Sunday 4 January 2015

PIA News Dispatch - Sunday, January 4, 2015

Palace hopeful Congress will pass all its priority bills this year

The Palace on Sunday said it is hopeful that the Senate and the House of Congress will pass all its priority bills this year.

"Umaasa ang pamahalaan na hindi bababa sa 18 sa 29 na priority legislative agenda na inihain ng Pangulo at ng administrasyon sa Kongreso noong nakaraang taon ang pormal na maipapasa ng Senado at ng Kamara," said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., in a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

Coloma was quoting Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) Secretary Manuel Mamba, who coordinates with both the Senate and the Lower House regarding the President's priority bills.

"Isa sa mga panukalang batas na ito ang Bangsamoro Basic Law na siyang magbibigay daan upang maitatag ang Bangsamoro Transitional Assembly bago idaos ang halalan para sa mga opisyal ng Bangsamoro Political Entity sa taong 2016," said Coloma.

The Aquino administration is also proposing to amend some existing laws.

This includes the laws on Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT), Road Right of Way for the infrastructure projects, and the shipping industry's Cabotage.

"Ibig din ng pamahalaan na ganap na maisabatas ang Rationalization of Fiscal Incentives, Rationalization of the Mining Fiscal Regime, Tax Incentives Management and Transparency Act, Antitrust Act, National Land Use Act, at ang Strategic Trade Management Act," Coloma added.

According to Secretary Mamba, the government is prioritizing the passing of the Customs Modernization Act which is included in the fiscal reform package, said Coloma.

The government is also proposing for the enactment into law of the designation of the Philippine maritime zone, and archipelagic sea lanes, plus the delineation of specific forest limits of public domain.

"Nais din ng pamahalaan na palakasin ang sistemang panghustisya ng bansa sa pamamagitan ng pagsasabatas ng Whistleblowers Protection Act at ang pagpapatatag ng Witness Protection Program," he added.

Part of the PLLO's priority list is the Act Protecting the Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, Freedom of Information Act, proposal to proclaim as alienable and disposable land a part of Bantayan Island in Cebu, that will be used as resettlement site for those affected by Typhoon ‘Yolanda. PND (ag)


Government ready to assist Filipino seamen involved in the sunken Bahaman cargo ship

The government is ready to help the Filipino seamen involved in the sunken Bahaman cargo ship off the coast of Vietnam, a Palace official said on Sunday.

"Nakahanda naman pong tumulong ang ating pamahalaan sa bawat paraan na nararapat para po makabigay ng kalinga sa kanila at sa kanilang mga pamilya. Kailangan lang pong mabatid kung ano ang sitwasyon ngayon dahil wala pa po tayong update," said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., in a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

According to reports, the cargo vessel Bulk Jupiter sank Friday en route from Malaysia to China. It was reported that the ship has an all Filipino crew.

Coloma added that the Philippine Embassy in Vietnam is still carefully gathering more information about the incident before the Department of Foreign Affairs issues a statement. PND (ag)


Palace defends MRT, LRT fare hike

The Palace on Sunday defended the fare hike on the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 and the Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2.

In a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., said the government is just implementing the 'user pay' principle under Philippine Development Plan for 2011 to 2016.

"Dapat ang gumagamit ng serbisyo ay magbabayad ng malaking bahagi ng kanilang biyahe at ito na nga po ang ipinupunto rin na ang tuwirang nakikinabang lamang sa serbisyong ito ay ang mga naninirahan sa National Capital Region at hindi naman po ang buong populasyon ng ating bansa,"

"Kaya ito pong pagbabago sa singil sa MRT/LRT ay paglalagay lang po sa tamang kaayusan ng ating patakaran sa pagsingil at pagsasaayos ng resources na ginagamit para patuloy na mapahusay ang serbisyo para dito," he said.

Coloma added that the last fare increase was made over ten years ago.

"Yon pong last fare increase ay sa LRT-1 na 2003 pa isinagawa. Ang sa LRT-2 naman ay hindi po naitaas simula ‘nung nag-umpisa ito. Sa MRT-3 hindi lang ‘hindi itinaas,’ ibinaba pa mula sa orihinal na singil na 17 pesos to 34 pesos in 1999. Binabaan pa po ito doon sa range na 12 pesos to 20 pesos in 2000, at sa kasalukuyan, mas mababa pa dahil ang range ng singil sa MRT-3 ay 10 to 15 pesos lamang," said Coloma.


"At ang pagkaantala o pagkabinbin ng desisyon na itapat ang fare adjustment doon sa operating cost ay balakid doon sa pagkakaroon ng investment sa large-scale improvement sa mga pasilidad, katulad nga ‘nung acquisition of new train coaches na isinagawa lang sa kasalukuyang administrasyon," he added. PND (ag)