20171014 News Releases

NEWS RELEASES

Pinoy nurses, lagpak sa English exam sa UK; CHED, hinimok umaksiyon

House ready to defend its TRAIN version in bicam

AGRI partylist Rep Salon bats for swift passage of Urban Agri Act

Committee approves bill promoting urban agriculture

STATEMENTS:

Statement of former Pres Macapagal-Arroyo on Pres Duterte’s latest SWS survey:

Rep Harry Roque on the rejection of Paulyn Ubial as DOH Secretary

Solon urges suspect Trangia to be faithful to the truth (Rep Ron P. Salo

If Trangia tells the truth, we shall not have wasted his young life (Rep Bernadette “BH” Herrera-Dy)

First law on Mental Health likely to be signed this year (Rep Ron Salo)

Philippine Economy, nasa mabuting kamay ng Duterte admin

Rep Henry Ong urges DTI to ready IRR on non-expiry of gift checks in time for Christmas 2017

PhilHealth ‘financial trouble’ risks implementation of universal health care – Sato

LIYAB kicks off in the House

Travel tax exempt to kids of OFWs pushed

More accessible Venue for libel hearings pushed

Bill creating arboretum in Lanao del Norte gets support

TADECO contract highly onerous: Speaker Alvarez

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

MEETING THE PRESS

LIYAB

TULONG TRABAHO

YOLANDA HOUSING ANOMALIES

CONSUMER PROTECTION

COMELEC TIMELINE

LAWLESS LAW ENFORCERS

ONEROUS TADECO CONTRACT

DOT OR LGU RESPONSIBILITY

COMELEC CHAIR IMPEACHED

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Pinoy nurses, lagpak sa English exam sa UK; CHED, hinimok umaksiyon

Hinimok ni Bagong Henerasyon Partylist Rep Bernadette Herrera-Dy ang Commission on Higher Education (CHED) na aksyunan ang tila paghina ng kahusayan ng mga Pilipino nursing graduates sa wikang Ingles.

Nitong Setyembre, 52 sa 59 na Pilipinong nurses na ni-recruit sa Maynila para magtrabaho sa isang ospital sa United Kingdom (UK) ang lumagpak sa English language test kaya’t di sila makapag-uumpisa sa pangarap nilang trabaho.

Ikinalungkot ng mambabatas ang naunsiyaming pangarap ng mga Pinoy nurse at hinimok ang CHED na gumawa ng hakbang para tiyaking di na mauulit ang kahalintulad na pangyayari.

“Makikipagpulong ako sa mga dekano ng nursing schools at mga opisyal ng CHED para maisa-isa namin ang mga hakbang na pwedeng gawin pati na para matukoy kung may mga patakaran ba na dapat isulong sa Kongreso para matulungan ang ating mga nursing students at graduates para mapahusay ang kanilang kakayahan sa banyagang wika,” ani Herrera-Dy, Chair ng House Committee on Public Information.

Makikipagpulong din ang kongresista sa mga opisyal ng Department of Education para matugunan ang problema [sa English competencies] sa antas pa lang ng basic education.

Ayon sa tala, humigit-kumulang 80,000 estudyante ang nagtatapos ng kursong nursing kada taon habang humigit-kumulang 25,000 naman ang kumukuha ng nursing board exams kada taon.

Sa tala ng Professional Regulations Commission, “"3,882 out of 11,176 passed the Nurse Licensure Examination given by the Board of Nursing in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi, Lucena, Pagadian, Tacloban, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga this June 2017."

Nakatakdang idaos ang nursing board exams sa darating na November 25 at 26.

Naiulat na kung pumasa sana ang mga nurses sa naturang exam, tatangap sila ng "£3,000 recruitment and retention bonus paid over 26 months, flexible working hours, and a relocation loan.” Ang nasabing halaga ay katumbas ng P204,000 (P68 = 1 British pound)

House ready to defend its TRAIN version in bicam

Members of the House of Representatives have expressed readiness to defend and stand up for the chamber’s version of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) bill when they meet the senators in the bicameral conference committee to hammer out the final version of the measure.

Rep. Dakila Carlo Cua Lone District, Quirino, chairman of the committee on ways and means, said during the House bi-monthly media briefing that the House panel has done its part in studying well the House version of the TRAIN and is ready to defend the chamber’s position in the bicam committee.

 “What I can say is when we go to the bicam, of course we have done our research, we’ve done our studies on the revenue projections, the impact on the economy and industry, and consumers,” said Cua.

He urged their counterparts in the Senate to bring their notes as well in terms of impact on the economy and consumers, and the revenue projections so that they can discuss based on those parameters and not just what it looks like on paper.

“So, sana pagdating sa bicam ganun ang usapan, ano ang revenue niyan, ano ang revenue nito, bakit ganyan, may impact ba sa industriya at may impact ba sa consumer? And then we can find probably an optimal level,” said Cua.

Cua said what he personally likes in the House version is the P250,000 automatic tax free for each tax payer.

 “I don't really think it's putting Congress in a bad light as some of the good features of the House version were highlighted,” said Cua.

Cua said everything is open for discussion as the tradition sets. But he stressed the only one limitation is the fact that all new tax measures must emanate from the House.

“Therefore, if there is a proposed new measure from the Senate, we will have to look into the legality of it. Kaya dun lang kami mag-iingat siguro. On my part, duon ko gustong mag-ingat, in the sense na dapat lahat ng tax measures, it's either an existing tax measure in the tax code or already in the bill as forwarded by the Congress to the Senate,” said Cua.

Cua said while it is possible that President Duterte may veto the TRAIN if the original administration proposal to Congress is not approved, it would be better to just wait for developments in the bicameral conference committee.

“Yes, there is a possibility he will do that. But I think we’ll see first what happens (in the bicam). I think generally, it's the positive step forward. As long the net is above, it's still a positive step forward. But of course the possibility is there, the President may always veto if he sees that if it's the wrong policy for the country, then he can always do so,” said Cua.

So far, Cua said he and Senator Edgardo Angara, have not yet met about the details of the Senate’s TRAIN report. “In fact, I've only asked the ways and means committee staff to get a copy of the report and try to make a comparison between what the House has passed compared to the Senate version,” he said.

Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles (1st District, Davao City), chairman of the committee on appropriations, expressed confidence that the House committee on ways and means can ably defend the House version of the TRAIN.

“The ball is in the hands of the committee on ways and means when they go to bicam. Hopefully they will be able to fight for the desired projections, because that was the basis when the budget was drafted and sent to the House,” said Nograles.

