Eduardo Ano’s remarks came after a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Thursday described the Philippines’ recently concluded joint patrols with the United States in the South China Sea as “provocative” and “irresponsible”.

“Our joint patrols with the United States and potential future activities with other allies countries shows our mutual commitment to a rules-based international order and for promoting peace and stability of the region,” Mr. Ano said.

China’s embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to queries on Mr. Ano’s remarks. — Reuters

INDONESIAN President Joko Widodo will make a three-day visit to the Philippines starting Jan. 9, according to Malacañang.

The visit coincides with the meeting in Manila between foreign affairs officials of both countries, who the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Thursday are expected to discuss enhancing cooperation on regional and international issues.

According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), Mr. Widodo is set to meet with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Jan. 10 to discuss ways to deepen bilateral ties.

The two leaders will “take stock of the progress in Philippines-Indonesia relations,” it said, citing Mr. Marcos’ official visit to Indonesia in September last year.

“The two leaders are also expected to reaffirm their commitment to deepening and expanding Philippines-Indonesia ties, especially as the two countries will celebrate their 75^th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations in November 2024,” the PCO added.

Meanwhile, the DFA said Philippine Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo and Indonesian Minister for Foreign Affairs Retno L.P. Marsudi will meet for the 7^th Philippines-Indonesia Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC), a venue for exchanging views on boosting bilateral relations.

“The JCBC is the primary dialogue mechanism between the Philippines and Indonesia to review accomplishments on mutual collaboration initiatives,” the agency said.

Envoys on both sides are expected to tackle issues of “mutual interest” and avenues for enhancing cooperation.

When asked what agreements are expected to be signed at the dialogue, DFA Spokesperson Ma. Teresita C. Daza told reporters in a WhatsApp message that “preparations for the meeting are ongoing.”

Indonesian President Joko Widodo is set to visit Manila on Jan. 10 to meet with Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.

In Sept. last year, the Philippine President secured $22 million (P1.3 billion) in investment pledges from Indonesian companies on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Jakarta.

The deals were related to animal health, artificial intelligence and digital sectors, the Presidential Palace earlier said. A month later, Indonesia assured the Philippines of continued access to its coal-fired power plants.

THE Chinese military began a two-day patrol in the South China Sea on Wednesday in an apparent response to the joint drills of the Philippines and its treaty ally, the United States, in the same region.

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Southern Theatre Command said it had sent its navy and air force to the waterway for routine patrols to monitor activities that “disrupt” the region.

Any military activities that “cause disturbances and create hot spots in the South China Sea are fully under control,” it said in a statement posted on the website of China’s defense ministry.

It said its troops remain on high alert at all times, “resolutely defending national sovereignty, security, and maritime rights and interests.”

The Chinese patrols, which were set to end on Thursday, Jan. 4, coincide with the joint drills of the Philippines and the United States, the second in two months in the same area as the treaty allies boost their partnerships amid an increasingly belligerent China. During their joint drills, the Philippine military sent three ships while the US Indo-Pacific Command deployed the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, which is composed of several missile destroyer ships and aircraft.

“Sailing and operating together demonstrates our commitment to improving our interoperability and information sharing with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, to enhance our ability to coordinate on maritime domain awareness and other shared security interests,” Rear Adm. Carlos Sardiello, commander of the Carrier Strike Group 1, said in a release.

The two allies conducted passing exercises, joint patrols, cross-deck exercises, and fixed-wing flight operations, among other activities at sea.

Justin Keith Baquisal, an analyst at Future Trends, ASEAN Matters, Current Affairs, Technology and Security (FACTS), said China was likely alarmed by the Washington’s deployment of an aircraft carrier.

“[It’s] definitely a very strong statement from the US which China felt it needed to respond to,” he said in a Twitter message.

He said China is “signaling displeasure” at the return of the Philippines’ joint patrols with the US, which had been discontinued in recent years and are being revived under the Marcos administration. 

The last joint sail between the two countries in the South China Sea under Maritime Cooperative Activity occurred in late November.

Reports showed that China’s Type 052D guided-missile destroyer and Type 054A frigate shadowed the Philippine and American navies on Wednesday, triggering one of the Philippine patrol vessels to issue warnings that the Chinese side did not respond to.

China’s two-day patrol was “a clear show of force by China at a time when efforts are being made among like-minded democracies to keep the seas safe, open, and free,” Don Mclain Gill, who teaches international relations at De La Salle University, said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

He noted that China also conducted naval exercises close to Taiwan in the past to demonstrate its power projection amid its tension with the self-ruled island, which is being supported by the US in its push for autonomy.

Victor Andres C. Manhit, president of think tank Stratbase ADR Institute, said the Philippines is expected to continue sailing within its exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea with the help of its allies.

“As it demonstrated last year, the Philippines has not deterred against acts of aggression in the West Philippine Sea, and it will continue to defend its territory,” he said via Messenger chat.

“This may be in the form of assertive transparency through the regular reporting of developments in the area and, in the form of multilateral cooperation with like-minded states.”

Despite the tensions, Mr. Baquisal said shipping lanes in the South China Sea will likely remain stable.

“Both Philippine and Chinese actions are largely routine operations consistent with the defense postures they have vowed to maintain to defend their national interests,” he said.

“Neither the Philippines nor China have systematically threatened shipping lanes in the South China Sea, so the patrols don’t really have an immediate-term impact on businesses and their cargo passing through the waterway, where vital global trade passes through,” he added.

THE COMMISSION on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department and Education (DepEd) must come up with a plan to ensure students affected by the discontinuation of senior high school (SHS) programs in state universities and colleges (SUCs) are not left behind, lawmakers said on Thursday.

“To prevent any disruption in learners’ education, DepEd should proactively explore options such as admitting these learners in public schools or facilitating their transfer to the private sector where they can benefit from the voucher program,” Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian, who chairs Senate committee on basic education, said in a statement.

In a memo dated Dec. 18, CHED said it is discontinuing the senior high school program in SUCs and local universities and colleges (LUCs).

Based on data from the DepEd, there are about 17,751 grade 11 students currently rolled in SUCs and LUCs. At present, there are 2,030,451 Grade 12 students enrolled in state colleges.

Senator Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero, who heads the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational education, said the DepEd should closely monitor its regional offices to check on students in danger of being left behind by the program phaseout.

