Script for 20180106 KSK Edition

IILAN LAMANG PO IYON SA MGA IMPORMASYONG ATING NAKALAP SA KAMARA DE REPRESENTANTES NITONG NAKARAANG MGA ARAW.

MAGANDANG UMAGA PILIPINAS, MAGANDANG UMAGA KATROPA, AT MAGANDANG UMAGA SA LAHAT NG ATING MGA TAGAPAKINIG!

ARAW NA NAMAN PO NG SABADO AT NANDITO NA NAMAN PO KAMI PARA MAGTANGHAL NG ATING PROGRAMANG KATROPA SA KAMARA NI TERENCE MORDENO GRANA.

YES, TERENCE MORDENO GRANA PO ANG INYONG LINGKOD, ANG INYONG KAAGAPAY AT GABAY SA ATING PALATUNTUNAN.

AT KUNG NAIS PO NINYONG MAKIPAG-TALASTASAN O MERON MAN PO KAYONG MGA REAKSIYON AT SUHESTIYON HINGGIL SA ATING MGA PAKSA, TUMAWAG LAMANG O DIDI KAYA AY MAG-TEXT SA MOBILE PHONE NUMBER: 0905 457 7102.

ANG KATROPA SA KAMARA AY MATUTUNGHAYAN, EKSKLUSIBO, DITO LAMANG PO SA DWDD, KATROPA RADIO, ONSE TRENTA'Y KUWATRO SA TALAPIHITAN NG INYONG MGA RADYO.

OKEY, NARITO NA PO ANG ATING NAKALAP NA MGA IMPORMASYON MULA SA KAMARA DE REPRESENTANTES, KABUUAN NG ATING MGA BALITA:

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HUWAG KAYONG BIBITIW AT KAMI PO AY BABALIK KAAGAD MATAPOS ANG ILANG MGA PAALAALA MULA SA ATING HIMPILAN. (STATION ID)

(INSTITUTIONAL MESSAGES)

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SA ATING PAGBABALIK, KAYO PO AY NAKIKINIG SA PATATUNTUNANG KATROPA SA KAMARA NI TERENCE MORDENO GRANA DITO LAMANG SA HIMPILANG DWDD, KATROPA RADIO, AT TAYO AY SINASAMAHAN NI ENGINEER (RONALD ANGELES, DEXTER ORATA OR LEONOR NATAP) SA ATING TECHNICAL SIDE.

KAMI PO AY MATUTUNGHAYAN DIN // SA LIVE STREAMING: SA TripleWdotDWDDdotCOMdotPH AT SA FACEBOOK: FACEBOOKdotCOMslashKATROPADWDD AT SA TWITTER: HASHTAG #KATROPA

TULOY-TULOY NA PO TAYO SA IILAN PANG MGA BALITA NA ATING NAKALAP.

(READ AGAIN THE OTHER NEWS AND INFORMATION)

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WALA NA PO TAYONG ORAS AT KAMI AY MAMAMAALAM NA MUNA PANSAMANTALA SA INYO.

MARAMING SALAMAT AT KAMI PO AY INYONG PINAHINTULUTANG PUMASOK SA INYONG MGA TAHANAN SA PAMAMAGITAN NG ATING PALATUNTUNANG KATROPA SA KAMARA.

BAGO TAYO MAGTAPOS NG ATING PALATUNTUNAN, BATIIN KO MUNA SINA: … and those who are listening via live streaming sa internet, wwwdotdwdddotcomdotph, sa Facebook wwwdotfacebookdotcom @dwdd1134 at sa Twitter #Katropa; and everybody.

DAGHANG SALAMAT PUD SA ATONG MGA KAHIGALAANG MGA BISAYA NGA NAMINAW KANATO KARONG TAKNAA.

ITO PO ANG INYONG LINGKOD – KINI ANG INYONG KABUS NGA SULUGUON, TERENCE MORDENO GRANA.

AT SA NGALAN DIN NG LAHAT NA MGA BUMUBUO NG PRODUCTION STAFF SA ATING PALATUNTUNAN, AKO PO AY NAGSASABING: PAGPALAIN SANA TAYONG LAHAT NG ATING PANGINOONG MAYKAPAL, GOD BLESS US ALL, AT PURIHIN ANG ATING PANGINOON! GOOD MORNING.

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KGG. FREDERICK W. SIAO
Lone District of Iligan City
Vice Chair, Committee on Tourism

Member, Appropriations, Economic Affairs, and 8 other committees                                                                    

Facebook: /congressmansiao Twitter: @freddiesiao                                                                                                              

Nakapasok sa iba’t ibang ahensiya

AABOT SA MAHIGIT P34 BILYON ANG BUDGET NG GOBYERNO PARA SA TURISMO SA 2018

“Bagaman P3 billion lamang ang budget ng Department of Tourism sa 2018, nariyan naman sa loob ng budget ng DPWH ang P31.97 billion para sa Tourism Road Infrastructure Program para pasiglahin ang turismo sa iba’t ibang panig ng ating bansa,” pahayag ni Iligan City Representative Frederick Siao bago magtapos ang taong 2017.

“Sa pagbusisi ko ng DoT budget bilang Vice Chair ng House Committee on Tourism, nakita kong nakalaan ang malaking bahagi ng DoT budget sa branding campaign (P1 billion) at market & product development (P1.6 billion), habang P235.892 million naman para sa policy and planning,” ani Siao.

