Bishop dismayed over proposed P13.7 billion RH bill budget for 2012

MANILA, Oct. 10, 2011—Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo was dismayed upon learning the hefty 2012 proposed budget of the Department of Health (DOH) to implement the Reproductive Health (RH) bill.

“I am deeply saddened. The country has more issues we need to address first. Why is there a proposed budget already when the RH bill is still under debate?” asked Pabillo.

This after Sen. Pia Cayetano, one of Senate Bill 2865's authors, admitted during floor debates last Tuesday that the DOH had asked for P13.7 billion to implement the RH bill next year.

Filipinos were surprised when they learned of the new figure which was in contrast to what Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman stated months ago.

“We have been checking around with eligible authorities on the adequate budget on the implementation of RH bill, and they are talking about in the vicinity of 3 billion.”

“Why don’t they just help people in need especially now?” said Pabillo, referring to victims of recent typhoons Pedring and Quiel which swept the country, while packing relief goods bound for Nueva Ecija. (CBCP for Life)

Jinggoy to P’Noy: prosecute media killings in the country

MANILA, October 9, 2011-Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada urged the Aquino administration to run after perpetrators of media killings in a recent Malacañang pronouncement of a relentless campaign of going against corrupt government officials.

Estrada said that President Aquino personally announced that the government intends to file numerous charges before the end of the year in relation to the uncovered anomalies and graft practices of the past administration. “I personally urge our President to also run after and prosecute personalities behind heinous media killings,” Estrada declared.

A 2010 report by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists showing 70 journalists in the Philippines have been murdered since 1992. 93% of these cases were categorized as complete impunity, referring to the status of investigation and meaning no convictions have been obtained. The remaining 7% were categorized with partial justice meaning some but not all of those responsible have been convicted and typically, assassins were convicted but not masterminds.

The report goes on to identify which beats were covered by the victims that is 61% of the victims covered politics, 43% covered corruption stories, and 23% covered crime stories.

Estrada who is the principal author of the measure said that the bill amends Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code to include another attendant circumstance – i.e. when the victim is a member of broadcast or print media – for a crime to qualify as murder.

Currently, murder is a capital offense punishable with reclusion perpetua to death.

The Senate is scheduled to continue plenary deliberations on Senate Bill 455 which classifies killing of media members in the exercise of their duty as a crime of murder.

Estrada explained that the passage of the bill is upholding the constitutionally-guaranteed right to press freedom. This will act, at the very least, as a deterrent against assault to the so-called Fourth Estate. Further, this will empower the media to perform their sworn duties without fear and with utmost responsibility. (Jason de Asis)

Estrada to investigate probe of Keppel Shipyard tragedy

MANILA, October 9, 2011-Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada who is also chair of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development and the joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Labor and Employment urged the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to conduct a thorough investigation into the “tragedy” of the Keppel Shipyard at Subic, Zambales where at least six workers were killed and many others were injured after a huge, tons-heavy steel platform in the area collapsed.

Reports revealed that the elevated platform was being used as a bridge by the workers repairing M/V Tombarra, a 22,650-ton container ship, at the drydock of Subic Shipyard and Engineering Inc., an enterprise managed by Singapore's Keppel Shipyard Limited in Barangay Cawag which is part of a special economic zone. Keppel is said to be engaged in ship repair and conversion, shipbuilding and offshore engineering.

Estrada declared that we must leave no stone unturned in examining all the circumstances behind this horrible incident as well as all the factors that might have contributed to it, and in ultimately determining if there was any lapse in the overall ensuring of safety measures in the said workplace.

“Even though there are claims that Keppel has been given high marks in safety checks done by authorities especially the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), and that the company is said to be taking full responsibility for the incident and is already investigating this through its safety department,” Estrada said.

Estrada personally made a site inspection on the premises of another shipyard in Subic, Korean shipbuilding firm Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction (HHIC), after a spate of incidents there that caused the death of several Filipino workers in 2009.

Through the said inspection and the overall scrutiny into the incidents, several lapses in and direct violations of safety measures at the Hanjin shipyard were discovered.

Estrada reiterated his calls on DOLE to conduct its own thorough investigation of the Keppel incident, come up with a detailed report of it at the soonest time possible and ensure that all the victims will be completely attended to.

