Gabby Concepcion renews contract with GMA: "Tumitibok ang aking puso dito sa Kapuso"

Nag-uumapaw ang excitement at pasasalamat ni Gabby Concepcion ngayong pumirma siya ng bagong kontrata sa GMA Network.

Ngayong araw, August 6, ay naganap ang contract renewal ni Gabby bilang isang Kapuso talent.

Present sa kanyang contract-signing ang kanyang manager na si Popoy Caritativo, GMA Chairman at CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, at GMA Senior Vice President for Entertainment TV Lilybeth G. Rasonable.

Wika ng Ika-6 Na Utos actor, “I guess it's sweeter the second time around. This is the second time and I'm really happy. Definitely, tumitibok ang aking puso dito sa Kapuso. Dito ang puso ko hindi masyado malaki, ngayon malaking-malaki na dahil sa GMA, tinanggap nila ulit ako for the second contract.”

Looking forward din daw siya sa kanyang upcoming projects bilang Kapuso.

“I'm really very happy sa magagandang mga palabas namin, magagandang shows, very successful. Magagaling kasi 'yung mga bosses namin, magagaling 'yung mga artista, lahat ng staff, ng creative, ng crew, and isa lang masasabi ko, I'm very happy,” patuloy ng aktor.

Nagpapasalamat din si Atty. Gozon sa ipinakitang tiwala at loyalty ni Gabby.

Aniya, “Alam naman ng lahat na si Gabby isa sa mga pinakamagaling na artista 'yan, walang kupas. Lahat ng ginawa niya sa 'tin nagre-rate so tayo'y nagpapasalamat na pumayag siyang mag-renew sa atin. We are hoping to give him more projects. 'Yan ang klase ng mga tao na walang kupas.”

Jen Bautista on SOP Gigsters

Duterte signs ID law, presents Bangsamoro law

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Duterte signs National ID System Act

President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law on Monday an act creating a national identification system in the country.

The Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) Act of 2018, authored by Senator Panfilo Lacson, aims to create a single official identification card for all citizens that integrates and interconnects various government-issued IDs.

Lacson previously said having different forms of functional IDs results in  "duplication of efforts, wastage of resources, and uncoordinated identity approaches."

The national ID system will have 13 sets of information. It will bear the PhilSys number (PSN), full name, sex, blood type, date of birth, place of birth, marital status, and photo of the ID owner. More information will be stored in the PhilSys registry, such as mobile number, email address, and biometrics data, including full set of fingerprints and iris scan.

Congress approved and ratified the measure in May. Once signed by the President, officials shall roll out the identification cards to one million Filipinos before the end of the year with priority to persons with disability, senior citizens, and the poor.

Duterte signs national ID system law

Filipinos will soon be asked to register with the Philippine ID System in order to get their national ID. Lawmakers give assurances that privacy rights and data will be protected.

Filipinos will soon get national IDs after President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law the Philippine Identification System Act on Monday, August 6.

The enrolled bill seeking to create a unified and streamlined national identification system was signed by the President in Malacañang in the presence of lawmakers and other officials.

The new law establishes the Philippine ID System or PhilSys, a centralized database for vital information on all residents and resident aliens in the Philipines.


It is meant to speed up and improve the delivery of government services and reduce fraudulent transactions.

"For the ordinary Juan dela Cruz, the signing of this Act means that he will no longer have to present multiple identification cards simply to prove his identity," said Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque in a statement.

How it works: A physical national ID or PhilID will be issued to each individual who registers with the system. Each person will also get a randomly generated, unique, and permanent ID number or Common Reference Number (CRN).

Personal data to be collected for the national ID will be include name, sex, date of birth, place of birth, and address. Biometrics information will also be collected, including facial image, full set of fingerprints, iris scan, and other identifiable features that are necessary.

It will be optional to give your mobile number and email address.

The PhilID or number can be used when dealing with national government agencies, local government units, government-owned and controlled corporations, government financial institutions, and the private sector.

Registeration for the ID will be free of charge. Filipinos living abroad may sign up for their national ID with the embassy or consular office where they are located.

Under the 2018 national budget, the government alloted P2 billion for the initial implementation of the program, lodged under the Philippine Statistics Authority's budget.

