Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said that the extension of the enhanced community quarantine over Luzon is not “advisable,” as he noted that the ECQ is already working to curb the further spread of COVID-19 in the country.
Año said that while the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases will still discuss possible measures once the 30-day lockdown is over, an extension is not recommended.
“It’s not advisable to extend the lockdown because our economy will suffer greatly. Let’s take the remaining two weeks seriously so we can solve this,” he said in Filipino in an interview with dzBB.
A longer lockdown period may be considered if there is exponential increase in novel coronavirus-positive cases and fatalities, especially in Visayas and Mindanao.
Año added that the IATF will determine the COVID-19 case threshold and other factors that could possibly mean an extension of the lockdown.
He said that strict implementation of preventive measures, such as lockdown curfews, social distancing and wearing of masks, should be observed in the last two weeks of the ECQ so that its positive effects could really be seen.
“For the next two weeks as we implement the mask and social distancing, and lockdown, it (cases of infection) should go down. From there, the IATF and national task force will discuss the measures that need to be done for us to have zero cases,” Año said.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government chief said that the ECQ, which has reached midpoint, is working to flatten the curve of the pandemic.
He noted that initial projections without the lockdown, considering data from other COVID-19 stricken countries such as Italy and Spain, pointed to 20,000 cases in the country by this point.
“If we hadn’t done the lockdown we could have reached 20,000 cases right now. Our lockdown is truly working,” Año added.
Año himself is in self-quarantine as he was in contact with at least four COVID-19 positive individuals, most of whom are ranking government officials.
He noted that once the 30-day lockdown is over, there could be other measures such as an incremental opening of establishments to ensure that the government can positively respond amid the public health crisis.
ECQ violators apprehended
Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Froilan Quidilla, director of Police Regional Office 9 (PRO), said since the ECQ implementation on March 17, at least 445 individuals were apprehended for violation of curfew hours in the Zamboanga peninsula.
Quidilla said 39 others were arrested for disobedience, violating protocols at checkpoints and non-compliance with the ECQ.
He added that crimes in the region have gone down by almost 50 percent, compared to the same period last year, since the strict enforcement of the ECQ. Automotive incidents also went down to eight, compared to 51 in the same period last year.
In Dagupan City, at least 18 persons were rounded up on Sunday in different areas in Pangasinan for violating the ECQ.
Nabbed for violation of Articles 148 and 151 of the Revised Penal Code were three each in Dagupan City and Basista, eight in Villasis, one each in Urdaneta City and Anda, and two in Malasiqui.
In Barangay Poblacion, Sual, Pangasinan, seven men who came from Taguig City were nabbed after they rode on a 10-wheeler truck. The individuals allegedly begged for a ride going into town and intentionally evaded several checkpoints.
Ease mental suffering
Sen. Leila de Lima said yesterday that measures to ease the mental, emotional and psychological burden that people endure during the ECQ period should be part of the government’s crisis response plan.
After about three weeks of ECQ, the senator said proper and effective implementation of Republic Act 11036 or the “Mental Health Act” should be an integral part of the national strategy against COVID-19.
“Let’s please check on one another, even those who we think are the strong ones. While obliged to keep physical distance from each other, may we not be socially disconnected from one another,” she added. – With Roel Pareño, Eva Visperas, Cecille Suerte Felipe
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/03/31/2004447/ao-extension-quarantine-not-advisable
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Monday, March 30, 2020
Marikina finds new place for Covid-19 testing center
Marikina City Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro on Monday inspected a two-story building it will recommended to the Department of Health (DOH) as the city’s new coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) testing center.
He said the newly-constructed 160-square meter building is located in a not populated but accessible area along Bayan-Bayanan Avenue in Barangay Concepcion Uno.
"This is a freestanding structure. Hindi populated 'yung (not populated) area, accessible. It is located along a main avenue in Marikina. In terms of location, mukha ito ang suitable na sinasabi nila (I think it is suitable as they (DOH) said),” he said in a statement.
Teodoro assured his constituents the risk assessment template and protocol of biohazard measures are strictly followed by the local government.
“Mayroon tayong (We followed) risk assessment template na sinunod of highest standard and strict adherence to the protocol of biohazard measures ang pinapa-implement natin dito (implemented here),” he said.
“Hindi lang doon sa in terms of trained personnel na mayroon tayo, hindi lang 'yung work process kundi pati ang layout ng laboratory ay sumusunod doon sa biohazard safety (Not only in terms of trained personnel that we have, not only the work process but the layout of the laboratory are based on biohazard safety),” he added.
He said a dedicated ambulance for Marikina Covid-19 testing center will be on standby at the facility.
Earlier, the DOH disapproved the Marikina Covid-19 Testing Center located at the Marikina City Health Office (CHO), saying the local government should build a separate building for the facility to be operational.
The DOH recommended that the Covid-19 testing facility should be placed outside the CHO so that cross-infection will be minimized, and less foot traffic will be observed for the protection of staff and Marikina residents.
Teodoro said the new testing center has no other offices and clinics.
“Ang narito lang ay ang laboratory. Kaya ang tao lang makikita rito at ang mga pathologists, medical technologists, at lab technicians (What we have here is the laboratory only. So, what you can see are only the pathologists, medical technologists and laboratory technicians),” he said.
Kennedy Sueno, City’s Engineer Office chief, said the new Marikina Covid-19 Testing Center will be completed within two weeks.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1098269
He said the newly-constructed 160-square meter building is located in a not populated but accessible area along Bayan-Bayanan Avenue in Barangay Concepcion Uno.
"This is a freestanding structure. Hindi populated 'yung (not populated) area, accessible. It is located along a main avenue in Marikina. In terms of location, mukha ito ang suitable na sinasabi nila (I think it is suitable as they (DOH) said),” he said in a statement.
Teodoro assured his constituents the risk assessment template and protocol of biohazard measures are strictly followed by the local government.
“Mayroon tayong (We followed) risk assessment template na sinunod of highest standard and strict adherence to the protocol of biohazard measures ang pinapa-implement natin dito (implemented here),” he said.
“Hindi lang doon sa in terms of trained personnel na mayroon tayo, hindi lang 'yung work process kundi pati ang layout ng laboratory ay sumusunod doon sa biohazard safety (Not only in terms of trained personnel that we have, not only the work process but the layout of the laboratory are based on biohazard safety),” he added.
He said a dedicated ambulance for Marikina Covid-19 testing center will be on standby at the facility.
Earlier, the DOH disapproved the Marikina Covid-19 Testing Center located at the Marikina City Health Office (CHO), saying the local government should build a separate building for the facility to be operational.
The DOH recommended that the Covid-19 testing facility should be placed outside the CHO so that cross-infection will be minimized, and less foot traffic will be observed for the protection of staff and Marikina residents.
Teodoro said the new testing center has no other offices and clinics.
“Ang narito lang ay ang laboratory. Kaya ang tao lang makikita rito at ang mga pathologists, medical technologists, at lab technicians (What we have here is the laboratory only. So, what you can see are only the pathologists, medical technologists and laboratory technicians),” he said.
Kennedy Sueno, City’s Engineer Office chief, said the new Marikina Covid-19 Testing Center will be completed within two weeks.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1098269
Thursday, March 26, 2020
Postponement of Palawan division plebiscite sought
The provincial legislature has called for a special session on Friday and is expected to pass a resolution allowing Governor Jose Alvarez to petition the COMELEC for the postponement of the plebiscite.
The provincial government is set to ask the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to postpone a scheduled plebiscite in May to resolve the issue of dividing Palawan into three separate smaller provinces.
The provincial legislature has called for a special session on Friday and is expected to pass a resolution allowing Governor Jose Alvarez to petition the COMELEC for the postponement of the plebiscite.
Vice Governor Dennis Socrates, in a letter notice to the provincial board, stated that the agenda was made upon the request of Governor Alvarez.
Earlier, the civil society group One Palawan opposing the planned division of the province also requested Malacañang to postpone the plebiscite.
“The huge amount of P80 million intended for the plebiscite can be used instead for more immediate needs of the people of Palawan. These are trying times and canceling the Palawan plebiscite will complement President Duterte’s recent declaration of public health emergency to combat COVID-19,” Cynthia Sumagaysay, a lead campaigner for One Palawan, stated in the group’s social media page.
The referendum was set to ratify Republic Act No. 11259 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on April 5, 2019, which partitions Palawan into three provinces namely Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental, and Palawan del Sur.
Under the law, Palawan del Norte will be composed of the municipalities of Coron, Culion, Busuanga, Linapacan, Taytay, and El Nido; Palawan Oriental by Roxas, Araceli, Dumaran, Cuyo, Agutaya, Magsaysay, Cagayancillo, and San Vicente; and Palawan del Sur by Aborlan, Narra, Quezon, Rizal, Sofronio Española, Brooke’s Point, Bataraza, Balabac, and Kalayaan.
The Capitol had set aside a budget of P80-million for the holding of the plebiscite.
https://palawan-news.com/postponement-of-palawan-division-plebiscite-sought/
The provincial government is set to ask the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to postpone a scheduled plebiscite in May to resolve the issue of dividing Palawan into three separate smaller provinces.
The provincial legislature has called for a special session on Friday and is expected to pass a resolution allowing Governor Jose Alvarez to petition the COMELEC for the postponement of the plebiscite.
Vice Governor Dennis Socrates, in a letter notice to the provincial board, stated that the agenda was made upon the request of Governor Alvarez.
Earlier, the civil society group One Palawan opposing the planned division of the province also requested Malacañang to postpone the plebiscite.
“The huge amount of P80 million intended for the plebiscite can be used instead for more immediate needs of the people of Palawan. These are trying times and canceling the Palawan plebiscite will complement President Duterte’s recent declaration of public health emergency to combat COVID-19,” Cynthia Sumagaysay, a lead campaigner for One Palawan, stated in the group’s social media page.
The referendum was set to ratify Republic Act No. 11259 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on April 5, 2019, which partitions Palawan into three provinces namely Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental, and Palawan del Sur.
Under the law, Palawan del Norte will be composed of the municipalities of Coron, Culion, Busuanga, Linapacan, Taytay, and El Nido; Palawan Oriental by Roxas, Araceli, Dumaran, Cuyo, Agutaya, Magsaysay, Cagayancillo, and San Vicente; and Palawan del Sur by Aborlan, Narra, Quezon, Rizal, Sofronio Española, Brooke’s Point, Bataraza, Balabac, and Kalayaan.
The Capitol had set aside a budget of P80-million for the holding of the plebiscite.
https://palawan-news.com/postponement-of-palawan-division-plebiscite-sought/
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
DILG chief ‘confident’ Luzon-wide quarantine lifted by April 12
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año is “confident” that the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine to contain the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) will be lifted on April 12 but said it will be still subject to government’s assessment.
“That we have to assess, but I’m confident that we can,” he said in a press briefing in Malacañang on Wednesday.
Even after the quarantine is lifted, he said the government will continue to strictly enforce social distancing of at least six feet apart from each other.
“Of course, it doesn’t mean that’s the end of the spread. We have to still continue the practice of strict social distancing,” he said.
He said social distancing should also be observed by residents in the islands of Visayas and Mindanao, which are not covered by the national government’s quarantine.
Since the quarantine has yet to be lifted, he said “draconian” measures are needed to prevent a sharp peak of Covid-19 cases.
“Draconian measures ang kailangan natin para mag-flatten ang curve and ma-contain natin if not eliminate the spread of the virus (Draconian measures is needed to flatten the curve and contain if not eliminate the spread of the virus),” he said.
Citing studies by the World Health Organization (WHO), he said the number of Covid-19 cases in the country could reach 75,000 in five months if efforts to contain the spread of the virus fail.
Goals
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, in the same media briefing, said by April 12, the goal is for the government to report that it has been able to contain Covid-19 by isolating all infected persons and maintaining zero cases in more communities.
“The victory we want to happen is hindi na siya mag-spread (there is no further spread), there are hopefully no new cases happening and just like in Wuhan kung saan wala nang (where there are no) new cases and then naka-focus na sila sa (they focus on) treatment (and recovery),” he said.
Last March 18, China's health commission announced that there were no more local transmissions of Covid-19 for the first time since the outbreak began. The new cases reported were all overseas arrivals.
In the Philippines, there are a total of 636 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the Philippines and 38 fatalities as of Wednesday afternoon.
Nograles said it is too early to think of further extending the quarantine to a much later date.
“Instead of looking at that, I think we really just have to concentrate on social distancing measure, kung ano yung nasa (what’s in the) guidelines. Tsaka na natin isipin ‘yan (Let’s set that aside). Focus muna tayo on the task at hand,” he said. "Let's take it one step at a time."
No need to expand quarantine to VisMin
At present, Año said he saw no need to expand the quarantine to Visayas and Mindanao but is open to that possibility if recommended by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease.
“Hindi pa naman kailangang buong Visayas at Mindanao para tuluy-tuloy pa rin naman yung kanilang normal na buhay lalo na sa trabaho and food production (There is still no need to expand the quarantine to the whole of Visayas and Mindanao so that they can go on with their daily lives especially at work and food production). But if there is a necessity and depending on the development, i-a-assess ng IATF ‘yan (the IATF will assess it),” he said.
Several local government units (LGUs) in Visayas and Mindanao have imposed general community quarantines to minimize the transmission of the disease.
He said he was contented by the performance of Luzon LGUs during the first week of the quarantine’s implementation but admitted that there were still challenges such as depleted food supply and Covid-19 testing kits
President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday (March 24) signed the “Bayanihan To Heal As One” Act (Republic Act 11469), which grants special authority to address the Covid-19 pandemic by realigning the national budget.
The newly-signed law also gives Duterte authority to facilitate the immediate testing of persons under investigation (PUIs) and monitoring (PUMs), and direct establishments to house health workers, serve as quarantine areas, or relief and aid distribution venues, and expedite the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) suits and other medical equipment.
It also provides subsidies to low-income households, implement an expanded and enhanced Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program (4Ps) for those affected by the quarantine, ensure availability of credit to productive sectors, reschedule deadlines for the filing of government requirements, and order a grace period on paying residential rents or loans, among others.
Nograles is hopeful that with the signing of the Bayanihan To Heal As One, government can "move faster, mobilize more people, and more resources" to respond to the ongoing health crisis.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1097795
“That we have to assess, but I’m confident that we can,” he said in a press briefing in Malacañang on Wednesday.
Even after the quarantine is lifted, he said the government will continue to strictly enforce social distancing of at least six feet apart from each other.
“Of course, it doesn’t mean that’s the end of the spread. We have to still continue the practice of strict social distancing,” he said.
He said social distancing should also be observed by residents in the islands of Visayas and Mindanao, which are not covered by the national government’s quarantine.
Since the quarantine has yet to be lifted, he said “draconian” measures are needed to prevent a sharp peak of Covid-19 cases.
“Draconian measures ang kailangan natin para mag-flatten ang curve and ma-contain natin if not eliminate the spread of the virus (Draconian measures is needed to flatten the curve and contain if not eliminate the spread of the virus),” he said.
Citing studies by the World Health Organization (WHO), he said the number of Covid-19 cases in the country could reach 75,000 in five months if efforts to contain the spread of the virus fail.
Goals
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, in the same media briefing, said by April 12, the goal is for the government to report that it has been able to contain Covid-19 by isolating all infected persons and maintaining zero cases in more communities.
“The victory we want to happen is hindi na siya mag-spread (there is no further spread), there are hopefully no new cases happening and just like in Wuhan kung saan wala nang (where there are no) new cases and then naka-focus na sila sa (they focus on) treatment (and recovery),” he said.
Last March 18, China's health commission announced that there were no more local transmissions of Covid-19 for the first time since the outbreak began. The new cases reported were all overseas arrivals.
In the Philippines, there are a total of 636 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the Philippines and 38 fatalities as of Wednesday afternoon.
Nograles said it is too early to think of further extending the quarantine to a much later date.
“Instead of looking at that, I think we really just have to concentrate on social distancing measure, kung ano yung nasa (what’s in the) guidelines. Tsaka na natin isipin ‘yan (Let’s set that aside). Focus muna tayo on the task at hand,” he said. "Let's take it one step at a time."
No need to expand quarantine to VisMin
At present, Año said he saw no need to expand the quarantine to Visayas and Mindanao but is open to that possibility if recommended by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease.
“Hindi pa naman kailangang buong Visayas at Mindanao para tuluy-tuloy pa rin naman yung kanilang normal na buhay lalo na sa trabaho and food production (There is still no need to expand the quarantine to the whole of Visayas and Mindanao so that they can go on with their daily lives especially at work and food production). But if there is a necessity and depending on the development, i-a-assess ng IATF ‘yan (the IATF will assess it),” he said.
Several local government units (LGUs) in Visayas and Mindanao have imposed general community quarantines to minimize the transmission of the disease.
He said he was contented by the performance of Luzon LGUs during the first week of the quarantine’s implementation but admitted that there were still challenges such as depleted food supply and Covid-19 testing kits
President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday (March 24) signed the “Bayanihan To Heal As One” Act (Republic Act 11469), which grants special authority to address the Covid-19 pandemic by realigning the national budget.
The newly-signed law also gives Duterte authority to facilitate the immediate testing of persons under investigation (PUIs) and monitoring (PUMs), and direct establishments to house health workers, serve as quarantine areas, or relief and aid distribution venues, and expedite the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) suits and other medical equipment.
It also provides subsidies to low-income households, implement an expanded and enhanced Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program (4Ps) for those affected by the quarantine, ensure availability of credit to productive sectors, reschedule deadlines for the filing of government requirements, and order a grace period on paying residential rents or loans, among others.
Nograles is hopeful that with the signing of the Bayanihan To Heal As One, government can "move faster, mobilize more people, and more resources" to respond to the ongoing health crisis.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1097795
Monday, March 23, 2020
LOOK: Proposed GMA-7 program schedule
President Rodrigo Duterte signed a law renewing the franchise granted to GMA Network for another 25 years.
