Lala Sotto: MTRCB has no jurisdiction over social media, online streamers

MTRCB chairperson Diorella ‘Lala’ Sotto-Antonio (Facebook)

by Robert Requintina, Manila Bulletin

Violent themes and sexual content may proliferate on social media, but the newly appointed chairperson of the Movie and TV Review Classification Board (MTRCB) Diorella “Lala” Sotto-Antonio pointed out that the agency has no jurisdiction over online streams and posts.

“Wala po talagang juridisction ang MTRCB over social media and online streamers. So we are very limited to television programs and motion pictures. But as I’ve said, I don’t see anything wrong with working with them,” says Lala, during a lunch with the entertainment media at Mario’s Restaurant in Morato, Quezon City last Wednesday.

 Lala suggests that it would help if the jurisdiction of MTRCB would be expanded.

“I hope it will not be taken against me, but my humble opinion is yes, makakatulong siguro kung ma e-expand yung juridisction ng MTRCB. One of my goals is for the MTRCB to be the partner-parent at home, especially for parents who are busy. I want to ensure a safe-viewing experience for children,” she says.

Lala, 45, says there were no specific instructions or orders from President Marcos Jr. when she was appointed to MTRCB. But she reveals that her team has met with popular streaming service networks in the country.

“It’s safe to say that we have had short talks with Netflix already. We also started meeting with Amazon Prime. I’m looking forward to a healthy and harmonious relationship with them because the role of MTRCB is very limited to motion pictures and television programs,” she adds. “With the local streamers, I choose to work with them. I am open to dialogues and open to communication with them.”

When asked if she would be a strict MTRCB head, Lala says: “I cannot say na magiging mahigpit ako because I don’t want to compare my being the chairman to the previous ones. I feel I have big shoes to fill because I choose to emulate Senator Grace Poe. But the chairmen who came after her did a great job naman. Lahat magaganda yung nagawa during their term. Wala naman akong nakikita na dapat kaming magcensor. MTRCB is just an agency which will rate and classify movies and TV shows. I am blessed to have a working board.”

 Lala says she’s confident that the movie industry will bounce back following the lockdowns brought about by the pandemic. “Kaka-open lang ng ating cinema but am very confident that we will be able to work with them. Makaka-ahon din sila.”

Daughter of Senator Tito Sotto III and actress Helen Gamboa, Lala earned her Bachelor of Arts major in Diplomatic Affair degree at the Dela Salle University College of St. Benilde. She also earned credits from the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education for the short-term course Applying Behavioral Insights to the Design of Public Policy, and the two-month course on Strengthening Community Health Workers.

Prior to her appointment, Lala was in public service for 22 years. She was a three-termer councilor in Quezon City’s sixth district from 2013 until 2022. Before that, she also served as councilor from 2001 to 2010 in the city’s third district.

Lala was the author of the ordinance requiring bicycle riders to wear helmets while within Quezon City’s borders. At the height of the pandemic in 2020, she authored ordinances granting a special risk allowance to frontline Quezon City public health workers, requiring the use of facemasks or other coverings in the city’s public places, and establishing the Quezon City General Hospital dialysis and a separate dialysis center for Covid positive patients.

If time permits, Lala says she enjoys watching historical movies and documentaries. The first two movies that the MTRCB board reviewed were “Maid In Malacanang” and “Katips.”

Recalling the first time she got a call from the Palace, Lala says: “I was so surprised. They asked me to attend the July 5 oath-taking. But I was positive for Covid so nahiya naman ako sabihin na I couldn’t make it because I had to complete the seven-day quarantine period. Then they called asking me to attend the July 7 oath-taking.”

On the reminders of her parents, the MTRCB chief states: “Yung mga paalala sa akin ng mga magulang ko, nagsimula yan 22 years ago, noong unang pumasok ako sa politics. So ngayon andyan pa rin ang simple reminders nila on humility, about being sensitive to other’s feelings and needs, diligence, conscientious, working that is glorifying to the Lord, yung ang paalala sa akin ng mga magulang ko na paulit-ulit. My passion for public service will be with me wherever I go. So yung malasakit mo sa bayan mo, sa mga kapwa Pilipino, hindi mawawala yun. Dala-dala ko lagi yun. Kasama na rin doon yung natutunan ko bilang konsehala sa loob ng 18 years. Wala na po akong plan bumalik sa city council because panahon na i-expand yung kakayahan natin na makatulong sa iba at sa mas nakararami.”

Lala reveals her goal as chairperson of MTRCB. “I just want to do a great job that is glorying the Lord. Gusto kong lang paghusayan at patunayan na deserving ako sa katungkulan ko ngayon.”

