British Council launches

artist grants
Applicants may apply to British Council's Connections Through Culture mobility grant to
promote arts and cultural exchange between the United Kingdom and Southeast Asia
until September 26

The first round of the British Council’s Connections Through Culture mobility grant to
promote arts and cultural exchange between the UK and Southeast Asia is now
accepting applications.

The call for application was launched on August 26 and is open until September 26,
2019. The grant is a first-of-its kind project to spark innovative ways for participants from
six Southeast Asian countries and the UK to collaborate through the arts.

Connections Through Culture is a bilateral grants program designed to seed exciting

cultural exchanges between artists and arts organizations, and nurture cooperation and
long-lasting relationships between the United Kingdom and six Southeast Asian
countries: Malaysia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Following similar initiatives in China and Taiwan, artists, arts professionals and art
group representatives from the 6 Southeast Asia countries and the UK are eligible to
apply for the mobility grant valued from 2,500 GBP to 5,000 GBP.

Artists from Southeast Asia and the UK may use the grants for self-directed travel to
meet with specialists, peers in the field, and potential collaborators in the UK and in
Southeast Asia between January to March 2020.

Successful grantees will be announced on October 28, 2019.

Applicants can find further information here: British Council Philippines, British Council
Myanmar, British Council Vietnam, British Council Malaysia, British Council Thailand,
and British Council Indonesia.
Why Mimaropa's inflation
rate remains higher than
Philippine average
Food prices are down, but what's causing prices of goods in Mimaropa to remain high?

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine inflation slowed down to 1.7% in August 2019, the
slowest since October 2016. While it has fallen much to the relief of the government's
economic managers, one particular region seems to not be following the
downtrend: Mimaropa.

Mimaropa's inflation rate in August was at 4.6%. Looking at previous months, the region
even experienced upticks. In June, when most regions registered slower inflation,
Mimaropa inched up to 5.2%.

Of the provinces in Mimaropa, Palawan registered the highest inflation rate (4.8%),
followed by Oriental Mindoro (4.7%), Marinduque (4.6%), Romblon (4.2%), and
Occidental Mindoro (3.9%). (READ: FAST FACTS: What you should know about
Palawan)

Based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, it can be seen that food and non-
alcoholic beverages – the index which is weighted the heaviest – is not the culprit
behind stubbornly high inflation in the region.

Food inflation is at 1.5%, while rice prices deflated to -1.1%. Only corn (19.6%), fruits
(14.9%), and cocoa (10.6%) registered double-digit growths.

Mimaropa's high inflation can be attributed mostly to alcohol and tobacco, costs for
recreational activities, and transport.

The region, famous for its beaches, had a 24.9% inflation rate for recreational and
sporting activities in August.

Alcohol and tobacco, commodities associated with leisure activities, leaped to 28.2%.

Travel by sea or inland waterways was at 21.4%.

Rent in Mimaropa rose by 10.9%.

Plummeting rice prices:
How will our rice farmers
cope?
Unquestionably, we need to support all farmers whose incomes and livelihoods are now
hurting because of rice tariffication

It’s a very bad time to be a rice farmer.

A precipitous drop in rice prices is endangering the incomes and livelihoods of more
than two million Filipino rice farmers nationwide.

Many blame the Rice Tariffication Act, which President Rodrigo Duterte signed last
Valentine’s Day.

The law replaced the old import quotas with tariffs, so that anyone can import rice as
long as they pay the requisite tariffs or import taxes. (READ: Will rice tariffication live up
to its promise?)

But more than 6 months after its implementation, some government economists were
reportedly “surprised” by the magnitude of the recent price drops.

Has rice tariffication gone overboard? What can government do to help those whose
boats were not buoyed up – but instead submerged – by the tide of cheap rice from
abroad?

Data confirm that rice prices are dropping like a rock.

As of mid-August the average farmgate price of palay nationwide was recorded at

P17.62 per kilo.

Figure 1 shows that’s a whopping 21% drop from last year. Retail prices of regular-
milled and well-milled rice, by contrast, have dropped by 10% and 7%, respectively.

