Inflation accelerates 6.4% in July

Inflation zoomed to 6.4% in July from 6.1% the month prior with food and transport costs still leading the increase in commodity prices, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Friday. July’s pace is also quicker than 3.7% the same month last year. It falls within the 5.6-6.4% range estimated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilpinas for the period. The latest figure brought the year-to-date average to 4.7%, remaining above the central bank’s 2-4% target for 2022.

JFC disappointed on transport safety board veto

The Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) in the Philippines, composed of seven foreign business groups, joined the Safe Travel Alliance and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in expressing their disappointment over the veto by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. of enrolled House Bill 9030/Senate Bill 1077 that would have created the Philippine Transportation Safety Board (PTSB). In a statement Thursday, August 11, JFC noted that different agencies handle different sectors of transportation with regard to accident investigations. However, the groups said there are limitations on the ability of the investigating agencies to delve deeper and find forensic evidence on the real cause of the accidents or by witnesses of the accidents.

Marcos’ priority bills may face rough sailing even with ‘supermajority’ in Congress

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. may have the support of the “supermajority” in Congress, but this does not guarantee that lawmakers will pass his priority economic bills immediately, analysts said. “Supermajorities can be overwhelming but they may not mean instant passage of laws. What is critical is the public support for the president,” Robert John R. Go, a political science professor at the University of the Philippines (UP), said in a Messenger chat. “A popular president can shepherd Congress to pass priority measures.” 

41 Measures Passed During Duterte Term Lapse Into Law

Forty-one bills passed during the administration of Rodrigo Duterte have lapsed into law last month, according to data released by Malacañang on Aug. 3. Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles noted that Marcos vetoed five measures: the Bulacan Airport City Special Economic Zone, the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel charter, the bill seeking to expand the franchise area of Davao Light and Power Company Inc., the Philippine Transportation Safety Board Act and the measure exempting from income taxation the honoraria, allowances and other financial benefits of persons rendering service during elections.

Senators set for face-off with Palace over vetoes

All 24 senators would be facing off with representatives of the executive department in upcoming meetings of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) in order to prevent a repeat of the successive vetoes of five major bills that were products of hard legislative work, according to Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva. Villanueva told reporters that the senators were invited to attend the Ledac and would be asked to present their priority measures for consideration by Malacañang and to synchronize these with the 19-point agenda of the executive department. All the bills went through deliberations in bicameral conference committees, Villanueva said. Marcos vetoed four of the five bills on grounds that they either reduced revenue or created unnecessary government spending. Of 12 major bills passed by the previous Congress, five were rejected by the President and seven he allowed to lapse into law.

Majority elects officials, members of House committees 

Committees in the House of Representatives started to fill up as the majority started electing members and panel officials during Wednesday’s session. Senior Deputy Majority Floor Leader Rep. Alexander Marcos named the majority lawmakers who would be part of several standing and special committees. Among those nominated were Bohol Third District Rep. Kristine Alexie Tutor as chair of the civil service and professional regulation committee and San Jose del Monte City Rep. Florida Robes as chair of the good government and public accountability.

House sets schedule for 19th Congress’ first regular session

The House of Representatives has adopted House Concurrent Resolution No. 5, setting the calendar for the first regular session of the 19th Congress. The current Session started on 25 July and will adjourn on 1 October. After 23 July 2023, the second regular session of the 19th Congress would start on 24 July, before the second State of the Nation Address (Sona) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

More contagious, evasive ‘Centaurus’ in PH, says DOH

Another emerging Omicron subvariant, given the moniker “Centaurus” in social and mainstream media, has found its way into the country with two individuals in Central Visayas testing positive for the virus, the Department of Health (DOH) announced on Tuesday. Officially named BA.2.75 by the World Health Organization (WHO), it is believed to be more contagious and capable of dodging immune defenses provided by COVID-19 vaccines. Officer in charge Maria Rosario Vergeire of the Department of Health (DOH) said in a media forum that the infected individuals in the Visayas were the first two confirmed cases of BA.2.75, according to the results of the genome sequencing run from July 30 to Aug. 1. “Based on studies, this is more transmissible and more immune evasive than BA.5. But there is no evidence saying that it can cause more severe infections,” Vergeire told reporters.

PBBM appoints new FDA Director General

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has picked his personal physician, Dr. Samuel Zacate, as director-general of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Malacañang announced Wednesday. Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles announced Zacate’s appointment in a Palace press briefing. Zacate is a known public health advocate with years of expertise in medicine and medical consultancy in other government units and offices, including the Public Attorney’s Office, Presidential Security Group Hospital (2009-2022), among others. Cruz-Angeles said the new FDA chief possesses all qualifications to head the agency.

