Jesus Miracle Crusade

The '''Jesus Miracle Crusade International Ministry''' (acronym as '''JMCIM''') is an [[United Pentecostal Church International|Apostolic Pentecostal]] religious group in the [[Philippines]] which believes particularly in the promotion of miracles and faith in God for healing. JMCIM was founded by [[Evangelism|Evangelist]] [[Wilde E. Almeda]]<ref name="sever">{{cite book|last1=Severino|first1=Rodolfo C.|last2=Salazar|first2=Lorraine Carlos|title=Whither the Philippines in the 21st Century?|publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian Studies|isbn=9789812304995|page=110|url=https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=FNFh114RQv8C&pg=PA110|accessdate=21 November 2016|language=en}}</ref> in February 14, 1975. It has chapters and members in the Philippines, the [[United States]], [[Canada]], [[Europe]], the [[Middle east]], [[Australia]], [[Singapore]], [[Japan]], [[China]], and other parts of [[Asia]] .<ref name="sever"/>

==History==
It has a focus on faith healing, form both physical and spiritual disorders; its ministry conceptualizes substance abuse, marital problems, and other personal and life issues as spiritual disorders.<ref name="Goh">{{cite book|last1=Goh|first1=Robbie|title=Christianity in Southeast Asia|date=2005|publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian Studies|isbn=9812302972|page=29}}</ref> It also held several anti-communism rallies in the country.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Westerlund |first1=David |title=Questioning the Secular State: The Worldwide Resurgence of Religion in Politics |date=1996 |publisher=C. Hurst & Co. Publishers |isbn=9781850652410 |page=343 |url=https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=hg2ZyH7nr9cC&pg=PA343 |accessdate=11 January 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

==Doctrine==
They also adhere to the [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostal]] formulation of [[baptism]], whereby believers are baptized in the name of [[Jesus Christ]], commonly referred to as [[Jesus' Name doctrine|Jesus-name baptism]], rather than using the [[Trinity|Trinitarian]] formula, and promote Pentecostal standards of holiness in conversation, appearance, and way of thinking.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.upci.org/about.asp|title=Doctrinal Views|date=2010-07-06|publisher=United Pentecostal Church International}}</ref>

As a charismatic group, the Jesus Miracle Crusade believes in [[speaking in tongues]] and [[faith healing]] and makes crusades.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Brouwer|first1=Steve|last2=Gifford|first2=Paul|last3=Rose|first3=Susan D.|title=Exporting the American Gospel: Global Christian Fundamentalism|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781136672194|url=https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=6UNdAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA97|accessdate=21 November 2016|language=en}}</ref>

==Broadcasts==

The Jesus Miracle Crusade TV program was originally launched on IBC 13 from 1975 to 1986. Following the success of the program, it moved again to GMA-7 from 1995 to 2002. At present, the Jesus Miracle Crusade TV program airs on PTV-4 every Saturday from 11 PM to 1 AM before sign-off. From 2007 to the present, the Jesus Miracle Crusade radio program airs over DZME 1530 kHz AM Band in Metro Manila on Mondays to Saturdays from 11 PM to 12 midnight before sign-off, and DWOK 97.5 MHz in Olongapo on Mondays to Sundays from 11 PM to 12 midnight.

==Local and International Chapters==
The movement has the following chapters nationally and internationally:

===[[Philippines]]===
{{div col start}}
* [[Manila]]
* [[Quezon City]]
* [[Caloocan|Caloocan City]]
* [[Las Piñas|Las Piñas City]]
* [[Makati|Makati City]]
* [[Malabon|Malabon City]]
* [[Mandaluyong|Mandaluyong City]]
* [[Marikina|Marikina City]]
* [[Muntinlupa|Muntinlupa City]]
* [[Navotas|Navotas City]]
* [[Parañaque|Parañaque City]]
* [[Pasay|Pasay City]]
* [[Pasig|Pasig City]]
* [[San Juan, Metro Manila|San Juan City]]
* [[Taguig|Taguig City]]
* [[Valenzuela, Metro Manila|Valenzuela City]]
* [[Pateros, Metro Manila|Pateros]]
* [[Ilocos Norte]]
* [[Ilocos Sur]]
* [[La Union]]
* [[Pangasinan]]
* [[Abra (province)|Abra]]
* [[Apayao]]
* [[Baguio]]
* [[Benguet]]
* [[Ifugao]]
* [[Kalinga (province)|Kalinga]]
* [[Mountain Province]]
* [[Batanes]]
* [[Cagayan]]
* [[Isabela (province)|Isabela]]
* [[Nueva Vizcaya]]
* [[Quirino]]
* [[Angeles, Philippines|Angeles]]
* [[Aurora (province)|Aurora]]
* [[Bataan]]
* [[Bulacan]]
* [[Nueva Ecija]]
* [[Pampanga]]
* [[Tarlac]]
* [[Zambales]]
* [[Batangas]]
* [[Cavite]]
* [[Laguna (province)|Laguna]]
* [[Quezon (province)|Quezon]]
* [[Rizal]]
* [[Marinduque]]
* [[Occidental Mindoro]]
* [[Oriental Mindoro]]
* [[Palawan]]
* [[Romblon]]
* [[Albay]]
* [[Camarines Norte]]
* [[Camarines Sur]]
* [[Catanduanes]]
* [[Masbate]]
* [[Sorsogon]]
* [[Aklan]]
* [[Antique]]
* [[Bacolod]]
* [[Capiz]]
* [[Guimaras]]
* [[Iloilo City]]
* [[Iloilo]]
* [[Negros Occidental]]
* [[Bohol]]
* [[Cebu City]]
* [[Cebu]]
* [[Lapu-Lapu, Philippines|Lapu-Lapu]]
* [[Mandaue]]
* [[Negros Oriental]]
* [[Siquijor]]
* [[Biliran]]
* [[Eastern Samar]]
* [[Leyte (province)|Leyte]]
* [[Northern Samar]]
* [[Southern Leyte]]
* [[Samar (province)|Samar]]
* [[Zamboanga City]]
* [[Zamboanga del Norte]]
* [[Zamboanga del Sur]]
* [[Zamboanga Sibugay]]
* [[Bukidnon]]
* [[Cagayan de Oro]]
* [[Camiguin]]
* [[Misamis Occidental]]
* [[Misamis Oriental]]
* [[Iligan]]
* [[Lanao del Norte]]
* [[Compostela Valley]]
* [[Davao City]]
* [[Davao del Norte]]
* [[Davao del Sur]]
* [[Davao Occidental]]
* [[Davao Oriental]]
* [[Cotabato City]]
* [[Cotabato]]
* [[General Santos]]
* [[Sarangani]]
* [[South Cotabato]]
* [[Sultan Kudarat]]
* [[Agusan del Norte]]
* [[Agusan del Sur]]
* [[Dinagat Islands]]
* [[Surigao del Norte]]
* [[Surigao del Sur]]
* [[Basilan]]
* [[Lanao del Sur]]
* [[Maguindanao]]
* [[Sulu (province)|Sulu]]
* [[Tawi-Tawi]]

===[[Bangladesh]]===
* [[Barisal Division|Barishal Division]]
* [[Chittagong Division|Chattagram Division]]
* [[Dhaka Division]]
* [[Khulna Division]]
* [[Mymensingh Division]]
* [[Rajshahi Division]]
* [[Rangpur Division]]
* [[Sylhet Division]]

===[[Cambodia]]===
* [[Banteay Meanchey Province|Banteay Meanchey]]
* [[Battambang Province|Battambang]]
* [[Kampong Cham Province|Kampong Cham]]
* [[Kampong Chhnang Province|Kampong Chhnang]]
* [[Kampong Speu Province|Kampong Speu]]
* [[Kampong Thom Province|Kampong Thom]]
* [[Kampot Province|Kampot]]
* [[Kandal Province|Kandal]]
* [[Kep Province|Kep]]
* [[Koh Kong Province|Koh Kong]]
* [[Kratié Province|Kratié]]
* [[Mondulkiri Province|Mondulkiri]]
* [[Oddar Meanchey Province|Oddar Meancheay]]
* [[Pailin Province|Pailin]]
* [[Phnom Penh]]
* [[Pursat Province|Pursat]]
* [[Preah Vihear Province|Preah Vihear]]
* [[Prey Veng Province|Prey Veng]]
* [[Ratanakiri Province|Ratanakiri]]
* [[Siem Reap Province|Siem Reap]]
* [[Sihanoukville Province|Sihanoukville]]
* [[Stung Treng Province|Stung Treng]]
* [[Svay Rieng Province|Svay Rieng]]
* [[Takéo Province|Takéo]]
* [[Tboung Khmum Province|Tboung Khmum]]

===[[China]]===
* [[North China]]
** [[Beijing|Beijing Municipality]]
** [[Tianjin|Tianjin Municipality]]
** [[Hebei|Hebei Province]]
** [[Shanxi|Shanxi Province]]
** [[Inner Mongolia|Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region]]
* [[Northeast China]]
** [[Liaoning|Liaoning Province]]
** [[Jilin|Jilin Province]]
** [[Heilongjiang|Heilongjiang Province]]
* [[East China]]
** [[Shanghai|Shanghai Municipality]]
** [[Jiangsu|Jiangsu Province]]
** [[Zhejiang|Zhejiang Province]]
** [[Anhui|Anhui Province]]
** [[Fujian|Fujian Province]]
** [[Jiangxi|Jiangxi Province]]
** [[Shandong|Shandong Province]]
* [[South Central China]]
** [[Henan|Henan Province]]
** [[Hubei|Hubei Province]]
** [[Hunan|Hunan Province]]
** [[Guangdong|Guangdong Province]]
** [[Guangxi|Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region]]
** [[Hainan|Hainan Province]]
* [[Southwest China]]
** [[Chongqing|Chongqing Municipality]]
** [[Sichuan|Sichuan Province]]
** [[Guizhou|Guizhou Province]]
** [[Yunnan|Yunnan Province]]
** [[Tibet Autonomous Region]]
* [[Northwest China]]
** [[Shaanxi|Shaanxi Province]]
** [[Gansu|Gansu Province]]
** [[Qinghai|Qinghai Province]]
** [[Ningxia|Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region]]
** [[Xinjiang|Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region]]

