barriers so not only a few benefit. Our country must work together with the global community so we can reap these bountiful harvests and have the Filipino people and their families benefit from our labor of love,” Haresco stressed. The measure, authored by House leaders, was discussed extensively since Feb. 26 after RBH7 was filed, and a committee of the whole was formed for purposes of expediting the process, where hearings in the committee level have been done away with. Opponents to the measure have been allowed to pose questions to the resource persons that included framers of the Charter, legal luminaries, members of academe, renowned economists and even former and incumbent government officials. Speaker Martin Romualdez said the chamber will finish the measure in time for the March 22 Lenten break of Congress, which includes the Senate. The resumption of session will start on April 29.

  • By Wilnard Bacelonia, March 12, 2024; Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1220587 MANILA – The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) urged lawmakers on Tuesday to streamline Republic Act No. 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act (GPRA) to address supply issues in projects being funded through Official Development Assistance (ODA). During a public hearing of the Congressional Oversight Committee on the ODA (COCODA), NEDA Assistant Secretary Jonathan Uy said with the current law, biddings fail due to shortage of qualified bidders for civil works, goods, and highly technical consulting services. Uy suggested that the best value procurement mechanism in procurement reform should be adopted. “Instead of talking of price per se as the paramount value, we should come up with technical parameters for best value procurement beyond price,” he said. Uy also recommended a statutory grant for the Government Procurement Policy Board to enhance capacity building on procurement, as well as to increase professionalism among procurement practitioners. “We cannot rely on changing procurement officers. In particular, that is an issue in terms of transparency and moral hazard if we have changing procurement officers. Therefore, we have to train a cadre of procurement people not only at the national level, but also at the local government level,” Uy said. The preferential use of domestically produced and manufactured goods, he said, should be amended, saying the technology needed, especially in ODA-funded projects, is usually not locally available. Proposed revisions in Senate plenary Senate Bill No. 2593, which proposes amendments to the GPRA, was ushered on Monday to the plenary. Senator Sonny Angara, chair of the Committee on Finance, assured that the measure would result in greater efficiency in the implementation of projects, purchase of goods and supplies and reducing, if not eliminating, avenues for corruption. A priority measure identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council, the amendments to the GPRA are expected to streamline and make effective the process of government procurement. Angara said procurement of basic supplies take an “inordinate amount of time” to complete. “There is a lack of true competition among bidders and oftentimes agencies are unable to undertake the procurement of goods due to poor planning or they are tied up by the procedures under the law,” he said in a speech. In his last State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the GPRA should be reformed to make public procurement more attuned to the changing times.

  • By Louella Desiderio, March 6, 2024; The Philippine Star https://www.philstar.com/business/2024/03/06/2338317/inflation-quickens-34-percent-february#:~:text=MANILA%2C%20Philippines%20%E2%80%94%20Inflation%20quickened%20to,and%20meat%20and%20transport%20costs. Manila, Philippines — Inflation quickened to a two-month high of 3.4 percent in February from 2.8 percent in January, snapping four straight months of decline amid faster upticks in food prices such as rice and meat and transport costs. The February inflation print, however was lower than the 8.6 percent booked in the same month last year and was within the 2.8 percent to 3.6 percent forecast of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). Prior to the pick-up last month, the rate of increase in the average prices of consumer goods and services has been declining since September 2023. National Statistician Dennis Mapa said in a press briefing yesterday the uptrend in inflation was driven by food and non-alcoholic beverages, which posted an inflation rate of 4.6 percent in February from 3.5 percent in the previous month. Food inflation went up to 4.8 percent from 3.3 percent due to higher rice and meat prices. Rice posted a higher inflation rate of 23.7 percent in February from the previous month’s 22.6 percent. Mapa said the February rice inflation was the highest since the 24.6 percent recorded in February 2009. World market prices of rice have been rising and all three classifications of the staple tracked by the Philippine Statistics Authority also posted increases, Mapa said. “Assuming no reduction in the price, and the movement will continue, we should be expecting high rice inflation until July or August this year,” Mapa said. Meat recorded a 0.7 percent increment in February after easing by 0.7 percent in January. The transport commodity group was cited as another driver of the higher headline inflation rate as the index registered a 1.2 percent increase from a 0.3 percent decline. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels also contributed to the uptrend as it recorded a faster uptick of 0.9 percent in February from the previous month’s 0.7 percent. National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the government would continue to monitor food supply and prices and implement policies to ensure affordable and adequate food especially for the most vulnerable sectors. “As we navigate the economic landscape, it is imperative that we remain vigilant and proactive in our approach to managing inflationary pressures. While we have seen some relief from certain inflation risks, we must not become complacent. The potential impact of a strong El Niño weather pattern on food prices is a significant concern for our community,” Balisacan said. Balisacan said the government is coming up with strategies to respond to the challenges. While international rice prices have started to ease and local supply is expected to increase with the dry season harvest beginning this month through April, he said the Department of Agriculture is working closely with the International Rice Research Institute to increase the country’s rice production. The NEDA also said the next phase of the test for the African swine fever vaccine is awaiting Food and Drug Administration approval. This vaccine, once proven effective, will be rolled out to help ensure adequate pork supply in the country. ING senior economist Nicholas Mapa said the February inflation print was driven in large part by another supply side shock with food inflation reversing to accelerate. For the coming months, he said “the direction of inflation will be driven largely still by supply side factors and thus we will have to brace for episodes of sharp shifts and reversals as supply constraints remain unaddressed.” Oxford Economics economist Makoto Tsuchiya said the latest inflation outturn is not seen as the start of a significant reacceleration in prices, as the upside came from the supply side. Tsuchiya said the demand side inflationary pressures are limited. “With the economy set to slow this year amid soft external demand and the lagged impact of monetary policy, we don’t see a strong risk of demand-pull inflation,” he said. Diwa Guinigundo, former BSP deputy governor and now country analyst at GlobalSource Partners, said the central bank is likely to avoid moving too fast in easing its current monetary stance.

  • By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, March 1, 2024; Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1219879 MANILA – Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman has expressed appreciation for the agency’s purchasing arm, the Procurement Service (PS), for its digitalization efforts to ensure bureaucratic efficiency and improved service. In her keynote speech during PS-DBM’s appreciation event for its client agencies at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on Thursday, Pangandaman lauded the digital transformation initiatives of the agency’s procurement arm, which includes the modernization of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS). “This event’s theme, ‘ONE in Procurement and Service 2024: Transformative Public Service in the Digital Age,’ speaks volumes about PS-DBM’s commitment to achieving the government’s Agenda for Prosperity, leveraging digitalization towards bureaucratic efficiency, and improved public service delivery,” she said, as quoted by the DBM in a news release on Friday. “Congratulations to PS-DBM and our beloved client agencies on the success of this event. United as ‘One in Procurement and Service,’ may we never cease to work passionately in closing the gap between the government and the people we serve.” Pangandaman acknowledged the importance of modernizing the PhilGEPS by having an electronic marketplace that will ensure the client agencies’ convenient procurement of Common-use Supplies and Equipment (CSE). CSEs are items essential to the government’s daily operations. These include ball pens, papers, staplers, paper clips, and folders that are procured from the PS-DBM on a quarterly basis. Pangandaman also thanked the PS-DBM, headed by its executive director Dennis Santiago, for advocating the Government Procurement Reform Act, which is nearing passage. She said the proposed measure would help improve the country’s procurement system. “All of these wins are anchored on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision of a Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines) where the government is truly responsive to the needs of the people, accountable to its constituents, and fulfills its promise of prosperity to everyone,” Pangandaman said. During the event, Santiago presented the agency’s 12-Point Agenda, which aims to focus on the procurement of CSEs. He said the agenda would pave the way for the study, review, and rationalization of CSEs. The agenda also seeks to build up PS-DBM’s financial self-sufficiency and implement organizational restructuring of the procurement arm, including its human resource development and capacity building. He said the PS-DBM also aims to advance market-strengthening strategies and alliance-building; push for the institutionalization of Framework Agreement and Indefinite Delivery and Indefinite Quantity contractual arrangements to simplify CSE procurement; and take advantage of the benefits of economies of scale through bulk purchasing. “We do what we can to ensure integrity, transparency, and accountability in the performance of our duties. Ang tiwalang ipinagkaloob po ninyo ang nagsisilbing inspirasyon upang mas pag-ibayuhin at paigtingin ang pagtupad sa aming sinumpaang tungkulin (Your trust in us serves as an inspiration for us to improve and intensify our efforts to fulfill our mandate),” Santiago said. The appreciation event was the PS-DBM’s first engagement catered to commemorate the decades-long commitment of its client agencies to accountable, transparent, and efficient procurement. The awardees included officials and key representatives of the DBM; Government Procurement Policy – Technical Support Office; Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas; Department of Health (DOH); Department of Foreign Affairs; Department of Environment and Natural Resources; Department of Education; Home Development Mutual Fund; Games and Amusement Board; Philippine National Police; Supreme Court of the Philippines; Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority; Clark Development Corp.; and the National Youth Commission. Other awardees were DOH 10 (Northern Mindanao); Department of Information and Communications Technology 7 (Central Visayas); Quezon City government; University of the Philippines (UP) Manila; UP Diliman; UP Los Baños; Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Municipality of Naic, Cavite; 114th Contracting Office for Infrastructure, Armed Forces of the Philippines Procurement Service; City of Himamaylan, Negros Occidental; and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. (PNA)

  • By Richmond Mercurio, February 23, 2024 ; The Philippine Star https://www.philstar.com/business/2024/02/23/2335360/sec-launches-online-portal-corporate-amendments Manila, Philippines — The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is making it easier for corporations to file amendments to their articles of incorporation or by-laws through a newly launched online portal. The SEC said applications for amendments to a corporation’s articles of incorporation and by-laws can be made through the Electronic Application for Modification of Entity Data (eAMEND) portal starting today. The creation of the portal is line with the SEC’s shift to electronic filing, mandated under the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines. “The eAMEND portal is the commission’s newest innovation that will make filing documents faster, easier, and more efficient for the transacting public,” SEC chairperson Emilio Aquino said. “As the SEC continues its digital transformation journey, we will endeavor to provide more solutions that will push the corporate sector forward in the digital world, while also reaching our targets on sustainability and good governance,” he said. According to the SEC, applications are classified into those that will be issued a digital certificate and those to be given original certification. The first classification applies to applications for amendment of the articles of incorporation and by-laws by domestic stock and non-stock corporations. The SEC said these applications may include a change in the principal office address, an increase or decrease in the number of directors or trustees in the board, fiscal year for one person corporations, and the deletion or addition of new provisions in their existing articles of incorporation. Changes in the date of the annual meeting of stockholders or member and the fiscal year likewise fall under this classification. Meanwhile, the SEC said applications that would undergo regular processing include those for the amendment of partnership, dissolution of partnership, conversion of OPC to an ordinary stock corporation and vice versa, and increase of capital stock of a one person corporation via cash. Changes in provisions regarding purposes, capitalization, and reclassification of shares of corporations, as well as other amendments to the articles of incorporation not covered in the first classification will also undergo regular processing. The SEC said it would automatically purge applications due to failure to provide the required details and upload the documentary requirements, failure to comply with the compliance order from the receipt of email notification, in cases of incomplete or non-compliant submission, as well as failure to pay the amendment fees, within 60, 30, and 45 calendar days, respectively. It said applications may likewise be cancelled by the commission upon non-submission of documentary requirements and non-compliance with any lawful order of the SEC, in instances of incomplete requirements and inconsistent entries in the documents provided. Upon implementation of the online portal, the SEC said only system-generated amendment forms would be accepted for applications under the first category.

  • By Ferdinand Patinio, February 23, 2024; Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1219442 MANILA – The Philippines became the first country in Asia and the 38th in the world to ratify Convention No. 190 aimed at curbing violence and harassment in workplaces, the International Labour Organization (ILO) said on Friday. This came after Manila deposited the instrument of ratification of the convention to the ILO on Feb. 20. In a statement, the ILO said Convention No. 190 is the first international labor standard to address violence and harassment in the world of work comprehensively. It also introduces the first globally recognized definition of workplace violence and harassment, offering protection to all individuals in the workforce, including interns, apprentices, and those with employer duties or authority. This protection extends across various sectors, including public and private, formal and informal economies, and urban and rural areas. During the ceremony held at the ILO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Undersecretary for Labor Relations, Policy and International Affairs Cluster Benedicto Ernesto Bitonio Jr. said Manila recognizes the institutionalization of the “right to a world of work free from violence and harassment” as stipulated in the convention. “Convention 190 breaks new ground in the boldness of its scope and ambition. Where it speaks of a “right in the world of work,” it transcends the traditional boundaries of physical spaces, territory, and geography, of formal and informal work arrangements, of urban and rural communities, of corporate halls and households,” he said. He also said the convention calls upon nations to agree on a “baseline of acceptable behavior that respects every worker equally as a human being who has full freedom to choose and pursue the things that society values whatever [their] status, capabilities and sector are”. ILO Deputy Director General Celeste Drake, meanwhile, lauded the Philippines’ move to ratify the accord. “This ratification marks an important step to preventing and eliminating violence and harassment in the world of work. It is time to make workplaces free from violence and harassment a reality everywhere, promoting and realizing social justice for all,” she said. The convention also mandates member states to adopt, in consultation with representative employers’ and workers’ organizations, inclusive, gender-responsive strategies for preventing and eradicating workplace violence and harassment. This approach includes prevention, protection, and enforcement measures, as well as remedies, guidance, training, and awareness-raising initiatives. Acknowledging the distinct roles of governments, employers, workers, and their organizations, the convention emphasizes the importance of social dialogue and tripartism in implementing these measures at the national level. To date, the Philippines has ratified 39 ILO conventions, 31 of which are currently in force. (PNA)

