PBBM vows inclusion, empowerment of PWDs

MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has assured persons with disabilities (PWDs) of his administration’s support in ensuring their inclusion and empowerment.

During the conferment rites for the 30th Apolinario Mabini Awards at the Heroes Hall of Malacañan Palace in Manila on Tuesday, Marcos called on the concerned government agencies to address the present challenges faced by the PWDs.

Marcos emphasized the need to create “bridges of opportunity, empathy, and understanding” for the PWDs in pursuit of a “new Philippines that will leave nobody behind.”

“I trust that the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Health, our local government units, and all our partner agencies shall continue to strengthen our programs and services that encourage PWDs to take part in nation-building,” Marcos said in a speech read by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.

“Continue your various advocacies that reduce prejudice and promote the acceptance and empowerment of our PWDs to eliminate stigma, discrimination, and exclusion.”

He also urged the private sector to create inclusive workspaces that would promote diversity and equality for PWDs and would give them fair employment opportunities.

Launched by the Philippine Foundation for Rehabilitation of the Disabled, Inc. (PFRD) in 1974, the Apolinario Mabini Awards give recognition to individuals, groups, and agencies with outstanding contributions to PWDs.

The President commended the PFRD for promoting measures for the protection and rehabilitation of the disabled, as well as for pushing for equal opportunities for PWDs.

“Through the Apolinario Mabini Awards, you have inspired us to go beyond our perceived limitations, embrace the immense potential within each of us, and foster a more inclusive Philippines,” he said.

Marcos also hailed the awardees for their dedication to advocate for the PWDs and creating a society where disability is not seen as an obstacle.

“The Mabini Awards reminds us that disability does not define a person's worth. Instead, it is a spark for innovation, resilience, and ingenuity that enables people to do better and to do more,” he said.

"I thus thank this year’s Mabini Awardees for breaking down barriers and championing the rights of persons with disabilities. All of you are beacons of hope, lighting the path towards a society that fully embraces all.”

The awards have nine categories – the Organization of Persons With Disabilities Award; Empowerment of Persons With Disabilities Award; Media Advocate Award; Manuel Agcaoili Employer of the Year Award (formerly Employer of the Year Award); Local Government Unit Award; Disability Friendly Establishment Award; Special Recognition Award; Filipino with Disability Award; and Apolinario Mabini Lifetime Achievement Award.

Antonio Llanes Jr. was conferred the Apolinario Mabini Life Achievement Award for his dedication and zeal in promoting the full inclusion of the visually impaired, spanning 29 years.

Llanes pioneered computerassisted training and co-founded Adaptive Technology for the Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired, a non-profit training and servicing facility dedicated to making blind people effective contributors to society through various IT-enabled training programs.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and Pasig City Lone District Representative Roman Romulo both received the Special Recognition Award for championing the rights of PWDs. The award recognized Gatchalian's efforts and leadership in the passage of Republic Act (RA) 11650 or the Inclusive Education Act for Learners with Disabilities and RA 11510 or the Alternative Education System Act. Romulo, on the other hand, was recognized for his initiatives in Congress for the approval of RA 11650.

The Posthumous Special Recognition Award was conferred on Capt. Oscar Taleon, citing his exemplary leadership in uniting the sector as co-founder of AKAP PINOY to give economic and political voice to persons with disabilities.

The Filipino with Disability Award was conferred on Jose Go Ranola, who was honored for establishing a construction company and demonstrating competence as an entrepreneur and a businessman despite being blind.

The Organization of Persons with Disabilities Award was given to the Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines, Inc. (DSAPI), while the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Award was conferred on SM Cares Program on Disability Affairs.

The Media Advocate Award was presented to "Inklunasyon," the first live-streaming disability-inclusive program in Asia.

Accenture, Inc. (Philippines) received the Manuel Agcaoili Employer of the Year Award for the Large Company Category; Tahanang Walang Hagdanan, Inc. for the Medium Company Category; and Caravan Food Group, Inc. for the Small Company Category.

The Local Government Unit Award was awarded to the Municipality of Carmona, Cavite and Barangay San Lorenzo, Makati City.

SM City Grand Central bagged the Disability-Friendly Establishment Award (Gold Award); Ayala Property Management Corp. and SM Supermalls both received the Bronze Award; and Robinsons Land Corp. was presented the Special Award.

Present during the conferment of awards were PFRD president Edgardo Garcia; Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and his wife Audrey Tan-Zubiri who chairs the 30th Apolinario Mabini Awards; and Jaime Silva, chairperson of the Screening Committee.

