Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez, Happy 91st birthday Nanay
No to SOGIE bill
Supports Fire Prevention Month March
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Peak of dry season to start in 26 days – PAGASA
By Nidz Godino
“We are in transition period going to dry season or summer…by mid-March, we expect break of amihan or northeast monsoon,” Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather specialist Ana Clauren-Jorda said “danger” heat index of 42 to 51 degrees Celsius is expected in Metro Manila and certain areas as the peak of dry season will be experienced from end-March until April.
Heat index of 46 degrees Celsius is expected at Science Garden in Quezon City on March 3 and 4, based on the two-day forecast of the state weather bureau.
Other areas to experience danger-level heat index are Clark Airport, Pampanga; Muñoz, Nueva Ecija; Abucay, Bataan and Subic Bay, Olongapo City.
Record-breaking marine heatwaves fueled by climate change and exacerbated by El Niño have caused global devastation in the past two years, based on Nature Climate Change report.
Marine heatwave days increased by 3.5 times in summers of 2023 and 2024 compared to any other year on record, study found.
Nearly 10 percent of ocean hit record-high temperatures, study noted.
“In the past two years, marine heatwaves have forced closure of fisheries and aquaculture, increased whale and dolphin strandings and caused fourth global coral bleaching event,” study said.
“If we keep burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests, marine heatwaves could be 20 to 50 times more frequent and ten times more intense by the end of the century,” it noted.
Oil, coal and gas must be replaced with renewable energy to safeguard ocean life and coastal communities, report said.
Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez, Happy 91st birthday Nanay
No to SOGIE bill
congratulations Marked Men for Christ Philippines 565th batrch Seminar, January 30,31,February 1,2025, Kabaleyan Cove, San Carlos City, Pangasinan, looking forward to next batch July 16,2025, Baguio City
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‘Scrutinize smallest details of Isabela bridge collapse’
By Nidz Godino
“It is alarming that P1.25-billion bridge that was just retrofitted on Feb. 1 has already collapsed… this is not simple accident or mere negligence…we need to examine possibility of corruption and substandard materials,” Rep. France Castro of party-list ACT Teachers noted investigators looking into collapse of newly opened P1.22-billion bridge in Isabela should scrutinize tiniest details of project.
The House deputy minority leader had called for congressional inquiry to determine accountability at all levels, from contractor RD Interior Jr. Construction to officials of Department of Public Works and Highways who approved and supervised project.
“Flagman should not be only one blamed here… if corruption and substandard materials are proven, they should be charged with plunder and economic sabotage,if the administration is truly serious that ‘heads will roll,’ not only should small people be held accountable but also high officials who were negligent or benefited from possible anomalies,” Castro stressed.
Bridge , took more than 10 years to complete, collapsed on Thursday when dump truck carrying quarried stones weighing over 100 tons attempted to cross despite 40-ton weight limit.
Incident resulted in eight injuries and collapse of critical infrastructure link in the region.
Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez, Happy 91st birthday Nanay
No to SOGIE bill
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Pangasinan ,looking forward to next batch July 16,2025, Baguio City
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MSRP for imported rice may drop further
By J.Lo
“That max SRP of P49 per kilo can still go down…of course, cost of imported rice in the international market will have big effect,” Agriculture Assistant Secretary and spokesman Arnel de Mesa said maximum suggested retail price on imported rice can go lower than recently implemented SRP of P49 per kilo.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said landed cost of five-percent broken imported rice dropped to $490 per metric ton on Feb. 21, from $550 per metric ton.
Initially set at P58 per kilo on Jan. 20, rice max SRP decreased to P55 per kilo on Feb. 5, P52 per kilo on Feb. 15 before it went down to P49 per kilo last Saturday.
At the same time, De Mesa admitted it will be difficult to bring down retail price of rice to P33 per kilo.
“We were able to bring down price in Kadiwa outlets and National Food Authority (NFA) but with little subsidy…at present, it is still difficult to reach that level in markets but we think it is possible if we can continue to bring down cost of production of local farmers,” he said.
On the other hand, De Mesa said DA is still pushing for return of regular functions of NFA to sell rice in markets amid difficulty of agency to dispose of its stocks despite declaration of food emergency.
