IN BRIEF

Philippines to generate their respective maritime zones in accordance with international law. The bill likewise provides for the exercise of jurisdiction over these zones with regard to rights and duties provided for in the UNCLOS. It stated that Philippine rights 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. 201319, 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.

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. Maricel V. Cruz

Bill bans illegal use of PNP, AFP uniforms

SENATOR Jinggoy Estrada wants a law against the unauthorized use,sale, and manufacture of police, military, and Coast Guard uniforms.

Estrada said violators should be fined P20,000 and serve 10 years in jail.

He also said persons who will be found to be engaged in the unauthorized manufacture and sale of these uniforms should be duly prosecuted.

SOLDIERS CALL ON THE SPEAKER. Top ranked officers the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) pay a courtesy call on Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez in Congress Monday afternoon. With the Speaker in welcoming the newly promoted AFP officers are Majority Leader Manuel Jose ‘Mannix’ Dalipe, Senior Deputy Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, Rep. Jurdin Jesus ‘JJ’ Romualdo, Rep.Raul ‘Boboy’ Tupaz and Rep. Ramon Guico Jr. Ver Noveno