HOUSE APPROVES BILL DECLARING PH MARITIME ZONES

MANILA — Voting 284-0-0, the House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading House Bill 7819, declaring the maritime zones under the jurisdiction of the Republic of the Philippines.

“This bill will provide flexibility in enacting laws pertinent to the rights and obligations that the Philippines can exercise over its maritime zone,” House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said in a statement.

“Aside from this, the bill also provides sovereign rights over these maritime zones, thus establishing the Philippines' exclusive rights to explore and exploit living and nonliving resources found in these zones, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and other existing laws and treaties,” Speaker Romualdez added.

The Speaker's office explained that under HB 7819, maritime zones of the Philippines comprise the internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and continental shelf.

It also said that the bill also provides for the exercise of jurisdiction over these zones with regard to rights and duties provided for in the UNCLOS. Likewise, it states that the rights of the Philippines relative to its maritime zones and entitlements shall be exercised in accordance with the UNCLOS, and the awards rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal in Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) Case 23 No. 2013-19, in the matter of the South China Sea Arbitration between the Republic of the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China, handed down on July 12, 2016, at The Hague.

"This measure is beneficial to our pursuit of food and economic security. Claiming an EEZ (exclusive economic zone) and contiguous zone of 200 nautical miles from the baselines allows the Philippines to exercise its sovereign rights to explore and exploit, conserve, and manage the natural resources in these waters," Pangasinan 3rd District Rep. Rachel Arenas, chairperson of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs explained in her sponsorship speech last week.

As explained in the congressional fact sheet, the bill provides for a general declaration of the maritime zones under the jurisdiction of the Philippines. The various maritime zones include internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and continental shelf.

It defines the maximum extent of territorial sea (1 2 nautical miles), contiguous zone (24 nautical miles), EEZ (200 nautical miles), and continental shelf (200 nautical miles).

It allows the delineation of continental shelves extending beyond 200 NM, in accordance with Article 76 of the UNCLOS.

It also provides for the sovereign rights over these maritime zones, thus establishing the Philippines' exclusive rights to explore and exploit living and nonliving resources found in these zones, in accordance with the UNCLOS and other existing laws and treaties.

Finally, it provides for the exercise of jurisdiction over these zones with regard to rights and duties provided for in the UNCLOS.

The House will submit the bill to the Senate for action.

5,488 EVACUATED FROM HOMES DUE TO 'BETTY' — NDRRMC

MANILA — Typhoon Betty has so far affected more than 11,000 people and has forced more than 5,000 to flee their homes, monitoring by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council showed.

In a situation report Tuesday morning, the NDRRMC said Betty has affected 11,264 people in 55 barangays across Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Western Visayas and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

It added that 3,483 are seeking temporary shelter in evacuation centers, while 381 persons evacuated their homes but are staying elsewhere.

Meanwhile, the council said that they tallied 5,488 people who were pre-emptively evacuated. Most of those who fled their homes due to threat of the typhoon are in the Western Visayas.

Pre-emptive evacuation was also recorded in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, MIMAROPA, Western Visayas and Central Visayas regions.

There were also 104 domestic and 17 international flights that were cancelled due to Betty, while 47 seaports across five regions were also affected.

There have also been 254 class and suspensions so far.

Betty entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility as a super typhoon early Saturday morning. State weather bureau PAGASA has since downgraded Betty to a typhoon and forecasters are expecting it to further weaken.

As of Tuesday morning, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 remains hoisted in two areas, while six areas are under Signal No. 1.

Betty is also expected to enhance the southwest monsoon (habagat) and trigger rain showers and thunderstorms in other parts of the country.

The government has so far provided P1,897,764 worth of assistance to the Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, MIMAROPA, Western Visayas and Cordillera Administrative Region.

DFA: NO APOLOGIES TO KUWAIT

The Philippines will not apologize for its alleged violations that led to the Kuwaiti government’s order suspending the issuance of new entry visas to Filipinos, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Monday.

“The Philippine government’s position, President [Ferdinand] Marcos’ [Jr.] position is that we cannot apologize for protecting our workers. We cannot hold our own people accountable for doing their job which is to protect our overseas nationals,” DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said in an interview with CNN Philippines’ The Source.

In a related development, De Vega also clarified that the incident in Kuwait when an SUV driver plowed through a group of 60 Filipino cyclists — resulting in 15 getting hurt — was not a hate crime amid the visa issue between the two nations.

“It is not a hate crime against Filipinos. That’s not what it looks like. What happened was that for some time, there have been concerns in Kuwait over the lack of bike lanes and there have been incidents, accidents where aggressive drivers have injured cyclists,” he told CNN Philippines’ The Source.

On May 27, the DFA reported that several Filipino cyclists were hurt after being hit by a car along the Arabian Gulf Road. De Vega said 11 of the cyclists were brought to the hospital; seven were immediately released, while two others took some time before they were discharged.

Two female victims remain in the hospital, one due to head trauma and another due to a fracture on her vertebrae, he noted.

Earlier, the Kuwait Interior Ministry revealed some of the reasons behind the visa suspension order for the Philippines, like housing workers in shelters, searching for runaways without involving state institutions, and inappropriately dealing with Kuwaiti citizens.