“This is our limitation, if warehouses are full, NFA cannot procure palay as it cannot store new stocks…we continue to ask LGUs to facilitate procurement of rice as NFA has very limited options in relation to disposal of its stocks…it only has opportunity to release its stocks to participating LGUs because of food emergency,” De Mesa added.
According to De Mesa, more than 70 LGUs vowed to participate in procurement of NFA rice but only few mayors bought stocks from NFA.
Philippines rice imports for first two months have reached 414,137 metric tons (MT), according to Bureau of Plant Industry.
Based on BPI data, 71 percent or 293,084 MT of total rice imports from Jan. 1 to Feb. 20, came from Vietnam.
Other sources of outsourced grains include Pakistan, 55,469 MT; Thailand, 47,965 MT; Myanmar, 10,795 MT: India, 4,823 MT; and South Korea, 2,000 MT.
Last year, total rice imports reached “all-time-high”of 4.8 million MT.
Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez, Happy 91st birthday Nanay
No to SOGIE bill
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ABS 2025
Bulacan traders to sell rice at P35/kilo
By J.Lo
“We do not want to repeat situation where prices of rice had very high increase without proper explanation,” House committee on agriculture and food chairman Rep. Mark Enverga said in statement rice millers in Bulacan have agreed to offer rice at P35 per kilo after meeting with National Bureau of Investigation Director Jaime Santiago.
Agreement was reached during meeting between Santiago and representatives of the Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders Movement (PRISM) of Bocaue, Bulacan on Feb. 27 at NBI headquarters in Pasay.
Orly Manuntag, PRISM co-founder, said recent operations against rice hoarders and agricultural smugglers raised concerns among legitimate rice millers and importers in Bulacan, prompting them to seek NBI’s guidance.
Santiago assured PRISM that NBI adheres to due process and will not exert undue pressure or harassment on legitimate businesses.
He also ordered no operations related to rice or agricultural smuggling should proceed without review and approval from NBI top officials.
Following discussion on pricing, Bulacan rice millers agreed to sell rice at P35 per kilo in support of government’s campaign for rice stability and affordability.
At Santiago’s request, PRISM members also committed to reporting any instances of rice smuggling or illegal activities in their area to NBI.
Philippines reference price for imported rice has been stable in the past two weeks with quotations from key Asian suppliers remaining below $400 per metric ton (MT), according to data from Bureau of Customs (BOC).
BOC’s latest memorandum showed its reference value for imported five percent broken Vietnam rice has remained at $385 per MT for the week of Feb. 26 to March 2.
Current reference value for imported Vietnam rice is third lower than $579 per MT recorded in the same period of last year.
BOC bases its reference prices for imported rice on weekly reports provided by Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights.
S&P Global report earlier pointed out price of five percent broken Vietnam rice in mid-February has fallen to its lowest level in at least 29 months since India, world’s biggest rice exporter, resumed exporting late last year.
Report attributed softening of Vietnam rice prices to tepid demand from its major buyers including Philippines.
Vietnam supplies at least 75 percent of Philippines imported rice.
United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) pointed out that Philippines
implementation of maximum suggested retail price and declaration of food security emergency impacted Vietnam rice prices to fall.
Some local importers and traders have also canceled their contracts with Vietnamese exporters to take advantage of more affordable prices.
BOC memorandum also showed reference price for imported five percent broken rice from other Asian sources has remained below $400 per MT: Myanmar ($384), India ($391) and Pakistan ($384).
Reference price for five percent broken rice from Thailand was pegged at $409 per MT, based on BOC document.
Department of Agriculture (DA) earlier announced maximum suggested retail price on imported five percent broken rice, considered premium grade, would be lowered to P49 per kilo beginning March 1 from its current level of P52 per kilo, reflecting easing in global rice prices.
National Food Authority Administrator Larry Lacson appealed to local government units (LGUs) to expedite pullout of NFA rice stocks to free up storage space amid complaints from farmers of agency’s failure to procure palay from them.
Lacson said sale of NFA rice stocks will enable NFA to procure more palay from local farmers.
Food security emergency declared by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. allows NFA to sell its rice stocks to LGUs. LGUs can resell them at P35 per kilo.
