20170530 Tuesday NEWS

On the latest round of tuition fee hikes

I (1-Ang Edukasyon partylist Rep Salvador Belaro) foresee an increase in state universities and colleges enrollment because of the latest round of fee hikes. The exodus of even more teachers from the private schools to the public schools would continue.

Private schools most affected by the adverse effects of the fee hikes are those in the provinces where they are in direct competition with SUCs.

Middle class families affected by the private college fee hikes would be able still afford sending kids to the same schools if Congress is able to quickly enact the proposed reduction in income tax rates because of the resulting lower income tax withheld from their salaries.

Immediate impact of the CHED-approved hikes in tuition and other school fees is confined to only 268 of the 1,652 private colleges and universities of the country.

Over 1,300 private higher education institutions did not hike their fees, mostly likely because they can still manage at their current rates or if they raised their rates the negative consequences would outweigh the financial gain.

Details on which specific schools raised their rates are not yet available, but judging by the average tuition rate hike of P86.68 per unit, a full load of 21 units means the average increase is P1,820 pesos, and inferring from that, the total average tuition fees amount to about P26,153 and that does not yet include other school fees.

Total tuition of about P26,000 means the private schools raising their tuition cater to the families of income classes that can afford that cost level whether they pay in cash or installment, and therefore the poor and very poor are not affected.

Those at lower middle class level of income would find it harder to afford the tuition and can choose to either reduce their load of units, or transfer to the state universities and colleges where fee rates are much lower, but the quality of instruction is comparable or at times even better because they are able to attract better quality of faculty with the higher pay at SUCs resulting from recent and continuing pay hikes in the government.

DETAINED AT THE HOUSE: Members of the House  committee on good government and public accountability chaired by Rep. Johnny T. Pimentel (2nd District, Surigao del Sur) and Majority Leader Rodolfo C. Fariñas (1st District, Ilocos Norte) on Monday cited for contempt six officers of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) and ordered  them detained within the chamber's premises for their continued refusal to cooperate on the ongoing probe on the alleged anomalous purchases of vehicles amounting to P66.55 million. The vehicles were bought by the PGIN through cash advances using the province's share from the tobacco excise tax collection and without pubic biddings. The PGIN officials were provincial treasurer Josephine Calajate; Encarnacion Gaor and Genedine Jambaro of the Office of the Provincial Treasurer; budget officer Evangeline Tabulog; Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chairman and Provincial Planning and Development Office head Engr. Padro Agcaoili; and Eden Batulayan of the Provincial Accounting Office. The committee also unanimously approved Fariñas' motion to subpoena Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos for failing to attend the hearing twice .  Pimentel said under House rules, the panel can summon resource persons who failed to show up. Marcos is on medical leave according to her aides.

MINDANAO MARTIAL LAW BRIEFING: House Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo C. Fariñas (1st District, Ilocos Norte) informs lawmakers during Monday's plenary session that the House will meet as a Committee of the Whole on Wednesday, starting at 9 a. m., to tackle President Duterte’s report on the martial law declaration in Mindanao. Among those invited to brief the lawmakers on the declaration are Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff and incoming Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año, and Department of National Defense (DND) officials. The regular session will be held at 4 p.m. Reps. Edcel Lagman (1st District, Albay) and Antonio Tinio (Party-list, ACT Teachers) expressed their views on the matter. Monday's session was presided by Deputy Speaker and Capiz Second District Rep. Fredenil Castro.

House moves for more protection & comfort for cab passengers

The House committee on transportation, in a bid to address the numerous complaints against taxi drivers, notably their refusal to service commuters and failure to give the amount of fare change, has started discussions on various measures seeking to institutionalize and strengthen the rights of taxi passengers.

Rep. Cesar Sarmiento (Lone District, Catanduanes), committee chairman, lauded the authors of the bills for enumerating the rights to be accorded the commuting public. He said the measures will also address the perennial problems encountered by taxi passengers with taxi drivers.

Discussed by the committee were: House Bill 106 titled, “An Act Establishing the Taxi Passengers’ Rights” authored by Rep. Angelina Tan (4th District, Quezon); HB  758 or the proposed “An Act Providing for the Regulation of Activities of Taxi Drivers and Operators” by Rep. Emmeline Aglipay-Villar (Party-list, DIWA); HB 296 or the proposed “An Act Establishing the Taxi Passengers’ Rights,” by Reps. Horacio Suansing (2nd District, Sultan Kudarat) and Estrellita Suansing (1st District, Nueva Ecija); and HB No. 4433 or the proposed “An Act Penalizing the Charging of Taxi Fares which are Higher than the Official Rates, the Failure to Use the Taxi Meters, or the Refusal to Carry Taxi Passengers Without Cause, to Their Places of Destination”  by Rep. Harlin Neil Abayon III (Party-list, AANGAT TAYO).

