PNoy leads formal opening of TPLEX today

TARLAC CITY-President Benigno Aquino III will lead today the formal opening of the 88.85-kilometer Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) via an inaugural drive-trough in its Paniqui exit in Tarlac.

 

That portion brings to 23 kilometers the total length of the TPLEX that is operational following the opening of the 17-kilometer Phase 1A from Tarlac City to Victoria, Pura, then Gerona initially for free to the public.

 

At present, diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corporation (SMC) through its subsidiary and TPLEX concessionaire- Private Infra Dev Corporation, Inc. (PIDC) is working on the 27-kilometer stretch from Paniqui to Moncada in Tarlac then Carmen in Pangasinan including the construction of the 950-meter Agno viaduct.

 

PIDC eyes an April 2014 completion of this section, ahead of its December 2014 estimate.

 

By then, the two-hour travel time from Tarlac to Carmen will be cut to only 30 minutes.

 

Moreover, the remaining 25.83-kilometer part from Urdaneta, Pangasinan to Rosario, La Union will be completed by 2015.

 

From end-to-end, TPLEX will traverse 17 towns and two cities in the provinces of Tarlac, Pangasinan, La Union and Nueva Ecija.

 

It connects the Northern and Central provinces of Luzon to Metro Manila via the North Luzon and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressways.

 

Originally designed as a two-lane road, SMC decided to upgrade the infrastructure to four lanes to ensure road safety and in anticipation of future traffic growth.

 

Once completed, it will cut travel time from Tarlac to La Union to only an hour. (Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu)

JINGGOY PUSHES ANEW FIXED SALARIES, BETTER WORKING CONDITIONS FOR BUS DRIVERS

MANILA-Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada bats for the institutionalization of fixed monthly salaries and better working conditions for the public utility bus drivers, in an effort to promote road safety, improve traffic flow and prevent deadly highway accidents.

 

Sen. Estrada’s proposal is contained in Senate Bill 1372 or the “Bus Drivers and Conductors Compensation Program.”

 

Jinggoy, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development, says that under the current boundary and commission-based compensation, bus drivers outdo and compete with each other and with limited working hours in drawing commuting passengers to ensure a decent daily take home pay for the family.

 

Jinggoy believes this compensation setup breeds a number of inconvenient and unsafe travel conditions for road users like clogged road lanes due to indiscriminate loading of passengers, buses beating speed limits, drivers stretching the work hours for ‘bonus’ pay, among others.

 

Under Senate Bill 1372, salaries of bus drivers should not be less than the prevailing minimum wage rate and must include benefits and incentives.

 

“A simple computation will show that drivers currently earning P900 a day and working more than 12 hours a day for three days a week will receive almost the same income based on the minimum wage for working eight hours a day for six days a week. The difference is that under the proposed act, drivers will get enough rest while operators will spend almost the same amount for salaries,” Jinggoy says in the bill’s explanatory note.

 

The bill also requires the operators of public utility bus service to observe an eight-hour daily work scheme (including at least 1 hour rest period) and two-shift system.

 

Violators of the law shall be meted out a fine of 100,000 to 200,000 pesos, and suspension of the franchise to operate.

 

In a separate proposal also authored by Sen. Estrada, Senate Bill 1378 or the proposed “Comprehensive Assistance Program for Public Utility Vehicle Drivers Act” provides that all public utility bus drivers be covered by the Social Security System (SSS), Philippine Health Insurance System (Philhealth), Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG), and Employees Compensation Commission (ECC).

 

Senate Bill 1378 also seeks to implement a livelihood and credit assistance under Land Transportation Office and in coordination with the Cooperative Development Authority “to improve their socio-economic condition.”

 

Moreover, the bill asks the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in coordination with the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) to undertake a Continuous Education and Skills Development Training Program for public utility vehicle drivers “to enhance their basic and advanced driving competencies, and knowledge on maintenance procedures, driving preparation and post-driving procedure, road safety rules and accident response procedure.”

