SR E P REENT A T I S V E PLENARY PROCEEDINGS OF THE 17th … · 2018-11-08 · projected housing shortage. REP. SUAREZ. Ano ho ang mga agency ang under ng HUDCC, Mme. Speaker, Your

RESUMPTION OF SESSION

At 10:00 a.m., the session was resumed with Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo presiding.

THE SPEAKER. The session is resumed.The Majority Leader is recognized.

REP. GONZALES (A.P.). Mme. Speaker, I move that we proceed to the Additional Reference of Business. I so move, Mme. Speaker.

THE SPEAKER. Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.

The Secretary General will please read the Additional Reference of Business.

ADDITIONAL REFERENCE OF BUSINESS

The Secretary General read the following House Bills and Resolution on First Reading, Messages from the Senate, and Committee Report, and the Speaker made the corresponding references:

BILLS ON FIRST READING

House Bill No. 8295, entitled:“AN ACT DECLARING THE TAMBALIZA

ISLAND IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF CONCEPCION, PROVINCE OF ILOILO AS AN ECOTOURISM ZONE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”

By Representative TupasTO THE COMMITTEE ON TOURISM

House Bill No. 8296, entitled:“AN ACT ENHANCING THE CONTINUING

P R O F E S S I O N A L D E V E L O P M E N T O F F I L I P I N O W O R K E R S A N D PROFESSIONALS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1 0 9 1 2 , O T H E RW I S E K N O W N A S THE ‘CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2016’ ”

By Representative Rodriguez (M.)TO THE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER AND

TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL SERVICE AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION

House Bill No. 8297, entitled:“AN ACT GRANTING RETIREMENT,

SURVIVORSHIP, AND OTHER BENEFITS TO THE BRANCH CLERKS OF COURT OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS AND THE CLERKS AND ASSISTANT CLERKS OF COURT OF THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”

By Representative Sy-AlvaradoTO THE COMMITTEE ON JUSTICE

House Bill No. 8298, entitled:“AN ACT GRANTING FREE PARKING

PRIVILEGE TO ALL SENIOR CITIZENS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7432, AS AMENDED, ALSO KNOWN AS THE ‘EXPANDED SENIOR CITIZENS ACT OF 2010’ AND REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7277, AS AMENDED, ALSO KNOWN AS THE ‘MAGNA CARTA FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITY’ ”

By Representative Sy-AlvaradoTO THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON SENIOR

CITIZENS

House Bill No. 8299, entitled:“AN ACT RENEWING THE FRANCHISE

GRANTED TO SKY CABLE CORPORATION (FORMERLY CENTRAL CATV, INC.) UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7969 OR ‘AN ACT GRANTING THE CENTRAL CATV, INC. A FRANCHISE TO ESTABLISH, CONSTRUCT, MAINTAIN AND OPERATE FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES CABLE/COMMUNITY ANTENNAE TELEVISION SYSTEMS IN THE PHILIPPINES’ FOR

Congressional RecordPLENARY PROCEEDINGS OF THE 17th CONGRESS, THIRD REGULAR SESSION

House of Representatives

Vol. 2 Monday, October 1, 2018 No. 23c

1907PHILIPPINES

HOU

SE O

F REPRESENTATIVES

2 Congressional Record • 17th Congress 3RS v.2 MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2018

TWENTY-FIVE (25) YEARS FROM THE EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT”

By Representative CuaTO THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE

FRANCHISES

House Bill No. 8300, entitled:“AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE MOST BASIC

POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS OF THE STATE BY PROVIDING ITS MEMBERS WITH JUST COMPENSATION, AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ‘LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991’, AS AMENDED, AND REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10742, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ‘SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN REFORM ACT OF 2015’ ”

By Representative CuaTO THE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

House Bill No. 8301, entitled:“AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE PROTECTION

OF FINANCIAL CONSUMERS”By Representative Ong (H.)TO THE COMMITTEE ON BANKS AND

FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

House Bill No. 8303, entitled:“AN ACT GRANTING PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIP

TO TANAHASHI HIDEAKI”By Representative BataoilTO THE COMMITTEE ON JUSTICE

RESOLUTION

House Resolution No. 2207, entitled:“ A R E S O L U T I O N D I R E C T I N G T H E

APPROPRIATE COMMITTEE(S) TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE ACTION OF THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA) AGAINST THE DR. FARRAH BUNCH NATURAL MEDICAL CENTER”

By Representatives Bertiz, Belaro, Bravo (A.) and Salon

TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES

MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE

Message dated September 24, 2018, informing the House of Representatives that the Senate on even date passed the following House Bills without amendment:

House Bill No. 1865, entitled:“AN ACT DECLARING MARCH 21 OF

EVERY YEAR A SPECIAL NONWORKING HOLIDAY IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF SAN

FABIAN, PROVINCE OF PANGASINAN, IN COMMEMORATION OF ITS FOUNDING ANNIVERSARY”; and

House Bill No. 2692, entitled:“AN ACT DECLARING OCTOBER 28 OF

EVERY YEAR A SPECIAL NONWORKING HOLIDAY IN THE PROVINCE OF DAVAO OCCIDENTAL IN COMMEMORATION OF ITS FOUNDING ANNIVERSARY.”

TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES

Message dated September 24, 2018, informing the House of Representatives that the Senate on even date passed Senate Bill No. 1574, entitled:“AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE

ENERGY RESEARCH AND POLICY INSTITUTE, DEFINING ITS OBJECTIVES, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”

in which it requests the concurrence of the House of Representatives

TO THE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY

Message dated September 24, 2018, informing the House of Representatives that the Senate on even date passed Senate Bill No. 1976, entitled:“AN ACT TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN THE

PHILIPPINE COCONUT AUTHORITY (PCA), AMENDING PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1468, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ‘REVISED COCONUT INDUSTRY CODE OF 1978, AS AMENDED’ ”

in which it requests the concurrence of the House of Representatives

TO THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ENTERPRISES AND PRIVATIZATION AND THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND FOOD

COMMITTEE REPORT

Report by the Committee on Legislative Franchises (Committee Report No. 878), re H.B. No. 8302, entitled:“AN ACT GRANTING MORE ELECTRIC AND

POWER CORPORATION A FRANCHISE TO ESTABLISH, OPERATE, AND MAINTAIN, FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES AND IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST, A DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR THE CONVEYANCE OF ELECTRIC POWER TO THE END USERS IN THE CITY OF ILOILO, PROVINCE OF ILOILO”

recommending its approval in substitution of House Bill No. 8132

Sponsors: Representatives Alvarez (F.) and TambuntingTO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES

MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2018 17th Congress 3RS v.2 • Congressional Record 3

THE SPEAKER. The Majority Leader is recognized.

SUSPENSION OF SESSION

REP. GONZALES (A.P.). Mme. Speaker, I move for a minute of suspension of the session. I so move.

THE SPEAKER. The session is suspended.

It was 10:02 a.m.


At 10:24 a.m., the session was resumed with Deputy Speaker Sharon S. Garin presiding.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Garin, S.). The session is resumed.

The Majority Leader is recognized.

CONSIDERATION OF H.B. NO. 8169Continuation

PERIOD OF SPONSORSHIP AND DEBATE

REP. GONZALES (A.P.). Mme. Speaker, I move that we resume the consideration of House Bill No. 8169 and direct the Secretary General to read only the title of the measure.

I so move, Mme. Speaker.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Garin, S.). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.

The Secretary General is hereby directed to read only the title of the measure.

THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 8169, entitled: AN ACT APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE OPERATION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES FROM JANUARY ONE TO DECEMBER THIRTY-ONE, TWO THOUSAND AND NINETEEN, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Garin, S.). The Majority Leader is recognized.

HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT COORDINATING COUNCIL

REP. GONZALES (A.P.). Mme. Speaker, I move that we begin the consideration of the budget of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council.




REP. GONZALES (A.P.). Mme. Speaker, I move that we acknowledge the presence of the officials of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, namely: Chairman Eduardo D. Del Rosario, Undersecretary Atty. Falconi Millar, NHA General Manager Marcelino Escalada Jr., Dr. Felixberto Bustos Jr., Commissioner and CEO Lloyd Christopher Lao, and OIC Corazon Corpuz.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Garin, S.). Please rise. Good morning. Welcome to the House of Representatives.


REP. GONZALES (A.P.). Mme. Speaker, I move that we recognize the Hon. Alfred D. Vargas to sponsor the budget and answer questions, if any, on the proposed budget of the agency.



The Honorable Vargas is recognized. Please proceed.

REP. VARGAS. Thank you, Mme. Speaker. I have the honor of presenting the budget of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council or HUDCC for 2019 in the amount of P180,088,000.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Garin, S.). Thank you, Honorable Vargas.


REP. GONZALES (A.P.). Mme. Speaker, I move that we recognize the honorable Minority Leader, Rep. Danilo E. Suarez of the Third District of Quezon for his interpellation.



The Minority Leader is recognized. The Honorable Suarez will please proceed.

REP. SUAREZ. Thank you, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor. Since its organization in 1986, as a policymaking body in terms of housing, may I know the latest number of—ilang Pilipino pa ang wala pang bahay?


REP. VARGAS. Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, the projected housing need between now, 2018, until 2022 is 6.5 million units.

REP. SUAREZ. That is for a growing population?

REP. VARGAS. Yes, including the consideration of the growing population.

REP. SUAREZ. So, where is the mass of this population that does not have housing—is it in the National Capital Region?

REP. VARGAS. That figure is nationwide—Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. What is the major issue, distinguished Sponsor, Mme. Speaker, bakit puro lang bahay?

REP. VARGAS. Well, aside from the population growth, there is also the impact of climate change, therefore, increasing the number of endangered areas and, of course, there is the urban blight, and several other housing concerns that contribute to the 6.5 million projected housing shortage.

REP. SUAREZ. Ano ho ang mga agency ang under ng HUDCC, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor?

REP. VARGAS. The HUDCC was established in 1986 as the main policymaking and coordinating body and under the HUDCC are the key shelter agencies, namely: HLURB, Pag-IBIG Fund or the HDMF, SHFC or Social Housing Finance Corporation, NHA or the National Housing Authority, and two other agencies doing fund mobilization such as Home Guaranty Corporation and National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker.

REP. SUAREZ. Was the HUDCC, distinguished Sponsor, created during the time of the late President Marcos, kasi 1986 ho ito…

REP. VARGAS. After 1986, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. After the revolution.

REP. VARGAS. Yes po.

REP. SUAREZ. Do they have a program of affordable installment—I mean, doon sa mga agencies nito, they build a house and then, mayroong bibili dahil affordable ang installment.

REP. VARGAS. Yes, Your Honor, mayroon po, Mr. Speaker.

REP. SUAREZ. Where are they located, Your Honor?

REP. VARGAS. They are in several locations all across the country, all over the country from the NCR, from Region I up, in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. Is that housing project somewhere in Bulacan, na nagkaroon ng problema, supposedly for the police or the men in uniform, na ayaw yata ng mga pulis kasi malayo and then, may mga settlers na pumunta roon and stayed at that vacated—walang nakatira doon kaya sabi nila, sila ang titira doon, parang ganoon. Iyong mga urban poor, if I am not mistaken.

REP. VARGAS. Yes, Your Honor, you are probably referring to the Kadamay. The NHA was able to get a legal cover by getting the joint resolution by the Senate and the House.

REP. SUAREZ. No, but, okay, so, you dispersed the homeless group, but did the agency commit to do something because they just wanted to have a house of their own?

REP. VARGAS. The current occupants had been inspected already and they appear to be qualified and now, they are the legal occupants in that specific area of the Pandi housing through the joint resolution that the NHA obtained from both Houses of Congress, granting permission to these qualified settlers to occupy the said property.

REP. SUAREZ. Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, having a house is the dream of every Filipino.

REP. VARGAS. That is correct.

REP. SUAREZ. Does the HUDCC—do they own real estate land, et cetera?

REP. VARGAS. The HUDCC is only a coordinating council, but the NHA does land banking to make sure that the housing program or the key shelter program of our government will be sustainable in the short and long run.

REP. SUAREZ. So, there are properties that is owned by this agency under the HUDCC.

REP. VARGAS. Opo. Yes, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. How big are these properties, distinguished Sponsor, Mme. Speaker?


REP. VARGAS. In totality, these are thousands of hectares, but these are found all over the country.

REP. SUAREZ. Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, it is not the business of the government to own land. All lands should be privatized because they are government-owned, you cannot tax them.

REP. VARGAS. The NHA is developing these lands right now.

REP. SUAREZ. Now, the only way it can be taxed is if these are privatized.

REP. VARGAS. Yes, but in the system, once these projects are done, these will be taxed afterwards.

REP. SUAREZ. Well, educate me, distinguished Sponsor—is the NHA paying real estate tax?

REP. VARGAS. There is none.

REP. SUAREZ. That is what I am saying.

REP. VARGAS. There is no real estate tax because it is exempted by law, the socialized housing, meaning, housing below P400,000.

REP. SUAREZ. That is what I am trying to drive at. It is not the business of the government to own real estate or land. Land should be developed so it can be taxed. That is, we patterned it after the Americans—lahat ho na lupa ng gobyerno ay dapat na-federalize, lahat ho ay dapat na-privatize, because that is the only way they can earn money. You cannot earn money if it is owned by the government.

REP. VARGAS. Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, the law mandates the NHA to secure housing and this includes giving land to the poorest 30 percent of the Filipinos.

REP. SUAREZ. Mme. Speaker, I will temporarily suspend my questioning on the proposed budget of the HUDCC as there are other Members who may want to raise questions on the proposed budget.

Thank you.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Garin, S.). Thank you, the Honorable Suarez.



REP. GONZALES (A.P.). Mme. Speaker, on the part of the Majority, I join the motion of the Minority

in moving—Mme. Speaker, I move for a minute suspension of the session.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Garin, S.). The session is suspended.

It was 10:36 a.m.


At 10:36 a.m., the session was resumed.



REP. GONZALES (A.P.). Mme. Speaker, I move that we recognize the honorable Minority Leader, Rep. Danilo E. Suarez to resume with his interpellation.

I so move.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Garin, S.). The Honorable Suarez is recognized. Please proceed.

REP. SUAREZ. Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, thank you for your answer.

REP. VARGAS. Thank you, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. On the part of the Minority, we do not have any more questions on the proposed budget of the HUDCC.



REP. GONZALES (A.P.). Mme. Speaker, on the part of the Majority, I join the motion of the Minority in moving for the termination of the period of interpellation and debate on the proposed budget of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council.



Congratulations! (Applause)The Majority Leader is recognized.


REP. GONZALES (A.P.). Mme. Speaker, I move for a minute suspension of the session.



It was 10:37 a.m.





HOUSING AND LAND USE REGULATORY BOARD

REP. GONZALES (A.P.). Mme. Speaker, I move that we begin the consideration of the budget of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board.




REP. GONZALES (A.P.). Mme. Speaker, may we recognize the Hon. Alfred D. Vargas to sponsor the measure.



REP. VARGAS. Mme. Speaker, I have the honor of presenting the budget of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, otherwise known as the HLURB, for 2019 in the amount of P467,763,000.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Garin, S.). Thank you, the Honorable Vargas.



REP. GONZALES (A.P.). Mme. Speaker, I move for a minute suspension of the session.


It was 10:38 a.m.





REP. GONZALES (A.P.). Mme. Speaker, I move that we recognize the Hon. Danny Suarez.


The Honorable Suarez is recognized. Please proceed.

REP. SUAREZ. Thank you, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor. This HLURB, may I know the mandate of this office, distinguished Sponsor?

REP. VARGAS. Yes, Your Honor. The HLURB is mandated to assist in land-use planning, the regulation of the sale and development of condominium and subdivision projects, and the supervision of homeowners’ associations and adjudication, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker.

REP. SUAREZ. What is the relation between this office and the local government? Let us say that an enterprising company would like to put up a condominium. Ito ho ang ahensiyang nagbibigay ng permit?

REP. VARGAS. Yes, the permits and everything.

REP. SUAREZ. What is its relation to the local government units?

REP. VARGAS. The relationship between the HLURB and the LGUs is very, very integral in terms of the implementation of these projects and in abiding by the Comprehensive Land Use Plan of that specific LGU. So, it is HLURB that makes sure that the CLUP is always followed accordingly, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. When was this HLURB created? Also, the same thing, in 1986?

REP. VARGAS. The same, also in 1986, Mme. Speaker.

REP. SUAREZ. Lahat po ito, distinguished Sponsor, the HLURB, HMDF, SHFC and NHA—lahat ito 1986?


REP. VARGAS. Yes, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker. These are the KSAs, the key shelter agencies.

REP. SUAREZ. Wala po bang redundancy dito o replication o duplication? I am just saying that baka napakaraming ahensiya. Hindi ba natin puwedeng i-simplify na ito sa susunod na taon, pag-usapan na siguro sa mga line agency na …

REP. VARGAS. Actually, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, that is carefully being studied now because we are now in the direction of—these key shelter agencies are very optimistic about having, if Congress approves it, hopefully, a Department of Housing which will address all the concerns that you just mentioned, Mme. Speaker.

REP. SUAREZ. Ang dami, hindi po ba? Baka naman noong na-create ito ay para mabigyan ng trabaho iyong mga political allies, I just suspect.

REP. VARGAS. Well, hopefully, Your Honor, the Department of Housing, if Congress should approve it, will cure all those concerns.

REP. SUAREZ. No, my concern really, Mme. Speaker, is redundancy. Okay, let me ask you—Which will prevail: iyong inaprubahan ho ng HLURB ang paglagay ng isang condominium, let us say, with 50 storeys but then, it was denied by the local government. Ano ho ang mangyayari sa proponent?

REP. VARGAS. The final say will still be from the local government because the local government provides all the other necessary permits and requirements for a condominium.

REP. SUAREZ. So, the local government prevails, Mme. Speaker.

REP. VARGAS. Yes.

REP. SUAREZ. Does the applicant have to pay this agency if they want to build a building or something?

REP. VARGAS. There are certain permits that you have to get first from the HLURB.

REP. SUAREZ. Is the permit dependent on the amount of investment?

REP. VARGAS. Yes, there is a fee for any specific kind of permit.

REP. SUAREZ. So, they earn money, this agency. You know, if it is being paid to this office, then they earn money.

REP. VARGAS. Actually, all the money goes to the National Treasury, Mme. Speaker.

REP. SUAREZ. No, I am just asking how much do they earn? I know it goes to the Treasury but I just would like to find out how much they earn, this HLURB, distinguished Sponsor, Mme. Speaker?

REP. VARGAS. Okay, for 2017, the collection was around P426 million, Mme. Speaker.

REP. SUAREZ. That is practically their budget.

REP. VARGAS. Yes, Mme. Speaker. That is where they get their MOOE and Capital Outlays from.

REP. SUAREZ. Are they retaining some of the collections?

REP. VARGAS. None, Mme. Speaker.

REP. SUAREZ. So, it is being remitted, lahat goes to the Treasury.

REP. VARGAS. Yes, Mme. Speaker.

REP. SUAREZ. Thank you, distinguished Sponsor. Mme. Speaker, this Representation, on the part of the Minority, has no more questions on the proposed budget of the HLURB.



REP. GONZALES (A.P.). Mme. Speaker, on the part of the Majority, I join the motion of the Minority in moving for the termination of the period of interpellation and debate on the proposed budget of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board.



Congratulations! (Applause)

REP. VARGAS. Thank you, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Garin, S.). Majority Leader, before we proceed, let us acknowledge the presence of the HLURB family.


SUSPENSION OF SESSION.

REP. GONZALES (A.P.). Mme. Speaker, may I move for a one-minute suspension of the session.


It was 10:46 a.m.

RESUMPTION OF SESSION.




NATIONAL HOME MORTGAGE FINANCE CORPORATION

REP. GONZALES (A.P.). Mme. Speaker, I move that we begin the consideration of the budget of the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation .




REP. GONZALES (A.P.). Mme. Speaker, I move that we recognize the honorable Minority Leader, Rep. Danilo Suarez of the Third District of Quezon.



Minority Leader Suarez is recognized. Please proceed.

REP. SUAREZ. Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, most of these agencies are interlocking, and I am quite satisfied with the answer of the Sponsor to those questions we asked that are somewhat related to this. So, on behalf of the Minority, Mme. Speaker, we do not have any more questions to raise on the proposed budget of the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation and we would like to terminate the period of interpellation and debate on the proposed budget of the said agency.


THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Garin, S.). The Majority Leader is recognized.

REP. GONZALES (A.P.). Mme. Speaker, on the part of the Majority, I join the motion of the Minority in moving for the termination of the period of interpellation and debate on the proposed budget of the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation.



Congratulations! (Applause)The Majority Leader is recognized.

SOCIAL HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION

REP. GONZALES (A.P.). Mme. Speaker, I move that we begin the consideration of the budget of the Social Housing Finance Corporation.




REP. GONZALES (A.P.). I move that we recognize the Hon. Alfred D. Vargas of the Fifth District of Quezon City to sponsor and answer questions, if any, on the proposed budget of the agency.


The Honorable Vargas is recognized to sponsor.

REP. VARGAS. Mme. Speaker, I have the honor of presenting the budget of Social Housing Finance Corporation or SHFC in the amount of P800 million for 2019.



REP. GONZALES (A.P.). Mme. Speaker, I move that we recognize the honorable Minority Leader, Rep. Danilo Suarez of the Third District of Quezon.



The Honorable Suarez is recognized. Please proceed.


REP. SUAREZ. Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, on the part of the Minority, we do not have any questions to raise on the proposed budget of the Social Housing Finance Corporation. On behalf of the Minority, we terminate the questions on the proposed budget of Social Housing Finance Corporation.




REP. GONZALES (A.P.). Mme. Speaker, on the part of the Majority, I join the motion of the Minority in moving for the termination of the period of interpellation and debate on the proposed budget of the Social Housing Finance Corporation.



Congratulations. (Applause)The Majority Leader is recognized.

HOME GUARANTY CORPORATION

REP. GONZALES (A.P.). Mme. Speaker, I move that we begin the consideration of the budget of the Home Guaranty Corporation. I so move, Mme. Speaker.


The Majority Leader is recognized

REP. GONZALES (A. P.). Mme. Speaker, I move that we recognize the Hon. Alfred D. Vargas of the Fifth District of Quezon City to sponsor and answer questions, if any, on the proposed budget of the agency.



REP. VARGAS. Thank you, Mme. Speaker. I have the honor of presenting the budget of the Home Guaranty Corporation, otherwise known as the HGC, in the amount of P500 million for the year 2019.



REP. GONZALES (A. P.). Mme. Speaker, I move that we recognize the honorable Minority Leader, Rep. Danilo E. Suarez of the Third District of Quezon for his interpellation.


The honorable Minority Leader is recognized. The Honorable Suarez, please proceed.

REP. SUAREZ. Thank you, Mme. Speaker. Distinguished Sponsor, does the Minority have a guarantee that the Sponsor will settle the issue of centralizing all these offices by next year because these are interlocking, halos duplication ho ito.

REP. VARGAS. Yes, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker. I personally agree with you, Mme. Speaker, and this is the direction proposed and this is the direction everybody wants.

REP. SUAREZ. So that they will really come up with a program of compartmentalization, ang ating opisinang ito, ano?


REP. SUAREZ. Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, on the part of the Minority, we do not have any more questions on the proposed budget of the Home Guaranty Corporation. I move to terminate the questioning. I so move, Mme. Speaker.



REP. GONZALES (A.P.). Mme. Speaker, on the part of the Majority I join the motion of the Minority in moving for the termination of the period of interpellation and debate on the proposed budget of the Home Guaranty Corporation.



Congratulations. (Applause)The Majority Leader is recognized.


REP. GONZALES (A.P.). Mme. Speaker, may we request for a minute of suspension of the session.



It was 10:53 a.m.





NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY

REP. GONZALES (A.P.). Mme. Speaker, I move that we begin the consideration of the budget of the National Housing Authority. I so move, Mme. Speaker.



REP. GONZALES (A.P.). Mme. Speaker, I move that we recognize the Hon. Alfred D. Vargas of the Fifth District of Quezon City to sponsor and answer questions, if any, on the proposed budget of the agency.

I so move.


The Honorable Vargas is recognized.

REP. VARGAS. Thank you, Mme. Speaker. I have the honor of presenting the budget of the National Housing Authority for 2019 in the amount of P360, 208,000.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Garin, S.). Thank you.


REP. GONZALES (A.P.). Mme. Speaker, I move that we recognize the Hon. Arlene D. Brosas of the GABRIELA Party-List for her interpellation.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Garin, S.). The Honorable Brosas is recognized. Please proceed.

REP. BROSAS. Thank you, Mme. Speaker. Will the good Sponsor yield to a few questions?

REP. VARGAS. Gladly, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker.

REP. BROSAS. Thank you. Mme. Speaker, despite getting a P2.9-billion budget cut, hindi naman pala tumigil ang pagpasok ng pera sa ahensiya dahil sa mga joint ventures na ginagawa ng National Housing Authority. Noong 2017, nakakuha ang NHA ng P158 million from working with private corporations. Bakit mini-maintain ng NHA ang mataas na amortization kung sobra-sobra naman pala ang nakukuha nito from the business ventures, instead of focusing on its mandate to provide affordable housing? It chooses to maintain high collection rates despite an increasingly harsh economic climate. Alam ninyo naman po sa ngayon ay tumataas ang mga bilihin at kung ano-ano pa. Even nga po housing materials, sinabi na natin iyan na nagtaas ang presyo; pagkatapos, maraming mga nangangailangan ng bahay; pagkatapos, mayroon pong kinikita iyong NHA mula sa mga private corporations pero hindi siya makapagbaba ng amortisasyon niya para sa mga mahihirap nating mamamayan.

REP. VARGAS. Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, with reference to the partnerships that the honorable Congresswoman said, all funds from the private sector go to the construction of the houses themselves and regarding the monthly amortization rates, the NHA abides by its mandate to provide low-cost affordable housing. Actually, some of the monthly amortizations can even go as low as only P200 per month for a 30-year period.

REP. BROSAS. Mme. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor, ilang porsiyento po ba iyong nakakapagbayad ng amortisasyon sa National Housing Authority?

REP. VARGAS. The collection rate right now, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, is 38 percent.

REP. BROSAS. So, 38 percent. Magkano po ang ibinabayad nila?

REP. VARGAS. They pay P200 a month, Mme. Speaker.

REP. BROSAS. Malaki-laki po iyong hindi nakakabayad. Ano po iyong mga reasons nila kung bakit hindi sila nakakapagbayad at bakit nag-a-accrue iyong mga charges nila? Pumapatong nang pumapatong ang mga charges sa kanila.

REP. VARGAS. Basically, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, the NHA caters to the poorest of the poor of the Filipinos and the simple reason is that hindi lang po talaga makapagbayad, even the P200 which, if you divide it on a daily basis is only P6.06. At the same time, I personally—it is a housing concern, we have a very big housing concern in my district in Quezon City


as a whole. When you visit some of the communities under the housing program also, some people still have vices like smoking, so, ginagastos din nila po sa iba iyong kanila pong pera. Siguro, this 38-percent collection rate can be explained by, of course, not only the macroeconomics but the microeconomic behavior of the beneficiaries. But the NHA is determined to pursue a higher collection rate because we can use the collection to build more houses, future housing units for the poor.

REP. BROSAS. Mme. Speaker, G. Isponsor, ang tanong ko po ay tungkol sa 6 percent annual interest. Ang binabanggit po ninyo ay iyong collection ninyo na 38 percent. Hindi po ba ang reason ay mayroon pa kayong 1 to 2 percent monthly penalty charge para doon sa mga hindi nagbabayad? Hindi po ba ang reason ay sa third demand notice ninyo, you will only accept 50 percent of the delayed payment at kapag hindi makapagbayad ay hindi ninyo i-a-accept ito? Kaya po nababaon nang nababaon sa utang iyong mga unit owners dahil kaya nila sigurong magbayad ng installment, pero kapag sinabi ninyo na kailangan bayaran 50 percent agad noong bayarin, hindi na sila makapagbayad. So, ito pong 1 to 2 percent monthly penalty charge at saka iyong kailangan mong magbayad ng 50 percent payment kaagad sa third demand notice, hindi po ba may kinalaman ito sa hindi kakayanang magbayad ng ating mga unit owners?

REP. VARGAS. Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, yes, the 1 to 2 percent penalty is supposed to be—the 1 percent is supposed to encourage payment from the beneficiary. The good news is that the 6 percent as committed by the General Manager of the NHA, the NHA will be proposing that the 6 percent be lowered to just 3 percent to address that special concern of yours, para po mas makatulong po sa mga mahihirap at para mas maibsan ang bigat po ng kanilang pagbabayad dito po sa kanilang bahay.

REP. BROSAS. So, Mme. Speaker, mayroon pa po bang ibang moves or mga paraan na ginagawa ngayon ang NHA para dito para matulungan iyong mga mamamayan natin, lalo pa sa ngayon? Hindi ba mas matindi ngayon dahil ang taas ng tubig, kuryente at pati bilihin ay mataas ngayon. Pagkatapos, nananatili tayo doon na 6 percent iyong amortization. Hindi tayo nagbabago, nagbabayad pa rin iyong mga mahihirap nating mamamayan. Hindi tayo flexible, or ano iyong nagagawa natin talaga exactly or concretely para doon sa mahihirap nating mga kababayan na nakatira sa mga sinasabi ninyo na low-cost housing? Baka sila po ay umaalis na lang or binebenta na iyong mga bahay nila kaya ang susunod ko pong tanong ay ilan iyong original awardees talaga na nananatili pa diyan sa NHA housing natin sa ngayon?

REP. VARGAS. Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, one concrete example, specific example is Memorandum Circular No. 2018-023 which sets the guidelines for the implementation of a new socialized and low-cost housing loan restructuring and condonation program. So, basically, the NHA would like or encourages all the beneficiaries who have a payment backlog or concerns to go personally and directly to the NHA para po ma-discuss iyong mga record nila at kung ano po iyong mga puwedeng gawin. So, ito po ay isang opportunity kasi it has to be on an individual or per unit basis so that the NHA and the other party, the beneficiaries, can agree on something and the NHA can pursue its mandate in developing or granting low-cost socialized housing to these poor families po.

REP. BROSAS. Yes, Mme. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor. Kung mayroong ganitong paraan para matulungan iyong mga mahihirap nating mamamayan na magkaroon ng loan restructuring program, hindi po ba mababaon din lang sila dito dahil kung maglo-loan restructuring program, mas matagal iyong panahon ng pagbabayad nila. Fair po ba sa kanila ang paraan na ito kung dadagdagan iyong panahon nila ng pagbayad ng utang lalo?

REP. VARGAS. Well, there is also the condonation component here in this Memorandum Circular po.

REP. BROSAS. So, basically, tanggal iyong lahat ng arrears, iyong utang nila over the years, pagkatapos ay magkakaroon ng pagbabago ng pagbabayad muli ng utang.

REP. VARGAS. Yes, that is right, Your Honor, but, again, I would like to stress that it has to be on a personal and individual level because the situation is always case-to-case.

REP. BROSAS. So, maaari pong sagutin ninyo categorically na kapag mag-restructure ng loan, mag-loan restructuring tayo, maaaring mas matagal o mas mahal pa iyong bayaran ng mga unit owner natin?

REP. VARGAS. Only the principal amount will be restructured, Your Honor.

REP. BROSAS. So, basically po, Mme. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor, magkano sa taya ninyo o sa estimate ninyo ang amount na babayaran sa isang regular, ano?

REP. VARGAS. Since it is condoned, all the penalties and surcharges will be waived.

REP. BROSAS. Mme. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor, wala akong problema sa condonation. It is very good. Ang


gusto po natin ay iyong makakabayad sila at wala nang iisipin kasi matatanggal iyong kanilang mga utang, pero kung magreresulta po ito sa mas lalo pang pagkabaon nila sa utang dahil hindi pala nila kakayanin na bayaran iyong principal or iyong loan ulit sa susunod, hindi ba parang another layer na naman iyon sa kanila? The condonation is good at wala po tayong pagtatalo doon. Iyong gusto po nating malaman, affordable ba talaga ito sa mga mahihirap natin sa kasalukuyan at paano ito titiyakin ng NHA na affordable?

REP. VARGAS. Well, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, the P200 per month is very much affordable, but if you restructure the principal, the NHA guarantees that it will be done in such a way na magiging pinakamagaan doon po sa mga pinakamahihirap din. Just to point out another concern, when the condonation was offered, only 12 percent applied for the condonation and so, parang hindi rin interesado for them to really pursue ownership and 100 percent payment of their own titled land or unit.

REP. BROSAS. Only 12 percent lang po?

REP. VARGAS. Iyong nag-apply po, opo.

REP. BROSAS. So, 12 percent. Baka wala pa pong information dissemination kasi kung malalaman po nila iyong part ng condonation doon, malaking bagay po iyon sa mga mahihirap natin.

REP. VARGAS. Yes. It can be an issue of effective communication to the poor, to which our GM agreed and which he will address immediately.

REP. BROSAS. Yes, Mme. Speaker. Ipinagtataka ko lang kasi pangarap ng mga tao na magkaroon ng sariling bahay.

REP. VARGAS. Yes po.

REP. BROSAS. Even ngayon nga sinasabi natin na ang laki-laki ng housing backlog ng ating bansa, ang gusto ng mga tao ay mayroon silang safety shelter at kung anu-ano pa. Dapat nga po sinabi ko ito sa HUDCC kanina bilang policymaking body, na iyong primary nilang trabaho na shelter for Filipinos, para doon sa mga mahihirap, hindi po iyon nagawa noong nakaraan, iyong mandato po ng HUDCC, dahil sa kasalukuyan ay napakalaki pa rin ng housing backlog natin. Hindi ba? So, hindi po ako naniniwala na aabot lang ng 12 percent ang gusto mag-avail kung iyan ay talagang magbebenipisyo para sa mahihirap nating kababayan. REP. VARGAS. Yes, so do I. I share the same sentiment with you, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker.

REP. BROSAS. Mme. Speaker, balikan ko lang iyong tanong ko. Ilan na po iyong residents na original awardees talaga? Alam ninyo naman po ang problema natin sa NHA, marami po tayong problema sa NHA. Mayroon po iyong mga sinasabi na ang mga dating residente na nandoon, ibinenta nila ang mga bahay nila kaya iba na ang mga nakatira doon. Ilan po talaga exactly iyong awardees natin?

REP. VARGAS. Eighty percent of them are still the awardees.

REP. BROSAS. So, sa lahat po, as of last na na-check ninyo, 80 percent ay mga awardees pa natin.

REP. VARGAS. Yes po, 80 percent, Your Honor.

REP. BROSAS. Next ko pong tanong—siguro maganda pong maisa-isa natin iyong mga issue ng informal settlers.

Kaugnay po ito sa Tondo. Mme. Speaker, ang tanong ko po, sa Vitas, Tondo, kamusta na po iyong isyu ng foreshore area kung saan nananawagan ang mga tao na iyong Executive Order No. 1086 na nagsasabi na: “FIXING THE BOUNDARIES OF THE RECLAIMED AREA OF THE VITAS IN THE TONDO FORESHORE AND TRANSFERRING TO THE NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY THE TITLE AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF SAID AREA.”

Sinasabi po ninyo na magkakaroon ng demolisyon sa temporary housing dito. Ilan po iyong maaapektuhan? Saan po planong ilipat sila? Ano po ang take ng mga tao dito sa area na ito? At kung mayroong proyekto o mayroong joint venture na ginagawa, anong kumpanya o korporasyon po ang narito?

REP. VARGAS. Okay. Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, there are 5,000 families who are affected by the said project in Vitas Happyland temporary housing which consists of 33 buildings, which housing was condemned by the local government of Manila already, stating it as nonlivable and not safe for its inhabitants. These 5,000 families will be relocated as follows: Naic, Cavite– 700 units; Pleasant Hills, Bulacan—540 units; and Camarin, Caloocan–1,000 units. The ones who will not be included in these settlement locations will be given the option to choose among the three further—rest assured that the NHA has provided enough units for all the 5,000 informal settler families affected here in Vitas Happyland temporary housing.

REP. BROSAS. Napansin ko po, Mme. Speaker, G. Isponsor, ang mga relocation areas na sinasabi ninyo ay masyadong malayo doon sa area na tinitirahan nila sa kasalukuyan. Wala po bang option na in-city or onsite


development ang NHA sa kasalukuyan para sa Vitas, Tondo?

REP. VARGAS. One of the three options presented a while ago, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, is Camarin, Caloocan which can be considered as in-city relocation site po.

REP. BROSAS. Mme. Speaker, G. Isponsor, sinasabi po natin ito kasi medyo malayo pa rin iyong Camarin kung ang pag-uusapan po natin ay ang working class na nasa mismong area ng Tondo na iyan, sa Vitas, Tondo. In most establishments along the port area stretching from Tondo up to Malabon and Navotas and the commercial area of Divisoria, they have, as employees and workers, people from the Tondo foreshore area, and a considerable number of workers, whoever, are low-income contractuals o agency-hired.

Most of the residents ng Tondo foreshore, na balak po ninyo i-demolish sa Vitas, ay mga scavenger, sidewalk vendor, public transport—jeepney, tricycle and pedicab—drivers. Kaya po noong nakaraan sa pre-plenary, sinabi ko na po ito, na tingnan muna natin iyong socio-economic status ng mga tao, na huwag po muna natin silang itapon sa mga lugar kung saan hindi naman nila kakayaning mabuhay. Kahit po sino, iyong pangangailangan ng mga tao ng tirahan, napaka-basic po niyan, pero iyon pong tanggalin mo po sila sa tirahan nila at ilagay mo sila sa ibang lugar na walang pagkakakitaan, napaka-inhumane po noon. Kaya iyon po ang sinasabi namin—nagbigay po kayo ng notice of demolition pero hindi kinokonsidera na marami po doon ay hindi alam kung saan sila pupunta, hindi ba? Kung pupunta po sila sa Camarin, kung pupunta sila sa Cavite, masyado pong malayo iyon. Kahit po sino, hindi ito kakayanin ng isang scavenger, isang sidewalk vendor, isang pedicab driver—hindi po sasapat.

REP. VARGAS. Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, while I agree to the issues raised by the honorable Representative, the 700 and the 500 and the 1,000 informal settlers—these beneficiaries had already agreed. So, if you minus that from the 5,000, there is still a handful who have not yet decided if they are willing to live there or not. One reason, of course, admittedly is the availability of land here in the Metro area, as the land here is very expensive. If we discuss this in terms of land economics, it would be impossible for the NHA to implement its mandate of providing low-cost housing and we can also take into consideration that it was the LGU that re-zoned and condemned this particular housing project. The NHA is just trying to do its job, but we admit that the enormity of the housing problem that we have cannot just be solved by a one-dimension housing approach because in terms of housing for a successful housing project to be implemented, like you

said, we should always consider a multi-dimensional, a multi-pronged approach such as socio-economic viability and land economics and many other factors. For example, to address the distance, the distance does not only mean the number of meters from the city center. Distance can also mean time. For example, you are able to develop a good transport system that is integrated with the whole housing project, with the specific housing project on a holistic approach which the NHA is mandated. Anyway, we would address those concerns and maybe later on, after a few years, people from Naic and Pleasant Hills, Bulacan can also feel, in the same distance, the livelihood opportunities, et cetera. The sad part here in this budget, and I have been defending this budget for the past three years, is that the housing budget is only 0.07 percent of the whole budget pie. So, I lament this, but together with you, the honorable Representative from GABRIELA and hopefully, we as an august Body can, by next year or in the future, increase the budget for the housing sector.

REP BROSAS. Mme. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor, totoo po iyon. You can lament with me all you want pero ang kalagayan po talaga sa ibaba, nagpapakita na kailangan na nating tulungan ang mga mamamayan natin sa Vitas, Tondo.

REP. VARGAS. Yes.

REP. BROSAS. In fact, the residents are wondering why the NHA is fast-tracking the displacement of the urban poor who are already settling in the property owned and administered by the NHA. They fear that their fate would be similar to what happened to the residents of the Quezon City North Triangle area where the urban poor settling in the NHA property, their houses were demolished to prioritize the construction of malls, hotels and other revenue-generating projects for the government. Para sa kanila, iyong so-called progress noon, para sa mga mahihirap natin, sila iyong nata-transfer, nare-relocate, sila iyong ngayon lacking basic services at malayo sa source of living. Ito po ang dapat nating ayusin. Hindi po makakatulong kung ang pina-fast track natin ang demolition pero wala pa pala tayong malinaw na paglalagyan sa mga tao.

REP. VARGAS. Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, the main reason for this demolition to proceed—after the LGU condemned these, and that is the main reason, the fate of this project was determined by the safety and security issues. Meaning, these 33 buildings were already condemned and the safety was already questionable. For example, with only a magnitude 3 earthquake, these buildings will crumble, and we do not want the urban poor of Manila to suffer just because of


structural defects or old-age architectural or engineering challenges that these buildings were facing.

REP. BROSAS. Mme. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor, hindi naman ito pinipili na sudden death ba o slow death, ano, kasi ganoon din iyong mangyayari sa kanila kapag tinanggal mo sila kung saan sila nagtatrabaho. Wala silang ipapakain sa pamilya nila, at paano iyong pag-aaral ng mga anak nila—napakarami po, ano, ang mga kakailanganin, at iyon po ang mga sinasabi natin. They have been living there for years, actually, 20 years, ano po.

REP. VARGAS. Yes, that is correct.

REP. BROSAS. Ganoon na po katagal. Ang ibig sabihin, over the years, alam na nila at kailangan tulungan natin sila kung ano talaga iyong options na favorable sa kanila, which is in-city or onsite. Iyon po ang sinasabi natin.

REP. VARGAS. Yes, Your Honor. Like I said, there are a number who have already agreed and they found themselves amenable to these three locations, and it will be up to the NHA to further pursue dialogues and talks for the remaining almost 2000 plus, to 2700 families. It is guaranteed by the NHA, hindi po sila mamumuwersa sa mga pamilya na ayaw po sa mga lugar na ito at continuous po ang dialogue and the NHA is committed to serve the lower 30 percent of the poorest of the poor of our country.

REP. BROSAS. Yes. Mme. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor, maganda po iyong magkaroon pa ng further dialogues and talks with the people kasi iyon po talaga ang dapat na ginagawa natin, ano, hindi iyong forcibly na i-evict iyong mga tao. Kaya tumutugon lang sila dahil sinabi sa kanila or dahil there is a piece of paper na nagtatakda na ang bahay nila ay soon to be demolished, so, ngayon, iyong pangamba, para sa kanila, dagdag pa po iyon. Actually, wala na nga silang oportunidad para sa trabaho, mawawalan pa sila ng bahay at kung anu-ano pa. Man-made po lahat iyon, hindi naman iyon kalamidad na ginawa ng nature. Man-made po lahat kaya, actually, this can be resolved kung talagang pinu-pursue o ginagawa ng NHA ang mandato niya na tulungan iyong pinakamahihirap nating mamamayan.

Now, I will go to the next, ano po, ito naman ang issue ng Catmon, Malabon, Madam Speaker, Mr. Sponsor.

REP. VARGAS. Sorry. May I ask the question again, Mme. Speaker? Sorry po. What is the question?

REP. BROSAS. Wala pa po.

REP. VARGAS. Wala pa pala. Okay.

REP. BROSAS. Mme. Speaker, G. Isponsor, the next question is about the issue in Catmon, Malabon. Ito po iyong may threat din ng demolition. Bakit ko po iniisa-isa? Dahil sinabi po sa atin na hindi magde-demolish kung walang relokasyon, et cetera, pero ngayon po, ang lumalabas ay iyong sa Vitas, Tondo ay mayroong demolition notice; iyong sa Catmon, Malabon, mayroon; iyong Manggahan po ay nagkaroon na ng demolition; at marami pa pong iba, tulad sa Caloocan, at mayroon mga iba pang mga areas. Meanwhile, itong Catmon, Malabon, ang kanila pong issue ay tungkol sa Sitio 6, sa urban poor community sa Dagat-Dagatan Lagoon, ito po iyong adjacent areas dito. Sila po ay may threat ng demolition mula sa private claimants, land-grabbing syndicates, pati na rin sa local government units. Sinasabi ng mga tao dito na hindi naibibigay iyong basic services sa kanila katulad ng water and electricity, at may mga syndicates and unscrupulous individuals who operate in the area for the provision of the said services, leaving the residents with no other option but to succumb to their devious schemes. Halimbawa, iyong mga water pumps, ang mga costs nito ay tumataas dahil walang ibang option ang mga tao dahil walang tubig at kuryente ang nilagay ng pamahalaan. So, iyong LGU ay gusto na magkaroon ng CMP or Community Mortgage Program, pero iyong mga residents, ayaw nila na CMP ang pamamaraan and so, they are asking for an on-site comprehensive program ng housing. Ano po ba ang plano dito ng NHA at paano po kayo makakatulong dito?

REP. VARGAS. There are 26 CMP projects which originated from the NGOs na malapit po doon. In the LGUs in Malabon, within Barangay Catmon, only 9 out of 26 are in Sitio Catmon, which is the one you were referring to, Your Honor, where recalcitrant members of the CMP, who are Kadamay members, wanted to stop the CMP implementation as they are advocating for free mass housing. So, in terms of CMP, this is a dialogue under the domain of the Social Housing Finance Corporation. I agree with you, if there is a disagreement, then we have to talk further and open the lines for dialogue because for me, social preparation is the most important, and the community agreement therein or internal is very, very important. Kasi parang lumalabas po dito, Your Honor, like you said, na mayroon po talagang deadlock. There are people na—mayroong CMP-side, so they say, “Let us go for CMP,” but there are those not anymore at the CMP-side, and they say, “Just give us the house. We want free mass housing for us.” Since the land is private, that is not within the jurisdiction of the NHA anymore po.


REP. BROSAS. Mme. Speaker, G. Isponsor, Section 9, Article XIII of the 1987 Philippine Constitution explicitly provides that the State shall undertake “a continuing program of urban land reform and housing which will make available at affordable cost decent housing and basic services to underprivileged and homeless citizens in urban centers and resettlement areas.” So, dito po, kapag sinabi ninyo na sila ay recalcitrant members ng Kadamay, at sinasabi po ninyo na sila ay hindi pumapayag sa CMP, there must be reasons kung bakit ayaw nila ito, na sinasabi nila na long- standing na iyong issue, na failed solution iyong CMP. There are portions of the entire Dagat-Dagatan area under the CMP where the program actually failed because of conflicting claims on the land ownership. May mga isyu na ganoon po. So, ang ibig sabihin, may reason po iyong mga tao kung bakit nila ayaw ang CMP now. Kung iyong mismong NHA, hindi rin nila ma-resolve ito, ano, maaari po bang makipag-dialogue sila at kausapin ang mga tao dahil mandato nila naman po iyon na kausapin sila at pakinggan—hindi lang po kausapin para for the sake na sila ay manahimik, kung hindi ang alamin po natin kung bakit ganoon iyong position nila, dahil may reason po kung bakit ganoon iyong position nila.

REP. VARGAS. Yes.

REP. BROSAS. Kung nag-fail ito sa kanila at sa tingin nila ay mayroong method na mas alam nila, since sila po iyong nakatira doon at alam nila ang kailangan nila, pakinggan natin sila kung ano iyong mga suggestion nila para makatulong tayo. Hindi naman po sila mga tao na bigla na lang nagreklamo. Iyong nasa Catmon 6, mayroon silang pino-forward na maaaring bago or hindi pa natin naririnig na mga paraan kung paano ire-resolve ng community ang kanilang kalagayan, dahil hirap din naman sila. In fact, napuntahan ko po ang area na ito at kapag pumapasok ka po dito, puro putik iyong lugar, ano, kasi parang ang pinakadulo nito ay tambakan na ng basura. So, iyong mga tao din po doon, actually ang mga nakatira ay talagang mahihirap—scavengers at kung anu-ano pa. Sila mismo, kahit sa kanila ay may paraan din sila ng pagtutulungan, pero kung ipipilit po natin iyong CMP sa kanila, na inaalok natin, baka kailangan pong i-double check ng NHA muna iyong kalagayan nila.

REP. VARGAS. Yes, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker. The SHFC, NHA and HUDCC will conduct the dialogues that you are suggesting to address this specific problem. In terms of giving free housing, there is no contention there, as we want to give free housing to the poorest of the poor Filipinos because we believe

that no Filipino deserves to live in a low quality house, to live illegally, et cetera. The NHA believes that, since it is a corporation, it cannot dole out free housing because that will be opposite to its mandate as a GOCC, but we think, regarding NHA position, that free housing can still be given or pursued through the DSWD—puwede po iyon. Kapag NHA iyan, it will be naman that the NHA will be remiss in its duties kapag magbigay po ng free housing because it wants sustainability rin to providing low-cost socialized housing.

I think the way to go here, tutal, nagbibigay na rin sila ng HoMa o housing materials and everything, maybe later on, the DSWD can explore even providing free housing to the poorest of the poor. As far as dialogue is concerned, it is tantamount to have that social preparation and for the NHA to open dialogues. Actually, the GM just now committed for the SHFC, the NHA and the HUDCC to come together as partners at pupunta sila po doon sa mga areas na iyan para makipag-dialogue. The three agencies will, hand in hand, help address the issues that you have just raised, Mme. Speaker.

REP. BROSAS. Yes. Mme. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor, iyong pagpunta po ng mga ahensiya doon ay maganda upang malaman nga at marinig kung ano ang hinaing nila, partikular, doon sa Sitio 6, Catmon, Malabon. Noong nakaraan kasi, sila po ay sinugod ng mga forces ng PNP at sila ay pilit na pinapaalis, kaya nagkakaroon pa ng mga issues doon sa kanila. Maganda na malaman kung may mga paglabag na ginawa dahil kahit po iyong mga mahihirap nating mamamayan, they are entitled to their rights. Kung mayroong human rights violations na nangyari, maganda po na malaman ito.

REP. VARGAS. Yes, this Representation agrees with you, Mme. Speaker.

REP. BROSAS. Yes, and, Mme. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor, alam ko po na ang isyu na ito ay hindi lang isyu sa pabahay.

REP. VARGAS. Yes.

REP. BROSAS. More than that, bakit po walang oportunidad iyong mga taong mahihirap doon? Bakit sila hirap sa trabaho? Kapag tiningnan mo ng komprehensibo, ang isyu po talaga ay ang kahirapan, ang matinding kahirapan na kalagayan ng mga mamamayan natin.

REP. VARGAS. Yes.

REP. BROSAS. Malaking bagay po sa kanila kung itong isyu ng bahay ay mase-settle at hindi magtatagal


ang usaping ito. Anyway, iyong sa Catmon, Malabon, sila po ay under demolition din, dahil sila ay binigyan din ng notice of demolition kaya ko po nabanggit ito, ano po. Iyong next ko po ay ang isyu ng East Bank, Manggahan Floodway—now I remember, sorry, Mme. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor, nais ko lang ihabol—iyong pamahalaan natin, the government should do its work para magbigay ng trabaho, magbigay ng oportunidad, at hindi lang po iyon. Halimbawa, ilagay man natin sa DSWD pero babalik ulit tayo na wala silang matitirahan, wala silang pambayad sa—kung rental man sila, wala silang pambayad; kung sa pagkain, kulang ang kanilang pagkain; kung sa health, wala silang pambayad para sa kanilang kalusugan. So, napaka-comprehensive po, ibig sabihin, at dito po sa mga areas na ito ay nagkukulang talaga ang gobyerno natin.

Ang next ko po ay iyong sa East Bank, Manggahan Floodway, Barangay Sta. Lucia, Pasig City. Ito po iyong isyu ng pag-demolish sa kanila noong October 18, 2017, sa pamamagitan ng PNP Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), Batas ng Ciudad Enforcement Office (BCEO), traffic enforcers and Pasig City Engineering employees, numbering to around 200 individuals. Sila po iyong mga nag-demolish ng mga bahay sa Barangay Sta. Lucia, Pasig City, East Bank ng Manggahan Floodway. Nagdala din ng firetruck noong time na iyon. Maaari ko po bang malaman, mayroon po bang pondo ng development ngayon sa East Bank, Manggahan Floodway?

REP. VARGAS. Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, this is the official report: Demolition of the houses at the berm portion of the Manggahan Floodway was conducted sometime in October 2017 by the local government of Pasig as stated by our colleague. Considering that the houses were built on top of the water or in the danger areas. The said clearing was done in compliance with 7279, and the families were relocated to Southville 10, the NHA’s low-rise buildings and the LGU’s medium-rise buildings. Some opted for financial assistance or “Balik Probinsiya,” while other families who qualified for the low-rise building opted to rent and wait for the completion of the building. The LGU provided for P20,000 as financial assistance to the families affected. The demolition of houses at the embankment portion was implemented by the Pasig LGU. The families of demolished structures opted voluntary relocation to Tanay, Rizal to pave way for the widening of road and improvement of the ditch canal which is under their structures. The families were also provided with P20,000 as financial assistance. The LRBs or low-rise buildings I just mentioned are just right across the road, which are near the original location.

REP. BROSAS. Mme. Speaker, G. Isponsor, may listahan po ba kayo ng mga nabigyan ng P22,000 na financial assistance?

REP. VARGAS. The NHA can provide you with the list but the list is with the LGU because it is the LGU that provided for it.

REP. BROSAS. Mme. Speaker, G. Isponsor, puwede po bang makakuha ng kopya ang Kinatawang ito ng bilang?

REP. VARGAS. Yes, Your Honor, puwede po.

REP. BROSAS. Dahil ang report pong nakarating noong nakaraang demolition, ay hindi nakatanggap ang ilan sa mga kababayan natin ng financial assistance.

REP. VARGAS. Yes.

REP. BROSAS. Iyong iba po ay nakataanggap at iyong iba naman ay na-relocate na. Iyon pong na-relocate na doon sa sinasabi ninyong LRBs, ano na po iyong occupation, buo ba, 100 percent bang na-occupy iyong LRBs?

REP. VARGAS. The completed project is already 100-percent occupancy. But, there is still an ongoing project and an ongoing construction.

REP. BROSAS. Mme. Speaker, G. Isponsor, ang tanong ko po ay, iyong 100 percent po na nakatira doon, lahat po ba iyon ay mga na-demolish doon or is there anybody na hindi na-demolish pero nag-avail doon sa LRB na iyon?

REP. VARGAS. Yes, lahat pong taga doon, they are the ones living in the danger areas before. Ito po iyong 100 percent of the occupation rate of the completely implemented project.

REP. BROSAS. Mme. Speaker, G. Isponsor, maaari ko bang makuha iyong kopya, kung mayroon man, kung ilan na iyong mga residents, ilang percent na ano …

REP. VARGAS. Yes.

REP. BROSAS. Hindi po kasi ako pinapasok noong nakaraan diyan nang pumunta ako. Kaya gusto ko pong malaman, kasi even ako, hindi pinapasok doon sa gate kasi natatakot daw sila and everything. Kahit po sinabi kong titingnan ko iyong lugar, itse-check ko ang lugar, at titingnan ko rin iyong mga materyales na ginamit, hindi po ako pinapasok.

REP. VARGAS. Yes.

REP. BROSAS. So, it is for you to note. Actually, may representative na doon ang NHA eh. But, anyway, kaugnay po dito sa housing, gusto ko lang pong sabihin


na hindi po lahat naka-avail. Alam ko po iyon personally because there are people na lumapit po sa atin, lalo na sa opisina ko, na hindi naman nakatanggap ng financial assistance, hindi nailagay sa LRB. So, nasaan po sila ngayon? Hindi nag-avail ng Tanay, iyong iba po ay tumira sa mga areas sa West Bank, nag-renter, nag-space.

Ganoon po iyong nangyari. Kaya po iyong iba sa mga kababayan natin, ang nangyari sa kanila nang paalisin sila doon, wala silang ibang mapuntahan. In fact, kung maaalala po ninyo, pumunta po sila sa Presidente mismo, sa talampakan ng Malacañang para magtayo ng kanilang mga bahay dahil wala po silang ibang mapuntahan. All of the mga bata, mga babies, mga nanay, mga tatay ng mga pamilya, pumunta doon. Kaya po sinasabi ko, hindi pa po tapos iyong problema. Iyong problema po, parang siklo sa atin eh—tatanggalin, aalisin, tapos hindi naman sila naa-absorb or hindi naman talaga nila napupuntahan iyong mga sinasabi ninyong opportunities na iyan.

Mme. Speaker, G. Isponsor, iyong pagtitiyak na matulungan iyong mga kababayan natin sa kanilang kalagayan, actually, ano ito eh, mandate po sa atin ito eh. We are a State party in the 1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights that acknowledges the rights of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing, and housing and to the continuous improvement of living conditions. Kaya po parang nakalulungkot na iyong mga kababayan nating na-demolish diyan sa Manggahan Floodway na hanggang ngayon ay nakikipaglaban para sa kanilang karapatan. In fact, nagdemanda po sila sa United Nations para po malaman na iyong economic, social and cultural rights nila ay tinapakan ng kasalukuyang administration dahil hindi man lang napakinggan kung ano iyong kanilang mga kagustuhan. Sa pagkakaalam ko, there are about 200 families pa iyan na nagtitiyaga hanggang ngayon na mag-rent. Hindi sila makiano sa kanilang kamag-anak dahil they were hoping na iyong parcel of land na iyan, dahil matagal na po silang nakatira diyan, they were hoping na makababalik sila. Pero ngayon, tinayuan na siya ng pader at hindi na po natin alam. Baka pupuwede pong malaman mula sa inyo kung anong proyekto na gagawin dito, at sino po ang may interes sa proyekto dito sa East Bank.

REP. VARGAS. First of all, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, the NHA will provide you with all the lists that you are requesting. Second, these people that you have been talking to, NHA, NHMFC and SHFC, and any of the key shelter agencies are open to have a talk or an open dialogue with them and for verification also, and the good Lady is also invited to all of these, and to other agencies that you might wish to be invited to pursue a dialogue with these fellow Filipinos of ours.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Garin, S.). The Honorable Brosas, just kindly be reminded that you still have eight minutes.

Thank you.

REP. BROSAS. Yes. Thank you, Mme. Speaker. Tumayo ka na po.

Yes, Mme. Speaker, eight minutes pa. Kaya ko iyan.

Thank you, Mme. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Sponsor.

First—last series na po ng questions ko, actually, sa totoo lang po, napakarami po ng resolutions namin that has not been, actually, acted upon kaya kulang po iyong oras talaga para pag-usapan ito. Tapos, kailangan po talaga ng mas maraming panahon kaya humihingi kami ng time sa NHA.

REP. VARGAS. And pondo.

REP. BROSAS. Anyway, these are my questions: Ayon sa COA, walang nakalagay na manpower and equipment list of net financial contracting capacity sa terms of reference of contracts—ito po iyong mga report sa COA. State auditors found anomalies in 28 housing projects worth some P10.62 billion under the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police or PNP housing program. The projects were implemented by you, by the NHA.

Sa recently released 2017 annual audit report, kinuwestyon po ng COA iyong NHA for failing to properly evaluate contractors, thus, awarding contracts to companies with limited capacity na nagha-handle ng big-ticket projects. Pero, and following po, “Developer A,” “Developer C,” ganoon lang iyong sinasabi, tulad nito:

• “Developer A” failed to disclose the cost of the contract and the owners of ongoing projects;

• Documents for 5 AFP and PNP housing, given to “Developer B” were not evaluated; and

• “Developer C” was awarded a project in Bocaue worth P726.4 million and three shelter projects worth P2.141 billion despite having a license that limits it to projects worth P100 million.

This violated provisions of the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board’s allowable ranges of contract costs. So, ito po iyong sa mga projects. Ayon sa COA, walang nakalagay na manpower and equipment list ang net financial contracting capacity sa terms of reference of contracts. Ibig sabihin, pumili ang ahensya ng contractor kahit hindi malinaw kung ang contractor na ito ay may kapasidad ba na matapos ang proyekto sa itinakdang timeframe.

REP. VARGAS. This particular administration


of the NHA does not allow those things to happen and, as a matter of fact, there were already projects that had been ordered for termination, and the NHA issued a notice of termination. For example, for low-rise buildings, terminated – 2; for Yolanda – 20; and for community facilities – 1, for a total of 22, with order of termination, with notice of termination, that is a total already of 36; with mutual termination, that is a total of 7; for a grand total of 65 projects already under that termination—for termination column, for order also to be terminated and with mutual termination. General Manager Escalada will not let that happen, Your Honor.

REP. BROSAS. Mme. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor, ito pong mga sinasabi ninyo ay iyong aksyon na ginawa ninyo. It is to terminate iyong mga contractors, pero iyong—may I have a copy kung saan makikilala ko iyong Developer A, Developer B, Developer C na sinasabi dito. Mayroon ba kayong mga ganoong details?

REP. VARGAS. Yes.

REP. BROSAS. Sige.

REP. VARGAS. The NHA will gladly furnish you a copy of this.

REP. BROSAS. Yes, oo. Ayon po sa batas, common sense na po na maaaring kailangan ang lisensya at listahan ng equipment. Ang NHA ba talaga ang may kontrol ng implementation o iyong contractor? Kasi po parang—hindi ba dapat, ine-evaluate iyong project proposals and guidelines, et cetera? Sino talaga ang may control sa implementation?

REP. VARGAS. The NHA.

REP. BROSAS. The NHA. So, for the next series ng proyekto, doon pa lang natin malalaman, kasi apparently, iyong nakaraan, kung ganito iyong naging resulta niya, hindi talaga nagkaroon ng hand iyong NHA kasi hinayaan na ang mga contractors ay ano…

REP. VARGAS. Yes, but to be fair with this Administration, under GM Escalada, he is now very, very, very strict. As a matter of fact, there have been instances where there was only a sole bidder who was not able to comply. He scratched it and the NHA did not pursue after the post-qualification.

REP. BROSAS. Okay, last question po.The developer was awarded a project in Bocaue

worth P726.4 million and three shelter projects worth P2.141 billion. Is it the same contractor who was

engaged in three housing projects in Pandi, Bulacan, meant for informal settlers who are living in dangerous areas worth P2.141 billion, even if the contract was beyond its PCAB license—bakit lumalabas na biased ang NHA sa developer na ito na ang lisensya ay limitado lang sa P100 million worth of projects?

REP. VARGAS. Their license, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, is applicable to each specific project, not in totality.

REP. BROSAS. So, Mme. Speaker, G. Isponsor, kaya pala hindi matapos-tapos iyong mga proyekto at saka backlog dahil pumipili ang Ahensya ng developer na hindi equipped para mag-handle ng malalaking projects?

REP. VARGAS. Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, in the case of Pandi, Bulacan, the project has already been completed po, and the other ones that you mentioned are still for completion, but are expected to be completed in due time.

REP. BROSAS. Mme. Speaker, G. Isponsor, maaari ba akong makakuha ng status report noong ano na iyan?

REP. VARGAS. Yes.

REP. BROSAS. Requirement ba ang technical and financial capacity ng developer?

REP. VARGAS. Yes.

REP. BROSAS. So, NHA po ang …

REP. VARGAS. Yes, Your Honor.

REP. BROSAS. …tumitingin niyan


REP. BROSAS. So, itong mga nakaraan, ibig sabihin, kaya iyong pagpili ng NHA ng developer sa inyo, talagang problema iyon ano, kasi kayo iyong pumili eh, hindi ba?


THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Garin, S.). The Honorable Brosas, please wrap up. Thank you very much.

REP. BROSAS. Yes.

REP. VARGAS. Yes, Your Honor, the technical,


legal and financial aspects of the bidding process are reviewed by the Bids and Awards Committee or BAC.

REP. BROSAS. Yes, I would like to remind lang, Mme. Speaker, G. Isponsor, na iyong mga financial statements, they are needed to ensure the timely delivery noong mga housing units sa mga beneficiaries. In fact, ang pinagtatakhan ko pa nga po, wala pang isinasampang kaso. Mayroon na po bang isinampang kaso sa mga …

REP. VARGAS. Yes, mayroon na pong kaso.

REP. BROSAS. … errant contractor na …

REP. VARGAS. Yes, there have been a lot.

REP. BROSAS. … we found out lalung-lalo na po doon sa Yolanda housing?

REP. VARGAS. Yes. For example, the ones with the order of termination, 22 cases already, are now with the Department of Justice. So, to be fair with the NHA, umaaksyon na po talaga nang mabilis itong NHA.

REP. BROSAS. Thank you, Mme. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Sponsor.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Garin, S.). Thank you, Honorable Brosas.


REP. GONZALES (A.P.). Mme. Speaker, I move that we recognize the Hon. Francisco G. Datol Jr. of the SENIOR CITIZENS Party-List for his minute of manifestation.


The Honorable Datol of SENIOR CITIZENS Party-List, please proceed.

REP. DATOL. Thank you, Mme. Speaker.Distinguished Sponsor, families ng HUDCC, to

my colleagues, magandang tanghali po sa inyong lahat.

Alam po ninyo, isang minuto lang po akong tatayo rito. Ayaw ko na po ng masyadong mahaba dahil ang gusto ko lang ay iyong pangako sa senior citizen, dalawa lang po. May pangako sa senior citizen na pabahay ang Sekretaryo ng HUDCC. Iyan po, alam kong tutuparin niya dahil kababayan ko iyan at isang dating heneral. Kaya nga, Secretary, salamat sa inyo.

Dito na lang po, iyong pangako naman ng NHA hindi lang sa akin. Alam po ninyo, dito sa Kongreso, 7,000 po kami rito ano ho, kasama na iyong 294 na Congressmen at Congresswomen. Noon pong tayo ay nagkaroon ng paghaharap sa isang committee, sinabi ko po sa Chairman ng NHA na kung maaari po sana ay isali ninyo sa pabahay ang lahat ng empleyado ng Kongreso na malapit dito sa Batasan. Gusto ko lang pong itanong sa inyo, kailan po ba maaaring mag-a-apply iyong mga staff namin sa Kongreso para magkaroon na ng pabahay na malapit dito sa kinatatayuan namin?

REP. VARGAS. Okay po. Your Honor, good Gentleman from the SENIOR CITIZENS Party-List, who also happens to be my idol.

REP. DATOL. Thank you.

REP. VARGAS. Regarding your agreement with our Chairman here, eh kayo na po ang bahala diyan, dahil talagang tumutupad po iyan sa usapan.

Regarding our housing program for our Congress staff members, there is an allocation under Harmony Hills Phase II, Quezon City, for the staff of the House of Representatives. There is a 15 percent total government allocation with approximately 390 units or 15 percent of 2,600 units, mayroon po. If the House of Representatives’ staff has identical land for development, kung mayroon pong available, NHA can provide technical assistance. Financing can be through the end-user financing of Pag-IBIG Fund. So, kunwari hindi lang po doon sa housing unit, kunwari may mahanap po tayo na isang lugar na pupwedeng gawing housing, tutulungan po iyan ng NHA dahil mahal na mahal natin ang mga staff natin dito po sa House of Representatives.

REP. DATOL. Salamat po. Kanina nga po, diyan sa flag ceremony namin, ako nga po ang guest diyan bilang Congressman ng SENIOR CITIZEN, kasi nga po ngayong araw na ito, October 1 hanggang October 7, ay Senior Citizens Week.

Kaya nga marami na pong mga nakikinig na mga representative ng kanya-kanyang mga Congressman na manggagaling sa apat na sulok ng Pilipinas. Mamaya po, makikita ninyo po rito. Kaya nga po itinatanong ko iyong sa senior citizen. Wala nang problema, iyon na lang sa NHA. Kung may available na po kayo dito sa Barangay Batasan Hills, ano po, saan po mag-a-apply iyong mga staff namin? Alam ninyo naman po, iyong mga staff namin ay nakatira pa sa probinsya. Sila ay umaarkila lang po dito ng mga apartment at kuwarto, ano po. Alam ninyo naman po kami dito sa Kongreso, ano po, talaga pong pinagpapaguran noong mga staff namin ang paglilingkod din sa bayan, kagaya ninyo.


Kailan po ba kami puwedeng mag-apply para doon sa mga staff namin?

REP. VARGAS. Any time po, honorable Congressman. Ang NHA Office po ay naka-locate po sa may Quezon City Circle and that is where the Regional Office for NCR is also located, at mayroon na rin pong available sa Harmony Hills dito po, Phase II sa Batasan. It is just right across DSWD. So, for everybody here who are listening and even your colleagues, for the ones who are listening here na staff, you can avail of this program as promised by General Manager Jun Escalada po.

REP. DATOL. Salamat po, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, at sana po alam naming matutupad iyan dahil sa harapan pong ito, hindi ninyo bibiguin iyong mga karaniwang manggagawa na staff namin sa Kongreso.

Magandang tanghali po sa inyong lahat.

REP. VARGAS. Maraming salamat po.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Garin, S.). Thank you, the Honorable Datol.

The Majority Floor Leader is recognized.

REP. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we recognize the Lady from ACT TEACHERS Party-List, the Hon. France L. Castro, for her interpellation.


The Honorable Castro is recognized. Please proceed.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Maraming salamat po, Mme. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor. Would the Sponsor yield to some clarificatory questions? Konti lang po ito.

REP. VARGAS. Gladly, Your Honor.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Okay. I know that the National Housing Authority is a government-owned and -controlled corporation, so kumikita po ito at nagdye-generate ng sarili niyang funds, kaya nga po doon sa General Appropriations Act of 2018, from P3,257,426,000 ay P3 billion …

REP. VARGAS. P3 billion, yes.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). P3,257,426,000, bumaba iyong kanilang—nag-decrease into 90.6 percent. Tama po ba, G. Sponsor?


REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Doon sa mga housing program nila like lot development and provision for housing and community facility sub-program, ito iyong kabuuan noon, iyong bumaba ng 90.6 percent.

REP. VARGAS. Yes. The budget was reduced by…

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). 90.6 percent pala. Okay.

REP. VARGAS. It was reduced to P360,208,000, 88.94 percent.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Yes. Sa ganitong budget for 2019, paano po natin matitiyak iyong security of housing para sa ating mga mamamayan kung ganito iyong budget na nadye-generate? Alam ko po based doon sa report, mayroon namang kinita ang NHA na about P11.2 billion in 2017, and P158 million sa joint venture. Ang tanong ko po, Mme. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor, alam naman natin at nakikita natin ang lala ng problema ng pabahay sa ating mga mamamayan. Paano po makatitiyak ang mga mamamayan natin sa ganitong pondo?

REP. VARGAS. Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, I will be very honest with you. The enormity of our housing problem here cannot be explained easily, because it is a very, very big problem. To be able to solve the 3.6 million housing units, housing backlog, in the long run, we will need around P10 trillion, and as you can see, and as you had pointed out very clearly, the budget, the national government assistance to NHA as a GOCC was reduced by a huge number of 88.94 percent. So, one way to ensure that slowly but surely, we are able to address the housing backlog is through efficient budget management and efficient collections. Ako, personally, Ma’am, we should tap the private sector already. We should strike a good partnership with the private sector so that the socialized housing backlogs will be addressed not just by the national government, not just by the local governments, but also through private sector partnerships.

So, totoo po iyon, ang laki po. And sinabi ko rin kanina, I feel very, very sad that after defending this budget for three years ay mas bumaba pa po. Imagine from P3 billion, the NHA budget from that national government is down to P360 million. And this is aside from the mandamus pa na kailangang i-implement na ng Supreme Court and all these other concerns.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Mme. Speaker, nakakalungkot kung alam naman natin na one of the basic needs


of people sa isang Estado, sa isang pamayanan ay iyong pabahay. Kung wala pong pabahay para sa ating mga mamamayan, so paano na po ito? Kasi katumbas ito noong pagkain o mga basic needs. Itong ganitong budget, sa tingin natin, kung ngayon magdye-generate pa ang NHA ng pondo mula doon sa private, although, we recognize nga iyong importance din ng private, pero it is the primary obligation of the government to provide decent housing para sa ating mga mamamayan. Dagdag pa rito, Mme. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor, iyong mga nasasalanta ng bagyo, dapat mayroon din tayong budget doon. Dito sa budget ng National Housing na P306 million, parang wala akong nakikita dito. Kung aasahan natin, halimbawa, ay iyong madye-generate pa nating fund mula doon sa kinita natin, doon sa mga projects natin sa housing ay kailangan nga dapat ang housing sa mga poorest of the poor na mga mamamayan natin ay affordable, hindi naman libre, affordable na pabahay para doon sa ating mga mamamayan. Paano na itong ganitong budget na P306 million, Mme. Speaker, kaya ako po ay nagma-manifest na sana ay matulungan ang NHA doon para madagdagan iyong kanilang budget para doon sa kanilang mga programs.

REP. VARGAS. Thank you. Thank you, Your Honor. That manifestation is much appreciated.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Ilan po ang mga program po natin—ito po sa—hindi po nabanggit ni Cong. Arlene iyong sa San Roque, mayroon po kayong ibinigay—ang NHA, na 30 days na period para po mag-self-demolish daw po at ma-relocate itong mga pamilya dito sa San Roque dito sa Quezon City. Tama po ba ito, Mr. Sponsor?

REP. VARGAS. Yes, that is correct po, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). So, in 30 days, ilan po ba dito iyong affected na families?

REP. VARGAS. Everybody including the disqualified families, it is 6,000.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Ano pong ibig sabihin ng disqualified?

REP. VARGAS. We have...

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Sino po ba iyong qualified?

