On the President’s Meeting with the Members of the House of Representatives regarding the Responsible Parenthood Bill

MANILA, December 3, 2012-The President met today with members of the House of Representatives to discuss the Responsible Parenthood Bill. The President began his remarks by telling the gathered representatives that, if he were still a member of the House, he would vote for the Responsible Parenthood Bill. He shared with the gathered congressmen and women the discernment that led to his taking this position.

The President recalled a visit to the Baseco compound in Manila, during which he met a 16 year-old mother who had just given birth to her second child and whose husband had no stable source of income. The President reflected on the sobering realities the young lady's plight represented: instead of being able to have a normal adolescence, here was a young lady already struggling with the truth of having two children. He asked the representatives to consider, too, the circumstances surrounding the child born to such a young parent: what kind of a future would such a child have, in terms of basic needs like nutrition, and other future prospects down the line?

The President said that confronted with the girl's story, he had to ask himself, whose failure was it for the young girl and her children to be so disadvantaged? The President said that such a situation posed a challenge of conscience and leadership to all those who have put themselves forward to serve their constituents. Can you, the President asked, in good conscience, consent to the perpetuation of this state of affairs?

The President discussed with the congressmen his belief that genuine leaders cannot postpone a decision on what is a divisive issue. It should be resolved at the soonest possible time. Leadership comes not just with perks, but also with responsibilities, and among those responsibilities is that of making a choice. He asked how anyone could oppose offering parents the opportunity to make informed choices about the number of children they have, and about having the fullest opportunity to understand the requirements for raising healthy offspring.

The President also pointed out that the House must act on the pending bill sooner rather than later. The issue has been divisive for too long; the time has come to put the matter to rest. He suggested that a week should be adequate time to consider amendments that genuinely improve the bill – in contrast to "killer amendments" – and that at the end of that period, it is incumbent on representatives to vote.

There are material issues that we need to address – and we must address them in conscience, the President said. He further told the lawmakers that we are taught that our conscience is the ultimate arbiter of right and wrong – and that at the end of the day, we will all be asked: What did you do to the least of your brethren?

The President closed his remarks by stating that to do nothing is to exacerbate the problem. Our responsibility is to craft the best possible measure, to offer the best possible opportunities for our children to grow and prosper.

Legarda Supports Passage of FOI Bill

MANILA, December 3, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today expressed support to the proposed Freedom of Information (FOI) bill, stressing that honesty, transparency and accountability must always be upheld to gain back the people’s confidence and faith in the bureaucracy.

“While the present administration is undertaking efforts to elevate the citizens’ trust and confidence in the government, we must give the people something that they can hold on to,” said Legarda.

In her co-sponsorship speech for Senate Bill 3208, An Act Fortifying the People’s Right of Ownership over Information Held by the People’s Government, Legarda explained that the various controversies in the past decade have left Filipino citizens doubting the capability of the government to do its mandate of serving the best interest of the people.

“Under this proposed measure, we aim to feed our people with information about us, the leaders they elected in office, and the businesses our offices deal with. All government agencies will be mandated to disclose information on public interest transactions, documents or records,” she pointed out.

The Senator said that the compulsory disclosure shall be done by posting the aforementioned documents on government websites for easy access, aside from providing these documents upon a person’s request. Furthermore, vital information must be translated into major Filipino languages and made easier to comprehend.

Legarda Pushes for Senate Concurrence in UNESCO Learning Center for Sustainable Development

MANILA, December 3, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today urged the Senate to concur in the agreement between the Philippines and the UNESCO concerning the establishment of a South-East Asian Center for Lifelong Learning for Sustainable Development (SEA CLLSD) in the country.

“The establishment of the SEA CLLSD seeks to develop and provide appropriate learning programs, which aim to benefit the marginalized, the disadvantaged, and the underserved members of the population, including our indigenous peoples, our out-of-school youth and our non-literate adults, as it envisions to create an educational framework that works for sustainable development,” she explained in her sponsorship speech for Senate Resolution No. 898, under Committee Report No. 482.