Nograles said it is unfortunate that per the computations of the Department of Finance, the Senate TRAIN version could only collect about P59.9 billion. Whereas, the House version is set to collect P133 billion.

“So, malaki yung diperensya. Kung ganun ang magiging version at totoo yung estimates ng DOF, it will have an effect on the debt that would be incurred by the government. So, we're still set, obviously we passed a budget bill that is supposed to spend P3.767 trillion, hindi po magbabago yan. And it is not good practice and it is not sound policy for us to change what has already been approved by Congress,” said Nograles.

If the tax reform package does not yield the desired income which was supposedly based on the House members’ projections of P133.8 billion, Nograles said the government would be forced to increase its debt borrowings.

“Kung ano yung hindi natin na-collect, yun ang kailangan nating dagdag na uutangin, dagdag sa borrowings natin,” said Nograles.

AGRI partylist Rep Salon bats for swift passage of Urban Agri Act

AGRI Party-list Representative Orestes T. Salon on Tuesday expressed hope that the substitute bill for the Integrated Urban Agriculture Act will be swiftly approved by the plenary to avert a possible crisis brought about by food insecurity.

The Committee on Food Security has decided to endorse a bill consolidating all the measures with the same subject to the plenary for second reading.

Salon is the principal author of HB No. 4337, one of the bills consolidated therein.

He said that with the Philippines ranking poorly in the 2017 Global Food Security Index recently released by the Economist Intelligence Unit, it was imperative that Congress does its part in laying a proper policy platform to achieve food security.

The report revealed that out of the 113 countries ranked by the EIU, the Philippines garnered a score of 47.3 and placed 79th. In Asia Pacific, the Philippines was 17th out of the 23 countries assessed.

The EIU considered three core pillars of food security—affordability, availability and quality and safety in its assessment.

In terms of the three pillars of food security, the Philippines ranked 77th on affordability, 80th on availability and 69th in quality and safety.

"The urgency of addressing our nation's food security should guide us in our actions," Salon said.

Salon said that the Integrated Urban Agriculture Act, if harmonized with massive support for nationwide agriculture, could help improve the country's food supply.

Under the bill, an Office of Urban Agriculture shall be established by the Department of Agriculture.

The Office shall have the following powers and functions:

"a) Formulate the implementing guidelines, programs and operating principles consistent with government policies and the objectives of this Act;

b) Study and make recommendations regarding the impact of urban agriculture and vertical farming in metropolitan communities;

c) Carry out the implementation of this Act; and

d) Submit and report to Congress its findings and recommendations.

The OUA is also tasked with developing the research agenda on urban agriculture in the country's metropolitan areas, in coordination with the Department of Science and Technology, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Department of Health.

Idle and/or abandoned government lots and buildings owned by either the national or local governments, or available land within state colleges and universities will be considered for use in urban agriculture.

The program also encourages the use of indigenous materials for agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, and agricultural machinery and other implements.

Local governments will also be required  to formulated policies on the practice of hrban agriculture and on utilizing urban spaces, unused spaces, and idle lands, consistent with existing policy on the Comprehensive Land Use Plan and zoning ordinances. The designated spaces, however, shall not be prime lots or areas suitable for investments.

Local government units in cities and urban areas shall also be required to enact local legislation institutionalizing urban agriculture as a regular component in the annual appropriations of the concerned LGUs.

If passed, urban agriculture shall also be included in the academic curriculum for elementary, secondary, and tertiary level students of both public and private schools. A course curriculum on urban gardening shall meanwhile be developed and included in the regular curriculum of both elementary and secondary levels.

Urban agriculture shall also form part of the required period dedicated to the National Service Training Program or the Citizens Military training in universities and colleges.

A nationwide information campaign will also be conducted by the OUA with the assistance of the Philippine Information Agency to raise public awareness.

Salon added that besides helping bridge the gaps in the country's food supply, urban agriculture could positively impact employment and income generation for urban settlers.

Committee approves bill promoting urban agriculture

The House special committee on food security chaired by Rep. Leo Rafael Cueva (2ndDistrict, Negros Occidental) on Tuesday approved a substitute bill seeking to promote integrated urban agricultural development in all metropolitan areas nationwide to address food security concerns.

The unnumbered bill titled “Integrated Urban Agriculture Act” substituted House Bills 2818, 4337, 4354 and 4422 authored by Reps. Estrellita Suansing (1st District, Nueva Ecija), Orestes Salon (Party-list, Agri), Michael Romero Ph.D. (Party-list, PBA), and Harlin Neil Abayon III (Party-list, Aangat Tayo), respectively.

Suansing said the bill seeks to institutionalize integrated urban farming in the highly urbanized cities and municipalities nationwide. This in turn will help address food security concerns and regenerate ecosystem functions.

Suansing, chairperson of the committee on ecology, said world population has been projected to double in 50 years. Relatedly, studies have shown that new land will be needed to grow enough food for everyone, she said.

“Urban agriculture and vertical farming will not only clean our environment and further avoid climate change, but also provide residents with safer, healthier food, at the same time keep farmers in business. Furthermore, urban agriculture and vertical farming will help reduce poverty,” said Suansing.

Salon said that while the Philippines was hailed as one of the fastest growing economies in Asia for gaining 6.9 percent domestic growth product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2016, there is undeniable food shortage in the country as shown by its dismal ranking of 74th among 109 countries studied in the 2015 Global Food Security Index.

“Urban agriculture is a food-producing activity that is community-based and would definitely help an urban area in its quest for sustainable development,” said Salon.

The bill declares it is the policy of the State to reaffirm the fundamental right of every person to adequate food and be free from hunger. As such, the achievement of self-sufficiency and

sustainability in food production and security is hence adopted as a primary State policy.

Toward this end, the State shall develop climate change resilient communities in the metropolitan areas through the promotion of modern, appropriate, cost-effective and environmentally safe agriculture technologies to ensure food security, promote a healthy citizenry, and advance an improved quality of life for urban dwellers.

The measure defines integrated urban agriculture as the development paradigm that encompasses principles, management, technologies, and the policies relating to the practice and application of agricultural production of food and goods in urban areas.

It refers to food security as a situation wherein foods are available and affordable at all times and where all people have access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life.

The bill provides that urban agriculture shall apply to all urban spaces such as idle, government or private lots or buildings, available land resources in state or private universities and colleges suitable for growing crops and raising poultry and livestock, and for agriculture.

