Legarda Looks Forward to Greater Cooperation with Australia

MANILA, October 26, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today said she looks forward to stronger bilateral and security cooperation between Australia and the Philippines following President Benigno Aquino’s official visit to Australia where he met with  Prime Minister Julia Eileen Gillard.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, also said that the Philippines’ ratification of the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) with Australia, which the Senator sponsored, will further enhance bilateral defense and military cooperation between the two countries.

“Australia is the largest bilateral grant aid donor to the Philippines.  Since 2001, Australia has extended aid  investment of around Php32 billion, while defense assistance is estimated at PhP1.16 billion. With President Aquino’s official visit to Australia, we are hopeful that this will open more areas of cooperation and bolster defense and security cooperation between our two countries,” she stressed.

  

Legarda explained that Australia has programmed approximately USD235 million aid for 2010-2012. It assists the Philippines in developing capacities in the field of disaster risk reduction and management such as in the Project Enhancing Greater Metro Manila's Institutional Capacities for Effective Disaster/Climate Risk Management towards Sustainable Development or the READY project. This strengthens institutional capacities of local government units and national government agencies to manage disaster and climate change risks.

Meanwhile, the SOVFA is intended to enhance cooperation on maritime terrorism and other security threats. It defines the rights as well as the responsibilities between the visiting forces and the host government on such matters as criminal and civil jurisdiction, claims, entry and exit of personnel and property, movement of vessels, aircraft and vehicles and carrying of arms, among others.

“The SOVFA also contains a unique provision on environmental protection, thus assuring us that local environmental laws will be observed in the conduct of exercises. As conceived, joint activities may also cover joint training on marine resource protection, sea search and rescue operations, disaster relief operations, and other civic action projects,” she pointed out.

“Today's security challenges require that we strengthen our defense posture through a regime of cooperation with allies with whom we share strategic security interests. Fostering strong defense relations with partners, through SOVFA, is a good defense strategy anchored on national interest, national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the right to self-determination,” Legarda concluded.

‘ANTI-CORRUPTION EFFORTS ARE KEY TO REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT’ – PHL DELEGATION TO IPU

QUEBEC, Canada, October 25, 2012-Various Philippine Senators underscored the importance of anti-corruption and good governance initiatives in achieving developmental objectives at the ongoing 127^th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) here in Quebec, Canada.

The legislators, who are all members of the Philippine Delegation, relayed this message before various delegations and bilateral meetings, highlighting the importance of government reforms particularly in terms of transparency and accountability.

During the meeting with all member countries of the ASEAN and the larger Asia Pacific Group (APG), Senator Edgardo J. Angara explained the nexus between development and corruption and highlighted the importance of regional cooperation in terms of curbing corrupt practices in Asia.

“In 2025, Asia will become the center of global production. But in order to reap the gains of that demographic window, we ought to work together in cleaning our governments and in preparing our institutions for such progress,” said Angara, Chairperson of the Southeast Asian Parliamentarians Against Corruption (SEAPAC).

Angara likewise met separately with the leaders from Myanmar and Germany to encourage them to lead anti-corruption work in Asia and Europe, respectively.

Speaking in front of a delegation of 22 Latin American and Carribean countries, Senator Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. then explained the importance of fighting corruption to developed and developing countries alike.

“This is a problem shared by countries—developed or developing. And we must work together as parliamentarians to address this issue in our respective regions,” encouraged the Senator.

Later, Senator Teofisto Guingona echoed the same message to the 14 countries from the Middle East in attendance. Guingona was positively received by the group and gained support from members of the different delegations for the anti-corruption advocacy.

Angara, Marcos and Guingona joined Senator Franklin Drilon, Head of the Philippine Delegation to the 127th IPU Assembly representing the Senate of the Philippines. During the meetings, the Philippine Delegation actively encouraged fellow parliamentarians in attendance to come to Manila for the 5th Global Conference on Anti-Corruption in January 2013.

With the theme "Good laws. Good leaders. Good Citizens," the Conference, hosted by the Senate of the Philippines, the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC), and the Southeast Asian Parliamentarians Against Corruption (SEAPAC), is expected to draw 500 parliamentarians all over the world to Manila. 

