El Niño to cut down Pantabangan Dam’s water supply to CL farms to 40% -- Umali

JAEN, Nueva Ecija – The dreaded El Niño phenomenon is seen to cut the supply of irrigation from the Pantabangan Dam to Central Luzon farmlands down to only 40%.

          Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali told farmers during a gathering in this town that only 44,000 hectares out of the more than 100,000 hectares agricultural lands in the province, Pampanga and Bulacan would be able to receive irrigation water due to El Niño whose effects are likely to be felt in the last quarter of the year.

          He said this projection was arrived at following his dialogue with officials of the Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems, the operator of the Pantabangan Dam. “This is a big blow to farmers so we have to prepare them for this worse-case scenario,” he said.

Umali said the provincial government is pushing through with its water summit next week to prepare Nueva Ecija against the adverse effects of the dreaded El Niño phenomenon on food production and water supply in the country’s rice granary.

He said if not addressed, this will impact on food security targets on a nationwide scale.

          The summit, originally scheduled last July 30, was deferred as the provincial government convened various agencies towards formulating an action plan against El Niño.

          Umali said he has utilized his intelligence funds for the de-silting of the Peñaranda River to ensure smooth delivery of irrigation water while the province braces for El Niño.

In late July, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration advised Filipinos to prepare for below normal rainfall in the last quarter of the year, as scientists are predicting the development of a “weak to moderate” El Niño during the period.

          Pagasa administrator Vicente Malano said below normal rainfall is likely in most areas of Luzon and the Visayas while near normal rainfall conditions are expected over Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Albay, Eastern and Central Visayas and most areas of Mindanao in the months of October, November and December.

          The last time El Niño hit the country was in 2009 and experts said the phenomenon happens every four to five years.

Umali said the province will have to be prepared for El Niño particularly since water elevation in the Pantabangan Dam continues to drop.

          In the last week of July, water level at the dam was at 179.04 meters above sea level (masl) and according to the National Irrigation Administration, it would take only 22 days of zero rainfall for the water level to shrink to its critical level of 171 masl, which happened nearly two decades ago.

          The water level rose above 180 masl only because the provincial government initiated cloud-seeding operations in partnership with First Gen. Corp. and other private entities. 

          Yesterday, water level at the dam was at 186.2 masl, according to UPRIIS operations manager Reynaldo Puno.

The water summit will try to identify the areas in the province which will potentially be hit hard by the prolonged dry spell and mitigate its impact on local farmers. It will also come out with projection on the extent of damage.

Umali said farmers will be included in the consultations because they are the ones who will bear the brunt of El Niño.

The provincial government is also looking at tapping other alternative sources of irrigation water to lessen the province’s dependence on the Pantabangan Dam.

          With the dam not fully operational, the utilization of the Peñaranda River, the Tayabo Dam and other upstream water sources to augment supply is also being explored. (Manny Galvez)

Legarda: 2nd National IP Summit to Highlight Strengths, Concerns of IPs

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda today said that the 2nd National Indigenous Peoples Cultural Summit will be a venue where IPs will not only raise their pressing concerns but also be engaged in improving policies and programs that will benefit indigenous cultural communities (ICCs) in the country.

“The main goal of this event is to ensure that the programs of our government and the laws we craft are attuned with the distinctive needs of our IPs. This is a venue where our IPs can engage in dialogue with government agencies, civil society organizations, academe and the donor community,” said Legarda.

The 2nd National IP Cultural Summit, which will be held from September 2-5, 2014, was organized by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in partnership with Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities. Following the opening program today is a three-day intercultural exchange or workshop that will engage IPs in policy and program development, implementation and evaluation of programs for IPs and ICCs.

The Senator noted that basic services remain wanting in most geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas. Further, the reported serious human rights violations, displacement from ancestral domain and destruction of natural environment and cultural values are among serious concerns.

“It is for these reasons that we continue to fight for policies and programs that would give our IPs the respect, recognition and opportunities due them. In coordination with the NCIP, I filed Senate Bill No. 2209 that will create resource centers for IPs. The centers shall serve as access centers to enhance delivery of basic, social, technical and legal services,” said Legarda.      

She added that other bills relevant to IPs include the Ethnic Origin Act that aims to provide accurate and disaggregated data on IPs through a clear definition of ethnicity, which is included in the national census of the Philippine Statistics Authority; theTraditional Property Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, which seeks to make an inventory of all cultural properties and mandates the payment of royalties to IPs for the use of their cultural properties; and the Baybayin Act, which will mandate government offices to use Baybayin in their official logos in order to preserve and promote the Philippine traditional scripts.