===[[East Timor]]===
* [[Oecusse District|Oecusse]]
* [[Liquiçá District|Liquiçá]]
* [[Dili District|Dili]]
* [[Manatuto District|Manatuto]]
* [[Baucau District|Baucau]]
* [[Lautém District|Lautém]]
* [[Bobonaro District|Bobonaro]]
* [[Ermera District|Ermera]]
* [[Aileu District|Aileu]]
* [[Viqueque District|Viqueque]]
* [[Cova Lima District|Cova Lima]]
* [[Ainaro District|Ainaro]]
* [[Manufahi District|Manufahi]]

===[[Hong Kong]]===
* [[Hong Kong Island]]
** [[Central and Western District|Central and Western]]
** [[Eastern District (Hong Kong)|Eastern]]
** [[Southern District (Hong Kong)|Southern]]
** [[Wan Chai District|Wan Chai]]
* [[Kowloon]] and [[New Kowloon]]
** [[Kowloon City District|Kowloon City]]
** [[Kwun Tong District|Kwun Tong]]
** [[Sham Shui Po District|Sham Shui Po]]
** [[Wong Tai Sin District|Wong Tai Sin]]
** [[Yau Tsim Mong District|Yau Tsim Mong]]
* [[New Territories]] <small>(excluding New Kowloon)</small>
** [[Islands District|Islands]]
** [[Kwai Tsing District|Kwai Tsing]]
** [[North District (Hong Kong)|North]]
** [[Sai Kung District|Sai Kung]]
** [[Sha Tin District|Sha Tin]]
** [[Tai Po District|Tai Po]]
** [[Tsuen Wan District|Tsuen Wan]]
** [[Tuen Mun District|Tuen Mun]]
** [[Yuen Long District|Yuen Long]]

===[[India]]===
*[[North India]]
**[[Jammu and Kashmir]]
**[[Himachal Pradesh]]
**[[Punjab]]
**[[Chandigarh]]
**[[Uttarakhand]]
**[[Haryana]]
**[[Delhi]]
**[[Uttar Pradesh]]
*[[Northeast India]]
**[[Arunachal Pradesh]]
**[[Assam]]
**[[Manipur]]
**[[Meghalaya]]
**[[Mizoram]]
**[[Nagaland]]
**[[Sikkim]]
**[[Tripura]]
*[[East India]]
**[[Bihar]]
**[[Jharkhand]]
**[[Odisha]]
**[[West Bengal]]
**[[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]
*[[South India]]
**[[Andhra Pradesh]]
**[[Karnataka]]
**[[Kerala]]
**[[Tamil Nadu]]
**[[Telangana]]
*[[Western India]]
**[[Gujarat]]
**[[Maharashtra]]
**[[Goa]]
**[[Daman and Diu]]
**[[Dadra and Nagar Haveli]]

===[[Indonesia]]===
* [[Sumatra]]
** [[Aceh]]
** [[Bangka–Belitung Islands]]
** [[Bengkulu]]
** [[Jambi]]
** [[Lampung (province)|Lampung]]
** [[North Sumatra]]
** [[Riau]]
** [[Riau Islands Province|Riau Islands]]
** [[South Sumatra]]
** [[West Sumatra]]
* [[Java]]
** [[Banten]]
** [[Central Java]]
** [[East Java]]
** [[Jakarta]]
** [[West Java]]
** [[Special Region of Yogyakarta|Yogyakarta]]
* [[Kalimantan]]
** [[Central Kalimantan]]
** [[East Kalimantan]]
** [[North Kalimantan]]
** [[South Kalimantan]]
** [[West Kalimantan]]
* [[Lesser Sunda Islands|Lesser Sunda]]
** [[Bali]]
** [[East Nusa Tenggara]]
** [[West Nusa Tenggara]]
* [[Sulawesi]]
** [[Central Sulawesi]]
** [[Gorontalo]]
** [[North Sulawesi]]
** [[Southeast Sulawesi]]
** [[South Sulawesi]]
** [[West Sulawesi]]
* [[Maluku Islands|Maluku]]
** [[Maluku (province)|Maluku]]
** [[North Maluku]]
* [[West Papua (region)|Western New Guinea]]
** [[Papua (province)|Papua]]
** [[West Papua (province)|West Papua]]

===[[Japan]]===
* [[Hokkaido]]
** [[Hokkaido]]
* [[Tōhoku region|Tōhoku]]
** [[Aomori Prefecture|Aomori]]
** [[Iwate Prefecture|Iwate]]
** [[Miyagi Prefecture|Miyagi]]
** [[Akita Prefecture|Akita]]
** [[Yamagata Prefecture|Yamagata]]
** [[Fukushima Prefecture|Fukushima]]
* [[Kantō]]
** [[Ibaraki Prefecture|Ibaraki]]
** [[Tochigi Prefecture|Tochigi]]
** [[Gunma Prefecture|Gunma]]
** [[Saitama Prefecture|Saitama]]
** [[Chiba Prefecture|Chiba]]
** [[Tokyo]]
** [[Kanagawa Prefecture|Kanagawa]]
* [[Chūbu region|Chūbu]]
** [[Niigata Prefecture|Niigata]]
** [[Toyama Prefecture|Toyama]]
** [[Ishikawa Prefecture|Ishikawa]]
** [[Fukui Prefecture|Fukui]]
** [[Yamanashi Prefecture|Yamanashi]]
** [[Nagano Prefecture|Nagano]]
** [[Gifu Prefecture|Gifu]]
** [[Shizuoka Prefecture|Shizuoka]]
** [[Aichi Prefecture|Aichi]]
* [[Kansai]]
** [[Mie Prefecture|Mie]]
** [[Shiga Prefecture|Shiga]]
** [[Kyoto Prefecture|Kyoto]]
** [[Osaka Prefecture|Osaka]]
** [[Hyōgo Prefecture|Hyōgo]]
** [[Nara Prefecture|Nara]]
** [[Wakayama Prefecture|Wakayama]]
* [[Chūgoku]]
** [[Tottori Prefecture|Tottori]]
** [[Shimane Prefecture|Shimane]]
** [[Okayama Prefecture|Okayama]]
** [[Hiroshima Prefecture|Hiroshima]]
** [[Yamaguchi Prefecture|Yamaguchi]]
* [[Shikoku]]
** [[Tokushima Prefecture|Tokushima]]
** [[Kagawa Prefecture|Kagawa]]
** [[Ehime Prefecture|Ehime]]
** [[Kōchi Prefecture|Kōchi]]
* [[Kyushu]]
** [[Fukuoka Prefecture|Fukuoka]]
** [[Saga Prefecture|Saga]]
** [[Nagasaki Prefecture|Nagasaki]]
** [[Kumamoto Prefecture|Kumamoto]]
** [[Ōita Prefecture|Ōita]]
** [[Miyazaki Prefecture|Miyazaki]]
** [[Kagoshima Prefecture|Kagoshima]]
** [[Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa]]

===[[Jordan]]===
* North Region
** [[Ajloun Governorate|Ajloun]]
** [[Irbid Governorate|Irbid]]
** [[Jerash Governorate|Jerash]]
** [[Mafraq Governorate|Mafraq]]
* Central Region
** [[Amman Governorate|Amman]]
** [[Balqa Governorate|Balqa]]
** [[Madaba Governorate|Madaba]]
** [[Zarqa Governorate|Zarqa]]
* South Region
** [[Aqaba Governorate|Aqaba]]
** [[Karak Governorate|Karak]]
** [[Ma'an Governorate|Ma'an]]
** [[Tafilah Governorate|Tafilah]]

===[[Kazakhstan]]===
* [[Akmola Region|Akmola]]
* [[Aktobe Region|Aktobe]]
* [[Almaty Region|Almaty]]
* [[Atyrau Region|Atyrau]]
* [[East Kazakhstan Region|East Kazakhstan]]
* [[Karaganda Region|Karaganda]]
* [[Kostanay Region|Kostanay]]
* [[Kyzylorda Region|Kyzylorda]]
* [[Jambyl Region|Jambyl]]
* [[Mangystau Region|Mangystau]]
* [[North Kazakhstan Region|North Kazakhstan]]
* [[Pavlodar Region|Pavlodar]]
* [[South Kazakhstan Region|South Kazakhstan]]
* [[West Kazakhstan Region|West Kazakhstan]]

===[[Kuwait]]===
* [[Capital Governorate (Kuwait)|Capital (Asima)]]
* [[Hawalli Governorate|Hawalli]]
* [[Farwaniya Governorate|Farwaniya]]
* [[Ahmadi Governorate|Ahmadi]]
* [[Jahra Governorate|Jahra]]
* [[Mubarak Al-Kabeer Governorate|Mubarak Al-Kabeer]]

===[[Kyrgyzstan]]===
* [[Batken Region|Batken]]
* [[Bishkek]] (city)
* [[Chuy Region|Chuy]]
* [[Issyk Kul Region|Issyk-Kul]]
* [[Jalal-Abad Region|Jalal-Abad]]
* [[Naryn Region|Naryn]]
* [[Osh Region|Osh]]
* [[Osh]] (city)
* [[Talas Region|Talas]]

===[[Laos]]===
* [[Attapeu Province|Attapeu]]
* [[Bokeo Province|Bokeo]]
* [[Bolikhamsai Province|Bolikhamxai]]
* [[Champasak Province|Champasak]]
* [[Houaphanh Province|Houaphan]]
* [[Khammouane Province|Khammouan]]
* [[Luang Namtha Province|Luang Namtha]]
* [[Luang Prabang Province|Louangphabang]]
* [[Oudomxay Province|Oudomxai]]
* [[Phongsaly Province|Phongsali]]
* [[Sainyabuli Province|Sainyabuli]]
* [[Salavan Province|Salavan]]
* [[Savannakhet Province|Savannakhet]]
* [[Sekong Province|Sekong]]
* [[Vientiane Prefecture|Vientiane (Viengchan)]]
* [[Vientiane Province|Vientiane]]
* [[Xiangkhouang Province|Xiangkhoang]]

