Legarda: Invest in Safe, Resilient Schools

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda today reiterated her call for both the government and the private sector to ensure that all schools in the country are safe from disasters.

Legarda, the UN Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific, made the call as the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), the Department of Education, and the Office of Senator Loren Legarda are set to launch “The Philippines as a Leader Country of the UN Global Programme on Safe Schools Towards the 2015 World Conference on DRR.”

“It is important to make our schools disaster-resilient to keep our children, who are most vulnerable to disasters, out of harm’s way when natural hazards strike. Aside from being a shelter for children, schools are critical public infrastructures, especially in times of disaster when victims need emergency refuge. Therefore, schools must be able to withstand earthquakes, typhoons and other natural hazards,” she said.

Legarda explained that the Safe Schools Campaign of the UNISDR is a global program that aims to encourage governments and communities to assess the safety of schools and build the resilience of these critical structures.

The program invites citizens to participate in the process of making schools disaster-resilient with the initial step of assessing the safety of schools in their communities not only in terms of ensuring the structural integrity of the buildings but also in making sure that students and school staff are prepared in the event a natural hazard occurs.

To facilitate the assessment of school safety in the country, an innovative online system for crowd-sourced hazard-and-risk mapping of schools will be introduced.

 “Safe schools are essential to ensuring that our children are safe from disasters and injuries and thus beneficial to their general health and development. The government must fortify and enhance the structural integrity of public schools, while the private education sector should be encouraged to do the same,” Legarda said.

“Building the resilience of the education sector is a worthy investment. It brings the double benefit of saving lives and achieving our development goals,” she concluded.

Recto files bill decriminalizing libel

MANILA-Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto filed on Feb. 27 a bill decriminalizing libel, joining a growing list of senators wanting to delist it from the book of crimes.

In Senate Bill 2146, Recto traced the origins of libel as a tool against criticisms and to shield public officials from insults.

He said the 84-year-old was a fusion of the Spanish Codigo Penal and the 1932 Revised Penal Code, “with archaic provisions which had been overtaken by jurisprudence expanding free speech.”

In the bill’s explanatory note, the senator echoed Justice Marvic Leonen’s dissent on the Cybercrime Law “that libel prosecution has evolved from protecting both private citizens and public figures to its modern notion of shielding only private parties from defamatory utterances.”

Even if libel will be decriminalized, Recto said there is another way that “scurrilous and defamatory remarks damaging to one’s reputation” can be set right.

“The institution of civil action for damages can restore a sullied reputation,” he said.

Recto said “it is high time for Congress to revisit defamation laws, and recalibrate them in a manner that they can prevent and penalize malicious and unfounded attacks on a person’s reputation without stifling free speech and the open discussion of policies that affect the public.”  

“Even if we take out libel, there should remain a shield which a private, ordinary citizen can use when he is assaulted by harsh tags,” he said.

“We need these safeguards because one of the best apps of a civilized society are laws which allow a private individual robbed of honor to seek restitution,” Recto said.

He said he filed the libel repeal bill because the best way to address the court-upheld cyberlibel provision in the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 is to go to the source which is the Revised Penal Code.

Recto’s bill seeks to repeal Articles 353,354,355,356, 357, 360, 361 and 362 of the Revised Penal Code and Section 4 (c) 4 of the Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Law. 

Tarlac cops hit for harassing scribe

TARLAC CITY – The leadership of the Central Luzon Media Association yesterday lambasted policemen from the Tarlac Police Provincial Office for allegedly harassing a publisher of a local newsweekly and barring him entry inside the office of the provincial police director.

          Bonifacio Dacayanan, publisher of Facts and Figures Newsweekly based in this city, said the incident took place at around 1 pm last February 26 when he visited the TPPO headquarters in Barangay San Vicente, Camp Macabulos here to inquire about the status of a previously arranged appointment with Senior Superintendent Alex Sintin, newly installed provincial director.