“As we continue to promote measures that will benefit our indigenous communities, we urge our IPs to likewise continue to fight for their rights and to always protect our cultural heritage,” said Legarda.

“I hope that this National IP Cultural Summit, through the active involvement of our IPs, leads us to a clearer path on how we can confront the challenges and effectively build policies to protect the knowledge systems and practices of our indigenous peoples, provide them with more opportunities for growth and development, and to further promote our culture and heritage,” Legarda concluded.

Outstanding teachers, cops, soldiers get Senate recognition

MANILA-The Senate today approved three solutions commending and congratulating the outstanding teachers, police and soldiers through Metrobank Foundation’s annual search.

 

Senate President Franklin M. Drilon said, “The awardees should be lauded for their devotion to their profession and for being outstanding role models.” “These men and truly women have truly raised the bar in their respective professions,” he added.

 

Drilon said that the distinction displayed by the awardees provide inspiration to  the Senate to the pass pending measures aimed at improving the lives of government workers, cops and soldiers.

 

“The exemplary actions of these teachers, cops and soldiers just how state workers deserve more support from the government they so eagerly serve, hence the Senate’s recent passing of resolutions that will raise benefits for members of the police and the military, along with the Senate’s focus on proposed legislations on reviewing the tax bracket and on raising the 13th month pay tax exemption for state workers,” he said.

 

Senator Cynthia Villar sponsored Senate Resolution Nos. 836 commending the recipients of Metrobank Foundation’s Search for Outstanding Teachers (SOT) for 2014 award.

 

“We should recognize the essential role of the teachers in educational advancement, their important contributions in the development of humanity and modern society, and their rights as members of a highly regarded profession,” Villar said.

The Outstanding Teachers for 2014 are Anna Bella F. Abellera of Naga Central School 1, Naga City; Sharon Rose P. Puyo of Cabadbaran South Central Elementary School SPED Center, Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte; Dr. Enerio E. Ebisa of Doña Juana Actub Lluch Memorial Central School, Iligan City; Allan Moore S. Cabrillas of San Jose West Central School, San Jose City, Nueva Ecija; Juanito A. Merle of Talipan National High School, Pagbilao, Quezon; Jesus C. Insilada of Alcarde Gustilo Memorial National High School, Calinog, Iloilo; Matrose P. Galarion of Angeles City National High School, Angeles City; Noel V. Ibis of Vinzons Pilot High School, Vinzons, Camarines Norte; Resurreccion B. Sadaba of University of the Philippines-Visayas, Miag-ao, Iloilo; and Teodora D. Balangcod of University of the Philippines-Baguio, Baguio City.

 

Meanwhile, Senator Grace Poe sponsored Senate Resolution No.827 commending and congratulating the Country’s Outstanding Police Officers in Service (COPS) of 2014 who were selected by Metrobank Foundation, PS Bank and the Rotary Club of New Manila East.

 

“COPS serves as the social contract of the Metrobank Foundation, Rotary Club of New Manila East and PS Bank to the police force that will advance the welfare of the PNP and contribute in the realization of the Integrated Transformation Program of having the institution as a highly capable, effective and credible police service working in partnership with a responsive community,” Poe said.

 

According to the resolution, the Search for COPS aims to “honor models of professionalism, competence, dedication and integrity” among members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and is an “expression of the civilian sector’s appreciation and gratitude to the effort of the PNP in maintaining the peace and order situation in the country.”

The 2014 COPS awardees are Police Senior Superintendent Cedrick Gayona Train, Police Senior Superintendent Rodelio Balza Jocson, Police Chief Inspector Byron Filog Allatog, Police Chief Inspector Reynald Estrada Ariño, Police Officer 3 Michael Dalisay Pontoy, Senior Police Officer 1 Reynaldo Granada Solante, Police Officer 2 Arshear Usman Ismael, Police Officer 3 Alexander Baradillo Fazon, Jr., Senior Police Officer 1 Rey Hinautan Sarcon and Police Officer 3 Comet Dimla Dumangeng.

 

The Senate also honored the Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS) of 2014 through Senate Resolution No. 792 sponsored by Senator Sonny Angara.

