Nueva Ecija 2nd District Rep. Micaela Violago has refiled in the 18th Congress a bill renewing ABS-CBN Corp.’s franchise, which will expire on March 30, 2020.
Violago filed House Bill No. 676, which seeks to renew the radio-television network’s franchise for another 25 years, last July 1, but a copy of her bill was sent to media on Tuesday night.
The 17th Congress version of the proposed law remained has been pending at the House Committee on Legislative Franchises since Nov. 16, 2016. The panel did not act on the bill until that Congress adjourned sine die.
“In acknowledgment of ABS-CBN’s accomplishments… the immediate renewal of its original franchise which expires on March 30, 2020, is recommended to ensure the uninterrupted and improved delivery of its services to the Filipino people,” Violago said in her explanatory note in the bill.
President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly launched threats against media outfits critical of his administration l— like the Lopez-owned ABS-CBN, the broadsheet Philippine Daily Inquirer, and online news site Rappler.
He even threatened to block the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN, accusing the network of estafa for allegedly not providing him the airtime he had paid for.
Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, meanwhile, said he believed the President would no longer veto the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN once approved by Congress.
“Sa palagay ko naman kapag pumasa na sa Kongreso, okay na — kapag pumasa sa Kongreso — kasi nasa Kongreso pa eh nasa kanila ang bola sa ngayon. ‘Yun ang palagay ko,” he said in an interview with radio dzBB, Monday.
[I think once it passes Congress, it’s going be OK — if it passes Congress — because it’s still with Congress. The ball is in their court now. That’s what I think.] /atm
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1145613/bill-renewing-franchise-of-abs-cbn-refiled-in-house
The main network owned by the media and entertainment group itself that will revamp program schedules soon if FPJ's Ang Probinsyano to be ended to give way for the return of defunct classic programs such as: Alas Singko Y Medya, ETV and cartoons, telenovelas, Today with Kris Aquino, Magandang Tanghali Bayan, SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon (merging the first incarnation of SNN (2009-2011) and Tonight with Boy Abunda (2015-present), anime, Shoutout, Rated K (moves to weekday late afternoons, reformatted as a live daily magazine show in English), The World Tonight and NCA programs.
Tuesday, July 23, 2019
House fills up more leadership posts
The House of Representatives on Tuesday elected 10 lawmakers to fill up various leadership posts in the Chamber.
Named House Deputy Majority Leaders were Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo, Batangas 4th District Rep. Lianda Bolilia, Manila 5th District Rep. Amanda Christina Bagatsing; Pampanga 4th District Rep. Juan Pablo Bondoc and Pangasinan 4th District Rep. Christopher de Venecia.
Meanwhile, named as House Assistant Majority Leaders were Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Ria Fariñas, Las Piñas City Rep. Camille Villar, and Quezon 1st District Rep. David Suarez.
On the other hand, Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin was named as the House Senior Deputy Minority Leader, while Quezon City 6th District Rep. Jose Christopher Belmonte was named Deputy Minority Leader.
It was Garin who initially presided over the organizational meeting of the Minority bloc that elected Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. as the House Minority Leader earlier in the day.
The House of Representatives still has yet to name the heads of the different committees and the composition of its members.
The Chamber has 60 standing committees and 15 special committees.
On Monday, Cavite 3rd District Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla was named as the Senior House Deputy Majority Leader. He was also named as the chair of the House Committee on Rules.
Meanwhile, Davao City 3rd District Rep. Isidro Ungab was named chair of the Committee on Appropriations, while Cavite 7th District Rep. Abraham Tolentino was named chair of the Committee on Accounts.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1075838
Named House Deputy Majority Leaders were Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo, Batangas 4th District Rep. Lianda Bolilia, Manila 5th District Rep. Amanda Christina Bagatsing; Pampanga 4th District Rep. Juan Pablo Bondoc and Pangasinan 4th District Rep. Christopher de Venecia.
Meanwhile, named as House Assistant Majority Leaders were Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Ria Fariñas, Las Piñas City Rep. Camille Villar, and Quezon 1st District Rep. David Suarez.
On the other hand, Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin was named as the House Senior Deputy Minority Leader, while Quezon City 6th District Rep. Jose Christopher Belmonte was named Deputy Minority Leader.
It was Garin who initially presided over the organizational meeting of the Minority bloc that elected Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. as the House Minority Leader earlier in the day.
The House of Representatives still has yet to name the heads of the different committees and the composition of its members.
The Chamber has 60 standing committees and 15 special committees.
On Monday, Cavite 3rd District Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla was named as the Senior House Deputy Majority Leader. He was also named as the chair of the House Committee on Rules.
Meanwhile, Davao City 3rd District Rep. Isidro Ungab was named chair of the Committee on Appropriations, while Cavite 7th District Rep. Abraham Tolentino was named chair of the Committee on Accounts.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1075838
Andanar bats for tougher war vs. fake news in Asean-China confab
JAKARTA, Indonesia – Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar on Tuesday participated in the High-Level Conference on ASEAN-China Media Cooperation, seeking to further strengthen cooperation in combating disinformation and deepen mutual understanding and trust in the region.
Andanar, who co-chairs the conference with China, said the high-level meeting would promote not only a closer Asean-China community, but also an environment free of fake news.
"We shall continue our endeavor to bring out what is real, what is truthful. That we will fight fake news," Andanar said in his meeting with National Radio and Television Administration Vice Minister Fan Wei Ping before the High Level Conference on Asean-China Media Cooperation at the Hotel Mulia Senayan here.
“We can continue our cooperation in the areas of telling true stories," Andanar said, noting that it may be in the form of information-sharing, workshops, seminars, and personnel exchanges, among others.
Andanar opened the High Level Conference on Asean-China Media Cooperation meeting with Fan, expressing Asean and China's gratitude in both sides' support in promoting the convergence of media in the region.
"We look forward not only to stronger regional media cooperation but also to a deeper level of trust and understanding. The Asean-China partnership has been mutually beneficial as both sides learn from each other’s experiences and best practices," the PCOO chief said.
The agenda of the meeting includes the presentation of the Draft Joint Statement on Strengthening Media Exchanges and Cooperation Between Asean and China, and the presentation of the Five-Year Plan for Asean-China Audio-Visual Communications Cooperation 2020-2024.
"May the views exchanged here be a catalyst for better ties, and media exchanges between Asean and China," Andanar said.
"We look forward to more Asean-China cooperation activities in the information and media sector, and for the rest of this 'Year of Media Exchanges,' and for the succeeding years," he added.
Andanar is the Asean Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI) Leader of the Philippines.
On Wednesday (July 24), the Philippines will participate in the Asean-China High-Level Media Forum, which seeks to gather information/media officials and representatives from Asean and China to discuss possible areas of cooperation in the media industry amid the digital age. (PR)
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1075836
Andanar, who co-chairs the conference with China, said the high-level meeting would promote not only a closer Asean-China community, but also an environment free of fake news.
"We shall continue our endeavor to bring out what is real, what is truthful. That we will fight fake news," Andanar said in his meeting with National Radio and Television Administration Vice Minister Fan Wei Ping before the High Level Conference on Asean-China Media Cooperation at the Hotel Mulia Senayan here.
“We can continue our cooperation in the areas of telling true stories," Andanar said, noting that it may be in the form of information-sharing, workshops, seminars, and personnel exchanges, among others.
Andanar opened the High Level Conference on Asean-China Media Cooperation meeting with Fan, expressing Asean and China's gratitude in both sides' support in promoting the convergence of media in the region.
