Bill renewing ABS-CBN franchise refiled in House

ABS-CBN's current franchise is set to expire on March 30, 2020, making the 18th Congress its last hope for renewal

A bill seeking to renew the franchise given to ABS-CBN Corporation for another 25 years was refiled in the House of Representatives.

Nueva Ecija 2nd District Representative Micaela Violago filed House Bill (HB) No. 676, which would allow ABS-CBN to continue its operations in the Philippines for over two more decades.

ABS-CBN's current franchise, which was approved through Republic Act No. 7966 on March 30, 1995, is set to expire on March 30, 2020. If HB No. 676 does not become a law, ABS-CBN will have to close down its radio and television operations.

No less than President Rodrigo Duterte himself has repeatedly opposed the renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise.

In April 2017, he accused the network of "swindling" him for not airing his paid political advertisements during the 2016 presidential campaign. Duterte first publicly threatened ABS-CBN days after he signed into law the franchise renewal of the network's rival, GMA Network.

Duterte then repeated his threat to block the renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise in August 2018. (READ: Duterte: If it were up to me, no ABS-CBN franchise renewal)

In the previous 17th Congress, a bill seeking to renew the franchise was filed, but it remained pending with the committee on legislative franchises and was not passed when the 17th Congress closed session in June.

With its current franchise set to expire by next year, ABS-CBN will have to convince the 18th Congress to pass its franchise renewal into law before March 2020 ends.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/236195-bill-franchise-renewal-abs-cbn-filed-18th-congress

Major shopping centers in Laguna.

1. SM City Sta. Rosa - 116,463 sqm (86,463 sqm main mall + 30,000 sqm BPO building, expansion at around 50,000 sqm with SMX Convention Center, if ever possible)
2. SM City Calamba - 73,632 (expansion at around 30,000 sqm, if ever possible)
3. SM City San Pablo - 68,972 sqm (59,776 sqm for the main mall + 9,196 sqm BPO)
4. Ayala Mall Solenad - 67,000 sqm (5,000 sqm Solenad 1 + 10,000 sqm Solenad 2 + 40,00 sqm Solenad 3 + 12,00 sqm S&R Nuvali, Solenad 4 expansion at around 30,000 sqm retail space for a total of 97,000 sqm, if ever possible)
5. Southwoods Mall Binan - 58,000 sqm
6. Vista Mall Sta. Rosa - 55,00 sqm
7. Galleria South San Pedro - 48,000 sqm

Community malls
1. Robinsons Sta. Rosa
2. Walter Mart Sta. Rosa Bel-Air
3. Walter Mart Sta. Rosa (Balibago)
4. Target Mall Sta. Rosa
5. Checkpoint Mall Calamba
6. Pavilion Mall Binan
7. Robinsons Town Mall Los Banos
8. CLA Town Center Pagsanjan
9. Walter Mart Cabuyao
10. Walter Mart Makiling
11. Walter Mart Calamba
12. CityMall Calamba

Upcoming malls
1. Victory Mall Sta. Rosa (Community Mall)
2. SM City San Pedro (Major shopping center, around 100,000 sqm of floor area with Food Court, Supermarket, SM Store, Miniso, Cinemas with Megascreen and Director's Club, premier food hall, bowling alley, chapel, and SkyGarden due to Galleria South's competition features)
3. SM Yulo (Major shopping center, around 140,000 sqm of floor area with Supermarket, SM Store, Miniso, Cinemas with Megascreen and Director's Club, premier food hall, bowling alley, chapel, and SkyGarden due to Ayala Land's mix-used Nuvali developments)
4. CityMall Bay (Community Mall)
5. CityMall Sta. Rosa (Community Mall)

Bill renewing franchise of ABS-CBN refiled in House

Nueva Ecija 2nd District Rep. Micaela Violago has refiled in the 18th Congress a bill renewing ABS-CBN Corp.’s franchise, which will expire on March 30, 2020.

Violago filed House Bill No. 676, which seeks to renew the radio-television network’s franchise for another 25 years, last July 1, but a copy of her bill was sent to media on Tuesday night.

The 17th Congress version of the proposed law remained has been pending at the House Committee on Legislative Franchises since Nov. 16, 2016. The panel did not act on the bill until that Congress adjourned sine die.

“In acknowledgment of ABS-CBN’s accomplishments… the immediate renewal of its original franchise which expires on March 30, 2020, is recommended to ensure the uninterrupted and improved delivery of its services to the Filipino people,” Violago said in her explanatory note in the bill.

President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly launched threats against media outfits critical of his administration l— like the Lopez-owned ABS-CBN, the broadsheet Philippine Daily Inquirer, and online news site Rappler.

He even threatened to block the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN, accusing the network of estafa for allegedly not providing him the airtime he had paid for.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, meanwhile, said he believed the President would no longer veto the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN once approved by Congress.

“Sa palagay ko naman kapag pumasa na sa Kongreso, okay na — kapag pumasa sa Kongreso — kasi nasa Kongreso pa eh nasa kanila ang bola sa ngayon. ‘Yun ang palagay ko,” he said in an interview with radio dzBB, Monday.

[I think once it passes Congress, it’s going be OK — if it passes Congress — because it’s still with Congress. The ball is in their court now. That’s what I think.] /atm

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1145613/bill-renewing-franchise-of-abs-cbn-refiled-in-house

The main network owned by the media and entertainment group itself that will revamp program schedules soon if FPJ's Ang Probinsyano to be ended to give way for the return of defunct classic programs such as: Alas Singko Y Medya, ETV and cartoons, telenovelas, Today with Kris Aquino, Magandang Tanghali Bayan, SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon (merging the first incarnation of SNN (2009-2011) and Tonight with Boy Abunda (2015-present), anime, Shoutout, Rated K (moves to weekday late afternoons, reformatted as a live daily magazine show in English), The World Tonight and NCA programs.

House fills up more leadership posts

The House of Representatives on Tuesday elected 10 lawmakers to fill up various leadership posts in the Chamber.

Named House Deputy Majority Leaders were Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo, Batangas 4th District Rep. Lianda Bolilia, Manila 5th District Rep. Amanda Christina Bagatsing; Pampanga 4th District Rep. Juan Pablo Bondoc and Pangasinan 4th District Rep. Christopher de Venecia.

Meanwhile, named as House Assistant Majority Leaders were Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Ria Fariñas, Las Piñas City Rep. Camille Villar, and Quezon 1st District Rep. David Suarez.

On the other hand, Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin was named as the House Senior Deputy Minority Leader, while Quezon City 6th District Rep. Jose Christopher Belmonte was named Deputy Minority Leader.

It was Garin who initially presided over the organizational meeting of the Minority bloc that elected Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. as the House Minority Leader earlier in the day.

The House of Representatives still has yet to name the heads of the different committees and the composition of its members.

The Chamber has 60 standing committees and 15 special committees.

On Monday, Cavite 3rd District Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla was named as the Senior House Deputy Majority Leader. He was also named as the chair of the House Committee on Rules.

Meanwhile, Davao City 3rd District Rep. Isidro Ungab was named chair of the Committee on Appropriations, while Cavite 7th District Rep. Abraham Tolentino was named chair of the Committee on Accounts.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1075838

Andanar bats for tougher war vs. fake news in Asean-China confab

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar on Tuesday participated in the High-Level Conference on ASEAN-China Media Cooperation, seeking to further strengthen cooperation in combating disinformation and deepen mutual understanding and trust in the region.

Andanar, who co-chairs the conference with China, said the high-level meeting would promote not only a closer Asean-China community, but also an environment free of fake news.

"We shall continue our endeavor to bring out what is real, what is truthful. That we will fight fake news," Andanar said in his meeting with National Radio and Television Administration Vice Minister Fan Wei Ping before the High Level Conference on Asean-China Media Cooperation at the Hotel Mulia Senayan here.

“We can continue our cooperation in the areas of telling true stories," Andanar said, noting that it may be in the form of information-sharing, workshops, seminars, and personnel exchanges, among others.

Andanar opened the High Level Conference on Asean-China Media Cooperation meeting with Fan, expressing Asean and China's gratitude in both sides' support in promoting the convergence of media in the region.

"We look forward not only to stronger regional media cooperation but also to a deeper level of trust and understanding. The Asean-China partnership has been mutually beneficial as both sides learn from each other’s experiences and best practices," the PCOO chief said.

The agenda of the meeting includes the presentation of the Draft Joint Statement on Strengthening Media Exchanges and Cooperation Between Asean and China, and the presentation of the Five-Year Plan for Asean-China Audio-Visual Communications Cooperation 2020-2024.

"May the views exchanged here be a catalyst for better ties, and media exchanges between Asean and China," Andanar said.

"We look forward to more Asean-China cooperation activities in the information and media sector, and for the rest of this 'Year of Media Exchanges,' and for the succeeding years," he added.

Andanar is the Asean Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI) Leader of the Philippines.

On Wednesday (July 24), the Philippines will participate in the Asean-China High-Level Media Forum, which seeks to gather information/media officials and representatives from Asean and China to discuss possible areas of cooperation in the media industry amid the digital age. (PR)

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1075836

NHA to complete add'l 62K Yolanda housing units by 2020

The National Housing Authority (NHA) said it targets to complete at least 62,668 housing projects between 2019 and 2020.

In a report responding to issues raised by some protesters, the NHA said the government has already finished a total of 119,670 housing units from the targeted 205,128. Of this figure, 56,877 are already occupied and 62,793 are ready for occupancy.

