P468-M JICA-funded bridge to provide infra link to 50,000 folks in Aurora, Quezon

DINGALAN, Aurora – An estimated 50,000 residents in 22 barangays in the twin provinces of Aurora and Quezon will be the direct beneficiaries of a P468-million,  Japanese government-funded bridge which was launched in this coastal town.

Sen. Edgardo Angara said the 358-linear meter Umiray bridge, funded mostly by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, will – for the first time – open the province to Quezon (formerly Tayabas) by June 2014 and will open up a third gateway to Aurora through the Manila-Infanta Road.

“As you can see, Aurora is connected to Manila only via the Baler-Bongabon (Nueva Ecija) and the Pantabangan (Nueva Ecija)-Canili (Ma. Aurora) Road. So essentially, you are opening a third gateway to Aurora with this bridge,” he said.

Angara and Japanese Ambassador Toshinao Urabe led the ground-breaking rites for the bridge in Barangay Umiray in the boundary of the twin provinces. Also witnessing the event were Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, JICA senior representative Sachiko Takeda,Department of Agrarian Reform undersecretary for support services Jerry Pacturan,  Quezon Gov. David Suarez, and Mayors Zenaida Padiernos of Dingalan and Leovigildo Ruzol of Gen. Nakar.

The Umiray river serves as a boundary for the two barangays that are named after the river, one side is in Dingalan, Aurora belonging to Central Luzon. The other side is in Gen. Nakar, Quezon which is under Southern Tagalog.

Angara said the river is a very important river basin because its water supplies Metro Manila with drinking water and the provinces of Bulacan and Rizal with irrigation water.

Pacturan said the  bridge project is part of the government’s efforts to spur rural development, ease poverty and ensure food security through improved trade and commerce in the area where people could bring with ease their goods from one side of the river to the other.

Pacturan said Umiray folks  pay a high cost in hauling a sack of farm goods from either side of Gen. Nakar or of Dingalan, which is pegged at P70 – P50 for manual hauling and P20 for boat fare.

He said the amount would substantially be reduced to P15 once the bridge becomes available for traffic by June 2014, its target date of completion, the very year when the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) expires. By then, farm goods can be transported on passenger jeepneys or tricycles.

Pacturan said the project is the culmination of a three-year consultation and planning conferences between and among all concerned national and local government agencies in partnership with JICA which will finance P368 million out of its total cost of P468 million.

Once completed, the bridge would also considerably reduce travel time and expenses from Aurora to Quezon and vice versa, and spare local residents from negotiating long stretches of rough and rugged road just to get to the town proper of either Dingalan or Gen. Nakar.

A total of 50,093 residents in 22 barangays of the two provinces, including 13,735 in four agrarian reform communities (ARCs) – Umiray in Gen. Nakar and Umiray, Ibona and Matawe in Dingalan – will directly benefit from the bridge.

Ruzol said the bridge will also help ease the long-standing problem of local residents of Nakar of being isolated, especially during rainy seasons or when natural calamities occur, such as flashfloods and rain-induced landslides. (Manny Galvez)

Legarda Pushes for Declaration of Waling-Waling as Nat’l Flower

MANILA, January 31, 2013-Senator Loren Legarda is pushing for the declaration of the Waling-Waling as another national flower to make its beauty known to the whole country and to the world.

“The Waling-Waling’s beauty adorns our treetops, especially in Davao, Cotabato, and Zamboanga where it is endemic. But there are threats to its survival, as the flowers that grow and thrive in the wild are harvested for commercial and decorative purposes, and their habitat is destroyed by deforestation,” Legarda said.

In October 2012, Legarda filed Senate Bill 3307, or An Act Declaring the Waling-Waling Orchid as National Flower of the Philippines in Addition to Sampaguita as Declared in Proclamation No. 652 Dated 01 February 1934 by Governor-General Frank Murphy.

The bill, which was submitted for the Senate’s approval under Committee Report 497, was passed on second reading on January 28.

“The approval of this measure will place the Waling-Waling under protection, as it will mandate the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources to promulgate rules and regulations for conserving and propagating the Waling-Waling orchid together with Sampaguita,” the Senator stressed.

The Waling-Waling, known as the Queen of Philippine Orchids, has been confirmed by the National Museum of the Philippines as indigenous and endemic to our country, while the Sampaguita is native to India and Arabia.

