Nueva Ecija seeks bond with Korean firm for P30-M mango processing plant

Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali.

SAN LEONARDO, Nueva Ecija, August 13, 2011-The provincial government is eyeing a tie-up with a Korean food processing company for the establishment of a P30-million mango processing plant here in line with its goal of turning the province into a food basket in Luzon.

Governor Aurelio “Oyie” Matias Umali revealed that a 1,000-square meter mango processing facility is now fine-tuning partnership with Drupe International, Inc., saying that the partnership, which is in line with the public private partnership (PPP) scheme being espoused by the Aquino administration, will harness the province’s potentials as a major mango-producing area.

“The province now ranks first in Luzon in terms of mango production with vast tracts of mango plantations in this town and the municipalities of General Tinio, Jaen and Talavera,” he said.

“With this partnership with Drupe, we expect mango production in Nueva Ecija - already tops in Luzon - to further increase and pump-prime the agricultural economy of the province as the number one (1) undisputed mango-producing-products in the country,” he added.

Umali furthered that he assigned Board Member Romanito Juatco to manage the proposed processing plant, saying that the province’s mango production is so enormous that during peak harvest, it produces 62 million kilos of mango of which 58 percent is exported to Cebu province.

Juatco said that the governor wants the province to process its own mango products through a partnership with Drupe.

Drupe has a 2,000-square meter plant inside the Philexcel Business Park at the Clark Freeport Zone. The five-year-old firm, which started as Welsum Foodtech, Inc. on January 25, 2006, is known as the first innovative company which developed and created a new market for frozen fruits on stick in the world.

Equipped with modern, hygienic production and quality control facility that conforms to international standards, Drupe has a capability to freeze fruits that maintain their freshness and sensory properties of the original fruits up to two years using the latest cryogenic freezing technology.

Cryogenic freezing is an advanced, accelerated form of blasting freezing in which individual food products are exposed to sprays of liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide at a temperature of -196 degrees Celcius or colder. This allows formation of small ice crystals inside the cell of the products, maintaining their freshness unlike slow freezing which can damage products because the process produces large crystals that pierce and damage cell walls.   

Eui Kwon Chung of Drupe said the key benefits of the firm’s frozen products are that they offer cheap alternative to costly importation of ripe fruits, easy alternative to fresh fruits preparation, ensure off-season availability and in-season quality and offer fresh alternative to traditional food preservation methods.        

Its wide range of products – from mangoes, pineapple, banana cavendish, strawberry, papaya, melon cantaloupe, avocado, rambutan, custard apple (atis), sapodilla (chico) fruits yogurt – to vegetables such as okra, asparagus, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots and radish - are mostly exported to developed foreign markets such as Asia (Japan and China), Europe (France) and North America and other non-tropical countries.           

Juatco said that a new corporation to be named Newco will be organized with initial capitalization of P10 million with par value of P1 per share under the Terms of Reference for the proposed joint venture between Drupe and the provincial government.

The Newco will be composed of seven (7) board of directors. Four (4) from Drupe and three (3) from the provincial government which will buy-in 49 percent of interest in the firm’s 4.9 million shares out of the 10 million authorized shares of stock.

The provincial government will also pay upon execution of the agreement 20 percent of the amount due held in trust with the 80 percent to be paid after 60 days, inclusive of the 45-day due diligence period to ascertain the values of assets, goodwill, proprietary rights as well as liabilities and commitments.

Juatco said Newco will embark on the processing and marketing of mango, papaya, pineapple and banana although more products will be added based on market demand. Newco will accept processing of products for clients other than the provincial government although the latter will be given utmost priority for its manufacturing requirements to maximize profits.

Drupe will provide technical personnel to operate the factory, oversee its daily operations, engage in product research and development and develop local and international markets under the agreement.

The provincial government will provide adequate and sufficient supply and quality of raw materials for processing and ensure competitive pricing aside from remittances. (Jason de Asis)

Angaras’ annointed “Bihasa” as Baler mayor in 2013

Sitting in his office: Baler vice mayor Pilot Bihasa.

BALER, Aurora, August 13, 2011-The undisputed political kingpins of the province have named the incumbent vice mayor as their anointed candidate for mayor in 2013 in this capitol town of the province.

Vice Mayor Nelianto “Pilot” Bihasa, 51 years old, a well known and trusted ally of the Angaras will be the standard-bearer of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) in place of outgoing three-term Mayor Arthur J. Angara who is allegedly eyeing the governorship in 2013.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara, Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, Congressman Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, Mayor Angara and Rommel Angara – the governor’s nephew – manifested their full support to Bihasa as their mayoral bid in the midst of rumors that Arthur’s daughter, incumbent Councilor and ex-officio Board Member Karen Angara-Ularan is also seeking the mayorship.

Sources said that recently, Bihasa met senator Angara and he was given assurance of the clan’s all-out support.

Bihasa said that he was definitely running for mayor if the Angaras would support him and it was a big blessing for him this 2013.

“We have not yet completed our line-up for the 2013 polls,” he said, saying that his endorsement would be formally announced after the celebration of this town’s fiesta within the month.

