Editorial

COMPETENT TEACHERS AND QUALITY EDUCATION MATERIALS WILL IMPROVE QUALITY OF EDUCATION

SENATOR Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., said the K to 12 program, which will add two years of schooling, is not an effective way to improve the quality of education in the Philippines.

Instead, Marcos said that raising the competency of teachers and upgrading of educational materials are the keys to raising the quality of education of Filipino students.

The K-12 program, created under Republic Act 10533, or the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, adds two more years to the high school program.

“I’m not sure that just putting two extra years will improve the educational attainment of our students. What we should do is strengthen the educational system that we have,” he told some one thousand students who attended the youth forum held last Wednesday, July 15 in Concepcion Holy Cross College in Concepcion, Tarlac.

Asked by a student if K-12 will improve the quality of education in the country, he replied: “Marami pang questions and I think we have to rethink through the problems of K-12.”

Instead of the K-12, as it is conceived, Marcos batted for upgrading the economic condition of teachers by increasing their salaries and providing them with trainings and seminars in order to enhance their competencies.

He said the government should likewise invest in procuring modern and high standard books as well as construct adequate school buildings, classrooms and other educational facilities.

“The teachers need support so that they do not have to find other ways to earn a living thus allowing them to concentrate on teaching. We do not have enough school buildings. Our materials, school supplies that we provide our students in public schools, are below standard. These are the first things that we should attend to,” he said.

“Mahirap ang buhay ng teacher, maliit lang ang sahod pero lahat ng trabaho ng gobyerno at kapag may nangyayari sa lugar natin, sino ang pupuntahan natin kundi teacher. Pagdating ng eleksyon, sino ang gagawa ng trabaho kundi teacher?” Marcos asked.

Marcos is the author of Senate Bill 109 which seeks to increase the minimum salary of public elementary and high school teachers. It is pending approval in the Senate.

The K-12 mandates kindergarten, six years of elementary, four years of junior high school, and two years of senior high school.

The Department of Education has started implementing universal kindergarten in school year 2011-2012, and the new curriculum for Grade 7 in school year 2012-2013.

The Grade 11 curriculum will start nationwide in school year 2016-2017 while the Grade 12 curriculum will kick off in school year 2017-2018. 

Marcos said full implementation of the K to 12 program, as scheduled, will be problematic because there will be a shortage of classrooms and teachers.

“Sa palagay ko baka hindi kakayanin ng 2016. We can have quality education without the additional two years,” he said.  /MP

MASSIVE INFUSION OF PRIVATE AND PUBLIC FUNDS TO AKLAN By Odon S. Bandiola

MASSIVE INFUSION OF PRIVATE 

AND PUBLIC FUNDS TO AKLAN

This is Marianos Bridge, Numancia, Aklan which was started on June 23, 2014  funded at P13, 422, 932. 05. The contract duration is 100 working days, but after more than one year, the bridge is very far from completed. (ARV photo)

Some weeks passed, my writing chores focused on public governance and social order-in Aklan had taken a backseat and were substituted with my fertile imagination about the memories of my departed beloved younger sister.

Once again, writing facts, figures and events about my beloved Aklan has reclaimed in the driver’s seat and here I go.

Not so many may have noticed in Aklan that since 2010 until at present, massive infusion of public and private investment funds had been pouring in Aklan for infrastructure development, energy generation, agricultural productivity and tourism development facilities.

Credit must be given to the united political leadership in this province composed of the triumvirate of now Congressman Ted Haresco, Governor Joeben Miraflores, former congressman and now last termer Vice Governor Billie V. Calizo-Quimpo. All those happened under the PINOY presidency.

To cite: the multi-million, reaching a billion peso-Kalibo International Airport expansion with funds coming from the DOTC. Now this airport has separate departures and arrival areas for domestic and international flights. It has now four parking bays where four aircrafts can simultaneously park at its tarmac. Runway is still being extended and more facilities are crammed for making it truly international.

At the north tip of the province at barangay Caticlan, Malay and barangay Union, Nabas is a private-led initiative that expanded the facilities of the Caticlan International Airport. With San Miguel Corporation taking the lead, the possibility is a multi-billion peso private funds investment.

Seaport development is likewise concentrated in barangay Caticlan, Malay with the Philippine Ports Authority taking the lead. A seaport for cruise ships which has made Boracay as an indispensable destination is in the offing.

Road network development is massive with the already concluded Trade Ministers Meeting in Boracay of APEC countries. From north to south, road widening and re-blocking grind without end. From Altavas to Malay, the national highways are being upgraded. Alternate road network had been completed as in Tangalan through Jawili Beach to Naisud, Ibajay. Another alternate route is on the pipeline spanning from Lambingan Beach in Andagao, to Pook where KIA is, to barangay Tigayon Hills, to Lezo town with a bridge that can be the longest in Panay Island. The parallel bridge to the century-old bridge of Kalibo is nearing completion.

All these entailed multi-billion peso funding allocations.