The group also met with Mr. John Williams, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the GOPAC, himself a former IPU Delegate as Senator of Canada, to discuss preparations for the upcoming Manila Conference, as well as how to further the role of the Philippine legislators in anti-corruption work in the region. (Rikka Sotto)

Legarda Urges All Filipinos to Share in Celebration of Eidul Adha

MANILA, October 25, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today urged all Filipinos to share in the celebration of Eidul Adha or the Muslim Feast of Sacrifice.

“Tomorrow (Oct. 26), the whole Filipino nation will join our Muslim brethren in commemorating the Eidul Adha, by virtue of Republic Act 9849. As we observe this special Muslim occasion, we must also understand its significance to the Islamic Faith so that we can create a better understanding with our Muslim brothers and sisters,” said Legarda.

“I have always hoped that in a Catholic-dominated nation such as ours, we can go beyond familiarity of Muslim religious holidays and move towards deeper respect and understanding among us Filipinos regardless of faith or religious belief,” she stressed.

The Eidul Adha signifies the end of the Islamic Pilgrimage to Mecca wherein Muslims pay homage to the Prophet Ibrahim’s supreme act of sacrifice. Ibrahim’s love and obedience to Allah was put to a test when he was asked to offer his beloved son, Ishmael. Ibrahim willingly surrendered to the perceived commandment and Allah was pleased. When Ibrahim was about to sacrifice Ishmael, a voice from heaven stopped him and allowed him to sacrifice a ram instead.

“This story is the same with that of the Christian story about Abraham and his willingness to sacrifice his son, Isaac, to God. Now that the whole nation will be commemorating Eidul Adha, we begin to create interfaith harmony among Filipinos. Greater awareness of each other’s celebrations and traditions will help bring to the fore the significance of healthy and constructive discussions among faiths in the Philippines,” Legarda said.

“I wish to reiterate my full support for government efforts to further strengthen Christian-Muslim unity. Interfaith dialogue is crucial to attaining lasting peace and harmony in Philippine society in the years ahead,” she added.

Legarda is the author of R.A. 9849 which declared the tenth day of the month of Zhul Hijja as a national holiday to commemorate the Eidul Adha.

Last month, Legarda filed a bill declaring the first week of February as “World Interfaith Harmony Week” in the Philippines, which aims to build genuine understanding among people of different faiths and belief systems.

Legarda Echoes Call of Indonesian President to Prioritize Local Capacity-Building on Disaster Risk Reduction

MANILA, October 24, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today echoed the call of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the 5^th Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Yogyakarta, Indonesia to prioritize and integrate local capacity building in the government’s national program on disaster risk reduction.

"I support the call of President Yudhoyono to strengthen disaster risk reduction efforts through the creation of disaster-resilient villages, advancement of multi-stakeholder participation, development of local human and technical capacity, financing of local capacity-building programs, coordination of national and local capacity, and integration of small-scale disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation initiatives into local development processes," said Legarda, the United Nations (UN) Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific.

Legarda, who chairs the Senate Committee on Climate Change, has vigorously advocated for the integration of disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) into local and national development plans. She has conducted several regional DRR and CCA workshops for local governments, non-government organizations, business and community leaders, students, media, and various stakeholders across the country.

 “The best choice we have is to make our nation disaster-resilient to free us, once and for all, from the exhausting and costly cycle of rebuilding our communities every single time nature unleashes its wrath. Building a disaster-resilient country should be everybody’s business. We all have to work together—the national government, the LGUs, the private sector—in ensuring that our country and all our citizens are ready to prevent hazards from turning into devastating disasters,” she said.

Legarda, who was recently recognized by the United Nations as a Hero of Resilience, said that the Philippine legislature has taken a proactive stance in building the nation’s resilience to disasters by passing two laws, the Climate Change Act of 2009 and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, which were both cited by Margareta Wahlstrom, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, as among the best laws in the world. 

Legarda also sponsored the People’s Survival Fund Law, which mandated the appropriation of one billion pesos annually for the financing of climate change adaptation projects of local governments and organizations.

“We need to empower local leaders who have the privilege to translate national policies, plans and programs into concrete and visible actions for the people,” she said.

According to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction report entitled “Reducing Vulnerability and Exposure to Disasters”, the average number of people exposed to yearly flooding in Asia has increased by more than 50% from 29.5 million to 63.8 million in the last forty years, from 1970 to 2010.

Furthermore, a study jointly undertaken by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the World Bank, predicted that a major flood in Metro Manila could cause damages equivalent to almost a quarter of the metropolitan area’s GDP or 560 billion pesos.