Sarmiento said he is exploring the idea of creating a “Bill of Rights” not only for the passengers of taxi but also for other land-based transportation such as bus, Uber, Grab, UV Express, and other land-based public utility vehicles (PUVs).

"We face a very big challenge as far as mobility is concerned and the use of taxi has become a necessity as evidenced by the great number of taxi cabs we see on the roads everyday,” said Sarmiento in describing the reality in the country's transport system.

Sarmiento urged his colleagues ”to do what is necessary to develop our transport system to be the best it can be and to keep our roads safe.”

During the hearing, Tan said her measure, HB 106, seeks to protect the taxi passengers and penalize taxi drivers and operators who commit unscrupulous practices.

She explained that some taxi drivers and operators take advantage of the commuting public’s reliance on taxis in going to their places of destination, devising crooked schemes and even resorting to criminal activities to increase their earnings.

Tan, chairperson of the committee on health, stressed that providing safe and raising the standards of public transportation service will help boost the country’s tourism industry and its economic development in general.

Aglipay-Villar argued that one of the solutions in easing the traffic is to discourage the ownership and use of private vehicles and raise the standards of public transportation, especially the taxi.

Aglipay-Villar said the taxi has gained notoriety among the riding public, citing incidents of “abusive and discourteous taxi drivers who either pick their passengers based on their personal convenience or charge excessive fares without using their taximeters.”

Aglipay-Villar also mentioned there are even passengers who become victims of “hold-up” or mugged by taxi drivers.

She said her HB 758 seeks to enhance the quality of service of the public transportation, especially the taxi, as it will help ease traffic, benefit the commuting public, and generate more income for the taxi drivers and operators in the long run.

Meanwhile, the Suansing lawmakers said their HB 296 seeks to establish transportation service standards for taxi passengers to ensure their safe travel.

They acknowledged that the taxi is the preferred mode of transportation of the general public as it is faster and more convenient compared to other means of public transportation.

Abayon said his HB 4433 seeks to encourage taxi drivers to respect the law.

Among the “Rights of Passengers” enumerated in the different bills are:  (1) Taxi companies should ensure that their taxi drivers wear the prescribed uniform and company identification card (ID) at all times while on duty; (2) Be informed of the plate number of the taxi and emergency numbers by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other concerned government agencies through the prominent display of these information on the side door or in any other conspicuous place within the taxi; (3) Be picked up and transported to their stated destination, regardless of the length of the journey or traffic condition; 4) Be given the exact amount of change; (5) Decide on the orientation of air conditioning and lighting systems inside the taxi; (6) A substitute taxi or to be assisted to procure one in case of mechanical or engine trouble or other similar instances that hinder the continuation of carriage;(7) Require the taxi to have a duly calibrated and sealed fare meter placed where the passenger could easily see it; (8) Require the display of the current Motor Vehicle Inspection Report and posting of a sticker marked “LPG” or “CNG” in clearly visible locations of taxis powered by liquefied petroleum gas or compressed natural gas; and (9) Require the taxis to be equipped with a functioning automatic door lock system which the passenger can open at any time without interference from the driver.

Skeptical with Tondo police station chief testimony

HARRY ROQUE MOVES TO PLACE TONDO PNP 'SECRET CELL' DETAINEES UNDER CHR WITNESS PROTECTION

Deputy Minority Leader and Kabayan Party-List Rep. Harry L. Roque on Tuesday called for the House Committee on Human Rights to place under the Witness Protection Program (WPP) of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) the 12 persons found detained in the secret detention cell in a police station in Tondo.

The lawmaker also made a motion for the 12 detainees to testify in the committee's next hearing.

Roque’s motion as was approved without any objections from the Committee members.

Roque is the author of House Resolution 948, which called for the House of Representatives to investigate in aid of legislation the alleged secret detention facility of the Manila Police District (MPD) Station 1.

During the committee hearing, Roque also grilled MPD Station 1 chief PSupt. Robert Domingo of the need to cover the cell’s entrance with a bookshelf.

"Bakit may takip na bookshelf na movable kung hindi ito secret? Bakit hindi na lang rehas? Para namang mahirap paniwalaan ang sinasabi mo,” Roque said.

