The Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) Act of 2018, authored by Senator Panfilo Lacson, aims to create a single official identification card for all citizens that integrates and interconnects various government-issued IDs.

In his speech at the signing ceremony in Malacañang, the President said the act would establish a single national ID system that would promote “good governance, enhanced governmental transactions, and create a more conducive environment for trade and commerce to thrive.”

The national ID, he said, would be called “Phil-ID” and would be issued to all residents and resident aliens living in the country.

The use of single identification card when conducting transactions would not just result in processes being done quicker, but also reduce the occurrence of fraudulent transactions and create a more secure environment.

Duterte also sought to dispel fears saying information stored in the ID would not be any different from information already with the National Statistics Authority, PhilHealth, the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), or other agencies that gather personal data.

Duterte said, “Moreover, the Philippine Statistics Authority shall work closely with the National Privacy Law Commission, the Department of Information and Communications Technology, and the multi-agency PhilSystem Policy and Coordination Council to address all concerns pertaining to privacy and security.”

“There is therefore, no basis at all for the apprehension about the PhilID unless of course that fear is based on anything that borders to illegal,” the President added.

Lacson previously said having different forms of functional IDs results in “duplication of efforts, wastage of resources, and uncoordinated identity approaches.”

The national ID system will have 13 sets of information. It will bear the PhilSys number (PSN), full name, sex, blood type, date of birth, place of birth, marital status, and photo of the ID owner. More information will be stored in the PhilSys registry, such as mobile number, email address, and biometrics data, including full set of fingerprints and iris scan.

Congress approved and ratified the measure in May. Once signed by the President, officials shall roll out the identification cards to one million Filipinos before the end of the year with priority to persons with disability, senior citizens, and the poor.

In a resolution written by Associate Justice Rafael Antonio Santos, the CA denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Nagkakaisang Samahan ng mga Nangangasiwa ng Panlalawigang Bus sa Pilipinas, formerly the Provincial Bus Operators Association of the Philippines.

“After a careful scrutiny of the arguments raised in the instant motion, this Court finds that the same must be denied for lack of merit. The instant motion does not raise new and substantial issues that would warrant the reversal of this Court’s decision dated Feb. 27, 2018,” the CA ruled.

The CA’s February decision affirmed the ruling handed down by the Quezon City regional trial court (RTC) which declared constitutional LTFRB’s Memorandum Circular Nos. 2015-021 and 2015-026 issued on June 26, 2015 and Nov. 16, 2015, respectively.

Earlier, the LTFRB had said the circulars implement the GPS Project that is aimed at promoting road safety and improving land transportation services. It said the project is also aimed at lessening road accidents by monitoring the speed of PUBs through a GPS device.

It also said the GPS Project will improve the services of PUBs because bus operators can now track the routes of their buses, monitor the location and flow of buses, and inform the passengers of the waiting time at the stations.

Under the provisions of the circulars, all bus operators are required to install and register GPS devices on their units based on the following schedule:

1. For provincial buses entering Metro Manila: on or before April 30, 2016

2. For Metro Manila buses: May 1 to Aug. 30, 2016

3. For inter-regional buses not entering Metro Manila: Sept. 1 to Dec. 31, 2016

4. For intra-regional buses: Jan. 1 to April 30, 2017

The circulars prohibit bus operators from allowing their units to ply their routes if they know or have a reasonable belief that the GPS device is not functioning or defective.

They also mandate that non-installation of the GPS device will be penalized P5,000 per unit and an additional of P1,000 per unit per month after a grace period of 30 days is granted counting from the end of the compliance period.

Also, the tampering of the GPS device will also be penalized under the circulars with P5,000 for the first offense, P10,000 for the second offense, and P15,000 and the suspension of their certificate of public convenience (CPC) for 30 days for the third and subsequent offenses.

In upholding the ruling of the RTC, the CA said that contrary to the claim of the petitioners, the GPS project is actually based on a “well-thought out and carefully deliberated plan.”