"We look forward not only to stronger regional media cooperation but also to a deeper level of trust and understanding. The Asean-China partnership has been mutually beneficial as both sides learn from each other’s experiences and best practices," the PCOO chief said.
The agenda of the meeting includes the presentation of the Draft Joint Statement on Strengthening Media Exchanges and Cooperation Between Asean and China, and the presentation of the Five-Year Plan for Asean-China Audio-Visual Communications Cooperation 2020-2024.
"May the views exchanged here be a catalyst for better ties, and media exchanges between Asean and China," Andanar said.
"We look forward to more Asean-China cooperation activities in the information and media sector, and for the rest of this 'Year of Media Exchanges,' and for the succeeding years," he added.
Andanar is the Asean Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI) Leader of the Philippines.
On Wednesday (July 24), the Philippines will participate in the Asean-China High-Level Media Forum, which seeks to gather information/media officials and representatives from Asean and China to discuss possible areas of cooperation in the media industry amid the digital age. (PR)
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1075836
NHA to complete add'l 62K Yolanda housing units by 2020
The National Housing Authority (NHA) said it targets to complete at least 62,668 housing projects between 2019 and 2020.
In a report responding to issues raised by some protesters, the NHA said the government has already finished a total of 119,670 housing units from the targeted 205,128. Of this figure, 56,877 are already occupied and 62,793 are ready for occupancy.
"Within 2019 and up to 2020, another 62,668 houses and lots will have been completed, and 22,790 housing units will be in various stages of documentation prior to project starts," the report signed by NHA chairman Marcelino Escalada Jr. said.
According to the report, challenges remain in completing the Yolanda housing projects such as limited local government-owned lands especially if taken in the context of the magnitudes of the housing need.
The NHA also cited as issues the staggered release of the budget for the project's implementation; the delayed submission of documentary requisites to NHA; change of site due to non-suitability after issuance of Mines and Geosciences Bureau Clearance; as well as delayed issuance of permits from local government units and clearances/permits from government agencies.
On the government's task force Balik Loob housing program, the NHA said it has undertaken the re-allocation of existing Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.
"To date, 2,244 units have been completed while another 381 are on-going construction. As of July 16, 2019, at least 300 units have been awarded to former rebel beneficiaries in Davao City," it added.
In the report, the NHA also assured that it continues to implement programs for social development and welfare services.
"From 2013 to 2018, the IP (indigenous people) Housing Program of the NHA has completed 4,727 housing units, developed 796 lots, and repaired 19 homes in Regions 2 (Cagayan Valley), 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, 10 (Northern Mindanao), 11 (Davao Region), 12 (Soccsksargen) and 13 (Caraga). Within the year and up to 2020, the program will be completing 2,238 housing units and 107 lots in Regions 5, 9, ARMM, 10, 11, 12 and 13, " it said.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1075809
In a report responding to issues raised by some protesters, the NHA said the government has already finished a total of 119,670 housing units from the targeted 205,128. Of this figure, 56,877 are already occupied and 62,793 are ready for occupancy.
"Within 2019 and up to 2020, another 62,668 houses and lots will have been completed, and 22,790 housing units will be in various stages of documentation prior to project starts," the report signed by NHA chairman Marcelino Escalada Jr. said.
According to the report, challenges remain in completing the Yolanda housing projects such as limited local government-owned lands especially if taken in the context of the magnitudes of the housing need.
The NHA also cited as issues the staggered release of the budget for the project's implementation; the delayed submission of documentary requisites to NHA; change of site due to non-suitability after issuance of Mines and Geosciences Bureau Clearance; as well as delayed issuance of permits from local government units and clearances/permits from government agencies.
On the government's task force Balik Loob housing program, the NHA said it has undertaken the re-allocation of existing Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.
"To date, 2,244 units have been completed while another 381 are on-going construction. As of July 16, 2019, at least 300 units have been awarded to former rebel beneficiaries in Davao City," it added.
In the report, the NHA also assured that it continues to implement programs for social development and welfare services.
"From 2013 to 2018, the IP (indigenous people) Housing Program of the NHA has completed 4,727 housing units, developed 796 lots, and repaired 19 homes in Regions 2 (Cagayan Valley), 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, 10 (Northern Mindanao), 11 (Davao Region), 12 (Soccsksargen) and 13 (Caraga). Within the year and up to 2020, the program will be completing 2,238 housing units and 107 lots in Regions 5, 9, ARMM, 10, 11, 12 and 13, " it said.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1075809
Bills that Duterte asked Congress to pass in 4th SONA
Part of the president's yearly State of the Nation Address before Congress is his laying down of the legislative priorities and President Rodrigo Duterte's on Monday began with a request to Congress to "reinstate the death penalty for heinous crimes related to drugs, as well as plunder."
Unlike in previous SONAs, Duterte did not mention amending the 1987 Constitution for a shift to a federal form of government—a campaign promise and a recurring theme in his speeches.
Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez had urged the House to replace the constitution hours before he lost leadership of the lower chamber to Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who managed to pass a draft constitution on third and final reading.
The proposal did not fly at the Senate, though, and with a seeming lack of public support or even awareness of plans for federalism, Duterte said that he would be fine with just charter change. He mentioned neither on Monday, the first day of the 18th Congress.
Aside from the death penalty, which allies in Congress — including Sens. Manny Pacquiao, Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, and Christopher "Bong" Go — are likely to support, Duterte also called for passage of bills that had been pending even in the 17th Congress.
Postponement of barangay, SK polls
The president said that the village polls—previously moved from October 2016 to October 2017—should be moved from May 2020 to October 22 "rectify the truncated terms" that were caused by the postponement. He said the longer terms for barangay officials would "also provide them with the ample time to finish their programs and projects."
Magna Carta for Barangays
The president also said that a Magna Carta for Barangays should also be passed.
Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III filed a similar bill in the 17th Congress, which would have made barangay officials "regular government employees with fixed salaries, allowances, insurance, medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, and other fringe benefits to which a regular government employee is entitled."
The bill also proposed the automatic release of the barangay's share from national taxes and the transfer of funds to the barangay "for maintenance of roads and
bridges within its area of jurisdiction." The bill also proposed giving priority to barangay residents for employment in infrastructure projects in the village.
"As the basic political unit, the importance of barangays in our system of government cannot be overemphasized," Pimentel said in his explanatory note on the bill.
National Land Use Bill
Duterte again called for passage of a National Land Use Bill as he did in his third SONA, where he used Boracay island as an example of "the need to rationalize [in a] holistic, sustainable manner, the utilization, management and development of our lands."
A year later, Duterte trumpeted Boracay's rehabilitation as an accomplishment of his administration but the bill had hardly moved at the Senate and the bill will have to go through the legislative mill again.
At last year's SONA, the House of Representatives has already passed its version of the bill but a Senate counterpart measure had been pending since July 2017.
The bill, if passed into law, would have the national and local governments "determine the specific uses of land and other physical resources" in the country.
Among the provisions of the House version was the full protection from conversion to other purposes of "irrigable lands, all lands developed or possessing the potential for development of high value crops, and all agricultural lands that are ecologically fragile and whose conversion will result in serious environmental problems."
Tax reforms
Duterte also called on Congress to pass the second package of the admnisttration's tax reform measures. The Tax Reform for Attracting Better and High-quality Opportunities, or TRABAHO, bill is the next installment to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law, also called the TRAIN Law.
TRAIN lowered income tax rates but imposed higher excise taxes on fuel. TRABAHO aims to lower the corporate income tax from 30% to 20% over a period of 10 years while also streamlining fiscal incentives for investors.
