Legarda: Address Housing Woes to Maximize Asia’s Growth Potential

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda today said that governments and citizens of Asia-Pacific should make good use of the region’s growth potentials and start addressing homelessness among Asians.

Legarda echoed the call of Former US Housing Secretary Henry Cisneros, who said that Asia-Pacific is steering the world in growth and prosperity, which must be used to eliminate poverty.

In a meeting with Sen. Legarda at the sidelines of Habitat for Humanity Asia Pacific Housing Forum, the former US housing secretary said that an important tool in addressing poverty is ensuring decent shelter for all citizens. Quoting a pastor from the Ebenezer Baptist Church, he said, “The homes you build will last beyond your time. The children will realize a future beyond your time. The creation of a vibrant part of the world by providing opportunities for people and eliminating poverty is a cause beyond your time.”

“I am inspired by Mr. Henry Cisneros’ positive outlook on Asia-Pacific, notwithstanding its many challenges. I share his view that addressing poverty housing, which afflicts 581 million people in Asia Pacific, should be a priority of governments in Asia,” Sen. Legarda said. 

Asia is home to 4.3 billion people.  UN studies estimate that it will be home to 12 of the world’s largest cities by 2020.  UN data show that that many of Asia’s poor live in slums in urban areas. These demographics have led a number of experts to coin the phrase “urbanization of poverty.” 

“The numbers speak for themselves.  More effective housing interventions, urban planning, land use management, and implementation of environmental laws have to be at the forefront of efforts to battle the pervasive housing and poverty issues in the region,” Legarda said.

The Senator cited that the Philippines has a backlog of four million houses, affecting about a fifth of the population.

“It is this fact, together with the increasing urbanization rate, which is projected to account for 70% of Philippine population by 2015, that led me to introduce a measure that will create a Department of Housing and Urban Development,” she explained.

“Mr. Cisneros also highlighted the need to build sustainable homes—those that are climate- and disaster-resilient, so that we can escape the exhausting and costly cycle of rebuilding our communities when extreme weather events occur,” said Legarda.

The Senator has also proposed a National Land Use Act that will create a general long-term framework for proper allocation, use and management of the country’s land and other physical resources, while local government units (LGUs) will have to develop and implement their respective comprehensive land use plans (CLUPs).

Legarda also said that she will look into the proposal of Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino, presented during the Asia Pacific Housing Forum, to create a government facility, similar to Singapore’s Drainage Department, that will be primarily responsible for planning and maintaining the public drainage systems.  

“We have a disintegrated and poorly planned drainage system that leads to clogged waterways. This is borne out of a complex web of issues related to poverty housing, poor environmental compliance, and weak urban planning.  We have to improve our drainage systems so that these can effectively convey flood water to the sea and not to the streets and our communities,” the Senator said.

2,300 houses in northern Aurora still have no electricity Manny Galvez

CASIGURAN, Aurora – Some 2,300 households in two municipalities of northern Aurora are still without electricity almost two months since Typhoon Labuyo brought destruction in northeast Luzon.

          Noel Vedad, general manager of the Aurora Electric Cooperative, said the households, which are serviced by the power coop, represent roughly 30% of the 7,938 households which power was cut when strong winds brought by Labuyo toppled 324 electric posts and broke 214 others in this town, Dinalungan and Dilasag and in Dinapigue town in Isabela province.

          The damage was estimated at P10 million.

          Vedad said, however, that they expect power to be restored in Dinalungan and Dilasag by next week.  He said a four-men Aurelco crew has been working on the damaged lines.

          Households in this town, totaling 4,188 have been enjoying 24-hour electricity since last month, along with households in  Barangay Nipoo in Dinalungan. 

          Vedad said the National Electrification Administration released on Thursday P10.7 million to restore the remaining damed power lines.

          Earlier, rural electric cooperatives in Central Luzon formed a task force to help Aurelco restore electricity by rehabilitating the 538 damaged poles in the three northern towns.

          The RECs, which belong to the Central Luzon Electric Cooperatives Association (CLECA),  created “Task Force Labuyo” composed of 60 foremen and linemen equipped with 11 boom trucks who were dispatched to the northern Aurora towns of Dinalungan, Casiguran and Dilasag, also known as the Dicadi area. 