“Even though this is within CHED’s legal authority, it is still important to ensure the welfare of our senior high school students and that no one is left behind,” he said in a statement in Filipino.

In a public briefing on Wednesday, CHED Chairman Prospero E. de Vera III said his agency in the past two years has been instructing public state colleges to “wind down” senior high school enrollments since there was no more legal basis for their offering of high school education.

“The transition period (from K to 12) is over,” he said. “State colleges and universities are full, and they need to use the classrooms and teachers.”

The transition period for K to 12 was from school year 2016-2017 to school year 2020-2021.

In a separate memo, CHED also cut off financial aid for Grades 11 and 12 students in SUCs and LUCs.

Mr. De Vera earlier said he was prompted to release the memo after discovering that some SUCs and LUCs were still accepting senior high enrollees even after the transition period.

DepEd spokesman Michael T. Poa said students affected may opt to enroll in public schools and avail of the voucher program.

For her part, Sen. Mary Grace N. Poe-Llamanzares said: “There should be an assessment to know if public schools nationwide have the facilities and personnel to accept to influx of student.”

ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. France L. Castro said CHED and DepEd should have consulted teachers, students and other stakeholders before cutting off financial aid for senior high school students.

She said students risk studying in overcrowded public high schools and teachers may have irregular workloads due to a lack of cash aid.

“The senior high school program should hold its promise of employability and more competitive graduates, not as burden to Filipino learners,” Ms. Poe-Llamanzares said.

THE SANDIGANBAYAN has rejected the motions to dismiss the criminal charges against former Palawan Governor Mario Joel T. Reyes and other co-accused officials in the 2008 Malampaya fund scam.

In a 15-page resolution promulgated on Wednesday, the Sandiganbayan Second Division resolved multiple motions seeking to dismiss the criminal charges filed by the Ombudsman in 2017 against Mr. Reyes and other provincial officials over P1.5 billion from the Malampaya fund.

The Sandiganbayan ruled that the reasons presented by the defense in their motions are deemed “untenable.”

“The Court finds no cogent reasons to grant leave to file demurrer to evidence. At this point of the trial, there being sufficient evidence to sustain the indictment for the crimes charged, the accused movants now bear the evidentiary burden to controvert the evidence of the prosecution,” read part of the resolution penned by Associate Justice Arthur O. Malabaguio.

In his motion for leave to file demurrer to evidence, Mr. Reyes argued that the prosecution failed to present sufficient evidence to prove irregularities during the bidding of the Malampaya projects. He also argued that as a provincial governor, he had to rely on his subordinates and on the good faith of those who were involved in the bidding and procurement processes.

But in its ruling, the Sandiganbayan said there is sufficient evidence to sustain the indictment for the crimes charged against the accused who “now bear the evidentiary burden to controvert the evidence of the prosecution.”

Motions for reconsideration and motions for leave to file demurrer to evidence filed by other accused naming Jesus Tan, Bella Cervantes, Cecila Colegio, Bernard I. Zambales, Romeo C. Llacuna, and Ronelo O. Del Socorro, among others, were also denied by the anti-graft court.

Associate Justices Oscar C. Herrera, Jr. and Edgardo M. Caldona concurred with the order.

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Thursday declared Jan. 9 as a special non-working day in the capital Manila in observance of an annual Catholic procession of a centuries-old black statue of Jesus Christ popularly known as the Black Nazarene.

In his proclamation, Mr. Marcos said residents of Manila should be given “full opportunity to participate” in one of Asia’s largest religious festivals, which will be held physically for the first time in three years since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Manila Mayor Maria Sheilah Honrado “Honey” Lacuna–Pangan said the city expects at least two million people to participate in the Black Nazarene feast. Quiapo church officials expect more.

The Department of Health said its hospitals will be placed under code white alert starting Saturday, Jan. 6, in preparation for the return of the annual dawn-to-midnight procession called the Traslacion. 

The police force will 15,200 personnel to secure the procession of a replica of the original Black Nazarene statue, which was made by an unnamed Mexican sculptor and was allegedly brought to Manila through the Acapulco galleon trade in 1606.

Eight health emergency teams equipped with ambulances would be deployed along the Black Nazarene’s route, the DoH said in a statement.

Also on Thursday, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and Manila City government conducted joint clearing operations to ensure an unhampered Traslacion.

“Clearing operations are part of the government’s preparations so that routes are passable and obstruction-free for the safety and security of the devotees that would participate in the procession,” MMDA chairman Romando S. Artes said in a press release.

“Illegally parked vehicles, electric tricycles, and other obstructions have been removed along the route of the Traslacion,” MMDA said, addings that 58 vehicles were apprehended while 22 were towed for illegal parking during the clearing operations.

Mr. Artes said the agency will provide traffic and emergency assistance before, during, and after the activities for the feast of the Black Nazarene, including an activity that starts on Jan. 6 where devotees kiss the Black Nazarene image at the Quirino Grandstand.

“A total of 850 personnel will be deployed to assist in traffic management, public safety, maintenance of peace and order, emergency response operations, and clearing operations,” he said. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

THE SUPREME Court (SC) said on Thursday that it has ordered Makati City courts to take on some legal cases pending in Taguig City, following the jurisdictional transfer of 10 “Embo” villages from Makati to its neighboring city.

In a six-page notice, the SC En Banc has designated additional courts “to assist Taguig City courts in handling cases of anticipation of their influx by January 1, 2024 in Taguig City following the transfer of the 10 barangays from Makati City.”

Seven regional trial courts (RTCs) and four metropolitan trial courts (MeTCs) in Makati have been designated to aid Taguig courts, pending the creation of additional courts in Taguig.

“Effective January 1, 2024, the Offices of the Clerk of Court (OCCs) of the RTCs and MeTCs shall require parties filing civil and criminal cases before the Taguig City Courts to provide their landline or mobile phone numbers and email addresses, which shall form part of the official records of the cases,” read part of the resolution.

The High Court added that the caption of the newly filed cases must include the identities of both the Taguig City and Makati City Courts.

The SC said the Executive Judge of the Taguig City court where the case was filed, may address immediate temporary reliefs in urgent cases as per the rules of court. This action can occur before forwarding the case to the assigned Makati City court.

The SC clarified that any motion for reconsideration shall be filed before the Makati City court while appeals from the judgment or final order of the Makati City MeTC shall be filed before the Taguig RTC.