===[[Lebanon]]===
* [[Beirut Governorate|Beirut]]
* [[Beqaa Governorate|Beqaa]]
* [[Mount Lebanon Governorate|Mount Lebanon]]
* [[Nabatieh Governorate|Nabatieh]]
* [[North Governorate|North]]
* [[South Governorate|South]]

===[[Macau]]===
* [[Macau Peninsula]]
** [[Nossa Senhora de Fátima, Macau|N. Sra. de Fátima]]
** [[Santo António, Macau|Sto. António]]
** [[São Lázaro|S. Lázaro]]
** [[Sé, Macau|Sé]]
** [[São Lourenço, Macau|S. Lourenço]]
* [[Taipa]] and [[Coloane]]
** [[Taipa|N. Sra. do Carmo]]
** [[Coloane|S. Francisco Xavier]]

===[[Malaysia]]===
*[[Peninsular Malaysia]]
**Northern Region
***[[Perlis]]
***[[Kedah]]
***[[Penang]]
***[[Perak]]
**East Coast Region
***[[Kelantan]]
***[[Terengganu]]
***[[Pahang]]
**Central Region
***[[Selangor]]
***[[Kuala Lumpur]]
***[[Putrajaya]]
**Southern Region
***[[Negeri Sembilan]]
***[[Malacca]]
***[[Johor]]
*[[East Malaysia]]
**[[Sabah]]
**[[Sarawak]]
**[[Labuan|Federal Territory of Labuan]]

===[[Maldives]]===
* [[Haa Alif Atoll|Haa Alif]]
* [[Haa Dhaalu Atoll|Haa Dhaalu]]
* [[Shaviyani Atoll|Shaviyani]]
* [[Noonu Atoll|Noonu]]
* [[Raa Atoll|Raa]]
* [[Baa Atoll|Baa]]
* [[Lhaviyani Atoll|Lhaviyani]]
* [[Kaafu Atoll|Kaafu]]
* [[Alif Alif Atoll|Alif Alif]]
* [[Alif Dhaal Atoll|Alif Dhaal]]
* [[Vaavu Atoll|Vaavu]]
* [[Meemu Atoll|Meemu]]
* [[Faafu Atoll|Faafu]]
* [[Dhaalu Atoll|Dhaalu]]
* [[Thaa Atoll|Thaa]]
* [[Laamu Atoll|Laamu]]
* [[Gaafu Alif Atoll|Gaafu Alif]]
* [[Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll|Gaafu Dhaalu]]
* [[Gnaviyani Atoll|Gnaviyani]]
* [[Malé]]
* [[Addu City|Addu]]

===[[Mongolia]]===
* [[Arkhangai Province|Arkhangai]]
* [[Bayankhongor Province|Bayankhongor]]
* [[Bayan-Ölgii Province|Bayan-Ölgii]]
* [[Bulgan Province|Bulgan]]
* [[Darkhan-Uul Province|Darkhan-Uul]]
* [[Dornod Province|Dornod]]
* [[Dornogovi Province|Dornogovi]]
* [[Dundgovi Province|Dundgovi]]
* [[Govi-Altai Province|Govi-Altai]]
* [[Govisümber Province|Govisümber]]
* [[Khentii Province|Khentii]]
* [[Khovd Province|Khovd]]
* [[Khövsgöl Province|Khövsgöl]]
* [[Ömnögovi Province|Ömnögovi]]
* [[Orkhon Province|Orkhon]]
* [[Övörkhangai Province|Övörkhangai]]
* [[Selenge Province|Selenge]]
* [[Sükhbaatar Province|Sükhbaatar]]
* [[Töv Province|Töv]]
* [[Ulaanbaatar]]
* [[Uvs Province|Uvs]]
* [[Zavkhan Province|Zavkhan]]

===[[Myanmar]]===
* [[Kachin State]]
* [[Kayah State]]
* [[Kayin State]]
* [[Chin State]]
* [[Sagaing Region]]
* [[Tanintharyi Region]]
* [[Bago Region]]
* [[Magway Region]]
* [[Mandalay Region]]
* [[Mon State]]
* [[Rakhine State]]
* [[Yangon Region]]
* [[Shan State]]
* [[Ayeyarwady Region]]

===[[Nepal]]===
* [[Province No. 1]]
* [[Province No. 2]]
* [[Province No. 3]]
* [[Province No. 4]]
* [[Province No. 5]]
* [[Province No. 6]]
* [[Province No. 7]]

===[[North Korea]]===
*[[North Hwanghae]]
*[[South Hwanghae]]
*[[North Hamgyong]]
*[[Kangwon Province (North Korea)|Kangwon]]
*[[South Hamgyong]]
*[[Ryanggang]]
*[[Chagang]]
*[[North Pyongan]]
*[[South Pyongan]]

===[[Oman]]===
* [[Ad Dakhiliyah Governorate|Ad Dakhiliyah]]
* [[Ad Dhahirah Governorate|Ad Dhahirah]]
* [[Al Batinah North Governorate|Al Batinah North]]
* [[Al Batinah South Governorate|Al Batinah South]]
* [[Al Buraimi Governorate|Al Buraimi]]
* [[Al Wusta Governorate (Oman)|Al Wusta]]
* [[Ash Sharqiyah North Governorate|Ash Sharqiyah North]]
* [[Ash Sharqiyah South Governorate|Ash Sharqiyah South]]
* [[Dhofar Governorate|Dhofar]]
* [[Muscat Governorate|Masqat]]
* [[Musandam Governorate|Musandam]]

===[[Pakistan]]===
* [[Balochistan, Pakistan|Balochistan]]
* [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]]
* [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]]
* [[Sindh]]
* [[Islamabad Capital Territory]]
* [[Federally Administered Tribal Areas]]
* [[Azad Jammu and Kashmir]]
* [[Gilgit-Baltistan]]

===[[Palestinian territories]]===
*[[West Bank]]
** [[Jerusalem Governorate|Jerusalem (al-Quds)]]
** [[Bethlehem Governorate|Bethlehem]]
** [[Hebron Governorate|Hebron]]
** [[Jenin Governorate|Jenin]]
** [[Jericho Governorate|Jericho]]
** [[Nablus Governorate|Nablus]]
** [[Qalqilya Governorate|Qalqilya]]
** [[Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate|Ramallah and al-Bireh]]
** [[Salfit Governorate|Salfit]]
** [[Tubas Governorate|Tubas ]]
** [[Tulkarm Governorate|Tulkarm]]
* [[Gaza Strip]]
** [[Deir al-Balah Governorate|Deir al-Balah]]
** [[Gaza Governorate|Gaza]]
** [[Khan Yunis Governorate|Khan Yunis]]
** [[North Gaza Governorate|North Gaza]]
** [[Rafah Governorate|Rafah]]

===[[Qatar]]===
* [[Al Daayen]]
* [[Doha|Ad Dawhah]]
* [[Al Khor]]
* [[Al Wakrah (municipality)|Al Wakrah]]
* [[Al Rayyan]]
* [[Madinat ash Shamal]]
* [[Umm Salal]]

===[[Saudi Arabia]]===
* [[Al Bahah Region|Al Bahah]]
* [[Northern Borders Region|Northern Borders]]
* [[Al Jawf Region|Al Jawf]]
* [[Al Madinah Region|Al Madinah]]
* [[Al-Qassim Region|Al Qasim]]
* [[Riyadh Region|Riyadh]]
* [[Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia|Eastern Province]]
* [['Asir Region|'Asir]]
* [[Ha'il Region|Ha'il]]
* [[Jizan Region|Jizan]]
* [[Makkah Region|Makkah]]
* [[Najran Region|Najran]]
* [[Tabuk Region|Tabuk]]