Biz leader: More European consulates to open here

Photo by Mark Perandos/SunStar Davao file

By: IONA FINLAY C. MENDOZA

MORE European countries are expected to open their respective consulates in Davao City soon, said the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Southern Mindanao Business Council (ECCP-SMBC) on July 27.

Chairman Antonio Peralta said during the Wednesdays Media Forum at Ayala Abreeza Mall that most of the new foreign consulates would be from Nordic and other European countries.

“Those consulates that are coming from different countries, especially from Nordic countries like Finland. The Netherlands has recently opened here but there are still upcoming countries,” Peralta said, citing Italy and Switzerland as among the 11 consulates that would open soon.

According to Peralta, these countries and their investors see prospects in Davao City, along with the rest of the Philippines. He also said the recent amendments to the Retail Trade Liberalization Act, Foreign Investments Act, and the Public Service Act attract foreign investors.

The Republic Act (RA) 11595 “An Act Amending RA 8762 or the Retail Trade Liberalization Act of 2000” lowers the paid-up capital requirements for foreign retail enterprises, among others; RA 11647 “An Act Amending RA 7042 or the Foreign Investments Act of 1991” allows foreign investors full ownership of small and medium-sized enterprises; while the RA 11659 “An Act Amending Commonwealth Act 146 or the Public Service Act” also allows full foreign ownership of public services in the country.

“When these consulates come, they are like listening posts advising their respective embassies in Manila that there is this opportunity that they should pursue in Davao or Mindanao,” Peralta said.

The chairman added that ECCP-SMBC, in coordination with the Davao City Investment Promotion Center, has been continuing its efforts to promote Davao City to European countries.

“This is one of the clear dividends that we got under the governance of former Mayor Sara Duterte... We want to see more investments coming in,” Peralta said. ICM

Internet down in parts of Luzon following big earthquake

by Robert D. Reyes, Manila Bulletin

Following the massive magnitude 7.0 earthquake that shook the island of Luzon this morning, several parts of the region, particularly Ilocos Sur and Abra, remain not to have electric power and Internet services as of this posting.

Converge ICT issued advisories for their subscribers in Narvacan and Tagudin, both in the province of Ilocos Sur for possible connectivity issues as of 10:50 AM. The Internet Service Provider (ISP) assures their clientele that their technical team is working to resolve the issue at the soonest possible time.

As of 12:30 PM, Smart Communications issued a network advisory stating that emergency power generators are active on their towers (where available) and that the telecommunications company is working with power companies, as well as local government units to help restore services as soon as possible.

DITO Telecommunity and Globe Telecom have yet to issue network advisories as of this posting.

According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development – Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DSWD-DROMIC), Internet and electricity are currently down in some parts of Baguio City as of 12:35 PM.

Massive quake relief effort begins

 Marcos in Abra This handout photo taken and received on Thursday, July 28, 2022 courtesy of Irelee Beralde shows President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (front row) visiting hospital patients evacuated to the grounds of the provincial hospital in Bangued town, Abra. AFP PHOTO

By Kristina Maralit , William B. Depasupil, Francis Earl Cueto and Arlie O. Calalo

THE government has mounted full-blown relief efforts in areas in Northern Luzon that were jolted by a 7.3-magnitude earthquake last Wednesday.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Thursday flew to Abra, which was the worst hit by the earthquake, to inspect and assess the resulting damage. He was joined by Secretaries Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr. of Interior and Local Government, Erwin Tulfo of Social Welfare and Development, Jose Faustino Jr. of National Defense, and Anton Lagdameo, special assistant to the President.

At a situation briefing in the town of Bangued, Marcos ordered national government agencies to work closely with local governments "so that we can make sure na walang nangangailangan na hindi natin nabigyan ng tulong (that anyone needing our help will not be denied).

"We will just have to do as much as we can, as quickly as possible," he said.

With power in the entire province restored and communication lines and internet service steadily stabilizing, the President said the next step is to ensure all affected residents have enough food and potable water.

He said he will order the procurement of potable water purifying systems so that the use of plastic bottles for collecting water is minimized.

Marcos instructed the Department of National Defense and the military to deploy all available air assets to help the Department of Social Welfare and Development's field offices in Region 1 in distributing food and relief packs to residents in mountainous areas.

He also directed local agencies to provide tarpaulins and other construction materials to build temporary shelters for people who cannot yet return to their quake-damaged homes.

"We've covered as much as we can. We will continue to monitor, especially in the areas na wala pa tayong balita (where we haven't received news yet)," Marcos said.

