Legarda: Time to Climate-Proof Energy Sector, Prioritize RE Development

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda today renewed her call for more investments in renewable energy as part of a long-term solution to the growing power needs of the country and to mitigate the effects of environmental degradation and climate change.

Legarda, the United Nations Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific, made the call at the Clean Technology Congress 2014 organized by ThomasLloyd in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

“The aftermath of Haiyan was an eye-opener for us Filipinos. The devastation it caused made us realize that we need to climate- and disaster-proof our energy sector,” Legarda said.

Typhoon Haiyan left more than 6,000 dead and nearly 2,000 missing. Damages and losses are estimated at P571.1 billion (equivalent to USD 12.9 billion).[1]

Legarda, co-author and co-sponsor of the Philippine Renewable Energy Law, noted that the Philippines has already established a legal framework that provides for necessary policy mechanisms for the development of the country’s renewable energy resources.

“We have the laws in place, namely, the Philippine Biofuels Act and the Renewable Energy Act. These laws are there and it is only a matter of operationalizing and implementing them,” she said.

The Biofuels Act mandates the blending of biodiesel and ethanol in locally-distributed diesel and gasoline, while the Renewable Energy Law institutionalizes the use and development of renewable energy.

“We should take advantage of the current increased interest in renewable energy. We must encourage more investments on RE because the Philippines is abundant in such. It is second in geothermal energy use and studies show that we have more than 200,000 potential renewable energy resources that remain untapped,” Legarda noted.

“Even the Asian Development Bank acknowledges that there is an increase in clean energy investment in the Asia-Pacific region, attracting USD 101 billion of investments in clean energy for the year 2012 alone,” she added.

“It is about time that we take a consistent and deliberate effort to develop our own energy resources in ways that we can guarantee the future generations of Filipinos a legacy of clean, reliable and affordable energy,” Legarda added.

Aside from Legarda, the event brought together world-renowned speakers Dr. Justin Yifu Lin, former Chief Economist and Vice President of the World Bank; Professor Peter Guthrie, Professor of Engineering for Sustainable Development at the University of Cambridge; and former US President Bill Clinton.

Dr. Lin discussed about the “golden age of Asia” and its growth potential, while Professor Guthrie touched on the need to re-evaluate the concept of the “grid-based” energy model, encouraging the use of renewable energy in off-grid areas.

President Clinton, on the other hand, stressed the need to enhance one’s “relationship with the planet” by means of reducing emissions and promoting investments in the development of renewable energy sources, most especially in solar energy and biomass.

Fund lack dims Ecija town’s bid to revert to old name

GEN. TINIO, Nueva Ecija – The municipal government’s once-determined  bid to revert to its old name Papaya has dimmed due to lack of funds.

          Vice Mayor Ferdinand Bote said they need P2.5 million to push through with a referendum on the proposal to rename the town. “We have no money to conduct the referendum so this proposal is almost gone,” Bote said.

          Bote was referring to a six-year-old proposal seeking to have the town renamed into Papaya. The proposal was contained in a resolution passed in 2008 by the previous municipal council chaired by Bote and approved by Mayor Virgilio Bote.

          The resolution was forwarded to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan by the Bote administration.

          Mayor Bote said that for over 166 years of the town’s recorded existence as a community, its people and those from other parts of the country and even abroad affectionately refer to the town as Papaya and its citizens as Papayanos. He said it is sovereign upon the citizens of Gen. Tinio to adopt a name fitting and appropriate which relates to “our hearts, customs and traditions, and which embodies our aspirations, hopes and dreams.”

          This town, named after the great Novo Ecijano General Manuel Bundoc-Tinio, was originally known as Barrio de Papaya of the nearby town of Peñaranda. In the bell of the old Catholic Church, the words “Barrio de Papaya 1875” were inscribed as well as in the oldest written biography of Mamerto Ramos Padolina who was born in the town in 1845.

          The barrio was officially declared as the municipality of Papaya on January 7,1921.

