Suhestiyon sa Senado, DFA, DOLE: himukin ang Kuwaiti na maging signatory sa International Labor Convention

20180303

House attempts to regulate school field trips

To ensure the safety of students during off-campus activities, the House of Representatives is now finalizing a proposal that will regulate school field trips.

In a joint hearing, the committees on basic education and culture as well as higher and technical education this week approved the creation of a technical working group (TWG) that will fine-tune House Bill 5121 which seeks to regulate educational field trips.

 The proposed “Educational Field Trips Act” seeks to regulate the conduct of off-campus activities, such as field trips, by all public and private schools and educational institutions directly or indirectly operating within the country.

The bill expressly states the policy of the State to instill health and safety consciousness among the people and to maintain honesty and integrity in the country’s educational institutions.

It provides that no field trip shall be undertaken without the written consent of the parents or guardians of students.

There shall be no punitive measures or activities such as examination related to the educational field trip that will put the students who could not join the trip at a disadvantage.

Moreover, students shall be given activities in school to compensate for their inability to join a field trip. They also shall not be given a failing or incomplete grade for failure to join a field trip.

Erring school officials, teachers or responsible school personnel shall be penalized with imprisonment of one to two years and a fine of P100,000 to P500, 000. (EAG)

#onehouseforchange

NEWS RELEASE

26 February 2018

Office of Representative of Alfred Vargas

REP. ALFRED VARGAS PROPOSES PHP 1B  SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET TO ADDRESS DENGVAXIA MESS

IN support to government’s effort of providing necessary medical needs of children administered with Dengvaxia, Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas is proposing at least P1 billion supplemental budget for 2018 national fund, to be taken from 2017 national savings.

In filing a resolution, Vargas underscored the need to provide amelioration assistance for the children administered with the so-called anti-Dengue vaccine not just in terms of medical but also counseling and other emergency economic aid to the affected families.

Vargas, Vice-Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, said the P1 billion supplemental budget should augment the present budget of the Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The DOH has an approved budget of  P107.2 billion while DSWD has P141.8 billion for this year.

According to Vargas,  since the DOH is on heightened surveillance of the health of all vaccinated children the budget may not be enough and therefore a standby fund is very much necessary.

“We have to make sure that these children are safe and protected from any health-related incidents pertaining to the administration of the vaccine and we have to be prepared in providing all necessary treatment if needed for the children who may get sick after vaccination,” Vargas said.

Dengvaxia was distributed to around 800,000 public school students during the DOH’s anti-dengue immunization program in April 2016.

However, the Sanofi Pasteur a French multinational pharmaceutical company who is the lone distributor of Dengvaxia, announced in 2017 that the anti-dengue vaccine had potential severe dengue risks among those who had not diagnosed with the disease before.

Records show that the DOH allocated P3.5 billion for the procurement of the Dengvaxia vaccines, which have been administered to children in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and the region of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon. Approximately 10 percent of children administered with Dengvaxia, or about 73,000, have not had dengue yet.

The ensuing panic prompted the DOH to suspend its distribution program on December 2017. While the health department is conducting clinical studies on the cause of deaths of some children both Senate and the House of Representatives are probing the controversy to determine who should he held liable.

“The whole controversy has caused not only panic and paranoia among the vaccinated children and their parents, but also mental and emotional trauma among the families of the children who have died,” Vargas said.

Meanwhile, Vargas lamented the decision of the Sanofi not to reimburse to the government the full amount of P3.5 billion paid for the Dengvaxia vaccines.

While the Sanofi reimbursed P1.16 billion worth of unused doses of vaccines was refunded, the DOH cannot use this fund without the Congress approval.

Because of this unfortunate incident, Vargas said, there is an urgent need for the government to provide funding,  to finance the needed cure or medical care for the vaccinated children, as well as for counseling and emergency economic assistance to the families of the deceased victims.

Vargas expressed concern that these unfortunate consequences caused a decline in children’s vaccinations against other diseases such as flu, polio, and measles, with doctors saying that parents refuse vaccines due to the Dengvaxia scare.

To ensure sources of funds, Vargas suggested the use of savings of the 2017 National Budget, to be certified by the National Treasurer on the availability of such funds.

“As a father, I fully understand the sentiment of the parents of these children.  They are worried, and some could not help but lash out at those responsible for the dengue vaccination program. For the meantime, let’s stop blaming each other but instead let’s all be prepared and cooperate,” the solon added. (END)

RANKING SOLONS PUSH FOR OFW PROTECTION, WELFARE

Two ranking congressmen have put forth possible solutions to current OFWs woes requiring urgent action.

House Committee on Foreign Affairs Member Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy, urged the Senate, DFA, and DOLE over the weekend to apply diplomatic suasion with Kuwait to convince them that it is in their interest to sign and ratify four specific international conventions protecting migrant workers.

Herrera-Dy added that she joins Senator Joel Villanueva, chairman of the Senate committee on labor, employment, and human resources development in asking Kuwait to replace its kafala system will fair labor laws that do not exclude household service workers.

The chairperson of the House Committee on Women and Gender Equality said Kuwait can draw inspiration and guidance from the examples of Qatar and Bahrain which have abolised the kafala (sponsorship) system.

"It would be advantageous for Kuwait to unite with the international community and make their labor laws conform with international conventions on the welfare of migrant workers," the House assistant majority leader said.

Herrera-Dy was referring to these conventions:

1.         the 1975 Convention concerning Migrations in Abusive Conditions and the Promotions of Equality of Opportunity and Treatment of Migrant Workers

2.         the ILO Convention 189 on domestic workers' protection; and

3.         the 2003 International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families.

Meanwhile, 1-Ang Edukasyon Party-List Rep. Salvador Belaro, Jr. said he agrees with DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello on the need to rethink the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) program of the POEA.

Belaro, a House assistant majority leader, said the POEA, CHED, and SUCs ought to team up to implement a much better replacement or version of the PDOS.

He added that the SUCs would be the wise option to deliver the PDOS because of their presence in all provinces of the country.

"The SUCs have the needed expertise to implement PDOS and at reasonable, much lower cost than the private firms that give PDOS seminars," Belaro said. (END)

REP. BERNADETTE “BH” HERRERA-DY         

Bagong Henerasyon Party-list

Chair, Committee on Women and Gender Equality

Member, Foreign Affairs, Social Services, and 8 other committees

SUHESTIYON SA SENADO, DFA, DOLE: HIMUKIN ANG KUWAIT NA MAGING SIGNATORY SA INTERNATIONAL LABOR CONVENTIONS

[Kafala system, dapat nang ibasura – Rep. Herrera-Dy]

Sana magawan ng paraan ng mga kapwa nating mambabatas sa Senado at ng mga opisyal ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) at Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) na ang Kuwait ay maging signatory o partido ng lahat ng international conventions na nagbibigay proteksyon sa migrant workers.

