TODAY’S GOD’S MESSAGE

Psalm 103:1-2

Psalm 103

Of David.

¹ Praise the Lord, my soul;
    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
² Praise the Lord, my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits—

Komedya o Komida

Ni Derek Jorge

Komedya hustisya

TILA nagtataka pa itong dating Sen. Leila De Lima sa sistema ng hustisya sa Pilipinas. Happy birthdate Servants of God in Christ Jesus Christian Ministries Incorporated Moderator Rev. Nestor Sadim, more birthdays to come. Dati namang justice secretary itong si De Lima at doon nga nag-ugat ang away nila ni Digong,  ipinalilipat kasi kasambahay ni Leila ang 11 presong testigo laban sa kanya sa usaping bawal na gamut mula Sablayan penal farm sa New Bilibid Prison. Katwiran kasi Kiwal, bulati kong kikiwal-kiwal, pusakal na kriminal ang mga testigo kaya hindi basta maililipat ng selda. Sinisilip ni Leila na sa pitong taon niyang pagkakulong ay naidiin siya ng mga iyon pero ngayong ipababawi sa mga iyon ang kanilang testimonya ay pahirapan na. Sabi  ni Tembong Melencio…”Bakit ganoon?” salamat nama’t 900k Pilipino ang nakaahon na sa pagdarahop at “middle class” na ngayong itinuturing. Kung benepisyaryo ng 4ps ang mga iyon, “graduate” na ngayon. Ididiskwento ng Meralco nang hanggang syento porsyento sa singil sa koryente ang mga benepisyaryo ng 4ps. Kwalipikadong aplikante ay kailangang hindi kumukunsumo ng 100 kw.hr. DSWD, huwag naman nyong pahirapan mga aplikante. Dalawang buwan na lang at Marked Men for Christ sa Baguio na.   Jonathan Fernandez, muzta na, nagkakalimutan na tayo a. Problema ba, pag-usapan natin, ndgodino@yahoo.com.

900k Pinoys lifted from poverty – PSA

By J.Lo

“We are happy for 900,000 of our countrymen whose situation has improved…we will continue to help more than 25 million get out of poverty through intervention programs Congress, principally House where national budget emanates, should consistently fund,” Speaker Martin Romualdez said approximately 900,000 people have been lifted from poverty based on latest Philippine Statistics Authority report showed poverty incidence dropping to 22.4 percent in first half of 2023 from 23.7 percent in the same period two years ago.

According to PSA,  22.4-percent rate translated to about 25.24 million Filipinos, while 1.3-percentage-point drop simply meant almost 900,000 people have lifted themselves from poverty and have now reached middle-class status.

Romualdez, in  statement, gave assurance that House of Representatives would continue pursuing and funding programs of President Ferdinnd  Marcos Jr. intended to improve lives of millions of poor Filipinos.

To complement such programs, Romualdez said House members and other lawmakers and local government officials, individually or collectively, undertake their own assistance projects that benefit their constituents.

“We hope we can reduce poverty to  single-digit rate by  end  President Ferdinand Marcos term as he has set out to do when he assumed  presidency,” Romualdez said.

Chief Executive wants poverty level, pegged in 2019 at 18 percent, cut to eight percent before 2028.

Romualdez,cited 4Ps, Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation, TUPAD (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers), free college education, free health insurance and grant of direct cash subsidies as among government intervention measures.

He said House has chosen to exercise its oversight power as needed to bring down price of rice and other staples to affordable levels by fighting inflation, smuggling, hoarding, price manipulation and similar abusive practices.

Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte cited Romualdez for steering through House swift passage of  government’s priority legislative measures designed to sustain robust post-pandemic growth, create more jobs and livelihood opportunities and improve  lives of Filipinos.

He said substantial number of new laws and proposed legislation acted upon by chamber halfway through this legislative session is Christmas gift of the Speaker and House members to Filipino people.

