Senate backs free text-message warning alert bill, says Drilon

MANILA-The Senate expressed its support of a bill that will legally compel telephone companies to disseminate early warnings of disasters, at no added cost to the consumer or the government, said Senate President Franklin M. Drilon.

The Senate leader said the passage of House Bill No. 353 which mandates telecommunication companies (Telcos) to send free mobile alerts in the event of natural and man-made disasters and calamities “would help achieve the main objectives of disaster preparedness which are to lessen the impact of the typhoon and ultimately save lives.”

HBN 353 on Monday was favorably endorsed by the Senate committee on public services chaired by Senator Ramon Revilla Jr., with some amendments introduced by Drilon.

In his amendments, Drilon sought to penalize any telephone company which will fail or refuse to send out warning alerts, with a fine of P1 million to P10 million, or a revocation of its legislative franchise.

“Having been ranked as the third most disaster-prone country in the world, it is imperative for the Philippines to put up a mechanism to efficiently disseminate early warnings of typhoons,” explained Drilon.

In 2013, the 2012 World Disaster Report placed the Philippines third among all countries which recorded the highest exposure to natural calamities.

The Senate leader said the government should be able to employ the most efficient and fastest way in sending out alerts in the event of an impending calamity such as a tropical storm, tsunami or earthquake.

Under the bill, the alerts shall consist of updated information from the relevant agencies, and shall be sent directly to the mobile phone subscribers located near and within the affected areas.

He said sending out alerts through mobile phones could be the most efficient tool given the fact that the Philippines recorded the highest number of cellular phone users in the world.

According to Business Monitor International (BMI) study, the Philippines is expected to reach 117 million mobile subscribers by 2016, noted Drilon.

“As the texting capital of the world, we can greatly use the instantaneous, flexible and reliable short message service (SMS) technology as a potent tool during disaster situations - one that is intimately understood and easily accessed by millions of Filipinos who have cellphones," emphasized Drilon. 

Lastly, Drilon lauded the telcos for being cooperative towards the passage of the bill. He said Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba of the National Telecommunications Commission relayed during the committee hearing that the proposed measure sits well with the telephone companies, as sending out text message disaster alerts does not require additional costs on their operations. 

Save the Children trains officials, community members in Minalin on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

MINALIN, Pampanga-International organization Save the Children recently conducted a three-day capacity building training on disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) for 50 officials and community members belonging to at-risk barangays in Minalin town.

 

“The activity was meant to orient attendees on climate change and global warming, hazards affecting Central Luzon, how to cope the impact of hazards, getting to know vulnerable population groups in the communities, what can be done at the community level to mitigate and cope with the impact of disasters, identifying strategic activities to build resilience of families and communities to disasters and climate change, and preparedness planning at the family level,” Save the Children communications officer for emergencies Jerome Balinton said.

 

Participants came from Sta. Rita, Sta. Catalina, San Pedro and San Francisco I- the four identified villages that are prone to severe flooding which is the main environmental hazard in Minalin.

 

“Apart from this, the training was meant to be a tool for those who took part to train and form a group in their respective barangays that can lead the community in times of emergencies,” Balinton added.

 

“Building the capacity of local officials and community on DRRM is one key element in saving lives because they are the people directly making decisions and implementing the DRRM activities,” Save the Children in the Philippines Country Director Ned Olney stressed.

 

“Aside from building the capacity of children through our school-based DRRM efforts, we also aim at building the capacity of the barangay officials, of every family on how to manage and respond to hazards and emergencies. Our precious children are the most vulnerable in any disaster, and the tremendous impact of such could leave severe consequences. We don’t want this happen, and this is the core reason why we are building the capacity of our local partners,” Olney pointed out. (Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu)

Angeles City public medical center opens new ward, trauma center

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga-The Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center (RLMMC), formerly Ospital ning Angeles, recently opened its Intensive Monitoring Ward and Trauma Center in an effort to provide comprehensive emergency services to patients suffering from traumatic injury.

In a statement, Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan said this is another major achievement for the city in terms of improving public health care services targeted towards the indigent Angeleños.

“We began in our previous term with the Renal Care Unit, the Barangay Days and the Medikalinga, and now, this monitoring ward will further our intentions to bolster our city’s medical services,” Pamintuan stressed.

