ENVIRONMENTALISTS to culminate month-long Sierra Madre patrol with tree-planting in AURORA

QUEZON CITY, September 21, 2012-As part of the 2^nd year celebration of Save Sierra Madre Day on September 26 and Save Aurora Sierra Madre Day on September 27, combined environmentalists from The Noble Blue Falcons International and the Green-Philippines will conclude their month-long environmental patrol of Sierra Madre mountain range with a culminating climb with tree-planting in Mt Egay in Dibutunan, Dipaculao, Aurora feared for its boulders but loved for its 7 majestic falls. On September 29-30, 2012 Noble Blue Falcons Int’l Environmental Mountaineers (NBFIEM) complemented by the Green mountaineers will gather in Aurora Province as they join Save Sierra Madre Network in celebrating the fight vs. mining, logging, kaingin, squatting, illegal vegetable gardening and wood charcoal-making in Sierra Madre.

As the mountaineers prepare for the First documented conquest and exploration of Mt Egay (Pinondohan) in Aurora Province, Prof. Sardz Colambo-President of Green-Philippines lambasted the pro-mining Provincial Board Members of Aurora in passing recently a controversial resolution allowing the large-scale mining exploration in the Province. “We will exhaust all legal means to stop the death of Aurora tourism due to the mining of its mountains and beaches,” he said. For his part, Prof. Joseph Beatriz Usita, National Chairman of the Noble Blue Falcons Environmentalists and Father of Environmental mountaineering in the Philippines , questioned the credibility and capability of DENR personnel in Aurora to protect its natural resources amidst persistent media reports of unchecked timber-poaching and wood charcoal-making(pag-uuling) in the mountains of Aurora Province.

Founded in March 19, 1996 in the Philippines, Noble Blue Falcons Environmentalists has 444,000 members(maximum cap) scattered nationwide with 8,000 Environmental mountaineers helping the provincial Government of Aurora to protect the province’s fast diminishing forest cover and promoting Aurora’s tourist spots thru eco-tourism advocacy.

A pioneer in Environmental Mountaineering, the Noble Blue Falcons Int’l is the biggest environmental group in the country today in terms of manpower strength while the Noble Blue Falcons International Environmental Mountaineers is the first and only mountaineering division in the Philippines organized solely for environmental protection. Green-Philippines, on the other hand, supports eco-tourism-based small- scale industries in the countryside.

Villar to open Villards Cup in Bulacan

BULACAN, sEPTEMBER 21, 2012-Sixteen aspiring pool players from Bulacan will take a shot at joining the likes of Efren “Bata” Reyes, Francisco “Django” Bustamante and Dennis Orcollo as they compete in the Villards Cup, which resumes this Sunday (September 23) at Starmall in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.

Now on its fourth year, this series of billiards tournaments started by Senator Manny Villar has travelled to different parts of the country and inspired many, particularly the youth, to take up the sport “which we, Filipinos, are on top of the world.”

“Villards Cup is our own little way of encouraging the youth to engage in sports, and move them away from illegal drugs. Alam kong marami pang katulad ni Efren Bata o ni Orcollo sa ating mga kabataan. Gusto kong maging instrumento ang Villards Cup na matuklasan sila at mabigyan ng pagkakataon na makilala din.” Villar said.

“Billiards now matches the popularity of basketball among Filipinos, especially the youth. Support for this sport should be encouraged and enhanced,” added Villar, who will grace the opening ceremonies along with Reyes, Bustamante, Orcollo and fellow former world champion Ronnie Alcano.

The 16 amateur players, who emerged from a series of qualifiers, will also vie for cash prizes worth almost P300,000, which will be awarded by Congresswoman Cynthia Villar, Managing Director of the Villar Foundation during the closing ceremonies on Monday.

Meanwhile, Senator Villar authored proposed Senate Resolution No. 875 commending Orcollo for winning the 2012 China Open held in Shanghai recently.

“Orcollo’s win solidifies the Filipino’s dominance over billiards. For years, more and more Filipinos are getting international fame in this sport and like boxing, people are seeing billiards as the Filipino’s game,” Villar said.

Orcollo defeated Chinese-Taipei’s Lu Hui Chan, 11-9, in the finals to add another prestigious title. He had earlier won the World 8-ball Championship, International 10-ball Championship, World Pool League, World Pool Masters and the US 10-ball Championship.