“Speaker Martin has traced superb performance of  House of Representatives this year to  continued unity and cooperation of all of us in bigger chamber in serving highest interest of Filipino people, but the Speaker has looked past something in his recap, and this has to do with  remarkable role he has played in shepherding passage of  fairly large number of priority bills identified by the President and LEDAC for urgent action, This record accomplishment marks the Christmas gift of the House under the Speaker’s leadership to our people, ” Villafuerte, president of National Unity Party, said.

LEDAC refers to Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council, consultative body created under Republic Act 7640 in 1992 to draw up with, and recommend to, the President socio-economic development goals, including helping identify priority legislative measures for Congress to pass in support of these objectives.

“House has been productive and efficient more than ever, passing in record time most of the priority measures endorsed by President Marcos in his SONA ,State of the Nation Address and by LEDAC, under  very able leadership of the Speaker, House has passed  sizable number of proposed laws meant to bring  Marcos administration closer to the President’s paramount goal of high and inclusive growth for Filipinos by way of accelerating poverty reduction, turbocharging economy and generating more and better jobs and livelihood opportunities for all,” Villafuerte said.

Meanwhile, FMJ vowed to consider plight of Filipinos when crafting policies in online post sought to highlight  government’s accomplishments and programs.

“This is our promise in every step we take,  plight of every Filipino will be in our minds and hearts to achieve  new Philippines we aspire for. Merry Christmas, happy new Philippines to all of us,” FMJ said in  Facebook.

FMJ post contained  nearly-four-minute-video featuring  programs of his administration as well as  changes  took place after  COVID-19 pandemic.

Narrated by  boy who talked about his family’s hardships during  health crisis,  video mentioned  government’s electrification efforts,  resumption of onsite classes,  giving of free seeds to farmers affected by typhoons,  establishment of Kadiwa outlets that sell lower-priced goods, fixing of bus routes and  opening of new factories. 

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HEADLINES

Power bill discount to 4Ps clients

By Nidz Godino

“This is Christmas gift for our kababayans struggling in life. .. government will expand electricity subsidy come January 2024,” Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, principal author of Republic Act 11552 or Act Extending and Enhancing t Implementation of Lifeline Rate, said starting January 2024, beneficiaries of government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps and those considered to be living below poverty threshold could enjoy discounts in their electricity bills.

Gatchalian said one should register in government’s lifeline electricity rate program to avail oneself of the program.

Gatchalian said subsidy is meant to assist those who are adversely affected by volatility of fuel prices and  high cost of basic commodities.

Program  covers households unable to pay bills, including beneficiaries of 4Ps, or customers considered to be living below  poverty threshold set by Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Not everyone may be able to get  discount, though, as he noted that  beneficiary should not consume more than 100 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month to enjoy subsidy.

“We pushed for this measure because we wanted more people to benefit from subsidy program,” senator said.

For those living within franchise area of  Manila Electric Co., subsidy could range between 20 to 100 percent, depending on  amount of electricity they consume. Power  reduction rate varies depending on  prevailing rates of distribution utilities or electric cooperatives.

Gatchalian urged Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Energy and Energy Regulatory Commission to ensure enrollment would not be too cumbersome for 4Ps beneficiaries.

He noted  three agencies earlier delayed implementation of new lifeline rate program from September this year to January 2024 in bid to allow  enlistment of more 4Ps beneficiaries.

“Government must step up efforts to get deserving households on list of beneficiaries and ensure enrollment procedure is both convenient and expeditious… should also be intensified information and dissemination campaign to reach as many beneficiaries as possible,” Gatchalian said.

TODAY’S GOD’S MESSAGE

Luke 2:28-32

²⁸ Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

²⁹ “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
    you may now dismiss^[a] your servant in peace.
³⁰ For my eyes have seen your salvation,
³¹     which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
³² a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and the glory of your people Israel.”