Finance Assistant Secretary Antonio Lambino said this week that three or four bills have been filed at the House of Representatives that are similar to the Finance department's proposal. He said, though, that the department still needs to study the bills to see which version it will back.
Duterte said Monday that the measure would "would energize our [Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises] and encourage them to expand their business and hopefully generate … 104 million jobs in the coming years." He said the small business have the potential to "raise the lot of the Filipinos."
The president also called for higher excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol products, or so-called "sin" products. The taxes are meant to consumption of the products and also fund health programs.
Department of Overseas Filipino Workers
Duterte had previously talked about putting up a Department of Overseas Filipino Workers that would regulate the recruitment and deployment of migrant workers abroad.
"So, under the supervision of government at [with no] horrendous charges," the president said earlier in July
Sen. Go proposed the creation of a Department of Overseas Filipinos that would handle the needs of Filipinos abroad. The proposed new department would handle the tasks currently being done by the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas and the International Labor Affairs Bureau.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Belo III is quoted in a Sun.Star report as being surprised at the new direction of the government.
"It was the position of the Cabinet that there shouldn't be one because, in a way, you are institutionalizing overseas employment, which is contrary to the president's final goal of repatriating our overseas workers," he reportedly said.
He said, though, that the president suddenly brought it up. "All I could say was 'Mr. President, you are the boss'," he said.
Department of Disaster Resilience
In his SONA in 2018, Duterte also batted for the creation of the new department, saying "we need a truly empowered department characterized by a unity of command, science-based approach and full-time focus on natural hazards and disasters, and the wherewithal to take charge of the disaster risk reduction; preparedness and response; with better recovery and faster rehabilitation."
In his SONA on Monday, Duterte said government reforms "would be for naught if we cannot avert [the creation] of a 'new poor' every time a disaster strikes."
"The Philippine experience has shown that natural disasters are poverty creators," he also said.
Go has already filed a bill to create "an empowered, highly specialized department with clear unity of command and primarily responsible in ensuring safe, adaptive and disaster-resilient communities."
Department of Water Resources
Recalling the widespread water shortage that hit Metro Manila and parts of Rizal in March, Duterte called for the creation of a Department of Water Resources and a Water Regulatory Commission.
"Alam mo, the agencies and the guys there handling the — the entire water works system — you have to change it immediately.
Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV filed a bill proposing a Department of Water, Irrigation, Sewage and Sanitation Resource Management in the 17th Congress that would "rationalize water, irrigation, sewage, and sanitation resource management, including water rights."
He said then that the existence of separate agencies to manage water, irrigation, sewage and sanitation management presented a challenge "in terms of implementing national policies and plans on water, sewage, sanitation, and irrigation."
Aquino was not reelected to the Senate in the May polls.
Sen. Lito Lapid has filed Senate Bill No. 52 , which seeks to create the Water Resources Authority of the Philippines.
Fire Protection Modernization Program
Duterte said that Davao City has its own 911 emergency service, but also said that the country lacks a modern fire protection service.
"[Y]ou would notice in your cities and provinces the deterioration of the service itself. Wala ng mga truck, luma na. And would you believe it in Davao City, I'll show it to you, we have a 1934 Studebaker fire truck. Maganda pa," said.
"There are other cities which are utterly — utterly without the tools to respond the challenges of fire. We have to come up with something that is really good. I mean at this age, it would be a shame if you cannot put up a fire in two days, three days, my God. We have to set aside," the president also said.
Go has has filed a bill that, if passed, will let the Bureau of Fire Protection hire more personnel, acquire modern fire equipment and provide more training to firefighters, the Senate says in a press release.
New Salary Standardization Law
Duterte also called for passage of a "new version of the Salary Standardization Law," which is meant to give government employees better pay.
"[T]o the teachers ... who toil and work tirelessly to educate our young, this will include what you have been asking for," Duterte said in a mix of English and Filipino, referring to calls made by teachers to raise their pay after the salaries for police and military personnel were increased.
"This is intended to increase the salaries of national government workers, including teachers and nurses," Duterte said.
Government 'rightsizing' bill
The president also called for passage of a bill that will streamline government by addressing overlapping functions and reduce government expenditures. He said the bill is needed "to reconfigure the existing Metro Manila-centric bureaucracy; streamline government systems in order to deliver services without delay and within a short timeline."
A version of the bill, which covers the executive department and its attached agencies and offices, was approved at the House on third and final reading during the 17th Congress but did not pass at the Senate.
Coco Levy Fund
Duterte also called for a new version of a bill on the use of "coco levy" funds collected from coconut farmers during the Marcos administration and that was supposed to be used for the benefit of the coconut industry.
In February, Duterte vetoed Congress' bill on the use of the funds, saying it lacked "vital safeguards to avoid the repetition of painful mistakes in the past."
The president said the measure did not reflect the ultimate goal of accelerating the full use of coconut levy assets and funds for the benefit of coconut farmers and the coconut industry but did not provide specifics.
"Itong coco fund na ito, ito 'yung naiwan sa — noong kay Marcos na levy fund. This is sacred money. This money was taken out of the pockets of the Filipinos arbitrarily. Wala kang magawa noon eh Martial Law," he said in his SONA.
(This coco fund was left behind — during Marcos' time, this levy fund. This is sacred money. This money was taken out of the pockets of the Filipinos arbitrarily. You couldn't do anything about that because of martial law)
National Defense Act
Duterte mentioned a raft of measures "aimed at strengthening defense-related systems," chief among them the National Defense Act.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson filed a version of the bill in the 17th Congress "to update national defense policies, principles and concepts, to institutionalize needed improvements and to codify various laws on national defense, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the civilian bureaus, with the end in view of streamlining and further professionalizing our country’s defense department."
He has refiled the bill at the 18th Congress.
Among the proposals in the Lacson bill are mandatory military service for all Filipinos, and the power to utilize them through mobilization, which includes "all measures necessary to pass prom a peace to a war footing or in any case of actual invasion or when public safety so requires."
The president also called for passage of the Unified Military and Uniformed Personnel Separation, Retirement, and Pension Bill.
Mandatory Reserve Officers' Training Corps training
The president also called for passage of a bill to require students in Grades 11 and 12 to enroll in Reserve Officers' Training Corps, saying he believes military training for the youth is "very important."
He said that the youth today no longer know how to handle guns "to defend even his father and mother and brothers and sisters." He said the youth are "bereft of the patriotism and the love of country."
Duterte has said that he skipped mandatory ROTC by pretending to have tuberculosis.
ROTC became a component of the National Service Training Program in 2002 and was no longer mandatory. The law was changed after the murder of a University of Santo Tomas ROTC cadet who had exposed corruption in the corps.
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/07/23/1937024/bills-duterte-asked-congress-pass-4th-sona
Unlike in previous SONAs, Duterte did not mention amending the 1987 Constitution for a shift to a federal form of government—a campaign promise and a recurring theme in his speeches.
Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez had urged the House to replace the constitution hours before he lost leadership of the lower chamber to Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who managed to pass a draft constitution on third and final reading.
The proposal did not fly at the Senate, though, and with a seeming lack of public support or even awareness of plans for federalism, Duterte said that he would be fine with just charter change. He mentioned neither on Monday, the first day of the 18th Congress.
Aside from the death penalty, which allies in Congress — including Sens. Manny Pacquiao, Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, and Christopher "Bong" Go — are likely to support, Duterte also called for passage of bills that had been pending even in the 17th Congress.
Postponement of barangay, SK polls
The president said that the village polls—previously moved from October 2016 to October 2017—should be moved from May 2020 to October 22 "rectify the truncated terms" that were caused by the postponement. He said the longer terms for barangay officials would "also provide them with the ample time to finish their programs and projects."
