Transport strike planned for SONA

TRANSPORT groups are planning a three-day transport strike to coincide with the second State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Malayang Alyansa ng Bus Employees at Laborers (MANIBELA) national president Mar Valbuena told radio DZBB that the strike will be held on July 24 to July 26.

Mr. Marcos will deliver his second SONA on July 24, a Monday.

Participants of the transport strike, the report said, will come from Metro

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At a forum to mark the anniversary of the ruling, the envoys rejected acts of intimidation and coercion and spoke of efforts to build stronger maritime defense cooperation with the Philippines and other like-minded states in the Indo-Pacific region.

These include defense exercises, increased regional presence, regularship and frigate visits, training, and the provision of equipment and patrol vessels for Manila.

They stressed the ruling by the UN Permanent Court of Arbitration was final and legally binding.

They also paid tribute to the late former Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario, who spearheaded the successful arbitration case that resulted in the 2016 legal victory for the Philippines.

Australian Ambassador Hae Kyong Yu cited Australia's continued work with the Philippines to ensure that the 2016 arbitral ruling is “properly implemented” and “properly followed.”

“Today is a really important day, not just for the Philippines, but for the whole world. Australia is a long-standing [and] strong partner to the Philippines. We want to work with the Philippines to ensure that the 2016 arbitral award is properly implemented and properly followed,” the Australian envoy said.

Asked to comment on this continued aggression, Yu said this should notstop the Philippines from cooperating with others and “working for what it believes in.”

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Eighty percent said that they agree, while 17 percent said they are undecided.

Moreover, when asked to identify measures the Marcos administration should prioritize to effectively address issues in the West Philippine Sea, seven out of 10 Filipinos, or 72 percent said the government should strengthen the military capability of the Philippines, especially the Navy, Coast Guard, and the Air Force.

Sixty-four percent said the government should conduct joint maritime patrols and military exercises with allied countries, and 61 percent said the government should shift the focus of Philippine

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Co said that "Romualdez's visionary leadership" has provided solar water systems to the upland areas, enabling access to essential services that were previously lacking. This groundbreaking move demonstrates Congress's commitment to leaving a lasting impact on the lives of the Filipino people.

“Even prior to the onset of the El Niño phenomenon, the Congress has allocated a significant budget of P10 billion in the 2023 GAA for the construction of solarpowered water supply systems across the country.” Co, chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, said. He noted that Romualdez is committed to providing a solar-powered water supply system to 60 percent or 40 million Filipinos in the upland barangays to have access to potable water.

The Angat Dam supplies 98 percent of potable water in Metro Manila and its nearby provinces.

“One strategy is to diversify our sources of water, and not to rely too much on

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The Estate Tax Amnesty Extension, another Palace-certified urgent measure, will extend the period of availment under the program by two years, or up to June 14, 2025.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman earlier said the President willsign the Maharlika bill before his SONA on July 24.

Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the implementing rules and regulations of the Maharlika Investment Fund are in its final stages. The final version of the Maharlika bill

Manila, Calabarzon, and Central Luzon.

MANIBELA, which has around 3,000 members, said groups from other provinces have expressed interest in joining the transport holiday.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police announced a 24-hour gun ban in three regions in the country to secure the President's second SONA at the Ba-

“What that means is that we cannot give up, we have to remain united and work together to create the region that we want to live in. Yes, it has been seven years and unfortunately, we are still [seeing] the behaviors we do not want to see, but that is not a reason to stop cooperating and stop working for what we believe in,” she said.

European Union Ambassador to the Philippines H.E Luc Veron said the EUis one with the Philippines and various international partners in stressing the importance of upholding maritime law.

"We are one with the Philippines and other international partners instressing the importance of upholding international law, includingUNCLOS, and a peaceful settlement of disputes as the basis for peace and stability in this part of the world and elsewhere. Respect for rules based on international order is at the core of the EU approach towards cooperation in the Indo-Pacific," he said.

"The EU also stands ready to facilitate activities which help build confidence and prevent and diffuse tensions," he added.

France' envoy acknowledged the victory of the Philippines in its arbitral battle last 2016 with China.

"There is simply no alternative to the strict adherence to the rule of law. In that regard, through the 2016 Award, the Philippines upheldthe highest standards,"

Ambassador Michèle Boccoz said during her speech at the Forum in Manila Polo Club Japan has also expressed its interest in implementing the freedom of navigation in the highly contested waters of the WPS.