Footnotes

1. Luke 2:29 Or promised, / now dismiss

Komedya o Komida

Ni Derek Jorge

Komedya korte suprema

NAGBABANGONG puri ang Korte Suprema, kahit kaainip-inip para sa kapwa petitioner at pinipetisyon ang resulta ng kanilaang daing ay sa dahilan Kiwal, bulati kong kikiwal-kiwal  na pinag-aaralang husto ang kaso Cielo Soriano. Magkikita-kitang muli ang batch 79 DYFBC sa petsa 29, 3 araw bago magbagong taon. Muling sasariwain ang nakaraan, halakhakan , kainan, babaha na naman ang ice tea.  Pakabibilisan daw naman ni chief justice Alexander Gesmundo ang proseso ng litigasyon hindi lamang sa high court kundi sa mababang hukuman. Natapos raw naman ng SC ang 3,711 kaso. Enero 2023, ideneklaranIg unconstituational ang Tripartite Agreement for Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking sa hanay ng China, Vietnam at  Pilipinas sa gobyernong  Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.  Pinagtibay naman ng SC ang  Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN). Noong Hunio, uncon ang pagpapaliban pa ng BSKE. Kinatigan din ng SC ang pagbasura ng Sandiganbayan sa kasong  “ill-gotten wealth” ng pamilya Marcos o P1.052 billion  ill-gotten wealth, dahil sa kulang na katibayan ng Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG). Pinag-aaralan pa ng SC ang “no-contact apprehension policy “(NCAP). Ang paglilipat ng confidential fund sa OVP. Hinihintay ng SC ang panig nina VP Sara Duterte[Carpio. Hindi raw makaaasa ng umento ang mga obrero sa taaong 2024. ,  Dalawang buwan na lang at Marked Men for Christ sa Baguio na.    Jonathan Fernandez, muzta na, nagkakalimutan na tayo a. Problema ba, pag-usapan natin, ndgodino@yahoo.com.

SC rulings make headlines in 2023

By J.Lo

“Our performance has improved in terms of disposition compared to last year,we expect to further expedite processing of cases, not only in SC, but also in lower courts, once we started using technology that we plan to implement next year, ” Supreme Court (SC)  Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo said as 2023 came to  close,  SC saw  improvement in  number of cases it resolved, with help of recent technological advancements.

In  briefing, Gesmundo revealed SC has resolved 3,711 cases as of Sept. 30 this year, accounting for  21 percent disposition rate. This is up from 19 percent rate recorded in 2022. He also touted  clearance rate of 84 percent.

Meanwhile, for administrative and en banc matters, high tribunal has resolved 1,729 cases, accounting for  29 percent disposition rate and  88 percent clearance rate.

In January,  SC declared  Tripartite Agreement for Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking among China, Vietnam and  Philippines signed by  administration of then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo  as unconstitutional and void.

Joint  venture by and among China National National Offshore Oil Corp., Vietnam Oil and Gas Corp. and tPhilippine National Oil Co. covers 142,886 square meters in South China Sea.

Court voted 12-2-1, saying venture was unconstitutional “for allowing wholly-owned foreign corporations to participate in exploration of  country’s natural resources without observing  safeguards” provided in Article XII, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution.

Also in January, SC upheld  constitutionality of  Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion or TRAIN law as it dismissed  consolidated petitions against  measure that argued it was unconstitutionally passed by  House of Representatives given  lack of quorum and that its provisions imposing excise on petroleum products are “prohibited regressive taxes.”

Thirteen justices voted to dismiss  petitions against it. SC held supposed absence of  quorum was refuted by official journal of  House of Representatives, both on the day TRAIN’s Bicameral Conference Report was ratified and on  immediately subsequent session date of Jan. 15, 2018.

SC also reiterated Constitution, in its present form, does not prohibit imposition of regressive taxes, but merely directs Congress to evolve  progressive system of taxation.

In June, with only four months left until election day, SC declared  law postponing  barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) as unconstitutional.

 SC issued  decision eight months after concluding  oral arguments and was left with no choice but to allow  polls to proceed due to “legal practicality and necessity.”

Veteran election lawyer Romulo Macalintal and six other lawyers earlier asked high court to outlaw Republic Act 11935, which moved  BSKE to Oct. 30, 2023 from original date of Dec. 5, 2022.

Decision , penned by Associate Justice Antonio Kho, stressed constitutionally guaranteed right to vote “requires holding of genuine periodic elections, which must be held at intervals which are not unduly long, and which ensure authority of  government continues to be based on  free expression of  will of electors.”