          Dacayanan said two policemen manning the gate of the police camp whom he identified as a certain Police Officer 1 Bautista and one PO1 Rombaoa asked him for his concerns.

When he informed them he was going to meet Sintin, the two lawmen asked him to present his identification card. After doing so, he said the lawmen gave him clearance to proceed to the police headquarters.       

But a few moments later, Dacayanan said one of them called him out and stopped him. The lawman then took his ID and ran towards the headquarters supposedly to show it to officials at the camp.

He said while holding him at the camp gate, others who passed the gate, including ordinary people, were allowed freely inside without being subjected to such harassment. 

After a few minutes, the lawman returned with the ID and finally allowed him to enter the camp.

Dacayanan said prior to the incident, he and Sintin had held initial talks on the possible coordination between the PNP and the media in Tarlac.

Dacayanan said it was not the first time he was maltreated by authorities. He said he received a similar treatment from the Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) when he visited the military headquarters in Barangay San Miguel in Camp Servillano Aquino here.   

He narrated his experience during the directorate meeting of the CLMA at a local restaurant here Friday night.

        CLMA president Tony Vallejo asked Chief Superintendent Raul  Petrasanta, regional director of the Philippine National Police Regional Office 3, to order a full-dress investigation on the incident to prevent a possible whitewash by the TPPO.

          “We condemn the strongest terms this dastardly treatment of the members of the fourth estate, particularly our own. They ought to accord respect to media practitioners. Authorities should do something about it,” Vallejo said. (Manny Galvez)   

Senate slashed DSWD publicity budget to enrol 100,000 Yolanda victims in CCT

MANILA-Twenty thousand additional Yolanda-stricken families will be included  in the government’s Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program this year, courtesy of a Senate amendment in the 2014 national budget which slashed P336 million from the program’s overhead in order to enroll that many typhoon victims.

The senator who authored the amendment, Ralph Recto, said that as a result of the Senate action, an equivalent of 100,000 more individuals in Yolanda areas will be brought under the coverage of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), CCT’s official name.

“Calamity victims should not live from one relief bag to another. One of the best forms of aid is the 4Ps because it is predictable, guaranteed and sustained.  Yan ang tunay na pantawid, hindi pansamantala o panandalian,” Recto, who is also Senate President Pro-Tempore, said.

With their enrollment in 4Ps, Recto said the 20,000 families will receive P16,800 this year, in monthly payouts of P1,400, provided that they comply with certain “conditionalities” like regular attendance of their children in school.      

He explained that what the Senate did to fund the enrollment of 20,000 families is cut the 4Ps administrative expenses from the proposed P5.41 billion to P5.03 billion.

“Specifically, what was reduced was the budget for publicity, from P141 million to P40 million, and the budget for training, from P533 million to P218 million, and the cuts were mainly used to accommodate more 4Ps beneficiaries,“ he said.  

As a result, the cash grant component of the 4Ps budget rose from P57.2 billion to P57.57 billion. If its administrative overhead of P5.03 billion is included, the total budget of 4Ps for the year is P62.2 billion.    

This amount will be used to put 4,461,732 households under the regular 4Ps program.  In addition, 4.3 million high school students will be enrolled in the “extended CCT” program in which each will be given a monthly stipend of  P500.

Recto praised Senate President Franklin Drilon and Senate finance committee head Sen. Francis Escudero for “accepting and defending this and other calamity rehabilitation amendments” which made their way to the 2014 General Appropriations Act.

Other Recto amendments which were consolidated in the 2014 national budget were the creation of the P20 billion Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Fund, the increase of the Calamity Fund from P7.5 billion to P13 billion, and earmarking P20 billion in the Unprogrammed Fund for reconstruction.

Legarda Shares PHL’s Journey to Climate Awareness at East Asia Summit

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda shared the Philippines’ “long and arduous journey” towards policies and action on climate adaptation and disaster resilience at the recent East Asia Summit Climate Change Adaptation Workshop organized by the Australian Government.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, said that past disasters of grave magnitude exposed the need to build the resilience of Philippine communities.

