Farmers start tilling in disputed Hacienda Luisita

MANILA, July 16, 2011—Hacienda Luisita farm-workers had taken the risk of tilling the 500-hectare land sold by the Hacienda Luisita, Inc. to the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. of the Yuchengcos, claiming that the land, since 1956, is theirs as they were the ones who toiled, from morning till dusk, just to make the HLI “alive.”

Around 200 farm worker-beneficiaries from the Alyansa ng mga Manggagawa sa Asyenda Luisita (AMBALA) and United Luisita Workers’ Union (ULWU) flocked to the 500 hectare-land owned by the RCBC, saying that they were only reclaiming what was truly their own. Armed with pick mattocks and other farming tools, the farmers had transformed the RCBC land into a collective farming unit.

“Years it has been idle and non-productive so we decided that these would be the best start to continue our collective farming. Our priority is to provide farm workers lands to till and these 500 hectares is suited to our “kampanyang bawi’ [land reclaiming campaign] and bungkalan [land tilling] which signifies our legal claim and assertion for our right to land. We are not afraid of legal repercussions because we have the backing of the majority of farm worker beneficiaries,” said AMBALA spokesperson and UMA secretary general Rodel Mesa.

The lot, which is located at Barangay Balete, will serve as one of the centers of the “Land not Referendum, Distribute Hacienda Luisita and Fight for Genuine Land Reform!” campaign launched not so long ago, when the High Tribunal had decided to push for a referendum to decide the “fate” of the disputed hacienda.

Meanwhile, the farm-workers assailed the RCBC management, and even the Supreme Court, for allegedly not looking into the matters about the hacienda with open eyes.

“Doing business transaction with banks such as RCBC involving money and properties requires many documents to ensure a clean cut deal. Hacienda Luisita was in a land row between the Cojuangcos and the contesting farm worker beneficiaries for more than two decades and the bank didn’t bother to investigate what was unacceptable and now recognized by the Supreme Court as “innocent purchase“ is absurd even!” said Mesa.

“Under the agrarian law such transaction is prohibited in areas land reform program is in effect. RCBC should file a case against the Cojuangcos for deceiving them to bought land that is intended for distribution,” Mesa added.

Mesa has also some words for the President:

"We are reminding the President and his relatives… it is government fund that is running on the sugar state’s veins since 1957 when Jose Cojuangco forged agreement with the state managed GSIS that within ten years the property should be distributed to the farm workers. The Cojuangcos violated the agreement using government influence and violence. That is why we are in a position to pursue what is legal and just. Our situation is academic, Hacienda Luisita is government land, subject to land reform, distribute it to farm worker beneficiaries, period. The Cojuangco’s are truly the one’s making all these complicated.” (Noel Sales Barcelona)

Incumbent Aurora vice-governor manifested to run for governor in 2013

BALER, Aurora, July 16, 2011-Aurora Vice-Governor Gerardo “Gerry” Noveras, who is reportedly being groomed by political leaders as standard-bearer of a projected Noveras-Angara tandem has announced his intention Friday afternoon to run for governor in this province on 2013 election polls.

Noveras, the present provincial chairman of the Liberal Party and who was earlier being worked out to tandem with businessman Rommel Angara, is definitely eyeing the governorship in the 2013 polls with outgoing three-term Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo who is seeking to return to Congress when her term expires. However, Noveras did not mention his running mate.

“I am manifesting my intention to run for governor in 2013,” Noveras said, to stop speculations that he is being eyed as a running mate of one of the Tangsons in the coming polls and that he is seeking the mayorship of his hometown in Maria Aurora.

“I decided to run for governor because I believe that this is the right time for me,” Noveras said, who has one more term left as vice-governor. He believes that it is the proper time to run for governor instead in 2016 where his prospects of winning would be slimmer.

Noveras’ announcement at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Capitol to run for governor coincidentally fell on the birthday of Congressman Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara who is leaving the Congress for the intention of running in the Senate in 2013 in an effort to succeed his father, Senator Edgardo J. Angara.