P-Noy to inaugurate Aquino-Diokno memorial and AFP Human Rights Center in NE today

FORT MAGSAYSAY, Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, September 21, 2012-Coinciding with the 40^thanniversary of the declaration of Martial Law, President Benigno Aquino III will lead today the inauguration of Aquino-Diokno Memorial and new Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Center for Human Rights Dialogue inside Fort Magsasay in Nueva Ecija.

 

The memorial recreates the 1973 detention facility of former Senators Benigno Aquino Jr. (Codenamed: Alpha) and Jose Diokno (Codenamed: Delta) inside the camp and honors the ideals these statesmen personified.

 

Moreover, AFP’s Center for Human Rights Dialogue will serve as an avenue for regular interaction between military personnel and the community in national pursuit for peace and development.

 

The establishment of the center demonstrates AFP’s seriousness in embracing principles of human rights.

 

Both structures underscore the transformation of AFP as one of the concrete gains from the 1986 EDSA people revolution that ousted a dictator. (Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu)

THE COUNTRY NEEDS MORE LEADERS LIKE LEAN – KIKO

MANILA, September 20, 2012-On the death anniversary of celebrated activist Leandro “Lean” Alejandro, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said that the country could use more leaders in Lean's mold.

“Lean was selfless, dedicated, brilliant, and was willing to make—and, in fact, did make—the supreme sacrifice for what he believed in,” Pangilinan shared.

Pangilinan, who was also a student activist alongside Alejandro during the Martial Law years, added that Lean's advocacy of social transformation would fit well with the country's thrust for good governance and economic progress.

“Ipinaglaban at isinabuhay ni Lean ang 'tuwid na daan' bago pa man ito naging 'buzz word.' Kung nabubuhay siya ngayon, isa siya sa mga magtataguyod nito,” the lawmaker said.

Pangilinan added that Lean had also practiced “tsinelas leadership” decades before it became a popular phrase following the death of Interior Secretary Jesse M. Robredo.

“Lean would go around the campus in slippers. He was a man of the masses and took up the cudgels for the poor, the marginalized, and the disempowered.”

Alejandro was generally acknowledged as the face of the anti-dictatorship movement. After the restoration of democracy, he had started to embark on a career in mainstream politics when he ran for congress in 1987. However, Alejandro was killed by an unknown assassin on September 19, 1987, cutting short what could have been a successful career in politics.

Pangilinan added, "He would have been in his 50's by now. He would have been truly great in instituting genuine reforms in government had he lived to continue his political career. We are now starting to see the fruits of those who have tirelessly labored and fought hard against tyranny and status quo that have long crippled our nation."

"The country would do well to remember and honor unheralded heroes such as Lean. Theirs is the foundation upon which we are now rebuilding our nation."

Legarda Hails Senate Approval of Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill

MANILA, September 20, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today hailed the Senate’s approval on Second Reading of the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill, which will provide substantive amendments to Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.

“Every year at least 2,000 Filipinos trafficking victims are rescued by non-government organizations. It is about time that we save Filipinos from slavery, forced labor and exploitation. The amendments to the existing Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act will aid in harmonizing our policies, building capacities of agencies, and strengthening enforcement and prosecution of human traffickers,” said Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

Legarda, sponsor of Senate Bill No. 2625 or the proposed Expanded Anti-Trafficking Act of 2012, explained that the proposed measure fills voids in the existing law by expanding the enumeration of acts that promote trafficking, to include an act to destroy or tamper with evidence, to influence witnesses in an investigation, or to utilize one's public office to impede an investigation or the execution of lawful orders.

“Among its salient features are removing the privilege of confidentiality now being enjoyed by the accused in a trafficking case, extending the protection to trafficked victims in various stages of the investigation and prosecution process, and punishing acts that constitute attempted trafficking,” Legarda detailed.

   

“Through the expanded law, we now have a more effective legal framework in order to achieve greater degree of success in our fight against trafficking in persons. As perpetrators become more innovative in their actions, so should government be more deliberate in its efforts to strengthen policies, improve on enforcement, and enhance inter-agency coordination, both at the local and international level,” Legarda concluded.