“If no appeal or motion for reconsideration is timely filed, the case records shall be forwarded from the branch of the Makati City court to its OCC, then transmitted to the Taguig City Court for execution. The judgment or final order shall then be entered by the Clerk of Court of the Taguig City court in its book of entries of judgment.” — Jomel R. Paguian

Speaking to BusinessWorld on Thursday, Manibela president Mar Valbuena made it clear: “What we are lobbying for is the extension of our franchise and provisional authority to ply our jeepney units even without consolidating.”

The group’s statement is in response to Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” L. Pimentel III’s proposal for a six-month to one-year deferral and indefinite suspension of the PUVMP, which mandates consolidation into cooperatives or corporations by Dec. 31, 2023, for modern PUV unit franchises.

The Supreme Court petition by transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON) argues, among others, that this mandate infringes on the constitutional right to freedom of association, rendering it unconstitutional.

In a press briefing this week, Mr. Pimentel also called for the Department of Transportation (DoTr) to transparently disclose contractors and suppliers of imported modern PUV units. Labor groups, including the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) and Partido Manggagawa (PM), urged prioritizing locally made options in modernizing PUV units, citing economic and constitutional considerations.

“It is already given that we should prioritize cheaper and locally made options,” PM chairman Rene Magtubo said.

The government’s one-month grace period for non-consolidating jeepneys indicates, according to PM, that the government is unprepared for the consequences of the modernization plan. The DoTr reported that only 40% of Metro Manila’s jeepneys and approximately 70% nationwide have consolidated their franchises under the PUVMP. — Jomel R. Paguian

THE DEPARTMENT of Budget and Management has released P55.65 million for the expansion of the Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City.

Based on the statement it released on Thursday, the DBM’s Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) will cover the construction of MSU’s three-storey Student Center Building, which has an allocated area of 1,850 square meters.

“Our youth are the torchbearers of our future. That is why it’s important that we support them by providing the necessary equipment and facilities. This is also the marching order of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.,” Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said.

The building’s construction is intended to improve the university’s facilities through the promotion, development, and implementation of various student-related programs and activities of MSU.

“The implementation of this locally funded project (LFP) will be chargeable against MSU-Marawi’s built-in appropriations under the Fiscal Year 2023 General Appropriations Act,” the DBM said.

The DBM has also allotted P154.192 million from the 2024 Fiscal Year (FY) National Budget to the Free Higher Education (FHE) program in MSU-Marawi. — Aaron Michael C. Sy

A total of 56,495 suspects were arrested in 44,000 anti-illegal drug operations last year, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in a statement, citing data from the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Last year, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. vowed to shift the focus of the government’s anti-drugs program to rehabilitation.

It was his response to calls for accountability following his predecessor’s bloody war on drugs that resulted in the killing of thousands of suspects in supposed police operations gone awry, but are under investigation as alleged extrajudicial killings.

The numbers have since dropped but as of June 30, 2023, a year into Mr. Marcos’ term, a total of 342 had been killed by state actors in connection with illegal drugs, according to a report from Dahas Project, an initiative of the University of the Philippines’ Third World Studies Center.

“This is higher than the 302 reported in the last year of the Duterte administration,” it said.

The PCO said 50 provinces now have functional Anti-Drug Abuse Councils, adding that the government has put up 74 in-patient treatment and rehabilitation facilities across the country.

“The recent government successes was under President Marcos’s new approach to address illegal drugs by focusing on rehabilitation, reintegration, and preventive education programs specifically for the youth,” it said.

Last September, the President called for a “whole-of-nation approach” in dealing with illegal drugs, noting that “drug dependence is a serious mental health condition.”

“If left untreated, it becomes a growing social problem and a significant public health issue,” he said at the time.

The government estimates that at least 6,117 people were killed in Mr. Duterte’s drug war between July 1, 2016 and May 31, 2022, but human rights groups say the death toll could be as high as 30,000.

In March, Mr. Marcos, who ran in tandem with Mr. Duterte’s daughter in last year’s presidential race, said the Philippines was disengaging with the International Criminal Court (ICC) after its rejection of the country’s appeal to suspend its investigation of the drug war under the previous administration.

The ICC investigation covers crimes committed in Davao City from November 2011 to June 2016 when Mr. Duterte was still its mayor, as well as cases during his presidency up until March 16, 2019, the day before the Philippines officially withdrew from the court’s Rome Statute.

Under the Marcos administration, the Dangerous Drugs Board would continue to implement the Barangay Drug Clearing Program, with the goal of making all villages in the Philippines free from illegal drugs by 2028, the PCO said.

It said the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency is also intensifying its efforts against top-level drug personalities, “not only by arresting them but also by strengthening financial investigation to immobilize their assets.”

It said the administration targets to reduce the target-listed drug personalities by 10% of the annual target list by June, 2028.

It wants to achieve a 1:1 ratio of established treatment and rehabilitation facilities per province by 2028, it added. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

In a statement released on Thursday, the CPP alleged that the government statements are aimed at undermining the peace negotiations and hinder discussions on addressing the root causes why communists have taken up arms.

CPP chief information officer Marco Valbuena pointed out statements issued by the NSC, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as “misrepresenting the Oslo Joint Statement signed between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) as an agreement for the surrender of the New People’s Army.”

Mr. Valbuena said this misreading is being done intentionally and clarified that the Oslo Joint Statement is not an agreement for the NPA’s surrender, but rather a step toward resolving roots of the armed conflict.

He further stressed on the need for comprehensive negotiations based on the Hague Declaration of 1992, covering human rights, social and economic reforms, political and constitutional reform, and the disposition of forces.

The CPP insisted that peace talks serve as an unarmed battlefield to advance the people’s national democratic cause, addressing issues such as landlessness, poverty, political repression, and tyranny.

Despite the NSC blaming the CPP for intensifying attacks during its 55^th anniversary last Jan. 26, the CPP reaffirmed its commitment to negotiations while maintaining the armed struggle as a means to address what it claimed to be the Filipino people’s aspirations. — Artemio A. Dumlao

In a statement released on Thursday, LTFRB Chairman Teofilo E. Guadiz, III assured the public that a fare increase of between P45 and P50 within the next five years, as projected by progressive-leaning think tank IBON Foundation, is not going to happen.

“It is statistically impossible for modern jeepneys to impose exorbitant fares,” Mr. Guadiz said.

