HOUSE BILLS ALLOWS MARCOS TO HOLD PHILHEALTH RATE HIKE

Leaders of the House of Representatives, headed by Speaker Martin Romualdez, have filed an urgent bill seeking to empower President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to suspend the increase in premiums of “direct contributors” of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., including its employees.

Romualdez said daily wage earners and many employees, who comprise the majority of PhilHealth members, could save P50 a month or P600 a year from their health insurance premium payment if the adjustment would be suspended.

“Those earning more will naturally save more,” he added.

Authors of House Bill No. 6772 noted that the suspension of the adjustment would remove an added financial burden on millions of government and private sector workers, professionals, self-employed, and other PhilHealth contributors who are still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under Republic Act No. 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act, contributions would go up this year from 4 percent to 4.5 percent, or from the minimum monthly premium of P400 to P450. The rate shall further increase to 5 percent starting in 2025.

“The President of the Philippines may, upon recommendation of the PhilHealth board, suspend and adjust the period of implementation of the scheduled increase of premium rates during national emergencies or calamities, or when public interest so requires,” the bill said.

“While PhilHealth only aims to fulfill and remain faithful to its mandate, imposing a higher premium on Filipinos in these current conditions where most of them are grappling with the pandemic will definitely enforce a new round of financial burden to its members,” the bill further stated.

Counterpart measures have been filed in the Senate by Senators Grace Poe and JV Ejercito.

MARCOS OKAYS VAT REFUND FOR FOREIGN TOURISTS

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved the Value-Added Tax Refund Program for foreign tourists by 2024 to boost tourist arrivals in the country.

Mr. Marcos also approved the rolling out of e-visa by 2023, prioritizing China and India, and the removal of One Health Pass (OHP) requirement for entry.

The Presidential Communications Office said Mr. Marcos made thedecision during his meeting with the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) Tourism Sector Group.

PSAC made several “Quick Wins” recommendations, including therevocation of outdated advisories and loud-speaker announcements in the country’s airports and the automatic inclusion of travel tax in all airline tickets.

The Quick Wins proposals, which were presented by PSAC to the chiefexecutive during a meeting in Malacañang last week, are aimed atfurther boosting the country’s tourism industry, managing the nationalbrand and image, as well as promoting tourism investments, among others.

PSAC officials also told Mr. Marcos that they are working on a mobile app called e-Travel, which integrates all of the information on immigration, customs, health and quarantine.

NO COVER-UP IN DRUG WAR PROBE—DOJ

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Sunday denied suggestions that he was shielding former President Rodrigo Duterte from the reopened International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation into his bloody war on drugs.

“We are not covering up for anyone here. If the ICC has evidence they want to share with us that would help in the investigation, why not? Why do they need to try it in their court? We have our own court here,” Remulla said, in a TV interview.

“If they want to investigate something, they could provide us with the evidence, and we will investigate because we are responsible for our own country,” Remulla added.

In allowing the reopening of the investigation, the ICC said it was “not satisfied that the Philippines is undertaking relevant investigations that would warrant a deferral of the court’s investigations.”

The Justice secretary also denied coordinating his department’s response with Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, who led Duterte’s bloody war on drugs when he was chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“I don’t talk to them about those things. We are handling the justice system the way it should be handled,” Remulla said.

Over the weekend, Dela Rosa shot back at the ICC, saying it was trying to impose its standards on a country where the justice system is working.

Still, he said, it looked unlikely that the current administration would cooperate with an ICC investigation.

FAMILIES OF ALLEGED VICTIMS WELCOME RESUMPTION OF ICC DRUG WAR PROBE

MANILA - Happy and at the same time afraid. This was how International Criminal Court (ICC) complainant Llore Pasco described her emotions after hearing the news that the ICC is pursuing its investigation on the drug war of Duterte administration.

Two of her sons died in May 2017 in Quezon City after they were tagged as robbery holdup suspects.

“Nangholdap daw sila hanggang sa pinaghahabol ng pulis hanggang sa inabutan sila at pinagbabaril. Sa crime noong una litrato may baril sila... ang pinakamasakit pa doon, 'yung anak kong bunso kaliwete pero 'yung baril nakalagay sa kanang bahagi ng kamay,” she said.

Pasco did not file any case in the local courts; instead, she went to the ICC.

And now that the ICC probe resumed, she is asking President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to reconsider his position.