Magna Carta for Barangays
The president also said that a Magna Carta for Barangays should also be passed.
Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III filed a similar bill in the 17th Congress, which would have made barangay officials "regular government employees with fixed salaries, allowances, insurance, medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, and other fringe benefits to which a regular government employee is entitled."
The bill also proposed the automatic release of the barangay's share from national taxes and the transfer of funds to the barangay "for maintenance of roads and
bridges within its area of jurisdiction." The bill also proposed giving priority to barangay residents for employment in infrastructure projects in the village.
"As the basic political unit, the importance of barangays in our system of government cannot be overemphasized," Pimentel said in his explanatory note on the bill.
National Land Use Bill
Duterte again called for passage of a National Land Use Bill as he did in his third SONA, where he used Boracay island as an example of "the need to rationalize [in a] holistic, sustainable manner, the utilization, management and development of our lands."
A year later, Duterte trumpeted Boracay's rehabilitation as an accomplishment of his administration but the bill had hardly moved at the Senate and the bill will have to go through the legislative mill again.
At last year's SONA, the House of Representatives has already passed its version of the bill but a Senate counterpart measure had been pending since July 2017.
The bill, if passed into law, would have the national and local governments "determine the specific uses of land and other physical resources" in the country.
Among the provisions of the House version was the full protection from conversion to other purposes of "irrigable lands, all lands developed or possessing the potential for development of high value crops, and all agricultural lands that are ecologically fragile and whose conversion will result in serious environmental problems."
Tax reforms
Duterte also called on Congress to pass the second package of the admnisttration's tax reform measures. The Tax Reform for Attracting Better and High-quality Opportunities, or TRABAHO, bill is the next installment to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law, also called the TRAIN Law.
TRAIN lowered income tax rates but imposed higher excise taxes on fuel. TRABAHO aims to lower the corporate income tax from 30% to 20% over a period of 10 years while also streamlining fiscal incentives for investors.
Finance Assistant Secretary Antonio Lambino said this week that three or four bills have been filed at the House of Representatives that are similar to the Finance department's proposal. He said, though, that the department still needs to study the bills to see which version it will back.
Duterte said Monday that the measure would "would energize our [Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises] and encourage them to expand their business and hopefully generate … 104 million jobs in the coming years." He said the small business have the potential to "raise the lot of the Filipinos."
The president also called for higher excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol products, or so-called "sin" products. The taxes are meant to consumption of the products and also fund health programs.
Department of Overseas Filipino Workers
Duterte had previously talked about putting up a Department of Overseas Filipino Workers that would regulate the recruitment and deployment of migrant workers abroad.
"So, under the supervision of government at [with no] horrendous charges," the president said earlier in July
Sen. Go proposed the creation of a Department of Overseas Filipinos that would handle the needs of Filipinos abroad. The proposed new department would handle the tasks currently being done by the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas and the International Labor Affairs Bureau.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Belo III is quoted in a Sun.Star report as being surprised at the new direction of the government.
"It was the position of the Cabinet that there shouldn't be one because, in a way, you are institutionalizing overseas employment, which is contrary to the president's final goal of repatriating our overseas workers," he reportedly said.
He said, though, that the president suddenly brought it up. "All I could say was 'Mr. President, you are the boss'," he said.
Department of Disaster Resilience
In his SONA in 2018, Duterte also batted for the creation of the new department, saying "we need a truly empowered department characterized by a unity of command, science-based approach and full-time focus on natural hazards and disasters, and the wherewithal to take charge of the disaster risk reduction; preparedness and response; with better recovery and faster rehabilitation."
In his SONA on Monday, Duterte said government reforms "would be for naught if we cannot avert [the creation] of a 'new poor' every time a disaster strikes."
"The Philippine experience has shown that natural disasters are poverty creators," he also said.
Go has already filed a bill to create "an empowered, highly specialized department with clear unity of command and primarily responsible in ensuring safe, adaptive and disaster-resilient communities."
Department of Water Resources
Recalling the widespread water shortage that hit Metro Manila and parts of Rizal in March, Duterte called for the creation of a Department of Water Resources and a Water Regulatory Commission.
"Alam mo, the agencies and the guys there handling the — the entire water works system — you have to change it immediately.
Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV filed a bill proposing a Department of Water, Irrigation, Sewage and Sanitation Resource Management in the 17th Congress that would "rationalize water, irrigation, sewage, and sanitation resource management, including water rights."
He said then that the existence of separate agencies to manage water, irrigation, sewage and sanitation management presented a challenge "in terms of implementing national policies and plans on water, sewage, sanitation, and irrigation."
Aquino was not reelected to the Senate in the May polls.
Sen. Lito Lapid has filed Senate Bill No. 52 , which seeks to create the Water Resources Authority of the Philippines.
Fire Protection Modernization Program
Duterte said that Davao City has its own 911 emergency service, but also said that the country lacks a modern fire protection service.
"[Y]ou would notice in your cities and provinces the deterioration of the service itself. Wala ng mga truck, luma na. And would you believe it in Davao City, I'll show it to you, we have a 1934 Studebaker fire truck. Maganda pa," said.
"There are other cities which are utterly — utterly without the tools to respond the challenges of fire. We have to come up with something that is really good. I mean at this age, it would be a shame if you cannot put up a fire in two days, three days, my God. We have to set aside," the president also said.
Go has has filed a bill that, if passed, will let the Bureau of Fire Protection hire more personnel, acquire modern fire equipment and provide more training to firefighters, the Senate says in a press release.
New Salary Standardization Law
Duterte also called for passage of a "new version of the Salary Standardization Law," which is meant to give government employees better pay.
"[T]o the teachers ... who toil and work tirelessly to educate our young, this will include what you have been asking for," Duterte said in a mix of English and Filipino, referring to calls made by teachers to raise their pay after the salaries for police and military personnel were increased.
"This is intended to increase the salaries of national government workers, including teachers and nurses," Duterte said.
Government 'rightsizing' bill
The president also called for passage of a bill that will streamline government by addressing overlapping functions and reduce government expenditures. He said the bill is needed "to reconfigure the existing Metro Manila-centric bureaucracy; streamline government systems in order to deliver services without delay and within a short timeline."
A version of the bill, which covers the executive department and its attached agencies and offices, was approved at the House on third and final reading during the 17th Congress but did not pass at the Senate.
Coco Levy Fund
Duterte also called for a new version of a bill on the use of "coco levy" funds collected from coconut farmers during the Marcos administration and that was supposed to be used for the benefit of the coconut industry.
In February, Duterte vetoed Congress' bill on the use of the funds, saying it lacked "vital safeguards to avoid the repetition of painful mistakes in the past."
The president said the measure did not reflect the ultimate goal of accelerating the full use of coconut levy assets and funds for the benefit of coconut farmers and the coconut industry but did not provide specifics.
"Itong coco fund na ito, ito 'yung naiwan sa — noong kay Marcos na levy fund. This is sacred money. This money was taken out of the pockets of the Filipinos arbitrarily. Wala kang magawa noon eh Martial Law," he said in his SONA.
(This coco fund was left behind — during Marcos' time, this levy fund. This is sacred money. This money was taken out of the pockets of the Filipinos arbitrarily. You couldn't do anything about that because of martial law)
National Defense Act
Duterte mentioned a raft of measures "aimed at strengthening defense-related systems," chief among them the National Defense Act.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson filed a version of the bill in the 17th Congress "to update national defense policies, principles and concepts, to institutionalize needed improvements and to codify various laws on national defense, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the civilian bureaus, with the end in view of streamlining and further professionalizing our country’s defense department."