The passage of the law means the Philippines leaves the small list of countries in the world without a national ID system in place.

Securing privacy rights, data: Yet creating a national ID system has sparked a debate on privacy and data security, especially at a time when government websites have been vulnerable to data breaches.

While the system may be beneficial, data privacy experts are worried about certain provisions in the bill which may blur the line between what's appropriate and what may constitute a violation of privacy. (READ: 'Record history' casts cloud of doubt on proposed national ID system)

For example, the law's inclusion of a record history, which will track each transaction made, may pave the way for mass surveillance. If the national ID system aims to streamline identity verification, keeping a record history would be completely unnecessary, experts said.

Senator Franklin Drilon, however, sought to assuage such fears. Drilon, who thanked Duterte for signing the law, said, “We have provided enough safeguards to protect the individual’s right to privacy and to prevent unscrupulous persons from accessing confidential information.”

He gave assurances that the Data Privacy Act would protect those registered from any violation of their right to privacy.

Legislation for a national ID system was among the Duterte administration's priorities in its legislative agenda.

Presidential Spokesman Roque said the signing of the law is consistent with Duterte's commitment to cut bureaucratic red tape.

"Through PhilSys, we hope to improve efficiency and transparency of public services and promote ease of doing business," he said.

Last May, Duterte also signed the Ease of Doing Business Act which created a unified and streamlined system for persons seeking to put up businesses in the Philippines. 

Drilon: Proposed national ID law has ‘enough safeguards’ to protect privacy

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Monday allayed fears that the proposed national identification (ID) system would compromise Filipinos’ rights to privacy, noting that pertinent provisions of the Data Privacy Act will still apply.

President Duterte is expected to sign into law this Monday the bill establishing a single and streamlined identification system in the country.

“We have provided enough safeguards to protect the individual’s right to privacy and to prevent unscrupulous persons from accessing confidential information,” said Drilon, the principal author of the law, in a statement.

Drilon earlier claimed that the law should not be viewed as a threat to security because the main objective of the bill is “to ensure efficient delivery of service and ease transactions with government

“This landmark legislation is meant to ensure efficient delivery of service and ease transactions with government agencies. I wish to thank the President for signing it into law,” he said.

The data that will be included in the national ID system would not be different from the information that currently indicated in all government-issued IDs, Drilon added.

Under the new law, a Common Reference Number (CRN) will be given to all Filipinos containing essential information such as full name, address, date and place of birth, sex, civil status, signature, CRN and date of card issuance, along with a recent photo.

Filipinos living and working abroad can register at embassy or consular offices in their countries of location to get their assigned CRN.

The application for the ID system shall be free of charge, as part of the government’s social responsibility, Drilon noted.   /vvp

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1018182/drilon-proposed-national-id-law-has-enough-safeguards-to-protect-privacy

Duterte to sign National ID law

President Rodrigo Duterte will sign into law today the bill establishing a national ID system for Filipinos.

The proposed measure aims to cut red tape by integrating different government IDs in one card, which shall contain a person’s Philippine Identification System number, full name, sex, blood type, date of birth, place of birth, marital status, address and a front facing photo.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the national ID system will help the government improve the delivery of goods and services to Filipinos and also protect the public from identity theft.

He also allayed the public’s fears that their privacy may be violated.

“This time around there is a privacy law, and in the law itself, the government has obligation to protect data gathered because of the national ID system,” he said.

Congress ratified the national ID bill in May, even as some critics warn that it is a threat to privacy.

President Duterte will sign the national ID system law today in a ceremony at Malacañang's Rizal Hall.

The Philippines is one of the few countries in the world which do not have a national ID system.

The Philippine Statistics Authority will be the implementing agency of the measure.

National Statistician and Civil Registrar General Lisa Grace Bersales said in the months after the signing of the law, the PSA will be conducting a pilot implementation of the system in selected regions.

The pilot test aims to lay down the registration process prior to the full 5-year implementation starting 2019, Bersales said.

http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/06/18/duterte-to-sign-national-id-law

Duterte to sign Philippine ID System Act

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is expected to sign Monday afternoon, August 6, the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) Act.

This new law, which mandates the issuance of a National ID to every Filipino, is expected to improve efficiency and transparency in public services as well as promote ease of doing business, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said in a statement.