In October, the LTFRB approved the P1 provisional fare increases nationwide, raising the minimum fare to P15 for modern jeepneys.

The estimate of IBON Foundation hinges on the higher cost to operate and maintain modern jeepneys.

To recall, the LTFRB has issued guidelines allowing unconsolidated PUVs to continue operations until the end of January, giving them a one-month grace period beyond the Dec. 31, 2023 consolidation deadline.

However, the LTFRB has yet to issue the latest consolidation data. The memorandum order, effective Dec. 25 last year, permits unconsolidated PUVs to operate in areas with less than 60% consolidated authorized units (NAUs). — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Benguet-based Augusta Balanoy, speaking on behalf of the League of Associations at the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Areas, Inc. on Thursday, decried how smuggled carrots have been flooding the market causing prices to slide down.

Ms. Balanoy claimed the prices have been driven down to P1 a kilo, forcing local producers in this province to either give out their produce or leave them to rot in the farms.

She said they want the government to revive the task forces to see the situation on the ground. “At least, there would be people in authority watching the markets against distributors of smuggled goods,” she said in Filipino.

In late December, the peak time for disposing of Benguet vegetable produce due to increased demand during the Yuletide season, farmers experienced a significant downturn.

The market was flooded with smuggled vegetables that were not only cheaper and larger but also had a longer shelf life. This influx left farmers with the difficult choice of either giving away their produce for free or allowing it to rot in Northern Benguet farms.

Adding to the farmers’ challenges was the blatant fraud associated with the smuggled vegetables found in markets nationwide. These products were deceitfully labeled as “A.B.C. Baguio” in an attempt to conceal their illicit origin.

Ms. Balanoy said that as early as late July, there had been volumes of smuggled carrots, broccoli and cauliflowers unloaded through various ports. “Nothing happened even if we sought the agriculture department’s intercession,” she said. — Artemio A. Dumlao

By John Victor D. Ordoñez, Reporter

A SENATOR is seeking an explanation from the Department of Energy (DoE) on why it has been delayed in submitting the new Philippine energy roadmap, which Congress has been waiting to act on since Sept. 15, last year.

“The submission of the Philippine Energy Plan (PEP) is already more than three months overdue. The DoE needs to comply with this requirement immediately,” Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian said in a statement on Wednesday.

The government is aiming to increase the share of renewable energy (RE) in the country’s power generation mix to 35% by 2030 and to 50% by 2040. RE currently accounts for 22% of the country’s energy mix.

As of June, the DoE had awarded 1,087 renewable energy service contracts with a total potential capacity of 113.5 gigawatts.

Mr. Gatchalian stressed that the DoE is supposed to submit to Congress an updated energy roadmap each year as mandated under Republic Act 9136, the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).

Speaking to BusinessWorld over the telephone, Energy Bureau Director Michael O. Sinocruz said: “The delay is because we are waiting for the completion of the National Strategic Transmission Plan and consultation and UP College of Engineering, which will be completed this month.”

The DoE official said the PEP would cover the country’s energy goals from 2023 to 2050, with the country’s energy department focusing on boosting offshore wind projects.

The National Strategic Transmission Plan, which will be incorporated into the PEP, will include a smart and green grid plan that would tackle the efficient transmission of power to accommodate more renewable energy sources, Mr. Sinocruz said.

The Energy official noted that the PEP is expected to be almost 500 pages long and will come in three volumes.

Last Dec. 21, the Board of Investments (BoI) issued a certificate of endorsement to Ivisan Windkraft Corp. for its 450-megawatt Frontera Bay Wind Power Project off Cavite, which will be the Philippines’ first offshore wind project.

The project is expected to help the government achieve its target of producing 15.3 gigawatts of clean energy by 2030 under the Philippine Development Plan.

The Philippines has potential offshore wind resources of 178 gigawatts, with large parts of the coast having wind that can power turbines, the BoI said.

Earlier, the DoE said the PEP would include the expected share of nuclear power in the country’s energy mix.

The House of Representatives had approved a bill seeking to establish an agency that would regulate the nascent nuclear industry.

Mr. Gatchalian had filed a similar measure before the Senate, which is set to be tackled at the committee level.

The Philippines and the United States on Nov. 17 signed a deal that would allow Washington to export nuclear technology to Manila so it can develop a civilian nuclear energy infrastructure.

Experts have called on the government to diversify its RE mix instead of pushing nuclear energy, which could end up costing more than reliable power sources.

“The Philippine Energy Plan will be the foundation for achieving cleaner energy, promoting economic growth, and enhancing the well-being of our people,” Mr. Gatchalian said.

THE PHILIPPINE government will deploy additional floating assets for Filipino fishermen operating within Manila’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said on Wednesday.

The move is among the significant efforts that the Philippines is taking in order to protect its legal claims in one of the world’s most important waterways, with the government reportedly set to receive a cruise missile from India within the month.

“We will have additional floating assets in the West Philippine Sea (the maritime territory of the South China Sea nearest the Philippine archipelago),” BFAR spokesman Nazario Briguera said in Filipino at a news briefing. “And, if I am not mistaken, we have a scheduled trip to Scarborough Shoal, so we can have an onboard livelihood training for fishermen [there].”

Mr. Briguera was referring to the livelihood program named Layag WPS (Livelihood Activities to Enhance Fisheries Yield and Economic Gains from the West Philippine Sea), which the BFAR launched in June last year to expand fishing activities in the area.

The BFAR official said the government has allotted P80 million for the project as there are 385,000 Filipino fishermen who are benefitting from the West Philippine Sea.

Part of the project is distributing fuel subsidies, new fishing tools, and postharvest equipment to Filipino fishermen who frequent the fishing grounds.

The Philippines seeks to shift its focus to external defense from internal security amid China’s incursions into its EEZ in the South China Sea, allocating more funds for agencies on the frontlines of protecting the maritime territory over which Manila has asserted sovereign rights based on internationally accepted laws.

MISSILES FOR THE PHILIPPINES
Meanwhile, defense news site EurAsian Times reported on Wednesday that the Philippines is set to receive an Indian-made supersonic cruise missile this month.

The BrahMos missile, the deal for it was signed in 2022, will be delivered to the Philippine Navy “in a week,” it said.