Bilang Committee on Women & Gender Equality Chair at Committee on Foreign Affairs Member sa Kamara, nananawagan akong ikampanya ng ating pamahalaan ang pagbasura sa “kafala” system na umiiral pa rin sa ilang bansa sa Middle East. Kapansin-pansin rin na mayroong ilang bansa na excluded ang domestic workers sa saklaw ng kanilang labor laws at social security coverage. 

Kailangang ikampanya ng DFA sa mga bansang kasapi ng Gulf Cooperation Council ang karampatang proteksyon para sa mga household service workers.

Tinuran ni Senator Joel Villanueva sa Senate hearing nitong Pebrero 21 na hindi pa signatory ang Kuwait sa apat na mahahalagang international labor conventions. Nagpapasalamat kami kay Sen. Villanueva na binigyang-pansin niya ito.

Pinupuri rin natin ang kabutihang-loob ni Senator Manny Pacquiao sa pagsagot sa malaking utang ng pamilyang Demafelis kaugnay sa lupa.

Pabor tayo sa mungkahi ni Senator Cynthia Villar na mapondohan ang isang mabisang computerized database ng mga lahat na OFW sa buong mundo upang madaling malaman kung nasaan sila at ano ang estado ng kanilang pagtatrabaho roon.

Nagagalak tayo na magpapadala na ang DOLE ng isang team patungong Kuwait upang maplantsa na ang isang bagong Memorandum of Agreement. Maging matagumpay nawa ang kanilang misyon doon. (WAKAS)

REP. SALVADOR B. BELARO, JR.

1-Ang Edukasyon Party-list

Assistant Majority Leader

Member, Higher and Technical Education, Foreign Affairs, and 9 other committees

Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar ‘wag gawing negosyo

“REVITALIZED PDOS” DAPAT IPATUPAD

NG STATE UNIVERSITIES & COLLEGES UPANG MAGING MABISA AT ABOT-KAYA

[Licensed social workers dapat ipadala sa Kuwait para sumaklolo sa mga biktimang OFWs – Rep. Belaro]

Upang matugunan ang maraming bilang ng insidente ng karahasan at pang-aabuso sa mga OFW household service workers sa Kuwait, hinihiling natin sa OWWA na magtalaga at magpadala sa Kuwait ng mahuhusay at lisensiyadong social workers.

Magiging pangunahing misyon ng OWWA social workers doon ang agarang pag-agapay sa mga OFW na biktima ng kanilang mga employer.

Pabor ako sa ideya ni DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello, III na palitan ang kasalukuyan sistema ng Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) na ginagawang pinagkakakitaang negosyo lamang sa halip na makatulong sa mga idedeploy na OFWs.

Para maging makabuluhan at di lamang gawing negosyo ang PDOS, ipinapanukala kong dapat ang mga state universities and colleges ang humawak sa PDOS tutal maraming campus ang SUCs sa buong bansa at sila ay mga pampublikong paaralan na hindi maniningil ng mahal.

Pabor rin ako sa panukala ni Senator Manny Pacquiao na magkaroon ng manual o handbook na mababasa at magagamit ng mga OFW. Sana ang mga manual na iyan ay nasa wikang mauunawaan ng mga OFW.

Huwag sanang sa Ingles lamang o Filipino (batay sa Tagalog) nakasulat ang PDOS manual, kundi pati na rin sa mga pangunahing regional languages sa bansa gaya ng Cebuano, Bicol, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, at Kapampangan para maging mas mabisa ito. (WAKAS)

REP. RON P. SALO

KABAYAN Party-list

Assistant Majority Leader

Member, Foreign Affairs, Overseas Workers Affairs, and 10 other Committees

PRIVATE LAWYERS NA BIHASA SA KUWAITI JUDICIAL SYSTEM DAPAT I-HIRE PARA USIGIN ANG MGA KILLER NI JOANNA DEMAFELIS

[Kaso ‘wag lang basta ipaubaya sa Kuwaiti prosecutors – Rep. Salo]

Nagpapasalamat tayo sa pamahalaan ng Lebanon at sa Interpol sa pagkadakip kay Nader Essam Assaf, ang lalaking employer at isa sa dalawang suspek sa karumal-dumal na pagpaslang sa kababayan nating si Joanna Demafelis.

Upang masigurong makakamit ng pamilya Demafelis ang katarungan, nananawagan ako sa Department of Foreign Affairs na kumuha ng serbisyo ng mga pribadong abogadong bihasa sa pasikut-sikot ng Kuwaiti judicial system na tutulong sa ating gobyernong maipanalo nang mabilis ang kaso laban sa mga akusado.

Maaaring gamitin ang assistance to nationals fund ng DFA at legal assistance fund ng OWWA para tustusan ito.

Tiwala akong tututukan ng DFA ang kaso at hindi lamang basta ipauubaya sa Kuwaiti prosecutors ang pagpursige sa kaso.

Bilang Kasapi ng House Committees on Overseas Workers Affairs at Foreign Affairs, nanawagan din ako sa embahada ng Pilipinas sa Kuwait na huwag hihinto sa pagbibigay ng updates sa atin dito sa Pilpinas hinggil sa bawat yugto ng kaso. Paraan ito para matutukan ng sambayanan ang kaso ni Demafelis.

Ang mabilis na prosecution laban sa mga killer ni Demafelis ay magsisilbing babala sa mga foreign employer para tratuhin nang makatao ang mga OFWs na naninilbihan sa kanilang bansa.

Ang pagkamit ng hustisya para kay Demafelis ay pagtataguyod sa dignidad ng bawat OFWs sa Middle East at sa bawat sulok ng mundo. (WAKAS)

BREAKING NEWS:

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

1-PACMAN Party-list

Assistant Majority Leader

Vice Chair, Committee on Youth & Sports Development    

Twitter: @MikeeRomeroPhD

RENAISSANCE OF POC, PHL SPORTS BEGINS

I congratulate the new Philippine Olympic Committee President Ricky Vargas and POC Chairman Congressman Bambol Tolentino on their historic victory. The renaissance chapter of Philippine sports begins today.

           

Expectations are high and rightly so. The next SEA Games and various international championships are in the priority sports calendar. With the Palarong Pambansa and Philippine National Games just weeks away from now, the new POC and the current Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) must make their impact and presence felt.