          In 1957, then-Nueva Ecija second district Rep. Celestino Juan sponsored in the Third Congress House Bill 4692 changing the name of the municipality into Gen. Tinio in honor of the general, who took part in the 1896 Revolution against Spain. On June 20 of that same year, Papaya was officially renamed General Tinio by virtue of Republic Act 1665.    

          The proposal to rename this town into Papaya first came out during a joint executive-legislative meeting on  January 14,2008 by the municipal government. During the meeting, presided by Mayor Bote, development plans were laid out, including the possible conversion of the town into a city in 10 years.

          On October 13,2008, the Sangguniang Bayan passed Resolution 117 recommending to the SP to revert the town’s name into Papaya.

          The issue stirred a controversy in 2010 after the resolution got stalled in the SP, prompting Mayor Bote to assail his ally Vice Gov. Jose Gay Padiernos and other SP members, accusing them of sleeping on the job. He subsequently resigned as president of the provincial chapter of the League of Municipalities and as a member of the Unang Sigaw Partido ng Pagbabago of Gov. Aurelio Umali and Padiernos allegedly over the SP’s foot-dragging on the issue.

          Padiernos denied sitting on the proposal, saying there were processes to be followed in the approval of resolutions emanating from the respective municipal and city councils in the province.

          Vice Mayor Bote said m,uch as they would want to push through with the referendum, one of the requirements by the Commission on Elections before it could revert to its old name, there was not enough resources to do so. (Manny Galvez) 

Jinggoy: PHL must use UN resolution to advance Filipinas’ rights abroad

MANILA-The United Nations’ recent adoption of a resolution on women migrant workers fosters an enabling environment for better international labor diplomacy, which the Philippines must thus maximize to advance the rights of the more than one million Filipinas abroad.

 

This was underscored by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, chairman of the Committee on Labor and Human Resources Development, as he lauded the UN General Assembly’s adoption of Resolution 68/137 on violence against women migrant workers last December 18 during its 68th plenary session.

 

The resolution seeks to protect women living and working abroad, underscoring the promotion of their rights and privileges as well as the cooperation and shared responsibility of countries of origin, transit, and destination to create an environment conducive to their welfare.

 

It urges all countries to grant women migrant workers access to gender-sensitive and transparent mechanisms for airing their problems pertaining to status of contracts, working conditions or labor issues, and advises governments to encourage those concerned, especially the private sector and job agencies involved in recruitment, to focus on funding support for women migrant workers.

 

All governments are likewise urged to consider permitting women migrant workers who are victims of violence to apply for residency permits independently of abusive employers or spouses, and to eliminate abusive sponsorship systems.

 

It welcomes the entry into force on September 5, 2013 of International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention No. 189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers and encourages States to ratify it.

 

The resolution was initiated by the Philippines and Indonesia and was co-sponsored by 53 countries from all regions of the world.

 

Also approved during the UN session were the following resolutions that benefit women: Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; Improvement of the situation of women in rural areas; and Follow-up to the 4th World Conference on Women and full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

 

Based on records, there are about 1.03 million female Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), and more than 100,000 of these are domestic workers. Over the years, there have been numerous reports of Filipinas getting exploited and abused abroad.

 

“I understand that our government has been encountering some difficulties in negotiating with other governments for ample protection and better working conditions for migrant Filipina workers. The UN’s adoption of Resolution 68/137 as well as the other women-oriented resolutions will greatly help us in this effort,” Estrada said.

Legarda: Learn from Past Disasters to Build a Resilient Future

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda today stressed on the need to lessen the necessity for disaster relief by making good use of lessons learned from past disasters to build a resilient future for Filipinos.

Legarda, who chairs the Senate Committee on Climate Change, said that as a country exposed to storms, the Philippines should now be typhoon-resilient at the very least.

“We should now be experts in preparing for typhoons. After all, we have already experienced Ondoy, Pepeng, Pablo and Sendong. Unfortunately, Yolanda happened and we only realize that we have yet to do what we ought to do,” she said.

The Senator pointed out that when disaster strikes a part of the nation, it does not only affect that particular area, it also impacts the economy, which in turn affects everyone in the country.

She noted that losses due to Yolanda are estimated at Php571 billion, which represents close to five percent of the Philippines annual GDP. Meanwhile, for this century, global losses from disasters are in the range of $2.5 trillion.

