PHILIPPINES, US, JAPAN TO HOLD FIRST TRILATERAL MARITIME EXERCISES THIS WEEK

MANILA — For the first time, the Philippines will hold a trilateral maritime exercise with the United States and Japan this week, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Monday.

PCG said it would conduct the exercises with its American and Japanese counterparts in the waters off Mariveles, Bataan from June 1 to 7.

The Philippines will deploy 4 of its vessels for the said activity: BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702), BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301), BRP Boracay (FPB-2401), and one 44-meter multi-role response vessel.

The US and Japan Coast Guards will send their USCGC Stratton (WMSL-752) and Akitsushima (PLH-32) vessels, respectively.

"The PCG-USCG-JCG maritime exercise would strengthen interoperability through communication exercises, maneuvering drills, photo exercises, maritime law enforcement training, search and rescue (SAR), and passing exercises," the PCG said in a statement.

The activity will also "improve maritime cooperation and understanding," PCG officer-in-charge Vice Adm. Rolando Lizor Punzalan Jr. said.

"The US Coast Guard and Japan Coast Guard have been assisting us in our human resource development program, particularly in law enforcement training. This is a good opportunity to thank and show them what our personnel learned from their programs," Punzalan added.

MARCOS SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER CREATING INTER-AGENCY COMMITTEE ON INFLATION

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed on Friday an executive order creating the Inter-Agency Committee on Inflation and Market Outlook (IAC-IMO).

Aside from dealing with inflation, the body is also mandated to "enhance initiatives to improve the economy and the quality of life of Filipinos," Malacanang Palace said.

The committee would serve as the advisory body to the renamed Economic Development Group (EDG)—formerly the Economic Development Cluster (EDC)—on measures to keep inflation, particularly that of food and energy, within government targets.

“In view of the increasing prices of key commodities, particularly food and energy resources, the creation of an advisory body to the EDC, tasked to directly address inflation, will strengthen the EDC, and reinforce existing government initiatives aimed to improve the economy and the quality of life of the Filipino people,” Marcos' Executive Order No. 28 read.

Among the body's mandated functions are as follows:

-Closely monitor the main drivers of inflation, particularly food and energy, and their possible sources and causes;

-Assess the supply-demand situation for essential food commodities during the cropping period;

-Assess the possible impact of natural and man-made shocks on the supply of key food commodities;

-Monitor global, regional, and domestic developments and issues that may affect prices; and

-Provide timely recommendations to the EDG and relevant agencies on measures to curb price spikes and promote food security.

PBBM ORDERS BODY TO CLIP INFLATION

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the creation of an Inter-Agency Committee on Inflation and Market Outlook (IAC-IMO) in a bid to boost efforts to ease inflation and improve the economy.

Under Executive Order No. 28, the IAC-EMO shall serve as an advisory body to the Economic Development Group (EDG), previously called the Economic Development Cluster, on measures that would keep inflation, particularly of food and energy, within government targets.

“In view of the increasing prices of key commodities, particularly food and energy resources, the creation of an advisory body to the EDC, tasked to directly address inflation, will strengthen the EDC, and reinforce existing government initiatives aimed to improve the economy and the quality of life of the Filipino people,” the EO read.

The IAC-EMO will be composed of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary as chairperson; the Finance Secretary as co-chairperson; the Budget Secretary as vice-chairperson; and the secretaries of Agriculture, Energy, Science and Technology, Trade, and Interior as members.

Among the functions of the advisory body are to closely monitor the main drivers of inflation, particularly food and energy, and their proximate sources and causes; assess the supply-demand situation for essential food commodities during the cropping period, allowing periodic updating as new information becomes available; assess the possible impact of natural and man-made shocks on the supply of key food commodities; and regularly monitor data necessary to assess food prices and the supply and demand situation.