He has refiled the bill at the 18th Congress.
Among the proposals in the Lacson bill are mandatory military service for all Filipinos, and the power to utilize them through mobilization, which includes "all measures necessary to pass prom a peace to a war footing or in any case of actual invasion or when public safety so requires."
The president also called for passage of the Unified Military and Uniformed Personnel Separation, Retirement, and Pension Bill.
Mandatory Reserve Officers' Training Corps training
The president also called for passage of a bill to require students in Grades 11 and 12 to enroll in Reserve Officers' Training Corps, saying he believes military training for the youth is "very important."
He said that the youth today no longer know how to handle guns "to defend even his father and mother and brothers and sisters." He said the youth are "bereft of the patriotism and the love of country."
Duterte has said that he skipped mandatory ROTC by pretending to have tuberculosis.
ROTC became a component of the National Service Training Program in 2002 and was no longer mandatory. The law was changed after the murder of a University of Santo Tomas ROTC cadet who had exposed corruption in the corps.
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/07/23/1937024/bills-duterte-asked-congress-pass-4th-sona
Duterte to submit proposed 2020 nat’l budget in August
President Rodrigo Duterte will be submitting the proposed 2020 national budget in the first or second week of August, a Palace official said on Monday.
In an interview over PTV-4, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the proposed budget is still being finalized.
Last year, Duterte submitted the proposed PHP3.7-trillion national budget for 2019 to the Congress on the same day he delivered his third State of the Nation Address (SONA).
In his 4th SONA on Monday, Duterte did not mention national budget but urged members of the 18th Congress to pass pieces of priority legislation concerning major tax reforms, salary increases, national land use policy, new departments and restoration of death penalty for drugs and plunder, among others.
Despite having transmitted the 2019 budget early, the government operated on a reenacted budget since January 1 this year after lawmakers failed to pass the bill on time.
Its passage was stalled due to allegations of last-minute amendments made by the House of Representatives after both the House and Senate ratified the bicameral conference committee report.
After ending the budget impasse, the Congress transmitted the proposed budget spending to Duterte on March 26, 2019.
Duterte finally signed the 2019 budget but vetoed several provisions on April 15, 2019.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1075682
In an interview over PTV-4, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the proposed budget is still being finalized.
Last year, Duterte submitted the proposed PHP3.7-trillion national budget for 2019 to the Congress on the same day he delivered his third State of the Nation Address (SONA).
In his 4th SONA on Monday, Duterte did not mention national budget but urged members of the 18th Congress to pass pieces of priority legislation concerning major tax reforms, salary increases, national land use policy, new departments and restoration of death penalty for drugs and plunder, among others.
Despite having transmitted the 2019 budget early, the government operated on a reenacted budget since January 1 this year after lawmakers failed to pass the bill on time.
Its passage was stalled due to allegations of last-minute amendments made by the House of Representatives after both the House and Senate ratified the bicameral conference committee report.
After ending the budget impasse, the Congress transmitted the proposed budget spending to Duterte on March 26, 2019.
Duterte finally signed the 2019 budget but vetoed several provisions on April 15, 2019.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1075682
Duterte urges Congress to pass priority bills
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday called on the 18th Congress to pass pieces of priority legislation concerning major tax reforms, salary increases, national land use policy, and new departments, among others.
In delivering his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Duterte urged Congress to pass the proposed National Land Use Act to put in place a policy that will address competing land requirements for food, housing, businesses, and environmental conservation.
“A science-based national land-use plan would serve as the basis for the LGUs (local government units) in crafting respective development plans and help disperse economic activities to the countryside,” Duterte said.
“The dispersion of economic and business activities to Visayas and Mindanao is not just a campaign promise, it is an economic imperative and a key to our country's sustainable and equitable development,” Duterte added.
He also called for the immediate passage of the second package of the comprehensive tax reform program or the Tax Reform for Attracting Better and Higher-quality Opportunities (TRABAHO) bill.
The TRABAHO bill seeks to gradually lower the corporate income tax, as well as rationalize tax incentives.
“It will energize our MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) and encourage them to expand their business and hopefully generate 104 million jobs in the coming years. The MSMEs hold the promise of raising a lot of Filipinos,” Duterte said.
“I am also asking Congress to pass the remaining packages of my administration's tax reform program and the bills that would further raise excise tax on tobacco and alcohol,” he added.
Duterte said it is time for Congress to approve the proposed Salary Standardization Law, which is intended to increase salaries of national government workers, including teachers and nurses.
The Chief Executive also appealed for the passage of the government rightsizing bill to reconfigure the existing “Metro Manila-centric bureaucracy” and streamline government systems to deliver services without delay and within a short timeline.
Also included in his priority list are the establishment of a Department of Disaster Resilience, Department Resources, as well as the creation of a fire protection and modernization program. (PNA)
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1075695
In delivering his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Duterte urged Congress to pass the proposed National Land Use Act to put in place a policy that will address competing land requirements for food, housing, businesses, and environmental conservation.
“A science-based national land-use plan would serve as the basis for the LGUs (local government units) in crafting respective development plans and help disperse economic activities to the countryside,” Duterte said.
“The dispersion of economic and business activities to Visayas and Mindanao is not just a campaign promise, it is an economic imperative and a key to our country's sustainable and equitable development,” Duterte added.
He also called for the immediate passage of the second package of the comprehensive tax reform program or the Tax Reform for Attracting Better and Higher-quality Opportunities (TRABAHO) bill.
The TRABAHO bill seeks to gradually lower the corporate income tax, as well as rationalize tax incentives.
“It will energize our MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) and encourage them to expand their business and hopefully generate 104 million jobs in the coming years. The MSMEs hold the promise of raising a lot of Filipinos,” Duterte said.
“I am also asking Congress to pass the remaining packages of my administration's tax reform program and the bills that would further raise excise tax on tobacco and alcohol,” he added.
Duterte said it is time for Congress to approve the proposed Salary Standardization Law, which is intended to increase salaries of national government workers, including teachers and nurses.
The Chief Executive also appealed for the passage of the government rightsizing bill to reconfigure the existing “Metro Manila-centric bureaucracy” and streamline government systems to deliver services without delay and within a short timeline.
Also included in his priority list are the establishment of a Department of Disaster Resilience, Department Resources, as well as the creation of a fire protection and modernization program. (PNA)
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1075695
‘ABS-CBN franchise will be OK if it hurdles Congress’
Will President Duterte approve or veto the bill renewing ABS-CBN’s franchise once it reaches his desk?
Duterte previously vowed to block the renewal of the franchise of the Lopez-led network, which he accused of coming up with “garbage” reports about him.
The President has also accused ABS-CBN chairman emeritus Gabby Lopez of being a swindler for allegedly not returning his money even if his campaign advertisements did not air. He has also threatened to file criminal charges against the Lopezes for supposedly failing to pay billions it owed the state-run Development Bank of the Philippines.
But Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar claimed the bill renewing the television network’s franchise would be “OK” once it hurdles Congress.
“Sa palagay ko naman, kapag pumasa na sa Kongreso, OK na (I think, once it is passed by Congress, it will be OK),” Andanar told radio station dzBB yesterday.
“It’s up to Congress. The ball is with them,” he added.
Andanar said Duterte does not meddle with the affairs of the legislature, a co-equal branch of government. He noted that Duterte had allowed the bill renewing the franchise of TV5 to lapse into law.