Drilon calls groups claims about Iloilo dam project baseless, unfounded

MANILA, September 20, 2012-Senator Franklin M. Drilon debunked claims of a few groups that the P11.2-billion Jalaur River Multi-Purpose River Project will lessen productivity of farmers and fisherfolks, and that the project, the biggest dam that will be constructed outside Luzon, will be sitting on an active fault line.

On the contrary, Drilon said the project will improve agricultural productivity which will be Iloilo’s contribution to rice self-sufficiency target of the government as it is expected to provide uninterrupted irrigation water supply to 32,000 hectares of farm land and benefit more than 783,000 farmers.

“This project will increase the irrigated lands in the region by around 10 percent and the annual regional rice production by around five percent. It will likewise expand the production areas of sugarcane and other crops,” explained Drilon.

“Aside from being one of the most significant green projects in Panay Island in the recent years because of its pro-environment features, this project will serve as a major step in improving the agricultural productivity and ultimately secure the rice self-sufficiency for the Philippines,” he said.

Drilon added that the project will also generate approximately 17,000 local jobs equivalent to P1.3 billion in basic wages per year.

Drilon also allayed fears of Pamalakaya, People’s Coalition on Food Sovereignty and Ibon Foundation on the safety of the project, reiterating that the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) already issued a fault certification stating that the site of the project is not prone to ground rupture hazard brought about by movement of active fault line.

Citing a report from PHIVOLCS, Drilon said the proposed Jalaur main dam and reservoir is 11 kilometers away from the nearest active fault line in the area which is the West Panay Fault.

That, he added, is still farther than the distance of the Pantabangan Dam located across Pampanga River in Pantabangan Nueva Ecija to the nearest mapped Digdig Segment of the Philippine Fault. The measured distances of its main and secondary dams to the fault line are approximately 5.5 and 3.1 kilometers, respectively.

Quoting PHIVOLCS Director Renato U. Solidum Jr., Drilon said that even if one of the project’s component dams is situated 5km east of the fault, it is still safe from effects of an earthquake.

ANGARA URGES GOV’T TO SUPPORT SMALL INDUSTRIES TO CURB UNDEREMPLOYMENT

MANILA, September 20, 2012-Senator Edgardo J. Angara called on government to support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to the arrest the escalating rate of underemployment in the country.

According to the figures released by the National Statistics Office (NSO), the number of underemployed persons in July 2012 was estimated at 8.5 million, the highest since 2006.

The data further revealed that a large percentage of the underemployed were working in the services sector at 42.5% and agriculture sector at 41.5%. The underemployed in the industry sector accounted for 16%.

Angara said the government should extend financial assistance to MSMEs to help them grow and expand. 

“It's important to double our merchandise and services export in order to create higher paying and better quality jobs for the new graduates and those in the countryside,” he said. 

The veteran legislator noted that almost 90 percent of jobs in the country are generated by MSMEs, and doubling the merchandise and services export can create at least 9 million job opportunities.

He added that past amendments to the Magna Carta for MSMEs (RA 9150) requires lending institutions, under the supervision of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, to set aside 8 percent of their loanable funds in favor of micro and small enterprises and at least 2 percent for medium enterprises.

"Sometimes, MSMEs proprietors just need a little more leeway in terms of financial support for their enterprises to flourish. The opportunity for growth must be institutionalized," explained Angara.  

Meanwhile, Angara urged Philippine universities, colleges and technical-vocational institutions to work closely with the industries to ensure our schools teach the skills that industries need.

“We need to take advantage of the continuing growth in the services sector, particularly in the fast growing business process outsourcing (BPO) industry by integrating courses on Information Technology in the curricula of several universities and colleges in order to create more employment opportunities for Filipinos." 

On the Pulse Asia Ulat ng Bayan survey for the 3rd Quarter of 2012

MANILA, September 19, 2012-The Pulse Asia Ulat ng Bayan survey for the Third Quarter shows both performance and trust ratings for the President at all-time highs. Public satisfaction with the President’s performance surged to +78, a noteworthy increase of 11 points from the Second Quarter 2012 Ulat ng Bayan survey. Trust in the President also shot up to +78 representing a significant 13-point jump from his +65 in the last rating in May 2012.

Strong positive scores across all geographic regions and social classes pushed ratings of the President to within the margin of error of his personal best of +79 for performance and +80 for trust in the Fourth Quarter October 2010 Pulse Asia survey. Moreover, the President has consistently received the highest ratings since Pulse Asia started conducting its trust and performance surveys.