"For the ordinary Juan de la Cruz, the signing of this Act means that he will no longer have to present multiple identification cards simply to prove his identity," Roque said.

"This streamlining of information makes it likewise harder to commit identity theft or fraud," he added.

The measure was approved by the Bicameral Conference Committee on May 23, 2018.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, who sponsored the measure, earlier said there would an an initial fund of P25 billion for its implementation this year.

The measure authorizes the government to collate pictures, fingerprints, iris scan, family background and other significant details of each citizen. (MVI/SunStar Philippines)

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1756568/Manila/Local-News/Duterte-to-sign-Philippine-ID-System-Act

P2P: Pascual and Pastor's secondary residences

But for Keren Pascual and Miguel Pastor are they watching UAAP basketball and volleyball games.

Duterte to sign ID system law

President Duterte is expected to sign the Philippine Identification System Act (PhilSys) today which aims to improve the delivery of government services to the people and reduce fraudulent transactions.

Duterte is signing the measure after the bill was ratified in the Congress in May this year.

Based on the media advisory issued by Malacañang’s media relations office, the signing of the PhilSys will take place in Malacañang at 3:30 p.m. before the ceremonial signing or presentation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) chief Adelino Sitoy confirmed Sunday evening that President Duterte will sign the measure today.

“The Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) is the government’s central identification platform. In a nutshell, it is a means to simplify public and private transactions,” he said in a statement.

“Proponents of the national ID system said that it can greatly improve the delivery of government services – especially for those who lack proper government-issued identification cards as a person’s record in the PhilSys would be valid and sufficient proof of identity,” he added.

“It also aims to reduce corruption and curtail bureaucratic red tape, prevent fraudulent transactions, and ease doing business in the Philippines,” he continued.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque earlier assured that Duterte will sign the PhilSys due to the overwhelming support for a national ID system.

“This landmark bill is part of the legislative priority agenda of the Duterte administration to improve the delivery of government services; thus, once ratified, the President will sign this into law,” he said.

“There was an overwhelming consensus for the need for the national ID system… And there’s already a budget allotted in the 2018 national budget for the national ID,” he added.

Duterte, during his visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia last year, addressed the desire of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) for the Philippines to have a national identification system just like in Saudi Arabia. He said then that it would be “good” to have a national ID in the country.

The proposed Filipino Identification System will consolidate all government-issued ID systems into one to improve government services and limit red tape in government transactions. It is also seen to lower costs, streamline transactions, and provide ease and convenience.

The first time it was proposed was during the time of former President Fidel Ramos in 1996 through Administrative Order 308 but was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court (SC).

In 2005, former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo mandated government agencies, through Executive Order 420, to streamline and harmonize their ID systems under a Unified Multi-Purpose Identification System. The SC this time upheld the legality of the said EO.

However, the opposition to the proposal revolves on the perceived threat to security and violation of privacy by the government’s collection of personal information.

Consolidated ID

Once Duterte signs the measure, the national ID system will be managed by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The system will collect a person’s reference number and basic information, biometrics, voter’s ID, Philippine passport number, taxpayer’s identification number (TIN), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) number, and driver’s license number, among others.

A person’s personal data, however, can only be released upon the consent of the registered person. Information can also only be disclosed if a matter of public health and safety is concerned.

A court order may also prompt the disclosure of information; and when the registered person requests access to his information and record history, subject to the guidelines issued by the PSA.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/08/06/duterte-to-sign-id-system-law/

The Internet, not DU30, is killing the Inquirer

There was apparently good reason why the señoras at the Inquirer again conducted their by now trademark bigay-bawi operation -- handing out copies of the year-end financial report to the minority shareholders but retrieving them back at the end of the annual meeting.

According to a copy of an audited annual report finally secured by a minority shareholder, the Philippine Daily Inquirer posted a P215-million loss for 2017, an astounding reversal of fortune for the broadsheet tabloid since the year before it was still able to squeak in a modest P15-million profit.

In contrast, the Philippine Star, the newspaper alone and excluding the related businesses, cleared 2017 with P95-million profit, still good but a far cry from its record P400-million profit four years ago.

The Star's Port Area neighbor, the Manila Bulletin has also maintained its head above water despite the wholesale digital switch of news reading habits, reporting P49.8-million net income for 2017.