Dagdag pa ni Siao: “Direktang makikinabang ang mga manggagawa sa sektor turismo sa pamamagitan ng tourism industry training na binigyan ng Kongreso ng P160 million na budget. Iyong mga hotel, resort, at iba pang tinutuluyan ng mga turista ay matutulungan ng P1.6 billion sa market and product development at P124 million para sa standards development and enforcement na programa ng DoT.”

Nakakatulong din sa sektor ng turismo ang mga programa ng Department of Trade and Industry lalo na itong Negosyo Centers na pinaglaanan ng P514.579 million at shared service facilities na mayroong P200 million na budget.

Pabor rin umano sa turismo, ayon kay Siao, ang National Greening Program ng DENR na mayroong budget na P2.787 billion at iba’t ibang road and local infrastructure fund ng DPWH.

“Sana lang nga ay dagdagan na ng Tourism Department ang kanilang personnel dahil ayon sa datos na nakapaloob sa 2018 GAA, may 488 personnel lang ang DoT bagaman ang kanilang authorized plantilla positions ay 754. Kapos sila ng 266 tao,” punto ni Siao.

“Kahit man lang siguro dagdagan ng 100 or 150 regular personnel ang DoT ay malaking tulong na sa pagpapatupad ng mga serbisyo at programa lalo na sa mga tourism destinations,” ani Siao. (WAKAS)

HON. MICHAEL “MIKEE” L. ROMERO, Ph. D.
1-PACMAN Party-list

Assistant Majority Leader
Vice Chair, Youth & Sports Development and 2 other Committees

P24 BILYON PARA SA TAX REFORM CASH TRANSFER PROJECT, PASOK SA LANDBANK BUDGET

“Nakapaloob sa budget ng Landbank sa 2018 ang P24.488 billion para sa Tax Reform Cash Transfer Project nito. Kasama rin sa pondo ng Landbank at ng DBP ang tig-P1.33 billion para sa pautang sa mga PUV operator na susunod sa PUV modernization program ng Department of Transportation,” pagsisiwalat ni 1-PACMAN Party-list Representative Michael Romero.

Binigyang-pansin yan ni Romero bilang kasapi ng House Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries upang “malaman ng publiko ang mahalagang papel ng Landbank at Development Bank of the Philippines sa buhay ng mga mahihirap at mga PUV operator.”

Hinihintay na lamang ng Kongreso ang “project mechanics and components” ng PUV modernization project mula sa DOTr, DBP, and Landbank.

Babalangkasin naman DSWD at Landbank ang guidelines para sa P24.488 billion subsidy para sa mga mahihirap. Matagal nang magkatuwang ang DSWD at Landbank sa pagpapatupad sa 4Ps program.

Ipinaalala rin ni Romero na ang forecast ng Bangko Sentral para sa buong taon ng 2018 ay inflation na hindi lalagpas sa 4 percent at ang inaasahan na pagtaas ng mga presyo ng bilihin dahil sa TRAIN law ay hindi pangmatagalan.  (END)

NEWS Release

02 January 2018

La Union soon “Surf Capital of North”

The House of Representatives approved on third and final reading and transmitted to the Senate for concurrence House Bill 6683, which declares the province of La Union a tourist destination and the “Surfing Capital of the North.”

The bill’s principal author, Rep. Vini Nola Ortega (Party-list, ABONO), said the La Union town of San Juan attracts thousands of tourists every year during its two surfing seasons: July to October and November to March every year.

The local government also holds events, festivals, and even healthy competitions during the surfing seasons, according to Ortega.

Ortega said the proposal aims not only to showcase the beauty and splendor of La Union’s beaches but to encourage sports, health awareness and true appreciation of nature, the environment, and the importance of its continued upkeep and development, among locals and tourists.

Under HB 6683, the Department of Tourism (DOT) and other concerned agencies develop La Union as a tourist destinations. Within one year after the approval of the Act, the DOT, in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and other concerned agencies, shall prepare a tourism development plan involving the construction, installation and maintenance of such appropriate facilities and infrastructure that shall develop and promote the beaches and surfing activities of the province.

The tourism development plan shall also ensure the accessibility and security of tourists.

The bill provides that the DOT and other concerned agencies implement the development plan, incorporate it in its annual tourism development programs, and include its funding in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA) and from internally-generated funds of the DOT.

Within 90 days after the effectivity of the Act, the DOT, in consultation with the local government of La Union and other concerned government agencies, shall formulate the necessary rules and regulations for the proper implementation of the Act.

HB 6683 is co-authored by committee on appropriations chairman Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles (1st District, Davao City), who also sponsored its plenary approval along with committee on tourism chairperson Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez (4th District, Leyte) and Ortega.

THE HONORABLE SALVADOR B. BELARO, JR.

1-Ang Edukasyon Party-list

Assistant Majority Leader

HIGHER COST WILL MAKE CONSUMERS BUY LESS SWEETENED DRINKS, LESS CIGARETTES, CHOOSE HEALTHIER LIFESTYLES

Congress included the beverage tax in the TRAIN bill because, among other reasons, our country has widespread illnesses linked to high sugar consumption and smoking, including diabetes, cardiovascular vascular diseases, dental caries, and obesity.

The DepEd has precisely banned soft drinks from school canteens and laid down strict policies on school nutrition to spare school children from health risks brought by high sugar consumption.

1-Ang Edukasyon Party-list has long campaigned for better nutrition for Filipinos especially students and the youth. The proposed beverage tax in the TRAIN tax reform bill and the various school nutrition bills I filed are proof of this focus on nutrition. We filed our bills on school nutrition because we want our children to be healthy.