In energy development, the Petrowind mills in barangay Pawa, Nabas, are nearing operational with several wind towers already erected to produce 50-MW power supply to the NGCP grid. While at it, Oriental Energy is now going full blast in developing a 35-MW hydro-power in Timbaban River, Madalag, Aklan.

All these sums to billions of pesos in private investments. /MP

SENATE TO LOOK INTO PHILHEALTH SAFEGUARD MECHANISMS

SENATE TO LOOK INTO 

PHILHEALTH SAFEGUARD MECHANISMS

Sen. Francis Escudero said the Senate will look into the safeguard mechanisms in place at the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), Philhealth receives one of the biggest chunks of public spending for health.

Escudero wants to ensure that government allocation for the health coverage of the poor would not go to scammers.

“Titingnan namin yung check and balance, yung safeguard mechanisms ng Philhealth dahil ito ay matagal nang nangyayari kahit sa ibang bansa,” Escudero told reporters.

“Kahit sa Medicare ng Amerika, matagal na nilang ginagawa rin iyon pero may nakakalusot pa rin. Isang bagay ito na dapat maging mulat ang Philhealth. Isang bagay ito na dapat maging conscious sila,” he said.

In 2014, the government earmarked P35 billion for PhilHealth premiums to cover 15 million indigents in the Philippines. It was a 179-percent increase in government health subsidy for the poor.

For this year, over P36 billion has been set for premium payments of indigents.

“Ang pondo kasi sa PhilHealth na nilalaan natin ay pambayad sa premium ng mga beneficiaries. Hindi naman ito pondo para sa pagpapatakbo ng PhilHealth,” said Escudero, who chairs the Senate finance committee.

Some 90 million Filipinos are enrolled in PhilHealth. Of this, 43 million are indigent members and their dependents.

Escudero said the recent scams uncovered by the PhilHealth should not stop the agency from approving claims for cataract surgeries.

Cataract removal is the 5th most common procedure reimbursed by PhilHealth in 2014, accounting for 128,331 paid that amounted to P2,056,379,782.

“Huwag naman porke’t may anomalyang ganyan, titigil na nila lahat ng operasyon sa katarata ng mga beneficiaries at members nila,” Escudero said.

PhilHealth just needs to be thorough about validating claims, he said.

Last year, the PhilHealth made a total of P78 billion in benefit payments, 23 percent of which went to private hospitals and clinics.

On July 1, the Senate began its inquiry into the reported P2 billion suspicious claims of hospitals and clinics accredited by PhilHealth, many of them for cataract removal procedures. /MP

Upper photo shows

Upper photo shows Aklan Gov. Florencio T. Miraflores discussing Aklan’s Investment Situation and Portfolio among the participants (lower photo) to the Aklan Investment Forum. The Forum was held on July 17, 2015 at Kalibo, Aklan with the theme “Sustaining Aklan’s Economic Growth Momentum”.

“TO THE TOP” PREMIERES JULY 18 ON GMA7

“TO THE TOP” PREMIERES JULY 18 ON GMA7

Gear up for a new and exciting musical competition as GMA Network launches on television its first-ever multi-platform boy band search –TO THE TOP.

Produced by GMA Public Affairs and set to air on July 18, TO THE TOP is a twice-a-week reality-based, talent development program featuring 18 young and gifted male vocals who are all vying to be part of the Kapuso Network’s newest boy band.

Helping the program achieve this are some of the country’s top music icons led by no less than Maestro Ryan Cayab-yab serving as the competition’s main judge.

Joining The Maestro in this project are vocal coaches Moy Ortiz, Sweet Plantado and OJ Mariano of the Philippines’ premier vocal ensemble The CompanY; dance coaches and 2-time World Hip Hop Champions Philippine Allstars alumni Madelle and Prince Paltu-ob, as well as international breakdancing champion Jesse “Reflex” Gotangco; and the Sound Squad of musical arrangers and sound engineers led by Jonathan Ong and his team from Sonic State Audio -- Chino David, Chrisanthony Vinzons and Brian Lotho.

Also lending his expertise in the early part of the competition is celebrity ace photographer Mark Nicdao.

Unlike other reality programs which held open auditions, TO THE TOP scoured the country and invited the best male vocals from different schools and organizations to join the auditions.

From their auditions to determining the finalists, TO THE TOP documents the journey of these young men from being solo artists or being members of their respective singing groups to ultimately becoming part of the country’s newest boy band.

All these experiences were seen by the public when GMA made the competition initially available online via www.gmanetwork.com/tothetop.  Serving as host of the program’s webisodes is Kapuso homegrown artist Julian Trono, who recently underwent intensive training under the Kpop system.

 After a series of rigorous auditions, the program announced its 25 finalists, which were later trimmed down to 14. Adding a twist to the competition, netizens were then asked to vote for their favorites who were earlier eliminated in the series to become the competition’s wildcards.  Thus, a total of 18 finalists will now work their way to the top.

The 18 TO THE TOP artists are AJ Ajrouche, Lance Busa, Ken Carpena, Mico Cruz, Cholo dela Cruz, Martin de Vera, Luis Gragera, Joshua Jacobe, MJ Magno, Miko Manguba, Seph Manlapaz, Bryan Olano, JP Palanca, Adrian Pascual, Louie Pedroso, Lharby Policarpio, Edric Ulang and Chris Yumang.