He added that the Angeleños should look forward to several other improvements in RLMMC including an annex, which will accommodate more patients. (Rosa Bianca R. Pamintuan)

NIA Board denies agency scams, orders probe

Manila-The Board of Directors of the National Irrigation Administration yesterday denied the allegations of its own employees’ association of massive corruption in the agency.

In a press statement, the Board decried the allegations but nevertheless directed the internal audit services of the agency to look into the allegations.  

The Board described the accusations as “untrue, malicious and unfair.”

The Board was reacting to the manifesto of the National Irrigation Administration Employees Association of the Philippines (NIAEASP) which asked President Aquino to investigate alleged corruption in the agency amid reports of irregularities in the bidding and implementation of irrigation projects and the purported meddling of the Board in the workings of NIA Administrator Claro Maranan.

          In a two-page February 6 letter-manifesto to Mr. Aquino, which was furnished Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, the NIAEASP lamented what it termed as the “very serious and alarming developments” in the agency, contrary to the President’s “Daang Matuwid” policy of governance.

          The strongly worded letter-manifesto was signed by NIAEASP national president Victorino Aron and national vice president Louella Mercado. It was read during a flag-raising ceremony at the central office last February 10.

          Also yesterday, employees of the agency held a lightning rally at the central office compound along NIA Road in Quezon City to protest the alleged corruption. The employees wore black arm bands. 

While denying the allegations, the Board said it is taking cognizance of the NIAEASP’s complaints and is taking steps to address the same.

It said it is committed to implement needed reforms and adhere to the highest tenets of good governance at NIA.

The protesting employees alleged that a top official ordered the payment of 50 percent of the billing of a contractor who has a project in Sarangani province even if the concerned official is fully aware that the said contractor has no physical accomplishment.

“This practice is going on in other provinces and COA (Commission on Audit) records will support our claim,” the group said.

          It added that another top official ordered the repackaging of projects from administration works to local minor contracts worth P105 million, purportedly to draw kickbacks.

          The NIAEASP said one of the top agency officials is allegedly boasting that he will assume as Maranan’s successor next month. This, it said,  in spite of the fact that the said official has pending cases for graft and corruption in the Office of the Ombudsman.  

          The group had accused the BOD of arbitrarily and capriciously issuing policies that usurped the powers of Maranan by arrogating to itself the authority to approve the appointment of officials holding the position with salary Grade 24 and above.

          The NIAEASP officials asked the President to order a formal investigation of the above-cited allegations. They said they are willing to cooperate in the investigation by furnishing his office with documents.

          Other signatories to the manifesto were national secretary Antonio Esquivel Jr., national treasurer Cecilia Layug, national press relations officer Eduardo Yu, national business manager Carlos dela Cruz, sectoral representatives Lourdes Amurao and Moises Batocabe, Balog-Balog Multi-purpose Project president Cresencio Magbag, Agno River Irrigation Project president Susan Zambrano, Casecnan Multipurpose Irrigation and Power Project presidents Alberto Samson and Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems president Ernesto Ponce and district presidents Paulita Yagyagan (Cordillera Administrative Region), Placido Duldulao (Region 1), Avelino Tuazon (region 2), Alvin Roberto David (Region 3), Bienvenido Anterola (Region 4B); Arthur Sanico (Region 6), Elvira Alvarado (Region 7), Erlinda Superable (Region 8), Albine Jubilado (Region 9), Arlene Sumayo (Region 10), Ryan Pichon (Region 11), Willie Ablan (Region 12) and Joel Culejara (Region 13). – Manny Galvez     

Senate public hearing on cybercrime bills set on Mar. 3

MANILA-The first of the series of public hearings on various cybercrime bills is scheduled on the morning of 3 March 2014.

To accommodate all interested parties, a request has been made to use the Plenary Hall of the Senate of the Philippines.

We will be summoning key government officials to   present their official position on the various pending legislation on the matter.  

The hearing will be webcast live. 

Ecija Catholic lay minister indicted for molesting 10-year-old girl

CABANATUAN CITY – A lay minister of the Catholic Church in Nueva Ecija was indicted before the provincial prosecutor’s office here for allegedly sexually molesting a 10-year-old girl Thursday afternoon in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija.

