President Rodrigo Duterte will read before the public the letters of the water concessionaires expressing willingness to revisit the supposed onerous concession agreements, Malacañang said on Wednesday.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the President decided to read the letters of Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Co. as signed by their owners, businessmen Manuel V. Pangilinan and Fernando Zobel de Ayala, respectively, for “transparency.”
“The Chief Executive will read the letters of Maynilad and Manila Water before the public for transparency and to show that all the steps being undertaken by the government in resolving this issue with the two Metro Manila water concessionaires are aboveboard and legitimate,” Panelo said in a statement.
Panelo said the President will also review the practical and legal consequences of the situation before making his next move.
He noted that President also wanted to speak with all government lawyers involved in the drafting of the existing concession agreements to determine why they allowed the onerous provisions.
“These companies not only have inefficiently delivered water to the households but exacted unconscionable amounts from the taxpayers,” Panelo said.
Meanwhile, Panelo welcomed the letter of Manila Water which states that it will no longer pursue its claims in the amount of PHP7.39 billion against the government and that it will defer the implementation of their supposed water charge increase.
He also acknowledged how Maynilad president and chief executive officer Ramoncito Fernandez bared in a legislative hearing that they will no longer pursue its arbitral award in 2017 in the amount of PHP3.4 billion against the government.
“The Filipino people have just been protected from paying a total amount of at least PHP10.8 billion, an obligation which has no legal basis, to private entities,” Panelo said.
“Once again, the President exercising political will, coupled with his ability to ascertain inequities in contract law as well as his character to identify with the plight of the ordinary Filipinos, has protected their interest, in obedience to the constitutional command to serve and protect the people,” he added.
In a hearing at the House of Representatives, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) deputy administrator for engineering Leonor Cleofas said it has revoked the resolution extending the concession agreement with Maynilad Water and Maynila.
Cleofas said the decision to revoke the resolution adopted in 2008 was reached during a board meeting last December 5.
The board resolution extended the concession agreements with the water companies by another 15 years from 2022 to 2037.
Duterte’s quarrel with water concessionaires and government lawyers started after the government was ordered by the Singapore arbitration court to pay for the two water concessionaires damages.
The President earlier threatened to file economic sabotage cases against all involved in the crafting of the water deals and asked Department of Justice and Office of the Solicitor General to craft new water concession agreements that are “favorable to the State and the Filipino people”.
He also threatened to expropriate the operation of water facilities if he is not satisfied with the explanation of water concessionaires and government lawyers on the supposed onerous water concession deals.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1088544
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
House of Representatives ratifies 2020 General Appropriations Bill
The House of Representatives ratified on Wednesday the Bicameral Conference Committee Report on House Bill No. (HB) 4228 or the 2020 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) which provides for a P4.1-trillion national budget for fiscal year 2020. The timely ratification of the bicam report ensures the non-reenactment of the 2019 budget next year.
The ratification came almost 3 months after the House approved HB 4228 on Third and Final reading on September 20, 2019 in response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s certification of HB 4228 as urgent.
Speaker Alan Peter “Compañero” Cayetano lauded and congratulated the Bicameral Conference Committee for a thorough review and timely approval of the 2020 GAB. The House Contingent was headed by Committee on Appropriations Chairman Rep. Isidro Ungab (3rd District, Davao City) while Senate Committee on Finance Chairman Sen. Sonny Angara led the Senate Contingent to the Bicameral Conference Committee.
The Speaker acknowledged that 2020 is a very symbolic year as it represents a perfect vision. “A vision we share with President Duterte to provide a safe and comfortable life for all Filipinos. Now more than ever is the best time to push for reforms to see this goal through,” he said.
“We passed a budget with no pork, no parked funds, and no delays with full transparency. While there is no perfect budget, both the Senate and the House of Representatives have identified areas where funds have been underutilized for various reasons. Thus, both houses made adjustments so it can now be fully utilized for programs such as the Build, Build, Build and social welfare programs in furthering the goal of improving the quality of life of Filipinos,” the Speaker said.
The early approval by the Bicam Committee provides the President ample time to review the Bill’s provisions and ensure that it is aligned with the priority programs of the administration, he said. “We now leave it up to the Departments, Agencies, and the rest of the Executive branch to fully implement the projects and programs with no corruption and with full transparency,” the Speaker said.
Meanwhile, Rep. Ungab said the Bicam conferees agreed on the disagreeing provisions of the 2020 GAB. “This is considering that no conferee objected to the motion to approve the Bicam Report,” Ungab said.
Among the critical programs of the administration to be funded by the 2020 budget are measures to implement new laws and policies that provide socio-economic assistance to all Filipinos and enhance security of the nation, such as the following: (1) full implementation of the Universal Health Care Act; (2) institutionalization of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program; (3) smooth transition to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; (4) implementation of the liberalization of rice importation; (5) creation of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development; and (6) National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.
The National Expenditure Program (NEP) proposes a national budget of P4.1 trillion for 2020, which is 12% higher than the P3.662 trillion budget for 2019. The P4.1 trillion budget translates to 19.4% of the projected gross domestic product (GDP). In terms of sectoral allocation, social services will receive the lion's share of the budget followed by economic services, general services, debt burden, and defense.
The ratification came almost 3 months after the House approved HB 4228 on Third and Final reading on September 20, 2019 in response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s certification of HB 4228 as urgent.
Speaker Alan Peter “Compañero” Cayetano lauded and congratulated the Bicameral Conference Committee for a thorough review and timely approval of the 2020 GAB. The House Contingent was headed by Committee on Appropriations Chairman Rep. Isidro Ungab (3rd District, Davao City) while Senate Committee on Finance Chairman Sen. Sonny Angara led the Senate Contingent to the Bicameral Conference Committee.
The Speaker acknowledged that 2020 is a very symbolic year as it represents a perfect vision. “A vision we share with President Duterte to provide a safe and comfortable life for all Filipinos. Now more than ever is the best time to push for reforms to see this goal through,” he said.
“We passed a budget with no pork, no parked funds, and no delays with full transparency. While there is no perfect budget, both the Senate and the House of Representatives have identified areas where funds have been underutilized for various reasons. Thus, both houses made adjustments so it can now be fully utilized for programs such as the Build, Build, Build and social welfare programs in furthering the goal of improving the quality of life of Filipinos,” the Speaker said.
The early approval by the Bicam Committee provides the President ample time to review the Bill’s provisions and ensure that it is aligned with the priority programs of the administration, he said. “We now leave it up to the Departments, Agencies, and the rest of the Executive branch to fully implement the projects and programs with no corruption and with full transparency,” the Speaker said.
Meanwhile, Rep. Ungab said the Bicam conferees agreed on the disagreeing provisions of the 2020 GAB. “This is considering that no conferee objected to the motion to approve the Bicam Report,” Ungab said.
Among the critical programs of the administration to be funded by the 2020 budget are measures to implement new laws and policies that provide socio-economic assistance to all Filipinos and enhance security of the nation, such as the following: (1) full implementation of the Universal Health Care Act; (2) institutionalization of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program; (3) smooth transition to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; (4) implementation of the liberalization of rice importation; (5) creation of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development; and (6) National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.
The National Expenditure Program (NEP) proposes a national budget of P4.1 trillion for 2020, which is 12% higher than the P3.662 trillion budget for 2019. The P4.1 trillion budget translates to 19.4% of the projected gross domestic product (GDP). In terms of sectoral allocation, social services will receive the lion's share of the budget followed by economic services, general services, debt burden, and defense.
Senate ratifies proposed P4.1-T 2020 budget
The proposed PHP 4.1 trillion national budget for 2020 now only needs the signature of President Rodrigo Duterte to be enacted into law after the Senate ratified on Wednesday the bicameral conference committee report on House Bill 4228 or the General Appropriations Bill (GAB).
The House of Representatives had earlier ratified the national expenditure plan.
The Senate swiftly ratified the 2020 budget with no objections from the senators present despite earlier claims by Senator Panfilo Lacson that House members allegedly made last-minute insertions to the budget prior to its signing by the bicameral conference committee.
Lacson said based on a list sent by the House to his office on Tuesday night, the alleged “corruption-driven” insertions could reach as high as PHP83 billion.
“Pork is here to stay. I hope the President will again exercise his political will in vetoing line items that will obviously waste people’s tax money,” Lacson said in a statement.
