CCoommmmiitttteeee DDaaiillyy BBuulllleettiinn Vol. III No. 19 A publication of the Committee Affairs Department September 7, 2015 BICAMERAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEETING MEASURES COMMITTEE PRINCIPAL SUBJECT MATTER ACTION TAKEN/ DISCUSSION NO. AUTHOR Bicameral HB 5912 & Rep. Del Providing for the National Athletes and The Bicameral Conference Committee, co- Conference SB 2898 Rosario (A.G.) Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act presided by Rep. Wes Gatchalian (Party-List, Committee & Sen. Sotto ALAY BUHAY), for the House of Representatives, and Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, for the Senate, approved the Bicameral Conference Committee Report on HB 5912 and SB 2898. Other conferees who were present during the bicameral conference committee meeting were the following: Reps. Anthony del Rosario (1st District, Davao Del Norte), Joseller “Yeng” Guiao (1st District, Pampanga) andTerry Ridon (Party-List, KABATAAN). BUDGET BRIEFINGS COMMITTEE SUBJECT MATTER DISCUSSIONS Appropriations Budget hearing on the proposed FY 2016 The Committee, chaired by Rep. Isidro Ungab (3rd District, Davao budget, plans and programs, and major City), listened to the budget presentation of the Department of Energy accomplishments of the following government (DOE) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on their FY 2016 agencies: proposed budgets, plans and programs, and major accomplishments. Department of Energy (DOE) Committee Vice Chair Rep. Celso Lobregat (1st District, Zamboanga City) sat as the presiding officer during the DOE’s budget briefing. DOE Officer-In-Charge Zenaida Monsada said under the FY 2016 National Expenditure Program (NEP), the DOE is set to receive P1.85 billion. Of this amount, 77.83% or P1.44 billion goes to maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE), 18.97% or P350.22 million to personal services (PS), and 3.20% or P59.01 million to capital outlay (CO). Monsada also presented the DOE’s accomplishments for 2014 up to the first semester of 2015 in the energy, gas, oil and power sectors; the power supply and demand outlook from 2015 to 2020; and policy thrusts for 2016. To achieve power supply security, Monsada said the DOE introduced new policies to encourage new investments in power generation and supply; institutionalized the Interruptible Load Program (ILP) in Luzon; implemented the Modular Genset Program; and implemented the Interim Mindanao Electricity Market (IMEM). The DOE also directed the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to study the Visayas-Mindanao interconnection, she added. Monsada sought an additional P7 billion in the budget of the DOE to finance programs and projects under the Tier 2 - Budget Priorities Framework including climate change mitigation, total household electrification, research and development, fulfillment of international Continuation… commitments, and institutional strengthening. Appropriations (Tier 2-Budget Priorities Framework guides the departments/agencies in the preparation of their proposals for new and expanded programs, activities and projects in line with the current administration's goal of sustaining rapid growth and inclusive development.) For 2016, Monsada gave assurance that the power supply will be able to meet power demands. However, she cannot categorically say that there will be no power outages next year, which will still depend on the performance of the power plants. Monsada noted that Mindanao will be affected by the El Niño phenomenon considering that the region’s power supply is highly dependent on hydro-power plants. However, she said this problem will soon be addressed as coal-fired power plants in the region start to operate. On the other hand, the El Niño will have minimal impact in Luzon and Visayas. Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Committee Vice Chair Rep. Emil Ong (2nd District, Northern Samar) sat as the presiding officer during the DFA’s budget briefing. DFA Secretary Albert Del Rosario said under the FY 2016 NEP, the DFA and its attached agencies will get a total of P20.64 billion. The Office of the Secretary (OSEC) will get the biggest share of the DFA’s budget with P20.56 billion while its attached agencies, namely, the Foreign Service Institute (FSI), Technical Cooperation Council of the Philippines (TCCP) and UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines (UNACOM) will get P54.98 million, P4.30 million, and P20.32 million, respectively. Del Rosario said the 58.36% increase in the 2016 budget of the Office of the Secretary, compared to the P12.98 billion in 2015, is mainly due to the huge increase in the allocations for maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) and the capital outlay. For MOOE, the amount of P4.41 billion International Commitment Fund (ICF) will now be included instead of being treated as a separate fund. The ICF will finance expenses related to the ASEAN Summit preparatory activities. The P2.8 billion additional budget in the MOOE will also finance the improvement of the DFA passport system. The increase in the DFA’s capital outlay represents allocations for the improvement