Senate all set to work on pending legislations

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 10, 2011-Senate Juan Ponce Enrile said that after a month long break, the Senate is set to work now that the impeachment of the resigned Ombudsman Merceditas Guttierez under Senate Resolution number 105 had been set aside and it would be ready to buckle down to address pending legislations on the priority bills outlined by President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino.

“I am expecting that senators will get back to work now that the impeachment of Gutierrez had been set aside,” he reiterated.

After reporters noted that Congress had only 12 working days before it goes on a sine die break starting June 10, Enrile said that we will try to do whatever we can do, saying that Senators enjoy a six-year term each. “We are not going to do everything that we have to do in six years, in a day, or in a month or in a year,” he furthered.

Enrile revealed that he received official communication from Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupaz Jr., chairman of the House Justice Committee that initiated the impeachment proceedings against Gutierrez, informing the Senate that the impeachment trial was no longer necessary because Gutierrez resigned last week.

“The Senate is now composed of 23 senators that’s why I am expecting that the Senate will be more productive in its legislative work with the return of  Senator Panfilo Lacson after a long absence,” he said, explaining that the bigger number is always a better number working with them.

Enrile mentioned the priority bills that is set to tackle in the Senate are the Anti-Trust Bill, the proposed measure seeking to reform the National Telecommunication Commission, the proposed revision to the Public Land Act, the proposed Cyber Crime Prevention Act of 2010 and the proposed People’s Survival Fund bill, amending the Climate Change Act.

Before Holy Week break last March 26, the Senate tackled five bills such as the GOCC Governance Act of 2011 (SBN 2640), sponsored by Sen. Franklin Drilon, which aims to reform the structure and operations of GOCCs to exact from them efficient and effective public service; the Career Executive System Act (SBN 2671), which seeks to strengthen the bureaucracy by professionalizing the ranks of government managers and executives, authored by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV; and a bill Decriminalizing Vagrancy (SBN 2726), sponsored by Sen. Francis Escudero, which aims to remove vagrancy as a criminal offense in the Revised Penal Code. Approved on third reading, these bills are now pending in the House of Representatives.

“Also awaiting in the second reading at the Senate are the proposed Foster Care Act of 2010 (SBN 2486), the proposed Expanded Anti-trafficking in Persons Act of 2010 (SBN 2625), the Night work Prohibition of Women Employees Bill (SBN 2701), the proposed Meat Labeling Act of 2011 (SBN 2746) and the proposed Corporate Social Responsibility Act (SBN 2747),” he said.

Enrile also disclosed that the Senate will attempt to tackle the proposal of Malacanang to postpone the scheduled elections in the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao “if we have the time”, explaining that the Senate notified informally by the Commission on Elections to be prepared just in case they cannot really enact the law, although that has been certified by the President as an urgent bill.

“I did not believe that the proposed Reproductive Health Bill will be given a priority status in the Senate. I don’t think it is a priority as far as we are concerned here,” he said, adding that he is not ready to tinker with anything that is an act of God.

In the name of national interest regarding the position of pro-RH bill advocates that Congress should approve the measure urgently, Enrile said that there are many ways to improve the lives of the people instead of trying to constrict the normal growth of the population, saying that instead of reducing the number of people that will participate in the pie, we should enlarge the pie. “That, in a nutshell, is the policy position that I am taking,” he ended. (Jason de Asis)

Jinggoy to PNoy: Pangilinan as the next ombudsman versus corruption

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 10, 2011-Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada suggested Senator Kiko Pangilinan to be the next ombudsman as an ally against corruption for being actively instituting reforms within the judiciary and an advocate for good governance.

Estrada said that President Aquino’s administration must appoint an ombudsman with good reputation and good credibility in exercising prudence and the use of best judgment in appointing the said position, saying that the post is very crucial in defining his term as president.

The Senator said that PNoy ran under an anti-corruption platform during the campaign for the presidency, and the fifteen million people who voted for him expect nothing less than eradication of corruption under his watch, adding that the Ombudsman takes the role of the country’s number one graft-buster, with the defeat of his first Executive Order creating the Truth Commission which aimed at putting closure and delivering justice to past graft and corruption cases.