De Vega said that while Kuwait wants Manila to formally admit such actions and apologize, he maintained that the Philippines cannot accede to it since its actions were only to ensure the welfare of overseas Filipino workers.

When asked what the Philippine government’s next step will be, De Vega said “among friends, we can agree to disagree and then keep trying to find the middle ground.”

7 REGIONS TAGGED FOR PRIVATE ARMIES AHEAD OF BSKE

The Philippine National Police said seven regions have been tagged as having active and potential private armed groups ahead of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) this year.

In a related development, PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda on Monday said anti-drug units across the country will continue to be operational, as he reiterated the need for a strict vetting of personnel assigned to these offices.

“The PNP is also monitoring continuously the activities of 48 private armed groups wherein three of these groups are active and 45 potential PAGs from Region 1, Region 3, Region 5, Region 6, Region 13, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,” Acorda said in a press briefing.

Acorda said the PNP received reports that some elected officials are receiving threats ahead of the polls.

“I would like to reiterate my directive to all regional directors to intensify the campaign against these groups and ensure that they will not be utilized in the upcoming barangay and SK elections,” he added.

On the so-called “ninja cops,” Acorda said the tight screening of police officers assigned to units under the PNP Drug Enforcement Group is part of measures to overhaul its operations.

“We will really check who should be placed in each unit and offices. After studying, there are other aspects that we saw that became a problem. We saw that the problem that became more of the personnel,” he said.

“It’s not on the office but the personnel so what we wanted to do is the proper vetting of personnel, continuous monitoring, and continuous

background investigation on them to make sure that our personnel don’t go left just walk straight. It’s more of vetting rather than

recalling,” Acorda said.

PNP WON’T ABOLISH SPECIAL ANTI-DRUG UNITS

MANILA — The planned abolition of the Philippine National Police-Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG)’s special operations units or SOUs will no longer push through, PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda announced yesterday.

Acorda said they would focus on a stricter vetting process for anti-narcotics officers instead of abolishing the SOUs.

“We have finished studying the proposal. We saw different aspects of the problem,” Acorda told reporters. “The problem is not with the anti-drug units, but the personnel. So what we want to do is continuous monitoring and background investigation of police officers to make sure that their paths will be straight.”

The PDEG has been embroiled in drug-related controversies, including an alleged cover-up of a sting in Manila in October last year, which resulted in the confiscation of P6.7 billion worth of shabu and the arrest of former M/Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr.

PDEG director Brig. Gen. Faro Olaguera described Acorda’s decision to retain the SOUs as a “welcome development.”

“We will humbly submit to the wisdom of our chief PNP,” Olaguera said.

MARCOS NAMES NEW DILG, DOLE OFFICIALS

MANILA — President Marcos has appointed new officials in different agencies and promoted some police officers to higher rank.

According to a Facebook post by the Presidential Communications Office yesterday, Marcos named Romeo Benitez as assistant secretary in the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

The President also appointed Norberto Alensuela Sr. and Mary Joy Viñas as members of the National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council in the Department of Labor and Employment.

Gerard Seno was named acting member of the board of directors of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.

Marcos also promoted Belli Tamayo and Owen Andarino to police brigadier general. Jean dela Torre, Wilbert Charlie Perry Divina and Fe Greñas were promoted to colonel.

PSE SAYS TO DISPUTE BIR'S 2017 P189-M TAX DEFICIENCY FINDINGS

MANILA — The Philippine Stock Exchange said on Tuesday it would challenge a Bureau of Internal Revenue finding that it has over P189 million in tax deficiency in 2017.

In a disclosure, the PSE said the assessment involves alleged deficiencies in various taxes such as income tax, value-added tax, and expanded withholding tax, among others.

"The Company will dispute said assessment and will take appropriate legal action for the cancellation of the assessment," the bourse said.

The BIR said it will not be releasing further details on the issue for now.

ROBIN PADILLA RESIGNS AS PDP-LABAN EXECUTIVE VP

Sen. Robin Padilla resigned Monday as executive vice president of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) but will remain a member of the party.

"Today, May 29, I tender my irrevocable resignation as EVP of PDP-Laban. That said, I intend to remain a member of the party," he said in a statement.

"I believe my decision is for the good of the party and its members - and more importantly, for the Filipino people," he added.

In his resignation, Padilla noted the PDP-Laban has much to achieve and needs an EVP who can devote more time to its affairs.

"As an incumbent senator with a heavy mandate, I am aware that other duties - including my position as EVP of the party - must give way to my ability to fulfill my sworn duty to the people," he said.

His resignation comes amid rumors of an alleged House coup supposedly orchestrated by Pampanga 2nd District Representative and former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Arroyo has denied the rumors.

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MAKATI, DOT LAUNCH BUS TOURS TO PROMOTE CITY'S HERITAGE SITES, LIFESTYLE HUBS

MANILA — The local government of Makati and the Department of Tourism have launched its first-ever "Hop On, Hop Off" (HOHO) bus tour, which is geared to promote the city's heritage sites, museums, and lifestyle areas.