This, however, is not an apples-to-apples comparison.

The Bulletin newspaper also owns the printing presses, the one-hectare property and building in Intramuros, as well as seven provincial branches.

The Inquirer, on the other hand, is just, well, the print dinosaur by itself.

This is so because the Inquirer señoras somehow had managed to exclude the minority shareholder-journalists  -- while preaching financial inclusion to the Ayala Avenue-Diliman-Yellow echo chamber -- from the ownership of the building and the two blocks of the Chino Roces property and the printing assets in Laguna, Cebu and Davao.

Even the "Inquirer" website operations is a misnomer, the internet operations being another exclusive señora domain, along with Radyo Inquirer, with the Inquirer newspaper  reduced to being merely a supplier of news to the broadcast and web operations.

Unlike the Bulletin with its P3.475 billion in paid-up capital and nearly P200 million in retained earnings, with total current assets of P3.2 billion against total liabilities of about P1.6 billion as of end-2017, the Inquirer by comparison is skating on thin ice with its P500 million paid-up capitalization.

One does not need a PhD in rocket science to project where the road is heading if Inquirer suffers another financial loss of similar magnitude this year and next.

(The now Vancouver-based former Inquirer president, Danilo Venida, and fellow minority shareholder Victor C. Agustin have a 'simple' solution: The Inquirer broadsheet should just shut down and distribute whatever remaining capital to its shareholders while there is still left.

The señoras can simultaneously transfer the Inquirer liabilities to the website operations and merge them with other related companies like the real estate company to strengthen the enlarged corporate balance sheet. After all, they all belong to one caboodle, the exercise amounting to transferring from one pocket to the other pocket.

The question is, would the señoras put their money where their libertarian heart is?)

And that was probably why the señoras were forced to admit to their worried editors, after acknowledging that the announced deal with white knight Ramon S. Ang had essentially collapsed, that they wanted a resolution to the ownership sale by this year-end.

According to the industry chatter, the señoras have already returned the P1 billion that the San Miguel president had supposedly advanced as down payment and as proof of RSA's good intentions.

If that account is correct, this raises the question, how did the señoras book the exit of the PLDT group from Inquirer, given that RSA himself has admitted to providing the exit package for the PLDT group?

The answer, if we may venture a guess, may lie at the bottom front page of the Inquirer newspaper.

Meanwhile, to rally their troops, the señoras have even projected a better 2018 for their newspaper. We wish them luck, for the sake of our journalist colleagues whose profit-sharing scheme, courtesy of Inquirer founding partners Eugenia Apostol, Betty Go-Belmonte, and Florangel Rosario-Braid, is now just a memory.

But from our listening post, it looks like columnist-eventologist Tim Yap just as in the past will have another chance to crack his cutting thanksgiving remark at the next Star Christmas party: "Thank God we are enjoying steak at a five-star hotel while the other is feeding its employees with packed-lunch by the company driveway."

We cannot disagree while tut-tutting, Ang lupit mo, Tita Timmy!

Duterte signs Nat’l ID system

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is set to sign the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) Act into law on Monday, August 6.

The Senate ratified the measure on May 29, a week after the bicameral conference committee reconciled provisions of the bill that divided the chamber and the House of Representatives.

The signing ceremony will be held at Malacañang.

Once signed, the Philippine government will be able to start issuing national ID cards containing the basic details such as name, sex, birth date, birthplace, age and address.

The cards will contain the biometric information on the holders.

The bill will authorize the collection of photographs taken from the front, full set of fingerprints and iris scans as determined by the Implementing Rules and Regulations.

Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. earlier said the bill “is part of the legislative priority agenda of the Duterte administration to improve the delivery of government services.”

In March, Roque voiced confidence that the measure will be signed into law.

“I believe [it will be signed because]there was an overwhelming consensus on the need for the national ID system,” he said in a news briefing.

Some groups, however, raised warnings that the bill, if signed into law, will pose threats to the security and privacy of the ID holders.

The national ID system was first introduced during the time of then-President Fidel Ramos through Executive Order (EO) 308.

It, however, did not push through after the Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional, citing the need for legislation.

Another attempt was made during the term of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo through EO 420, synchronizing all government-issued ID cards, calling it the Unified Multi-Purpose Identification System (UMID).

