Drilon: Treaty or agreement? Let SC on decide on EDCA

MANILA-Senate President Franklin M. Drilon advised critics of the recently-signed Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and the United States to bring their concerns to the Supreme Court.

“It would be wise to bring up to the Supreme Court the debate on the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, for it is only the high court that can resolve with finality if the EDCA is a treaty that requires the concurrence of the Senate, or an executive agreement which the executive has the power under the Constitution to execute and implement,” said Drilon.

The Senate leader’s recommendations came after several quarters including lawmakers have expressed apprehension over the lack of congressional involvement in the agreement, which was signed last April 28 during the two-day Philippine visit of US President Barack Obama.

Drilon, a former executive and justice secretary, acknowledged the concerns about the EDCA’s conformity to the 1987 Constitution as “legitimate and valid,” and suggested that the EDCA be lodged at the Supreme Court, who will have the power to determine if the agreement must be first ratified as a treaty in Senate before it can be implemented.

“I urge everyone who opposed EDCA to go the Supreme Court, which is the only body that could finally decide whether this is a treaty which would require ratification by the Senate, or an executive agreement which will be implemented by a mere signature of the executive branch,” he said, adding that the SC is the “ultimate arbiter” in this issue.

He said it depends on the executive branch if it thinks the Senate concurrence is needed before the agreement is implemented. But he said the Senate can only act on it officially if executive branch decides to submit the document to the upper chamber.

“If the document is not sent to us, then we have nothing to ratify officially. So I would go back to my suggestion: bring it to the Supreme Court, who is the ultimate arbiter whether this is a treaty or an executive agreement,” said Drilon.

Legarda: Thousands Can Be Employed Through Green Jobs

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda today stressed on the importance of promoting green skills and green jobs, stating that it would provide employment opportunities and boost climate change adaptation efforts in the country.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committees on Environment and Natural Resources and on Climate Change, noted that there are already 3.5 million green jobs worldwide and the Philippines has the potential to generate thousands of green jobs, especially if there are more renewable energy investments in the country.

“We take note of the government’s continuing efforts to generate more jobs for our growing population. But despite the various programs to address unemployment, we still need to do more. We can encourage our citizens to train in green skills such as management in agriculture, forestry, horticulture, environmental information technology and other careers that contribute to environmental preservation,” she explained.

“We should also strengthen efforts to encourage more renewable energy investments in the country because this industry can provide thousands of jobs for our people. According to Greenpeace, a geothermal company in the country was able to employ 2,582 individuals for a 1,189-MW plant and that a 10-megawatt solar power plant can provide jobs for 1,000 people for six months during the period of construction and 100 permanent positions for its operation and maintenance,” she added.

The Senator, citing additional data from Greenpeace, said that the availability of green jobs in other nations and regions is rapidly increasing. In Europe, there are already about 650,000 green jobs created; more than 175,000 are employed in the United States’ wind and solar industries; and China has an estimated one million green jobs.[1]

“In generating green jobs, we also need to actively promote the importance of renewable energy projects and encourage Filipinos to consider employment in green industries which provide healthier working environment,” said Legarda.

“Our path should be towards sustainable and resilient development where progress is measured not only through material wealth, but also and more importantly, through the happiness, safety and well-being of our citizens,” Legarda concluded.

JINGGOY URGES GOV’T TO BE AGGRESSIVE IN CREATING JOBS

MANILA-On the occasion of the Labor Day, Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada urged today the Aquino administration to go all out and aggressive in creating jobs for the graduates, unemployed and new entrants to the country’s labor force.

 

Sen. Estrada, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development, said that economic growth coupled with intensive job generation and livelihood creation could be the best legacy of the administration as it completes its term in 2016.

 

 “As the government has successfully posted remarkable economic growth in the past years, what needs to be done is to ensure that the growth trickles down to the people and the masses as real benefits such as jobs. This is again consistent with the administration’s pursuit of inclusive growth, one that leaves no one behind,” Jinggoy said.

