Manila Standard - 2023 July 24 - Monday

PBBM reports to nation today

Marcos’ 2nd SONA to highlight significant progress, areas for improvement

By Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta

PRESIDENT

Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) today

—a progress report after a year in power in which he says the country made significant strides as he acknowledged that his governance has a long way to go.

“That’s what I want to explain to people — that we have made significant progress. We can see the difference now, not only in terms of how the systems

Congress to approve P5.768-b 2024 budget by Oct.—Speaker

By Rio N. Araja

CONGRESS aims to approve the P5.768-trillion national budget for 2024 before it goes on recess in October.

Speaker Martin Romualdez said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. plans tosubmit to the House of Representatives his budget proposal immediately after his second State of the Nation Address today (Monday).

The proposed national expenditure is

By Rio N. Araja

SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has reaffirmed the House of Representatives’ commitment to expeditiously approve the remaining nine of the 44 urgent measures identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

“We have walked the talk on helping

‘Egay’ raises storm signals, suspensions

By Rio N. Araja

and Vince Lopez

SEVEN provinces in Luzon and the V 1 yesterday as tropical storm “Egay” further intensified into a severe tropical storm.

“Egay” is forecast to reach typhoon category within 24 hours and may become a super typhoon on Tuesday. As this developed, Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando ordered the suspension of classes and work in all public and private offices in the province today in anticipation of the possible effects of

"Egay" and the start of the three-day transport strike. The same was also enforced in Pampanga, Cavite, and Taytay in Rizal by their respective local governments. Malacanang had previously declared classes and government work suspended

Equivalent to 21.8 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) and is 9.5 percent higher than this year's P5.268 trillion budget.

“Should that happen, surely we will pass the budget before our October break. We average five weeks of solid work on budget deliberations, consideration, review, and approval through the third reading. So we are confident with the processes and protocols and procedures

the President legislate his priorities. We have delivered on our promise,” he said.

The nine remaining LEDAC bills are the Natural Gas Industry Enabling Law, Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System Bill, National Employment Action Plan, Department of Water Services and Resources, amendments to the Electric

WINNING DISH.

This mouthwatering serving of Cebu lechon from San Juan shop Mambo’s Lechon bested 49 other vendors that participated in the Pulutan Fest 2023 on Saturday.

Photo via Facebook

DoTr: No more masks on public transport

By Darwin G. Amojelar and Rio N. Araja

THERE is no need to wear face masks on all public transport across the country after the government lifted the COVID-19 protocols, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said.

This is in consonance with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Proclamation No. 297, lifting the COVID-19 state of public health emergency throughout the country.

The Department of Health also earlier said the proclamation rescinds the mask requirement in public transport.

Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said physical distancing protocols in public transportation need no longer be observed, and all passenger vehicles can continue to operate at full capacity.

“This new development is a significant step towards normalizing public transportation and supporting economic recovery,” Bautista said.

“While public safety remains a top priority, the removal of protocols aims to facilitate commuters' convenience, contribute to the revival of the transportation industry, and help stimulate economic activity,” he added.

Malaysians to get 1st crack at MIF

By Othel V. Campos and Rio N. Araja

THE administration will present the Maharlika Investment Fund to Malaysian investors during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s three-day state visit to Malaysia starting July 25, a day after his second State of the Nation Address (SONA).

"[MIF] will be a very, very important vehicle to attract more resources and investments into the country, to supplement our resources that are provided for in the national budget for developmental initiatives, infrastructure, in the power and agriculture sectors,” Speaker Martin Romualdez said on Sunday.

PBBM...

From A1 work, how the government works. It is also how we are seen or judged in the international community. That’s equally important,” Mr. Marcos said on the eve of his address to Congress at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.

“We have done a lot of growth (and) we are beginning to see thesystemic changes that are going to be part of the new bureaucracy, but there is still a long way to go,” he added (See the Standard's Special Supplement on the SONA in Section C —Editors).

Mr. Marcos, who swept to power with a landslide victory in the May 2022 elections, stressed that his administration is working hard to reinvigorate the economy, putting a premium on the agriculture sector which plays a vital role in the country’s development.

His first State of the Nation Address, which lasted an hour on July 25, 2022, started on time, flowed without departure from his script, and was free from the expletives that marked his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte's SONA speeches.

But Mr. Marcos also presented himself as a leader who would continue at least some of the programs and policies of Duterte, who will be present in today's SONA along with former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria MacapagalArroyo in the VIP box of the Batasang Pambansa.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, meanwhile, vowed to follow the President’s lead when he pursues his goals from the first SONA to bring down inflation and unemployment.

While the Marcos administration is “not there yet” in achieving some of the objectives it set during the first SONA, it has made great strides in bringing down inflation, unemployment, and the price of rice in the country, he said. He said inflation continued to slow down up until last month when it settled at 5.4 percent in June from a high of 8.7 percent at the start of the year.

DoTr:...

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Despite the removal of COVID-19, Bautista said public transportation facilities will be frequently sanitized.

The DOH on Saturday urged the public to follow health protocols despite the lifting of the state of public health emergency.

Continued awareness and adherence to recommended health protocols are paramount to safeguarding communities from potential health risks, the DOH said in a press statement Saturday.

“It is crucial to recognize that while the state of the public health emergency is lifted, we must remain vigilant and

‘Egay’...

From A1 in the National Capital Region for the same reasons. Tropical cyclone wind signal no. 1 was raised over Catanduanes, theeastern portion of Camarines Sur, the northern portion of Aurora, theeastern portion of Isabela, the eastern portion of Cagayan, the northern portion of Eastern Samar, and the eastern portion of Northern Samar. “Egay” may also enhance the southwest monsoon, bringing occasionalrains over several areas across the country in the next three days.

It will be closest to extreme Northern Luzon on Wednesday and make landfall over the east coast of Taiwan on

Congress...

From A1 that we have that we can finish the national 2024 budget. That is the most important piece of legislation,” he said. The budget, Romualdez said, “aims to sustain the country’s economic growth, create more income and job opportunities for the people and improve their quality of life through the timely delivery of basic social services like education, health care, and infrastructure."

Romualdez said the sovereign wealth fund is “not only beneficial but [also] necessary.”

"[We have a] growing economy that needs to entice foreign investors to ramp up the improving and recovering local economy," the Speaker added.

Employers Confederation of the Phil-

Other lawmakers on Sunday urged the Chief Executive to look forward, speak the truth, and lay out a map to the country's future through the SONA.

The SONA is “not just a throwback moment for the year gone, but a battle plan on how we can fast-forward to what we hope to achieve,” Batangas Rep. Ralph Recto said. “It is not a mere replay of the past, but a preview of the future, setting a vision so compelling that it inspires and unites the entire nation to work hard for it.”

Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda said the President’s speech should focus more on “moving forward with the task of national greatness.”

He said the task at hand is how to work on the basic ingredients of national greatness, to become “a country that is not merely trying to survive, but [that] is ambitious.”

At the same time, Recto said, the SONA should be truthful, “because if it is not, the people will not be on the same page with the government in the critical days ahead.”

Senator Francis Escudero said a SONA cannot be all “happy pills that sugarcoat the painful but must include some bitter medicine to be swallowed for the nation to be healed of its many problems.”

"A predictable SONA is a feel-good recital of achievements, the formulaic,” he said.

“But what we need now is a SONA that will make us aware, that will surprise us, by shocking us about the great problems that we face, surprise us with the bold solutions, and scare us about the price of inaction."

He also told the President not to worry, because the people can handle the truth.

The people are aware, he said, that a SONA that contains only good news is avoiding the truth.

For every Filipino who lands a job, many more remain unemployed. For every business that opens, many entrepreneurial plans remain as dreams. For every hospital ward added, many more patients cram overflowing

proactive in our approach to health and safety,” it added.

Still, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa commended the decision of Malacañang and agreed with the assessment that conditions now “no longer necessitate the continuation of the public health emergency status.”

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) will convene for a final meeting to formally conclude the public health emergency and come out with a comprehensive final report.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte declared a state of public healthemergency in the Philippines on March 8, 2020, through Proclamation 922 after the first reported COVID-19 transmission in the country.

Thursday morning.

“Although the latest track forecast shows that 'Egay' will remain offshore for most of the forecast period, a close approach or landfall in the vicinity of extreme Northern Luzon is still not ruled out based on the forecast confidence cone,” the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos reminded local chief executives to implement Operation L!STO Protocols before, during, and after a storm hits their area of jurisdiction.

"To say that the presence of local chief executives during calamities is critical is an understatement,” Abalos said.

During the deliberation on next year’s spending program, Congress would look into how the annual budget is being used and how laws, particularly the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, are being implemented.

“The emancipation law lifted the debt burden of our farmers. In other words, our farmers are exempted from their unsettled amortizations in the acquisition of their lots. We think that is one of the cornerstones of our President’s legislative agenda," he said.

“We in Congress would have to oversee if it is properly implemented so we

ippines (ECOP) president Sergio OrtizLuis Jr., for his part, said he is optimistic about the operations of Maharlika.

“Just give it a chance because at the end of the day, when it becomes successful, it is the success of the country. When we criticize it immediately, this can hinder its success. Because you know local and foreign investors will not invest their money if they see that we ourselves don’t believe in it. I think let’s give the benefit of the doubt,” Ortiz-Luis said.

He said there are many countries that have successfully established sovereign wealth funds.

Ortiz-Luis, who is also the president of the Philippine Exporters Confedera-

emergency rooms, Escudero said.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said the President should speak the “unfiltered truth” that the Filipino people deserve.

“During the President’s SONA, it is my hope that he will discuss the real situation of the Filipino People at the household level,” Pimentel said.

Among the issues that Pimentel said should take the spotlight during SONA is the high cost of living, inadequate income, problems with education, unemployment, and underemployment, and the ballooning national debt.

But while macroeconomic figures are important, Pimentel said the SONA should concentrate on microeconomic matters that concern and affect the lives of ordinary Filipinos.

The income of the typical Filipino family, he noted, is not enough for their basic needs and for their decent existence as a family of human beings.

He said those who are employed are not paid “living wages.” Many are unemployed and many more are underemployed.

He also stressed the significance of focusing on agriculture to generate jobs and food and to fight inflation.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said the prices of food should be the No. 1 focus of the President’s SONA.

"The President needs to focus on availability and lowering of food prices as the concurrent secretary of Agriculture,” Zubiri said. “He should strengthen the agricultural sector and help our farmers.”

Pimentel said he expects the President to explain various issues of concern, such as the scandal that rocked the Sugar Regulatory Administration and the reason the prices of sugar and onion reached P138 and P800 per kilo, respectively, during the first year of his term.

There should also be an explanation why POGOs—Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators--continue to operate in the country, he said. With so many problems, Filipinos must be united, he said.

“We need to get our acts together as

Two days before his second State of the Nation Address on Monday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. lifted the nationwide declaration with the issuance of Proclamation 297.

Senator Christopher Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health, said he respected the President’s decision to lift the state of public health emergency over COVID-19.

However, he renewed his appeal to the government to ensure that healthcare workers will receive the benefits due to them under the law. This includes COVID-19-related allowances and death benefits for those who sacrificed their lives to fight off the coronavirus. With or without the state of a public

San Juan...

From A1 vendors that participated in PulutanFest 2023, followed by Vincent's Place Kambingan Restaurant at a close second.

Vincent’s Kambingan also got the most perfect scores from the food influencer judges.

“We joined Pulutan Fest to help get the name of Mambo’s Lechon out since we are relatively new…It was really a pleasant surprise for us!

We’re flattered and grateful for the recognition,” Mambo’s Lechon said.

A takoyaki stall, Mr. Tentacles, got the People’s Choice Award, followed by Marikina-based Faye Sisig.

“Your OG in baby octo Takoyaki

could help our farmers become productive for them to also help us lower the prices of commodities, such as rice, vegetables, and sugar.

We are excited to work on this,” he added.

He said the House of Representatives will expeditiously scrutinize, deliberate, and pass the national budget through a transparent process.

“Like last year, we will get the widest consensus on our spending plan among our members. Its approval is very crucial in maintaining stability and facilitating

tion, Inc. (PHILEXPORT), said many local firms are keen on putting their money in the MIF while several tycoons are also willing to invest in it.

The fund is envisioned to be invested in a wide range of assets, including foreign currencies, fixed-income instruments, domestic and foreign corporate bonds, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, real estate and high-impact infrastructure projects, and projects that contribute to the attainment of sustainable development.

Unlike other government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs), the MIF will be able to maximize government assets through its investments in projects that generate bigger returns.

problem-solvers. We need to act in good faith out of love for the country. We need to want a just, fair, and safe society,” he said.

National Capital Region Police Office acting director Police Brig. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on Sunday said security measures in Metro Manila were finalized a day ahead of the SONA.

The NCRPO said the security plan for this year’s SONA included strategic personnel deployments, civil disturbance management, anti-criminality intervention, counter-terrorism, traffic management, and emergency response teams.

The Quezon City government is also set to deploy thousands of personnel under its Law and Order Cluster in preparation for the SONA.

The Transport and Traffic Management Department (TTMD) will deploy 800 enforcers to help man traffic on major thoroughfares, while the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) will assign 6,123 uniformed officers and the Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS) will use 375 personnel to assist QCPD in maintaining security and public order.

To aid those who will need immediate medical assistance and support during the SONA, the QC Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (DRRM) will deploy 287 personnel from its Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Search and Rescue (SAR) teams, and other additional resources to ensure the safety of the public and respond to any untoward incident.

“The Quezon City government is ready to assist during the President’s second State of the Nation Address. Our goal is to ensure a peaceful and orderly event for everyone,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

The city government has allowed both pro and anti-administration rallies but reminds all groups to follow laws and regulations, and not to disrupt peace and order in the affected areas.

“QC is a bastion of free speech, and we value the right of everyone to peacefully assemble as protected by our Constitution,” Belmonte said.

health emergency, the government should fulfill its obligations to protect the lives of Filipinos, safeguard their health, and give what is due to them, Go said.

Senator Jinggoy Estrada said the lifting of the state of public health emergency was a step forward in the nation’s fight against the pandemic and a strong indication that the country is on the road to recovery.

BHW party-list Rep. Angelica Natasha Co also backed the decision to lift the state of emergency.

“Well-informed presidential prerogative has finally overcome the chorus of ultraconservative voices who refused to see the hard evidence and were spurred by unreasonable fears,” she said. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

just got an [award]. Thank you #PulutanFest2023 for inviting us and for the recognition of being this year’s People Choice Awardee. We’d like to share this award with all customers, colleagues, and franchisees! We hope to see you again next year,” Mr. Tentacles said in a Facebook post.

According to Arne Reodica, founder of PulutanFest, the event was a “huge success.”

“Initially we were worried if the line-up of vendors were not as diverse as we envisioned but hearing feedback from eventgoers that they were overwhelmed and are so looking forward to 2024 was the best form of validation,” he said.

Joyce Babe Pañares, Manila Standard's Managing Editor, was one of the judges of the event.

the seamless implementation of government programs and projects. It has significant implications for the country’s progress and development,” he said.

"Every centavo of the national budget will be spent wisely by ensuring that spending will contribute to economic and national development. We will be setting clear priorities and making informed decisions that would further promote sustainable growth aimed at uplifting the lives of Filipino people, enhancing public services, and making our economy strong and more agile,” Romualdez added.

MECO to grant farmland to 48 Taiwan trainees

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Manila Economic and Cultural Office is now working with the national government for the grant of agricultural lands to 48 young Filipinos who underwent training in Taiwan on modern agricultural production.

MECO chairperson Silvestre Bello III disclosed that 48 internship completers comprise the second batch of interns under the Filipino Young Farmers Internship Program, a partnership of MECO and the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office which started in 2021.

According to Bello, he has sounded off concerned government agencies for the grant of farmlands to the fresh batch of 48 interns.

"In this manner, our internship graduates will be able to demonstrate model farms utilizing advance technologies in farming, aquaculture, poultry, dairy, and other fields of agricultural and fisheries production, and value chain management," Bello said in a statement.

The program, considered a big boost to the Philippines' agricultural sector, started with the deployment of 29 farmers who composed the first batch. They finished their 11-month program in September 2022.

PAO’s Acosta gains Pamana leadership plum

PUBLIC Attorney’s Office chief Persida Acosta is a recipient of the Metro Excel Leadership Awards-Gintong Pamana ng Lahi 2023 for being among the most trusted and empowered public servants. Artchie Solitano, committee award chairman, and Edzel Eroles, president, personally handed over the trophy and plaque of appreciation to Acosta at the first Crowne Plaza Hotel, Manila Galleria, Ortigas Center in Quezon City. Eroles lauded the PAO chief for her exemplary performance, integrity, and humanitarian conscience.

He also congratulated Acosta for her second anniversary of #PALA (Persida Acosta’s Legal Advice), a free legal consultation and advice online.

“PAO will always be here anywhere to help those in need,” Acosta said. Rio N. Araja

A DISPLACEMENT of Filipino workers is looming amid the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, and the government is preparing for its effects on the labor sector, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said Sunday.

While the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) could not prevent or ban such technological developments, Laguesma said the government is ready to assist the Pinoy workforce amid the changes.

“Every change in the field of work could result in dislocation of workers, but what is important is we prepare for it," he said over radio dzBB.

"What’s important is that we prepare and see what kind of guidance or assistance we could give to our workers, as well as what the investors should do so there will be no heavy displacement or dislocation among the workers." (See full story online at manilastandard.net)

House...

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Power Industry Act, Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act, Budget Modernization, National Defense Act and Unified System of Separation, Retirement and Pension for Uniformed Personnel. LEDAC’s priority bills now number 44, with the addition of the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act and the bill amending the Bank Secrecy Law, which are among the 20 measures the President wants approved before the end of the year.

Before the first regular session of the 19th Congress ended in June, the House approved 33 out of the 42 priority measures identified by LEDAC.

Meanwhile, Romualdez assured the military and uniformed personnel (MUP) that the P120 billion needed for the pension fund of soldiers, policemen, and other uniformed personnel will be resolved this year.

He directed the members of the committees on appropriation, and ways and means to find ways to raise P120 billion for the MUP pension fund.

Laguesma says gov't preparing for advent of AI

Gatchalian wants hearing on rising suicide incidents

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

CITING data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian is alarmed by the 74% increase in suicide incidents from 2019 to 2020 and wants an inquiry into the implementation of the Mental Health Act (Republic Act No. 11036).

With the rise in suicide cases, the senator noted that it is now the 28th leading cause of death in the country.

In 2019, suicides only ranked as the 39th leading cause of death in the Philippines.

There were 4,892 recorded cases of death due to intentional self-harm in 2020, surpassing the 2,808 deaths recorded in 2019, Gatchalian noted.

While the preliminary estimated number of suicides for 2022 stood at 2,865, the average number of deaths by suicide rose significantly during and after the pandemic.

From the pre-pandemic annual average of 2,752 recorded from 2017 to 2019, the annual average of deaths by suicide rose to 4,085 from 2020 to 2022, PSA data showed.

Due to this data, Gatchalian, as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, said it is crucial for the government to urgently intervene by improving and investing in mental health services across healthcare, protection, education, and welfare.

He filed Senate Resolution No. 671, which called for a Senate probe into the issue, as he highlighted the significance of COVID-19

as a wake-up call to prioritize public mental health services in the country.

Despite the initiation of national and local mental health programs during the pandemic, a February 2021 policy brief from De La Salle University revealed sporadic efforts and a lack of a comprehensive collaborative approach.

Furthermore, the senator emphasized that learners were not spared from the pandemic’s impact on Filipinos’ mental health.

For School Years 2020-2021 and 20212022, data from the Department of Education (DepEd) showed that 412 learners died by suicide.

In a hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Health and Demography on May 9, 2023, Gatchalian pointed out that the National Center for Mental Health received 3,125 calls in 2019, 700 of which were suicide-related.

In 2020, the number of calls increased to 11,000, with suicide-related calls rising to 2,800. The number of calls further rose to 14,000 in 2021, 5,000 of which were suiciderelated.

PAPI-KBL DEAL. The presidents of the Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PAPI) and the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). PAPI president Nelson Santos (left, seated) and KBL North Luzon vice president, Crisiljefv Garrido, signed the MOU last July 19 at Ningnangan Restaurant in Sta. Maria, Bulacan, which designated the former as the official media partner of the political party. KBL North Luzon will host a press conference on Oct. 20-21, 2023 at the Royce Hotel and Casino in Clark, Pampanga.

Envoy seeks ‘shared ground’ with PH as UK eyes multilateral system reform

By Rey E. Requejo

BRITISH Ambassador to the Philippines

Laure Beaufils said she is looking for a “shared ground” between the United Kingdom and the Philippines that is beneficial to both countries, even as she disclosed the UK’s plan to reform multilateral systems.

In an editorial published on UK’s government website, Beaufils said that since the UK “occupies a privileged place in many multilateral institutions,” it is in “our interest, and our obligation, to improve the effectiveness of the multilateral order.”

“Of course, we can deliver reform only if we work with others. Working multilaterally is also about compromise, and ensuring different perspectives are listened to and inform decisions,” Beaufils said.

“One of the most important aspects of my role as the UK’s ambassador to the Philippines is to listen - to find shared ground for our

common benefit,” she added.

The UK diplomat stressed that multilateralism—with institutions such as the United Nations (UN), Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Health Organization (WHO), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), among others—“is not at odds with national sovereignty and democracy.”

Nonetheless, Beaufils stressed that “its purpose is to protect and reinforce them.”

“In a globally integrated world, our commitment to peace, prosperity, and development hinges on respecting fundamental laws and institutions. Let us work together to reinforce a dynamic and open international order in which all can thrive,” she said.

According to Beaufils, getting multilateral system reforms right will result in “a safer, fairer, healthier and more prosperous world.”

“We have an obligation to future generations to make this happen,” she declared.

Villar: Border control facility to keep ASF out

AFRICAN Swine Flu (ASF) and other diseases detrimental to the country’s agricultural sector can be avoided with the establishment of a border facility to inspect and examine imported meat, fisheries, and other agricultural products entering the Philippines.

Sen. Cynthia Villar, together with Department of Agriculture Usec. Domingo Panganiban and officials of the Department of Agrarian Reform led the groundbreaking ceremony of the Commodity Examination Facility for Agriculture (CEFA) in Angat, Bulacan.

“This is the first, and we hope that we will be at the groundbreaking ceremonies of the other two inspection facilities to be put up in Cebu and Davao,” said Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Food and Agriculture. She said the groundbreaking and memorandum of agreement signing for the establishment of the government’s very first border control facility “is a milestone for our country.”

She said the construction of CEFA, a stateof-the-art facility, is in compliance with the

Food Safety Act of 2013 or Republic Act 10611.

“The lack of adherence to the Food Safety Act of 2013 has led to the inadequate management of the African Swine Fever (ASF) challenge, and created a risk of other diseases in livestock entering the Philippines,” the senator pointed out.

“This compromise on the quality and safety of food products endangers consumer health and undermines the reputation of the agricultural industry,” she added.

With the CEFA that will enforce stricter rules and ensure a thorough examination of agricultural cargo, Villar said the risk of diseases and other potential threats will be minimized. This will contribute to safer food products for consumers and protect public health. Through comprehensive examination and inspection protocols, she said CEFA will be a crucial tool in detecting and preventing the spread of diseases in livestock, reducing the likelihood of outbreaks.

Macon Ramos-Araneta

Villar

OPINION

Beyond more words, we expect more action

ment on these same issues. There are notably positive economic developments as June 2023 data shows inflation slowing down to 5.4 percent and unemployment going down to 4.3 percent in May 2023.

PRESIDENT

TODAY is SONA day.

For a senior citizen like me who has witnessed eight Presidents deliver their annual State of the Nation Addresses, my appreciation of their speeches – finely crafted to account for their promises and accomplishments – has greatly evolved with age, experience, and life’s harsh lessons.

From the naivety of teen years, the idealistic irreverence during activist years, many transitions in my work and family life, I still have the heart of an activist but with a more developmental attitude.

I grew up during the President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. years, and, like most Filipinos, was always at the receiving end of the cyclical political and economic hits and misses and multiple natural calamities of the country.

Now that Marcos Jr. is now starting his second year as the 17th President of the republic, we are now confronting a more complex environment where the confluence of geopolitical conflicts, the challenges of post pandemic recovery, the impact of climate change, and the factors causative of inflation that are beyond our control. It makes you think, are we getting better or worse?

In contrast to the last President, the Marcos Jr. administration is showing encouraging strength in governance with a more defined legislative agenda.

There are openness collaborative partnerships and ongoing engagements with the private sector whose talents, resources, and innovative nature are the real drivers of economic growth. We are seeing more civil society participation being strengthened by government agencies.

The people will be expecting solutions to their most urgent national concerns, which are mainly economic gut issues.

According to the June 2023 survey of Pulse Asia Research, Inc., the top concern is inflation (63 percent) hitting hard on every consumer’s daily budget.

To make ends meet amidst rising prices in food, transportation, and prime commodities, Filipinos want more jobs to be created (31 percent), gainful employment to support their personal and family needs.