These ratings further amplify the public’s overwhelming support for the President and the success of his initiatives towards positive change as shown in surveys and reports from respected local and international organizations.

We have always maintained that public office is a public trust. These sustained ratings affirm the Filipino people’s belief and confidence in the President, his leadership, and his administration’s relentless pursuit of reform.

Villar pushes Senate commendation for Orcollo’s China Open win

MANILA, September 19, 2012-Sen. Manny Villar lauded Dennis Orcollo, one of the country’s top billiards players, for winning the 2012 China Open held in Shanghai recently.

 

“Orcollo’s win solidifies the Filipino’s dominance over billiards. For years, more and more Filipinos are getting international fame in this sport and like boxing, people are seeing billiards as the Filipino’s game,” Villar said.

 

Villar authored Proposed Senate Resolution No. 875 commending Orcollo for beating Chinese-Taipei’s Lu Hui Chan with the 11-9 score.

 

Orcollo branded the win, his first in a Chinese pro event, as the most special win of his career.

 

Previously, Orcollo won in some of the biggest pool tournaments in the world, including the World Pool League, World Pool Masters, Derby City Classics, US Bar Table and Billiards Congress of America.

 

“Billiards now matches the popularity of basketball among Filipinos, especially the youth. Support for this sport should be encouraged and enhanced,” Villar said.

 

In 2009, Villar started the Villards Cup which provided budding billiards players a venue to compete against amateur players and play alongside veteran players like Orcollo, Efren ‘Bata Reyes, Alex Pagulayan, Ronnie Alcano, Django Bustamante, Gandy Valle, Warren Kiamco, Lee Van Corteza, Ramil Gallego, Roberto Gomez and others.

 

This year, the Cup will resume on September 23 at Starmall San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.  Sixteen amateur players from all over the province qualified for the competition.

 

“Villards Cup is our own little way of encouraging the youth to engage in sports, and move them away from illegal drugs. Alam kong marami pang katulad ni Efren Bata o ni Orcollo sa ating mga kabataan. Gusto kong maging instrumento ang Villards Cup na matuklasan sila at mabigyan ng pagkakataon na makilala din.” Villar said.

Statement of Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail F. Valte on the SWS 2012 Survey of Enterprises on Corruption

MANILA, September 18, 2012-The Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey of Enterprises on Corruption conducted from July 16 to September 14 this year shows that the business sector recognizes the results of the Aquino administration’s relentless drive against corruption.

Based on interviews of 826 company executives representing large, medium and small enterprises, 71% see less public sector corruption now compared to the previous administration. Of all the government institutions rated for sincerity in fighting corruption this year, the Office of the President shot up the most, from -37 in 2009 to +81 this year, an improvement of +118. Indeed, the President leads by example and the Filipino people see in his leadership the embodiment of positive change and honest public service. This is indicative of the overwhelming trust, confidence, and support in the President as he undertakes anti-corruption initiatives. In the eyes of the business community, good governance is good economics.

The mandate of reform is one of hope, change, and the belief that corruption is at the root of our country’s social ills. The results of this survey affirm the Aquino administration’s commitment to pursuing the straight and righteous path throughout the public sector – from Malacañang to Barangay Halls that serve our people.

Senate body approves P23-B DENR budget for 2013

MANILA, September 18, 2012-Senator Franklin M. Drilon, chairman of the Senate committee on Finance, approved today the proposed 2013 budget for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) totaling P23.63 billion which was crafted to strengthen the country’s’ resiliency to climate change impacts.

“The increase is attributed to the two poverty alleviation programs which put priority to massive reforestation, land distribution, and other key climate change initiatives upon which the government’s thrust to promote inclusive and sustained economic growth hinges,” Drilon explained.

“With the National Greening Program (NGP) in place, the DENR anticipates a sustained robust increase for its budget. Next year’s budget would be utilized to attain next year’s NGP target of300,000 hectares of denuded forests with some 150 million indigenous and fruit-bearing trees,” Drilon said, reiterating that NGP’s 2011-2016 target of planting 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million hectares is about 28 percent more trees than what was planted for the past 50 years.

