PH, CHINA ENVOYS IN SCS DIALOG

Diplomats from the Philippines and China are scheduled to hold a series of consultation meetings in Manila this week to discuss various concerns, including the disputed waters in the South China Sea, amid Chinese incursions in the country’s exclusive economic zone.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the dialogues will take place during the 23rd Philippines-China Foreign Ministry Consultations (FMC) on March 23 and the 7th Bilateral Consultations Mechanism (BCM) on the South China Sea on March 24.

The last FMC was held in 2019 while the last BCM happened in 2021.

The DFA said the discussions will cover an array of issues, including economic, people-to-people, maritime, security, and regional matters.

The FMC will focus on a more general approach as it “reviews the overall relations and all aspects” of Philippine-China cooperation.

On the other hand, the BCM will allow both parties, to cover “maritime issues of concern to either side, including developments in the West Philippine Sea, and areas of possible maritime cooperation and confidence-building,” the DFA said.

The department said the upcoming meetings were part of the outcome of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s trip to China in January.

“As reflected in the joint statement of the state visit, the two leaders concurred that confidence-building measures such as the FMC and BCM would contribute to improving mutual trust and confidence,” the DFA said.

“They also affirmed the importance of both mechanisms as venues for the Philippines and China to foster cooperation and greater understanding as well as ease tensions,” the department added.

Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs Ma. Theresa Lazaro of the DFA will lead the Philippine delegation.

Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs will lead the Chinese side.

Sun is scheduled to pay a courtesy call to Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo during his visit to Manila.

PHILIPPINES, US DEFENSE CHIEFS CONDEMN CHINA’S ‘GRAY-ZONE ACTIVITIES’

MANILA — The Philippines and the United States once again stand together to condemn China’s illegal activities in the South China Sea that go against a 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, flexing the two countries' defense pact.

According to a readout from the US Department of Defense released late Monday evening (Philippine time), US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III and Department of National Defense Carlito Galvez Jr. discussed programs to strengthen the alliance in a call.

“The two leaders condemned the PRC’s (People’s Republic of China) gray-zone activities, which interfere with the livelihoods of local Philippine communities and the rights of other claimant states that seek to operate lawfully in the South China Sea consistent with the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling,” it said.

Austin put emphasis on the US’ commitment to the Philippines, pointing again to the Mutual Defense Treaty that states it will come to the Philippines’ defense in case of armed attacks, including anywhere in the South China Sea.

The two defense chiefs also discussed “with particular concern” the swarming of over Chinese vessels that included a People’s Liberation Army navy ship around Thitu Island, within 12 nautical miles of the Philippines’ territory, earlier this month.

“The swarming of vessels falls on the heels of a dangerous incident last month, in which the PRC Coast Guard directed a military-grade laser against a Philippine vessel operating lawfully around Second Thomas Shoal, temporarily blinding some of the crew,” the readout said.

Galvez and Austin also talked about the plans to conduct combined maritime activities and other avenues of cooperation in the South China Sea. The two defense chiefs said they will review possibilities during the upcoming 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.

The call comes after Philippine and US officials broke ground for the rehabilitation of Basa Airbase Runway in Pampanga.

The project is among the approved 15 under Manila and Washington’s Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, which gives US forces access to nine bases in the Philippines to store defense equipment and supplies for any humanitarian relief efforts.

Galvez and Austin also welcomed the coming engagements between the two countries’ armed forces. This includes the “largest iteration” of the Balikatan Exercise next month, where over 17,600 troops will participate.

Majority or 12,000 of whom are American troops, 111 Australians, and 5,000 Philippines soldiers will partake in the exercise.

Meanwhile, The Philippines and the United States will soon announce the location of four additional military bases in the Southeast Asian country that American soldiers will be allowed to use, officials said Monday.

FOREIGN FIRMS A STEP CLOSER TO FULL OWNERSHIP IN PH AS RULES RELEASED

The National Economic and Development Authority released Monday the implementing rules and regulations of the amended Public Service Act that allows full foreign ownership of businesses in select industries such as airports, railways, expressways, and telecommunications.

NEDA chief Sec. Arsenio Balisacan said the IRR of Republic Act 11659 was completed after extensive review and consultations with the public, legislators, relevant administrative agencies, and other key stakeholders.

“All 21 agencies, including NEDA, approved the implementing rules and regulations of the amended Public Services Act. With the IRR already in place, we see this as a landmark reform that will further improve the country’s position as an ideal investment hub, which will help enhance employment opportunities and allow more Filipinos to benefit from more improved goods and services,” Balisacan said.

Upon its effectivity on April 4, 2023, the amendments to the PSA shall enable the liberalization of key public services.

Prior to the approval of the amendments, foreign ownership in the said industries was limited to 40 percent.

HOUSE LAWMAKERS MIFFED AS SENATE ZAPS ‘CHA-CHA’ HEARING SANS NOTICE

House leaders were dismayed Monday when the Senate postponed — at the last minute and without an explanation — a hearing on their resolution calling for Charter Change.

Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, who chairs the House committee on constitutional amendments, expressed dismay at the postponement over the Senate’s last-minute postponement of its hearing without sufficient time to notify invited resource persons.

