mga ibinalita ni terencius: Solons ask PAO, PGH, DOH to properly coordinate on Dengvaxia probes

House creates P100M trust fund for more research at PH Rise

The House of Representatives has adopted House Resolution 1636, urging the executive department to allocate funds for additional scientific research and feasibility studies in the area east of Luzon, known as the Philippine Rise, including marine exploration for mineral deposits and other resources therein which may be used as alternative sources of energy.

The resolution cited the need to establish a trust fund with a seed amount of P100 million which shall be managed by the National Coast Watch Council (NCWC) for additional scientific research, feasibility studies, marine exploration of the region, and acquisition of new equipment to improve the government’s research capabilities and further enhance the development strategies of the country.

Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Philippines shall exercise sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the body of water extending up to 200 nautical miles from the archipelagic baselines, and the continental shelf, seabed and subsoil of the submarine areas that extend beyond its territorial sea throughout the natural prolongation of its land territory to the other edge of the continental margin.

When the continental shelf extends beyond 200 nautical miles, a coastal State is required under Article 76 of the UNCLOS to make submission to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) which will set out the coordinates of the outer limits of the shelf accompanied by technical and scientific data to support the claim. The CLCS assesses the data submitted and makes recommendations. The outer limits of the continental shelf established by a coastal State based on these recommendations are final and binding.

Benham Rise, now called Philippine Rise as directed by the President under Executive Order No. 25 series of 2017, is a 13 million-hectare undersea region that lies approximately 160 nautical miles east of Luzon and off the provinces of Isabela and Aurora.

The Philippine Rise is a massive formation of basalt, a common volcanic rock , and is described as a thickened portion of the oceanic crust of the Philippine Sea plate. Scientific data on seismic, magnetic, and other geological features of Philippine Rise indicate that the region is an extension of the country’s continental shelf.

On April 9, 2009, the Philippines lodged its claim with the CLCS that the Philippine Rise is part of the country’s extended continental shelf.

In April 2012, the CLCS officially recognized and approved the Philippines’ claim over the Philippine Rise, giving the country sovereign rights over the territory.

The resolution stated that scientific surveys and marine explorations showed that the Philippine Rise is rich in marine resources and massive mineral and gas deposits which can help the country achieve energy sufficiency.

The award of the Philippine Rise to the Philippines by the CLCS increased the areas of seabed subject to the country’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction, prompting the amendment of the country’s existing submarine maps which will likewise be used as the reference point by potential investors, the resolution further stated./ RBB

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STATEMENT BY

REP. CIRIACO S. CALALANG

KABAYAN Party-list

To avert possible hunger disaster:

NFA URGED TO TEMPORARILY BUY 10 TO 15 DAYS’ WORTH OF COMMERCIAL-QUALITY RICE FROM FARMERS BUT SELL THESE STOCKS AT A LOSS

To prevent the greater evil of letting millions of Filipinos go hungry while waiting for the Palace-approved NFA rice imports to arrive, I appeal to the National Food Authority to buy from rice farmers at least 10 to 15 days’ worth of commercial-quality rice at commercial prices but sell these stocks at a loss at NFA rice price levels.

NFA’s rice imports would take about 45 days or so to arrive and be distributed to the public markets. Current NFA rice inventories would run out before those imports come. Urgent and decisive action must be taken.

The 10 to 15 days of commercial-quality rice stocks should be enough to bridge the gap between the current limited NFA rice inventory and the arrival of the NFA-imported rice.

Now NFA must make sure, take steps so that the poor are the ones who will have access to these bridging rice stocks

Avoiding hunger affecting hundreds of thousands of Filipino families is more important than the financial health of the NFA. The NFA can charge this loss to experience and as an extraordinary expense to avert a hunger disaster.

I hope the Commission on Audit will understand the unusual nature of this situation and consider the fact that the welfare of the Filipino people especially the poor is paramount. (END)

STATEMENT BY THE

HONORABLE ROGER “OGING” MERCADO

Southern Leyte, Lone District

Chair, Committee on Constitutional Amendments

Deputy Majority Leader

Twitter: @OgingMercado

REP. ROGER MERCADO OPPOSES ANY FUTURE NFA MOVE TO IMPORT RICE

On behalf of the farmers of Southern Leyte who plant and harvest rice from 10,000 hectares of rice lands and produce about 10 percent of the rice of Eastern Visayas, I oppose any FUTURE decision of the National Food Authority to import rice from other countries that would be cheaper than our local rice and therefore disadvantageous to our local farmers.

I am not objecting now to the latest decision to import rice now to address the current NFA rice shortage, which I believe is a belated response to the problem we are already experiencing now. NFA action on the current situation was too slow.

Moving forward, the NFA should buy its NFA rice buffer stocks from Mindanao or the Visayas to augment NFA inventories in its warehouses in Mindanao and the Visayas.

Two moves the NFA should make soon are: (1) raise its buying price for palay from P17 per kilo to the range of P22 to P25 per kilo and (2) increase its rice incentives to a full P1.00. These would immediately and directly benefit the farmers of Southern Leyte and all over the country.

To compensate for the increase in the price of rice sold to the poorest consumers, the DSWD should start implementing in March its 4Ps subsidies for rice purchases. (END)

On Rice Shortage – Statement of Rep. Alfred Vargas

QUEZON City Rep. Alfred Vargas appealed to traders and suppliers not to use the reported rice shortage as an excuse to increase prices of commercial rice.

Vargas, vice chairman of the appropriations committee, likewise alerted the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as well as the Department of Agriculture (DA) to monitor prices of commercial rice in the market to ensure that traders will not take advantage of the situation.

The solon made the call amid reports that there are some leading markets in the Metro Manila and nearby provinces that are increasing the prices of the commercial rice due to the depleting supply from the National Food Authority (NFA).

“If we can maintain the prices of commercial rice, then poor families can afford to buy while waiting for the supply of the NFA. This way we can still help the poor while doing business,” Vargas said.

To date the prices of commercial regular milled rice range from P35 to P55 per kilo while the NFA rice is at P27.

Due to the depleting stocks of cheaper rice from the NFA, consumers have no choice but to buy commercial rice to which according to Grains Retailers’ Confederation of the Philippines Inc. (GRECON) may increase up to P5 per kilo at the very least.

Vargas asked the suppliers if they can maintain the old prices especially the old stock while waiting for the government to resolve the problem.

He then expressed confidence that President Rodrigo Duterte and people from NFA can resolve this issue in the soonest possible time.

“Let’s trust our President here, who is known to be maka-masa. For the meantime traders should do their part too in helping the poor consumers. Old stocks should maintain the old price,” Vargas, a member of the PDP-Laban, pointed out.