The UMID is still being issued by select government agencies but does not serve as a national ID card.

The signing of the PhilSys Act will coincide with the presentation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

Duterte signed the measure on July 26.

The original plan was for the President to sign the BOL on July 23, when he delivered his third State of the Nation Address but a House leadership ruckus stalled the idea.

The law will turn the Administrative Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) into the Bangsamoro Region.

The BOL will give the Bangsamoro Region fiscal autonomy and governed by the Bangsamoro Parliament elected by the Bangsamoro Region’s inhabitants.

It mandates the inclusion of the six Lanao del Norte municipalities and 39 barangay (villages) of North Cotabato in the Bangsamoro Region but it will only materialize if their respective mother provinces approve of it in a plebiscite.

The BOL grants the Bangsamoro Parliament the authority to create Shariah Courts (Shariah Circuit Court, Shariah District Court and Shariah High Court) that will have jurisdictions on personal, family, property and minor criminal offenses known as Ta’zir.

Minor criminal offenses are those punishable by fines and a jail time of one to 30 days.

http://www.manilatimes.net/duterte-signs-natl-id-system/427195/

Duterte signs national ID law today

President Duterte is expected to sign into law today (Aug. 6) the bill establishing a single and streamlined identification (ID) system in the country.

The event will be held this afternoon at Malacañang’s Rizal Hall, on the same day of the ceremonial signing of the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

The national ID law aims to integrate the different government IDs so that card holders will just present one card for all transactions. Proponents of the bill said the law would cut red tape and provide the public additional protection against terrorism and other security threats.

The card will contain the bearer’s identification system number, full name, sex, blood type, date of birth, place of birth, marital status, address and photo.

Militant lawmakers are worried that the national ID system would violate the right to privacy and infringe on civil liberties.

Congress ratified the national ID bill last May.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/08/06/1840060/duterte-signs-national-id-law-today

DU30 expected to sign national ID system Aug. 6

By Bernadette D. Nicolas & Cai U. Ordinario

PRESIDENT Duterte is expected to sign into law on Monday, August 6, the measure seeking to establish the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys).

Both houses of Congress ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the last week of May.

The ceremonial signing of the Philippine Identification System Act in Malacañan Palace will coincide with the presentation of Republic Act 11054 or the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, also known as the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), according to the schedule sent by Malacañang to reporters.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said the government will spend P4 billion billion to jumpstart the National ID system this year and next year.

In an interview, National Statistician Lisa Grace S. Bersales told the BusinessMirror around P2 billion will be spent this year and P2 billion next year for the National ID.

Bersales said of the P2 billion allocated for this year, around P1.4 billion will be spent to procure the system and P600 million will be for administrative costs.

The system will be procured through International Competitive Bidding (ICB), consistent with government procurement rules and regulations.

The remaining P2 billion allocated for 2019 will be used for actual data capture and implementation of the National ID system.

The President first announced he signed the BOL last July 26, days after his third State of the Nation Address.

Both bills were priority measures of the Duterte administration.

Once the Philippine Identification System Act is signed into law, all citizens and resident aliens of the country will be provided with a valid proof of identify as a means of simplifying public and private transactions.

One year after the effectivity of the Act, every citizen or resident alien shall register personally in the registration centers.

This proposed law also aims to eliminate the need to present other forms of identification when transacting with the government and the private sector, subject to appropriate authentication measures based on a biometric identification system.

The Philippine ID shall contain the following information: the PhilSys number, full name, sex, blood type, marital status (optional), place of birth, photograph, date of birth and address.

The PhilSys number is a randomly generated, unique and permanent identification number that will be assigned to every citizen or resident alien upon birth or registration by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), which is also the primary implementing agency to carry out the provisions of the measure.

For data privacy and security, the ID shall contain a QR code which contains some fingerprint information and other security measures, such as iris scan.

Any information obtained as a result of unlawful disclosure under the Act shall be inadmissible in any judicial, quasi-judicial or administrative proceeding.

Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno earlier said the establishment of a national identification system will help improve the delivery of government services and reduce fraudulent transactions.