It could be remembered that two months ago, word spread like wild fire that the Angaras, the province’s political kingpins, are seriously considering a Noveras-Angara tandem in the 2013 polls. Noveras and Rommel - chief of staff and cousin of Congressman Angara - squared off in the 2007 vice gubernatorial race with the former emerging victorious, spoiling an Angara-Angara team at the Capitol.

Noveras said if the Angaras offered him the position of governor, he was willing to accept it while Rommel said that the possibility of him teaming up with Noveras is not distinct as elections are still far; however, “I am not saying yes or no because  in politics, everything is possible,” Rommel explained.

“I don’t hold any grudge 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,” Rommel furthered, recalling that when he lost in 2007, he even conceded and congratulated Noveras.

The camp of Angaras told newsmen that they maintained cordial relationship with Noveras because the latter kept his inaugural vow not to be a stumbling block to the development agenda of Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo.

Angara-Castillo manifested that 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.

Noveras earlier announcement of gubernatorial bid came on the heels of the reports that Rommel’s uncle, outgoing three-term Baler Mayor Arthur Angara, president of the provincial chapter of mayors’ league of the League of the Municipalities of the Philippines is also seeking to run as governor in this province. Mayor Angara has been seen going around the province and reportedly conducting medical and dental missions.

Noveras, is the son of the Noveras patriarch, 84-year-old former vice governor Isaias Sr. and is the younger brother of ex-vice governor Isaias Jr. The Noverases are on record as the father-and-sons with the distinction of having been voted each as vice governor of the province.

The elder Noveras ran for governor in 1992 but lost.         

The incumbent vice governor said that he will pursue programs in health and agriculture and shall continue the programs initiated by Angara-Castillo. “We only differ in the style of management in running the province,” he concluded. (Jason de Asis)

Church’s shame, a ‘small story’ for Malacañang

MANILA, July 15, 2011— The shame suffered by the Catholic hierarchy over wrongful accusations made by a state-run lottery against some bishops is not a big deal for Malacañang.

Even if the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office misled the public that seven bishops got luxury vehicles from the agency, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said there’s nothing to apologize for.

Lacierda was defending PCSO chair Margarita Juico over calls for her to publicly apologize for dragging the Church into the so-called “Pajero” scandal.

As far as Malacañang is concerned, according to him, the case is closed and they will never ask Juico to apologize, much more to resign.

“I think it’s a small story. I think we have greater problems, bigger problems to solve and to address so it’s not something that we would like to dwell on," Lacierda said.

An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines earlier said they are not keen in asking an apology from their critics now that the accusations hurled by the PCSO have apparently backfired.

Msgr. Juanito Figura, CBCP secretary general, said that while the bishops were admittedly “hurt” when their names were dragged into the issue, this does not necessarily require their accusers to apologize.

“I think it would be better that if they will apologize, it should be voluntary,” Figura said.

Many bishops believe the recent attack on the Church’s credibility was connected with its position against the controversial birth control measure, known as the reproductive health (RH) bill.

They said more attacks would certainly be made against them by groups lobbying the passage of the RH bill but stressed no one can stop them in their desire to protect the sanctity of life and the family. [CBCPNews]

Integrity is not enough, Archbishop Soc tells Aquino

MANILA, July 15, 2011— The Aquino administration remains “untarnished” by allegations of corruption but has yet to prove its worth in governance, a Catholic bishop said.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas reminded President Benigno Aquino III that integrity is not enough because leadership is about vision setting too.

“In the ‘balanced square’ of leadership, the other three sides must be economic progress and stability; second, political will and clarity of laws; and the third is availability of education and social services,” said Villegas.

“If these three sides are given equal support connected by integrity and blameless living, even integrity itself will become part of our national ethics and the rays of bright future await us,” he said.

Villegas made the statement yesterday in a speech before the Rotary Club meeting and induction ceremonies at the Lyceum of Northwestern Philippines in Dagupan City.

According to the incoming vice president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, Aquino’s possession of integrity was a good start but more was needed.