“He did not interfere because this is really the turf of Congress,” the presidential communications chief said.
ABS-CBN’s franchise, which languished at the committee level at the House of Representatives, will expire next year. The bill will have to be refiled in the 18th Congress.
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/07/23/1937181/abs-cbn-franchise-will-be-ok-if-it-hurdles-congress
Duterte previously vowed to block the renewal of the franchise of the Lopez-led network, which he accused of coming up with “garbage” reports about him.
The President has also accused ABS-CBN chairman emeritus Gabby Lopez of being a swindler for allegedly not returning his money even if his campaign advertisements did not air. He has also threatened to file criminal charges against the Lopezes for supposedly failing to pay billions it owed the state-run Development Bank of the Philippines.
But Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar claimed the bill renewing the television network’s franchise would be “OK” once it hurdles Congress.
“Sa palagay ko naman, kapag pumasa na sa Kongreso, OK na (I think, once it is passed by Congress, it will be OK),” Andanar told radio station dzBB yesterday.
“It’s up to Congress. The ball is with them,” he added.
Andanar said Duterte does not meddle with the affairs of the legislature, a co-equal branch of government. He noted that Duterte had allowed the bill renewing the franchise of TV5 to lapse into law.
“He did not interfere because this is really the turf of Congress,” the presidential communications chief said.
ABS-CBN’s franchise, which languished at the committee level at the House of Representatives, will expire next year. The bill will have to be refiled in the 18th Congress.
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/07/23/1937181/abs-cbn-franchise-will-be-ok-if-it-hurdles-congress
Bill on foreign investments among Senate priorities
SENATOR VICENTE C. Sotto III on Monday maintained his post as Senate president for the 18th Congress.
The Senate, via voice vote, reelected Mr. Sotto, after his nomination by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri was seconded by Senators Panfilo M. Lacson and Pia S. Cayetano.
Of the twenty-four senators, two were unable to attend the opening of session on Monday — detained Senator Leila M. De Lima and Senator Emmanuel D. Pacquiao, who was advised against traveling back to the Philippines after his fight with Keith Thurman on Sunday.
Senator Franklin M. Drilon noted during the plenary session that Senators Risa N. Hontiveros-Baraquel and Francis N. Pangilinan abstained from voting.
The chamber also reelected Senator Ralph G. Recto as Senate president pro tempore while Messrs. Zubiri and Drilon are the majority and minority leader, respectively. Mr. Sotto said among the priority measures they discussed were the proposed amendments to Republic Act No. 9372 (Human Security Act of 2007), Commonwealth Act No. 146 (Public Service Act) and RA 7042 (Foreign Investments Act of 1991).
“These were some of the bills that I know were left from the 17th Congress that we wanted to prioritize, but for lack of time,” Mr. Sotto told reporters in a chance interview ahead of the plenary session.
Sought for comment, University of Santo Tomas political science professor Marlon M. Villarin said he sees the new composition of the 18th Congress is more “collaborative” rather than confrontative.
“The re-election of Senator Tito Sotto as Senate President is a testament that the majority members of senate choose to be collaborative than confrontative in their legislative relationship with the executive department, but of course anytime depending on the political atmosphere especially 2022 presidential election is fast approaching, changes in the leadership is inevitable,” Mr. Villarin said over mobile phone message on Monday.
“The present set up of congressional leadership gives President Duterte a kind of legislative assurance that will sustain its programs and activity he promised to the Filipino people.” — Charmaine A. Tadalan
https://www.bworldonline.com/bill-on-foreign-investments-among-senate-priorities/
The Senate, via voice vote, reelected Mr. Sotto, after his nomination by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri was seconded by Senators Panfilo M. Lacson and Pia S. Cayetano.
Of the twenty-four senators, two were unable to attend the opening of session on Monday — detained Senator Leila M. De Lima and Senator Emmanuel D. Pacquiao, who was advised against traveling back to the Philippines after his fight with Keith Thurman on Sunday.
Senator Franklin M. Drilon noted during the plenary session that Senators Risa N. Hontiveros-Baraquel and Francis N. Pangilinan abstained from voting.
The chamber also reelected Senator Ralph G. Recto as Senate president pro tempore while Messrs. Zubiri and Drilon are the majority and minority leader, respectively. Mr. Sotto said among the priority measures they discussed were the proposed amendments to Republic Act No. 9372 (Human Security Act of 2007), Commonwealth Act No. 146 (Public Service Act) and RA 7042 (Foreign Investments Act of 1991).
“These were some of the bills that I know were left from the 17th Congress that we wanted to prioritize, but for lack of time,” Mr. Sotto told reporters in a chance interview ahead of the plenary session.
Sought for comment, University of Santo Tomas political science professor Marlon M. Villarin said he sees the new composition of the 18th Congress is more “collaborative” rather than confrontative.
“The re-election of Senator Tito Sotto as Senate President is a testament that the majority members of senate choose to be collaborative than confrontative in their legislative relationship with the executive department, but of course anytime depending on the political atmosphere especially 2022 presidential election is fast approaching, changes in the leadership is inevitable,” Mr. Villarin said over mobile phone message on Monday.
“The present set up of congressional leadership gives President Duterte a kind of legislative assurance that will sustain its programs and activity he promised to the Filipino people.” — Charmaine A. Tadalan
https://www.bworldonline.com/bill-on-foreign-investments-among-senate-priorities/
Sotto, key Senate leaders keep their posts
IN contrast to the long-drawn drama that characterized the choice of House Speaker, the 24-man Senate quickly picked its leader as the 18th Congress opened on Monday (July 22) hours before the President’s State of the Nation Address (Sona).
Sen. Vicente C. Sotto III was elected Senate President anew after he was nominated for the post by Sen. Ralph Recto, who also kept his post as Senate President Pro Tempore. Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Minority Leader Franklin Drilon also kept their posts.
Twenty-two of the 24 senators were present as the 18th Senate opened. The absentees were Sen. Leila de Lima, who is detained on various charges; and Sen. Manny Pacquiao, who was prevented by doctors from taking a flight back to Manila so soon after a bruising fight with Keith Thurman in Las Vegas.
In a brief interview, Sotto listed three bills on top of their priority list including the proposed Anti-Terrorism law, and bills updating the Public Service Act and the Foreign Investment Act.
At the same time Sotto, acknowledged “the trust and confidence of our countrymen that were given to the 17th Congress and the Senate, and so we would like to continue that legacy.”
The Senate leader listed amendments to update the Human Security Act “which will eventually [be] called the Anti-Terrorism Act, and then the amendments also to to the Public Service Act and the Foreign Investment Act.”
“Those are some of the bills that I know were left from the 17th Congress that we wanted to prioritize, but for lack of time,” he added.
Asked about the senators’ expectations when President Duterte delivers his State of the Nation address, the Senate leader replied: “We expect him to ask Congress to pass some of the bills that were not taken up during the last Congress, and that he will seek the support of Congress again so that programs, particularly the ‘Build,Build,Build’ program, will continue and that the other programs will be supported.”
Sotto, however, was unsure if the death penalty will be listed as a priority bill. “I really can’t tell. Perhaps, it is a priority to debate on it. I would rather say that instead of saying that it is a priority measure, [because] it is one issue that is very divisive.”
Nonetheless, he indicated that senators are also keen to tackle the bill. “So we’d like to, perhaps, start debate on it. I filed a bill on that, particularly high-level drug trafficking, but we have two new senators who have filed a bill encompassing all heinous crimes, so I hope it will be a healthy debate.”