Legarda cited five major factors that contribute to the country’s vulnerability to natural hazards. These are: ecosystems decline, exposure of economic assets, poverty, rapid growth of cities, and climate change.

She also shared five points to overcome these vulnerabilities through an environmental program audit, risk-sensitive planning and investment, strengthening social protection, advancing economic and business resilience, and promoting community resilience.

“As a fundamental development strategy, building resilience would help our government sustain the country’s socio-economic gains, make a difference in poverty reduction, and eventually ensure the achievement of sustainable development goals,” said Legarda.

“Tragedies such as Ondoy, Sendong and Yolanda create the context for learning and growing. It is these disasters that make us resilient. It is our shared memory of death, loss and survival that should drive us to build a resilient future,” she concluded.

Courtesy Call of New US Ambassador

Senator Loren Legarda received US Ambassador Philip S. Goldberg for a courtesy call at her Senate Office on 17 January 2014. Senator Legarda discussed with Ambassador Goldberg the status of US-Philippine cooperation in the field of disaster risk reduction, defense and inter-country abduction. 

“Dugo ng Buhay”: A Joint blood Letting Activity at 7ID

FORT RAMON MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija – The 7^th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division commanded by Maj Gen Hernando DCA Iriberri AFP and Japan Association of Novo Ecijanos (JANE) headed by Miss Mari “Mayang” Bernabe-Nihei, Association President, conducted a joint bloodletting activity with theme dubbed as “Dugo ng Buhay” held at Kaugnay Officers Clubhouse here, today (January 21, 2013).

The activity was made possible with the support and cooperation of the Central Luzon Media Association; Kaugnay Media Defense Corps; Order of the Amaranth, District V, Central Luzon; Japan Nueva Ecija Foundation; Pacific Guarantee Tax Refund of Naoji Kataoka, Japan; NPO and Pinoy Banzai TV Japan; Golden Beans and Grains Multi-Purpose Cooperative; Cabanatuan City Bankers Club; Rotary Club of Cabanatuan City; and Philippine Red Cross – Nueva Ecija Chapter. 

A total of 72 bags or 32,400 cc of fresh blood were successfully extracted from 90 donors coming from the media, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), and 7ID organic personnel Candidate Soldier trainees.

In his remarks, Lt Col Michael G Samson, the Assistant Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operations expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the members of the media, NGOs, and the Association of Novo Ecijanos in Japan headed by Miss Bernabe-Nihei, who readily supported the successful conduct of the activity. He ended his message by urging everyone present to nurture the molded partnership by venturing into similar activities and endeavor.

PRO3 DRUG BUST NETS SEVEN

            SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga- Police Regional Office 3 under the stint of PCSUPT Raul D Petrasanta, Regional Director, Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) once again proved that PRO3 is stern in its campaign against illegal drugs. Various accomplishments on drug- supply reduction strategy were accomplished by PRO3 through series of drug operations conducted by Nueva Ecija Provincial Police Office which resulted in the arrest of seven (7) suspected drug pushers and confiscation from their possession of numerous illegal drugs and illegal firearms.

         

          On January 18, 2014, elements of Gen. Tinio Police Station conducted Anti-Illegal Drug operation in Brgy Padolina, Gen Tinio, Nueva Ecija that resulted in the arrest of Norman Evangelista y Bulacan, a resident of Brgy Concepcion, General Tinio, Nueva Ecija  and Alexander Bote y Reyes, a resident of Brgy Padolina, General Tinio, Nueva Ecija and the confiscation/seizure from their possession of one (1) small heat sealed transparent plastic sachet containing “Shabu”  weighing more or less  0.31 grams with an estimated market value of five thousand pesos (Php 5,000.00.); two(2) small heat sealed transparent plastic sachet Methamphetamine hydrochloride commonly known as “shabu” weighing more or less 0.03 grams and 0.02 grams with an estimated market value of five hundred pesos (Php 500.00) each; one (1) caliber .38 revolver snub-nosed (paltik) without serial number with three (3) live ammos for caliber 38.