          The Dicadi area was one of those hardest-hit by Labuyo which left in its wake three persons dead and over P500 million worth of properties, infrastructure and crops destroyed. It also affected 12,000 families in the province alone.

For days, the Dicadi towns were isolated due to landslides, the overflowing of rivers and toppled communication lines.

          REC executives, led by National Association of Geneneral Managers of Electric Cooperatives (NAGMEC)-Region 3 and Pampanga Electric Cooperative, Inc.-1 (PELCO1) provided the services for free while Aurelco shouldered the food and shelter to the task force personnel. – Manny Galvez

Stakeholders ng Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas sa Gitnang Luzon, pinarangalan.

CABANATUAN CITY, NUEVA ECIJA - Pinarangalan ng Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas ang mga stakeholders nito sa Gitnang Luzon sa Annual Appreciation lunch sa BSP Cabanatuan City branch noong Miyerkoles na pinangunahan ng isa sa Monetary Board Member ng BSP na si Armando Suratos.

Sa 71 awardees sa buong Pilipinas sa iba’t-ibang kategorya, tatlo ang nagbuhat sa Gitnang Luzon na pinangunahan ng Producers Savings Bank Corporation na napili bilang Outstanding Respondent sa Large and Medium firms para sa Business Expectations Survey o BES. 

Ang parangal ay personal na tinanggap ng Presidente at Chief Operating Officer ng PSBC na si Edmundo Medrano. “We are very happy that we have gotten the award again. We are continuing to support the BSP.” sabi nito

Outstanding Respondent naman sa Small Firms sa buong rehiyon ng Gitnang Luzon ang Polarmarine, Inc. na gumagawa ng mga tank cleaning equipments para sa marine and industrial applications. 

“We are very proud that we are part of this advocacy,” pahayag ng Area and Finance Manager of Polarmarine, Inc. na si Carolina Agoo. 

Tinanghal naman na Outstanding partner for the Report on Regional Economic Development ang Provincial Planning and Development Office ng Bataan dahil sa pagbibigay nito ng epektibong plano, programa at iba pa para sa kaunlaran ng lalawigan.

“Hindi ko inaasahan na yun palang simple bagay na ginagawa namin ay malaki din ang impact sa iba kaya ako’y natutuwa at kahit papaano ay nabigyan kami ng ganitong recognition,” sabi ni  Ludivina Banzon, ang Provincial Planning and Development Officer ng Bataan.

Ang taunang pagbibigay ng pagkilala at parangal sa mga katuwang ng BSP ay nagsimula noong 2005 at ang programang isinagawa sa Cabanatuan ay ika-8 sa siyam na kagayang programa ngayong taon. (Ronald Madrid Leander)

Legarda Bats for Better Opportunities for Farmers to Increase Rice Productivity

MANILA-Amid issues on rice price hike, Senator Loren Legarda stressed the need for strengthened support for farmers to increase the country’s rice productivity.

Reports say that National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Sec. Arsenio Balisacan’s “Memorandum for the President” dated 10 September 2013 informed President Benigno Aquino III about the country’s true rice situation: domestic supplies are low and can only be augmented by importing 500 metric tons (MT) of rice.

“This probably explains why the public continues to be burdened with unstable rice prices despite assurances from agricultural officials that buffer stocks are sufficient and production figures within target,” said Legarda who had earlier filed Senate Resolution No. 233, which paved the way for the Senate agriculture committee's inquiry on the matter.

Reports further say that Balisacan's memorandum details how the third quarter production forecast of 7.4 million MT does not suffice to cover total utilization amounting to 9.1 million MT, a deficit of 1.7 million MT without buffer stocks, which can even balloon to 2.6 million MT if a 30-day buffer stock is factored in.

“This is alarming because it goes beyond just the issue of rice self-sufficiency. It has become a food security concern,” warned Legarda. “If domestic production cannot meet demand, prices will naturally increase - as they already have – which may lead to widespread hunger if unabated.”

Import, but not through the NFA

In his memorandum for the President, Balisacan supposedly recommended the importation of at least half-a-million MT of rice to “address the projected supply gap and stabilize prices or possibly lower them.”

Previous policy recommendations by both the NEDA and the country's rice self-sufficiency roadmap, the Food Staples Security Program (FSSP) have consistently maintained, however, that importations should be done by the private sector and not the National Food Authority (NFA).