“Leadership without vision is treachery to the governed. Integral leadership also means setting the path towards the future,” he said.

Leadership, he added, must also be integrating in the sense that it must embrace and unite and not alienate and divide.

“The true statesman must reach out and seek consensus. The leader is a servant not only of those who support him but even more of those who do not share his vision. The man of integrity must also be a man of unity,” Villegas said.

“Prosecution for previous wrongdoings must be carried out to the full but such must be done in pursuit of justice not revenge. Political vendetta divides even more,” he said.

President Aquino is set to deliver his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 25. [CBCPNews]

Attack on the bishops backfires

MANILA, July 14, 2011—Seven bishops from the country’s poorest dioceses told the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Wednesday the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) had given them vehicles to service the poor, the sick, the dying, and displaced victims of conflict and calamities, but these were old, second-hand pickup trucks, and not luxurious Pajeros, as alleged by the new PCSO head Margarita Juico and her media allies who had maliciously labeled them “the Pajero bishops.”

It became plain that there was absolutely no basis to the propaganda scandal generated by the PCSO head, some hip-shooting senators and the anti-Church media against the poor bishops. But because of the “pain and sorrow and scandal” it had caused the Catholic faithful and the entire episcopate, Archbishop Orlando Quevedo of Kidapawan, Cotabato told the committee on behalf of the seven that they had decided to return the vehicles, whether their acquisition was constitutional and legal or not.

“The vehicles from Luzon are now ready for turnover in front of the Senate building, even as I speak,” said Quevedo, “while those from Mindanao are awaiting turnover to an authorized PCSO representative.”

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) had earlier expressed profound sorrow over the incident. Quevedo read the CBCP statement, signed by CBCP President Nereo P. Odchimar, Bishop of Tandag, to the Committee, before reading the statement of the seven, and his own.

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto tried to ask the bishops to reconsider, saying that if he had any say on the matter he would object to it. But Quevedo said “mistrust” had entered their relationship with the PCSO, and they must now review the parameters of that relationship. Their decision had the imprimatur of the CBCP and a “prophetic” motive, Quevedo said.

Who invented the phrase “Pajero bishops”?

The question was asked, but no one could tell the Committee. The Commission on Audit (COA) report, part of which COA Commissioner Heidi Mendoza read into the record, does not mention any Pajero nor name any bishop who had received one.

Juico, to whom the phrase “Pajero bishops” had been attributed, said she had tried to correct the error in several interviews. But she gave no proof of her alleged effort, and the slander was never withdrawn. The media never bothered to verify, and have not said sorry for their irresponsible and harmful conduct.

A usually reliable newspaper source has disclosed that Juico had dinner with the editorial staff of one anti-Church newspaper a week or so before the propaganda attack on the bishops started. They reportedly agreed “to teach the bishops a lesson” for campaigning vehemently against the reproductive health (RH) bill, which the newspaper, Juico, her bosses and a well-funded foreign lobby are vigorously trying to push through Congress.

They wanted to stop the switch of support from the pro-RH and “undecided” camps to the anti-RH camp by bringing down the moral standing of the bishops, the source said. Not long after the dinner, the newspaper began running editorially slanted “news stories” under big headlines about the “Pajero bishops”.

“I’m so sorry for whatever this may have caused these bishops,” Juico said, with no manifest contrition or penance.

Asked about it after the hearing, Quevedo said Christianity teaches the faithful to forgive and pray for one’s persecutors and enemies. But there was a spontaneous call from the laity for Juico’s resignation, along with her entire board. An instant groundswell developed as text-messaging against Juico spread from Manila to the other cities and countryside.

Not only did Juico try to put the bishops in a bad light, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said; she tried to damage the name and dignity of the entire Church, some lay leaders pointed out.

Yet unexamined is the role played by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee under Senator Teofisto Guingona III.

Guingona apparently decided to investigate the bishops at Juico’s behest, without reading the constitutional provision they were supposed to have violated. He even reportedly visited Juico at PCSO prior to the hearings, in violation of established ethical norms.

