Quotation of the Week
“A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.”
- David Brinkley
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Muslims Nationwide Are For BBM
Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos warmly welcomed and thanked profusely the Muslim Community for Bongbong R. Marcos (BBM) volunteers from all over the Philippines led by Lanao del Sur Sultan Ansary Maruhom, Chairman Abdulaziz Cabila and Secretary General Mohammad Mustapha who went to his office to reiterate their commitment and support for his Vice Presidential bid.
SENATE APPROVES ON SECOND
READING BILL GRANTING RETIREMENT
BENEFITS TO BARANGAY OFFICIALS
Senator Bongbong Marcos pushing for the passage of the bill granting retirement benefits to Barangay Executives and Workers which was passed on Second Reading.
The Senate last week approved on second reading Senate Bill No. 12 seeking to grant retirement benefits for Barangay Officials and Workers.
The measure provides a retirement pay of P100,000 for each qualified Barangay Chairman, P80,000 for each Member of the Sangguniang Barangay, and P50,000 each for the Barangay Treasurer, Secretary, Barangay Tanod, Member of the Lupon ng Tagapamayapa, Barangay Health and Day Care Workers.
Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr., author of the bill lamented that Barangay Officials and Workers are serving in the front lines, delivering basic and other public services, they are only receiving measly benefits.
“Their dedication and contribution to public service without monthly salaries but with only honoraria, allowances or other emoluments deserves more than mere recognition,” Marcos emphasized.
“I am confident the Senate can approve this measure within the remaining days of our session,” Marcos assured.
Under the measure, a Barangay Official or Worker must be at least 60 years old and with at least 9 years of service to be eligible to receive the retirement benefit.
“Based on these criteria, the DILG’s National Barangay Operations Office has determined that as of June 7, 2013, some 95,616 are qualified for the benefit out of the 1,849,232 total number of Barangay Officials and workers in the country.”
Marcos clarified, “The government needs P5.2 billion to pay for the retirement of the initial number of qualified Barangay Officials and Workers.”
“As funding source, the measure proposed for the creation of the Barangay Retirement Fund, which shall be established through annual investments with an amount equivalent to one percent (1) of the share of the national government in the IRA (Internal Revenue Allotment).The DILG shall administer and ensure the appropriate disbursement of the fund,” Marcos concluded./MP
MTRCB, CHR UNITE
TO PROMOTE HUMAN RIGHTS
Social media volunteers nationwide flocked to the Office of Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos a few days ago to consolidate their collective efforts for the 2016 Vice Presidential victory. Senator Marcos renewed his commitment for continued sincere public service hopefully in the Department of Labor and Employment where he may concretely help not only in generating more employment but also in the protection of the rights and benefits of laborers.
The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to intensify public awareness on the protection and promotion of human rights.
MTRCB Chairperson Atty. Eugenio “Toto” Villareal along with CHR Chairperson Jose Luis Martin “Chito” Gascon, MTRCB Board Member Atty. Noel Del Prado, and CHR Commissioner Karen Gomez-Dumpit, led the MOA signing at the CHR office in Diliman, Quezon City recently.
According to Chair Toto, the signing is but a confirmation of the cooperation that has already been going on between the two agencies. “First, for the past few years, in both its developmental activities like the Matalinong Panonood for the protection of the viewers, especially children and women, and in the adjudication and dispute resolutions that we do, we have already adopted what we call a “rights-based” approach. And what greater ally we can have in this approach than the men and women of the Commission on Human Rights. Secondly, because of our developmental mandate, we would also like to bring to our stakeholders all our learnings in human rights as these apply to media and entertainment,” he said.
For his part, Chair Chito shared that as state institutions, both the CHR and the MTRCB have crucial roles to play in terms of building a society and a community of values. “The MTRCB of course is the institution of government that ensures that whatever is produced, that impacts on our future, builds on, draws from, and strengthens a humane, democratic, and peaceful society. The same also with CHR which is a constitutional body that promotes and protects human rights. We are excited about the prospect of cooperation that we might be able to develop between the CHR and the MTRCB as we continue to promote the values of a humane society,” he said.
Through the partnership, MTRCB and CHR seek to formulate integrated advocacy programs to promote human rights and to prevent violations by undertaking an information campaign on human rights of vulnerable groups particularly women, children, and individuals with diverse sexual orientation and gender identity.
Also present during the signing were MTRCB Executive Director Atty. Ann Marie Nemenzo, Board Members Atty. Jojo Salomon, Jackie Aquino-Gavino, and Gladys Reyes-Sommereux, together with CHR Commissioners Roberto Eugenio Cadiz and Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana. (30)/MP
MANILA CITY HALL PRESS CORPS TAKES
OATH WITH SENATOR MARCOS
Officers of the Manila City Hall Press Corps lead by Pres. Gina Mape, Pilipino Mirror/DZRJ; Vice Pres. Rocel Lopez, TV5; Sec. Thony Arcenal, DZME; Treas.Denz Tonel, X-Files/Mirror; Auditor Ruel Otieco, TV5/Radyo5 chose Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. to administer their oath of office for their new term held last week at the office of the Senator.
TANKS PROTECT VS FARMERS
IN LUISITA
The last time armored personnel carriers (APCs) or war tanks were deployed in Hacienda Luisita, at least seven protesters were killed and more than a hundred were left wounded.
On December 6, around 4:00 o,clock in the afternoon, farmworkers reported that two APCs and two truckloads of soldiers in full battle gear entered Barangay Balete in Hacienda Luisita, deployed to provide security to PetroSolar, the firm tasked by government to implement the Tarlac Solar Power project (TSPP), a public-private partnership project opposed by Hacienda Luisita farmers.
Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) Secretary General Ranmil Echanis said: “We condemn President BS Aquino for allowing renewed militarization and harassment of farmers in Hacienda Luisita. Why did Aquino, as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, allow heavy troop deployment just to protect this controversial project?”
“Is Aquino openly declaring war against Luisita farmers? The troops and war tanks must immediately be pulled-out of the area before another massacre ensues,” said Echanis.
The last time such personnel and equipment were deployed in Hacienda Luisita were used to disperse the historic People’s Strike 11 years ago, resulted in a massacre on November 16, 2004. It was the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) which authorized the deployment of soldiers in the Hacienda.
“Top officials and alter-egos of Pres. BS Aquino in other government agencies found responsible for such troop deployment like the Department of Energy (DoE), which implements the PPP projects along with PetroSolar, or the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), which holds jurisdiction over these disputed agricultural areas, must be equally liable for this atrocious move to silence the community and preempt any kind of protest against this new landgrabbing modus,” said UMA.
UMA added that state troopers and military logistics can easily be deployed in and out of Hacienda Luisita because of its proximity to the AFP Northern Luzon (NOLCOM) Command Headquarters, right across the McArthur Highway entrance of Hacienda Luisita in San Miguel, Tarlac City. The Training and Doctrine Command HQ of the Philippine Army (PA) is in Camp O’ Donnell next town, in Capas, Tarlac.
The deployment of soldiers in the disputed agricultural area where the PPP project is to be constructed started on November 26, according to the Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang-Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (AMBALA),. More than a thousand farmers and residents signed a petition to stop the TSPP which AMBALA already submitted to the DAR and local government units a few months back.
The area in which the electrical posts would be set up was issued a Notice of Coverage (NOC) by DAR in 2013. Farmers decried that the NOC was practically useless as this did not prevent the Cojuangco-Aquino firm TADECO from using local police, private security guards and goons to eject farm worker beneficiaries who have been tilling the lands since 2005. A company headquarters of the 31st Infantry Battalion PA, 3rd Mechanized Battalion is located right in this disputed agricultural area in Balete.
