Senate Passes Fair Competition Act

Senate Passes Fair 

Competition Act

The Senate on December 15 passed on third and final reading a measure which aims to shield small business owners and consumers from companies engaged in unfair business practices which lead to increase in prices of basic goods and services.

Senate Bill No. 2282, otherwise known as the Fair Competition Act of 2014, was introduced by Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, chair of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

“A fair competition policy will level the playing field for Filipino businesses and allow more Filipinos to exercise their entrepreneurial spirit,” Aquino said.

The measure works hand-in-hand with the recently enacted Go Negosyo Act (Republic Act 10644) which he also authored. He said SBN 2282 will allow more Filipinos to make a living “out of their own businesses,” which, in turn, will generate more employment and strengthen the purchasing power of more Filipinos, Aquino pointed out.

“The bill puts in place measures that will protect the welfare of businesses and protect honest, hard-working entrepreneurs against abuse of dominance and position, and other unfair practices that put both Filipino businesses and their consumers at risk,” Aquino added.

According to Senate President Franklin M. Drilon, “having a competition law will lead to lower prices, higher quality of products and services, and more choices for consumers, as fostering a competitive economic environment spurs market efficiency and innovation.” 

“The Fair Competition Act contributes to Congress’ goal of passing a package of priority economic measures to improve the Philippine business climate, boost investment and ensure macroeconomic and fiscal sustainability to prepare the country for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015,” Drilon added. 

He noted that “the Philippines remains the only member of the ASEAN-5 countries (which includes Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand) where a competition law is not in place.”

Acts considered as unfair competition include, among others, any competitive agreement between competitors; setting, limiting, or controlling the production of goods and services to the detriment of consumers; the application of contradictory conditions to equivalent transactions with other parties, and price fixing. 

To accomplish its goals, the bill mandates the establishment of a Fair Competition Commission which will ensure that industrial concentration would not limit economic power to a few. 

Tasked to promote competition, ensure consumer welfare, and penalize abuses of market power, the Commission is also mandated to prohibit anti-competitive agreements and abuses of dominant position that distort, manipulate, or constrict the operation of markets in the Philippines through constant monitoring of business practices being implemented by market leaders.

The proposed measure states that those found engaged in unfair competition will face a fine ranging from P50 million to P200 million. 

Any competitive agreement between competitors shall be penalized by imprisonment from two to five years, or fined an amount not less than P100 million but not more than P200 million or both, with “the  penalty of imprisonment being imposed upon the officers and directors of the entity.”  

“We believe that the Fair Competition Act is all at once pro-poor, pro-people, and pro-business. It safeguards the welfare of businesses, large and small, and protects honest, hardworking entrepreneurs,” Aquino said.

The measure was approved on third reading after the inclusion of an amendment by Acting Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto, which further empowers the proposed Commission to consider whether market entities selling their products below cost “are doing so in good faith to meet or compete with the lower price of a competitor.” 

Senators Serge Osmeña III, Teofisto “TG” Guingona III, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada and Antonio Trillanes IV are co-authors of SBNN 2282. /MP

NGCP Prepares For Typhoon Ruby

NGCP Prepares For Typhoon Ruby

NGCP has implemented the necessary preparations and precautions to minimize the impact of Typhoon Ruby on transmission operations and facilities.

Preparations included ensuring the reliability of communications equipment, availability of hardware materials, standby generators, vehicles, SCADA spares and supplies necessary for the repair of damage to facilities, as well as the positioning of line crews and helicopters in strategic areas, to facilitate immediate restoration work. Double shifting of Regional Control Center (RCC), Area Control Center (ACC), and substation personnel has been implemented.

NGCP also deferred all scheduled maintenance activities on facilities within the expected path of the typhoon. The grid operator also continues to coordinate with power plants, substations, and customers to balance system load and voltage and with LGUs, AFP, and PNP to access and clear right-of-way areas.

NGCP’s Integrated Disaster Action Plan (IDAP) prescribes these and other procedures to ensure the readiness of all power transmission facilities expected to be affected by the passage of the weather disturbance.

Typhoon Ruby, carrying maximum sustained winds of 195kph and moving west northwest at 20kph speed, is estimated to make landfall over Eastern Samar on December 6.

NGCP’s Overall Disaster Command Center monitors all power restoration activities, reports, and updates from the Regional Command Centers in North Luzon, South Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, whichever is directly affected by the weather disturbance. /MP

Senate commends Miss Earth 2014

Senate commends Miss Earth 2014

The Senate will adopt on December 9 a resolution congratulating Jamie Herrell for winning the Miss Earth 2014 competition on November 29, 2014 at the University of the Philippines Theater in Diliman, Quezon City.

Senate Resolution No. 1039, authored by Senator Lito Lapid, recognizes the achievement of Herrell when she won the prestigious title against 83 other candidates from all over the world.

“Nineteen-year old Miss Earth Philippines 2013 title holder Jamie Herrell made the country proud when she won the prestigious Miss Earth crown on November 29, 2014,” the resolution stated.

The Cebuana beauty is the second Filipina to bag the Miss Earth title after Karla Henry, also a Cebuana, who won in 2008.

Aside from the Miss Earth title, Herrell also took home three special awards namely Miss Earth Hannah’s Beach Resort, Best in Swimsuit and Sun for Miss Earth.

The Miss Earth competition was first organized in 2001 to promote environmental awareness and the preservation of the earth.

