Public urged to demand

transparency in services

The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) on Friday urged the public to assert their right to a transparent and efficient government service through a properly-implemented Citizen’s Charter, an official document that communicates, in simple terms, the information on the services provided by the government to its citizens.

More than serving as a basis for the recognition of performance, the Citizen’s Charter shall be the basis for establishing accountability in the delivery of government service, which is stated in the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act (RA) 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.

RA 11032 entitles the transacting public to a Citizen’s Charter that must be placed at the main entrance or the most conspicuous or visible place in a government office.

This shall be in the form of information billboards such as touchscreen information kiosks, electronic billboards, posters, tarpaulins, or any other readable materials written in a manner that is easily understood by the public.

The Citizen’s Charter must also be available for perusal in the form of a handbook with a soft copy uploaded to the respective websites of the government agencies.

“A Citizen’s Charter is akin to a menu in a restaurant. It is there that you can see what dishes are being served and how much. Likewise, a Citizen’s Charter is required of every government office big or small, because it reflects all the services being offered, fees to be paid, requirements needed to be submitted, and most of all the processing times per service. This must be posted in the most prominent place in the entrance of every office so the people may hold the agency to those standards as listed in the Citizen’s Charter. In short, the Citizen’s Charter is the agencies’ social contract with the people,” ARTA Director General Jeremiah Belgica said in a news release.

When transacting with government agencies, ARTA urges the public to look out for the following information on Citizen’s Charters: (a) a comprehensive and uniform checklist of requirements for each type of application or request; (b) a step-by-step procedure in obtaining a particular service; (c) person/s responsible for each step; (d) maximum time to conclude the process; (e) the document/s to be presented by you; and the (f) amount of fees that you should pay and where the payment shall be made. Lastly, the transacting public shall also be informed in the Citizen’s Charter with the (g) procedure that they could undertake to file any complaints to the agency.

For the July 25 deadline set for government agencies to submit their revised Citizen’s Charter, ARTA also requires that the new processes implemented and all other revisions on existing services that are being adopted in consideration of the declaration of a State of Public Health Emergency be reflected in their respective Citizen’s Charter.

ARTA had since been working to ensure that all agencies are equipped with the capacity and the guidelines to properly comply with this provision of the law. With the extension of submission allowed given the constraints brought by the pandemic, ARTA expects nothing less of the government agencies in granting the public’s right to a Citizen’s Charter

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Palace snubs call to prove

Duterte is 88% healthy

Malacañang on Friday spurned the call of the lawyer who wants public disclosure of President Rodrigo Duterte’s health records to show proof that the 75-year-old Chief Executive is “88 percent” physically healthy.

This, after lawyer Dino de Leon wrote a letter on Thursday, asking Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque to prove his recent claim that Duterte’s physical health is at 88 percent.

De Leon explained in his letter that Roque, as Duterte’s spokesperson, may have “both factual and legal basis” to claim that the President is still in the “pink of health.”

“In light of the importance of the President’s health to the public, as well as the people’s right to be assured that the statements of the Presidential Spokesperson are accurate, I respectfully request that you provide the public with that basis of your conclusion that the President is 88 percent healthy,” he told Roque.

Responding to the letter, Roque said the Supreme Court’s (SC) ruling against de Leon’s petition seeking the release of Duterte’s medical records merely proves that there is no need to prove that Duterte’s health remains in good condition.

“Atty. Dino de Leon already lost his case in the Supreme Court where he asked the tribunal to compel President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to publicly disclose his health records. The decision speaks for itself,” he said in a statement sent to Palace reporters.

Roque was referring to the SC’s decision to reject de Leon’s plea to gain access to Duterte’s health records.

De Leon’s petition was denied by the high court in May. However, the SC released its resolution on the lawyer’s plea just on Wednesday.

In its five-page resolution dated May 8, the SC explained it had to junk de Leon’s request to divulge Duterte’s medical results and health bulletins for lack of merit.

The high court also noted that Duterte’s regular public appearances amid the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic belie de Leon’s “insinuation that the President is suffering from serious illness.”

Roque said de Leon should accept his defeat and respect the SC ruling.

“He (de Leon) should accept his legal defeat graciously and heed the High Court’s ruling,” he said. (PNA) 

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Lawmaker seeks release of aid

for seniors every 3 months

A lawmaker at the House of Representatives on Friday urged the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to release the PHP500 monthly pension for millions of indigent senior citizens every three months, instead of every six months. 

In filing House Resolution 1047, Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said the release of pensions every three months is necessary to support senior citizens during the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. 

“Due to lockdowns and quarantines in many parts of the country, many businesses struggled, resulting in loss of jobs for many Filipinos, including senior citizens who are still productive members of society,” Rodriguez said.