“The qualifications to fit in the position must be someone who has untarnished record in the public service and competent in the field of law and he or she must be one with the administration’s relentless crusade of running after and punishing the corrupt,” Estrada said.

He suggested Pangilinan who is qualified in the position for he has been active in instituting reforms within the judiciary and an advocate of good governance. (Jason de Asis)

Angara urged for the Phl mothers’ protection

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 9, 2011-Senator Edgardo J. Angara urged the government for the protection and improved welfare of one of the most important pillars of society as the world celebrates Mother’s Day, explaining that there is a need to create an environment in which mothers can attend to the health and welfare of their children by making sure that these women have access to the needed healthcare and educational facilities and providing them with equal opportunities in society.

  

The State of the World’s Mothers 2011 study revealed that the Philippines had a Mother’s Index ranking—an indicator of a maternal wellbeing—of 49 among 79 less-developed countries which was conducted by the Save the Children foundation which serves marginalized children and families worldwide.

  

1 in 320 risks of maternal death during childbirth—a function affected by the number of children and spacing between pregnancies, health and nutrition status, as well as the conditions under which mother gives birth according to study, revealing that only 62% of births are attended by qualified health workers in the country.

  

Angara said that the number of maternal deaths in the country is decreasing but not fast enough to reach the Millennium Development Goal of reducing it by three-quarters by 2015.

The Senator said that there is a need to ensure first the welfare of a vital sector pertaining to the mothers who are the most important women in our lives to secure the well-being of our society as a whole.  

Angara also filed the Community Health Placement bill that seeks to decrease both infant and maternal mortality rates by establishing health centers even in remote towns and barrios. The bill enhanced access to healthcare that would boost the percentage of women getting pre and post natal checkups. 

In 2009, Angara had authored the Magna Carta for Women which was signed into law and now serves as the “bill of rights” for women in ensuring gender equality in the political, industrial and cultural spheres. (Jason de Asis)

Bidder winner to get 15 billion peso price tag for privatization of MRT-LRT

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 9, 2011-Sen. Ralph G. Recto, who chairs the Senate ways and means committee revealed that the P15 billion price tag for the bundled Metro Rail Transit-Light Rail Transit (MRT-LRT) privatization is the amount that the government to pay to the winning bidder and not the amount that it would earn from the transaction where he asked the government to be forthright to the Filipinos by disclosing that price tag for the privatization of MRT-LRT is actually a ‘pay-out’ to the winning private bidder and not the other way around.

“The first project under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program would instantly cost the government some P15 billion instead of deriving fresh revenues from its decision to let go two crucial mass transport rail systems,” Recto said, adding that the P15 billion would be paid by government to the winning bidder, which would operate and maintain the MRT-LRT lines.

He said that the government is oblige to pay the winner bidder to operate the rail lines plus perhaps they would avail tax holidays, cheap loans from state banks and an almost sure option to jack up fare prices.

“Under the O&M contract (operate and maintain), the winning private operator is not obligated to pour in new money in terms of additional rolling stocks or coaches and rail infrastructure,” he said, pointing out that if such is the case, this will give the PPP project a bad name. Later on, if that will always be the case, people will be angered.

“To maintain low fares for MRT riders alone, the palace economic managers may justify the P15 billion ‘pay out’ to the private operator if compared to the almost P7 billion to P8 billion that government shells out in yearly fare subsidies,” he furthered.

“The P15 billion ‘pasalubong’ to the winning private bidder may be justified but the prospect of commuters eventually paying higher MRT-LRT fares negates such justification,” Recto said, adding that the PPP auction of the MRT-LRT lines should redound to cheaper fare rates since the PPP dictum should be race to the bottom (lower fares), not race to the top (higher fares).

“Such imminent fare hikes in MRT-LRT would be unfair to taxpaying commuters while jeepney and tricycle drivers are getting direct subsidy through the government’s ‘Pantawid Pasada’ program,” Recto explained.