 

According to the January 2014 Labor Force Survey, the national unemployment rate was recorded at 7.5%. The figure is higher compared to the national average unemployment rate recorded for 2013 at 7.1% and for 2012 at 7.0%.

 

Jinggoy further noted that in the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey for the Fourth Quarter of 2013, adult joblessness was at 27.5%, higher than that posted during the previous quarter at 21.7%. The adult joblessness rate is equivalent to 12.1 million unemployed Filipinos.

 

Sen. Estrada also called on the administration to recognize the optimism of the labor force with respect to future job availability and to actually realize this public expectation. Jinggoy cited the same SWS survey showing 40% of adults believe that the “number of available jobs in the next 12 months will increase.”

 

“Many of our people anticipate a continued economic expansion with more and better available jobs for all. But sadly, employment figures indicate that not much has changed in turning the state of joblessness around. I hope that the next years could be better,” Jinggoy said.

Pantabangan Dam dips due to searing heat, nears critical level

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija–Water level at the giant Pantabangan Dam, which irrigates over 100,000 hectares of agricultural lands in three provinces in Central Luzon, dropped to 181 meters yesterday amid the searing heat and is now nearing critical level.

          Engineer Josie Salazar, operations manager of the National Irrigations Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems (UPRIIS) said the water level at the dam is now at 181.44 meters as of noon yesterday, which is lower compared to the 187.05 meters they recorded over the same period last year.

          Yesterday’s water level was way below the spilling level of 221 meters and is barely 9.44 meters above the critical level of 172 meters. It is projected to go down to 181.19 meters by the end of this month and to 178.3 meters by the end of June.

          Salazar attributed the dip in the dam’s water level to climate change, high temperature and additional area programmed for irrigation.

          She said that for this year, they have programmed for irrigation 114,026 hectares, up by 2,772 hectares from  last year’s 111, 254 hectares.

          Salazar stressed that in spite of the dwindling water supply, there is nothing to worry about since this is a normal occurrence during this time of the year.

          “The dam can manage all irrigated areas until the end of May and farmers are advised to maximize the use of water from the dam,”she said.  

        UPRIIS is the country’s largest national irrigation systems administratively supervised by NIA. It operates the World Bank-funded Pantabangan Dam which irrigates farmlands in Nueva Ecija, San Miguel and San Ildefonso in Bulacan and Arayat in Pampanga.

Water level at the Masiway, Rizal and Aulo Dams located at the downstream of Pantabangan Dam had also dwindled due to intense heat and lack of rains. (Manny Galvez)

PENRO chief calls on Aurorans to protect PH’s most forested province

BALER, Aurora-The chief of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) appealed to Aurorans to protect the country’s most forested province from denudation.

 

“Aurora is the most forested province in the Philippines at 65%. A record that might soon be gone if each one will not do his or her share to protect it,” Lucena Mercado told residents of barangay Buhangin in Baler town during the recent Kapihan ng Mamamayan of Philippine Information Agency.

 

Mercado cited the province’s five natural defenses against storm surges: coral reefs, tidal flats/shore areas, mangrove forests, beach forests, and tropical rain forests.

 

“We can no longer stop climate change but we can mitigate its ill effects if we work together as a community. Proper solid waste management and support to the National Greening Program (NGP) are among the keys to save our natural defenses here,” Mercado added.

 

NGP was created under Executive Order No. 26 of President Aquino to pursue sustainable development for poverty reduction, food security, biodiversity conservation, and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

 

It aims to plant 1.5 billion trees covering about 1.5 million hectares for a period of six years (2011-2016) in lands of public domain.

 

These lands include forestlands, mangrove and protected areas, ancestral domains, civil and military reservations and urban areas. (Jojo S. Libranda)

Jinggoy calls on Blue Ribbon to resolve sex-for-flight probe

MANILA-Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada called on the Blue Ribbon Committee to complete and resolve the investigation on the sex-for-flight issue, ultimately to introduce remedial measures to existing protection and welfare laws for the overseas Filipino workers.