PBBM vows to boost MSMEs’ global competitiveness

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has vowed to address the challenges faced by micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to boost their global competitiveness.

During the National MSME Summit 2023 at The Manila Hotel on Tuesday, Marcos emphasized that building a “more robust” MSME sector is key to having a “more resilient, competitive, and prosperous” Philippine economy.

“It is important to note that our MSMEs are one of the steady pillars of the Philippine economy –they comprise more than 99 percent of all our registered businesses and employ more than 5.4 million Filipinos,” Marcos said in a keynote speech read by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.

“If we want to truly transform the Philippine economy and society, we must not only take care of our MSMEs, but also make sure that they are able to grow, flourish, and compete globally.”

Marcos underscored the importance of forging partnerships with different sectors to come up with “viable, effective, and efficient” solutions to the various issues besetting the MSME sector in terms of financial and market access, skills development, and technology adoption.

He urged all the industry players, experts, and government agencies to pursue a “whole-of-society and a whole-of-government approach” for the development of the MSMEs.

“I encourage everyone to keep reaching out and coming together so that we can leverage our respective strengths, expertise, and resources to launch our MSMEs to even greater heights,” Marcos said, noting the need to equip MSMEs with the tools, knowledge, and connections they need to thrive in “modern and dynamic” business environment.

The President also said his administration remains committed to providing MSMEs with digital literacy training and support for diverse e-commerce platforms to ensure their efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness.

“We will sustain our support for enterprises engaged in agribusiness and provide financial aid for further research and development. We will help in expanding access to financing for MSMEs, including the expansion of loan programs, credit guarantee schemes, and the establishment of a credit scoring system to facilitate lending decisions,” he said.

Marcos said the government would work with the private sector to provide mentorship programs and increase the MSMEs’ access to markets and other resources.

He also expressed hope that this year’s summit would unleash the full potential of the small businesses in the country.

“With this in mind, I wish to emphasize the role of this summit in fostering a healthy and conducive environment for the growth and prosperity of MSMEs,” Marcos said.

“Its discussions on building a robust tech startup ecosystem; integrating MSMEs into domestic and global value chains; strengthening the regional innovation and entrepreneurship landscape; and honing the capabilities of our workforce are indeed most welcome.”

In celebration of the MSME Development Week, the National MSME Summit 2023 was organized by the MSME Development Council and supported by the Department

Remulla says PH won’t engage with ICC any longer

MANILA -- Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday said the Philippine government will no longer engage with the International Criminal Court (ICC) following the tribunal's decision to reject the Philippines' appeal on the continuation of the investigation into the alleged excesses of the last administration's drug war.

"Hindi na tayo makikipag-usap sa kanila (We will no longer talk to them). What they will be doing will be usurpation of public functions," Remulla said referring to the ICC. He said the government's appeal with the ICC was merely part of the policy of comity between nations and does not mean the government is submitting to the tribunal's jurisdiction.

Remulla added that while the tribunal has no power of compulsion if it decides to issue arrest warrants in the Philippines, it may be prudent for those named in the ICC case not to go to countries where the ICC may have power to enforce an arrest.

"My advise is [for those named in the ICC case] not to go to countries where the ICC will be able to influence the judicial system. ‘Wag kayo pupunta sa lugar na maaring makialam ang ICC. Dito, hindi sila pwedeng makialam talaga rito (Don't go to a place where the ICC can interfere. Here, they can't really interfere)," Remulla said adding that these may include European countries.

For his part, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said the question of jurisdiction over the proceedings may still be cited by the individuals who may be investigated by the ICC.

"The gaping hole in the ICC decision was its failure to rule on jurisdiction. The majority [3] did not tackle it, and the minority [2], including the presiding judge took a strong position that the ICC had already lost jurisdiction over the Philippines when the ICC prosecutor sought to commence his investigation. This unresolved issue of jurisdiction will be a powerful argument for any person who may be investigated or charged by the ICC," Guevarra said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said it will take the lead of the national government in dealing with the ICC.

“We will fully support and acknowledge the jurisdiction of the Philippine government as to the nature of the investigation,” PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo told reporters when sought for a comment in a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Wednesday.

Fajardo’s statement was in response to the decision of the ICC to reject Manila's appeal to stop the investigation of the international court into the drug war.

“The Philippine National Police is under the Executive department and we will follow the lead of the national government that there is a question with respect to the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the ICC,” she added.

The PNP was at the forefront of the campaign against illegal drugs wherein more than 6,000 people linked to drug activities died during various police operations under the administration of former President

Rodrigo Duterte.