Out of the 44 companies that have expressed interest in the project, the government has slated the bidding for the MRT-LRT contract on July 11 with at least eight big groups landing in the short-list of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

The winning bidder will get to operate and to manage the two rail lines that would be integrated eventually for four years, with an option to extend by another year.

LRT-1 runs along Taft Avenue from Baclaran in Paranaque City to Roosevelt-Munoz, Quezon City while the MRT runs from Taft Avenue in Pasay City to North Avenue in Quezon City.

The Pantawid pasada program will also be adapted by the Indonesian government as assistance to their driver-operators of transport vehicles. This was disclosed by the Indonesian leader during the ASEAN meeting. (Jason de Asis)

LGU’s environment protection and climate change adaptation lauded by Legarda

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 8, 2011-Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change lauded the provincial government of Bukidnon’s maintain a tree park project and Quezon City’s tax credit scheme for green buildings in their initiatives on environmental protection and climate change adaptation that are timely needed.

Legarda cited Quezon City’s new and retrofitted buildings that can avail of up to 25% property tax refund depending on the eco-friendly practices being implemented like the use of renewable energy, cutting down power consumption and managing solid waste, among others while the Bukidnon, LGUs, non-government organizations and cooperatives wish to avail of financial assistance from the provincial government and entrepreneurs who will be registering or renewing their business permits must plant trees and maintain tree parks as a requirement.

“These stories of local communities-inspiring, trailblazing, pioneering-are slivers of light in a country of garbage dumps, mine tailings and bald mountains,” Legarda said, adding that more LGUs are heeding the call to act to revive our ecosystems, protect our environment and make our communities disaster and climate resilient.

“I am hoping that this would create a bandwagon effect with other LGUs making their own eco-friendly programs and green policies,” Legarda said.

To help resuscitate our degrading environment, Legarda said that all local governments should show dynamism and creativity in pursuing the projects for the welfare of the country’s environment, explaining that the LGUs set up offices at ground level, provide the staff, pass local ordinances and resolutions, and organize stakeholders to support and to complement environmental protection and climate change adaptation; thus, we have to ensure the continuity of their efforts. (Jason de Asis)

A$21.584 Asian development bank finance project on Phl water and sanitation extended-Angara

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 7, 2011-Senator Edgardo J. Angara, Chair of the Congressional Commission on Science Technology and Engineering (COMSTE) revealed that Australia has extended a grant worth A$ 21.584 through the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to finance trust funds for the country’s water infrastructure and clean energy initiatives which will be used to help finance projects that will bring water sanitation and clean energy to areas in Asia and the Pacific.

Angara said that to improve the country’s water and sanitation infrastructure, the ADB is actively supporting many projects in the country and it will be opened to help finance similar projects.

“I urged the government once again to improve the country’s water and sanitation to avoid crisis,” Angara said who recently held a conference called Water W.A.T.C.H. (Wise Adaptation of Technologies for Clean H2O) to promote the deployment of the latest in new technologies and best practices for water resource management in light of numerous studies that show that there could be a worldwide water crisis due to climate change.

The Senator said that there is a need to dispel the prevailing notion that have adequate water supply to last for generations, revealing that some areas have an abundance of clean water while some areas are arid.

To properly distribute and manage our water resources, Angara said that innovative water management is essential and the best way to do this is by utilizing science and technology, explaining that Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) plays a vital factor here.

“Since the government can only move so fast, a swift and sure solution would be for LGU’s to reach out to private funding institutions to develop the necessary infrastructure in water and sanitation and lessen our yearly losses,” Angara said, adding that the water crisis is a silent crisis in the Philippines, because issues concerning water have long been neglected. And yet, it encompasses a myriad of problems that affect our bid towards sustainable development.

“The water is a health issue,” Angara said, explaining that more than one third of diseases in the Philippines are water-borne. “It is also a food security issue,” Angara furthered, saying that rice is our staple food and is heavily dependent on water.

Angara added that approximately 3,000 liters of water is needed to grow one kilogram of rice and more than a third of our labor force depend on agriculture, water also affects rural livelihood, and development in the countryside.