Included in the 2013 target is for the maintenance of another 300,000 hectares of established plantation and the protection of some 4.7 million hectares of untenured forestland, noted Drilon.

Key activities to be funded in the 2013 budget include the rehabilitation of some 30,000 hectares of coral reefs and 2,000 hectares of denuded mangrove areas, as well as the protection of the country’s protected areas (PAs) with the delineation of some 3,156 kilometers of boundaries of 34 PAs, planting of native trees in some 24, 104 hectares within PAs, he added.

For his part, DENR Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje said that the increase is to ensure that social commitments are instituted with a focus on the country’s idle assets and turn these into productive lands.

In the lands sector, Paje bared that the DENR targets to issue next year some 102,573 residential and other patents, 113,636 agricultural patents covering 100,000 hectares to beneficiaries of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and 1,992 government lands covering 39,123 hectares.

He likewise said that the DENR aims to digitize some 2,389,956 public land and survey records.

On geohazard mapping, he said that the DENR aims to assess some 548 municipalities and cities for the preparation of 1:10,000 geohazard maps, conduct groundwater resources assessment of 28 provinces and municipalities, including the creation of an integrated map system as a guide for planning and decision making.

He added that the mapping activities will cover the mapping of 15 coastal provinces located within the country’s 18 major river systems to include the implementation of a unified mapping program covering the 18 river systems with the production of 1,700 map sheets on a 1:10,000 ratio.

“The undertaking will also require the acquisition of two 20-meter survey vessels,” Paje added.

ANGARA SEEKS MORE FUNDING FOR SKILLS TRAINING TO SUSTAIN IT-BPO SECTOR GROWTH

MANILA, September 18, 2012-Senator Edgardo J. Angara called on the government to allocate more funds for the skills training of frontline leaders and potential Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO) employees as he expressed confidence that the Information Technology and BPO (IT-BPO) sector will continue to fuel the country’s economy.

 

Angara, Chair of the Congressional Commission on Science, Technology and Engineering (COMSTE), said Filipinos possess a clear edge over all other countries providing offshore call center outsourcing owing to our proficiency in the English language as well as our flexibility in dealing with other cultures.

 

The veteran legislator noted that the IT-BPO industry is seen to generate at least 120,000 new jobs for the highly skilled in knowledge process outsourcing (KPO), like healthcare management and legal research. Moreover, it aims to directly employ 1.3 million Filipinos by 2016.

 

“In such a short time, the IT-BPO industry has become one of the biggest job creators in the country. In the past decade, the sector has grown exponentially in terms of work force and income generation, from a fledgling subsector of the service industry to a multibillion-dollar earner,” Angara said.

 

According to the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP), the industry generated $11 billion in revenues and provided jobs to 638,000 employees by the end of 2011, surpassing its annual growth rate target of 20 percent.  

Angara noted that close to P1 billion of the 2012 national budget, specifically from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Technical Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has been allocated for talent development in IT-BPO.   

"The government should continue to invest in this booming industry by providing  trainings and seminars for people seeking job opportunities in IT-BPO. This is a very promising age for Filipinos, especially highly educated, skilled and trained Filipinos,” he concluded.

“MAGNA CARTA FOR THE POOR” TO STRENGTHEN PROVISION OF SOCIAL SERVICES, SAFETY NETS FOR POOR FILIPINOS – KIKO PANGILINAN

MANILA, September 18, 2012-The Senate Committee on Social Justice and Rural Development, chaired by Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, convened on Tuesday morning to discuss the Magna Carta for the Poor, a measure that is aimed to bring more social services to impoverished Filipinos.

According to Pangilinan, “The Magna Carta for the Poor is meant to give the poor access to basic social services such as healthcare and medicines, public education, housing and the like. Our belief is that giving them equal access to these services will help level the playing field and empower more Filipinos to work toward a better future.”

Among those covered by the Magna Carta as those defined as “poor”, i.e., those living below the poverty threshold, and “basic sectors” such as farmers and fisherfolk, workers in the formal and informal sectors, indigenous peoples, and communities, persons with disabilities (PWDs), senior citizens, victims of calamities, children, and urban poor, among others.

