MEGAWORLD, DOT INK DEED OF DONATION TODAY DRILON ALLOTS PDAF TO BUILD ILOILO CONVENTION CENTER

MANILA, November 13, 2012-Business tourism in the country will get another big boost after Senator Franklin M. Drilon vowed to allot a bulk of his annual priority development assistance fund and sealed the commitment of the Megaworld Corporation and the Department of Tourism (DOT) to construct a state-of-the-art convention center in Iloilo.

With the signing of the deed of donation held today between the multinational corporation and the DOT for the much-awaited multi-million peso Iloilo Convention Center, Drilon, the one who envisioned the construction of said new edifice, said Iloilo is a step closer to becoming a conference hub of Western Visayas and nearby regions.    

“This is a realization of a lifelong dream of the residents of Panay Island to have their own highly impressive and sophisticated convention center at par with those of Cebu and Davao’s that will be capable to hold the best and the most glamorous of the conferences, exhibitions, among others,” said Drilon.

Aside from Drilon, also present in the signing held at the Marriott Hotel were Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez, Megaworld Corporation President Mr. Andrew L. Tan, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid, Iloilo City Representative Jerry Treñas, and Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.

The construction is expected to begin early next year and be finished by the end of 2014. The convention center is designed by Architect Willy Coscoluella.

He said the Megaworld Corp. will donate 1.7 hectares of lot located in Barangay Mandurriao in Iloilo City to house the two-storey convention center.

“We express gratitude to the Megaworld Corporation for helping us make this endeavour possible and for making our work easier by way of donating a very valuable piece of land where this new edifice will be built,” said Drilon.

  

He said the establishment of a convention center in the Western Visayas will extend support to the country’s rapidly growing tourism industry especially that the present government has been continuously embarking on various efforts and campaign strategies to advance tourism in the country.

“There is a need to ramp up the infrastructure in various parts of the country in order to realize our goal to become a top tourist destination in the world,” he added.

Drilon also said this undertaking will also boost the province’s capability to host the Asia Pacific Economic Council meeting in the first quarter of 2015, for the convention center is designed to attract and accommodate large sized conferences, summits, congresses, fairs, and trade shows and exhibits.

He also noted the proximity of the site for the convention to the Iloilo Airport that offers local and international flights.

“The convention will have an iconic design that truly speaks of the colorful culture not only of the Iloilo Province but of the entire island of Western Visayas. The design will be only one of its kind to the region. The Parao boats and the features of a native tribe in Iloilo called ‘Ati’ intricately carved on the walls as designs will surely entice any audience of its unique beauty,” ended Drilon.   

Legarda: ILO 189 will be More Effective with Passage of Kasambahay Bill

MANILA, November 13, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today stressed on the importance of the immediate passage of the Kasambahay Bill in protecting Filipino domestic workers, stressing that the measure will complement the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 189, the Convention Concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers.

Legarda, sponsor of ILO Convention 189, said that the treaty will be more effective with the passage of the Kasambahay Bill.

“With the Philippines’ ratification of ILO 189, the treaty will come into force in 2013. This will improve the employment conditions of domestic workers worldwide. Meanwhile, the proposed Kasambahay Act, when approved, will guarantee that our kasambahays in the country will gain more benefits and be better protected as all household working arrangements between employers and helpers shall be duly documented,” she stressed.

“The ILO 189 and the proposed Kasambahay Act are two important measures that will pave the way for treatment of our kasambahays as workers, not servants. These are major steps in according decent working conditions, just compensation, and sufficient benefits to our domestic workers. Thus, I am hopeful that the enactment into law of the Kasambahay Bill will happen very soon,” Legarda said.

The Philippine ratification of the ILO Convention 189 was formally registered last September 5. The Philippines is the second country to ratify the Convention, which is significant as the treaty will enter into force a year after it has been ratified by two countries.

The ILO Convention 189 will benefit the 3.4 million Filipino domestic workers in the Philippines and abroad by ensuring that, first and foremost, domestic workers, like other workers, enjoy the same mantle of basic rights, such as reasonable hours of work, weekly rest, clear information on terms and conditions of employment, and freedom of association.