Sotto, however, could not say for sure it will be promptly frontloaded as soon as Congress convenes session, saying it will depend on the committee chairmen who have yet to be nominated and confirmed by the Senate.
In the same interview, Sotto indicated that the bill would have a “better chance” of getting passed by the lawmakers, saying: “You are asking for my personal opinion; I am not speaking for the Senate in this case. If it will be confined to high-level drug trafficking, it stands a better chance of passage.”
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/07/23/sotto-key-senate-leaders-keep-their-posts/
Sen. Vicente C. Sotto III was elected Senate President anew after he was nominated for the post by Sen. Ralph Recto, who also kept his post as Senate President Pro Tempore. Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Minority Leader Franklin Drilon also kept their posts.
Twenty-two of the 24 senators were present as the 18th Senate opened. The absentees were Sen. Leila de Lima, who is detained on various charges; and Sen. Manny Pacquiao, who was prevented by doctors from taking a flight back to Manila so soon after a bruising fight with Keith Thurman in Las Vegas.
In a brief interview, Sotto listed three bills on top of their priority list including the proposed Anti-Terrorism law, and bills updating the Public Service Act and the Foreign Investment Act.
At the same time Sotto, acknowledged “the trust and confidence of our countrymen that were given to the 17th Congress and the Senate, and so we would like to continue that legacy.”
The Senate leader listed amendments to update the Human Security Act “which will eventually [be] called the Anti-Terrorism Act, and then the amendments also to to the Public Service Act and the Foreign Investment Act.”
“Those are some of the bills that I know were left from the 17th Congress that we wanted to prioritize, but for lack of time,” he added.
Asked about the senators’ expectations when President Duterte delivers his State of the Nation address, the Senate leader replied: “We expect him to ask Congress to pass some of the bills that were not taken up during the last Congress, and that he will seek the support of Congress again so that programs, particularly the ‘Build,Build,Build’ program, will continue and that the other programs will be supported.”
Sotto, however, was unsure if the death penalty will be listed as a priority bill. “I really can’t tell. Perhaps, it is a priority to debate on it. I would rather say that instead of saying that it is a priority measure, [because] it is one issue that is very divisive.”
Nonetheless, he indicated that senators are also keen to tackle the bill. “So we’d like to, perhaps, start debate on it. I filed a bill on that, particularly high-level drug trafficking, but we have two new senators who have filed a bill encompassing all heinous crimes, so I hope it will be a healthy debate.”
Sotto, however, could not say for sure it will be promptly frontloaded as soon as Congress convenes session, saying it will depend on the committee chairmen who have yet to be nominated and confirmed by the Senate.
In the same interview, Sotto indicated that the bill would have a “better chance” of getting passed by the lawmakers, saying: “You are asking for my personal opinion; I am not speaking for the Senate in this case. If it will be confined to high-level drug trafficking, it stands a better chance of passage.”
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/07/23/sotto-key-senate-leaders-keep-their-posts/
Duterte asks Congress to approve 18 Sona bills
WITH the goal of providing a comfortable life for every Filipino, the President on Monday defined the agenda of his administration for the next three years and asked Congress to pass at least 18 measures, topped by a number of economic bills to raise revenues and improve the business environment.
In his fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona), which lasted one hour and 33 minutes, President Duterte talked at length about corruption, efforts to improve the business climate and the Philippine economy in general.
He also addressed some of the issues being thrown at him such as his preference for military men in his Cabinet, as well as the country’s concerns when it came to the West Philippine Sea, which he said his administration will “definitely” address before he steps down from office.
“We are now entering a period of consequences. The consequences of what we did and did not do but should have done during [the] first half of my term. I assume full responsibility. As President I cannot pass the blame to anybody, so it’s on me. Though we cannot change the past, we will not squander the future,” Duterte said.
“I will push harder in the pursuit of programs that we have started but always with the parameters of the law. I will not merely coast along or while away my time during the remaining years of my administration. It ain’t my style. But I will not stop until I reach the finish line. Then and only then shall I call it a day. My goal for the next three years is clear —a comfortable life for everybody, all Filipinos,” he added.
Wish list
The President also laid out his legislative wish list to both houses of Congress, comprising at least 18 measures he wants passed.
He remained tentative, however, on one key bill that he had asked the 17th Congress to pass, but which has remained pending at his office since then: the Security of Tenure (SOT) bill, or alternately referred to as the “end to Endo” measure, targeted at all forms of illegal contractualization.
Business groups, foreign and local, have warned that the SOT bill as crafted will kill many small businesses and lay off workers instead of ensuring job security. They asked Duterte to veto it.
Duterte indicated he is still undecided whether to sign or veto the SOT bill as he still wants to consult the stakeholders concerned.
The President is also not closing any doors on letting the bill lapse into law by July 27.
In an interview with Palace reporters right after his Sona, the President said: “Pinag-aralan na namin mismo [We have studied it], I have to confer with a lot of people affected, you know this is two to tango. It will also affect the employers and of course it would also greatly favor the workers. It’s too catchy for me.”
Meanwhile, his wish list for the 18th Congress contained bills led by the reinstatement of the death penalty for heinous crimes such as drugs and plunder; the creation of the National Academy of Sports for high school students; postponement of the May 2020 barangay elections to October 2022; and enactment of the Magna Carta for Barangays.
It can be noted that a bill in the 17th Congress was filed by Hon. Mark Aeron H. Sambal to create the Philippine Sports Academy as an attached agency of the Philippine SPorts Commission.
Another bill was filed by Senator Sonny Angara last Congress which pushed for the establishment of Philippine High School for Sports to serve as breeding ground for future world-class Pinoy athletes.
On the postponement of the Magna Carta for Barangays, Senator Koko Pimentel filed a bill in the 17th Congress to declare barangay officials as regular government employees.
The proposed measure will help guarantee mandatory share of barangays in taxes, fees and other charges collected from residents or entities operating within the area.
Meanwhile, the President also threw his support behind the establishment of the Department of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and the passage of the Tax Reform for Attracting Better and Higher-quality Opportunities (Trabaho) Bill, which economic zone locators oppose, as well as the rest of the tax reform packages in the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP).
Neophyte Senator Bong Go has already filed the bill establishing Department of OFW which he said will be certified as urgent by Duterte inthis 18th Congress.
In terms of the CTRP, Albay Representative Joey Salceda is sponsoring the Trabaho bill in the current Congress.
Further, the President requested that both houses of Congress pass the right-sizing bill; create the Department of Disaster Resilience; and pass the bill on the Fire Protection Modernization program.
Reports showed that a bill was passed by the House of Representatives in Congress that would right-size the national government to improve public service delivery.
On the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience, Salceda also filed this bill in the current Congress and pointed out that it was one of the priority bills of the administration.
Senator Go also filed Senate Bill No. 204 which is known as the “Fire Protection Modernization Act of 2019,” which includes a modernization program for the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) with the DILG.
The modernization program also entails the establishment of a Fire Protection Service in all LGUs with no existing fire protection services.
Meanwhile, the President again urged Congress to pass the National Land Use Act (NLUA), a request that he has made since his first Sona in 2016. Mr. Duterte, in his Sona on Monday, requested Senator Cynthia Villar to pass the NLUA.
He also pushed for the passage of the Coconut Trust Fund bill according to the version supported by the administration. The President earlier vetoed the bill, saying it lacked “vital safeguards to avoid the repetition of painful mistakes committed in the past.”
In addition, the President urged Congress to pass the uniformed personnel pension reform bill proposed by the Department of National Defense.
The bill raises the compulsory retirement age to 60 years old from 56, with at least 20 years of satisfactory active service.