“Pinangangalagaan ng Magna Carta ang karapatan ng bawa’t Pilipino na magkaroon ng access sa mga serbisyong nararapat nilang makamtan bilang mamamayan. Hindi dapat ipagkait sa mga mahihirap ang karapatang makapag-aral, ang karapatang magkaroon ng sariling tirahan, ang karapatang magpagaling kapag sila ay maysakit, at iba pa. Pinoprotektahan nito ang kapakanan ng mga mahihirap na ang tanging masandalan na lamang ay ang batas at ang pamahalaan.”

Legarda Hails Adoption of Resolution to Support Efforts for Parliamentary and Inclusive Democracy in Cambodia

MANILA, September 18, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda hailed the adoption of Senate Resolution No. 873, which expresses support for parliamentary and inclusive democracy in Cambodia, last September 17.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, stressed that the value of democratic governance and parliamentary democracy cannot be understated, and building on electoral reforms is vital to developing a lasting a vibrant democracy.

“I filed this Resolution in cognizance of the 2012 report of Professor Surya Subedi, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Cambodia. Cambodia’s national election in July 2013 offers as excellent opportunity to further democratic consolidation,” she said.

“We take exceptional note of Professor Subedi's report that Cambodia has made progress with regard to democratic reforms, observance of the rule of law, and the human rights situation in the country following its adoption of the Paris Peace Agreements,” she detailed.

Senate Resolution No. 873 expresses the sense of the Philippine Senate to offer its hand of support to its counterparts in Cambodia, through dialogue and cooperation.

Legarda remarked that, “The Philippines has had its share of challenges in improving our electoral processes. Our electoral system may not be perfect yet, but we have acquired a depth of experience that we can share in pursuit of the promotion of ASEAN’s principle of “good neighborliness, partnership, and community building”. Hopefully, through mutually beneficial cooperation, we can also learn from them.”

“I am urging my fellow legislators to adopt this resolution as soon as possible, that we may show solidarity with our ASEAN neighbor as they conduct crucial electoral reforms,” she concluded.

Legarda’s Lead in Pulse Asia Survey Inspires Her to Work Even Harder

MANILA, September 17, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today said that the result of the recent Pulse Asia Survey on senatorial preferences for the 2013 elections inspires her more to work even harder for the people.

The Pulse Asia Survey conducted from August 31 to September 7, 2012 showed Legarda gaining 67.3% senatorial preference, topping the list of senatorial candidates that people would vote for in the 2013 elections.

“I thank God and I thank the Filipino people. The result of the recent Pulse Asia Survey inspires me to work harder and do more especially for the poor and needy because people appreciate the work that I am doing,” Legarda said.

The Senator stressed that with several more months before the 2013 elections, she will continue championing her advocacies—promoting environment protection, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction; protecting the rights of women and children; providing better opportunities for the poor through viable rural livelihoods; and protecting the welfare of Filipino workers.

“Elections is still eight months away. My focus remains on the many legislative work and advocacy programs that would benefit our people. We should never be complacent, we must always work hard for the very people who have given us the chance to serve them,” Legarda concluded.

'DICT NEEDED TO BOOST PHL DEV'T' - ANGARA

MANILA, September 17, 2012-Senator Edgardo J. Angara highlighted the need for comprehensive legislation covering the information and communication technology (ICT) sector during the IBM Think Forum last week.

Angara, Chair of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, underscored the importance of having a standalone agency focused on the development of this sector.

"ICT is perhaps the most powerful technology in the world right now, making it vital in a developing nation like the Philippines," said the veteran lawmaker. 

"We must establish an independent department solely dedicated to the growth and progress of the ICT sector, if we want to transition effectively into the information era."

Angara is the main proponent of a measure that seeks to reorganize the communications-related agencies under the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) into a separate Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

The measure is pending approval before a bicameral conference committee, comprised of members from both the Senate and the House of Representatives. 

“The passage of the DICT Bill is the missing piece in our current ICT development agenda,” explained Angara, noting that two other ICT bills which he sponsored and filed have recently been signed into law.  

The Data Privacy Act (RA 10173) mandates public and private enterprises to protect all personal and confidential information exchanged during internet-based transactions.

The Cybercrime Prevention Act (RA 10175), on the other hand, penalizes internet-based offenses such as fraud, identity theft, hacking and phishing.  

Angara emphasized, “These two measures lay out the policy for how our netizens will be protected while they’re online. On the other hand, a separate agency focused on ICT will look into how we can leverage ICT for our national development.”  