 

            Likewise, on same date, elements of San Jose CPS conducted Anti-Illegal Drugs Operation at Daang Maharlika, Brgy. Malasin, San Jose City that resulted to the arrest of Arnold Serrano y Tabunan,  a resident of Brgy. Baloc, Sto Domingo, Nueva Ecija and confiscated from his possession is one (1) heat sealed transparent plastic sachet of suspected Methamphetamine Hydrochloride commonly known as “shabu” and five hundred pesos (Php 500.00) used as marked money. 

 

            Elements of San Leonardo MPS also conducted buy bust operation at Barangay Mallorca, San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija on same date that resulted to the arrest of Roberto Elvambuena y Paras @ Obet, a resident of Barangay Burgos, San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija and the confiscation/seizure of one (1) small heat sealed plastic transparent sachet of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride commonly known as “shabu” weighing more or less 0.21grams with an estimated market value of one thousand pesos(Php 1,000.00)

 

          Moreover, on January 17, 2014, a buy bust operation was conducted by elements of PIB-PAIDSOTF at Purok 3 Brgy. Imelda, Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija that resulted in the arrest of Cristal Estares y Mallari @ Istal and Christian Estares y Mallari @ Itan, both residents of Purok 2 Brgy Imelda, Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija and confiscation from their possession of ten (10) pcs of small heat sealed transparent plastic sachets of suspected shabu; one (1) pc one hundred peso bill; and one (1) pc two hundred peso bill.         

 

            Consequently on same date, elements of INTEL/DEU of Cabanatuan City Police Station conducted Anti-Illegal Drugs Operation (Buy-Bust) at De Guzman St., Kap. Pepe, Cabanatuan City that resulted in the arrest of Loreta Mactal y Francisco @ Lorie, a resident of Brgy. MS Garcia, Cabanatuan City and confiscation/seizure of fifteen (15) pieces of small heat sealed transparent plastic sachets of suspected Methamphetamine Hydrochloride commonly known as “shabu” with an estimated market value of thirty two - thousand pesos (Php32,000.00) and  five hundred peso bill (Php 500.00) marked money.

 

            Appropriate charges are being readied against arrested suspects and seized evidence are under the custody of Nueva Ecija Police Crime Laboratory Office for laboratory examination.

 

            Operating troops were once again lauded for their successful anti- illegal drug operations.

 

            Further, PCSupt Petrasanta 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.

BATAS KASAMBAHAY UP FOR INITIAL ASSESSMENT

MANILA-One year upon the enactment of the Batas Kasambahay, Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada is calling for a nationwide policy evaluation to know how effective the law has been in terms of addressing the concerns and providing relief to domestic workers.

 

“How many domestic workers are now registered with the Social Security System, Philhealth, and Pag-IBIG and are enjoying these social security benefits? How many barangays are now maintaining a Registry of Domestic Workers in their jurisdiction? What is the compliance rate among employers regarding the new minimum wage rates for their kasambahay?” Jinggoy asked as he referred to several directives provided by the law.

 

Batas Kasambahay, formally known as Republic Act 10361 or the Act Instituting Policies for the Protection and Welfare of Domestic Workers, was signed into law last January 18, 2013.

 

“I cannot deny the fact that we should amend and insert new provisions to the existing law to further ensure that its objectives of better working conditions and humane treatment for domestic workers are fully realized,” said Sen. Estrada, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development and principal author and sponsor of the measure.

 

Jinggoy relayed the message to the participants of the first Kasambahay Summit held in Bacoor, Cavite last Saturday which coincided with the first anniversary of the enactment of RA 10361.

 

Sen. Estrada also welcomed inputs and feedback from concerned stakeholders regarding the implementation of the “Batas Kasambahay” in view of strengthening the law that provides benefits and privileges and establishes standards for the employment of domestic workers.

 

“I hope that you will share the results and recommendations emerging from this summit, to enlighten the policymakers as to what specific stipulation needs to be improved, deleted and revised,” Sen. Estrada said.

 

Recently, a bill was proposed in the Senate which will provide 20% discount for medicines and medical and dental services for the domestic workers and their families. Another bill was filed which seeks to grant tax incentives up to 20,000 pesos for employers for expenses incurred for education and training of household helpers.