 

“The competition is an expression of gratitude to the heroism, gallantry, dedication and sacrifices of the gallant men and women of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” Angara stated in the resolution. “The Philippine Senate proudly joins the Metrobank Foundation, Inc. and Rotary Club of Makati Metro in honoring and commending the gallant men and women who have risked life and limb in the defense of our country’s sovereignty.”

 

The recipients of the 2014 TOPS award are Philippine Army Colonel Teodoro A. Llamas, Philippine Army Master Sergeant Aladin S. Dacayanan, Philippine Army Staff Sergeant Rehum P. Magno, Philippine Navy Captain Alberto B. Carlos, Philippine Navy Sergeant Eugene J. Padilla, Philippine Navy Commissary Steward 2nd Class Felix B. Guaves II, Philippine Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Adriano SJ. Duadico, Philippine Air Force Technical Sergeant Benny G. Dofitas, Philippine Air Force Staff Sergeant Sheryl P. Toribio, and Technical and Administrative Service – Medical Administrative Corps Major Florencio Ritchie I. Capulong III. (Apple Buenaventura, PRIB)

Drilon takes on ice bucket challenge

MANILA-Senate President Franklin M. Drilon today joined the list of Filipinos who have participated in the popular Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) ice bucket challenge not only to raise funds and promote awareness for the dangerous disease, but also to bring attention to other important causes in the country.

Drilon became the latest public official to became doused with iced water when he gamely took the charity challenge at his Senate office on Monday morning.

As per the ice bucket challenge’s rules, Drilon said he is going to donate to the Neurosciences Department of the Philippine General Hospital, which is responsible for the treatment of many Filipinos afflicted with neurological diseases.

The Senate leader also made sure that his version of the ice bucket challenge will signal his commitment to water-conservation: collected rain water over the weekend was used in the event, instead of fresh potable water.

Drilon emphasized that apart from the debilitating ALS, he also wanted to bring attention to other pressing causes, hence his nomination of advocacy-oriented people with whom he has worked before to continue the ice-bucket challenge: Gawad Kalinga (GK) founder Tony Meloto, ABS-CBN Kapamilya Foundation Chairman Gina Lopez, and Federation of Filipino- Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc.(FFCCCII) President Dr. Alfonso Siy.  

Meloto's Gawad Kalinga helps manage the 1,000 low-cost housing project in Iloilo whose funding was supported by Drilon and  Lopez, as head of the Pasig River cleanup campaign, has exchanged ideas with Drilon, who is also working for the restoration of the Iloilo River.  

Meanwhile Siy, as part of FFCCCII, has previously partnered with Drilon in a nationwide classroom-building project which built 1,600 classrooms at a cost only half compared to regular government contract prices. 

Palace order to rectify historical errors on “Unang Sigaw ng Nueva Ecija unheeded

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija – Three years after Malacañang called on the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) to look into several “historical errors” about events involving the “Unang Sigaw ng Nueva Ecija,” these have yet to be corrected which would have set the heroism of Gen. Mariano Llanera and other revolutionaries in its proper perspective even as Novo Ecijanos observe today the 118^th anniversary of the historic revolt.

Among these errors are accounts that up to 3,000 revolutionaries from this town marched towards San Isidro and that they used a “musikang bumbong” in assaulting the Spanish garrison in the afternoon of September 2,1896.

          In 2011, Secretary Herminio Coloma of the Presidential Communications and Operations Office (PCOO) said the NHCP, led by its executive director Ludovico Badoy should conduct a thorough research on the historic event and make facts and figures “accurate” and “realistic” to give justice to its heroes.

          This after local historian Jose Hipolito said one of these errors include accounts that up to 3,000 revolutionaries from this town marched towards San Isidro with the use of a “musikang bumbong” where they assaulted the Spanish garrison in the afternoon of September 2,1896.

          “That is fatally wrong. The fact is only 753 revolutionaries laid siege in San Isidro and they marched there accompanied not by “musikang bumbong” but by a brass band,” Hipolito said.

          He said that the 3,000 supposed revolutionaries were too bloated a number and would clearly constitute an “overkill” on the part of Llanera’s group since they were up against only 100 Spanish soldiers.

          Hipolito said he knew of no one who conducted a realistic and in-depth research about the revolution and its heroes. “I was the only one who went to the National Archives to conduct my own research,” he said.