  • By Louella Desiderio, February 19, 2024; The Philippine Star https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/02/19/2334418/government-address-price-hikes-neda#:~:text=MANILA%2C%20Philippines%20%E2%80%94%20The%20government%20is,and%20Development%20Authority%20(NEDA). Manila, Philippines — The government is stepping up efforts to address price increases in basic commodities such as rice following a recent survey indicating that Filipinos are dissatisfied with efforts to manage inflation, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). “We recognize the significance and urgency of addressing the issues and challenges that have been highlighted by the survey results of OCTA Research Group released (on Feb. 17), particularly on inflation and food security, as well as on job creation and poverty reduction,” NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said in a statement yesterday. “The Marcos administration is accelerating its efforts to manage price increases of basic commodities such as rice in light of the El Niño phenomenon we are experiencing and the continuing upward price pressure from the global rice market,” he added. Results of OCTA’s Dec. 10 to 14, 2023 survey showed a record-high 75 percent of respondents dissatisfied with the government’s performance in controlling inflation. Only six percent said they were satisfied while 19 percent were undecided. Data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority earlier this month showed the headline inflation rate, or rate of increase in average prices of goods and services typically purchased by consumers, eased to 2.8 percent in January, its lowest level in more than three years due mainly to slower food price increases. Inflation has been on a downtrend, easing from 6.1 percent in September last year to 4.9 percent in October, 4.1 percent in November and 3.9 percent in December. While food inflation eased to 3.3 percent last month from 5.5 percent in December 2023, rice inflation rose further to 22.6 percent from 19.6 percent in the same period. Balisacan said the country has made progress in terms of realizing foreign direct investments that will create more and higher-quality jobs, thus increasing the income and purchasing power of Filipinos. He also cited the country’s 5.6 percent economic growth in 2023, one of the fastest in the region. “When President Marcos began his term, the Philippine economy was recovering from the record 9.5 percent contraction in 2020. The contraction set us back by about three years, with per capita gross national income returning to its pre-pandemic level by the second half of 2023. We have recovered and have indeed outshone our Asian peers,” he said. He noted that the labor market continues to show promise, with unemployment rate at a historic low of 3.1 percent in December 2023 while the December 2023 underemployment rate slid to 11.9 percent from 12.6 percent the same month in 2022. “The Cabinet has taken to heart the President’s directives by ensuring that the necessary policies are in place: we are facilitating massive investments in physical and human capital to create better jobs and improve our economy’s competitiveness while deploying the entire arsenal of policy tools to make food available, accessible, and affordable to the Filipino people,” he added.

  • By Janvic Mateo, February 17, 2024; The Philippine Star https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/02/17/2334031/democracy-index-philippines-ranking-goes-down-again#:~:text=From%2052nd%20in%202022%2C%20the,2018%20and%2051st%20in%202017. Manila, Philippines — Still classified as a “flawed democracy,” the Philippines has scored and ranked lower in the 2023 Democracy Index released by London-based think tank The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) on Thursday. From 52nd in 2022, the Philippines dropped to 53rd out of 167 countries and territories included in the annual index, which measures the state of democracy across the world. The Philippines ranked 54th in 2021, 55th in 2020, 54th in 2019, 53rd in 2018 and 51st in 2017. EIU’s Democracy Index is based on the ratings for 60 indicators grouped in the five categories: electoral process and pluralism, functioning of government, political participation, political culture and civil liberties. It classifies countries into four regime types: full democracy, flawed democracy, hybrid regimes and authoritarian regimes. Like in previous years, the Philippines remains a “flawed democracy,” defined as countries that have free and fair elections and where basic civil liberties are respected, although there are significant weaknesses in some aspects of democracy, including governance, political culture and participation. In the 2023 index, the Philippines scored 6.66 out of the highest possible score of 10, down from 6.73 in 2022 but still above the 6.62 in 2021. Across the five indicators, the country still scored the highest in electoral process and pluralism (9.17), followed by political participation (7.78), civil liberties (7.35), functioning of government (4.64) and political culture (4.38). Compared to 2022, the country’s score only changed in functioning of government, which dropped from 5.0. The Philippines ranked ninth among countries and territories in Asia and Australasia, and third in Southeast Asia after Malaysia (sixth in the region) and Timor Leste (eighth). Globally, Norway remained on top with a score of 9.81, followed by New Zealand (9.61), Iceland (9.45), Sweden (9.39), Finland (9.3), Denmark (9.28), Ireland (9.19), Switzerland (9.14), Netherlands (9.0) and Taiwan (8.92). Afghanistan remained at the bottom of the list with a score of 0.26, followed by Myanmar (0.85), North Korea (1.08), Central African Republic (1.18), Syria (1.43), Turkmenistan (1.66), Chad (1.67), Democratic Republic of Congo (1.68), Laos (1.71) and Sudan (1.76). The latest index found that the number of “full democracies” remained at 24, while “flawed democracies” increased from 48 to 50. “Hybrid regimes” decreased from 36 to 34, while “authoritarian regimes” remained at 59. Among those that changed categories were Greece (from flawed to full democracy), Chile (from full to flawed democracy), Papua New Guinea and Paraguay (from hybrid regime to flawed democracy), Angola (from authoritarian to hybrid regime) and Pakistan (from hybrid to authoritarian regime). Despite the increase in the number of democracies (full and flawed), EIU noted that the global average index score fell from 5.29 in 2022 to 5.23 in 2023, a new low since the launch of the index in 2006. The Asia and Australasia region also recorded a decline in its score, from 5.46 to 5.41, with 15 out of 28 countries and territories recording a decline and only eight an improvement. “Asia is the most dynamic region of the world in terms of economic growth, but it continues to lag behind in terms of democratization. More than half the countries covered by the index regressed in 2023, recording a deterioration in their democracy scores,” said Joan Hoey, editor of the 2023 Democracy Index.

  • By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan, February 16, 2024; Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1218972 MANILA – Cases of online scams in the country dropped by 40 percent in January this year, the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) said Friday. In a statement, ACG chief Maj. Gen. Sidney Hernia said 624 cases were logged last month, from 1,045 cases in January last year. Hernia said the ongoing establishment of PNP ACG offices in various regions, provinces and districts, combined with efforts to set up cybercrime desks within police stations, has been instrumental in the ongoing battle against cyber fraud. To bolster these measures, he said, the PNP would continue holding comprehensive training, seminars and lectures for personnel assigned to cybercrime desks to sharpen their skills and deepen their expertise, ultimately contributing to the creation of a safer online environment for everyone. The ACG chief also said the cooperation of complainants and the effectiveness of law enforcement operations send a strong message to cybercriminals. “As they witnessed their peers being brought to justice and their operations disrupted, they were compelled to reconsider their actions, ultimately leading to a significant decline in illegal online activities,” Hernia added. Hernia, meanwhile, urged netizens to be vigilant in their online activities. “It is imperative that we continually educate ourselves to safeguard against falling victim to online scams,” he said. In a command conference on Thursday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. directed the police force to improve its prevention, detection and investigation of cases to combat cybercrimes considering the current sophisticated and technology-based crime modalities. The PNP has already proposed the establishment of a Cybersecurity Center for the monitoring, detection, protection and mitigation of and response to cybersecurity issues and incidents in the agency’s information and communications technology infrastructure. (PNA)

  • By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, February 16, 2024; Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1218961 MANILA – The Philippines is open to more investments that would improve Internet connectivity in the Philippines, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Thursday. During the lighting up ceremony of the Philippine Domestic Submarine Cable Network (PDSCN) at The Peninsula Manila Hotel in Makati City, Marcos acknowledged the private sector’s crucial role in achieving his administration’s vision of a “digitally connected Philippines.” “With the help of our private sector partners, we continue to pursue measures towards providing the Filipino people with reliable and affordable Internet services, which will enable us to improve our standing in the world in terms of broadband and mobile Internet speed and coverage,” Marcos said. “I look forward to further collaboration and partnership in different endeavors where we could gain from your experience and your expertise. We are excited to see your many investments that will come to fruition in the near future.” The government, he said, is committed to promoting ease of doing business in the country to facilitate the establishment of critical infrastructure in telecommunications. Marcos said the PDSCN is “truly a game changer in the Philippines’ quest to be amongst equals in terms of Internet interconnectivity and digital transformation.” The PDSCN is an undersea fiber optic backbone network infrastructure spanning more than 2,500 km. that connects the Islands of Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao with touch points in 21 provinces, including Quezon up to Zamboanga. It aims to provide inclusive connectivity across the Philippines, particularly in the underserved and unserved areas. Marcos said the project, which is the “longest and highest capacity domestic submarine fiber cable network” in the country, is a step closer to reaching his administration’s dream of a “better, brighter, and more connected Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines).” “Because of this connection, we now find a long-term solution that delivers high-connectivity and high-speed Internet for our people and facilitates the realization of the Bagong Pilipinas that we envision for our country,” he said. “With this project, we will be able to better position our country as an even more attractive destination for technology-centric businesses, such as hyperscale data centers and AI (Artificial intelligence) computing.” The President also expressed optimism that the PDSCN would facilitate faster Internet and more efficient digital services to Filipinos, as well as help the government ramp up its efforts to digitalize public data and government services. The PDSCN is a joint project of Globe Telecom, Eastern Telecom, and InfiniVAN, Inc., in coordination with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), to strengthen the country’s digital transformation. “With the completion of the PDSCN, let me express our excitement and our optimism as we zoom in on faster fiber Internet speeds for Filipinos. I congratulate InfiniVAN and its partners Globe Telecom, and Eastern Telecommunications for making this impressive project a reality,” he said. (PNA)

  • By Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral, February 12, 2024; Philippine Daily Inquirer https://business.inquirer.net/445022/dof-govt-to-set-more-realistic-growth-targets#:~:text=Economic%20managers%20will%20come%20up,the%20state’s%20expectations%20last%20year. Economic managers will come up with “more realistic” growth targets for 2024 until the end of President Marcos’ term in 2028 to reflect current economic conditions and after growth fell below the state’s expectations last year. “We’re discussing that right now because I think we have to come out with a more realistic target,” Finance Secretary Ralph Recto told reporters in an interview at the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s anniversary event last Thursday. “Something more realistic but still high for 2024 and beyond,” Recto said. The inter-agency Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) met last Feb. 5 to discuss the government’s growth outlook. That was Recto’s first DBCC meeting as finance chief. Last December, the DBCC trimmed its gross domestic product (GDP) growth target for 2024 to 6.5 to 7.5 percent, from the previous projection of a 6.5 to 8-percent expansion. At present, the biggest worry for the government is the prolonged El Niño dry spell, which is predicted to last until the second quarter of 2024 and may push up food and power costs. Headwinds Another challenge for the economy is the high interest rate environment that can hurt consumption and investments. In 2023, the economy grew 5.6 percent, easing from the 7.6 percent expansion in 2022. The figure also missed the Marcos administration’s 6 to 7 percent growth target for last year. Secretary Arsenio Balisacan of the National Economic and Development Authority said growth would have been stronger last year if not for the brutally high inflation and the aggressive interest rate hikes meant to tame fast-rising consumer prices. But despite the headwinds, Balisacan said the current economic targets set by the DBCC were still doable. No more rate hikes? In the same interview last week, Recto said he does not expect future rate increases during the current hiking cycle as inflation had been within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) target range and was still softening. “No, I don’t expect a future rate hike because inflation is going down. And it seems like it’s going down globally also,” said Recto, who will attend his first monetary policy meeting on Feb. 15 as the state’s representative in the powerful Monetary Board. “It all depends on what the US Fed does as well … And then we look at our own data too,” he added. Inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), softened to an annualized rate of 2.8 percent in the first month of 2024, from 3.9 percent in December. The latest reading, the lowest since October 2020, matched the lower-end of the BSP’s forecast range for last month. It was also the second consecutive month that inflation eased to within the BSP’s 2 to 4 percent target after hovering above that range for 20 months. But with threats to its inflation target still very much present, the BSP said it “deems it necessary to keep monetary policy settings sufficiently tight until a sustained downtrend in inflation becomes evident.” Governor Eli Remolona Jr. said a rate cut was “possible” this year. The BSP’s benchmark rate—which banks typically use as a guide when charging interest rates on loans—is currently at 6.5 percent, the highest in 16 years. By keeping borrowing costs high, the central bank wants to bring demand for key consumer items in line with limited supply to prevent a fast rise in prices.

  • By Luisa Cabato, February 3, 2024; Philippine Daily Inquirer https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1898691/dict-eyeing-to-revive-medium-term-it-harmonization-initiative Manila, Philippines —  The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is looking into reviving the Medium-Term Information and Communications Technology Harmonization Initiative (MITHI), its official said on Saturday. MITHI aims to harmonize ICT-related programs, resources, and projects in government agencies and institutions. “Iyong sa government network na interrelated, mayroon na po kaming facility ngayon. Ibinabalik na namin iyong MITHI; ito ay pag-uusap — the Medium-Term IT Harmonization Initiative — iyon po ang ibig sabihin ng MITHI,” said DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy in a news forum. (We already have facilities that are interrelated in the government network, and we are now reviving the MITHI. This is a discussion about the Medium-Term IT Harmonization Initiative—that is what MITHI means.) Dy said that the initiative is in partnership with the Department of Budget and Management. “Upang lahat ng mga IT projects, kasama na iyong cyber security projects, ipadaan sa DICT, sa DBM, kasama na rin ang NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority), DOF (Department of Finance) para kapag ginawa ang budget, alam din namin na iyong binibili consistent and within the ambit of what can work together,” he added. (To ensure that all IT projects, including your cyber security projects, go through the DICT, along with the DBM, including NEDA and DOF, so that when the budget is prepared, we also know that what is being purchased is consistent and within the ambit of what can work together.) During the forum, Dy also urged other government agencies to enforce the policy that devices and equipment used for work should not use any non-work-related software that might pose potential hazards. “Sa ngayon ang ibigay lang namin ay guidance; huwag ninyong gagawin kung hindi work-related,” the official said. (For now, what we are giving is guidance; do not do it if it is not work-related.) Dy added that the DICT might issue an order to ban activities and software from being downloaded and used through government-owned devices.  