"Japan is a major stakeholder with an defense institutions, and allocate more resources to strengthen the ability to defend the country from external threats.

In his speech during the forum, Stratbase president Dindo Manhit emphasized the importance of building and strengthening the Philippines’ alliances with likeminded countries in defending the West Philippine Sea.

“We are here today marking the anniversary of our victory at the Permanent Court of Arbitration, but the real test is for us to continue in the struggle to actualize this victory… We are happy to have our friends here with us today from Australia, the United States, Japan, European Union, France, the United Kingdom, and India. We are thankful for everything we have done together, and we look forward to future areas of

Angat. There are a couple of efforts over the last few months to increase our sources of water besides Angat,” he said. These include the construction of the Kaliwa Dam, he said.

He also underscored the importance of water conservation.

“Every drop that we are able to save through individual efforts, through institutional strategies actually goes a long way because while the amount of water in Angat is still sufficient for Metro Manila and all concessionaires., we foresee the El Niño season to be moderate or strong,” he said.

The drought conditions due to El Niño may extend until the first quarter of 2024, and its impact is likely to be more extreme than what is expected, he added.

Senator Grace Poe has renewed her assertion for the creation of the Department of Water Resources to lead the comprehensive developmentand management of water resources to address the water crisis as she vowed to conduct a Senate hearing on the matter.

"Of course, we have been pushing for a long time to create the Department of Water Resources... we understand that this administration wants to streamline," said Poe, who chairs the Senate public services committee. (See full story online at manilastandard.net) addresses the issues concerning MIF’s capitalization and management, explicitly prohibiting government agencies and government-owned and controlled corporationsthat provide for social security and public health insurance (of government employees, private sector workers and employees, and other sectors and subsectors) to contribute to and invest in the Fund. These include, but are not limited to, the Social Security System, Government Service Insurance System, Philippine Health Insurance Corp., Home Development Mutual Fund, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, and Philippine Veterans Affairs Office. Macon Ramos-Araneta tasang Pambansa in Quezon City.

In an advisory, Police BGen. Leo Francisco, chief of the PNP Directorate for Operations, said the suspension of the Permit to Carry Firearms Outside Residence (PTCFOR) will be in effect from 12:01 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. on the day of the SONA.

The gun ban will cover the entire Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Region IV-A or Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon).

“Only soldiers and policemen wearing uniform, especially those who outstanding interest in the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea," Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko said in his speech.

"Japan has reiterated that the tribunal award is the final and legallybinding on the parties to dispute under the provision of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. We also reiterated our support to the Philippines’ commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes in the South China Sea," he added.

But seven years after the historic ruling, Chinese fishing vessels,Coast Guard and navy ships as well as numerous militia vessels continue to swarm in Philippine waters. India’s Ambassador Shambhu Kumaran said the arbitral award is a reflection of the broader approach that both India and ASEAN have taken.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo welcomed the "growing number"of countries backing the Philippines' position on the West Philippine Sea as Manila commemorated on Wednesday the 7th anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea.

Manalo stressed that the award already "settled the status of historicrights and maritime entitlements in the South China Sea."

Manalo's observation came as several nations—including the United States, United Kingdom, India, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Austria, Romania, Slovakia, Finland, and Sweden—have openly supported the Philippines' territorial integrity collaboration as we deal with traditional, non-traditional, and evolving threats on various fronts,” Manhit said.

“The decision of the arbitral court assures us that we are on the right side of history and provides a solid foundation for our acts.

The challenge for us moving forward is how we can build on this foundation. We must commit that we will never allow this victory to be diminished and trampled on. We at Stratbase ADR Institute support all forms of cooperation with countries who share our ideals, values, and reverence for a rules-based order,” he said.

Among those who participated in the forum were Australian Ambassador Hae Kyong Yu PSM, US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson, Japanese Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko, Delegation of

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From A1 the high court the CPRA’s Section 22 of Canon III which states that a conflict of interest of any of the PAO lawyers shall be imputed only to the said lawyer and the lawyer’s direct supervisor and shall not disqualify the rest of the PAO lawyers from representing the affected client.

In a resolution, the SC reminded the PAO “of its primordial mandate to ‘[extend] free legal assistance to indigent persons in criminal, civil, labor, administrative and other quasi-judicial cases.’”