"Within 2019 and up to 2020, another 62,668 houses and lots will have been completed, and 22,790 housing units will be in various stages of documentation prior to project starts," the report signed by NHA chairman Marcelino Escalada Jr. said.

According to the report, challenges remain in completing the Yolanda housing projects such as limited local government-owned lands especially if taken in the context of the magnitudes of the housing need.

The NHA also cited as issues the staggered release of the budget for the project's implementation; the delayed submission of documentary requisites to NHA; change of site due to non-suitability after issuance of Mines and Geosciences Bureau Clearance; as well as delayed issuance of permits from local government units and clearances/permits from government agencies.

On the government's task force Balik Loob housing program, the NHA said it has undertaken the re-allocation of existing Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.

"To date, 2,244 units have been completed while another 381 are on-going construction. As of July 16, 2019, at least 300 units have been awarded to former rebel beneficiaries in Davao City," it added.

In the report, the NHA also assured that it continues to implement programs for social development and welfare services.

"From 2013 to 2018, the IP (indigenous people) Housing Program of the NHA has completed 4,727 housing units, developed 796 lots, and repaired 19 homes in Regions 2 (Cagayan Valley), 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, 10 (Northern Mindanao), 11 (Davao Region), 12 (Soccsksargen) and 13 (Caraga). Within the year and up to 2020, the program will be completing 2,238 housing units and 107 lots in Regions 5, 9, ARMM, 10, 11, 12 and 13, " it said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1075809

Bills that Duterte asked Congress to pass in 4th SONA

Part of the president's yearly State of the Nation Address before Congress is his laying down of the legislative priorities and President Rodrigo Duterte's on Monday began with a request to Congress to "reinstate the death penalty for heinous crimes related to drugs, as well as plunder."

Unlike in previous SONAs, Duterte did not mention amending the 1987 Constitution for a shift to a federal form of government—a campaign promise and a recurring theme in his speeches.

Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez had urged the House to replace the constitution hours before he lost leadership of the lower chamber to Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who managed to pass a draft constitution on third and final reading.

The proposal did not fly at the Senate, though, and with a seeming lack of public support or even awareness of plans for federalism, Duterte said that he would be fine with just charter change. He mentioned neither on Monday, the first day of the 18th Congress.

Aside from the death penalty, which allies in Congress — including Sens. Manny Pacquiao, Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, and Christopher "Bong" Go — are likely to support, Duterte also called for passage of bills that had been pending even in the 17th Congress.

Postponement of barangay, SK polls

The president said that the village polls—previously moved from October 2016 to October 2017—should be moved from May 2020 to October 22 "rectify the truncated terms" that were caused by the postponement. He said the longer terms for barangay officials would "also provide them with the ample time to finish their programs and projects."

Magna Carta for Barangays

The president also said that a Magna Carta for Barangays should also be passed.

Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III filed a similar bill in the 17th Congress, which would have made barangay officials "regular government employees with fixed salaries, allowances, insurance, medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, and other fringe benefits to which a regular government employee is entitled."

The bill also proposed the automatic release of the barangay's share from national taxes and the transfer of funds to the barangay "for maintenance of roads and
bridges within its area of jurisdiction." The bill also proposed giving priority to barangay residents for employment in infrastructure projects in the village.

"As the basic political unit, the importance of barangays in our system of government cannot be overemphasized," Pimentel said in his explanatory note on the bill.

National Land Use Bill

Duterte again called for passage of a National Land Use Bill as he did in his third SONA, where he used Boracay island as an example of "the need to rationalize [in a] holistic, sustainable manner, the utilization, management and development of our lands."

A year later, Duterte trumpeted Boracay's rehabilitation as an accomplishment of his administration but the bill had hardly moved at the Senate and the bill will have to go through the legislative mill again.

At last year's SONA, the House of Representatives has already passed its version of the bill but a Senate counterpart measure had been pending since July 2017.

The bill, if passed into law, would have the national and local governments "determine the specific uses of land and other physical resources" in the country.

Among the provisions of the House version was the full protection from conversion to other purposes of "irrigable lands, all lands developed or possessing the potential for development of high value crops, and all agricultural lands that are ecologically fragile and whose conversion will result in serious environmental problems."

Tax reforms

Duterte also called on Congress to pass the second package of the admnisttration's tax reform measures. The Tax Reform for Attracting Better and High-quality Opportunities, or TRABAHO, bill is the next installment to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law, also called the TRAIN Law.

TRAIN lowered income tax rates but imposed higher excise taxes on fuel. TRABAHO aims to lower the corporate income tax from 30% to 20% over a period of 10 years while also streamlining fiscal incentives for investors.

Finance Assistant Secretary Antonio Lambino said this week that three or four bills have been filed at the House of Representatives that are similar to the Finance department's proposal. He said, though, that the department still needs to study the bills to see which version it will back.

Duterte said Monday that the measure would "would energize our [Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises] and encourage them to expand their business and hopefully generate … 104 million jobs in the coming years." He said the small business have the potential to "raise the lot of the Filipinos."

The president also called for higher excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol products, or so-called "sin" products. The taxes are meant to consumption of the products and also fund health programs.

Department of Overseas Filipino Workers

Duterte had previously talked about putting up a Department of Overseas Filipino Workers that would regulate the recruitment and deployment of migrant workers abroad.

"So, under the supervision of government at [with no] horrendous charges," the president said earlier in July

Sen. Go proposed the creation of a Department of Overseas Filipinos that would handle the needs of Filipinos abroad. The proposed new department would handle the tasks currently being done by the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas and the International Labor Affairs Bureau.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Belo III is quoted in a Sun.Star report as being surprised at the new direction of the government.

"It was the position of the Cabinet that there shouldn't be one because, in a way, you are institutionalizing overseas employment, which is contrary to the president's final goal of repatriating our overseas workers," he reportedly said.

He said, though, that the president suddenly brought it up. "All I could say was 'Mr. President, you are the boss'," he said.

Department of Disaster Resilience

In his SONA in 2018, Duterte also batted for the creation of the new department, saying "we need a truly empowered department characterized by a unity of command, science-based approach and full-time focus on natural hazards and disasters, and the wherewithal to take charge of the disaster risk reduction; preparedness and response; with better recovery and faster rehabilitation."

In his SONA on Monday, Duterte said government reforms "would be for naught if we cannot avert [the creation] of a 'new poor' every time a disaster strikes."

"The Philippine experience has shown that natural disasters are poverty creators," he also said.

Go has already filed a bill to create "an empowered, highly specialized department with clear unity of command and primarily responsible in ensuring safe, adaptive and disaster-resilient communities."

Department of Water Resources

Recalling the widespread water shortage that hit Metro Manila and parts of Rizal in March, Duterte called for the creation of a Department of Water Resources and a Water Regulatory Commission.

"Alam mo, the agencies and the guys there handling the — the entire water works system — you have to change it immediately.

Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV filed a bill proposing a Department of Water, Irrigation, Sewage and Sanitation Resource Management in the 17th Congress that would "rationalize water, irrigation, sewage, and sanitation resource management, including water rights."

He said then that the existence of separate agencies to manage water, irrigation, sewage and sanitation management presented a challenge "in terms of implementing national policies and plans on water, sewage, sanitation, and irrigation."

Aquino was not reelected to the Senate in the May polls.

Sen. Lito Lapid has filed Senate Bill No. 52 , which seeks to create the Water Resources Authority of the Philippines.

Fire Protection Modernization Program

Duterte said that Davao City has its own 911 emergency service, but also said that the country lacks a modern fire protection service.

"[Y]ou would notice in your cities and provinces the deterioration of the service itself. Wala ng mga truck, luma na. And would you believe it in Davao City, I'll show it to you, we have a 1934 Studebaker fire truck. Maganda pa," said.

"There are other cities which are utterly — utterly without the tools to respond the challenges of fire. We have to come up with something that is really good. I mean at this age, it would be a shame if you cannot put up a fire in two days, three days, my God. We have to set aside," the president also said.

Go has has filed a bill that, if passed, will let the Bureau of Fire Protection hire more personnel, acquire modern fire equipment and provide more training to firefighters, the Senate says in a press release.

New Salary Standardization Law

Duterte also called for passage of a "new version of the Salary Standardization Law," which is meant to give government employees better pay.

 "[T]o the teachers ... who toil and work tirelessly to educate our young, this will include what you have been asking for," Duterte said in a mix of English and Filipino, referring to calls made by teachers to raise their pay after the salaries for police and military personnel were increased.

"This is intended to increase the salaries of national government workers, including teachers and nurses," Duterte said.

Government 'rightsizing' bill

The president also called for passage of a bill that will streamline government by addressing overlapping functions and reduce government expenditures. He said the bill is needed "to reconfigure the existing Metro Manila-centric bureaucracy; streamline government systems in order to deliver services without delay and within a short timeline."

A version of the bill, which covers the executive department and its attached agencies and offices, was approved at the House on third and final reading during the 17th Congress but did not pass at the Senate.

Coco Levy Fund

Duterte also called for a new version of a bill on the use of "coco levy" funds collected from coconut farmers during the Marcos administration and that was supposed to be used for the benefit of the coconut industry.

In February, Duterte vetoed Congress' bill on the use of the funds, saying it lacked "vital safeguards to avoid the repetition of painful mistakes in the past."

The president said the measure did not reflect the ultimate goal of accelerating the full use of coconut levy assets and funds for the benefit of coconut farmers and the coconut industry but did not provide specifics.

