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 IACEMO 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.

‘Betty’...

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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.

A recent report released by the MMDA also shows that 423 barangays in Metro Manila are at risk of floods:

124 in Caloocan City, 110 in Quezon City, 109 in Manila City, 32 in Valenzuela City, 14 in Malabon City, 13 in Navotas City, and one in Pasig City.

This comes as data from PAGASA and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources show that 50-millimeter rains are expected in the next 24 hours.

“The rains will be quite strong, but this will be scattered within the 24-hour period. It will not be sudden, but it will still be a lot…

There is a possibility that they would be submerged or flooded,” Artes said in

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The bills’ approval would bring to 33 the total number of LEDAC priority measures approved by the House.

There are 42 bills in the LEDAC list. Three other LEDAC priority bills — Natural Gas Industry Enabling Law, National Employment Action Plan, and Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System Bill — are set for second-reading approval before adjourning sine die.

Romualdez said the draft Philippine Salt Industry Development Act seeks to revive the dying salt industry in the country, which imports a large part of the commodity.

“We have to help the industry and the thousands of Filipinos and their families who depend on it for their livelihood. Our country is surrounded by seas. We can produce a lot of salt

Solons...

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Because the bill was certified by President Marcos as urgent, senators can approve it on second and third reading in the same week.

But for the proposed investment measure to pass before Congress adjourns this week, the House must adopt the Senate bill without going through a bicameral conference to iron out differences between the two bills.

"I don’t want to preclude their process-

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; a GMA TV report. “This typhoon, even if it veers away or does not make landfall in the country, will pull the habagat wind which will really cause rains and floods,” he added.

For its part, the Metro Manila Council President and San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora said local government units are prepared, with rescue equipment already prepositioned in case of floods.

The MMDA has already coordinated with the Manila mayors since Saturday night and discussed their preparations. According to Artes, the agency has already readied the 71 pumping stations in Metro Manila should there be heavy rains.

Typhoon preparations are still on standby, according to Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Assistant Communication Officer Rommel Allada.

In Las Piñas, the DRRMO is bracing for possible heavy rains as the southwest monsoon might be enhanced by Betty.

The city has already activated its search and rescue team, adding rescue boats, trucks, and modular tents are prepositioned should evacuation be implemented.

Some areas in the nine villages of Las Piñas facing the coastal areas are at risk for flooding, it added.

In a related development, Batanes for our consumption and even for export,” he said. es. I think they’re in theperiod of interpellation right now, and will probably take up amendments and approval (this) week, at the earliest,” Salceda said.

Governor Marilou Cayco ordered the removal of a specific brand of canned tuna from family food packs ahead of the expected impact of Betty, citing earlier complaints about the product from Mindoro Island recipients.

Cayco said the specific canned tuna—set to expire in 2025—was ordered to be removed from the packs of the Department of Welfare and Development (DSWD) by the national government and are set to be replaced by another brand.

“We were tasked by the national [government] to remove this because of the issue in Mindoro. The issue there was that they were said to be rotten, pungent, salty, and fishy… These will be replaced with a new and different brand, but the problem is that the replacements have yet to arrive as no ships can sail here,” the governor added in a 24 Oras report.

Betty may be downgraded to a severe tropical storm category on Thursday when it is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility toward Taiwan and Japan.

He said that the government must assist salt farmers with training, technology, and funding to increase their produce and help them market their produce.

The Bureau of Immigration Modernization Act seeks to update the 83-year-old immigration law, Commonwealth Act No. 613 or the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940. “The bill aims to modernize and streamline our immigration system to encourage international tourism and foreign investments that would boost the economy,” Romualdez said.

At the same time, it would refresh the country’s immigration law to cover recent challenges in immigration and migration and cross-border crimes, including smuggling, illegal recruitment, and human trafficking, he said.

The bill also seeks to update the compensation of immigration personnel.

“There’s still enough time to approve it before SONA, for sure. But whether there is bicam or not, whether the House ratifies the Senate version, as Senate President Zubiri suggested, really depends on the final output,” he added.

In the Senate version of the bill, the fund’s initial capital will come from the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines, dividends from the Bangko Sentral ng 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.

IAC-EMO is also tasked to facilitate regular and efficient data sharing among concerned agencies to effect timely supply and demand situation analysis; 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 based on ex-ante supply and demand analysis.

The President also ordered the IACIMO to submit a report to the EDG of the country's food and energy supply and demand situation and outlook every quarter, or as the circumstances may require.

The report shall include recommendations on short, medium, and long-term measures to manage inflation.

“The typhoon will likely become slow-moving to almost stationary by Tuesday while over the waters east of Batanes. It will then move northward or north-northeastward by mid Wednesday towards the sea east of Taiwan,” PAGASA also said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Red Cross said it is ready to deploy itsfood trucks and other assets in areas affected by the typhoon.

As Betty approaches the extreme northern part of the country, PRC chairman Richard Gordon assured the public that Red Cross chapters in the typhoon’s path are ready to respond with food trucks, along with other disaster response equipment, such as amphibians, rescue boats, ambulance units, 6x6 trucks, payloaders, and water tankers.

PRC also said two of its water tankers have been positioned in Nueva Vizcaya and Olongapo, along with relief items, food packs, sleeping packs, and water containers.