He signed Republic Act No. 10925 on Friday, April 21.
GMA Network, which runs television channels, radio stations, and an online news site, had been given a franchise through Republic Act No. 7252 when it was still known as Republic Broadcasting System Inc.
RA 10925 allows GMA Network to continue operating its channels and orders it to provide air time for public service announcements, especially in times of emergency or calamity.
It also exhorts GMA Network to "comply with the applicable labor standards" with consideration to "the nature and peculiarities of the broadcast industry."
In 2015, talents hired by GMA won a case against the broadcasting company. The labor arbiter of the National Labor Relations Commission ruled that GMA-7' contractual workers, given the nature of their job, should be treated as regular employees and be given security of tenure and benefits.
Members of the Talents Association sued GMA 7 for depriving them of law-mandated benefits like health insurance and social insurance.
RA No 10925 also allows the President to temporarily take over or stop operations of GMA Network if in the best interest of the public.
On March 9, 2018, GMA Network launched its new slogan "Buong Puso Para Sa Kapuso" with a new station ID.
However, the network's current station ID in short version during the top/bottom of the hour before start the programs
Aside from the new S/ID, it would be reported that the return of former programs GMA Balita, Magnegosyo, Sesame Street, Batibot and Sis on the morning slot, while Eye to Eye and other programs as well weekly programs, the daily late-night English newscast GMA Network News while GMA News TV shows Day-Off and Ang Pinaka will put on weekend slots.
Nagmamahal, Manay Gina returns on television, while Maynila reverted to a weekday drama anthology.
Weekdays (Metro Manila)
Morning
He signed Republic Act No. 10925 on Friday, April 21.
GMA Network, which runs television channels, radio stations, and an online news site, had been given a franchise through Republic Act No. 7252 when it was still known as Republic Broadcasting System Inc.
RA 10925 allows GMA Network to continue operating its channels and orders it to provide air time for public service announcements, especially in times of emergency or calamity.
It also exhorts GMA Network to "comply with the applicable labor standards" with consideration to "the nature and peculiarities of the broadcast industry."
In 2015, talents hired by GMA won a case against the broadcasting company. The labor arbiter of the National Labor Relations Commission ruled that GMA-7' contractual workers, given the nature of their job, should be treated as regular employees and be given security of tenure and benefits.
Members of the Talents Association sued GMA 7 for depriving them of law-mandated benefits like health insurance and social insurance.
RA No 10925 also allows the President to temporarily take over or stop operations of GMA Network if in the best interest of the public.
On March 9, 2018, GMA Network launched its new slogan "Buong Puso Para Sa Kapuso" with a new station ID.
However, the network's current station ID in short version during the top/bottom of the hour before start the programs
Aside from the new S/ID, it would be reported that the return of former programs GMA Balita, Magnegosyo, Sesame Street, Batibot and Sis on the morning slot, while Eye to Eye and other programs as well weekly programs, the daily late-night English newscast GMA Network News while GMA News TV shows Day-Off and Ang Pinaka will put on weekend slots.
Nagmamahal, Manay Gina returns on television, while Maynila reverted to a weekday drama anthology.
Weekdays (Metro Manila)
Morning
- 4 am - The 700 Club (hosted by Pat Robertson, Gordon P. Robertson, Terry Meeuwsen and Wendy Griffith)
- 5 am - Dobol B: Balitang-Balita (Hosted by Weng Dela Peña)
- 6 am - Melo Del Prado sa Super Radyo DZBB (Hosted by Melo Del Prado)
- 7 am - Mornings @ GMA (Hosted by Mon Isberto, Tisha Silang, Cher Calvin, Ryan Agoncillo, Suzie Entrata, Lyn Ching, Arnold Clavio, Paolo Bediones, Karen Davila, Kara David and Georgette Tengco)
- 8 am - Agripreneur (Hosted by Jiggy Manicad)
- 8:30 am - Kapwa Ko, Mahal Ko (hosted by Orly Mercado, Connie Angeles and Camille Angeles)
- 9 am - Sesame Street
- 9:30 am - Batibot
- 10 am - Foreign Telenovela
- 10:30 am - Mars Pa More (Hosted by Camille Prats and Iya Villania)
- 11:30 am - Wagas
Afternoon
- 12 nn - Eat Bulaga! (Hosted by Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon with Jimmy Santos, Ruby Rodriguez, Samantha "Gracia" Lopez, Jose Manalo, Allan K., Toni Rose Gayda, Gladys Guevarra, Lana Asanin, Sherilyn Reyes, Anjo Yllana, Wally Bayola, Paolo Ballesteros, Phoemela Baranda, Sugar Mercado, Pia Guanio-Mago, Pauleen Luna-Sotto, Ryan Agoncillo, Ryzza Mae Dizon, Alden Richards, Maine Mendoza, Baste, Aicelle Santos and Luane Dy)
- 1:30 pm - T.A.P.E. Drama
- 2 pm - Nagmamahal, Manay Gina (hosted by Gina de Venecia)
- 2:30 pm - Maynila (hosted by Lito Atienza)
- 3 pm - Foreign Telenovela
- 3:30 pm - Anime
- 4 pm - That’s Entertainment (Hosted by Nora Aunor)
- 5 pm - Eye to Eye (Hosted by Dolly Anne Carvajal)
- 5:30 pm - Extra, Extra! (Hosted by Paolo Bediones, Marian Rivera and Boobay)
Primetime
- 6 pm - Saksi (Anchored by Mike Enriquez, Mel Tiangco, Vicky Morales and Arnold Clavio)
- 6:30 pm - Drama
- 7 pm - Drama
- 7:30 pm - Drama
- 8 pm - GoBingo
- 8:30 pm -
- Monday: Beh, Bote Nga! (Starring Janno Gibbs and Anjo Yllana)
- Tuesday: Bahay Mo Ba ‘To? (Starring Wendell Ramos)
- Wednesday: Nuts Entertainment (Starring Joey De Leon, Janno Gibbs and Anjo Yllana)
- Thursday: Tadhana (Hosted by Marian Rivera)
- Friday: Bubble Gang (Starring Michael V. and Antonio Aquitania)
- 9:30 pm -
- Monday: Mikee (Starring Mikee Cojuangco)
- Tuesday: Kool Ka Lang (Starring Raymart Santiago)
- Wednesday: Growing Up (Starring Angelu de Leon, Bobby Andrews and Onemig Bondoc)
- Thursday: Magpakailanman (Hosted by Mel Tiangco)
- Friday: Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko (Starring Gloria Romero)
- 10:30 pm -
- Monday: Who’s Your Daddy Now? (Starring Joey Marquez, Raymart Santiago and Ynna Asistio)
- Tuesday: Bitoy's Funniest Videos (Hosted by Michael V.)
- Wednesday: Campus Romance
- Thursday: Stories for the Soul (Hosted by Manny Pacquiao)
- Friday: The Boobay and Tekla Show (Hosted by Boobay and Super Tekla)
- 11:30 pm - GMA Network News (anchored by Pia Arcangel)
- 12 mn -
- Monday: I-Witness (hosted by Sandra Aguinaldo, Kara David, Howie Severino, Jay Taruc and Atom Araullo)
- Tuesday: The Probe Team (hosted by Cheche Lazaro)
- Wednesday: Emergency (hosted by Arnold Clavio)
- Thursday: Case Unclosed (hosted by Arnold Clavio)
- Friday: Debate with Mare and Pare (Hosted by Prof. Winnie Monsod and Oscar Orbos)
- 1 am - Camera Cafe
- 1:05 am - Not So Late Night with Edu
- 1:35 to 2:35 am - The 700 Club (hosted by Pat Robertson, Gordon P. Robertson, Terry Meeuwsen and Wendy Griffith)
Weekdays (Regional Stations)
Morning
- 4 am - The 700 Club
- 5 am - Dobol B: Balitang-Balita (Hosted by Weng Dela Peña)
- 6 am - Melo Del Prado sa Super Radyo DZBB (Hosted by Melo Del Prado)
- 7 am - Mornings @ GMA (Hosted by Mon Isberto, Tisha Silang, Cher Calvin, Ryan Agoncillo, Suzie Entrata, Lyn Ching, Arnold Clavio, Paolo Bediones, Karen Davila, Kara David and Georgette Tengco)
- 8 am - Agripreneur (Hosted by Jiggy Manicad)
- 8:30 am - Kapwa Ko, Mahal Ko (Hosted by Orly Mercado, Connie Angeles and Camille Angeles)
- 9 am - Sesame Street
- 9:30 am - Batibot
- 10 am - Foreign Telenovela
- 10:30 am - Mars Pa More (Hosted by Camille Prats and Iya Villania)
- 11:30 am - Wagas
Afternoon
- 12 nn - Eat Bulaga! (Hosted by Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon with Jimmy Santos, Ruby Rodriguez, Samantha "Gracia" Lopez, Jose Manalo, Allan K., Toni Rose Gayda, Gladys Guevarra, Lana Asanin, Sherilyn Reyes, Anjo Yllana, Wally Bayola, Paolo Ballesteros, Phoemela Baranda, Sugar Mercado, Pia Guanio-Mago, Pauleen Luna-Sotto, Ryan Agoncillo, Ryzza Mae Dizon, Alden Richards, Maine Mendoza, Baste, Aicelle Santos and Luane Dy)
- 1:30 pm - T.A.P.E. Drama
- 2 pm - Nagmamahal, Manay Gina (hosted by Gina de Venecia)
- 2:30 pm - Maynila (hosted by Lito Atienza)
- 3 pm - Foreign Telenovela
- 3:30 pm - Anime
- 4 pm - That’s Entertainment (Hosted by Nora Aunor)
- 5 pm - Eye to Eye (Hosted by Dolly Anne Carvajal)
- 5:30 pm - GMA Regional Newscasts
- Balitang Amianan (GMA Channel 10 Dagupan)
- Baretang Bikol (GMA Channel 7 Naga)
- Ratsada (GMA Channel 6 Iloilo)
- Balitang Bisdak (GMA Channel 7 Cebu)
- One Mindanao (GMA Channel 5 Davao)
Primetime
- 6 pm - Saksi (anchored by Mike Enriquez, Mel Tiangco, Vicky Morales and Arnold Clavio)
- 6:30 pm - Drama
- 7 pm - Drama
- 7:30 pm - Drama
- 8 pm - GoBingo
- 8:30 pm -
- Monday: Beh, Bote Nga! (Starring Janno Gibbs and Anjo Yllana)
- Tuesday: Bahay Mo Ba ‘To? (Starring Wendell Ramos)
- Wednesday: Nuts Entertainment (Starring Joey De Leon, Janno Gibbs and Anjo Yllana)
- Thursday: Tadhana (Hosted by Marian Rivera)
- Friday: Bubble Gang (Starring Michael V. and Antonio Aquitania)
- 9:30 pm -
- Monday: Mikee (Starring Mikee Cojuangco)
- Tuesday: Kool Ka Lang (Starring Raymart Santiago)
- Wednesday: Growing Up (Starring Angelu de Leon, Bobby Andrews and Onemig Bondoc)
- Thursday: Magpakailanman (Hosted by Mel Tiangco)
- Friday: Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko (Starring Gloria Romero)
- 10:30
- Monday: Who’s Your Daddy Now? (Starring Joey Marquez, Raymart Santiago and Ynna Asistio)
- Tuesday: Bitoy's Funniest Videos (Hosted by Michael V.)
- Wednesday: Campus Romance
- Thursday: Stories for the Soul (Hosted by Manny Pacquiao)
- Friday: The Boobay and Tekla Show (Hosted by Boobay and Super Tekla)
- 11:30 pm - GMA Network News (anchored by Pia Arcangel)
- 12 mn -
- I-Witness (hosted by Sandra Aguinaldo, Kara David, Howie Severino, Jay Taruc and Atom Araullo) (Monday)
- The Probe Team (hosted by Cheche Lazaro) (Tuesday)
- Emergency (hosted by Arnold Clavio) (Wednesday)
- Tunay na Buhay (with Rhea Santos) (Thursday)
- Best Men (hosted by Jun Veneracion, Jace Flores and RJ Ledesma) (Friday)
- 1 am - Camera Cafe
- 1:05 am - Not So Late Night with Edu
- 1:35 to 2:35 am - The 700 Club (hosted by Pat Robertson, Gordon P. Robertson, Terry Meeuwsen and Wendy Griffith)
Saturday
- 4 am - Jesus the Healer
- 5 am - The 700 Club
- 6 am - Pasugo
- 7 am - Tipong Pinoy
- 7:30 am - Chikiting Patrol
- 8 am - 5 & Up
- 9 am - Art Angel
- 9:30 am - Lovely Day (Hosted by Love Anover)
- 10 am - Ka-Blog! (Hosted by Andrea Torres, Mico Aytona and Monica Verallo)
- 10:30 am - Digital LG Quiz (Hosted by Paolo Bediones and Regine Tolentino)
- 11:30 am - Campus Video
- 12 nn - Eat Bulaga! (hosted by Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon with Jimmy Santos, Ruby Rodriguez, Jose Manalo, Allan K., Anjo Yllana, Wally Bayola, Paolo Ballesteros, Pia Guanio-Mago, Pauleen Luna-Sotto, Ryan Agoncillo, Ryzza Mae Dizon, Alden Richards, Maine Mendoza, Baste and Luane Dy)
- 2:30 pm - StarTalk (hosted by Butch Francisco, Joey de Leon, Lolit Solis and Heart Evangelista-Escudero)
- 4 pm - Click
- 5 pm - Misteryo (Hosted by Ryan Eigenmann)
- 5:30 pm - Ilaban Natin Yan! (Hosted by Vicky Morales)
- 6:30 pm - Brigada Siete (Hosted by Jessica Soho and Mike Enriquez)
- 7:30 pm - Pepito Manaloto (Starring Michael V.)
- 8:30 pm - Daddy’s Gurl (Starring Vic Sotto and Maine Mendoza)
- 9:30 pm - GMA’s Best
- 11:30 pm - Wattajob
- 12:30 am - Master Showman
- 1:30 am - GMA Network News
- 2 to 2:30 am - The 700 Club (Answers)
Sunday
- 4 am - Ecclesia in Asia
- 5 am - In Touch
- 6 am - Word of Hope
- 6:30 am - The 700 Club
- 7:30 am - Cathedral of Praise
- 8 am - Parents’ Guide
- 8:30 am - Gameplan
- 9:30 am - AHA!
- 10:30 am - Born to Be Wild
- 11:30 am - Joey’s Quirky World
- 12 nn - All-Out Sunday
- 2:30 pm - Dear Friend
- 4 pm - H.O.T. TV: Hindi Ordinaryong Tsismis
- 5:30 pm - I-Shine Talent Camp TV
- 6 pm - Partners with Mel & Joey
- 7 pm - Kap's Amazing Stories
- 8 pm - All Star K!
- 9 pm - SNBO: Sunday Night Box Office (Note: Instead na movies and TV specials na ineere diyan sa SNBO, gusto ko ibalik na din yung Pinoy Meets World: now with Miriam Quiambao-Roberto and JC Tiuseco, 100% Pinoy, Case Unclosed at World View Presents: as a substitute once a month program)
- 11 pm - Cheche Lazaro Presents
- 12 mn - GMA Network News
- 12:30 am - A Little Night of Music (with John Lesaca and Fides Cuyugan-Asencio)
- 1:30 to 2 am - The 700 Club (Answers)
Every Last Sunday of the Month:
- 11 pm - Aawitan Kita
- 12:30 am - A Little Night of Music (with John Lesaca and Fides Cuyugan-Asencio)
- 1:30 to 2 am - The 700 Club (Answers)
Sunday, March 22, 2020
A reminder from the manager
Effective April 9, 2020 at midnight, my account will be deactivated.
New accounts will start on Black Saturday:
kpr3131961@gmail.com
elvd1988@gmail.com
jbrw1986@gmail.com
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Duterte declares nationwide state of calamity amid Covid-19 threat
By Prince Golez
President Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation No. 929 on March 16 declaring a state of calamity throughout the Philippines due to coronavirus (Covid-19).
The state of calamity proclamation would remain in force for six months until lifted.
“Such declaration will allow the national government and the local government units (LGUs) ample latitude to utilize appropriate funds, including the Quick Response Fund, in their disaster preparedness and response efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19 and to continue to provide basic services to the affected population,” said Duterte.
The President also enjoined all government agencies and LGUs to render full assistance to and cooperation with each other and mobilize the necessary resources to undertake critical, urgent, and appropriate disaster response aid and measures in a timely manner to curtail and eliminate the threat of the disease.
Under the proclamation, all law enforcement agencies are directed to undertake all necessary measures to ensure peace and order in affected areas.
On Monday, Duterte placed the entire Luzon under “Enhanced Community Quarantine” until midnight of April 13 following the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the country.
Under the month long containment, “strict home quarantine shall be implemented in all households; transportation shall be suspended; provision for food and essential services shall be regulated; and heightened presence of uniformed personnel to enforce quarantine procedures will be implemented.”
https://politics.com.ph/duterte-declares-nationwide-state-of-calamity-amid-covid-19-threat/
President Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation No. 929 on March 16 declaring a state of calamity throughout the Philippines due to coronavirus (Covid-19).
The state of calamity proclamation would remain in force for six months until lifted.
“Such declaration will allow the national government and the local government units (LGUs) ample latitude to utilize appropriate funds, including the Quick Response Fund, in their disaster preparedness and response efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19 and to continue to provide basic services to the affected population,” said Duterte.
The President also enjoined all government agencies and LGUs to render full assistance to and cooperation with each other and mobilize the necessary resources to undertake critical, urgent, and appropriate disaster response aid and measures in a timely manner to curtail and eliminate the threat of the disease.
Under the proclamation, all law enforcement agencies are directed to undertake all necessary measures to ensure peace and order in affected areas.