Also being floated as potential candidates for mayor are former three-term governor Edgardo “Eddie” L. Ong, former mayor Emil Etcubanez and retired police general Francisco Zubia Jr., aside from Bihasa and Angara-Ularan.

Ong, who lost to Angara-Castillo in the 2004 gubernatorial elections, has hinted of a political comeback, saying public service runs in his blood. The former governor, incidentally, is a wedding godfather of Bihasa.  

In 1995, Bihasa started his political career when he ran for councilor and placed third. He ran for reelection in 1998 and emerged as no. 1 vote-getter.

In 2004, he ran for vice mayor and defeated the then-incumbent Nandy Ferraren, son of former Department of the Interior and Local Governments regional director for National Capital Region and Central Luzon Rodolfo Ferraren.

He ran unopposed for reelection in 2007 and trounced by 2,500 votes Councilor Edith Buluag in last year’s vice mayoral race.

Bihasa is a graduate of bachelor of science in marine transport at the Philippine Merchant Marine School in Quiapo and is the chairman of the town’s motorized tricycle franchising and regulatory board.

The board successfully issued 2,230 motorized tricycle operators’ permit, thus, legitimizing the operations of tricycle drivers plying the town’s route.

The municipal council also passed a resolution authorizing Mayor Angara to enter into an agreement with the DILG for the implementation of a public transport assistance program wherein 1,171 tricycle drivers were granted cash assistance under Bihasa’s leadership. (Jason de Asis)        

Solon bypassed by her partymates in Cabanatuan’s HUC bid

Cong. Czarina Umali.

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, August 13, 2011-Third district Representative Czarina Umali yesterday revealed that she was bypassed by her own partymates in the Unang Sigaw Partido ng Pagbabago party where Mayor Julius Cezar Vergara and the Sangguniang Panlunsod (SP), chaired by Vice Mayor Jolly Garcia failed to exercise proper courtesy by passing a resolution without even consulting her by the city government and the SP where they passed a twin resolution asking President Aquino to issue a proclamation declaring this city as a highly urbanized city (HUC).

“As their partymates and their representative in Congress, Mayor Vergara, Vice Mayor Garcia and the rest of the city councilors should consult me first on their plan for the HUC but they did not observe protocol and instead they completely ignored me,” Umali said, commenting on the HUC resolution which was passed unanimously by 11 pro-Vergara councilors and a resolution requesting her to sponsor a bill in the House of Representatives creating a lone congressional district for the city.

The passage of the twin resolutions came almost a year after the Umalis and Vergara parted ways over the HUC issue which the former vehemently opposed. Umali’s husband, Governor Aurelio Umali said that Cabanatuan is not yet ready and ill-prepared to become HUC, adding that its conversion would cripple the delivery of basic services of the provincial government in this city.

Vergara argued that the city’s HUC conversion is long overdue, saying its progress could not take off while under the provincial government.

Congresswoman Umali also disclosed that over a month since the resolution for lone congressional district was passed, the  resolution and the accompanying documents, such as the certifications of the national statistics office and the city treasurer’s office regarding the population and income requirements for lone congressional districts have yet to be forwarded to her office.

“How could I act on it when the resolution and the documents were not forwarded by them?,” she asked, explaining that while the HUC resolution was passed on July 11, the minutes of the session were only approved on July 25 but this has yet to be transmitted to the Office of the President because Vergara’s signature in the resolution is still lacking. She said the mayor was still abroad and has not reported for work although he was supposed to come home last August 5.

“We should remember that the HUC resolution and that for a creation of the lone congressional district will still have to pass the scrutiny of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for review and approval,” she said.   

It is the second attempt to convert the city into HUC. In 1995, Vergara’s predecessor, then-mayor Manolette Liwag pushed for HUC conversion which was subsequently supported by then-President Fidel Ramos but failed due to the opposition made by the Josons. (Jason de Asis)

50 soldiers graduated with TESDA assistance

LAGANGILANG, Abra, August 6, 2011-The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) assisted the troops of at least 50 soldiers to include CAFGUs who graduated in the recent hands-on training for almost two months on carpentry and masonry taking advantage of the building construction held inside the headquarters of 503^rd Infantry Brigade (IB), Philippine Army in this town.

Army Captain Edward L Sia-ed, 503^rd IB spokesman said that a group of experts from TESDA-Abra and from the Army Engineering Battalion deployed in Abra acted as instructors of the training, saying that the objective of the training was to enhance the skills of soldiers on carpentry and masonry.

Symbol of 17th Infantry Batallion, Phil. Army.

“This training is under the Armed Forces of the Philippines OPLAN “Bayanihan” programs being implemented by the soldiers for the development of the troops in community development works. Soldiers are engaged in civic action programs by helping communities build infrastructure projects rather than combat operations in the far flung areas most of the time,” Sia-ed said.

Mr. Eddie R. Dulnuan, the TESDA-Abra officer in charge said that the soldiers are practically multi-skilled due to the requirements of the service, recalled his younger days as an ROTC Officer that he appreciated much the military trainings that he underwent that also helped mold his character.

Colonel Eliseo C Posadas, the Commander of 503^rd Bde, expressed his gratitude to Mr Dunuan and his team for their invaluable services to the unit and personnel.