Meanwhile, the lawmaker appealed to people not to panic since President Duterte already allowed the NFA to import 250,000 metric tons to replenish the depleting buffer stock.

Secretary to the Cabinet and NFA Council Chairman Leoncio Evasco said he was given verbal instruction of the President to buy standby rice.

This is on top of the 325,000 metric tons of rice to be imported under the minimum access volume (MAV).

Vargas appreciated the effort of the administration not to let the people go hungry and taking positive and acceptable actions.

According to Evasco, the President understands the need to import rice from Vietnam, Thailand and Laos. (END)

PRESS RELEASE

REP. ANTHONY M. BRAVO

Deputy Minority Leader

Representative, COOP-NATCCO

‎0917-8537112

Solon hails passage of Free Irrigation law

Representative Anthony Bravo (COOP-NATCCO PL) thanks President Rodrigo Duterte for signing the Free Irrigation Service Act or RA 10969, which was signed by the president on February 2, 2018.

One of the proponents of the law, Bravo believes that free irrigation is a big relief to Filipino farmers especially the subsistence farmers who are burdened by high cost of agricultural production.

Bravo, who filed a bill for the abolition of Irrigation Service Fees (ISF) in the previous Congress and refiled HB 189 (Substituted by HB 5670), said there was a clamor among the farmers for free irrigation under the Aquino administration but it was left unheard.

“Under the change of leadership, free irrigation became a priority as it is one of the campaign promises of President Duterte. We appreciate the House leadership for the overwhelming support to this legislation,” the solon said.

The law grants free irrigation to farmers owning not more than eight hectares of land. It also condones unpaid irrigation service fees and penalties of farmers with eight hectares of land and below. All loans, past due accounts and corresponding penalties are condoned and written off from the books of the National Irrigation Administration.

“It was once a dream for our farmers but it is a reality now. Our farmers could now save on cost of production, hence higher income for their families,” Bravo added.

The solon urge the NIA and concerned agencies to promulgate the implementing rules and regulation as soon as possible.#

OFFICE OF REP. ORESTES T. SALON

PRESS RELEASE

08 FEBRUARY 2018

REFERENCE : HANS ARAO

AGRI PARTY-LIST REP URGES DA, NIA TO COME UP WITH IRR FOR FREE IRRIGATION LAW; GOV'T SUPPORT FOR FARMERS SHOULD NOT STOP THERE

AGRI Party-list Representative Orestes T. Salon today urged the Department of Agriculture and National Irrigation Administration to come up with the implementing rules and regulations of the Republic Act 10969 or the Free Irrigation Service Act which was recently signed into by President Rodrigo Duterte.

"The DA and NIA should act swiftly and provide the law with an IRR that stays true to the spirit of the law," Salon, who is among the law's principal authors, said.

"The NIA should also immediately stop collecting irrigation service fees, amid reports by farmers groups that the agency continues to collect fees," he added.

Salon also said that the passage of the law is a small victory for small farmers, while also reiterating that government should not stop there.

He said that government should provide more support services to increase agricultural productivity and ease the plight of farmers.

"We must not stop with free irrigation in our efforts to alleviate the plight of our farmers, who find themselves perennially among the poorest of our society," said Salon.

News Release

11 February 2018

House creates P100M trust fund for more research at PH Rise

On April 9, 2009, the Philippines lodged its claim with the CLCS that the Philippine Rise is part of the country’s extended continental shelf.

In April 2012, the CLCS officially recognized and approved the Philippines’ claim over the Philippine Rise, giving the country sovereign rights over the territory.

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LAWMAKERS PRESENT VARIOUS NFA RICE POLICY OPTIONS

1. Rep. Mercado: Raise palay buying price to P22 to P25

2. Rep. Romero: Replace rice quotas with tariff of about 40 percent

3. Rep. Calalang: Bridging buffer stocks can be commercial-quality sold at a loss

Southern Leyte Representative Roger G. Mercado said that, in the future, instead of importing rice, "the NFA should buy its NFA rice buffer stocks from Mindanao or the Visayas to augment NFA inventories in its warehouses in Mindanao and the Visayas."

Mercado also said the NFA should raise its buying price for palay from P17 per kilo to the range of P22 to P25 per kilo and increase its rice incentives to a full P1.00, so local farmers would immediately and directly benefit in the form of higher earnings.

"To compensate for the increase in the price of rice sold to the poorest consumers, the DSWD should start implementing in March its 4Ps subsidies for rice purchases," Mercado added.

1-PACMAN Party-list Rep. Michael "Mikee" Romero, member of the House Committee on Food Security, said the NEDA-proposed 35 percent tariff to replace the country's non-tariff barriers is too low.

"The better and right policy is to make local rice cheaper than imported rice by lowering farming and post-harvest costs so our farmers will have better profit margins whether they sell their rice to the NFA or to the rice traders," Romero said.

On the rice tariff, Romero said its effect should be "to make the cost of imported rice at least equal to local rice prices."

"For this to happen, the tariff must be higher than the 35 percent NEDA is proposing. A tariff rate of 40 percent or thereabouts is what would be fair to Filipino farmers and consumers," Romero said.

Rep. Romero also proposed the creation of a "strictly-regulated online exchange or marketplace for harvested palay."

"This would weaken the hold or cartel-like influence of middlemen on our domestic market for rice," Romero said.

To address the present-day problem of NFA rice shortage, Romero suggested that "instead of importing rice from Thailand or Vietnam, buy rice from Filipino farmers who are harvesting in late February and early March. The NFA should help Filipino farmers, not farmers of other countries."

For his part, KABAYAN Party-list Rep. Ciriaco Calalang suggested to the NFA that it buy "at least 10 to 15 days’ worth of commercial-quality rice at commercial prices but sell these stocks at a loss at NFA rice price levels."

"The 10 to 15 days of commercial-quality rice stocks should be enough to bridge the gap between the current limited NFA rice inventory and the arrival of the NFA-imported rice,” Calalang said.

He asked that the NFA make sure the poor are the ones who will have access to these bridging rice stocks.

"Avoiding hunger affecting hundreds of thousands of Filipino families is more important than the financial health of the NFA. The NFA can charge this loss to experience and as an extraordinary expense to avert a hunger disaster," Calalang also said. (END)

REP. ROGER MERCADO OPPOSES ANY FUTURE NFA MOVE TO IMPORT RICE

Moving forward, the NFA should buy its NFA rice buffer stocks from Mindanao or the Visayas to augment NFA inventories in its warehouses in Mindanao and the Visayas.