By making sweetened beverages more expensive, we are discouraging consumers, the Filipino families, from high sugar consumption and making them choose healthier, less sweet or unsweetened lifestyle options.

By making cigarettes more expensive, less people will buy them, thereby lowering their risks of getting cancer, hypertension, and respiratory diseases.

We want a healthy citizenry because healthy citizens make for a healthy, productive, economically prosperous, and socially-progressive nation.

The sari-sari stores will not sell items their customers cannot afford. They will switch to selling other products. Sari-sari store owners know their customers well.

Filipino consumers have many other daily necessities like soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and deodorant. Some of the soft drinks bottlers have now been producing bottled water, tea, and coconut juice because they have learned that more Filipinos have been switching to unsweetened or less sweet beverages.

The fact and reality is the beverage tax is pro-poor because it will promote better health for Filipinos and will fund social services of the government. (END)

Di kasi sakop ng TRAIN law ang 2017 Income...

TAXPAYERS, KAILANGAN PA RING MAG-FILE NG ITR ALINSUNOD SA LUMANG TAX LAW

Pinaalalahanan ni Leyte 2nd District Representative Henry Ong ang mga individual income taxpayers: hindi saklaw ng bagong Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act ang 2017 income.

"Ang kinita at sweldo nating mga taxpayer nitong katatapos lang na taon ay bubuwisan alinsunod sa lumang batas kapag nag-file na tayo income tax returns o ITR bago ang deadline sa April 16, 2018. Kaya naman, kailangan pa rin natin ng withholding tax certificate para sa inyong 2017 ITR," ani Ong, kasapi ng House Committee on Economic Affairs.

Samantala, nakasaad naman sa Section 13 ng Republic Act 10963 o TRAIN Act na ang mga kumikita ng hindi lalagpas sa P250,000 sa buong taon simula 2018 ay hindi na kailangan pang mag-file ng ITR.

Kaso lang, may nakikita si Ong na magiging problema ng ilang mamamayan sa 2019 tax filing season.

"Kailangan kasi ang ITR bilang document requirement sa loans, negosyo, o iba pang bagay na kailangan ng proof of income. Kaya naman sana ngayon pa lang makagawa na ng paraan ang BIR para may substitute sa requirement para dito," wika ni Ong. (END)

MGA PRIBADONG KOTSE, MALAMANG GUMARAHE NANG MADALAS SANHI NG P7.00 EXCISE TAX SA GASOLINA

“Palagay ko’y maaaring hindi ipapasa ng mga oil firm ang buong bigat ng P7.00 per liter excise tax sa gasolina sa mga motorista,” yan ang sabi ni 1-PACMAN Party-list Representative Michael Romero, ekonomistang may Ph.D. sa Political Economics.

“Alam ng oil firms na price sensitive ang Philippine market. Mag-iingat sila dahil ang gasoline price hike na P7.00 ay maaring magpababa ng demand para sa gasolina. Maaring hindi na dalasan ng mga motorista ang paggamit nila ng kanilang mga sasakyan,” aniya.

“Batay sa mga dati nang ginagawa ng oil firms, maaari nilang utay-utayin ang taas presyo. Maaring P1.50 kada linggo ang dagdag presyo,” dagdag ni Romero.

“Kung maisip ng mga ekonomista ng oil firms na mabigat masyado ang seven pesos, maaaring irekomenda nila na 50 percent hanggang 90 percent lang ng excise tax ang ipapasa sa konsyumer,” aniya.

Nakikinita ni Rep. Romero na maaring magdesisyon ang maraming pamilya na sumakay sa TNVS o kaya ay sa mga point-to-point bus service para makatipid.

“Pagkakataon na rin ng DOTr at MMDA na buhayin ang Pantawid Pasada cash transfers para sa operators at drivers ng public utility jeepneys,” dagdag ni Rep. Romero.

P2.50 kada litro ang ipinataw na excise tax ng TRAIN law sa pag-import ng diesel. (END)

NEWS Release

01 January 2018

House to regulate practice of Criminology

The House committee on appropriations approved a substitute bill seeking to regulate the practice of Criminology profession in the country through the creation of the Professional Regulatory Board of Criminologists.

The committee retained the funding provision of the substitute bill which provides that the chairperson of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) shall include in the PRC’s programs the implementation of the Act, the funding of which shall be included in the commission’s annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).

To effectively attain its objectives, the bill titled “The Philippine Criminology Profession Act” seeks to repeal Republic Act 6506, otherwise known as “An Act Creating the Board of Examiners for Criminologists in the Philippines.”

The bill provides that the State recognizes the importance of the Criminology profession in  national security, public safety, peace and order, and in nation-building and development.

Hence, the State shall develop and nurture competent, virtuous, productive and well-rounded criminologists whose standards of professional practice and service shall be at par with the Philippine Qualifications Framework: excellent; qualitative; world-class and globally competitive through honest and credible licensure examinations, coupled with programs and activities that would promote professional growth and development.

The proposed law shall govern: 1) examination, registration and licensure of criminologists; 2) supervision, control and regulation of the practice of criminology; 3) development of the professional competence of criminologists through Continuing Professional Program; and 4) integration of all criminology professional groups.

The bill defines Criminology as the scientific study of crimes, victims of crimes, and criminals, in relation to society which sets and defines rules and regulations for themselves and for the common good.

