Legarda Alarmed over Phl’s Low Ranking in Ocean Health Index

MANILA, August 27, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today expressed alarm over the results of the Ocean Health Index, which ranked the Philippines 105th out of 117 territories, making it among the most deteriorated marine ecosystems in the world.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, detailed that the Ocean Health Index focuses not only how pristine the ocean is but how it can sustainably deliver benefits for the people within its territory. It uses 50 distinct indicators such as the sustainability of methods of seafood harvesting and coastal protection.

“The Ocean Health Index is a new kind of yardstick because it measures how well our oceans can continue to deliver the needs of our growing population. It recognizes people as a legitimate component of ocean health. And based on the 2012 results, it is clear that the health and socio-economic value of our oceans will continue to deteriorate if we do not innovate our strategies towards their conservation,” she said.

The Ocean Health Index is an initiative led by Conservation International, launched with the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council on Oceans' endorsement.

“The Philippines performed very poorly in the amount of seafood harvested for human consumption and the sustainability of methods to that end, natural marine products, and sense of place or protection of indigenous species and their habitats. We should orient our policies accordingly, and make sure that we continue improving in the areas we are doing well in,” Legarda explained.

She noted that the Philippines scored fairly high in indicators such as access for local fishing communities, preservation of habitats that absorb carbon, coastal protection, coastal livelihoods and economies, clean waters, and marine biodiversity.

“We must focus on how we can make our oceans sustainably benefit us. We must find the much-needed balance in marine resource use while protecting our marine ecosystems. The fact that our existence depends largely on these oceans, just as its health depends on us, must be incorporated into our initiatives,” Legarda concluded.

Pampanga under state of calamity

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga August 26, 2012-The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Pampanga on Wednesday has declared the province under state of calamity due to the inundation of several towns and villages brought by Southwest monsoon and floodwaters from the major river
channels and tributaries.

This came upon the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) who made a rapid assessment on the damages on high value crops, agriculture, fisheries and the affected families and individuals.

With the declaration, Governor Lilia Pineda has ordered the immediate and pre-emptive evacuation and rescue operation to affected families in all municipalities with the assistance of the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines and the concerned local
officials.

The governor has assured that the provincial government is closely monitoring the situation on a 24/7 basis and she added that the provincial government is ready to provide augmentation to affected municipalities and cities.

She also alerted medical personnel and converted all the 11 district hospitals in the province as action centers for health related diseases and made sure that supplies of medicines are available.

Based on the monitoring of the PDRRMC, the affected families came from 215 barangays from the 19 municipalities and two cities due to rising flood water ranging from one to five feet causing major roads impassable to light vehicles.

“This is enough to paralyze the economic activities in the said affected municipalities," PDRRMC said.

The affected municipalities and cities are as follows: City of San Fernando, Mabalacat City, Magalang, Guagua, Lubao, Floridablanca, Porac, Sasmuan, Sta. Rita, Arayat, Bacolor, Mexico, Sta. Ana, Apalit,Candaba, Macabebe, Masantol, Minalin, San Simon and Sto. Tomas.

In Floridablanca, the barangays of San Antonio, Maligaya, Portuna, Cadangcalan, Sta. Monica and San Pedro are under 2 to 4 feet floodwater.

In Sasmuan, the villages of Sta Monica, San Antonio, San Pedro, Sto. Tomas and Sta. Cruz.

In Sta. Rita, two to three feet floodwater submerged the villages of San Matias, San Basilio, San Jose, San Juan. San Agustin, Sta. Monica, Becuran and Dila-Dila.

The Porac-Guagua-Dila Dila is not passable to light vehicles due to knee deep floodwater.

In Porac, the barangays of Balubad is now experiencing 2 to 3 feet floodwater while a landslide occurred at Barangay Jalung and Babo Sacan. A barangay Health Worker was injured.

In the City of San Fernando, three barangays submerged into 2 to 3 feet floods. The Jose Abad Santos Avenue in the portion of San Fernando Junction is no passable to vehicles due to flashfloods.

In Sta. Ana, one foot floodwaters inundated 14 barangays as follows: San Agustin, San Bartolome, Sa Isidro, San Joaquin, San Jose, San Juan, San Nicolas, San Pablo, San Pedro, San Roque, Santiago, Sta Lucia and Sta. Maria and Sto. Rosario.