To compensate for the increase in the price of rice sold to the poorest consumers, the DSWD should start implementing in March its 4Ps subsidies for rice purchases. (END)

PROPOSED NEDA TARIFF ON RICE IS ANTI-FILIPINO FARMER, SAYS ECONOMIST-SOLON

Last Friday, NEDA issued a press release on the replacement of non-tariff barriers to rice imports with a 35 percent tariff rate, so that the landed cost of imported rice would be cheaper.

NEDA said: At 35 percent tariff rate, the landed cost of imported rice, particularly from Thailand and Vietnam, along with its transport cost to the local market would be around PhP 30.30 per kilogram. This is about PhP 4.31 lower than the domestic wholesale price of regular milled rice. The price reduction of PhP 4.31 per kilogram will enable a Filipino household of five to save as much as PhP 2,362 per year.

As Member of the House Committee on Food Security, this kind of proposed policy is anti-Filipino farmer. The better and right policy is to make local rice cheaper than imported rice by lowering farming and post-harvest costs so our farmers will have better profit margins whether they sell their rice to the NFA or to the rice traders.

If the Philippines is to replace its non-tariff barriers with a tariff, the effect of the tariff should be to make the cost of imported rice at least equal to local rice prices. For this to happen, the tariff must be higher than the 35 percent NEDA is proposing. A tariff rate of 40 percent or thereabouts is what would be fair to Filipino farmers and consumers.

For the long term, the NFA should create and develop a strictly-regulated online exchange or marketplace for harvested palay. This would weaken the hold or cartel-like influence of middlemen on our domestic market for rice.

To address the present-day problem of NFA rice shortage, the NFA should, instead of importing rice from Thailand or Vietnam, buy rice from Filipino farmers who are harvesting in late February and early March. The NFA should help Filipino farmers, not farmers of other countries. (END)

To avert possible hunger disaster:

NFA URGED TO TEMPORARILY BUY 10 TO 15 DAYS’ WORTH OF COMMERCIAL-QUALITY RICE FROM FARMERS BUT SELL THESE STOCKS AT A LOSS

The 10 to 15 days of commercial-quality rice stocks should be enough to bridge the gap between the current limited NFA rice inventory and the arrival of the NFA-imported rice.

Now NFA must make sure, take steps so that the poor are the ones who will have access to these bridging rice stocks

I hope the Commission on Audit will understand the unusual nature of this situation and consider the fact that the welfare of the Filipino people especially the poor is paramount. (END)

News Release

12 February 2018

SC Justices say Sereno should have been DQd for non-submission of SALNs

Two Supreme Court Justices today said Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno should have been disqualified for her post for her failure to submit her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) to the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).

At the resumption of the hearing of the House Committee on Justice senior SC Justices Diosdado Peralta and Teresita Leonardo de Castro said they were not informed that Sereno had failed to submit her most recent SALNs for the past 10 years as required of all candidates for the position.

Peralta, who presided over the JBC proceedings for the nominees for the position vacated by impeached CJ Renato Corona, said the July 20, 2012 letter of Sereno asking for exemption to the submission of SALN was not presented to the council en banc.

“The letter of the Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno dated July 23, 2012 was never presented to the Judicial (and Bar Council) en banc for discussion. I think the minutes will bear that out. Likewise the certificate of clearance attached to the said letter was not also included for deliberation in the JBC en banc when we considered the candidates for voting,” Peralta said.

Peralta said that had he known about the letter he would object against the selection of Sereno as Chief Justice because that is a clear deviation from the rules requiring all applicants to the position to submit their SALNs to the JBC.

“In this particular case, the Chief Justice was requesting for her inclusion from that requirement,” Peralta said.

Justice Teresita Leonardo de Castro, who also applied for the position of Chief Justice, said this was the first time she knew about the letter, saying the appointment of Sereno despite her failure to comply with the rules constitute an injustice to the other applicants.

“A great injustice was done to us—the other candidates or the other applicants—for the position of Chief Justice,” De Castro said.

She noted that the opening for the position of Chief Justice came about because Chief Justice Renato Corona was impeached for failure to include his dollar account in his SALN and so the JBC became strict with its requirements.

“What happened to this letter? Was this kept under wraps?” De Castro said.

Leyte Rep. Vicente Veloso opined that Serenos’ appointment is invalid from the start for her failure to comply with the JBC requirements.

“Lumalabas talaga ngayon that the appointment of Sereno was void from the beginning,” he said. He added that it may not even be necessary to impeach Sereno to remove her from office.

Initially, the JBC required candidates for the position to submit all their SALNs but later trimmed the requirement for only 10 years from those who came from government service.

Atty. Annaliza Capacite, regular member of JBC, confirmed that four other senior SC members who applied for the seat vacated by Corona complied with the JBC requirement: Justice Antonio Carpio submitted 14 SALNs; Justice De Castro, 15; Justice Presbitero Velasco, Jr., 19; and Justice Arturo Brion, 10.

Another SC justice who applied for the post, Justice Roberto Abad submitted only his SALN for seven years because he left government service for almost a decade before he was appointed to the SC.

Capacite admitted that it was the JBC executive committee, composed of the regular members, that recommended to the council en banc some 20 candidates—including Sereno—to be considered for the then vacant post of Chief Justice.

She claimed that one of the JBC members, Sen. Francis Escudero, suggested that the rules on SALN be relaxed and that an “attempt to comply” could be considered substantial compliance.

However, Justice De Castro said the JBC announcement for the post clearly indicates that submission of SALN for at least 10 years, from those coming from government service, is the minimum required for substantial compliance to the requirement.

Meanwhile, Peralta also accused Sereno of influencing the JBC to manipulate the selection process for candidates to judicial positions.

He noted that while the JBC allowed Sereno to be considered for the post of Chief Justice, the council rejected his wife’s application for Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeals simply because of unvalidated NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) clearance and health examination documents.

“My wife from the very beginning, she was already excluded because of the manipulation your honor. I call it manipulation because the documents will show clearly that they manipulated the application of my wife so she would not be included in the short list for presiding justice,” Peralta said.

He said that while the JBC rejected her wife’s application even after she submitted the required documents, the council considered for the post other applicants from Sandiganbayan and the Court of Appeals by merely calling them.

“Is the Chief Justice responsible for what they did to my wife? Of course. To whom do the members of the JBC report to? It is the Chief Justice, your honor,” said Peralta.####

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OFFICE OF REP. ORESTES T. SALON

PRESS RELEASE

12 FEBRUARY 2018

AGRI REP TO NFA, DA- "WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR FARMERS?"

"What's the plan for local palay farmers?"

This is the question posed by AGRI Party-list Representative Orestes T. Salon in light of the approved importation by the National Food Authority of 250,000 metric tons of rice amid an alleged shortage.

