Philippines News

IT WAS a busy week for President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. Obviously celebrating the signing into law of the Maharlika investment fund last July 18, BBM gathered Cabinet, Palace and other high officials of the administration in full ceremony for the signing, which was

(Berlin) - Russia's lower house of parliament has adopted a bill prohibiting collaboration with unregistered foreign nongovernmental organizations, and severely limiting civic space, Human Rights Watch said today. If approved by the parliament's upper house and signed by the president, the legislation will severely limit the right to freedom of association protected under international human rights law.

Under the

Japan is asking companies to reduce imports from the sanctioned country, the outlet has said 

Russian shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Asia declined by 15% to their lowest level in almost two years last month as importers sought to diversify supplies, Bloomberg reported last week, citing shipping data.

Significant to severe threats to life and property are expected in areas under Wind Signal No. 4.

Hong Kong, July 25 (ANI): Large wargames between the USA, Australia and eleven partner nations kicked off on July 21, the largest ever in the history of Exercise Talisman Sabre. It was little surprise that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) was not invited to participate, but China nonetheless played a central role in the exercise. Colonel Ben McLennan, Commander of the Australian Army's Combat Training Centre based in To

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. assured Filipinos that the country is on track to attaining economic growth on Monday but remained tightlipped on ordinary Filipinos’ concerns about the quality of available jobs and low wages in his second State of the Nation Address, minority lawmakers said.

Several classes and government work have been suspended on Tuesday due to the inclement weather brought by Super Typhoon Egay.

THE Mandaue City Government’s plan to construct housing projects using its declared city-owned lots, including the Tipolo Residences, may be put on hold as questions have been raised about whether the City or the National Government owns the lots.

This came up during the City Council’s regular session on Monday, July 24, 2023, while it was discussing on the second reading the draft Ordinance 227-2023, “An ordinance declaring some identified city-owned lots as socialized housing sites intended for the underprivileged and homeless constituents of Mandaue City,” which is authored by Councilor Ernie Manatad, president of the Association of Barangay Councils.

The lots in question are located in Barangays Looc, Tipolo, Paknaan, Subangdaku, and Guizo, totaling 9.2 hectares, where there are more than 1,200 households, including those of informal settlers. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources declared these lots as timberlands (foreshore lands) in 1980, according to Councilor Joel Seno.

If the issue is not resolved, the ongoing construction of Tipolo Residences would be in jeopardy. It is the City’s housing project for the families displaced by fires that hit Sitios Basubas and Maharlika in Tipolo in 2019, and in Guizo in 2016.

Low-cost condos

The project, as planned, will comprise five low-cost condominiums jointly funded by the Mandaue City Government and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development. The groundbreaking was held on May 7, 2022, for the first two buildings, while the groundbreaking for the other three was held on Nov. 25.

In January this year, Johnbee Biton, head of Mandaue’s Housing and Urban Development Office, said the first two buildings of the housing project are ready to be occupied by October.

Biton said the City is looking to house at least 700 informal settler families in the Tipolo Residences’ first two buildings.

Suggestion

Lawyer Benjamin Cabrido, the City’s consultant on the environment, suggested to the City to file a declaratory relief in court to determine the rightful owner of the lots before passing the ordinance. A declaratory relief is a type of legal relief that allows a court to declare the rights of the parties involved in a dispute without actually ordering any specific action. This type of relief is often sought when there is uncertainty about the legal rights of the parties, and it can be helpful in resolving disputes before they escalate.

Councilor Joel Seno agreed with Cabrido’s suggestion.

“I believe we should put the horse before the cart because we cannot move forward if the cart is before the horse. That’s just very basic because we are trying to weigh everything so as to avoid any legal intricacies later on in the future,” said Seno.

“What is several months to be wasted, not wasted but several months to determine whether or not who has the better right to these areas rather than risking everybody’s neck,” he added.

Under Section 2, Article 12 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, the state owns all lands and natural resources of the public domain.

City’s authority

Manatad said the authority over the lots was already transferred to the Mandaue City Government pursuant to Republic Act 5519, an Act Creating the City of Mandaue, in 1969.

“That is why Mandaue City is always insistent that the classification in 1980 will no longer apply to those lands [that had] already [been] ceded to our City as instituted in our City Charter, and reclassified as alienable and disposable lands, subject, however, to other laws and regulations pertaining to existing mangrove forest areas,” he said.