 

Sen. Estrada urged other local government units to hold their own Kasambahay Summit to monitor the execution and effectiveness of the law.

 

In his video message shown during the event, Sen. Estrada recounted the rough road he has to tread and how he endured criticisms and negative commentary as he persistently pushed for the passage of this landmark measure for years.

 

“Sanay na po ako sa mga batikos, insulto at mga walang basehang akusasyon. Pero hindi po ako nawalan ng lakas ng loob dahil alam kong nasa likod ko ang humigit-kumulang na dalawang milyong mga kasambahay at mga employer na may malasakit sa mga kasambahay. Masigasig kong isinulong na maipasa ang batas na ito sa Kongreso dahil alam kong ito ay positibong magbibigay proteksyon para sa mga kasambahay,” Jinggoy recalled.

Rehab funds in national budget carry “do not plunder” warning

MANILA-The Senate has erected a “do not plunder” sign in the P20 billion fund to rehabilitate Yolanda-hit and quake-damaged areas in the Visayas.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said that a special provision of the P20 billion budget for Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program in the 2014 national budget inflicts long jail terms and hefty fines for those who will embezzle rebuilding funds.

The provision states that “any government official, employee and person who shall misuse any amount of the fund under his control or administration shall suffer the maximum penalty imposed under the Revised Penal Code, Republic Act 3019, Republic Act 7080 and under penal laws.”

Under RA 7080, or the Anti-Plunder Law, life imprisonment and a life-time ban on holding public office shall be meted out to any person who amasses at least P75 million in bribes or kickbacks from government projects.

Republic Act 3019 punishes graft and corrupt practices with imprisonment of up to 10 years, a perpetual ban from occupying public office and confiscation of unexplained wealth manifestly out of proportion of the guilty official’s lawful income.

Stealing a measly P200 in public money, on the other hand, will result in prison time of between six months and six years under the Revised Penal Law.

Recto praised Sen. Chiz Escudero, chair of the Senate finance committee, for drafting the language of this “plunder warning” provision. 

“This is the first time that a provision of this nature has been incorporated in the national budget and this is thanks to Senator Chiz,” Recto said.

“Sa simpleng salita, may matinding babala sa budget na mabubulok sa kulungan ang sino mang magnanakaw ng pondo para sa mga sinalanta ng bagyo at lindol,” Recto explained.

After a series of man-made and natural calamities hit the country on the second half of last year, Recto said the Senate, by cutting the fat and trimming the overhead of some government agencies and programs, cobbled together a P20 billion fund for the rebuilding of disaster-hit areas.

Covered by the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program are reconstruction works in areas devastated by typhoons Yolanda, Santi, Odette, Sendong, Vinta and Labuyo; by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake in Bohol and Cebu; and civil strife in Zamboanga City.

Under the 2014 General Appropriations Act, the funds shall be released directly to implementing agencies based on the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and upon the approval of President Aquino.

Earmarked to receive the funds are the Department of Agriculture (P500 million), Department of Education (P1 billion), Department of Energy (P500 million), State Universities and Colleges (P3 billion), Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (P1 billion), Department of Health (P1 billion).

Department of Public Works and Highways  (P5 billion), National Housing Authority  (P1.5 billion), Department of Social Welfare and Development (P3.5 billion), Department of Transportation and Communications (P1 billion) and local governments ( P2 billion).

These agencies are required to post in their respective websites the description of the projects, the cost, the winning bidders and the status of their implementation.

Recto explained that the rehabilitation and reconstruction fund is but one of the budgetary sources of reconstruction money. The others are the P13 billion Calamity Fund and P80 billion in the Unprogrammed Fund.

He said the “plunder warning” is also in effect in these appropriations. 

Legarda: Use the New Trafficking Law to Prosecute Cyber Porn Offenders

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda today stressed the need to make full use of the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act to arrest and prosecute offenders of cyber pornography.

In her privilege speech, Legarda, principal sponsor of the said law, expressed alarm over recent headlines on cases of children being subjected to online pornography, some even by their own parents and guardians.