On Monday, Duterte placed the entire Luzon under “Enhanced Community Quarantine” until midnight of April 13 following the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the country.
Under the month long containment, “strict home quarantine shall be implemented in all households; transportation shall be suspended; provision for food and essential services shall be regulated; and heightened presence of uniformed personnel to enforce quarantine procedures will be implemented.”
https://politics.com.ph/duterte-declares-nationwide-state-of-calamity-amid-covid-19-threat/
Pilipinas isinailalim sa 6-month 'state of calamity' ni Duterte
Isinailalim na ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang buong Pilipinas sa "state of calamity" kasunod ng pagdami ng mga kaso ng coronavirus disease (COVID-19) sa Pilipinas.
Sa Proclamation 929, na pinetsahang ika-16 ng Marso, sinabi ni Digong sa pamamagitan ni Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea ang sumusunod:
"Idinedeklara ang State of Calamity sa kabuuan ng Pilipinas na tatagal ng anim (6) na buwan, maliban na lang kung bawiin o palawigin depende sa sirkumstansya," sabi ni Digong sa Inggles.
Patuloy pa rin naman daw ang ipinatutupad na enhanced community quarantine sa kabuuan ng Luzon hanggang ika-12 ng Abrilo 2020, maliban kung bawiin pa.
Inaatasan din ang lahat ng ahensya ng gobyerno at local government units na magbigay ng kanilang tulong at pakikipag-ugnayan sa isa't isa: "mabobilisa ang mga kinakailangang rekurso para makapagpatupad ng kritikal, agaran at wastong disaster response aid and measures sa lalong madaling panahon upang masawata at mapuksa ang banta ng COVID-19."
Inaatasan na rin ang lahat ng law enforcement agencies, sa tulong ng Armed Forces of the Philippines, para siguruhin ang "peace and order" sa mga apektadong lugar, depende sa pangangailangan. — may mga ulat mula kay The STAR/Christina Mendez
Antabayanan ang mga karagdagang detalye sa balitang ito.
https://www.philstar.com/pilipino-star-ngayon/bansa/2020/03/17/2001652/pilipinas-isinailalim-sa-6-month-state-calamity-ni-duterte
Sa Proclamation 929, na pinetsahang ika-16 ng Marso, sinabi ni Digong sa pamamagitan ni Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea ang sumusunod:
"Idinedeklara ang State of Calamity sa kabuuan ng Pilipinas na tatagal ng anim (6) na buwan, maliban na lang kung bawiin o palawigin depende sa sirkumstansya," sabi ni Digong sa Inggles.
Patuloy pa rin naman daw ang ipinatutupad na enhanced community quarantine sa kabuuan ng Luzon hanggang ika-12 ng Abrilo 2020, maliban kung bawiin pa.
Inaatasan din ang lahat ng ahensya ng gobyerno at local government units na magbigay ng kanilang tulong at pakikipag-ugnayan sa isa't isa: "mabobilisa ang mga kinakailangang rekurso para makapagpatupad ng kritikal, agaran at wastong disaster response aid and measures sa lalong madaling panahon upang masawata at mapuksa ang banta ng COVID-19."
Inaatasan na rin ang lahat ng law enforcement agencies, sa tulong ng Armed Forces of the Philippines, para siguruhin ang "peace and order" sa mga apektadong lugar, depende sa pangangailangan. — may mga ulat mula kay The STAR/Christina Mendez
Antabayanan ang mga karagdagang detalye sa balitang ito.
https://www.philstar.com/pilipino-star-ngayon/bansa/2020/03/17/2001652/pilipinas-isinailalim-sa-6-month-state-calamity-ni-duterte
Saturday, March 14, 2020
ABS-CBN suspends live shows and tapings of its ‘teleseryes’
FOLLOWING the government’s declaration of a “community quarantine” and ban on mass gatherings due to an outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), ABS-CBN has temporarily suspended live entertainment shows and production of teleseryes starting on March 15.
“ABS-CBN is temporarily suspending the staging of its live entertainment shows and production of its teleserye starting Sunday in compliance with the goverment’s declaration of a community quarantine and ban on mass gatherings to contain the spread of Covid-19,” the network said in a statement released on their social media accounts.
“The company is taking these initiatives for the safety and health of our artists, crew, production teams, their families and the general public,” it added.
While this measure is in place, the network said it would continue to serve the audiences by bringing back well-loved shows “to help provide inspiration, hope and upliftment.”
“We assure the public that ABS-CBN will continue to bring the latest news and information through our TV and radio newscasts and digital platforms, especially at this time when the country is facing a public health crisis,” the post read.
“We thank our Kapamilya viewers for their understanding and continued support,” it said.
The latest statement was released just three days after ABS-CBN also decided to temporarily stop admitting studio audience to its shows.
The affected TV programs in the said audience ban include “It’s Showtime,” “ASAP Natin ‘To,” “Magandang Buhay,” “Banana Sundae,” and “I Can See Your Voice.”
Noontime show Eat Bulaga, which airs on GMA, also temporarily stopped admitting live audience for their show, in relation to the sudden virus spread. WITH RED MENDOZA
https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/03/14/news/latest-stories/abs-cbn-suspends-live-shows-and-tapings-of-its-teleseryes/703009/
“ABS-CBN is temporarily suspending the staging of its live entertainment shows and production of its teleserye starting Sunday in compliance with the goverment’s declaration of a community quarantine and ban on mass gatherings to contain the spread of Covid-19,” the network said in a statement released on their social media accounts.
“The company is taking these initiatives for the safety and health of our artists, crew, production teams, their families and the general public,” it added.
While this measure is in place, the network said it would continue to serve the audiences by bringing back well-loved shows “to help provide inspiration, hope and upliftment.”
“We assure the public that ABS-CBN will continue to bring the latest news and information through our TV and radio newscasts and digital platforms, especially at this time when the country is facing a public health crisis,” the post read.
“We thank our Kapamilya viewers for their understanding and continued support,” it said.
The latest statement was released just three days after ABS-CBN also decided to temporarily stop admitting studio audience to its shows.
The affected TV programs in the said audience ban include “It’s Showtime,” “ASAP Natin ‘To,” “Magandang Buhay,” “Banana Sundae,” and “I Can See Your Voice.”
Noontime show Eat Bulaga, which airs on GMA, also temporarily stopped admitting live audience for their show, in relation to the sudden virus spread. WITH RED MENDOZA
https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/03/14/news/latest-stories/abs-cbn-suspends-live-shows-and-tapings-of-its-teleseryes/703009/
Statement on ABS-CBN programming
ABS-CBN is temporarily suspending the staging of its live entertainment shows and production of its teleseryes starting Sunday (March 15) in compliance with the government’s declaration of a community quarantine and ban on mass gatherings to contain the spread of COVID-19.
The company is taking this initiative for the safety and health of our artists, crew, production teams, their families, and the general public.
While this measure is in place, ABS-CBN will continue to serve our audiences by bringing back well-loved shows to help provide inspiration, hope, and upliftment.
We assure the public that ABS-CBN will continue to bring the latest news and information through our TV and radio newscasts and digital platforms, especially at this time when the country is facing a public health crisis.
We thank our Kapamilya viewers for their understanding and continued support.
Pansamantalang ititigil ng ABS-CBN ang pagtatanghal ng mga live entertainment show at taping ng mga teleserye nito simula Linggo (Marso 15) bilang pagsunod sa deklarasyon ng pamahalaan ng community quarantine at pagbabawal ng pagtitipon nang maramihan upang pigilan ang pagkalat ng COVID-19.
Ginagawa ito ng kumpanya para sa kaligtasan at kalusugan ng aming mga artista, crew, production teams, ang kanilang mga pamilya, at ang publiko.
Habang ito ay ipinapatupad, patuloy ang ABS-CBN na maglilingkod sa mga manonoood sa paghahatid ng mga kinagiliwang palabas na magbibigay ng inspirasyon, pag-asa, at sigla.
Makakaasa ang publiko na patuloy na ihahatid ng ABS-CBN ang pinakahuling balita at impormasyon sa aming newscasts sa TV at radyo, pati sa digital, lalo na sa panahon ngayong may public health crisis ang bansa.
Nagpapasalamat kami sa aming mga Kapamilya para sa kanilang pag-unawa at patuloy na suporta.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/03/13/20/statement-on-abs-cbn-programming
The company is taking this initiative for the safety and health of our artists, crew, production teams, their families, and the general public.
While this measure is in place, ABS-CBN will continue to serve our audiences by bringing back well-loved shows to help provide inspiration, hope, and upliftment.
We assure the public that ABS-CBN will continue to bring the latest news and information through our TV and radio newscasts and digital platforms, especially at this time when the country is facing a public health crisis.
We thank our Kapamilya viewers for their understanding and continued support.
Pansamantalang ititigil ng ABS-CBN ang pagtatanghal ng mga live entertainment show at taping ng mga teleserye nito simula Linggo (Marso 15) bilang pagsunod sa deklarasyon ng pamahalaan ng community quarantine at pagbabawal ng pagtitipon nang maramihan upang pigilan ang pagkalat ng COVID-19.
Ginagawa ito ng kumpanya para sa kaligtasan at kalusugan ng aming mga artista, crew, production teams, ang kanilang mga pamilya, at ang publiko.
Habang ito ay ipinapatupad, patuloy ang ABS-CBN na maglilingkod sa mga manonoood sa paghahatid ng mga kinagiliwang palabas na magbibigay ng inspirasyon, pag-asa, at sigla.
Makakaasa ang publiko na patuloy na ihahatid ng ABS-CBN ang pinakahuling balita at impormasyon sa aming newscasts sa TV at radyo, pati sa digital, lalo na sa panahon ngayong may public health crisis ang bansa.
Nagpapasalamat kami sa aming mga Kapamilya para sa kanilang pag-unawa at patuloy na suporta.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/03/13/20/statement-on-abs-cbn-programming
Thursday, March 12, 2020
ABS-CBN franchise: Calida mum on NTC provisional authority, Gadon petition
Solicitor General Jose Calida on Thursday begged off comment on the National Telecommunications Commission’s (NTC) plan to grant ABS-CBN Corp. provisional authority to operate so it could continue operations pending renewal of its broadcast franchise.
“I won’t comment on that because you know it’s before the Supreme Court,” Calida told reporters shortly after oral arguments on a different case at the high tribunal.
The NTC on Wednesday said it would issue provisional authority to allow ABS-CBN and its subsidiaries to operate until June 2022 while Congress deliberates on its franchise renewal.
Calida cited a gag order although the high court has yet to make any announcement on whether it has ruled on his motion requesting such.
“There’s a gag order. I was the one who filed that gag order so I could not comment,” he said.
Calida filed a gag order motion on Feb. 18, a week after filing the quo warranto petition seeking to revoke ABS-CBN’s franchise due to alleged franchise violations. Calida accused ABS-CBN of engaging in propaganda in its reports.
Calida also did not comment on lawyer Lorenzo “Larry” Gadon’s petition seeking to stop NTC from issuing provisional authority to ABS-CBN, claiming it has no authority in the absence of a law.
“That’s his petition. It’s not our petition,” Calida said.
Gadon cited the Office of the Solicitor General as the NTC’s counsel in his petition. The OSG represents government agencies in cases before higher courts.
Asked if the OSG would represent the NTC, Calida gave a noncommittal answer: “I’ll cross the bridge when I see it.”
“Regards to ABS-CBN,” told reporters as the interview ended.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/12/20/abs-cbn-franchise-renewal-calida-mum-on-ntc-provisional-authority-gadon-petition
“I won’t comment on that because you know it’s before the Supreme Court,” Calida told reporters shortly after oral arguments on a different case at the high tribunal.
The NTC on Wednesday said it would issue provisional authority to allow ABS-CBN and its subsidiaries to operate until June 2022 while Congress deliberates on its franchise renewal.
Calida cited a gag order although the high court has yet to make any announcement on whether it has ruled on his motion requesting such.
“There’s a gag order. I was the one who filed that gag order so I could not comment,” he said.
Calida filed a gag order motion on Feb. 18, a week after filing the quo warranto petition seeking to revoke ABS-CBN’s franchise due to alleged franchise violations. Calida accused ABS-CBN of engaging in propaganda in its reports.
Calida also did not comment on lawyer Lorenzo “Larry” Gadon’s petition seeking to stop NTC from issuing provisional authority to ABS-CBN, claiming it has no authority in the absence of a law.
“That’s his petition. It’s not our petition,” Calida said.
Gadon cited the Office of the Solicitor General as the NTC’s counsel in his petition. The OSG represents government agencies in cases before higher courts.
Asked if the OSG would represent the NTC, Calida gave a noncommittal answer: “I’ll cross the bridge when I see it.”
“Regards to ABS-CBN,” told reporters as the interview ended.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/12/20/abs-cbn-franchise-renewal-calida-mum-on-ntc-provisional-authority-gadon-petition
House adjourns without tackling ABS-CBN franchise renewal
The House of Representatives adjourned its session on Wednesday night—its last session day before it begins its Lenten break lasting for nearly two months—without tackling media giant ABS-CBN’s bid for franchise renewal.
In its last session before the Lenten break, lawmakers approved, among others, House Bill No. 5832 which creates the Department of Filipinos Overseas and Foreign Employment, as well as House Bill No. 59, which amends the Retail Trade Liberalization Act of 2000.
This, while the 11 bills seeking the renewal of franchise of ABS-CBN remain pending before the House committee on legislative franchises—the earliest of which, at least in the 18th Congress, was filed in July 2019.
So far, the committee on legislative franchises has only held one hearing—or meeting—to discuss the matter. But during this meeting, no one from ABS-CBN or from the opposition was invited.
Instead, the lawmakers decided to first draft the ground rules for the formal deliberations of the franchise renewal bid of ABS-CBN, which House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano earlier deemed to be necessary so that the hearings would not be a “circus.”
Cayetano said he wanted the hearings to be organized, noting that there should be an order in terms of tackling the various issues covering the franchise bill such as the alleged violations of ABS-CBN to its franchise, among others.
“We don’t want this hearing to look like a circus. We don’t want the session to degenerate into a bull session. We don’t want to make this a sycophancy and vilification session. We want to define the issues,” Cayetano said partly in Filipino in a press briefing in March.
What’s taking it so long?
On numerous occasions, Cayetano said there are “more urgent” measures than the ABS-CBN franchise renewal that are being prioritized by the lower chamber.
This includes, among others, the creation of the Department for Overseas Filipino Workers, the Department of Disaster Management, and the Department of Water; the improvement of the K to 12 program; the improvement of the national health preparedness; and the strengthening of the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.
In February, Cayetano said the lower chamber might tackle ABS-CBN’s franchise in May or in August after President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (Sona).
The House Speaker said that he would rather tackle the measures seeking the network’s franchise renewal continuously than have it cut by the lower chamber’s scheduled breaks.
“This is not a television series where it’s better if there are cliffhangers. If we hear this for two weeks and we run out of time because we will go on recess, or even if we go on recess and conduct hearings at that time, we cannot bring it to the plenary. Nothing will happen,” Cayetano said in Filipino.
Cayetano has also said that deliberations on the network’s franchise would be a “delicate balance” between press freedom and holding ABS-CBN accountable over its alleged violations.
“How do you hold ABS accountable for some perceived violations of the franchise? On the other hand, how do you protect press freedom? And what is a just ruling vis-à-vis ‘yung mga (on the) allegations?” the House Speaker said in another interview.
To recall, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) filed a quo warranto petition before the Supreme Court seeking to revoke the ABS-CBN’s license, citing “highly abusive practices” of the network.
ABS-CBN, however, has maintained that it did not violate any law governing its franchise and that it had secured all necessary approvals for its business operations.
Expiring franchise
What makes the call for the lower chamber to tackle the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN stronger is the approaching expiration of the network’s current franchise on May 4.
Many fear that ABS-CBN would shut down once its franchise expires while its bid for renewal remains hanging before the committee on legislative franchises.
Republic Act No. 3846 requires television and radio broadcasting companies to secure a franchise from the government before they are allowed to operate. It is Congress that will decide whether to extend the franchise to public utilities, such as the media.
Cayetano gave assurances that ABS-CBN would continue its operations even if its franchise expires since its franchise renewal bid is still pending in Congress.
At one point, the House Speaker even went on to say that he was willing to be jailed if anyone from ABS-CBN would be imprisoned for operating while hearings for its franchise renewal were ongoing in the lower chamber.
Citing precedence, Cayetano turned to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), saying that other broadcasting firms in the past have been issued provisional authority to operate while Congress has yet to act on bills seeking their franchise renewal.
On February 27, Cayetano and committee on legislative franchises chairman Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez sent a letter to the NTC enjoining the commission to grant a provisional authority to operate to ABS-CBN effective on May 4, 2020, “until such time that the House of Representatives/Congress has made a decision on its application.”
“If we have the power to grant franchise, why wouldn’t we have the power to grant provisional authority? Except that we are ordering this from the one who grants it. We can grant a franchise, which is the mother of the provisional authority,” Cayetano said partly in Filipino in an interview in Taguig City.
Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman, however, said House’s suggestion of ABS-CBN being granted a provisional authority to operate is a mere “illusory remedy.”
The lawmaker pointed out that such provisional authority from NTC “can be challenged in court because it is not validated by jurisprudence,” citing Section 16 of Republic Act No. 7925 or the Public Telecommunications Policy Act of the Philippines.
This provision states that “no person shall commence or conduct the business of being a public telecommunications entity without first obtaining a franchise.
But during the meeting held by the committee on legislative franchises, the NTC said it will “likely” issue a provisional authority to ABS-CBN.
“The NTC will follow the latest advice of the DOJ (Department of Justice) and let ABS-CBN continue operations based on equity,” NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba said.
No pressure from Palace
Duterte has repeatedly said that he would block the franchise renewal of the network due to supposed “violations” committed by the media company.
At one point, Duterte even urged the Lopez family, the owner of the company, to just sell it off.