 

The sex-for-flight scheme refers to the racket allegedly perpetrated by labor and embassy officials in the Middle East which victimized distressed OFWs in their custody into prostitution and sexual exploitation in exchange for repatriation ticket to the Philippines.

 

The Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development, headed by Sen. Estrada, is jointly conducting the public hearings with the Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations on the issue. The committees have already conducted three hearings on the issue, the last of which was on August 29, 2013.

 

The inquiry was caused by Sen. Estrada’s privilege speech entitled “Maginoo Pero Sobrang Bastos.” 

 

“I would like to call the attention of the Blue Ribbon Committee to continue the hearings on the sex-for-flight issue. Or if it does not have intention of pursuing the probe further, I believe we should wrap up the inquiries and release a report soon,” Jinggoy said.

 

It can be recalled that the victims surfaced and decried the double standard with respect to the preferential treatment of witnesses in the pork barrel scam in contrast to the attention given to the victims of sexual harassment and sex-for-flight modus who also exposed the illegal activities in the government.

 

Moreover, certain quarters expressed their disappointment with the decision issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regarding the lenient penalties imposed against the implicated labor officials.

 

Riyadh Labor attaché Adam Musa was meted with suspension without pay for one month for simple neglect of duty. On the other hand, Acting Labor Attaché Mario Antonio was sanctioned with a four-month suspension without pay for simple misconduct.

 

Recently, it was reported that assistant labor attaché to Riyadh Antonio Villafuerte was found guilty of sexual harassment and meted with a penalty of reprimand.

 

“Did the DOLE consider the evidence and testimonies presented before the Senate hearings before coming up with its own findings and ruling?” Jinggoy asked, adding: “I believe that whatever had been disclosed in the Senate proceedings could have been helpful in ferreting out the truth with regard to the sex-for-flight scheme and the accountability of the officers mentioned.”

Drilon: Gov’t needs to hire more gov’t prosecutors to boost war vs criminality

MANILA-Senate President Franklin M. Drilon today underscored the need to beef up the nation’s cadre of prosecutors, who are crucially involved in the country’s intensifying efforts to fight corruption and arrest criminality in the country.

The Senate leader, who was the guest speaker at the 26th National Convention of the Prosecutors League of the Philippines held on April 23,2014 in Legazpi, Albay, said that the magnitude of crime and corruption faced by the nation today “must make us all realize just how important is the country’s ability to prosecute criminals and promote the full iron rule of law.”

Drilon believes that the efficient prosecution of crimes will enforce an effective system of deterrence throughout the land.

“When we put these rogues in jail, we send the signal that no one is above the law. We make a strong statement that the law is always on the side of the victims and not on the side of the criminals regardless of their economic and social status,” stressed Drilon, a former Justice Secretary who had been known for his advocacy “Justice Agad.”

According to Drilon, prosecutors are indispensable in “gaining the trust and confidence of our people in the country’s justice system.”

“Our prosecutors play a huge role in bringing the perpetrators of every imaginable crime behind bars, where they rightfully belong,” he said.

With this, the Senate chief vowed that the Congress will continue to provide budgetary support for the hiring of prosecutors until the desired ratio of one prosecutor for every regional trial court is achieved.

In 2014, the Congress increased the budget for Prosecution Services to P2.6 billion from P2.5 billion in 2013. It also allocated funds to improve infrastructure of halls of justice, including the repair and improvement of existing courts and prosecutors’ offices.

“We expect that support to manifest unto tangible results for the country’s anti-criminal and corruption efforts,” concluded Drilon. 

AIM FOR ONE COLLEGE GRADUATE PER FILIPINO FAMILY, ANGARA URGES GOV'T

MANILA-Senator Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara on Friday called on the Aquino government to aim for an education agenda that targets at least one college graduate per family, including those living in poverty.