But Senator Juan Edgardo Angara dismissed Lacson’s claims, saying the said list is actually the list of projects of congressmen that Lacson has requested.
“Well, taun-taon naman nag-i-insertion talaga ang House members.. kasi sa tingin nila, yun ang pangangailangan ng kanilang distrito (House members make insertions yearly because, for them, these are what are needed in their districts),” Angara said in an interview.
Besides, the chair of the Senate Committee on Finance said such projects allocations could not be considered as pork barrel funds if they are itemized.
“If it’s a line item, according to the Supreme Court, hindi naman siya pork (it is not pork). We tried to conform to the decision of the Supreme Court. We tried to avoid lump sums and we tried to line item the projects, at dito, wala nang (and here, there is no) post-enactment legislation,” Angara said.
With the approval of both Chambers of Congress, Angara said they hope to send the printed copy of the ratified budget to President Duterte in five to seven days.
President Duterte then has until December 31 to sign it to prevent a reenacted budget.
“That’s our goal given what happened to the 2019 budget. The growth of our economy was greatly affected and many projects in the provinces were not continued. We want to prevent that,” Angara said.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1088532
The House of Representatives had earlier ratified the national expenditure plan.
The Senate swiftly ratified the 2020 budget with no objections from the senators present despite earlier claims by Senator Panfilo Lacson that House members allegedly made last-minute insertions to the budget prior to its signing by the bicameral conference committee.
Lacson said based on a list sent by the House to his office on Tuesday night, the alleged “corruption-driven” insertions could reach as high as PHP83 billion.
“Pork is here to stay. I hope the President will again exercise his political will in vetoing line items that will obviously waste people’s tax money,” Lacson said in a statement.
But Senator Juan Edgardo Angara dismissed Lacson’s claims, saying the said list is actually the list of projects of congressmen that Lacson has requested.
“Well, taun-taon naman nag-i-insertion talaga ang House members.. kasi sa tingin nila, yun ang pangangailangan ng kanilang distrito (House members make insertions yearly because, for them, these are what are needed in their districts),” Angara said in an interview.
Besides, the chair of the Senate Committee on Finance said such projects allocations could not be considered as pork barrel funds if they are itemized.
“If it’s a line item, according to the Supreme Court, hindi naman siya pork (it is not pork). We tried to conform to the decision of the Supreme Court. We tried to avoid lump sums and we tried to line item the projects, at dito, wala nang (and here, there is no) post-enactment legislation,” Angara said.
With the approval of both Chambers of Congress, Angara said they hope to send the printed copy of the ratified budget to President Duterte in five to seven days.
President Duterte then has until December 31 to sign it to prevent a reenacted budget.
“That’s our goal given what happened to the 2019 budget. The growth of our economy was greatly affected and many projects in the provinces were not continued. We want to prevent that,” Angara said.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1088532
SC junks ABS-CBN plea on copyright suit
The Supreme Court (SC) dismissed the petition for review filed by ABS-CBN Corporation in connection with a Court of Appeals (CA) ruling against it in a PHP127-million damage for copyright case against television host Willie Revillame and TV5 Network, Inc.
In a resolution dated October 16, the SC through division clerk of court Librada C. Buena affirmed its earlier decision dated September 5, 2011 and ordered ABS-CBN to pay the costs of the suit.
The SC ruling upheld the CA's reversal of an earlier ruling of the Makati City Regional Trial Court (RTC) and ordered the dismissal of the copyright infringement complaint before the Makati RTC having been filed in violation of the rules against forum shopping after noting that the network filed a similar case before the Quezon City RTC.
In its decision, Makati City RTC Branch 66 Presiding Judge Joselito Villarosa earlier issued an order stopping the airing of Revillame’s former show “Willing Willie” and allowed the civil complaint against the comedian, his production outfit Wil Productions, Inc. and TV5 to proceed.
ABS-CBN, in its complaint filed with the Makati RTC, sought to stop the airing of Revillame’s show citing its similarity to the program “Wowowee” that used to be aired by the network before they had a falling out with the host.
"As correctly held by the CA, Wilfredo Revillame's (Revillame) refusal to "honor his talent agreement by not working for a rival network is the delict that purportedly violated the petitioner's rights in the separate claims. Thus, the petitioner resorted to forum shopping when it filed a complaint for infringement, the cause of action of which is similar to its compulsory counterclaim (in another case) considering that both can be traced from Revillame's refusal to honor his talent agreement", the high court held.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1088527
In a resolution dated October 16, the SC through division clerk of court Librada C. Buena affirmed its earlier decision dated September 5, 2011 and ordered ABS-CBN to pay the costs of the suit.
The SC ruling upheld the CA's reversal of an earlier ruling of the Makati City Regional Trial Court (RTC) and ordered the dismissal of the copyright infringement complaint before the Makati RTC having been filed in violation of the rules against forum shopping after noting that the network filed a similar case before the Quezon City RTC.
In its decision, Makati City RTC Branch 66 Presiding Judge Joselito Villarosa earlier issued an order stopping the airing of Revillame’s former show “Willing Willie” and allowed the civil complaint against the comedian, his production outfit Wil Productions, Inc. and TV5 to proceed.
ABS-CBN, in its complaint filed with the Makati RTC, sought to stop the airing of Revillame’s show citing its similarity to the program “Wowowee” that used to be aired by the network before they had a falling out with the host.
"As correctly held by the CA, Wilfredo Revillame's (Revillame) refusal to "honor his talent agreement by not working for a rival network is the delict that purportedly violated the petitioner's rights in the separate claims. Thus, the petitioner resorted to forum shopping when it filed a complaint for infringement, the cause of action of which is similar to its compulsory counterclaim (in another case) considering that both can be traced from Revillame's refusal to honor his talent agreement", the high court held.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1088527
With 2020 budget in the bag, DOF sees Congress getting down to work on new ‘sin’ taxes
The Department of Finance (DOF) expects Congress to pass new measures increasing taxes on alcohol, heated tobacco and vaping products right after it approved the 2020 national budget.
“We’re still on track with the ‘sin’ taxes. I think yesterday the concern was to get the budget passed today so it can move forward,” Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III told reporters on Wednesday (Dec. 11).
On Wednesday morning, the bicameral conference panel of the two chambers of Congress signed the report on the proposed P4.1-trillion budget for next year.
The spin-off to package “2 plus” of the Duterte administration’s comprehensive tax reform program included higher excise on alcoholic drinks as well as levy on heated tobacco and vapes similar to rates to be slapped on cigarettes in 2020.
In July, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act (RA) No. 11346, under which excise on cigarettes will be blown upward from P35 per pack to P45 per pack in 2020, P50 in 2021 and P60 in 2023.
A 5 percent annual increase in excise on cigarettes would be the norm starting in 2024.
RA 11346 also slapped new taxes on heated tobacco products and vapes but the DOF had deemed these rates “too low” and pushed for the updated bill.
Incremental revenues from so-called “sin” taxes will augment funding for the Universal Health Care Program beginning 2020.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) was already preparing for the implementation of a further increase in cigarette and alcohol taxes next year by ensuring that new tax stamps to be affixed on these products cannot be faked.
Edited by TSB
https://business.inquirer.net/285220/with-2020-budget-in-the-bag-dof-sees-congress-getting-down-to-work-on-new-sin-taxes
“We’re still on track with the ‘sin’ taxes. I think yesterday the concern was to get the budget passed today so it can move forward,” Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III told reporters on Wednesday (Dec. 11).
On Wednesday morning, the bicameral conference panel of the two chambers of Congress signed the report on the proposed P4.1-trillion budget for next year.
The spin-off to package “2 plus” of the Duterte administration’s comprehensive tax reform program included higher excise on alcoholic drinks as well as levy on heated tobacco and vapes similar to rates to be slapped on cigarettes in 2020.
In July, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act (RA) No. 11346, under which excise on cigarettes will be blown upward from P35 per pack to P45 per pack in 2020, P50 in 2021 and P60 in 2023.
A 5 percent annual increase in excise on cigarettes would be the norm starting in 2024.
RA 11346 also slapped new taxes on heated tobacco products and vapes but the DOF had deemed these rates “too low” and pushed for the updated bill.
Incremental revenues from so-called “sin” taxes will augment funding for the Universal Health Care Program beginning 2020.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) was already preparing for the implementation of a further increase in cigarette and alcohol taxes next year by ensuring that new tax stamps to be affixed on these products cannot be faked.