In Apalit town, three barangays were submerged into 2.5 deep floodwater such as Batasan, Capalangan, Sucad (Purok 3), San Vicente (Bagong Pag-asa).

The Pampanga River has spilled over inundating Barangays Capalangan and Sulipan.

In Candaba, the barangays of San Agustin, Sitio Dukma in Paralaya, Pescadores, Bambang, Pasig are now inundated by floodwaters.

In Macabebe town, 25 villages are under floodwater such as Castuli, Mataguiti, Saplad David, Tacasan, Caduang Tete, Sta. Maria, San Gabriel, Sta. Rita, Telacsan, Candelaria, Batasan, Sto. Nino, San Isidro, San Roque, Sto. Rosario, San Juan, San Rafael, Sta. Cruz, Sta.
Lutgarda, San Francisco, San Vicente, Consuelo, Dalayap and San Esteban.

Nine families or 34 individuals were evacuated in Macabebe Central School.

In Minalin, 7 barangays are under flood water as follows: San Isidro, Lourdes, Sta. Maria, Sto. Domingo, San Nicolas, Dawe and Maniago with two feet floodwater.

In San Simon, 13 barangays were inundated such as Dela Paz, San Pedro, Sta. Cruz, San Isidro, San Juan, San Pablo (Proper), Sto. Nino, San Agustin, San Jose, Sta. Monica, San Pablo Libutad, San Nicolas and San Miguel with 1 to 3.5 floodwater affecting 800 families or 2,657
individuals.

In Arayat, the barangays of San Agustin, San Jose Mesulo and Cupang are under 3 to 4 feet floodwater affecting 180 families.


In Sto. Tomas, 7 barangays were inundated by to 2.6 feet floodwaters, namely: San Matias, Moras Dela Paz, Sto. Rosario, San Bartolome, Poblacion, Sto. Nino and San Vicente.

In Guagua town, 31 barangays such as Plaza Burgoz, Bancal, San Bancal, San Roque, Sta. Filomena, San Pedro, Sto. Cristo, Santo Nino, San Nicolas 1st, San Rafael (duck island), San Juan 1st, San Pablo, San Isidro, San Antonio, San Jose, San Matias, San Juan Bautista, San Juan
Nepomuceno, San Nicolas 2nd, San Miguel (Betis), Sta. Inez, Sta. Ursula, San Agustin, Jose Abad Santos, Lambac, Magsaysay, Maquiapo, Natividad, Rizal, Pulung Masle, San Vicente (Ebus) and Ascomo.

In Barangay Lambac, Guagua, some 100 families or 500 individuals are staying at the Barangay Hall and Osca building.

In the coastal town of Masantol, 26 villages such as Alauli, Bagang, Balibago, Bebe Anac, Bebe Matua, Bulacus, Cambasi, Malauli, Nigui, Paguiaba, Palimpe, Puti, Sagrada, San Agustin, San Isidro Matua, San Isidro Anac, San Nicolas, San Pedro, Sapang Cuayan, Sta. Cruz, Sta.
Lucia Wakas, Sta. Lucia Matua, Sta. Monica, Sto Nino and Sua. These villages were submerged into 3 to 5 feet floodwaters affecting 4433 families or 20,903 individuals.

In Bacolor, some 56 familiess were affected by 3 feet flood waters affecting the villages of Mesalipit (Babo), Cabalantian and Talba.

Twenty-one families or 88 individuals are staying at Mesalipit Tent near the barangay hall.