  

The 5th AMCDRR, which is currently being held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia from October 22-25, is expected to discuss mechanisms by which governments could integrate local level disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation efforts in National Development Planning.

ANGARA INVITES WORLD LEADERS TO MANILA FOR ANTI-CORRUPTION CONFERENCE

QUEBEC, Canada, October 23, 2012-Senator Edgardo J. Angara today personally extended an invitation to leaders from all over the world during the 127th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly for them to come to Manila this January 2013 for the 5th Global Conference on Anti-Corruption.

With the theme "Good laws. Good leaders. Good Citizens," the Conference, hosted by the Senate of the Philippines, the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC), and the Southeast Asian Parliamentarians Against Corruption (SEAPAC), is expected to draw 500 leaders from all over the world to Manila. 

"The Conference is considered as one of the largest anti-corruption events in the world," said Angara. "It is important because it will equip parliamentarians all over the world with the knowledge and tools they need to enact responsive and effective legislation that will fight and prevent corruption."

Highlighting corruption as a shared challenge to all governments worldwide, developing and developed nations alike, Angara underlined the need for government reform towards eradicating corruption to achieve long-term economic growth and regain people's trust in government.

During the Pre-Conference Meetings, the invitation to come to Manila was reiterated to the regional groups of Southeast Asia, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Latin America and the Caribbean by the Philippine Delegation. Global leaders responded positively to the invitation describing said Conference as "timely" and "very meaningful." They likewise congratulated the Philippines for the initiative.

Angara was joined by Senator Franklin Drilon, Head of the Philippine Delegation, and Senators Teofisto Guingona III, and Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in promoting the 5th Global Manila Conference in Manila here at the IPU. The meeting here in Quebec runs from October 22 to 27, 2012.

Angara is the driving force behind SEAPAC, which leads regional anti-corruption efforts on a coordinated and institutional basis through parliamentarian-members in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. He also currently serves as Vice President of GOPAC, and Head of the Manila 2013 Steering Committee.

Archbishop urges youth to use social media for evangelization

VATICAN City, Oct. 21, 2012— Speaking at the last of the triduum masses held earlier today at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo urged young people to maximize the use of social media and other tools of communications to evangelize.

It was the turn of the Mindanao Bishops to sponsor the last of the Triduum masses, led by Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales (who was Bishop of Malaybalay, Bukidnon prior to his appointments as Archbishop of Lipa and later, Manila) as presider and Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo, OMI of the Archdiocese of Cotabato as homilist.

In his homily, Quevedo appealed to the youth, telling them that despite being only 14 years old when Calungsod joined Padre Diego in the missions, he was already mature enough to be an evangelizer of peoples.

The youth, he said, can do this with the means of social communications, saying “(s)o often the internet is used for evil, for pornography, for scams and crimes.”

Instead, the internet should be used to share what is good, the archbishop said.

“Send biblical messages by SMS, by texting. Use twitter and blogs to share your faith, chat with others about how your faith has always been an anchor of hope in the midst of difficulties,” Quevedo said.

“Send inspirational pictures and images by email, Youtube, or Facebook. Today, the power of communications, of the internet, email, Facebook, is beyond calculation,” he furthered.

Also mentioning the many Filipino overseas workers in all parts of the world, Quevedo lauded their efforts as “faith-givers”, thanking them for their efforts to teach the children of their employers the tenets of the Christian faith.

The triduum mass at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore was the largest of the three triduum masses, filling into full capacity the big Marian basilica in the heart of the Eternal City. [Aaron James R. Veloso]

Pope praises Calungsod’s ‘heroic courage’

VATICAN City, Oct 21, 2012—The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI praised the “heroic courage” and “tenacious profession of faith” of Filipinos’ second saint, Pedro Calungsod, during the homily at today’s mass.

In his homily for the canonization ceremony, the Holy Father recalled the life of Saint Pedro in the Marianas mission.

“His desire to win souls for Christ…made him resolute in accepting martyrdom,” he said.

Key in Pope Benedict’s exhortation on the young martyr is the special circumstances of his death – that he could have decided to leave Fr. Diego de San Vitores, but decided to stay on.

Making a direct appeal to modern-day Filipinos, he said, “May the example and courageous witness of Pedro Calungsod inspire the dear people of the Philippines to announce the Kingdom bravely and to win souls for God!”