Edited by TSB
https://business.inquirer.net/285220/with-2020-budget-in-the-bag-dof-sees-congress-getting-down-to-work-on-new-sin-taxes
House ratifies bicam report on 2020 budget bill
By ERWIN COLCOL, GMA News
The House of Representatives on Wednesday ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the bill providing for the proposed P4.1-trillion national budget for 2020.
The chamber approved the report only hours after members of the bicameral panel themselves signed and adopted it in their meeting in Makati City earlier in the day.
In a statement, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano commended the bicameral committee members for their thorough review and timely approval of the budget bill.
"2020 is a very symbolic year as it represents a perfect vision - a vision we share with President Duterte to provide a safe and comfortable life for all Filipinos. Now more than ever is the best time to push for reforms to see this goal through," he said.
Cayetano, however, maintained that the House passed the 2020 budget bill with no pork, no parked funds, no delays and with transparency.
This was even as Senator Panfilo Lacson bared that the 2020 national budget is still riddled with pork funds.
"While there is no perfect budget, both the Senate and the House of Representatives have identified areas where funds have been underutilized for various reasons," he said.
"Thus both houses made adjustments so it can now be fully utilized for programs such as the Build, Build, Build and social welfare programs in furthering the goal improving the quality of life of Filipinos," he added.
Cayetano believes that the early approval of the budget in the bicam level will allow President Rodrigo Duterte to review the budget bill's provisions and make sure that they are aligned with his administration's priority programs.
"We now leave it up to the Departments, Agencies, and the rest of the Executive branch to fully implement the projects and programs with no corruption and with full transparency," he said. — RSJ, GMA News
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/718807/house-oks-bicam-report-on-2020-budget-bill/story/
The House of Representatives on Wednesday ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the bill providing for the proposed P4.1-trillion national budget for 2020.
The chamber approved the report only hours after members of the bicameral panel themselves signed and adopted it in their meeting in Makati City earlier in the day.
In a statement, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano commended the bicameral committee members for their thorough review and timely approval of the budget bill.
"2020 is a very symbolic year as it represents a perfect vision - a vision we share with President Duterte to provide a safe and comfortable life for all Filipinos. Now more than ever is the best time to push for reforms to see this goal through," he said.
Cayetano, however, maintained that the House passed the 2020 budget bill with no pork, no parked funds, no delays and with transparency.
This was even as Senator Panfilo Lacson bared that the 2020 national budget is still riddled with pork funds.
"While there is no perfect budget, both the Senate and the House of Representatives have identified areas where funds have been underutilized for various reasons," he said.
"Thus both houses made adjustments so it can now be fully utilized for programs such as the Build, Build, Build and social welfare programs in furthering the goal improving the quality of life of Filipinos," he added.
Cayetano believes that the early approval of the budget in the bicam level will allow President Rodrigo Duterte to review the budget bill's provisions and make sure that they are aligned with his administration's priority programs.
"We now leave it up to the Departments, Agencies, and the rest of the Executive branch to fully implement the projects and programs with no corruption and with full transparency," he said. — RSJ, GMA News
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/718807/house-oks-bicam-report-on-2020-budget-bill/story/
Duterte, state agents behind 69 cases of attacks vs journalists — press groups
Government officials and uniformed personnel were linked to at least 69 attacks and threats against journalists recorded since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office, according to a report of a network of media organizations.
The Freedom for Media, Freedom For All network documented 154 incidents of attacks and threats against news media from June 30, 2016 to December 5, 2019.
The cases include 15 journalists killed during the Duterte administration.
The press groups also recorded 28 incidents of intimidation, 20 online harassment, 12 threats via text messages, 12 libel cases, 10 website attacks, eight slay attempts and eight cases of journalists barred from coverage in the last 41 months.
“The situation highlights the unyielding reign of impunity and the shrinking democratic space in the country,” the Freedom for Media, Freedom for All network said.
The network is composed of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, MindaNews, Philippine Press Institute and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism.
Attacks by state agents
The press groups said at least 69 cases had linked public officials from the executive and legislative branches and uniformed personnel as known or alleged perpetrators.
"Of these 69 state agents, about half or 27 are from national government agencies," the report said.
Duterte, who has been targeting the franchise of ABS-CBN since 2017, said he will personally see after the denial of the broadcasting giant’s franchise renewal. ABS-CBN’s legislative franchise expires on March 30, 2020.
Last month, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. hurled an expletive against a Philippine Daily Inquirer reporter for her live tweets on the 35th Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit coverage.
In June, Davao Today columnist Margarita Valle was arrested and detained for 112 hours by elements of the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group. The authorities later apologized and downplayed it as a case of mistaken identity.
The organizations also noted that more cases of red-tagging or red-baiting of journalists by police or military officers or their intelligence assets have been reported.
The Philippines placed 134th out of 180 countries on the 2019 World Press Freedom Index of media watchdog Reporters Without Borders.
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/12/11/1976198/duterte-state-agents-behind-69-cases-attacks-vs-journalists-press-groups
The Freedom for Media, Freedom For All network documented 154 incidents of attacks and threats against news media from June 30, 2016 to December 5, 2019.
The cases include 15 journalists killed during the Duterte administration.
The press groups also recorded 28 incidents of intimidation, 20 online harassment, 12 threats via text messages, 12 libel cases, 10 website attacks, eight slay attempts and eight cases of journalists barred from coverage in the last 41 months.
“The situation highlights the unyielding reign of impunity and the shrinking democratic space in the country,” the Freedom for Media, Freedom for All network said.
The network is composed of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, MindaNews, Philippine Press Institute and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism.
Attacks by state agents
The press groups said at least 69 cases had linked public officials from the executive and legislative branches and uniformed personnel as known or alleged perpetrators.
"Of these 69 state agents, about half or 27 are from national government agencies," the report said.
Duterte, who has been targeting the franchise of ABS-CBN since 2017, said he will personally see after the denial of the broadcasting giant’s franchise renewal. ABS-CBN’s legislative franchise expires on March 30, 2020.
Last month, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. hurled an expletive against a Philippine Daily Inquirer reporter for her live tweets on the 35th Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit coverage.
In June, Davao Today columnist Margarita Valle was arrested and detained for 112 hours by elements of the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group. The authorities later apologized and downplayed it as a case of mistaken identity.
The organizations also noted that more cases of red-tagging or red-baiting of journalists by police or military officers or their intelligence assets have been reported.
The Philippines placed 134th out of 180 countries on the 2019 World Press Freedom Index of media watchdog Reporters Without Borders.
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/12/11/1976198/duterte-state-agents-behind-69-cases-attacks-vs-journalists-press-groups
With 2020 budget nearly out of the way, Palace wraps record P4.6T 2021 spending plan for Congress
President Rodrigo Duterte’s economic team on Wednesday (Dec. 11) approved for transmission to Congress a record P4.64 trillion cash national budget for 2021 while praising the timely passage of the 2020 spending bill in the bicameral conference committee.
After a meeting of the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC), a Cabinet-level body, acting Budget Secretary Wendel E. Avisado said the 2021 budget proposal would be more than 13 percent higher than the P4.1 trillion proposed budget for 2020.
The 2021 proposed budget would be equivalent to a little over 20 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), Avisado said.
He said it would “continue to support antipoverty and peace-sustaining measures” which included funding of recently enacted laws.
Among the programs tagged by Avisado as priority for funding in 2021 are universal health care, cash subsidy for the poor, aid to farmers hurt by rice importation, share of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, wider access to college education, national government assistance to LGUs with high poverty rates and climate change mitigating measures.
The 2020 and 2021 budgets would adopt the cash budgeting system as provided by Executive Order No. 91 issued by Duterte last September.
This means the national budgets in the next two years would have a validity of only one year, Avisado said.
Duterte’s economic managers also welcomed the bicameral approval of the proposed 2020 budget before legislators take a Christmas break.
The bicameral body on Wednesday signed the report endorsing the 2020 proposed budget for approval by both chambers of Congress on final reading and signing by Duterte.
Avisado said he expected the President to sign the 2020 national budget into law “within the month.”
Budget deliberations in Congress, he said, were “certainly much improved over last year.”
“We’re quite pleased that we will start next year with an honest-to-goodness 2020 budget rather than what happened this year,” said Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III.