“Since my first term in 1998 in the Senate, my advocacy has been consistent and clear – protect our environment, adapt to climate change and mitigate its impacts.  It has never been an easy task as people viewed climate change then as an abstract issue best reserved for experts and the scientists,” she explained.

“It had to take typhoon Ondoy for Filipinos to realize that climate change is not just a scientific and environmental issue, but an all encompassing threat to us, our aspirations, and to future generations. The massive loss of lives and the inundation of Metro Manila opened the eyes of the government and the public that climate change is no longer a threat, but a challenge we all need to take seriously,” she added.

It was in 2008 when the Senate Committee on Climate Change, through a resolution filed by Legarda, was formed. In 2009, less than 30 days after Ondoy, the Climate Change Act, which mainstreams climate change adaptation in various phases of policy formulation, was passed; and in 2010, the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act was enacted.

 

“Along with the passage of important laws on climate change, appropriations for climate change programs have been increasing at an average of 26 percent yearly since 2009. The enacted budget of 2014 provides more funds for rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in disaster-stricken areas. The amount of 13 billion pesos has been allocated for the Calamity Fund, which is now known as the NDRRM Fund,” Legarda said.

“Given these resources, albeit limited, we should build better, stronger, and using the best standards in light of the natural and man-made hazards we face today. In light of this need, I am pushing for an environmental audit that will measure the level of compliance with the country’s environmental laws. I also call on our officials, community members, and our partners to lead disaster resiliency efforts,” she added.

Legarda emphasized that vulnerabilities can be addressed through the upgrading and enforcement of building standards, risk-sensitive urban planning and investment, stronger social protection, promoting measures that advance economic and business resilience, and engaging communities in efforts to achieve resilience.  

“We should all remember that poverty breeds disaster vulnerability. Those who have less in life are faced with the greatest risks. Thus, as disasters become more prevalent, the greater is the responsibility of government to extend social protection to the country’s poor. Disaster risk reduction is social justice in action. Moreover, the disasters that we have experienced, along with our shared memory of death, loss and survival, should drive us to build a resilient future and a safer Earth,” Legarda concluded.

Motorcycle accidents kill 2 in NE

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija – Two vehicular accidents, both involving motorcycles, have claimed the lives of two people, including a widow while another was critically wounded in Nueva Ecija Thursday, police said.

          Senior Superintendent Crizaldo Nieves, provincial police director, identified those who died as Jayson Billandres, 21, of Barangay Mayapyap Norte this city and Marciana Sinense, 58, of Barangay Sinasajan, Peñaranda town.

          Billandres met his death Thursday night along the Fort Magsaysay-Cabanatuan City road.

Superintendent Pedro Soliba, Cabanatuan police chief, said Billandres was driving his white Rusi motorcycle with license plate   9170-QF with back rider Ranny Gabriel, 21 years old along said highway when the vehicle suddenly lost control and veered to the right shoulder of the road.

On impact, Billandres and Gabriel were thrown out of the vehicle, with the former hitting his temple on the pavement. They were both rushed to the nearby Fort Magsaysay Hospital in Palayan City but Billandres was pronounced dead on arrival due to head injuries while Gabriel was listed in critical condition.

In Peñaranda, a speeding Red Racal motorcycle with license plate 1185 RZ and driven by Michael Casulucan ran into Sinense. 

Police said the motorcycle was heading northwards when Sinense suddenly appeared and was hit by vehicle.

Sinense sustained head and was brought to the Medicare Community Center in nearby Gen. Tinio town. She was later transferred to Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center in this city but did not reach the hospital alive. – Manny Galvez

Legarda, UNISDR Chief Stress On Greater Action, Enhanced Cooperation To Build Resilience

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda and Ms. Margareta Wahlström, Chief of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), both called for greater action and enhanced cooperation among sectors of society to build the Philippines’ resilience.

Wahlström is currently in the Philippines to work on several initiatives, including looking into rehabilitation efforts in Yolanda-affected communities.