Manatad said he is open to the suggestion of securing a declaratory relief judgment to finally affirm Mandaue’s authority over the lots, but he admitted that this might stall the ordinance’s implementation.

He said the City Council will discuss the ordinance with the executive department before making any move.

THE plan of the Mandaue City Government to implement housing projects in city-owned lots may be put on hold as questions are raised regarding who has jurisdiction over the parcels in question: the city or the national government.

Tensions arose when the Mandaue City Council discussed during its regular session on Monday, July 24, 2023, the draft ordinance no. 227-2023, entitled "An Ordinance declaring some identified city-owned lots as socialized housing sites intended for the underprivileged and homeless constituents of Mandaue City," which is due for second reading.

The lots in question measuring 9.2 hectares, which are located in Barangays Looc, Tipolo (including the Tipolo Residences), Paknaan, Subangdaku, and Guizo and are occupied by over 1,200 households, have been declared by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as timberlands (foreshorelands).

Under Section 2 Article 12 of the Regalian Doctrine of the Philippine Constitution, the state is declared the rightful owner of all lands and natural resources of the public domain, which might hinder the implementation of the city ordinance.

Lawyer Benjamin Cabrido, the consultant on environment, suggested during the session that the city should proceed in filing a declaratory relief to court to determine the rightful owner of the lots before implementing the ordinance, which was seconded by City Councilor Joel Seno.

"I believe we should put the horse before the cart because we cannot move forward if the cart is before the horse. That's just very basic because we are trying to weigh everything so as to avoid any legal intricacies later on in the future," said Seno. (HIC)

BEIJING, July 25 (Xinhua) -- China's national observatory on Tuesday issued a yellow alert for Typhoon Doksuri, as the fifth typhoon of this year is expected to bring gales and heavy rain to the country's southern coastal regions.

The typhoon, observed over waters east of the island of Luzon, the Philippines at 5 a.m. Tuesday, is expected to move northwest at a speed of around 20 km per hour, the National Meteor

Super Typhoon Egay is packing peak winds of 185 kph near the center and gusts of up to 230 kph. 

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised on June 8 the status of Mayon Volcano in Albay to Alert Level 3 after it showed an “increased tendency towards a hazardous eruption.”

Follow this page for updates on "Egay," the fifth tropical cyclone to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

Follow this page for updates on "Egay," the fifth tropical cyclone to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

CEBU leaders mostly expressed satisfaction with the second State of the Nation Address (Sona) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Monday, July 24, 2023, especially his emphasis on the revival and growth of the economy.

But a youth leader slammed Marcos for not doing enough for the youth in the area of education and securing jobs.

Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia described the Sona as comprehensive.

“The President gave a very comprehensive report on the gains of the PBBM administration in just one year. And considering that he started with an economy ravaged by the pandemic restrictions, I must say he has done admirably well,” Garcia told reporters.

The governor also admired the finale of Marcos’ speech that gave emphasis on the new tourism slogan “Love the Philippines.”

“Most of all, I really appreciated the ending. This is a President who, by word and by deed, is leading our country and all of us Filipinos to genuinely and truly LOVE THE PHILIPPINES!” Garcia said.

The new tourism campaign, “Love the Philippines,” launched last month under the leadership of her daughter, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, had drawn controversy due to its use of stock footage on other countries falsely depicted as scenes in the Philippines in its tourism video. The slogan itself was criticized for not being original enough.

The governor also praised the President for traveling abroad to create positive relationships and attract investments to the country.

In his Sona, Marcos Jr. underlined the importance of forging friendships with all nations in order to create a more orderly, peaceful and successful nation.

Garcia already gave a “good score ‘’ to Marcos for his accomplishments in his first full year in office in a media briefing last Friday, July 21, applauding Marcos for keeping his cool despite the criticism on and problems of the administration.

“One Cebu Island continues and will always stand behind and in full support to President Bongbong Marcos,” Garcia said.

Mayors

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama called the Sona an “all embracing discussion” that had a very clear statement.

“I’m seeing more. It’s a very exciting years to come for his presidency,” said Rama when asked about his expectations for the future.

Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes said the President’s Sona gave local government officials perseverance to fulfill their jobs in serving the public.

In a statement, Cortes lauded Marcos’ approach in strengthening the country’s economical, health and educational aspects, which he stressed as important for the welfare of many.

“We have confirmed what the President said in his State of the Nation Address because his service has been enjoyed by many. I have great confidence in President Marcos for his sincere service,” Cortes said in Cebuano.