“Kung hindi ‘yon secret bakit kailangan pa na i-camouflage mo with the bookshelf. Please do not insult our intelligence,” he added. "Superintendent Domingo, none of what you said is believable.”

Moreover, upon Roque's questioning, MPD chief PCSupt. Joel Coronel aadmitted to the committee that the conditions inside the secret detention cell were “deplorable” and “sub-human.”

"We admit that it's not ideal and not complying with international standards,” Coronel said.

“We would be fools to believe Superintendent Domingo and want to know what’s the PNP doing. I refuse to believe that just because kabaro ninyo, you will cover it up. I would like to believe that with someone like Bato on top and with you as chief of the Manila police, that we have restored professionalism in the police as an institution,” Roque said in reply.

Transcript of Press briefing:  Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez

30 May 2017, 12: 25 p.m.

Villafuerte Hall, South Wing Annex

House of Representatives, Batasan Complex

Quezon City

Q: Sir, first question po, yung mga senador kasi nag-file ng resolution of support for martial law. Is there a similar move here in the House?

A: Bukas pa kami naka-schedule ng Committee of the Whole kung saan ay inimbitahan namin yung mga miyembro ng Executive Department at tingnan natin tomorrow kung ano yung desisyon ng mayorya.

Q: Sir, what do you want to know in the briefing tomorrow?

A: Malinaw naman yung report ng ating Pangulo pero siyempre yung mga miyembro ng Kamara meron ding mga katanungan. Yung mga gustong magtanong, itanong na para maliwanag.

Q: Kayo po, sir, ano pong mga tanong ninyo?

A: Wala na akong tanong. Naitanong ko na yan nung nag-Cabinet meeting sila sa Davao.

Q: I’m sure you are in favor of expanding it to Mindanao kasi yung iba yun ang kinukwestyon eh?

A: Alin?

Q: Bakit daw sa buong Mindanao yung coverage, bakit hindi sa Marawi lang?

A: Alam mo, common sense na although sa Marawi lang yung putukan, e yung terrorism laganap yan sa buong Midnanao. At saka halimbawa, tuloy-tuloy ang bakbakan doon, tumakbo yan sa kabilang probinsya, ang ibig sabihin mag-declare na naman yung Presidente ng martial law doon sa kabilang probinsya. So para namang gago yung Presidente, mayat-maya nagde-declare ng martial law para habulin yung ma terrorist na yun.

Q: Sir, anong chance na magkaroon ng joint session kasi may resolution na nga sa House tapos meron ding ipa-file dito sa….?

A: Pwede yan bago matapos yung 60 days, posible lang.

Q: But to extend na lang?

A: Oo. Kasi malinaw sa constitution eh, na pag matapos yung 60 days at the instance of the President or upon the request of the President pwede siyang mag-request ng extension. Ngayon ang Kongreso naman ay kinakailangang magkaroon ng joint session at pagbobotohan yan—joint voting yan by majority of all members of Congress.

Q: Pero,sir, bakit hindi daw ano, ang contention kasi bakit hindi daw ngayon ang joint session?

A: Eh bakit naman kailangang mag joint session, e wala namang mandato na ganun sa constitution? Di ho ba? Malinaw sa constitution, within 48 hours after declaration of martial law, the President is mandated to submit a report to Congress, personally or in writing. Tapos ang sumunod doon, halimbawa sabihin ng Kongreso na---ay hindi dapat mag-declare ng martial law. So kailangan naming mag-convene, joint session. Pero kung wala naman, wala namang objection, bakit tayo magko-convene?

Q: Sir, pano kung me mag-file ng revocation like in the case of Makabayan, they would file for revocation?

A: Oo, pero hindi naman ibig sabihin mag-file yung isang miyembro, dalawang miyembro ay kailangan mo nang mag-convene. Kailangan majority. Mayorya ang magde-decide kung kailangang mag-convene: majority. Yung sa Senado ganun din. Kasi kahit mag-decide kami na mag-convene, ayaw ng Senado, e walang mangyayari. O mag-decide ang Senado, ayaw din naming, e wala ding mangyayari. Anyway 60 days lang naman yan eh. Maiksi lang yung panahon na yan—60 days. Andami lang kiyaw-kiyaw kasi. Karamihan nagrereklamo hindi naman din taga-Mindanao.

Q: Sir, as a Mindanao lawmaker, would you block any moves from your colleagues here in the House to revoke martial law in Mindanao?