"State programs for education should transcend the tragedy of timid expectations. Since the problem on classroom shortage has been addressed decisively, we have reasons to believe that the present administration can do something to make sure that there is a college graduate for every Filipino family," the neophyte senator pointed out.

One suggestion of Angara is to reformat the P62 billion-a-year conditional cash transfer (CCT) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

"Maybe the DSWD can initiate a 'one college scholar per family' to those who are enrolled in the CCT program," he said.

Education and healthcare are the primary mandates of the CCT and raising the bar of the programs to include one college scholarship per family, Angara said, would not even alter the basic agenda of the CCT program.

He has filed one such bill, Senate Bill No. 58 or the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Higher and Technical Education (UNIFAST), and he hopes that President Aquino can persuade Congress to fast-track its approval before he steps down from Malacanang two years from now.

The lawmaker lamented recent studies which showed that out of 100 kids that start elementary education, only around less than 20 are able to graduate from college, and the usual reasons of the majority who did not finish were poverty and lack of opportunities.

Angara, author of the Free Kindergarten Law, said that education investment should be spent at all levels, and reforms should cover elementary, high school and college education.

He has also filed a bill that seeks to remove the prohibitive cost of entrance exam fees in all colleges and universities throughout the country.

The former congressman from Aurora, who used to chair the House committee on higher and technical education, has vowed to push for policies and measures that aim to provide opportunities and empower people, primarily through access to quality education and employment generation.

PNoy declares April 25 a special non-working holiday in Tarlac City

TARLAC CITY-President Benigno Aquino III has declared April 25, a Friday, a special non-working holiday in the capital of his home province of Tarlac in line with its 16^th cityhood anniversary celebration.

 

Aquino issued Proclamation No. 753 to give the people the full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.

 

Tarlac officially became a city on April 19, 1998 but organizers decided to move this year’s festivities to a later date after it coincided with the observance of Black Saturday.

 

Anchored on the theme "Pagkakaisa para sa Tuluy-tuloy na Sigla," among the activities include Mega Job Fair and exhibition game between Football Association of Tarlac and SMB-Sigla on April 23; Kalamay and Pansit Festival, Zumba sa Plaza, variety show, recognition of local police and inter-department sports fest on April 24; Bingo Bonanza, barangay Women’s Night and concert of Aegis Band with fireworks display on April 25; and premiere night of the movies “Mistress” and “Ibong Adarna” on April 26 and 27,respectively. 

Parts of NE to experience power interruptions on Saturday

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga-Parts of Nueva Ecija will experience power interruptions on Saturday, April 26.

 

“Customers of Nueva Ecija II Electric Cooperative, Inc. – Area 1 (NEECO II-Area 1) and San Jose Electric Cooperative, Incorporated (SAJELCO) will have outage from 8:00AM-9:00AM, and another interruption from 4:30PM-5:30PM,” National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) Central Luzon Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Officer Ernest Lorenz Vidal said.

 

Affected are the towns of Aliaga, Talavera, Sto. Domingo, Quezon, Licab, Guimba, Talugtug, Lupao, Pantabangan, and Carranglan and the cities of Munoz and San Jose.

 

“Reason of brownout is to accommodate request of Central Luzon State University in facilitating annual preventive maintenance of 5MVA power transformer and associated power equipment. Normal operations will immediately resume after work completion,” Vidal added. 

Drilon calls for sober approach on pork barrel scam

MANILA-Senate President Franklin M. Drilon today affirmed his complete support for the full and immediate  prosecution of all individuals involved in the P10-billion pork barrel scam, regardless of political affiliation.

“I fully support the full prosecution of all individuals involved in the pork barrel scam. The quest for justice must spare no one no matter their affiliation, and even the administration lawmakers and allies of the President must be covered by the investigation and its eventual prosecution,” stressed Drilon.

