House passes bill preventing and controlling pollution from ships

The House of Representatives approved Monday night on third and final reading a measure that will prevent and control pollution from ships.

Rep. Amado S. Bagatsing (5th District, Manila), chair of the House Committee on Ecology, said House Bill 5377 should harmonize institutional arrangements concerning marine pollution and strengthen as well as complement the enforcement of existing related laws on marine pollution.

"The measure shall prevent or minimize marine pollution covering oily substances, harmful and toxic substances, garbage, sewage and other pollutants coming from ships and floating structures," Bagatsing said.

The measure also aims to implement the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from ships or Marpol 73/78, including its annexes and subsequent amendments, Bagatsing added.

The measure, to be known as "Prevention of Pollution from Ships Act," shall cover Philippine ships, wherever they may be found, and foreign-flagged ships, whether or not they are registered with state parties to the Convention.

It creates the Marine Pollution Adjudication Board with quasi-judicial powers to adjudicate marine pollution cases.

The measure streamlines jurisdiction, responsibilities and functions of Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).

MARINA is vested with the right to exercise jurisdiction and regulatory control over Philippine ships.

PCG is given the sole and exclusive responsibility to enforce environmental pollution regions and standards over all ships operating within Philippine waters, ports and terminal facilities or harbors.

With corresponding penalties, the measure defines prohibited acts, among others, the discharge of oil, oily mixture, noxious liquid substances, and other harmful substances in packaged form, sewage, garbage from any Philippine ship or any other ship while within Philippine waters.

House Bill 5377 substituted House Bills 99, 484, 861, 947, 1932, 2664, 2967 and 3204 of Reps. Douglas Hagedorn (3rd District, Palawan), Rodolfo Biazon (Lone District, Muntinlupa City), Lawrence Lemuel Fortun (1st District, Agusan Del Norte), Francisco Ashley Acedillo (Party List, Magdalo), Gary Alejano (Party List, Magdalo), Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (2nd District, Pampanga), Diosdado Macapagal Arroyo (2nd District, Camarines Sur), Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City), Maximo Rodriguez, Jr. (Party List, ABAMIN), and Raymond Democrito Mendoza (Party List, TUCP). -  Jazmin S. Camero, Media Relations Service-PRIB - congress.gov.ph

Palace urges lawmakers to resume BBL hearings

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang yesterday appealed to lawmakers to continue their deliberations on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law and give peace a chance in Mindanao.

The appeal was made after Congress suspended hearings on the BBL in the wake of public outrage over the killing of the 44 Special Action Force policemen by Muslim rebels in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last month.

“Certainly, the Mamasapano incident has created an effect on the deliberations to the Bangsamoro Basic Law. But, as the President said...we cannot lose focus on our fight for peace,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said over radio dzRB.

Lacierda said President Aquino, in a televised national address on the Mamasapano incident last Friday, called on the people to remain focused on the government’s primary goal of attaining a widespread and lasting peace.

“This is what our Special Action Force has fought for in Mamasapano. This is what every decent Filipino who wishes to leave behind a better future for coming generations continues to fight for,” Lacierda said.

He said it was important that the proposed BBL was discussed because “this is our chance for peace in an area that has been marked by unrest.”

“So let us talk about the Bangsamoro Basic Law. Mamasapano already happened; accountability is being called for, but over and above accountability, we have to move forward further. We are now moving towards looking for accountability in what happened in Mamasapano. But also, there is a greater need for us to achieve lasting peace in Mindanao,” Lacierda said.

“So our plea to all our legislators: I know that all of us...long for peace. This is our time to find a better way...there’s a better chance for us for peace. The peace agreement has been signed. The Bangsamoro Basic Law is in your hands. Deliberate and let’s find a way to peace,” he said.

Asked if the President would talk to his allies in Congress about the proposed BBL, Lacierda said he was not aware of any plans.

But he said the sacrifices of the fallen SAF operatives would be wasted if there would be no peace in Mindanao.

Lacierda noted Aquino emphasized in his speech the fight for peace.

“So I am certain that the legislators know in their hearts that there’s a need for us to come up with an agreement and a law that would create a viable institution in Mindanao that can pave the way for peace and development, further development in Mindanao,” Lacierda said, quoting the President.

From the start, Lacierda said the President had been concerned about those who were against peace.

“From the start, there were always people who have been looking at opportunities to sow bigotry and panic and will try to take advantage of any situation. Again, that’s why there is a stress and emphasis from the President to remain focused on achieving peace in the region. So maybe there are people trying to stop the passage of the BBL, for one reason or another, but I think it is important for us to really focus on making sure that the SAF commandos did not die in vain,” he said.

Lacierda said the committee of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago was discussing the constitutionality of the BBL while the panel of Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was tackling other provisions.

“But, again, we are there. The peace panel is there; the executive branch is there; they presented the Bangsamoro Basic Law. And whatever concerns that the legislators may have, the executive branch...the peace panel(s)...are more than willing to discuss the provisions of the Bangsamoro Basic Law. Are there amendments? That would be discussed amongst them. That would be discussed between the peace panels and the legislators,” Lacierda said.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said President Aquino should make a stronger stand by suspending the BBL.

“What we expected the President should have done is to directly respond to the growing but unaddressed deep-seated clamor for justice by suspending now the BBL deliberations both in the Senate and in the House of Representatives,” TUCP spokesman Alan Tanjusay said.

He said the BBL should not push through until the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) surrenders all those involved in the Mamasapano incident.