Throughout the season, the artists – who will be divided into three groups – will be housed together and will undergo more intensive vocal and dance trainings for their upcoming performances and evaluations.

Who among them will make it TO THE TOP? Find out as the showdowns begin this July 18, 7:30pm on GMA Network’s TO THE TOP. /MP

The Origin Of Kalibo Food Festival Sa Kalye

The Origin Of Kalibo Food Festival Sa Kalye

Many Kalibonhons are asking the question: Who conceptualized the Kalibo Food Festival Sa Kalye (KFFK)?

Last June 18 to 23, 2015, the Tourism event: KFFK was held at the Magsaysay Park to mark its 20th year. It was one of the highlights in the celebration of the Feast of Saint John the Baptist, Patron Saint of Kalibo.

KFFK started when the Department of Tourism  Region VI thru its head, Mr. Edwin Trompeta issued a directive to form Tourism Councils in all the local government units in the region. Trompeta came to Kalibo to organize the Kalibo Ati-Atihan Tourism Council. Mrs. Lester A. Templonuevo invited the owners/managers of tourism establishments in Kalibo such as hotels, inns, restaurants, and souvenir shops for an organizational meeting at the Kalibo Session Hall during the 1st Quarter of 1966. Those present in the meeting agreed to organize KATC. An election of officers was held. Mr. Ramon M. Quimpo, Jr. was elected as its first President during the term of former Mayor Diego M. Luces.

The Department of Tourism head explained the objectives, responsibilities and powers of KATC. However, Trompeta mentioned that the DOT is not mandated to give financial support to KATC. He said, Kalibo Tourism Office will provide secretarial, office supplies, and technical advices to the KATC. He further explained that the government and the private business organizations are partners in the tourism development in the region. Faced with the lack of financial resources and the difficulty of starting an NGO, President Elect Jun Quimpo presented plan to raise funds for projects and programs regarding the tourism sector in Kalibo.  Those present approved Quimpo’s proposal.

He called the officers, members and staff of Kalibo Tourism Office to a meeting to approve a fund raising project entitled 1st Food Festival Sa Kalye. It was approved and held at S. Martelino Street at the back of the Grandstand, Pastrana Park on the third week of June 1996. It was one highlight in the celebration of the Feast of Saint John which was very successful. The KATC made a big net profit from that event.

Remembering the advice of the former Sr. Board Member, Dr. Ramon Salazar Quimpo, Sr. “indi magpanakaw or magkurakot”, Jun Quimpo and his treasurer deposited the amount of money in a bank in Kalibo. However, the KFFK was transferred to Kalibo Magsaysay Park due to Typhoon Frank and the traffic problem in the area. Hence, the present name is Kalibo Food Festival Sa Kalye. /MP

Sugilanon Ni Tita Linda Ni Tita Linda Belayro

Ro Ambisyosong Agak

Suno sa dating Governador it Aklan, Carlito S. Marquez “Owa it ginaga-id sa kapobrihan.” Rondaya rong ginbilin man sa mga isiw ko anang lolong agak nga mabuhay eon nga gin sumsuman.

Si Nor Manok hay nagbahoe sa kalisud kaibahan ko ibang mga manok.Tag bata pa imaw hay handum nana rong maeomo nga pag pangabuhi agod maka hilway sa kapigaduhan nga anang ginbugtawan. Maskin ngani abong kueang sa andang pagpangabuhi, malipayon ro mga manok. Kun amat hay nagatipon-tipon sanda ag magkinanta. Ro mga isiw hay naga sina-ut agod mabuhinan rong kaga-oy sa bilog nga adlaw it pag kinahig it pagka-on.

Apang bukon it rayang klaseng pagpangabuhi ro bo-ot ni Nor Manok. Handum nana ro maka istar sa syudad, makasamit it manamit nga pagkaon, ag makapahuway-huway sa mabahoe nga baeay. Mata-as guid rong handum ni Nor Manok. Ag sa owa guina paabuta, nakakut-kot imaw it bueawan ag brilyante sa anang pagkinahig. Nangin mato-od ro anang damgo. Nakabakae imaw it mabahoe nga baeay sa syudad. Nagpangabuhi imaw it mingko hari.

“Sadya-an gali ro pagpangabuhi it parang hari. Matsa naga pungko ka sa panganod. Nag iba man ro anang pamatasan. Owa eon imaw naga iba sa mga dating kaibahan nga manok. Nauyon eon imaw sa pangabuhi sa syudad. Ro mga dating kaibahan nga naga dangup kana agud magpangayo it bulig hay guina katak-an eon nana, busa naga uli eon lang nga masubo.