  • By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, February 2, 2024; Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1218191 MANILA – The executive branch’s electronic Freedom of Information (eFOI) website is under system upgrade to improve user experience and the portal’s security features. In a public advisory, the FOI-Program Management Office (PMO) announced that the scheduled system update, which started on Jan. 31, will last until Feb. 5 to ensure the stability and security of eFOI portal. “This maintenance is crucial to enhance user experience and keep our electronic FOI portal stable and secure,” the FOI-PMO, which oversees the implementation of eFOI, said in its official Facebook page. “We really appreciate your ongoing support and we can’t wait to bring you an upgraded eFOI platform once this upgrade is done and dusted,” it added. The eFOI portal is the government’s way of promoting transparency and ensuring smooth access to public documents and transactions amid the rise of technology. Filipino citizens may make a request for government information, official records, official acts, transactions, decisions and research data used as basis for policy development. An FOI request can be made before all government offices under the Executive Branch, including Government -Owned and/or -Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs). The request must be sent to the specific agency of interest, which will be received by its Receiving Officer. The concerned agency must respond to requests within 15 days but may ask for an extension to processing time for a period not longer than 20 working days. As of Feb. 2, 2024, there are 592 participating government agencies onboard the eFOI portal to provide the public with convenience in requesting public records and information. The public may visit www.foi.gov.ph to make an FOI request. 

  • By Adrian Parungao, January 24, 2024; Philippine Daily Inquirer https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1893949/60-of-lgus-nationwide-now-have-online-systems-for-business-docs MANILA, Philippines — A total of 921 — or 60 percent — of 1,634 cities and municipalities nationwide are now using online electronic systems to process applications of business-related documents, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said on Wednesday. “Like what President [Ferdinand] Marcos [Jr.} had said, digital transformation is key for the country’s full economic recovery. This is a key that will develop the economy and speed up [government] processes, especially getting business permits and licenses,” Abalos said partly in Filipino. He added that 799 out of the 921 local governments units (LGUs) use the Electronic Local Government Unit (eLGU), while the 122 others have their own local systems. According to him, the government is planning to implement the eLGU system in 240 other LGUs in 2024. Meanwhile, Information and Communications Undersecretary David Almirol Jr. said: “This is exciting news for everyone. We can now avail of LGU services even from home.”

  • By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, January 31, 2024; BusinessWorld https://www.bworldonline.com/top-stories/2024/01/31/572220/phl-ranking-improves-in-global-corruption-index/#google_vignette THE PHILIPPINES’ ranking in a global corruption index by Transparency International inched up one spot with its score remaining at a record low, as Filipino governance experts said any significant improvement is unlikely in the near future. Manila ranked 115th out of 180 countries with a score of 34 in the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), up one spot from 116th in 2022 and up two spots from its worst-ever showing of 117th place in 2021. The Philippines had ranked 115th in 2020, 113th in 2019, and 99th in 2018. The Philippines’ score of 34 is also well below the global average of 43 and Asia-Pacific region’s average of 45. Among Asia-Pacific countries, the Philippines’ score lagged behind New Zealand (83), Singapore (83), Australia (75), Hong Kong (75), Japan (73), Bhutan (68), Taiwan (67), South Korea (63), and Malaysia (50). It also lagged Timor-Leste (43), China (42), Vietnam (41), India (39), Nepal (35), and Thailand (35). Like the Philippines, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka also had a score of 34. Manila was only ahead of Mongolia (33), Pakistan (29), and Papua New Guinea (29) as well as countries with governments deemed autocratic such as Laos (28), Bangladesh (24), Cambodia (22), Afghanistan (20), Myanmar (20), and North Korea (17). In the report, the watchdog said Southeast Asian countries have struggled to deliver on anti-corruption efforts, with the Philippines and Thailand remaining “on the lower end of the spectrum.” It said Malaysia remained above the regional average with robust elections alongside an anti-corruption commission that has delivered on high-profile cases over the last decade. Prospects were also bleak for Indonesia amid uncertainties on the future of its “severely disempowered” anti-corruption agency, and Vietnam, whose “promising” high-profile anti-corruption campaign has been marred “by the continued restriction of critical voices.” The one-notch improvement in the Philippine ranking was insignificant “primarily because there is no anti-corruption program that was launched by the Marcos administration,” said Gary Ador Dionisio, dean of the De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde School of Diplomacy and Governance. It’s “unfortunate” that the Philippine leader failed to push for programs necessary for the elimination of corruption in his second address to Congress in July last year, Ateneo School of Government Dean Philip Arnold P. Tuaño said, “and neither major initiatives in transparency and accountability have been launched.” Mr. Marcos ran in the presidential election more than two years ago under a platform of unity which, in recent days, turned out to be a promise that is so difficult to fulfill. His administration is now publicly challenged by the family of Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio, who ran in tandem with him in the 2022 elections. Tensions between the country’s top two officials became more apparent after the President’s allies in Congress stripped Ms. Duterte’s offices as vice-president and Education secretary of proposed confidential and intelligence funds worth P650 million under the 2024 national budget amid public criticism on the latter’s use of secret funds amounting to P125 million in just 11 days in 2022. During and after the election season, Mr. Marcos had been hounded by questions on the alleged failure of his family to settle a P23-billion estate tax liability that had ballooned to more than P200 billion due to penalties and surcharg-es. The 1997 Supreme Court decision ordering the heirs of the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos to pay the estate tax liability became final and executory on March 9, 1999. “The lack of a comprehensive anti-corruption program simply means that the Marcos administration is afraid of the ghost of the past and even the present,” Mr. Dionisio said. DUTERTE LEGACY Under the Duterte administration, the Commission on Audit had flagged many agencies for their deficiencies. “The various CoA (Commission on Audit) reports show the extent of wastage in public funds that date back to the previous administration which President Marcos and his Cabinet cannot ignore,” said Zyza Nadine Suzara, execu-tive director of governance watchdog iLead. “They need to proactively restore the international community’s trust in our public institutions.” Francisco A. Magno, director of the Jesse M. Robredo Institute of Governance at De La Salle University, raised concern over the “slow progress” in the prosecution of high-profile cases involving irregularities in public procure-ment flagged by the state auditors and investigated by legislative oversight committees. “There is also a weakening exercise of media and civil society monitoring of corrupt practices that became palpable under the previous administration and continues under the present one,” he said. The National Government on Sunday held a major rally under the banner Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines), with Mr. Marcos saying that change should start with the government. “Being lazy and slow is not acceptable in government. There is no place for them in public service,” he said in a speech before hundreds of thousands of participants, many of whom were state employees. “Services must be fast. Projects must be completed on time. Deadlines must be met per schedule,” he added. “Distress calls must be responded to without delay.” Ms. Suzara said the corruption level in the Philippines is a major barrier to the entry of foreign investments into the country, as it “signals that the current Marcos Jr. administration, like its predecessor, is still not taking good governance seriously.” “To improve our standing, the Marcos Jr. administration therefore needs to implement reforms that will strengthen transparency and accountability,” she said. “Congress must also do the same especially in performing oversight functions on the national budget.” But for Terry L. Ridon, convenor of think tank InfraWatch PH, “the public has not yet seen a major corruption scandal involving officials at the highest levels” in Mr. Marcos’ first two years in office, “unlike the major corruption scandals in the previous regime.” “More significantly, the business and investment climate is better today, with the successive international roadshows participated in by no less than President Marcos himself,” he added. Mr. Dionisio said prospects for the Philippines’ anti-corruption efforts remain bleak. Read More…

  • By Tiziana Celine Piatos, January 24, 2024; Daily Tribune https://tribune.net.ph/2024/01/24/dilg-reforms-on-eodb-increase-revenues-in-2022 Revenues from local business taxes and fees increased in 2022 as more local government units switched to online business registration and payments, the Department of Interior and Local Government said. In a Palace briefing on Wednesday, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. said the reforms on the Ease of Doing Business caused the local business tax collection to increase to P208 billion in 2022 from P50 billion in 2018. “That is times four. So, it is a big thing that you simplify the process and go into (digitalization),” Abalos said. He added that the number of registered businesses also increased to 4.7 million in 2022 from 1.3 million in 2018, thanks to a more streamlined business registration process and more business one-stop shops. Abalos mentioned that 92 percent of all local government units in the country have successfully set up their own business one-stop shops. “The target for this year is probably another 240 (LGUs) until we finish,” Abalos said. “What is also important is capacity building because even if you provide this, if they don’t have the hardware, it will go to waste,” he added. On the other hand, Abalos said that 60 percent, or 921 out of the 1,634 cities and municipalities across the country, have adopted an electronic system for processing business permits and licenses as of December 2023. “Out of the 921, 122 LGUs have their system, meaning they have their own application. Meanwhile, 799 LGUs utilized the system provided by the Department of Information and Communications Technology, which is free. This was extensively promoted; the DICT conducted caravans for this. I would like to express my gratitude to the DICT for their efforts,” Abalos said. The ongoing initiative by the DILG and the DICT encourages LGUs to make use of the E-Local Government Unit system. This system enables the public to access various services, including business permit licensing, notice of violations, notification system, community tax, health certificates, local civil registry, business tax, and real property tax. The eLGU serves as a crucial component of the DICT’s eGov PH Super App. This mobile application consolidates multi-sectoral government services into a unified platform. It encompasses a broad spectrum of local government services, such as business permit licensing, community tax, local civil registry, and more.

  • House launches ‘Congress TV’

    By RG Cruz, January 22, 2024; ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/22/24/house-launches-congress-tv MANILA – The House of Representatives has launched Congress TV, dedicated a free television channel that will air proceedings at the House in cooperation with state-owned PTV. “In an age where information is both a tool and a weapon, the onus is on us, the elected representatives of the people, to ensure that the power of information is harnessed to empower, educate, and engage. It is with immense pride and a profound sense of duty that we, in collaboration with PTV-4, unveil CongressTV,” Speaker Martin Romualdez said in his speech during the launch event. “This initiative is not just a channel; it’s a bridge. A bridge that connects the hallowed halls of the House of Representatives to every home, every school, and every Filipino. It’s a bridge built on the pillars of transparency, accountability, and inclusivity,” Romualdez added. “CongressTV is our commitment to ensuring that no Filipino is left in the dark, that every citizen is afforded a front-row seat to the legislative process. Through this platform, we are tearing down the walls that have long kept the inner workings of the legislature away from public scrutiny,” he said. PTV’s digital channel 14 Manila will serve as the free-to-air broadcast platform for Congress TV. It will also be available via Ch. 46 on GMA Affordabox and Ch. 2 on ABS-CBN TVPlus. Congress TV airs daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. starting January 23, 2024, on PTV Digital Channel 14 Manila, and online via Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and X.

  • By Louella Desiderio, January 15, 2024; The Philippine Star https://www.philstar.com/business/2024/01/15/2325797/economy-likely-grew-62-percent-q4#:~:text=University%20of%20Asia%20and%20the,the%20third%20quarter%20last%20year. Manila, Philippines — The Philippine economy likely posted a faster growth rate in the fourth quarter of 2023 than in the third quarter, supported by gains in the labor market, according to an economist. University of Asia and the Pacific economist Victor Abola told reporters his gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for the fourth quarter of 2023 is 6.2 percent. This forecast is higher than the 5.9 percent growth in the third quarter last year. Abola said growth in the fourth quarter last year was supported by the increase in employment numbers. “Look at employment, October, November, these are very high,” he said. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed the country’s employment rate in November 2023 was at 96.4 percent, up from 95.8 percent in October 2023 and 95.8 percent in November 2022. PSA chief Dennis Mapa said earlier the November employment rate is the highest since April 2005. In terms of magnitude, the number of employed individuals rose to 49.64 million in November 2023 from 47.80 million in October 2023. Abola said the number of employed individuals in November last year is the second highest, only beaten slightly by the 49.71 million employment level in November 2022. Mapa said earlier the fourth quarter is when employment levels pick up due to increased economic activity during the holiday season. For full-year 2023, Abola’s GDP growth forecast is 5.5 percent, below the government’s six to seven percent growth target for that year. The economy posted 5.5 percent growth in the January to September period of 2023. Earlier, National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the economy needs to grow by 7.2 percent in the fourth quarter of last year to attain the low end of the growth goal for 2023. The PSA will release data on the country’s full year 2023 and fourth quarter economic performance on Jan. 31.