Legarda, UN Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific, welcomed the UNISDR Chief and expressed her full support to the organization’s continuing advocacy in promoting DRR.

“Even with the passage of landmark laws on climate change and disaster resilience, we continue to engage the government and all sectors of society in improved multi-lateral partnerships on disaster risk reduction and management programs,” the Senator said.

In a meeting with members of government agencies, academe, private sector and the diplomatic corps, Legarda and Wahlström stressed on the need to map out a strategy to strengthen resilience in Yolanda-affected areas and the country as a whole.

Wahlström pointed out that DRR is doable and it would not take long to see the gains because the country already has the necessary laws. However, the greater challenge is how to turn policies into effective action.

Wahlström also cited Legarda as a “super champ” who has always taken the lead in inspiring and motivating key stakeholders to ensure that disaster resilience will be everybody’s business.

Meanwhile, the Senator stressed on her commitment to continue on with her mission, this time with the Safe Schools campaign.

“We have initiated the regional DRR workshops, lectures on climate change in schools, distribution of disaster preparedness manuals and geohazard maps in local government units, and now we will work towards making every school in every barangay safe and resilient. We have a lot of work to do and we all have to work together and in synergy towards a unified action for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in the country,” said Legarda.

Because new MRT trains will arrive in 2016, Recto seeks interim measures to address congestion

MANILA-Because full delivery of 48 new Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 coaches will happen three months before President Aquino bows out of office in 2016, government should in the meantime apply measures which would lessen the discomfort of the transit’s more than half a million daily passengers.

The call was made by Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto who said that “while the purchase of trains from China has been green lighted by the courts, there remains the need to ease the situation while waiting for their arrival.”

“The trains are coming but something must be done about the daily calvary of MRT riders,” Recto said.

One mitigating measure, Recto said, is to further extend the MRT 3 service to midnight.   At present, the last train leaves Trinoma station at 10:30 p.m. while the last one from the opposite direction pulls out of Taft Avenue station at 11 p.m.

“By extending its operating hours by just one hour, the MRT 3 can theoretically field 20 more trips, and thus carry 23,640 more passengers per direction. Even if just 8 trips will be put in service during the extended period, they can still carry what 200 buses can,” Recto said.

MRT 3 operators should not worry about the availability of passengers, he said, because Metro Manila, with a population of 13 million, is now a 24/7 metropolis.

Recto said the DOTC should also ensure that MRT tracks and rolling stocking are properly maintained because “bog downs and technical problems” are the rail passengers’ biggest source of inconvenience.

He urged the MRT management to pursue its plans of stepping up rail grinding and replacement projects.

He said airconditioners of MRT coaches should be properly maintained, as “they are a must in the coming summer months.”

“The MRT should not be a moving steam bath,” Recto said.

Other passenger comfort amenities which should be addressed are “clean toilets, and functioning elevators and escalators, which seniors and the disabled need,” Recto said.

“Hindi mo naman siguro kailangan pang bumili ng gripo sa China para may tubig ang mga banyo,” he said.

  

As to the long queues which coil around sidewalks below MRT stations, Recto said management should this early purchase tents which will shield passengers from rain in the coming monsoon months.

It should also study the feasibility of increasing the stored value in MRT cards which is presently set at a maximum of P100, Recto said.  “A higher load means fewer trips and shorter lines to the ticket booth.”

Amid reports of rising pickpocketing incidents inside coaches and in and around stations, Recto called on both the rail operator and the police to beef up security.

The places around stations must be well lighted, he said.

The senator is also prodding the DOTC to assess the viability of ordering more coaches or what are technically called light rail vehicles (LRVs).

“When the 48 new LRVs will be put in service, they will increase the number of hourly trips from 20 to 24. Because the system can handle one trip every two minutes, or 30 in an hour, then there is room for more trains,” Recto said.

If this is feasible, then maybe the outlay needed can be included in the proposed 2015 national budget which, Recto pointed out, “is being assembled at the DBM at the moment.”