“I was already prepared to go to the Senate today at 10 a.m. to present to the senators the basis of our RBH 6 and HB 7352, which were all data-driven, evidence-based, and future-proof,” said Rodriguez, who was invited to the hearing.

He was referring to Resolution of Both Houses 6, which calls for the convening of a constitutional convention to propose changes in the Charter’s economic provisions, and House Bill 7352, which implements the resolution.

On Sunday, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said Zubiri assured him that the Senate would give Charter Change a chance.

He said Zubiri assured him that he would keep an open mind on the move of the House of Representatives to institute economic reforms through constitutional amendments.

“He informed me that the Senate is awaiting the report of their committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes chaired by Senator Robinhood Padilla, for appropriate plenary action,” Romualdez said.

ROV ARRIVES AMID CONTRARY PCG REPORTS ON OIL SPILL

The Japanese vessel Shin Nichi Maru carrying the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) capable of finding the MT Princess Empress, which sank and spilled 800,000 liters of industrial oil off the coast of Oriental Mindoro, has arrived in Calapan City, authorities said Monday.

This was after the Philippine Coast Guard gave conflicting reports of the oil spill finally reaching Isla Verde, a part of Batangas City, in the Verde Island Passage — recognized as the center of global shore-fish biodiversity, and which provides food and livelihood to more than two million people.

Yesterday morning, the PCG Batangas Station under Capt. Victorino Acosta reported that oil had reached the shores of Isla Verde, with community officials on the island saying it reached Barangays San Agapito, San Antonio, and San Andres.

As Acosta confirmed the oil slick in radio interviews, pictures and videos posted by news organizations on social media also showed Coast Guard crews in Batangas gathering oil slick samples into pails and other containers.

“We are already combating it at around 4.4 nautical miles. There are oil sheens, but some are making a landfall which are black in color,” the PCG Batangas leader told radio DZBB.

But in the afternoon, Coast Guard spokesperson Armando Balilo said the island was “negative” for the oil spill after an aerial inspection.

“During the aerial inspection from 1PM to 4PM, the PCG confirmed that Verde Island and its vicinity waters no longer have traces of an oil spill,” the spokesman said.

Balilo said the PCG requested help from the US, including another ROV that could help find the sunken tanker.

“Getting the sunken ship is not part of the plan,” said Balilo. “What we’re initially planning is to patch up a hole in the ship, if there’s any, and then have the oil siphoned out.”

The ROV Hakuyo from Japan would get first crack in locating the MT Princess Empress, which is reportedly moored 400 meters below sea level, a depth local ROVs or divers could not reach.

PHILIPPINES' GROSS INT'L RESERVES LEVEL DIPS TO $98.2-B IN FEBRUARY: BSP

MANILA - The country's gross international reserves level dipped in February, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said on Tuesday.

February's GIR level declined to $98.2 billion from $100.7 billion the previous month, data from the central bank showed.

Despite the decline, the BSP said the latest GIR level represents a more than adequate external liquidity buffer equivalent to 7.4 months' worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income.

The level is also about 5.9 times the country's short-term external debt based on original maturity and 3.9 times based on residual maturity.

Economic managers have said that keeping "hefty" reserves would allow the country to timely respond to external shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

FILIPINOS' TRAVEL DRIVE UNDETERRED BY INFLATION, ECONOMIC HEADWINDS: KLOOK

At least 87 percent of Filipinos are still interested to travel despite rising inflation and other economic headwinds, Klook General Manager for Philippines and Thailand Michelle Ho said on Tuesday.

Some 17 percent of the total have already booked their flights and activities, Klook data said.

"While we understand that while inflation is rising, the macroeconomics are very challenging, we’re seeing that these have not directly affected people’s interest when it comes to travel," Ho said.

"After 3 years of being cooped up indoors we could see that Filipinos are slowly trying to get outdoors and really wanting to travel," she added.

Domestic travel is also seen to drive growth in the Philippines, she said.

‘CAMSUR HOUSING PROJECTS TO BOOST BICOL’S ECONOMIC GROWTH’

MANILA — The recently inaugurated housing projects in Camarines Sur under the government’s Pambansang Pabahay program are expected to trigger economic activities and create more jobs in Bicol, according to the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development.

DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar said aside from decent and affordable housing, the program would increase trade and economic activities as well as direct and indirect jobs for the residents.

President Marcos and Acuzar along with local officials led the groundbreaking for two housing projects last Friday.

The projects will be implemented by the city and provincial governments of Naga and Camarines Sur under the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) Program.

The provincial government’s housing project aims to construct 12,960 units along the Panganiban Drive, a major road in Naga City.

Naga City’s Legacy Residences Development Project initially plans to build 1,200 units at a 1.2-hectare property in Barangay Balatas.

The DHSUD earlier projected the economic pump-priming potentials of the 4PH Program to 80 allied industries.

It said among the top industries that could benefit once the program is fully implemented are the steel and metal manufacturing sector as well as the cement, veneer and plywood makers.

The DHSUD estimated that around 1.7 million jobs per year could be generated under the six-year mass housing program.

