Infra projects in Pampanga since 2010 amount to P1.2B

CLARK FREEPORT, November 6, 2012-The provincial government has spent at least P1.2 billion for a number of infrastructure projects in Pampanga since 2010.

This was announced by Governor Lilia Pineda during the oath-taking of the officers of Provincial Federation of Barangay Health Workers dubbed as “Bayanihan Para Sa Kalusugan Ng Mga Kapampangan” held recently at Stotsenberg Hotel inside Clark Freeport.

“Since we assumed as governor of Pampanga, we have funded major infrastructure projects like construction and renovation of district hospitals, construction of classroom buildings in different public schools and provincial, municipal and barangay farm to market roads,” Pineda said.

The provincial government has started the general renovation and improvement of all existing district hospital buildings in the province including facilities and medical equipment.

“In the improvement of our district hospitals, we are 85 percent completed," the governor said.

The Capitol has also funded the establishment of dialysis centers in selected district hospitals aimed at providing cheaper treatment for dialysis patients.

These were realized through partnership with private individuals and companies who are helping the governor through the provision of dialysis machines under a co-management agreement.

As of this month, at least 182 newly classrooms and six covered courts in various public schools in the province had been constructed with an estimated amount of P176 million.

For 2011 alone, records from the provincial engineering office show that Pampanga released P50, 083, 216 for the construction of 45 new rooms, repair and improvement of 32 classrooms, and building of five covered courts.

This year, P54, 149,836 was allocated to finance the construction of 28 new classrooms, repair and improve 77 classrooms and one covered court.

At least 35 classrooms amounting to P62.5 million and another P9.7 million for the construction of boys and girls comfort rooms for 26 public schools are still on-going.

The provincial government, through the engineering office had facilitated the reconstruction several provincial roads in flood hit municipalities that were damaged by recent calamities.

Other infrastructure projects finished were the improvement of dikes particularly in Mandili, Candaba, and in San Sebastian, San Luis town.

Pampanga River Dike road Batasan-Candating section in Arayat, San Nicolas 1st barangay road in Sasmuan, Phase 11 of Guagua-Sta.

Rita-Porac road San Matias and Becuran section, Phase IV Dila-dila section both in Sta. Rita, and Phase V Dila-dila-Pulong Santol section in Sta.Rita-Porac were also completed.

The widening of San Miguel-Sta.Cruz barangay road in San Simon and reblocking and asphalt overlay of Sto. Domingo-Lourdes-San Isidro-Telacsan-Colgante provincial road from Minalin to Apalit and Macabebe.

The provincial government also completed the improvement and concreting of the provincial road in San Juan-San Jose-Natividad-Lambac-Pulong Masle road Lambac section in Guagua, San
Matias-San Simon road San Matias section in Sto. Tomas, and Del Rosario-Bacolor road in the City of San Fernando, Sta. Ana Magalang along San Agustin section and in San Sebastian San Luis.

Last year, after typhoon Pedring devastated the province, Pineda provided at least P80 million for the priority development projects of each of the 20 municipalities in the province.

This is intended to jump start the reconstruction and rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure facilities and their projects highly needed in the municipality.

Recently, the provincial government has given all local government units P100 million to finance different priority development projects.

Each municipality received at least P5 million to ensure the continuity of infrastructure development down to the barangay level. (Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu with reports from Joel Mapiles of Pampanga PIO)

Angeles City mall hosts NorthPhil Expo 2012

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga, November 5, 2012-The 2012 edition of the annual exposition that showcases the rich culture and tradition, distinctive products and picturesque locations of Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Cordillera is slated from November 9-11 at Marquee Mall in Angeles City.

According to the Department of Tourism (DOT) Central Luzon, the 3rd North Philippines (NorthPhil) Tourism and Travel Expo will be bannered by the pavilions of the provinces of Aurora, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga and Tarlac; Clark Development Corporation, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority; DOT Regional Offices 1,2,3 and CAR; and corporate booths of various tourism-related businesses such as hotels, resorts and airlines.