This connects to the next concern which is reducing poverty (30 percent) wherein having a job may open opportunities for a better life.

The fifth concern is on fighting graft and corruption (25 percent), which has been a perennial issue in every administration.

Consistent with these findings is the lower approval rating on the actions taken by govern-

There is optimism in the business sector though there has been a slight waning of the overall confidence index measured by the Business Expectations Survey of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in the third quarter of 2023 which declined to 46.4 percent from 49 percent in the last quarter.

Identified factors were: the seasonal downturn in production and sales during the rainy season; elevated inflation; lower demand for consumer and intermediate goods; fewer construction projects; and high interest rates.

The BSP’s Consumer Expectation’s Survey Report showed consumers having a more pessimistic outlook.

Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has described his State of the Nation Address before Congress this afternoon as a “performance report” to the Filipino people, a straightforward narrative of what was promised a year ago and what has been achieved so far.

stability, and broad-based empowerment.”

The sovereign wealth fund will “widen the government’s fiscal space and ease pressure in financing public infrastructure projects” and speed up the implementation of the 194 flagship infrastructure projects approved by the National Economic and Development Authority.

All in all, a truly productive year that can only lead to more significant progress in all aspects in the years ahead

projects related to sustainable development.

The past year also saw enhanced efforts by the administration to allow ordinary Filipinos to cope with high inflation.

The Kadiwa program allows ordinary Filipinos to purchase basic commodities such as rice and vegetables at lower prices because it eliminates intermediaries, allowing local producers to generate higher income by selling their produce directly to consumers.

The Food Stamps program, on the other hand, will complement other existing antihunger and anti-poverty initiatives by giving P3,000 monthly to poor families for their food needs.

in the prices of goods in jobs, and (d) the effec economic resilience,

The report said, “The sustained negative sentiment for Q2 2023 was attributed by consumers to their concerns over: (a) faster increase in the prices of goods and higher household expenses, (b) lower income, (c) fewer available jobs, and (d) the effectiveness of government policies and programs on inflation management, economic resilience, high-quality and well-paid job creation, and financial assistance to low-income households.”

The second year of President Marcos Jr’s administration is an opportunity to at least push forward with long term and institutionalized strategies that will positively reverse these economic national concerns which past administrations, including his father’s, have been passing on to the next political cycle.

There is also the opportunity to address key pillars of national security.

Critical to the current situation is food security which would need sweeping transformations in the agricultural sector.

The evolving geopolitical issues where the Philippines now plays a strategic role and how the President will define his independent foreign policy as a “friend to all, enemy to none” while balancing this with the Philippines sovereign rights being violated by China’s expansionist agenda is a prime interest of the global diplomatic community.

Undergoing a systemic digital transformation has been much pronounced by the President and how the government will invest in addressing a fundamental gap in digital infrastructure is an integrative enabler that will solve address bureaucratic, operational, and governance issues.

It will be interesting to hear how committed this administration is going to be given the bureaucratic resistance and policy barriers that are incompatible to digitalization.

As in every SONA, there are great expectations. The real state of the nation is experienced by the people every day. Today we will hear more words, but tomorrow we will expect more action.

Why the delay in the ATP

tions in a coalition that advocates for a “safer, more humane, and more inclusive public transportation system in the Philippines.”

In their statement, which may be read on the group’s Facebook page, the Move As One Coalition calls on the MMDA to “immediately implement the dry run” of the ATP and work with all concerned stakeholders to ensure its success.

EDSA dry run, MMDA?

WHY has the dry run of the Department of Transportation’s (DoTr) improved Active Transport Project (ATP) along Edsa been delayed for six months?

Among the many people wondering about this are the members of the Move As One Coalition, which recently issued a statement expressing their grave concerns about the months-long delay in the implementation of the ATP.

The dry run will include road configuration improvements and the widening of pedestrian walkways and protected bi-directional bike lanes. It was supposed to cover a five-kilometer stretch along Santolan, Ortigas, and Shaw Boulevard.

The conduct of the dry run was approved by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Jan. 24 this year, but it has not yet been conducted as far as anyone knows. The dry run is necessary for the implementation of the ATP on Edsa, as part of the DoTr’s Active Transport Infrastructure Improvement Program (ATIIP).

This delay is puzzling, given that the ATIIP is in line with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, the National Transport Policy, and other key government issuances.

The Move as One Coalition was founded during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, when a massive transport crisis occurred. Drivers of public transportation vehicles lost their jobs and healthcare workers had difficulty getting rides to home and work due to strict health restrictions.

This situation moved a group of concerned citizens to push for policies and programs to assist frontliners with their transportation needs.

Today, the group claims to include over 77,000 persons and more than 140 organiza-

The group has been trying to set up a meeting with the MMDA to offer its assistance, but it has not yet received a response.

The benefits of a bikeable and walkable city

The ATP has the potential to make Edsa safer and more efficient for everyone. Safe pedestrian walkways and protected bi-directional bike lanes would make it easier for people to walk and bike, even with children.

Studies have shown that protected bike lanes make it safer to bike and make the roads safer for everyone.

A study published in the Journal of Transport & Health found that bike facilities act as “calming” mechanisms on traffic, slowing cars and reducing fatalities.

We expect the SONA to be comprehensive, covering the economic, political and social dimensions of governance.

But we anticipate the report to highlight specific policies and programs that the administration considers game changers.

On the economic front, there’s the Maharlika Investment Fund Act, signed only on July 11.

The President himself cited the significance of this piece of legislation: “The MIF is a bold step towards our country’s meaningful economic transformation…Just as we are recovering from the adverse effects of the pandemic, we are now ready to enter a new age of sustainable progress, robust

LAST week, radio was inundated with sound bytes from the president’s first State of the Nation address before Congress, the last sentences of which consisted of a ringing declaration that “we have assembled the best Filipino minds to help us navigate through this global crisis that we are facing.”

He segues to wide applause that “We will endure. Let our Filipino spirit remain undimmed.

“I know this in my mind, I know it in my heart, I know it in my very soul … THE STATE OF THE NATION IS SOUND” was the final peroration.

One year after that SONA, many are asking, how sound, Mr. President, is the current state of our nation?

In this article, I shall not delve into the specifics of the 19-point legislative program he vowed to pursue with a Congress which at no other time in its history has been as subservient to the executive as now, martial law exempted.

We loved the promise to right size a topheavy government bureaucracy and the enactment finally of a Land Use Act, yet through the whole year that passed, no progress has happened on these much-needed reforms.

The others still pend in Congress with the HoR having passed some that are still under scrutiny by a Senate that prefers to grandstand on investigations allegedly in aid of legislation.

Maybe in due time, knowing how our economic managers have prioritized the creation of the Maharlika Investment Fund above all else, billing it as some sort of panacea that would reverse our economic stagnation, the 19-point program, parts of which have moved, might bear fruition.

But let me repeat the question in many minds, how sound is the economy? How sound is our future? For 2023, Congress passed a national budget of P5.2 trillion, and the executive has proposed P5.7 trillion for 2024 (I have purposely rounded off the numbers for easier recall).

In fine, there will be a 10 percent increase in the national government’s appropriation next year, if Congress does not cut, and of course we know it will not cut, just move figures here and there to satisfy legislative pork cravings.

The Maharlika Investments Corp. (MIC), which will be the sole vehicle for mobilizing and utilizing the MIF for investments, is expected to have at least P75 billion in paidup capital this year, with P50 billion sourced from the Land Bank of the Philippines and P25 billion from the Development Bank of the Philippines.

The Fund will be invested in a wide range of assets, including foreign currencies, fixed-income instruments, domestic and foreign corporate bonds, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, real estate and high-impact infrastructure projects, and

The opening up of the economy after three years of the COVID-19 pandemic has led not only to renewed business activity but also to the return to face-to-face classes at all levels, bringing the nation closer to pre-COVID-19 normalcy.

We also forged closer relations with the United States, China, Japan and our ASEAN and APEC partners as part of a foreign policy focused on what the President said is being a “friend to all, an enemy to none.”

The diplomatic offensive during the past year not only led to some P3.7 trillion in investment pledges, but also enhanced the country’s standing in the international community. All in all, a truly productive year that can only lead to more significant progress in all aspects in the years ahead.

How sound?

surpass the same this year, we will still be down with a P1.5 trillion deficit.

Now how do we finance that? For now, and until Congress passes new revenue enhancement measures, we borrow.

So even our economic managers expect government borrowing to be in the vicinity of P1.5 trillion each year for the next few years, knowing full well that (1) it will not be easy to pass tax enhancement bills while inflation keeps soaring, and (2) our GDP is not expected to grow fast enough, or large enough, what with all the global uncertainties endangering economies all over.

In the first half of this year, our debt has reached P14.1 trillion, of which P3.2 trillion is on account of COVID-related expenditures, from vaccines to ayuda, to other forms of subsidies which had to be resorted to while the economy was on lockdown state.

Truth is, we have been financing our budgets by borrowings all these years, the bal-

But let me repeat the question in many minds, how sound is the economy? How sound is our future?

loon enlarged in the last five years.

And so we continue to borrow about P1.5 trillion each year, probably more if the bonanza, which others call illusion, of foreign investments failing to come in to the country, despite all the hoopla about the president’s 13 trips, by tomorrow 14, with all the pledges that have yet to materialize.

The GDP, currently at P22 trillion, needs to double to almost P44 trillion by 2028, to be able to finance our expected deficits.

Will Maharlika be the magic wand?

Furthermore, the distribution of the nation’s wealth is what worries non-government economists in the academe and business sectors, on top of persistent inflation that is almost Sisyphean in character.

We reduce the inflation rate by one percentage point and our economic managers cry hallelujah, along with expectations to tame it by year-end to the hoped for 2 to 4 percent level. Then Russia and OPEC turn on the screws and reduce petroleum exports.

dependent on feeds and fertilizers from other countries.

I hate to be a jeremiad of doom, but expect inflation to remain in the 6 percent level the rest of this year, and perhaps till next.

On top of the geopolitical externalities is that devilish weather phenomenon called El Nino, which means less water available, and, when the typhoon season visits in the third and even fourth quarter of 2023, will mean stronger than usual cyclone strength as these move across the warm ocean waters of the Pacific into our shores.

In 2021, our per capita income was $3,900, already lower than Vietnam which ended a long war, first against the French, then the mighty US of A only in 1975. With a sluggish economy bedeviled by high inflation, and a world-wide recession looming, dreams of high growth will remain dreams.

To the poor who have been enduring the unequal distribution of wealth through decades, the only solution is, and will continue to be, to leave the Philippines for backbreaking work abroad, never mind love for the Philippines.

Already we are feeling the effects of this diaspora in the local scene, from a shortage of health and education professionals, to farm labor scarcity which dooms our agriculture to less and less productivity.

Meanwhile, our economic managers fret at the ballooning GAA-funded military pension system, which stand at about 200 billion this year, warning of “fiscal collapse.”

Yet, in the interstices of the national budget, between allocations for personnel salaries of a yet over-sized bureaucracy and wastefully-spent MOOE, are layers upon layers of pork which Congress insiders estimate at higher than P800 billion for 2023 and close to P900 billion.

Juxtaposed against the annual deficit of P1.5 to P1.6 trillion which we finance through more and more borrowings, the pork barrel insertions alone are more than half of the national deficit.

And our military and uniformed personnel, chafing at their being labelled as causes of fiscal collapse, now rightfully ask for an accounting, and beyond the numbers, a drastic reduction of greed from the legislators who will soon decide how to solve the Gordian Knot that is the pension system.

Like Alexander the Great, people ask, why not just cut the greed?

people healthier with they

Ultimately, a more walkable and bikeable city will encourage private vehicle users to also use, or even shift to, nonmotorized modes of transport. This would reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, and make people healthier with the exercise they would be getting.

It’s only gotten worse

Let’s face it, traffic in the metro has only gotten worse over succeeding government administrations.

Former President Duterte said he fulfilled all his campaign promises except for easing Edsa traffic, and blamed Congress for not giving him emergency powers to do so.

This failure to fix Edsa not only during the previous administration but over several decades is a huge blow to national development because the shortsightedness of all administrations including the present is to keep Manila as the country’s imperial center, and Edsa as the main thoroughfare.

People are sick and tired of the traffic and chaos and the interminable time spent look-

But how do the bloated budget allocations square off with our over-all economic performance this year?

The 2022 budget deficit, in plain and simple terms, the difference between our revenues and expenditure, was “1.6 trillion.

Let us assume that the BIR and BOC will meet their targets, perhaps even marginally

ing for a ride, and, when they’ve found a ride, sweltering inside vehicles longer than they’re moving because of the horrendous traffic.

An added burden is the high cost of public transportation that doubled after the war in Ukraine started, without salaries being increased to compensate.

The Filipino people need and deserve alternative forms of transportation that actually work for them and make them feel better instead of feeling like they are suffering in hell each time they go out.

The benefits of a bike culture

Cycling is a great way to get around, and it has many benefits for both individuals and society as a whole. In the Philippines, cycling is not as popular as it is in other countries such as the Netherlands, but there are many reasons why we should be trying to instill a bike-riding culture in our country.

Worse, Russia will interdict shipments of grain from Ukrainian ports as another weapon in the seemingly unending war.

That will push grain prices upwards, even to the point of scarcity, which will impact most food-importing nations like the Philippines, whose staple – rice -- it cannot produce enough to satisfy domestic consumption, and whose livestock and other food industries are

For one, it gives health benefits. Cycling is a great way to get exercise, and it can cut down the risk of obesity, diabetes, and other lifestylerelated diseases.

It is also a very affordable way to get around, and it can save money on transportation costs.

It is good for the environment. Cycling does not produce any emissions, so it is a very environmentally friendly way to travel.

This is especially important for a country like the Philippines, which is facing serious air pollution problems.

It can help reduce traffic congestion. If more people cycled, it would mean fewer cars on the road, which would help to reduce traffic congestion. This would make it easier and faster for everyone to get to their destinations. Bike commuting can also be a great way to meet new people and get to know your community, and make our cities more liveable.

No, Mr. President, the state of the nation is yet unsound, although with bated breath we will look to your words of “inspiration” this afternoon, hoping SONA will not be “Speech Only, No Accomplishments” as a naughty meme circulating in the internet suggests.

What raft of solutions will you be proposing to deal with the numbers that do not lie?

To encourage bike commuting in the Philippines, for one thing, the government needs to build protected bike lanes and other infrastructure that makes it safe and convenient to cycle.

This is what the ATIIP is supposed to do.

We need action, fast

The MMDA has a responsibility to implement the dry run without further delay and, working with all concerned stakeholders, do its part toward making Edsa a safer and more sustainable transportation corridor. For the agency to fail to act on this project immediately is to show its incompetence and lack of urgency in the face of steadily surmounting transportation challenges that will only tremendously set back productivity, health, and national development -- when the solution is staring at us right in the face.

* * FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO / Email: writerjennyo@gmail.com

People are sick and tired of the traffic and chaos and the interminable time spent looking for a ride

Today we will hear more words, but tomorrow we will expect more action

IN BRIEF

Brawner sets UNITY as new AFP doctrine

NEWLY appointed Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief and concurrent commander of the Philippine Army Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. has laid down his AFP Command Guidance, dubbed “UNITY” during his first AFP-wide command conference on Friday in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Brawner, who had just assumed the post as the 60th AFP chief succeeding Gen. Andres Centino who was appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as Presidential Adviser for the West Philippine Sea, emphasized five areas on which he will focus his efforts in line with the Commander-inChief’s call for national unity.

“U is Unification of all people internally - the command including officers, enlisted personnel, and civilian human resource and also, the people externally - especially the former rebels who will unite once again with their families; N is Normalization, for the AFP will support the normalization process in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; I is Internal Security Operations, as the command will sustain and protect the gains to prevent the resurgence of insurgency and terrorism in the country; T is Territorial Defense, the AFP will endeavor to modernize its equipment, facilities, processes, and subsystems; as well as maintain the discipline and professionalism to ensure that the organization is a credible and competent fighting force capable of defending the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty; and Y is Youth, the AFP will do its share in developing the Youth, the future leaders of our nation, to be responsible and patriotic defenders of the nation and territory,” Brawner explained. Vince Lopez

‘Proactive steps needed vs. El Niño’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rio N. Araja

SENATE Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III has stressed that the staggering economic implications highlight the importance of proactive and preventive measures to mitigate the impact of the water crisis and El Niño.

Meanwhile, 4Ps party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan said while the Philippines is on track to lead its Southeast Asian neighbors in economic growth and jobs creation in the months ahead, severe El Niño weather conditions could pose a significant risk.

Pimentel said it is very crucial for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to use

the State of the Nation Address (SONA) as a platform to present long-term strategies and sustainable solutions that can cushion the effects of water shortage and El Niño.

He cited a study by Columbia University which indicated that the El Niño event of 1997-1998 left 70 percent of the Philippines Pimentel also mentioned

the statement by the Union Bank of the Philippines chief economist Ruben Carlo Asuncion that a strong El Niño event could lead to national gross domestic product (GDP) losses of up to $3.3 billion.

As the country grapples with a recurring water shortage and the looming threat of El Niño, Pimentel urged President Marcos to prioritize long-term measures to address these pressing issues in his second SONA on Monday (July 24).

“It’s not just Maharlika Investment Fund,” he quipped.

He emphasized the urgent need to address the water crisis and mitigate the im-

pact of El Niño, particularly on agricultural productivity and the livelihood of farmers, the most vulnerable to El Niño.

“The adverse effects of water shortage and El Niño have far-reaching consequences on various sectors of the economy,” Pimentel said.

He pointed out that past droughts and water crises have caused a significant toll on the economy, business, agriculture, power generation, public health, and natural resources, among others.

Last March, the President himself acknowledged the gravity of the water crisis, stating that 11 million families lack access to clean water as the dry season approaches.

PA holds

forum to boost soldiers’ professionalism

THE Philippine Army (PA) through the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Plans (OG-5), held its 10th Strategic Forum which organized key Army officers to pursue professional and organizational development at the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City last July 20.

The event, anchored on the theme “Forging Strategic Minds: Unpacking Uncertainties of the Operating Environment,” aimed to equip the participants with a basic appreciation of key geostrategic issues affecting the region, as well as military responses to the increasingly complicated cognitive domain.

Resource persons from the Department of National Defense (DND), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the academe shared perspectives on the operational environment’s complexities and the cognitive domain’s intricacies. Vince Lopez

Barbers calls for strict regulation of AI tech

SURIGAO del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers on Sunday urged policy-makers in the legislative and the executive branches to urgently tackle the creation of an agency tasked to craft guidelines on governance and ethics and act as “guardrail” in the use, development and implementation of a national artificial intelligence strategy.

Barbers said regulators across the world from the United States of America, Great Britain, European Union, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are currently rushing to draft regulations to govern the use of the booming AI technology.

He earlier filed a bill calling for the creation of a “superbody” to be known as Artificial Intelligence Development Authority (AIDA) to oversee the development and deployment of AI technologies, ensuring compliance with AI ethics principles and guidelines, and protecting the rights and welfare of individuals and communities affected by AI technologies. Rio N. Araja

DOJ says BARMM powers over NIA have

By Rey E. Requejo

NOT all properties and assets of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) can be turned over to the Bangsamoro government, according to the Depart-

“After a careful review of the applicable laws and jurisprudence, we

limits

opine that the BG’s (Bangsamoro government) authority over the irrigation system in the BARMM extends only to communal irrigation system (CIS) and thus, only properties and assets confined to CIS should be turned over to the BG,” the DOJ declared in a legal opinion issued last July 6.

The legal opinion signed by DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty was addressed to BARMM Deputy Executive

Secretary for General Administration

Naealla Bainto Aguinaldo.

The DOJ issued the opinion after NIA and BG’s Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB) failed to resolve their opposing views on two provisions of the BARMM Law or Republic Act No. 11054 –the regional economy and patrimony under Section 37, Article XIII, and Bangsamoro transition authority under Section 11, Article XVI.

WELCOME HOME,

DAD. A girl beams as she hugs her homecoming father, a member of the 4th Marine Battalion which landed at the Naval Base Alano in Sangley Point, Cavite City, ending 12 years of stint at the Western Frontier, specifically Palawan province. In his message, Philippine Marine Corp. chief Maj. Gen. Arturo Rojas lauded the unit’s success in dismantling the Communist Terrorists Group’s Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee.

PMC photo

By Othel V. Campos

AHEAD of the 2023 State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco revealed the key contributions to the 10-point agenda for economic renewal and growth under the current administration, and the strides made towards the country’s transformation into a tourism powerhouse in Asia.

“We thank our President Marcos, Jr. for identifying tourism as a priority, which provided the impetus for the Department of Tourism’s aggressive efforts to reintroduce the Philippines on the strength of its greatest assets, and to improve the essential pillars of tourism development, laid down in the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2023 – 2028 crafted and approved under his administration,” Frasco said.

One of the highlights of the Tourism report was the recovery of tourism numbers. As of July 21, 2023, the DOT has recorded 3,017, 224 foreign visitor arrivals, almost 60 percent of the 4.8 million arrival target for the entire 2023.

DOE set to meet challenges of PBBM’s 2nd year in office—Lotilla

By Alena Mae S. Flores

THE Department of Energy (DOE) is ready to take on the challenges of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s second year in office after successfully implementing reforms in the energy sector and minimizing power outages in his first

year in office.

“Immediate, medium term, long term, we’re all set for the President’s second year in office,” Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said during the launch of the Energy Regulatory Commission’s online platform ERC LINKod that will reduce the processing time for

all services by an average of 50 percent.

Lotilla said the DOE was “able to the keep the lights on despite forecasts of massive power interruptions” upon the President’s assumption in office.

“The other one which the President says we have to ensure adequate supply for our people. While we have experi-

enced power interruptions, the question actually that I was asked why didn’t we have more brownouts than what was predicted,” the Energy chief said.

“We did have some brownouts, but that’s why I’m thankful for everyone in the power industry for having cooperated,” Lotilla said.

DICT: All hands on gov’t digitalization efforts

THE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) needs all hands on deck in improving governance through digitalization.

The E-Governance Act or House Bill No. 7327, a consolidation of 21 related measures, was highlighted by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as one of his priority measures in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) last year.

The bill was approved by the House of Representatives on March 6.

Marcos’ marching order was to “accelerate the buildup of digital infrastructure in the country,” so that through information and communications technology, Filipinos have a better and more efficient government that is easier to transact with.

During his presentation at the “A Year After Build Better More” event of the British Chamber of Commerce–Philippines on July 13, DICT

chief of staff for the Office of E-Government TR Mon Gutierrez gave an update on the six priority projects of the DICT under e-governance -eLGU, eTravel, eGovPay, eGovCloud, eReport, and eGov PH app.

The eLGU is a one-stop system that combines all local government unit (LGU) services such as business permit licensing, notice of violations, a notification system, community tax, health certificates, local civil registry, business tax, and real property tax.

“Its objective is to provide Filipinos with a comprehensive online platform that serves as a centralized hub for LGU system automation and eservices, offering a diverse array of services. This platform is designed to streamline the process of doing business, ensuring convenience and efficiency,” Gutierrez said.

Frasco bares DOT gains ahead of 2nd SONA by PBBM

ment of Justice (DOJ).

CLOTH WEAVER. A T’boli woman from Lake Sebu, South Cotabato shows off her mastery of weaving the “t’nalak” cloths which is one of their tribal heritage. This demo is a part of the celebration of the 57th foundation celebration of the province of South Cotabato and 24th Tnalak Festival.

Amiel M. Cagayan

GIANT SHOE. Two women are delighted in taking their selfie with a giant, wheeled shoe displayed at the mini park of Marikina City Hall, the city being known as the shoe capital of the Philippines. Teddy Brul

PSE INDEX CLOSING

Friday, July 21, 2023

34.06 PTS.

6,647.56

F oreign e xchange r ate Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas • FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2023 Currency UnitUS DollarPeso

United States Dollar 1.00000054.4610

By Darwin G. Amojelar

SAN Miguel Corp. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. are set to submit by early next month a final joint offer to the Cavite provincial government for an expressway connecting Cavite and Batangas provinces and traversing Tagaytay City.

“The final joint agreement will be submitted in the next two weeks,”

Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla said in a Viber message.

San Miguel and MPIC had agreed in principle to jointly develop the expressway after submitting separate proposals last year to the Cavite provincial gov-

Market awaits Fed policy meeting results this week

ernment and the Department of Public Works and Highways, respectively.

Remulla said San Miguel and MPIC would now submit a revised alignment for the Cavite-Batangas Expressway project. The two conglomerates are the largest toll road operators in Luzon and the Visayas and plan to build more

SHARE prices are expected to trade sideways this week ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s meeting.

Analysts said the Fed policy meeting on July 25 to 26 would likely take center stage as investors tune in if it would implement a 25-basis-point rate hike or keep the rates unchanged.

“If the Fed keeps its policy rate unchanged, it may push the local market higher. If the Fed raises their policy rates, however, then it may put downward pressure on the bourse,” Philstocks Financial Inc. senior research analyst Japhet Tantiangco said.