In February, Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that Duterte was seething with ABS-CBN’s failure to air his paid campaign advertisements during the 2016 election.
Further, Panelo also took note of the airing an anti-Duterte advertisement which paid by former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV who was then running as Vice President.
However, Panelo said that Duterte’s expression of “displeasure or disgust or anger” on ABS-CBN has nothing to do with the pending status of the network’s franchise renewal bid in the lower chamber.
“The President made utterances against ABS-CBN. He made certain statements like ‘I’ll shut down (ABS-CBN)’. But that’s not literal. He wants to shut down the fraudulent practices of your network,” Panelo said, partly in Filipino, in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel.
Cayetano and several members of the committee on legislative franchises have denied any pressure from the Palace against acting on bills on ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal.
“I am not pressured by what the president wants. nor by media and supporters of ABS-CBN. The pressure is on how history will judge us,” Cayetano said in Filipino.
In a Senate hearing, ABS-CBN president and CEO Carlo Katigbak apologised to Duterte—an apology that was later accepted by the President.
Duterte said he would let Congress decide on ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal.
Cayetano, meanwhile, has said that the House’s discussions on the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN should not be treated as a race, as he gave assurance the issue would be tackled with fairness.
On a break
Both the House and the Senate are now on its Lenten break which would last for nearly two months.
In a speech he delivered right before House adjourned its session on Wednesday night, Cayetano said that the lower chamber is willing to change the legislative calendar and hold special session during the break.
But ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal might not be on the table during this break as Cayetano has previously said that he wants to hold continuous hearings regarding the issue.
Ironically, House session will resume on May 4—the same day ABS-CBN’s current franchise expires.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1240451/house-adjourns-no-abs-cbn-franchise-renewal-story
In its last session before the Lenten break, lawmakers approved, among others, House Bill No. 5832 which creates the Department of Filipinos Overseas and Foreign Employment, as well as House Bill No. 59, which amends the Retail Trade Liberalization Act of 2000.
This, while the 11 bills seeking the renewal of franchise of ABS-CBN remain pending before the House committee on legislative franchises—the earliest of which, at least in the 18th Congress, was filed in July 2019.
So far, the committee on legislative franchises has only held one hearing—or meeting—to discuss the matter. But during this meeting, no one from ABS-CBN or from the opposition was invited.
Instead, the lawmakers decided to first draft the ground rules for the formal deliberations of the franchise renewal bid of ABS-CBN, which House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano earlier deemed to be necessary so that the hearings would not be a “circus.”
Cayetano said he wanted the hearings to be organized, noting that there should be an order in terms of tackling the various issues covering the franchise bill such as the alleged violations of ABS-CBN to its franchise, among others.
“We don’t want this hearing to look like a circus. We don’t want the session to degenerate into a bull session. We don’t want to make this a sycophancy and vilification session. We want to define the issues,” Cayetano said partly in Filipino in a press briefing in March.
What’s taking it so long?
On numerous occasions, Cayetano said there are “more urgent” measures than the ABS-CBN franchise renewal that are being prioritized by the lower chamber.
This includes, among others, the creation of the Department for Overseas Filipino Workers, the Department of Disaster Management, and the Department of Water; the improvement of the K to 12 program; the improvement of the national health preparedness; and the strengthening of the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.
In February, Cayetano said the lower chamber might tackle ABS-CBN’s franchise in May or in August after President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (Sona).
The House Speaker said that he would rather tackle the measures seeking the network’s franchise renewal continuously than have it cut by the lower chamber’s scheduled breaks.
“This is not a television series where it’s better if there are cliffhangers. If we hear this for two weeks and we run out of time because we will go on recess, or even if we go on recess and conduct hearings at that time, we cannot bring it to the plenary. Nothing will happen,” Cayetano said in Filipino.
Cayetano has also said that deliberations on the network’s franchise would be a “delicate balance” between press freedom and holding ABS-CBN accountable over its alleged violations.
“How do you hold ABS accountable for some perceived violations of the franchise? On the other hand, how do you protect press freedom? And what is a just ruling vis-à-vis ‘yung mga (on the) allegations?” the House Speaker said in another interview.
To recall, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) filed a quo warranto petition before the Supreme Court seeking to revoke the ABS-CBN’s license, citing “highly abusive practices” of the network.
ABS-CBN, however, has maintained that it did not violate any law governing its franchise and that it had secured all necessary approvals for its business operations.
Expiring franchise
What makes the call for the lower chamber to tackle the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN stronger is the approaching expiration of the network’s current franchise on May 4.
Many fear that ABS-CBN would shut down once its franchise expires while its bid for renewal remains hanging before the committee on legislative franchises.
Republic Act No. 3846 requires television and radio broadcasting companies to secure a franchise from the government before they are allowed to operate. It is Congress that will decide whether to extend the franchise to public utilities, such as the media.
Cayetano gave assurances that ABS-CBN would continue its operations even if its franchise expires since its franchise renewal bid is still pending in Congress.
At one point, the House Speaker even went on to say that he was willing to be jailed if anyone from ABS-CBN would be imprisoned for operating while hearings for its franchise renewal were ongoing in the lower chamber.
Citing precedence, Cayetano turned to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), saying that other broadcasting firms in the past have been issued provisional authority to operate while Congress has yet to act on bills seeking their franchise renewal.
On February 27, Cayetano and committee on legislative franchises chairman Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez sent a letter to the NTC enjoining the commission to grant a provisional authority to operate to ABS-CBN effective on May 4, 2020, “until such time that the House of Representatives/Congress has made a decision on its application.”
“If we have the power to grant franchise, why wouldn’t we have the power to grant provisional authority? Except that we are ordering this from the one who grants it. We can grant a franchise, which is the mother of the provisional authority,” Cayetano said partly in Filipino in an interview in Taguig City.
Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman, however, said House’s suggestion of ABS-CBN being granted a provisional authority to operate is a mere “illusory remedy.”
The lawmaker pointed out that such provisional authority from NTC “can be challenged in court because it is not validated by jurisprudence,” citing Section 16 of Republic Act No. 7925 or the Public Telecommunications Policy Act of the Philippines.
This provision states that “no person shall commence or conduct the business of being a public telecommunications entity without first obtaining a franchise.
But during the meeting held by the committee on legislative franchises, the NTC said it will “likely” issue a provisional authority to ABS-CBN.
“The NTC will follow the latest advice of the DOJ (Department of Justice) and let ABS-CBN continue operations based on equity,” NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba said.
No pressure from Palace
Duterte has repeatedly said that he would block the franchise renewal of the network due to supposed “violations” committed by the media company.
At one point, Duterte even urged the Lopez family, the owner of the company, to just sell it off.
In February, Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that Duterte was seething with ABS-CBN’s failure to air his paid campaign advertisements during the 2016 election.
Further, Panelo also took note of the airing an anti-Duterte advertisement which paid by former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV who was then running as Vice President.
However, Panelo said that Duterte’s expression of “displeasure or disgust or anger” on ABS-CBN has nothing to do with the pending status of the network’s franchise renewal bid in the lower chamber.
“The President made utterances against ABS-CBN. He made certain statements like ‘I’ll shut down (ABS-CBN)’. But that’s not literal. He wants to shut down the fraudulent practices of your network,” Panelo said, partly in Filipino, in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel.
Cayetano and several members of the committee on legislative franchises have denied any pressure from the Palace against acting on bills on ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal.
“I am not pressured by what the president wants. nor by media and supporters of ABS-CBN. The pressure is on how history will judge us,” Cayetano said in Filipino.
In a Senate hearing, ABS-CBN president and CEO Carlo Katigbak apologised to Duterte—an apology that was later accepted by the President.
Duterte said he would let Congress decide on ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal.
Cayetano, meanwhile, has said that the House’s discussions on the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN should not be treated as a race, as he gave assurance the issue would be tackled with fairness.
On a break
Both the House and the Senate are now on its Lenten break which would last for nearly two months.
In a speech he delivered right before House adjourned its session on Wednesday night, Cayetano said that the lower chamber is willing to change the legislative calendar and hold special session during the break.
But ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal might not be on the table during this break as Cayetano has previously said that he wants to hold continuous hearings regarding the issue.
Ironically, House session will resume on May 4—the same day ABS-CBN’s current franchise expires.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1240451/house-adjourns-no-abs-cbn-franchise-renewal-story
6 broadcast firms near franchise OK
Senator Grace Poe said Wednesday six broadcast companies were one step closer to getting their fresh legal mandates after the Senate approved on third and final reading the bills seeking the renewal of their legislative franchises for another 25 years.
Poe said the Senate’s approval of the bills was also a manifestation that the committee on public services, which she heads, gave importance to the companies seeking applications for franchise renewal.
“We want to make sure that all franchises are given equal opportunity and prompt scrutiny as we recognize the value of able media firms as sources of job opportunities and information especially in the countryside,” Poe said.
On Tuesday, the National Telecommunications Commission agreed to issue a provisional authority to allow broadcast giant ABS-CBN to operate pending the renewal of its franchise.
NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba made the announcement during the hearing of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises led by Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court again deferred taking action on the quo warranto petition filed by the Office of the Solicitor General seeking to forfeit the franchises of ABS-CBN Corp.
The approved bills were on the respective franchises of Broadcast Enterprises and Affiliated Media Inc.; Crusaders Broadcasting System; Bicol Broadcasting System Inc.; Golden Broadcast Professional Inc.; Gold Label Broadcasting System Inc.; and First United Broadcasting Corp., which is now known as Global Satellite Technology Services Inc.
All six broadcast franchises were passed on third reading on Monday and were transmitted to the House of Representatives for its approval of the Senate amendments. Gold Label Broadcasting System’s franchise is set to expire in May and the rest in July.
Welcoming the development, Poe said a franchise was a public duty.
“This is not a right available to all, but a privilege given to those with capacity to do the job,” she said.
Poe said the Senate’s approval of the bills was also a manifestation that the committee on public services, which she heads, gave importance to the companies seeking applications for franchise renewal.
“We want to make sure that all franchises are given equal opportunity and prompt scrutiny as we recognize the value of able media firms as sources of job opportunities and information especially in the countryside,” Poe said.
On Tuesday, the National Telecommunications Commission agreed to issue a provisional authority to allow broadcast giant ABS-CBN to operate pending the renewal of its franchise.
NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba made the announcement during the hearing of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises led by Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court again deferred taking action on the quo warranto petition filed by the Office of the Solicitor General seeking to forfeit the franchises of ABS-CBN Corp.
The approved bills were on the respective franchises of Broadcast Enterprises and Affiliated Media Inc.; Crusaders Broadcasting System; Bicol Broadcasting System Inc.; Golden Broadcast Professional Inc.; Gold Label Broadcasting System Inc.; and First United Broadcasting Corp., which is now known as Global Satellite Technology Services Inc.
All six broadcast franchises were passed on third reading on Monday and were transmitted to the House of Representatives for its approval of the Senate amendments. Gold Label Broadcasting System’s franchise is set to expire in May and the rest in July.
Welcoming the development, Poe said a franchise was a public duty.
“This is not a right available to all, but a privilege given to those with capacity to do the job,” she said.
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
NTC to allow ABS-CBN to operate until June 2022
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on Wednesday said it would issue a provisional authority to allow ABS-CBN and its subsidiaries to operate until June 2022, while Congress continues to deliberate on its franchise renewal bid.
After receiving resolutions from the Senate and the House of Representatives, the NTC will issue the temporary permit, Deputy Commissioner Edgardo Cabarios told reporters.
“Ang advice kasi ngayon is kapag may concurrent resolution, then we can issue the provisional authority,” Cabarios, who received the copy of the resolutions, said.
(The advice is, if there is a concurrent resolution already, then we can issue the provisional authority.)
“Up to now, yun ang advice (that is the advice), so yes... unless we are restrained by the court,” he said when asked if the agency will definitely issue a provisional permit for ABS-CBN valid through June 2022.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra earlier told senators that Congress needs to issue resolutions to serve as legal basis for the NTC's issuance of a provisional authority for ABS-CBN.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri lauded the NTC decision, saying it upheld jurisprudence and precedence by extending to ABS-CBN the same relief it gave other broadcasting networks.
"Dapat kung anong naibigay sa iba ay dapat maibigay po sa ABS-CBN, kasi kung hindi naman nangyari yun, clearly, nagkaroon ng prejudice, bias for that particular application when all the rest have been given that provisional authority," Zubiri said.
(Whatever was given to others should also be extended to ABS-CBN, because if it doesn't happen that way, clearly, there's prejudice, bias for that particular application when all the rest have been given that provisional authority.)
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon also praised the NTC for extending ABS-CBN's current license until the end of the 18th Congress in June 2022.
"That is very important because a shorter provisional authority would subject ABS-CBN to question, and that is not consistent with the freedom of the press," Drilon said.
"Based on our own legislative history, while the application for the renewal of the franchise is pending, de facto the expired franchise will continue to exist, especially with provisional authority granted by NTC," he said.
Lawyer Lorenzo "Larry" Gadon earlier filed a petition asking the high court if a provisional authority from an executive agency is enough basis to allow ABS-CBN to operate after its franchise expires on May 4, 2020.
Drilon defended the NTC's decision, saying Congressional resolutions in favor of ABS-CBN's temporary permit should be given due consideration.
"If this is questioned before the court, we leave it to the court... But we maintain our jurisdiction as the grantor of franchise, kaya ang opinion ng Kongreso ay kailangan bigyan ng kaukulang pansin dahil kami po ang nagbibigay ng franchise," he said.
(But we maintain our jurisdiction as the grantor of franchise, that's why the opinion of Congress must be given due consideration because we issue the franchise.)
Until Tuesday, the House Committee on Legislative Franchises did not start tackling several bills seeking to give ABS-CBN a fresh 25-year license to broadcast. Congress goes on a break after Wednesday and will resume session on May 4.
The committee, backed by House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, earlier enjoined the NTC to issue ABS-CBN a provisional authority to operate past the expiry of the company's current franchise.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/11/20/abscbn-franchise-renewal-ntc-provisional-authority-2022
After receiving resolutions from the Senate and the House of Representatives, the NTC will issue the temporary permit, Deputy Commissioner Edgardo Cabarios told reporters.
“Ang advice kasi ngayon is kapag may concurrent resolution, then we can issue the provisional authority,” Cabarios, who received the copy of the resolutions, said.
(The advice is, if there is a concurrent resolution already, then we can issue the provisional authority.)
“Up to now, yun ang advice (that is the advice), so yes... unless we are restrained by the court,” he said when asked if the agency will definitely issue a provisional permit for ABS-CBN valid through June 2022.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra earlier told senators that Congress needs to issue resolutions to serve as legal basis for the NTC's issuance of a provisional authority for ABS-CBN.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri lauded the NTC decision, saying it upheld jurisprudence and precedence by extending to ABS-CBN the same relief it gave other broadcasting networks.
"Dapat kung anong naibigay sa iba ay dapat maibigay po sa ABS-CBN, kasi kung hindi naman nangyari yun, clearly, nagkaroon ng prejudice, bias for that particular application when all the rest have been given that provisional authority," Zubiri said.
(Whatever was given to others should also be extended to ABS-CBN, because if it doesn't happen that way, clearly, there's prejudice, bias for that particular application when all the rest have been given that provisional authority.)
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon also praised the NTC for extending ABS-CBN's current license until the end of the 18th Congress in June 2022.
"That is very important because a shorter provisional authority would subject ABS-CBN to question, and that is not consistent with the freedom of the press," Drilon said.
"Based on our own legislative history, while the application for the renewal of the franchise is pending, de facto the expired franchise will continue to exist, especially with provisional authority granted by NTC," he said.
Lawyer Lorenzo "Larry" Gadon earlier filed a petition asking the high court if a provisional authority from an executive agency is enough basis to allow ABS-CBN to operate after its franchise expires on May 4, 2020.
Drilon defended the NTC's decision, saying Congressional resolutions in favor of ABS-CBN's temporary permit should be given due consideration.
"If this is questioned before the court, we leave it to the court... But we maintain our jurisdiction as the grantor of franchise, kaya ang opinion ng Kongreso ay kailangan bigyan ng kaukulang pansin dahil kami po ang nagbibigay ng franchise," he said.
(But we maintain our jurisdiction as the grantor of franchise, that's why the opinion of Congress must be given due consideration because we issue the franchise.)
Until Tuesday, the House Committee on Legislative Franchises did not start tackling several bills seeking to give ABS-CBN a fresh 25-year license to broadcast. Congress goes on a break after Wednesday and will resume session on May 4.
The committee, backed by House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, earlier enjoined the NTC to issue ABS-CBN a provisional authority to operate past the expiry of the company's current franchise.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/11/20/abscbn-franchise-renewal-ntc-provisional-authority-2022
‘Too early’ to tell effect of SC case on ABS-CBN franchise bid – Cayetano
It’s still “too early” to say if the pending quo warranto case against media giant ABS-CBN before the Supreme Court would affect the network’s bid for franchise renewal in Congress, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano in a press briefing on Tuesday.
Cayetano underscored the difference between the quo warranto case filed by the Office of Solicitor General (OSG) and ABS-CBN’s bid for its franchise to be renewed.
Last Feb. 10, Solicitor General Jose Calida filed a quo warranto petition against ABS-CBN, accusing the network of “abusive practices.”
“SolGen Calida’s petition is regarding the existing franchise. What is pending the House is [the bid for a franchise renewal] for the next 25 years,” Cayetano, speaking partly in Filipino, told reporters.
“It is too early — because we have not seen the decision — to see whether or not it [the Supreme Court ruling] will affect the new franchise, because if there is no violation, it should not affect the franchise,” the House Speaker said.
But in the event that the Supreme Court sees that ABS-CBN indeed violated its franchise, the committee on legislative franchises has to see if the committed violations would be enough to affect the granting of a new franchise to the network.
