Day: May 10, 2023

The Bureau of Customs-Port of Legazpi is optimistic that it will hit and surpass its monthly revenue collections in the coming months and years after facilitating its first-ever fuel importation this week. In a statement Wednesday, the bureau reported that the port has welcomed its initial fuel importation, which arrived aboard MV Peninsula XI at the Port of Pasacao, Camarines Sur on May 8. The vessel is carrying 5,076,234 liters of Gasoil consigned to Jetti Petroleum Inc. The fuel is set to be marked in accordance with the Fuel Marking Program, mandated under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law. The fuel marking aims to curb smuggling and misdeclaration of petroleum products in the country and increase the collection from taxable imported and locally refined petroleum products. The new development was made possible through the initiative of Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio under the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., and the proactive approach of the Port of Legazpi, which became an authorized port of discharge for gasoline, diesel and kerosene arriving in bulk. It has paved the way for more companies to invest in Bicol and venture into importation. The port is also hopeful that the inclusion of Collection District V as an authorized port of discharge will encourage more investors to import fuel products.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Wednesday said leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) must join hands for enhanced trade and investment among member states in the post-pandemic era to sustain the region’s economic growth and create more jobs and business opportunities for their citizens. ‘As we navigate the post-pandemic era, we must enhance trade and investment among ASEAN countries, prioritize expanding and diversifying our economies, and develop digital infrastructure and supply chains,’ Romualdez said during the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly’s (AIPA) interface with ASEAN Leaders on the first day of the 42nd ASEAN Summit at the Meruorah Convention Center in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. Romualdez, who headed the Philippine delegation to the regional lawmakers’ assembly, said these actions will improve connectivity among ASEAN member states, facilitate the movement of goods, services and people, and promote greater cooperation in areas such as science and technology, innovation, and human capital development. ‘By doing so, we can enhance the competitiveness of our economies and position ourselves for sustained growth,’ he said. Besides post-pandemic recovery efforts, Romualdez said ASEAN must also strive to put focus on healthcare and social protection to protect their people from the economic and social impacts of the pandemic. He said ASEAN executive and legislative leaders must acknowledge the importance of working together towards shared goals through shared responsibility and collective action. ‘The Philippine Congress and our esteemed President, His Excellency Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. share this commitment,’ he added. Romualdez said ASEAN leaders must seize “the opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to building a sustainable and resilient future for all of our citizens.’ The ASEAN member states, he said, should work together to address the impact of climate change, which poses a serious threat to the sustained growth of the countries in the region. ‘As leaders, we must be proactive and take decisive action to enhance climate resilience and promote green economies by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, transitioning to renewable energy sources, and investing in sustainable infrastructure and transportation,’ he added. Romualdez cited the need for ASEAN leaders to adopt a collaborative and holistic approach that leverages the strengths and resources of each nation, in improving disaster risk reduction and management, promoting sustainable agriculture, and safeguarding biodiversity. The Speaker also underscored the importance of diplomacy in addressing the threats to regional peace and stability. ‘By strengthening existing mechanisms for dialogue and cooperation, ASEAN would help promote political and security cooperation among its members,’ Romualdez said. ‘By collaborating in a spirit of openness, cooperation, and mutual respect, we can create a more secure and prosperous future for our region and its people.’

Source: Philippines News Agency

The disqualification of Carmen Geraldine Rosal as candidate for mayor of Legazpi City in the May 9, 2022 polls is now final and executory, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Wednesday. In a press statement, the poll body said its en banc’s May 4 decision disqualifying Rosal became final after as they did not receive any restraining order from the Supreme Court (SC). “With the case records showing that the en banc resolution has been duly served to the parties on 4 May 2023, and with no restraining order having been issued by the Supreme Court to date, the same has become final and executory with the issuance of the Certificate of Finality, and will be entered in the Book of Entries of Judgment,” the poll body said in a statement. “Now, therefore, in view of the foregoing, the Resolution of the Commission (En Banc) promulgated on 04 May 2023 is hereby declared final and executory under the Comelec Rules of Procedure.” Earlier, the Commission en banc said the order would become final and executory after five days from receipt of the parties, unless the High Court issues a TRO. On the other hand, Comelec chairperson George Garcia noted that the Certificate of Finality issued by the poll body would not yet remove Rosal from her post until the Writ of Execution for the decision on the disqualification case has been issued. “I will issue the Writ tomorrow, to give the respondent an opportunity to reiterate the prayer for injunctive writ in the SC. To my mind, as a former practitioner, this is part of due process. Our resolution should be the full subject of scrutiny of the SC,” Garcia added. In its May 4 ruling, the Comelec en banc affirmed the disqualification of Rosal as mayoral bet in Legazpi City in the May 2022 polls. They found Rosal liable for giving money to influence, induce, or corrupt the voters during the conduct of the two-day Tricycle Driver’s Cash Assistance Payout in the city on March 31, 2022, which violates Section 68(a) of the Omnibus Election Code. In the same ruling, the poll body also ordered the proclamation of Alfredo Garbin Jr., who was the runner-up in the polls, as the duly-elected mayor of Legazpi City.

