Solon bucks granting

of legislative

franchises for 'e-sabong'

 

A party-list lawmaker on Wednesday opposed the proposal that Congress should provide legislative franchises to the operators of online cockfighting or e-sabong.

In a statement, Citizens’ Battle against Corruption (CIBAC) Party-list Rep. Bro Eddie Villanueva said taking away the authority from Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) to grant licenses to operate e-sabong and transfer it to Congress instead would make no difference, considering that internet-dispersed gambling is already "wreaking havoc" to society.

"Wherever they prosper, gambling operations galvanize criminality, poverty, and broken families -- this fact is no longer just a scientific observation in other countries; the Philippines is currently its latest victim," Villanueva said.

Villanueva said government leaders and agencies that empower e-gambling are culpable for the "gambling-induced social and moral decay".

He further explained that a congressional license on e-sabong will only deepen a destructive get-rich-quick culture among our people.

"Instead, Congress should not grant legislative franchise to e-sabong operators. It should begin taking action to eradicate the e-sabong infrastructure that is evidently inflicting a scourge of miseries to poor Filipinos who are being enticed into a psychologically and morally destructive ‘past time’ in hopes of bettering their fortune," he said.

He also condemned the e-sabong-linked disappearance of at least 31 cockfighting enthusiasts, who allegedly got involved in "unsavory" e-sabong transactions.

“CIBAC has long been sounding the alarm against e-sabong. It is regretful that it seems our warnings fell on deaf ears and have now become undeniable realities. Fathers, brothers, and sons are dying senseless deaths. Mothers, wives, and children are being needlessly widowed and orphaned just because gambling moguls are being favored over the welfare of the people," he said.

Based on reports, around 31 individuals were reported missing by their relatives and family in the past months after they visited cockpit arenas in Manila and Southern Luzon.

The Senate has initiated its inquiry into the rising number of missing persons allegedly involved in cockfighting and its online version.

Lawmakers have asked Pagcor to suspend licenses of e-sabong operators pending the results of the investigation into the case of the missing cockfighting enthusiasts. 

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 Ex-Cebu mayor, 3 others get 10

years for illegal funds diversion

 

 

The Sandiganbayan has convicted a former Cebu mayor and three other city officials in corruption charges in connection with the anomalous diversion of PHP20 million in public funds earmarked for agricultural development into a private company in 2007.

In a 119-page decision dated February 28, the anti-graft court's Sixth Division found Bogo City Mayor Celestino Martinez III, councilor Crescencio Verdida who was the municipal accountant during the time, former municipal treasurer Rhett Minguez, and former municipal assistant treasurer Julio Ursonal Jr. guilty of violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

They were sentenced up to 10 years in prison.

They were also perpetually disqualified from holding any public office and all of their retirement benefits were ordered forfeited.

The case against another accused who remains at large, former municipal budget officer Mary Lou Ursal was archived pending her arrest.

The officials were found guilty of conspiring with one another in diverting PHP20 million in public funds to the Bogo Municipal Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BMEMPC), a private corporation.

The funds were originally from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and for agricultural and livelihood assistance for farmers, fisherfolk, and other members of the marginalized sector under the Ginintuang Agrikulturang Makamasa (GAM) program.

On April 26, 2007, the officials instead turned over the money to BMEMPC by constituting it as a conduit for public funds and making the funds available exclusively to BMEMPC.

The accused availed themselves of huge loans from BMEMPC, along with its other members.

"Corruption has siphoned off whatever meager resources that could have been immensely helpful to alleviate the lives of poor Filipinos," the court said

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Ashes on forehead sign of

God's great love: Advincula

 

 

Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula reminded the faithful that placing ashes on the forehead is a sign of the great love of the Lord.

"The ashes are imposed by making the sign of the cross to remind us that even if we are sinners, there is hope because we have been redeemed by Christ through his life-giving death on the cross," Advincula said in an interview over Church-run Radio Veritas on Ash Wednesday.