The senator also expressed his sincere sympathies to the families and loved ones of the affected workers in the said tragedy. (Jason de Asis)

Cop engaged of selling carnapped motorbikes in Nueva Ecija

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, October 8, 2011-Police Superintendent Edgar Alan Okubo, chief of the provincial public safety company revealed that a Nueva Ecija policeman has been linked to the rampant sale of carnapped motorcycles in the province following the arrest of one of the suspects Wednesday.

“A policeman from Gapan police was involved, whose name has been withheld surfaced with the arrest on Wednesday afternoon of Louie Ramos, 27, of 142 Barangay Sumacab Norte in this city,” Okubo said, adding that Ramos has been engaged in the sale of motorcycle carnapped in various places in the province.

The PPSC has set up an entrapment operation where an order for one motorcycle was placed to Ramos to deliver one to a policeman posing as buyer.

When Ramos came, he was immediately placed under arrest.  

Okubo said that Ramos, under tactical interrogation revealed that he ordered the carnapped motorcycles from the Gapan policeman, who he pays P17,000 for every motorcycle delivered to him.

Okubo said they are at present following up on information given by Ramos linking several personalities involved in the syndicated crime group. 

“We also recovered a motorcycle purchased from Ramos by one Fred Padre Jr. of Guimba, Nueva Ecija and we are expecting to make arrests of other personalities engaged in the syndicate,” Okubo ended. (Jason de Asis)

COA unearths anomalous transaction by Nueva Ecija DENR

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, October 8, 2011-The Commission on Audit has unearthed an anomaly at the office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Nueva Ecija involving the renting by the office of a service vehicle from a private person which was later found to be the son-in-law of the provincial environment and natural resources officer (PENRO).

The supposed anomaly was contained in a letter of State Auditor Mario Vicencio, COA supervising auditor to Dr. Rafael Otic, the DENR provincial chief. The report adopted the findings submitted to Vicencio by audit team leader Armando Veron which found irregularities in the rental agreement entered into by the DENR represented by Otic and a certain Aurea Corpuz over the motor vehicle supposedly owned by the latter.

Documents showed that Otic forged the agreement with Corpuz in August which ran up to December 2010 in which DENR would rent the vehicle at a cost of P550,000 or P110,000 per month.

The COA report said that the transaction was irregular because no public bidding was made for the transaction in violation of Section 10 of Republic Act 9184 considering that the total contract cost was P550,000. It added that the mode by which the vehicle was rented was unclear because the bids and awards committee (BAC) did not convene for this purpose but that Otic just approved the abstract of quotation, and there were no documents indicating that the rented vehicle was actually used such as trip tickets.

Also, the payments for the rented vehicle were split into two checks issued on the same day on December 29,2010 amounting to P204,600 and P306,900, respectively.

The COA said splitting of payment is prohibited under COA circular 76-41 dated July 30, 1976. It added that the rental cost of P110,000 per month was “quite excessive,” with the payment charged to the Upland Development Program/Pampanga River Basin accounts, a fund intended for reforestation projects.

The COA said the agreement supposedly covered the five-month period from August to December 2010 but that it was only notarized in 2011. Worse, it was found out per Land Transportation Office records that it was registered in the name of Mark Andrew Celis Ardieta, a son-in-law of Otic, and not Corpuz.

“This is contrary to Republic Act 6173 or the Code of Conduct and ethical Standards for Government Officials which prohibits conflict of interest and RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act,” the audit report said.

When asked to comment on the audit findings, the accountant said she cannot disobey the instruction of her superior, referring to Otic.

The report asked the DENR central and regional offices to conduct its own investigation on the irregularities in the rental agreement which, it said, is inimical to public interest.                 

The rental service agreement, which the COA described as “highly irregular,” was just one of several anomalies uncovered by the state auditing agency which also includes lack of public bidding, non-compliance with auditing procedures and nursery projects which have been stopped due to lack of back-up funds, resulting in wastage of money and resources.

The COA added that a review of several purchases not subjected to public bidding showed that the BAC was not performing its functions, resulting in procedural deficiencies and lack of required attached documents such as BAC resolution recommending award, abstract of bids, notice of award and acknowledgement receipts. (Jason de Asis)

Pangilinan bats LGUs for regular barangay-based typhoon drills

MANILA, October 7, 2011-After surveying flooded areas and conducting relief goods operation in Pampanga and Bulacan, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Foods Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan urges the Local Government Units (LGUs) and other disaster agencies to include typhoon drills as part of their efforts in disaster preparedness and mitigation.