“If the local market is able to hold its position at 6,600, this will be considered as its new support while the next resistance is seen at 6,800,” he said.

Online brokerage firm 2TradeAsia.com said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas would not likely mirror the Fed’s move until its scheduled meeting next month.

Investors would also listen to the State of the Nation Address by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. where he is expected to outline the administration’s plans to further grow the economy.

The onset of the second-quarter earnings result could also boost investors sentiments this week as the first batch of earnings report was largely positive. Jenniffer B. Austria

POGOs’ tax contribution up 127% to P8.88b in 2022

THE Philippine offshore gaming operations are expected to deliver a robust performance this year despite their declining presence, buoyed by positive numbers reported by tax and gaming regulators last year. Data from the Department of Finance showed that tax payments made by POGOs to the Bureau of Internal Revenue surged 127 percent in 2022 to P8.88 billion from P3.91 billion in 2021. The bulk of payments to the BIR consisted of withholding taxes amounting to P4.35 billion, followed by gaming taxes at P3.65 billion.

POGO companies contributed P805.99 million in income taxes, P43.2 million in business taxes, P19.42 million in documentary tax stamps and P9 million in other taxes.

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. chairman and chief executive Alejandro Tengco predicted that the gross gaming revenue generated from POGOs would reach P24 billion by end-2023, more than double the P11 billion achieved in 2022.

PAGCOR made the projection despite the steady decline in the number of registered POGOs to 32 as of July 18 from its pre-pandemic peak of 281 in 2019.

Julito G. Rada

DOE readies third round of green energy auction

THE Department of Energy plans to conduct a third round of Green Energy Auction Program for geothermal, run-of-river hydro and pumped storage hydro in November 2023.

DOE Undersecretary Rowena Guevara said while the agency had not yet set the targets, they were already talking with industry players on the auction capacity per technology.

“We have not finished talking with the private sector on what are ready [projects] because we do not want to put in targets that cannot be met,” Guevara said.

She said the DOE would submit data related to the technologies for auction under GEAP 3 to the Energy Regulatory Commission.

Guevara said the DOE met with the industry players last week to discuss the “pain points” of GEAP 2.

GEAP 2 generated a total of 3,440.756 MW of renewable energy capacities out of 11,600 MW that was auctioned for installation for the years 2024, 2025 and 2026.

Guevara said the industry identified the GEAR price, availability of transmission lines and short preparation time for the low turnout of GEAP 2.

Alena Mae S. Flores

Globe presents proposed reforms in telecom sector

GLOBE Telecom Inc. presented a list of regulatory reforms they wished President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would address to sustain the country’s digital transformation.

The telecom arm of the Ayala Group unveiled its list a day before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would deliver his second State of the Nation Address on Jan. 24.

It expressed hope the government would ensure the timely electrification of ICT infrastructure, particularly cell towers, so that telcos could provide life-enabling connectivity to more areas.

Globe called for the rationalization of the 26-yearold Spectrum User Fees to enable an unhampered shift to advanced network technologies. It said the SUF penalizes greater use of more spectrumefficient 4G and 5G and other fixed wireless access technologies.

Globe also pushed for a law that requires developers to allocate space for telco infrastructure and amendments of the National Building Code and/ or its IRR to require the mandatory provision of telecommunications infrastructure in developments.

It also called for the passage of law that would penalize the use of e-wallets as conduits for money laundering and other scams as digital financial transactions continue to grow. Darwin G. Amojelar

expressways to improve connectivity in the country.

The provincial government earlier approved the P27-billion unsolicited proposal of San Miguel Holdings Corp., the infrastructure unit of SMC, for the 27.06-kilometer CBEX.

CBEX will traverse Silang, Amadeo, Tagaytay, Indang, Mendez and Alfonso in Cavite and Nasugbu in Batangas. It was shorter than the proposed toll road submitted by MPIC.

San Miguel also secured a 35-year concession to design, build, operate and maintain the four-lane, 61-kilometer toll road or the Nasugbu-Bauwan Expressway for P44.77 billion. NBEX, which begins in Barangay

San Miguel, MPIC to submit joint Tagaytay toll road offer in August IN BRIEF

Kaylaway, Nasugbu town, runs parallel to Tagaytay-Nasugbu and Palico-Balayan highways. The terminus of NBEX connects to the proposed CBEX which leads to Tagaytay and Silang.

Metro Pacific Tollway Corp. in 2018 proposed to the DPWH a similar project that would connect Cavite and Batangas through Tagaytay City.

The DPWH granted the original proponent status to MPTC for the proposed P22.4-billion Cavite-Tagaytay Batangas Expressway—a 50.4-kilometer toll road that will connect Cavite and Batangas, with a spur road to Tagaytay City and ultimately terminating in Nasugbu and another spur road to Tuy, Batangas.

By Jenniffer B. Austria

THE Philippine Stock Exchange denied the request of Holcim Philippines Inc. to lift its trading suspension, making the cement firm’s planned tender offer costlier and more cumbersome to minority shareholders.

Holcim said in a disclosure to the stock exchange late Friday it received the PSE’s letter denying its request to lift the trading suspension pursuant to Bureau of Internal Revenue Regulations No. 16-2012.

BIR RR 16-2012 provides that the tax treatment of sales or other disposition of shares of stocks of a publiclylisted company that is non-compliant with the minimum public ownership requirement should be subject to capital gains tax and documentary stamp tax.

The same policy could affect SP New Energy Corp., which is also hoping to get its trading suspension lifted to allow it to conduct private placement and increase its public float back to the required 10 percent.

500,000 houses to rise in Tarlac’s New Clark City

By Othel V. Campos

STATE-RUN Bases Conversion and Development Author-

ity signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development to develop 500,000 housing units within the New Clark City in Tarlac province.

The two agencies formalized their partnership with the signing of the MOU under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Housing Program.

“This could be the answer to decongestion of surrounding highly-urbanized areas, and also tapping the full economic potential of New Clark City by putting up residential structures, hence, the populace,” said DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar, citing the huge potential of the area in terms of township developments under 4PH.

“There are already government facilities here. We only need to bring in population to spur economic activities. And by putting up decent yet affordable and sustainable housing units, surely, we will attract home buyers,” he said.

Azucar said the DHSUD and BCDA committed to ex-

ploring the plan within the next few weeks.

New Clark City is envisioned to be the country’s first smart, green and resilient metropolis, masterfully laid out and highly connected with mixed-use developments and an integrated transport system.

The 9,450-hectare greenfield development is being positioned as a world-class city that focuses on livebility and sustainability and is expected to catalyze economic growth in Central Luzon.

BCDA chairman Delfin Lorenzana said the green city is being developed with the needs of the people at the forefront of the masterplan.

“We believe that New Clark City is one of the ideal sites for the Marcos administration’s housing program, having the potential to play a key role in addressing the housing shortage in the country,” he said.

The proposed housing sites would benefit the residents and workers in Clark regardless of age, background and income. It will also provide housing facilities to families affected by government projects in New Clark City and government employees and members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The transfer of shares will only be recorded in the books of the corporation once the certificate authorizing registration and/or tax clearance certificate is secured.

The PSE said in a statement these problems and concerns could have been avoided if Holcim and Holderfin had taken into consideration the interest of public shareholders before implementing the share transaction between Holderfin and Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd.

“As such, the purchase by the Holderfin B.V., acting as the bidder in the tender offer and the transfer of the tender offer shares from the tendering shareholders of the company to the bidder will have to be effected outside the facilities of the PSE,” Holcim said.

This means that the minority shareholders that will participate in the tender offer should shoulder the cost and expenses for the sale of the tendered shares. The minority shareholders will also be responsible for the filing of the CGT Return and DST Return and securing the CAR.

MANGROVE REHAB. Volunteers from Cebu Pacific and Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. team up to support the conservation and restoration of mangroves in Cebu. CEB and RAFI signed a memorandum of agreement to jointly enhance a mangrove plantation in Barangay Tapon, Dumanjug, Cebu. The project aims to plant 10,000 mangrove seedlings across 10 hectares of mangrove area.

ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY

Extreme weather highlights need for considerable climate measures

SCORCHING

City planning must factor in requirements of migrants

WITH two thirds of the world’s population likely living in urban areas by 2050, the UN’s High-Level Political Forum turned the spotlight on the sustainable development of cities. Cities and towns have become the drivers of economic growth and now account for more than 80 per cent of global GDP. Yet, in 2020, over one billion inhabitants of urban areas were still living in slums or informal settlements, predominantly in Asia and subSaharan Africa. As urban populations grow, slums expand even faster, UN data recently shows.

This number is expected to keep rising with an additional two billion people projected to move there over the next 30 years.

said last week.

June witnessed the warmest global average temperature on record, and heatwaves have persisted into early July, according to the UN weather agency, Torrential rains and floods have resulted in dozens of fatalities and affected millions in the United States, Japan, China and India.

“The extreme weather—an increasingly frequent occurrence in our warming climate—is having a major impact on human health, ecosystems, economies, agriculture, energy and water supplies,” said WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas.

“We have to step up efforts to help society adapt to what is unfortunately becoming the new normal,” he added.

Heatwaves, among the deadliest natural hazards, kill thousands of people each year.

Elevated temperatures raise the risk of forest fires, as seen recently in Canada, which lost over nine million hectares of forests in 2023 till date, far surpassing the 10-year average of about 800,000 hectares. The resulting pollution and haze spread across much of the northeastern United States, impacting the health of millions.

Above-normal temperatures, with the mercury rising more than five degrees Celsius (41 degrees Fahrenheit) above the long-term average, are forecast in the Mediterranean region over the next two weeks, as well as in many places in North Africa, the Middle East and Türkiye.

A widespread heatwave is intensifying in the southern United States, with high temperatures likely in numerous places, according to the US National Weather Service, which says a few locations could even register all-time temperature records.

Heavy rains and flooding have caused severe damage and loss of life in several parts of the world in recent days.

WMO said the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) has issued heavy rain emergency warnings for the Fukuoka and Oita prefectures, on Kyushu, the country’s

What is circular economy and why does it matter?

CONCLUSION:

Many countries and territories are already adopting circular economy approaches to shift development and growth to cleaner, greener, and more regenerative ones.

Kosovo, for example, is supporting innovative solutions for start-ups and SMEs, including the development of a mobile app for identifying environmental pollution and misconduct in urban areas.

Ghana is working to improve urban waste management by supporting entrepreneurs who are building houses made of recycled plastic waste.

Meanwhile, by transitioning to a circular economy, countries like Jordan are creating opportunities for women, allowing them to find employment, learn new skills, open their own businesses and take leadership positions in their community.

The Philippines has enacted a bill that requires large manufacturers to limit the use of plastic packaging and pay for the cost of managing plastic waste.

And an increasing number of countries, such as Mexico, are working to better connect circular economy solutions with their climate action plans. Mexico is developing and implementing training programs for subnational authorities to identify circular economy actions that will contribute towards the roadmap for implementing the country’s updated NDC.

The island nation of Vanuatu is more circular than any other country whose circularity has been estimated. In 2021, its domestic consumption was estimated to be 59 percent circular. Ranking behind it were the Netherlands with 24.5 percent, and Austria with 9.7 percent. Meanwhile, global circularity has dropped from 8.6 percent in 2020 to 7.2 percent in 2023.

Indigenous peoples

For a truly circular economy, we, as a collective, need to not only look ahead to new innovative approaches or technologies, but also look back to see what has already worked, and continues to work.

Indigenous peoples have been implementing circular solutions as a way of life for thousands of years– whether it is through agricultural practices that ensure natural systems are regenerated, or building housing and structures using regenerative materials such as bamboo or adobe bricks.

These experiences and practices offer a lot of wisdom and guidance on how to

create a truly circular world. In following principles set by these practices, we can better foster local economies centered around holistic approaches and in the process nurture resilience, reciprocity and respect between people and planet.

UNDP support

Whether focusing on climate change, sustainable energy, food and agriculture, or chemicals and waste management, UNDP is working with countries to scale and accelerate transformative change by integrating circular and green economy approaches. For example, under UNDP’s Climate Promise, The Gambia, Lao PDR, South Sudan, Uganda and Vanuatu conducted detailed circular economy assessments as part of their NDC revision process to identify and prioritize circular economy interventions for enhancing their climate ambition.

We’re also supporting a wide range of actions including national, urban and sectoral planning and budgeting, and by convening and engaging key stakeholders and partners at global, regional, and national levels to help build capacities and raise awareness of circular economy and other important nexuses.

Transition

Despite the urgent need to shift to a circular economy, material extraction is rising every year, with circularity declining–from 9.1 percent in 2018 to 7.2 percent in 2023. This means that we are using more virgin materials and becoming more wasteful.

To start closing the loop, UNDP believes that countries should leverage their national climate pledges―their NDCs―to include circular economy measures. As of May 2023, only 27 percent of NDCs include circular economy, so there is ample room for action.

On this journey, it will be key for governments to engage a broad range of stakeholders across different value chains and at all stages, ensuring that all voices are heard in the process, particularly the most marginalized and vulnerable. This way, we can ensure that the best solutions are prioritized in the NDC, are inclusive of all those affected, and have local ownership to be effectively implemented on the ground.

With the next round of NDC revisions required in 2025, now is the time to define circular economy measures to include in NDCs, helping to accelerate the transition to a more circular and regenerative world. UNDP News

third largest island, together with a new daily rainfall record two days ago.

“It’s raining like never before,” JMA said.

Meanwhile, the northeastern US, including New York state and New England has seen deadly torrential rains. New York issued a flash flood emergency and more than four million people were under floods alerts on July 11.

Elsewhere, floods in northwest China killed a reported 15 people, and northern India, roads and bridges collapsed and houses were swept away as rivers overflowed during heavy monsoonal rainfall and flooding, claiming dozens of lives.

Extreme weather events, such as floods, heat and drought, affect millions of people and cost billions annually. The UN agency also highlighted that

while developed countries have increased level of preparedness, such as warnings, and management of floods, low-income countries remain vulnerable.

“As the planet warms, the expectation is that we will see more and more intense, more frequent, more severe rainfall events, leading also to more severe flooding,” said Stefan Uhlenbrook, WMO Director of hydrology, water and cryosphere.

“Developed countries like Japan are extremely alert, and they’re also very well prepared when it comes to flood management measures. But many low-income countries have no warnings in place, hardly any flood defense structures and no integrated flood management. WMO is committed to improving the situation,” he said. UN News

122m more people pushed into hunger since 2019

OVER 122 million more people are facing hunger in the world since 2019 due to the pandemic and repeated weather shocks and conflicts, including the war in Ukraine, according to the latest State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report published jointly and recently by five United Nations specialized agencies. If trends remain as they are, the Sustainable Development Goal of ending hunger by 2030 will not be reached, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Food Program (WFP) warn.

The 2023 edition of the report shows that between 691 and 783 million people faced hunger in 2022, with a mid-range of 735 million. This represents an increase of 122 million people compared to 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. While global hunger numbers have stalled between 2021 and 2022, there are many places in the world facing deepening food crises. Progress in hunger reduction was observed in Asia and Latin America, but hunger was still on the rise in Western

Asia, the Caribbean and throughout all subregions of Africa in 2022. Africa remains the worst-affected region with one in five people facing hunger on the continent, more than twice the global average.

“There are rays of hope, some regions are on track to achieve some 2030 nutrition targets. But overall, we need an intense and immediate global effort to rescue the Sustainable Development Goals. We must build resilience against the crises and shocks that drive food insecurity-from conflict to climate, said UN Secretary-General António Guterres through a video message during the launch of the report at the UN Headquarters in New York.

The heads of the five UN agencies write in the report’s Foreword: “No doubt, achieving the Sustainable Development Goal target of Zero Hunger by 2030 poses a daunting challenge. Indeed, it is projected that almost 600 million people will still be facing hunger in 2030. The major drivers of food insecurity and malnutrition are our “new normal,” and we have no option but to redouble our efforts to transform agri-food systems and leverage them towards reaching the Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2) targets.”

PLDT, Smart workers bare recycling plan

PLDT Inc. and its wireless unit Smart Communicattions Inc. are advancing sustainability culture in the workplace by empowering employees to recycle.

The PLDT Group during the celebration of its Environmental, Health and Safety Week launched the enhanced recycling and waste management program for employees called ‘Be Kind. Recycle.’ in support of a circular economy.

As part of the program, a weeklong electronic waste (e-waste) collection drive in the PLDT and Smart headquarters allowed employees to donate old electronic devices and appliances like mobile phones, landline phones, routers, laptops, chargers and others. Employees turned over more than 5,500 units of household e-waste. “As much as waste is bad for the plan-

et and the environment, it is also harmful to us humans as it poses serious risks to our health and safety, if not handled and treated properly. We are piloting the ‘Be Kind. Recycle.’ program targeting e-waste to help develop the practice of recycling as an act of kindness for us and for the planet,” said Melissa Vergel de Dios, chief sustainability officer at PLDT and Smart. The PLDT Group, including PLDT, Smart, e-PLDT and PLDT Global, is doubling down on its efforts to manage e-waste. The 2022 United Nations’ Global E-Waste Monitor Report cited the Philippines as among the top e-waste generators in Southeast Asia. Improper e-waste disposal impacts people’s health and damages the environment.

In addition to the e-waste collection, the PLDT Group held an organizational

Many will be migrants from rural areas or other countries, forced to leave their homes due to climate change, economic distress and armed conflicts. The head of the UN migration agency told the HLPF it was time to incorporate them fully into urbanization plans.

“Cities are on the frontline demonstrating that, when factored into urban planning, human mobility as a whole is a key driver of sustainable development,” said António Vitorino, Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Believing that migration can be an accelerator of inclusive growth, he called for new national policies allowing migrants to become “active change-makers” in societies. Representatives of migrants, said IOM chief, should participate in urban planning.

The forum highlighted the challenges and opportunities associated with urbanization and the urgent need to address the growing issue of reducing the footprint of slums and slum-like conditions.

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 seeks to address this by making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable by 2030.

According to UN statistics, the expansion of global cities in terms of physical infrastructure has outpaced population growth rates. Data from 681 cities collected between 1990 and 2020 reveal that the average annual land consumption rates were at 2.0 per cent, compared to population growth rates of about 1.6 per cent from 2000 to 2020. This trend highlights the need for more sustainable urban planning and land management strategies.

While air quality has improved globally, largely due to efforts in highincome countries, there is a need to address air pollution in towns, as they often experience poorer air quality compared to cities. For example, in 2019, towns in eastern and Southeast Asia experienced a serious deterioration in air quality

A lack of public spaces and accessible streets also pose a challenge in cities worldwide. Data from 1,072 urban areas in 120 countries in 2020, indicated that over 75 percent of these cities had less than 20 percent of their area dedicated to open public spaces and streets, falling significantly short of the recommended figures.

Open public spaces accounted for a meager 3.2 percent of urban land, about four times less than the area taken up by streets.

On a positive note, according to UN data, towns and cities are now better prepared for different types of disasters, as the number of countries with national disaster risk reduction strategies grows steadily.

Some 102 countries reported that local government bodies have developed disaster risk reduction strategies, up from just 51 countries in 2015.

PLDT and Smart Communications Inc. president and chief executive officer Alfredo Panlilio drops his old phone for recycling. learning session with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) about e-waste and their hazards to communities. UNIDO also shared tips with employees on how to properly handle and recycle e-waste materials.

temperatures are engulfing large parts of the Northern hemisphere, while devastating floods triggered by relentless rainfall have disrupted lives and livelihoods, underscoring the urgent need for more climate action, the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

‘Elvis,’ a Galapagos Tortoise, is sprayed with water as staff at the Phoenix Zoo take extra measures to keep animals and guests cool during a record heat wave in Phoenix, Arizona on July 19, 2023. Millions suffered through intense heat July 19, 2023 as fires raged, health worries mounted and the world appeared headed for its hottest month of July on record. In Arizona, the mercury at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport again reached 110 Fahrenheit (43.3 Celsius) on July 18, 2023, breaking the previous record of 18 consecutive days at or above that temperature, set in 1974. AFP

UNICEF PHOTO

Filipinas brace for Ferns; Stajcic’s belief unshaken

AUCKLAND—Australian coach Alen Stajcic’s faith in the Filipinas remains unshaken, believing in their capability to rise to the challenge as they brace for their all-important meeting with the hometown Ferns in three days at the Sky Stadium in Wellington.

“Despite the result, we have a lot of belief,” said Stajcic on Sunday after his charges’ 0-2 loss to Switzerland in their unforgettable FIFA Women’s World Cup Group A opening match last week at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in the chilly southern city of Dunedin.

“We all knew that it was an amazing performance (by the Filipinas) for a debut in the World Cup,” said the Australian tactician, recalling how his players displayed their poise against the fancied Swiss early on in the match.

“There are so many people who may have questioned how nervous the team was going into the first game, and if they did belong and should be here,” he said, “but I think we showed that we belong at this level.”

“For a first effort in the World Cup, I really thought our players were amazing. Everyone back home in the Philippines and all their fans should be really proud how they represented the country,” added Stajcic. He pointed to the early goings of the

game when his wards, who are also supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, showed great resolve and resiliency in hanging in there against a squad 26 rungs higher than them in the FIFA women’s world rankings at No. 20.

“In the first 15 to 20 minutes, I thought we were exceptional and (these) probably were the best moments for us,” the Aussie mentor said. “It just shows how well we prepared as a team.”

With the lessons learned from the last match against the Swiss, the Filipinas continued to refine their play at their base camp training facility at the Olympic Park here on Sunday before heading for Wellington on Monday on the eve of their game against the hosts.

The last time the two sides met, the

Malixi falls short, Romero wins title

RIANNE Malixi wobbled a bit at resumption of the exacting 36-hole duel and lost whatever rhythm and momentum she had gained in a brave morning stand, yielding a 1-up result – and the championship – to Kiara Romero of the US in the US Girls’ Junior final at the Eisenhower Golf Club’s Blue course in Colorado Saturday.

Malixi was in control at the onset, winning the first hole on a Romero mishap and stayed in command until the 22nd hole when she made a bogey on the par-4 No. 4. She was impressive on the military layout’s par-3s all week but a bogey on No. 13, the 31st hole, enabled her third-seeded rival to seize the lead for only the second time with five to play.

Romero, 17, halved the remaining holes to frustrate the Filipina ace and clinch the coveted crown.

“I’m just so excited and super tired,” said Romero. “It’s been a long day and I’m grad I got it done.” Romero actually overshot the par-4 18th, the 36th hole, leaving her a downhill chip. She hit it eight feet past the hole but calmly stroked the tricky putt to nail the victory and dash whatever hopes Malixi had had for a playoff.

“I didn’t think about how it would determine the match,” said Romero. “I just tried to focus on putting a good stroke on it.”

The victory also netted the incoming Univ. of Oregon freshman, whose mother is a Filipina, an exemption to next year’s US Women’s Open and an invitation to the 2024 Augusta Women’s amateur. It was a heart-breaker of a setback for Malixi, who had hoped to cap an incredible journey in the week marked by a steal of a win over Audrey Rischer in the Round of 16 and a couple more of gutsy wins with a crowning glory to what had been a sterling amateur career.

Champions Ginebra, TNT clash in PBA 3x3 opener

Ferns emerged with a come-from-behind 2-1 win in a friendly held on Sept. 6, 2023 at the Titans Stadium in Fullerton, California.

The Filipinas will face not only an inspired side still riding on the momentum of its 1-0 upset of Norway at the Eden Park here last week, but also the hometown fans who are expected to fill every nook and cranny of 34,000-seat arena.

But they are also no strangers to overcoming adversity as shown by their epic accomplishment in capturing the 10th AFF Women’s Championship trophy just slightly over a year ago in Manila.

Obiena 2nd to Nilsen; Duplantis settles for 4th

By Peter Atencio

CHISTOPHER Nilsen of the United States had his best jump of the season after beating his world no. 2 Filipino rival Ernest John “EJ” Obiena on Saturday in the Monaco Diamond League.

Competing against Armand Duplantis and Obiena in the Diamond League feels like he is in a world championship everytime.

“Every Diamond League event is like another world championship. The only difference is that this has become higher than a world championship,” said the American.

Nilsen, who is in a rivalry for the no. 2 position with Obiena, cleared of 5.92 meters for the gold medal, with Obiena (5.82) and Kurtis Marschall of Australian taking second and third, respectively.

Duplantis of Sweden settled for

fourth at 5.72 meters.

“Quite a series of trips this past week but @diamondleaguemonaco didn’t disappoint. 5.82m and a silver place finish. Big congratulations to @ nilsenvault for the W,” said Obiena in a Facebook message.

Obiena made it to no. 2 in the world rankings after he upstaged Nilsen this week with 1432 points.

Nilsen has dropped to second when he claimed the bronze medal at the Diamond League’s Silesia Kamila Skolimowska Memorial tournament in Chorzow, Poland.

The Diamond League is an annual series of top-tier elite track and field athletic competitions.

Obiena is expected to see action in London on July 23 and Zurich on Aug. 31, before the last stop of the Diamond League in Brussels on Sept. 8.

