Former SBMA chief wins 2nd Stevie for innovative COVID-19 contingencies in Subic

Former Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma has won another Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards this year as  “Thought Leader of the Year.”

According to the award-giving body, the award is given to individuals with innovative ideas who demonstrate the confidence to promote or share them as actionable or distilled insights.

Eisma, who is now a director of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), was bestowed the silver Stevie for her Covid-19 contingency plans for the Subic Bay Freeport that paved the way for businesses inside the Freeport to endure the effects of the pandemic.

During her term, the agency has implemented measures that ensured, not only for businesses to thrive but the safety and security of the stakeholders in the Freeport as well.

Innovations such as business teleconferencing; disinfection protocols and mass testing; emergency isolation facilities; online bidding for products and services; virtual job fairs; online medical consultation; and a “bubble” concept for sports tournaments, seminars and workshops, and other events to boost local business operations, were maximized during that time.

These measures not only sustained jobs and investments in Subic, but also led to significant economic growth during the worst period of the pandemic: P3.2-billion revenue, P1.3-billion new committed investments, 682 new jobs, and $1.12-billion imports and $1.03-billion exports in 2020, the first year of the pandemic.

These records were even eclipsed in 2021 with a P3.47-billion revenue, or an 8 percent income growth; 142,177 workers, or an employment increase of 2.31 percent; 1,737 business locators; and P17.29-billion new investments that topped the 2020 record by P15.74 billion or 1,011 percent.

This was the second time that Eisma received a Stevie award. In 2018, a year after becoming SBMA’s first female CEO, Eisma also won a silver Stevie as “Female Executive of the Year for Government or Non-profit” under the individual women awards category.

Meanwhile, she also received a bronze Stevie for the SBMA for “Organization of the Year” under the category for government or non-profit with more than 10 employees.

Eisma felt “humbled and honored” with the recent recognition and expressed her gratitude to the public for their continuing support, she said in a social media post.

The winners in the 2023 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards were announced last week from more than 800 nominations for innovative achievements in the 29-nation Asia-Pacific region.

Gold, silver, and bronze Stevie Award winners were determined by the average scores of more than 150 professionals around the world, organizers said.

The “Stevies,” which is considered as the business equivalent of the Oscars, is given annually by the American Business Awards organization to recognize accomplishments and contributions of companies and business people around the world.

The winners will be celebrated at a virtual ceremony on June 27. (MPD-SBMA) 

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Truck ban hurting economy–chamber

The truck ban measure in Manila is partly to blame for a recent spike in the inflation rate and may hold back economic growth, locally-based foreign businessmen say.

The Foreign Chamber Council of the Philippines (FCCP) said that City Ordinance 8336 on road decongestion has increased the cost of doing business nationwide. FCCP chairman Philip Chien said transport and storage charges have risen significantly since the truck ban took effect.

The cost of trucking alone has nearly doubled following the truck ban in Manila, he said because cargo firms have been forced to charge more for the same services because their trucks can make fewer round trips daily.

“Our members are paying for the idle time of those trucks,” Chien said.

The chamber has recommended the immediate suspension of CO 8336 to avert the “derailment” of the economy; decongestion of the Port of Manila by relocating some of its key operations to other viable ports, such as the Batangas Port and the Subic Bay Port; removal of 35,000 empty containers; inclusion of the business sector in the formulation of a long-term solution to the present transport problems.

Chien said CO 8336 is likely to be reflected in the 3rd quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures. He said a growth of “less than 6 percent” is probable because of higher costs, delays in delivery and losses in business opportunities. The Aquino Administration is reportedly targeting upwards of a 7 percent growth.

FCCI’s membership includes the local chambers of commerce of Taiwan, India, Finland, Israel, Singapore, Spain, France, Turkey and Malaysia.

Chamber insiders said the Federation of Philippine Industries is being tapped to join the move to have the ban revoked.

The group has indicated plans to go directly to Malacañang for an audience.

“The Administration’s economic growth targets are at stake, so we think the President will support us,” it said in a statement. (Miguel C. Gil, Manila Standard Today)

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/08/08/truck-ban-hurting-economy-chamber

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IPAs to set unified investments goal and strengthen referral system

The government’s investment promotion agencies (IPAs) are expected to come up with a unified investment target as they collaborate to further strengthen a referral system to promote each other in their various investment campaigns, including the huge agricultural potential for Bangsamoro provinces.

