IN BRIEF

Guam magistrate visits PH, meets with Gesmundo

CHIEF Justice Robert J. Torres Jr. of the United States Territory of Guam paid a courtesy call on Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo in preparation for the 62nd Annual Conference of the 2023 American Judges Association on Sept. 9 to 14 in Hawaii.

The Supreme Court’s Public Information Office said Torres and Gesmundo will be speakers in a special session during the Hawaii conference where they will discuss the use of technological innovations in the judicial system.

Both Gesmundo and Torres “will also discuss issues faced by their respective judiciaries in pivoting to new technologies, such as issues on data privacy and cybersecurity,” the PIO said, in a statement.

During the courtesy call last Friday, Aug. 18, the PIO said that Chief Justice Gesmundo spoke about the Philippine judiciary’s use of technology in court processes, especially the use of video conferencing platforms in order to expedite trials during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

It said that Gesmundo also pointed out that “the use of video conferencing in hearings will r main and become the norm even beyond the pandemic.”

Chief Justice Torres “stressed the importance of training judges on the responsible use of social media.” Rey E. Requejo proposed legislation is designed to foster increased investments in the renewable energy sector and seeks to remove the 100-kilowatt (kW) ceiling on generation facilities that can participate in the net metering program.

Authorized under existing laws, net metering allows participants with their facilities to feed power back into the grid and have their contribution to the common pool of power deducted from their consumption.

Gatchalian also expressed hope that investors would take advantage of a recent circular issued by the Department of Energy (DOE) that removes limitations on foreign ownership of RE projects.

The circular effectively allows foreign nationals and foreign-owned entities to explore, develop, and use RE resources such as solar, wind, biomass, ocean, and tidal energy.

SPECIAL RUNNER. SM City Taytay recently held the SM Paw Run 2023, a pet fun run that perfectly captured the spirit of National Dog Day. Furry friends and their humans raced, laughed, and cherished the day, fostering a deeper connection between pets and their devoted companions.

Norman Cruz

Philippines, US launch energy policy dialogue

THE Philippines and the United States have formally launched the inaugural of US-Philippines Energy Policy Dialogue (EPD) to strengthen the two countries’ energy ties and clean energy transition.

The US State Department said its Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Energy Resources Laura Lochman, and the US Department of Energy’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia and the Americas Beth Urbanas co-led the US delegation, while Philippine Energy Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Felix William Fuentebella led the Philippine delegation.

In a statement, the US State Department said the delegations from both countries emphasized the centrality of energy security, decarbonization, and collaboration among nations with shared values to sustained economic development amid the region’s rapid economic growth and rising energy demands.

“The discussion reinforced the role of energy cooperation in strengthening the US-Philippines partnership and focused on accelerating the deployment of renewable energy, modernizing and expanding transmission, and reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels,” it said.

Both delegations reviewed the progress of current energy projects in the Philippines and established priorities for future cooperation and technical support.

The US State Department said that both countries reaffirmed the importance of nuclear energy as a key contributor to energy security. Rey E. Requejo to him, but did not use or open it. What he was saying was that the battery was dead, but that is not an acceptable reason because to be a responsible officer, you should ensure that your body camera is fully charged before you start duty,” he said.

Maranan further disclosed that the PNP is conducting “early procurement activities” for the new supply of body cameras as well as possible suppliers.

“We are on early procurement activities now, and all will be done thru public bidding,” Maranan said.

Maranan also said that the PNP is targeting to procure enough materials and body-worn cameras for all the police officers on duty and those involved in operations.

In July 2021, the Supreme Court approved a resolution providing rules for the mandatory use of body-worn cameras during the execution of search and arrest warrants.

Under the resolution, law enforcers must have at least one body-worn camera and one alternative recording device or such number needed to record the relevant incidents during the execution of search or arrest warrants.

In case of unavailability of bodyworn cameras, law enforcers shall file a motion before the court to use alternative recording devices for justifiable reasons. Vince Lopez

IN A congressional hearing, DENR Sec. Toni Yulo Loyzaga was asked if there is a written order of suspension on the Manila Bay reclamation projects. She replied that she had ordered work stoppage on the projects on the basis of the president’s verbal directive.

It is important to have a written order that would define which are the projects, and which are suspended, since the president had earlier said only one project has been reviewed and deemed compliant with environmental impact assessment. Which is it?

The projects were individually assessed. Instead of studying the combined impact of all the 22 reclamation proposals that are now on various stages of implementation, and which have belatedly been suspended and only after the US Embassy complained.

Which means, if a project encompasses say a total 300 hectares, then that will not create a destructive environmental impact on the bay’s eco-system, from a stand-alone perspective.

But if PRA and the combined LGUs, along with their cohorts in DENR measured the impact of the totality, as Sec. Yulo-Loyzaga has stated, then the environmental effect is very different.

In street lingo, “ginoyo” tayo ng PRA and DENR, the present environment secretary excepted. The nearest descriptive in the English language is that those officials hoodwinked us all.