Virtual British Open champ Harman says patience from hunting is key

HOYLAKE, United Kingdom—British Open runaway leader Brian Harman says hunting has taught him “patience” and “strategy” as he closes in on his first major win at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club.

The American, nicknamed the “Butcher of Hoylake” because of his fondness for hunting, is 12 under par after three rounds, five clear of compatriot Cameron Young.

The 36-year-old, a runner-up at the 2017 US Open, is a two-time winner on the US PGA Tour but has not lifted a trophy for six years.

Harman admitted after his two-under-par 69 on Saturday that he had envisioned becoming a

major winner.

“I’ve thought about winning majors for my whole entire life,” he said. “It’s the whole reason

I work as hard as I do and why I practise as much as I do and why I sacrifice as much as I do.

“Tomorrow if that’s going to come to fruition for me, it has to be all about the golf.”

The world number 26 said hunting at home in America had taught him “patience and the strategy” for golf.

“When I go out turkey hunting I can spend all day out there,” he said. “Hunting is something else that I do that makes me lose track of time.

“We’ve been on some really cool elk hunts out in Colorado, really tough hunting, tons of elevation, and then after we harvest the animal.”

He added: “I enjoy putting meat in the freezer. We eat wild meat a lot at home.”

Harman, who comes from the state of Georgia, said he was taught how to hunt as a young boy. “My dad used to take me hunting,” he said. “We always made it a point that I knew how to skin a deer when I was eight years old... I enjoy it start to finish.” AFP

LEG winners TNT and Barangay Ginebra face each other early in the resumption of the PBA 3x3 First Conference Season 3 Monday at the Ayala Mall Circuit.

The Triple Giga and the Kings are bunched in Pool A along with Meralco, and are poised to tangle right in the opening day of Leg 4.

The TNT-Ginebra tussle is set at 1:50 p.m. in the sixth out of the 13 matches on board in the first day of pool play.

The Kings won the first two legs of the conference, but was denied by the Tropang Giga the distinction of being the first team to win three straight leg titles when they ousted them in the quarterfinals last week, 21-19. TNT proceeded to win the crown by beating Pioneer Elastoseal, 17-13.

The Triple Giga will return the trio of Almond Vosotros, Lervin Flores, and Samboy De Leon, but inserted Ping Exciminiano in the roster in liue of Gryann Mendoza.

The Kings tapped anew Kim Aurin, Ralph Salcedo, and Raphael Cu, and replaced JJ Espanoila with John Ubalde.

As runner up in Leg 3, Pioneer leads Pool B and is joined by Wilcon Depot, Blackwater Smooth Razor, and Northport.

Cavitex, third placer each in the first three legs, banners Pool C together with San Miguel, Purefoods, and Terrafirma.

The Beermen and Titans open hostilities at 10:30 a.m.

The top three teams in Pool B and C will advance on Tuesday’s knockout stage along with the top two teams in Pool A. Leg champion re- ceives the P100,000 prize purse.

Philippine fans cheer in the stands during the 2023 Women’s World Cup Group A football match between the Philippines and Switzerland at Dunedin Stadium in Dunedin. Filipino fans, however, are expected to be outnumbered when the Philippine team plays host New Zealand on Tuesday at the Wellington Regional Stadium in Wellington, NZ. AFP

Coach Alen Stajcic

Ernest John Obiena

Brian Harman

A protester carries a placard reading “No retirement for proletarians, no Olympics games for the bobo (bourgeoisbohemian group)” during a demonstration called by the CGT union, against the government’s pensions reform on the sidelines of the 6th edition of the “Choose France” Summit near the Chateau de Versailles, outside Paris. Since 2018, the Choose France Summit seeks to promote France’s economic attractiveness and encourage international investment across the country and brings together hundreds of leaders from the largest multinational corporations. AFP

Republic of the Philippines National Capital Judicial Region REGIONAL TRIAL COURT Mandaluyong City, Branch 212 rtc212mdl1@judiciary.gov.ph

ALBA MONTILLA, R-MND-23-00488-LR ERIKA JEAN ALBA ROMERO, EUNICE ANDREA ALBA RODRIGUEZ, JAMES PATRICK ALMENDRAS ALBA,

JOGIE L. ALCANTARA, Defendant, x------------------------------------------------------x

VON JOGIE L. ALCANTARA Defendant #8 Misamis St., Brgy. Sto. Cristo, Quezon City

RTC,

Riots add to Paris Olympics’ security woes a year from start

PARIS—As riots raged around France earlier this month, infrastructure for next year’s Paris Olympics risked becoming engulfed in the violence, adding a fresh worry for organisers who face a head-spinning list of security challenges one year before the Games start.

Surveillance was increased around the under-construction Olympic athletes’ village, media centre and swimming complex which are in the deprived Seine-Saint-Denis area of northeast Paris, one of the hotspots of the rioting.

In the end, a building which will house a training pool suffered minor damage to its facade when an adjacent bus depot went up in flames and an attempted arson attack on the media centre was thwarted by two alert security guards.

“We were very close to having a major problem,” Nicolas Ferrand, head of the Solideo organisation in charge of Olym-

pics construction work, said afterwards.

GREETINGS: You are hereby required, within sixty (60) days from the date of the last publication of this summons, to file with this Court and serve on the plaintiff your answer to the Complaint, copy of which is likewise served upon you through publication. You are reminded of Section 12 (a), Rule 15 of the 2019 Amendments to the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure prohibiting the filing of a motion to dismiss except on the ground provided for under said rule. If you fail to answer within the time aforesaid, the plaintiff will take judgement against you by default and demand from the court the relief applied for in said Complaint.

“We are very confident that the Games can and will happen in a peaceful environment,” he told reporters.

- Opening ceremony fearsThe need to manage street crime around the Olympic venues is a challenge French security forces are familiar with, former national police chief Frederic Pechenard told AFP.

The chaotic street scenes were an unwelcome reminder of last year’s Champions League final in Paris, which was held at the national stadium in Seine-Saint-Denis that will host the athletics events at the Olympics. Gangs of youths preyed on football fans attending the 2022 climax to the European football season, many of whom were assaulted and robbed as they made their way out of the stadium.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach this week sought to reassure people planning to travel to Paris.

Games today (Monday)

4 p.m. – Kurashiki (Japan) vs Cignal 6:30 p.m. – PLDT vs Kinh Bac-Bac Ninh (Vietnam)

of the City of Light on the river Seine.

23 May 2023, Quezon City, Metro Manila.

Up to half a million people will have tickets to witness the open-air extravaganza that will see the flotilla travel along a six-kilometre (3.7-mile) route overlooked by thousands of buildings.

EDITHA G. MINA-AGUBA Presiding Judge

Copy furnished:

“Delinquency, potentially riots, or strikes are worries for organisers, but generally secondary ones,” he explained.

ZOMSLAW OFFICES Counsel for the Petitioner aimacapundag@zomslaw.com; zomslawoffice@ gmail.com

Pechenard, who became a politician for the opposition Republicans party after serving as national police chief from 2007-2012, said security services were naturally worried.

“If I was in charge of security, which very fortunately I’m not, it’s a terror attack that would worry me the most.”

PALATTAO LAW OFFICE Counsel for the Administratrix palattaolaw@gmail.com; mcb@palattao.com; jkm@ palattao.com

“Everyone knows that it won’t be easy to secure,” he explained. “The biggest risk is someone acting on their own who decides to cause an incident.”

The biggest headache is securing what promises to be the most ambitious opening ceremony in Olympic history.

FEMINDA B. BELLEZA Petitioner

Rather than the usual procession in the athletics stadium, around a hundred boats carrying sporting delegations are set to sail through the middle

CONNIE R. BELLEZA Administratrix Conniebelleza73@yahoo.com

Large terror plots involving multiple people are seen as easier to detect and disrupt by intelligence services, which have prevented 39 attacks in France in the last five years, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said in December last year. With AFP

(MStandard - July xx, xx & xx, 2023)

HD Spikers seek big bounce-back vs Kurashiki

THE Premier Volleyball League holds a rare Monday pair of matches tipped to heat up the race in the semifinal round of the Invitational Conference with the Kurashiki Ablaze vowing a better, stronger showing against Cignal at the Philsports Arena in Pasig today.

The Japanese side shrugged off an early struggle and dumped Vietnam’s Kinh Bac-Bac Ninh, 23-25, 25-14, 25-20, 25-11, in the guest teams’ league debut late Friday with the former guaranteeing a more explosive outing when they face the HD Spikers in the 4 p.m. opener.

“We’re thankful for the invitation (to play) and, step by step, we will level up,” said Kurashiki coach Hideo Suzuki through an interpreter.

Tamaru Asaka actually exploded with a 28-point burst, all on attacks, somewhat giving the HD Spikers middles something to work on as the latter tries to recover from a tough five-set defeat to the Creamline Cool Smashers the last time out.

Creamline’s 23-25, 25-16, 25-21, 24-25, 15-10 escape put them two full games ahead of Kurashiki at 3-0 with the defending champions taking a brief

Cignal’s Ria Meneses scores

rest before stepping up their finals drive against the Vietnamese tomorrow (Tuesday).

Asaka actually downplayed her big performance, saying she struggled against Kinh Bac-Bac Ninh’s superb blocking in the early going.

“Their blocking was good but I was able to adjust in time,” said Asaka, who will turn 25 next month.

The visiting squads also took notice of the huge fans’ support and said they are thrilled and are looking forward to playing before a huge crowd in the midseason conference of the league organized by Sports Vision and backed by BingoPlus, ArenaPlus, Mikasa, SMART, Rebisco, Kumu, Asics and SportRadar.

“We know that the local teams are strong but we will do our best, we will show our worth,” said Suzuki. “This is a good experience for us, especially with so many fans. Filipinos really love volleyball.”

Kinh Bac-Bac Ninh also hopes to rebound and play to its true potential as the Vietnamese clash with the PLDT High Speed Hitters, who are coming into their 6:30 p.m. clash brimming with confidence following a stirring 3-0 romp over the fancied but weary F2 Logistics Cargo Movers, also over the weekend.

Pampanga foils Bacoor; Imus, Iloilo hurdle rivals

PAMPANGA won the battle between division leaders as it thwarted Bacoor, 78-70, on Saturday in the OKBet-MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season at the Laguna Sports Complex in the provincial capital Santa Cruz.

Justine Baltazar registered his 19th straight double-double with 13 points and 18 rebounds to tow the Giant Lanterns to their 19th win against a loss as the North pacesetters prove superior over the Strikers, the South frontrunners, who skidded to 16-4 in the elimination round of the 29-team tournament.

Others who shone for Pampanga were Encho Serrano with 18 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists, Raymond Binuya with 12 points plus 2 steals, and John Bryle Bahio with 9 points plus 13 rebounds.

With the 6-foot-8 Baltazar and the 6-5 Bahio asserting their height advantage, the Giant Lanterns ruled the boards, 52-43, and produced 52 points inside the paint against the

Strikers’ 30.

Bacoor got 19 points plus 9 rebounds from Jhan McHale Nermal and 14 points plus 7 rebounds from Jhaymo Eguilos.

Veteran Mark Yee, however, was held to 6 points and 2 rebounds, while gunner James Kwekuteye settled for 6 points and 8 rebounds.

A one-handed slam by Eguilos pushed Bacoor to within 38-44 at halftime, coming from a 21-34 deficit.

The Giant Lanterns brought along supporters in nine buses to ensure that they won’t be drowned out in the cheerleading department, and it worked.

Iloilo United Royals squeaked past Laguna Krah Asia, 57-55, in the nightcap to boost their playoff drive with a 9-12 card.

Joshua Flores scored on a drive and split his two charities in the last minute to lift Iloilo past Laguna, which seized control, 55-54, following backto-back triples by Jason Celis and Jerome Garcia.

It was a concerted effort for the Royals, who drew 9 points, 13 rebounds and 3 assists from CJ Catapusan, 8 points, 8 rebounds plus 3 assists from Lorenzo Navarro and 8 points plus 7 rebounds from hoemgrown Omar Larupay.

Laguna, which slid to 3-18, got 14 points from Paolo Pontejos and 13 from Garcia.

Earlier, Imus SV Squad subdued Manila, 72-66, to raise its record to 8-11.

Jaymar Gimpayan posted 18 points and 12 rebounds to power Imus, followed by Carlo Lastimosa with 14, Jimboy Estra with 11 plus 7 rebounds, and NIno Canaleta with 11 points, 5 rebounds plus 2 steals.

Manila tumbled to 3-18 as only James Mangahas delivered with 20 points and 5 rebounds.

The MPBL visits the Caloocan Sports Complex on Monday with a triple bill pitting Marikina against Rizal at 4 p.m., Muntinlupa against Marikina at 6 p.m., and Nueva Ecija against Caloocan at 8 p.m.

(“SPA”) are executed by ELIZA, ERIKA, EUNICE, JAMES and ELOISE naming, constituting and appointing their mother ELIZABETH as their attorney-in-fact. (Annexes “A” and “B”). On the other hand, Respondent is the government agency tasked with maintaining public records and documents, especially records pertaining to properties in the City of Mandaluyong with office at 641 Boni Ave., Mandaluyong City where summons, order, notices, and other court’s processes may be served. Respondent Petitioners are the legitimate and compulsory heirs of the late Jayme B. Alba (“JAYME”), who died intestate on 7 July 2020 at Taguig City. Petitioner ELIZABETH being the surviving spouse, while petitioners ELIZA, ERIKA, EUNICE, JAMES and ELOISE are their legitimate children. (PSA copy of the Death Certificate of JAYME and his Marriage Contract with Petitioner ELIZABETH is attached and marked as Annexes “C” and “D”). At the time of the death of JAYME , he left several properties, and among which is the parcel of land situated in Mandaluyong City, covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. 62253, ( a Certified True Electronic Copy of TCT No. 62253 is attached and marked as Annex “F”) more particularly described as follows: Transfer Certificate of Title No. 62253 A parcel of land (Lot 3-A of the Subdivision plan Psd- 13002756, being a portion of Lot 3, Block 8, Pcs-3644, (LRC) Record Nos. 699, 875 & 917, situated in Bo. Of Wack-Wack, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila. Xxx xxx xxx contining an area of THREE HUNDRED EIGHTY FOUR (384) SQUARE METER xxx That in the process of collating the properties left by the late JAYME, Petitioner discovered that the above-described titles is missing and despite exerting diligent efforts to locate the whereabouts of the said title, it only resulted in vain; Petitioners knew that said title was not lent to anyone, nor were it used for unlawful or illicit purpose, and that the said title was lost through no fault of the Petitioners, that they executed an Affidavit of Loss on 28 December 2022 and have it registered before the Registry of Deeds of Mandaluyong City on 30 January 2023 (Annex “E”). That said property was among the properties that were subject of the Extra-Judicial Settlement that Petitioners executed on 20 September 2022 ( a copy of which is attached and marked as Annex “G”) and that no deeds or other instruments affecting the subject property have been presented for registration. Petitioners have already paid the property taxes on the subject parcel of land the improvements therein, and is updated in its payments thereto. That, in view of the foregoing, Petitioners have no other recourse but to seek the indulgence of this court for the issuance of a new owner’s duplicate copy of the subject. Petitioner are praying that after due proceedings, an Order be issued by the court directing the Registry of Deeds of Mandaluyong City to issue New Owner’s Duplicate Copy of Transfer Certificate of Title No. 62253 and release the same in favor of the petitioners being the heirs of the late Jayme G. Alba. WHEREFORE, after a careful evaluation of the instant verified Amended Petition and the documents attached thereto as annexes, the court finds the Petition sufficient in form and substance. ACCORDINGLY, let the petition be set for hearing on August 3, 2023 at 2:00 o’ clock in the afternoon before this court located at the 2nd Floor, New Hall of Justice Building, Maysilo Circle, Mandaluyong City on which date, time and place, petitioner shall appear and prove her petition, and all persons having any opposition therein may appear and show cause if any why the Petition should not be granted. MOREOVER, let this Order be published once in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines at the expense of the Petitioner, the same to be raffled at the Office of the Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court of Mandaluyong City. FURTHER, let copies of this Order be posted at the main entrance of the Mandaluyong City Hall Building, at the Bulletin Board of the New Hall of Justice Building and the Barangay Hall where the subject property is located for a period of thirty (30) days prior to the date of hearing indicated above. FINALLY, Petitioner is hereby directed to cause the service of this Order with a copy of the instant Petition and all its annexes upon the following government agencies – Registry of Deeds, Mandaluyong City; Commissioner, Land Registration Authority, Quezon City; Director, Land Management Bureau, Quezon City; the Secretary, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Quezon City; the Office of the Solicitor General, Makati City; Office of the Prosecutor, Mandaluyong; Mandaluyong City and Office of the Legal Department, Mandaluyong City. SO ORDERED Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila. 20 June 2023 (Sgd.) RIZALINA T. CAPCO – UMALI Judge Copy Furnished: LIZARDO CARLOS & LIZARDO III Attorneys At Law Counsel for the Petitioners Suite 1002, RichVille Corporate Tower Madrigal Business Park 1107 Alabang – Zapote Road Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City Email Add: lizardoiii@lizardolaw.ph Tel No. (632) 9907-4789 THE COMMISSIONER Land Registration Authority Quezon City THE DIRECTOR Land Management Bureau Quezon City THE SECRETARY Department of Environment & Natural Resources OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR GENERAL Makati City OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR Mandaluyong City REGISTER OF DEEDS Mandaluyong City OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT Regional Trial Court Mandaluyong City (MStandard - July 24, 2023) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION REGIONAL TRIAL COURT QUEZON CITY, BRANCH 229 rtc1qzn229@judiciary.gov.ph/ 09326132733/8519-7158 Civil Case No. R-QZN-22-11570-CV For: Custody of Minor SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION On 26 June 2023, an Order was issued by Hon. Maria Gilda T. Loja-Pangilinan, Pairing & Acting Presiding Judge of this Court in the above-entitled case, the dispositive portion of which reads: Accordingly, the instant motion is hereby GRANTED. The Petitioner is granted leave of court to serve summons by publication once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines at the expense of the Petitioner, upon coordination with the Office of the Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court of the Quezon City, In addition, serve a copy of the Summons at the Respondent’s last known address by registered mail or any other means such as by private courier. SO ORDERED. NOW THEREFORE, Respondent ANDIE LAZARO whose last known address is at Bison 102, Lionspark Residences, Sta. Ana Drive, Parañaque City, is summoned and required to file with Branch 229 of the Regional Trial Court, National Capital Judicial Region, Hall of Justice Annex Building, Quezon City, her Answer to the Petition for Custody of Minor within sixty (60) days from the date of the last issue of publication. Let this summons be published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines at the expense of the Petitioner. Likewise, let copy of the Summons as well as copy of the Petition be deposited in the post office, postage pre-paid, and to be sent by registered mail to the Respondent at his last known address, also at the expense of the Petitioner. The Petitioner is directed to submit proof of compliance therewith. Set the Compliance Hearing for the presentation of proof of the published summons before the Branch Clerk of Court on 04 October 2023 at 02:00 o’clock in the afternoon. WITNESS my hand under the seal of the Court, this 3 day of July 2023, Quezon City, Metro Manila. (Sgd.) ATTY. KRISHNA THEA TORRENTE Branch Clerk of Court (MStandard - July 20, 27 & Aug. 3, 2023) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT National Capital Judicial Region BRANCH 106, QUEZON CITY rtc2qzn106@iudiciarv.gov.ph / 8639-6019 CONNIE BUGTONG-CATANES, Petitioner, -versus- R-QZN-23-04441- CV For: Declaration of Nullity of Marriage WINSLEY CARIAS CATANES, Respondent, x----------------------------------------------------x ORDER OF SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION In a verified Petition for Declaration of Nullity of Marriage filed on May 9, 2023, petitioner prays that after due hearing, her marriage to the respondent which was solemnized on April 29, 2006, be declared NULL AND VOID AB INITIO, on the ground of psychological incapacity of the respondent to comply with the essential marital obligations. Summons was issued on May 29, 2023. The Sheriffs Return dated June 19, 2023 states that summons cannot be served considering that there is no available person in the address during the time of service. On June 26, 2023, petitioner filed an Ex-Parte Motion for Leave to Cause Service of Summons to the Respondent by Publication praying that the service of summons be effected upon the respondent by publication which was granted, per Order dated July 5, 2023 of the court. NOW, THEREFORE, respondent CATANES, whose last known address is at Road 8 First West Crame, San Juan, is summoned and required to file with the Regional Trial Court, Branch 106, Quezon City, National Capital Judicial Region, Bulwagan ng Katarungan, Quezon City, his Answer to the petition within THIRTY (30) DAYS from the last date of publication of this summons. In the event of failure to do so, this court shall direct the Public Prosecutor to conduct an investigation to determine whether or not collusion exists between the parties in the filing of the instant petition; and if it is determined that there is no such collusion, the petitioner shall be allowed to present her evidence in support of the petition. Let this Order be published once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of national circulation, pursuant to P.O. No. 1079, at the expense of the petitioner. Likewise, let a copy of the summons as well as a copy of the petition be deposited in the Post Office, postage pre-paid and sent by registered mail to the respondent at his last known address also at the expense of the petitioner, and for petitioner to submit to this court proof of compliance. SO ORDERED. Quezon City, July 7, 2023. (Sgd.) Presiding Judge (MStandard - July 24 & 31, 2023) NLP/trc OSG ACP Atty. Pulido Petitioner Respondent Justine Baltazar posts another doubledouble for Pampanga.

Glamor and unity sparkle at GMA Gala 2023

ON Saturday night, the Marriott Grand Ballroom became the epicenter of glitz and glamour as the country's biggest television network celebrated its 73rd year with a Gala Night.

It was a night to remember, as the biggest stars in Philippine entertainment descended upon the red carpet in all their splendor. The venue also welcomed luminaries from the entertainment, business, and political realms.

What made the event even more remarkable was the presence of ABSCBN stars alongside the GMA Network talents, signifying a moment of unity and camaraderie in the Philippine showbiz industry.

As the stars made their way down the red carpet, flashes from cameras filled the air, capturing their dazzling smiles, elegant gowns, and suave suits. The entire Twitterverse went into a frenzy, with fans, enthusiasts, and media outlets providing real-time updates from the event.

#GMAGalaNight2023 quickly became a trending topic, dominating social media feeds throughout the weekend.

“Tonight is a rare spectacle—a dazzling event of the brightest stars under one roof with leaders of both government and the private sector, our

peers in the industry, and our valued partners coming together in camaraderie and fellowship. We are grateful for your presence tonight,” said GMA Chairman and CEO Felipe L. Gozon The network top gun expressed gratitude for the network's remarkable 73-year journey in the Philippine entertainment industry. He likened the network's evolution to a classic fairy tale, starting from its humble beginnings in a makeshift studio in Escolta with just one used transmitter. Today, the network boasts an impressive 101 TV stations, a roster of hundreds of talented artists, and many award-winning and groundbreaking programs. He also took a moment to applaud the behind-the-scenes professionals who work tirelessly to bring powerful and unforgettable shows to the viewers. From writers and directors to artists and creatives, Gozon acknowledged their contributions in shaping the cultural landscape of the nation and inspiring countless individuals through their work.

“I would like to take this moment to applaud the people behind the cameras. Whenever you hear the story of a student who bought and read Noli Me Tangere because of Maria Clara at Ibarra, a child who dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon inspired by Abot Kamay Na Pangarap, people who are motivated to protect the environment because of Lolong, the laughter, and fun in watching Bubble Gang, families who try to solve the mystery behind Royal Blood and Filipino pride in Voltes V Legacy, and many others - take a moment to appreciate those who work behind the scenes- the writers, directors, artists and creatives behind these powerful and unforgettable shows,” Gozon said. The star-studded affair featured glitz, glamour, and remarkable talent, with some of the brightest stars receiving special awards for their outstanding contributions to the network and the industry as a whole.

Among the notable winners of the night were David Licauco and Herlene Budol, who were crowned as the Male and Female TikTok Crowd Favorites. Barbie Forteza was recognized as the Avignon Radiant Beauty of the Night.

Gabbi Garcia received the prestigious Laz Beauty Look of the Night award for her impeccable style and elegant appearance while The Premier Star of the Night title went to Jillian Ward

Frontrow Luxxe Royalty was bestowed upon Anne Curtis. Kyline Al-

Of afternoon delights and guilty pleasures

BOMBASTIC is the most appropriate word to describe Pira-Pirasong Paraiso and NagAapoy na Damdamin from ABS CBN Entertainment and TV 5. Pira-Pirasong Paraiso gives a novel spin to a modernday dysfunctional family. The House of Abiog is headed by its corrupt father, Badong (Epy Quizon), a man in uniform, and his wife Osang (Sunshine Dizon) with a kidney affliction. Their kids are Hillary (Ellise Joson), Kano (Markus Paterson), and Baby (Loisa Andalio) –house robbers who target the enclaves and assets of the new moneyed and pretentious bourgeois.