Trade and Industry Undersecretary Ponciano C. Manalo Jr. told reporters that heads of the various IPAs met recently in Zamboanga City and agreed to jointly promote the country as an investment destination with a single message “Invest Philippines”.

With that, Manalo said the IPAs should have a common investment target noting that the Board of Investments and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority are the ones accounting for the bulk of investments generation.

At present, each IPAs have individual targets which are later on combined but Manalo, as head of the DTI investment promotion group, said the IPAs, can adopt a unified target where there is a specific target for foreign direct investments and total projects approved.

The IPAs are led by the government’s premier investment premier investment promotion agency Board of Investments (BOI). Other IPAs include the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, Zamboanga Special Economic Zone, Aurora Special Economic Zone, Philippine Retirement Authority, Phividec Industrial Estate, BOI-Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and the Bases Conversion Development Authority.

In 2010, the IPAs had set an investments growth target of 10 percent in 2010 and 15 percent for 2011 to 2012 and 20 percent by 2013 to 2014. Investments generated by the government’s IPAs in 2009 reached P315.28 billion from P473.25 billion in 2008.

The setting of an investments target could help the IPAs measure their performance in light of the good reviews the country has been getting from the international business community.

“We should be running on all four cylinders,” Manalo stressed.

To push for an aggressive investment promotion campaigns, Manalo also urged the iPA members to work together by providing referrals for each other noting that not every IPA can accommodate all the specific needs of investors. There are small IPAs that can host small manufacturing operations.

“I encourage them to work together that even if they have specific mandate they can refer each other for projects that are suitable in another area,” Manalo said.

He cited the case of the recent P9 billion investment of Panhua Group Co. Ltd. in Subic Bay. The Chinese firm plans to build a pre-paint could and metal sheets factory for export and domestic markets.

The Panhua investment was actually an effort of the BOI, which was referred to the more appropriate Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority because Subic can appropriately serve the requirements of this manufacturing firm.

Manalo also cited the Authority of the Freeport Authority of Bataan, which has already an established players of garments and leather goods making it easier in terms of materials sourcing.

In the case of the Bangsamoro, Manalo was positive that once the law is passed, there will be more investments inflow particularly in agriculture in this region

“I am very hopeful, Mindanao is very rich in agriculture and agri processing,” he said.

It is rich in fisheries, rubber, seaweed manufacturing, tuna and sardines processing.

“Once the Bangsamoro is completed with a plebiscite, I am very hopeful for Zamboanga,” he added.

The incentives to be granted by IPAs to investors will depend on the list of economic activities listed under the Investment Priorities Plan (IPP), an annual list of priority projects that are entitled to government incentives.

Manalo further said the 2014 IPP has identified sectors that need reinvestments the most. (Bernie Magkilat, Manila Bulletin)

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Slowest in ASEAN: Faster internet speed pressed

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto is urging government to also mandate internet service providers (ISPs) and telecom companies to increase the minimum speed of their internet service to 10 Mbps (megabits per second) from the current internet speed of 3.4 Mbps.

Recto said with 3.4 Mbps, the country has the slowest internet speed in South East Asia followed by Indonesia with 4.1 Mbps, Malaysia at 5.5 Mbps, with Singapore as being the fastest in the ASEAN region with a lightning internet speed of 61.0 Mbps.

The global internet speed to download information and pictures from the worldwide web is 18.4 Mpbs.

“Unfortunately, the Philippines ranks at the tail-end of world broadband speed rankings and is also tagged as one of the most expensive,” Recto said.

The Senate leader added: “The national march towards a broader internet or Wi-Fi access should be in cadence with a decent internet speed. Aanhin mo ang Wi-Fi kung puro ka naman antay?”

Recto said Filipino internet users are also paying more than their ASEAN counterparts with a monthly average of $24.92 or roughly P1,120 compared to the fraction spent by other nationalities.

He said his Senate Bill (SB) 2238 dubbed “Bilis Konek Act of 2014” would empower the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to require a minimum internet speed for all ISPs and telcos offering internet service of 10 Mbps for mobile broadband/internet access.

The speed should be faster at 20 Mbps when it comes to fixed and fixed wireless broadband/internet access or those installed at home. The transition to a faster internet speed would be two years after the enactment of the law.