He was referring to the delay in the passage by Congress of the 2019 national budget after legislators bickered over pork funds that they could pocket.
The delay caused the government to underspend by about P1 billion per day using the 2018 national budget. GDP took a big hit as a result.
https://business.inquirer.net/285218/with-2020-budget-nearly-out-of-the-way-palace-wraps-record-p4-6t-2021-spending-plan-for-congress
After a meeting of the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC), a Cabinet-level body, acting Budget Secretary Wendel E. Avisado said the 2021 budget proposal would be more than 13 percent higher than the P4.1 trillion proposed budget for 2020.
The 2021 proposed budget would be equivalent to a little over 20 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), Avisado said.
He said it would “continue to support antipoverty and peace-sustaining measures” which included funding of recently enacted laws.
Among the programs tagged by Avisado as priority for funding in 2021 are universal health care, cash subsidy for the poor, aid to farmers hurt by rice importation, share of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, wider access to college education, national government assistance to LGUs with high poverty rates and climate change mitigating measures.
The 2020 and 2021 budgets would adopt the cash budgeting system as provided by Executive Order No. 91 issued by Duterte last September.
This means the national budgets in the next two years would have a validity of only one year, Avisado said.
Duterte’s economic managers also welcomed the bicameral approval of the proposed 2020 budget before legislators take a Christmas break.
The bicameral body on Wednesday signed the report endorsing the 2020 proposed budget for approval by both chambers of Congress on final reading and signing by Duterte.
Avisado said he expected the President to sign the 2020 national budget into law “within the month.”
Budget deliberations in Congress, he said, were “certainly much improved over last year.”
“We’re quite pleased that we will start next year with an honest-to-goodness 2020 budget rather than what happened this year,” said Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III.
He was referring to the delay in the passage by Congress of the 2019 national budget after legislators bickered over pork funds that they could pocket.
The delay caused the government to underspend by about P1 billion per day using the 2018 national budget. GDP took a big hit as a result.
https://business.inquirer.net/285218/with-2020-budget-nearly-out-of-the-way-palace-wraps-record-p4-6t-2021-spending-plan-for-congress
Bill proposing creation of Cordillera autonomous region filed anew
By Ben Rosario
Twice rejected by the people of the Cordilleras, the proposed creation of the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera was revived anew in the House of Representatives. But this time, its proponents are confident that Cordillerans will finally support their bid for autonomy.
Baguio City Rep. Mark Go, one of the authors of House Bill 5687, said a massive information drive will be conducted as soon as the measure passes Congress in order to make people aware of the significance of creating the ARC.
Currently pending before the House Committee on Local Government. HB 5687 seeks to provide the legislative requisite that would comply with the provision of the 1987 Constitution for the creation of two autonomous regions in the country.
The first constitutional mandate has been complied with during the 17th Congress, when the Bangsamoro Organic Law was enacted and ratified by the people of the autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao.
The ARC’s creation had been enacted twice, in 1990 and in 1998, but was repudiated on both occasions in the subsequent plebiscites conducted in the region.
“One of the reasons we are strongly pushing for this is the Constitution. Otherwise, we may not have a stronger argument in pursuing its creation,” said Go.
“This time, we will have massive information campaign so that when we go into the actual plebsicite, it will be approved,” he added.
Go said authors of the bill are confident that the bill will be approved early in Congress to avoid delay that caused non-passage experienced during the 17th Congress.
“In recent years, the movement for autonomy finds fortitude in the commitment of the Duterte administration to support this constitutional mandates.
Aside from Go, other authors of HB 5687 are Reps. Joseph Bernos (PDP-Laban, Abara): Elias Bulut Jr. (NPC, Apayao); , Solomon Chungalao (PDP-Laban, Ifugao); Maximo Dalog, Jr.,(NP, Mountain Province) Nestor Fongwan (PDP-Laban, Benguet) and Allen Jesse Mangaoang (PDP-Laban, Kalinga) .
Go said the new bill contains nearly the same provisions as the previous proposals that were approved by Congress.
Unlike its predecessors, the new bill seeks to strengthen the party-system by providing for the election of governor and vice governor who belong to the same political party.
The authors stressed that despite the constitutional support, the bid for autonomy in the Cordilleras “remains underdeveloped.”
“It is high time that we make good on this Constitutional mandate, and allow the Cordillerans to determine their political status and to freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development,” they said.
The bill stresses that despite the autonomy,t he ARC will remain “an integral and inseparable part of the national territory of the Philippines.”
However, under the proposal, only city and provinces that vote favorably for the ratification of the measure during a plebiscite to be conducted on the proposed territorial area: Abra, Apayao, Ifugao, Benguet, Kalinga, Mountain Province and Baguio City.
Citizens of the proposed region shall be called Cordilleran.
The ARC shall headed by a regional governor, a regional vice governor and members of the regional assembly which will be headed by a speaker.
Defense of the region will be the responsibility of the national government while implementaiton of peace keeping programs will be closely coordinated by the regional government with the national government.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/12/11/bill-proposing-creation-of-cordillera-autonomous-region-filed-anew/
Twice rejected by the people of the Cordilleras, the proposed creation of the Autonomous Region of the Cordillera was revived anew in the House of Representatives. But this time, its proponents are confident that Cordillerans will finally support their bid for autonomy.
Baguio City Rep. Mark Go, one of the authors of House Bill 5687, said a massive information drive will be conducted as soon as the measure passes Congress in order to make people aware of the significance of creating the ARC.
Currently pending before the House Committee on Local Government. HB 5687 seeks to provide the legislative requisite that would comply with the provision of the 1987 Constitution for the creation of two autonomous regions in the country.
The first constitutional mandate has been complied with during the 17th Congress, when the Bangsamoro Organic Law was enacted and ratified by the people of the autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao.
The ARC’s creation had been enacted twice, in 1990 and in 1998, but was repudiated on both occasions in the subsequent plebiscites conducted in the region.
“One of the reasons we are strongly pushing for this is the Constitution. Otherwise, we may not have a stronger argument in pursuing its creation,” said Go.
“This time, we will have massive information campaign so that when we go into the actual plebsicite, it will be approved,” he added.
Go said authors of the bill are confident that the bill will be approved early in Congress to avoid delay that caused non-passage experienced during the 17th Congress.
“In recent years, the movement for autonomy finds fortitude in the commitment of the Duterte administration to support this constitutional mandates.
Aside from Go, other authors of HB 5687 are Reps. Joseph Bernos (PDP-Laban, Abara): Elias Bulut Jr. (NPC, Apayao); , Solomon Chungalao (PDP-Laban, Ifugao); Maximo Dalog, Jr.,(NP, Mountain Province) Nestor Fongwan (PDP-Laban, Benguet) and Allen Jesse Mangaoang (PDP-Laban, Kalinga) .
Go said the new bill contains nearly the same provisions as the previous proposals that were approved by Congress.
Unlike its predecessors, the new bill seeks to strengthen the party-system by providing for the election of governor and vice governor who belong to the same political party.
The authors stressed that despite the constitutional support, the bid for autonomy in the Cordilleras “remains underdeveloped.”
“It is high time that we make good on this Constitutional mandate, and allow the Cordillerans to determine their political status and to freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development,” they said.
The bill stresses that despite the autonomy,t he ARC will remain “an integral and inseparable part of the national territory of the Philippines.”
However, under the proposal, only city and provinces that vote favorably for the ratification of the measure during a plebiscite to be conducted on the proposed territorial area: Abra, Apayao, Ifugao, Benguet, Kalinga, Mountain Province and Baguio City.
Citizens of the proposed region shall be called Cordilleran.
The ARC shall headed by a regional governor, a regional vice governor and members of the regional assembly which will be headed by a speaker.
Defense of the region will be the responsibility of the national government while implementaiton of peace keeping programs will be closely coordinated by the regional government with the national government.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/12/11/bill-proposing-creation-of-cordillera-autonomous-region-filed-anew/
State of Media Freedom in PH
Red-tagging, intimidation vs. press: Du30, state agents behind 69 cases
By The Freedom for Media, Freedom for All Network
• A network composed of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), MindaNews, Philippine Press Institute (PPI), and Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ)
THE STATE OF MEDIA FREEDOM in the Philippines under the Duterte Administration remains a tragic story as new and more cases of attacks and threats continue, with marked uptick for certain incidents.