Mind you, the Abiogs are not the poorest of the poor kind of thieves. Their house is not of the informal settler kind. They use their robbery gains to pay for Osang's dialysis and support their family. Quizon and Dizon's portrayal of the wicked parental figures is both captivating and relatable.

Joson’s Hillary is a woman who knows that there is power in the beauty she possesses and that her flaw, the insecurity that eats her because of the street-smart and diligent Baby, is portrayed with fierce emotional honesty and commitment from Andalio. Paterson as the next in line Abiog alpha screen presence smolders. Such a handsome figure to be a crook and as Kano, there is a man/boy vibe that he radiates, and that longing

for connection and love is most palpable.

As a young wife and sophisticate, Charlie Dizon dazzles as Dhana, and Art Acuna as her husband, delivers the acting chop goods.

Another plus factor is, episode one is fast-paced, with the coincidental interactions of the major characters happening in a seamless manner.

What makes Pira-Pirasong Paraiso a must-watch, is witnessing the development of the story arcs of its female leads with special mention to the roles assigned to Andalio and Joson that screams sibling rivalry, backstabbing, and scheming.

It is also interesting how bold and dark Kano will be, with Paterson infusing him with a dace that beams immaculateness that hides his deeds and desires.

Crisp writing, an engaging narrative, and the next generation of superstars bringing life and heart to complex characters, Pira-

Pirasong Paraiso deserves to be the afternoon delight of all.

Everything in Nag-Aapoy Na Damdamin shouts first-world soap opera that satirizes the extravagance and luxury of the ultra-rich and famous. The riveting feud between the Salazars, led by JC de Vera's Dr. Philip, and the Buencaminos, with Tony Labrusca's Atty. Lucas, evokes memories of the captivating intrigues, tragedies, and triumphs reminiscent of the iconic American primetime melodrama Dynasty.

The manipulative and scheming Victoria Buencamino, adorned with chokers and pearls, the accessories of choice among Manila's influential women, is brought to life with a distinctive affluent manner of speaking by Maila Gumila. Her character evokes memories of Jane Wyman as Angela Channing, the matriarch and mastermind of mayhem in Falcon Crest

The most potent characters during the episode presentation

were Jeffrey Santos and Richard Quan, these seasoned actors played to perfection their patriarch parts respectively.

Both JC and Tony’s characters are more mature, physically and emotionally. In the initial showing, one can see that they are still sinking their teeth and finding the voice and hearts of characters that are more experienced than them when it comes to dealing with the twist and turns, shocks and surprises that men face in an imagined world of those who live in ivory towers.

Jane Oineza’s delicate rendition to still a decorative character is overshadowed by Gumila’s presence and Labrusca’s domineering persona.

Despite these premiere quivers, Nag-Aapoy Na Damdamin is destined to be everyone’s guilty pleasure for the depiction of the powerful and revenge-driven, and thirsty rich with their dirty, sexy, money and influence, spell simply irresistible viewing.

cantara received the Luxxe White Face of the Night.

The Couple of the Night award was presented to Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes with the host commending their strong bond and chemistry that have continued to inspire fans both on and off-screen.

Fans of Julie Anne San Jose and Rayver Cruz rejoiced as the duo received the Love Team of the Night award. Spotlight Male Star of the Night went to Ruru Madrid while Bianca Umali was named Spotlight Female Star of the Night.

The Male Sparkle Star of the Night award was presented to the talented Alden Richards while style icon Heart Evangelista was recognized as the Female Sparkle Star of the Night.

Newly-engaged Bea Alonzo and Dominic Roque were honored with the Sparkling Couple of the Night award.

Malaysia bans

The 1975 after Matt

Healy kissed male bandmate on stage

FOLLOWING an onstage incident at the Good Vibes music festival in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, The 1975 band has been prohibited from performing in the country, and the entire festival has been canceled.

The decision came after Matty Healy, the lead singer of the British band, openly criticized Malaysia's anti-LGBTQ laws and kissed a bandmate during their performance.

Healy, 34, who recently attracted attention for his brief relationship with Taylor Swift, used explicit language in his speech at the festival to criticize Malaysia's anti-gay laws. He openly condemned the country's stance on homosexuality before sharing a kiss with bassist Ross MacDonald.

In Malaysia, samesex relationships are considered illegal, and laws criminalizing homosex-

ual acts carry potential prison sentences. LGBTQ individuals in the nation also face ongoing discrimination from authorities, and human rights groups have expressed concerns about the increasing intolerance within the country.

Healy told fans the band had thought of pulling out of the event, saying: “I do not see the point of inviting The 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with.”

“I made a mistake.

When we were booking shows, I wasn't looking into it,” he added.

Prior to the recent on-stage protest, Healy had already engaged in a similar act during a 2019 concert in the United Arab Emirates, a country known for its strict anti-LGBTQ laws. On that occasion, he kissed a male fan, demonstrating his stance against the discriminatory regulations.

Fashion icon Heart Evangelista (left) and husband, Senator Chiz Escudero

‘The Cheating Game’ lead stars Julie Anne San Jose (left) and Rayver Cruz (right)

Newly-engaged couple Dominic Roque (left) and Bea Alonzo (right)

From left: ‘It’s Showtime’ hosts Vhong Navarro, Vice Ganda, Anne Curtis, and Jhong Hilario

A-list couple Marian Rivera (left) and Dingdong Dantes (right)

GMA s prized star Alden Richards

The 1975 Matt Healy and Ross MacDonald lock lips on stage during the ‘Good Vibes’ music festival in Kuala Lumpur

Lead stars of ABS-CBN and TV5’s newesr series, ‘Pira-Pirasong Paraiso’ and ‘Nag-aapoy Na Damdamin’

Kapamilya actor Joshua Garcia

Exploring Hong Kong’s vibrant culinary scene anew

FOOD and travel series The Crawl put Hong Kong in the spotlight once more in its newest episode that aired on Metro Channel on July 23.

Veteran host-actor Edu Manzano and Asia’s Best Female Chef 2016 Margarita Fores lead The Crawl Hong Kong which features award-winning and sustainable restaurants and bars in Asia’s world city.

Included in their stops in the gastronomic paradise are Estro restaurant, which highlights Neapolitan cuisine; Ando, which features Japanese-Argentinian fusion; and Spring Moon, which is known for its Chinese fare. Edu and Chef Margarita will also visit Ye Shanghai restaurant, known for its traditional Eastern China flavors with a modern twist.

Apart from renowned dining destinations, the two capped their tour with a sip at the cocktail bar Argo, which was recently awarded no. 8 in Asia’s 50 Best Bars for 2023 and no. 28 in World’s 50 Best Bars 2022. The Crawl continues to hop to various parts of the world to showcase delectable cuisines and delicious delicacies they offer tourists and locals

Come to the great outdoors

BEFORE the pandemic, tourists were content with simply taking photos of the attractive destinations they traveled to, but now, they seek more experiential travel opportunities. They want to be actively engaged and feel like a part of the tourist attraction they are visiting. This shift in preferences is evident as destinations offering enjoyable experiences in nature and the great outdoors have become the most popular choices for leisure travelers.

Being in the travel industry, I make it a point to always be on the lookout for new places that could spark the interest of fun-seekers, which is why I am very happy to have discovered this new destination.

3 Springs Mountain Park is a 16.2-hectare nature park and campsite in Tanay, Rizal which offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range. Located in Kilometer 56 Marcos Highway, Barangay Cuyambay, this 5-year-old property offers open areas and facilities that are perfect for large-scale outdoor activities.

Ideal for day tours or as a camping destination, many corporate establishments have used its wide open grounds for team-building or for any outdoor activity that promotes bonding between

their officers and staff. A chat with 3 Springs Mountain Park Corporate Manager Julia Tan revealed that the Park was always booked during the Pandemic as business establishments found it a safe haven for their employees’ fun and frolic, as its facilities were all open-air, keeping everyone safe from the dreaded virus.

These days, most of the park’s bookings are from families who want to spend time communing with nature because children enjoy traversing the nature trail with their parents. Large universities have also booked the entire park to provide their students the opportunity to accomplish meaningful outdoor activities such as tree-planting sessions or learning outdoor survival skills.

Among the many facilities the park offers is a multi-purpose hall which can seat up to 300 persons, with a stage that

can accommodate modern light and sound equipment. They also have spacious and well-maintained washroom and shower halls, comfortable gazebos that are scattered around the entire property, and a large parking lot that can accommodate as many as 30 SUVs.

A unique feature of the park is its Grounduno Training Venue which is dedicated to outdoor skills enhancement activities. Participants may avail of several interesting training modules that include: Outdoor Survival Skills, Emergency Medical Response, Rope Rescue and Rappelling, and Airsoft Practical

Winning attractions at Winford this July

WINFORD Resort & Casino Manila (WRCM) invites members and guests to seek shelter from the rain and discover why entertainment and special offers reign this month of July.

Shooting. The entire park is part of the highlands so it’s always cool in the evenings but towards the latter part of the year, guests will need to bring thick blankets if they plan to camp out in the open fields. Entrance fee for adults is only P400 and children below 13 years old, seniors and the differently able may avail of a 20 percent discount. Those who bring their own tents may pitch them for free.

More information on this jewel-of-a-nature-park may be obtained through visit3springs@gmail.com or through mobile +63 998 575 9675.

For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com

The 22-story luxury hotel continues to offer all kinds of excitement in San Lazaro, Manila, with live performances, special offers, and huge raffle prizes up for grabs.

On July 22, WRCM presented Boobsie Wonderland, a live performance featuring comedian Mary Jane Vallero. She is best known for her Boobsie persona wherein she portrays a toddler, complete with childlike dresses and baby voice to boot. Vallero rose to fame appearing on noontime variety and game shows since 2015.

For this month’s Wheels for the Win Car ‘N Cash, one lucky winner took home P250,000 cash in the July 15 draw while another will drive home a brand new Mitsubishi Mirage G4 in the July 29 draw, plus a chance to win P200,000 cash in the special VIP raffle exclusive for Gold and Platinum members. To join, members must simply earn 30 points on slots or table games until July 29.

On top of that, more prizes are at stake through the Pick-A-Prize Earn ‘N Redeem promotion every Tuesday. Members must simply earn 80 points to redeem special gift rewards which are open to the first 80 lucky players

For the ultimate staycation, WRCM currently offers its Rainy Day Room promotion at rates too good to pass up. Guests may enjoy an overnight stay in a Deluxe Room inclusive of breakfast for two persons, plus a F&B 20 percent discount voucher for only P5,200 nett. Booking period is from July 1 to August 28, with stay period until August 30 (Monday to Thursday).

Finally, what better way to drive the rainy blues away than with delicious finger food washed down with a refreshing beverage? With WRCM’s Cocktail of the Month, guests can mix and match their choice of food and drink for only P250 nett per cocktail and P650 nett per food platter. Promo period is until July 31 at the Hippodrome Bar & Lounge from 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. and at Zabana Bar from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. only.

WRCM is located in San Lazaro Tourism & Business Park, Santa Cruz, Manila. Visit www. winfordmanila.com for more information or call the hotline at +63 (2) 8528-3600 for inquiries. You may also follow Winford Resort & Casino Manila on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest updates on special events and promotions.

A fresher perspective of the Lion City

SINGAPORE Tourism Board (STB) has partnered with Warner Music Singapore and hit English alt-pop duo HONNE to create inside-out in Singapore – a video series that uses the power of music to showcase a fresh perspective of Singapore.

Initially started by HONNE’s Andy Clutterbuck and James Hatcher in 2021, inside-out is a video collection of the duo performing acoustic renditions of their hit songs, captured by a camera placed inside a guitar. The inside-out series was created during lockdown and so far, only features scenes from Andy’s and James’ daily lives at home. With the new partnership with STB, the series goes overseas for the first time. inside-out in Singapore also serves as the band’s first-ever collaboration with a destination.

Known for its soulful and dreamy soundscapes, HONNE has won the hearts of fans worldwide, amassing an online following of over 1 million YouTube subscribers, 1.5 million Spotify followers, and over 4 million online streams per week. Its mu-

sic transcends language and geographical boundaries, earning them a loyal following in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand.

During HONNE’s 2023 Asia tour, the band sold over 50,000 tickets for their headline shows across the region. Its popularity is a testament to their musical talent and ability to connect with fans, establishing them as one of the most promising acts today.

Terrence Voon, Executive Director, Southeast Asia, STB, said, “We are delighted to work with Warner Music Singapore and HONNE to spotlight Singapore’s lesser-known offerings through music. HONNE is hugely popular in Southeast Asia. While many travelers from this region may be familiar with Singapore, we hope HONNE’s new take on some of their most-streamed hits will inspire their fans to uncover fresh perspectives of our city.”

Gerald Ang, Managing Director, Warner Music Singapore, said, “We are delighted to team up with STB and HONNE for this exciting project, which showcases an inno-

vative and distinctive view of Singapore. HONNE’s music has a universal appeal that knows no language or geographic barriers, making them the perfect ambassadors to showcase Singapore’s hidden gems and new offerings to fans around the world.”

Andy and James of HONNE said, “Although we’ve been to Singapore several times, we’ve never had the chance to really get to know the city and find out what makes it special. Through this project, we got to immerse ourselves in a range of new and unexpected experiences that showcase why Singapore is such a vibrant place, and we can’t wait to share this with our fans around the world!”

inside-out in Singapore follows Andy and James as they explore Singapore. The series comprises three videos shot from the distinct perspective of being inside a guitar. Each installment introduces viewers to a different neighborhood in the city and features exclusive performances of some of HONNE’s

Asia’s Best Female Chef 2016 Margarita Fores (left) and veteran host-actor Edu Manzano (right)

biggest songs in the region such as “Location Unknown,” “No Song Without You,” and ”Day 1.”

This month, Winford Resort & Casino Manila live performances and special raffle prizes

alternative pop duo HONNE

Gazebos surround the multi-purpose function hall of 3 Springs Mountain Park

alike. Last year, The Crawl went to Singapore and also explored must-try food hubs in

the first place.

3 Springs Mountain Park also caters to travelers who are into camping

The park has become a perfect venue for wedding ceremonies and receptions Team buildings are also welcome in 3 Springs Mountain Park

SONA marks country’s stride as work in progress

By Charles Dantes

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s second State of the Nation Address today highlights the progress the country has made under his leadership.

The President’s performance report covers efforts to aid the economy postpandemic, including the lifting of the COVID-19 public emergency as well as the passage of key legislative measures, led by the Maharlika Investment Fund Act and the New Agrarian Emancipation Act.

Mr. Marcos said Filipinos must see that his earlier pronouncements and promises are relevant and not “just mere words.”

“That’s what I want to explain to people — that we have made significant progress. We can see the difference now, not only in terms of how the systems work, how the government works, it is also how we are seen or judged in the international community. That’s equally important,” he said.

In an earlier interview, Mr. Marcos acknowledged there is still a long way to go in assessing his performance as the country’s chief executive after just one year in office.

“We have done a lot of growth (and) we are beginning to see the systemic changes that are going to be part of the new bureaucracy, but there is still a long way to go,” he said.

“It’s never enough. Whatever it is that we have managed to do, there is still a great deal more to do. We have to work

smart, and we have to work well, and we have to be very conscious.”

“It is an ongoing process. Again, we have to bear in mind that the international situation has changed, in terms of trade, in terms of geopolitics. So, we are having to adjust to that. And now it is very clear that the most successful economies are those that are agile and resilient. And that I think we have put in place the basic elements in place to do that,” he added.

Mr. Marcos said his administration is working hard to reinvigorate the economy, putting a premium on the agriculture sector which plays a vital role in the country’s development.

He added the government is doubling its efforts to attract more investments.

“The job ahead of us is to make structural big changes that we have instituted, to make them work and so we can see the results, not only in terms of statistics but also in the lives of ordinary people,” he said.

Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian, for his part, hailed the President’s economic agenda geared toward the poor and the vulnerable sector.

“Early on, I can say that President Marcos’ heart is in the right place since his main concern is the livelihood and

well-being of the poor, marginalized, and vulnerable sectors of society. And this has been his guide during the first year of his presidency,” Gatchalian said.

The DSWD recently launched its “Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program” where food-poor Filipino families will be given a monthly “food credit” of P3,000.

Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople also praised the Chief Executive’s solutions to the problems of overseas Filipino workers.

“The future looks bright in the field of overseas employment because this sense of teamwork, camaraderie, and shared initiatives are infectious, leading to a more upbeat outlook on the Philippines among

foreign employers,” said Ople.

Last July 21, DMW launched its mobile app as part of the President’s directive to digitalize the agency’s services to provide assistance and secure the welfare of OFWs.

Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. commended the administration’s continued support on the local governance reform and peace and order initiatives. Abalos said that through the Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan or the BIDA program, the government was able to establish partnerships with various private companies to formulate their respective anti-illegal drug policy.

For his part, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual described the President’s leadership as “visionary.”

Pascual said key policies from the President have put the country into a strategic economic recovery roadmap. National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan likewise lauded Mr. Marcos for signing the Maharlika Investment Fund Bill into law, saying this would help the country achieve its long-term development goals. Seven out of 10 Filipinos remain satisfied with the administration’s performance, a survey by OCTA Research showed.

The President has also received an approval rating of 78 percent among Filipinos based on a Pulse Asia survey. With Erica Cayme, Arrianna Taclas, Zofia Tadeo

SONA READY.

Photo shows the House of Representatives inside the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City where President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will deliver his second State of the Nation Address today. Joan Bondoc

SONA 2023

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will deliver his second State of the Nation Address at 4 p.m. today at the Batasan Complex in Quezon City.

Traditions and History

• The official broadcasting arm of the Palace, Radio Television Malacañang, will direct the SONA.

Although it is a yearly tradition and now a constitutional obligation for the president to deliver a SONA, two presidents in history –Jose P. Laurel and Emilio Aguinaldo – did not do so as their respective Constitutions did not require a report to Congress.

President Sergio Osmeña delivered only one SONA on June 3, 1946.

• All three living former Presidents – Joseph Estrada, Gloria MacapagalArroyo, and Rodrigo Duterte, have confirmed their attendance.

• Senators headed by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and House members led by Speaker Martin Romualdez will convene in a joint session at Batasan Complex in Quezon City to formally open the second regular session of the 19th Congress at 10 a.m. today.

• Classical singer Lara Maigue will sing the Philippine national anthem.

• Over 2,000 guests have been invited to attend today’s SONA. Some 1,000 media practioners have been accredited to the event.

The SONA is usually delivered in the legislative building. However, in January 1950, Elpidio Quirino gave his SONA through a radio broadcast while hospitalized at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in the United States.

Within 23 minutes, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo delivered her 2005 SONA with only 1,556 words. It is the shortest one to date.

President Sergio Osmeña’s SONA in 1945 is the second shortest.

President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. holds multiple records in the history of SONAs. He delivered a total of 20 SONAs during his term from 1965 to 1986. He also made the longest speech in terms of word count in 1969 with 29,335 words.

President Rodrigo Duterte logged the second longest SONA during his sixth and final speech that lasted for two hours and 45 minutes.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s first SONA in 2022 marked the return to a full face-to-face setting since the pandemic started in 2020.Ziannen Santos and Louella Unilongo

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., during his first SONA on July 25, 2022, where he discussed recovery plans for the economy post-COVID-19.

Estrada | Macapagal-Arroyo | Duterte

Lara Maigue

THE first SONA was delivered during a special session of the National Assembly on November 25, 1935 by President Manuel L. Quezon.

President Manuel L. Quezon delivers his Third State of the Nation Address to the National Assembly on October 18, 1937 at the Legislative Building, Manila. (Photo from The Herald on October 19, 1937 from the Histogravure of Manuel L. Quezon)

Osmeña’s first and only state of the nation address delivered at Lepanto St. Manila on June 9, 1945. (Photo courtesy of the Presidential Museum and Library)

President Elpidio Quirino’s Second State of the Nation Address delivered from his hospital bed in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, January 23, 1950. (Photo taken from Apo Lakay: The Biography of President Elpidio Quirino of the Philippines by Carlos Quirino, courtesy of the President Elpidio Quirino Foundation)

President Ferdinand E. Marcos bangs a gavel as he presides over the Batasang Bayan in 1977 at the Plenary Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center. (Photo from Assembly of the Nation: A Centennial History of the House of Representatives of the Philippines)

House Speaker Romualdez

Senate President Zubiri

By Joel Zurbano and Vince Lopez

FROM cutting-edge drones manning the skies to more than 22,000 policemen and augmentation forces on the ground, authorities spared no effort in securing the 2nd State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. today (July 24, 2023)

“The importance of these drones cannot be overstated. Embracing technological advancements, such as these drones, enhances our capabilities and allows us to carry out our duties with even greater efficiency and effectiveness,” PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda said.

Police and security personnel coming from the National Capital Region Police Office and five police district officesNorthern, Southern, Eastern, Manila and Quezon City - are deployed to safeguard key areas for the SONA.

Additional forces were also dispatched from various government agencies such as Aviation Security Group, Special Action Force, Joint Task Force NCR, Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Office of the Civil Defense, Department of Health, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and Philippine Red Cross.

NCRPO chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the police has set up 31 entry and exit points around Metro Manila.

Authorities also enforced a “No Fly Zone / No Drone Zone” in and adjacent to the airspace of the Batasang Pambansa.

From 12:01 a.m. to 12 midnight today (July 24), all Permit to Carry Firearms

Outside Residence in Metro Manila are likewise suspended.

The Batasang Pambansa Complex, where the House of Representatives is situated, was placed under lockdown from July 20 to 23.

House Engineering and Physical Facilities Department (EPFD)

Executive Director Renato Dela Torre

High-tech drones, 22,000 police secure SONA 2023

said contingency measures have been put in place, foremost of which is an evacuation plan to ensure the safety of the attendees.

Dela Torre said the evacuation plan includes emergency scenarios such as earthquake, fire and even terrorism.

“Public awareness regarding safety measures is taken seriously,” he said.

Dela Torre said the EPFD’s

“National freedom now stands before us as a shining light—the freedom that for many years gleamed only fitful candle in the distant dark. We shall make ourselves ready to grasp the torch, so that no predatory force may ever strike it from our hands!”

— President Manuel Quezon, November 25, 1935

“The war has left its livid scars everywhere—on our buildings as well as on men’s souls. Probably nothing can more starkly summarize our present plight than the fact that the Executive and Legislative branches of our Government have to meet today in a borrowed house because our Legislative Building is a heap of rubble and ashes, mute witness to the savage desperation of the beaten enemy.”

—President Sergio Osmeña, June 9, 1945

“Today, I come to Congress as a partner in a great enterprise. Congress is the “seat of reason,” and the Executive is the “seat of the will.” We are indispensable to each other. Reason without the power of will is impotent, and will unaided by reason degenerates into brute and force. Thus, it is that you and I are bound to each other, and crisis strengthens this interdependence. And we are in crisis.”

—President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., January 24, 1966

“We are blessed in this country with the freedom of speech and expression whose potent instrument is the Press. Let the public official live in its searching light, fearing nothing if he has nothing to hide and ever read to defend himself gallantly wherever he is questioned.”

President Carlos Garcia, January 26, 1959

preparations for this year’s SONA have been ongoing for months, covering the House Plenary Hall, road networks, grounds and buildings, sound system and electrical works.

House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said aside from the SONA, the House workforce also prepared for the opening of the Second Regular Session of the 19th Congress.

“You [Congress] will have little time for politics. You must, and I am sure you will, give your patriotic efforts to the matters before you. The work which we undertake can perhaps be simplified if we wish merely to return to our pre-war economic level, or if we are content to remain among the small backward nations of the world. This nation is not so content.”

—President Manuel Roxas, January 27, 1947

Perhaps you will say that the people are asking for a miracle. But they too performed no less than a miracle when in one great irresistible movement they dared every peril to preserve the right to have a government of their choice. Thus, they proved to the whole world, to our friends and enemies, that democracy has come of age in our land, that it has become truly and actively a part of the Filipino way of life.

—President Ramon Magsaysay, January 25, 1954

“We have been elected under different parties but we have been elected by the same people. As the people did not mind our political parties in placing in our hands their welfare and future, so are we called upon not to mind our parties in serving their well-being.”

—President Diosdado Macapagal, January 22, 1962

“I therefore appeal to you again for national unity—unity that is not a temporary adjustment of differences, or a mere agreement to vote together on this or that issue...It is the deeprooted sense that if my neighbor, my fellowcitizen, my brother Filipino comes to harm, I too am harmed; I too will sustain injury.”

— President Elpidio Quirino, January 28, 1952

He said additional preparations include testing of the equipment and sound system, guest route inspections, cleaning and sanitation procedures, and other last-minute adjustments. Acorda said so far, the government has monitored no possible threat even as he appealed to the public to cooperate with law enforcers.

“The route to these chambers was long and difficult, fraught with danger and paved with sacrifice. The electoral contest just completed has been exacting for all and bitter for some. But the nation has spoken.”