Both Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago said the donation to the bishops did not violate the Constitution. But if indeed the Constitution has been violated, Enrile pointed out, the charity agency alone, and not the recipient would be accountable for it.

In a proper inquiry, the onus should have been on PCSO, not on the bishops. But Juico’s intent, supported by her media allies, was facilitated by Guingona’s inept reading of the Constitution.

What does the Constitution say?

The Constitution provides for the separation of Church and State. This simply means the Church shall not run the affairs of the State, and the State shall not administer the sacraments or pronounce a religious or moral doctrine of its own. But this is usually not understood by many politicians and media commentators, who seem to think the State has the right to run the reproductive and intimate family lives of its citizens.

The Constitution also bars the use of public money or property for the support of any sect, church, denomination, sectarian institution or system of religion, or any priest, preacher, minister or other religious teacher or dignitary as such, except when the person concerned is assigned to the armed forces, a penal institution, government orphanage or leprosarium. But the law has made it clear that what it is controlling here is the use to which public money or property is put even if donated to a church or mosque, imam or priest.

Now, PCSO is a charity organization. Its mandate is to “provide funds for health programs, medical assistance and services and charities of national character.” Every diocese on the other hand has a social action or charity program. This requires the bishop to provide the funds and all other means to carry out charity work to the farthest ends of his diocese. This was confirmed by each of the seven bishops.

As no religious test is associated with any PCSO donation, no bishop, priest or imam is barred from seeking such assistance. And they do. Does that offend the separation of Church and State? Jurisprudence says it does not. But assuming, for the sake of argument, that it does, the PCSO alone, as Enrile pointed out, should be held to account for it, not the recipient.

Yet some senators, including the committee chair, and members of the anti-Church media were quick to put the burden on the bishops, as though they had a hand in disbursing to themselves what they had simply asked for. That allowed Juico and her propaganda crew to carry out their demolition job, while creating a distraction from the real issues against the PCSO.

The committee, before it adjourns, could start asking the following questions:

1. From 2001 to 2010, two presidential elections and four senatorial elections were held. How much did PCSO spend on political ads and media contracts for its favored candidates? Who were those candidates? How much did each one get? How were these “donations” justified and liquidated?

2. The PNP, according to news reports, has managed to maintain 22 PCSO accounts. How much money went into these, and under what provision of the Constitution or law was this made possible?

3. The PCSO ad manager was reported to have made a big pile from illegitimate and highly inflated commissions from his ad placements. Were the ads about PCSO alone? Or did they include ads and media contracts for PCSO-supported candidates in the last four elections? Was the ad manager operating alone, or was he working with or for a group? A former PCSO board member says that at one time an P80 million-check was delivered to the spouse of a board member. Can the said individual be asked to shed light on this?

4. The PCSO budget grew from about P7 billion in 2001 to P20 billion or so in 2010. Fifty-five (55) percent of this went to prizes; 30% to charity; and 15% to operations. Were all the prizes won and claimed by actual winners? There are allegations to the contrary. What was the total magnitude of unclaimed prizes, and what happened to them? The public deserves to be told.

5. PCSO claims to have released P20 million “blood money” to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to buy the freedom of a Filipino death convict abroad. But Foreign Undersecretary Esteban Conejos has testified that the DFA received a check for P15 million only. Where did the P5 million go? Somebody apparently took it in broad daylight.

6. Sen. Santiago says PCSO officials deposited P1.5 billion of its funds in a private bank, without the necessary authority. Who benefited from this, and how much was the take? Was this the only transaction of its kind?

Not all the questions can be asked in this space. But the committee should exert all efforts to exhaust the issues. And none of this should prevent President Aquino from naming a new PCSO board to replace the present one. (Francisco S. Tatad)

One of CBCP’s newest prelates reflects on Senate appearance

MANILA, July 14, 2011—Relatively unknown to most radio and television audience who remained glued to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing yesterday, the youngest of the bishops called to shed light on the Margie Juico expose, is one of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines’ latest addition to its rosters.