In Lubao, twenty-nine barangays are affected with 2 to 4 feet floodwaters affecting 4,433 families or 20,903 individuals in the villages of Balantacan, Bancal Pugad, Bancal Sinubli, Baruya,
Calangain, Concepcion, Lourdes, Prado Siongco, Remedios, San Agustin, San Francisco, San Juan, San Jose Gumi, San Nicolas I, San Nicolas 2, San Pedro Saug, San Roque Arbol, San Roque Dau 1, San Roque Dau II, Sta. Barbara, Sta. Catalina, Sta. Cruz, Sta Lucia, Sta. Maria, Sta.
Monica, Sta. Tereza I, Sta. Tereza II, Sto. Nino and Sto. Tomas. (Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu
with reports from Joel P. Mapiles- PIO Pampanga)

Guv wants immediate rehab breached portion of tail dike

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Aug 26, 2012-To ensure the speedy rehabilitation of the breached portion of the San Fernando-Sto.Tomas-Minalin tail dike, Governor Lilia Pineda said on
Wednesday that she will personally monitor the progress of the work done by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“This is not the time to be lax. Our constituents cannot wait. We need to make a regular progress report on the status of the tail dike”, Pineda said.

Sometime ago, two portions of the San Fernando tail dike collapsed during heavy rains brought by southwest monsoon that flooded all the seven barangays in Sto.Tomas, 14 in Minalin, and 20 in San Fernando.

“If not immediately repaired, water from Gugu River will continuously flow on the two breached portions of the dike leaving the said villages underwater.

This scenario prompted DPWH Region III Director Antonio Molano to start the rehabilitation of the dike and the rechanneling of the water flow from Maliwalu creek to Pasig-Portrero River while waiting for the P270 million requested funds from DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson for the restoration of water channels and tributaries in the province.

“The desilting and rechanneling of the 3.5 kilometer Gugu River from Maliwalu upstream started early this week," Molano said.

Molano explained that Gugu River needs to be diverted to Pasig-Potrero River to minimize water entry on the infringed tail dike in Sto.Tomas and San Fernando portion, this way, they can start the rehabilitation of the earth dike.

“We can only start repairing the breached dike once the water level subsided,” added Molano.

Meanwhile, Pineda is supervising the desilting and rechanneling of the water flow being carried out by the DPWH. (Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu with reports from Joel P. Mapiles, PIO Pampanga)

3 Central Luzon mayors join lady mayors group

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Aug 26, 2012-Three lady mayors from Central Luzon are now officers of the Lady Municipal Mayors Association of the Philippines (LMMAP).

The LMMAP is headed by its president, San Luis, Aurora Mayor Annabelle Tangson. The executive vice president is Mayor Lorna Silverio of San Rafael, Bulacan. Mayor Gene Malibiran-Dela Fuente of Samal, Bataan is the Deputy Secretary General.

Tangson said the LMMAP signed a memorandum of agreement with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) for the conduct of a series of trainings on Human Rights for lady mayors.

After undergoing these seminars, these mayors will establish human rights action centers or human rights desks in their respective towns.

The centers will respond to violations brought before them by the more vulnerable sectors such as women, children, the disabled, the elderly and the poor.

These action centers will also conduct information and education campaigns in the barangays to ensure that the residents are aware of their rights.

The human rights seminars will also be held in September. (Rebecca Grace David)

3 Central Luzon provinces clear from red tide

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, August 26, 2012-Bulacan, Zambales and Bataan provinces remain free from paralytic shellfish poison or most commonly known as red tide.

“The coastal waters of Bulacan in Manila Bay; Masinloc Bay in Zambales; and coastal waters of Mariveles, Limay, Orion, Pilar, Balanga, Orani, Abucay and Samal in Bataan are now free of the toxic red tide,” the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Shellfish Bulletin dated August 17 reported.

BFAR said shellfish from the mentioned areas can now be gathered, harvested and sold in markets and are safe for human consumption.

Shellfishes collected at Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; Murcielagos Bay in Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Occidental; and coastal waters of Milagros in Masbate are still positive for paralytic shellfish poison that is beyond the regulatory limit.

All types of shellfish and Acetes ap or alamang from the areas mentioned are not safe for human consumption, BFAR said.

“Fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking,” BFAR added. ( Joelyn G. Baluyut)

Legarda Calls on New Nutritionist-Dietitians to Help Improve Health and Nutrition of Filipinos

MANILA, August 26, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda called on the successful candidates of the 2012 Nutritionist-Dietitian Licensure Examination to contribute to the improvement of the health and nutrition of Filipinos as they take the Oath of Professional today.

Legarda, author of several laws and bills on health and nutrition, emphasized on the role of Nutritionist-Dietitians in achieving the Millennium Development Goals, specifically in reducing hunger and malnutrition, which are said to be the critical manifestations of most poverty. 