A: Wala namang ganun. Eh halos majority ng mga Mindanao congresmen nagpirma na nga ng ano eh, supporting the declaration of martial law. Alam mo kasi pag taga-roon ka, mapi-feel mo na kailangan talaga at tama yung ginawa nung Presidente. Pagka hindi ka naman taga-roon, taga-rito ka o taga-saan ka, eh tumahimik ka na lang muna. Kasi kami yung…concerned kami doon eh, security namin yun. Alam ninyo hindi natin pwedeng ipikit yung mga mata natin—hindi lamang dito sa Mindanao yan kundi sa buong mundo na yan, yang acts of terrorism.  Kaya tayo naman, yung ating Pangulo ay merong mandato sa constitution na protektahan yung publiko.

Q: Sir sabi po ni Presidente he will only listen to the AFP and the PNP ….?

A: Eh kasi wala namang nakalagay sa constitution na kailangang pakinggan ng Pangulo yung Kongreso.

Q: Sir, isn’t that undermining the power of Congress, a co-equal body….?

A: Hindi, teka muna. Kasi tanungin mo yung Presidente, e talagang…kung ako yung Presidente hindi ako makikinig. Kasi ang dapat makinig kami, di ba? Hindi yung Presidente yung dapat makinig. Basahin mo yung constitution—anong sabi ng constittution? Yung Presidente dapat mag-report sa Congress---siya yung magre-report, kami yung makikinig. Alangan namang siya yung magre-report siya yung makikinig sa amin.

Q: E but you’re also given the power to revoke?

A: Oo. Iba yun ha? Power to revoke. Pag ni-revoke naming, sabi ng constitution obligadong sundin ng Presidente yun. Malinaw yun. Kaya lang pinapahirap natin.

Q: Sir, ang sabi niya po kasi ang magde-desisyon kung kailangan ititigil ay kapag sinabi daw po ng AFP na payapa na, pero….?

A: Eh siyempre manggagaling talaga sa AFP yan at saka sa PNP, sila yung nasa ground eh. Sila yung nakakaalam kung nandun pa yung threat o wala na.

Q: Sir, sa naging briefing sa inyo last week, are you convinced na mai-stabilize nila, magiging peaceful ulit yung situation before the 60 days is over at hindi na kailangan ng extension?

A: Ayaw kong mag-speculate. Mahirap mag-speculate diyan. Kasi alam ninyo yung problema ng terrorism hindi ganun kababaw. Malalim yan, mahirap mag-speculate.

Q: Sir, are you open to extend it beyond 60 days?

A: If necessary.

Q: And sa tingin ninyo ngayon, sa palagay ninyo necessary pa siya, with the humanitarian crisis ….?

A: Eh, wala pa namang 60 days e. Pang-ilang araw pa lang ngayon, 6 days? Wala pa, hindi pa natin masabi.

Q: Sir, would you say if it’s necessary, ano yung parang conditions na kailangan or pwedeng mangyari for you to say na baka nga pwedeng i-extend?

A: Eh huwag muna nating pangunahan yung panahon, hindi pa naman nangyayari eh. Mahirap yung nag-i-speculate tayo. Saka na tayo magdesisyon kung nandun na.

Q: Sir, the Magnificent 7 lawmakers said the President is on the way of becoming a dictator because of his statement saying that only the AFP and the PNP….?

A: Kaya nga hanggang ngayon 7 lang sila e.

Q: So you disagree with the statement that the President is becoming a dictator?

A: I don’t have to disagree with them. They are disagreeing themselves.

Q: Sir, how do you remove the…there’s commentary that the House, Congress is being subservient to the President…?

A: Sinong nagsabi niyan?

Q: Sa social media, me mga commentator….?

A: Mag-congressman na muna sila. Alam mo, ibig bang sabihin na kagaya niyan tama yung ginagawa ng Presidente e pagka sinabi naming tama siya subservient na kami? Di ba napaka-unfair naman na statement na yan. Tingnan natin objectively yung sitwasyon. O, yung mga nagsasabi niyan, punta kayo sa Marawi; tingnan ninyo para maramdaman ninyo kung ano yung, kung gaaano kalalim yung problema doon.

Q: Sir, not one from the Mindanao bloc are disagreeing with the admin on martial law?

A: So far, syempre me mga kasama sa opposition eh hindi naman natin…we cannot expect na papabor sila.