The practice of criminology shall include the following: 1) In line with the practice of profession or occupation as a law enforcement administrator, executive, adviser, consultant, officer, agent, or employee in any private or government agencies performing law enforcement and quasi-judicial functions; 2) In line with the practice of the teaching profession such as those performed by a professor, instructor, or teacher in any university, college, or school duly recognized by the government of any of the following  professional subjects of the Criminology program:  Criminal Jurisprudence and Procedure; Criminalities; Law Enforcement; Correctional Administration; and Criminal Sociology and Ethics, and other technical and specialized subjects in the Criminology curriculum provided for by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) ; 3) As a technician, examiner/criminalist, or specialist in dactyloscopy, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), lie detection, firearms identification, forensic photography, forensic chemistry, and other scientific crime detection and investigation; 4) As a correctional administrator, executive supervisor, or officer in any correctional and penal institutions; 5) As a counselor, consultant, adviser, or researcher in any government or private agency on any aspect of criminal research or project involving the cause of crime, juvenile delinquency, treatment of offenders, police operations, law enforcement administration, scientific criminal investigation, or public safety administration; and 6) As a private investigator, administrator, consultant or agent, or detective in any private security and investigation agency organized under the laws of the country.

The bill mandates the creation of a Professional Regulatory Board of Criminologists, composed of a Chairperson and four members to be appointed by the President of the Philippines. The collegial body shall be under the administrative supervision and control of the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC).

Among the powers and duties of the Board shall be to supervise and regulate the registration, licensure, and practice of Criminology in accordance with the provision of the proposed Act; promulgate and issue rules and regulations implementing the provisions of the proposed Act; promulgate and adopt a Code of Ethics and a Code of Good Governance for the practice of Criminology; adopt an official seal of the Board; and prescribe and promulgate guidelines on the conduct of a CPD program for criminologists in consultation with the Accredited Integrated Professional Organization (AIPO).

It shall also promulgate, adopt or amend the syllabi and tables of specifications of the subjects for the licensure examinations in consultation with the academe and the CHED, prepare questions for the licensure examination, as well as administer and correct and release the results of the licensure examinations;  issue, suspend, revoke, or reinstate the certificate of registration of registered criminologists or cancel temporary or special permit granted to foreign criminologists; monitor the conditions affecting the practice of Criminology and whenever necessary adopts measures to enhance of the profession; ensure, in coordination with the CHED or other authorized government offices, that all higher educational instruction and offering of Criminology shall comply with the policies, standards and requirements of the program as prescribed by the CHED or other authorized government offices; hear and investigate cases on violations of the Act; and delegate to the PRC the hearing or investigation of cases against alleged violators. 

The bill is authored by Reps. Maximo Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City), Gary Alejano (Party-list, MAGDALO), Karlo Alexei Nograles (1st District, Davao City), Reps. Divina Grace Yu (1st District, Zamboanga del Sur), Evelina Escudero (1st District, Sorsogon), Mario Vittorio Marino (5th District, Batangas), Lianda Bolilia (4th District, Batangas), Carlos Isagani Zarate (Party-list, BAYAN MUNA), Mercedes Cagas (Lone District, Davao del Sur), France Castro (Party-list, ACT TEACHERS), Estrellita Suansing (1st District, Nueva Ecija), Marisol Panotes (2nd District, Camarines Norte), Bernadette Herrera-Dy (Party-list, BH), Harlin Neil Abayon III (Party-list, AANGAT TAYO), Gabriel Bordado (3rd District, Camarines Sur), and Victoria Isabel Noel (Party-list, AN WARAY).  (30) RBB

NEWS Release

30 December 2017

House oks creation of “Electric Cooperatives Resiliency Fund”

The House committee on appropriations approved a substitute bill which seeks to institutionalize the “Electric Cooperatives Emergency and Resiliency Fund” for use in the disaster prevention, management, and mitigation measures of electric cooperatives and for rehabilitation of their infrastructures damaged by force majeure or fortuitous events.

The bill endorsed by the committee on energy was approved by the appropriations panel after it finalized Section 11 of the measure pertaining to the allocation of the Electric Cooperatives Emergency and Resiliency Fund and Section 10 about funding of the proposed Act.

Titled “Electric Cooperatives Emergency and Resiliency Fund,” the bill is authored by Reps. Carlos Roman Uybarreta (Party-list, I-CARE), Rodel Batocabe (Party-list, AKO BICOL) and Deputy Speaker and Ilocos Norte Second District Rep. Eric Singson.

The bill declares it is the policy of the State to ensure and accelerate the total electrification of the country and pursue and foster in an orderly and vigorous manner the attainment of such objective.

For this purpose, the State shall support and assist to the fullest extent electric cooperatives adversely affected by a fortuitous event or force majeure to immediately restore electric service, recognizing that the absence of electric service is a national security issue.

The State shall also provide an orderly and continuing means of financial assistance to electric cooperatives in carrying out their responsibility of providing reliable electric service necessary to alleviate the suffering and damage brought about by a fortuitous event or force majeure.

This can be done by allocating funds in the form of grants for disaster mitigation, disaster preparedness, and restoration or rehabilitation of electric cooperatives’ damaged facilities that are readily accessible; providing a streamlined process for the availment of the fund; and requiring the electric cooperatives to develop and implement comprehensive vulnerability risk assessments which identify disaster preparedness and mitigation measures to protect and strengthen critical infrastructure assets, and emergency response plans to address immediate restoration or rehabilitation efforts.

