DUTERTE SIGNS P5.024-TRILLION 2022 NATIONAL BUDGET WITH FUNDS FOR COVID, ODETTE
MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday signed into law the last national budget under his administration, a measure that is crucial in implementing the government’s response against the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recovery efforts.
In a ceremony in Malacañang, Duterte signed the proposed P5.024-trillion national budget for 2022, which was ratified by Congress on December 15.
Key items in the 2022 spending bill include the P50 billion fund for COVID-19 vaccines and P22.9 billion, for the improvement of health facilities.
Funds for recovery operations after the onslaught of Typhoon ‘Odette’ in several provinces are also expected to be included in the 2022 budget.
The budget for next year is 11.5% higher than the P4.506-trillion budget for 2021.
Among the agencies with the highest budget allocation is the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH), Department of National Defense (DND), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Agriculture (DA), The Judiciary, and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
DUTERTE LEADS RIZAL DAY CELEBRATION
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday led rites commemorating the 125th death anniversary of national hero Jose Rizal.
Duterte joined a flag-raising ceremony and offered flowers at the Rizal Monument in Manila.
Rizal's novels “Noli me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo” “were viewed as the guiding force for other patriots to rally for the country’s cause,” in the 1896 revolution against Spanish colonial rule, according to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines website.
"As we commemorate Rizal's contribution to our freedom and self-determination, may we continue to honor him by exemplifying patriotism and idealism in all our endeavors as well as by fostering a greater sense of nationalism among the Filipino youth," Duterte later said in a message.
He said true heroes "give their lives for love of country and of our people."
"This heroism has become more manifest when the COVID-19 pandemic swept the whole world. People of unmatched boldness and compassion stood and fought against the odds brought by the disease in order to help save lives, even while risking their own," said the President.
"Today, as we celebrate the life and works of Dr. Jose Rizal, let us also honor our modern-day heroes who are at the frontlines. Let us emulate his wisdom and courage in our own simple ways as we pursue a better and brighter future for all," he continued.
DUTERTE OKS CREATION OF DEPARTMENT OF MIGRANT WORKERS
MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday signed a law creating the Department of Migrant Workers.
Duterte in March sought the speedy passage of the law creating an executive department dedicated solely to the welfare of migrant workers and Filipinos abroad.
There were some 2.2 million overseas Filipino workers in 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced about half a million OFWs to go back home, officials have said.
Despite the economic slowdown that the pandemic caused, OFWs still managed to send home $33.2 billion last year, equivalent to one-third of the present P4.506 trillion national budget, bill sponsor Sen. Joel Villanueva earlier said.
The President's son, Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, and Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano co-authored a similar House bill that aims to create an executive department for migrant workers.
Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, who voted against the House bill, said creating a new department would "uselessly balloon the bureaucracy" without addressing the social costs of labor migration.
WIRETAPPING CASE VS HONTIVEROS A HARASSMENT SUIT — OPPOSITION SENATORS
MANILA — Two members of the Senate minority this week condemned the indictment of Sen. Risa Hontiveros for a years-old wiretapping complaint that they said was a "harassment suit" filed against her by former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre.
"We stand in solidarity with Sen. Risa Hontiveros as she faces the wire-tapping case resurrected after years in slumber," Sen. Francis Pangilinan, a candidate for vice president, said in a statement written partially in Filipino. "Resurrecting this case is obviously harassment."
"The case should have been dismissed right away. No wire was tapped," he added, emphasizing that the messages of Aguirre urging former Negros Oriental Rep. Jacinto Paras to expedite legal action against Hontiveros were captured by media photographers during a Senate hearing on the death of Kian delos Santos.
The senator called Aguirre out on the matter during a privilege speech delivered on the Senate floor. Pangilinan, a lawyer, said this means that Hontiveros is covered by legislative immunity.
These same arguments were made by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, a former justice secretary, when Aguirre first threatened to file a wiretapping complaint against Hontiveros in 2017.
Hontiveros posted bail on Tuesday, paying P36,000 at the Pasay City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 46, according to a document released by her office. In a statement, she called the case "meaningless and baseless," adding that she was "determined to fight this harassment."
Meanwhile, detained Sen. Leila de Lima, who is running for reelection, questioned the timing of Hontiveros' indictment, saying the move "reeks of desperation."