Consider PPP in financing projects, LGUs urged

President Marcos has urged local government units (LGUs) to consider public-private partnership (PPP) as a mode of financing projects for their constituents. He added that digitalization would play a big part in PPP, especially in pushing for economic recovery and digital transformation in the Philippines. Apart from pushing for digitalization, the President emphasized that his administration would also put increased focus on infrastructure, as he noted that several countries have offered their support for his infrastructure program. He also revealed that he had received offers to fund the government’s big-ticket projects, including official development assistance (ODA) and joint ventures.

Bill making birth, death, marriage certificates valid for life lapses into law

A bill that seeks to make birth, death and marriage certificates valid for life lapsed into law Thursday. The law provides for the permanent validity of birth, death and marriage certificates issued, signed, certified or authenticated by the Philippine Statistics Authority and its predecessor, the National Statistics Office. It says that these documents will forever be valid "provided that the document remains intact, readable and still visibly contains the authenticity and security features."

DOTr chief: Libreng Sakay funds set aside up to December

The Department of Budget and Management has finally set aside the budget needed for the government’s Libreng Sakay program to last up to December this year, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista disclosed. Free rides were also given to students on the rail lines ahead of their return to face-to-face classes, though Libreng Sakay for other commuters has since ended on the Metro Rail Transit-Line 3. On Wednesday, Vice President Sara Duterte launched her office's Peak Hours Augmentation Bus Service Libreng Sakay Program. Under the OVP initiative, two buses will be deployed in Metro Manila, one in Davao City, one in Cebu and one in Bacolod. 

Makati to roll out electric buses next year

The city government of Makati will roll out electric buses as part of the P724-million public transportation master plan it is developing with the South Korean government, Mayor Abby Binay announced yesterday. Binay signed an agreement with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to establish a smart public transport system, which is expected to start early next year. The agreement includes the development of a public transport information and communications technology system, pilot operation of an electric vehicle bus service, establishment of EV bus depot and capacity building of officials and personnel. Binay said the public transport system aims to provide affordable means of transportation and mitigate the impacts of climate change by reducing greenhouse emissions once the city’s public utility buses are running on electricity. The local government’s agreement with KOICA involves over P724 million in South Korean state funding.

Economic recovery on track despite slower Q2

THE PHILIPPINE economy will continue to recover “rapidly” this year, although the pace of expansion likely slowed in the second quarter, economists at First Metro Investment Corp. (FMIC) and the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) said. Despite slower growth in the second quarter, FMIC and UA&P economists said Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) will still expand by 6-7% this year. This is slightly lower than the 6.5-7.5% GDP target set by economic managers for 2022. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) will release second-quarter GDP data on Aug. 9. In the first quarter, GDP expanded by 8.3%.

Gov’t likely to hit 57% of targets under PDP this year

THE PHILIPPINE government is likely to achieve over half of its targets under the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) this year. The Statistical Indicators on Philippine Development (StatDev) 2021 report released on Tuesday showed around 56.9% of the 471 indicators showed either a “high” or “medium” likelihood of achieving these goals this year. Based on the report released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), 208 of the 471 indicators have a “high likelihood” of achieving end-of-plan targets in 2022. Sixty indicators had a “medium likelihood” which indicates a target may or may not be achieved. On the other hand, 203 indicators showed a “low likelihood” of meeting the government’s targets. Among the industry sectors that showed high likelihood of achieving their targets are shelter and housing, competitiveness, science and technology, and environment. 

Businessmen forecast 7-8% GDP growth this year

Various business groups remain optimistic about the country’s continued economic growth this year, as envisioned by President Marcos in his first State of the Nation Address recently. Speaking at the Pandesal forum yesterday, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) president George Barcelon said he expects the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) to grow by seven to eight percent this year. Barcelon attributed the optimistic forecast to the continuation of major projects such as Build Build Build as well as the continued remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

DoTr eyes new provincial airports

THE MARCOS administration is looking into developing more provincial airports, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) said on Wednesday. Transportation Undersecretary for Planning and Project Development Timothy John R. Batan clarified the airport projects in Zamboanga, Dumaguete, Masbate, and Bukidnon “are in the pipeline and are still in the early stages of project development.” At present, there are existing airports in Zamboanga City, Dumaguete City, and Masbate City. There is currently no airport in Bukidnon. Last year, Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri said the DoTr is developing a P1.8-billion airport in Barangay Maraymaray in Don Carlos, Bukidnon. “The objective is to make our airports safer and expand their capacity to accommodate more flights and passengers,” Mr. Batan said.