— President Corazon Aquino, July 27, 1987

“Sawa na ang taumbayan sa mga walang-kabuluhang pangako’t palabas. Sa harap ng matinding krisis na ating pinagdaanan nitong nakaraang taon, ang kailangan nati’y mga mabilis at mabisang lunas. Ito ang matinding hamon na dapat nating tugunan—tayong lahat: ang panguluhan, ang Kongreso, ang pribadong sektor, ang mamamayan.”

—President Joseph Estrada, July 27, 1998

The NCRPO and the Quezon City government earlier asked cause-oriented groups and other protesters to secure permit from the local government prior to their activities, saying a “No Permit, No Rally” policy will be imposed. “The safety and well-being of every citizen, regardless of their political beliefs, must remain our top priority,” Acorda said.

“Today, the challenge is to give our next generation of leaders a firm foundation on which to build peace and prosperity for all our people. The correctness of our reforms so far has been validated by the growth of the economy and a new tempo of nationwide self-reliance, even at the grassroots, as expressed in our battlecry: “Kaya ito ng Pinoy! Kayang-kaya!” — President Fidel Ramos, July 22, 1996

“To those who want to be President, this advice: If you really want something done, just do it. Do it hard, do it well. Don’t pussyfoot. Don’t pander. And don’t say bad words in public.”

—President Gloria MacapagalArroyo, July 27, 2009

“Mga Boss, nanggaling tayo sa sitwasyon kung saan tila nababalot ng kadiliman ang ating bansa; ni hindi natin masigurong may liwanag pang paparating. Binabati na tayo ng bukang-liwayway ng katarungan at pagkakataon.”

—President Benigno Aquino III, July 27, 2015

“I have to admit: back when I decided to answer your call and run for higher office, never, never did I imagine that my presidency would not only be judged by how I made good on my campaign promises in fighting illegal drugs, criminality, and corruption but by how well I led our nation during the global pandemic.”

—President Rodrigo Duterte, July 26, 2021

Republic of the Philippines OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY Elliptical Road, Diliman 1100 Quezon City

DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR

No.06

Series of 2023

SUBJECT : HARMONIZATION OF TERMS AND STREAMLINING OF REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES FOR AUTHORIZATION AND RECOGNITION UNDER THE REGULATORY JURISDICTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018 directed all national government agencies to initiate review of existing policies and operations, and commence with the reengineering of systems and procedures towards adoption of simplified requirements and procedures that will reduce red tape and expedite transactions in government;

WHEREAS, the country is a signatory to international agreements on trade rules and international free trade agreements; and,

WHEREAS, harmonizing and streamlining regulatory policies and procedures are necessary towards improving efficiency in the delivery of government service to the public, strengthening the sanitary and/or phytosanitary regulatory framework in the country, and promoting adoption of international standards developed by international standard-setting organizations, among others;

NOW, THEREFORE, and in view of the mandate of the Department of Agriculture and its bureaus and attached agencies under existing laws, this Circular is issued to observe and ensure harmonized applications of the terminologies, and streamlined requirements and procedures relevant to granting authorization and recognition to stakeholders engaged in and/or intending to engage in regulated activities in the agriculture and fisheries sector across all DA regulatory

Section 4.j. Person refers to any individual, business entity/enterprise, partnership, cooperative, corporation, association, institution, or other entity seeking authority or recognition to conduct a regulated activity whether for personal or business purposes.

Section 4.k. Product Registration refers to the authorization embodied in a document granted by a DA regulatory agency to a person for a product, after evaluation and approval process as required by existing laws, rules and regulations, prior to manufacture, importation, exportation, sale, offer for sale, distribution, transfer, and where applicable, direct use, testing, promotion advertisement, and for sponsorship. This term shall be differentiated from the term, “Registration”, in Section 4.m. to denote product approval. Section 4.l. Recognition refers to the formal acceptance or acknowledgement embodied in a document or any equivalent form granted by DA regulatory agency having jurisdiction that a product, system, or entity is determined to have the condition, quality, or competence based upon a specific set of criteria after undergoing a process of evaluation as prescribed in subsisting rules and regulations.

The terms specified and defined in the preceding section and summarized in Annex 1 shall be applied or used by all DA regulatory agencies in the following manner, unless otherwise defined in applicable

i. The term “License”, as defined in Section 4.h, shall be used for the authorization of a person to engage in a business operation or any activity in the Philippines as producer, importer, exporter, trader or dealer, bulk handler or blender, formulator, manufacturer, final product maker, indentor, packer or repacker, retailer, wholesaler, distributor, transhipper, processor, fabricator, assembler, agricultural chemicals handler, and other business entities. It covers permission to operate agricultural and fishery establishments, such as nurseries; farms operating in a scale as defined by the regulatory agency; breeding farms; hatchery facilities; milking facilities; animal facilities; and facilities for treatment, slaughter, cutting, dressing, drying/redrying, refining, manufacturing, fabrication, processing, packaging, packing, transport, collection, assembling, storage, grading/baling, and distribution, laboratories, and other business facilities.

ii. The term “Clearance”, as defined in Section 4.f, shall be used for the authorization of or allowing an activity or action to proceed in the Philippines, such as but not limited to trade-related activities, i.e., importation, exportation and re-exportation, domestic movement, and transshipment; animal event; research/experimentation; purchase and redrying in the case of leaf tobacco; transport; construction of new fishing vessel; and collection of fish and fishery/aquatic products.

iii. The term “Product Registration”, as defined in Section 4.k, shall be applied for commodities or products, production inputs, veterinary drugs and biological products, agricultural chemicals, agricultural machineries and equipment, and such other products that are under the regulatory jurisdiction of the Department and required to be registered in the Philippines pursuant to existing laws and executive orders. As it denotes product approval, Product Registration shall follow a rigorous evaluation and approval process by the DA regulatory agency having jurisdiction that establishes the product’s safety, efficacy, and compliance with mandatory quality. Such subjects undergo the prescribed process prior to engagement in any activity involving their use or utilization. A Certificate of Product Registration shall be granted as attestation of product approval. For greater clarity, regulatory agencies having jurisdiction shall publish a list of products that are required for Product Registration pursuant to existing legislations and executive orders.

Section 5.b. Types of Recognition. There shall be two types of recognition:

“official accreditation”, and “certification”.

i. operate an establishment; or,

ii. engage in business activities; and,

to, as appropriate:

iii. comply with subsisting rules and regulations on food safety, animal health, plant health, environmental health, and/or animal welfare; iv. conform to specific quality standards and technical regulations; and/or, v. comply with certain laws, rules, and regulations, including measures relating to conservation or sustainable use of exhaustible natural resources.

(b) The duly accomplished application form must be accompanied by specific technical documentary requirements. Applications filed with incomplete technical information and documentary requirements shall not be accepted.

(c) Regulatory agencies or offices having jurisdiction may require applicants the submission of additional requirements; provided that, these are limited to what is necessary and appropriate to empirically assess the technical capability of the applicants.

Section 14. Close Coordination with Other Government Offices. Regulatory agencies or offices having jurisdiction shall exercise due diligence in the assessment and verification of submitted documents and supplied information. For this purpose, they shall establish connection and closely coordinate with local government, CDA, DTI, SEC, DOH-FDA, LTO and BOC offices having jurisdiction. They shall request to obtain from the said government offices and such other government entities and instrumentalities, as appropriate, information or a list of registered, authorized, or recognized businesses or establishments. Likewise, they shall seek to obtain updated information or list on a regular basis.

Section 15. Conduct of Audit/Inspection. Systems, such as food safety risk management system, among others, adopted by the applicant shall be audited, and offices, establishments, and products which are subjects of application shall be inspected in accordance with Section 18 (d). Audit and inspections shall be conducted systematically, and their scope and coverage shall be limited to what is necessary for objective assessment. For this purpose, applicants shall ensure that auditors or inspectors are provided reasonable access to offices, establishments, and documents. Virtual or remote audit or inspection may be conducted if such activities cannot be carried out on site due to unforeseen circumstances, such as but not limited to force majeure and declared national emergencies, when mobility of personnel is restricted. Failure to conduct inspection within a specified period due to reasons attributable to the applicant shall cause termination of the application. Non-completion of inspection in accordance with the inspection plan within a prescribed period shall cause deferment of decision on the filed application.

Section 16. Confidentiality of Business Information. The confidentiality of information about products or processes arising from or supplied in connection with the submission of requirements and conduct of inspection is respected in accordance with existing laws and in such a manner that legitimate commercial interests are protected.

DA regulatory agencies include Bureau of Animal Industry, Bureau of Plant Industry, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering, National Meat Inspection Service, Philippine Coconut Authority, National Tobacco Authority, Sugar Regulatory Administration, Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority, National Dairy Authority, Bureau of Soils and Water Management, and Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (in the case of organic agriculture regulations).

Section 3. Transparency. All DA regulatory agencies shall promote transparency in the enforcement of their regulatory functions and shall make available actions on received applications in the agency website. In doing so, agencies shall comply with the requirements under Republic Act No. 10173 or also known as the Data Privacy Act of 2012.

ARTICLE III

Harmonization of Definitions and Applications

Section 4. Harmonized Definition of Terms. The definition of the terms: “accreditation”, “audit”, “authorization”, “certification”, “clearance”, “establishment”, “inspection”, “license”, “official accreditation”, and “registration”, as provided in the succeeding sections and summarized in Annex 1 shall be adopted across all DA regulatory agencies, unless otherwise defined in applicable laws:

Section 4.a. Accreditation refers to the process wherein an independent or authoritative body grants formal recognition to an entity providing testing, calibration, inspection, and certification services after proving competence and impartiality to provide such services as evidenced by fulfilment of specified standards and requirements.

Section 4.b. Agriculture and Fishery Establishment (or Establishment) refers to a facility engaged in a business operation or any activity in the agriculture and fishery sector, including farms or production areas, but excluding administrative offices.

Section 4.c. Audit is a systematic, independent and documented process for obtaining accounts, official records and other evidence, and evaluating them to objectively determine the extent to which previously specified and well-defined criteria are fulfilled.

Section 4.d. Authorization refers to the permission embodied in a document granted by a DA regulatory agency to a person to operate an establishment or engage in a business operation or any activity in the agriculture and fishery sector in the Philippines after proving compliance with specific requirements set by the DA regulatory agency having jurisdiction. This shall, likewise, refer to the status attributed to a product which has undergone the evaluation and approval process as mandated under existing laws, rules and regulations. Authorization is the general classification for license, clearance and product registration (approval), and such may be in the form of a license certificate, clearance certificate, or any similar document.

Section 4.e. Certification refers to the process by which an official certifying body1, accredited2 or officially accredited3 certifying body recognizes and provides written or equivalent assurance that a commodity or a product, or a process or system adopted or in place in agricultural and fishery establishments complies with subsisting sanitary and/or phytosanitary requirements, technical specifications, or conform to specific quality standards, as appropriate.

Section 4.f. Clearance refers to a permission embodied in a document, which is issued by the DA regulatory agency having jurisdiction to an authorized or recognized entity, for an activity or action to proceed after such has undergone necessary process and satisfied the requirements as prescribed under subsisting laws, rules and regulations.

Section 4.g. Inspection refers to the visual (organoleptic) examination of commodities/products, establishments including premises, or systems to verify or check compliance with sanitary and/or phytosanitary or requirements or technical specifications, or conformance to specific quality standards.

Section 4.h. License refers to the permission embodied in a document granted by a DA regulatory agency to a person with application to operate an establishment or engage in a business operation or any activity in the agriculture and fishery sector after proving technical capability to (1) comply with the sanitary and/or phytosanitary requirements set by the DA regulatory agency having jurisdiction, [2] conform to specific quality standards and technical regulations, or (3) comply with certain laws, rules, and regulations, including measures relating to conservation or sustainable use of exhaustible natural resources. In the case of animal facilities, the term license also refers to the certificate of registration as required under the Animal Welfare Act in consonance to relevant international standards and the Food Safety Act. Licensed Persons are authorized to proceed with business plans or

i. The term “Official Accreditation”, as defined in Section 4.i, shall be applied or used for recognition of persons or entities such as researchers; test engineers; technical evaluators; agriculturists; veterinarians; classifiers; and other related professionals; analytical or diagnostic laboratory; testing and evaluation facility; inspection and certification body; grading and classification system or facility; control, inspection, and certification system or facility; and other related entities by the DA regulatory agency having jurisdiction to carry out, if so required, services such as testing, calibration, technical assessment or evaluation, inspection, certification, and training services on its behalf. DA regulatory agencies shall primarily recognize certifications, attestations, and other types of assurances and guarantees issued or services provided by an entity duly accredited by the Philippine Accreditation Bureau (PAB). In cases wherein there is lack or inadequate PAB-accredited entities, the DA regulatory agency having jurisdiction may officially accredit entities whose assurances, guarantees, or services are critical to determining and ensuring regulatory compliance. Notwithstanding, officially accredited entities must endeavor to obtain PAB accreditation.

For greater clarity, official accreditation shall not apply to the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards with respect to granting accreditation to organic certifying bodies as provided for under the Organic Agriculture Act, as amended.

ii. The term “Certification”, as defined in Section 4.e, shall be applied or used for products and commodities under the certification responsibility of DA regulatory agencies or their recognized entities; sanitary or phytosanitary treatment; farms; and establishments, including equipment and machinery guaranteed to have complied with subsisting technical regulations, sanitary or phytosanitary requirements, or conform to specific quality standards.

Section 5.c. Registration. As defined in Section 4.l, all information on the subjects of authorization and recognition shall be recorded in an official registry or database for documentation, monitoring, and eventual evaluation for regulatory purposes.

Section 5.d. Compliance Verification and Monitoring. In verifying or monitoring compliance with authorization or recognition requirements or conditions, DA regulatory agencies may conduct audit and inspection.

i. The term “Audit”, as defined in Section 4.c, shall be used to verify and monitor compliance with requirements and conditions or conformance to specific standards and conditions for granting recognition, such as official accreditation and certification. Audit may include inspections.

ii. The term “Inspection”, as defined in Section 4.g, shall be applied to actual examination of commodities/products, establishments including premises, or systems to determine compliance with requirements or conformance to specific standards for granting authorization and recognition. Inspection usually relies on the professional judgement and experience of the inspector.

ARTICLE IV

National Registration of Farms, Farmers and Fisherfolks

Section 6. National Official Registry of Farms, Farmers, and Fisherfolks. A national official registry of farms, farmers, and fisherfolks shall be established, maintained, and updated annually by regulatory agencies having jurisdiction. This official registry shall facilitate efficient delivery of regulatory services; increased relevance of technical assistance and other support programs and services; and strengthen data-driven formulation and implementation of food safety measures, biosecurity protocols, and quality standards.

Section 7. Information Requirements for Registration. The following information on farms, farmers, and fisherfolks shall be recorded in the official registry as applicable:

i. Demographic profile, such as name, sex, age

ii. Farmer’s or Fisherfolk’s residential address and contact information

iii. Farm location (with geotagged photos), size, type (i.e., crop farm, fish farm, dairy farm, or livestock farm such as hog/cattle/poultry farm), fishing area, and specific commodity

iv. Classification, either subsistence or commercial, or in the case of fisheries, artisanal

v. Type of agri-machinery and proof of ownership

vi. Standing as regards conformance to standards of good practices

vii. Cooperative or organizational affiliation

viii. Unique registration code

Section 8. Focal Offices of DA to Facilitate Registration. Regional offices of DA attached (regulatory) agencies, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering (BAFE), and Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) shall maintain a registry

Section 17. Public Access to Information on Requirements. Information or the list of general and specific requirements shall be published on the website of regulatory agencies, including a note that applications filed with incomplete requirements shall not be accepted. Application forms shall also be made available for download from the website.

Section 18. General Procedure for Licensing, (a) The licensing procedure shall seek to realize the objectives of minimizing face-to-face interaction with applicants and paper-based transactions. The procedures shall be in anticipation of a national webbased software that will enable electronic or online licensing system for ease of doing business as mandated by law. Granting licenses to persons shall be in accordance with following general procedure:

i. Electronic filing of application, registration, review and verification

ii. Initial technical evaluation

iii. Audit/Inspection iv. Final technical evaluation and determination of decision on the application

(b) Step 1: Electronic filing of application, registration, review and verification

i. All applications must be filed and received electronically. Accomplished application forms are not required to be notarized.

ii. The verifying officer shall then assess the completeness of the submitted documents; register the application in the official database; assign a unique registration code; and send an acknowledgement email indicating the date of filing, the unique registration code, and the name and position of the verifying officer. In cases wherein an application is filed with incomplete documentary requirements, the verifying officer shall notify the applicant of non-acceptance and the missing or lacking documentary requirements.

iii. Succeeding submission of documents or requirements relevant to the application shall also be through electronic means. For traceability purposes, the applicant shall indicate the unique registration code in all succeeding submissions.

iv. The applicant must pay the processing fee, if applicable, through partner financial institutions via online banking or at any branch upon receipt of the unique registration code. A copy of the proof of payment, which shall contain the unique registration code and the bank’s receipt transaction number, shall be transmitted to the regulatory agency or office. The verifying officer shall then update the registered information on the application in the official database to include the bank’s receipt transaction number.

v. Physical filing of application or submission of requirements may be resorted to in cases of electronic malfunction attributable to the regulatory agencies or offices or internet connectivity difficulties, or in cases when there are any issues related to the accuracy and clarity of the submitted documents. Regulatory agencies or offices shall have a helpdesk hotline number for any assistance needed by the applicants related to the electronic filing of applications. The helpdesk hotline number shall be conspicuously displayed in offices and posted on website for public information.

vi Within the same date of filing if it falls on a working day and hour, or otherwise, on the following working day and hour, the verification officer of the regulatory agency or office shall verify the submitted documents. Once verification is complete, the verification officer shall update the registered information, including the unique registration code, in the official database. Complete and verified applications shall be endorsed to proceed to initial technical evaluation.

(c) Step 2: Initial Technical Evaluation

i. The initial technical evaluation shall be conducted to determine, based on the submitted specific requirements, the technical capacity and capability of the applicant to operate an establishment or engage in business activities. The technical evaluator shall determine the applicant’s capacity and capability to comply with subsisting rules and regulations on food safety, animal health, plant health, environmental health, and/or animal welfare, as appropriate; conform to specific quality standards and technical regulations; and /or comply with certain laws, rules and regulations.

ii. In the conduct of initial technical evaluation, the technical evaluator may require the applicant to submit of additional specific requirements in accordance with Section 13 (c). The technical evaluator shall, without delay, notify the applicant of the additional information or document required to conduct an objective assessment. The request for additional technical information/documents shall be limited to two notifications only. The notification shall include the date on which the additional requirements will have to be complied with. Failure to submit the requirements within the specified due date will cause the application to be terminated. Reasonable requests for extension of time limit which are made prior to or on the due date shall be considered; hence in these cases, a new due date shall be set. The applicant may request up to two extensions. All these details shall be recorded by the technical evaluator in the official database as part of the applicant’s records.

iii. Submission of additional documents or requirements relevant to the application shall also to be through electronic means. For traceability purposes, the applicant shall indicate the unique registration code in all succeeding submissions.

iv. The technical evaluator shall have a technical report, which shall be entered in the database as part of the applicant’s record. Applications which passed the initial technical evaluation shall be endorsed for audit/inspection.

v. The electronic processing system shall have the facility to inform the applicant of the result of the initial technical evaluation and the status of application. In the absence of the electronic system, the notification to the applicant shall be done by email. (d)

ii. As stipulated in Sections 4.c, 4.g, 5.d.i, and 5.d.ii, audit/inspections shall be limited to the purpose of verifying or checking compliance with sanitary and/ or phytosanitary or requirements or technical regulations, or conformance to specific quality standards.

iii. No major deviation from the audit/inspection plan, such as any changes in the establishments (either by exclusion or addition) to be inspected, shall be allowed. Should any minor deviation arises, the applicant must be notified thereof.

iv. The audit/inspection team shall have a technical report, which shall be entered in the database as part of the applicant’s record.

(e) Step 4: Final Technical Evaluation and Determination of Decision on the Application

i. The final technical evaluation shall be done by the recommending body/officer based on the outcomes of the initial technical evaluation and audit/inspection. The recommendation shall be recorded in the official database as part of the applicant’s record.

ii. Depending on the merits and outcome of the final technical evaluation, the decision may be approval, disapproval, or deferment subject to corrective measures.

iii. In the case of approval, the applicant shall be notified of such decision and advised to pay the license fee, if applicable, through partner financial institutions via online banking or at any branch upon receipt of the notification. A copy of the proof of payment, which shall contain the unique registration code and the bank’s receipt transaction number, shall be transmitted to the regulatory agency or office. The verifying officer shall then update the recorded information on the application in the official database to include the bank’s receipt transaction number.

iv. The applicant shall be issued with a license with a unique license code, including QR code, if available, and all relevant establishments must be listed with unique codes under the applicant’s license. The license shall be in electronic form or printed form, as appropriate, and shall include the following information:

1. Basic information on the licensed person

2. Authorized business operation or activity

3. Subject products or commodities and specific use or purpose

4. Licensed establishments with unique codes

5. License validity period

v. In the case of deferment, the applicant shall be notified of the reasons for deferment and granted a reasonable period to implement or introduce corrective measures within a specified period. For traceability purposes, the applicant shall indicate the unique registration code in the submission of the technical requirements.

vi. The applicant’s record shall be updated by the recommending body/officer with a note on the submission or non-submission of the technical requirements and the corresponding assessment or recommendation.

vii. Failure of the applicant to submit the technical requirements as required within the specified period shall cause the application to be terminated.

Reasonable requests for extension of time limit which are made prior to or on the due date shall be considered; hence in these cases, a new due date shall be set. The applicant may submit a written request for extension only once.

All these details shall be recorded by the recommending body/officer in the official database as part of the applicant’s records.

viii. In cases where the reason for deferment of decision requires re-audit/reinspection, the applicant shall be required, if applicable, to pay the audit/ inspection fee following the procedure provided in Section 18 (b) iv. The application will then resume at Step 3.

ix. In the case of disapproval, the applicant shall be notified of the reasons for disapproval.

x. All information relevant to the outcome of the application, including the unique license code and establishment with unique code in the case of approval, shall be recorded in the official database as part of the applicant’s record.

Section 19. Licensing Procedure for international traders of Coconut, Tobacco

Leaf, and Natural Fibers, (a) The licensing of persons whose businesses involve importation and exportation of coconut, tobacco leaf, and natural fibers shall be facilitated by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), National Tobacco Administration (NTA), and Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA), respectively. The licensing procedure shall be in accordance with Section 18 (a) to (e). The licensed persons by the above-cited agencies shall be recognized by the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI). There shall be no separate procedure of licensing or audit/inspection for purposes of registration at the BPI for the specified commodities.

(b) PCA, NTA, and PhilFIDA shall provide BPI with relevant records on the licensed persons for recording purposes in its official database. The BPI shall send an acknowledgement communication to the regulatory agency which provided such records.

(c) As the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO), the BPI shall officially accredit the regulatory agencies specified in paragraph (a) of this Section to conduct assessment and inspection activities for phytosanitary purpose on its behalf. For this reason, the BPI shall conduct audit and provide regular training for the said regulatory agencies on the assessment and inspection protocols for phytosanitary purpose in accordance with the methodologies established by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and other relevant international standards. A pest monitoring and surveillance system shall be implemented by the BPI with the involvement of the said regulatory agencies.

Section 20. Licensing Procedure for Animal Establishments Used in Food Production and for Special Use. (a) Licensing of persons, including their establishments, whose businesses involve importation, exportation, rearing and handling of live animals shall be facilitated by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI). The licensing procedure shall be in accordance with Section 18 (a) to (e).

(b) Licensing of persons, including their meat establishments such as slaughterhouses and dressing plants, whose businesses involve meat production shall be facilitated by the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) following the prescribed procedure in Section 18(a) to (e). There shall be no separate procedure of licensing, audit, or inspection for purposes of registration at BAI for the specified establishments, as mandated in Section 2 of the Animal Welfare Act of 1998. As such, NMIS shall have the regulatory jurisdiction over these establishments to ensure technical evaluation and inspection protocols for sanitary purposes in accordance with the methodologies established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) and other recognized international standard-setting organizations. NMIS shall also ensure the implementation of good animal welfare, and conduct monitoring and surveillance of animal diseases. It shall report to BAI the occurrences of notifiable diseases. All complaints pertaining to these establishments shall be handled by NMIS.

(c) Licensing of persons, including their dairy farms and other establishments, whose businesses involve milk production and dealing shall be facilitated by the National Dairy Authority (NDA), pursuant to the Food Safety Act of 2013, following the procedure provided for in Section 18(a) to (e) of this Circular. In the licensing of persons and their dairy farms, the requirements under the Animal Welfare Act of 1998, as amended by Republic Act No. 10631 in 2013, shall, likewise, be considered by NDA. As such, NDA shall be officially accredited by BAI to conduct inspection of dairy farms for compliance. BAI shall, likewise, provide training on protocols and methodologies, especially those developed by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) and other recognized international standard-setting organizations, and officially accredit specific personnel for the conduct of audit or inspection, and handling and resolution of complaints.

Information on persons and their dairy farms licensed by NDA shall be forwarded to BAI for recording in its official database and issuance of a certificate of registration.