Aside from the seamless delivery of services, the establishment of a single national identification system or the Philippine Identification System is also meant to improve the efficiency, transparency and targeted delivery of public and social services, enhance administrative governance, reduce corruption and curtail bureaucratic red tape, strengthen financial inclusion and promote ease of doing business.

The Philippines has a Unified-Multi-Purpose ID (UMID) system in place but Bersales earlier said the proposed Philippine ID is different from UMID.

Bersales said UMID is a “functional ID” while the proposed Philippine ID is a “foundational ID.”

She said functional IDs are ID cards, numbers, or other systems created for specific government services, such as driver’s licenses and voter cards. Foundational IDs are not linked to special services, but serve as a legal proof of identity for multiple purposes, for example, as unique ID cards.

“Parallel to the procurement of the system, we’re already talking to PhilPost that before the year ends also, we will enroll 1 million Filipinos,” Bersales said.

These one million citizens will be composed of Filipinos receiving the Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT). The list of recipients will be obtained from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

These recipients will be issued a 13-digit number which will serve as their National ID. Accessing the ID will reveal eight demographic contents, including the person’s photo and fingerprints.

Bersales said later on, the National ID will evolve into a digital ID that Filipinos can use to transact with government or even private sector participants.

https://businessmirror.com.ph/du30-expected-to-sign-national-id-system-aug-6/

Duterte to sign national ID system bill into law

The national ID system in the Philippines has been the center of debate concerning privacy and data security

President Rodrigo Duterte is set to sign into law on Monday, August 6, the bill that will create the national identification system.

Proponents of the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) said it can greatly improve the delivery of government services as it addresses the lack of government-issued identification cards of many Filipinos.

All Filipino citizens and registered aliens would be required to register through the government's central identification platform. (READ: What you need to know about the proposed national ID system)

The system will collect a person's demographic data such as full name, sex, date of birth, blood type, address, and citizenship. Biometric information will also be recorded, including a front-facing photograph, full set of fingerprints, and iris scan.

Collected information will be handled and secured by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

A registered individual will be given a randomly generated, unique, and permanent ID number or the PhilSys Number (PSN). A physical ID card or PhilID will also be issued.

The PhilID or PSN can be used when dealing with national government agencies, local government units, government owned and controlled corporations, government financial institutions, and the private sector.

The Senate and the House of Representatives ratified the bill in May 2018.

Controversial bill

The establishment of a national ID system has been the center of debate concerning privacy and data security.

While the system may be beneficial, data privacy experts are worried about certain provisions in the bill which may blur the line between what's appropriate and what may constitute a violation of privacy. (READ: 'Record history' casts cloud of doubt on proposed national ID system)

For example, the inclusion of a record history, which will track each transaction made, may pave the way for mass surveillance. If the national ID system aims to streamline identity verification, keeping a record history would be completely unnecessary, experts said.

But proponents of the system and the National Privacy Commission insisted that measures are in place to secure the privacy of Filipinos.

The Philippines is one of the few countries in the world without a national ID system yet. Attempts in past administrations were met with budget issues, legal troubles, and poor public support, among others.

Duterte set to sign National ID law

By Arjay L. Balinbin, Reporter

PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte is scheduled to sign on Monday, Aug. 6, the Philippine Identification (ID) System Act which institutionalizes a single official identification for all Filipino citizens and foreign residents in the country, Malacañang said in an advisory on Sunday.

The National ID system, identified as among the priority measures of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), is expected to be rolled out next year as the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has already allotted P2 billion for its implementation.

The proposed legislation hurdled the bicameral conference committee last May, where lawmakers decided to adopt the Senate version, Senate Bill (S.B.) No. 1738.

The Senate bill was prepared by that chamber’s committees on justice and human rights, finance, and public information and mass media. Its purpose is to “provide a valid proof of identity for all citizens and resident aliens as a means of simplifying public and private transactions.”

The measure aims to eliminate the need to present other forms of identification when transacting with the government and the private sector, subject to appropriate authentication measures based on a biometric identification system.

“Furthermore, the PhilSys (Philippine ID System) shall be a social and economic platform through which all transactions including public and private services can be availed of and shall serve as the link in the promotion of seamless service delivery, enhancing administrative governance, reducing corruption, strengthening financial inclusion, and promoting ease of doing business,” the Senate bill also read.