Meanwhile, the Kasambahay Bill was already approved on third reading by both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The two versions of the bill shall be reconciled in a bicameral conference committee meeting.

On the signing of the Purchase Agreement for the sale of the FTI property to Ayala Land

MANILA, November 12, 2012-Today, the President witnessed the signing of the Purchase Agreement for the sale of the 74-hectare Food Terminal, Inc. (FTI) property to Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) marking the successful privatization of one of the largest state-owned properties in Metro Manila.

At the ceremonial signing held in Malacañan Palace, government was represented by Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, Finance Undersecretary and Chief Privatization Officer Karen Singson, and FTI President Rene Fuentes. ALI was represented by its Chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala and President and CEO Antonino Aquino.

The privatization of the FTI property is a significant step towards developing former state-owned lands to maximize potentials for economic growth and infrastructure development. In this particular case, portions of the property have been set aside for the Metro Manila Integrated Transport System which aims to ease traffic congestion by connecting provincial commuters to other modes of urban transportation. Meanwhile, a connector road has been proposed by the DPWH which will link the C-5 Road to the South Luzon Expressway through the FTI property.

Earlier, ALI had won the bid for the FTI property with an offer of P24.33 billion or more than double the base price of P10.25 billion, an impressive haul for government that will redound to funding the social infrastructure that complements the building of roads, bridges, and tollways.

Equitable and inclusive growth is at the core of the Aquino administration’s economic model. We believe this is achievable only through a steady and mutually beneficial partnership between both the public and private sectors. The sale of the FTI property to one of the country’s largest real estate developers shows that the relationship between government and business is flourishing and will continue to grow.

VILLAR SAYS THEY JUST WANT TO SERVE

MANILA, November 11, 2012-THREE-term Las Pinas Rep. Cynthia Villar has asserted  that their running in an election is merely all about public service and not building a political dynasty.     

“We just want to serve,” said Villar, whose husband, Sen. Manny Villar was a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Senate President.

Senator Villar’s term ends in 2013. Their son, Mark , is seeking his second term as congressman of Las Pinas City.

            However, the former congresswoman assured  she will strictly adhere to  the law if it would later say that this is not allowed.           

“If there is a law on political dynasty, we will follow it. It’s not  only in running  for public office wherein we can serve the people,” said Villar who  served  as President of the Lady Legislators of the House during the 12^th, 13^th, and 14^th Congress.

At present, she noted there is no law  in the 1987 Constitution that specifically bars relatives from running for public office.

“What is prohibited right now is with regards to term limits... there is no other prohibitions,” she pointed out.

            But Villar averred that aside from running in a (political) position, they can do other things to serve and help people.         

Since 1992, when the Villar Foundation was founded, Villar   has been actively espousing programs for the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), providing livelihood and caring for the environment.

Villar also sees nothing wrong in campaigning with Makabayan Koalisyon ng Mamayan (Makabayan) which endorsed her candidacy and that of  other senatorial hopefuls, incumbent Senators Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Loren Legarda and Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and former MTRCB chairman Grace Poe Llamanzares.

She said Makabayan, a political alliance of 11 partylist organizations, does not actually have a stage where they campaign.

Recalling her experience with the group, Villar said they just had meetings, and they ask you to join.

“It’s just a small group where they explain their stand on issues. It’s similar to a town hall meeting,” added Villar, a Nacionalista Party candidate running under the ruling Liberal Party and its coalition partners. 

Legarda: Expanded Anti-Trafficking Bill to Improve Efforts Against Trafficking in the PHL

MANILA, November 11, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today said that the proposed amendments to the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act will significantly improve the efforts against trafficking in the country as she noted that the statement of UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking, Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, should be taken for what it is -- a statement over an alarming global problem that is symptomatic of the “crushing poverty” facing people around the world.

“It would be prudent to carefully study the efforts undertaken, over the years, to identify other gaps that could probably be addressed by stronger policy measures, and improvement in our law enforcement, prosecution, justice system, and even programs and services for trafficked persons and those who are vulnerable to trafficking,” Legarda stressed.

