President Rodrigo Duterte's enactment of the measure expanding the coverage of the Sotto Law was an indication of his and the administration's respect for press freedom, Malacañang said Wednesday.
Signed on August 30, Republic Act 11458 expands the coverage of exemptions from revealing the source of published news or information obtained in confidence by including journalists from broadcast and online news agencies.
"The Palace therefore welcomes this as a manifestation of how the Chief Executive and his administration respect and uphold the constitutional guarantee on the freedom of the press," presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said, adding the enactment was "auspicious and relevant in the present time, with the advent of technology."
The law maintained that media practitioners may only be compelled to reveal their source of information when the court, the House of Representatives, the Senate, or any committee of Congress finds that such revelation is demanded by the "security of the state."
"While the law is silent on what constitutes a security of the state, we believe that we may be guided by pertinent case laws which use the clear and present danger rule to tackle the subject in relation to the constitutional concept of free press," Panelo said.
"At any rate, we submit that there is no hard and fast rule as the obligation to interpret the law as against varying sets of facts always lies with our courts."
Duterte has repeatedly lashed out at some media outfits for what he claimed was unfair coverage of his presidency.
He had vowed to block the renewal of the franchise granted to ABS-CBN which he had accused of not airing a political ad that was already paid for by his campaign team.
In February 2018, the President banned Rappler from covering all his activities, which the media outfit challenged before the Supreme Court.
Rappler and its officers led by veteran journalist Maria Ressa are also facing a number of lawsuits including cyber libel, violation of the country’s anti-dummy law and tax evasion. — RSJ, GMA News
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/709332/palace-signing-of-expanded-sotto-law-shows-duterte-s-respect-for-press-freedom/story/
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
New housing department wants P47.5-billion budget in 2020
Senator Francis Tolentino proposes that housing funds under other agencies be consolidated under the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development instead
The newly created Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is proposing a total budget of P47.52 billion to address housing needs.
At the DHSUD's budget hearing at the Senate on Tuesday, September 24, Housing Secretary Eduardo del Rosario said it would be hard to reach the target output of 101,039 houses with a total budget of P6 billion.
"There's a great disconnect in the budget. The housing sector is recommending a total of P47.52 billion in order to address the housing requirement of 101,000. If the recommended budget is only P6.32 billion, this could only translate to address 12%," Del Rosario said.
Under the 2020 National Expenditure Program, the DHSUD, its attached agencies, and attached government owned and controlled corporations have a combined allocation of P6.32 billion:
But it was revealed at the hearing that other agencies have housing funds, particularly the Department of Transportation, Department of Public Works and Highways, and Department of the Interior and Local Government.
NHA General Manager Marcelino Escalada said they do not treat these funds as part of their budget, since these are not lodged under them.
Senator Francis Tolentino proposed that all housing funds be consolidated under the DHSUD to avoid confusion. Tolentino asked the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to prepare the total funds recommended for realignment.
"I assumed you can examine the budgets of the different line agencies. From there, you can already flesh out the housing components," Tolentino told the DBM.
The total amount for realignment has yet to be submitted to the Senate panel.
In a media interview, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said he supports the consolidation of budgets as it would be "more efficient."
"What has been proposed is the consolidation of the housing budget into the department of housing, so that they will be answerable, without anymore the delay of entering into MOAs (memorandum of agreements) with different departments," Drilon said.
"Bureaucratic delay that results from the transfer of funds from one agency to another will be avoided and we will all have it in the budget," he added.
https://www.rappler.com/nation/240902-new-housing-department-wants-budget-2020
The newly created Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is proposing a total budget of P47.52 billion to address housing needs.
At the DHSUD's budget hearing at the Senate on Tuesday, September 24, Housing Secretary Eduardo del Rosario said it would be hard to reach the target output of 101,039 houses with a total budget of P6 billion.
"There's a great disconnect in the budget. The housing sector is recommending a total of P47.52 billion in order to address the housing requirement of 101,000. If the recommended budget is only P6.32 billion, this could only translate to address 12%," Del Rosario said.
Under the 2020 National Expenditure Program, the DHSUD, its attached agencies, and attached government owned and controlled corporations have a combined allocation of P6.32 billion:
- DHSUD-Office of the Secretary - P391 million
- Human Settlements Adjudication Commission - P250 million
- National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation - P1 billion
- Social Housing Finance Corporation - P1.397 billion
- National Housing Authority (NHA) - P3.26 billion
But it was revealed at the hearing that other agencies have housing funds, particularly the Department of Transportation, Department of Public Works and Highways, and Department of the Interior and Local Government.
NHA General Manager Marcelino Escalada said they do not treat these funds as part of their budget, since these are not lodged under them.
Senator Francis Tolentino proposed that all housing funds be consolidated under the DHSUD to avoid confusion. Tolentino asked the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to prepare the total funds recommended for realignment.
"I assumed you can examine the budgets of the different line agencies. From there, you can already flesh out the housing components," Tolentino told the DBM.
The total amount for realignment has yet to be submitted to the Senate panel.
In a media interview, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said he supports the consolidation of budgets as it would be "more efficient."
"What has been proposed is the consolidation of the housing budget into the department of housing, so that they will be answerable, without anymore the delay of entering into MOAs (memorandum of agreements) with different departments," Drilon said.
"Bureaucratic delay that results from the transfer of funds from one agency to another will be avoided and we will all have it in the budget," he added.
https://www.rappler.com/nation/240902-new-housing-department-wants-budget-2020