There shall be no separate procedure of licensing, audit, or inspection for purposes of registration at BAI for the specified establishments. NDA shall conduct monitoring and surveillance of dairy animal diseases, vaccination programs, and other animal health protocols. Occurrences of notifiable diseases shall be reported to BAI. Section 21. Publication of Licensed Persons. Regulatory agencies shall promptly publish and update the list of licensed persons and relevant information on the agency’s centralized website. The publication shall contain the following information:

1. Basic information on the licensed person

2. Authorized business operation or activity

3. Subject products or commodities and specific use or purpose

4. Licensed

(c) Licensed applicants shall be required to indicate in the application form the unique license code for verification purposes. In the case of organic inputs, registered applicants shall be required to indicate in the application form the unique registration code for verification purposes. For applications involving those referred to in the preceding paragraph, duly accomplished application form must be accompanied by the documentary requirements. Applications filed with incomplete information and general documentary requirements shall not be accepted.

(d) If applicable and necessary as provided under existing laws, the letter or statement of intent shall be incorporated as part of the application form.

(e) Likewise, all international traders shall be required to indicate specific tariff nomenclature codes, i.e., Harmonized System (HS) code or ASEAN Harmonized Tariff Nomenclature (AHTN) code, as well as provide a brief description of the subject products or commodities.

Section 25. Specific Requirements, [a] Applicants must be required by regulatory agencies or offices having jurisdiction to submit technical information and documentary evidence in order to objectively demonstrate the product’s compliance with the safety and health protection requirements or conformance to specific quality standards as provided under existing laws and executive orders.

(b) The duly accomplished application form must also be accompanied by specific requirements. Applications filed with incomplete specific requirements shall not be accepted.

(c) Regulatory agencies or offices having jurisdiction may require applicants the submission of additional requirements; provided that, these are limited to what is necessary and appropriate to empirically assess the product being applied for registration.

Section 26. Close Coordination with Other Government Offices. Regulatory agencies or offices having jurisdiction shall exercise due diligence in the assessment and verification of submitted documents and supplied information. For this purpose, they shall establish connection and closely coordinate with other government agencies or offices having jurisdiction. They shall request to obtain relevant information, including list of licensed persons and scientific and technical information, that will help facilitate the conduct of assessment and approval process. Likewise, they shall seek to obtain updated information, as appropriate, on a regular basis.

Section 27. Conduct of Product Testing. Products which are subjects of application shall undergo appropriate testing and trials. Testing shall be conducted systematically, and their scope and coverage shall be limited to what is necessary for objective assessment. For this purpose, applicants shall ensure that inspectors are provided reasonable access to establishments for sampling or testing purposes.

Section 28. Confidentiality of Proprietary Information. The confidentiality of information about products or processes arising from or supplied in connection with the submission of requirements and conduct of product testing is respected in accordance with existing laws and in such a manner that legitimate commercial or proprietary interests are protected.

Section 29. Public Access to Information on Requirements. Information or the list of general and specific requirements shall be published on the website of regulatory agencies, including a note that applications filed with incomplete requirements shall not be accepted. Application forms shall also be made available for download from the website.

Section 30. General Procedure for Product Registration, (a) The product registration procedure shall seek to realize the objectives of minimizing face-to-face interaction with applicants and paper-based transactions. The procedures shall be in anticipation of a national web-based software that will enable electronic or online product registration system for ease of doing business as mandated by law. Granting of certificates of product registration shall be in accordance with the following general procedure:

i. Electronic filing of application, registration, review and verification

ii. Initial technical evaluation

iii. Relevant testing and trials

iv. Final technical evaluation and determination of decision on the application

(b) Step 1: Electronic filing of application, registration, review and verification

i. All applications must be filed and received electronically. Accomplished application forms are not required to be notarized.

ii. The verifying officer shall then assess the completeness of the submitted documents; register the application in the official database; assign a unique registration code; and send an acknowledgement email indicating the date of filing, the unique registration code, and the name and position of the verifying officer. In cases wherein an application is filed with incomplete documentary requirements, the verifying officer shall notify the applicant of non-acceptance of the application and the missing or lacking documentary requirements.

iii. Succeeding submission of documents or requirements relevant to the application shall also be through electronic means. For traceability purposes, the applicant shall indicate the unique registration code in all succeeding submissions.

iv. The applicant must pay the product registration fee, if applicable, through partner financial institutions via online banking or at any branch upon receipt of the unique registration code. A copy of the proof of payment, which shall contain the unique registration code and the bank’s receipt transaction number, shall be transmitted to the regulatory agency or office. The verifying officer shall then update the registered information on the application in the official database to include the bank’s receipt transaction number.

v. Physical filing of application or submission of requirements may be resorted to in cases of electronic malfunction attributable to the regulatory agencies or offices or internet connectivity difficulties, or in cases when there are any issues related to the accuracy and clarity of the submitted documents. Regulatory agencies or offices shall have a helpdesk hotline number for any assistance needed by the applicants related to the electronic filing of applications. The helpdesk hotline number shall be conspicuously displayed in offices and posted on website for public information.

vi. Within the same date of filing if it falls on a working day and hour, or otherwise, on the following working day and hour, the verification officer of the regulatory agency or office shall verify the submitted documents. Once verification is complete, the verification officer shall update the registered information, including the unique registration code, in the official database. Complete and verified applications shall be endorsed to proceed to initial technical evaluation.

(c) Step 2: Initial Technical Evaluation

i. The initial technical evaluation shall be conducted to determine, based on the submitted specific requirements, the product’s safety in compliance with existing rules and regulations on safety and health protection or its quality in conformance to prescribed specific quality standards and technical regulations.

ii. In the conduct of initial technical evaluation, the technical evaluator may require the applicant to submit additional specific requirements in accordance with Section 25 (c). The technical evaluator shall, without delay, notify the applicant of the additional information or document required to conduct an objective assessment. The request for additional technical information/ documents shall be limited to two notifications only, unless the product which is the subject of application has specific safety concerns. The notification shall include the date on which the additional requirements will have to be complied with. Failure to submit the requirements within the specified due date will cause the application to be terminated. Reasonable requests for extension of time limit which are made prior to or on the due date shall be considered; hence in these cases, a new due date shall be set. The applicant may request up to two extensions. All these details shall be recorded by the technical evaluator in the official database as part of the applicant’s records.

iii. Submission of additional documents or requirements relevant to the application shall also be through electronic means. For traceability purposes, the applicant shall indicate the unique registration code in all succeeding submissions.

iv. The technical evaluator shall have a technical report, which shall be entered in the database as part of the applicant’s record. Applications which passed the initial technical evaluation shall be endorsed for product testing.

v. The electronic processing system shall have the facility to inform the applicant of the result of the initial technical evaluation and the status of application. In the absence of the electronic system, the notification to the applicant shall be done by email.

(d) Step 3: Relevant Product Testing or Trials

i. Product testing shall be done strictly by technical officers or evaluators who are recognized to conduct product testing in accordance with established standards and protocols. The product testing team shall develop an assessment plan or checklist based on the results of the initial technical evaluation. The details of the product testing or trials shall be communicated to the applicant prior to the conduct of the activity. No product testing shall proceed without a well-defined plan or checklist.

ii. Product testing shall be limited to the purpose of verifying or checking compliance with safety and health protection requirements or technical regulations, or conformance to specific quality standards.

iii. No major deviation from the product testing plan shall be allowed. Should any minor deviation arises, the applicant must be notified thereof.

iv. The product testing and the results thereof shall be documented and entered in the database as part of the applicant’s record.

(e) Step 4: Final technical evaluation and Determination of Decision on the Application

i. The final technical evaluation shall be done by the recommending body/officer based on the outcomes of the initial technical evaluation and product testing. The recommendation shall be recorded in the official database as part of the applicant’s record.

ii. Depending on the merits and outcome of the final technical evaluation, the decision may be approval, disapproval, or deferment subject to additional technical requirements.

iii. In the case of approval, the applicant shall be issued a certificate of product registration with a unique code. The certificate shall be in electronic form or printed form, as appropriate.

iv. In the case of deferment, the applicant shall be notified of the reasons for deferment and granted a reasonable period to submit additional technical requirements within a specified period. For traceability purposes, the applicant shall indicate the unique registration code in the submission of the technical requirements.

v. The applicant’s record shall be updated by the recommending body/officer with a note on the submission or non-submission of the technical requirements and the corresponding assessment or recommendation.

vi. Failure of the applicant to submit the technical requirements as required within the specified period shall cause the application to be terminated. Reasonable requests for extension of time limit which are made prior to or on the due date shall be considered; hence in these cases, a new due date shall be set. The applicant may submit a written request for extension only once. All these details shall be recorded by the recommending body/officer in the official database as part of the applicant’s records.

vii. In cases where the reason

non-profit organizations, and government instrumentalities, applying for a clearance must submit appropriate documents in portable document format (PDF) to establish legitimacy. Regulatory agencies or offices having jurisdiction shall require submission of a proof of government registry, trust agreement, partnership agreement, articles of association, or a similar record obtained from a public body that confirms the organization’s existence as an organization. Applications for a clearance for personal use or consumption shall be accompanied by a notarized affidavit/undertaking of such. Volumes, quantities, and frequency relative to personal consumption shall be determined by the regulatory agency having jurisdiction.

(c) Licensed applicants shall be required to indicate in the application form the unique license code for verification purposes. For applications involving those referred to in the preceding paragraph, the duly accomplished application form must be accompanied by documentary requirements. Applications filed with incomplete information and general documentary requirements shall not be accepted.

(d) If applicable and necessary as provided under existing laws, the letter or statement of intent shall be incorporated as part of the application form.

(e) Likewise, all applicants shall be required to indicate in the application form specific products, commodities, or activities which are the subjects involved in the application. International traders shall be required to indicate specific tariff nomenclature codes, i.e., Harmonized System (HS) code or ASEAN Harmonized Tariff Nomenclature (AHTN) code, provide a brief description of the subject products or commodities, indicate specific use or purpose, and provide information on the final destination of the products or commodities.

Section 34. Specific Requirements, (a) Applicants must be required by regulatory agencies or offices having jurisdiction to submit technical information and documentary evidence in order to objectively demonstrate that the proposed activity or action is in compliance with the safety and health protection requirements, conformance to specific quality standards as provided under existing laws, rules and regulations, or compliance with certain laws, rules and regulations, including measures relating to conservation or sustainable use of exhaustible natural resources, as appropriate.

(b) The duly accomplished application form must be accompanied by specific documentary requirements. Applications filed with incomplete technical information and specific documentary requirements shall not be accepted.

(c) Regulatory agencies or offices having jurisdiction may require applicants the submission of additional requirements; provided that, these are limited to what is necessary and appropriate to empirically assess the proposed activity or action.

Section 35. Close Coordination with Other Government Offices. Regulatory agencies or offices having jurisdiction shall exercise due diligence in the assessment and verification of submitted documents and supplied information. For this purpose, they shall establish connection and closely coordinate with other government agencies or offices having jurisdiction. They shall request to obtain relevant information, including list of licensed persons, scientific and technical information, list of registered products, and list of commodities with certifications, that will help facilitate the conduct of assessment and approval process. Likewise, they shall seek to obtain updated information, as appropriate, on a regular basis.

Section 36. Conduct of Inspection. If necessary, products, location, venue, establishments, and such other subjects of application shall be inspected. Inspections shall be conducted systematically, and their scope and coverage shall be limited to what is necessary for objective assessment. For this purpose, applicants shall ensure that inspectors are provided reasonable access to offices, establishments, and documents. Virtual or remote inspection may be conducted if physical inspection cannot be carried out due to unforeseen circumstances, such as but not limited to force majeure and declared national emergencies, when mobility of personnel is restricted. Failure to conduct inspection within a specified period due to reasons attributable to the applicant shall cause termination of the application. Non-completion of inspection in accordance with the inspection plan within a prescribed period shall cause deferment of decision on the filed application.

Section 37. Confidentiality of Business or Proprietary Information. The confidentiality of information about products or processes arising from or supplied in connection with the submission of requirements and conduct of inspection is respected in accordance with existing laws and in such a manner that legitimate commercial or proprietary interests are protected.

Section 38. Public Access to Information on Requirements. Information or the list of general and specific requirements shall be published on the website of regulatory agencies, including a note that applications filed with incomplete requirements shall not be accepted. Application forms shall also be made available for download from the website.

Section 39. General Procedure for Granting Clearances, (a) The clearance procedure shall seek to realize the objectives of minimizing face-to-face interaction with applicants and paper-based transactions. The procedures shall be in anticipation of a national web-based software that will enable electronic or online clearance system for ease of doing business as mandated by law. Granting of clearances shall be in accordance with the following general procedure:

i. Electronic filing of application, registration, review and verification

ii. Initial technical evaluation

iii. Inspection (if necessary)

iv. Final technical evaluation and determination of decision on the application (b) Step 1: Electronic filing of application, registration, review and verification

i. All applications must be filed and received electronically. Applications for Sanitary and Phytosanitary Clearance for importation purposes shall continue to be processed through the DA Trade System / DA Import-Export System. Accomplished application forms are not required to be notarized.

ii. The verifying officer shall then assess the completeness of the submitted documents; register the application in the official database; assign a unique registration code; and send an acknowledgement email indicating the date of filing, the unique registration code, and the name and position of the verifying officer. In cases wherein an application is filed with incomplete documentary requirements, the verifying officer shall notify the applicant of non-acceptance and the missing or lacking documentary requirements.

iii. Succeeding submission of documents or requirements relevant to the application shall also be through electronic means. For traceability purposes, the applicant shall indicate the unique registration code in all succeeding submissions.

iv. The applicant must pay the clearance fee, if applicable, through partner financial institutions via online banking or at any branch upon receipt of the unique registration code. A copy of the proof of payment, which shall contain the unique registration code and the bank’s receipt transaction number, shall be transmitted to the regulatory agency or office through the same email address within three hours following the payment. The verifying officer shall then update the registered information on the application in the official database to include the bank’s receipt transaction number.

v. Physical filing of application or submission of requirements may be resorted to in cases of electronic malfunction attributable to the regulatory agencies or offices or internet connectivity difficulties, or in cases when there are any issues related to the accuracy and clarity of the submitted documents. Regulatory agencies or offices shall have a helpdesk hotline number for any assistance needed by the applicants related to the electronic filing of applications. The helpdesk hotline number shall be conspicuously displayed in offices and posted on website for public information.

vi. Within the same date of filing if it falls on a working day and hour, or otherwise, on the following working day and hour, the verification officer of the regulatory agency or office shall verify the submitted documents. Once verification is complete, the verification officer shall update the registered information, including the unique registration code, in the official database. Complete and verified applications shall be endorsed to proceed to initial technical evaluation. (c) Step

as appropriate; conformance to specific quality standards and technical regulations; and/or compliance with certain laws, rules and regulations including measures relating to conservation or sustainable use of exhaustible natural resources.

ii. In the conduct of initial technical evaluation, the technical evaluator may require the applicant to submit additional specific requirements in accordance with Section 34 (c). The technical evaluator shall, without delay, notify the applicant of the additional information or document required to conduct an objective assessment. The request for additional technical information/documents shall be limited to two notifications only. The notification shall include the date on which the additional requirements will have to be complied with. Failure to submit the requirements within the specified due date will cause the application to be terminated. Reasonable requests for extension of time limit which are made prior to or on the due date shall be considered; hence in these cases, a new due date shall be set. The applicant may request extension only once. All these details shall be recorded by the technical evaluator in the official database as part of the applicant’s records.

iii. Submission of additional documents or requirements relevant to the application shall also be through electronic means. For traceability purposes, the applicant shall indicate the unique registration code in all succeeding submissions.

iv. The technical evaluator shall have a technical report, which shall be entered in the database as part of the applicant’s record. If inspection is necessary, the technical evaluator shall make such endorsement following the initial technical evaluation.

v. The electronic processing system shall have the facility to inform the applicant of the result of the initial technical evaluation and the status of application. In the absence of the electronic system, the notification to the applicant shall be done by email.

(d) Step 3: Inspection (if deemed necessary by the regulatory agency having jurisdiction)

i. Inspection shall be done strictly by technical officers who are trained and recognized to conduct inspections in accordance with established standards and protocols. The inspection team shall develop an inspection plan based on the results of the initial technical evaluation. The details of the inspection shall be communicated to the applicant prior to the schedule of inspection. No inspection shall proceed without a well-defined plan.

ii. As stipulated in Sections 4.g and 5.d (ii), inspections shall be limited to the purpose of verifying or checking compliance with safety and health protection requirements or technical regulations, or conformance to specific quality standards.

iii. No major deviation from the inspection plan shall be allowed. Should any minor deviation arises, the applicant must be notified thereof.

iv. The inspection team shall have a technical report, which shall be entered in the database as part of the applicant’s record.

(e) Step 4: Final technical evaluation and Determination of Decision on the Application

i. The final technical evaluation shall be done by the recommending body/officer based on the outcomes of the initial technical evaluation and inspection. The recommendation shall be recorded in the official database as part of the applicant’s record.

ii. Depending on the merits and outcome of the final technical evaluation, the decision may be approval, disapproval, deferment subject to additional technical requirements.

iii. In the case of approval, the applicant shall be issued with a clearance with a corresponding unique code as well as information on the permitted activity, subject of clearance (including HS or AHTN code, as appropriate), and purpose or use and final destination of the product or commodity, as appropriate. The clearance shall be in electronic form or printed form, as appropriate.

iv. In the case of deferment, the applicant shall be notified of the reasons for deferment and granted a reasonable period to conduct or submit additional technical requirements within a specified period. For traceability purposes, the applicant shall indicate the unique registration code in the submission of the technical requirements.

v. The applicant’s record shall be updated by the recommending body/officer with a note on the submission or non-submission of the technical requirements and the corresponding assessment or recommendation.

vi. Failure of the applicant to submit the technical requirements as required within the specified period shall cause the application to be terminated.

Reasonable requests for extension of time limit which are made prior to or on the due date shall be considered; hence in these cases, a new due date shall be set. The applicant may submit a written request for extension only once. All these details shall be recorded by the recommending body/officer in the official database as part of the applicant’s records.

vii. In cases where the reason for deferment of decision requires re-inspection, the applicant shall be required, if applicable, to pay the inspection fee following the procedure provided in Section 39 (b) iv. The application will then resume at Step 3.

viii. In the case of disapproval, the applicant shall be notified of the reasons for disapproval.

ix. All

to the

of the application, including the

be

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Section 46. Public Access to Information on Requirements. Information or the list of general and specific requirements shall be published on the website of regulatory agencies, including a note that applications filed with incomplete requirements shall not be accepted. Such public information shall also include a note that any changes to the subject of filed application, such as inclusion of additional or deletion of services, can be made by the applicant

is filed with incomplete documentary requirements, the verifying officer shall notify the applicant of non-acceptance and the missing or lacking documentary requirements.

iii. Succeeding submission of documents or requirements relevant to the application shall also be through electronic means. For traceability purposes, the applicant shall indicate the unique registration code in all succeeding submissions.

iv The applicant must pay the processing fee, if applicable, through partner financial institutions via online banking or at any branch upon receipt of the unique registration code. A copy of the proof of payment, which shall contain the unique registration code and the bank’s receipt transaction number, shall be transmitted to the regulatory agency or office through the same email address. The verifying officer shall then update the registered information on the application in the official database to include the bank’s receipt transaction number.

v. Physical filing of application or submission of requirements may be resorted to in cases of electronic malfunction attributable to the regulatory agencies or offices or internet connectivity difficulties, or in cases when there are any issues related to the accuracy and clarity of the submitted documents. Regulatory agencies or offices shall have a helpdesk hotline number for any assistance needed by the applicants related to the electronic filing of applications. The helpdesk hotline number shall be conspicuously displayed in offices and posted on website for public information. vi. Within the same date of filing if it falls on a working day and hour, or otherwise, on the following working day and hour, the verification officer of the regulatory agency or office shall verify the submitted documents. Once verification is complete, the verification officer shall update the recorded information, including the unique registration code, in the official database. Complete and verified applications shall be endorsed to proceed to initial technical evaluation.

(c) Step 2: Initial Technical Evaluation

i. The initial technical evaluation shall be conducted to determine, based on the submitted specific requirements, the technical competence of the applicant to provide regulatory and training services on behalf of the regulatory agency or office. The technical evaluator shall determine the applicant’s competence to conform to specific quality standards and technical requirements.

ii. In the conduct of initial technical evaluation, the technical evaluator may require the applicant to submit additional specific requirements in accordance with Section 42 (c). The technical evaluator shall, without delay, notify the applicant of the additional information or document required to conduct an objective assessment. The request for additional technical information/documents shall be limited to two notifications only. The notification shall include the date on which the additional requirements will have to be complied with. Failure to submit the requirements within the specified due date will cause the application to be terminated. Reasonable requests for extension of time limit which are made prior to or on the due date shall be considered; hence in these cases, a new due date shall be set. The applicant may request up to two extensions. All these details shall be recorded by the technical evaluator in the official database as part of the applicant’s records.

iii. Submission of additional documents or requirements relevant to the application shall also be through electronic means. For traceability purposes, the applicant shall indicate the unique registration code in all succeeding submissions.

iv. Applicants can make changes to the subject of application, such as additional or deletion of services; provided that, these are made within the period of Steps 1 to 2. For traceability purposes, submission of appropriate documents or requirements relevant to the proposed changes shall indicate the unique registration code. The applicant’s record in the official database shall be updated accordingly.

v. The technical evaluator shall have a technical report, which shall be entered in the database as part of the applicant’s record. Applications which passed the initial technical evaluation shall be endorsed for audit.

vi. The electronic processing system shall have the facility to inform the applicant of the result of the initial technical evaluation and the status of application. In the absence of the electronic system, the notification to the applicant shall be done by email.

(d) Step 3: Audit

i. Audit shall be done strictly by technical officers who are officially accredited or authorized to conduct audit in accordance with established standards and protocols. The audit team shall develop an audit plan based on the results of the initial technical evaluation. The details of the audit shall be communicated to the applicant prior to the schedule of audit. No audit shall proceed without a well-defined audit plan.

ii. As stipulated in Sections 4.c and 5.d (i), audit shall be limited to the purpose of verifying or checking compliance with technical regulations and conformance to specific quality standards.

iii. No major deviation from the audit plan, such as any changes in the establishments (either by exclusion or addition) to be audited, shall be allowed. Should any minor deviation arises, the applicant must be notified thereof.

iv. The audit team shall have a technical report, which shall be entered in the database as part of the applicant’s record.

(e) Step 4: Final technical evaluation and Determination of Decision on the Application

i. The final technical evaluation shall be done by the recommending body/ officer based on the outcomes of the initial technical evaluation and audit. The recommendation shall be recorded in the official database as part of the applicant’s record.

ii. Depending on the merits and outcome of the final technical evaluation, the decision may be approval, disapproval, or deferment subject to corrective measures.

whenever appropriate.

ARTICLE IX Requirements and Prescribed Procedures for Certification Section 51. General Requirements, (a) Persons who are business entities must be licensed prior to filing an application for certification. In the case of application for organic certification, persons who are business entities must comply with the requirements and procedures of the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards. (b) Non-business entities, such as, but not limited to, public research institutions, state universities and colleges, non-profit organizations, and government instrumentalities, applying for a certification must submit appropriate documents in portable document format (PDF) to establish legitimacy. Regulatory agencies or offices having jurisdiction shall require submission of a proof of government registry, trust agreement, partnership agreement, articles of association, or a similar record obtained from a public body that confirms the organization’s existence as an organization. Applications for a certification of commodities for personal use or consumption shall be accompanied by a notarized affidavit/undertaking of such. Volumes, quantities, and frequency relative to personal consumption shall be determined by the regulatory agency having jurisdiction.

(c) Licensed applicants shall be required to indicate in the application form the unique license code for verification purposes. For applications involving those referred to in the preceding paragraph, the duly accomplished application form must be accompanied by the documentary requirements. Applications filed with incomplete information and general documentary requirements shall not be accepted.

(d) If applicable and necessary as provided under existing laws, the letter or statement of intent shall be incorporated as part of the application form.

(e) Likewise, all international traders shall be required to indicate specific tariff nomenclature codes, i.e., Harmonized System (HS) code or ASEAN Harmonized Tariff Nomenclature (AHTN) code, as well as provide a brief description of the subject products or commodities.

Section 52. Specific Requirements, (a) Applicants must be required by regulatory agencies or offices having jurisdiction to submit technical information and documentary evidence in order to objectively demonstrate, as appropriate, compliance with the safety and health protection requirements and technical regulations; conformance to specific quality standards; and/or compliance with certain laws, rules and regulations, including measures relating to conservation or sustainable use of exhaustible natural resources.

(b) The duly accomplished application form must be accompanied by specific requirements. Applications filed with incomplete specific requirements shall not be accepted.

(c) Regulatory agencies or offices having jurisdiction may require applicants the submission of additional requirements; provided that, these are limited to what is necessary and appropriate to carry out empirical assessment.

