10 February 2017

Duterte orders intensified fight against illegal gambling
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to intensify the fight against illegal gambling.

This directive came as the President signed Executive Order No 13 strengthening the fight against illegal gambling.

The same law enforcement agencies were further directed by the Chief Executive to coordinate and promptly act on requests of gambling regulatory authorities to investigate and put a stop to illegal gambling activities in their respective jurisdictions.

The order likewise instructed the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB), Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) and other regulatory entities to submit a consolidated report on the progress of the fight against illegal gambling in their jurisdictions within six (6) months and every six (6) months thereafter from the effective date of the EO.

In addition, the President prohibited the assignment, sharing, lease, transfer or selling of online gambling license to any other party.

Online gambling operators who wish to operate outside the jurisdiction of the government authority who issued the license shall apply for a separate license.

Executive Order No 13 defines illegal gambling as any game scheme not authorized or licensed by the government

All gambling activities conducted beyond the territorial jurisdiction of the government authority which issued the license is also considered as illegal gambling. ###PCO-Content.


Duterte grants benefits for job orders and government contractuals
The President signed Administrative No 2 authorizing the grant of gratuity pay to job order and contract service workers in government.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte approved a P2,000 bonus for job order and contract of service workers in government during the December 5, 2016 Cabinet meeting in Malacanan.

“Granting a gratuity pay,” states the Administrative Order No 2, “is a well-deserved recognition of their hard work.”

Unlike regular employees, job order and contract of service workers do not enjoy government benefits such as the midyear and yearend bonuses, performance bonus and personnel economic relief allowance (PERA).

Administrative Order No 2 states that “all workers whose services are engaged through job order and contract of services and who have tendered a total or an aggregate of at least four (4) months of satisfactory service as of December 15, 2016 and whose contracts are still effective as of the same date, may be granted a one-time gratuity pay not exceeding P2,000 each.”

“Those who have rendered less than four (4) months of satisfactory service as of December 15, 2016 and with effective contracts as of the same date may also be granted the one-time gratuity pay but not exceeding P1,000 each,” the Administrative Order No 2 adds.

Funds needed to implement the President’s order will be sourced from the agencies’ respective maintenance and other operating expenses.

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) recognizes the government practice of engaging the services of job order and contract of service workers. ### PCO-Content


Duterte highlights vision during business forum
DAVAO CITY – President Rodrigo Duterte attended the Manila Times 5th Business Forum here on Friday, February 10, and articulated his vision of sustained and inclusive growth by ensuring peaceful and orderly business environment.
In his message before participants of Manila Times’ business forum, the President reiterated his campaign pledge of fighting illegal drugs, corruption and criminality.

The President renewed his commitment to eliminate illegal narcotics, noting that something must be done to protect the country’s youth from the danger of drugs.

He also vowed to fight corruption and red tape, adding that he wants simple permits be processed within three days and applications under department secretaries be processed in one month.

Duterte also underscored the fact that the public must actively help to defeat graft and corruption in government. He likewise advised ordinary people not to give in to the demands of unscrupulous government personnel, especially the OFWs who fall prey to unscrupulous airport personnel.

Reiterating his zero tolerance for corruption, Duterte said there are no contracts reaching his desk like major infrastructure. Reviews of contracts for big government projects usually result to anomalies, he said.

He also vowed to combat crime and mentioned the ongoing debate on the reimposition of the death penalty.

“So criminality has to go. Basta ako, kung anong binibigay ninyo sa tao, isasauli ko talaga,” he said.

The President also cited a report stating that the imposition of death penalty served as deterrent to criminals from committing heinous offenses. He said the number of crimes increased when the government lifted capital punishment in the country contrary to the arguments of anti-death penalty advocates.

The President was also accorded the Man of the Year 2016 award by Manila Times Chairman Emeritus Dr. Dante Francis Ang during Friday’s event, in recognition of his dedication to carry out reforms in the country.

The award was conferred to the President Duterte for being the leader of the masses who broke the mold of traditional politics and rose to power to set a new direction for the Philippines to attain a corruption-free country, an independent foreign policy and a nation free from the drug menace.

This year’s business forum, dubbed “The Philippine Economic Outlook 2017: Peace Toward Sustainable Prosperity,” tackled the economic prospects of the country in the midst of significant policy changes under the Duterte administration.

Among the speakers in the forum held at Marco Polo Hotel were Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua, ADB country director Richard Bolt, and SM Investment Corp. senior Vice President Corazon Guidote.###PND