Trillanes sought for the urgent passage against human trafficking

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 3, 2011-Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV calls for the urgent passage of Senate Bill No. 2625, a consolidation of pending senate measures sought to strengthen the law against human trafficking by providing stiffer penalties against government personnel involved in human trafficking, creating and funding a permanent secretariat for the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and lifting the confidentiality provision favoring the persons charged with the offense.

Trillanes said that Republic Act No. 9208 otherwise known as the anti-trafficking in person’s act of 2003 is a landmark legislation which seeks to protect the citizenry especially the women and children, from human trafficking and forced labor and servitude, adding that there is a need to provide stiffer penalties against certain persons, particularly government officials and employees, who are engaged in human trafficking to stem the occurrence of these anomalous acts.

Trillanes furthered that human trafficking offenders face up to 20 years of imprisonment and a maximum fine of P2, 000,000.00 under Section 10 of R.A. 9208 where he sought to increase the prison term in the case of perpetuators who are working in government and who are engaged in illegal labor, sex and child trafficking to a maximum of 25 years.

  

“The act of a government official or employee who involves themselves in human trafficking is clearly one of the highest forms of betrayal of public trust; thus, there is a need to impose stiffer penalties upon these type of offenders,” Trillanes said who also wanted to amend Section 7 of the R.A. 9208 to strike out the confidentiality provision that protects those who are charged of human trafficking in the same way it protects victims of the offense.

Trillanes pointed out that the fight against human trafficking is being unduly hampered by Section 7 which restricts the dissemination of information relating to people charged with trafficking. Lifting the confidentiality provision in favor of the alleged perpetrators would enable the government as well as concerned non-government organizations and the media to disseminate vital information in order to forewarn the public from being victimized by persons and syndicates engaged in this nefarious trade.

Trillanes also calls for the creation of a permanent secretariat for the IACAT to manage the council’s activities and to provide for the continuity of plans and programs.

Senate Bill No. 2625, which is principally authored by the senator likewise provides for direct funding for the IACAT’s Secretariat to support it in fulfilling its mandate instead of just being merely allowed to tap a trust fund, which hardly meets the financial requirements of victims of human trafficking needing assistance. In accordance with the existing law, the fines, proceeds and properties forfeited from people convicted of human trafficking are supposed to be placed in the said trust fund.

“Considering the growing number of human trafficking cases and the number of victims who need the support and assistance of IACAT, this mode of funding hardly meets the challenges of the times. Moreover, funds from the fines and forfeitures imposed by R.A. 9208 are slow in coming and we see no significant increase in the rate of the accumulation of said fund in the near future”, Trillanes emphasized. “Let us ‘put our money where our mouth is’ by providing direct funding for the IACAT Secretariat, whose primary function is to coordinate efforts intended to protect our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) or our bagong bayani as we call them, as well as our women and children”, Trillanes added.

In order to make the fight against human trafficking more effective and more responsive to the demands of the times, Trillanes also urged his colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass a counterpart measure on the said matter. (Jason de Asis) 

Angara calls for fair gender policies in the Phl labor force

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 2, 2011-In the recent study that women are more at risk of losing their jobs in the midst of ensuing economic crisis, Senator Edgardo J. Angara called the government and private sector institutions that there should be equal opportunities in the labor force and should develop and strictly implement gender fair policies to protect women workers and to promote opportunities for women's economic empowerment.

The International Labor Organization and the World Bank analysis revealed that female workers are more vulnerable to job loss, being seen as only the secondary or supplementary providers of income for households in Asia-Pacific countries.

Angara said that around 45 percent of working age women in Asia do not have regular employment compared to only 19 percent of men, citing that the Philippines has the number of female employees  may be considered high where there’s a significant difference between men and women’s representation in the labor force, adding that the area of labor and employment, women should not be discriminated in the civil, cultural and political spheres, and should be provided with laws and practices that would expand their capacities and opportunities for development.