10,000 OFWS WHO LOST JOBS IN SAUDI TO GET BACKPAY IN FULL

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said Saudi Arabia has finally earmarked funds to pay thousands of overseas Filipino workers with still unpaid wages.

At least 10,000 OFWs who had worked for several Saudi companies that declared bankruptcy following the economic crisis in 2015 would receive “full payment,” DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said in a media briefing.

In the same briefing, DMW Secretary Susan Ople said Saudi Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi “gave us the good news that the funds to pay for the unpaid claims are now with the Ministry of Finance” of the Saudi government,

Ople said that while she did not inquire about the amount allocated for the unpaid salaries, “what is clear is it’s there and it is sufficient to pay not just the claims of the unpaid [Filipino] workers but all the other claims, including those of their own people.”

According to Ople, the Saudi government requested “a bit more time” for the processing of claims, adding that “they said that next month, they may be able to give us more details.”

The government designated Olalia as the focal person for the issue of unpaid wages in the kingdom.

‘EO MUST FIX DICT-NSA PACT FOR IDS’

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should issue an executive order that would transfer to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) certain functions of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to expedite the issuance of national identity card of Filipinos under the 2018 Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) law, the Department of Justice said.

“To fully realize the objectives of the PhilSys Act, there is a necessity to reorganize the Executive Department, by transferring some of the functions of the PSA under the PhilSys Act to the DICT, for purposes of rolling-out the digital PhilSys ID,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said in a DOJ legal opinion.

“To do this, the corresponding Executive Order must be issued providing for the same, specifically directing the PSA to grant DICT access to the data needed for producing digital PhilSys IDs,” he added.

The DOJ chief noted that during a sectoral meeting last April 25, “the President expressed his utmost desire to expedite the roll-out of the PhilSys ID considering that the law remains not fully implemented despite its enactment five (5) years ago.”

“Thus, the DICT and the PSA were instructed to accelerate the roll-out of the digital PhilSys ID,” he said.

According to him, the President’s directive “is in accordance with Section 17, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution, which provides that the President shall have control of all the executive departments, bureaus and offices.”

He stressed that the constitutional mandate “gives the President the continuing authority to reorganize the Executive branch.”

GATCHALIAN: NAT’L ID SUFFICIENT FOR BANKS

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian called on the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to remind banks that Republic Act 11055 or the Philippine Identification System Act compels them to accept the national ID as sufficient proof of identity for financial transactions, and any bank that refuses to recognize it will be fined P500,000.

Gatchalian made the call amid continuing complaints that some banks refuse to recognize the national ID as proof of identity because the card itself does not display the person’s signature.

“This is not the intention of the law. The national ID system is meant to simplify public and private transactions. The BSP should immediately look into this issue and ensure that all financial institutions, especially Landbank and Development Bank of the Philippines, adhere to the law,” Gatchalian said. Macon Ramos-Araneta

Gatchalian cited BSP’s Memorandum No. M-2021-057 stating that the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), one of the implementers of the law, has clarified that the non-inclusion of a handwritten signature as part of the Philippine identification (PhilID) was deliberate.

This aligns with other national ID systems such as India, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, among others, and it intends to promote greater security in transactions through stronger methods of verification and lower risk of forgery, the senator said.

“There shouldn’t be a need for another valid ID if the individual concerned only has the national ID,” Gatchalian noted, emphasizing that the national ID should be considered as an official, reliable, and sufficient proof of identity.

PHILHEALTH CHIEF URGES PUBLIC TO REGISTER, AVAIL OF ‘KONSULTA PACKAGE’

Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) president and CEO Emmanuel R. Ledesma, Jr. has called on Filipinos to register and avail of the PhilHealth Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama or “Konsulta Package.”

The PhilHealth Konsulta Package includes targeted health risk screening and assessment, initial and follow-up consultations, standard laboratory tests and 21 essential drugs and medicines including anti-hypertensives listed in the Philippine National Formulary such as enalapril, metoprolol, amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide and losartan.