“Our national symbols are vital to our identity as Filipinos. As we discover more about ourselves, we must also update the symbols that represent us. I believe that initiatives to do so increase the engagement of everyday Filipinos with the symbols of our nation, and aid in our nation-building process. Thus, in addition to Sampaguita, I hope that the Waling-Waling Orchid be declared a National Flower of the Philippines,” Legarda concluded.

Legarda Pushes for Declaration of Waling-Waling as Nat’l Flower

MANILA, January 31, 2013-Senator Loren Legarda is pushing for the declaration of the Waling-Waling as another national flower to make its beauty known to the whole country and to the world.

“The Waling-Waling’s beauty adorns our treetops, especially in Davao, Cotabato, and Zamboanga where it is endemic. But there are threats to its survival, as the flowers that grow and thrive in the wild are harvested for commercial and decorative purposes, and their habitat is destroyed by deforestation,” Legarda said.

In October 2012, Legarda filed Senate Bill 3307, or An Act Declaring the Waling-Waling Orchid as National Flower of the Philippines in Addition to Sampaguita as Declared in Proclamation No. 652 Dated 01 February 1934 by Governor-General Frank Murphy.

The bill, which was submitted for the Senate’s approval under Committee Report 497, was passed on second reading on January 28.

“The approval of this measure will place the Waling-Waling under protection, as it will mandate the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources to promulgate rules and regulations for conserving and propagating the Waling-Waling orchid together with Sampaguita,” the Senator stressed.

The Waling-Waling, known as the Queen of Philippine Orchids, has been confirmed by the National Museum of the Philippines as indigenous and endemic to our country, while the Sampaguita is native to India and Arabia.

“Our national symbols are vital to our identity as Filipinos. As we discover more about ourselves, we must also update the symbols that represent us. I believe that initiatives to do so increase the engagement of everyday Filipinos with the symbols of our nation, and aid in our nation-building process. Thus, in addition to Sampaguita, I hope that the Waling-Waling Orchid be declared a National Flower of the Philippines,” Legarda concluded.

Legarda Pushes for Declaration of Waling-Waling as Nat’l Flower

MANILA, January 31, 2013-Senator Loren Legarda is pushing for the declaration of the Waling-Waling as another national flower to make its beauty known to the whole country and to the world.

“The Waling-Waling’s beauty adorns our treetops, especially in Davao, Cotabato, and Zamboanga where it is endemic. But there are threats to its survival, as the flowers that grow and thrive in the wild are harvested for commercial and decorative purposes, and their habitat is destroyed by deforestation,” Legarda said.

In October 2012, Legarda filed Senate Bill 3307, or An Act Declaring the Waling-Waling Orchid as National Flower of the Philippines in Addition to Sampaguita as Declared in Proclamation No. 652 Dated 01 February 1934 by Governor-General Frank Murphy.

The bill, which was submitted for the Senate’s approval under Committee Report 497, was passed on second reading on January 28.

“The approval of this measure will place the Waling-Waling under protection, as it will mandate the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources to promulgate rules and regulations for conserving and propagating the Waling-Waling orchid together with Sampaguita,” the Senator stressed.

The Waling-Waling, known as the Queen of Philippine Orchids, has been confirmed by the National Museum of the Philippines as indigenous and endemic to our country, while the Sampaguita is native to India and Arabia.

“Our national symbols are vital to our identity as Filipinos. As we discover more about ourselves, we must also update the symbols that represent us. I believe that initiatives to do so increase the engagement of everyday Filipinos with the symbols of our nation, and aid in our nation-building process. Thus, in addition to Sampaguita, I hope that the Waling-Waling Orchid be declared a National Flower of the Philippines,” Legarda concluded.

Legarda Pushes for Declaration of Waling-Waling as Nat’l Flower

MANILA, January 31, 2013-Senator Loren Legarda is pushing for the declaration of the Waling-Waling as another national flower to make its beauty known to the whole country and to the world.

“The Waling-Waling’s beauty adorns our treetops, especially in Davao, Cotabato, and Zamboanga where it is endemic. But there are threats to its survival, as the flowers that grow and thrive in the wild are harvested for commercial and decorative purposes, and their habitat is destroyed by deforestation,” Legarda said.

In October 2012, Legarda filed Senate Bill 3307, or An Act Declaring the Waling-Waling Orchid as National Flower of the Philippines in Addition to Sampaguita as Declared in Proclamation No. 652 Dated 01 February 1934 by Governor-General Frank Murphy.