“Our failure to recognize issues concerning water has affected the quality of life of most Filipinos. The UN has ranked the Philippines as 84th out of 177 countries in the Human Development Report, and one of the main reasons for there is the poor distribution of water and sanitation in the country,” Angara said.

Angara said that there is a need to start taking action against the water crisis as the Asian Development Bank, river and groundwater systems in the Philippines will fail by 2025. “We have to start cleaning up now to prevent crisis,” Angara said.

“Science and innovative technology can provide us solutions to the water crisis. What we need is a sound strategy in the use of technologies in ensuring adequate water supply that is clean and healthful,” Angara said, citing the rain harvesting systems in India and Japan that have existed for hundreds of years. (Jason de Asis)

(Update) Cop to be dismissed in service after allowing escape of hot lumber in Dingalan checkpoint

BALER, Aurora, May 6, 2011-In yesterday provincial task force Sagip Kalikasan meeting, Aurora Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo has ordered chief of police in Dingalan to dismiss in service PO3 Ricardo Cariǹo who was assigned in Dingalan checkpoint if proven guilty in the alleged near-escape of 1,488.9 board feet of illegally cut yakal and lawaan lumber loaded in an Isuzu XLT jeep intercepted by the Army and the Noble Blue Falcons International in Barangay Tanauan, Dingalan.

The said police was in a hot water for the alleged letting of a jeep loaded with contraband lumber escape from a provincial government-manned checkpoint here two weeks ago after Cristopher Usita of the NBFI reported that the police were actually there during the operation but Carino told the task force members to just let the jeep pass where the latter claimed that the vehicle only contained coconuts.

However, after sneaking through the task force checkpoint at barangay Caragsacan the noble blue falcons led by Ericson C. Dayson sought the help of the Army where the commanding officer of the 56^th Infantry Batallion, Captain Noel Wamil immediately responded due to suspicion and arrested the driver of the jeep in Tanauan.

“That incident was shameful and reflected the police as coddlers of illegal loggers,” Angara-Castillo lamented, saying that the police should not be cowed in the illegal loggers. “Wala dapat tayong santuhin,” she added.

In her term, the governor wanted to twist the bad image of the police into respectable and refutable one; thus, she promised to reward policemen for good performance and even helping them to be promoted.

Relative to this, Inspector Erwin Fabroquez, Dingalan chief of police attested in front of the task force and Angara-Castillo that they will conduct meticulous investigation for the veracity of the report of the noble blue falcons, saying that the police will not tolerate such negligence in duty. (Jason de Asis)

Cop in hot water for allowing ‘hot lumber’ flee in his post

BALER, Aurora, May 6, 2011-A policeman from Dingalan town is in hot water for allegedly allowing a jeep loaded with contraband lumber escape from a provincial government-manned checkpoint here two weeks ago.

PO3 Ricardo Cariǹo of the Dingalan police is facing dismissal from the service for the near-escape of 1,488.9 board feet of illegally cut yakal and lawaan lumber loaded in an Isuzu XLT jeep intercepted by the Army and the Noble Blue Falcons International in Barangay Tanauan, Dingalan town.

The contraband lumber, worth P147,908  were seized by the Army and NBFI operatives comprising the provincial task force “Sagip Kalikasan” against illegal logging, shortly after sneaking through the task force checkpoint at Barangay Caragsacan. The team was led by Army Captain Noel Wamil, commanding officer of the 56^th Infantry Battalion’s Charlie Company and Ericson C. Dayson of the NBFI.

Professor Leonardo Usita, NBFI national president, said that the successful operation could be attributed to the intelligence information provided the task force by an advance reconnaissance team who cleared the area for the holding of a mountain trek by foreign and local mountaineers.

During a meeting of the task force at the Capitol here Thursday, Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo deplored the continued absence of policemen manning the checkpoint which triggered incidents, such as the near-escape of the contraband lumber.

Cristopher Usita of the NBFI said the police were actually there during the operation but Carino reportedly told the task force members to just let the jeep pass, claiming the vehicle only contained coconuts.

Suspicious, the Army and the NBFI gave chase and caught up with the driver of the jeep in Tanauan.