"Itong coco fund na ito, ito 'yung naiwan sa — noong kay Marcos na levy fund. This is sacred money. This money was taken out of the pockets of the Filipinos arbitrarily. Wala kang magawa noon eh Martial Law," he said in his SONA.

(This coco fund was left behind — during Marcos' time, this levy fund. This is sacred money. This money was taken out of the pockets of the Filipinos arbitrarily. You couldn't do anything about that because of martial law)

National Defense Act

Duterte mentioned a raft of measures "aimed at strengthening defense-related systems," chief among them the National Defense Act.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson filed a version of the bill in the 17th Congress "to update national defense policies, principles and concepts, to institutionalize needed improvements and to codify various laws on national defense, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the civilian bureaus, with the end in view of streamlining and further professionalizing our country’s defense department."

He has refiled the bill at the 18th Congress.

Among the proposals in the Lacson bill are mandatory military service for all Filipinos, and the power to utilize them through mobilization, which includes "all measures necessary to pass prom a peace to a war footing or in any case of actual invasion or when public safety so requires."

The president also called for passage of the Unified Military and Uniformed Personnel Separation, Retirement, and Pension Bill.

Mandatory Reserve Officers' Training Corps training

The president also called for passage of a bill to require students in Grades 11 and 12 to enroll in Reserve Officers' Training Corps, saying he believes military training for the youth is "very important."

He said that the youth today no longer know how to handle guns "to defend even his father and mother and brothers and sisters." He said the youth are "bereft of the patriotism and the love of country."

Duterte has said that he skipped mandatory ROTC by pretending to have tuberculosis.

ROTC became a component of the National Service Training Program in 2002 and was no longer mandatory. The law was changed after the murder of a University of Santo Tomas ROTC cadet who had exposed corruption in the corps.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/07/23/1937024/bills-duterte-asked-congress-pass-4th-sona

Duterte to submit proposed 2020 nat’l budget in August

President Rodrigo Duterte will be submitting the proposed 2020 national budget in the first or second week of August, a Palace official said on Monday.

In an interview over PTV-4, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the proposed budget is still being finalized.

Last year, Duterte submitted the proposed PHP3.7-trillion national budget for 2019 to the Congress on the same day he delivered his third State of the Nation Address (SONA).

In his 4th SONA on Monday, Duterte did not mention national budget but urged members of the 18th Congress to pass pieces of priority legislation concerning major tax reforms, salary increases, national land use policy, new departments and restoration of death penalty for drugs and plunder, among others.

Despite having transmitted the 2019 budget early, the government operated on a reenacted budget since January 1 this year after lawmakers failed to pass the bill on time.

Its passage was stalled due to allegations of last-minute amendments made by the House of Representatives after both the House and Senate ratified the bicameral conference committee report.

After ending the budget impasse, the Congress transmitted the proposed budget spending to Duterte on March 26, 2019.

Duterte finally signed the 2019 budget but vetoed several provisions on April 15, 2019.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1075682

Duterte urges Congress to pass priority bills

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday called on the 18th Congress to pass pieces of priority legislation concerning major tax reforms, salary increases, national land use policy, and new departments, among others.

In delivering his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Duterte urged Congress to pass the proposed National Land Use Act to put in place a policy that will address competing land requirements for food, housing, businesses, and environmental conservation.

“A science-based national land-use plan would serve as the basis for the LGUs (local government units) in crafting respective development plans and help disperse economic activities to the countryside,” Duterte said.

“The dispersion of economic and business activities to Visayas and Mindanao is not just a campaign promise, it is an economic imperative and a key to our country's sustainable and equitable development,” Duterte added.

He also called for the immediate passage of the second package of the comprehensive tax reform program or the Tax Reform for Attracting Better and Higher-quality Opportunities (TRABAHO) bill.

The TRABAHO bill seeks to gradually lower the corporate income tax, as well as rationalize tax incentives.

“It will energize our MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) and encourage them to expand their business and hopefully generate 104 million jobs in the coming years. The MSMEs hold the promise of raising a lot of Filipinos,” Duterte said.

“I am also asking Congress to pass the remaining packages of my administration's tax reform program and the bills that would further raise excise tax on tobacco and alcohol,” he added.

Duterte said it is time for Congress to approve the proposed Salary Standardization Law, which is intended to increase salaries of national government workers, including teachers and nurses.

The Chief Executive also appealed for the passage of the government rightsizing bill to reconfigure the existing “Metro Manila-centric bureaucracy” and streamline government systems to deliver services without delay and within a short timeline.

Also included in his priority list are the establishment of a Department of Disaster Resilience, Department Resources, as well as the creation of a fire protection and modernization program. (PNA)

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1075695

‘ABS-CBN franchise will be OK if it hurdles Congress’

Will President Duterte approve or veto the bill renewing ABS-CBN’s franchise once it reaches his desk?

Duterte previously vowed to block the renewal of the franchise of the Lopez-led network, which he accused of coming up with “garbage” reports about him.

The President has also accused ABS-CBN chairman emeritus Gabby Lopez of being a swindler for allegedly not returning his money even if his campaign advertisements did not air. He has also threatened to file criminal charges against the Lopezes for supposedly failing to pay billions it owed the state-run Development Bank of the Philippines.

But Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar claimed the bill renewing the television network’s franchise would be “OK” once it hurdles Congress.

“Sa palagay ko naman, kapag pumasa na sa Kongreso, OK na (I think, once it is passed by Congress, it will be OK),” Andanar told radio station dzBB yesterday.

“It’s up to Congress. The ball is with them,” he added.

Andanar said Duterte does not meddle with the affairs of the legislature, a co-equal branch of government. He noted that Duterte had allowed the bill renewing the franchise of TV5 to lapse into law.

“He did not interfere because this is really the turf of Congress,” the presidential communications chief said.

ABS-CBN’s franchise, which languished at the committee level at the House of Representatives, will expire next year. The bill will have to be refiled in the 18th Congress.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/07/23/1937181/abs-cbn-franchise-will-be-ok-if-it-hurdles-congress

Bill on foreign investments among Senate priorities

SENATOR VICENTE C. Sotto III on Monday maintained his post as Senate president for the 18th Congress.

The Senate, via voice vote, reelected Mr. Sotto, after his nomination by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri was seconded by Senators Panfilo M. Lacson and Pia S. Cayetano.

Of the twenty-four senators, two were unable to attend the opening of session on Monday — detained Senator Leila M. De Lima and Senator Emmanuel D. Pacquiao, who was advised against traveling back to the Philippines after his fight with Keith Thurman on Sunday.

Senator Franklin M. Drilon noted during the plenary session that Senators Risa N. Hontiveros-Baraquel and Francis N. Pangilinan abstained from voting.

The chamber also reelected Senator Ralph G. Recto as Senate president pro tempore while Messrs. Zubiri and Drilon are the majority and minority leader, respectively. Mr. Sotto said among the priority measures they discussed were the proposed amendments to Republic Act No. 9372 (Human Security Act of 2007), Commonwealth Act No. 146 (Public Service Act) and RA 7042 (Foreign Investments Act of 1991).

“These were some of the bills that I know were left from the 17th Congress that we wanted to prioritize, but for lack of time,” Mr. Sotto told reporters in a chance interview ahead of the plenary session.

Sought for comment, University of Santo Tomas political science professor Marlon M. Villarin said he sees the new composition of the 18th Congress is more “collaborative” rather than confrontative.

“The re-election of Senator Tito Sotto as Senate President is a testament that the majority members of senate choose to be collaborative than confrontative in their legislative relationship with the executive department, but of course anytime depending on the political atmosphere especially 2022 presidential election is fast approaching, changes in the leadership is inevitable,” Mr. Villarin said over mobile phone message on Monday.

“The present set up of congressional leadership gives President Duterte a kind of legislative assurance that will sustain its programs and activity he promised to the Filipino people.” — Charmaine A. Tadalan

https://www.bworldonline.com/bill-on-foreign-investments-among-senate-priorities/

Sotto, key Senate leaders keep their posts

IN contrast to the long-drawn drama that characterized the choice of House Speaker, the 24-man Senate quickly picked its leader as the 18th Congress opened on Monday (July 22) hours before the President’s State of the Nation Address (Sona).

Sen. Vicente C. Sotto III was elected Senate President anew after he was nominated for the post by Sen. Ralph Recto, who also kept his post as Senate President Pro Tempore. Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Minority Leader Franklin Drilon also kept their posts.

Twenty-two of the 24 senators were present as the 18th Senate opened. The absentees were Sen. Leila de Lima, who is detained on various charges; and Sen. Manny Pacquiao, who was prevented by doctors from taking a flight back to Manila so soon after a bruising fight with Keith Thurman in Las Vegas.

In a brief interview, Sotto listed three bills on top of their priority list including the proposed Anti-Terrorism law, and bills updating the Public Service Act and the Foreign  Investment Act.

At the same time Sotto, acknowledged “the trust and confidence of our countrymen that were given to the 17th Congress and the Senate, and so we would like to continue that legacy.”

The Senate leader listed amendments to update the Human Security Act “which will eventually [be] called the Anti-Terrorism Act, and then the amendments also to to the Public Service Act and the Foreign Investment Act.”

“Those are some of the bills that I know were left from the 17th Congress that we wanted to prioritize, but for lack of time,” he added.