"Expect Duterte's favorite attack dogs to become more rabid as his reign of terror nears its end," she said in a statement written partially in Filipino. "After [Hontiveros] was charged by Pharmally for bravely investigating their anomalous contracts with the government, this wire-tapping case is revived."
Hontiveros is also seeking reelection in 2022.
De Lima, also a former justice secretary, maintained that Hontiveros did not violate the law by reading Aguirre's text messages, which were already visible due to the large font on his phone captured in photographs.
"What should not be forgotten is that this harassment suit against Sen. Risa stemmed from the Senate inquiry into the death of Kian delos Santos, who was murdered by cops in connection with the so-called ‘War on Drugs’ of this administration," the detained senator stressed.
"So it is somehow par for the course for this administration to do this to a champion of a child-victim of murder as we celebrate the day of Los Niños Inocentes (Feast of the Holy Innocents)."
DUTERTE AUTHORIZES ONE-TIME GRATUITY PAY FOR CONTRACT, PROJECT-BASED GOVERNMENT STAFF
MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the granting of a one-time gratuity pay to contract of service and job order workers in government, saying it would recognize their hard work in implementing state programs, including pandemic response efforts.
Under Administrative Order No. 46 that Duterte signed on Wednesday, all workers whose services are engaged through contracts of service and job orders, have rendered at least four months of actual satisfactory performance of services as of Dec. 15, and whose contracts are still effective as of that date may receive a gratuity pay not exceeding P5,000 each.
Workers who have served for less than four months as of Dec. 15 may also receive a gratuity pay on a pro rata basis. Those who have rendered services for at least three months are entitled to a one-time gratuity pay not exceeding P4,000. Workers who have served for at least two months will get a gratuity pay of not more than P3,000 while those who have rendered services for less than two months will get a pay not exceeding P2,000.
National agencies and state-run universities and colleges may source the gratuity pay from their respective maintenance and other operating expenses budget for the program, activity, or project where the compensation of workers engaged through contract of service and job order workers are sourced.
For state-run firms and local water districts, the gratuity pay may be charged against their approved corporate operating budgets.
The order also enjoined local governments to adopt the grant of gratuity pay to their contract of service and job order workers. The supplemental budget for the gratuity pay shall be enacted by local councils within the year.
PH POLL BODY ENCOUNTERS MINOR GLITCHES AT MOCK ELECTIONS
MANILA— Poor internet connection and bad weather were some of the minor glitches that the Commission on Elections experienced during its mock polls in dozens of voting centers across the country, an election official said Thursday.
While the mock elections went "very well" with a high turnout of volunteer voters, the poll body experienced "some difficulty," Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said.
"We did experience some difficulty when it came to some ballots in some places, especially in places where there had been heavy rainfall and some weather condition that basically affected the thickness of the ballots," Jimenez told ANC's Rundown.
"Apart from that, we have problems with electronic transmission because some places really had a very difficult time connecting to the transmission system," he added.
Jimenez noted these issues were resolved immediately.
OPEN-PIT MINES CAN BE OPERATED SAFELY, RESTORED: STAKEHOLDER
MANILA - There is a safe way of operating open-pit mines and restoring the land after use, Philippine Chamber of Mines Vice President for Communications Rocky Dimaculangan said Thursday.
This, after Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu on Dec. 28 issued an order lifting the ban on open-pit mining.
“Open-pit mines can be operated safely, according to globally accepted standards and can be rehabilitated properly in a manner that provides alternative and productive land use after the life of the mines,” Dimaculangan told ANC.
"Mining is temporary land use, the land can be restored," he added.
The lifting of open-pit mining in the country is also likely to boost the total capital investments in the country over several years and accelerate the sector’s contribution to the total gross domestic product (GDP), Dimaculangan said.
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OCTA: DECEMBER 30 CASE TALLY COULD REACH 2K AS POSITIVITY RATE CLIMBS
MANILA — The Department of Health's daily COVID-19 report may breach the 1,500-mark on Thursday as the positivity rate in Metro Manila continues to rise, independent think tank and pandemic monitor OCTA Research said.
As of December 28, the National Capital Region's seven-day positivity rate — which refers to the percentage of people who test positive out of all of the tests done in a week — has increased to 3.86%.