The bill, which was submitted for the Senate’s approval under Committee Report 497, was passed on second reading on January 28.

“The approval of this measure will place the Waling-Waling under protection, as it will mandate the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources to promulgate rules and regulations for conserving and propagating the Waling-Waling orchid together with Sampaguita,” the Senator stressed.

The Waling-Waling, known as the Queen of Philippine Orchids, has been confirmed by the National Museum of the Philippines as indigenous and endemic to our country, while the Sampaguita is native to India and Arabia.

“Our national symbols are vital to our identity as Filipinos. As we discover more about ourselves, we must also update the symbols that represent us. I believe that initiatives to do so increase the engagement of everyday Filipinos with the symbols of our nation, and aid in our nation-building process. Thus, in addition to Sampaguita, I hope that the Waling-Waling Orchid be declared a National Flower of the Philippines,” Legarda concluded.

Team PNoy, not Team Pinoy, clarifies Drilon

MANILA, January 30, 2013-The campaign manager of the administration senatorial candidates, Liberal Party stalwart Senator Franklin M. Drilon, today clarified that the pro-administration senatorial coalition team was named Team PNoy and not Team Pinoy as being reported in the media.

Team PNoy, a coalition that was formed among the Liberal Party-Nacionalista Party-Nationalist People's Coalition and Akbayan last year, is, aside from P-Noy, the most common and preferred reference to President Aquino.

It is the real and only team of the President for the upcoming mid-term elections, stressed Drilon.

“These are the people who the President chose to be his team in order to push his reforms for the last three years of his administration. It is clear to him: ito ang kasama ko sa tuwid na daan,” he said.

“This is his team and he is asking his people to support his team because he has a number of reforms to push for the last three years of his administration. Kung may tiwala sila kay Presidente, iboboto nila itong kasama ni Presidente.” he added.

He also said the coalition’s new-found name clearly draws the line between the people who chose to align with the President’s reforms and to pursue straight path in carrying out their roles in the Senate and those who are only disguising as “matuwid.”      

While there are others who are trying to join the “Daang Matuwid”, not everyone is sincere, not everyone can be trusted, said Drilon. There are 12 names that PNoy can trust: Rep. Sonny Angara, Bam Aquino, Sen. Alan Cayetano, Sen. Francis Escudero, former Rep. Rissa Hontiveros, Sen. Loren Legarda, former Sen. Jamby Madrigal, former Sen. Ramon Magsaysay, Jr., Sen. Koko Pimentel, Grace Poe, Sen. Antonio Trillanes and former Rep. Cynthia Villar.

Also, the Team PNoy implies that all the candidates running under this team are under the tutelage of the President, ended Drilon.

UNA wants to turn PNoy into a lame duck president, says Drilon

MANILA, January 30, 2013-Senator Franklin M. Drilon, the campaign manager of Team PNoy today said the victory of the administration senatorial candidates in the May 2013 elections will thwart any plan of the opposition to turn President Aquino into a lame duck leader in the next three years.

Drilon, a Liberal Party stalwart, also stressed that the victory of the administration’s senatorial bets in the upcoming elections will play a crucial role in escalating the reforms that President Aquino intends to do in the last three years of his governance.

“In the last three years of this administration, the opposition is trying to make this administration a lame duck. We are conscious of that. The President is conscious of that. We draw the line and we will not be lame duck. We will have the majority of the people with us because we still have reforms to do,” emphasized Drilon.

“That’s a challenge for us. We will show that for the next three years, we will do things correctly; we will do things in a manner that a decent right-thinking will do regardless of politics,” he added.

Drilon also said the President is ready to campaign for his team to ensure its victory in order to help him push the reform measures he wants to see in the next three years.

“He is not afraid to spend his political capital because there are a lot of reforms that he has to do in the last three years of his administration and it is essential that he should have the majority in the Senate in order that he can push these reforms,” explained Drilon.

“The platform of the President is daang matuwid. The President is taking his political capital on this advocacy. He has chosen a team that he will tell in his people: give me the majority in the Senate that can help me push my programs for the last three years,” he added.

Drilon also challenged the rival party, the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), to define the lines by coming out as the opposition.

“Let’s define the lines. We are the administration; you are the opposition. There is nothing wrong with that. In democracy, opposition is necessary,” he said.