“That is the approach we have taken in seeking to amend the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (RA 9208) of 2003,” said Legarda, sponsor of Senate Bill No. 2625 or the proposed Expanded Anti-Trafficking Act of 2012.

“More than nine years after the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (RA 9208) was passed, we have seen 100 convictions. This is by no means an indication that we have won the battle against trafficking; but we have to take notice of the rising conviction numbers over the years,” she added.

Legarda noted that by year-end of 2011, the country’s Inter-agency Council Against Trafficking reported 62 convictions out of a total of 1,519 cases filed between 2003 and 2011. From January to October of this year, however, 38 convictions were made, equivalent to more than half of the total convictions made over an 8 year period.

The Senator said that these are indications of modest but positive strides the country has achieved in the battle against trafficking. 

Even the US Trafficking Report for 2011 cited that while the Philippine government has yet to “comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, it is making significant efforts to do so.”  The said report even cited the “notable efforts” made by authorities to address trafficking-related corruption.

Additionally, the report cited that “the government enacted numerous measures and policies to improve institutional responses to human trafficking for this year and in future years, such as increased training of judicial, law enforcement, and diplomatic officials on trafficking issues.”

“These efforts cannot be dismissed. In the midst of these accomplishments, however, we need to do more.  It is for this reason that the Senate and the House moved to amend the Anti-trafficking in Persons Act to improve our capacity to battle this social scourge,” Legarda said.

On Monday (Nov. 12), the representatives of both chambers will be convening a bicameral conference committee to reconcile the two versions of the bills amending RA 9208.  

“There are major amendments which we seek to introduce into the original law, including new provisions on attempted trafficking to strengthen prosecution of pre-empted acts of trafficking; protection to trafficked victims; accomplice liability; protection to trafficked victims in various stages of the investigation and prosecution process; a permanent Secretariat to the country’s anti-trafficking efforts, among others, as well as stronger penalty provisions,” she explained.

“Hopefully, we can adopt a reconciled version of the measure in time for Dec. 12 -- the day of awareness and vigilance for the countless victims of Human Trafficking,” Legarda concluded.

Trillanes presses for passage of Estrada’s ‘Kasambahay’ bill

MANILA, November 11, 2012-Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV openly declared support for fellow Senator Jinggoy Estrada’s call for the approval of the latter’s “Kasambahay” (house helper) bill in order to provide immediate protection to domestic workers in the country.

“I fully support Senator Jinggoy Estrada in his advocacy to protect the rights of, and provide more benefits and better treatment for our kasambahays. If enacted into law, this landmark legislation will be a giant leap toward our country’s compliance with international labor standards which guarantee rights and humane treatment of domestic workers wherever situated,” Trillanes said.

According to Trillanes, the Philippines, which has always been in the forefront in promoting the rights of domestic workers in the international community, must do its own homework and ensure humane treatment to Filipino domestic workers in the country.

“Millions of our kababayans abroad working as domestic workers have already secured better treatment in some countries due to government pressure and diplomatic efforts. It is an imperative that we walk the talk and afford the same – if not better – kind of protection, rights and benefits to our own kababayan serving within the country,” the young senator added.

Both chambers of Congress have yet to agree on the final version of the Kasambahay bill, which aims to institute a regulatory framework and various mechanisms to ensure compliance with labor law standards in the employment of domestic workers in the country.

The bill, if passed, will provide regulations governing the salary, employment contracts, work schedule, health and other benefits of domestic workers employed in the country. 

“These kasambahay who make our lives easier and more comfortable should be given the opportunity to improve their own lives and be afforded due respect and appreciation,” Trillanes said.

Fast-tracking the proposed legislation augurs well for the Philippines after the Senate has ratified the International Labor Organization Convention 189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers on 6 August 2012, he said. 

Jinggoy: ‘Access-enhanced polls to enable millions of PWDs, seniors to vote’

MANILA, November 10, 2012-The country’s millions of persons with disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens (SCs) will be encouraged to register and vote – and will be able to actually do so – in local and national polls through the proposed Electoral Processes Accessibility Act.