      Charged in an information for acts of lasciviousness in relation to Republic Act 7610, or the Violence Against Women and Children Act was Efren Meña, 55, of Barangay San Fernando Sur, Cabiao.

      Chief Inspector Eric de Venancio, Cabiao police chief, said Meña is a lay minister of the Saint John Nepomucene Parish Church in Cabiao.

      The complaint was filed by the girl’s 35-year-old mother who said the sexual acts were committed by Meña inside the house of a neighbor at around 1 pm Thursday.

      SPO1 Orlando Francisco, chief investigator of the Cabiao police, said that the victim saw Meña in the house and once inside, the latter suddenly kissed her in the lips and touched her breast.  

      The frightened girl fled and reported the incident to her mother who accompanied her to the police. The victim also reported the incident to municipal social welfare and development officer Dyna Dayao.

      De Venancio dispatched a police team which arrested Meña who was subsequently detained at the police stockade.

      Francisco said on questioning, Meña admitted he kissed the girl but denied touching her private parts.

      A bail of P200,000 was recommended for Meña’s provisional liberty. – Manny Galvez

    

Recto : Add more PNR trains to ease Metro traffic

MANILA-Doubling the number of Philippine National Railways  (PNR) trains plying the Tutuban, Manila- Sta. Rosa Laguna line can displace 14,000 cars on the road at a per passenger cost that is 1/8^th of the subsidy government pays for one Metro Rail Transit (MRT) rider.

This was pointed out by Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto in batting for the acquisition of more coaches for the PNR’s 44-kilometer Metro South commuter service which currently ferries 70,000 passengers a day.

Recto said this line, which is part of the longer Manila-to-Mayon railway, is currently underutilized with just 2.5 trips per direction an hour.

“If fully developed and modernized, it can help ease traffic in Metro Manila and provide fast, efficient, and cheap form of transport not only to its residents but those in outlying provinces as well, Recto said.  

“Kung saan-saan tayo naghahanap ng solusyon e nandyan naman ang riles, bakit hindi natin gamitin,” Recto said.

But even at its present “neglected state”, the line manages to ferry 25 million passengers annually, Recto said. “Mabilis na, mura pa. The average fare is 70 centavos per kilometer.”

At present, the Tutuban-Sta. Rosa service operates from 5 a.m to 7 p.m daily and stops in 23 stations in between.

While Recto hailed PNR’s decision to add two trips per direction by March 3 as “the way to go,” he said, “there remains a big room for improvement.”  

Noting that PNR trains are always full, Recto said government should add rolling stock by tapping official development aid or “even outright purchase using its own funds because in this era of two-trillion national budgets we can certainly find money for such an important expense.”

In the short term, Recto said “budgetary support” should be given to the PNR so it can complete the refurbishing and the retrofitting of 50 coaches the East Japan Railway Co. (JR-East) donated in 2012.

A succession of governments, Recto noted, has been reluctant in pouring more money into the 121-year-old rail service, opting instead to offer it to private companies under various joint-venture schemes, for which there have been no takers.

In June last year, the Private Public Partnership (PPP) Center and the DOTC commissioned a Canadian firm to prepare the feasibility study for a proposed $2.5 billion PNR Integrated Luzon Railway Project.

In the meantime, the PNR is “bravely chugging alone on government subsidy and ridership,” Recto said.  For 2014, subsidy to the PNR is pegged at P344 million.

In 2012, the PNR posted revenues and other income of P966 million, received P128.7 million in government subsidy, incurred P1.114 billion in expenses, thus leaving a loss of P50 million.

“But for ferrying 25 million passengers, that P50 million loss is not bad. The government subsidy at P5 per passenger is way below the P40 per passenger in the MRT and the LRT,” Recto said.

“At mas mura ‘yan kesa sa perang ginagastos ng gobyerno sa paggawa ng dagdag na daan para sa dumaraming kotse, sa mga sweldo ng traffic enforcers, sa dagdag na polusyon, sa mga gasolinang nasasayang sa traffic, sa mga lost income opportunities at epekto sa mental health,” Recto said. 

Legarda Stresses Legislators’ Role in Climate Change Action

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, today stressed on the role of lawmakers in seeking solutions to the challenges brought about by the warming climate.

Legarda made the statement as the Senate and the House of Representatives, together with the British Embassy in Manila and the Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment (GLOBE International) Philippines Chapter, welcome Sir David King, the UK Special Representative for Climate Change, in a forum, “The Politics of Climate Change and its 21^st Century Challenges.”