“Police authorities have already deemed cyber pornography as the top crime in the country today. The fact is already hard to take. What makes it even more unimaginable is that many of the victims of this high-tech form of illegal human trade are children. We need to put an end to these kinds of abuses,” she said.

The Senator explained that under the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, harboring a child for purposes of prostitution or production of pornographic materials is considered trafficking.

Furthermore, the crime is not plain trafficking but qualified trafficking when the offender is the parent, guardian or someone who exercises authority over the child. Any person found guilty of qualified trafficking shall serve life imprisonment.

Legarda added that The Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Law, a measure she likewise authored, also penalizes sexual acts, including prostitution, committed against a woman or child.

“We support the Department of Justice, as head of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, and the National Bureau of Investigation for the full and effective implementation of the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act. We raise the possibility of the Supreme Court creating special courts to expedite the prosecution of human trafficking cases especially those that involve children. We support a massive information and education campaign against trafficking and cyberporn,” Legarda said.

In a relation to the proliferation of cyber pornography incidences, the Senator filed a bill that would protect minors from accessing pornographic materials over the Internet.

Under Senate Bill No. 532, the Anti-Computer Pornography Act, acts such as transmitting or offering to transmit information containing indecent materials to a minor and providing access to transmission of said materials to a minor will be considered a crime.

“We need to curb cyber pornography and all forms of human trafficking. We need to work together to put an end to the illegal human trade. We need to beef up our efforts now and save the lives of the many innocent children who are hoping that soon they will be rescued from slavery and be able to tread on a new path for a brighter future,” Legarda concluded.

AFP Gains Increase in 2013, Poised for More Vigorous IPSO

CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City – The Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) conducted a Command Conference with its senior military leaders to discuss the gains of its internal peace and security operations (IPSO) and significant headways in the IPSP Bayanihan, today at Camp Aguinaldo.

On Campaign against Armed Struggle

The NPA miserably failed in achieving its goals bound on its 5-Year Central Plan which ended in 2013. They were unsuccessful in expanding their mass base support as 16 more provinces were normalized last year.  This makes the latest overall success to 43 provinces (to include Pampanga) out of the 64 NPA-affected provinces nationwide (56%).

Also, a total of 824 NPA personalities were neutralized and 425 firearms were gained in 2013.

Contained Peace Spoilers

Rogue-MNLF Elements

Against the Rogue Moro National Liberation Front Elements (RMEs), the AFP was able to neutralize 502 RMEs; 208 killed, 24 surrendered, and 270 captured/apprehended during the defense of Zamboanga last September. A total of 324 firearms were also recovered.

On the government side, the AFP suffered 197 casualties; 20 killed in action, and 177 wounded in action while 195 hostages were safely rescued.

The RMEs do not represent the whole MNLF who is supportive of the peace process in Mindanao, therefore the AFP will ensure that the process is not hampered or disrupted by these rogue elements.

Lahad Datu Incident

During the incident in Lahad Datu, Sabah last February 2013, the AFP deployed ground, air and naval assets against armed followers of Sultan Jamalul Kiram to prevent spillover and assist displaced persons.

BIFF

Against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), the AFP continued the conduct of its focused military operations to contain the threat in few areas. The AFP was able to effectively limit their capability to sabotage or derail the on-going GPH-MILF Peace Process.

Support to Peace Process

Efforts against spoilers to the peace process are being done in line with the AFP’s continued commitment to support the on-going peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Currently, peace talks with the MILF are progressing well as we are in near realization of forging a final peace agreement with the group.

The two parties have already signed three Annexes (Transition Modalities; Wealth Sharing; Power Sharing) while the last Annex on Normalization is still being negotiated.

Proving the success of supporting the peace process is the government’s gains from the Closure Agreement with the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CPLA). Last year, the military was able to integrate 168 CPLA members in the AFP. In the process, 403 firearms were also turned-over to the armed forces while the government’s livelihood assistance project, PAMANA were delivered in the Cordillera.

