Nation

The
friDAY-saturday, october 13-14, 2017
EDITOR marifi s. jara

#nationataglance Hazing victim

Horacio Tomas
Atio Castillo III
Overseas Filipino Bank to be operational by January 2018
THE newly created Overseas Filipino Bank (OFB) will be operational by January 2018, Labor Secre-
tary Silvestre H. Bello III assured yesterday. The former Philippine Postal Savings Bank (PPSB). We
will have an OF bank effective January 2018, Mr. Bello III said during a press briefing in Malacaang,
If you noticed, its called OF bank, not an OFW (overseas Filipino worker) bank. And the intention
here is to cover not only the overseas Filipino workers but also the overseas Filipinos. Because just

MICHAEL VARCAS/PHILIPPINE STAR

like our OFWs, our OFs are also contributing a lot to Philippine economy. Executive Order (EO)
No. 44, signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Sept. 28, authorizes the conversion of the PPSB
FB PAGE into the OFB, which will be under the government-owned Land Bank of the Philippines. The EO
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION: MANILA underscores the need to establish a policy bank dedicated to provide financial products and services
Divina on hazing case: My conscience is clear tailored to the requirements of overseas Filipinos, and focused on delivering quality and efficient
DEAN Nilo T. Divina of the University of Santo To- foreign remittances services. Mr. Bello said putting up a bank that specially caters to overseas Filipi-
mas (UST) Faculty of Civil Law yesterday defended nos is proper and fair, noting that they brought in $28 billion in remittances in 2016. Rosemarie
himself against accusations of his involvement in the A. Zamora
alleged attempted cover-up of the death of a UST
law student from fraternity hazing. Mr. Divina, in an
e-mailed statement, said, Whatever version of the
story is foisted upon the public, my conscience is Typhoon Odette sweeps through northern Luzon, Batanes
clear. I am at peace in the knowledge that I have not TROPICAL DEPRESSION Odette, the 15th typhoon to hit the Philippines this year, maintained its
transgressed the law or breached any moral obliga- strength as it was forecasted to make landfall over Cagayan province Thursday evening. Moder-
A member of the transport group Stop and Go holds a protest sign tion. Student Horacio Tomas Atio Castillo III was ate to heavy rains were expected within the 350-kilometer diameter of the tropical depres-
denouncing the governments transport modernization program during a found dead on Sept. 17 after supposedly attending a sion. As of yesterdays 5 p.m. bulletin of weather bureau PAGASA, storm signal no. 1 was up in
protest action in Metro Manila last Sept. 25. welcome ceremony of the Aegis Juris fraternity. Mr. Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan group of Islands, Isabela, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain
Divina is a member of the fraternity, but has previ- Province, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur. Sea travel at the northern and eastern seaboards
All systems go for Oct. 16-17 transport strike vs jeepney modernization ously claimed that he has not been participating in of northern Luzon was also considered risky. Typhoon Odette is expected to remain within the
DRIVERS AND operators of public utility jeepneys (PUJ) will lead a transport the groups activities. I repeat, I did not know Atio Philippine area on Friday, and exit by Saturday.
strike on Oct. 16-17 to protest the governments plan to phase out and replace personally. I have done everything in my power to
old PUJs with electronic vehicles (e-vehicles). George San Mateo, national prevent hazing and any form of violence which are
president of the transport alliance Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at against my fundamentally held beliefs. I have also
Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON) said its all systems go for the planned protest done what I could to extend help to the family and
action. Tuloy na tuloy po ang strike, he confirmed to BusinessWorld via text assist in the police investigation, he said. Mr. Cas-
message. Mr. San Mateo labeled the governments transport modernization as tillos death has prompted a Congressional review of
fake, and that it will only be advantageous to local and foreign capitalists in- the countrys law on hazing. Mr. Divina has filed three
volved in the e-vehicle business. Other transport workers led by national labor libel cases against Lorna Kapunan, the Castillo fam-
center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) are also expected to join the strike, according ilys lawyer. Andrea Louise E. San Juan
to a KMU statement released earlier this week. The KMU said the governments
PUJ phaseout program would massacre the livelihood of more than 600,000
drivers and operators nationwide. Mr. San Mateo also clarified that PISTON is
not among the petitioners for a base fare hike of P2 and their planned strike
does not include a demand for an increase in public transport rates.