“We have to do that because we want to define where we are and where they are. In my 15 years of experience in the Senate, I have proven that this is the most unmanageable group. Look, in the recent past and even today, can you tell me who is in the majority and the minority in the Senate?” ended Drilon.

Legarda: Senate Concurs in Ratification of Treaty Establishing UNESCO Learning Center for Sustainable Dev’t.

Senator Loren Legarda today celebrated the Senate’s concurrence in the ratification of the agreement between the Philippine government and the UNESCO to establish the Southeast Asian Center for Lifelong Learning for Sustainable Development (SEA CLLSD) in the country.

“The establishment of the SEA CLLSD envisions the creation of an educational framework that works for sustainable development. It seeks to develop and provide appropriate learning programs, which aim to benefit the marginalized, the disadvantaged, and the under-served members of the population, including our indigenous peoples, our out-of-school youth and our non-literate adults,” she said.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, said that broadly defined in UNESCO parlance, lifelong learning encompasses formal, non-formal, and informal modes of providing education to learners, with the end view of empowering people of all ages to become responsible for their surroundings and for them to strive for a sustainable environment.

She added that the Center provides the Philippines an opportunity for technical exchanges, collaboration and cooperation with its neighbors in the area of lifelong education for sustainability. 

“Through this, we are able to share, compare, and learn from one another’s practices and experiences. We can expect to continuously renew, improve and innovate on our learning and education systems to serve the higher goals of social development and sustainability,” Legarda concluded.

BICAM REPORT ON SWIFT, INEXPENSIVE LABOR DISPUTE SETTLEMENT GETS SENATE NOD

MANILA, January 30, 2013-The bicameral conference committee report which seeks to institutionalize conciliation-mediation as mode for voluntary labor dispute settlement was adopted by the Senate last Monday.

 

Conciliation-mediation is described as “a non-litigious, non-adversarial, less expensive and expeditious mechanism in assisting contending parties towards reaching their own mutually-acceptable settlement to the labor dispute.”

 

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, principal author of the measure, says that the report on the disagreeing provisions on Senate Bill 2918 and House Bill 6686 prescribes that all cases arising from labor and employment shall now be subject to mandatory conciliation-mediation.

 

Sen. Estrada, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development, says that the measure follows the success made by the Single Entry Approach (SEnA) Program implemented by the Department of Labor and Employment.

 

Under the SEnA, labor disputes (including money claims, termination of employment, unfair labor practice, OFW cases, among others) shall undergo a 30-day mandatory conciliation-mediation process to effect settlement between parties.

 

Since the implementation of the SEnA in October 2010 up to August 2012, the DOLE Regional Offices settled 71% of the cases referred to them, while other attached agencies settled 81% of the cases.

 

“This alternative labor dispute mechanism does away with the hassle of going through the usually brutal and slow process of adjudication and litigation. As we have seen in the initial implementation based on SEnA, this has effectively declogged the adjudication system and allowed parties to reach agreeable settlement without delay and through continued dialogues” Jinggoy states.

Legarda Hails Declaration of Paredes House in Abra as Historical Site

Senator Loren Legarda hailed the declaration of the residence of Don Quintin Paredes in Abra as a national historical site, conferred by virtue of Senate Resolution 136.

“The Senate Resolution to declare the residence of Don Quintin Paredes in Abra as a national historical site, which I authored, was approved last December 12. The National Historical Institute has approved the provisions of the resolution and the inauguration and laying of the cornerstone is set on February 23. This move is only fitting to honor a great and distinguished man who lived his life in the service of the Filipino people,” she said.

Legarda remarked that from his humble beginnings in Bangued, Abra, Don Quintin went on to hold many important government positions such as Manila City Fiscal, Attorney General, Secretary of Justice, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Senate President Pro-Tempore, and later, Senate President. He was also a member of the parliamentary mission to the United States in 1919.

“Don Quintin authored the Magna Carta for Labor while never giving up on his advocacy in promoting vocational courses in education. He also contributed to the review of the provisions of the Revised Penal Code as a member of the Code Commission. But more than his exemplary service as a lawyer and legislator, Don Quintin championed the cause for civil liberties,” she detailed.

Legarda noted that author Frank Ephraim, in his book Escape to Manila, which documented the plight of the Jews during the Nazi regime, chronicled how Quintin Paredes chaired a local rally to denounce the persecution of Jews by Nazi in Germany.