          Aside from the glaring historical inaccuracies, Mayor Gloria Crespo-Congco also questioned that the center of celebrations for the annual event is often held in the provincial capital Palayan City and not in this town. She said she had nothing against holding festivities in other towns to commemorate the event for Novo Ecijanos to appreciate history but said Cabiao’s role should be given utmost importance.     

The late 69-year-old head of the marching band that stormed the Spanish garrison in San Isidro also said Cabiao should be given recognition as the rightful venue for anniversary rites.

          Raul Nogoy, Banda, ’96 leader said San Isidro (then known as Factoria) can not be considered as the center of the celebrations neither because this was where the Spaniards held fort.

          The provincial government, led by Gov. Aurelio Umali, Vice Gov. Jose Gay Padiernos and third district Rep. Czarina Umali, has held various activities to usher Nueva Ecija Day consisting of a harana, health caravan, quiz bee, sikad Novo Ecijano, muscle showdown, agri-aqua ctrade fair, hair and make-up Olympics, aerobics competition, Binibining Nueva Ecija pageant, boxing competitions, the search for the outstanding young Novo Ecijanos   and the 1^st governor’s cup shooting competitions.

          Today’s provincial government-led activity will be held at the old provincial capitol, according to provincial administrator Al Abesamis.

          When asked for his reaction regarding the issue over the venue, Abesamis did not return text messages.

          Local officials in Cabiao said it is only fitting that organizers consider the town as the center of celebrations because General Llanera was from Barangay San Roque here.

          The event marks the day when Llanera and Gen. Pantaleon Valmonte led home-grown revolutionaries, armed only with 100 guns, bolos and pointed sticks in assaulting the Spanish garrison in San Isidro on September 2,1896, two days after the “Unang Sigaw ng Balintawak.”

          Waving black and red flag, the revolutionaries caught the Spanish guardia civil by surprise.

For its role in the revolution, the province earned its place in the Philippine flag as one of the eight rays of the sun, each ray representing the province that revolted against the Spaniards. 

Drilon rejects proposal to amend Blue Ribbon rules

MANILA-Senate President Franklin M. Drilon today said he was not inclined to amend the rules of the Blue Ribbon Committee as suggested by former Senator Joker Arroyo who claimed that the Senate’s investigation into the alleged overpriced Makati Parking Building as "one-sided.”

“First of all, the rules are proven to work. We must remember that the Blue Ribbon Committee is not a judicial proceeding, nor is it a criminal investigation. It is primarily in aid of legislation and in seeking the truth. The rules have been there, and they work well, and they continue to work well,” Drilon emphasized. 

“The present rules being applied by the current Blue Ribbon committee are the same rules that our former colleague, Joker, used when he was the chair of the Blue Ribbon Committee,” said Drilon.

He said that the present setup served well in uncovering a wide range of anomalies which the Blue Ribbon committee had investigated in the past.

“These are the rules that enabled the Blue Ribbon Committee to find out the truth with thePhilippine International Air Terminals Co. (Piatco) deal, to discover the anomalies in the North Rail Project, and the ones used in the Fertilizer Scam,” pointed out Drilon.

With this, the Senate chief said he was not in favor of amending the present rules as they are proven to be effective in uncovering the truth and exposing government frailties.

“Those rules have been there for a long time, and I am not in favor of amending the rules,” he stressed. 

Congress should heed Sereno's plea for higher budget

MANILA-Sen. Ralph Recto said Congress should heed Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno’s appeal for a higher judiciary budget, but any increase, he said, can be attached to performance outcomes like faster disposal of cases.

The plea to augment the budget of our courts has merit, Recto said. “It is a request which should not invite a dissenting opinion.”

While the judiciary’s budget has increased from P11.2 billion in 2010 to P19.3 billion this year and to a proposed P20.3 billion for 2015, “it, however, accounts for less than one percent of total government expenditures,” Recto said.

He noted that while the national budget will expand by a robust 15.1 percent next year, the judiciary’s budget will only grow by 4.8 percent.

What the Senate and the House can do, Recto said, is go through the “original wish list” of the judiciary for 2015 and “take a second look on items which were not included in the 2015 national budget Malacanang has sent to Congress.”

He noted that during the budget preparation the judiciary requested P152 million for new equipment but instead got zero in the National Expenditure Program (NEP).

It likewise asked for P500 million for the construction of the Cebu City Halls of Justice Complex and the same was not favorably endorsed by the executive branch, Recto said.