The CA said the power and authority of LTFRB to issue memorandum circulars is clearly provided under the Administrative Code of 1987.

“The installation of a GPS device in public utility buses is in furtherance of the respondent-appellee LTFRB mandate to ‘formulate… rules and regulations requiring operators of any public land transportation service to equip, install and provide in their utilities and in their stations such devices, equipment, facilities and operating procedures and techniques as may promote safety, protection, comfort and convenience to persons and property in their charges as well as the safety of persons and property within their areas of operation’” the CA stressed.

On the imposition of penalties, the CA said the Department of Transportation, through the LTFRB, is also vested with the power under the Administrative Code of 1987 to “establish and prescribe the corresponding rules and regulations for enforcement of laws governing land transportation, air transportation and postal services, including the penalties for violations thereof.”

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) had installed markers stipulating that this old Augustinian church was where the first anniversary of the 1898 declaration of Philippine independence from Spain had been celebrated.

Previous accounts erroneously named the Pamintuan Mansion here, where Emilio Aguinaldo stayed, as the venue of the celebration.

For Independence Day rites on Tuesday, a unity parade will start at the Pamintuan Mansion and proceed to Holy Rosary Church.

Relevant

To honor the relevance of this part of the city’s heritage district, a city council resolution approved the installation of a flagpole at the Sapang Balen Bridge.

The 1899 activities at the church would be replicated, said John Montances, city tourism officer.

Mass to mark the first anniversary in 1899, a speech given by Aguinaldo and luncheon for soldiers were held at the church courtyard, according to reports in La Independencia, the newspaper of the Philippine Revolution.

Venancio Concepcion gave the same accounts, which justified the corrections that NHCP made in 2017 at the request of Francis Musni, archivist of the Holy Angel University’s Center for Kapampangan Studies.

The Pamintuan Mansion had served the headquarters of Antonio Luna.

Aguinaldo witnessed a military parade from the mansion on the eve of the anniversary celebration. He had planned to make Tarlac the seat of the Republic in June 1899.

Wrong venue

Independence Day rites had been held at the Pamintuan Mansion for 17 years but national leaders started gracing these events only in the last six years.

In 2012, Musni found accounts in the June 14 and 15, 1899 editions of La Independencia about the celebration in the church.

The June 14, 1899 story, titled “La Fiesta Nacional (National Holiday),” reported: “On Monday morning (of June 12, 1899), a solemn outdoor Mass was celebrated in the town of Angeles commemorating the anniversary of the proclamation of national independence.”

The paper said people cheered and “a lot of enthusiasm and cordiality reigned on that day among the participants.” The troops were served “an extraordinary feast.”

The next day, La Independencia featured a letter written by an editor that described the eve of June 12, 1899 as “a golden date that must not be forgotten.”

Old accounts

Marching bands from the Pampanga towns of Porac, Magalang, Sta. Rita and Angeles arrived on June 11, 1899, to greet Aguinaldo at his residence (the Pamintuan Mansion) and play the national anthem before marching on the main streets of Angeles, according to the editor’s account.

There was no mention of the unfurling of the flag, which was among the highlights of reenactment at the mansion.

Instead, the letter reported: “As they passed through the streets, the banner of the Motherland was warmly cheered by the immense crowd that overflowed the streets and by the marching bands that launched into the air the gallant melodies of our national march.

“Before being taken to the headquarters, the flag was
taken to the palace of the President, and was once again greeted by the music and by a picket line of soldiers.”

Two bands, positioned in front of the Pamintuan Mansion, played the “most exquisite repertoire of selected pieces” until 10 p.m.

Both accounts suggested that the venue of the first anniversary celebration was larger than previously thought and was not confined to the mansion built by Mariano Pamintuan in the 1890s as a gift to his son, Florentino.