While SC noted Congress did not “unconstitutionally” encroach on  power of  Commission on Elections when it enacted RA 11935, justices found “ law unconstitutionally exceeds  bounds of Congress’ power to legislate.”

 SC has upheld several decisions of tSandiganbayan that dismissed ill-gotten wealth cases against Marcos family.

In  decision made public in July, SC affirmed  dismissal of  civil case against family of late strongman Ferdinand Marcos Sr. involving P1.052 billion in alleged ill-gotten wealth, citing insufficient evidence presented by  Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG).

 High  tribunal’s First Division denied for lack of merit  motion for review on certiorari filed by  PCGG against Sandiganbayan, which dismissed on Sept. 25, 2018  civil forfeiture case against Marcos family and their cronies.

SC decision, written by Justice Ricardo Rosario, affirmed  ruling, saying Sandiganbayan “was correct in dismissing  expanded complaint”  sought to seize  personal assets of Marcos and his wife Imelda, including expensive artworks, clothes, shoes and jewelry as well as real estate properties worth “billions of pesos” in New York.

PCGG filed  forfeiture case in 1987 to recover assets and properties from  Marcos family and their alleged cronies, composed of P609.27 million in shares of stocks and P443.05 million in real properties.

There are several public interest cases SC has yet to decide on, including petitions questioning  constitutionality of  no-contact apprehension policy (NCAP) and those challenging  legality of  transfer of P125 million of confidential funds to the Office of the Vice President in December 2022.

In January,  SC wrapped up debate on  legality of NCAP as due process rights,  right to privacy of traffic violators, potential retrenchment of traffic enforcers and traffic law enforcement potentially given to  private sector were questioned.

Meanwhile,  SC has yet to tackle petitions challenging  constitutionality of  so-called confidential funds given to  OVP last year, as it looks into consolidating  petitions filed against it.

According to Gesmundo SC is currently waiting for respondents, including Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, to file their respective comments regarding petitions.

Gesmundo added SC will also determine whether oral arguments are needed before resolving  petitions that challenge  legality of the Office of the President’s move to allow  budget department to release P125 million in confidential funds to OVP in December last year, which was reportedly spent in just 11 days.

SC has ordered Duterte to respond to first petition.

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HEADLINES

Sugested Retail Price on pork

By J.Lo

“Farmgate price of pork slightly increased by P10 per kilo as it is sold between P180 and P190 per kilo, but this is also the day when  demand of pigs in piggery is highest amid Christmas celebration,” AGAP party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones said. pork industry group official  pushed for  implementation of  suggested retail price (SRP) on pork products amid  high retail prices reaching up to P400 per kilo.

Briones, also chairs  farmers’ group Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines, noted farmgate price ranged between P165 and P190 per kilo, but  retail cost of pork in markets is overpriced by as much as P80 per kilo.

He explained farmgate price of pork was at P190 per kilo,  maximum additional cost should only be between P310 and P320 for pork ham and P350 for pork liempo.

“ National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA),  Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Agriculture (DA) should coordinate so that they can determine how much  farmgate price is…if they know  farmgate price, they can determine  right retail prices in  markets… should implement  suggested retail price in  markets,” Briones said.

He added  instead of acting on  high retail price of pork, NEDA and  DA instead recommended to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  importation of more pork.

“What they know is to suggest to the President to import more and more, that’s  sad reality,” Briones said.

Based on monitoring of DA in 13 Metro Manila markets,  retail price of pork shoulder or kasim ranged between P260 and P370 per kilo and between P300 and P400 per kilo for pork belly or liempo.

“Concerned authorities should inform  consumers on  right prices…in the past years, consumers were not informed about  right pricing,” Briones said.

He added government could not impose  price cap on pork as  traders would only manipulate  price and sell pork at higher prices to retailers.

“There are raisers who can sell farmgate prices of P165 per kilo…on  average,  farmgate price is at P170 per kilo… if you add P120,  average retail price of pork kasim should only be P290 per kilo,”  lawmaker said.

Amid  development, farmgate price of egg has already dropped by P0.35 per piece amid  high demand this holiday, according to United Broiler Raisers Association chairman and Philippine Egg Board chairman Gregorio San Diego.