Salon argued that given that the arrival of the rice import will coincide with the local harvest season, local farmers will again be put at a disadvantage.

Salon last week filed House Resolution No. 1659 calling for an investigation into the alleged rice shortage. He said that the administration's differing statements was sowing confusion on the issue.

"I hope the NFA and Department of Agriculture have a concrete plan to address what looks to be an oversupply in the near future because of the overlap in the arrival of the imports and the harvest season," Salon said.

Salon also echoed the lament of rice watchdog Bantay Bigas that the NFA's P7 billion budget this 2018 for its buffer stocking program will be used to pay for the imported rice instead of being used for the procurement of local palay.

"Instead of helping our local farmers who comprise the poorest sector of society, we are more willing to pay others to address an issue whose cause is still unclear and unverified," said Salon.

Photo Release

12 February 2018

VEXING DENGVAXIA --House committee on good government chairman Rep. Johnny Pimentel and committee on health chairperson Rep. Angelina Tan talk about the Dengvaxia controversy during the bi-monthly press briefing dwelling into the findings of the joint hearings conducted by their panels on alleged irregularities committed in the procurement and distribution of the anti-dengue vaccine manufactured by French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Pasteur. The inquiry focused on the efficacy and safety of the vaccine and on the "apparent, obvious and manifest" illegality on the procurement and misappropriation of public funds related to the dengue vaccination program of the Department of Health (DOH) amounting to P3.5 billion. Former President Aquino and former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad have been invited to the next hearing. RBB/GE

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Highlights

Hearing of the House Committee on Justice

12 February 2018

Impeachment Complaint against Supreme Court Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno

1. Senior Deputy Speaker Juan Pablo Bondoc reiterated the invitation of the House Committee on Justice for SC Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno to attend the proceedings of the committee to explain her side.

2. Bondoc said only Sereno can answer many of the issues raised in the impeachment proceedings, such as the hiring of IT consultant whose salary was higher that the SC justices. He said it could be argued that based on prevailing rates the government could even have saved money but the real question is its propriety. He noted that while the SC hired a highly-paid SC consultant on the one hand it failed to act promptly on the benefits due to surviving spouses of deceased judges and justices.

3. Committee Chair Reynaldo Umali confirmed that there is a continuing invitation from the panel for the Chief Justice to participate in the impeachment proceedings.

4. SC Justice Diosdado Peralta told the committee that Sereno should have been disqualified by the Judicial and Bar Council for appointment as Chief Justice for her failure to submit her SALN for 10 years, as required by the council.

5. Peralta said that on July 23, 2012 Sereno wrote to the JBC asking for her exemption from the 10-year SALN submission rule. However, Peralta---who presided over the JBC proceedings for nomination to the post of Chief Justice—said the letter was not presented to the JBC en banc.

6. Justice Peralta said that had he known about the letter, he would have objected to Sereno’s nomination for the post. He added that the results of the psychiatric evaluation of Sereno, where she received a low grade of 4, was likewise not presented to the JBC en banc.

7. Peralta said that the JBC treatment of Sereno was in stark contrast with that of his wife when she applied for the position of Presiding Jjustice of the Court of Appeals. Peralta said that her application was rejected supposedly because her NBI clearance and medical records were unvalidated. He said that even after her wife submitted the proper documents the JBC rejected her application.

8. On the other hand, Peralta said, there were other candidates from the post coming from the Sandiganbayan and the Court of Appeals who were considered for the post merely after the JBC called them up.

9. Peralta accused CJ Sereno of manipulating the JBC to reject his wife’s application as CA Presiding Justice.

10. Atty. Annaliza Capacite, a regular member of the JBC, claimed that during that time there was no requirement for candidates to vacant judicial posts to submit all their SALN. She said that Sen. Chiz Escudero suggested that an attempt to comply with the requirement may be considered “substantial compliance.”

11. Chairman Umali noted that Chief Justice Renato Corona was impeached because he failed to include in his SALN some of his properties. Likewise, he pointed out that in a recent case the SC had ordered the dismissal of a judge for non-filing of SALN.

12. SC Justice Teresita Leonardo de Castro said a great injustice was done to all other applicants who vied for the post vacated by Corona, including her, because of the special treatment given to Sereno.

13. . De Castro pointed out that since Corona was removed from office for failure to declare some of his properties, the JBC had become strict when it comes to the submission of SALN by applicants particularly to the vacant SC post. However, the JBC later relaxed its rules and considered the submission of the SALN for the past 10 years as substantial compliance with the requirement.

14. De Castro said that for non-submission of her SALN, Sereno should not even have been interviewed by the JBC.

15. Upon questioning by Deputy Speaker Gwen Garcia, Atty. Capacite eventually admitted that it was the JBC execom that decided to trim down the number of nominees from around 40 to 20—including Sereno—and submitted the long list to the JBC en banc for its consideration.

16. Atty. Capacite admitted that 4 other senior SC justices who applied for the post submitted their SALN for at least 10 years: Justice Antonio Carpio, 14 years; De Castro, 15; Presbitero Velasco, Jr., 19; and Arturo Brion, 10. She said another SC Justice, Roberto Abad, did not submit all of his 10 years of SALN

17. However, Justice Peralta noted that Abad could not submit ten years of SALN because the latter had left government service for over a decade until he was appointed to the SC in 2010.

18. Atty. Maria Milagros Cayosa, a regular JBC member, confirmed Peralta’s statement that Sereno’s July 23, 2012 letter was never presented to the JBC en banc.

19. Deputy Speaker Gwen Garcia said it was clear that there was special treatment for CJ Sereno. ###

#onehouseforchange

NEWS Release

12 February 2018

Solons ask PAO, PGH, DOH to properly coordinate on Dengvaxia probes

The chairpersons of the two House committees jointly probing the Dengvaxia controversy today asked the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), Department of Health (DOH), and Philippine General Hospital (PGH) to get their act together in probing the deaths of children who were priorly immunized with the Dengvaxia vaccine, otherwise they might come out with contradictory findings that could result in a possible exoneration of French pharmaceutical manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur.

Rep. Johnny Pimentel, chairman of the committee on good government and public accountability, and Rep. Angelina Tan, M.D., chairperson of the committee on health, gave this position during the bi-monthly press briefing wherein they gave updates on their unfinished joint hearing on the Dengvaxia issue.

Pimentel said the two committees could have already terminated their inquiry, but had to extend it because of the differing positions of the three investigating bodies.

“Kaya nga tayo nag-extend ng another hearing. Supposedly, we could have terminated the hearing. Pero lumabalabas nga, itong tatlong investigating bodies, in fact, nag-aaway-away na nga. Even the PAO does not want to its share findings with the DOH,” said Pimentel.