The Catholic Church is observing Ash Wednesday this year on March 2, the beginning of the 40-day preparation for the sacrifice, death, and resurrection of the Lord.

Advincula said it was a reminder to humanity that Lent was divided into two important features of the celebration the ‘penitential and baptismal’.

He encouraged the faithful to fast for 40 days of Lent and intensify prayer as a sign of conversion to God.

"The forty days of Lent spent in prayer and penance indicates that a Christian should spend his life in prayer and fasting from evil. There was a time when Lent was a period of preparing public penitents for reconciliation. The Lenten season was observed by all the faithful fasting, almsgiving, and prayers,” the Manila archbishop added.

He said the burning of old palms to be used on Ash Wednesday shows that everything in the world has a limit and a reminder of human sinfulness, therefore, inviting all to forsake evil and turn to God.

"The ashes come from burned old palms reminding us that" all earthly glory fades. The ashes tell us that we are sinners; that there is evil and darkness in the world because there is evil and darkness in our hearts,” Advincula added.

Meanwhile, the archbishop also joined Pope Francis' call for a day of prayer and fasting as solidarity and call for peace in Ukraine.

Earlier, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines called on the faithful to pray for the reconciliation of the leaders of Russia and Ukraine to achieve unity and prevent the escalation of tensions between the two countries. 

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Solon proposes changes

to oil deregulation law

 

 

 The chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday proposed amendments to the Oil Deregulation Law to enhance competition in the fuel sector, strengthen and institutionalize consumer protection, and protect and promote national economic security.

Albay Rep. Joey Salceda proposed a four-point amendment in response to a request from Malacañang for Congress to amend the law to provide measures against an unmitigated rise in oil prices.

Salceda said the most important component of the proposal is to create a strategic petroleum reserve that the government would stock during periods of abnormally low prices.

He said this would help ensure adequate supply at affordable domestic prices during periods of high world market prices, as well as when price increases are artificial or due to collusion among players.

The other components, he said, would require the unbundling of retail prices of fuel, updating changes in retail prices by all fuel outlets in a central government database for efficient monitoring, and price transparency.

"The database that retailers will update will be made available and presented in an easy-to-navigate format for the consuming public, so that they can make informed decisions about their purchases. That will also help undercut abnormally high prices," he said.

He said his office is now drafting the proposed measure and will submit his version to the House leadership and to the Malacañang for the Department of Energy’s possible adoption as the administration version of the amendments.

“The strategic petroleum reserve will be especially crucial because oil is a very cyclical commodity. When oil prices rise in the global market, there really is very little you can do except release more supply. So, when oil prices are very low, we have to be countercyclical and actually buy more fuel, so that we will have spare supply to release during periods of high prices,” Salceda said. 

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 Isko to push for the use

of renewable energy

 

 

Presidential aspirant Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso said he will push for the use of safer and cheaper renewable energy, and other sources of energy such as gas or coal, in the country.

During his campaign trail in Pilar, Bataan on Wednesday, Domagoso said the country could draw inspiration from The Netherlands that generates its power mostly from renewable sources.

“They are resorting to renewable energy through open space via potable type pero ang ginawa nila agri-potable type source of energy. So, nakaimbento na sila ng way na patuloy pa rin silang magtatanim ng mga pagkain at kung saan tinatanim yung pagkain meron din source na pwede pagkunan ng (but what they did was agri-potable type source of energy. They have invented a way wherein they can continue to grow crops which can also be a source of) clean, renewable energy,” he explained.

He added that he is not convinced about reopening the Bataan Nuclear Powel Plant (BNPP) located in Morong, Bataan due to safety and environmental risks concern.

“Sa ngayon maraming other sources of energy -- renewable, gas, or coal. Hangga’t mayrong teknolohiya at etong mga teknolohiyang eto na available and cost much less. I’m not saying it’s not harmful, but less ang masamang epekto sa kapaligiran. Yun muna ang ipaprayoridad ko (Right now there are many other sources of energy, renewable, gas, or coal. Until we have the technology, and these technologies are available and will cost less. I’m not saying it’s not harmful, but it will have lesser bad effects on the environment, I will prioritize that) especially if there is an opportunity to copy what the Netherlands did,” he said.