Remarkable Stride in Adherence to Human Rights

One of the essential factors of the AFP’s success is the military’s continued adherence to Human Rights, the International Humanitarian Law, and the Rule of Law. Alleged human rights violations went down by 88% with only 11 cases in 2013 from 96 in 2010.

HADR Accomplishments

Among the significant Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) operations conducted by the AFP in coordination with other NDRRMC member agencies were: the active HADR response as part of the ‘first responders’ in the Zamboanga crisis, Bohol Earthquake, and Typhoon Yolanda.

The AFP’s participation in the disaster relief operations in Typhoon Yolanda-affected areas reached as high as 25,526 personnel who were directly involved in the HADR operations. In addition, all available strategic lift and mobility assets from the major services were utilized. AFP units were tasked organized under Central Command for HADR mission in coordination with the NDRRMC and foreign military contingents.

Bantay Bayanihan Assessment

The Civil Society Organization-led Bantay Bayanihan, says the AFP is gaining ground and can potentially gain more ground if the IPSP Bayanihan is sustained. 

Further, the AFP has generally enhanced trust among peace and security stakeholders especially in the provinces.

Perception of security in communities is notably enhanced when there is increased transparency; accountability; communication lines being opened; openness to cultural sensitivity; adherence and respect for HR, IHL, RoL; and multi-stakeholder engagement.

They also recognize that IPSP is planting seeds. Seeds do not grow to trees and bear fruit overnight. They have to be nurtured and sustained to flourish.

Cohesive Organization

Despite the Election period and the calamities and disasters that struck the country last year, the AFP was able to accomplish much.

For this year, the AFP is fully poised to vigorously conduct internal peace and security operations to meet the objectives of IPSP Bayanihan.

“We must consolidate our gains and sustain our momentum. In the face of any challenge, the cohesiveness of the entire AFP will always be our best assurance,” General Bautista said.

Legarda Partners with UN on Disaster Risk Insurance Forum

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) are organizing a high level forum on strengthening disaster risk insurance in the Philippines as part of an effective strategy to improve the country’s resilience.

“This forum will focus on the need to protect our properties and our economy from the growing strength of natural hazards. While our foremost concern in times of disasters is to secure lives, we cannot overlook the need to protect as well the things that would sustain life such as the sources of livelihood and employment,” said Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change

The high level forum, which will be held on January 21, 2014 at the Senate, will gather experts on disaster risk insurance led by Rowan Douglas of the Willis Group and Ernst Rauch of Munich Re, Philippine government officials led by Senate President Franklin Drilon and Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, members of the business sector, and other stakeholders to discuss about how the government, private sector, and citizens can work together to build disaster resilience by protecting properties and the economy from disaster risks.

Legarda, who is also UN Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific, said that the forum will highlight the need to strengthen disaster risk management, primarily by promoting risk transfer mechanisms like insurance, which is vital for the future resilience of the Philippines.

“While we are grateful to nations that generously donate to us for our post-disaster needs, we cannot always and greatly depend on them; we must instead strengthen our capability to get back on our feet on our own immediately. We cannot always divert development funds to rehabilitation projects because that would cause great setbacks on our national growth; we must instead promote risk insurance and set up guarantee funds that we can tap for post-disaster activities. Moreover, the cost of relief, recovery and rebuilding efforts would be much less if we strengthen our resilience to disasters,” she stressed.

“The Department of Finance is on the right track towards building resilience with its proposal on a guarantee fund for lending institutions and an insurance mechanism for local government units to facilitate speedy recovery and rebuilding of communities and industries affected by disasters,” she added.

The Senator also said that since disasters drive the poor deeper into poverty, the low-income sector must understand the importance of micro-insurance, which caters to their needs such as protection from health and property risks, so that they are aware of their options to ensure their safety and preserve their resources.

She added that social protection schemes, such as crop insurance to ease impact on highly vulnerable groups including farmers and fisherfolk during disasters, must also be promoted.

“This forum will provide us with fresh insights on the importance of affordable and cost-effective disaster risk financing and insurance programs, which are key components of disaster risk management strategies. The best choice we have is to make our nation disaster-resilient to free us from the exhausting and costly cycle of rebuilding our communities every single time nature unleashes its wrath,” Legarda concluded.