“This bill recognizes the importance of high-speed internet connections in increasing productivity and the growing demands for connectivity,” he said, noting that faster internet has correlation to economic growth according to a foreign report.

Recto stressed mandating a minimum internet speed makes sense since the country aside from being the "Texting Capital of the World" was also named by the Global Web Index as having the Fastest Growing Internet Population with a 531% growth in the last five years.

“If the Human Rights Council of the United Nations General Assembly declares internet access as a basic human right, internet users should also have the right to faster internet -- call it internet on steroids,” he said.

Recto has also filed SB 2232, which seeks the roll out of free Wi-Fi access to all public places in the National Capital Region (NCR) as a companion measure to his "Bilis Konek Act."

Recto said an NCR-wide free internet access would provide equal opportunity to all, especially the marginalized members of society and promote efficiency and productivity in businesses.

“Providing free internet access to public buildings and facilities in the national capital will also ensure that our growing labor force will be updated with employment opportunities,” Recto said in filing SB 2232.

He said a free internet access to the public would “mean providing access to the underserved in our society, including getting low-income people online.”

A free Wi-Fi service, according to him, would also give access to vital information available online such as school information for students; traffic reports and alternative routes for motorists; latest weather bulletins, basic goods prices such as oil and gas; and, updates on government services.

Recto said his proposed bill, if enacted into law, would mandate free internet use to the following public areas in the entire NCR:

· All national and local government offices
· Public health services and hospitals
· Public elementary and high schools, and state colleges and universities
· Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Terminals I, II, III and IV)
· Public libraries
· Tollways and expressways
· Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) and other national roads
· Public transport terminals
· Port of Manila; and
· Rail transit stations (LRT Line 1, MRT Line 2, MRT Line 3, and PNR south rail).


He assured that once seamlessly in place in Metro Manila, other major cities in the country should be also accorded with free Wi-Fi service.

The Recto bill mandates the Information and Communications Technology Office (ICTO) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as the lead agency. (RBB/SNL)

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Power supply a challenge to investors

Power outages across the Philippines amid shutdowns at electricity plants and increasing summer demand are raising concern the country’s stunted generation capacity will stifle investment and economic growth.

Two of the Philippines’ three main islands are on “Red Alert” after supply fell below peak demand this week as aging facilities shut for repairs and temperatures rise to near 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). Delays in building new plants may slow the expansion of Asia’s second-fastest growing economy, according to Erramon Aboitiz, president of Aboitiz Power Corp., the nation’s second-largest utility.

“It’s time to worry,” Aboitiz said in an interview at the ASEAN Finance Ministers investor seminar in Manila on May 20. “Investors are always forward-looking and when they see projections of a potential power problem, they’ll decide to put their investments somewhere else.”

The strain this summer on power plants highlights how the Philippines’ under-performing electricity sector threatens the country’s economic growth, which is second only to China in the Asia-Pacific. Gross domestic product rose 7.2 percent in 2013 and is poised to remain among the world’s five fastest-expanding until 2016, according to economists surveyed by Bloomberg.

As the economy expands, so has the country’s demand for electricity. Consumption jumped 50 percent in the 10 years to 2012, more than three times the 16 percent growth rate over that same period for the nation’s generating capacity, according to government data.

Some new projects are being delayed because of environmental concerns, such as Aboitiz Power and Manila Electric Co.’s 600-megawatt coal-fired power plant at the Subic Freeport zone north of the capital, which was blocked by a court order. The companies in July 2011 said the first 300 megawatts of the plant will be available by 2014.

“The power crisis is going to be costly,” Ronald Mendoza, executive director of the Asian Institute of Management Policy Center in Manila, said in a telephone interview yesterday. “It will affect manufacturing and services, so there will be implications on production. Investors may scale back or delay investments.”

With peak power demand forecast to grow about 4 percent annually until 2030, the country will need more than 13,000 megawatts of additional capacity, or 80 percent more than what’s installed, according to Department of Energy data. The government estimates that will require 2.8 trillion pesos ($64 billion) of investment. About 1,800 megawatts of new generation has been committed so far.

The central Visayas region, home to the famous beaches of Boracay island, had zero power reserves yesterday. The southern Mindanao region is on a reserve deficit of nearly 100 megawatts, according to data from National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, a transmission company. Mindanao has suffered from outages for years as a third of supply comes from hydroelectric plants that are unreliable during dry season and subsidized electricity prices discourage constructing new plants. Summer temperatures are driving higher air-conditioning use.