“As lawmakers, we have the duty to craft policies towards sustainable development, environmental protection, climate change adaptation, and disaster risk reduction and management. The Philippine Congress has successfully passed two laws considered by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction as among the world’s best laws on disaster resilience—the Philippine Climate Change Act and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act,” said Legarda.

“However, our task as legislators does not end with the passage of laws. We must embark on a mission to elevate the role of lawmakers in the fight towards resilience primarily by enhancing Congress’ oversight functions and promoting regular executive-legislative consultation and dialogue,” she added.

Legarda recalled that in 2008, as part of her commitment to the 2008 Manila Call for Action, she filed a Senate Resolution recommending the creation of a standing committee on climate change.

“The call did not fall on deaf ears because in December 2008, the Senate Committee on Climate Change was created to ensure the implementation of laws as well as the sustainability of initiatives for DRR and CCA in the Philippines. But we still have a great task ahead of us,” she said.

“We must continue to promote a change of mindset, especially in members of government institutions, to be more concerned and committed to helping the national government address the threats of environmental degradation and the warming climate,” Legarda concluded.

Classes suspended in entire NE on Feb 21,22 due to INC event

PALAYAN CITY, Nueva Ecija-Governor Aurelio Umali has declared the suspension of classes in all levels in the entire Nueva Ecija on February 21 and 22 in line with the “Lingap sa Mamamayan” event of Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC).

 

The directive is based on the recommendation of Philippine National Police Provincial Director Crizaldo Nieves as around four million INC members from different parts of Luzon are expected to attend the actual activity on Saturday at barangay Maligaya in Palayan City.

 

“Calling off classes during the said dates would help in efforts to preserve peace and order,” Nieves said.

 

Meanwhile, suspension of work in government and private offices is left to the sound discretion of their respective heads. (Camille C. Nagaño)

Recto tells gov't to give raft of incentives to ferries

MANILA-We’ve got nowhere to go but water, and Metro Manila is a metropolis by the bay, bisected by a river.  If the streets are full of cars and we want to travel, then let’s go amphibian.

If we’ve reached road building capacity, and can no longer squeeze carriageway space in our roads, then we should tap our nautical roads.    

Traffic has prodded us to launch a lot of mitigation schemes – from Christmas lanes, to number coding, to new rail lines –  except  a thousand boats.

The Pasig River ferry system is not a stop-gap measure but it should be developed into a permanent transportation mode in Metro Manila.  Ferries are not alternative but, no pun intended, mainstream.

And ferry services should not be limited to Pasig River alone. 

We should also study the possibility of extending it to Marikina, and to the bedroom communities in Cavite, the lakeshore towns of Rizal and Laguna, and  to coastal Bulacan, which are  within the embrace of  Mega Manila.

As a first step, DOTC should now make public the results of the MAPALLA or  the Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Ferry Service feasibility study which it commissioned in December 2012 at a cost of  P17 million.

Under the terms of the contract, the feasibility study should have been submitted last July 2013.

If it is viable, funding for pilot projects should be included in the 2015 proposed national budget.  As the DBM has issued the Budget Call for 2015, and it is now the budget preparation season in the executive branch, the DOTC might as well  include ferry service-related activities in its menu of projects for next year.

If ferries are feasible, then government should go full speed ahead developing the system. It should ignore any toll road-railway- bus company lobby which may want to torpedo it.  We don’t want the ferry service sank by competing private interests while still on port.

Ferry services do not require huge capital investments as compared to toll roads and railways.  The waterway they will travel on is already there (no need to dig a river)  unlike in road transport where massive inconvenience is present in building the platforms, be it for trains or cars.

We have given planes, trains and automobiles, and toll roads, fiscal incentives and tax breaks. Why not extend the same to ferries?  A raft of incentives might be needed to  keep ferries afloat. 

And there's another kind of incentive. When more residents of a metropolis regularly use its waterways for travelling, the incentive to keep them clean is high.  

And with raised awareness comes the drive to fight river pollution. Ferries do not only create a class of travelers but a ridership with a strong environmental consciousness.