He said the pursuit of delivering justice "should be blind to political colors."

However, the Senate chief cautioned against turning the process of finding out the truth into unlimited opportunities for mudslinging, witch hunts and smear campaigns, which "serve only to further the personal and political causes of some individuals."

Drilon then called for an “atmosphere of sobriety” on the process of ferreting out the whole truth and enforcing the law on the controversy.

“In the face of controversy, what is important is we remain rational and circumspect while we search for the truth, and until we have put the perpetrators in jail. A sober approach on this controversy is of paramount importance, in order for this process to be successful,” emphasized Drilon, a former justice secretary.

“I understand that this issue provides a lot of opportunities for political attacks. But we should not muddle the issue by embarking on witch hunts and black propaganda and ruin the sincere efforts to find the truth and render justice,” he added.

“When anyone becomes a target of propaganda attacks, it is their reputation - their very integrity- that is wrongly put at stake,” he pointed out.  

Drilon said he wants that all involved in the scam to face the full brunt of the law, as long as there are enough evidence to support the charges.                                                                                                                              
“All charges must be supported by compelling and undeniable evidence, and they must be laid out and presented to the court and to the public" said Drilon. 

He however said that those who will be charged should be given adequate opportunities to defend themselves, while those proven innocent should be freed of the charges.

“It is only through our courts and the country’s justice system that we can achieve the genuine truth and justice rightfully demanded by our people. I invite everyone to help us in this just cause,” he concluded.

Drilon: Gov’t needs to hire more gov’t prosecutors to boost war vs criminality

MANILA-Senate President Franklin M. Drilon today underscored the need to beef up the nation’s cadre of prosecutors, who are crucially involved in the country’s intensifying efforts to fight corruption and arrest criminality in the country.

The Senate leader, who was the guest speaker at the 26th National Convention of the Prosecutors League of the Philippines held today/April 23 in Legazpi, Albay, said that the magnitude of crime and corruption faced by the nation today “must make us all realize just how important is the country’s ability to prosecute criminals and promote the full iron rule of law.”

Drilon believes that the efficient prosecution of crimes will enforce an effective system of deterrence throughout the land.

“When we put these rogues in jail, we send the signal that no one is above the law. We make a strong statement that the law is always on the side of the victims and not on the side of the criminals regardless of their economic and social status,” stressed Drilon, a former Justice Secretary who had been known for his advocacy “Justice Agad.”

According to Drilon, prosecutors are indispensable in “gaining the trust and confidence of our people in the country’s justice system.”

“Our prosecutors play a huge role in bringing the perpetrators of every imaginable crime behind bars, where they rightfully belong,” he said.

With this, the Senate chief vowed that the Congress will continue to provide budgetary support for the hiring of prosecutors until the desired ratio of one prosecutor for every regional trial court is achieved.

In 2014, the Congress increased the budget for Prosecution Services to P2.6 billion from P2.5 billion in 2013. It also allocated funds to improve infrastructure of halls of justice, including the repair and improvement of existing courts and prosecutors’ offices.

“We expect that support to manifest unto tangible results for the country’s anti-criminal and corruption efforts,” concluded Drilon.

OPEN LEARNING AND DISTANCE EDUCATION IN PH PUSHED

MANILA-Senator Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara has filed a bill that aims to expand access to education by institutionalizing open learning and distance education throughout the country.

"Open learning and distance education programs in post-secondary and higher education institutions help widen access. Through technology and novel institutional arrangements, such programs allow the youth to gain education without the constraints of being full-time students," Angara said.

The neophyte senator cited a report from the National Statistics Office in 2011 that one out of every eight Filipinos aged six to 24 is considered an out-of-school youth or has not finished college or any post-secondary course.

He also noted that while the Philippines jumped from 65th to 59th in the 2013 Global Competitiveness Index of the World Economic Forum, the country still ranks low in terms of education compared to our neighbors.