Don Mclain Gill, an international relations lecturer at the De La Salle University, noted that the expected delivery of the Indian-made supersonic cruise missile underlines the Philippines’ growing diplomatic network in the face of an increasingly belligerent China.

It “comes at a time when China has been ramping up its provocative maneuvers in the West Philippine Sea,” he said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

“The procurement of the supersonic cruise missile system will be an important stepping stone for the Philippines to improve its sea control, anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD), and coastal and island defense operations,” he added.

He said acquisition of the BrahMos missile sends a signal to Beijing that “Manila is serious about pursuing its national interest based on international law.”

“The delivery of the BrahMos to the Philippines will add more momentum to the growing Philippines-India security partnership,” Mr. Gill said.

A LEADER in the House of Representatives has said Congress had the authority to increase the unprogrammed funds in the P5.768 trillion national budget for this year by P450 billion, adding it did not violate the Constitution.

“Only the programmed appropriations are subject to Article VI, Section 25 (1) of the Constitution, or the prohibition against increasing appropriations recommended by the President,” House Ways and Means Chairman and Albay Rep. Jose Ma. Clemente “Joey” S. Salceda said in a statement late Tuesday, citing a letter from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

“In short, the DBM said Congress can increase the unprogrammed appropriations as proposed.”

His comments were made public after Albay Rep. Edcel C. Lagman said that President Ferdinand R. Marcos. Jr. should have vetoed the P450-billion increase on the pretext that it is illegal after the DBM only recommended the P281.9 billion total amount in these funds.

Unprogrammed appropriations are funds on standby in case of additional priority programs or projects when revenue collection exceeds targets.

Under the Constitution, the lawmakers are barred from boosting appropriations recommended by the President “for the operation of the government as specified in the budget.”

Mr. Lagman said the unprogrammed funds could be used as a “sanctuary of partisan and pet projects.”

Citing Christian S. Monsod, one of the framers of the 1987 Constitution, Mr. Salceda said the provision was meant to ensure that the budget does not “put the government in debt or in deficit.”

“The very conditions placed on the Unprogrammed Appropriations are designed in such a manner that no additional deficit will be incurred,” he said.

Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman earlier said she did not see a problem with the increase, noting that unprogrammed funds may only be used in particular cases of excess revenue.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Martin “Koko” D. Pimentel, III has said he would challenge the boosted funds before the Supreme Court.

“Ultimately, once a case is filed in the Supreme Court, the court will decide on the matter,” Mr. Salceda said. “I expect it to decide as it has always done so: with the maximum liberality and presumption of regularity granted to Congress in the exercise of its exclusive powers.” — John Victor D. Ordoñez

THE PHILIPPINE government has allocated about P31 billion in the 2024 national budget to aid farmers in implementing projects to boost rice production, ahead of expected episodes of drought and dry spells from El Niño, a congressman said on Wednesday.

“We are confident that not only the agriculture department, but other agencies across all other concerned sectors would be fully prepared for this prolonged dry spell to ensure that our rice farmers get all the support they need to continue improving their productivity and incomes amid this challenge,” Party-List Rep. Brian Raymund S. Yamsuan said in a statement.

He added that the budget would include more than P15 billion in cash aid for small rice producers from tariff collections from rice imports last year.

Rice import tariffs collected that go over P10 billion go directly to farmers tilling two hectares of land and below in the form of cash grants.

Mr. Yamsuan noted that the Bureau of Customs (BoC) had already collected P25.55 billion in rice tariff imports.

Production of palay or unmilled rice is expected to come in at 7.32 million metric tons (MT) during the fourth quarter, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has projected palay production for the entirety of last year to be at 20 million MT.

Part-list Rep. Elizaldy S. Co earlier said lawmakers increased the allocation for irrigation projects under the National Irrigation Administration by at least P40 billion.

An additional P25 billion had also been granted to boost agriculture subsectors, with at least P10 billion to be used for free irrigation, seeds, fertilizer and other agricultural products for farmers.

Meanwhile, the government allotted about P7.5 billion to upgrade at least 22 airports this year, including the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and the Pag-asa Island New Manila International Airport, according to Makati City Rep. Luis Campos, Jr.

Mr. Campos said NAIA would receive the biggest funding for upgrades with P1.64 billion for a new communications, navigation, and surveillance-air traffic management system.

This year’s budget will also include P1.5 billion to upgrade and expand an airport in Thitu Island, which the Philippines calls Pag-Asa Island.

The Kalibo International Airport in Boracay will see P581 million in upgrades, while the Laoag International Airport will have P500 million.

The budget has P320 million earmarked for infrastructure upgrades for the Bukidnon Airport and P300 million for the Puerto Princesa Airport.

The New Manila International Airport is set to receive P200 million in new infrastructure spending,

“The spending is meant to sustain the modernization and expansion of the country’s aviation hubs in time for the projected full recovery of global air traffic in 2025,” Mr. Campos said.

“Of course, we are also counting on the spending to enhance the overall travel experience of passengers.”

The Philippines logged 5.45 million international arrivals in 2023, breaching the country’s 4.8 million target in arrivals for the year, the Department of Tourism reported on Tuesday.

THE COURT of Tax Appeals (CTA) has ordered the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to pay its basic deficiency income tax for taxable years 2005 and 2006, amounting to P375.31 million, inclusive of surcharge and penalty rates.

In a 22-page ruling dated Dec. 22, 2023, the CTA En Banc determined the amount of tax deficiency of PAGCOR following the Supreme Court’s (SC) directive to probe its income taxes (IT) for the said two-year period.

The CTA amended its previous decision, following the SC’s Nov. 22, 2017 ruling which ordered the consolidated cases between the Commissioner of Internal Revenue (CIR) and PAGCOR to be remanded to the tax court for the determination of the final amount to be paid by the government-owned corporation. The CTA ruling was penned by Associate Justice Lanee S. Cui-David. 

The High Court had reasoned that PAGCOR is entitled to the tax privilege granted for income from gaming operations. However, it cited Republic Act No. 9337, which amended the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) of 1997, which withdrew PAGCOR’s exemption from corporate income tax on income derived from other related services.

Hence, the SC determined that PAGCOR should only pay deficiency income tax on income derived from other related services, and not from its gaming operations, for 2005 and 2006. Likewise, the High Court said that PAGCOR is liable to fringe benefit tax (FBT) as it is not covered by tax exemptions, echoing a previous ruling.

