MANILA: The Office of Senator Francis Tolentino showed on Wednesday a copy of Senate Resolution No. (SRN) 889 he filed on Tuesday that seeks to amend Sections 16 and 18 of the Resolution No. 5, or the Rules of Procedure Governing Inquiries in aid of Legislation.

This came after the Supreme Court (SC) nullified the contempt and arrest order issued by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee against Pharmally Corp. Director Lincoln Ong and former presidential adviser Michael Yang during a legislative inquiry on Sept. 21, 2021 on alleged irregularities in the procurement of emergency supplies during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

The amendment include allowing lawyers of the resource persons or witnesses to submit a memorandum to the panel, as well as giving them the right to be heard.

On Tuesday, Tolentino told Senate reporters that the amendment is to comply with the Supreme Court ruling and “to really make the current Senate rules compliant with what is procedurally and substantively fair.”

But he clarif
ied that these guidelines are already being observed under his chairmanship in both the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

“Ang atin pong ipa-file na amendment ay ginagawa na rin naman natin. Kung matatandaan ninyo, nirerespeto po natin ang mga karapatan ng testigo sa Blue Ribbon. Yun po yung gusto nung (The amendment that we will file is already being done. If you remember, we respect the rights of the witnesses in the Blue Ribbon. That’s the essence of the) Pharmally decision,” the lawmaker said.

“Hindi po ito ginagawa noon. Ngayon ipo-formalize natin ito hindi lang sa pagtupad doon sa Supreme Court decision on Pharmally kundi bilang pagle-legitimize na maging bahagi ng (These are not being done in the past. Now, we will formalize it not only to comply with the Supreme Court decision on Pharmally but also to be a legitimate part of the) Senate rules,” he added.

The SRN 889 states that “all persons under investigation, witnesses appearing in or whose rights are affecte
d by such inquiry may submit a legal brief/memorandum summarizing his or her position relative to the subject matter of the inquiry within a non-extendible period of 15 calendar days from the adjournment of the said inquiry. Upon the expiration of the said period, the committee shall come up with its report notwhithstanding the absence of the said memorandum.”

In addition, “no witness appearing before the committee shall be cited in contempt for testifying falsely or evasively without being given the opportunity to be heard.”

The Senate chairperson should also allow the witnesses to explain or will issue a written show cause order answerable within three days why they should not be cited in contempt.

They can also file a motion for reconsideration, not exceeding 15 pages, within five days from the day the contempt was ordered.

Further, the period of detention shall only last until the termination of the legislative inquiry is terminated which is upon the approval or disapproval of the committee report or
the expiration of one congress.

In its 53-page ruling dated March 23, the SC granted the petitions filed by questioning the Senate’s contempt orders against Ong and Yang nullifying the order citing it to be a “grave abuse of discretion.”
Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Department of Energy (DOE) has underscored the vital role of a whole-of-government approach in the country’s goal for energy transition.

The DOE has lauded recent policies of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Board of Investments (BOI) that will promote clean and sustainable energy projects among private institutions.

In a statement Wednesday, DOE Secretary Raphael Lotilla welcomed the Central Bank’s move to expand financing for green projects, which include transition financing for decarbonization.

This, as the BSP raised the single borrower’s limit (SBL) for green loans by 15 percent and the gradual reduction of applicable reserve requirement for green bonds from 3 percent to zero over two years.

‘These would entail big investments where private sector funds, including equity investments, green bonds or loans would be needed. We are therefore pleased with this development noting that clean energy investments over the next decade will be carried out by the private developers,’ Lot
illa said.

According to BSP, renewable energy, energy efficiency and green building projects are among the top five green projects supported by the universal and commercial banks in the country.

Likewise, Lotilla also lauded the new policy of the BOI by giving more incentives to registered projects that will build their renewable energy (RE) facilities to supply their power requirement.

BOI’s Memorandum Circular 2023-006 provides income tax holiday and duty exemption on the importation of capital equipment, raw materials, spare parts or accessories.

‘This would certainly aid energy efficient projects which will ultimately redound to the benefit of consumers. The tax incentives will result in increased economic activity and the potential to generate more jobs,’ the DOE chief added.

Lotilla said these recent policies by the BSP and BOI show that the government works harmoniously to move forward the country’s energy transition program.

‘They complement the strategies implemented by the Department of Energy
to accelerate the Philippine Energy Transition Program pursuant to the instructions of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.,’ he said.

The government targets RE share in the energy mix to reach 35 percent by 2030 and to 50 percent by 2040.
Source: Philippines News Agency

BAGUIO CITY: The Police Regional Office in Cordillera (PROCor) on Wednesday reported that intensified police operations and community engagement again resulted to zero crime incidents in 64 of the 75 municipalities and half of the 10 police stations here.