“By being crowned this years’ most beautiful woman in the planet, Jamie Herrell gave Filipinos unparalleled pride and showed the world the grace and excellence of Filipino beauty,” the resolution said. /MP

Senate Commends National Artist F. Sionil Jose

Senate Commends National 

Artist F. Sionil Jose

The Senate on December 9 will adopt Senate Resolution No. 1045, commending National Artist Francisco Sionil Jose for his distinguished contribution to literature and journalism.

Senate Resolution No. 1045, introduced by Sen. Loren Legarda, recognizes Sionil Jose’s “artistic and literary genius, and his perseverance to instill national pride through the arts.”

Born in Rosales, Pangasinan on December 3, 1924, Sionil Jose is considered as one of the country’s most prominent writers in the English language, his works having been translated to twenty-two languages, including Czech, Indonesian, French, Korean, Russian, Latvian and Dutch.

He has received numerous accolades, including the Ramon Magsaysay Award, the Pablo Neruda Award, Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres, and the Carlos Palanca Memorial Award for literature, among others.

He was bestowed the title of National Artist of the Philippines for Literature in 2001.

“He has been an inspiration to several generations of writers and journalists through his essays, his role as a publisher, his lectures, his iconic bookshop, Solidaridad, and his founding of the Philippine chapter of the PEN, an international organization of poets, writers and novelists,” the Resolution said. /MP

Gov’t Allocates P11.2-M For President Aquino’s Visit To Busan

Gov’t Allocates P11.2-M For 

President Aquino’s Visit To Busan

The government has earmarked P11.2 million for President Benigno S. Aquino III’s visit to Busan for the 25th Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Republic of Korea (ASEAN-ROK) Commemorative Summit next week from December 11 to 12, Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. reported.

President Aquino will leave on December 11 via a chartered flight to Busan, to be accompanied by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo, Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Press Secretary Herminio Coloma, Presidential Management Staff Chief Julia Andrea Abad and Presidential Protocol Chief Celia Anna Feria.

The amount covers expenses for transportation, accommodation, food, equipment and other requirements of the Chief Executive and his 48-member delegation.

“President Aquino’s attendance to the 25th ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit is an occasion to fortify our country’s relationship with South Korea in various areas of cooperation such as trade and investment, development, labor and migration, tourism, among others,” Ochoa said.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, President Aquino is scheduled to deliver his country-statement on this year’s summit theme, “Building Trust, Bringing Happiness,” and hold a bilateral meeting with South Korean President Park Geun-hye, who will host a welcome dinner and cultural performance to officially welcome the ASEAN leaders.

Initially, the ROK was a sectoral dialogue partner of the ASEAN and became a full dialogue partner of the ASEAN in 1991. The dialogue relations between the ASEAN and ROK were upgraded into a strategic partnership in 2010. /MP

Can You Smile?

Men Virus Women

“A husband providing to his wife that women talk more than men, showed her a study which indicated that men use on the average only 1,100 words a day, where as women use 2,200 words a day.

She thought about this for a while and then told her husband that women use twice as many words as men because they have to repeat everything they say.
He asked, “what?”

Atty. Kel Tolentino sent to the Madyaas Pen the following jokes while Ruby is visiting Aklan.
A singing group called “The Resurrection” was scheduled to sing at a church when a strong typhoon postponed the performance. The priest fixed the outside sign to read “The Resurrection Is Postponed. Church Signs:
1. “No God – No Peace. Know God - Know Peace.”
2. “Have trouble sleeping? We have sermons – come hear one!”
3. “Fight truth decay – study the Bible daily.”
4. “If you’re headed in the wrong direction, God allows U-turns.”
5. “If you don’t like the way you were born, try being born again.”
6.“Dusty Bibles lead to Dirty lives.”
7. “Come work for the Lord. The work is hard, the hours are long and the pay is low. But the retirement benefits are out of their world.” /MP

Sugilanon Ni Tita Linda

Alibang-bang Ni Minerva

Ni Tita Linda Belayro

Maisot pa si Minerva hay ma ila-on eun imaw magdakop it mga alibang-bang. Nagbahoe imaw nga mahugop kana ro alibang-bang. Umabot rong oras nga nagmasakit ro anang ina. Sa owa mabuhayi hay namatay. 

Nag-asawa ro anang ama sa isaeang ka baeo man nga may unga sa unang asawa nga ka edad man ni Minerva. Kada agahon, naga adto sa eati si Minerva agod makihampang sa mga alibang-bang. 

Parabil namatay ro ina ni Minerva hay guin bilin imaw sa alibang-bang. Pananglitan hidlawon imaw sa anang ina hay idto nana usuyon sa mga alibang-bang agod mabu-eong ro anang kahidlaw.

Ko isaeang agahun ngaron, guina ga-oy guid nga mayad si Minerva. Ogaling indi magsugot ro mag-ina nga magpahuway imaw bangod guin paeabhan pa kana ro mga kurtina ag kobre kama nga dapat matapos. Guin pilit nana nga matapos ro anang pageaba. Pagkatapos, nag-adto imaw sa eati agod idto magpahuway. Nag-a-eabot ro mga alibang-bang. Guin hapunan imaw ag habatyagan nana ro mga hapeos nga manami hasta imaw hakatueogan. 

Pagbugtaw nana, owa eon it hapdi ro anang eawas. Gabi-e eon imaw nag-abot sa andang baeay. Nakasamit imaw it mueay. Bilang pina kana, owa imaw pagtagan-e it pagkaon. 