Lacson noted San Juan City has already started pulling out NFA rice stocks, with Navotas, Cotabato and Camarines Sur expected to follow suit. Food Terminal Inc. reports three LGUs have pending orders for over 120,000 sacks of rice.
According to Lacson, clearing out existing rice stocks is crucial to meeting country’s new buffer stock levels, as mandated by Rice Tariffication Law.
This year, NFA needs to procure 545,000 MT of palay to maintain nine-day buffer supply, with total of 880,000 MT needed to meet 15-day target.
Meanwhile Enverga lauded government’s decision to sell NFA rice at P35 per kilo, noting that it marked major step in stabilizing food prices.
On the other hand, Speaker Martin Romualdez
urged candidates in midterm elections to prioritize rice affordability, stressing that while recent government measures have yielded positive results, sustained efforts are necessary to achieve long-term solutions.
“Numbers and reports are not enough… we need to go down to our districts, talk to farmers, vendors and consumers…we need to ask them if there are rice available for cooking for each Filipino family…how can we decrease prices of rice without our farmers losing money,” Romualdez said.
Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez, Happy 91st birthday Nanay
No to SOGIE bill
congratulations Marked Men for Christ Philippines 565th batch Seminar, January 30,31,February 1,2025, Kabaleyan Cove, San Carlos City, Pangasinan ,looking forward to next batch July 16,2025, Baguio City
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100 ton truck collapsed 45 ton newly opened P1.2 B Isabela bridge
By Nidz Godino
“We all don’t want this to happen, let investigation be launched and whoever is responsible must answer for it”, Isabela Gov. Rodolfo Albano confirmed bridge in Isabela built at cost of P1.225 billion opened only last Feb. 1 collapsed on Thursday night, leaving six people injured and one missing.
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will look into possible corruption linked to collapse of section of newly completed bridge.
NBI public information office chief Roland Demetria confirmed NBI office in Isabela City, Cagayan, will lead probe. NBI-Ilagan chief Christopher Mesa declined to provide further details, citing pending investigation.
Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge collapsed on Thursday at around 8 in the evening when third span of the structure, measuring 60 meters, gave way.
According to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Office II, dump truck carrying boulders with estimated gross vehicle weight of 102 tons was passing over the bridge at the time of the incident.
Isabela Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) reported that six people, including child, were injured and taken to hospital, while the truck driver remains missing.
The bridge, spans 990 meters and consists of 12 arch bridge spans and nine spans of pre-stressed concrete girders, was constructed by R.D. Interior Jr. Construction.
Construction of the bridge began in November 2014. It was initially slated to be completed in 2019, but it underwent retrofitting and was officially completed on Feb. 1, at total cost of P1.225 billion.
DPWH officials said further analysis is being conducted to determine cause of collapse, with experts from Bureau of Design and the Bureau of Construction assisting in the assessment.
Albano calmed speculations that project was rigged with corruption and asked for probe that will prove what really caused bridge’s collapse.
DPWH will assess integrity of entire structure of newly reopened bridge in Isabela.
“Whole integrity of the structure should be looked into to ensure that this will not happen again, after all assessments… we will come up with findings and recommendations and from there, we will identify reason for collapse… accountability and responsibility of everyone will also be determined,” Mathias Malenab, officer-in-charge of DPWH Cagayan Valley said.
Malenab said bridge was designed to have capacity of 45 tons per vehicle, in compliance with existing policies.
He added heavy truck’s passage resulted in “concentrated load” that could have led to collapse of section of the bridge.
Malenab said their evaluation and assessment will also look at other factors, including bridge’s design.
Akbayan party-list first nominee Chel Diokno asked DPWH to immediately investigate collapse of newly retrofitted Cabagan-Santa Maria Bridge in Isabela.
“I join people of Isabela in calling on DPWH to investigate bridge collapse… I also urge local government to provide necessary assistance especially to passengers of four vehicles that were affected by this incident, in immediate, DPWH must ensure there are alternate routes that vehicles can use, bridge was constructed for almost decade and government spent more than one billion pesos for it…those responsible for this incident must be held accountable,” Diokno said.
“For his part, returning senator candidate Ping Lacson said there is special place in jail for those behind substandard construction of Cabagan-Santa Maria bridge…this is not first time and won’t be last, unless those responsible get convicted and spend rest of their lives in jail,” Lacson posted on X.
Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez, Happy 91st birthday Nanay
No to SOGIE bill
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ABS 2025
Survey reg not mandatory – Comelec
By J.Lo
“Based on our discussion, we should give little leeway on the part of survey firms… registration might no longer be made mandatory, it would be voluntary on their part,” Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia said during launching of Task Force on Regulation and Enforcement of Survey Practices for Election Credibility and Transparency or TF Respect survey firms may no longer be required to register with Comelec before conducting election surveys and disseminating results to public.
Garcia announced poll body is issuing amendatory resolution on rules mandating survey firms to register with Comelec
Garcia said mandatory registration of survey firms may be considered prior restraint to freedom of expression and speech, thus Comelec intends to make it voluntary.
Comelec Commissioner Rey Bulay, who heads TF Respect, said previous supplemental resolution mandating survey firms to register is not being implemented yet. Thus, there is no need to suspend it.
While registration is voluntary under new guidelines, Garcia said all surveys released by firms that did not register with Comelec could serve as basis in filing case for election offense.
To avoid charges, Garcia said survey firms might have to voluntarily register with Comelec as he stressed agency is not prohibiting election surveys, but is regulating it to avoid influencing voters’ decisions.
Under proposed amended guidelines, only results of registered survey firms will be posted on Comelec website. Punitive measures on survey firms that fail to register would be removed.
Comelec also intends to add provision requiring firms to disclose relationships, if any, with candidates.
Garcia said Comelec sent notices to all senatorial candidates to remove their illegal campaign posters. Failure to comply could lead to their disqualification from the race.
Meanwhile, political analyst has reminded Filipino voters to scrutinize track records of those running in upcoming midterm elections, especially in light that most party-list groups are banking on name recall and issue association.
Reacting to latest pre-election survey conducted by Social Weather Stations, Stratbase president Dindo Manhit noted “significant influence” of name recall and issue association in voter preferences.
Manhit urged Filipino voters to look beyond name recall and issue association of those seeking congressional seats through the party-list system.
Earlier this month, election watchdog Kontra Daya reported majority of party-list organizations running in this year’s polls do not represent poor and marginalized sector.
Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez, Happy 91st birthday Nanay
No to SOGIE bill
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ABS 2025
‘Gold card’ US visas for $5 M
By Nidz Godino
“We’re going to be selling gold card…you have green card, this is gold card…we’re going to be putting price on that card of about $5 million,” US President Donald Trump unveiled plans to sell new “gold card” residency permits for price of $5 million each and said Russian oligarchs may be eligible.
Trump said sales of new visa, high-price version of traditional green card, would bring in job creators and could be used to reduce US national deficit.
The Republican president, made deportation of millions of undocumented migrants priority of his second term, said new card would be route to highly prized US citizenship.
“A lot of people are going to want to be in this country, and they’ll be able to work and provide jobs and build companies, it’ll be people with money ,we’ll be able to sell maybe million of these cards…we have it all worked out from legal standpoint,” Trump said. Sales of the cards would start in about two weeks, Trump added.
The billionaire former real estate tycoon said that all applicants for the new gold cards would be carefully vetted.
But asked if wealthy Russians would also be able to apply, Trump said it was a possibility.
“Possibly. I know some Russian oligarchs that are very nice people. It’s possible,” Trump said. “They’re not as wealthy as they used to be. I think they can. I think they can afford $5 million.”
Number of Russian oligarchs have been hit by western sanctions since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine three years ago.
Trump has caused shock in European capitals by suddenly opening negotiations with Russia to end war, amid fears that he could be willing to sell Ukraine short.
The US president told reporters that lifting sanctions on Russia was possible “at some point” but was not currently on the table.
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, standing at Trump’s side in the Oval Office, said of gold cards that “we can use that money to reduce our deficit.”
Trump, who has branded series of hotels and casinos in long business career, even suggested new cards could also be named after him.
“Somebody said, ‘Can we call it Trump gold card… I said, if it helps, use name Trump,'” he said.
Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez, Happy 91st birthday Nanay
No to SOGIE bill
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“Senate President Francis Escudero cannot do anything to start impeachment trial because impeachment trial cannot start if there is no session of Senate… session will start in June…so, it is only by then that impeachment will be constituted,” former Senate president Franklin Drilon continues to parry accusations of foot-dragging, Senate President Francis Escudero has proposed calendar for impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, beginning with presentation of Articles of Impeachment at the start of session on June 2, oathtaking of senator-judges the following day, and formal start of trial on July 30.
Based on his proposed timetable, Escudero will read Articles of Impeachment during session on June 2 and have chamber approve revised Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials.
Escudero proposed oathtaking as judges of incumbent senators on June 3, so that summons can be promptly issued, pleadings received, and pre-trial undertaken from June 4 to July 25.
With terms in office of some senators expiring on June 30, Escudero proposed drafting of new rule that would “provide clear guidance on the procedure to be followed in case trial is not concluded before sine die adjournment of Congress” from June 14 to July 27.
As for 12 incoming senators in the next 20th Congress, Escudero proposed they take their oaths as judges on July 29.
In Escudero’s proposal, trial formally starts on July 30, from 9 in the morning to 2 in the afternoon, to give senators enough time to perform their legislative duties during 3 in the afternoon session.
The Senate president included his proposed timeline in his Feb. 24 letter to all senators where he laid down legal grounds for tackling impeachment complaint during open session, and not during break.
For former Senate president Franklin Drilon, setting the start of impeachment trial of Duterte for July 30 or after 19th Congress is Escudero’s “best option.”
He also said Supreme Court can no longer intervene once Senate is convened as impeachment court.
“Now, the problem is, it will not really be finished in 19th Congress…as matter of legal strategy, what Escudero did is to cover best available option trial will start in 20th Congress,” Drilon said. He also said Senate president cannot decline if President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. orders him to convene special session.
“Once special session is called by the President, it is not question of priority legislation anymore… directive of the Constitution,” Drilon said.
Despite provision in 1987 Constitution states trial should proceed “forthwith” upon transmittal of Articles of Impeachment, Escudero said word “forthwith” is defined differently in jurisprudence.
Dictionary meaning is “immediately,” but Supreme Court cases defined it as “within reasonable time, may be longer or shorter period, according to circumstances of each particular case” and that it is “elastic in nature and varies with every case,” and “always modified by circumstances and nature of duty to be performed.”
Escudero said complex definition of “forthwith” is “not novel question” in Senate, citing debate between late senators Raul Roco and Miriam Defensor Santiago during impeachment trial in 2000 of then president Joseph Estrada.
Santiago at the time said “proceed forthwith” constitutional provision was “taken out of context” and should instead be read in context of another provision in the charter on promulgation of rules on impeachment before trial, according to Escudero.
“Asserting that reading provision in isolation would distort the will of the Constitution, Senator Defensor Santiago emphasized that while Senate must proceed ‘forthwith,’ it must do so with circumspection,” Escudero said of Santiago’s point, was adopted by the body then.
Estrada impeachment trial was conducted while Senate was in session, Escudero pointed out, so the closest comparison to Duterte impeachment complaint, filed before the break, was that of aborted trial of resigned ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez in 2011.
Gutierrez’s impeachment complaint was transmitted to Senate on the last day of session in March 2011, similar to Duterte’s filed on the last session day in February before break. Senate adjourned without immediately convening as impeachment court for Gutierrez, Escudero recalled.
“In the present case against the Vice President, complaint was received late in the afternoon of our last session day, without sufficient prior notice that would have prompted the body to discuss and amend impeachment rules and procedures…as such, Senate was adjourned as scheduled,” Escudero said.
Senate chief defended need for ample preparation for the trial, amid criticisms that he was deliberately stalling proceedings.
“As head of this institution, I am most cognizant of Constitutional mandate that vests in Senate sole power to try and decide all cases of impeachment… extraordinary duty that should be approached with all due caution and prudence, not to mention adequate preparation,” Escudero said.
Escudero on Feb. 24 sent letters to Duterte and Speaker Martin Romualdez informing them of procedural moves meant to ensure both legislative chambers “conduct fair and orderly impeachment trial.”
Procedures include ordering review for purpose of revising rules of procedure, fixing session hall for Senate impeachment court, ensuring security for both prosecution and defense, seeking external legal counsels, and setting up of “e-filing system” to receive digital copies of pleadings, and to send resolutions or orders to parties and counsels.