Pangilinan said that as a means to strengthen disaster preparedness and educate our citizens on the necessity of evacuation operations and procedure during times of typhoons, LGUs and Regional Disaster Coordinating Councils should undertake typhoon drills on a regular basis.

“Our schools and offices undertake earthquake drills regularly even if we have earthquakes perhaps once or twice a year, yet we do not have typhoon drills despite the fact that we have 20 typhoons hitting the country yearly,” Pangilinan said.

Pangilinan said that local officials and rescue workers say that when typhoons Pedring and Quiel hit, most homeowners refused to leave their property despite early warnings of flooding. This prompted a debate on whether the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) should use forced evacuation procedures in such cases, saying that typhoon drills would address this concern as this will give the public the necessary information.

He added that disaster preparedness is the best way to ensure that lives are saved, and death and injuries brought down to a minimum.

“After conferring with local officials in Pampanga, Bulacan, AFP and PNP, we see this drill as an effective way to educate and enlighten our citizens on the issue,” Pangilinan explained. (Jason de Asis)

Trillanes lauded country’s 94 contingent student athletes

MANILA, October 7, 2011-In the recent concluded 26th Summer Universiade held in Shenzhen, China Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV has sponsored Senate Resolution 579 commending the Filipino student athletes who competed in the  World University Games which is an international biennial sports event with 10,603 participants from 151 countries and regions competing in 306 events from 24 different sports.

“Our country sent a 94-member contingent led by the Federation of School Sports Association (FESSAP), which is the sole local university sports organization being recognized by the International University Sports Federation (FISU),” Trillanes said.

The Philippine delegation competed against well-funded teams in nine various sports such as swimming, men’s basketball, table tennis, taekwondo, badminton, chess, archery, beach volleyball, and athletics from August 12 to 23, 2011.

“Unhampered by their limited budget and other constraints, our student athletes competed with much enthusiasm and perseverance despite not receiving any official support from the Philippine Sports Commission,” Trillanes said.

In his sponsorship speech, Trillanes said that despite this misfortune, our athletes gave a good fight and demonstrated the true meaning of sportsmanship.  They displayed the pride of true Filipino athletes.  In fact, a 21-year-old student from the Far Eastern University, Samuel Thomas Harper Morrisson, bagged a silver medal in taekwondo.

“Our young athletes deserve not only our support and attention, but also our recognition of the dedication and sacrifices that they have shown in pursuit of glory and honor for our country. Let us take this opportunity to recognize them with the commendation of this august chamber and make up for the Philippine Sports Commission’s lack of financial and moral support for them,” Trillanes urged his colleagues in the Senate.

Prior to this, Trillanes slammed the PSC for its failure to provide support for the Philippine delegation to the Summer Universiade and the dragon boat competition in the United States. (Jason de Asis)

Anti-Apeco groups seek ‘ally’ in Senate

ANTIPOLO City, October 6, 2011—Anti-APECO [Aurora-Pacific Economic Zone and Free Port] groups are seeking “allies” in the Senate that would help them scrap an “onerous” project.

In a statement, Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) Vice Chair Salvador France said that they had been expecting the senators, excluding Edgardo Angara of course, about the issue and review the project which they believe will just “bastardize” the waters and land of Aurora and the nearby provinces, and will evict the thousands of fisher folks and peasants from their lands.

“The upper house has 23 senators, but so far none has open his or her big mouth to oppose this death certificate to Aurora people and environment authored by one of their peers—Senator Edgardo Angara. We are still hoping that in the coming days, a few good men in the Senate will rise above the occasion and tell the world that Apeco should be junked,” France said.

The Senate, France says, should take interest of investigating one of their colleagues, Sen. Edgardo J. Angara, Sr. as they are interested in grilling public officials involved in graft and corruption.

Last Monday, October 3, Pamalakaya and other members of Resist Apeco! Defend Aurora Movement staged three-in-one protest—planking, swimming and floating off Manila Bay beside the seawall of the Philippine Senate to demand senators to cross party lines and investigate the Angara clan.