PRO3 DRUG BUST TAIWANESE NATIONAL

 

CAMP OLIVAS, CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, PAMPANGA- After the successful buy bust operation of PNP personnel which resulted to the seizure of 182 million pesos worth of Shabu from a Chinese National last month, Police Regional Office 3 under the stint of PCSUPT RAUL D PETRASANTA, RD, PRO3 once again proved that PRO3 is stern in its campaign against illegal drugs as a Taiwanese National was arrested in a buy bust operation and his illegal drug laboratory was discovered.

 

On December 20, 2013, at around 12:30 in the afternoon, joint elements of Bulacan PPO Intelligence Branch, Regional Intelligence Division of PRO3, RAIDSOTF3 and PDEA Region 3 conducted buy-bust operation at Nr 35 Catleya Street, Sta Rita Village, Barangay Sta Rita, Guiguinto, Bulacan which resulted in the apprehension of Liu-Zhihua alias Peter Tan Lee, Taiwanese National and a resident said place.

 

Prior to the apprehension of ZHIUHUA, one of the PDEA Agent acted as poseur buyer and bought 100 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) in exchanged for Php 200,000.00 marked money. While the transaction was on –going a few meters away from his rented house, he noticed the presence of other operatives which prompted him to run towards the house. After a brief chase, suspect was cornered inside his rented house and his illegal drug (shabu) laboratory was discovered.

 

Recovered inside the laboratory were different chemicals used in the manufacture of shabu to include the following: a) red phosphorous; b) potassium hydroxide; c) acetic acid; and, d) sodium carbonate. Also, other equipment were seized such as: suction flask and weighing scales. Based on the assessment of the PDEA Agents, the shabu laboratory has a capacity to produce 10 kilograms of shabu within 6 to 8 hours.

 

It was found out that a certain Johny TAN rented said house since September of this year.

 

ZHIUHUA and the seized items are presently under the custody of PDEA Region 3 for proper disposition.

 

            PCSUPT PETRASANTA was once again lauded the operating troops for their successful anti- illegal drug operations and said that series of operations on drug- supply reduction strategy will be carried out in the coming days to maximize efforts to eradicate the proliferation of illegal drugs in the region.

Legarda Welcomes UN Head Ban Ki-moon

Senator Loren Legarda, along with Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario, speaks with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon upon his arrival in Manila on Friday night. Legarda, the UN Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific, thanked the UN Secretary-General for the support given to the Philippines and the humanitarian assistance by various UN agencies for relief and early recovery in areas devastated by typhoon Yolanda. “We believe that his leadership will inspire all sectors to unite and do more, to do better, and to sustain the gains in DRR and CCA, towards building a more resilient nation,” said Legarda.

Drilon: Aquino’s speedy signing of 2014 budget means timely recovery for disaster-stricken areas

MANILA-Senate President Franklin M. Drilon today welcomed the signing of the P2.264 trillion 2014 General Appropriations Act by President Benigno S. “Noynoy” Aquino III, saying that the budget’s approval “should translate to the timely activation of urgently needed services, particularly the rehabilitation of calamity-stricken areas.”      

The Senate leader expressed elation over the speedy approval of the national budget, explaining that the president’s go-signal means that the funding appropriated to agencies involved in the ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts “could be implemented and accessed in time by those who need them.”

Included in the 2014 budget are authorizations worth P100 billion intended for the completion of various relief and rehabilitation programs on regions of the country struck by natural and man-made disasters in the past, especially those in the Visayas region affected by the destruction left by super typhoon Yolanda, stressed Drilon.

It includes the P20 billion rehabilitation fund and another P80 billion under the unprogrammed fund, which shall serve as standby authority and ready authorization for spending for the foreign donations and grants for victims of typhoon Yolanda, he noted.

On top of the P100 billion, the Congress has allocated P13 billion in calamity fund and P4.8 billion in quick response fund. Earlier also, the Congress approved a P14.6 supplemental budget and extended the validity of the remaining P12 billion 2013 calamity funds by another fiscal year, Drilon added. All in all, there will be about P145 billion funds made available in 2014 for the government's rehabilitation of areas damaged by the past calamities, he noted.