“According to the United Nations, one in four children in the developing world are still underweight. Alarmingly, children in rural areas are nearly twice as likely to be underweight than those in urban areas. Our latest National Nutrition Survey in 2008 reveals that the proportion of children aged 0-5 years who were underweight significantly increased, from 24.6 percent in 2003 to 26.2 percent in 2008. It is evident that much remains to be done. If you choose to help address this challenge, you will be instrumental to changing the fate of the entire nation and generations,” she said.

Out of 896 candidates, 601 passed this year’s Nutritionist-Dietitian Licensure Examination given by the Board of Nutrition and Dietetics in Manila and Zamboanga last July 2012.

Legarda called for the oath takers’ support towards legislative efforts on health and nutrition, noting that legislation will be for naught if there is a lack of people to implement them dedicatedly, effectively, and efficiently.

“With your talent and expertise, I trust that you will be my partners in promoting solutions to the many challenges we face in public health and nutrition,” she remarked.

“Enthusiasm, burning passion, and compassion – these will get you through the road ahead. Wherever you will be, remember that you always have the chance and the choice to contribute to the well-being of our people. That journey begins today,” Legarda concluded.

KIKO CALLS ON NEW CJ TO CONVENE JELACC “TO ADDRESS DECADES-OLD PROBLEMS”

MANILA, August 25, 2012-With Justice Lourdes Sereno now appointed as the new Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan believes that the time has come to reconvene the Judicial Executive Legislative Advisory and Consultative Council (JELACC) "to lay down budgetary support for the modernization of our justice system," among other pressing issues.

"We need to work towards increasing the judiciary budget to address decades-old problems plaguing it, such as the 25% vacancy rate, the lack of facilities and justice halls, the low conviction rates, and the delay in resolving cases that last an average of six years, among others," Pangilinan says.

The lawmaker and former JBC ex-oficio, who has long been advocating judicial reforms, explains, "There is something terribly wrong with the system when a party litigant has to suffer six years of litigation in the first level, and suffer more years of waiting for the resolution of the appeal. It is also totally unacceptable to have a conviction rate of less than 20 percent in criminal cases. This means that eight out of ten cases end up in acquittals."

"This system is anti-poor and anti-progress," Pangilinan asserts. "We should not be allowed to suffer from this rotten and bankrupt system. It is a justice system that is totally unjust and totally unacceptable."

"No wonder respect for the rule of law is more the exception rather than the rule. The powerful and the mighty scoff at it while the poor and the weak having no access to it are oblivious to it. How can anyone respect a system that doesn't work?"

ANGARA PUSHES FOR MANDATORY ARBITRATION TO DECLOG COURTS

MANILA, August 25, 2012-Following the historic appointment of the new Supreme Court Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, Senator Edgardo J. Angara urged the judiciary to implement mandatory arbitration to resolve disputes quickly and unclog the courts.

Under Republic Act 9285 enacted in 2004, it is the country's policy to encourage the use of alternative dispute resolution to achieve speedy and impartial justice, and declog court dockets.

However, Angara, a veteran lawmaker and lawyer, suggested that instead of just promoting and giving the parties the option to resort to alternative dispute resolution, the judiciary should make it compulsory.

“Maybe we can require parties to put a mandatory arbitration provision in their contracts. If you go to court directly, the court can dismiss the case and ask you to go to arbitration,” said Angara, who made the same recommendation during the recent hearing on the budget of the judiciary.

Under RA 9285, alternative dispute resolution system includes arbitration, mediation, conciliation, early neutral evaluation, or mini-trial involving a neutral third party to help resolve the dispute out of court.

“Arbitration is more advantageous than court litigation, especially in our case where it usually takes several years for the trial courts to hear and resolve the cases filed with them,” said Angara, co-founder of ACCRALaw, one of the biggest law firms in the Philippines.

The senator explained that in the United States, mandatory arbitration is not required by law. But a Supreme Court decision in the 1960s made arbitration of labor disputes mandatory. He explained that the judiciary adopted a system of labor arbitrators that took over labor relations disputes from the courts.