The Holy Father also praised Pedro and the six other new saints, for their “… heroic courage, [spending] their lives in total consecration to the Lord and generous service of their brethren.”

Hopefully, the example of Saint Pedro, “will inspire the dear people of the Philippines to announce the Kingdom bravely and win souls for God,” added the Holy Father.

Besides being a day of celebration for the Church because of the canonization, October 21 is also celebrated this year as World Mission Sunday. [Aaron James R. Veloso)

Legarda Looks Forward to Philippine Exhibition at Musée du Quai Branly

MANILA, October 20, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today said she is looking forward to the Philippine Exhibition at the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris, France, which will be held on April 9 to July 21, 2013.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities and Committee on Foreign Relations, is sponsoring the translation to English of the catalogue for the exhibition “Philippines—Art of Exchange”.

“We are very fortunate to have been chosen as the featured exhibiting country at the Musée du Quai Branly, which is the premier museum in France for indigenous art and culture. This is a great opportunity for us to showcase our history and our rich and unique Filipino heritage,” she said.

“We also welcome President Aquino’s directive to create an Inter-Agency Committee for this exhibition to ensure not only appropriate pdeparation and proper conduct of the exhibition but also to maximize the benefits the country can gain through this opportunity especially in terms of boosting tourism, strengthening trade and promoting culture,” she added.

Legarda has been taking initiatives to further promote Philippine culture to Filipinos and to foreign citizens. She has set-up several cultural exhibits at the Senate to showcase the exceptional skills and world-class products of indigenous peoples. She also launched the country’s first permanent textile galleries called the Hibla ng Lahing Filipino: The Artistry of Philippine Textiles at the National Museum in order to celebrate indigenous artistry and revitalize Philippine weaving traditions.

Recently, Legarda launched the Hibla Pavilion of Textiles and Weaves of the Philippines, which is a highlight of the Manila FAME Design and Lifestyle Event 2012, at the SMX Convention Center. The Hibla Pavilion displayed the different products made by various indigenous communities whose members also demonstrated their different weaving traditions.

STEP UP AGRI R&D TO STEM SCARCITY OF FOOD SUPPLY

MANILA, October 18, 2012-During the budget deliberations for the Department of Agriculture (DA) , Senator Edgardo J. Angara recommended that the agency allot more of its P74.987 B proposed budget for 2013 towards agri-based research projects, to initiate the much-needed modernization of the sector.

This is necessary, he says, to increase the industry's productivity and guarantee food supply in the country.

"In recent years, global food supply and production has been going down. Several global studies have predicted that food will become more scarce in the next few years," said Angara, "Therefore we must focus on increasing our country's production and continuous supply of our staple crops."

"To do this we must boost our investment in research and development, particularly in the field of agriculture," explained Angara.

"R&D in agriculture pays the highest dividends in terms of profit and returns, not to mention its huge contribution to improving productivity. In the Philippines, however, investment in this sector has declined precipitously--something I believe we should rectify as soon as possible," stressed the former Agriculture secretary.

He also explained that developments through R&D would help lessen another major problem in Philippine agriculture -- high post-harvest losses. As much as 50 percent of fruit harvests and up to 15 percent of grain harvests are wasted due to inadequate machinery and equipment.

According to Angara, modern post-harvest facilities, improved logistics and infrastructure would greatly boost the efficiency of our supply chains and minimize losses.

Officials from the DA confirmed that their proposed budget for the coming fiscal year had a considerable allocation for research and development initiatives. The Philippine Rice Research Institute is requesting for P532.2M in 2013 for their R&D efforts, 56.12 percent higher than last year.

Angara, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture, suggested that they farm out the agriculture research projects to the different SUCs (state universities and colleges) which have their own areas of specialization.

"Better technology equals higher yield.  We must seize this opportunity to step up production from agriculture industry, not just to ensure food supply but also to move closer to our country's goal of self-sufficiency," said Angara. (Rikka Sotto w/ Anna Amores)

ARMY TROOPS RECOVERED EXPLOSIVES IN ISABELA CLASH

STA. ISABEL, Jones, Isabela, October 18, 2012-­­Army troops belonging to the 51^st Division Reconnaissance Company  of the 5^th Infantry Division led by 2LT DALIT encountered more or less fifteen (15) communist terrorists while conducting security operations at sitio Kidogkidog, Sta Isabel, Jones, Isabela last Tuesday, October 16, 2012.