“Even after he retired from public service at the age of 79 in 1963, he continued to be a defender of rights through his practice of law. Don Quintin's is a life from which we can draw inspiration as he exemplifies hard work and belief in the importance of every individual,” Legarda concluded.

The Son(ny) also Rises Part II

BALER, Aurora, January 27, 2013- It’s tough when you are the son of a politician. But it’s relatively tougher when you are the son of an accomplished politician, particularly one who is considered the “best president we never had.” You have to work double, even triple time perhaps to approximate the achievements of parents.

A classic example is our very own voice in Congress, Rep. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, the son of Senator Ed Angara and the former Gloria Manalang, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) President during the Estrada administration.

Blessed with boyish good looks, Cong. Sonny has his pedigree as an added blessing. But will he be his own man?

The answer is yes. The Son (ny) also rises. He basks in the glory of his illustrious parents but is doing everything to re-invent himself, distinct and separate from the surname.

IMAGE MODEL 

For one, Cong. Sonny has put one (or I would say two?) over Senator Edong. For one, the congressman was named a TOYM awardee, a distinction never bestowed on the elder statesman. Maybe because the award was only for young men as the name suggests (he he) but in fairness to Cong. Sonny, his being an Angara did not make him a graduate of the London School of Economics, Harvard, and University of the Philippines. He certainly earned it and Senator Edong never had a part except perhaps sending him to school. The father was not the one who answered his test papers

For another, Cong. Sonny has become an image model of the sweet smelling eu de toilette for men, Blackwater Elite. He’s certainly in good company with Senator Bongbong Marcos, Christian Bautista and Sam Milby? That’s a milestone enough, isn’t it? Even Coco Martin manifested his support to Sonny.

Now, why go for Sonny Angara when there are so many other senatorial candidates equally qualified and competent.

         

Some may not exactly agree but the people behind Blackwater’s Elite Homme say that the congressman exudes a pleasant aura, is charming and friendly. He’s a loving and caring husband to Tootsy and father to Manolo, Ines, and Javier.

         

Needless to say, he has the looks of a movie star. In the words of Kuya Germs Moreno, “Puedeng pang ‘That’s Entertainment.”

By the way, Sonny, 40, recalls he grew up watching Kuya Germs in “That’s” and secretly desired to be part of the youth-oriented group.

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON 

Sonny is like Sen. Angara in many ways, though not exactly a copycat. Both of them are lawyers, are products of UP and Harvard, are economists and are public servants.

         

The younger Angara finished grade school and high school at Xavier and studied at the London School of Economics (LSE) and Political Science.

In case you don’t know, LSE is one of the best schools in Europe.

         

While he says he is his own man, Sonny is humble enough to admit that what he is today is because of his father.

         

Here’s praying that we’ll see him delivering his privilege speech or interpellating a colleague in the august halls of the Senate later this year. (Jason de Asis)

Legarda: Senate Should Focus on Filipinos’ Pressing Needs

MANILA, January 27, 2013-Senator Loren Legarda today enjoined her fellow senators who have been engaged in heated arguments to settle their differences and stressed that the Senate should be a solid institution that is focused on addressing the more important and pressing needs of the country.

Legarda also reiterated her support to Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

“I continue to support Senate President Enrile as many other senators do. I believe in his wisdom and capability, and the Senate as a body has accomplished much under his leadership,” she said.

“What is happening in the Senate for the past days and weeks is unfortunate and has caused divisiveness. We should immediately agree on how to resolve the issues without having to set aside what we must do for our people. The Senate has to take the path of healing so that it can focus again on helping our wounded people—those who have been affected by recent disasters, especially in Mindanao; those whose crops and livelihood are affected by the cold weather, particularly in Northern Luzon; those who need support to gain better opportunities, especially in the rural areas. Filipinos need their senators as public servants, as legislators who must focus on crafting laws that would uplift their lives and push for policies that would foster unity,” Legarda stressed.

Legarda Files Bill to Improve Welfare of OFWs

MANILA, January 27, 2013-Senator Loren Legarda has filed a bill to better promote the welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) through a new charter for the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

“This legislative measure seeks to redefine the functions of OWWA as a national government agency vested with the special function of developing and implementing welfare programs that respond to the needs of member-OFWs and their families,” she explained.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, said that the promotion of the welfare of Filipinos abroad is one of the pillars of the country’s foreign policy.