“I think we ought to do here in the Philippines too. It requires a decision of the Supreme Court. Then it would have taken away so many contractual disputes out of the jurisdiction of the judiciary. It will take away so many of these small cases which waste the time of our justices,” he said. (Rikka Sotto w/ Shielo Mendoza)

Legarda Joins in Initiating Massive Manila Bay Clean-up

MANILA, August 25, 2012-Through the Luntiang Pilipinas Foundation, Senator Loren Legarda joined in initiating a massive Manila Bay Clean-up, along the coastline from Navotas to Bacoor, Cavite in order to rehabilitate the bay and contribute to the country’s solid waste management efforts.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change and founder of Luntiang Pilipinas explained that, “the Manila Bay is an effective gauge of the level of water pollution in Metro Manila. The amount of solid wastes present in these waters, which becomes more evident during the rainy season, should be a cause for alarm among all of us. And this clean-up involving a host of stakeholders should only be one among many.”

The Manila Broadcasting Company, represented by radio station DZRH, took the lead in the project, with Luntiang Pilipinas Foundation Inc. as a partner and co-implementor.

“The Manila Bay is one of Metro Manila’s crowning glories, boasting the best view of the sunset as it features prominently in both local and international tourism campaigns. And yet it continues to be neglected: the view of the otherwise beautiful sunset is marred by styrofoam containers, plastic bags, discarded appliances, and many other solid wastes. It is time that we take a stand against this pollution and degradation,” said Legarda, author of the Solid Waste Management Act.

The clean-up's operating partners include the Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, PNP Maritime Command, MMDA, DOT, and the Offices of the Mayors of Manila, Malabon, Navotas, Pasay, Paranaque, Las Pinas, and Bacoor.

“Let us take Manila Bay back. Let us reclaim its stunning beauty and proclaim its significance. And let us, above all, work towards a healthy, sustainable, and disaster resilient future through initiating and supporting concerted clean-up efforts,” Legarda concluded.

Drilon to speak at international forum

MANILA, August 25, 2012-Senator Franklin M. Drilon will be among the international speakers who will deliver lectures at the 2012 Asia Conference on August 24 to 28, 2012 in National Chengchi University in Taipei, Taiwan.

The international conference was organized by the Harvard Program on Asia and International Relations (HPAIR). Around 500 delegates from different countries in Asia are expected to attend the forum.

                                                               

Drilon is set to speak on topic “Reappraising the Asian Values Debate in the 21^st Century World”, where he will discuss the universality of human rights and democracy in the Philippines.

“I am honored to have been invited by this Harvard-based group to update the other countries about our Philippine democratic system,” said Drilon.

“We have a very colorful story to tell about our being a democratic country which other countries can draw insights and lessons from,” he added.

According to the HPAIR, this year’s forum will be the first time to feature and discuss critical issues based on the Filipino perspective.

HPAIR has held 26 conferences in both Asia and the United States in a bid to bring together students from the world’s foremost universities and leaders in the fields of government, business, culture, and academia, to engage in thoughtful conversations regarding critical issues affecting Asia and the world.

Past speakers included Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, Singapore President S.R. Nathan, and Cambodia Prime Minister Prince Narodom Ranariddh.

500 Aurora runners Join Takbo para sa Inang Kalikasan Fun Run

MARIA AURORA, Aurora, August 24, 2012-The two (2) campuses of Lyceum of the East in Aurora, in cooperation with the 48^th Infantry “Guardians” Battalion, Philippine Army, successfully held the “Takbo para sa Inang Kalikasan, One Spirit, One Advocay, One Goal…A sustainable National Greening Program (NGP) through Gender and Development (GAD) Principles and Initiatives” at the Lyceum of the East-Aurora Campus in Brgy. Florida, Maria Aurora last August 20, 2012.

The recent run-for-a-cause event was participated by the army, National Statistics Office, PNP Maria Aurora, private sectors and other participants registered for the fun run, which also opened the 1^st “SAYAWIT” competition for the National Service Training Program (NSTP) student of both colleges.

“This afternoon’s affair is three folds: first, republic act 9729 otherwise known as the Philippine climate change, second, republic act 9512, otherwise known as the National Greening Program, third, Republic Act no. 9710, otherwise known as the Magna Carta of Women,” said Mr. Jason Francisco V. de Asis, Program Director of the event, saying that the Significance of these republic acts are greatly affect our ways of life.