Ogaling rong tanan hay may katapusan. Umabot rong bagyo sa anang kabuhi. Isaeang ka hilong rong nagpilak ko anang upos it sigarilyo ag tumugpa sa nakatagong gasolina. Golpe nga nag ugwad ro kaeayo. Nasunog rong mga baeay ag haabot rong baeay ni Nor Manok. Pagka-aga, abo eon tana rong baeay ni Nor Manok. Uwa guid it habilin. Ro masakit pa, owa guid it nag bulig ko anang mga amigo sa syudad. Napilitan nga magbalik si Nor Manok sa lugar nga anang guin halinan. Nangayo imaw it patawad kanda eabi gid sa mga nagdangup kana nga owa nana pag buligi. Bangod puro mabuot man rong tanan nga manok, guinbaton imaw. Naghiwat it kasadyahon ro anang mga kaibahan. Bugana rong handa.May nagkanta ag rong iba hay nagsinaut. Malipayon rong tanan, apang mas malipayon sa tanan si Nor Manok. /MP

SENATE TO SCRUTINIZE P3-T 2016 BUDGET PROPOSAL

SENATE TO SCRUTINIZE P3-T 2016 BUDGET PROPOSAL

Senator Chiz Escudero said the Senate will scrutinize the details of the proposed P3.002-trillion national budget for 2016 – the final spending program under the Aquino administration – and ensure that lawmakers pass a reasonable and responsible budget on time.

More importantly, Escudero said, the Senate will review the administration’s proposed spending package thoroughly to address the problem of underspending, which has been interfering with the economy’s ability to reach its full potential in recent years.

“This is the administration’s last hurrah against underspending. We’ll be asking them how they can win in the final round,” said Escudero, who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance.

He added: “Nagkukumahog ang Congress na ipasa ito ng madalian pero pagdating sa implementation bumabagal naman dahil sa dami ng spending humps. It is useless to appropriate huge sums on time when these are spent slowly.”

In explaining the budget process, Escudero likened Congress’ role to the kitchen that prepares the food and the Executive branch, the waiters. “The problem is that the food is being served slow. Ang dami tuloy putahe na napapanis. The customers are hungry. And we, the cooks, are frustrated.”

According to Escudero, it is not good for the government to underspend because it deprives citizens of essential public goods and services they rightly deserve such as improved education, better health care, and more roads and bridges.

The budget, he said, “is the government’s contract with the people that the taxes they had paid promptly will be returned to them through the budget in a very prompt manner also.”

Because of this, Escudero said the review of next year’s spending proposal “will not just dwell on the future spending but on how current projects are being implemented.”

He said the problem of underspending was largely due to the low absorptive capacity of state agencies.

“Isang maaring itanong sa mga agencies ay baka naman you’re asking more than you can chew. I think that’s one of the reasons for the budgetary indigestion. Ordering more or being given more than what it can process. Mahina ang absorptive capacity,“ Escudero said.

Escudero issued the call placing underspending the focus of the upcoming budget review after President Aquino approved a P3.002-trillion budget proposal for 2016, up 15 percent from this year’s P2.603 trillion.

Below-program-spending has hounded the administration’s budget execution in the past five years. The national government spent P504.05 billion during the period ending March, which was P78.1 billion, or 13 percent short of the P582.2 billion target. Last year, underspending was pegged at P303 billion, or 13 percent of the appropriations for 2104. In 2011, the expenditure program was set at P1.711 trillion, but actual spending was P1.557 billion, or an underspending of P154 billion.

Underspending also tapered down to P62 billion based on actual disbursements of P1.778 trillion in 2012. The budget that year was P1.84 trillion.

Out of the P1.984 trillion budget in 2013, only P1.88 trillion was utilized, resulting in underspending of P104 billion.

In 2014, among the unreleased appropriations were the P2.2 billion intended for the Department of Education; P26.3 billion for the Department of Public Works and Highways; P2.6 billion for the Department of Agriculture; P5.8 billion for the Department of Agrarian Reform; and P 1.9 billion for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Escudero said he will propose schemes that will speed up disbursement.

“This should begin by itemizing lump sums. Doon kasi tumatagal sa pag-identify ng projects sa mga pondong binibigay in bulk. But if it’s detailed and broken down right from get-go, wala ng delays sa pag-flesh out ng mga ito,” he said.

“The proposal to limit the validity of appropriations to one year should likewise be revisited. The ‘if you don’t use it, you lose it’ rule will discourage slow implementation. Dapat may mas maikling expiry date kasi kung mahaba sasabihin ng ahensya ‘saka na, may bukas pa,”’ he said. /MP

PRC Mission: Save Lives and Instill Hope by Ernesto T. Solidum

PRC Mission: Save Lives and Instill Hope

“Thank you for Saving my Life” is this year’s theme of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) celebration of World Blood Donors’ Month. Kapihan guests on July 11, 2015 at NVC Carmen Hotel are: Dr. Cynthia C. de la Cruz, PRC Chairman, Blood Services, Mr. Arif Grey G. Ruiz, Project Staff and Ms. Melanie R. Rojo, Service Representative, Blood Bank.

Dr. de la Cruz cited vital heed of blood donation and adequate blood reserve for contingencies that precious lives may be saved. In 2014, Aklan’s total blood units collected was 4, 650. This year, we are targeting 5,500 units corresponding to one percent of the total population of Aklan. The impact of climate change has resulted to catastrophic weather aberration such as typhoons, floods, landslides, storm surges and drought.