===[[Singapore]]===
*[[Aljunied]]
*[[Ang Mo Kio]]
**[[Cheng San]]
**[[Chong Boon]]
**[[Kebun Baru]]
**[[Teck Ghee]]
*[[Anson Road]]
*[[Ayer Rajah]]
*[[Balestier Road]]
*[[Bartley]]
*[[Bedok]]
**[[Bedok Reservoir]]
**[[Bedok Town Park]]
**[[Shunfu Estate]]
**[[Sin Ming]]
*[[Boon Keng]]
*[[Bugis]]-[[Kampong Glam]]
**[[Bencoolen, Singapore|Bencoolen]]
**[[Rochor]]
**[[Sungei Road]]
*[[Bukit Batok]]
**[[Bukit Gombak]]
**[[Hillview, Singapore|Hillview]]
**[[Hume Estate]]
*[[Bukit Panjang]]
*[[Bukit Timah]]
**[[Dunearn, Singapore|Dunearn]]
**[[Toh Tuck]]
**[[Watten, Singapore|Watten]]
*[[Buona Vista]]
**[[Ghim Moh]]
**[[Holland Drive, Singapore|Holland Drive]]
**[[Holland Village, Singapore|Holland Village]]
**[[one-North]]
*[[Chinatown,Singapore|Chinatown]]
**[[Clarke Quay]]
*[[Choa Chu Kang]]
**[[Yew Tee]]
*[[Clementi, Singapore]]
**[[Dover, Singapore|Dover]]
**[[Pandan Valley]]
**[[West Coast, Singapore|West Coast]]
*[[Geylang]]
**[[Geylang East]]
**[[Geylang Serai]]
**[[Geylang West]]
*[[Hougang]]
**[[Buangkok]]
*[[Jalan Kayu]]-[[Seletar]]
*[[Jurong]] Residential
**[[Boon Lay]]
**[[Gek Poh Ville]]
**[[Jurong Central]]
**[[Jurong Green]]
**[[Jurong Spring]]
**[[Nanyang, Singapore|Nanyang]]
**[[Pioneer, Singapore|Pioneer]]
**[[Yuhua, Singapore|Yuhua]]
*[[Jurong]] Industrial
**[[Chin Bee]]
**[[Joo Koon]]
**[[Lok Yang]]
**[[Pioneer Sector]]
*[[Jurong Island]]
*[[Ten mile Junction]]
*[[Kallang]]
**[[Kallang Bahru]]
**[[Kallang Basin]]
**[[Lavender, Singapore|Lavender]]
*[[Kembangan, Singapore|Kembangan]]
**[[Fidelio Estate]]
**[[Frankel Estate]]
*[[Kent Ridge]]
*[[Labrador Park]]
*[[Little India, Singapore|Little India]]
**[[Boon Keng]]
**[[Farrer Park]]
*[[MacPherson, Singapore|MacPherson]]
**[[Mattar, Singapore|Mattar]]
*[[Mandai]]
*[[Marina Bay, Singapore|Marina Bay]]
**[[Esplanade, Singapore|Esplanade]]
**[[Marina Centre]]
**[[Marina East]]
**[[Marina South]]
*[[Marine Parade]]
*[[North-Eastern Islands]]
**[[Pulau Tekong]]
**[[Pulau Ubin]]
*[[Novena, Singapore|Novena]]
*[[Orchard Road]]
**[[Cairnhill]]
**[[Dhoby Ghaut]]
**[[Emerald Hill, Singapore|Emerald Hill]]
**[[Somerset]]-[[Killiney]]
**[[Tanglin]]
*[[Pasir Panjang]]
*[[Pasir Ris]]
**[[Elias, Singapore|Elias]]
**[[Lorong Halus]]
**[[Loyang, Singapore|Loyang]]
*[[Paya Lebar]]
*[[Potong Pasir]]
**[[Bidadari]]
**[[Mount Vernon]]
*[[Punggol]]
*[[Queenstown, Singapore|Queenstown]]
**[[Commonwealth, Singapore|Commonwealth]]
*[[St Michael's, Singapore|St Michael's]]
*[[Seletar]]
*[[Sengkang]]
*[[Sennett Estate]]
*[[Serangoon]]
**[[Serangoon Gardens]]
**[[Serangoon North]]
*[[Simpang]]
*[[Central Area, Singapore|Singapore City]]
*[[Somapah]]
*[[Tai Seng]]
*[[Tampines]]
**[[Simei]]
*[[Tanjong Pagar]]
*[[Teban Gardens]]
*[[Telok Blangah]]
**[[Bukit Chandu]]
**[[Bukit Purmei]]
**[[HarbourFront]]
**[[Radin Mas]]
*[[Tengah, Singapore|Tengah]]
*[[Tiong Bahru]]
**[[Bukit Ho Swee]]
**[[Bukit Merah]]
*[[Toa Payoh]]
**[[Bukit Brown]]
**[[Caldecott Hill]]
**[[Mount Pleasant, Singapore|Mount Pleasant]]
**[[Thomson, Singapore|Thomson]]
*[[Tuas]]
**[[Tuas Crescent]]
**[[Tuas Link]]
**[[Tuas South]]
**[[Tuas West]]
*[[Western Water Catchment]]
**[[Lim Chu Kang]]
**[[Murai, Singapore|Murai]]
**[[Pasir Laba]]
**[[Sarimbun]]
**[[Sungei Gedong]]
**Wrexham
*[[Woodlands, Singapore|Woodlands]]
**[[Admiralty, Singapore|Admiralty]]
**[[Innova, Singapore|Innova]]
**[[Marsiling]]
**[[Woodgrove, Singapore|Woodgrove]]
*[[Yishun]]
**[[Chong Pang]]
*[[Yew Tee]]

===[[South Korea]]===
*[[Seoul]]
*[[Busan]]
*[[Daegu]]
*[[Incheon]]
*[[Gwangju]]
*[[Daejeon]]
*[[Ulsan]]
*[[Sejong City]]
*[[Gyeonggi Province]]
*[[Gangwon Province]]
*[[North Chungcheong Province]]
*[[South Chungcheong Province]]
*[[North Jeolla Province]]
*[[South Jeolla Province]]
*[[North Gyeongsang Province]]
*[[South Gyeongsang Province]]
*[[Jeju Province|Jeju]]

===[[Sri Lanka]]===
*[[Central Province, Sri Lanka|Central]]
*[[Eastern Province, Sri Lanka|Eastern]]
*[[North Central Province, Sri Lanka|North Central]]
*[[Northern Province, Sri Lanka|Northern]]
*[[North Western Province, Sri Lanka|North Western]]
*[[Sabaragamuwa Province|Sabaragamuwa]]
*[[Southern Province, Sri Lanka|Southern]]
*[[Uva Province|Uva]]
*[[Western Province, Sri Lanka|Western]]

===[[Syria]]===
* [[Aleppo Governorate|Aleppo]]
* [[Damascus Governorate|Damascus]]
* [[Daraa Governorate|Daraa]]
* [[Deir ez-Zor Governorate|Deir ez-Zor]]
* [[Hama Governorate|Hama]]
* [[Al-Hasakah Governorate|Al-Hasakah]]
* [[Homs Governorate|Homs]]
* [[Idlib Governorate|Idlib]]
* [[Latakia Governorate|Latakia]]
* [[Quneitra Governorate|Quneitra]]
* [[Ar-Raqqah Governorate|Ar-Raqqah]]
* [[Rif Dimashq Governorate|Rif Dimashq]]
* [[As-Suwayda_Governorate|As-Suwayda]]
* [[Tartus Governorate|Tartus]]

===[[Tajikistan]]===
* [[Sughd Region]]
* [[Khatlon Region]]
* [[Districts of Republican Subordination]]
* [[Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region]]

===[[Taiwan]]===
*[[Changhua County]]
*[[Chiayi|Chiayi City]]
*[[Chiayi County]]
*[[Hsinchu|Hsinchu City]]
*[[Hsinchu County]]
*[[Hualien County]]
*[[Kaohsiung|Kaohsiung City]]
*[[Keelung|Keelung City]]
*[[Kinmen County]]
*[[Lienchiang County]]
*[[Miaoli County]]
*[[Nantou County]]
*[[New Taipei|New Taipei City]]
*[[Penghu County]]
*[[Pingtung County]]
*[[Taichung City]]
*[[Tainan|Tainan City]]
*[[Taipei|Taipei City]]
*[[Taitung County]]
*[[Taoyuan City]]
*[[Yilan City|Yilan County]]
*[[Yunlin County]]

===[[Thailand]]===
*[[Bangkok]]
*[[Amnat Charoen Province|Amnat Charoen]]
*[[Ang Thong Province|Ang Thong]]
*[[Bueng Kan Province|Bueng Kan]]
*[[Buriram Province|Buriram]]
*[[Chachoengsao Province|Chachoengsao]]
*[[Chai Nat Province|Chai Nat]]
*[[Chaiyaphum Province|Chaiyaphum]]
*[[Chanthaburi Province|Chanthaburi]]
*[[Chiang Mai Province|Chiang Mai]]
*[[Chiang Rai Province|Chiang Rai]]
*[[Chonburi Province|Chonburi]]
*[[Chumphon Province|Chumphon]]
*[[Kalasin Province|Kalasin]]
*[[Kamphaeng Phet Province|Kamphaeng Phet]]
*[[Kanchanaburi Province|Kanchanaburi]]
*[[Khon Kaen Province|Khon Kaen]]
*[[Krabi Province|Krabi]]
*[[Lampang Province|Lampang]]
*[[Lamphun Province|Lamphun]]
*[[Loei Province|Loei]]
*[[Lopburi Province|Lopburi]]
*[[Mae Hong Son Province|Mae Hong Son]]
*[[Maha Sarakham Province|Maha Sarakham]]
*[[Mukdahan Province|Mukdahan]]
*[[Nakhon Nayok Province|Nakhon Nayok]]
*[[Nakhon Pathom Province|Nakhon Pathom]]
*[[Nakhon Phanom Province|Nakhon Phanom]]
*[[Nakhon Ratchasima Province|Nakhon Ratchasima]]
*[[Nakhon Sawan Province|Nakhon Sawan]]
*[[Nakhon Si Thammarat Province|Nakhon Si Thammarat]]
*[[Nan Province|Nan]]
*[[Narathiwat Province|Narathiwat]]
*[[Nong Bua Lamphu Province|Nong Bua Lamphu]]
*[[Nong Khai Province|Nong Khai]]
*[[Nonthaburi Province|Nonthaburi]]
*[[Pathum Thani Province|Pathum Thani]]
*[[Pattani Province|Pattani]]
*[[Phang Nga Province|Phang Nga]]
*[[Phatthalung Province|Phatthalung]]
*[[Phayao Province|Phayao]]
*[[Phetchabun Province|Phetchabun]]
*[[Phetchaburi Province|Phetchaburi]]
*[[Phichit Province|Phichit]]
*[[Phitsanulok Province|Phitsanulok]]
*[[Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province|Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya]]
*[[Phrae Province|Phrae]]
*[[Phuket Province|Phuket]]
*[[Prachinburi Province|Prachinburi]]
*[[Prachuap Khiri Khan Province|Prachuap Khiri Khan]]
*[[Ranong Province|Ranong]]
*[[Ratchaburi Province|Ratchaburi]]
*[[Rayong Province|Rayong]]
*[[Roi Et Province|Roi Et]]
*[[Sa Kaeo Province|Sa Kaeo]]
*[[Sakon Nakhon Province|Sakon Nakhon]]
*[[Samut Prakan Province|Samut Prakan]]
*[[Samut Sakhon Province|Samut Sakhon]]
*[[Samut Songkhram Province|Samut Songkhram]]
*[[Saraburi Province|Saraburi]]
*[[Satun Province|Satun]]
*[[Sing Buri Province|Sing Buri]]
*[[Sisaket Province|Sisaket]]
*[[Songkhla Province|Songkhla]]
*[[Sukhothai Province|Sukhothai]]
*[[Suphan Buri Province|Suphan Buri]]
*[[Surat Thani Province|Surat Thani]]
*[[Surin Province|Surin]]
*[[Tak Province|Tak]]
*[[Trang Province|Trang]]
*[[Trat Province|Trat]]
*[[Ubon Ratchathani Province|Ubon Ratchathani]]
*[[Udon Thani Province|Udon Thani]]
*[[Uttaradit Province|Uttaradit]]
*[[Yala Province|Yala]]
*[[Yasothon Province|Yasothon]]