In 2009, Angara had passed the Magna Carta for Women otherwise known as the Republic Act No. 9710 where it serves as a bill of rights enumerating all forms of discrimination against women and recommending special measures to achieve the country’s gender equality which he authored. (Jason de Asis)

DOLE 3 grants 2.5 million livelihood assistance to central Luzon community groups

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga, May 2, 2011-The Department of Labor and Employment 3 (DOLE 3) under its Integrated Livelihood Program towards Community Enterprise Development (DILP-CED) awarded a total of 2.5 million livelihood assistance for the seven community groups in Central Luzon identified as the Kaunlaran ng mga Kababaihan para sa Kinabukasan SEA-K (Self Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran) Association of San Luis, Aurora (Sabutan Making); Alion Kapit-Bisig SEA-K Association of Mariveles, Bataan (Cashew Processing); OFW Family Circle of Bustos, Bulacan (Minsa Production); Parista Barangay Defense System Multi Purpose Cooperative of Lupao, Nueva Ecija (Mushroom Production); Water Liliy Handicraft Makers of the City of San Fernando, Pampanga; San Manuel Women’s Multi Purpose Cooperative of San Manuel, Tarlac (Ampalaya coffee and tea making) and the Masinloc Association of Handicraft Makers of Masinloc, Zambales.

DOLE 3 chief Leopoldo De Jesus said that the assistance sought to generate income and employment through the enhancement and transformation of livelihood projects in the barangays to community enterprises.

De Jesus, who personally awarded the monetary support to the grantees along with Labor Undersecretary Lourdes Trasmonte and partner agencies, said that their mandates do not stop in facilitating job opportunities alone, but rather, they are opening more opportunities by empowering each and every Filipino worker to venture into entrepreneurship through our integrated livelihood programs to improve their lives.

“Our agency together with its partners will continue to work for the betterment of the marginalized sector through the provision of livelihood and employment opportunity,” he added. (Jason de Asis) 

Jinggoy pushes the enactment of pro-labor legislative agenda on May 9

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 1, 2011-Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, who is also the concurrent chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development and of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Labor and Employment (COCLE) pushes for the enactment of pro-labor legislative measures upon the resumption of Congress session on May 9 as his pledge to the entire Filipino workforce today.

Estrada outlined his three legislative agenda such as the upholding and strengthening the rights of workers to decent pay and benefits; ensuring equal employment opportunities for all; and improving welfare mechanisms for the overseas Filipino workers and their families.

 

As the citizenry are celebrating the Labor Day today, the Senator said that in order to achieve progress and development this reminded us more that human resources are the most important resource in any country; thus, there is a need to strengthen our resolve to take care of them and accord what is due them and their hard work.

Estrada has filed numerous proposals for the just compensation for workers like Senate Bill 812 which provides P125 daily across-the-board wage increase; Senate Bill 760 which increases penalties for non-compliance of the prescribed adjustments in wage rates of workers; and Senate Bill 80 which grants annual productivity incentive to all workers in the private sector.

The Senator’s bill has already been passed by the Senate on third and final reading the Kasambahay Bill which raises the minimum wage for household workers and expands their benefits.

Estrada also intends to address discrimination in employment and had already conducted hearings on the matter.

The Senator explained that gender, indigenous cultural grouping, age, among others need not deter anyone from securing gainful employment. Discrimination in the workplace, despite the guarantees from the Labor Code and the Constitution for equal employment opportunities, still plagues our society.

Among his anti-discrimination bills are Senate Bill 429 which prohibits discrimination against women on account of sex; Senate Bill 556 which promotes equal employment opportunities for indigenous cultural communities; Senate Bill 587 which establishes job training program for mature workers; Senate Bill 930 which prohibits gender discrimination in employment advertising; and Senate Bill 891 which ensures equal opportunities to Muslims and tribal Filipinos.

Estrada believes that the government must lay down better welfare mechanisms for the overseas Filipino workers and their dependents in response to the growing concerns related to overseas employment in aspects of health, remittance and investments, and family setup.

Since the 13^th Congress, Estrada is pushing for the passage of creating a Migrant Workers Hospital (Senate Bill 428) and OFW Bank (Senate Bill 648). The OFW Bank is seen to lower cost of OFWs’ financial transactions and to enhance their income generation capabilities as investors, while the OFW Hospital shall provide free healthcare benefits to OFWs and their relatives, adding that to grant a special leave of absence of fifteen (15) days with full pay to all legitimate spouses of OFWs, Estrada also filed Senate Bill 568. (Jason de Asis)

3rd most wanted brothers in Aurora nabbed in Nueva Ecija after 19 years of hiding

SAN JOSE CITY, Nueva Ecija, April 30, 2011-The second and third most wanted men of Baler, Aurora were arrested by the joint operatives of the police of Nueva Ecija-Baler and the Philippine Army in this city after evading authorities for close to 20 years.