The actual solar power plant, meanwhile, is planned to be constructed in a 500-hectare area claimed by RCBC in Barangay Lourdes (Texas) and Balete, where the gate of the Luisita Industrial Park 2 (LIP2) Complex is located. AMBALA through its counsels from the Sentro para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo (SENTRA), still has a pending petition to revoke the DAR conversion order issued in 1996. RCBC, the LIP Corporation and the Cojuangco-Aquino firm Luisita Realty Corporation failed to abide with the terms of the conversion order as the area remained idle and fit for agricultural use nearly two decades after the DAR issued the said order.
Barbed wires and concrete barriers have also been set-up in front of the LIP2 gate. Anakpawis Rep. Fernando Hicap has earlier called for the cancellation of this controversial PPP project in Hacienda Luisita.
The Supreme Court already ruled for total land distribution in 2012, but Aquino is clearly doing everything in his power to undermine the farmers’ legitimate demands for land and justice,” said UMA./MP
WHY TAX PEOPLE HEAVILY WHEN SERVICES COME SLOWLY?
“Tax pa more, service no more.”
This was how Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. described the tendency of the Aquino administration to burden the people with heavy taxes, while short in providing basic services.
“The tendency of this government is to collect and collect. It can’t be “tax pa more’ all the time. What is more important is ‘public service pa more’,” he told more than 1,000 students who attended the students forum held at Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University in San Fernando, La Union recently.
Earlier, the government had rejected moves in the senate and in the House of Representatives to lower the individual income tax rate to give the taxpayers breathing space.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abegail Valte disclosed that the President ordered the Department of Finance to study the income tax reform bill, the proposed measure that aims to lower the income tax.
But Marcos said the present administration should reconsider its position and agree to the proposed income tax cut. The senator said the people should decide on where to put their money since the government has not been spending the national budget in a timely and adequate manner.
“I fully support the lowering of income tax. What’s the rationale behind collecting too much tax when the government doesn’t know when and where to spend it?” he asked.
The Commission on Audit has found that of the P2.72-trillion national budget for 2014, at least P763.84 billion was unspent.
Marcos said other countries also collect high taxes but then collection are being spent on public services. (Among ASEAN countries, the Philippines collects the highest taxes, 32 percent.)
“the people in these countries like Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei, Laos ,Cambodia and Vietnam are not complaining because the roads and highway are adequate, school building and classrooms are sufficient. There is peace and order, and all the other basic service are being enjoyed,” Marcos said.
He said the situation is different in the Philippines. The people are paying high taxes, government service hardly reach the taxpayers.(But there is the 4Ps for those who have no work.) /MP
MTRCB CONDUCTS SEMINAR FOR DEPUTIES
Appointed deputies of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) are reminded of their duties and responsibilities as the Agency’s volunteers in keeping a close eye on the entertainment industry.
In a media literacy seminar held on December 4 at the Liezl Martinez Hall of the MTRCB office in Quezon City, a number of participants took part in an engaging discussion with select board members about their role of helping MTRCB monitor shows on the local silver screen and on TV.
It was explained to the deputies that while they are allowed to enter cinemas for free to monitor violations of MTRCB rules, they are required to submit reports of films and TV programs, and publicity materials they have viewed, and of cinemas, TV networks, and cable operators’ compliance with registration, proper display of permits and exhibition of proper advisory.
In an earlier statement, MTRCB said that as of October 2015, around 70 percent of its deputies have already submitted reports. “These reports are not limited to violations but may be commendations, mere observations, or suggestions,” said MTRCB Chairperson Eugenio “Toto” Villareal.
“These deputies,” Chair Toto emphasized, “are not salaried employees of the government and the MTRCB simply relies on their spirit of service and volunteerism. Simply put, they monitor movies and other media content for a cause./MP
GRACE POE IS ON THE
RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY
Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo last week expressed confidence that, Sen. Grace Poe would be able to run for the presidency in the May 2016 elections.
“We remain undaunted and we are hopeful that Sen. Grace will ultimately be vindicated. The law is clearly on her side and we expect a fair and impartial decision on these cases should it reached the Supreme Court,” he said.
In the cases before the Comelec, Romulo said there is no specific provision which discusses citizenship of a foundling.
However, he pointed out it was the grandfather of Sec. Mar Roxas himself, former President Manuel Roxas, who explained that “under international law, children born of unknown parents are citizens of the country where they are born.”
Roxas then said there was no need for an express provision under the law (The 1935 Constitution) because it’s superfluous as it is already stated under international law.
Romulo also noted that the 1987 constitution “adopts the generally accepted principles of international law as part of the law of the land.”
Therefore, he stressed, Sen. Grace, like all foundlings in the country, is considered as a natural born citizen of the Philippines.
Romulo, who was among those who attended the ceremonies commemorating the 11th death anniversary of Fernando Poe, Jr., said the Galing at Puso team is intact and determined to continue the fight./MP
‘REAP MINDANAO NETWORK RESIST EXPANSION OF PLANTATIONS
REAP Spokesperson Ariel Casilao of Anakpawis Partylist, a labor leader from Southern Mindanao, said that plantation expansion can only be accomplished through the assistance of the military and its so-called investment defense forces which has been tagged as the number one nemesis of the lumad who are defending their lands against mining and plantations.
The government targets for plantation expansion include the following: 256,360 hectares for sugarcane; 150,000 hectares for cacao by 2020; 116,000 hectares for rubber; 87,903 hectares for coffee: and one (1) million hectares of oil palm plantations by 2030.
In addition to these, multinational fruit giant Dole Philippines has expressed its intention to expand to at least 12,000 hectares of land for its pineapple plantation. Unifrutti recently invested P3.7 billion for an expansion of 2,600 hectares of land for Cavendish banana plantations in Muslim areas in Maguindanao.
During the Aquino administration, the unbridled expansion of agricultural plantations has resulted in the displacement of numerous lumad and peasant communities as in the case of the A. Brown oil palm venture in Opol, Misamis Oriental.
The state, the military and other security forces, are responsible for violating the rights of the people through continued harassment, vilification and even killings to protect the interests of these corporate plantations. Gilbert Paborada, a leader of the Higaonon tribe who strongly opposed the entry of ABERDI, was killed in 2012. Independent and militant trade unions in Dolefil, Polomolok, South Cotabato experienced intense vilification campaign and harassment by the military as part of the previous administration’s counter-insurgency program.
The existence and target expansion of plantations in Mindanao pose serious threats to the environment and health of the people living within and working in the plantations. The use of pesticides and other chemicals have caused skin and respiratory diseases to workers in oil palm, banana and even pineapple plantations.
Altering the natural landscape and denudation of natural forests to be replaced by plantation crops proved to have negative impact on soil erosion, biodiversity and sources of water./MP
ENFORCEMENT OF ROAD DISCIPLINE
WILL EASE TRAFFIC WOES
Consistent enforcement on roads discipline could go a long way to ease the traffic woes in Metro Manila, especially while projects to improve the country’s mass transport systems and road infrastructure have yet to be completed, Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. said.
“You know that the situation has turned from bad to worse when a Catholic Cardinal, who normally devotes himself to spiritual concerns, has to call the government’s attention to address the daily traffic hell,” Marcos said.
Marcos, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Works, was referring to Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle who urged the government to prioritize “putting order in the streets.”
He lamented that while the Philippines has an existing light rail system that could help ease the traffic in the metropolis, it is plagued not only with serious safety and reliability issues, poor maintenance, and overcrowding but also allegations of corruption.
“Construction of new roads and fixing the trains will take some time, but traffic congestion can at least be partly solved by consistently enforcing discipline on our roads,” said Marcos, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Works.
“Without consistent enforcement of road discipline, the traffic situation will not improve even if the traffic czar of the metropolis himself acts as a traffic enforcer,” he added.
Marcos stressed that discipline should “come from the top” which is why it is important that merit and not political consideration should guide the appointment of leaders of traffic and law enforcement agencies.