Also on Monday, there will be a ceremonial signing of the organic law (Republic Act No. 11054) for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“We cannot underplay the significance of this signing as we take comfort in this momentous step towards building the foundation of a lasting peace in Mindanao. We therefore would like to express our gratitude to all those who worked hard to enable the passage of this landmark law,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said in a statement on Sunday.

http://www.bworldonline.com/duterte-set-to-sign-national-id-law/

Heaven or hell, it’s our choice

Already going on his third year in office, former Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte could not still get over with his bitter campaign experience during the May 2016 presidential elections. In yet another extemporaneous speech last Friday, President Duterte dished out all hatred that has obviously built up in his heart and mind against those behind dirty tricks to thwart his presidential bid.

That was more than two years ago when then Mayor Duterte decided to throw his hat in the presidential race at the last minute. With such elephant memory, President Duterte lashed anew at ABS-CBN and other “oligarchs” for allegedly taking advantage of their wealth to oppress the small, the weak and the helpless like him during the campaign when his survey standing was not picking up then.

“Wala akong galit sa mayaman, especially those who got rich by the sweat of their brows,” President Duterte clarified. “Life is never fair but it will come at a time, it will just balance out everything,” he mused.

“So what else can I say except that I intend to finish my job,” the President stressed.

Towards this end, the President reiterated his instructions to Department of Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin Diokno. “And my order to Diokno is all. No, no, no political color. Give them all. You spread the money of the Republic of the Philippines so that all will benefit,” the President vowed.

For the nth time, however, the President lambasted in that same public address the Lopezes of ABS-CBN, businessman Roberto Ongpin and the Prietos of PDI as among the “oligarchs” allegedly who remain powerful in the country but owe a lot of back taxes to the government through these years.

While we could only mutter why can’t he move on and do something about it, he dished out what could be the strongest signal of the presidential retribution. The Chief Executive categorically placed these “oligarchs” on notice they will have it coming to them, later, if not any sooner.

With the latest presidential declaration he would not approve, if it ever reaches his table, the ABS-CBN franchise renewal before its end on March 30, 2020 will definitely remain in limbo at the 17th Congress. “Many congressmen are afraid of the President,” one lawmaker admitted.

Their fear was demonstrated when President Duterte nearly walked out from his own state of the nation address (SONA) last July 23 at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City. It was delayed after administration allies from the so-called “super majority” led by partymates from the PDP-Laban initiated the ouster of erstwhile Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez who was eventually relieved from his post by former president and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA).

I could not blame President Duterte for waxing poetic justice on his campaign experience after all this time he has been in office at Malacañang Palace since June 30, 2016. It was apparently triggered by the campaign-like remarks at the program delivered by Bukidnon Governor Jose Ma. Zubiri Jr. who hailed the victory of President Duterte more than two years ago.

The Bukidnon Governor is the father of Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri who joined them at the program. This was after they joined President Duterte in the inauguration of a P500-million drug rehabilitation center in Malaybalay, Bukidnon donated by a group of Chinese businessmen.

In his introduction of the guest, the elder Zubiri recalled why he supported Mayor Duterte from among the five presidential candidates. Speaking in English and interspersed in their local dialect, Gov. Zubiri praised to high heavens the leadership now in our country by President Duterte and fulfilling his campaign promises, especially to their province.

Taking off from Zubiri’s accolades, it naturally led President Duterte to thank the Bukidnon Governor as one of the only two Governors who helped him during the 2016 campaign. The other, of course, as President Duterte repeatedly cites, is Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos. Gov. Zubiri’s campaign-like spiels pushed the buttons that apparently rekindled the hurts of the past presidential campaign.

Dispensing anew what he described as a “run-of-the-mill” prepared speech of two to three pages at the program, President Duterte told his audience he wants to freely express himself and “to connect” with his audience. This was why, the Chief Executive recalled, he complained about the limited time given to each candidate during the 2016 presidential debate that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) required them all to participate.

Speaking extemporaneously as usual, the President regaled anew his audience with his colorful language and went into his expletive-dashed rants against the oligarchs, his political foes, and human rights groups that revived the reported extrajudicial killings (EJKs) accusations against him while he was still Mayor of Davao City.

