BIR and Agham Rd, now Sen. Miriam P. Defensor-Santiago Avenue
By Nidz Godino
“If the President does not act on proposed law submitted by Congress, it will lapse into law after 30 days of receipt,” Official Gazette showed bill renaming Agham Road and BIR Road in Quezon City after late senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago has lapsed into law, Malacañang said.
Republic Act (RA) 11963, which lapsed into law on Oct. 12,2023, renamed Agham Road and the BIR Road stretching from North Avenue, traversing through Quezon Avenue, up to East Avenue, all located in Quezon City as Senator Miriam P. Defensor-Santiago Avenue.
Measure became law without President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s signature in accordance with Article VI, Section 27 of Constitution, Presidential Communications Office said in statement.
Law mandated Department of Public Works and Highways to issue necessary rules, orders and circulars to implement provisions of Act within 60 days from its effectivity.
RA 11963 was passed by House of Representative on March 21 and Senate on Aug. 14, this year.
New law takes effect 15 days after its publication in Official Gazette or in newspaper of general circulation.
FMJ served as Santiago’s runningmate in 2016 presidential elections.
Santiago first ran for country’s top post in 1992 but lost to Fidel Ramos.
She also joined 1998 presidential race but lost to Joseph Estrada.
In 2011, Santiago was elected as judge of International Criminal court (ICC) in The Hague, the Netherlands for nine-year term but did not assume her functions due to her illness. She is first Filipino and first Asian from developing country to be elected as judge of ICC.
Former senator died at age of 71 in September 2016 due to lung cancer.
“I am happy to report that Congress has promised us amendment of modernization law and procurement law of Armed Forces,” Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro has asked legislators to strengthen Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)’s modernization and self-reliance posture of Department of National Defense (DND).
Teodoro made call during signing of memorandum of agreement (MOA) for swapping of properties within AFP Visayas Command (Viscom) at Camp Lapu-Lapu, Barangay Apas, Cebu City.
“Strengthening of our self-reliant defense program or posture… we will be able to invest long-term as equity partners or as purchasers for locally manufactured defense goods and equipment,” he stressed.
Proposed amendments are not only envisioned to fortify country’s defense capabilities, but also to invigorate economic growth and development, including providing substantial boost to Cebu’s industries, according to defense chief.
He urged legislators to expedite legislative process of amendments.
“So we encourage our legislators here today that we are waiting eagerly for these amendments by end of year, so that next year, we can start to leverage talents and abilities of people of province of Cebu,” Teodoro said.
MOA for swapping of land within AFP Viscom was signed by AFP chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner and provincial governor Gwendolyn Garcia, and was witnessed by DND Assistant Secretary for real estate and installations Emmanuel Anthony Ramos and Cebu Vice Gov. Hilario Davide III.
MOA was approved by Teodoro.
The defense chief expressed enthusiasm for partnership between AFP and local government of Cebu, emphasizing mutually beneficial nature of agreement.
“This agreement is synergistic agreement where everybody wins, because not only will Cebu regain what is rightfully hers, but Armed Forces will also not lose because of replication commitment of province of Cebu,” he said.
Under MOA, province of Cebu will facilitate relocation of displaced units of Viscom into their new camp.
In addition, provincial government will fund construction of exact replicas of military structures and facilities of Viscom in their new camp to ensure unhampered operations of AFP.
“This kind of synergy between province and city, between province and Armed Forces, makes job of Armed Forces much, much easier, we have important role to play here, not only in maintaining internal peace and security in Central Philippines, but for Armed Forces, it will remain as principal logistical hub where we need its location to service all our units as we expand outwards,” Teodoro said.