  • By Priam Nepomuceno, January 12, 2023; Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1216853 MANILA – Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Friday assured that the transformation program that started in 2023 to upgrade the agency’s capabilities will continue this year. “We thank the whole defense family for the cooperation that they have shown last year in the midst of our attempts to transform our organization into a new defense organization with new skills, new paradigms, and new capabilities,” Teodoro said in his message during the New Year’s Call of the DND and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. Teodoro, who assumed as DND chief in June last year, said he will push for a “capital outlay” for the agency to build up its capabilities. “And I would also like to add certain things that are important. We cannot continue to have a DND without a capital outlay for our own department. We need to build up the capabilities of this department as part of the national defense family. And I would like to state that (it is) one of my goals, to build up the capabilities of the Department of National Defense Proper,” he added. These include developing expertise in program management, analytics, predictions, contracting, international relations, and building up the career track of DND employees. Teodoro also thanked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s “unconditional support” and encouraged all members of the defense establishment to remain united. “We shall be blessed because we are one, we are united, and we cannot be divided because we have a mission to preserve and protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of the Philippines; maintain peace and order; work together with allies to make, not only the Philippines but this region – the Indo-Pacific Region– and the world a better place to be in,” he added. AFP sees more capability development In the same event, AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said they would focus on the continuous development of materiel and capabilities through the AFP Modernization Program this year. He said AFP will also prioritize the organizational development of its reserve force. “It is through these transformative efforts that we aim to elevate our military capabilities across all dimensions. The New Year marks the genesis of a more dedicated, professional and modernized AFP,” Brawner said. “As we acknowledge the successes of 2023, we must recognize the honor, spirit and commitment of each and every member of the defense department and the AFP,” he added. 8 ranking AFP officials promoted As this developed, the AFP chief donned higher ranks to eight newly promoted military officers in a ceremony held in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City Friday. These include Maj. Gen. Edmundo Peralta, chief of the Intelligence Service AFP; Maj. Gen. Allan Hambala, commander of the 10th Infantry Division, Philippine Army; Maj. Gen. Leodevic Guinid, Army vice commander; Maj. Gen. Ramon Zagala, commander of the Civil Relations Service AFP; Commodore Richard Gonzaga, deputy commander of AFP Education, Training, and Doctrine Command; Brig. Gen. Joselito Lopeña, chief of the AFP Pension and Gratuity Management Center; Commodore Brendo Casaclang, commander of Joint Task Force Malampaya; and Brig. Gen. Ranulfo Sevilla, deputy commander of Special Operations Command AFP. “Please continue doing the good work that you are doing. Remember that we are doing all this for our country and I am sure that with your new ranks, you will be even more inspired to work harder for our people and our country,” Brawner said. (PNA)

  • By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, January 11, 2024; Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1216799 MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has picked House Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto as the new head of the Department of Finance (DOF), replacing Benjamin Diokno, Malacañang announced Thursday. Marcos will lead Recto’s oath-taking on Friday, Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said in a statement sent to Palace reporters. Recto will relinquish his posts as Batangas 6th District congressman and subsequently, as one of the Deputy Speakers at the House of Representatives. He also served three terms in the Senate, where he served as the Senate President Pro Tempore and Senate Minority Leader. Before being elected senator, he was a three-term congressman of Batangas’ 4th District. He also worked as director general of the National Economic and Development Authority in 2008 to 2009 under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Recto earned his bachelor’s degree in Commerce major in Business Management from De La Salle University-Manila. He also acquired a master’s degree in Strategic Business Economics from the University of Asia and the Pacific and another master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of the Philippines. He took up a leadership course at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Apart from Recto, Frederick Go will also take his oath before Marcos as Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs, Garafil said. Diokno, biz group Outgoing Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno expressed his confidence in Recto, saying: “I am pleased to announce that I will be turning over my seat as Finance Secretary to Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto.” “I am proud knowing that I will be leaving my post at a time when the Philippine economy, in general, and the DOF, in particular, are in a better state of affairs than when I inherited them,” he added in a statement Friday. Diokno, who took over the Finance chief post on July 1, 2022, committed to pursuing the Marcos administration’s goals of reducing the deficit-to-GDP ratio to 3 percent, achieving upper middle-income status by 2025, and bringing down poverty incidence to single-digit by the end of the President’s term. He led the economic team in crafting the Philippines’ Medium-Term Fiscal Framework (MTFF) which embodies the government’s commitment to pursuing fiscal consolidation, ensuring that sustainability is given priority in the management of finances without sacrificing economic growth. Diokno also advocated for an improved revenue collection performance and also proposed to improve Philippine tax laws to be at par with international standards. In his almost two-year tenure as Finance Secretary, Diokno also led 12 international Philippine Economic Briefings (PEBs) in Singapore, New York, Washington, D.C., Frankfurt, London, Tokyo, Toronto, Doha, Dubai, and San Francisco. He also led five local PEBs in Manila, Davao, Cebu, and Laoag, as well as several other roadshows and investor dialogues where he championed the Philippines’ improved investment environment and game-changing reforms to foreign investors. Diokno also championed climate finance in various high-level meetings and intergovernmental forums like that of the Group of Twenty (G20), Vulnerable 20 Group of Finance Ministers (V20) – Group of Seven (G7) Global Shield Against Climate Risks, and the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 28). In a separate statement, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) lauded Diokno for doing a good job in leading the DOF. PCCI president Enunina Mangio also welcomed the appointment of Recto as the new Secretary of Finance. “Senator Recto is perfectly suited for the job. He has the experience, expertise and political backing that are critical if he is to oversee the strengthening of the country’s economic and fiscal positions. He has led the National Economic Development Authority and authored and sponsored landmark measures that have helped the country weather economic crises even as some were unpopular,” Mangio said. She was referring to the Expanded Value-Added Tax, the Rice Tariffication Law, and the Rent Control Act, among others. Mangio is hopeful that Recto will continue to push for policies and reforms that are supportive of the growth of businesses and to ensure that the country’s economic gains are sustained. “We look forward to continuing working and collaborating with the government to drive our economy forward,” she said. (with reports from Anna Leah Gonzales/PNA)

  • By Ferdinand Patinio, January 11, 2024; Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1216772 MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to implement nationwide its Register Anywhere Program (RAP) when the voter registration period resumes on Feb. 12. In a statement Thursday, the poll body said the RAP would accept applications in all capital cities and towns and highly urbanized cities (HUCs). “RAP registration sites will be set up in malls, universities, or government offices/agencies in all capital cities and towns and HUCs nationwide. RAP has now been institutionalized in the Commission as a program owing to its favorable turnout and positive reception by the general public and other stakeholders,” the Comelec added. In 2022, the poll body held a pilot testing of the RAP in selected areas, including malls and government agencies. The initial testing was held in SM Fairview, Robinsons Place Manila, SM Sucat, Robinsons Galleria, SM Mall of Asia, Robinsons Tacloban, SM City Legazpi and Robinsons Naga. Aside from these venues, the Comelec said the program will also be held in select church organizations, private establishments, government agencies and educational institutions. The RAP’s nationwide implementation aims to provide additional avenues and opportunities for voter registration in places of higher concentration of people traffic and congregation of persons of voting age. “This move will maximize efforts to register workers, employees, and students with limited time and opportunity to register, for them to become voters for the 2025 National and Local Elections,” it said. Under the RAP, a registrant will be allowed to file his/her application wherever there is a designated RAP registration site regardless of his/her place of residence. Other applications that will be accepted in RAP sites include new registration, transfer of registration from another city/municipality/district, transfer of registration from overseas to local, correction of entries or change of status, and reactivation. The RAP will be available until Aug. 31. Meanwhile, Comelec chairperson George Garcia said they would release amended guidelines on voter’s registration. He reminded applicants that they will no longer accept company ID as a valid identification document. “Dapat po government-issued ID lamang ang pwedeng magparehistro (Applicants should only submit government-issued IDs),” the poll body chief added. Local Comelec offices are ready to accept application for registration and other election-related concerns from Feb. 12 to Sept. 30, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays to Saturdays. These include holidays, unless the poll body announced that there are no registration activities on those days. (PNA)

  • By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan, January 10, 2024; Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1216712 MANILA – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday vowed to unleash the full potential of local government units (LGUs) towards good governance and work for the digitalization of their services this year. During the New Year’s call attended by DILG officials in Camp Crame, Quezon City, DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said the agency would mobilize the Local Government Academy and undertake capacity development interventions, especially for “low-performing and low-capacity LGUs” in line with the transition to the full devolution initiative. “Through the Ease of Doing Business or EODB program with the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT), we will advance efforts to gradually shift to 100 percent digitalization of LGU frontline services by infusing technological platforms in the processing of business permits, licenses, and other frontline services to propel innovative and future-ready local governments,” Abalos said. The DILG chief also said progress has been made in ensuring the ease of doing business at the local level. “We noted a 92 percent compliance from cities and municipalities regarding the establishment of business one-stop shops; and an 87 percent compliance with the standards set by the Anti-Red Tape Authority regarding business permit applications,” he added. Abalos, who also sits as National Police Commission chairperson, said the body will follow a “30-day working deadline” on actions related to promotions in the Philippine National Police (PNP), to improve the morale of police officers. He also vowed support for the Bureau of Fire Protection’s modernization efforts which include providing functional firetrucks for some 101 local government units that do not have them. “Nakapagpatayo din tayo ng 36 new fire stations sa iba’t ibang probinsya. Sa ngayon, may 1,484 ng fire stations sa iba’t-ibang sulok ng ating arkipelago (We were also able to build 36 new fire stations in different provinces. Today, we have 1,484 fire stations across the archipelago),” he added. Aside from sustaining “Oplan Greyhound” operations or inspecting inmates’ rooms to thwart illegal activities in jails, Abalos said the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology will also focus on the enhancement of its capabilities through the continued provision of paralegal assistance and construction/maintenance of jail facilities to improve the congestion rate; improving social services for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) to advance their welfare for productive reintegration into society; and promoting gender and cultural sensitivity in jails. He also vowed to strengthen and promote the barangay justice system as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism to help de-clog court cases and reduce overcrowding in jails. Stiffest sanctions for ‘narco-cops’ Meanwhile, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said stiffest sanctions will be meted against the 177 police officers charged with drug-related offenses. “This is a major step in our ongoing effort to rid the Philippine National Police (PNP), particularly the NCRPO of corrupt and criminal elements. We guarantee that these police officers are held accountable for their actions, dismissed from the service, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez said in a statement Wednesday night. Earlier, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said these 177 officers were charged for planting evidence, unlawful arrest, and excessive violence. “As part of our efforts to strengthen transparency and accountability in the conduct of our operations amid various allegations that have been tagging the police organization in the middle of the government’s intensified anti-illegal drugs campaign, we want to assure our community that the NCRPO is taking all necessary steps to address the involvement of police officers,” Nartatez said. He added that this is a major step in ongoing efforts to rid the police ranks of corrupt and criminal elements. “They have betrayed the public trust and undermined the integrity of the PNP. We will not tolerate this type of behavior within the ranks of the PNP,” the NCRPO chief said. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) earlier touted the success of the Marcos administration’s anti-drug campaign, where authorities seized a total of PHP10.41 billion worth of narcotics in 2023. Some 56,495 suspects were also arrested in more than 44,000 anti-drug operations, the agency added. (with Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)

  • By Anna Leah Gonzales, January 7, 2023; Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1216498 Manila – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed into law Republic Act (RA) 11976 or the Ease of Paying Taxes Act which aims to modernize and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of tax administration and strengthen taxpayer rights. In a statement on Sunday, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said the Ease of Paying Taxes Act is one of the priority legislations mentioned during the State of the Nation Address in 2022 and 2023. “The law allows the government to capture as many taxpayers as possible into the tax net by streamlining the system and minimizing the burden on taxpayers, increasing the country’s revenue collection in the long run,” the PCO said. The new law, signed on Friday, introduces administrative tax reforms and amendments to several sections of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997. It also updates the Philippine taxation system, adopts best practices and replaces antiquated procedures. Among RA 11976’s salient features are classification of taxpayers into micro, small, medium, and large; electronic or manual filing of returns and payment taxes either to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), through any authorized agent bank or authorized tax software provider; option to pay internal revenue taxes removal to the City or Municipal Treasurer; elimination of the distinction between documentation and basis of sales of goods and services; and classification of value-added tax (VAT) refund claims into low, medium and high-risk. The law ensures the availability of registration facilities to non-Philippine resident taxpayers; promoting and assisting taxpayers in tax processes; streamlining; reducing documentary requirements; and digitalizing BIR services through the development of the Ease of Paying Taxes and Digitalization Roadmap. The law likewise imposes 180 days to act on claims for refund of erroneous or illegal tax collection and increases the amount for the mandatory issuance of receipts for each sale and transfer of goods and services from PHP100 to PHP500. According to PCO, the law mandates the BIR to adopt an integrated digitalization strategy by providing end-to-end solutions for the benefit of taxpayers. These include adopting integrated and automated system for facilitating basic tax services, setting up electronic and online system for data and information exchange between offices and departments, streamlining of procedures by adopting automation and digitalization of BIR services, and building up BIR’s technology capabilities. RA 11976’s implementing rules and regulations shall be promulgated 90 days from the effectivity of the Act after the consultation of the Finance Secretary with the BIR and the private sector. The law will take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

  • By Iris Gonzales, January 3, 2024; The Philippine Star https://www.philstar.com/business/2024/01/03/2322998/corporate-registrations-hit-new-record-2023 MANILA, Philippines — The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) hit a new record of company registrations last year, driven by its digitization efforts. A total of 46,445 firms successfully registered using the SEC Electronic Simplified Processing of Application for Registration of Corporation (eSPARC) from January to November last year, surpassing the previous record of 42,936 for 2022, data from the SEC showed. Of the total number of registrants, domestic stock corporations accounted for 74 percent or 34,140 of the newly registered firms. Some 9,727 or 21 percent are domestic non-stock corporations and 2,453 or five percent are partnerships, while the rest are foreign stock and non-stock corporations. Of the newly registered firms, 36 percent or 16,734 are domestic stock corporations with less than five incorporators, and about 14 percent are one person corporations (OPCs). OPCs were made possible following the enactment of Republic Act 11232, or the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines in 2019. Prior to this, the old Corporation Code required at least five incorporators. In terms of industries, the majority or 85 percent of registered corporations were from the service sector, with the wholesale and retail trade industry group registering 9,859 (21 percent) new firms, followed by their service activities. SEC chairperson Emilio Aquino said their digitization efforts are paying off as seen in the higher number of new registrations. “The back-to-back record highs seen in 2022 and 2023 for company registration prove that we are succeeding in making doing business easier in the Philippines,” Aquino said. Efforts include the launch of eSPARC in April 2021 and its subsystem, the One Day Submission and Electronic Registration of Companies (OneSEC) in September 2021. The launch of eSPARC reduced the time needed to register a company to three days from 34 days previously. Applicants have the option to register through OneSEC, a pass-through system with pre-filled application forms. The SEC also launched the Electronic System for Payments to the SEC (eSPAYSEC), where the public can choose from over 90,000 online and offline payment options. Last year, the SEC also unveiled its new advanced systems for access to corporate information and other services, namely: Electronic SEC Universal Registration Environment (eSECURE), SEC CheckApp 2.0, Electronic SEC Education, Analysis, Research Computing Hub (eSEARCH), SEC API Marketplace, and the Electronic Registration Application for Market Participants (eRAMP).