Mayor Democrito Aljun Diamante of Tuburan in northwest Cebu was also satisfied with the speech of Marcos but said he had expected Marcos to lay out more projects on infrastructure and science and technology.

San Remigio Mayor Alfonso Pestolante commended Marcos for delivering “a truthful state of the nation, full of hope and vivid direction on where and how he wants to lead our nation.”

Rejuvenated

He told SunStar Cebu that he was most impressed with the economic growth of 7.6 percent achieved during the first year of the President’s administration.

Pestolante also appreciated the administration’s investments in the tourism sector since that is also among his town’s priorities.

Minglanilla Mayor Rajiv Enad praised Marcos’ emphasis on a rejuvenated economy.

“The country has faced so many challenges; hence it is great to hear that among many other positive notes in the President’s Sona, the revived, rejuvenated and growing economy is emphasized. That is what’s important, because that is what the Filipinos need and it is what the Filipinos deserve,” said Enad in a statement.

Inspired

For Lone District of Mandaue Representative Emmarie “Lolypop” Ouano-Dizon, the President’s Sona was inspirational.

“I am inspired with his Sona,” Dizon told SunStar Cebu. “We have a President who is able to walk his talk in terms of improving our economy, reducing inflation, modernizing agriculture, digitalization of commerce and government services, increase revenue generation, among other key achievements on his first year in office like on internet speed, tourism boom, on the problem of OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) in Saudi, and many more despite the many challenges.

“I’m happy that our advocacy for free dialysis and additional specialty government medical centers has been started already. I look forward to doing my part in helping his legislative agenda in Congress. It is exciting to be part of his vision of “bagong Pilipinas” because I’m sure that this will come true,” said Ouano-Dizon.

Business community

A business leader also expressed optimism about the economy after hearing Marcos mention the possibility of the inflation rate easing to 2.9 percent by 2024.

“It will mean better buying capacity for our people, more investments in business and a less restive labor force,” said Kelie Ko, president of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He also applauded the plans of Marcos for the agriculture sector.

“We need to make sure that whatever policy strategies the government will implement should trickle down to the benefit of every Filipino,” Ko said.

Zero score

During a protest rally in Cebu City held hours before the Sona, however, Kyle Enero, chairperson of Kabataan Party-list Cebu, gave Marcos a grade of zero for his first year in office.

“He wasted his first year in presidency. He wasted the opportunity in helping the common Filipino. If we rate him, it will be 0/0,” said Enero, who urged the National Government to invest more on quality education so more youth can avail themselves of free and accessible education, in contrast to the slashing of the budget of state universities and colleges (SUCs) last year.

He also challenged the government to increase the budget allocation for education to six percent of the Philippines’ gross domestic product following the international standards or education set by the United Nations, from the 2.2 percent to 3.6 percent of GDP from 2010 to 2019.

Enero also hit the National Government for not intervening on the lack of job opportunities available for college graduates, which has led to job mismatching, such that more youth choose to enter the freelancing industry now instead of applying for a job where they can fully utilize the degree program they have graduated from in college. (ANV, RJM, EHP, HIC, KJF, AML, HIC)

SOME trips in ports of northern Cebu and Cebu City were canceled due to Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Number 2, as Typhoon Egay (Doksuri) intensified further as it moved westward over the Philippine Sea Monday, July 24, 2023.

Rex Leoben Ygot, head of the Bogo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO), told SunStar Cebu on Monday, that a gale warning had been issued by Coast Guard (CG) Substation Bogo due to a TCWS warning.

Ygot said the CG had ordered the cancellation of trips, particularly those traveling north to destinations such as Masbate, Sorsogon, Villaba, and Palompon in Leyte.

He reported that as of 8 a.m., nine people, including six rolling trucks, were stranded at the Polambato port in Bogo City.

He assured that the Bogo City DRRMO is closely monitoring Typhoon Egay and that the town’s quick response team (QRT) is prepared to respond to any hazards caused by the typhoon.

On July 24, the Cebu Port Authority announced on its Facebook page that some trips from Pier 3 in Cebu City had also been canceled.

These included trips to Ormoc City and Hilongos, Leyte via Roble Shipping, Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Lazi, Siquijor, and Iligan City via Kho Shipping Lines, and Bato Leyte via Medallion Shipping Lines.

From severe tropical storm, Egay accelerated to typhoon category with maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour (km/h), gusts of up to 185 km/h, and central pressure of 960 hPa.