“For me, we will not second-guess the Supreme Court. Definitely, we will follow their decision. But there’s difference between what is pending in the Supreme Court and what is pending before the committee [on legislative franchises],” Cayetano said.
He also responded to the petition filed by lawyer Lorenzo G. Gadon urging the Supreme Court to stop the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) from granting ABS-CBN provisional authority to operate once its franchise had expired on May 4.
Cayetano and Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez, who chairs the Committee on Legislative Franchises, sent a letter to the NTC enjoining it to grant ABS-CBN provisional authority to operate, effective on May 4, 2020 “until such time that the House of Representatives/Congress has made a decision on its application.”
Gadon questioned this move, saying that the Cayetano’s directive to the NTC would violate the doctrine of separation of powers and would be a “grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction.”
“On my part, I’m requesting countrymen: Please don’t stop us from doing our job. But it’s his right. He’s a lawyer. He’s a citizen of this country. He didn’t take my advice. He wants ABS-CBN to be shut down immediately,” Cayetano said.
Cayetano believes that the Supreme Court would not stop their action on the franchise since “it’s part of our congressional responsibilities and duties and constitutional mandate to look into and grant franchises.”
“Of course, if the Supreme Court says that the Congress’ action was not allowed, then that’s a different story,| he said. “But until that point in time, Attorney Gadon has one opinion in 110 million Filipinos. We don’t share his opinion.”
The Committee on Legislative Franchises held its first hearing on ABS-CBN franchise renewal on Tuesday afternoon.
But rather than hearing stakeholders involved in the issue, the committee instead focused on discussing the ground rules for May, when the formal deliberations on the franchise renewal begin.
There are 11 bills seeking to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN for another 25 years.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1239622/cayetano-on-abs-cbn-supreme-court-story
Cayetano underscored the difference between the quo warranto case filed by the Office of Solicitor General (OSG) and ABS-CBN’s bid for its franchise to be renewed.
Last Feb. 10, Solicitor General Jose Calida filed a quo warranto petition against ABS-CBN, accusing the network of “abusive practices.”
“SolGen Calida’s petition is regarding the existing franchise. What is pending the House is [the bid for a franchise renewal] for the next 25 years,” Cayetano, speaking partly in Filipino, told reporters.
“It is too early — because we have not seen the decision — to see whether or not it [the Supreme Court ruling] will affect the new franchise, because if there is no violation, it should not affect the franchise,” the House Speaker said.
But in the event that the Supreme Court sees that ABS-CBN indeed violated its franchise, the committee on legislative franchises has to see if the committed violations would be enough to affect the granting of a new franchise to the network.
“For me, we will not second-guess the Supreme Court. Definitely, we will follow their decision. But there’s difference between what is pending in the Supreme Court and what is pending before the committee [on legislative franchises],” Cayetano said.
He also responded to the petition filed by lawyer Lorenzo G. Gadon urging the Supreme Court to stop the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) from granting ABS-CBN provisional authority to operate once its franchise had expired on May 4.
Cayetano and Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez, who chairs the Committee on Legislative Franchises, sent a letter to the NTC enjoining it to grant ABS-CBN provisional authority to operate, effective on May 4, 2020 “until such time that the House of Representatives/Congress has made a decision on its application.”
Gadon questioned this move, saying that the Cayetano’s directive to the NTC would violate the doctrine of separation of powers and would be a “grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction.”
“On my part, I’m requesting countrymen: Please don’t stop us from doing our job. But it’s his right. He’s a lawyer. He’s a citizen of this country. He didn’t take my advice. He wants ABS-CBN to be shut down immediately,” Cayetano said.
Cayetano believes that the Supreme Court would not stop their action on the franchise since “it’s part of our congressional responsibilities and duties and constitutional mandate to look into and grant franchises.”
“Of course, if the Supreme Court says that the Congress’ action was not allowed, then that’s a different story,| he said. “But until that point in time, Attorney Gadon has one opinion in 110 million Filipinos. We don’t share his opinion.”
The Committee on Legislative Franchises held its first hearing on ABS-CBN franchise renewal on Tuesday afternoon.
But rather than hearing stakeholders involved in the issue, the committee instead focused on discussing the ground rules for May, when the formal deliberations on the franchise renewal begin.
There are 11 bills seeking to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN for another 25 years.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1239622/cayetano-on-abs-cbn-supreme-court-story
House leaders, NTC say ABS-CBN may operate without new franchise
THE House of Representatives and the National Telecommunications Communication (NTC) on Tuesday gave assurances that ABS-CBN Corp. will be allowed to continue its operations beyond May 4, 2020.
During the meeting of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises on 11 pending bills renewing the franchise of the ABS-CBN, NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba said the agency will heed the opinion of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to allow the network to continue operations.
“The NTC will follow the latest advice of the DOJ and let ABS-CBN continue operations based on equity,” he said.
With this, Cordoba said the NTC will “most likely” issue a provisional authority to the TV network.
“Based on the foregoing discussion, there is sufficient equitable basis to allow broadcast entities to continue operating while the bills for the renewal of their respective franchise remain pending with Congress,” Cordoba said, citing the opinion of the DOJ.
However, Congress is schedule to take a Lenten break starting March 12 without approving the franchise of ABS-CBN. The session will resume on May 4. The ABS-CBN franchise is also set to expire on May 4.
Adopt
During the hearing, the House committee approved a motion to adopt a letter enjoining the agency to grant a provisional authority to operate effective from May 4, 2020 until such time that Congress has made a decision on its application.
Cayetano, meanwhile, gave assurances that the House would conduct its hearing in “a fair, objective, and transparent manner.”
“We definitely did the right thing to focus on more important issues. We want a continuous hearing, not a circus. The issue is really contentious and emotional,” Cayetano said.
“Second, innocent until proven guilty. As far as we are concerned, there is still no violation so there is no reason in this world the NTC should shut them down,” he added.
Cayetano also reiterated his call for the submission of position papers on the ABS-CBN franchise until April 15, 2020.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/03/11/house-leaders-ntc-say-abs-cbn-may-operate-without-new-franchise/
During the meeting of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises on 11 pending bills renewing the franchise of the ABS-CBN, NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba said the agency will heed the opinion of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to allow the network to continue operations.
“The NTC will follow the latest advice of the DOJ and let ABS-CBN continue operations based on equity,” he said.
With this, Cordoba said the NTC will “most likely” issue a provisional authority to the TV network.
“Based on the foregoing discussion, there is sufficient equitable basis to allow broadcast entities to continue operating while the bills for the renewal of their respective franchise remain pending with Congress,” Cordoba said, citing the opinion of the DOJ.
However, Congress is schedule to take a Lenten break starting March 12 without approving the franchise of ABS-CBN. The session will resume on May 4. The ABS-CBN franchise is also set to expire on May 4.
Adopt
During the hearing, the House committee approved a motion to adopt a letter enjoining the agency to grant a provisional authority to operate effective from May 4, 2020 until such time that Congress has made a decision on its application.
Cayetano, meanwhile, gave assurances that the House would conduct its hearing in “a fair, objective, and transparent manner.”
“We definitely did the right thing to focus on more important issues. We want a continuous hearing, not a circus. The issue is really contentious and emotional,” Cayetano said.
“Second, innocent until proven guilty. As far as we are concerned, there is still no violation so there is no reason in this world the NTC should shut them down,” he added.
Cayetano also reiterated his call for the submission of position papers on the ABS-CBN franchise until April 15, 2020.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/03/11/house-leaders-ntc-say-abs-cbn-may-operate-without-new-franchise/
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
Carpio to Congress: Craft law for companies to operate pending franchise renewal
A former Supreme Court justice has suggested that Congress craft a law that would let companies continue operations pending renewal of their respective franchises.
Retired Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio floated the idea as the House of Representatives commenced Tuesday its deliberations on the controversial franchise renewal case of media giant ABS-CBN.
“My proposal is Congress should pass a law saying that when a franchise is about to expire, but it’s still pending renewal in Congress, then the franchise is deemed extended until Congress finally acts on it. The Congress should enact a general law, not just ABS-CBN, because that’s class legislation,” Carpio told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
The former magistrate said the move will be the viable option, as he believes the lower chamber does not have the authority to compel the National Telecommunications Commission to issue a temporary permit to ABS-CBN. The House committee on legislative franchises earlier asked the NTC to let the network stay on air pending legislative action on the twelve renewal measures.
Carpio, echoing the sentiment of former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, stressed there is a need for an existing franchise before one can earn provisional authority.
“In the first place, there is a separation of power. Secondly, a provisional authority is given only if there is a franchise,” Carpio added.
Carpio’s statement was shared by lawyer Larry Gadon, who petitioned the high court last week to ask the House to recall their provisional authority request with NTC. Gadon also sought a temporary restraining order that would prohibit NTC from complying with the House's February directive.
Conflicting views on provisional authority
While Carpio and Puno believe ABS-CBN cannot operate without a renewed franchise, some government officials dished out different views.
Some lawmakers earlier allayed concerns over the network’s looming shutdown, saying the media company can still broadcast news and content as there are pending renewal measures in Congress.
This was backed by the Justice Department, which said that there is "sufficient equitable basis" to allow media companies to operate while their measures are being tackled in legislature, as the practice has been done in the past.
A 1994 agreement between the House of Representatives, the NTC, and the media group Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas also provides a mechanism for media entities with expiring Congressional franchises.
The memorandum of understanding states that the NTC "shall continue to issue and grant permits or authorizations to operate" for radio and TV stations for a two-year period as long as there is a pending bill seeking to renew their franchise.
ABS-CBN’s renewal case was thrust back into the spotlight following a quo warranto petition of Solicitor General Jose Calida, who sought to nullify the network’s existing franchise over alleged foreign ownership and operational violations. The network has since debunked the claims.
Carpio, meanwhile, said Calida’s plea is “immaterial” for now, with ABS-CBN’s franchise set to expire on May 4.
https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/3/10/Carpio-ABS-CBN-franchise-renewal-pass-law-NTC.html
Retired Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio floated the idea as the House of Representatives commenced Tuesday its deliberations on the controversial franchise renewal case of media giant ABS-CBN.
“My proposal is Congress should pass a law saying that when a franchise is about to expire, but it’s still pending renewal in Congress, then the franchise is deemed extended until Congress finally acts on it. The Congress should enact a general law, not just ABS-CBN, because that’s class legislation,” Carpio told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
The former magistrate said the move will be the viable option, as he believes the lower chamber does not have the authority to compel the National Telecommunications Commission to issue a temporary permit to ABS-CBN. The House committee on legislative franchises earlier asked the NTC to let the network stay on air pending legislative action on the twelve renewal measures.
Carpio, echoing the sentiment of former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, stressed there is a need for an existing franchise before one can earn provisional authority.
“In the first place, there is a separation of power. Secondly, a provisional authority is given only if there is a franchise,” Carpio added.
Retired Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio: Congress should pass a general law that in case a franchise is about to expire and an application for renewal has been filed, then it is deemed extended until the lawmakers finally resolve to approve or disapprove the application pic.twitter.com/cq3nwCVCLA
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) March 10, 2020
Carpio’s statement was shared by lawyer Larry Gadon, who petitioned the high court last week to ask the House to recall their provisional authority request with NTC. Gadon also sought a temporary restraining order that would prohibit NTC from complying with the House's February directive.
Conflicting views on provisional authority
While Carpio and Puno believe ABS-CBN cannot operate without a renewed franchise, some government officials dished out different views.
Some lawmakers earlier allayed concerns over the network’s looming shutdown, saying the media company can still broadcast news and content as there are pending renewal measures in Congress.
This was backed by the Justice Department, which said that there is "sufficient equitable basis" to allow media companies to operate while their measures are being tackled in legislature, as the practice has been done in the past.
A 1994 agreement between the House of Representatives, the NTC, and the media group Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas also provides a mechanism for media entities with expiring Congressional franchises.
The memorandum of understanding states that the NTC "shall continue to issue and grant permits or authorizations to operate" for radio and TV stations for a two-year period as long as there is a pending bill seeking to renew their franchise.
ABS-CBN’s renewal case was thrust back into the spotlight following a quo warranto petition of Solicitor General Jose Calida, who sought to nullify the network’s existing franchise over alleged foreign ownership and operational violations. The network has since debunked the claims.
Carpio, meanwhile, said Calida’s plea is “immaterial” for now, with ABS-CBN’s franchise set to expire on May 4.
https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/3/10/Carpio-ABS-CBN-franchise-renewal-pass-law-NTC.html
House panel sets rules for hearings on ABS-CBN franchise bills
The House Committee on Legislative Franchises adopted on Tuesday a set of rules for its hearings on bills seeking to grant ABS-CBN Corp. and three of its subsidiaries new franchises.
Aside from general rules for lawmakers such as sticking to the allotted 3-minute period for each solon who wishes to speak, being respectful of others' opinions, and avoiding redundancy, the House panel chaired by Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez also decided to limit the number of journalists who will cover inside the hearing venue due to space constraints.
"We are setting ground rules today to guide our members in the future hearings for the renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise. We may expect some members to become emotional on the matter at hand and setting up ground rules will ensure orderly proceedings in our hearings," Alvarez said.
Under the rules, congressmen who will take part in the proceedings can alternately ask or speak, albeit subject to the 3-minute rule, based on their membership either in the majority, minority, or as an independent.
As proposed by Deputy Speaker Johnny Pimentel, an author of one of the pending measures, those who wish to speak need to pre-register with the committee secretariat so they can be called chronologically during the actual proceedings.
Those against the bills will have the floor first, followed by those in favor. The undecided ones will speak last.
The 3-minute limit applies to authors of the bills when they deliver their sponsorship speech. Invited representatives of regulatory agencies, however, will be given sufficient time to present their respective positions.
The following specific rules proposed by Committee Vice Chairperson Antonio "Tonypet" Albano were also adopted:
- suspension by the chair of the allotted time to a lawmaker or guest who speaks expletives, indecent and unparliamentary remarks, or who acts in a disruptive manner;
- declaration of unparliamentary statements to be stricken off the record; and,
- limiting to two media personnel per outfit inside the conference room, and the possible accreditation for covering the hearings, if the space cannot accommodate all.
"On voting, members shall inhibit on account of personal or pecuniary interest," Pimentel said.
Position papers of various stakeholders must be submitted to the House legislative franchises committee on or before April 15, and the committee secretariat is tasked to summarize the issues to be provided to all members. Those who fail to meet the deadline may not be invited to the hearings.
As proposed by Camiguin Rep. Xavier Jesus Romualdo, no walk-in guests will be allowed.
He also stressed that ABS-CBN will be allowed to confirm, explain or rebut any issues brought up.
Laguna Rep. Sol Aragones, who used to be a reporter of ABS-CBN, appealed to her colleagues to remain calm as she expects emotions to run high during the hearings.
"Gaano man kataas minsan ang ating emosyon ay panatilihin pa rin natin ang respeto sa ating mga bisita becasue at the end of the day, ang bisita ay bisita at dapat ay nirerespeto (guests are guests and they need to be respected)," she said.
Pending before the committee are 11 bills for the franchise of ABS-CBN Corp., and one each for ABS-CBN Convergence, SkyCable, and AMCARA (Studio 23/Sports+Action).
The current franchise of ABS-CBN Corp., the country's largest media and entertainment company that operates free TV Channel 2 and radio DZMM, expires on May 4.
Several House leaders have enjoined the National Telecommunications Commission to issue ABS-CBN a provisional authority to operate until the proceedings for the pending bills have been completed.
The committee did not set a date for the next proceeding. Congress goes on a break on Wednesday and will resume session on May 4.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/10/20/abscbn-franchise-renewal-hearing-congress-ground-rules
Aside from general rules for lawmakers such as sticking to the allotted 3-minute period for each solon who wishes to speak, being respectful of others' opinions, and avoiding redundancy, the House panel chaired by Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez also decided to limit the number of journalists who will cover inside the hearing venue due to space constraints.
"We are setting ground rules today to guide our members in the future hearings for the renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise. We may expect some members to become emotional on the matter at hand and setting up ground rules will ensure orderly proceedings in our hearings," Alvarez said.
Under the rules, congressmen who will take part in the proceedings can alternately ask or speak, albeit subject to the 3-minute rule, based on their membership either in the majority, minority, or as an independent.
As proposed by Deputy Speaker Johnny Pimentel, an author of one of the pending measures, those who wish to speak need to pre-register with the committee secretariat so they can be called chronologically during the actual proceedings.
Those against the bills will have the floor first, followed by those in favor. The undecided ones will speak last.
The 3-minute limit applies to authors of the bills when they deliver their sponsorship speech. Invited representatives of regulatory agencies, however, will be given sufficient time to present their respective positions.
The following specific rules proposed by Committee Vice Chairperson Antonio "Tonypet" Albano were also adopted:
- suspension by the chair of the allotted time to a lawmaker or guest who speaks expletives, indecent and unparliamentary remarks, or who acts in a disruptive manner;
- declaration of unparliamentary statements to be stricken off the record; and,
- limiting to two media personnel per outfit inside the conference room, and the possible accreditation for covering the hearings, if the space cannot accommodate all.
"On voting, members shall inhibit on account of personal or pecuniary interest," Pimentel said.
Position papers of various stakeholders must be submitted to the House legislative franchises committee on or before April 15, and the committee secretariat is tasked to summarize the issues to be provided to all members. Those who fail to meet the deadline may not be invited to the hearings.
As proposed by Camiguin Rep. Xavier Jesus Romualdo, no walk-in guests will be allowed.
He also stressed that ABS-CBN will be allowed to confirm, explain or rebut any issues brought up.
Laguna Rep. Sol Aragones, who used to be a reporter of ABS-CBN, appealed to her colleagues to remain calm as she expects emotions to run high during the hearings.
"Gaano man kataas minsan ang ating emosyon ay panatilihin pa rin natin ang respeto sa ating mga bisita becasue at the end of the day, ang bisita ay bisita at dapat ay nirerespeto (guests are guests and they need to be respected)," she said.