The situation highlights the unyielding reign of impunity, and the shrinking democratic space in the country, even as the nation awaits next week, on Dec. 19, 2019, the promulgation of judgment on the Ampatuan Massacre case of Nov. 23, 2009 that claimed the lives of 58 persons, including 32 journalists and media workers.
After over nine years of trial, Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes, presiding judge of Branch 221 of the regional trial court of Quezon City, will decide on the case that has been described as the “deadliest strike against the press in history.”
From June 30, 2016 to Dec. 5, 2019, or in the last 41 months, 154 incidents of attacks and threats against the news media had been documented jointly by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP).
The 154 cases include 15 journalists who had been killed under the Duterte Administration even as cases of intimidation and online harassment registered the highest numbers, by category of incidents.
The most worrisome numbers are 28 incidents of intimidation, 20 online harassment, 12 threats via text messages, 12 libel cases, 10 website attacks, eight slay attempts, and eight cases of journalists barred from coverage.
Sixty cases of attacks were made against online media — the highest by media platform — apart from 41 cases against radio networks, 33 against print media agencies, and 15 cases against television networks.
Of the 154 cases, at least 69 had linked state agents — public officials from the Executive and Legislative branches, uniformed personnel, and Cabinet appointees of President Duterte — as known or alleged perpetrators. Of these 69 state agents, about half or 27 are from national government agencies.
Luzon island logged the biggest number of cases at 99, including 69 in Metro Manila alone. Mindanao logged 37 cases, and the Visayas, 18.
In the last six months, however, the most disconcerting and fastest rising numbers of attacks and threats include:
• Multiple instances of public broadsides and attacks by President Duterte and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. against certain journalists and media agencies, and threats by the President to personally see after the denial of franchise renewal for a television network. “Ayan. Nationwide man ‘yan. Ikaw, ABS-CBN, you’re a mouthpiece of… Ang inyong franchise, mag-end next year. If you are expecting na ma-renew ‘yan, I’m sorry. You’re out. I will see to it that you’re out,” the President warned ABS-CBN network;
• Red-tagging of journalists and media organizations as alleged fronts of leftist and communist groups by officers of the Armed Forces, Philippine National Police, Philippine Communications Operations Office, and other state agents;
• Workshops conducted by the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) in the regions compelling journalists to sign off to a “Manifesto of Commitment” to “wholeheartedly support” the Administration’s “Whole-Of-Nation Approach In Attaining Inclusive And Sustainable Peace, Creating A National Task Force To End Local Communist Armed Conflict, And Directing The Adoption Of A National Peace Framework,” as mandated by Executive Order No. 70 that Duterte issued in December 2018; and
• A case of mistaken arrest of a journalist had also happened. In June 2019, Fidelina Margarita Avellanosa-Valle, Davao Today columnist, was arrested at the Laguindingan airport allegedly based on a warrant of arrest for murder and other alleged cases. She was brought to Pagadian, held incommunicado for hours, and later released in the evening with just an apology from the Philippine National Police or PNP.
RED-TAGGING
More cases of red-tagging or red-baiting of journalists by police or military officers or their intelligence assets and allies have been reported.
• On Nov. 4, 2019, in an interview with the anchors of “The Chiefs” program of TV5, Lorraine Marie T. Badoy, undersecretary for New Media and External Affairs, tagged the National Union of Journalists and other media personnel as so-called fronts of Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army. “Are they or are they not part of the CPP-NPA? They are,” Badoy said. Asked if she was saying that these groups are fronting or are part of terrorist organizations, Badoy replied, “Unequivocally. Yes.” Badoy added, “I just don’t want a reporting. I want a clear and unequivocal denunciation of the human rights violations of the CPP-NPA.”
In a statement, NUJP said that Badoy clearly painted the NUJP as enemies of the state. “This is essentially an open call for state forces to threaten, harass, arrest, detain and kill journalists for doing their job,” NUJP said.
“Clearly,” added NUJP, “the intent of this red-tagging spree and all other assaults on press freedom is to intimidate the independent media into abandoning their critical stance as watchdogs and become mouthpieces of government.”
• On Sept. 17, 2019, at a public forum at the Don Honorio Ventura State University in Bacolor, Pampanga, Rolando Asuncion, regional director of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) claimed Pampanga TV manager Sonia Soto was among 31 identified media personalities in the NICA’s list of alleged rebels. “Sa CLTV36, kilala niyo ba yun? Si Sonia Soto, ‘yong maganda? Iyon.(Do you know Sonia Soto? The pretty one in CLTV36?)”
A report by SunStar said that in a Facebook post, Soto denied the accusation in no uncertain terms. “I cannot accept this label or tag because I am neither a communist nor a terrorist,” the report quoted Soto as saying. “I am a professional TV station manager and a Kapisanan ng Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP)-licensed TV broadcaster. I have never allowed CLTV36 or any of its shows to be a mouthpiece for anyone advocating terrorism or to raise arms against government in the course of my work as a broadcaster and general manager of CLTV36.”
“As a matter of fact,” Soto added, “like all TV stations, we use a standard disclaimer to caution the viewers should anyone among the guests in a TV show utter words that may be misconstrued as reflective of the Management’s views on a specific topic being discussed. Please know that I am concerned for my safety.”
Soto, a student leader at the Lyceum of the Philippines, was a signatory to a 1982 agreement between the League of Filipino Students and the Ministry of National Defense that bars state security forces from entering state universities.
The incident allegedly happened during a “Situational Awareness and Knowledge Management” briefing, which Asuncion described as “pursuant to the mandate of NICA in implementing Executive Order 70 calling for the creation of a National Task Force specifically in the adoption of a National Peace Framework to end the local communist armed conflict,” according to those who were invited to the event.
On multiple occasions, various state agents and pro-Duterte groups have tagged independent and critical journalists and media agencies as supposed fronts or supporters of the leftist and communist groups, via social-media posts and in press statements.
Those who had been targeted include journalists from Mindanao Gold Star Daily, MindaNews, Visayan Daily Star, Davao Today, radyo Natin Gumaca, the PNP Press Corps, Rappler, Vera Files, the NUJP chapter members in Cagayan de Oro, and PCIJ.
COMPELLED CONSENT
Statements by military officers and forums conducted by the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) in the regions compel journalists to sign off to a “Manifesto of Commitment” declaring their “wholehearted support and commitment to the implementation of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s Executive Order No. 70 to the Regional Task Force To End Local Communist Armed Conflict.”
• On Nov. 19, 2019, journalists in Eastern Visayas were invited to a forum organized by NICA’s Region 8 Task Force in Tacloban City. “Partnering with the Media in Winning Peace and development in Eastern Visayas” was the theme of the forum conducted by the Task Force’s “Strategic Communications Cluster” and “Situation Awareness and Knowledge Management Center.” Some participants said that NICA’s invitation for journalists to sign off to the “Manifesto of Commitment” was practically compelled and demanded. To decline could have been interpreted as going against the Task Force’s supposed goal of ending the “communist armed conflict.”
• On Dec. 6, 2019 in Butuan City, Agusan del Sur, the Philippine Information Agency reported the conduct of another meeting with journalists by the Strategic Communications Cluster of the Regional Task Force To End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) with NICA Regional Director Manuel Orduña.
• In May 2019, members of the Defense Press Corps took exception to a letter to editors and social-media posts by Maj. Gen. Antonio Parlade, Armed Forces of the Philippines deputy chief of staff for civil-military operations.
The Philippine Star reported that Parlade had accused reporters of being “biased and of colluding with communists” when they failed to carry the statement made by Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesperson, about the writs of amparo and habeas data that the Supreme Court had granted the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers.
“These media are allowing their government to be punched and bullied without giving it an opportunity to air its side, or more appropriately, to express the truth,” Parlade had said. The reporters “do not want to expose the truth about these front organizations” of the Communist Party of the Philippines, Parlade added.
The Defense Press Corps said that not one of its members carried the AFP’s statement because “it was, to put it bluntly, a rehash of a written statement he issued three days earlier.” It stressed that DPC is an organization “indebted to no one—not to the AFP, the Department of National Defense, the NUPL, the left and other state and non-state actors.”
“It is a very unfortunate that MGen. Parlade, who is supposed to bridge the gap between the AFP and the ordinary people as the military’s top civil military operations officer, is shooting the messenger by falsely and randomly accusing DPC members of transgression on our core values,” the reporters said, adding that Parlade’s intention of spreading his letter in social media is questionable.