 

This was underscored by Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, principal author of Senate Bill 3287 which aims to make fully-accessible to PWDs and seniors all  electoral processes, which include registration, candidacy, campaign, voter education, and casting of vote.

 

Senate Bill 3287, a substitute bill of several legislative proposals and was sponsored by Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation Chairman Sen. Koko Pimentel III, was approved on Second Reading last November 5.

 

“Consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, other international declarations and treaties as well as our local laws, the bill defines PWDs as those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments, which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in the electoral processes on an equal basis with others, while SCs refer to qualified voters who are sixty (60) years or older,” Estrada explained.

 

Based on data from the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), non-government organizations and other independent groups, there are today about nine million PWDs and 6.5 million seniors among Filipinos.

 

Estrada, however, noted reports that only a fraction of the ranks of SCs and PWDs of voting age have been participating in the elections.

 

He likewise cited a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey commissioned by the Asia Foundation which even showed a decrease in participation of PWDs in the 2010 elections compared to 2007, with 17% saying they were ashamed to vote because of their disability, 17% stating mobility problems and 10% saying nobody would shade or read the ballot for them.

 

The same survey showed that the number of PWDs who were of voting age but did not register increased from 20 percent to 22 percent.

 

Estrada said, “The government must ensure that persons with disabilities and senior citizens are able to exercise their right to political participation without discrimination or restrictions. To attain this, we must design systems and procedures that will enable PWDs and SCs to register and vote by themselves.”

 

SB 3287 provides, among others, the following:

 

-      Comelec’s designation of accessible polling places where PWDs and SCs may be able to cast their votes on election day and be provided with the necessary forms of assistance. The polling place shall be located at the ground floor of each voting center preferably near the entrance of the building;

 

-      reasonable accommodation of PWDs and SCs in designing of the ballot and other election materials;

 

-      ensuring that a pool of expert services including sign language interpreters, Braille translators and such other technical support would assist PWDs and SCs during the registration period and election day.

 

-      sensitivity trainings to persons performing electoral duties, including Comelec field officers, members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEls) and accredited citizens' arms to familiarize with the needs of the PWDs and SCs; and

 

-      keeping of an updated record of PWDs and SCs who are registered as voters, indicating the types of disability and the assistance they need, to assist the government in determining policy directions for more inclusive and accessible electoral processes.

 

“Persons with disabilities and senior citizens are vital participants in our national development and, in particular, in electing government officials who will then manage the system of service to the people. We must ensure that our PWDs and seniors are able to fully and actively participate in the country’s electoral processes,” Estrada stressed.

Church, Pangasinan agree on 3 areas of cooperation

MANILA, November 9, 2012— Although Church and State are independent and autonomous, both are called to collaboration in order to serve the people, a Catholic archbishop said.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said it would be unnatural for the church and state to ignore each, adding that cooperation is necessary for the sake of the integrity of the person.

Archbishop Soc Villegas

“The church and state must be properly positioned maintaining distance yet keeping close coordination and mutual cooperation to bring forth peace and progress for the good of the people,” Villegas said.

The archbishop made the statement in his homily during a Mass at the Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Shrine in Manaoag yesterday that was attended by Pangasinan provincial government officials.

The archdiocese and Pangasinan province have also agreed on three areas of cooperation called the three “Ps”.

Villegas said these include peace, progress and people.

He said that peace is a priority thrust of both the church and state. “The church promotes peace among its laity and so does the government,” he said.

The archbishop, on the other hand, said that progress comes naturally from a peaceful environment whose leaders are rightfully focused in bringing genuine development to the community.

“The last ‘P’ is People,” Villegas said, as he noted that the vision of the church and the state will not materialize if the community will not embrace the first two “Ps”.

The Mass, which was also attended by local government unit heads and various provincial department heads and chiefs of hospital, was part of the activities in anticipation of the archdiocese’s upcoming jubilee celebration on February 6, 2013. (RL/CBCPNews)

VILLAR SAYS MAKABAYAN ENDORSEMENT WILL BOOST CANDIDACY

MANILA, November 9, 2012-Senatorial candidate Cynthia Villar believes inclusion in the “Magic 6” of Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan (Makabayan), which extols almost 4 million membership nationwide,  will boost chances of winning in the 2013 midterm elections.