According to the website trade.gov, the current energy mix in the Netherlands is natural gas accounting for 38 percent, oil at 35 percent, coal at 11 percent, biofuels and waste at 5 percent, and 11 percent from nuclear, wind, solar, hydropower and geothermal.

“The Netherlands was until recently, ranked 27th out of 27 EU countries in the production of energy from renewable sources. However, according to Statistics Netherlands, renewable energy consumption accounted for 11.1 percent of total Dutch energy consumption in 2020. This was up from 8.8 percent in 2019. The increase was largely due to rising solar and wind power capacity. Consumption of biomass was up as well, particularly co-firing at coal-fired power plants,” the website published.

Domagoso said these are the things that can be duplicated in the country based on the available technologies.

He added that until there are other options, the use of nuclear energy should be considered by the government.

“For the meantime itong Bataan Nuclear Power Plant ay hindi naman na ‘to safe para sa ating mga kababayan dito sa Bataan (this BNPP is no longer safe for our people living here in Bataan),” he said.

The BNPP, the country’s first and only nuclear power plant project, began its construction in 1976 on a 3.57-square kilometer government reservation at Napot Point in Morong, Bataan.

It was completed in 1984.

However, safety concerns in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine in 1986 and corruption allegations led to its mothballing. 

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PH‘s lowest single-day tally

of Covid-19 cases this year

 

 

The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday logged 866 new cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), the lowest single-day tally so far for this year.

The figure is higher than the 421 infections reported on Dec. 28, 2021 -- the last time the country saw the lowest three-digit daily new cases.

It pushed the overall tally of confirmed infections to 3,663,920.

The active cases went down 50,827 after 1,622 new recoveries were logged.

About 474 of the active cases are asymptomatic, 45,862 are mild, 2,776 are moderate, 1,417 are severe and 298 are critical.

Meantime, the total recovered cases increased to 3,556,589.

“Of the 866 reported cases today, 757 (87 percent) occurred within the recent 14 days, February 17 to March 2, 2022,” the DOH reported.

The regions with the most cases in the recent two weeks were the National Capital Region with 176 or 23 percent, Calabarzon with 119 or 16 percent, and Central Visayas with 82 or 11 percent.

The death toll has reached 56,504 with 53 new deaths, representing 1.54 percent of overall cases.

“Of the 53 deaths, 23 occurred in February 2022 (43 percent), 2 in January 2022 (4 percent), 1 in December 2021 (2 percent), 2 in November 2021 (4 percent), 10 in October 2021 (19 percent), 5 in September 2021 (9 percent), 2 in August 2021 (4 percent), 1 in July 2021 (2 percent), 2 in June 2021 (4 percent), 1 in March 2021 (2 percent), 1 in February 2021 (2 percent), 1 in November 2020 (2 percent), 1 in July 2020 (2 percent), and 1 in March 2020 (2 percent) due to the late encoding of death information to COVIDKaya,” the DOH said.

COVIDKaya is a digital application used by health care workers to collect and share data about Covid-19 cases.

According to the February 28 data, about 4.7 percent of 23,738 who were tested turned out positive for coronavirus.

About five duplicates were removed from the total case count as three were recoveries.

Meanwhile, 46 cases previously tagged as recoveries were reclassified as deaths after validation.

To date, 25 percent of 3,700 intensive care unit (ICU) beds, 23 percent of 20,400 isolation beds, 14 percent of 14,000 ward beds, and 13 percent of 3,100 ventilators are used by patients with Covid-19 nationwide.

In the NCR, 24 percent of 1,300 ICU beds, 24 percent of 4,600 isolation beds, 22 percent of 3,900 ward beds, and 15 percent of 1,000 ventilators dedicated to patients with Covid-19 are in use. 