Aside from the expo, the three-day affair will also have theatrical cultural presentations, corporate game shows, product presentations, raffle draws, and crafts and culinary demonstrations.

In a statement, DOT Central Luzon director Ronnie Tiotuico said “the annual expo was conceived to solidify North Philippines as an international tourism hub.”

Tiotuico disclosed “our major destinations alone accounted for 14 percent of the country’s total foreign and domestic tourist volume last year.”

Its top spots are Ilocos Norte, Cagayan province, Zambales and Baguio city.

Tiotuico attributed the surge in tourist arrivals to the construction of the 94-kilometer Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA). (Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu)

Trillanes seeks to increase benefits for athletes

MANILA, November 4, 2012-Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV is seeking to expand a law giving benefits and incentives to national athletes, coaches and trainers by including athletes with disabilities and those who won in international sports competitions, not sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and other quadrennial meet.

Trillanes put forward Senate Bill No. 3313 to amend Republic Act 9064, or the National Athletes, Coaches and Trainers Benefits and Incentives Act of 2011, to give “athletes with disabilities the same opportunities and incentives afforded to regular athletes who win in international competitions through the grant of the same cash and non-monetary benefits and incentives given to regular national athletes.”

Trillanes, who chairs the Senate Committee on Amateur Sports Competitiveness, also wants to increase the incentives given to winning national athletes, athletes with disabilities, coaches and trainers.

Among the benefits the young senator is seeking for winning olympians are lifetime exemption from income tax and other taxes that may be imposed relevant to the sports, and a monthly pension of P10,000 commencing five years after winning the Olympics until he/she reaches the age of 60.

“With this measure, we will be able to promote fairness and equality in our effort to provide recognition, incentives and encouragement for our athletes. It is through this measure that we can manifest our sincere appreciation for the valiant efforts they have displayed in recent competitions, as well as for the pride and honor they have brought to our country,” Trillanessaid.

The proposed legislation is the consolidated version of the filed bills of Senators Pia Cayetano, Francis Escudero, Lito Lapid and Vicento Sotto III on the same subject.

Legarda Hails 2012 Yogyakarta Declaration on Disaster Risk Reduction in Asia and the Pacific

MANILA, November 4, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today hailed the 2012 Yogyakarta Declaration on Disaster Risk Reduction in Asia and the Pacific as another concrete step towards mainstreaming disaster resiliency efforts in the region.

Legarda, the United Nations (UN) Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific, noted that the Declaration is a product of the Fifth Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia from 22 to 25 October 2012.

“The Yogyakarta Declaration calls on all DRR stakeholders to fully participate in consultations worldwide. It calls for the integration of local level DRR and CCA into national development planning, support for local communities in obtaining sufficient financing, improved local risk governance and partnership, and replicating DRR and CCA best practices, among others,” she explained.

The 2012 Yogyakarta Declaration also calls for ways by which DRR and CCA efforts can be enhanced through accountability measures, greater political commitment and improved governance. It further identifies steps to reduce underlying risk factors and to implement cross-cutting issues in the Hyogo Framework of Action.

Legarda highlighted the importance of the Declaration especially with the recent study by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction entitled "Reducing Vulnerability and Exposure to Disasters", which showed that between 1970 and 2011, 75% of all deaths worldwide that were caused by disasters occurred in Asia Pacific, and that the average number of people exposed to yearly flooding in the region has increased by more than 50% from 29.5 million to 63.8 million in the last forty years, from 1970 to 2010.

“The 2012 Yogyakarta Declaration will help our aim to increase the understanding of disaster and climate science, impacts, and policy responses, encourage disaster and climate-proofing of development plans and possibly enable us to learn from successful experiences of other countries,” Legarda said.

She added that the Philippines already has the National Climate Change Action Plan and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan which serve as blueprints in mainstreaming climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in the government's plans and programs, from the national down to the local level.