Section 53. Close Coordination with Other Government Offices. Regulatory agencies or offices having jurisdiction shall exercise due diligence in the assessment and verification of submitted documents and supplied information. For this purpose, they shall establish connection and closely coordinate with other government agencies or offices having jurisdiction. They shall request to obtain relevant information, including list of licensed persons, scientific and technical information, and list of registered products, that will help facilitate the conduct of assessment and certification process. Likewise, they shall seek to obtain updated information, as appropriate, on a regular basis.

Section 54. Conduct of Inspection. Products or commodities and establishments which are subjects of application shall be inspected. Inspections shall be conducted systematically, and their scope and coverage shall be limited to what is necessary for objective assessment. For this purpose, applicants must submit product or commodity samples or provide reasonable access to establishments for sampling or inspection purposes. Failure to conduct inspection within a specified period due to reasons attributable to the applicant shall cause termination of the application. Non-completion of inspection in accordance with the inspection plan within a prescribed period shall cause deferment of decision on the filed application.

Section 55. Confidentiality of Proprietary Information. The confidentiality of information about products arising from or supplied in connection with the submission of requirements and conduct of inspection is respected in accordance with existing laws and in such a manner that legitimate commercial or proprietary interests are protected.

Section 56. Public Access to Information on Requirements. Information or the list of general and specific requirements shall be published on the website of regulatory agencies, including a note that applications filed with incomplete requirements shall not be accepted. Application forms shall also be made available for download from the website.

Section 57. General Procedure for Certification, (a) The certification procedure shall seek to realize the objectives of minimizing face-to-face interaction with applicants and paper-based transactions. The procedures shall be in anticipation of a national webbased software that will enable electronic or online certification system for ease of doing business as mandated by law. Granting of certificates shall be in accordance with the following general procedure:

i. Electronic filing of application, registration, review and verification

ii. Initial technical evaluation iii. Inspection, relevant testing, or practical examination, as appropriate and if necessary iv. Final technical evaluation and determination of decision on the application (b) Step 1: Electronic filing of application, registration, review and verification

i. All applications must be filed and received electronically. Accomplished application forms are not required to be notarized.

ii. The verifying officer shall then assess the completeness of the submitted documents; register the application in the official database; assign a unique registration code; and send an acknowledgement email indicating the date of filing, the unique registration code, and the name and position of the verifying officer. In cases wherein an application is filed with incomplete documentary requirements, the verifying officer shall notify the applicant of non-acceptance and the missing or lacking documentary requirements.

iii. Succeeding submission of documents or requirements relevant to the application shall also be through electronic means. Samples for laboratory testing may be delivered or submitted personally. For traceability purposes, the applicant shall indicate the unique registration code in all succeeding submissions.

confirms the organization’s existence as an organization.

(d) The duly accomplished application form must be accompanied by the above-listed documentary requirements. Applications filed with incomplete information and general documentary requirements shall not be accepted.

(e) If applicable and necessary as provided under existing laws, the letter or statement of intent shall be incorporated as part of the application form. Section 42. Specific Requirements, (a) Applicants must be required by regulatory agencies or offices having jurisdiction to submit documentary evidence in order to objectively demonstrate technical competence to provide services such as testing, calibration, technical assessment or evaluation, inspection, certification, and training services to perform such services on behalf of the DA regulatory agency.

(b) The duly accomplished application form must be accompanied by specific requirements. Applications filed with incomplete specific requirements shall not be accepted.

(c) Regulatory agencies or offices having jurisdiction may require applicants the submission of additional requirements; provided that, these are limited to what is necessary and appropriate to empirically assess the technical competence of the applicants. Section 43. Close Coordination with Other Government Offices. Regulatory agencies or offices having jurisdiction shall exercise due diligence in the assessment and verification of submitted documents and supplied information. For this purpose, they shall establish connection and closely coordinate with local government, CDA, DTI, SEC, DOH-FDA, DTI-PAB and other government agencies or offices having jurisdiction. They shall request to obtain from the said government offices and such other government entities and instrumentalities, as appropriate, information or a list of registered, authorized, or recognized businesses or establishments. Likewise, they shall seek to obtain updated information or list on a regular basis.

Section 44. Conduct of Audit. Offices, establishments, and processes or systems which are subjects of application shall be audited. Audit shall be conducted systematically, and their scope and coverage shall be limited to what is necessary for objective assessment. For this purpose, applicants shall ensure that auditors are provided reasonable access to offices, establishments, and documents. Virtual or remote audit may be conducted if physical inspection cannot be carried out due to unforeseen circumstances, such as but not limited to force majeure and declared national emergencies, when mobility of personnel is restricted. Failure to conduct audit within a specified period due to reasons attributable to the applicant shall cause termination of the application. Non-completion of audit in accordance with the audit plan within a prescribed period shall cause deferment of decision on the filed application.

Section 45. Confidentiality of Business or Proprietary Information. The confidentiality of information about processes or systems arising from or supplied in connection with the submission of requirements and conduct of audit is respected in accordance with existing laws and in such a manner that legitimate commercial or proprietary interests are protected.

iii. In the case of approval, the applicant shall be notified of such decision and advised to pay the official accreditation fee, if applicable, through partner financial institutions via online banking or at any branch upon receipt of the notification. A copy of the proof of payment, which shall contain the unique registration code and the bank’s receipt transaction number, shall be transmitted to the regulatory agency or office. The verifying officer shall then update the recorded information on the application in the official database to include the bank’s receipt transaction number.

iv. The applicant shall be issued with a certificate of official accreditation with a corresponding unique code, including QR code, if available. The official accreditation certificate shall be in electronic or printed form, as appropriate, and shall include the following information:

1. Basic information;

2. Recognized service; and,

3. Validity period.

v. In the case of deferment, the applicant shall be notified of the reasons for deferment and granted a reasonable period to implement or introduce corrective measures. The applicant must be required to submit electronically a compliance report within a specified period. For traceability purposes, the applicant shall indicate the unique registration code in the submission of the report.

vi. The applicant’s record shall be updated by the recommending body/officer with a note on the submission or non-submission of the report and the corresponding assessment or recommendation.

vii. Failure of the applicant to submit the report as required within the specified period shall cause the application to be terminated. Reasonable requests for extension of time limit which are made prior to or on the due date shall be considered; hence in these cases, a new due date shall be set. The applicant may submit a written request for extension only once. All these details shall be recorded by the recommending body/officer in the official database as part of the applicant’s records.

In cases where the reason for deferment of decision requires re-audit, the applicant shall be required, if applicable, to pay the audit fee following the procedure provided in Section 47 (b)

iv. The applicant must pay the certification fee, if applicable, through partner financial institutions via online banking or at any branch upon receipt of the unique registration code. A copy of the proof of payment, which shall contain the unique registration code and the bank’s receipt transaction number, shall be transmitted to the regulatory agency or office through the same email address. The verifying officer shall then update the recorded information on the application in the official database to include the bank’s receipt transaction number.

v. Physical filing of application or submission of requirements may be resorted to in cases of electronic malfunction attributable to the regulatory agencies or offices or internet connectivity difficulties, or in cases when there are any issues related to the accuracy and clarity of the submitted documents. Regulatory agencies or offices shall have a helpdesk hotline number for any assistance needed by the applicants related to the electronic filing of applications. The helpdesk hotline number shall be conspicuously displayed in offices and posted on website for public information.

vi. Within the same date of filing if it falls on a working day and hour, or otherwise, on the following working day and hour, the verification officer of the regulatory agency or office shall verify the submitted documents. Once verification is complete, the verification officer shall update the recorded information, including the unique registration code, in the official database. Complete and verified applications shall be endorsed to proceed to initial technical evaluation.

(c) Step 2: Initial Technical Evaluation i. The initial technical evaluation shall be conducted to determine, based on the submitted specific requirements, compliance with existing rules and regulations on safety and health protection, quality in conformance to prescribed specific quality standards and technical regulations, and/ or compliance with certain laws, rules and regulations, including measures relating to conservation or sustainable use of exhaustible natural resources.

ii. In the conduct of initial technical evaluation, the technical evaluator may require the applicant to submit additional specific requirements in accordance with Section 52 (c). The technical evaluator shall, without delay, notify the applicant of the additional information or document required to conduct an objective assessment. The request for additional technical information/documents shall be limited to two notifications only. The notification shall include the date on which the additional requirements will have to be complied with. Failure to submit the requirements within the specified due date will cause the application to be terminated. Reasonable requests for extension of time limit which are made prior to or on the due date shall be considered; hence in these cases, a new due date shall be set. The applicant may request up to two extensions. All these details shall be recorded by the technical evaluator in the official database as part of the applicant’s records.

iii. Submission of additional documents or requirements relevant to the application shall also be through electronic means. For traceability purposes, the applicant shall indicate the unique registration code in all succeeding submissions.

19 Iloilo villages eyed for repopulation program vs. ASF

ILOILO CITY—The Iloilo provincial government will implement the sentineling program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) at the barangay level with 47 growers from 19 villages to undergo validation by the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian.

The sentineling program will determine the readiness of an area to proceed with the recovery and repopulation after being infected by African swine fever (ASF).

“All 27 (affected) municipalities were advised to validate barangays that can possibly qualify for the sentineling program. Only Ajuy and Sta. Barbara have submitted for now. Some municipalities are not yet ready,” said Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Darel Tabuada in an interview.

To qualify for the sentineling, the municipality must have had no outbreak for the past 40 days, have no available swine in the barangay, or if there is must be included in the program and subjected to

iv. The technical evaluator shall have a technical report, which shall be entered in the database as part of the applicant’s record. Applications which passed the initial technical evaluation shall be endorsed, as appropriate and if necessary, for inspection, relevant testing, or practical examination. Otherwise, such application shall proceed directly to Step 4.

v. The electronic processing system shall have the facility to inform the applicant of the result of the initial technical evaluation and the status of application. In the absence of the electronic system, the notification to the applicant shall be done by email.

(d) Step 3: Inspection, Relevant Testing, or Practical Examination, as appropriate and if necessary i. Inspection and testing shall be done strictly by technical officers who are trained and recognized to conduct inspections and testing in accordance with established standards and protocols. The inspection and testing or examination team shall develop an inspection plan, testing checklist, or practical examination plan or criteria based on the results of the initial technical evaluation. The details of the inspection, relevant testing, or practical examination shall be communicated to the applicant prior to the schedule of the activity. No inspection, product testing, or practical examination shall proceed without a well-defined plan or checklist.

ii. Inspections, testing, and examinations shall be limited to the purpose of verifying or checking compliance with safety and health protection requirements or technical regulations, or conformance to specific quality or competence standards.

iii. No major deviation from the inspection and testing plan shall be allowed. Should any minor deviation arises, the applicant must be notified thereof.

iv. The inspection, testing or examination team shall have a technical report, which shall be entered in the database as part of the applicant’s record.

(e) Step 4: Final technical evaluation and Determination of Decision on the Application

i. The final technical evaluation shall be done by the recommending body/ officer based on the outcomes of the initial technical evaluation, and inspection, testing, or practical examination. The recommendation shall be recorded in the official database as part of the applicant’s record.

ii. Depending on the merits and outcome of the final technical evaluation, the decision may be approval, disapproval, or deferment subject to additional technical requirements.

iii. In the case of approval, the applicant shall be issued with a product or commodity certificate; phytosanitary certificate, health certificate, veterinary or international veterinary health certificate, or other types of SPS assurances or guarantees; conformity certificate; certificate of recognition; or other similar type of certificates with a unique code. The certificate shall be in electronic or printed form, as appropriate.

iv. In the case of deferment, the applicant shall be notified of the reasons for deferment and, and if applicable, granted a reasonable period to conduct or submit additional technical requirements within a specified period. For traceability purposes, the applicant shall indicate the unique registration code in the submission of the technical requirements.

v. The applicant’s record shall be updated by the recommending body/ officer with a note on the submission or non-submission of the technical requirements and the corresponding assessment or recommendation.

vi. Failure of the applicant to submit the technical requirements as required within the specified period shall cause the application to be terminated. Reasonable requests for extension of time limit which are made prior to or on the due date shall be considered; hence in these cases, a new due date shall be set. The applicant may submit a written request for extension only once. All these details shall be recorded by the recommending body/officer in the official database as part of the applicant’s records.

vii. In cases where the reason for deferment of decision requires re-inspection and additional testing, the applicant shall be required, if applicable, to pay the inspection and testing fee following the procedure provided in Section 58 (b) iv. The application will then resume at Step 3.

viii. In the case of disapproval, the applicant shall be notified of the reasons for disapproval.

ix. All information relevant to the outcome of the application, including the unique code of certificate or other type of assurance in the case of approval, shall be recorded in the official database as part of the applicant’s record.

Section 58. Certification Procedure involving Coconut, Tobacco Leaf, Natural Fibers, and meats, (a) The certification of coconut for food safety, quality and classification purposes; and tobacco leaf and natural fibers for quality, grading and classification purposes shall be facilitated by the Philippine Coconut Authority, National Tobacco Authority, and Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority, respectively. The certification procedure for purposes of phytosanitary compliance shall be facilitated by the Bureau of Plant Industry as the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO). The commodity certification by PCA, NTA, and PhilFIDA shall be prerequisite to the phytosanitary certification by BPI.

(b) The certification of meats by the National Meat Inspection Service for food safety purposes shall be pre-requisite to the international veterinary certification and granting of transport clearance by the Bureau of Animal Industry.

Section 59. Publication of the List of Certificates Issued, (a) All regulatory agencies shall endeavor to publish or upload the list of certificates issued on the agency or regional office website, as appropriate, on a daily basis. Published information shall include the name of person, commodity or product, certificate number, volume, and, if applicable, destination.

(b) Relating to Section 59 (a), BPI and BAI, as part of their due diligence, shall refer to the published list, if available, for verification purposes. Section 60. Certificate Validity, (a) Certificates or other types of assurance shall be valid for a specific period determined by the regulatory agency having jurisdiction.

(b) Certificates or other types of assurance shall be non-renewable and shall not be used beyond validity period. Any applications shall be considered new. ARTICLE X Monitoring Section

surveillance, have put in place biosecurity measures, the conduct of cleaning and disinfection were supervised by the Municipal Agriculture Office and must have their own ASF ordinance.

Tabuada said qualified farmers and barangays would be endorsed to the DA next month because the national government agency would be the one to implement the sentineling program.

Each qualified farmer will receive three piglets and a two-month supply of feeds.

The swine farmers were from barangays Central, Progreso, Culasi, Silagon, Pedada, Pili, Poblacion, San Antonio, Barrido, Pinantan Diel, Santo Rosario, Malayuan, Puente Bunglas, Tanduyan, Luca, Pinay and Espinosa in Ajuy while in Sta. Barbara those endorsed were from San Sebastian, Nasugban and Cadagmayan Norte.

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. in a press conference on Wednesday afternoon said the province is trying to ob-

i. Sampling, inspection and certification protocols following methodologies developed based on international and national standards

ii. Application of new technologies and changes to existing rules and regulations on food safety, animal health, plant health, animal welfare, and environmental health

iii. Application of international standards, Philippine National Standards, and other voluntary standards adopted as technical regulations

iv. Pest and disease monitoring and surveillance v. Pesticide and drug residue monitoring vi. Safety and health hazard identification, surveillance, and monitoring

Section 66. Regular Conduct of Audit. Regulatory agencies shall periodically conduct audit to agency field offices and DA regional field offices to ensure proper and effective facilitation of authorization and recognition in accordance with the provisions of this Circular and applicable laws, rules, and regulations.

ARTICLE XII Guidance on Imposition of Fees

Section 67. Rationalization of Rates. Imposition of fees and charges, if permitted by relevant laws, shall be in accordance with subsisting rules and regulations on the rationalization of rates of fees and charges, increase in existing rates, and imposition of new fees and charges jointly issued by the Department of Finance, Department of Budget and Management, and National Economic Development Authority. The primary purpose of imposition of fees and charges is to recover the costs of delivering regulatory services within the scope and coverage of this Circular.

Section 68. Determination of Rates. In the determination of rates of new and/ or existing fees and charges, regulatory agencies having jurisdiction shall take the following into consideration:

a. Cost of ICT supplies/materials and its proportionate share in the overhead expenses of the agency;

b. Salaries and wages of personnel involved in the receipt of applications, technical assessments, inspections, laboratory analyses, and audits; and its proportionate share in the overhead expenses of the agency;

c. Costs of inspection and audit activities, such as travel/transportation, supplies and materials, daily subsistence allowance, hazard pay, and incidental and miscellaneous expenses;

d. Costs of laboratory testing or analyses, such as laboratory supplies, materials, and equipment;

e. Inflation rate since the year of imposition or last revision of the subject rates of fees and charges; and,

f. Socio-economic impact.

ARTICLE XIII Appeal

Section 69. Filing of an Appeal. An aggrieved applicant may appeal the denial of application with the office of DA senior official having jurisdiction within fifteen calendar days upon receipt of such adverse decision. The appellant shall provide a copy of such appeal to the head of the concerned regulatory agency or office.

Section 70. Action on the Appeal Within five working days upon the receipt of the appeal, the concerned regulatory agency or office shall elevate the appellant’s historical records to the office of DA senior official having jurisdiction. The latter shall resolve the appeal within ten working days upon receipt of the appellant’s historical records. The decision on the appeal shall be final and executory.

ARTICLE XIV Transitory Provisions

Section 71. Updating of Relevant Manuals and Protocols, (a) All regulatory agencies shall review existing authorization and/or recognition technical requirements for relevance and necessity, and reassess validity period of authorization and recognition in consultation with respective stakeholders.

(b) Regulatory agencies shall revise accordingly their respective citizen’s charter to comply with the provisions of this Circular and implement up-to-date issuances of the Anti-Red Tape Authority.

(c) The review and updating shall be completed within ninety (90) working days upon the approval of this Circular, and a public notification shall be issued thereafter.

(d) The Bureau of Animal Industry and Bureau of Plant Industry shall update their respective surveillance and monitoring systems to include other regulatory agencies and regional field offices as provided in Section 18 (c), Section 20 (b) and (c), and Section 64 (b) within 60 working days upon the approval of this Circular. The same agencies shall initiate necessary training for other regulatory agencies and regional field offices as provided in Section 65 within 120 working days upon approval of this Circular.

(e) The Office of the Assistant Secretary, who is responsible for regulations, shall monitor and ensure compliance of the regulatory agencies with the provisions of this section.

Section 72. Transition from manual to electronic processing, (a) All DA regulatory agencies shall transition to electronic platforms in the performance of their functions in conducting their regulatory activities. This is to lessen face-to-face transactions, promote ease of communication between geographic and operational units, and facilitate retrieval of relevant client information.

(b) With reference to Sections 12 (d), 24 (e), 33 (e), and 51 (e), all DA regulatory agencies shall ensure that electronic application forms include drop-down list/menu of HS/AHTN codes and/or automatic HS/AHTN code indicator for commodities which are the subjects of application to facilitate further the application process.

(c) In collaboration with ICTS, a harmonized DA regulatory information management system (DA RIMS) shall be developed across all DA regulatory agencies to facilitate connectivity and allow exchange of information in a timely manner. Additional ICT resources may be procured; provided that, it is included in the agency’s Information Systems Strategic Plan (ISSP) as endorsed/approved by Medium-Term Information and Communications Technology Harmonization Initiative (MITHI) of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and through the procurement process as provided for by existing laws.

(d) All DA regulatory agencies, whose regulatory actions are subsequent to the approval of an earlier application to another agency, shall adopt online verification as DA RIMS is operationalized across DA.

Section 73. Validity of Previously Issued Authorizations and Recognitions. All documents representing authorization or recognition granted to businesses that were issued prior to the effectivity of this Circular shall remain valid until expiration. The provisions of this Circular shall apply to subsequent applications for authorization or recognition as well as those which are filed upon the effectivity date of this Circular. ARTICLE XV Review

serve and learn the nature of ASF while addressing the concern.

“We want to recover the inventory because before we were 289 percent sufficient. Generally, we are in the process of recovery,” he said.

As of June 29, the municipalities of Sta. Barbara, Alimodian, Leganes, Barotac Viejo, Mina, Badiangan, Barotac Nuevo, Dumangas, San Dionisio and Zarraga have no reported cases for the past two months.

Cold storage facility to help reduce losses in Ilocos Norte

LAOAG CITY—Farmers in the province of Ilocos Norte look forward to the operation of a tomato cold storage facility to help reduce their post-harvest losses due to spoilage.

Funded by the World Bank worth PHP38 million under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) of the Department of Agriculture (DA), the facility to be managed by the San Joaquin Multi-purpose Cooperative will be constructed in Barangay 1 San Joaquin at the back of the Sarrat gasoline station.

Once completed, Lucresia Ver, vice chair of the San Joaquin Multi-purpose Cooperative, said in a media interview that the facility will benefit local tomato growers.

Without a storage facility, around 25 percent of their tomato production goes to waste.

“The facility will be constructed on a hectare of land with four rooms,” she said, citing

it will be the first tomato cold storage facility to be constructed in the province so far. The project is eyed to be completed within this year following the ground-breaking ceremony on Wednesday.

Tomato is among the highvalue crops of Ilocos Norte with a ready market but with the closure of the Northern Foods Corporation (NFC) that is engaged in tomato paste production in Northern Luzon, many contract growers have shifted to other crops. Ilocos Region used to supply about 13 percent of the country’s 30,000 metric tons annual consumption of tomato paste. Around 3,000 tomato growers shifted to other high-value crops following the closure.

(c) Licensed persons and their registered establishments shall be subject to audit/ inspection, which may be announced or unannounced, and registered products shall be subject to inspection and laboratory testing at least once within the period of authorization validity or at least once a year within the period of recognition validity, as appropriate and proportional to the risk category of the regulated activity or product.

(d) Regulatory agencies or offices having jurisdiction shall strictly monitor officially accredited persons and registered establishments for sustained compliance with technical regulations and conformance to quality standards. They shall conduct audit periodically, which may be announced or unannounced; the results of which shall be recorded in the official database as part of the records of the officially accredited persons.

Section 62. Reports and Complaints, (a) Authorized persons are required to immediately report to the concerned regulatory agencies or offices any safety and health issue which may threaten humans, animals, plants, or the environment.

(b) Any complaint against an authorized or a recognized person shall prompt regulatory agencies having jurisdiction to conduct investigation, and, if necessary, inspection, and laboratory testing. Regulatory agencies shall develop their complaint resolution mechanism to address complaints received. ARTICLE XI Agency Regional Offices and DA Regional Field Offices

Section 63. Role of Agency Field Offices. The facilitation of granting of authorization and recognition and the procedures thereof as well as monitoring of compliance or conformance, as stipulated in this Circular, shall be delegated by regulatory agencies to their respective field offices to a reasonable extent possible.

Section 64. Role of DA Regional Field Offices, (a) The facilitation of granting of authorization and recognition and the procedures thereof as well as monitoring of compliance or conformance, specifically for those subjects under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Plant Industry, Bureau of Animal Industry, Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards, and Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering, shall be delegated to the DA Regional Field Offices to a reasonable extent possible.

(b) The Bureau of Plant Industry and the Bureau of Animal Industry shall update respective pest and disease surveillance and monitoring systems to include close coordination mechanism or protocol between the plant and veterinary quarantine stations, DA regional field offices, and agency field offices.

Section 65. Regular Conduct of Training. For the purpose of the foregoing sections, the regulatory agency shall regularly provide training for agency field offices and DA regional field offices on areas covered by this Circular, such as, but not limited to, the following:

Section 74. Initial Review. The Policy Research Service shall initiate a review of this Circular based on initial implementation experience twelve (12) months following the date of effectivity of this Circular. Such review shall be completed within 90 working days.

Section 75. Subsequent Review and Updating. The Policy Research Service shall conduct a review

2 Misamis Or. villages to get coco processing facilities worth P77-m

TWO barangays in Misamis Oriental will get shared processing facilities (SPFs) for coconut worth P76.9 million, which are seen to benefit at least over 2,000 farmers under the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP).

The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PHilMech) identified the barangays as Odiongan Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MPC) based in Barangay Odiongan in Gingoog City and the Alayon Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MPC) based in Barangay Bonifacio Aquino in Magsaysay town.

It said the MPC in Odiongan will get a white copra processing facility worth P30.1 million while Alayon MPC will be provided with a white copra and coconut oil processing facility worth P46.8 million.

The DA-PHilMech will spearhead the establishment of SPFs for qualified farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs), under the CFIDP.

The two cooperatives will operate and manage the facilities that will benefit more than 2,000 coconut farmers.

Also, the two SPFs are also expected to cater to coconut farmers from other municipalities/cities and provinces in Region 10 (Northern Mindanao).

According to PHilMech director Dionisio Alvindia, the agency has also started the process of enabling FCAs to manage, operate and maintain the SPFs with trainings conducted since early this year.

He added that more coconut FCAs will be added to the shortlist.

WATER FOR RICE. In this photo taken July 19, a worker checks the water level of planted rice varieties being developed by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) planted in one its field in Los Banos, Laguna. AFP