News Roundup 04 March 2023
Mar 04, 2023 • 4 min Read
Two big business groups uneasy with Cha-cha | INQUIRER.NET – The leaders of two major business groups said they were wary about amending or revising the 1987 Constitution as a means to further liberalize the Philippine economy, signaling private sector hesitation to support a process that is seen as costly and time-consuming compared to passing simple legislation.
“Our point of view is that some [economic policies] can be done without constitutional amendments,” Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President George Barcelon told the Inquirer in a phone interview.
He said that Congress would have to decide whether changing the Charter would be done through a constitutional convention (Con-con) or not.
“But that would take time and money,” Barcelon said. “If it’s just legislation on specific economic provisions, it will just be both chambers of Congress which have to make a decision. We are for that instead because of the urgency.”
The 45-year-old PCCI is the country’s largest business organization. The group has over 1,900 member companies, enterprises and trade associations.
Barcelon said that regular legislation or even executive issuances were proven sufficient and fast enough to address key economic concerns in the past.
Full Story at: Two big business groups uneasy with Cha-cha | Inquirer News
Negros Oriental governor shot dead inside his house | INQUIRER.NET – CEBU CITY — The governor of Negros Oriental was shot dead Saturday morning by still-unidentified assailants at the receiving area inside his home in Barangay Isidro, Pamplona town.
Siaton Mayor Fritz Diaz confirmed his death on Saturday afternoon.
Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo suffered gunshot wounds on different parts of his body, according to Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7).
The initial police investigation showed that Degamo was distributing assistance to beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) when the assailants suddenly emerged and shot him at 9:36 a.m.
Some civilians who were with Degamo were also wounded.
“The perpetrators were in full battle gear when they shot the governor several times,” Pelare said.
Degamo and the other victims were rushed to the hospital.
Full Story at: Negros Oriental governor shot dead inside his house | Inquirer News
Marcos urged: Issue EO vs jeepney, UV Express phaseout now | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Days before their planned nationwide transport strike, a progressive transport group challenged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to immediately junk the government’s order forcing individual franchise holders to consolidate — a move effectively banning traditional jeeps and UV Expresses from operating starting 2024.
This was the message of Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) on Saturday, after transport groups annouced that they are pushing through with their March 6 to 12 protest even after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) extended the consolidation deadline to December 2023.
“Extensions are not enough. We will not allow the massacre of franchises held by individual operators which will lead to the monopoly of few large corporations,” said Mody Floranda, Piston national president, in a statement in Filipino Saturday.
“We’re calling for the total junking of the franchise consolidation scheme in favor of a mass-oriented modernization.”
Full Story at: Marcos urged: Issue EO vs jeepney, UV Express phaseout now | Philstar.com
Security experts back WPS triad | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Security and global affairs experts have expressed support for a possible trilateral defense arrangement among the Philippines, the United States and Japan, amid China’s continuous aggressive actions in the South China Sea.
Japan-based think tank The Canon Institute for Global Studies’ research director Miyake Kunihiko said there is a need for a multi-layer security and maritime policing mechanism involving the Philippines, Japan and the United States.
He issued the statement during a forum yesterday on “Strengthening Partnerships Toward a Free and Open Indo-Pacific” organized by the Stratbase ADR Institute, together with the embassies of Japan and the US.
“(The security environment is) evolving. It’s changing. We need support from people. So therefore, the process will be incremental. It should be politically correct without sending the wrong signal to the other side,” he said.
“It might take time. But the most important thing is we have that intention and we started doing it and it will continue so that the other side will not be misunderstood,” he explained.
Full Story at: Security experts back WPS triad | Philstar.com