Pending before the committee are 11 bills for the franchise of ABS-CBN Corp., and one each for ABS-CBN Convergence, SkyCable, and AMCARA (Studio 23/Sports+Action).
The current franchise of ABS-CBN Corp., the country's largest media and entertainment company that operates free TV Channel 2 and radio DZMM, expires on May 4.
Several House leaders have enjoined the National Telecommunications Commission to issue ABS-CBN a provisional authority to operate until the proceedings for the pending bills have been completed.
The committee did not set a date for the next proceeding. Congress goes on a break on Wednesday and will resume session on May 4.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/10/20/abscbn-franchise-renewal-hearing-congress-ground-rules
House passes 3 franchise bills; starts deliberations on ABS-CBN renewal
The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved bills renewing the franchises of two broadcasting companies and one telecommunications firm—the same day that the House started deliberations on pending bills seeking ABS-CBN's franchise renewal.
The renewed franchises, which were all approved unanimously, were in House Bills 6254, 6256 and 6371 and granted a 25-year franchise to operate to FBS Radio Network, Inc., Century Communications Marketing Center, and Bayan Telecommunications, Inc.
Some 244 lawmakers voted in favor of House Bill 6254, while 248 lawmakers approved House Bills 6256 and House Bill 6371.
Both House Bills 6254 and 6256, which granted franchises to broadcast networks similar to ABS-CBN, mandated the grantee to undertake the following measures:
The same bills granting the broadcast networks their franchises also reserved a special right given to the President of the Philippines to:
The 11 pending bills seeking ABS-CBN's franchise renewal, on the other hand, were left untouched by the House as these were filed in August 2019, with the first hearing on the matter conducted by the House Committee on Legislative Franchises on Tuesday-March 10. — DVM, GMA News
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/729137/house-passes-3-franchise-bills-starts-deliberations-on-abs-cbn-renewal/story/
The renewed franchises, which were all approved unanimously, were in House Bills 6254, 6256 and 6371 and granted a 25-year franchise to operate to FBS Radio Network, Inc., Century Communications Marketing Center, and Bayan Telecommunications, Inc.
Some 244 lawmakers voted in favor of House Bill 6254, while 248 lawmakers approved House Bills 6256 and House Bill 6371.
Both House Bills 6254 and 6256, which granted franchises to broadcast networks similar to ABS-CBN, mandated the grantee to undertake the following measures:
- provide free adequate public service time which is reasonable and sufficient to enable the government, through the broadcasting stations or facilities of the grantee, to reach the pertinent populations or portions thereof, on important public issues and relay important public announcements and warnings concerning public emergencies and calamities, as necessity, urgency or law may require;
- provide at all times sound and balanced programming;
- promote public participation;
- assist in the functions of public information and education;
- conform to the ethics of honest enterprise;
- promote audience sensibility and empowerment including closed captioning;
- not to use its stations or facilities for the broadcasting of obscene or indecent language, speech, acts, or scenes;
- not to use its stations or facilities for the dissemination of deliberately false information or willful misrepresentation to the detriment of the public interest; and
- not to use its stations or facilities to incite, encourage, or assist in subversive or treasonable acts.
The same bills granting the broadcast networks their franchises also reserved a special right given to the President of the Philippines to:
- temporarily take over and operate the stations or facilities of the grantee;
- temporarily suspend the operation of any station or facility in the interest of public safety, security and public welfare; or
- authorize the temporary use and operation thereof by any agency of the government, upon due compensation to the grantee, for the use of stations or facilities during the period when these shall be so operated in times of war, rebellion, public peril, calamity, emergency, disaster, or disturbance of peace and order.
The 11 pending bills seeking ABS-CBN's franchise renewal, on the other hand, were left untouched by the House as these were filed in August 2019, with the first hearing on the matter conducted by the House Committee on Legislative Franchises on Tuesday-March 10. — DVM, GMA News
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/729137/house-passes-3-franchise-bills-starts-deliberations-on-abs-cbn-renewal/story/
Capitol allocates P80 million for incoming 3 provinces plebiscite
The plebiscite will decide whether Palaweños will agree to divide the province into three separate local government units (LGUs), namely Palawan del Norte, Palawan del Sur, and Palawan Oriental.
Governor Jose Alvarez said Friday that the provincial government’s P80 million allocation for the holding of the plebiscite on May 11 for the creation of three Palawan provinces had been sent to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC)
“Pinadala na natin sa COMELEC ang P80 million, pero ang sabi nila ay may idadagdag pa pero kailangan pa idaan sa Sangguniang [Panlalawigan],” Alvarez said Friday during his monthly meeting with the local media at the Capitol.
The plebiscite will decide whether Palaweños will agree to divide the province into three separate local government units (LGUs), namely Palawan del Norte, Palawan del Sur, and Palawan Oriental.
Palawan del Norte will be composed of the municipalities of Coron, Culion, Busuanga, Linapacan, Taytay, and El Nido; Palawan Oriental by Roxas, Araceli, Dumaran, Cuyo, Agutaya, Magsaysay, Cagayancillo, and San Vicente; and Palawan del Sur by Aborlan, Narra, Quezon, Rizal, Sofronio Española, Brooke’s Point, Bataraza, Balabac, and Kalayaan.
“Kung ayaw mo, mag-no ka. Hindi naman ito paramihan ng list of voters kundi paramihan ng those who only voted. Walang problema kung mag-no kayo, pero ang problema kasi sa mga ayaw ay hindi naman maka-boto,” Alvarez said, referring to naysayers of the Palawan division.
Alvarez said if the “yes” vote wins, Roxas, Taytay, and Brooke’s Point, which are the capitals, will receive P750 million each from the provincial government’s savings.
“P750 million each capital, ‘yong first tranche ay from savings natin. Kung kailangan ng pambili ng lupa [para sa capitol ay mayroon na],” Alvarez added.
https://palawan-news.com/capitol-allocates-p80-million-for-incoming-3-provinces-plebiscite/
Governor Jose Alvarez said Friday that the provincial government’s P80 million allocation for the holding of the plebiscite on May 11 for the creation of three Palawan provinces had been sent to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC)
“Pinadala na natin sa COMELEC ang P80 million, pero ang sabi nila ay may idadagdag pa pero kailangan pa idaan sa Sangguniang [Panlalawigan],” Alvarez said Friday during his monthly meeting with the local media at the Capitol.
The plebiscite will decide whether Palaweños will agree to divide the province into three separate local government units (LGUs), namely Palawan del Norte, Palawan del Sur, and Palawan Oriental.
Palawan del Norte will be composed of the municipalities of Coron, Culion, Busuanga, Linapacan, Taytay, and El Nido; Palawan Oriental by Roxas, Araceli, Dumaran, Cuyo, Agutaya, Magsaysay, Cagayancillo, and San Vicente; and Palawan del Sur by Aborlan, Narra, Quezon, Rizal, Sofronio Española, Brooke’s Point, Bataraza, Balabac, and Kalayaan.
“Kung ayaw mo, mag-no ka. Hindi naman ito paramihan ng list of voters kundi paramihan ng those who only voted. Walang problema kung mag-no kayo, pero ang problema kasi sa mga ayaw ay hindi naman maka-boto,” Alvarez said, referring to naysayers of the Palawan division.
Alvarez said if the “yes” vote wins, Roxas, Taytay, and Brooke’s Point, which are the capitals, will receive P750 million each from the provincial government’s savings.
“P750 million each capital, ‘yong first tranche ay from savings natin. Kung kailangan ng pambili ng lupa [para sa capitol ay mayroon na],” Alvarez added.
https://palawan-news.com/capitol-allocates-p80-million-for-incoming-3-provinces-plebiscite/
Monday, March 9, 2020
BATAS PAMBANSA Blg. 129
BATAS PAMBANSA Blg. 129
AN ACT REORGANIZING THE JUDICIARY, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
PRELIMINARY CHAPTER
Section 1. Title. – This Act shall be known as "The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980."
Section 2. Scope. – The reorganization herein provided shall include the Court of Appeals, the Court of First Instance, the Circuit Criminal Courts, the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts, the Courts of Agrarian Relations, the City Courts, the Municipal Courts, and the Municipal Circuit Courts.
CHAPTER I
COURT OF APPEALS
Section 3. Organization. – There is hereby created a Court of Appeals which consists of a Presiding Justice and fifty Associate Justice who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines. The Presiding Justice shall be so designated in his appointment, and the Associate Justice shall have precedence according to the dates of their respective appointments, or when the appointments of two or more of them shall bear the same date, according to the order in which their appointments were issued by the President. Any member who is reappointed to the Court after rendering service in any other position in the government shall retain the precedence to which he was entitled under his original appointment, and his service in the Court shall, for all intents and purposes, be considered as continuous and uninterrupted.
Section 4. Exercise of powers and functions. – The Court Appeals shall exercise its powers, functions, and duties, through seventeen (17) divisions, each composed of three (3) members. The Court may sit en banc only for the purpose of exercising administrative, ceremonial, or other non-adjudicatory functions.
Section 5. Succession to Office of Presiding Justice. – In case of a vacancy in the absence of inability to perform the powers, functions, and duties of his office, the associate Justice who is first in precedence shall perform his powers, functions, and duties until such disability is removed, or another Presiding Justice is appointed and has qualified.
Section 6. Who presides over session of a division. – If the Presiding Justice is present in any session of a division of the Court, he shall preside. In his absence, the Associate Justice attending such session who has precedence shall preside.
Section 7. Qualifications. – The Presiding Justice and the Associate Justice shall have the same qualifications as those provided in Constitution for Justice of the Supreme Court.
Section 8. Grouping of Divisions. – (Expressly repealed by Section 4, Exec. Order No. 33, July 28, 1986.)
Section 9. Jurisdiction. – The Court of Appeals shall Exercise:
1. Original jurisdiction to issue writs of mandamus, prohibition, certiorari, habeas corpus, and quo warranto, and auxiliary writs or processes, whether or not in aid of its appellate jurisdiction;
2. Exclusive original jurisdiction over actions for annulment of judgements of Regional Trial Courts; and
3. Exclusive appellate jurisdiction over all final judgements, resolutions, orders or awards of Regional Trial Courts and quasi-judicial agencies, instrumentalities, boards or commission, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Social Security Commission, the Employees Compensation Commission and the Civil Service Commission, Except those falling within the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in accordance with the Constitution, the Labor Code of the Philippines under Presidential Decree No. 442, as amended, the provisions of this Act, and of subparagraph (1) of the third paragraph and subparagraph 4 of the fourth paragraph od Section 17 of the Judiciary Act of 1948.
The court of Appeals shall have the power to try cases and conduct hearings, receive evidence and perform any and all acts necessary to resolve factual issues raised in cases falling within its original and appellate jurisdiction, including the power to grant and conduct new trials or Appeals must be continuous and must be completed within three (3) months, unless extended by the Chief Justice. (as amended by R.A. No. 7902.)
Section 10. Place of holding sessions. – The Court of Appeals shall have its permanent station in the City of Manila. Whenever demanded by public interest, the Supreme Court, upon its own initiative or upon recommendation of the Presiding Justice, may authorize a division of the Court to hold sessions outside Manila, periodically, or for such periods and at such places as the Supreme Court may determine, for the purpose of hearing and deciding cases.
Section 11. Quorum – A majority of the actual members of the Court shall constitute a quorum for its session en banc. Three members shall constitute a quorum for the session of a division. The unanimous vote of the three members of a division shall be necessary for the pronouncement of a decision of final resolution, which shall be reached in consultation before the writing of the opinion by any members of the division. In the event that the three members do not reach a unanimous vote, the Presiding Justice shall request the Raffle Committee of the Court for the designation of two additional Justice to sit temporarily with them, forming a special division of five members and the concurrence of a majority of such division shall be necessary for the pronouncement of a decision or final resolution. The designation of such additional Justice shall be made strictly by raffle.
A month for reconsideration of its decision or final resolution shall be resolved by the Court within ninety (90) days from the time it is submitted for resolution, and no second motion for reconsideration from the same party shall be entertainment. (as amended by Exec. Order No. 33, July 28, 1986.)
Section 12. Internal Rules. – The court en banc is authorized to promulgate rules or orders governing the constitution of the divisions and the assignment of Appellate Justices thereto, the distribution of cases, and other matters pertaining to the operations of the Court of its divisions. Copies of such rules and orders shall be furnished by the Supreme Court, which rules and orders shall be effective fifteen (15) days after receipt thereof, unless directed otherwise by the Supreme Court.
CHAPTER II
REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS
Section 13. Creation of Regional Trial Courts. – There are hereby created thirteen (13) Regional Trial Courts, one for each of the following judicial regions:
The First Judicial Region, consisting of the provinces of Abra, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Mountain Province, and Pangasinan, and cities of Agoo-Aringay, Alaminos, Baguio, Batac, Candon, Dagupan, Laoag, La Trinidad, San Carlos, San Fernando, Urdaneta and Vigan;
The Second Judicial Region, consisting of the provinces of Apayao, Batanes, Cagayan, Ifugao, Kalinga, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino and cities of Cauayan, Echague, Ilagan, Santiago, Tabuk and Tuguegarao;
The Third Judicial Region, consisting of the provinces of Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales, and the cities of Angeles, Balanga, Cabanatuan, Gapan, Lubao, Mabalacat, Malolos, Meycauayan, Muñoz, Norzagaray, Olongapo, Palayan, San Fernando, San Jose, San Jose del Monte, Subic, Talavera and Tarlac;
The National Capital Judicial Region, consisting of the cities of Manila, Quezon, Pasay, Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Pasig, San Juan, San Pedro, Taguig, Valenzuela and municipality of Pateros;
The Fourth Judicial Region, consisting of the provinces of Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Marinduque, Mindoro del Sur, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Palawan del Norte, Palawan del Sur, Palawan Oriental, Quezon, Rizal, Romblon and Aurora, and the cities of Antipolo, Bacoor, Baler, Bataraza, Batangas, Bauan, Biñan, Cabuyao, Calaca, Calapan, Cainta, Calamba, Carmona, Cavite, Dasmariñas, General Trias, Imus, Lipa, Los Banos, Lopez, Lucena, Mabuan, Nasugbu, Puerto Princesa, Sablayan, San Jose, San Pablo, Santa Rosa, Santo Tomas, Tagaytay, Tanauan, Tayabas and Trece Martires;
The Fifth Judicial Region, consisting of the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon, and the cities of Daet, Labo, Legaspi, Masbate, Naga, Iriga and Sorsogon;
The Sixth Judicial Region, consisting of the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras and Iloilo, and the cities of Bacolod, Bago, Binalbagan, Cadiz, Escalante, Himamaylan, Iloilo, Kabankalan, Kalibo, La Carlota, Passi, Pontevedra, Pototan, Roxas, Sagay, San Carlos, Santa Barbara, Silay, Sipalay, Talisay and Victorias;
The Seventh Judicial Region, consisting of the provinces of Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor, and the cities of Bais, Balamban, Bayawan, Bogo, Canlaon, Carcar, Cebu, Danao, Dumaguete, Guihulngan, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Naga, Tagbilaran, Talisay, Tanjay, Toledo, Ubay and Victorias,
The Eighth Judicial Region, consisting of the provinces of Biliran, Leyte del Norte, Leyte del Sur, Leyte Occidental, Samar del Norte, Samar occidental, Samar Oriental, and the cities of Baybay, Borongan, Calbayog, Catarman, Catbalogan, Maasin, Naval, Ormoc, and Tacloban;
The Ninth Judicial Region, consisting of the provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Hermosa, Zamboanga Sibugay and the cities of Dapitan, Dipolog, Ipil, Pagadian, and Zamboanga;
The Tenth Judicial Region, consisting of the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Dinagat Islands, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, and Surigao del Norte, and the cities of Bislig, Butuan, Cabadbaran, Cagayan de Oro, Carrascal, Claveria, El Salvador, Gingoog, Opol, Ozamis, Oroquieta, San Francisco, Surigao, Tandag and Tangub;
The Eleventh Judicial Region, consisting of the provinces of Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, Sarangani, South Cotabato and Surigao del Sur, and the cities of Alabel, Davao, Digos, General Santos, Koronadal, Malita, Mati, Panabo, Polomolok and Tagum; and
The Twelfth Judicial Region, consisting of the provinces of Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, North Cotabato, Shariff Kabunsuan and Sultan Kudarat, and the cities of Cotabato, Iligan, Kidapawan, Marawi, Midsayap, Tacurong and Tubod.
In case of transfer or redistribution of the provinces, cities or municipalities comprising the regions established by law of purposes of the administrative field organization of the various departments and agencies of the government, the composition of the judicial regions herein constituted shall be deemed modified accordingly.
Section 14. Regional Trial Courts.
(a) Fifty-seven Regional Trial Judges shall be commissioned for the First Judicial Region. There shall be.
Two branches (Branches III ans II) for the province of Abra, with seats at Bangued;
Eight branches (Branches III to X) for the province of Benguet and the city of Baguio, Branches III to VII with seats at Baguio City, and Branches VIII to X at La Trinidad;
Nine branches (Branches XI to XIX) for the province of Ilocos Norte and the city of Laoag, Branches XI to XVI with seats at Laoag City, Branches XVII and XVIII at Batac, and Branch XIX at Bangui;
Six branches (Branches XX to XXV) for the province of Ilocos Sur, Branches XX and XXI with seats at Vigan, Branch XXII at Narvacan, Branch XXIII at Candon, Branch XXIV at Cabugao, and Branch XXV at Tagudin;
Nine branches (Branches XXVI to XXXIV) for the province of La Union, Branches XXVI to XXX with seats at San Fernando, Branches XXXI and XXXII at Agoo, Branch XXXIII at Bauang, and Branch XXXIV at Balaoan;
Two branches (Branches XXXV and XXXVI) for the province of Mountain province, with seats at Bontoc; and
Twenty-one branches (Branches XXXVII to LVII) for the province of Pangasinan and the cities of Dagupan and san Carlos, Branches XXXVII to XXXIX with seats at Lingayen, Branches XL to XLIV at Dagupan, Branches XLV to XLIX at Urdaneta, Branch L at Villasis, Branches LI and LII at Tayug, Branch LIII at Rosalaes, Branches LIV and LV at Alaminos, and Branch LVI and LVII at san Carlos.