Drilon: Congress to raise 13th month tax exemption limit

MANILA-Both houses of Congress have agreed to increase the tax exemption limit imposed by an outdated law regarding the 13th Month Pay, Christmas bonus and other work benefits, said Senate President Franklin M. Drilon.

The Senate leader said that Senate Bill No. 256, authored by Senate Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto, is one of the most prominent pro-consumer legislation which will receive urgent legislative attention “due to its direct effect to millions of Filipino workers around the country.”

He said the Senate intends to raise the exclusion limit on an individual’s 13^th month pay, Christmas bonus, and other work benefits from income taxation from the current imposed limit of P30, 000 to P75,000.

According to Drilon, both chambers are aware of the need to revisit the antiquated provisions of the law “to provide relief to state and private workers whose purchasing power has been shrinking for years due to inflation, but still have had to deal with the consequences of an outdated law.”

“The law was passed 20 years ago, and obviously, things have greatly changed - making such figures no longer reflective of current economic realities, thus making it even more difficult for the average Filipino worker to make both ends meet for him and his family,” Drilon stressed.

He was referring to Republic Act No. 7833, or the statute that imposed the P30,000 cap on bonuses back in 1994 when the lowest monthly basic salary for government employees (Salary Grade 1, Step 1) was tagged at P2,800, while the President of the Philippines (Salary Grade 33) received P25,000 per month.

Today, the basic salary for government employees is now pegged at P9,000, with the highest salary reaching P 120,000 per month.

“While most of the priority bills right now focus on macroeconomic progress, we have to make sure that necessary bills such as SBN 256 will also receive the required resources and attention towards their passage, for the sake of our countrymen,” he said.

“Our country’s laws must always prioritize the improvement of the living standards of its citizenry. Bills like this are necessary to address the real-time concerns and immediate demands of our people,” he added.

The Senate chief has also said that there are still other measures in the legislative shortlist which aim to improve government policies rallying for the welfare of the common Filipino. 

NOLCOM holds series of Basic Life Support and Disaster Preparedness Trainings

CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac-Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) held a series of Basic Life Support and Disaster Preparedness Trainings that was meant to equip stakeholders in Regions 1,2,3 and Cordillera adequate knowledge and contingency plans in case a Yolanda-like typhoon or magnitude 7.2 earthquake strikes.

 

“The trainings concentrated on the grounds of basic life support; pre, during and post disaster preparations; disaster response mechanism; relief distribution procedures; law and order; communications network and information dissemination in disaster occurrences; and family and community organization in calamity incidences,” NOLCOM Commander Lt. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said.

 

Among the topics given emphasis were survival techniques, military food and water cache approaches, food stockpiling, indigenous water filtration, distillation methods and processing indigenous edible materials.

 

The first leg transpired from February 10-12 at the 1^st Civil Relations Group Headquarters in Camp Servillano Aquino, Tarlac; second leg from February 14-16 in Sta. Ana, Cagayan with troops from the 21^st Infantry Battalion and Naval Forces Northern Luzon as participants and the third and final leg from February 17-19 also in Cagayan which was attended by teachers and barangay officials.

 

“We have a new enemy. That is climate change and the disasters it brings. We can only win, if we unite in preparing before these disasters strike,” Catapang underscored. (Lorie Gene C. Cruz)

'Solution to carmageddon just outside the window of PNoy's office'

MANILA-Malacanang was told to dip into President Aquino’s assorted standby funds in reviving the Pasig River ferry service as tapping 27-kilometer waterway is the only way to mitigate the “kahindik-hindik” traffic 15 big roads projects are expected to inflict on Metro Manila residents in the next two years.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said the solution to the impending “carmaggedon” in the capital region “is just outside the windows of Malacanang.”

Referring to the Pasig River, “we should now utilize this nautical road,” Recto said. “It is toll-free and ready to use.”

He said government should no longer wait for private investors to launch the ferry service. “Kung hihintayin natin ang private sector, baka tapos na ang mga road projects, ni isang anino ng ferry wala  pang lumulutang.” 

He justified government intervention by pointing out “that any monstrous traffic which inconveniences millions fits the definition of an emergency. If you’ll steam inside your car which moves in mere meters in hours, then in any book that is a calamity.”

Recto said  “exigencies which cause public injury like traffic can be solved through government intervention using discretionary funds under the disposal of the executive branch.”