  

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, noted that the UNESCO CLLSD is intended to serve the Southeast Asian sub-region.

“It will provide the Philippines with the opportunity for technical exchanges, collaboration and cooperation with our immediate neighbors in the field of lifelong education for sustainability. We will not only gain knowledge, we will also grow closer to our Southeast Asian neighbors,” she said.

“We will be able to share, compare, and learn from one another’s practices and experiences. Through this, we can expect to continuously renew, improve and innovate on our learning and education systems to serve the higher goals of social development and sustainability,” Legarda concluded.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL JUSTICE SET TO HEAR CENTENARIANS' BILL

MANILA, December 3, 2012-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, seeks to pass Senate Bill 3328 or the "Centenarian Act of 2012".

"We would do well to honor our elderly, especially those who have reached the age of 100. They comprise less than one percent of our population, and it is a remarkable feat to have lived for that long."

The bill seeks to grant centenarians Php100,000 and to declare September 25 as National Respect for Centenarians Day.

"It is rare that anyone reaches the age of 100. Most live up to 60 years old; some reach the age of 80 if lucky. The amount of Php100,000 would be a small token from the government in recognition of our centenarians."

The Senate Committee on Social Justice will hear the bill on December 4, 2012.

Legarda Urges LGUs, Public to Be Prepared for Typhoon Pablo

MANILA, December 3, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today urged local government units and the public to be prepared and remain alert as Typhoon Pablo entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

“Let us heed the warning and the lessons of Ondoy, Pepeng and Sendong. Both the government and our people should have been prepared way before the typhoon entered the country,” said Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change.

According to PAGASA, Surigao del Sur and the Northern part of Davao Oriental were placed under Storm Signal No. 2, while 22 other areas in Visayas and Mindanao were placed under Signal No. 1, even as Typhoon Pablo weakened slightly on Monday morning.

“Our LGUs already know the disaster-prone areas based on their geo-hazard maps. Early warning should work to save lives and properties. People and settlements at risk of landslides should be relocated ahead of heavy rains. Risk awareness and political will are very important,” she remarked.

“Our communities should also clear the esteros and the waterways, pay attention to early warning systems and do not hesitate to evacuate once the signal to do so is given,” she added.

The Senator also said that “PAGASA is doing its best, and our monitoring and warning systems have greatly improved over the past few years. Let us pay attention to the news reports and help each other by disseminating information, whether through radio, text, television, or social networking sites. Let us also remember to relay only verified and official information so as not to create confusion.”

“The fusion of socio-economic realities and extreme climatic events demand scaled up efforts in reducing disaster and climate risks. But through concerted action and the participation of all citizens, we will be able to make it through these challenges,” Legarda concluded.

Legarda Highlights Best Practices in Climate Change Adaptation to Set Example for LGUs

MANILA, December 2, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today underscored the best practices in climate change adaptation by communities and urged other local governments to follow suit, especially with the alarming statistics on disaster risks and the natural hazards expected to visit the country in the last month of the year.

“PAGASA officials already warned that the incoming Typhoon Pablo could even be stronger than Tropical Storm Sendong in 2011. Our LGUs should now be prepared for it,” said Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change.

“Furthermore, the warming global climate we are experiencing, which, according to a World Bank study, could even reach 4 Degrees Celsius, should make us all the more committed to increasing our efforts in reducing our greenhouse gas emissions while encouraging industrialized countries to do their share,” she added.

“We usually see images of devastation every time typhoons or earthquakes hit the country. But we also have examples of best practices in making communities disaster-resilient. It is time we take a look at these model communities and follow their example,” she stressed.

Legarda said that one of the best practices in disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) in the Philippines is the Purok System in the Municipality of San Francisco in Camotes Island, Cebu, which won the 2011 UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction. The Purok System focuses on addressing the vulnerability of every barangay in the municipality by mobilizing local resources in creating local and practical solutions based on the unique needs of every community.

