Latest news with #Romualdez
GMA Network
9 hours ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Tacloban mayor Romualdez seeks transparency in San Juanico Bridge repair project
Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez has called for full transparency and expert evaluation on the planned rehabilitation of the San Juanico Bridge, which links the islands of Samar and Leyte in Eastern Visayas. The Tacloban City Council declared a state of emergency on Thursday to expedite the mobilization of resources following the Department of Public Works and Highways' (DPWH) recommendation to limit use of the bridge due to safety concerns. 'So, to be quite frank, medyo nalilito rin ako (I am perplexed),' Romualdez said in a video statement. 'I feel the public should be given all the information pertaining to the condition of the bridge,' he added. He urged the national government to disclose the study that determined the bridge's current state and provide details on the extent of the damage and the timeline for repairs. 'This is not the first time,' he said, recalling a previous repair on the bridge 20 years ago that allowed for a six-month preparation period. Romualdez emphasized the need for independent experts to assess the bridge's condition and verify the cost of rehabilitation, which was initially estimated at P800 million but now stands at P7 billion. 'Even if you spend P7 billion, a feasibility study, a project study, and a careful analysis should have been made,' he said. He also warned against using the current crisis to justify the construction of another bridge without going through the right process. A recent assessment by the DPWH raised concerns about the bridge's structural integrity. As part of precautions, the DPWH has temporarily prohibited vehicles weighing more than three tons from crossing the 2.16-kilometer bridge. Since May 18, pedestrians have been prohibited from crossing the bridge on foot. Instead, they should use coasters and light vehicles for their safety. On Friday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the restrictions on San Juanico Bridge could result in up to P600 million in monthly economic losses, as 14,000 vehicles cross the infrastructure daily. 'The abrupt imposition of restrictions has stranded more than 200 vehicles and is projected to result in monthly economic losses ranging from P300 million to P600 million,' the NDRRMC said. Among the affected sectors are food and fuel supply, delivery of healthcare services, commercial distribution, and regional trade. Aside from Tacloban City, Samar Province is under a state of emergency due to the bridge repair project. —VBL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
Romualdez: Almost half of LEDAC priority measures enacted into law
Speaker and Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez said Thursday that 12 out of the 27 priority measures identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) have been enacted into law. Romualdez made the announcement during the eighth LEDAC meeting under the Marcos administration held in Malacañang on Thursday morning. Signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr were: New Government Procurement Reform Act Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act Imposing Value Added Tax on Digital Transactions Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Program Act, Self-Reliant Defense Posture Revitalization Act Philippine Maritime Zones Act Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act CREATE More Act Enterprise-Based Education and Training Framework Act, and amendments to the Agricultural Tariffication Act. The bill containing proposed amendments to Electric Power Industry Reform Act, on the other hand, lapsed into law last April 18. The proposed Capital Markets Promotion Act is already approved by the House and the Senate and was sent to the Office of the President last April 29. 'This milestone reflects our unwavering commitment to President Marcos' call for legislative action that makes a difference in the lives of ordinary Filipinos. These are not just bills—they are real solutions to real problems,' Romualdez said. Also approved on third and final reading by the House and transmitted to the Senate were National Water Resources Act, amendments to the Right-of-Way Act, National Citizens Service Training Program Act, Military and Uniformed Personnel Pension System Act, Water Treatment Technology Act, Single-use Plastic Bags Tax Act, Revised Government Auditing Act, and Immigration Modernization Act. Still, Romualdez said the work is far from over since the following measures are still being deliberated in the bicameral conference committee: Blue Economy Act Amendments to the Universal Health Care Act Open Access in Data Transmission Act E-Governance Act Rationalization of Mining Fiscal Regime and Foreign Investors' Long Term lease amendments. Romualdez then assured President Marcos that the House of Representatives remains committed to passing legislation that would make daily life better for Filipinos. 'As Congress resumes session on June 2, [you can be] rest assured of our unwavering commitment to enacting key legislation that will bring tangible improvements in the lives of the Filipino people,' he said. Also present during the LEDAC meeting were Senate President Francis 'Chiz' Escudero, members of the Cabinet, and House Majority Leader and Zamboanga City Rep Manuel Jose 'Mannix' Dalipe, among others.—AOL, GMA Integrated News
The Star