Asked about the senators’ expectations when President Duterte delivers his State of the Nation address, the Senate leader replied: “We expect him to ask Congress to pass some of the bills that were not taken up during the last Congress, and that he will seek the support of Congress again so that programs, particularly the ‘Build,Build,Build’ program, will continue and that the other programs will be supported.”

Sotto, however, was unsure if the death penalty will be listed as a priority bill. “I really can’t tell. Perhaps, it is a priority to debate on it. I would rather say that instead of saying that it is a priority measure, [because] it is one issue that is very divisive.”

Nonetheless, he indicated that senators are also keen to tackle the bill. “So we’d like to, perhaps, start debate on it. I filed a bill on that, particularly high-level drug trafficking, but we have two new senators who have filed a bill encompassing all heinous crimes, so I hope it will be a healthy debate.”

Sotto, however, could not say for sure it will be promptly frontloaded as soon as Congress convenes session, saying it will depend on the committee chairmen who have yet to be nominated and confirmed by the Senate.

In the same interview, Sotto indicated that the bill would have a “better chance” of getting passed by the lawmakers, saying:  “You are asking for my personal opinion; I am not speaking for the Senate in this case. If it will be confined to high-level drug trafficking, it stands a better chance of passage.”

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/07/23/sotto-key-senate-leaders-keep-their-posts/

Duterte asks Congress to approve 18 Sona bills

WITH the goal of providing a comfortable life for every Filipino, the President on Monday defined the agenda of his administration for the next three years and asked Congress to pass at least 18 measures, topped by a number of economic bills to raise revenues and improve the business environment.

In his fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona), which lasted one hour and 33 minutes, President Duterte talked at length about corruption, efforts to improve the business climate and the Philippine economy in general.

He also addressed some of the issues being thrown at him such as his preference for military men in his Cabinet, as well as the country’s concerns when it came to the West Philippine Sea, which he said his administration will “definitely” address before he steps down from office.

“We are now entering a period of consequences. The consequences of what we did and did not do but should have done during [the] first half of my term. I assume full responsibility. As President I cannot pass the blame to anybody, so it’s on me. Though we cannot change the past, we will not squander the future,” Duterte said.

“I will push harder in the pursuit of programs that we have started but always with the parameters of the law. I will not merely coast along or while away my time during the remaining years of my administration. It ain’t my style. But I will not stop until I reach the finish line. Then and only then shall I call it a day. My goal for the next three years is clear —a comfortable life for everybody, all Filipinos,” he added.

Wish list

The President also laid out his legislative wish list to both houses of Congress, comprising at least 18 measures he wants passed.

He remained tentative, however, on one key bill that he had asked the 17th Congress to pass, but which has remained pending at his office since then: the Security of Tenure (SOT) bill, or alternately referred to as the “end to Endo” measure, targeted at all forms of illegal contractualization.

Business groups, foreign and local, have warned that the SOT bill as crafted will kill many small businesses and lay off workers instead of ensuring job security. They asked Duterte to veto it.

Duterte indicated he is still undecided whether to sign or veto the SOT bill as he still wants to consult the stakeholders concerned.

The President is also not closing any doors on letting the bill lapse into law by July 27.

In an interview with Palace reporters right after his Sona, the President said: “Pinag-aralan na namin mismo [We have studied it], I have to confer with a lot of people affected, you know this is two to tango. It will also affect the employers and of course it would also greatly favor the workers. It’s too catchy for me.”

Meanwhile, his wish list for the 18th Congress contained bills led by the reinstatement of the death penalty for heinous crimes such as drugs and plunder; the creation of the National Academy of Sports for high school students; postponement of the May 2020 barangay elections to October 2022; and enactment of the Magna Carta for Barangays.

It can be noted that a bill in the 17th Congress was filed by Hon. Mark Aeron H. Sambal to create the Philippine Sports Academy as an attached agency of the Philippine SPorts Commission.

Another bill was filed by Senator Sonny Angara last Congress which pushed for the establishment of Philippine High School for Sports to serve as breeding ground for future world-class Pinoy athletes.

On the postponement of the Magna Carta for Barangays, Senator Koko Pimentel filed a bill in the 17th Congress to declare barangay officials as regular government employees.

The proposed measure will help guarantee mandatory share of barangays in taxes, fees and other charges collected from residents or entities operating within the area.

Meanwhile, the President also threw his support behind the establishment of the Department of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and the passage of the Tax Reform for Attracting Better and Higher-quality Opportunities (Trabaho) Bill, which economic zone locators oppose, as well as the rest of the tax reform packages in the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP).

Neophyte Senator Bong Go has already filed the bill establishing Department of OFW which he said will be certified as urgent by Duterte  inthis 18th Congress.

In terms of the CTRP, Albay Representative Joey Salceda is sponsoring the Trabaho bill in the current Congress.

Further, the President requested that both houses of Congress pass the right-sizing bill; create the Department of Disaster Resilience; and pass the bill on the Fire Protection Modernization program.

Reports showed that a bill was passed by the House of Representatives in Congress that would right-size the national government to improve public service delivery.

On the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience, Salceda also filed this bill in the current Congress and pointed out that it was one of the priority bills of the administration.

Senator Go also filed Senate Bill No. 204 which is known as the “Fire Protection Modernization Act of 2019,” which includes a modernization program for the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) with the DILG.

The modernization program also entails the establishment of a Fire Protection Service in all LGUs with no existing fire protection services.

Meanwhile, the President again urged Congress to pass the National Land Use Act (NLUA), a request that he has made since his first Sona in 2016. Mr. Duterte, in his Sona on Monday, requested Senator Cynthia Villar to pass the NLUA.

He also pushed for the passage of the Coconut Trust Fund bill according to the version supported by the administration. The President earlier vetoed the bill, saying it lacked “vital safeguards to avoid the repetition of painful mistakes committed in the past.”

In addition, the President urged Congress to pass the uniformed personnel pension reform bill proposed by the Department of National Defense.

The bill raises the compulsory retirement age to 60 years old from 56, with at least 20 years of satisfactory active service.

The President complemented this with the passage of mandatory ROTC in Grades 11 and 12 to train young Filipinos. He lamented that should a war occur, Filipinos do not have sufficient training to defend even their families.

He also pushed for the creation of the Department of Water Resources to avert a water crises in the country in the future. The bill was pushed by former Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in the last Congress.

Corruption

The President opened his Sona with efforts to improve good governance in his administration by requesting the reinstatement of the death penalty for Filipinos involved in the illegal drug trade and public officials found guilty of plunder.

Duterte said this is part of the administration’s efforts to boost anti-corruption measures during his term.

The President said these efforts have already helped boost government revenues. As of July 9, 2019, the government collected P61 billion from Government Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs).

Duterte said about 32 percent or P16 billion of the collections came from Pagcor. This is more than the P36 billion collected in 2017.

He  added that the Bureau of Customs, though corruption-ridden, collected P585 billion in 2018. He said this could have been higher “if the BOC had been cleaned or less corrupt.”

5 agencies

The President also directed the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Social Security System (SSS), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Land Registration Authority (LRA) and Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG) to reform their services and simplify their processes.

He reminded them he signed the landmark Ease of Doing Business Law (EODB) law last year to make more efficient the delivery of state services, and all government agencies must abide by this.

The Chief Executive asked national state agencies and instrumentalities, as well as local governments and government corporations, to simplify their processes. He demanded that they adopt a zero contact policy and make their transactions electronic.

With a report by Bernadette D. Nicolas

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/07/23/duterte-asks-congress-to-approve-18-sona-bills/

Panelo: ABS-CBN franchise renewal depends on Congress, not President Duterte

Halos walong buwan na lang ang nalalabi bago mapaso ang franchise to broadcast ng ABS-CBN, pero wala pang kasiguraduhan kung mari-renew ba ito o hindi.

Sa March 20, 2020 mag-e-expire ang 25-year legislative franchise ng broadcast giant.

Sa kanyang regular press briefing sa Malacañang ngayong araw, July 18, natanong tungkol dito si Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo.

Nataon kasing ngayong araw ay nag-lapse into law ang 25-year franchise renewal ng TV5.

Hindi napirmahan ng Pangulo ang nasabing panukala na aprubado na ng Kongreso kaya automatic na itong batas at makapagpapatuloy pa ang TV5 sa kanilang broadcast.

Kasabay ring nag-lapse into law ang bill na nagpapalawig sa franchise ng Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines o CBCP.

Sagot ni Panelo sa tanong tungkol sa franchise renewal ng ABS-CBN, “Ang ABS-CBN, ang expiration niyan ay sa ano pa, di ba, next year pa.

“'Tsaka Congress naman ang… Nasa Kongreso ang bola niyan, hindi naman kay Presidente.”

Hindi umusad sa nakaraang 17th Congress ang House Bill 4349 na naglalayong muling mabigyan ng prangkisa ang TV at radio giant sa susunod na 25 taon.

Hindi raw maaksiyunan ng Committee on Legislative Franchises ang bill na naipasa pa noong November 2016 dahil sa sigalot ng ABS-CBN at ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.

Nagbanta ang Presidente na haharangin niya ang franchise renewal dahil nagantso diumano siya ng istasyon matapos hindi iere ang kanyang political ad noong 2016 Presidential Elections kahit bayad na ito.

Kailangang may mag-file ng bagong bill o mag-refile ng dating bill sa 18th Congress na magbubukas sa July 22, upang muling matalakay ang tungkol sa franchise renewal ng ABS-CBN.