13 national roads in quake-hit areas reopened to motorists –DPWH

Faustino said close to 5,000 families in Abra, Ilocos and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) were affected by the earthquake.

He said 2,312 families in Ilocos and CAR alone are staying in 31 evacuation centers.

Office of Civil Defense Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro 4th who was also at the briefing in Bangued, said the death toll remained at five while the number of injured had risen to 131.

Alejandro said the damage to infrastructure in Ilocos alone has reached P33.8 million.

Landslides close roads

The figure will rise once reports of damage to agriculture and other assets come in, he said.

At least 13 national road sections in the CAR blocked by rocks and debris loosened during the earthquake have been cleared and reopened, Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan said on Thursday.

Eight other roads were still being cleared.

More aftershocks recorded as Magnitude 5.1 quake rattles Isabela.

He put the initial damage to national roads at P59.23 million.

Already passable to vehicles are the Abra-Kalinga Road, the Abra-Ilocos Norte Road and Abra-Cervantes Road, all in Abra.

In Benguet, reopened were the Asin Road, Marcos Highway, Benguet-Nueva Vizcaya Road, Baguio-Bauang Road and Congressman Andres Acop Cosalan Road.

In Kalinga, reopened were the Mountain Province-Calanan-Pinukpuk-Abbut Road and the Kalinga-Abra Road.

In Mountain Province, already cleared were the Mountain Province-Cagayan via Tabuk-Enrile Road and the Mountain Province-Ilocos Sur Road, and the Santa Rancho Road (Calungbuyan Bridge) in Ilocos Sur.

Also on Thursday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) logged more than 800 aftershocks from the earthquake.

More aftershocks are expected in the coming two to three days, with magnitudes ranging from 1.5 to 5.0, Phivolcs said.

A 5.0-magnitude tremor was recorded at 4:02 a.m., Thursday, about 12 kilometers southwest of the town of Tayum, Abra, near where the earthquake struck.

Intensity 4 was felt in Bangued, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur; Intensity 3 in Sinait, Ilocos Sur and Tabuk, Kalinga; Intensity 2 in Gonzaga, Penablanca, Cagayan, and Laoag City, Ilocos Norte; and Intensity 1 in Baguio City and Claveria, Cagayan.

Marcos vetoes bill expanding Davao Light franchise area

By Catherine S. Valente

(UPDATES) PRESIDENT Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has vetoed a measure seeking to expand the franchise area of the Davao Light and Power Company Inc., Malacañang said on Thursday.

Press Secretary Rose Beatrix "Trixie" Cruz-Angeles said the President vetoed the bill "due to, among others, its susceptibility to infringe on the franchise coverage area of the North Davao Electric Cooperative."

"While I recognize the prerogative of the Honorable Members of Congress and the laudable intent of the bill to further improve and develop access to electricity within the captive market of the expanded franchise area, I am constrained to veto the bill due to the susceptibility of the proposed expansion of the franchise area of Davao Light and Power Company Inc. to legal and/or constitutional challenge due to the apparent overlap and possible infringement into the subsisting franchise, permits and contracts previously granted to North Davao Electric Cooperative Inc.," Marcos said in his letter to Congress.

The President explained that North Davao Electric Cooperative Inc. has existing franchises in the expanded franchise area that will subsist until 2028 and until 2033.

"The bill runs counter to the provisions of Section 27 of Republic Act 9136, or the Epira (Electric Power Industry Reform Act) mandating that 'all existing franchises shall be allowed to their full term,'" he said.

Marcos also said "the bill, while on its face amends the franchise of another entity over the expanded area, is a prohibited collateral attack on North Davao Electric Cooperative Inc. franchise."

"This is contrary to a jurisprudentially settled doctrine that a franchise cannot be subjected to a 'collateral attack.' In view of these considerations, I am constrained to veto the above-mentioned enrolled bill," he added.

Still, Marcos said he remains committed to the total electrification of the Philippines "with utmost respect for the concomitant rights of the public service entities engaged in supplying electric service, as well as the consumers thereof."

House Bill 10554 sought to amend Republic Act 11515, extending for another 25 years the franchise granted to Davao Light and Power Company Inc.

It would have placed Tagum City, Island Garden City of Samal and the municipalities of Asuncion, Kapalong, New Corella, San Isidro and Talaingod under the franchise area of Davao Light and Power Company Inc.

These areas are currently serviced by the North Davao Electric Cooperative Inc.

Daao Light and Power Company Inc. currently services Davao City, Panabo City and the municipalities of Carmen, Dujali and Sto. Tomas in Davao del Norte.