“We are optimistic that with the help of municipal mayors and civic organizations, our goal could be met”, said the lady physician. From January to June 2015, we have practically achieved half of our target with 2, 466 units.

Since no one knows the occurrence of disasters or emergencies it is wise to have blood kept in reserved for future personal use or for our love ones. Qualified donors need to register and be examined by a physician. He or she must be in good health, 16-65 years of age, 55 kgms, normal blood pressure, and has no alcohol, fatty foods or medicine intake for the last 24 hours. Regular blood donations could be safely done every three months.

About 350-450 CC blood may be extracted, classified into blood type and hemoglobin content. Disqualified to donate blood are those infected with hepa B or C, syphilis, malaria and HIV. Rigid screenings are done by health authorities to protect integrity and accuracy associated with blood extraction and transfusion.

Ms. Rojo clarified that blood units dispensed by PRC is free. However, processing fee of P1,800 per blood unit is collected to defray cost of chemical reagents. In order to maintain healthy balance of reserved stock, we require interested parties to bring in their walking blood donors, Rojo added.

PRC services to the community include housing, health, education, livelihoods and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management. Mr. Ruiz averred that 1, 355 core shelter units were completed and handed over to beneficiaries of victims of super typhoon Yolanda. Another 750 units are in various stages of completion in target municipalities of New Washington, Banga, Madalag, Numancia, Balete and Lezo. Build better is the concept behind core shelter program of PRC. This includes better design and use of indigenous materials as wood, bamboo and concrete hollow blocks. Cost per core shelter is P80, 000.

Partially damaged houses were fully rehabilitated with 6,900 units located in eight (8) municipalities. Recipients received P10, 000 cash plus 10 pcs. GI corrugate sheets.

New Washington is the lone municipality where its school building in the Poblacion was completely rehabilitated. School supplies such as notebooks, pencils, and pad paper were provided to pupils.

Some 11 units of barangay health centers will be constructed in Madalag, Balete, and New Washington.This would enable people from remote areas to avail of medical services.

PRC has an on-going program called Red Cross 143 where volunteers at barangay level undergo basic training on first aid, and disaster risk reduction/preparedness. These capability training program provide timely manpower support to reduce casualties.

Ms. Rojo said that although Aklan SP has passed a resolution to establish and operate a Blood Bank at DRSTMH, the plan has not materialized because of budgetary constraint. Machine separator to process blood into plasma, platelets, and others cost millions of pesos and nine (9) medical technologists will be needed.

While PRC is far ahead of other aid agencies in responding to the needs of victims of typhoon Yolanda particularly in its core shelter program, it makes people think that there is partiality or discrimination in selecting beneficiaries. This is false.

Per advice of international donor countries, PRC will terminate its core shelter program either August or September. It has been almost two years since Yolanda struck and the whole Filipino nation gratefully acknowledged international humanitarian assistance and support. /MP

PH’s SNUB OF BILATERAL TALKS OFFER WILL MAKE CHINA TAKE HARDER STANCE ON WEST PHILIPPINE SEA

PH’s SNUB OF BILATERAL TALKS OFFER WILL MAKE CHINA TAKE HARDER STANCE ON WEST PHILIPPINE SEA

THE Philippine government’s rejection of bilateral talks with China will force the superpower to take a more hardline position in the West Philippine Sea dispute.

This was the reaction of Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.  to the government’s rejection of China’s proposal for the two countries to hold bilateral talks to resolve the maritime row.

“China opened the door and we shut it. The Chinese said let’s talk and we snubbed them. It’s like the Philippine government itself is encouraging China to take and maintain an unbending stance on the issue,” Marcos said.

Speaking at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay media forum, Marcos stressed that the Philippines is not going to lose anything by accepting the Chinese invitation to a dialogue on the West Philippine Sea dispute.

“So talk, and tell them: we are not happy with what you are doing and we do not agree with what you are doing. But the next thing you say is: how do we fix this?” said Marcos, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

Marcos has called on the government to agree to or initiate bilateral talks with China when it aggressively started erecting structures in areas the Philippines is claiming as either parts of its sovereign territory or within its 200 nautical (370 km) mile exclusive economic zone.

Marcos pointed out, there are three ways to resolve the dispute: by war, adjudication, or multilateral/bilateral agreements.

“We do not want war. Arbitration is not going to be recognized by the Chinese. So it has to be negotiations,” Marcos said.

In pushing for negotiations, he cited the so-called “Cod Wars”, the dispute over rich fishing grounds between the United Kingdom and Spain in the early 80s. At the height of the tension, war ships even rammed fishing boats.

“In the end, what did they do? They came to a bilateral agreement to share and now they are working on that basis,” Marcos said.

Marcos also reiterated his suggestion that the government adopts the strategy of back-channel diplomacy and persuaded Filipino nationals to talk with their friends and connections in China on ways to resolve the disputes.