REP. VARGAS. Those were the so-called disqualified ones or were the ones who were not included in the census.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). So, ano po ba iyong...

REP. VARGAS. After the census.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). ... ano po ba iyong qualification na hindi na-include or na-disqualify? Ito po ba iyong mga renters...

REP. VARGAS. Yes.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). ... and sharer na sinasabi natin?

REP. VARGAS. Well, the qualification is simple. Dapat during the time of the census, dapat they were there. They were present during the census.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Kailan po nag-census?

REP. VARGAS. Let me verify first because I want to give the correct information. To answer that question, it was—the year 2013 was the latest po.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Okay, sa period ng five years, dito sa lugar na ito, sa San Roque nag-census in the year 2013, so marami po doon sa out of 6,000 na families, ito po iyong qualified, iyong 6,000 families?

REP. VARGAS. Qualified and not qualified. Disqualified, Ma’am.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Ah, okay. Mayroon pa ba kayo, Mme. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor, noong breakdown noong qualified and disqualified?

REP. VARGAS. Yes, the NHA. I would gladly give you copies.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Ilan pong porsiyento sa 6,000 na pamilya—ano po ito, pamilya o individuals?

REP. VARGAS. Families.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Families—ilan pong porsiyento ang qualified and disqualified?

REP. VARGAS. Qualified 4,000 of the 6,000, and 2,000 of the 6,000 are disqualified.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Okay, so two-thirds po iyong mga qualified.

REP. VARGAS. Yes, po.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). So, ito po bang mga disqualified na ito sa inyo pong pagse-census, na-find


out ninyo ba na may mga bahay na rin sila or ano po iyong kalagayan?

REP. VARGAS. Yes. There were some na mayroon pong mga bahay.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Mayroon po ba kayong data nito? Puwede po ba kaming makaano?

REP. VARGAS. Yes, the NHA would gladly furnish you a copy, Your Honor.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). How about, Mme. Speaker, iyong sa relocation, so ito pong qualified na 4,000, halimbawa po, mayroon na po ba tayong nakatakdang relocation para sa mga qualified?

REP. VARGAS. Yes, Your Honor. The relocation for the qualified 4,000, the relocation sites are in Pasong Tamo, Quezon City, and San Jose Del Monte.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Okay.

REP. VARGAS. Opo.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). So, kagaya nga po ng premise ko kanina, Mme. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor, ang karapatan po ng pabahay ay para sa lahat. So, halimbawa po itong—example natin ay itong San Roque. Mayroon po tayong mga na-disqualified based doon sa iba’t ibang kadahilanan. Ito po kasi, mayroong dumulog po sa amin itong mga taga-San Roque na ito kaugnay noong kanilang kahilingan para mabigyan din sila ng relocation at maisama din sila doon sa mga mabibigyan ng bahay. Alam naman natin, ito iyong mga workers, mga informal na mga settlers din na gusto rin namang magkabahay, hindi po ba? Baka po magkaroon ng—puwede po bang magkaroon ng parang reconsideration dito sa mga disqualified na ito o magkaroon tayo ng parang consideration or alamin talaga natin po iyong talagang tunay na kalagayan sa pabahay nitong mga disqualified na ito?

REP. VARGAS. Yes, for this particular housing project and relocation in San Jose and in Pasong Tamo ay hindi na po maisasama, but NHA is open to have the other 2,000 disqualified families included, perhaps, in the other housing projects po.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Opo. Thank you, po, Mme. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor, kasi po ang renter at saka sharer, alam naman natin na wala talagang bahay iyon kaya nga sila nagre-rent, kaya baka puwedeng ma-consider iyon. Dito po sa Pandi, Bulacan, alam ninyo po napaka-active ko rin po dito sa pabahay na ito dahil alam naman talaga natin iyong karapatan

ng mga mamamayan natin para sa pabahay at nasubaybayan ko rin po iyong proseso na ginawang pagtulong ng NHA, personal po iyong ating General Manager, kaugnay dito. Ano na po iyong update dito sa Pandi, Bulacan? Kasi parang mayroon yatang mga problema kaugnay noong qualification o disqualification din po. Ano po ba—puwede po ba, Mme. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor, ma-update itong Kinatawan na ito sa Pandi, Bulacan?

REP. VARGAS. Well, the update there, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, is that the actual occupants have been assessed and have been validated, and they been issued or granted their specific units already.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). So, puwede ninyo po ba akong mabigyan ng data kaugnay po noong sino na po iyong nag-qualify? Ilan na po iyong nag-settle?

REP. VARGAS. Yes, gladly, Your Honor.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Marami pong salamat, ano.

Isa pa po sa concern ko dito sa Pandi, Bulacan, iyong kanilang mga basic utility services po, katulad noong water, kuryente, at iba pa po. Eskwelahan, mayroon yatang mga eskwelahan na malapit doon, pero hanggang ngayon yata ay pinoproblema pa rin po dito iyong kuryente at tubig po. So, ano po ba ang update ng NHA dito, Mr. Sponsor, Mme. Speaker?

REP. VARGAS. The update of NHA, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, is that water and power are now available, but for the individual units, they have to personally apply para magkaroon po sila ng sariling linya, and later on, sa kanila na po talaga iyong linya ng tubig at kuryente na po na iyon.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Mayroon na po ba tayong data kung ilan na po iyong may tubig at nagkakuryente?

REP. VARGAS. Yes, we have.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Kasama po noong sa data na hinihingi ko po?

REP. VARGAS. Yes, Your Honor, NHA will give you all the data.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Okay. Marami pong salamat.

Marami din pong mga AFP housing projects sa ating mga uniformed personnel katulad nga po diyan sa Pandi, sa CDO, at doon pa sa iba. Mayroon po ba tayong mga updates dito kung—kasi, hindi po ba may mga nabalita na ito po ay nagdi-dilapidate o nasisira na. Ano na po


ba iyong program o updates noong ating NHA kaugnay nitong mga projects na ito? Kasi ayaw din naman itong tirahan ng mga AFP uniformed personnel, baka pwede itong mai-offer sa iba nating mga kababayan.

REP. VARGAS. NHA is very, very thankful. Not only NHA but all the key shelter agencies, they are very, very grateful to this Congress, both the Upper House and the Lower House, for approving the Joint Resolution No. 2, which says that all of these housing units that you have just mentioned, which are intended for the AFP and the PNP, if they wish not to occupy them, they can now be granted or awarded to qualified informal setter families, and will be given to the LGUs and to the teachers.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Mayroon na po ba kayong, parang, kumbaga IRR, kaugnay nitong Joint Resolution?

REP. VARGAS. Yes.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Nabanggit ninyo po iyong sector na kinakatawan ng inyong lingkod o ng Representanteng ito, kasi ang mga teachers po, sa liit ng sweldo, siguro 20 years, 30 years, bago iyan magkabahay, at iyon lang po iyong kakayanin ng sweldo ng teacher.

REP. VARGAS. Yes.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Alam iyan ng ating Sponsor, paano po iyong, halimbawa, makasali iyong mga teachers dito sa sinasabi ninyong Joint Resolution. Mayroon na po bang IRR dito?

REP. VARGAS. There is already an IRR for this and …

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). At saan pong mga lugar ito, Mr. Sponsor, pwede po bang makahingi ng copy?

REP. VARGAS. Yes. There is a list, and all the teachers will just have to meet with the LGUs, together with the Superintendent and the Regional Managers of NHA, and they will all meet together to discuss how to award these unoccupied units.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Pwede po ba akong makahingi, Mme. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor noong copy noong IRR?


REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Dalawa na lang po, ano, dalawang concern na lang po.

I heard in the news that the NHA will provide P10 million financial assistance po doon sa mga nabiktima ng Ompong sa landslide dito sa Itogon. Ano po ba ang mechanism nito? Paano po ba ito? Ilan po ba ang affected at ilan po iyong target natin dito sa P10 million na ito?

REP. VARGAS. This P10 million is Housing Materials or HOMA na ibibigay po sa mga individuals from the affected families in Itogon, Benguet and Laoag, Ilocos Norte.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). So, mayroon na po kayong numbers kung ilan iyon?

REP. VARGAS. Mayroon po, mayroon.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Mga ilan po?

REP. VARGAS. The P10 million has been downloaded to the LGUs, and it will be up to the LGUs how to allocate the P10 million. Sorry, I stand corrected.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Ah, okay. So, ito po ay dadaan doon definitely sa munisipyo ng Itogon.

REP. VARGAS. Yes, that is correct, Your Honor.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Pero alam ninyo po, nabasa ko sa news, parang sa news report, karamihan po sa mga nabiktima po rito ay mga ano rin, mga informal settlers. Totoo po ba? O ang mga nabibiktima ay nanggaling din sa ibang lugar katulad ng Ifugao at iba pang mga lugar sa Cordillera?

REP. VARGAS. Ah, yes.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). So, paano po ang mekanismo doon kasi kung ito po ay mapupunta sa municipality ng Itogon, paano po kaya iyong ibang mga residente na hindi naman po tagarito?

REP. VARGAS. Sa Itogon lang mayroong—only Itogon experienced landslide, Your Honor. These affected families will be given at least P5,000 worth of housing materials which they can use to rebuild their houses.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Okay. Dahil developing, ano naman itong developing projects? Siguro later on, makakakuha din kami ng mga updates kaugnay nito, Mr. Sponsor.

REP. VARGAS. Certainly, Your Honor.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Last na po, iyong tungkol sa


Naga, Cebu, mas malaki po iyong affected ng landslide dito. Mayroon po bang program ang NHA kaugnay nito kasi ang nakikita ko lang po rito ay mga news report. Tama po ba ito, may mga 300, ah, 7,151 individuals currently, as of now ang affected at mayroong—ano po ba iyong programa ng NHA dito? Tama po ba na magtatayo ng permanent resettlement area ang NHA dito?

REP. VARGAS. That is correct, Your Honor. The NHA is set to construct 1,000 permanent shelters in Balilihan, Bohol.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). So, 1,000 na?

REP. VARGAS. 1,000 na po.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). So, iyong nabasa kong news report ay 360 lang.

REP. VARGAS. That is the first batch and the second batch will be for a total of 1,000 units.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Okay. So, iyon lang po, Mme. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor. Thank you po sa patience at sa pagsagot doon sa mga tanong ko.

REP. VARGAS. Thank you, Your Honor, Thank you, Mme. Speaker.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Garin, S.). Thank you, the Hon. France Castro of ACT- TEACHERS Party-List.


REP. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we recognize the Gentleman from the Third District of Bukidnon, the Hon. Manuel F. Zubiri, for his interpellation.


The Honorable Zubiri is recognized. Please proceed.

REP. ZUBIRI. Thank you, thank you very much, Mme. Speaker.

Just one question to our distinguished Sponsor, my good friend, Congressman Vargas.

REP. VARGAS. This Representation is ready to answer.

REP. ZUBIRI. I believe, Mr. Sponsor, Mme. Speaker, in 2016, during the hearing of the NHA, together with the House of Representatives of the

Seventeenth Congress, we had a meeting, and as far as I know, as far as I remember, iyong completion rate po ng mga housing projects sa Region X was way below 5 percent. If I am not mistaken, nasa 1 percent to 2 percent lang po iyon. Ngayon, gusto ko pong malaman ngayong 2018 na, what happened to 2016, 2017, and to date, 2018. Can I get the figures, Mme. Speaker?

REP. VARGAS. Thank you, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, just give me time to verify the information, so I can give you the correct one.

REP. ZUBIRI. Thank you very much.


REP. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS. Mme. Speaker, I move for the suspension of the session.


It was 12:24 p.m.


At 12:28 p.m., the session was resumed.



REP. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we recognize the Hon. Alfred Vargas.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Garin, S.). Please proceed.

REP. VARGAS. Thank you, Mme. Speaker.Your Honor, to answer the question of the honorable

Gentleman from Bukidnon, in 2017, the percentage was 39 percent.

REP. ZUBIRI. 39 percent.

REP. VARGAS. And for 2018, for the period January to August, it is already 42 percent.

REP. ZUBIRI. Marami pong salamat. At least, I see an improvement, Mme. Speaker. From below 5 percent a few years back, now I think we are quite on track, not necessarily on track because it is still below the 50-percent mark; but we can see a big improvement as compared to a few years ago. So, please keep it up and I hope by year end, we will have a passing mark of at least over 80 percent, Mme. Speaker. So, iyon lang po.



REP. ZUBIRI. Marami pong salamat …

REP. VARGAS. Thank you.

REP. ZUBIRI. … and good luck po sa inyong lahat. Marami pong salamat.

REP. VARGAS. Thank you, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker.

REP. ZUBIRI. Thank you.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Garin, S.). Thank you, the Honorable Zubiri.


REP. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we recognize the Gentleman from BUHAY Party-List, the Hon. Jose “Lito” L. Atienza Jr., for his interpellation.


The Honorable Atienza is recognized. Please proceed, Sir.

REP. ATIENZA. Thank you, Mme. Speaker. Thank you, Mme. Leader.

With the kind indulgence of the Sponsor, this Representation would like to join by clarifying certain matters on the functions of the National Housing Authority.

REP. VARGAS. Gladly, this Representation is glad to answer questions from the distinguished Gentleman from BUHAY Party-List.

REP. ATIENZA. Mme. Speaker, the NHA is the primary production unit of the government with regard to housing the poor. Is that correct or they have changed their mandate?

REP. VARGAS. That is correct, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker. As a matter of fact, the NHA is the sole national government agency to engage in shelter production focusing on the housing needs of the lowest 30 percent of urban income earners—lowest 30 percent po.

REP. ATIENZA. So, at this point, could the Gentleman give us an idea what are the capabilities of the NHA today and next year? Will they be able to produce housing, as they are expected by law or they will not be able to deliver the mandate?

REP. VARGAS. Well, the NHA will continue to do such socialized housing and affordable housing units, of course, with respect to the budget that is given to this Agency.

REP. ATIENZA. The budget is very critical. Kapag may pera, …

REP. VARGAS. That is true.

REP. ATIENZA. … may production.

REP. VARGAS. Yes.

REP. ATIENZA. Kapag walang pera, walang production.

Tayo ay pinakikinggan ngayon ng ating bayan, ano ang ating hinaharap sa problema ng housing sa susunod na taon? Magkano po ba ang pondong hinihingi nila at ibinibigay sa kanila ng national government ngayon? Magkano po ba ang ating pinag-uusapang budget? Sapagkat sa aking pagsusuri ng budget ay kulang-kulang P300 million lamang …

REP. VARGAS. Tama po.

REP. ATIENZA. … ang kanilang makukuha kung sakali.

REP. VARGAS. Your Honor, you are correct. As a matter of fact, the NHA requested for P36 billion, requested to DBM and, unfortunately, as we can see from our National Expenditure Program, the NHA only got P360,208,000. Actually, the whole KSA, the Key Shelter Agencies, is only 0.07 percent of the whole proposed budget.

REP. ATIENZA. As you stressed it, honorable Sponsor, the National Housing Authority is getting 1 percent of what they were asking for. They were asking for P36 billion, you said, …

REP. VARGAS. Yes.

REP. ATIENZA. … and they are getting P360 million, so that is roughly 1 percent, and would the Agency today present with their senior officers attending, would they be able to assure us that they will get anything done with 1 percent of the budget that they asked for and is being considered by this Congress? You talked about production, how many houses will they be able to produce with P360 million?

REP. VARGAS. Well, with the budget that we have now, the NHA is only capable of producing around 13,000 housing units and our projected housing backlog by 2022 is 6.5 million units.


REP. ATIENZA. With a backlog of 6.5 million and with a requested budget of P36 billion, the NHA is getting P360 million, and they are saying they can produce 13,000 units out of that limited budget. Are we making …

REP. VARGAS. By 2019 …

REP. ATIENZA. … making false promises and false expectations?

REP. VARGAS. The 13,000 houses will also be funded by the carry-over budget from the previous year, so that for 2019, around 13,000 houses will be constructed by the NHA.

REP. ATIENZA. Then let me rephrase my question, Mme. Speaker. How many houses can they commit to the country next year within the budget that they are now asking for? Obviously, they cannot deliver 13,000 houses because no matter what kind of multiplication, division and mathematics you use, hindi po puwedeng maka-produce ng 13,000 units ang pondong P360 million, sapagkat marami pa pong suswelduhan at gagamitin sa kanilang operations—maintenance, management, administration, operations—ubos na po iyong P360 million, mukhang hindi sila makaka-produce ng dalawang bahay, sa tingin ko po.

REP. VARGAS. The 13,000 housing units promised by NHA, the funding there will come from the carry-over from this year, 2018. For 2019, this budget of P360 million will be used mainly for social preparations.

REP. ATIENZA. Well, for that—we are putting on record that the NHA will not produce a single housing next year, is that clear or you would like to rephrase that?

REP. VARGAS. Using—to using the 2019 budget.

REP. ATIENZA. Yes, my question is that, …

REP. VARGAS. That is correct, Mme. Speaker.

REP. ATIENZA. … if we have P360 million, and you say that is not enough, and I agree with you. So, therefore, can we put on record that the National Housing Authority will not be able to produce housing for the poor next year?

REP. VARGAS. Yes. The National Housing Authority will not be able to produce housing using the 2019 Budget of P360 million.

REP. ATIENZA. Well, we are talking about the 2019 Budget, are we not?

REP. VARGAS. Yes.

REP. ATIENZA. Ang pinag-uusapan po natin dito ay 2019 Budget, Mme. Speaker, hindi po 2018—academic na iyon, approved na iyon, ginagamit na po iyon at inaasahan na po ng ating bayan iyon. Ang pinag-uusapan natin sa hapong ito ay ang pondo ng NHA sa 2019.

REP. VARGAS. You are correct, Your Honor.

REP. ATIENZA. As we agreed with you, P360 million is 1 percent of what they were asking for. So, I believe that this government, this administration has no interest in providing housing for our poor next year. Iyon po ang malinaw na malinaw na larawan ng ating pinag-uusapan. Wala pong aasahan ang ating mga mahihirap na bahay sa susunod na taon, at kapag naputol po iyan sa 2020, mas malaki na ang problema—2021, mas higit pa. The problem will magnify in a short while when the government stops production. Iyon po ang ating tinutumbok, and unless the General Manager has some other issues that he can cite, baka siya ay mayroong magical powers na magkaroon siya ng paraan para magkaroon siya sa mga lugar na walang bahay, sapagkat kung pag-uusapan ang pondo, wala siyang pera. Walang pera, walang production. Walang production, wala pong inaasahan ang ating mga mahihirap. Tama po ba iyong ating flow o hindi tayo nagkakaintindihan doon?

REP. VARGAS. No, I share the same sentiment, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, and I have been defending this budget for…

REP. ATIENZA. Given that background, given that situation, we will have to rely now on judicious distribution of existing units, which could be ready, and are now being occupied not by the beneficiaries intended, by some other sectors who are sick and tired of waiting in the wings, and not being attended to. Obviously, next year, ganyan na naman po ang ating kalagayan. Sectors will be so agitated that they could be easily convinced to take extra-judicial measures to grab available housing units, occupy them, and claim them as their own.

Nakikita po ba ng ating National Housing Authority iyan?


REP. ATIENZA. Kung nakikita po nila, Mme.


Speaker, tatanungin ko sila, tayo ay nagpasá rito ng isang Resoluyon, ordinansa pa nga, na tayo ay pumapayag na ibigay na nila iyong mga units na gawa na sa mga nangangailangan ng bahay at hindi iyong intended beneficiary. “Intended” and those “in need” may be two different sectors kaya nagkakaroon tayo ng Kadamay incidents. Iyong mga bahay, hindi tugma ang pagkakagawa sa buhay ng isang pulis o ng isang militar. Kaya sabi nga ng mga taumbayan, imbes na nabubulok, i-occupy na natin, dakmain na natin ito. Ano po ang kanilang posisyon dito? Next year, wala po palang production. Kadamay and the other organizations of urban poor will just grab whatever is available. Mayroon tayong ipinasáng legalidad upang ito ay ipamahagi nila sa mga nangangailangan at hindi sa mga tumatangging pulis at tumatangging militar.

So, ang tanong ko po ay, ano na po ba ang kanilang hakbang na ginawa upang iyong mga housing units na ngayon ay gawa na ay maipamahagi na nila ayon sa ating kagustuhan sa Kongreso? Pakinabangan na ng mga mahihirap ang mga finished housing upang hindi po naman ito makuha sa ibang paraan. Para bagang ang nangyayari ay, ang tawag diyan sa mga bata ay “ala verde.” Ang tawag ho diyan sa ating bokabularyo ay “anarchy.” And they justify that by saying that if the housing unit is rotting o nabubulok, mabuti pa ay pakinabangan na ng mga nangangailangan.

Ano po ba ang kanilang nagawa na magmula noong ipinasá natin iyong kanilang awtoridad na puwede na nilang ipamahagi iyan sa mga tunay na nangangailangan?

REP. VARGAS. Tama po iyong sinabi ng honorable Congressman, Mme. Speaker, and ang NHA po, talagang malaki ang pasasalamat dahil po sa Kongresong ito, iyong Joint Resolution No. 2 ng Senate at inaprubahan po natin. Iyan po iyong tinutukoy ninyo, na siyang nagsasabi na ang bawat bahay na ginagawa ng NHA ay hindi lang para sa isang specific na grupo ng mga beneficiary kung hindi i-open na, basta Pilipino ka, basta qualified ka, puwede kang magkabahay, at ito iyong mga available units.

Ang NHA po, ganoon din po, nag-a-agree po sa inyo na kapag mayroong bahay diyan na nakatiwangwang, na ginawa ng NHA, ay dapat pakinabangan na po. That is why, nag-award na po ang NHA sa LGU level. Magde-determine din iyong LGU kung sino po iyong mga puwedeng tumira po diyan kaagad para hindi po nasasayang, at gayon din po, mayroon din pong pabahay para po sa mga gurong Pilipino dito po sa ating education sector.

REP. ATIENZA. Maganda po lahat iyong sinabi ninyo, pero ang agam-agam po ng inyong lingkod, masyadong mabagal ang aksyon, aabutin na naman sila ng problema. At this point, ilan na po ba ang naaksyunan

nila after the passage of the Resolution? Nakailan na po ba silang nagmamadaling ipinamahagi ang biyaya ng bahay sa mga nangangailangan?

REP. VARGAS. Ngayon po ay ang pag-a-award po ng mga bahay, ongoing po iyan palagi.

REP. ATIENZA. Hindi po, ang tanong ko po, Mme. Speaker, ilan na po ang bilang ng naipamahagi, at kung dadagdagan natin, ilan pa ang imbentaryo nila na maaaring ipamahagi?

REP. VARGAS. Ang occupancy rate po ngayon, ito pong mga units na ito ay 68 percent.

REP. ATIENZA. Ilan po ang 68 percent?

REP. VARGAS. Sandali lang po, para po maibigay ko po iyong tamang impormasyon.

Estimated po niyan, iyong 68 percent of the 55,000 units po ay around 37,400 po.

REP. ATIENZA. Ito ay 37,000 out of 55,000. Six million Filipinos are homeless right now. Therefore, looking for the beneficiaries and those who will be benefitted by that Resolution is not the problem. Sobra-sobra po ang dami ng nangangailangan ng bahay. Saksi po ang mga natutulog sa mga parke,...

REP. VARGAS. Totoo po.

REP. ATIENZA. … natutulog sa kariton, natutulog sa sidewalk, natutulog sa lansangan. Therefore, giving away that particular benefit coming from this government is not the issue, not the problem. Kung sila ay gagawin nila ang kanilang tungkulin ngayon at tatapusin ang trabaho within the week ay mauubos po iyong 18,000 na natitira. Pero, kung sa susunod na taon ay tayo po ay magkukuwentuhan pa rin kung paano dini-dispose ang mga unit na ito, sayang po naman ang pagkakataong magkabahay ang mga mahihirap. It is not enough to say, “We welcome this and we thank Congress.” Hindi po iyan ang kailangan natin. Ang kailangan natin, ang mga tao, makinabang na kahapon at ngayon, hindi bukas. Kaya po ba nilang gawin iyon o magkukuwentuhan po tayo pagsapit po ng katapusan ng taong ito?

REP. VARGAS. Kaya po. Ang NHA po, actually, ay nag-modify na po ng policy in the distribution of housing units to increase occupancy. So, basically po, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, kapag kumpleto na po iyong projects, iyong housing units ay ite-turn over po agad sa LGU, tapos i-identify at i-distribute kaagad ang mga ito sa beneficiaries by the LGU po. Tapos, dahil po kasi tama po iyong nai-point out ninyo, iyong low occupancy


experience ng mga low-rise building projects po ng NHA, for example, in Camarin, Caloocan, pagkatapos po ng consultation at saka mga social preparation, the beneficiaries refused to accept the housing units. Kaya naman po ang gusto natin, magamit na po ito kaagad ng iba po.

REP. ATIENZA. Susubaybayan po natin iyong kanilang sagot na iyan at tinitiyak ko sa inyo, …

REP. VARGAS. Opo.

REP. ATIENZA. … gagawa po kami ng aksyong karapat-dapat kung hindi po nila tutuparin ang kanilang sinasabing mamadaliin ang pamamahagi ng kasiyahan para sa ating mga mahihirap.

REP. VARGAS. Opo.

REP. ATIENZA. Pagod na pagod na po ang mga mahihirap kaya ginagawa na nila iyong extrajudicial measures. Pumapasok na lang sila sa bahay na nakikita nilang nakatiwangwang at walang nakikinabang. Iligal man iyong ginagawa nila, we cannot help but agree. I would not want to see food wasted when there are so many hungry. I cannot allow to see housing units rotting or decaying, when we see homeless in the streets of Metro Manila especially. Ang tanong ko po ay, Mme. Speaker, bakit po ba humantong sa ganito, na ang mga ginagawa ng National Housing ay hindi tugma sa mga benepisyadong kanilang tinutumbok? Housing for the police, housing for the military, and yet, the military and the police do not seem to want to buy these housing units? Bakit po ba? Ano po ba ang main issue na masasabi nating magiging bahagi ng ating pagsusuri?

REP. VARGAS. Honestly, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, dahil po ito sa quality, sa size, at saka sa location or distance. Iyon po ang …

REP. ATIENZA. Quality, size and location.

REP. VARGAS. …location or distance from the city center, from livelihood opportunity and education.

REP. ATIENZA. Sa mga sagot na iyan, Mme. Speaker, nakikita natin, alam nila kung ano ang tama, ano ang tugma, …

REP. VARGAS. Opo.

REP. ATIENZA. … ano ang hindi tama at hindi tugma sa mga intended beneficiaries. Bumuo ng housing units ang NHA, ika ninyo. Ilan po ba lahat iyan noong tinapos nila for the police and the military?

REP. VARGAS. Lahat po, all in all, ito po ay 75,000 units po.

REP. ATIENZA. Mme. Speaker, we take full note of that particular data. The NHA produced and constructed 75,000 units for our policemen and military men, and now, we are hearing that what they did, actually, was not in accordance with the expectations and the requirements of a policeman or a military man in our government. That is the reason the intended beneficiary did not even attempt to file for the privilege of owning their housing unit. Hindi po ba malaking kakulangan iyon? Ang binuo nilang pabahay, Mme. Speaker, ay hindi tugma sa pangangailangan ng isang sundalo o ng isang pulis o ng isang titser.

Mayroon po kayong modelong maaaring kopyahin. I hate to say this because this was a project of our administration, but look at the housing for teachers in Caloocan. Look at the housing for policemen in Merville Subdivision. Iyon po ay pinag-aagawan. Look at Karangalan Village in Pasig. Iyon po ay pinag-aagawan ng lahat ng beneficiaries sapagkat tugma ang disenyo, tugma ang presyo. Hindi po naging problema ang pag-ayaw ng beneficiaries.

So, therefore, for my question, Mme. Speaker, is the NHA management pursuing any effort to make those guilty beyond doubt that they did not do their job properly? Because they may be the same people now designing the same housing for all we know. Eh wala pong pupuntahan itong Ahensyang ito. The people behind all of these failed projects should be made answerable administratively and criminally. They should be charged in the Ombudsman for graft because they did not perform their task correctly.


REP. ATIENZA. Mayroon po ba silang kinasuhan? Put that in this debate today.

REP. VARGAS. Mayroon na po. Around 65 na po ang kakasuhan, tapos iyong 22 po roon doon sa 65 na iyon, nasa Department of Justice na po.

REP. ATIENZA. Sixty-five ang kakasuhan o kinasuhan?

REP. VARGAS. Na-terminate na po iyong mga project, tapos iniimbestigahan na po, tapos iyan na po iyong mga planong kasuhan. Out of the 65, 22 po ang na-forward na po sa DOJ para po kasuhan.

REP. ATIENZA. May we get a copy of this, Mme. Speaker, …


REP. VARGAS. Yes, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker. The NHA will furnish you a copy.

REP. ATIENZA. … of those charged for this very scandalous, big, distorted, disoriented use of public funds. Gumawa ng bahay, hindi para doon sa mga intended beneficiary. At isama na po ninyo, importante ito, magkano ang inabot ng mga unit na iyan, in production?

REP. VARGAS. A unit costs P290,000.

REP. ATIENZA. P290,000—you really expected a policeman to live in a unit costing P290,000?

REP. VARGAS. Opo.

REP. ATIENZA. Iyon po ay maliit na kuwarto. Hindi po magkakasya iyon eh.

REP. VARGAS. Totoo po iyon.

REP. ATIENZA. You expected a military man to go to a far-flung barrio to buy a unit costing P290,000. Iyon po ba ay napag-aralan ninyo sa Board? Napag-usapan ba ito bago ipinatupad o ipinagawa na munang lahat bago kayo nagkausap-usap?

REP. VARGAS. Well, ang administrasyon po ngayon ng NHA ay nag-a-agree po sa inyo. Wala naman po talagang uniformed personnel ang willing na tumira sa isang 22-square meter na floor area worth P290,000. Pero ang ginawa pong paraan ng bagong administrasyong ito ng NHA, talagang nagkaroon na po ng community needs analysis, kumbaga, target beneficiary analysis and they came up with a new plan for the AFP and the men in uniform, which is 60 square meters na floor area na two-storey. Tapos ito po, hindi na po malayo ito po, ilo-locate na po near or in-city. So, iyan po iyong hakbang na ginawa po ng NHA admin ngayon dahil iyon nga po, they are planning to rectify or makabawi man lang po sa ating pong mga personnel in uniform.

REP. ATIENZA. Isama na po nila sa kanilang pag-aaral iyong mga binanggit kong project: teachers, Caloocan; …

REP. VARGAS. Opo.

REP. ATIENZA. … policemen, Merville Subdivision; …

REP. VARGAS. Tama po.

REP. ATIENZA. … Karangalan Village for military. Sa palagay ko, hindi sila maliligaw …

REP. VARGAS. Opo.

REP. ATIENZA. … sapagkat wala ni isang unit ang hindi nabili sapagkat tugma ang disenyo at presyo doon sa benepisyaryo at iyong kanyang kalagayan. Ang akin lamang pinupuna ay, after the fact, iyong kanilang galaw. Noong dumating ang administrasyong ito, tahimik sila. Parang they wanted to have the same “Happy days are here again.” Meanwhile, from the very start, nakita nila, mali itong mga proyektong ito, hindi mabibili ito, ititiwangwang ito. Iyon ang unang-unang dapat sinuri ng ating present administration ng National Housing para naman po tanggapin natin lahat iyong sinasabi nilang “inaaksyunan namin ngayon.” May kasabihan, “Better late than never,” “Huli man at magaling, maihahabol din.”

Gusto ko lang makitang mayroong nakukulong sa pang-aabuso ng gobyerno sa tao. Ang hindi wastong paggamit ng salapi ay punishable by a criminal offense. Hindi puwedeng sorry, hindi puwedeng “patunayan ninyo, ako ay magbibitiw.” Iyon ang naririnig ko palagi, “patunayan ninyo at ako ay magbibitiw.” Patutunayan namin at kayo ay makukulong—hindi magbibitiw, makukulong. Only then will we get public service worthy of our democratic system, and the trust and confidence of the people. Otherwise, kung ang punishment lang ay magbibitiw kayo, paulit-ulit na lamang na ang salaping bayan na nagkakahalaga ng bilyun-bilyong piso ay masasayang. Hindi po magbabago ang ating burukrasya.

We want to fight corruption. The President shouts that he wants to fight corruption. This is one solid case where the guilty ones can be punished. Whether the decision goes all the way up to the President of the past administration, so be it. Managot sila, sapagkat bilyun-bilyong piso ang inubos nila, supposedly to provide housing for our military men and policemen. They failed by sheer neglect, by sheer abuse, punishable po iyan. It is the worst corruption. Baka naman maraming nagkapera diyan kaya walang pumuna. Kaya makukulong sila, hindi magbibitiw, hindi aalisin sa trabaho. Demanda para makulong—iyon po ang aming inaasam-asam na gagawin ng Duterte administration para hindi po paulit-ulit ang isyu ng korapsyon sa gobyerno.

Isa na lang po ang aking ihahabol, sapagkat napakaimportante nito. Ang National Housing ay may binuong temporary housing sa Tondo, Maynila. Noong dumating ang bagong administrasyong ito, itinanong na po namin, ano ba ang plano ninyo sa temporary housing? Dahil nakatiwangwang iyong mga kalagayan ng mahihirap doon, nabubuhay na parang hindi tao sapagkat marumi, walang tubig, walang palikuran, walang magamit na anumang sanidad. Nandoon po ang mga tao, napipilitang sumilong, tumira sapagkat wala silang titirahan. Rather than stay along Arten Boulevard,


they use their housing unit doon sa temporary housing. Pero inaasahan ko, General Manager, sampu ng inyong mga kasamahan, pumasyal kayo roon, kung maaari lang. Malalaman ko naman kung dumating kayo roon. Check-in ninyo ang conditions doon. It is below human standards, not even fit for an animal, sapagkat wala na po talagang kadignidad-dignidad ang kalagayan ng mga tao roon kung hindi ninyo po tutulungan. You have no money to attend to them, yet today, you allow other sectors to help you improve the quality of life in that area. Ang hirap kapag may makikialam po roon, pipigilan ng National Housing, “Huwag ninyong galawin iyan, amin iyan.” Ano ang inyo? Iyong kapabayaan, inyo ba iyon? Iyong abuso sa karapatang pantao, inyo ba iyon? Iyong paglabag sa ating Saligang Batas, inyo rin ba iyon? Iyon ang dapat nating sagutin. Inyo iyan, gawin ninyo, kung hindi makululong kayo.

We want the National Housing Authority’s action, positive action on the conditions of the temporary housing along Arten Boulevard, Tondo, Manila, and we will be observing them. If nothing is changed there, I will file the necessary charges to prove the point that the government is not attending to the proper use of our limited resources.

Can we get a guarantee from the Gentleman…

REP. VARGAS. Yes.

REP. ATIENZA. … and the gentlemen comprising the National Housing Authority …


REP. ATIENZA. … that they will check the conditions in that area that we have put on record in this Congress?


REP. ATIENZA. Below human standard. It may even be below animal standard. Ewan ko kung ano ang kanilang pamantayan. Iyon po ang aking pananaw, iyon po ang aking paningin.

REP. VARGAS. Yes, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, you can expect further and immediate action on this issue that you just brought up. The NHA shares your sentiment towards the Happyland Vitas temporary housing, and you can expect immediate action.

REP. ATIENZA. Kung mayroon pong tutulong, huwag na nilang pigilin. Pinipigil pa ninyo, hindi naman ninyo ginagawa iyong trabaho ninyo. So, what do you want to do? You would want to allow the people to just decay in that area? Kung mayroong tutulong, papasukin natin kung sinumang NGO na

gustong tumulong doon, but do not pose an objection because by not doing your job you are losing control over these areas.

REP. VARGAS. The NHA is not objecting. As a matter of fact, the NHA will be relocating 2,240 families already out of the 5,000.

REP. ATIENZA. They are relocating you said, Mme. Speaker.

REP. VARGAS. Yes, Your Honor, 2,240 informal settler families or ISF already.

REP. ATIENZA. Kailan po magaganap iyon, Mme. Speaker? I would like to take …

REP. VARGAS. The relocation is now ongoing po.

REP. ATIENZA. …direct …

REP. VARGAS. They will transfer to—the 700 families have already agreed, through social preparation and dialogue, 700 families will go to the resettlement site in Naic, Cavite po, and 540 families will go to Pleasant Hills, Bulacan, and they have agreed already po, and 1,000 families will go to Camarin, Caloocan po.

REP. ATIENZA. Rest assured, Mme. Speaker, that we will double check …


REP. ATIENZA. … on these claims that they have made today, and we will write them officially and congratulate them if they are doing something about it, but as I have mentioned earlier, we will take legal action to protect the rights of the people to live within the mandate of our Constitution. Hindi puwedeng …

REP. VARGAS. NHA …

REP. ATIENZA. … hindi puwedeng ang tao ay nabubuhay at naninirahan below human standards. Garantisado po ng ating Saligang Batas iyan that they will be—I am sure, they will be found guilty of violations of the same.

REP. VARGAS. Yes, Your Honor. The NHA joins you in pursuing accountability.

REP. ATIENZA. I would like to close this interpellation by stressing to the gentlemen comprising the National Housing Authority. Kapag kayo ay humingi ng budget for housing at 1 percent lang iyong ibinigay sa


inyo, sumigaw po naman kayo para kami ay makatulong sa inyo. Hindi puwedeng tahimik kayo tapos tatayo kayo dito to defend a stupid budget that will not even produce any housing unit. If you keep quiet about the failures of the Department of Budget and Management, as they are the ones who prepare your budget, hindi po kami iyan ho, kung kami ang nag-handle niyan, malaki po ang pondo ninyo, pero kung kayo ay hindi kumikibo at pumapayag kayo, we will assume that you are also part of the insensitivity of those who prepared this budget for our poor people.

Thank you, Mme. Speaker, for the opportunity. Thank you, honorable Sponsor, and we would expect everything that you have committed. We should start with a list of all those who have been charged in the mess of housing which were overtaken by the Kadamay simply because of inferior quality construction, poor studies on the project, and other failings of the past administration of the NHA and even of the country.

Thank you.


THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Garin, S.). Thank you, the Honorable Atienza of BUHAY Party-List.


REP. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we recognize the Hon. Ariel “Ka Ayik” B. Casilao of ANAKPAWIS Party-List for his interpellation.


The Honorable Casilao is recognized. Please proceed.

REP. CASILAO. Thank you, Mme. Speaker.Will the distinguished Sponsor yield to some

questions?

REP. VARGAS. Gladly, Your Honor.

REP. CASILAO. May I know in the past three years the collection rate of the National Housing Authority.

REP. VARGAS. For the past three years—just give me one moment to verify the information. Okay, for the past three years, it has been consistently pegged at a collection rate of 38 percent.

REP. CASILAO. In monetary terms.

REP. VARGAS. Your Honor, just give me one moment to verify the information.



It was 1:05 p.m.





REP. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we recognize the Hon. Alfred Vargas.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Garin, S.). Please proceed.

REP. VARGAS. To answer the question of the honorable Congressman, the Representative from ANAKPAWIS, the past three years’ average of 38 percent, in pesos, it is around P2 billion.

REP. CASILAO. Ang P2 billion ba na ito ay dahil being a GOCC, ito iyong pinagkukunan dahil nga maliit iyong budgetary support ng ating national government. Therefore, umaasa ang operasyon ng NHA para sa kanyang supposedly ginagawang mga bagong programa, isa sa kanyang inaasahan na pondo ay itong sa koleksiyon. Am I correct?

REP. VARGAS. That is correct, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker.

REP. CASILAO. As I understand, i tong pondong nakokolekta na ito ay mayroong nakalaang supposedly mga bagong construction of housing units. Now, I would just like to follow up doon sa sinabi ng aking kasamahan na si Congressman Atienza na dahil nga doon sa nagawang 75,000 housing units and because of the low occupancy rate at iyong pagtanggi ng mga supposed beneficiary, nangyari po iyong okupasyon. At binabanggit kanina, out of the 55,000, 37,000 na po iyong occupied and the remaining is in the process of identifying or already identified beneficiaries.

REP. VARGAS. Already identifying, Your Honor.

REP. CASILAO. No. Identified or identifying pa?

REP. VARGAS. Identifying.


REP. CASILAO. Meaning, mayroon na po bang nakaplanong benepisyaryo?

REP. VARGAS. Yes.

REP. CASILAO. Now, doon po sa kinasuhan, may I know if there are officials or members of the National Housing Authority.

REP. VARGAS. Mayroon po, Your Honor.

REP. CASILAO. Aside from the private developer or the contractor.


REP. CASILAO. Thank you.Nais ko pong banggitin at i-manifest, Mme. Speaker,

annually, the disappointment of this Representation not with the NHA but on how the national government places its importance in terms of allocation, appropriation, and even budget support. I understand because the charter of the NHA being a GOCC will rely on its own self-reliant efforts in producing funds, and perhaps it justifies the reason for the need for a bigger private role in producing supposedly housing for those who are indigents or those who belong to the informal sectors. However, annually, we are sending a very clear message that part of resolving the social ills of our society is the annual increasing number of the supposed housing beneficiaries. And, in fact, the 6.5 million backlog, I have been hearing that annually—tumataas po iyan kada taon.

REP. VARGAS. Yes.

REP. CASILAO. If I can remember in 2015, it was just 5 million.

REP. VARGAS. Yes.

REP. CASILAO. Now, 2018, umaabot na po sa 6.5. The P360 million for the year 2019, for the record, not even a single unit, walang mapo-produce niyan. Am I correct?


REP. CASILAO. Wala? Wala talaga.

REP. VARGAS. Wala.

REP. CASILAO. What could be the reason of the Department of Budget and Management that from the P36 billion proposed budget ng NHA, ang ibinigay lang sa inyo ay P360 million? Please enlighten this

Representation on the messages relayed by the DBM to the NHA by only approving P360 million or at least 1 percent?

REP. VARGAS. Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, the contention of the DBM on the NHA’s requested budget is mainly about one main thing—absorptive capacity. The DBM assumes that the NHA is just like any other implementing agency, but, well, in fact, the Cash-Based Budgeting cannot be applied to the NHA because it takes a really long time just to implement one project. For example, a developer is required to submit at least 70 requirements for compliance, and in the end, these developers, these contractors are required to submit around 300 documents in several copies. So, this already takes time from about six months to one year. So, basically, if you are in a rural area, for example, just to get all the permits, just to get through the bureaucracy, just to navigate through the bureaucracy, sometimes projects of the NHA reach up to three to five years for implementation. So, admittedly, there is a misunderstanding here. I am surprised myself to have the KSA budget amounting only to .07 percent of the whole budget pie as we see the NEP. So, mayroon po talagang—actually, that is the explanation of the NHA even in pre-plenary. Basically, a project of the NHA is long, tedious and costly because of the permit and this plus the existence significantly delay the projects, of excessive red tape. So, basically that is the main contention of the DBM.

REP. CASILAO. But, did the NHA or the KSA ask for an exemption on the...

REP. VARGAS. Yes.

REP. CASILAO. ... Cash-Based Budgeting?

REP. VARGAS. The NHA did. The NHA even asked for a P36-billion budget but they only got 1 percent as the Gentleman from BUHAY Party-List expressed a while ago.

REP. CASILAO. Well, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, kaya nga po hindi natin masisisi ang ibang mga sektor ng ating lipunan na bahagi ng kanyang nakikitang kamalian at kakulangan ng kanyang pambansang pamahalaan o national government is precisely not only the bureaucratic process but the lack of or even the negligible attention given to the Agency that should provide a very important social service to their people. Again, I do not know how to convince our colleagues here, but the facts are very evident. The situation, in fact, in the ground is very evident to convince our colleagues that the need to negotiate with the Executive branch


with regard to the following necessity of augmenting the budget of the key shelter agencies, specially the National Housing Authority, is urgent. I believe a wake-up call—the occupation in Pandi, we said it before, it is a wake-up call. Kailangang may managot, kailangang mayroong gawin ang ating gobyerno para tingnan ang kalagayan kung bakit nangyari. Was the situation allowed and how did the situation allow the occupation in Pandi? Now, dahil nga walang budget or iyong P360 million cannot even provide, probably, a new construction of even a hundred of new housing projects, it will, again, add up to the situation doon sa dumarami at increasing backlog ng ating gobyerno sa pagtugon ng problema.

Precisely, this Representation, Mme. Speaker, and together with my colleagues in Makabayan, is preparing to file a public House bill to replace the existing Urban Development and Housing Act, and the basic intention of the advocacy of this Representation, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, is: one, how soon should a basic social service be part of the primordial responsibility, obligation of the State; hence, it should not be dependent on the nature of—like a business that depends on the profit or the collection where it can operate and it can continue to operate; and being merciful, aasa na lang doon kung magkano ang ia-approve as budget support ng national government. The intention of this Representation is to put forward on an equal footing how the national government considers its obligation to respond to the needs not only of the health sector, but of the Department of Health; for education, the Department of Education; for agriculture, the Department of Agriculture, but an equal footing also in treating housing as a basic social service.

Now, on a particular case, distinguished Sponsor, I am very much aware and involved in consultations with communities and homeowners associations, and we will be expecting a major development, the NLEX Segment 8.2. Based on my initial information, on the data coming in, there are about 250,000 families to be affected because of the construction of the Segment 8.2. Now, may I know the current preparations of the National Housing Authority. I have requested the Department of Public Works and Highways, and the DOTr for specific documents that they complied with in terms of the technical and the blueprint of the construction to be implemented in the near future or ongoing. In fact, there are already the so-called “clearing operations.”

Now, for the purpose of those who will be affected, there is a specific program both in the DPWH and in the DOTr that pertains to the right-of-way. I believe the right-of-way provision of that project is for those who will be paid accordingly—the private structures owned by private individuals that will be affected by the construction.

Now, I think and I believe the concern of the NHA will be focused on the affected informal settlers. May I know the figures currently being considered by the National Housing Authority.

REP. VARGAS. Yes, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker. For the NLEX 8.2 Segment, social preparations are ongoing. There are the regular interagency meetings and dialogues among the 18,000 affected residents. The project will have two options, one of which is the in-city dwellings with medium-rise buildings. This is only 30 meters along the proposed highway. This in-city project is just beside the road and very near or almost in the same location of the highway.

REP. CASILAO. The 18,000 is in accordance with your census, right?


REP. CASILAO. It is not yet the final list or is it a continuing effort?

REP. VARGAS. The 18,000 is already final based on census. Iyon po ang mga tatamaan.

REP. CASILAO. Mme. Speaker, the 30-meter relocation site with medium-rise buildings can fully absorb equitably the affected families.

REP. VARGAS. Yes, most of them.

REP. CASILAO. Give me a percentage—90, 85.

REP. VARGAS. There are no hard and fast facts yet regarding this, but in effect, this project is being offered to all of the 18,000 affected residents.

REP. CASILAO. I am just a bit worried, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, that the 18,000 might be too small. Of course, expect that this Representation will be active, together with our colleague, Cong. Kit Belmonte, in informing the proper agencies with regard to the concerns of the people in the grassroots. This Representation have chapters in the areas …

REP. VARGAS. Yes.

REP. CASILAO. … that will be affected …

REP. VARGAS. That is true.

REP. CASILAO. … and part of our advocacy is to ensure—we are not against development, that is very clear. We are not against a possible project that will


ease up traffic; that will provide jobs for our workers. But we are against such development that is not people-centered. Meaning, the affected communities are properly or are part of the concerns of the development project. They will have to have a role, they will have to have a say and expect government agencies to listen. Ang sa akin lang po, inaalala ko na malaking laban ito para sa amin.

REP. VARGAS. Yes.

REP. CASILAO. In fact, kung ngayon pa lang ay ginagawa na natin iyong nararapat na pagsisikap para linisin talaga iyong areas na apektado, we will be having a smooth transition at the proper time, but if these concerns are neglected, these would simply be considered as left-leaning efforts of disturbing the government. With that, you can really expect a concerted effort from the opposition, but if our concerns and the concerns of the people on the ground, with their efforts in having dialogues and meetings with the proper agencies to address particular concerns are being attended to or being addressed to properly, then be assured that this Representation will be there in assisting and in making efforts to connect with the government.

For my last question, distinguished Sponsor, Mme. Speaker, last weekend, this Representation together with the Committee on Natural Resources, had a Congressional inquiry in Boracay to check the rehabilitation effort. One of the concerns of this Representation raised during the visit—hindi po kami naligo doon para lang malinaw. Iyon po ay opisyal na pagtatanong ng Committee on Natural Resources hinggil sa antas na inabot na ng rehabilitasyon ng Boracay. Part of the entire effort in rehabilitating the island of Boracay was the clearing of structures. Nabanggit po doon sa isang report ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources was the clearing operations on the wetlands. There are nine wetlands in the area being occupied by indigenous people and informal settlers combined. Iba-iba iyong wetlands, may wetland no. 8; wetland no 6. There are indigenous people like the Ati tribe and also informal settlers. Ang sinabi po ng Department of Natural Environment and Natural Resources, na-clear na po iyon. Those who were affected were given proper monetary compensation in terms of financial assistance bilang pamasahe at konting tulong for them to go back to their place of origin or to their provinces.

Itinanong ko sa Kalihim ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources the complete list of the beneficiaries that were provided the financial assistance; mayroon ding binanggit na mayroong relokasyon. I believe this is within the jurisdiction of the National Housing Authority. During the inquiry,

hindi ko lang naitanong kung may kinatawan ba ang National Housing Authority doon. Dahil ngayong may delibersayon tayo sa budget ng NHA, this Representation is very interested to know the role of the NHA in the rehabilitation of Boracay. That is first; second, if there are any, there are really affected ISF in the areas identified during rehabilitation, what are the current preparations and even the programs to respond to, to those affected ISFs in Boracay?

REP. VARGAS. Yes, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, just to confirm, there are ISFs and also IPs. Regarding the action of the NHA, the NHA is allotting 1,000 units in the municipality of Malay for the workers from Boracay and a housing project is being proposed for the indigenous people in Boracay.

REP. CASILAO. Nilinaw po namin na magkaiba ang mga manggagawa ng iba’t ibang resorts, hotels at restaurants. Ang practice nga dati before the rehabilitation period, iyong mga hotels, restaurants, lahat ng mga business establishments doon, mayroon silang mga ginagawang parang kampo o mga pinatitirhang bahay sa kanilang mga mangggagawa. Pero iyong mga nakausap po namin, in particular, around 160 families, hindi sila connected officially or registered as a formal employee of a particular establishment, pero ang livelihood nila ay tinatawag nating informal.

REP. VARGAS. Yes.

REP. CASILAO. Mga masahista po sila na hindi connected to one particular establishment, mga nagtitinda ng iba’t ibang mga paninda na hindi connected to whatever establishment or to a single establishment, pero sila iyong mga kasamahan ng mga manggagawa ng mga iba’t ibang establishments na ngayon ay tinugunan na mayroong 1,000 units for these people considered as ISFs.

May I know i f beyond the ca tegory of immigrant o sabihin nating migrant workers dahil hindi sila taga-roon, pumupunta lang sila doon para sa trabaho, pero iyong mga nakatira doon na hindi connected to any establishment are also considered ISFs. Is there a separate plan for those kinds of people affected?

REP. VARGAS. No, these informal workers are also included in the 1,000-unit allocation.

REP. CASILAO. So, beyond the list?

REP. VARGAS. Yes, they are included.

REP. CASILAO. Can you provide th is Representation…


REP. VARGAS. Yes.

REP. CASILAO. …for verification. I have also in my possession a petition from ISFs in wetland no. 6, no. 8 and no. 3 na hindi po nakapasok sa ganyang programa or they were not considered as qualified. Siguro makikipag-communicate…

REP. VARGAS. Yes.

REP. CASILAO. …na lang ako…

REP. VARGAS. Yes. We can check and coordinate, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. CASILAO. …to sanitize who are qualified and those unqualified.

REP. VARGAS. Yes, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. CASILAO. Thank you, Mme. Speaker. I have no more questions, distinguished Sponsor. Thank you very much.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Garin, S.). Thank you, the Honorable Casilao.


REP. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we recognize the Hon. Makmod D. Mending Jr. from AMIN Party-List for his interpellation.


The Hon. Mending is recognized. Please proceed.

REP. MENDING. Thank you, Mme. Speaker.Assalamualaikum and good afternoon.Mme. Speaker, distingusihed Sponsor, isa lang po

ang iikutan ng aking katanungan, ito po ang Marawi City. Nagpapasalamat po ang mga Maranao sa lahat ng trabahante ng NHA. Maraming salamat daw po.

Ito po iyong tanong sa 2019 proposed budget ng NHA, magkano ang para sa Marawi City, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor?

REP. VARGAS. For the proposed 2019 Budget, there is no budget for Marawi because it is covered by a separate fund.

REP. MENDING. May we know, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, what is that separate fund?

REP. VARGAS. It is an interim fund. It is the NDRRMC fund, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. MENDING. Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, nabanggit na rin ninyo iyong lump-sum fund ng NDRRMC. Ang situwasyon niyan for 2018, mayroong P10 billion for the Marawi rehabilitation fund. Puwede po bang malaman kung mayroong na-release sa NHA out of this P10-billion rehabilitation fund, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor?

REP. VARGAS. Wala pa po, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. MENDING. Maraming salamat.

REP. VARGAS. The NHA is still using its own funds.

R E P. M E N D I N G . I y o n p o a n g i s a n g ipinagpapasalamat natin sa NHA dahil lumalabas na sila ay nagtatapal ng kanilang corporate funds. Ito po ang danger, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, kung bakit ko ito itinanong kasi iyong rehabilitation ng Marawi ay nakaangkla sa NDRRMC fund. Ngayon, walang nare-release sa NHA. October 1 na nga po ngayon, mayroong danger sa timeframe para ma-rehab ang Marawi, pero mayroon tayong nakikitang itinatayo na temporary shelters kaya salamat sa NHA. The General Appropriations Act for 2018 provided a rehabilitation fund na hindi nakakarating sa implementing agency. Nasaan po ang bottleneck? Ano ang problema kung bakit hindi nare-release sa NHA iyong portion ng P10-billion Marawi rehabilitation fund? Mme. Speaker, baka po alam ng ating distinguished Sponsor ang rason.

REP. VARGAS. Right now, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, the NHA is still waiting for that fund that you have just mentioned. They are still in the process of requesting.

REP. MENDING. Thank you, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor.

Out of the P10 billion Marawi Rehabilitation Fund, magkano po dapat ang para sa NHA?

REP. VARGAS. For the NHA, it is P1.7 billion.


Ilang bahay po dapat ang maipapatayo ngayong 2018 out of that fund na hindi naman na-release?

REP. VARGAS. With the P1.7 billion intended for the NHA for housing, it is expected to create or build 6,400 units as transitory shelters.

REP. MENDING. Yes, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, mayroon po sanang 6,000 transitory shelters


na nabuo ngayon 2018, pero ang nangyari, hindi na-release ang pondo kaya hindi magagamit for this year. Puwede po bang malaman kung kailan ibinigay iyong request at saan natengga? Ano ang nangyari bakit hindi na-release?

REP. VARGAS. The request was given around last month, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. MENDING. Okay. Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, nabanggit ninyo na for 2019, nakalagay na naman sa NDRRMC fund ang rehabilitation ng Marawi. Alam po ba ninyo na P3.5 billion lang ang nakalagay sa NDRRMC fund for the 2019 Marawi rehabilitation?

REP. VARGAS. Sorry, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor?

REP. MENDING. Ang nakalagay po sa NDRRMC fund as the Marawi Rehabilitation Fund ay P3.5 billion lamang. That will include the rehabilitation of Marawi kasama iyong shelters at iba pang mga programa. Paano po natin pagkakasyahin ito? Ilan po ba or magkano out of the P3.5 billion ang para sa NHA for 2019?

REP. VARGAS. The P1.7 billion is expected to create the 6,000 plus houses. Right now, out of the 6,000, the NHA has already completed 1,000, and there is ongoing for another 2,000 units.


Ibalik ko lang po, mayroong lump-sum fund na P3.5 billion for 2019, that is for the Marawi Rehabilitation Fund. Now, out of this P3.5 billion, how much did the DBCC allotted to the NHA, out of this P3.5 billion? Iyon lang ang inilagay sa NEP at ngayon ang nakasulat sa GAB, P3.5 billion lang ang rehabilitation fund for Marawi dahil nga raw hindi na-utilize iyong P10 billion for this year.

REP. VARGAS. Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, I just confirmed from the NHA, to answer your question, out of the P3.5 billion, no amount will be used for housing, but instead, will be used for other components in community-building like livelihood and other social factors.


Wala na po siguro akong maitatanong kasi walang pondo ang NHA para sa housing ng mga taga-Marawi for 2019, at wala rin doon sa rehabilitation fund na P3.5 billion. Siguro po, itong issue na ito ay dapat ma-address. Iyon lang po, Mme. Speaker.

Thank you, distinguished Sponsor, good afternoon.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Garin, S.). Thank you, the Honorable Mending.


REP. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we suspend the consideration of the budget of the National Housing Authority.




REP. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we suspend the session for a few minutes.


It was 1:39 p.m.


At 1:40 p.m., session was resumed.



OFFICE OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT

REP. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we begin the consideration of the budget of the Office of the Vice President.



REP. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS. Mme. Speaker, before we proceed, we would like to acknowledge the presence of the Vice President of the Philippines, the Hon. Maria Leonor G. Robredo, and other officials of the Office of the Vice President. (Applause)

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Garin, S.). Welcome. Good afternoon, Ma’am. Welcome to the House of Representatives.


REP. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we recognize the Lady from the First


District of Compostela Valley, the Hon. Maria Carmen S. Zamora, to sponsor and answer questions, if any, on the budget of the Office of the Vice President.


The Hon. Maria Carmen S. Zamora is recognized.

REP. ZAMORA (M.). Thank you, Mme. Speaker. Mme. Speaker, the Office of the Vice President is proposing a total budget of P455,000,853. I am now ready to answer any questions, Mme. Speaker.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Garin, S.). Thank you, the Hon. Maria Carmen Zamora.


REP. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we recognize the Gentleman from the Third District of Quezon, the Minority Leader, the Hon. Danilo E. Suarez.


The Minority Leader is recognized. Please proceed, the Honorable Suarez.

REP. SUAREZ. Thank you, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor. I understand that the request of the Office of the Vice President was reduced by P80 million. Is that correct, distinguished Sponsor?

REP. ZAMORA (M.). That is correct, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. What will be the projects that will be compromised because of this slashing, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor?

REP. ZAMORA (M.). Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, to be exact, the total amount that had been decreased under the Office of the Vice President is P95,000,137. This decrease will greatly affect the subsidies of the Office of the Vice President to the local government units, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, did the Office of the Vice President spend all its proposed budget for 2017? I mean, we have not really gotten into 2018, but did they manage to absorb all its budget in 2017?

REP. ZAMORA (M.). Mme. Speaker, Your Honor,

as of June of 2018, the absorptive capacity of the Office of the Vice President in the implementation of locally-funded projects was already around 50 percent, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. It is 50 percent.

REP. ZAMORA (M.). Yes, as of June 2018, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor. That is for the 2017 implementation, the projects under the locally-funded programs were all implemented, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. All of the 2017 budget was…

REP. ZAMORA (M.). Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, to be exact, the absorptive capacity was around 95 percent for the locally-funded programs.

REP. SUAREZ. So, 95?

REP. ZAMORA (M.). Yes, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. That is precisely the reason I am asking. There were a lot of offices with very less absorbing capacities, and that limited their expenditures. When you spend, you propel growth and in terms of business, you propel business as well, Your Honor. So, Mme. Speaker, on the part of the Minority, we sincerely would like to ask the Majority to do something about that slashing because of the projects that might be still implemented by the office but because of that slashing, some have to be compromised. Can we have the assurance of the Majority on that and we will try to compensate for that slashing of P90 million?

REP. ZAMORA (M.). Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, I am taking note of the manifestation of the Minority Leader.

REP. SUAREZ. Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, thank you for your answer. On the part of the Minority, we do not have any more questions on the proposed budget of the Office of the Vice President and we move to terminate the period of interpellation and debate on the proposed budget of the Office of the Vice President.


THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Garin, S.). Thank you,


REP. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS. Mme. Speaker, on behalf of the Majority, we join the Minority in


terminating the period of interpellation and debate on the budget of the Office of the Vice President.


Congratulations. (Applause)

REP. ZAMORA (M.). Thank you, Mme. Speaker.


REP. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS. Mme. Speaker, I move for a minute suspension of the session.


It was 1:46 p.m.





NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY

REP. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we resume the consideration of the budget of the National Housing Authority.



REP. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we recognize the Hon. Alfred D. Vargas to sponsor the budget of the said agency and answer questions, if any, on the same.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Garin, S.). The Honorable Vargas is recognized.

REP. VARGAS. Thank you, Mme. Speaker. This Representation is ready to answer questions from my colleagues.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Garin, S.). Thank you.


REP. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS. Mme. Speaker, I

move that we recognize the Hon. Antonio L. Tinio of ACT TEACHERS Party-List for his interpellation.


The Honorable Tinio is recognized. Please proceed.

REP. TINIO. Thank you, Mme. Speaker. Mme. Speaker, ilang mga katanungan sa ating kagalang-galang at magiting na Sponsor, na ilang oras na pong nagtatanggol sa budget ng NHA pero napakahalaga po kasi ng pinag-uusapan pa natin, of course, the NHA, bilang isa sa mga pangunahing ahensiya kaugnay sa pabahay Nais ko lang balikan ang isang napakahalagang punto na na-raise ng ilang mga kasamahan natin mula kina Congressmen Atienza, Mending, Brosas, Casilao at iba pa. Ito nga iyong kasalukuyang budget na ipinagtatanggol, P360 million para sa NHA na, sinabi na kanina, ang aktuwal na hinihingi ay P36 billion pero P360 million lamang ang ibinigay. Muli po, ano po ang made-deliver ng NHA sa 2019 batay sa P360 million budget na iyan?

REP. VARGAS. The P360 million, You Honor, Mme. Speaker, is intended for social prep.

REP. TINIO. So, for social prep. Paki ano po—please elaborate. So, actually, hindi pa pala pabahay ito pero social preparation?

REP. VARGAS. Yes, for social preparation.

REP. TINIO. Ano po iyong social preparation, para po maliwanagan tayo.

REP. VARGAS. Well, social preparation means, lahat po ng mga dialogue at pakikipag-usap sa mga intended beneficiaries in making sure iyong mga karapatan po nila ay hindi natatapakan and everything is in good form and process and wala po tayong batas na nilalabag. So, the following components: for example, pre-location wherein P25 million will be allocated; community development, P103 million; land cost, around P200 million; and community facilities, P30 million.

REP. TINIO. Thank you, Mme. Speaker. I appreciated that breakdown of the P360 million. So, isang malinaw po, hindi pa pala iyong P360 million—sabi nga natin ito ay 1 percent pa lang ng P36 billion na proposed iyong P360 million—ay para sa aktuwal na pagpapatayo ng pabahay, kung hindi sa mga social preparation, including some facilities for, siguro, already existing housing projects, parang ganoon. So, talaga


pong tila sa 2019 budget, wala po tayong maaasahang bagong mga pabahay na makakabawas sa––again, ilan po iyong current estimate ng housing backlog sa ating bansa, Mme. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor?

REP. VARGAS. By year 2022, the estimated housing backlog will be 6.5 million.

REP. TINIO. It will be 6.5 million by 2022? Okay. So, iyon nga po ang concern natin katulad noong ibang mga naunang nag-interpellate, Mme. Speaker, na mayroong projected 6.5 million housing backlog by 2022. In other words, by the end of this administration, ano po ang target ng Duterte administration in terms of housing? Ilan ang target na mapapatayo ng Duterte administration from 2019 to 2022?

REP. VARGAS. The target of this administration is to produce 50,000 housing units, for NHA alone per year until 2022.

REP. TINIO. So, 50, 000 housing units per year?

REP. VARGAS. Yes, per year.

REP. TINIO. For the NHA housing per year, ito iyon. Okay, 50,000 per year. So, if we are talking about 2019, if we are talking about four years, dapat iyan 200,000 ang target. Kaya lang, sinabi ninyo nga na for 2019, wala kayong budget para sa 50,000 housing units na iyan. Tama po ba?

REP. VARGAS. That is correct, Your Honor.

At this juncture, Deputy Speaker Sharon S. Garin relinquished the Chair to Deputy Speaker Frederick “Erick” F. Abueg.

REP. TINIO. So, in terms of actual numbers, ilan po ang projected na mapapatayo ng NHA by the end of the Duterte administration, iyon nga po bang 200,000?

REP. VARGAS. Yes, that is correct. By the end of this administration, by 2022, the NHA is expected to at least complete 200,000 units, Your Honor.

REP. TINIO. All right. Matanong lang po natin—bakit nga po uli ginawang P360 million lamang, ano iyong justification for just giving the NHA a P360-million budget. Why are you defending that budget gayong sinasabi ninyo na 6.5 million housing units ang projected backlog, and the NHA has a target of producing 200,000 housing units by 2022? So, why stand up here and propose a P360-million budget?

REP. VARGAS. Well, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker, the main contention of the DBM is still absorptive capacity.

REP. TINIO. Absorptive capacity, so, ang tingin nila—himayin lang natin. Ang sinasabi yata for 2019, there is no budget for housing. So, ano ba talaga ang absorptive capacity ng NHA—in other words, in one year, ilan po ang napapatayo kasi iyon ang sukatan ng DBM, hindi po ba? Ano ang aktuwal na kaya mong ipatayo sa loob ng isang taon? So, based on the previous year’s records, ilan po ba talaga ng aktuwal na napapatayo ninyo sa isang taon?

REP. VARGAS. Well, the NHA is confident with the 50,000 units, if that is what you are asking, the absorptive capacity.

REP. TINIO. This is in one year po ha.

REP. VARGAS. Sorry?

REP. TINIO. Sa isang taon po, nagagawa ninyo iyan.

REP. VARGAS. Sa isang taon, but the gestation period is long. It takes about two to five years.

REP. TINIO. Okay. So, may gestation period na two to five years. So, maging tapat tayo—from gestation period to actual construction, gaano katagal po ba talaga iyong cycle?

REP. VARGAS. Three years

REP. TINIO. Three years po?

REP. VARGAS. It takes 36 months on the average, Your Honor.

REP. TINIO. Okay. Three years, so, iyon po ang riyalidad. Hindi po kaya ng isang taon.


REP. TINIO. Hindi kaya ng isang taon, but 3 years. So, paano po iyon, how can the NHA deliver 50,000 in one year, in the next four years, to deliver 50,000 units per year? Paano po magagawa iyon kung years po ang gestation period, sabi ninyo nga?

REP. VARGAS. The intended 50,000 units per year is expected to start per year, then expected to end after 24 to 36 months, and this will go on for the next years until 2022. Then after 2022, we will expect more completion after that, to explain the 200,000 housing units.


REP. TINIO. So, ang aktuwal na sinasabi po ninyo, in the next 3 or 4 years, the NHA will initiate the construction of 50,000 units per year.

REP. VARGAS. Yes, 50,000 units per year.

REP. TINIO. Pero hindi po ibig sabihin na made-deliver na ito within 12 months. Imposible po.

REP. VARGAS. Within 12 months, no, it is impossible for the NHA.

REP. TINIO. So, well, is DBM on board with that kind of planning as far as the NHA is concerned? Ang gusto nila, ang lalagyan ng budget lang daw ay iyong aktuwal na mababayaran na. Hindi lang ma-obligate pero mababayaran, may actual disbursement, pero ang alam naman natin, ang disbursement ay nangyayari lang kapagka may actual delivery na noong proyekto. Hindi po ba, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor? Iyon ang ibig sabihin ng Cash-Based Budgeting.

REP. VARGAS. Yes. That is correct.

REP. TINIO. So, may katiyakan po ba kung gayon na popondohan, na papayagan ng DBM na bigyan ng sapat na pondo ang NHA gayong kayo mismo ay umaamin na hindi ninyo kayang ma-deliver iyong 50,000 housing units sa loob ng 12 buwan o isang taon?

REP. VARGAS. Well, as I had expressed a while ago, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, the NHA requested P36 billion, but the NHA got only one percent of that, and it was really the call of the DBM, honestly.

REP. TINIO. Okay. For clarification, iyong P36

billion na hiningi ninyo po, ano ang target doon? REP. VARGAS. The P36 billion, okay, here—I stand

corrected. The total request sent to the DBM, the original request of the NHA to the DBM was P30.6 billion, not P36 billion. Sorry, Your Honor.

REP. TINIO. Okay. Thank you. So, P30.6 billion. REP. VARGAS. Yes, P30.6 billion. The DBM

only approved P30.6 billion and the breakdown of the P30.6 billion was: Regional Resettlement Program, P9.7 billion; Resettlement Program for ISFs affected by the Supreme Court’s mandamus to clean-up the Manila Bay area, P2.9 billion; Resettlement Program for ISFs affected by Infrastructure Projects, P2.1 billion; Vertical Development, P3.8 billion; Settlements Upgrading, P68 million; Site Services, P9.6 million; AFP and PNP Housing Program, P10.3 billion; Other Government

Employees’ Housing, P1.2 billion; Construction of Facilities for Existing Resettlement Sites, P230 million; with a total of around P230 million—no, P30.6 billion.

REP. TINIO. Sa P30.6 billion po ito. Now, in

general terms, kung tatanungin ko po kayo, mga ilang pabahay po ang target na ipatayo ng P30.6 billion na iyan? I know not all of that is meant for the construction of new housing but generally speaking, ilan po ang bagong pabahay na kayang ipatayo, given this request of P30.6 billion?

REP. VARGAS. Just one moment, Your Honor.

The answer to your question, for the P30.6 billion, supposedly, you can construct 91,000 houses.

REP. TINIO. Okay, 91,000. Thank you for

that. That was very instructing, Mr. Speaker. In other words, para makuha ninyo po iyong target na 50,000 housing units per year, okay, let us put a figure—magkano po ang kailangan ng NHA para makuha iyong, you know, 200,000 new housing units by the end of the Duterte administration? Ilang bilyon po ang kailangan?

REP. VARGAS. The NHA actually proposed P500

billion to address this.

REP. TINIO. So, P500 billion to address the target of 50,000 units per year?

REP. VARGAS. No, the general housing backlog. REP. TINIO. Okay, P 500 billion ang kailangan

para dito sa 6.5 million housing shortage in general. So, iyon ang kailangan, okay. You know, I am assuming na ang kailangan ng NHA to produce something like 50,000 would be around P40 billion per year. My rough estimate would be something like that, tama ba? Iyong 50,000 units per year na target ninyo, magkano ang kailangan ninyo?

REP. VARGAS. So, to produce 55,000 units, it was rounded up to around P25 billion if you put the cost of the house at P500,000.

REP. TINIO. Okay. Around P25 billion per year, so, iyon po ang actual na kailangan over the next four years kung gusto o kung seryoso ang NHA at ang Duterte administration na maka-produce ng 50,000 housing units per year. Obviously, sa 2019, wala na iyan dahil ang aktuwal na bina-budget lang dito ay P360 million. So, I do not see how your agency can produce 50,000 units next year. To this particular point, Mr. Speaker, idinidiin natin iyong kakulangan, obviously,


iyong kakapusan ng pagpondo sa pabahay ng Duterte administration. Samantala, lumalaki ng lumalaki iyong pangangailangan at aabot na sa P6.5 million iyong backlog or shortage.

I raised a similar concern during the debates on the budget of the DepEd na, again, because of Cash-Based Budgeting, the DBM authorized for the DepEd, something like a budget of only—ilang bilyon ba iyon? Well, the budget will be sufficient only for the construction of around 7,000 classrooms in a year. For next year, 7,000 lang, roughly, ang mga classrooms na maitatayo ng DepEd para sa 2019. Ang problema doon, at ang DepEd mismo ang nagsabi, para daw makahabol o maka-agapay ang DepEd sa annual increase in enrollment dahil taon-taon lumalaki ang populasyon natin, kailangang makapag-produce ang DepEd ng at least 10,000 classrooms a year. In other words, iyong absorptive capacity noong ahensiya na pinagbabatayan ng DBM sa pagba-budget under the Cash-Based system, ni hindi kayang maka-agapay doon sa kakulangan taon-taon because of just natural population growth. In other words, sa Cash-Based model na ganito, sa halip na ma-address iyong mga shortages ay lalong lalaki ang mga shortages.

REP. VARGAS. Yes.

REP. TINIO. So, mukhang ganoon diin ang nakikita nating malaking problema sa Cash-Based approach kapag na-apply mo ito sa NHA. Sabi ninyo nga kailangan ng 50,000 housing units a year para may significant contribution ang NHA sa pagbawas doon sa backlog or shortage pero sa halip ay tinatanggalan kayo ng budget.

So, Mr. Speaker, nirerehistro namin muli ang isang malakas na pagtutol sa pag-apply ng Cash-Based approach na ito lalo na sa mga ahensiyang nagde-deliver ng batayang serbisyong panlipunan, maging edukasyon, kalusugan at ngayon, pabahay. Needless to say, ang Kinatawan pong ito ay sumusuporta sa panawagan na dagdagan ang pondo para sa actual housing ng NHA.

REP. VARGAS. Yes, thank you.