Police Superintendent Edgar Alan Okubo, commander of the Provincial Public Safety Company said that the long arm of the law finally caught up with the two suspects identified as Antonio Nartatez, 50, and his brother Artemio, 46, both of Barangay Calabuanan, Baler, Aurora.

Okubo said that the culprits were arrested in their safe houses in the barangays of Culaylay and Villa Marina here by a joint team of the PPSC’s 3^rd maneuver platoon, led by Inspector Alexander Reyes, Baler police chief, Chief Inspector Nelson Buhong,  Baler  police station intelligence section team leader PO3 Dennis Lorente  and 81^st detachment of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit led by Army Sgt. Gliverio Gonzaga.

The suspects were placed under the custody of the PPSC in Cabanatuan City and will be turned over to the Baler police.

The arresting teams were armed with warrants of arrest issued on July 10, 2000 by then Baler Regional Trial Court Branch 66 Judge Armando A. Yanga for the murder of Leopoldo Pulinada in Calabuanan, Baler in 1992.

Okubo said that the Nartatez brothers have successfully evaded manhunt operations before yesterday’s operations. (Jason de Asis)

2 trucks of IDC with 6,500 board feet logs were temporary held by Casiguran Mayor Bitong

CASIGURAN, AURORA, April 29, 2011-The Industries Development Corporation (IDC) two (2) trucks with 6,500 board feet log on board were temporary held by Casiguran Mayor Reynaldo “Binsu” Bitong, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer Menandro Alvarez, AFP, PNP and non-government organization in a checkpoint at brgy. Dibacong in this town last April 28, 2011 in a broad day light in the afternoon.

The trucks reportedly came from the mountainous part of Sitio Kamatis and were said to proceed at the log pan of the IDC when these were held in a check point and thereby allegedly for validation if the contraband were fresh cut.

Authorities are now conducting meticulous investigation if the logging firm violated executive order number 23 of President Aquino for the logging moratorium nationwide.

Relative to this in a phone call to Mr. Michael Ong of IDC reported that the said hot logs have a permit from the DENR and reported that these were old cut logs. “Those were old cut logs,” Ong said, adding that the logs they have seen in the check point were fresh cut from the base of the tree. (Arnel Turzar, CMN-DZJO FM, Baler, Aurora)

Senate varied reactions on Ombudsman Gutierrez’s resignation

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, April 29, 2011-On Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez resignation, the Senate varied reactions when she met with President Aquino and submitted her resignation letter on Friday.

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, who first called for Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez’s resignation last March lauded Merci for sparing at the Senate for the long and arduous impeachment process, saying that this is just one small step in the fight against corruption and we mustn’t stop here.

Pangilinan said that we are slowly but surely chipping away from the armor of invincibility surrounding GMA, who has linked the Ombudsman with the series of corruption scandals that hounded the administration of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“Now that Merci is out of the way, GMA’s fortress will come tumbling down, and we should use this as an opportunity to make the Arroyo administration pay for its corrupt, twisted ways,” he said, adding that her resignation does not prevent the state from pursuing criminal cases should there be sufficient grounds to do so.

Relative to this, “the resignation of Ombudsman Gutierrez is a fitting act to preserve the integrity of the Office of the Ombudsman. After all, the country’s lead anti-graft agency and its officials should be freed from controversy in order to effectively carry out their mandated tasks,” Senator Loren Legarda said.

“This now brings to a close the impeachment trial. In effect, the government will save a lot of money which can be used for other essential needs of our people,” she said.

Furthermore, our focus will no longer be divided. The Senate can keep its concentration on important legislation.

“But our fight against corruption is something we shall never put to rest. We shall continue to seek ways to make our government accountable, transparent, and responsive to the needs of our people,” she said.