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Vaccination of kids not required

but encouraged in F2F classes

 

Education Secretary Leonor Briones said Wednesday learners who want to participate in face-to-face classes are not required to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

“Not necessarily, hindi (not) required. It is voluntary kasi ang parents ang magdi-decide diyan (because the parents will be the ones to decide on that), but, of course, we will encourage them,” Briones said during a televised public briefing.

She said the Department of Education has a similar policy with the Department of Health regarding the needed consent from the parents on pediatric vaccination.

Citing zero cases of Covid-19 among 15,000 learners involved in the pilot implementation of face-to-face classes, Briones said young children have high level of immunity against diseases.

Meantime, teaching and non-teaching personnel who will participate in the face-to-face classes are required to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

Unvaccinated personnel who need to report to schools must be tested for Covid-19 and be able to submit the result.

To date, a total of 4,295 schools started face-to-face classes while 6,213 schools are ready for implementation based on the criteria set by the concerned government agencies.

The DepEd implemented the progressive expansion of the in-person classes on February 22 upon President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval. 

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Only a third of 36.7M due for

booster receive shots: NVOC

 

Only one-third of fully vaccinated individuals who are due for coronavirus booster shots have received their jabs, a health official said Wednesday.

National Vaccination Operations Center Chief Myrna Cabotaje said about 36.7 million eligible individuals are due for booster shots but only 10 million showed up in the vaccination centers to receive them.

“’Yung iba nag-iisip kung kelangan ng booster, ‘yung iba naman, (Some are thinking if a booster is really needed, while others) they don’t see the urgency of the booster,” Cabotaje said.

The NVOC is planning to strengthen the administration of booster shots this March by bringing the Covid-19 jabs to the workplaces.

"‘Yung mga healthcare workers dapat ma-booster, ‘yun ang paiigtingin natin, ‘yung ating mga national government agencies, dun tayo magfo-focus para mabigyan sila ng mga boosters, ‘yung mga economic front-liners natin (The healthcare workers must receive their booster [shots], that’s what we need to strengthen, we’ll focus on the national government agencies and our economic front-liners)," Cabotaje said.

She added that the NVOC would conduct the fourth edition of the national vaccination drive on March 10 with the theme “March to Vaccinate” as they bring inoculation closer to people in their houses and workplaces.

“Tentative date is March 10 so that will be a Thursday, Friday, Saturday,” she said. “We’ll bring not only the vaccines but also the right information, we have social mobilization now, with lower alert level, we can allow more face-to-face communication."

Adults ages 18 years old and above are eligible to receive their booster shots three months after completing their primary series.

For those who are 17 years old and below, the NVOC said the government has not issued a policy yet whether they qualify for booster shots, but the country’s vaccine experts are studying this possibility.

Cabotaje confirmed that there are Covid-19 vaccines that have expired and are about to expire and they are an “aggregation of donations and procurements by the national government, local governments and the private sectors."

“We’re still verifying and validating the numbers, kase 'yung iba (because for the others) we have requested for the extension of shelf life, so as we are ready, we’ll issue the final numbers,” she said.

To date, NVOC data showed that 63 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated – 93 percent of healthcare workers, 62.82 percent of senior citizens, and 92 percent of people with comorbidities have been fully vaccinated.

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Ukraine-Russia conflict

poses implications

to PH economy: Palace

 

 

Malacañang on Wednesday said the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine posed economic, trade, and human resource implications to the country and the Filipino people.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, also the acting presidential spokesperson, said President Rodrigo Roa Duterte gave assurances that mitigating measures and contingency plans will be put in place as part of the government’s pro-active response to the Russia-Ukraine war.

"The Palace joins the country and the entire world in praying for an early and peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine," Nograles said during the Laging Handa public briefing.

Nograles reiterated the position of the Philippines, "that war benefits no one, and that it exacts a tragic, bloody toll on the lives of innocent men, women, and children in the areas of conflict."

