Illegal drugs use in Bilibid continues

MRT3 WOES: Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez reminds officials of the MRT3 at the hearing of the House Committee on Transportation that their principal duty is to ensure that the train service is convenient for the riding public, that it is safe to ride, and that the trains are clean.

APOLOGY ENOUGH?: MRT3 General Manager Rodolfo Garcia apologizes to Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez for raising his voice during the hearing of the Committee on Transportation. Alvarez questioned the competency of Garcia in running the MRT3, saying that its problems seemed to have gotten worse a year after Garcia was tapped to run the mass transit system.

Photo Release

31 January 2018

ERC ABOLITION LOOMS? : The House committees on government reorganization and energy chaired by Rep.. Xavier Jesus D. Romualdo (left, solo photo) and Rep. Lord Allan Q. Velasco (right, solo photo), respectively, jointly conducted the  deliberation on House Bill No. 5020 seeking to abolish the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and replace it with the Board of Energy as an attached agency of the Department of Energy (DOE). The bill is authored by Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez.  (PC/JM)

Photo Release

31 January 2018

CIVIL PARTNERSHIPS BILL: The House committee on women and gender equality chaired by Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy (Party-list, Bagong Henerasyon) on Wednesday opened its deliberations on House bill 6595, which shall allow couples to enter civil partnerships whether they are of the opposite or same sex. The measure authored by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez seeks to provide basic civil rights to couples who are not eligible for marriage under the law, such as those in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community. Key provisions of HB 6595, or the proposed "Civil Partnership Act" include adoption rights, inheritance rights, and benefits under the Social Security System, Government Service Insurance System, and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, among others.

The first round of deliberations on the bill welcomed statements and official positions of relevant stakeholders, government bodies, nongovernment organizations and advocacy groups such as Commission on Human Rights, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Statistics Authority, Philippine Commission on Women, Lagablab, and Bahaghari issued official statements regarding the measure, for the consideration of the panel. They voiced support and other concerns about the bill. The panel was attended by Deputy Speakers Gwendolyn Garcia and Sharon Garin, Reps. Geraldine Roman, Estrellita Suansing, Michelle Antonio, Rosanna Vergara, and Ma. Theresa Collantes, among others. / PC/CMBE

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Photo Release

31 January 2018

STL PROBE: The House committee on games and amusements chaired by Rep. Gus Tambunting resumed its inquiry into the irregularities and abuses committed in the operations of small town lottery (STL) in the country. Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte (2nd District, Camarines Cur) alleged that businessman Bong Pineda, husband of Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda, has been involved in STL operations in Camarines Sur through the use of a dummy in the person of Osler Luis Canlas, president of Everchance Gaming Corporation. Officials from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and Authorized Agent Corporations (AAC) were invited to the hearing. PC/EAG

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NEWS Release

1 February 2018

House moves to abolish ERC

The House Committees on Government Reorganization and Energy initially discussed House Bill 5020 seeking the abolition of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and replacing it with the Board of Energy as an attached unit of the Department of Energy (DOE).

During the hearing, ERC Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Atty. Agnes Devanadera  agreed with the view of  Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, the author of the bill, on the need to create a system of effective accountability and ensure the protection of the interests of the government and the public. 

The Speaker filed the bill after the ERC was marred with controversies of alleged corruption, specifically with regard to shady deals and improper procurement practices.

In filing the bill, the Speaker said the integrity of ERC became suspicious and questionable after ERC Director Francisco Jose Villa, Jr. took his own life on November 9, 2017, leaving behind letters which exposed alleged anomalies and irregularities within the agency. It was reported that he was pressured to sign anomalous transactions which he refused.

The ERC was created under Republic Act No. 9316, otherwise known as the "Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001," whose primary mandate is to regulate the country’s electric industry, promote competition in the electricity market, and protect power consumers from the high costs of electricity.

Prior to Villa’s suicide, President Rodrigo Duterte sacked ERC Chairman Jose Vicente Salazar on October 2017 when the Ombudsman found him guilty of administrative offenses, for allegedly manipulating the procurement of small ERC contracts. The Ombudsman likewise required him to pay a fine equivalent to six months’ salary.

The President on November 22, 2017 replaced Salazar with Devanadera with a term up to July 10, 2022.

Another controversy hit ERC in December last year when the Ombudsman ordered the one-year suspension of all four commissioners of the ERC for allowing electric utilities like Manila Electric Company (Meralco) to forgo the bidding of their power supply requirements at the public’s expense.