“The people of Aurora and the collective interest of the Filipino people hereby order the Philippine Senate to kick off a full-blown investigation on the role of Angaras in Apeco. It is politically, legally and morally correct to put Sen.Angara in the spotlight of people’s inquiry,” the groups said in a joint statement.

They press for the exclusion of the P 332.5 million budget for Apeco in the General Appropriations Act of 2012 and the thorough review of the Republic Act 10083 which has created the free port authority in 2008. Interestingly, the said law was also drafted and pushed by no other than by the father and son tandem.

“We would like to inform this August chamber that Senator Angara and other members of the Angara political dynasty in cahoots with their stooges in Apeco board are behind the anti-people and anti-environment project. And that we demand that Senator Angara should be censured for calling His Excellency, Most Reverend Bishop Rolando Tria Tirona of the Prelature of Infanta as [an] "absentee bishop" of Aurora province and that the Pamalakaya as front of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) for their strong opposition against Apeco,” they said.

For his part, Pamana vice chairperson and AMGL regional council leader Elmer Dayson said the Senate should conduct a thorough investigation on the P 2-billion funds spent for Apeco from 2007 to 2010.

“The ruling Angara dynasty and the Apeco authority should explain to the public how they spent 2 billion pesos of the taxpaying public in the name of a highly questionable and extremely anti-people and anti-environment project. The senators should step in and discover the underworld operation of the Angaras in Casiguran, Aurora,” said Dayson. [Noel Sales Barcelona/CBCPNews)

Central Luzon police still on search and rescue operations

Police Chief Superintendent Edgardo T.
Ladao, Regional Director PRO3
while conducting search and rescue
operations in inundated barangays
of Calumpit, Bulacan.

CAMP OLIVAS, San Fernando City, Pampanga, October 6, 2011-Due to incessant rains being dumped by typhoons Pedring and Quiel, the Central Luzon police led by Police Chief Superintendent Edgardo T. Ladao continue in the search and rescue operations along the flooded-stricken towns of Calumpit and Hagonoy, Bulacan and Apalit, Candaba and San Simon, Pampanga.

Ladao said that rescue and retrieval operations started as floodwaters began to rise-up raging from waist deep to 10 feet high particularly barangays from San Miguel, Sta Lucia, all of Calumpit, Bulacan and barangays from Sucad and San Pedro, all of Pampanga. 

Amid the strong water current, PNP Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel equipped with rubber boats were able to rescue a total of 22,146 families stranded from their inundated homes. Residents staying from their rooftops who refused to leave their personal belongings due to fear of burglars were persuaded to evacuate to a safer place.

The elements of RPSB3 while conducting rescue
and retrieval operation along Brgy. San Miguel and
 Sta. Lucia, Calumpit Bulacan

“Our cops were deployed in the region to conduct SAR operations to different provinces affected by the typhoons. Augmentation troops from Police Regional Office 4A were also deployed to flood-affected barangays,” Ladao said, explaining that he directed the SAR Team to conduct search and rescue operations for stranded families particularly on still-inaccessible areas.

“I also sent additional PNP personnel to thwart criminal elements especially looters and profiteers who may take advantage of the situation,” Ladao said. (Jason de Asis)   

P’noy inspected damages of typhoons in Central Luzon

BALER, Aurora, October 6, 2011-President Aquino personally visited and assessed the extent of damages battered by typhoons Pedring and Quiel in the most affected provinces of Tarlac, Pampanga and Bulacan.

Aquino inspected La Paz town section of the Rio Chico river and met with Public Works secretary Rogelio Singson, Tarlac Governor Victor Yap, Tarlac 3^rd district representative Jeci Lapus and La Paz Mayor Michael Manuel at the 246m Rio Chico Bridge.

Heavy siltation of the Rio Chico river is reportedly the main cause of flooding in La Paz that displaced thousands of families and most of the town went unpassable to all types of land vehicles along Romulo highway, Camiling-Bayombong-Pangasinan Sawat section, Lapaz-Zaragosa section, Victoria-Guimba road and Calibungan section; thus, President Aquino ordered Singson to draw a concrete rehabilitation plan for the river to avoid severe flooding in the future.