Nakatueogan imaw sa kagutom. Agod makalibre sa mga sugo kana, nagpanaw imaw sa eati ag idto nagpa-utwas ko anang kasubo. Maangan-angan, may naghapon nga isaeang ka mabahoe nga alibang-bang. Bali ro anang pakpak. Naeo-oy si Minerva busa anang guin boeong rong pakpak paagi sa pagbutang it laki-laki. Hakatoeugan ro alibang-bang imaw man si Minerva. Pagbugtaw ko daeaga, hakibot imaw ay may haboe eota imaw. Paglingot nana, hakita ni Minerva ro isaeang ka eaeaki nga nakabeste it matsa prinsepe. Pormal ro tindog ko eaeaki nga gina tinueok nana si Minerva. 

Nagpakilaea rong eaeaki nga isaea imaw nga prinsepe sa ibang kaharian. Bangod guinmaldesyon imaw it bruha matapos nga guinbalibaran nana rong onga it bruha. Guin himo imaw nga sangka alibang-bang. Suno sa eaeaki, mabalik eamang imaw sa dating kahimtangan kon may mabuot nga babaye nga makabulig kana. 

Suno sa prinsepe, utang nana kay Minerva ro anang kabuhi. Anang guin daea si Minerva sa anang kaharian. Nangin prinsesa si Minerva ag daea pa guihapon ro anang mga amigong alibang-bang kaibahan eon ko anang kabuhi. /MP

Entrepreneurial Farmer

Long & Endless KIA Improvement

by Ambrosio R. Villorente

After spending almost one billion pesos (P1,000,000,000) for the upgrading of the Kalibo International Airport (KIA), the airport is until today topsy-turvy. Both the departure and arrival areas are congested, and hot. The comfort rooms are below standard.

According to Mr. Arturo Balderas, project manager of KIA-DOTC implementing the expansion works, the government has appropriated P946 million for the upgrading and expansion of KIA facilities.

Balderas reported that P32.50 million was allocated for site acquisition which is “substantially completed”. For apron expansion, P15 million was allocated for site acquisition. Some P300 million was also allocated for the extension of runway, construction of access road, apron expansion, and taxiway and completion and rehabilitation of terminal building, with only 51 percent completed of the project.

The P59 million apron expansion, asphalt overlay of runway project has been suspended. There is P26 million allocation for asphalt overlay of damaged portions of the runway. Again P125.14 million is budgeted for another batch of site expansion and taxiway.

Capitalizing on the Philippines’ hosting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation conference, another P150 million is set aside for KIA expansion plus the P237.55 million.

Endless Projects Constructions

It seems and it appears that the agencies concerned in the improvement of KIA in Kalibo, Aklan are endlessly appropriating public funds for endless similar projects constructions.

P110 Million For Banga-Libacao Road

Libacao is twenty one and one half (21.5) kilometers away from Banga and 30 kilometers away from Kalibo, the capital town of Aklan. In view of the road conditions, it takes from one hour to one hour and one half to reach Libacao from Kalibo via a 4-wheel vehicle. While the distance seems short, travel time is longer. This is due to the road condition of the 21.5 kilometers Banga-Libacao road, of which 9.44 kilometers remain rough resulting to its slow economic progress.

Libacao is the biggest municipality among the 17 towns of Aklan in terms of Aklan’s total land area. Should the road condition improved, progress will hasten not only of Libacao but Aklan especially.

Considering its vast fertile land, favorable climate, and its industrious people, there will be economic progress. Production of fruits, flowers, abaca, livestock among others will be increased as the mode of transportation is made easier and transport cost is greatly reduced. One factor which impedes increased agricultural productivity is the transport costs of products from the farm to the road side and from the road side to the market.

Moreover, the consumers cannot appreciate the efforts spent by the farmers in the production of farm products. They often bargain for the bottom price possible. Our consumers do not realize the hardship of the farm producers in bringing the farm products to market.

A good example is the exploitation of consumers and traders of our palay farmers. With the use of early maturing palay seeds, it will take 100-115 days to harvest the palay after transplanting. Before transplanting, a farmer sows the rice seeds and prepares the field ready for transplanting rice seedling.

Since rice is a hydro-phonic plant, it needs water to produce grains. Studies proved that to produce 10 metric tons of palay per hectare per season is possible in normal times with the use of recommended farm technology like good seeds, control of weeds, pests and diseases and irrigation.  

But can you, Mr. Consumer sympathize with the farmer whose lower limb of his body is buried in the mud and his upper limb is either under the sun or rain during land preparation, transplanting and harvesting?

 To produce 10 metric tons of palay per hectare per season, a farmer must supply 15 million kilograms of water for land preparation until the rice crop reaches its ripening stage. This means supplying 1,500 kilograms of water to produce one kilogram of palay from one square meter riceland.

Moreover, palay crop is vulnerable to the damage cause by wind, flood and birds. And when his crop is damaged, a farmer cries alone, when he has a bumper crop, everybody smile.

Mr. Consumer, I have yet to meet a palay farmer who became rich. On the other hand, I saw several rice traders who became millionaires.

Mr. Consumers and rice traders, can you recognize the difficulties a palay farmer undergoes by buying his products at a higher but reasonable price? “Lets do it.” /MP

Editorial

Kalibo’s Dumping Site Is

A Serious Environmental Threat

Unless drastic remedial measures are undertaken, the threat to the environment being posed by the dumping site in the Ati-atihan Town of Kalibo, capital town of Aklan can worsen further and will endanger the health and lives of people living nearby, to include students population of various learning institutions operating near its vicinity.