Ang rival network ng ABS-CBN na GMA Network ay naaprubahan na ang franchise renewal na tatagal sa susunod na 25 taon noon pang April 2017.

https://www.pep.ph/news/144672/panelo-abs-cbn-franchise-renewal-congress-duterte-a718-20190718

Andanar: Duterte won’t veto ABS-CBN new franchise if it hurdles Congress

President Rodrigo Duterte will not veto the franchise renewal of television network ABS-CBN once it hurdles past Congress, a Palace official said Monday.

“Sa palagay ko naman kapag pumasa na sa Kongreso, okay na. Kapag pumasa sa Kongreso, kasi nasa Kongreso pa eh nasa kanila ang bola sa ngayon. ‘Yun ang palagay ko,” Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in an interview over dzBB.

Andanar also claimed that he has never heard Duterte “categorically stated” that he will block the franchise extension of ABS-CBN.

“Never ko pa narinig kay Presidente na sinabi niya categorically na ‘ieextend ng franchise.’ Alam ko sinasabi niya lang ‘yung sama ng loob niya during 2016 elections, na naglagay siya ng pera hindi lumabas yung advertisements. Doon siya nagagalit,” he said.

Duterte has publicly announced that he will veto the franchise extension of the television giant after accusing the network of not airing his campaign advertisement that was already paid during the 2016 presidential elections.

He has also repeatedly criticized ABS-CBN for the network’s alleged biased reporting, including his supposed ill-gotten wealth and his controversial war on illegal drugs.

ABS-CBN’s franchise will expire on March 30, 2020, and its renewal remains pending in Congress.

Amid the President’s threat, ABS-CBN accelerated spending across a range of digital initiatives. /jpv

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1144555/andanar-duterte-wont-veto-abs-cbn-new-franchise-if-it-hurdles-congress

IRR signed for law on Dept of Human Settlements

THE country’s worsening problem of homelessness and lack of access to shelter opportunities is envisioned to soon be addressed by the government, with the signing on Friday of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for Republic Act (RA) 11201, or the “Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Act.”

At a news conference on the sidelines of the signing, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Chairman Eduardo D. del Rosario said the measure will enable the estimated 81 percent of Filipinos —especially the unserved and underprivileged citizens—to be provided housing opportunities.

“This [the Act] was signed on February 14, the day of the heart, because of President Duterte’s love for the Filipino family. This is the President’s whole-hearted gift to 81 percent of Filipino families who wish to have a dream house of their own,” del Rosario said.

The IRR consolidates the functions of the HUDCC with the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) under the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), which was created by RA 11201 to manage housing, human settlements, as well as urban developments in the country.

“Since 1986, HUDCC and key shelter agencies, through the government’s shelter delivery system under Executive Order 19 fell short in addressing the country’s housing needs that is estimated to reach 6.57 million by 2022. And if not appropriately addressed, [it] will balloon to 22.6 million by 2040,” he added.

The IRR takes effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two newspapers of general circulation, with the full implementation slated on January 1, 2020, following a transition period of about five months from the effectivity of the IRR.

“But HUDCC and the shelter agencies may not solely be blamed for the mounting housing needs and urban development problems,” del Rosario said. “Year in and year out the housing sector clamored for a bigger housing budget but unfortunately the housing sector technically received an average of only less than 1 percent of the country’s annual budget. But today, recognizing the need for structural changes and additional mandates, the country’s housing and urban landscape is up to a major transformation,” he said.

The transition period will allow the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to approve new organizational structures and positions, and provide time for the transfer of personnel and assets, closing and opening of accounts, and the establishment of regional offices.

The new organizational structures is being eyed to be completed in September this year, according to del Rosario.

RA 11201 was passed in Congress on November 12, 2018, and signed into law by President Duterte on February 14 this year. The functions of the DHSUD involve policy-making, regulatory, as well as monitoring of the environmental land use, and urban planning and development; housing and real-estate development; and homeowners associations and community development.

The newly created government agency is tasked to identify government lands suitable for housing, as well as urban and rural development projects. The identification of government lands is to be undertaken jointly with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), as well as the Land Registration Authority (LRA).

The law also reconstitutes HLURB into an independent quasi-judicial body called the Human Settlements Adjudication Commission, with the HSAC performing the HLURB’s adjudicatory functions over controversies involving real-estate development and sales to expedite the resolution of these cases.

The law also provides for a National Human Settlements Board (NHSB) to exercise policy-making powers over corporations attached to the DHSUD.

The regional offices set up by the DHSUD shall be a regional housing one-stop processing center that aims to streamline the processing of housing-related permits, clearances and licenses.

The DHSUD is also instructed to manage and oversee emergency post-disaster and shelter recovery, as well as climate- change adaptation and mitigation risk reduction interventions.

The IRR was signed by HUDCC Chairman Del Rosario, HLURB CEO Lloyd Christopher Lao, CSC Chairman Alicia dela Rosa-Bala, and DBM OIC Acting Secretary Janet B. Abuel. According to the IRR, the HUDCC chairman shall oversee the operations of the DHSUD until a department secretary is appointed by President Duterte and has assumed office.

Sen. Christopher Lawrence T. Go said in his opening remarks that he has already submitted the National Housing Development, Production and Financing bill in the Senate as one of his top bills, to make the dream of housing for every Filipino come true. He noted a 7-million housing backlog in the Philippines.

“I shall work hard to ensure that all initiatives, policies and plans of the President related to planning will have the optimum support of the Senate especially when it comes to the budget…. Naniniwala ako na dapat wala nang squatter dito sa ating bayan at wala nang pamilyang walang bahay [I believe there should be no squatter in our land, and no family should be homeless],” Go said.

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/07/22/irr-signed-for-law-on-dept-of-human-settlements/

House of Representatives ready for SONA 2019

The House of Representatives is all set for the two big events on Monday – the fourth State of the Nation Address of President Rodrigo Duterte (SONA) and the Opening of the First Regular Session of the 18th Congress.

As early as February 20, 2019, former President and Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, through Memorandum No. 17-200, created a Task Force to assist in the preparation for the Opening of the First Regular Session of the 18th Congress and the Joint Session of Congress to hear the SONA of President Duterte.

Then Speaker Arroyo named House Acting Secretary-General Dante Roberto Maling as Chairperson of the Steering Committee of Task Force SONA 2019 and the chairpersons of the various Working Committees.

Maling said the House is fully ready for its hosting job for SONA 2019, after spending months preparing and implementing all the necessary details to ensure a safe, orderly and peaceful SONA this year.

“The House is fully ready for SONA 2019. We have ensured that all details for the Opening of the First Regular Session of the 18th Congress in the morning and the President’s SONA in the afternoon have been considered and well taken care of for the safe, peaceful and orderly holding of these big events. These include the necessary internal and external security measures and requirements, protocol arrangements, parking restrictions, media coverage, other physical arrangements, prescribed and required attire, and final reminders to guests particularly with regard to their invitations, seat cards and car passes, among others” said Maling.

In his latest Advisory, Maling laid down the guidelines to ensure the safe and orderly conduct of Monday’s events.

For the entry and exit from the House Complex, the “No Car Pass, No Entry” policy shall be in effect from 4am on SONA Day. The Main/South Gate is for the exclusive entrance of vehicles of House Members, Senators, Congressional Spouses and their back-up, VIP guests, and House and Senate Secretariat officials.

The North Gate shall serve as the entrance gate of vehicles of invited guests, OB vans and generator sets, emergency vehicles (i.e. fire trucks, ambulances and military vehicles), House shuttle buses and vehicles with “Drop-Off” passes.

Only accredited members of media institutions wearing the official SONA 2019 Media IDs, together with their agency IDs, will be allowed entry to the House Complex.

The Main Gate, North Gate or Gate 2, which is beside the President Corazon C. Aquino Elementary Schools, will be closed at 4pm. These will be used as exit gates of vehicles after the SONA.

Motorcycles, taxicabs and Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) are barred from entry to the House Complex.

All parking spaces within the House Complex will be strictly for vehicles bearing color-coded car passes on a “First Come, First Serve” basis based on the parking plan.

Secretariat employees and congressional staff who wish to bring their vehicles may avail of the parking spaces at the Civil Service Commission and the Batasan National High School.

The following guidelines apply for access to House buildings: 1) the “No SONA 2019 ID, No Entry” policy will be enforced; 2) upon entry, everyone is required to undergo body search; 3) all personal belongings need to pass through the X-ray machine; 4) authorized personnel reporting for work on SONA Day are required to wear their color-coded SONA 2019 IDs at all times; 5) firearms are not allowed within the premises except those of authorized security personnel; 5) the Main building entrances will be closed at 1pm and will be opened after the SONA for the exit of guests.

In the morning of SONA Day, countersigns (special stickers) will be issued to the following for access to restricted areas: House officials, employees, congressional staff, usherettes assigned at restricted areas, and close- in photographers of the President, Senate President and House Speaker.

Live coverage, interviews and photo shoots by media personnel are allowed at the North and South Wing lobbies up to 3pm only.

For the Joint Session of Congress in the afternoon, the Advisory highlights that there will be a one-kilometer “No Fly Zone” over the area of the House Complex from 1pm to 6pm.

At 1pm, the South Wing Lobby will be closed to all Secretariat employees, Congressional staff and visitors, Only Protocol Officers, in-House media personnel, authorized media and security personnel deployed at the lobby will be allowed to stay to welcome guests.

Arriving House Members, Senators, Congressional Spouses, VIPs and members of the Diplomatic Corps shall enter through the South Wing lobby or the North Wing lobby. All other guests, media personnel and visitors shall pass through the North Wing lobby.