There’s considerable variation in rice prices across the regions. Farmgate rice prices
have reportedly plummeted to as low as P9 per kilo in Pampanga and P7 per kilo in
Nueva Ecija and Bataan. Farmers fear rice prices will only drop further come next
harvest season.
Sea turtle hatchlings
released in Albay waters
Close to a hundred sea turtle hatchlings are released in the coast of Cagmanaba village
in Oas town

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources

(DENR) in Bicol released close to 100 hawksbill turtle hatchlings in the coast of
Cagmanaba village in Oas town on Wednesday, September 4.

The DENR regional office conducted the activity through the Community Environment
and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Guinobatan.

The coastal waters of Sitio Imacoto in Oas is part of the Ticao Burias Pass Protected
Seascape (TBPPS), a marine protected area with rich marine biodiversity.

It was the biggest release of hatchlings so far this year in Albay.

Rommel R. Divinaflor, Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council

(MFARMC) president, said the DENR needs the support of stakeholders and local
communities to protect our marine biodiversity to scale up the Pawikan conservation
program of the Department."
Senate hearing on
Philhealth, DOH corruption
allegations
Philhealth allegedly continues paying WellMed Dialysis Center even after its
accreditation was suspended because of its involvement in a scam

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate blue ribbon committee chaired by Richard Gordon
investigates the allegations of corruption in the Department of Health (DOH).

The probe was based on Senator Panfilo Lacson’s privilege speech where he
raised conflict of interest issues against Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.

In the same speech, Lacson also alleged that the Philippine Health Insurance
Corporation (Philhealth) continued to pay WellMed Dialysis Center even after its
accreditation was suspended because of its involvement in a scam.
Duterte should notify
Congress on joint exploration
contracts with China: expert
MANILA - Under the Constitution, President Rodrigo Duterte should inform the Congress of every
contract under a joint exploration with China in the West Philippine Sea, an expert said Thursday.

Maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal cited Section 2, Article 12 of the Constitution, which states that
"the exploration, development, and utilization of natural resources shall be under the full control and
supervision of the State.”

The Constitution also reads that “the State may directly undertake such activities, or it may enter into
co-production, joint venture, or production-sharing agreements with Filipino citizens, or corporations
or associations at least sixty per centum of whose capital is owned by such citizens.”

The framework also requires the President to “notify the Congress of every contract entered into in
accordance with this provision, within thirty days from its execution.”

“Iyong 60-40 deal naman is stated in Section 2, Article XII of the Constitution. So that’s one.
Second, it is supposed to be a contract signed by the President and he should report it to Congress,
and third… the state, basically the Philippines, under that contract, retains full supervision and
control of the activity,” Batongbacal said.

The Supreme Court has yet to rule on the petition questioning the Joint Maritime Seismic
Understanding (JMSU), the tripartite agreement among the Philippines, China, and Vietnam.

“With JMSU actually is more of the political kasi the legal issues of the JMSU have not yet been
decided by the Supreme Court. It’s still pending. So, you cannot really say there any legal rulings yet
from which you can draw lessons,” Batongbacal said.

The Philippines is open to sharing oil resources in the West Philippine Sea with China as long as
Manila gets the bigger share, Duterte earlier said.

 Duterte OK with 60-40 sharing in joint oil exploration with China

Chinese President Xi Jinping said the “steering committee should prepare a substantive program on
the matter,” when Duterte raised the possible joint gas exploration in the West Philippine Sea during
their bilateral meeting in China last week.

Philippine Ambassador to China Chito Sta. Romana earlier said the Philippine National Oil
Company and China National Offshore Oil Corporation will be part of a "working group," while
Philippine and Chinese energy ministries and concerned agencies will be part of the steering
committee.
DOJ orders immigration
lookout for heinous-crime
convicts
MANILA—The Department of Justice will put on immigration lookout heinous-crime convicts freed
under the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) law.

Lookout bulletins won’t stop the convicts from leaving the country, but only courts can issue hold
departure orders.

“The DOJ will issue ILBOs that means Immigration Lookout Bulletin Orders, para namo-monitor
’yung movements ng subject, whether here or abroad,” Sec. Menardo Guevarra told reporters after
the Justice Department’s budget briefing before the House Committee on Appropriations.