Mr. Eddie Dulnuan delivers his speech at 503rd, IB, PA.

“Through Bayanihan like the joint partnership with TESDA officials can bring more services for our constituents,” Posadas said where he encouraged the soldiers to harness their skills by applying what they have learned and give back to the people by helping them through Bayanihan.

Earlier, a simple graduation ceremony was formally held last Tuesday morning at the said camp as part of their culmination activity. (Jason de Asis)

503rd Brigade commander chief col Eliseo C Posadas giving award
to Mr. Dulnuan in his support to the army.

Army captured Amazon rebel in a clashed with NPA

GAMU, Isabela, August 5, 2011-The Philippine Army reported that the operating elements of Charlie Company of 17^th Infantry Battalion led by 2Lt Arial G Siladan encountered a group of fully armed rebels under Lolito Raza, alias ka Lanlan/ched at Barangay Iringan, Allacapan, Cagayan.

Colonel Miguel T Puyao Jr., spokesman of the 5^th Infantry Division, Philippine Army said that the firefight lasted for almost ten (10) minutes after which the New People’s Army (NPA) withdrew towards different direction leaving behind their captured comrade amazon identified as Magda Limadan around 5:30 in the morning last sunday.

Melchor F dela Cruz Monument, Gamu, Isabela.

Corporal John Pagtud was reportedly slightly wounded and was immediately evacuated at Matilde District Hospital, Lal-lo, Cagayan for proper medical treatment.

Puyao said that the ensuing firefights at the encountered site resulted to the recovery of one (1) homemade shotgun and two (2) homemade short 12 gauges while the captured amazon was given humane treatment by the operating troops as advocates of the human rights law.

He said that clearing operation is still going on in the encountered site. (Jason de Asis)

5th Infantry Division training for 123 army recruits begins

GAMU, Isabela, August 5, 2011-At least 123 army recruits are now in the rigid training for the Candidate Soldier Course Class 275-11 led by the 5^th Infantry Division, Philippine Army which started Tuesday at the Division Training Unit.

BGen Mario A Mendoza, Assistant Division Commander said that the new Candidate Soldiers that they have chosen came from the thousands of aspirants during their pre-qualifying phase of recruitment process.  “They posses the best characteristics that the command seeks among them to qualify in the three (3) months of rigorous training,” he said, adding that their training is challenging and their trainers will give them the best training. 

“Newly recruits in the army are now expose to difficult trials to test their endurance and presence of mind and also to encourage them to be the best in handling difficult situations with confidence,” Mendoza explained.

In his message during the opening ceremony, Mendoza urged the recruits to remain united and committed in learning the basics of soldiery as expected from them, saying that the trainees will survive the challenges in the army and inculcate to their mind that the deserving candidates soldiers will be the protectors of the state and our countrymen.

Earlier, the recent opening ceremony of CSC class 275-11 were witnessed by the parents, visitors, officers, enlisted personnel and civilian employees of the command led by Col Raul V Bautista, Chief of Staff of the 5ID. (Jason de Asis)

Enrile renews call for People’s Survival Fund to help communities

MANILA, August 4, 2011-To help finance the adaptation to climate change of local governments and communities, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile renewed his call for the immediate passage of his proposed bill on the establishment of the People’s Survival Fund (PSF). 

The PSF intends to provide incentives for early adaptation action by dedicating finances for local resilience-building needs.

“Adaptation finance should always be seen as an investment, and not a cost,” Enrile said, explaining that among the possible interventions is to build resilience among farming communities facing prolonged drought or flooding, and another is to launch ecosystem-based risk management projects.

“There is a pressing need to scale up innovative local initiatives and the first step is for national government to establish a fund dedicated to local governments and communities,” Enrile said.

He said that the costs we face with climate change are several magnitudes less than the cost of inaction, pointing out that “now is the time to create more momentum in the reforms in risk governance and policy-making.”   

“It is time to arrest the governance chaos prevailing currently over the administration of climate finance, so that monies can flow to national priorities and to those who need funding support the most,” Enrile said.

“I observed that vulnerable Filipino communities, particularly women from farming communities, stand in the frontline of the greatest crisis our world has ever faced,” he said.

“As climate change inflicts even greater harm on the world, we need to see not merely images of calamities nor havoc done in abstract. We need to face the very people threatened by rapidly warming temperatures due to our inaction,” Enrile said.

“We need to find a place for their suffering in the work we do as legislators in order for us to understand the risks they will face if we fail to act to help them protect their own,” he added. (Jason de Asis)

Resignation of Senator Zubiri

HONOR AND INTEGRITY
By Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri 

Speech Delivered on the Senate Plenary
3 August 2011

Senator Miguel Zubiri at the Senate.

Mr. President, My Distinguished Colleagues in this August Chamber, Mga Minamahal kong Kababayan:

On several occasions, I rose in this August Chamber, in defense of the environment and other issues affecting our country and our countrymen.

Today, I rise on a personal privilege in defense of my and my family’s honor, integrity and dignity.

And I address this speech to reach our people to whom I owe my present position.

Nais kong marating ang lahat ng ating mga kababayan sa sandaling ito sapagkat sa kanila nagmula o nanggaling ang katungkulan ko bilang isang Senador ng ating bansa.