Furthermore, the Philippines also has the People's Survival Fund Law, which Legarda sponsored, that mandates the appropriation of one billion pesos annually for the financing of climate change adaptation projects of local governments and organizations.

Legarda, in her capacity as both Senator and UN Champion, has spearheaded DRR collaboration workshops for local government units covering the Greater Metro Manila Area, the Pampanga, Bicol, Cagayan de Oro, and Agusan river basins, and in the Zamboanga Peninsula.

“It is evident that reducing disaster risks and adapting to climate change have become the greatest humanitarian and development challenges of our time. With overwhelming international attention, we will be able to rise as one human community towards a safer, more resilient society,” Legarda concluded.

Archbishop Tagle laments ‘practical atheism’

MANILA, November 3, 2012— Fresh from the Vatican, new Cardinal-designate Luis Antonio Tagle lamented ‘practical atheism’ as one of the major obstacles to evangelization.

The leader of the Manila’s Catholic Church stressed in his homily before a throng of churchgoers at a parish church in Paco that some Filipinos’ faith are better said than done.

Cardinal-designate Luis Antonio Tagle presides the launching of the Year of Faith at the San Fernando de Dilao Parish, 3 November 2012.

He said that some Catholics are calm in conscience convincing their selves that they believe in God, but then their actions have nothing to do with that belief.

“There is atheism which they openly said that they don’t believe in God and there are also those who claim that they are faithful but live as if God doesn’t exist,” Tagle said.

“During Sundays, we profess our faith to God. But starting Monday, cheating happens because of money… we take advantage of other people for our own interests,” he said.

The archbishop’s sermon set the tone as the Manila Archdiocese embarked on the Year of Faith on Saturday.

Thousands of priests, nuns and churchgoers attended the event at the San Fernando de Dilao Parish Church in Paco, Manila.

With the occasion, the archdiocese joined the universal Church in the observing the Year of Faith as declared by Pope Benedict XVI.

Tagle, who just arrived in Manila on Thursday after almost a month in Rome for the Synod of Bishops, said that the occasion seeks to bring the faithful back to the fundamental tenet of the Christian faith.

“The Year of Faith is for all of us. Like what a theologian said, there is an unbeliever in every believer,” the archbishop said.

“We are all invited to renew our faith. We shouldn’t be ashamed of knowing God. Let’s show it because we are called to share his message with everyone,” he added.

In his pastoral letter, Tagle said that the Year of Faith is an invitation for Catholics to “study again the Second Vatican Council and the Catechism of the Catholic Church that is its fruit in order to rediscover the vitality of the faith we have inherited.”

“Aside from celebrating Vatican II and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Year of Faith invites us to look closely at the contemporary world, its beauty and wounds,” he added.

“The continuity of the Church through ages allows various forms of renewal. The Church receives, celebrates and lives the faith in different historical settings with their unique demands and challenges,” Tagle also said.

Benedict XVI has recently named Tagle along with five others from Lebanon, Nigeria, Colombia, India and the United States as new cardinals.

The prelates are scheduled to be elevated to the College of Cardinals during a consistory on Nov. 24, at the Vatican. Aged 55, Tagle is presently the world’s second youngest cardinal. (RL/CBCPNews)

Mayoral wannabe Rianne leads charge Women bets take Ecija politics by storm; 140 lady pols eye seats in 2013

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, November 2, 2012–Women power is taking Nueva Ecija politics by storm, with over 140 lady politicians throwing their hats in the political arena in the May 2013 elections.

          Records from the provincial office of the Commission on Elections here showed that at least 140 women candidates filed their certificates of candidacy for the various elective positions up for grabs in next year’s mid-term polls, some of whom are neophytes.

          Leading the roster of new aspirants is businesswoman Arianne Cuevas who is running for mayor of Palayan City under the banner of the Liberal Party against comebacking former three-term congressman and ex-Light Railways Transit Authority administrator Pacifico Fajardo.  