(b) Thirty-two Regional Trial Judges shall be commissioned for the Second Judicial region. There shall be:
Twelve branches (Branches I to XII) for the province of Cagayan, Branches I to V with seats at Tuguegarao, Branches VI to X at Aparri, Branch XI at Tuao, and Branch XII at Sanchez Mira;
One branch (Branch XIII) for the province of Batanes, with seat at Basco;
Two branches (Branches XIV and XV) for the province of Ifugao, Branch XIV with seat at Lagawe, and Branch XV at Potia;
Nine branches (Branches XVI to XXIV) for the province of Isabela, Branches XVI to XVIII with seats at Ilagan, Branches XIX and XX at cauayan, Branch XXI at Santiago, Branch XXII at Cabagan, Branch XXIII at Roxas, and Branch XXIV at Echague;
Two branches (Branches XXV and XXVI) for the province of kalinga and Apayao, Branch XXV with seat at Tabuk, and Branch XXVI at Luna;
Four branches (Branches XXVII to XXX) for the province of Nueva Vizcaya, Branches XXVII to XXIX with seats at Bayombong, and Branch XXX at Bambang;
Two branches (Branches XXXI and XXXII) for the province of Quirino, with seats at Cabarroguis.
(c) Seventy-five Regional Trial judges shall be commissioned for the Third Judicial Region. There shall be:
Five branches (Branches I to V) for the province of Bataan, Branches I to III with seats at Balanga, Branch IV at Mariveles, and Branch V at Dinalupihan;
Seventeen branches (Branches VI to XXII) for the province of Bulacan (except the municipality of Valuenzuela), with seats at Malolos;
Eighteen branches (Branches XXIII to XL) for the province of Nueva Ecija and the cities of Cabanatuan, San Jose and Palayan, Branches XXIII to XXX with seats at Cabanatuan City, Branches XXXI to XXXIII at Guimba, Branches XXXIV to XXXVI at Gapan, Branch XXXVII at Sto. Domingo, Branches XXXVIII and XXXIX at San Jose, and Branch XL at Palayan.
Twenty-two branches (Branches XLI to LXII) for the province of Pampanga and the city of Angeles, Branches XLI to XLVIII with seats at San Fernando, Branches XLIX to LIII at Guagua, Branches LIV and LV at Macabebe, and Branches LVI to LXII at Angeles City;
Six branches (Branches LXIII to LXVIII) for the province of Tarlac, Branches LXVI at Capas, Branch LXVII at Paniqui, and Branch LXVIII at Camiling; and
Seven branches (Branches LXIX to LXXV) for the province of Zambales and the city of Olongapo, Branches LXIX to LXXI with seats at Iba and Branches LXXII to LXXV at Olongapo City
(d) One hundred seventy-two (172) Regional Trial Judges shall be commissioned for the National Capital Judicial Region. There shall be:
Fifty-five branches (Branches 1 to 55) for the City of Manila, with seats thereat;
Thirty-two branches (Branches 76 to 107) for Quezon City, with seats thereat;
Twelve branches (Branches 108 to 119) for Pasay City, with seats thereat;
Twelve branches (Branches 120 to 131) for Caloocan City, with seats thereat;
Fifty-eight branches (Branches 56 to 74 and 132 to 170) for the Municipalities of Navotas, Malabon, San Juan, Madaluyong, Makati, Pasig, Pateros, Taguig, Marikina, Parañaque, Las Piñas, and Muntinlupa; Branches 67 to 71 and 151 to 168 at Pasig; and Branches 72 to 74, 169 and 170 at Malabon; and
Three branches (Branches 75, 171 and 172) for the municipality of Valenzuela, with seats thereat. (As amended by EO No. 33, July 30, 1986.)
(e) Eihty-two Regional Trial Judges shall be commissioned for the Fourth Judicial Region. There shall be:
Fourteen branches (Branches I to XIV) for the province of Batangas and the cities of Lipa and Batangas, Branches I to VI with seats at Batangas City, Branch V at Lemery, Branches VI to VIII at Tanuan, Branches IX to XI at Balayan, Branches XII and XIII at Lipa, and Branch XIV at Nasugbu;
Nine branches (Branches XV to XXIII) for the province of Cavite and the cities of Cavite, Tagaytay and Trece Matires, Branch XV with seat at Naic, Branches XVII at Cavite City, Branch XVIII at Tagayatay City, Branch XIX at Bacoor, Branches XX to XXII at Imus, and Branch XXIII at Trece Martires;
Fourteen branches (Branches XXIV to XXXVII) for the province of Laguna and the city of San Pablo, Branches XXVIII at Sta. Cruz, Branches XXIX to XXXII at San Pable City, Branch XXXIII at Siniloan, and Branches XXXIV to XXXVI at Calamba;
One branch (Branch XXXVIII) for the province of Marinduque, with seat at Boac;
Five branches (Branches XXXIX to XLIII) for the province of Mindoro Oriental, Branches XXXIX to XL with seats at Calapan, Branches XLI and XLII at Pinamalayan, and Branch XLII at Roxas;
Three branches (Branches XLVII to XLVI) for the province of Mindoro Occidental, Branch XLIV with seat at Mamburao, and Branches XLV and XLVI at San Jose;
Six branches (Branches XLVII to LII) for the province of Palawan and the city of Puerto Princesa, with seats at Puerto Princesa City;
Thirteen branches (Branches LIII to LXV) for the province of Quezon and the city of Lucena, Branches LIII to LX with seats at Lucena City, Branches LXI and LXII at Gumaca, Branch LXIII at Calauag, Branch LXIV at Mauban, and Branch LXV at Infanta;
One branchj(Branch LXVI) for the province of Aurora, with seat at Baler;
Fourteen branches (Branches LXVII to LXXX) for the province of Rizal except the cities and municipalities embraced within the National Capital Judicial Region, Branches LXVII to LXX with seats at Binangonan, Branches LXXI to LXXIV at Antipolo, Branches LXXV to LXXVII at San Mateo, and Branches LXXVIII to LXXX at Morong; and
Two branches (Branches LXXXI and LXXXII) for the province of Romblon, Branch LXXXI with seat at Romblon, and Branch LXXXII at Odiongan.
(f) Fifty-five Regional Trial Judges shall be commissioned for the Fifth Judicial Region. There shall be:
Eighteen branches (Branches I to XVIII) for the province of Albay and the city of Legaspi, Branches I to X with seats at Legaspi City, Branches XI to XIV at Ligao, and Branches XV to XVIII at Tabaco;
Nineteen branches (Branches XIX to XXXVII) for the province of Camarines Sur and the cities of Naga and Iriga, Branches XIX to XXVIII with seats at Naga City, Branch XXIX at Libmanan, Branch XXX at Tigaon, Braches XXXI to XXXIII at Pili, and Branches XXXIV to XXXVII at Iriga City;
Four branches (Branches XXXVIII to XLII) for the province of Camarines Norte, with seat at Daet;
Two branches (Branches XLII and XLII) for the province of Catanduanes, with seats at Virac;
Seven branches (Branches XLIV to L) for the province of Masbate, Branches XLIV to XLVIII with seats at Masbate, Branch XLIX at Cataingan, and Branch L at San Jacinto; and
Five branches (Branches LI to LV) for the province of Sorsogon, Branches LI to LIII with seats at Sorsogon, Branch LVI at Gubat, and Branch LV at Irosin.
(g) Sixty-three Regional Trial Judges shall be commissioned for the Sixth Judicial Region. There shall be:
Nine branches (Branches I to IX) for the province of Aklan, with seats at Kalibo;
Four branches (Branches X to XIII) for the province of Antique, Branches X to XII with seats at San Jose, and Branch XIII and Culasi;
Eighr branches (Branches XIV to XXI) for the province of Capiz and the city of Roxas, Branches XIV to XIX with seats at Roxas City and Branches XX and XXI at Mambusao;
Eighteen branches (Branches XXII to XXXIX) for the province of Iloilo, the subprovince of Guimaras, and the city of Iloilo, with seats at Iloilo City; and
Twenty-four branches (Branches XL to LXIII) for the province of Negros Occidental, and the cities of Bacolod,Bago, Cadiz, La Carlota, San Carlos and Silay, Branch XL with seat at Silay City, Branches XLI to LIV at Bacolod City, Branches LV and LVI at Himamaylan, Branches LVII to LIX at Kabankalan, Branch LXII at Bago City, and Branch LXII at La Carlota City.
(h) Forty-six Regional Trial Judges shall be commissioned for the Seventh Judicial Region. There shall be:
Four branches (Branches I to IV) for the province of Bohol and the city of Tagbilaran, with seats at Tagbilaran City;
Twenty-five branches (Branches V to XXIX) for the province of Cebu and the cities of Cebu, Danao, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue and Toledo, Branches V to XXIV with seats at Cebu City, Branch XXV at Danao City, Branch XXVI at Argao, Branch XXVII at Lapu-Lapu City, Branch XXVIII at Mandaue City, and Branch XXIX at Toledo City;
Sixteen branches (Branches XXX to XLV) for the province of Negros Oriental and the cities of Dumaguete, Bais and Canlaon, Branches XXX to XLIV with seats at Dumaguete City, and Branch XLV at Bais City; and
One branch (Branch XLVI) for the province of Siquijor, with seat at Larena.
(i) Thirty-three Regional Trial Judges shall be commissioned for the Eighth Judicial Region. There shall be:
Five branches (Branches I to V) for the province of Eastern Samar, Branches I and II with seats at Borongan, Branch III at Guiuan, Branch IV at Dolores, and Branch V at Oras;
Thirteen branches (Branches VI to XVIII) for the province of Leyte, the sub-province of Biliran, and the cities of Ormoc and Tacloban, Branches VI and IX with seats at Tacloban City, Branch X at Abuyog, Branch XI at Calubian, Branch XII at Ormoc City, Branch XIII at Carigara, Branch XIV at Baybay, Branch XV at Burauen, Branch XVI at Naval, Branch XVII at Palompon, and Branch XVIII at Hilongos;
Five branches (Branches XIX to XXIII) for the province of Northern Samar, Branches XIX and XX with seats at Catarman, Branches XXI and XXII at Laoang, and Branch XXIII at Allen;
Three branches (Branches XXIV to XXVI) for the province of Southern Leyte, Branches XXIV and XXV with seats at Maasin, and Branch XXVI at San Juan; and
Seven branches (Branches XXVII to XXXIII) for the province of Samar and the city of Calbayog, Branches XXVII to XXIX with seats at Catbalogan, Branch XXX at Basey, Branches XXXI and XXXII at Calbayog City, and Branch XXXIII at Calbiga.
(j) Twenty-four Regional Trial Judges shall be commissioned for the Ninth Judicial Region. There shall be:
Two branches (Branches I and II) for the province of Basilan, with seats at Isabela;
Two branches (Branches III and IV) for the province of Sulu, Branch III with seat at Jolo, and Branch IV at Parang;
One branch (Branch V) for the province of Tawi-Tawi, with seat at Bongao;
Six branches (Branches VI to XI) for the province of Zamboanga del Norte, and the cities of Dipolog and Dapitan, Branches VI to X seats at Dipolog City, and Branch XI at Sindangan; and
Thirteen branches (Branches XII to XXIV) for the province of Zamboanga del Sur and the cities of Pagadian and Zamboanga Branches XII to XVII with seats at Zamboanga City, Branches, XVIII to XXII at Pagadian City, Branch XXIII at Molave, and Branch XXIV at Ipil.
(k) Thirty-two Regional Trial Judges shall be commissioned for the Tenth Judicial Region. There shall be:
Five branches (Branches I to V) for the province of Agusan del Norte and the city of Butuan, with seats at Butuan City;
Two branches (Branches VI and VII) for the province of Agusan del Sur, Branches VI with seat at Prosperidad and Branch VII with seat at Bayugan;
Four branches (Branches VIII to XI) for the province of Bukidnon, Branches VIII to X with seats at Malaybalay and Branch XI at Manalo Fortich;
Five branches (Branches XII to XI) for the province of Misamis Occidental and the cities of Oroquieta, Ozamis, and Tangub, Branches XII to XIV with seats at Oroquieta City, Branch XV at Ozamis City, and Branch XVI at Tangub City;
Eleven branches (Branches XVII to XXVII) for the province of Misamis Oriental and the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Gingoog, Branches XVII to XXV with seats at Cagayan de Oro City, Branch XXVI at Medina, and Branch XXVII at Gingoog City;
One branch (Branch XXVIII) for the province of Camiguin, with seat at Mambajao; and
Four branches (Branches XXIX to XXXII) for the province of Surigao del Norte and the City of Surigao, Branches XXIX and XXX with seats at Surigao City, Branch XXXI at Dapa, and Branch XXXII at Dinagat, Dinagat Island.
(l) Twenty-nine Regional Trial Judges shall be commissioned for the Eleventh Judicial Region. There shall be
Four branches (Branches I to IV) for the province of Davao del Norte, Branches I and II with seats at Tagum, Branch III at Nabunturan, and Branch IV at Panabo;
Three branches (Branches V to VII) for the province of Davao Oriental, Branches V and VI with seats at Mati and Branch VII at Banganga;
Fourteen branches (Branches VIII to XXI) for the province of Davao del Sur and the city of Davao, Branches VIII to XVII with seats at Davao City, Branches XVIII and XIX at Digos, Branch XX at Malinta, and Branch XXI a Bansalan;
Five Branches (Branches XXII to XXVI) for the province of South Cotabato and the city of General Santos, Branches XXII and XXIII with seats at General Santos City, Branches XXIV and XXV at Koronadal, and Branch XXVI at Surallah; and
Three branches (Branches XXVII to XXIX) for the province of Surigao del Sur, Branch XXVII with seat at Tandag, Branch XXVIII at Lianga, and Branch XXIX at Bislig.
(m) Twenty Regional Trial Judges shall be commissioned for the Twelfth Judicial Region. There shall be:
Seven branches (Branches I to VII) for the province of Lanao del Norte and the city of Iligan, Branches I to VI with seats at Iligan City, and Branch VII at Tubod;
Five branches (Branches VIII to XII) for the province of Lanao del Sur and the city of Marawi, Branches VIII to X with seats at Marawi City, and Branches XI and XII at Malabang;
Three branches (Branches XIII to XV) for the province of Maguindanao and the city of Cotabato, Branches XIII and XIV with seats at Cotabato City, and Branch XV at Maganoy;
Three branches (Branches XVI to XVIII) for the province of North Cotabato, Branch XVI with seat at Kabacan, Branch XVII at Kidapawan, and Branch XVIII at Missayap; and
Two branches (Branches XIX and XX) for the province of Sultan Kudarat, Branch XIX, with seat at Isulan, and Branch XX at Tacurong.
Section 15. Qualifications. – No persons shall be appointed Regional Trial Judge unless he is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, at least thirty-five years of age, and for at least ten years, has been engaged in the practice of law in the Philippines or has held a public office in the Philippines requiring admission to the practice of law as an indispensable requisite.
Section 16. Time and duration of sessions. – The time and duration of daily sessions of the Regional Trial Courts shall be determined by the Supreme Court: Provided, however, That all motions, except those requiring immediate action, shall be heard in the afternoon of every Friday, unless it falls on a holiday, in which case, the hearing shall be held on the afternoon of the next succeeding business day: Provided, further, That the Supreme Court may, for good reasons, fix a different motion day in specified areas
Section 17. Appointment and assignment of Regional Trial Judges. – Every Regional Trial Judge shall be appointed to a region which shall be his permanent station, and his appointment shall state the branch of the court and the seat thereof to which he shall be originally assigned. However, the Supreme Court may assign temporarily a Regional Trial Judge to another region as public interest may require, provided that such temporary assignment shall not last longer than six (6) months without the consent of the Regional Trial Judge concerned.
A Regional Trial Judge may be assigned by the Supreme Court to any branch or city or municipality within the same region as public interest may require, and such assignment shall not be deemed an assignment to another station within the meaning of this section.
Section 18. Authority to define territory appurtenant to each branch. – The Supreme Court shall define the territory over which a branch of the Regional Trial Court shall exercise its authority. The territory thus defined shall be deemed to be the territorial area of the branch concerned for purposes of determining the venue of all suits, proceedings or actions, whether civil or criminal, as well as determining the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts over the said branch may exercise appellate jurisdiction. The power herein granted shall be exercised with a view to making the courts readily accessible to the people of the different parts of the region and making the attendance of litigants and witnesses as inexpensive as possible.
Section 19. Jurisdiction in civil cases. – Regional Trial Courts shall exercise exclusive original jurisdiction:
(1) In all civil actions in which the subject of the litigation is incapable of pecuniary estimation;
(2) In all civil actions which involve the title to, or possession of, real property, or any interest therein, where the assessed value of the property involved exceeds Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) or for civil actions in Metro Manila, where such the value exceeds Fifty thousand pesos (50,000.00) except actions for forcible entry into and unlawful detainer of lands or buildings, original jurisdiction over which is conferred upon Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts;
(3) In all actions in admiralty and maritime jurisdiction where he demand or claim exceeds One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) or , in Metro Manila, where such demand or claim exceeds Two hundred thousand pesos (200,000.00);
(4) In all matters of probate, both testate and intestate, where the gross value of the estate exceeds One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) or, in probate matters in Metro Manila, where such gross value exceeds Two hundred thousand pesos (200,000.00);
(5) In all actions involving the contract of marriage and marital relations;
(6) In all cases not within the exclusive jurisdiction of any court, tribunal, person or body exercising jurisdiction or any court, tribunal, person or body exercising judicial or quasi-judicial functions;
(7) In all civil actions and special proceedings falling within the exclusive original jurisdiction of a Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court and of the Courts of Agrarian Relations as now provided by law; and
(8) In all other cases in which the demand, exclusive of interest, damages of whatever kind, attorney's fees, litigation expenses, and costs or the value of the property in controversy exceeds One hundred thousand pesos (100,000.00) or, in such other abovementioned items exceeds Two hundred thousand pesos (200,000.00). (as amended by R.A. No. 7691*)
Section 20. Jurisdiction in criminal cases. – Regional Trial Courts shall exercise exclusive original jurisdiction in all criminal cases not within the exclusive jurisdiction of any court, tribunal or body, except those now falling under the exclusive and concurrent jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan which shall hereafter be exclusively taken cognizance of by the latter.