"The conflict in Ukraine has economic, trade, and human resource implications for our country and for our people. As we monitor the current situation, every Filipino has the right to know what the government is doing to prepare for any eventuality," he added.

Nograles said Duterte met with his Cabinet members on Tuesday night, along with the top officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), and other high-ranking officials, to discuss possible scenarios and measures should the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict continue and will escalate.

Duterte approved the recommendation of the country's economic team to strengthen the domestic economy, stabilize food prices, provide social protection, and explore diplomatic channels to help resolve the conflict.

Boost local food production

Nograles said Duterte has also agreed to the recommendations of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to boost local food production to ensure food stability in the Philippines.

The government targets to further increase food production through its "Plant, Plant, Plant" Part Two program by increasing rice buffer stock not less than 30 days; providing financial assistance to rice farmers; addressing price hikes on fertilizers by providing fertilizer subsidy; and ensuring market access through bilateral discussions with other fertilizer-producing countries.

Nograles said Duterte has also approved the DA's recommendation to distribute fuel discount vouchers to farmers and fisherfolks to address the issues of increasing fuel prices in the country.

He added that the government will also intensify crop production, boosts research on reducing feeds prices, and provide logistical support such as food mobilization from high-production provinces to cities.

Through the "Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita" program, the government will push for the deployment of Kadiwa mobile vans or trucks and subsidies on the transportation cost of basic commodities.

"Kung kinakailangan, nakahanda ang pamahalaan na isakatuparan ang implementasyon ng (If needed, the government is prepared to carry out the implementation of the) Price Control Law," Nograles said.

"We shall likewise continue talks with our partners and heighten negotiations with non-traditional partners to address threats to agricultural exports while improving our digital agricultural infrastructure and systems," he added.

He also said Duterte approved the recommendations of the Department of Energy (DOE) to implement the PHP2.5 billion worth of Pantawid Pasada, and PHP500 million worth of subsidy under the fuel discount program for farmers and fisherfolk, to ensure there's enough supply of oil in the country.

Nograles said, "the DOE will continue to monitor the sufficiency in supply and quality and will make sure there will be no short selling."

Review of Oil Deregulation Law

The Palace also called on the Congress to review the Oil Deregulation Law, particularly provisions on unbundling the price, and the inclusion of the minimum inventory requirements in the law, as well as giving the government intervention powers/authority to intervene when there is a spike and/or prolonged increase of prices of oil products--as part of the government's medium-term measures.

The government is also eyeing the building of the strategic petroleum reserve infrastructure, ensuring Minimum Inventory Requirements, and advocating for energy conservation and efficiency.

The Department of Trade and Industry's recommendations to accelerate renewable energy adoption; support investments in Utility-Scale Battery Storage to maximize utilization of renewable energy sources; support investments in modern storage facilities for oil and grains to increase within-the-border holding capacity; and empower the private sector to help in strategic stockpiling will be put in place, as further approved by the President.

Nograles said the AFP and the PNP also gave assurances that government troops, as well as the Philippine military and police assets, are on stand-by, noting that they have respective contingencies prepared for any conflict developments.

"In conclusion, we appeal for an immediate end to the unnecessary loss of life, and call on the states involved to forge an accord that can help prevent a conflagration that could engulf a world still struggling to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic," Nograles said.

"The course of history and the fate of our world will be shaped by the decisions that will be made by its leaders. We are one in prayer, together with all peace-loving citizens, that they be guided by wisdom and a genuine desire to save lives, establish harmony among neighboring nations, and forge a just and lasting peace for humanity," he added.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar lauded Duterte’s approval on DA’s recommendations to boost local food productions during the meeting in Malacañang.

“We should help our farmers and fishers to be more productive, and earn decent income,” Dar said. "It is imperative and urgent for the Philippine government to ensure that we have adequate, affordable and accessible supply of basic food items, and agricultural inputs to ensure continued productivity and increased incomes of farmers and fisherfolk.”

Dar said high fuel prices directly impact the cost of farm inputs, fertilizers, feeds, and biologics.

