Government officials gathered to discuss the most pressing issues in the country during an exclusive interview on Monday as part of the 85th Anniversary celebration of DZRH.
On Damdaming Bayan with Deo Macalma, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, Bureau of Immigration (BOI) Spokesperson Dana Sandoval, Supreme Court (SC) Spokesperson Camille Ting, Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman George Erwin Garcia, Anti-poverty Czar Larry Gadon, and Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Administrator Leonor Cleofas, tackled matters that involve their respective agencies.
COMELEC Chairman Garcia answered questions regarding the issue of Miru replacing Smartmatic in the 2025 National Local Elections.
He emphasized the provision of the Republic Act 9369, or the Election Automation Law of 2007, that enables COMELEC to use an automated election system in the national and local electora exercises.
However, if the Supreme Court decides to annul the contract between COMELEC and Miru systems, the Commission vows to accept the decision and direct with manual elections next year, while recognizing the difficulties that can be encountered.
"Napakahirap po ng isang manual na halalan pagdating po ng 2025 National and Local Elections," Garcia said.
"Sapagkat kung mayroon kayong 70 milyon na botante tapos ang posisyong ffill-upan mo ay lalabindalawang senador, may congressman, may partylist, may governor, vice-governor, sangguniang panlalawigan, mayor vice-mayor, sangguniang bayan, medyo napakarami no'n bago mabasa ng mga guro po natin," he added.
SC Spokesperson Ting mentioned that the case of COMELEC and Miru is still on the pleading stage.
The Spokesperson affirmed that the Supreme Court is very careful in these type of cases that may impose a wide and heavy impact.
"Aside from [na] maraming kaso, ang mga issues ay complex," Ting said when asked as to why the SC takes long when deciding on cases.
Regarding the embattled and suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, the COMELEC Chairman reiterated that the commission no longer has jurisdiction with the case.
"Sa kasalukuyan s'ya ay incumbent mayor, wala [pong] jurisdiction ang COMELEC basta naiproklama, na-elect," Chairman Garcia said.
Anti-poverty Czar Gadon confidently reported that there is a decrease in the poverty rate in the country.
"Noong 2021-2022, ang ating poverty rate ay nasa 23.7. Ngayon ay 22.4. So 1.3 ang nabawas and it means mga 11 million Filipinos ang naiahon na sa poverty threshold," Gadon mentioned.
Gadon also highlighted the 96.1% employment rate in the country and said that this was achieved due to the current administration's good governance.
The Anti-Poverty Commission's target before the end of PBBM's term is to lower poverty rate to 9%.
DENR now focuses on La Niña and coordinates with Local Government Units (LGU) to share their respective hazard maps.
“Yung hazard map na ‘yon, hindi lang pampaskil sa mga wallpaper [po] natin na ginagamit, kailangan pong ayusin ang kanilang pagpplano based on ‘yung science na talagang nasa loob po ng mga mapang 'yan," DENR Sec. Loyzaga said.
The government agency is closely coordinating with LGUs per region to convince mining companies in lending a hand for using their machineries in predicting possible landslide and rainfall flood risk.
"So ang ginagawa namin, kinakausap namin isa-isa para pwede silang tumulong sa pagresponde, pero sa pag prevent din ng isang sakuna, pwede rin po silang tumulong," Loyzaga said.
Furthermore, a satellite based analysis is used to observe deforestation activities in the country as per DENR.
The department recognizes the causes of deforestation and they aim to introduce alternative livelihood to individuals involved in the act in order to further protect Philippine forests.
"Ang mabuting balita is medyo lumalaki ang forest cover natin ngunit mayroon talagang ibang lugar na hostspots na talaga for illegal logging," she said.
The secretary vowed that DENR will put its focus on putting an end to illegal logging.
Regarding the reclamation project, DENR emphasized that they are abiding to the orders of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to review environmental compliance certificates and implement the mandamus order of the Supreme Court, that focuses on the restoration of Manila Bay and making it safe for swimming.
MWSS Administrator Cleofas affirmed that the agency is continues in planning and creating projects that aims for water security in the country.
"Tayo ay mayroong short to medium term projects at tyaka long term projects for water security," Cleofas said.
"In fact [po], noong Miyerkules nagsimula na [po] tayo ng impounding sa upper Wawa dam. Ito [po] ay makakatulong sa ating water supply sa buong Mega Manila," she added.
On the severing issue regarding the rise in Chinese nationals that possess illegal documents in the country, BOI Spokesperson Sandoval assured that the Bureau will remain vigilant and investigate on what process are being abused by foreign nationals, like the late registration.
The BOI acknowledges that this matter is serious and should be put into priority for this is seen as a national security concern.
"Ang problema dito ay hindi fake ang documents, original ang documents nila," Sandoval said.
"They're able to get authentic documents," she added.
Sandoval claimed that BOI already reported this concern to the law enforcement agencies.
"Parang may sindikatong nagooperate na binibigyan ng dokumento itong mga foreign nationals na ito upang sila'y mag misrepresent as Filipino," BOI Spokesperson mentioned.