The Municipality of San Francisco, along with Makati City and Albay, is also among the UN’s 29 model communities worldwide that are exemplars in disaster risk reduction and management.

Makati City was included in the list for integrating DRR practices and policies in its system of governance, most especially in urban planning, health programs, disaster response and risk governance; while the Province of Albay was recognized for its focus on preparing comprehensive land use plans that address climate and disaster risks, and for investing in disaster-resilient infrastructure.

In Montalban, Rizal, a group of women farmers started to practice agroforestry to adapt to the prolonged wet season; while in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, a group of women fisherfolk reforested over a hundred hectares of mangrove areas to protect their settlements from storm surges and secure additional source of food for their families.

Meanwhile, the Province of Bulacan won the Best Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in the National Gawad Kalasag 2012 for its effective management of the dams in the province.

“We have many best practices that other LGUs can use as guide in crafting their own programs. Communities that have yet to establish DRR and CCA practices should start now with both a short-term plan for the natural hazards expected to come within the next months, and a long-term program to ensure disaster-resilient communities in the future,” Legarda concluded.

JINGGOY WANTS LAW PROTECTING INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS

MANILA, December 2, 2012-Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada is pushing for the passage of a law which aims to protect the rights and lives of victims of internal displacement caused by armed conflicts, mass violence and natural disasters.

 

“Internally displaced persons do not enjoy adequate protection and assistance compared to their counterparts who crossed an internationally recognized border. They experience suffering, neglect and deprivation,” Sen. Estrada laments.

 

Section 3 of Senate Bill 530 defines “internal displacement” as “the forced or obliged movement of person or group of persons to flee or leave their homes or places of habitual residence, without crossing an internationally recognized State border, as a result of or in order to avoid the effects of armed conflict, situations of generalized violence, violations of human rights or other natural or human-made disasters.”

 

Sen. Estrada cites an online report¹ saying that fighting rebel groups in Central Mindanao in 2008 caused the forced displacement of 600,000 persons.

 

In another instance, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reveals that during the onslaught of typhoon Juaning in July 2011, more than 123,000 families or 614,688 individuals were reported to have been evacuated.

 

“The Philippines ranked third after Burma and Indonesia as countries in Southeast

Asia with the most number of internally displaced persons and among the top forty (40) countries all over the world where internal displacement is considered as a significant phenomenon. Counterinsurgency operations and related military activities under the government's war on terrorism were identified as the leading causes of conflict-induced displacement in the country, especially in Mindanao,” Sen. Estrada states in the bill’s explanatory note.

 

The proposed measure is also to formulate a local mechanism to prevent the occurrence of and avoid conditions leading to internal displacement, in consonance with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement and Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

 

Senate Bill 530 contains terms on prohibition against internal displacement; protection against crime, discriminatory practices and curtailment of human freedoms during the period of displacement; extension of humanitarian assistance to IDPs; and provision of support during the return, resettlement or local integration of the IDPs.

Legarda Calls for Heightened Action as Phl Ranked 4th among Countries Affected by Climate Change

MANILA, December 1, 2012-In light of the results of the 2013 Global Climate Risk Index, which ranked the Philippines fourth among more than 190 countries greatly affected by climate change in the past 20 years, Senator Loren Legarda today called for heightened action from all communities across the Philippines.

“Despite increasing awareness about climate change over the past few years, the damage of irresponsible development models and large-scale environmental destruction has not yet been reversed. I urge all communities from all walks of life to contribute to the efforts in lessening our greenhouse gas emissions and decreasing our overall carbon footprint,” she remarked.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change and UN Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in Asia Pacific, noted that all sectors can contribute to the fight against climate change.

“Government officials, especially at the local level, can increase preparedness by implementing our laws such as the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act and the Climate Change Act, and by using the People's Survival Fund,” she said.