Senator Ralph Recto said that this means that the latest reality TV show gets axed even before the first live episode is aired. We won’t be wearing those togas anymore. But it is a cancellation that both the actors and the audience do welcome. It doesn’t mean however that this is ‘The End’ of this political telenovela because we are speaking here of one person’s resignation and not the termination of the judicial proceedings that the cases will have to go through.  The action simply shifts to the proper forum – the courts – where these cases duly belong.”

Senator Manny Villar said that Gutierrez’s act is expected. This will do the country good, saving time and resources on the part of the Senate. Now, we should move forward and continue working to find ways to help the country in the face of the rising cost of petroleum products and basic commodities. Kung may pananagutan si Gutierrez sa batas, nariyan ang ating hukuman para magpasya dito.”

Senator Bong Revilla said that the resignation of Ombudsman Merci Gutierrez will spare the country from the very tedious and divisive process of impeachment. This will also save time and resources that would have been spent in the process.

“The President now has the room to choose and appoint an Ombudsman who he has confidence in so that we can all further pursue our program against graft and corruption,” he said.

Senator Pia Cayetano said that Ombudsman Gutierrez made the correct decision in finally resigning from office, after months of clinging to her position despite mounting questions about her credibility and criticisms against her performance.

“In the end, her resignation will be good for our country and people. With Gutierrez out of the picture, the Aquino government will now have an opportunity to start on a clean slate to get to the bottom of corruption charges and prosecute the culprits behind the scandals from the previous administration,” she said.

“And now that Congress need not revise its legislative calendar to give way to the impeachment trial, which we had earlier projected to be complicated and long drawn-out, lawmakers can move forward and focus on legislation to address pressing issues, such as worsening poverty and rising cost of living, funding education to plug deficiencies in the public school system, and improving government health services to address high maternal deaths, sickness and malnutrition among young children, and rising cases of HIV-AIDS,” she ended.

Senator Chiz Escudero said that the resignation of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez has relieved the country, the Senate and even the ombudsman herself of the pain and burden of an impeachment trial scheduled to open on May.

Escudero, chairman of the Senate committee on justice and human rights, said that the resignation of Gutierrez now renders the impeachment case lodged against her moot and academic, but clarified that it does not give her immunity either from other suits filed against her by other entities.

“If at all, any case filed against her is not for the Senate to oversee anymore. It would have to be the regular courts or the Sandiganbayan itself. This is always a distinct possibility,” Escudero said where he commended Gutierrez for her statesmanship, though belatedly, for considering not only herself but the country in general.

“We have other pressing matters to consider and to focus on such as rebuilding our country and meeting and delivering social services needed. An impeachment trial will take away our time, energy and attention from these important gut issues,” Escudero said.

With Gutierrez's resignation, “I don't think anyone should not be magnanimous after this,” Escudero said, referring to those who hold on to their positions in the public service amid controversies and ill-will. (Jason de Asis)

Trillanes appeals to scrutinize first versions of RH Bill before supporting it

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, April 29, 2011-In the midst of escalating word war between the Catholic Church and advocates of the Reproductive Health (RH) bill, Senator Antonio "Sonny" Trillanes IV has appealed to the public to read first the different versions of the Reproductive Health (RH) bill before supporting or promoting it.

“It would only do little to help educate the public on the issue of RH bill,” Trillanes said, adding that the public are unwittingly supporting the RH bill because they are being led to believe that the measure would control population growth and allow access to contraceptives.

“Contraceptives can be accessed freely now and the Department of Health (DOH) has been distributing contraceptives even without the RH bill. Also, there is no provision in the RH bill that would help control the population,” Trillanes said. However, a controversial provision of the RH bill which should be scrutinized is the inclusion of sex education in the curriculum of preschool and Grade 5 students,” Trillanes added.

The young legislator questioned the readiness of young children to handle a very sensitive subject such as sex, and the capability of our teachers to teach a subject they're not trained for where he believed that only the parents know when their kids are ready to be educated about sex and it's definitely not when they are in Grade 5.

“Are we ready for a scenario wherein kids would one day approach their parents and say, 'Mom, we were taught how to put on condoms in school today?" Trillanes asked.