According to the Global Competitiveness Index, among ASEAN countries, the Philippines ranked 8th out of 10 in Health and Primary Education, and 6th out of 10 for Higher Education and Training.

"Clearly, access to education remains problematic, stifling the opportunities open to the poor and unemployed," stressed the former congressman from Aurora who previously chaired the House committee on higher and technical education.

Thus, Angara filed Senate Bill No. 2155 or the "Open Learning and Distance Education Act" that seeks to institutionalize distance education in the Philippines.

Distance education is defined as a mode of educational delivery whereby the teacher and learner are separated in time and space, and the instruction is delivered through specially designed materials and methods using appropriate technologies and learning management systems.

Under the proposed measure, course offerings and programs of distance education schools should be comparable in standards, practice and policies to other higher education institutions.

However, the place, pace and mode of study shall be at the option and convenience of the student while the content, context and conduct of examination shall be determined by the institution.

Distance education may be delivered using information and communications technology such as print, audio-visual, electronic or computer technology and virtual classroom.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) are mandated to provide support in developing and providing high quality programs and offerings in open, distance and online learning.

This support includes training of qualified teachers, curriculum and program development, cyber infrastructure planning, resource sourcing and implementation, school operations and management planning and development, and institutional linkages and networking.

The UPOU, designated as the National Open University, will also be tasked to provide leadership and promote best practices in open learning and distance education in the country.

On the other hand, the CHED and the TESDA will serve as regulators of schools involved in open learning, and will be assigned to formulate and promulgate policies and standards for the effective implementation of distance education in the country.

"No less than the Constitution enshrines an 'education for all' policy as a foremost national goal. On top of establishing a system of free education, the Constitution mandates that the state should protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels, and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all," Angara said.

Legarda Launches Phil. Marine Biodiversity Video Documentary

MANILA-In a bid to raise awareness on the current condition of the country’s marine life and underwater resources, Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, today launched a video documentary on Philippine marine biodiversity.

“There has been too much destruction and desecration of our natural resources including our seas. We see bodies of water littered with various kinds of waste, but beyond the surface of these waters we discover greater despoliation of marine life,” Legarda lamented.

The Senator cited several instances of exploitation of marine resources in recent years.

In May 2011, poachers ravaged approximately 7,000 hectares of seabed within the Moro Gulf and the Sulu Sea. More than 21,000 pieces of black coral were harvested and 161 endangered turtles and other marine life were killed.

In 2013, the USS Guardian and a Chinese vessel both ran aground the Tubbataha Reef, causing damage to the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Recently, the reported continuing practice of dynamite fishing in the waters of Siargao caused the killing of more than 20 dwarf sperm whales and dolphins.

“These kinds of exploitation of resources and destruction of marine life must stop. This video documentary on Philippine marine biodiversity is part of my continuing advocacy to educate and enlighten Filipinos about marine life, how it affects our own life and livelihood, what is at stake if we lose these resources and what we can and must do to protect our seas. There are about 1.6 million fisherfolk in the country whose families depend on marine resources to live. These families will be greatly affected by the degradation of our seas,” Legarda explained.

The video documentary is the third collaboration between Legarda and internationally acclaimed director Brillante Mendoza following “Buhos” and “Ligtas”.

Legarda said she was inspired to do the project after watching marine videos taken by underwater videographer Robert “Bobbit” Suntay. Jan Acosta, Boogs Rosales and Wowie Wong who are members of the Network of Underwater Digital Imagers (NUDI) also shared their underwater photos for the project.

Suntay, co-founder and executive director of The Carewell Community Foundation, is also a member of NUDI. His works have been featured on various websites and news programs, including one on the CNN. His video on Bohol diving was part of the award-winning Philippine pavilion in Expo 2012 held in Yeosu, Korea.