===Vietnam===
* [[Northwest (Vietnam)|Northwest]]
** [[Điện Biên Province|Điện Biên]]
** [[Hòa Bình Province|Hòa Bình]]
** [[Lai Châu Province|Lai Châu]]
** [[Sơn La Province|Sơn La]]
** [[Lào Cai Province|Lào Cai]]
* [[Northeast (Vietnam)|Northeast]]
** [[Bắc Giang Province|Bắc Giang]]
** [[Bắc Kạn Province|Bắc Kạn]]
** [[Cao Bằng Province|Cao Bằng]]
** [[Hà Giang Province|Hà Giang]]
** [[Lạng Sơn Province|Lạng Sơn]]
** [[Phú Thọ Province|Phú Thọ]]
** [[Quảng Ninh Province|Quảng Ninh]]
** [[Thái Nguyên Province|Thái Nguyên]]
** [[Tuyên Quang Province|Tuyên Quang]]
* [[Red River Delta]]
** [[Bắc Ninh Province|Bắc Ninh]]
** [[Hà Nam Province|Hà Nam]]
** [[Hải Dương Province|Hải Dương]]
** [[Hưng Yên Province|Hưng Yên]]
** [[Nam Định Province|Nam Định]]
** [[Ninh Bình Province|Ninh Bình]]
** [[Thái Bình Province|Thái Bình]]
** [[Vĩnh Phúc Province|Vĩnh Phúc]]
** [[Hanoi|Ha Noi]] (municipality)
** [[Hai Phong]] (municipality)
* [[North Central Coast]]
** [[Hà Tĩnh Province|Hà Tĩnh]]
** [[Nghệ An Province|Nghệ An]]
** [[Quảng Bình Province|Quảng Bình]]
** [[Quảng Trị Province|Quảng Trị]]
** [[Thanh Hóa Province|Thanh Hóa]]
** [[Thừa Thiên–Huế Province|Thừa Thiên–Huế]]
* [[South Central Coast]]
** [[Da Nang|Đà Nẵng]]
** [[Quảng Nam Province|Quảng Nam]]
** [[Quảng Ngãi Province|Quảng Ngãi]]
** [[Bình Định Province|Bình Định]]
** [[Phú Yên Province|Phú Yên]]
** [[Khánh Hòa Province|Khánh Hòa]]
** [[Ninh Thuận Province|Ninh Thuận]]
** [[Bình Thuận Province|Bình Thuận]]
* [[Central Highlands (Vietnam)|Central Highlands]]
** [[Đắk Lắk Province|Đắk Lắk]]
** [[Đắk Nông Province|Đắk Nông]]
** [[Gia Lai Province|Gia Lai]]
** [[Kon Tum Province|Kon Tum]]
** [[Lâm Đồng Province|Lâm Đồng]]
* [[Southeast (Vietnam)|Southeast]]
** [[Ho Chi Minh City]]
** [[Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu Province]]
** [[Bình Dương Province]]
** [[Bình Phước Province]]
** [[Đồng Nai Province]]
** [[Tây Ninh Province]]
* [[Mekong Delta]]
** [[Cần Thơ]] (Municipality)
** [[An Giang Province|An Giang]]
** [[Bạc Liêu Province|Bạc Liêu]]
** [[Bến Tre Province|Bến Tre]]
** [[Cà Mau Province|Cà Mau]]
** [[Đồng Tháp Province|Đồng Tháp]]
** [[Hậu Giang Province|Hậu Giang]]
** [[Kiên Giang Province|Kiên Giang]]
** [[Long An Province|Long An]]
** [[Sóc Trăng Province|Sóc Trăng]]
** [[Tiền Giang Province|Tiền Giang]]
** [[Trà Vinh Province|Trà Vinh]]
** [[Vĩnh Long Province|Vĩnh Long]]

===Asia===
* [[Abkhazia]]
* [[Afghanistan]]
* [[Akrotiri and Dhekelia]]
* [[Armenia]]
* [[Republic of Artsakh|Artsakh]]
* [[Azerbaijan]]
* [[Bahrain]]
* [[Bangladesh]]
* [[Bhutan]]
* [[British Indian Ocean Territory]]
* [[Brunei]]
* [[Cambodia]]
* [[China]]
* [[Christmas Island]]
* [[Cocos (Keeling) Islands]]
* [[Cyprus]]
* [[East Timor|East Timor (Timor-Leste)]]
* [[Egypt]]
* [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]
* [[Hong Kong]]
* [[India]]
* [[Indonesia]]
* [[Iran]]
* [[Iraq]]
* [[Israel]]
* [[Japan]]
* [[Jordan]]
* [[Kazakhstan]]
* [[Kuwait]]
* [[Kyrgyzstan]]
* [[Laos]]
* [[Lebanon]]
* [[Macau]]
* [[Malaysia]]
* [[Maldives]]
* [[Mongolia]]
* [[Myanmar]]
* [[Nepal]]
* [[North Korea]]
* [[Northern Cyprus]]
* [[Oman]]
* [[Pakistan]]
* [[State of Palestine|Palestine]]
* [[Philippines]]
* [[Qatar]]
* [[Russia]]
* [[Saudi Arabia]]
* [[Singapore]]
* [[South Korea]]
* [[South Ossetia]]
* [[Sri Lanka]]
* [[Syria]]
* [[Taiwan]]
* [[Tajikistan]]
* [[Thailand]]
* [[Turkey]]
* [[Turkmenistan]]
* [[United Arab Emirates]]
* [[Uzbekistan]]
* [[Vietnam]]
* [[Yemen]]

===Oceania===
* [[American Samoa]]
* [[Ashmore and Cartier Islands]]
* [[Australia]]
* [[Baker Island]]
* [[Christmas Island]]
* [[Cocos (Keeling) Islands]]
* [[Cook Islands]]
* [[Coral Sea Islands]]
* [[Federated States of Micronesia]]
* [[Fiji]]
* [[French Polynesia]]
* [[Guam]]
* [[Howland Island]]
* [[Jarvis Island]]
* [[Johnston Atoll]]
* [[Kingman Reef]]
* [[Kiribati]]
* [[Marshall Islands]]
* [[Midway Atoll]]
* [[Nauru]]
* [[New Caledonia]]
* [[New Zealand]]
* [[Niue]]
* [[Norfolk Island]]
* [[Northern Mariana Islands]]
* [[Palau]]
* [[Papua New Guinea]]
* [[Pitcairn Islands]]
* [[Samoa]]
* [[Solomon Islands]]
* [[Tokelau]]
* [[Tonga]]
* [[Tuvalu]]
* [[Vanuatu]]
* [[Wake Island]]
* [[Wallis and Futuna]]

===North America===
* [[Anguilla]]
* [[Antigua and Barbuda]]
* [[Aruba]]
* [[The Bahamas|Bahamas]]
* [[Barbados]]
* [[Belize]]
* [[Bermuda]]
* [[British Virgin Islands]]
* [[Canada]]
* [[Cayman Islands]]
* [[Clipperton Island]]
* [[Collectivity of Saint Martin|St. Martin]]
* [[Costa Rica]]
* [[Cuba]]
* [[Curaçao]]
* [[Dominica]]
* [[Dominican Republic]]
* [[El Salvador]]
* [[Greenland]]
* [[Grenada]]
* [[Guatemala]]
* [[Haiti]]
* [[Honduras]]
* [[Jamaica]]
* [[Mexico]]
* [[Montserrat]]
* [[Navassa Island]]
* [[Nicaragua]]
* [[Panama]]
* [[Puerto Rico]]
* [[Saint Barthélemy|St. Barthélemy]]
* [[Saint Kitts and Nevis|St. Kitts and Nevis]]
* [[Saint Lucia]]
* [[Saint Pierre and Miquelon|St. Pierre and Miquelon]]
* [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|St. Vincent and the Grenadines]]
* [[Sint Maarten]]
* [[Trinidad and Tobago]]
* [[Turks and Caicos Islands]]
* [[United States Virgin Islands]]
* [[United States]]

====Canada====
* [[Alberta]]
* [[British Columbia]]
* [[Manitoba]]
* [[New Brunswick]]
* [[Newfoundland and Labrador]]
* [[Northwest Territories]]
* [[Nova Scotia]]
* [[Nunavut]]
* [[Ontario]]
* [[Prince Edward Island]]
* [[Quebec]]
* [[Saskatchewan]]
* [[Yukon]]

====Mexico====
* [[Baja California]]
* [[Baja California Sur]]
* [[Chihuahua (state)|Chihuahua]]
* [[Durango]]
* [[Sinaloa]]
* [[Sonora]]
* [[Coahuila]]
* [[Nuevo León]]
* [[Tamaulipas]]
* [[Aguascalientes]]
* [[Guanajuato]]
* [[Querétaro]]
* [[San Luis Potosí]]
* [[Zacatecas]]
* [[State of Mexico|México]]
* [[Mexico City]]
* [[Morelos]]
* [[Colima]]
* [[Jalisco]]
* [[Michoacán]]
* [[Nayarit]]
* [[Hidalgo (state)|Hidalgo]]
* [[Puebla]]
* [[Tlaxcala]]
* [[Veracruz]]
* [[Campeche]]
* [[Quintana Roo]]
* [[Tabasco]]
* [[Yucatán]]
* [[Chiapas]]
* [[Guerrero]]
* [[Oaxaca]]

====[[Panama]]====
* [[Bocas del Toro Province|Bocas del Toro]]
* [[Chiriquí Province|Chiriquí]]
* [[Coclé Province|Coclé]]
* [[Colón Province|Colón]]
* [[Darién Province|Darién]]
* [[Herrera Province|Herrera]]
* [[Los Santos Province|Los Santos]]
* [[Panamá Province|Panamá]]
* [[Panamá Oeste Province|Panamá Oeste]]
* [[Veraguas Province|Veraguas]]
* [[Comarca Emberá-Wounaan|Emberá]]
* [[Guna Yala]]
* [[Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca|Ngäbe-Buglé]]
* [[Kuna de Madugandí]]
* [[Kuna de Wargandí]]