REP. TINIO. Okay. Now, let me move to another concern and this has to do with the rehabilitation of Marawi. So, alam natin na mayroong Task Force Bangon Marawi at alam natin na ang lead agency diyan ay iyong HUDCC. Kanina ay tinalakay na ang budget nito pero alam din natin na may malaking papel na ibinibigay sa NHA sa rehabilitation ng Marawi. Could the Sponsor clarify exactly the role of NHA in Task Force Bangon Marawi and the rehabilitation of Marawi?

REP. VARGAS. Well, specifically for the mandate

of the NHA, they will develop low-cost housing but make sure these housing units are of good quality and delivered on time.

REP. TINIO. Okay. Partikular po sa Marawi rehabilitation, what specific role has been given to the NHA? Halimbawa, alam ko ang Task Force Bangon Marawi is organized into various subcommittees. Hindi ba may mga ganoon iyan? Overall, the task force is headed by the HUDCC, by Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario, pero may mga subcommittees iyan. So, iyong NHA ay kabilang po ba sa alin mang subcommittees ng Task Force Bangon Marawi?

REP. VARGAS. Yes, the NHA is tasked to be the implementing agency in terms of delivering 6,400 temporary housing and for the permanent housing, 2,000.

REP. TINIO. Okay, 6,000 units of temporary housing and 2,000 permanent.

REP. VARGAS. Yes, 6,400 units to be exact, Your Honor, with 2,000 permanent.

REP. TINIO. Okay, all right. So, first of all, let us have some numbers. According to news reports, pagkatapos po ng Battle of Marawi, umabot up to 600,000 iyong mga internally displaced persons because of the Marawi conflict. Ngayon po, ilan na po ba ang number of internally displaced persons more than a year after the conflict?

REP. VARGAS. The number, Your Honor, is around 17,000.

REP. TINIO. So, 17,000 na lang po.

REP. VARGAS. Yes, 1-7.

REP. TINIO. May mga reports po na ang sinasabi ay up to 350,000 pa iyong internally displaced persons. Medyo malayo doon sa ibinibigay ninyo na 17,000 na lang.

REP. VARGAS. These are 17,000 families.

REP. TINIO. Families?

REP. VARGAS. Yes, families, Your Honor.

REP. TINIO. Okay. So, ano iyan in terms of the number of persons, ilan kaya iyon?

REP. VARGAS. The assumption is around 4 to 5 members per family.


REP. TINIO. Okay. So, that is around 85,000.

REP. VARGAS. Yes.

REP. TINIO. Medyo malayo pa rin po doon sa 350,000. Anyway, sige po. According to the NHA, there are around 17,000 families, internally displaced families, at roughly 85,000 iyan kung i-times five natin. So, let us say, 85,000 to 100,000. Ngayon, iyong in terms of temporary housing, may housing po sa mga resettlement areas. Tama po ba?

REP. VARGAS. Yes, Your Honor. We have 3 sites.

REP. TINIO. Okay. Ilan po ang resettlement areas?

REP. VARGAS. There are 3 resettlement areas.

REP. TINIO. Ano-ano po iyan at saan po?

REP. VARGAS. Sagonsongan, Rorogagus and Boganga.

REP. TINIO. Okay. May tatlong sites po at iyong 17,000 families are in those 3 sites. Tama po ba?

REP. VARGAS. Sorry, Your Honor?

REP. TINIO. Iyong 17,000 families na binanggit ninyo are to be found in these 3 resettlement areas? Is that correct?

REP. VARGAS. No, not all.

REP. TINIO. No? Then please clarify. Paano po at sino po ang nandiyan sa mga resettlement areas na iyan?

REP. VARGAS. Just give me one moment to collect the data.

REP. TINIO. Sige po.

REP. VARGAS. Okay, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker. There are three ways to help these families. Number one is for the so-called home-based option; number two, adopt a family; and number three, all the ones that will be left behind will go to the temporary shelter.

REP. TINIO. Okay. Ilan po ang pamilya o ilang katao ang nasa mga temporary shelters as of now?

REP. VARGAS. To date, as of now, around 935.

REP. TINIO. So, only 935 families are in these

3 resettlement areas. Okay, thank you. Of course, ang pangunahing concern, sabi natin, ay may 17,000 families, at pagkatapos, either they find housing on their own o nakikitira sa mga pamilya, mga kakilala, et cetera, or the government gives them some sort of assistance, or nandito sila sa mga resettlement areas. Okay, of course, ang pangunahing concern ay kailan po makakabalik ang lahat ng mga ito, kung babalik man sila? But of course, the key to that would be the actual rehabilitation of Marawi City itself.

At this point, gusto ko pong mabigyan ng update kung ano na po iyong status ng rehabilitation ng Marawi sa pangunguna ng Task Force Bangon Marawi. Earlier this year, the President issued some guidelines, including Executive Order No. 49, Exempting the National Housing Authority from the National Economic and Development Authority Guidelines on Joint Venture Agreements to Expedite the Implementation of Recovery, Reconstruction, and Rehabilitation Projects in the Most Affected Areas of Marawi City. This was issued by the President on February 5 this year, 2018. Noong lumabas po ito, siyempre may concern na kaagad tayo.

Our question is, why is there a need for the President to issue this particular EO to exempt the NHA from existing joint venture guidelines. So, may question mark na kaagad doon. However, sa pagkakaalam namin, nagpatuloy po ang NHA at nagsimula ng negosasyon para makahanap ng joint venture partner para sa rehabilitasyon ng Marawi at iyong rehabilitation po ng Marawi, just for the record, kapag sinasabi pong rehabilitation ng Marawi subject to initial joint venture, ano po ba iyong covered dito? Actually, hindi lang po housing ito. Iyan din po ang isang kapansin-pansin sa papel ng NHA sa rehabilitation ng Marawi. They will actually not just be in charge of providing housing, whether temporary shelter or permanent housing for the victims of the conflict in Marawi—hindi lang po iyon. In fact, the NHA has been given a lead role in the total rehabilitation of Marawi City. Tama po ba? Hindi po ba ganoon iyon?


REP. TINIO. Ano po iyong saklaw nila doon sa rehabilitation ng Marawi? It is not just housing. Anu-ano po ba?

REP. VARGAS. Well, initially, the attitude was, the NHA believed that or Bangon Marawi members believed that the joint venture would supposedly be a faster way of rehabilitating Marawi, but come the findings, the rehab or reconstruction of many affected areas, after evaluating them, included the following scope of work: debris management, road infra, underground facilities, master development plan, barangay complex, school


buildings, promenade—everything and a whole lot more that will require otherwise.

REP. TINIO. That is correct, opo. So, may binanggit po kayong ilan—review management, site development plan, concrete road infrastructure with provision for bike and pedestrian lanes, et cetera.

Tama po ba?


REP. TINIO. Including the provision for underground utilities such as water, power, telecommunications—galing po ito sa presentation ng Task Force, tama po?—on both sides of the Agos River and Lake Lanao. The waterfront shall be allocated for parks and recreational sites—may ganoon?


REP. TINIO. Then, centralized waste water treatment, centralized sewerage treatment plant, 24 units of 1,000-square meter lots of barangay area complex. So, may barangay hall with provision for health center; multipurpose hall; two classrooms for madrasa, et cetera; 20 two-storey elementary and high school buildings with 20 classrooms each; meeting, conference and events convention hall with a 5,000-seating capacity; 2 hectare memorial sites, with a museum; preservation of, at least, 3 historical o heritage sites, including the Bato Mosque; port facilities, multi-modal transport hub; and 2-hectare Grand Padian o central market—tama po ba? Is this correct?

REP. VARGAS. It is very correct.

REP. TINIO. Yes.

REP. VARGAS. Very detailed.

REP. TINIO. So, kapag sinabi nating Marawi rehabilitation involving the NHA, hindi lang po ito iyong pagpapatayo ng—anong sabi ninyo kanina—2,000 housing units, permanent housing units ang NHA? In fact, practically, for the reconstruction of the whole city or, at least the central area, the very core of the city, magkano po ba iyong total na halaga ng proyektong ito?

REP. VARGAS. The total amount of this project is P16 billion.

REP. TINIO. It is P16 billion, okay. So, initially, ang intindi ko po, at batay doon sa na-cite kong Executive Order No. 49 kanina, ang plano ng Task Force Bangon Marawi at saka ng NHA is to enter into a joint venture agreement.

Iyon ang moda ng rehabilitation. Ano iyong joint venture agreement? Ang NHA—ang government agency o corporation na iyan ay makiki-partner sa isang private entity, at pagkatapos, papasok sila sa negosyo para ipatayo iyong binanggit nating project kanina worth P16 billion at para magawa po iyon, naglabas pa ng executive order si Pangulong Duterte at sabi niya, “Exempted ang NHA sa existing rules ng NEDA on joint venture agreement.” Sabi niya sa EO, bahala na ang NHA na gumawa ng sarili niyang guidelines sa joint venture agreement. So, nakakataas-kilay po iyong mga hakbang na ito dahil napakalaking reconstruction project ito at pagkatapos, well, you know, NHA was given the authority to make up its own rules essentially, parang ganoon. Pagkatapos, after this was issued, ang alam ko ay may consortium po na kausap and in fact, na-award na ang consortium …

REP. VARGAS. Hindi pa po.

REP. TINIO. Hindi pa umabot sa, ano po, pagkakaroon ng agreement?

REP. VARGAS. Hindi pa po na-award. Hindi pa.

REP. TINIO. Ano iyong na-award? So, iklaro ninyo na lang po. I am talking about the Bangon Marawi consortium, tama po?

REP. VARGAS. Hindi pa po. As of now, it is still under negotiation.

REP. TINIO. Okay. So, iyong Bangon Marawi consortium—tama po ba?—ito po iyong consortium made up of, is it 7 Chinese and Filipino firms?

REP. VARGAS. Terminated na iyong negotiation nila with Task Force Bangon Marawi.

REP. TINIO. Terminated na nga, gusto ko lang buuin natin. So, initially, nakipag-usap sa consortium na ito composed of Chinese and Filipino construction firms essentially at pagkatapos, nagkakaigihan na sa usapan, pero eventually, na-terminate. Kailan po ito na- terminate?

REP. VARGAS. June 14, 2018.

REP. TINIO. Okay. So, bakit po na-terminate?

REP. VARGAS. Because of technical and legal issues.

REP. TINIO. Okay. What are the technical and legal issues?

REP. VARGAS. Just give me one moment,


Your Honor, Mr. Speaker. After consulting with the National Housing Authority, there are 3 reasons: 1) unconsularized documents, since they are from China; 2) the documents were not translated in English....

REP. TINIO. Puwede bang pakiulit lang po iyong una—sorry.

REP. VARGAS. Unconsularized documents.

REP. TINIO. Unconsularized documents? Ano po ang ibig sabihin noon?

REP. VARGAS. Unconsularized, basically, ang ibig sabihin, wala pong tatak ng consul.

REP. TINIO. Okay, sige po, no consular sign.

REP. VARGAS. Number 2, not translated in English.

REP. TINIO. Okay.

REP. VARGAS. Number 3), failure to comply with equity requirement. Thus, because of these 3 reasons, the NHA was forced to proceed with regular procurement pursuant to the provisions of R.A. No. 9184 po.

REP. TINIO. Okay. So, may mga legal technicalities na hindi nasunod. Sabi ninyo nga, in Chinese iyong na-submit na documents, hindi Ingles. Unconsularized, pero ang mahalaga diyan, sabi ninyo nga, failure to show, basically …

REP. VARGAS. Equity, failure to comply with the equity requirement.

REP. TINIO. …iyong equity requirement. Kulang ang capital, parang ganoon. Okay. So, kinausap na ng NHA, consortium ito, pagkatapos ay hindi pala makapagpakita na mayroon silang sapat na capital; we are talking about the P16 billion rehabilitation project, so, napaka-basic. So, kinansel ninyo po, okay. Of course, ang concern natin ay naaantala po iyong rehabilitation kapagka ganyan, due na ito. Immediately after, ano na po ang status? Ang nabalita naman po ay may bagong kausap na ang NHA and this time, instead of a consortium, it is supposedly a Filipino-registered company. That would be PowerChina Philippines, tama po ba? Iyon ang nasa news report po. Tama po ba iyan?

REP. VARGAS. This is the PowerChina Consortium, Your Honor.

REP. TINIO. Now, it is also a consortium, okay. So,

iyong PowerChina—sandali po ha para eksakto—well, mayroong PowerChina Corporation of the Philippines. Sino po ba exactly ang kausap ninyo? Kasi iyong PowerChina, it is one of the biggest state-owned firms in China pero, of course, hindi naman puwedeng iyong PowerChina, the actual state-owned firm, ang direktang kakausapin ng NHA because, you know, the Constitution requires that you deal with a Filipino-owned corporation, meaning, 60 percent Filipino ownership, and so on. So, sino po ang direktang kausap ng NHA?

REP. VARGAS. Your Honor, would you be amenable to the NHA giving you a copy of the complete list?

REP. TINIO. Sorry—of the …

REP. VARGAS. Of the complete list of the names you are asking for.

REP. TINIO. Yes, please do pero, just for the record, sino po iyong actual na kausap ng NHA? Is it PowerChina Philippines?

REP. VARGAS. Well, the name you are asking for is Finmat International Resources Incorporated.

REP. TINIO. So, now, it is Finmat, okay.

REP. VARGAS. Ito iyong part of the consortium.

REP. TINIO. Now, it is part of the consortium, okay. First of all, ano na po ba ang modo ng procurement ngayon na sinusunod ng NHA dahil noong una po ay joint venture agreement, kaya joint venture pa rin po ba ito?

REP. VARGAS. Negotiated contracts.

REP. TINIO. Negotiated contracts. So, under the Procurement Law, particularly the law on negotiated contracts, hindi po competitive bidding?

REP. VARGAS. No, sir.

REP. TINIO. Bakit hindi po competitive bidding?

REP. VARGAS. Because of the emergency nature of this whole project.

REP. TINIO. Okay. So, ang sinusunod ninyo po ay iyong proviso sa Procurement Law which allows under certain circumstances for negotiated contracts.

REP. VARGAS. Yes, negotiated contracts.


REP. TINIO. Okay. So, iyong una doon, kapagka may three failed biddings—hindi ba?—puwede iyong procuring agency to go for negotiation. Obviously, hindi po it iyon. Ang sumunod, ang applicable would be, because there is some sort of emergency situation…

REP. VARGAS. Yes, emergency.

REP. TINIO. Okay. So, iyon po ang tinutuntungan kung bakit walang bidding at negotiated contracts ito. Ngayon, according to the laws, rules and regulations that apply, particularly mula dito sa Manual of Procedures for the Procurement of Goods and Services na inilabas ng Government Procurement Policy Board or the GPPB, in the section on negotiated procurement, ang sinasabi po rito, kung magne-negotiated procurement iyong agency, kailangan iyong mga suppliers should be in good standing. So, ano ang ibig sabihin ng “in good standing”? First, it should be registered sa PhilGEPS. Another would be, may track record na—in other words, dati nang…

REP. VARGAS. Nakaka-capacity

REP. TINIO. …ka-deal ng gobyerno at nakakapag-deliver based on their contracts. Of course, the others would be iyong capacity—iyong may sapat na pera, so on and so forth. So, again for the record, sino po ba ang kausap ng NHA ngayon? You said, it is a consortium.

REP. VARGAS.. Finmat International.

REP. TINIO. So, hindi na po siya PowerChina?

REP. VARGAS. Well, the PowerChina is a consortium but Finmat is the Filipino or the local counterpart.

REP. TINIO. So, Finmat na po.

REP. VARGAS. Opo, tama po.

REP. TINIO. So, it is a consortium where you both have the PowerChina and Finmat. Okay. May track record po ba ang PowerChina sa Pilipinas?

REP. VARGAS. Yes, the GPPB is on board every meeting of SBAC and MBTWG.

REP. TINIO. Okay. The GPPB is on board in every meeting, that is good to know. Ang tanong ko po ay iyong track record ng PowerChina sa Pilipinas. May mga proyekto na po ba sila previously sa Pilipinas?

REP. VARGAS. Yes, based on evaluation of the GPPB, it has a good track record.

REP. TINIO. In the Philippines?

REP. VARGAS. Yes, in the Philippines.

REP. TINIO. Ano na po ba ang mga proyekto ng PowerChina sa Pilipinas?

REP. VARGAS. The list is with the GPPB, but the NHA will give a copy.

REP. TINIO. Well, ang hinahanap ko rito ay iyong PowerChina Philippines, this Filipino—what do you call that—subsidiary or affiliate was only registered in April of this year. It was only registered with the SEC in April of this year, so, paano po magkaka-track record iyong PowerChina sa Pilipinas?

REP. VARGAS. The NHA is willing to show you the documents of proof of its track record. We just do not have it now because it is with the GPPB.

REP. TINIO. Okay. Well, hindi po ba puwedeng mabanggit iyong mga proyekto na nagawa na ng PowerChina ngayon?

REP. VARGAS. You know, it is …

REP. TINIO. You know, pagka ganiyan po, I will have to wait for the documentation you are referring to.

REP. VARGAS. Your Honor, the NHA can furnish you the list by tomorrow at the latest.

REP. TINIO. O sige po, then I will hold you to that. So, may track record—sabi ninyo, may track record ang PowerChina sa Pilipinas.

REP. VARGAS. Yes, per the NHA.

REP. TINIO. Okay. Ito na lang po, since nauubos na rin ang aking oras—could you give us the latest update on the status of negotiations with PowerChina? Ano po ang status ngayon?

REP. VARGAS. It is still pending NEDA ICC approval.

REP. TINIO. Kanina may mga binanggit na budget for rehabilitation. In case of an agreement, a successful negotiation is closed with PowerChina, saan po manggagaling iyong budget para sa rehabilitation based on the awarded contract with a possible awarded contract with this Finmat–PowerChina consortium. Saan pong budget kukunin iyan? Kanina, may mga binanggit na…


REP. VARGAS. All the funds will come from the special fund of DBM.

REP. TINIO. A special fund of DBM, saan po iyan? Ang alam ko, sa 2019 budget ay mayroong P3.5 billion for Marawi rehabilitation. Tama po ba?

REP. VARGAS. Sorry, Your Honor.

REP. TINIO. In the 2019 budget, magkano po iyong nakalaan for Marawi rehabilitation?

REP. VARGAS. It is P3.5 billion.

REP. TINIO. So, P3.5 billion.

REP. VARGAS. Billion, yes.

REP. TINIO. Okay. So, that is for 2019. In 2018, magkano po ang existing?

REP. VARGAS. For 2018, it was P10 billion.

REP. TINIO. So, may P10 billion, okay. Kung mag-award po ang NHA ng kontrata sa consortium na ito, saan po manggagaling iyong budget, at magkano po ito? Sabi ninyo ay P16 billion ang total ng proyekto na ito. Iyon po bang buo ay available na or, you know, how much will be initially obligated by government for this rehabilitation? Saan po manggagaling iyong pondo?

REP. VARGAS. The P16 billion will be sourced from the special fund from the DBM.

REP. TINIO. The special fund from the DBM? What is the special fund from the DBM? Nasaan po iyan sa General Appropriations Act? Ano iyong special fund na iyan? I am not aware of any special fund from the DBM. Could we get a clarification from the Sponsor regarding that?

REP. VARGAS. The DBM instructed the NHA to propose this—that whatever they need, it will be released on a yearly basis and this will be done through a supplemental budget.

REP. TINIO. A supplemental budget, okay. So, wala pa po. In other words, this will be released through a supplemental budget.

REP. VARGAS. Yes, wala pa po.

REP. TINIO. So, wala ito sa General Appropriations Act, okay. Well, thank you for that piece of information. Ngayon ko lang po narinig iyan. I do not know if our colleagues are aware of that pero medyo nakakabahala

rin ito, lalo na para sa mga mamamayan ng Marawi. Wala pa lang budget iyong rehabilitation, ano. Walang pirming budget sa 2019 para sa rehabilitation, pagkatapos…

REP. VARGAS. The budget, Your Honor, is…

REP. TINIO. …ay iaasa lang sa supplemental budget.

REP. VARGAS. No, Your Honor. The budget is initially P3.5 billion.

REP. TINIO. Okay, P3.5 billion, but this will not be for the reconstruction of the most affected areas?

REP. VARGAS. Yes.

REP. TINIO. So. hindi pa kasama iyong pinakawasak na bahagi ng Marawi. Walang budget dito at iaasa pa ito sa supplemental budget, okay.

Maraming salamat, Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker. With that, I end my interpellation. Thank you.

REP. VARGAS. Thank you, Your Honor. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). The Majority Leader is recognized.

REP. ROBES. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call on another Representative from BAYAN MUNA, Rep. Carlos Isagani T. Zarate, for another interpellation.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). The Honorable Zarate is recognized.

REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Magandang hapon po sa ating lahat. Will the good Sponsor entertain some clarificatory questions?

REP. VARGAS. Gladly, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker.

REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Sundan ko na lang iyong nabanggit ni Congressman Tinio, as a matter of manifestation. I am really surprised, ang DBM parang Diyos siya sa pagdating ng budget, ano? Iyong ibang mga departamento ay tinatapyasan niya, especially frontline services; iyong iba naman, tinataasan niya. Now, you are saying, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker, nangako na siya na bibigyan ka ng budget taun-taon via a special fund, although through a supplemental budget. So, talagang ito iyong pino-point out natin dito—ang DBM, nagmula lang ito sa isang bureau noon pero siya na ngayon ang pinakamakapangyarihan. In


fact, it even encroaches on the power of Congress in so many instances, na tayo ay sunud-sunuran na lang, kahit na iyong mga departamento.

With that manifestation, Mme. Speaker, I will go directly to at least three points. Sundan ko na lang kaagad iyong nabanggit na rin kanina ni Congressman Casilao of ANAKPAWIS doon sa project ng NLEX-SLEX Connector Road. Mayroong kakambal na project iyan at ito iyong North-South Railway Project na magdudugtong ng National Capital Region to Legazpi City and Albay. Alam ninyo, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker, very little has been mentioned about the social costs of these twin projects. Matagal na ito pero matagal na rin gustong marinig ng mga mamamayan dito na affected ng projects na ito—because this is a densely-populated area, especially the Sampaloc area, the so-called University Belt of the country, some 38 barangays will be affected, to date. So, now, my question is, ano ba ang concrete plans ng Kagawaran? Ang affected rito ay hindi lang naman mga informal settlers, but even iyong mga middle class settlers—iyong mga retirees, mga empleyado ng pamahalaan—na nagtayo na kanilang kabahayan rito ay affected ng dalawang projects na ito. May we hear from the NHA, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker?

REP. VARGAS. Yes, Mr. Speaker. This is a flagship project and this is a major project wherein the social cost of this—this Representation agrees with you—should always be taken into consideration first and foremost. It is true that the NHA will not take this lightly. For Manila to Laguna and Laguna to Sorsogon, the NHA is set to provide 100,000 units of houses for everyone, for every family that may be displaced for this project, and this is in partnership with the Department of Transportation, worth of P30 billion which the DOTr is supposed to download to the NHA po.

REP. ZARATE. So, you were saying—kasi ang worry talaga nila dito, Mr. Speaker, wawalisin iyong 38 barangays, at least iyong mga affected dito sa 38 barangays na ito.

REP. VARGAS. The NHA is guaranteeing an on-site or at least, near-city relocation.

REP. ZARATE. You are saying that there is a P30-billion budget already?

REP. VARGAS. The budget for this is not yet with the NHA; it is still with the DOTr, which amount will be downloaded to the NHA.

REP. ZARATE. So that means, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker, na talagang kahit na, halimbawa, mayroon akong kakilala doon, retired employee na siya, bumili

siya ng property at nandoon na iyong bahay niya, sisirain iyon, idi-demolish iyon at ililipat sila? Is that what we are looking at here, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker?

REP. VARGAS. Actually, the alignment already exists; we just need to extend the setback.

REP. ZARATE. That is precisely iyong question nila. At any rate, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker, ang problema ngayon nitong mga affected residents—in fact, nagbuo sila ng association, iyong 428 Homeowners Association as well as the Sampaloc People’s Alliance, dahil sila iyong talagang affected nito, and they have been given the runaround by the DOTR, by the DPWH. That is why we are raising this question because as far as the DPWH is concerned, and even the DOTR mentioned this during the budget briefing, that these twin projects will be in full blast during the first quarter of 2019. So, are we expecting the massive displacement and demolition of residential houses along this area, Mr. Speaker? And are we already prepared? You are saying the social cost, na kailangang paghandaan ito. How prepared are we to accommodate all these affected residents in these 38 barangays, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker?

REP. VARGAS. The social preparations are ongoing, and the NHA is clear in stating that there will be no demolition.

REP. ZARATE. Okay. Can I get that commitment?

REP. VARGAS. The NHA will make sure that there will be no demolition.

REP. ZARATE. Okay, so, all right. Can we have that commitment on record, Your Honor, that there will be no demolition as far as the affected residents of these twin projects are concerned?

REP. VARGAS. The General Manager of the NHA, through this Representation in this Plenary today commits.

REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Your Honor. May we just request from Your Honor, Mr. Speaker, a detailed submission on the social cost preparation, on what the agency is doing for this purpose.

REP. VARGAS. Certainly, Mr. Speaker.

REP. ZARATE. May I now go to another topic, Your Honor. Early this year, there was this controversy at the Agency, the NHA, because the employees’ union of the NHA raised some legitimate issues, but instead of squarely addressing the issues, the union was labeled,


in fact, was red tagged as being influenced by the Communist Party of the Philippines. You know, this red tag label, we raised concerns over that, especially in these past months and in fact, the AFP is trumpeting October as “Red October,” whatever that is.

So, I am raising this concern because I know that the union of the National Housing Authority is one of the most active unions among all the agencies. That union is advocating for the cause and interests of the government employees. So, may we get a categorical statement from the agency, Mr. Speaker, kung ano ba ang policy natin? Are we encouraging or discouraging our employees to join associations and advocate for issues that are relevant to them and for their benefit, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker?

REP. VARGAS. The NHA categorically respects all the rights of the Filipino workers as enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, and there is no objection from the NHA for the workers to express their ideas and problems and concerns. It just so happened that the employees rallied during office hours at the lobby itself, which is not allowed by the Civil Service rules. Otherwise, given a different venue, if it is break time, then the NHA has no problem with that.

REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Siguro po, kailangan lang ay hindi tayo maging onion-skinned. As relayed, probably, may sariling interpretasyon ang Kagawaran, ang liderato ng ahensiya, pero hindi ho siguro masamang pumalakpak ang mga empleyado. Ang pagkakaalam ko ay wala naman talagang nagdala ng mikropono doon at nag-rally kagaya nang ginagawa ng maraming grupo. Iyon po ang gusto nating i-raise and in relation to that, Your Honor, isa sa malalaking issues talaga na kinakaharap ng maraming mangagagawa ngayon sa iba’t-ibang ahensiya ng ating pamahalaan, at posibleng ito rin ang sitwasyon sa NHA, ang usapin ng mga job order employees and contractual employees. Siguro, alam ng ating Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, na mayroong inilabas na kautusan, Joint Circular No. 1, ang Department of Budget and Management, Commission on Audit and Civil Service Commission, at nakasaad doon na hanggang December 31, 2018 na lang puwedeng mag-hire ng job orders or contractuals and contracts of service or MOAs ang mga ahensiya. Puwede ko bang maitanong, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker, sa NHA ba, ilan ang ating mga job orders, contractuals and memorandum of agreement employees, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker?

REP. VARGAS. For the job orders—the NHA terms them as “emergency workers”—there are 800.

REP. ZARATE. So, 800. All contractuals?

REP. VARGAS. That included job orders and contractuals, all in the 800.

REP. ZARATE. So, ito na lahat iyon sa buong kapuluan na. We have 800 non-plantilla and non-regular workers.

REP. VARGAS. Iyan po lahat iyon.

REP. ZARATE. Matanong po natin, Mr. Speaker—dahil nga rito sa inilabas na circular na ito ng DBM, ang Kinatawang ito ay malakas na tumututol dito kasi sa halip na bigyan natin ng kasiguruhan ang trabaho ng ating mga kawani sa pamahalaan—alam ko marami rito sa 800 na ito ay matagal nang nasa NHA at ngayon, sa December 31 ay ma-endo na rin sila. That is very ironic and, in fact, tragic na tayo sa pamahalaan, sinasabihan natin ang private sector to end endo at tapusin ang kontraktwalisasyon pero tayo, ang pamahalaan mismo, ang gobyerno mismo ay nagpa-practice ng endo. So, ang tanong natin, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker, what is the plan now of the agency for these 800 emergency workers or non-regular, non-plantilla workers?

REP. VARGAS. First of all, Mr. Speaker, the NHA would like to express agreement with you on your stand, in your objection to this; and to answer your question regarding the 800, the NHA will continue to renew them, as it is right now doing.

REP. ZARATE. Come again, Your Honor, you will…

REP. VARGAS. We will continue to renew these 800 workers.

REP. ZARATE. That is the problem because this Circular says that you can only do this until the end of 2018. By 2019, you can still hire but kukunin ninyo na ho sa agency. Iyan ho iyong hypocrisy diyan, if I may call it that. Hindi ka magha-hire ng regular pero kukuha ka sa agency next year. So, parang itinulak ninyo sila na sa halip na direktang i-hire sila, itong 800 ay itatapon o itutulak sila doon sa mga agency.

REP. VARGAS. Tama po iyon.Just to express this information, Mr. Speaker, the General Manager challenged this already before the Civil Service, and let us just say that this matter is still hanging.

REP. ZARATE. Okay. Thank you, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker. May we get a commitment? Some agencies made representations to the DBM, Civil Service and COA, and in fact, they allocated some budgets. For example, the SBMA, they have 1,600 contractuals at nag-allocate sila doon ng pondo para maging regular, at least, iyong 1,200 doon.


So, may we get a commitment, Your Honor, from the agency if it can also make representations with the DBM, the Civil Service and the COA, for this issue to be remedied. In fact, we are calling for the scrapping of this Joint Circular No. 1, if not, in the interim, the deferment of the implementation of this Joint Circular, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker.

REP. VARGAS. Well, the NHA is in the process of reviewing its staffing pattern and the NHA will be recommending the absorption of these workers to plantilla status.

REP. ZARATE. Thank you. I am glad to hear that, Your Honor, at least we can now get a commitment on record.

REP. VARGAS. Your Honor, that is the commitment that the general manager of NHA stated through this Representation.

REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Next year, when we will discuss our budget, these 800 workers, I hope, will already be absorbed by the agency.

One last item: the creation of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development. I know we already or I think we passed this already. May I inquire from the agency whether or not there will be employees who will be displaced once this supposed Department is created, Mr. Speaker.

REP. VARGAS. What is the department again?

REP. ZARATE. There is a proposal to create, and the NHA supported this, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development. May I inquire, Your Honor, if, once this particular department is created, this will absorb the NHA and other housing agencies.

REP. VARGAS. As proposed, in the creation of the Department of Human Settlements, nobody will be displaced, Mr. Speaker.

REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, we will rely on that assurance and commitment from the Sponsor.

That is all, Your Honor. Thank you for entertaining my interpellation questions.

REP. VARGAS. It is my pleasure, Mr. Speaker.

REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

REP. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, thank you.


REP. ROBES. Mr. Speaker, the next person to interpellate is Rep. Salvador B. Belaro Jr. from 1-ANG EDUKASYON Party-List.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). The Honorable Belaro is recognized.

REP. BELARO. Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, before this Representation closes the interpellation on behalf of the Minority, may I just ask the good Sponsor if he would yield to just one question.

REP. VARGAS. Gladly, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker.

REP. BELARO. Before that, Mr. Speaker, may this Representation be allowed to make some preparatory remarks with respect to the one question it will be fielding to the distinguished Sponsor. Mr. Speaker, the question that this Representation would like to field to the good Sponsor revolves around the matter of whether in the formulation of the policy on housing, the National Housing Authority will consider the residence of the grantors as the primordial consideration for the grant of the housing units. The reason for this, Mr. Speaker, is quite obvious, especially in the light of the 21st century phenomenon of most citizens in Metro Manila liking to be positioned near geographically contiguous places of work. I also think it is about time that we explore the possibility of setting up high-rise buildings so as to answer the need for housing and, of course, the maintenance thereof. I would like to see in the budget of the National Housing Authority a particular funding for this and also for the maintenance of these high-rise units.

The other thing in relation to that, Mr. Speaker, is that this Representation sponsored a bill on on-site housing for teachers. I think, while we understand that housing is indeed a problem in our country, it is not just a matter of housing, it is not just a matter of providing for a budget, Mr. Speaker, but it is also a matter of allocating it properly. It is also a matter of wise allocation because it will be useless if, for example, you are giving a housing unit to somebody working in Metro Manila in a place in Basilan. I think that is very obvious.

I think we have had an experience of so many horror stories where we are working here in Makati, for example, and yet we are housed in, for example, Pampanga. It is not very far, but I think it makes sense that for example, right now, we are trying to promote education with the free college education law and we believe that the administration has a policy of incentivizing or promoting quality education. I think it


is about time that we work for the quality of education. I believe this Congress had a very good beginning by granting and liberalizing access to education. That is a very good starting point, but I think, after granting that, it will be useless if we will not work for quality education and the best way to do that creatively is to incentivize the teachers. If we cannot give them an increase in salaries, probably we could give them an incentive by making their housing facility on the site of their places of work. So, given these parameters, Mr. Speaker, the question that this Representation would like to raise to the good Sponsor is whether there is any provision in the budget that provides for or could accommodate a policy for on-site housing of our teachers in this country.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor.

REP. VARGAS. Thank you, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker. As a general policy of this administration of the National Housing Authority headed by General Manager Escalada, it is always the first option of the NHA to provide on-site and in-city; then, if not in-city or on-site, at least near-city relocation. If they are the actual occupants of the property, the NHA will do everything in its power to provide specific housing or the specific needs through community needs analysis.

As per your question regarding the teachers, by way of a joint resolution from the Upper and Lower Houses, Joint Resolution No. 2, there are available units that are not occupied now, and because of this Joint Resolution, the NHA will be able to provide or pass these on to the LGUs and especially the teachers. So, ibibigay lang po ito especially sa dalawang entities—the LGUs and the teachers.

REP. BELARO. Mr. Speaker, this Representation would like to commend the good agency for coming out with such a resolution. I think it is a seminal step in the right direction. I think we can better incentivize our teachers—but of course, without prejudice to what we are working on as regards their increase in salaries—by really giving them housing contiguous to their places of employment. I think that is very creative, and I personally would like to thank the good agency for that first step. Also, Mr. Speaker, I would like to manifest to the good Committee that they take a kind look at the provision in the matter of allocation of the budget to increase the budget for on-site housing allocation for our teachers.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Considering that there is no more Representative from the Minority who wishes to interpellate, this Representation would like to move for the termination of the period of interpellation and debate on behalf of the Minority.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor.



REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Majority, we join the Minority in its motion to terminate the period of interpellation and debate on the budget of the National Housing Authority.

I so move, Mr. Speaker.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). There is a joint motion to terminate the period of interpellation and debate on the budget of the National Housing Authority. Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.

Congratulations. (Applause)

REP. VARGAS. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since I have been here since 10:00 a.m., I would just like to say, sa mga senior citizen po na nandito ngayon, mahal na mahal po kayo ng Kongreso ng Pilipinas. (Applause)



REP. NOEL. I move to suspend the session, Mr. Speaker.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). The session is suspended.

It was 3:03 p.m.



THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). The session is resumed.


SUSPENSION OF CONSIDERATION OF H.B. NO. 8169

REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, I move that we suspend the consideration of House Bill No. 8169.


THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.



REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, I move that we recognize the Hon. Francisco “Jun” G. Datol of the SENIOR CITIZENS Party-List for a short speech.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). The Honorable Datol is recognized.

QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE OF REP. DATOL

REP. DATOL. I rise on a collective privilege regarding senior citizens because this week, October 1 to 7, is Senior Citizens’ Week.

Mr. Speaker, my colleagues in this august Chamber, today is the first day of Elderly Filipino Week or Senior Citizens’ Week which has been proclaimed under Presidential Proclamation No. 470, series of 1994. Presidential Proclamation No. 1048, series of 1997 declared a “Nationwide Observance in the Philippines of the International Year of Older Persons.” This is to emphasize the important role of older persons in nation-building and to raise and address issues concerning the society of elders. It also aims to address the issues concerning the elder people’s sector. As provided in our Constitution, the State is duty-bound to recognize the rights of senior citizens by providing support through various social systems. Thus, senior citizens are granted benefits and privileges that range from 20 percent discount and VAT exemption to mandatory membership in the government’s health care system.

At this juncture, we would like to give special thanks to our very dear Speaker, Mme. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, for giving us the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 because during her term as the President of the Republic of the Philippines, this important piece of legislation was signed into law. Thank you, Mme. Speaker. (Applause) This law is the bible of senior citizens when it comes to their rights, responsibilities, benefits and other privileges. We also would like to thank the principal author of this law, our senior erudite Rep. Edcel C. Lagman (Applause) and his Senate counterpart, the articulate Sen. Loren Legarda. (Applause)

In the Philippines, there are about 10.5 million senior citizens and the number is still growing every year. This figure is something to reckon with in terms of the number of electorate. This number can make or break a President during election. There are several senior citizens’ associations and organizations and other senior citizens’ groups in the country and sometimes, they are antagonistic with each other in vying for recognition. It is my fervent desire to get them together under one roof and thus, this is the main objective of my House Bill No. 6251 for the creation of the National Senior Citizens Commission. (Applause)

This Bill seeks to create a Commission that will be responsible for the effective implementation and

monitoring of the objectives of the different laws concerning senior citizens. While the rationale of these laws is quite clearly spelled out, there is no national agency that is responsible for the overall implementation of these objectives. We have to contend with the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) created in every municipality and city, which offices sometimes have variable and conflicting procedures in implementing senior citizens laws. As we have said in the past, this office was just being used, most of the time, by the local chief executives in the furtherance of their political ambitions. In fact, there was a municipal mayor in Rizal whose picture was placed in front of the OSCA ID which was bigger than the picture of the ID holder. This is a case of the so-called “epal” politician or “credit grabber,” in claiming credit for government projects. The OSCA IDs in the different municipalities and cities have different colors, styles and designs to suit the liking of the local chief executive thereat. The National Senior Citizens Commission intends to have only one style, color and design so as not to confuse the public.

There are times that the OSCA heads are chosen by the mayor even if she or he is not yet a senior citizen and there are times that their terms of office are even extended beyond what the law provides. Under the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, the OSCA should be apolitical and it is unethical for local executives to be involving officials and employees of this office for their political interests. The General Appropriations Act mandates that all government agencies and instrumentalities should allocate 1 percent of their total agency budget to the programs and projects for older persons and persons with disabilities. Sometimes, this allocation intended for senior citizens’ benefits is used for other purposes, thereby defeating the intention of the law.

These are some of the problems that the National Senior Citizens Commission seeks to correct. So, we, the senior citizens of the Philippines, are respectfully beseeching this august Body to please give us your significant imprimatur in passing the Bill creating the National Senior Citizens Commission. (Applause) We will consider it an early Christmas gift to us from you. (Applause) It is now with the Chairman of the Appropriations, the hope of senior citizens, Cong. Maria Carmen Zamora, and later, it will be in the Plenary for the immediate approval of all the Members.

For the information of our senior citizens, we observed that establishments offer no discounts on their promotional sales. Under the BIR ruling, you have to choose between the promo discount and the 20-percent senior discount, whichever is higher. If the promo discount is higher, then you cannot, in addition,


invoke your 20-percent senior discount. However, the 12 percent value-added tax is always demandable and this is not covered by the promo discount. Likewise, most establishments are not honoring discounts for senior citizens if they do not present the OSCA ID. This is wrong! Under Republic Act No. 9994, senior citizens may submit, as proof thereof, any of the following: an identification card of the OSCA of the place where the senior citizen resides, provided that the identification card issued by the particular OSCA shall be honored nationwide; the passport of the senior citizen concerned; and other documents like driver’s license and others.

My undying wish for the senior citizens of the country is for them to have decent and respectable lives. On this score, I had passed several bills, the important ones are the following: House Bill No. 6251 – AN ACT CREATING THE NATIONAL SENIOR CITIZENS COMMISSION AND PLACING THE OFFICE OF THE SENIOR CITIZENS AFFAIRS UNDER ITS CONTROL AND SUPERVISION, it will be known as the “Datol Law;” House Bill No. 6610 – AN ACT PROVIDING AS AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCE WHEN THE VICTIM OF A CRIME IS A SENIOR CITIZEN AND MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCE WHEN THE OFFENDER IS A SENIOR CITIZEN AND AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE ACT NO. 3815, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE REVISED PENAL CODE; House Bill No. 6719 – AN ACT PROVIDING FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS AS EMPLOYEES IN PRIVATE ENTITIES BY GRANTING INCREASED INCENTIVES TO PRIVATE ENTITIES THAT EMPLOY SENIOR CITIZENS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE CERTAIN PROVISION OF R.A. NO. 9994, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE EXPANDED SENIOR CITIZENS ACT; and House Bill No. 6980 – AN ACT PROVIDING REPRESENTATION OF SENIOR CITIZENS IN THE DIFFERENT LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991.

As the Representative of SENIOR CITIZENS Party-List in Congress, the following are some of my accomplishments: P5 million to P10 million worth of senior citizens buildings in different parts of the country: NCR, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao; the P17 million worth of medicines and guarantee letters to the DOH-accredited hospitals such as the Philippine Heart Center, the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, the Lung Center of the Philippines; other hospitals in Davao, Nueva Ecija, Batangas and in some parts of the Visayas that work hand in hand with the DSWD giving additional pension such as UCTs or dagdag na P2,400 for every indigent senior citizen, numbering 3 million already, and the proposed P3,600 next year for 2019 and

another P4,800 for the year 2020; giving free medicines to all senior citizens with diabetes and hypertension in coordination with the DOH; and many others. I am also drafting other bills for your benefit. I will strongly fight and lobby for their approval.

To our dedicated leader of the Philippines, Your Excellency, Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte, we only wish that our Lord Almighty will give you a long life so that you may build a better and a strong Republic. We believe in your dreams of making the country a federal republic. We will rally behind you, Mr. President.

Dr. Rizal once said, “Ang kabataan ay ang pag-asa ng bayan,” pero ang mga senior citizens ang nagbibigay ng katuparan nitong pag-asa ng kabataan. (Applause) Dito po sa Kongreso, 292 po tayo na mga Kinatawan, at mula dito, ang mga senior citizen na Congressmen at Congresswomen ay mahigit 100 na po. It has been said that today’s youths are immersed in self-centered activities using their laptops, cellphones and other electronic gadgets. Our country might be in danger of drifting away from the real and important values that their seniors have sought to pass on to them. Their seniors should redirect their activities and not stop from inculcating in them the value of being of service to others in the family, the community and the country as a whole.

To the senior citizens of this country, rest assured that your vision in life is also my vision, and I will not stop fighting for our rights here in the halls of Congress. (Applause) Ipakikipaglaban ko po tayong lahat hanggang sa huling pintig ng aking buhay, (Applause) kasama ko ang magaling nating Speaker ng House na si Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, ang magaling nating Majority Leader Nonoy Andaya, (Applause) at ang lahat ng Deputy Speakers, at gayundin ang minamahal nating Minority Leader na si Danny Suarez. (Applause)

Mga Mambabatas na kasamahan ko sa Kongreso, ipagdasal po natin ang lahat ng Mambabatas, na sana ay bigyan pa tayo ng mahabang buhay upang maaprubahan ang ating batas at bigyan ng budget na P500 million ang Senior Citizens Commission. (Applause) Muli, magsitayo tayong lahat at palakpakan natin ang lahat ng Congressmen at Congresswomen dito sa Seventeenth Congress.

Marami pong salamat at magandang araw sa inyong lahat. (Applause)

REP. ATIENZA. Mr. Speaker.


REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, before we recognize the next Member to interpellate, may we acknowledge the presence of some guests in the gallery. A defender of


senior citizens, we have Atty. Romy Macalintal and he is the guest of the Hon. Jose “Lito” L. Atienza Jr

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). Our guest, Atty. Romy Macalintal, we welcome you to the House of Representatives. (Applause)

REP. NOEL. Likewise in the gallery, Mr. Speaker, are the graduate students of Masters in Public and Business Management of the Florencio Vargas College, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. They are the guests of the Hon. Ramon C. Nolasco, Hon. Baby Aline Vargas-Alfonso, Hon. Randolf S. Ting and Hon. Michelle M. Antonio.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). Our guests, we welcome you to the House of Representatives. (Applause)

REP. NOEL. We are also honored with the presence of Barangay Council Members and other officials of Barangay Naugsol, Subic, Zambales headed by the Hon. Tadeo Binuya. They are the guests of the Hon. Jeffrey D. Khonghun from the First District of Zambales.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). The guests of the Honorable Khonghun, we welcome you to the House of Representatives. (Applause)

REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, may we recognize the next Member to speak on the Senior Citizens Week, the Hon. Jose “Lito” L. Atienza Jr. from BUHAY Party-List.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). The Honorable Atienza is recognized.

REP. ATIENZA. Maraming salamat po, Mr. Speaker, Mme. Majority Leader, our colleagues, and the Father of the Senior Citizens Party, ang ating narinig na si Congressman Datol—binabati po namin kayo.

Isa lang po ang aking itatanong, at pagkatapos naman nito ay magbibigay din naman tayo ng pahayag patungkol sa ginagawa ninyo at ng pinagtutulungan ng buong Kongreso. Iyon po bang ating imbestigasyon sa paggamit ng pondo ng senior citizens na kinuha noong nakaraang administrasyon at ginamit sa katarantanduhan—sapagkat hindi po nagkaroon ng benepisyo ang ating matatanda at bagkus, marami sa kanila ay nagkaroon ng problema sa kanilang mga mata dahil inoperahan daw ng katarata samantalang hindi naman dapat, at ginawa ito para kunin lang pala ang salapi—ano po ba ang latest na maaari nating ilahad sa imbestigasyon na ito?

REP. DATOL. Your Honor, Mr. Speaker, sa ngayon

po, ang imbestigasyon ay pansamantalang natigil dahil nga sa budget hearings natin, pero pinag-usapan na po ng committees na after nito, itutuloy ang imbestigasyon. Alam ko na kasama po kayo diyan, isa kayo sa mga Kongresista na nag-iimbestiga rin diyan.

REP. ATIENZA. Salamat po sa magandang balita. Kailangan may magdusa, makulong kung kinakailangan, iyong gumamit ng pondo para sa senior citizens. Uulitin ko po—ito ay ginamit sa katarantaduhan. (Applause) Ngayon po naman ay nais lang naming magpahayag na isang karangalan na tayo ay dinaluhan ng sangkatutak na lolo at lola sa hapong ito sa pagsisikap ng SENIOR CITIZENS Party.

Nagpapasalamat din po kami sa pagdalo ni Atty. Romy Macalintal, na hindi magiging kumpleto ang ating pagkilala kung hindi natin bibigyan ng halaga ang kanyang pagsisikap, single-handedly, ang maipaglaban niya ang R.A. No. 9994 upang ang ating korte ay pumanig sa kasasabi lamang ninyo. Ang isang senior citizen ngayon ay hindi na kailangang gumamit ng OSCA card, tandaan po ninyo iyan. (Applause) Anumang ID na issued by the government, ang passport ninyo o kung magkakaroon na tayo ng national ID, iyon lamang ay sapat na at hindi na kailangang yumuko sa sinumang pulitiko para pakinabangan ang mga benepisyo para sa mga lolo at lola. (Applause)

Hindi ko malilimutan, noong 1976, noong sinisimulan namin ang kilusang ito, kami ay pinagtatawanan. “Bakit ninyo pinagkakaabalahan ang mga matatanda?” Ang sagot namin sa kanila, “Kasi walang tutulong sa kanila kung hindi sila tutulungan ng kabataan.” Kaya pinagsumikapan po natin kaya ngayon ay ganap na ang benepisyo dahil may batas na na pinaiiral ang ating bansa sa pagkilala sa kanila (Applause). At kung matutupad po lahat ito, na alam ko namang matutupad dahil sa bilang ng ating Kongresista, sapagkat ito ay pagtutulung-tulungan natin.

Ang mga senior citizens na binibigyan ng benepisyo kapag sila ay umabot ng isang daang taon ay hindi po naman praktikal. Sapagkat ang sabi ng batas, iyong senior citizen na isang daang taon, kailangan lumakad, pumunta sa munisipyo at personal na kunin iyong pera. Hindi na po magagawa iyon sapagkat marami sa ating mga isang daang taong senior citizens ay nakaratay na rin sa banig o kaya naman ay hirap nang lumakad. Kaya sa pagsisikap ni Congressman Datol at ni Congresswoman Aquino Magsaysay, at ng lahat ng Miyembro ng Kongresong ito, the Seventeenth Congress will pass a law so that the senior citizens, upon reaching the age of 80 will already get a benefit of P30,000 from the government. (Applause) Kapag umabot po siya ng 90, another P30,000. (Applause) Kapagka dating po niya ng isang daang taon, P40,000 ang kanyang pakikinabangan. Dapat lang tulungan natin si Congressman Datol sa kanyang pagsisikap na ito.


Hindi po tayo titigil diyan sapagkat malayo pa ang landas ng ating mga mamamayan tungo sa isang karapat-dapat na pamumuhay pagkatapos magsakripisyo at maging mahusay na mga mamamayang Pilipino. We have to support Congressman Datol in his dream for senior citizens—a senior citizen in the country who will be respected, loved and cared for. Mga nangyayari na po iyan. (Applause) Makikita natin na ang lahat ng ating pinagsisikapan ay nagbubunga na. Ituloy-tuloy natin ito as we celebrate Senior Citizens Week as declared by law. First week of October ay kailangan ibigay din natin sa ating mga puso at damdamin ang panunumpa na hindi tayo titigil hanggang ang mga lolo at lola ay iginagalang at minamahal dito sa ating minamahal na bansa. (Applause) Now, to celebrate this particular week, again, with the leadership and intervention of our friend, Atty. Romy Macalintal, you can now go straight from here, dumiretso kayo sa Resorts World, libre ang seniors doon maghapon bukas at saka sa Huwebes. Nilalakad pa naming maging libre din ang sinehan sa buong taon para sa mga lolo at lola. Kaya iyong wala pang mga kaparada, manood kayo ng sine, maglibang kayo, magbasa kayo ng diyaryo, umiba po kayo sa landas ng ating bansa, makialam kayo sa ating mga isyu. Rest assured that your Congressmen today are one with you and we will do everything we can to attain that the dream of Congressman Datol and the dream of every Member of Congress, to find ways and means to give our senior citizens the life that they truly deserve. Having served our country by giving the best years of their lives, they have to be given a real treatment befitting a senior citizen of the Republic of the Philippines.

Magsaya tayo at tayong lahat ay sumigaw—Mabuhay ang ating mga lolo at lola. Maraming salamat po. (Applause)


REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, I move that we refer the speeches of the Honorable Datol and the Honorable Atienza to the Committee on Rules.



REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, I move that we suspend the session for a few minutes.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). The session is suspended for a few minutes.

It was 3:36 p.m.







REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, I move that we resume the consideration of House Bill No. 8169 and direct the Secretary General to read only the title of the Bill.


THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). The Secretary General is directed to read only the title of House Bill No. 8169.



DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM

REP. NOEL. The parliamentary status of the said Bill is that we are in the period of sponsorship and debate on House Bill No. 8169. Mr. Speaker, I move that we begin the consideration of the budget of the Department of Tourism.



REP. NOEL. Before we recognize the Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, I move that we acknowledge the presence of the members of the Department of Tourism who are in the Plenary right now, headed by Sec. Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Undersecretary Arturo Boncato Jr., Usec. Benito Bengzon, Usec. Edwin Enrile, Usec. Reynaldo Ching, together with the rest of the DOT family.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). We acknowledge the presence of the DOT family.


REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, I move that we recognize the Hon. Michael John R. Duavit of the First District of Rizal to sponsor the budget of the DOT and answer questions, if any.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). The Honorable Duavit is recognized.

REP. DUAVIT. The Committee is ready to defend the budget of the Department of Tourism, Mr. Speaker.



REP. NOEL. As the first Member who will interpellate, I move that we recognize the Hon. Anthony—I move for a one-minute suspension of the session, Mr. Speaker.


It was 3:42 p.m.





REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, as the first Member who will interpellate the honorable Sponsor, I move that we recognize the Representative of the First District of Lanao del Norte, the Hon. Mohamad Khalid Q. Dimaporo.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). The Hon. Mohamad Dimaporo is recognized.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the honorable Sponsor be willing to just take a few questions so I can make a manifestation? I will not take long, Mr. Speaker.

REP. DUAVIT. Gladly, Mr. Speaker.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). To start with, Mr. Speaker, may I request, so that we can place it on record, again, what is the total budget of the Department of Tourism for year 2019?

REP. DUAVIT. The total obligations, Your Honor, is P3.39 billion, only P3.39 billion.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). So, it is P3.39 billion and this is Cash-Based for 2019?

REP. DUAVIT. Yes, Your Honor.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Mr. Speaker, may I also request if the honorable Sponsor can share with us the breakdown of the Department of Tourism’s budget in terms of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. May we know how much is allocated for Luzon, how much is allocated for Visayas and how much is allocated for the Region of Mindanao.

REP. DUAVIT. For 2019, Your Honor, the budgets for the regional offices are P185 million for Luzon, P74 million for Visayas and P101 million for Mindanao. In terms of percentage, that will be 51.3 percent–Luzon; 20.6 percent–Visayas and 28 percent–Mindanao.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). It is 28 percent for Mindanao.

REP. DUAVIT. Yes, Mr. Speaker.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). I did not quite hear that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask also, as regards the region of Mindanao because we are under martial law, that two years ago, I asked this question during our budget briefing and I was not satisfied with the answer we got from the previous Department of Tourism Secretary. Maybe, we can get it on the record here now, today, Mr. Speaker, on the effect of martial law in the region of Mindanao in terms of tourist arrivals?

REP. DUAVIT. The effect, Mr. Speaker, is that there was a slight reduction in foreign arrivals. However, for domestic travellers coming from the rest of the country, there was an increase. So, all in all, there was a net increase of 14.48 percent during this period, to what we refer to as “smiling martial law.”

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Now, it has been popularized in our media that martial law is equitable to or equates to some sort of a negative image but, just like what was mentioned here in our records today on the floor, martial law had a net positive effect as far as the region of Mindanao is concerned. I have asked this of every agency that I can ask when we had our budget briefings. When I asked the Philippine National Police if there had been a positive effect as regards martial law, they gave me crime statistics wherein there had been a nice drop in terms of the crime rates because of the martial law that we had in Mindanao.

In the same way also, Mr. Speaker, just like what


was introduced here today, a lot of critics may be attacking our President as far as the implementation of martial law is concerned in the region of Mindanao, but our experience in Mindanao is that it is such a very peaceful and a very safe place, as this is not the same martial law that was experienced in the previous administration or what our history books were telling us. And I am blessed, Mr. Speaker, that in our region, Region X, Northern Mindanao, although we experienced the same drop as far as foreign tourists are concerned, but as far as domestic tourists are concerned, there had been a nice, satisfying increase in domestic tourist arrivals in the region of Mindanao and in Northern Mindanao. Again, may I have this confirmed by the honorable Sponsor.

REP. DUAVIT. That is correct. The data corroborated the assumptions of the honorable Gentleman. For Region X, the increase was actually 17.3 percent, which was second highest among the regions outside of the ARMM.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Now, Mr. Speaker, I would like to move forward. Unfortunately, for our good Secretary, Secretary Bernadette, she stepped into the Department of Tourism during a time of scandal with, I think, P60 million being questioned because of an ad placement. I would like to point out, Mr. Speaker, that in our region, and perhaps in every region, the Department of Tourism has been proactively engaging in social media promotion of our local tourist destinations. Now, in terms of the national advertisements, we are talking about P60 million, but in terms of social media promotion, maliit lang ang gastos ng Department of Tourism and yet, this is very effective in promoting local tourism. Can I have a confirmation, Mr. Speaker?

REP. DUAVIT. In principle, Mr. Speaker, yes, it is a lot cheaper to go with social media but actually, the benefit of social media as far as the cost, that if you are going to calculate according to the CPM or cost per thousand is, basically, that it is very targeted and this showed itself as far as global ads spending is concerned, where e-platforms are now taking up 70 percent of spending.

In the past, as you pointed out, there was this questionable P60 million that was allotted for one of the government subsidiaries, PTV 4, and it was even again questioned in the Committee, of which we are both members, Mr. Speaker, the effectivity of this, again, using the cost per thousand calculation which is the industry standard for promotions. Well, with the new Secretary, there has been a huge paradigm shift where in the past, the Department took it upon itself to make the determination of where to place these ads and the distribution of these ads spending and they are now

contracting international agencies with the expertise to cater to and target precisely the markets we want to access. So, we will not be seeing any more of this type of discretionary moves, Your Honor.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, as regards the global or international ad placements, if P60 million will be spent, as far as my Representation is concerned, I fully support the Department of Tourism family. This is understandable, especially when we have global or internationally recognized tourist destinations such as the islands of Boracay or Palawan, or other areas here in the Philippines where they have really global or international acknowledgement as prime tourist destinations. But what of provinces, for example, small provinces inside the Autonomous Region on Muslim Mindanao, or small provinces like the province of Lanao del Norte, it is understandable also that it will be difficult, or maybe non-feasible to place our province in ad placements costing P60 million and so forth. This is why we engaged the Department of Tourism to promote our provinces through social media.

I would like to acknowledge, Mr. Speaker, the hard work of our Regional Director in Northern Mindanao. Every fiesta sa munisipyo, every festival in the province, she is always there with a blogger, with somebody from the social media and so, at least, the province has an outlet to show what is in Lanao del Norte. Ang problema namin sa Mindanao is that a lot of people think it is a scary place and so, we need an outlet to show that Mindanao is a beautiful region, it is not plagued with war, it is not a scary place. It is actually an untapped tourist destination, and one of the ways that we can show this is to work with the Department of Tourism.

Mr. Speaker, the reason I am bringing this up is now, we are also having a paradigm shift in our budgeting system. Our paradigm shift is the Cash-Based Budgeting System. Under the Cash-Based Budgeting System, if the department is not utilizing its funds, slashed na ang budget nito, but I would like to also throw this question to the House of Representatives and to Secretary Diokno—what about those good, hard-working and performing line agencies? Sana lang we will get to the paradigm shift where we also have a performance-based obligation or budgeting system.

Now, if you have, for example, under the leadership of Secretary Bernadette Puyat, a very efficient and nicely run Department of Tourism line agency, na sana lang in the 2019 or 2020 budgets, we will see an increase in its budget for the following year. This is what I would like to point out, Mr. Speaker, and I would like to get the sentiments of the honorable Sponsor.

REP. DUAVIT. I totally agree, Mr. Speaker.


REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last, I would like to also put out there that Secretary Bernadette Puyat came from the Department of Agriculture, and I have heard several times, from meetings with her and also from meetings with the DOT family, that one of the pet projects that she has is farm tourism.

REP. DUAVIT. Yes, Your Honor.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Do we have a budget, Mr. Speaker, for the development of farm tourism in the 2019 budget?

REP. DUAVIT. For this year, the figure is P20 million, Your Honor.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Excuse me, Mr. Speaker, may I have the figure again.

REP. DUAVIT. The figure is P20 million, Your Honor.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Is it P20 billion or million?

REP. DUAVIT. It is million, Your Honor.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). It is P20 million. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Now this is a new program which may be in the development stage—during the time of our Speaker, when she was President, Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, designated Mindanao as the food basket of our country and Mindanao being the food basket of our country, naturally, I would hope that Mindanao will also showcase a lot of these farm tourist destinations. I would like to just manifest, Mr. Speaker, that in the years 2019 and 2020, for as long as Bernadette Puyat serves as our Department of Tourism Secretary, sana lang the Mindanao’s tourism sector will be developed and will lead our country in terms of farm tourism

That is my last manifestation, Mr. Speaker, and thank you so much, honorable Sponsor.

REP. DUAVIT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.


REP. ROBES. Mr. Speaker, the next person to interpellate our dear Sponsor is Rep. Tomasito “Tom” S. Villarin of the AKBAYAN Party-List.


THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). The Honorable Villarin is recognized.

REP. VILLARIN. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Majority Leader.

Would the good Sponsor yield to some questions?

REP. DUAVIT. Of course, Mr. Speaker, it would be my privilege.

REP. VILLARIN. Well, I am also from Mindanao, just like the earlier interpellator. Martial law was declared in Mindanao in May of last year and it is more than a year since that declaration, so, may we have statistics as to the number of tourists coming into Mindanao. Well, I understand that Davao reached its two million tourist arrivals for the year but that is Davao, the home city of President Duterte. So, it is just logical that more local tourists coming from Luzon or other areas would go to Davao. What I am asking is, how is tourism in the other regions outside of Davao City?

REP. DUAVIT. Well, the breakdown, Your Honor, per region would be: Region IX, 725,000 visitors; Region X, 3,057,000 visitors; Region XI, 3,238,000 visitors; Region XII, 1,000,261 visitors; and then Region XIII, 1,345,000 visitors; and for the ARMM, 307,000 visitors, the figures just being rounded off, Your Honor.

REP. VILLARIN. Yes. So, when we say visitors, the breakdown here is, this is both domestic and foreign tourists.

REP. DUAVIT. That is the aggregate, yes, Your Honor.

REP. VILLARIN. When we talk about foreign tourists, as regards the aggregate, in terms of percentage, how many are foreign tourist arrivals, do we have the data?

REP. DUAVIT. In general, it will be around 20 percent of the total, Your Honor.

REP. VILLARIN. It is 20 percent of the total. So, the assessment of the DOT is that, even with martial law, tourism is doing well in Mindanao. It has reached its target and generated local income for the LGUs and businesses.

REP. DUAVIT. That is the net effect, yes, Your Honor. As stated earlier in the interpellation of the honorable Gentleman from Lanao, there is a very slight decrease in the foreign tourists, but the bigger uptake was in the domestic travellers, Your Honor. So, statistically, we can say that it was actually rather flat as far as foreign tourist only are concerned.

REP. VILLARIN. Okay. Yes, the number of


foreign tourist arrivals remained flat. Now, going into tourism and the effect of inflation on tourism, do your data also capture whether the spikes in fuel prices had a significant dent on tourism?

REP. DUAVIT. These data are not yet in, Your Honor. We beg the indulgence of the honorable interpellator, but the data should be in by the fourth quarter, Mr. Speaker.

REP. VILLARIN. Do you think they would have a significant impact on tourism, the impact of inflation on tourism? Do you have projections especially on domestic tourism and how will it impact on, well, local tourists?

REP. DUAVIT. Well, with inflation being contractionary, Your Honor, the conventional wisdom would be to expect some impact. Unfortunately, we do not have the data as of now. That is something that we are expecting but with the programs being put forth, maybe, we hope they will still induce people to travel. The Department has always taken the position that domestic tourism is extremely important to the national economy because it distributes wealth that is actually aggregated or concentrated in the urban areas and allows this wealth to spread out. So, it is still part of the mandate and part of the thrusts of the Department to not just look at foreign tourism, but also to help domestic tourism, Your Honor.

REP. VILLARIN. Yes, and if ever, can the DOT, in the near future, produce those studies showing the impact of inflation with regard to tourism? That would also have a dampening effect on tourism when we talk about inflation, especially the spikes in fuel prices because of the global trend where the price per barrel of oil has breached the $81 mark. Given all these, definitely, tourism, especially for those taking transportation like air, sea and even land, will particularly be affected. If ever, the DOT should have studies conducted on that.

REP. DUAVIT. The Committee would like to assure the distinguished Gentleman that we, ourselves, are asking for the data and that once we have those in, we will share them with the honorable Gentleman.

REP. VILLARIN. Thank you for that assurance, Mr. Speaker, good Sponsor. Now going to another issue, what agencies under the DOT are income generating?

REP. DUAVIT. Just for clarification, are we talking about the attached agencies?

REP. VILLARIN. Yes, the attached agencies.

REP. DUAVIT. Well, as far as income generating, the Duty Free Philippines would be one. The Intramuros Administration has its sources of income also. The Philippine Retirement Authority also has its own source of income and likewise, the National Parks Development Committee, Your Honor.

REP. VILLARIN. Overall, how much is the total income being generated by these agencies, Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker?

REP. DUAVIT. Well, in general terms, if I may be allowed to submit that to the honorable Gentleman, and if I may be presumptuous although I do not mean to be, we can say that they are just subsisting, Your Honor. They are able to continue their operations, maybe do some minor projects as a general rule, but at the same time, they are not requiring any budgetary support from the House and as such, are not being given any subsidies especially for this year and for the coming year.

REP. VILLARIN. If they are not given subsidies, do they contribute to the overall mandate of the DOT like spending on advertisements?

REP. DUAVIT. Let me just say that, at this point in time, they are surviving, Mr. Speaker.

REP. VILLARIN. So, in surviving, the income

would subsidize the MOOE and the personnel benefits?

REP. DUAVIT. Just enough to, yes, basically maintain their operations and assets and provide the services. The Duty Free Philippines, Your Honor, contributes to the Tourism Promotions Board budget but again, as far as the amount or the figure, it is rather underwhelming. For example, in the year 2017, the contribution was roughly around P90 million only, Your Honor. This was for Duty Free Philippines.

REP. VILLARIN. It is P90 million?

REP. DUAVIT. Yes, and this can be attributed to the basic fact that when it comes to the prices of goods in Duty Free Philippines, they are not actually duty free when it comes to chocolate products and alcoholic beverages. All of these products are tax paid, Your Honor. So, yes, it may be a slight misnomer, but the effect of this is really because in the past Congresses, of which I was a part, it was considered unfair for Duty Free Philippines to have a price advantage over the local businessmen.

REP. VILLARIN. Yes.


REP. DUAVIT. So, medyo na-equalize po. They are subject to basically, more or less, the same trade laws and regulations as any other retail.

REP. VILLARIN. Yes, but as you said, P90 million lang iyong na-generate ng Duty Free.

REP. DUAVIT. As a contribution, Your Honor.

REP. VILLARIN. Yes.

REP. DUAVIT. That was 50 percent. So, from the P180 million, P90 million goes to the Tourism Promotions Board and then, the other half goes to the CHED and the NCCA, just the same as the tourism tax.

REP. VILLARIN. Yes. In the proposed Bill, in the Special Provisions, it says that P150 million from the Duty Free Philippines net profit should go to tourism-related activities. So, if the supposed target is P150 million and only P90 million would be remitted to the National Treasury for tourism-related projects, it means that the Duty Free Philippines is not really up to par with regard to its performance and revenue targets.

REP. DUAVIT. Is the question, Your Honor, on the revenue target or on the distribution of the said revenue?

REP. VILLARIN. Well, in terms of revenue targets, it says here in the Special Provisions that P150 million should go to tourism, and you were saying earlier that it was only P90 million because the other half goes to non-tourism related activities, Mr. Speaker.

REP. DUAVIT. In the figure I gave the honorable Gentleman, that was the 2017 actual income, where it went up from P136 million in 2016 and increased to P180 million in 2017. As we have not closed the books yet on 2018, notwithstanding the projections, it would be perhaps a conservative P150 million, Your Honor. As we had said, the law does dictate in its Charter that this net income—where of the income, after taxes, only 50 percent goes to the Tourism Promotions Board according to law—the remaining 50 percent goes to the Commission on Higher Education and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. So, malinaw po iyon. Kung umaabot po iyong P150 million, 75 percent noon ay mapupunta sa Tourism Promotions Board at ang kalahati po ay doon po sa iba.

REP. VILLARIN. Well, as what was mentioned earlier, Mr. Speaker, good Sponsor, medyo iyong ating mga attached agencies ay mukhang hindi pa rin talaga kayang makapag-generate ng revenues.

REP. DUAVIT. More challenges, I agree, Your Honor.

REP. VILLARIN. If ever we want our tourism to be a main driver for growth for the Philippine economy, not to overwhelm these attached agencies tasked to generate revenues, they are performing according to their expected mandate and outputs. In a way, that would be a big challenge for the Department of Tourism.

REP. DUAVIT. Well, and of course, more is

normally better, Your Honor. As what I had said earlier, there are challenges, especially for those like the Duty Free Philippines which, I think, are very valid considerations. People are not really flocking to Duty Free Philippines the way they used to.

REP. VILLARIN. So, would you say that …

REP. DUAVIT. It was also the choice of this very Chamber back then because we also wanted to be sensitive to other private enterprises na hindi naman po natin ma-hijack, especially at the time when we had a larger scale chocolate production. It was a very big issue that local companies hiring local workers would have to go against products that were coming in with no taxes paid. So, that is actually the reason Duty Free Philippines was not pulling in the number like it used to, which number used to be close to half a billion, Your Honor. Whatever these changes, when this very Chamber decided that we must protect our local businessmen and we must protect our local workers, that is the reason we have this. It is basically like an ordinary mall now, Your Honor.

REP. VILLARIN. Yes. I understand that we also

have to balance that concern with the private sector. But does he think that there are governance challenges facing the Department and its attached agencies? When it comes to spending money that would really benefit the whole country, given the fact that, as what was mentioned earlier and also the issue concerning the former Secretary of Tourism, the discretion in the use of funds of that agency, does he think that these governance challenges had been met or addressed?

REP. DUAVIT. This Representation is very

optimistic, Your Honor. I know that here, we have a lot of lawyers and we have a lot of finance people. Personally, I come from brand management in media. I am actually very, very optimistic about the direction that the Department is taking. Well, first of all, they are really taking the agency into the 21st century. If I may, is it alright if I give you a condensed version of what I had seen that I liked very much, and it is that


what we are now seeing is a trigger system. When I say “trigger system,” we are looking at an actual flow of activities that are being induced by promotions. Normally, when we are talking about branding—that is the word, “branded.” When it comes to this topic, this refers now to selling the country or getting the attraction and normally, this is where we are placing ads in broadcast and other media. Now, what will be perceived since the Department is now going through media agencies that are actually going to look at the specific targets we are going for, we can now trigger the best of the information chain, Your Honor.

First, when you say branding, it is like saying, “It’s more fun in the Philippines.”—it is the Philippines. What we are trying to induce in our prospective tourists is to go looking for more information on the Philippines. So, from that, and I had done my own test, when it comes to the electronic platforms, it can be split into two—one half is what is called search and the other half is called mobile or transitory. Now, when we are talking search, then we were talking about search optimization working alongside companies such as Google or those that provide search services. In fact, if you just type “tourism” and “Philippines,” the first thing that will come out on your search engine is the Department of Tourism and now, they are developing the portals for that, Your Honor, but better yet, when we get now into the mobile and space, they are now actively going into that on a per activity basis.

In the past, we really had a problem, and for the last two years that I defended its budget, you had the Department going one way and the Tourism Promotions Board going another way. What I am seeing now is a concerted effort. It was not given in the original brief and this is something I had requested—an actual list of all the events that the TPB can join. In that list, we will find, like for example, if it is JATA in Japan which had just concluded, then you see specific advertising and promotions specific to that event for that time frame and again, taking our travel agents there to meet and interface. I am also seeing an improvement—because our Secretary, during her last trip to Japan, was, in fact, just there and working with her counterpart.

REP. VILLARIN. Well, thank you for that comprehensive response, good Sponsor. I premised that governance challenge question mainly because of its past Secretary, Ms. Wanda Tulfo-Teo, whose resignation I called for, and this was precisely because of the issues hounding her tenure in that Department. With the new Secretary, Ma’am Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, I recognize that she has the skills and also the qualities of a leader in the Department, having seen her work also in the executive branch before.

Now, as to the last question, we go to a gut-level

issue—the Boracay issue. As we all know, Boracay will be opened on October 26. Would the day of reopening of Boracay still be on October 26?

REP. DUAVIT. Tuloy po ito, ang soft opening po on October 26 ay tuloy po, Mr. Speaker.

REP. VILLARIN. So, we will say there will be a soft opening, meaning that there are already indicators that Boracay can be opened to tourists. What are these indicators that the first phase of rehabilitation had done?

REP. DUAVIT. Those establishments that had passed the compliance requirements, Your Honor, they are now open for reservations. A total of 3,000 rooms will be made available on October 26, Mr. Speaker.

REP. VILLARIN. So, there are already guidelines to be released or were already released with regard to the soft opening. As to number of tourists arrivals, as to the specific limitations with regard to the use of the natural habitat in the island, did these come out in public, Mr. Speaker?

REP. DUAVIT. The number of tourists is being controlled, Your Honor, by the number of rooms available. We are looking at a multiplier between 2 and 2.1 or 2.2 in the event that, maybe, some children are brought along for a double occupancy room.

REP. VILLARIN. Yes. I believe that there would be strict guidelines with regard to the establishments operating in Boracay and compliance with environmental, health, sanitation, and others.

REP. DUAVIT. Yes, Your Honor, there would be no smoking at the beaches, no eating at the beaches, and there are actually even no tables or umbrellas set there.

REP. VILLARIN. No smoking, no drinking, no wearing of two-piece?

REP. DUAVIT. On the sand, Your Honor, but if you are in the resort, then you may. Well, not on smoking areas.

REP. VILLARIBN. Yes.

REP. DUAVIT. Of course.

REP. VILLARIN. So, those are the requirements, including no smoking and no drinking?