“Kami, bilang mga magulang, kapatid at asawa ng mga pinaslang, gusto namin iparating sa kanila na dapat kilalanin nila ang ICC bilang isang korte, at 'wag silang mangamba dahil lalabas at lalabas din naman ang katotohanan,” she added.

In a statement released by the Presidential Communications Office, the Marcos administration said it supports the stand of the Department of Justice.

The Marcos administration also insisted that the ICC should let the Philippines resolve the Duterte administration’s war on drugs issue under the country's justice system.

The Makabayan bloc of the House of Representatives urged Marcos to reconsider the government's position on the ICC probe.

KUWAITI FOREIGN MINISTER CONDEMNS MURDER OF OFW RANARA

KUWAIT CITY - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah condemned the murder of Filipino worker Julleebee Ranara in Kuwait.

Sheikh Salem received Philippine Charge d’ Affaires to Kuwait Jose A. Cabrera III on Sunday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

According to Cabrera, Sheikh Salem asked him to convey his deepest condolences to the family and the Philippine government on the brutal and tragic death of Jullebee Ranara.

The official also condemned her murder and said that the perpetrator, who has been arrested and is currently in detention, will be punished for this heinous crime.

Sheikh Salem added that the actions of the perpetrator do not in any way reflect the character and values of Kuwaiti society, the Kuwaiti people, and the Kuwaiti government.

In a statement posted by the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait on its official Facebook page, Cabrera expressed appreciation for the cooperation and assistance of Kuwaiti authorities, particularly the swift action and response in the apprehension of the suspect and in the clearances for the shipment of Ranara’s remains.

The embassy statement outlined that Sheikh Salem said the MOFA will provide the Philippine Embassy with all the necessary assistance as it continues to monitor Ranara’s case.

PHILIPPINES WILLING TO DEPORT ALLEGED ROBBERY RINGLEADER TO JAPAN

MANILA - The Philippines is willing to deport Yuki Watanabe, alias "Luffy," a suspected mastermind behind a string of robberies in Japan who is now in detention in the Southeast Asian country, once a local case against him is cleared, officials said.

A Philippine government source had earlier told Kyodo News that the local case against Watanabe complicated the possible handover. As Japan and the Philippines do not have an extradition treaty, that case must first be cleared before he can be deported.

Watanabe has been charged with violating a law on violence against women and children, according to a local court.

A South Korean reporter who was once detained at the same immigration facility in Manila as Watanabe, meanwhile, told Kyodo News that foreign detainees who face cases in their home countries often ask Filipino residents to trump up charges against them to prolong their detention.

"That kind of arrangement can be easily made by paying 1 million won ($812, or around P44,246 at P54.49 to $1)," Kim Yoon Young said, adding that trials in such cases can then be delayed using excuses such as ill health.

Philippine Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said that while a person with a pending court case cannot be deported, the government is investigating whether the charges against Watanabe were fabricated.

Japanese police requested the transfer of Watanabe and three other men to Japan from Manila after obtaining arrest warrants on suspicion of theft in connection with a scam targeting elderly people in Japan.

The four are also believed to be behind a spate of robberies starting last year, paying individuals to carry them out in a similar fashion to the way they had recruited people in the alleged scam operation.

COMELEC CHIEF: 2 DAYS LEFT TO REGISTER

MANILA, Philippines — Those intending to participate in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections scheduled this October have only two days left to register, according to the Commission on Elections.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia yesterday issued a last-minute appeal to the public to register and be able to exercise the right to vote.

“Matatapos na po ang voter registration sa Jan. 31 kaya magparehistro na po tayo (The voter registration period will end on Jan. 31, so please, let’s register),” Garcia posted on Twitter.

“Muli po nating inaanyayahan ang ating mga kababayan na magparehistro upang makaboto (We are once again enjoining our fellow Filipinos to register so you can vote),” he added.

The Comelec chief noted that voter registration activities are accessible nationwide even at shopping malls.

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LPG TO COST P9.50/K MORE

Cooking gas or liquefied petroleum gas prices will likely go up by about P9.50 per kilo on February 1 due to the higher contract price of LPG, an industry source said.

A P9.50 per kilo increase translates to an increase of P104.50 per 11-kilo tank used primarily by households.

The Standard source estimates an increase of about $157 per metric ton of LPG, but the final price will be announced on Jan. 31.