I expect that with the new leadership relations between the PSC and POC will be much better.

The PSC, POC, and NSAs can anticipate that the House Committee on Youth and Sports Development would be exercising its oversight functions on the subsidies of the PSC for NSAs.

I ask my colleagues on the House Committee on Youth and Sports Development to expedite passage of the pending bills on sports academies and involving the Philippine Sports Commission.

I also take this opportunity to call upon our leading colleges and universities to work with the POC and PSC on the forging of a consortium that will establish the country’s first and progressive Philippine Sports University.

The PSU can be a private-public partnership institution to serve as the apex of Filipino human resource development sports because we need a massive investment in masteral and doctoral studies on the sports sciences and arts.

Under the Philippine Sports University could be strategically-located sports academies, including the ones my colleagues in Congress are proposing, among them, the Southern Leyte Sports Academy sought by Representative Roger Mercado of Southern Leyte. (END)

NEWS Release

26 February 2018

Rehab centers for PWD kids pushed in the House

The costly rehabilitation of children and youth with disabilities may soon no longer be a problem for indigent families.

The House committee on welfare of children has approved a substitute bill seeking to set up rehabilitation centers for children and youth with disabilities (CYWDs) nationwide, initially in every region, then in every province, cluster of municipalities, and eventually in every city or municipality.

The proposed “An Act Establishing Rehabilitation Centers For Children And Youth with Disabilities Nationwide” provides that satellite facilities may also be established in barangays, as may be necessary, to assist community-based rehabilitation programs.

The term “children and youth with disabilities (CYWDs)” refers to persons 30 years and below or those over but are unable to fully take care of themselves because of a long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairment which an interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.

Rehabilitation center refers to an accessibility-compliant facility which undertakes an integrated approach to physical, psycho-social, cultural, spiritual, educational and vocational measures that create conditions for the individual to attain the highest possible level of functional ability.

The bill mandates the Department of Health |(DOH), in coordination with the host local government unit (LGU), to put up  rehabilitation centers to serve the CYWDs.

The rehabilitation centers shall provide assessment and diagnosis; physical and social rehabilitation; support for family members, caregivers, center staff, and community workers; information on disability and the rights and incentives accorded to CYWDs; and training of teachers and mentors of CYWDs.

The rehabilitation centers shall offer its services for free to indigent CYWDs.

It shall collect fees for its services from the CYWDs who do not qualify as indigent; and cities and families other than the host LGU, for every CYWD that it refers to the rehabilitation center for diagnosis or therapy services.

The DOH, for its part shall extend funding for infrastructure development. Once the rehabilitation center is established, the DOH shall turn this over to the host LGU for operation and management.

The DOH shall also provide technical support to the host LGU in its operation of the rehabilitation center, including building the capacity of its personnel and volunteers through trainings and information dissemination.

The DOH shall prescribe the service fees that may be charged by the rehabilitation centers as well as institute a monitoring system, taking into account the type of services delivered, data on the recipient CYWDs, and gaps in program implementation.

The bill tasks the host LGU, in coordination with its Persons With Disability Affairs Office (PDAO), to supervise and exercise oversight over the rehabilitation center and satellite center within its territorial jurisdiction.

The host LGU shall provide financial assistance for the operation and maintenance of the rehabilitation center and include provisions of rehabilitation of CYWDs in its local development plan, among other things.

Rep. Teodoro Montoro, principal author of the bill, said the measure aims  to help indigent persons in nurturing their relatives who are disabled or who are still in the stage of childhood or “batang isip” to rehabilitate their physical and mental condition to be able to connect to society.

The bill is co-authored by Reps. Bernadette Herrera-Dy and Cristina Roa-Puno (MVIP)

#onehouseforchange

February 26, 2018

Rep. Alfred Vargas proposes P1B supplemental budget to address Dengvaxia mess

IN support to government’s effort of providing necessary medical needs of children administered with Dengvaxia, Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas is proposing at least P1 billion supplemental budget for 2018 national fund.

Vargas yesterday filed House Resolution 1724, urging the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to reallocate the amount of P1 billion from any available  savings to augment the budget of the Department of Health (DoH) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), specifically for the purpose of providing amelioration assistance  for the  victims of the controversial Dengvaxia vaccines.

In filing the resolution, Vargas underscored the need to provide amelioration assistance for the children administered with the so-called anti-Dengue vaccine not just in terms of medical but also counseling and other emergency economic aid to the affected families.

Vargas, Vice-Chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations, also said both Houses of Congress should allow this supplemental budget for the two agencies.

The DoH has an approved budget of  P107.2 billion while DSWD has P141.8 billion for this year.

According to Vargas, since the DoH is on heightened surveillance of the health of all vaccinated children the budget may not be enough and therefore a standby fund is very much necessary.

“We have to make sure that these children are safe and protected from any health-related incidents pertaining to the administration of the vaccine and we have to be prepared in providing all necessary treatment if needed for the children who may get sick after vaccination,” Vargas said.

Dengvaxia was distributed to around 800,000 public school students during the DOH’s anti-dengue immunization program in April 2016.

However, the Sanofi Pasteur a French multinational pharmaceutical company who is the lone distributor of Dengvaxia, announced in 2017 that the anti-dengue vaccine had potential severe dengue risks among those who had not diagnosed with the disease before.

Records show that the DOH allocated P3.5 billion for the procurement of the Dengvaxia vaccines, which have been administered to children in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and the region of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon. Approximately 10 percent of children administered with Dengvaxia, or about 73,000, have not had dengue yet.

The ensuing panic prompted the DoH to suspend its distribution program on December 2017. While the health department is conducting clinical studies on the cause of deaths of some children both Senate and the House of Representatives are probing the controversy to determine who should he held liable.

“The whole controversy has caused not only panic and paranoia among the vaccinated children and their parents, but also mental and emotional trauma among the families of the children who have died,” Vargas said.

Meanwhile, Vargas lamented the decision of the Sanofi not to reimburse to the government the full amount of P3.5 billion paid for the Dengvaxia vaccines.

While the Sanofi reimbursed P1.16 billion worth of unused doses of vaccines was refunded, the DoH cannot use this fund without the Congress approval.

Because of this unfortunate incident, Vargas said, there is an urgent need for the government to provide funding,  to finance the needed cure or medical care for the vaccinated children, as well as for counseling and emergency economic assistance to the families of the deceased victims.