REP. DUAVIT. The distinguished Sponsor is


referring to the beaches, Your Honor. So, of course, when we are talking about sanitation, there would now be new septic tanks and new connections to the sewer systems.

REP. VILLARIN. Well, I hope that these requirements will be published before the opening so that everybody will be apprised about how Boracay—the way Boracay was before and the way Boracay should be now—that they should be forewarned before they do things that would unnecessarily contradict these requirements. So, I hope these will be published soon so that everybody will be forewarned of what to expect and not to expect while having fun in Boracay.

My last point, good Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, is the issue of the people in Boracay, the inhabitants, because I believe that there were those displaced by the supposed rehab. Now, when it comes to the livelihood of these, well, artisanal, marginal fisherfolk, vendors, with regard to the reopening of Boracay, these vendors, these marginalized inhabitants who have been there in the island, would they still be given space to do their livelihood? Iyong mga nagtitinda ng necklaces, iyong mga gumagawa ng tattoo, and all these are mga minor things but are being done by hundreds perhaps thousands of our Filipinos who want to earn a living, would they still be guaranteed a livelihood in the new Boracay that is soon to be opened?

REP. DUAVIT. Yes, Your Honor. As you know, the law states that water fronts are public domain, but they will have the freedom to move around on the public domain and conduct their private business there for as long as it is a legal way of making a living, Your Honor. So, there are people who would like to offer massage services on the beach or offer ice cream, there should be no impediments to that.

REP. VILLARIN. Yes. Thank you for the assurance, good Sponsor, Mr. Speaker. That would end my questions and thank you for the opportunity.

Thank you.

REP. DUAVIT. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.



REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, I move that we suspend the consideration of the budget of the Department of

Tourism, and I likewise move that we suspend the consideration of House Bill No. 8169.




ROLL CALL

REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, I move that we call the roll.


The Secretary General will please call the roll.

The Secretary General called the roll, and the result is reflected in Journal No. 23, dated October 1, 2018.*

THE SECRETARY GENERAL. The Speaker is present.

Mr. Speaker, the roll call shows that 191 Members responded to the call.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). With 191 Members responding to the call, the Chair declares the presence of a quorum.


NOMINAL VOTING ON H.B. NO. 8165ON THIRD READING

REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, I move that we vote on Third Reading on House Bill No. 8165 and direct the Secretary General to read the title of the measure, and call the roll for nominal voting.

I so move.


Thereupon, the Secretary General read the title of the measure, printed copies of which were distributed to the Members on September 21, 2018, pursuant to Section 58, Rule X of the House Rules.

THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 8165, entitled: AN ACT CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER RESILIENCE, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.

* See ANNEX (printed separately)


The Chair directed the Secretary General to call the roll for nominal voting. Thereafter, pursuant to the Rules of the House, a second roll call was made. The result of the voting on Third Reading* on the aforesaid measure is reflected in Journal No. 23, dated October 1, 2018.

REP. LAGMAN. Mr. Speaker

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). What is the pleasure of the Gentleman?

REP. LAGMAN. I abstain and I reserve my right to explain my abstention in writing.

REP. VILLARIN. Mr. Speaker, my vote is abstention and may I explain my vote later.

APPROVAL OF H.B. NO. 8165ON THIRD READING

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). With 181 affirmative votes, 5 negative votes and 2 abstentions, House Bill No. 8165 is now approved on Third Reading.


REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, may we recognize the Hon. Arlene D. Brosas for the explanation of her vote.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). The Honorable Brosas is recognized.

REP. BROSAS EXPLAINS HER VOTE

REP. BROSAS. Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, ang Representasyong ito ay bumoto ng “No” sa panukalang House Bill No. 8165 on the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience. Bagamat walang pinipiling estado sa lipunan ang mga kalamidad, malaking bahagi pa rin ng ating populasyon na hindi o hirap makabangon matapos ang sakuna ay ang mga urban poor communities. Ito naman dapat ang focus ng efforts ng gobyerno when it comes to disaster resilience. However, we are concerned with the extraordinary powers given to the Secretary of the proposed Department to call up the government armed and reserve forces, powers duly constituted only to the President as the Commander-in-Chief.

May first-hand experience po tayo at natatanggap na mga ulat kung paano ang aksiyon ng ating armed personnel sa areas of conflict. Naniniwala ang Representasyong ito na walang ibang dapat gawin kung hindi paganahin ang mga ahensiya ng national

government, katuwang ang mga makinarya ng local government units, para matiyak ang kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan sa sakuna.

Maraming salamat, Mr. Speaker.


REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, may we acknowledge the presence of some guests in the gallery. They are the guests of the Hon. Conrado M. Estrella III of the ABONO Party-List and the Hon. Alfredo A. Garbin Jr. of AKO BICOL Party-List. They are the members of the Philippine Contingent to the 45th Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program coming from all over the country, headed by its national leader, Sidney Lee. (Applause)

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). The guests of the Honorable Estrella and Honorable Garbin, we welcome you to the House of Representatives.


CONSIDERATION OF H. CT. RES. NO. 21

REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, I move that we consider House Concurrent Resolution No. 21.

May I ask that the Secretary General be directed to read only the title of the measure.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.**

The Secretary General is directed to read only the title of the measure.

With the permission of the Body, and since copies of the measure have been previously distributed, the Secretary General read only the title thereof without prejudice to inserting its text in the Congressional Record.

THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Concurrent Resolution No. 21, entitled: CONCURRENT RESOLUTION AMENDING THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT ON THE DISAGREEING VOTES ON HOUSE BILL NO. 6202, ENTITLED “AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE SOUTH COTABATO STATE COLLEGE IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF SURALLAH, PROVINCE OF SOUTH COTABATO, INTEGRATING THEREWITH THE SURALLAH NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL LOCATED IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF SURALLAH, PROVINCE OF SOUTH COTABATO, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.”

** See MEASURES CONSIDERED (printed separately)* See ANNEX (printed separately)



ADOPTION OF H. CT. RES. NO. 21

REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, I move that we adopt House Concurrent Resolution No. 21.


House Concurrent Resolution No. 21 is adopted.The Majority Leader is recognized.

CONSIDERATION OF H. RES. NO. 2193

REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, I move that we consider House Resolution No. 2193.


THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.*



THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Resolution No. 2193, entitled: RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING AND COMMENDING THE COACHES OF ALL THE PARTICIPATING ATHLETES IN THE 2018 ASIAN GAMES HELD IN JAKARTA, INDONESIA.


ADOPTION OF H. RES. NO. 2193

REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, I move that we adopt House Resolution No. 2193 in consolidation with House Resolution No. 2131.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is adopted.

House Resolution No. 2193, in consolidation with House Resolution No. 2131, is hereby adopted.


CONSIDERATION OF H. RES. NO. 2194

REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, I move that we consider House Resolution No. 2194.





TH E S ECRETA RY G EN ERA L. H ous e Resolution No. 2194, entitled: RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING AND COMMENDING THE GOLD, SILVER, AND BRONZE MEDALISTS IN THE 2018 ASIAN GAMES HELD IN JAKARTA, INDONESIA.


ADOPTION OF H. RES. NO. 2194

REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, I move that we adopt House Resolution No. 2194 in consolidation with House Resolutions No. 2088, 2092, 2101, 2102, 2110, 2111, 2114, 2115, 2116, 2118, 2119, 2127, 2129, 2130, 2132, 2137, 2138, 2139, 2141, 2143, 2144, 2145, 2148, 2150, 2153, 2158, 2160, and 2167.



House Resolution No. 2194, in consolidation with House Resolutions No. 2088, 2092, 2101, 2102, 2110, 2111, 2114, 2115, 2116, 2118, 2119, 2127, 2129, 2130, 2132, 2137, 2138, 2139, 2141, 2143, 2144, 2145, 2148, 2150, 2153, 2158, 2160, and 2167, is adopted.




REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, I move that we resume

** See MEASURES CONSIDERED (printed separately)


the consideration of House Bill No. 8169 and direct the Secretary General to read only the title of the Bill.




REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, the parliamentary status is that we are in the period of interpellation and debate on the budget of the Department of Tourism, including its attached agencies and corporations. At this point, Mr. Speaker, may we acknowledge the next interpellator, Rep. Anthony M. Bravo, PhD of the COOP-NATCCO Party-List.

We move on to the next interpellator, Mr. Speaker. I move that we recognize the Hon. Manuel F. Zubiri of the Third District of Bukidnon for his interpellation. Representative Zubiri is not in the Plenary right now, so, Mr. Speaker, I move that we go to the next interpellator from the Group of Independents, Rep. Arlene D. Brosas of the GABRIELA Party-List.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). The Honorable Brosas is recognized.

REP. BROSAS. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield to a few questions?

REP. DUAVIT. It would be my privilege, Mr. Speaker.

REP. BROSAS. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Sa Department of Tourism po, na-flag ng COA ang millions in travel allowances ng mga DOT officials dahil noong nakaraan, P19.2 million ang travel allowances alone in 2017, including P863,961 for resigned Secretary Wanda Teo. The Department of Tourism spent P19.2 million on travel allowances alone given to 94 officials and employees who went around the world to attend events in 2017 ng walang specific guidelines on foreign travels. Ngayon po ba, mayroon na po ba tayong specific guidelines on travels ang Department of Tourism?

REP. DUAVIT. Yes, these were approved two months ago, Mr. Speaker. Basically the guidelines limit

the number of days of travel. They also include the number of people being sent and of course, the people sent abroad have to be there and, basically, that their purpose for travel is aligned with the specific objective for that trip, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker.

REP. BROSAS. Yes, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor. May kopya po ba tayo at maaari po ba akong mabigyan ng copy ng guidelines ng official travel?

REP. DUAVIT. Yes, we will provide the honorable Lady with a copy of the memo.

REP. BROSAS. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Next po ay iyong article entitled, “COA orders DOT to pay for Wanda Teo’s P2.5 million Duty Free spending.” It states:

Commission on Audit has ordered the DOT to pay Duty Free Philippines Corporation P2.5 million on behalf of luxurious purchases made by former Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo.

According to the 2017 Audit Report on the DFPC, Teo withdrew merchandises worth a total of P2.17 million across various Duty Free stores and spent another P346,446.80 on luxury goods. Ano na po ang ginagawa ng Department of Tourism ngayon kaugnay sa isyu na ito?

REP. DUAVIT. Well, the Department, on all these alleged misdoings, had already contacted the Department of Justice. It is now in the hands of the Department of Justice, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker.

REP. BROSAS. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor. Nasa Department of Justice na po ito.


REP. BROSAS. Last question po, sa P60 million, ito po iyong controversial, ito iyong P60 million worth of advertisements in a government television program produced by her brother, Ben Tulfo, and co-hosted by another brother, Erwin Tulfo, without documents showing the payments were valid and legal, according to the COA. Ano na pong nangyari sa case na ito? Will the DOT pursue this case?

REP. DUAVIT. That went to the Department of Justice even before the other issues and the Ombudsman is also in the fact-finding phase as the notices of disallowances had been issued, Mr. Speaker.

REP. BROSAS. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor. That is my last question. Gusto ko lang pong sabihin na binabantayan po natin iyong graft


and corruption na nangyayari sa lahat ng ahensiya. Therefore, parang lesson po sa atin itong mga findings ng COA sa DOT. So, kailangan po nating magbigay-diin doon sa mga issues ng corruption.

Magkaganoon pa man, na sinasabi po ninyo na nasa DOJ ang mga issue na ito sa kasalukuyan, gusto po nating magkaroon ng proper reporting siguro sa bayan natin kung ano talaga ang nangyari at ano ang mangyayari sa mga issues ng corruption na ito.

Maraming salamat, Mr. Speaker. Maraming salamat, Mr. Sponsor.



REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, the next Member who will interpellate our Sponsor is the Hon. Anthony M. Bravo, PhD of the COOP-NATCCO Party-List.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). The Hon. Tony Bravo is recognized.

REP. BRAVO (A.). Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Gentleman Sponsor yield to some questions from this Representation?

REP. DUAVIT. It would be my privilege, Your Honor.

REP. BRAVO (A.). Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, in last Committee hearing of the Department, I requested for a report relative to the multi-year obligational authority projects, and the good Secretary committed to submit this to this Representation. Unfortunately, as of this time, I do not have that report and just a while ago, through the Sr. Dep. Majority Leader, the DOT committed to me that such report will be submitted. So, I would like to seek a commitment that it will still be submitted to this Representation, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor.


REP. DUAVIT. I move for a one-minute suspension of the session, Mr. Speaker.


It was 5:04 p.m.




The Hon. Tony Bravo is recognized.

REP. BRAVO (A.). Thank you, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor. I will not dwell much on the report, but I would like to call the attention of the Department, as far as your performance is concerned—and this, not during the time of the good Secretary, but still, I would like to call its attention that in 2017, the Department of Tourism was able to adapt to the increase in allotment, achieving a higher obligation rate. Unfortunately, the disbursement rate was only 59.96 or 60 percent. So, please address this concern because, again, it should be noted that in 2017, the validity of the budget was only one year. So, in application, we cannot use anymore the budget that was not utilized.

If I may proceed, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, one of the major projects that is being undertaken by the DOT, in convergence with the DPWH, is the Tourism Road Infrastructure Program. Am I correct, distinguished Sponsor, Mr. Speaker?

REP. DUAVIT. That is correct, Mr. Speaker.

REP. BRAVO (A.). That project started in 2013, if I am not mistaken.


REP. BRAVO (A.). Can you give us the total figure, distinguished Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, how much was already appropriated from 2016 to 2018 relative to the Tourism Road Infrastructure Program?

REP. DUAVIT. If I may, Mr. Speaker, in 2016, it was P22.5 billion; in 2017, P12.5 billion; in 2018, P30.1 billion; and what is proposed in the 2019 NEP, prior to the projected, iyong ginawa po natin sa Committee Report is P18.7 billion, Your Honor.

REP. BRAVO (A.). Thank you for that answer, distinguished Sponsor, Mr. Speaker. To sum it up, the House of Representatives has already appropriated a total of P127 billion, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor. Will you agree?

REP. DUAVIT. That is approximately correct, Your Honor.

REP. BRAVO (A.). Which to my mind, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, this is not only the program that the DOT must focus on. We have very good roads now but other than the roads, what can you see, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor.


REP. DUAVIT. Well, we had this discussion with the honorable Gentleman last year or in the last budget season, and I would like to reiterate now that I do agree with him that when it comes to this TRIPPC program, there was an imbalance. That was what was discussed last year and that imbalance, if I may paraphrase what you said last year, ginagawa natin ang kalsada pero pagdating doon sa lugar, hindi kumpleto ang development ng lugar na iyon.

REP. BRAVO (A.). Therefore, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, will you agree to this Representation that if we are going to appropriate to develop tourism in this country, it should be balanced?

REP. DUAVIT. Definitely.

REP. BRAVO (A.). We invest in road infrastructure and we should invest also in a soft case or other infrastructure needed to fully develop our tourism sites.

REP. DUAVIT. I agree, Mr. Speaker.

REP. BRAVO (A.). So, with that, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, if I may propose, while we are realigning an appropriation—of that realigned appropriation amounting to more than P10 billion for TRIPPC, a portion of it, say P1 or 2 billion, will be appropriated to the other infrastructure and soft case projects.

REP. DUAVIT. As much as I agree that it should happen, I would also be remiss if I will not give the honorable Gentleman the straight answer that there are certain requirements that would have to be met by this Chamber to achieve that. First of all, the TRIPPC exists via a MOA, a memorandum of agreement between the Department of Tourism and the Department of Public Works and Highways. To do so would require either a new MOA or an amendment to the MOA.

REP. BRAVO (A.). May I inquire from the good Secretary of the Department if there are still funds that can be used for other infrastructure programs so that we will be able to really push for the total development of our tourism destinations.

REP. DUAVIT. Those funds would have to come from us, Mr. Speaker.

REP. BRAVO (A.). Then a portion of that realigned budget can be used for that purpose.

REP. DUAVIT. Yes, provided, Mr. Speaker, first,

that there will be a new MOA that now addresses what we might call the vertical components and not just the road components for TRIPPC. Another that I foresee would be that all these funds that would be put in the GAA must have existing program of works. Lastly, that if we are to be able to do this, that all of these submissions be done and studied before the House is done with the period of amendments, Mr. Speaker.

REP. BRAVO (A.). If I am not mistaken, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, there were already projects that were consolidated last year, but were not funded and that may be considered by the agency or the Department because those projects, I am sure, are already ready.

REP. DUAVIT. Yes, Your Honor, there is a distinct—those are projects with the TIEZA which had been validated but not yet bid out. Those may be applicable, Mr. Speaker.

REP. BRAVO (A.). With that, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, thank you very much. I am now confident that some of those projects that we identified and submitted to the Department under added infrastructure may be realized this year.

Thank you and good afternoon.



REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, the next Member who will interpellate our Sponsor is the Hon. Manuel F. Zubiri from the Third District of Bukidnon.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). The Honorable Zubiri is recognized.

REP. ZUBIRI. Marami pong salamat, Mr. Speaker. Just one or two questions to our distinguished Sponsor, if he does not mind.

REP. DUAVIT. Gladly, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker.

REP. ZUBIRI. I believe I heard earlier that P20 million will be geared towards farm tourism. Is that correct, Mr. Speaker?

REP. DUAVIT. That is correct, Your Honor. As far as the P20 million is concerned, this is purely promotion, Mr. Speaker, and the bulk of the farm tourism budget is lodged in the Department of Agriculture. So, it is not reflective of the total expenditures for the farm tourism programs.


REP. ZUBIRI. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, we do not have the figure for 2019 geared towards farm tourism.

REP. DUAVIT. We can request that from the honorable Gentleman from the Department of Agriculture, Your Honor, which budget will be held tomorrow.

REP. ZUBIRI. Thank you, Mr. Speaker; thank you, distinguished Sponsor. I think P20 million is too small. This is basically just for conceptualization and not for realization.


REP. ZUBIRI. As far as I know, from the figures that I had gathered, about 57 percent of our populace live in rural areas and they are waiting for this to be a realization. This is their dream, especially for us since we are a landlocked province and a lot of us in our region are landlocked as well. So, I think this amount will not be enough in terms of the creation. I believe that you will create farm tourism councils together with the DA, and I think you will need a lot of money for this. At the same time, this will need the accreditation by the DOT to have farms like the ones we have seen in Europe, Australasia or New Zealand and Australia, and even in ASEAN countries, Mr. Speaker. So, I think, Mr. Speaker, and I believe that we need to address the budget because if this is only for the conceptualization—and I am sure the DA will have their own budget as well—that budget that is geared towards farm tourism may end up somewhere else. I believe it is best that we look for a bigger budget for farm tourism for the Department of Tourism, Mr. Speaker.

REP. DUAVIT. I join the distinguished Gentleman from Bukidnon in that endeavor, Mr. Speaker.

REP. ZUBIRI. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just one last question. Iyon pong proyekto natin kasama po iyong mga roads leading to the tourism areas, that project will be done together with the DA. Am I right, Mr. Speaker?

REP. DUAVIT. With the DPWH, Mr. Speaker. REP. ZUBIRI. The DPWH. My apologies. Will

this also include, for example, vertical structures such as tourism or tourist info centers, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor?

REP. DUAVIT. Mr. Speaker, the present form of the

MOA is strictly for roads but this was just covered in the last interpellation where it was brought up by the Hon.

Tony Bravo that, perhaps, we should study for vertical component to be included, Mr. Speaker. I also said, Mr. Speaker, that while we would like to give a definite answer of “yes,” it would be dishonest if we do not make it clear that, first, we would require a new MOA between the two departments. Second, that program of works already exists. Third, that everything must already be done, if we intend for it to happen in 2019, that all the submissions and the grading processes must be done before the end of the period of amendments, Mr. Speaker.

REP. ZUBIRI. That is very loud and clear, Mr.

Speaker. At least, on my part, I feel that the P20 million budget should be increased. Let us have the tourism budget already in the DOT, so, at least it can be a realization by the year 2019, and definitely, our region, Region X, including the province of Bukidnon and the other provinces, will be waiting for that.

So, that is all, Mr. Speaker and distinguished Sponsor. Good luck and more power to the DOT. Marami pong salamat.

REP. DUAVIT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). The

Majority Leader is recognized. REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, for the next Member who

will interpellate our Sponsor, I move that we recognize the Hon. Salvador Belaro of 1-ANG EDUKASYON Party-List.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). The

Honorable Belaro is recognized. REP. BELARO. Mr. Speaker, distinguished

Sponsor, good afternoon. I have three minor concerns plus a major concern. May I proceed, Mr. Speaker.

First concern, maintenance of foreign offices. Under the 2018 GAB, there is a heading, “Maintenance of Foreign Offices”, and for 2018, you have an appropriation in the amount of P355,759,000. My question is, in this regard, how much has been allocated to each foreign office? How much has been disbursed, and have the funds been released?

REP. DUAVIT. For clarification, would the

distinguished Gentleman like us to furnish him a list? Or would he like me to read these one by one, Mr. Speaker?

REP. BELARO. Mr. Speaker, just to expedite the proceedings, this Representation would just like to request a report from the good agency on this matter considering that—actually, the concern of this


Representation is that in this age of technology and the Internet, probably, we have to look into the practicability of just streamlining our overseas offices because after all we have the Department of Foreign Affairs and it would be to the benefit of fiscal soundness if we just exercise discretion in placing personnel in areas overseas where it counts. That is the manifestation. So, with the commitment, hopefully, of the good agency to submit a report to this Representation, through the Committee, I now go to my second minor concern.

My second minor concern, Mr. Speaker, relates to the appropriation on Operations, the proposed appropriation for the Operations of the good agency. Under the appropriations for Operations, there are four main programs which are outlined in the proposed budget: First is Tourism Policy Formulation and Planning Program; second is Tourism Industry Training Program; third is Standard Development and Enforcement Program; and fourth is the Market and Product Development Program.

My question, Mr. Speaker, relates to the Tourism Industry Training Program. I noticed in the proposed budget that the appropriations for the Tourism Industry Training Program is in the amount of—correct me if I am wrong, distinguished Sponsor—P133,297,000, which is practically around 84 percent. This is the nuisance here, it is lodged in the central office. Why is it not allocated to the regional offices? Why should it be parked with the central office? That is the question of this Representation.

REP. DUAVIT. Given the seasonality of certain events, Mr. Speaker, I have here actually, and may I share it with you later, the rescheduling. Just like any other department, it gets lodged in the central office and is later downloaded. That goes to about P5.6 million per region, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor. It is just with the DOT to begin with, at the start of the year with the central office, but it does not stay there.

REP. BELARO. Mr. Speaker, may the good Committee just take a look at the soundness of that policy of parking it with the central office for purposes of reallocating the budget.

May I proceed to my third minor concern, Mr. Speaker. The Tourism Growth Infrastructure Program, this is under Special Provision No. 6 of the 2017 DPWH budget which states therein that the Tourism Board Infrastructure Program shall be used to cover the construction, rehabilitation, upgrading and improvement of roads and bridges jointly identified by the DPWH and the DOT, based on technical criteria and the priority areas in support of the National Tourism Development Program. Just for the information of the general public and by way of recollection, refreshing the memory of

the good Sponsor, the budget for the Tourism Board Infrastructure Program in 2018, this is 2018, amounted to P30,908,907,000. My question is, what is the status of the implementation of this billion-peso program? And this is a related matter—because I realized that these projects fall under projects beyond P500,000 and necessarily, it is our duty to determine whether they have multi-year obligational authorities.

REP. DUAVIT. Well, if we will study the list for the TRIPPC Program, Your Honor, you will see that these are, in fact and indeed, continuing. Anyway, as far as the implementation, we have been waiting and we were hoping that we would have the updated report by this time, by the time we went to the floor; but we have been told that they will have the report by the time the DPWH comes to the floor, and that they will be able to provide it by then.

REP. BELARO. Again, Mr. Speaker, in the interest of expediting the proceedings, the budget deliberations, may this Representation just kindly ask the good agency to submit to this Representation, as well as to the House of Representatives, a report on the status of the implementation of this billion-peso program of the DOT.

REP. DUAVIT. The Gentleman has the commitment of both the Committee and of the Department.

REP. BELARO. For my last major concern, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, I actually have here the 124-page COA Report for 2017. This involves the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority or TIEZA. If I may just relate the findings here, these are rather alarming: 1) the TIEZA continues to incur losses; 2) there are massive deficiencies in the collection of travel tax assessments and remittances; 3) there are deficiencies in the various contracts of lease executed by the TIEZA; 4) the period for the remittances of travel tax collections by the airlines to the TIEZA is disadvantageous to the government; 5) the recovery of advances to contractors is doubtful; and still among others, 6) the audit disallowances amounting to P42.89 million remains unsettled.

Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, the question is so obvious, but in the interest of expediting the deliberations on this agency, may I just get a commitment from the concerned agency to seriously take a look, and not only that, but to do something about these galloping findings presented in the 2017 COA Report.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor. This Representation is excited to receive those two reports which he requested from the good agency. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor.




REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, may we recognize the next Member who will interpellate our Sponsor, Rep. Cesar V. Sarmiento from the Lone District of Catanduanes.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). The Hon. Cesar Sarmiento is recognized.

REP. SARMIENTO (C.). Thank you very much for the recognition. Just one important question, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor. For the more than eight years I have been in office, I have pushed for the influx of infrastructure projects in the province of Catanduanes. Among others, these were the circumferential road around the province, the rehabilitation and widening of roads and bridges, the rehabilitation of ports and just recently, the renovation and upgrading of the Virac airport. We used to have only one plane flying to Virac but now, we have two planes mounting flights to Catanduanes. I have also pushed for the issuance of the necessary permits for tourist vans plying our major roads. So, I think Catanduanes is ready, honorable Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, in terms of infrastructure and transportation. My concern, however is tourism promotion.

Locally and internationally, we all have heard the beauty of our primary tourist destinations like Boracay and Palawan. What about secondary destinations like Catanduanes? Alam po ninyo, marami nang magagandang lugar ngayon na may maraming infrastructure at isa na nga ang Catanduanes. For the record, we have pristine beaches along the coastlines of Catanduanes. We have an internationally recognized surfing site called the Majestic Puraran Beach, which is equally or probably better than Siargao in surfing activities. We have Binurong Point which is very much comparable to the beauty of Batanes, and we have the Catanduanes Natural Park, the last frontier of old-growth forest in the whole of Bicol Region. We are now experiencing an influx of tourists coming to see the beauty of our province but we Catanduanons still need the strong support of the Department of Tourism in terms of tourism promotion. Now my question—how extensive is your promotion of secondary tourist destinations such as Catanduanes so that I can validate, at present and in the future, and verify if this is really happening on the ground?

REP. DUAVIT. There is a budget of P250 million, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, for secondary locations. Part of this budget and I think this is what is important—if I

may digress just a little bit, this Representation, although he does not have a first-hand experience on the beauty of your province, ay medyo nalungkot, ano, nang nakita ko ang ganda nito, dahil nakita ko iyong mga drone shots, iyong mga magagandang photography, pero ang gumawa pala ng mga ito na nakita ko sa Youtube ay mga dayuhan. I am about to say that, perhaps, we should look at the multimedia creations or the actual media to be shown, Mr. Speaker, and I have been assured that part of the budget is precisely to capture the types of visuals and audio that we can actually display through the various portals of the Department, Mr. Speaker.

REP. SARMIENTO (C.). Well, if you will recall, there was this one small province which was able to successfully promote the beauty of its place, it is called Camiguin. Lumabas din po ito sa social media and probably, the Department of Tourism could do that—identifying places other than the traditional ones like Boracay and Palawan because we are teeming with so many beautiful places. Nowadays—especially as I said that for the past years, the government has embarked on paving all national roads all over the Philippines—some beautiful places have emerged or surfaced, or came into recognition. And lately, coming from the province of Catanduanes, I am telling my friends that those beautiful places have been in existence long before we were born except that these were inaccessible to local and foreign tourists alike.

Now, because of the infrastructure and the advent of social media, pupunta, nagse-selfie, ilalagay sa Facebook, mapi-pick up ng television network like GMA in “IJuander,” nagba-viral. But of course, the local government—the provincial government of Catanduanes—would be needing a lot of help from the DoTr, from the Department of Tourism in terms of promotion. At one time, the people from the Department of Tourism were there in the person of Regional Director Santiago and many others helping the province in promoting Catanduanes. But of course, what we would like is a sustainable or a sustained effort to promote Catanduanes. May I ask a commitment or assurance from the Department of Tourism to continue helping in the promotion of the Province of Catanduanes?

REP. DUAVIT. Without even looking behind, I heard an emphatic “yes” from the Secretary, Mr. Speaker.

REP. SARMIENTO (C.). Of course, it may not sound like a parochial concern, I would like to speak for and in behalf of the other secondary destinations where the people therein would like to seek the services of DOT in terms of promotion.

REP. DUAVIT. Of course, yes, Mr. Speaker.


REP. SARMIENTO (C.). Okay, with that assurance, I would like to end my interpellation. Thank you very much.

REP. DUAVIT. Thank you very much.


REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, as our last interpellator, may we recognize the honorable Minority Leader Danilo E. Suarez from the Third District of Quezon.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). The honorable Minority Leader, Rep. Danilo Suarez, is recognized.

REP. SUAREZ. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will my distinguished friend yield to some questions? Mr. Speaker, I have here the proposed budget of the Department of Tourism for 2019. I just have some questions. We have inbound and outbound—ano po ang mas malaki, iyong dumarating na turista sa ating bansa o iyong umaalis na Pilipino para mag-tour?

REP. DUAVIT. Unfortunately, I regret to tell the honorable Minority Leader that we do not have the details on outbound travelers from the Philippines, but I will personally try and get the figures from the BID, Mr. Speaker.

REP. SUAREZ. So wala silang data sa mga Pilipino na nagtu-tour.

REP. DUAVIT. Para sa mga Pilipino bumibiyahe papalabas ng Pilipinas, wala po. Mayroon para po sa mga Pilipino na buma-biyahe sa loob ng Pilipinas.

REP. SUAREZ. So, malaki ang local tourism natin, hindi po ba?

REP. DUAVIT. Malaki po.

REP. SUAREZ. How many millions is that, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor?

REP. DUAVIT. The ratio is usually 1:4 or four local tourists to one foreign tourist, Mr. Speaker, for the local travel.

REP. SUAREZ. Dito sa data na binigay ninyo, ang pinakamalaking arrivals are Koreans, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, pangalawa ang Chinese, at sumusunod dito ay ang iyong galing USA, Japan, Australia, Taiwan, Canada, United Kingdom, Singapore and Malaysia. Mula sa USA, iyong balikbayans ba are being counted as tourists?

REP. DUAVIT. Basta po foreign ang passport na hawak o depende po sa passport, Mr. Speaker.

REP. SUAREZ. I mean, umuuwi sila para dalawin iyong kanilang mga kamag-anak, and we are counting them as tourists because they have a foreign passport kahit na alam nating dating Pilipino sila.


REP. SUAREZ. How about those who are holding dual passports, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor?

REP. DUAVIT. Well, that is the international understanding, that is the policy internationally, Mr. Speaker. If I may refer you to the Department with regard to those holding dual passports.

REP. SUAREZ. So, ang data ho natin dito, ang total number na dumating po noong 2017, how many po, Your Honor?

REP. DUAVIT. It was 6.6 million.

REP. SUAREZ. We had 6.6 million tourists?


REP. SUAREZ. How much is their proposed budget for 2019, including the attached agencies, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor?

REP. DUAVIT. The proposed budget for 2019, including the attached agencies, hindi po aabot ng P3.7 billion, Mr. Speaker.

REP. SUAREZ. So, P3.7 billion po ang hinihingi nilang budget.

REP. DUAVIT. Kulang-kulang po.

REP. SUAREZ. Kung ang turistang dumating ay 6 million, and we are spending P500—can you do some calculations? Magkano po ang nagagastos natin sa dami ng arrivals mula sa budget na ating sine-set aside para dito.

REP. DUAVIT. If we put it in perspective, Mr. Speaker, if we take all of the obligations and expenses of the Department, which would total to, sabihin na po natin, P3.5 billion, lumalabas po na ang expense per traveler would be about P500.

REP. SUAREZ. So, P500 po.

REP. DUAVIT. Yes, P500 per tourist.


REP. SUAREZ. All the while—kasi ang akala ko po ay 3 million ang arrivals, pagkatapos ay P3 billion ang budget, so, that is P1,000. That is how much the government spends per tourist arrival. But it is 6 million. So, in effect, magkano naman ang average na ginagastos po ng isang turista, sa inyong calculation, sa hotel bills, et cetera?

REP. DUAVIT. It varies on which country they came from, Mr. Speaker, but the average spending of all tourists would be around $1,200 per visit.

REP. SUAREZ. Per day?

REP. DUAVIT. Per stay.

REP. SUAREZ. Per stay and so, regardless of how many days they stay, that is the average.

REP. DUAVIT. That is for a 10-day stay, Mr. Speaker, so, around $120 a day.

REP. SUAREZ. Per day?

REP. DUAVIT. Per day, that is the average, Mr. Speaker.

REP. SUAREZ. So, sa 6 million, that is quite a hefty amount of foreign earnings, Your Honor.

REP. DUAVIT. Yes, Mr. Speaker, we pull in about P450billion.

REP. SUAREZ. I see. There is just one thing that I noticed, distinguished Sponsor. On the side of attracting tourists, for instance, the tourists from South Korea, which number at 1,000,000,500 something, maybe, the Department of Tourism can come up with ideas to maximize what we can do to attract more Koreans because, definitely, we have a lot of places here which they do not have in Korea, as what was manifested by our colleague, Cong. Cesar Sarmiento, you know, scenic spots, beaches, et cetera. In other areas like China and the USA, it seems that what they have, we also have, and what we have, they also have, Your Honor. So, can I go into parochial issue.

REP. DUAVIT. We would like to assist, Mr. Speaker.

REP. SUAREZ. Your Honor, in my province, we have this Niyogyugan Festival wherein we give acknowledgment to a very important agricultural product in an industry that represents 31 percent of our farmers, and we have been doing this for five years. May I be allowed to make a Powerpoint

presentation on what this Niyogyugan is all about, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor, if I may have the authority to do so.

(Video presentation)As what we had shown here, we had an activity

in the province—and which activity we have been doing for the last five years—where there were booth design contest, booths selling local products, street dancing, grand parade, float design contest, Niyogyugan photo shoots. In 2016, we had 633,000 arrivals; in 2017, 800,000; and for this year, 1,001,039. The total product sales in 2017 was P20,234,000 and for this year, P27,691,000.

Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, the Department of Tourism, the previous management thereof, promised to support this festival. This is something close to my heart because it was my wife who started this Niyogyugan Festival, the former Cong. Aleta Suarez. Before, they only gave us t-shirts.

REP. DUAVIT. T-shirts?

REP. SUAREZ. The number of arrivals, distinguished Sponsor, was due to the many texts among those who had viewed this for the last two years and they did this voluntarily, and thus, filled up all hotels, including those in the neighboring towns, pinupuno po lahat ang mga hotels, and because this is a 10-day festival, napakaganda ho ng commerce. So, wala pa po ito sa pamphlets ng DOT. If I will look at the travel time, this will only take about one hour and 45 minutes from Manila to Lucena pero wala po ito sa pamphlets ng mga travel agencies. It is not in their schedule, for example, if a tourist will be saying, “I am staying here for only for 10 days, where can I go on this particular date?”—it would be nice for those travel agents to say that, “Well, you can go to Lucena and there is this festival.” You know, you can compare this to the cherry blossom in Japan, Oktoberfest in Germany—to our local festivals like the Sinulog and MassKara in terms of activities and presentation.

So, can I just be assured by the new dynamic leader of this Department, my very good friend, the DOT Secretary.

REP. DUAVIT. Mr. Speaker, we have the assurance of the Department and as a fellow region mate in Region IV-A, I would like to join you in having festivals, not only just those in Quezon but also in Rizal, Batangas and Laguna—for these provinces to also be more comprehensively served by the Department, distinguished Minority Leader, Mr. Speaker.

REP. SUAREZ. Can you ask the Secretary, cross my heart and hope to die? (Laughter)

Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, the Department has no engineering capability, am I correct?


REP. DUAVIT. That is correct, Sir.

REP. SUAREZ. So, iyong kanilang mga roads and infrastructure that are needed like bridges, identifying flood-prone areas, they have to delegate those to the DPWH, am I correct?


REP. SUAREZ. How much are we allocating for next year’s budget for improvement of infrastructure in tourist destinations?

REP. DUAVIT. That is P18 billion, Mr. Speaker.

REP. SUAREZ. So, P18 billion.

REP. DUAVIT. Billion, with a letter b, Mr. Speaker.

REP. SUAREZ. It is 1-8, Your Honor?


REP. SUAREZ. Is that the ceiling that was approved already. or that was what they requested but subject to the Cash-Based Budgeting of the DBM?

REP. DUAVIT. That was the ceiling given, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Minority Leader, and so, there was a substantial decrease of around P12 billion from last year’s budget, Mr. Speaker.

REP. SUAREZ. In the past years, Your Honor, we had problems in terms of hotels, in terms of the available rooms therein. Do we still have that problem, Your Honor, na kulang po tayo sa rooms?

REP. DUAVIT. The rooms—we are still catching up, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. But still we have that—hindi pa ho tama iyong numero ng arrivals sa dami ng kuwarto?

REP. DUAVIT. Naghahabol pa rin po tayo.

REP. SUAREZ. I see.

REP. DUAVIT. We already have a marked increase in available rooms, but so far, the number is outpaced by the increase in arrivals.

REP. SUAREZ. Are our hotel rates competitive with those in our neighboring countries?

REP. DUAVIT. Yes, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker.

REP. SUAREZ. We are competitive?

REP. DUAVIT. Especially with the increase in the number of budget apartelles and budget hotels, our average prices have come down and we are now competitive with those in the region insofar as that bracket, Mr. Speaker, the business traveler bracket, is concerned.

REP. SUAREZ. Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, thank you for your answers. This is such a very important agency, this is pure dollar, you know, with a very little capitalization.

On the part of the Minority, Mr. Speaker, we do not have any more question to raise on the proposed budget of the Department of Tourism for 2019 and we move to terminate, on the part of the Minority, the period of interpellation and debate on the proposed budget of the Department of Tourism, including its attached agencies.



REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, on the part of the Majority, we join the Minority in its motion to terminate the period of interpellation and debate on the budget of the Department of Tourism and its attached agencies and corporations.

I so move, Mr. Speaker. (Applause)




REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the session for a few minutes.


It was 5:54 p.m.





REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, may we just acknowledge


the presence of some guests in the gallery. They are the guests of COOP-NATCCO Party-List Reps. Sabiniano S. Canama and Anthony M. Bravo, PhD, the members of cooperatives, namely: Virginia Razonable, Rosa Lantaca, Lucena Ferraren, Nellie Omambac, Rosa Mercado, Widelyn Neri, Paulita Galleros, Elmy Bahin, Eleonora Digamon, Helen Accompaniado, Teresita Coca, Clemente Balaoro, Reynalda Clamohoy, Rey Gumisad and Saturnino Castillon.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). The guests of the Honorable Canama and the Honorable Tony Bravo, we welcome you to the House of Representatives. (Applause)


REP. NOEL. May we also acknowledge the presence of the guests of the Cong. Leopoldo N. Bataoil, Cong. Romeo M. Acop, Cong. Amado T. Espino, Jr. and Cong. Marlyn L. Primicias-Agabas: the members of the Police Retirees Association, Inc. led by its National President, Police Director Van Luspo.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). The guests of Representatives Bataoil, Acop, Espino and Primicias-Agabas, we welcome you to the House of Representatives. (Applause)


RATIFICATION OF CONF. CTTEE. RPT. ON H.B. NO. 5556

REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, we are in receipt of the Bicameral Conference Committee Report reconciling the disagreeing votes on House Bill No. 5556.




With the permission of the Body, and since copies of the Conference Committee Report have been previously distributed, the Secretary General read only the title of the measure without prejudice to inserting the text of the report in the Congressional Record.

THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 5556, entitled: AN ACT EXTENDING FOR ANOTHER TWENTY-FIVE (25) YEARS THE FRANCHISE GRANTED TO ISLA COMMUNICATIONS

COMPANY, INC., PRESENTLY KNOWN AS INNOVE COMMUNICATIONS, INC., AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7372, ENTITLED “AN ACT GRANTING THE ISLA COMMUNICATIONS CO. A FRANCHISE TO INSTALL, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES WITHIN THE TERRITORY OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AND INTERNATIONAL POINTS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.”


REP. NOEL. In accordance with our Rules, I move that we ratify the said Conference Committee Report.


The Conference Committee Report on House Bill No. 5556 is ratified.

DESIGNATION OF MEMBERS TO THE CONF. CTTEE. ON H.B. NO. 5162

REP. NOEL. I move that we designate the following Members to the Conference Committee on the disagreeing votes on House Bill No. 5162: Reps. Pedro B. Acharon Jr, Wilter “Sharky” Wee Palma II, Rene L. Relampagos and Arlene B. Arcillas.


The Members mentioned are so designated. REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, we are in receipt of

a Message from the Senate informing the House that the Senate passed with amendments House Bill No. 6294, increasing the bed capacity of the Biliran Provincial Hospital from seventy-five (75) to two hundred (200) beds. We have been advised that the Committee on Health, the Sponsor of the said House Bill, and the author thereof have no objections to the amendments introduced thereto by the Senate.

Mr. Speaker, in accordance with our Rules, I move that we concur with the Senate amendments to House Bill No. 6294.


THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abueg). Is there

* See MEASURES CONSIDERED (printed separately)


any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.


REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, I move that the Secretary General be directed to immediately transmit to the Senate a copy of House Bill No. 8165 which was approved earlier on Third Reading.



REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, I move that we include additional coauthors on House Bill Nos. 8024, 8237, 8249, 8264, 8266 and 8269, and House Resolution Nos. 799 and 2178, as contained in the lists to be submitted by the Committee on Rules.

I so move.




REP. NOEL. I move to suspend the session, Mr. Speaker.



At 6:06 p.m., the session was resumed with Deputy Speaker Evelina G. Escudero presiding.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Escudero). The session is resumed.




REP. ESPINA. Mme. Speaker, I move that we resume the consideration of House Bill No. 8169, and that the Secretary General be directed to read only the title of the measure.


THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Escudero). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.

The Secretary General is hereby directed to read only the title of the measure.


THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Escudero). The Majority Leader is recognized.

TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

REP. ESPINA. Mme. Speaker, I move that we begin the consideration of the budget of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Escudero). The consideration of the budget of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority budget is now on hand.


REP. ESPINA. Mme. Speaker, before we begin the period of interpellation and debate, may we acknowledge the presence of the TESDA family, headed by the Director General and Secretary, Atty. Guiling A. Mamondiong; Dep. Director General Rosanna Urdaneta of Policies and Planning; Dep. Director General Rebecca J. Calzado of Partnerships and Linkages; Dep. Director General Alvin Feliciano of the Technical Education and Skills Development; OIC Dep. Director General Gaspar Gayona of the Community and Local Government Unit Services; and the Regional Directors and Senior Staff of the TESDA.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Escudero). The family of the TESDA is welcome to the House of Representatives.


REP. ESPINA. Mme. Speaker, may I move that we recognize the Hon. Maria Carmen S. Zamora of the First District of Compostela Valley, to sponsor and to answer any questions on the budget of the TESDA.

I so move.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Escudero). The Hon. Maricar Zamora is now recognized.

REP. ZAMORA (M.). Thank you, Mme. Speaker.Mme. Speaker, the Technical Education and Skills

Development Authority or TESDA is proposing a total of P14,830,090,000 for calendar year 2019. I am now ready to answer questions, Mme. Speaker.



REP. ESPINA. Mme. Speaker, may I move that we recognize Rep. Anthony M. Bravo, PhD of COOP-NATCCO Party-List for his interpellation.



REP. ESPINA. Mme. Speaker, may I move that we recognize Rep. Danilo E. Suarez of the Third District of Quezon, the Minority Leader, for his interpellation.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Escudero). The Hon. Danilo Suarez, the Minority Leader, is now recognized.

REP. SUAREZ. Thank you, Mme. Speaker.Distinguished Sponsor, using the Cash-Based

approach, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority or TESDA has a total available appropriation of P14.83 billion. Is this correct, distinguished Sponsor?

REP. ZAMORA (M.). That is correct, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. This is higher by about P10 billion or 209 percent from its P4.79 million cash in 2018. May we know what accounts for the more than 200 percent increase in the TESDA’s budget, Mme. Speaker?

REP. ZAMORA (M.). Mme. Speaker, it is actually higher by P7,112,722,000.00. This is brought about by––P7 billion of this increase is due to the provision for Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act or UAQTEA which was just enacted and this will be implemented on its first year in 2019, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. So, doon ho mapupunta iyong malaking diperensiya?

REP. ZAMORA (M.). That is correct, Mme. Speaker.

REP. SUAREZ. Your Honor, last year, I moved for the additional P1 billion budget of the TESDA to provide allowances to students, especially for transportation, kasi marami po kaming tine-train noon sa TESDA at ang napupuna naming problema ay iyong attendance. Nagkakaproblema po kami kasi ang mga bata ay walang pamasahe. Sa amin po sa Quezon province ay kami po ang nagbibigay ng pamasahe, but you are operating nationwide, so I just would like to find out whether the office did something about the transportation problem of these students?

REP. ZAMORA (M.). Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, since there are several kinds of scholarships or livelihood trainings under the TESDA, it is under the Special Training for Employment Program or STEP, the program provides for allowances for scholars. Other scholarship programs have not given allowances considering that most of these programs are community-based, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. Mme. Speaker, during their training, the TESDA students are given tool kits. Binibigyan po sila ng mga tools, and for welding classes, students get welding machines, there being none.

I observed their training, Your Honor, for both sexes, male and female, and I was told that the female welders are more in-demand than the male welders.

REP. ZAMORA (M.). The TESDA is confirming it, Mme. Speaker.

REP. SUAREZ. May I know why, distinguished Sponsor, Mme. Speaker.

REP. ZAMORA (M.). Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, based on the records of the TESDA, in most cases when TESDA sent delegates or representatives to several skills competitions, women welders are the ones who made it and were able to bring prestige to the country in terms of skills competition, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. Than male?

REP. ZAMORA (M.). Than male, Mme. Speaker.

REP. SUAREZ. Kasi, Your Honor, I saw them. They are practicing welding with their pencil na nandoon. Nagulat ho ako, and they say that the female welder is in-demand in ship building. Sabi po nila, precise po ang welding, lalung-lalo na po sa mga barko, but wala pong nerbiyos ang mga female welders o hindi pagod iyong kamay, kasi ang male, baka ho pagod masyado iyong kamay kaya wala namang relation sa—ang lalaki kasi are masculine, maraming activity, baka pasmado iyong mga kamay. Hindi ho naman ganoon, distinguished Sponsor?

REP. ZAMORA (M.). Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, according to the performance evaluation of the TESDA, mas pulido po ang trabaho ng mga babaeng welders, and since welding is one of the skills that require details, women welders were able to deliver the kind of quality that are expected of their performance, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. Thank you for the reply, distinguished Sponsor.


Mme. Speaker, I just noticed that in terms of courses in 2016, 2017 and 2018, you have Food and Beverage, Shielded Metal Arc Welding—ito iyong pinag-usapan natin—Cookery, Bread and Pastry Production, Housekeeping, Electrical Installation and Maintenance, Computer System Servicing, Shielded Metal Arc, Household Services, and Bookkeeping. Tapos, sa 2017 po, may bago kayong inilagay: Hilot, or Wellness Massage, at Driving, at nag-alis kayo noong ibang courses. In 2018: Bread and Pastry, Shielded Metal Arc, Food and Beverage Services, Housekeeping, Cookery, Driving, Computer System, Hilot, Shielded Metal and Contact Center Services.

Wala ho kayong DI course, dance instructor? We have a shortage of DIs, I noticed. Ang laki ho ng bayad doon, and they are very good in dancing. Filipinas and Filipinos are very good and graceful in dancing, very graceful sila. We just had one affair and may problema po kami sa DI. Puwede bang kuwan, isama ninyo sa course iyong—you know how much they earn a night, Your Honor? P2,000, P3,000—libre pa ang pagkain. You can do some research in the industry and we are having some serious shortage of dance instructors. Baka sa susunod na budget hearing natin makita ho natin dito iyong—can they give a try to this suggestion from this Representation, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor?

REP. ZAMORA (M.). Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, since the TESDA courses are industry driven and need-driven, it is also one of the functions of the TESDA to see to it that they conduct research as to whether or not these kind of qualifications are needed in the industry.

Rest assured, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, that this will be looked into closely by the TESDA and we will see whether the industry needs dance instructors and, therefore, this can be considered in future planning, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. I noticed, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, that wala po tayo ditong course for plumbing, eh standard po iyan. Tubero, lagi hong problema iyan sa mga household. Nasisira iyong tubo and there seems to be—kung minsan ho nagkakaproblema tayo at wala ho tayong makuhang mga plumber.

REP. ZAMORA (M.). Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, plumbing is actually part of the qualifications that are being offered by TESDA. There are actually 274 training regulations or programs that are being offered by the TESDA and plumbing is part of this, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, what is the success rate of your graduates in terms of employment?

REP. ZAMORA (M.). Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, for 2016, the success rate of the Vet graduates with certifications is at 74.2 percent. For the year 2017, the data is still being gathered. For 2018, since the program is still being implemented, the TESDA will also be able to check on its employment rate in the coming months, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor. What we have now is only the data for 2016, which is 74.2 percent.

REP. SUAREZ. What is the grade of this employment, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor? When you say employed, you say kapag nagtrabaho po nang tatlong araw sa isang linggo, do you consider that as employment, hindi ho iyong permanenteng eight to five, tama ho ba?

REP. ZAMORA (M.). Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, most of these are wage earners and self-employed.

REP. SUAREZ. So, it is not necessary that the TESDA graduates work eight to five. So, mayroon po diyang mga dalawa, tatlong araw lang sa isang linggo. Kung minsan, dalawang araw, and they counted them as employed.

REP. ZAMORA (M.). Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, not necessarily that they be employed from eight to five because most of them also are self-employed and they manage their own business, using their skills.

REP. SUAREZ. Your Honor, I do not really have to debate with you on working eight to five or working two days a week. Employment is employment. So, ang gusto ko lang hong malaman ay iyong kung ilan talaga iyong success rate na sinasabi mo kanina, 74 percent. That is quite high, but ang gusto lang ho nating malaman dito sa Kongreso, because we are appropriating some funds, and in the event that they are really good in what they are doing, it is but natural for this Plenary to give them more funds, so they will be more effective in what they are doing. So, can we ask the office of TESDA, distinguished Sponsor, Mme. Speaker, to submit to this Representation those data that I am asking.

REP. ZAMORA (M.). Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, TESDA will submit all the data that is being requested to the Office of the Minority Leader, Mme. Speaker.

REP. SUAREZ. Your Honor, the head of this agency is a distinguished colleague of this Representation. We had been together for—I do not know what year we were together. Magkasama po kami ng Director before, and I know him to be a person of impeccable performance, Your Honor. So, in deference to the fact that he is a former colleague, and on the part of the Minority, we do not have any more question to raise on the proposed


budget of TESDA. I move to terminate the period of interpellation and debate on their proposed budget for 2019.



REP. ESPINA. Mme. Speaker, on behalf of the Majority, we join the Minority in its motion to terminate the period of interpellation and debate on the budget of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.



The deliberations on the budget of the TESDA is now terminated. (Applause)

REP. ZAMORA (M.). Thank you, Mme. Speaker.


REP. ESPINA. Mme. Speaker, I move for a one-minute suspension of the session.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Escudero). The session is suspended.

It was 6:24 p.m.





DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

REP. ESPINA. Mme. Speaker, I move that we begin the consideration of the budget of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.


REP. ESPINA. Mme. Speaker, before we begin the period of interpellation and debate, may we acknowledge the presence of the DILG family, headed by Officer-in-Charge Sec. Eduardo M. Año; from the Bureau of Fire

Protection, F/Dir. Leonard Bañago; J/Dir. Deogracias Tapayan of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology; Mrs. Thelma T. Vecina, Officer-in-Charge of the Local Government Academy; Mr. Rogelio T. Casurao, Vice-Chairman and Executive Officer of National Police Commission or NAPOLCOM; P/Dir. Gen. Oscar Albayalde, Chief of the PNP; and P/Dep. Dir. Gen. Ricardo De Leon, President of the Philippine Public Safety College, Mme. Speaker.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Escudero). The family of the Department of National Defense including attached agencies—I am sorry—the family of the Department of the Interior and Local Government and its attached agencies are welcome to the House of Representatives. (Applause)


REP. ESPINA. Mme. Speaker, I move that we recognize Rep. Luisa Lloren Cuaresma from the Lone District of Nueva Vizcaya to sponsor and to answer any question on the budget of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.


THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Escudero). Hon. Luisa Cuaresma is now recognized for the consideration of the proposed budget of the DILG.

REP. CUARESMA. Thank you very much, Mme. Speaker and to the Majority Leader.

This Representation is now ready to present to you the budget of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Mme. Speaker.


REP. ESPINA. Mme. Speaker, may I move that we recognize Rep. Mohamad Khalid Q. Dimaporo of the First District of Lanao del Norte for his interpellation.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Escudero). The Hon. Khalid Dimaporo is now recognized.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Mme. Speaker, is the honorable Sponsor willing to yield to some clarificatory questions, Mme. Speaker?

REP. CUARESMA. Gladly, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Mme. Speaker, I have three general sets of questions: first, in regard to the Assistance to Disadvantaged Municipalities Program;


second, the budget of the BJMP; and the third, the conduct of our police in the region of Mindanao since we are under martial law. So, for my first set of questions, Mme. Speaker, I would like to ask the honorable Sponsor, what is the budget for the Assistance to Disadvantaged Municipalities Program?

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, and Your Honor, the allocation for the Assistance to Municipalities Program is under the Local Government Support Fund, and it is is P11.7 billion, Mme. Speaker.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Mme. Speaker, may I have it confirmed. Is it P11 billion?

REP. CUARESMA. It is P11.7 billion, Mme. Speaker, and Your Honor.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Mme. Speaker, just for record purposes and for clarification’s sake, the Assistance to Disadvantaged Municipalities, to my understanding, is the continuation of the Bottom-Up Budgeting System from the previous administration, wherein municipalities can bring it up to the national government, specifically, Congress, through the DILG, to request for additional funding for the priority development projects. Am I correct in saying this, Mme. Speaker?

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, the aid to municipalities, if we have to compare with the BUB of the previous administration, is not really, or it is a different project, Mme. Speaker.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Mme. Speaker, if I may be corrected, so, at least, we all understand what exactly is this Assistance to Disadvantaged Municipalities Program?

REP. CUARESMA. Before, in previous years, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, the name was “Assistance to Disadvantaged Municipalities,” but in this 2019, it is already an “Assistance to Municipalities.” The DILG deleted already the word “disadvantaged.”

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). So, …

REP. CUARESMA. Now, Mme. Speaker, if I may continue, the honorable Gentleman from Lanao del Norte has stated the difference and asked whether this Assistance to Municipalities is the same as that of the BUP Project of the previous administration. I would like to inform him, Mme. Speaker, and our dear colleagues here that the BUB Projects were identified through the Local Poverty Reduction Action Team, an entity distinct from the program, and projects identified were

included in the Local Poverty Reduction Action Plan and were not necessarily included in the LDIP, whereas, in the Assistance to Municipalities, it is the LGU that identifies the project through their Local Development Councils, and is an integral part of their Comprehensive Development Plan, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Mme. Speaker, may I have this confirmed. The way I am understanding it is, this is an augmentation to the 20-percent Development Fund, or am I understanding it wrong also? Perhaps, I can be corrected in thinking that the Assistance to Municipalities is somewhat like the CCT or the Conditional Cash Transfer Program of the national government, which provides that municipalities that meet the good governance criteria of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, can avail themselves of the additional funding which will be coursed through, in the same manner, as a 20-percent Development Fund through the Local Development Councils?

I would just like to get an understanding of what exactly is the Assistance to Municipalities Program that we are providing P11 billion for. It need not necessarily be a comparison among the programs of the previous administration, or its predecessors, but for what is this P11 billion that we are giving? Is it simply dagdag lang sa 20-percent Development Fund of the municipalities from their IRA, or is there some sort of criteria that the municipal mayors have to attain before they …

REP. CUARESMA. Yes. Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, there is a governance condition in the issuance or for a local government unit to avail itself of an aid or an assistance to a municipality, like for example, one requirement is the DILG Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping; the requirements of the DILG Local Development Council Functionality, that they should have been able to give a requirement, or the DILG Local Development Council Functional Assessment; and aside from this, an assessment of the public financial management system’s adoption of the corresponding PFM improvement measure, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). So, Mme. Speaker, honorable Sponsor, I would like to think that this is a critical program. This is how I understand it now. This is a critical program of the good Secretary Año to ensure that a municipality will maintain the performance standards based on the Local Government Code, and should they maintain good governance, good financial housekeeping, and generally showcase to the nation that there is change at the grassroots level, change in the municipal level, then may kaunting premyo, which is the budget.

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, that is it, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.


REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Thank you, Mme. Speaker.Now, I would like to move to the next question

which was brought up during the budget briefing, and that is the lump-sum appropriation.

My understanding as a neophyte Congressman is we are not allowed to do lump-sum appropriations. So, I have been asking our Regional Director of the DILG to give me an itemized description of how this, the budget for the municipalities, will be spent. So far, what I have been given is only a rough average, wherein every municipality will receive more or less P10 million in the 2019 Budget. Now, under our GAB or the NEP, it has not been dictated or itemized what exactly the P10 million will be spent for. And during the budget briefing, we requested from the honorable Sponsor that the DILG, at least, itemize it so we know what the municipal mayors will be spending the P11 billion on. So, I would like to ask, Mme. Speaker, the good Sponsor if the DILG has complied with and submitted to our Committee Secretariat the itemizing of the lump-sum appropriation for the Assistance to Municipalities program worth P11 billion.

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, we have here a copy of the distribution of this P11.7 billion aid to municipalities. This has not yet been officially endorsed to the Committee on Appropriations, but I have here a voluminous list coming from the different regions.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Mme. Speaker, I am willing to just accept the report and I can take it from our Committee Secretariat if…

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, Mme. Speaker, we will provide the Hon. Khalid Dimaporo with a copy of this list of assistance to the different municipalities.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Mme. Speaker, may I know in general, how will the P11 billion be used? Is this a free-for-all to be determined by the guidelines of the 20-percent Development Fund? Because if it is a free-for-all, for example, the 20-percent Development Fund, you can use that next year to buy multicabs, you can use that next year to buy ambulances, and you can use that next year to do anything under the guidelines of the 20-percent Development Fund and as long as it is passed and endorsed by the Local Development Council. Is there a menu that the municipalities follow? For example, water system, …

REP. CUARESMA. Yes.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). … farm-to-market roads, ...

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, for

2019, we have a menu. The Assistance to Municipalities will go to potable water system projects, evacuation facilities with DRR-related equipment, small water-impounding projects, and local access roads like farm-to-market roads, drainage systems, local bridges, sanitation, and health facilities, rainwater catchment facilities, and municipal drug rehabilitation facilities, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Mme. Speaker, I would like to thank the honorable Sponsor for that clarification. May I also have it confirmed that this Assistance to Municipalities Program or the LGSF, actually, is not with the DILG, but with the Department of Budget and Management.

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, the fund, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, is with the DBM. It is the DBM that shall be the one to directly download it to the different LGUs, Mme. Speaker.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Mme. Speaker, in addition to that also, my understanding is, with the local government units, they passed the budget roughly around October to December. So, if there is an Annual Investment Plan or AIP, it would be difficult for the LGUs to submit that to Congress during this time of the year, which is why it is more efficient for the DILG and for the DBM to implement the LGSF or the Assistance to Municipalities Program thru the LGSF and lodge the budget with the Department of Budget and Management. Am I correct in saying this, Mme. Speaker?

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Mme. Speaker, again, I would like to thank the honorable Sponsor for clearing up with me this Assistance to Municipalities and furnishing me after this interpellation the data that I requested for during our budget briefing.

I would like to ask now my second set of questions, Mme. Speaker, and they are regarding the BJMP. May I know, Mme. Speaker, what is the budget for the BJMP for the year 2019?

REP. CUARESMA. For 2019, the budget of the BJMP is P18,866,469,000, Mme. Speaker.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Mme. Speaker, my next question is in regard to the population of our BJMP jails. In the Duterte administration, the President’s number one, I think, the program that he wants to deliver to the Filipino people is to succeed in his war on drugs. As a natural output of the war on drugs, I have seen it


in the ground that there has been a surge in the prison population. May I get the data from the honorable Sponsor. Has there been an increase in the inmates since the beginning of the Duterte administration because of the war on drugs?

REP. CUARESMA. As of July 31, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, we have 144,175 personnel under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Is that personnel or inmates, Mme. Speaker?

REP. CUARESMA. Inmates.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). And in the beginning of the Duterte administration, how many inmates did we have, Mme. Speaker, if I may ask?

REP. CUARESMA. We had 152,000 inmates, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). We had 152,000 inmates? So, am I correct in saying that there was a drop in the inmate population?


REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Okay. Mme. Speaker, may I ask from the honorable

Sponsor, has the BJMP ever done an assessment of their jails, especially the carrying capacity of their jails? We want to make sure that, even though they may be prisoners, they are still treated as humanely as possible. And there are cases that I know of in the local level where you have jails that are built for 80 inmates but are housing 200 inmates. I would like to know, Mme. Speaker, if the BJMP has ever done such an assessment.

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, in fact, they did an assessment and the congestion rate is 541.72 percent as of July of this year, Mme. Speaker.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Mme. Speaker, may I request again the honorable Sponsor that I be furnished with the data in regard to the congestion rate of our BJMP jails.

REP. CUARESMA. Yes.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Mme, Speaker, I would like to also know, in regard to our 2019 Budget, do we have any budget for the building of new jails or expanding new jails, and how much?

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker. We have proposed the construction of more than a hundred jails all over the Philippines, Mme. Speaker, worth P3 billion.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Three billion? Billion?


REP. DIMAPORO (M.). And that is for the construction of new jails?

What about the operation of the jails for 2019? These new jails will come with, I assume, an MOOE budget as well. How much, with P3 billion spent for new jails, is the appropriations for operating these new jails?

REP. CUARESMA. If we have to look into the proposed budget of the DILG, the BJMP in particular,…

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Mme. Speaker, I am willing to…

REP. CUARESMA. …the proposed budget for the MOOE is P5,972,102,000, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Thank you, Mme. Speaker. I will also ask for the corresponding data after my interpellation, and I would just like to also manifest, Mme. Speaker, that not only Congress, not only the GAA spending on the creation of new jails, but the BJMP also has partners in the local government units, and I am hoping that for not only for the 2019 budgetary allocation, but also for the 2020 budgetary allocation that the BJMP will also find ways to work hand-in-hand with its local government counterparts.

I would like to move to my last set of questions, Mme. Speaker, so I can wrap up, and this is in regard to martial law in Mindanao.

Martial law in Mindanao, to my understanding and my experience, has not been negative. Generally, we feel that Mindanao is more peaceful, lalo na in my region, which is the Lanao region. Marawi City, which is in Lanao del Sur, was filled with rido or blood feud. Now, the different clans of the Maranaos killing one another, more or less, has dissipated because of martial law under the Duterte administration.

During the budget briefing, I also requested statistics from the PNP, and I would like to thank the honorable Sponsor and the PNP family for providing me with the crime statistics. There has been a small reduction in crimes in Mindanao, so we can generally say that martial law has resolved or resulted in a more


peaceful region in Mindanao. Am I correct in saying this, Mme. Speaker?

REP. CUARESMA. I agree, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Mme. Speaker, one of the biggest, let us say, perks or benefits that Mindanao has experienced in regard to martial law is the total gun ban. That really is one of the big things that are being implemented. It is now hard to move guns from one area to another area. On top of that, in the Duterte administration, we are going to be reaching another milestone, and that is peace in Mindanao, through the Bangsamoro Organic Law. And last week or a few weeks ago, we had one of the first milestones or highlights, and that is the special registration for MILF combatants.

Now, Mme. Speaker, I would like to request the technical staff to show the slides of our special registration, and this is really what I would like to show the good Secretary Año and our Chief PNP.

(Slide presentation)In that slide, there is an elementary school. In that

elementary school, we have MILF members converging for special registration.

Can I move to the next slide? Next slide, please, yes.

(Slide presentation)That is inside the elementary school. Again, the

MILF members were sitting down, filling up the registration to become voters.

Next slide, please.(Slide presentation)Now, you can barely see it here that on his chest is

an assault rifle, inside our voting precinct. That is in the elementary school, the first time that ever happened, a fully armed MILF member registering to vote.

Can I see the next slide, please?(Slide presentation)This is his armband. It says there, “Tiger Command,”

I think, “BIAF,” Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces of the MILF. He is proudly brandishing that armband.

Can I get the next slide, please?(Slide presentation)Now, that is the line of registrants, the MILF

members and combatants, fully armed. You can barely see it in that picture but if it is a clear picture, you can see that they are fully armed, with assault rifles, M2, and these assault rifles are also attached with M203 grenade launchers. One or two of them have 40mm Grenade Bandolier along their chest.

Can I have the next slide, please?(Slide presentation)That is our Provincial COMELEC taking a selfie

with the MILF combatants.

Can I have my next slide, please?(Slide presentation)This is my complaint, actually, Mme. Speaker. In

green, high visibility green, are our PNP and what they are doing there is they are taking pictures right next to MILF combatants, fully armed.

Next slide, please.(Slide presentation)You can barely see it pero under that multi-purpose

center, you can see the high visibility green jacket of the PNP. They are relaxing under the shade while MILF combatants, fully armed, are roaming the public elementary school.

Iyan ang issue ko, Mme. Speaker.

REP. CUARESMA. Yes.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). I would like to bring this to the attention of Secretary Año and our PNP Chief because when martial law was declared, several governors and municipal mayors were taken out. They were relieved of their deputization powers by the NAPOLCOM.

Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, the honorable Sponsor is a former Governor and she understands the relationship between the PD and the Provincial Governor, or the Chief of Police and the municipal mayors. Ngayon, if you take away that deputized power, mahirap tayong makakilos. It is hard when you do not work together, you do not talk together, you do not establish a chain of command, and that is what is most important when it is on the ground.

I would just like to bring this up, Mme. Speaker, because …

REP. CUARESMA. Yes.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). … when the deputized powers of the Governor in my province, and also that of the municipal mayors were taken away, then you know there is a need for delicadeza.

When I was Governor of the province of Lanao del Norte, we passed the Peace and Order Council Resolution, and in that Peace and Order Council Resolution, we would not allow the MILF to enter the province of Lanao del Norte if they are fully armed and in uniform. Kung papasok sila, they had to be in civilian clothing and unarmed. This is what our Provincial Director had been religiously implementing in my province during my time as Governor. Ang problema namin dito, Mme. Speaker, and I would like to ask the honorable Sponsor so I can relate this to our budget, among all the agencies, if I am not mistaken, the DBM has slashed most of our agencies’ budget and cut our budget with the exception of the DND and the PNP, and the reason


is that the PNP had an increase in its salaries. So, I would like to ask the honorable Sponsor, Mme. Speaker, how much is the budgetary allocation in 2019 for the increase in salaries of our PNP personnel?

REP. CUARESMA. Now, with regard to the presentation, Mme. Speaker and Your Honor, this Representation would like to thank the Hon. Khalid Dimaporo for showing these kinds of slides. It is a very nice presentation, I mean, because, at least, the Secretary of the DILG and the Chief of the PNP are with us. They were able to see the actual pictures and everything, and we will let the DILG and the PNP make an investigation on this matter.

Now, with regard to the question of the Honorable Dimaporo as to how much is the amount allocated or appropriated for the increase in salaries for 2019, it is in the amount of P152 billion—P152,473,159,000.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Mme. Speaker, just to wrap up, I fully support the budget of the President and I fully support the increase in the salaries of our PNP personnel because they are the ones risking their lives for the safety of our community. I would just like to appeal that in cases like these in the local level, you should show that you deserve that salary increase. Medyo masakit iyan sa amin when we work very hard to keep the MILF at bay, pero here they come going to our elementary school fully armed and our PNP is being frankly complacent. So, I hope that problem can be rectified after tonight’s budget hearing, Mme. Speaker.

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker and Your Honor, we will take care of everything that has been said. As I have mentioned earlier, there will be an investigation that shall be conducted by the Office of the Secretary.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Thank you, Mme. Speaker. What I would like to request is more than just an investigation, because we will be starting to campaign for or against the Bangsamoro this coming October, November, December for the plebiscite, and in those areas, especially the conflict-affected areas, we need the support of the PNP—talagang implement the gun law—the total gun ban. Do not allow the movement of high-powered firearms from the mountains down to our school system; and also we should support our COMELEC.

The reason the Provincial Head of the COMELEC was taking selfie was that he could not do anything about it. I got mad at him. I said, “Anong ginagawa mo, selfie-selfie ka diyan,” and his answer to me was, “Gov, I cannot do anything, ang hinahawakan nila mga armas.” So, these things should be addressed. We rely on our PNP to protect the sanctity of our elections, and I hope that the PNP will do more than just an investigation, that

it would assure at least the good people of the province of Lanao del Norte that there will not be rampant movement of fully armed rebels in my province during the period when we will be campaigning for or against the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

Thank you, Mme. Speaker, and that ends my interpellation.

REP. CUARESMA. Yes. That is noted, Mme. Speaker and Your Honor.


REP. ESPINA. Mme. Speaker, the next Member who wishes to interpellate the good Lady Sponsor is Rep. Leopoldo N. Bataoil from the Second District of Pangasinan.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Escudero). The Hon. Leopoldo Bataoil is now recognized.

REP. BATAOIL. Thank you, Mme. Speaker. May I ask the distinguished Sponsor if she is willing

to entertain a few clarifications and manifestation, Mme. Speaker?


REP. BATAOIL. Thank you, Mme. Speaker. I am particularly interested in the indexation of the

pension of our police retirees, Mme. Speaker. They are here today—our police retirees, they came from many places all over the Philippines, various provinces, various regions—represented by their National President, retired Police Director Van Luspo, and they are very much concerned, Mme. Speaker. In fact, they have been here for—this is their second day, awaiting this moment, so that their inner feelings will be heard and their plight will be duly considered.

Mme. Speaker, the indexation law states that if the salary of the active personnel is increased, correspondingly, the pension of these retirees should also be increased. In 2018, their indexation was suspended while the active personnel, their salaries were increased. Question, Mme. Speaker: Are they included this time in this 2019 Budget allocation? Because their indexation for 2018, the corresponding increase for the retirees was supposed to be implemented in 2018 but it was suspended, and I understand that they are supposed—as per understanding with the DBM, their supposed increase will take effect this 2019.

My question is, are they included this time?

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, Your Honor,


for 2019, it is part of the requirement, this particular indexation is part of the 2019 Budget.

REP. BATAOIL. A part of 2019 …

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, it is included, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. BATAOIL. Oh, so they are included. So, that is a very good news, Mme. Speaker, because really that is what they want to hear that for 2019, they are included. And in gratitude, they are silently standing up, Mme. Speaker. I told them to just keep it in their heart, their gratitude. And we thank you, Mme. Sponsor, for taking the cudgels for these retirees. As you very well know, for many years, quality years of their lives, they have served God, country and people. And I am sure that these active PNP personnel, uniformed personnel, will feel the same way if this government will take care of them for what they have done for our beloved country.

Thank you, Mme. Sponsor.

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor. Really, for 2019, they are assured already of this indexation.

REP. BATAOIL. Thank you, Mme. Speaker. That is really good news. (Applause)

I heard about the 26—one query about the retirees, Mme. Speaker, they are requesting for the payment of their arrears of 26 months or so. Do we have that on record, Mme. Speaker?

REP. CUARESMA. Yes. In fact, we have a requirement for that particular year of 2016. We need a requirement of P3.3 billion, 839 million—the requirement is P3.8 billion, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, but the DBM already released the amount of P328,497,256. So, there is a difference, there is still like P3.5 billion that shall be given them, supposedly to be released by the DBM, but the problem is that the COA still needs to validate …

REP. BATAOIL. Yes, Mme. Speaker. So, in other words, it is a matter of complying with the COA requirement.


REP. BATAOIL. So, the arrearages will be paid by the government.

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, Mme. Speaker, we just have to be diligent.

REP. BATAOIL. Thank you, Mme. Speaker, for that

and for the assurance that the budget for those years of non-payment is just right there and it is a matter of …

REP. CUARESMA. Validation …

REP. BATAOIL. … validation of …

REP. CUARESMA. … by the COA, Mme. Speaker.

REP. BATAOIL. Yes, Mme. Speaker.My last concern, before I turn this over, is on the

Emergency 117, Mme. Speaker. May I ask the DILG if this particular arm or agency of the DILG is properly supported and how much is intended for the purpose?

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, for 2018, the amount of P22.3 million was allocated, but the proposed amount we requested was P23.516 million. That is why the DILG requested an additional amount of P525 million because this P23.5 million is not sufficient kasi sa PS lang po napunta, Mme. Speaker, the P23 million.