In a statement on Monday, the Makati local government said DOT picked the city as its pilot site for the agency's tourism recovery program which would also, in turn, promote the capital region through a "modern bus system."

The HOHO mobile application, which helps tourists book tours, "offers seamless and contactless travel options, allowing tourists to explore strategic hubs easily."

They will have a GPS networked-bus arrival monitoring, video guides information on hotels, tourism sites, food, and a reloadable card for the tour.

"Makati City boasts a rich tapestry of history, art, and natural beauty that deserves to be celebrated," said Makati Mayor Abby Binay in a statement.

"With the launch of the HOHO bus tour, we aim to bring this exceptional experience to the forefront, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in our city's unique heritage and experience the diverse offerings that Makati has to offer," Binay added.

"We are opening doors to a new era of tourism."

AIRPORTS TOLD: BUY POWER FROM PLANTS

AGRI party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee has proposed that the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and all other airports in the country establish direct connections to power plants to reduce operational costs instead of relying on a utility provider.

Lee stressed that directly connecting airports to power plants would be “a lot cheaper” for the government.

Lee cited the need to study his proposal as among the energy saving measures.  “If we’re talking of 40 percent of P40 million per month electricity bill of NAIA Terminal 3, it’s about 16 million every month,” Lee said.

The lawmaker from Bicol said the financial resources that can be saved by the government might be used for other public services that require urgent funding.

According to Lee, “government money is not unlimited, adding that it is a taxpayers’ money, and so we should be prudent about it.”

On May 22, Lee filed House Resolution No. 1007 urging the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), and the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) to enter into a special service contract taking into consideration the technical requirements of NAIA operations and maintenance, and ensure that the same is replicated in all airports and their respective energy suppliers across the country.

“NAIA terminals must not only be regarded as a regular business customer of Meralco, but also be prioritized along with its technological needs and requirements given the highly particular technical requirements and maintenance through a ‘special service contract,’” Lee noted. Maricel V. Cruz.

GASOLINE UP P1.10, KEROSENE DOWN 35C

The country’s oil firms implemented a mixed price movement for domestic oil products effective 6 am Tuesday, with gasoline prices increasing by P1.10 per liter to reflect the movement of oil prices in the world market.

Diesel prices did not move, but the oil firms cut the price of kerosene by P0.35 per liter.

“PTT Philippines to implement a P1.10 per liter increase in gasoline prices effective 6 am Tuesday, May 30, 2023. No movement in diesel price,” the oil firm said.

Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Chevron Philippines, Seaoil Philippines, Petro Gazz, Cleanfuel, and Jetti Petroleum also made separate announcements of their latest price movements.

P900M ‘HOT ITEMS’ FROM CHINA SEIZED

Government agents raided a warehouse in Plaridel, Bulacan, and seized P900 million worth of smuggled cigarettes, counterfeit products, and other goods from China.

A composite team from the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service – Manila International Container Port (CIIS – MICP), Enforcement and Security Service (ESS), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) conducted the operation based on the Letter of Authority and Mission Order issued by Customs Commissioner Bien Rubio on May 26.

“Our men inspected the warehouse and found it to contain imported illicit cigarettes, and other imported general merchandise, housewares, kitchenware, and infringing goods,” Rubio said.

The Customs chief said the latest operation is part of the bureau’s intensified campaign against smuggling following the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

ENGAGED? LJ REYES SHARES PHOTOS HINTING AT POSSIBLE ENGAGEMENT

MANILA – LJ Reyes pleasantly surprised her social media followers on Tuesday morning by sharing a collection of photos that seemed to depict a proposal.

In the caption, Reyes shared a Bible verse which states that God has a specific plan and purpose for each individual, and that He loves and cares for His people, even in times of difficulty or uncertainty.

In the first photo, the actress tagged Philip Evangelista, who can be seen in a kneeling position, presenting what seems to be an engagement ring to her.

The subsequent pictures portray the unfolding story of what happened next, as Evangelista proceeds to place the ring on Reyes' finger, followed by an embrace shared between the two of them.

Following the actress’ post, several netizens including celebrities quickly congratulated Reyes for this new milestone.

“Awwww #happiness,” wrote Marian Rivera.

“WOAH!!!!! Congratulations to you both!!!!” said Gary Valenciano.

“Maaaaars!!!! So so happy for you!!!! Kaya ka pala nananahimik dyan ah!!!!” Camille Prats commented.

“Awww gf!!!!!!! Ang saya saya ko para sayo,” said Ryza Cenon.

Reyes and her two children, Aki and Summer, have been residing in New York since September 2021.

She moved abroad following her very publicized breakup with her partner of six years and Summer's father, actor Paolo Contis. Aki is Reyes' son with her former boyfriend, Paulo Avelino.

Days after Reyes' tell-all interview in late 2021, Contis admitted in a lengthy statement on Instagram that a third party was involved, while also clearing the name of his co-star Yen Santos in the issue.

In January of this year, Contis confirmed that Santos is already his girlfriend without mentioning when they officially became a couple.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Hustle beats talent when talent doesn’t hustle. - Ross Simmonds