‘DPWH, LWUA must ink pact on right-of-way’

THE Department of Justice issued an opinion that the Department of Public Works and Highways should enter into a memorandum of agreement with the Local Waterworks and Utilities Administration involving the road right-ofway (RROW) and cost of relocation for water district facilities affected by road widening projects.

In a four-page legal opinion, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remullasaid that while LWUA is an attached agency of DPWH, the latter does not have control over the former.

The DOJ issued the legal opinion upon the request of DPWH SecretaryManuel Bonoan in order to settle the issue on the claim for compensation of local water districts (LWDs).

The DPWH said the LWUA and the Philippine Association of Water Districts (PAWD) initially drafted and proposed an MOA to the department to address the issue of RROW and the cost of relocation of water district facilities affected by road widening projects.

In particular, the DPWH asked the DOJ whether or not it is necessary for the department to enter into a MOA with LWUA considering that the latter is an attached agency of the DPWH.

It also asked the justice department whether or not local water district agencies are entitled to compensation in instances when a need for relocation of water pipelines occurs.

If local water districts should be compensated, the DPWH asked the DOJ about the necessary mode and means of payment under the existing rules of the Commission on Audit (COA).

Lastly, the DPWH asked the DOJ’s guidance on whether or not thecompensation for LWDs can be derived from the right-of-way funds of the department.

In response, the DOJ noted that in its Opinion No. 098 issued in 1988, it held that “DPWH shall bear the expenses only for serviceable pipes/sewers affected DPWH infra projects.”

Rey E. Requejo

Remulla says PH to crack down on drug syndicates

THE Philippines is committed to cracking down on organized and big drug syndicates through “effective, focused and dedicated law enforcement,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla told an international audience on Friday.

Speaking at a side event of the 32nd Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Vienna, Austria, on Friday, Remulla said the Department of Justice supports a review of the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, as recommended by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

“The DOJ supports the conduct of an executive review in light of the Philippine administration’s new direction to approach the drug problem through the prism of public health for persons who use drugs and small-time peddlers who got involved in low-level drug transactions due to health, social, and economic factors,” he said.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also instructed the Philippines' law enforcement agencies to go after drug syndicates instead of street-level players, Remulla said.

Remulla also said the DOJ, together with the Department of Health, is committed to implementing comprehensive health measures to address health concerns in jails and prisons such as HIV, AIDS, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and other diseases by revisiting jail and prison policies. Rey E. Requejo

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From A1 have arrested a total of 32 Daulah Islamiyah members and supporters. Meanwhile, soldiers killed 16 Daulah Islamiyah members in different military operations in Lanao Del Sur from June 2022 to March this year.

Maj. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, 1st Infantry Division commander, said Saturday the four were arrested by troops of the 32nd Infantry Battalion in Barangay Pabrika, Marugong town on Thursday night.

Seized from their possession were firearms, explosives, and ammunition, including grenade launchers. Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, Western Mindanao Command chief, commended the soldiers and credited the tip provided by the group of Moro Islamic Liberation Front commander Esmail Cosain.