The Philippine RH bill aims to guarantee access to methods and information on birth control and maternal care where they become the center of contentious debate since it was introduced by Albay 1^st district Edcel Lagman on his Reproductive health act and population and development act of 2010 and while Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago introduced Senate bill No. 2378 otherwise known as Reproductive health act.

The two bills became controversial with the experts, academics, religious institutions, and major political figures on both pros and cons where the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) threatened to excommunicate President Aquino III if he insists on his stance that Filipino couples should be given the choice to use artificial contraceptives. (Jason de Asis)

Aurora’s Mt. Falcon proved by 7 advance mountaineers as one of Central Luzon highest peaks and toughest to climb

SAN LUIS, Aurora, April 29, 2011-Professor Leonardo Usita, president of the environmentalist group Noble Blue Falcons International (NBFI) said that seven (7) advance men team of his group conducted reconnaissance mission at Mt. Falcon before the 300 mountaineers and environmentalists from the Philippines-South Korea, among others to trek in this town today.

“Three (3) days before the Philippine International Climb 2011 to save Sierra Madre, an advance 7 men team of Noble Blue Falcons Environmental Mountaineers conducted reconnaissance mission in Mt Falcon,” he said, adding that the advance team confirmed that the 2007 findings of last Blue Falcons expedition report that there was a cell phone signal at the top of the mountain.

Usita also reported that they re-establish that in summer time where the Mt. Falcon can be climbed in 6 hours (uphill), and confirmed that it is one of Central Luzon's most difficult to climb and is a rich biodiversity that needs to be protected.

“The seven advance team already put ribbon markings and wood signs to guide the climbers and established camp sites where the climbers can stay,” he said. Usita identified the team as Vicente Porte, Marlon Dulay, Ruel Villar, Eduardo Sarenas, Dominador Bitong, Mar Tangson and Diojeto Minosa.

“The markings were already established for the success of this mountaineering adventure dubbed as Akyat Kalikasan, in support to save the longest Sierra Madre mountain rangers of the country,” Usita said.

Usita said that the climb for a cause activity will start today from April 29 to May 1 as the culminating activity in a lung-busting hike at the top of Mt. Falcon which at 5,231.60 ft. above sea level is one of Central Luzon’s highest peaks and is considered to be the toughest to climb.

“It is our way of promoting Aurora as an eco-tourism haven,” he said, saying that it is said to be Central Luzon’s stiffest mountain.

He said that the Blue Falcons mountaineers, who have become a global organization, will retrace their roots in Mt. Falcon, Ditumabo here in San Luis, Aurora where it was founded on March 19, 1996 by Sir Edward J. England.

Usita said that the jungle trek to kick off today is a peaceful rally in support to the executive order number 23 of President Aquino’s total logging ban nationwide where he noted that the group has opposed illegal logging in the province for 15 years.

“I assured the mountaineers will also witness the testament of the seven advance team who conducted reconnaissance patrol at Mt. Falcon where they could see the bountiful beauty of the mountains,” he said.

Aside from the Blue Falcons and the south Korean mountaineers, it is expected that the other groups will participate in the activity like the Greenpeace,  Hospital, Philippine National Red Cross, DFA-Katribu climbers, Green Philippines. Among others are the media from the Catholic Media Network-CMN, DZMM, Philippine star, DZRH, GMA7, ABS-CBN, Business Mirror, Esports Daily News, Radyo Natin and Bulgar. (Jason de Asis)

Trillanes bats for speed limit to utility vehicles to lessen Phl deaths and injuries

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, April 28, 2011-To lessen the number of deaths and injuries on the roads due to over speeding, Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV filed a bill that would require on-board speed-limiting devices for all public utility vehicles (PUVs) where he believes that to have a speed limiting device fitted in their vehicles it would help to reduce speed-related fatal accidents which the number of victim continues to rise over the years.

The senator sponsored Senate Bill No. 2790 otherwise known as the proposed speed Limiters Act of 2011, stating that speed-limiting devices could help save lives since it would limit the speed on PUVs, which are most likely to break
speed limits on fast roads.

Trillanes strongly recommended that legislation obliging operators of PUVs to have that kind of device will ensure safe to all passengers, operators and drivers where 78 percent of the population rely on buses, jeepneys, taxis, trains and tricyles for mobility, and 44 percent of road accidents caused by speeding.