  • By Dellon Porcalla, January 3, 2024; The Philippine Star https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/01/03/2323077/congressmen-encourage-cha-cha-debates MANILA, Philippines — Debates, for or against Charter change, are the friction necessary to polish the 1987 Constitution for it to become a gem that will finally pave the way for the Philippines to reach first-world status in the near future, lawmakers said. “Let the free market of ideas prevail and intelligent discussions flourish – all for the good of the people – both now and the years to come,” Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said, as he supported a call of Speaker Martin Romualdez to push for Charter amendments. Aside from Barbers, other key House leaders have joined the move, among them Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., House committee on constitutional amendments chair Rufus Rodriguez and Reps. LRay Villafuerte and Stella Quimbo. Barbers, chairman of the House committee on dangerous drugs, said it is ironic that people have always been opposed to Charter change every time the issue is raised, even if they don’t know what is at stake yet, other than the oft-repeated term extensions of elected public officials. “The knee-jerk reaction is unfair and uncalled for. We haven’t started anything and they’re shooting it down,” Barbers said in English and Filipino. “Many provisions were inadvertently left unedited like the structure of the legislature, unicameral or bi-cameral (that’s why there are) conflicting provisions. This is proof that it was passed in haste, thus we need to correct to give it consistency,” he said. Barbers was probably referring to the two opposing schools of thought among lawyers, wherein the recurring question is: Should changes in the Constitution be undertaken by both houses of Congress, or not? Senators and congressmen’s view are locked on this issue, with senators insisting voting should be done separately since bringing them into the bigger chamber of the House will only dilute their vote, considering that they are only 24, compared to the more than 300 congressmen. Quimbo, who represents the second district of Marikina, stressed the need to lift prohibitive provisions in the Constitution, which she says have left Manila as the laggard among its nearest neighbors in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. “As our economy moves forward in 2024 and beyond, there is a growing consensus that reforms are needed in various areas to improve the state of our nation and to uplift the lives of the Filipino people,” she said. “The bottom line is we need to send a certain and predictable signal to the global investor community: The Philippines is ready, able and willing to accept foreign direct investments,” Quimbo, a former commissioner of the Philippine Competition Commission, said. ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ Supporters say the House-initiated Charter change complements President Marcos’ “Bagong Pilipinas” theme, which needs a new charter that should replace the 36-year-old Constitution, since it was crafted during the turbulent years after the first Marcos administration. Gonzales protected Marcos from speculations that he may have something to do with the statement given by the Speaker that this move to amend the 1987 Constitution had his blessings. “This is a legislative work and that’s a different body, that’s the Executive department. I think the Legislative will be the one to initiate this,” he said. Gonzales, who resigned from the once ruling PDP-Laban party and joined the Lakas-CMD party of Romualdez after he named former president Rodrigo Duterte as the one who has been vilifying the House, said the objective is to have a new charter. “So, that’s our objective: Bagong Konstitusyon ng Bagong Pilipinas. How can we work in a new environment under a new Philippines when its constitution is still or remains old?” Gonzales said. He said the target timeline of the new charter change move is to be able to present it to Marcos before he delivers his third State of the Nation Address on July 22, just a year before the midterm and senatorial elections in May 2025. “I think we can get the target, I think before the SONA if ever. I think we can get it with the coordination with other congressmen and members of the Upper House. So we’ll try to pursue it (Cha-cha) next year, we will tackle the amendments to the Constitution,” Gonzales said.

  • By Danessa Rivera, January 1, 2024; The Philippine Star https://www.philstar.com/business/2024/01/01/2322638/water-security-roadmap-awaits-neda-approval Manila, Philippines — The country’s water security roadmap now awaits the approval of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board. In a recent interview, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary and Water Resources Management Office (WRMO) head Carlos Primo David said the roadmap had been submitted to the NEDA Board. “In Executive Order (EO) 22, which created the WRMO, it included the provision that’s important, which is to craft the integrated water resources management program. That report is now with the NEDA Cabinet cluster. After the NEDA, it’s going to be public,” he said. Earlier, Metro Pacific Water president and CEO Rogelio Singson urged the government to publish its preliminary water security roadmap to get inputs from the private sector before finalizing the plan. He said allowing the private sector to see and comment on the preliminary plans would aid in the proper execution of these water-related projects. Singson said the private sector has a major role to play in this roadmap, such as watershed, water treatment, use of technology, use of artificial intelligence, water distribution and wastewater treatment. The EO creating WRMO was issued by President Marcos in March. The new office is mandated to formulate and ensure the implementation of an integrated water resource management plan (IWRMP). David said the IWRMP is divided into three sections: supply of water, distribution of water and its management. “We started with supply, making sure that we have the resources available. In all honesty, we have so much water in the Philippines. The same water that creates flooding is the water we need for hydropower, irrigation, etc. So we need to impound those instead of pushing this to the ocean,” David said. When the WRMO was created, President Marcos said its plans should include the construction of water impounding facilities to reduce flood damage and make effective use of water resources. In August, the President directed the government to study the proposal to construct a water impounding facility in the Candaba swamp in Pampanga. For distribution, the plan focuses on water conservation, “making sure water tariff is correct – it can’t be too cheap, too expensive,” David said. The WRMO also seeks to address the country’s fragmented water and sanitation sector, increasing demand for water due to population and economic growth, impact of climate change, lack of infrastructure, and inconsistent government regulations. The office will also serve as a transitory body pending the creation of a Department of Water.

  • By Zeus Legaspi, December 28, 2023; Philippine Daily Inquirer https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1880738/neda-on-extension-of-tariff-cuts Manila, Philippines — The extension of tariff cuts for essential agricultural goods would help stabilize food prices for Filipinos in the coming year, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said on Thursday. In a statement, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said that the reduced tariffs would help diversify market sources which would then ensure sufficient and affordable food supply in the country. Balisacan pointed out that this measure will help reduce risks and help ease inflation caused by the onset of El Niño, worsening effects of African Swine Fever (ASF), and external pressures such as geopolitical tensions and export bans imposed by some countries. He added that tariff cuts played a role in reducing the price of meat, corn, and rice in September this year. Balisacan likewise emphasized the significance of enacting measures aimed at improving local food cultivation and increasing farmers’ efficiency. Key measures involve continuous investment in irrigation, flood control, supply chain logistics, and adaptation to climate change. “Short-term and long-term interventions need to work together to protect the purchasing power of Filipino households and boost the productivity and income of local producers,” he said. “Doing so will ensure equitable and sustainable development for the country,” he added. On December 22, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order No. 50 which extended the reduced Most Favored Nation tariff rates on pork, corn, and rice until Dec. 31, 2024. Under this new EO, the tariff rates for pork will remain at 15 percent in-quota and 25 percent out-quota; while corn will be at five percent in-quota and 15 percent out-quota. Meanwhile, tariff rates for rice will be at 35 percent for both in-quota and out-quota for the extended period. The President said that the extension of lower import rates was due to the looming effects of the dry season and the ongoing effects of ASF.

  • By Filane Mikee Cervantes, December 21, 2023; Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1215775 MANILA – The number of jobless Filipinos eased to 7.9 million in September 2023, according to a survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS). The survey, from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1, found that the adult joblessness rate fell to 16.9 percent, which is 5.8 points lower than the 22.8 percent recorded in June 2023 or around 10.3 million adults. Adults who are jobless consist of those who voluntarily left their old jobs, are seeking jobs for the first time, or lost their jobs due to economic circumstances beyond their control or got retrenched. The pollster noted that the 5.8-point decline in the national joblessness rate was due to decreases in the joblessness rate in all areas, particularly highest in Balance Luzon at 20.8 percent, followed by Metro Manila at 19.2 percent, Mindanao at 12.4 percent, and the Visayas at 12.2 percent. The September 2023 survey found adult joblessness slightly higher in urban areas at 18.0 percent than in rural areas at 15.7 percent. Compared to June 2023, urban joblessness fell from 24.7 percent, while rural joblessness dropped from 21.0 percent. There is still higher joblessness among women at 21.1 percent compared to men at 14 percent. Joblessness has also been consistently highest among the 18 to 24-year olds at 34.4 percent compared to other age groups. The same poll also found adult joblessness to be highest among college graduates at 25.6 percent, followed by junior high school graduates at 19.1 percent, followed by elementary graduates at 14.5 percent, and non-elementary graduates at 3.1 percent. Meanwhile, the SWS also pointed out that the incidence of involuntary hunger was twice as high among families of jobless adults at 17.7 percent than among families of those with a job or livelihood at 8.6 percent. The third quarter Social Weather survey was conducted using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults nationwide: 300 each in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao. The sampling error margins are ±2.8 percent for national percentages, and ±5.7 percent each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

  • By Ma. Teresa Montemayor, December 21, 2023; Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1215800 MANILA – The joint memorandum circular (JMC) signed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), and the Department of Budget would open new employment opportunities for persons with disabilities (PWDs). In a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview on Thursday, NCDA officer-in-charge Deputy Executive Director Dandy Victa said the JMC No.1 Series of 2023 will, among others, identify the budget for the employment of PWDs who are mostly self-employed. “Ang importante po, na makasali po ang ating persons with disability sa mga (What’s important is that our persons with disability are able to join) open employment activities,” he said. “At dito nga po iyong pagkakaroon ng support service mula po sa recruitment, sa kanilang hiring, sa placement at sa pang-araw-araw po nilang pagpasok sa kanilang mga hanapbuhay (Stated in the circular is the provision of support service for them, from recruitment, to hiring, to placement, up to their daily reporting for work).” The JMC, which provides guidelines on the proper reporting, monitoring, and utilization of funds for activities, programs, and projects for PWDs, was signed on December 15. As of December 19, the Philippine Registry of Persons with Disabilities has recorded 1,324,206 PWDs with identification cards. Currently, the NCDA is focused on supporting the rights of PWDs through appropriate services. Victa explained that every category of PWD needs various different services, and local government units (LGUs) play a vital role as they are mandated for the implementation of such in their communities. “For example po, kung mayroon po kayong mga kliyente o costumers na deaf persons, kailangan po mayroon po tayong available na mga sign language interpreters or nakakaintindi po iyong ating mga frontline services para sa mga pangangailangan po ng mga (if you have clients or customers who are deaf persons, there must be available sign language interpreters, or those in the frontline services understand the needs of the) deaf, using Filipino sign language, for example,” he said. With the newly-signed JMC, the NCDA expects the strengthened implementation of rehabilitation and habilitation services. Victa emphasized that both services constitute a big part of the PWD’s daily expenses. “At sana nga po sa taong darating po ay ganap na po na maipatupad po iyong ating PhilHealth coverage for our persons with disabilities para po mapaigting po iyong kanilang pag-avail po ng serbisyo as far as rehabilitation and habilitation po (Hopefully, next year, the PhilHealth coverage would be fully implemented for our persons with disabilities so they can avail rehabilitation and habilitation services),” he said.

  • By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, December 18, 2023; Business World https://www.bworldonline.com/the-nation/2023/12/18/564328/philippines-secures-p14-5-b-pledges-marcos-launches-investments-office/ The Philippines announced on Monday that it secured investment pledges amounting to P14.5 billion during a business event organized by the Philippine trade department in Tokyo while President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. was there over the weekend. Malacañang also announced that the President issued a Dec. 15 executive order creating an office that would be responsible for providing him with strategic advice on economic concerns, including inflation and investment opportunities. The P14.5-billion investment commitments in the form of memorandums of understanding (MoUs) could generate a total of 15,750 job opportunities, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in a press release following a Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-led event on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Japan summit attended by Mr. Marcos in Tokyo. The Chief Executive said the investment commitments secured by Manila on Monday and during his official visit to Japan in February now sum up to P771.6 billion and could generate 40,000 jobs. Citing information from Presidential Adviser on Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick D. Go, the PCO said 20 companies have given the President updates on their pledges during his February trip. The parties involved include the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corp. for Transport and Urban Development (JOIN), which will collaborate on studies relevant to the development of the New Clark City. The BCDA is also partnering with Manila Japanese School (MJS) for the renewal of its lease in a four-hectare site at the Bonifacio Global City for another 25 years, the PCO said. Other investors include Ibiden Co. Ltd and Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Ltd., which will both infuse foreign direct investments (FDIs) in the Philippines’ electronics manufacturing sector. They seek to increase production by modernizing their Philippine facilities, the PCO said. Among the companies that have FDI commitments to the Philippines include Medley Inc., Minebea Mitsumi Inc., Nitori Holdings Co. Ltd and Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. “They are investing for business process outsourcing (BPO) operation, expansion of furniture and home furnishing chain, as well as production improvement and replacement of aging Philippine facilities,” the PCO said. It said DMCI Project Developers Inc. is pursuing a joint venture with Japan’s Marubeni Corp. for property development projects. EO49 Creates Investment, Economic Affairs Office  Meanwhile, the PCO said in a separate release that Mr. Marcos has signed an executive order creating the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (OSAPIEA), which will be led by Mr. Go. Mr. Marcos cited the need to establish “a robust monitoring system to ensure a holistic and cohesive approach to addressing the diverse economic challenges currently confronting the nation.” “There is a need to further strengthen the existing mechanisms for formulation, coordination and implementation of the Government’s economic initiatives, plans, policies and programs,” he said in Executive Order (EO)No. 49, which was signed by the President on Dec. 15. The office will be headed by a Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs with the rank of a secretary. The office will advise the Philippine leader on economic matters and concerns, including, among others, the increasing prices of key commodities. It will also be responsible for ensuring that investment pledges being secured by Manila are “realized and come to fruition.” The Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs will serve as Chairperson of the Economic Development Group (EDG), while the Secretaries of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and Department of Finance (DoF) shall serve as Vice Chairpersons. “The SAPIEA shall work with the EDG, and identify the priority programs, activities and projects (PAPs) in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028, as well as monitor, review and evaluate the progress of priority initiatives and PAPs of the administration,” the PCO said. As chairman of the EDG, Mr. Go will supervise, on behalf of the President, the NEDA, DoF, DTI, the Department of Budget and Management, and their respective attached agencies such as the Board of Investments, Philippine Economic Zone Authority, Securities and Exchange Commission, “to ensure effective and efficient implementation of their respective priority initiatives and PAPs.” “The said agencies are required to regularly report and coordinate with the SAPIEA on priority initiatives and PAPs,” the PCO said. With his new position, Mr. Go will also sit as a member of NEDA Board, Investment Coordination Committee, Social Development Committee, Committee on Infrastructure, and Development Budget Coordination Committee. The PCO did not immediately respond when asked if Mr. Go could stay on as Robinsons Land chief executive officer and president if he is appointed to the Cabinet-level post. The creation of the OSAPIEA is in line with the implementation of the Philippine Development Plan for 2023 to 2028, the PCO said.