HUWAG ninyong kalilimutan mga kasambahay na naulila ng tatlong manggagawang Pilipinong nasawi sa karahasan sa Israel ang P2M nang pananalaping abuloy ng dalawang senador. Shout out muna kina Partor Ernie, mananghalian tayo bukas sa JOFF gaya nang dati, Amang Abraham. Hindi pa kasi malinaw kung paano pakikinabangan ng mga dependent ng mga biktima ang pondo. Ito ba’y derektang ipagkakaloob ng kanilang mga opisina sa apat, staff ba nina House Speaker Martin Romualdez at Tingog Partylist Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez ang maghahatid ng abuloy sa mga tahanan ng mga biktimang sina Loreta Villarin Alacre ng Negros Occidental, Angelyn Aguirre ng Pangasinan at Paul Vincent Castelvi ng Pampanga o ang mga kinatawan ng mga ito ang tutungo sa kongreso at mangakikipag-alam. Hindi naman nanghihingi ang mga ito at kayong mga pulitiko ang nangag-ambag kaya huwag ninyong pahirapan. Baka naman tsaniin pa ng mga daraanan ang abuloy, ngingisi-ngisi itong si Kiwal, bulati kong kikiwal-kiwal. Ipinadedeklarang terorista ni National Security Adviser Eduardo Año ang Hamas bilang simpatiya sa kabulastugan nitong kumitil pa nang buhay sa 3 Pilipinong manggagawa. Maliban sa pakikiisa ito ng bansa sa pagkondena sa komedya ng Hamas ay wala akong nakikitang probetso nito para sa bansa. Kaya lang pwedeng kapag nagkataong makilala ng taga-Hamas ang Pilipino saan man sa daigdig ay perhumisyohin niya ito. Sino ang makapagsasabing walang mangyayaring ganoon, walang nakatitiyak sa buhay na ito. Sa mahirap intindihing pananagalog ay pinangangatwiranan ng katutubong Badjao habang nakasabit sa jeep sa pamamalilimos na walang tumanggap sa kanila upang makapagtrabaho dahil aminadong walang siyang alam. Hindi naman kasi magsisikap matuto sa buhay ang mga ito kung kumikita naman sa limos mo kasambahay. Hindi rin kasi ipinatutupad ng mga pulis ang batas sa pagbabawal sa paglilimos at pagpapalimos, ano nga naman ang mahihita ni kabo kung huhulihin niya iyon, abala lang at pampasikip sa piitan. Pastor Saturnino Abraham, agarin mo naman ang dokumento ng lupa para sa pabahay ng mga Badjao sa Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat. Jonathan Fernandez, muzta na, nagkakalimutan na tayo a. Problem aba, pag-usapan natin, ndgodino@yahoo.com.
Class suspensions for October 16, 17 due to transport strike
By J.Lo
Transport group Malayang Alyansa ng Bus Employees at Laborers (MANIBELA) will push through with its Monday strike against consolidation deadline for traditional jeepneys.
Several schools have also declared their transition to online learning starting Monday, October 16,2023.
Some local government units (LGUs) and educational institutions have suspended face-to-face classes due to transport strike scheduled coming week.
List of LGUs and schools that have suspended classes for coming week:
Calabarzon
Santa Rosa, Laguna (October 16) – All levels, public and private (to shift to online/modular)
San Beda University – Rizal (October 16) – IBED level (to shift to online)
Central Luzon
Pampanga province (October 16 to 17) – All levels, public and private (shift to online/modular is encouraged)
Metro Manila
De La Salle University (October 16) – Both classes and work are suspended (to shift to online)
National University Manila (October 16) – All levels (to shift to online)
San Beda University Manila (October 16) – IBED level (to shift to online)
University of the East Caloocan (October 16) – All levels (to shift to online)
University of the East Manila (October 16) – All levels (to shift to online)
University of Santo Tomas (October 16) – Both classes and work are suspended (to shift to online)
VF tied up German Embassy, GMR for updates on PH media ownership
By Cynthia Montojo
“This is much-needed update… Philippine media landscape has vastly changed in past seven years, most impactful was shutdown of country’s No. 1 television network, ABS-CBN in 2020,” VERA Files (VF)president Ellen Tordesillas said VF is partnering with Berlin-based Global Media Registry (GMR), with support from German Embassy Manila, to update Philippine Media Ownership Monitor (MOM-PH) database compiled in 2016.
MOM is international effort spearheaded by non-profit media organizations to promote transparency and accountability in media ownership. Initiative seeks to advance media literacy among audiences through publicly available and constantly updated database of media owners.
Seven years ago, VERA Files and Reporters Without Borders-Germany conducted study on media ownership in the country showed Philippine media continue to be owned by and depend on economic and political elite, which limits media’s independence and affects quality of information public gets.