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Philippines to US: Deport our citizens to Manila, not El Salvador
WASHINGTON: The United States has a right to deport any Filipino illegal immigrants, but the Philippine government will 'definitely not' allow them to be brought to El Salvador or any third country. Jose Manuel Romualdez (pic), Philippine ambassador to the US, made this clear Tuesday (May 27) when asked of the matter. This came after Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele agreed to house in its mega prison hundreds of migrants expelled by the US government. While most of them are from Venezuela, Bukele previously offered to detain in their prisons US-deported immigrants from those countries that do not take their citizens back. 'I think it's something that the Philippines, we Filipinos, will never allow something like that to happen to us,' Romualdez said of the El Salvador scenario in an interview with reporters at the Philippine Embassy here, adding that even dual citizens are covered by this. 'It's just not in our DNA to allow that to happen,' he noted, saying illegal Filipinos who committed crimes should answer to the local laws. 'We will accept any Filipino, no matter what their status is.' With the Trump administration saying it's exploring other third countries apart from El Salvador to house expelled migrants rejected by their own country, Romualdez said that Manila quickly informed Washington that it will take care of its own. Romualdez said: 'In fact, when there was talk about third countries, we immediately communicated our desire with the United States government that if there's any Filipino that needs to be deported, we would like to be informed and we would be pleased to work with them in having them deported to the Philippines.' According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, there are around two million Filipinos here, of whom there could be as much as 300,000 staying illegally. Romualdez, however, believes that the number of Filipino illegals is 'probably much less than that.' 'Filipinos will always, most Filipinos, that is, will always, especially those that have been here for many years, will find a way to be able to stay here,' he said. 'And I think, more than ever now, this is a clear sign that, you know, the best way to always have a good night's sleep is to always follow the legal path in anything that you do,' he went on. 'The old Filipino style of palusutan (looking for workarounds) and everything like that … that's the worst thing you can do because you think you can get away with something today, but you can't get away with it forever.' - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
Babe Romualdez: F-16s on Philippines' wishlist but land-based weapons a priority
'The F-16 will continue to be part of the overall plan, perhaps, in the future. But as of now, as I said, our priority is more on land-based type of defense capabilities,' Romualdez told selected journalists from Japan and the Philippines on a reporting tour of the US funded by the US State Department. WASHINGTON - The Philippines is hoping to acquire fighter jets like the F-16s being offered by the United States, but will prioritize land-based weapons that are more affordable for its national defense, Philippine Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez said Tuesday. The Philippines is working with the US and Lockheed Martin Corp., the Bethesda, Maryland-based aircraft manufacturer, to determine how it can finance the major F-16 acquisition. Romualdez, however, said, 'We're really looking at other items that are, in view of our national defense strategy, more important than the F-16s.' 'The F-16 will continue to be part of the overall plan, perhaps, in the future. But as of now, as I said, our priority is more on land-based type of defense capabilities,' Romualdez told selected journalists from Japan and the Philippines on a reporting tour of the US funded by the US State Department. The Philippines is the oldest treaty ally of the United States in Asia and both have boosted defense ties under former President Joe Biden and the current Trump administration in the face of China's increasing aggressive actions in the disputed West Philippine Sea. The U.S. has helped in efforts to modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines for years aside from staging large-scale combat-readiness exercises every year, including the Balikatan military exercises that has increasingly focused on strengthening the Armed Forces of the Philippines' capability to defend the country's territorial interests in the disputed waters. 'As I said the F-16, it's an aspiration that we've had for many, many years. There are other offers from other countries like the Gripen, which is actually made in Sweden. But there's a question of affordability,' Romualdez said. The US State Department announced Washington's approval of the major F-16s sale following the visit in Manila of Sec. Pete Hegseth, who announced the Trump administration's support to help modernize the AFP's firepower and military capabilities to help deter China's growing aggression in the South China Sea. Hegseth also reaffirmed the Trump administration's "iron-clad" commitment to its obligations under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, which obliges the allies to help defend one another in case of an external attack. Washington's assistance is crucial to Manila's efforts to modernize its armed forces, one of Asia's most underfunded, as it seeks to strengthen its maritime capability amid an increasingly aggressive China, which has repeatedly harassed and threatened Philippine vessels and aircraft in the West Philippine Sea. 