Angara-Castillo described the incident as shameful because it depicted the police as coddling illegal loggers. “It’s downright embarassing isn’t it?” she asked. She directed Inspector Erwin Fabroquez, Dingalan police chief, to have Carino dismissed.

Angara-Castillo told policemen not to be cowed by illegal loggers. She promised to reward policemen for good performance by even having them promoted.

The governor also directed Raul Batang, community officer of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in southern Aurora covering Dingalan and San Luis towns not to spare anyone in the anti-illegal logging campaign.

“Show them there are no sacred cows. Whether they are local officials or not, if they are involved, we’ll throw the hook at them,” she said. (Jason de Asis)

Septuagenarian ‘lolo’ rapped for raping 2 minors

BALER, Aurora, May 5, 2011-A 78-year-old man was charged before the Department of Justice here Wednesday for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl and her 11-year-old sister on two separate occasions.

Charged in an information for violations of Republic Act 7610 filed before the provincial prosecutor’s office was Dionisio Alarcon, alias Tata Dionisio of Barangay Obligacion in this town.

Alarcon was accused of sexually abusing the victims on February 20 and March 26, respectively in a nipa hut owned by the suspect.

The elder girl said the incident took place when she went with Alarcon at the nipa hut. She said she slept at the place when her father asked her to accompany Alarcon who was caretaker of the victim’s father’s native ducks.

She said that prior to the incident, the suspect gave her money and food and told her they would play “bahay-bahayan.”

The younger victim was accompanied by her two brothers when she went to the nipa hut where Alarcon fed them. When the two brothers fell asleep, Alarcon sexually abused the victim. The victim did not immediately report the incident for fear of the suspect who threatened to kill her. (Jason de Asis)

Noveras-Angara tandem eyed in Aurora in 2013 election race

Photo (L) Vice gov. Noveras and (R) businessman R. Angara  

BALER, Aurora, May 5, 2011-The political leaders in this province are reportedly working out for a Noveras-Angara tandem in the 2013 local elections involving the two protagonists in the 2007 vice gubernatorial race, saying that political circles are abuzz here with the reports that Vice Governor Gerardo “Gerry” Noveras is being eyed to run for governor by the Angaras the reigning political kingpins in the province with businessman Rommel Angara as his running mate in the midst of the reports that Rommel’s uncle, outgoing Baler Mayor Arthur Angara is also eyeing for the governorship.

Noveras, son of the Noveras patriarch, former vice governor Isaias Sr. and the younger brother of ex-vice governor Isaias Jr., defeated Rommel, nephew of incumbent Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo in the 2007 race by over 1,000 votes, spoiling an Angara-Angara team at the Capitol. 

Angara-Castillo is on her third and last term as provincial chief executive and is reportedly eyeing a return to Congress in 2013 with another nephew, outgoing three-term Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara running for the Senate. 

The Noverases are on record as the father-and-sons with the distinction of having been voted each as vice governor of the province.

Noveras’ victory triggered the political divorce between the Angaras and their earstwhile allies, the Tangsons of San Luis town, whom the clan suspected of junking Rommel in favor of Noveras, a claim which San Luis Mayor Annabelle Tangson and her younger brother, ex-provincial board member Mariano, denied.

Asked to comment on the Noveras-Angara team-up, Noveras described it as a “good tandem.”

“On my part, I won’t refuse it if it’s true. But as of now, I only heard of it,” he said, adding that if offered by the Angaras, he was “inclined” to accept it.

Noveras brushed aside the possibility of joining the Tangsons and run as their standard-bearer.

For his part, Rommel said the possibility of him teaming up with Noveras is not distinct. “I am not saying yes or no. The elections are still far. But in politics, everything is possible,” he said.

He said he holds no grudges against Noveras and has no problem becoming his running mate. “Our rivalry is nothing personal. He’s very down-to-earth and approachable and we are very cordial with each other, something that is not plastic,” he said.

He recalled that when he lost in 2007, he even conceded and congratulated Noveras.

The Angaras have reportedly maintained cordial relations with Noveras because the vice governor kept his vow not to be a stumbling block to the development agenda of Angara-Castillo and the Angaras.