Pimentel advised the three agencies to properly coordinate with one another since they have a common objective anyway in their investigation.

“Ang pakay naman natin pareho, to look into the accountability at sino dapat managot dyan. Kasi pag lumabas iba-iba ang findings nitong tatlong investigating bodies, people will not believe us anymore. And the people will not believe the findings of the different bodies. Paano pag lumabas yan na iba-iba ang findings, Sanofi Pasteur will be exonerated. That is my opinion lang,” said Pimentel.

The divergent positions of the three agencies is what prompted the two committees to call for another hearing, said Pimentel. “That is why we called for the hearing (because) yung PAO, UP-PGH and DOH are conducting their (respective) investigations,” he said.

Pimentel said clearly, there was failure of efficacy of Dengvaxia because three children died after receiving the vaccine. “Eh hindi sana namatay yung tatlong bata na naturukan ng Dengvaxia. It could be that it was caused by Dengvaxia,” said Pimentel.

The rational course of action of the government, said Pimentel, is to file a case against Sanofi, and also if possible to blacklist it. “Kung pwede nga i-blacklist na ang Sanofi because it is not only Dengvaxia that they are supplying. They are also supplying vaccines for our other immunization programs. I-blacklist sila, wag na pag-supplyin until such time they pay the refund,” said Pimentel.

Tan, a medical doctor, said that in the findings of the PGH, the experts deemed that three deaths were associated with Dengvaxia following the immunization of the children with the vaccine. “Yun din ang naging basehan kaya tinatanong din ng mga (House Members), should it be enough para i-refund (ang pera na binayad sa Dengvaxia),”said Tan.

Under the protocol guidelines, Tan said if there is a new drug or vaccine introduced in the market, a corresponding marketing surveillance must be done.

“Hindi lang deaths kundi lahat ng pwedeng mangyari sa isang pasyente dinu-dokumento. Katulad nitong Dengvaxia, may nakikita na tayong deaths. Katulad ng sabi ni Chairman Pimentel, pwede natin talagang sabihin failed talaga ung sa dengue immunization program, though ang argument nila palagi, there is no such vaccine na may 100 (percent) protection,” said Tan,

But still, she said there are vaccines that are successful or effective such as those that are anti-tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, Rubella, BCG, and tuberculosis. “We’ve seen how we managed to drop their prevalence or incidence rate. In fact, we are now a polio-free country. Makikita mo ang effect talaga sa population,” said Tan.

In the post-marketing surveillance, Tan said, it can be seen as early as now that there have been associated deaths to Dengvaxia. As a doctor, she said, she advised her family and relatives not to have their children vaccinated by Dengvaxia ever since it was introduced in the market because there is insufficient study on it.

“Yan po ang sinasabi ng international expert. He has been monitoring this dengue vaccine for 50 years, bago pa po si Sanofi nag-engaged. At sabi niya meron siyang hindi makita para sabihin na ito talaga magiging safe and effective for everyone. Tama din ako, yun ang naging basehan ko nung nag-file po ako ng resolution,” said Tan. (RBB)

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News Release

12 February 2018

House won’t implement unconstitutional Ombudsman order on Garcia: Alvarez

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez today said the House of Representatives would not implement the order of the Ombudsman for the dismissal of Deputy Speaker, Cebu Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia, because it has no constitutional basis.

“Definitely not,” Alvarez said in a phone patch interview, when asked if he would implement the order of the Ombudsman.

The Office of the Ombudsman announced today that it ordered the dismissal of Garcia in connection with her actions when she was still Governor of the Province of Cebu.

According to the Office of the Ombudsman, a copy of the order will be provided to the Office of the Speaker for appropriate action.

“The appropriate action is not to implement the order. Why? Because there is nothing in the Constitution that allows me to do that,” Alvarez said.

He stressed that he found no basis in the Constitution for the House to implement the dismissal order against Garcia.

“In fact, it is not in the power of the Ombudsman to discipline much more to remove any member of the House of Representatives,” Alvarez said.

Since the Constitution gives the House the power to discipline or even expel any of its members, Alvarez said implementing the Ombudsman’s order would constitute violation of the charter.

“So pag ginawa ko yan I will be violating the Constitution, since merong nakalagay sa Constitution na kami lang yung may kapangyarihan to discipline or remove a member of the House of Representatives,” Alvarez said.

Paragraph 3, Section 16 of Article VI of the 1987 Constitution provides that “Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds of all its Members, suspend or expel a Member.”

Besides, Alvarez noted that the dismissal order against Garcia was issued in connection with her actions as a governor, not as a lawmaker.

“Yung dismissal order na yan, ang ni-recommend mo dyan yung dismissal niya as a governor, not as a congressman. Baka late yung desisyon, late yung order. Dapat nilabas yung order nung siya ay isang gobernador pa lang,” Alvarez said.

However, Alvarez refused to comment on the claim of Garcia that the timing of the issuance of the order is suspect because it came at a time she was very active in her participation in the impeachment proceedings against Supreme Court Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno.

“Wala naman akong pakialam diyan sa timing-timing na yan kung ano man yan. Wala rin akong pakialam kung ano man yung laro diyan. Ang sa akin lang, yung legal basis lang. That is, kung merong legal basis yan base sa ating Saligang Batas ay gagawin ko. Pero kung wala naman I will not do it,” Alvarez said. ###

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Photo Release

12 February 2018

GRAVE INJUSTICE: The House committee on justice chaired by Rep. Reynaldo Umali announced it will hold two more hearings before voting to determine whether there is probable cause for the impeachment of Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. The proceedings on Monday were attended by SC Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo-de Castro and Diosdado Peralta. Peralta and de Castro testified that Sereno should not have been included in the list of nominees of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) to be a high magistrate in 2012. Peralta said Sereno did not comply with the requirements for the position for failing to submit several years’ worth of Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN). De Castro called the inclusion of Sereno as a nominee a “grave injustice” to the other magistrates vying for the position of Chief Justice. Deputy Speaker Gwendolyn Garcia stressed that the issue shows there was special treatment for Sereno over the other nominees. (PC/CMBE)

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Photo Release

13 February 2018

CIVIL PARTNERSHIP IN FOCUS: The House committee on women and gender equality chaired by Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy resumes its deliberations on House Bill 6595 also known as the “Civil Partnership Act.”