REP. BATAOIL. Yes, that is right, Mme. Speaker.Actually, if the P525 million will be appropriated

for the purpose, they will be able to upgrade their capability nationwide. Is that correct, Mme. Speaker, with that amount of P525 to include already the PS?

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, yes.

REP. BATAOIL. And, may I know the constraint why we cannot provide that P525 million.

REP. CUARESMA. Well, at times, though how much the Department would request from the DBM like submit a proposal for a particular program, if the DBM would not like to give an affirmative response, that is at times not only a program of the DILG but of the different departments as well?

REP. BATAOIL. Yes, Mme. Speaker, that is correct.

REP. CUARESMA. In fact, the DILG submitted to the DBM the amount of P551 million but the amount just approved, as indicated in the NEP, is only P23.5 million, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. BATAOIL. Yes. So, in other words, this P23.5 million appropriated for 2019 is just for Personnel Services. That is for the salaries and allowances of personnel operating and manning Emergency 117.


REP. CUARESMA. It seems that way, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor. In fact, the reason the Department or the DILG requested for an augmentation is that it would be utilized for the construction of Emergency 911 Command Center …

REP. BATAOIL. Ito ba iyong dating …

REP. CUARESMA. … because, really, it is needed in the different areas particularly in calamity-prone areas, Mme. Speaker, or …

REP. BATAOIL. Yes.

REP. CUARESMA. … crime-prone areas or particularly in emergency situations.

REP. BATAOIL. That is correct, Mme. Speaker.The distinguished Sponsor is a former Governor

that is why she knows the importance of this particular capability of the local government units.

If I remember it right, this was Patrol 117 which we now call Emergency 117.


REP. BATAOIL. Yes. I had extensive use of this Patrol 117 when I was the Regional Director of the NCRPO in Northern Luzon during one of the typhoons, most especially when I was the Director of Police Community Relations because this is one capability where we can bring the people or the PNP closer to the people and their concerns.

In particular, emergency or anything at all, pagka na-text nila sa Patrol 117, and the PNP responds immediately by way of assuring someone who is in distress by calling the nearest police station or fire station for immediate response, that is bringing the PNP closer to the people. That is why I am very interested in this, Mme. Speaker, because I do not want this particular capability to be left behind. The P551 million, Mme. Speaker, is meant to upgrade the capability nationwide. What is the status now of the current equipage of the Emergency 117?

REP. CUARESMA. A while ago, with the observation of the Honorable Bataoil, I agree that this 911 Command Center or program of the DILG is really needed.

REP. BATAOIL. Mme. Speaker, is it still located in Quezon City?

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, it is still the old one, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. BATAOIL. The old one being manned by the PLDT and the DILG personnel including the PNP, …

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, Mme. Speaker.

REP. BATAOIL. … Bureau of Fire Protection, and they take turns in performing their duties.

To upgrade this capability, saan natin gagamitin iyong P551 million, Mme. Speaker?

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, as I said earlier, it will be utilized for the construction of Emergency 911 Command Center.

REP. BATAOIL. Okay.

REP. CUARESMA. Aside from the construction, we are also in need of the procurement of the equipment and the vehicles for that project, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. BATAOIL. Thank you, Mme. Speaker. I am very happy that my concerns and the concern of many others, the local government units, the PNP, the retirees are properly addressed by the distinguished Sponsor, and I am hoping and praying that this will be realized in this 2019 General Appropriations.

Thank you, Mme. Speaker.


REP. ESPINA. Mme. Speaker, may we recognize Rep. Makmod D. Mending Jr. from the Party-List AMIN for his interpellation.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Escudero). The Honorable Mending is now recognized.

REP. MENDING. Thank you, Mme. Speaker.Assalamualaikum and good evening.Mme. Speaker, kaunting katanungan lang po.

Iyong sa Assistance to Disadvantaged Municipalities previously, kumusta po ang implementation ninyo ngayon for 2018? Nasaan na po iyong accomplishment nito?

REP. CUARESMA. Please repeat the question, Mme. Speaker.

REP. MENDING. For the current year po, Mme. Speaker, mayroon po bang Assistance to Disadvantaged Municipalities Program ang ating DILG?

REP. CUARESMA. Yes. A while ago, I already answered that same query of the Hon. Khalid Dimaporo. We no longer have that program for 2019.


REP. MENDING. For the current year po, Mme. Speaker, 2018.

REP. CUARESMA. For the current year, yes, we still have that.

REP. MENDING. Thank you, Mme. Speaker.

REP. CUARESMA. We still have the Assistance to Disadvantaged Municipalities or ADM Program. The amount allocated for 2018 is P11.7 billion, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor. As of this moment, out of the P11.7 billion allocated for the ADM, P11.4 billion has already been released by the Department of Budget and Management to the different beneficiaries.


Kasi po noong 2017 Annual Audit Report, 40 percent lang iyong accomplishment nitong programang ito. Nagkaroon daw ng problema sa releases based on the strict documentary requirements. May I have an update as to the 2017 implementation, the 2017 fund of this Assistance to Disadvantaged Municipalities Program, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor.

REP. CUARESMA. We have here a record, Mme. Speaker, and Your Honor, that the amount released for 2017, out of the P19.43 billion, the amount released was P18.98 billion, which means that 97.69 percent was released to the different LGUs. Ang problema lang po is that, I think there are a lot of conditions that the LGUs ought to comply with before it will be liquidated.

REP. MENDING. Yes, Mme. Speaker.

REP. CUARESMA. Maybe that is one reason why in the COA report, it says only like how many percent again?

REP. MENDING. It is only 40 percent sa physical and financial accomplishment, parehong 40 percent for year ending 2017. Ang akin po sanang gustong malaman, kumusta na po ito ngayon?

REP. CUARESMA. At the moment, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, the completed project is 2,473. That is 56.51 percent of the project. For the 2017 funded project or for the ADM Program, there are still ongoing projects. This is in the amount of like P1.361 billion. That is 31.10 percent, and there are a few remaining under procurement, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.


I am asking this question to be able to avoid the same problems for the implementation of the 2019 Assistance

to Municipalities, because according to the General Appropriations Bill, the validity of the Cash-Based Budgeting system for Assistance to Municipalities of LGUs is going to be two years. Meaning to say, ibang klase po ang treatment para sa LGUs at iba din ang sa national government agencies. To be able to avoid delays, sana po iyong na-identify na bottleneck sa bureaucracy ay ma-address for the implementation in the 2019 Budget, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor. If I may move on, okay na po ako sa ADM.


REP. MENDING. Iyon lang po ang gusto kong ma-raise.

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, Mme. Speaker. I thank the Gentleman for bringing this out. May I also inform the Honorable Mending that the DILG already requested for a technical design for projects that shall be implemented and funded for the year 2019. At least, this is a better scheme as compared to the previous years, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.


If I may turn back time, kahit sandali lang po, nagkaroon ng programa ang DILG, ang MASA MASID. Mayroon itong pera na P500,000,000. Noong December, patapos na ang taon, mayroong natirang P88,000,000. Ang ginawa ng DILG, ipinasa ang pondo sa PPSC at sa LGA. Discontinued na po itong MASA MASID Program na ito. Puwede po bang malaman kung ano ang ginawa ng PPSC at ng LGA doon sa na-transfer na pera or iyong P88,000,000 sa na natira sa MASA MASID Program?

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, with regard to

the MASA MASID budget, it is being utilized. We will give you a copy of the utilization of this particular fund of the MASA MASID.


Ito po bang MASA MASID ay tinapos or na-discontinue ng DILG?

REP. CUARESMA. In 2017, we still have the budget, but for 2018, wala nang pondo ang MASA MASID, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. MENDING. Yes, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor. Ang findings kasi ng auditor, ito ay discontinued na pero noong December 2017, may natirang P88 million out of the P500 million. What they did was they transferred this fund from the DILG to the PPSC and the


LGA. The question now is, there is a specific provision in the GAA which is P500 million for the purpose of the MASA MASID Program. If it was discontinued in 2018, to what purpose did the LGA and the PPSC use that P88 million, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor?

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, in fact, there was a memorandum of agreement entered into between the DILG and the LGA, as well as that of the PPSC and the PCOO, for them to implement already this particular program. As of June 30, may I inform you, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, that the DILG transferred P50 million to the PPSC, P25 million went to the Violent Extremism Training Program and P25 million was returned to the DILG, Mme. Speaker.

REP. MENDING. Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, thank you. May I have a copy of that memorandum of agreement. Thank you very much.

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, Mme. Speaker, we will provide the Honorable Mending with a copy of the breakdown.

REP. MENDING. Thank you. Mme. Speaker. My next question is on the Micro-Medium Rise Building Program costing P1 billion, and the delivery rate is only 30 percent. May we know what is the policy of the new Secretary, though he is no longer new. This program was conceptualized and implemented prior to him becoming the Secretary. Ano po ang pananaw ng DILG leadership ngayon dito sa Micro-Medium Rise Building Program, at kasunod po nito ay iyong Interim Shelter Fund, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor?

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, for 2019, the Department did not propose funding for this particular project. Just to update, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, out of the P50 billion fund starting from 2012 onwards, P32 billion was given to the National Housing Authority for 101,000 housing units for informal settlers, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. MENDING. Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, this Representation will accept a report, an updated report with regard to the Micro-Medium Rise Building Program of the DILG.

My next question pertains to the Interim Shelter Fund.

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, we will just provide Congressman Mending a copy of the report of the DILG with regard to this particular fund.

REP. MENDING. Yes, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor.

My next question is on the Interim Shelter Fund where P18,000 is given to each family. As of December 31, 2017, only 54 percent was accomplished. Saan po nagkaproblema and mayroon pang findings na double payment? May we know, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, ano po ang update, kahit na po as of June 30, 2018? Ano po iyong na-increase natin sa implementation nitong Interim Shelter Fund?

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, as of September 2018, 57 percent was already disbursed or utilized.


May we know if the DILG leadership ay may interes na maibayad lahat iyong pondong inilaan para sa Interim Shelter Fund, at ano po iyong catch-up plan, if any, or if ever there is one, ng DILG leadership dito sa Interim Shelter Fund, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor?

REP. CUARESMA. In fact, with this Interim Shelter Fund, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, the amount was already disbursed to the DSWD, the NHA and the PCUP, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, but the problem on validation cropped up again.

REP. MENDING. Correct me if I am wrong, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor. Mayroon pong nakarating na information na iyong inilipat sa DSWD ay isinauli nila. Tama po ba, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor?

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, the DSWD did not give back the amount, but instead, they utilized all that particular amount.


Mukhang hindi po tama iyong nakarating na information sa atin. My next question is the ASEAN unliquidated fund transfers amounting to P1 billion. Ano po ang update? Noong nagkaroon ng ASEAN, nag-fund transfer ang DILG sa ibang government agencies to be able to spend it for the preparations and conduct of the ASEAN which we hosted. As of December of 2017, P1 billion ang unliquidated. Puwede po bang malaman ngayon kung magkano na lang?

REP. CUARESMA. Tama, Mme. Speaker. As of August of this year, the amount of P52 million is the only amount that …

REP. MENDING. Iyon na lang po ang natira.

REP. CUARESMA. Yes.


REP. MENDING. Only P50 million is unliquidated. Thank you very much, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor. Kasi baka mabasa ng iba, akala nila ay ganoon kalaki iyong unliquidated. Sa ngayon po ay P52 million na lang.

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, it is only P52 million, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker.


Mapunta naman po ako sa PNP, kung inyong mamarapatin, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor. Ano po ang plano ng PNP sa unfilled positions na 34,000, and may we know if this is funded or not? I think, most probably, this is not funded, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor.

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker and Your Honor, as we have here the data, there is like 22,933 unfilled positions, Mme. Speaker and Your Honor.

REP. MENDING. Sa PNP po, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, 22,000 po iyong unfilled?


REP. MENDING. Kasi based sa data ng CPBRD dito sa atin, it is supposed to be 34,000. So, there is a discrepancy. Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, 22,000 po iyong unfilled. Would this be uniformed or civilian?

REP. CUARESMA. It is—this is for uniformed personnel, Mme. Speaker and Your Honor.

REP. MENDING. So, ang tanong ko po, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, ano po ang gagawin ng PNP leadership sa unfilled positions na ito?

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, this will be filled up, Mme. Speaker and Your Honor. The promotion and recruitment is still ongoing.

REP. MENDING. Thank you, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor. Karamihan po ba dito ay para sa mga PO1?

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, Mme. Speaker and Your Honor, because the unfilled positions supposedly are 31 for Police Officer 1, so the bulk of this 22,000 goes to PO1.

REP. MENDING. Thank you, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, dahil madalas po nating naririnig ang Pangulo na magre-recruit ng mas maraming pulis

at mas maraming armed forces. Ang tanong ko po ay ganito, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, kung inyo pong mamarapatin, gaano po katagal, from application ng isang interesadong maging pulis hanggang siya ay ganap na maging pulis? How long does the process take, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor?

REP. CUARESMA. The recruitment stage, Mme. Speaker and Your Honor, is two to three months.

REP. MENDING. Three?

REP. CUARESMA. And then afterwards, there is like this training and everything.

REP. MENDING. So, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, does it take less than a year to be able to...

REP. CUARESMA. Definitely, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. MENDING. Thank you, Mme. Speaker and distinguished Sponsor. Umaasa po tayo na hindi masasayang itong unfilled positions na ito and matanong ko lang po iyong procedure, ito po ba ay kinukuha sa MPDF, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor?


REP. MENDING. Thank you, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor. Malapit na po akong matapos. Iyong isang malaking pondo na nasa Procurement Service ng DBM, gusto ko lang pong ma-confirm kung tama ba iyong findings ng COA—goods worth P6.71 billion, of which funds were already transferred to the Procurement Service of the DBM, remained undelivered despite the lapse of several years. Would the PNP confirm this amount, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor? Naglipat po tayo ng pondo sa Procurement Service ng DBM, more than P6 billion pero hindi naman na-deliver iyong goods.

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, with the P6 billion as stated by the honorable Gentleman, I would like to inform, Mme. Speaker, the honorable Gentleman, that only the amount of P50 million is not being—is not really...

REP. MENDING. Delivered?

REP. CUARESMA. Yes. It did not have the procurement activity.



If we look at the data of December 31, 2017, ang claim po ng COA ay mayroong P6.71 billion. So, is the PNP saying that the finding is correct? Did you challenge the findings of the COA and mayroon po bang management letter regarding this?

REP. CUARESMA. Yeah, we do agree, Mme. Speaker, that with the procurement process now, there is a little bit improvement with regard to procurement. Then, maybe, we can provide you with a copy of the process that is being done now by the PNP and the DBM.

REP. MENDING. Ah, thank you, Mme. Speaker.

REP. CUARESMA. It is because of the process, though how much, you know, the DILG would like to procure, that is so fast, but the problem is always at the DBM. Lahat kasi dapat dumaan sa DBM like, for example, if we request for additional funds, it will always be through the DBM because that is the process.


Would the PNP consider procuring these items themselves? Iyong PNP na po mismo ang mag-a-undertake ng procurement activities dahil po sa Procurement Service ng DBM, mayroong 5-percent service fee. So, halos—sa ngayon pa lang ho, ang service fees na binayaran dito, P17 million na. So, kumbaga, puwede pa sanang maipambili ng more items kaysa ibayad mo sa Procurement Service ng DBM kasi billion na po iyong pinag-uusapan, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor. Would the PNP consider procuring these items themselves?

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, and Your Honor, I would like to inform the Body that for last year’s budget, the Capital Outlay of P7 billion, I would like to say that the absorptive capacity of this P7 billion is, I would rather say, 99 percent.

REP. MENDING. Thank you, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, ang concern ko lang po doon is iyong service fees na ibinabayad sa Procurement Service ng DBM. Hindi po kasi libre iyon. Kapag nagpa-procure ka sa Procurement Service ng DBM, that agency will have to pay for service fees, which amounts to millions, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor.

REP. CUARESMA. I think, that was in the previous, Mme. Speaker, and Your Honor, but this present time, I think there are no more fees or PFs that are being charged by DBM.


Iyong last question ko po pertains to the Bureau of Fire. There is a memorandum of agreement entered into by the Bureau of Fire and the local government unit, delegating to the latter the authority for the collection and assessment of fire safety inspection fees. May we know, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, ito po bang MOA na ito ay subsisting, existing and valid until today?

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, and Your Honor, the MOA is still existing.

REP. MENDING. Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, may we know from the Bureau of Fire if they know of a legal opinion which states that the MOA is illegal, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, based on the Fire Code, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor.

REP. CUARESMA. We have here, Mme. Speaker, a joint circular that was issued and entered into. This is a joint circular of the Department of Budget and Management, and the DILG. May I just, Mme. Speaker, I will provide a copy to the Honorable Mending …

REP. MENDING. Thank you, Mme. Speaker.

REP. CUARESMA. … of this particular memorandum or joint circular of the DBM and the DILG, because in here, it is very specific that they have the guidelines in the release of the 20-percent LGU share from Fire Code Revenues.

REP. MENDING. Thank you, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor. Concerned lang po ako sa Bureau of Fire, kasi mayroon pong legal principle na what has been delegated can no longer be delegated. Kumbaga po, Congress ang nag-delegate sa Bureau of Fire ng trabaho ng pag-a-assess nitong fees na ito. So, ang nangyayari, because of that memorandum of agreement, dine-delegate nila iyong trabaho nila doon sa LGUs. So, iyon lang po iyong warning signs na maaaring pagdating ng araw, baka po bumalik sa inyo iyong ganoon. So, ito lang po iyong ni-raise kong issue, Mme. Speaker.

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, I will take note of that, Mme. Speaker and Your Honor. In fact, the 20 percent that is being given to the LGU as their share, the share supposedly of the LGU from the Fire Code Revenue or fee being collected, is also being given by the LGU as support, Mme. Speaker, to the same LGU. But anyway, we will take note of the observation of the honorable Gentleman, Mme. Speaker, and maybe the DILG, their legal office, will take a look into the observation of the honorable Gentleman Mending.

REP. MENDING. Thank you, Mme. Speaker,


distinguished Sponsor. May nagpahabol lang po, mayroon daw po bang fire trucks ngayong taon?

REP. CUARESMA. The procurement, Mme. Speaker and Your Honor, is ongoing for 2018.

REP. MENDING. May we know, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, if there is an estimated time kung kailan po magkakaroon.

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker and Your Honor, they just have the opening of bids recently and, of course, we expect that before the year ends, the fire trucks will be delivered.


Maraming salamat po. Good evening.


REP. ESPINA. Mme. Speaker, may we recognize Representative Salvador Belaro of 1 …


REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, may I request for a one-minute suspension of session.


It was 7:53 p.m.





REP. ESPINA. Mme. Speaker, may we recognize Rep. Carlos Isagani T. Zarate of BAYAN MUNA Party-List for his interpellation.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Escudero). The Hon. Carlos Zarate is now recognized.

REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Mme. Speaker. Good evening everyone. May the good Sponsor entertain some clarificatory questions on the DILG’s budget.


REP. ZARATE. Salamat, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker.

First, salamat doon sa ginawa ng PNP doon sa ating request na i-implement iyong warrant sa isang fugitive na si Butsoy Salusad sa Bukidnon na, Your Honor, ito iyong matagal nang mayroong warrant of arrest pero hindi pa rin nahuli-huli. Iyon nga lang, iyong report na ibinigay ng PNP, nag-implement sila pero in-implement nila iyong warrant and I do not know after that, kasi sabi nila, noong in-implement nila ang warrant ay wala doon sa lugar si Butsoy Salusad. So, back to square one uli, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, at itong si Butsoy Salusad, as I mentioned during the budget briefing, ay naghahasik ito ng lagim diyan sa Bukidnon. Hindi lang dahil sa siya iyong naging principal na akusado sa pagpatay kay Barangay Captain Jimmy Liguyon, kundi isa itong paramilitar na head ng New Indigenous Peoples’ Army for Reform or NIPAR, na ironically, ay naging beneficiary pa ng 4Ps ng DSWD.

May we know, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, as we speak now, pagkatapos ng failed implementation of that warrant of arrest, ano na ang plano ng PNP on this?

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, the PNP served the warrant of arrest to this particular Alde Butsoy Salusad, and it turned to be negative but, Mme. Speaker, the manhunt is still ongoing, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, may we get a firm commitment from the PNP that they will really pursue this person. Your Honor, I have been saying this every budget of the PNP since the Sixteenth Congress that you should arrest this person because this person has the gall, in fact, to call a press conference and present himself, offering himself to surrender and take advantage of the so-called amnesty program of the government. Andiyan naman iyan, the PNP can google it. Nasa YouTube iyan, nagpa-presscon pa siya. And I was saying, in fact, as I was saying earlier, naging beneficiary pa siya ng 4Ps. So, may we get a firm commitment from the leadership of the PNP.

REP. CUARESMA. Yes.

REP. ZARATE. The sooner that this person can be arrested ay magkakaroon ho ng hindi man lubos na katahimikan, at least, iyong mga naging biktima nito ay mabigyan ng assurance that justice will be rendered to them, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker.

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, Mme. Speaker, and Your Honor. I assure the honorable Gentleman of BAYAN MUNA Party-list that I will be the one to follow it up with the PNP.


REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Your Honor. Can we say that before the year ends that this person will already be in jail, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker?

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, Mme. Speaker and Your Honor.

REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Your Honor.

REP. CUARESMA. Now, I will go to the budget, specifically, of the PNP, Your Honor.

In the 2018 GAA, we know that there is a particular budget for the anti-illegal drugs campaign, Oplan Double Barrel Project, in the amount of P900 million. It is no longer in the 2019 proposed project. There were press statements issued by Director General Albayalde that there will be no budget or separate allotment for Oplan Double Barrel for 2019. The campaign will still be continued but the budget will be taken out from the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses of the PNP for 2019.

My first question is, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, why was it not included in the line-item budget for 2019, this Oplan Double Barrel, considering that the Director General is saying that they will continue with this campaign, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker?

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, I would like to inform the Body that for 2018, the amount that was requested by or proposed and requested by the DILG was not part of the GAA for 2018. That money in the bicameral or in the Senate was transferred to the Armed Forces Housing Project. And for 2019, we do not have a specific proposal for this anti-drug campaign, or we say, the Double Barrel Program or Oplan Tokhang.

REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Your Honor. Yes, in fact, it was admitted already during the budget briefing that, as I have mentioned earlier, this will be taken from the MOOE of the PNP in the 2019 Budget. At any rate, Mme. Speaker, the PNP has a P14.071 billion MOOE allotment for 2019. Is my figure correct, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker?


REP. ZARATE. How much will be allotted for the campaign, the Oplan Double Barrel campaign, out of this MOOE, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor?

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, in the MOOE of the PNP, we do not have the specific amount for this Operation Tokhang. The MOOE will

cover everything already, law enforcement,activities and everything.

REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker. But this is a major campaign or program of the PNP. Napakahirap naman hong sabihin na kabahagi lang ito ng law enforcement at we cannot account magkano ba talaga ang ating nagugol sa napakalaki at mayor na kampaniyang ito ng ating PNP, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker. Hindi ho ba nila ma-“unbundle,” if I may use the term, kung ano iyong ginamit para lang dito sa campaign na ito, dahil sinabi naman ni Director General Albayalde na it will not be stopped. In fact, this statement was also supported by the President in his SONA, that this campaign is relentless and chilling as the day it began. Dapat ho siguro kailangang malaman natin, hindi puwedeng sabihin part lang ito ng general anti-criminality campaign, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker.

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker and Your Honor, for the information of the Gentleman of BAYAN…

REP. ZARATE. BAYAN MUNA, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker.

REP. CUARESMA. …MUNA Party-List, pinagkakasiya po ng ating kapulisan whatever, kung anuman po iyong whatever funds they have got, pinagkakasiya na ho because, anyway, that is part of their duties and responsibilities as peace-keeping officers. Kaya kung ano na lang po, if they have this much amount for the MOOE, pinagkakasiya na lang po.

REP. ZARATE. Be that as it may, Your Honor, this Representation still believes na kailangang fully accounted dahil sabi ko nga, this is a major campaign and program of the PNP. At any rate, Your Honor, my related question to that is, in the previous years, in the 2017 GAA, while it was not already included in the 2018 GAA, we allotted P900 million for Oplan Double Barrel. May I just inquire, just for the record, how much was spent out of that P900 million budget, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker?

REP. CUARESMA. With regard to the utilization rate of the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses under the budget of the PNP, I would like to inform you, Mme. Speaker, honorable Gentleman from BAYAN MUNA, that the PNP has 100 percent, more or less, absorptive capacity, that is for the MOOE, as I have mentioned earlier.

REP. ZARATE. So, we are saying, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, that the P900 million that we allotted in


the 2017 GAA was fully spent for the Oplan Tokhang or the Double Barrel Campaign, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker.

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, all that amount was utilized for this illegal drug campaign of the President.

REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker.

At any rate, may we just request, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, that this Representation and Congress be furnished with the detailed accounting of how this P900 million was spent by the PNP, because that is a particular item in the General Appropriations Act in 2017, the P900 million, pertaining to Oplan Double Barrel Project, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker.

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, Mr. Speaker.

REP. ZARATE. Can we get a commitment that we will be given that report, Your Honor? May we get …

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, we will give …

REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Your Honor.


REP. ZARATE. I will now go to related series of questions, Your Honor.

May we inquire, Your Honor, what are the most recent statistics on the campaign against drugs? We received conflicting records, actually, some have estimated saying that the number of persons killed in this campaign against drugs ranges from 5,000 to 13,000, to as high as 20,000. The PDEA tally showed that there were 4,075 drug suspects killed since July 2016 up to March 20, 2018. On the other hand, on the PNP record, hindi naman nagkakalayo. It also states that 4,540 suspects were shot dead in these drug operations at karamihan dito ay so-called “nanlaban.” Hindi pa kasama rito iyong sinasabi ng PNP na “death under investigation.”

So, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, may we inquire what are the recent data or statistics? How many have been killed and under what circumstance? How many were arrested and sent to, for example, the rehabilitation centers, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker?

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, these are the real numbers coming from the PNP. From July 1, 2016 up to July 21, 2018, anti-drug operations conducted – 105,658; drug personalities arrested – 152,123; and drug personalities who died in anti-drug operations – 4,410, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. ZARATE. Can you say that again, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, please?

Four thousand …

REP. CUARESMA. Four hundred ten, Mme. Speaker.

REP. ZARATE. … four hundred ten. Next, Your Honor, what about those labelled as “death under investigation,” Your Honor, in the conduct of the anti-drug campaign? Do we also have the figure, Your Honor?

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, the number of incidents to the drug-related is 2,938.

REP. ZARATE. Two thousand nine hundred?

REP. CUARESMA. Thirty-eight, Your Honor.

REP. ZARATE. These are the so-called “deaths under investigation” or DUI?


REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Your Honor. Are there any other data that the PNP wants to

share to this body, Your Honor? If there is none, may I proceed, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker.

Yes, of late, the PNP reported a lower number of drug-related killings, at least this year. From what I have observed, from an average of at least 100 persons killed per week, the anti-drug campaign was down to 23 cases per week. And according to the latest SWS survey, while majority supports the anti-drug campaign, ang sabi din po nila, ay hindi pa rin po nila sinusuportahan iyong figure na maraming namamatay at ang gusto nga nila, hulihin nang buhay ang mga drug suspects, especially itong mga drug lords.

May I inquire, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, paano po natin matutugunan itong sentimyento ng ating mga kababayan kung mayroon pa ring, at the average, 23 persons killed every week as a result of the anti-drug campaign, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker.

REP. CUARESMA. Well, Mme. Speaker, I guess the observation of the Hon. Carlos Isagani T. Zarate is not really that—I would not accept it, considering that the numbers of arrests is more than 152,000 persons or arrests.

REP. ZARATE. Yes, Your Honor, but my question is not actually the arrest. I am asking whether the PNP as an institution is doing something. I cited the recent SWS survey which says na gusto pa rin ng ating mga


kababayan na itong mga drug suspects ay huhulihin at kung mayroon pa rin tayong 23 per week na namamatay sa anti-drug campaign, these are 23 persons killed—marami pa rin ang namamatay. So, iyon po ang tanong natin. Ano ang ginagawa ng PNP para matugunan ang sinasabi ng ating mga kababayan, while we support the anti-drug campaign, ay gusto namin na iyong mga namamatay na sinasabing nanlaban ay kung hindi man mawala ay lumiit iyong numero na iyan, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker?

REP. CUARESMA. I would like to inform, Mme. Speaker, the Gentleman of the BAYAN MUNA Muna Party List, the Hon. Carlos Zarate, that the ratio of deaths as compared to 2017 even went lower.

REP. ZARATE. Yes, Your Honor, please, Mme. Speaker, I already cited that, from an average of 100 persons killed every week, it went down to 23. Ang gusto ko lang hong marinig sa kinauukulan ng PNP ay katanggap-tanggap pa rin ba sa kanila na mayroong, kada linggo, 23 ang namamatay? Ano po ang gagawin ng PNP ukol dito? Kung bumaba ito from 100 to 23, hindi ba puwedeng pababain ito ng isa, dalawa, or wala or zero, if at all, Your Honor?

REP. CUARESMA. Well, Mme. Speaker, iyon hong ating PNP ay iniiwasan din ho ang ganyang sitwasyon, kaya lang, siyempre, kung mga nanlaban naman, something like that, then, they also have to defend themselves, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

I would also like to inform, Mme. Speaker, the honorable Gentleman from BAYAN MUNA na mayroon din ho tayong kapulisan na namamatay.

REP. ZARATE. Of course, alam po natin iyan.

REP. CUARESMA. That is why, they are handling it well. If they have this kind of arrest, they are handling it well para naman from both sides, wala po sanang mamatay.

REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker. I will just go to another related question.

May I inquire, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, from the period you cited, July 2016, at least up to July 2018, ilan naman po ang mga sinasabi nating drug lords na nahuli at nasampahan ng kaso o kaya ay namatay during this anti-drug campaign operations?

Mayroon na ho bang …

At this juncture, Deputy Speaker Escudero relinquished the Chair to Deputy Speaker Rose Marie “Baby” J. Arenas.

REP. CUARESMA. That is from July 1, 2016, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker.

REP. ZARATE. Yes, up to the recent data of 2018. Ilang drug lords na ho, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, ang namatay?

SUSPENSION OF SUSPENSION

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, may we request for a one-minute suspension of the session, so that we will have the time to look into our records as to how many high-value targets had already been arrested, Mme. Speaker.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Arenas). The Chair declares a one-minute suspension of the session.

It was 8:17 p.m.


At 8:23 p.m., the session was resumed with Deputy Speaker Evelina G. Escudero presiding.


The Sponsor is recognized.

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, we do not have the complete data from July 16, 2018, but the data that we have are those from July 2016 to 2017. There are 3,000 to 8,000, I mean, 315 HVTs arrested and killed. Those already include foreign nationals, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. ZARATE. 8,000, is that correct, Your Honor?


REP. ZARATE. May we just request the good Sponsor that this Representation be provided with these data, Your Honor, for our reference—8,000 high-value targets, killed or …

REP. CUARESMA. Eight thousand––these are various, Mme. Speaker. Some were arrested and some were killed.

REP. ZARATE. How many of those 8,000 were killed, Your Honor?

REP. CUARESMA. We have 145 killed in police operation, and 105 homicide, I mean, under investigation, and then 3,493 surrendered, and 1,460 arrested, Mme. Speaker, …

REP. ZARATE. Thank you.


REP. CUARESMA. … and 3,112 were deceased on rehab or they were in the rehabilitation.


I inquired on that figure, Your Honor, because there is this growing perception that, actually, the anti-drug campaign of the government victimizes more, iyong mahihirap. Your official figure, 4,410, karamihan nito ay talagang nanggagaling sa mga mahihirap na komunidad at sinasabi ngang nanlaban. So, ang tinatamaan talaga dito sa kampanyang ito iyong mga nasa mga komunidad, mga informal settlers, at doon natin sinusukat kung naging matagumpay ba itong kampanyang ito o hindi.

During the oral argument sa Supreme Court noong December 2017, Solicitor General Calida said that there were four million drug users. In 2015, there were only 1.8 million drug users. May we inquire, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, as we speak now, ilan na po ba ang data natin? Nag-increase ba o bumaba iyong numero noong mga gumagamit ng droga sa ating bansa, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker?

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, as per information given by the PNP, it was reduced.

REP. ZARATE. It was reduced. Do we have a figure or a number, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker?

REP. CUARESMA. We will just provide you with a copy, Your Honor.

REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Your Honor, with that commitment.

Now, balikan ko lang iyong isang item na na-miss ko doon sa figure natin from July 2016 to July 2018, wherein 4,410 were killed, you mentioned, and most, if not all, nasa sitwasyon sila na nanlaban kaya sila namatay. May we know, Your Honor, out of these operations, ilan po ba iyong mga baril din na nakuha natin o ginamit nitong mga sinasabi nating mga nanlaban? Do we have an inventory and nasaan na itong mga baril na ito, if we have any data, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker?

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, at the moment, we do not have the data, but if the Hon. Carlos Zarate would permit that we will just be giving you a copy because, at the moment, we do not have the data, Mme. Speaker.

REP. ZARATE. Yes, but may we just confirm, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, kung there is an inventory compiled by the PNP on this matter, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker?

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, Mme. Speaker. There is an inventory.


Now, in addition, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, may I also be provided with the data that I previously inquired about the high-value targets, the so-called drug lords, ilan ba rito iyong nahuli or namatay during the operations or nakakulong na ngayon, kung mayroon man, na nanggagaling doon sa tatlong mayor na foreign o transnational drug organizations that PNP identified na nag-o-operate sa ating bansa, namely: itong mga Chinese group; second, iyong so-called African drug syndicates; and third, the Mexican Siniloa drug cartel, if we have that data also, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. CUARESMA. According to the PNP, I think, maybe, Mme. Speaker, the Gentleman could or we could assist probably, but it is the PDEA who actually has the record, Mme. Speaker.

REP. ZARATE. Yes. I inquired on that, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, dahil iyan po ang ginawang isang dahilan ng PNP noong maglunsad ito ng Oplan Double Barrel or the Double Barrel Project in 2016, specifically citing, among others, na mayroon ngang tatlong sindikatong transnational na nag-o-operate dito sa ating bansa. Kaya itinatanong ko po, as we speak now, ilang operations na ba ang nagawa natin, ilan na ang nahuli, ilan ang sinampahan ng kaso? During the operations, may namatay man, ilan from these three syndicates, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker?

REP. CUARESMA. Okay, again, Mme. Speaker, because the request of the honorable Gentleman from BAYAN MUNA is very specific and we do not have such data at the moment, Mme. Speaker, we will just provide the honorable Gentleman.

REP. ZARATE. I can accept that, Your Honor, for as long as there is a commitment that these will be submitted.


REP. ZARATE. On my final set of questions, kanina pa ho nating pinag-uusapan itong kampanya ng Oplan Double Barrel. May I inquire, Mme. Speaker, dahil inamin na rin ni General Albayalde that they have to continue this campaign. At sabi nga ni Pangulong Duterte rin sa kanyang SONA that this campaign will still be relentless and chilling as the day it began. May I inquire, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, ano po ba ang naging basehan ng kampanyang ito since 2016 and up


to now, if there is a written order, basis or circular on this, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker?

REP. CUARESMA. Well, Mme. Speaker, that is part of the law. That is the mandate of the PNP.

REP. ZARATE. I know, Your Honor, that anti-drug is part of the mandate, but I am inquiring on the specific. Was there a written memorandum or circular on this pertaining to project Double Barrel?

REP. CUARESMA. Well, as I have stated earlier, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, that is part of, we would say, the responsibility or mandate of the PNP. That is why, they really have to implement this particular program.

REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Your Honor, if that is the answer of the Sponsor.

May I now inquire if the Sponsor is aware of Command Memorandum Circular No. 16-2016, Subject: PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Campaign Plan Project “Double Barrel,” dated July 1, 2016.

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, Mme. Speaker and Your Honor.

REP. ZARATE. May I inquire, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, what is this Command Circular Memorandum Circular No. 16-2016 all about, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker.

REP. CUARESMA. Well, this is the general campaign of the PNP against illegal drugs, Mme. Speaker and Your Honor. That already includes rehabilitation and everything.

REP. ZARATE. Yes. In fact, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, ito ho iyong pinagmumulan noong kampanya. Ito iyong itinatanong ko kung mayroon bang circular na naggagabay sa kampanyang ito ng Oplan Tokhang o Oplan Double Barrel, dahil mahirap naman hong sabihin natin na part lang iyan ng general mandate dahil alam natin na mayroon talagang kampanya. In fact, sabi ko nga kanina, P900 million ang ginugol natin noong 2017 para sa kampanyang ito. So, my next question, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, ito ho bang Command Memorandum Circular No. 16-2016, was this published in the Office of the National Administrative Register or ONAR, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker?

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, it was published.

REP. ZARATE. May we be informed or this Body be informed as to when was this published in the ONAR,

as required by the Administrative Code of 1987, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker?

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, Mme. Speaker, we will provide the specifics to the Hon. Carlos Zarate.

REP. ZARATE. So, just a clarification, Your Honor, sinisiguro ho ba ng Kagawaran, specifically ng PNP, na in 2016, for example, this Memorandum Circular was published in the ONAR or the Office of the National Administrative Register in 2016, and specifically, CMC No. 16-2016 was then signed by PNP Chief Police Director General Ronald Dela Rosa?

REP. CUARESMA. At the moment, Mme. Speaker, we do not have the data as to when this was published.

REP. ZARATE. Well, I am surprised, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, dahil tatlong taon nang inilulunsad itong kampanyang ito, libu-libo na ang namatay, karamihan mahihirap at hindi natin alam kung nai-publish ang Memorandum Circular na ito na siyang pinag-uugatan ng kampanyang ito. I will now answer my own question, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, if Your Honor may allow. I have to credit my colleague in the IBP, Atty. Romel Bagares, who did a research on this. Sa kaniyang research, lumalabas na hindi nai-publish itong Command Memorandum Circular No. 16-2016. What was published in 2017 was Project Double Barrel Alpha, okay, and it was published in 2017.

This means, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, na itong kampanyang ito, if I may use the term of the Solicitor General, is void ab initio dahil hindi nai-publish ang pinaka-circular na pinag-uugatan nitong anti-drug campaign na ito na Oplan Double Barrel or Oplan Tokhang. Kung hindi nai-publish itong CMC No. 16-2016, ang sumunod na circular na Double Barrel Alpha in 2017 ay void din dahil ang pinag-uugatan nito ay void. The spring cannot rise higher than the source, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker.

Iyon po ang reyalidad nito. Tuluy-tuloy at sinabi, inamin natin kanina, inamin ni General Albayalde ng PNP, itutuloy ang kampanya ng Oplan Tokhang, pero sa katotohanan, wala itong pinagbabatayan, walang basis itong Oplan Tokhang na ito dahil ito ay void ab initio. Kung void ab initio ito, sino ang mananagot sa libu-libong namatay na mga kababayan nating mahihirap? Ano ang mangyayari sa P900 million na ating ginugol dito sa isang programang hindi naman pala—walang pinagbabatayan dahil hindi ito naka-publish sa ONAR, as required by Administrative Code of 1987?

Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, may we hear a reply from the Sponsor, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker.

REP. CUARESMA. As per the information given


me, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, there is already a pending petition in the Supreme Court. All I could say, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, is let us just wait for the decision of the Supreme Court.

REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, but that is skirting the issue. Nalaman natin ngayon na hindi nai-publish ito. It is true that there is a case pending with the Supreme Court, but dapat itigil na muna itong kampanyang ito na maraming namamatay. Kung sinasabi natin na mayroon palang pending sa Supreme Court, antayin muna natin ang resulta. Kung talagang hindi naka-publish ito, but you can show me proof that this was published previously, pero kung hindi naka-publish ito, Your Honor, we are conducting a campaign without legal basis at sabi ko nga, nagresulta ito sa maraming mamamayan nating namamatay. Kaya ano ang magiging tayô ngayon ng PNP rito? Itutuluy-tuloy pa rin ba nila ang kampayang ito despite the fact that Command Memorandum Circular No. 16, 2016 is, as I was saying, void ab initio, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker?

REP. CUARESMA. I will take note of that, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. ZARATE. I beg your indulgence, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker. Taking note of this, dapat magkaroon ng tindig ang PNP on this, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker, at the soonest—in fact, tonight.


REP. ZARATE. May we get the commitment—ano ho ang gagawin ng PNP on this, Your Honor, Mme. Speaker?

REP. CUARESMA. Well, as I could hear from those at the back, they will just go on with whatever they started, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Your Honor.I am disappointed na iyon ang naging tayo ng PNP,

but I have to hammer this point. We are launching this campaign, we spent millions and millions on this campaign only to find out na wala pala itong basehan dahil iyong kanyang tinitindigan—and we can laugh about this, we can just dismiss this, but thousands have been killed. Iyon po ang alalahanin natin dito that thousands have been killed in this campaign, at karamihan nito ay mga mahihirap nating kababayan dahil hindi sila nabigyan ng pagkakataong depensahan iyong kanilang sarili sa ating Korte dahil sinabi ngang they were just dismissed as “nanlaban.” Madugo ang ating mga lansangan lalo na ang mga lansangan ng ating mga mahihirap na pamayanan kung saan inilunsad itong kampanyang ito. Kaya iyon po ang dapat nating pakatandaan dito. Ngayon, sinasabi nating, totoo,

walang budget, pero we will be using the MOOE of the PNP for operations and expenses of the PNP of P14 billion to continue with this campaign. Mababahiran po uli ng dugo pati ang mga kamay nating Mambabatas kung itutuloy natin itong kampanyang ito na walang basehan dahil, to borrow the term of the Solicitor General, this is void ab initio, walang batayan ito sa pagsisimula pa lamang.

Thank you, Your Honor. Thank you, Mme. Speaker.


REP. NOEL. Mme. Speaker, the next Member who will interpellate the Sponsor is the Hon. Noel L. Villanueva of the Third District of Tarlac.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Escudero). The Hon. Noel Villanueva is now recognized.

REP. VILLANUEVA. Thank you very much, Mme. Speaker.

Distinguished Sponsor, may I be allowed to ask some clarificatory questions. These are simply legal queries, Mme. Sponsor.


REP. VILLANUEVA. So, is it correct to say that one of the functions of the DILG is to enforce administrative sanctions issued by the Ombudsman against erring local public officials?


REP. VILLANUEVA. Thank you, Mme. Sponsor.May I be educated as to the proper procedure

in the enforcement of such orders coming from the Ombudsman?

REP. CUARESMA. It is this way, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor. There is an order coming from the Ombudsman addressed to the Secretary of the DILG, and then later on, the DILG will implement it through channels, of course, from the regional down to the provincial, Mme. Speaker.

REP. VILLANUEVA. So, meaning, if, say, an erring public official is a mayor, it is the provincial director of the DILG who is tasked to enforce the order?



REP. VILLANUEVA. Is there an instance where the administrative sanction issued by the Ombudsman against an erring public official is not enforced?

REP. CUARESMA. Generally, the DILG implements the order of the Ombudsman, not unless there is a TRO coming from the Court of Appeals, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. VILLANUEVA. So, is it my understanding, Mme. Sponsor, that only the Court of Appeals can issue a restraining order against the implementation of an administrative sanction issued by the Ombudsman?

REP. CUARESMA. Generally, it should be the Court of Appeals that issues a...

REP. VILLANUEVA. Can you clarify...

REP. CUARESMA. ... TRO, but at times, even the RTC issues a TRO, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. VILLANUEVA. In what instance can a lower court issue a TRO against an erring public official? What are the grounds that may be cited as legal basis of a TRO or for a lower court like an RTC to restrain an order coming from a higher court like the Ombudsman?

REP. CUARESMA. Well, that depends on the mayor, where he will ask for a TRO—whether it be the Court of Appeals or the Regional Trial Court, Mme. Speaker.

REP. VILLANUEVA. If I may cite Section 7 of the Rules of Procedure of the Office of the Ombudsman, Administrative Order No. 7, in the third paragraph, or in the second paragraph it states:

An appeal shall not stop the decision from being executory. In case the penalty is suspension or removal and the respondent wins such appeal, he shall be considered as having been under preventive suspension and shall be paid the salary and such other emoluments that he did not receive by reason of the suspension or removal.

Now, a decision on the third paragraph states:

A decision of the Office of the Ombudsman in administrative cases shall be executed as a matter of course. The Office of the Ombudsman shall ensure that the decision shall be strictly enforced and properly implemented. The refusal or failure by any officer without just

cause to comply with an order of the Office of the Ombudsman to remove, suspend, demote, fine or censure shall be a ground for disciplinary action against said officer.

In the Ombudsman Act of 1989 itself, under Section 14, it states that:

No court shall hear any appeal or application for remedy against the decision or findings of the Ombudsman, except the Supreme Court, [or its delegated authority to the Court of Appeals] on pure question of law.

Nowhere in the Ombudsman Law can I find that a TRO can be issued by a lower court other than the Court of Appeals. Can I be educated on this, Mme. Sponsor?

REP. CUARESMA. Well, whenever a Regional Trial Court issues a TRO, the Ombudsman’s policy is to respect the TRO, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. VILLANUEVA. Can you give me that policy, Mme. Sponsor? Because as far as I am concerned, the law is clear that it is only the Court of Appeals that can issue a restraining order to stay the execution of an administrative sanction issued by the Ombudsman. Now, if you can give me that Ombudsman policy today or tonight, rather, then, I may agree with you, Mme. Sponsor.

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, I would like to inform the honorable Gentleman that there are clarifications issued to or by the Ombudsman to that effect. Maybe we can give you the letters coming from the Ombudsman, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. VILLANUEVA. Mme. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor, I have read the Ombudsman Law many times, including the Rules of Procedure promulgated by that office itself, but I cannot find any provision in that law or in the Rules of Procedure that the RTC is empowered to issue restraining orders.

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, in fact, there is also a query coming from the DILG as to the legality, as to whether an RTC, a lower court, can issue a temporary restraining order, But according to our DILG Secretary, the Ombudsman also advises the DILG to respect the TRO of the lower court, Mme. Speaker.

REP. VILLANUEVA. I will be repetitious on this, Mme. Sponsor. Nowhere in the provisions of the Ombudsman Act of 1989 can I find such a provision.


REP. CUARESMA. But we will provide you with the letter from the Ombudsman and the query coming from the DILG, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. VILLANUEVA. Because if what you are saying is in the law, …

REP. CUARESMA. Because these are rare cases, Mme. Speaker.

REP. VILLANUEVA. No, these are not rare cases. Just recently, the City Mayor of Olongapo was meted the suspension and he could not secure a writ of injunction from the Court of Appeals, and so he was meted a suspension recently.

REP. CUARESMA. Now, with regard to this Olongapo case, Mme. Speaker, the RTC advised the DILG not to implement for 15 days the order of the Ombudsman, Mme. Speaker.

REP. VILLANUEVA. I am very well aware of the TRO issued by the Olongapo City Court. He was given only a temporary restraining order, but he was not issued an injunction as it is not within the jurisdiction of the RTC to issue injunctions on Ombudsman’s orders.

REP. CUARESMA. Now, with regard to that Olongapo case, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, the Ombudsman advised the DILG to respect the decision of the RTC.

REP. VILLANUEVA. For the restraining order, the TRO, the temporary restraining order which was issued by the RTC—but thereafter, after the lapse of the TRO, the City Mayor of Olongapo was meted or he served already the penalty. Is that right?

REP. CUARESMA. No, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, the Mayor of Olongapo withdrew his motion in the RTC.


REP. VILLANUEVA. Mme. Speaker, may I request for a one-minute suspension of the session to approach the Mme. Sponsor.


It was 8:55 p.m.


At 9:04 the session was resumed.




REP. NOEL. Mme. Speaker, I move that we suspend the consideration of House Bill No. 8169.



The consideration of House Bill No. 8169 is hereby suspended.



REP. NOEL. Mme. Speaker, I move to suspend the session for a few minutes.


It was 9:05 p.m.







REP. NOEL. Mme. Speaker, I move that we resume the consideration of House Bill No. 8169 and direct the Secretary General to read the title of the said measure.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Escudero). The Secretary General is hereby directed to read the title of House Bill No. 8169.




DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

REP. NOEL. Mme. Speaker, the parliamentary status of the Bill is that we are in the period of interpellation and debate on the budget of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, including attached agencies.


The consideration of the budget of the DILG is now in order.

REP. NOEL. Mme. Speaker.


REP. NOEL. I move that we again recognize the honorable Sponsor, Rep. Luisa Lloren Cuaresma, from the Lone District of Nueva Vizcaya.


THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Escudero). The Hon. Luisa Cuaresma is now recognized.


REP. NOEL. Mme. Speaker, we would also like to move that Rep. Noel L. Villanueva from the Third District of Tarlac be recognized for the resumption of his interpellation.

REP. VILLANUEVA. For my final manifestation, Mme. Speaker, …

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Escudero). The Hon. Noel Villanueva is now recognized.

REP. VILLANUEVA. Yes. I would like to manifest, Mme. Sponsor, that the DILG should look seriously and closely into these issuances made by a lower court restraining orders from the Ombudsman, which are in direct violation of the Ombudsman Act of 1989. If we will allow this to continue, then all RTCs all over the country can now have the power to issue not only TROs but even injunctions against sanctions imposed by the Ombudsman. I would like to manifest this to the DILG, sana po tingnan ninyong maigi ito; otherwise, the Ombudsman Law will be rendered inutile and it is an emasculation of the power of the

DILG to enforce administrative sanctions issued by the Ombudsman against erring local government officials at hindi po natin dapat payagan ito. Iyon lamang po at maraming salamat.




REP. NOEL. Mme. Speaker, I move that we suspend the consideration of the budget of the DILG, and also suspend the consideration of House Bill No. 8169.


The consideration of the proposed budget of the DILG is now suspended, and we also suspend the consideration of House Bill No. 8169.



REP. NOEL. Mme. Speaker, I move that we suspend the session for a few minutes.


It was 9:20 p.m.





REP. ANDAYA. Yes, Mme. Speaker, the House of Representatives is in receipt of a communication from the president of the ABS Party-List, Ms. Catalina Leonen-Pizarro.

REP. TY. Mme. Speaker, point of order.

REP ANDAYA. What is the point of order?

REP. TY. Mme. Speaker, I will raise Sections 75 and 76 regarding the absence of a quorum, Mme. Speaker.




REP. ANDAYA. May we have a one-minute suspension of the session, Mme. Speaker.


It was 9:24 p.m.







REP. NOEL. Mme. Speaker, I move that we resume the consideration of House Bill No. 8169, and may we direct the Secretary General to read only the title of the measure.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Escudero). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the Secretary General is hereby directed to read only the title of House Bill No. 8169.



DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORAND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

(Continuation)

REP. NOEL. Mme. Speaker, the parliamentary status of the measure is that we are in the period interpellation and debate on the budget of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, including its attached agencies.

Mme. Speaker, we have already recognized the

Sponsor, Rep. Luisa Lloren Cuaresma, from the Lone District of Nueva Vizcaya.

May we recognize, Mme. Speaker, the next to interpellate the Sponsor, Rep. France L. Castro, from ACT TEACHERS Party-List.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Escudero). The Hon. France Castro is recognized.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Thank you, Mme. Speaker.Would the good Sponsor yield to some clarificatory

questions, Mme. Speaker?


At this juncture, Deputy Speaker Escudero relinquished the Chair to Deputy Speaker Mercedes K. Alvarez.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Bago po ako pumunta sa Budget, mayroon lang po kaming natanggap na mga memo galing sa iba-ibang mga division and school. Kagaya po ng Quezon City, noong September 7, 2018, ang Quezon City Police District and the Department of Education, Division of Quezon City Schools, through the Police District Director Joselito Esquivel Jr. and Division Superintendent Quesada, together with the representatives of Quezon City Council and the QC PTA Federation, signed a memorandum of understanding for the institutionalization of the QCPD Junior Police Project. According to the undated letter of QCPD Director Esquivel to Superintendent Quesada of the Division of City Schools, Quezon City, the project is aimed at preparing our youth, in particular, our elementary students to form a formidable circle of influence at all elementary schools and communities city-wide, who can ably serve QCPD’s partners and change advocates.

Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, the letter also states that in order to prepare elementary students and various public and private elementary schools in Quezon City to become advocates of environmentalism, crime prevention and anti-cyber bullying, the QCPD proposes a designation of QCPD Junior Police members in every section across all public and private elementary schools city-wide, who could be selected or chosen on the basis of election by volunteerism. To continue, Mme. Speaker, the Philippine National Police is also implementing similar programs in other places in the country such as Davao, Marikina, Benguet, Lapu-Lapu in Cebu, Hagonoy in Bulacan, and other areas involving elementary and high school students in public and private schools.

Nakalagay pa rin po, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, that the program takes away from the students their precious time for schooling.


Sa tingin ko po, Mme. Speaker, itong ipino-propose o ginagawa na ng PNP natin sa ating mga eskuwelahan ay in violation of Republic Act No. 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act. A junior police activity, for instance, had students directing traffic in front of their schools before and after class which were traffic-heavy periods. Ito po ay delikadong-delikado sa ating mga estudyande na ginagamit na mag-direct ng traffic. Ang program daw po, Mme. Speaker, is to transform a student organization into a core of intelligence gatherers that will put no harm to students, parents and teachers, as the children will be trained, formed and molded to strictly adhere and dedicate themselves to the tenets of the QCPD Junior Police Program as the letter puts it. This program poses a dangerous precedent to the formation of a militaristic orientation among the youth. This also extends the program of the PNP like Oplan Tokhang inside and around the schools.

Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, hawak-hawak ko po ngayon itong proposed memorandum of agreement ng QCPD with the Quezon City Schools Division. Hawak ko rin po, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, iyong sa Lapu-Lapu City. Nakalagay din po rito iyong mga schedule and venue pero naganap na ito noong November 2017 pa. At ano po iyong mga topic na na-discuss dito sa mga elementary and high school student? Basic report writing and note taking, basic intelligence network, first respondent in crime scene, bomb identification and familiarization, traffic control, arrest and other related laws, stress debriefing, handling stress situation, therapeutic communication, et cetera, and duties and responsibilities of a Junior Police Brigade. Ito po, Mme. Speaker, ang programa sa Lapu-Lapu City. Ito naman po ang sa Marikina. Nire-request ng ating Marikina City police station ang Grade 8 and 11 students sa public school system na ma-recruit as junior police.

Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, ano po ang legal basis ng ating PNP sa pagkakaroon ng ganitong mga programa sa ating mga eskuwelahan?

REP. CUARESMA. With regard to this, Mme. Speaker, I think this is a proposal coming from the PNP. It is now the discretion of the DepEd as to whether they will have a memorandum of agreement on this proposal. As to the DILG, particularly the PNP, they are just proposing this kind of MOA to have awareness on the part of the students. This is not mandatory. As I said, this depends on the discretion of the DepEd. This is voluntary, in other words, on the part of the DepEd as to whether they would like to make and they will enter into a MOA with any PNP station, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Thank you, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor.

Medyo malaki-laki na po iyong saklaw nitong MOA na ito. May divisions na po na nagpatupad nito noong 2017. Kagaya po noong nakuha natin sa Lapu-Lapu City na ginawa na po ito.

Mme. Speaker, sa tingin po ba ng ating Sponsor, nararapat ito doon sa ating elementary and secondary school students? Halimbawa po iyong mga intelligence network, bomb identification, traffic control, iyong arrest and other related laws, sa tingin po ba ninyo ay magkakaroon na o sapat na ang kakayahan o kahandaan ng ating elementary students o ng ating secondary schools kaugnay sa proyekto? Hindi po ba, Mme. Speaker, na sa halip na pumasok itong mga kapulisan dito sa ating mga eskuwelahan at mag-conduct ng kung anu-anomang mga seminar na trabaho naman at dapat gawain nila, dapat sila ang mag-seminar dito. Sila po iyong dapat na mag-seminar sa pag-determine ng mga bomb identification na iyan, intelligence network, dahil sa tingin natin ay may kakulangan sa skills ang ating PNP. Sila dapat ang mag-training. Bakit iyong mga eskuwelahan ang pinapasok sa ganitong mga pagsasanay, Mme. Speaker.

REP. CUARESMA. Anyway, Mme. Speaker, your Honor, this is voluntary. As I said, it is up to the DepEd kung tatanggapin po nila or not this kind of activity. I will try to talk to the PNP with regard to this particular MOA stated by the Hon. France Castro from ACT TEACHERS Party-List para po mapag-aralan ito nang mabuti, Mme. Speaker.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Salamat po, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor.

Mme. Speaker, may I know the legal basis of this memorandum of agreement o proposal na ito ng PNP? Mayroon po ba itong legal basis o pinanghahawakan na legal basis para mag-propose ng ganito ang ating PNP sa mga musmos na mga bata sa ating mga eskuwelahan?

REP. CUARESMA. Ang sinasabi po ng ating mga kapulisan, Mme. Speaker and Hon. France Castro is that theirs is just on awareness po. Now, kaya nga po sinabi ko kanina, as I have said, I will try to talk to the PNP and would ask, if they do have the legal authority to do this and that, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Thank you, Mme. Sponsor.

Mme. Speaker, can we have the commitment of our distinguished Sponsor na baka puwede munang itigil itong pagmo-MOA with the division or mga eskwelahan natin kaugnay nito. Ang tingin natin ay wala naman itong tinutungtungan na legal basis. So, puwede po ba iyon na makuha iyong commitment dahil …

REP. CUARESMA. Well, according to this


policeman here, puwede naman daw at pag-aaralan nila, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Salamat po, Mme. Sponsor, dahil ang Kinatawang ito po, Mme. Speaker, at ang aking partner na si Rep. Antonio L. Tinio, kasama na rin po iyong Makabayan bloc, ay magfa-file na rin po ng House Resolution para maibestigahan, hindi lang po para matanong iyong PNP kaugnay nito, para na rin po sa mga DepEd at iba pang mga stakeholders na idinamay po dito sa mga ganitong mga aktibidades. So, thank you po, Mme. Sponsor, sa inyo pong commitment.

Second point, Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, as I browsed the budget of the DILG and the budget of other agencies, I could see that the DILG is the fourth highest gainer among the national government agencies with 31.17 percent increase in the budget from 2018 and 2019. Particularly, the Bureau of Fire Protection gained the highest budget increase in terms of percentage with 49 percent increase from its 2018 budget. The item on fire operation activities gained the highest increase in percentage with 60.59 percent.

The Philippine National Police as an attached agency in the DILG had the second budget increase in terms of percentage with a 30.25 percent in its budget from 2018 of P130,312,980,000 to P172,346,873,000 in the proposed 2019 budget. So, that is 76.94 percent of the DILG budget allocated to the PNP.

The item with the biggest increase under the PNP budget is the conduct of police patrol operations and other related confidential activities against dissidents, subversives, lawless elements and organized crime syndicates and campaign against kidnapping, trafficking of women and minors smuggling, carnapping, gunrunning, illegal fishing, and trafficking of illegal drugs, with 42.3 percent increase in the proposed 2018 budget. The third highest budget increase in the attached agency would be the Bureau of Jail Management.

Mme. Speaker, kung titingnan po natin ito, sa napakalaking budget increase, puwede po bang malaman sa ating good Sponsor, what constitutes the 31.17 percent increase in the budget?

REP. CUARESMA. The increase of 31 percent, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, in the budget of the DILG is—this can be traced primarily to the increase in the PS expenditure of the Department, because as we know, in the Department of the Interior and Local Government, there are a lot of men in uniform, and with the increase of PS or salaries of these men in uniform, of course, a bulk really went to the 31 percent increase.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Okay, so it is more on the Personnel Services.

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, it is more on the PS, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Okay. Pero mayroon po dito, iyong sa Bureau of Protection, a percentage increase of 60.59 percent, tapos po iyong ating Bureau of Jail, pero sa Cash-Based, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, mayroon po ditong DILG-COA report, hindi po ba sa Cash-Based, depende po doon sa absorption po ng budget from the 2018. So, ang nakalagay po dito sa COA report ay zero performance, so sabing ganoon, COA flags DILG’s anti-criminality project. So, kung titingnan po natin itong budget ng PNP, malaki po iyong budget na itinaas dito sa mga anti-criminality project, pero zero naman po ang performance—P500 million worth of projects under the DILG that yielded zero performance report in 2017. DILG used the full budget for the Mamamayang Ayaw sa Anomalya, Mamamayang Ayaw sa Ilegal na Droga or MASA MASID Project, but it had no accomplishment report. P90.58 million budget for the BADAC—ito po iyong program noong DILG at ng DBCC. The BADAC Regional Orientation and Training across the Philippines resulted in zero accomplishment. The DILG failed to give information on how many of the target, 1,634 local government units, were actually trained. State auditors also highlighted the fact that only 1,228 out of the target, 1,634 DILG field officers, finished the training though P14.557 million budget was fully utilized.

Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, puwede po bang ipaliwanag ito ng ating distinguished Sponsor to the DILG iyong observation na ito ng COA.

REP. CUARESMA. Kagaya po ng sinabi ko kanina with regard to this MASA MASID budget, this was distributed or given to the Local Government Academy, the PPSC, and the PCOO. Now, with LGA, their accomplishment is they conducted four clusters of Ugnayan at Talakayan: Bantay-Kaagapay sa Patuloy na Pag-unlad Program and that is, in short, anti-corruption.

The second is the regional management orientation on the Bantay-Kaagapay sa Patuloy na Pag-unlad Program, and another one is the IEC materials and three ABPs on anti-corruption, reduced. And then another one is for the PPSC because there is also an amount allocated for the PPSC. Now, for their accomplishment: 173 PPSC regional training directors, other PNP units for violent—yes, they were able to handle 72,412 trainees, and there are also like 423 public safety officers trained, Mme. Speaker, and 4,400 trainees and organic personnel of the 17 RTCs trained, and 72,412 DILG officers, MASA MASID volunteers, barangay officials for force multiplier and local community members and students from other university colleges, oriented.

Now, with the PCOO, it is the same. They


conducted Rehabinasyon road show in nine cities and municipalities, where documentaries were produced on wheel stories, and junior website series including social media boosting production cost.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). In the interest of time, Mme. Speaker, may we ask the good Sponsor to provide this Representation those mentioned projects that are included in the MASA MASID?


REP. CASTRO (F.L.). How about the P90.58 million budget for BADAC Regional Orientation and Training across the Philippines that resulted to zero accomplishment according to the COA report. So, 90.58, do you have a report on this?

REP. CUARESMA. May I just inquire, Mme. Speaker, to the Hon. France Castro as to what particular fund are we talking about? Is it the 2017 or the 2018...

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Yes. Hindi pa naman po tapos iyong...

REP. CUARESMA. ... fund for?

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Yes, Mme. Speaker.

REP. CUARESMA. 2017 or 2016?

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). So, this is for 2017, distinguished Sponsor. Ito po iyong memorandum circular, iyong tungkol po doon sa 20—ito po yata iyong tungkol doon sa drug prevention rehabilitation noong atin pong mga victims?

REP. CUARESMA. I think, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, the one you are referring to is the 2018 Budget that is the strengthening of BADAC in the amount of P150 million.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Okay. So, ...

REP. CUARESMA. And I would like to inform this Body, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, that about 72 percent was already utilized for this purpose.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Okay. So, that means ongoing pa po itong program na ito? Okay. So, let me go to another finding of the COA, about the PNP’s P1.89 billion Mahindra vehicles purchase. So, according to the COA, they sounded the alarm on the PNP for purchasing in 2015 over 2,000 Mahindra patrol vehicles worth P1.89 billion without going through important steps in

procurement so that tax payers’ money could be used for the best. Although, ito po, Mme. Speaker, ay 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 na, dapat may gawin na rin po dito ang PNP kaugnay nito, dahil kahit hindi man po ito under the Duterte administration, dapat may ginawa po dito iyong PNP to correct.

Mme. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, can you update this Representation about this, and I quote:

The questionable deal was done in two tranches. The first in March 2015 by the PNP through the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM), purchasing P1.54-billion 1,656 Mahindra Enforcers—patrol vehicles intended for police station nationwide. The second was done in December 2015 by the PNP on its own, buying P349-million 398 Mahindra Scorpions—SUV intended for ranking PNP officers.

REP. CUARESMA. With regard to this, I think the COA’s recommendation, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, is just to conduct an operational needs assessment and that is what our PNP is doing at the moment, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). So, nasaan na po napunta

iyong budget na P1.89 billion kung bakit bumili na po ang PNP ng hindi pa nagko-conduct ng needs assessment? Hindi ba parang baligtad? Dapat kino-conduct muna iyong needs assessment bago bumili o mag-purchase ng anumang mga vehicle na tingin naman nila ay hindi appropriate sa mga operation.

REP. CUARESMA. Now, with regard to that P1.8 billion, I think these Mahindra were purchased in the previous administration. Everything, I think, was delivered, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Mme. Sponsor, lagi na lang scapegoat iyong previous administration, pero ito po dapat, mayroon pong report dito ang PNP-DILG kung ano na po iyong ginawa.

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, Mme. Sponsor.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Did you file a case against the previous administration na sabi ninyo po ay sila iyong may kinalaman dito?

REP. CUARESMA. Well, according to the PNP, there is no case filed because according to them, with their investigation, in other words, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, I think there was no case filed against this because the only recommendation of the COA is to conduct an operational needs assessment that is why in the budget now for, like 2017 and 2018,


before they procure particularly these equipment and vehicles, they usually do or conduct an operational needs assessment.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Mme. Speaker, medyo naguluhan po ako. So, nag-conduct po ng needs assessment ang PNP kaugnay noong pagbili po nitong Mahindra vehicle, pero ito po bang P1.89 billion ay intact or naibili na po ng Mahindra vehicle? Dahil, Mme. Speaker, kung intact pa po itong P1.89 billion, naghahanap po tayo ng pondo para madagdagan iyong pondo po ng ating mga social services like DepEd, iyong ating mga DOH budget, baka puwede mo munang—ito hindi pa ito nabili or nagamit ng PNP—ma-revert ito doon sa Treasury para naman po magamit sa ibang mas kapakipakinabang na bagay po?

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, the P1.89 billion was already utilized, nagagamit na ho lahat iyong police vehicle, actually, Mme. Speaker.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Okay, so kung nagamit na po ito, nasaan na po itong mga sasakyan na ito? Are they utilized or …

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, I think, this was distributed to the different police stations all over the nation, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). So, gusto ko lang i-manifest, Mme. Speaker, kung paano tayo, hindi ba, gumagastos ng pera ng ating mga mamamayan lalung-lalo na po dito sa mga purchase-purchase na ganito na kailangan natin talagang magkaroon muna ng needs assessment bago sa pagbili po ng mga ganitong klaseng mga vehicle. So, let me go to another COA finding. There are 183 LGUs that did not follow rules of the Disaster Fund in 2015. Tama po ba ito, Mme. Sponsor? Based doon sa COA findings, there is a 52-page consolidated report on the audit of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund Release. So, COA listed 183 LGUs which failed to comply with Section 21 of RA No. 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Reduction and Management Act. So, hindi ko na po babanggitin iyong iba’t ibang mga region, Alam na rin po siguro ito ng ating DILG, iyong amount transferred was P13.05 billion. Ano po iyong update natin dito, Mme. Sponsor?

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, I would just like to ask the Hon. France Castro as to what particular funds are we talking about here? Is it the 5-percent Calamity Fund of the different LGUs? Because as per the record of the DILG, they do not have a Calamity Fund downloaded to the different LGUs, Mme. Speaker.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Yes, Mme. Sponsor, these are the Disaster Funds. So, Calamity Fund po ito.

REP. CUARESMA. Ito po ay Calamity Fund.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Opo.

REP. CUARESMA. The 5-percent Calamity Fund po ng different LGUs because that is really mandated by law that in the budget of the different LGUs they should at least set aside a 5-percent Calamity Fund. In other words, Mme. Speaker, what the Hon. France Castro is referring to is the 5-percent Calamity Fund, a fund of the local government unit. Is that so, Mme. Speaker?

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Yes. According to the report of the COA, they are required to submit a report on the sources and how this Calamity or Disaster Fund was used. Anyway, Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor, may this Representation be given a report on these different Calamity Funds which were used by the different LGUs. Iyong mga reports, hindi po ba ito isina-submit sa ating DILG?

At this juncture, Deputy Speaker Alvarez (M.) relinquished the Chair to Deputy Speaker Raneo “Ranie” E. Abu.

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, Mme. Speaker, because that is one of the requirements for them to be able to qualify for the Seal of Good Local Governance, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). Mr. Speaker na po.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor.

So, iyong last na po Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor, ay iyong tungkol po doon sa mga lump sum. May mga nakikita po tayong mga lump-sum budget from the Office of the Secretary—support for local governance, civil society organization, and 911 emergency services. Mayroon po ba itong mga specifics na itemized budget dito sa mga lump sum na ito, Mme. Sponsor.

REP. CUARESMA. Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, I think the amount the Hon. France Castro is telling us is not lump sum.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). Mme. Sponsor, may I correct you, I am not Mme. Speaker, but Mr. Speaker.

REP. CUARESMA. I am sorry, Mr. Speaker.


Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, I would like to inform the Hon. France Castro that the fund that she is telling us is not in a lump-sum form, but we have here listings, a breakdown of those different programs under this particular fund, Mr. Speaker.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Okay. Thank you, Mme. Sponsor.

So, halimbawa po ito: 1) Support for potable water supply o iyong SALINTUBIG – P38,510,000.00, mayroon po ba kayong specifics nito? Saan po ito? Saang mga munisipalidad at lugar? 2) Support for the Conditional Matching Grant to Provinces – parang hindi ko rin maintindihan ito. Ano po ba itong Conditional Matching Grant to Provinces. Mme. Sponsor, can you educate this Representation, what is this Conditional Matching Grant to Provinces, worth P166,208,000?

REP. CUARESMA. This fund was utilized for monitoring of the project, training, particularly on how to disburse and implement the project; and hiring also of technical people to monitor and support the activities, programs or projects of the different LGUs, Mme. Speaker.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.) So ang beneficiaries po natin …

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.) Sino ang mga beneficiaries po natin dito, mga local officials?

REP. CUARESMA. The beneficiaries, Mr. Speaker, are the waterless municipalities particularly the lower-class municipalities, and the different barangays that are waterless, Mr. Speaker and Your Honor.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.) Anyway, ito po iyong mga projects ko, so can the good Sponsor, through the DILG, provide this Representation with the itemized projects included in these programs. Okay. Iyon na lang po. Magpo-provide po ba ang DILG, Mr. Speaker?

REP. CUARESMA. Definitely, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Mme. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker. Okay, so that ends my interpellation, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Mme. Sponsor.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). Maraming salamat po kagalang-galang na France Castro ng ACT TEACHERS Party-List.


REP. ESPINA. Mr. Speaker, may we recognize Rep. Rodolfo T. Albano III of the First District of Isabela for his interpellation.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). The Representative from the First District of Isabela is recognized to interpellate the good Sponsor, Hon. Rodolfo Albano.

REP. ALBANO. Mr. Speaker, just one question. For the record, Mr. Speaker, will there be a general amnesty on loose firearms?

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. ALBANO. When will this be? Before the year ends?

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, best effort, within the year.

REP. ALBANO. What do you mean by best effort, Mr. Speaker? Can you give me…

REP. CUARESMA. With those still like a …

REP. ALBANO. … a sort of a definitive answer, because I believe that it is with Malacañang already.


REP. ALBANO. Yes, that is why I am asking and this is for the record. Will it be before the year ends, because the elections are coming in May, Mr. Speaker?


REP. ALBANO. So, that will be before the year ends.

REP. CUARESMA. Yes.

REP. ALBANO. That would be all, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). Thank you, the Honorable Albano.


REP. ESPINA. Mr. Speaker, may we recognize Rep. Ariel “Ka Ayik” B. Casilao of ANAKPAWIS Party-List for his interpellation.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). The Representative from ANAKPAWIS Party-List, the Hon. Ariel “Ka Ayik” B. Casilao is recognized.


REP. CASILAO. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Magandang gabi, Mme. Sponsor.

I have very few clarificatory questions. During the Committee briefing, I asked the same question and I will ask it again. I asked in particular if there was a memorandum that circulated requesting for the creation of an Inter-Agency Legal Action Committee or IALAC. The older version of IALAG is Inter-Agency Legal Affairs Group which, in the previous years, has become the instrument of witch-hunting, if I may say so, so to speak against government critics and oppositions. Now, with the current leadership of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, may I ask for a confirmation if there is such a resolution from the DILG, in particular, from the Philippine National Police, recommending to the President the creation of the Inter-Agency Legal Action Committee, for the record, Mme. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker?

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, according to our DILG officer, this has been resolved a long time ago even during the time—I think that was during the time when our Speaker was President, and that even up to now, no IALAG has been existing.

REP. CASILAO. Thank you for that confirmation, Mme. Sponsor.

In any way, is there any local effort to create such a task force that performs a particular function against government critics or supposed to be enemies of the State?

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, there is none.

REP. CASILAO. May I know if in the province of Batangas, the DILG, particularly the PNP, know of such or of a certain “Task Force Ugnay”?

REP. CUARESMA. What is the question again, Mr. Speaker and Your Honor?