“Corrupt and erring lower-level officers cannot be corrected by superiors who are not above reproach. The next administration must ensure that discipline is the rule throughout every rank of law enforcement,” Marcos said.
Traffic congestion and an overworked public transit system have a serious negative impact on productivity and well-being of workers, as well as the profitability of businesses, according to Marcos.
A study of the Japan International Cooperation Agency calculated the cost of traffic at P2.4 billion a day and could rise to P6 billion a day in 2030 if adequate intervention is not in place by that time.
“The next administration should focus on expanding the transportation infrastructure, as well as providing better training and proper equipment to law enforcement and for the orderly conduct of our transport system,” Marcos said.
Almost everyday, thousands missed their flights as monstrous traffic jams were reported on most major roads in Metro Manila especially along EDSA, Airport Road and Sucat Road – vital arteries leading to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya‘s comment that the traffic is “not fatal” infuriated thousands of commuters who endure the daily traffic ordeal, forcing him to make a hasty apology
Create More Jobs
Sen. Marcos, said the government should rethink the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program,
the money devoted for it may be better spent on basic infrastructures that could generate more jobs and spread the benefits of economic growth to more people.
Speaking at the “Kapihan sa Manila Hotel” media forum recently, Marcos noted that while the government has been trumpeting a “remarkable” growth rate of our economy, its benefit is hardly felt by the majority of our people.
“You cannot add jobs if the economy is not growing. Now, we hear that we are growing at a remarkable rate, but it is not felt by ordinary people. It is felt by big corporations, it is felt by rich people,” Marcos clarified.
“There is a very serious failure in the policies for the distribution of wealth,” he added.
Marcos said it may be time for the government to rethink its policy on the CCT because despite spending P65 billion a year on the program, there are no significant improvements in the poverty rate, literacy rate, and mortality rate in the country.
“We have probably arrived at a point of diminishing returns. Maybe, that money can be used for schools, for hospitals, for roads, for bridges, for power plants, for the improvement of the internet, a new airport, more ports—all of these things are doable,” Marcos assessed.
Marcos reiterated that these basic infrastructures are essential in spurring economic growth and creating more jobs for the poor.
To create more jobs, the government should provide easier credit facilities to small and medium-size enterprises which is one of the main drivers of the country’s economic growth. He noted that around 90 percent of our work force is in the private sector.
Corollary, Marcos suggested that the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) should redirect its courses whereby our workers will be able to compete with their counterparts in the forthcoming ASEAN integration.
“I believe that without changing any policies, without passing any new laws, we can improve the performance of the DOLE when it comes to protecting our workers, preparing our workforce for employment in the private sector, and in protecting and supporting our OFWs,” Marcos opined.
Marcos in the same forum called for the implementation of laws against contractualization, “Our laws provide for protections and benefits for our workers and we must abide by those rights and privileges that we have accorded to our workers,” Marcos concluded,/MP
THE GOOD LIFE By: Megs S. Lunn
CORY IT EDSA
I recall, I had the privilege to watch closely and personally thrilled by the comedy and drama of “CORY IT EDSA” in Marikina City Theater. It is said that the theatre is a perfect tool for social transformation. It brought me good memories of my college days in Manila.
Anyway, my expectation of the show is all about politics. But I was wrong. The story depicted the life of a true Filipino. Though the title implies “Cory”, the Mother of Democracy, most of what the character portrayed during the show are what reality bites me in my everyday living. Whether I like it or not, the late president Cory has inspired me to live a life of sacrifice. Do you share this feeling with me?
I can relate most of the time, as one character was played by Peter, a neophyte reporter who saw the unassuming nature of the widow when the body of the late Ninoy arrived at their residence at Times Street, Quezon City. From the start of the musical play, Peter gave the thrill, made me laugh and made me cry, too.
Peter in the play is Atty. Vincent M. Tanada, the writer and director of “Cory It Edsa”. He is an artist by heart and soul, a lawyer and professor by profession. The young Tanada gave it all in the play. When I spoke to him at the backstage after the show, his eyes showed redness because just in the almost last part of the play, he shed tears. He moved the audience of his perfect character.
All the characters in the play were regular artists and homegrown talents of the Philippine Stagers Foundation in Manila and almost all of them are either award winners and or finalists for Best Actor/Actress, Best in Choreography, Best Performer, Best Productions/Designed, and others of Aliw Awards and Awit Awards, to name a few.
From the set design, costume designs, light and sound were rare opportunity to pay homage to the cinematic treatment of the play. It was almost close to being perfect. With the play, the artists hoped that we learn something from EDSA and that we could make a difference. /MP
HAKIBOT SI MAYOR!
Sugilanon Ni Tita Linda
Ni Tita Linda Belayro
Guina kabig nga pader imaw sa andang banwa. Gamhanan, manggaranon, guina tangda sa sosyudad ag abo it pangilaea sa gobiyerno. Imaw ro nagapungko makaron nga Mayor sa andang banwa. Ko nagtaliwan nga eleksyon, guin lampaso nana ro anang kontra tungod sa anang kwarta ag koneksyon sa gobiyerno.
Abo nga bisita perme sa andang baeay. Adlaw-adlaw hay mingko may piyesta ag iba-ibang tawo ro naga pamasyar sa andang baeay. Nagapanagitlon eonlang ro mga tawo sa andang palibot. Samtang naga pakabosog ro andang mga bisita, ro mga tawo hay nagatiis nga makakaon tatlong beses sa sang-adlaw.
Si Monching hay isaeang ka mekaniko. May kaugalingon imaw nga talyer ag may pilang bilog nga mga trabahador. Abo ro anang mga suki nga trisekel drivers, may makina sa pangisda, may motorsiklo, ag mga negosyante nga may saeakyan. Ro mga mangunguma nga may traktora ag iba pang makina sa panguma hay ana mang suki. Ro anang asawang si Lucy hay isaeang ka maestra. Bangod sa anang kahugod ag kaaeam, nangin huwarang manogturo imaw. Abo nga mga estudyanting nagtapos kana nga makaron hay mga propesyonal eon. Ro iba hay sa ibang nasyon ga pamugon .
Paea-aboton eon man ro eleksyon. Madaeagan eon man si Mayor. Owa guid imaw it nabatian nga makontra kana. Kon may mabatian ngani ro anang mga tawohan, dayon nanda nga gina pabati-bati-an nga “Mabunggo ka sa pader?”
Isaeang adlaw, nag abot ro negosyante ag mangunguma sa talyer ni Monching. Pag-eaum it mga tawo hay nagapakaayad eamang sanda ko andang makina. Guin ingkaminar nanda nga ikontra si Monching kay Mayor. Nagpamalibad si Monching tungod owa imaw it kwarta. Tag naga hambae sanda,umabot man dayon rong presidente it mga trisekel ag operator para pangaywahan rong plano.
Umpisa kato nag hueag rong tanan. Ro mga trisekel driver ro nagpasa ko mensahe sa mga sumaeakay. Nagbulig man si Lucy ag mga ginikanan sa pag hutik-hutik, kaibahan ko mga nanay nga naga baligya it mga ka-ean-unon nga eaha ni Lucy.
Pag-abot it adlaw sa pagrehistro it kandidato, nakibot si Mayor nga may kontra gali imaw, ogaling guin hibaygan eamang sanda. “Ano, mabunggo imaw sa pader?” Padayon ro mga tawohan ni Mayor sa pagkompanya, imaw man ro mga kaapin ni Monching. Si Monching hay una eamang naga kaayad it libre ko andang makina.
Nag-abot rong eliksyon. Natapos rong paghuyap it mga boto. Katunga ro abante ni Monching. Hakibot si Mayor. Indi makapati. Paano na wasak rong pader? Owa imaw ka sayod nga rong kusog ag pwersa it mga tawo nga ordinaryo hay imaw rong nagwasak kong pader. Si Monching hay instrumento eamang.