          Cuevas, more commonly known as Rianne, is an executive of at least six companies. She is said to be the political patron of outgoing three-term mayor Romeo Capinpin who is her running mate in the 2013 polls.

          Cuevas said her priority is to provide employment to residents of Palayan where the unemployment rate reportedly stands at 12% based on a recently commissioned survey of the city labor and employment office. This involves 5,000 individuals with no jobs at all.

          Based on Comelec records, there is one lady aspirant for governor, five for Congress, five for board members, four for the position of city mayor, five for city vice mayor, 13 for municipal mayor and 10 for municipal vice mayor and over 100 more for the post of city and municipal councilor.

          Outgoing three-term first district Rep. Josie Manuel-Joson is challenging the reelection bid of Gov. Aurelio Umali who is on his third and last term. Manuel-Joson is the wife of Quezon Mayor Mariano Cristino Joson.

          Those eyeing congressional seats are the governor’s wife, third district Rep.  Czarina who is seeking a third and last term against human rights lawyer J.V. Bautista; Senior Board Member Estrellita Suansing, former San Isidro mayor Sonia Lorenzo, former two-term fourth district congresswoman Julita Villareal and Magnolia Antonino, daughter of outgoing fourth district Rep. Rodolfo Antonino.

          Suansing, wife of Bureau of Customs deputy commissioner Horacio, is slugging it out in the first district against Mariano Cristino and former two-term congressman Renato Diaz.

          Lorenzo, executive director of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, is running against her estranged sister-in-law Villareal, the younger Antonino and San Leonardo Mayor Froilan Nagano.

          Those aspiring for board member are reelectionist Teresita Patiag and Belinda Panlilio, ex-board members Bella Aurora Dulay and Solita Santos and Nene Galvez who is running as an independent.

          Running for city mayors are Maricel Gatus Natividad of Gapan City, Vice Mayor Ester Lazaro of Munoz Science City, reelectionist Mayor Marivic Belena of San Jose City and Cuevas.

          Natividad is challenging the reelection bid of Mayor Christian Tinio, Lazaro is running against comebacking former three-term mayor Nestor Alvarez and Belena is facing former vice mayor Mario Salvador in a grudge rematch of the 2010 polls.

          Lady aspirants for city vice mayors are Councilor Glenda Felimon of San Jose City and Bibiana Abesamis of Palayan City.    

           The lady bets for municipal mayors are outgoing three-term Vice Mayor Elizabeth Vargas of Aliaga who is facing businesswoman Lucita Moreno; reelectionist Mayors Lovella Belmonte-Espiritu of Zaragoza, Gloria Crespo-Congco of Cabiao and Lorna Mae Vero of Llanera; Mary Abad of Carranglan, Floria Esteban of Cuyapo, lawyer Emily Padilla of Gabaldon, Areli Grace Santos and Luz Cruz of Gen. Natividad, Marivic Bajet of Lupao, Ophelia Cabico of Nampicuan and Nerivi Martinez of Talavera.

          For vice mayors, those running are reelectionist Vice Mayors Cinderella Ramos of Cuyapo, Ma. Lourdes Lahom of Quezon and Irene Bernardo of Sta. Rosa; ex-mayor Lydia Pagaduan of Zaragoza, Cora Villanueva of Nampicuan, Erlinda Abad of Gabaldon and Arsenia Javate of Jaen.

          Eyeing seats in the Sangguning Panlunsod or city councils are Cristina Paulino and reelectionist Councilor Jean Cruz in Cabanatuan City, Gemma Pangilinan, Susan Hernandez and Maria Erlinda Ordonez of Gapan City, Marinelia Coronel and Erlinda Jimenez of Munoz; Rosalia Merez, Annette Quiddam and Gloria Santos of Palayan City and Gloria Munar, Jennifer Salvador, Marivic Adawag, Rizza Mendoza and Susan Corpuz of San Jose City.