Based on its study, the DHSUD said at least eight workers are needed in the construction of a housing unit within a certain period.

Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte agreed with Acuzar that the housing projects would not only provide homes to residents, but also spur economic activities and growth in the entire Bicol region.

THE REST

========

TEVES DEFIES HOUSE DEADLINE

Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. is not likely to return to the country today as he would rather face administrative sanctions by the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges over his continued absence instead of facing what he claimed to be grave security threats to his life, his legal counsel said.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez earlier gave Teves until March 20 to surface after denying his request for a two-month leave of absence.

Justice Secretary Jesus Remulla said based on the reports received by the DOJ, Teves is no longer in the United States and is currently “in Southeast Asia.”

“I doubt he would appear. I doubt it very much,” Teves’ legal counsel Ferdinand Topacio told Teleradyo in an interview.

DOJ spokesman Mico Clavano said Teves is “one of the suspected masterminds” in the assassination of Degamo.

“I will always advise that he should face the charges if there are charges already. In view of all the reckless accusations making it appear that he is guilty when the probe will only start next week… He’s not hiding from the law because he is not yet being hunted by the law,” Topacio added.

PHILIPPINES RECORDS 1,171 COVID-19 CASES, 63 DEATHS IN PAST WEEK

MANILA — The Philippines recorded 1,171 COVID-19 cases in the past week, the Department of Health said Monday.

From March 13 to 19 , an average of 167 daily infections were logged in the country, which is 19 percent higher compared to the previous week.

Of the new infections during the week, 6 case were considered severe or critical, according to the DOH's latest bulletin.

As of Sunday, 368 cases or 10.3 percent of total COVID-19 admissions were in severe and critical condition, the agency said.

At least 272 or 13.3 percent of intensive care unit beds for COVID patients were occupied. The non-ICU bed utilization rate was at 17 percent.

During the past week, the DOH also verified 63 more COVID-related fatalities, citing late encoding of death information.

UP TO OFFER MINOR IN ALTERNATIVE LEARNING TO CREATE MORE COMMUNITY TEACHERS

MANILA — The University of the Philippines Diliman has approved a proposal to create a minor program in Alternative Learning System — the first of its kind in the Philippines that will allow students to specialize in teaching marginalized communities.

Starting next semester, the UP Diliman College of Education will start offering the minor in ALS program to both education and non-education majors to address the shortage of community-based teachers in the country.

Mercedez Arzadon, professor at the UP College of Education, said in a Facebook post that the program will train students from various disciplines — including Community Development, Arts Studies, Psychology and others — to teach in the ALS or lead its implementation.

With the minor in ALS program, students can become a “mobile teacher, instructional manager, administrator, material creator, researcher, resource generator, policy analyst and advocate for ALS” regardless of their degree program, Arzadon said.

ALS is a Department of Education (DepEd) program that provides education to out-of-school youth, adults and other learners from marginalized sectors who cannot enter the formal schooling system.

With more than seven million out-of-school youth and adults in the Philippines — the fifth largest in the world — the government passed a law in 2020 to institutionalize ALS and increase the number of teachers deployed to communities outside the formal schooling system.

The ALS program was specifically designed to respond to the need for more community teachers — regardless of degree program — capable of handling diverse sets of students of varying ages with different needs, according to its rationale.

401 INMATES RELEASED FROM BUCOR PRISONS

MANILA — A total of 401 inmates were released yesterday from prisons under the supervision of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

The release of the inmates will decongest the seven prisons and penal farms in the country, the BuCor said.

Of the number, 163 inmates were freed from the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa while 99 others were released from the Davao Prison and Penal Farm.

The BuCor reported that 39 inmates were released from the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City.

The other freed inmates were from the Leyte Regional Prison, 47; San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm, 29; Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm, 18, and six from the Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm.

The BuCor said 169 inmates were given parole. Sixty-five others were acquitted of various crimes.

The rest of the freed inmates had their maximum sentences expired due to the Good Conduct Time Allowance.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

'SIYA TALAGA': GERALD ANDERSON ASKED IF JULIA BARRETTO IS THE WOMAN HE'LL MARRY

MANILA – "Siya na."

These were the words of actor Gerald Anderson when asked if he sees his current girlfriend and former co-star Julia Barretto as the person he's going to marry.

In an interview with Korina Sanchez, Anderson said that all his present endeavors are leading up to plans of settling down.

"Genuinely, lahat ng ginagawa ko sa career ko, sa show business, sa pagiging businessman is leading up to that point," he said.

Expounding on seeing Barretto in his future, Anderson added: "You just know. Alam mo lang eh. You feel na may nagbabago sa'yo."

"You feel na mas nag-iiba 'yung priorities mo or mas naging malinaw sa'yo priorities mo. Ang hirap mag-explain eh. Iba 'yung (feeling)," he added.

Barretto and Anderson have become increasingly open about their relationship since going public with their relationship in March 2021.

Anderson earlier referred to Barretto as “the one,” saying that while he hopes to marry her eventually, they intend to achieve a “quota” first when it comes to their showbiz careers.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 54.67

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

We make way for the man who boldly pushes past us. - Christian Nestell Bovee