“In crafting the budget, the Congress took into consideration the need for urgent aid to our countrymen burdened by the damages of disasters. The sizeable amount of funding is absolutely necessary to equip the government in fulfilling its responsibilities to those left helpless by the calamities,” Drilon pointed out.    

With the budget’s approval, Drilon then expressed optimism that the line agencies in the executive would be able to “maximize the allocated funding in service of the Filipino people, to whom the budget is wholly intended for.”

“We will exercise our oversight functions to ensure that every single peso in the budget goes towards the benefit of our countrymen,” assured Drilon.

NUEVA ECIJA YEAR-ENDER: UMALIS SUFFER MIX FORTUNES, SANTI DESTROYS P3-B CROPS

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija – The Year of the Water Snake in Nueva Ecija has been a mix of the good and the bad, with the province - the country’s rice granary getting battered by calamities that destroyed billions of crops - some former local officials getting linked to suspected pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles and the Umalis suffering contrasting fortunes in their respective electoral bids in May.

          The destruction wreaked by typhoon Santi in October topped all other news in the province over the past 12 months. The super howler killed at least three people and destroyed P3 billion worth of crops alone, not to mention damage to properties, toppling power lines and turning many areas in the province into virtual wastelands.

          The province was placed under a state of calamity and President Aquino was supposed to pay a visit when an earthquake struck Bohol, diverting Malacanang’s attention away.

          The province just barely survived Labuyo when Santi came. For three full weeks, the province was without power. 

          On the political front, Gov. Aurelio Umali and his wife, third district Rep. Czarina won third terms in their posts, the former pulling off his fourth poll victory over the Josons, the once proud and mighty dynasty that ruled the province for 48 years.

          A third Umali, Board Member Emmanuel Antonio, however, lost in his mayoral bid in Cabanatuan to five-term Mayor Julius Cesar Vergara in their highly anticipated duel preceded by a prolonged word war over the Highly Urbanized City bid being pushed by the incumbent mayor. In April, Vergara and his men were charged with theft before the city prosecutor’s office for allegedly stealing the video camera of a crew from TV 48 identified with the Umalis’ camp.

Emmanuel Antonio’s debacle dealt the Umalis – unbeaten since they entered politics a decade ago – their first electoral defeat.

          Aurelio’s running mate, Vice Gov. Jose Gay Padiernos also breezed through reelection and became the first non-Umali to beat a Joson in positions involving the Capitol.

          Year 2013 saw the emergence of new political stars in the province such as Estrellita Suansing of the first district who beat a Joson and Magnolia Antonino-Nadres of the fourth district who survived a disqualification case thrown against her by a political rival for being an American citizen.

          Womanization of Nueva Ecija politics has become a byword after several women politicians soundly defeated their male counterparts in the various elective posts. Three of four congressional districts are now ruled by women while three of five cities are now sitting as mayors, the most prominent of whom is Adrianne Mae Cuevas of the provincial capital Palayan where she defeated a former political kingpin who once reigned as mayor and congressman for three terms each.

          Shortly after getting reelected, the governor announced that his wife Czarina is seeking the governorship in 2016.

            The year saw the rise and fall of dynasties.

          The start of 2013 saw the appointment of a Novo Ecijano as the new provincial director of the Philippine National Police. Senior Superintendent Crizaldo Nieves assumed the post in January, replacing Walter Castillejos who has barely warmed his seat.

  

        Nieves, a native of Zaragoza town, survived an acid test with the generally peaceful and orderly conduct of the elections in spite of the fact that 60% of the cities and towns were tagged as hot spots and Governor Umali aired concern over the defective precinct count optical machines (PCOS).

          The months before and after the elections were marked by several incidents. Shortly after the polls, the municipal hall in San Antonio town got burned in a fire, leaving the new Mayor Antonino Lustre with no office.

Prior to the polls, the former three-term mayor of Gapan City, Ernesto Natividad, was arrested while undergoing dialysis treatment in a Manila hospital. He was believed to have gone into hiding after he was charged with multiple murder along with several others in connection with the attack on a cockpit arena owned by his political rival in 2006.