            The report disclosed that the firefight between the terrorists group who belong to the Sandatahang Platoon Propaganda (SPP) GANI under the leadership of Romeo Cudal, Aka Mon/Rito, and the operating troops lasted for about 30 minutes afterwhich the rebel group scampered towards different directions.

            Recovered by the operating troops at the encounter site were: five (5) backpacks containing three (3) claymore mines, medical kit, personal belongings and subversive documents with high intelligence value.

             The successful security operations conducted by the Army troops in the area pre-empted the violent activities to be inflected as a result of unnecessary loss of lives and properties of innocent civilians who are the primary victims of the communist terrorists.     

JINGGOY TO WITNESS CANONIZATION OF BLESSED PEDRO CALUNGSOD

MANILA, October 18, 2012-Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada will join the official Philippine delegation and the Filipino community in Rome to attend the canonization rites of Blessed Pedro Calungsod on October 21.

 

Blessed Calungsod, young Visayan catechist and the second Filipino saint following San Lorenzo Ruiz, will be canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City.

 

The Philippine contingent is headed by Vice President Jejomar Binay.

 

According to a news report from the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), around 5,000 pilgrims from the Philippines are headed to Rome to attend the canonization rites.

 

Records from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Philippine Embassy in Rome also show that Italy is home to an estimated 114,000 Filipino migrant workers.

 

“I am privileged to be part of the delegation and to personally witness this momentous event when the Catholic Church honors the life, martyrdom and faithful devotion of a fellow Filipino. For me, the occasion symbolizes the unyielding faith of the Filipino people despite the difficulties,” Sen. Estrada shares.

 

Sen. Estrada recalls that it is during the term of his father, former President Joseph Estrada, when Blessed Pedro Calungsod was beatified by Pope John Paul II on March 2000. Former First Lady Loi Estrada was then the head of the Philippine delegation to Rome and hosted a beatification dinner for the bishops and members of the delegation.

 

Sen. Estrada will be joined by his mother, former Senator Loi Estrada, wife Precy Ejercito and their children, and sister Jacqueline Lopez.

 

They are also set to attend the Votive Mass of St. Pedro Calungsod in St. Peter’s Basilica on Thanksgiving Day on October 22, to be presided by Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.

No undue price increase for more goods during calamities-- Villar

MANILA, October 18, 2012-Sen. Manny Villar today said the expansion of the list of basic necessities under the law will ensure that more goods will be saved from price gouging during calamities.  

 

Villar, in his capacity as chairman of the Committee on Trade and Commerce, sponsored yesterday the committee report on the bill amending RA 7581 or the Price Act.

 

Committee Report 444 recommended the inclusion of locally-manufactured noodles and bottled water in the list of basic necessities to protect consumers against undue price increases during calamity, emergency, widespread illegal price manipulation and other similar situations.

 

“Based on available data, the consumption of instant noodles in the country has risen steadily and in fact, has become a new staple of many poor Filipino families.  The increase in popularity of instant noodles can be due to the fact that it is cheaper and easier to prepare than rice,” Villar said in his sponsorship speech.

 

Villar also added that in the aftermath of the last five most disastrous storms and natural calamities(Ondoy, Pepeng, Milenyo, Pedring and habagat),  instant noodles and bottled water have become two of the most in-demand and have the biggest tendency to be overpriced to the detriment of the citizens.

 

He said the prevalent public consumption of instant noodles and bottled water has placed it in the ranks of basic necessities such as rice, corn, bread, fish, pork, poultry, beef, etc.  And even during relief operations in times of calamities and emergencies, these goods are the first ones to be distributed.

 

Villar noted that prices of goods tend to rise during periods of disasters but reminded businessmen and parties within the chain of distribution of consumer goods to “consider the interest of the public and heed the call to treat customers fairly during times of need.”

Legarda Celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Month Through Hibla Pavilion

MANILA, October 18, 2012-In celebration of the Indigenous Peoples’ Month, Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities, today launched the Hibla Pavilion of Textiles and Weaves of the Philippines with the hope of solving one of the greatest threats to Filipino indigenous artistry – extinction brought about by apathy.

“This exhibition aims to tell the stories of indigenous communities through the intricate processes of weaving that were passed on by their ancestors. It also reveals the passion for learning, creating, and educating of master weavers and culture bearers of different indigenous groups,” Legarda said.