REP. CASILAO. I would like to confirm…

REP. CUARESMA. It is Task Force Ugnay.

REP. CASILAO. Yes. I would like a confirmation from the leadership of the DILG and the PNP if there is such an authorized creation of a task force under the name of “Task Force Ugnay”?

REP. CUARESMA. With the DILG and the PNP, Mr. Speaker and Your Honor, there is none.

REP. CASILAO. There is none?


REP. CASILAO. I asked that particular question, Mme. Sponsor, distinguished Speaker, because just today, remember that this is the first day of October and you know very well in the previous days, there seemed to be the height of the so-called Red October. This Red October is the so-called plot to oust President Duterte, and this plot is being articulated by the different security cluster agencies especially the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Although later, at the proper time when the Defense Department will be due for deliberation, I will raise this same concern. However, Mme. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, I have here in my possession a personal message from our leader in Batangas that just this morning, communities identified that there are chapters of ANAKPAWIS Party-List, plainclothesmen roaming around, going from house to house and distributing flyers and on the heading of the flyer is written “Task Force Ugnay” with the name of the AFP and the PNP. There is a contact number, Regional Mobile Battalion of Region IV-A, 730th CG Philippine Air Force, and Task Force Ugnay Text Center. There are several cell phone numbers here, but what called my attention is the text of the flyer, there is nothing harmful, and if I may be allowed to read:

Paalala at Gabay sa Ligtas at Mapayapang Pamumuhay. Maging mapagmatyag at mapanuri sa inyong paligid. Ipagbigay-alam sa mga kinauukulan ang alinman sa mga sumusunod: 1. Mga kahina-hinala o hindi kilalang tao na paali-aligid sa inyong lugar. 2. Riding-in-tandem. 3. Palihim o hayag na armadong tao. 4. Mga tao o grupo na nag-oorganisa para sa rally o pag-aaklas. 5. Gumagami t o nagbeben ta ng ipinagbabawal na gamot. 6. Sunog o mga sakuna sa inyong lugar.

In the title, there is nothing harmful. On number 1, there is no problem with this. This is very much helpful. Sa numbers 2 and 3, wala rin akong problema sa ganyan. Kung armado siya, iligal iyong armas niya, pupuwedeng hulihin lalo pa at hindi nakauniporme. Pero itong number 4 ang nakakabahala, Mme. Sponsor. Sa number 5, wala din po akong problema. Tutol tayo sa droga. Number 6, wala din akong problema, sa mga sakuna iyan. So, in number 4 item lang na kailangan daw i-report—ang usapin dito ay doon sa mga grupo o mga taong nag-oorganisa ng rally.

Now, may I ask the opinion of the distinguished Sponsor, does organizing a rally for whatever purpose,


as guaranteed by Article III of the 1987 Constitution, now becomes a threat or an illegal act? May I know if the distinguished Sponsor shares the sentiment of this Representation or, again, if there is no official recognition in the hierarchy of the PNP, much less the DILG of such task force, then I presume this is not official or this flyer is part of what we call in our parlance, “black propaganda.” However, there is the name of the PNP and a particular unit of the Armed Forces, the Air Force, and a particular unit of the PNP, which is the Regional Mobile Battalion. So, hearing from the confirmation of the distinguished Sponsor that there was no such thing as a “Task Force Ugnay,” I believe that this is illegal. Do I share the same sentiment, especially the number 4 item, what to watch for or what to report, because, “mga tao o grupo na nag-oorganisa para sa rally,” means a threatening message that it is illegal or it is prohibited and in contradiction with the explicit provision of Article III of the 1987 Constitution.

REP. CUARESMA. Okay. Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, as far as the DILG and the PNP are concerned, they do not have any knowledge of this Task Force Ugnay, Mr. Speaker.

REP. CASILAO. Thank you for that confirmation, Mme. Sponsor, because I have advised my local leaders this morning that upon confirmation from the office of the Philippine National Police to the Department of the Interior and Local Government, that there is no such authority with regard to the creation of Task Force Ugnay, and therefore, we will consider this an illegal activity. However, I would like to indulge the distinguished Sponsor, and I will pass this information to her to help me in verifying if these are active, because, you know, using the Regional Mobile Force Battalion and the Philippine Air Force Unit as signatories to the numbers being identified for people to report to, I think, qualifies an act of illegal usurpation of authority.

REP. CUARESMA. Yes. I think, Mr. Speaker, if it refers to the Philippine Air Force, then it is not under the DILG or the PNP, Mr. Speaker.

REP. CASILAO. Yes, but the Regional Mobile Force Battalion is under the PNP, is that correct?

REP. CUARESMA. According to our Chief PNP, there is no confirmation, they do not have any order coming from their office, Mr. Speaker.

REP. CASILAO. Is this a particular unit in the PNP—the Regional Mobile Force Battalion, yes?

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, but there is no order

coming from their office, as they had stated, Mr. Speaker.

REP. CASILAO. Thank you for that confirmation. Now, although the NBI is under the jurisdiction of the DILG, iyong nangyari po sa Teresa town, as you said in your previous statement, this incident is not in any way at all related to the Red October plot. Did the PNP conduct an investigation, a verification as to whether or not these threats are real, these threats are serious, and there had been a very comprehensive—sana naman ay huwag lang tayong umasa sa tsismis at mga posts sa Facebook.

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, that is with the NBI, that is not under DILG, but with regard to the other manifestation of the honorable Gentleman, the PNP is undergoing investigation, Mr. Speaker.

REP. CASILAO. Now, for my last question—Is the DILG, particularly Secretary Año, still the head of martial law implementation in Mindanao? No more?

REP. CUARESMA. No more, Mr. Speaker and Your Honor.

REP. CASILAO. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). Thank you, the Honorable Casilao.


REP. ESPINA. Mr. Speaker, may we recognize Rep. Arnel U. Ty from the LPGMA Party-List for his interpellation.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). The Representative from LPGMA Party-List, the Hon. Arnel Ty is recognized to interpellate the good Sponsor of the budget of the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the attached agencies.

REP. TY. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To our distinguished Sponsor, I would like to ask about the budget of the Bureau of Fire Protection. For 2019, the budget allocation for the Bureau of Fire Protection is P19,869,971,000. Out of that amount that is under the Personnel Service—out of the total of P21,979,000,000, the amount for Capital Outlays is P493,970,000. Now, ang question ko po—for last year, how many fires did the Bureau of Fire Protection respond to?

REP. CUARESMA. Is that for 2017, Your Honor?


REP. TY. Yes, Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor.

REP. CUARESMA. The number of fire incidents, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, is 14,197 for 2017.

REP. TY. Out of this 14,000 plus, how many reached the task force alarm?

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, at the moment, the Bureau of Fire Protection does not have the data with them, but we can give you the estimated amount of property damage and the deaths and injuries from these 14,197 fires, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. TY. Yes, the purpose of this, Mme. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, is that this Representation wants to know—at the time that the bells ring in the fire station, that there is a fire alarm to be responded, it starts with the first, second, third, fourth and fifth alarm before it reaches the task force alarm. Now, the question is, how fast must the Bureau of Fire Protection respond to those fire alarms so that they will not reach the task force alarm?

REP. CUARESMA. Usually, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, the response time is seven minutes.

REP. TY. Okay. So, now, because as a volunteer firefighter and member of firefighters’ associations, I experienced in many instances that the fire reaches the task force alarm and up to the general alarm due to the lack of fire trucks and of working fire trucks. Volunteers alone can augment, can help, but at the end of the day, this is a numbers game—the number of fire trucks needed to respond. As of now, the Bureau of Fire Protection, in the fill-in capacity of their fire trucks, has only around 60 plus percent, Mme. Sponsor?

REP. CUARESMA. With the proposal for 2019, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, particularly for the procurement of fire trucks, this will increase the fill-up rate from 76 to 77 percent, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TY. Okay. Now, the question is, out of 77 percent, how many of these units are due for replacement?

REP. CUARESMA. With regard to the procurement for 2019, there will be 56 fire trucks proposed to be purchased. Now, with the unserviceable fire trucks, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, there are 173, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TY. Out of the 77 percent of the fill-in capacity of our fire trucks, there are 177 fire trucks due for replacement. Is that an accurate answer?

REP. CUARESMA. In this year’s budget, Mr. Speaker, it is in process, there is, intended, a procurement of several fire trucks. Then, for 2019, the DILG, again, proposed 56. Yes, I understand the question of the Hon. Arnel Ty, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TY. Well, I just want to repeat the question—out of the 77 percent fill-in capacity of our fire trucks, is it accurate to say that, from your data, you are telling this Representation that there are 170 plus units that need to be replaced on top of the 77 percent fill-in?

REP. CUARESMA. My statement earlier, Mr. Speaker, is based on the number of municipalities that shall be given a fire truck or even a fire station, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor. That is my basis in stating that there is an increase in the procurement of fire trucks. This number of fire trucks will increase the fill-up rate from 76 percent to 77 percent—that is my basis—in the local government unit.

REP. TY. No, the data that I gathered was that, out of the 56 new fire trucks that had been infused this year, that was to increase our fill-in capacity to 77 percent from 76 percent last year, but we have to count also ito pong mga old fire trucks that need to be replaced. So now, the data that I gathered from all over the nation, that there are—as your number is accurate and is almost the same as my number—170 plus units, that means na mas bumaba pa ho iyong number of fire trucks natin because many are due for replacement or repairs or are unserviceable fire trucks. So, that means, iyon pong 77 percent is not all running and if you will now look at the operation o iyong dami ng tumatakbong fire trucks, it is only around 70 percent. Is that accurate, Mme. Sponsor?

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, Mr. Speaker, I agree with the observation of the Hon. Arnel Ty that, really, there are fire trucks that are not really in good condition or are unserviceable. There are a lot of fire trucks under repair and there are also fire trucks that are beyond repair.

REP. TY. That is the reason I am questioning the P493 million in Capital Outlays, Mr. Speaker.

REP. CUARESMA. Yes. Mr. Speaker, although the DILG would like to provide a lot, their proposal had been submitted to the DBM, so, they have to just give whatever amount is supposed to be given to the different departments.

REP. TY. Mr. Speaker, my point is, every year, the fill-in capacity is not increasing but decreasing—that is the fact. The question is, what can we do—what can the


Bureau of Fire Protection do to defend their budget in the DBM? Because when they were stating that there was a 1 percent increase, they included those that are not running. Now, if you will have to remove those unserviceable fire trucks, those fire trucks due for repair and replacement, that will come to 100 plus or even 200 units. How can you increase your fill-in capacity if you are just infusing 56 fire trucks, and then 100 to 200 units will be removed and will be considered as junk.

Now, let us review your budget for 2016. In 2016, your Capital Outlays was P750 million; in 2017, your Capital Outlays went down to P543 million; in 2018, this year, your Capital Outlays increased by a hundred million, which is P1.654 million; and now, your 2019 proposal is only P1.493 million.


REP. TY. Ang tanong ko ho—ano ang dahilan bakit naman ho paliit ng paliit ang inyong Capital Outlays?

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, the DBM gave a ceiling to the different agencies, just like, for example, the BFP, much as they want to construct additional fire stations and purchase additional fire trucks, but the DBM said, “Okay, you can just have only this. You have your limit,” something like that, that is it, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. TY. No. My question is, ano ang gagawin natin?

REP. CUARESMA. That is also my problem, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. TY. No, I mean, we need to source out other funding.

REP. CUARESMA. Yes. It is a good thing, Mr. Speaker, that we have this trust fund.

REP. TY. We have a law, and like I said, for so many years, Mr. Speaker, we have a law that says that we provide fire trucks to all municipalities a hundred percent. That law has been here for how many years—5, 7 years? Until now, our fill-in capacity continues to decline and the problem is not being solved, but everybody knows that the only solution is to increase the budget for Capital Outlays.

Now, will the Sponsor agree that the Bureau of Fire Protection has a very important task in our community? Every year, they are here in our House asking for a budget and we, as legislators, seem not to be assisting the Bureau of Fire Protection. When they asked during the Committee hearing, the Bureau

of Fire said that they need 15 more years to have 100 percent fill-in capacity. The way I see it now, it will not only take 15 years, but maybe even 25 years is not enough because there are fire trucks now being junked because of being unserviceable and the old age of fire trucks.

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, because of age.

REP. TY. Now, may I know the plan of the Bureau of Fire Protection to increase their assets, Mme. Sponsor?

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, I agree with the observation of the Hon. Arnel Ty, Mr. Speaker. Maybe one solution to that—I think one way we can increase or be able to get more funds for the implementation of so many programs, like those in the BFP is, maybe, to increase the Fire Code fee. But that is already, again, a legislation, right?

REP. TY. Will the … REP. CUARESMA. That is why, Mr. Speaker,

Your Honor, though the DILG would like to give more funds for the different agencies under it, if this is the only amount allocated because of the ceiling given by the DBM, then really, this agency could not do anything. One of the reasons, at times, of the DBM is the increase in salaries that, in turn, may likely decrease the Capital Outlays of the different agencies under the DILG.

REP. TY. When the period of amendments arrives,

will the good Sponsor support the reallocation or realignment of the funds that we discovered from other agencies to be added to the budget of the Bureau of Fire Protection?

REP. CUARESMA. Of course, I do not have any

objection, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, but we have to refer this matter to the leadership, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TY. Yes. REP. CUARESMA. If the leadership would say

“yes,” this Representation will be very happy if that wish will be granted.

REP. TY. Well, the good Sponsor is saying that

the only way to solve this problem is to have more funds. We in this House, we have the power of the purse but the only thing that we can do is to support each other. You, as the Sponsor of the DILG budget, and because you agree that the DILG needs additional budget, especially the Bureau of Fire Protection, you


will encourage our colleagues to support the increase of the budget of the BFP.

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, of course, Mr. Speaker,

Your Honor, but as I had stated earlier, consultations should also be made with the leadership.

REP. TY. Of course, that is not a guarantee that

we can get that budget. So, maybe, we have to source from some funds based on our GAB.

May I now go to the Special Provisions. Under the Special Provisions, there is the Fire Code Revenue. May I know, Mme. Sponsor, how much is the revenue collected by the Bureau of Fire Protection?

REP. CUARESMA. For what year, Mr. Speaker? REP. TY. Let us start with 2018, which is this

year. REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, I

would like to inform the honorable LPGMA Party-List Representative that for 2017, the amount collected from the Fire Code fee was P1,592,872,216.76.

REP. TY. This is for the year 2017?

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, and for 2018, I would like to inform you, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, that from January 1 to June 30, the amount of P1,295,849,582 had already been collected.

REP. TY. Okay. That is the balance—this year, the Bureau of Fire Protection already collected P1,295,000,000.

REP. CUARESMA. For six months, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TY. So, it exceeded your projection? Congratulations! Now, for 2017, how much was the total Fire Code Revenue of the BFP?

REP. CUARESMA. As I have stated earlier, Mr. Speaker, the amount of P1,592,872,216 was collected for the year 2017 and for 2016, the amount of P1,366,973,027 was collected.

REP. TY. Okay. So, in 2016, the Bureau of Fire Protection had exceeded their target dahil P800 million ang target, ang nakolekta is P1.395 billion; and by 2017, the projected revenue was P800 million, but they collected P1.5 billion and again, they exceeded their target. In 2018, hindi pa man natatapos ang taon, they already exceeded their P1 billion target at ngayon po, ito ay P1,295,000,000. May I know—saan ho gagamitin itong revenue natin?

REP. CUARESMA. For 2019, Mr. Speaker, we are going to utilize this particular amount for the procurement of fire trucks. Aside from this, it will also be utilized for the construction of fire stations.

REP. TY. Okay. So, may I know how many fire trucks were bought using the 2016 revenue of the BFP out of the P1.395 billion? The Special Provisions state that the fees collected shall be used for the modernization of the Bureau of Fire Protection, including the acquisition and improvement of facilities, purchase of fire trucks, and fire-fighting and personnel-protection equipment. So, since 2016 po, magkano po ang nagamit na, at ilan ho ang nabili natin for the modernization of our Bureau of Fire Protection? For 2016 muna po tayo.

REP. CUARESMA. May I be just clarified, Mr. Speaker, as to what particular collection is the Gentleman asking about, Mr. Speaker?

REP. TY. Well, this is the Fire Code Revenue.

REP. CUARESMA. It is a lump sum.

REP. TY. The good Sponsor reported that in 2016, there was an P800-million target but they exceeded the target and they had a collection of P1.395 billion. This should be used for the modernization of the Bureau of Fire Protection. So, the question is, how many fire trucks were procured using the Fire Code Revenue?

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, the procurement for the different fire trucks is still ongoing. The procurement is for 210 fire trucks.

REP. TY. So, it is still ongoing.


REP. TY. These are not yet procured but the procurement is ongoing. How about the 2017 revenue of P1.5 billion?

REP. CUARESMA. I would like to inform the Hon. Arnel Ty that, as I mentioned a while ago, this is the100-percent collection. With this collection, 80 percent goes to the BFP’s share and there is also this 20 percent share for the different LGUs. That is why I said earlier that the collection is P1.5 billion but if we will deduct the share of the local government units, then, it will just be P1.27 billion, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TY. Okay.

REP. CUARESMA. And this will be utilized for


the construction of different fire stations and for the procurement of fire trucks, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TY. So, for 2016, how much goes to the LGU and how much is retained with the Bureau of Fire Protection for their expansion?

REP. CUARESMA. As per our record, Mr. Speaker, the amount given as share of the LGUs for 2016 was P273,394,605 and for 2017, it was P318,574,443, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. TY. That was the share of the BFP?

REP. CUARESMA. This was the 20 percent share of the LGU.

REP. TY. So, for 2016, out of the P1.395 billion, it was only P280 million?

REP. CUARESMA. It was P273 million, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TY. Okay. Then, for the P1.5 billion of 2017, that LGU share was P300 million.

REP. CUARESMA. The BFP had a share of P1.27 billion and the LGU had a share of P318, 574—P318 million-plus.

REP. TY. So, I just want to be clarified. Again, for 2016, out of the P1.395 billion collection, P280 million went to the LGU and the balance was retained by the BFP.


REP. TY. Okay. So now, for 2017, the same case, out of the P1.5 billion in collection, P300 million-plus went to LGU and the balance was retained by the Bureau of Fire Protection. Now, may I know about the earlier years, let us say, 2015, 2014, 2013, were the collections used for the modernization of our Bureau of Fire Protection? As you said, from 2016 onwards, hindi pa ho natin nagagamit ang perang iyan for modernization. Now, let us go to the earlier years, let us say, 2015, 2014, 2013, ano po ang sitwasyon po ng ating collection? Ang pera ho bang iyan ay nagamit na po ba natin for the modernization, or is it still intact with the Bureau of Fire Protection?

REP. CUARESMA. For the 2010 to 2018 funds, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, some were utilized for the construction of jail—no, I mean, fire stations and for the procurement of fire trucks, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TY. That is for what revenue year, Mme. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker?

REP. CUARESMA. No, I am referring to the Fire Code fees collected from 2010 to 2018, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TY. Again, it is not clear to me. For 2016, 2017 and 2018, the collections are still with the Bureau of Fire Protection and no procurement has been made. My question is for the years 2015, 2014, and 2013—did the Bureau of Fire use the revenue from the collections for their modernization or not?

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, Mr. Speaker, Your

Honor. One reason the procurement was delayed is the requirement set by the DBM.

REP. TY. Okay. To shorten my interpellation, Mr.

Speaker, let us backtrack everything. Anong taon po ba ang still hindi natin nagagamit na pondo, ng ating collection? Iyong para sa year 2000 ay hindi pa ba natin nagagamit for the intended use of the collection, for modernization? Ano pa ho ang ibang taon?.

REP. CUARESMA. I would just like to inform the

Gentleman, Mr. Speaker, that the Fire Code fee just started in 2010, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TY. Okay, in 2010 and so, since the 2010

collection, hindi po natin nagamit ang pondo? REP. CUARESMA. Some were utilized already,

Mr. Speaker. REP. TY. So, from 2010 to 2017, ilan na po ba

iyong total amount—saan ho ba nandoon iyong pondo, Madam Sponsor?

REP. CUARESMA. Well, if I have to sum it all,

this will include already the 2018 January to June 30 collection and the amount was P9.8 billion. These were utilized, as I mentioned earlier, for the purchase of fire trucks. The other purchases for dump trucks are ongoing and some were utilized for the construction of fire stations, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TY. May I know your intention for that

money? According to the Special Provisions, it should be used for the modernization of the Bureau of Fire Protection. Kanina po, ako ay naaawa sa BFP dahil ang sabi nga, may kakulangan ng pondo. Nasaan na iyong P9-something billion na iyan? Iyan ay koleksiyon and it is earmarked for the modernization of the Bureau of Fire Protection, not only for the equipment but also for the personnel. Iyong kanilang safety fire protection equipment, iyong kanilang mga breathing apparatus,


helmet, blinkers—kapag nakikita ho natin ang ating mga personnel na hindi ho makapasok sa mga enclosed areas because of the lack of BA or breathing apparatus, kapag nakikita ho natin ang kanilang mga blinkers ay hindi ho safe for them to do their task, and even hoses, they lack hoses to reach the fire na kailangan nilang patayin—ang tanong ko ngayon, bakit ho nagkakaganito? Ano hong nangyari ba dito sa P9 billion na iyan?

REP. CUARESMA. I would just like to inform,

Mr. Speaker, the Gentleman that the amount already utilized, this is excluding the 2018 collection starting January, was P4.2 billion, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TY. Again, Mr. Speaker? REP. CUARESMA. The rest is being utilized for

the purchase of additional fire trucks, Mr. Speaker. REP. TY. Yes, I know. That is the intention of

the Special Provisions but from the 2010 fund up to the 2017 fund, it is not being utilized, it is not being maximized. It is not being used to buy firetrucks. Ang ating mga kapatid na taga-Bureau of Fire Protection ang nakikita namin na masigasig, na kasama naming mga volunteer.

REP. CUARESMA. Totoo po iyan, Mr. Speaker.

Talagang gustong-gusto rin po ng DILG magkaroon ng mga ito, but the problem at times is the fund being allocated for our Department.

REP. TY. Iyon fund—Mr. Speaker, I mean the fund

is there, P9 billion something. It is the collection of the Fire Code Revenue.

Now, hindi ho ito budget na kinukuha natin dito sa Kongreso. Ito ay collection. Ang tanong ho natin ngayon is, bakit hindi natin nagagamit para sa intention. Mayroon ho naka-indicate dito sa Special Provisions that it should be solely used for the modernization of the Bureau of Fire Protection. Ang tanong, since 2010 to 2017, it had been eight years …

REP. CUARESMA. I think, Mr. Speaker, they will really have a problem in the procurement process …

REP. TY. This is preliminary to what is the problem …

REP. CUARESMA. … that is why this Representation would really like to…

REP. TY. Can the Sponsor enumerate the problems in the procurement? How come that from the Capital Outlays budget, from the yearly congressional budget that is given, ay nakakapag-procure kayo pero pagdating

doon sa ating Fire Code Revenue ay hindi natin magamit to pursue the intent for that money.

REP. CUARESMA. Kasi po ang nangyayari po, laging may failure of bidding doon sa PS-DBM, lagi ho iyon ang nangyayari kaya at times …

REP. TY. You mean the money is not with the Bureau of Fire Protection. It is with the Treasury and the Treasury is not giving you that money? Ganoon po ba ang ibig ninyong sabihin, na sa loob ng walong taon sa lahat ng inyong collection—then, Mr. Speaker, may problema tayo ngayon dito. Ibig sabihin, napakalaki ng pondo natin, at maaaring hindi lang ito nangyayari sa Bureau of Fire Protection. It might be happening sa PNP doon sa kanilang firearms license fee; and also in other agencies. Ano ang gagawin natin dahil hindi naman ito problema na ng Kongreso? We are seeking those funds para ho masustena ang inyong pangangailangan, para mabigay ang inyong pangangailangan. Ngayon po ay may pera pala pero hindi ho natin ito nagagamit o nama-maximize.

Anong garantiya natin, taun-taon ho tayong nandito, nag-uusap-usap, humihingi ng pondo pero ang laki pala ng ating budget na naka-savings lamang. Kung saan man nandoon, whether that is under the Treasury, but the Treasury cannot hold that because naka-earmark po iyan for the modernization of our Bureau of Fire Protection. Ano ho ang ginagawa ng ating Bureau of Fire Protection para ho naman ipaglaban ninyo ang karapatan ninyo? Kayo ang naghirap para dito. Nag-inspect kayo ng mga establishment, mayroong binayaran sa inyo at ngayon, nakakolekta kayo. You exceeded the budget. Ngayon ho ay binigay ninyo iyan sa Treasury. Bakit ho hindi ninyo hingin ang perang iyan? Upang lahat naman ho ng inyong sinasabing kakulangan na 32,000 manpower for the Bureau of Fire Protection can be hired, at iyong pangangailangan ninyo na—ilang fire trucks iyon?—almost 1,000 units. Kung mayroon kayong P9 billion diyan, sa tingin ko po ay tapos na iyong problema ninyo dapat ngayon. At least, kokonti na lang ho ang mga problema ninyo ngayon.

REP. CUARESMA. Okay. I think they encountered a problem in the previous year, in 2012, Mr. Speaker, and that was why this is being implemented by the PS-DBM but now, their fund is already with the PITC kasi nagkaroon kayo ng problema before. That is why, like for example, particularly in the year 2016 po, lahat po iyong ating mga BAC ay nagkaroon nga ho ng problema.

REP. TY. Mr. Speaker.

REP. CUARESMA. They were under investigation that time, Mr. Speaker, kaya medyo na-delay po, but


with the present set-up now, we hope that the PITC is taking care of the procurement, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TY. Mr. Speaker, puro problema po ba ang maririnig natin ngayon? I think the funding is not the problem anymore, as we already identified how much is the fund. Now, the only question is, how can we utilize that. Iyon ba naman ay poproblemahin pa natin ulit ngayon diyan.

May I ask for a few minutes suspension of the session, Mr. Speaker.


THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). The session is suspended.

It was 11:05 p.m.



THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). The session is resumed.

The Honorable Ty, you may continue.

REP. TY. Mr. Speaker, I just want to get the commitment of the good Sponsor that the Fire Code Revenue now sleeping in the Treasury will be—they must see to it that the BFP can get it to be used for the intention of the Fire Code Revenue based on our Special Provisions under the GAB.


REP. TY. Lastly, I just want to get the commitment of our good Secretary because, again, this has been asked in the Committee, the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience. Did the Secretary commit that he will fight for the Bureau of Fire Protection to be retained under the DILG? May I get the commitment of the Secretary that, during the time of the Bicam with the Senate, he will insist on the retention of the Bureau of Fire Protection under the DILG.


REP. TY. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor. I have no other question, and I would like to congratulate the DILG family.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). Thank you very much to one of our fire volunteers, the Hon. Arnel Ty.


REP. ESPINA. Mr. Speaker, the next Member who wishes to interpellate the good Lady Sponsor is the Representative from ACT TEACHERS Party-List, the Hon. Antonio L. Tinio.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). From the ACT TEACHERS Party-List, Representative Tinio is recognized to interpellate the good Sponsor.

REP. TINIO. Mr. Speaker, ACT TEACHERS Party-List po para malinaw.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). From the ACT TEACHERS Party-List.

REP. TINIO. Kailangan malinaw po iyon. (Laughter) Baka ibang act po kasi, hindi na ok iyon.

Anyway, magandang gabi po, Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor. Ilang mga katanungan po, maybe magpo-focus na lang ako sa PNP, sa Philippine National Police budget. Iyong mga naunang interpellators—at marahil nabanggit na po ito—ang isang kapansin-pansin sa kabuuang 2019 proposed budget ng Malacañang, dahil daw sa Cash-Based Budgeting, karamihan po ay nabawasan ang budget. Tama po ba? Iyon na nga ang laman ng interpellations ng iba’t ibang mga Kinatawan, lalo na pagdating sa DepEd, sa Department of Health, sa State Universities and Colleges kanina, at sa housing agencies, lalo na iyong National Housing Authority. Pero ang PNP, in fact, ito iyong isa sa may pinakamataas na increase sa proposed budget, 30 percent o 30.25 percent increase in its budget compared to 2018, from P132.3 billion to P172.3 billion, or an additional P40.03 billion. Very briefly po, what accounted for that P40.03 billion net increase or 30.25 percent?

REP. CUARESMA. If we have to trace it, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, it was brought about by the increase in the salaries of the different men in uniform, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TINIO. Mainly sa salary increase po.

REP. CUARESMA. Opo. Kaya tayo nagkaroon ng increase not only in the budget of the PNP, but for the whole of the DILG, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TINIO. All right. According to our Sponsor, it is mainly due to the doubling of salaries as provided for in the adjustments to the salaries of uniformed personnel. Tinitingnan ko po itong General Appropriations Bill for 2019 at tiningnan ko in particular iyong performance information at performance indicators. Well, ang isang napansin ko, for an agency with one of the largest budgets, P172.3 billion as proposed, actually napaka-simple noong performance information at performance


indicators. In fact, it is half a page in the budget books that we have—“safe and more secure people and communities,” iyon ang key strategies. Pagkatapos, in terms of Organizational Outcomes and Performance Indicators, isa lang po, to improve community safety, and under that, Crime Prevention and Suppression Program at Crime Investigation Program. There are only a handful of outcome indicators, iyong national safety index, that is one; and second, the percentage reduction in national index crime rate, among others.

I would just like to focus on the percentage reduction in national index crime rate. In other words, sukatan po ito ng performance ng PNP. Ayon po dito, the target would be a 5 percent reduction in the national index crime rate. Ano nga ba ito, could the Sponsor give us pertinent statistics on the national index crime rate under the current administration, perhaps since 2016. Naging epektibo po ba ang PNP sa layunin nito na pababain ang index crime rate? Also for purposes of this discussion, kapag sinabing index crime rate, ano po ba iyong mga tinutukoy na mga krimen—the so-called index crimes?

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, and in fact, there was a 36 percentage reduction in the index crime rate.

REP.TINIO. Ano po ba iyong tinatawag na index crimes para mas maintindihan natin kung paano sinusukat ng PNP iyong performance nila?

REP. CUARESMA. If we talk about index crimes, these include murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, carnapping and cattle rustling.

REP.TINIO. Murder, homicide, physical injury, rape, robbery, theft, carnapping... Ano po iyong huli, Mr. Speaker?

REP. CUARESMA. Cattle rustling.

REP.TINIO. Cattle rustling, okay. So, kasama pa pala ang cattle rustling sa national index crimes. Ang ibig sabihin noon, pagnanakaw ng kalabaw, ganoon po ba?

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker.

REP.TINIO. So, iyon po ang performance indicators ng PNP. I noticed na walang drug-related crimes in all of those you mentioned—in other words, violations of the Dangerous Drugs Act.

REP. CUARESMA. Special laws. Yes, these are non-index crimes.

REP.TINIO. These are non-index crimes?

REP. CUARESMA. They do not belong to the index crimes, Mr. Speaker.

REP.TINIO. In this case, it is interesting, Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor, that actually in the key performance indicators for the PNP budget, hindi pala kasama iyong drug-related crimes. Ang sukatan pala ng performance ninyo ay para sa index crimes na binanggit ninyo, from murder to robbery to rape to cattle rustling.

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, Mr. Speaker. The non-index crimes are also a part of the program and included in the budget of the PNP, Mr. Speaker.

REP.TINIO. Mme. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, wala po sa dokumento natin, in other words, hindi ito pinagbabatayan. But as far as I know, ang pagkakapaliwanag ng DBM sa atin, kaya po inilalagay sa General Appropriations Bill itong mga performance information, performance indicators and so on because supposedly, nakatali iyan sa pag-increase or decrease ng budget which is directly related sa isang ahensiya. I am just emphasizing that point na mukhang wala pala iyong what you call non-index crimes and these include violations of the Dangerous Drugs Act. Actually, wala pala ito dito. Unless may gusto pong sabihin si Mme. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker.

REP. CUARESMA. I do not think that it is not a part because it is included in the national safety index. Iyong sinasabi po ninyo na ang non-index crime is not a part, I disagree, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, because this is a part of the national safety index.

REP. TINIO. Okay, it is included in the national safety index. Then, could the Sponsor explain the national safety index, Mr. Speaker? Actually, I was going to ask that kasi sabi rito, in terms of performance indicators, baseline 66 percent is a “feeling safe” rating. The target is to increase the “feeling safe” rating to 69.3 percent. So, I am just wondering, how is the “feeling safe” rating” being measured? Ano ba ito, SWS survey ba iyan o Pulse Asia kaya—how is this measured?

REP. CUARESMA. Actually po, itong national safety index, Mr. Speaker, and the Honorable Tinio was talking about this 66 percent “feeling safe” rating—this is the activity that the DBM limits. I mean, the DBM limits the number of parameters placed in this particular national safety index.

REP. TINIO. Okay, sige po, I will not pursue the point further. Siguro, ang gusto ko lang i-point out,


parang lumalabas dito, ang performance indicators na hinihingi ng DepEd sa mga ahensiya o ginagamit daw ng DepEd sa mga ahensiya bilang sukatan ng performance, actually in this case, clearly it is absurd and even farcical. Ano itong national safety index? Pagkatapos, ang nakalagay lang dito sa dokumentong na-submit sa Kongreso, iyong national index crime rate, iyon lang ang sukatan ninyo. Ang iyong sinabi ko nga, wala nga iyong non-index crimes diyan pero supposedly, ang emphasis ng administrasyong ito ay illegal drugs, which crime is not part or not considered part of the national index crimes.

Okay, I will move on. Introduction lang po iyon. Could the Sponsor provide statistics on index crimes at ano ba ang naging performance ng PNP? Napababa ba talaga ang index crime rate? Dumoble po ang suweldo ng PNP, 30 percent increase sa agency budget and so, presumably, may maipagmamalaking performance ang PNP. Ano po ito?

REP. CUARESMA. As I had mentioned earlier, when we talk of the index crime volume, there was a reduction of 31.66 percent as compared to the previous year, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TINIO. Okay, so, a 31 percent reduction on the index crimes—aba, kung pakikingan, maganda po iyan. Pero hindi po ba na totoo rin, if we look at the data, na may pagtaas sa murder rate. Is that not correct if we are talking about the period from July 2016 to June 2018?

REP. CUARESMA. No. In fact, Mr. Speaker, when we talk of murder, there was a decrease of 28.24 percent, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TINIO. So, there was a decrease. Anong period po ang pinag-uusapan natin?

REP. CUARESMA. Our basis is from January to September of 2017 and January to September of 2018, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. TINIO. From January 2017 to January or June of what year?

REP. CUARESMA. No, it is from January to September of 2017 and January to September of 2018, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TINIO. Okay. Over that period, mayroong reduction in murder cases. What about the statistics, Mr. Speaker? These are recorded in media. The murder rate in Metro Manila soared by around 112 percent from July 2016 to June 2018 po.

In that period, there were 3,444 murder cases as

against the July 2014 to June 2016 period when only 1,621 murder cases were reported. That is a 112 percent increase in murder cases in Metro Manila alone.

REP. CUARESMA. No, with the report that was given to us, Mr. Speaker, we have to compare that from January 1 to September of 2017, there were 1,286 murder cases. Now, in January 1 to September 30 of 2018, there was only 580 murder cases, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TINIO. Okay, we are talking about different time frames. Iba rin iyong statistics na lumalabas dito, but these are reportedly also according to the PNP.

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, the data here with me, Mr. Speaker, is within the same time frame. As I mentioned, it is from January 1 to September 30 of 2017 as compared to January 1 to September 30 of 2018.

REP. TINIO. No, ang statistics po kasi dito na sina-cite ko is from July 2014 to June 2016.

REP. CUARESMA. Kasi po iyong record na nasa amin is from 2017 to 2018.

REP. TINIO. Okay.

REP. CUARESMA. The comparison that we have at the moment is 2017 and 2018, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TINIO. In other words, hindi po comparable iyong hawak na data nating dalawa. Pero ayon din po ito sa datos na galing din sa PNP, na nagkaroon po ng 112 percent increase in murder, sa Metro Manila in particular. In other words, ito iyong panahon po ng war on drugs. Iyon lang po ang gusto nating banggitin dito.Ngayon, para maging malinaw na lang po, ano ba iyong latest figure natin on the war on drugs? Iyong number well, in the media, they are often called extrajudicial killings. So, what are the latest statistics that the PNP can provide in terms of extrajudicial killings or if not, then let us call them—ano ba ang terminology ninyo? Drug-related killings.

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, I think that was answered a while ago, but I will just try to get the data again. Again, these are the real numbers, Mr. Speaker—from July 1, 2016 to July 31, 2018, with regard to anti-drug operations conducted, 105,158; drug personalities arrested, again, I would say it was 152,123; and drug personalities who died in anti-drug operations, ito ay 4,410 na, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TINIO. So, 4,410, okay, and this is the number


of persons who died in drug-related operations. Apart from that, the PNP also cited a figure on “deaths under investigation”—ano po iyon? So, iyong 4,410, ito po iyong PNP drug-related operations.

REP. CUARESMA. Yes. I had mentioned this earlier, the number of incidents to the drug-related operations is 2,938, that is, from the period of July 1, 2016 to September 24 of 2018, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TINIO. Okay, so, iyong binanggit ninyo po ay 4,410 as of July 31, 2018. In an article, which was a news report that was published on September 26, your spokesperson, Chief Superintendent Benigno Durana Jr., announced that a total 4,854 drug personalities had been killed and this was from August 31 to September 26, 2018. So, nadagdagan na po ng 444 persons in one month.

REP. CUARESMA. Well, what I mentioned, Mr. Speaker, is the homicide cases that are under investigation, this figure.

REP. TINIO. What is that figure again, Mme. Sponsor?

REP. CUARESMA. It is the number of homicide cases that is under investigation, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. TINIO. How many cases?

REP. CUARESMA. It is 2,938, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. TINIO. It is 2,938. So, mayroon pong 4,000—let us use the figure you mentioned, 4,410—and this is as of July 31—plus 2,938 homicides under investigation.

REP. CUARESMA. Okay. So, the one I am mentioning, Mr. Speaker, is the number of incidents that are drug-related, and the one that the Honorable Tinio is presenting is the number of deaths during police operations.

REP. TINIO. Okay. So, iyong 4,410 po, they died

during police operations. Drug-related police operations po ba? Iyong 2,938, ano po iyon? Okay, these are homicides under investigation. Could you explain that category? So, 4,410 died during PNP drug operations and there are 2,938 homicides under investigation. Paki-explain po iyong kaibahan noong dalawa. Yes, I know, I understand. So, what do you classify as homicides under investigation, ano po iyon? Are they also drug-related po?

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor. REP. TINIO. Yes, these are drug-related. So, ito po

ba iyong so-called vigilante killings? Posible po ba?

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, I do not know. That will depend on the outcome of the investigation.

REP. TINIO. Generally, there are eyewitness

reports. Ito ba iyong mga pinapatay ng mga riding in tandem, mga ganoon po? In other words, why are these being classified as being drug-related. So, obviously, mayroong enough information ang PNP to consider them as drug-related.

REP. CUARESMA. Cases have already been

filed on these after the investigation, and if there were indications that cases shall be filed, then that is it.

REP. TINIO. So, sa 2,938 na binanggit po ninyo, these homicides under investigation, how many are considered closed cases?

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, we are trying to get the data, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TINIO. Of which, how many cases have been

filed or have led to the filing of cases? REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, our PNP is

getting the data. REP. TINIO. Let me proceed to another

question. REP. CUARESMA. May you just please continue

with your other questions, Mr. Speaker. REP. TINIO. Yes, okay. Doon po sa 4,410 deaths

during police operations, ano po ang status ng mga kasong ito? Are there ongoing investigations into these incidents? Or are they all considered to be, you know, legitimate in the course of police operations?

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, may we go back to the previous question.

REP. TINIO. Yes, please.

REP. CUARESMA. I already have the data with me. Now, from July 1, 2016 to July 31 of 2018, there was a total of 3,275 personnel investigated, and there were 2,438 cases dismissed, with 59 penalized and 778 exonerated, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TINIO. So, 778–exonerated.


REP. CUARESMA. Yes, 778, Mr. Speaker, exonerated.

REP. TINIO. Okay. Ito iyong mga police

operations at mayroong 3,275 personnel involved, ganoon po ba? Of which 2,438 had been cleared, ganoon po ba iyon—cleared?

REP. CUARESMA. Out of the 3,275 personnel investigated, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, to make it clear, 2,438 cases were dismissed.

REP. TINIO. Dismissed?

REP. CUARESMA. Then 59 were penalized and 778 exonerated.

REP. TINIO. Okay. Kapag sinabing dismissed, these personnel were involved in the killings that happened during the drug-related police operations. So, inimbestigahan sila. Kapag sinabi ninyo na 2,438 cases were dismissed, ano po ang ibig sabihin noon?

REP. CUARESMA. The IAS or the Internal Affairs Service, after the investigation wherein these 2,438 personnel were proven not to have committed irregularities, dismissed their cases, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. TINIO. Okay. Iyong 778 exonerated, ano pong ibig sabihin noon? Why the term “exonerated”?

REP. CUARESMA. So, these 778 exonerated, there were investigations conducted and after the investigations, they were found not liable in the cases filed against them.

REP. TINIO. How is that different from dismissed?

REP. CUARESMA. The 2,438, if we would make a comparison between those exonerated and those dismissed, their cases were outrightly dismissed.

REP. TINIO. Okay. Sige po. Iyong 59 penalized, could you explain? Ano ang ibig sabihin dito sa 59?

REP. CUARESMA. Well, with the 59, Mr. Speaker, their cases were found out to have irregularities and that is why they were penalized, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. TINIO. So, these 59 PNP personnel involved in homicides—tama po ba iyon?—may napatay po sila during the drug-related police operations and you said that 59 were penalized. Okay. So, ano po ang ibig

sabihin niyan, nakapatay sila, hindi nila sinunod ang rules?

REP. CUARESMA. Well, they did not follow the SOP, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TINIO. They did not follow the SOP when they killed someone. Ano po ang penalty dito, were they charged?

REP. CUARESMA. No, we should not say that they killed, but it is better, maybe, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, that we say when they launched the operation.

REP. TINIO. Ano po iyon, Mme. Sponsor? Better?

REP. CUARESMA. Siguro, hindi naman ho talagang papatayin, something like that but during the operation, yes, they failed to follow the procedure.

REP. TINIO. Okay. Of these investigations of 3,275 personnel, and you said that 59 personnel had been penalized, mayroon po bang sinampahan ng criminal cases?

REP. CUARESMA. No criminal cases were filed against these 59, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. TINIO. Why not, Mme. Sponsor?

REP. CUARESMA. These were investigations conducted by the IAS on the policemen. It was the PNP that launched these operations. Parang ang hirap din na sila po iyong magpa-file ng criminal case against these personalities, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TINIO. So, ang ibig po ninyong sabihin ang PNP ay hindi magsasampa ng kriminal na kaso laban sa sarili nitong personnel, ganoon po ba?

REP. CUARESMA. There were also some—out of these 59, there were murder cases filed against some policemen, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TINIO. Ayun—that is what I was asking. So, mayroon po?

REP. CUARESMA. Mayroon din po, but not in all of these cases.

REP. TINIO. Yes. O ilan po, kung ganoon?

REP. CUARESMA. Okay. We will just give you the list of those personalities against whom cases in court were filed, Mr. Speaker.


REP. TINIO. All right, we will accept that, Mr. Speaker. Gusto lang po natin malaman ito. Napakahalaga po kasi nga, precisely, this is the subject of not just national but international scrutiny. Alam naman natin na umabot na po sa International Criminal Court iyong usapin ng mga so-called drug-related extrajudicial killings at ang International Criminal Court, talaga pong kikilos iyan at magkakaroon ng jurisdiction kung maipapakita na ang estado o ang gobyerno ng Pilipinas o ang kanyang mga institusyon ay hindi kumikilos para imbestigahan iyong mga pagpatay na ito. Kaya gusto po nating marinig kung mayroong mga imbestigasyon at kung mayroong mga nasampahan ng kaso sa ating mga korte. Hihintayin po natin iyong sinabi ninyong listahan ng mga nasampahan ng kaso.

Babalikan ko po iyong war on drugs at iyong tinatawag na Oplan Double Barrel ng PNP. Isa na nga po diyan—kaya double barrel—iyong tokhang at iyong isa naman ay ang operasyon kontra sa mga tinatawag na high-value targets. Kanina po ay nagbanggit kayo ng figures. In the course of over two years of implementation of the Oplan Double Barrel, ilan po iyong mga high value targets—balikan lang po natin iyong figures kanina—na naaresto o kaya napatay?

REP. CUARESMA. Yes. Mr. Speaker, as I had mentioned earlier, for high-value targets, there were 8,000, and that was from July 27, 2016 to 2017.

REP. TINIO. Ito ay 8,000—ano po iyong precise number po?

REP. CUARESMA. To be specific, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, the number was 8,315, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TINIO. So, there were 8,315 arrested or killed in police operations. Ilan po iyong napatay diyan?

REP. CUARESMA. Kagaya po ng sinabi ko kanina, ang arrested po ay 1,460. Iyon 145 died in police operations; there were 105 homicides under investigation; and 3,493 surrendered and 3,112 arrested.

REP. TINIO. Okay, thank you. Ngayon, kung pakikinggan po natin ay napakaraming high-value targets, 8,315. Puwede po bang malinaw ng Sponsor, how does the PNP define high-value targets? Nagtataka lang po ako na umaabot na sa 8000 mahigit ang tinatawag ninyong high-value targets.

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, a high-value target is a key personality, for example, holding a sensitive position, influential, respected and admired.

REP. TINIO. Okay. In the context of the drug war,

bakit po napakalaki ng bilang, 8,315 ang ini-report ninyo, holding sensitive positions? Ganyan po ba kalaki o ganyan karami ang mga nasa sensitive positions?

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, Mr. Speaker. REP. TINIO. Parang kailangan pong maipaliwanag

pa ito. Ang ibig ninyo bang sabihin, 8,315 po ang mga drug lords sa bansa?

REP. CUARESMA. No, Mr. Speaker, if we have to compare it with the total...

REP. TINIO. Parang tinalo pa po natin ang Mexico

at Columbia. Hindi naman yata ganyan karami ang kanilang mga drug lords.

REP. CUARESMA. No, Mr. Speaker. If we have to compare the number of these high-value targets with the total number of arrests, that is 153,000. The 8,000 is just like a little percentage out of this. Again, I would like to elaborate further about the high-value target. It does not only include key personalities, but it also includes foreigners, as well as the manufacturers of these prohibited drugs the exporters, importers, and some big-time personalities. If we have to compare these 153,000 arrested drug personalities to these 8,315 high-value targets, it is only like 5.4 percent of 153,000, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. TINIO. Yes, I understand. Ang gusto ko pong

malaman—at maging kongkreto po tayo—sino-sino itong mga 8,300 high-value targets? Ano po ba ito? Mga drug pushers po ba iyan? Iyon po ba ang ibig ninyo sabihin? Is a street level drug pusher considered a high-value target?

REP. CUARESMA. Okay. I have to again repeat that high-value targets are personalities involved in illegal drugs, whether they be local and foreign, and in the manufacture, importation, exportation, large-scale distribution, transport or delivery of large quantities of illegal drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals, laboratory equipment apparatus, maintenance of a drug den, dive or resort, and cultivation of plantation of plant sources of illegal drugs whose sphere of influence and area of operations transcend two or more provinces, urbanized cities and regions.

REP. TINIO. Okay.

REP. CUARESMA. That defines a high-value target, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TINIO. Well, puwede na lang po bang

magbigay ng listahan ang PNP ng mga high-value targets


na ito? Or at least iyong mga pinaka-notable na high-value targets na inyong nahuli, naaresto o nasampahan ng kaso para mabigyan po kami ng kongkretong ideya kung gaano ka-epektibo po ang inyong drug war. Kasi ang paratang po sa drug war ng PNP, ang tina-target ay iyong mga ordinaryong user. The very fact that you used the term “drug personalities,” the very broad term of a drug personality includes a simple user of drugs kaya po ipagpaumanhin ninyo, I am skeptical of this extremely high number of high-value targets being claimed by the PNP. For example, ilan ho rito sa 8,315, since you mentioned this, ang mga importers, producers and so on? Ayon po sa PDEA, the drug trade in the Philippines, particularly the trade in shabu, is actually controlled and dominated by foreign drug syndicates, with many of them coming from China, Hong Kong or Taiwan. Kung gayon, doon sa 8,315 na binanggit ninyo, dapat marami po dito ay mga miyembro ng foreign drug cartels. Gaano karami po rito ang mga miyembro nito—ilan po ba iyong mga cartels ayon sa PNP? Sabi ninyo, high-value target, so aling mga organizations o mga sindikato ng droga ang inyong na-target?

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, probably, we can give you the number of foreigners who are having or maintaining drug dens, who are into illegal drugs, et cetera.

REP. TINIO. Mayroon po bang mga naaresto ang PNP na mga prominent personalities from the United Bamboo Gang, the 14K Triad, the Sun Yee On Triad? Of these 8,315 high-value targets being claimed by PNP, are there any personalities being named from these drug syndicates mentioned? Mayroon po ba?

REP. CUARESMA. We will give you the list, the number of—just a moment, Mr. Speaker, I will just ask the Chief PNP whether they already have the list with them so that they can immediately provide a copy to the Hon. Antonio Tinio.

REP. TINIO. Yes, please.

REP. CUARESMA. Okay, Mr. Speaker, we will provide the Honorable Tinio with the list of organizations involved in the illegal drug trade.

REP. TINIO. Well, sige, Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor, kailan po maasahan ang list o ang impormasyon na ito?

REP. CUARESMA. As soon as possible, to provide you, Mr. Speaker, sana po bago…

REP. TINIO. As soon as possible, so, bago matapos ang budget deliberation ay aasahan po natin.

Otherwise, I will have to raise the matter again before the Plenary.


REP. TINIO. Panghuli na lang po. Kaya ho natin tinatanong iyong mga numero kaugnay sa mga tinatawag na extrajudicial killings, ang pagpaslang ng mga maraming mga Pilipino sa ngalan ng giyera kontra droga ng Duterte administration ay dahil, basically, usapin po rito iyong right to life ng mga mamamayang Pilipino. Ang tanong—napangangalagaan ba ng ating gobyerno ang karapatan ng lahat na mabuhay? Alam natin na masama ang iligal na droga at kailangan itong labanan, pero kailangang labanan iyan habang pinangangalagaan pa rin, una sa lahat, ang karapatang mabuhay ng lahat ng mga Pilipino, so, the right to life and the right to due process.

Kamakailan po, si Pangulong Duterte ay nagbigay ng pahayag and in his speech, he said, let me quote: “What are my sins? Did I steal money even just one peso? Did I prosecute somebody I sent to jail? My only sin is extrajudicial killings.” I am sure we all heard this statement made by the President. Malinaw po na sinabi niya, “My only sin is extrajudicial killings.” So, ano po ang paningin ng PNP sa pahayag na ito ng Pangulo at ano ang gagawin ng PNP sa sitwasyong may ganyang pahayag ang Pangulo?

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, I think we are not in a position to answer that question. I think it should be the President to answer the question, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TINIO. Well, Mme. Sponsor my question is not directed to the President, but my question is actually, what is the obligation of the PNP in a case of a public admission and in this case, by the President saying that he is responsible for extrajudicial killings?

REP. CUARESMA. The PNP will follow its mandate and observe the rule of law, Mr. Speaker. With regard to the statement of our President, Mr. Speaker, we cannot make a comment on that.

REP. TINIO. May imbestigasyon po bang ginagawa ang PNP sa involvement ni Pangulong Duterte sa extrajudicial killings? Mayroon po ba?

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, the PNP will continue doing its mandate, but investigating the President, I think, is not, also, like a mandate of our policemen.

REP. TINIO. It is not—well, Mr. Speaker, sabihin natin, halimbawa, hindi po ang Presidente ang nagsabi


noon at isang governor o mayor, halimbawa, ang nagsabi in public that “I am responsible for extrajudicial killings.” Hindi po ba bahagi ng mandato ng PNP na pa-imbestigahan iyon? Hindi naman puwedeng hayaan lang iyon. Kaya po tinatanong ko—gayong mayroong ganoong pahayag ang Presidente ng Pilipinas, hindi po ba mandato ng PNP na imbestigahan din ito? I know the President has immunity from suit, okay, but that is not the same as having immunity from investigation. Hindi ko naman po sinasabing sasampahan ng kaso.

REP. CUARESMA. Bakit pa ho iimbestigahan ang Pangulo ay, ano naman pala siya, mayroon siya or he is protected against immunity from suit.

REP. TINIO. Well, immunity from suit nga po, hindi siya puwedeng sampahan ng kaso habang siya ay nakaupo bilang Pangulo, pero wala pong forever, matatapos po rin ang term ng Presidente.

REP. CUARESMA. Totoo pong walang forever.

REP. TINIO. Kaya po tinatanong ko kung may imbestigasyon po ginagawa ang PNP. Iyong lang po—yes or no.

REP. CUARESMA. Wala po, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TINIO. Wala po. Okay. Hanggang doon na lamang po, Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor, maraming salamat po.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). Thank you, Representative Tinio.


REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, the next Member to interpellate our Sponsor is the Hon. Arlene D. Brosas of GABRIELA Party-List.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). The Representative from GABRIELA Party-List, the Hon. Arlene D. Brosas is recognized.

REP. BROSAS. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the good Sponsor yield to some questions?

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, Your Honor.

REP. BROSAS. Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor, nakatanggap po ang Kinatawang ito ng report mula sa BJMP regarding sa mga cases na hindi nadadala ang mga accused sa korte at iba pang mga reasons. Sila lang po iyong nakapagbigay sa mga requests ko ng datos kung kaya ito po iyong mga mayroon akong analysis kaugnay doon sa ibinigay na datos. Tinipon natin ito

dahil nakatanggap tayo ng report simula sa mga political prisoners na patuloy na naaantala sa pagdinig ang mga kaso nila dahil sa mga isyung ito sa BJMP. Ngayon, sinasabi po ng mga political prisoners na ang reason lagi ng hindi pagdala sa kanila sa korte ay either walang available na sasakyan o kulang iyong escort na sasama sa pagdala. Ayon naman sa report ng BJMP, mula sa intel reports nila, the CPP-NPA will intensify its tactical offensive operations against government troops, kaya iyon daw po iyong reason.

Alalahanin po natin na accused pa lamang po sila at wala pang napapatunayan ang prosecution sa mga kasong ito. Base din sa experience ng ilang mga lawyers, karamihan sa mga kasong ito, sa kalaunan, ay dini-dismiss dahil sa kawalan ng evidence o patunay sa mga alegasyon. Ang iba sa mga kasong ito ay for arraignment pa lamang, na hanggang ngayon ay hindi natutuloy dahil sa kung anumang reason ng BJMP. Halimbawa po, iyong sa kaso ni Amando Geriba, hindi siya nadala ng BJMP noong hearing niya noong January 9 at 11 dahil sa security threat. Na-reschedule sa March 1 ngunit hindi pa rin natuloy ang hearing. Kailan po ulit mare-reschedule ang hearing nito or arraignment po ba ito? Ilang buwan po ulit ang hihintayin para madinig iyong kaso?

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, I have here the reasons for the delays on the part the BJMP to bring the accused to the court, and I think the honorable Representative of GABRIELA Party-List was already given a copy thereof per her request during the previous budget deliberation.

REP. BROSAS. Yes, Mr. Speaker.

REP. CUARESMA. That is why, Mr. Speaker, if I have to read all of these—anyway, you already have a copy. Mr. Speaker, we already provided a copy to the Hon. Arlene Brosas.

REP. BROSAS. Yes, Mr. Speaker. I mentioned that earlier kaya po nagkakaroon lang ako ng ilang mga tanong kaugnay dito dahil po naibigay na iyong datos. So, ang tanong ko po ay partikular sa case ni Amando Geriba, na noong January 9 and 11 supposedly ay may hearing pero hindi natuloy, at na-reschedule sa March 1, hindi pa rin natuloy. Kailan po ulit mare-reschedule ang hearing, or arraignment po ba ito? Ilang buwan po ulit maghihintay bago madinig iyong kaso? Iyon po ang gusto nating malaman.

Sa kaso din po ni Ernesto Isidro, may hearing noong January 12, hindi rin natuloy. Ito po ay na-reschedule noong July 18, hindi pa rin natuloy. Ilang buwan ulit maghihintay bago madinig iyong kaso?

REP. CUARESMA. Well, Mr. Speaker, iyan ay


depende po sa korte. Hindi ho BJMP ang nagsi-set po kung kalian po ang hearing, Mr. Speaker.

REP. BROSAS. I-run down ko lang po iyong iba pang mga cases. For example, ang kaso ni Rex Villaflor, may hearing dapat noong January 15, hindi din natuloy. Kailan ulit na-reschedule? Si Romeo Pasuot, February 15, 2018, ganoon din. Si Dennis Ortiz, January 5, na-reschedule noong March 2 pero hindi rin natuloy. Si Romeo Salgarino, August 8, hindi pa rin natuloy noon—iyong hearing niya.

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker.

REP. BROSAS. Kaya ko po itinatanong, Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor, dahil sa Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners Adopted by the First United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, held in Geneva in 1955, and approved by the Economic and Social Council by its resolutions 663 C (XXIV) of 31 July 1957 and 2076 (LXII) of 13 May 1977, sa Part I po ng Rules of General Application, Basic Principle po, ang nakalagay:

(1) The following rules shall be applied impartially. There shall be no discrimination on grounds of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

Mas importante po ang Part II nito ang Rules Applicable to Special Categories, “C. Prisoners under arrest or awaiting trial.” Ito po iyong maaaring nalabag doon, which reads:

(1) Persons arrested or imprisoned by reason of a criminal charge against them, who are detained either in police custody or in prison custody (jail) but have not yet been tried and sentenced, will be referred to as “untried prisoners” hereinafter in these rules. (2) Unconvicted prisoners are presumed to be innocent and shall be treated as such.

Noong nilagay po ng BJMP sa reasons nito kung bakit hindi madala iyong mga akusado, ang nakalagay pong reason ay security threat, ang nakalagay pong reason ay because of intensified operations ng CPP-NPA. So ano po ang ibig sabihin noon? They are being considered na agad samantalang ang sabi po sa atin “…are presumed to be innocent and shall be treated as such.” Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor, in violation of the constitutional right din po natin ito to the speedy disposition of cases under Section 16, Article III of the 1987 Constitution, kung hindi po

ninyo po masasagot kung kailan ulit mahi-hear iyong mga cases nila. Hind ba ang tagal-tagal na po nito, kaya kailan po iyan?

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, hindi naman po natin puwedeng sabihin na kasalanan ito ng BJMP, considering that it is always the court that really decides as to when a particular case will be heard. At saka isa pa po, when it comes also to that incident which the Hon. Arlene Brosas just presented, na there is a threat to the security of the prisoners and so, definitely, siyempre, ayaw din naman natin na may mga masamang mangyari ho sa ating mga detainees.

REP. BROSAS. Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor, iyong paglalagay po ng reason, ito po iyong kinikuwestiyon namin. Hindi pa po sila nata-trial. Actually nga, iyong pupuntahan nila ay iyong trial nila, hindi ba, iyong hearing nila. So, kapag nilagay po natin na reason iyon, parang mayroon na kaagad preliminary conclusion or mayroon nang pagsasabi o may implied, ano, implication, iyon po iyong nilalagay natin doon at iyon po ang sinasabi natin na hindi puwedeng ganoon iyong reason kasi alam ninyo po, nag-e-entail ng gastos para sa pamahalaan ang bawat pagkaantala.

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, sa palagay ko, wala pa namang conclusion po kapag ganoon. Ang iniisip lang po ng ating BJMP ay iyong kapakanan naman po, the safety of the inmate, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. BROSAS. Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor, napaka-elementary po sa Judiciary ang kasabihang: “Justice delayed is justice denied.” Ang pagkaantala po ng pagdinig sa mga kaso ng political prisoners at iba pang bilanggo dahil sa kakulangan o walang service o walang escort ay isang anyo ng harassment, political persecution at pagnakaw sa hustisya sa mga political prisoners, lalo pa sa karamihan sa mga ito ay nakapiit dahil sa mga gawa-gawang kaso. Maaalala natin, dahil din sa kapabayaan ng isang case po na paghabol sa mga legal organizations at mga personalities nito ay may isang nawalan ng anak sa loob ng kulungan at namatayan po. Pagkatapos, ang kaso na ito ay napatunayang wala naman talagang basehan. Ang mga oras at buhay na ninakaw ng sistema na ganito at pasismo—because it is fascism actually—ay hindi na maibabalik sa mga taong ito.

REP. CUARESMA. As regards po doon sa hindi ho kaagad-agad nahi-hear iyong kaso ng isang akusado dahil sa hindi po pagdadala, as had been mentioned by our honorable GABRIELA Party-List Representative, na sinabi niya, it is because hindi po sila naniniwala na parang—because of security reasons, that is one


reason hindi po nadadala itong ating mga inmates sa court. Sa katunayan po, there were already two cases wherein may mga namatay, particularly that incident in Cebu and Bukidnon, kasi po ang nasa isip po ng ating BJMP is also the protection po ng ating mga inmates doon ho sa jail. Mas mainam na ho na nandiyan sila, ma-delay ho iyong hearing ng kaso kaysa naman ho mamatay sila while they are on the way to the court, Mr. Speaker.

REP. BROSAS. Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor, marami-rami po iyong mga cases na inilagay, ano, na itinala, at mostly po nasa NCR iyong iba sa kanila, at iyong iba po ay hini-hear sa ibang mga probinsiya. So, talagang kapagka tumagal po iyong kaso nila, inhustisya po talaga iyon para sa mga inosenteng tao. Iyon po ang gusto nating iparamdam.

REP. CUARESMA. Well, siguro po, it is already the court that decides really as to when the next hearing of that particular inmate will be, Mr. Speaker. At any rate, titingnan ho natin, now that the BJMP had already purchased prisoner vans, siguro naman ay male-lessen na ho iyong problema being brought out by the honorable GABRIELA Party-List Representative, the Honorable Brosas.

REP. BROSAS. Yes, Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor, this is worth looking into, lalo na kung may human rights violations. Hindi po natin puwedeng ipagwalang-bahala kung karapatang pantao ang pinag-uusapan natin. Maraming salamat po sa sagot na iyon.

Sa pangalawang tanong po ay kaugnay ito sa hinihingi ko po noong pre-plenary na record kung saang locations gagamitin iyong total budget kasi ang nakalagay po dito iyan, “support for the local government’s program.” Sabi dito, “the nature shall be used by local development councils in the development of Multi-Sectoral Development Fund”—ito po iyong P250 million budget. Tama po ba? Hiningi ko po ito noong pre-plenary at wala pong naibigay sa akin na details o record or data dito hanggang ngayon.

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to be clarified—what is the particular list that our honorable Congresswoman from GABRIELA Party-List is requesting from the DILG?

REP. BROSAS. Yes, Mr. Speaker, it is in the proposed national budget na naka-allocate ito to capacitate LGUs to govern relocation sites. Iyan po ang nakalagay doon. Ang tanong ko po diyan—anong mga sites iyon, saan mapupunta, et cetera. Meanwhile, habang hinahanap po iyan, may susundin po bang module o manual ang mga LGUs hinggil sa resettlement governance at ano po iyong mga laman nito? Kasi

supposedly, may guidelines din na susundin para diyan sa pagka-allocate ng budget na iyan.

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, of course, they have guidelines. There are 12 LGUs that are recipients of this program of the DILG and we have here the list, Mr. Speaker, and we will just provide a copy to the Honorable Brosas.

REP. BROSAS. May I get it now.

REP. CUARESMA. We have here po

REP. BROSAS. Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor, tinanong ko na po iyan noong pre-plenary. Actually, I even asked for it during the budget hearing.

REP. CUARESMA. Okay po. I will just inform the Lady, Mr. Speaker, here it is: 1) Balagtas, there is one resettlement site in Balagtas, Bulacan. The number of relocated families is 1,094, and the allocation is P13,960,000. 2) The other one is Bocaue, Bulacan, one resettlement site. The number of relocated families is 3,162 and it has an allocation of P15,275,000. 3) Norzagaray, Bulacan also has one resettlement site, with the number of relocated families at 438, and the allocation amount is P15,123,000. 4) For Pandi, Bulacan, there are four resettlement sites. The number of relocated families is 7,928 in the amount of P69,100,000. 5) San Jose Del Monte, two resettlement sites—relocated families, 5,782 and the allocation amount is P36,772,000. 6) In the Province of Rizal, we have one in Baras and the number of relocated families is 9,248, with an allocation amount of P15,550,000. In Rodriguez, there is another one resettlement site. The number of relocated families is 8,277, and the allocation amount is P17,900,000. In Tanay, Rizal, we have one resettlement site, with 2,081 as the number of relocated families and the allocation amount is P16,375,000. 7) Trece Martires, City of Cavite, with three resettlement sites, relocated families of 11,347 and the allocation is P42,346,000. 8) In NCR, we have one resettlement site in Caloocan City, with 391 relocated families and allocation amount of P9,466,000. In Manila, we have one and the number of relocated families is 703, with an allocation of P16,013,000. The last is Valenzuela City, with one resettlement site and 586 as the number of relocated families, with an allocation of P6,900,000.

REP. BROSAS. Okay, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mme. Sponsor. Iyong module at manual po, may kopya kayo?

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, we will provide a copy to the honorable Congresswoman Brosas, Mr. Speaker.


REP. BROSAS. Yes, Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor, the proposed 2019 National Budget has an allocation for capacitating LGUs. As you had explained last time doon sa pre-plenary po, sinabi ninyo na ito ay para sa mga livelihood programs, ito ay para sa iba’t ibang mga programa. Tinanong ko po doon kung paano iyong sa patubig, iyong para sa tubig at kuryente, dahil ito mostly ang mga inaangal ng ating mga kababayan. Bukod pa po doon, na-point out ko rin po na, while there is not a single centavo for the construction of mass housing units for next year, dahil wala po tayong na-budget sa NHA, katulad po ng interpellation nga kanina, in a nutshell, this presents a preview of the gross neglect of the regime’s 2019 budget on decent and affordable housing despite the fact that our current housing backlog has already swelled to 5.7 million. Iyong 5.7 million po, ito ang backlog natin sa pabahay pero nag-budget tayo ng amount para sa sinasabi nating “to capacitate LGUs to govern relocation sites.”

Dapat tumingin tayo lampas sa pag-relocate lang ng mga apektadong pamilya at sa halip ay mag-focus sa pagtitiyak na may disente at abot-kayang pabahay ang bawat pamilyang Filipino. Kaya parang tanong ko po dito ay iyong prioritization ng mga bagay-bagay, may resettlement governance nga tayo pero ganito ang backlog sa pabahay o sa housing natin. Paano po tinitingnan ng ito ng ahensiya ninyo?

REP. CUARESMA. When we talk of housing projects, Mr. Speaker, those are no longer within the mandate of the DILG.

REP. BROSAS. Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor, dahil po mayroon kayong budget for resettlement governance at ito po ay patungkol sa activities ng mga pabahay, iyong question ko po ay, bakit hindi na lang ito inilagay sa pagtatayo ng mga pabahay?

REP. CUARESMA. Kasi po when we talk of pabahay, hindi ho iyan ang mandate ng DILG. Iyan ho ay puwedeng sa National Housing Authority, sa NHA, kung pabahay ang pinag-uusapan, Mr. Speaker. Hindi ho mandate iyan ng Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Ang nasa amin naman ngayon is the resettlement po—nag-a-assist po tayo dito na dapat iyong mga nandito na sa resettlement areas ay hindi na po aalis. Through the DILG’s resettlement governance assistance, iyan ho ang ginagawa namin para po, at least, iyong mga nandodoon po sa resettlement area ay hindi na ho aalis.

REP. BROSAS. Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor, tinanong ko rin po ito last time, kasi ang ikinakatakot po ng Kinatawan na ito ay baka ito ay maging provision for demolition. Katulad po ng tanong ko, gusto ko

pong magkaroon ng categorical na answer iyong ating ahensiya kaugnay dito—dahil totoo ba na hindi ito pondo para sa prohibition against new illegal structures? Ito po ba ay hindi gagamitin para sa containment of cleared areas, pag-prevent ng mga construction of illegal dwelling units or structures in areas that had been cleared and not to be reoccupied, at ma-ensure that any government unit or barangay shall prevent the construction of any kind of illegal dwelling units or structures within their respective localities?

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, hindi po gagawin ito ng ahensiya, ng DILG, ang manggigiba po ng mga kabahayan.

REP. BROSAS. So, Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor, hindi po siya para doon pero para sa sinasabi ninyo na livelihood programs, et cetera. At, iyon po, makikita ko po doon sa inyong module or manual na ibibigay?

REP. CUARESMA. Kapag natapos na po iyong area.

REP. BROSAS. So, Mme. Sponsor, iyon ay ginagawa pa lang?

REP. CUARESMA. Ito naman po, always in coordination with the LGU. Nagbibigay naman po tayo ng mga livelihood programs.

REP. BROSAS. So, yes, Mme. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, ito po ay ginagawa pa lang sa ngayon, iyong guidelines?

REP. CUARESMA. Sa katunayan po, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, itong mga resettlement po, I mean, the manual, ginagawa pa lang ho. This is in partnership with the Ateneo School of Government, Mr. Speaker.

REP. BROSAS. Okay. Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor, sa pagkakaalala ko po, ito rin ay ginawa ng Aquino administration, is that correct? Nagkaroon din po sila ng mga resettlement funds dati. Gaano po naiba iyong sinasabi ninyong pagpapatupad ng resettlement funds na ito as compared doon sa Aquino administration?

REP. CUARESMA. In the previous administration, mayroon din po, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. BROSAS. Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor, I did not get your answer.

REP. CUARESMA. I think the question raised a while ago by the Hon. Arlene Brosas is, kung


mayroon ding ganitong programa during the previous administration, Mr. Speaker.

REP. BROSAS. Yes. How was it?

REP. CUARESMA. Am I right? Was that the question?

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). Tama po.

REP. CUARESMA. Ang kasagutan ko naman po ay mayroon po.

REP. BROSAS. Yes. Mme. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, ang tanong ko din po ay sa programa na ito ngayon, paano ito naiiba doon sa ginawa ng previous administration?

REP. CUARESMA. Magkaiba po ito at iyong programa ng previous administration, if we will compare it with the program now of the DILG in this present administration, Mr. Chair.

REP. BROSAS. Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor, ang sinabi ninyo lang po ay magkaiba pero wala pong mga features kung anong pinag-kaiba. Anyway, I will not dwell on it. Iyon po.

Ang next question ko po ay iyong sinasabing layunin ng PNP at ng administrasyong Duterte kasabay sa paglulunsad ng giyera kontra droga, iyong pagsugpo sa lumalalang kaso ng rape at pang-aabuso sa kababaihan. But it turns out that the members of the Philippine National Police themselves had committed rape and other forms of sexual abuse against women right inside the PNP facilities. Based on the report of the Center for Women’s Resources, 33 police officers were involved in 13 cases of abuse from January 2017 to July 2018; eight cases of rape, with 16 cops involved; three cases of acts of lasciviousness with 12 cops involved; one case of harassment with one cop involved; and one case of physical assault with four cops involved. Did the PNP conduct any investigations on these cases? If so, what were the findings?

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, Mr. Speaker, if there was any, of course, the PNP did an investigation. Anyway, Mr. Speaker, as I had said earlier, the investigation, if there was any—I presume the PNP leadership will never tolerate such acts by police officers.

REP. BROSAS. Wala kayong data?

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep . Abu) . Representative Brosas, please proceed.

REP. BROSAS. Yes, Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor,

what were the findings, ito ang tanong ko po. Baka gusto po ninyo na magbigay ako ng halimbawa na case.

REP. CUARESMA. If you have the cases, Mr. Speaker, if the honorable Party-List Representative has the list, pakibigyan na lang po kami and then the PNP will make an investigation on these cases.

REP. BROSAS. Okay. Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor, isa sa mga halimbawa po ay iyong kaso ng gang rape sa Olongapo City po, na iyong biktima ay pinaratangan na sangkot sa iligal na droga sa Olongapo City. Nahatulan po ba iyong akusado dito?


REP. CUARESMA. May I request for a one-minute suspension of session, Mr. Speaker.


It was 12:48 a.m.

RESUMPTION OF SESSION At 12:50 a.m., the session was resumed. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). The session

is resumed. The distinguished Sponsor is recognized. REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, I would just like

to request the honorable Cong. Arlene Brosas to provide us with her list and then we will ask the PNP to really look into this list so that justice will be given to these particular victims.

REP. BROSAS. Yes, Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor.

I will give that list. Ang isa pa pong kaso ay, pamilyar din po kayo dito, iyong irregular street search ng Makati City police na nakunan ng video at kumalat sa social media. Ano pong naging aksiyon ng PNP dito?

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, the policemen

involved in this particular incident were immediately relieved, and the investigation is still ongoing, Mr. Speaker.

REP. BROSAS. Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor, ano

po ang SOP ng PNP kaugnay dito? Halimbawa, iyong sinasabi nating na-relieve sa kanilang service, ano po ang ibig sabihin nito? Na-relieve sila sa kanilang current position o na-transfer sila sa iba pang position sa PNP?


REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, they were relieved and then, they were transferred to a holding unit so that they cannot influence the investigation while it is ongoing, Mr. Speaker.