“Business communities should be encouraged to invest in clean new technologies, adopt energy efficiency measures and re-engineer corporate social responsibility to reflect the joint values of achieving business sustainability through building disaster-resilient local communities. Even we, in our own homes, can strive for sustainable means of living through recycling, composting, and lessening our use of non-renewable resources,” she detailed.

Legarda added that the media should underscore the message that it is time to recognize that disasters, turbocharged by a changing climate, can undo years of development gains, and that, unsound and short-sighted development practices play a significant role in worsening disaster risks.

She cited World Bank’s estimate that for every dollar invested in disaster reduction measures saves seven to ten dollars in losses from natural hazards.

“We will never tire of reiterating our call for heightened action on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation because we have to free ourselves from the exhausting and costly cycle of rebuilding our communities every single time a natural hazard occurs,” Legarda concluded.

Legarda Joins Infanta Residents in a Day of Prayer

Residents of Infanta, Quezon warmly welcome Senator Loren Legarda, who was the Guest Speaker at the Day of Prayer to commemorate the 8th year anniversary of the REINA (Real, Infanta, and Gen. Nakar) flashflood caused by Tropical Storm Winnie in 2004. In her speech, Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, stressed on the importance of making communities disaster-resilient to reduce the risks and be able to immediately recover from disasters.

Senator Loren Legarda at the Flashflood Commemorative Stone in Infanta, Quezon. Legarda was the Guest Speaker during the 8th Year commemoration of the REINA  flashflood caused by Tropical Storm Winnie in 2004.

Legarda Lauds Philippines’ Vote on Palestine’s UN Recognition

MANILA, November 30, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today welcomed the United Nations General Assembly decision granting non-member observer state status to Palestine and lauded the affirmative vote extended by the Philippines during the general assembly voting.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, said that the UN has taken a constructive move towards the fulfillment of a long overdue two-state solution that will hopefully lead to lasting peace, recalling that the Philippines was one of the countries that had supported the UN General Assembly Resolution 181 in 1947 that partitioned Palestine into two states toward achieving a solution to the conflict.

“It is time for the Israelis and the Palestinians to take constructive and progressive steps toward achieving lasting and meaningful peace,” she said. 

“Our own experiences have shown that peace is only possible if there is political will and the openness by parties concerned to resume negotiations on the basis of a shared desire to achieve lasting peace,” she added.

Legarda explained that by the said vote, the world community calls the attention of the parties to be guided by various UN Security Council resolutions, the Madrid principles, and other relevant agreements.

“It is time the parties resume direct negotiations. More than 160 deaths, mostly civilians have been recorded recently as violence broke out this month on account of rocket attack exchanges between Gaza and Israel.  A ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Group Hamas has recently been declared bringing a temporary end to the hostilities,” she pointed out.

“A more durable and just peace is needed for the sake of present and future generations of Palestinians and Israelis,” Legarda concluded.

Legarda Joins Call to Save Philippine Marine Turtles

MANILA, November 30, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today joined the call to save the Philippine Marine Turtles or "Pawikan" at the 2012 Pawikan Festival held at the Pawikan Conservation Center in Morong, Bataan.

Legarda, keynote speaker at the event, remarked that the Pawikan is one of the oldest species that have survived to this day, and are among those that live the longest.

“Pawikans are majestic creatures found throughout the country. However, because of poaching, theft of their eggs for commercial purposes, and destruction of their habitat, they are in danger of becoming extinct,” she said.

“There is no denying that we have become the biggest threat to their existence and to the existence of many other species of animals,” she added.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change and United Nations Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific, emphasized that the destruction of marine habitats means great losses for many sources of livelihood, including tourism, as well as depletion of food supply.

“I laud the local government of Bataan for their initiatives to protect, conserve, and rehabilitate the Pawikan population. Future generations will be thankful for the concerted action they have achieved,” she said.

