Committee Daily Bulletin
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CCoommmmiitttteeee DDaaiillyy BBuulllleettiinn Vol. II No. 127 A publication of the Committee Affairs Department June 9, 2015 COMMITTEE MEETINGS MEASURES COMMITTEE PRINCIPAL SUBJECT MATTER ACTION TAKEN/DISCUSSION NO. AUTHOR Ecology Substitute Reps. Mercado- Regulating the production, importation, The Committee, chaired by Rep. Amado Bill to HBs Revilla, Fortun, sale, provision, use, recovery, collection, Bagatsing (5th District, Manila), deferred the 106, 359, Yap (S.), recycling and disposal of plastic bags approval of the Committee Report on the 394, 1624, Rodriguez (R.), substitute bill to resolve the issue raised by 3153, 3227, Mendoza (R.D.), Rep. Leah Paquiz (Party-List, ANG NARS). 3511, 3600, Singson (R.), & 5379 Paquiz, Primicias- Rep. Paquiz argued that the bill did not Agabas, & include provisions promoting the use of native Suansing reusable bags, among others, which her bill, HB 3511, proposes. HB 3161 Rep. Erice Allowing the use of incinerators in burning The Committee deferred the approval of the municipal, bio-medical and hazardous Committee Report on HB 3161. wastes, amending for the purpose Section 20 of RA 8749, or the law providing for a Dr. Jorge Emmanuel, former chief technical comprehensive air pollution control advisor of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) on global healthcare waste products, commented that the proposed law is a huge step backwards from the standpoint of the protection of public health, arguing that there is no such thing as clean incineration. The Committee decided to resume deliberations on the bill to thresh out this issue. HBs 2552, Reps. Mendoza Regulating the aerial spraying of The Committee will deliberate further on HBs 3381 & 3857 (R.D), Gutierrez pesticides and fungicides on agricultural 2552, 3381 and 3857 in its next meeting. & Ilagan crops and providing penalties for violation thereof Rep. Ma. Lourdes Acosta-Alba (1st District, Bukidnon), speaking on behalf of the author of HB 2552 Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza (Party-List, TUCP), said that the bill seeks to regulate aerial spraying or the applications of fertilizers, fungicides and other similar chemicals on crops from an aircraft for agricultural purposes by setting standards, creating an inter-agency monitoring support mechanism, and promoting strict compliance to existing environmental and civil aviation laws and regulations. Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan (Party-List, GABRIELA), author of HB 3857, said that the people living in banana plantations in Mindanao have been calling for the ban on aerial spraying as it contaminates the environment and “disrupts their lives.” Juan Carlos Silva of Sentrong Alternatibong Lingap Panligal (SALIGAN) presented to the Committee the harmful effects of aerial spray Continuation… to health. Ecology On the other hand, Stephen Antig and Samson Villaver, Philippine Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) representatives, explained that aerial spray is by far the most effective and less costly method of fungicide application in banana plantations and is relatively safe to use. Energy Substitute Reps. Hicap, Declaring power infrastructure as projects The Committee, chaired by Rep. Reynaldo Bill to HBs Colmenares, of national significance, amending for the Umali (2nd District, Oriental Mindoro), approved 256, 351, Baguilat, Rivera, purpose certain provisions of RA 9136, the substitute bill with amendment. 987, 2922, Ridon, otherwise known as the Electric Power 3633, 3676, Evardone, Dela Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA) The Committee agreed to include a provision 3847, 3958, Cruz, in the bill that excludes the Agus and Polangui 4198, 4389, Masongsong, hydro power plants in Mindanao from 4422, 4479, Rodriguez (R.), privatization. 4761, 4763, Umali (R.), 4819 & Benitez, Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan (Party-List, 4822, HRs Oaminal, GABRIELA) manifested that she be removed 290, 326, Salimbangon, as one of the co-authors of the substitute bill, it 605, 609 & Mendoza (R.), being contrary to her privilege speech. 797, and Biazon, Privilege Belmonte (V.), Speeches De Jesus, Hicap, Ilagan & Bello (W.) HB 4533 Rep. Abayon Providing for the restructuring of loan The Committee approved HB 4533. The obligation and condonation of interest and Secretariat was instructed to prepare the surcharges due, as well as other interest, corresponding Committee Report. that may accrue on the principal loan secured by Northern Samar Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NORSAMELCO) payable to the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) HB 4777 Rep. Further amending Sec. 26-B of PD 269, as The Committee agreed to create a technical Masongsong amended by RA 10531, otherwise known working group (TWG) to consolidate the two as the National Electrification