“Senate hopes to adhere to the said schedule and, considering that both prosecution and defense will have ample time to prepare for proceedings, will not tolerate any dilatory motion or pleading,” Escudero wrote to Duterte and Romualdez.
Escudero called for press briefing to explain his moves to get ball rolling, but he denied he wrote letters in response to criticisms from House prosecution members that delay was benefiting accused Duterte.
“No…it took us this long to be able to do these things again, because we are acting on it prudently…we are not rushing, neither are we delaying… not response to any call or clamor or wish from any biased party,” Escudero said.
Escudero also chided Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who at press briefing said “ would be great neglect of duty for us senators in 19th Congress if we fail to do our job in this impeachment complaint.”
“I wish to correct what Senator Risa said about delay…we are not delaying, excuse me…we are simply proceeding with it legally, constitutionally, and in accordance with law…for us not to follow the law will in fact create more delay or more opportunities for either party to go up, question proceedings we’re undertaking, in turn result in more delays,” he said.
As Senate begins to organize administrative support for impeachment trial of Duterte, House leader said there’s no doubt process to make her accountable has already been set into motion.
In a statement, House committee on good government chairman Rep. Joel Chua said Escudero’s issuance of Special Order 2025-015 calling for establishment of administrative support group for Duterte impeachment trial “affirms our commitment to upholding accountability at highest levels of government.”
For member of House prosecution panel, Assistant Majority Leader and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Jil Bongalon, Duterte’s impeachment trial may be over before Congress’ adjournment on June 30.
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ABS 2025
SC hit transfer of PhilHealth funds
By J.Lo
“And as a matter of fact, as of December of 2024, total amount of P46 billion pesos, thereabouts, more or less, had been devoted under unprogrammed appropriations for social,more particularly, health projects,” Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier has questioned government’s transfer of unutilized funds of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to national treasury to finance projects already fully funded in 2024 budget, including those not related to health care.
Lazaro-Javier raised questions during resumption of oral arguments on controversial P89.9-billion PhilHealth fund transfer to national treasury to fund unprogrammed appropriations in 2024 national budget.
Citing Department of Finance (DOF), she said funds remitted to national treasury were meant to fund “urgent” national projects, and among those identified as such were routine maintenance of national roads and Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Island bridges project.
However, Lazaro-Javier pointed out that PGN project already received full funding from Export-Import Bank of Korea, amounting to P174.49 billion, as well as additional allocations from the 2022 and 2023 national budgets.
“Is there urgency to transfer PhilHealth funds when project is already fully funded?” she asked Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, represented respondents, House of Representatives and Senate.
In response, Guevarra said Congress factors in whether project can already be implemented in given fiscal year.
“If project that has already been identified and sufficiently funded is considered to be non-implementable for the given fiscal year, I think it is the decision of Congress in the exercise of its policy or wisdom, so to speak, to move it to unprogrammed appropriations in the meantime,” he explained.
Lazaro-Javier then asked Guevarra if government had already spent any of funds from Korean loan for PGN project, to which Guevarra said:
“There is nothing to spend for if project has not even started.”
“So where is the money?” Lazaro-Javier asked.
Guevarra presumed that money went to national treasury for use in unprogrammed projects, not clearly outlined in the budget.
On the issue of road maintenance funds, Guevarra admitted that government did not specify roads would be repaired using unprogrammed funds, saying decision is left to the implementing agency.
Lazaro-Javier also raised that 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) already allocated P459-million budget under Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity for the management and supervision of a comprehensive peace process.
However, additional P688 million was placed under unprogrammed appropriations for this purpose.
“Is peace process part of mandate of PhilHealth?” SC associate justice said.
Guevarra declined to speculate on why lawmakers allocated project under unprogrammed funds, but said inclusion of such projects in unprogrammed appropriations was merely list and actual use of funds would still depend on implementing agencies.
Citing Universal Health Care Act, Lazaro-Javier said funds appropriated for PhilHealth should be exclusively used for PhilHealth purposes” and “not for operations of any other department of government.”
She also noted that national government subsidy, identified as source of appropriations for PhilHealth, is meant to specifically benefit indirect contributors, such as senior citizens and indigents.
Guevarra however assured SC that most of P60 billion excess funds remitted by PhilHealth to the national treasury were allocated to critical health and social service programs.