GMR chief executive officer Olaf Steenfadt said: “in times of increasing geopolitical rivalry, media sector is becoming battleground of influence and power, more than ever. Transparency in this field is not end in itself, but prerequisite for building and sustaining healthy public information space.”
German Embassy Manila first secretary for political affairs Alexander Schmidt explained support it is giving to MOM-PH: “Media freedom is cornerstone of flourishing democracy..we are happy to be able to fund update of Philippine Media Ownership Monitor, which enables general public to gain deeper understanding into media landscape of Philippines today.”
MOM-PH proceeds from premise mass media influence way public make decisions on matters affect their daily lives and country. It is,therefore, important public know who owns and controls media.
Updating of MOM-PH is expected to be completed in December and will be published on VERA Files and GMR websites.
VERA Files is nonprofit media organization founded by veteran journalists committed to advance excellence in journalism by engaging in research-intensive, high-impact reports in multiple formats, fact checking and providing training and mentorship to journalists.
GMR is non-profit social enterprise based in Germany promotes transparency, accountability and diversity in information space. It provides services, analysis and solutions for newsrooms, regulators and policy makers, and for all stakeholders that engage with media industry. As one of its flagship programs, GMR publishes Media Ownership Monitor in more than 20 countries.
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“What we’ve learned from DFA and credible news sources is that more than hundred OFWs are eager to return… I am confident in preparedness of our Armed Forces, with their C-130 aircraft ready, to transport and bring our OFWs safely back home… I believe DFA and DMW have necessary funds to facilitate repatriation of our OFWs, enabling them to charter flights for this purpose,” Speaker Martin Romualdez called for swift repatriation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by ongoing armed conflict between Israeli forces and Palestinian militant group Hamas.
At the same time, he vowed to contribute another P500,000 from his personal funds to assist family of third Filipino casualty in Israel-Hamas conflict.
Speaker and Tingog Partylist Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez had earlier collectively pledged personal donation of P1 million, or P500,000 each, to support families of initial two Filipinos who lost their lives during hostilities.
Expressing deep concern for safety and well-being of Filipino citizens abroad, the Speaker stressed need for swift action by Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to facilitate return of OFWs from Israel and Hamas-run Gaza strip.
According to DFA, out of 131 Filipinos in Gaza, 92 individuals have expressed their desire to return to the Philippines. In Israel, at least 22 Filipinos have formally requested for repatriation, highlighting urgent need for action to ensure their safe return.
The Speaker noted mercy flights need not land directly in Israel, as alternative locations, like Egypt or Jordan, could be considered for safety and convenience of OFWs.
“Safety and welfare of Filipino citizens are paramount, and we are committed to working closely with DFA, DMW and other relevant authorities to ensure swift and secure repatriation of our OFWs from conflict areas,” the House chief said.
At least three Filipinos, working as caregivers, lost their lives in the hostilities , 42-year-old man from Pampanga who was apprehended by Hamas militants, 33-year-old woman from Pangasinan who lost her life alongside her employer and 49-year-old Negrense who attended music festival that was targeted by Hamas militants on Oct. 7,2023.
In addition to financial aid, the Speaker is seeking ways to provide job opportunities and scholarships to family members of the three.
Meanwhile, Philippine Red Cross chairman and chief executive officer Richard Gordon asked all nations to respect International Humanitarian Law (IHL) amid ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
“We call on all nations to respect IHL to utmost,” Gordon said following reports that five members of International Red Cross and Red Crescent (RCRC) have died.
As of Oct. 12, he said, ambulance driver of Israel’s Magen David Adom , country’s national emergency service provider and four paramedics from Palestinian Red Crescent Society lost their lives in line of duty.
He stressed IHL principles mandate protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure during armed conflicts. “Pillage, reprisals, indiscriminate destruction of property and taking of hostages are prohibited,” he stressed.
“Health care must not be disrupted and put in danger even during times of emergencies and all providers of health care and emergency medical responders must be protected,” Gordon said.
Thousands of Palestinians fled to southern Gaza, seeking refuge after Israel warned them to evacuate before expected ground offensive against Hamas in retaliation for deadliest attack in Israel’s history.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned nearly a week of fierce bombardment was “just beginning” as Israel seeks to retaliate against Hamas after their fighters killed more than 1,300 a week ago.