Vargas expressed concern that these unfortunate consequences caused a decline in children’s vaccinations against other diseases such as flu, polio, and measles, with doctors saying that parents refuse vaccines due to the Dengvaxia scare.

 “As a father, I fully understand the sentiment of the parents of these children.  They are worried, and some could not help but lash out at those responsible for the dengue vaccination program. For the meantime, let’s stop blaming each other but instead let’s all be prepared and cooperate,” the solon added. (END)

Photo Release

27 February 2018

DENGVAXIA CONTROVERSY--Former President Benigno Aquino III attended on Monday the joint hearing of the House committee on good government and public accountability as well as the committee on health on the Dengvaxia issue. During his time, Aquino said, they did all they could to address the dengue problem, based on the advice of experts. The inquiry is looking into the legality of the purchase of P3.5 billion worth of Dengvaxia anti-dengue vaccines by the DOH under the former administration, which have been found to pose health risks to more than 700,000 schoolchildren inoculated, and seeks to hold accountable those responsible for the said purchase. (PC/RBB)

Photo Release

27 February 2018

REDEFINING ‘CIVIL PARTNERSHIPS’: Members of the House committee on women and gender equality chaired by Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy introduced amendments and clarified provisions on House Bill No. 6595, or the “Civil Partnership Act.”  The authors met last week and threshed out differences on the measure and incorporated the amendments that were agreed upon, including the inputs and comments from the resource persons. HB No. 6595 is authored by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Reps. Geraldine Roman, Deputy Speakers Gwendolyn Garcia, Raneo Abu, Eric Singson, Sharon Garin, and Frederick Abueg, Reps. Len Naguiat, Sandra Eriguel,  and Victoria Noel.

ABR/GE

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NEWS Release

26 February 2018

House prioritizes workers’ concerns

Several measures addressing the rights and protection of workers here and abroad are being prioritized by the House of Representatives.

One lawmaker is calling for the creation of a National Reverse Migration Policy that will lure Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), especially the highly-skilled or professionals, to eventually come back to the country and contribute not just their remittances to national building.

 

During the bi-monthly press briefing, Rep. Jesulito Manalo underscored the need to formulate a National Reverse Migration Policy which will pave the way for the creation of the National Reverse Migration Commission.

Manalo, chairman of the committee on overseas welfare affairs, said many countries are now suffering from the so-called “brain drain”.

“We have to look into our OFWs who have adequately and sufficiently built their skills abroad and we should welcome them back and allow them to build the country,” he explained.

Manalo said other countries like Mexico that has 22 million overseas workers are offering tax break incentives for their workers to come back.

He said OFWs who opted to share their skills in engineering, IT, in medical field and other professions and research by working in the country be given tax holidays.

“If this field will be supported fully, then all our OFWs would have the inspiration to come back and help in building the country,” Manalo said.

In the same press briefing, Rep. Ana Cristina Siquian Go, chairperson of the committee on foreign affairs, clarified the issue on the delay in the issuance of passports to Filipino applicants.

Go said the committee conducted an inquiry into the alleged delays in the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)’s passporting process and had released a report on the matter.

“The committee discovered the delays in the issuance of passports to Filipino applicants are caused by the transition from the old passport system to the e-passport system, the inefficient allocation of appointment slots, inadequate office space, and lack of manpower of DFA for passport processing both at local and national levels mainly due to budgetary constraints,” she explained.

Go further said her panel is currently tackling bills seeking to overhaul the Philippine Passport Act of 1996 and to make passport services cheaper and more accessible for passport applicants.

Meanwhile, Rep. Randolph Ting, said he had proposed to Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez to form a team to guide OFWs as to where to invest their money.

“They have money to invest, but the problem is, there is no organization or a financial marketing team to help them with their investments,” Ting said.

He said there are many OFWs who became victims of pyramiding scams.

Ting, chairman of the committee on labor and employment, said his committee is currently deliberating bills on reducing requirements for union registration.

He likewise disclosed that the Senate had passed on third and final reading the bill on occupational safety and health standards.

“We will be assembling soon for the bicameral conference meeting to finally pass this bill into law,” he said. /MVIP/MIP

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NEWS Release

26 February 2018

PNoy attends House Dengvaxia inquiry

The House committees on good government and accountability as well as health on Monday resumed their Inquiry into the purchase of P3.5 billion worth of Dengvaxia anti-dengue vaccines by the Department of Health (DOH), with the technical malversation case filed against former President Benigno Aquino III over his alleged involvement in the procurement process raised during the hearing.

The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) earlier filed a complaint before the Manila Regional Trial Court against Aquino, former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, former Health Secretary Janette Garin, DOH Undersecretaries Carol Tanio, Gerardo Baguyo, Lilibeth David, Mario Villaverde and several other officials of the DOH, French pharmaceutical company and Dengvaxia manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur and Dengvaxia distributor Zuellig Pharma.

In its affidavit, the VACC cited possible violations of Section 3 of Republic Act 3019, otherwise known as the “Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices”, Section 65 of RA 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”,  Article 220 (Technical Malversation) and Article 365 (Criminal Negligence) of the Revised Penal Code and  other violations of the law.      

Acting Prosecutor General Jorge Galvez-Catalan of the Department of Justice (DOJ) said under the Revised Penal Code, technical malversation is committed by a public official when he or she applied public funds to public use and the purpose is different from what it was originally appropriated for under the law.

The funding for the vaccination program was sourced from the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF) and Pension Gratuity Fund (PGF) savings.

Rep. Lito Atienza said the former officials who are accountable for the Dengvaxia controversy should answer the charges against them in court.

 “Hayaan na lang po natin sila na magpaliwanag sa korte,” said Atienza.

The hearing is based on House Resolutions 444 and 480 and Privilege Speech No. 125, authored by Reps. Angelina ‘Helen’ Tan, Estrellita Suansing, and Doy Leachon, respectively, seeking an inquiry into the legality of the procurement process and use of public funds relative to the school-based dengue immunization program of the Department of Health (DOH) as well as the efficacy and safety of the vaccine procured.

It is also based on HR 1519, authored by Rep. Jose Atienza, Jr. , seeking an investigation into the purchase of P3.5 billion worth of Dengvaxia anti-dengue vaccines by the DOH under the former administration, which have been found to pose health risks to more than 700,000 schoolchildren inoculated, and to hold accountable those responsible for the said purchase.

Tan, chairperson of the committee on health, said the speed and shortcuts enabled the former DOH officials and other agencies concerned to roll-out the dengue immunization program.

Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) Chief Atty. Percida Rueda-Acosta said the PAO’s legal assistance to Dengvaxia victims regarding deaths, illness and injuries are pursuant to Department of Justice Order no. 792, in relation to Republic Act 9406, RA 9745 New Civil Code of the Philippines, Revised Penal Code and other existing laws, jurisprudence and regulations.

Acosta said the cause of death of the victims were acute respiratory failure, pulmonary hemorrhage, viscerotopic–like disease secondary to dengue, among others. (EAG)

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Photo Release

26 February 2018

WORKING HOUSE: The House of Representatives continues to churn out measures seeking to protect the rights of and promote better working conditions for Filipino workers here and abroad. In a press briefing, Rep. Randolph Ting (left), said his panel has finished deliberating on bills to rationalize government interventions in labor disputes and regulate the employment of foreign nationals, among others.  On the other hand, Rep. Ana Cristina Siquian Go (middle), said her committee is currently tackling bills seeking to overhaul the Philippine Passport Act of 1996 and make passport services cheaper and more accessible for passport applicants. Rep. Jesulito Manalo (right), said the House approval of the bill on PDOS or the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar on third and final reading is significant. The three lawmakers were guests during the bi-monthly press briefing arranged by the Press and Public Affairs Bureau (PPAB) and the Office of the Speaker./MVIP/GE

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Press Release

27 February 2018

Rep. Robert Ace Barbers

2nd District, Surigao del Norte

Chairman, Committee on Dangerous Drugs

Congress to probe P79-M cocaine smuggling in Isabela, 3 other places

The House of Representatives will look into the repeated cocaine trafficking by foreign drug syndicates here, specifically the offloading of P79.136 million worth of this drug off the waters of Isabela on February 5.

Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chair of the House committee on Dangerous Drugs, said the inquiry was based on House Resolution No. 1674 filed by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Farinas which directed the committee to investigate these incidents.

“Who are the drug syndicates or individuals responsible for dumping cocaine into our shores? Is the illegal drug intended for local consumption or are foreign drug syndicates just using the Philippines as a transshipment point to other destinations, or both?" Barbers asked.

“We need to know how Congress can help our anti-drug agencies cope with new skills and innovations being employed by seaborne drug smugglers, like appropriating funds for the acquisition of modern surveillance and tracking system,” he said.

Cocaine, one of the most dangerous drugs known to man, was initially developed as a painkiller. For thousands of years, people in South America have chewed and ingested coca leaves (Erythroxylon coca) the source of cocaine, for their stimulant effects. Cocaine is a worldwide, multibillion-dollar enterprise, with users from all ages, occupations and economic levels, according to the US National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

The NIDA said once a person begins taking cocaine, it is almost impossible to become free from its grip, both physically and mentally. Only higher dosages and more frequent use can bring about the same stimulant effect.

The 2017 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report released by the US State Department said cocaine was rare in the Philippines due to high prices and limited demand.

Barbers, however, expressed alarm over reports of cocaine smuggling in other parts of the country wherein smugglers were forced to dump their contraband overboard to avoid detection by law enforcers. Fishermen later found the contraband on the shorelines.

In Isabela for instance, a cache of 18.84 kilos of cocaine valued at P79 million was found in the shorelines of Barangay Dipudo in Divilacan town on February 5. In Matnog, Sorsogon,  a package containing 25 pieces of cocaine wrapped with packaging tape worth P125 million was found in Juag Lagoon on January 3.  The cocaine found in both provinces were similarly packaged and had “R” markings.

On December 18, 2016,   18 bricks of cocaine worth P100-million were found floating about 100 meters off the shores of Tiwi, Albay, along Lagunoy Gulf.

In December 2009, 59 bricks of cocaine worth P300 million were found floating off the Leyte-Samar waters, particularly in the shorelines of Llorente, Balangkayan, San Policarpio and Maydolong towns in Eastern Samar.

“Some offices are supposed to be involved in the detection, monitoring, and interdiction of potential seaborne drug traffickers, but they appear to be sleeping on their jobs,” Barbers said.

“In these four similar incidents, it was the fishermen who recovered and reported these to authorities. There were no reports that the interdiction or recovery efforts were initiated by our authorities,” he added.

Aside from boldly sneaking cocaine in our sea and airports, there are other schemes on how foreign drug syndicates smuggle cocaine into the country, according to Barbers.

“In some instances, big time drug smugglers use foreign ships to sneak in their cargo, offload them near their target shores or pick-up points, to be picked up later by local contacts using smaller boats but equipped with GPS or global positioning system,” he said.

Barbers said that seaborne smugglers are sometimes forced to dump their waterproof contraband to avoid apprehension by authorities when things go wrong while at sea. And when bad weather hit the ships, the illegal drug cargo would spill overboard and float in the sea until fishermen find these in the shorelines, he added. #

Press Release

27 February 2018

Rep. Robert Ace Barbers

2nd District, Surigao del Norte

Chairman, Committee on Dangerous Drugs

TAGALOG

P 79 milyong halaga ng cocaine na natagpuan sa Isabela iimbestigahan sa kongreso

Nakatakdang imbestigahan ng kongreso sa Miyerkules, Pebrero 27 ang pagpasok ng P79 milyong halaga ng cocaine na natagpuan sa karagatan ng Isabela.

Pamumunuan ni Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chairman ng House Committee on Dangerous Drugs  ang pagsisiyasat sa P79.136 halaga ng cocaine na nahuling ibinababa sa daungan ng Isabela noong Pebrero 5 ng taong kasalukuyan.

Ang isasagawang pagdinig sa kongreso ay base na rin House Resolution No. 1674 na inihain nina Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez at Majority Leader at Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas.

Hinala ni Barbers na mga foreign drug syndicates ang sangkot sa pagdating ng cocaine at nagmamanipula upang makadaong sa karagatan ng Pilipinas ang mga droga.

"Who are the drug syndicates or individuals responsible for dumping cocaine into our shores? Is this illegal drug intended for local consumption or are foreign drug syndicates just using the Philippines as a transshipment point to other destinations, or both?" pagtatanong ni Barbers.

“We need to know how Congress can help our anti-drug agencies cope with new skills and innovations being employed by seaborne drug smugglers ,like appropriating funds for the acquisition of modern surveillance and tracking system,” pagdidiin pa ni Barbers.

Base sa pag aaral, noon pa man ang cocaine ay kilala bilang painkiller. Ito ay nagmumula sa dahon ng coca o Erythroxylon. Ang cocaine ay naging multibillion dollar enterprise dahil sa pag- abuso ng gumagamit nito ayon sa US National Institute on Drug Abuse o NIDA.