Balisacan, himself a former agriculture undersecretary, in various published papers, had proposed “relieving the NFA of the burden of handling rice imports” supposedly because of the corruption associated with these transactions.

It was previously alleged that the DA-NFA’s April importation was overpriced by as much as nearly half-a-billion pesos.

“We will continue to look into those allegations. What is certain is that government should spend more for irrigation development programs that will increase productivity in the countryside and provide better livelihood opportunities for our farmers,” said Legarda, a known advocate of sustainable agricultural development.

Nothing illegal, immoral in legislators getting DAP funds for infra projects, says Drilon

MANILA-Senate President Franklin M. Drilon clarified today that “there was nothing wrong, illegal, and immoral with his receiving P100 million worth of infrastructure projects under the government’s Disbursement Acceleration Plan (DAP).”

Drilon issued the statement in response to the social media posting of actor Robin Padilla who called for his resignation as Senate President amidst his admission that he received additional P100 million from the DAP in December 2012.

“I think Padilla got it all wrong,” Drilon said.  “It’s not like I pocketed P100 million in kickbacks. The DAP allocation is not cold cash and but was merely a list of infrastructure projects recommended by legislators and local government officials to be implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways.”

“We were only asked to list down a number of projects which were immediately implementable at that time in order to accelerate government spending and boost the economy,” Drilon explained.

“That I admitted receiving P100 million in DAP funds was not like I admitted committing a crime. On the contrary, I was only doing my role in helping prime the economy that was needed at that time.”

Drilon lamented that there was a deliberate attempt to muddle the issue on Budget Secretary Butch Abad’s revelations on the DAP funds and link it to allegations of pork barrel corruption against allies of President Aquino.

Drilon pointed out that the practice of allocating Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or DAP was a regular budgetary process in government. “The public indignation that we are experiencing now is because of allegations that certain lawmakers pocketed these funds instead of utilizing them for public projects.” Drilon said.

In his case, Drilon said, he used his P100 million DAP funds to the construction of the Iloilo Convention Center. “Contrary to the insinuations and allegations that are continuously being spread by certain quarters out to destroy my reputation, the P100 million I requested under the DAP in December 2012 was not misused and misallocated as it was utilized to fund various infrastructure projects in Iloilo City which was eyeing to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation ministerial meeting in 2015,” stressed Drilon.

“I can account for every peso that I received and I do not have a history of malfeasance and misuse of government funds. I am sure that that not a single centavo was channeled to bogus non-government organizations linked to Janet Lim-Napoles,” he added.

“As Malacanang said, there was nothing irregular in allocating funds to senators through the DAP which was designed to boost the spending capacity of the government,” he said.

In fact, stressed Drilon, even the local government units and government owned and controlled corporations were also given additional funds to increase government spending.

Drilon said the DAP was created in the last quarter of 2011 to address the issue of underspending by the Aquino administration which was being blamed for slow and lackluster growth in previous quarters.

He said the fact that the DAP was already in existence months before the impeachment trial of then Chief Justice Renato Corona meant that it was not created to get funds to bribe the senators to convict Corona.

Luisita farmers receive land titles

TARLAC CITY-An early Monday light to moderate rains failed to dampen the enthusiasm of 84-year old Benigna Escaño-Mañalac of barangay Pando in Concepcion town as she welcomed a historic week.

 

Accompanied by her children and on wheelchair, she patiently waited at the village-covered court for the prize she had won in a raffle more than a month ago.

 

It’s neither cash nor any appliance. It’s the title of her individual lot within Hacienda Luisita, which she and hundreds of others in ten barangays of Tarlac province had been fighting to have for almost three decades.

 

Escaño-Mañalac and around 600 of her neighbors where the first batch of farmer-beneficiaries of the vast sugar estate to receive the certified true copies of their Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

 

“Finally its ours. I never expected to see it happen in my lifetime. I thank President Benigno Aquino III for fulfilling his promise,” Escaño-Mañalac said in Kapampangan as she receives her CLOA from Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio Delos Reyes.

 

Her family received a total of seven CLOAs as her children also became laborers of the Hacienda.

 

“We intend to plant in our lands. We need the support of the government for the start-up. I hope they will be able to help us,” she shared.

 

Luisita is composed of the villages of Cut-Cut, Bantog, Balete, Asturias, Lourdes, and Mapalacsiao in Tarlac City; Parang, Pando, and Mabilog in Concepcion; and Motrico in La Paz.