Ayaw mag salig sa imong kwarta nga makadaog ka sa politika. Ro gina usoy makaron it tawo hay mga leders nga mabo-ot, ag mabinoligon. Kinahangean ro leder na botohan hay may batasan nga pareho it “Boy Scout”. Ro leder hay bukon it hakog, maakok, hangoe, o sueok. Ikaw baea ra?. /MP
Editorial
CHIZ URGES STUDENTS TO REPORT
ERRING SUC BOARDS
CHIZ URGES STUDENTS TO REPORT
ERRING SUC BOARDS
Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero called on government scholars to report anomalies on the use of the budget allocation of state universities and colleges (SUCs).
Escudero made the statement when told by a student at the “Ang Pagsusuri: Vice Presidential Forum” at the University of the Philippines-Diliman in Quezon City recently about the alleged manipulation of the budget of some SUCs.
He urged student representatives sitting in the governing boards of SUCs to be vigilant and scrutinize the budget of their schools and report fund misuse to authorities.
“Alam ko lahat ng SUCs may student representative sa board. Sana magamit ng inyong kinatawan, yung inyong representative sa board para malaman kung may katiwalian,” Escudero said.
“At kung hindi ninyo kakayaning labanan iyon, ipagbigay-alam ninyo po sa amin at magiging katuwang ninyo kami sa pakikipaglaban sa katiwaliang nagaganap sa mga SUCs,” he added.
The former chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance deplored the alleged misuse of budgets of SUCs, saying that it is tantamount to stealing the future of government scholars.
Escudero has been pushing for the imposition of maximum penalty for the misuse of funds allotted for calamity and education.
“Sobra naman iyon. Kinabukasan na ng mga kabataan natin at nasalanta na nga ng bagyo, nanakawin pa yung perang nakalaan para doon,” he said.
Under the proposed P3.002 (trillion) budget for 2016, SUCs will receive a total subsidy of P44.67 billion. The amount is P2.39 billion higher than the P42.28 billion allocation for SUCs this year.
While the Senate grants an across-the-board increase to all SUCs yearly, those which observe fiscal discipline under the standards set by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Commission on Audit (COA) are given bigger amount of subsidies, according to Escudero.
“Across the board ang dinagdag po ng Senado sa lahat ng SUCs pero yung nagpa-practice ng fiscal discipline at yung nagpapakita ng malinis na paggo-gobyerno ng kanilang pondo, dinagdagan po namin sila ng mas malaking pondo dahil nga maayos yung kanilang practice at naaayon sa standards ng CHED at sa standards din ng COA,” he explained.
SENATE APPROVES BIllS REMANING SCHOOL
The Senate this week approved on third and final reading five bills mandating the renaming of public elementary and high schools in the provinces of Nueva Ecija, La Union and Camiguin.
Senator Pia S. Cayetano, chairperson of the Committee on Education, Arts and Culture, said that schools as educational institutions are the pillars of the local community and contribute to the identity and character of the community.
“The name of a school celebrates the pride and history of its community by adopting the name of the remarkable members of their town,” she said.
Cayetano said that the name of Saverona Elementary School in Barangay Saverona, Talugtog, Nueva Ecija will be renamed in honor of school site donor, Alberto G. Bautista, while San Manuel Norte National High School and Elementary School will be changed to Dr. Manuel T. Cases Sr. National High School and Elementary School, respectively.
Baybay Elementary School in San Manuel Sur will be renamed San Manuel Sur Elementary School in the Municipality of Agoo, La Union, while Mahinog National High School in Mahinog, Camiguin will be renamed Sixto A. Abao National High School.
Cayetano said that the schools have complied with the guidelines laid down by the Department of Education and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines./MP
How Much Is Your
Daily SALARY?
Entrepreneurial Farmer
by Ambrosio R. Villorente
With the theme “Give Freely. Give Often. Blood Donation Matters”. The award ceremony recognized and awarded 24 cooperators of the PRC, Aklan chapter.
Certificate of appreciation was awarded to the municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Malay, Aklan.
Diploma of Service was awarded to the: 1. Church of God International, 2. 12th Infantry Battalion (CAFGU), 3rd Infantry (SPEARHEAD) Division, Philippine Army, and 3. DYSM 100.1 Love Radio Kalibo/Kalibo Cable TV, Inc.
Diploma of Service was also given to Blood Galloners who are Charisse T. Maravilla, Jessie A. Morales, Arnel Relampago, Christian Bugarso, Felvin I. Villanueva, Agnes Abiera, Raymundo A. Yasay, June T. Tamado, Wellington G. Chu, Ronald De Pablo, Melquilades Ratay, Joseph R. Mansueto, Edwin S. Teodosio, Gerald T. Ayuyong, Ramon P. Salazar, Renato Gargallo, Jonah I. Palomata, and Glen I. Toriaga. Jerome T. Vega and Vicente P. Basia received Bronze medal award.
Dr. Cynthia C. Dela Cruz welcomed the guests and awardees; while Atty. Ronquillo C. Tolentino-chairman, Board of Directors, PRC Aklan chapter and Gov. Florencio T. Miraflores gave their respective messages.
Congratulation sincerely to the awardees! May you are the models of more people who will be generous to share their valuable blood.
TOUCHING STORY
Here is a short touching story mainly for professionals. This was e-mailed to me by an anonymous author. Here, I like to share with you.“A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5-years old son waiting for him at the door.
SON: “Daddy, may I ask you a question?
DAD: “Yeah sure, what is it?” replied the man.
SON: “Daddy, how much do you make an hour?”
DAD: “That’s none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?” the man asked angrily.
SON: “I just want to know… Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?”
DAD: “If you must know, I make 100.00 pesos an hour.”
SON: “Oh,” the little boy replied, with his head down.
SON: “Daddy, may I please borrow 50.00 pesos?”
The father was furious, “If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you are being so selfish. I work hard everyday for such this childish behavior.”
The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door.
The man sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy’s questions. How dare he asked such questions only to get some money?
After about an hour or so, the man had calmed down, and started to think: Maybe there was something he really needs to buy with that 50.00 pesos and he really didn’t ask for money very often. The man went to the door of the little boy’s room and opened the door.
“Are you asleep, son?” He asked.
“No daddy, I’m awake,” replied the boy.
“I’ve been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier” said the man.
“It’s been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here’s the 50.00 pesos you asked for.”
The little boy sat straight up, smiling. “Oh, thank you daddy!” he yelled.
Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills. The man saw that the boy already had money, started to get angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then looked up at his father.
“Why do you want more money if you already have some?” the father grumbled.
“Because I didn’t have enough, but now I do,” the little boy replied.
“Daddy, I have 100.00 pesos now. Can I buy an hour of your time?
Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you.”
The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little son, and he begged for his forgiveness.
It’s just a short reminder to all of you working so hard in life. We should not let time slip through our fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts.
Do remember to share that 100.00 pesos worth of your time with someone you love.
If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of days.
But the family and friends we leave behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives.
And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more into work than to our family./MP
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Aklan chapter honored its cooperators in a “Blood Donor Award Ceremony”. The program was held on Tuesday morning, November 17, 2015 at Nenette Castillo’s Garden, Roxas Avenue Extension, Poblacion, Kalibo, Aklan.
With the theme “Give Freely. Give Often. Blood Donation Matters”. The award ceremony recognized and awarded 24 cooperators of the PRC, Aklan chapter.
Certificate of appreciation was awarded to the municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Malay, Aklan.
Diploma of Service was awarded to the: 1. Church of God International, 2. 12th Infantry Battalion (CAFGU), 3rd Infantry (SPEARHEAD) Division, Philippine Army, and 3. DYSM 100.1 Love Radio Kalibo/Kalibo Cable TV, Inc.