It mandates the Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary to establish an office to be known as the Office of Urban Agriculture (OUA) to be under the DA. The OUA shall formulate the implementing guidelines, programs and operating principles consistent with government policies and objectives of the Act.

It also mandates the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) to monitor and ensure proper implementation of the Act. The PCAF shall have as members the Department of Health (DOH) Secretary, National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Chairperson, Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) Chairperson, representative from the private sector who has expertise in urban farming and vertical farming, and Lead Convenor of the Urban Agriculture Practitioners Network of the Philippines.

The PCAF shall ensure that programs established by the Act are implemented in ways consistent with the goal of poverty reduction, food security and healthy eating habits in urban communities.

Meanwhile the OUA, in coordination with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the DOH shall develop the research agenda on urban agriculture in the country’s metropolitan areas.

Idle and/or abandoned government lots and buildings owned by either the national government or local governments or available land resources in state colleges and universities shall be considered for growing crops, raising livestock, and producing food.

Safety standards, good agricultural practices, and handling practices must be emphasized and promoted at all times. The OUA, DOST, DENR, DOH, and the local government units (LGUs), together with the pertinent agencies shall oversee the promotion of agriculture and minimize risks of microbial food hazards.

The bill also mandates the inclusion of urban agriculture in the academic curriculum for elementary, secondary and tertiary level students of both public and pivate academic institutions offering courses in Agriculture, Practical Arts, Home Economics and other agriculture-related subjects. A course curriculum on gardening shall be developed and included in the regular curriculum of elementary and

secondary education.

For universities and colleges, urban agriculture shall form part of the required period of time spent by students in the National Service Training Program or the Citizens Military Training.

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STATEMENTS:

Statement of former Pres Macapagal-Arroyo on Pres Duterte’s latest SWS survey:

The rise and drop in a President's approval ratings are bound to happen in the course of his/her term. It is part of the territory. It reflects the pulse of the people at a particular time. A drop though does not mean erosion of public support but merely a sentiment on particular policies.

But the job of a president is not to make popular decisions. He should make decisions for the greater good though unpopular. I had to endure this process myself when I made tough and unpopular decisions that ultimately redounded to the common good.

After a whole year of stratospheric ratings, the President should not be unduly worried by the drop in his ratings for the 3rd quarter of the year. This is a blip, especially because the survey was taken at the height of the controversy over so-called EJK’s in the war against drugs.

During my term, I too suffered even more serious problems with my ratings, precipitated by the same kind of vicious opposition now working to bring down President Duterte. I responded by focusing instead on performance, performance, performance. It was my intention to leave a real legacy of achievement, because it was only the judgment of history that mattered to me.

The President has started several historic initiatives that too will comprise his real legacy. I refer to his initiatives on comprehensive tax reform, infrastructure buildout, Charter change, and securing and rebuilding Marawi city. All of them can produce major changes early enough to improve his ratings by early next year.

Rep Harry Roque on the rejection of Paulyn Ubial as DOH Secretary

I welcome the decision of the Commission on Appointments to reject the ad interim appointment of Dr. Paulyn Ubial as Secretary of Health.

We averted a major public health disaster with the non-confirmation of Ubial. The DOH deserves a decisive leader and I call on President Duterte to appoint an exceptional doctor with proven managerial skills to head the DOH.

The success of universal health care and all other health reforms of the administration lies in the hands of the next DOH Secretary. Let us not blow the opportunity the second time around.

Solon urges suspect Trangia to be faithful to the truth (Rep Ron P. Salo

It is good that he has come back home to respond to calls for justice for his fraternity brother and his friend.

It is good he has given way to the stirrings of his consciences. Perhaps he listened to wise counsel from family and friends.

May he face the music, directly respond to the issues, answer the questions by being faithful to the truth and to the memory of Atio Castillo.

As member of the House Justice Committee, I call on the other suspects to surface also and cooperate with authorities. If they are free from culpability, there is nothing to fear as the truth shall protect them.

As to culpability or liability, let the Department of Justice and the courts determine that.

The wheels of justice may turn slowly, but they do grind on.

If Trangia tells the truth, we shall not have wasted his young life (Rep Bernadette “BH” Herrera-Dy)

Ralph Trangia is a young man. He has his whole life ahead of him. This particular episode in his life is his true coming of age. Standing for what is right, true, and just is what is truly meant by being human.

Trangia can still recover from this debacle and look forward to the future if he speaks the truth and honors the memory of Horacio “Atio” Castillo, III.

As principal author of the Revised Anti-Hazing Bill in the House of Representatives, my specific interest in this is to see if the provisions of the anti-hazing bill can address the particular circumstances of the Atio Castillo case.

Also, I want to know if the old anti-hazing law is enough to secure justice for Atio.

If either the current law or the bill pressing through Congress can bring the Atio hazing cohorts to justice, then Congress was able to do its part.

I shall keep following this case very closely.

First law on Mental Health likely to be signed this year (Rep Ron Salo)

Only last Thursday, September 28, another young Filipino committed suicide. She reportedly jumped from the seventh floor restroom window of her school in Carbon in Cebu.

Two days later September 30, a lady call center agent died as car fell from Manila building; police have yet to rule the case as suicide.

Some personal problems are the apparent proximate causes according to news reports, but as the experts would say, suicide is a complex issue and needs to be addressed professionally and with sensitive care beyond the immediate apparent cause.

In order to address the rising incidence of mental disorder, I authored HB 1040, a measure seeking to address the lack of a law to specifically address the mental health of Filipinos through a comprehensive mental health program.

It passed second reading in the House of Representatives today and will most likely be approved on third and final reading in November this year.

The Senate already has a proposed Mental Health Act (SB 1354), which passed third and final reading. If the consolidated House bill moves faster, we could have the law of mental health by early next year.

The Department of Health estimate on fatal suicide in the country is at five Filipinos everyday but that figure is considered low because of under-reporting due to social stigma attached to suicide and mental health problems.

More Filipinos can come out of the shadows of social stigma if only they knew that some mental health problems are covered by PhilHealth. Yes, there is PhilHealth coverage for mental health issues.

In September last year, a suicide prevention hotline was launched in Cebu City. The hotline is dubbed HOPELINE and is run the Natasha Goulbourn Foundation. But the hotline has had technology, personnel and budget challenges. The Natasha Goulbourn Foundation works with the Philippine Psychiatric Association on suicide prevention. HOPELINE took 3,479 calls in 2016.