REP. BROSAS. So, hindi po sila natanggal talaga

sa trabaho at inilipat lang sila ng trabaho? REP. CUARESMA. It is still ongoing, Mr.

Speaker. REP. BROSAS. What does that mean, Mme.

Sponsor, Mr. Speaker? Naka floating ba ang kanilang status?

REP. CUARESMA. Naka floating status sila, Mr. Speaker.

REP. BROSAS. So, sa lahat po ng investigations na

ganito, na na-implicate o mai-implicate sila, kung sila ay under investigation, sila ay nare-remove sa current positions at nata-transfer to other positions. Ganoon lang iyong ginagawa ngayon?

REP. CUARESMA. Majority, yes, Mr. Speaker,

Your Honor. REP. BROSAS. Yes. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). According

to the Sponsor, Representative Brosas, once na may kaso iyong pulis, inaalis muna siya sa posisyon habang siya ay iniimbestigahan, at hanggang wala pang desisyon iyong IAS, wala muna o naka-floating muna siya.

REP. BROSAS. Yes, Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor.

Pero ang ibig sabihin ay patuloy silang nagtatrabaho at sumusuweldo pero naka-floating status sila habang dinidinig pa iyong case nila?

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, hindi daw po

sila nagtatrabaho and probably, they are being used as guards already sa mga gates because of the pending investigation of their cases.

REP. BROSAS. Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor, this

underscores a very important point, lalo na po kung ang mga cases or ang mga accusations ay rape, ano po. It exposes the folly and irrationality of the war on drugs. Kung ngayon nga po, susugpuin daw iyong lumalalang bilang ng mga kaso ng rape gamit ang Oplan Tokhang, pagkatapos, may mga ganitong insidente na malalaman tayo, na iyong nahuli sa Oplan Tokhang, sila ay nagrereklamo na sila ay ginamit at na-rape. Under this administration, parang ang hirap-hirap po iyong ganitong cases, lalong-lalo na kung ang Presidente

mismo, he openly endorses rape and uses women’s body as staple for amusement in his public speeches. The PNP, kung mapapatunayan po na may sexual abuse on women, nakakatakot po itong pangitain.

REP. CUARESMA. Of course, Mr. Speaker, the PNP will not tolerate such acts by policemen, ayaw din nila iyan, and that is why they are conducting investigations. Kahit ako, lalong-lalong na, Mr. Speaker.

REP. BROSAS. Yes, Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor, mahalaga po na mailinaw na hindi porke inakusahan iyong isang babae na sangkot sa iligal na droga, puwede na siyang gahasain, yurakan ang kanyang karapatan. Dapat po ang institusyon natin …

REP. CUARESMA. Iyan po ang h ind i pupuwede.

REP. BROSAS. Yes. Kung may mga ganito po na mga pag-aakusa, mahalaga po that we should really look into this. Ito po ang sinasabi natin.

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, the PNP is really looking into these cases of abuse by the policemen or men in uniform in their agency.

REP. BROSAS. Yes, Mme. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker. Katulad nga po ng sinasabi ninyo, ang Makati City police ay nakunan na ng video and everything, pagkatapos ngayon, ay nakalutang pa rin, parang it says so much kung ano iyong ginagawa ng PNP sa kasalukuyan.

REP. CUARESMA. Kasi po siyempre, hindi naman po ito kaagad-agad. Of course, there is due process. Kailangan talaga, if it is under investigation and ito po ay dinidinig pa lang, of course, nandiyan sila na floating pero hindi naman pupuwede kaagad-agad na i-relieve sila without, you know, going through what we call “due process,” Mr. Speaker.

REP. BROSAS. Mme. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, kitang-kita po iyong ebidensiya doon sa pinakitang video kung paano talaga ginawa. Example po talaga iyon kung paano hiniya iyong isang babae.

REP. CUARESMA. Kaya nga po iniimbestigahan, Mr. Speaker. Of course, tayo man na nasa gobyerno, we do not like those particular incidents. Kagaya ko, lalong-lalo na ako, I do not like those incidents.

REP. BROSAS. And again, Mme. Sponsor,…

REP. CUARESMA. But the PNP has assured us,


Mr. Speaker, that they will do something about this kind of harassment by their staff. Immediately, iyan po ang sinabi ng ating Chief PNP, that they will act immediately and make an investigation on this, particularly this kind of cases, Mr. Speaker.

REP. BROSAS. Mme. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, medyo matagal-tagal na po iyon, ano, pagkatapos, hanggang ngayon ay floating iyong status nila, kaya kinukuwestiyon po natin iyong particular incident na iyon. Hindi naman po katanggap-tanggap, lalo na iyong senyales o iyong binibigay nitong signs sa mga kababaihan natin, kung paano iyong proteksiyon, iyong ating respeto sa mga kababaihan natin kung iyong mismong institusyon ay magkakaroon ng mga ganyang mga insidente.

Anyway, Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor, ang Kinatawan pong ito ay humingi—in fact, ang una ko pong naaalala nang paghingi ko ng datos ay noong sumulat ako sa DILG at sa PNP kaugnay ng datos sa Oplan Tokhang. The second time po ay during the budget deliberation, na binanggit ko po iyong mga kahilingang ito kay PNP Chief Albayalde bago siya umalis para po makuha na namin. Iyong third ko po na paghingi ko ng Tokhang data ay iyong sa pre-plenary budget hearing.

Pang-apat ko na po itong itatanong kaugnay sa policy guidelines ng war on drugs; ang participation ng LGU sa implementation nito; the number of tokhang-related operations in Metro Manila, iyong breakdown po nito; the number of barangays covered by tokhang-related operations in Metro Manila, ang breakdown nito; the number of tokhang-related arrests in Metro Manila, ang breakdown din nito; the number of tokhang-related killings during official police operations in Metro Manila, ang breakdown po nito; the number of tokhang-related vigilante killings in Metro Manila, ang breakdown po nito per city; the number of tokhang-related cases filed in the courts; number of tokhang-related convictions; the number of surrenderees in Metro Manila, ang breakdown nito; the number of suspected drug pushers in Metro Manila, ang breakdown per city; and the number of suspected drug users in Metro Manila, also the breakdown per city.

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, I think the honorable Cong. Arlene Brosas was provided a copy.

REP. BROSAS. Mme. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, napaka-general po noong ibinigay ng DBM na incident cases and these are drug-related and non-drug related incidents. Wala po doon iyong mga hinihingi kong data. Kaya ko po inisa-isa ito kasi iyon po ang gusto sana nating makuha.

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, may I just know whether the document given by our PNP is the one being asked by the honorable GABRIELA Party-List Representative, Mr. Speaker?

REP. BROSAS. No, Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor, it is not. Iyong mga requests ko po katulad ng sinabi ko kanina, napaka-specific po at puwede po talagang ibigay ng PNP.

REP. CUARESMA. Ano po ba kasi ang gustong copy ng ating Party-List Representative, Mr. Speaker?

REP. BROSAS. Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor, ito po iyong mga sinabi ko kanina, iyong breakdown per city …

REP. CUARESMA. Kasi mayroon naman ho kasing mga record din na …



It was 1:03 a.m.




May I remind the two Ladies to please speak one at a time.

Representative Brosas is recognized.

REP. BROSAS. Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor, sinabi ko naman po iyong timeline kung kailan ko na-request ang mga ito pero hanggang ngayon ay hindi naibibigay iyong mga requested document. Hindi ko po alam kung ano iyong reason na hindi ito maibigay.

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, …

REP. BROSAS. Now, Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor, I move to defer the budget...



It was 1:05 a.m.





Representative Brosas of GABRIELA Party-List is recognized. You have the floor.

REP. BROSAS. Mme. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, under the commitment—kung magko-commit po ang Sponsor na maibigay iyong mga data na kailangan ko po…

REP. CUARESMA. Yes.

REP. BROSAS. … kaugnay dito sa tokhang operations.

REP. CUARESMA. Yes. In fact, Mr. Speaker, when we were there …

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). Sandali lang ho, patapusin muna ho natin si Representative Brosas.

REP. BROSAS. Under that commitment, I would be willing to renege on my position not to defer the budget of the PNP.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). The distinguished Sponsor may please reply.

REP. CUARESMA. Okay, we will commit, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Hon. Arlene Brosas.

REP. BROSAS. Thank you, Mme. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor. I am not unreasonable sa aking posisyon na kunin iyong mga data na kailangan po kasi para din po sa taumbayan iyong numbers noong mga hinihingi namin for our research later. Iyong purposes po niyan ay for research and everything. So, Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor, with that, I end my interpellation.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). Maraming salamat po sa ating Kinatawan ng GABRIELA Party-List, Kgg. Arlene Brosas.


REP. ESPINA. Mr. Speaker, may we recognize the Hon. Salvador B. Belaro Jr. of 1-ANG EDUKASYON Party-List for his manifestation.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). Ang Kinatawan ng 1-ANG EDUKASYON Party-List, Kgg. Salvador Belaro, ay kinikilala para mag-interpellate sa ating distinguished Sponsor.

REP. BELARO. Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, I actually have a list of questions, but in the interest of meaningful public service, I have purposely delisted them and transformed them into a single manifestation with a request from the good agency to make a very firm commitment on the subject matter of my manifestation.

The subject matter of that I want to focus on is the SALINTUBIG, Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig sa Lahat Program. Now, before I make my manifestation, Mr. Speaker, I would just like to say that this provision on the proposed budget of the DILG is complex and continues to baffle me. For one, in the proposed budget for 2018, the proposed budget was P1,428,257,000. Now, after the House deliberated on it, it was retained but in the Senate, it disappeared and it no longer appeared, this P1,428,257,000 provision for the SALINTUBIG in the GAA. It is very hard to imagine what happened, but what is harder to imagine is the fact that the country suffered a loss because this is at the sacrifice of providing clean and potable water which is supposed to be consistent with the Millennium Development Goals, the Sustainable Development Goals, the Philippine Development Plan and the Philippine Water Supply Sector Roadmap. That is not hard to imagine.

Mr. Speaker, we still have waterless communities in this country, and I believe it is a basic human right for them to be provided potable water. That is why the sudden disappearance of this budget for SALINTUBIG is something that the good Committee should really look into. Mr. Speaker, there is another facet of this provision. It appears that the original SALINTUBIG proposed version does not contain any requirement but for the 2018 budget, there appeared a similar provision under the LGSF, Local Government Support Fund, for a similar project for potable water supply of similar amount. So, it was transferred from the DILG to the Office of the President, but with more requirements, very stringent requirements, and one of them is—and this is very important and I would like to raise this—a cash counterpart from the LGU concerned. Among others, it also contains other requirements such as the DILG Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping, the DILG Local Development Council and other documents. It appears, Mr. Speaker, that it is close to impossible to satisfy this string of requirements and thus, it is affecting the implementation of this project. In fact, if you ask my fellow Members of the House as to the implementation of this kind of program, ang sabi nila, “Hindi na ako umaasa diyan kasi hindi naman ma-implementa iyan.”

That is why in closing, Mr. Speaker, what was a well-intended project that is supposed to bring potable water to our countrymen, hindi po ito naging SALINTUBIG kung hindi naging salin-salin because of the complex requirements which are hard to comply with. Naging masalimuot po ang SALINTUBIG. That


is why this is the firm commitment that I would like to extract from the good agency and also from the Committee, from Congress, na tanggalin po natin ang requirement ng cash equivalent kasi ito po ang nagpapahirap sa mga municipalities to comply. Iyon lang po. Marami pong salamat.

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, yes we will take note of the manifestation of the Gentleman.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). The Majority Leader is recognized.

REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, I move that we recognize the Minority Leader, the Hon. Danilo E. Suarez from the Third District of Quezon, for his interpellation.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). The honorable and distinguished Minority Leader from Quezon, Rep. Danilo Suarez, is recognized.

REP. SUAREZ. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor. This is the sad part of the last one to interpellate. All my questions had been raised already. May I know if the retirement age of the PNP is the same with the men in uniform of the Armed Forces of the Philippines?

REP. CUARESMA. It is still 56 years old, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. It is 56 or 30 years in service,

REP. CUARESMA. It is 56 years of age, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. That is, whichever comes first. I think the good Secretary is aware of the congressional measure that I authored, asking that the retirement age be moved to 60 years old and 35 years of service, whichever will come first, considering that when the age of 56 was crafted, hindi pa po na-discover ang modern medical apparatus, the pharmaceuticals were not that good. Now, we have modern technology and modern hospital capabilities, naayos na po ito. So, I hope that the leadership of the DILG and the PNP can take a hard look on this proposed measure plus the fact that, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, napakahirap ho humanap ng trabaho once retired. Very few are successful ones—some become congressmen, some become senators, some even become presidents.

I have another concern, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor. We have the PNPA and we have the PMA. With my apologies to the standard and the perception of the population, they believe that the PMA is a better school

than the PNPA. My question is: Do the teachers and professors get the same salary—those teaching in the PNPA and those teaching in the PMA?


REP. SUAREZ. Kung pareho po ang suweldo, dapat pareho ang quality ng output.


REP. SUAREZ. I think the good Secretary was a former army man, and maybe, he ought to do something about that. That is an administrative concern that I am bringing to his attention. By the way, what is the population of the PNPA and the PMA in terms of students, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor?

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, the population of PNPA is 1,050. For the PMA, according to our Secretary, it is almost the same, Mr. Speaker, 1,100 cadets.

REP. SUAREZ. I raised this question before, but does the PDEA have military assets, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor? Does the PDEA have their own police or military enforcers?

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, Mr. Speaker, according to the PDEA, they have their own.

REP. SUAREZ. But I would imagine that in some operations, the PNP assists them. Am I correct, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor?

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, Mr. Speaker. The reason is the PDEA nationwide have only like 2,000 personnel, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. Are they from the PNP?

REP. CUARESMA. They are not under the DILG, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor. They are under the Office of the President.

REP. SUAREZ. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. May I know the air and sea assets of the PNP? Do they have air assets?

REP. CUARESMA. At the moment, Mr. Speaker, we have one helicopter.

REP. SUAREZ. One fixed-wing or one chopper?

REP. CUARESMA. They have one Aero3, twin-engine na, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.


REP. SUAREZ. Just one?

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, and four are coming next year.

REP. SUAREZ. Are they thinking of acquiring some more, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor?

REP. CUARESMA. Of course, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker.

REP. SUAREZ. What are your sea assets, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor?

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, the PNP only has one fast boat, but there would also be deliveries this year, I think, 21, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. When the PNP is in a combat mission, kapag ang isang pulis ay pupunta sa combat, ang sinasabi natin, ang isang paa niya ay nasa hukay na. On the side of PNP, they should not win a war by being killed in action, you know, but their duty is to kill those violating the law. I also noticed that the fire trucks with the Makati Fire Department are not the same with the fire trucks that I see in the different provinces, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor. Is it because the fire trucks in the City of Makati is acquired by the city government?

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, Mr. Speaker, that is correct, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. They are mostly American made, I think.

REP. CUARESMA. With the information given to me, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, the City of Makati also has their own procurement of fire trucks.

REP. SUAREZ. Just like in the military, the question of what is nice to have and what we can afford to have always applies. So, the quality of the Makati fire trucks as compared to the quality of fire trucks distributed by the DILG to cities and municipalities, in terms of serviceability, can we say that one can last for 20 years and the other one, maybe, for 10 years in terms of effective use?

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, that depends, maybe, on the procured fire trucks.

REP. SUAREZ. Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, as was raised by the other interpellators, napakaraming pera ng DILG ang hindi nagastos. I hope that with the leadership of Secretary Año, they can come up with some remedial measures.

Do I understand your problem? The problem is the bidding procedure and practically, it is the period of the procurement process. Just wait—we have an agreement with the DBM that once the budget will be presented, we will come up with some shortcuts that would not violate the Procurement Law, which will make it easier for the executive offices to hasten procurement.

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, we appreciate the recommendation or manifestation of the Minority Leader.

REP. SUAREZ. I just have one parochial concern in my province, Mr. Speaker. Can they just take a look at our provincial jail because mini-Bilibid na po ang tawag doon, as some would like to be put in jail just to sell their wares. Nagpipilit ho at gumagawa ng violation para makulong lang at kapag nakakulong na, magbebenta na ng drugs sa loob ng jail. That was the observation of the head of the province, who happens to be my son. Maybe we can do something about that.


REP. SUAREZ. I noticed, from my research, that there are some sections of the DILG supporting the advocacy for a shift—hindi po natin maiiwasan iyong mga pag-uusap ng mga opisyal—to a federal form of government, at mayroon namang nagsasabi na revolutionary form, but these are just mere discussions. May I know the sentiments of the PNP on the form of government they might want to have? Well, if you cannot give an answer, it is all right, it is just an assumption.

REP. CUARESMA. Yes, I think they are willing to support, and this is according to the Secretary, they are amenable to and supportive of federalism.

REP. SUAREZ. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Mme. Sponsor.

REP. CUARESMA. Of course, this is a political promise, I just asked their opinions, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. Do you have a replacement already, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, to retired Usec Panadero? I understand he will be retiring or did he retire already?

REP. CUARESMA. Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, Usec Panadero had already retired.

REP. SUAREZ. Do we have his replacement already?



REP. SUAREZ. It is already 1:33 a.m., Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor. Thank you for your answers.

On behalf of the Minority, we do not have any more questions to raise on the proposed budget of the DILG. I therefore move that we terminate the period of interpellation and debate on the budget of the DILG and its attached agencies.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). What is the pleasure of the Majority Leader?

REP. ESPINA. Mr. Speaker, the Majority joins the Minority in its motion to terminate the period of interpellation and debate on the budget of the Department of National Defense…

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). No, it is the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

REP. CUARESMA. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

REP. ESPINA. The Department of the Interior and Local Government, including its attached agencies.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.

The period of interpellation and debate on the budget of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, including its attached agencies, is hereby terminated. (Applause)

Congratulations to the DILG family and thank you to my colleagues sa kanilang malawak na pag-unawa, especially Representative Brosas.



REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, I move that we suspend the session.


It was 1:34 a.m.


At 1:42 a.m., the session was resumed with Deputy Speaker Mercedes K. Alvarez presiding.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Alvarez, M.). The session is resumed.


DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE

REP. NOEL. Mme. Speaker, I move that we begin the consideration of the budget of the Department of National Defense, including its attached agencies.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Alvarez, M.). Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.


REP. NOEL. Mme. Speaker, before we begin the period of sponsorship and debate, may we acknowledge the presence of the DND family headed by the honorable Delfin N. Lorenzana, the Secretary of National Defense; Undersecretaries Cardozo M. Luna, Ricardo A. David Jr., Raymundo DV Elefante, Reynaldo B. Mapagu; Assistant Secretaries Josue S. Gaverza Jr., Angelito M. De Leon, Jesus Rey R. Avilla, Manuel V. Ramos, Antonio L. Bautista; Gen. Carlito G. Galvez Jr., Chief-of-Staff of the AFP; Lieutenant Generals Salvador Melchor B. Mison Jr., Rolando Joselito D. Bautista, Galileo Gerard Kintanar; Vice Admiral Robert A. Empedrad; Daniel R. Casabar, Director of the Government Arsenal; Roberto Q. Estioko, President of the National Defense College of the Philippines; Ernesto G. Carolina, Administrator of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office; Dr. Dominador M. Chiong Jr., Director of the Veterans Memorial Medical Center; and Ricardo B. Jalad, Administrator of the Office of Civil Defense.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Alvarez, M.). The House welcomes Secretary Lorenzana and the rest of the DND Family. Welcome to the House of Representatives. Good morning.


REP. NOEL. Mme. Speaker, I move that we recognize the Hon. Rozzano Rufino B. Biazon from the Lone District of Muntinlupa City to sponsor and answer questions, if any, on the budget of the DND, including its attached agencies.


THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Alvarez, M.). The Honorable Biazon is now recognized for his sponsorship of the DND budget.

REP. BIAZON. Thank you, Mme. Speaker. This Representation has the honor to present, for consideration, the total proposed budget of the Department of National Defense for 2019, including pensions amounting to a total of P269.74 billion. We are ready to answer questions, Your Honor.


THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Alvarez, M.). The Majority Leader is recognized.

REP. NOEL. Mme. Speaker, the first Member to interpellate our Sponsor, may we recognize the Hon. Mohamad Khalid Q. Dimaporo of the First District of Lanao del Norte.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Alvarez, M.). The Hon. Mohamad Dimaporo is now recognized for his interpellation.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Mme. Speaker, is the honorable Sponsor willing to just entertain a few questions and allow me to make a manifestation?

REP. BIAZON. With pleasure, Mme. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Mme. Speaker, may I have, again, to place on record, the 2019 budget for the AFP.

REP. BIAZON. For the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Your Honor, for new appropriations, we have P177,644,000,000.

REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Thank you, Mme. Speaker. The P177 billion, my understanding, being appropriated for the Armed Forces of the Philippines is to establish and to ensure that we can maintain peace and order in our country and to protect our citizens from both external and internal threats. One of the largest precedents, Mme. Speaker, that happened under the Duterte administration was the declaration of martial law. In the declaration of martial law, all of us here in the country took a leap of faith in our President, a leap of faith that the martial law we will experience is not the same martial law that we had experienced as a country decades ago, that this is a different type of martial law.But we on the ground, Mme. Speaker—and this is my manifestation—especially in conflict-affected areas, our leap of faith was specific to the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Our leap of faith was with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, that they will conduct themselves in a professional manner. That is our belief and that is why we trust martial law to operate smoothly and efficiently in the area where there is a battle, for example, in the Lanao region.

Now, Mme. Speaker, my manifestation is specifically with regard to martial law and the intervention of certain political personalities when the military is trying to do their best to establish peace and order in our region. Last May 2018, Rappler, which has been proclaimed as a news outlet of fake news, actually made a report and in this article posted by a certain Carmela Fonbuena,

updated last June 6, 2018 but published on May 2018, reads, “Duterte adviser prevails upon military to release arrested Lanao mayor.” Now, Mme. Speaker, the reason I am bringing this up is there was a firefight between this mayor and his men and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. As it is their duty to ensure that there will be peace and order in our region, the AFP did their intelligence work and they found out that there were several caches of high-powered firearms in the municipality of Pantar. So, they raided the municipal mayor’s home and they fought the men of the municipal mayor. In the end, he was brought to justice and the military found nine high-powered firearms, five pistols and shotguns, and assorted ammunitions in his house. The mayor of Pantar, Mayor Tago, and six others were arrested for violation of Republic Act No. 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

Now, the problem, Mme. Speaker, was a certain Secretary Mama-O from the Office of the President who badgered the AFP Chief for two days, calling our Armed Forces of the Philippines and telling the brigade commander, “Let Mayor Tago go. Tao iyan ni Presidente.” Now, Mme. Speaker, I am bringing this up here because all of us, even us here in the House of Representatives, took a political risk to approve martial law, and here comes a political personality from the Office of the President intervening in the work of our Armed Forces of the Philippines. We simply want a peaceful area, but what Secretary Mama-O did was, he badgered the Brigade Commander, he also badgered the Battalion Commander, to release this certain mayor of Pantar even though he was caught red-handed possessing high-powered firearms. Now, I would like to ask, Mme. Speaker—and this goes to the point that Rappler even got a video showing a picture documentation of a handwritten note directing the AFP to release Mayor Tago to him. I would like to just put it on record and ask the honorable Sponsor, maybe the DND—it would be better if we can get on record the official stand of the DND and the AFP. Is this the order of Malacañang? Did Malacañang really task a personality from the Office of the President to intervene in the work of our military personnel in the province of Lanao del Norte?

REP. BIAZON. Mme. Speaker, distinguished colleague, the Defense Department and the Armed Forces of the Philippines strictly adhere to its chain of command and will definitely not just give in to badgering by those not included in the chain of command. As long as there is evidence that would be used by the AFP and other law enforcement agencies to go after anyone guilty, especially with regard to the possession of firearms, they will do their duty, Your Honor.


REP. DIMAPORO (M.). Thank you, Mme. Speaker. That is all that I really wanted to know because to this date, this case wherein the Armed Forces of Philippines raided the house of that Mayor Tago, that mayor still has not been served his day in court with regard to this case.

So, I just wanted to simply get on record if there had been instructions from Malacañang for this Secretary from the Office of the President to intervene in the work of the AFP. If there had been no instructions—just like what had been said here, the command from Malacañang, from the Chief Commander of our AFP—to intervene in the case of Pantar, Lanao del Norte, then we, together with our constituents and our leaders, would want to look further into the issue and we would like to ask for the support of the Armed Forces of the Philippines because we believe that there may have been an obstruction of justice, abuse of authority and misconduct and violation of ethical standards for government employees and officials committed by Secretary Mama-O. And with the clearance of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the DND, we would like to ask the support of the brigade commander and the battalion commander and work hand in hand on the problems of Lanao del Norte and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan so that we can investigate the situation and give a report to Malacañang so that Secretary Mama-O can be dealt accordingly.

That is my manifestation, Mme. Speaker.Thank you very much.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Alvarez, M.). The Majority Leader is recognized.

REP. NOEL. Mme. Speaker, the next Member who will interpellate our Sponsor is the Hon. Noel L. Villanueva of the Third District of Tarlac.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Alvarez, M.). The Honorable Villanueva is now recognized for his interpellation.

The Honorable Villanueva, please proceed.

REP. VILLANUEVA. Thank you very much, Mme. Speaker. To the distinguished Sponsor, I would just like to refresh your memory when you suggested to me, two years ago, that I sit down with the DND and AFP officials so that we can discuss the concerns of my constituents in the Crow Valley Gunnery Range which is now called the Colonel Ernesto Ravina Air Base. The main concern of my constituents in the area is the continued refusal by the Philippine Air Force 610th Special Operations Wing for the entry of construction materials to be used for the repair of their damaged houses. Almost six years na pong hindi nakakapagpa-repair ng mga bahay ang mga residente doon. One more is the delay in the

construction of national government projects funded by the 2018 General Appropriations Act, namely school buildings and other multi-purpose buildings. Likewise, a new problem cropped up. Agricultural crops are now being destroyed by personnel of the Philippine Air Force and the farmers are being prevented from tilling their farmlands. Ang nakalulungkot pa po dito, allegedly, some Philippine Air Force personnel are now engaged in cattle raising in the area when these lands are being farmed by the residents.

Well, nakapag-usap na po kami ni SND, ni Secretary Lorenzana. I just want clear and categorical answers to these main concerns that I had raised which may adversely affect the lives and welfare of my constituents in the Third District of Tarlac, particularly in that part of the Municipality of Capas.

REP. BIAZON. Mme. Speaker, distinguished

colleague, we had just been informed by the AFP that a meeting was held in Malacañang to create a technical working group to address the concerns raised by the Gentleman, and we will be one with him in ensuring that this TWG indeed is constituted to work on and address his concerns, Your Honor.

REP. VILLANUEVA. In 2016, distinguished

Sponsor, I was promised the same commitment. REP. BIAZON. Your Honor, during that time,

the commitment was just made at the level of the AFP but this time around, a meeting was held right in Malacañang and the directive given was to create that TWG, Your Honor.

REP. VILLANUEVA. Well, I have full trust and confidence with the words of the Secretary of National Defense, when we were in the lounge, that he will instruct his officers to allow the entry of construction materials to be used for the repair of damaged houses in that area until such time that a final relocation plan is presented. There is a proposal to relocate the communities in these three barangays and we are talking here of 10,000 families. We need to see a relocation plan which is viable and acceptable to the affected residents, distinguished Sponsor.

REP. BIAZON. Mme. Speaker, distinguished

colleague, the Secretary of National Defense just confirmed the agreement that the Gentleman mentioned was made at the lounge.

REP. VILLANUEVA. May I request that the

convening of the technical working group be made soonest, maybe in last week of October? I cannot wait for another two years as I might not be in office anymore by that time since 2019 is an election period.


REP. BIAZON. Yes, Your Honor, the Secretary of Defense has likewise affirmed that the TWG would be constituted.

REP. VILLANUEVA. Lastly, I am one with the

Department of National Defense in their goal to secure the sovereignty of our country and protect its territorial integrity, and I am fully convinced that the mandate to protect the people is paramount in their minds.

Thank you, distinguished Sponsor, Mme. Speaker.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Alvarez, M.). The

Majority Leader is recognized. REP. NOEL. Mme. Speaker, the next Member

who will interpellate is the Hon. Gary C. Alejano of the MAGDALO Party-List.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Alvarez, M.). The Honorable Alejano is now recognized for his interpellation.

REP. ALEJANO. Thank you, Mme. Speaker.

Magandang umaga po sa ating lahat. May I just inquire from the Sponsor if he is willing to take questions from this Representation?

REP. BIAZON. Gladly, Your Honor. REP. ALEJANO. Thank you, Mr. Sponsor,

Mme. Speaker. At the outset, I would like to state that I support the budget of the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines because they deserve all the support from Congress in order for them to perform their mandate in protecting the people and the State, and upholding and defending our Constitution. However, mayroon lang po akong mga clarification and questions, Mme. Speaker.

Republic Act No. 9470 or the National Archives of the Philippines Act was enacted in 2007 to give utmost priority for the safeguard, protection and preservation of its public documents and records, not only as fundamental instruments for efficient and effective governance. Hence, Section 13 in the said Act mandated the establishment of archives and records office/unit in all government offices. May we know from the Sponsor, which specific office of the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines was given this task of record-keeping?

REP. BIAZON. Mme. Speaker, distinguished colleague, I was informed that at the time that the application for amnesty was submitted to the

Department of National Defense, during the years when the application for amnesty was submitted, no document was brought to the AFP all the way down to the J1 and that is why when the certification was issued by the J1, what was mentioned therein was that there was no file on record.

REP. ALEJANO. Mr. Sponsor, hindi pa ho ako nagtatanong diyan. Gusto ko lang i-clarify kung anong opisina sa ating Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines ang naatasan na magkaroon ng record-keeping in accordance with Republic Act No. 9470, at kung mayroon po tayo niyan sa Department of National Defense.

REP. BIAZON. Right now, Your Honor, because the events transpired several years ago under a different leadership and involved different personnel, the current DND leadership is still doing its inquiry, particularly those who were directly involved, to find out which office was given that assignment the distinguished colleague is asking about. As of this moment, the information gathering is still ongoing.

REP. ALEJANO. Well, I am not yet asking on the issue of the amnesty application, Mr. Sponsor. I would just like to be clarified kung gaano ba o paano ba nagtatago at nagre-record ang ating Department of National Defense, because we have this law, Republic Act No. 9470, kung saan inaatasan ang lahat ng ahensiya ng gobyerno na magkaroon po ng opisina na magma-manage po nito.

REP. BIAZON. In reply to the query of the distinguished Gentleman, the current leadership can only answer for its own term, and as of now, the Administrative Services Department is the one tasked with the safekeeping of records, which is the point of the Gentleman’s question.

REP. ALEJANO. Yes, Mr. Sponsor, I understand that we have this Archives Office in the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Anyway, Mr. Sponsor, Mme. Speaker, Section 16 of the said Act likewise mandates all government offices to prepare and submit their own Records Disposition Schedule. May we know if the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces have their Records Disposition Schedule? Kasi iyong mga records po ay mayroong schedule kung paano i-dispose, and there is a certain period of time when these records are to be disposed. Mayroon po ba tayong schedule ng disposition—three years ba, five years, 10 years, 15 years?

REP. BIAZON. Per the Secretary of Defense, Your


Honor, he said that there is a process for the disposition of records, but at this very moment, the information as to the time when the disposition of those records is prescribed, he still has to get it from the appropriate office, Your Honor.

REP. ALEJANO. In relation to that, Mr. Sponsor, I would just like to request for the guidelines of the Department of National Defense and the AFP as to the manner by which the records are disposed. Mayroon pong schedule kung paano kasi hindi naman forever na nandoon iyong mga records. Kailangang mayroong time na puwedeng i-shred na iyong mga records, so, gusto ko malaman po iyon, kasi ho importante po iyon. Kung hindi natin alam kung kailan at anong mga records ang dapat i-dispose, ay magkakagulo talaga iyong records. Just like the answers you are giving to me right now, Mr. Sponsor. And I will continue, Mr. Sponsor.

Again, Section 15 of Republic Act No. 9470 mandates the regular conduct of inventory of all public records. May I ask how often the Department of National Defense and the AFP conduct an inventory of the records? When was the last time the DND conducted such inventory, were all of the records intact during the recent conduct of inventory? Mayroon po ba tayong mga ganito?

REP. BIAZON. Mme. Speaker, Your Honor, this year, the DND had just conducted an inventory of the records.

REP. ALEJANO. Thank you, Mr. Sponsor. Medyo hindi lang ako masyadong satisfied sa detalye ng sagot. Nonetheless, itinatanong ko lang iyon para maintindihan ko rin when I go to my next question. I understand that the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Department of National Defense are aware of what happened to Senator Trillanes, and that is why I laid down my questions with those preliminary questions para maintindihan ko po. I now would like to ask—ano ba talaga ang nangyari? Can the Sponsor brief this Representation as to who requested for the records of the amnesty and what happened thereafter, Mr. Sponsor?

REP. BIAZON. Well, it has been revealed in media—the person who requested for the information and the process by which the records were released, which were also related in the stories in media.

REP. ALEJANO. So, am I correct, Mr. Sponsor, that it was Solicitor General Jose C. Calida who requested for the records on the amnesty application of Senator Trillanes?

REP. BIAZON. That was what came out in the news reports, Your Honor.

REP. ALEJANO. That was what came out in the media, but can you now confirm with the Secretary of National Defense?

REP. BIAZON. I just conferred with the Secretary of Defense to give you a more precise reply, Your Honor, and he said that what was requested from them were the amnesty papers or amnesty records and what the Department presented were Proclamation No. 75, s. 2010 and the Certificate of Amnesty that was signed by Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin.

REP. ALEJANO. Thank you, Mr. Sponsor. Was

there a formal request through a letter addressed to the Secretary of National Defense in relation to such request?

REP. BIAZON. The request was made via a phone

call, Your Honor. REP. ALEJANO. Phone call. Therefore, there was

no formal request for the records of the amnesty. Am I correct, Mr. Sponsor?

REP. BIAZON. Just a verbal request, Your Honor.

There was just a verbal request, no written formal request.

REP. ALEJANO. Thank you, Mr. Sponsor.

I understand that if an office outside of a certain Department—when that office requests for records, it has to go through certain channels. Doon muna iyan susulat o ire-request sa Department and it goes down—in the case of the Department of National Defense, a letter request for inquiry should go first to the Department of National Defense. Then the Department of National Defense, I understand, should cascade the letter to the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines will, you know, relay the request to the concerned office. In the case of the certification issued by Lt. Col. Thea Joan Andrade of J1, dumaan ho ba ito sa proseso?

REP. BIAZON. This Representation agrees with

the distinguished Gentleman that normally, there are processes involved such as writing letters, but it is also sometimes a practice in government, in order to expedite matters, that sometimes, there is a direct coordination between offices. The call of the Solicitor General to the Secretary of Defense may be considered one such kind of request, and there was cooperation from the Secretary of Defense to attend to the inquiry of the Solicitor General. There was also a coordination down to the level of the Judge Advocate General’s Office. We just received information, Your Honor, through the


Chief of Staff, that there was a letter from the Solicitor General to the AFP Chief of Staff. With regard to the earlier statement of the Secretary of Defense, there was a verbal phone call, but as far as the Chief of Staff, there was a letter that was submitted to him.

REP. ALEJANO. Thank you, Mr. Sponsor. I

would just like to request for a copy of the letter, Mr. Sponsor.

REP. BIAZON. It will be provided, Your Honor. REP. ALEJANO. Thank you, Mr. Sponsor. If indeed

there was a request—a formal request to the Chief of Staff, is it not proper for the Chief of Staff to respond to the request and not simply a certification from a Lieutenant Colonel, the Division Chief of J1?

REP. BIAZON. As the letter was processed by J1,

Your Honor, the staff concerned was given instructions to attend to it and that staff concerned was the one who issued the certification.

REP. ALEJANO. Thank you for that answer, Mr.

Sponsor. As far as I am concerned, I believe that that kind of information is incorrect because I also have information that J1 did not approve such request. It was not given a go signal and because of that a lowly Division Chief was, in a way, forced to issue a certification without her knowing the purpose of such certification. As you had mentioned earlier, sometimes, due to the urgency of the matter, ang coordination ay mabilis. Was there an urgency for the certification to be issued to the Office of Solicitor General, as to the papers related to the amnesty application? Mayroon bang urgency dito? I would like to clarify also, na iyong certification, ang nakalagay doon ay “no available records,” ang ibig bang sabihin nito ay walang records at that time? O, talagang walang records? So, two questions, Mme. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor.

REP. BIAZON. Well, distinguished colleague, the Sponsor was given that reply by the AFP, and while the Gentleman has information, probably, that could be subject to verification. The officers in question are not present right now and so, we may not be able to do that verification. Probably, later on, as we have that opportunity, we can check if, indeed, what the AFP is informing us now is different from the information that the Gentleman received.

REP. ALEJANO. Thank you for that answer, Mr. Sponsor. In fact, I filed a resolution inquiring as to the status of record-keeping in the government, particularly, the Department of National Defense. I hope that the inquiry will push through so that matters will be clarified

as to how the AFP keeps its records. Nonetheless, Mme. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor, I will end my question in this specific subject. I would just like to pose a challenge. Gusto ko lang hamunin po ang Department of National Defense.

Alam ninyo, noong January 5, 2011, 19 officers and 20 enlisted personnel, at kasama po ako, went to Camp Aguinaldo Officers Clubhouse in the belief that we will be availing of the amnesty granted to the members of the Magdalo. Kasama po kami doon. We complied with the requirements. Dala po namin ang aming mga application forms. It was well-covered by media. We complied with the requirements and we acknowledged being guilty of participation in the Manila Peninsula and Oakwood incidents, and we took an oath before the administering officer, and I would like to state na wala namang kopya ng application forms ang lahat sa amin. I would like to put that on record even if puwedeng gawing basis iyan also to revoke my own amnesty application. Walang ibinibigay na kopya sa lahat ng nag-apply ng amnestiya.

Maraming officers and enlisted personnel even present at that time. Ang hamon ko lang po—magsabi tayo ng katotohanan. Let us stand with the truth at huwag tayo magpapagamit sa may masasamang objective just so that they can get back at their political opponents. Iyon lang po ang hamon namin dito dahil marami pong witnesses at that time. Marami po kami at nandoon po kami, Mr. Sponsor. So, ito lang po iyong iiwanan ko pagdating doon sa amnesty application.

My next question, Mr. Sponsor, will be about the very famous Red October because it was stated before the media by the Armed Forces of the Philippines that there was a collusion among the opposition, the Liberal Party, the Magdalo, and the Communist Party of the Philippines. I would like to state that I was able to talk to the Chief of Staff and the Assistant J3 to clarify matters and I am grateful that I was given the chance to do this.

In the 2019 proposed budget under the Office of the President, mayroon pong P2.5 billion na Confidential and Intelligence Funds. Under the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, mayroon pong P1.773 billion for the Intelligence Fund. Sa DILG-PNP, mayroong P890 million for the Intelligence Fund, the total of which is P5.16 billion ang laki po ng Intelligence Fund. Kapag susumahin po natin ito sa per month, eh di P430 million per month, and we have P14 million per day with this amount of Intelligence Fund. Hindi po ba parang nakalulungkot na we came up with such ridiculous claim of collusion between the opposition and the Communist Party of the Philippines? Ganito na ba kalalim ang ating analysis as to the extent of the operation of the Communist Party of the Philippines? Hindi ba nasasayang ang


pondo natin kung ganoon lang po ang napo-produce natin, Mr. Sponsor?

REP. BIAZON. Mme. Speaker, distinguished colleague, the AFP stands by its statement that there is information that they were able to gather which would point to certain parties being involved in such a plot against the administration. Being a former member of the Armed Forces, I am pretty sure that my distinguished colleague would understand that the Armed Forces, when it receives information or gathers information that would threaten the government, it would take it seriously even if others would see it as ridiculous. If there is a threat to the government, the Armed Forces has its duty to take it seriously, and study and analyze the information that was received. So, the Armed Forces acknowledges that there is an information that they received and they are now currently, continuously analyzing it to validate, but the AFP cannot let go of the mandate of ensuring the safety and security of the government.

REP. ALEJANO. Thank you, Mr. Sponsor. You know, information is different with intelligence because when you receive information, you have to process it first before it will become a usable intelligence. Otherwise, it will just end up as political propaganda. So, Mr. Sponsor, since you have mentioned about the Red October, ano po ba iyong basis talaga? What is the general description of this Red October?

REP. BIAZON. The general description would be, it is an overlapping of various interest groups who probably have agreed to a common objective of going against the government. That is as far as this Representation can go with regard to the description because even the Armed Forces’ Chief of Staff informed me earlier they have the documents which would give them a basis to consider this group interlapping and moving in cooperation with each other.

REP. ALEJANO. Thank you, Mr. Sponsor.Hindi ho ba mas maganda kapag mayroon tayong

information, may case operation plan, pag-aralan po natin and how we implement that? We arrest people to file cases before we can even announce that to the public. Hindi ho ba kung wala pang validation, you stated earlier, na vina-validate, continuing receiving information, you study the information that they received. Eh kung ilabas ho natin sa publiko ito na wala pa palang thorough and deep analysis, hindi ho ba we are creating unnecessary panic before the public? Is it not supposed to be allowing the people to go with their normal lives while the Armed Forces are operating beyond the attention of the Filipino people and perform their function na hindi alam ng

ordinaryong mamamayan? Why do we have to release that in public and threaten not only the Filipino people but also the investors in the country? Mayroon palang destabilization, tutumbahin pala iyang gobyernong nandito sa National Capital Region? Is it not proper, Mr. Sponsor, to first really validate it, file cases against those involved and then announce it later? Kasi kung hindi pa natin na-validate iyan, pwedeng hindi na po nagambala ang taumbayan.

REP. BIAZON. Well, Mme. Speaker, distinguished colleague, it is a matter of opinion because it could also be seen as the government or the military showing that it is aware of the things that are happening and that they are a step ahead of whoever is doing these plots. So, it is going to be a matter of opinion, Your Honor. So, while I do recognize that the distinguished colleague may have that view or interpretation of how the AFP or the DND handle this, but it could also be seen in another way that the government already has information but they can preempt those who are plotting—hindi natin masabi eh kasi paiba-iba rin ang diskarte.

REP. ALEJANO. Mr. Speaker, sa tingin ko siguro iyong opinyon, sabi ninyo nga, may kanya-kanyang opinion, pero remember the intelligence and security infrastructure ay nakalatag iyan all over the country. They are supposed to function because we are providing them a budget. You do not have to invoke the Filipino people kasi kaya nga nandiyan ang ating mga sundalo. You do not have to disrupt their normal way of life just to, you know, scare them of something that is going to happen. Iyon lang, iyong sabi ninyo nga opinion, but I think if we continue to raise issues before the public na hindi pa thoroughly studied, then we are not creating an atmosphere or an environment of security. Ganoon din po sa ISIS, sa terrorism, we do not announce it, we address it because, otherwise, sumasakay tayo doon sa objective of terrorizing the public.

Anyway, Mme. Speaker, balik lang po ako doon sa Communist Party of the Philippines. It was founded in 1969, and I agree that the long-term and ultimate objective of the Communist Party of the Philippines is to topple the government. Hindi po iyan bago. It is a long—it is already an old story. Now, after 49 years, marami na rin tayong—nag-declare na rin ng martial law noon at sila rin ang inabot. Countless combat operations conducted; tens of thousands killed; soldiers, police, rebels, civilians, may mga classmates akong namatay; billions of pesos of peoples’ money spent, numerous peace talks conducted—ang tanong ko po, limang dekada na, bakit hindi pa rin natatapos ang insurgency? Ano pong dahilan?

REP. BIAZON. Well, Mme. Speaker, distinguished colleague, there are many reasons which fuel the


insurgency. Probably, from the past decades to now, as times change, the bases also change. The bottom line, of course, is the poverty in the countryside which is not really in the hands of the AFP to resolve. Probably, we can say that it is the combined efforts of all administrations that have gone by from the time that communist insurgency started. So, it is a difficult question to throw at the Department of National Defense and the AFP because they are not the only ones that will provide solution to that problem.

REP. ALEJANO. I understand, Mr. Sponsor, that it is a difficult question and the Armed Forces cannot do it alone. However, I am stating that it is already five decades since we have been dealing with this problem. Well, I would like to ask, is it true, Mr. Sponsor, that many politicians even here in the halls of Congress, and businessmen, especially contractors and mining companies, pay for permits to campaign during elections and pay revolutionary taxes to the New People’s Army? Totoo po ba ito?

REP. BIAZON. Well, it cannot be denied that there have been instances where developmental projects by the government are subject to harassment. Sinusunog ang equipment nila at nagiging paraan din para mag-raise ng funds kung sino man iyang mga gumagawa ng mga bagay na iyan. So, admittedly it happens, Your Honor.

REP. ALEJANO. It happens, Mr. Sponsor. Now, mayroon po ba tayong listahan ng mga kumpanyang ito o mga pulitiko na tumutulong sa so-called enemies of the State? Kung mayroon tayong listahan nito, ano bang sanctions ang ipinapataw natin o kaso sa kanila because namamatayan iyong ating mga sundalo, ang ating mga pulis, and yet, on the other hand, gobyerno mismo, sa mga pulitiko at mga negosyante tinutulungan ang so-called enemies of the State. So, ano ngayon ang ginagawa ng gobyerno upang kasuhan itong mga tumutulong sa so-called enemies of the State?

REP. BIAZON. Mme. Speaker, distinguished colleague, the President has issued a statement, a stern warning to those who willfully support such extortionists or terrorists. Of course, there are those who have just been compelled so it might be a more complicated situation with regard to those kinds of victims of such activities. But definitely, the President has issued a statement, a stern warning to those who would be willfully supporting such groups that they would be dealt with appropriately, Your Honor.

REP. ALEJANO. Thank you, Mr. Sponsor. So, warning lang ang ibinigay ng Pangulo.

REP. BIAZON. Of course, the warning comes with action once that there is a violation, Your Honor.

REP. ALEJANO. Now, curious lang ako, Mr. Sponsor, do you have an estimate of the amount collected by the New People’s Army every year? Gaano ba ito kalaki? Mayroon ba tayong estimate diyan?

At this juncture, Deputy Speaker Alvarez (M.) relinquished the Chair to Deputy Speaker Raneo “Ranie” E. Abu.

REP. BIAZON. To give you an example, Mme. Speaker, distinguished colleague, in Eastern Mindanao last year, there was an estimate of about a billion, but with the gains that had been achieved by the Armed Forces, specifically this Representation just had a briefing with the Eastern Mindanao Command last week, there had been gains where they were able to dismantle several fronts, that estimate would go down because definitely the activities had been reduced.

REP. ALEJANO. Magkano po ulit, Mr. Sponsor, P1 billion?

REP. BIAZON. That is during the previous years, Your Honor. The estimate that was arrived at around that figure, Your Honor.

REP. ALEJANO. The P1 billion?

REP. BIAZON. Yes. At the moment, the estimate is about P42 million for that area that was mentioned.

REP. ALEJANO. So, P42 million—thank you, Mr. Sponsor.

Gusto ko lang malaman kasi iyon because, you know, they cannot survive without the support. So, if they continue to collect millions or hundreds of millions for their operations, hindi talaga sila matatalo. So, I am just emphasizing that, Mr. Sponsor.

Since the President has mentioned before the public this so-called collusion with the communists, I just would like to ask if the Armed Forces is aware that President Duterte joined the Kabataang Makabayan when he was in college? In fact, he was one of those first ones who joined the Kabataang Makabayan. Is the Armed Forces aware of this?

REP. BIAZON. Yes, the Armed Forces is aware, Your Honor.

REP. ALEJANO. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.Is the Armed Forces also aware that President

Duterte intentionally looked for Joma Sison so that


kukunin niya iyong Political Science course niya under Professor Joma Sison?

REP. BIAZON. The Armed Forces is not aware of that information, Your Honor.

REP. ALEJANO. Anyway, it was the President who stated that publicly when he attended the graduation ceremony of those graduating in Lyceum University. To continue, Mr. Speaker, is the Armed Forces also aware that Secretary Jun Evasco was the Regional Party Committee Head of the Communist Party of the Philippines of Southern Mindanao when he was captured by the Armed Forces, and he was made campaign manager of the President when he ran for Mayor and, eventually, made Chief of Staff by him when he became Mayor? Aware po ba ang Armed Forces diyan?

REP. BIAZON. Yes, the Armed Forces is aware, Your Honor.

REP. ALEJANO. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor.

Would the Armed Forces also know that some of the members of the Davao Death Squad before were members of the NPA, all those that have already surrendered?

REP. BIAZON. They are not aware, Your Honor. There is no information there especially on specific individuals.

REP. ALEJANO. Thank you, Mr. Sponsor.Would the Armed Forces confirm that President

Duterte, when he was still Mayor, supported and aided the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA-NDF in Davao City?

REP. BIAZON. The information available to the Armed Forces, Your Honor, is that there were some humanitarian assistance given to individuals, Your Honor.

REP. ALEJANO. Thank you, Mr. Sponsor.It was reported in Davao Today on October 22,

2013, and the title of that report was: “NPA taxation a reality, just pay them – Duterte.” It was mentioned in a Davao Trade Exposition, and aside from that specific situation, he mentioned publicly that he was supporting the New People’s Army. Now, are you aware also that President Duterte accorded a hero’s burial to Commander Parago or Leoncio Pitao?

REP. BIAZON. The Armed Forces is not aware, Your Honor.

REP. ALEJANO. Nagtataka naman ho tayo, hindi natin alam diyan na punung-puno iyong langsangan ng Davao City noong ipinarada ang bangkay ni Commander Parag. It just so happened na noong nakulong ho kami, nakasabay ho namin siya sa kulungan. We were very well aware of that. It was well-covered by media as well.

REP. BIAZON. Just a clarification, Your Honor, because the question was, if he was allowed a hero’s burial. The President exercised tolerance in the conduct of a proceeding for somebody’s wake. It is not exactly with the intent of giving him or giving that person, the deceased, a hero’s burial, but as the executive of the local government, it was his way of giving someone the opportunity to be laid to rest appropriately, Your Honor.

REP. ALEJANO. Thank you, Mr. Sponsor, I understand your predicament.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). May I remind the two Gentlemen to please address the question to the Presiding Officer.

REP. ALEJANO. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

REP. BIAZON. Yes, Mr. Speaker.

REP. ALEJANO. Would the Armed Forces confirm to me how many soldiers have been killed and wounded in Davao Region since 1990 to present?

REP. BIAZON. We may not have—Mr. Speaker, we may not have the information at hand right now, but we will be submitting it at a later time, Your Honor.

REP. ALEJANO. Thank you, Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker.

Kung after this, puwedeng mabigyan po ng records ang—this Representation?

REP. BIAZON. The request is noted, Mr. Speaker.

REP. ALEJANO. Tanong ko rin po, when it comes to the so-called fronts ng CPP-NDF, malakas po ba sa Davao City o hindi?

REP. BIAZON. Mr. Speaker, it may be said that in previous years—personally, I remember my father was assigned in Davao City back in the early 80s, when Agdao was even called Nicaragdao, definitely by leaps and bounds, there is a great difference from the strengths before, as the influence of the NPA in Davao City has been greatly reduced, Mr. Speaker.


REP. ALEJANO. Thank you, Mr. Sponsor. Tingin ko, importanteng malaman ho natin, dahil

parang nagbobolahan ho tayo sa pag-address ng problema ng insurgents ho sa ating bansa. Narinig ho natin sa statement by the Defense Department na naa-address po iyong New People’s Army, but on the fronts, nahihirapan ang ating Armed Forces kaya nga they proposed the creation of the task force. Kaya nga po itinatanong ko po ito. Ngayon ho, kung hindi po maliwanag sa atin na hindi po ganoon katibay pala ang prente ng CPP-NDF sa Davao City, then how can we address the problem if we are not accepting that fact?

REP. BIAZON. Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleague, the inter-agency task force was created to give a whole-of-government approach to addressing the insurgency. As we mentioned earlier, it is not really all military solutions. The AFP is just part of the tactical approach to address the rebellion. Of course, we need an approach that involves an entire government in order for us to solve the real roots of the problem.

REP. ALEJANO. So, may I clarify, Mr. Sponsor, kung na-create na ba po iyong inter-agency task force.

REP. BIAZON. There is a recommendation, Mr. Speaker, that the whole-of-government approach be pursued.

REP. ALEJANO. Thank you, Mr. Sponsor. Naitanong ko lang, iyong mga ganoong questions

dahil ang issue po dito ay iyong issue ng insurgency ng Communist Party of the Philippines na matagal na po, limang dekada na, hindi natin naa-address at nagsasabi ho tayo na mayroong sumusuporta na mga pulitiko, na mga negosyante, kaya hindi ho sila matalu-talo. Kaya nga inilatag ko rin doon that when President Duterte was Mayor, he supported the New People’s Army. Iyon lang iyong gusto kong i-emphasize na ngayon, nagsasalita ang ating Pangulo as if that he has never supported the New People’s Army in Davao City.

So, I will proceed to the next question, Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker. In relation to the strategy of the Philippines in addressing our internal and external problems, do the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces have their respective defense and military strategies, and when were these crafted, Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker?

REP. BIAZON. The National Security Strategy, Mr. Speaker, has already been crafted. The National Defense Strategy is currently being put together by the Armed Forces and the Defense establishment, Mr. Speaker.

REP. ALEJANO. So, is it correct, Mr. Sponsor, Mr.

Speaker, that the document or all the strategies, not only of the Defense Department but also of other agencies of the government, should be based on the national security strategy?

REP. BIAZON. Mr. Speaker, the question of my distinguished colleague was about the national security strategy. If I got it right, the Gentleman was asking if it is already in place, wherein it forms part of the government’s plan. Yes, it has already been formulated, Mr. Speaker. Right now, I was handed this document entitled, “The National Defense Strategy: 2018 to 2022,” while a third document, “The National Military Strategy,” is also being drafted.

REP. ALEJANO. Thank you, Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker. In relation to that, may I inquire if the Armed Forces or the Department of National Defense is aware of whether high government officials are aware also of the role in achieving the security objective of the national security strategy. Dahil kung ang Department of National Defense lang ang gumagawa niyan at hindi alam ng ibang departments, balik ho tayo doon sa wala rin palang whole-of-nation approach. So, aware po ba ang ating Defense Department whether itong high government officials are also educated in national security and whether they are required to comply with the achievement of national security objectives?

REP. BIAZON. Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, in my hands is a document entitled, “The National Security Policy,” and it has been distributed to all the concerned government agencies that would take part in the pursuit of this policy. So, there is such a document, as I am showing it here, and the concerned agencies have been informed, Mr. Speaker.

REP. ALEJANO. Ang problema lang po natin, Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, nagiging document lang po eh, hindi po nababasa ng mga ahensya ng gobyerno. That is the reason why naiiwanan iyong Department of National Defense and the DILG in implementing the national security policy through the national security strategy. At ngayon po ay sinisisi natin o sinisingil natin ang ating Armed Forces na hindi ma-achieve ang kanyang objective dahil iyong ibang departamento ay hindi po alam na tumutulong na pala sila sa kalaban ng Estado. So, kaya ko po itinanong iyon.

REP. BIAZON. Mr. Speaker, I was just informed as well that the DND and the DILG are working hand-in-hand in cascading down—even to the local government units—this national security policy. Of course, it is an ongoing activity since the complexity of the issue is not that easy to implement, but it is being done by the DND and the DILG.


REP. ALEJANO. Thank you, Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker.

I think, my last question—this is my last question, Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker. In case, Mr. Sponsor, that this country is attacked or invaded by a foreign country, ano po bang general description on how to defend this country—general description po since, I understand, we cannot go into the details? Paano po ba natin dedepensahan ang ating bansa sa kasong atakihin po tayo ng isang dayuhang bansa?

REP. BIAZON. Well, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, of course, we know that one of the instruments that we can rely on is the Mutual Defense Treaty if there is an attack on us. We have as well other allies that we can count on to respond during such kind of an attack on the country. So, in general, that is the description, but definitely, there is an operational plan that is in place. Of course, my colleague would understand that we cannot, we are unable to share it here in the plenary.

REP. ALEJANO. I understand, Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, pero kailangan hong malaman ng taumbayan ho iyan. Mayroong for the consumption of the public and those matters that are not for the consumption of the public. Paano po ba ihahanda kami pong mga sibilyan at reserved officers? How does the government prepare its whole population to defend this country? So, kailangan pong malaman ng taumbayan iyan. Hindi pupuwedeng sikreto iyan. Otherwise, hindi po makapaghahanda ang ating bansa kung tayo po ay lulusubin ng isang dayuhang bansa.

REP. BIAZON. We concur with the statement of the distinguished colleague, Mr. Speaker.

REP. ALEJANO. With that, Mr. Sponsor, I just would like to request the Department of National Defense to brief the Committee on National Defense and Security on the defense strategy of this country in defending this country from any foreign invasion and how the government prepares all the citizens of the Republic in order to support our Armed Forces.

With that, Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity and I would like to emphasize again that I support the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Department of National Defense because they deserve that kind of support. I just hope, Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, that whatever support we provide our Armed Forces, it should strengthen our Armed Forces in defending and upholding our Constitution and in protecting the people of the State, and should not result in personal loyalty to anybody except the Filipino people.

Maraming salamat po, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). Thank you, the Honorable Alejano.


REP. ESPINA. Mr. Speaker, may we recognize the Minority Leader, Rep. Danilo E. Suarez, representing the Third District of Quezon, for his interpellation.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). The distinguished Minority Leader, the Hon. Danny Suarez, is recognized to interpellate the distinguished Sponsor.

REP. SUAREZ. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.Will the distinguished Sponsor yield to some

question?


REP. SUAREZ. Mr. Speaker, the Department of National Defense proposed a P183-billion Cash-Based budget for 2019. Is that correct, Mr. Speaker?

REP. BIAZON. That is correct, Mr. Speaker.

REP. SUAREZ. This is 34 percent higher or P47 billion higher than the Cash-Based budget of 2018.

REP. BIAZON. That is correct, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. Why? Why the increase?

REP. BIAZON. The increase, Mr. Speaker, is basically for the increases of the salaries, Mr. Speaker.

REP. SUAREZ. Particularly on the portion of the MOOE, Mr. Speaker, does the budget of the Armed Forces include retirement or is it being treated separately, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor?

REP. BIAZON. It is being treated separately, but it is included in the overall package, Mr. Speaker.

REP. SUAREZ. I think that is one area of concern, having a big number of retirees that include police and soldiers, and, I think, with our proposal that we should lengthen their stay by making it until they are 60 years old or have had 35 years of service, we will have a breathing spell of at least three years kasi magko-compound po iyan taun-taon.

REP. BIAZON. It is such …

REP. SUAREZ. Maybe that is one aspect that we should take a serious look at because lumalaki na po ang ating retirement benefit.


REP. BIAZON. It is a recognized concern, Mr. Speaker. In fact, there are some bills filed in the House addressing that concern.

REP. SUAREZ. Your Honor, your father is a very popular Marine officer. You must have watched Patton. Have you watched that movie Patton with George C. Scott?

REP. BIAZON. I am sorry, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker.

REP. SUAREZ. Not your time.

REP. BIAZON. I think I was not able to watch it.

REP. SUAREZ. I think some of the officers have watched Patton and that opening statement in the movie, he said that winning a war is not dying for your country, but killing those bastards who want to die for their country. Do you believe that, distinguished Sponsor?

REP. BIAZON. In a way, it has wisdom, Mr. Speaker.

REP. SUAREZ. But to do that, you must be modernized and have the capability to jibe with the present system of warfare, which changes almost every year, Mr. Speaker.

Early this month, BRP Gregorio Del Pilar, one of the coast guard cutters acquired during the previous administration, ran aground in the West Philippine Sea. That should have been dry docked in 2015. May we know what navigational fault happened or was there an engine failure that is why we ran aground?

REP. BIAZON. Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, at this moment, the Armed Forces is doing a thorough investigation …

REP. SUAREZ. But …

REP. BIAZON. … although it is not ruling out human error, Mr. Speaker.

REP. SUAREZ. Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, but it has been retrieved already from the site where it was grounded, on which it ran aground. Wala na po roon. Nahila na.

REP. BIAZON. It has already been retrieved, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. So, can I just go into the different services, starting with the Air Force. The mainstay of

our Air Force is still the Korean plane. Is that correct, Mr. Speaker?


REP. SUAREZ. The F50 which we are deploying is an attack aircraft and which can also be an interceptor.

REP. BIAZON. It has a wide range of capabilities, Mr. Speaker, and as you have seen, it was even used in Marawi.

REP. SUAREZ. The F50 is an advanced trainer, actually. It is not really designed for that purpose.

REP. BIAZON. Well, the Armed Forces of the Philippines makes do with what it can afford, Mr. Speaker.

REP. SUAREZ. I know what we can afford and what is nice to have. So, let us just say that in the event that we will have the capability to acquire an aircraft that can really deter and protect our ADIZ or the Air Defense Identification Zone—I heard that the Americans are offering us the F-16. Am I correct, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor?

REP. BIAZON. Yes, Mr. Speaker, there is an offer from the Americans.

REP. SUAREZ. But the problem, of course, will be maintaining the plane. Just like with a boat, you know, maintenance is a key factor. Just like the saying, a boat is easy to acquire like a woman, but hard to maintain. Do you believe that, distinguished Sponsor?

REP. BIAZON. I would not use the comparison to a woman, Mr. Speaker, but I would definitely agree that the maintenance of a machinery is expensive, especially if it is a complicated machine.

REP. SUAREZ. Oh, nothing can be more complicated than women, Mr. Sponsor.

REP. BIAZON. I have solved that mystery, Mr. Speaker.

REP. SUAREZ. Now, let us talk of capabilities. Can we safely say that this country is secured, that we are well guarded?

I understand that the Philippine Air Force acquired radars from Israel. Is that correct?

REP. BIAZON. Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, yes, the Armed Forces has already acquired at least one.


REP. SUAREZ. Have they been deployed already?

REP. BIAZON. Yes, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker. The radar has been deployed in Northern Philippines.

REP. SUAREZ. Are they tactical mobile or fixed radar?

REP. BIAZON. Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, they are fixed radars, with two coming also by next year.

REP. SUAREZ. Would it be better for you to use mobile which can be vehicle mounted? As you are aware, there are homing missiles now that can fire and forget to go where the signal is coming from.

REP. BIAZON. The Air Force acknowledges the advantage of mobile radar, Your Honor. In fact, the next acquisitions include such kinds of mobile radars, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. So, the tactic is that you deploy the radar, protect your paddies and in case there is what we call the hostile unidentified plane, we intercept. Is that correct, Your Honor.

REP. BIAZON. That is the concept of defense, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. What is the capability of the radar? How many nautical miles?

REP. BIAZON. The radar is capable of detecting up to 300 nautical miles, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. Up to 300.

REP. BIAZON. Yes, up to 300 nautical miles, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. Well, 300 if you are on top of the mountain, but put it on the ground, that is over the horizon, 200 lang po ang capability, Your Honor.

REP. BIAZON. Yes, Your Honor. It is dependent on the altitude from where it is deployed, but there is that capability.

REP. SUAREZ. So, we have that contingency of directing interception, and I suppose that we have air-to-air missile. The Philippine Air Force has air-to-air missile.

REP. BIAZON. The air-to-air missile, Your Honor, is part of future acquisitions, forthcoming.

REP. SUAREZ. Is there an ordinance, part of the purchase with the Koreans?

REP. BIAZON. It is a separate acquisition, Your Honor, the missiles and the aircraft.

REP. SUAREZ. You have the fixed wing and you have the choppers. What happened to those choppers that we bought from Poland during the previous administration? Are they still flying?

REP. BIAZON. Yes, out of the eight choppers, there are six that are still flying, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. And two are grounded, beyond repair?

REP. BIAZON. The two other aircraft figured in accidents, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. And do we have a dedicated chopper gunship?

REP. BIAZON. Yes, Your Honor, we have at least 20. We have around 20 armed helicopters, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. We have a lot, but what I am saying is a dedicated gunship because what we do, for instance, on your Huey, you just put M60 machine gun on each side, so not really a gunship but more of a protection. I have heard that they are acquiring a Cobra. Am I correct?

REP. BIAZON. Yes, Your Honor. In fact, because of the President’s trip, we are assured of two Cobras that are coming from Jordan, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. So, marami na po tayong air assets, hindi ho kagaya noong nakaraang administrasyon na naubusan tayo ng eroplano. We had a lot of pilots but there was no plane. So, right now, we have a good number of air assets. Do we still have those Italian propeller planes, Your Honor? Are they still flying?

REP. BIAZON. Yes, Your Honor. Some units are still being used by the Armed Forces.

REP. SUAREZ. Are these the Marchetti?

REP. BIAZON. Yes, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. What happened to the two Peacock class that were given to us for a song by the Hong Kong Royal Navy, Your Honor? Are they still floating?


REP. BIAZON. There were three Peacocks, Your Honor, but unfortunately as of now, they are not operational.

REP. SUAREZ. All of them?

REP. BIAZON. Yes, Mr. Speaker. Out of the three, two are currently getting their weapons upgrade as of the moment, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. So, magagamit pa po, seaworthy pa rin ho?

REP. BIAZON. Yes, Your Honor. The two units that are undergoing weapons upgrade are still seaworthy, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. Your Honor, can I go to the Philippine Army? I still recall during my early days, the early conflict in Mindanao, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, we had a good number of casualties of friendly fire. Meaning, wala pa hong PNP noon, PC pa, Marines, Army, and because there was very poor communication, marami ho tayong cases ng casualty of friendly fire and the reason was poor communication. Are we already up to date in our communication system with these three service commands?

REP. BIAZON. Yes, Your Honor. The bitter lessons that you mentioned, of the Army are well-learned.

REP. SUAREZ. When I say up to date, I am not talking about cellphones, Mr. Sponsor.

REP. BIAZON. Yes, Your Honor, we understand that the requirement would be tactical radios and the Philippine Army is continuously upgrading.

REP. SUAREZ. But very effective lalung-lalo na kung may mga cell site. It is better to use cellphones than your “over-over,” hindi po ba?

REP. BIAZON. Yes, Your Honor. The Army is undergoing upgrades of their communications at the operational and tactical level.

REP. SUAREZ. How many C-130 are still operational, Your Honor? We need these especially during disasters and in shipping relief goods, et cetera. How—ilan pa po ang lumilipad ninyong C-130?

REP. BIAZON. We have a total of five C-130s, Your Honor, but four are operational and one is undergoing maintenance.

REP. SUAREZ. Most of these assets that we have are Republic funds or are we still getting support from America, Your Honor?

REP. BIAZON. The C-130s, Your Honor, are sourced from our own funds, but there are also portions that are sourced from foreign military assistance.

REP. SUAREZ. It was in the news that our neighboring countries seem to be generous in giving us or offering us assets. Did the Japanese give the Philippine Navy frigates? Was it a frigate or a cruiser?

REP. BIAZON. Your Honor, the Japanese government gave assistance to the Philippine Navy in the form of aircraft.

REP. SUAREZ. Aircraft?

REP. BIAZON. Of course, the Japanese also gave assistance to the Philippine Coast Guard.

REP. SUAREZ. So, the aircrafts are maritime aircrafts, Your Honor?


REP. SUAREZ. Well, being our neighboring countries, do I understand it that the Japanese now are no longer restricted in upgrading their defense capability? They are not allowed, before, because for a certain period of time, the Japanese were not allowed to go into manufacturing armaments for that matter.

REP. BIAZON. Well, for self-defense, Your Honor, the Japanese have that capability to build up their armed forces.

REP. SUAREZ. So, wala na po iyong restriction ng America sa Japan because that last cruiser that visited us is a classic example of a modern Tirpitz class—napakagaling ng armaments, good communication, better ship to air, napakaganda ho noong capability noon. So, kung ako ho kasi, ang neighboring country ko ay katulad ho sa atin iyong location, of course, these countries think that hostilities might just happen. Eh kung tayo po ay may capability, we can be at the forefront and aid them. Rather than have them fighting, we can do the fighting for them if we will be given military hardware. Hindi po ba ganoon? Considering that our geographical location and our nearness to, the fact that we have, a hotly contested area in the South China Sea, though we do not have the capability right now, but if they will be continuously giving us military aid and equipment, then we will be a deterrent factor


to consider. Maybe they are thinking of that, even the Americans, Your Honor, because we have the manpower, we have good pilots, we have good navy.

REP. BIAZON. We do have that potential, Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. Before coming to the office this morning, I saw in the gate of Camp Aguinaldo, what was written there, Armed Forces, I think, it protects the population, territorial boundaries. Nabasa mo ba iyong nakasulat doon sa gate nila? Can you repeat that? General Galvez, I think, knows what is …

REP. BIAZON. It says, “Protector of the people and the integrity of the State,” Your Honor.

REP. SUAREZ. And its national territory—is that territory?

REP. BIAZON. Yes, protector of the people and the …

REP. SUAREZ. So, my last statement, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, is that, I have said this once and I will just repeat it—the security of our country is never negotiable and it has no price tag. Meaning, with what we can afford, we must make sure that the integrity of this country is protected.

With that, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, thank you for the answers and I will give way to some other Members who might want to interpellate.

Thank you.

REP. BIAZON. Thank you, Your Honor.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). Thank you, Minority Leader.


REP. ESPINA. Mr. Speaker, may we recognize Rep. France L. Castro of ACT TEACHERS Party-List for her interpellation.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). The Representative from ACT TEACHERS Party-List, the Hon. France Castro, is recognized to interpellate the good Sponsor.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Magandang umaga po sa ating lahat.

Will the good Sponsor yield to some of my clarificatory questions regarding their budget?

REP. BIAZON. Gladly, Your Honor.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Sponsor.

So, ilan lang pong mga observation doon sa budget po ng Department of National Defense. Comparing the budget of the 2018 and 2019 NEP, there is a 22.32-percent increase. Is that correct, Mr. Sponsor?

REP. BIAZON. Yes, Your Honor, attributed to the increase in the salaries.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). And I heard that most of the changes or the increase went to the salary increase of personnel.


REP. CASTRO (F.L.). So, let me go to the different programs. Under the Office of the Secretary, we have total new appropriations of 7.83-percent increase. What constitutes this, Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker?

REP. BIAZON. The breakdown of the DND Proper, Your Honor, is for Personnel Services, which comprises P172,469,000; MOOE of P292,987,000; and Capital Outlays of P12,279,000, Your Honor, so a total of P477,735,000.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Is that all, Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker?

REP. BIAZON. That is the breakdown of the DND Proper, Your Honor.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Okay. Thank you, Mr. Sponsor. So, under the National Defense College of the Philippines, I have noticed here a reduction or some changes also. So, as regards the National Defense and Security Policy Studies Program, it was increased to 89.71 percent. Could you educate this Representative, Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker? What can you tell me about this?

REP. BIAZON. That composes one-time infrastructure component expenditure, Your Honor.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Infrastructure?

REP. BIAZON. For the construction of buildings, Your Honor.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). So, under the Office of Civil Defense, I can see here Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Sub-Program, we have an increase of 88.98 percent; we have also Empowering Sectors on DRRM for Resiliency, 88.98 percent; then Disaster Management Operations; and Disaster Response Operation. So, there is no change—the same as P500 million. So, could you differentiate these proposed program expenses, Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker?


REP. BIAZON. The different programs are divided into two, Your Honor. One for Civil Defense and the other for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management operations. One mainly deals with addressing our concerns during disasters, while the other is more on the activation of personnel for Civil Defense. So, included here also are some of the acquisitions for disaster preparation, Your Honor.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Including the training on disaster management, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor.

REP. BIAZON. That is included, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, in human resource development.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Under the Philippine Army budget, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor, can you educate this Representation about the different programs, more particularly on programs that has a significant increase like, for example, on the level of mission capability of an army unit in ground operation, attained? It has an increase of 50.19 percent from the budget of 2018. Ano po ba ang mga ito, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor? The Land Forces Defense Program, 50.19 percent din po; Force Sustainment, 53.74 percent—can you describe these programs, Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker?

REP. BIAZON. These programs are mainly directed at increasing the capability of the Philippine Army in performing its mandate. It would include the capabilities in terms of upgrading force protection equipment, et cetera, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Ganoon din po sa Air Force and Navy—517.24 percent on Force Level Services and 767.88 percent on Force Sustainment and Force Level Support Services, respectively. Ano po ba ito? Ito po ba iyong ilang mga infrastructure and ammunitions or whatever?

REP. BIAZON. Yes, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, kasama po diyan iyong mga kagamitan para sa ating mga tropa. It goes across the services. Tinitiyak lang po natin na sa kanilang kakayahan na gawin ang kanilang mandato at ang paglaban sa mga kalaban ng Estado ay nasa kanilang mga kamay.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Napansin po natin, Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, earlier na ang Department of the Interior and Local Government ay may budget increase na 31.17 percent, while the Department of National Defense ay may increase na 22 percent. As compared with the different basic services, ang dalawang departments na ito, talagang napakalaki ng increase ng budget.

REP. BIAZON. The Department of National Defense ay nananatiling pang-apat.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Kung ikukumpara po natin doon sa mas mahahalagang basic services.

Last set of questions po, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor.