bills and to craft a substitute bill. Administration Act of 2013 House Bill 4777, authored by Rep. Edgardo HB 4978 Rep. Paduano Further amending PD 269, as amended Masongsong (Party-List, I-CARE), seeks to amend the stringent qualification requirements for a director or officer of an electric cooperative. On the other hand, House Bill 4978, authored by Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano (Party-List, Abang Lingkod), seeks to allow barangay officials to run for a seat in the board of directors of electric cooperatives. It further proposes the creation of a screening committee that will set the qualifications of the candidates for the board. Good HR 341 Rep. Barzaga Inquiry into the alleged P200 million scam The Committee, chaired by Rep. Oscar Government and in the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) of the Rodriguez (3rd District, Pampanga), terminated Public Department of Agriculture (DA) which its inquiry relative to the issues raised in HR Accountability allegedly allowed a certain Leah Cruz and 341. The Secretariat was directed to prepare her dummy companies to monopolize the the corresponding Committee Report. importation of garlic and onion in the country 2 Continuation… HR 2134 Rep. Garcia (E.) Inquiry into the reported anomaly allegedly The Committee assumed jurisdiction over HR Good committed by the Bureau of Jail 2134. Government and Management and Penology (BJMP) on the Public disbursement of the subsistence The Committee shall include in its investigation Accountability allowances of inmates in various provincial alleged anomalies in the disbursement of the jails which were already shouldered and subsistence allowances of inmates in Camp paid for by the local government units Bagong Diwa. concerned HR 2126 Rep. Magsaysay Inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the The Committee assumed jurisdiction over HR issuance of land titles brought about by 2126. approval of the application for free patent by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in the light of a reported case involving land properties in Talisay, Batangas, and to recommend feasible solutions to end this nefarious activity thereby upholding the public trust in the Torrens System and rectifying the public perception against fraudulent issuance of land titles HR 2151 Speaker Inquiry into the alleged bribery and The Committee assumed jurisdiction over HR Belmonte corruption activities involving Chinese 2151. national Wang Bo As stated in HR 2151, the Manila Standard Today published a series of articles alleging that officials of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reversed a deportation order issued against Wang Bo, a Chinese national wanted by both Interpol and the Chinese government. The newspaper likewise reported that the order to release Wang Bo was due to the intervention of certain BI Commissioners, allegedly in exchange for funds to be used by the Liberal Party to influence the outcome of the proposed Basic Law of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. BI Commissioner Siegfred Mison denied the reported involvement of the Liberal Party in the Wang Bo case and also denied accusations of bribery or any inappropriate act in the disposition of the case. BI Associate Commissioners Abdullah Mangotara and Gilberto Repizo explained that technicalities in the authentication of the documents presented by the Chinese government was the basis for their vote to temporarily release Wang Bo. They also took exception to allegations of bribery. The Secretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ), Wang Bo, and Cristine Herrera, the correspondent from Manila Standard, will be invited to attend the Committee’s next meeting. Privilege Rep. Teves On the alleged questionable transactions The Committee assumed jurisdiction over the Speech of the Department of Agrarian Reform privilege speech delivered on May 11, 2015 by (DAR) regarding the release of tractors in Rep. Pryde Henry Teves (3rd District, Negros Regions VI, VII, VIII and other regions in Oriental). the country 3 Government HB 4611 Rep. Guanlao Creating the National Food Security The Joint Committee, co-presided by Rep. Reorganization Council (NFSC), appropriating funds Pryde Henry Teves (3rd District, Negros jt. w/ Agriculture therefor Oriental), Vice Chair of the Committee on and Food and Government Reorganization, Rep. Evelina Food Security HB 5210 Rep. Castelo Creating the Office of National Food Escudero (1st District, Sorsogon), for the (Special Security, appropriating P20 billion from the Committee on Agriculture, and Rep. Agapito Committee) funds of the Philippine Amusement and Guanlao (Party List – BUTIL), Chair of the Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and Special Committee on Food Security, agreed Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to create a technical working group (TWG) to (PCSO) consolidate HBs 4611 and 5210. Rep. Guanlao,