          Those running for seats in the Sangguniang Bayan or municipal councils are Susana Ramos, Donna Gonzales and Juanita de Leon of Aliaga, Teresita del Mundo, Edelwina Gonzales, Anita Legaspi and Sylvia Macalino of Cabiao; Rosalie Cabungcal, Elvira Codilana, Elizabeth Espinosa, Stephanie Joaquin, Rosemarie Miguel and Remedios Valdez (Gabaldon), Anita Arocena, Jenneth Diaz, Emelita Manahan and Evangeline Tampengco (Gen. Natividad), Ma. Lina Bulacan, Anna Busalpa and Belen Francisco (Gen. Tinio), Jesusa Samano (Laur);

          Myrna Ilagan, Leny Ogrimen and Noraida Rivera (Licab), Daisy Arocena, Cielito Bugayong, Elsa de Guzman, Lea Lagasca, Felicidad Matias and Soledad Roy (Llanera), Marilou Flores, Levie Ladia and Aurora Vendivil (Lupao), Gemma Guzman, Virgie Isidro and Zenaida Papilla (Nampicuan), Patricia Gaboy, Olivia Jardiel, Ofelia Manayao, Josefina Ortega and Michelle Santiago (Penaranda).

          Leticia Ramirez, Vita Salvacion and Anastacia Sison (Quezon), Teodora Agustin, Sofia Capia, Susana Dumlao, Rowena Palattao, Jeyanne Poblete, Marlyn Santos, Marilyn Villajuan and Theresa Wysthroff (Pantabangan), Rosalinda de Guzman, Lovely Sadama, Marivic Zapanta, Josephine dela Vega and Felomina Castelo (Rizal), Dominga Cruz, Daisy Santos, Iriz Torres and Angelyn Reyes (San Antonio), Vivian Tumacay (San Isidro), Diana Santos and Lizette Simbulan (Sta. Rosa), Eliza Bravo, Mira Espiritu, Armi Garcia and Teresita Torres (Sto. Domingo), Marlyn Aloya, Elvie Caparangca, Narcisa Camagas, Flora Cinense and Pia Sapla (Talugtug).

          Ginalyn Catambing, Corazon dela Cruz, Elsa Mesde, Annabel Ramos and Angelina Soleta (Talavera) and Erlinda Gasapos, Donabel Manucduc, Floremy Regunan, Winnie Annani, Jo Ann Palapal and Maria Kristine Regalado (Zaragoza). (Manny Galvez)      

Legarda: Climate Change Will Define the Political Future of the World’s Greatest Leaders

MANILA, November 2, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda, United Nations Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific, today renewed her call for world leaders to take on bold and decisive actions to combat climate change, stressing that climate change has become a humanitarian challenge that will define the political future of the world’s greatest leaders.

“As I have always said many years ago, climate change is the greatest development and humanitarian challenge of our times. It has become a defining political issue too in America, especially with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg endorsing President Obama because of the steps he has taken to address climate change and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie commending President Obama’s actions during Superstorm Sandy’s wrath,” Legarda said.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg cited President Obama’s efforts in pushing for regulations that will cut down emissions from cars and power plants. Meanwhile, Governor Christie expressed appreciation to President Obama and the Federal Emergency Management Agency officials for working in close coordination with the State government during the disaster.

“Even in the Philippines, climate change is a defining political issue because it means livelihood, jobs, homes, and our very survival,” Legarda added.

“World leaders must not allow people to continuously suffer from floods, hunger, displacement, and economic setbacks. This is “disaster risk reduction politics”. The aftermath of Superstorm Sandy presents an opportunity to remind world leaders of their great responsibility to lead people out of the crises and uncertainties brought about by unsustainable development, worsening disasters and climate change,” Legarda concluded.