Clad in his light-gray polo barong, the 47-year old Auxiliary Bishop-elect David William Valencia Antonio of Nueva Segovia was instructed by Archbishop Ernesto Salgado to represent him as the senators conducted their inquiry into the so-called “Pajero bishops.” The 74-year old archbishop has been abroad for a couple of weeks and failed to make it to the hearing.

Interviewed by CBCPNews, Antonio said he thinks his appearance at the Senate hearing was “part of the job” and “portent of things to come.”

He said as an auxiliary bishop he believes he has to be ready to give witness to the truth and the faith or whatever the Church teaches.

“I must also be courageous,” he hastened to add.

The new bishop said he felt bad when he learned that the archdiocese received a Pajero from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office because it is not true.

The archdiocese is quietly serving the poor, Antonio said, and to be faulted for something that is far from the truth really hurts.

The new bishop believed there was some closure achieved in yesterday’s hearing because they were able to prove the accusations were wrong and sent the message to the world that the information fed by media “who were obviously against the Catholic church, were not that accurate.”

Antonio was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Nueva Segovia last June 15, 2011 and will be ordained Bishop on August 26, 2011 in Vigan.

Two other prelates were appointed by the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI last June 15. Laoag Bishop Sergio Lasam Utleg was named Archbishop of Tuguegarao and Msgr. Jose Salmorin Bantolo as Bishop of Masbate. (Melo M. Acuna)

After PCSO controversy, Church brings back fight vs RH bill

MANILA, July 14, 2011—And the fight against the reproductive health (RH) bill continues.

Now that Senate has cleared the seven Catholic bishops from the PCSO controversy, the Church will bring back its focus in fighting the birth control measure.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said several activities are lined up in the Church’s campaign against the proposed reproductive health (RH) bill.

“The fight against the RH bill continues,” said Figura, CBCP secretary general.

He said preparations are being made for the July 25 Humanae Vitae’s 43rd year, the landmark encyclical by Pope Paul VI that deals with the Church’s uncompromising stand on birth control.

But since the date fall on the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Benigno Aquino III, the celebration will be held in advance.

“We’ll be doing activities a week before that just to stay away from the SONA,” said Figura.

Aside from Humanae Vitae, the Church is also marking the 20th anniversary of Familiaris Consortio (The Role of Christian family), an apostolic exhortation written by Pope John Paul II.

The document describes the church’s position concerning the meaning and role of marriage and the family, and outlines challenges towards realizing that ideal.

The apostolic exhortation also defines marriage "as a personal union in which the spouses reciprocally give and receive."

The document restates the opposition to artificial birth control stated earlier in Humanae Vitae, and (briefly) mentions opposition to abortion.

During the bishops’ plenary assembly last week, Pope Benedict XVI urged them to continue protect the sanctity of life and marriage.

CBCP President and Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar earlier said that they will continue to speak out against the RH bill as this is their duty to the people.

“We are the last bastion standing against the RH bill, divorce and now there is also the possibility of same-sex marriage and we won’t be surprised if after that would come euthanasia,” he said. [CBCPNews]

NGO urges P-Noy gov’t to ratify maritime convention

MANILA, July 14, 2011—With the increasing number of abuses against Filipino seafarers, Manila-based International Seafarers’ Action Center (ISAC) Foundation, Inc. in Manila appealed to the Benigno C. Aquino III government to ratify the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) Maritime Labor Convention of 2006.

Attorney Joseph T. Entero, ISAC secretary-general, in a statement said that their organization has been handling numerous cases of abuse, ranging from nonpayment of salaries and benefits, up to mysterious deaths of Filipino mariners boarded in different foreign ships.

It is saddening, he said, that despite the significant contribution of the seafarers in the country’s economy, the government seems to neglect them.

“Last year, our seafarers had remitted as much as $3.7 billion—an increase of more than 11 percent from the total dollar remittance by our mariners in 2009. However, the government seems [to be] continuously disregarding our mariners by having the Maritime Labor Convention of 2006 left unratified,” Entero stated.