He enumerated the P1 billion Contingent Fund and the P140 billion Unprogrammed Fund in the 2014  national budget as possible sources of funds  for projects, the Pasig River ferry service among them, which could  ease vehicular congestion during the road building spree.

In the case of the Pasig River ferry service, the government can buy boats, or rent the boats that the previous ferry operator owned, Recto said.

He argued that if the government can afford “to subsidize an MRT or LRT rider at a cost of P40 per trip,” then there is no reason why it cannot shell out a far lower amount for a Pasig River ferry rider.

However, for the ferry service to be launched immediately, it must be premised on the reality that it will not earn profit, Recto said. “It must be viewed as a public service  in  response to an  emergency which in this case is the  traffic gridlock.”

“Billions of pesos will be lost due to the projected traffic. So whatever amount will be invested by the government in the ferry, the people will reap economic benefits  even if the actual operating cost is not recouped from fare box collections, Recto said.

Before the 10-boat Pasig River ferry service stopped operations in 2011, it served 17  stations along  a 15 kilometer route from Plaza  Mexico in Intramuros, Manila to Nagpayong in Pasig City.

Another spur, using the Marikina River, from the Riverbanks in Marikina City to Guadalupe in Makati City, was planned, but except for trial runs, no regular service was launched.  

The last ferry operator deployed  twin-hulled  boats which seat  150 people in  air-conditioned cabins.

It was, however, discontinued due to lower passenger volume and navigational  hazards like the proliferation of water lily.

“Mas mabuti pang sa Pasig River ferry tayo mag-invest kasi hindi masalimuot dito, di tulad ng MRT na hanggang ngayon ang balak ng gobyerno bumili ng 48 coaches ay nakatali sa korte,” Recto said.

He was referring to the DOTC award of  the P3.77-billion contract for MRT 3's expansion to Chinese firm Dailan Locomotive & Rolling Stock Company which has been met with legal challenges.

The 15 megaprojects are  the Skyway Stage 3 the NAIA Expressway Phase 2 project,   the Gil Puyat-Makati-Avenue-Paseo de Roxas underpass, the Sta. Monica-Lawton Avenue bridge, CP Garcia Avenue-McKinley Hill ramp, repair  of Magallanes Interchange, EDSA-Taft Avenue flyover, MRT Line 3/ LRT Line 1 extension common station, LRT Line 2 East extension up to Masinag, LRT Line 1 Extension (Cavite), EDSA- Roosevelt Ave. interchange, Espana Avenue-Lacson Avenue interchange, repair of South Superhighway Makati, the NLEX-SLEX connector road,  and the EDSA-West Avenue-North Avenue interchange.

Another traffic-mitigating proposal of Recto is for government to encourage shippers, especially those based in south of Metro Manila, to use the underutilized but fully capable Batangas international port.

“Government should encourage more ships to call on that port.  Exporters and importers and their truckers will find it easier, faster to ship via Batangas.  There’s no truck ban there. And Metro Manilans will benefit, too, as it would mean fewer ten-wheelers on the road,” Recto said.

Employees association ask P-Noy : probe corruption at NIA

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija – The National Irrigation Administration Employees Association of the Philippines (NIAEASP) has asked President Aquino to investigate alleged corruption and other anomalies in the agency amid reports of irregularities in the bidding and implementation of irrigation projects and the purported meddling of the NIA Board of Directors (BOD) in the workings of NIA Administrator Claro Maranan.

          In a two-page February 6 letter-manifesto to Mr. Aquino, which was furnished Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, the NIAEASP lamented what it termed as the “very serious and alarming developments” in the agency, contrary to the President’s “Daang Matuwid” policy of governance.

          The strongly worded letter-manifesto was signed by NIAEASP national president Victorino Aron and national vice president Louella Mercado.

          The group alleged that a top official ordered the payment of 50 percent of the billing of a contractor who has a project in Sarangani province even if the concerned official is fully aware that the said contractor has no physical accomplishment. “This practice is going on in other provinces and COA (Commission on Audit) records will support our claim,” the group said.

          It added that another top official ordered the repackaging of projects from administration works to local minor contracts worth P105 million, purportedly to draw kickbacks.

          “It is a common knowledge in the agency that projects implemented by administration do not generate SOP (standard operating procedure), thus you can make your own conclusion as to why the official concerned did not allow it to be implemented that way,” the group told Aquino. SOP is a euphemism for kickbacks.