“In Bobbit’s videos, we will see both the beauty of Philippine marine life and the unfortunate pollution underwater. These contrasting images show us what we are blessed with and what we could lose if we fail to act now,” Legarda said.

The project was done in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

Copies of the video documentary will be distributed to schools, local government units, non-government organizations and other institutions to raise awareness on the current condition of the country’s marine life and encourage Filipinos to take action against marine degradation.

“We have timed the launch of this project on Earth Day to send a strong message that we need our seas to support life. We must find the much-needed balance in marine resource use while protecting our beautiful and bountiful marine ecosystems,” Legarda concluded.

RFM Foundation, CHED name Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines CL finalists

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga-RFM Foundation and Commission on Higher Education has named the 20 youngsters that made the cut as finalists in the 2014 Search for Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP) Central Luzon.

 

They are Jovein Alcantar from College of the Immaculate Concepcion, Melanie Ang from Wesleyan University-Philippines, Leemon Araza from Dr. Yanga’s College, Mark Cajes from Araullo University, Bryan Boy Cortez from Baliuag University, Ronel dela Peña from Holy Angel University, Fernando Dosono Jr. from Mary the Queen College of Pampanga, Mary Heliane Fabian from Angeles University Foundation, Gerald Fontanoza from Tarlac State University, Aaron Jay Frias from Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific, Reymond Galvez from Dr. Yanga’s College, Jo-Mari Hierras from Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific, Aelhyn Carol Lucero from Holy Angel University, Joan Mae Lugtu from Holy Angel University, Christopher Paulo Manlapaz from Republic Central Colleges, Mary Rose Pineda from Baliuag University, Carlo Magno Sagun from Tarlac College of Agriculture, Mary Jane Samson from Araullo University, Jasmin Lorraine Tan from Bulacan State University and Kenneth Alex Villanueva from Angeles University Foundation.

 

“TOSP aims to recognize graduating college students that have excelled academically, manifested exemplary leadership and dedicated themselves in the service of communities. These are all founded on strong moral values of integrity, patriotism and selfless service,” RFM Foundation President Marie Young said.

 

“The finalists will undergo a formation program in Baler, Aurora from April 24-27 to be facilitated by the TOSP-Region III Alumni Community of Heroes and TOSP-Alumni Community and will then be trimmed down to 10. The winners will automatically qualify in the national search,” Young explained.

 

Regional Awarding ceremony is slated on April 29 at Heroes Hall, City of San Fernando, Pampanga. 

DA usec denies irregularities at NIA Board, says graft allegations ‘collateral damage’ of reforms

MANILA-A top-ranking official of the Department of Agriculture and a known trusted ally of Secretary Proceso Alcala on Monday denied the existence of irregularities in the Board of Directors (BOD) of the  National Irrigation Administration, saying the allegations implicating him and two other NIA officials in the supposed corruption were the collateral damage of the reforms they are trying to institute in the controversial agency.

Breaking his silence on the issue, DA Undersecretary for finance Antonio Fleta said some regional directors at NIA were unhappy with the reforms being implemented by Alcala and came out with their         accusations which were later dismissed as “unfounded and without strong legal basis” by the NIA’s  internal audit services (IAS).

Fleta said the allegations against him stemmed from the reshuffling and re-assignment of some regional directors which prompted its employees’ association to claim that the Board has usurped the functions of the administrator.

“This (reassignment of regional directors) is part of the reforms we are doing now. The President mandated that there must be reforms so we recommended the reassignment of some regional directors to the Board,” Fleta said.

“Of course when you institute changes, surely there will be some resistance,” he said.

Fleta came out with his statements after the IAS issued its findings clearing him, and NIA deputy administrators Modesto Membreve and Lorna Grace Rosario of involvement in irregularities as claimed by the NIA Employes Association of the Philippines (NIAEASP), which, together with three other groups came out with an open letter calling on President Aquino to investigate him and the two officials.