San Diego said from P7.20 per piece at the end of November, farmgate price of eggs went down to P6.85, or  decrease of P0.35.

“If this drop reaches consumers, they will have  better Christmas…based on our monitoring in  farms,  farmgate price of medium-sized eggs at the end of November is P7.20 per piece, as of this week,  cost is P6.85 per kilo,” he added.

Based on DA’s monitoring,  retail price of medium-sized eggs even increased to as high as P9 per kilo compared to P8.50 per piece on Dec. 21, or  increase of P0.50.

Drop  in farmgate price of eggs can be attributed to  raisers’ decision to extend lifespan of layer chicken, according to San Diego.

“Since egg raisers are earning, they extend their layers. Instead of selling aging chicken, they decided not to sell them so that they will have additional income,” he said.

He  expects  egg production will further increase in  middle of 2024.

“That is why I am advising our members in case they will suffer losses anew,” he said.

On the other hand, San Diego stressed while egg producers are earning, broilers are suffering losses amid slump in  farmgate price and low demand.

“It is really sad that it is our first time this Christmas that  farmgate price of broilers did not move… average farmgate price is P90 when our cost of production ranges between P90 and P95 per kilo,” he said.

He added  if  slump in farmgate price of chicken persists in 2024, more raisers would suffer losses.

Despite  decline in  farmgate price of chicken,  retail price continues to go up as it sold as high as P200 per kilo, according to San Diego.

“Our problem is that there is  big difference in  retail price of chicken compared to  farmgate price… retail price is doubled,” he said.

He added as  rule of thumb, retailers should only increase farmgate price by 69 percent.

“We understand retailers need to increase more because of low demand as  consumers have other spending but it’s too much,” San Diego said.

Amid  development, DA Assistant Secretary and spokesman Arnel de Mesa said there is  slight increase in  retail prices of agricultural commodities this holiday season.

“We already expect  slight increase in  agricultural commodities, especially with t high demand for Christmas many are buying in markets and groceries,” De Mesa said.

He added upward trend in supplies of food products is just temporary and is expected to prevail until New Year celebration.

“Good news is that t supply of agricultural commodities is very stable in  entire country,” De Mesa said.

DA particularly recorded increase in  retail price of chicken, according to the official.

“Retail price has slightly increased as from P180 to P185 per kilo in the last few days, it went up,” he said.

He added DA is continuously monitoring  retail prices and supply of agriculture products.

TODAY’S GOD’S MESSAGE

Isaiah 9:6

⁶ For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Komedya o Komida

Ni Derek Jorge

Buhay Pinoy Komedya

KOMEDYANTE rin talaga ang ating mga kasambahay na Pinoy. Maligayang pasko mula sa mga nangangasiwa ng iskup news-on-line daily, Komedya o komida. Napag-alaman sa survey na pinasasalamatan ng naakararaming Pilipino ang malusog na pangangatwan. 51% ng mga Pinoy ang nagpapasalamat sa malusog na pangangatwan; 29%nagpapasalamat sa pagkakaroon ng pamilya; 16%.dahil buhay pa; 10% sa pgkakaroon ng trabaho, “career”,kumikita; 8% dahil may pagkain; 3% dahil pinagpapala, nakapag-aral; 2% dahil sa Dios;  Obtaini1% dahil may  lovelife, sasakyan , gumaling sa sakit o aksidente, nakakatulog pa. no naman ang inaasahan mo Kiwal, bulati kong kikiwal-kiwal sa paskong ito?  6% malungkot, noong nakaraang taon 7%; 21% hindi masaya at hindi rin malungkot, 19% noon.  Dalawang araw na tigil-putukan ang mga rebeldeng komunista pero tuloy operasyong military at pulisya. “Welcome Home” Jimmy Pacheco at Camille Jesalva, “survivors”  ng  Oct. 7 “Hamas attack”.  Jonathan Fernandez, muzta na, nagkakalimutan na tayo a. Problema ba, pag-usapan natin, ndgodino@yahoo.com.