            

Aside from Villar, Makabayan also endorsed the candidacy of re-electionists Senators Loren Legarda, Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, and former MTRCB chairman Grace Poe Llamanzares. 

“Yes, they will reinforce our candidacy rather than us reinforcing their candidacy,” said Villar.

She noted that Makabayan has several organizations and partylist groups campaigning all over the nation.

“Of course, we hope to get the support of members and supporters of the organizations under Makabayan,” said Villar.

Makabayan is a political coalition of 11 party list organizations namely: Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela Women’s Party, Migrante, Courage, Akap Bata, Kabataan, Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), Piston, Katribu, and Kalikasan.

It is fielding just one official candidate, former Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casino who is running as an Independent candidate for senator in next year’s polls.

Villar also stressed that the so-called “6 Senate Champions” of the Makabayan share the same advocacies.

“They laid down their advocacies. We read them. We agreed to support in varying degrees certain advocacies of Makabayan. We saw no problem since they are good,” she said.

Sharing Makabayan’s advocacies was the reason cited by the group’s president, former Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, in taking in the five as guest candidates.

Ocampo said they adopted the candidacy of the five based on a history of cooperative relationship with each of them on people’s issues and advocacies.

Among the Makabayan advocacies shared by Villar are lowering the prices of oil products, water, power and other basic commodities and services; pushing for genuine agrarian reform, pro-people mining policies and environmental protection;  equitable minimum wage and salary adjustments in the public and private sectors and subsidy for farmers and fisherfolk.

Villar also vouches for increasing budgetary allocations for essential social services; asserting national sovereignty and pepole’s interest; working for the passage of the Freedom of Information and Whistleblowers Act; seeking an end to extrajudicial killing and enforced disappearances of activists and journalists and amnesty to political prisoners and repealing or amending the Cybercrime Law and decriminalizing libel and pushing for resumption of peace talks. 

Villar sees nothing wrong in the Makabayan endorsement since all of them are running under the ticket of the ruling Liberal Party and its coalition partners.

Except for Villar and Pimentel, Legarda, Escudero and Poe are also guest candidates of both LP and the United Nationalist Alliance, a coalition of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) of former President Joseph Estrada and PDP-Laban of Vice President Jejomar Binay.

The former congresswoman has likewise maintained that   having several endorsements would not prejudice chances of winning of a candidate due to alleged ‘overexposure.”

  “The more, the better,” added Villar, as she reminded the electorate to focus on issues and not on personalities.” 

Legarda Wants Immediate Action on Alleged Waste Dumping Incident in Subic by a US Navy Contractor

MANILA, November 9, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, today said that the alleged waste dumping incident in Subic by a US Navy contractor requires immediate attention and action, stressing that the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) cannot be used as a defense in such an incident.

“The VFA is a framework for promoting the common security interests of the Philippines and the United States of America by strengthening our bilateral defense partnership.  It is not a treaty we have entered into with the United States so that their contractors can wantonly violate the country’s environmental laws,” said Legarda, Co-Chair of the Legislative Oversight Committee on the VFA (LOVFA).

The Senator noted that the contractor, Glenn Defense Marine Asia, Philippines, is neither a part of the US personnel, nor is it a part of the civilian personnel contemplated in the VFA.  Glenn Defense Marine Asia Philippines is a contractor whose status in the Philippines is clearly within the bounds of our laws.

“It is shameless for their contractor to hide beneath the VFA and raise jurisdictional issues.  There is no jurisdictional issue as far as this case is concerned,” she said.

“If it is indeed established that they violated our environmental laws, they should be made to answer, and penalties need to be imposed to the fullest extent of the law,” she added.

Legarda said that the VFA Commission is mandated to coordinate with the Legislative Oversight Committee in ensuring that the implementation of the VFA continues to serve national interest. 