A flood of sympathy went his daughter Maricel’s way, catapulting the latter into a surprise victory over incumbent Mayor Christian Tinio. The younger Natividad would pull off another surprise, getting married to former San Leonardo mayor Froilan Nagano who just blew his congressional bid.

Violence erupted in Gapan in August when four persons were massacred following an attack by gunmen. The target of the attack, Emerson Pascual survived and tagged barangay chairman Montano Barlis as the one who shot his group. Barlis was later arrested while Pascual was later elected barangay chairman of Pambuan in October.

Later, the election officer of Gapan also got wounded in an ambush, prompting Padiernos to summon the local police to shed light on the situation. The police chief was later relieved.   

In May, forester Edgardo de Luna survived an attack by suspected illegal logging syndicates. He was again attacked in June and survived. He was later transferred to another region.

Power was cut off in Pantabangan town in March by the First Gen. Hydropower Corp. allegedly over the failure of the municipal government-owned Pantabangan Municipal Electrification System (Pames) to settle over P50 million worth of unpaid bills. It was the third power cut off in eight months and it was costly for the sitting mayor. who lost as a result.

Also in March, Vice Mayor Ester Lazaro assumed the post of Mayor of the Science City of Munoz after the sitting mayor, Efren Alvarez lost a graft conviction case before the Supreme Court. Alvarez later went missing after a warrant for his arrest was issued. His younger brother,  comebacking former three-term mayor Nestor, trounced Lazaro in the May polls.                           

Aside from Alvarez, quite a number of local officials also faced charges. Mayor Richard Ramos of Lupao, Mayor Lucio Uera of Pantabangan and others were slapped graft charges.

At least five former municipal mayors, four in southern Nueva Ecija, were identified as having requested in 2006 funding assistance from then-agriculture secretary Arthur Yap. The letters ended up with Napoles’ office at Discovery Suites. The ex-mayors denied receiving the funds.

Napoles was also said to have owned a resort in Cabiao town but local officials had no knowledge that it actually exists.

In July, Novo Ecijanos lost a kababayan in the Cabinet when Antonio Nangel was replaced as administrator of the National Irrigation Administration barely a week after getting scolded by President Aquino. His successor Claro Maranan later relieved six division managers in the province. (Manny Galvez)  

Legarda Welcomes Visit to PH of UN Head Ban Ki-moon

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda today welcomed the visit to the Philippines of United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) Ban Ki-moon, stressing that it would help boost the country’s disaster resiliency initiatives especially in light of the recent devastation brought by Typhoon Yolanda.

Legarda, UN Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific, said that the UNSG’s presence sends a strong message of hope for affected communities and highlights the need to build back better, stronger and wiser.

“We appreciate UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s personal visit to the Philippines and his concern for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda. This is an opportunity to thank the UNSG for the support given to our nation and the humanitarian assistance facilitated by various UN agencies for relief and early recovery in communities devastated by the typhoon,” she said.

“We believe that his leadership will inspire all sectors to unite and do more, to do better, and to sustain the gains in DRR and CCA, towards building a more resilient nation,” she added.

The Senator also noted that Secretary-General Ban’s visit is a strong support for the government’s continuing work to encourage local government units and the private sector to prioritize programs that would make the nation disaster resilient.

Legarda, author of the Philippine Climate Change Act and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, stressed that the private sector’s role in building resilient communities is crucial to prevent substantial business losses and economic development setbacks resulting from disasters of unprecedented scale.

“As DRR is everybody’s business, we anticipate the UNSG’s call for action not only for the national and local governments but for the business sector as well. The private sector is encouraged to work with the government in constructing homes, schools, hospitals and buildings that are safe and secure amidst natural hazards, and in designing and constructing roads, bridges and other infrastructure that help spur economic growth with disaster risk reduction in mind,” she said.