The bill provides for the creation of  the Electric Cooperatives Emergency and Resiliency Fund to be managed and administered by the National Electrification Administration (NEA).

The fund shall be allocated in the following manner: 30 percent for the electric cooperatives’ disaster prevention, disaster preparedness and disaster mitigation measures duly approved by the NEA; 60 percent for the restoration and rehabilitation of the electric cooperatives’ damaged infrastructures after a fortuitous event or force majeure; and 10 percent for the repayment of outstanding obligations of the electric cooperatives, incurred for the purpose of financing the restoration/rehabilitation of their  infrastructures damaged by a fortuitous event or force majeure.

In case of a deficiency of the fund allocated for the restoration or rehabilitation of the electric cooperatives’ damaged infrastructure after a fortuitous event or force majeure, the amount intended for the electric cooperatives’ disaster prevention, preparedness and mitigation measures, which has not been released by the NEA to the electric cooperatives, shall immediately be re-allocated to cover such shortfall.

The amount necessary to provide funding for the Electric Cooperatives Emergency and Resiliency Fund shall be taken from the current year’s appropriations of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRM) Fund. Thereafter, such amounts necessary for the continuous funding of the Electric Cooperatives Emergency and Resiliency Fund shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).

All electric cooperatives are mandated to submit to the NEA and/or update their respective Vulnerability and Risk Assessments, Resilience Compliance Plans, and Emergency Response Plans every year.

Failure to submit such reports shall bar the electric cooperatives from accessing the Electric Cooperatives Emergency and Resiliency Fund. The NEA shall monitor and evaluate the use and disbursement of the fund base on the Vulnerability and Risk Assessments, Resilience Compliance Plans, and Emergency Response Plans of each electric cooperative.

Based on the said reports, the NEA shall produce a comprehensive National Electric Cooperatives Emergency Resiliency Plan (NECRP) which shall be integrated in the NDRRM Plan provided for under Republic Act No. 10121, otherwise known as “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.” (30) RBB

News Release

03 January 2018

Alvarez rates House performance 8 of 10

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez today said he is happy about the performance of the House of Representatives since its First Regular Session to date, giving it a rating of 8 out of 10.

“Siguro, objectively eight,” said Alvarez in a TV interview when asked to rate the performance of the House.  Official report of the measures passed by the House of Representatives since it opened its session on June 25, 2016 up to December 13, 2017 showed that some 6,911 bills and 1,517 resolutions were filed in the chamber.

Of this number, the House has processed a total of 2100 measure, 518 of which were approved, or an average of 14 measures processed per session day.39 were enacted into law, not including the 2018 budget and the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) that Pres. Duterte signed last month.

Alvarez cited the free college education and expanded access to health care laws as the most significant measures the House has passed for the period.

“Masaya na ako doon kasi yun namang mga naipasa naming bills ay karamihan doon nakabinbin sa Senado. Kaya kakaunti yung lumalabas na talagang signed into law. Pero marami kaming ipinasang bill sa House of Representatives,” Alvarez said in a TV interview.

For the same period, the House has approved 354 bills on third and final reading.

Alvarez cited, for example, that the Death Penalty Bill that the House passed in March 2017 remains pending in the Senate. The restoration of the capital punishment is one of the key campaign promises of Duterte who vowed to crack down on crime and illegal drugs.

However, Alvarez said the Senate should exert more effort to push the legislative agenda of the administration.

“Siguro kailangan nang medyo bilis-bilisan din, para naman yung mga gustong gawin ng ating Pangulo ay talagang mailatag na,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez said he believes the House has done its job, which included investigations on alleged anomalies in government, including the alleged lopsided and illegal land deal between the Bureau of Corrections and the Tagum Agricultural Development, Co. Inc. (TADECO), and the alleged illegal use of P66.5 million in tobacco excise fund share of the Ilocos Norte Government.

He said these investigations were warranted because there are sufficient grounds to indicate irregularities and violations of the law.

“Pero ang tanong, talaga bang may katiwalian? Yung TADECO contract, may katiwalian ba or wala? Meron, malaki at noong araw pa yun, panahon pa ni Marcos. Yung ngayon, yung sa Ilocos, may katiwalian ba? Meron. Ilang milyon ang ginastos ng probinsya na walang accounting, walang records,” Alvarez pointed out.

He dismissed the allegations of respondents in these investigation of political motivation, saying these are mere diversionary tactics and do not address the real issues surrounding the alleged anomalous acts.

Alvarez said hearings on these alleged irregularities are about to be completed. In the case of the Ilocos Norte tobacco excise tax use, Alvarez said there is ground to file plunder charges against Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos and other respondents.

As to the Tadeco land deal, Alvarez said that he has already filed graft charges against Davao Del Norte 2nd District Rep. Antonio Floirendo for violation of the law prohibiting incumbent lawmakers from having interests in contracts with the government.

Apart from these investigations, Alvarez also said that the House of Representatives performed its constitutional duty to hold top government officials accountable with the separate impeachment complaint against Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista and Supreme Court Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno.

“Itong mga impeachment na ito, hindi naman namin ito gusto, pero may nag-file. This is a Constitutional process that we have to understand. Kapag mayroong nag-file, we have to process it, kasi mandato namin yun sa ilalim ng ating Saligang Batas,” Alvarez said.

In the case of Bautista, the former Comelec chair resigned after the House plenary voted to impeach him. As for Sereno, Alvarez said the House Committee on Justice will continue to accept testimonies against the Chief Justice and could likely finish its job before Congress takes its break for the Holy Week.