“Clearly, the incident did not serve national interest at all. We shall require a report on this incident and demand immediate action against all those involved in violating our laws. It is time we revisit the VFA not because of this incident, but because it is a long-overdue exercise that is vital to forging deeper and stronger relations with our treaty partner,” Legarda concluded.

CLMA, kinondena ang pagpatay sa isang brodkaster sa NE

CABANATUAN CITY – Kinondena ng Central Luzon Media Association ang isa na namang insidente ng pagpaslang sa kagawad ng media sa lungsod na ito noong Huwebes ng umaga.

Kinilala ng mga otoridad ang biktima na si Julius Causo, 51 anyos, reporter-anchor ng AM station na DWJJ, executive vice president ng Nueva Ecija Press Club at miyembro ng CLMA.

Sa paunang imbestigasyon, si Causo ay binaril sa likod ng nakamotorsiklong gunman habang nakasakay sa kanyang motorsiklo at patungo sana sa istasyon ng radyo.

 “Kinokondena namin ang pagpatay na ito sa aming kasamahan na si Julius Cesar Causo. Isa lamang si Causo sa maraming hanay ng media na pinaslang at sumisigaw ng katarungan,” pahayag ng kasalukuyang pangulo ng  CLMA na si Tony Arcenal,

Umaasa si Arcenal na magkakaroon ng katarungan ang pagpatay kay Causo at hindi matatapos sa imbestigasyon lamang.

Maliban sa CLMA, kinondena rin ng Malacañang ang pagpaslang kay Causo at siniguro na masusing iimbestigahan ng mga otoridad ang krimen.

“Kinokondena namin ang pag-atake laban sa brodkaster ng radyo,” sabi ni presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda.

“Kilala na ng mga pulis ang gunman at nagsasagawa na sila ng manhunt ngayon,” dagdag nito.

Nagbuo na ang pulisya ng Nueva Ecija ng provincial Task Force Causo para magsagawa ng malalimang imbestigasyon at humanap ng posibleng solusyon sa kaso.

Maging ang National Press Club at National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) ay kinondena na rin ang pagpatay na nagdala sa bilang na 14 na kagawad ng media na pinatay sa panahon ng adminstrasyon ni  Pangulong  Benigno Aquino III.

Sinabi ni Nonoy Espina ng NUJP na si Causo ay panglima ngayong taon at pang-154 na kagawad ng media na pinatay mula noong 1986.

Ayon kay Espina, ang kabiguan diumano ng gobyerno na mahuli ang mga salarin sa pagpaslang sa mga media ang dahilan ng patuloy na pagtaas ng bilang ng katulad na mga insidente. (Ronald Madrid Leander)

Legarda Welcomes Endorsement of Makabayan

MANILA, November 8, 2012-Stressing on the advocacies that she has been espousing, Senatorial topnotcher Senator Loren Legarda today welcomed the endorsement of the Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan (Makabayan).

Legarda, who is running under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), her political party since 2007, said that she accepted the endorsement of Makabayan as she has also been working on the advocacies that the organizations under the coalition are advancing.

“I thank the leaders and members of Makabayan for their endorsement. The organizations under Makabayan and I have long been partners in our aim for a better society as seen in our respective works to improve the lives of the poor, workers, women, children, teachers, OFWs, and our indigenous people,” she said.

“The people’s interest has always been my priority as gleaned from the work I have done for the past 15 years, not only in legislation but also in ensuring that the laws I crafted are implemented effectively. Even outside the halls of the Senate, I actively work for the advancement of programs that would address the needs of the Filipino people,” Legarda stressed.

To provide new opportunities and promote better livelihood, Legarda pushed for the enactment of the Barangay Kabuhayan Act, Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, and the Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act.

To address the health needs of the Filipinos, she authored the Expanded Senior Citizens Act and is pushing for the approval of the Universal Healthcare Coverage bill.

To protect the rights of women and children, Legarda authored the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act, and the Anti-Child Labor Law. She is also ushering the passage of the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons bill.

To enhance resilience to disasters of every community in the country, she authored the Climate Change Act and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, and sponsored the People’s Survival Fund Law.