“It is very alarming that World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 2.4 million fatalities died due to road accidents,” Trillanes said, adding that local studies revealed that in Manila alone, almost 50 road accidents occur every day.

Trillanes stressed that by enforcing strict compliance with the mandated speed limits in various streets, highways and thoroughfares, vehicular accidents caused by speeding will be reduced and that lives will be saved.

“I hope that this proposed bill will be supported by my fellow solon in the Senate,” Trillanes said.

Trillanes cited that the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) imposed 60 kilometer per hour speed limit on the 12.4 kilometers thoroughfare which resulted to the dramatic reduction of road accidents along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, adding that almost every week,  Commonwealth Avenue previously gained notoriety as a killer highway because of the great number of fatal accidents taking place on the said road; thus, the Senator believes that installing on-board speed-limiting devices on PUVs would be a step towards the right direction to duplicate this experience not only in Metro Manila but across the country.

Trillanes’ bill of PUVs will be required to bear the cost of the speed-limiting devices where the Senator said that the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) will be tasked to supervise and to inspect the setting up of speed-limiting devices to comply with speed limits corresponding to the maximum allowed in the route plied by a particular PUV.

“DOTC will also be authorized to subsidize deserving PUV owners in the procurement and installation of on-board speed-limiting devices,” Trillanes said, adding that the bill provides that no PUV shall be registered by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) without a properly calibrated speed-limiting device installed.

The bill stated that a fine of P30, 000 and a jail term of up to three years shall be imposed upon those who will be found to have tampered with a duly installed and set speed limiter.

The DOTC, in coordination with the LTO and the Land Transportation Franchise Regulatory Board will be tasked of the proposed measure in the formulation of the guidelines, rules and regulations of the implementing provisions. (Jason de Asis)

300 South Koreans and Phl mountaineers to trek Aurora’s Mt. Falcon

SAN LUIS, Aurora, April 27, 2011-Professor Leonardo Usita, president of the environmentalist group Noble Blue Falcons International reported that at least 300 mountaineers and environmentalists from the Philippines and South Korea will embark tomorrow in a bold attempt to conquer Mt. Falcon in this town.

Usita said that the mountaineering adventure was dubbed as “Akyat Kalikasan,” was meant to drum up multi-sector support to save the Sierra Madre mountain rangers, the country’s longest mountain range.

“The climb for a cause activity will start April 29 and end on May 1, culminating in a lung-busting hike atop Mt. Falcon which, at 5,231.60 ft. above sea level is one of Central Luzon’s highest peaks and is considered to be the toughest to climb,” Usita said, adding that the mountain trek is more than just a simple climb.

“Conquering Mt. Falcon is not just an adventure. It is our way of promoting Aurora as an eco-tourism haven,” he said, saying that it is said to be Central Luzon’s stiffest mountain.

He said that the Blue Falcons mountaineers, who have become a global organization, will retrace their roots in Mt. Falcon, Ditumabo here in San Luis, Aurora where it was founded on March 19, 1996 by Sir Edward J. England.

Usita said that the event will also be highlighted by a peaceful prayer rally for the successful implementation of Executive Order 23 issued last February by President Aquino directing a moratorium on cutting of trees in natural and residual forests nationwide, including the province. “In effect, this is a celebration of our victory against logging in Aurora, a battle which we have waged over the past 15 years,” he said.

“I would like to add that aside from Filipino and South Korean mountaineers, also will join in the mountain trek are peace volunteers, hospital personnel, fitness buffs, fire personnel, government employees, religious groups and media practitioners,” he said.

“The Greenpeace, UST Hospital, Gold’s Gym, Philippine National Red Cross, Department of Foreign Affairs-Katribu Climbers , Bureau of Fire Protection, Green-Philippines, Rotary Club of San Juan, Hotel SOGO, ESports Daily News climbers,   Kibbal, Ordo Luminis Legis, St. Mary’s College-QC., CUB’71, Aurora National Science High School, Genesis Bus Trekkers, Bagong Henerasyon Climbers and Christian pastors are also part of this activity,” he added.