'That's the reason why we tell our friends here in the United States that our economic prosperity and our economic security are tied into our defense security,' Romualdez said. 'If we have the wherewithal we will be able to bring our country's armed forces into being a real partner to the United States, which I think is what the administration of President Trump would like to see - that countries should be able to defend themselves in partnership with the United States,' he said. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro is conducting an overall study to determine 'what is really the best in terms of the capabilities that we need,' Romualdez said. 'At the end of the day, of course, depending on our resources, and the capability to be able to finance these purchases in the long-term, that's what's important,' Romualdez said. –NB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
PH asks US not to deport illegal Pinoys to third country like Libya
WASHINGTON — The Philippine government has requested U.S. immigration authorities to allow illegally staying Filipinos facing deportation to return directly to the Philippines and not banish them from America through a third country like Libya, Manila's top diplomat to Washington said Tuesday. Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez said he conveyed the Philippines' request to U.S. authorities for all prospective Filipino deportees, including Filipino Americans, amid reports that the Trump administration is planning to deport a group of illegal migrants, including Asians, through Libya before they are flown back to their own countries. "We definitely would not want them to be deported to a third country. If they are facing any criminal liability, then we will accept them to come to the Philippines and they will probably have to face our laws," Romualdez said. "If you're a Filipino, then you have every right to be deported to the Philippines," Romualdez told a small group of visiting Philippine and Japanese journalists, including from the GMA News Online, on a reporting tour to the U.S. that is funded by the State Department. "It is not in our DNA to allow that to happen. We will accept any Filipino to the Philippines, no matter what their status is," Romualdez said. Libya's provisional Government of National Unity earlier declared that it would not accept deported immigrants from the U.S. without approval from Libyan authorities. Hundreds of deportees, who have been staying illegally or have committed crimes in the U.S., were also being flown from America to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador, according to U.S. news reports. The Trump administration has forged agreements with a number of countries, including Panama, to house the deportees from the U.S. America has sent Venezuelans to a notorious prison in El Salvador, for example, under an 18th-century wartime law but its action is being challenged in courts. Since returning to the White House, President Donald Trump has been enforcing tough immigration laws and ordering the mass deportation of illegal migrants, one of his top campaign promises. Romualdez acknowledged that every country has a right to deport anyone staying illegally in any country, saying "we're doing the same thing in the Philippines." "For us to insist that they'd be allowed to stay here is not only out of this world, but it is something that you cannot insist on doing if they're here illegally most especially if they have committed any kind of crime," Romualdez said. However, Romualdez said the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. is committed to help Filipinos in need of assistance on immigration issues "within legal parameters." That is "the most that our government can do, because we have to maintain good relations with our host country," Romualdez said. "If you have good relations with the government, then they would be kind enough to let us know whether there is a particular citizen of our country that needs to be deported and certainly we will find ways and means to be able to get them back to the Philippines," he said. The Philippine Embassy will soon sign an agreement with a group of U.S.-based immigration lawyers to provide legal assistance to Filipinos with deportation problems, Romualdez said. Romualdez estimates that there may be 100 to 300 Filipinos who may face deportation across the U.S. for various reasons. The figure is much lower than estimates circulating in Philippine media. It is also a small number compared to the thousands of deportees from countries like Mexico and Venezuela. Romualdez urged Filipinos who entered the U.S. illegally or have overstayed their tourist visa to leave voluntarily to avoid very troublesome immigration ordeals. "The best way is to always follow the legal path in anything that you do. You think you can get away with something today, but you can't get away with it forever," Romualdez said. The Philippines is a longtime treaty ally of the U.S. and security relations with Washington have strengthened both under Trump and former President Joe Biden. In March, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth traveled to the Philippines as the first Asian country he visited in the Indo-Pacific region. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