In the May 2007 elections, I was elected and duly proclaimed as Senator of the Republic with more than 11 million votes. My proclamation was affirmed by the Supreme Court without prejudice to filing any case with the Senate Electoral Tribunal.

This chamber and our people may take judicial notice that my proclamation was assailed through the filing of an election protest before the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) alleging fraud and irregularities in some areas covered by the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

It was his right to do so just as the law and the rules on election gave me all the rights to file a counter protest in areas where I also believe I was also a victim of similar circumstances which also affected the actual number of votes I obtained in the said election.

Since the said election was conducted manually, and as experience will tell us, the manual count and re-appreciation of the millions of manually prepared ballots from the various protested and counter protested precincts would take a long process and time to be resolved. And that is the reason why, since 2007 up to the present, the revision and the recounting of the manually prepared ballots are still proceeding at the Senate Electoral Tribunal.

While the esteemed protestant claimed that he had recovered substantial number of votes from the areas he protested, the records of the Senate Electoral Tribunal will also reveal that an equally substantial number of votes were recovered in my favor in the areas which I counter protested.

And as a result, the Senate Electoral Tribunal, in its July and August 2010 Resolutions, directed the completion of the 100% revision of all the ballots from the precincts I contested.

While my counter-protest is still pending before the Senate Electoral Tribunal and the revision and recounting of the ballots are going on smoothly to find out the truth on the parties’ allegations, a number of highly suspect “personalities" suddenly cropped up recently, claiming that they were allegedly “witnesses" to the alleged frauds and irregularities during the 2007 elections.

Armed merely with their vocal chords and without any supporting documents to prove their allegations, these alleged witnesses are now shouting out loud and, as if with full orchestration, that my election was marred with irregularities.

My rival took advantage of this political situation. He and his supporters are now asking for my resignation as a duly elected Senator, despite the pendency of his election protest at the Senate Electoral Tribunal.

My political detractors began calling me ugly names and dragging the name of my family in entirety.

In other words, Mr. President, the trial by publicity has begun. The trial at the Senate Electoral Tribunal where this issue could have been properly ventilated and resolved has been practically set aside.

SA HARAP NG DIYOS AT SA HARAP NG TAO AY NAIS KONG PAGTIBAYIN NA HINDI AKO NANDAYA AT WALA AKONG KINAUSAP UPANG MANDAYA PARA SA AKIN SA HALALAN. Ang lahat ng akusasyon laban sa akin ay pawang walang katotohanan. 

I DID NOT CHEAT NOR ASK ANYONE TO CHEAT FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. WE WOULD NEVER TOLERATE ANY FORM OF ELECTORAL FRAUD.

In my family’s almost thirty (30) years of public service in Bukidnon, not once has our name been dragged in any election controversy, not once has an election protest ever been filed against us. This you can ask the people of Bukidnon.

I am not the only one who feels the hurt because of the personal attacks against me and my family. I could feel how my wife has had sleepless nights, my father, my mother, who has undergone two (2) major brain operations and is now constantly suffering physically and emotionally, together with my siblings who have been hurt and affected by such unfounded and baseless accusations.

Kung ako lamang ang naka-darama ng masasakit na batikos at akusasyon, ay maaring makayanan ko pang dalhin.

Ngunit sa sandaling nakikita ko ang aking asawa, ang aking nagmamahal na magulang, at ang aking mga kapatid, kaibigan at mga kapanalig…damang dama ko rin ang kanilang pagdaramdam. Ang hapdi at pait na kanilang dinaranas dahilan sa mga walang basehang paratang laban sa aking pagkatao at bilang isang halal na Senador.

Mahal ko ang aking tungkulin bilang isang Senador at isang lingkod bayan o public servant. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit sa loob ng mahigit sa apat na taon kong paglilingkod dito sa Senado, ay aking maipagma-malaki ang mga nagawa ko upang tumbasan ang tiwala at pagkakataong ibinigay ng taong bayan sa akin upang ako ay makapag-lingkod sa ating bansa.

Isang paglilingkod na aking maipagma-malaki na walang bahid dungis. Hindi ako umabuso o nagpayaman sa aking katungkulan. Hindi ako nagkaroon ng maraming bodyguard o “back up" o gumamit ng anumang ‘wang wang’ kahit noong ako ay Kongresista pa lamang. Sa madaling salita, hindi pa man sinabi ng Pangulong Aquino ang sikat na salitang “Walang Wang-Wang"- iyan ay bahagi na ng aking panuntunan bilang isang lingkod bayan sa ating bansa.

Mr. President, modesty aside and without being too repetitive, let me cite our legislative accomplishment in the last four years. In the 14th Congress, the Senate had passed 651 laws, of which around 90 are of national significance and 561 laws of local application. It was a record breaking performance for the Senate, surpassing the record of the chamber in the last three or four Congresses combined, especially in passing local bills which our colleagues in the House of Representatives had long been clamoring for.

The Senate did that in the 14th Congress under the able leadership of the incumbent Senate President who was also the Senate President then and more importantly with the support and active participation of our colleagues in the 14th Congress. 