Noting that suicide is quite high among teenagers and young adults and the challenges faced by the hotline launched in Cebu, I am calling on the DOH to coordinate with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Education (DepEd), and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to design and roll out further intervention measures the youth can connect with when they are in emotional trouble. DILG involvement in this effort is needed for the out-of-school youth. The DOH’s coordination with concerned agencies is a step prior to the full implementation of the Mental Health Act when it gets passed before the year ends.

One good example is a mobile app developed by then students of the University of the Philippines-Diliman. The students have graduated. Their brainchild was PsychUP for UP Manila.

Perhaps CHED can commission the developers of PsychUP, Chad Errol Booc and Chara Mae San Diego, to design another mobile app that can be deployed for wider use to the general population. The CHED can use the Higher Education Development Fund or their funds for research.

CONTEXT:

Assistant Majority Leader and House Committee on Health Member Ron P. Salo files House Bill 1040 or the Philippine Mental Health Law.

HB 1040 aims to address the growing mental health needs of Filipinos by formulating and institutionalizing a national mental health care delivery system that will ensure available, accessible, affordable, responsive, and high-quality mental health care services, especially the marginalized and high-risk population.

Salo, a former consultant of the Department of Health (DOH), is one with the World Health Organization (WHO) in underscoring the need for a mental health legislation to protect the rights of people with mental disorders.

In 2015, the DOH reported more than 8,000 cases of mental health disorders, with Schizophrenia comprising a large percentage at 3,457. Here were more than 2,000 cases of Bipolar Affective Disorder, followed by Psychotic Disorder and Depression. As early as 2004, the Social Weather Stations survey found that almost 1 per 100 households has a family member who has a mental disorder. WHO reported 2,558 cases of suicide in the country in 2012.

Philippine Economy, nasa mabuting kamay ng Duterte admin

(Reaksyon sa 90% pagbaba ng halaga ng mga bagong mamumuhunan: Pahayag ni Rep Frederick W. Siao , Lone District of Iligan City)

Hinimok ng isang mambabatas ang publiko na huwag mabahala sa naiulat na 90% paglagpak ng halaga ng mga bagong mamumuhunan sa bansa sa unang kalahati ng taong 2017 kumpara noong isang taon.

Paliwanag ni Iligan City Lone District Representative Frederick Siao, ang new foreign direct investment ay isa lamang sa napakaraming economic indicators.

“Ang mas angkop na batayan ng tiwala ng mga investor sa bansa ay ang galaw ng mga dati nang investor na matagal na sa Pilipinas at patuloy na namumuhunan at hindi umaalis,” ani Siao.

Paliwanag pa ni Siao, natural lang na nais munang ma-evaluate ng mga bagong investor ang isang buong taon ng Duterte administration bago sila mamuhunan. Tinitingnan ng mga investor kung paano ginagastos ang 2017 national budget at ang impact nito sa sa bansa.

Mali umanong sisihin ang mga investor sa pagsasagawa ng “due diligence” bago mamuhunan.

Para kay Siao, na may negosyo at kasapi ng House Committee on Economic Affairs, heto ang ilang mga economic indicators na magpapakitang nasa mabuting kamay ng mga economic managers ni Pangulong Duterte ang bansa:

• Gross international reserves (US$81.35 billion as of Sept. 30, 2017);

• Higher investment in debt instruments (US$3 billion Jan-June 2017);

• Higher reinvestment of earnings (US$416 million Jan-June 2017);

• Total net inflows of foreign direct investments ($3.6 billion (Jan-June 2017) though this is 14% less than the same period last year, it is still high);

• PSE Index closed above 8,300 points for the first time in its history; and

• Remittances from Overseas Filipinos ($17.9 billion from January to July 2017, up by 5.9 percent.

Ang mga datos ay mula sa pinakahuling tala ng Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas at Philippine Stock Exchange.

Rep Henry Ong urges DTI to ready IRR on non-expiry of gift checks in time for Christmas

The proposed Gift Check Non-Expiry Act passed the bicameral conference committee phase and could be ratified soon after Congress returns from its month-long break to consult constituents and resumes session on November 13.

I am hopeful this bill and other bills that have gone through bicam will be signed during November and be this year’s early Christmas gifts of Congress to the Filipino people.

Gift checks and its various other similar versions happen to be convenient gift choices for many. Since gift checks are like cash, Congress is now making it national law and policy to further strengthen the recognition and treatment of gift checks as like cash. Cash, in the form of paper bills, coins, and balances in bank accounts, has no expiry date and continue to be legal tender until they are phased out by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

I, as author of one of the bills that went into the making of the consolidated version of the Gift Check Non-Expiry Act, urge the Department of Trade and Industry to advise issuers of gift checks to start reducing the number of gift checks they are issuing this year to lessen the number of gift checks with expiry dates going into circulation. This way, we lessen the problems when the law is implemented.

I also urge the DTI to start work already on the IRR so the law can be implemented this Christmas 2017.

It is quite probable the DTI’s IRR will provide that gift checks issued before the effectivity of the law or of the IRR will not be covered by the prohibitions.

I reiterate my stand that the reference date should be the date of the effectivity of the law, not the effectivity of the IRR, because the date of the effectivity of the law as the reference point would be to the advantage of the consumer.

PhilHealth ‘financial trouble’ risks implementation of universal health care – Sato

Cong. Josephine Ramirez-Sato of the Lone District of Occidental Mindoro expressed alarm over the financial status of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

In a statement, Sato said the agency is operating on a net loss putting at risk the implementation of a universal health care program for all Filipinos even before the Universal Healthcare bill is enacted.

Sato noted that PhilHealth posted positive net income from 2010 – 2015.  It was only in 2016 that it posted a negative income of P1.4 billion.

She bared, however, that premium income of PhilHealth is actually overstated for 2015 and 2016 by P13 billion per year. 

This amount represents premium income for senior citizens that is collectible from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) but are actually in arrears.

"PhilHealth is only registering a positive income because it has included the P13 billion contributions from senior citizens which has not been collected for two years now,” she said.

If that is the case, Sato said PhilHealth is actually on a net loss of approximately P26.4B as of end-December last year.

“This is troublesome.  PhilHealth will play a very crucial role in providing universal health care for all Filipinos.  How can we provide the people with crucial public health care if it is running into financial troubles?” Sato, a co-author of the Universal Healthcare bill, said.

Sato wants the Department of Health (DOH) to further look into the financial status of PhilHealth and come up with a recommendation to address the problem.

Under the Universal Healthcare bill, the agency will be the "national purchaser of health services.

Sato said a competent manager not only with experience in the health sector but in sound financial management should be running PhilHealth.