Israeli ground forces made “localized” raids into Gaza in past 24 hours “to cleanse area of terrorists and weaponry” and try to find “missing persons,” army said.
Most of those killed when militant fighters burst through heavily militarized border into Israel last Saturday were civilians, in an attack compared to 9/11 in United States.
At least 1,900 Gazans most of them civilians and including more than 600 children – have been killed in missile strikes on densely populated enclave, health ministry said.
Hamas took about 150 Israeli, foreign and dual national hostages back to Gaza in initial attack, Israel has said.
The militant group said on 13 of them had been killed in Israeli air strikes.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, in Israel, accused Hamas of using residents as “shield” in Gaza, where Israel has cut off water, fuel and food supplies.
US President Jose Biden spoke with families of 14 Americans who have been missing since Hamas attack. “We’re going to do everything in our power to find them,” he told media.
He also stressed addressing swelling humanitarian crisis in Gaza was priority. “Overwhelming majority of Palestinians had nothing to do with Hamas and Hamas’ appalling attacks, and they’re suffering as result as well,” Biden said in speech.
Tensions have risen across Middle East and beyond, with angry protests in support of Palestinians, while Israel faces threat of separate confrontation with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Media video showed journalist was killed and six other reporters from AFP, Reuters and Al Jazeera were injured in southern Lebanon close to Israel, caught up in cross-border shelling.
In occupied West Bank, at least 16 Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli forces during protests supporting Gaza, health ministry said.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh accused Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza.
But Netanyahu’s spokeswoman Tal Heinrich told media: “Everything that happens in Gaza is Hamas’ responsibility.”
Thousands also demonstrated in support of Palestinians in Beirut, Iraq, Iran and in Jordan.
Demonstrations also took place in Bahrain, where US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was visiting, as part of regional tour seeking to keep calm Arab world.
In Gaza, UN officials said Israeli military troops are massing at border, had said some 1.1 million people in north of enclave needed to evacuate to south “within next 24 hours.”
Israel did not confirm it had set deadline, but later admitted it would take more time. Ground offensive would be complicated by presence of hostages.
UN described immediate movement of nearly half of 2.4 million in Gaza Strip as “impossible” and called for evacuation order to be rescinded.
“Moving more than one million people across densely populated war zone to place with no food, water or accommodation, when entire territory of Gaza is under siege, is extremely dangerous and in some cases, simply not possible,” UN chief Antonio Guterres said on X, formerly Twitter.
Hospitals are struggling to cope with dead and wounded and health system was “at breaking point,” World Health Organization said.
In Jordan, after meeting with Blinken, King Abdullah II called for “humanitarian corridors” to be opened urgently.
Egypt which runs Rafah crossing to south of Gaza faces dilemma of accepting refugees with possibility that Israel may never let them return, weakening Palestinian aspirations for statehood.
Media correspondents in Gaza said Israeli military dropped flyers warning residents to flee “immediately” south of Wadi Gaza, with map pointing south across line in center of 40 kilometer-long territory.
Army “will continue to operate significantly in Gaza City and make extensive efforts to avoid harming civilians.”
“Hamas terrorists are hiding in Gaza City inside tunnels underneath houses and inside buildings populated with innocent civilians.”
Netanyahu has vowed to “crush” Hamas, and has likened it to Islamic State group.
But in Geneva, Red Cross said unjustifiable “horrific” attacks on Israel could equally not justify “ limitless destruction of Gaza.”
Hamas has said Palestinians rejected evacuation request, yet thousands of Gazans were on move in search of safety, carrying plastic bags of belongings, suitcases on their shoulders and children in their arms.
Even before evacuation order, more than 423,000 people had already fled their homes in Gaza, according to UN.
Arab League chief Ahmed Abul Gheit said Israel’s evacuation order is “forced transfer” constitutes “ crime.”
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas will be “tantamount to second Nakba” or “catastrophe,” referring to 760,000 Palestinians who fled or were expelled from their homes during 1948 war accompanied Israel’s creation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Israel risked waging “unacceptable” siege in Gaza comparable to Nazi blockade of Leningrad during World War II.
Israeli soldiers have swept southern towns and kibbutz farming communities since last Saturday.
They found bodies of 1,500 militants, as well as large numbers of civilians killed by Hamas fighters.