For now, the DOJ has yet to consider tapping Interpol to aid in the re-arrest of freed heinous-crime
convicts abroad after President Duterte on Wednesday gave them 15 days to surrender.

“Paano kung outside the country? S’yempre wala tayong jurisdiction du’n. Hihintayin na lang natin
ulit na sila ay makabalik. ’Pag andito na, may jurisdiction na ulit tayo,” Guevarra said.

“Wala tayong magagawa du’n,” he added.

“Winarningan ka na namin, binigyan ka na namin ng grace period na 15 days. Sumuko ka na ng

kusang loob, pero ayaw pa rin, evasion of sentence na ’yun. Kasi hindi pa siya tapos ng sentensya
niya, pinagtataguan na niya, umiiwas na siya. That’s another crime, evasion of sentence. Kaya pwede
siyang hulihin kung saan siya makikita,” Guevarra warned.

Freed heinous-crime convicts can surrender to the nearest police station, according to the DOJ.

“I-report niya na isa siya doon sa mga convicted ng heinous crime na pinalaya because of good
conduct, so ibibigay niya ’yung mga detalye sa police station, then ’yung police station na ang
makikipag-communicate sa Bureau of Corrections,” Guevarra said.

“ ’Yung mechanics kung paano siya dadalhin, sino ang susundo sa kanya pabalik sa prison, pag-
uusapan na ’yun. Ang mahalaga nasa custody na siya ng government. Kahit hindi siya deretso agad
sa penitentiary, at least nasa custodian na siya ng police at military, OK na ’yun. It’s just a matter of
bringing him later on to the penitentiary, wala namang problema kung gusto nilang bumalik sa
penitentiary, so much the better.”

After Duterte fired Bureau of Corrections chief Nicanor Faeldon, who approved the release of several
heinous-crime convicts, the Justice secretary said he could designate an officer-in-charge to take over
the BuCor, until Duterte appoints a replacement. Among those being considered for the temporary
position is recently appointed BuCor deputy director Milfredo Melegrito.
“Bago lang si Gen. Melegrito. Kaka-appoint lang sa kanya. Maaaring siya ’yung highest, pero baka
dahil baguhan siya, baka hindi pa niya alam ’yung pasikot-sikot, but we will consider him,” Guevarra
said.

Guevarra, meanwhile, admitted having knowledge of plans to move jailed witnesses against former
Justice Sec. Leila de Lima to another facility, during Faeldon’s stint at the Bucor. He, however, is
unsure if the plan pushed through.

“Na-inform ako na may ganu’ng arrangement, kasi pino-prosecute na nga ’yung kaso ni Sen. De
Lima, kaya na-update ako ng prosecution panel,” Guevarra said.

“May balita noon na for security considerations, baka mapatay sila sa loob, kaya nagkaroon ng sort
of usapan na ilagay natin ’yan sa mas safe na lugar. Napag-usapan nga ’yung marines facility. Hindi
ko alam kung implemented na ’yun, kung meron nang memorandum of agreement, pero may napag-
usapan na ganun noon.”
'15 days too long': Chiong
sisters' parents want
daughters' rapist-killers back
in prison soonest
The parents of 1997 rape-slay victims Marijoy and Jacqueline Chiong on Thursday said their
daughters' convicted killers should be back in prison within a week.

This as they expressed relief over President Rodrigo Duterte's order for heinous crime convicts
released under the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) law to be sent back to prison.

Both Thelma and Dionesio Chiong visited the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral on Thursday after
hearing about the President's order.

Their daughters' 3 convicted killers were released last month under the much-criticized law, just
sacked Bureau of Corrections chief Nicanor Faeldon earlier confirmed.

In his order, Duterte gave the released convicts 15 days to turn themselves in or be subject to
warrantless arrest.

"It's like we are giving extension to the accused to run and hide, 15 days is too long, they should be
nabbed within one week," said Thelma Chiong.

Dionesio, meanwhile, wants Faeldon investigated and held responsible for the GCTA mess.

"Dapat siya na ang nasa Bilibid prison," he said in jest.

(He should be the one held at the Bilibid prison.)

The Chiongs are now coordinating with the Cebu City Police Office to give all information they have
on the convicts for their speedy rearrest.