“As ruled by the Supreme Court, PAGCOR is only liable to pay the deficiency IT, including surcharges and interests, on its income derived from other related activities for taxable years 2005 and 2006, and the assessed deficiency FBT, including surcharges and interests, for the same taxable years,” read part of the CTA ruling.

The appellate court determined that the basic deficiency income tax amounted to P6.2 million and P115.24 million for taxable years 2005 and 2006 respectively. However, adding up the surcharge, deficiency, and delinquency interest acquired in succeeding years, the total amount due as of Dec. 31, 2017, reached P8.36 million for 2005 and P366.95 million for 2006, summing up to P375.31 million.

In its ruling, the CTA explained that the surcharge and interest were only computed until the end of 2017 which is prior to the amendment of the NIRC under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

The CTA said PAGCOR is required to additionally pay a 12% per annum delinquency interest on the unpaid deficiency income tax for the taxable year 2006, as required by tax laws. The court said the total outstanding amount for the said year stands at P79.39 million as of the end of 2008. — Jomel R. Paguian

COCA-COLA Beverages, Philippines Inc. (CCBPI) and Shell Pilipinas Corp. have expanded the number of collection points of their plastic bottle recycling initiative, assigning more gas stations for the project in Manila and Davao.

In a statement on Wednesday, CCBPI said the “Tapon to Ipon: Basta Klaro, Panalo” program collects clear polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles of any brand for recycling at designated collection locations.

The participating Shell Select stores have recycling bins as well as information, education, and communication materials, which seek to boost awareness on the recyclability of clear PET bottles and to urge the active participation of the community and Shell customers.

“The expansion of this sustainability initiative with Shell is another milestone in our unified goal towards creating more accessible collection and recycling infrastructure in the country,” CCBPI National Key Accounts Senior Manager Michael Joseph Bayani said.

“Since we started launching our collection hubs in Shell Select outlets in 2021, we have been continuously working on fulfilling our shared responsibility toward a World Without Waste. We are truly grateful for Shell’s invaluable support, and we are excited to continue driving even greater impact together,” he added.

The Tapon to Ipon initiative has been partnering with key customers, traditional trade outlets, and private and government stakeholders to create collection hubs for recyclable PET plastic bottles.

The initiative also serves a crucial role in the collection of clear PET plastic bottles for recycling at PETValue Philippines, a joint venture between Coca-Cola and Indorama Ventures, a leading sustainable chemical company. The joint venture operates as the first bottle-to-bottle recycling facility in the Philippines. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

THE BUREAU of Corrections (BuCor) said on Wednesday that it is rolling out several priority projects to upgrade the country’s penal facilities, following a 23% hike in its budget from P6.1 billion last year to P7.4 billion in 2024.

“The main focus of the 1^st Command Conference was to discuss and strategize the bureau’s budget allocation,” the BuCor said in a statement after its key officials convened this week at its Muntinlupa City headquarters to discuss their strategies and priority projects which includes a P1-billion allocation for building a “supermax” facility for convicts of heinous crimes.

“The discussions were… a commitment to ensuring proper utilization of resources for the benefit of the bureau,” it added, noting a focus on improving the conditions in jail facilities, the enhancement of video surveillance systems, and the use of body cameras for prison personnel.

They also discussed the deployment of K9 units in all operating prisons and penal farms (OPPF).

BuCor is also studying possible collaborations with other agencies to create additional opportunities for its development, expressing its intent to engage in such partnerships.

BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang, Jr. mentioned working with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to construct the “supermax” jail facility.

Also, the BuCor is planning on acquiring earthmoving equipment for development projects as it expedites the land titling of all its properties and maximizing the utility of land acquired by OPPFs. — Jomel R. Paguian

THE DEPARTMENT of Agriculture (DA) has allocated P73.62 million as rehabilitation funds for damaged fisheries equipment due to flash floods from the shear line and wind convergence in Northern Mindanao.

In a statement, the DA said that rehabilitation and the distribution of fishing equipment will be handled by the regional office of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) after the signing of a memorandum of agreement on rehabilitation projects.

Funds have been allotted for 1,259 units of motorized boats with multiple fishing gear amounting to P71.16 million, 58 units of netting gear, and two payao fish aggregating devices.

The agency also handed out catfish, tilapia, and milkfish (bangus) fingerlings amounting to P379,000.

About P1.33 million was also allocated for the rehabilitation of BFAR’s Brackishwater Fish Farm, which supplies fingerlings in Misamis Occidental and its neighboring provinces.

BFAR Regional Director Edward B. Yasay said that the provision of motorized boats, fishing gear, and other equipment would provide the needed intervention for calamity-affected fisherfolk across the five provinces of Northern Mindanao.

“These are necessary not only in restoring the livelihood of (fisherfolks) in Region 10, but also to ensure the continuous supply of fish and other fishery products in the region,” Mr. Yasay added. — Adrian H. Halili

A MAGNITUDE 5.3 earthquake rocked Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur in the country’s south on Wednesday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

The tectonic quake, initially estimated at 5.3 magnitude, had a depth of 25 kilometers and located 32 km southeast of Hinatuan town, which felt a 7.4-magnitude tremor last month that killed three people.

Wednesday’s earthquake was deemed an aftershock of the early December tremor, Phivolcs said.

Meanwhile, the agency said 116 volcanic earthquakes had been recorded near Mt. Bulusan in Sorsogon province as of 9 a.m. on Wednesday. It urged residents near the volcano to remain cautious of potential mudflows. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

The youngest victim so far was a 10-month-old baby from Metro Manila whose right eye was hit by a legal firecracker lit by someone else at home, the Department of Health (DoH) said in a statement.

The oldest case was a 77-year-old male from Ilocos Region who suffered burns from a legal firecracker lit by another person at home.

“Household use of fireworks is a risk not only to yourself but to your family. Our data further strengthens this observation,” the DoH said.

Almost 100% of the victims were injured at home and in the streets, the DoH said, adding that most of the cases were due to legal fireworks. It said around 9% of the new cases were hospitalized due to their injuries.

Metro Manila accounted for more than half or 306 of the 557 injury cases related to fireworks and firecrackers during the holiday season, followed by Ilocos Region with 55 cases, Central Luzon with 42, and Calabarzon with 39.