“Marami pang gustong magtestigo. Bigyan natin ng pagkakataon na magpunta doon at magtestigo at sabihin yung kanyang nalalaman,” Alvarez said. Earlier reports said a total of 10 SC justices are willing to testify against Sereno.

Alvarez encouraged Sereno anew to appear before the House Committee on Justice to defend herself, saying she can expect fair hearing from the House.

He also said that while he respects the decision of Sereno not to step down from her post, Alvarez said that the testimonies provided by the witnesses buttress the allegations raised against her in the impeachment complaint filed by Atty. Larry Gadon.

“Nakita na natin, kita na ng taumbayan na talagang yung reklamo, isa-isa napapatunayan. Nagwi-witness iba-ibang tao, pati mga justices mismo nagwi-witness to prove na talagang yung charges na yun ay totoo,” Alvarez said.

Because exhaustive hearings conducted by the House Committee, Alvarez said the House would have solid body of evidence against Sereno if they eventually decide to bring the case before the Senate for trial. ###

News Release

03 January 2018

Con Ass is top in 2018 House agenda: Alvarez

Convening Congress into a constituent assembly to propose charter amendments and shift to federalism is top priority of House of Representatives, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez today said.

“Number one is the convening of Congress into a Constituent Assembly and in revising the Constitution, a shift from a unitary to a federal form of government,” Alvarez said in a TV interview when asked for the top priority of the House this year.

Alvarez believes this should be no problem since Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III is an official of the ruling party, Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino, which advocates federalism.

“Kaya I don’t see any reason why si Senate President will not be working on it also,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez said that if Congress could convene into a constituent assembly in January, the proposed new federal charter could be submitted for referendum simultaneously with the barangay elections in May 2018.

“Pag trabahuhin lang, walang imposible, kayang gawin yun,” Alvarez said.

In the House, Alvarez said he is confident of the support of the super majority for constituent assembly but said he has no idea if there is enough number in the Senate in support of the proposal.

Alvarez appealed to the sense of patriotism of senators, some of whom have expressed reservations over the proposed shift to a federal form of government.

“This is a question of patriotism, kung ano yung tama at kung ano yung kailangan sa bayan,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez said the senators are concerned over their political career with the possible dissolution of the Senate in a federal set up they should not be worried because they could be eligible to run for election to the new legislature.

However, Alvarez acknowledged that there could be some disagreements over the issue of voting jointly or separately in a constituent assembly, noting the 1987 Constitution is silent on this issue. Personally, Alvarez said he believes the assembly should vote jointly.

“Kung mayroong mag-question, well of course, justiciable issue iyan, pupunta sa Supreme Court iyan,” Alvarez said.

Likewise, Alvarez said that if a new constitution for a federal form of government is accepted by the Filipino people the timetable of forthcoming elections may be affected, including the 2019 mid-term polls.

“May transitory provision, nakalagay doon na yung mga elected officials na mag-eexpire yung term, hindi ba, kung kailan sila due for elections, iba-iba. So depende talaga iyan kung ano yung mapagkakasunduan doon sa Constituent Assembly,” Alvarez said.

Under the federal setup the PDP is pushing for, Alvarez said the system would likely retain the position of President, which is elected at large by the Filipino people and would act as head of State. On the other hand, there would be a Prime Minister, who would be the head of the government. ###

HON. BERNADETTE “BH” HERRERA-DY    

Bagong Henerasyon Party-list

Chair, Committee on Public Information

REP. HERRERA-DY PUSHES FOR NEW CCT FOR PUV DRIVERS

To absorb in full or in part the impact of the TRAIN excise taxes on diesel and lubricants, I ask the Department of Transportation, in coordination with the DSWD, to expand the 4Ps to include PUV drivers.

Unlike the Aquino administration’s Pantawid Pasada, the new CCT program’s first phase should cover all PUV drivers, whether or not the PUV they drive has an LTFRB franchise or not. The sins of the PUV operator must not be the sin of the PUV driver.

If this expanded CCT is successful, a future phase of the new CCT for drivers can include tricycle and pedicab drivers.

The CCT for PUV drivers would also be a transitional program to help them cope with the PUV modernization program, which includes the phase-out of old, non-roadworthy PUJs and colorum PUVs i three years starting 2018.

For the new CCT for PUV drivers, I am proposing a refocusing. Instead of the cash transfer being for fuel purchases, the new CCT for PUV drivers will be more similar to the 4Ps of the DSWD. It will enable them to purchase food items for drivers’ families, send to and keep their young children studying in elementary and high school, and get vaccines and medicines.

The contact person of DSWD 4Ps are the mothers. It is now time to help the impoverished fathers, some of whom are single parents or breadwinners supporting siblings, children and elderly parents.

To instill responsibility and accountability, the new CCT for PUV drivers, ATM cards cannot be used for any purchases of alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, and illegal drugs. Those ATM cards cannot be pawned or used as collateral in any way and doing so will mean automatic removal from the CCT program.

A strict condition for inclusion in the CCT for PUV drivers must be staying drug-free, alcohol-free, and gambling-free.

To help weed out colorum PUVs, the DOTr can work out some way to dangle incentives to PUV operators to convince them to let go of and forever stop operating colorum units.

Funds for this 4Ps expansion can be sourced from the P24.488 billion in the Landbank budget for which Landbank and DSWD are developing guidelines. For the CCT for PUV drivers, perhaps the Malampaya Fund or road user’s tax or some other flexible fund can be the budget source.

