PFP beefs up membership with 10 new inductees

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s party Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) inducted 10 new members on Saturday in a bid to expand its reach nationwide.

The new members, who consist of governors and mayors from all over the country, took their oaths of allegiance to the PFP in Manila.

They are: Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib; Zamboanga Sibugay Governor Anne Hofer; Laguna Vice Governor Karen Agapay; Batanes Governor Malou Cayco; Uyugan Batanes

Mayor Jonathan Nanud; Sabtang, Batanes Mayor Prescila Babalo; Itbayat, Batanes Mayor Sabas De Sagon; Mahatao, Batanes Mayor Pedro Poncio; Ivana, Batanes Mayor Celso Batallones; and Basco, Batanes Mayor German Caccam PFP President and South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. said the party has shifted its focus into strengthening its electoral structure, as well as supporting Marcos’ programs on agriculture and the marginalized sector. Aside from Tamayo, other PFP of- ficials led the oath-taking ceremony: PFP National Secretary General Tom Lantion, PFP Manila chapter Chairman Alex Lopez, and PFP Manila Secretary General Chikee Ocampo.

Formed in 2018 by supporters of former president Rodrigo Duterte and his then push for federalism in the Philippines, PFP saw the landslide victory of President Marcos--its standard-bearer in the 2022 polls--after he obtained more than 58 percent of the total number of votes.

Solon optimistic on bill vs. ‘no permit, no exam’ QUEZON City Rep. Marvin Rillo said he is hopeful that Congress will soon enact the bill seeking to prohibit the oppressive “no permit, no exam” rule in all private and public educational institutions across all school levels.

“Before Congress adjourned on June 3, the Senate agreed on May 31 to the request made by the House on May 24 for a bicameral conference committee to harmonize our respective versions of the bill,” Rillo, one of the authors of the measure, said.

“We don’t expect any problems in reconciling the House and Senate bills once Congress resumes session,” Rillo, House Committee on Higher and Technical Education vice chairperson, said.

“Once enacted, we are counting on the measure to reduce in a big way the number of students dropping out of school,” Rillo said, adding that parents would be encouraged to keep their children enrolled.

Nograles slams policy on package verification

PWERSA ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) party-list Rep. Margarita Nograles has taken a stand against the restrictive policies of courier companies that prohibit recipients from opening their packages to verify the content in the light of the increasing number of online selling scams.

She raised concern over the potential implications on consumer rights and safety, urging the Department of Trade and Industry to intervene and address the issue.

Courier companies, such as LBC, J&T, Lalamove, Grab and other similar express delivery services, should be obligated by the DTI to allow shipping recipients to inspect the contents of their packages upon delivery, she stressed.

Consumers must have the right to verify the contents of the packages they bought online to ensure accuracy, prevent fraud and protect their interests, she said. Rio N. Araja

Denr

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Urges Biz To Back Climate Plans

DEPARTMENT of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Antonia Loyzaga has urged the country’s top business leaders to work with the government to address the climate crisis and create sustainable communities.

Speaking at the general membership meeting of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) on June 14 in Taguig City, Loyzaga pointed out that “climate action for resilience is everyone’s business.”

“Our government needs partners who go beyond ESG (environmental, social and governance) and the fencelines of their operations to ensure ecosystem integrity and the resilience of communities that surround their operations,” Loyzaga told an assembly of CEOs, COOs and other top management executives from the largest companies in the Philippines. Rio N. Araja