This matter surfaced in a committee hearing conducted by the Committee on Environmental Protection of the 16th  Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan recently.

The SP committee was prompted to conduct an inquiry into the matter when the Sangguniang Barangay of Old Buswang furnished the body of its resolution addressed to the local officials of Kalibo seeking for the immediate closure of the said dumping site. Kalibo’s dumping site is located at the adjoining barangay of Bakhaw Sur, along the Sooc River, one of the extensions of the Aklan River.

Not only are residents of the two barangays are affected of the persistent emission of foul odor from the dumping site but also commercial and institutional establishment operators and students near the area.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Ivene D. Reyes of Aklan stressed that LGU Kalibo maybe liable for several violations in the operation of the dumping site since 2006 when the department ordered the LGU Kalibo to already start the safe closure procedures for the dumping site. But until now, it remains to be implemented.

DENR Aklan emphasized that for the foul odor to be temporarily and immediately remedied, spraying of chemicals on the dumpsite must be done at once, but safe closure procedure must be started right away.

Engr. Jessie Fegarido, head of Kalibo’s Municipal Economic Enterprise Development Department, said safe closure procedure will start next week with the construction of the perimeter fence of the said dumping site expected to be finished within one month. Is it done?

Portion of the concrete enclosure of the dumping site had been damaged while holes were bored at the undamaged portions facing the Sooc River. These caused emission of the waste fluids into the river.

Former Congressman Allen S. Quimpo feared that the naturally grown marine resources in the nearby 250-hectare mangrove eco-park are already affected by the pollution of the river.

Ms. Adorada Reynaldo, Solid Waste Management Officer of Kalibo explained that the safe closure procedures can never be successful until wastes segregation is strictly enforced on Kalibo’s households.

Both Fegarido and Reynaldo expressed their exasperation over their difficulty to obtain budgetary appropriations for the P20 million they need to fully implement the safe closure of the dumping site.

PENRO Reyes informed the committee that DENR has already identified a 12-hectare area in Castillo, Makato, Aklan which can be developed into a sanitary landfill site for Kalibo’s garbage and that of the neighboring towns west of Kalibo like Numancia, Makato, Lezo, and Tangalan.

But Reyes said this will take about one year to prepare the area to be ready to receive the wastes of these towns. (Editor’s note: Adopted from “The Legislator”, the official newsletter of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan.) /MP 

BICAMERAL PANEL APPROVES 2015 BUDGET

BICAMERAL PANEL 

APPROVES 2015 BUDGET

The proposed P2.606 trillion national spending package was approved by the bicameral conference committee after revisions and finetunings were made on the budget version of the House of Representatives.

Senator Chiz Escudero, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, said the approved budget has kept the original amount as proposed by President Benigno S. Aquino III.

Escudero, however, said lawmakers made some realignments amounting to P72.542 billion, a big chunk of which came from the Unprogrammed Fund for MRT 3 buyout.

In the House version, the MRT 3 acquisition amounted to P53.9 billion. From this original amount, the bicameral panel only restored P7.428 billion for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the transit system. Also, P6.520 billion was retained for the payment of taxes of MRT 3 in connection with its BOT contract. The panel also retained P4.4 billion for the remaining equity buy out of the MRT 3.

The biggest realigned item totalling P20 billion went to the rehabilitation fund to cover Yolanda-struck areas and other areas hit by past disasters.

Other realignments to the budget went to Trade Remedies Fund amounting to P4.384 billion; P10.694.754 for the incremental revenue from excise for the Department of Health; and P472.485 million for the terminal leave pay of Philippine Postal Office employees.

Escudero also said the 2015 budget has adopted the Senate version’s definition of savings in full compliance with the Supreme Court decision on the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

The General Appropriations Bill for 2015 has quoted en toto the entire 2013 PDAF article by the High Tribunal defining savings as “the portions or balances of any released appropriations in the GAA which have not been obligated.”

It also states that savings may result from the following: non-commencement of the program/activity/project (P/A/P) or the inability of the agency to obligate its released allotment and implement it within the period when the appropriation is valid. In the same manner, Escudero said the bicameral panel-approved 2015 budget  demands more fiscal responsibility from agencies, by adding the provision that “programmed appropriations which have not been released or allotments not obligated due to the fault of the agency concerned shall not be considered savings and shall revert to the General Fund.”

The 2015 budget is distributed as follows: Social Services, Economic Services, General Public Services, Debt Burden and Defense. /MP

52 Akeanon Families Get New Homes This Christmas

52 Akeanon Families Get New 

Homes This Christmas

by RECTO I. VIDAL

Some 52 families will be celebrating their first Yuletide season on their disaster-resilient shelters given by the Diocesan Social Action Center (DSAC) of the Diocese of Kalibo under #REACHPhilippines Recovery Assistance to vulnerable communities affected by Typhoon Haiyan Project.

“The DSAC made it sure that all units of shelters followed the right resiliency features of the United Nations Shelter Cluster for the beneficiaries to stay in a safe and typhoon resilient houses. All the shelters were built with strong foundation, tied from the bottom, has strong braces, good quality materials, roofing, consideration of risks, appropriate shape and making the beneficiary and the community to better prepare  for another disaster,” Rev. Fr. Ulysses Dalida, DSAC-Kalibo Director, told the local media in a news conference.

“Right now, we have the assurance that these 52 families in Barangay Nalook, Kalibo will  celebrate their Christmas in their new homes,. Moreover, other eight barangays have their respective on-going constructions and are targeted to be turned over in January,” Fr. Dalida added.