Several local government units (LGUs) suspended classes on Monday, May 29, because of Betty.

Apayao and Cagayan provinces suspended in-person and online classes for all levels in public and private schools.

In Ifugao, the municipality of Alfonso Lista suspended classes from Kinder to Grade 12, including alternative learning systems, in public and private schools.

In Ilocos Norte, the municipality of Solsona suspended classes at all levels in public and private schools.

The entire province of Ilocos Sur suspended all classes in all levels in public and private schools.

In La Union, the municipality of Luna suspended classes in all levels in public and private schools.

The Army’s 5th Infantry Division mustered its disaster response team and deployed troops in its area of operation in Cagayan Valley, Cordillera, and the Ilocos Region.

5ID Commander Maj. Gen. Audrey

L. Pasia said they would position water filtration units in key areas of Cagayan Valley.

Meanwhile, army men joined the multi-agency meeting of the Cagayan Provincial Incident Management Team to discuss plans for prompt and responsive humanitarian assistance and disaster response efforts in the province.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC)

Speaker...

From A1 overall development of our community,” Romualdez said.

He also commended the local government of Liloan, the private sector, and the people of the municipality for working together to bring the concept into reality.

“This project would not have been possible without the collaboration and support of our government partners, private investors, and, mostimportantly, the resilience and unwavering support of the people of Liloan,” he said.

The Pier 88 project was a product of the partnership between Liloan and the Topline Group of Companies and Pier

Arroyo...

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Arroyo, who was replaced as Senior Deputy Speaker two weeks ago, was

Pilipinas, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp, and from the privatization of government assets. The proposed Maharlika Investment Corporation will also be allowed to issue bonds.

There will also be limitations in relation to investments in real estate, which shall be limited to major capital projects, as endorsed by the National Economic and Development Authority Board, to ensure that these are in line with the government’s socio-economic development programs. Other changes are new provisions

The IAC-IMO shall also formulate and maintain a dashboard containing relevant information on prices, as well as the supply and demand for food and energy commodities. Meanwhile, the EO tasked the EDG to undertake research and development that are relevant to and supportive of the requirements of micro, small, and mediumscale enterprises and for national industries; improve national productivity and competitiveness of domestic products and services; and ensure deep and wide distribution of economic opportunities and benefits to the Filipino people.

EDG is composed of the Finance Secretary as chairperson; NEDA as cochairperson; and the head of Presidential Management Staff and the secretaries of Agriculture, Budget, Energy, Information and Communications Technology, Interior, Labor, Public Workers, Science and Technology, Trade, Transportation, and Tourism as members. Vince Lopez activated its emergency preparedness and response protocols across the country.

“We continue to coordinate with different agencies on preparations forSuper Typhoon ‘Betty.’ This is to ensure that all necessary measures are in place from the national down to the local level," Civil Defense Administrator and NDRRMC Executive Director, Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said in a statement.

"We have already identified and activated appropriate emergency preparedness and response protocols in different regions to be affected by the weather disturbance,” he added.

Meanwhile, a total of 1,679 teams from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, and Philippine Coast Guard are on the watch for search, rescue, and retrieval operations.

The Office of Civil Defense and the Department of Social Welfare andDevelopment said that they have P2.2 billion worth of stockpile standby funds and P256.2 million worth of Quick Response Fund to be used for aid to victims of the typhoon.

In Cagayan Valley, the Cagayan Valley Regional Disaster Risk Reductionand Management Council advised LGUs to start pre-emptive evacuation, especially in the areas affected by floods and landslides.

The local government of Manila has raised the blue alert status in preparation for the possible effects of super typhoon Betty.

Blue alert status means that all the equipment needed in rescue operations is prepared with situational reports being provided every six hours.

Rommel Allada, the assistant communication officer of the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), said they arenow operating for 24 hours, and the personnel's rest days have been canceled.

Rescue equipment and personnel are also on standby.

In Marikina City, preparations for Betty started Thursday and theevacuation centers are now open. Rescue boats are already on standby.

About 20,000 Marikina residents usually evacuate due to flooding.

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) on Sunday announced the suspension of several trips, due to bad weather brought about by Betty.

88 Ventures.

“The House of Representatives remains firm in our support for the Build Better More infrastructure program of the Marcos administration that would uplift the lives of our people by enhancing the quality of critical infrastructure in our transport sector, digital connectivity, power and energy, and health-related initiatives,” Romualdez said.

On Monday, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading a consolidated bill providing for a 30-year national infrastructure program for 2023 up to 2052. House Bill 8078 or the 30-Year National Infrastructure Program Act focuses on projects of national significance that would serve as the country’s infrastructure backbone. Rio N. Araja linked to a coup plot at the Lower House.

Arroyo said a coup attempt at the House of Representatives needs the blessing of the President and that she did not participate in any way in such an effort. With Vince Lopez with the forms of joint ventures andcoinvestments on the issuance of bonds as well as to the board of directors to reflect nine permanent members, instead of the original 15.

"Right now, my comment is I see that they removed all special exemptions to civil service rules, and to audit. Now, that’s well and good, but from a corporate operations point of view, that also presents certain challenges,” Salceda said.

"It appears that MIF will be a government-owned and controlledcorporation in every sense. That has operational pros and cons,” he added. Rio N. Araja