Yossi Landau, with Zaka organization recovers bodies of people who suffer unnatural deaths, found dead woman with her stomach “ripped open, a baby was there, still connected with the cord, and stabbed.”
They were among more than 100 people killed in Beeri, just outside Gaza, while around 270 were gunned down or burned in their cars at nearby Supernova music festival.
Hamas has denied its fighters killed infants.
Israel faces potential second front in north after Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon said it was “fully prepared” to join Hamas in war when time was right.
There has been cross-border fire in recent days, sparking concern about regional stability and prompting US to send additional munitions and its largest aircraft carrier.
Israeli forces had “struck Hezbollah terror target in southern Lebanon” in response to drone crossing border.
Biden has warned other regional powers not to get involved.
Israel’s arch foe Iran has long financially and militarily backed Hamas and praised its attack, but insists it was not involved.
“Yesterday, the President called us and he’s really very frustrated with what’s happening here… he actually told us we should really beef up our defenses,” Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered DICT to beef up its defenses against cyber attackers.
Dy told media FMJ was frustrated over data leaks in government agencies in past weeks.
FMJ wants DICT to be proactive and enhance defense against hackers.
“He wants to know technical details…he said we shouldn’t be reacting after fact, we should be preparing before it happens,” he stressed.
Among government agencies subjected to cyber attacks and suffered data leaks are Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Authorities have already identified suspects behind breach in PSA and suspect posted and leaked data from PSA and DOST.
No sensitive information was compromised on data leak on OneExpert portal, DOST said.
In statement, DOST VI regional director Rowen Gelonga said security incident was reported to department by Philippine National Computer Emergency Response Team on Aug. 31,2023, regarding OneExpert website.
He said project team conducted investigation and found out compromise account may have been used to access site.
“Appropriate actions were implemented to address incident, additional security measures were put in place and website’s normal operations were restored soon after, while incident may cause concern among affected individuals and public, we would like to assure everyone no sensitive information has been compromised,” Gelonga said.
Gelonga said OneExpert portal serves as public registry of Filipino experts, aimed at enhancing access to their services and expanding reach of science and technology assistance to clients within country.
“While list of clients or users is not readily accessible through portal, website’s use is diligently monitored and are made available as part of DOST official records, however, some data resembled those from site was posted on Facebook on Oct. 8, 2023. ..these data contained some publicly listed names of technical experts, their email addresses as well as users with their email addresses,” Gelonga said.
For his part, Science Secretary Renato Solidum said what was affected by data breach was OneExpert website being operated by DOST Region 6.
“It was separate system, it was not the whole system, it was managed by regional DOST, Visayas Region 6… website is run by project, it is not really connected with our host system,” he noted.
Solidum added appropriate actions were implemented to address incident, adding that data breach was not indication of vulnerability of DOST website.
“Additional security measures were put in place and website’s normal operation was restored soon after,” he said.
At the same time, Solidum said government agencies should be wary of security of their websites, adding it should be standard for all agencies to make sure their IT systems are really safe.
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said increase in number of agencies affected by hacking should be cause for concern.
“Since I came from private sector, it is really cause for concern but this is to be expected and guarded against every day if you have IT platform or system, you need to expect and what are measures you will take to prevent or to remedy incidents of hacking,” Teodoro said.
Philippine National Police Forensic Group has sought help of Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) in its probe on supposed data breach on its system.
Maj. Michael Ignacio, Forensic Group’s information technology officer, said they have tapped ACG’s services in finding out if their system was really hacked.
“They have capability to investigate regarding cyber security,” Ignacio said at news briefing at Camp Crame.
Forensic Group is among government institutions supposedly suffered data breach, based on social media post.
Ignacio want to find out if data allegedly stolen was just from dummy accounts, they usually use when testing their computer system.
So far, they are no indications that sensitive information was stolen.
“We are assuring public that there is nothing to worry about…we have implemented some systems,” he said.
Meanwhile, PSA said data breach has affected limited data from its Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS).
“Based on investigation, links posted by bad actors lead to limited data taken from CBMS Management Information System,” PSA said in statement.
CBMS is technology-based system of collecting data used for planning, implementation and monitoring of programs at local level, as well as for targeting households for social protection programs.