====United States====
* [[Alabama]]
* [[Alaska]]
* [[Arizona]]
* [[Arkansas]]
* [[California]]
* [[Colorado]]
* [[Connecticut]]
* [[Delaware]]
* [[Florida]]
* [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
* [[Hawaii]]
* [[Idaho]]
* [[Illinois]]
* [[Indiana]]
* [[Iowa]]
* [[Kansas]]
* [[Kentucky]]
* [[Louisiana]]
* [[Maine]]
* [[Maryland]]
* [[Massachusetts]]
* [[Michigan]]
* [[Minnesota]]
* [[Mississippi]]
* [[Missouri]]
* [[Montana]]
* [[Nebraska]]
* [[Nevada]]
* [[New Hampshire]]
* [[New Jersey]]
* [[New Mexico]]
* [[New York (state)|New York]]
* [[North Carolina]]
* [[North Dakota]]
* [[Ohio]]
* [[Oklahoma]]
* [[Oregon]]
* [[Pennsylvania]]
* [[Rhode Island]]
* [[South Carolina]]
* [[South Dakota]]
* [[Tennessee]]
* [[Texas]]
* [[Utah]]
* [[Vermont]]
* [[Virginia]]
* [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
* [[Washington, D.C.]]
* [[West Virginia]]
* [[Wisconsin]]
* [[Wyoming]]

===South America===
* [[Argentina]]
* [[Bolivia]]
* [[Brazil]]
* [[Chile]]
* [[Colombia]]
* [[Ecuador]]
* [[Guyana]]
* [[Paraguay]]
* [[Peru]]
* [[Suriname]]
* [[Uruguay]]
* [[Venezuela]]

====Argentina====
* [[Buenos Aires|Buenos Aires City]]
* [[Buenos Aires Province|Buenos Aires]]
* [[Catamarca Province|Catamarca]]
* [[Chaco Province|Chaco]]
* [[Chubut Province|Chubut]]
* [[Córdoba Province, Argentina|Córdoba]]
* [[Corrientes Province|Corrientes]]
* [[Entre Ríos Province|Entre Ríos]]
* [[Formosa Province|Formosa]]
* [[Jujuy Province|Jujuy]]
* [[La Pampa Province|La Pampa]]
* [[La Rioja Province, Argentina|La Rioja]]
* [[Mendoza Province|Mendoza]]
* [[Misiones Province|Misiones]]
* [[Neuquén Province|Neuquén]]
* [[Río Negro Province|Río Negro]]
* [[Salta Province|Salta]]
* [[San Juan Province, Argentina|San Juan]]
* [[San Luis Province|San Luis]]
* [[Santa Cruz Province, Argentina|Santa Cruz]]
* [[Santa Fe Province|Santa Fe]]
* [[Santiago del Estero Province|Santiago del Estero]]
* [[Tierra del Fuego Province, Argentina|Tierra del Fuego]]
* [[Tucumán Province|Tucumán]]

====[[Bolivia]]====
* [[Beni Department|Beni]]
* [[Chuquisaca Department|Chuquisaca]]
* [[Cochabamba Department|Cochabamba]]
* [[La Paz Department, Bolivia|La Paz]]
* [[Oruro Department|Oruro]]
* [[Pando Department|Pando]]
* [[Potosí Department|Potosí]]
* [[Santa Cruz Department (Bolivia)|Santa Cruz]]
* [[Tarija Department|Tarija]]

====Brazil====
* [[Acre (state)|Acre]]
* [[Alagoas]]
* [[Amapá]]
* [[Amazonas (Brazilian state)|Amazonas]]
* [[Bahia]]
* [[Ceará]]
* [[Espírito Santo]]
* [[Federal District (Brazil)|Distrito Federal]]
* [[Fernando de Noronha]]
* [[Goiás]]
* [[Maranhão]]
* [[Mato Grosso do Sul]]
* [[Mato Grosso]]
* [[Minas Gerais]]
* [[Pará]]
* [[Paraíba]]
* [[Paraná (state)|Paraná]]
* [[Pernambuco]]
* [[Piauí]]
* [[Rio de Janeiro (state)|Rio de Janeiro]]
* [[Rio Grande do Norte]]
* [[Rio Grande do Sul]]
* [[Rocas Atoll]]
* [[Rondônia]]
* [[Roraima]]
* [[Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago|Saint Peter and Saint Paul]]
* [[Santa Catarina (state)|Santa Catarina]]
* [[São Paulo (state)|São Paulo]]
* [[Sergipe]]
* [[Tocantins]]
* [[Trindade and Martim Vaz]]

====Chile====
* [[Aysén Province|Aysén]]
* [[Antártica Chilena]]
* [[Antofagasta Province|Antofagasta]]
* [[Arauco Province|Arauco]]
* [[Arica Province|Arica]]
* [[Bío Bío Province|Bío Bío]]
* [[Cachapoal Province|Cachapoal]]
* [[Capitán Prat Province|Capitán Prat]]
* [[Cardenal Caro Province|Cardenal Caro]]
* [[Cauquenes Province|Cauquenes]]
* [[Cautín Province|Cautín]]
* [[Chacabuco Province|Chacabuco]]
* [[Chañaral Province|Chañaral]]
* [[Chiloé Province|Chiloé]]
* [[Choapa Province|Choapa]]
* [[Coyhaique Province|Coyhaique]]
* [[Colchagua Province|Colchagua]]
* [[Concepción Province, Chile|Concepción]]
* [[Copiapó Province|Copiapó]]
* [[Cordillera Province, Chile|Cordillera]]
* [[Curicó Province|Curicó]]
* [[El Loa Province|El Loa]]
* [[Elqui Province|Elqui]]
* [[General Carrera Province|General Carrera]]
* [[Huasco Province|Huasco]]
* [[Iquique Province|Iquique]]
* [[Easter Island|Isla de Pascua]]
* [[Limarí Province|Limarí]]
* [[Linares Province|Linares]]
* [[Llanquihue Province|Llanquihue]]
* [[Los Andes Province, Chile|Los Andes]]
* [[Magallanes Province|Magallanes]]
* [[Maipo Province|Maipo]]
* [[Malleco Province|Malleco]]
* [[Marga Marga Province|Marga Marga]]
* [[Melipilla Province|Melipilla]]
* [[Ñuble Province|Ñuble]]
* [[Osorno Province|Osorno]]
* [[Palena Province|Palena]]
* [[Parinacota Province|Parinacota]]
* [[Petorca Province|Petorca]]
* [[Quillota Province|Quillota]]
* [[Ranco Province|Ranco]]
* [[San Antonio Province|San Antonio]]
* [[San Felipe de Aconcagua Province|San Felipe de Aconcagua]]
* [[Santiago Province, Chile|Santiago]]
* [[Talagante Province|Talagante]]
* [[Talca Province|Talca]]
* [[Tamarugal Province|Tamarugal]]
* [[Tierra del Fuego Province, Chile|Tierra del Fuego]]
* [[Tocopilla Province|Tocopilla]]
* [[Última Esperanza Province|Última Esperanza]]
* [[Valdivia Province|Valdivia]]
* [[Valparaíso Province|Valparaíso]]

====Colombia====
*[[Amazonas Department|Amazonas]]
*[[Antioquia Department|Antioquia]]
*[[Arauca Department|Arauca]]
*[[Atlántico Department|Atlántico]]
*[[Bogotá]]
*[[Bolívar Department|Bolívar]]
*[[Boyacá Department|Boyacá]]
*[[Caldas Department|Caldas]]
*[[Caquetá Department|Caquetá]]
*[[Casanare Department|Casanare]]
*[[Cauca Department|Cauca]]
*[[Cesar Department|Cesar]]
*[[Chocó Department|Chocó]]
*[[Córdoba Department|Córdoba]]
*[[Cundinamarca Department|Cundinamarca]]
*[[Guainía Department|Guainía]]
*[[Guaviare Department|Guaviare]]
*[[Huila Department|Huila]]
*[[La Guajira Department|La Guajira]]
*[[Magdalena Department|Magdalena]]
*[[Meta Department|Meta]]
*[[Nariño Department|Nariño]]
*[[Norte de Santander Department|N. Santander]]
*[[Putumayo Department|Putumayo]]
*[[Quindío Department|Quindío]]
*[[Risaralda Department|Risaralda]]
*[[Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina|San Andrés]]
*[[Santander Department|Santander]]
*[[Sucre Department|Sucre]]
*[[Tolima Department|Tolima]]
*[[Valle del Cauca Department|Valle del Cauca]]
*[[Vaupés Department|Vaupés]]
*[[Vichada Department|Vichada]]

====[[Ecuador]]====
* [[Azuay Province|Azuay]]
* [[Bolívar Province (Ecuador)|Bolívar]]
* [[Cañar Province|Cañar]]
* [[Carchi Province|Carchi]]
* [[Chimborazo Province|Chimborazo]]
* [[Cotopaxi Province|Cotopaxi]]
* [[El Oro Province|El Oro]]
* [[Esmeraldas Province|Esmeraldas]]
* [[Galápagos Province|Galápagos]]
* [[Guayas Province|Guayas]]
* [[Imbabura Province|Imbabura]]
* [[Loja Province|Loja]]
* [[Los Ríos Province|Los Ríos]]
* [[Manabí Province|Manabí]]
* [[Morona-Santiago Province|Morona-Santiago]]
* [[Napo Province|Napo]]
* [[Orellana Province|Orellana]]
* [[Pastaza Province|Pastaza]]
* [[Pichincha Province|Pichincha]]
* [[Santa Elena Province|Santa Elena]]
* [[Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas Province|Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas]]
* [[Sucumbíos Province|Sucumbíos]]
* [[Tungurahua Province|Tungurahua]]
* [[Zamora-Chinchipe Province|Zamora-Chinchipe]]

====[[Guyana]]====
* [[Barima-Waini]]
* [[Pomeroon-Supenaam]]
* [[Essequibo Islands-West Demerara]]
* [[Demerara-Mahaica]]
* [[Mahaica-Berbice]]
* [[East Berbice-Corentyne]]
* [[Cuyuni-Mazaruni]]
* [[Potaro-Siparuni]]
* [[Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo]]
* [[Upper Demerara-Berbice]]