          The NIAEASP said one of the deputy administrators of the agency designated by Alcala is allegedly boasting that he will assume as Maranan’s successor next month. This, it said,  in spite of the fact that the said official has pending cases for graft and corruption in the Office of the Ombudsman.  

          At the same time, the group accused the BOD of arbitrarily and capriciously issuing policies that usurped the powers of Maranan by arrogating to itself the authority to approve the appointment of officials holding the position with salary Grade 24 and above.

          Worse, the BOD also changed the authority delegated to top officials that tend to favor and facilitate corruption in the agency, particularly in the bidding and implementation of projects.

          “The Board has likewise sown havoc and demoralization among the ranks of regional managers, project managers, department managers and irrigation management office managers through its indiscriminate reshuffling of officials who are not cooperative and are considered obstacles to the evil schemes of top Board and agency officials who are presently enriching themselves in office at the expense of poor farmers and the taxpayers’ money,” the group said.         

          The NIAEASP officials asked the President to order a formal investigation of the above-cited allegations. They said they are willing to cooperate in the investigation by furnishing his office with documents.

          “Mr. President, we can give you a litany of highly anomalous and irregular transactions in NIA that have been going on for sometime,” it added.

          In pressing for the investigation of the culture of corruption at NIA, the NIAEASP reminded the Chief Executive of his promise to closely monitor the agency’s activities when he graced its 50^th anniversary celebrations last June 25. “This is now the right time to closely examine the activities of the officials you entrusted to run NIA,” the document read.

Other signatories were national secretary Antonio Esquivel Jr., national treasurer Cecilia Layug, national press relations officer Eduardo Yu, national business manager Carlos dela Cruz, sectoral representatives Lourdes Amurao and Moises Batocabe, Balog-Balog Multi-purpose Project president Cresencio Magbag, Agno River Irrigation Project president Susan Zambrano, Casecnan Multipurpose Irrigation and Power Project presidents Alberto Samson and Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems president Ernesto Ponce and district presidents Paulita Yagyagan (Cordillera Administrative Region), Placido Duldulao (Region 1), Avelino Tuazon (region 2), Alvin Roberto David (Region 3), Bienvenido Anterola (Region 4B); Arthur Sanico (Region 6), Elvira Alvarado (Region 7), Erlinda Superable (Region 8), Albine Jubilado (Region 9), Arlene Sumayo (Region 10), Ryan Pichon (Region 11), Willie Ablan (Region 12) and Joel Culejara (Region 13). (Manny Galvez)     

Legarda Supports Promotion of Non-Motorized Transpo

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda today expressed her support to the cause of the Share the Road Movement towards safer and cleaner roads through the promotion of non-motorized transportation.

“As I convey my support to this campaign, I congratulate Atty. Tony Oposa and the Share the Road Movement for championing environmental causes as well as the right of Filipinos for a healthier society,” said Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committees on Environment and Natural Resources, and Climate Change.

“Among the advocacies I have been promoting is the shift to a low-carbon lifestyle and rethinking our mode of transportation is one of the crucial steps towards this initiative,” she added.

The Share the Road Movement led by Atty. Oposa filed a petition for a writ of kalikasan and mandamus before the Supreme Court compelling government to “divide the roads in half: half for cars and half for collective transport systems, like all-weather bike lanes and sidewalks, bus rapid transit, and public trains.”

The group, which noted a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that the transport sector contributes 27% of the greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, proceeded to the Senate for the ceremonial turnover of the draft bill on Sustainable Transportation.

In supporting the group’s cause, Legarda, author of various environmental laws including the Solid Waste Management Act and the Clean Air Act, stressed on the need to shift to mass rail, human-powered transport and pedestrianization. 

“We should start venturing into transport electrification and energy efficiency. Walking, biking, taking public transport, and carpooling are energy and cost-efficient transport modes that we should always consider whenever possible,” she said.

She explained that local government units should make roads walkable and pedestrian-friendly. Sidewalks and bicycle lanes should also be built to encourage use of these modes of transport.

“It may take time before we see this coming into fruition but with political will to faithfully implement our laws and the active campaign of advocacy groups, especially those behind the Share the Road Movement, we can make this happen,” Legarda concluded.