‘Our police operatives on the field are continuously providing police visibility not just in convergence areas but in residential areas, with mobile patrolling being conducted,’ said Lt. Col. Carolina Lacuata, PROCor information officer, in a phone interview.

From Dec. 10-16, zero crime incidents were recorded in 23 of the 27 municipalities in Abra; 11 of the 13 municipalities in Benguet; all the10 municipalities in Mountain Province; nine of the 11 municipalities in Ifugao; all seven municipalities in Apayao; four of the seven municipalities and one component city in Kalinga; and five police stations in this city.

Lacuata said that in the previous week, or from Dec. 3-9, there were 57 municipalities that recorded zero crimes.

On a weekly basis, between
57 to 60 municipalities have registered zero crime incidents since August this year, she said.

Meanwhile, an official of the Baguio City Police Office said that they have an augmentation force of at least 30 personnel from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion of PROCor who are helping in the city’s traffic management and police visibility.

BCPO Traffic Enforcement Unit chief Lt. Col. Zacarias Dausen, in a media interview on Wednesday, said they are also expecting additional policemen who have just completed their Field Training Program.

He added that they are maximizing all personnel, especially with the peak tourism season here already being felt five days before Christmas day.
Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) junked a suit filed by the Camarines Sur provincial government seeking to impose a franchise tax on an electric cooperative which already pays a franchise tax to Naga City.

In a 15-page decision dated Dec. 19, the tax court’s Special First Division denied for lack of merit a petition filed by the province to impose a franchise tax on the Camarines Sur II Electric Cooperative Inc. (Casureco Inc. II)

The tax court ruling affirmed the Sept. 17, 2021 decision of the Naga City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 21 which declared Naga City as the sole local government unit entitled to Casureco II’s local franchise tax.

The province claimed it is entitled to the franchise as Casureco operates in nine other municipalities in the province -Pili, Milaor, Minabalac, Canaman, Magarao,Bombon,Calabanga, Tinambac and Siruma aside from Naga City.

In a similar case in 2012, the SC affirmed the City of Iriga’s power to assess and collect franchise tax within the entire coverage of Casu
reco III.

Notwithstanding the said ruling, the province still assessed Casureco II for franchise tax 2012 to 2016.

Citing the Local Government Code, the CTA in turning down the province’s suit said a province may ‘not impose the tax on business enjoying franchise operating within the territorial jurisdiction of any city located within the province.’
Source: Philippines News Agency

CAGAYAN: The Police Regional Office in Northern Mindanao (PRO-10) distributed on Wednesday 24 units of 4×2 patrol jeeps worth PHP29 million as police personnel prepare for heightened monitoring of peace and order during the holiday season.

During the turnover ceremony, PRO-10 director, Brig. Gen. Ricardo Layug Jr., said the security and welfare of the people in the region rely on both the number of officers and their efficiency, which includes having adequate equipment and facilities.

“Providing necessary equipment improves response time and operational readiness,” he said.

Layug said the mobile assets will boost police patrol and visibility, meeting the need for a greater presence in communities year-round.

The patrol vehicles form part of the police Capability Enhancement Program.

The units will be distributed to the five provinces in the region – Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, and Camiguin – under their respective provincial police offices.
Source: Philippines News Ag
ency

DAGUPAN: The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has reminded motorists with unregistered vehicles regarding the strict implementation of the ‘No Registration, No Travel’ policy starting January 2024.

In an interview on Wednesday, LTO-Dagupan District Office Chief Romel Dawaton said registration or renewal of vehicle registration is vital in maintaining the road worthiness of vehicles resulting in ensuring road safety.

“Unregistered motor vehicles compromise the road safety of road users. Registration of motor vehicles comes along the inspection of road worthiness of the vehicles,” he said.

Dawaton said the LTO central office has issued a memorandum regarding the strict implementation of this policy although this is currently suspended ‘in the spirit of the Christmas.’

He said they have also coordinated with the local government units for the registration of their service vehicles.

Citing Department of Transportation and Communications Joint Administrative Order No. 2014-01, Dawaton said the penalty for unr
egistered motor vehicle is P10,000.

He said vehicle owners may renew their motor vehicle registration two months before due date.

He said there are about 24.7 million unregistered motor vehicles all over the country.

Meanwhile, in line with the holiday season, LTO has conducted inspections in transportation terminals to check on the road worthiness of the public transports to ensure safety of passengers.
Source: Philippines News Agency