Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (Photo from Secretary Delfin Lorenzana Facebook page) MANILA - Outgoing Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said it has been an honor for him to serve and make a difference as the country's 36th defense chief. "Karangalan ko ang makapaglingkod bilang ika-36 na Kalihim ng Tanggulang Pambansa. Salamat sa inyong tiwala at suporta! (It was an honor for me to serve as the 36th National Defense Secretary. Thank you for your trust and support!)," he said in a Facebook post Tuesday. Lorenzana, in a quote card attached to the same post, also said the DND in the past six years has been "steadfast in fulfilling its mandate," contributing to President Rodrigo R. Duterte's legacy of building a strong uniformed force. "I want to be remembered as the Secretary of National Defense who was able to make a difference: the improvement of the Defense organization to better secure our nation," he added. Unde
(File photo) MANILA - President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has signed a new law that sets the term of the chief of staff and other senior military officers holding key positions in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to three years. Republic Act 11709, signed by Duterte on April 13, sets a fixed three-year tour of duty for the AFP chief of staff, vice chief of staff, the deputy chief of staff, the major service commanders (Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Navy), unified command commanders, and inspector general "unless sooner terminated by the President." Under the law, the President may extend the tour of duty "in times of war or other national emergency declared by Congress." The new law also provides a tour of duty of four years for the superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) "unless sooner terminated by higher authority." Except for the position of chief of staff, the PMA superintendent will not be eligible for any other
(File photo) MANILA - Government employees will now be receiving a night shift differential pay, according to a new law signed by President Rodrigo Duterte. Republic Act (RA) No. 11701, signed by Duterte on April 13, grants a night shift differential pay to government employees including those in government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs) working between the hours of 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. "Government employees occupying position items from Division Chief and below, or their equivalent, including those in government-owned or -controlled corporations, whether the nature of their employment is permanent, contractual, temporary, or casual, shall be paid night shift differential at a rate not exceeding 20 percent of the hourly basic rate of the employee, as determined by the head of the agency, for each hour of work performed between the hours of 6 in the evening and 6 in the morning of the following day," the law read. Under RA 11701, the night shift differential pay provide
MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law establishing Timbangan ng Bayan centers in public and private markets to protect consumers from deceptive and unfair sales acts and practices. RA 11706, signed by Duterte on April 13, amends Chapter II, Title III of RA 7394 otherwise known as the Consumer Act of the Philippines. Under the new law, Article 62-A directs all provincial, city, and municipal governments to establish accessible Timbangan ng Bayan Centers in all public and private markets, including supermarkets, and when practicable, in flea markets or tiangges and grocery stores, within their respective localities. Timbangan ng Bayan Centers will provide consumers with an effective means of checking the accuracy of the weight and the quantity of the goods that they are buying. "These centers must have the necessary instruments for determining weights and measures, which shall be available, free of charge, to all persons who need to confirm the accuracy of the quantity
The ongoing rehabilitation of the most-affected area in Marawi City. (Photo from PIA-TFBM) MANILA - The newly enacted Republic Act 11696 or the Marawi Siege Compensation Act of 2022 will pave the way for the complete rehabilitation of the war-torn city, Task Force Bangon Marawi chairperson Secretary Eduardo del Rosario said Thursday. "On behalf of our Maranaw brothers and sisters, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for signing Republic Act 11696 or the Marawi Siege Compensation Act of 2022," del Rosario told reporters in a text message. The law, signed by Duterte on April 13, aims to provide monetary assistance to the conflict-affected residents in Marawi City. "This will pave the way for the complete rehabilitation of our country's lone Islamic City and full recovery of the Maranaws from the destruction caused by the 2017 siege laid by the terrorists," del Rosario added. The law also grants the creation of the Marawi Co