Legarda Alarmed Over ILO Report of Abused Domestic Workers in Europe; Urges Ratification of ILO Convention 189

MANILA, November 2, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda expressed deep concern over a report from the International Labour Organization (ILO) which revealed that despite clear domestic labor laws, domestic workers in Europe still suffer from abuses and discrimination.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, said that there is an urgent need for European governments to ratify the ILO Convention 189 (Convention Concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers).

“I echo the call of the ILO on European governments to ratify the ILO Convention 189. The time has come for all of us to acknowledge the contributions of our household heroes into the global workforce, no longer as invisible hands but as domestic workers, equipped with the rights and benefits accorded others,” she stressed.

Legarda, the driving force behind the Philippine Senate's concurrence in the ratification of ILO Convention 189, stressed that the Convention “is the manifesto that every domestic worker deserves and longs for. It is an international instrument that declares domestic work not as a favor to be granted but as an occupation to be protected. This Convention unveils the universal rights of domestic workers.”

The Senator added that there are 1.5 million Filipinos working as domestic workers abroad, of which close to 800,000 Filipino workers are in Europe, who may be exposed to abuses and discrimination.

“We ratified ILO Convention 189 last August, and our advocacy for the rights of our domestic workers abroad was given unfettered meaning. We should thus lead the global campaign for protection of domestic workers and encourage other States to ratify the convention in order to provide the same rights and privileges and cultivate a culture of respect for all domestic workers the world over,” Legarda said.

ILO reported the case of Coring, a domestic worker from the Philippines who lost her job in the Netherlands after insisting to take some days off.

ILO Convention 189 directs ILO-member states to institute measures “aimed at ensuring equal treatment between domestic workers and workers generally with respect to normal hours of work, overtime compensation, periods of daily and weekly rest, and annual paid leave.”

Josefino Alumni to reflect on mission, Vatican II’s relevance

QUEZON City, Nov. 1, 2012 –The lay and ordained alumni of San Jose Seminary are set to gather for their 83^rd Alumni Homecoming on November 15-16 at the Ateneo de Manila campus, in Quezon City.

The gathering this year enjoins all Josefino alumni to reflect on their Christian mission on the occasion of the 50^thAnniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council.

The theme for this year’s gathering is “Tanglaw-Bayan: Josefino at Vatican II.”Fr. Joselito Henson, President of the San Jose Alumni Association, said the two-day homecoming aims to invite the lay and ordained alumni to share the light of Christ to our fellowmen in the context of the Second Vatican Council’s challenge to partake in the role of Christ as Light of the nations.

“Tanglaw-Bayan is an attempt to translate ‘Lumen gentium.’ Lumen gentium – Light of the nations – of course, refers primarily to Jesus Christ. At the same time, it also embodies the role that the whole church is called upon to assume in the world, namely, to radiate Christ’s light and make it real and palpable especially – in the context of PCP II – among the poor and powerless,” Fr. Henson said when asked about the relevance of this year’s theme.

“Fifty years after the opening of the Second Vatican Council, we Josefinos, as part of the larger church, have to reflect on how far have we succeeded in doing our part in advancing the church’s mission. It is my humble opinion that it is on our fidelity (or lack of it) to this mission that our identity as Josefinos – seminarian, lay and ordained – stands or falls,” he continued.

Among the highlights of the event are the reflection points on mission and Vatican II to be given by Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio S. David, DD, Auxiliary Bishop of San Fernando; and a talk on Social Justice Ministry 50 years after Vatican II to be given by Fr. Edu Gariguez, Executive Secretary of the CBCP-National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace. Both speakers are alumni of San Jose Seminary.

Seminarians will show a simple theatrical presentation during the evening’s program, to highlight and deepen further the theme of the celebration.

The seminarians’ presentation is traditionally a major part of the event and much-awaited by the alumni.

About 200 alumni from all over the Philippines and also from abroad are expected to grace the annual occasion. The alumni community will also honor its Golden Jubilarian Class of 1962 and Silver Jubilarian Class of 1987.