The building of shelters is just one of the five programs under the #REACHPhilippines Projects of NASSA/Caritas Philippines  through the DSAC of the Diocese of Kalibo. The other programs are livelihood, WASH (Water, sanitation and Hygiene), Disaster Risk Reduction, and Capacity Building.

“We are very happy to see that we have helped many families before Christmas after the tragic event of Yolanda that ravaged their houses,” the priest further said.

It can be recalled that the turn-over of 52 units were conducted in Barangay Nalook in Kalibo, Aklan last November 8 in commemoration of Super Typhoon Yolanda. The blessing was presided by the Kalibo Bishop Most Rev. Jose Corazon T. Tala-oc, D.D. 

Aklan Is In A State Of Calamity

Aklan is placed under a state of calamity due to the destruction brought by Typhoon Ruby. 

Acting on the request of Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan declared Aklan in a state of calamity during a special session held on Monday morning.

A total of 15,231 families or 60,123 individuals have been evacuated in 184 barangays of the 17 towns of Aklan, according to Mr. Galo Ibardolaza of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office-Aklan.

With the said declaration, the Aklan provincial government can now utilize the remaining 30 percent or P11.6 million of the 5 percent calamity fund of Aklan, according to Vice Governor Gabrielle Calizo-Quimpo.

The fund will be used for the relief and rescue operations of typhoon victims in the province. /MP

GARIN SUGGESTS HOUSE PROBE ON ALLEGED PLASTIC SMUGGLING

GARIN SUGGESTS HOUSE PROBE ON ALLEGED PLASTIC SMUGGLING

Alarmed by the report of the Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) that Filipinos had been deprived of P1.33 trillion in government revenues from 2002 to 2011 due to technical smuggling, a lawmaker has urged Congress to investigate the smuggling of plastic resins allegedly committed by big importers in the country.

 AAMBIS-Owa Party-list Representative Sharon Garin files House Resolution 1603 directing the House Committee on Ways and Means to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, to ensure that revenues from resin products are properly collected by the government.

Garin is the vice chair of the House Ways and Means Committee.

FPI identified resins, plastic packaging materials, and PVC pipes as some of the commodities being smuggled.

Technical smuggling, as opposed to outright smuggling, is the undervaluation, under declaration of the volume shipped, misclassification and diversion of cargoes.

Using names and code names, Inquirer.net published on February 3, 2014 a list of alleged smugglers. The list was sourced from a Bureau of Customs (BOC) official who refused to be named.

In the report, plastic resin topped the list of imports subjected to technical smuggling.

Plastic resin is a key raw material used in var-ious consumer items, appliances and construction materials. It is also a main component of packaging materials for beverages and food products.

“Reports of trillions of pesos allegedly lost due to smuggling are appalling! Congress should flex its muscles to put pressure on the Customs Bureau to curb smuggling. If it has been happening for more than a decade now, there must be some officials in the BOC in cohorts with the smugglers,” Rep. Garin pointed out.

Anonymous customs official revealed in the Inquirer.net report that there is not even a complete or concise recording of identified revenue losses due to technical smuggling happening in Philippine ports.

House Resolution 1603 aims to direct the BOC to identify in exact terms the losses allegedly incurred by the government to smuggling and the industries being affected by it to help Congress plug the policy gaps in order to help the BOC fulfill its mandate in revenue generation and port regulation.

“Undervaluation of plastic resins is hurting not just the petrochemical industry, but also the entire Philippine economy. For this, Congress must investigate the big importers named in the newspaper report. BOC officials must also be called to explain why burglary in such a scandalous magnitude continues to happen,” Rep. Garin said. /MP

NGCP inaugurates Panay Area Control Center

NGCP inaugurates 

Panay Area Control Center

(L-R, front row) Mr. Raymund Fontillas, Financial Controller; Atty. Karen Ong, Corporate Secretary; Mr. Ma Ruoxin, NGCP Board Director, and, Mr. Santiago Dimaliwat IV, Deputy Assistant Chief Technical Officer for System Operations, leading the ribbon-cutting of the Panay Area Control Center, together with Atty. Cynthia Perez-Alabanza, Spokesperson and Head of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department (2nd row extremely left) and System Operations managers from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

“NGCP recognizes Panay’s potential, and NGCP is ready to respond to Panay’s growth.” This is NGCP President and CEO Henry Sy, Jr.’s message to customers in the area during the inauguration of the system operator’s Panay Area Control Center (ACC) in Iloilo recently.

Serving as a nerve center, the Area Control Center enables the system operator to monitor the grid situation in real-time and under all circumstances. The new control center in NGCP’s Sta. Barbara Substation houses top-of-the-line SCADA system and telecom equipment. It serves as satellite office of the Visayas System Operations.

“With this facility, our customers are assured of a more secure and efficient monitoring and control system for transmission facilities serving the area, particularly in places of interest for tourists and investors alike” stated Mr. Sy.

The Panay ACC’s inauguration came a week after NGCP marked another milestone with the completion and inauguration of the Bohol Backbone Transmission Project. The projects are part of NGCP’s 2015 corporate goal of achieving an entirely improved power transmission system.

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 holds the 25-year concession to operate the country’s power transmission network. It 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

Agri Dept Holds Race To Promote RICEponsibility

Agri Dept Holds Race 

To Promote RICEponsibility

In support to the nationwide promotion of responsible rice consumption, the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Field Office 6 has conducted a 3-kilometer Run4RICEponsibility at the Iloilo City Freedom Grandstand on November 29, 2014.