Angara-Castillo said she holds Noveras in high esteem for supporting her administration all the way. “In fairness to him, there was never a single instance when he blocked or opposed my programs,” she said. (Jason de Asis)

Army and noble blue falcons seized worth P147,908 cut yakal lumbers in Dingalan

DINGALAN, Aurora, May 4, 2011-An estimated to 147,908 pesos of illegally cut yakal lumbers were seized by the Army and the Noble Blue Falcons Environmental Mountaineers at Brgy. Tanauan in this town last April 23, 2011 around 11 in the evening led by Cpt. Noel B. Wamil, Commanding Officer of Charlie Company, 56 Infantry Batallion, 7th Infantry Division and Ericson C. Dayson of NBFI Environmental Environmental Mountaineers in the continuing implementation of total log ban in the country.

The task force sagip kalikasan intercepted an Izusu XLT type jeep with plate no. ZLV 705 where totalled to 1, 488.9 Yakal and Lawaan lumbers on board.

Prof. Leonardo "Onad" Usita, National President of the Noble Blue Falcons Environmental Mountaineers said that the success of the operation was due to the advance information relayed to the apprehending team of the Army and the group of Blue Falcons Environmental Intelligence agents as part of Advance Reconnaissance Team who conducted clearing in the recent Philippine International Climb 2001 to Save Sierra  at Mt. Falcon, Ditumabo, San Luis town for the 300 American, French, South Korean mountaineers, and the with Filipino Climbers to save Aurora Sierra Madre campaigning against the rampant logging in the province.

“A violation of PD 705 as amended by E.O. 277 and transport of forest products without permit to transport are the charges filed to the violators,” Usita said, lamenting that the incident did not appear  in the local and national news papers  in what seemed to be a conspiracy between media and illegal loggers in the province of Aurora.

“We know that media people in Aurora are true to the idealism of media practice although we received reports that few reporters are allegedly receiving bribes to loggers to tone down if not impose a media black-out in the province,” Usita said, adding that their environmental Intelligence agents will unmask this corrupt media people so as not to allow them to contaminate the many honest ones. (Jason de Asis) 

Father and son, 6 others arrested in Nueva Ecija drug bust

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, May 3, 2011-Senior Supt. Roberto Aliggayu, provincial police director reported that eight suspected drug pushers including a 70-year-old man and his son were arrested by authorities in a series of raids conducted here last Saturday who were identified as Gaudencio Agapito, his son Darius, alias Dayo, 29, both of Barangay Lambakin, Jaen; Allan Esquievel, 25, Mildred Esquievel, 29, and Carol Barsaga, 29, all of Barangay Sapang, also in Jaen; Jay-ann Manalastas, 29, of Barangay Pulo, and Gerry Roxas, 35, of Barangay Poblacion, both of San Isidro, and Roel Ocampo,40, of San Antonio, Nueva Ecija.

The simultaneous raids, led by provincial intelligence officer Supt. Ricardo Villanueva accompanied by barangay officials and media practitioners were conducted based on warrants issued by Gapan City Regional Trial Court Branch 34 Judge Celso Baguio.

Seized from the Agapito father-and-son were a calibre 45 revolver and 9 mm pistol, a 12-gauge shotgun, gun clips and magazines, assorted ammunitions, over P100,000 worth of cash and various drug paraphernalia. Villanueva said that the two Agapitos are big-time drug pushers operating in the third and fourth district of the province.

He said Agapito has a standing arrest warrant for illegal possession of firearms issued by Plaridel, Bulacan Municipal Trial Court Judge Shiela Marie Geronimo-Orquillas and another case in a Malolos City court.

The place where the six other suspects were arrested was reportedly owned by one Camilo Esquievel, a retired police sergeant.

A ninth suspect, Raymund esquievel, alias Emon, escaped.

Villanueva said the lightning raids were the results of a long case built-up of the provincial intelligence bureau and the provincial special reaction team.

Cases of violations of Republic act 8294 for illegal possession of firearms and ammunitions and RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Drug Act of 2002 have been filed against the suspects. (Jason de Asis)

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)