Aquino then proceeded to the municipal plaza of La Paz and visited some 59 families still evacuated therein. Hundreds of families coming from barangays San Isidro and San Roque sought shelter in the plaza in the height of last week’s floods.

P’noy also proceeded to Pampanga, and visited the site of the ongoing Pinatubo Hazard Urgent Mitigation Project Phase 3-B (PHUMP 3-B) in Barangay San Felipe in the San Fernando City.

Governor Lilia Pineda briefed Aquino regarding the status of the Pampanga river while City of San Fernando Mayor Oscar Rodriguez presented the status of PHUMP 3-B.

Rodriguez said that the PHUMP 3-B is a flood control project that serves as a line of defense for the City of San Fernando and nearby towns against flooding.

A P20 million  fund was committed by Aquino for the dredging, slope protection and rehabilitation of the Balimbing creek which is a waterway than when overflowed inundates many barangays in the City of San Fernando as well as offered assistance in the relocation of informal settlers along the Pampanga river.

The president also inspected some of the flooded areas in Calumpit, Bulacan aboard a 6x6 Philippine Army truck and visited around 80 families evacuated in the United Pulp and Paper Company compound in Barangay Iba Este.

Aquino then motored to the Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center in Malolos City and attended the joint meeting of the Regional Development Council 3 (RDC 3) and Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council 3 (RDRRMC 3).

Some cabinet secretaries also participated in the said meeting. Among those who attended include Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Singson, Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo, Health Secretary Enrique Ona, Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Sonny Coloma and Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ricky Carandang.

RDC 3 and RDRRMC 3 members reported to the President the post-Pedring and Quiel recovery and rehabilitation efforts being done in Region 3 and the situation of more than 1,721,122 victims of typhoons.

The Department of Agriculture reported to P’Noy that more than P12 billion pesos of damages has brought by the typhoons. DA undersecretary Antonio Fieta revealed that the biggest damage was in Palay amounting to P11 billion, P221 million damage in high value crops like fruits and vegetables, P3.3 million in livestock and P4 million in fisheries.

Fieta said that a total of 6.5 million metric tons in Palay will be harvested in central Luzon but due to the typhoons it is now gone.

Among the casualties in region 3 reported are 30 death toll, 5 missing and 10 injured brought by typhoons.

Prior to this, Northern Luzon Command chief Major General Jessie Dellosa, OCD Region 3 Director Josefina Timoteo and Central Luzon police region 3 operation and plans division chief Col Amador Corpuz conducted areal survey to the most affected stricken-typhoon in the region.

Dellosa immediately provided air and water assets for rescue and relief operations. The concept adopted by the office of civil defense with the NOLCOM was 1^st priority is rescue then relief operations in the provinces of Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Bulacan, Zambales and Pampanga. (Jason de Asis)  

P150M in savings for government as 12 embassies & consulates abroad shut down

MANILA, October 5, 2011-Senator Franklin Drilon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee yesterday said that a total of P150 million annually could become savings on the part of the government as twelve embassies and consulates abroad are facing closure.

“While there would be savings particularly from maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) and allowances of officials, the fund would be “realigned” to other foreign posts that need more resources,” Drilon said explaining that they do not intend to ask DFA to undertake a retrenchment program. What they are asking them to do is to realign these funds to countries where they need them because of the overseas Filipinos.

He said that they will not reduce the budget as a result of this closure but they have asked Secretary del Rosario to deploy the manpower and resources to areas where assistance to the overseas Filipino workers would be needed.

“The savings will not be returned to the National Treasury,” Drilon said.

There are 67 embassies and 23 consular offices and four missions to international organizations abroad.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario, however, declined to specify the embassies or consular offices that would be affected, saying President Benigno Aquino III has yet to approve their recommendations.

Drilon said that the DFA has recommended the closure of 12 posts in two years, or until 2013. But Drilon said the DFA should accelerate the rationalization program and have it done next year in a budget hearing of the DFA’s proposed P10.9 billion outlay for 2012.

Del Rosario said that they are looking at shutting down six foreign posts by first or second quarter next year and another six by middle of next year.

Drilon said to DFA officials that it is for our national interest that we have a better availability of our limited resources.