of its offices in the country and several foreign service posts. However, Del Rosario said this budget under the NEP is not enough to support the DFA’s projects, thus he is seeking an increase in the budget of the OSEC of P766.91 million. He explained that while the budget for the overhaul of the passport system has been included in the NEP, the provisions for the purchase of necessary supplies were not. He also cited the planned opening of a consulate in Calgary, Alberta and three regional consular offices in Dumaguete City, Tarlac City and Calasiao, Pangasinan. Del Rosario also apprised the Committee of the continuing programs and projects of the DFA such as developing and deepening bilateral relations as a key strategy in promoting the country’s interest. For 2014, the DFA has concluded 58 bilateral agreements for the Philippines during official visits and consultations in several countries in Asia, Europe, Middle East and the US. Del Rosario mentioned that the DFA continues to advocate a rules- based approach in settling maritime disputes. The Philippines filed a case before the Permanent Court of Arbitration under United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 2014 to clarify its 2 Continuation… maritime entitlements in the West Philippine Sea, particularly in Appropriations relation to its dispute with China. The DFA also provided assistance to a total of 20,939 Filipinos overseas under the Assistance to Nationals (ATN) program for the year 2014, and to 10,139 Filipinos overseas from January to June 2015. Del Rosario added that 18 Filipino convicts on death penalty were spared from execution though high-level negotiations with host governments and provision of competent legal assistance. Responding to the query of ANG NARS Party-List Rep. Leah Paquiz on the Philippines’ foreign policy response to the smuggling in of garbage from Canada, Del Rosario said that an inter-agency group was already created to address the problem. He added that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) already declared that the garbage was considered non-toxic and non- hazardous. But Rep. Paquiz asserted that whether that garbage is toxic or not, the country should never be considered as a dumping site. The DFA Secretary also responded to various questions raised by other members of the Committee. PUBLIC HEARING COMMITTEE SUBJECT MATTER DISCUSSIONS Joint Congressional Consultative meeting on the amended The Joint Congressional Oversight Committee, co-presided by Rep. Oversight Committee Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Cresente Paez (Party-List, COOP-NATCCO), Chair of the House on Cooperatives the Cooperative Code of 2008 (Republic Act Committee on Cooperatives Development, and Senator Lito Lapid, 9520) Chair of the Senate Committee on Cooperatives, held a public hearing on the revised IRR of RA 9520 on September 4, 2015 in Iloilo City. The public hearing is part of a series of consultations being conducted by the joint body to solicit the sentiments of the various stakeholders with regard to the revised IRR of the Cooperatives law. Other attendees to the public hearing were Rep. Arnulfo Go (2nd District, Sultan Kudarat) and Rep. Anthony Bravo (Party-List, COOP NATCCO); and cooperative leaders from Iloilo City. OTHER MATTERS COMMITTEE SUBJECT MATTER DISCUSSIONS Metro Manila Discussion with the Philippine National Police The Committee, chaired by Rep. Winston “Winnie” Castelo (2nd Development Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) on its plans District, Quezon City), discussed with the PNP-HPG its plans to to address traffic congestion in EDSA address traffic congestion in EDSA, having been given direct order by the President to takeover the management of traffic along the stretch of EDSA. Chief Supt. Arnold Gunnacao, HPG Director, stressed that HPG personnel will strictly enforce traffic laws, particularly the Land Transportation and Traffic Code (RA 4136), and will expect motorists to comply and exercise discipline on the road. One of the first few things Gunnacao did to ease traffic along EDSA was to order the clearing of all road obstructions including street vendors, particularly in the Balintawak area. The “yellow bus lane” policy, which confines buses to these lanes on 3 Continuation… EDSA, is now being strictly implemented. Gunnacao said it somehow Metro Manila improved the flow of traffic on EDSA. Development According to Gunnacao, the presence of PNP-HPG personnel along EDSA, specifically in major “choke points,” made an impact on the motorists’ compliance with traffic laws. Motorists are deemed to be more careful not to violate traffic rules knowing that they have to deal with uniformed personnel instead of the traffic enforcers from the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA). Rep. Castelo asked whether it is proper for the HPG traffic enforcers to carry firearms while manning the traffic. Gunnacao replied that firearms form part of the police’s uniform. He added that in accordance with the Police Operational Procedures, the police shall use their firearms only to protect others and themselves from harm in the face of imminent threat on their lives.