He said that there are already 13 countries that adopted the 5-year old Convention, but unfortunately, the Philippines is not one of them.

“The MLC provides a more comprehensive rights and protection at work for the world's more than 1.2 million seafarers. Its primary aim is to provide decent work for seafarers and to secure the economic interests of ship owners which follow high shipping standards. It consolidates and updates the 68 international labor standards related to the Maritime sector, which the ILO and the stakeholders had adopted for the last 80 years,” Entero explained.

He added that with Filipinos constituting the 25 per cent of the entire mariners’ population in the world, it is high time for President Aquino and our lawmakers, to consider its ratification and adoption. (Noel Sales Barcelona)

Believe it or not, PhilRice executive urges Filipinos to eat less, less rice

SCIENCE CITY OF MUNOZ, Nueva Ecija, July 14, 2011-An economist from the Philippine Rice Research Institute who is the country’s premier rice-production research  agency has advised Filipinos to eat less and less rice and diversify their diet by feasting on cassava, banana and other crops to help contribute in attaining national food security and rice self-sufficiency within three years.

Dr. Flordeliza Bordey, spokesperson of the Food Staple Plan of the Philippine Food Staples Self-sufficiency Roadmap (FSSR) for 2011-2016 said that the Filipinos should follow the lead of Japan and China which are rice-sufficient despite their meager rice area harvested per capita because of their people’s diversified diet.

PhilRice is a government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC) which is mandated to produce high-yielding, cost-reducing rice and superior technology for the Filipino farmers and the citizenry.

“To maintain the country’s per capita consumption of rice at 120 kilograms per year, diversifying diet will improve the Filipinos’ nutrition,” Bordey said, saying that white corn, sweet potato, cassava, and banana can be used as substitutes for rice. 

In the country’s FSSR, a document produced through a series of workshops spearheaded by the Rice Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA), it was mentioned that substituting other staples for rice is seen as strategy in preventing further increase in per capita rice consumption.

Bordey said that the DA’s Rice, Corn, and High-Value Commercial Crops programs will work on augmenting the supply of alternative staples by 3.5 percent a year and increasing their accessibility and affordability. She said there is a pressing need for the country to be rice self-sufficient with the threat of climate change in the traditional rice-exporting countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, India, and the US, which control 84 percent of the world rice export.

She added that “the thin and heavily concentrated international rice trade also continues to be a major concern for food policymakers,” noting that in 2008,  the world price of rice increased dramatically owing to export bans issued by exporters and panic buying of importers.

Roberto Alingog, PR Bank president and 2011 UP outstanding alumnus in entrepreneurship and employment said that eating sweet potato, a crop with more complex carbohydrates and high fiber content, is not only good for the health but also helps the country save millions of pesos from rice exportation.

The less-rice consumption advocacies have seen popular showbiz personalities like actress Gretchen Barreto, whose best remembered health regimen include the sweet potato diet, which she ate boiled, coupled with fruits.

The FSSR said that for the country to be rice self-sufficient, government must embark on such interventions as development and maintenance of irrigation systems; increasing farmers’ access to high-quality seeds; research, development, and promotion of appropriate technology; extension and farmers’ education; reducing post-harvest losses; and developing upland rice-based farming systems using sustainable agricultural practices. (Jason de Asis)

Maritime institute creation is the key to solve Spratlys dispute says Angara

MANILA, July 14, 2011-Senator Edgardo J. Angara, vice chairman of the Senate committee on foreign relations said yesterday that an institute on maritime affairs that will train a pool of diplomatic, economic, maritime and legal experts on territorial disputes will provide the solution to the Spratlys dispute.

“The creation of the institute I am proposing will enable our country to have experts who can competently uphold the Philippines interests in international dialogues, including territorial disputes such as the Spratlys,” Angara said, explaining that he is now discussing with the Law Center of the  University of the Philippines of which he is a former president to iron out the details of the formation of an Institute of Maritime Affairs which will advance the country’s ocean-related interests.