Section 21. Original jurisdiction in other cases. – Regional Trial Courts shall exercise original jurisdiction:
(1) In the issuance of writs of certiorari, prohibition, mandamus, quo warranto, habeas corpus and injunction which may be enforced in any part of their respective regions; and
(2) In actions affecting ambassadors and other public ministers and consuls.
Section 22. Appellate jurisdiction. – Regional Trial Courts shall exercise appellate jurisdiction over all cases decided by Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts in their respective territorial jurisdictions. Such cases shall be decided on the basis of the entire record of the proceedings had in the court of origin and such memoranda and/or briefs as may be submitted by the parties or required by the Regional Trial Courts. The decision of the Regional Trial Courts in such cases shall be appealable by petition for review to the
Court of Appeals which may give it due course only when the petition shows prima facie that the lower court has committed an error of fact or law that will warrant a reversal or modification of the decision or judgment sought to be reviewed.
Section 23. Special jurisdiction to try special cases. – The Supreme Court may designate certain branches of the Regional Trial Courts to handle exclusively criminal cases, juvenile and domestic relations cases, agrarian cases, urban land reform cases which do not fall under the jurisdiction of quasi-judicial bodies and agencies, and/or such other special cases as the Supreme Court may determine in the interest of a speedy and efficient administration of justice.
Section 24. Special Rules of Procedure. – Whenever a Regional Trial Court takes cognizance of juvenile and domestic relation cases and/or agrarian cases, the special rules of procedure applicable under present laws to such cases shall continue to be applied, unless subsequently amended by law or by rules of court promulgated by the Supreme Court.
CHAPTER III
METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURTS, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS, AND MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT TRIAL COURTS
Section 25. Establishment of Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts. – There shall be created a Metropolitan Trial Court in each metropolitan area established by law, a Municipal Trial Court in each of the other cities or municipalities, and a Municipal Circuit Trial Court in each circuit comprising such cities and/or municipalities as are grouped together pursuant to law.
Section 26. Qualifications. – No person shall be appointed judge of a Metropolitan Trial Court, Municipal Trial Court, or Municipal Circuit Trial Court unless he is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, at least 30 years of age, and, for at least five years, has been engaged in the practice of law in the Philippines, or has held a public office in the Philippines requiring admission to the practice of law as an indispensable requisite.
Section 27. Metropolitan Trial Courts of the National Capital Region. – There shall be a Metropolitan Trial Court in the National Capital Region, to be known as the Metropolitan Trial Court of Metro Manila, which shall be composed of eighty-two (82) branches. There shall be:
Thirty branches (Branches I to XXX) for the city of Manila with seats thereat;
Thirteen branches (Branches XXXI to XLIII) for Quezon City with seats thereat;
Five branches (Branches XLIV to XLVIII) for Pasay City with seats thereat;
Five branches (Branches XLIX to LIII) for Caloocan City with seats thereat;
One branch (Branch LIV) for Navotas with seat thereat;
Two branches (Branches LV and LVI) for Malabon with seats thereat;
Two branches (Branches LVII and LVIII) for San Juan with seats thereat;
Two branches (Branches LIX and LX) for Mandaluyong with seats thereat;
Seven branches (Branches LXI and LXVII) for Makati with seats thereat;
Five branches (Branches LXVIII to LXXII) for Pasig with seats thereat;
One branch (Branch LXXIII) for Pateros with seat thereat;
One branch (Branch LXXIV) for Taguig with seat thereat;
Two branches (Branches LXXV and LXXVI) for Marikina with seats thereat;
Two branches (Branches LXXVII and LXXVIII) for Parañaque with seats thereat;
One branch (Branch LXXIX) for Las Piñas with seat thereat;
One branch (Branch LXXX) for Muntinlupa with seat thereat;
Two branches (Branches LXXXI and LXXXII) for Valenzuela with seats thereat;
Section 28. Other Metropolitan Trial Courts. – The Supreme Court shall constitute Metropolitan Trial Courts in such other metropolitan areas as may be established by law whose territorial jurisdiction shall be co-extensive with the cities and municipalities comprising the metropolitan area.
Every Metropolitan Trial Judge shall be appointed to a metropolitan area which shall be his permanent station and his appointment shall state branch of the court and the seat thereof to which he shall be originally assigned. A Metropolitan Trial Judge may be assigned by the Supreme Court to any branch within said metropolitan area as the interest of justice may require, and such assignment shall not be deemed an assignment to another station within the meaning of this section.
Section 29. Municipal Trial Courts in cities. – In every city which does not form part of a metropolitan area, there shall be a Municipal Trial Court with one branch, except as hereunder provided:
Two branches for Laoag City;
Four branches for Baguio City;
Three branches for Dagupan City;
Five branches for Olongapo City;
Three branches for Cabanatuan City;
Two branches for San Jose City;
Three branches for Angeles City;
Two branches for Cavite City;
Two branches for Batangas City;
Two branches for Lucena City;
Three branches for Naga City;
Two branches for Iriga City;
Three branches for Legaspi City;
Two branches for Roxas City;
Four branches for Iloilo City;
Seven branches for Bacolod City;
Two branches for Dumaguete City;
Two branches for Tacloban City;
Eight branches for Cebu City;
Three branches for Mandaue City;
Two branches for Tagbilaran City;
Two branches for Surigao City;
Two branches for Butuan City;
Five branches for Cagayan de Oro City;
Seven branches for Davao City;
Three branches for General Santos City;
Two branches for Oroquieta City;
Three branches for Ozamis City;
Two branches for Dipolog City;
Four branches for Zamboanga City;
Two branches for Pagadian City; and
Two branches for Iligan City.
Section 30. Municipal Trial Courts. – In each of the municipalities that are not comprised within a metropolitan area and a municipal circuit there shall be a Municipal Trial Court which shall have one branch, except as hereunder provided:
Two branches for San Fernando, La Union;
Four branches for Tuguegarao;
Three branches for Lallo, and two branches for Aparri, both of Cagayan;
Two branches for Santiago, Isabela;
Two branches each for Malolos, Meycauayan and Bulacan, all of Bulacan Province;
Four branches for San Fernando and two branches for Guagua, both of Pampanga;
Two branches for Tarlac, Tarlac;
Two branches for San Pedro, Laguna; and
Two branches each for Antipolo and Binangonan, both in Rizal.
Section 31. Municipal Circuit Trial Court. – There shall be a Municipal Circuit Trial Court in each area defined as a municipal circuit, comprising one or more cities and/or one or more municipalities. The municipalities comprising municipal circuits as organized under Administrative Order No. 33, issued on June 13, 1978 by the Supreme Court pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 537, are hereby constituted as municipal circuits for purposes of the establishment of the Municipal Circuit Trial Courts, and the appointment thereto of Municipal Circuit Trial Judges: Provided, however, That the Supreme Court may, as the interests of justice may require, further reorganize the said courts taking into account workload, geographical location, and such other factors as will contribute to a rational allocation thereof, pursuant to the provisions of Presidential Decree No. 537 which shall be applicable insofar as they are not inconsistent with this Act.
Every Municipal Circuit Trial Judge shall be appointed to a municipal circuit which shall be his official station.
The Supreme Court shall determine the city or municipality where the Municipal Circuit Trial Court shall hold sessions.
Section 32. Jurisdiction of Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts in criminal cases. – Except in cases falling within the exclusive original jurisdiction of Regional Trial Courts and of the Sandiganbayan, the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts shall exercise:
(1) Exclusive original jurisdiction over all violations of city or municipal ordinances committed within their respective territorial jurisdiction; and
(2) Exclusive original jurisdiction over all offenses punishable with imprisonment not exceeding six (6) years irrespective of the amount of fine, and regardless of other imposable accessory or other penalties, including the civil liability arising from such offenses or predicated thereon, irrespective of kind, nature, value, or amount thereof: Provided, however, That in offenses involving damage to property through criminal negligence they shall have exclusive original jurisdiction thereof. (as amended by R.A, No. 7691)
Section 33. Jurisdiction of Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts in civil cases. – Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts shall exercise:
(1) Exclusive original jurisdiction over civil actions and probate proceedings, testate and intestate, including the grant of provisional remedies in proper cases, where the value of the personal property, estate, or amount of the demand does not exceed One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) or, in Metro Manila where such personal property, estate, or amount of the demand does not exceed Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00) exclusive of interest damages of whatever kind, attorney's fees, litigation expenses, and costs, the amount of which must be specifically alleged: Provided, That where there are several claims or causes of action between the same or different parties, embodied in the same complaint, the amount of the demand shall be the totality of the claims in all the causes of action, irrespective of whether the causes of action arose out of the same or different transactions;
(2) Exclusive original jurisdiction over cases of forcible entry and unlawful detainer: Provided, That when, in such cases, the defendant raises the question of ownership in his pleadings and the question of possession cannot be resolved without deciding the issue of ownership, the issue of ownership shall be resolved only to determine the issue of possession.
(3) Exclusive original jurisdiction in all civil actions which involve title to, or possession of, real property, or any interest therein where the assessed value of the property or interest therein does not exceed Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) or, in civil actions in Metro Manila, where such assessed value does not exceed Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) exclusive of interest, damages of whatever kind, attorney's fees, litigation expenses and costs: Provided, That value of such property shall be determined by the assessed value of the adjacent lots. (as amended by R.A. No. 7691)
Section 34. Delegated jurisdiction in cadastral and land registration cases. – Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts may be assigned by the Supreme Court to hear and determine cadastral or land registration cases covering lots where there is no controversy or opposition, or contested lots the where the value of which does not exceed One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00), such value to be ascertained by the affidavit of the claimant or by agreement of the respective claimants if there are more than one, or from the corresponding tax declaration of the real property. Their decisions in these cases shall be appealable in the same manner as decisions of the Regional Trial Courts.
Section 35. Special jurisdiction in certain cases. – In the absence of all the Regional Trial Judges in a province or city, any Metropolitan Trial Judge, Municipal Trial Judge, Municipal Circuit Trial Judge may hear and decide petitions for a writ of habeas corpus or applications for bail in criminal cases in the province or city where the absent Regional Trial Judges sit.
Section 36. Summary procedures in special cases. – In Metropolitan Trial Courts and Municipal Trial Courts with at least two branches, the Supreme Court may designate one or more branches thereof to try exclusively forcible entry and unlawful detainer cases, those involving violations of traffic laws, rules and regulations, violations of the rental law, and such other cases requiring summary disposition as the Supreme Court may determine. The Supreme Court shall adopt special rules or procedures applicable to such cases in order to achieve an expeditious and inexpensive determination thereof without regard to technical rules. Such simplified procedures may provide that affidavits and counter-affidavits may be admitted in lieu of oral testimony and that the periods for filing pleadings shall be non-extendible.
Section 37. Preliminary investigation. – Judges of Metropolitan Trial Courts, except those in the National Capital Region, of Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts shall have authority to conduct preliminary investigation of crimes alleged to have been committed within their respective territorial jurisdictions which are cognizable by the Regional Trial Courts.
The preliminary investigation shall be conducted in accordance with the procedure prescribed in Section 1, paragraphs (a), (b), (c), and (d), of Presidential Decree No. 911: Provided, however, That if after the preliminary investigation the Judge finds a prima facie case, he shall forward the records of the case to the Provincial/City Fiscal for the filing of the corresponding information with the proper court.
No warrant of arrest shall be issued by the Judge in connection with any criminal complaint filed with him for preliminary investigation, unless after an examination in writing and under oath or affirmation of the complainant and his witnesses, he finds that a probable cause exists.
Any warrant of arrest issued in accordance herewith may be served anywhere in the Philippines.
Section 38. Judgments and processes. –
(1) All judgments determining the merits of cases shall be in writing, stating clearly the facts and the law on which they were based, signed by the Judge and filed with the Clerk of Court. Such judgment shall be appealable to the Regional Trial Courts in accordance with the procedure now prescribed by law for appeals to the Court of First Instance, by the provisions of this Act, and by such rules as the Supreme Court may hereafter prescribe.
(2) All processes issued by the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts, in cases falling within their jurisdiction, may be served anywhere in the Philippines without the necessity of certification by the Judge of the Regional Trial Court.
CHAPTER IV
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 39. Appeals. – The period for appeal from final orders, resolutions, awards, judgments, or decisions of any court in all cases shall be fifteen (15) days counted from the notice of the final order, resolution, award, judgment, or decision appealed from: Provided however, That in habeas corpus cases, the period for appeal shall be forty-eight (48) hours from the notice of the judgment appealed from.
No record on appeal shall be required to take an appeal. In lieu thereof, the entire record shall be transmitted with all the pages prominently numbered consecutively, together with an index of the contents thereof.
This section shall not apply in appeals in special proceedings and in other cases wherein multiple appeals are allowed under applicable provisions of the Rules of Court.
Section 40. Form of decision in appealed cases. – Every decision of final resolution of a court in appealed cases shall clearly and distinctly state the findings of fact and the conclusions of law on which it is based, which may be contained in the decision or final resolution itself, or adopted by reference from those set forth in the decision, order, or resolution appealed from.
Section 41. Salaries. – Intermediate Appellate Justices, Regional Trial Judges, Metropolitan Trial Judges, Municipal Trial Judges, and Municipal Circuit Trial Judges shall receive such compensation and allowances as may be authorized by the President along the guidelines set forth in Letter of Implementation No. 93 pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 985, as amended by Presidential Decree No. 1597.
Section 42. Longevity pays. – A monthly longevity pay equivalent to 5% of the monthly basic pay shall be paid to the Justices and Judges of the courts herein created for each five years of continuous, efficient, and meritorious service rendered in the judiciary; Provided, That in no case shall the total salary of each Justice or Judge concerned, after this longevity pay is added, exceed the salary of the Justice or Judge next in rank.
Section 43. Staffing pattern. – The Supreme Court shall submit to the President, within thirty (30) days from the date of the effectivity of this Act, a staffing pattern for all courts constituted pursuant to this Act which shall be the basis of the implementing order to be issued by the President in accordance with the immediately succeeding section.
Section 44. Transitory provisions. – The provisions of this Act shall be immediately carried out in accordance with an Executive Order to be issued by the President. The Court of Appeals, the Courts of First Instance, the Circuit Criminal Courts, the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts, the Courts of Agrarian Relations, the City Courts, the Municipal Courts, and the Municipal Circuit Courts shall continue to function as presently constituted and organized, until the completion of the reorganization provided in this Act as declared by the President. Upon such declaration, the said courts shall be deemed automatically abolished and the incumbents thereof shall cease to hold office. The cases pending in the old Courts shall be transferred to the appropriate Courts constituted pursuant to this Act, together with the pertinent functions, records, equipment, property and the necessary personnel.
The applicable appropriations shall likewise be transferred to the appropriate courts constituted pursuant to this Act, to be augmented as may be necessary from the funds for organizational changes as provided in Batas Pambansa Blg. 80. Said funding shall thereafter be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
Section 45. Shari'a Courts. – Shari'a Courts to be constituted as provided for in Presidential Decree No. 1083, otherwise known as the "Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines," shall be included in the funding appropriations so provided in this Act.
Section 46. Gratuity of judges and personnel separated from office. – All members of the judiciary and subordinate employees who shall be separated from office by reason of the reorganization authorized herein, shall be granted a gratuity at a rate equivalent to one month's salary for every year of continuous service rendered in any branch of the government or equivalent nearest fraction thereof favorable to them on the basis of the highest salary received: Provided, That such member of the judiciary or employee shall have the option to retire under the Judiciary Retirement Law or general retirement law, if he has met or satisfied the requirements therefor.
Section 47. Repealing clause. – The provisions of Republic Act No. 296, otherwise known as the Judiciary Act of 1948, as amended, of Republic Act No. 5179 as amended, of the Rules of Court, and of all other statutes, letters of instructions and general order or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or accordingly modified.
Section 48. Date of Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect immediately.
Approved: August 14, 1981
Footnotes
*Other provisions of the Act:
"Section. 5. After five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act, the jurisdictional amounts mentioned in Sec. 19(3), (4), and (8); and Sec. 33(1) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129 as amended by this Act, shall be adjusted to Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00). five (5) years thereafter, such jurisdictional amounts shall be adjusted further to Three hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00): Provided, however, That in the case of Metro Manila, the abovementioned jurisdictional amounts shall be adjusted after five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act of Four hundred thousand pesos (P400,000.00).
Section. 7. The provisions of this Act shall apply to all civil cases that have not yet reached the pre-trial stage. However, by agreement of all the parties, civil cases cognizable by municipal and metropolitan courts by the provisions of this Act may be transferred from the Regional Trial Courts to the latter. The executive judge of the appropriate Regional Trial Court shall define the administrative procedure of transferring the cases affected by the redefinition of jurisdiction to the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Court, and Municipal Circuit Trial Court."
*Criminal cases falling within the jurisdiction of Family Courts (established by the Family Courts Act of 1997 [R.A. No. 8369]) have been transferred from Metropolitan trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts,
Municipal trial Court in Cities, Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts to Regional trial Courts under A.M. No. 99-1-13-SC effective March 1, 1999.
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