Of those laws of national significance, this representation has sponsored, principally authored, co-sponsored and/or authored around 32 laws. Some of which are the:

1. RA 9520 – Philippine Cooperative Code of 2008 (Sponsor and Author)
2. RA 9513 – Renewable Energy Act of 2008 (Co-Sponsor and Author)
3. RA 10068 – Organic Agriculture Act of 2010 (Sponsor and Author)
4. RA 9679 – Home Development Mutual Fund Act of 2009 (Principal Author and Co-sponsor)
5. RA 9653 – Rent Control Act of 2009 (Principal Author and Co-sponsor)
6. RA 9507 – Socialized and Low-Cost Housing Loan Condonation Act (Sponsor and Author)

7. RA 9997 – the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Act of 2009 (Sponsor and Author)

8. RA 9996 – the Mindanao Development Authority Act of 2010 (Principal Author and Co-sponsor) 

9. RA 9904 – the Magna Carta for Homeowners and Homeowners’ Associations (Sponsor and Author)

10. RA 9903 – Condonation of Penalties on Delinquent Social Security Contributions (Principal Author and Co-sponsor) 

11. RA 9507 – the Socialized and Low-Cost Housing Loan Condonation Program (Sponsor and Author)
12. RA 9850 – Declaring Arnis as the National Martial Art and Sport (Sponsor and Author)
13. RA 10121 – Philippine Disaster Risk Management Act (Co-sponsor and Author)
14. RA 10143 – Establishing the Philippine Tax Academy (Sponsor)
15. RA 10026 – Granting Income tax Exemption to Local Water Districts (Co-Sponsor and Co-Author)
16. RA 10072 – New Charter of the Philippine Red Cross (Co-sponsor and Author)
17. RA 10073 – New Charter of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines (Author)
18. RA 9645 – Declaring July 27 of Every Year as Araw ng Iglesia Ni Cristo and as Special Working Holiday (Co-sponsor and Author)
19. RA 9849 – Declaring Eidul Adha as a National Holiday (Co-sponsor and Author)
20. RA 10023 – Free Patents Act (Author)
21. RA 9851 – International Humanitarian Law (Author)
22. RA 9500 – UP Charter Amendments (Author)
23. RA 10122 – Strengthening the Literacy Coordinating Council (Co-sponsor)
24. RA 9505 – Personal Equity and Retirement Account (PERA) Act of 2008 (Author)
25. RA 9504 – Individual Income Tax Rate Exemption Law (Author)
26. RA 9502 – Cheaper Medicines Act (Author)

As Majority Leader then, to expedite the passage of pending local bills, I willingly took the cudgels for some of our colleagues, who were chairpersons of the concerned committees, whenever they requested me to sponsor or defend in the plenary their committee reports as some of them were on official business or had other pressing commitments.

That had resulted in the passage into laws of around 560 local bills.

To improve the quality of tertiary education, we passed 20 laws creating new state universities namely:

1. RA 10085 – North Luzon Philippines State College in Candon, Ilocos Sur
2. RA 9998 – Surigao Del Sur State University in Surigao del Sur
3. RA 9966 – Sultan Kudarat State University in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat
4. RA 9860 – Bicol University – Gubat Campus in Gubat, Sorsogon
5. RA 9854 – Caraga State University in Butuan City
6. RA 9852 – Jose Rizal Memorial State University in Dapitan City, Zamboanga Del Norte
7. RA 9832 – Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University in Bacolor, Pampanga
8. RA 9798 – Pangasinan Technological Institute in Pangasinan
9. RA 9744 – Cebu Technological University in Cebu City
10. RA 9747 – Occidental Mindoro State College in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro
11. RA 9746 – University of Antique in Sibalom, Antique
12. RA 9722 – Central Visayas State University in Tagbilaran City, Bohol
13. RA 9721 – Romblon State University in Odiongan, Romblon
14. RA 9720 – Ifugao State University in Lamut, Ifugao
15. RA 9719 – Tiburcio Tancinco State University in Calbayog City, Western Samar
16. RA 9718 – Naval State University in Naval, Biliran
17. RA 9717 – Central Bicol State University in Pili, Camarines Sur
18. RA 9647 – Philippine Normal University as the National Center for Teacher Education
19. RA 9519 – Mindanao University of Science and Technology in Cagayan De Oro City, Misamis Oriental
20. RA 9500 – University of the Philippines as the National University

We also created or converted 407 national high schools all over the country with the end in view of improving the quality of education in the secondary level and providing enough teachers and classroom equipment.

In order to improve the delivery of health services to the poor in several provinces, we passed 6 laws which established new hospitals or increased the bed capacity of existing hospitals.

To de-clog the local courts and further improve the administration and dispensation of justice, we created 30 additional branches of Regional Trial Courts and Metropolitan Trial Courts.

We also declared 2 new Protected Areas which would help in the protection and conservation of the environment and biodiversity. To enhance the delivery of services and infrastructure in the countryside, we passed 75 laws converting local roads into national roads and the creation of new engineering districts. We also converted 3 new cities but there was no question as to their qualifications as we observed the requirements provided in the Local Government Code.

Of these local laws, around 400 had been sponsored and/or co-sponsored and some were even authored by this representation.