“I am sure that the maritime institute will serve in beefing up the country’s capacity to protect our maritime and territorial interests like the conflict over the Spratly Islands continues to simmer,” Angara said.

He added that there is a need to have an authoritative representative in international dialogues which was made all the more urgent by the persisting tension with China.

Earlier in March, the Philippines filed a diplomatic protest after Chinese military ships bullied a Philippine seismic exploration vessel in the Recto (Reed) Bank, 80 nautical miles from Palawan and clearly within the country’s 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Angara said that the government rightfully protested the incursions and unwarranted harassment, adding that the renaming the West Philippine Sea is likewise a strong assertion of the country’s territorial claims. He said, however, that these disagreements cannot be allowed to escalate into a violent clash.

“The Spratlys Islands dispute involves multilateral interests and hence should be resolved multilaterally, with countries agreeing to thresh out not only political but also economic interests,” he said.

“Our country could engage stakeholders on how to jointly maximize available resources for the collective benefit, saying that there are national interests that must be pursued vigorously but there are also multilateral interests that may be sought cooperatively.

“We should strive to strike a balance between the two,” he stressed, believing that maritime institute creation could help dispute in the Spratlys issue. (Jason de Asis)

27 Nueva Ecija towns ban use of plastic bags

PENARANDA, Nueva Ecija, July 13, 2011-“Bawal ang plastic sa Nueva Ecija (Plastics are a taboo in Nueva Ecija).”

With this, municipal mayors in Nueva Ecija have declared a ban on the use of plastic bags in the province in support of the campaign for environmental protection and the fight against global warming.

Mayor Ferdinand Abesamis, president of the 27-member League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Nueva Ecija chapter, said that the prohibition on the use of plastic bags is contained in LMP-NE Resolution 003-2011 passed during its regular meeting last July 5.

Abesamis said each of the member municipalities will convene their respective sangguniang bayan or municipal councils and enact ordinances parallel to the league resolution.  

Abesamis said the league resolution will be transmitted to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan which will adopt the same and pass an ordinance, including the penalties for violations.

Abesamis said that prior to the passage of the LMP resolution, the ban is now in effect in this town. “We are now enforcing it in Penaranda as part of our environmental plan and in support of the fight against global warming,” he said, adding plastics pose environmental hazards such as flooding because these are hard to dispose of.

“With this resolution, we can really say bawal ang plastic sa Nueva Ecija (plastic is indeed prohibited in Nueva Ecija),” he quipped.

The league, in imposing the ban, took the cue from the city government of Muntinlupa which implemented the plastic bag and styrofoam ban six months ago in order to ease the flooding and reduce the volume of collected garbage.

Muntinlupa City Mayor Alvin San Pedro said that since the ban took effect, the city was spared from flooding at the height of typhoon “Falcon” last month.

In place of plastic bags, consumers now use alternative receptacles to place their groceries such as cardboard boxes, reusable green bags and paper bags made of old newspapers and magazines or the traditional “bayong” (native bags).

According to environmental groups, 12 towns and cities in the country have passed ordinances banning the use of plastic bags. Aside from Muntinlupa, these are Baler, Aurora, Antipolo City and Batangas City, Binan and Los Banos, both in Laguna; Burgos in Pangasinan; Carmona and Imus, both in Cavite; Infanta and Lucban, both in Quezon; and Sta. Barbara, Iloilo.

Sen. Loren Legarda has filed Senate Bill 2759 otherwise known as the Total Plastic Bag Ban Act of 2011 which prohibits groceries, supermarkets, restaurants, fast food chains, department stores and other retail stores and establishments nationwide from using non-biodegradable plastic bags.

Abesamis expressed hope all the five cities in the province – Cabanatuan, Gapan, Munoz, Palayan and San Jose – will also pass local ordinances in support of the campaign. (Jason de Asis)

Bishops return vehicles to PCSO

MANILA, July 13, 2011— Catholic bishops who received money from a state-run lottery to buy sports utility vehicles during the Arroyo administration have returned the cars to the government.