Entry to the Plenary Hall will be strictly prohibited from 12 noon to 1pm for final security inspection and clearing, except for RTVM personnel who will install the teleprompters and florists who will do the flower arrangements after the end of the Opening of the First Regular Session.

The Plenary Hall will be opened to guests/visitors of the Joint Session at 2pm. The sliding doors at the Main Entrance of the Plenary Hall will be closed 15 minutes before the President and his party enter the session hall.

Entrance doors at all three galleries will be closed at 3:30 pm. Everyone in the Plenary Hall must be seated at 3:30 pm.

Senators, House Members, and guests arriving after the President has begun his SONA will be escorted to the North Lounge where they shall be attended to.

The “No Invitation/No Seat Pass/No Entry” policy shall be enforced. Reserved seating shall be strictly observed at the Middle, first and second galleries of the Plenary Hall. “Free Seating” is allowed only at the third gallery of the Plenary Hall.

Cellphones, radio transceivers and other similar gadgets must be turned off while inside the Plenary Hall.

Meanwhile, the “No Cocktail Pass, No Entry” policy will be strictly enforced at the South Wing lobby where the cocktail reception will be held.

The Working Committees of Task Force SONA 2019 are the following: Committee on Program Scenario and Plenary Support chaired by Deputy Secretary-General for Operations Atty. David Robert Amorin; Committee on Nation’s Prayer chaired by Deputy Secretary-General for Committee Affairs Atty. Arlene Dada-Arnaldo; Committee on Invitations, Reception and Protocol chaired by Executive Director Edith Cardenas of the Inter-Parliamentary Relations and Special Affairs Bureau; Committee on Media chaired by Executive Director Ma. Bernadette dela Cuesta of the Press and Public Affairs Bureau; Committee on Presidential Honors and Security chaired by Sergeant-at-Arms MGen. Romeo Prestoza, AFP (Ret.); Committee on Administrative Concerns chaired by Deputy Secretary-General for Administration Dr. Ramon Ricardo Roque; Committee on Finance chaired by Acting Secretary General Dante Roberto Maling; Committee on Physical Arrangements chaired by Deputy Secretary General for Engineering and Physical Facilities Engr. Floro Banaybanay; Executive Director Thelma Marie Inton of the Knowledge Management Systems Bureau as the Task Force Secretary; and Executive Director of the Legislative Security Bureau Lt. Col. Isabelito Flores as head of the Joint Coordinating Center. / Rowena B. Bundang, News and Documentation Section/ House of Representatives of the Philippines

http://www.congress.gov.ph/press/details.php?pressid=11619

House Members convene Monday morning for opening of 18th Congress

Members of the House of Representatives will convene on Monday for the Opening of the First Regular Session of the 18th Congress at 10am, with the election of the new Speaker expected to highlight the event.

As provided for in Article VI, Sections 15 and 16 of the 1987 Constitution, the Congress shall convene once every year on the fourth Monday of July for its regular session and the Senate shall elect its President and the House of Representatives its Speaker, by a majority vote of all its respective Members. Each House shall choose such other officers as it may deem necessary.

During the past 17th Congress, the Rules of the House provided that in the first Meeting and organization of the House, the Members shall meet and proceed to the organization of the House on the fourth Monday of July immediately following their election at the place designated for the holding of their sessions.

The Rules further provided that the Secretary General of the immediately preceding Congress shall preside over the inaugural session of the House until the election of a new Speaker. As presiding officer, the Secretary General shall call the session to order, call the roll of Members by provinces, cities and municipalities comprising districts, and by party-lists in alphabetical order, designate an acting Floor Leader, and preserve order and decorum.

The Rules also provided that after the designation of an acting Floor Leader, the body shall proceed to the election of the Speaker. The Speaker shall be elected by a majority vote of all the Members through a roll call vote with Members casting their vote without explanation. After the oath-taking of the newly-elected Speaker, the body shall proceed to the adoption of the rules of the immediately preceding Congress to govern its proceedings until the approval and adoption of the rules of the current Congress.

In tomorrow’s opening session, the elected Speaker is expected to give his traditional Acceptance Speech to thank his colleagues and bare his legislative priorities in the 18th Congress.

House Members are also expected to pass a resolution informing President Rodrigo Duterte that the House has convened and organized, and is ready to receive the President and hear the SONA.

In the afternoon, the Senate and the House will convene in a Joint Session to hear the President’s SONA at 4pm.

In his latest SONA Advisory for the Honorable Members, and House officials and employees, House Acting Secretary General Dante Roberto Maling said all House Members are requested to attend the Opening of the First Regular Session of the 18th Congress which will start promptly at 10am.

The prescribed attire inside the Plenary Hall for House Members shall be business attire (for ladies and gentlemen) or Filipiniana dress (for ladies) and Barong Filipino (for gentlemen).

Secretariat employees and congressional staff who are assigned inside the Plenary Hall are required to wear Barong Filipino or business attire for the gentlemen( long sleeves polo shirt) and for the ladies, business attire/ blouse and skirt or dress with sleeves (with blazer).

Filipino tenor and Broadway singer Arman Ferrer is expected to sing the Philippine National Anthem “Lupang Hinirang” both at the opening of the session in the morning and the Joint Session for the SONA in the afternoon.

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO), the country's leading orchestra and one of the top musical ensembles in the Asia-Pacific region, is set to play several original Pilipino music (OPM) and provide the accompaniment to Ferrer in the Joint Session.

For the second time, Malacanang tapped award-winning film and television director Joyce Bernal to direct this year’s SONA. Bernal hopes that this year’s SONA will be hopeful, lively and grand./ Rowena B. Bundang, News and Document Section-Press and Public Affairs Bureau/ House of Representatives of the Philippines

http://www.congress.gov.ph/press/details.php?pressid=11618

Estrada to run again for Manila mayor

Former president and Manila mayor Joseph Estrada wants to regain power in 2022.

In a telephone interview with The STAR, Estrada confirmed that he will run again for mayor of Manila in the 2022 elections.

“I was hocused-PCOS. I lead all the surveys, but I was defeated by the machines,” Estrada said, referring to the precinct count optical scanners used to read ballots.

Late last month, Estrada declared he was signing off on 50 years of public service during his farewell party with relatives, friends and former Cabinet members.

He said he will run again for mayor because he “does not like the way” his successor, Mayor Isko Moreno, handled the vendors in clearing the city’s streets.

“He should not have rushed in removing the vendors. He should have given them time to look for an alternative place where they can sell their products. Many poor people lost their incomes and they, along with their families, are going hungry,” Estrada said.

Estrada said he cannot take the vendors’ plight sitting down.

“I owe everything to them (poor). Erap will not be in his place right now had it not been for the poor. I cannot repay the poor in life or in death. As the Lord said what you do to the least of my brethren, you also do it unto me,” Estrada said.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2019/07/21/1936396/erap-estrada-run-again-manila-mayor

FALSE: ABS-CBN is 'confirmed' to close down

ABS-CBN's existing franchise, approved in March 1995, expires on March 30, 2020 yet. A franchise bill has to be refiled when the 18th Congress opens on July 22, 2019.

Claim: It's confirmed that ABS-CBN Corporation will close down.

YouTube channel JoParDy claimed this in its video, which bore the title: “Confirmed!!! ABS-CBN magsasarado na!” (Confirmed!!! ABS-CBN will already close down!)

The 11-minute video, uploaded on June 22, showed various clips of Duterte warning ABS-CBN that its franchise, which is due to expire next year, will not be renewed because of the media company's supposed refusal to run his political ads during the 2016 presidential campaign.

It also included a clip of Ben Tulfo from Bitag Multimedia Network talking about the same issue.

As of writing, the video has garnered around 62,000 views and 172 comments. It has also been shared in Facebook groups Duterte Watch Tower & Phils. Travel and Duterte One Nation, with a combined 609 reactions, 109 comments, and 3,262 shares.

Rappler spotted the video via Facebook Claim Check, a tool that flags potential hoaxes and dubious content for fact checkers’ review.

Rating: FALSE

The facts: President Rodrigo Duterte has been consistent in expressing his opposition to ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal bill. House Bill No. 4349, which seeks to renew ABS-CBN's franchise for another 25 years, was not acted upon before the 17th Congress adjourned in June 2019.

The franchise bill has to be refiled when the 18th Congress opens on July 22. Its current franchise was approved via Republic Act No. 7966 on March 30, 1995 and is set to expire on March 30, 2020.

In April 2017, Duterte first warned the network that he would block its franchise renewal. He accused the network of "swindling" him for not airing his paid political advertisements in 2016. He first publicly threatened ABS-CBN days after he signed into law the franchise renewal of the network's rival, GMA Network.

He repeated his threat to block the renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise in August 2018.

ABS-CBN said it is unable to comment on or clarify a report by Philippine Star on June 19 about the "freezing" of its franchise bill, when the Philippine Stock Exchange asked for confirmation about the article.

The YouTube channel JoParDy was created in August 2017, with around 2 million views as of writing. The channel claims it "is about the best tips for IT Programming, Laptop/Computer Troubleshooting, HTML, CSS, and Photoshop." Aside from technology, the channel also tackles pop culture. – Addie Pobre

https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/235655-abs-cbn-confirmed-to-close-down

Robinsons Land opens Galleria mall in Laguna

ROBINSONS Land Corp. (RLC) is opening its 52nd shopping mall in the country — the Robinsons Galleria South Mall in San Pedro, Laguna.