Kwitis, a rocket-like pyrotechnics product, was the top cause of injuries, followed by firecrackers “5-Star,” pla-pla, boga, and “whistle bomb,” and then sparklers like luces and the “fountain.”

“Illegal fireworks are to blame for just four out of every 10 cases (216, 39%), with legal fireworks causing more injuries,” the DoH said. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

A PHILIPPINE lawmaker scored President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Tuesday for not striking down the P450-billion increase in unprogrammed funds in this year’s P5.768-trillion General Appropriations Act (GAA), saying it is illegal.

“The President’s utter failure to veto the excess items aggravates the constitutional defect,” Albay Rep. Edcel C. Lagman said in a statement.

“Consequently, a constitutional challenge before the Supreme Court is in order to cleanse the General Appropriations Act of a fatal defect and give guidance to the Congress and the President in the future budget seasons.”

Unprogrammed appropriations are funds on standby in case of additional priority programs or projects when revenue collection exceeds targets.

Under the Constitution, the lawmakers are barred from boosting appropriations recommended by the President “for the operation of the government as specified in the budget.”

Mr. Lagman said the increase has boosted unprogrammed funds which could be used to fund politically motivated projects.

“The unprogrammed appropriations have become the sanctuary of partisan and pet projects where funding and releases for implementation would even antedate programmed appropriations,” the congressman said.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Martin “Koko” D. Pimentel, III said he would challenge the legality of the boosted allocation in unprogrammed appropriations since the Budget department only recommended a total of P281.9 in these funds.

The President had vetoed sections of the 2024 GAA that are related to a proposed revolving fund for the Department of Justice, and a provision related to the implementation of the National Government’s Career Executive Service Development Program.

Mr. Marcos signed the spending plan on Dec. 20, which he called a “battle plan” to boost education, combat hunger, and create more jobs.

“Verily, since the Constitution does not distinguish between the programmed appropriations and the unprogrammed appropriations with respect to the congressional ban, the ceiling of both cannot be exceeded by the Congress,” Mr. Lagman said.

“These are serious allegations which should first be provided with actual evidence by Rep. Lagman, particularly a supposed previous practice in which it has ‘become the sanctuary of partisan and projects.’ In the first place, unprogrammed appropriations remain unfunded appropriations unless and until adequate funding is found by government in the course of the fiscal year.”  Terry L. Ridon, a public investment analyst and convenor of think tank InfraWatch PH, said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

AT LEAST 159 Filipinos have been evacuated in western Japan after a 7.6-magnitude earthquake rocked the island of Honshu on Monday, resulting in a tsunami sweeping the west coast, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

No Filipino was among the 30 reported fatalities, based on official reports on Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Jose Eduardo A. de Vega told BusinessWorld in a WhatsApp message.

But he confirmed the number of Filipinos who fled danger areas and stayed at evacuation centers. A total of 157 of them have since returned to their homes, according to latest updates reaching the DFA.

On Monday, the Japanese government issued tsunami warnings for the central prefecture of Ishikawa and the coastal areas of Toyama, Fukui, and Hyogo prefectures as over 140 tremors have been detected since the first quake hit the coast.

Over 100,000 people were ordered to evacuate their homes to sports halls and school gymnasiums.

In an advisory later the same day, the Migrant Workers Office of the Philippine Consulate General in Osaka asked employers and supervisors in the affected prefectures to immediately report any incident involving Filipino workers related to the earthquakes.

Here in Manila, the Department of Migrant Workers activated hotlines for affected Japan-based migrant workers.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. also issued this statement: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the magnitude 7.6 earthquake in Japan on New Year’s Day. We are in close collaboration with the Japanese government to secure the welfare of our countrymen, who thankfully remain unharmed.”

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had ordered over 3,000 Japanese army personnel, firefighters and policemen across the country to the quake sites in the Ishikawa prefecture.

“The search and rescue of those impacted by the quake is a battle against time,” he told an emergency meeting on Tuesday.

Local authorities said the 30 deaths were all in Ishikawa prefecture, but more than 33,000 households in Western Japan were plunged in darkness due to power outages.

Temperatures in the area have reached below-freezing numbers, according to Hokuriku Electric Power Company, which supplies power to Toyama, Ishikawa, and Fukui prefectures.

There are about 469 Filipinos living in the Ishikawa Prefecture and 725 in the Toyama Prefecture, Migrant workers officer-in-charge Hans Leo J. Cacdac said in a statement.

He said about 90% of them work in the manufacturing, welding, and carpentry sectors, while 10% are caregivers.

“We are monitoring the employment situation of OFWs, especially in the Ishikawa and Toyama Prefectures. We will provide financial assistance to OFWs whose employment has been suspended or ceased due to the quake,” Mr. Cacdac said. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

VARIOUS youth groups have voiced their opposition to the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), expressing solidarity with the plans of jeepney drivers and operators to wage more strikes this month.

In an interview with BusinessWorld, youth coalition Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK) national coordinator John Lazaro said support for drivers and operators will continue as long as the government proceeds with its modernization policy, which is claimed to have failed in consulting the transport sector.

“If the government continues to make policies that actively harm the livelihood of the working class, then we have a duty to stand by them,” he said.

Meanwhile, 111 Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials throughout the country signed a year-end unity statement condemning the PUVMP and its franchise consolidation deadline, encouraging the youth to advocate for the preservation of the livelihoods and rights of public transport workers.

“We, the undersigned members of the Sangguniang Kabataan, stand in solidarity with our fellow Filipinos — especially the 200,000 jeepney drivers and operators — whose livelihoods are a stake due to the looming Dec. 31 franchise consolidation deadline,” read part of the statement.

Kabataan Partylist national executive vice president Renee Louise Co, spearheading the unity statement, told BusinessWorld that the group currently receives additional signatories from more SK officials.

For SPARK, Mr. Lazaro added that the phaseout of unconsolidated public utility jeepneys (PUJs) will affect not just the livelihood of the transport workers but also the situation of students who rely on public transport.

“When the livelihood of PUJ drivers is affected, our livelihood, our right to education and learning are also at risk,” he said in Filipino. “We are connected to every move of our workers; hence, we support them in their strikes”

Days before the New Year, the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) issued new guidelines permitting unconsolidated public utility vehicles (PUVs) to operate until Jan. 31 — a month-long grace period beyond the Dec. 31, 2023 consolidation deadline.