  • By Revin Mikhael D. Ochave, December 15, 2023; Business World https://www.bworldonline.com/corporate/2023/12/15/563789/phl-ranked-among-laggards-in-governance-esg/#:~:text=THE%20Philippines%20has%20kept%20the,and%20corporate%20governance%20(ESG). The Philippines has kept the 11th spot but at a lower overall score in a ranking of 12 Asia-Pacific countries on their performance in corporate governance (CG) and environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG). The 2023 CG Watch biennial survey by nonprofit association Asian Corporate Governance Association (ACGA) showed that the Philippines maintained its previous ranking in 2020, besting only Indonesia. The survey looked into the countries’ market performance and practices. According to the report, the Philippines scored 37.6 in the 2023 ranking, down from a score of 39 in 2020, citing the country’s policy focus being “elsewhere” and the securities regulator’s “lacks resources.” Australia secured the top spot with a score of 75.2, followed by Japan at 64.6, Singapore at 62.9, Taiwan at 62.8, Malaysia at 61.5, India at 59.4, Hong Kong at 59.3, Korea at 57.1, Thailand at 53.9, and China at 43.7. The rankings were based on seven categories, namely: government and public governance; regulators on funding, capacity building, and reform, and enforcement regulators; corporate governance rules; listed companies; investors; auditors and audit regulators; and civil society and media.  ACGR data showed that the Philippines scored higher in categories such as government and public governance at 29 versus 28 in 2020; CG rules at 48 from 45; investors at 25 from 21; and auditors and audit regulators at 62 from 60.  However, the country scored lower in terms of regulators at 25 from 27; listed companies at 48 from 55; and civil society and media at 33 from 36.  “Our goal in CG Watch is to give a diagnosis of the health of CG systems across APAC (Asia-Pacific). More than 20 years after the Asian Financial Crisis there is no doubt that most of the region is in better shape. We hope our scores and rankings help each market to pinpoint next steps for improvement,” ACGA Secretary General Jamie Allen said.  Meanwhile, a separate survey done by Hong Kong-based capital markets and investment group CLSA Ltd. showed that the Philippines ranked last among the 12 APAC countries in terms of the CLSA CG score.  The Philippines came out with a score of 49.3 in the 2023 CLSA CG ranking, lower than the 50.5 score in 2020.  “Our analysis of CG scores by thematic characteristics revealed that gender-diverse firms have the highest CG scores, followed by privately-owned enterprises, large caps and manager-run companies; while state-owned firms score the lowest,” CLSA said. CLSA reveals CG winners and losers by sector and examines CG scores by corporate characteristics as well as CG’s relationship with broader ESG scores and shareholder value creation. “The Asian region is characterized by extreme weather events, shifting demographics and geopolitical uncertainties. Now more than ever it has become increasingly crucial to comprehend the connection between effective corporate governance, ESG, and shareholder returns,” CLSA Head of Sustain Asia Research Seungjoo Ro said.  Sought for comment, SEC Commissioner McJill Bryant T. Fernandez said via Viber message that the regulator has been consistent in promoting corporate governance and protecting minority investors, through policies and regulations consistent with international best practices. “This can be attested by, among others, the recognitions from both domestic and international bodies, as well as engagements with stakeholders here and abroad,” he said. He added that the SEC “was neither consulted nor interviewed” about the report. “To be circumspect, the Commission will go over the entire report and commits to provide substantive comments thereon soonest,” he said. Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said that greater emphasis on ESG compliance is needed since it has been linked to good business practices.  “Global and local regulators have already encouraged compliance with ESG standards for both issuers and investors even before the pandemic, which somewhat disrupted business, market, and other economic activities,” Mr. Ricafort said in a Viber message. “There should be greater emphasis on ESG compliance as this has become one of the important considerations by foreign investors in recent years, as ESG compliance is tied to good business practices,” he added. Mr. Ricafort added that corporate regulators should have more funding to support more ESG compliance initiatives. “More funding is needed to bankroll more ESG compliance initiatives amid limited financial resources of the government due to budget deficits especially since the pandemic,” Mr. Ricafort said.

  • NEDA to prioritize IRR for PPP Code

    By Louella Desiderio, December 11, 2023; The Philippine Star https://www.philstar.com/business/2023/12/11/2317889/neda-prioritize-irr-ppp-code#:~:text=The%20PPP%20Code%20will%20take,TPB%2C%20Trabaho%20Para%20Sa%20Bayan. Manila, Philippines — The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said it would prioritize the issuance of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the newly approved Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Code. NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon told reporters the issuance of the IRR for the PPP Code would be prioritized by the agency. “We’re working with the DOF (Department of Finance), as well and, of course, PPP Center [for the IRR],” she said. Republic Act 11966 or the PPP Code was signed into law by President Marcos last Dec. 5. The law, which was among the government’s priority legislative measures for approval this year, clarifies ambiguities in the existing Build-Operate-Transfer Law, which was last amended in 1994, as well as other existing PPP legal frameworks. RA 11966 is expected to address bottlenecks and challenges that affect the implementation of PPPs. Under the law, the PPP Governing Board chaired by the NEDA secretary is tasked to issue the IRR within 90 calendar days from the effectivity of the PPP Code. A public consultation with stakeholders, including the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Transportation, other key implementing agencies, local government units, and a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee created under the code will have to be conducted prior to the issuance of the IRR. The PPP Code will take effect 15 days after its publication in the official gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. While the issuance of the IRR for the PPP Code will be prioritized, Edillon said the NEDA is still working on other IRRs. “We’re also writing the IRR for the TPB, Trabaho Para Sa Bayan. And our target for that is I think, if I’m not mistaken, early February,” she said. Signed into law last Sept. 27, the TPB Act seeks to enable greater access to employment opportunities, with a masterplan for employment generation and recovery to be crafted by the TPB Inter-Agency Council, which will be chaired by the NEDA secretary and co-chaired by the heads of the Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Labor and Employment. NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the PPP Code is expected to promote development across various sectors and accelerate the delivery of public services necessary for economic growth and socioeconomic transformation. “With its implementation, the government can harness PPPs to finance priority programs such as the Marcos administration’s infrastructure flagship projects and even social infrastructure in the education and health sectors. The law encourages leveraging private-sector expertise in process innovation, resource mobilization and high-quality service delivery,” he said. He said massive amounts of investments in both physical and human capital will be needed to sustain the country’s economic growth, generate high-quality jobs and reduce poverty. “Given the tight fiscal space, the private sector becomes an indispensable partner in building the foundations to propel the economy’s medium- and long-term expansion. Through the many game-changing reforms enacted and implemented by the present and past administrations, we aim to make the Philippines a destination of choice for local and foreign investors,” he said. World Bank senior economist Ralph Van Doorn said the implementation of the PPP Code, along with other reforms to make the country a more attractive investment destination, would support future growth.

  • By Samuel Medenilla, December 6, 2023; Business Mirror https://businessmirror.com.ph/2023/12/06/internet-transactions-act-infra-ppp-signed-into-law/#:~:text=The%20chief%20executive%20signed%20Republic,19%20for%20the%20third%20time. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has signed two landmark laws to strengthen public-private partnership (PPP) for infrastructure and boost the protection of digital consumers. The chief executive signed Republic Act 11966 also known as the “Act Providing for the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) of the Philippines” as well as RA 11967 or the Internet Transactions Act of 2023 on Wednesday, while in isolation after testing for Covid-19 for the third time. The cancelled signing ceremony for both pieces of legislation was supposed to be held in Malacañang on December 5, 2023. RA 11966 aims to promote PPPs for infrastructures by establishing “a stable and predictable environment for collaboration between the public and private sectors.” By integrating the government’s three-decade experience in implementing Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Law, the new Code is expected to mitigate risks for PPP projects. National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan lauded the signing of the PPP Code, saying it will help the government meet its infrastructure requirements. “With its implementation, the government can harness PPPs to finance priority programs such as the Marcos Administration’s Infrastructure Flagship Projects [IFPs] and even social infrastructure in the education and health sectors,” Balisacan said in a statement. He noted the new Code not only clarifies the ambiguities in the existing BOT Law, but also reduces transaction costs and improves the ease of doing business for PPPs. RA 11966 also promotes autonomy in implementing local PPP projects while ensuring alignment of local government unit (LGU) projects to national development plans, according to the NEDA chief. To promote digital transactions, the government also passed into law RA 11967 creating the Electronic Commerce Bureau (ECB) under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The ECB is tasked with protecting digital consumers and merchants by ensuring fair business practices and establishing “effective mechanisms for dispute resolution.” As part of its mandate, it will implement the provisions of the RA 11967 as well as the Electronic Commerce Act of 2000, and the Philippine E-Commerce Roadmap. Marcos said the two laws will help accelerate the country’s infrastructure development and efforts to have a thriving digital economy.

  • By Zaldy De Layola, December 4, 2023; Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1214851 Manila – Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Monday assured the visiting United Nations (UN) officials of the House of Representatives’ commitment to pass House Bill (HB) 4000, or An Act Establishing a National Evaluation Policy, and other measures in support of the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He said the proposed measures aimed at realizing the 2030 SDGs, also known as the Global Goals, which were adopted by the UN in 2015 as a universal call to eradicate poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people around the world enjoy peace and prosperity. Romualdez gave the assurance during the courtesy call of officials from UN agencies, including Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov, UNICEF Country Representative to the Philippines; Xavier Foulquier, Chief, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (UNICEF); Charl Andrew Bautista, UN Population Fund (UNFPA) Project Coordinator and Jose Nicomedes Castillo, UNFPA Monitoring and Evaluation Analyst. The UN officials requested an audience with the Speaker to express their support for evidence-based policymaking including capacity building on evaluation, budgeting for policy implementation, and evidence generation, as well as the passage of the national evaluation policy bill, among others. “We recognize the critical role of robust evaluation mechanisms in shaping effective policies and programs. A comprehensive and systematic approach to evaluation will not only enhance the efficiency of government initiatives but also ensure transparency and accountability in our pursuit of sustainable development,” Romualdez told them. HB 4000 seeks to strengthen the legal and organizational framework for the regular conduct of monitoring and evaluation of the results of public policies, programs, projects and other forms of government intervention intended to promote sustainable development. Romualdez has endorsed the proposed measure to the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) for inclusion among the priority legislations. The establishment of a National Evaluation Policy will help determine the proper implementation of the country’s policies and programs to achieve and support good governance. Likewise, it would be useful in assessing the effectiveness and sustainability of programs and policies toward achieving national development goals. A similar measure, HB 5181 or “An Act Institutionalizing A Results-Based National Evaluation Policy” has also been filed in the House. “Our commitment extends beyond the confines of a single bill. The House of Representatives is eager to actively engage with and support various legislative measures that align with the SDGs,” Romualdez said. He pointed out that by working collaboratively with their counterparts and stakeholders, they mean to create a legislative framework aligned with the policy direction of the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. that promotes inclusivity, environmental stewardship, and social progress.

  • By Artemio Dumlao, December 1, 2023; Philippine Star https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/12/01/2315617/ilocos-norte-feted-top-performing-lgu-subaybayani-awards-2023#:~:text=BAGUIO%20CITY%20%E2%80%94%20The%20Ilocos%20Norte,City%20held%20last%20November%2016. Baguio City —  The Ilocos Norte provincial government was awarded as Top Overall Performer during the Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) Subaybayani Awards 2023 at the Sequoia Hotel Manila Bay, in Parañaque City held last November 16. With this year’s theme “Celebrating Service, Resilience, and Pioneering Innovation,” the provincial government was one of the 55 Local Government Units (LGUs) awarded with the SubayBAYANI Award for its exemplary performance in the implementation and management of local projects through DILG’s SubayBAYAN portal. The Top Overall Performer Award reaffirms Ilocos Norte’s position as a model for effective and inclusive governance and was earned as a result of the province’s Project Monitoring Committee and Engineering Office’s collective efforts in maintaining exceptional monitoring and evaluation practices and showcasing their dedication to delivering public services. The municipal governments of Sarrat, Solsona and Dumalneg were also awarded Top Performing LGUs in the Municipalities category, while the City Government of Laoag was awarded in the Cities category. “Your hardwork and dedication have made this recognition program the best example of the positive impact that can be achieved when we work together,” DILG Undersecretary Marlo Iringan said, lauding all the awardees. “Let this ceremony be a testament to the power of having good, honest, and committed people in the government. Now, more than ever, with the challenges that people face, the principles of transparency, accountability, and responsibility are not mere advocacies. May your commitment, passion, and dedication continue to illuminate the path to a future where every citizen are active participants in the journey of good governance,” he added. Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Manotoc vowed to continue showcasing his province’s dedication to good governance, transparency, and inclusive development through the implementation of programs and initiatives for the benefit of the Ilokano community.