In a statement, the Gokongwei-led real estate company said Robinsons Galleria South is the third Galleria mall, after the malls in Ortigas Center and General Maxilom, Cebu City.

“We are excited to open Robinsons Galleria South, which will be of great service and convenience to the residents of Laguna and Southern Metro Manila,” RLC President Frederick D. Go said in a statement.

This is also the company’s 10th mall in the Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon (Calabarzon) region.

Located along the Old National Highway, Robinsons Galleria South is a four-level lifestyle mall on a 3.8-hectare lot. It has a gross leasable area of 48,000 square meters.

The mall features a food court called Eat Street with a variety of establishments such as Ta Ke Ho Me Sushi, Shou Noodles, Seafoods and Steak, Hot Chicks Fried chicken, Fire Pit, Slice N Dice, Potato Corner, G-Spot Burger Bar, Super Bagnet, Una Gansig, Ilocos Empanada, and Zawrap Shawarma.

Robinsons Galleria South has an area devoted to Japanese and Korean brands called JK Town, as well as a digital playground called PlayLab.

It also has six cinemas, including the first VIP Robinsons Movieworld, and the St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta chapel.

The mall also has a Robinsons Supermarket, Robinsons Department Store, Robinsons Appliances, Handyman, South Star Drug, Robinsons Bank, Daiso Japan, and Arcova. It also has a satellite offices of Social Security System, PhilHealth and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

Shares in RLC added 2.27% or 60 centavos to close at P27 each at the stock exchange on Thursday. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang

https://www.bworldonline.com/robinsons-land-opens-galleria-mall-in-laguna/

Villar’s AllHome prepares P20.7-b IPO in September

AllHome Corp., a retail chain of home furnishing and construction supplies owned by the country’s richest man, Manuel Villar, is raising up to P20.7 billion from an initial public offering in September this year.

AllHome said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission it planned to offer up to 1.12 billion primary and secondary shares with an over-allotment option for another 168.750 million shares at a price of P16 apiece.

The company plans to hold the maiden share offering in September.

Net proceeds from the offering will be used for capital expenditures and initial working capital to fund store expansion and debt repayment.

The company had 25 stores with a net selling space of 196,327 square meters across 20 cities and municipalities as of end-June 2019.

Its product offering spans seven key categories from more than 800 local and international brands, including 18 in-house brands. These product categories are furniture, hardware, appliances, tiles and sanitary wares, homewares, linens and construction materials.

AllHome plans to open 19 new stores in the second half of the year and another 19 stores in 2020.

It is also expanding its Alabang branch to increase its net selling space from 5,845 sqm to 12,340 sqm.

The company tapped UBS, CLSA and Credit Suisse as the  joint book-runners and PNB Capital and Investments Corp. and China Bank Capital Corp. as local underwriters for the offering.

All Home saw its net income expand by 354.2 percent in 2018 to P511.4 million from P112.6 million in 2017 as revenues jumped 46.9 percent to 7.19 billion from P4.89 billion.

The company also booked a net income of P207.1 million in the first quarter of 2019, up 375 percent from P43.6 million recorded in the same period last year.

First-quarter revenues surged 67.8 percent to P2.38 billion from P1.42 billion in 2018 following the opening of six new stores.

All Home will be the fourth listed company of the Villar group which also owns Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc., Golden Bria Holdings Inc. and Star Malls Inc.

Villar, a former senate president and presidential candidate, was named as the country’s richest man by Forbes in March for having a net worth of $5.5 billion.

All Home is also the second company to file for an IPO this year.  In June, Axelum Resources Corp., an export-oriented manufacturer of premium coconut products, filed its IPO application with the SEC with an intention to raise up to P7.7 billion.

http://www.manilastandard.net/index.php/business/business-stocks/300151/villar-s-allhome-prepares-p20-7-b-ipo-in-september.html

[ANALYSIS] The poor quality of economic growth under Duterte

It's been a jobless, ruthless, voiceless, rootless, and futureless growth

One of the high points of my college days was taking a course under “Mareng Winnie” Monsod called Development Economics. I learned there that economic growth is not the be-all and end-all of development. Growth is but a means to an end, not an end in itself.

After all, growth can be antithetical to development in so many ways. The 1996 Human Development Report warned that growth can also be jobless, ruthless, voiceless, rootless, and futureless.

More than a decade later, this lesson has stuck with me, and it could not be a more appropriate lens through which we can (and should) assess the current state of the Philippine economy under Duterte, especially now that we’re past his midterm.

In this article we show that not only has the economy weakened in the past 3 years, but – more importantly – it’s also of poor quality.

Weaker growth

In the pre-SONA event organized by the government's economic managers, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III trumpeted that the growth of the nation’s income – as measured by GDP or gross domestic product – clocked in at an “impressive” and “robust” 6.5% for the first 11 quarters of the Duterte administration.

But a closer look shows that growth has weakened.

From 7.1% when Duterte came into office, growth has foundered to a dismal 5.6% in the first quarter of 2019, the lowest in 4 years (Figure 1). It’s also below the government’s target of 6% to 7%.

Government economists blame Congress’s failure to pass the 2019 budget on time, which set back many government infrastructure projects for the first third of 2019. In a way, Congress derailed Duterte’s own infrastructure project called Build, Build, Build.

Note that 2019 is also an election year, and growth should be higher than normal. I shudder to think how much lower growth would’ve been last quarter had it not been for the elections.

Threats to future growth also lurk nearby.

For instance, we might soon feel the effects of the escalating trade tensions between the US and China.

Investors are also reportedly holding off their expansion in the Philippines – or flocking to more competitive counties like Vietnam – at least until the cloud of uncertainty surrounding the Trabaho bill is dispelled.

Poor-quality growth

Even more disturbing than its downtrend, economic growth has also been of poor quality. It’s been jobless, ruthless, voiceless, rootless, and futureless.

1) Jobless growth

Job creation in the past 3 years has been deplorable.

Official data show that between 2016 and 2018 the Duterte administration saw only 81,000 new jobs each year. Since 2017, annual job growth averaged at just 0.2% (Figure 2).

The Palace dismissed this as a “mathematical impossibility” concocted by the economic think tank IBON Foundation. But the data in fact came from the Philippine Statistics Authority itself.

2) Ruthless growth

Growth has also been ruthless since many of Duterte’s policies are anti-poor.

Luckily for the administration, the country’s poverty rate has gone down from a fourth to a fifth of the population – from the first half of 2015 to the same period in 2018.

But runaway inflation last year (Figure 3), caused in part by the government’s rice mismanagement and the TRAIN law, also impoverished Filipinos by reducing the amount of goods and services they could buy with their incomes.

Duterte’s pet project – the war on drugs – has also killed tens of thousands of Filipinos, almost exclusively among the ranks of the poor. Is this government eradicating poverty by eradicating the poor?

It seems that the government is turning its back on the very idea of “inclusive growth.” In the recent pre-SONA forum, one slide said tellingly, “Our ultimate goal is to bring down poverty rates and create more opportunities for all law-abiding Filipinos” (emphasis mine).

This is hypocritical on two counts. First, inclusive growth is clearly stated as a goal in the Philippine Development Plan. Second, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia himself coined the term “inclusive growth” in a paper published in 2000.

3) Voiceless growth

Even if the economy continues to grow, the Filipino people’s ability to speak out and air their grievances has palpably shrunk.

A large part of it is due to the climate of fear spawned by Duterte’s war on drugs.

The situation is so bad that the United Nations Human Rights Commission is now calling for a probe on the war on drugs, concurrent with the “preliminary examination” of the International Criminal Court.

Checks and balances in government are all but gone. Duterte enjoys tremendous influence in the executive, legislative, and judiciary, which are supposed to check on one another. Duterte is also attacking independent constitutional agencies left and right, such as the Commission on Human Rights and the Ombudsman.

And then, of course, we’re all familiar with how the government is stifling independent media, with Rappler currently facing numerous legal battles and ABS-CBN risking the non-renewal of its franchise next year.

4) Rootless growth

When growth impinges on minority groups or cultural identities, you might call it rootless growth.

For instance, more than two years since the Marawi siege, many Maranao evacuees still live in tent cities and cannot return to their homes. Rehabilitation was stalled largely because Chinese firms were vying to build a new Marawi, even without the consent of the Maranaos.

Meanwhile, the lives and communities of the Dumagats are now under threat from the Chinese-funded Kaliwa Dam project in Quezon.

Although the dam is touted to be a major solution to Metro Manila’s water woes, the Dumagats were also not consulted even if their communities face inundation. Local government leaders were also “totally unaware” of the project until after the signing of the loan agreement with China.

5) Futureless growth

Finally, growth is unsustainable (or futureless) if pursued at the expense of the environment.

Perhaps the most glaring instance of this would be China’s aggressive expansion in the West Philippine Sea. Several reports repeatedly show their overfishing, their destruction of coral reefs, and their reclamation of new islands.

Yet even with such environmental atrocities, Duterte refrains from invoking (even mentioning) our victory in the arbitral tribunal in 2016. In the wake of the recent boat ramming incident, Duterte also did not come to the defense of the Filipino fishermen, and even seems to be lawyering for the Chinese government.

Where on earth is his famed “tapang at malasakit” (courage and compassion)?

It’s alarming enough that economic growth in the first 3 years of the Duterte administration has been trending down. Yet, at the same time, growth has been jobless, ruthless, voiceless, rootless, and futureless.