Most Filipino drivers are living in poverty. Drivers of jeepneys, tricycles, and pedicabs often live in extreme poverty. They are disadvantaged because of the lack of education, livelihood options, and poor or zero access to basic government services.

As a form of non-cash benefit to drivers, the LTFRB should require all PUV drivers to undergo the TESDA courses on driving and automotive servicing, so the driver can get formally certified. TESDA can offer these courses for free to PUV drivers. Those certifications they can use to advance their careers/ Drivers can even seek overseas employment using TESDA skills certification.

While the DSWD and DOTr are registering the qualified PUV drivers for the new CCT, the DSWD might as well bring in the PhilHealth, SSS, and BIR to issue each of them their numbers and IDs. This way, the drivers can legally avail of government services due them as working individuals.  

It would be prudent for the LTFRB to cooperate with the DSWD on these measures and to factor in the impact of the cash transfers before they decide on petitions for transport fare increases. (END)

News Release

03 January 2018

Alvarez amenable to senators’ term extension during transition to federal gov’t

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez today said he is amenable to the idea of extending the term of to 2022, in a holdover capacity, of senators whose terms would expire in 2019 to avoid complications during a transition phase to a federal form of government.

Alvarez said it would not be practical to elect a new set of senators in 2019 whose term under the present constitution should end on 2025 only to adopt a federal form of government with different setup of a legislative body.

“Pwedeng kung walang election di holdover sila, wala kaming problema doon,” said Alvarez in a radio interview.

He said this option is possible for the transition phase to a federal form of government that would be fully implemented by 2022—that is if the Filipino people ratify the new federal constitution in a plebiscite for the purpose  in May this year, simultaneous with the barangay polls.

“For practical purposes kasi kailangan talaga may transition government ka. Halimbawa niratipikahan ng mga tao yan by May so magkakaroon ka ngayon ng transition government in preparation doon na sa isang federal form of government,” Alvarez explained.

Among the senators who are up for re-election in 2019 include Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, Sonny Angara, Cynthia Villar, JV Ejercito, Bam Aquino, Nancy Binay and Grace Poe.

On the other hand, the second term of Senators Francis Escudero, Gregorio Honasan, Loren Legarda, and Antonio Trillanes IV, will expire on June 20, 2019 and as such they are not eligible to re-election.

Alvarez reiterated that when Congress resumes session on January 15 the House would resume its efforts to convene Congress into a constituent assembly

To speed up the process of overhauling the present constitution, Alvarez said Congress as a constituent assembly should create a technical working group composed of experts and members of the academe who would spearhead the drafting of the new charter.

“Para sila yung mamumuno at gumawa ng draft tapos pagdedebatehan na lang doon sa Kongreso,” Alvarez said.

He said members of the TWG should be experts and elders who could not be suspected of any other motivation aside from a genuine desire to seek what is best for the country.

Besides, Alvarez said the House already had laid down the groundwork for the drafting of a new constitution, saying that for almost a year the House Committee on Justice had been going around the country to conduct public consultations on the proposed shift to a federal form of government.

Alvarez said it’s up to the TWG to propose the features of the new federal government, including whether to retain a bicameral legislature or adopt a unicameral body for the purpose.

Personally, Alvarez said he believes a unicameral legislature is preferable to speed up the process of enacting needed laws and enable the country to adapt to rapid changing developments and compete with other countries in an increasingly global economy. ###

NEWS Release

4 January 2018

House creates  one-stop shop for power projects

The House Committee on Energy has approved a bill seeking to streamline the process of securing the necessary permits for power generation projects through an Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop (eVOSS).

The substitute bill seeks to ensure consumer access to quality, reliable and secure electrical power at reasonable cost through measures that guarantee supply meeting demand in a timely manner.

Recognizing the role of the private sector in energy generation and distribution, the measure helps power project proponents by improving the ease of doing business and bringing down steep transaction costs associated with the numerous requisites for such projects.

In addition, the bill seeks to improve the transparency and accountability in the process of approving power projects as a means to deliver efficient and effective service to the public. By eliminating duplication, redundancy, and overlapping mandates in the submission and processing of requirements, the bill would help ensure timely completion of energy projects.

To achieve its goal, the bill establishes the eVOSS under the supervision of the Department of Energy (DOE).  As envisioned, the eVOSS is an online system that allows single submission and synchronous processing or required data and information.

This portal also provides a single decision-making avenue for actions on applications for permits and certifications.

eVOSS recognizes the legal effect and validity of electronic documents submitted in relation to applications for permits and certificates for power generation, transmission, sub-transmission or distribution projects.

For convenience of project proponents, it uses an online payment system for applications, and provides a secure and accessible paperless processing system.

Among its advantages include a unified permitting process, uniform templates for electronic documentary requirements, and simplified manner of compliance with mandated processing time, as well as in updating and monitoring of electronic documentary requirements.

Under the bill, an eVOSS Coordinating Council shall be created with the DOE Secretary as Chairperson and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary as Vice Chairperson.

Members will include the Secretaries of Department of Environment and Natural Resource (DENR), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI); the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chairperson; National Electrification Administration (NEA) Administrator; Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).

The council will also include one representative each from the generation, transmission and distribution sectors and end-users. These representatives shall be nominated by the sector concerned and chosen by the DOE to serve for a term of three years.

The substitute bill also allocates P50 million to be taken from the current appropriations of the DOE for the initial implementation of the law.