The Senator also urged the people of Bataan to spread their advocacy to other communities in the Philippines, saying that we can and should reverse the trend, and stop those who are plundering the seas for their own gain.

“The environment is threatened by the times, by the pressures of modern society, by our very species. But let this be a challenge to harness science and involve our citizens. Let us take that one vital step forward for a safe and green environment for all,” Legarda concluded.

Legarda Lauds PHL’s Improving Economy, Stresses Inclusive Growth, Sustainable Dev’t

MANILA, November 29, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today hailed the country’s improving economy as she stressed that the benefits of such progress should reach even the far-flung communities in the country.

Legarda was reacting to a report from the National Statistical Coordination Board that the Philippine economy grew 7.1% in the third quarter of 2012, the highest among countries in Southeast Asia, and the second highest in Asia.

“I laud the efforts of our government in improving the country’s economy. This certainly brings optimism to our citizens. However, such optimism can only be maintained if there is actual improvement in the quality of life. Growth, no matter how high, will only be appreciated by the people if its benefits actually trickle down even to the far-flung barangays in the country. This should include efficient delivery of basic services especially to the poor rural communities,” she said.

The Senator brought to the fore again the observations of International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde that growth should be inclusive—it should be felt not only by the rich and those in the middle class, but also, and more importantly, by the poor.

Legarda also reminded the conservation of the environment, stressing that it should never be compromised for the sake of development.

“The decline of our ecosystems has been determined as one of the underlying drivers of disaster risks and poverty, in the context of climate change. Therefore, protecting ecosystems—which involves rehabilitating our forests, cleaning our rivers, and stopping pollution, among other actions, must be done now,” she pointed out.

In ensuring inclusive growth, Legarda said that investing heavily in the countryside must be included in development initiatives—support for the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises to create more employment opportunities; establishing livelihood training programs; and,  providing technical and financial support to  farmers and fisherfolk.

“What we must aim for is not mere progress, but sustainable development and inclusive growth—never neglecting the most vulnerable sectors of society and never sacrificing the environment in the face of progress,” Legarda concluded.

On the 3rd Quarter Gross Domestic Product

MANILA, November 28, 2012-The Philippine economy grew 7.1% in the third quarter this year beating government targets and besting other Southeast Asian economies that have disclosed their numbers for the period. Among our neighbors the country's GDP growth was higher than Indonesia's 6.2%, Malaysia's 5.2%, Vietnam's 4.7%, Thailand's 3.0%, and Singapore's 0.3%.

This impressive expansion from 3.2% in the same quarter last year, places the country’s 9-month growth rate at 6.5% and on track to surpass the 5-6% full year growth target set by the National Economic Development Authority.

The Philippine economy has shown both resilience and resurgence despite the global economic slowdown. This was made possible due to sustained confidence in the leadership of President Aquino and his administration which has consistently equated good governance with good economics. Underscored by deft fiscal management, responsible and transparent public spending, and a continuously strengthening partnership between government and business, this has resulted in a virtuous cycle for the Philippine economy.

Government has also pushed to ensure this economic growth is felt by the broadest number of people. Within the same 9-month period, the Aquino administration has enrolled more than three million beneficiaries under the Conditional Cash Transfer program and has distributed P20 billion for this priority social investment. On top of this, spending for public health has also increased resulting in an expansion of health care safety nets and improvements in hospitals and health centers all over the country.

Equitable and inclusive growth is a commitment of the Aquino administration that has prioritized the establishment of both social and physical infrastructure which continues to redound to a more robust economy for the benefit of all Filipinos.

Ecija vice mayor’s brod, 2 others rapped in murder of engineer

CARRANGLAN, Nueva Ecija, November 28, 2012–A brother of incumbent Vice Mayor Efren Alfonso and two others were charged before the Department of Justice for alleged complicity in the cold-blooded November 11 murder of a 67-year-old engineer in this town.

