MANILA, Philippines \u2014 The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has completed infrastructure projects in Luzon and the Visayas worth P314.68 million.<\/p>\n
The DPWH said among these projects is the improvement of the pavement of a 3.06-kilometer portion of the Manila-Batangas Road worth P94 million.<\/p>\n
A P78.95-mi llion undertaking enhancing the access road between Sikatuna and Balilihan in Bohol was also finished.<\/p>\n
A 3.5-kilometer stretch of the road was concreted, with a box culvert constructed to serve as drainage during rainy days. Street lights were installed for the safety of motorists.<\/p>\n
The DPWH said it is wrapping up civil works for the upgrade of the Concepcion-La Paz Road in Tarla c, which involves the reconstruction of a 608-meter section of the road. The project is worth P48.46-million.<\/p>\n
Flood control projects w orth P94 million and P48.2 million were constructed in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro and Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya, respectively.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
MANILA, Philippines \u2014 The camp of fugitive Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo Quiboloy has surrendered five of the 19 firearms registered under his name.<\/p>\n
Interio r Secretary Benhur Abalos said Quiboloy\u2019s representatives turned over four handguns and a long firearm.<\/p>\n
\u201cIba-ibang kalibre ito… Sana itong gesture na ito na pakikiisa sa batas ay tuloy-tuloy na,\u201d Abalos said in an interview at Camp Crame.<\/p>\n
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil said the firearms were turned over to the Civil Security Group\u2019s field office in Davao City yesterday morning.<\/p>\n
Marbil said Quiboloy\u2019s representatives promised to surrender the preacher\u2019s remaining firearms.<\/p>\n
Last month, the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) recommended the revocation of Quiboloy\u2019s licenses to own and carry firearms.<\/p>\n
The FEO gave Quiboloy six months to turn over his guns after it revoked his firearms licenses following a review by the police legal service.<\/p>\n
The agency cited a provision under Republic Act 10591 or the\u00a0 Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition, which states that a person can lose his gun license and registration for facing charges punishable with imprisonment of more than two years.<\/p>\n
Quiboloy and five of his followers are facing charges of qualified human trafficking, which carries a penalty of life imprisonment, aside from child sex abuse cases.<\/p>\n
Marbil said Quiboloy, who has arrest warrants from courts in Davao and Pasig, should surrender and face the charges filed against him.<\/p>\n
Sen. Risa Hontiveros welcomed the surrender of five of Quiboloy\u2019s guns, but questioned the \u201ddouble standard\u201d of the FEO for the six-month deadline it gave the pastor\u00a0 to turn over his firearms.<\/p>\n
\u201dUnregistered firearms should be immediately surrendered, (and the owners) not given half a year to comply,\u201d Hontiveros said.<\/p>\n
Quiboloy\u2019s legal counsel Israelito Torreon said the 14 other guns under the preacher\u2019s name were \u201dvalidly disposed of or duly transferred in other people\u2019s names.\u201d<\/p>\n
Torreon said documents related to the transfer of ownership of the guns have been submitted to the FEO. \u2013 \u00a0Marc Jayson Cayabyab<\/p>\n
MANILA, Philippines \u2014 \u00a0Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. called on the Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday to investigate how unnamed people in the Chinese embassy in Manila allegedly recorded a supposed phone conversation between a Chinese diplomat and a top Armed Forces official discussing a so-called new model agreement on rotation and resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea last January.<\/p>\n
He said if proven true, those involved should be expelled from the Philippines for admittedly violating the Anti-Wiretapping Law as well as rules on international relations.<\/p>\n
Teodoro said he doubts the authenticity of the recording \u201cgiven the propensity of the Chinese government to engage in malign information activities.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is what we have to focus on, if this statement is truly from the Chinese embassy and they recorded anyone from the Philippines, then they admit that they violated the Anti-Wiretapping Law of the Republic of the Philippines,\u201d he stressed.<\/p>\n
Teodoro said the Department of National Defense now leaves it up to the DFA to look into the truth of what really happened and if it really happened and if it did, sanctions must be imposed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to find out who is responsible and expel them from the Philippines,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n
On the part of the DND and the military, Teodoro said operational security measures will be strengthened, given the fact that there really is \u201cdisinformation, malign influence and undesirable actions of agents of foreign governments.\u201d<\/p>\n
He announced that necessary steps will be taken to protect the DND, AFP and the Filipino people as he reiterated the statement of the DFA that only the President may enter into any agreement on the West Philippine Sea or any other international matter through the DFA.<\/p>\n
Reports said the allegedly recorded two-minute phone conversation was between an unnamed Chinese diplomat and AFP Western Command (WESCOM) Commander Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos.<\/p>\n
The supposed discussions involved talks on how the RORE missions to Ayungin Shoal, where the BRP Sierra Madre remains beached, can proceed without interference from the China Coast Guard (CCG) or maritime militia vessels through a compromise agreement.<\/p>\n