“With current global oil prices exceeding USD100 per barrel, the President approved our requested budget for the Plant, Plant, Plant Program Part 2,” he said.

He said the DA through its Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) is currently holding bilateral discussions with fertilizer producing countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Qatar, and China to mitigate the anticipated effect of the war on the global fertilizer market.

“We are now working closely with the Department of Budget Management (DBM) on the proposed realignment of our 2022 budget to ensure more effective and targeted utilization of funds,” Dar said.

He also welcomed the decision of Duterte to transfer back the oversight of the National Irrigation Administration to the DA for better water management and crop scheduling.

“Finally, we enjoin the provincial LGUs to tap the LandBank and the DBP, where they can apply concessional loans which they could use to buy palay from farmers, maintain rice buffer stocks, and establish their respective rice processing and storage facilities,” he said adding that the president will issue an executive order on the matter. (with reports from Christine Cudis/PNA)

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Marcos vows to revive glory

days of ‘Bicol Express’

Presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. admitted that there is a need to improve the transportation system in the Bicol Region and it is going to be one of his priority projects when he wins the upcoming May 9 elections.

“Madalas nating marinig noon ang salitang ‘Bicol Express’ patungkol sa mga tren na bumibyahe sa rehiyon. Sa paglipas ng panahon ay naging palasak na lang ang katagang ito na tumutukoy sa pangunahing sistema ng transportasyon na ngayon ay bilang isang masarap na pagkain ng mga Bicolano (We used to hear the word ‘Bicol Express’ in reference to trains traveling in the region. Over time this term has become commonplace referring to the main transportation system that is now as a delicacy of the Bicolanos,” Marcos said in a news release on Tuesday.

Marcos assured that he will bring back “Bicol Express” which is more organized and effective if he emerges victorious in the presidential race.

The Philippine National Railways (PNR), a government-owned company, was established in 1875 as the Ferrocaril de Manila-Dagupan and plied its initial route to Pangasinan.

Seven years later, the railroad linking Dagupan and Legazpi was created and it became popular to travelers because it was cheaper than an airplane but way much faster than a car.

In 1931, the Manila-to-Bicol route, which was popularly known as Bicol Express, started.

The Bicol Express, however, slowly deteriorated in the 70s due to security issues, the proliferation of air-conditioned buses, calamities, and finally the Mayon Volcano explosion in 1993.

In 2006, the railways were badly damaged after the onslaught of Typhoons Milenyo and Reming, which finally led to the suspension of the Bicol-Manila route.

After a massive rehabilitation, the Bicol Express came back to life in 2011, but the endearing title has now become synonymous with the region’s popular dish.

“Hindi naman siguro tayo nakakalimot na ang tren na biyaheng Bicol ay hindi lang nagbigay ng malaking kaginhawaan kundi nagdulot din ito ng malalim na kasiyahan sa ating mga kababayang Bikolano. Ibalik natin ito pero mas pagandahin pa natin at pabilisin upang magsilbing pangunahing transportasyon ng mga Bicolano at mga dayuhang turista na naaakit sa ganda ng bayang ito (We should not forget that the Bicol train trip not only provided great convenience but also brought deep satisfaction to Bicolanos. Let’s bring it back but let’s make even more beautiful and speed it up to serve as the main transportation for Bicolanos and foreign tourists who are attracted to the beauty of the region),” Marcos said.

He added that the improvement of the railway system will be aligned with his continuity of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s “Build, Build, Build” program but he will also be open to talks with big companies who are willing to finance its rehabilitation via the Public-Private Partnership program.

“Ang kailangan natin ay maging agresibo sa pagsusulong ng mga proyektong makakapaghatid ng maayos na serbisyo sa ating mga mamamayan. Isa lamang ito sa mga layunin natin upang iangat ang Bicolandia matapos ang mapamuksang pandemya (What we need is to be aggressive in advancing projects that will deliver good service to our people. This is just one of our goals to lift Bicolandia after the devastating pandemic),” Marcos said. (PR)

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