“We should talk to China bilaterally because it is still the best option. Our Filipino businessmen can also help by reaching out to their Chinese counterparts and friends in China to come up with a solution that will persuade both governments to, at least, sit down and negotiate, or at most, resolve the problem outright,” he said.

Marcos said rejecting China’s offer to hold bilateral talks with the Philippines is limiting the government’s strategic options to stop China from antagonizing not only the Philippines, but all the other claimant-countries in the West Philippine Sea.

“We should not be snobbish. I can’t see any reason at all why we are not talking to China. On the contrary, there are more than enough reasons why we should talk to China,” he said.

He acknowledged that with China’s own geo-political interests and its concern over the presence of the Americans in the area, bilateral talks between Manila and Beijing “is not going to be easy.”

“We’re strategically important to any great power in Asia-Pacific, but we have to play that role even-handedly. We have to stop thinking in terms of kakampi ko ang Chinese, kakampi ko ang Kano. Ang kakampi mo lang Pilipino,” Marcos said.

“What is the national interest, what is good for the Philippines, that’s all that we have to be thinking about,” he added. /MP

Marcos On High And Erratic Prices

Marcos On High And Erratic Prices

SENATOR Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. said the government should take concrete steps to solve the chronic problem of high commodity prices.

Marcos, member of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs, said that parallel to keeping the prices of consumer goods at affordable levels, the government should also address the frequent up-and-down movement of prices.

“It is very clear that we need to address the problem of rapid changes in prime commodity process side by side with our efforts to keep the cost of products at an affordable level,” he said.

This way, he said, the consumers will be protected by a system that is applicable and reliable at all times, especially during an economic crisis.

Marcos reminded the government to come up with a remedy to unstable prices as he warned of an impending upward price movement caused by scarce market supplies during the rainy season.

“We should expect that supplies of agricultural products will not be sufficient because deliveries will be delayed by rains. Also, crops are being destroyed by typhoons even before harvest. In both cases, the supply is scarce, which pushes up the prices,” he said.

He said the government should come up with a system that will stabilize prices and control their movement.

“I think we need to institutionalize a system to slow down the rapid increase or changes in prices. We need to stabilize the prices, which is equally important as maintaining them at a low level,” Marcos stressed. /MP

Jennylyn Mercado andDennis Trillo Reunite In My Faithful Husband

Jennylyn Mercado and Dennis Trillo 

Reunite In My Faithful Husband

This August, award-winning artists – Kapuso leading lady Jennylyn Mercado and drama king Dennis Trillo return to primetime TV and reunite in GMA Network’s upcoming series My Faithful Husband. The series will showcase the undeniable on-screen chemistry of Jennylyn and Dennis as they play the roles of Mel and Emman.

Emman (Dennis) is a devoted and doting husband to Mel and father to their children. He is willing to do anything for his family. Meanwhile, Mel (Jennylyn) is a kind, loving, hardworking and ambitious woman. She is married to Emman but after seeing her former boyfriend again, she suddenly gets confused about her feelings.

Both Jennylyn and Dennis are excited to work together again and assure their fans and viewers that they will love the intriguing and interesting story of My Faithful Husband.

“Sana magustuhan niyo kasi maganda yung istorya nito. Kakaiba siya sa mga dati naming ginawa kaya interesting. Excited akong maka-trabaho siya [Dennis] kasi matagal din kaming hindi nagkasama. Titingnan ko kung paano ang magiging atake namin sa bawat eksena pero I think, comfortable na naman kami sa isa’t isa,” says Jennylyn.

“Maganda tong show na gagawin namin. Maganda yung kwento niya, magaling yung mga kasama naming artista, at magaling yung director. At saka pinaghandaan talaga namin ng husto para buuin tong show namin,” shares Dennis.

My Faithful Husband also stars Mikael Daez, Louise delos Reyes, Kevin Santos, Jade Lopez, Gerald Napoles, Aaron Yanga, Rexy Evert, Timmy Cruz, Snooky Serna, Noni Buencamino and Rio Locsin.

My Faithful Husband, created by the GMA Drama group, is supervised by the Executive-in-Charge of Production Lilybeth G. Rasonable; VP for Drama Redgie A. Magno; AVP for Drama Cheryl Ching-Sy; Program Manager Helen Rose S. Sese; and Executive Producer Rebya Upalda.

Under the helm of Bb. Joyce Bernal, with the help of creative director Roy Iglesias, creative consultant RJ Nuevas, and head writer Suzette Doctolero, My Faithful Husband is set to premiere this August on GMA Telebabad. /MP

INQUIRY ON HELICOPTER PROCUREMENT

INQUIRY ON HELICOPTER PROCUREMENT

Senator Teofisto “TG” Guingona III, chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, and Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito viewing the slide presentation of Robert Rice, Jr., president of Rice Aircraft Services, Inc. (RASI), during a Senate inquiry into allegations that officials of the Department of National Defense favored a supplier to bag a procurement deal for 21 refurbished UH-1 helicopters. RASI was the winning bidder for the supply of 21 refurbished UH-1 helicopters amounting to P1.2 billion.