The Run4RICEponsibility is part of the National Rice Awareness Month (NRAM) celebration this November in pursuant to Proclamation No. 524 issued in 2004. 

The 2014 NRAM theme “We are RICEponsible” calls the active cooperation of all sectors to attain rice self-sufficiency and responsible rice consumption for better health, less wastage, and productive farming. 

DA 6 Regional Executive Director Larry P. Nacionales urged consumers to diversify their dietary intake by eating other food staples like white corn, banana, cassava, sweet potato, and adlai. He further suggested to the participants to eat brown rice or pinawa which is proven to be more nutritious than milled white rice. 

More than 600 advocates joined the fun run. Winners for the male, 39 years old and below category are  Ramonito Cuelbar, Jonas Daligdig and Chris Bacla-an from the private sector; for the male, 40 years old and above category include Ilmar Elardo of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Margarito Villa Gracia of Traffic Management and Transport Regulation Office and Agustin Sigre of Philippine Ports Authority (PPA). 

Meanwhile, for the female 39 years old and below category, winners are Ronylen Sigre of PPA, Rona Salvacion from the private sector, and Rodylen Sigre from the PPA. For the female 40 years old and above category, Evelyn Oren and VeraglenTropico of DA RFO 6, and Florence Robinson of the National Food Authority clinched the first, second and third slots, respectively. /MP

PAPI Joins National Greening Program

PAPI Joins National 

Greening Program

By JESSICA M. BACUD

CORDON, Isabela -- The Publishers Association of the Philippines Inc. (PAPI) has joined the government’s National Greening Program, initially with a recent tree-planting outing at its two-hectare farm at Sitio Estampa, Quirino, Cordon, Isabela.

PAPI Region II coordinator Jessica Bacud and PAPI Board director for Luzon and Isabela chapter president MacArthur Daguro coordinated the tree planting activity with the local DENR-CENRO office, the Office of the Isabela Provincial Governor and the Cordon Local Government Unit.

DENR personnel led by CENRO Mindo Aquino, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts from the Mariano Marcos National High School led by Scout Master Danny dela Cruz, Cordon employees, Isabela PIA personnel led by Merlito Edale, other local volunteer groups, and local PAPI members led by Daguro and Bacud participated in the tree planting activities.

PAPI Executive Vice President Johnny C. Nunez motored up to Isabela to support and participate in the activity. With him were PAPI national treasurer Nelson Santos, CALABARZON Herald Group publisher Nena Mallari, and staff personnel Carmela Cruz and Andrew Amores,

Louie Ariola, PAPI national president said their PAPI’s decision to join the government’s National Greening Program is an expression of a core value which PAPI treasures, and for which they have tasked their Isabela Chapter to pursue the Cordon project seriously as part of its corporate social responsibility for sound environmental care.

In his brief remarks at the event’s simple opening rites on-site, PAPI EVP Nunez said the bald mountainsides of the Cordilleras should not spell hopelessness for Filipinos, “but should instead pose a challenge for us to rectify our past errors and resolve to ensure the survival of our future generations and of posterity by helping restore our lost forest cover.” He recalled the vast successful reforestation projects he had personally seen in Guangxi Province, Southern China.

Nunez said PAPI plans to plant more bamboos as part of its NGP involvement. He noted that with the ASEAN Integration in 2015, bamboos could be raw materials for signature Philippine products for the ASEAN common market of over 600 million consumers.

The PAPI tree farm in Cordon, Isabela is awarded to the media organization during its 18thNational Press Congress held in Cauayan City in February 2014, hosted by the PAPI Isabela chapter. The area forms part of the base of the Cordillera Mountain range. Isabela Gov. Faustino G. Dy III has pledged his support for the project.

Daguro and Bacud said the recent tree planting activity is just an initial move of their group. “We intend to pursue this initiative as tasked and mandated by our national PAPI leadership,” they stressed. They also thanked DENR for the Mahogany and Narra seedlings planted, and Cordon Mayor Laurencio Zuniega for providing transportation for the participants to the tree farm site and back.

The NGP seeks to plant 1.5 billion trees in about 1.5 million hectares of denuded forest lands over six years from 2011 to 2016. /MP

Save the Children Names Mikael Daez and Kylie Padilla As Official Filipino Ambassadors

Save the Children Names Mikael Daez and Kylie Padilla As Official Filipino Ambassadors

GMA Artist Center stars Mikael Daez and Kylie Padilla are the first Filipino representatives of Save the Children.  They join international ambassadors Hollywood A-listers Jennifer Garner and Julianne Moore, football star Cristiano Ronaldo and distinguished stylist/editor/fashion designer Rachel Zoe in promoting the advocacy that aims to provide both emergency and long-term support to improve the quality of life for children.

Mikael shares that being chosen as one of the first Pinoy ambassadors of Save the Children is such an honor and fulfils his dream to help an advocacy close to his heart. “I always want to help children. All children should be able to dream about what they want to be when they grow up. Save the Children’s work means that more children can have those dreams. I am excited about the opportunity to work alongside this amazing charity and am privileged to be able to use my work for this excellent cause.”

Meanwhile, Kylie is eager to take on her new role as ambassador of a children’s organization. “It is a privilege to be a representative of Save the Children and be given the opportunity to help children in need, especially typhoon Yolanda survivors. I want to do whatever I can to help provide them everything they need so they can recover from their experiences and reach their full potential.” 