One of the provisions discussed was the contentious issue on the definition of the term “civil partnership”. As defined under the bill, civil partnership refers to “a legal relationship between two persons, of either the same or opposite sex, established pursuant to this Act.” In the previous meeting, Rep. Michelle Antonio recommended the deletion of the phrase “or opposite sex”. The body decided to take up the issue again in the next hearing after Deputy Speaker Sharon Garin, one of the authors of the bill, said she had to confer with the rest of authors about the definition. Others present during the meeting were Deputy Speaker Raneo Abu, Reps. Ma. Lourdes Aggabao, Vilma Santos-Recto, Michelle Antonio, Rosemarie Arenas, Micaela Violago, Geraldine Roman, Divina Grace Yu, Jennfier Barzaga and Anna Katrina Enverga. (MVIP)

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Statement of Secretary Harry Roque on the dismissal of Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia

While we respect the findings of the Ombudsman based on the merits of the case, only Congress may suspend or remove its members based on the former's anti-graft and corruption rulings. She cannot arrogate this power of Congress.

Thus, only the House of Representatives, convened in plenary and by a two-thirds vote, can expel Deputy Speaker Garcia from its rolls.

It is also unfortunate that the decision of the Ombudsman was released at a time when such actions could be given political color. While we leave the merits of the case to the Ombudsman, the release of the decision could have come at a more circumspect time.

REP. SALVADOR B. BELARO, JR.

1-Ang Edukasyon Party-list

Assistant Majority Leader

UNIFAST BOARD HAS NEGLECTED TO APPROVE IRR OF FREE COLLEGE EDUCATION LAW

Six months after the signing of RA 10931, which is the law providing for free college education in state universities and colleges and technical-vocational institutions, Congress has not yet seen the IRR or implementing rules and regulations which was supposed to have been promulgated within sixty days from the effectivity of the law.

Last December, then CHED Chairperson Patricia Licuanan said during an education summit that the crafting of the IRR was completed and all that was needed to get the work done was the signing. It is now February 2018, Dr. Licuanan has resigned, CHED has an OIC in the person of CHED Commissioner Prospero de Vera, but we still do not yet have an IRR for RA 10931.

The UniFAST Board is now in breach of a very specific mandate of RA 10931 to promulgate the IRR in 60 days, which should have been in October 2017.

Strictly speaking, this lack of output can be tantamount to gross neglect of duty. This is the composition of the UniFAST Board according to its charter:

ARTICLE IV: THE UNIFAST BOARD

SEC. 14. Creation of a UniFAST Board. – To carry out the purposes of this Act, there is hereby created a UniFAST Board, hereinafter referred to as the Board, which shall be attached to the CHED, composed of the following:

(a) The CHED Chairperson as ex officio Chairperson;

(b) The Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as ex officio Co-Chairperson;

(d) The Secretary of the Department of Education (DepED) as ex officio member;

(e) A representative from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as ex officio member;

(f) A representative from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) as ex officio member; and

(g) A representative from the National Youth Commission (NYC) as ex officio member.

Note that the UniFAST Board is not just the CHED Chairman. Seven agencies are represented in the Board, including the heads of CHED, DOST, TESDA, and DepED.

Our questions now to the UniFAST Board, now headed by CHED OIC Prospero de Vera, is this: When will the Board approve the IRR? Will they continue to delay or will they do their job?

The next school year is just a few months away. The IRR still has to be cascaded through the higher education system, to the SUCs and TVIs. That cascading takes time and the implementing mechanisms take time. Most of the schools open in June while some now open in August.

Free college education is a major commitment of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and the 17th Congress. Now is not the time for the UniFAST Board to neglect their duty. We expect swift action from them in the next several days or else. (END)

23 February 2018

PRESS RELEASE

CONGRESSMAN RAV ROCAMORA

ALTERNATIVE TO LABOR MIGRATION: LOCAL JOB CREATION, RATIONAL FISCAL INCENTIVES FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT – SOLON

Siquijor Representative Rav Rocamora urged the national government to focus on rural development and revitalization of the agriculture sector to spur job creation in the countryside. While there are some calls to invite more investors to come and invest in the country to create more jobs, it cannot just be a blanket invitation.

“We should focus our investment incentives on agriculture and rural development based on a clear industrial policy,” he said.

According to the lawmaker, the country’s suspension of deployment of Filipino workers to Kuwait raised the need for creating more jobs in the country to address the concerns of an estimated 250,000 Filipinos (mostly domestic workers) affected by the deployment ban.

“While the intent of suspending the ban is really to protect our citizens from abuse, other problems will arise from this suspension, namely how to provide an alternative livelihood for the OFWs who will be affected. I believe the best solution is to create the jobs here locally through greater investments in agriculture to spur rural development,” according to Rocamora.

Rocamora said, “In the short term, it creates an alternative to working abroad. In the long run, it reduces poverty by benefiting the poorest sectors namely farmers and fisherfolk and disperses development towards the countryside.”

“There are other destination countries in the middle east region and even in the East Asia region where our OFWs can eventually find employment with better guarantees of protection. However, unless we create a significant number of jobs locally we will always have these horror stories of abuse of our OFWs because they are part of the phenomena of labor migration,” Rocamora emphasized.

The next package of tax reform or what is called TRAIN 2 will focus on rationalizing fiscal incentives for businesses. Rocamora emphasized that it should include greater support for investments in the agricultural sector.

“Our government loses a huge amount of money giving tax exemptions to industries that do not need them. We should plug these loopholes and grant similar incentives for job creation in the agricultural sector, technology transfer, development of agriculture and food processing, and boosting our export of the agricultural products.

Last month, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III has directed the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to stop the processing of overseas employment certificates for Kuwait-bound OFWs after President Rodrigo Duterte expressed his apprehension on abuses against domestic workers in the Middle Eastern country. ###

OFFICE OF REP. JB BERNOS

Lone District, Abra

PRESS RELEASE

CRIMINALS WITHIN PNP RANKS 'SHAMEFUL' - SOLON

A lawmaker from the House Committee on Public Order and Safety slammed the involvement of police officers in criminal activities, citing the recent attempted ambush on a lawyer's life in Quezon City.

Abra Representative JB Bernos said that the discovery of a PO1 Mark Ayeras' involvement in the ambush of Atty. Argel Joseph Cabatbat taints the good image built up by the Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership.

"It is such a shame that after the Congress pushed for the increase of salaries of police officers so that they may not succumb to illicit activities, some policemen show their greed for agreeing to take part in criminal acts," Bernos lamented.

"The purpose of the salary increase - and of any other reform for that matter - is deemed defeated for as long as the criminal elements within the PNP are not weeded out," Bernos, vice chair of the committee, said.

According to news reports, Atty. Cabatbat was ambushed last Tuesday by three men in a motorcycle, but he managed to run over his assailants, killing Ayeras and injuring John Paul Cerillo, a former overseas Filipino worker.