Source: Philippines News Agency

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday called on the member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to support initiatives aimed at empowering the youth. Marcos made the call, as he acknowledged the young leaders’ crucial role in addressing pressing challenges, such as climate change, environment and biodiversity, and peace and security. In his intervention during the ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with Representatives of ASEAN Youth, Marcos emphasized that the regional bloc’s future lies in its ability to develop the young people who now have vast knowledge when it comes to traditional and social media. Highlighting the exponential growth of the digital realm and the world’s increasing dependence on digital tools, Marcos said the region needs to be ‘future-ready’ to make it competitive in the global arena. The President said youth involvement and participation would help the regional bloc remain the ‘epicentrum of growth.’ ‘It is clear again that the future of ASEAN lies in our ability to support the youth in attaining their full potential. And this we must do by providing the skills and motivation to be ready for this future. Empowering the ASEAN youth and ensuring that ASEAN will remain the epicentrum of growth and undoubtedly contribute to the realization of our shared vision of prosperity and peace for all,’ he said. ‘We must always put front and center all the issues that we face or that our young people face and that our country face the consequence of time.’ The ASEAN should take immediate action to prepare the youth to seize opportunities in the digital and creative economies, Marcos said. He said activities, such as the ASEAN Youth Dialogue and the ASEAN Junior Fellowship Program, are avenues that could help hone the youth’s leadership skills and competencies. ‘We must ensure that they are well equipped to not only compete globally, but also to develop expertise, forge linkages, and establish leadership in these fields… strengthening youth people-to-people exchanges to facilitate the free flow of ideas and the transfer of skills is critical,’ he said. Marcos noted that young Filipinos are worthy of emulation, considering that they are at the forefront of advocacies to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate in the Philippines. He noted that one of the Filipino youths’ initiatives is leading the declaration of the annual ASEAN Youth in Climate Action and Disaster Resilience Day every Nov. 25 to promote awareness and provoke positive action among the young generations to address climate change and galvanize disaster risk reduction efforts. He said the efforts of the Filipino youth should be replicated throughout all of ASEAN. ‘Since 2018, the Philippines, with the support of various partners and stakeholders, has ensured the conduct of annual celebrations and involvement of youth leaders from all ASEAN member-states in the activities,’ Marcos said. Aging population Meanwhile, Marcos said the ASEAN should start discussing the concerns of the aging population, consistent with the region’s tradition of valuing the elderly. He made the call during the 42nd ASEAN Summit Plenary Session. Marcos said these issues must be viewed ‘both as an opportunity and as a challenge, especially in terms of adequate social benefits on the one hand and social empowerment on the other.’ ‘Decades of sustained economic growth and prosperity has resulted in longer lifespans in ASEAN. According to the Asian Development Bank, one out of four people in the Asia Pacific will be over the age of 60 by the year 2050,’ he said. ‘ASEAN goals and work plans should ensure health for our elders, a safe and dignified, and productive life.’

Source: Philippines News Agency

The United Nation-Habitat (UN-Habitat), A United Nations Human Settlements Programme, through its cooperating partner Transformative Actions for Climate and Ecological Protection and Development (TRANSCEND), will assist Antique province in the implementation of its bio-diversity project. Representatives of the UN-Habitat and TRANSCEND visited the province on May 5 to find out how they could provide assistance, said Eby Archangel Butiong, head of the Provincial Housing Affairs and Resettlement Office (PHARO) in an interview Wednesday. ‘Antique is one of the provinces in Western Visayas being targeted by the UN-Habitat for its assistance and so we will be submitting their requested profile of the province and the master plan of the Malandog River Rehabilitation and Development Project (MARIREDEP),’ Butiong said. The crafting of the MARIREDEP master plan started during the time of Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu in 2018 but the full implementation of its components was not realized due to lack of funds. It will be submitted to the UN-Habitat on May 12 for possible intervention, he said. ‘The MARIREDEP intends to revive the historical significance of the Malandog River as a rich fishing ground where the first Malay ancestors had settled,’ Butiong said. To do it, there is a need to clear the river of informal settlers who have contributed to the water pollution because of their waste disposal. The Antique provincial government through the PHARO has already resettled around 65 informal settlers in their provided relocation sites but there are still 150 remaining households that need to be moved out. ‘We have already identified a relocation site in Hamtic, but it cost around PHP13 million and we have no more funding for it,’ Butiong said, adding that the intended fund was realigned to address the flooding problem at the National Housing Authority resettlement site in Barangay Lugta in the municipality of Laua-an. Also included in the MARIREDEP master plan was the construction of a breakwater along the coastline of Barangay Malandog so fishing boats will no longer have to seek refuge at the Malandog River but was not completed until now. ‘There is also a plan to construct the People’s Park and Sunset View Park where there will be trees that will be planted as part of the eco-tourism and biodiversity initiative, but then it remains to be realized,’ Butiong said.

Source: Philippines News Agency