Diploma of Service was also given to Blood Galloners who are Charisse T. Maravilla, Jessie A. Morales, Arnel Relampago, Christian Bugarso, Felvin I. Villanueva, Agnes Abiera, Raymundo A. Yasay, June T. Tamado, Wellington G. Chu, Ronald De Pablo, Melquilades Ratay, Joseph R. Mansueto, Edwin S. Teodosio, Gerald T. Ayuyong, Ramon P. Salazar, Renato Gargallo, Jonah I. Palomata, and Glen I. Toriaga.
Jerome T. Vega and Vicente P. Basia received Bronze medal award.
Dr. Cynthia C. Dela Cruz welcomed the guests and awardees; while Atty. Ronquillo C. Tolentino-chairman, Board of Directors, PRC Aklan chapter and Gov. Florencio T. Miraflores gave their respective messages.
Congratulation sincerely to the awardees! May you are the models of more people who will be generous to share their valuable blood.
TOUCHING STORY
Here is a short touching story mainly for professionals. This was e-mailed to me by an anonymous author. Here, I like to share with you.
“A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5-years old son waiting for him at the door.
SON: “Daddy, may I ask you a question?
DAD: “Yeah sure, what is it?” replied the man.
SON: “Daddy, how much do you make an hour?”
DAD: “That’s none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?” the man asked angrily.
SON: “I just want to know… Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?”
DAD: “If you must know, I make 100.00 pesos an hour.”
SON: “Oh,” the little boy replied, with his head down.
SON: “Daddy, may I please borrow 50.00 pesos?”
The father was furious, “If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you are being so selfish. I work hard everyday for such this childish behavior.”
The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door.
The man sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy’s questions. How dare he asked such questions only to get some money?
After about an hour or so, the man had calmed down, and started to think: Maybe there was something he really needs to buy with that 50.00 pesos and he really didn’t ask for money very often. The man went to the door of the little boy’s room and opened the door.
“Are you asleep, son?” He asked.
“No daddy, I’m awake,” replied the boy.
“I’ve been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier” said the man.
“It’s been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here’s the 50.00 pesos you asked for.”
The little boy sat straight up, smiling. “Oh, thank you daddy!” he yelled.
Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills. The man saw that the boy already had money, started to get angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then looked up at his father.
“Why do you want more money if you already have some?” the father grumbled.
“Because I didn’t have enough, but now I do,” the little boy replied.
“Daddy, I have 100.00 pesos now. Can I buy an hour of your time?
Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you.”
The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little son, and he begged for his forgiveness.
It’s just a short reminder to all of you working so hard in life. We should not let time slip through our fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts.
Do remember to share that 100.00 pesos worth of your time with someone you love.
If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of days.
But the family and friends we leave behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives.
And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more into work than to our family./MP
RELEASE DISABILITY BENEFITS,
INCREASE PENSION FOR VETERANS
Vice President Jejomar C. Binay urged the administration to immediately release P17 billion in disability benefits to more than 80,000 pensioners, including war veterans and the surviving spouses of deceased World War II veterans.
Binay also said government should immediately look for funding for the disability benefits that widowers of 16,237 veterans should get. The unpaid benefits for widowers total P2.7 billion.
“The administration has spent less on many projects from different departments and agencies. It can allocate funds for the veterans and wives of deceased veterans”, Binay said.
Binay also agreed that the P5,000 monthly benefit should be increased to P20,000 as proposed by the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO).
At present, veterans and wives of deceased veterans receive P5,000 monthly pension and P1,000-P1,700 disability benefit if the veteran has reached the age of 70 or were injured in line of duty. The amount depends on the type of disability.
In Makati, veterans are covered by the city government’s services for senior citizens introduced during the Vice President’s term as mayor, which include subsidized medical and hospitalization care through the Yellow Card program, cash gifts, free groceries and medicine, among others.
Earlier, PVAO stressed the need to prioritize the welfare and well-being of the veterans and for Congress to upgrade the benefits of pensioners through a new law.
Under the present law, a veteran aged 70 years old is deemed totally disabled and should receive a P1, 700 monthly pension.
As of 2010, unpaid pension obligations reached P25 million as the law was not immediately implemented.
The 28,993 World War II veterans started receiving their pension in April 2010, covering the period of 2003 to 2009 and totaling P4.1 billion which came from the PVAO’s reform dividends.
As of September 2013, the government paid P2.9 billion in outstanding pension arrears to living veterans. This brought the total payment to P6.9 billion.
It is urgent that government sources funds for the unpaid benefits of veterans who died before the government started paying the pension in 2010, especially to surviving spouses aged 80 and above, said Binay./MP
CONGRESS TO APPROVE FARM
BILL TOURISM INTO LAW
The much awaited Farm Tourism Bill is soon to become a law as Senate passed on 2nd reading the substitute bill. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Cynthia Villar, who chairs the Senate’s Committee on Agriculture and Food.
The Senate version garnered support from legislators as it is set to draw up a Farm Tourism Strategic Action Plan that is consistent with the National Tourism Development Plan, to provide specific programs and activities designed to help the industry stakeholders.
The House version of the Farm Tourism Bill was authored by Cong. Sharon Garin of AAMBIS-Owa Partylist. It was passed by Congress and transmitted to the Senate last January 2015.
“Agriculture and tourism had a great potential in bringing income to poor farmers, not to mention its potential for the overall economic and cultural development of the whole country,” Garin said.
“Farm Tourism will introduce, educate and even train the youth on agricultural practices as well as providing outdoor recreation. This combination of actual practice and cultural immersion will also open a way for our poor farming families to earn more as it will also generate employment,” she added.
Farm Tourism, also known as agri-tourism, refers to the practice of attracting visitors and travelers to farm areas for production, educational and recreational purposes. It brings farmers and tourists or visitors together who want to be educated and trained in farming.
“Agri-tourism has been in the country for decades. The socio- economic benefits, educational opportunities, and the cultural impact has a great potential. Passage of the Farm Tourism Bill as soon as possible will ensure that we will all reap these benefits,” Garin ended./MP
CHIZ URGES SSS TO CONDONE LOAN PENALTIES, PREPARE FOR PENSION HIKE
Instead of raising member contributions anew to compensate for the looming hike in the retirement benefits of 1.9 million pensioners, Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero urged the Social Security System (SSS) to consider alternative ways of generating revenue like condoning penalties on overdue loan obligations.
According to Escudero, such scheme will not only help the SSS raise additional revenues, but will also aid delinquent borrowers settle their obligation without worrying about the staggering penalties they have incurred.
“The SSS should not rely on additional premium on member contributions to boost its revenue. It should explore other options like a loan penalty condonation program to raise money for the state-run pension fund,” Escudero suggested.
The SSS had claimed that based on the latest actuarial valuation, four years were added to the life of the fund from the previous valuation of 2039, after hiking the rate of contribution in January 2014.
The last time the SSS implemented a loan penalty condonation program in 2012, the state-run pension fund collected a total of P2.878 billion, surpassing its target of P2.432 billion.
The program, which ran from April 2 to Sept. 31, 2012, granted partial to full amnesty on loan penalties to about 208,502 delinquent borrowers who repaid their loans either on installment basis or one-time payment.
Escudero also proposed that aside from implementing a loan penalty condonation program, the SSS should also intensify its information drive about its existing programs aimed at helping members with outstanding loans.
Escudero refers to the option of delinquent borrowers to sell their shares of stocks under the Stock Investment Loan Program (SILP) and the Privatization Fund Loan Program (PFLP) to lessen their outstanding loan balance.
“SSS is supposed to promote social justice through a viable social security system, to help members and their families cope with death, disability, sickness, maternity or old age, and not turn them away through huge amount of penalties,” Escudero said.
The SSS, which has 32.5 million members as of March 2015, is poised to implement a P2,000 across-the-board increase in the retirement pay of 1.9 million pensioners should a bill approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate is signed into law.