Drilon said that while the government’s rationalization plan would have political and diplomatic implications, national interest should be our prime consideration, adding that no foreign policy is altruistic in character. Foreign policies should always be for the benefit of the nation promulgating the foreign policy. In this particular case, it is to our national interest that we rationalize our presence abroad because of our situation, economically, and the need for consular services to OFWs. (Jason de Asis)

1 killed in shootout, 3 members arrested by Aurora cops

BALER, Aurora, October 4, 2011-A top official in this town reported that the leader of holdupper group here was killed in a shootout and three among them were nabbed by Aurora police force after a series of intelligence buildup and follow up operation.

Major Edgardo Togonon said that the encounter sprung at about 3:00 in the afternoon (September 29, 2011), were the joint team of Baler police, Aurora provincial police and Aurora provincial public safety company who proceeded to the reported hide-out cottage of prison escapee Marlito Angara y Bitong at Sitio Calipatan, Barangay Reserva.

“The suspects Roberto Francia Jr, together with Marlito, Jaycee Padua alias Black, and five (5) John Does who were heavily armed suddenly opened fire at the approaching team,” Togonon said.

The police warned the suspects for cease fire but was ignored by the group of Angara that prompted the team for the exchange of fire.

After more or less five (5) minutes of firefights, Marlito was left dead by his group members, Roberto Francia Jr alias Barurot, Jaycee Padua and five (5) John Does managed to escape.

Aurora PNP Crime Laboratory Office led by Police Chief Inspector Arman O. de Vera processed the crime scene.

The police recovered from Marlito’s possession one (1) hand grenade and one (1) .38 Armscor revolver caliber with serial nr 985011.  

On the same day, after 30 minutes of follow-up operation by the authorities at around 5:00 o’clock in the afternoon, suspect Roberto Francia Jr. alias “BARUROT” was intercepted by elements of Dipaculao cops who served as blocking force.

Francia was properly turned over to Baler Municipal Police Station for proper disposition.

Togonon said that the group of Marlito is also the suspect in AURELCO Robbery Case, Hernandez Robbery with Rape Case and other sensational cases that transpired in Central Aurora.

“This is the effort of the Aurora police force intelligence buildup and we will continue our mission to stop these lawless elements,” Togonon said.

As of this report the police authorities are still on manhunt operation to the other suspects at large while suspects Edgar Estabillo y Sauy, Soriano, and Francia were already in jail. (Jason de Asis)

Villar bats penalties for overpricing among businessmen

MANILA, October 3, 2011-Senator Manny Villar, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade and Commerce has filed Senate Bill number 1306 which prohibits price gouging or the charging of unconscionably excessive price for certain goods and services in areas affected by major disasters, saying that this measure will penalize businessmen taking advantage of disaster-stricken customers by jacking up prices of essential goods.

Villar said that a law must be enacted penalizing such acts in order to prevent unscrupulous party from taking advantage of consumers during calamities, citing the province of Bulacan where bottled water was sold as high as P140 per bottle affected by Typhoon Pedring.

“The bill prohibits the price gouging of good, piece of equipment, or service provided primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, including food, water, ice, a chemical, a building supply, a tool, a petroleum product, a residential construction, reconstruction, or repair service, or a service for the removal of debris or garbage,” Villar said.

No supplier shall provide, or offer to provide, any consumer good or service in an affected area at an excessive price during the 180-day period after the declaration of a major disaster by the President, under the bill.

“Violation of this act means prison term of not more than one year plus a fine of P10,000,” Villar noted, explaining that prices of goods tend to rise during periods of disasters but reminded businessmen and parties within the chain of distribution of consumer goods to consider the interest of the public and heed the call to treat customers fairly in times of need.

“Kung dadagdagan pa natin ang paghihirap ng mga mamamayan na nasalanta ng bagyo o anumang kalamidad sa pamamagitan ng mataas na presyo ng bilihin, mas lalo pa nating pinabibigat ang sitwasyon at pinapahirap ang kanilang pag-ahon, ” Villar said.

The act also mandates the establishment of a toll-free hotline that a consumer may call to report an incidence of price gouging in the affected area and a program to develop and to distribute to the public informational materials in Filipino and English to assist residents of the affected area in detecting and avoiding price gouging.

“It also directs the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to submit a yearly report to Congress on the number of price gouging complaints and investigations initiated, in progress and completed on price gouging,” Villar said. (Jason de Asis)