The third assailant manage to escape after the incident.

"Knowing that a police officer was basically involved in the perpetration of a crime is unsettling," Bernos said. "How many like Ayeras out there have been compromised by criminal interests?"

Bernos, also chair of the TWG on the PNP Modernization Bill, wants the PNP to act swiftly to ensure that the law enforcement agency will be composed of true law-abiding citizens.

"It is important that we keep the PNP ranks clean, as aspired by our President, so that it will greatly contribute to the maintenance of peace and order in the country," Bernos ended.

REP. SALVADOR B. BELARO, JR.

1-Ang Edukasyon Party-list

Assistant Majority Leader

FREE COLLEGE EDUCATION LAW, WALA PA RING IRR HANGGANG NGAYON

[UniFAST Board, dapat managot. – Rep. Belaro]

Anim na buwan matapos maisabatas ng Republic Act 10931, ang batas na nagtatadhana ng libreng edukasyon sa kolehiyo sa mga State Colleges and Universities at Technical and Vocational Institutions, isiniwalat ni 1-Ang Edukasyon Representative Salvador Belaro, Jr. na wala pa rin umano itong implementing rules and regulations (IRR) hanggang ngayon.

Ipinag-uutos ng RA 10931 na ang IRR ay dapat makatha at malagdaan sa loob lamang ng animnapung (60) araw mula sa petsa ng pagiging epektibo ng batas.

Noong nakaraang Disyembre, inihayag na ng noo’y CHED Chair Patricia Licuanan sa isang education summit na tapos na raw nilang balangkasin ang IRR at ang kulang na lamang ay ang mga pirma ng UniFAST Board.

“Ngayon ay Pebrero 2018 na, si Dr. Licuanan ay nag-resign na, at ang CHED ay may OIC na sa katauhan ni CHED Commissioner Prospero de Vera, ngunit hanggang ngayon ay wala pa tayong IRR para sa RA 10931,” pagkadismaya ni Belaro.

Dagdag pa ng mambabatas, “Binigyan ng batas ang UniFAST Board ng 60 araw para matapos ang IRR. Labis na kapabayaan sa tungkulin ang maaaring maging tingin ng Kongreso sa kawalan ng aksyon na ito ng UniFAST Board.”

Ang UniFAST Board ay hindi lamang ang CHED Chairman. Pitong ahensya ang kinakatawan sa Lupon, kabilang ang mga pinuno ng CHED, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), at Department of Education (DepEd).

“ilang buwan lang ay papasok na ang school year ‎2018-2019. Dapat maipabatid ang IRR sa lahat ng SUCs at TVIs. Ang cascading ay aabot rin ng ilang buwan kaya dapat ay magkaroon na ng IRR sa lalong madaling panahon para di kapusin sa oras,” ani Belaro.

Hamon ni Belaro sa UniFAST Board na pinamunuan ngayon nI CHED OIC Prospero de Vera: “Kailan magkakaroon ng IRR? Magpapatuloy ba kayo sa pagkaantala o gagawin ninyo ang inyong trabaho?”

NEWS Release

14 February 2018

Solons ask DPWH to coordinate with agencies to ease MM traffic

The House committee on Metro Manila development chaired by Rep. Winston Castelo asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to coordinate closely with the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and other concerned agencies to ensure implementation of infrastructure projects in the metropolis under the “Build, Build, Build” Program will not worsen traffic in the National Capital Region.

“Development projects in Metro Manila could be contributory to the traffic situation especially if there will be no coordination among the government agencies,” said Castelo during a hearing.

Several major infrastructure projects have been laid down in Metro Manila to ease traffic and transport problems. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), for its part, plans to limit the transport network vehicle service (TNVS) units in Metro Manila and nearby provinces to help ease traffic.

“Minsan kasi sabay-sabay, walang planning katulad ng MMDA at DPWH. Kapag meron proyekto ang MMDA na re-blocking ganun din ang DPWH. Yung pagkuha ng permit ay hindi synchronized. For this purpose na sana ma-synchronize natin at ma-coordinate natin lahat,” Castelo said.

Rep. Bayani Fernando (1st District, Marikina City), former MMDA chairman, expressed concern that Metro Manila’s traffic situation has become “deeply problematic.”

Fernando asked what would be the significant project that can be completed this year that will ease the traffic situation in Metro Manila.

Department of Public Works and Highways-NCR Director Melvin Navarro said the DPWH is trying to finish all of these projects before the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte in July.

Navarro said another project that is expected to be finished is the Mindanao Avenue Extension that will run up to Gen. Ruiz and provide the northern links to Novaliches, Commonwealth Avenue and Quirino Highway.

“Those are major thoroughfares that can be finished this year,” he said.

Navarro said the DPWH has some projects that cannot be easily completed because of many obstructions that have to be addressed, such as the issue of right-of-way and re-location of informal settlers.

In Quezon City alone, Navarro said there are small package projects that were already finished like the road widening in Quezon Avenue, Wildlife Park in Quezon Memorial Circle, all the way going to University of the Philippines (UP).

“These are small projects pero nakakatulong pa rin na ma-address natin ang traffic,” Navarro added.

DPWH-PPP Director Alex Bote includes Segment 9 connecting North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) going to Karuhatan in Mac. Arthur Highway all the way to and C3.

For big projects, there is the 10-kilometer Laguna Lake highway from Taytay to Bicutan, the Eastern corridor four-lane roads and bridges including bike lane, all scheduled for completion this year. (EAG)

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News Release

14 February 2018

Alvarez directs MIAA officials to decongest NAIA in 45 days; airlines urged to comply or face franchise cancellation

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez today directed Manila International Airport Authority officials to put their operations in order within 45 days and warned airlines to comply with government rules or face possible cancellation of their franchises.

During the hearing of the Committee on Transportation, Alvarez said MIAA should take appropriate steps to decongest passenger and air traffic.

He noted that it is only in the Philippines where mixed use of airports is allowed, where airports designed for domestic traffic also handle international flights while airports designed for international flights also take in domestic flights.

“Hindi pwede ngayon yan. Kung ano yung tama yun ang gawin natin. So kung domestic yan, domestic yan. Ngayon kung kulang, so be it. Ilipat mo sa Clark yung ibang flights,” Alvarez said.

He said the main concern of airport authorities should be the safety, comfort and convenience of the riding public.

He noted that there is a big difference in the design between a domestic and an international airport.

“Yung domestic terminal walang provision for immigration. Kaya pag may dumadating (na international flight) sa Terminal 2 ang haba ng pila. Doon naman sa Terminal 3 na dinesign with provision for immigration eh wala naman gumagamit, kasi ginagamit na domestic,” Alvarez noted.