A briefer prepared by the Court Administrator of the Supreme Court said only P10 million out of its original request of P914 million for “buildings and infrastructure” was carried in the NEP.

In the same presentation, the SC is also requesting funds to hire 2,239 court legal researchers and 3,089 personnel for 172 new Child and Family Courts.

Funding for the creation of these positions was also not endorsed by Malacanang to Congress.

“Maybe the executive has its own reasons for denying the requests. In the case of the halls of justice, it has always been its position that the funds be lodged with the Department of Justice,” Recto said.

What the legislature can do is revisit the original request of the judiciary and put back what needs to be restored, Recto said.

The judiciary originally requested a budget of P31.3 billion for 2015 but a review by the DBM pared this down to P20.3 billion.

When it comes to appropriations, Recto said “Congress is in the position to reconcile the differences in opinion between the other two branches.”

While the judiciary can dip into the Judiciary Development Fund to bankroll some of its capital outlay requirements, “the fund’s P1.2 billion annual collection may not be enough, more so if we consider that proceeds have been earmarked for other uses by law,” Recto pointed out.

Mere collection of JDF alone should not disqualify the judiciary from receiving appropriations for other purposes, Recto said.

“There are many agencies which spend the fees they collect and yet they still get funds from the national budget. In 2015, earmarked revenues will reach P86 billion. Yet it is only JDF, which represents a fraction of it, which is attracting attention,” Recto said.

“Isang halimbawa n’yan yung Road Users Tax na aabot ng P14.4 billion ang collections next year, na ginagasta na wala namang appropriation. ‘Yan siguro ang dapat silipin,” Recto said.

But should Congress increase the budget of the judiciary, “it should be anchored on a set of deliverables,” Recto said.

“Can we improve, for example, the present 38 percent disposition rate of cases in lower courts? Will velocity of cases improve in other courts?” Recto said.

In 2012, 2,214 lower courts disposed 376,289 of the 988,291 cases they handled that year.

Also in the same year, the Supreme Court reported a 38% case disposal rate out of a total case intake of 11,302.

Recto believes that investing more funds in the courts will allow them to reduce docket backlog and speed up the resolution of cases. 

He cited an SC “reform project piloted in Quezon City courts” as an example of what funding support to the judiciary can do. Dubbed HUSTISYEAH, it has reportedly resulted in a 30-percent drop in pending cases.

Legarda: Deadline Extended for Submission of Curatorial Proposals for Philippine Pavilion in Venice Biennale 2015

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda today renewed her call to Filipino curators and artists to submit their curatorial proposals for the Philippines’ national pavilion in the 56^thInternational Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale 2015 as the deadline for submission has been extended until September 3, 2014.

The deadline for submission of curatorial proposals has been extended so that more curators and artists can participate.

“We encourage our Filipino curators and artists to take part in this project by submitting their proposals. This is our comeback pavilion after 50 years of absence in this prestigious art event in Venice, Italy and we want to showcase our citizens’ talent and our nation’s rich cultural heritage through this event,” she said.

The Coordinating Committee, composed of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), in partnership with the Office of Senator Loren Legarda, is accepting curatorial proposals from Filipino curators and artists residing in the Philippines and abroad.

The curator must be a Filipino citizen, has curated international contemporary art exhibitions and has sufficient grasp of contemporary art discourse and practice; while the artists must be Filipino citizens and must have participated in one major national exhibition.

The open call proposal form is available at the NCCA website www.ncca.gov.ph. The proposal form should be submitted with the curatorial proposal, which includes title of the exhibition, curatorial concept (800 -1,000 words only), proposed exhibition lay-out, curriculum vitae of the curator and participating artists, budget (production of the works only, production timeline, and contact information.

For more information, curators and artists may contact the Coordinating Committee through 527-2206 or info@philartvenicebiennale2015.net.

Drilon: Senate seen to strongly support anti-dynasty bill

MANILA-Senate President Franklin M. Drilon today expressed confidence that the proposed anti-dynasty bill stands a good chance in Congress, especially with the backing of President Aquino who recently threw his support for the bill's passage.

“Sa Senado po, amin pong maipapasa ang anti-dynasty bill. Sa aking tingin, susuportahan naman ito ng aking mga kasama sa Senado dahil makakabuti ito sa estado ng ating pulitika,” Drilon said during a radio interview.