Of the 889 new infections tallied by the DOH in its tally on Wednesday, 572 came from Metro Manila. Cavite and Bulacan came second and third with 30 and 27.
"The positivity rate in the NCR is still increasing, now at 8.4%. This means the projection for the NCR is more than 1000 new cases on December 30," OCTA fellow Guido David said late Wednesday night.
"By January 7, the possible worst-case scenario is that we'll reach 8,000 cases [if the rate speeds up]," David also said in Filipino in an interview aired over DZBB Super Radyo Thursday morning.
Manila City, which now has five areas under granular lockdown according to the Manila Police District, had the most cases in the capital region with 191 new infections. Quezon City and Makati City followed with 97 and 38.
AFTER ODETTE DEVASTATION, SIARGAO NOW DEALING WITH DEATHS DUE TO DIARRHEA
MANILA – The death toll following the onslaught of typhoon Odette in Surigao del Norte is now at 23, while there are at least 8 deaths due to diarrhea, Governor Francisco “Lalo” Matugas said Thursday.
The governor said the island paradise was dealing with a diarrhea outbreak, overcrowding hospitals in the area.
"We have a diarrhea outbreak, in fact as of yesterday we have already treated more than 200, and now in our district hospital there are 90 or 95 in-patients," he said.
"Marami pa rin doon, sa bahay lang nila, but we were able to cope, merong mga doctors na dumadating and helping us, from other regions, so parang na-contain na namin yung diarrhea."
"Because we are treating lalo na yung potable water, yun ang official findings ng doctors, galing sa tubig yung naka-cause ng diarrhea," he explained.
On Monday, Nature Kids of Siargao founder Sanne Sevig appealed to the public for help, as she reported that children were dying of diarrhea in Siargao.
“I know that a lot of the kids now, they have diarrhea and they’re really dehydrated, and I guess that’s an aftermath of the amoebiasis,” said Nature Kids of Siargao founder Sanne Sevig.
Matugas said they struggled with access to clean, potable water in the first few days after Odette's onsalught.
"Initially, during the first few days after Odette, talagang acute, lalo na si Siargao, kasi for seven days after Odette hit us, December 16, walang sea transportation, kasi nasira yung mga RORO cargo vessels, so it was only on the eighth day na naka-start sila, they resumed their operations."
"And the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard has helped us, pero yung mga vessels nila [but their vessels] are small ones, can carry only limited number of tonnage to bring these cargoes to the island."
Matugas said relief operations are still ongoing in the province.
DOH LOGS 25 FIRECRACKER INJURIES AHEAD OF NEW YEAR
MANILA — The Department of Health reported Wednesday 25 cases of firecracker-related injuries ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations.
The DOH said that injuries related to fireworks increased by 108% with 25 reported cases from December 21 to 29. Only 12 cases were recorded in the same period last year.
More than a third, or 36%, of the cases were from Western Visayas, followed by Ilocos region, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and Metro Manila with 12% each.
According to the department, most of the injuries were among minors aged nine to 16. About 28% of the reported cases required amputation.
The leading causes of injuries were prohibited firecrackers such as boga, 5-Star, and piccolo.
“The DOH advises the public to put safety first and use alternatives to fireworks such as noise and light-producing devices like sound systems, bells, pans, or tambourines in order to prevent debilitating and life-threatening injuries,” the agency said.
Private fireworks shows are still prohibited in Manila during the New Year revelry, according to Mayor Isko Moreno.
On Tuesday, Moreno signed Executive Order No. 52, allowing community fireworks displays with valid permits.
173 GROUPS GET FINAL COMELEC OK FOR PARTY-LIST
MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) released yesterday the final list of party-list candidates for the May 2022 elections.
According to the Comelec, 173 party-list organizations made it to the final cut and order of listing on the ballot.
Seven other party-lists earlier disqualified from joining the elections were included in the ballot listing after they secured temporary restraining orders (TROs) from the Supreme Court (SC).
These are the Alliance for Resilience, Sustainability and Empowerment, Igorot Warriors International Inc., Ang Tinig ng Senior Citizens sa Filipinas Inc., Lingkud Bayanihan Party and Mindanao Indigenous Conference for Peace and Development.
Ang Programang Aasenso Taumbayan-Dream, Act, Participate and Advocate for Sustainable Transformation and the Ugyon Mangunguma, Mangingisda Kag Mamumugon Nga Ilonggo also secured TROs from the high court.