He also said that if necessary airport authorities should divert flights to other airports such as Clark International Airport to ease the congestion at NAIA.

“So halimbawa hindi mo na kayang i-accommodate yan tanggihan mo na, tama na. And that way male-lessen natin yung traffic even sa runways. Because no matter how we build terminals, if the runway cannot accommodate wala rin, it’s useless. So siguro i-reduce mo na yung flights,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez gave MIAA General Manager Eddie Monreal 45 days to implement the directive.

“You know the reason why I also invited the chairman of the franchise committee? Because yung mga ayaw sumunod sa rules and regulations ng gobyerno we can always cancel your respective franchises. And we are not joking. We are not threatening anybody. We are serious in promoting the safety, comfort and convenience of the public,” Alvarez said.

Mr. Lance Gokongwei, Cebu Pacific, Inc. president, however said it might take at least a year for his company to comply with such directive.

“Respectfully sir, given the way we sell tickets one year in advance and also the time it requires to move all our people and (do) the ground preparations, I think these drastic steps may take over a year of planning,” Gokongwei said.

However, Alvarez is adamant on the 45-day deadline. He urged the committee to form an oversight body to evaluate what would be accomplished at the end of the deadline.

“Kasi kung hindi natin uumpisahan yan ngayon walang mangyayari. Pero kung gagawin natin kaya naman siguro,” Alvarez said.

Meanwhile, Alvarez also lashed at the cost-cutting practice of airlines---Cebu Pacific, in particular---that allowed them to enjoy huge profits at the expense of the passengers. One of this is the refusal of Cebu Pacific to use the passenger bridge—also known as the tube—even if available.

“I’ve seen it myself. May tube, hindi ninyo ginamit. Kawawa yung pasahero dala-dala yung anak. Umuulan, basang basa yung bata. Pinagalitan ko yung flight attendant. Sabi niya sir wala akong magagawa yun ang utos ng management, hindi gagamit ng tube,” Alvarez said.

He refused to buy the explanation of Gokongwei that it is not the policy of Cebu Pacific not to use the passenger bridge.

“Pinapag-lakad nila yung mga pasahero, bababa-aakyat. So pano yung mga disabled, pano yung matatatanda, paano yung maysakit? Imbes na komportable sila na sumakay sa eroplano by using the tube—kasi diretso yan---bumababa pa. Tapos aakyat sila ulit. Eh tama ba yun? Ang concern lang nila is profit, dahil nga mura nga naman yung babayaran nila: parking fee lang, walang tacking fee,” Alvarez said.

Likewise, Alvarez also accused Cebu Pacific for failing to provide appropriate refund to passengers who failed to board their flights.

“Pag hindi nakasakay yung pasahero—subukan ninyo kahit kayo mismo—forfeited, wala na yung ibinayad mo. Wala na, walang refund yan, at saka pati yung terminal fee hindi na nila ibinabalik sa iyo. Subukan nyo kung isosoli sa inyo yung binayad na terminal fee. Karamihan ng pasahero hindi alam nandoon na yung terminal fee kasama doon sa ticket,” Alvarez said.

He reminded the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and the Manila International Airport Authorty that their primary concern is to promote the welfare of the passengers and not the concern of the airlines.

“Bakit ninyo pinapayagan yan? Hindi pwedeng ganyan dahil kayo ang regulatory agencies. Kailangan yung concern ng public yun ang i-promote natin, hindi yung concern ng mga airline companies,” Alvarez said.

He noted that in the past airlines have managed to defy the regulations because they were banking on their connections to Malacañang.

“Dati kasi nagagawa nila yan dahil nagpapalakas sila sa Presidente. E ngayon hindi po ganun ang ating Pangulo. Kailangan ayusin natin yung ating bansa.,” Alvarez said. ###

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News Release

14 February 2018

House to pass marriage dissolution, civil partnership, and BBL before March adjournment---Alvarez

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez today said the House would pass the bills on dissolution of marriage, civil union and the Bangsamoro Basic Law before Congress adjourns on March 23.

In a press briefing, Alvarez said he has directed the Committee on Population and Family relations to fast- track their deliberation on the various bills on marriage dissolution as an alternative to the costly, lengthy, and confrontational process of annulment under the Family Code.

“Ang commitment ko diyan, magbi-break kami nitong March, ano, so kailangang maipasa iyan on third reading bago kami mag-break,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez noted that there is a mounting call, particularly from the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), for the passage of the bill. In fact, Alvarez said that in comments in his social media page, many are appealing for the House to prioritize the marriage dissolution bill over federalism.

“Ang daming nangungulit sa akin diyan kahit na sa federalism ang pinag-uusapan ang comment sa social media puro dissolution of marriage. Ang tawag pa nga nila DOM,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez, who is the author of one of the bills on dissolution of marriage, said the House cannot ignore the clamor of the OFWs for the passage of the bill.

“At saka isi-simplify natin. Huwag nating pahirapan dahil ang nakuha natin doon sa mga reactions ng mga different committee hearings na ginawa, na sana man lang daw, huwag na yung expensive,” Alvarez said.

He noted that the process of annulment is very costly because the parties have to comply with publication requirements, hire lawyers, and attend many hearings, among others.

“Ano pa ba naman, pahirapan pa natin yung mga tao? Ayaw na nga, hindi ba? Tulungan natin to move forward,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez said the State should not prevent the severance of marriage of married couples, to sever their marital bonds, particularly if they have reached a mutual agreement to end their ties.

“Nagpirmahan na nga, gusto na nilang maghiwalay, anong karapatan natin para sabihan sila na huwag silang maghiwalay? Anong karapatan natin para manghimasok doon sa kanilang basic human rights, hindi ba?,” Alvarez said.

Likewise, Alvarez said he was informed that the Committee on Women and Gender Equality that they have concluded their hearings on the bill recognizing the civil partnership of couples.

The bill seeks to recognize the rights of unmarried couples, whether they are of same sex or not, and protect them from possible discriminatory practices.

“Magte-terminate na sila and then ano, final committee report, dadalhin na sa floor for second reading, yun. Medyo advanced na yun,” Alvarez said.

As to the BBL, Alvarez said he also wants it passed before the March break.

“Para sa akin, isa pa… gusto kong aprubahan yung BBL bago mag-break din kami,” Alvarez said.

He does not foresee any problem with the passage of the BBL ahead of the charter change for a shift to a federal form of government.

“We just have to see to it na yung structure ng BBL ay adaptable later sa federal set-up,” Alvarez said. ###

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mga ibinalita ni terencius

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Solons ask PAO, PGH, DOH to properly coordinate on Dengvaxia probes

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