“This proposed measure contained in Senate Bill 3395 is part of much needed reforms to effectively respond to the growing number of OFWs. Given the challenges that hardworking Filipinos encounter in foreign countries where their resources and avenues for protection are limited, we should certainly focus on this issue,” she remarked.

“"Through this we will also establish clear-cut guidelines for the procedure for OWWA membership registration and renewal, ensure sufficiency of the agency's operative budget to support full protection of OFW welfare, and create the OWWA Fund as a private fund held in trust,” Legarda concluded.

time of your life

Trillanes belies black propaganda linking him as author of anti-military, police measure

MANILA, January 26, 2013-Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV vehemently denied on Sunday malicious text messages circulating recently in military and police camps, tagging him as one of the key sponsors of a bill that would substantially cut back the retirement benefits of police and military personnel.

The supposed “PNP/AFP Retirement Bill” would remove several benefits that military and police personnel will receive upon reaching the mandatory age for retirement, but Trillanes said there was no such bill pending in the Senate.

   

“This is obviously a black propaganda orchestrated by my political enemies. For the record, there is no such bill filed by this senator existing in the legislative index of the Senate or would I have advocated for such bill,” Trillanes said.

According to Trillanes, he has always been supportive of the causes to uplift the plight of the men and women in uniform being a former member of the Philippine Navy with the rank of lieutenant senior grade.

Among the measures he has put forward in the Senate for the AFP/PNP welfare benefits are:

·       Senate Bill No. 204 to increase the quarters allowance of AFP personnel to P5,000 for enlisted personnel, and P10,000 to P15,000 for officers;

·       Senate Joint Resolution 5 to increase the subsistence allowance from P90 to P150 per day for AFP personnel;

·       Senate Joint Resolution 8 to increase the combat duty pay of PA and PMAR troops to 25 per cent of their base pay;

·       AFP Insurance Coverage Act to grant additional P250,000 death and disability benefits, and P100,000 medical assistance to members killed/injured in line of duty;

·       Senate Bill No. 205 to provide payment of the arrears in the veterans’ pensions and benefits;

·       Senate Bill No. 393 to increase the combat duty pay of PNP combat personnel to 25 per cent of their base pay;

·       Senate Bill No. 197 to increase quarters allowance of PNP personnel; and

·       PNP Insurance Coverage Act to grant additional P250,000 death disability benefits, and P100,000 medical assistance to members killed/injured in line of duty.

“Through the years, I have worked toward the uplifting of the lives of our military and police personnel by introducing bills which I hope would have tremendous impact on their professional and economic lives.” 

“I was one of the authors of the new Salary Standardization Law which upgraded the salaries of our military and police personnel and all government employees,” he said.

In the same year, he added, the Military Service Board was created to process pending claims of war veterans. Recently, the new AFP Modernization Law, with which he is a co-principal author, was signed into law to extend the AFP Modernization Program for another 15 years and help the armed forces improve their capabilities to deal with internal and external threats.

Trillanes, a staunch supporter of the cause of military and police officers in the country, played an important role in exposing various corrupt practices within the military organization.

This prompted him to rise against the government of then president Gloria Arroyo. He then ran and won a seat in the Senate based on a strong anti-corruption platform and with a strong support from his former colleagues in the military.

JINGGOY: SENATORS ARE NOT SUPERHUMANS

MANILA, January 25, 2013-Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada sees no problem with senators delegating certain tasks to their respective chief of staff, as he himself admittedly does the same.

 

“Considering the voluminous number of documents that need to be seen, read, studied, signed and released by every office, each senator will necessarily delegate some of these tasks to his or her right hand man or woman and trusted employees. I see no problem with that. Senators are not superhumans,” Sen. Estrada explains.

 

Sen. Estrada says this is understandable given that apart from being legislators and national representatives of the people, senators being the titular heads of their office also oversee and carry out administrative and finance work.

 

Jinggoy further asserts that the work process does not diminish the stature of senators as nationally-elected public servants nor a strategy to escape accountability and responsibility, but actually an effective way to accomplish more work and ensure everything gets done.

 

On a related note, Sen. Estrada defended Atty. Gigi Reyes, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile’s Chief of Staff, saying that she is a “hardworking, trustworthy and exceptionally brilliant” lawyer.

 

“I have known Atty. Gigi for a long time. I have seen her work during late hours. Every senator would wish to have a staff and chief like her,” Jinggoy continues.

 

“I personally hope that she reconsiders her resignation. The Senate needs her,” Estrada concludes.