The “Red Alert” warning means outages are to be expected in the two regions. On May 16, the Philippine capital Manila and nearby provinces under Manila Electric’s franchise experienced an hour of rotating power outages.

Aboitiz Power may spend about $5 billion building 2,000 megawatts of new capacity in the next five years, adding to its current portfolio of 2,300 megawatts, Aboitiz said in the interview. Profit in the three months ended March fell for the fifth straight quarter, down 9 percent to 4.2 billion pesos after revaluing its dollar loans and power sales declined. (BLOOMBERG)

http://www.mb.com.ph/power-supply-a-challenge-to-investors/

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Enough staple for Central Luzon in 2014 -- NFA Region 3

CABANATUAN CITY -- The National Food Authority in Central Luzon yesterday gave assurances of enough supply of rice for this year with the arrival earlier this month of the region’s imported rice allocation at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) port.

In a statement, NFA Region 3 said around 500,000 bags (25,000 MT) of Vietnam rice arrived last week via the vessel MV Voge Fiesta while another vessel, MV Vinh Phuoc, will arrive later this month, carrying some 225,000 bags (11,250 MT) of Vietnam rice.

Of the total volume, Region 2 will be allocated 200,000 bags while the provinces of Central Luzon will get the 525,000 bags, it said.

According to NFA-Region 3 Director Amadeo De Guzman, the imported rice from Vietnam is part of the 500,000 metric tons additional imported rice sought by the agency through the government-to-government import scheme.

The Vietnam rice is meant to augment the current rice stocks which were badly affected due to the successive calamities that hit the country in 2013.

De Guzman added that the rice importation along with the planned aggressive palay procurement of the agency will build enough rice stocks to address the region’s rice consumption for this year.

He further stressed that the agency’s rice stocks are all of highest quality because they regularly conduct monitoring of their stocks based on the required regulations and standards. (Steve A. Gosuico, Journal)

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/news/provincial/65156-enough-staple-for-central-luzon-in-2014-nfa-region-3

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Market Forces To Dictate Shifting Container Traffic To Batangas, Subic

MANILA – Diverting container traffic to Batangas and Subic Ports to decongest Manila and maximize the two ports should not be mandated on business, and market forces be allowed to decide on this issue.

This was stressed by Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) president George Chua during a recent consultation meeting on the study to decongest Manila and divert container traffic to Subic and Batangas ports.

Earlier, the Export Development Council (EDC) and the Philippine Export Zone Authority (PEZA) claimed that one way to unclog the traffic jams in Metro Manila is to divert cargo trucks to Batangas and Subic.

This was supported by the findings of this study conducted by the Transport and Traffic Planners, Inc. (TPPI) engaged by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) that Manila Ports are congested.

Asian Terminals, Inc. (ATI) vice president Sean Perez stressed that there is no need to transfer cargoes from Manila to Batangas and Subic ports just to maximize the utilization of these ports.

Roberto Aquino, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) acting manager for port operations said that his office has already submitted the one-year 50 percent tariff discount proposal to the Office of the President to entice shippers to use Batangas and Subic ports.

Incentives and discounts in wharfage fees and tariff rates are also available at the Subic Port and yet shipping lines are not coming, said Captain Perfecto Pascual of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

Several studies were conducted since 1994 to promote Batangas and Subic Ports. Recently, JICA conducted the Subic Port marketing study to trigger this port utilization by focusing promotions on logistics players in the Northern-Central Luzon areas such as Pampanga, Zambales, Tarlac, Bataan, Pangasinan and Bulacan.

In explaining the results of the study, TPPI said that a 2010 study showed that port traffic for loaded containers reached almost 500,000 TEUs in Manila South Harbor and nearly 1.2 million TEUs in the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT).

On the other hand, in the same year, port traffic in containerized cargo reached nearly 6.2 million metric tons (MT) in Manila South Harbor and almost 17 million MT in MICT

In contrast during the same period, traffic for loaded containers at Batangas and Subic ports only reached 622 TEUs and 25,000 TEUs, respectively and nearly 9,000 MT and nearly 400,000 MT at Batangas and Subic Ports respectively.

The study further showed that the congestion in Manila ports is due to vehicles going to and from the port. Report from the Average Daily Traffic (ADT) last year showed that 43 percent of these vehicles is comprised of private vehicles, trucks or trailer at 20 percent, jeepneys, ten percent; and two-axle trucks, nine percent.