  • By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, December 1, 2023; Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1214664 MANILA – The government has issued a joint memorandum circular (MC) setting the rules and regulations of Executive Order (EO) 32, which streamlines the processes for the construction of telecommunications and Internet infrastructure. The Joint MC 2023-01 containing the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of EO 32 was signed by the Technical Working Group (TWG) on Telecommunications and Internet Infrastructure composed of five government agencies. Signatories were Secretaries Ivan John Uy (Information and Communications Technology), Manuel Bonoan (Public Works), and Benjamin Abalos Jr. (Interior and Local Government); National Telecommunications Commission Commissioner Ella Blanca Lopez; and Anti-Red Tape Authority Director General Ernesto Perez. “These Implementing Rules and Regulations are hereby promulgated and issued as Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2023-01 to guide all concerned departments, offices, agencies, and stakeholders, in the implementation of EO No. 32,” read the joint memorandum, which was made public on Friday. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued EO 32 on July 4 to institutionalize a set of streamlined guidelines for the issuance of permits, licenses, and certificates for the construction of telecommunications and Internet infrastructure. The EO covers the streamlining of the processes for the construction, installation, repair, operation, and maintenance of such infrastructures. The order covers all national government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned or -controlled corporations, as well as local government units (LGUs) involved in the issuance of permits, licenses, clearances, certifications, and authorizations. EO 32 also created the TWG on Telecommunications and Internet Infrastructure that formulated the IRR. Under the IRR, a unified application form will be adopted, in which, preformatted form building permit applications shall be prescribed in all cities and municipalities in the country. Those applying for a building permit shall be required to submit property documents, technical documents, height clearance permits, and homeowners’ association clearance, together with the unified application form. To secure a Certificate of Use and a Business or Mayor’s permit, applicants should submit a certificate of completion, construction logbook, photocopy of valid licenses, photograph of structure, yellow card/clearance from electrical service provider, and a copy of the As-Built Plan reflecting changes and modifications. The IRR also sets the requirements for the erection of poles and construction of underground fiber ducts; cable layout on existing poles and other physical infrastructure; and operation, repair, and maintenance of passive telecommunications tower infrastructure (PTIIs), including distribution utility facilities. Rules for securing clearances from other government agencies and the local government’s adoption of EO 32 were also spelled out in the IRR. It mandates all cities to set up a One-Stop Shop for Construction Permits, preferably at the Office of the Building Official, which will provide front-line services to applicants securing building permits and other certificates related to telecommunications and Internet infrastructure. The IRR also prohibits anti-competitive activities and directs agencies and LGUs to implement a zero-backlog policy in all applications for permits and clearances covered under the order. The joint MC takes effect 15 days from publication, either in the Official Gazette or two national newspapers of general circulation, and from the filing of three certified copies with the University of the Philippines Law Center.

  • Digital TIN ID now available – BIR

    By CNN Philippines Staff, November 30, 2023; CNN Philippines https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/11/30/BIR-digital-TIN-ID.html Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 30) — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said that a digital version of the taxpayer identification number (TIN) ID is now available. In a memorandum circular dated Nov. 29, the BIR said that there is no need to queue in revenue district offices (RDO) as the digital TIN ID can be availed online for free. The bureau noted that it can be presented as a valid government-issued ID for any transaction. It added that digital TIN ID holders do not need to secure a physical card version. “With this new system, we can eliminate the practice of fixers and scammers selling TIN online while giving taxpayers a convenient alternative in getting a TIN, instead of lining up at our Revenue District Offices,” said BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. in a statement. The BIR also said that the digital TIN ID does not require a signature as it can be verified by scanning the QR code on it via the agency’s online registration and update system (ORUS). But taxpayers who want to apply for a digital TIN ID must first update their email address by submitting an accomplished registration update sheet via email to the concerned RDO. To apply for a digital TIN ID, one must log on to the BIR ORUS and upload a 1×1 photo with white background. The BIR warned that uploading of any unrelated photos, such as animals, artists, cartoons or other person’s photos, shall be subject to penalty.

  • By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan, November 23, 2023; Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1214259 MANILA – The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) was named among government agencies that are highly compliant with measures upholding freedom of information (FOI). In a statement Thursday, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said the BJMP was cited during the Presidential Communications Office’s (PCO) 2023 FOI Awards at the Hilton Hotel Manila on Nov. 21 for its exceptional commitment to transparency and accountability in public service. “We commend the BJMP for championing freedom of information and for upholding the people’s constitutional right to access information on matters of public concern. This feat speaks volumes of the Jail Bureau’s proactive information disclosure efforts,” he said. The annual FOI Awards seeks to recognize the remarkable contributions of government offices in the executive branch, including government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), and state universities and colleges (SUCs) to the development and progress of the FOI program. This year, the BJMP was hailed among the “Top Requested and Performing Agencies” in the eFOI Portal with 250 to 499 requests and at least 90 percent closed transactions. Abalos assured that the DILG, along with its attached agencies, will remain a staunch supporter of the eFOI Portal and will continue to significantly contribute to the development and success of the freedom of information program. “Dissemination of accurate information empowers people and connects them to the government through rebuilding trust, which in turn, inspires progress. Rest assured that the DILG will continue supporting the government’s FOI program,” Abalos said. BJMP chief, Jail Director Ruel Rivera and FOI officer and spokesperson, Jail Chief Insp. Jayrex Bustinera received the award during the awarding rites. “Receiving the 2023 FOI Award is a testament to our unwavering commitment to transparency and accountability in our operations. At the BJMP, we prioritize open access to information, enabling us to serve the public with greater efficiency and trust,” Rivera said.

  • By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora, November 17, 2023; Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1213871 MANILA – The Philippine government is pushing economies under the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) to strengthen collaboration and finance physical infrastructure projects that address the digital divide. In his Nov. 14 intervention at the 34th APEC Ministerial Meeting (AMM), a copy of which was forwarded by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Friday, Secretary Enrique Manalo talked about economic recovery after the pandemic and highlighted the need for APEC to narrow gaps in development “at a much rapid pace”. “Digitalization and innovation should complement and strengthen our efforts. We must ensure that the required physical infrastructure is in place to support the uptake and adoption of digital technologies,” he said. “Members must strengthen cooperation in financing appropriate infrastructure, including smart and green technologies, to empower people and businesses to grow and participate in an interconnected global economy,” he added. He also emphasized the importance of capacity building and knowledge sharing amid risks of “technology protectionism and alienation of economies who may face challenges in meeting higher standards” from the acceleration of digital transformation. Since the start of the year, Manalo pointed out that the region has faced numerous challenges — from geopolitical events and tensions, food and energy insecurity, supply chain disruptions, natural disasters and climate change. He said Manila continues to view APEC as an “effective platform for advancing outcomes to address these challenges”. “The principles adopted for achieving food security and just energy transition, and the guidelines on logistics-related services are steps in the right direction,” he said. “But our cooperation must deepen, to ensure, among others, that our economies remain open and connected,” he added. Engaging partners On the sidelines of the AMM, Manalo also met with his Canadian counterpart Foreign Minister Melanie Joly and discussed continuing cooperation in the maritime field. In a bilateral meeting, Manalo and Joly also discussed avenues for enhanced economic ties, and defense and security engagement between the Philippines and Canada. He also signed with State Minister Assisting the Papua New Guinea Prime Minister and National Events Justin Wayne Tkatchenko a memorandum of understanding on policy consultations. Manalo said this deal would establish a bilateral dialogue mechanism between the two states’ foreign affairs departments to pave the way for “stronger cooperation” in addressing mutual concerns. He also met with Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko and agreed to “steadily promote” the bilateral cooperation in areas such as security including Official Security Assistance, transfer of defense equipment and technology, maritime security capacity building including the provision of patrol vessels, and the commencement of negotiation of the Reciprocal Access Agreement. They reaffirmed commitment to work closely on issues concerning the East and South China Seas, nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and Women Peace Security.

  • By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, November 16, 2023; Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1213756 MANILA – Silicon Valley firms have expressed their intent to collaborate with the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity. This developed after Marcos held a roundtable meeting with technology companies and venture capitalists in San Francisco, California on Thursday (Manila time). Acknowledging that the Philippines still has a distinct lack of trained talents in blockchain technology, Marcos said his administration has been focusing on the upskilling and reskilling of Filipino workers to keep up with the growing demand and advancements in the fields of AI and cybersecurity. “We don’t have enough engineers. That simple. So, we need to get them trained, we need to get them… as part of the system,” Marcos said. “And so again, we have really put a great deal of emphasis on retraining. These are new technologies. The principle that we apply is really rather simple. It’s that basically Covid changed everything and after Covid, we have to transform the economy, and technology is going to bring the changes.” NightDragon chief executive officer (CEO) David Dewalt said his company and other technology firms in the roundtable discussion are looking forward to bringing all the technologies, particularly generative AI to the Philippines. Dewalt said the planned investments of the technology companies, including NightDragon, would be beneficial to the Philippines, considering its “young and powerful” workforce. NightDragon is a leading venture capital firm for cybersecurity, security, safety, and privacy. “The way I would say it is the Filipinos have an unbelievable ability to integrate in the global business systems like we do, maybe unmatched by any workforce on the planet,” Dewalt said. Visa CEO Ryan McInerney said generative AI will be a leveling force for small businesses, noting that Filipinos now use the largest platforms to buy things online. He said generative AI will give microbusinesses, nano businesses, and small businesses the tools and capabilities to provide Filipinos a “rich” shopping and commerce experience. ‘Ready for AI’ Marcos stressed the need for capability improvements, as he acknowledged the vulnerability of both the government and private sector to cybersecurity threats. He said the Philippines is currently embracing the AI revolution to augment the existing skills of the Filipinos, increase the productivity of enterprises, and enhance the competitiveness of the economy. “The Philippines is ready to become your partner in navigating the AI future. As we look to the horizon, let’s ‘Make It Happen in the Philippines,’ where the promise of a future defined by technological inclusivity and shared growth is not just envisioned but actively realized,” Marcos said. “Currently, the Philippines is embracing this future of AI with the crafting of the National AI Strategy that seeks to augment the existing skill set of Filipino talents with AI. This strategy also aims to position the Philippines as a Center of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence,” he added. Marcos said the gathering with the businessmen is a momentous occasion as the Philippine economy celebrates a milestone, marking its highest growth rate since 1976 with a 7.6-percent increase in the country’s gross domestic product in 2022. He added that the Philippine economic standing, accompanied by USD9.2 billion in foreign direct investments last year, “narrates a story of economic resilience and dynamism.” This remarkable growth, it mirrors the persistent dedication of this Administration, harmonized with our private sector partners and with their initiatives, to cultivate a business ecosystem that is not only conducive but also competitive and innovative,” Marcos said. Marcos assured foreign investors of easier business transactions in the Philippines, noting the fiscal incentives and ease of doing business in the country. “To our current and future partners, I hope that this meeting will serve as an opportunity to create a shared vision for a future where the Philippine workforce is empowered, skilled, and ready to shape the digital age,” he said. “We stand on the cusp of the Artificial Intelligence revolution and that promises untold advancements, but it also presents some rather unexpected challenges. It hinges on a workforce equipped with the necessary skills and an ecosystem that embraces technological inclusivity.” The roundtable meeting was co-organized by Dewalt, Bain and Company CEO Emmanuel Maceda, Crescent Point Group vice chairperson Thomas Pompidou, and the Department of Trade and Industry. Also present during the meeting were Microsoft managing director Michelle Gonzalez, Mandiant (A Google Company) CEO Kevin Mandia, Group of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) head Chris Emanuel, Plug and Play Ventures CEO Saeed Amidi, Altimeter CEO Brad Gerstner, HP (formerly Hewlett-Packard) CEO Enrique Lores, Mastercard co-president Ling Hai, and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei.

  • By Jose Rodel Clapano, November 16, 2023; The Philippine Star https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/11/16/2311855/san-juan-launches-single-ticketing-system MANILA, Philippines — The city government of San Juan launched yesterday the single ticketing system as part of establishing a uniform policy on traffic violations and penalties in Metro Manila. San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora, president of the Metro Manila Council, Land Transportation Office (LTO) regional director Noreen San Luis-Lutey and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Romando Artes led the launch at the San Juan city hall atrium. Zamora said the city government will fully implement the single ticketing system in the city six months after its pilot run in May. “Before, if you were given a traffic ticket and you license was confiscated, you have to go to the city hall of the city where you were caught just to redeem it and pay a fine. Now, that is no longer necessary,” he added. The MMDA turned over 30 handheld devices to the city government. The devices will be used by city traffic enforcers to issue traffic citation tickets to violators who commit any of the 20 common traffic violations. Under the Metro Manila Traffic Code of 2023 or the Single Ticketing System, the 20 common offenses are “disregarding traffic signs, illegal parking (attended and unattended), number coding, truck ban, light truck ban, reckless driving, unregistered motor vehicle, driving without license, tricycle ban, obstruction, dress code for motorcycle, overloading, defective motorcycle accessories, unauthorized modification, arrogance or discourteous conduct by the driver, loading and unloading in prohibited zones, illegal counterflow and overspeeding. The fines for these violations range from P500 to P5,000. Erring motorists may be compelled to attend seminars, depending on the nature and level of the violation. Motorists may pay on the spot through GCash, Maya and credit and debit cards, Zamora said. He added that a minimal convenience fee of P7 will be charged for every transaction with GCash, Maya and Landbank and a one percent convenience fee if payment is made through credit or debit cards.