Carlos is now being accused of claiming that the negotiations had the blessing of Teodoro and National Security Adviser Eduardo A\u00f1o, both of whom have vehemently denied and dismissed as falsehoods that form part of China\u2019s propaganda and effort to cause division among Filipinos.<\/p>\n
Three days after the Chinese embassy tagged him as the one who allegedly negotiated the \u201cnew model\u201d deal that allowed at least one RORE mission to be carried out smoothly on Feb. 2, the AFP said Carlos has gone on personal leave that the military insists has nothing to do with the allegations against him.<\/p>\n
Carlos has been replaced temporarily by Rear Admiral Alfonso Torres, who now commands the WESCOM unit based in Puerto Princesa, Palawan and has jurisdiction over the West Philippine Sea.<\/p>\n
The AFP is yet to issue any statement as to whether or not an investigation will be conducted against Carlos.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the supposed new model deal over Ayungin Shoal is not binding because the WESCOM has no authority to finalize an agreement with other countries without the involvement of the DFA, retired Supreme Court justice Antonio Carpio said.<\/p>\n
Carpio added that the Anti-Wiretapping Law was violated with this recording, unless the AFP official agreed to have the conversation taped.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the Chinese embassy official is entitled to diplomatic immunity, he cannot be prosecuted but he can be expelled as persona non grata,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The United States continues to be alarmed by China\u2019s irresponsible behavior and incidents in the South China Sea.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe continue to monitor what\u2019s happening in the South China Sea, we continue to be alarmed when these incidents happen, whether it be with Philippine vessels or other vessels,\u201d Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said.<\/p>\n
Sen. Risa Hontiveros slammed China\u2019s \u201cinformation warfare\u201d in falsely claiming that the Philippines entered into a new model agreement to manage maritime tension at the West Philippine Sea.\u2013 Pia Lee-Brago, Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Cecilia Suerte Felipe, Daphne Galvez, Evelyn Macaira<\/p>\n
MANILA, Philippines \u2014 \u00a0Granting an across-the-board legislated wage increase for workers nationwide could have an adverse impact, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) cautioned legislators anew.<\/p>\n
A legislated wage hike could displace workers, increase prices of essential commodities and result in a decline in gross domestic product growth, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said yesterday at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.<\/p>\n
Laguesma advised employers nationwide to be prepared to grant salary increases mandated by the different regional tripartite wages and productivity boards (RTWPB).<\/p>\n
Only a few companies might comply with a legislated wage hike, considering that\u00a0a majority of\u00a0companies in the Philippines are micro, small and medium enterprises, he said.<\/p>\n
There is a need to balance workers\u2019 needs and employers\u2019 capacity to grant salary increases, he stressed.<\/p>\n
If workers need pay hikes, Laguesma said employers have the right to get reasonable returns from their investment and the opportunity to expand their business.<\/p>\n
Various labor groups yesterday trooped to Congress to push for the passage of a \u201clong overdue\u201d and \u201cmuch deserved\u201d wage hike amid the soaring prices of commodities.<\/p>\n
Wage hikes granted by RTWPBs are inadequate\u00a0so\u00a0Congress needs to pass pending measures granting legislated wage increases, the groups said.<\/p>\n
Laguesma noted that RTWPBs will now undertake an annual review of existing minimum wage\u00a0rates,\u00a0hence employers must be ready to grant wage adjustments.<\/p>\n
Unlike in other countries,\u00a0the Philippines\u2019 wage fixing system always has an upward trend adjustment,\u00a0he noted.<\/p>\n
The RTWPB in the National Capital Region will start the wage review by May 16, Laguesma said.<\/p>\n
RTWPBs in 10 other regions will start the wage review between July and August, he added.<\/p>\n
After the review, RTWPBs\u00a0are expected\u00a0to issue new wage orders, he noted.<\/p>\n
Labor groups may still file a formal petition for a wage hike even if RTWPBs\u00a0are set\u00a0to conduct an automatic wage review, Laguesma said.<\/p>\n
Nine of 17 RTWPBs nationwide have granted salary increases\u00a0motu propio\u00a0or without\u00a0petition\u00a0for a wage hike, he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, DOLE maintained that the country\u2019s\u00a0employment situation is improving despite the number of jobless Filipinos in March.<\/p>\n
The number of employed Filipinos rose to 96.1 percent in March from 95.3 percent in March 2023, Laguesma said.<\/p>\n
The employment rate went down to 96.1 percent in March from 96.5 percent in February, he admitted.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut in terms of absolute number, the number of employed increased,\u201d he claimed.<\/p>\n
The high number of new entrants to the labor force led to the increase in unemployment numbers, he said.<\/p>\n
There are 407,000 new entrants to the labor force and of that number, about 200,000 found employment and around 200,000 were unemployed, he added.<\/p>\n
The number of underemployed went down, which means that more quality employment is being provided to Filipinos, he noted.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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