Entrepreneurial Farmer

By: Ambrosio R. Villorente

BATO IS A MILLIONNAIRE

            The Philippine National Police Chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa’s salary is more than Php.121.00 per month. The salary does not include his allowances like representation expenses and others.

            This monthly compensation makes the PNP Chief a millionaire in a year’s time. This amount of money will amount to nothing if the recipient will not perform. However, if the money is paid to a high performer and most effective person in his job, this amount of money is well spent and worth spending it.

WANDA TULFO-TEO AND ROY CIMATU VISIT BORACAY

            Last January  9, Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo and Environment Sec. Roy Cimatu visited Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan. They met with LGU Officials of Malay and Aklan province, and business and civic leaders in Shangri-La Boracay. They discussed the plans of the Department of Tourism and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.   

            However, before the meeting, the two department heads went over the island of Boracay aboad a helicopter. That was the first time top government officials went above the 1,032 hectares Boracay Island using an airplane. Other top officials who visited Boracay before did it on foot and enjoyed walking on white sand and clear water. With the local officials and civic and business leaders, they discussed the prevention of flood, infrastructure development and enforcement of environmental laws and regulations.

            To recall, tourists arrivals in 2017 reached 2,001,974 which is 16 percent higher than the 1,725,483 tourists arrivals recorded in 2016.

5 ENVOYS TO CHINA

            Pres. Rodrigo R. Duterte reappointed five (5) special envoys to China. The appointments are aimed to improve diplomatic ties with Beijing and Manila which became strained over the long standing maritime dispute over the West Philippine sea.

            Those reappointed are Ferdinand Borja, Wellie Lee, Carlos Chan, Cheng Yong and William de Jesus Lima.Those reappointed are expected to promote closer relationship with China.”

            Borja, Lee, Chan and Lima had served previously as Pres. Duterte’s special envoys to China in the previous months. Their new term of office starts on Jan. 1, 2018 to June 30, 2018. Yong will also serve for six months.

            Former Pres. Fidel V. Ramos served as Special Envoy to China in July 2016 in the wake of the Philippine historic victory in the United Nations backed maritime dispute over the West Philippine Sea.

            However, Ramos resigned in October 2016. He claimed, he has done “my job to break the ice and to help restore the ties of goodwill and friendship” between the Philippines and China.

            Moreover, Pres. Duterte also reappointed Jose E.B. Antonio, chairman and chief executive officer of the Century Properties Group as Special Envoy to the United States. Pres. Duterte also appointed Miguel de Ayala his Special Envoy to Australia.

Ombudsman Indicts Ex Mayor

            For his failure to disclose his two business interests in his Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) for the year 2007 to 2010 , former mayor Francisco Nazareno of Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, the Ombudsman indicted him. Nazareno claimed it was his secretary who filled up his SALNs.

            The Ombudsman found probable cause to filed barges against Nazareno for violating the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public officials and Employees and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

            According to the report, Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Unit, Iloilo City found that Nazareno failed to disclose two business interests in his SALNs from 2007-2010. The two business firms, one of which is Juco Enterprise registered in his wife’s name whileJT Merchandise was registered in Nazareno’s name.

            Nazareno served as Mayor of Moises Padilla town for two terms in 2007 to 2013. He maintained he never committed corruption while in office.

           

            On the other hand, the Ombudsman found that Nazareno during his term as mayor issued  the Mayor’s Permit to JT Merchandise and Juco Enterprise in violation of the Anti-Graft and Corruption Practice Act.

US Pledges Php.330M for Marawi Rehab

            The US government has pledged an additional US 6.6M or Php.330M in cash for the rehabilitation and recovery of the war damaged Marawi City.

            Earlier, a pledge worth US$14.3M was pooled by the US government even the war in Marawi City was on-going. The additional pledge has brought the total amount to US$20.9 or one billion pesos.

            According to US Ambassador to the Philppines Sung Kim, the funding will support populations affected by the war and ally in long term recovery efforts to ensure a brighter and peaceful future for the people of Mindanao.

            The money will support the efforts on water and electricity access, school supplies, housing, medical supplies, and anti-extremism efforts, according to Amb. Kim.

            Marawi City was violently attacked and destroyed by y rebels under the Maute group in their bid to convert the region into an Islamic state province. However, the city was liberated in October 2017./MP