          Charged before the DOJ in Manila for the killing of engineer Alexander Mejia were Erwin Alfonso, and two others who remain unidentified.

          The trio were charged for the shooting of Mejia at around 5 pm last November 11 at Sitio Pulo, Barangay Joson here.

          Police are looking at land dispute as the possible motive for the attack.

          Police probers said Mejia was inspecting a land parcel in the site with a geodetic engineer Mario Faustino and Geminiano Lozano when Alfonso’s group arrived and confronted him.

Senior Superintendent Walter Castillejos, provincial police director, said the family of Lazatin filed the case in Manila for security reasons and is planning to file a petition before the DOJ for the change of venue of the trial. 

Castillejos said witnesses have refused to come out to testify for fear of reprisals.

Mejia’s sister Chana Lopez said Faustino and Lozano are reluctant to come out because the suspect’s family is highly influential. (Manny Galvez) 

Legarda Celebrates Senate Approval of Kasambahay Bill

MANILA, November 28, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda celebrated the Senate approval of the Kasambahay Bill, which will accord domestic workers official rights and privileges, one day after the House of Representatives also ratified the measure.

“Now we only need the President's signature in order to make minimum wage and other rights and privileges a reality for the 1.9 million domestic workers in the country,” she said.

Legarda, a staunch supporter of the establishment of the rights of domestic workers, added that the Kasambahay Bill is one of the foundations of inclusive growth that the Philippines as a nation aspires for.

Among the Senator's first bills filed in the Fifteenth Congress was Senate Bill 7, which sought to increase the minimum wage of household helpers and require all household working arrangements between employers and helpers to be duly documented.

Legarda noted that this is a clear result of the dedication to equality in the country, and that this heralds better things to come for other marginalized sectors.

“It is imperative that we treat our kasambahays as workers, not servants. The Kasambahay Bill, and hopefully soon, the Kasambahay Law, is a major step in according decent working conditions, just compensation, and sufficient benefits to our domestic workers,” she stressed.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, also ushered the Philippine ratification of the International Labour Organization Convention 189, the Convention Concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers, which will enter into force in 2013.

Legarda: Days of Human Traffickers Are Numbered

MANILA, November 28, 2012-As the Senate and the House of Representatives have come up with the reconciled version of the proposed measure that strengthens the current Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, Senator Loren Legarda today warned human traffickers that their days are already numbered.

Legarda made the statement as she expressed hope that President Aquino will sign the measure into law in time for the International Day Against Trafficking on December 12.

“Nine years after Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act was passed, we still have a long way to go to eradicate and effectively control the scourge that trafficking inflicts upon our people,” Legarda noted.

“We acknowledge that the problem of human trafficking continues to hound our society, and this is the reason why we need to strengthen the existing law. The proposed measure that has been approved by the Congressional Bicameral Conference Committee imposes more stringent penalties, including provisions on accessory liability,” said Legarda, Chair of the Sub-Committee on Anti-Trafficking and sponsor of the measure.

She explained that the present law, R.A. 9208, does not have a provision on pre-empted trafficking, but this new law covers attempted trafficking and accessory or accomplice liability, thereby covering under the mantle of the law those individuals who have any involvement in human trafficking.

The Senator noted that by year-end of 2011, the country’s Inter-agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) 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 eight-year period.

“While this development validates the modest and positive strides the country has achieved in the battle against trafficking, we need to do more,” she said, citing recent reports that at least 64 people bound for Malaysia, but with no appropriate travel documents, were intercepted by IACAT agents in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

Legarda added that under the new measure, the IACAT shall be strengthened as it will have a permanent secretariat with funds.

REDUCING COURT VACANCIES, INCREASING CONVICTIONS AND SPEEDY FAIR TRIALS MUST BE THE BOTTOMLINES OF THE JUDICIARY -- KIKO

MANILA, November 27, 2012-Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on Monday said that the Judiciary has its work cut out for them and that it needs to prioritize reducing court vacancies to one percent, and upping the conviction rates through the speedy dispensation of cases.