“The selection of suppliers must be guided by and based on a process and set rules and not on the whims of individuals who bend the rules and corrupt the process to favor a supplier,” Guingona said. (Cesar Tomambo photo)

Editorial

FARMERS DESERVE 

HIGHER/DECENT LIVING WAGES

Senator Chiz Escudero is asking the government to come up with concrete measures to address the plight of the country’s impoverished farmers, who play a crucial role in achieving food security and self-sufficiency.

Escudero said the government should begin with ensuring decent wages to close to 12 million farm workers, comprising almost one-third of the country’s entire labor force.

“Measures must be drawn up to ensure decent wages to farm workers and improve their status in society,” Escudero said. “This is the best way to make our country’s economic growth inclusive because it will target the most impoverished sector in our society.”

Escudero noted that a significant proportion of farm workers in the country live just at or below the poverty line.

“In order to ensure the sustainability of the agriculture sector and food security, it becomes imperative for the government to safeguard the interest of farmers by assuring them decent levels of income and sustainable livelihoods,” he added.

 Escudero underscored the need to provide farmers with better infrastructure and access to funding programs that would enable them to produce food as efficiently as possible and feed the country’s rapidly expanding population.

The senator issued the statement after Budget Secretary Florencio Abad admitted that not being able to implement a wage increase for local farmers was the country’s biggest missed opportunity under the Aquino administration.

Latest figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority show that the agriculture sector employed 11.84 million individuals in 2013, representing 31 percent of the national employment.

In the first half of 2013, the daily nominal wage rates were P256.52 for palay farm workers and P206.04 for corn farm workers.

Escudero said the dire conditions of Filipino farmers merely highlight the sorry state of the country’s agricultural sector.

“It’s sad to say but agriculture remains to be a poor man’s sector. Despite being a huge asset to national development, agriculture has been the most neglected and least understood sector of the nation’s economy,” Escudero lamented.

Escudero was confident that helping farmers improve their living condition standards would eventually result in increased production of locally grown staple and steady supply of agricultural products.

Search For Adulterated Rice Importer

On the other hand, Senator Escudero is urging the National Food Authority (NFA) to look into its list of private companies to whom it has issued permits to import rice following reports that “fake rice” is circulating in Davao.

As per Presidential Decree 4 and Republic Act 8178 or the Agricultural Tariffication Act, the NFA is the only government entity allowed to import rice. Private importers who wish to bring in rice are required to get their permits from the NFA.

“The NFA holds the key to uncovering the source of this adulterated rice. It should look into the records of the companies to whom it has issued permits and immediately ban from importing those behind this scheme,” Escudero said. 

“The volume of imported rice in the Philippine has been increasing steadily over the years. In 2014, the government increased the volume of rice that can enter the country at a reduced tariff of 35 percent from 350,000 MT to 805,000 MT.

Most of the rice imports enter through Manila’s ports but a small number of importers bring in their goods via Davao, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental.

“If there is fake rice in Davao, who’s to say fake rice won’t reach the markets of Metro Manila and other cities?” Escudero said.“The poor are especially vulnerable because they are the ones who are always looking for cheap buys. We must do our best, collectively, to get to the bottom of this problem. We have to protect Filipino families,” Escudero said.

 He said the emergence of adulterated rice should be a wakeup call for the government to strengthen its fight against smugglers as goods like “synthetic rice” likely come from illegal importers.

“The Bureau of Customs should really do a better job of running after smugglers. It’s not enough that they auction off smuggled goods,” the senator said.

Synthetic rice, which supposedly contains plastic resin, has been bought by consumers from barangays Mintal, Buhangin and Cabiantan in Davao City, as well as Sta. Cruz town, Davao del Sur. /MP

DA 6 Provides Bacolod City Small Scale Composting Facility by James Earl E. Ogatis

DA 6 Provides Bacolod City 

Small Scale Composting Facility

Picture shows Sen. Cynthia A. Villar (center) cutting the ribbon during the turn-over of small scale composting facilities to the local government of Bacolod City, in front of the City Hall last June 16, 2015. From left are Atty. Bacolod City Administrator Atty. Valencia, Councilor Kalaw Puentevella, DA-Reg’l. Technical Director Joyce S. Wendam, Ms. Patching Puentevella, DA 6 Acting-Reg’l. Executive Director Roy M. Abaya and Councilor Gamboa. (JEEOgatis photo)

In order to intensify the production of organic fertilizer, the Department of Agriculture, RFO 6 has provided a P400,000 worth of Small Scale Composting (SSC) facilities to the City of Bacolod, Negros Occidental.

The turn-over of the equipment composed of one unit Hammer Mill, one unit Rotary Composter and one unit Squeezer was led by Senator Cynthia A. Villar, Chairperson  of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food .

Senator Villar stressed that the DA is mandated to provide small scale composting facilities among major cities in the country to make use of the available market waste within the area for organic fertilizer.

She said that these facilities will make use of volumes of coconut husk, vegetable leftovers and other biodegradable materials collected from the wet markets.