In the coming days, Mikael and Kylie together with some of the staff of Save the Children will visit Yolanda-affected communities in Tacloban to meet some of the survivors of the typhoon. Save the Children has already reached nearly 800,000 people in some of the ‘Yolanda’ hit areas providing them with emergency life-saving aid and long-term support for livelihood programs that will sustain their everyday living.

Save the Children’s Country Director, Ned Olney, shares that they are happy to be working with passionate Kapuso stars. “Save the Children is delighted to have such passionate engaged young people working with us as we strive to give every child in the Philippines the best start in life. We hope that our relationship with Kylie and Mikael will give us the opportunity to reach many more children and save even more lives.”  /MP

Aklanons Long For The Services Of Fernandez

Aklanons Long For The Services Of Fernandez

By Ambrosio R. Villorente

“Congratulations to Mr. Antonio “Tony” Fernandez for being assigned in the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR-74) in Zarraga, Iloilo. May you enjoy very much in your new assignment serving the people there as you have served the people in your previous assignment in Aklan.”

These are some of the messages Tony Fernandez’ family, relatives, and friends sent him after he left Kalibo upon his assumption of duty of his new assignment in the BIR-74 as Revenue Officer IV, Zarraga, Iloilo.

“Since you left BIR-71, Kalibo, Aklan, the people transacting business with BIR had been missing your fair, prompt, and friendly services. The Aklanons are hoping you come back soon to Kalibo to resume your excellent services to the people.” These are some of the comments from some Aklanons.

I am not surprise if Mr. Tony Fernandez is well loved by the people he served in Aklan. I found him, amiable, friendly, courteous, prompt and fair in his dealings with the people especially with BIR clients.

He finished BS in Commerce (cum laude) in Aklan College, Kalibo and passed the board examination for Certified Public Accountant given by the Professional Regulatory Commission.

Fernandez started his accounting career with the University of the Philippines, Manila as Accountant on June 16, 1982. In his desire to serve his people in Aklan, he transferred to the Agricultural Training Institute, ASU, Banga, Aklan on Dec. 16, 1988 as administrative officer II.

He did not stay long with the Agricultural Training Institute for he was invited by a friend to file his application for employment with the BIR. His application was accepted on September 3, 1990. Mr. Fernandez transferred to the BIR where he is now serving as Revenue Officer IV assigned in BIR-74, Zarraga, Iloilo.

Fernandez is a member of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Government Association of Certified Public Accountants.

For his loyalty, diligence, and honesty in the service, Mr. Antonio Fernandez was awarded as the “Bureau of Internal Revenue Model Employee in 2006. /MP

GOV’T PRIORITIZES VITAL HEALTH SERVICES IN 2015 BUDGET

GOV’T PRIORITIZES VITAL HEALTH SERVICES IN 2015 BUDGET

As part of the government’s commitment to provide accessible and sufficient healthcare services throughout the country, Senator Teofisto “TG” Guingona III, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, said in the 2015 national budget, the Department of Health and its attached agencies will get P90.21 billion allocation to carry out projects and programs that will benefit the Filipinos.

The Congress, however, is still looking to augment the health budget to incorporate programs that will be funded by sin tax budget collection.

The unrelenting pursuit of the administration for reforms to improve transparency and accountability in public institutions bring forth economic gains that adequately fund the basic health needs of the society, said Guingona.

Out of the P90.21 DOH budget for 2015, P37.06 billion will be for the payment of the full health insurance premium of the following: a) indigent families under the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction of the DSWD; b) Poor and low-income enrolees, other than indigent families identified by DSWD; c) Indigent barangay officials; and d) senior citizens as mandated by the newly-signed law, Republic Act 10645 which mandates automatic Philhealth coverage of senior citizens throughout the country.

Sen. Guingona noted that P1 billion will be allocated to the Philippine Children’s Medical Center to ensure the structural integrity of its facilities and to improve the delivery of services to children needing special health care.

To address the need for additional medical personnel in government health institutions, the 2015 budget will fund P4.3 billion to hire 398 doctors, 13,500 nurses, 2,700 midwives and 480 dentists vital for the government’s goal to achieve better health services in both urban and rural areas.

A total of P129.03 million is allocated to fund the payment of Philhealth premiums of former rebels identified under the PAMANA and the Sajahatra Bangsamoro programs of the government.

The Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) will get P13.1 billion where P10.337 billion will be allotted for the construction, rehabilitation and upgrading of 1,660 barangay health stations, 475 rural health units and city health centers, 168 local government unit hospitals, 66 hospitals under DOH and 11 treatment and rehabilitation centers. Some P2.771 billion will be allocated for the procurement of quality hospital equipment. 

The 2015 budget will also fund an additional P500 million for the Quick Response Fund,  a standby fund to be used for the repair and rehabilitation of health facilities and equipment, as well as provision of emergency medical assistance in areas stricken by calamities, epidemics and catastrophes. /MP

Sugilanon Ni Tita Linda

Ro Gahum Ni Elijah

Ni Tita Linda Belayro

Pagkataliwan it tatlong dag-on nga tag gutom sa kaharian ni Haring Ahab, guin tawag it Diyos si Elijah. Guin sugo imaw nga mag-atubang sa hari ag hambaeon nga pagapunduhon eon rong gutom ag padaehan pa sanda it uean. Imbis nga magpasaeamat ro hari, guin basoe pa nana si Elijah nga imaw rong dahilan it gutom sa anang kaharian.