Sa kabila ng pagiging mataas na uri at kamahalan ng cocaine at hindi ito naging popular aa Pilipinas, nagpahayag pa rin ng pagka alarma si Barbers. Ayon kay Barbers, ginagamit ng mga drug syndicates ang baybayin ng Pilipinas upang maibiyahe sa ibat ibang lugar ang kanilang kontrabando.

Sa mga pagkakataon aniya na nalalagay sa alanganin ang mga smugglers napipilitang itapon ng mga ito ang mga kontrabando sa karagatan ng Pilipinas na kadalasang natatagpuan ng mga mangingisda sa laot.

Hindi lamang ang P79 milyong halaga ng cocaine o 18.84 kilo ang natagpuan sa dalampasigan ng Barangay Dipudo, Divilacan , Isabela noong Pebrero 5, nauna dito ang 25 piraso ng cocaine na nagkakahalaga ng P125 milyon  ang natagpuan sa Juag Lagoon, Matnog Sorsogon.

Noong Desyembre 18, 2016 sa Lagunoy Gulf Tiwi, Albay natagpuan din ang 18 bloke ng cocaine na nagkakahalaga ng P100 milyon. Gayundin sa Leyte-Samar sa dalampasigan ng Llorente Balangkayan, San Policarpio, at Maydolong mga bayan sa Eastern Samar natagpuan ang P300 milyong halaga ng cocaine noong Desiyembre 2009.

“Some offices are supposed to be involved in the detection, monitoring, and interdiction of potential seaborne drug traffickers, but they appear to be sleeping on their jobs,” dagdag pa ni Barbers.

“In these four similar incidents, it was the fishermen who recovered and reported these to authorities. There were no reports that the interdiction or recovery efforts were initiated by our authorities,” sinabi pa nito.

Naniniwala din si Barbers na maliban sa ating mga daungan at paliparan, may iba pang paraan ang mga foreign drug syndicates para maipasok ang mga kontrabando.

“In some instances, big time drug smugglers use foreign ships to sneak in their cargo, offload them near their target shores or pick-up points, to be picked up later by local contacts using smaller boats but equipped with GPS or global positioning system,” paliwanag ng kongresista.#

News Release

27 February 2018

House JusCom to JBC: Release Sereno psycho test or face contempt

The House Committee on Justice today directed the Judicial and Bar Council to submit the psychological evaluation conducted on Supreme Court Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno when she applied for the post on pain of possible contempt citation if they fail to do so.

At the 15th and last hearing of the committee on the impeachment charges against Sereno, chairman Reynaldo Umali issued the directive after Atty. Maria Milagros Fernan-Cayosa told the committee that the JBC rules have always treated the results of the psychological evaluation of applicants to a judicial post as confidential.

Umali insisted that as a constitutional body the impeachment panel has the power to compel the production of evidence after JBC officials stonewalled on the submission of the documents, citing that the matter is also the subject of an impending administrative matter before the Supreme Court.

“This is now the impeachment committee issuing this directive requiring you to submit (those records). …. Please comply lest we would be constrained to cite the members of the council in contempt if you fail to heed this request by this impeachment committee,” Umali said.

He added that when Sereno allowed herself to be subjected to psychological evaluation as a requirement of the JBC for all applicants to judicial posts, she was not actually a patient and thus was not covered by the confidentiality rule on doctor-patient relations.

Atty. Socorro Inting, chief of the Office of Recruitment, Selection and Nomination of the JBC admitted she received on February 19 the request of the committee for the submission of the psychiatric report and she replied on Feb. 21 informing the panel that she had forwarded the request to the JBC for appropriate action because she did not have custody of such records.

On the other hand, regular JBC member Atty. Maria Milagros Fernan-Cayosa insisted that under JBC rules, the council has always treated the psychological evaluation results of applicant to judicial posts as a confidential matter.

Cayosa also said they also have to observe the sub-judice rule because the psychological evaluation of Sereno is part of Administrative Matter 17-08-05-SC—regarding the request of Atty. Lorenzo Gadon for documents involved in the impeachment proceedings—which is now pending consideration of the high court.

Among others, Gadon accused Sereno of having “failed” in the psychological evaluation, garnering a score of 4, where 5 is the lowest.

“This is not covered by the sub-judice rule because we are not even a party to that case,” Umali said.

Two of the psychiatrists who conducted the psychological tests on Sereno, namely Dr. Genuina Ranoy and Dr. Dulce Lizza Sahagun, however, said they too do not have a copy of the results of the test they did on Sereno.

“We do not keep any copy of evaluation report that we did when we were in the Judicial and Bar Council,” Ranoy told Umali.

On the matter of Sereno’s Statements of Asset, Net worth and Liabilites (SALN), Judge Richard Pascual told the committee that two of the three SALNs she submitted to the JBC were not subscribed to.

However, Pascual also said there may be a missing page, where the subscription is supposed to be inicated, in the SALN of Sereno in JBC’s records.

Meanwhile, former SC Justice Adolfo Azcuna also testified before the panel on the matter of the appointment of Brenda Mendoza as the chief of the Philippine Center for Mediation Office (PMCO).

Gadon has also accused Sereno of appointing the head of the PMCO on June 28, 2016 without the authority of the court en banc.

Azcuna said the rules may be open to interpretation to allow the appointment to be approved only by the court en banc or an ad hoc body consisting of the heads of the three divisions of the SC. He said the appointment of Mendoza is also now pending consideration of the court en banc.

Deputy Speaker Juan Pablo Bondoc said  that at least seven in the various grounds raised by Atty. Gadon in his impeachment complaint against Sereno are now being investigated by the SC: the delay in release of survivorship benefits, the hiring of IT consultant, the hiring of the PCMO chief, the delay in the filing of vacancies in the curt, the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on the party-list case, and now also the SALN issue.

Umali also pointed out that they have not seen the same level of cooperation the other SC justices displayed in the Sereno impeachment case, compared to the impeachment case of the late CJ Renato Corona.

While the committee would end the probable cause hearings, Umali said the committee would meet again next week to vote on the matter.

“After this hearing the impeachment committee will be given time to carefully evaluate the proceedings since November,” Umali said.

“The voting for probable cause hearing we intend to hold next week to give us sufficient time to discern on our votes since the results will all depend on the individual appreciation of this committee,” he added. ###

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Highlights of Impeachment Hearing

Justice Committee

27 February 2018

1.       Justice Committee chair Reynaldo Umali said the panel has made history as this is the first time an impeachment case against a Supreme Court Chief Justice has reached this stage.