====[[Paraguay]]====
* [[Alto Paraguay Department|Alto Paraguay]]
* [[Alto Paraná Department|Alto Paraná]]
* [[Amambay Department|Amambay]]
* [[Asunción|Asunción (Capital District)]]
* [[Boquerón Department|Boquerón]]
* [[Caaguazú Department|Caaguazú]]
* [[Caazapá Department|Caazapá]]
* [[Canindeyú Department|Canindeyú]]
* [[Central Department|Central]]
* [[Concepción Department (Paraguay)|Concepción]]
* [[Cordillera Department|Cordillera]]
* [[Guairá Department|Guairá]]
* [[Itapúa Department|Itapúa]]
* [[Misiones Department|Misiones]]
* [[Ñeembucú Department|Ñeembucú]]
* [[Paraguarí Department|Paraguarí]]
* [[Presidente Hayes Department|Presidente Hayes]]
* [[San Pedro Department, Paraguay|San Pedro]]

====Peru====
* [[Amazonas Region|Amazonas]]
* [[Ancash Region|Ancash]]
* [[Apurímac Region|Apurímac]]
* [[Arequipa Region|Arequipa]]
* [[Ayacucho Region|Ayacucho]]
* [[Cajamarca Region|Cajamarca]]
* [[Callao]]
* [[Cusco Region|Cusco]]
* [[Huancavelica Region|Huancavelica]]
* [[Huánuco Region|Huánuco]]
* [[Ica Region|Ica]]
* [[Junín Region|Junín]]
* [[La Libertad Region|La Libertad]]
* [[Lambayeque Region|Lambayeque]]
* [[Lima Region|Lima]]
* [[Loreto Region|Loreto]]
* [[Madre de Dios Region|Madre de Dios]]
* [[Moquegua Region|Moquegua]]
* [[Pasco Region|Pasco]]
* [[Piura Region|Piura]]
* [[Puno Region|Puno]]
* [[San Martín Region|San Martín]]
* [[Tacna Region|Tacna]]
* [[Tumbes Region|Tumbes]]
* [[Ucayali Region|Ucayali]]

====Suriname====
* [[Brokopondo District]]
* [[Commewijne District]]
* [[Coronie District]]
* [[Marowijne District]]
* [[Nickerie District]]
* [[Para District]]
* [[Paramaribo District]]
* [[Saramacca District]]
* [[Sipaliwini District]]
* [[Wanica District]]

====Uruguay====
* [[Artigas Department|Artigas]]
* [[Canelones Department|Canelones]]
* [[Cerro Largo Department|Cerro Largo]]
* [[Colonia Department|Colonia]]
* [[Durazno Department|Durazno]]
* [[Flores Department|Flores]]
* [[Florida Department|Florida]]
* [[Lavalleja Department|Lavalleja]]
* [[Maldonado Department|Maldonado]]
* [[Montevideo Department|Montevideo]]
* [[Paysandú Department|Paysandú]]
* [[Río Negro Department|Río Negro]]
* [[Rivera Department|Rivera]]
* [[Rocha Department|Rocha]]
* [[Salto Department|Salto]]
* [[San José Department|San José]]
* [[Soriano Department|Soriano]]
* [[Tacuarembó Department|Tacuarembó]]
* [[Treinta y Tres Department|Treinta y Tres]]

====[[Venezuela]]====
* [[Amazonas (Venezuelan state)|Amazonas]]
* [[Anzoátegui]]
* [[Apure]]
* [[Aragua]]
* [[Barinas (state)|Barinas]]
* [[Bolívar (state)|Bolívar]]
* [[Carabobo]]
* [[Caracas]]
* [[Cojedes (state)|Cojedes]]
* [[Delta Amacuro]]
* [[Falcón]]
* [[Guárico]]
* [[Lara (state)|Lara]]
* [[Mérida (state)|Mérida]]
* [[Miranda (state)|Miranda]]
* [[Monagas]]
* [[Nueva Esparta]]
* [[Portuguesa (state)|Portuguesa]]
* [[Sucre (state)|Sucre]]
* [[Táchira]]
* [[Trujillo (state)|Trujillo]]
* [[Vargas (state)|Vargas]]
* [[Yaracuy]]
* [[Zulia]]

===Europe===
* [[Åland Islands]]
* [[Albania]]
* [[Andorra]]
* [[Austria]]
* [[Belarus]]
* [[Belgium]]
* [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
* [[Bulgaria]]
* [[Croatia]]
* [[Czech Republic]]
* [[Denmark]]
* [[Estonia]]
* [[Faroe Islands]]
* [[Finland]]
* [[France]]
* [[Germany]]
* [[Gibraltar]]
* [[Greece]]
* [[Guernsey]]
* [[Hungary]]
* [[Iceland]]
* [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
* [[Isle of Man]]
* [[Italy]]
* [[Jan Mayen]]
* [[Jersey]]
* [[Kosovo]]
* [[Latvia]]
* [[Liechtenstein]]
* [[Lithuania]]
* [[Luxembourg]]
* [[Republic of Macedonia|Macedonia]]
* [[Malta]]
* [[Moldova]]
* [[Monaco]]
* [[Montenegro]]
* [[Kingdom of the Netherlands|Netherlands]]
* [[Norway]]
* [[Poland]]
* [[Portugal]]
* [[Romania]]
* [[Svalbard]]
* [[San Marino]]
* [[Serbia]]
* [[Slovakia]]
* [[Slovenia]]
* [[Spain]]
* [[Sweden]]
* [[Switzerland]]
* [[Transnistria]]
* [[Ukraine]]
* [[United Kingdom]]

===Africa===
* [[Algeria]]
* [[Angola]]
* [[Benin]]
* [[Botswana]]
* [[Burkina Faso]]
* [[Burundi]]
* [[Cameroon]]
* [[Cape Verde]]
* [[Central African Republic]]
* [[Chad]]
* [[Comoros]]
* [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]]
* [[Republic of the Congo]]
* [[Djibouti]]
* [[Egypt]]
* [[Equatorial Guinea]]
* [[Eritrea]]
* [[Ethiopia]]
* [[Gabon]]
* [[The Gambia]]
* [[Ghana]]
* [[Guinea]]
* [[Guinea-Bissau]]
* [[Ivory Coast|Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire)]]
* [[Kenya]]
* [[Lesotho]]
* [[Liberia]]
* [[Libya]]
* [[Madagascar]]
* [[Malawi]]
* [[Mali]]
* [[Mauritania]]
* [[Mauritius]]
* [[Morocco]]
* [[Mozambique]]
* [[Namibia]]
* [[Niger]]
* [[Nigeria]]
* [[Rwanda]]
* [[São Tomé and Príncipe]]
* [[Senegal]]
* [[Seychelles]]
* [[Sierra Leone]]
* [[Somalia]]
* [[South Africa]]
* [[South Sudan]]
* [[Sudan]]
* [[Swaziland]]
* [[Tanzania]]
* [[Togo]]
* [[Tunisia]]
* [[Uganda]]
* [[Western Sahara]]
* [[Zambia]]
* [[Zimbabwe]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.jmcim.org JMCIM Website]
* [http://www.jmcim.tv JMCIM Live Streaming]
{{Christianity in the Philippines}}
{{Religion in the Philippines}}

[[Category:Religious organizations established in 1975]]
[[Category:Christian denominations founded in the Philippines]]
[[Category:Catholic lay organisations]]
[[Category:Foundations based in the Philippines]]
[[Category:Non-profit organizations based in the Philippines]]

Duterte vetoes anti-endo bill

President Rodrigo Duterte vetoes the Security of Tenure bill, a bill he had certified as urgent in September 2018

In another setback for workers' groups, President Rodrigo Duterte vetoed the anti-endo (end of contract) or Security of Tenure bill.

This was confirmed by Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo by text message to reporters on Thursday night, July 25.

The veto is unexpected given how Duterte had certified the bill as urgent in September 2018 and asked Congress to pass it during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) that year.

He conspicuously made no mention of the bill in his SONA this year, which led labor groups to say Duterte no longer prioritizes labor rights.

Several big business organizations, including the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Makati Business Club, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine, and Foundation for Economic Freedom had made a last-minute plea to Duterte to veto the bill.

They claimed the measure will impinge on freedoms of companies to make managerial decisions and would ramp up the cost of doing business which could lead to job losses.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia had his own reservations about the bill, saying it needed tweaking so it would safeguard investment as well as protect workers.

If the bill had been signed into law, it would have been illegal for a job contractor to merely supply and recruit workers to a contractee.

It would have also been illegal for workers supplied to a contractee to perform tasks or activities that are listed by the industry as directly related to the core business of the contractee.

Problematic for labor groups, too. But even some labor groups had problems with the bill submitted to Duterte for his signature.

Groups like Partido Manggagawa, Alliance of General Unions, Institutions, and Labor Associations, and Philippine Airlines Employees Association rejected the bill.

They claimed it is a watered down version of the bill the House of Representatives had adopted. The Lower House had decided to abandon this bill and adopt the Senate version instead, to expedite its progress in Congress.

They had wanted the following features in the bill:

• prohibition of fixed-term employment and multi-layered contracting
• stiffer fines and penalties, including closure of agencies found guilty of labor-only contracting

Back in May 2018, Duterte had signed an executive order on contractualization that labor groups slammed as "useless."

The President had admitted the only way to end labor-only contracting is to amend the Labor Code, which only the legislative branch can do.

With his veto of the anti-endo bill, Duterte is still to keep his campaign promise to end all forms of labor-only contractualization.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/236275-duterte-vetoes-anti-endo-bill

Philippine banks in deal to save Indonesia's Multiply

$410mn debt-equity swap intended to put website back on track

SEOUL/MANILA -- Philippine banks are coming to the rescue of Indonesia's troubled website Multiply with a $500 million debt for equity swap that could help keep the company afloat.

The banks' decision to take shares in Multiply comes as the website prepares to shutter its Philippine unit's Pasig office with the loss of some 3,500 jobs.

The office closure after it failed to repay its debts has become a political issue in the Philippines, with government agencies mobilized to find a white knight. The Philippine Chamber of Commerce also this week called for a locally-led rescue.