Villar encouraged all LGUs to produce their own organic fertilizer out of market/kitchen wastes and produce their own organic vegetables and products.

Atty. Hermilo O. Paoyon, OIC-City Agriculturist of Bacolod City said that the SSC will be utilized at the material recovery facility (MRF) of Bacolod City wherein there is a two hectare techno-demo on vegetable production.

He said, the three major markets of Libertad, Burgos and Central will supply the needed raw materials for the SSC. The utilization of the SSC will serve as motivation for the workers in the techno-demo area and additional livelihood among them.

The SSC ensures the commitment of the DA to intensify the production of organic fertilizer, helps mitigate climate change and provides additional livelihood among urban poor through adoption and practice of container gardening among households./MP

DA 6 Awards 2015 Gulayan sa Paaralan Winners by James Earl E. Ogatis

DA 6 Awards 2015 

Gulayan sa Paaralan Winners

Photo above shows Regional Winners in the Search for Best School Garden who are from (left-right) Regional Focal Person on GPP Felicitas Neturada, Solyma dela Cruz (Principal of Paglaum Village Elementary School, Bacolod City - Open Field Category),  Dr. Gracia D. Malazarte (Principal of Bo. Elementary School, Lapuz, Iloilo City- Container Gardening Category), Dr. Larry Castillo (Principal III of Malonoy National High School, Dao, Capiz- Open Field Category), Marionette Quiret (Master Teacher I of Doña Monserat Lopez Memorial High School, Silay City - Container Gardening Category), DA Research Division Chief Dr. Peter S. Sobrevega, and Department of Education Regional Nutritionist Dietician Melgazar Barboza.  

The Department of Agriculture 6 awarded four participating schools for the recently concluded Search for 2015 Best Gulayan sa Paaralan Program (GPP) in Western Visayas last July 8, 2015 at Eon Centennial Hotel.

Awarded are Paglaum Village Elementary School of Bacolod City, Negros Occidental and Malonoy National High School of Dao, Capiz for the open category. Bo. Obrero Elementary School of Bo. Obrero, Iloilo City and Doña Monserat Lopez Memorial High School of Silay City, Negros Occidental are awarded for the container gardening category.

The winners are each given 30 trowels, two nursery bench, four spade, one wheel borrow, one unit garden hose, plastic net and one unit knapsack sprayer to further enhance their gulayan activities this school year.

Dir. Manuel O. Olanday, Regional Technical Director for Operations said that GPP intensifies the production of vegetables inside the school campus and provides nutritious foods among school children.

Olanday stressed that the provision of vegetable seeds, trainings, garden tools and organic fertilizer were given to start up interventions for each participating schools.

He encouraged all school principals, LGU-GPP focal persons and GPP coordinators to plant and develop household gardens in order to produce veggies right in their footsteps.

“In this way, you can pick okra, camote tops, tomatoes, saluyot and many others for free and you can be sure it is safe, fresh and nutritious.” Olanday stressed.

Felicitas M. Neturada the GPP regional coordinator said that the evaluating team from the DA, DepEd and LGU has hard time in determining the winners from the 12 schools endorsed by the six provinces.

She said that evaluation of the GPP participating schools were done as early as September of 2014 until February of 2015.

The evaluation team found the winners really adhered to the objectives of GPP which is to raise the level of public consciousness of the health and nutritional dimensions, as well as the economic benefits of establishing school and community vegetable gardens, to utilize organic gardening technologies to produce selected varieties of vegetables that will provide protein, energy, Vitamin A and iron. Vegetable products are used for the feeding program among school children while some will be sold to generate income to buy other nutritional needs.

The GPP started in June 2011 with 519 participating schools. It covered a total of 1,008 schools this SY 2015-2016. /MP

Comelec OPTS For Manual Voting In 2016

Comelec OPTS For Manual Voting In 2016

Senator Chiz Escudero warned that the Commission on Elections is treading on dangerous ground with its proposal to use a “hybrid” or virtually manual system of elections next year. Comelec OPTS for manual voting in 2016 national elections.

Escudero said that reverting to manual voting system in 2016 would be a step backward to a process marred by rampant cheating and other fraudulent election practices in the past.

“It’s a step backward after having fully automated elections previously. Returning to manual elections is a cause for serious concern due to its dangerous implications on the country’s electoral process,” Escudero said.

Escudero said the proposal to conduct combined manual voting and automated counting of votes in the 2016 polls would not only defeat the purpose of computerizing the elections, but could also pave the way for wide-scale electoral cheating similar to what happened during the 2004 presidential elections.

“We cannot afford to have another ‘Hello Garci’ scandal, which may qualify as the worst electoral fraud in the country’s history,” Escudero said. "We must, at all times, protect the democratic process of elections."

“Hello Garci” refers to the wiretapped conversation between then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Elections Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano during the canvassing of presidential votes in 2004.

In that phone conversation, Arroyo was supposedly asking “Garci” to make sure she would lead by one million votes over her closest rival, the late actor Fernando Poe Jr.

Escudero, who was then representative of Sorsogon province in Congress, stood as Poe’s campaign spokesperson. /MP