The seven bishops did so, during a senate inquiry Wednesday, although underscoring that the vehicles have not been for personal use but for Church-operated missions.

The three prelates from Luzon brought their vehicles to the senate and returned them to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) right there.

Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo said those in Mindanao, including the one for his archdiocese, are ready for immediate turnover to any authorized PCSO office.

“…Regardless of whether the acquisition of the vehicles has been lawful or unlawful, constitutional or unconstitutional, we are returning the vehicles,” they said in a joint statement read by Quevedo.

Six of the seven bishops involved in the controversy faced the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee currently investigating the so-called PCSO fund mess.

Aside from Quevedo, they are Zamboanga Archbishop Romulo Valles, Bishops Rodolfo Beltran of Bontoc-Lagawe, Leopoldo Jaucian of Abra, Juan de Dios Pueblos of Butuan, and Martin Jumoad of Basilan.

Nueva Segovia Archbishop Ernesto Salgado who is currently out of the country was represented by his auxiliary bishop David William Antonio.

Social projects

The bishops decided to return the cars after recent media scrutiny and amid allegations of the present PCSO board that they accepted them from Arroyo in exchange for their political patronage.

The prelates reiterated that the vehicles were used for their social projects and they are “grateful” for the help given to them.

“We express our sadness that our sincere desire to help people and receive necessary assistance for doing so has confused, disturbed and even scandalized many of the Catholic faithful,” they said.

“We still believe that we have not violated any law, or even the Constitution,” according to the bishops.

Lack of resources

The church officials told the Senate body that they are from provinces that have some of “the most difficult areas” that they, as prelates, have to reach.

“Most of us are from calamity or conflict-stricken areas. We serve communities some of which are the poorest of the poor. Our vocation is to help them in so far as we can with our resources,” they said.

“When we lack resources, we seek the assistance of others, especially from those whose mandate is to provide assistance, particularly in health services and in charity.”

“Some of us received service vehicles from PCSO that are heavy duty 4 x 4 pick-ups in order for our social, health, and charitable services to reach remote areas. Others received vehicles that have multiple purposes of bringing indigent sick people to hospitals or distribute food, medicines, and clothing to calamity stricken families,” they added.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines on Monday expressed remorse for failing “to consider the pitfalls to which these grants could possibly lead.”

Arroyo, now a Congresswoman, allegedly gave the vehicles through the agency during a time when she was facing a threat of removal from the presidency due to accusations of corruption.

PCSO officials said an audit showed that P6.9 million in charity funds were used to buy vehicles upon the request of some bishops.

The agency added that using its fund for promotion of a specific religion is also unconstitutional citing the law on separation of Church and State.

List of vehicles

In a letter earlier submitted by the CBCP to the senate, attached was a list of vehicles all purchased in 2009 by seven dioceses using funding from the PCSO.

The Diocese of Bangued in Abra bought a Mitsubishi Strada pick-up worth P1.107 million in 2009 for “transport personnel and carry needed materials for service missions to the poor and needy.”

The Archdiocese of Cotabato got a Toyota Grandia Hi-Ace van worth P1.4 million, for its social action apostolate, like the distribution of “medicines and other relief goods to disaster-hit areas in the diocese.”

The Diocese of Isabela in the war-stricken province of Basilan also bought a Strada pick-up worth P1.225 million for its social action programs.

The Archdiocese of Zamboanga also bought a Grandia van worth P1.518 million on, also for “medical-related services.”

An Isuzu Crosswind utility van worth P720, 000, meanwhile, was received by the Caritas Nueva Segovia for its “health, dental and medical outreach programs.”

Pueblos’ personal request for a Montero included an explanation that it would be used for his “spiritual and social services to the people.”

The Diocese of Bontoc-Lagawe also bought a second-hand Nissan Pathfinder and an L-300 van from PCSO donation. [Roy Lagarde/CBCPNews]