(“We could pass the anti-dynasty bill in the Senate. In my view, my colleagues in the Senate would support its passage, since it will improve the state of our country’s politics.”)

Drilon said he expects his fellow senators “to give the bill a fighting chance, and that they will uphold the democratic interests of our people foremost once we commence debating and crafting the anti- political dynasty bill.”

Earlier, the Senate leader urged his colleagues to allow a constructive debate over the proposed measure.

“I would like to believe that my colleagues in the Senate understand how important the end of political dynasties would be to the progress of Philippine governance. Support for the measure among senators would not be hard to achieve,” he said.

The Senate chief added that “as lawmakers of the land, it is our duty to ensure that provisions under the Constitution – which include the prohibition of political dynasties – are made into active and fully working laws.”

Drilon stressed that the country has waited long enough to pass the enabling law that will completely ban political dynasties from Philippine governance, as stated under the 1987 Constitution.

“It has been past three decades already, and given the administration's reformist stance, we enjoy a supportive political climate, so every opportunity that has been unavailable in previous years is now with us lawmakers to act on," said Drilon.

Drilon noted that the House version of the anti-political dynasty bill, HB 3587, has been already sponsored before the plenary last May, and is steadily gaining support among congressmen, capped off by House of Representatives Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.’s expression of support towards the initiative.

“Once the House of Representatives finish and pass their version of the anti- political dynasty bill, we in the Senate will immediately pick up and start our discussions towards the passage of the version in the upper chamber,” he explained.

“We need to listen to the demands of the people. We have already done it with the end of the pork barrel. The Senate heard and acted on the people's clamor to abolish the pork barrel and we shall do it again," he said.

ANGARA ACCEPTS ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE, FILES RARE DISEASES BILL

MANILA-Aside from taking on the ice bucket challenge on Thursday and donating to a local rare diseases support group, Senator Sonny Angara has filed Rare Diseases Bill which aims to provide patients with rare diseases and their families better access to adequate medical care, health information, and healthcare products needed to treat their condition.

A rare disease, also known as orphan disorder, is any health condition resulting from genetic defects that rarely affect the general population. Rare diseases are often chronic, progressive, degenerative, and life-threatening.

The amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) became one of the most popular rare diseases worldwide today, thanks to the ice bucket challenge that aims to raise awareness and funds to help strike out ALS.

World Health Organization (WHO) data shows that there are 7,000 known rare diseases. 50 to 70 percent of which affect children while 30 percent of patients die before they reach the age of five.

According to the Philippine Society for Orphan Disorders (PSOD), the prevalence of rare diseases in the country is 1:20,000, with 227 patient families in the PSOD registry representing 48 rare disorders as of 2014.

Among the most common rare diseases in the Philippines are the maple syrup urine disease with 126 patients listed in PSOD, and the mucopolysaccharidoses II with 49 patients.

Since these diseases afflict only a small number of people, there is a lack of health practitioners who are experts in the field, and only a handful of companies manufacture medicines for rare diseases in the country.

There is also little government support for patients and research centers for orphan drug development in the Philippines.

"Such a situation makes treatment, often life-long, costly and far beyond the reach of most Filipino patients," Angara said.

"It should be national policy that the state endeavors toward universal healthcare, even for rare diseases," stressed the lawmaker, who is one of the authors of the Universal Healthcare Act of 2013.

Angara's Senate Bill No. 2383 aims to ensure that every patient diagnosed to have a rare disease has access to comprehensive medical care, including drugs and healthcare products, as well as timely health information to help them cope with their condition.

It also seeks to create and maintain a Rare Disease Registry that will contain data on rare diseases in the Philippines, patients afflicted with rare diseases, and orphan drugs and products.

"This data will be utilized in formulating policies, identifying program interventions and designing researches that will eventually address the needs of patients with rare disease," Angara explained.

The proposed measure further seeks to mandate the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to include the cost of treatment of rare diseases in the benefit package, and to direct provisions from the sin taxes collection to cover the cost of care for patients with rare diseases.

Senators Pia Cayetano, who lost her youngest son to complications from a rare congenital disease, and Cynthia Villar have also filed similar bills.

"Definitely, this ice bucket challenge craze would eventually die down. Looking forward, there is a need to integrate public educational and informational campaigns in the current programs of the Health Department to identify persons afflicted with rare disease and help the public understand the special needs of such persons," Angara said.

Aside from accepting the challenge and filing the bill, the senator will also donate US$100 a month for the next year to PSOD.