“Now more than ever, these indigent senior citizens need financial assistance from the government.” 

He said the government should provide timely assistance under its social pension program, noting that six months is too long for the beneficiaries to wait for such assistance. 

“They need it to augment whatever money they have for their maintenance medicines, food and other essentials,” Rodriguez said. 

Under a DSWD memorandum circular, the PHP500 monthly financial aid is to be given “every six months or PHP3,000 per semester.” 

Some PHP23.2 billion was allocated in the 2020 national budget for the senior citizen assistance program with three million beneficiaries.

Rodriguez has also urged the Social Security System (SSS) to release the additional PHP1,000 increase in the monthly pension of private sector retirees.

He reminded SSS officials that they promised to give the adjustment last year, which means, he said, it is now delayed by a year. (PNA) 

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Anti-terror law takes

effect July 18: DOJ

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Friday said Republic Act 11479, or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, will take effect on Saturday.

In a message to reporters, Guevarra said the effectivity clause of the law states that it shall take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general circulation.

"Considering that the law was published on July 3, it will take effect on July 18, which is the 15th day. This is in accordance with the ruling of the Supreme Court in 'People vs Nicolas', among others. We rectify our earlier statement that the law will take effect after the 15th day, or on July 19," he said.

RA 11479, which seeks to give the country more teeth in curbing terrorism, amends RA 9372 or the Human Security Act of 2007.

The Supreme Court (SC) earlier consolidated the petitions challenging the constitutionality of the law.

Cases were filed by the former head of the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel Rudolph Philip B. Jurado, Christian S. Monsod, Felicitas A. Aquino, and the Ateneo Human Rights Center, two labor groups represented by the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) and the Pro-Labor Legal Assistance Center (PLACE), and the Sanlakas party-list.

The first four cases were filed by the group of lawyers Howard Calleja and former education secretary Armin Luistro, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, the group of law dean Mel Sta. Maria and several professors of the Far Eastern University (FEU), and the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives led by Bayan Muna Party-List Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate.

The SC earlier required the Office of the President, several agencies under the executive department, and both houses of Congress to comment on the last four petitions seeking to stop the enforcement of the law starting July 19.

The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) which will file the comments for the Office of the President and the agencies under the executive department has reportedly received the SC resolution requiring comment on the first four cases.

However, it is not known yet whether the OSG would file a motion for extension of time to file the comment because of the filing of the four other petitions. 

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Palace welcomes SC order

on disposal of seized drugs

 Malacañang on Friday welcomed the Supreme Court’s (SC) order for lower courts to expedite the disposal of seized illegal drugs.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the SC’s latest move would give a boost to the government’s anti-narcotics campaign.

"Mabuti po kasi baka makarating pa sa mga maling kamay ang mga pinagbabawal na gamot na iyan (That’s good because there is a possibility that the illegal drugs would fall into the wrong hands),” Roque said in an interview with state-run PTV-4.

In the first six months of 2020, around 1.57 metric tons of shabu and some 2.9 metric tons of marijuana have been seized during the 25,612 operations launched by the Philippine National Police.

The PNP's anti-drug operations have also led to the arrest of 38,178 suspects.

On Wednesday, the SC directed all regional trial courts (RTC) handling illegal drug cases to expedite their inspection and order the immediate destruction of seized illegal drugs used as pieces of evidence.

The high tribunal’s directive came after PNP chief Police Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa notified Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez that illegal drugs confiscated in police operations remain in the custody of enforcement agents due to the delayed issuance of court orders for their destruction.

In Circular 118-2020, Marquez reminded RTC judges to strictly comply with the requirements of Section 21 (4) of Republic Act (RA) 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 on the immediate destruction of illegal drugs seized during police operations.

Marquez said RTC judges are mandated under RA 9165 to conduct ocular inspection of the seized dangerous drugs within 72 hours from the filing of a criminal complaint in court.

He added that they are required to issue a destruction order within 24 hours after the ocular inspection.

On Thursday, Gamboa said the PNP will immediately seek orders from lower courts for the disposal of seized illegal drugs. 

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Lockdowns balance Covid-19

fight; keep economy open

MANILA – The Taguig City government is focusing on the decisive and proactive localized lockdowns to balance the response to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and keeping the economy open, Mayor Lino Cayetano said on Friday.

"Localized lockdowns are the key towards the MGCQ (modified general community quarantine) and the new normal. Where there is a high figure of infections, whether it is a building or just a floor, street or cluster of houses, we will implement a localized lockdown so that other areas will not be affected," Cayetano said in a Laging Handa briefing.

He said such a measure was the consensus of all Metro Manila mayors, noting that putting a village or a city under lockdown is something that they cannot afford anymore.