“As to the extent and nature of cooperation of your national police, we will take the lead on what our national leadership would say, then the PNP will follow,” Fajardo said.

On the part of the PNP, Fajardo said they took the initiative of reviewing the drug war which resulted in the submission of 52 cases of possible police abuses in the campaign against illegal drugs.

These cases involve more than 100 cops across the country.

“When the Department of Justice started its investigation, the PNP cooperated and we provided the DOJ investigators with the necessary documents with respect to the 52 cases that are under investigation,” Fajardo said.

The 52 cases, however, are still under investigation by the PNP although the DOJ has already recommended the filing of charges against some policemen in connection with some of those cases.

Fajardo also assured that all the documents pertaining to the campaign against illegal drugs are with the PNP.

“All the operations from the station to provincial to regional are forwarded particularly at the office of the DIDM (Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management). So if there is really a need to produce these case folders then the PNP is ready to provide if directed to submit,” Fajardo said.

Initial list of 'idle lands' for public housing identified, says DHSUD

MANILA -- The Philippines' housing czar on Thursday said his department has an initial list of possible "idle lands" to build public housing projects on, a day after an order from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. mandating this was publicly released.

Secretary Jerry Acuzar, chief of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), said that his office has conducted initial inventory of suitable lands, but did not disclose additional details.

"Di pa sigurado ang listahan namin kaya di namin mai-divulge, kasi kailangan siguraduhin po namin iyong listahan," he said.

Acuzar also noted that implementing rules and regulations on President Marcos' order, which declared his Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) initiative as his administration's flagship program, were still being crafted.

"In a few weeks' time, baka maging kongkreto na lahat ito," he said.

Finalizing the inventory, Acuzar said, includes coordinating with land agencies on the acquisition of the idle lands for public housing.

Employees of the said agencies may avail of the public housing and may even be given priority, he also said.

"Dapat may coordination po yan eh, para wala kaming problema sa mga agencies. Kasi po yung mga agencies dapat respetuhin din natin kasi sila po ang tunay na may-ari.

Kami po ay humihiling lang na kung pwede ay magkaroon din po ng pabahay para magkaroon po ng lupa," Acuzar added.

(There has to be coordination with the agencies so that we wouldn't run into any problems. We have to respect these agencies because they are the true owners of the land. We are only requesting their lands to be used for public housing.)

Asked what the DHSUD would do if the identified idle lands had informal settlers, Acuzar said these residents will also benefit from public housing without having to leave their settlements.

"Maganda po sa amin, kasi po wala na kaming pag-uusapan. Sisiguraduhin po namin, iyong lupa pong tinitirhan ng mga squatter kung nasaan po ang kinalalagyan nila, pag government land, itatabi po natin sila at doon po mismo sa tabi na iyon, doon din po sila magkakabahay," he added.

Under the 4PH program, the housing department aims to build a million housing units annually under Marcos steps down from office in 2028 in an effort to address the Philippines' housing backlog.

In April, the President said his administration is currently building 1.2 million housing units. Malacañang earlier said in November that 16,000 hectares of idle land may be used for the program.

SC affirms dismissal of forfeiture raps vs. Marcoses, Tantoco

The Supreme Court (SC) has affirmed the 2019 decision of the Sandiganbayan which dismissed the complaint filed by the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) against the family of the late president Ferdinand Marcos and Tantoco family seeking the forfeiture of all properties acquired by them during the Marcos administration.

In the 26-page decision promulgated on March 29 and uploaded on July 18, the SC First Division dismissed the complaint against Bienvenido R. Tantoco Jr.; Ferdinand E. Marcos, substituted by his heirs namely: Imelda R. Marcos, Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Imee Marcos and Irene MarcosAraneta; Bienvenido R. Tantoco Sr., Gliceria R. Tantoco, substituted by Dominador R. Santiago and Maria Lourdes Tantoco-Pineda.

The complaint filed in 1987 alleged that the late president unlawfully withdrew from the National Treasury, the Central Bank and other financial institutions of the country and transferred these funds to various payees.

In particular, the Tantocos and Santiago were alleged to have acted as dummies in the acquisition of various real and personal properties as well as businesses of the Marcoses and obtained unwarranted benefits for themselves and their businesses as a result of their close association.

The Sandiganabyan, in its Sept. 25, 2019 decision said the PCGG failed to prove the allegations of its complaint and dismissed it for insufficiency of evidence.

Among other things, the Sandiganbayan said the PCGG hid documents from the respondents despite several requests and did not produce the same during the proper time.