LPG is sold from P824 to P990 per 11-kilo tank in Metro Manila, with prices depending on the brand, outlet, and market forces.

This developed after fuel pump prices are also expected to go up starting Tuesday.

Unioil Petroleum Philippines said over the weekend diesel will likely go up by P0.80 to P1.00 per liter and gasoline by P1.20 to P1.40 per liter.

Romero said increased economic recovery fueled demand recovery in China.

World oil prices have been going up in the past week on bullish sentiment about Chinese demand growth and easing US recession fears.

SMUGGLED FROZEN CHICKEN MEAT BLAMED FOR EGG SUPPLY SHORTAGE

The influx of smuggled frozen chicken meat is causing domestic farms to reduce poultry populations, resulting in lower supply levels and higher retail prices for eggs, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said. “The egg problem is partly an offspring of the chicken problem. Traders abusing prices appears to be the leading cause, but I cannot discount the fact that the decline in the population of chickens is also to blame for this,” he said.

“There is definitely a connection between ensuring that imported chicken meat tariffs are imposed and keeping our domestic egg sector viable. We can import frozen chicken meat, but eggs are much harder to import, so we need a good domestic supply base. So, we really need to stamp down the abuses in the trading sector, and to ensure that we have enough egg supply,” he stressed.

Salceda, for his part, said the government must consider feed subsidies from tariff revenues from imported corn to support egg production.

He said the Department of Agriculture should also be more aggressive in its layer distribution programs.

We can import chickens, but we can’t easily import eggs,” he emphasized.

OIL FIRMS ANNOUNCE NEW PUMP PRICE HIKES ON JAN. 31, GASOLINE UP BY P1.30 PER LITER

MANILA — Pump prices are set to increase again on Tuesday.

Oil firms on Monday announced that the following price hikes will take effect on January 31.

PILIPINAS SHELL (effective 6 a.m.)

Gasoline: P1.30 per liter

Diesel: P1.00 per liter

Kerosene: P1.35 per liter

SEAOIL (effective 6 a.m.)

Gasoline: P1.30 per liter

Diesel: P1.00 per liter

Kerosene: P1.35 per liter

Other oil companies are expected to announce similar price hikes.

BUS, NASUNOG SA MAKATI

MAYNILA-- Isang pampasaherong bus ang nasunog sa EDSA Ayala northbound Linggo ng gabi.

Dakong 9:20 p.m. nang mapansing umuusok ang makina ng pampasaherong bus na biyaheng Monumento galing sa Paranaque Interated Terminal Exchange (PITX).

Kuwento ng driver, may naamoy na siyang usok ng binabaybay nila ang Pasay road. At dahil hindi mawala itinigil na niya ang bus sa bahagi ng EDSA-Ayala.

Laking gulat ng inspector ng bus sa nangyari dahil bago pa ang naturang bus, na hindi pa umaabot ng isang taon.

Sa 25 pasahero, dalawa ang nasaktan makaraang magkaroon ng kaguluhan.

Sa ngayon nasa garahe na ito ng kumpanyang nagmamay-ari ng bus sa Bulacan at inaalam pa ng Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) ang sanhi ng sunog.

BUDGET CARRIERS FLY BACK TO CHINA

MANILA - Cebu Pacific on Monday said it has ramped up its trips to Hong Kong, and now flies four times a day and 28 times weekly to the Chinese territory.

The airline said it is also offering a P499 one-way base fare sale from January 27 to 31 for travel from June 1 to August 31, this year.

The Gokongwei-led carrier advises travelers to Honhg Kong to present a negative result from an antigen test taken within 24 hours or a negative 48-hour RT-PCR result, and a proof of vaccination of primary doses for non-Hong Kong residents aged 12 or above.

“The COVID-19 test results may also be submitted online through the Health and Quarantine Information Declaration (https://www.chp.gov.hk/hdf/). Travelers are required to keep photos of their test results for 90 days,” the airline said.

Cebu Pacific earlier said it is set to restore 100 percent of its pre-COVID network and capacity in March as it resumes flights to 25 international destinations in the first quarter.

CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF RAINSHOWERS IN VISAYAS, MINDANAO DUE TO SHEAR LINE

MANILA -- A shear line over the Visayas will bring rains to parts of the Philippines on Monday, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

In its latest public weather forecast, PAGASA said Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, and Davao Region may face cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms due to the shear line.