Let’s look forward to Judgment Day

By Fr. Roy Cimagala *

“THE Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous.” (Mt 13,47-49)

With these words of Christ, we are made to understand that there is such thing as Judgment Day that comes after our death. And after Judgment Day, we either go to heaven or hell.

These are truths of our faith, the so-called Last Things, that should not scare us, but rather should urge us to go through the process of making the proper preparation. In fact, if we have to follow the example of Christ, we somehow should look forward to our death, followed by the Judgment Day, and intensely hope to be in heaven.

We know that Christ was clear from the start of his redemptive life on earth about his death. He was even predicting it a number of times. We too should somehow have the same mindset of Christ—sure that one day we will die, and that therefore we should prepare ourselves for it so as to be confident to face God on Judgment Day. 

This is simply to be realistic about our whole life. We should know what our earthly life is all about, and how each event and circumstance of our life give us that confidence to face God on Judgment Day.

Thus, instead of shying away from the consideration of the Last Things, we should rather be always mindful of them, since they would imbue us with proper sense of purpose and direction at every moment of our life. We would, in fact, be reflecting Christ’s life in ours. And that, by the way, is the proper way to live our life.

In the same gospel cited above, there is also mention made about the need to know how to blend the new and the old things in our life. (cfr. Mt 13,52) It’s a clear reference to the fact that we live in time and that we go through stages of development. We should know how to be consistent and focused on what is truly essential in life as we go through varying conditions, circumstances and situations.

Truth is, our life here on earth is God’s time in his eternity to create and redeem us. In other words, we are still a work in progress. But it’s a divine work in which we have a big role to play, since we are supposed to knowingly and willingly correspond to his designs for us, to his will and ways. That’s because we have been created in God’s image and likeness, endowed with the power to know and to will and love.

Our proper correspondence to God’s ongoing creative and redemptive work on us depends to a large extent on our awareness of the Last Things, like our death and judgment, that would make us aware of the real purpose of our life and of what we ought to do to achieve that purpose.

May we develop the proper attitude toward the Last Things, even to the extent of looking forward to our death and judgment, so we would be keenly aware of what we need to do to achieve the ultimate purpose of our life!

* Chaplain Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE), Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

Landslides close roads

By William B. Depasupil

LEVELLED TO THE GROUND The 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Abra on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 leveled homes and buildings and rendered roads impassable in nearby Benguet as shown in these photos. PHOTOS COURTESY OF BENGUET REP. ERIC YAP

(UPDATE) LANDSLIDES caused by the powerful quake that hit many areas in Luzon rendered 14 national roads in the province of Abra and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) impassable, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said.

A number of bridges connecting Abra to nearby provinces were also damaged.

"Our teams of engineers are conducting an assessment to evaluate the structural integrity and damage caused by the earthquake as we simultaneously clear debris along national roads and bridges," DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said.

Bonoan ordered DPWH regional and district engineering offices in Luzon to immediately inspect public infrastructure for any damage.

The DPWH has sent road maintenance crews and equipment for debris clearing operations to affected areas.

The DPWH said among those closed to vehicular traffic were Kalinga Road, Abra-Ilocos Norte Road, Calaba Bridge and Abra-Cervantes Road.

Other roads in CAR closed to traffic were Kennon Road; Benguet-Nueva Vizcaya Road, Bobok Bisal, Bokod due to soil collapse, Poblacion, Bokod; Baguio-Itogon Road, Itogon Bridge; and Congressman Andres Acop Cosalan Road and Gov. Bado Dangwa National Road.

Also impassable were Kalinga-Abra Road in Ableg, Pail, Kalinga, and K0497+000 onward Abra, Pantikian to Balblasang, Balbalan and Lubuagan-Batong Buhay Road in Upper Kalinga; Banaue-Hungduan-Benguet Boundary Road, K0389+700, Wangwang, Tinoc in Ifugao; and various sections of Baguio-Bontoc Road, Mountain Province-Cagayan via Tabuk-Enrile Road, Mountain Province-Ilocos Sur Road via Kayan Mountain Province-Ilocos Sur Road via Tue, all in Mountain Province.

Seven road sections have limited access in CAR and Region 1 — Asin Road, K0305+820, Asin, Baguio City; Palispis Marcos Highway, K0273+780, Poblacion, Tuba, Benguet; Baguio-Bontoc Road, Balili Bridge, Benguet; Benguet-Nueva Vizcaya K0254+300, Sitio Lamut, Beckel, La Trinidad, Benguet; Congressman Andres Acop Cosalan Road K0318+800, Sitio Bugao, Barangay Adaoay, Kabayan, Benguet; Baguio-Bauang Road, K0296+600 LS, Tadiangan, Tuba, Benguet; and Calungbuyan Bridge, Santa Rancho, Santa, Ilocos Sur.