Cayetano added that localized lockdowns help in keeping the economy open that result in continuity of jobs for the people.

"We are doing this in line with the direction of the national government. We were talking to DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) Secretary Mon Lopez, one of his reminders is to prevent closure of businesses and loss of jobs while we continue to battle the pandemic," he said.

Meanwhile, Cayetano reported that the city has done nearly 19,000 Covid-19 tests, which are equivalent to 2.5 percent of the city's population.

"Our goal, in line with the targets of the national government, is to test 10 percent (of the population) by the end of the year," he added.

To meet this, the city follows the Systematic Mass Approach Responsible Testing (SMART) program which features hospital testing, house-to-house testing, community-based testing through health centers, and drive-thru testing.

Taguig's testing capacity is now at 2,000 a day, with 128 swabbing personnel deployed.

Meanwhile, he said the city came up with its own emergency subsidy program where it distributed PHP4,000 each to around 200,000 families

It is to complement the national government's social amelioration program.

At the start of the community quarantine measures in mid-March, Cayetano said they have also distributed a million stay-at-home packs containing essential supplies for residents.

For its pro-active and aggressive actions aimed at containing the Covid-19 pandemic, Taguig was hailed and called "a role model" by ranking officials for its health initiatives.

Since March, Taguig City has 1,663 confirmed cases, 1,030 were now being monitored, while 610 patients have recovered.

Cayetano bared that 90 percent of the active cases in the city were asymptomatic, prompting them to have more quarantine facilities to prevent the further spread of the disease in the households.

Cayetano explained that the success of Taguig in testing could be attributed to the cooperation and coordination with the Department of Health (DOH) and the national government.

He said the city's 31 health centers can do Covid-19 testing. 

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Covid-19 cases breaching

61K-mark saddens Palace

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos  

 Malacañang on Friday said it was saddened that the total confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in the Philippines has jumped to over 61,000.

In an interview with state-run PTV-4, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said it was disheartening that the University of the Philippines (UP) researchers’ initial prediction of 60,000 Covid-19 cases in the country by July 31 happened before the month ends.

“Ngayon, nagkatotoo na nga. Hindi pa tapos ang buwan. Nakakalungkot po iyan. Nag-bago pa sila (UP researchers) ng forecast na mas maraming magkakasakit ng Covid (Now, the prediction becomes true. It’s just less than a month. It’s saddening. They even changed their forecast, saying that many more will get infected with Covid),” Roque said.

Roque issued the statement a day after Covid-19 infections in the Philippines rose to 61,266.

As of Thursday, the Philippines has reported that around 21,440 Covid-19 patients have recovered while 1,643 others have died of coronavirus.

In June, a group of researchers from UP projected that the country is likely to hit 60,000 Covid-19 cases by end of July.

The group revised its projection, saying the Covid-19 infections could top 85,000 by the end of July, considering the disease’s transmission rate and doubling time.

Strategies still working

Despite the latest development, Roque remained confident that the quarantine measures imposed by the government are still “working” to combat Covid-19.

“Gumagana naman po dahil kung hindi po tayo gumalaw, eh di milyun-milyon na po ang may Covid (They are still working because millions of people would have acquired Covid-19, had we failed to take appropriate actions),” Roque said.

Roque was referring to experts’ previous warning that the number of Filipinos who might get infected with Covid-19 could be up to 8.3 million, in case the government fails to address the Covid-19 pandemic.

Roque said the government’s strategies to contain Covid-19 are effective since only a few people are dying of Covid-19.

“So gumagana naman po dahil maliit pa rin ang bilang ng mga namamatay sa sakit na ito (So our strategies are still working because the number of people dying due to this disease is just low),” he said.

Roque also maintained that with the cooperation of the public, the country would be successful in its fight against Covid-19.

He reminded everyone anew to continue wearing face masks, washing hands, and observing social distancing to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

“Ang importante po ngayon, makipag-cooperate po tayo (What’s important now is the cooperation of everyone),” he said. (PNA)

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IATF-EID orders reclassification of some business industries  

·        

MANILA – The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has ordered the reclassification of several business industries in the country, Malacañang said on Friday.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) was tasked to re-categorize certain industries for the resumption of their operations or the gradual increase of operating capacity of those that are now open, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.

The IATF-EID gave the directive during its meeting on Thursday, Roque said in a press statement.

He said the DTI should consult the departments of finance, local government, and tourism.

“The DTI is likewise given authority of the IATF to issue a negative list of industries, which shall remain prohibited even in areas under MGCQ (modified general community quarantine),” Roque said.

The government has further relaxed the quarantine protocols in the country amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak to allow more business establishments to resume operations, especially in areas placed under MGCQ.