He said that it would be observed that climate change has brought us in quandary, when there should be rain, there is no rain, when there should be sunshine, it rains, comparing the temperament of women which is changeable.

“The Magna Carta for women’s rights which was authored by Senator Loren Legarda provides the necessary mechanisms to enforce and guarantee the realization of women’s rights as public servant; public offices are no longer dominated by men. We have women engineers, architects, mechanics, electricians, soldiers. I just fear that someday we might have women loggers or miners,” de Asis said while smiling.

He added that the Lyceum of the East is aware of the program and very receptive to this call of the government; hence, the management assigned the task to the National Service Training Program (NSTP) Department to implement the program.

“It is also the college desire to give fullest effort to support environmental awareness under Republic Act 9512, an act to promote environmental awareness through environmental education under the program wherein the Lyceum of the East, Inc. formulated a program and activity for the National Greening Program to foster patriotism and nationalism,” he furthered.

The runners converged at the Lyceum of the East Aurora Campus Saturday afternoon and took off for their respective three kilometer (3K), five-kilometer (5K) and 7K routes at the signal of the 48^th IB CMO Chief Captain Rozzel Ticar and Mr. de Asis, the NSTP Program head of the two (2) campuses and concurrent Dean of BS Entrepreneurship.

Among the groups who participated in the event were soldiers from the 48^th (Guardians) Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, officers from the Maria Aurora Police Office, government employees, officials and staff from the National Statistics Office, Department of Health, volunteer health workers and students from the towns of Baler, San Luis, Dipaculao and Maria Aurora, as well as the barangay and provincial officials. (Ronald Madrid Leander-GMA7)

ANGARA: FAST-TRACK CREATION OF HOUSING PROGRAM FOR PHL TEACHERS

Proper housing for public school teachers in the Philippines should be prioritized, said Senator Edgardo J. Angara during a joint hearing by the Senate Committee on Urban Planning, Housing and Retirement and related committees yesterday.

Angara, chair of the Committee on Education, Arts and Culture, explained that educators  make up one of the  four sectors of the government which make the biggest impact on the public. The first two, the Judiciary and the police force, look after the safety and provide justice, while health and education professionals deal with the overall well-being of the public.

"We should prioritize the housing for our teachers as they are among the most important public servants in any country. They teach and mold our children, and are on the frontline in times of crisis and emergency, such as disaster relief operations. Teachers are also a vanguard of our democracy especially during elections," he said.

However, teachers in the Philippines still earn much less compared to their counterparts in the ASEAN region.

"We can solve this problem by establishing a housing program--through a comprehensive piece of legislation--especially for our educators," said Angara.

"Everyone is entitled to a home. Housing should be considered a universal human right, in the same way health and education are," he added.

Angara then proposed to include housing provision for teachers in a Magna Carta for Public Servants. "This way, we are assured that these initiatives will get adequate funding from government."

ANGARA: FAST-TRACK CREATION OF HOUSING PROGRAM FOR PHL TEACHERS

Proper housing for public school teachers in the Philippines should be prioritized, said Senator Edgardo J. Angara during a joint hearing by the Senate Committee on Urban Planning, Housing and Retirement and related committees yesterday.

Angara, chair of the Committee on Education, Arts and Culture, explained that educators  make up one of the  four sectors of the government which make the biggest impact on the public. The first two, the Judiciary and the police force, look after the safety and provide justice, while health and education professionals deal with the overall well-being of the public.

"We should prioritize the housing for our teachers as they are among the most important public servants in any country. They teach and mold our children, and are on the frontline in times of crisis and emergency, such as disaster relief operations. Teachers are also a vanguard of our democracy especially during elections," he said.

However, teachers in the Philippines still earn much less compared to their counterparts in the ASEAN region.

"We can solve this problem by establishing a housing program--through a comprehensive piece of legislation--especially for our educators," said Angara.

"Everyone is entitled to a home. Housing should be considered a universal human right, in the same way health and education are," he added.

Angara then proposed to include housing provision for teachers in a Magna Carta for Public Servants. "This way, we are assured that these initiatives will get adequate funding from government."