A member of the Commission on Appointments (CA), Sato grilled Paulyn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial on Tuesday over a number of issues hounding PhilHealth.

Ubial’s interim appointment to the DOH was subsequently rejected by the 25-member CA.

LIYAB kicks off in the House

The House of Representatives, in celebration of the House of Representatives Month, this week held a leadership forum for the youth in recognition of its vital role in nation-building.

The event, entitled “Liyab: Awakening the Filipino Leader in You” is an endeavor of the Office of the Speaker in collaboration with the House Secretariat Offices.

In his welcome remarks, House Secretary General Atty. Cesar Pareja said the House has organized several events for the youth like the One House Internship Program and the recently concluded Bill Drafting Contest to enable them to participate more actively in the conduct of governance.

“It is said that millennials are the reason why we have not progressed much. However, we strongly disagree,” Pareja said.

Pareja pointed out the overwhelming number of applicants at the internship program and the impressive turn-out in the bill drafting contest is an indication that the millennials are the hope of the country.

“Your attendance today in this leadership forum is a form of answering the call for change we all want to see,” he said.

Office of the Speaker Head Executive Assistant and Inter-Parliamentary and Public Affairs Department (IPPAD) Officer-In-Charge Deputy Secretary General Atty. Darren de Jesus, who gave an overview of the seminar, said Liyab is a leadership forum designed to tackle various leadership aspects.

“We believe the youth of today is the country’s pool of future heroes and leaders. We want them to be heard this early,” De Jesus said.

Invited to talk at the forum were Reps. Geraldine Roman (1st District, Bataan) and Christopher De Venecia (4th District, Pangasinan) and Mr. David Jonathan Garcia.

Garcia talked about being a Filipino, Roman on sense of community while De Venecia touched on sense of purpose.

Most of the participants were students from the different schools in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces,   with the rest from government agencies, NGOs, private sector and media.

Travel tax exempt to kids of OFWs pushed

The House committee on overseas workers affairs chaired by Rep. Jesulito Manalo (Party-list, ANGKLA) has approved House Bill 6138 seeking to grant travel tax exemption to dependents of married or solo parent overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

The bill seeks to amend Sections 3 and 35 of the Republic Act (RA) No. 8042, otherwise known as the “Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995”, as amended by RA No. 10022.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez (1st District, Davao del Norte), principal author of the bill, said the contribution of OFWs to the country’s revenue-raising effort and economic standing, in general, is undeniably significant, with their total yearly remittances amounting to billions of pesos.

“As they have always been acknowledged, the OFWs are Philippine society’s modern-day heroes,” Alvarez said.

He said the government has as much as possible conferred upon these OFWs privileges and protection in various matters.

“This notwithstanding, there is still some void to fill as the so-called solo parent OFWs face some sort inequity in the field of taxation,” Alvarez said.

He explained that children of these single parent modern-day heroes are currently denied exemptions from travel tax, an incentive to which kids of their married counterparts are entitled as provided for under RA No. 6768, as amended.

“Considering that solo parent OFWs are as equally worthy of government recognition as those married Filipino migrant workers, this unfortunate circumstance must be remedied,” Alvarez said.

He added there should be undivided and impartial recognition of the laudable and selfless hard work of all OFWs.

The bill amends Section 3 of RA No. 8042 to read as follows: “Section 3. Definitions. – For purpose of this Act:

(A)  xxx;

(B) ‘SOLO PARENT’ AS DEFINED UNDER SECTION 3 (A) OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8972, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “SOLO PARENTS’ WELFARE ACT OF 2000;

(C) ‘DEPENDENTS’ REFER TO THE FOLLOWING:

(1)  SPOUSE AND CHILDREN OF THE MARRIED OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKER; AND

(2)  CHILDREN OF THE SOLO PARENT OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKER.

(D) xxx

(E) xxx”

Likewise, the measure amends 35 of RA 8042 to read as follows:

“Sec. 35. Exemption from Travel Tax, Documentary Stamp Tax as Airport Fee. – All laws to the contrary notwithstanding, the migrant worker AND HIS OR HER DEPENDENTS shall be exempt from the payment of travel tax and airport fee upon showing of entitlement by the POEA.

The remittances of all overseas Filipino workers, upon showing of the same proof of entitlement by the overseas Filipino worker’s beneficiary or recipient, shall be exempt from the payment of documentary stamp tax.”

The bill states that within six months from the effectivity of the Act, the Secretary of Finance shall, upon the recommendation of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation.   

The measure also calls for the further amendment of RA No. 6768, as amended, otherwise known as “An Act Instituting A Balikbayan Program.

Alvarez said RA No. 8042, as amended, otherwise known as the “Migrant Workers” and Overseas Filipino Act of 1995”,” grants travel tax exemption solely to OFWs and not to their dependents.

“This is contrary to the provisions of RA No. 6768,” the Speaker said.

Other authors of the bill are Majority Leader Rodolfo Farinas (1st District, Ilocos Norte), Reps. Dakila Carlo Cua (Lone District, Quirino), chairman of the committee on ways and means and Lucy T. Gomez (4th District, Leyte), chairperson of the committee on tourism.

The bill will be referred to the committee on ways and means for approval of tax provisions.

PH-American War commemoration gets funding

The House committee on appropriations approved Wednesday the funding for the commemoration of the “Philippine American War Memorial Day or “Araw ng Paggunita sa Digmaang Pilipino-Amerikano" every February 4.

The committee, chaired by Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles (1st District, Davao City), approved

the funding provision as contained in Section 4 of the unnumbered bill. The funding shall be drawn from the appropriations of the agencies concerned.

The unnumbered bill substituting House Bill 2092 authored by ACT Teachers Party-list Reps. Antonio Tinio and France Castro and Rep. Mohamad Khalid (1st District, Lanao del Norte) also declares February 4 of every year as a special working holiday to remember the men and women who fought and died in defense of the Filipino nation during the said war.

The committee on basic education and culture chaired by Rep. Ramon Durano VI endorsed the bill to the appropriations committee for funding of the implementation of the proposed Act. Thereafter, the bill will be endorsed to the plenary for second reading.

The bill mandates the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education to ensure that appropriate activities are held in schools at all levels to commemorate the historic event.

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines shall be responsible for providing the DepEd, CHED, and the general public with the necessary information to ensure a meaningful commemoration.

Tinio said the country commemorated the 118th anniversary of the Philippine-American war last February 4, 2017.

“Sadly, February 4 passes yearly with hardly an official acknowledgement of the Philippine-American War and its tremendous significance in our history. Any memory of the event, heroes, and martyrs of the war has nearly been obliterated from the collective consciousness of our people,” said Tinio.