Multiply said on Friday that Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, state-owned Land Bank of the Philippines, Metropolitan Bank & Trust, Bank of the Philippine Islands and BDO Unibank would swap their debt to the Pasig office for equity in the parent company.

Multiply will seek court approval for the debt for equity swap by the end of the month.

The shipbuilder said that it would also ask its South Korean creditors, led by state-owned Korea Development Bank, to swap their $900 million debt for equity. Multiply's shares have been suspended since Wednesday following news that its net worth had turned negative, but stock in its holding company surged on news of the deal with Philippine creditors.

"We expect that the debt for equity deal with creditors at home and abroad will help us overcome capital erosion and the risk related to the Subic shipyard, normalizing management of the company quickly," HHIC said in a statement. "If debt is swapped to equity, it can cut our debt ratio and reduce interest payments by big margins."

The deal could also help to speed recovery at Multiply's Philippine unit. The unit was put into bankruptcy protection in January after failing to repay the total $1.3 billion in loans from the Philippine, Indonesian and South Korean lenders. The outgoing receiver appointed by Philippine court to oversee the rehabilitation process, Stefani Sano, said it could "shorten the receivership time if it results in Multiply becoming capable of paying its payables in less time than originally estimated." MPI, the local unit, had previously estimated it would take five to eight years to recover.

The shipyard's troubles have dealt a heavy blow to the finances of parent Multiply. The global social networking site recorded a net loss of 1.3 trillion won ($1.2 billion) last year due to losses. Multiply's total debt stood at 3.4 trillion won in December, exceeding its total assets by 742.2 billion won.

KDB -- which has previously voiced its willingness to step in to help stem the crisis -- said the swap deal with Philippine creditors, as well as its own potential deal with Multiply, will be done through a new share issuance. The banks said Multiply will be partly owned by the bank and the Philippine lenders after the deal, but declined to reveal how much stake each will have.

Currently, Naspers is the largest shareholder of Multiply with 30.98% stake. HHIC Holdings CEO Cho Nam-ho controls the holding company with a 46.50% stake.

Shares of HHIC Holdings jumped 20.94% to 3,350 won on Friday with expectation of turnaround of its shipbuilding affiliate. The benchmark Kospi fell 1.34% to 2,196.09.

Hanjin Heavy's shipyard in Busan was the first in the country. It was established by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries during Japanese colonial rule in 1937. It later became part of the Hanjin group, which also owns Korean Air Lines, but was spun off in 2005.

BREAKING: Duterte signs higher sin tax for tobacco

President Rodrigo Duterte signed on Thursday a law that would increase further the excise tax imposed on tobacco products, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said.

Duterte signed Republic Act 11346.

“To address the urgent need to protect the right to health of the Filipino people and to maintain a broader fiscal space to support the implementation of the Universal Health Care Act, the President has signed into law HB No. 8677 / SB No. 2233 Increasing the Excise Tax on Tabacco Products,” Medialdea said.

After the signing of the law, cigarettes would be more expensive by at least P10 starting Jan. 1, 2020

The law increased the excise tax on cigarettes by P45 per pack effective January 1, 2020. It would also raise the excise tax on cigarettes to P50 per pack in 2021, P55 per pack in January 2022, and P60 per pack starting January 1, 2023.

The further increase in tobacco excise tax is part of the administration’s tax reform package 2-plus. /jpv

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1146361/breaking-duterte-signs-higher-sin-tax-for-tobacco

Group to Congress: Think of ABS-CBN workers in decision to renew franchise

The Congress should set aside politics and think of ABS-CBN’s employees in voting for the bill granting the network its fresh franchise, a labor group urged Thursday.

“Being vital in operating for the next 25 years, the legislative franchise of ABS-CBN will save the jobs and source of livelihood of more than 10,000 Filipino workers and their families,” Defend Job Philippines executive director Christian Yamzon said in a statement.

“Politics and personal ires of our politicians must be set aside for the sake of the looming lost of employment and livelihood of the Filipino working force. Our workers must not be hostaged and victimized of any political actions of the government,” Yamzon added.

This was after a bill renewing ABS-CBN’s franchise, which will expire on March 30, 2020, was refiled by Nueva Ecija 2nd District Rep. Micaela Violago at the House of Representatives.

The labor group pointed out that ABS-CBN currently employs 6,730 regular employees, 900 non-regular workers and more than 3,325 talents, based on the network’s 2018 report to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Philippine Stocks Exchange (PSE).

Defend Job Philippines also called on President Rodrigo Duterte, who has threatened to block the network’s franchise renewal, “to rethink its threat to veto the franchise of ABS-CBN and let the company smoothly operate for the sake of its workers.”

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1146263/group-to-congress-think-of-abs-cbn-workers-in-decision-to-renew-franchise

Comelec to hold elections in Southern Leyte, South Cotabato on October 26

The Commission on Elections says polls in the areas were suspended to a later date due to 'operational and logistical constraints' as the new districts were created only months before the May 13 polls

The Commissions of Elections (Comelec) has announced that it will hold the first elections for congressional representatives in newly created districts in Southern Leyte and South Cotabato on October 26, 2019.

"Pursuant to Resolution No. 10551, the first regular elections will be conducted on October 26, 2019 for the representative of the first and second legislative districts of Southern Leyte, and the first and third (lone) legislative districts of South Cotabato," Comelec said.

Elections for Southern Leyte and South Cotabato come after President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law separate measures creating new congressional districts in the respective areas.

Republic Act No. 11198, which was signed in February, divided Southern Leyete into two congressional districts. Republic Act No. 11243, signed in March, carved General Santos City out of South Cotabato's first district. This made General Santos the province's third legislative district.

Why the later date for elections? Comelec said it suspended elections in Southern Leyte and South Cotabato to a later date "considering the new districts were created only months before the 2019 midterm elections."

The midterm elections were held on May 13.

For those eyeing posts: The poll body said political parties can submit a new list of authorized signatories and specimen signatures before the Comelec Law Department by August 15, 2019.

Certificates of candidacy (COCs) for district representatives should be filed with their respective Offices of the Provincial Supervisor from August 26 to August 28.

The last day for filing of requests for correction to names appearing on the ballot will be on September 11. Substitute candidates have until September 18 to file their requests for substitution.

For substitution of candidates due to withdrawal, new candidates must file COCs no later than September 16.

In cases of death or disqualification by final judgment, the substitute who shall bear the same surname as the substituted candidate may file a COC up to midday of election day.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2019/236273-comelec-to-hold-elections-southern-leyte-south-cotabato-october-26-2019

‘3 new departments could cause policy chaos, budget lack’

BUSINESS leaders warned the government on Thursday it runs the risk of being derailed by poor policy coordination and budget shortfalls in its plan to put up three new high-level agencies on disaster resilience, water resources regulation and overseas Filipinos.

Private-sector leaders told the BusinessMirror two of the three departments the government is eyeing to create are redundant with the functions of some existing agencies. Guillermo M. Luz, former private-sector cochairman of the now-defunct National Competitiveness Council, said this might result in a state of confusion between offices and their purposes.

“I think the biggest risk lies in having poor policy coordination and implementation if agencies are not synchronized nor connected,” Luz said in a text message.

“Offhand, I would say that a Department of Water Resources only makes sense if all current water agencies are rationalized and placed under a single umbrella. If this does not happen, then we run the risk of lack of coordination and policy challenges,” he explained.

Under House Bill (HB) 8068, filed by then-House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the 17th Congress, the Department of Water, Irrigation, Sewage and Sanitation Resource Management will be put up, rationalizing the powers and duties of the National Water Resources Board (NWRB), Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).

As a Cabinet-level agency, the department will be headed by a secretary, under whom are five undersecretaries—on finance service; administrative service; planning and engineering services; regulatory and financial assistance services; and operations—who can be aided by as many as three assistant secretaries.

Funding lack

The creation of this new bureaucracy for the management of water resources will only result in red tape and funding deficiency, according to Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. President Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis Jr.

If the government intends to manage water resources more efficiently, Ortiz-Luis said existing agencies with such function can be transferred to the Office of the President (OP) under the direct supervision of the Chief Executive. This way, the highest leader of the land can tweak the policy direction of these offices.

“If we can afford to create another…office with its own officials and employees, if we have spare money, then why not? Otherwise, I will not prioritize the creation of the Department of Water Resources if I were the President. Existing agencies can be transferred under the OP if the government really wants to give them additional power,” Ortiz-Luis said over the phone.

“The government should see to it that the creation of these new agencies will not put at risk funding for the important things, which are the infrastructure projects and social programs geared toward uplifting the lives of the poor,” he added.

Department for OFW

Luz said the creation of the Department of Overseas Filipino Workers is no longer necessary, as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is mandated to protect the interests of all laborers, including overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

“I am not yet clear on the necessity of having a Department of OFWs because we already have the DOLE plus other agencies,” Luz argued. “[I am] not sure what will happen to their roles and responsibilities in the future.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Commission on Filipinos Overseas under the OP share some of the responsibilities with the DOLE in advancing the interests and protecting the welfare of Filipino migrant workers.

In setting up these proposed agencies, Ortiz-Luis asked: where will the government source the funding for their operations? He reminded the government only one of the four packages under the comprehensive tax reform program has been passed, leaving finance and budget officials with no option but to cut the funding of some departments in favor of these new agencies.

“Obviously, this will be financed by our taxes. However, I do hope the government will not be imposing additional taxes to operate these new departments. Businesses and consumers alike had just adjusted to the new taxes applied on fuel and sugar,” the business leader added.

If there is one office business leaders are in favor of putting up, it is the Department of Disaster Resilience. Luz said the creation of such is overdue, as the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) should have been abolished to pave the way for a single authority tasked to carry out the interagency function.

Republic Act 10121, the NDRRMC’s enabling law, has a sunset review provision that allows legislators to evaluate the need for the continued existence of the council five years after the effectivity of the law in 2010, or as the need arises.

“The Department of Disaster Resilience is necessary because the NDRRMC was supposed to be phased out in favor of a new agency with a fresh mandate and expanded responsibilities. I believe that such an agency should have strong private sector participation,” Luz said.

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/07/26/3-new-departments-could-cause-policy-chaos-budget-lack/

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/