Escudero, also has a pending bill seeking to aid the SSS resolve its problem on delinquent contributions and bring relief to affected members and employers.
Senate Bill No. 2921 that Escudero filed in September, seeks to empower the Social Security Commission to condone penalties on delinquent contributions of members who has not only deprived members of their benefits, but has also stunted SSS’ growth.
According to Escudero, the three percent per month penalty assessed on unremitted contributions is “burdensome” for the more than 30 million SSS members.
“This penalty is burdensome as it continues to accrue from the date the contribution falls due until paid. The delinquency, if not quickly addressed, can really pile up. For troubled companies that, by and large, do not want to be delinquent in the first place but failed to remit what is due as their employees’ contributions to SSS could easily find themselves in arrears,” he said.
The condonation of penalties would also benefit the SSS, as it could immediately collect overdue contributions amounting to P625.9 million as of last year, based on the records of the Large Account Division of SSS.
SSS records show that 24,042 delinquent employers owe the SSS P1.033 billion in delinquent contributions as of May 2014, including P408 million in penalties.
The senator noted how employers, particularly of financially-distressed firms and small and medium businesses, shun paying the accumulated delinquency penalties because they are bigger than the principal that should have been settled./MP
Monday, December 07, 2015
November 22-28, 2015
Quotation of the Week
“The quickest way to correct the other fellow’s attitude is to correct your own.”
-King Vidor
NGCP SHOWCASES EXPERTISE
IN TECHNICAL CONGRESS
Seasoned NGCP engineers giving young engineering professionals an exclusive access on how to operate the country’s power transmission network at the PRC-accredited event.
Davao City – More than a hundred electrical engineers with more than 300 years of combined professional experience in the power sector gathered in the Mindanao leg of the Technical Congress (TechCon) 2015 held here for the first time, at the SMX Convention Center, last November 23 to 24.
The TechCon 2015, organized and presented by National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), showcased state-of-the-art technology and best practices on power transmission and substation systems, as well as a rare peek on post-disaster power restoration behind-the-scenes and techniques. Among the participants in the PRC-accredited learning event were NGCP’s own pool of electrical engineers and representatives from local power utilities, who all garnered 16 units required for renewing their PRC licenses at no cost.
“The participants were given exclusive access to the way NGCP operates, with its top and most skilled engineers giving the lectures based on actual experiences. Being a unique company and the operator of the only transmission network, NGCP finds it necessary to share its experiences because not all engineers are given the chance to work for the sole grid operator of the country,” said NGCP.
“Our extensive knowledge on transmission planning, system operations, line maintenance, and best practices on safety and restoration post-disasters, are what set this congress apart from other PRC-accredited events. No other company can talk about these topics more credibly than NGCP,” it added.
Among the topics covered in the congress are transmission planning, grid operations, network protection, telecommunications, and power transformer maintenance. Other discussions also tackled substation design and operations, emergency restoration system and restoration works post-Typhoon Yolanda.
Engineers from generation companies, distribution utilities and electric cooperatives attended the two-day congress, while international company, Alstom from Singapore, elevated the discussions with its presentation on Digital Substations.
“While the TechCon welcomes participants from our industry partners, it is an essential program to develop our own talent pool, a part of NGCP’s five (5)-year career development plan for our engineers designed to let them grow with the company in their chosen field while see page 3
delivering top service to our customers. We find it as a progressive way to learn, share and think big, with each generation of seasoned engineers passing their knowledge on to the younger ones,” said NGCP.
This is the second TechCon conducted by NGCP this year, strategically held outside Metro Manila in recognition of the important role of the regions as operators and implementers of NGCP’s core business. The first one happened in Cebu in October, with more than a hundred participants from the company’s own roster of engineers, partner distribution utilities in Visayas. The third leg, will be held in Manila before the year ends.
NGCP is a privately owned corporation in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s power grid. It transmits high-voltage electricity through “power superhighways” that include the interconnected system of transmission lines, towers, substations, and related assets. The consortium, which holds the 25-year concession contract to operate the country’s power transmission network, is comprised of Monte Oro Grid Resources Corp. led by Henry Sy, Jr., Calaca High Power Corporation led by Robert Coyiuto, Jr., and the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) as technical partner./MP
RED TIDE MENACE
Picture above shows Mr. Rico B. Magno - Acquaculturist 1 of the Bureau of Fisheries and acquatic resources. He was the guest speaker of the Rotary Club of Kalibo during their weekly regular meeting held on November 17, 2015. He spoke about the menace of Red Tide. He warned fishiermen from gadering sea shells in the coastal water of Batan and New Washington because it is positive of Red Tide which is highly poisonous.
PSHS HONORS ITS
OUTSTANDING GRADUATES
The 2015 Gawad Lagablab Awardees are in the picture with Dr. Rowena Cristina L. Guevara- Chairman, Board of Judges for the 8th Gawad Lagablab. Dr. Guevara belongs to PSHS Batch 1980 graduates. She is presently the Undersecretary for Scientific and Technological Services, DOST.
Some 12 outstanding graduates of the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) were honored with “Ang Gawad Lagablab” awards. The award ceremony was held on Saturday, November, 28, 2015 in Unilab Bayanihan Center, Pasig, City, Metro Manila.
The awardees were selected on the basis of their academic preparation, the extent of the development of their capabilities: professional achievements: the results of the use of their capabilities: and community involvements contribution: the benefits of their achievements to the nation.
The 12 awardees are Dr. Milton B. Amayun, MD, MPH for Social Upliftment : Dr. Carlo A. Arcilla, Ph.D. Academe; Ma. Antonia Odelia G. Arroyo РIntrepreneurship: Vietriz P. David РAbella, MD РSocial Upliftment/Community Service: Portia Grace H. Fernandez РMarcelo, MD, MPH РSocial Upliftment: Atty. Ibarra M. Gutierrez III, LL.B, LL.M. РGovernment Service: Dr. Ricardo T. Jose, Ph.D РEducation/Academe: Dr. Prospero C. Naval, Jr., Ph.D РAcademe; Scientific Research: Dr. Reinabelle C. Reyes, Ph.D- Scientific Research: Dr. Edsel Maurice T. Salva̱a, MD РMedicine ; Dr. Ma. Asuncion A. Silvestre, MD РSocial Upliftment; and Denis F. Villorente РGovernment Service.
Villorente graduated at PSHS class 1984. He completed Electrical Engineering degree at Up Diliman in 1989. He passed the Board Examination for Electrical Engineers in the same year and placed number one in the exam.
He is the son of Dr. Ambrosio R. Villorente and the late Dr. Florencia F. Villorente of Badio, Numancia.
Gawad Lagablab of the PSHS National Alumni Association is started in 1991 to recognize excellence in academic performance, exceptional achievement in their field of endeavor, and exemplary service to our community and our nation.
The awards were held in 1991, 1993, 1998, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2011, and 2015. So far, some 88 PSHS alumni received the awards./MP
REAP MINDANAO NETWORK RESISTS EXPANSION OF PLANTATIONS
The Network Resisting Expansion of Agricultural Plantations in Mindanao (REAP) Mindanao Network was launched recently at the UP, Diliman in a conference spearheaded by people’s organizations and advocacy groups as part of the protest caravan Manilakbayan ng Mindanao.
The Rural Missionaries of the Philippines’ (RMP) national office and Northern Mindanao chapter, Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA), Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR), Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), with support from the All UP Workers Alliance, CONTEND-UP and the Hongkong-based group, Asia Monitor Resource Center (AMRC) led the launching
More or less 500,000 hectares of land in Mindanao are now covered with plantation crops primarily for the export market. This area is equivalent to 12 percent of Mindanao’s agricultural land. The groups noted that the government is planning to aggressively increase the scope of various agricultural plantations in Mindanao. The people fear that this drive will definitely destroy Mindanao’s food sources and the country’s last remaining frontiers. These areas are located in peasant communities and the ancestral domain of lumad and the Moro people.