In their open letter, contained in a whole-page paid advertisement in a national daily, the concerned officials said they have nothing personal against Fleta and the two other NIA officials but just wanted the irregularities investigated and pending the results, that they be relieved from their posts.           

          The open-letter followed a February 6 letter-manifesto of the NIAEASP to Mr. Aquino where it lamented the “very serious and alarming developments” in the agency.

          Fleta said he welcomes any investigation to clear his name. He said he was disappointed the issue was published in the newspapers. “Why didn’t they just bring it before the Ombudsman?,” he said. 

Fleta said prior to the reassignment of regional directors, they were asked to present their respective accomplishments. He said one regional director has been in his post for 20 years.

“He’s been there for 20 years so it’s about time he is replaced. Familiarity breeds contempt. If you are really good, you are not only good in your place but in other places as well,” he said.  

He said it was puzzling why the NIAEASP was reacting to the reshuffling when the employees were not even covered by it. “The NIAEASP has no business in the reshuffling. It is not against their interests,” he said, adding the role of the BOD like himself is policy-making.

Fleta said his accusers dug up fabricated accusations and imputed malicious allegations. He said he is studying the filing of legal action against those involved.

He said the black propaganda campaign was well-funded and those who signed the open letter to Mr. Aquino was treated to a junket in Cebu.

Fleta said some of those who signed the open letter have signified intention to apologize.  

NIA Administrator Claro Maranan earlier said NIA is bent on instituting reforms at NIA.

“Along the way, certain sectors are not compatible with some officials although the complaining groups themselves admitted that “allegations are not synonymous with proof,” he said, quoting from the open letter. – Manny Galvez 

Drilon: Lessen air pollution? Make roads friendlier for bikers, pedestrians

MANILA-Senate President Franklin M. Drilon today encouraged heads of local government units (LGUs) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to move towards making major roads and thoroughfares conducive to bikers and other pedestrians, saying that non-motorized forms of travel can help alleviate the country's air pollution woes.

The Senate leader expressed interest in promoting biking in the cities after he attended the 1st Iloilo Bike Festival promoted by the "Share the Road" movement in Iloilo City recently, where he was the main guest.

Drilon said that the government programs against air pollution in the country's metropolitan areas must "effectively strike against the main-contributing factor: motorized vehicles."

He cited a Department of Environment and Natural Resources report that stated 80% of pollution load is contributed by "mobile sources or vehicles," and stressed that public remedial measures must "primarily address and rectify this factor."

"The best way to promote modes of transport that do not rely on gasoline or diesel engines is to make our cities safer and more accessible and favorable to these environment-friendly forms of mobility," Drilon said.

"Our very roads must inspire and help commuters shift to biking and walking. Given the heavy traffic in the streets of our cities, there is a great potential for bicycles and walking to be the preferred mode of transportation for our countrymen on the go," he further added.

Drilon noted that such initiatives are not exactly unheard of in the country, as he pointed to several road projects in Iloilo which the senator had supported, where non-motorized travel has been integrated in the road systems.

He cited the road-widening project along the 10-km Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue in Iloilo, which features a six-lane highway, a pedestrian lane and a 5-m paved bike lane that will extend from the Jaro District in Iloilo City to the Iloilo International Airport.

Similarly, he shared how a 14-km circumferential road connecting Arevalo District in Iloilo City and the coastal road in Dumangas town in Iloilo, "has been designed to include a 2-meter painted bike lane throughout its entire span."

The said developments in Iloilo were completed with the initiative of Drilon.

The senator then expressed hope that similar efforts will be made throughout the entire country, and advised the DPWH and LGUs throughout the nation to study if such initiatives could be made in their localities.

"We need to explore more options and choose the best alternatives. These programs will not only help alleviate our environmental concerns, but they will also promote a healthier regimen for our people," he said.

The Senate chief lastly said that he is open to supporting legislation on such initiatives if "congressional backing would prove to be necessary to commence these ideas."