As UN Champion and Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, Legarda has spearheaded an information and education campaign through   the conduct of regional DRR workshops for local leaders, private sector, civil society organizations, the academe and the youth. She also facilitated the distribution of geo-hazard maps and the Disaster Preparedness and First Aid Handbook to LGUs, among other initiatives.

Senate introduces reforms to maritime industry to prevent blacklisting of Filipino seafarers

MANILA-Alarmed by the report of possible blacklisting of Filipino seafaring officers by the European Union, Senate President Franklin M. Drilon urged the swift passage of a bill which seeks to transfer all functions pertaining to training and certification of over 400,000 Filipino seafarers to one central agency, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).

In his sponsorship speech, Drilon warned over possible repercussions of the country’s failure to comply with the 2010 Manila Amendments to the “1978 International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention).

At present, the STCW functions are lodged in various agencies such as the Philippine Regulatory Commission, Commission of Higher Education, Department of Science and Technology, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and National Telecommunication Commission.

The present practice, according to Drilon, is not consistent with the STCW Convention. “Our seafarers face an imminent threat that, if not addressed urgently, will in all likelihood capsize our maritime industry,” said Drilon.

It can be recalled that the European Union (EU) has recently expressed its inclination to blacklist Filipino seafarers from EU-flagged vessels, blaming the country’s unsatisfactory and incomplete observance of the STCW Convention. The STCW Convention sets the global minimum qualifications for masters, officers and watch personnel engaged in international shipping.

The Senate chief said that employment bans on Filipino seafarers would cause sizeable damage to the Philippine economy: “We have to remember that remittances from sea-based workers – which reached $5 billion in 2012 and for this year alone, is already worth $1.2 billion – keep our economy afloat by fueling domestic consumption, preventing foreign exchange instability, and serving as a buffer against inflation of the peso.”

He added that the blacklisting by the EU could “terribly upset” the country’s position in the global maritime professional industry, and “would negatively affect the estimated 400,000 Filipino sea-based workers employed worldwide.”

“There is a need to align our maritime regulatory system with the international standards and practices,” he added.   

To prevent such ban and its negative consequences from happening, the Senate Bill No. 2043 seeks to consolidate the functions relating to the country’s compliance with the SCTW Convention in one agency which is the MARINA.

“The Senate Bill No. 2043 will address the aforementioned concerns through the introduction of major structural changes to our maritime regulatory system that will address the inefficiencies in the current scheme and will therefore ensure our country’s complete compliance with the STCW Convention,” explained Drilon.

“By designating the MARINA as the sole maritime administrative agency empowered to enact uniform rules and regulations governing global maritime professionals and to regularly monitor our conformity with the STCW Convention, we can now meet standards and avert employment bans,” Drilon said. 

Drilon then called for the measure’s swift passage, explaining that the urgent implementation of SBN 2043 will “positively influence” the ongoing audit report being prepared by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), which will determine if the country is indeed in conformity to the STCW Convention. 

REGIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL FORMED TO ASSIST PRO3

CAMP OLIVAS, CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, PAMPANGA- To further sustain and improve the PNP P.A.T.R.O.L (Peace and Order Agenda for Transformation and Upholding of the Rule of Law) 2030 in support to the implementation of the Philippine National Police Integrated Transformation Program-Performance Governance System (PNP ITP-PGS) 2030, Police Regional Office 3 under the leadership of PCSUPT RAUL D PETRASANTA, RD, PRO3 has formed the Regional Advisory Council composed of prominent personalities in Central Luzon and took their oath on December 17, 2013 at the PRO3 Post Conference Room, Camp Olivas, City of San Fernando, Pampanga.

            Gov Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado of Bulacan is appointed Chairman of the RAC while Napolcom3 Regional Director Atty. Manuel L. Pontanal is the Vice Chairman. Among the sectoral personalities appointed as members are Mr. Jose B. Tan (business sector), Atty. Emmanuel Y. Angeles (Chairman, Angeles University Foundation), Mr. Teodoro M. Gatchalian (TESDA Regional Director), Hon. Vilma  Caluag(President, Mother Teresa of Calcutta Hospital), Dr. Rowena M. Mangubat, M.D. (President, AUF Medical Center), Rev. Msgr. Eugenio Mercado, Jr. (Religious Sector) and Mr. Ric Sapnu (Media Sector).