 

DAR has identified more than 6,000 farmworkers who are qualified to become agrarian reform beneficiaries.

 

Each one shall own farm lot with an area of 6,600 square meters from the total area of 4,099 hectares up for distribution.

 

“Under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law, beneficiaries will have to pay their awarded land for a period of 30 years. In the case of Luisita, beneficiaries will pay P730 per year or P61 per month for the first three years; P1, 410 per year or P118 per month for the 4^th and 5^th year; and P2, 770 per year or P230 per month from the 6^th to the 30^th year,” Delos Reyes disclosed.

 

As to why the farm lots were determined through a raffle, Delos Reyes explained, “the Hacienda is a plantation wherein the workers here in 1989 are farm workers. This means that they have no specific farming areas. As such, draw lot is the fairest way to distribute the land.”

 

The awarding of copies of CLOA for other claimants are scheduled on October 1 for Motrico, October 2 for Lourdes, October 8 for Parang, October 9 for Mabilog, October 10 for Bantog, October 15 for Cutcut, October 16 for Asturias, October 17 for Balete, and October 18 for Mapalacsiao. (Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu)

Jinggoy to PNoy: ‘Protect Filipinas in Kuwait; hear deployment halt calls’

MANILA-President Benigno Aquino III must beef up protection for Filipinas hired as household service workers (HSWs) in Kuwait amid the growing calls to suspend their deployment in that country due to rising incidents of rape and other abuses against them.

 

This was aired by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada as he expressed alarm over the situation, noting some of the reported cases such as:

 

- “Teresa,” 40 years old, from Davao City, raped repeatedly by Kuwaiti employer and his three sons in Jahra City in 2012;

- “Mely,” raped four times by employer in Mishref District (2012);

- “E.S.,” 34, from Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat, repeatedly beaten by employer with wooden sticks and metal rods (2012);

- “Marissa,” 27 year-old from T’Boli, South Cotabato, raped and stabbed several times by a Kuwaiti policeman in South Surra (2012); and

- Adelyn Sumin-ao, from Kibawe, Bukidnon, beaten by employer resulting to her death (2011).

 

Estrada, chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor and Employment and Human Resources Development, lamented, “The incidents of rape and other forms of abuse against Filipina HSWs in Kuwait continue to pile up, and these are only some of those reported. I believe there are many more of such instances, though not reported and documented.”

 

“Worse, our kababayans in Kuwait feel that the Philippine government is not implementing concrete and effective measures to prevent and stop these assaults, thus, their calls for a moratorium on deployment of HSWs to that country,” he added.

 

The senator cited the petition for the moratorium signed by at least 10,000 OFWs and submitted to the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait. The group Mga Oragon sa Kuwait which spearheaded the petition said the moratorium should be imposed and maintained until and unless the HSWs’ safety and welfare shall have been guaranteed.

 

Noting the disappointment of those bringing their problems to the Embassy’s attention, the group also mentioned in the petition the “sex-for-flight scandal” against foreign service personnel. Estrada spearheaded the Senate investigation into the scandal.

 

Based on statistics, Kuwait ranks third among the top OFW destination countries, hosting around 180,000 Filipinos, some 80,000 of whom are HSWs.

 

Jinggoy said, “There are many concerns surrounding this issue: those of the HSWs and the other OFWs needing their jobs, our country’s economy and our political and diplomatic standing vis-à-vis Kuwait and other OFW destination countries. But the safety of any one Filipina or Filipino is of paramount concern, way above all considerations.”

 

He thus seconded the OFWs’ call and echoed this to President Aquino: ‘Ensure complete protection for Filipino workers, especially the household service workers who are considered the most vulnerable and defenseless against abuse.’

Civil Defense official calls on CL LCEs within the Pampanga River Basin for joint efforts on disaster mitigation and prevention, preparedness

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga-Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Deputy Executive Administrator Romeo Fajardo called on mayors in Central Luzon, specifically those within the Pampanga River Basin, to allot a portion of their Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF) for convergence of calamity mitigation and prevention and preparedness efforts.