The list of party-lists allowed to participate in next year’s elections can be accessed through the Comelec’s official website.
The SC granted yesterday the petitions for TRO filed by two more party-list groups, which had been disqualified by the Comelec.
The Abante Sambayanan and the Ayuda sa may Kapansanan Inc. were able to secure a TRO from the SC.
The high tribunal gave the Comelec 10 days to submit its comment on the petition.
The poll body had denied with finality 107 applications for party-list registration.
The Comelec previously said it is targeting to release the final list on Jan. 7, 2022.
ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE
IVANA ALAWI, JANINE GUTIERREZ, LIZA SOBERANO AMONG WORLD’S ‘100 MOST BEAUTIFUL FACES’
MANILA — Kapamilya actresses Ivana Alawi, Liza Soberano, and Janine Gutierrez were among the names in the 2021 edition of “100 Most Beautiful Faces,” an international list driven by social media.
The annual list, compiled by UK-based TC Candler, was released on Tuesday, after a nomination process that primarily factors fan engagement and votes.
K-pop superstar Lisa Manoban of Blackpink ranked No. 1 this year.
Alawi, meanwhile, was the highest ranking Filipina on the list at No. 4. The YouTube sensation is set to return to acting in 2022 via a new ABS-CBN teleserye.
Soberano, who remains on hiatus from showbiz, landed on rank 18. Gutierrez, star of the ongoing teleserye “Marry Me, Marry You,” placed 78th.
Bella Poarch, the Filipino-American singer and TikTok star, also made it to the list in 95th.
Soberano has been a regular on the “Most Beautiful Faces” list since 2015. She ranked first overall in 2017, and in 2018 was inducted to its Hall of Fame for consecutive appearances.
SPORTS
NBA SCORES DEC 28
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Bucks23-13 32 40 25 30 127
Magic7-28 24 21 37 28 110
AMWAY CENTER, ORLANDO, FL
SCORING LEADERS
G. Antetokounmpo MIL
28 PTS 6 REB 6 AST
F. Wagner ORL
38 PTS 7 REB 3 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
76ers18-16 27 28 30 29 114
Raptors14-17 24 24 33 28 109
SCOTIABANK ARENA, TORONTO, ON
SCORING LEADERS
J. Embiid PHI
36 PTS 11 REB 4 AST
C. Boucher TOR
28 PTS 19 REB
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Wizards17-17 24 27 22 39 112
Heat22-13 38 27 26 28 119
FTX ARENA, MIAMI, FL
SCORING LEADERS
S. Dinwiddie WAS
24 PTS 7 REB 11 AST
T. Herro MIA
32 PTS 6 REB 3 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Cavaliers20-14 39 19 25 21 104
Pelicans13-22 20 28 28 32 108
SMOOTHIE KING CENTER, NEW ORLEANS, LA
SCORING LEADERS
R. Rubio CLE
27 PTS 13 REB 9 AST
H. Jones NO
26 PTS 7 REB 3 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Lakers17-18 34 33 30 35 132
Rockets10-25 35 24 33 31 123
TOYOTA CENTER, HOUSTON, TX
SCORING LEADERS
L. James LAL
32 PTS 11 REB 11 AST
J. Green HOU
24 PTS 2 REB 4 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Knicks16-18 29 15 28 24 96
Timberwolves16-18 22 19 21 26 88
TARGET CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS, MN
SCORING LEADERS
M. Robinson NY
14 PTS 18 REB
M. Beasley MIN
20 PTS 4 REB 1 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Nuggets17-16 31 29 14 15 89
Warriors27-7 16 20 25 25 86
CHASE CENTER, SAN FRANCISCO, CA
SCORING LEADERS
N. Jokic DEN
22 PTS 18 REB 5 AST
S. Curry GS
23 PTS 4 REB 4 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Thunder12-21 34 23 24 30 111
Kings14-21 32 29 26 30 117
GOLDEN 1 CENTER, SACRAMENTO, CA
SCORING LEADERS
S. Gilgeous-Alexander OKC
33 PTS 5 REB 5 AST
T. Haliburton SAC
24 PTS 2 REB 10 AST
INDICATORS
FOREX $1 = P 51.00
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain. - John Adams (1735-1826)
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