Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

Never Vote Neglectful Congressman

Cong. Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, a senatorial candidate of Team Pinoy proposed what he called “No Work, No Pay” policy as a better solution to the chronic absenteeism of members of Congress.

Angara, a three-term member of the House of Representatives urged the voters to junk candidates with the record of repeated absences in the May 13, 2013 elections and in future elections. According to Angara, a repeated absence in legislative sessions is “neglecting their sworn duties and responsibilities to our people”. 

Calls for a “No work, no pay” policy mounted after the House of Representatives released the list of absences of Congressmen during the 15th Congress. 

Angara reminded voters to be more vigilant and look into the record of the candidates who are mostly incumbent or former members of Congress. For those who have yet to be members of congress, Angara said voters could look at their achievements and credentials.

“If they were achievers in their past professional lives, most likely they will be achievers” in congress or in other elective position. 

On the other hand, Angara called for a more transparent use of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). This fund is popularly known as “pork barrel” to make sure that these are spent wisely and judiciously. “Make sure that the DPAF money goes to the programs and projects that would benefit the constituents and not for their personal gain.

“Politicians who abuse their position for corruption do not deserve the people’s votes”, Angara stressed. 

Support Biofuels Program

While Congressman Angara talked about the absenteeism in Congress and take judicious use of PAAF fund, Migz Zubiri of the UNA senatorial candidate called the people’s attention to the Philippines biofuels sector to give serious attention by increasing the current coco bio-diesel blend of two percent to five percent in all diesel fuel requirements.

After more than five years since Republic Act 9367 was passed, yet the Department of Energy has not progress in terms of further increasing the blend for bio diesel, said Zubiri.

According to Zubiri, ”our current leaders seem to be not moving forward in helping our people both our energy and agricultural sectors”. 

He noted the abundant supply of coconut in the Philippines to meet the higher blend of 5 percent.

Based on the present data, of the 12 million hectares agricultural land, 3.1 million hectares are devoted to coconut crops. The Philippines Coconut Authority has developed 15 hybrids and one open pollinated variety which yield 4 to 6 tons per hectare per year. This is enough to meet more than 5 percent blend requirement.

The price of copra in the world market has dropped from P61 a kilogram in April 2011 to just P25 a kilo in December 2012. /MP