Established in 1601, San Jose Seminary is a national seminary under the care of the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus. Among the illustrious alumni of the 411-year-old institution include Most Rev. Luis Antonio Tagle, D.D., Archbishop of Manila who will be elevated to the College of Cardinals on November 24; and Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, D.D., Archbishop Emeritus of Manila. (Edmel Raagas/CBCPNews)

Laoag youth launches Year of Faith

LAOAG City, Oct. 31, 2012—The diocesan commission on youth (DYC) of Laoag diocese opened the Year of Faith during the Diocesan Youth Leader’s Assembly (DYLA) held at St. John Bosco Parish in Dingras, Ilocos Norte last October 26-28.

The Redemptorist missionaries assigned in the diocese explained the Year of Faith and introduced the second Filipino Saint Pedro Calungsod to the participants.

More than 200 youth leaders attended several workshops were they traced their own faith journey and made simples modules for youth catechism classes.

They also had the chance to experience mission visits to families and spend time sharing faith with them.

A tree planting activity took place in the nearby dam to end the assembly. The event culminated with a send-off mass celebrated by parish priest Fr. Lawrence Torreflores. (Mark Vertido/YPNews)

Comelec sets December 1 plebiscite on Cabanatuan’s conversion into HUC

CABANATUAN CITY, October 30, 2012–The Commission on Elections has set for December 1 the holding of a plebiscite on the conversion of this city from a component city into a Highly Urbanized City.

          In a resolution issued last week, the Comelec, sitting En Banc, approved the date of the plebiscite to December 1 with only registered voters of the city allowed to participate in the exercise.

    The resolution was signed by Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. and Commissioners Rene Sarmiento, Lucenito Tagle, Armando Velasco, Elias Yusoph and Maria Gracia Cielo Padaca. Commissioner Christian Robert Lim is on official business.

          Copies of the resolution were forwarded to Comelec regional director for Central Luzon Zoilo Perlas Jr., Nueva Ecija provincial election supervisor Panfilo Doctor Jr. and Cabanatuan city election officer Michael Camangeg.

          Earlier, the poll body denied the petition of Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali  to allow all qualified voters in the whole province of Nueva Ecija to take part in  a plebiscite that will ratify the proclamation of this city into a HUC.

  In his petition,  Umali  said Novo Ecijanos will be affected once Cabanatuan becomes HUC and thus, it is imperative for them to participate in a plebiscite that would ratify Presidential Proclamation 418 declaring the city as such.

    

    Umali filed a verified motion for reconsideration which was also denied by the poll body.

     

     Velasco has been designated Commissioner-in-charge of the plebiscite.

       

     In fixing the date of the plebiscite, the Comelec approved the recommendations of deputy executive director for operations Bartolome Sinocruz Jr. to use the August 2012 list of voters and adopt the clustering of precincts scheme used in the October 2010 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. 

         

          Reacting to the denial of his petition, Umali, a lawyer, said there is already  existing jurisprudence, foremost of which is a July 11,1986 Supreme Court ruling in the case of Tan vs Comelec regarding the creation of a new province of Negros del Norte wherein 2,768.4 square kilometers from the land area of the parent province will be removed to create a new province whose boundaries will be substantially altered.

          

               He mentioned the separate concurring opinion of Chief Justice Claudio Teehankee who stated that to limit the plebiscite to only the areas to be partitioned and seceded from the province is “as absurd and illogical as allowing only the secessionists to vote for the secession that they demanded against the wishes of the majority and to nullify the basic principle of majority rule.”

              

              Another case in point, he said, the October 19,1992 ruling in Padilla Jr. vs Comelec which stated that when the law states that the plebiscite shall be conducted in the political units directly affected, it means that residents of the political entity who would be economically dislocated by the separation of a portion thereof have a right to vote in the said plebiscite.

          

              “Evidently, what is contemplated by the phrase “political units directly affected,” is the plurality of political units which would participate in the plebiscite,” Umali stressed, quoting from the ruling.