Supporters, however, called on Congress and other stakeholders to support the passage of the BBL and the peace process in Mindanao.

Hundreds of peace activists on Friday walked barefoot for one hour around the 32-hectare compound of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in Cotabato City to drumbeat their desire for a peaceful resolution of the Mamasapano incident. – By Aurea Calica (The Philippine Star) With John Unson, Sheila Crisostomo

Labor puts the squeeze on Aquino

A big labor group has urged President Aquino to suspend the Bangsamoro Basic Law and put the Moro Islamic Liberation Front leadership to task in deference to the mourning nationwide and the search for truth and justice following the massacre of 44 policemen in Mindanao on Jan. 25.

“What we expected the President should have done is to directly respond to the growing clamor for justice by suspending now the deliberations on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law both in the Senate and in the House of Representatives,” said Alan Tanjusay, spokesman of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippine-Nagkaisa.

The MILF leadership, TUCP said, should also act on three things: (1) surrender to Philippine authorities Basit Usman including those MILF commanders and mujahideens involved in the killing, (2) return all government-owned firearms, cellphones and personal effects belonging to fallen policemen, and (3) destroy their munition factories for 50-caliber bullets.

Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, chair of the Senate Committee on Local Government, suspended the deliberations and discussions on the provisions of BBL.

The ad hoc committee in the House of Representatives who have made extensive public hearings and regional consultations on the BBL has not.

The TUCP said that these must be done within the last 16 months of his tenure and the pronouncement must come from Aquino himself before the Filipino people totally loses their faith in him.

The TUCP also urges the MILF to join the government’s Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in crushing the MILF breakaway group BIFF.

“Genuine expression of sympathies and condolences about the incident is accompanied by overt acts of good faith. If they desire the Filipino people continue to trust they (MILF leaders) deserve to lead the Bangsamoro aspiration for an autonomous region, then they should show sincerity first by bringing BIFF militants as quickly as possible to the fold of justice,” added Tanjusay.

The TUCP also supports the creation of an independent fact-finding truth commission that will determine what really happened, determine accountabilities, and make policy and operational responses and recommendations to the military and police chain of command, operations, and in performing law enforcement functions.

The TUCP is lobbying for social protection of 33,000 public service personnel affected by the transition upon dissolution of the ARMM and for the adoption of the Philippine Labor Code into the BBL. - By Vito Barcelo / Manila Standard Today

Malacañang: Give BBL a chance

MANILA, Philippines–Malacañang on Sunday urged lawmakers to give the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) a chance as this remains the most viable instrument to attain lasting peace in Mindanao.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda also appealed to the public to continue trusting President Aquino and the government reforms he had tried to institute following public outrage over the Mamasapano debacle that killed over 60 police commandos, Moro guerillas and civilians.

While Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” was neutralized in the operation, the police action nearly imperiled the peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation front (MILF).

“Certainly, the Mamasapano incident has… an effect on the deliberations on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). But, as the President said, we cannot lose focus on our fight for peace,” Lacierda said.

The peace agreement with the MILF is one of the cornerstones of the Aquino administration. The President has certified the BBL as one of his priority measures in Congress.

Some lawmakers have expressed apprehension over its passage as they blamed the MILF for the deaths of the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos who took part in the operation.

But as relieved SAF commander Director Getulio Napenas himself admitted, he bypassed the cease-fire mechanisms of the government and the MILF because he did not trust the military and the Moro group.

“Hopefully, we can see the passage of BBL being mindful of what has happened. If you feel that there is some need to deliberate and some need to improve BBL, let us deliberate, but let’s not forestall the passage of an instrument that could contribute to lasting peace in Mindanao,” Lacierda said, addressing the lawmakers.

Passing the draft bill into law would also ensure that the SAF commandos did not die in vain, Lacierda said.

The MILF said 18 of their fighters and five civilians living in the community where the encounter took place were killed.

IP support

In Davao City, a group pushing for the inclusion of the indigenous people’s rights in the proposed BBL appealed to Congress not to suspend or abort its passage into law.

The Mindanao People Peace Movement (MPPM) said “sobriety and reason” should prevail because war will never be the solution to the problem that once again threatens the fragile peace in Mindanao.

“While the BBL is not without its flaws, we don’t believe that suspending or aborting the process is the wise thing to do,” said Rodelio Ambangan, MPPM chair and Jane Pesons, MPPM secretary general, in a statement.

“We should not make the BBL the sacrificial lamb as a consequence of the violence in Mamasapano,” Pesons said.

MPPM said the path of peace should be chosen in demanding justice for those who have fallen in the Mamasapano encounter.

“Ordinary people and communities have placed their hopes on this peace process especially now that the BBL is undergoing deliberations in both houses of Congress,” the statement said.

The group demanded an independent inquiry to look into the events surrounding the incident and determine accountability.

“We appeal to some politicians, public figures and the warmongers to refrain from issuing provocative statements instigating war,” MPPM said.

BBL suspension

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), meanwhile, urged President Aquino to suspend the BBL and put the MILF leadership to task for the Mamasapano debacle.

Alan Tanjusay, TUCP spokesman, said the President should have suspended the BBL deliberations both in the Senate and in the House of Representatives until the MILF surrenders to Philippine authorities Abdul Basit Usman and the MILF commanders involved in the killing of the 44 police commandos.–Nikko Dizon with additional reports from Tina Santos, Germelina Lacorte and Jeoffrey Maitem, Inquirer Mindanao