Flash floods or landslides due to moderate to at times heavy rains are possible in these areas, according to state meteorologists.

Meanwhile, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Bicol Region, Aurora, Quezon, Marinduque, and Romblon will have cloudy skies with rains due to the northeast monsoon or amihan.

Floods or landslides due to moderate with at times heavy rains are also likely here, PAGASA said.

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with light rains also due to the amihan.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

SHARON CUNETA GETS EMOTIONAL AS DAUGHTER MIEL PREPARES FOR COLLEGE

MANILA – Sharon Cuneta is surprised by how fast time passes, now that her youngest daughter Miel is preparing to embark on her college journey.

Posting Miel’s high school graduation photo on Instagram, Cuneta wrote: “Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyy?!!! Now you're graduating and are going off to college na ren after a year-off to enjoy life first?!!!”

“Baby ko if there was really a time-traveling machine I'd invest my life savings in it so I could be with your baby-self and stay there forever,” she added.

Despite this, Cuneta expressed how proud she is of Miel for successfully completing high school, amid the difficulties and challenges posed by the pandemic.

“This High School completion didn't come easy for you and many others - having to do lots of online stuff and dealing with Covid lockdowns. You guys just missed out on so much more of what life in high school should've been like...so I am grateful and just really so proud that you've reached this point,” she said.

Without naming the school, Cuneta hinted that Miel will be following in the footsteps of her older sisters, KC and Frankie, in studying abroad.

“I love you so very much, Yeyie ko...I cannot believe it! So beautiful and precious to Mama... Bunny you really wanna study abroad also? Here na lang pls pls pls?! Oh well...you know Dad & Mama will give you what you want, even if it'll hurt to be away from you,” she said.

Miel is Cuneta’s second child with husband, former Senator Kiko Pangilinan.

SPORTS

CONVERGE DEF. MAGNOLIA, 111-109

Converge FiberXers (3-0) defeated Magnolia Hotshots (0-1), 111-109 to grab their third straight win in the 2023 PBA Governors' Cup on Sunday, January 29 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

Jamaal Franklin led the FiberXers with near triple-double of 26 points (5/14fg, 3/10 3pts, 13/15ft) to go with 13 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal and 3 blocks. Maverick Ahanmisi with a solid game of 22 points including four 3-pointers and 6-of-8 from the line along with five rebounds and one assist while Alec Stockton added 18 points, four rebounds, one steal and two blocks.

The Scores:

CONVERGE 111 - Franklin 26, Ahanmisi 22, Stockton 18, Melecio 14, Teng 11, Arana 8, Balanza 6, Tratter 4, Ambohot 2, Racal 0, Murrell 0.

MAGNOLIA 109 – McCree 38, Lee 21, Jalalon 13, Abueva 12, Escoto 7, Ahanmisi 5, Wong 4, Dela Rosa 3, Sangalang 2, Barroca 2, Dionisio 2, Corpuz 0.

Quarters: 28-23, 50-47, 84-73, 111-109

SAN MIGUEL DEF. PHOENIX, 114-93

San Miguel Beermen (1-0) uses strong first half to beat the winless Phoenix Super LPG (0-3), 114-93 to grab their first win in the 2023 PBA Governors' Cup on Sunday, January 29 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

Cameron Clark led the Beermen with 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the field and perfect 3-of-3 from the line along with 7 rebounds, 3 steals and a block. June Mar Fajardo had a double-double game of 19 points (9/14fg, 1/2ft), to go with 13 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal while CJ Perez added 18 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists.

The Scores:

SAN MIGUEL 114 - Clark 23, Fajardo 19, Perez 18, Bulanadi 16, Enciso 14, Lassiter 11, Tautuaa 9, Cruz 2, Brondial 2, Ross 0.

PHOENIX 93 – Maxwell 21, Muyang 15, Serrano 12, Perkins 12, Alejandro 9, Jazul 8, Manganti 4, Tio 4, Garcia 4, Camacho 2, Soyud 2, Lojera 0, Lalata 0, Go 0.

Quarters: 42-21, 66-37, 89-68, 114-93

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Freedom is not merely the opportunity to do as one pleases; neither is it merely the opportunity to choose between set alternatives. Freedom is, first of all, the chance to formulate the available choices, to argue over them -- and then, the opportunity to choose. - C. Wright Mills