            The Regional Advisory Council serves as an advisory body of the PNP and are significantly crucial to the implementation of the Philippine National Police Integrated Transformation Program-Performance Governance System (PNP ITP-PGS 2030).

            The institutionalization of Performance Governance System in the Philippine National Police is an important undertaking of PNPs enhancement of its role in the country’s Global Competitiveness index, through the vital involvement of the Regional Advisory Council, which aimed at making good governance a shared responsibility between the PNP and the stakeholders.

Legarda Warns of Less Rice Due to Climate Change

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda today said that the increasing global temperature is seen to bring about a decrease in production of rice and several essential crops, stressing that with the absence of robust adaptation strategies, climate change will further imperil the country’s food security.

“A 2009 study by the Asian Development Bank showed that rice yield in the Philippines can decline by 75% in 2100 with the lack of climate change adaptation programs. The typhoons, floods and droughts from 1970 to 1990 resulted in an 82.4% loss in total Philippine rice production,” said Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change.

“President Benigno Aquino declared 2013 as National Year of Rice. This declaration underscores the need to achieve rice sufficiency and to address the concerns of our agricultural sector. We take note that an added challenge to our rice and food security is the wastage of cooked rice,” she said.

Legarda cited 2008 statistics from the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, which showed that each Filipino wastes an average of two tablespoons of cooked rice daily. When put together, this wastage could feed about 2.6 million Filipinos for one year.

One of the solutions suggested by the Philippine Rice Research Institute is the proposed one-half cup of rice default serving size in the food service industry.

“Our citizens should also be conscious of their consumption of rice in their respective homes. The government’s efforts should be paralleled with support from the private sector and our citizens,” said Legarda.

“Meanwhile, to support our agriculture sector, we must ensure more investments in agricultural research and infrastructure, improve water governance and land use policies, provide better forecasting tools and early warning systems, create a strengthened extension system that will assist farmers to achieve economic diversification, and access to credit and crop insurance,” she added.

The Senator also noted the cultural significance of rice, which is highlighted in a newly opened exhibition by the National Museum, “Rice, Biodiversity and Climate Change: Celebrating the National Year of Rice”.

The exhibit reveals the value of rice even in the early Philippine society. It also communicates the need to address biodiversity loss and climate change in relation to rice production, especially that only two of the 20 rice species are being cultivated, an indication that varietal decline and species loss are inevitable.

“I enjoin everyone to appreciate what we are blessed with and translate this appreciation into concrete actions to mitigate climate change, protect our natural resources, and preserve our heritage. We need to take aggressive and immediate action to adapt to the changing climate, prevent further rise in global temperature, provide better support for our agriculture sector or prepare ourselves for meals with no rice at all,” Legarda concluded.

Rent control deemed extended

MANILA-Senators yesterday hailed a resolution adopted by a housing agency chaired by Vice President Jejomar Binay to extend the Rent Control Act by two years to Dec. 31, 2015.

The move by the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council to extend the life of Republic Act 9653, which is to expire at the end of the year, was learned in yesterday’s hearing by the Senate Committee on Housing on a bill seeking the same purpose.

Bill author Sen. Ralph Recto said HUDCC is authorized under Section 6 of RA 9635  “to continue the regulation of rental of certain residential units including subsequent extensions and even the adjustment of the yearly rate increase.”

Recto described the HUDCC resolution of Dec. 16, 2014 as the “fast-track mode” of extending the Rent Control Act.

“The slow-track, of course, is through legislation. But there is one convincing school of thought which believes that such is no longer needed once HUDCC exercises the authority delegated to it by RA 9653 to extend its effectivity,” Recto said.

The housing body’s move, Recto said, “was in exercise of its mandate and an implementation of a specific command of the law.”

But to stamp the HUDCC resolution with a “congressional seal of approval,” Recto said what Congress can do “is pass a resolution expressing its conformity.”