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

C ENTRAL VISAYAS: CEBU

15 Cebu towns present waste
https://goo.gl/unWAf6 management plans for approval
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION: VALENZUELA CITY THE FIRST batch of local government units
(LGUs) in Cebu, composed of 15 municipalities,
Drug lab started presentingyesterdaytheir respective
A team from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, which has just been 10-year garbage disposal plans to the National
appointed as the sole implementer of the governments controversial Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC)
war on illegal drugs, destroys P10.6 million worth of chemicals and for assessment and approval. A nine-member
laboratory equipment used for manufacturing shabu (methamphetamine) NSWMC panel, chaired by Commissioner Ro-
at the Green Planet warehouse in Valenzuela City on Oct. 12. meo Hidalgo, is examining each proposal for
>> See related story o n https://goo.gl/unWAf6 deficiencies and recommended revisions in
accordance with Republic Act 9003, the Ecologi-
cal Solid Waste Management Law. The 15 LGUs
are: Tabuelan, Boljoon, San Remigio, Cordova,
n the designation of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
O Tudela, Sogod, Madridejos, Carmen, Alegria,
(PDEA) as the sole implementer in the governments Pinamungajan, San Francisco, Camotes, Ronda,
campaign against narcotics: Consolacion and Ginatilan. Environment Under-
secretary Noel K. Felongco, in a statement issued
PDEA will now bring policy focus, by the Cebu provincial government yesterday,
expert performance standards, was quoted as saying during the deliberations
that LGUs usually are able to develop a sound
high-level coordination of oversight, plan, but the problem lies in the implementation.
and centralized intelligence collection We are good in planning. But what is more im-
portant is that we are able to implement it, Mr.
to the war on drugs. Felongco said in Filipino. The Cebu government
has recently allocated P40 million to help towns
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto C. Abella, and cities set up waste management systems.
Oct. 12 Malacaang press briefing Cebu has 44 municipalities and seven cities un-
der its jurisdiction.

CENTRAL VISAYAS: CEBU

Home furnishing, fashion accessory SMEs to get tech support
THE EUROPEAN Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) and the Department of Sci-
ence and Technology (DoST) have launched a technology-driven design project that is seen to
benefit Cebus furnishing and fashion accessory sectors, especially the small and medium enter-
prises (SMEs). Tristan L. Abando, provincial director of DoST-Cebu, said the Design-Technology
Fusion through Materials Innovation Expanded (De-Tech Fusion Ex) project will provide science
and technology support to enhance the capabilities of the Materials Innovation Center (MATIC),
which serves as hub for design sector stakeholders. Among those who stand to gain from the
project are the close to 300 member companies of the Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation
(CFIF), Cebu GTH (Gifts, Toys and Houseware), and FAME (Fashion Accessories Manufacturers BoC PHOTO
and Exporters Association) Foundation. He pointed out that these companies employ around Fake phones intercepted by the Bureau of
160,000, including workers of subcontractors spread throughout Cebu and neighboring islands. Customs in Manila.
De-Tech Fusion Ex is also expected to benefit universities, research institutions, communities
and material suppliers. The program also covers opening opportunities for collaborative part- DAVAO
PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO
nerships within the Southeast Asian Creative Cities Network. The Freeman NTC-Davao to crack down on unlicensed
telecom shops, online dealers
THE NATIONAL Telecommunications Commis-
sion (NTC) Davao Region office is launching
a crackdown on dealers of unlicensed com-
DAVAO: DAVAO CITY munications equipment, including cellular
P436-M on-site sales generated during Davao agriculture fair phones. Nelson T. Caete, NTC regional director,
EXHIBITORS AT the Davao Agri Trade Expo (DATE) 2017 reported a collec- said there have been increasing reports on
tive net sales of more than P436 million during the event held Sept. 21-23 in the proliferation of illegal telecommunications
Davao City. Every end of the expo, sales (reports) were given by the exhibi- products being sold both in physical stores and
tors. But we know it can happen that the closure of (other) sales does not online shops. We need to step up our cam-
happen right away, said Wilfred Eboy T. Teves, vice-president for industry paign not only to ensure that those who pay the
of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII), the lead correct taxes profit from being legitimate, but
organizer of the annual activity. Mr. Teves also said that foot traffic was higher also to ensure that the products are of qualities
this year at 9,534 compared to 8,665 in 2015, with both years highlighting that pass standards, Mr. Canete said in a media
the livestock, hogs, poultry, gamefowl and aquaculture industries. For next forum. The NTC official also urged consumers,
year, DCCCII is planning to feature crops, possibly with focus on banana. Not especially with the Christmas shopping period
DATE FB PAGE

certain which one yet, Mr. Teves said. He added that some P2.5 million worth at hand, to buy from legitimate stores and deal-
of advanced bookings from exhibitors have already been placed for DATE ers. Carmelito Q. Francisco
2018. Maya M. Padillo