MICT has six berths, making it the largest port in the country. Meanwhile, South Harbor has only three, Batangas port with two and Subic port with one berth. Berths are support to provide sufficient distance for a ship to maneuver and help the seamless facilitation of the country's growing international trade.

The infrastructure has allowed MICT's annual capacity to grow to 2.5 million TEUs from 1.9 million TEUs, while South Harbor retained its 850,000 TEUs and 300,000 TEUs for Batangas and Subic ports.

To encourage port users to utilize the Batangas and Subic ports, the study team presented lower costs in stevedoring in Batangas and Subic with P4,985 and P1,801 for a 40-foot container, respectively compared with P5,584 for the same load in Manila ports.

Meanwhile, arrastre charges at Batangas and Subic Ports only cost P5,773 and P2,870 for a 40-foot export container compared with P6,077 in Manila ports.

Storage costs are however more costly in Subic Port with P224 for a 40-footer export container compared with P120 in Batangas and Manila ports. A 40-footer import container will cost P895 in Subic and P481 in Batangas and Manila ports. (Edu Lopez, Manila Bulletin)

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After GN Power entry, DoE still seeking 900MW for Luzon

MANILA — After the much-anticipated entry of the 600-megawatt capacity of GN Power by 2013, the Department of Energy (DoE) is still soliciting additional 900 megawatts of capacity to plug forecast capacity shortfall in the Luzon grid until 2015.

In the supply-demand outlook which has been the anchor for its Grid Operating and Maintenance Program (GOMP) for 2011, the DoE indicated that capacity additions for Luzon must reach 1,500 megawatts until 2015. It shall be spread as follows: 300MW by 2011; 300MW by 2012; 450MW by 2014; and another 450MW by 2015.

But with the project of Redondo Peninsula Energy in Subic being firmed up, and of which capacity may likely be ramped up to 600-MW, the government’s dilemma for Luzon supply may already be solved partly. As of latest developments, the project would already be spearheaded by the newly-formed power generation unit of Manila Electric Company and still in partnership with the Aboitiz group and Taiwan Cogeneration International Corporation.

Even with these capacity additions though, it is seen that the anticipated increase in demand may still render shortfalls, especially in the reserve requirement. Industry studies portend that power demand may expand to 4.5 percent within this five-year period from the historically-logged growths of 3.7 to 3.9 percent.

The prescription then is for DoE to ensure the entry of other firmly-committed projects which may come from greenfield ventures or from the uprating of the privatized power plants.

Based on data it submitted to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), the energy department indicated that the existing dependable capacity by year 2013 would be at 9,384 megawatts as against peak demand forecast of 8,309 megawatts. This entails that the required reserve margin of 23.4-percent vis-à-vis peak demand at that time, which would be around 1,944MW, cannot be met fully.

A decent reserve margin is a “must” in an electricity system for it to function efficiently and be able to meet end-user demand. It is significant in such a way that in case of forced outages, there would be ready capacity that can be relied upon as substitute for capacities being displaced or suddenly taken out from the system.

Of the required capacity shoring up, it qualified that the only ones committed have been 41MW for 2011; and the GNPower facility of 600MW by 2013; while the rest according to the energy department are still “indicative.”

Nevertheless, the DoE qualified that it is similarly counting on the capacity uprating of some plants, such as the Bacon-Manito geothermal facility as well as the other privatized plants in Luzon in beefing up power supply for the grid.

Given the circumstances, the energy department viewed that the most necessary step it has to consider during such crucial transition would be to continuously operate the 650-megawatt Malaya thermal plant, thus, postponing its retirement which would have been scheduled as early as 2011. (Myrna M. Velasco, Manila Bulletin)

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'No discussion on increased US military assistance in PHL'

MALACAÑANG said on Thursday there was no discussion on the increase of US military assistance in the country during the recent visit of two US senators.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that when they met with President Aquino, US Sens. Daniel Inouye and Thad Cochran did not discuss anything “political” with the Chief Executive.

“[There was] nothing political, they did not discuss Subic, so it’s really surprising that the issue of Subic or establishing a military base cropped up. There was no such discussion,” Lacierda said.

He said the senators also discussed with the President the Save Our Industries (SAVE) Act, which is being backed by Inouye.