“To be accused of bias, merely by not carrying a stale statement, sends a chilling message to media practitioners to parrot the military line or else, be discredited,” the Defense Press Corps said. — Freedom for Media, Freedom for All Network, 10 December 2019
http://davaotoday.com/main/blog/state-of-media-freedom-in-ph/
By The Freedom for Media, Freedom for All Network
• A network composed of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), MindaNews, Philippine Press Institute (PPI), and Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ)
THE STATE OF MEDIA FREEDOM in the Philippines under the Duterte Administration remains a tragic story as new and more cases of attacks and threats continue, with marked uptick for certain incidents.
The situation highlights the unyielding reign of impunity, and the shrinking democratic space in the country, even as the nation awaits next week, on Dec. 19, 2019, the promulgation of judgment on the Ampatuan Massacre case of Nov. 23, 2009 that claimed the lives of 58 persons, including 32 journalists and media workers.
After over nine years of trial, Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes, presiding judge of Branch 221 of the regional trial court of Quezon City, will decide on the case that has been described as the “deadliest strike against the press in history.”
From June 30, 2016 to Dec. 5, 2019, or in the last 41 months, 154 incidents of attacks and threats against the news media had been documented jointly by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP).
The 154 cases include 15 journalists who had been killed under the Duterte Administration even as cases of intimidation and online harassment registered the highest numbers, by category of incidents.
The most worrisome numbers are 28 incidents of intimidation, 20 online harassment, 12 threats via text messages, 12 libel cases, 10 website attacks, eight slay attempts, and eight cases of journalists barred from coverage.
Sixty cases of attacks were made against online media — the highest by media platform — apart from 41 cases against radio networks, 33 against print media agencies, and 15 cases against television networks.
Of the 154 cases, at least 69 had linked state agents — public officials from the Executive and Legislative branches, uniformed personnel, and Cabinet appointees of President Duterte — as known or alleged perpetrators. Of these 69 state agents, about half or 27 are from national government agencies.
Luzon island logged the biggest number of cases at 99, including 69 in Metro Manila alone. Mindanao logged 37 cases, and the Visayas, 18.
In the last six months, however, the most disconcerting and fastest rising numbers of attacks and threats include:
• Multiple instances of public broadsides and attacks by President Duterte and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. against certain journalists and media agencies, and threats by the President to personally see after the denial of franchise renewal for a television network. “Ayan. Nationwide man ‘yan. Ikaw, ABS-CBN, you’re a mouthpiece of… Ang inyong franchise, mag-end next year. If you are expecting na ma-renew ‘yan, I’m sorry. You’re out. I will see to it that you’re out,” the President warned ABS-CBN network;
• Red-tagging of journalists and media organizations as alleged fronts of leftist and communist groups by officers of the Armed Forces, Philippine National Police, Philippine Communications Operations Office, and other state agents;
• Workshops conducted by the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) in the regions compelling journalists to sign off to a “Manifesto of Commitment” to “wholeheartedly support” the Administration’s “Whole-Of-Nation Approach In Attaining Inclusive And Sustainable Peace, Creating A National Task Force To End Local Communist Armed Conflict, And Directing The Adoption Of A National Peace Framework,” as mandated by Executive Order No. 70 that Duterte issued in December 2018; and
• A case of mistaken arrest of a journalist had also happened. In June 2019, Fidelina Margarita Avellanosa-Valle, Davao Today columnist, was arrested at the Laguindingan airport allegedly based on a warrant of arrest for murder and other alleged cases. She was brought to Pagadian, held incommunicado for hours, and later released in the evening with just an apology from the Philippine National Police or PNP.
RED-TAGGING
More cases of red-tagging or red-baiting of journalists by police or military officers or their intelligence assets and allies have been reported.
• On Nov. 4, 2019, in an interview with the anchors of “The Chiefs” program of TV5, Lorraine Marie T. Badoy, undersecretary for New Media and External Affairs, tagged the National Union of Journalists and other media personnel as so-called fronts of Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army. “Are they or are they not part of the CPP-NPA? They are,” Badoy said. Asked if she was saying that these groups are fronting or are part of terrorist organizations, Badoy replied, “Unequivocally. Yes.” Badoy added, “I just don’t want a reporting. I want a clear and unequivocal denunciation of the human rights violations of the CPP-NPA.”
In a statement, NUJP said that Badoy clearly painted the NUJP as enemies of the state. “This is essentially an open call for state forces to threaten, harass, arrest, detain and kill journalists for doing their job,” NUJP said.
“Clearly,” added NUJP, “the intent of this red-tagging spree and all other assaults on press freedom is to intimidate the independent media into abandoning their critical stance as watchdogs and become mouthpieces of government.”
• On Sept. 17, 2019, at a public forum at the Don Honorio Ventura State University in Bacolor, Pampanga, Rolando Asuncion, regional director of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) claimed Pampanga TV manager Sonia Soto was among 31 identified media personalities in the NICA’s list of alleged rebels. “Sa CLTV36, kilala niyo ba yun? Si Sonia Soto, ‘yong maganda? Iyon.(Do you know Sonia Soto? The pretty one in CLTV36?)”
A report by SunStar said that in a Facebook post, Soto denied the accusation in no uncertain terms. “I cannot accept this label or tag because I am neither a communist nor a terrorist,” the report quoted Soto as saying. “I am a professional TV station manager and a Kapisanan ng Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP)-licensed TV broadcaster. I have never allowed CLTV36 or any of its shows to be a mouthpiece for anyone advocating terrorism or to raise arms against government in the course of my work as a broadcaster and general manager of CLTV36.”
“As a matter of fact,” Soto added, “like all TV stations, we use a standard disclaimer to caution the viewers should anyone among the guests in a TV show utter words that may be misconstrued as reflective of the Management’s views on a specific topic being discussed. Please know that I am concerned for my safety.”
Soto, a student leader at the Lyceum of the Philippines, was a signatory to a 1982 agreement between the League of Filipino Students and the Ministry of National Defense that bars state security forces from entering state universities.
The incident allegedly happened during a “Situational Awareness and Knowledge Management” briefing, which Asuncion described as “pursuant to the mandate of NICA in implementing Executive Order 70 calling for the creation of a National Task Force specifically in the adoption of a National Peace Framework to end the local communist armed conflict,” according to those who were invited to the event.
On multiple occasions, various state agents and pro-Duterte groups have tagged independent and critical journalists and media agencies as supposed fronts or supporters of the leftist and communist groups, via social-media posts and in press statements.
Those who had been targeted include journalists from Mindanao Gold Star Daily, MindaNews, Visayan Daily Star, Davao Today, radyo Natin Gumaca, the PNP Press Corps, Rappler, Vera Files, the NUJP chapter members in Cagayan de Oro, and PCIJ.
COMPELLED CONSENT
Statements by military officers and forums conducted by the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) in the regions compel journalists to sign off to a “Manifesto of Commitment” declaring their “wholehearted support and commitment to the implementation of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s Executive Order No. 70 to the Regional Task Force To End Local Communist Armed Conflict.”
• On Nov. 19, 2019, journalists in Eastern Visayas were invited to a forum organized by NICA’s Region 8 Task Force in Tacloban City. “Partnering with the Media in Winning Peace and development in Eastern Visayas” was the theme of the forum conducted by the Task Force’s “Strategic Communications Cluster” and “Situation Awareness and Knowledge Management Center.” Some participants said that NICA’s invitation for journalists to sign off to the “Manifesto of Commitment” was practically compelled and demanded. To decline could have been interpreted as going against the Task Force’s supposed goal of ending the “communist armed conflict.”
• On Dec. 6, 2019 in Butuan City, Agusan del Sur, the Philippine Information Agency reported the conduct of another meeting with journalists by the Strategic Communications Cluster of the Regional Task Force To End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) with NICA Regional Director Manuel Orduña.
• In May 2019, members of the Defense Press Corps took exception to a letter to editors and social-media posts by Maj. Gen. Antonio Parlade, Armed Forces of the Philippines deputy chief of staff for civil-military operations.
The Philippine Star reported that Parlade had accused reporters of being “biased and of colluding with communists” when they failed to carry the statement made by Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesperson, about the writs of amparo and habeas data that the Supreme Court had granted the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers.