As of 10 a.m, the eye of the typhoon was located 525 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora.

By 5 p.m. Monday, Egay was still 500 kilometers east of Baler but had intensified, bringing maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometers per hour (km/h) and gusts of up to 190 km/h.

Alfredo Quiblat Jr., Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) Visayas chief, told SunStar Cebu Monday that Typhoon Egay was slowly moving westward but would accelerate and change direction, moving northwestward towards far northern Luzon in the next 12 hours.

Quiblat added that the typhoon would cross the Luzon Strait and pass very close to the Babuyan Islands in Batanes between Tuesday evening or Wednesday afternoon.

He explained that before making landfall, there was a possibility that it could reach the category of a super typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour. However, after landfall, it would return to the typhoon category due to land interaction.

On Thursday, July 27, Egay would exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility and head south of Taiwan. (with CTL)

THE village chief of Barangay Bankal, Lapu-Lapu City, and four councilors have cried foul over their six-month administrative suspension related to the graft charges filed against them before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.

Bankal Barangay Captain Eduardo L. Cuizon, who is also the president of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) in the city, said in a press conference on Monday, July 24, 2023, that they were not given any notice by the City Council about the suspension, thus depriving them of the chance to answer.

Cuizon said they believe the issuance of the suspension order dated Friday, July 21, 2023, is politically motivated, as he and his allies in the barangay council are running in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataang Elections on Oct. 30. Cuizon is not an ally of Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan.

The Office of the City Mayor served the suspension order to Cuizon and the Bids and Awards Committee members, Bankal Councilors Regino C. Cuizon, Cleofas A. Quijano, Manuel L. Cuizon and Mario C. Inot on Friday. This came after the two-month preventive suspension that was implemented last May ended on July 20.

Cuizon urged the City Council to conduct an investigation, saying that City Ordinance 13-007 2013 gives “officials the right to be served notice of any suspension and to give a relevant explanation for their side for eight days before its implementation.”

The village chief also pointed out that the order issued by the Office of the Mayor wrongly states that they are officials of Barangay Pajac. He said Pajac Barangay Captain Johanna Ybañez Capangpangan is also facing a separate administrative charge.

City Legal Officer James Allan Sayson said in a separate interview that the mention of Pajac in the order was just a typographical error, and new copies of the order will be furnished to the barangay officials.

For his part, Mayor Chan said he just followed the protocol—he issued the suspension order as it was the City Council’s recommendation. The council is dominated by the mayor’s allies. Cuizon, an ex-officio member being an ABC chief, is an ally of former Lapu-Lapu City representative Paz Radaza, Chan’s political rival.

“I am not a part of the City Council. If he alleged that he was not called and not given a chance to explain his side, I think the council can answer for that. But it is impossible for the council not to give him a chance to answer,” Chan said in Cebuano.

Chan said the order is final and executory in accordance with Section 61c of the Local Government Code, which states: “Complaint against any elective Barangay official shall be filed before the Sangguniang Panlungsod or Sangguniang Bayan concerned whose decision shall be final and executory.”

The mayor further said that only a temporary restraining order from the court or an order from the Office of the President can prevent his office from implementing the suspension order.

On March 2, 2022, Cuizon and the four councilors served a two-month preventive suspension after a concerned citizen filed charges against them for violations of Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code (Malversation of Funds) and Sections 3 and 4 of Republic Act 3019 (the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.

The charges were related to Barangay Bankal’s procurement of about 294 boxes of Vitamin C supplements during the Covid-19 pandemic, which amounted to P47 million.

The administrative aspect of the case was forwarded to the City Council in August 2022. The investigation on the case’s criminal aspect is still ongoing at the Ombudsman.

THE Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor has dismissed the grave slander and cyber libel complaints filed by businesswoman Michelle Lim Go-Chu against Cebu-based businessman Kaiser Tan and his legal counsel Francisco Amit Jr.

Assistant City Prosecutor Cesar Gariando made the recommendation dismissing the two counts of grave slander and two counts of cyber libel against Tan and Amit for lack of probable cause. Gariando’s resolution was approved City Prosecutor Liceria Lofranco-Rabillas on April 14, 2023.

On March 6, Go-Chu, through her legal counsel, filed the complaint before the City Prosecutor’s Office, claiming that Tan and Amit tarnished her reputation and subjected her to trial by publicity.

Go-Chu referred to news reports published by SunStar Cebu online on Jan. 28 and Feb. 3.