REAP Spokesperson Ariel Casilao of Anakpawis Partylist, a labor leader from Southern Mindanao, said that plantation expansion can only be accomplished through the assistance of the military and its so-called investment defense forces which has been tagged as the number one nemesis of the lumad who are defending their lands against mining and plantations./MP
SEN. MARCOS CALLS THOROUGH
PROBE OF RICE-DUMPING IN LEYTE
Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos treated one and all to a sample of his culinary skills as he stir-fried beef that had been marinated with “Imeldifique” made with all Ilocano ingredients during the launch on Tuesday, December 1 of the first Ilocano cooking wine. Watching Senator Marcos whip up his dish are Destileria Limtuaco & Co., Inc.’s President, Olivia Limpe-Aw, Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, Heny Sison and Ilocos Sur Vice Governor Deogracias Victor “DV” Savellano. Also present during the launch at Victorino’s, an Ilocano restaurant in Quezon City where various dishes using “Imeldifique” cooking wine was served were Ilocos Norte 2nd District Congresswoman Imelda R. Marcos and former Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson.
“Various reports said the sacks of rice found in the pit bore markings of National Food Authority (NFA) but there were also plastic bags marked with DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) in the same pit.”
“Wasting rice is disgusting enough but if it turns out that these are relief goods, then it’s even more appalling. Somebody should answer for this,” Marcos asserted.
“This could be part of the relief goods intended for the victims of super-typhoon Yolanda!”
The rice dumping is suspicious at the very least, according to Marcos, noting that the NFA had earlier announced that spoiled rice may still be used as animal feed.
“I’ll await the findings of the concerned agencies and local authorities but if I’m not satisfied, we will dig deeper into this matter,” he added.
Earlier, Marcos lamented the slow pace of the government’s rehabilitation efforts in areas hardest hit by super-typhoon Yolanda despite billions of pesos allocated in the budget and from international donors./MP
WILL POE BE ALLOWED
TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT?
Independent vice-presidential candidate Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero remains confident that his running mate Sen. Grace Poe will be allowed to run for president, having met all the constitutional requirements to seek the highest post in the land.
Escudero said the resolution of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Second Division is just a temporary setback as he expects Poe to get relief either from the Comelec en banc or the Supreme Court.
“We still have faith in our justice system. We believe that in the end, Senator Grace will be allowed to run not only based on international and domestic laws, but also based on the factual situation of the case,” Escudero said.
He added: “If we’re not able to achieve or attain justice in the Comelec Second Division, we are still hopeful that we will be able to attain it either in the Comelec en banc or in the Supreme Court.
“At the end of the day, laws are invented and created to achieve justice. I am of the firm belief that in the end justice will still prevail.”
Poe, the frontrunner in various presidential preference surveys, is also facing three other petitions for her disqualification from the presidential race due to citizenship and residency issues. The cases have been consolidated and are pending before the Comelec First Division.
Escudero said the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) has already ruled that Poe is a natural-born Filipino citizen as defined in the 1987 Constitution, and therefore she is qualified to run and be elected as senator and even president.
“Senator Grace is a citizen of the Philippines from birth, without having to perform any act to acquire or perfect her Philippine citizenship,” he said.
Escudero, meanwhile, could not hide his disappointment after the Comelec Second Division completely ignored a long-standing decision of the Supreme Court that is applicable to Poe’s case when it said she made a material misrepresentation in her residency status.
The poll body’s Second Division claimed that Poe’s period of residence in the Philippines up to the day before May 9, 2016 would not be at least 10 years, citing her declaration in the certificate of candidacy (COC) she filed when she ran for senator in 2013 that she has been a resident of the country only since November 2006.
This falls short of six months of the required May 2006 commencement of residence in the country in order for her to qualify as a candidate for president in the May 2016 polls, the Second Division claimed.
“I am amazed with the resolution. The Comelec Second Division has no basis in saying that the 2013 COC was correct and the 2016 COC was not correct. Up to now, I have been reading the Comelec resolution many times over and I failed to see any justification for that kind of conclusion,” Escudero pointed out.
Escudero said the Second Division has deliberately disregarded the doctrine of animus revertendi or having the “intention to return” which was cited by the SC in allowing former First Lady Imelda Marcos to run as representative of Leyte in Congress in 1995.
Despite her long absence in the province, Mrs. Marcos was allowed by the high court to seek election in Leyte as it ruled that she remained domicile in the province due to her previous manifestations of her intention to return.
Domicile is defined as the “permanent home, the place to which, whenever absent for business or pleasure, one intends to return, and depends on the facts and circumstances, in the sense that they disclose intent.”
In that 1995 ruling, the SC stated that an individual does not lose his or her domicile even if he or she has lived and maintained several residences in different places.
The high tribunal also held that Mrs. Marcos made an honest mistake in writing “seven months residence” in her COC for a congressional seat, a period less than the constitutional requirement of “not less than one year” for that position.
Escudero said just like that of Mrs. Marcos, Poe’s honest mistake in indicating her residence in her COC for the Senate to be only “six years and six months” is not binding proof of the length of her domicile in the Philippines.
He said the SC was also clear in saying that statements made in the COC should not be taken against a candidate.
“I am wondering why the Comelec Second Division completely ignored the SC decision on the matter,” Escudero said.
“In the case of Mrs. Marcos, the SC said that it is not the material statement she wrote in her COC that will bind if you can prove your actual residence with intent to return and actual physical presence in the country or district where you are running for,” he explained.
Escudero recalled that Poe returned to the country after the death in 2004 of her father, movie actor Fernando Poe Jr.
He insisted that several acts showed Poe intended to return and remain in the Philippines for good.
These include her return to the country in May 2005, enrolling her children in local schools in June 2005, purchasing a property in late 2005, construction of her family home in Quezon City in early 2006, and the sale of their Virginia home in 2006.
“Both her intent to return and actual physical residence was evidenced by the fact that she sold her house in the United States, she resigned from her work, she bought a house here, and she enrolled her kids—one in elementary, one in high school and one in college,” Escudero said./MP
DSWD IS RESPONSIBLE IN THE
DUMPING OF SPOILED RELIEF GOODS
Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. this week said, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman cannot wash her hands of her responsibility for the wastage of food packs and sacks of rice discovered dumped in Dagami, Leyte.
“Soliman had admitted the rice and food packs were from the DSWD warehouses but clarified that they were intended to be distributed to those affected by typhoon Ruby and typhoon Glenda last year and not for survivors of super-typhoon Yolanda.”
According to Soliman, the DSWD is investigating why the relief goods were not given out.
“Secretary Soliman cannot simply toss the responsibility for this mess to her underlings; she is the one ultimately responsible,” Marcos asserted.
He cited that last year the Commission on Audit tagged DWSD for the spoilage of an estimated P2.8 million-worth of relief goods intended for distribution to Yolanda survivors in 2013.
“The DSWD claimed it has learned its lesson and even acquired a mechanized repacking system and yet this unconscionable wastage of relief goods continues to happen,” Marcos deplored.
“According to Soliman the goods buried in the area are no longer fit for human consumption. Initial reports estimates that around 500 sacks of spoiled rice were disposed in a 10-feet wide, 15-feet deep hole dug in Dagami.”
“Can you imagine how many typhoon victims the DSWD could have helped with such amount of relief goods? Surely, those responsible for this are unfit as public servants. Someone should be held accountable,” Marcos concluded./MP
YAYA MARING
Sugilanon Ni Tita Linda
Ni Tita Linda Belayro
Nagbahoe si Rita sa eoyo ag sabak ni Yaya Maring. Rondayang yaya ro namueatan ni Rita nga bilang Ina. Ro yaya Maring man ro nagahatod ag naga sueang kana sa eskwelahan, ro ina ni Rita hay nagmunot sa isaeang ka eaeaki kat eapsag pa eang imaw. Busa owa nana makita rong hitsura ko anang Ina kundi sa retrato eamang.