In this 15th Congress, we continued to advocate for the environment and the cooperative sector. As Chairman of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, we have finalized the Committee Report on the National Land Use Act after long and tedious committee hearings and technical working group meetings, as well as the Committee Report on the Forest Protection and Sustainable Management Act. We are now ready to route these reports for signature of the members of the Committee. We had also conducted several investigations on alleged violations of our environmental laws and degradation of the environment such as the FPIC leak in Makati which has resulted in the filing of SB No. 2788 or the Oil and Gas Pipeline Regulation Bill, and the hearing on illegal poaching of coral and marine resources, which resulted to the issuance of warrant of arrests to the perpetrators.

In relation to this representation’s advocacy in improving the delivery and quality of health services for all Filipinos, I had also filed SB No. 58 which amends the PhilHealth law for a mandatory universal healthcare coverage for all Filipinos. I understand that a consolidated bill is now under floor deliberations.

In relation to the delivery of social services and essential infrastructure projects to our constituencies, ang aking Priority Development Assistance Fund at iba pang inisyatiba sa nakaraang apat na taon ay inilaan po natin sa aking programang “Isang Bayan, Isang Proyekto" o “Every Town One Project" program.

At present we had allocated projects to seventy three (73) out of the (80) provinces in the country resulting to a ninety one percent 91% coverage and this is distributed to 83 out of the 135 cities and 871 of the 1,497 municipalities as beneficiaries or recipients of the “ Isang Bayan Isang Proyekto" ni Migz Zubiri.

In some regions, in the Visayas and Mindanao we have allocated projects to all their cities and municipalities, at nagsimula na rin kami ngayon sa mga bayan at lalawigan ng Luzon.

Sa pangkalahatan ang mga proyekto pong ito ay nagnanais na mapagkalooban ng mga basic infrastructure, serbisyong pangkalusugan, mga sasakyan at equipment para sa pagsasaayos ng peace and order at livelihood assistance sa mga nabanggit na lugar upang magresulta sa pag-angat ng kalidad ng pamumuhay.

Specifically, these projects are:

1. Construction of multi-purpose buildings, barangay halls, day care centers, public markets, covered courts and core shelters, a total of 846 projects;
2. Construction or school buildings, classrooms, local libraries and repair of school buildings, a total of 250 projects;
3. Construction of health centers and provision of mobile hospitals, total of 39 projects;
4. Provision of multi cabs as barangay patrols or service vehicles, ambulances, dump trucks, patrol cars, and fire trucks – total of 101 projects;
5. Construction of farm-to-market roads, bridges and water systems – total of 92 projects; and
6. Livelihood assistance to cooperatives – 6 projects.

Lahat ng ito, sa paniniwala ng inyong likod na ma-empower ang mga LGU’s, ay direktang binigay at inimpliment ng mga local government units.

On top of these Mr. President, we also infused funds for the following projects:

1. construction of the Rural Economic Development and Renewable Energy Center (REDREC) at UP Los Baños (P28.5M) to further advance the research and studies for the development of renewable energy;
2. construction of a Pediatric Ward Building at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu (P30M);
3. construction of Dormitory at UP Tacloban Campus (P10M);
4. construction of a Cancer Center at the Cotabato City Hospital (P15M);
5. construction of a New Hospital building and Pediatric Ward at the Bukidnon Provincial Hospital (P25M); and
6. construction and repair of classrooms and school buildings at the Mindanao State University. 

Sa Metro Manila naman po, nagsagawa tayo ng mga social services programs and projects lalung-lalu na sa mga depressed communities at mga biktima ng mga kalamidad.

We had conducted a total of 32 medical and dental missions, outreach programs to fire victims, relief operations to flood and calamity victims, nutrition and feeding programs, and distribution of sports equipment, particularly in Metro Manila, which benefitted around 9,600 families and another 22,100 individuals.

We had also provided scholarships and educational assistance to hundreds of college students.

Add to these projects our medical and financial assistance to indigent individuals and families which benefitted a total of 9,769 patients and individuals nationwide.

Mr. President, I beg the indulgence of our colleagues for romanticizing the past. I just wanted to emphasize that in the last four years, this representation had participated and contributed in the best way I could, and labored diligently and persistently in the legislative mill resulting to my PERFECT ATTENDANCE in Congress since 1998 as a legislator.

I fulfilled my job responsibly with honesty, integrity and dignity, and I could proudly look in the eyes of every Filipino who put me in this position, that the trust and confidence they had given me were not put to naught.

Ngunit ang lahat ng ito, ang lahat ng aking ginawa at nais pa sanang gawin para sa ating taong bayan ay hindi ko na makakayanan pang gampanan.

Lubha na akong nasaktan, kasama ang sakit at hapding nadarama ng aking pamilya. At dahil dito, ang aking tungkulin bilang isang Senador ay lubha nang nadaramay at para bang nawawalang saysay.

I would be doing an injustice to my fellowmen and to this great and honored Institution if I continue working half-heartedly and without full concentration and devotion.

For this reason, I have directed my lawyers to make proper and immediate representation before the Senate Electoral Tribunal and convey my actuations today, with the end in view of expediting the proceedings and with the prayer that the Tribunal come up with a decision at the soonest possible time.