 

In a message during the 1^st Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (RDRRM) Summit, Fajardo stressed that “LDRRMF maybe small, but if contiguous towns and cities would apply holistic approach instead of doing it on their own that would make a big difference,”

 

Section 21 of Republic Act 10121 provides that the LDRRMF amounting to not less than five percent of the estimated revenue from regular resources shall be set aside to support disaster risk management such as, but not limited to the pre-disaster preparedness programs including training, purchase of disaster response and rescue equipment, supplies and medicines; for post-disaster activities; and payment of premiums on calamity insurance.

 

It shall cover 30 percent lump-sum allocation for Quick Response Fund and 70 percent allocation for disaster prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, and rehabilitation and recovery.

 

The Pampanga River Basin traverses the provinces of Pampanga, Bulacan, Tarlac, and Nueva Ecija.

 

Close to 300 officials and employees from local government units as well as national government agencies in Central Luzon joined the inaugural RDRRM Summit.

 

“The September 23-24 event was meant to come up with a comprehensive and standard understanding of DRRM roles and responsibilities of local chief executives (LCEs) for the effective and efficient delivery of government services,” Regional DRRM Council chairperson and OCD Regional Director Josefina Timoteo explained.

 

“At the end of the summit, LCEs must be able to identify and highlight their roles and responsibilities in DRRM; learn from experiences of selected local DRRM Councils and identify challenges; demonstrate knowledge in DRRM planning, tools, and protocols; and define mechanisms to achieve transparency and accountability of DRRM resources,” Timoteo added.

 

The two-day activity featured lectures on Weather Projection for Central Luzon and Early Warning System; Geo-Hazard Maps on Rain-induced Landslides and Floods, Earthquakes, Tsunami, and Volcanic Eruptions; Project NOAH; Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation and DRR into Comprehensive Land Use Plan; Utilization of Local DRRM Fund; Awareness Program for Communication Electronics and Information System; Incident Command System; Institutionalization of Local DRRM Office; and RDRRM Plan Template.

 

There was likewise a sharing of best practices among multi-awarded local DRRM Councils of Bulacan, Olongapo, and Barangay Sta. Rita of Olongapo.

 

The occasion was highlighted by the conferment of honors to the 2013 Regional Gawad Kalasag and Declaration of Commitment and Panunumpa ng Lokal na Konseho ng DRRM.

Palayan City bags four Regional Gawad KALASAG honors

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga-Palayan City hugged the limelight during the recent Regional Gawad KALASAG awarding ceremony after it bagged four honors.

 

Its local government was named Best City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) Independent and Component City category for continually achieving excellence in mobilizing stakeholders to pursue commendable disaster risk reduction and management program.

 

“As shown by financial records, Palayan CDRRMC has properly allocated its Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Fund to pre-disaster activities such as acquiring the necessary equipment to beef up preparedness and response capacities. The city has likewise generously extended assistance to other disaster-stricken local government units (LGUs) in the region,” Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Regional Director and Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council chair Josefina Timoteo said.

 

Meanwhile, Popolon was conferred with the Best Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committee-Urban category for demonstrating sincerity and resolute commitment in equipping its leaders and people with knowledge, skills, and attitude in managing disaster risks- from understanding hazards and exposure to risks and vulnerabilities to internalizing roles and responsibilities particularly in managing disaster situations.

 

“Popolon’s efficiency and effectiveness in managing an evacuation center as shown vividly during a simulation drill likewise reflects its willingness to learn and share lessons and experiences with neighboring villages,” Timoteo underscored.

 

Moreover, Palayan City National High School was bestowed with the Best Public School in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management- Urban category accolade for the second straight year for still being an exemplary demonstration of a systematic and orderly standard emergency mechanism, mainstreaming and sustaining best practices on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, and providing assistance to the community during calamities.

 

Palayan City Rescue Volunteers for the Community (RVC 1016 Rescue), on the other hand, took home the Best in Government Emergency Response Management-Basic Search and Rescue category for being a benchmark in the field of search and rescue and conduct of disaster preparedness capacity building activities such as first aid, basic/advanced life support, fire rescue, high-angle rescue, swift-water rescue, confined space rescue, underwater search and rescue, and vehicle extrication.

 

KALASAG, which stands for KAlamidad at Sakuna LAbanan, SAriling Galing ang Kaligtasan, was conceived to encourage participation of various stakeholders in crafting and implementing Disaster Risk Reduction and Management programs aimed at protecting or shielding high risk communities against hazards.