Si Yaya Maring rong naga tago ko bilog nga sekreto kong pamilya Vergara. Ro lolo ni Rita nga si Andres Vergara hay guin eambangan halin sa anang opisina. Namatay si Andres nga owa maeobad rong kaso. Sayod si yaya Maring ko nahanabo. Sayod man imaw ag kilaea nana rong bilog nga pagkatawo ni Andres nga isaeang ka meyembro it sindikato.
Hakita ni Andres kong paalin imaw guin eo-iban ko anang asawa. Busa anang gin baril si Ellen ro anang asawa. Guin paguwa nga nagpanghugot si Ellen. Naila it unga rong ina ni Rita nga si Elma. Si yaya Maring rong nagpabahoe ag nag alila sa ina ni Rita. Sa pagbahoe ni Elma, nangin bugana imaw bangod kana inaywan rong manggad it mga Vergara.
Nakilaea nana ro isaeang ka eaeaki nga manggad eamang ro naila-an. Nagkaunga sanda ogaling bukon it mayad ro andang pag-iba, kapin pa gid pag amat-amat nga nagakaubos eon ro anang manggad. Nakita ni yaya Maring rong tanan. Busa guin tago nana ro mga alahas, papeles ag mga titulo it eogta ag rong libreto sa banko. Naduea si Elma ag owa eon nabatian ni yaya Maring kon si-in nag-adto. Nagbahoe si Rita nga owa eot-a ro anang ina. Sa anang pagbahoe, duro ro anang pangutana hanungod sa anang pagkata-wo.
Sa anang pagtungtong sa idad na dise utsong dag-on (18), guindaea imaw ni yaya Maring sa andang abogado. Guindaea nana rong tanan nga anang guin tago nga document ag guin saylo sa anang pangaean ro tanan nga manggad it pamilya Vergara. Nagpadayon imaw it pagtuon hasta nakatapos it pag ka abogada. Abo nga naga pangasawa kana ogaling bo-ot nana nga magkabuhi nga eain sa pagkabuhi ko anang ginikanan. Samtang anang gin patindugan it tindahan si yaya Maring agod may kalibangan.
Isaeang adlaw, may nagbakae nga babaye sa tindahan ni yaya Maring nga may guina guyod nga onga. Guintueok ni yaya Maring ro babaye. Matsa nahuya ko una rong babaye ogaling ko ulihi hay nagpakilaea nga imaw si Elma, Ina ni Rita ag baeo eon sa anang asawa. Pag-abot ni Rita, guin pakilaea imaw ni yaya Maring sa anang Ina. Tongod sa kahidlaw ni Rita sa anang ina, guinbaton ag guinpatawad nana ro anang Ina. Pagkataliwan it inadlaw, amat-amat nga nabelog ni Rita ro anang pagkatawo. Saeamat kay yaya Maring, ro naga buyot kong bilog nga kamatuoran nga naga putos sa pamilya Vergara./ MP
THE 655.2 M IRRIGATION PROJECT
Entrepreneurial Farmer
by Ambrosio R. Villorente
The National Irrigation Administration and the Office of the President of the Philippines will inaugurate their project: Aklan River Irrigation System (RIS) West Damsite in Brgy. Kinalangay Nuevo, Malinao, Aklan. There is no date stated in the program.
The Program of Activities consists of two (2) parts. Part 1 starts at 11: 00 o’clock in the morning with the Blessing and Groundbreaking ceremonies of Aklan RIS West Damsite in Kinalangan Nuevo Malinao. The blessing will be officiated by Rev. Father Edwin M. Chio.
Capping and Lowering of the time capsule will follow. Engr. Benjamin P. Sanchez & Engr. Julieta E. Gallardo will place the materials in the Time Capsule; DPWH Sec. Regelio L. Singson and Cong. Teodorico T. Haresco Jr. will place the Layout Map; Engr. Florencio F. Padernal and Gov. Florencio T. Miraflores Рthe Bible; Engr. Gerardo P. Corsiga and Vice Gov. Gabrielle V. Calizo-Quimpo-poins; Engr. Wilson C. Rey and Mayor Wilbert Ariel I. Igoy РProgram of Work; Engr. Jesus I. Dato-on and Ms. Lyn Grace B. Causing РProgram of Activities; Engr. Elena T. Basco & Engr. Josephine I. Iqui̱a РCurrent Newspaper; and Punong Brgy. Vivencio Infante and Ms. Gina C. Terencio РList of Irrigators Associations.
Part 2 of the program starts at 1:00 o’clock in the afternoon at the Covered Court, Poblacion, Malinao. It will start with a prayer lead by Rev. Father, Edwin C. Chio. Singing of the Philippine National Hymn follows.
Malinao Mayor Wilbert Ariel I. Igoy will acknowledge and welcome the guests and visitors.
The Aklan RIS Improvement Project will be presented and discussed by Engr. Gerardo P. Corsiga. His presentation will be followed by four kinds of messages to be delivered by Aklan Governor Florencio T. Miraflores, Engr. Florencio F. Padernal, Cong. Teodorico T. Haresco, Jr. and DPWH Sec. Rogelio C. Singson.
The program ends after the Closing Remarks of Engr. Wilson C. Rey, Engr. Raquel D. Reontoy and Mr. John Lastierre are the master of ceremonies.
Where are the farmers? Particularly the Rice Farmers, the principal consumers of irrigation water? They just serve as the onlookers. They are not concerned in the construction of Aklan RIS. They are not briefed in the use, care and preservation of the system. Nobody thought of the farmers who with ample water in the rice fields will produce more grains for the consumers.
Aklan RIS improvement Project covers the towns of Banga, Kalibo, New Washington, Lezo, Numancia and Makato. It will irrigate 3,963 hectares of rice fields. Some 308 hectares will be added to a total of 4,211 hectares. According to the report, the present system benefits 8,746 farmers. With the additional area to be irrigated, the total beneficiaries will increase to 9,911 farmers.
The project will cost 655.2 million pesos in 2015 to 2018. The irrigation project aims to increase palay production from 78 cavans to 90 cavans per hectare in the wet season and 70 cavans to 90 cavans per hectare in the dry season.
PROMISE!
PRC Aklan is 59 years old
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Aklan chapter will celebrate its 59th founding anniversary at 5:00 o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, December 19, 2015. It will be held in Royal Suites Hotel, Rizal Street, Kalibo, Aklan according to Ms. Arcely P. Pelayo-chapter administration .
The theme of the celebration is: “Volunteers are the Pillars of Philippine Red Cross: Givers of Hope, Inspiration and Compassion.”
To recall, the first chairman of the PRC Aklan chapter was Mr. Mariano Capanas (1956-1958) followed by Atty. Ben Hur C. Mobo (1970-74), Lucio I. Ricafuente (1974-78), Dr. Eriberto L. Venus (1978-84), Mayor Wilihado C. Regalado (1984-86), German C. Palmani (1986-90), Paquito S. Saratiosa (1990-2000), and Atty. Tomas S. Raz(2000-05).
The present Board of Directors is chaired by Atty. Ronquillo C. Tolentino with the following: Dr. Ambrosio R. Villorente- vice chair with Dr. Nilda B. Tambong, Dr. Daisy S. Briones, Atty. Plaridel M. Morania, Remia H. Donguines, Dr. Jesse M. Gomez, Vice Mayor Madeline A. Regalado, Sefalina D. Peralta, Dr. Cynthia C. Dela Cruz, Dr. Marianne L. Quimpo, Hon. Augusto C. Tolentino, Hon. Bayani M. Cordova , Hon. Soviet Russia A. Dela Cruz, Errol R. Ordines, Engr. Noel L. Fuentebella, and Lt. Col. Paulito R. Idul./ MP
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