All DPWH offices in the CAR were on alert, monitoring roads, bridges and related infrastructure for damage as aftershocks threaten the region.

Germany: Lufthansa ground staff strike, hundreds of flights canceled

 The departure board at Frankfurt airport showing numerous flights are cancelled.

The carrier's ground staff went on strike, prompting more than 1,000 flights to be canceled. The walkout comes as the air travel industry faces several crises.

The ground staff workers' union stepped up pressure on the German carrier

More than 1,000 flights in Germany were canceled Wednesday, affecting some 134,000 passengers as Lufthansa ground staff went on strike.

At Frankfurt Airport, more than 600 flights were canceled and many posts were unfilled as workers walked from the job.  Munich, another big Lufthansa hub, was hit by the strike, with flights from Berlin, Bremen, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover and Stuttgart also affected.

The Lufthansa strike is the latest disruption to air travel during this busy summer season. The strike had ripple effects for other airlines reliant on Lufthansa ground crew that assist with their flights.

Many airlines, including Lufthansa, had already been forced to cancel thousands of flights due to strikes and staff shortages. Hourslong queues have been reported at numerous European airports for check-in and security, prompting passenger complaints as many of them return to air travel for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020.

The labor union Verdi called for the walkout, hoping to see a 9.5% pay increase for about 20,000 workers. The strike is scheduled to last until early Thursday at 6 a.m. (400 GMT) local time.The organization also warned further strikes could take place until their demands are met.

"Lufthansa reduced its staffing during the (coronavirus) crisis, despite being saved by the taxpayer, and now there are personnel shortages in all corners," Verdi representative Marvin Reschinsky told AFP news agency. "We now need financial investments in personnel to make sure air travel is still possible in the future."   

Lufthansa spokesperson Martin Leutke called the chaos "a sad day" for those who were unable to catch flights for holidays due to the strike. The German carrier called the walkout "wholly unnecessary" and said it was not proportionate to the status of negotiations.

The airline is attempting to rebook stranded passengers who missed their flights, but Leutke said the process is "not easy in the peak travel period because all flights are full."

What is the status of the talks with the ground staff?

The union and the airline have held two rounds of talks so far over wages while a third round is scheduled for early August. So far, the airline has only conceded about half of the union's demands regarding wage increases.

However, the union has rejected the airline's offer and said it is not enough to keep apace with Germany's inflation. 

"Should Lufthansa be stubborn next week and not improve its offer, we will consider further consequences for industrial action. Strikes would not be ruled out," Verdi representative Reschinsky said.

ar/dj (AP, dpa, Reuters)

PHAP backs Marcos on affordable medicines

By Ed Paolo Salting, Manila Times

THE Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) said it is supporting the call of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. for cheaper medicines and affordable health care for Filipinos.

In a statement, the PHAP, which represents the research-based medicines and vaccines manufacturers, distributors and retailers in the Philippines, also welcomed the President's directive to align health protocols as well as to strengthen cooperation with the private sector to enable full capacity for businesses.

"As a science-driven industry, PHAP is supporting the reopening of the economy through the research and development of diagnostics, vaccines and medicines, and ensuring that they are available in the country," the statement read. "Its members are also vigorously working with the government for a stable supply of life-saving treatments amid global challenges."

The organization is partnering with the government to help protect frontliners and communities affected by the pandemic, and continues its information campaign on the value of vaccination.

The PHAP also supports Marcos' call for healthy competition in the industry in order to bring down the cost of medicines for all Filipinos. Marcos initially made the announcement after meeting with the Indian ambassador to the Philippines where he said he was encouraging local pharmaceutical companies to explore joint ventures with their Indian counterparts, particularly in the area of generic medicines and therapeutics.

DENR plants 230 bamboo seedlings along Bamban River

BAMBOO PLANTING Department of Environment and Natural Resources personnel and volunteers take part in a bamboo-planting activity along the Bamban River in Tarlac. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

By Jerry Hernandez, Manila Times

BAMBAN, Tarlac: To boost reforestation in the province of Tarlac, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) planted about 230 bamboo seedlings along Bamban River.

A total 3,600-square meter portion of Bamban River was covered in the tree-planting undertaking.

The department noted that several activities were conducted in preparation for the activity.

"The DENR has regularly conducted clean-up activities in collaboration with partner agencies and the 40 estero rangers deployed in the area who collected an average of about 14,500 kilos of waste daily," Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office head Celia Esteban said.

The clean-up activities conducted in the region this year have yielded 140,000 tons of waste materials.