Mas naakig pag guid ro hari nga tipunon ro anang mga sakup kaibahan ko anang 850 ka mga peke nga mga pari. Sa tunga kong mga pomoeoyo, guin padumdum ni Elijah “hin-uno pa kinyo maduea ro inyong pagduha duha? Hin-uno pa magmukeat ro inyong mga mata sa kamatuoran? Owa guid it nag-apin kay Elijah ag guinhibaygan eang imaw kong mga peke nga Pari ni Ahab. 

Guin ayat ni Elijah rong mga peke nga pari. Nangayo imaw it pilang bilog nga baka agod ihaead sa andang Diyos-Diyos. Kon matuod ro andang guina tu-ohan nga Diyos, pagapadaehan sanda it kaeayo agod sunugon ro andang haead. Guin himo rong tanan ko mga peke nga pari, halin sa agahon hasta mahapon nga pagpangamuyo sa andang Diyos nga si Baal, ogaling owa guid it kaeayo nga nana-og.

Makaron, si Elijah eon man rong nagpakita ko anang gahum. Guin hueay hueay nana rong pilang ka baka ag guin pabubu-an pa it tubi ro karne. Nagpangamuyo si Elijah nga ipakita ro anang gahum agod magapati ro mga tawo. 

Ma-angan angan, nanaog rong kaeayo halin sa eangit ag kinaon rong tanan nga kutob haead. Hakita kong tanan ro natabo. Naakig rong asawa ni Ahab nga si Jezebel. Guinpadakop si Elijah agod patyon. Nanago si Elijah sa kagueangan ag idto guinbuhos nana rong kasakit ko anang baeatyagon. 

Maskin guinpakita eon sa tawo rong gahum it Diyos, imaw guid lang rong isaeahanon nga naga-tuo sa buhi nga Diyos. Guin paeogpay it Diyos si Elijah. Guin padaehan imaw it anghel nga may pagkaon. Una anay imaw nagtener sa kagueangan agod makapahuway ag makapuwasa. /MP

Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ombudsman Suspends PNP 

Chief Purisima

It does not matter who the person is if he violates and gravely violates the laws, legal orders, rules and regulations, he will be asked to answer and pay for the violations.

PNP Director General Alan LM Purisima and 14 other ranking police officers and those police employees are placed under preventive suspension for six (6) months without pay for their alleged sales of AK-47 assualt rifles to the communist rebels and for hiring the services of courier for the door-to-door delivery of firearms licenses in a contract alleged to be anomalous according to the report published in the Manila Bulletin, Dec. 5, 2014 issues.

The suspension order from the Ombudsman came when General Purisima was out of the Philippines on Wednsday, Dec. 3, 2014. He was in Saudi Arabia for one week travel. Hence, Gen. Purisima is “out of town, out of post.” Purisima went to Saudi Arabia to meet with law enforcement officials to promote cooperation against transnational crimes. He will return on Tuesday, Dec. 9 according to Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor, PNP spokesperson. But Purisima, the most powerful man in the PNP will arrive in the Philippines without his post in the PNP.

The suspension orders were transmitted by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio to DILG Sec. Mar Roxas for implementation within five days. Malacanang Palace reacted to the order, “it will comply with Ombudsman’s order.”

Other officials who are suspended with General Purisima for allegedly contracting the services of WERFAST are: Chief Supt. Raul Petrasanta, Allan Parreno, Eduardo Acierto, Melchor Reyes, Lenbell Fabia, Sonia Calisto, Chief Inspectors Nelson Bautista, Ford Tuazon, and Ricardo Zapata. Due to their respective retirements, three police Directors are excluded from the suspension order. They are police Directors Gil Meneses and Chief Supt. Napoleon Estilles and Tomas Rentoy II.

“Purisima’s suspension stemmed from his alleged participation in the controversial WERFAST courier service contract,” said Deputy Ombudsman Asryman Rafanan. Their suspension will stay pending result of the administrative investigation.

The investigation on WERFAST started from an anonymous complaint stating that Purisima and other PNP Officials pocketed the money from the mandatory delivery fees gun owners paid in securing their gun licenses via an agreement entered into by the PNP in the delivery of firearms license cards.

“While other delivery service companies charged only an average delivery fee of less than P100, WERFAST charged much higher delivery rate of P190 within Metro Manila and P290 for the provincial deliveries,” initial findings show.

AK-47 Riffles Sales

In the case of the alleged missing and sale of AK-47 rifles to the New Peoples Army rebels, suspended are Police Chief Supts. Petrasanto and Regino Catiis, Police Supts. Eduardo Acierto, Allan Parreno, Nelson Bautista, Ricky Sumalde, Chief Inspectors Ricardo Zapata, and Rodrigo Sarmiento, SPO1 Eric Tan, and SPO1 Randy de Sesto and NCO Nora Pirate, Sol Bargan, and Erique Dela Cruz.

The recovery of some firearms by army soldiers from communist rebels in Mindanao who were either captured or killed in action in military skirmishes led to the investigation on the missing and sales of Russian made riffles.

The CIDG investigation shows that four private security agencies and a mining company were issued more than 1000 firearms licenses by the PNP through falsified application. According to the Omdudsman, the firearms recovered from the field matched with the serial numbers of rifles issued to the security agencies, according to the Manila Bulletin report.

Gen. Purisima’s six months suspension maybe taken as his early retirement for in November 2015 will be his mandatory retirement age.

Moreover, Gen. Purisima is facing another problem. He has still to answer the alleged corruption on the construction of the White House, the official residence of the PNP Chief inside Camp Crame. He must also justify and explain the source of funds or the manner of acquisition of his alleged undeclared property in Nueva Ecija. /MP