During the DBCC budget deliberation, sabi po ng DBM, there were figures in the DND budget where some items were recommended based on Presidential instructions. Sinasabi ng DBM that these are the activation of the CAFGU and the creation of additional positions. Some of these items, but not necessarily instructed by the Office of the President, were provided. Ano po ba ang ibig sabihin ng Presidential instructions? Are you aware of this, Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker?

REP. BIAZON. Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleague, narinig ko rin po noong hearing natin na nabanggit iyong patungkol sa Presidential instructions. Bilang Commander-in-Chief, siyempre, nalalaman niya kung ano ang nararaparat para sa ating Armed Forces kaya mayroon ding mga direktiba ang Pangulo para mapabuti ang ating tanggulang pambansa. Bahagi rin po iyon ng kanyang papel bilang Commander-in-Chief.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Sinasabi po, activation of CAFGU, at mayroon po ditong mga binanggit under the Philippine Army, under the Philippine Air Force, the MOOE requirements for Capability Upgrade Program – P142 million; provision for ammunition – P452 million; activation of 11 batallions and engineering brigades – P180 million; sustainment of 56 CAFGU active auxiliary – P186.9 million; Mobility Rebuilding Program – P225.6 million. Under the Philippine Army po itong activation of 11 batallions, sustainment of 56 CAFGU and the Mobility Rebuilding Program. Mayroon bang mga specific or details nitong mga ito, Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker?

REP. BIAZON. Nakalagay naman po doon sa binabasa ng aking kasamahan, Mr. Speaker, kung para saan ang mga allocation na iyan. Ang details po, Mr. Speaker, na hinihiling ng ating kasamahan ay medyo kailangang ma-enlighten ako. What kind of details po ang nais malaman, at kung kaya naman natin maibigay ang details without compromising national security. We just need some clarity.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Mr. Speaker, iyong sustainment of 56 CAFGU active auxilliary, mayroon po bang details kung saang areas?

REP. BIAZON. Kung ang tinutukoy po, Mr. Speaker, ay kung saang lugar naka-deploy iyong nasabing CAFGUs, karamihan ay sa may Eastern


Mindanao. Ang ibig sabihin po ng sustainment ay iyong kanilang pangangailangan tulad ng mga pagkain, allowances at kagamitan, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Under the Philippine Air Force, Mr. Speaker, we have here precision guided rockets – P184,600,000; Capital Outlays, upgrading the BMMC Electrical System – P120 million; ICT resources – P242 million; acquisition of parachute – 280 units; assault rifles – P289 million; activation of 11 batallion and 1 engineering brigade. Ito bang under the Philippine Army and Philippine Air Force, the same lang po ba iyong activation of 11 batallions and 1 engineering brigade? Kasi po, Mr. Speaker, may P1.5 billion under the Philippine Air Force, while in the Philippine Army, we have P186,900,000. How will you differentiate these two? The same po ang kanilang description, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor

REP. BIAZON. Kung doon po sa katanungan kung magkaiba, magkaiba po iyong nasa Philippine Army at iyong nasa Philippine Air Force. Iyong nasa Philippine Air Force mostly ang pagkuha ng armamento para sa mga aircraft natin, kagaya ng rockets, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Aircraft po ito, Mr. Speaker?

REP. BIAZON. Rockets po, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, para sa aircrafts natin.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Lilinawin ko lang po, Mr. Speaker. Activation of 11 batallions and 1 engineering brigade – P1.5 billion. Do you mean, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor, these are for the aircraft.

REP. BIAZON. That is for the air, that is for the army, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor. The additional 11 battalions and 1 engineering brigade, the P1.5 billion is mainly for the equipment.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Okay. Mr. Speaker, ito po iyong sinasabing instructions ng ating Presidente. Iyong sinasabing budget po ng DND with some Presidential instructions ay nagkakahalaga ng P3,655,100,000. Ang budget na ito ay napunta po sa DND. Kung titingnan natin ay talagang malaking halaga ito kung ikukumpara sa mga pangangailangan ng ating mga serbisyo. Itong budget sa palagay ko, Mr. Speaker, Mr, Sponsor, personally ay napakalaking bagay. Matanong ko lang sa ating Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, ito po ba ay inihanda natin sa imminent dangers inside and outside of our territory like for example in the West Philippine Sea and other territories.

REP. BIAZON. Natukoy po ng ating kasamahan, Mr. Speaker, sa Phlippine Army na mostly sa internal natin iyon. For example, the engineering brigade will be tasked to do civil works and construction for development in the countryside. While it may appear that these are military assets, they are actually contributory to the economic development in the countryside. Remember, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, that the rehabilitation of Marawi is also one of the top priorities, and therefore, there is that need for an engineering brigade.

REP. CASTRO (F.L.). Iyon na lang po, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor. Thank you very much.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). Maraming salamat po, Kinatawang France Castro.


REP. ESPINA. Mr. Speaker, the next Member who wishes to interpellate is Rep. Antonio L. Tinio from ACT TEACHERS Party-List.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu,). Another Representative from ACT TEACHERS Party-List, the Hon. Antonio Tinio, is recognized to interpellate the Sponsor on the budget of the Department of National Defense, and its attached agencies.

REP. TINIO. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Magsimula po ako sa huling paksa na binanggit ni Congresswoman Castro. Ang isang malaking issue po sa 2019 proposed budget ng Malacañang ay dahil daw sa pag-shift ng Duterte administration sa Cash-Based Budgeting. Ito raw ang paliwanag kung bakit mas maliit ang budget na tinatalakay natin ngayon—the proposed budget kumpara sa budget ng kasalukuyang taon. From P3.767 trillion for 2018, for the first time in 10 years, ang P3.757 trillion ay mas maliit na proposed budget for next year. Ang paliwanag nila ay dahil daw iyan sa Cash-Based Budgeting System, at makikita rin natin na ang isang epekto ng shift na ito, mayorya ng line agencies ay nabawasan ang budget. Mas maliit ang mga budget nila.

Anu-ano ang mga pinakatinamaan ng pagliit ng budget, isa diyan ang Department of Public Works and Highways, kasama rin diyan ang DepEd, Department of Health, ang NHA na kanina lang ay tinalakay natin, ang DSWD, and so on. Pero kapansin-pansin din at sa iba’t ibang pagkakataon sa tinatakbo ng mga debateng ito sa plenaryo, ni-raise din natin na may mga ahensiya naman na sa kabila ng shift sa Cash-Based Budgeting ay tumaas naman ang budget. Isa diyan ang DILG kanina, tapos isa rin ang DND, including the AFP. Ito ay sa kabila ng hindi naman masasabing outstanding ang record ng DILG na tinalakay natin kanina o ng


DND in terms of utilization of budget. Masasabi pa nga, generally, some agencies within the DND, for example iyong AFP-GHQ, mababa pa nga o relatively poor ang performance in terms of budget utilization. Whereas, many line agencies whose budgets were cut significantly posted utilization rates of greater than 90 percent. Sa kaso ng ilang mga ahensiya within the DND budget, nasa mga 60 plus percent ang utilization. Gayunpaman, may pagtaas pa rin ng pondo.

During the budget hearings, itinanong nga natin, hiningian natin ng paliwanag ang DBM, bakit po ganoon? Kung pagbabatayan natin iyong Cash-Based Budgeting at babatay sa track record ng utilization, hindi dapat binawasan ng budget. Ang paliwanag po ng isang DBM Director, it was based on some Presidential instructions. In other words, na-override iyong basic so-called principles ng Cash-Based Budgeting. These were overridden by Presidential instructions. Binanggit na po o inisa-isa na ni Congresswoman Castro iyong partikular o specific instructions, ano iyong items na nadagdagan pa ang budget? Iyon nga kanina from the sustainment of CAFGU, the purchase of ammunition, the precision-guided rockets and so on.

Actually ang isang puntong gusto ko lang idiin ay sa kabilang banda, kung titingnan naman natin iyong budget ng, halimbawa Department of Education, maraming mga programa nila ang binawasan at binawasan ng malaki ang mga budget. For example, in terms of basic education inputs ng Department of Education, ang pinakamalaking binawasan ang budget nila for classrooms construction which has been reduced by almost 90 percent. For 2018, 47,000 classrooms ang pinondohan; for the next year, a little over 7,000 lamang po ang popondohan.

Isa pang nakakagulat na tinanggalan o binawasan ng budget—textbooks and other instructional materials, reduced by 40 percent; learning tools and equipment, reduced by 47 percent; school-based feeding program, reduced by 25 percent; multi-grade education, reduced by 68 percent; indigenous peoples’ education, reduced by 56 percent; Madrasa education, reduced by 28.7 percent. I raised this point, Mr. Speaker, G. Sponsor, just to again impress upon our colleagues in Congress kung ano ang nangyayari sa kasalukuyang budget.

May slogan po ang mga aktibista, sabi sa slogan: “Libro hindi bala; Classroom hindi bomba.” So, iyon ang panawagan sa kalye ng mga aktibista. Unfortunately, literally, sa budget na tinatalakay natin ngayon, iyong kabaligtaran ang pinopondohan ng Duterte administration. So, may dagdag na pondo, upon Presidential instructions, para sa, sabi nga kanina, “munitions,” provision for ammunition, P452 million. Binawasan nang malaki ang budget sa classrooms samantalang mayroon ditong, again, upon Presidential

instructions, P184.6 million for precision-guided rockets. Ano iyan, bomba, ano?

So, this is not so much a question, I am beginning with an appeal to this Congress na i-consider po natin ang mga priorities na ipinapakita ng Presidente sa Budget na isinumite niya. Dinagdagan ang budget para sa giyera, samantala, binawasan nang malaki ang budget para doon sa mga basic programs ng basic education—iyon na nga iyong binanggit ko, from classrooms to textbooks, pati iyong school feeding, hindi po pinalampas, binawasan nang malaki. So, hopefully, this Congress can exercise its power of the purse and address, particularly, these significant cuts that have been made in education.

So, ngayon, marami na pong naitanong iyong kasamahan ko hinggil sa budget ng DND, so let me pursue some other concerns, in particular. Well, una po si Presidente, pagbalik niya from Jordan, from his trip to Jordan, made statements claiming that he received intelligence from a foreign power that seems to show that there is a plot to oust him by various forces. Later on, parang sinegundahan na ito ng AFP, at ito na nga iyong tinatawag ngayon na “Red October Plot.” In particular, no less than the Chief of Staff of the AFP went on national television, describing in detail this Red October Plot. And, so, specifically pinapangalanan po iyong, of course, iyong Communist Party of the Philippines, na mayroon daw sabwatan sa mga miyembro ng Oposisyon, at pinangalanan pa rito ang Tindig Pilipinas at saka ang MAGDALO, at saka iyong mga supporters daw ni former Chief Justice Sereno, at sila daw ay may balak na magsama-sama para tanggalin sa puwesto si Pangulong Duterte.

Tapos, may binanggit din si General Parlade, Parlade po ba, who is, I believe, Operations. Well, one of the Generals of the AFP claiming that a part, key component of the so-called “Red October Plot” is an Aklasan. Ano daw iyong Aklasan na sa October daw ay maglulunsad ng mga welga ang mga manggagawa sa iba’t ibang pabrika including—let me see my reference—let me quote. Okay, ang sabi po rito, again, this is a General Parlade, Assistant Deputy Chief for Operations—Brigadier General Antonio Parlade, claiming that it is a nationwide attempt to close our manufacturing industries. So, ang target daw po ay magkaroon ng mga welga sa Monde, Nissin, PLDT and Jollibee. Tapos ihinalintulad, ang model daw po nito ay iyong nangyaring welga sa Nutri-Asia sa Marilao, Bulacan. So, ang concern po natin dito, of course, iyong claim ng AFP na may layunin ang CPP-NPA na pabagsakin ang gobyerno ay hindi naman iyon—that is beyond debate, that is their stated objective from the time they were founded, so iyon talaga ang sinasabi nila. Gusto nila bilang isang revolutionary organization, gusto nilang pabagsakin ang gobyerno, pero ang sinasabi daw nila, nakipagsabwatan sa oposisyon—sa


legal na oposisyon at ngayon, sinasabi din nila na iyong mga welga ng mga manggagawa ay bahagi din daw ng so-called Red October plot na ito.

So, of course, ang concern po natin dito ay hindi naman first time na ginawa ito ng AFP na iuugnay ang mga legal na protesta o pagkilos ng mamamayan sa CPP-NPA at nang sa ganoon ay itinuturing nilang iligal ang mga aksyong ito, eventhough, iyong mga welga, alam naman natin na bahagi ng constitutionally guaranteed and protected rights ng mga manggagawang Pilipino ito. So, ang tanong ho natin, ano po ang pinagbabatayan ng AFP sa mga claims nila na ito? Let me also note that all the legal entities—by legal, I mean the opposition groups that the AFP has mentioned as being part of the plot from the MAGDALO to the Tindig Pilipinas group, though others have denied that there is such a thing as Red October plot. Gayunpaman, paulit-ulit pa rin na binabanggit ng AFP ito, so let me also mention, nagpa-interview po si AFP Chief of Staff Galvez. Later on, mayroong nangyaring raid sa isang farm sa Teresa, Rizal at naglabas kaagad ng statement ang AFP or unit of the AFP na nag-claim, this is a statement made by Brigadier General Arnulfo Marcelo B. Burgos Jr., Commander of the 202nd Infantry (UNIFIER) Brigade, who made the claim that that certain seized firearms in that raid in the farm in Teresa were proof of the Red October plot.

So, iniugnay pa rin nila ito sa Red October plot. However, as we also know, iyong NBI naman ay naglabas ng mga pahayag na nagsasabing walang kinalaman sa Red October plot iyong raid sa farm na iyan sa Teresa, Rizal. Sabi nila, operasyon nila ito, and they were acting on a complaint by a businessman that a business partner was plotting against him. May threat sa buhay noong businessman na ito, at sinasabi nila na ang operasyon nila ito ay walang kinalaman sa Red October plot. So, we have here another agency of government directly contradicting the statement being made by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. So, una pong tanong, ano po ang—saan po nanggagaling ang AFP? Why are they making these claims that have been vigorously denied by all parties that they have accused as being part of this plot?

REP. BIAZON. Well, Your Honor, with regard to the question of the source of the Armed Forces intelligence information and some documents they gathered that have given rise to that discovery, I am just the one using the term “discovery,” Your Honor, but this is being called the “Red October plot.” Of course, there would be denials, but the AFP stands on its ground that it has intelligence information and documents that would support the revelation, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TINIO. So, pinangangatawanan pa rin ng AFP ang kanilang pahayag na mayroong Red October plot?

REP. BIAZON. Well, it is logical, of course, that if there are people or groups who are named, that they would—they will issue a denial. But as mentioned earlier, Your Honor, well, the AFP stands on its information.

REP. TINIO. Well, it is also logical, Mr. Speaker, that if there is no basis for an accusation, then, those that have been accused will deny, hindi po ba? So, in an interview published on October 1 by ABS-CBN news, General Parlade was quoted as saying that, “The military is ready to bare its intelligence reports on the issue”, meaning the Red October plot, “in an executive session with lawmakers, when its officials attend a budget hearing on Tuesday.”

Can this statement be confirmed? Nandito po ba si General Parlade?

REP. BIAZON. General Parlade is not around, Mr. Speaker.

REP. TINIO. He is not around. Okay, well, he was quoted in the media as having said this. So, ibig sabihin, mayroong hawak na intelligence ang AFP bilang tuntungan ng Red October plot na ito. Now, as the General said to the media, is the AFP ready and willing to share that intelligence with Congress, para matapos na po ang debate rito?

REP. BIAZON. Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, there is a concern that compromising the sources of the intelligence information will happen if there is a revelation in a session of Congress, Your Honor.

REP. TINIO. Well, ang statement po ni General Parlade to the media is the AFP will share it in an executive session. So, kung mag-executive session po tayo, handa po bang ibahagi ng AFP ang sinasabi nilang hawak nilang ebidensiya kaugnay sa Red October plot na ito?

REP. BIAZON. In executive session, Your Honor, the AFP would be ready to share it with lawmakers when they are in executive session.

REP. TINIO. Well, then, Mr. Speaker, I move that we convert this session into an executive session.



It was 3:56 a.m.





The distinguished Sponsor is recognized.

REP. BIAZON. Yes, Mr. Speaker, my distinguished colleague. There was an agreement that we may pursue this question of an executive session through the Committee on National Defense and Security, Your Honor.

REP. TINIO. Well, thank you for that commitment from the Sponsor and from the House leadership. So, I am satisfied with that. Para sa akin ay importante po kasi ito, ilang linggo nang nagpapahayag ang AFP na mayroon silang hawak na impormasyon kaya ipinalalaganap nila itong so-called Red October plot. So, mabuti pa po na magkaalaman na. At so far, wala pa pong venue para maibahagi ng AFP sa Kongresong ito ang so-called intelligence nila. You know, I am satisfied with that commitment, and you know, it is clear on the record. With that, I end my interpellation, Mr. Speaker.

Maraming salamat po.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). Thank you very much, Representative Tinio.


REP. NOEL. The next Member who will interpellate our Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, is Rep. Arlene D. Brosas of GABRIELA Party-List.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). The Representative from GABRIELA Party-List, the Hon. Arlene D. Brosas, is recognized.

REP. BROSAS. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. G. Sponsor, will he yield to a few questions, few

lang po?


REP. BROSAS. Yes. Very specific po ito. Tuluy-tuloy ang pagtaas ng budget ng DND habang consistent naman ang pagkaltas ng budget ng mga basic services na dapat ay naihahatid natin sa mga mamamayan. Kasabay po ng pag-akyat ng budget na ito ay ang pagtaas din ng allocation for Intelligence Funds at Confidential Funds. Kailangang malaman kung magkano po ba ang Intel at Confidential Funds bawat taon, at ano pong porsiyento ang itinaas nito bawat taon. Ilang percent po ang pagtaas ng budget ng DND, kahit po iyong particular, mula last year?

REP. BIAZON. Wala naman pong ipinagtaas ang Intelligence Funds ng DND kumpara po 2018 at 2019.

In fact, sa Philippine Air Force pa nga po ay bumaba, ganoon din po sa Philippine Navy at even po sa GHQ. Kung in comparison po ng 2018 to 2019, bumaba po ang Intelligence Funds.

REP. BROSAS. What about noong 2017 po na data ninyo?

REP. BIAZON. Habang kinukuha po iyong datos ng 2017, ibibigay ko lang po iyong—yes, ang 2017 po, ang total niya ay P1.6 billion, samantalang sa 2018 ay naging P3.3 billon, pero bumalik po sa P1.7 billion para po sa 2019.

REP. BROSAS. Okay. Dahil po ministerial lamang ang role ng COA sa auditing ng Intel Funds, paano po tayo nakasisiguro na nagagamit nang wasto at hindi nako-corrupt ang DND Intel and Confidential Funds? And, can you cite cases na mayroon pong irregularities sa Intel Funds ng mga nakaraan?

REP. BIAZON. Well, mayroon pong report ang pamunuan doon po mismo sa Office of the President, and even though my distinguished colleague said that it is ministerial, the COA still has a hand in overseeing the expenditure of this Intelligence Funds, so there is still an accountability, Your Honor.

REP. BROSAS. Yes, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor. May available po ba tayo regarding sa unliquidated Intel Funds under the DND’s own audit?

REP. BIAZON. There is no report, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, of unliquidated expenditures for Intelligence Funds of the DND.

REP. BROSAS. Considering na ganyan po iyong sagot, mayroon po bang procedure kung may unliquidated ang DND?

REP. BIAZON. The COA has its own procedures, Your Honor, which apply to all agencies of the government, and it has applied those procedures when needed, Your Honor.

REP. BROSAS. Okay. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor, kahit po mayroon tayong pag-increase sa pondo ng intel, nangyari pa rin iyong Marawi siege at nagresulta nga ito sa martial law sa Mindanao. The prevention of said incident was blamed on the lack or failure of intel, kaya, parang malaking usapin po sa atin na may pondo tayo, pero mayroon tayong lack or failure of intel.

REP. BIAZON. Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, just to put it in the right perspective, it was not a failure or a lack of intel, but a misappreciation of intelligence


information as what was revealed by the Armed Forces. So, hindi naman po talaga nagkulang o kaya mali iyong information, pero binabasa rin po kasi iyong mga intel information na iyan, and at a certain level, nagkaroon po ng misappreciation.

REP. BROSAS. Bakit po hindi na-prevent natin iyong ganitong mga issues kung mayroon nga tayong ganitong kalaking Intel Funds?

REP. BIAZON. Well, in fact, nakakilos naman po iyong Armed Forces at that time. In fact, they were on the way to apprehend the suspects. It just broke out, ganoon po kasi siyempre kapag nasa field minsan hindi na natin ma-predict kung paano ang magiging outcome ng isang engkwentro. Mayroon po namang masasabi nating prior action na ginagawa ang AFP noong panahon na iyon, pero iba lang ang naging turnout doon po sa ground.

REP. BROSAS. May ibang ano iyon?

REP. BIAZON. Ibig sabihin ho, papunta iyong tropa para mag-serve ng warrant, para arestuhin, i-apprehend iyong mga suspects, pero pagdating po sa ground nagkaroon na ng engkwentro. It is not exactly correct for us to say na the AFP was not able to do anything na hindi na-detect, kasi nga misappreciation din ng intelligence information iyong isa sa mga naging dahilan ng pangyayari, Your Honor.

REP. BROSAS. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor, therein lies my dilemma, kasi parang justifiable ba na nag-i-increase tayo ng DND budget tapos nangyari iyong Marawi siege, tapos nagresulta ito hindi lang sa pagkamatay ng mga tropa kundi ang pagkawala rin at pagkamatay ng maraming civilians, at pagkakaroon ng napakaraming displaced natin na mga citizen, at ngayon ay nagkaroon tayo ng Task Force Marawi na pinaplano natin—magkano po iyong budget para sa Task Force Marawi at hanggang kalian po siya mangyayari?

REP. BIAZON. Well, una po, iyong statement po, iyong pahayag na tumaas ang budget ng DND-AFP, balikan lang po natin iyong unang napag-usapan kanina na ang malaking bahagi ng pagtaas ng budget ay dahil po sa suweldo o personnel. Kanina nga po, natukoy nga natin at naipakita na iyong Intelligence Fund, in fact, bumaba pa. Again, para lang po mailagay sa tamang konteksto iyong pag-increase noong budget o paglaki noong budget ay mostly talaga sa suweldo ng ating mga sundalo. Ang tinutukoy pa nga po natin na intelligence ay bumaba pa.

REP. BROSAS. Yes, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor, nevertheless, iyong Intelligence Fund po ay nandiyan

at ginamit siya, at ito iyong naging resulta. So, what I am talking about is iyong naging resulta po niya ay tantamount sa nagdadagdag tayo ngayon ng malaking budget para sa rehabilitation ng Marawi, tapos ang daming mga pangangailangan at displaced iyong mga tao, libu-libo, ilang daang libo iyong displaced na mga tao tapos nanghihingi iyong Task Force Marawi ng budget na tatagal pa hanggang—kailan po ba tatagal iyong rehabilitation and ano pang malinaw na plano ng DND dito?

REP. BIAZON. Mr. Speaker, my distinguished colleague, the rehabilitation of Marawi was given a timetable of about five years, but the funds for it was not made part of the budget of the Department of National Defense. It is a Special Fund. Raising the point of why are we still putting in funds for intel basing it on what happened in Marawi, the government would be probably remiss if it did not provide resources for us to prevent future occurrences. Kumbaga ho, kung sasabihin natin na huwag nating bigyan ng pondo kasi noong nakaraan ay nangyari iyan, eh baka lalo hong mangyari ulit sa susunod. Magiging pabaya po ang pamahalaan, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. BROSAS. Pero , Mr. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor, magkano na po iyong budget natin for the Task Force Marawi? And may aside pa po akong tanong diyan. Habang hinahanap iyon ay itatanong ko po, mayroon kayong miyembro sa Task Force Marawi na Moro?

REP. BIAZON. I beg your indulgence, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor. Could you please repeat the question?

REP. BROSAS. Yes. The first question was about the budget. Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, magkano po iyong budget ng buong Task Force Marawi, iyon po, or kahit iyong sa DND? And second ko pong question ay it is about the membership of the Task Force Marawi. Mayroon po bang Moro na kasama sa Task Force Marawi? Since rehabilitation po iyong concern ng Marawi at ang kalakhan po ng nakatira doon ay Moro, ang representation ng Moro ay mahalaga lalo na sa pagbabangon muli ng Marawi.

REP. BIAZON. With regard to the budget, Your Honor, for this year, there was an allocation of P10 billion, and for 2019, an amount of P7 billion is preferred.

REP. BROSAS. Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, mas malaki po itong di hamak sa ipinopondo natin simula noong wala pa iyong Marawi siege, ano po?

Tama po ba kasi special...


REP. BIAZON. These amounts are allocated specifically for the rehabilitation.

REP. BROSAS. Specifically po, yes. Thank you, Mr. Sponsor. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Iyon po ay allotted lang para doon. Parang nagdagdag talaga tayo ng pondo particularly para doon sa rehabilitation.

REP. BIAZON. Well, the massive devastation of Marawi requires us to invest in rehabilitation, Your Honor.

REP. BROSAS. Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, mayroon na po ba tayong tantya ng kung magkano rin iyong nagastos during the operation? Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, sa bomba, sa lahat ng mga ginamit ng Armed Forces kaugnay diyan sa operations ng...

REP. BIAZON. Yes, for the expenses that were asked of by my distinguished colleague, Your Honor, it amounts to around P5 billion.

REP. BROSAS. P5 billion and for the rehabilitation P7...

REP. BIAZON. It is for the entire operation, Your Honor.

REP. BROSAS. Yes, P7 billion, and my question was about the Moro representation in the Task Force Marawi?

REP. BIAZON. Distinguished colleague, Mr. Speaker, there is Task Force Bangon and there are participants coming from LGUs, who are from the Moro community and the concerned agencies will just provide a list to the distinguished Representative so that it will be seen who these members are.

REP. BROSAS. So, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor, marami po ba iyong miyembro ng Task Force Marawi? And...

REP. BIAZON. It is an inter-agency body, Your Honor. So, there are...

REP. BROSAS. But you are not, Mr. Sponsor, ...

REP. BIAZON. ... several members.

REP. BROSAS. ... Mr. Speaker, you are not sure kung mayroong Moro representation sa—kung bakit ko po itinatanong, Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, ay dahil mahalaga po sa rehabilitation ng Marawi ang representation na iyon.

REP. BIAZON. The information given to me is that there are participants from the local government units, who are Moro, Your Honor.

REP. BROSAS. Okay. Kasi po, Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, iyong rehabilitation po has to do with kung paano din iyong social justice sa mga Moro at iyong kalagayan nila ay maire-reflect lamang ng mga Moro people din at mahalagang-mahalaga po na may representation sila doon para makita nila kung paano talaga iyong mga communities nila at kasama sila sa nagpaplano at nag-aayos ng kinasadlakan nila or iyong kalagayan nila.

REP. BIAZON. Well, the representation of the Moro people is adequate considering the participation of the local governments and, of course, even our own colleagues here in the House of Representatives, who are very active in looking into what the government is doing for Marawi. So we believe that the concern of the Lady is well taken care of, Mr. Speaker.

REP. BROSAS. Okay, thank you, Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker. My next question is, iyong tungkol po sa E-CLIP. Ano po iyong Clip na pinapatupad ng DND?

REP. BIAZON. It is the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program for Surrenderees.

REP. BROSAS. Ito po ba, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Sponsor, ay ipinapatupad na ng DND sa kasalukuyan at kailan po ito? Dahil, I believe, mayroon pong joint circular ang DND at DILG kaugnay dito.

REP. BIAZON. Yes, the program, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, is, currently, being implemented after the IRR was published last July. The program provides for integration of surrenderees, giving them firearms remuneration, training and reintegration into mainstream society, Your Honor.

REP. BROSAS. Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, mayroon po ba kayong reports kaugnay dito and kung mayroon nang na-accomplish and ano po, saan po nanggaling iyong budget na ginagamit ng DND sa E-CLIP niya kung ipinapatupad na niya ito dati pa?

REP. BIAZON. It is funded by the government, Your Honor, through the DBM and, as requested by my distinguished colleague, our performance report will be submitted.

REP. BROSAS. I believe, Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, walang budget sa kanya last year, pero itong 2018 ay nagpo-propose ng budget, so saan po kinuha ng DND ang budget niya ng E-CLIP ng nakaraan? Because sa


Mindanao, mayroon pong mga testimonies of people na nagsasabi na sila ay—actually, narinig ko pa nga iyan sa surrenderees.

REP. BIAZON. Yes. There was a previous allocation for CLIP. This year’s appropriation is for its Enhanced CLIP, so it is a new allocation, Your Honor.

REP. BROSAS. Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, saan po galing iyong pondo before? If it were not allocated by the national government, saan kinukuha ng DND ang kanyang budget para doon?

REP. BIAZON. Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, the appropriation or the allocation came from the DBM, but the concerned agency will provide a specific identification of the fund first. It is not just available at this moment, Your Honor.

REP. BROSAS. Okay, Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker. Can you furnish us a copy of that kung saan galing or particular sa DBM…


REP. BROSAS. … para makita po natin?

REP. BIAZON. Yes, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker, and I was also informed that DILG had a part in it. It was released to the DILG, Your Honor. So, we will just submit, Your Honor, the information or report on the said fund.

REP. BROSAS. Yes, Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, can you also—isama ninyo na po iyong report para doon sa accomplishment kung ilan iyong surrenderees, et cetera. Hindi na po ako magpapalawig doon, pero iyon po iyong mga ilan sa mga katanungan, tapos, I will just get na lang iyong mga ano, para makapag-analyze pa po ng ibang mga details.

Mayroon pa pong tanong. Ano na po iyong tungkol sa Joint Military Exercise na ginagawa ngayon with the US? Ilan pong Joint Military Exercise ang mayroon tayo with the US? Ano pong kasunduan ang mga pinirmahan natin sa kanila?

REP. BIAZON. Well, if it is with the US, Your Honor, basically, it is the basis, the Mutual Defense Treaty, the Visiting Forces Agreement, and for next year, there are about 281 activities proposed, Your Honor.

REP. BROSAS. Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, did we release funds for those agreement? Mayroon po ba tayong gagastusin? Kasi, I remember, Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, we allotted P125 million para sa EDCA noong nakaraan. Ngayon po ba ay ano ang ating commitment diyan?

REP. BIAZON. Although there are some joint expenditures, Your Honor, most of the expenses are shouldered by our partner-country. The activities range from interoperability training and, of course, humanitarian assistance Your Honor.

REP. BROSAS. Thank you, Mr. Sponsor, Mr. Speaker.

Hindi po tayo nag-a-agree, particular ang Representation na ito. Tayo pa ang gumagastos sa mga pasilidad at sa mga military exercises na ginaganap. Dahil alam ninyo naman po na parang iyong ating budget ay para nga sa serbisyo, para sa mga pangangailangan, basic na pangangailangan ng mga tao. Alam po natin iyong mga kakulangan lalo na dito sa mga interpellation ng nakaraan kung gaano ang mga backlog mula sa kalusugan, edukasyon at pabahay. Tapos, naglalaan tayo ng budget, counterpart man iyan or anong tawag dyan, but the fact na nagbibigay tayo ng budget sa ibang bansa para sa mga facilities, exercises and ganyan, gumagastos ang taumbayan para diyan. So, iyan po iyong mga ano natin, siguro and ipapaalala ko lang po ay iyong ilang mga reports na hinihingi namin. With that, I will end my interpellation.

Thank you, Mr. Sponsor; thank you, Mr. Speaker.

REP. BIAZON. Thank you.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). Thank you, the Honorable Brosas.


REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, the next Member who will interpellate our Sponsor is the Hon. Carlos Zarate of BAYAN MUNA Party-List.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). The Representative from BAYAN MUNA Party-List, the Hon. Carlos Isagani T. Zarate, is recognized.

REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Magandang umaga po sa ating lahat. Pwede ho bang magtanong ng ilang clarificatory questions sa ating Sponsor?

REP. BIAZON. Maaari po, Your Honor.

REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Your Honor; thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bago po ako magtanong, gusto ko lang i-follow up iyong commitment ng Kagawaran noong panahon na nagpresenta sila ng budget, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker na may isang concern na iprenisenta si Congressman Casilao, at ang commitment ng Secretary ng Department of National Defense ay paiimbestigahan ito. Gusto ko lang malaman kung ano na ang naging resulta ng imbestigasyong ito. I am referring specifically doon


sa kanyang ni-raise na concern na mayroong isang opisyal ng sundalo na nagsabi sa Surigao del Sur na naipasara na ang isang eskwelahan ng mga Lumad.

REP. BIAZON. Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleague, ginawan po ng review ng ating Kagawaran iyong nai-report noon ng dating kasamahan doon sa budget hearing na ating isinagawa. Ayon doon sa kanilang report ay nagkaroon—iyong kanilang sagot doon sa ating public hearing ay wala pong pagkakaiba kung saan sinasabi na ang pagsasara ay wala naman pong kinalaman ang Armed Forces—noong pagsara noong eskwelahan. Naging resulta iyan ng pag-operate naman ng isang DepEd accredited school, doon po sa parehong lugar na iyon.

REP. ZARATE. Salamat, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker. If there is such a report as committed, an investigation and a report may—pwede ho bang humingi tayo noong ng kopya ng imbestigasyon na iyon at ang report na ginawa ng Kagawaran, Your Honor?

REP. BIAZON. Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleague, a report will be provided as requested by the Armed Forces.

REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Your Honor. May I go first to some items in the budget, Your Honor.

I looked at the budget for 2017 and I observed that the GHQ of the AFP, iyong disbursements niya ay nasa 42.8 percent lang ng kaniyang kaukulang budget. Bakit ganito ho ang naging disbursement ng GHQ, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker?

REP. BIAZON. In the 2017?

REP. ZARATE. 2017—kung nagbago ito, ano ang naging disbursement niya pagdating ng 2018, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker?

REP. BIAZON. For the DND Proper, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, we have a report here from the DBM, disbursement rate is at 88.47 percent. Obligation rate…

REP. ZARATE. Ang tinatanong ko po…

REP. BIAZON. … is at 93.75 percent.

REP. ZARATE. Ang tinatanong ko po, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker is…

REP. BIAZON. GHQ.

REP. ZARATE. GHQ.

REP. BIAZON. GHQ, yes. The obligation rate of the GHQ in 2017 is at 95.5 percent, Your Honor. Disbursement rate is at 77.47 percent, Your Honor.

REP. ZARATE. What about sa 2018 po?

REP. BIAZON. The figures that we have here for 2018 are just up to May 2018, Your Honor. Would the distinguished colleague be interested in the figures because they are not complete for the entire year?

REP. ZARATE. At any rate, Your Honor, may I go to another item in the budget. Sa proposed budget for 2019, I also observed na parang it is top heavy ano, where 83 percent ay nasa National Capital Region, CO of National Capital Region. Bakit ho dito nakalagak ang napakalaking pondo ng Kagawaran, Your Honor?

REP. BIAZON. The question, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, is why is the bulk of the Capital Outlays in the NCR? Because the modernization program and the pension, Your Honor, are loaded at the headquarters here in the NCR.

REP. ZARATE. So, this is the only reason—that the modernization program of the AFP mainly ay nakalagak…

REP. BIAZON. Is administered here.

REP. ZARATE. …dito po sa NCR?

REP. BIAZON. NCR, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker.

REP. ZARATE. Your Honor, Mr. Speaker. Next, doon sa budgetary adjustments, Your Honor, sa 2017 General Appropriations Act natin, ang nakalagay na doon na budget natin is P137 billion, but iyong actual na ginastos ng Kagawaran ay umabot siya sa P212 billion.

May I inquire, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker, if you only have P137 billion as budget, but actually you spent P212 billion? Saan ho nanggaling iyong diperensiya noon from P137 to P212 billion, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker?

REP. BIAZON. Mr. Speaker, are those 2017 figures what the Gentleman is asking for?

REP. ZARATE. In the 2017 General Appropriations Act, ang atin hong budget ay P137 billion, pero iyong aktuwal noong pinagkumpara na natin iyong datus, iyong aktuwal na ginastos ng Kagawaran ay P212 billion. Saan ho nanggaling iyong diperensiya noon?

REP. BIAZON. Some of the expenditures during


that year, Mr. Speaker, were inter-agency transfers, one of which is from the activities for ASEAN. There were budgetary adjustments, transfers from the contingent fund, from the DND DRRM fund, the modernization or the MPBF, and the pension and gratuity fund, Mr. Speaker.

REP. ZARATE. So, P75 billion, galing ito sa ibang pondo, Your Honor, at inilipat…

REP. BIAZON. Yes, Mr. Speaker. It was transferred as part of the budgetary adjustments, that is why the new general appropriations for that year was P137 billion, but in the end, it totaled to available appropriations of P222 billion, Mr. Speaker.

REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.Puwede na lang hong mabigyan din ang Kinatawang

ito at ang Kongreso ng detailed na pinagkagastusan noong aktuwal in 2017 na diperensiya noong P137 billion sa GAA?

REP. BIAZON. Duly noted, Mr. Speaker.

REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.My next question, Mr. Speaker, nito hong nakaraang

linggo, naging isang kontrobersiyal iyong isang warship ng US na dumaan dito sa disputed islands sa South China Sea or the West Philippine Sea. And to some analysts, this action of the US, na dumaan iyong kanilang warship doon, is bound to draw the ire of Beijing, of China especially now that they have these heightened tensions, both militarily and economically, dahil nagkaroon sila ng mga trade wars. May I inquire, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker, ano po ang naging tindig dito ng ating Kagawaran, the Defense and the AFP, considering that in the past years ay naging kapansin-pansin na habang nagiging agresibo ang Tsina dito sa mga disputed islands na ito ay mukhang naging tahimik at wala tayong ginagawa bilang isang bansa para mapigilan itong kanilang aggressive actions, Mr. Speaker?

REP. BIAZON. Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, with regard to the passage of the American warships, the Philippines saw this as or we acknowledged this as part of the freedom-of-navigation operations of the United States Navy operating in international waters. So, we just looked at it that way, Your Honor.

REP. ZARATE. Puwede hong simpleng sabihing ganoon, pero alam naman natin na iyong area na iyan ay isang pinag-aawayang area ng maraming bansa, at lalo’t higit ang Pilipinas, kaya nga napakainteresado ng Amerika at interesado rin ang Tsina na kuning kakampi ang Pilipinas sa mga usaping ito, ang sigalot

diyan sa West Philippine Sea. At ito iyong isang area na tinitingnan nating napabayaan ng ating Departamento in the past years. I am not saying just for this administration, but even in previous administrations. At ito nga ngayon, under the present administration, iyong kaniyang foreign policy, minsan, o hindi lang minsan, madalas nakapikit ang ating mga mata sa agresibong ginagawa ng Tsina kapalit noong kaniyang mga pautang at kung anu-ano pa, o mga baril na ibinibigay sa Pilipinas. Samantala, hinahayaan din natin na ang Amerika rin, iyong kaniyang assertion noong kaniyang military and economic political might dito sa Asya-Pasipiko ay kaniya ring ginagawa. Kaya itinatanong po natin ito, saan ho ba talaga titindig ang Pilipinas dito, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker?

REP. BIAZON. Well, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, aside from the United States, other nations, such as the United Kingdom and Australia, also conduct similar operations in those areas, and with us recognizing it as operations in international waters, it is also tied in with our won claims because the recognition of international waters is connected to our assertion of our own exclusive economic zones and territorial waters because after all, it is all under the ambit of the UNCLOS. So, we view it as part of an international interaction in that part of the world, Mr. Speaker.

REP. ZARATE. So, you are saying, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker, na this action of the US, in that part of the West Philippine Sea, is a welcome one?

REP. BIAZON. It is something that we can benefit from because freedom-of-navigation operations is basically an assertion of agreements entered into by different countries.

REP. ZARATE. Yes, even if this will draw the ire of Beijing, because, you know, Beijing is …

REP. BIAZON. Well, that is a matter between China and the United States. We can be just observers of whatever reactions they have against the United States.

REP. ZARATE. With due respect, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker, we cannot just be observers because, as I have said earlier, nakaokupa na nga, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, ang China sa ilang mga isla dito sa West Philippine Sea. Kung pagbabasehan natin iyong mga nakuhang mga litrato sa mga islang ito, hindi lang ito simpleng tourist spots; they are actually military installations, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker. So, hindi puwedeng napaka-nonchalant noong ating aksyon dito. I think, kailangang mayroong malinaw na tindig ang Pilipinas sa usaping ito, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker.


REP. BIAZON. Well, when this Representation mentioned that we will just be observers, this Representation was just referring to that particular incident of the US warship passing through. But, definitely, with regard to the Philippine claim in the West Philippine Sea, I do not believe we have abandoned that.

REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Your Honor.I will go to another item. Just recently, there was

this article in the Washington Post or Washington Times saying that there is this diaspora of battle-hardened ISIS fighters fleeing Syria and Iraq, and they are returning to Mindanao, a region that is still under a state of martial law. And, in fact, because of this, the State Department, for the first time after this ISIS issue was in the headlines, for the first time, the US State Department labelled the Philippines as one of the five areas where terrorist activities that will be launched by ISIS are likely to happen. First was Afghanistan, India, Iraq, Pakistan, then the Philippines.

I also read in one of the papers during a Congressional hearing, General Galvez, the Chief of Staff, said that, in fact, the greatest threat that we have now is really the ISIS. So, may we know, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker, what is really the situation now or the status as far as the threat coming from this group, the ISIS, is concerned, not only in Mindanao but the entire country, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker.

REP. BIAZON. Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, as of the moment, we can still hang on to the victory that we had in Marawi to stave off anything that can be said as a direct threat or an immediate threat from ISIS. We are really more concerned now with local groups such as the BIFF, but definitely, we are in constant coordination with our international allies in case the spread of ISIS indeed becomes an elevated threat here in the country; but as of now, we can safely say that we are still feeling the effects of the victory that we had in Marawi, Mr. Speaker.

REP. ZARATE. Salamat, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker.

Naitanong ko lang ho iyan dahil sinabi ninyong matagumpay ang naging pagdurog sa Marawi City, pero nitong nakaraan lang, dalawang pagsabog ang nangyari sa Mindanao, sa Sultan Kudarat at pati sa North Cotabato or in General Santos City. Kayo na rin ang nagsabi kanina, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker, at inamin na rin ito ng liderato ng Armed Forces of the Philippines, bakit nangyari ang Marawi City o nagkaroon ng kaguluhan sa Marawi—ayaw ninyong aminin na there was a failure of intelligence. Sabi ninyo, misappreciation of intelligence at ito ang tinutungtungan ng katanungan kong iyan na baka sasabihin na naman nating dahil nanalo tayo sa

Marawi, okay na tayo, tapos biglang may sumabog na naman. Along that line, Mr. Speaker, mayroon ho bang kinalaman ang usaping ito kung bakit nailunsad or, according to the Pentagon in one report, hanggang ngayon ay mayroong 200 hanggang 300 mga tropang Amerikano sa ating bansa, lalung-lalo na sa Mindanao, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker? Because you mentioned earlier that we have also to rely on our allies to face this threat.

So, that is my question. Is there a relation as to why up to now, despite the disbandment, so-called, of the joint task force before of the US base in Zamboanga, there are still 200 to 300, as admitted by the Pentagon, US troops based mainly in Mindanao, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker?

REP. BIAZON. Well, there is continuing cooperation between the United States and the Philippines, and earlier, there was also mention of the training exercises. So, that is part of the activities that are being done there, Mr. Speaker.

REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.May we just again confirm, Mr. Speaker, if these

training exercises are part of that so-called Operation Pacific Eagle because it was already announced by the Pentagon, that there is this kind of operation.

REP. BIAZON. Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, my distinguished colleague made mention of an “Operation Pacific Eagle,” if I got it correctly.

REP. ZARATE. Yes, Your Honor.

REP. BIAZON. The Armed Forces is not privy to that operation, but we do have some technical assistance coming from United States forces, but it is not part of such an operation, Your Honor.

REP. ZARATE. How is that possible, Your Honor, when the United States self-announced that there is this Operation Pacific Eagle involving cooperation with the Armed Forces of the Philippines? In fact, there was mention made of a budget that will be given by virtue of that operation, Your Honor.

REP. BIAZON. Yes, it was explained to this Representation, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, that Operation Pacific Eagle covers a wide area, even outside the Philippines, pertaining to other countries. Although the Philippines is included, the Philippine Armed Forces is not privy to those activities there, but again, we do acknowledge that there is technical assistance being given by the US Armed Forces to the AFP, Mr. Speaker.

REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker.


So, it is not entirely correct or true, because matagal ko na kasing itinanong ito, Your Honor, in our budget briefing, and even during budget Committee hearings, if the DND or the AFP is aware of Operation Pacific Eagle. Only now lang nila inamin na they are aware of that. I know that hindi lang naman Pilipinas ang kabahagi noong Operation Pacific Eagle na iyan, because that is the new security plan of the United States in this part of the Pacific Region.

Are you saying now, Mr. Speaker, that, in fact, there are exercises and trainings involved in line with this Operation Pacific Eagle? Is that what Your Honor was saying earlier?

REP. BIAZON. As far as the Armed Forces of the Philippines is concerned, it is not privy to Operation Pacific Eagle, but there are …

REP. ZARATE. If not the Armed Forces, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker, what …

REP. BIAZON. But there is technical assistance being given to us and there is cooperation with the American Armed Forces, Mr. Speaker. So, the operation being talked about may be just on the side of the Americans, Mr. Speaker.

REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.I will go now to another item. These past days,

there were reports that, just for the record, Mr. Speaker, because there is a new budget for the AFP’s modernization, groups are now lobbying so that they can get a share of the military hardware that are supposed to be bought. Now, there were even reports, Mr. Speaker, that say that some groups are also reviving the failed purchase of the 16 Bell 412 helicopters from Canada. Just for the record, Mr. Speaker, what is the policy of the DND or Armed Forces on this issue?

REP. BIAZON. Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, just for clarification, the policy or position with regard to …

REP. ZARATE. Position, position of …

REP. BIAZON. …the Bell helicopters, the ones that were cancelled?

REP. ZARATE. Is there a plan to revive the purchase of these helicopters, Your Honor?

REP. BIAZON. The situation, Your Honor, can be described as back to zero. The Armed Forces is now looking at other options that would fill the requirement that was left vacant by the cancellation of the contract or the order.

REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Your Honor.Itinatanong ko lang ho ito dahil nitong mga

nakaraang panahon nga ay naging kontrobersiyal iyong sa Navy. Tapos ngayon, dahil mayroon na namang napakalaking budget, may mga umuugong na naman na mayroong mga grupong ganito, Davao Group, nagla-lobby para makupo nila iyong proyektong ito. At, dahil lumalabas ang mga usaping ito, mayroon ho bang ginagawa ang DND or the AFP, for that matter, to stop these kinds of stories that there is a group lobbying for the DND –para ibigay itong mga proyektong ito, Your Honor?

REP. BIAZON. Well, the DND would stick to the procedures of procurement. They would not put to risk the lives of our soldiers who would be using this equipment. And, of course, they will not compromise the effectivity of the Armed Forces. So, they will ensure that the procurement process will be in order, Your Honor.

REP. ZARATE. Huling tanong related to that, nakarating ba sa DND o sa AFP itong mga usaping ito na may umiikot na mga istorya na may nagla-lobby for this?

REP. BIAZON. Well, Mr. Speaker, as my distinguished colleague described it, rumors are just rumors. The Armed Forces of the Philippines has defense procurement—Defense Acquisition System—to ensure that the integrity of procurement of equipment needed by the Armed Forces is done in a proper way.

REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Your Honor. We will leave it at that.

Last item, the peace negotiations between the government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front is still suspended, or to some, it is terminated, and malinaw na nitong mga nakaraang mga panahon ay matindi ang pagtutol ng security sector, especially the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the DND, sa resumption ng usapang pangkapayapaan. When it was suspended last June, ang sinabi ng Malacañang ay kailangan nila ng tatlong buwan para pag-aralan ito, i-review ang mga related document na napagkasunduan ng mga negotiating panel while, at the same time, konsultahin iyong mga stakeholder.

May I know, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker, what is now the stand of the DND and the Armed Forces of the Philippines in relation to peace negotiations between the Armed Forces––between the government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines? In relation to that, earlier this month, some members of the Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Committee of this House have initiated a resolution calling for the resumption of the talks.


REP. BIAZON. Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, the tact of the administration is to go to localized peace negotiations. It is an approach that is being pursued now by the administration.

REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Your Honor.Localized negotiation—as earlier mentioned by

our colleague, Congressman Alejano, this rebellion has been ongoing for almost five decades, and the stage of the negotiation now is at the point where ang pinag-uusapan ay iyong agreement on socio-economic reforms. Among those items is, for example, agrarian reform and rural development. Your Honor, these kinds of issues or problems cannot be solved locally. So, how is it that the tack is now to engage in localized talks when these problems, for example, agrarian reform and rural development, cannot be solved by just a local government unit or in one locality? So, if we are looking at trying to address the root causes of the armed conflict, then certainly, that is not the way to resolve the root cause of the armed conflict, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker.

REP. BIAZON. Well, it is seen that by going local, the specific concerns of each locality would be addressed. Of course, the solutions would come from the national government. It may be part of an overall program that it will adopt, but knowing the intricacies of a particular locality would enable the government to address specifically the concerns of those living in that locality. So, there is also wisdom in that. Kasi kung ang kausap natin hindi na ho nararamdaman kung ano talaga ang nangyayari sa grassroots, paano ho natin masosolusyunan iyong problema noong mga nagdurusa sa grassroots. Probably it is just coming from that logic, Your Honor.

REP. ZARATE. Certainly, yes. Thank you, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker.

Certainly, Your Honor, you will agree that isang malaking usapin bakit nagkaroon pa rin ng rebellion in our country ay usapin ng lupa. That is why I cited that dahil doon sa 1992 Hague Joint Declaration, iyan, ang isang nakitang magiging posibleng solusyon dito sa halos limang dekadang rebelyon na sa ating bayan, iyong i-address iyong usapin ng lupa. At ito na nga iyong pinag-uusapan ngayon ng dalawang panel at mayroon nang mga draft agreement to that effect. So, lilinawin ko lang po, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker, na ang kasagutan po ba doon sa pagsuspinde ng tatlong buwan, ang pinal na naging tindig ngayon ng pamahalaan ay isantabi na, ibasura na ang isang pormal na pag-uusap on a nationwide scale at ang kanyang magiging tunguhin na ay ang so-called localized talks, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker? Iyon na po ba ang kanyang panig?

REP. BIAZON. Sa kasalukuyan iyon po ang tinatahak na direksiyon, pero siyempre po, hindi naman ho natin isasara ang pintuan nang tuluyan kung sakaling makakita ho tayo ng magandang oportunidad sa ibang paraan.

Siyempre ho, in the pursuit of peace, we cannot shut the door to other options, but we will work with what we have right now and try to take advantage of what we have at the moment, Your Honor.

REP. ZARATE. Thank you, Your Honor.Naitanong ko lang din iyan dahil sa halip na itutulak

natin iyong usapang pangkapayapaan at idugtong ko lang ito sa naging katanungan na rin ng mga kasamahan ko kanina, ito nga ang pinalulutang natin itong Red October na mayroong nagpaplanong ouster. Samantalang kung hindi natin nga—halimbawa, doon sa usapin ng Marawi, sabi ninyo, there is a failure of appreciation of intelligence. Ito namang may sumabog sa Sultan Kudarat at General Santos City, despite Mindanao being in a state of martial law, ay nalulusutan kayo, itong sinasabing Red October na pilit pinagdudugtung-dugtong ang mga kuwento, kahit na iyong raid sa Rizal na sinabi na ng NBI ay hindi naman ito related sa Red October pilit pinagdudugtong. At talagang ang nakababahala dito, para itong nagbabadya na isantabi na lahat ang usapang pangkapayapaan at magiging hudyat na ito, halimbawa, ng pagiging agresibo, so-called i-aggress ang enemies of the State, at magkakaroon na ng crackdown for whatever dahil ipinalulutang na itong Red October na ito, na para ngang talagang napaka-imaginative noong nag-isip nito, libro pa ni Tom Clancy na very sikat na nobela. Pero ang nakikita natin dito, Your Honor, at sina-cite pa na pinagsasamantalahan daw ang usapin ng bigas. Sino ba ang may kasalanan? Bakit tumaas ang presyo ng bigas? Inamin na rin ng Spokesperson ng Malacañang na kakasuhan nga daw niya ang dating NFA administrator for mismanaging the NFA. At ngayon, ipapasa na part siya ng Red October. Pati ang pagtaas ng presyo ng—kung mag-aklas man ang mga manggagawa dahil hanggang ngayon endo pa rin sila kahit sinabi ng Pangulong Duterte na first day ng kanyang panunungkulan ay wala nang endo, pero ang NutriAsia, PLDT, Jollibee, alam naman natin iyan.

Ang DOLE mismo ay may inilabas na order na marami diyan ay mga endo sila o kontraktuwal, at nag-aklas sila. Kaya itong ganitong mga scenario, Mr. Speaker, talagang kung hindi nakababahala ay nakapanggagalit dahil sa halip na atupagin iyong maiinit na usapin ng ating bayan ngayon, ilalabas na naman sa mga darating na araw ang inflation rate, at tiyak na mas mataas ito sa nakaraang buwan. Kaninong kasalanan iyan? Kabahagi iyan ng Red October dahil inilabas ang inflation rate na iyan sa panahon ng Oktubre. Iyon ho siguro ang dapat pakatingnan ng ating Kagawaran ng DND and Armed Forces of the Philippines.


Nakatatawa nga si General Parlade kasi kung anu-ano na lang ang kanyang kuwento. At ngayon, inamin natin na you are still verifying, validating all these, but while you are validating, you are already tarnishing the names of several individuals including the President of our party, BAYAN MUNA, si Ka Satur Ocampo, na bago lang na-dismiss na naman iyong kasong isinampa sa kanya 10 years ago na gawa-gawa rin.

So, ito, inirerehistro namin ang aming malakas na pagtuligsa at pagtutol dito sa ginagawang ito ng security sector, labeling without yet sufficient evidence. At gaya ng nabanggit ni Congressman Alejano kanina, hindi ba dapat na-validate ninyo muna ito at kung mayroon kayong sapat na ebidensiya, magsampa kayo ng kaso, at hindi na pinangangalanan pa ninyo at pinangangalandakan. Nag-media hopping ang ating Chief of Staff, si General Parlade, sa ABS, sa GMA, sa lahat ng media forum na nandoon. So, iyon ang inirerehistro natin dito, Your Honor.

Ang daming mga usapin na dapat pagtuunan ng pansin. Andiyan ang usapin sa West Philippine Sea, andiyan ang usapin ng mga—itong mga nanggagaling sa Syria at Iraq, pero ang pinagtutuunan natin ng pansin, ang paggawa-gawa ng kuwento at scenario para takutin ang ating mamamayan. In fact, if I can say this, namumulitika, dahil alam naman natin na by October ay magpa-file na ng certificate of candidacy ang mga kakandidato para sa susunod na eleksiyon and including us in the Makabayan bloc. Sana po ay linawin ito and there was already a commitment na kung may ebidensiya ay ipapakita na sa executive session, ipakita ho kung mayroon man iyang paulit-ulit na kuwento na iyan. Dati, sinabi na kasama iyong tindig, et cetera. So, may we hear the response of the Sponsor, Mr. Speaker.

REP. BIAZON. Well, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, the issue of Red October was discussed previously by our other distinguished colleague. I think we are all anticipating the next event that would shed light on this. So, I think, we can just wait for that eventuality, Your Honor.

REP. ZARATE. Anyway, thank you, Your Honor, dahil kapag hindi na naman natuloy ang Red October, baka magiging November rain na naman iyan, and by the way, Your Honor, ang sinasabi ni General Parlade ay dahil ang October daw ay international month of Marxism, ay nagkamali ho siya dahil ho iyang October revolution ay actually sa Russia nangyari iyan in November. Kaya tayo natatakot at sasabihin na naman kapag hindi natuloy ito ngayong October ay November pala dahil ang tunay na October revolution sa Russia ay nangyari noong November.

Maraming salamat, Your Honor. Maraming salamat, Mr. Speaker.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). Maraming salamat, kagalang-galang na Kinatawang Zarate.


REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, as our next interpellator, may I move to recognize the honorable Rep. Ariel “Ka Ayik” B. Casilao of ANAKPAWIS Party-List.

I so move.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). Ang Kinatawan ho mula sa ANAKPAWIS Party-List, ang Kgg. Ayik Casilao, ay kinikilala para magtanong sa ating iginagalang na tagapagtanggol ng budget ng Department of National Defense.

REP. CASILAO. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Distinguished Sponsor, you know me, I ask direct questions and I require honest answers. Three issues, one with regard to the E-CLIP. May I know from the implementation of the program kung ilan na po sa datos ng AFP at ng inter-agency ng DILG ang nag-surrender for the past year?

REP. BIAZON. With regard to the E-CLIP, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, the number is 3,200—to be specific, Your Honor, 3,285 from the period of July 1 2016 to August 2018.

REP. CASILAO. Two thousand?

REP. BIAZON. It was 3,285, Your Honor.

REP. CASILAO. Of the 3,285, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, how many were the verified NPA combatants?

REP. BIAZON. The estimate, Your Honor, is about 800 that was given to us. Of course, as requested by our distinguished colleague who interpellated earlier, a report would be submitted, as requested, but the estimate is around 800, Your Honor.

REP. CASILAO. So, for the 3,285, the confirmed NPA combatants who availed of the E-CLIP, and I suppose who were awarded with the packages, am I correct, out of the 260, or for 2018, it is P260 million budget or is it for 2019?

REP. BIAZON. We are just verifying the amount, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, but just an additional information, from the period of January 1 to September 27, 2018, the number of surrenderees is 900, Your Honor.

REP. CASILAO. Sa 3,285, 900 ang NPA combatants, ano po iyong 3,000 minus 900, around 2,000 plus.


REP. BIAZON. Yes. Those are militia ng bayan as they are called, also armed, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. CASILAO. Iyon lang.

REP. BIAZON. And those included in the …

REP. CASILAO. … regular NPA combatants …

REP. BIAZON. … underground movements, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. CASILAO. … and militia ng bayan.

REP. BIAZON. Yes, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. CASILAO. Hindi po diyan kasama iyong mga sinasabi nilang NPA sympathizers and supporters.

REP. BIAZON. That is correct, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. CASILAO. Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, bago ko po matanggap iyong official report, it will be a basis of this Representation’s resolution. In fact, this Representation received around 600 in Southern Mindanao Region alone who were forced to sign basic information sheet, and apparently, later on was declared as surrender papers. But those people who were invited are not NPA regulars nor militia ng bayan but mere members of local peasant organizations affiliated with the Kilusang Mangbubukid ng Pilipinas, much less with the Party-List I represent, ANAKPAWIS.

Iyon pong mga pinasuko na idineklara bilang kabahagi doon sa statistika na surrenderees, hindi po lahat, ang paniniwala ng Kinatawang ito, ay kumpirmado o beripikadong mga NPA, the so-called militia ng bayan, kundi mga karaniwang mga magsasaka, mga katutubo na iyong komunidad na kanilang kinabibilangan ay bahagi ng idineklara ng militar na red infested areas or insurgency hotbeds or ito iyong mga kinikilusan daw ng mga NPA.

At the proper time, distinguished Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, we will know the truth. Ang isang nakakabahala po dito sa flyer na ipinamahagi ng mga militar sa mga komunidad, mayroon kategorya doon: kapag ikaw ay nagsuko ng M-16, mayroon kang P25,000.00 or P35,000.00; kapag ikaw ay nagsuko ng isang mataas na kalibre o mas mataas pa sa M-16 kagaya ng M-14 or machine gun, o M-60 na mas mataas. Again, this Representation, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, received information that those who surrendered allegedly with firearms, dahil sinabi nga nila, ako po ay bahagi ng NPA, allegedly, nagsuko daw siya ng M-60. Accordingly, sa kategorya ng flyer, mayroon siyang P45,000 o P60,000. I do not remember the

exact figure pero pinapirma siya. Unfortunately, after all the events during the surrender ceremonies, hinintay niyang matanggap iyong pera. Natapos na lang po ang araw, natapos na lang po ang linggo, wala po siyang natanggap. Pero doon sa ibinalita, na-report na M-60 caliber ang ma picture na hawak niya dahil pinasuko nga daw siya at makakatanggap ng ganitong pera or assistance.

This is just, for the moment, an allegation, and my burden to prove it in the proper forum. However, the worry of this Representation, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, is the fund allotted for the E-CLIP could be a source of corruption. Magiging source po ito ng corruption dahil madali namang ideklara iyong mga istatistikang sumurender. Ito iyong mga nag-avail ng programa pero ang aktuwal na nakatanggap in the process ay hindi naman iyong mga aktwal na dapat na tumanggap, bagkus ang sa mga lokal na opisyal ng pamahalaan, in coordination with the local battalion or brigade. Again, I am just stating these issues, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, as a prelude to an investigation which this Representation has already filed in the proper venue.

My second issue, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, the AFP and the DND recommended the creation of the inter-agency task force in the AFP. In fact, in the press release I have read and the documents related to that is a recommendation to the President to create or to issue an executive order creating such task force. May I know if indeed there was a recommendation and if, indeed, this task force is already operational?

REP. BIAZON. Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleague, there is a confirmation that there is a move to create the task force, but the Executive order that would actually create the said task force is still being drafted.

REP. CASILAO. Wala pa pong formal na Executive order creating this, but I believe the Department of National Defense, as the lead security cluster of this government, is already in the works on terms of the orientation. May I know and may I get confirmation whether or not the principle of this task force revolves around the whole-government approach to end, and not just address the insurgency problem in the Philippines?

REP. BIAZON. Yes, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker. As we had replied to a previous question from our other distinguished colleague, it is the whole-government approach providing a socio-economic package which would address the roots of the problem that we have. That is a confirmation, Your Honor, Mr. Speaker.

REP. CASILAO. May I know if the contents of


the whole-government approach illustrate a 12-pillar strategy.

REP. BIAZON. As mentioned earlier, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, the executive order which would create it is still in the works. At this point, we cannot reply to the question of our distinguished colleague, Mr. Speaker.

REP. CASILAO. I am just asking whether or not the content contains the 12-pillar approach.

REP. BIAZON. As mentioned to us, they will be able to reply to that query once everything is already completed, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. CASILAO. Ganito na po, prangkahan na. In the 12-pillar approach, you identified multi-sectoral presentation and, in fact, a multi-level of identifying the enemy of the State. In the presentation, they just developed and developed and developed the previous document of the AFP in 2007, the “Knowing Your Enemy” document. They have categorized groups, individuals, multi-sectorals as part of the machineries being tagged as the enemies of the State. It is not only against the Communists. Mayroon po doon ang malawak na paglalahad ng istruktura ng CPP-NPA-NDF. Mayroon din doong paglalahad ng Magdalo, paglalahad ng Liberal Party, paglalahad ng mga taong-simbahan, mass media. In the document, they are saying who are inciting and cooperating with each other against the existing government. I am not surprised, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, that the Red October plot and the previous Aklasan plot of September 21 was part and parcel of this security plan. In fact, if I may state, this is just the tip of an iceberg. Therefore, there is a bigger picture.

What I am alarmed of, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, is that there are lists of legitimate organizations, personalities identified as belonging to the enemies of the State. In fact, in an ANC interview with two top-ranking AFP officials, the Chief-of-Staff, General Galvez and the Deputy for Operation General Paralte, it was mentioned that Mr. Rey Claro Casambre and our colleague, Congressman Zarate, and Satur Ocampo are members of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines and that, in fact, they are the ones planning for the Red October ouster plot. May I get confirmation whether or not the AFP and the DND have a verified, fool-proof evidence to charge in public, in an interview, Mr. Casambre of the Philippine Peace Center and former Representative and colleague of this House, Satur Ocampo, as members of the Central Committee. I need verification, hard evidence to support their claim that they are members of the Central Committee.

REP. BIAZON. Mr. Speaker, Your Honor, as agreed earlier, there would be an opportunity to discuss the matter. Hindi po sa subject of the agreement with the Honorable Tinio, probably that would be a better venue for us to pursue this discussion.

REP. CASILAO. What I am trying to ask from you, distinguished Sponsor, Mr. Speaker, is a verified evidence to prove their public allegation. Remember it was an ANC report and not a private meeting. Mentioning those names endangers their limbs, their lives and their security. Did the members or the top brass of the AFP even think of considering that namedropping and accusing these individuals as Central Committee members of the CPP without evidence in public, with the whole view of the people watching the ANC interview, would put them into great risk and danger? Did they ever think of that situation or simply because they wanted to wag the dog, they wanted to make an issue to divert the attention of the people with regard to the ongoing crisis that we have, with the soaring prices of commodities and all? They are looking for a scapegoat. These people, especially Congressman Satur Ocampo, even if he is already 75 years old, he is very consistent in the parliament of the streets in opposing anti-people policies.

Again, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, as I have mentioned earlier, I relayed a direct question that requires an honest answer. If the Red October plot being articulated everyday by the top brass security cluster people, for this Representation, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, is a red-baiting, red-tagging, and red-scaring tactic to divert the people and without giving justification to the statements alluding and alleging certain persons as top brass of the CPP, I cannot accept this budget of the Department of National Defense as it will be a budget for witch-hunting and for red-baiting, a budget to silence the dissenters, the critics, the opposition to this government. I cannot accept that, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor.



It was 5:37 p.m.




The distinguished Sponsor is recognized.


REP. BIAZON. Yes, Mr. Speaker, my distinguished colleague, in huddle with the AFP Chief of Staff, the reason offered to us for not going into naming names when this issue is discussed especially in public, we understand the concerns of our distinguished Colleague especially when he said that people could be put in a compromising position. So there is an offer that from henceforth, there will be a cessation in naming names. Would this be amenable to my distinguished Colleague, Your Honor?

REP. CASILAO. With that commitment, Mr. Speaker, to refrain from talking before showing evidence or filing cases, because again, lives are at stake. While the AFP, the DND’s particular role and function is for the security, internal and external threats, human life and human rights should not be sacrificed. With the commitment, Mr. Speaker, I end my interpellation and I withdraw my motion to defer.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). Thank you very much, Representative Casilao.

REP. BIAZON. Thank you, Your Honor.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). The Majority Leader is recognized.

REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, as our next interpellator, I move that we recognize the Hon. Arnel U. Ty of LPGMA Party-List.


THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). The honorable Representative from LPGMA Party-List, Rep. Arnel Ty, is recognized.

REP. TY. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.It has been a long day and full of action and

excitement. So, this will be an exception for me that I will be terminating my interpellation for the day and I wish the DND all the best and I will see you, my dear colleagues, this afternoon for another round of interpellation.

Good day. Salamat po.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). Maraming salamat po, Kgg. Arnel Ty.


REP. NOEL. Finally, Mr. Speaker, our last interpellator is the Rep. Anthony M. Bravo, PhD of COOP -NATCCO Party-List.


THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). The

Representative of COOP-NATCCO Party-List and the Deputy Minority Leader, Rep. Anthony Bravo, is recognized.

REP. BRAVO (A.). Thank you, Mr. Speaker.Magandang umaga po sa ating lahat. Magandang

umaga, sambayanang Pil ipino. Sana ho ang pagbubukang-liwayway na ito ay magbibigay ng pag-asa at kapayapaan sa bawat mamamayang Pilipino.

Will the distinguished Sponsor yield to some questions from this Representation?

REP. BIAZON. Willingly, Your Honor.

REP. BRAVO (A.). I just want to remind the agency, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, because this is a recurring issue, the underspending of the agency—it was even stated by no other than Congressman Zarate—the capacity to utilize the funds by the agency, because it could be gleaned on the records, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, that in 2016, 12 percent of the available appropriation was not utilized by the agency. Fortunately, in that year, the validity of the fund or appropriations was for two years, and it was carried-over to the succeeding year and, in fact, there was a continuing appropriations of P21 billion. The year 2017 showed a different picture, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, and again, there was an underspending of 5 percent and this translated to a huge fund which is equivalent to P11.28 billion. What will now be the status of the fund or that unused appropriations of P11.282 bi l l ion considering that the val idi ty of our appropriations for 2017 is just one year?

REP. BIAZON. The said fund, Your Honor, is actually for the AFP Modernization Program which is within a spans of years, Your Honor.

REP. BRAVO (A.). So, it is not covered by the one-year validity?

REP. BIAZON. It is subject to multi-year obligational authority, Your Honor.

REP. BRAVO (A.). The appropriations then was P25 billion. Am I correct?


REP. BRAVO (A.). And another P25 billion for this 2019.



REP. BRAVO (A.). Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, I am asking that question because, again, I would like to encourage the agency to devise a strategy and I would like also to encourage this House in these halls of Congress, and in fact, we are contemplating on filing of a resolution to exempt the agency as far as procurement, the Procurement Law, for as long as it will be within the approved modernization plan by both Houses so that, once and for all, we will be able to cure the non-utilization of the fund because of that very strict regulation as far as government procurement is concerned. So with that, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, while the agency was not able to utilize the fund, there is an increase of about 22.32 percent in 2019 budget. Am I correct?


REP. BRAVO (A.). And the amount of this increase focuses more on Personnel Services as mentioned by this Sponsor.

REP. BIAZON. That is correct, Your Honor, because of the increase granted by the President and Congress.

REP. BRAVO (A.). And how much in terms of percentage are we going to increase our personnel in the Department of National Defense?

REP. BIAZON. Is the distinguished Gentleman asking the percentage of increase?

REP. BRAVO (A.). Yes, because if you are going to compute the increase from 2018 to 2019, that is about 38 percent, and that translates to an absolute figure of P31,717,000,000.

REP. BIAZON. I am just looking for the figures, Your Honor. For personnel, Your Honor, the increase from 2018 to 2019 is about 35 percent.

REP. BRAVO (A.). So, 35 percent. There is an increase of 35 percent for our men in uniform. Will that include those non-uniformed personnel?


REP. BRAVO (A.). And what is the strength of our national defense?

REP. BIAZON. It is about 142,000, Your Honor.

REP. BRAVO (A.) . Four hundred forty-two thousand, is that the uniformed or a total workforce?

REP. BIAZON. Let me correct myself, Your Honor. The uniformed personnel is 145,000…

REP. BRAVO (A.). Come again, Your Honor.

REP. BIAZON. …as the authorized number, Your Honor.

REP. BRAVO (A.). Come again, Your Honor. For the uniformed?

REP. BIAZON. Uniformed personnel, Your Honor.

REP. BRAVO (A.). One hundred?

REP. BIAZON. It is 145,957, Your Honor.

REP. BRAVO (A.). For the non-uniformed?

REP. BIAZON. Twelve thousand three hundred ninety-two, Your Honor.

REP. BRAVO (A.). Thank you for that answer, distinguished Sponsor.

Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, it appears that the large share of the increase goes to Philippine Army. Am I correct?

REP. BIAZON. Yes, Your Honor, because they comprise the biggest service in the Armed Forces, Your Honor.

REP. BRAVO (A.). Will there be new recruitment, new hiring of personnel?

REP. BIAZON. There is a budget for the creation of new battalions, Sir.

REP. BRAVO (A.). So, this is purely for the increase?

REP. BIAZON. This one is for the increase, Your Honor.

REP. BRAVO (A.). In the interest of time, Mr. Speaker, distinguished Sponsor, I just want to request the agency to provide me details on the off-budget account because in 2016, the agency has an imbalance of P3.3 billion and a revenue cut in billions but there was an expenditure of P12.9 billion in 2016. Kindly furnish this Representation relative to the particulars of the P12.9 billion expenditure.

REP. BIAZON. We take note of the request, Your Honor, and we will have the report submitted.


REP. BRAVO (A.). Can we get a commitment from the Department?

REP. BIAZON. Yes, it will be submitted, Mr. Speaker, Your Honor.

REP. BRAVO (A.) . Thank you for tha t commitment and assurance, distinguished Sponsor, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, since there no other Members from the Minority who wish to ask questions, I move to terminate the period of interpellation and debate on the budget of Department of National Defense, including its attached agencies.

I so move, Mr. Speaker. Good morning to everyone.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). What is the pleasure of the Majority?

REP. NOEL. On the part of the Majority, Mr. Speaker, we join the Minority in its motion to terminate the period of interpellation and debate on the budget of the Department of National Defense, including its attached agencies.


It is exactly six o’clock in the morning. (Applause)

The period of interpellation and debate on the budget of the Department of National Defense, including its attached agencies, is hereby terminated.

Maraming, maraming salamat po sa mga kasamahan namin na talagang mga maka-Kuya Germs, walang tulugan.


SUSPENSION OF CONSIDERATIONOF H.B. NO. 8169

REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, I move that we suspend the consideration of House Bill No. 8169.





REP. NOEL. Mr. Speaker, I move that we suspend the session until two o’clock this afternoon.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Abu). The session is suspended until two o’clock in the afternoon of Tuesday, October 2, 2018.

It was 6:00 a.m.

Published by the Publication and Editorial Service, South Wing Basement • 931-7868; 931-5001 local 7602The Congressional Record can be accessed through the Legislative Documents of the official website

of the House of Representatives at www.congress.gov.ph AZB/LTN/GIC/10252018/1810