He said the IATF-EID’s latest move was meant to revive the economy in Metro Manila and Region 4-A (Calabarzon).

“These recent actions of the IATF are in compliance with the directive to ensure the increase of the capacities of the business sector vis-à-vis available transportation to revitalize the economy in Metro Manila and Region 4-A,” Roque said.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday announced the new quarantine classifications in the country for the July 16 to 31 period.

On Wednesday, the President also consulted doctors and experts on the possible reopening of the Philippine economy amid the Covid-19 crisis.

Duterte made the consultation after admitting on July 7 that the country could not afford to completely reopen the economy amid the pandemic.

Doctors and experts told him that the total reopening of the economy is possible, so long as localized lockdown is implemented, the Covid-19 testing capacity improves, and vulnerable groups are protected.

On Wednesday, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said there are signs that the country’s economy is recovering despite the crisis brought about by Covid-19.

As of Thursday, the Philippines has logged 61,266 confirmed Covid-19 cases, with 21,440 recoveries and 1,643 deaths. (PNA)

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Cayetano eyes changes in socio-

political system vs. oligarchy

House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday stressed the need to introduce changes in the Philippine socio-political and economic system to remove the oligarchs’ influence over the country.

During the hearing of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, Cayetano said the current system enables oligarchs to create policies that favor and promote their interests over public interest by penetrating politics.

“These oligarchs are in the best position to pass the laws, to change the laws, to use the laws, to abuse the laws. And kasama nito ay very powerful politicians na either nagamit, nagpapagamit or very happy na magkuntsaba din sa kanila (This includes very powerful politicians that were either used or being used, or very happy to connive with them [oligarchs]),” he said.

Cayetano said while there are oligarchs in the country, the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte “leveled the playing field.”

He said Duterte has treated everyone equally no matter how rich, powerful, or close their ties are with him.

"In every other administration, may paborito palagi (there are always favorites). At kung paborito yung isa, yung hindi paborito umaangal (And if one is being favored, the other one complains). But that doesn't mean there's no oligarchy," Cayetano said.

He said everyone is “equally guilty” for allowing the persistence of oligarchies in the socio-political and economic system, thus the need to pursue changes.

“We’re in a chance now to change the ecosystem… Our job is to fix what is broken, to bring new life to a new socio-political and economic system,” he added.

In a speech aired Tuesday, Duterte said he dismantled the country's oligarchy without declaring martial law.

He did not mention names, but his remarks came a few days after a House panel voted to deny ABS-CBN a new franchise, permanently shutting down its operations.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque later clarified that Duterte referred to tycoons Lucio Tan, the Ayalas and Manuel V. Pangilinan who earned Duterte’s ire in the past due to some issues

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City hosts 2,674 out-of-town

Locally Stranded Individuals

By Letty Militante

The city government is now hosting at least 2,674 Locally Stranded Individuals (LSI) and providing for their sustenance in the different 34 facilities in this city.

Mayor Maria Isabelle C.Climaco Salazar disclosed that among those who are  being quarantine in  the different 34 facilities, some  are in the Ecozone-78 , Lantaka -65 with 48 possitive,Cabatangan-32 with 29 possitive, Cabatangan DOH Facility- 3 and 63 others.

Climaco Salazar also said that while the city was revert to General Community Quarantine effective  July 16,2020, as announced by tbe IATF-EID in a meeting with Pres. Duterte  last Wednesday ,July 14,2020 night she is advising the  public  to strictly comply with GCQ guidelines and help curb the transmission of COVID-19.

Climaco Salazar has issue   Executive Order 578 prescribing guidelines for the implementation of General Community Quarantine in Zamboanga from July 16-31, 2020 based on the IATF-EID declaration.

This is the second time that Zamboanga City is placed under GCQ.

According to Climaco Salazar , she does not favor to go for ECQ again and asked everyone to cooperate  because it greatly affect on every people’s living.

“Grande efecto na familia busca labida,” Climaco Salazar said.

On record, the city is almost nearing to  100 community cases of Covid 19 pandemic. And all of the different isolation facilities are almost full.

She also said that  there is no plan for a Cityhall “lockdown” as City hall went through an intensive  disinfections and decontamination activity against the threat of Covid 19  last week.

City Hall was reopened last Monday,July 20,2020 to ensure safety and protection not only of employees but of clients as well.

This disinfection of the facility came after City hall recorded its first two Covid 19 cases last week

It will be a skeleton workforce and work from home arrangement for employees holding office in City Hall and other City Government offices to ensure continuity of service even during challenging times.

In as far as supports  are concderned it is the  city government  that is providing for Covid 19 possitive patients  to include the LSI, OFW’s and among others for the accomodations,food, medicines, hygiene products and supplies. (Letty M.Militante)

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