Tinio said the struggle waged by Filipinos to defend their freedom newly-won from Spain and uphold the  First Republic of the Philippines against the occupation forces of the United States of America has been described as “one of the most heroic struggles ever waged in modern times; a struggle waged against implacable odds and at terrible cost.”

There are definitive figures on the number of Filipinos who died as a result of the war, he said. One conservative estimate puts the number of Filipino soldiers killed at 34,000 together with the 200,000 civilian deaths directly or indirectly (mainly through disease) brought about by the war.

“Their sacrifice had been indispensable in the forging of the modern Filipino nation, and every Filipino citizen owes them a debt of gratitude,” said Tinio.

More accessible Venue for libel hearings pushed

The House committee on Public information chaired by Rep. Bernadette Herrer-Dy (Party-list, Bagong Henerasyon) this week approved House Bill 685 seeking to make the libel case hearings more accessible to community journalists and broadcasters.

The approved bill provides the venue for the criminal and civil action in libel cases against community journalists, publications or broadcast stations.

The bill authored by Rep. Raul del Mar (1st District, Cebu) provides that the criminal or civil action against a community journalist, publication or broadcast station shall be filed in the Regional Trial Court of the province or city where the principal office or place of business of the said community journalist, publication or broadcast station is located.

Likewise, the civil action shall be filed in the same court where the criminal action is lodged.

The bill defines community journalist, publication, or broadcast station as “a journalist or news medium that operates within a limited area of circulation or broadcast in a city, province, or region, as defined by existing laws.”

Del Mar said libel whether filed as a criminal or civil action is undeniably being used as a convenient legal tool to harass journalists, especially the community newspaper and broadcast practitioners. This is so because under the present rules, the complainant or offended party, if he is a public officer, can file the complaint in Manila if his office is in Manila or in the office outside Manila if his office is located there.

If the complainant is a private person, the venue is his place of residence at the time of commission of offense.

"Thus, a newspaper or broadcast station for example in Aparri or Jolo, Cebu or Davao can be made to answer a complaint filed in Metro Manila where the complainant resides, although the subject, issue or the incident published – in law the cause of action – did not arise in Metro Manila,"said Del Mar.

Del Mar said the prevailing rules on venue thus place community journalist and local broadcasters in a situation where they have to answer complaints or charges filed, rightly or wrongly, in remote or distant places, deliberately filed far away from their place of work or business.

 “The element of oppression is there.  The toll of inconvenience, financial or otherwise, is often more onerous and burdensome than the penalty or fine prescribed by the law. This may even lead to a miscarriage of justice in cases where the accused or defendant fails to appear because of the distance and travel constraints,” said Del Mar.

The lawmaker said the community journalist and his organization, mostly financially handicapped and already afflicted with all sorts of pressures and threats, need immediate relief from the present venue rule of libel cases whether criminal or civil, which create an opportunity for oppression.

Rep. Joselitoto Atienza (Party-list, Buhay) expressed support for the passage of the bill, saying requiring the one sued to travel far is burdensome and prejudicial.

 “It’s about time we adjust the ways that libel can be filed against any media personality or media station. This is to make the libel case more accessible,” said Atienza.

Bill creating arboretum in Lanao del Norte gets support

The House committee on reforestation chaired by Rep. Noel Villanueva (3rd District, Tarlac) has approved several bills seeking to establish arboretums in the province of Lanao del Norte.

The bills define arboretum as “a reserved area which is essentially for a well-grown and representative collection of trees or shrubs species planted and maintained for the purpose of reference, scientific studies and as a convenient source of seeds and herbarium materials.”

House Bill 2469 seeks to establish an arboretum in the premises of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office in Barangay Poblacion, Municipality of Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte to be known as the Kolambugan Arboretum.

House Bill 2470 seeks to establish an arboretum in the Municipality of Tagoloan, Lanao del Norte that shall include the Mighty Cave Park in it and shall be known as the Mighty Cave Park Arboretum.

House Bill 3696 seeks to establish an arboretum in the campus of the Mindanao State University – Lanao del Norte Agricultural College in Barangay Ramain, Municipality of Sultan Naga Dimaporo to be known as the MSU-LNAC Arboretum.

The three bills are authored by father-and-son Reps. Abdullah Dimaporo (2nd District, Lanao del Norte) and Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo (1st District, Lanao del Norte).

The objectives of establishing arboretum in the specified areas are: for scientific purposes and to provide outdoor laboratory for scientific studies by faculty and students in dendrology, phenology, botany, environmental studies and other related fields of study; for the teaching of dendrology; as a sanctuary for the preservation and conservation of genetic resources of trees and shrubs, and as a model for environmentally sound landscape management and serve as the habitat for a variety of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and small mammals, making for an interesting mix of wildlife in the area, among others.

The elder Dimaporo explained an arboretum is an area devoted to specimen planting of woody plants which are either trees or shrubs.

“Distinct from a forest or park, it is in a sense an outdoor museum of trees. It is a place where many varieties of trees and shrubs are grown for research, educational, and ornamental purposes where trees and other woody plants are cultivated for exhibition,” he said.

Dimaporo further said an arboretum plays an important role in the lives of many people and is a valuable environmental, educational, recreational, and cultural resource for the country.

He said planting more trees mitigate the effects of climate change – as long as the right trees are planted in the right place and an arboretum is such one right place.

Dimaporo said the province of Lanao del Norte is already suffering from the effects of climate change – the lowering of the water level, disappearing forests and “bald” mountains.

He said the arboretum can supply the necessary seedlings in the future to reforest the destroyed watersheds of the province.

“An arboretum can showcase how the province would look like if we can revive the watersheds,” Dimaporo said.

One of the resource persons, Dr. Perry Ong of the University of the Philippines - Diliman Institute of Biology recommended that aside from an arboretum, which he described as a mechanism to address the problem of forest loss, an area should also be designated to plant the same species of trees that are planted in the arboretum.

“Ito yung mga puno na natural dun sa lugar na maipakita natin na ito ay nawala at ito ay gusto nating ibalik,” Ong said.

He also proposed the designation of an area or place for fire wood production saying, “Kelangan natin na merong fire wood production dahil kung walang makukuhang firewood na tinanim, sa natural na kagubatan na naman kukuha ang mga yan” referring to people who use firewood for cooking.