“These media are allowing their government to be punched and bullied without giving it an opportunity to air its side, or more appropriately, to express the truth,” Parlade had said. The reporters “do not want to expose the truth about these front organizations” of the Communist Party of the Philippines, Parlade added.
The Defense Press Corps said that not one of its members carried the AFP’s statement because “it was, to put it bluntly, a rehash of a written statement he issued three days earlier.” It stressed that DPC is an organization “indebted to no one—not to the AFP, the Department of National Defense, the NUPL, the left and other state and non-state actors.”
“It is a very unfortunate that MGen. Parlade, who is supposed to bridge the gap between the AFP and the ordinary people as the military’s top civil military operations officer, is shooting the messenger by falsely and randomly accusing DPC members of transgression on our core values,” the reporters said, adding that Parlade’s intention of spreading his letter in social media is questionable.
“To be accused of bias, merely by not carrying a stale statement, sends a chilling message to media practitioners to parrot the military line or else, be discredited,” the Defense Press Corps said. — Freedom for Media, Freedom for All Network, 10 December 2019
http://davaotoday.com/main/blog/state-of-media-freedom-in-ph/
Belmonte, San Roque residents vow to find ‘win-win situation’
Residents and volunteers of Sitio San Roque, an informal settlement in Barangay Bagong Pag-asa, Quezon City, celebrated a “landmark victory”after submitting their Community Development Plan (CDP) for in-city and on-site housing to Mayor Joy Belmonte on Monday.
Belmonte received San Roque’s CDP — which residents had laboriously crafted with volunteer lawyers, architects and other design professionals — during a dialogue with community leaders and members of the Save San Roque Alliance at City Hall.
She called for cooperation among community members, developers and government agencies like the National Housing Authority (NHA) to achieve a “win-win situation.”
“They lost trust in government when they were given false information way back in 2013 only to be demolished without warning,”Belmonte said. “We had a very fruitful meeting this afternoon and I will try my very best to gather all the relevant agencies together so we can agree on a resolution acceptable to all.”
“The mayor maintains her promise that there will be no demolition without a proper review of the agreement between the NHA and Ayala Corporation, to check if they have fully complied with the requirements under the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992,”said Jmar Atienza, one of the convenors of the Save San Roque Alliance.
The CDP is the formal response of around 5,000 families in Sitio San Roque to the planned Quezon City Central Business District (QCCBD). It is an inclusive, participatory and community-led development plan that pushes for on-site development.
Since the QCCBD’s inception, residents said they had been facing threats of eviction, forced demolitions and harassment.
Sitio San Roque is government-owned land that is part of the 256-hectare QCCBD, a joint venture between the NHA and Ayala Corp.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1200337/belmonte-san-roque-residents-vow-to-find-win-win-situation
Belmonte received San Roque’s CDP — which residents had laboriously crafted with volunteer lawyers, architects and other design professionals — during a dialogue with community leaders and members of the Save San Roque Alliance at City Hall.
She called for cooperation among community members, developers and government agencies like the National Housing Authority (NHA) to achieve a “win-win situation.”
“They lost trust in government when they were given false information way back in 2013 only to be demolished without warning,”Belmonte said. “We had a very fruitful meeting this afternoon and I will try my very best to gather all the relevant agencies together so we can agree on a resolution acceptable to all.”
“The mayor maintains her promise that there will be no demolition without a proper review of the agreement between the NHA and Ayala Corporation, to check if they have fully complied with the requirements under the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992,”said Jmar Atienza, one of the convenors of the Save San Roque Alliance.
The CDP is the formal response of around 5,000 families in Sitio San Roque to the planned Quezon City Central Business District (QCCBD). It is an inclusive, participatory and community-led development plan that pushes for on-site development.
Since the QCCBD’s inception, residents said they had been facing threats of eviction, forced demolitions and harassment.
Sitio San Roque is government-owned land that is part of the 256-hectare QCCBD, a joint venture between the NHA and Ayala Corp.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1200337/belmonte-san-roque-residents-vow-to-find-win-win-situation
Duterte replacing old elite with new in Philippines
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has renewed his populist assault on the nation’s traditional business elite, a group of so-called “oligarchs” he claims has stunted development by monopolizing sectors of the economy.
At the same time, there are rising concerns the firebrand president aims to supplant the old elite with his own business allies, a fast rising class of tycoons some are already referring to as “Dutertegarchs.”
Duterte has singled out liberal-leaning business elites known to be more aligned with the “yellow” political opposition. Among them are the Ayala and Pangilinan clans, both of which maintain sprawling and profitable business interests across the country.
“If Ayala and Pangilinan are your friends, kindly tell them I don’t go out, but if someone invites me out…if we see each other, no matter how many bodyguards you have, I can ruin your face son of a bitch,” Duterte said on December 3 during a tough-talking address at the presidential palace.
“Look for Ayala, I’ll go to him. They do not pay corporate income tax,” the president claimed, raising the prospect of using tax evasion charges to punish and diminish the power of traditional business elites.
Duterte’s tirade came on the heels of a recent ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in Singapore which awarded Manila Water 7.4 billion pesos (US$150 million) in damages in addition to an arbitration fee and 85% of other claimed costs amid a pricing standoff with the Philippine government.
The Ayala-owned company, the sole provider of water and used water services to six million people in Metro Manila, sought arbitration back in 2015 following the government’s injunction against raising utility costs.
Duterte has accused the publicly listed company of unfairly raising costs at the expense of ordinary consumers.
“I told [Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III] and [Solicitor General Jose Calida], craft a new contract that is really favorable to [the] public, to government. Give it to them. ‘This is the amended contract. Accept it or nothing doing,'” Duterte threatened.
That threat coincided with Duterte’s persistent vow not to renew the franchise of the country’s largest media conglomerate, ABS-CBN, which is owned by the Lopez family, likewise known for their liberal-leaning politics.
ABS-CBN is the nation’s leading television entertainment and news broadcaster and has aired award-winning critical reports on Duterte’s controversial war on drugs campaign, in which thousands of suspects have reportedly been killed in extrajudicial fashion.
Duterte has said on at least three occasions that he would seek to block the broadcaster’s franchise, which is up for a 30-year renewal in March 2020. Congress, currently dominated by Duterte allies, has set up a committee to vet the application, but has said it will not decide on the matter until next year.
“Your franchise will end next year. If you expect it to be renewed, I’m sorry. I will see to it that you’re out,” Duterte warned earlier this month.
Duterte has similarly threatened to annul multi-billion dollar concession agreements for Manila’s water sector held by what he sees as price-gouging oligarchs.
For the past two decades, Manila Water, owned by the Ayalas, and Maynilad, originally owned by the Lopezes but now by the Pangilinans, have dominated Metro Manila’s water supply under concessionaire deals with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS).
In the late 1990s, then-president Fidel Ramos administration moved to privatize Manila’s water supply due to massive inefficiencies at MWSS, a state company which at the time struggled to meet even 70% of water demand amid rapid population growth and a booming economy.
The Ramos administration signed Republic Act No. 8041, or the National Water Crisis Act, in 1997, which paved the way for full privatization of the capital’s water sector.
The shift from private to public management, facilitated by the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC), represented what many saw as one of the most successful large-scale privatizations in the developing world.
Under a so-called “rate rebasing” regime, private companies were given segmented, time-bound monopolies over water supply and infrastructure in exchange for guarantees of full recovery of their investments with a “reasonable” profit.
Ayala’s Manila Water has control over the capital’s so-called East Zone, which covers 23 cities and municipalities, including the business districts of Makati and administrative city of Quezon City.
Panglinan’s Maynilad, meanwhile, controls the so-called West Zone, which covers 17 cities and municipalities, including large parts of old Manila.
Over time, however, problems have arisen, with many, including in civil society and government, alleging large-scale profiteering and price-manipulation by the concessionaires. Both operators have denied the claims.
The upshot has been some of the world’s most expensive utility costs, which have strangled domestic manufacturing and made basic services such as water, fuel and electricity unaffordable for millions of poor Filipinos.
Tensions came to a head earlier this year when Manila faced a full-blown water crisis, causing Duterte to openly lash out at the administrators and concessionaires.
To be sure, many have welcomed Duterte’s audacious approach to the country’s once-untouchable business elite, who have benefitted immensely from the Philippines’ growth in recent years.