"Ang punto ko lang, baka naman sa 2017 or 2018 na naman tayo bibili ng dagdag na mga bagon. Kung pwedeng agahan, kung maresolba angownership at buyout issues ng maaga, e di maaga din dapat ang pag-order, hindi yung parating huli," he said.  

After a Makati court dismissed the injunction case filed by a private corporation last Feb. 21, the DOTC issued a Notice to Proceed to the Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stock Company of China for the delivery of 48 LRVs.

Under the P3.8 billion contract, Dalian will deliver a prototype within 18 months and deliver the remaining LRVs in tranches over the next 18 months.

The DOTC has however announced that Dalian has promised to deliver the prototype in a year’s time, to be followed by monthly deliveries of  the LRVs within one year, which means that full delivery is expected by March 2016. 

Drilon, Pimentel sponsor amendments to the Sandiganbayan charter

MANILA-Senate President Franklin M. Drilon and Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III introduced a proposed measure Wednesday that would strengthen the current structure of the Sandiganbayan, a move which is seen to decongest the clogged dockets of the country’s anti-graft court.  

In his sponsorship speech, Drilon noted the dismal disposition of graft cases at the Sandiganbayan. “The Sandiganbayan completes the proceedings of a case – from the filing of the information to promulgation of judgment – in about seven years. This sorry rate of disposition reflects the heavily clogged dockets of the court, given that the cases filed before it has multiplied over the years. Such a drawn-out process of litigation is injustice itself,” ephasized Drilon.  

“This inability to swiftly achieve the objective for which it was created can be attributed to the anti-graft court’s systemic limitations, considering that it has nearly been two decades since the Sandiganbayan Law has undergone legislative amendment,” he stressed.

Senate Bill No. 2138, known as the “An Act Further Amending Presidential Decree No. 1606, as amended” seeks to introduce three innovations in the anti-graft court:

1)   The bill seeks to introduce the concept of “Justice-Designate” that will allow one justice to hear receive evidence, and amend the quorum requirement from three justices in a division to two;

2)   The bill seeks to transfer the jurisdiction over “minor cases” to the Regional Trial Courts; and

3)   The bill seeks to modify the voting requirement for promulgation of judgment to allow the concurrence of at least two members of a division, instead of three, to render a decision.

“The objective of this bill is to improve the disposition of cases in the Sandiganbayan, our country’s specialized court tasked to effectively and swiftly resolve corruption cases against erring government officials and employees,” Pimentel explained.

Under the bill, an individual member of a division is allowed to hear and receive evidence on behalf of the two other members of his or her division. Presently, the Sandiganbayan is composed of five divisions, with three justices each; and the presence of the three justices is required to receive evidence and try a case.

The bill also proposes the transfer of jurisdiction over cases that are classified as “minor” to the Regional Trial Courts. The measure qualifies “minor cases” as those where the information does not allege any damage or bribe; those that allege damage or bribe that are unquantifiable; or those that allege damage or bribe arising from the same or closely related transactions or acts not exceeding P1 million.

“If we are to outrun graft and corruption, it is imperative that we resuscitate and recondition our existing prosecutorial and adjudicatory institutions against this opponent,” said the Senate chief.

“It is imperative for us to introduce and make the necessary revisions in the Court’s structure to ensure that justice is delivered, with haste and without delay,” stressed Pimentel.

Lastly, SBN 2138 seeks to modify the voting requirement for promulgation of judgment, by allowing at least the concurrence of two members to render a judgment. Under the Section 5 of the Sandiganbayan Law, the unanimous vote of all three members in a division is necessary for the rendition of final order. Failure to reach unanimity shall require the constitution of a special division of five members.

“The most potent deterrent against the spread of corruption is the certainty of punishment and expeditiousness of the proceedings, by boosting the structural capability of our anti-graft mechanisms,” said Drilon.

Drilon concluded that with these cutting edge proposals, the Senate is confident that the Sandiganbayan will be able to catch up with the pace of graft and corruption in public institution. 

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.