“Investigations have confirmed data in Philippine Identification System, Civil Registry System and more than 100 other censuses and surveys agency conducts are unaffected,” PSA said.
Joint investigation is being undertaken by PSA with DICT, National Computer Emergency Response Team-Philippines, PNP-ACG, National Bureau of Investigation Cybercrime Division and NPC Compliance and Monitoring Division on data breach.
“Leads for identification of bad actors have been provided to PNP and NBI for further action,” it said.
NPC has launched database search portal designed to help PhilHealth members verify if their personal information was among those leaked through recent ransomware attack.
In a statement late NPC announced it has launched “Na-leak ba ang PhilHealth Data ko?” portal for the effort.
To utilize portal, users are required to enter their PhilHealth Identification Number (PIN) and portal will verify whether their personal information was part of leaked data.
NPC said as of Oct. 13, initial batch of data available on portal pertains to individuals aged 60 years and above, containing estimated one million records out of 8.5 million senior citizens.
NPC stressed portal exclusively focuses on this specific incident and does not encompass data breaches from other sources or incidents.
Negative result from this search should not be misconstrued as assurance of data security in other areas, it added.
“In solidarity with people of Israel, we will push for designation of Hamas as terrorist organization under RA 11479 as priority agenda of Anti-Terrorism Council,” National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Año said in statement condemning attack on Israel wants militant group Hamas to be officially designated and declared as foreign terrorist organization in the Philippines.
“This was deadly and barbaric terrorist assault on Israel targeting its civilian population and Israel has every right, as much as any nation, to defend and protect itself from this attack which has already claimed more than 1,200 lives, including three Filipinos and wounded some 3,000 others,” Año said.
With what happened and another three Filipinos still missing or unaccounted for, he said Hamas should be declared as terrorist group under Philippine law.
“Together with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., we hope for swift resolution to this conflict, we pray for safety of innocent civilians and we offer our thanks to government of Israel for its efforts to protect our citizens,” Año said.
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro meanwhile gave assurance that Philippine government is ready to rescue Filipinos trapped in Israel and Gaza.
“Yes, we are ready, willing and able, actually, to facilitate repatriation… duty not only of Armed Forces of the Philippines but also Office of Civil Defense and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council ,NDRRMC,” he declared.
Speaking to reporters on sidelines of launch of Philippines’ hosting of 2024 Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Pasay City, Teodoro said other relevant government agencies are assessing the situation.
“But we stand ready to do whatever is required of us,” he added, noting that through NDRRMC, concerned government agencies may converge and talk “so that when and if repatriation is needed, we can decide what is most expeditious means possible.”
Teodoro added security sector is not letting its guard down and is also on lookout for possible emergence of copycats, particularly disruptors or extremist groups who may copy whatever happened in Middle East.
“For now we haven’t seen that but it does not mean to say that we are not monitoring possible spillover or copycat effects… for now, we are not seeing any,” he said .
“I mean it always happens. So any country in this part of the world or any part of the world, even in Europe, they’re on high alert for the possible effects of this on their security situations, not only here that things happen, you know there have been ISIS spin-offs in France, in UK, wherever. Terrorism is possibility anywhere,” he said.
Teodoro said DND and government should be ready for any eventuality and it needs help and support of public.
“It is imperative people be given full opportunity to participate in said elections and exercise their right of suffrage,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said after releasing Proclamation 359 declared Oct. 30,2023 non-working day to allow Filipinos to participate in upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE).
“No work, no pay” policy prevails during special non-working holidays, but those who opt to report for work are entitled to extra pay.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia requested for declaration so that more people could cast their votes.
Garcia stressed targeting at least 75 percent voter turnout.
In 2018 polls, voter turnout was at 70 percent.
Village and youth council polls have been postponed four times since 2016.
Meanwhile, Comelec is also planning to suspend proclamation of winning BSKE candidates if they have pending disqualification cases.
“Commission en banc agreed if case has merit and evidence is presented, we are willing to suspend any and all proclamation in order to prevent proclamation of candidates with any pending disqualification cases,” Garcia said.
FMJ also declared Oct. 10-16,2023 as “Linggo ng Lupong Tagapamayapa” to increase public awareness of barangay officials’ role in maintaining peace and order in communities.
Lupong Tagapamayapa is administrative body supervises amicable settlement of barangay disputes.
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