And in this August Chamber, without admitting any fault and with my vehement denial of the alleged electoral fraud hurled against me, I am submitting my RESIGNATION as a duly elected Senator of the Republic of the Philippines in the election for which I am FALSELY accused without mercy and compassion.

I am resigning, not because I am exhausted from the demands of my calling as a legislator. Hindi po ako napagod sa paglilingkod sa inyo.

I am resigning, not because I wish to evade the decision of the Senate Electoral Tribunal. Handa ko pong tanggapin ang anumang hatol mula sa nasabing hukuman.

Rather, I am resigning because of these unfounded accusations against me and these issues has systematically divided our nation and has casted doubts in our electoral system which has affected not only myself, this Institution but the public as well.

And as a legislator, who is being referred to in the Senate as “Your Honor", I believe that my honor is something that should never be subject to taint.

NO AMOUNT OF POWER, POSITION OR WEALTH IS WORTH SACRIFICING ONE’S HONOR AND INTEGRITY.

Sa bandang huli, ang legasiya ng isang tao ay hindi nasusukat kung gaano kataas ang posisyon ang kanyang narating o ang dami ng kanyang yaman na naipon, kungdi ito ay nasusukat sa kanyang pagpanatiling malinis at walang bahid dungis ang kanyang sariling dignidad at integridad.

The life of a public servant is, to say the least, hardly rosy and sweet. For we, as public officers, are always subject to public scrutiny.

I have always taken it upon myself, not to give-in to intrigues against my person and honor – to always keep on maintaining my focus on performing my duties well.

All these, I rehearsed. I was prepared. I was conditioned. During the past few days, however, God reminded me that no matter how much I insist on exclusively carrying the burden of my oath and duties, the truth is that I have a family that suffers with me together with the Senate as an Institution, whether I like it or not.

I have seen and felt the suffering of my family, and from the burrows of my conscience, I could not allow this to happen, let alone be tolerated.

They do not deserve to suffer the consequences of my position.

After all, I am a husband first before a Senator; and I am a father first before a legislator.

I believe that membership in the Senate and serving our people is the highest form of service that a citizen could give back to his country.

Having said this, I, thus, express my honest gratitude to the people and to the Senate and the secretariat and my staff for allowing me to experience the magnanimity of public service through my duties as a Senator.

My highest respect always remains in this Institution and to the men and women who serve it.

My career in this August Chamber had been a fabled journey that is certainly not wanting of memories. However, as much as I wish to remain in the service of my country, I will not do so, at the expense of my honor and integrity.

My Alma Mater’s, the University of the Philippines, dictum of “HONOR AND EXCELLENCE" is a principle that I have upheld and imbibed in all of my daily undertakings.

I now go to live in happiness and peace with my family. I will leave the Senate with my head held up high, knowing that despite all endeavors that came my way, I was able to survive and perform, and I did so with the support of those who believed in me and my advocacies.

But let me just emphasize to my detractors, as I paraphrase a quote from General Douglas Macarthur that: I am not actually retreating; I am merely advancing in another direction.

And as I now pronounce my joining the civil society, it is my humble prayer that this Institution allow me to RESIGN WITH HONOR AND DIGNITY.

Marami pong Salamat. Pagpalain tayo ng Poong Maykapal…lalong lalo na ang ating Bansa at ang ating mga Kababayan.

Alakdan notorious gang leader nabbed in Nueva Ecija

Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija, Municipal Hall.

SANTA ROSA, Nueva Ecija, August 3, 2011-Senior Superintendent Roberto Aliggayu, provincial police director revealed that the leader of a notorious criminal gang engaged in at least 17 robbery-holdup, gun-for-hire and carnapping activities in this town and adjoining towns in the province, was arrested late Tuesday night by operatives of the local police in the town proper.

The suspect identified as Ponciano Germino, 39, of Barangay Lourdes in this town, who is the leader of the dreaded Alakdan Group, a 17-man band involved in a string of criminal activities in the province in recent months.

Police Superintendent Ricardo Villanueva, chief of the provincial intelligence bureau said that only eight (8) members of the group remained after the others were waylaid in shoot-outs with lawmen in various operations in the province.

Chief Inspector Marcelino Veneracion, Santa Rosa police chief, who led the police team, arrested Germino at around 10:30 pm Tuesday in Barangay Poblacion where he was spotted pushing his motorcycle towards Barangay Cojuangco. Lawmen took from his possession one caliber 45 pistol and one magazine with eight live ammunitions.

Veneracion said that the operation against Germino was carried out after several days of intelligence build-up.

Germino is the leader of the Alakdan group tagged for the robbery-holdup with homicide in connection with the death of one Rolando Batalla who was held-up then killed in Barangay Bayanihan, Gapan City last May 4.

He is also facing a case for robbery-holdup with frustrated homicide for robbing businesswomen Ma. Cecilia Sta. Ana and Juanita Sta. Ana in Barangay Sto. Rosario here last April 13. Taken from the duo were P400,000 worth of cash.

Santa Rosa, Maharlika highway.

Ten hours later – Germino carted a Mio Soul motorcycle from 16-year-old victim John Bryan Canada in Barangay Valenzuela in this town.