"Let's be very frank here: the current justice system is anti-poor. The system grinds agonizingly slow that those without the resources are ultimately rendered helpless. Cases languish on an average of six years in the lower courts. Unless the Judiciary works on these bottomlines, we will continue running in place."

Pangilinan was interpellating in the Senate plenary during the budget deliberations for the Judiciary, and said that there is "hardly need to reinvent the wheel" because of previous gains that had already been achieved.

"The JBC was able to reduce court vacancies through tireless screening and by interviewing court applicants daily for five months under Justice Artemio Panganiban's leadership. That can be done again."

Pangilinan also urged the Judiciary to fulfill its mandate in upholding the rule of law.

"Let us not kid ourselves into thinking that we can modernize our Judiciary while ignoring the fact that our conviction rates remain pathetically low. There have been a staggering amount of media killings, for example, during the Arroyo administration to this current administration. Yet of all those cases, only two have resulted in conviction. The message this is sending to would be criminals is that they can get away with murder quite literally. Let us put an end to this and give our people the kind of justice system befitting a developing society."

Legarda Supports Call for 5-year Extension of Kyoto Protocol

MANILA, November 26, 2012-As nearly 200 countries send their representatives to converge in Doha, Qatar to discuss the impacts of climate change, Senator Loren Legarda urged leaders to extend the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty that legally binds developed nations to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, but only for a five-year period.

Legarda, the United Nations Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific, supported the call of the Philippine delegation to the Doha Climate Change Conference led by Climate Change Commission Vice Chair Mary Ann Lucille Sering, that the Kyoto Protocol must be extended, but not longer than five years, because the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is a matter that must be addressed the soonest possible time.

The first Kyoto Protocol is from 2008-2012. During the Durban Conference on Climate Change in 2011, at least 35 industrialized countries agreed to a second commitment period of the agreement. The European Union’s proposal is to extend the Kyoto Protocol for eight years.

“Climate change is a problem that we have to confront everyday. There is a necessity to adopt a united and proactive response, considering a recent World Bank report that highlighted the worse impacts of a 4-degree Celsius global temperature,” Legarda stressed.

She noted that a “4°C world” may have seem impossible twenty years ago, but today, the World Bank warned that the whole world is nearing a crisis that if not responded to proactively, will continue to endanger the survival of the present and succeeding generations.

“Reducing disaster risks and adapting to climate change is a matter of high importance to the world now, especially to developing countries where disaster risks abound, and to the poor and the marginalized who are most affected by disasters. We urge developed nations to immediately establish and strengthen measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, because we do not want to see the extinction of one-third of the world’s flora and fauna, aside from the extreme weather events that we are going to experience with a hotter global temperature,” she added.

“The issue of the environment cuts across age, gender, or ethnicity, and without a united front against disasters and climate change, we could do little to minimize risks,” Legarda concluded.

Legarda: Help Farmers Adapt to Climate Change, Achieve Rice Self-Sufficiency

MANILA, November 25, 2012-In light of November being National Rice Awareness Month, Senator Loren Legarda reiterated her call for 100 percent rice self-sufficiency through public awareness and government incentives and support.

“Irrigation, high-yield seeds and modern post-harvest facilities are badly needed if the Philippines is to achieve 100 percent rice sufficiency. By providing incentives and support, the government would entice more Filipino farmers who had shifted to high-value crops to plant rice anew,” she explained.

“This National Rice Awareness Month, we should look into providing farmers post-harvest equipment and facilities like threshers and grain dryers in order to reduce their production cost and lessen grain losses,” she said.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, also said that the scarcity of rice supply is being made worse by climatic factors like prolonged dry spell and, on the opposite side, floods, which is why attention must be paid to climate resilience in farming regions.