“Weaving is not merely a pastime or a livelihood activity because each thread signifies the values of diligence, patience, hard work, and love for culture that these indigenous communities continue to embrace and live by,” she stressed.

The Hibla Pavilion will highlight different weaving traditions like the B’laan tradition of mother-of-pearl beaded tribal wear and the T’Boli tradition of producing beaded belts where sequin, brass bells and beadwork are applied. It will also feature the intricate embroidery traditions of IP communities such as the T’Boli traditional cross-stitching in Mindanao and the panubok embroidery tradition of the Panay Bukidnon in the Visayas.

“This is an exhibition aimed at showcasing our rich and colorful heritage through the Schools of Living Traditions (SLT), a program I supported to ensure that indigenous techniques on textile-weaving, basket-making, beadwork and embroidery are passed on to the next generation,” Legarda said.

Legarda, has supported the development of cultural villages of the Ata-Talaingod, Mandaya, B’laan, and Bagobo Tagabawa in various activities of their SLTs, which teach the young generation the traditional arts, crafts, music and practices of the village.

The Hibla Pavilion will showcase several traditions of SLTs in the country. It will exhibit the Ivatan and Gaddang traditional weaving, Antique abaca/bariw mat weaving, Iraya Mangyan traditional nito basketry, Hanunuo Mangyan weaving, Panay Bukidnon panubok embroidery, Subanen pulaw weaving, Ekam Maguindanao mat weaving, Ata Talaingod liyang weaving, T’Boli tinalak weaving and B’laan mewel weaving.

The Hibla Pavilion of Textiles and Weaves of the Philippines is a highlight of the Manila FAME Design and Lifestyle Event 2012, which will be on display from 17-20 October 2012 at the 2^nd Floor SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.

Prior to this initiative, Legarda had set-up several cultural exhibits at the Senate that showcased the exceptional skills and world-class products of IPs.

She also authored the Philippine Tropical Fabrics Law of 2004, which mandated the use of indigenous fibers for the official uniforms of government officials and employees, with the objective of strengthening the local fiber industry.

In 2011, she successfully organized regional assemblies—in Baguio City for Luzon IPs, in Iloilo City for Visayas IPs, and in Tagum City, Davao del Norte for Mindanao IPs—and the First National Indigenous Cultural Summit that served as avenues for dialogue with local and national policy-makers as well as international institutions.

In the first half of 2012, Legarda launched the country’s first permanent textile galleries called the Hibla ng Lahing Filipino: The Artistry of Philippine Textiles, organized the Lecture Series on Philippine Traditional Textiles and Indigenous Knowledge, and sponsored the documentation of indigenous knowledge systems and practices in the Cordilleras.

Legarda: Empower Women, Build Disaster-Resilient Communities

MANILA, October 15, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda urged government to ensure that women and girls are provided avenues to participate in order to build disaster-resilient communities.

“Women and girls account for 52% of the world’s population. Over 100 million of which are affected by disasters annually,” Legarda noted.

“As they bear the impact of disasters, it is important that we pay attention to their experience and knowledge,” she added.

Legarda, the United Nations Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific, also said that even disaster rescue efforts discriminate against women.

“In the 2006 tsunami that killed scores in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, male survivors outnumbered its female counterparts in a 3 to 1 and 4 to 1 ratio,” she noted.

Legarda, who chairs the Senate Committee on Climate Change, also said that in times of disaster and economic stress, women are the primary caregivers, bearing the burden of caring for the sick and carrying out much of the household workload after a disaster. Women have distinct nutritional needs that make coping with disasters tougher and harsher.

“Despite these, women have been silently and effectively at the frontline of disaster prevention and climate change adaptation efforts,” Legarda said.

“In the Municipality of San Francisco in Camotes Island, Cebu, which is one of the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction’s 29 model communities worldwide that are exemplars in disaster risk reduction and management, 90% of officers in charge of environmental protection and disaster prevention programs in each and every purok are women, since most of the male residents are focused on making a living for their families. The Purok System focuses on mobilizing local resources in creating local and practical solutions based on the vulnerability and unique needs of every community. The program includes the “no trash segregation – no collection” policy,” she added.

“Let us recognize and empower women, who are agents of solutions, indispensable holders of valuable knowledge and skills, and able leaders from the grassroots level to the global stage,” Legarda concluded.

The world celebrated the International Day for Disaster Reduction in October 13, with the theme "Women and Girls: the [in]Visible Force of Resilience.