2.       He said the testimonies of the retired and incumbent justices of the high court were vital to the task of the committee, noting that in the previous impeachment case against a CJ the House had not received the same level of cooperation from the incumbent SC justices.

3.       Atty. Socorro Inting of the JBC told the committee that based on their records, only one of three SALN’s Sereno submitted was properly subscribed to.

4.       Judge Richard Pascual, who was with the JBC secretariat, confirmed that Sereno only submitted 3 SALNs to the council, but two did not have “jurat” or subscription. He said there seemed to be a missing page in the two other documents, where the jurat should have been indicated.

5.       Atty. Inting admitted that she received on February 19 the request of the committee for the submission of the psychiatric evaluation report of Sereno and said she had sent an answer on Feb. 21, informing the committee that she has referred it to the JBC for appropriate action. She said that she did not have custody of such records because such result was furnished directly to the members of the council.

6.       Atty. Maria Milagros Fernan-Cayosa, a regular JBC member, said that under the rules of the council, psychological evaluation of all applicants are treated as confidential matters and should be used only for evaluation purposes.

7.       Cayosa also said the result of Sereno’s psychological evaluation is involved in a pending administrative matter before the SC on Gadon’s request for various documents involved in the impeachment case against Sereno and providing information on this matter is thus sub-judice.

8.       However, Umali said the impeachment committee is performing a constitutionally-mandated duty. Likewise, he said the Justice committee is not covered under the sub-judice rule because the panel is not a party to the case.

9.       Umali also opined that Sereno is not actually a patient when she underwent the psychological evaluation which is required by the JBC, and because of this she is not covered by the confidentiality of doctor-patient relations.

10.   Umali directed the JBC to submit the psychological evaluation results of Sereno or face contempt if they fail to do so.

11.   Two of the psychiatrist who evaluated Sereno attended the hearing, namely Dr. Genuina Rayo and Dr. Dulce Lizza Shagun, told the panel that they do not keep records of the evaluation they conducted when they were in the JBC.

12.   However, later in the hearing, the two sought  an executive session and immunity if they are to testify on their evaluation of Sereno.

13.   Former SC Justice Adolfo Azcuna also testified before the committee on the issue of the appointment of the chief of Philippine Mediation Center Office (CMO). Among others, Atty. Gadon accused Sereno of appointing the PMCO head without the approval of the court en banc.

14.   Azcuna said that while the law said the appointment should be approved by the court, it could be done through the en banc, of through the heads of the three divisions of the court, as was practiced in previous cases.

15.   Deputy Speaker Juan Pablo Bondoc pointed out that the real issue facing the committee is the fitness of Sereno as head of the judicial branch of government. He noted that normally the court members close ranks to defend its members but not in the case of Sereno.

16.   Bondoc also pointed out that seven issues in the various grounds Atty. Gadon raised in the impeachment case vs. Sereno have either been deliberated upon, or currently under investigation by the SC, namely:

a)      Delay in the release of survivorship benefits

b)      Hiring of IT consultant

c)       Hiring of PCMO chief

d)      Delay in the filling of vacancies

e)      Travel abroad of the staff of the Chief Justice

f)        TRO on party list

g)       SALN of Sereno

17.   Bondoc said the fact that the SC is itself investigating various acts of Sereno indicates there is really a problem in the high court. He said this is a cause for concern.

18.   Umali, for his part, insisted that the Justice Committee has the right and responsibility to investigate impeachable officials. He said this is the very essence of the mandate of the Constitution for Congress, through the committee on justice, to initiate cases of impeachment.

19.   Umali said that after the hearing the panel would meet again to vote next week on the matter. He said that the members of the committee should be given time to evaluate the testimonies it had gathered since it began the impeachment proceedings against Sereno in November last year.

(as of 12:20 pm)

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NEWS Release

27 February 2018

House Committee oks proposed “Budget Reform Act”

The House committee on appropriations approved on Tuesday the proposed “Budget Reform Act” which seeks to improve the budget process by enforcing greater accountability, strengthening the power of the purse of Congress, and increasing budget transparency and participation.

The bill, which substituted 13 measures, states among others accountability and integrity in the use of public resources by ensuring transparency, fiscal responsibility, results-orientation, efficiency, and effectiveness.

The provisions of the bill shall apply to the management of revenue, expenditure, financing arrangements, and assets and liabilities of national government agencies (NGAs), government-owned and –controlled corporations (GOCCs), and local government units (LGUs) to the extent provided herein.

The bill mandates Congress to monitor and review government performance against the requirements of appropriations and related laws, and hold government agencies accountable for their financial and non-financial performance.

It empowers the President of the Philippine to approve the following: Statement of Fiscal Policy; Medium-Term Fiscal Strategy for submission to Congress; and changes in the functional, operational and organizational structure within and among the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Finance (DOF), and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), as may be necessary, to ensure the effective implementation of the Act.

It mandates the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) not to approve any request for release of allotments for items of appropriation covered in the negative list or modification in the allotment nor recommend the use of savings by the President until such time the non-compliant agency has submitted the reports required under the Act.

It allows the Commission on Audit (COA) to suspend and/or disallow any expenditure charged against augmentation using savings and any expenditure due to modification in the allotment which were made within the period succeeding the reporting period when the agency failed to comply with the reporting requirements under the Act.

Likewise, the bill holds accountable public officials who fail to report on the income and funds retained at the end of a reporting period. It seeks to void all disbursements against such income or funds in subsequent reporting period when the agency failed to comply with the reporting requirements under the Act. 

The Congress, through its appropriate oversight committee, may motu proprio or upon the request of COA or DBM compel the head of the non-compliant agency, under pain of contempt, to produce the required report or reports and to explain failure of submission of such report or reports.

Any public official or employee who shall cause the inclusion of fraudulent information in any accountability report shall be penalized with imprisonment of up to five years, or a fine not exceeding P1 million, or both, without prejudice to disallowances that may be made by the COA against expenditures related to such fraudulent information, provided that this fine is reviewed and adjusted periodically to be reasonable.

Any public official or employee who knowingly incurs any contractual commitment or authorizes any expenditure in violation of the provisions of the Act or takes part therein shall likewise be removed or dismissed from office, after due notice and hearing, even if no criminal charge is instituted against him.