He concluded, “The world recognizes the value and potential of the ICT industry. If we all work towards the common goal of advancing this sector, we can seize all the opportunities that will undoubtedly be open to us." 

Legarda: DA’s Trading Center Project, Perfect Partner of Agri-Agra Law

MANILA, September 17, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today commended the Department of Agriculture (DA) for its Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (APTC) project, as she stressed that the program complements the purpose of Republic Act 10000 or the Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act of 2009.

Legarda, author of RA 10000, said that while the APTC project intends to increase the income of farmers, the Agri-Agra Law aims to boost the agriculture sector and promote livelihood among agrarian reform beneficiaries.

According to the DA, this new project will enable farmers to earn more since they can directly sell their products in the trading centers and avoid dealing with middlemen. The four primary APTCs will be constructed in Benguet, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, and North Cotabato.

“The establishment of these trading centers is a laudable move that will greatly benefit our farmers as they get the income commensurate to their hard work,” Legarda said.

“While we await the completion of these trading centers, it would be best to ensure that our farmers are also aware of the other opportunities for growth and improvement available to them,” she pointed out.

The Senator explained that the Agri-Agra Law opens a new window of opportunity for farmers as the law requires banks to allocate 25 percent of their loanable funds to the agriculture sector to finance the acquisition of work animals, farm equipment or machinery, seeds, fertilizers, livestock, feeds and other similar items for farm production.  Of the 25 percent, 10 percent should be given to agrarian reform beneficiaries and 15 percent to the agriculture sector.

“We have to strengthen programs that would increase productivity in the countryside and ensure better harvest. Supporting the improvement of the livelihood of our farmers is a great leap towards our goal of achieving food sufficiency,” Legarda concluded.

Trillanes backs ‘reasonable’ sin tax

MANILA, September 17, 2012-Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV on Friday said he is supporting the proposed legislation that will increase the excise tax imposed on liquor and tobacco products as long as the rates are reasonable.

“I am supporting the sin tax bill as a revenue measure since the rates will be indexed on the country’s inflation rate, provided, however, that the rates of increase should be reasonable,” Trillanes said.

According to Trillanes, the proposal to increase the sin taxes should be within the parameters of realistic revenue targets and based on the current classification system of liquor and tobacco products.

Trillanes, who is a member of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, explained that the proposed increase should “not kill the source of livelihood of our tobacco farmers.”

 “We have to ensure that the system to be implemented should be equitable and the rate should not be too high that it could cause the market to collapse and encourage smuggling of tobacco products,” Trillanes added.

Under the House version of the sin tax bill, imposition of tax will be based on a single classification system which is unitary and the tax rate will be uniform, regardless of the quality of the products.

“This system is discriminatory against the lower-tier products and would favor the imported brands,” Trillanes said.

Aurora Police Nabs Marijuana Pusher in San Luis

SAN LUIS, Aurora, September 16, 2012-A 32-year-old marijuana pusher was arrested by operatives of the Aurora Philippine National Police and  Aurora Intelligence Police following a buy-bust operation at Sitio Hacienda, Brgy. Nonong Sr., San Luis town in the early morning of September 13, 2012.

Aurora OIC Provincial Director Police Supt. Jose Santiago Hidalgo identified the suspect as Marvin Reyes Y’ Mangahas,  Alias ka “Vino”, separated, a resident of said place.

Hidalgo said that elements of Provincial Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations Task Force (PAIDSOTF), Provincial Intelligence Division led by SPO3 Harold R. Donato under the Supervision of PCI Nelson G. Buhong, PIB  and San Luis PS under PCI Reynante D Pitpitan, COP, PDEA Agent Froilan Bitong and Aurora Police Provincial Director apprehended Reyes on his own turf, after he sold one small pack of marijuana fruiting tops, weighing approximately 10 grams to an undercover agent who acted as poseur-buyer.

After further search, operatives recovered from Reyes seventeen (17) small plastic sachet of   Marijuana fruiting tops with estimated street value of P 1,700. 00 pesos and recovered dusted drug bust money a two pieces of fifty peso bill bearing SN# NV008628 and U929648.

Reyes is now facing charges for violation of Section 5 (sale of dangerous drugs) and Section 11 (possession), Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.  He is presently detained at Aurora Provincial Jail Station. (Jason de Asis)