Despite earlier getting the ire of even his own supporters from the Catholic faithful for calling God “stupid,” the President went on with more tirades. In obvious digs at human rights advocates and Church leaders attacking his bloody anti-drug war, the President scored them for taking up the cudgels for suspects slain in police operations. In a make-believe conversation, he supposedly asked God to let these alleged slain EJK victims “to enjoy their human rights in heaven.”

As for himself, the 72-year-old President quoted himself saying: “I told God, I have nothing to ask from you. Reserve the hottest place in hell for me. And may I burn till eternity…if there is hell.”

 “But I don’t believe on that. Why would God create an oven for his creation? So I said, I have a God. But it is not your ‘stupid’ God. My God does not reserve anything for his creation. You created man and woman, then you reserve a furnace for them? What is that?” the President rhetorically asked.

The road to hell, as the proverb goes, is paved with good intentions. Its alternative form is: “Hell is full of good meanings, but heaven is full of good works.” So, it’s really our own choice which road to take.

https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2018/08/06/1839978/heaven-or-hell-its-our-choice

Opinion about sa franchise thingy madidiskaril ang DTV migration sa bansa, dahil sa mga banta ng presidente ng bansa na ikakansela ang prangkisa ng ABS-CBN sa Marso 30, 2020 for political motive. Samantalang sila pa ang may pinakamalawak na DTT coverage at malakas humahatak ng DTV migration sa bansa. While yung ibang network ay may limited coverage. Dahil sa kanselasyon ng prangkisa kung matutuloy ito ng walang alternative good DTT Channels. Maaring maudlot lang ang dtv migration at bumalik ang mga tao sa analog at hindi na magmigrate pa sa digital tv. Iisipin ng publiko na palpak o nagflopped ang DTV.

Hindi basta-basta pwede irush ang pagtatayo ng transmitter kasi milyun-milyon ang halaga ng transmitter. Bawat parts nito ay imported mula US, Europe, o Japan. Tapos may ihihire pa na foreigner para sa setup at precorrections.

Kaya kung anuman ang iringan ng gov at ng station mabuti pa na isantabi muna hanggang mag-full digital na ang pinas para may choice na ang viewers sa panonood.

Macgerald Bugay "hindi rin.. may chance pa ang ibang mga networks na iimprove pa ang programming nila kahit mawala man ang ABS-CBN.. nanjan naman ang GMA..

Jeffrey Evangelista "Yes nagiimprove pero yung coverage to other regions? Ang manila walang problema pero panu naman yung ibang regions? Plus kaya ba nila itodo ang paggastos mapalawak lang ang coverage nila?"

Perry Paterno says "Nah, I don't think so.  Sure, ABS-CBN may have influenced DTV migration pero hindi yan magtatapos kung sakaling mawala ang congressional franchise nila. By 2020, napagplanuhan na nila ang Plan B nila."

"I somehow or somewhat concerned with this issue,hindi biro na-ishutdown mo ang Channel 2, malaking porsyento ang magiging palyado ang entire Philippine industry, unang-una ang DTV sunod ang employment mahigit 11,000 ang apektado ng shutdown.At ang pinaka-malubha sa lahat ang ekonomiya. But for those na nag-sasaya ngayon na fantards, panandalian lang ang saya ninyo. Oo, magsasaya kayo pero pagkatapos nun. Ano na magiging papel niyo sa bashing.May plano ang ABS diyan. Pero ang nagtatako ako,bakit sunod-sunod na naexpire ang franchise nila GMA (March 2 or 20,2017, lumagpas na sa itinakda pero naka-ere pa (probably dahil parenew na ang franchise nila noon)], sa December 9,2019 ang T5N at March 30 ,2020 ang ABS-CBN."

Nagtataka kasi ako bakit sunod sunod yung mga expiration ng franchise nila. Siguro dahil noong panahong ipinasa ang batas na iyan ay panahon ni Cory kaya pareho ng timeline.

Sam Asajar: "Hindi eh,panahon ni FVR lahat narenew yan,maliban sa GMA na panahon ng last year ni Cory noong 1992.

Mark Castro II: "Panahon pa ba ni Marcos ang batas tungkol sa legislative franchise?"

Sam Asajar: "Idk. Parang noon lang na panahon ni Cory-FVR yata.Wala akong narinig na ganyan noong si President F. MARCOS ang pangulo nun."