The bill is authored by appropriations committee chairman Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles, Reps. Jericho Jonas Nograles, Arthur Yap, Yedda Marie Romualdez, Francis Gerald Abaya, Magnolia Rosa Antonino, Henedina Abad, Rolando Andaya, Tomasito Villarin, Isagani Zarate, Arlene Brosas, Emmi de Jesus, France Castro, Sarah Jane Elago and Maximo Rodriguez, Jr. (RBB)

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Photo Release

27 February 2018

ANOTHER QUESTIONABLE DEAL? The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability chaired by Rep. Johnny Ty Pimentel on Tuesday asked officials of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)  led by Secretary Ramon Lopez, the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (Philexport) and the Manila Exposition Complex, Inc. (MECI) to submit their position papers relative to House Resolution 1188, calling for an inquiry on the alleged questionable lease contract entered into by the three offices. The resolution was filed by Reps. Ben Evardone and Salvador Belaro, Jr.  /JAM/PC

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Photo Release

27 February 2018

WINNING THE WAR VS TERRORISM:  In a move to reinforce the fight against terrorism, the House committee on public order and safety chaired by Rep. Romeo Acop held preliminary deliberation on House Bill No. 7141 seeking to amend the Human Security Act of 2007 and HB No. 5507 declaring as unlawful membership in any Philippine court-proscribed or United Nations Security Council-designated terrorist organization.  The measures, both authored by Rep. Amado Espino Jr. have been declared priority of the House by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas. (ABR /PC)

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Photo Release

27 February 2018

LEGISLATIVE IMMUNITY: The House committee on justice during its 15th and last impeachment deliberations on Tuesday received a request for legislative immunity for Drs. Genuina Ranoy, Dulce Lizza Sahagun and Geraldine Tria. The doctors further requested for an executive session with the panel to discuss the results of the psychological exam of Supreme Court Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. The request shall be submitted to House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez for approval. The request for immunity and executive session was made after the committee’s continued requests to discuss the exam results were met with doctors’ insistence to abide by doctor-patient confidentiality. Committee chairman Rep. Reynaldo Umali had argued earlier in the proceedings that the results of the exam lay outside the scope of patient-doctor privilege. He pointed out that Sereno undertook the test as a newly appointed Chief Justice, and not as a patient. For her part, Deputy Speaker Gwendolyn Garcia said that the amended Judicial Bar Council Rules of 2016 contain no provision for confidentiality of test results. Moreover, Umali informed the panel that the documents and records of the exams are in the process of being submitted for committee consideration after a subpoena was issued.  (CMBE/PC)

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NEWS Release

27 February

House resumes query on DTI-PHILEXPORT-MECI questionable lease deal

The House committee on good government and public accountability resumed on Tuesday its inquiry into the alleged grossly disadvantageous lease contract entered into by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Philippines Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT) and the Manila Exposition Complex, Inc. (MECI), with the discussions focused on whether there is a need to amend the Executive Order providing the deal.

The inquiry is based on House Resolution 1188 filed by Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone calling for an inquiry in aid of legislation on the questionable lease contract.

Evardone said Executive Order 289, series of 1995 identified the parcel of land to be leased by PHILEXPORT.

He said  the tripartite lease contract is a long-term lease for a period of 50 years and renewable for another 25 years, in a fixed amount of P1,000 only and was signed on January 23, 1996. It covers a 4.9-hectare lot under TCT No. 34996 located at the corner of Gil Puyat Ave. and Roxas Blvd. in Pasay City. It was a  prime lot, he said.

Evardone also questioned the entry of other entities through sub-lease contracts made by the National Development Company.

Evardone asked the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) headed by Secretary Ramon M. Lopez to explain to the panel the details of  the questionable lease contract.

The legislator contended that the lease contract should be amended or a new Executive Order must be issued by the President amending EO No. 289 that provided the land for the establishment of the Philippine Trade Center in accordance with Republic Act No. 7844 or the Export Development Act.

However, Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay, Jr. asserted during the hearing there is a constitutional provision that states no law shall be passed abridging an existing contract.

“Even if the Executive Secretary has an intention of amending certain provisions of the EO, that contract cannot be affected because it is covered by such constitutional provision,” said Pichay.

The DTI and stakeholders of the contract explained they are in the process of negotiating the development and conversion of the prime property into a major business area by putting up a hotel and infrastructure  that will benefit the Filipino exporters.

The committee asked the DTI and stakeholders present during the hearing to submit their position papers about HR 1188 and to ensure the government is not deprived of much-needed revenue from the so-called prime property which is owned by the Filipino people. 

House Resolution 1188 is co-authored by 1-Ang Edukasyon Partylist Salvador Belaro, Jr. (JAM)

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

1-PACMAN Party-list

Assistant Majority Leader

Member, Aquaculture & Fisheries Resources, Public Information and

6 other Committees Twitter: @MikeeRomeroPhD

RANKING SOLON PROPOSES RATIONAL APPROACH TO BORACAY SEWAGE PROBLEMS

The tourism industry and local governments in Boracay has long neglected sustainability concerns the DENR, environmentalists, and researchers have been raising for years now.

It has taken no less than President Duterte himself to finally shock them into a reality check. Will we have to wait until hundreds of tourists get sick when they ingest contaminated waters of Boracay? The time for action, indeed, is now.

As a legislator who cares for the future of Boracay, I urge the DENR, DILG and DoT to take actions which will involve these components:

IMMEDIATE

•           Scientific conduct of water testing with appropriate audit controls;

•           Identification of the specific coastal and inland areas of Boracay where water contamination is most hazardous to least problematic;

•           Cordoning off of the medium and high-risk areas while keeping open to tourists the low-risk and minimal risk areas;

•           Mobilization of barangays and residents for massive and regular coastal clean-up and inland waste segregation—using the work for pay scheme.

•           High-risk areas in Boracay be declared calamity zones to allow government to tap calamity funds to help residents whose employment/livelihood will be affected;

•           Formation and deployment of multisectoral task force, including volunteers from environment groups and local resident, working together in cooperation and common purpose;

•           Deployment of portable water purification systems to medium-risk and high risk areas;

MEDIUM-TERM

•           Approve sewerage infrastructure programs for the coastal towns and inland barangays of Boracay;

•           Capability-upgrading for LGUs and tourism establishments in Boracay on sanitation and sustainable development program implementation;

•           Audit and upgrading (if necessary) of Boracay health facilities for capability to respond to water-borne diseases;

•           Declare parts of Boracay as protected areas;

•           Include in the 2019 budget the necessary provisions for Boracay's environmental and sustainable development;

LONG-TERM

•           Install/build the Boracay sewerage and sanitation system in segments or phases starting in late 2018/2019. Complete the system in two to three years; and

•           Build the needed support systems, including roads and transport facilities to improve Boracay as the country's premiere tourist destination. (END)