“That’s what was it all about. Other than that, no more,” Lacierda said.

Asked about Malacañang’s position on increased military presence, Lacierda told reporters that the Visiting Forces Agreement is being reviewed.

Sen. Sergio Osmeña III at the same time vowed to resist incipient attempts to bring back American military bases in the country, amid reports this was part of the “hush-hush” agenda of two ranking US officials who visited the country recently.

“Yes. I will oppose it,” Osmeña told reporters at the sidelines of the Kapihan sa Senado media forum yesterday.

Osmeña observed that the Philippines and the US have enjoyed “excellent relations” despite a 1992 Philippine Senate vote terminating the lease on American military facilities. “So, why do we need to host their bases here [again]?”

He added that the Philippines would not want to get caught in a conflict between the US and China. “We do not want to get involved in the fight between two giants. Uupakan lang tayo dalawang elepante diyan.”

He sought a reasonable justification for the Philippines to allow the return of American military presence. (B. Fernandez, K. Corro, Business Mirror)

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NEDA makes new push for logistics corridors

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is making a new push to develop logistics corridors, starting with the Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas (SCMB) corridor as part of a national transport plan.

Initial discussions on the infrastructure planning under the 2010-1016 Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) recommend the creation of "strategic logistics corridors," initially starting off with the SCMB then extending the same northward and then southward.

The MTPDP envisions these corridors as having intermodal transport network system to obtain efficiency.

"The SCMB must be developed to become a seamless intermodal logistics corridor," documents on the initial results of the infrastructure planning subcommittee said.

The documents show how an integrated multi-modal logistics and transport system could not only decongest Metro Manila but also create linkages between business centers and nearby provinces.

This, the NEDA papers said, would help facilitate the efficient flow of commodities and inputs to economic and industrial zones.

"The development of seamless intermodal transport and logistics systems along strategic corridors will promote productivity and competitiveness," the documents said.

The NEDA points to inadequate and unstable funding for the construction and development of facilities as the culprit in the deficiencies in our transport system.

"Assessment of the country’s transport infrastructure network indicates that its quality and capacity remain low, even if the quantity of transport compares favorably with most Asean countries," the papers said.

Subic and Clark are the nearest economic industrial zones to Metro Manila, one offering a port and the other an airport. Metro Manila is linked to the two zones through road networks, the North Luzon expressway and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac expressway.

Linked to Metro Manila by the South Luzon expressway down south is Calabarzon, home to specialized industries and processing activities. The corridors complement each zone’s strengths in agriculture and manufacturing.

The corridor now accounts for 80 percent of the national cargo and about half of yearly economic output. (Malaya Business Insight)

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Court of Appeals okays prosecution of Subic Customs collector for bigamy

MANILA, Philippines - The Court of Appeals (CA) has ordered the prosecution of a female official of the Bureau of Customs for alleged bigamy.

In the 29-page decision, the CA’s 23rd Division in Mindanao gave the go signal for the prosecution of Marietta Zamoranos, a collector of the Bureau of Customs at Subic Bay.

The appellate court dismissed the petition of Zamoranos arguing that the Iligan Regional Trial Court has no jurisdiction over the case and it committed grave abuse of discretion in junking her motion to dismiss the complaint of bigamy against her.

The CA said Zamoranos should have faced the charges of bigamy instead of questioning the jurisdiction of the lower court or simply filing a motion to dismiss the case.

The CA earlier ordered the six-month suspension of Zamoranos for immorality following discovery that she was married to different men.

Zamoranos was indicted by the Department of Justice on August 2009 for the crime of bigamy.

The complaint was filed by her second husband, Samson Pacasum Sr., a Customs collector of the Iligan Port who found out that his wife was already married to another man.

Zamoranos argued that as a Muslim woman, she is allowed to marry more than once.

Zamoranos claimed she married her first husband, Jesus de Guzman, in a Muslim wedding and divorced him a year later.

Zamoranos then married Pacasum before an Iligan court judge.

The DOJ said Zamoranos is still married to De Guzman despite the supposed divorce.

The DOJ dismissed the defense of Zamoranos of being a Muslim convert, citing her statements before the Iligan court judge during her wedding with Pacasum that she is a Christian and had never converted to Islam.

Even if she indeed converted to Islam, the CA said Zamoranos is still liable for bigamy under our laws. (Sandy Araneta, Philippine Star)

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