In other words, economic growth under Duterte bears all the hallmarks of bad growth.

Disturbingly, it did not figure in the recent midterm and local elections, which were dominated by Duterte's candidates. Why?

Remember we’re just halfway through the Duterte administration. How much worse could things get?

The author is a PhD candidate at the UP School of Economics. His views are independent of the views of his affiliations. Follow JC on Twitter (@jcpunongbayan) and Usapang Econ (usapangecon.com).

https://www.rappler.com/thought-leaders/235696-analysis-poor-quality-economic-growth-under-duterte

ABS-CBN franchise renewal up to Congress, not Duterte: Palace

The renewal of ABS-CBN Corporation's franchise will be up Congress, not President Rodrigo Duterte, his spokesman said Thursday.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo made the remark when asked about the case of rival broadcaster TV5, whose franchise lapsed into law. A bill granting a fresh franchise to the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines also lapsed into law without the President's signature.

"But ABS-CBN ang expiration next year pa eh, tsaka Congress naman. Nasa Kongreso ang bola niyan, hindi naman kay Presidente."

(ABS-CBN's franchise will expire next year and that will depend on Congress not the President.)

Duterte has criticized ABS-CBN for allegedly not airing a 2016 campaign that he paid for and instead showing a TV spot that was critical of him and was paid by his critic, former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

The franchise of the Lopez-led network will expire in March 2020.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/07/18/19/abs-cbn-franchise-renewal-up-to-congress-not-duterte-palace

TV5 Network’s franchise renewed for another 25 years

A bill extending the franchise granted to ABC Development Corp. — presently known as TV5 Network, Inc. — has lapsed into law after President Rodrigo Duterte failed to act on the measure.

Republic Act 11320 renewed TV5’s franchise for another 25 years.

According to a copy of the law released by Malacañang Thursday, the bill lapsed into law on April 22, 2019.

Under the Constitution, bills sent to Malacañang will lapse into law if the president does not approve or veto them 30 days after transmittal.

The extension of TV5’s franchise came amid Duterte’s threats to block the franchise renewal of media and entertainment giant ABS-CBN Corp.

ABS-CBN’s franchise expires on March 30, 2020.

Duterte first expressed his opposition to the extension of ABS-CBN’s franchise on April 27, 2017, which came days after he signed a law extending the franchise of rival GMA Network Inc.

In 2017, Duterte hit ABS-CBN and newspaper The Philippine Daily Inquirer for their supposed “unfair” and “slanted” reporting of his administration. — Ian Nicolas Cigaral

https://www.philstar.com/business/2019/07/18/1935786/tv5-networks-franchise-renewed-another-25-years

CBCP broadcast franchise renewal, 13 other bills lapse into law

AT LEAST 14 proposed measures, including a bill granting 25-year extension for the congressional franchise of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), have lapsed into law.

Even sans the President's signature, a bill automatically becomes a law if left unsigned 30 days after being received by the Office of the President.

Republic Act (RA) 11319, which extends CBCP's broadcast franchise for another 25 years, lapsed into law on April 22.

The last franchise of CBCP, a religious body that remains at odds with President Rodrigo Duterte, was granted in August 2017.

RA 11319 allows CBCP to continue operating and maintaining its radio and television broadcasting facilities "for religious, education, cultural, and commercial purposes."

Other bills that lapsed into law are RAs 11252, 11253, 11316, 11317, 11318, 11320, 11339, 11340, 11341, and 11342.

The said laws respectively extend the franchises of RMC Broadcasting Corporation, Advanced Media Broadcasting System Inc., PBN Broadcasting Network Inc., Andres Bonifacio College Broadcasting System Inc., Insular Broadcasting System Inc., TV5 Network Inc., Cebu Broadcasting Company, Radio Marine Network Inc., First Love Broadcasting Network Inc., and Tirad Pass Radio TV Broadcasting Network Inc. for another 25 years.

RAs 11252 and 11253 lapsed into law on March 30, while RAs 11316, 11317, 11318, and 11320 lapsed into law on April 22.

Meantime, RAs 11339, 11340, 11341, and 11342 lapsed into law on April 27.

It is no secret that Duterte has been attacking the media for their supposed "biased" and "false" reporting.

RA 11329, which establishes a campus of the Bulacan State University in San Rafael, Bulacan, lapsed into law on April 22.

Bulacan State University-San Rafael Campus is mandated to offer graduate, undergraduate, and short-term technical-vocational courses to students, according to RA 11329.

A bill that also lapsed into law is RA 11309, which rectified the period to constitute the search committee for the presidency of the Palompon Institute of Technology and extends the deadline for its compliance with the requirements of the Commission on Higher education for conversion into a state university.

RA 11309 lapsed into law on April 20.

RA 11338, which seeks to create the position of assistant city administrator, emphasize the prohibition on illegal gambling, and establishes the city registry of deeds, is the other proposed measure that lapsed into law on April 27.

The copies of all the 14 laws were made public just on Thursday, July 18.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the President is not opposed to bills that lapsed into law.

"Ibig sabihin, kung pina-lapse niya, ibig sabihin, okay sa kanya (It means that he is okay with the measures, if all of those lapsed into law)," the Palace official said, when sought for reaction on the President's failure to sign the proposed measures.

"That means, effectively, parang pinirmahan niya rin 'yun. Ganoon naman 'yun. Kasi when a President, who is supposed to sign, will let a law pass, ibig sabihin, okay lang sa kanya 'yun (That means, effectively, he also signed that. That's how it works. Because when a President, who is supposed to sign, will let a law pass, it means he has no problem with that)," he added. (SunStar Philippines)

TV5, CBCP franchise extension bills lapse into law —Malacañang

The bills renewing the broadcast franchise of TV5 Network and the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines have lapsed into law as President Rodrigo Duterte did not act on them within the period set by the Constitution.

Republic Act 11319 extends for another 25 years the congressional franchise of CBCP to construct, install, establish, operate and maintain radio and or television broadcasting stations in the Philippines for religious, cultural and commercial purposes.

TV5 also got a 25-year franchise extension under Republic Act 11320.

Malacañang said the proposed measures actually lapsed into law on April 22.

Under the Constitution, any bill that is neither signed nor vetoed by the President will automatically lapse into law 30 days after it was forwarded by Congress.

Other bills pertaining to the franchise extension of the following entities have also lapsed into law:

• Rizal Memorial Colleges Broadcasting Corporation (RA 11252)
• Advanced Media Broadcasting System, Inc. (RA 11253)
• PBN Broadcasting Network, Inc. (RA 11316)
• Andres Bonifacio College Broadcasting System, Inc. (RA 11317)
• Insular Broadcasting System, Inc. (RA 11318)
• Cebu Broadcasting Company (RA 11339)
• Radio Marine Network, Inc. (RA 11340)
• First Love Broadcasting Network, Inc. (RA 11341)
• Tirad Pass Radio TV Broadcasting Network, Inc. (RA 11342)

Duterte has repeatedly lambasted the Catholic Church even though he considers CBCP president and Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles as his riend.

He even brought up the supposed misdeeds of clergymen and claimed to have been molested by a priest when he was a young student.

Last year, Duterte drew flak from religious groups and politicians after he remarked that God is “stupid.”

However, Duterte said the clergy should not use the pulpit to attack him and his policies, particularly the war on drugs.

Born and raised a Catholic, Duterte said on Wednesday that he is a “deeply religious person” who uses the Bible as guide in his daily life. —VDS, GMA News

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/companies/701457/tv5-cbcp-franchise-extension-bills-lapse-into-law-malacanang/story/

Bills renewing TV5, CBCP franchises lapse into law

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo cannot explain why Duterte did not sign the bill instead

The bills renewing the franchises of TV5 Network Incorporated and the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) lapsed into law on April 22, according to copies of the laws from Malacañang.

The Palace sent media copies of the laws 3 months after, on Thursday, July 18.

The laws lack President Rodrigo Duterte's signature and bears a stamp stating that they had lapsed into law on April 22.

Bill renewing franchise of TV5 lapses into law. See last page of law lacking President Rodrigo Duterte's signature. @rapplerdotcom pic.twitter.com/3u36uPFOHc

— Pia Ranada (@piaranada) July 18, 2019

President Duterte also lets bill renewing CBCP franchise lapse into law. @rapplerdotcom pic.twitter.com/jawfP6P2ya

— Pia Ranada (@piaranada) July 18, 2019

This meas TV5 Network, which operates the TV5 television station and Radyo Singko, gets to operate for another 25 years. CBCP can also operate radio or television stations throughout the country for another 25 years.

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo could not explain why Duterte did not sign the bill. He said in the Thursday press conference that Duterte probably did not object to TV5's franchise renewal, hence he allowed it to lapse into law.

Meanwhile, the CBCP is led by Duterte's friend, Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles even as it includes among its officers priests who have been highly critical of the President. This includes Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, who himself has been a subject of Duterte's rants and threats.

Last January, the CBCP issued a statement that appeared to decry Duterte's slurs against teachings of the Catholic Church.

A president can either sign a law, veto it entirely or in part, or not act on it until it lapses into law.

Observers are closely watching the government's moves on the franchise renewal of network ABS-CBN, which Duterte has frequently railed against for supposedly "biased" reporting and for supposedly not airing his political advertisements as 2016 presidential candidate when his campaign team had paid for them.

Duterte has threatened to block ABS-CBN's franchise renewal. The network's franchise expires in 2020.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/235701-bills-renewing-tv5-cbcp-franchises-lapse-into-law