Suspended were Commissioners Gloria Victoria Yap-Taruc, Alfredo Non, Josefina Patricia Magpala-Asirit and Geronimo Sta. Ana, who were all found guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, aggravated by simple misconduct and simple neglect of duty. JM

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Photo Release

1 February 2018

BBL REVIEW--The joint committees on local government, Muslim Affairs and special committee on peace, reconciliation and unity chaired by Reps. Pedro Acharon, Jr., Mauyag Papandayan, Jr. and Ruby Sahali, respectively, accepted the subcommittee report that consolidated four measures seeking the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). The  joint committees will use the subcommittee report as the working draft in coming up with a substitute BBL bill. The joint panel also adopted the Internal Rules of Procedure of the Joint Committees and the proposed schedule of committee meetings and public consultations on the BBL. The subcommittee is headed by Rep. Wilter Wee Palma. Other members present were Deputy Speaker Bai Sandra Sema, Reps. Raul Daza, Abdullah Dimaporo, Jesus Nonato Sacdalan, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Palma, Celso Lobregat, Makmod Mending Jr., Tom Villarin, Pablo Ortega, Aurora Cerilles, Leopoldo Bataoil, Rodante Marcoleta, Amihilda Sancopan, Muhamad Khalid Dimaporo, Anna Marie Villaraza-Suarez, Gabriel Bordado, Jr., Shernee Abubakar Tan, Divina Grace Yu, Joseph Stephen Paduano, Raymond Democrito Mendoza, Manuel Zubiri and Ron Salo. MVIP/GE

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NEWS Release

1 February 2018

National Mariculture Program gets boost

The House committee on appropriations has approved the funding for a bill seeking to create a National Mariculture Program that would involve marine fisheries and aquaculture technology and research, financial and marketing assistance, and other services for the benefit of  fisherfolk and local communities.

The committee amended Section 13 of the substitute bill so that the amount needed for the implementation of the National Mariculture Program shall be included in the budgets of the concerned department or agencies in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).

For local government units (LGUs), the implementation of the program shall be funded from their internal revenue allotments and other internally generated funds.

The bill defines mariculture as "an integrated branch of aquaculture designed to produce fish through sea cages, long lines and other culture structures in marine and coastal area to grow high-value species. This includes bangus, siganid, weaweeds, oysters, and mussels, among others."

The establishment of a national mariculture program will provide a blueprint for the desired development of mariculture in the country, and in lieu of increasing fish productions, uplift the lives of fisherfolk and attain food security,” said Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe, also an author of the bill.

The Bureau of Fisheries expressed its support for the bill. Roy Ortega, Officer-in-Charge of the Aquaculture Division of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), said that the bill is in alignment with  one of the strategies put forward by the sector in its Comprehensive National Fisheries Industry Development Plan.

Key provisions of the bill include the establishment of mariculture parks and zones in duly designated areas.

The province, city, or municipality shall enter into lease agreements with fisherfolk cooperatives and private investors for a period of 10 years, and renewable for another 10.

The BFAR shall provide a ceiling for rents to locators. In granting lease agreements, local government units (LGUs) shall give preference to local fisherfolk.

Grant of mariculture zone areas shall be based on mooring spaces to ensure that usage of area for sea cages, long lines and other culture structures is limited to the granted space. Granted mooring spaces not developed or installed with culture structures within six months will be forfeited and awarded to other qualified applicants.

Moreover, LGUs and/or investors shall cause the establishment of support infrastructures such as fish hatcheries and cold storage facilities. This is to ensure reliable access, cost-effective distance and economic feasibility of the mariculture park and zone.

The bill further mandates the Department of Agriculture to provide technical, training, and marketing support to the LGUs, fisherfolk cooperatives and associations, and non-government organizations.

The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center-Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC-AQD), an inter-governmental organization focused on sustaining fishery development in the region, shall facilitate the transfer of the latest aquaculture technologies, assist in the department’s training programs for sustainable mariculture, and promote the adoption of good aquaculture practices.

The bill welcomes the private sector as economic partners. Under the provisions of the act, private individual investors and enterprises shall be encouraged to take an active role in the creation, use, and management of mariculture systems.

Moreover, loan assistance to qualified fisherfolk organizations for expenses such as fish cage construction shall be provided by the Land Bank of the Philippines. (CMBE)

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NEWS Release

1 February 2018

Illegal drugs use in Bilibid continues

A senior official of the Department of Justice yesterday told the House subcommittee on correctional reforms that the use of illegal drugs inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) continues and the drug trade in the country has not yet been totally eliminated by authorities.