“Crop yield potential is estimated to decline by 19% in Asia toward the end of the century and rice yield in the Philippines would decline by 75%. These alarming figures alone tell us that the country’s agricultural  adaptation  program  must  ensure  more  investments  in agricultural  research and infrastructure,  improved  water  governance and  land  use  policies,  better  forecasting  tools  and early warning systems,  a strengthened  extension  system  that  will  assist  farmers  to  achieve economic diversification  and  access  to  credit  to  make  significant  improvements  in  our  food security goals,” she remarked.

The Senator also noted that the Department of Agriculture’s current “Sapat na Bigas, Kaya ng Pinas!” campaign, which urges Filipinos to try equally nutritious food such as white corn, sweet potato, cassava, and banana as rice substitutes, as well as brown rice, is of great help to the goal.

“President Aquino has declared 2013 as the National Year of Rice. This is a chance for us to step up, as the Philippines must endeavor to meet its own rice requirements without resorting to importation, and, having done that, to aim to become a rice exporter,” Legarda concluded.

Support of Regional Dev’t Councils snowballs Christmas bonuses, allowances below P60,000 should be tax-free

MANILA, November 25, 2012-Sen. Ralph G. Recto today reiterated his proposal to raise the tax exemption ceiling on Christmas bonuses and 13^th month pay to P60,000 from the current threshold of P30,000 to give more spending power to employees celebrating the holiday season.

Recto said the tax imposed on bonuses and allowances exceeding P30,000 is outdated since it was pegged when the basic salary scale of state employees was only P2,800 and the salary of the Philippine President was only P25,000.

Currently, the basic pay scale of government employees is P8,287 while the salary grade of the chief executive is P120,000.

.

“This is the kind of a one-tier increase that all advocates and lobbyists – foreign-funded or not – should be  championing,” he said.

Recto stressed that slapping a tax on bonuses and allowances that exceed P30,000 is tantamount to treating a job well-done  a “sin” and employers’ generosity  a “felony.”

“A worker bound to receive a little more than P30,000 in bonuses and allowances should not be penalized with a tax. The tax is essentially a disincentive for workers aspiring for a higher pay scale that naturally comes with generous perks and bonuses,” he said.

The 1997 National Internal Revenue Code Section 32(B) Chapter VI states that private and government employees having bonuses beyond P30,000 were automatically subjected to income tax.

Recto’s Senate Bill 2879 seeks to shatter the threshold of P30,000 so that bonuses and allowances up to P60,000 would be exempt from income tax.

The senator said if inflation is factored in, the P30,000 tax exemption ceiling is practically worth P15,000 today as computed by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), which he chaired before getting elected to the Senate in 2010.

The proposed measure and other important Senate bills were the 'collateral damage' of the recent impeachment trial. Congress is racing against time to pass a new sin tax law and enact the P2- trillion 2013 national budget before the Christmas break.

“With time running out for the approval of this bill, I could only look forward to  its serious consideration in 2013 in time for the next holiday season. And who would say that Number 13 is the unlucky number?” he said.

At least three Regional Development Councils (RDCs) have expressed support to the Recto bill, the latest of which is the RDC –National Capital Region. The first two RDCs are that of Region 2 and Region 6.

The RDC-NCR, in a recent meeting headed by Makati Mayor Junjun Binay, RDC-Metro Manila chair, even proposed a higher tax exemption threshold of P80,000 or P20,000 higher than the Recto proposal.

To fast track approval, the RDC-NCR will convene a Technical Working Group composed of the UP-NCPAG, labor leaders and Metro Manila LGUs to be assisted by the BIR, National Tax Research Center (NTRC) and Civil Service Commission. 

In his bill’s explanatory note, Recto argued that the prevailing ceiling for tax exemption “does not mirror prevailing circumstances and that the "ceiling of P30,000 does not apply today as it did when it was incorporated in the tax code."

“The law should always be responsive to the needs of the people. An increase in the ceiling of this particular tax exemption is one of the reliefs the people need during these difficult times,” Recto said.