Tan and Amit held a press conference on Jan. 27, where they offered a P1 million reward to anyone who could provide Go-Chu’s exact location and the location of the two others accused of a large-scale estafa complaint, Lorenzo Baltonado Jr. and his wife Jerlyn Joyce of L.M. Baltonado Construction Inc. (LMBC).

According to Tan’s complaint, Go-Chu and her co-accused defrauded him of nearly P200 million in investments, as all 30 checks issued as payments had bounced.

On Feb. 3, Go-Chu claimed that Tan made defamatory and libelous statements following an interview with reporters over a portion of the news article published on that day, specifically stating, “10 of the 71 victim-lenders were already coordinating to build cases against the alleged scammers” and “they will have an online meeting with the victims on Friday night (Feb. 3) to discuss further measures on the case.”

The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office considered the statement made by Tan and Amit during the press conference on Jan. 27 as an “absolute privileged communication.”

Offering P1 million reward against Go-Chu and the Baltonado couple who were then at large at that moment, Tan’s and Amit’s statement was considered as “fair commentaries on matters of public interest” as Toledo City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 59 Judge Judilyn Tapia Menchavez had already issued a warrant of arrest against them on Jan. 23, according to the prosecutor’s office.

Regarding the Feb. 3 news article published by SunStar Cebu, the City Prosecutor’s Office found that there was “nothing slanderous or libelous” contained in it.

SunStar Cebu contacted Go-Chu’s legal counsel at a law firm based in Metro Manila on Monday, July 24; however, the counsel was unavailable for comment as of press time.

Toledo City RTC Branch 29 Judge Ruben Altubar issued a new warrant of arrest against Go-Chu on May 15, after the first arrest warrant against her was recalled by Judge Tapia-Menchavez on Feb. 14, following her request for re-investigation.

Tapia-Menchavez inhibited from presiding over the trial on March 28, due to a “death threat” she received, resulting in the case being re-raffled to RTC Branch 29.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Northern Leyte Provincial Field Unit failed to locate Go-Chu at her known residential address in Ormoc City on May 16. Go-Chu has been at large since then.

THE Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) has welcomed the resumption of direct flights between Cebu and mainland China, as it is seen to facilitate enhanced business and tourism opportunities.

China Eastern Airlines recently resumed its Cebu to Shanghai direct flights on July 14, 2023. The airline operates daily flights from MCIA in Lapu-Lapu City to Shanghai Pudong International Airport, boosting connectivity between the two destinations.

“We welcome this latest development of the China Eastern Airlines’ resumption of Cebu to Shanghai route,” said Athanasios Titonis, Aboitiz InfraCapital chief executive officer (CEO) assigned to MCIA. “This resumption further strengthens our airport’s position as a key gateway, facilitating enhanced business and tourism opportunities between Cebu and Shanghai.”

The resumption of the Cebu to Shanghai flights adds to the extensive network of destinations offered by MCIA. With this new service, passengers can conveniently travel to one of China’s most dynamic cities, exploring its rich cultural heritage, iconic landmarks, and thriving business districts.

“This is exciting news for our local tourism industry and travelers who want to travel to China. New doors mean new possibilities and I am thrilled we are gradually getting back to pre-pandemic levels, further reinforcing tourism opportunities and economic growth in Cebu and Shanghai. We continue to work hard together with our concessionaire GMCAC (GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corp.) in bringing Mactan-Cebu International Airport to greater heights,” said Julius G. Neri Jr., MCIA Authority general manager and CEO.

China Eastern deploys a Boeing 737-800 aircraft for this route, ensuring passengers a comfortable and enjoyable journey. With a capacity of 176 seats, the spacious cabin offers a range of amenities to enhance the travel experience.

MCIA remains committed to providing ease of travel through enhanced connectivity and ensuring passengers enjoy a seamless and comfortable airport experience. With the resumption of China Eastern Airlines, MCIA has in total four Philippine-based carriers and 18 foreign airline partners. It is connected to 27 domestic destinations and 12 international destinations.

Hong Kong, July 24 (ANI): A growing typhoon is sweeping across the Pacific Ocean toward the Philippines. Forecasters are warning that it could strengthen into a super typhoon and progress towards Taiwan, Hong Kong or mainland China later this week, CNN reported. According to the United States' Joint Typhoon Warning Center, Typhoon Doksuri began as a tropical storm in the Western Pacific on Sunday morning. By the day's end