A day before, Germino also carnapped a motorcycle owned by one Analyn Enriquez in Barangay Luna also here. 

Germino has standing warrants of arrest in the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Cabanatuan and the Municipal Trial Court in this town.

A bail bond of P180,000 was recommended by Cabanatuan RTC Branch 25 Judge Teresita Cativo for carnapping.

Charges of violations of Republic Act 8294 for illegal possession of firearms have been filed against Geronimo. (Jason de Asis)

Jinggoy bats DOJ and P’Noy to place Mike Arroyo in the immigration watchlist

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada at the senate
blue ribbon committee hearing.

MANILA, August 3, 2011-To ensure former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo’s presence at the next hearing of the Senate related to the anomalous purchase of the Philippine National Police (PNP) of three helicopters two years ago, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada bats the Department of Justice and Malacañang for the urgent watchlist order of him to the Bureau of Immigration.

“I am calling DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima and President Aquino to immediately instruct the immigration to place Mr. Arroyo in its watchlist,” Jinggoy said.

The senators at the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee second hearing agreed to summon Arroyo and her purported accountant, Rowena del Rosario to air their side on the issue scandal after businessman Archibald Legaspi Po, owner of Lion Air Inc. and Asian Spirit, manifested that two (2) of the helicopters bought by the PNP from Manila Aerospace Trading Corporation (Maptra) were actually owned by Arroyo.

The senators established that the choppers were actually owned by Arroyo; thus, the PNP are now in the limbo of controversy after they paid P105 million for the purchase of three brand new helicopters in 2009 but it turned out later that two of them were second hand.

Archibald Legaspi Po at the senate hearing.

Po admitted that in 2004, purchasing five helicopters for the former First Gentleman was mainly for use during the presidential campaign period and for the personal use of the Arroyos and their close allies.

“We have extensive verbal communication with Arroyo as regards the actual purchase, delivery and subsequent disposal of the helicopters,” Po admitted, saying that the expenses for the use and other costs related to the maintenance of the choppers were paid for in cash by Arroyo thru del Rosario. 

“In effect, Mr. Po admitted that he was the frontman of FG for this transaction and clearly established that it was FG who engineered the whole deal related to the PNP’s purchase of the helicopters,” Jinggoy said.

Other resource persons at the senate hearing.

“Po’s confirmation that he subsequently received a call from Arroyo after the controversy broke out and before Po was summoned to testify by the Senate, further proved that Po is intimately connected with the former First Gentleman,” Jinggoy noted. 

“To tie up all the issues together and put a closure on this controversy, it is therefore imperative that Mr. Arroyo’s presence at the next hearing and the subsequent hearings that the Senate will schedule is assured,” the Senator said; thus, there is a pressing need to put them in the watchlist order of the immigration. (Jason de Asis)

CBCP to Santiago: RH bill not the answer in solving poverty

MANILA, August 2, 2011— One need not ask an expert in liberation theology to understand that the reproductive health (RH) bill is not the key in solving poverty in the country, a Catholic Church official said.

Monsignor Juanito Figura, secretary general of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, said that while liberation theology is good, the “social forces of oppression” must first be determined and be taken in the Philippine context.

These “forces”, he said, could refer to the widespread corruption in the government, unequal distribution of land, widening gap between the rich and the poor, worsening criminality, severe incidents of hunger, and human trafficking.

“I cannot see why I would support the RH bill because the good provisions, for the sake of mothers and children, are already stated in the mandates of government agencies,” Figura said.

“The pro-poor provisions are also already with the agencies. There is no need for a new law. What we need is sincere and committed implementation of the already existing laws,” he said.

The CBCP official was reacting to Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago’s call to the Catholic hierarchy to support the passage of the controversial RH bill.

Santiago, who authored RH bill in the Senate, said that the desire to protect women and children from “unspeakable poverty” is a strong ground for passing the measure.

Invoking liberation theology, she said that it revolves around the theory that the message of Jesus Christ is “above all a call to struggle against the social forces of oppression.”

In Santiago’s first of her three-part co-sponsorship speech on the RH bill, she said that the proposed law is not against Church’s teachings.

“Liberation theology sees Jesus’s message as a call to struggle against the social forces of oppression. The present struggle for an RH Act to protect the health and quality of life of mother and child in the context of unspeakable poverty in the Philippines is part of (this),” she said.

Santiago said the Church must take a clear stand against social injustice and under liberation theology the first step to abolish it is to recognize that “the Church is tied to the unjust system that oppresses the very poor.”

Unfortunately for Santiago, Msgr. Figura could not connect how the RH bill would be able to address these “social forces of oppression”. “I could not see the logic. I am sorry to say that,” he said.

“Is RH bill a valid answer? Is it an answer to give solutions as early as possible or is RH bill just a little part, if that what it is, a little part of a bigger solution such as a sincere crusade against graft and corruption, the sincere commitment to distribute the land to whom they should belong, and sincere decision to stop human trafficking,” Figura added.

Santiago has decided to divide her speech into three parts, starting with the issue of primacy of conscience in Catholic theology mainly because the Catholic Church has emerged as the biggest stumbling block to the passage of the bill which requires government funding for contraceptives. [CBCPNews]