Q: Sir, may manifesto ….na iniiikot ng mga Mindanao congressmen…?

A: Meron, alam ko. Pinapirma ako eh.

Q: And you signed already?

A: Oo.

Q: Kelan, sir, ilalabas yung manifesto?

A: Ay hindi ko alam. Pakitanong kay Cong. Maxie Rodriguez, siya yung nagpapapirma kahapon.

Q: Sir, kanina you mentioned that you raised some questions to the President during the Cabinet meeting, could you share what those concerns were? Ano po yung mga sagot ni Presidente?

A: Ahh, hindi ko maalala eh, hindi ko maalala kung ano yung itinanong ko. Pero kung kasi merong hindi ako satisfied na answer maalala ko yun. Pero mukhang wala namang problema kaya hindi ko maalala.

Q: Sir regarding the joint session, what’s the feel among the congressmen? Pabor ba sila na mag-joint session pa kayo or…?

A: Ahh, hintayin natin yan bukas. Mailman natin yan bukas.

Q: Sir, anong mangyayari bukas? One thing na malinaw sir, of course, committee of the whole, brieifing, may mga invited officials, what else stands to happen?

A: Wala, question and answer lang yan.

Q: Sir, definite na ba na executive session?

A: Oo.

Q: Why is it necessary to hold it in executive session?

A: Eh gusto namin e.

Q: But the interest of the people….to know…?

A: Alam mo merong security concern, so we decide kung kailangan ng executive session o hindi.

Q: Sir, pero di ba in-amend po ni Majo yung motion niya kahapon na initially daw po open muna and then kapag delicate na yung usapan saka na lang isasara yung…tama ho ba?

A: Pwede naman yun. Pwede naman, kaya nag, siya yung ano eh, bukas.

Q: Sir, the Magnificent 7 are saying meron daw kayong itinatago kaya gusto niyo ng executive session, na hindi nyo daw po properly made-defend ang martial law in Mindanao. At saka mawawalan daw sila ng platform to examine?

A: Sila yung nagtatago. Anong kailangang itago mo diyan? Wala ka namang maitatago.

Q: So, sir, you are confident that lawmakers can readily defend the declaration of martial law if needed?

A: Oo naman. At saka kahit sinong tao---punta ka doon sa Mindanao, magtanong ka doon. O, gusto ninyo punta tayo ng Marawi?

Q: Kelan?

A: Pag-break.

Q: Promise?

A: Oo. Sinong sasama? Walang urungan ha? Sige, palista kayo kay Majo.

Q: Promise, sir, ha?

A: Oo, sama tayo.

Q: Sama tayo sir?

A: Oo, palista ka kay Majo.

Q: Promise, sir, ha?

A: Oo, punta tayo. Mag-picnic tayo doon. Doon tayo mag-picnic sa Lake Lanao. Napunta na kayo ng Marawi? Parang Tagaytay, yung weather parang Tagaytay.

Q: Sir ….doon sa joint session di ba nabanggit ninyo kanina, sir, na pwede siyang mangyari before the 60 days is up kung manghingi ng extension. Pero based doon sa resolutions na finile for instance in the Senate saka, I understand yung Makabayan bloc, any chance na pwede siyang ma-take up tomorrow kung magjo-joint session….?

A: Hindi, bukas siyempre unang-una ang take up-in natin yung mga questions ng mga miyembro ng Kamara doon sa members ng Executive branch. And I understand inimbitahan yung Executive Secretary, DND, DILG, tapos yung security adviser yata. So, of course, after nung questioning hindi natin alam kung ano yung decision ng majority.

Q: So pwedeng doon talakayin kung posible yung joint session?

A: Pwede. Pwede.

Q: Sir, purely executive session o may mga parts na pwedeng i-bukas…?

A: Ahh, hindi ko pa alam, tingnan natin tomorrow.

Q: Sir, if ever po ang Senate mag-decide na mag-hold ng joint session, maapektuhan ba ang decision ng Congress?

A: Hindi; we have to decide on our own.

Q: Sir tuloy po ba yung voting  sa tax reform bukas? Coz tomorrow is your last day.

A: Bukas? Hindi ko alam kay Majo—sila yung nakakaalam doon sa floor eh.

Q: Pero to your understanding sir, dapat ba maipasa before mag-break….?

A: If you ask me: Yes. Kasi matagal nang naka-pending yan. Now magso-SONA na naman pagkatapos nung recess, so at least may nangyari man lang. Ano rin yun, additional performance ng House of Representatives. #