Data from the Bureau of Corrections showed that some 2,000 heinous crime convicts have been
released since the GCTA law took effect in 2013.
Plantasyon ng marijuana
nadiskubre sa Davao Oriental
Natunton ng pulisya ang isang marijuana plantation sa Sitio Lower Napo sa Barangay Zaragoza sa
bayan ng Manay, Davao Oriental Miyerkoles ng madaling araw.

Ito'y matapos beripikahin ang impormasyon na isang pugante ang nagtatago sa lugar, pero marijuana
plantation ang natagpuan ng mga awtoridad.

Huli na nagpapatubo ng marijuana ang tatlong magkakamag-anak na magsasaka.

Isinagawa ng mga operatiba ang tagging at marking sa binunot na mga tanim na marijuana, na
nagkakahalaga lahat ng P300,000.

Haharap sa kasong paglabag sa Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 ang mga nahuli.

“We may not get the target person. However, fate led us to the discovery of the plantation of
marijuana, which was also a good target. Rest assured that this will be just one of the many
accomplishments against illegal drugs as we are one with the government`s anti-criminality drive,”
pahayag ni Police Brig. Gen. Marcelo Morales, hepe ng Police Regional Office XI.
Duterte: “The West
Philippine Sea is ours.”
“The West Philippine Sea is ours” — this was President Duterte’s declaration as he discussed his position on

the contested islands and marine territories in his fourth State of the Nation Address Monday.

Duterte assured Filipinos that “national honor and territorial integrity” is foremost in his mind.

“When we take next steps in this mongering controversy over the lines of arbitral ruling, the West Philippine
Sea is ours, there is no ifs or buts, it is ours but we have been acting along that legal truth and line but we have
to temper it with the times and realities that we face today,” Duterte said.

The President, in the same speech, said that he is compelled to perform a “delicate, balancing act” with China
to avoid armed conflict and be able to protect the Philippines’ territorial waters and natural resources.

Duterte added that he is not “ready or inclined” to wage war with China, and would rather attack the issue in
West Philippine Sea in a “peaceful way”.

“A war leaves widows and orphans on its way. I am not ready or inclined to accept the occurrence of more
destruction, more widows, and more orphans, should war, even on a limited scale, breaks out,” he said.

“More and better resource can be reached in the privacy of a conference room than in the squabble in the
public. That is why I will do, in the peaceful way, mindful of the fact that it is our national pride and territorial
integrity that is at stake,” he added.

The President said that the government, “in due time”, will stop those fishing in the country’s exclusive
economic zone (EEZ).

Duterte also discussed his bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping.

“In that meeting, I said, I want to go to my territory to dig oil because that is ours, ang sabi ni President Xi:
‘Well you know there’s a conflict there.’ [So] rather than go there and have a confrontation, not necessarily the
warships, but squabble there could lead to something else’, so we just became friends,” Duterte said.

Duterte also discussed about the “sinking accident” involving the F/B Gem-Ver fishermen in the West
Philippine Sea.

“They wanted to talk, tapos ayaw dito, and so, so sige we will investigate and you investigate, when we are
ready, we should meet and compare notes, and let us determine who pays for what damage.”

Duterte said he cannot send the marines to drive the Chinese fishermen away in the West Philippine Sea
because they will not be able to come home alive.

“There are already guided missiles in that island, and the fastest that they have installed there can reach Manila
in seven minutes,” he said.
Asserting rights

While asserting the country’s rights in the disputed waters, Duterte reiterated that he cannot risk a war against
China since it will leave widows and orphans in the process.

“The avoidance of armed conflict and protection of our territorial waters and natural resources compel us to
perform a delicate balancing act,” he said.

“A shooting war is grief and misery multiplier. War leaves widows and orphans in its way. I am not ready or
inclined to accept occurrence of more destruction, more widows, and more orphans should war, even on a
limited scale, breaks out,” he added.

Duterte reiterated how he told Chinese President Xi Jinping about digging oil in the West Philippine Sea.
However, the Chinese leader warned that there may be trouble if the Philippines would push through with his
plan.

According to the President, the Philippines and China can settle the issue more effectively through diplomatic
negotiations.