In its 2017 audit report, COA reported that NYC’s consultation fees jumped 306 percent to P3.55 million last year from only P874,000 in 2016.

COA questioned 70 percent of the consultation contracts worth P2.495 million due to lack of documentation as required under the rules.

The contracts for the development of a Sangguniang Kabataan manual, Philippine Youth Development draft,workshops and website development were not processed under PhilGeps; lacked a procurement plan or clearance for no conflict of interest; no resolution for negotiated bidding; and absence of profiles on consultants.

“The following documents were relevant to establish validity of claims in every tranche of payments for consultancy services rendered. These documents were not attached to the vouchers for payment particularly during the subsequent payment of consuming contracts,” COA said.

COA also reported a jump in NYC’s travel expenses to P8.241 million in 2017, up 56 percent from P5.295 million in 2016.

The biggest increase was seen in foreign travel which nearly tripled to P2.073 million in 2017 from P709,732 in 2016.

Seguerra, a former child star, was rewarded with the NYC top seat in August 2016 after pitchin in for the campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte. She resigned in March 2017 for no specific reason.

The development came after representatives from Philippine and Kuwaiti governments held a meeting on Wednesday where the latter also agreed to release the four Filipino drivers hired by the Philippine Embassy for its rescue mission.

“The Philippine delegation also met with Kuwait’s Deputy Foreign Minister Al-Khaled Sulaiman Al-Jarallah, who assured the visiting Filipino officials that the release of the three Filipino diplomats are now being worked out with the Interior Ministry,” said presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, one of the officials sent by President Rodrigo Duterte to Kuwait to hold talks aimed at normalizing ties strained by controversy over treatment of overseas Filipino workers.

“The diplomats are expected to be released in two to three days.”

It was not immediately clear if the kidnapping charges against the three diplomats, who were previously reported holed up in the Philippine Embassy, would be dropped.

During the meeting, Roque said Kuwait Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Hind Sabeeh Barrak Al-Sabeeh discussed the formulation and possible amendment of a model employment contract for all domestic helpers from 91 countries who are currently working in Kuwait.

“Under the model contract, workers would enjoy the following: one day off, a 12-hour sleep or rest period, protection from physical abuse, and the right to a decent meal,” Roque said.

The Philippines is currently the fourth country with the largest number of household service workers employed in Kuwait.??

“Minister Al-Sabeeh also made mention of Kuwait’s desire to be known as a center for humanitarian concerns, adding that the mandate of the Emir of Kuwait is for all human beings in their country ‘to have a happy life,’” Roque said.

“She also announced the transfer of jurisdiction over domestic helpers from the Interior Ministry to the Labor Ministry, signifying the government’s intention to subject domestic helpers to the same terms and conditions offered to skilled and semi-skilled workers.”

Al-Jarallah, meanwhile, said the Kuwaiti government would shoulder the repatriation to the Philippines of more than 500 undocumented Filipinos.

Sixty-two Filipinos, however, could not go back home yet. Roque has said only those without pending cases would be repatriated.

Kuwait is a major labor destination for Filipinos in the Middle East, with around 260,000 currently working there, mostly as domestic helpers. —KBK, GMA News

“When foreigners rally here, they violate our sovereignty. Why are they allowed to do so? But when we rescue Filipinos, they criticize our government for breaking sovereignty.” Cayetano charged in a press briefing Saturday. “There should be no double standard.”

Cayetano was referring to Australian nun Patricia Fox, who was ordered to leave the Philippines by the end of May for engaging in political activities.

Robredo released a statement on Friday, saying the viral video showing Philippine embassy officials on a rescue mission in Kuwait could jeopardize the jobs of 260,000 Filipino workers in the Gulf state.

The video had prompted Kuwait to declare Philippine Ambassador Renato Villa persona non grata and expel him.  It also arrested four Filipino drivers and issued warrants of arrest against Filipino diplomats who participated in the rescue effort.