The Department of Transportation (DoTr) on Monday said only 40% of jeepneys in Metro Manila have consolidated their franchises under the PUVMP. Nationwide, the numbers reached approximately 70%.

The year-end deadline for the application for consolidation pushed through despite opposition from transport groups and a pending Supreme Court petition.

Mr. Lazaro argued that the grace period is insufficient to address their demands as no amendments to the franchise consolidation component of the PUVMP have been made.

In a separate interview on the sidelines of a year-end protest against franchise consolidation under the PUVMP in Manila last week, members of the Kabataan Partylist declared opposition to the modernization plan.

“The Kabataan Party supports the strikes because the struggles of drivers are also the struggles of commuters,” said Party member Carmela Aldip in Filipino. “Fare increases may occur because of the program which adds difficulty for students who depend on their parents.”

Progressive-leaning think tank IBON Foundation last month said that jeepney fares could surge up to fivefold, attributing it to the percentage of consolidated public utility vehicles nationwide.

COTABATO CITY — The Bangsamoro region generated P3.3 billion worth of investments in the last three months or fourth quarter (Q4) of 2023, generating employment for 1,927 workers.

Records obtained by BusinessWorld on Tuesday from the Bangsamoro Board of Investments (BBOI) and the Ministry of Trade, Investments and Tourism (MTIT) indicated that besides the capital inputs by investors from within and outside the region, entrepreneurs and merchants earned P16.9 million from last year’s 30-day Ramadhan Trade Fair at the capitol of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in this city.

Mohammad O. Pasigan, chairman of the BBOI, said there were a number of unfavorable incidents in the BARMM last year that hit the news, but did not dampen the positive investment climate in the region.

Of the P3.3-billion investments BARMM had in the past three months, P3.1 billion was poured in by investors through the efforts of the BBOI.

Up to P3.4 million more worth of investments were generated via the programs of the MTIT, according to the Bangsamoro Information Office.

The Bangsamoro region generated P7.6 billion worth of investments from January to September 2023, according to documents from the BBOI, the Bangsamoro Business Council (BBC), the MTIT and the regional government’s agriculture and labor ministries.

“Businesses in BARMM are improving. Our focus now is to convince investors to put up viable agricultural projects in the region’s six provinces,” the lawyer-entrepreneur Ronald Hallid D. Torres, chairman of the BBC, said.

THE DEPARTMENT of Labor and Employment (DoLE) released on Tuesday the rules for payment of wages for the holidays, confirming 12 regular holidays and eight special non-working days for the year.

In a two-page advisory dated Dec. 12, made public on Tuesday, the labor department clarified payment schemes for holidays declared by the Malacañang in October last year.

DoLE reiterated that employees are entitled to receive double pay for work done during regular holidays, while workers who did not report for work are entitled to full pay under certain conditions.

Included in the declared regular holidays were Jan. 1 (New Year’s Day), Mar. 28-29 (Holy Week), Apr. 9 (Day of Valor), May 1 (Labor Day), June 12 (Independence Day), Aug. 26 (National Heroes Day), Nov. 30 (Bonifacio Day), Dec. 25 (Christmas Day), and Dec. 30 (Rizal Day). Dates for Eidul Fitr and Eidul Adha are yet to be determined.

An additional 30% of the hourly rate on said days shall be granted for work done in excess of eight hours.

Special non-working days, on the other hand, include Feb. 10 (Chinese New Year), Mar. 30 (Black Saturday), Aug. 21 (Ninoy Aquino Day), Nov. 1-2 (All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day), Dec. 8 (Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary), Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve), and Dec. 31 (last day of the year).

The department said the “no work, no pay” principle shall apply on special non-working days unless a presence of a company policy or agreements. Work done for the said days is entitled to an additional 30% of the basic wage on the first eight hours of work. Overtime work shall be granted an additional 30% of the hourly rate. — Jomel R. Paguian

THE PHILIPPINE health agency on Tuesday posted 212 more fireworks-related injuries during the New Year festivities between Dec. 31 and Jan. 2, including a fatality from Ilocos Region in the country’s north, bringing the total cases during the holiday season to over 440.

The first confirmed fatality was a 38-year-old male “who lit a cigarette while drinking with others near firecrackers in storage,” the Department of Health (DoH) said in a statement. The agency also reported the country’s first stray bullet injury case, who had a gunshot wound to his left upper back.

The total injuries during the holiday season climbed to 443, 441 one of which were due to fireworks. One of the total cases was due to watusi ingestion and another one was due to a stray bullet.

The agency said 97% or 206 of the new cases occurred at home and in the streets.

“The new cases range from 1 to 71 years old (median age: 22), with almost eight out of 10 cases that are male,” it said.

There were six new amputation cases, bringing the total to 17, it said. There were 122 cases with eye injuries and two cases with hearing loss, it added.

“The death reported today was an incident waiting to happen because liquor impairs judgement,” DoH said. “We can prevent these; we must work together across all sectors to do so.”

Metro Manila accounted for more than half or 254 of the total fireworks-related cases, followed by Ilocos Region with 36 cases, Central Luzon with 35 cases, Cagayan Valley with 35 cases, and Calabarzon with 29 cases.

Kwitis was the top cause of injuries, followed by 5-Star, boga, pla-pla, whistle bomb, fountain, luces, piccolo, and triangle.

“Illegal fireworks are to blame for just four out of every 10 cases (173, 39%), with legal fireworks causing more injuries.” — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

THE PHILIPPINE government has allocated P200 million to upgrade the aviation infrastructure of Eastern Samar’s Borongan Airport, a congressman said on Tuesday.

“The airport’s improvement will facilitate the transfer of people and goods, and help bring in more tourists,” Party-List Rep. Marcelino C. Libanan said in a statement. “Our goal is to increase the airport’s capacity to accommodate more commercial flights.”

The government earlier started a 200-meter extension of the airport’s 1.3-kilometer runway. Last year, the flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) started Cebu to Borongan flights that would operate twice a week to make it easier for travelers to get to Borongan.

Mr. Libanan, who used to be the lone congressional representative of Eastern Samar, said upgrading the airport would be a step closer to making Borongan the surfing capital of Visayas.

Borongan City earlier hosted the Surf City Borongan Masters, which had over 150 participating surfers from across the Philippines.

“We look forward to other airlines operating flights in and out of Borongan,” the congressman said. — John Victor D. Ordoñez