“Dapat mga dugtong dugtong na programa po ito. So meron kang arboretum which is more a protection education mechanism, tapos meron kang restoration component. Maglaan ng lupa na ganito kalaking ektarya ang tataniman  natin para ibalik ang mga puno, para ma-ensure din natin na bumalik  ang tubig dahil kung arboretum lang ang itatayo natin, limitado ang area na maiimbak niya. Kelangan din natin ang programa pabalik dun sa kabundukan kung saan nandun ang orihinal na kagubatan tapos sa baba naman meron firewood production areas din.”

Rep. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas (6th District, Pangasinan) expressed her support for the bill and said her district also needs an arboretum.

“Maganda ang bill ni Congressman Dimaporo. Hindi lahat na mga kongresista alam ang arboretum,” she said.

Agabas requested the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to include in its programs the creation of arboretums in the different provinces and maybe institutionalize it without Congress passing legislation on it.

Other members who attended the meeting are Reps. Makmod Mending, Jr. (Party-list, AMIN), Joseph Stephen Paduano (Party-list, ABANG LINGKOD), Julieta Cortuna (Party-list, A  TEACEHR), Maximo Rodriguez Jr. (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City), Rogelio Neil Roque (4th District, Bukidnon), Pablo Ortega (1st District, La Union), Lawrence Fortun (1st District, Agusan del Norte) and Scott Davies Lanete (3rd District, Masbate).

TADECO contract highly onerous: Speaker Alvarez

The House committees on good government and public accountability and on justice chaired by Rep. Johnny Pimentel (2nd District, Surigao del Sur) and Reynaldo Umali (2nd District, Oriental Mindoro, respectively, have resumed their joint investigation into the alleged grossly disadvantageous contract entered into by the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and the Tagum Agricultural Development Company, Inc. (TADECO).

The congressional inquiry is being conducted following the filing by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez (1st District, Davao del Norte) of House Resolution No. 867, which seeks to look into the joint venture agreement (JVA) between the BuCor and TADECO on the Davao penal colony.

Pimentel said the basic issue raised in HR 867 is “whether or not the government is being shortchanged in the operation of the joint venture agreement (JVA) executed by BuCor and TADECO involving the Davao prison and penal farm.”

In a separate press conference, the Speaker said the Bucor-Tadeco contract is clearly disadvantageous to the government. He also said the renewal of the contract did not go through public bidding.

 “Well, malinaw dito na talagang agrabyado ang gobyerno. Malinaw talaga yun. Kasing linaw yun ng sikat ng araw. Why? Kasi, yung binibigay sa gobyerno, compared doon sa kinikita nila, eto, year 2016 pa lang ha? Tingnan nyo yung submission ng Del Monte Fresh. Yun lang yun ha? Isa lang yun ha? Yung buyer nila. It runs into the billions of pesos. Ang share ng gobyerno, mga hundred plus pesos lang. Malinaw yun,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez also said the contract is not valid, pointing out that the law does not allow the lease of more than 1,000 hectares of government land. He further said the land being leased to TADECO is more than 5,000 hectares.

 “Hindi valid, sabi ng DOJ, sabi ng COA, sabi ng SolGen. Hindi valid, kasi tingnan mo yung Constitution, you cannot lease more than 1,000 hectares of land ng gobyerno. At yun ay 5,308 hectares,” Alvarez said.

Pimentel pointed that during the last joint committee hearing that information on the reported earnings and profit of TADECO from the produce of banana was provided by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) based on the audited financial statement submitted by TADECO to the agency.

 “For 2016, TADECO reported the production and profit share of P44.9 million given to BuCor which was 0.63 percent of the reported revenue of TADECO. And for 2015, the production and profit share of BuCor was P44.7 million which was 0.65 percent of the revenue of TADECO,” Pimentel said.

 “The joint committees also learned that TADECO listed the rental expense under JVA as part of the cost of sales under the line item Land Rentals during years 2002 to 2013. While for years 2014 to 2016, TADECO listed Production and Profit Share under the JVA as part of the cost of sales,” he said.

 “This information reflects on the relationship of BuCor and TADECO under the JVA whether it is a partnership or a lessor-lessee relationship,” he added.

Pimentel pointed out that the audited financial statement of TADECO clearly shows that what the company is remitting to BuCor is not profit sharing but only land rental, which is a violation of the JVA.

Pimentel stressed that the information acquired by the joint committees, DOJ on the legality of the JVA, and the facts obtained from other resource persons and stakeholders will guide the joint committees in coming up with a comprehensive report.

According to him, the comprehensive report will include findings on the legality of the JVA and any impairment suffered by the government from such contract.

 “In case the commission of malfeasance, misfeasance and nonfeasance is established, the committee on good government and public accountability will recommend the filing of appropriate charges against the erring official or employee,” Pimentel said.

 “The committee will likewise recommend necessary remedial legislation to preclude the repetition of similar transaction or a recommendation on how to rectify such transaction that will not be prejudicial to the interest of the state,” Pimentel said.

Umali said the revenues that can be generated from the programs like the BuCor-TADECO joint venture should be optimized in order to fund the planned modernization of the country’s jails, penal colonies, and other correctional facilities.

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PHOTO CAPTIONS:

MEETING THE PRESS: One-week away from scheduled Congressional recess, Chairpersons Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles (Appropriations), Rep. Dakila Carlo Cua (Ways and Means), and Rep. Johnny Ty Pimentel (Good Government and Public Accountability) discussed the accomplishments of their respective committees with House media. These include the FY 2018 General Appropriations Bill and the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Bill which hurdled the third and final reading in the House and are now awaiting Senate counterpart measures. Ongoing investigations in aid of legislation on the alleged anomalous purchases made by the provincial government of Ilocos Norte were also discussed.

LIYAB: Rep. Geraldine Roman (right) with urban planner and Rep. Christopher de Venecia at the House of Representatives' (HOR) anniversary forum dubbed “Liyab: Awakening the Leader in You” on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. The forum, an initiative of the Office of Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez, aims to awaken the participants' sense of nationalism, community and purpose.  The forum also featured Rep. Christopher de Venecia, HOR Secretary General Atty. Cesar Strait Pareja, who delivered the opening remarks, Deputy Secretaries General Atty. Alan Tan, Artemio Adaza, Jr., and Edgardo Pangilinan, and Head Executive Assistant Atty. Darren de Jesus.