All PhilHealth members are encouraged to register and avail themselves of the Konsulta Package. Registration may be done through self-registration via the member portal at www.philhealth.gov.ph or at any PhilHealth Local Insurance Offices in their area.

Ledesma also assures that PhilHealth is paying P9,000 for confinements due to hypertension in accredited Levels 1 to 3 hospitals.

Ledesma issued the statements in In observance of Hypertension Awareness Month this May.

SENATORS WANT MORE TIME TO STUDY MAHARLIKA BILL

MANILA — The Senate leadership’s target to pass the Maharlika Investment Fund may be this week before Congress goes on break, but some senators still want more time to study the proposal creating the MIF.

Following the pronouncement of Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri that they are looking to approve the MIF bill in the coming week, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III appealed yesterday for a rules-based tackling of the proposed measure than merely passing it on the strength of the 22-member majority.

“I am calling on the majority not to decide (on the bill) by sheer number, by a majority advantage to change or relax the rules. Don’t do that. What the rule states, we must follow,” Pimentel, who counts only himself and Sen. Risa Hontiveros in the minority, said in Filipino.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian from the majority also wants to take a second look at funding sources and procurement exemptions.

Earlier, Zubiri said: “The plan is to approve it (MIF) by the second and third reading next week. We are accommodating the last few members who want to interpellate on Monday. Then we can open the period of amendments immediately after.”

He added: “As a certified measure, we can close and approve the bill on that same week. Hopefully, the House can adopt our version which we improved with more safeguards in place to avoid possible misuse.”

But Pimentel said the Senate leadership should allow other senators to express their thoughts on the MIF. “Some members of the majority in the Senate have kept their decision close to their chest. Let’s give them time to ask questions and clarify the matter,” he said.

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ELECTRIC VEHICLE STAKEHOLDERS PRESS FOR INCENTIVES AS LOCAL ASSEMBLY OF E-MOTORCYCLES LOOMS

MANILA – Stakeholders of the electric vehicle (EV) industry are pushing anew for the granting of more incentives from the government as they welcome reports that the local assembly of electric motorcycles will start its mass production in June.

The Department of Trade and Industry has earlier released a report welcoming an agreement signed on May 1 in the United States that would jumpstart the manufacturing of e-motorcycles in the Philippines.

The report said that Filipino-owned firm Integrated Micro-Electronics has signed a cooperation agreement with American company Zero Motorcycles for the assembly here of e-motorbikes and sub-assemblies of batteries and motors.

As the stakeholders greeted with enthusiasm the report that the local mass production of electric motorcycles will start next month, they also appeared hopeful that the inclusion of the two and three-wheelers in the EV import tariff break shall be made effective sooner than the scheduled review of Executive Order No. 12 early next year.

In a related development, several prominent figures from the EV industry also greeted the report with optimism and likewise called for the inclusion of e-motorbikes in the import tax break provided for under EO 12.

Professor and Fellow for Education of Stratbase ADR Institute Louie Montemar stressed the need for the inclusion of e-motorcycles in the executive issuance, stating that EVs can be an alternative mode of transportation amidst the rising prices of gasoline.

Furthermore, Stratbase ADR Institute President Dindo Manhit said that the review of EO is needed as its current version is "unfair."

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian also reiterated that usage of EVs should be pushed forward through the enactment of the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act as a solution for the various increase in oil prices.

76 WESTERN VISAYAS BARANGAY EXECS UNDER WATCH FOR DRUGS

BACOLOD CITY — The Western Visayas police is monitoring 76 barangay officials in the region for alleged involvement in illegal drugs.

Of the figure, 20 are barangay captains and the rest are councilmen or kagawads who were previously arrested, have surrendered or been delisted and placed under monitoring.

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda earlier said there were 430 barangay officials on the PNP drug list.

Acorda said that Western Visayas has the highest number of barangay officials suspected of involvement in the illegal drug trade.