          

             Umali said this is not the first time the issue of who should vote in the plebiscite is raised before the Comelec, citing the first case was Antipolo City’s own HUC bid wherein Rizal Gov. Casimiro Ynares III raised the same arguments.

               

              The Law Department of the Comelec, Umali recalled, found basis in the contention of Ynares and officially opined that the conduct of the plebiscite must include the qualified voters of Rizal. (Manny Galvez)                       

“Draw Lessons from NY Mayor’s Preparedness for Superstorm Sandy” – Legarda

MANILA, October 30, 2012-In light of the massive weather disturbances caused by Superstorm Sandy in the East Coast of the United States, Senator Loren Legarda urged government leaders to draw lessons from the effective disaster preparedness measures undertaken by the New York City government.

“As early as October 26 in New York, Mayor Mike Bloomberg already announced that the city was taking necessary precautions. Modes of public transportation like the subway were closed shortly after, and residents were told to stay inside their homes. By October 28, tunnels and bridges were already closed and all flights going in and out of the area were cancelled. This level of alertness should also inspire other US government officials to prepare, if not for Sandy then for the subsequent weather disturbances that are certain to occur as we witness the worsening effects of climate change,” she stressed.

Legarda also cited the level of disaster preparedness of the Federal Government and State Government of New York.

Sandy, categorized as a post-tropical storm, is dubbed the strongest weather disturbance experienced by the region in 27 years, with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph or 130 km/h. Hurricane force wind warnings, storm surge warnings, and high wind and blizzard warnings have all been raised for the East Coast and surrounding areas. It is expected to make landfall on October 29, local NY time.

“Mayor Bloomberg's sense of urgency and swiftness of action should be emulated by all our public servants. Working together, our meteorologists, weather scientists, national and local officials, and other leaders, can all prevent massive losses of lives and property by simply being prepared,” said Legarda, the United Nations Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific.

“The US’ experience with Sandy shows us that while such a massive force of nature is frightening and unstoppable, we can drastically reduce our losses by combining the latest technology, the most up-to-date information, and effective and efficient public warning systems. Ultimately, we must take responsibility for each other, and we must use all our resources to do so,” Legarda concluded.

Legarda Stresses on Value of IPRA, Calls for Better Implementation

MANILA, October 30, 2012-Fifteen years after the passage into law of Republic Act 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA), Senator Loren Legarda today underscored the importance of the law in the protection of the country’s indigenous communities and the traditional knowledge and practices they live by.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities, said that IPs continue to be deprived of many of their rights, but with better implementation of the provisions of IPRA, many of their concerns can be addressed.

“Our indigenous peoples have shaped our story as a Filipino people—our music, arts and dance, our native knowledge and skills, our deeply held beliefs, our creativity, our sustainable ways of living with our physical environment and most important, our self-worth. Despite these overwhelming contributions, we have admittedly underwhelmed them as opportunities, services and share in decision-making, that are embodied in the Indigenous Peoples Rights law, have yet to be fully accorded,” she stressed.

The Senator said that most leaders of various IP communities in the country have raised the concerns of their groups during the three regional assemblies and the first National Indigenous Cultural Summit that she organized in 2011.

“In the IP Regional Assembly in Luzon, IP leaders called for the effective implementation and harmonization of the IPRA, mining and environmental laws, and policies of the government; while the indigenous communities in Mindanao stressed the need for the implementation of the provision of the IPRA that requires LGUs to appoint IP representatives in policy-making bodies and legislative councils,” she explained.

Moreover, in the IP Assembly for the Visayas region, an IP leader raised the issue on the need to harmonize conflicting policies and programs on land ownership that go against the spirit of the IPRA.

“While it is true that we still have a lot to do in order to fully accord our indigenous brothers and sisters the recognition and protection they need, we have to give the laws we crafted, especially the IPRA, a chance to be fully implemented. Government must faithfully implement the provisions of the law in order to protect our culture bearers and to improve their quality of life,” Legarda concluded.