During second round of oral arguments Guevarra said 2024 GAA directed use of these funds for social and health-related projects.
PhilHealth’s remittance followed implementation of Special Provision 1(d) of 2024 GAA, permits utilization of government-owned and controlled corporations’ excess funds for priority programs in health, social services and infrastructure.
DOF executed provision by issuing DOF Circular 003-2024, ensuring proper allocation of funds.
Based on DOF data, P46.61 billion out of P60 billion was funneled into key health and social service initiatives.
Significant portion, amounting to P27.45 billion, was used to pay long-overdue public health emergency benefits and allowances for health care and non-health care workers who served during COVID-19 pandemic.
Another P10 billion was allocated for medical assistance to indigent and financially incapacitated patients, while P4.10 billion was used to procure medical equipment for Department of Health hospitals, local government unit hospitals as well as primary care facilities.
Further, P3.37 billion was spent on construction of three new DOH health facilities and P1.69 billion was allocated to health facilities enhancement program.
Remaining P13 billion was utilized for government counterpart financing of infrastructure projects designed to improve social determinants of health, such as food security and health care accessibility in remote areas.
Guevarra also noted that PhilHealth’s financial standing remained strong despite remittance, allowing it to expand its benefit packages.
Supreme Court is set to resume oral arguments on the case on March 4.
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No to SOGIE bill
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Congratulations to 1k views “Komedya O Komida” 7th edition of our very own J.Lo
PNP confirmed no ransom paid, kidnapped Chinese student freed
By J.Lo
“Child sang, was smiling, and from that video, appeared to be in good health,” Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said 14-year-old male Chinese student kidnapped last week was found in Parañaque City on Tuesday night.
Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil announced boy was found abandoned along Macapagal Avenue by composite teams from PNP and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Victim was reunited with his father and was brought to undisclosed hospital for medical examination.
PNP released photograph of victim in sweatshirt and pants and escorted by police officers.
Marbil said no ransom was paid, reinforcing PNP’s stance against any form of extortion.
At Palace briefing, Remulla said boy was reported missing by his parents after he did not return home from school activity in Taguig City on Feb. 20.
His family later found their abandoned Ford Everest vehicle on C-5 southbound off-ramp, initially raising alarms of possible missing person case. Situation escalated following day when driver of student was found murdered in San Rafael, Bulacan, inside another vehicle. Authorities ruled out driver as suspect.
Evidence found in the vehicle pointed to sophisticated crime syndicate. “Contents include pictures, conversations, cellphone numbers, strategies, and casing of how they would do the job,” Remulla said.
Victim’s parents and kidnappers had been communicating in Chinese through WeChat, messaging app widely used in mainland China.
According to Remulla, abductors demanded ransom of $20 million, later reducing it to $1 million, but no payment was made when parents rejected renegotiated amount.
By Saturday, abductors sent disturbing video showing child with severed finger, increasing urgency to the case.
The following day, parents asked for proof of life of the child and they received another video showing child singing his younger sibling’s favorite song.
On Monday evening, authorities tracked vehicle using cellphone signals linked to one of the numbers discovered in abandoned car in Bulacan.
Although authorities had signal to trace, they couldn’t immediately identify which vehicle it originated from. During hot pursuit operation on Tuesday, they were led to barangay area where they found child standing in the middle of the street.
“At approximately 8 in the evening they were few hundred meters away from cellphone that was moving…in that pursuit, few minutes later in Parañaque area, they saw child in pajamas standing in the middle of the street with bandaged hand… choice was between chasing vehicle or securing the child…obviously, AKG prioritized the child,” Remulla said.
As to motive, PNP public information officer Col. Randulf Tuano said investigators are looking at the victim’s father’s previous connection with Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) and his current business of selling merchandise online.
Syndicate believed to be responsible for abduction consists of former POGO managers and their bodyguards, some of whom were previously affiliated with AFP and PNP but have gone absent without leave. Authorities confirmed group remains active in the country.
AKG is also looking into what Tuano described as “malicious” posts on social media platforms by personalities critical of government about kidnapping case and is studying filing of criminal cases against them for spreading false information.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered PNP to wipe out kidnapping syndicates in the country following the rescue.
ISKUP! 