The 414,000-strong NBFI, which includes 8,000 green armies in Aurora, have been in the forefront of protecting Aurora’s biodiversity against corrupt local officials, timber poachers, illegal loggers and their financiers. (Jason de Asis)

Sotto law to be amended for the benefit of media practitioner says Sotto III

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, April 27, 2011-Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto C. III today seeks to amend the law introduce by his grandfather and to continue to be enjoyed by media practitioners in exercising press freedom to include cable and internet-based media exempting them from revealing their sources of information, saying that today’s modern technology and various social networking sites are already being used for faster dissemination of current events where existing laws should be made to conform with the emerging new medium of mass communications.

Sotto III furthered that technology has advanced by leaps and bounds and with it, the expansion of coverage of mass media where news and investigative reports are not only broadcast through the print media but also through radio, television, cable and internet.

In his Senate Bill No. 41, Sotto III said that the law was conceived at a time when today’s technology was unthinkable. Nonetheless, the purpose of the law protecting and enhancing the freedom of the press, so as to inform the public of current events and issues that affect their lives, remains relevant and important where he proposed for an amendment to R.A. No. 53 to include responsible personnel from radio, television, cable and internet-based media from the exemption provided by the law to conforms in the fast-changing technology and further protect the freedom of the press.

Sotto III also proposed for an amendment in section 1, to also cover station manager, producer, news director or duly accredited reporter of any print, broadcast or electronic mass media, including but not limited to newspaper, magazine or periodical of general circulation.

He said that such persons representing media entities in radio, television, cable, internet site and other electronic media outlets, cannot be compelled to reveal the source of their news items obtained in confidence, unless the court or any of the two Houses of Congress or any of its committees finds that such revelation is demanded by the interest of the State.

In 1946, the late Senator Vicente Yap Sotto authored R.A. No. 53, otherwise known as an act to exempt the publisher, editor or reporter of any publication from revealing the source of Published news or information obtained in confidence. At times they called it “Sotto Law” which was put in place when dissemination of news and investigative reports were not as sophisticated as today. (Jason de Asis)

US-Australia offer technical and financial assistance to Phl disaster preparedness

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, April 27, 2011-Senator Edgardo J. Angara, Chair of the Congressional Commission of Science, Technology and Engineering (COMSTE) yesterday said that the government should take advantage of the technical and financial assistance to develop disaster science and preparedness that the United States and Australian governments are offering.

He said that COMSTE will participate in the event sponsored by the U.S. Pacific Command, the U.S. Embassy, the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific, the Experimentation Center, and the Office of Naval Research Global, adding that 2011 Forum on Post-Disaster Water and Waste Management will bring together the research and development (R&D) and operational communities from the Philippines and the United States in an interactive environment where current technologies and operational needs can be discussed.

“It will focus on water purification, water distribution and waste management (W3M) which are critical concerns during post-disaster Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief (HA/DR) operations,” Angara said, adding that the W3M aspires to provide a forum where stakeholders from the HA/DR operational community can convey their requirements to researchers, and for those researchers to describe their current research projects to the operational stakeholders.

“The interaction is designed to foster the development of more effective HA/DR W3M technologies which may someday support the fielding of portable/mobile systems designed to alleviate the effect of future disasters on civilian populations,” Angara said, noting that the event will help one of the main priorities of COMSTE, which is the expansion of the Philippine Disaster Science Management Center (DSMC).

He said that the Australian government has also committed P 720 million to help the country implement a disaster risk management plan on the local level, saying that the announcement was made by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), which has also launched a book entitled, “Rising to the Call”, which documents ideal practices in disaster-risk reduction and climate change adaptation on the 21 provinces of the Philippines.

“The DSMC is needed to help us to prepare for the earthquakes and similar disasters that will continue to threaten the country, noting that the government needs to be able to understand how to develop an advanced and real-time information dissemination strategy so people can better prepare to handle such events.

DSMC will also house a training center that will focus on scenario-type learning utilizing technology for disaster mitigation and management. He said that Taiwan and Japan are already actively cooperating with training of local experts for situations like floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis. It will also help the scientific community to better understand the mechanics of managing disasters with the cooperation of neighboring countries that have experienced similar storms and natural calamities like the country. (Jason de Asis)