 

Apart from Palayan, other winners were Bulacan as Best Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) for third straight year, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Fire Rescue as Best in Government Emergency Response Management-Urban Search and Rescue, San Fernando as 2^nd Best City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council-Independent and Component City category, San Fernando Rescue Unit as 2^ndBest in Government Emergency Response Management-Basic Search and Rescue category, and Tarlac Disaster Assitance and Rescue Team as 3^rd Best in Government Emergency Response Management-Basic Search and Rescue category.

 

Special citations were also handed out to Palayan CDRRM Office head Dudley Romero and former Pampanga PDRRM Office chief Lulu Alingcastre during an hour-long ceremony that was graced by OCD Deputy Executive Administrator Romeo Fajardo. It served as among the highlights of the inaugural Central Luzon RDRRM Summit for Local Chief Executives.

 

A selection committee composed of representatives from OCD, Department of Interior and Local Government, Philippine Information Agency, Philippine Red Cross, Department of Health, Department of Education, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Bureau of Fire Protection, and Philippine National Police picked the regional honorees, which are automatically Central Luzon’s bets to the national competition.

 

National awardees shall be announced on October, in time for the observance of ASEAN Day for Disaster Management and the International Day for Disaster Reduction.

 

Last year, two of Central Luzon’s nominees won- Sta. Rita in Olongapo City as Best Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committee-Urban category, and Bulacan as Best PDRRMC. (Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu)

Recto: ‘Stronger’ Habagat rains spell more woes for Metro’s anti-flood efforts

MANILA-The government should seriously take into consideration the increasing amount of rainfall being poured by monsoon rains when it crafts its over-all master plan on flood management in the National Capital Region.

This is according to Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto, as he is set to question officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) when the Senate commences hearing today on Resolution No. 6 he filed in July.

“Reports indicate that the Habagat rains last August – as affected by typhoon Maring – dumped more rainwater than it did in 2012. It was also stronger than Ondoy,” Recto said.

“If this is true, then we should be bracing for heavier rains that will bring more rainwater and increase flooding in Metro Manila. The government should take note of this when it identifies projects under its anti-flood master plan.”

His resolution calls for an inquiry into the viability of the approved P351-billion over-all master plan on flood management Metro Manila, which he described as by far the most ambitious and expensive flood control program ever conceived by the national government.

The Senate Committee on Public Works will be hearing Resolution No. 6 jointly with the Committee on Finance.

Recto said the recent onslaught of the Habagat in August proved that the government has yet to put in place an effective anti-flood mechanism as flood waters continue to debilitate almost the whole of Metro Manila.

“If I recall correctly, classes in all levels in Metro Manila were suspended for almost a week. Local governments were forced to cancel work and operations. And tens of thousands of families were evacuated due to flooding,” he said.

“With this in mind, we should be thoroughly scrutinizing how the government intends to spend P351 billion in taxpayers’ money in addressing the flood problem in Metro Manila.”

According to Project Noah of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), rainfall amount for this August Habagat was at 600 millimeters in 24 hours, while Ondoy dumped only 455 millimeters in 2009 and the Habagat in August 2012 dumped only around 472 millimeters of rainfall.

He also took note of the recent monsoon rains that ravaged parts of Luzon this week.

“Although it did not affect Metro Manila in the same scale, look what it did to Olongapo City and some towns of Zambales. Should we wait for that to happen here in Metro Manila or any part of the country as well?” Recto lamented.

He also mentioned the flashfloods in June of this year which virtually crippled Metro Manila, submerging major roadways, clogged waterways, rendered intersections impassable and virtually paralyzed public transport, leaving thousands of commuters stranded.

In the resolution, Recto explained that the P351-billion flood control master plan, which took 22 years to make, was approved by the national government last year. Its implementation will be spearheaded by the DPWH.

The long-term plan, he added, would cover the infrastructure needs of 11 flood-prone areas in Metro Manila and nearby provinces and would see completion by 2035.

Recto said an initial seed money of P5 billion will bankroll the most urgent needs in terms of spending for the improvement of floodways and drainage systems and river capacities in Metro Manila, Central Luzon (Region III), and CALABARZON (Region IV-A).

Legarda to DA, NFA: Address High Rice Prices, Ease Burden on Poor

MANILA-In the wake of assurances from the Department of Agriculture (DA) that rice prices would stabilize after the country’s lean season and statements from the National Food Authority (NFA) that its inventories this year were greater than those in 2012, Senator Loren Legarda called on the DA and NFA to explain why rice prices have yet to drop to pre-lean season levels.