The Vice President said the easing of diplomacy between the Philippines and Kuwait “must start with an honest and candid acknowledgment of the crisis, a willingness to accept accountability and a conviction to do what is right.”

Cayetano, however, said the Philippine government is already accepting accountability for the incident.

“I’d like to assure Vice President Robredo that we are accountable: we’re accountable to the President, we’re accountable to the people, we’re accountable to God,” he said.

Cayetano also slammed Robredo for sending a video message to the United Nations in March 2017, where she criticized the country’s war against drugs.

” Why are they criticizing us for our videos…Why is it okay for Vice President Leni to send a video to the UN which is fake news and sabotaging our country?

Cayetano then called on the opposition to follow “worldwide protocol” by letting diplomatic negotiations between two countries to finish first before criticizing, and to be fair in their criticisms.

In an advisory on Monday, Bello said the “temporary suspension of business operations should not and must not result in the termination or separation of any employee.”

While saying the closure of Boracay as ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte will necessarily compel the temporary suspension of business operations, Bello notified employers they may only ”observe the principle of No Work, No Pay, or require the employees to go on forced leave by utilizing their leave credits, if any.”

“Employees are expected to be recalled back to work upon the lifting of the temporary closure of Boracay Island,” Bello stressed.

The labor advisory is for “strict observance and compliance,” he added.

Bello earlier said the labor department will extend assistance to affected workers in the world-famous island, including the provision of emergency employment.

He said some 5,000 informal sector workers and members of the indigenous community in the island will be employed in the clean-up of the area.

He also said that the agency has set aside an initial P60 million for the emergency employment assistance.

Don’t look at the teacher, says a group of mentors.

Rather than blame the country’s educational system for the supposed lack of patriotism among Filipinos, the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) is asking government officials to examine themselves first and see whether their actions are worthy of emulation.

According to Benjo Basas, national chair of  TDC, it is not fair to always criticize schools and teachers if a person does not turn out to be an upright or exemplary citizen.

“Why is it that all of a child’s shortcomings is the fault of the teacher? Is the teacher the only one who has a stake on the child when, in fact, it’s the work of the whole community?” Basas told the Inquirer.

Sen. Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao said on  Wednesday that he was considering filing a bill that would seek to include a subject on patriotism in schools.

Without further going into details, he said there was a need to teach patriotism as most Filipinos nowadays not only “betray their fellowmen but also their country.”

“[W]e should teach patriotism so we could have loyalty to our country,” he said in a mix of Filipino and English.

Though patriotism is already being taught in schools, Basas said they still welcomed Pacquiao’s effort to infuse a much stronger emphasis on patriotism into the  educational system.

He pointed out, though, that for this to become effective, government officials should first practice it.

It is also ironic, he said, that such a policy is being proposed at a time when the administration’s current priorities, as well as its stance on issues, appear to be unpopular among the people. As an example, he cited the efforts to change the Constitution and the “defeatist policy” on the West Philippine Sea.

“They want to teach patriotism and yet with China’s encroachment [on our territories] it appears that it’s OK with them. It’s not just about [knowing the Filipino] language or displaying the flag. It’s how you would defend your country’s sovereignty in the face of growing aggression,” he said.

source:inquirer.net

Tourists spent about $6 billion while in the Philippines in 2016. That might sound huge, but it pales in comparison with figures concerning some of our neighbors.

Tourism in Southeast Asia generated revenues of $119.7 billion in 2016, and this is expected by the World Travel and Tourism Council to rise by 7.3 percent in 2017 and by 5.7 percent a year until 2027 to $222.8 billion.

The latest World Tourism Barometer of the United Nations World Tourism Organization also noted a jump in the Philippines’ ranking to 45th from 49th in terms of tourist arrivals at 5.9 million visitors.