“To turn away indigent litigants and bar them from availing of the services of all PAO lawyers nationwide due to alleged conflict of interest would be to contravene PAO’s principal duty and leavehundreds of poor litigants unassisted by legal counsel they cannot otherwise afford,” the SC resolution stated.

In her public statements, newspaper publications, and social media posts as well as and in letters sent to Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo and the 14 other SC

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From A1 and Ingredients Show), spearheaded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

“Dear friends, our mission in the House of Representatives is clear:to equip every Filipino entrepreneur with the necessary tools and conducive environment for success,” Romualdez said.

“As the Speaker of the House, I pledge my commitment to this mission,confident that our collective efforts, our entrepreneurs' resilience, and the Filipino people's support will ensure its realization,” he said.

“Let’s celebrate the invaluable contributions of our MSMEs and envisage a future where they stand at the helm of our nation’s prosperity,” he said.

The Speaker said the House recognizes the crucial contribution of small busi- would be deployed near the Batasang Pambansa are exempted from the gun ban,” BGen. Francisco said.

PNP earlier said it will deploy more than 22,000 policemen and augmentation forces to secure during the SONA, around 5,000 of which would be deployed near the Batasang Pambansa.

While it has yet to receive any report of security threats, the police said it continuously assesses all information it has been receiving about the event.

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over the water that is being unilaterally and illegally claimed by China.

"The award has since facilitated the plotting of new paths and trajectories, reflecting the rich maritime heritage of our country and our people, firm in the conviction that our rights over our maritime jurisdictions are indisputable," Manalo said.

Manalo said the Philippines is honored that the award is now standing "as a beacon whose guiding light serves all nations." He also tookpride in the "path of principle" that the country took when it decided to file a case for arbitration against China to peacefully settle the dispute.

"It is a settled landmark and a definitive contribution to theprogressive development of international law. It is ours as much as it is the world's," he said.

In a separate statement, Japan renewed its objection to illegal maritime claims in the South China Sea.

Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi

Yoshimasa said China's refusal to accept the 2016 Arbitral Award "is against the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law" and the UNCLOS as well as "undermines the rule of law as a fundamental value of the international community."

"Japan reiterates its strong opposition to unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion," Yoshimasa said.

British Ambassador Laure Beaufils vowed that the UK would play its part in ensuring a free Indo-Pacific by "standing up for what we believe in," particularly for the international law-based maritime order." (See full story online at manilastandard.net) the European Union Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Veron, French Ambassador Michele Boccoz, British Ambassador Laure Beaufils, and Indian Ambassador Shambhu Kumaran.

In a Pulse Asia survey, 89 percent of Filipinos said they trust the United States, 79 percent trust Australia, 78 percent trust Japan, and 64 percent trust the United Kingdom.

“Defending our territory, asserting our sovereignty, and committing to uphold a rules-based international order in this dynamic, multipolar world is the right thing to do. It is the only thing to do. Together, let us defend the peace and stability of the West Philippine Sea, the Indo-Pacific, and the rules-based international order,” Manhit said. (See full story online at manilastandard.net) justices, Acosta, acting on behalf of PAO, claimed the CPRA provision allows PAO lawyers to be pitted against each other before the courts by representing opposing parties in cases.

Acosta said the provision “puts at risk the life and limb of the handling public attorneys because if things go wrong, clients would have enough reason to suspect that their counsels double-crossed them.”

“There were instances when conflict-ofinterest representation was thecause of death of former public attorneys,” she added.

PAO has asked the Supreme Court for a dialogue on its request.

The High Court, however, noted Acosta’s unabated public tirades against Canon III, Section 22 of the CPRA through social and mainstream media.

“The Court thus directed Atty. Acosta to show cause why she should not be cited in indirect contempt for her social media posts and newspaper publications which tended, directly or indirectly, to impede, obstruct, or degrade the administration of justice,” the SC said. (See full story online at manilastandard.net) nesses to the economy.

“Our legislative agenda is geared towards their empowerment and growth, working relentlessly to create a level playing field for all businesses,” he added.

“Our initiatives - simplified business registration, tax reform, affordable financing, and digital infrastructure investment - reflect this commitment. We are convinced that reducing these barriers will unlock our MSMEs' full potential, fostering their growth and furthering national progress,” he stressed.

The House leader pointed out that the House has passed severalmeasures, and is considering the approval of other proposals, meant to help small businesses such as the Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery (GUIDE) Act and House Bill 1171, or the “One Town, One Product Act.” (See full story online at manilastandard.net)