“Last week NFA Administrator Orlan Calayag said, and I quote, ‘the NFA inventory is bigger this year compared to the same period last year, and so we don’t foresee any shortage.’ But I have yet to see the positive impact of this on rice prices,” said Legarda, who had earlier filed Senate Resolution No. 233, which paved the way for the Senate inquiry into the rice situation of the country.

At the hearing, Legarda had asked officials of the DA and NFA “bakit talaga despite the buffer stock, despite na mas maliit ngayon iyong epekto sa climate change sa bigas, ay tumataas ang presyo.” (“Why despite the buffer stock, why despite the fact that the decreased impact of climate change on rice this year, prices are still going up.”)

2013 rice prices significantly higher than last year

Legarda said that according to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), the retail prices for regular-milled and well-milled rice are almost four pesos higher than last year. Regular-milled rice cost 32.4 pesos last year; this year it costs 36.1 pesos. Well milled-rice in 2012 was 35.6 pesos; today it costs 39.2 pesos.”

“If you look at the trend last year, the retail prices of regular-milled and well-milled rice slightly peaked during the lean season, as expected, then normalized. This year, not only have the price hikes during the lean season been significantly higher, they have also failed to normalize at the expected time,” explained Legarda.

In 2012, retail prices of regular and well-milled rice remained relatively stable, according to data from the BAS website. In the lean months and months preceding and following the lean months (between June and September 2012), the retail prices of regular-milled rice ranged from a low of 32.2 pesos per kilo in June to a high of 32.5 pesos in August. In the same period, well-milled rice cost as low as 35.3 pesos in June and was highest at 35.7 pesos in August.

Legarda said that 2013 was a different story.

“The rice prices this year are a cause for concern,” said the lawmaker.

“This year, the prices really shot up; between June and September, we experienced an almost four-peso jump in the retail prices of regular and well-milled rice.”

“For many of our people who live a hand-to-mouth existence, every peso counts. Every peso added to the cost of our staple food is an additional burden they should not have to bear,” lamented the senator.

Legarda added that rice prices continued to belie DA and NFA claims of adequate rice supplies.

“If there are adequate supplies of rice, our markets should feel it, rice prices should go down. The best proof of supplies of rice is its price. Until these remain at its present levels, we must continue to ask the DA and NFA to act, and act now.”

Legarda Congratulates German Chancellor Merkel for Successful Re-election

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda today congratulated Chancellor Angela Merkel on her successful bid for a third term as head of government of the Federal Republic of Germany.

“I warmly congratulate Chancellor Angela Merkel for her re-election. This historic victory shows the Germans’ trust in their incumbent leader to advance the causes and address the concerns of the nation and its people. As a leader of a powerful nation, other countries, including the Philippines, also hope that she will continue to champion vital global issues,” said Legarda.

The Senator also expressed optimism that Merkel’s third term will be even more productive and beneficial not only for Germans but also for the whole world.  

“We all should take inspiration from the efforts of Chancellor Merkel in pushing Germany toward a post-carbon future. Her leadership has steered Germany toward a cleaner energy pathway and countries should learn from its wide range of experiences in clean energy development and use,” the Senator said. She expressed concern that while the Philippines has passed a renewable energy law in 2008, there remains numerous stumbling blocks that prevent the country from realizing the benefits from its renewable energy potential of as much as 176,000MW.

She noted Germany’s vital role, under the leadership of Merkel, in addressing various issues confronting Europe today.  These issues include rebuilding the foundations of the euro, bailouts for failing economies, or debt write-downs for struggling euro area members, the creation of a banking union, among others.

“I trust that in the next four years, Chancellor Merkel will strengthen auspicious efforts to manage the eurozone crisis while championing sustainable development,” the Senator stressed. “As the head of the most powerful economy in Europe, she has an important role in shepherding the revival of Europe,” the Senator added.

The Senator expressed hope that development cooperation between Germany and the Philippines will be further expanded to support the country’s peace development, conflict prevention, environmental initiatives, as well as cultural diplomacy.  “Continued cooperation in renewable energy development in our country will hopefully continue as there is much to learn from Germany’s experiences. With 60 years of bilateral ties, we hope to strengthen this relationship not only in economic terms but also in deepening our cultural bond,” said Legarda.