But despite the improvement, the Philippines still was behind its neighbors Thailand, which was ranked 9th with 32.6 million visitors; Malaysia, at 12th with 26.8 million visitors; and Singapore, at 28th with 12.9 million visitors. Indonesia was at 35th and Vietnam was at 37th.

Access to our tourist destinations has long been a problem cited by stakeholders. Many foreign tourists were exasperated by the difficulty of reaching pristine beaches and other natural wonders in the Philippines given that nearly all international flights land at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

It is thus a welcome development that the private sector is now taking the initiative to develop regional airports. Last week, Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. submitted to the government an unsolicited proposal for four regional gateways: Iloilo International Airport, Bacolod-Silay Airport, Laguindingan Airport, and New Bohol International Airport in Panglao. The group offered to spend P148 billion and sought a 35-year concession to operate those airports.

Another positive development on the tourism front has been President Duterte’s drive to clean up world-renowned tourist destinations in Boracay, Mindoro, Bohol and Palawan, which have
deteriorated following the unabated mushrooming of facilities and structures, as well as the congestion brought by the millions of tourists flocking to these places.

The local government of Malay, which covers Boracay, has declared a six-month moratorium on construction on the island. The unregulated construction of hotels, resorts and other establishments has caused environmental problems on Boracay, which drew two million tourists in 2017.

The President has set a six-month deadline for government agencies and the local government to solve the environmental problems of the island.

The local government units of other island destinations like El Nido in Palawan and Panglao in Bohol were also directed to start cleaning up their areas and not wait to be censured by the President. Local officials were specifically ordered to enforce the law, particularly the setback requirements for beaches, and to demolish all structures that violate these setback rules. Mr. Duterte has also warned local courts not to interfere by issuing restraining orders.

The local government of Palawan has also been ordered to immediately demolish illegal structures built along El Nido town’s foreshore in violation of zoning and easement laws.

Findings by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources show that most of the commercial establishments in the town had violated environmental and zoning laws.

The DENR has also targeted violators of environmental laws in the tourist town of Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro. It is particularly concerned about sewage problems and the poor water quality in Sabang Bay and in White Beach, where water sampling conducted over the past six years showed high levels of coliform contamination in the bay.

Prospects are indeed brightening for Philippine tourism. It is time the government and the private sector worked together to promote the country’s beautiful natural attractions. Cleaning up these destinations and developing airports for easier tourist access are the necessary steps in the right direction. These should have been done decades ago.

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – 2nd Lieutenant Catherine Mae Emeterio Gonzales, who was among the Top 10 graduates of the Philippine Military Academy in 2017, is the first female aviator from the Philippine Air Force to be selected for the Aviation Leadership Program (ALP) in the United States.

Gonzales, the daughter of a carpenter from Pagadian City, will attend the ALP from February 2018 to May 2019, where she will receive 164 hours of flight training in the T-6A Texan II aircraft, as well as 239 hours of flight operations ground training.

She was selected by the Philippine Air Force selection board to attend the ALP.

Gonzales was one of 7 female graduates of the PMA Salaknib Class of 2017who landed in the Top 10. Although they were from Pagadian, the Gonzaleses transferred to Zamboanga City when Catherine Mae enrolled at the Western Mindanao State University.

She said that her decision to become a pilot was inspired by the 2013 Zamboanga siege, where she witnessed how the military air force won the battle.

“Since then, I started to dream of becoming a pilot,” Gonzales said. “During those times, I really felt a great eagerness to defend my hometown, and I thought I could be of great help to that mission from above, since insurgents are vulnerable from this point.”

“Serving my country as a female officer shows how the military profession has matured and opened for great changes by allowing us, female officers, to lead,” she added.

Prior to Catherine Mae’s graduation from PMA, the Gonzaleses were considered “indigents” of Zambowood Barangay.

The Aviation Leadership Program was established to provide pilot training, related training and information exchange to air force personnel in allied developing states with the purpose to support their aviation expertise and defense institution building. – Rappler.com