The measure is authored by Reps. Rodel M. Batocabe, Alfredo A. Garbin, Jr., Christopher S. Co, Maria Vida Espinosa Bravo, Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco, Rogelio Neil Pepito Roque, Carlos Roman L. Uybarreta, Peter John D. Calderon, Wilter Wee Palma, Lianda B. Bolilia, Celso L. Lobregat, Mark Aeron H. Sambar, Anthony M. Bravo, Winston T. Castelo, Reynaldo V. Umali and Vicente “Ching” SE Veloso. ###

HON. MICHAEL “MIKEE” L. ROMERO, Ph. D.

1-PACMAN Party-list

Assistant Majority Leader

EXEMPTION OF P250K FROM INCOME TAX IS THE BEST SHIELD OF THE MIDDLE CLASS VS. TRAIN TAX HIKES

Exempting the first P250,000 of the income of individual taxpayers is the most effective shock absorber of Filipino families, especially those in the middle class, against the price increases resulting from tax hikes in the TRAIN tax reform law.

Note also that already factoring the impact of TRAIN, the inflation forecast of the DBCC for 2018 to 2020 is 3 percent plus or minus 1 percentage point. The DBCC is the government’s Development Budget Coordinating Committee. For 2018, the Bangko Sentral forecast is 3.4 percent.

There are fear mongers out there who continue to paint the TRAIN Law as bad for Filipinos, when it is not. TRAIN is one of the most historic tax laws of the country. It corrects the gross injustice the old income tax system has been inflicting upon the middle class and the poor since the 1990s.

The second TRAIN is coming soon according to Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez. I, for one, look forward to seeing the details of the second tax reform package. I look forward to working with President Duterte’s economic advisers on arriving at the right mix for the people and the economy.

When individual income tax payers start receiving their salaries in January, the fear mongers’ protestations of gloom and doom will fall on deaf ears. When the poor get their tax reform cash transfer subsidies, the fear mongers will encounter deafer ears. When college students enroll in SUCs, deafer ears. Soon enough, the fear mongers will only have each other to talk with.

I now take this opportunity to offer some advice to salary earners, the self-employed, and small-scale entrepreneurs on how their personal disposable income can be put to good use.

Remember all those times before when you or your loved ones got sick or you needed cash for tuition and you wished you had some extra cash stashed away? Now would be the time to open an extra savings account to which you will transfer some or all of the extra cash because of TRAIN.

Another way to save for those emergencies is to purchase a pre-need medical plan for ER, diagnostic exams, and hospitalization.

Savings can also be used for buying assets that will earn additional net income for the family, but before embarking on that please compute all the costs, risks, and conservatively estimate for possible future income.

The very last thing you should spend that extra cash on is impulse buying, purchasing a “want” item instead of a “need”, or any other expense that does not come with a future benefit. (END)

News Release

04 January 2018

No extension of DU30’s term---Alvarez

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez today categorically dismissed talks about possible extension of term of President Rodrigo Duterte as he scored the opposition for trying to sow confusion over the no elections scenario meant only to allow a smooth transition to a federal form of government.

“Taktikalidad lang po yan,” Alvarez said, referring to the allegations of the opposition on the proposed shift to a federal form of government.

He stressed that President Rodrigo Duterte has categorically said he would not stay in his post for a minute longer after his term expires.

“Malinaw po ang sinabi ng Pangulo na yung kanyang termino mag-e-end on or before (2022.) Kasi kung kinakailangan niyang mag-resign bago mag-2022 para ang ating bagong Saligang Batas, yung bagong sistema ng gobyerno ay kaya niyang gawin yon,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez said he is convinced the President would honor his word, having known Duterte personally for so long.

“Matagal ko ng kilala yan, talagang pagod na rin at kung pupuwede nga lang bukas...,” Alvarez said.

He clarified that the “No-El” scenario he broached concerns senatorial elections in 2019. He clarified that if the senatorial elections are held in 2019 as originally scheduled, the term of the winning candidates would extend up to 2025.

However, Alvarez said that if a new constitution for a federal form of government is ratified in a plebiscite that would be held simultaneous with the barangay pools this coming May it would change the entire structure of government, which might pose legal complications with incumbent senators whose terms would last up to 2025.

For practical purposes, Alvarez said the 2019 senatorial elections could be scrapped and the senators whose terms are expiring that year could be allowed to stay in their post in a holdover capacity during the transition period to the federal form of government or up to 2022.

“So pupuwede sabay-sabay na lang sa 2022 (matapos ang term ng mga senador) under the new structure of government,” Alvarez said.

Among the senators who are up for re-election in 2019 include Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, Sonny Angara, Cynthia Villar, JV Ejercito, Bam Aquino, Nancy Binay and Grace Poe.

On the other hand, the second term of Senators Francis Escudero, Gregorio Honasan, Loren Legarda, and Antonio Trillanes IV, will expire on June 20, 2019 and as such they are not eligible to re-election.

The term of the remaining senators, who were elected in the 2016 national elections, will last until 2022.

Alvarez said the 2019 elections for officials of local government units and members of the House of Representatives could still push through since they all had three year term, which would expire on 2022.

The Speaker said that upon the resumption of the session in January 15, he would talk with Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III to initiate the process of convening Congress into a constituent assembly that would prepare a new constitution for a federal form of government.

“Ngayon, tatapusin namin ng mabilis iyan, at pagdating noong halalan ng barangay elections sa Mayo ay puwede na nating i-submit for ratification sa mga tao,” Alvarez said. ###