Acting Western Visayas police director Brig. Gen. Sidney Villaflor said they are preparing a case buildup against these barangay officials.

‘BETTY’ SLOWS, NCR ON ‘BRAVO’

Typhoon “Betty” has slightly weakened and was moving west-northwestward over the Philippine Sea east of Northern Luzon, even as Metro Manila was on “Bravo alert” for the storm’s possible effects and 12 provinces remained under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 on Sunday.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) also revealed yesterday that over 400 barangays in the National Capital Region are at risk of floods due to the expected combined effects of Betty (international name: Mawar) and the southwest monsoon or “habagat.”

The center of the typhoon, the country’s second this year, was estimated at 630 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan as of 5 p.m. Sunday.

Packing maximum sustained winds of 165 km/hour near the center and gustiness of up to 295 km/h, it was moving west-northwestward at 15 km/h.

TCWS no. 1 was raised in Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, the northern and central portions of Abra, Kalinga, the eastern and central portions of Mt. Province, the northern and central portions of Aurora, Quirino, and the northeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya.

The enhanced southwest monsoon may bring occasional gusts reaching a strong breeze to near gale strength Monday over most of the Visayas, the eastern portion of Central Luzon, the eastern and southern portion of Southern Luzon, and the northern portion of Mindanao.

The western portion of Luzon may also experience similar conditions beginning on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Betty will likely remain a typhoon throughout the forecast period, although it is expected to gradually weaken until Tuesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

“Afterwards, an increasingly unfavorable environment while moving northward or north-northeastward on Wednesday or Thursday will result in a faster weakening rate,” it added.

MMDA Acting Chairman Don Artes said the Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has already placed NCR on Bravo alert, meaning the region is at moderate risk due to Betty.

ISABELA BRACES FOR BETTY; SOME RESIDENTS FLEE HOMES

Authorities in Isabela province are on alert for the possible effects of typhoon Betty, with rescue vehicles and family food packs already on standby.

Atty. Constante Foronda Jr, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office-Isabela head, said rescue vehicles including boats have already been prepared 4 days ago.

A total of 5,000 family food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development plus additional aid from the provincial government has been secured.

Twenty-six people earlier fled to government centers after waves started rising in the coastal town of Palanan.

A liquor ban is now in effect in Isabela after tropical cyclone wind signal no. 1 was hoisted in the province.

Foronda said residents already know the location of government centers and other spaces on higher ground where they can seek shelter.

"Problema ay yung mga may alagang hayop. Hindi kasi nadadala, so may naiiwan para magbantay sa alagang hayop," he said.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

DANIEL JOINS KATHYRN AS NOMINEES IN SEOUL INTERNATIONAL DRAMA AWARDS

MANILA – Kapamilya star Daniel Padilla is joining his girlfriend Kathryn Bernardo as nominees for outstanding Asian star in the Seoul International Drama Awards 2023.

Padilla got nods for his role in the ABS-CBN series “2 Good 2 Be True.”

Bernardo was also nominated in the Outstanding Asian Stars category in the international award-giving body for the same show.

The couple will vie for the prize alongside artists from South Korea, China, Thailand, Japan, and Taiwan.

Fans can vote for their favorites via the voting app Idolchamp starting June 15, according to organizers.

The 18th edition of Seoul Drama International Awards will be held on September 21, with live broadcast on Korea's KBS2TV.

"Winners selected by the vote will also be invited to the ceremony to share the joy of winning the award with the general public," the group said.

In 2022, fellow Star Magic artist, Belle Mariano, personally received her award as Outstanding Asian Star from SDA, as one of the five honorees in the region.

Founded in 2006, the SDA is said to be the only international drama festival in South Korea that puts the spotlight on drama trends across the globe.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

In spite of all that doctors know, and their studies never end, The best cure of all when spirits fall, Is a kind note from a friend. - John Wooden