HUDCC officials who attended yesterday’s meeting chaired by Sen. JV Ejercito conveyed Binay’s request for a congressional resolution to validate and strengthen HUDCC’s move.

Saying “there is no harm in redundancy,” Recto supported  Binay’s request while insisting “that  the extension should not be contingent upon the passage of the requested congressional resolution.

With RA 9653’s looming expiration, Recto filed last month a bill extending its life to 2017.  

Under the bill, the rent on a dwelling cannot be increased by more than seven percent annually, provided it is occupied by the same lessee and the monthly rent is not more than P10,000 if in Metro Manila and P5,000 if located in areas outside of it.

A dwelling is defined as a house, apartment unit, condominium, boarding house, room, dormitory unit, and even a bed space.

Recto said his bill will not dampen the investments needed to reduce the housing backlog as residential units leased for more than P10,000 a month in NCR and P5,000 in areas outside of it are exempt.

“Units being rented above the said amounts are deregulated,” he said.

“We are only protecting the middle class and the poor and not some rich guy who has the money to rent a Forbes Park mansion,” Recto said.

A 2010 government survey showed that there were 2,448,778 families who lived in rented units.

For these lessees, “rent accounts for 13 percent of the average household income, ranking next to food and ahead of education and health.”     

“Rent control is a mechanism that ensures affordable housing in the Philippines. It also safeguards qualified lessees from arbitrary rent increases and corollary ejection,” Recto said. 

Filipino Peacekeepers Receive UN Service Medals

Lieutenant Colonel Nolie L Anquillano receives his UN Service Medal from AFP Chief of Staff General Emmanuel T Bautista in an awarding ceremony for the 6^th Philippine Contingent to Golan Heights and Liberia that was held today, December 18, at the GHQ Grandstand.

Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City—With a sigh of relief, Filipino peacekeepers formally reunited with their families and received today, December 18, their United Nations Service Medal after more than a year of deployment to Golan Heights and Liberia.

The peacekeepers were welcomed by the AFP Chief of Staff General Emmanuel T Bautista who also congratulated them for accomplishing their mission despite constant threats on their safety.

The 332-strong 6^th Philippine Contingent to Golan Heights, led by LtCol Nolie L Anquillano, finished their one-year deployment after receiving world-wide attention with two incidents of being held in captivity by Syrian rebels in March and in May this year.

Despite being released safely on both occasions, questions on their immediate pull-out were raised. The Philippine government continued the all-Philippine Army contingent’s deployment after the UN agreed to bolster the safety of the UN peacekeeping force.

A posthumous award was also conferred to Sgt Benson Angot who died of malaria on October 22 while on his duty in Golan Heights. His wife, Rodalyn Angot, received the award for the fallen soldier.

Meanwhile, the 115-strong 17^th Philippine Contingent to Liberia (PCL), which was deployed in July last year, completed their mission of assisting in the maintenance of law and order in the country following a ceasefire that ended the Second Liberian Civil War. The all-Philippine Air Force contingent was led by its contingent commander, Col Fidel Igmedio T Cruz Jr.

Both contingents performed peacekeeping duties including manning and patrolling operating foot and mobile patrols day and night, VIP protection, and other administrative roles.

Peacekeepers Held Hostage Twice

In March and in May this year, a total of 25 peacekeepers were captured by Syrian rebels while performing their duties near high-risk conflict areas near Syria.

A group of 21 contingents led by Army Major Dominador Valerio was stopped by Syrian rebels on their way back from  a supply run in Al Jamlah village on March 6. The peacekeepers were later released near the Jordanian border on March 11 after a series of negotiations with officials from the UN Disengagement Force.

Meanwhile on May 7, four peacekeepers led by Cpt Arlis Jardin were taken by Syrian rebels while on reconnaissance and static observation mission. With the help of Col Cirilito Sobejana, Chief of Staff of UNDOF and Commander of the Philippine Peacekeeping Force in Golan Heights; Syrian Arab Red Crescent Movement; and UNDOF negotiators, the peacekeepers were released on May 12.