TULONG TRABAHO--The joint Committees on Higher and Technical Education and Labor and Employment chaired respectively by Reps. Ann Hofer and Randolph S. Ting approved the consolidation of bills instituting a Philippine labor force competencies and competitiveness program and the establishment of free access to technical and vocational trainings as contained in various bills authored by Reps. Bernadette Herrera-Dy (HB 5923), Sherwin N. Tugna (HB 5889), Alfred D. Vargas (HB 5729), and Luis Raymund F. Villafuerte Jr. (HB 6287).  Under the “Tulong Trabaho” bill, a fund will be created to assist out-of-school youth, unemployed graduates and women, in a bid to supply a competent labor force especially in emerging industries. Present in the bill’s deliberation were Deputy Speaker Linabelle Ruth R. Villarica, Reps. Rosemarie J. Arenas, Carlito S. Marquez, Mark O. Go, Angelina Tan, Ma. Theresa V. Collantes, France L. Castro, and Jose I. Tejada.

YOLANDA HOUSING ANOMALIES--House committee on good government and public accountability chairman Rep. Johnny Ty Pimentel, and committee on housing and urban development chair Rep. Alfredo “Albee” B. Benitez, in a joint hearing deliberated on House Resolution 599 authored by Rep. Ben Evardone which called for an inquiry on the snail-paced implementation of housing relocation and resettlement projects for Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda victims. The committee grilled contractor JC Builders Inc. for the alleged anomalies and officials of the National Housing Authority-Region VIII for failure of its monitoring sysyem, and noted that without the House inquiry and the help of a whistle blower, the use of substandard materials would not be discovered.

CONSUMER PROTECTION--Committee on Energy chairman Rep. Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco (right) confers with vice-chair Rep. Carlos Roman L. Uybarreta and former Rep. Neri Colmenares as they probe alleged overpricing and other unfair practices of some oil industry players based on House Resolutions 415 and 853 filed by Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate and Mark Go, respectively. The committee noted that these practices run contrary to the original intention of the Oil Deregulation Law (RA 8479) of creating friendly competition to benefit consumers. For failing to attend once again, officials from Pilipinas Shell were issued subpoenas, while Chevron Philippines, Inc. representatives were given a stern warning to compel them to attend the next scheduled hearing. Attendees in the hearing were Reps. Arlene Arcillas, Ferjenel Biron, Sabiniano Canama, France Castro, Aurora Cerilles, Rodante Marcoleta, Wilter Wee Palma II, Rogelio Neil Pepito Roque, Jose Tejada and Arnel Ty, representatives from concerned government agencies and officials from the petroleum industry players.

COMELEC TIMELINE: The Commission on Elections gave the House Committee on Electoral Reforms led by its chairman Rep. Sherwin Tugna (Party-list, CIBAC) a briefing on its timeline in conducting the 2019 national and local elections, detailing the accomplishments of the commission so far and a breakdown of upcoming activities in preparation for the next elections. Commissioner Luie Tito F. Guia disclosed there is no decision yet as to what technology will be used but noted that the Comelec will announce it by November this year. Others who attended the hearing were members of the Comelec Advisory Council led by Under Secretary Eliseo Rio, Jr. of the Department of Information and Communications Technology. Deputy Speakers Fredenil “Fred” Castro (2nd District, Capiz) and Gwendolyn F. Garcia (3rd District, Cebu) were active participants of the meeting.

LAWLESS LAW ENFORCERS: House Committee on Public and Safety chair Rep. Romeo Acop heads the probe into HR 763 he co-filed with Reps. Leopoldo Bataoil, Raul Tupas, Gary Alejano and Ben Evardone on the breakdown of discipline in the Philippine National Police, paying particular attention to the recent killings in Caloocan, the alleged inaction of the PNP despite the spate of killings, the conduct of operations without the knowledge of superiors and the use of minors during police operations. Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice expressed apprehension over the replacement of the 1,200-strong Caloocan police force with only 300 unarmed policemen, weakening their crime-fighting ability, while PNP officials dispelled allegations of inaction, quotas or rewards. Along with Reps. Cristal Bagatsing, Rozanno Rufino Biazon, Winston Castelo, Ruwel Peter Gonzaga, Scott Davies Lanete and Gus Tambunting, PNP officials, related government agencies and guests, including the minor used in the highly controversial Caloocan police raid were also present in the hearing.

ONEROUS TADECO CONTRACT--The Philippine government is losing billions of pesos as a result of the onerous contract between the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and Tagum Agricultural Development Company Inc. (TADECO). This became more evident as the House committees on good government and public accountability chaired by Rep. Johnny Ty Pimentel, and the committee on justice chaired by Rep. Reynaldo V. Umali resumed their hearing on House Resolution No. 867 filed by Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez. This is the fourth hearing conducted by the two committees on the matter. Those who attended were Speaker Pantaleon G. Alvarez, Deputy Speaker Gwendolyn F. Garcia (3rd District Cebu), Reps. Carlito S. Marquez (Lone District, Aklan), Makmod D. Mending, Jr. (Party-list, AMIN), Eugene Michael B. De Vera (Party-list, ABS), Pablo C. Ortega (1st District, La Union), Jerry P. Treñas (Lone District, Iloilo City), and Roger G. Mercado (Lone District, Southern Leyte). Others present were executives of Tadeco, officials from Bucor, DENR and other government offices.

DOT OR LGU RESPONSIBILITY -- This is what Rep. Edgar Sarmiento’s HR 1087 wants cleared as the House Committee on Tourism chaired by Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez probed  the accountability between the Department of Tourism and concerned local government units in ensuring sustainability of the country’s tourist spots amid growing commercialism and worsening pollution. The resolution is an offshoot of the 11-day Western and Eastern Nautical Highway Inspection last March 17 to 27, 2017 that the House of Representatives embarked on,  where lawmakers experienced first-hand the condition of the country’s ports, highways, and tourist spots, among others. With the committee taking the world-renowned destination Boracay as its case in point in its quest to prevent such from happening in other parts of the country, the DoT family briefed the committee on the shared responsibilities of the agency and the LGUs concerned as embodied in several laws, as well as the tourism vision contained in the National Tourism Development Plan. Present during the meeting were Reps. Rozanno Rufinno Biazon, Mercedes Cagas, Ma. Theresa Collantes, Wes Gatchalian, Mark Go, Glona Labadlabad, and Rogelio Pacquiao, and representative from concerned agencies and LGUs.

COMELEC CHAIR IMPEACHED: By a vote of 137 affirmative, 75 negative and two abstention, House Members voted to pursue the impeachment complaint against COMELEC Chairman Andres Bautista for betrayal of public trust, overriding the recommendation submitted by the Committee of Justice (HR 1397/ Committee Report No.429). Earlier, Bautista announced his decision to resign his post by the end of the year.