Angara was earlier nominated by Cebu Rep. Luigi Quisumbing, and in turn, he nominated Sen. Cayetano and Gilas Pilipinas Coach Chot Reyes to do the challenge.

Drilon: Gov’t underspending could undermine Aquino admin economic gains

MANILA-Even as the country continues to register a laudable economic expansion in the second quarter of 2014, a sharp drop in government spending – if not addressed immediately – could pull down overall growth and make the full-year 6.5% to 7% growth unattainable, Senate President Franklin M. Drilon today said.

Drilon said that the current data shows clear sign of underspending by the government. The government consumption for the Q2 of 2014 is only P221.73 billion, which registered a zero growth when compared to its level of consumption of P221.68 billion in the same period last year.

"Government consumption" refers to government spending on public projects or programs made through disbursement of funds allocated to agencies. 

“That zero percent growth is a far cry from the 17 percent growth rate we saw between the Q2 2013 and 2012 when DAP was in effect and fast-tracked public expenditures,” he emphasized.

“If the current level of spending continues for the rest of the months, it will affect many aspects of our economy. For one, unemployment would continue to rise if the government does not accelerate spending because government programs, particularly infrastructure projects, pave the way for job creation,” Drilon pointed out.

He added that the slowdown in public spending could undermine the economic gains in the past years of the Aquino administration.

Drilon noted that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) partly attributed the slower spending to "administrative bottlenecks," which pulled down growth in public construction and other economically-important government programs

Drilon however said that the drag in government spending might be the “chilling effect” of the Supreme Court’s decision on the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

“The members of the bureaucracy now have apprehension against taking initiatives, because they might face charges stemming from the DAP decision. Whether you like it or not, the SC decision on the DAP had a chilling effect on the government expenditure program," the Senate leader said earlier.

He reiterated that the challenge now for the country’s economic managers is to find ways to ramp up public spending in the remaining months of the year, without resorting to DAP-like mechanism which the Supreme Court ruled out as unconstitutional. 

Philippine Congress to hosts Asian Regional Consultative Meeting to Review the Common Principles for Parliamentary Development

MANILA-The Senate of the Philippines and House of Representatives, together with the Inter-Parliamentary Union, are hosting the Asian Regional Consultative Meeting to Review the Common Principles for Parliamentary Development on, August 28, 2014, at the Manila Hotel.

            More than 20 secretaries general of parliaments across the region and officials from parliamentary development institutes and international organizations are participating in the two-day consultative meeting (August 28 and 29, 2014) aimed at improving the quality of parliamentary development support through better cooperation and coordination.

            Senate President Franklin Drilon said that the Philippine Senate’s long history of active collaboration in the work of the IPU and the Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments.  “I am again delighted that the Congress of the Philippines is hosting this IPU event which will harness the contribution of Secretaries General of Asian national parliaments, parliamentary officials and parliamentary development organizations to the proposed Common Principles of Parliamentary Development,” said Drilon.

            In November 2013, a drafting group composed of the European Parliament, the French National Assembly, the United Nations Development Programme, the National Democratic Institute, and the IPU began work on the Principles in response to requests from parliamentary development practitioners.  To ensure broad ownership, support and endorsement of the Common Principles, the IPU has invited national parliaments and organizations involved in parliamentary development to contribute to the document.

IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong, in a letter to secretaries general of national parliaments from the Asian Region and to officials of organizations that provide parliamentary development support said, “These Principles aim to provide helpful guidelines for suitable and effective parliamentary development assistance by strengthening cooperation, coordination and quality.  They are the fruit of the contributions by national parliaments, the Inter-Parliamentary Union and parliamentary development organizations.”

            The two-day Asian Regional Consultative Meeting in Manila is part of the process of broad consultation to invite final input to the draft Common Principles before it is presented for adoption to the IPU’s governing bodies in October 2014.

           

            The Philippine Congress contingent to the Asian Regional Consultative Meeting to Review the Common Principles for Parliamentary Development will be led by Senate Secretary Yabes and House of Representatives Secretary General Marilyn Barua – Yap.  Joining them are Senate Deputy Secretary for Legislation Edwin Bellen, Senate Deputy Secretary for Administration and Finance Arnel Jose Bañas, House Deputy Secretary General for Operations Artemio Adasa, and House Deputy Secretary General for Committee Affairs Arlene Dada – Arnaldo.