To ensure the protection of Filipino workers including overseas Filipino workers, Legarda sponsored the ILO Convention 189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers Convention and the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, while pushing for the approval of the Kasambahay Bill. She also authored the law that mandates the increase in the salary of teachers and other government employees.

To preserve the Filipino culture and protect the rights of IPs, the Senator supported various Schools of Living Traditions and the documentation of indigenous knowledge and traditions. Legarda also proposed measures to protect the traditional property rights of IPs and to penalize acts of discrimination against them.

JINGGOY HURT OVER JV’S RIVALRY REMARKS

MANILA, November 8, 2012-This refers to the numerous news reports and articles circulating over the print, broadcast and online media regarding the supposed sibling rivalry between me and San Juan Representative and senatorial aspirant Joseph Victor Ejercito.

 

I have never been a party to what others regard as a sibling rivalry nor considered our relationship as such. I believe that the nature of our tepid relationship is perhaps understandable considering our family’s circumstances. I am very upset and deeply hurt over some of the comments made by him and his efforts to generate publicity over a supposed competition or rivalry between us at my expense.

 

Any statement insinuating hostility much more creating public perception of antagonism stemming from such family setup, between two lawmakers possibly extending to the halls of the Senate is farfetched and very unfortunate. I admit that we may not agree and even argue on some social and political issues – much like the atmosphere in any deliberative body and the current Philippine Senate where free exchange of ideas is not only welcome but absolutely necessary. Again, this does not mean that we have to be at each other’s throat at all times, though it seems that my brother thinks otherwise.

 

If he happens to be elected as a Senator and there comes a time when there is something to point out with respect to legislative work or socio-political concerns, I will carry out the task as a seasoned legislator and as a statesman considering that my brother is a younger colleague.

 

I believe that I have done my best to prove that I can rise above any petty and unjust remarks against me from my own brother. I sincerely hope that as a senatorial aspirant who I look forward to being a colleague in the Senate, he can do the same.

Senator Loren Legarda’s Statement on President Obama’s Re-election

MANILA, November 8, 2012-“The re-election of President Barack Obama reflects the desire of the American people to extend his mandate in order that he may continue to move forward the agenda of change he committed to deliver to the American people. 

“As an ally and strategic partner of the United States, these developments signal a continuing effort to deepen our relationship with America. 

“President Obama, in his “pivot to Asia,” has shown his desire to engage more actively with the countries in the region.  We should respond accordingly by strengthening our alliance with the United States with the end-view of addressing the strategic interests of the Filipino people. 

“The region is facing enormous challenges in the face of territorial disputes in the area.  The last thing we need is unpredictability in our relationship with our strategic partners.  President Obama’s re-election also provides predictability in terms of America’s strategic focus in the region.”

Hard-hitting broadcaster gunned down in NE

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, November 8, 2012–A hard-hitting, veteran broadcaster and radio commentator was killed in broad daylight by a lone gunman while on his way to work here early this morning.

          Police Superintendent Eli Depra, city police chief, identified the victim as Julius Caezar Cauzo, 52, of Barangay Sibul, Talavera, Nueva Ecija. He died from three gunshot wounds in the body.

          Cauzo is a news anchor of teleradyo DWJJ and is executive vice president of the Nueva Ecija Press Club, Inc. DWJJ is owned by the family of Mayor Julius Caezar Vergara.    

Depra said the attack was carried out at around 8:30 am in Barangay Aduas Norte. Cauzo was aboard his motorcycle cruising along Flowerlane St. in Aduas Norte when the gunman riding a motorcycle overtook him and fired from close range, hitting him in the body then fled.

          Cauzo was rushed to the Good Samaritan Hospital where attending physicians pronounced him dead-on-arrival.

         

Depra said they have yet to establish the motive behind the murder. He said he will provide an update on the killing.

         

Prior to his death, Cauzo has been locked up in a word war with broadcasters of the rival TV station TV 48 over the Highly Urbanized City being pushed by the city government and which is being opposed by the camp of Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali.

         

        The Commission on Elections has set on December 1 the plebiscite to ratify Presidential Proclamation 418 issued last July 4 by President Aquino converting Cabanatuan into a HUC. (Manny Galvez)