According to the World Bank, the country’s 40 richest families have accrued 76% of newly-created growth in recent years, twice the rate seen in Thailand and more than 30 times higher than in Japan.
Duterte’s frontal assault on the traditional business elite, however, raises two big questions.
The first concerns the rule of law, given the uncertain legality of Duterte’s threats and his seemingly selective targeting of elites which have either openly or indirectly opposed his rule.
Meanwhile, a cabal of ambitious and dynamic Duterte allies, mostly from the president’s hometown of Davao, has reportedly set its sights on the country’s most prized economic sectors.
That’s raised concerns that Duterte may aim to switch out the old elite with pliable new ones who are dependent on his political patronage.
There is at least one clear example, critics say. Just months into office, Duterte openly attacked and vowed to destroy another so-called “oligarch”, the longtime gaming tycoon Roberto Ongpin.
“The plan is to destroy the oligarchs that are embedded in government. I’ll give you an example, publicly – Ongpin, Roberto” Duterte said then, with critics claiming that the threats eventually compelled the tycoon to sell his shares in a gaming company to one of his administration’s allies.
Now, critics worry that Duterte is selectively leaning on the liberal business elite to again favor his business allies. They reputedly include the powerful Villars, which have recently risen to become the richest Filipinos.
Meanwhile, Dennis Uy, another Duterte ally from Davao, is reportedly eying ABS-CBN as the Lopezes broadcast franchise appears to be in jeopardy.
Uy, a Chinese-Filipino businessman and top donor to Duterte’s presidential campaign, rose to national prominence after bidding for and winning a multi-billion dollar telecommunication concession deal in league with China Telecom.
Since Duterte’s ascent to the presidency, Uy has been catapulted from a backwater businessman to one of the country’s most dynamic entrepreneurs – and newest Filipino on Forbes magazine’s richest list.
Many thus wonder whether Duterte is truly committed to shaking up the country’s elite-dominated economy in the name of market-liberalizing reform, or aims instead to replace the old traditional elite with new ones beholden to him.
https://www.asiatimes.com/2019/12/article/duterte-replacing-old-elite-with-new-in-philippines/
At the same time, there are rising concerns the firebrand president aims to supplant the old elite with his own business allies, a fast rising class of tycoons some are already referring to as “Dutertegarchs.”
Duterte has singled out liberal-leaning business elites known to be more aligned with the “yellow” political opposition. Among them are the Ayala and Pangilinan clans, both of which maintain sprawling and profitable business interests across the country.
“If Ayala and Pangilinan are your friends, kindly tell them I don’t go out, but if someone invites me out…if we see each other, no matter how many bodyguards you have, I can ruin your face son of a bitch,” Duterte said on December 3 during a tough-talking address at the presidential palace.
“Look for Ayala, I’ll go to him. They do not pay corporate income tax,” the president claimed, raising the prospect of using tax evasion charges to punish and diminish the power of traditional business elites.
Duterte’s tirade came on the heels of a recent ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in Singapore which awarded Manila Water 7.4 billion pesos (US$150 million) in damages in addition to an arbitration fee and 85% of other claimed costs amid a pricing standoff with the Philippine government.
The Ayala-owned company, the sole provider of water and used water services to six million people in Metro Manila, sought arbitration back in 2015 following the government’s injunction against raising utility costs.
Duterte has accused the publicly listed company of unfairly raising costs at the expense of ordinary consumers.
“I told [Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III] and [Solicitor General Jose Calida], craft a new contract that is really favorable to [the] public, to government. Give it to them. ‘This is the amended contract. Accept it or nothing doing,'” Duterte threatened.
That threat coincided with Duterte’s persistent vow not to renew the franchise of the country’s largest media conglomerate, ABS-CBN, which is owned by the Lopez family, likewise known for their liberal-leaning politics.
ABS-CBN is the nation’s leading television entertainment and news broadcaster and has aired award-winning critical reports on Duterte’s controversial war on drugs campaign, in which thousands of suspects have reportedly been killed in extrajudicial fashion.
Duterte has said on at least three occasions that he would seek to block the broadcaster’s franchise, which is up for a 30-year renewal in March 2020. Congress, currently dominated by Duterte allies, has set up a committee to vet the application, but has said it will not decide on the matter until next year.
“Your franchise will end next year. If you expect it to be renewed, I’m sorry. I will see to it that you’re out,” Duterte warned earlier this month.
Duterte has similarly threatened to annul multi-billion dollar concession agreements for Manila’s water sector held by what he sees as price-gouging oligarchs.
For the past two decades, Manila Water, owned by the Ayalas, and Maynilad, originally owned by the Lopezes but now by the Pangilinans, have dominated Metro Manila’s water supply under concessionaire deals with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS).
In the late 1990s, then-president Fidel Ramos administration moved to privatize Manila’s water supply due to massive inefficiencies at MWSS, a state company which at the time struggled to meet even 70% of water demand amid rapid population growth and a booming economy.
The Ramos administration signed Republic Act No. 8041, or the National Water Crisis Act, in 1997, which paved the way for full privatization of the capital’s water sector.
The shift from private to public management, facilitated by the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC), represented what many saw as one of the most successful large-scale privatizations in the developing world.
Under a so-called “rate rebasing” regime, private companies were given segmented, time-bound monopolies over water supply and infrastructure in exchange for guarantees of full recovery of their investments with a “reasonable” profit.
Ayala’s Manila Water has control over the capital’s so-called East Zone, which covers 23 cities and municipalities, including the business districts of Makati and administrative city of Quezon City.
Panglinan’s Maynilad, meanwhile, controls the so-called West Zone, which covers 17 cities and municipalities, including large parts of old Manila.
Over time, however, problems have arisen, with many, including in civil society and government, alleging large-scale profiteering and price-manipulation by the concessionaires. Both operators have denied the claims.
The upshot has been some of the world’s most expensive utility costs, which have strangled domestic manufacturing and made basic services such as water, fuel and electricity unaffordable for millions of poor Filipinos.
Tensions came to a head earlier this year when Manila faced a full-blown water crisis, causing Duterte to openly lash out at the administrators and concessionaires.
To be sure, many have welcomed Duterte’s audacious approach to the country’s once-untouchable business elite, who have benefitted immensely from the Philippines’ growth in recent years.
According to the World Bank, the country’s 40 richest families have accrued 76% of newly-created growth in recent years, twice the rate seen in Thailand and more than 30 times higher than in Japan.
Duterte’s frontal assault on the traditional business elite, however, raises two big questions.
The first concerns the rule of law, given the uncertain legality of Duterte’s threats and his seemingly selective targeting of elites which have either openly or indirectly opposed his rule.
Meanwhile, a cabal of ambitious and dynamic Duterte allies, mostly from the president’s hometown of Davao, has reportedly set its sights on the country’s most prized economic sectors.
That’s raised concerns that Duterte may aim to switch out the old elite with pliable new ones who are dependent on his political patronage.
There is at least one clear example, critics say. Just months into office, Duterte openly attacked and vowed to destroy another so-called “oligarch”, the longtime gaming tycoon Roberto Ongpin.
“The plan is to destroy the oligarchs that are embedded in government. I’ll give you an example, publicly – Ongpin, Roberto” Duterte said then, with critics claiming that the threats eventually compelled the tycoon to sell his shares in a gaming company to one of his administration’s allies.
Now, critics worry that Duterte is selectively leaning on the liberal business elite to again favor his business allies. They reputedly include the powerful Villars, which have recently risen to become the richest Filipinos.
Meanwhile, Dennis Uy, another Duterte ally from Davao, is reportedly eying ABS-CBN as the Lopezes broadcast franchise appears to be in jeopardy.
Uy, a Chinese-Filipino businessman and top donor to Duterte’s presidential campaign, rose to national prominence after bidding for and winning a multi-billion dollar telecommunication concession deal in league with China Telecom.
Since Duterte’s ascent to the presidency, Uy has been catapulted from a backwater businessman to one of the country’s most dynamic entrepreneurs – and newest Filipino on Forbes magazine’s richest list.
Many thus wonder whether Duterte is truly committed to shaking up the country’s elite-dominated economy in the name of market-liberalizing reform, or aims instead to replace the old traditional elite with new ones beholden to him.
https://www.asiatimes.com/2019/12/article/duterte-replacing-old-elite-with-new-in-philippines/
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