     

Justice Undersecretary Antonio Kho said that 75 percent of illegal drugs nationwide were traded from within the NBP.

The subcommittee resumed its probe on the proliferation of illegal drugs and drug trading in the NBP.

Kho said there was a possibility that new players confined at the medium and minimum prisons were involved in the NBP illegal drug trade.

Kho said the major players in the drug trade were already confined at NBP’s Building 14 while authorities implemented stricter measures to prevent them from transacting or engaging anew in the drug trade.

“There is no manufacturing of drugs inside NBP for distribution nationwide. It is more of usage by the inmates themselves,” said Kho. His statement confirmed a statement earlier issued by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

However, Kho said previously involved major players now faced difficulty engaging in the drug trade as they were confined at Building 14 covered by stricter regulations and measures.

According to him, high-profile inmates were separated from the other inmates. In addition, signal jammers were installed at Building 14, said Kho.

Oaminal said that there were several news reports which cited the illegal drug trade in the NBP had not yet been resolved.

A news report cited DOJ Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre III as saying that the illegal drug trade in the NBP had returned, said Oaminal.

PDEA Intelligence Service Director Jiger Montallana said they found out that some of the sources of the drugs they confiscated actually came from transactions from the NBP.

“Currently po, we have monitored big time (sources) from the NBP pero hindi po ‘yun ang mga lumalabas na pangalan na nako-confiscate namin when it comes to the conduct of anti-illegal drug operations. “Basically po may mga new names na nag-come-up na wala po doon sa radar ng personalities that we are monitoring inside Bilibid,” said Montallano.

“(They are) different personalities and groups, your honor. Kaya bago po sa aming radar itong mga new names na nag-come up,” Montallana said in reply to Oaminal's question if the group involved was the same group that cropped up during the House investigation in 2016.

Montellana said the Chinese drug lords who were not part of their monitoring did not belong to the big-time personalities at the Maximum Security Compound.

The subcommittee is under the jurisdiction of the House committee on justice chaired by Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali. It has been inquiring into the proliferation of illegal drug syndicates and the illegal drug trade in NBP. /EAG

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HOUSE PANEL ON WOMEN AND GENDER EQUALITY RESUMES WORK UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP OF REP. HERRERA-DY

The House Committee on Women and Gender Equality began deliberations this week, under the leadership of its new chairperson, Bagong Henerasyon Party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy, on House Bill 6595 or the proposed Civil Partnership Act, which seeks to formally recognize and grant to couples of any gender conjugal partnership, property, and family relations rights.

“This bill addresses the clamor of the LGBT community for the equal protection of our laws. This is a gender-inclusive law Congress is working on that enables parties in civil partnerships to inherit from each other, name each other as insurance and social security beneficiaries, and allows them to adopt children,” Rep. Herrera-Dy said.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Deputy Speaker Raneo Abu, Deputy Speaker Frederick Abueg, Deputy Speaker Gwendolyn Garcia, Deputy Speaker Sharon Garin, Deputy Speaker Eric Singson, Rep. Geraldine Roman, Rep. Len Alonte-Naguiat, Rep. Victoria Isabel Noel, and Rep. Sandra Eriguel jointly filed HB 6595 last October 2017.

Herrera-Dy said the bill enjoys a good base of support in the House. She also thanked the House leadership for recognizing her efforts in advancing human rights, as has been evident in the progress of the SOGIE bill, HB 4982, which was already sent to the Senate.

“I am hoping the senators will prioritize their SOGIE version, SB 1271, so that the LGBT community will gain from its anti-discrimination protections at the soonest possible time,” the Bagong Henerasyon Party-list congresswoman said.

There are at least 80 bills pending with the House committee on women and gender equality, including measures on maternity leaves, violence against women, sexual harassment, and HB 5156 which seeks to amend the Family Code of the Philippines. (END)

Photo Release

1 February 2018

NBP DRUG PROBLEM--Justice Undersecretary Antonio Kho (in photo with lady official) told the House subcommittee on correctional reforms that the illegal drug problem still persisted at the National Bilibid Prison and that 75 percent of illegal drugs nationwide were traded from within the NBP. There was no manufacturing of drugs inside NBP for distribution nationwide; it was more of usage by the inmates themselves, said Kho. Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Intelligence Service Director Jiger Montallana (solo photo) said they found out that some of the sources of the drugs they confiscated actually came from transactions from the NBP. Also in photo are subcommittee chairman Rep. Henry Oaminal and committee on justice chairman Rep. Reynaldo Umali. EAG/PC

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