  • By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, November 16, 2023; Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1213768 MANILA – The Philippines and the United States (US) on Thursday (Manila time) signed at least five agreements on clean energy, health care, pharmaceutical production, Internet connectivity, and climate technology. The agreements were signed on the sidelines of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s participation in the 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting in San Francisco, California. “It is a good experience always to come and officiate, or shall we say, witness the agreements that we have come with our partners, some government-to-government and some on the private sector,” Marcos said after the signing of deals at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in San Francisco. “They all hold a great potential for the Philippines to reshape its landscape of clean energy, health care, pharmaceutical manufacturing, Internet and satellite technology, and climate technology.” Clean energy The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) and the Ultra Safe Nuclear Cooperation (USNC) signed a cooperation agreement to undertake a Pre-Feasibility Study on Micro-Modular Reactors (MMRs) to explore clean and sustainable energy options in the country. Under the agreement, a feasibility study will be conducted for the potential deployment of MMRs in Meralco sites aimed at enforcing the sustainable energy agenda and providing affordable and dependable access to power, particularly to the underserved and off-grid areas, for economic empowerment. The study would enable Meralco to obtain an estimate of the environmental and social impact, capital expenditure, and operational costs, among others, related to the siting, construction, and operation of one or more MMR energy systems in the Philippines. The partnership between Meralco and USNC is a “significant step” towards exploring clean and sustainable energy options for the Philippines, Marcos said, adding that it is aligned with the government’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase resilience to climate change. First cancer hospital Ayala Group’s AC Health also signed a cooperation agreement with US-based Varian Medical Systems to improve access to quality cancer care in the Philippines by sharing their expertise in establishing and running the Philippines’ first dedicated specialty oncology hospital. The partnership will enable AC Health to establish the Healthway Cancer Care Hospital in the Philippines, which will serve as a network of oncology clinics throughout Metro Manila aimed at providing cancer patients access to comprehensive cancer care using Varian’s state-of-the-art and multi-modality cancer care technologies. Among the signatories were Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala of the Ayala Corp., AC Health chief executive officer (CEO) and president Paolo Borromeo, Varian Philippines president and managing director Heinz-Michael Horst Schmermer, and Varian’s Advanced Oncology Solutions vice president Chuck Lindley. Marcos said the collaboration between AC Health and Varian Medical Systems is a vital stride in the fight against cancer and reflects the Philippines’ growing potential as a “leading health care destination in Asia.” In 2023, cancer is the third leading cause of death in the Philippines, with about 141,021 new cancer cases and 86,337 cancer deaths every year. To boost cancer control efforts and reduce the burden of the disease, the Philippines enacted Republic Act 11215, or the National Integrated Cancer Control Act, in February 2019. As of this month, the Department of Health is set to establish 16 Cancer Care Specialty Centers nationwide. Local production of medicines Meanwhile, the Philippine company Lloyd Laboratories and US firm DifGen Pharmaceutic signed a joint venture agreement worth USD20 million to boost the local production of medicines in the Philippines. The joint venture will cover mutual interest in collaborating on the filing of an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) and the marketing of jointly developed pharmaceutical products within the US. An investment of up to USD20 million will be undertaken by Lloyd Laboratories for the establishment and operation of the first US Food and Drug Administration’s approved manufacturing facility in the Philippines, contributing to the advancement of the country’s position as a key player in the global pharmaceutical industry. The signatories for Lloyd Laboratories were Dr. Lloyd Balajada, Christopher Bamba, and lawyer Rafael Calinisan, while lawyer Oliver Baclay and Ramandeep Singh Jaj signed for DifGen Pharmaceuticals. Marcos said the joint venture between Lloyd Laboratories and DifGen Pharmaceuticals is vital in expanding the country’s local production and promoting a competitive and robust local pharmaceutical industry. Internet satellites An agreement between the Philippines’ satellite service provider Orbits and California-based communications satellites operator Astranis for the deployment of the first two Internet satellites to improve connectivity in remote areas in the Philippines was also signed. The agreement is expected to generate USD400 million worth of investment over the next eight years through the MicroGEO satellites, which will provide Internet service in the unserved and underserved areas of the Philippines, covering up to 10 million users and 30,000 villages. It is also projected to create more than 10,000 jobs for direct and indirect employees and partners. During the event, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez announced the official name of the first satellite as “Agila” to foster the spirit of technological advancements and strengthen international partnerships. The selection of the name Agila, he said, holds deep significance, embodying the project’s unwavering commitment to connecting and empowering the Filipino nation through the expansion of access to the digital world. Marcos said the partnership between Astranis and Orbit would help bridge the digital divide and foster digital transformation in the Philippines. Advanced weather forecasting Leading artificial intelligence (AI) meteorology company Atmo, Inc. also signed a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for the establishment of a high-resolution weather forecasting system for the Philippines using AI technology. The MOA was signed by DOST Undersecretary Maridon Sahagun and Atmo founder and CEO Alexander Levy. It will be Asia’s largest AI-driven weather forecasting program, which is expected to play a pivotal role in bolstering the Philippines’ resilience. The MOA on weather forecasting will benefit the Philippines, considering that it is one of the countries most affected by typhoons. Marcos welcomed the signing of the agreement, saying it would help make the country Read More…

  • By Leonel Abasola, November 15, 2023; Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1213726 MANILA – A lawmaker has proposed increasing the budget for the enforcement of Anti-Trafficking in Persons (ATIP) to boost the government’s crackdown on human trafficking, including online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC). In a news release on Wednesday, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said he proposed to add PHP70.74 million to the PHP76.28 million allocated under the National Expenditure Program (NEP) for ATIP enforcement. From this proposed fund for ATIP enforcement, he aimed to allocate PHP39.42 million to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking Secretariat (IACAT) and PHP31.32 million to the National Coordination Center (NCC) Against OSAEC and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Secretariat. According to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), the Philippines ranked second worldwide when it comes to OSAEC. Gatchalian also referred to the Scale of Harm Survey by the International Justice Mission (IJM) and the University of Nottingham Rights Lab, which estimated that 471,416 Filipino children were trafficked to produce new child sexual exploitation material in 2022. He said the country has witnessed a rise in human trafficking incidents related to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), citing an Oct. 27 raid of POGO hub in Pasay City where authorities rescued 731 foreign and Filipino workers, most of them were victims of human trafficking. “These criminal activities –human trafficking and sexual exploitation of children are real and they’re happening in our country. Hardened criminal syndicates are operating freely within our jurisdiction,” Gatchalian said. “I am suggesting increasing the budget of the anti-trafficking in persons enforcement group from (PHP)76 million to (PHP) 147 million. This is to enable them to continue their work in apprehending and rescuing all human trafficking victims, as well as investigating and curbing online sexual abuse of our minors,” he added. The budget for ATIP enforcement under the 2024 NEP is PHP76.28 million. This was reduced in the 2024 GAB by PHP10 million, or a 13.11 percent decrease. Gatchalian also noted that under the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022 (Republic Act No. 11862) and the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act (RA 11930), the IACAT’s structure, composition, and role were expanded to supervise both the IACAT and the NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM Secretariats.

  • By Zaldy De Layola, November 14, 2023; Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1213639 MANILA – United Senior Citizens Party-list Rep. Milagros Aquino-Magsaysay on Tuesday pushed for a swift passage of her House bill seeking to amend Republic Act (RA) No. 11350 otherwise known as the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) Act. Magsaysay said he filed House Bill 9454 or “An Act amending RA 11350” on Nov. 7 to improve and make the five-year-old law beneficial to nearly 10 million senior citizens in the country. “We have waited years for the passage of a commission that will specifically attend to the concerns and issues of our senior citizens and it will be a waste if the commission will exist in the name only and will not be felt by our country’s elderly sector,” she said. “This is why we need to make amendments to the law to make sure that the NCSC understands its mandate and abides by it. We don’t want a lame duck commission. We want a working one,” she added. Under HB 9454, Magsaysay seeks to make the present law maximize its functionality for the benefit of senior citizens, to provide clearer guidance and direction on the law’s original intentions. “We want to make sure that the elderly sector does not suffer the consequences and inefficiency of a non-functioning body,” she said. She said the NCSC has not displayed any capability to assume the responsibilities and functions “pertaining to the senior citizens’ sector.” The proposed bill seeks to place the NCSC under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Under the present law, the commission is under the Office of the President. The NCSC, under new measure, will be tasked to develop an integrated and comprehensive long-term National Plan for the social protection of senior citizens at all levels, including establishing and maintaining a National Database on the Profiling and Referral system of senior citizens. Under Section 8 of the proposed bill, the approval of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Commission shall have an organizational structure, staffing pattern, offices, divisions, or units based on the responsibilities and functions it shall also absorb and take over from the DSWD and such other elderly-related concerns and emerging trends. However, it may create other offices, divisions or units as it may deem necessary to fully operationalize and maintain its functionality. The proposed amendment would allow the Commission to accept donations which is not found under the present law.

  • By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora, November 14, 2023; Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1213587 MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is preparing to roll out the e-visa to India after expanding the system’s beta testing on all its seven foreign service posts (FSPs) in China. “Further to the President’s policy directive on the implementation of the e-Visa system, the DFA is preparing to expand e-Visa operations to India before the end of the year in view of reciprocity in visa policies and the economic potential of the Indian tourism market,” DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza told the Philippine News Agency. Latest data from the Department of Tourism showed India ranked 12th among top foreign visitors in 2023, with 58,504 recorded as of October 2023. Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Shambhu Kumaran early this month also asked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to allow the extension of e-visas for Indian nationals who are staying in the Philippines. The DFA soft-launched the Philippine e-visa system, starting with Chinese tourists in Shanghai, China last August. Daza said the operations of the system have since been expanded to all seven Philippine FSPs in China under beta testing parameters. “Under the said parameters, walk-in and remote e-Visa applicants are assisted by Post’s personnel to address inquiries and technical issues in navigating the system,” she said. From Aug. 24 to Nov. 6, all Philippine embassies and consulates in China issued a total of 1,739 Philippine e-visas. “The DFA gathered that the e-visa applicants can navigate the e-visa system with general ease, and received the necessary support for minor technical difficulties,” Daza said. “Refinements to the system are continuously being deployed with the assistance of the Department of Information and Communications Technology based on the feedback of clients and issuing FSPs.” On top of the e-visa initiative, the DFA is also working to improve consular services for Filipinos. Last Oct. 31, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo convened a meeting with DFA officials to improve consular efforts, which he said already led to shorter turnaround times, faster complaint resolution and process digitalization. “We aim for much more enhanced service to Filipinos through our ASEANA office and the 37 consular offices across the Philippines,” he said. As of October 2023, the DFA has issued a total of 2,817,282 passports, down from the 3,589,623 issued in the same period last year. Daza said the decrease was caused by the implementation of the 10-year validity of passports in 2018.

  • By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, November 9, 2023; Philippine News Agency https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1213375 MANILA – The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board approved Thursday at least three high-impact infrastructure projects during its 11th meeting convened by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at Malacañan Palace in Manila. In a Palace briefing, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and NEDA director general Arsenio Balisacan said the approved projects were the Department of Agrarian Reform’s (DAR) Pang-Agraryong Tulay Para sa Bagong Bayanihan ng mga Magsasaka (PBBM) Bridges Project worth PHP28.2 billion; Phase 3 of the Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) worth PHP29.3 billion; and the revised parameters, terms and conditions (PTCs) of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) Extension Project. Balisacan said the PBBM Bridges Project aims to construct around 350 modular steel bridges with an estimated total length of 10,500 linear meters, in an effort to enhance access and connectivity for agrarian reform communities. “To improve the quality of life in rural areas, the approved project aims to increase the productivity and income of at least 350,000 households. The ease of mobility and access to and from the agrarian reform communities will generate more employment and address the communities’ need for better access to social services and market outlets for their agricultural products,” he said. Meanwhile, Balisacan said the third phase of the Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project involves the design, construction and delivery of five units of 97-meter multi-role response vessels, as well as a five-year integrated logistics support. “This will further improve the Philippine Coast Guard’s capability to respond to threats and incidents within the country’s maritime jurisdiction. In particular, the project will enable the Coast Guard to secure important sea lines of communication in the West Philippine Sea, Sulu-Celebes Seas, and the Philippine Sea. It will also help the PCG combat illegal activities and enforce maritime laws in the Philippine waters,” he said. Balisacan said the total project cost will be financed through an official development assistance or ODA loan from the government of Japan. On the other hand, the revised PTCs of the TPLEX Extension Project, as recommended by the NEDA Board’s Investment Coordination Committee (ICC), were negotiated between the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the original proponent of the unsolicited public-private partnership (PPP) project. “Following this approval, the DPWH will proceed with the publication of the invitation for comparative proposals in accordance with the Revised 2022 Build-Operate-Transfer Law Implementing Rules and Regulations, as well as the ICC Guidelines on Processing PPP proposals,” Balisacan said. The TPLEX Extension Project, which was approved in June this year, involves a 59.4-kilometer toll road, which will connect from the last exit of TPLEX in Rosario, La Union and will terminate in San Juan, La Union. The project is envisioned to stimulate economic activity, alleviate road congestion, provide better and safer road access and promote the development of new growth centers in nearby regions, Balisacan said. Progress report Balisacan also released a progress report on the infrastructure flagship projects (IFPs) under the “Build Better More” Program for the third quarter of 2023. He said one of the 197 IFPs, specifically the Samar Pacific Coastal Road Project by the DPWH, has been completed. “The 18.65-kilometer road project links the towns of Laoang, Catubig, and Palapag by establishing a circumferential road around the entire Samar Island. The road is expected to enhance economic activity in the region by improving the delivery and movement of essential goods and services and creating more job opportunities,” Balisacan said. He said around 71 IFPs are currently ongoing, 29 have been approved for implementation and nine are awaiting government approval. He added 52 IFPs are in the project preparation phase, while 35 others are in the pre-project preparation phase. Balisacan assured the public that the Marcos administration remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring the efficient implementation of high-impact infrastructure projects to enhance connectivity, ramp up employment-creating investments and improve Filipinos’ living standards. “We will continue with our commitment to pursue important initiatives to ensure social and economic transformation towards a matatag, maginhawa, at panatag na buhay para sa lahat (stable, comfortable, and peaceful life for all),” he said.

Archives