The President complemented this with the passage of mandatory ROTC in Grades 11 and 12 to train young Filipinos. He lamented that should a war occur, Filipinos do not have sufficient training to defend even their families.
He also pushed for the creation of the Department of Water Resources to avert a water crises in the country in the future. The bill was pushed by former Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in the last Congress.
Corruption
The President opened his Sona with efforts to improve good governance in his administration by requesting the reinstatement of the death penalty for Filipinos involved in the illegal drug trade and public officials found guilty of plunder.
Duterte said this is part of the administration’s efforts to boost anti-corruption measures during his term.
The President said these efforts have already helped boost government revenues. As of July 9, 2019, the government collected P61 billion from Government Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs).
Duterte said about 32 percent or P16 billion of the collections came from Pagcor. This is more than the P36 billion collected in 2017.
He added that the Bureau of Customs, though corruption-ridden, collected P585 billion in 2018. He said this could have been higher “if the BOC had been cleaned or less corrupt.”
5 agencies
The President also directed the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Social Security System (SSS), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Land Registration Authority (LRA) and Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG) to reform their services and simplify their processes.
He reminded them he signed the landmark Ease of Doing Business Law (EODB) law last year to make more efficient the delivery of state services, and all government agencies must abide by this.
The Chief Executive asked national state agencies and instrumentalities, as well as local governments and government corporations, to simplify their processes. He demanded that they adopt a zero contact policy and make their transactions electronic.
With a report by Bernadette D. Nicolas
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/07/23/duterte-asks-congress-to-approve-18-sona-bills/
In his fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona), which lasted one hour and 33 minutes, President Duterte talked at length about corruption, efforts to improve the business climate and the Philippine economy in general.
He also addressed some of the issues being thrown at him such as his preference for military men in his Cabinet, as well as the country’s concerns when it came to the West Philippine Sea, which he said his administration will “definitely” address before he steps down from office.
“We are now entering a period of consequences. The consequences of what we did and did not do but should have done during [the] first half of my term. I assume full responsibility. As President I cannot pass the blame to anybody, so it’s on me. Though we cannot change the past, we will not squander the future,” Duterte said.
“I will push harder in the pursuit of programs that we have started but always with the parameters of the law. I will not merely coast along or while away my time during the remaining years of my administration. It ain’t my style. But I will not stop until I reach the finish line. Then and only then shall I call it a day. My goal for the next three years is clear —a comfortable life for everybody, all Filipinos,” he added.
Wish list
The President also laid out his legislative wish list to both houses of Congress, comprising at least 18 measures he wants passed.
He remained tentative, however, on one key bill that he had asked the 17th Congress to pass, but which has remained pending at his office since then: the Security of Tenure (SOT) bill, or alternately referred to as the “end to Endo” measure, targeted at all forms of illegal contractualization.
Business groups, foreign and local, have warned that the SOT bill as crafted will kill many small businesses and lay off workers instead of ensuring job security. They asked Duterte to veto it.
Duterte indicated he is still undecided whether to sign or veto the SOT bill as he still wants to consult the stakeholders concerned.
The President is also not closing any doors on letting the bill lapse into law by July 27.
In an interview with Palace reporters right after his Sona, the President said: “Pinag-aralan na namin mismo [We have studied it], I have to confer with a lot of people affected, you know this is two to tango. It will also affect the employers and of course it would also greatly favor the workers. It’s too catchy for me.”
Meanwhile, his wish list for the 18th Congress contained bills led by the reinstatement of the death penalty for heinous crimes such as drugs and plunder; the creation of the National Academy of Sports for high school students; postponement of the May 2020 barangay elections to October 2022; and enactment of the Magna Carta for Barangays.
It can be noted that a bill in the 17th Congress was filed by Hon. Mark Aeron H. Sambal to create the Philippine Sports Academy as an attached agency of the Philippine SPorts Commission.
Another bill was filed by Senator Sonny Angara last Congress which pushed for the establishment of Philippine High School for Sports to serve as breeding ground for future world-class Pinoy athletes.
On the postponement of the Magna Carta for Barangays, Senator Koko Pimentel filed a bill in the 17th Congress to declare barangay officials as regular government employees.
The proposed measure will help guarantee mandatory share of barangays in taxes, fees and other charges collected from residents or entities operating within the area.
Meanwhile, the President also threw his support behind the establishment of the Department of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and the passage of the Tax Reform for Attracting Better and Higher-quality Opportunities (Trabaho) Bill, which economic zone locators oppose, as well as the rest of the tax reform packages in the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP).
Neophyte Senator Bong Go has already filed the bill establishing Department of OFW which he said will be certified as urgent by Duterte inthis 18th Congress.
In terms of the CTRP, Albay Representative Joey Salceda is sponsoring the Trabaho bill in the current Congress.
Further, the President requested that both houses of Congress pass the right-sizing bill; create the Department of Disaster Resilience; and pass the bill on the Fire Protection Modernization program.
Reports showed that a bill was passed by the House of Representatives in Congress that would right-size the national government to improve public service delivery.
On the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience, Salceda also filed this bill in the current Congress and pointed out that it was one of the priority bills of the administration.
Senator Go also filed Senate Bill No. 204 which is known as the “Fire Protection Modernization Act of 2019,” which includes a modernization program for the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) with the DILG.
The modernization program also entails the establishment of a Fire Protection Service in all LGUs with no existing fire protection services.
Meanwhile, the President again urged Congress to pass the National Land Use Act (NLUA), a request that he has made since his first Sona in 2016. Mr. Duterte, in his Sona on Monday, requested Senator Cynthia Villar to pass the NLUA.
He also pushed for the passage of the Coconut Trust Fund bill according to the version supported by the administration. The President earlier vetoed the bill, saying it lacked “vital safeguards to avoid the repetition of painful mistakes committed in the past.”
In addition, the President urged Congress to pass the uniformed personnel pension reform bill proposed by the Department of National Defense.
The bill raises the compulsory retirement age to 60 years old from 56, with at least 20 years of satisfactory active service.
The President complemented this with the passage of mandatory ROTC in Grades 11 and 12 to train young Filipinos. He lamented that should a war occur, Filipinos do not have sufficient training to defend even their families.
He also pushed for the creation of the Department of Water Resources to avert a water crises in the country in the future. The bill was pushed by former Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in the last Congress.
Corruption
The President opened his Sona with efforts to improve good governance in his administration by requesting the reinstatement of the death penalty for Filipinos involved in the illegal drug trade and public officials found guilty of plunder.
Duterte said this is part of the administration’s efforts to boost anti-corruption measures during his term.
The President said these efforts have already helped boost government revenues. As of July 9, 2019, the government collected P61 billion from Government Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs).
Duterte said about 32 percent or P16 billion of the collections came from Pagcor. This is more than the P36 billion collected in 2017.
He added that the Bureau of Customs, though corruption-ridden, collected P585 billion in 2018. He said this could have been higher “if the BOC had been cleaned or less corrupt.”
5 agencies
The President also directed the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Social Security System (SSS), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Land Registration Authority (LRA) and Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG) to reform their services and simplify their processes.
He reminded them he signed the landmark Ease of Doing Business Law (EODB) law last year to make more efficient the delivery of state services, and all government agencies must abide by this.
The Chief Executive asked national state agencies and instrumentalities, as well as local governments and government corporations, to simplify their processes. He demanded that they adopt a zero contact policy and make their transactions electronic.
With a report by Bernadette D. Nicolas
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/07/23/duterte-asks-congress-to-approve-18-sona-bills/
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