Legarda Urges Filipinos to be Part of Biodiversity Conservation

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda today renewed her call to Filipinos to get involved in efforts towards biodiversity conservation, noting that despite the abundance in natural resources, many Filipinos remain poor and hungry.

Legarda made the statement as the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) presented today the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP), which is the country’s roadmap to conserve its biodiversity.

“The Philippines is one of the megadiverse countries and has one of the highest rates of discovery of new species in the world. But in the midst of bountiful resources, millions of the world’s humanity remain hungry. There were 3.6 million hungry Filipino families in the second quarter of 2014 according to the SWS survey and many coastal residents, who should have access to marine resources, are among the poorest citizens,” she explained.

The Senator said that the PBSAP was crafted by Philippine government agencies led by the DENR and in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with the aim of restoring and rehabilitating the country’s biodiversity by the year 2027.

Furthermore, the PBSAP is anchored on the Philippine Development Plan (PDP), which means that the pursuit of economic growth while protecting the environment is the way forward.

Legarda said that in order to be effective, the PBSAP should be supported by citizens through their active involvement in biodiversity conservation.

“We are all consumers and we contribute to the decline of the world’s resources because of our insatiable demand for new things. The rate of extraction and consumption is way faster than the rate at which the Earth can replenish its resources.The solution begins with us,” she stressed.

“The PBSAP highlights that people should be at the core of conservation, protection and rehabilitation, and developmental initiatives. The first step towards building a sustainable community, one that respects biodiversity, is to correct one of the biggest misconceptions about the environment—that natural resources are infinite. We all need to stop craving for and taking more than what we need,” said Legarda.

She added that local government units and their respective communities should work together towards the protection of natural resources, and green jobs and green skills should be further promoted to contribute to environmental protection.

“In the Senate we also have proposed measures aimed at strengthening climate adaptation mechanisms and conserving biodiversity, including the Integrated Coastal Management Act and the National Land Use Act. All these measures and programs are part of the solution, but the most important step is for every Filipino to renew their commitment to preserving what remains of our natural resources by taking action today,” Legarda concluded.

700 state workers in Aurora join tree-planting activity

BALER, Aurora-Around 700 state workers from national government agencies and local government units in Aurora took part Friday in a tree-planting activity that is in line with the 114^th anniversary of Philippine Civil Service.

 

This year’s celebration carries the theme “Tapat na Serbisyo Alay Ko, Dahil Lingkod Bayani Ako.”

 

“Participants braved the rains brought by the combined forces of Tropical Storm Mario and the southwest monsoon as they planted narra seedlings in Sitio Diguisit in Barangay Zabali in Baler,” Governor Gerardo Noveras said.

 

“The area were we planted was severely damaged during the forest fire last August 13-15 this year,” Noveras added. (Jojo S. Libranda)

ANGARA FILES BILL INSTITUTIONALIZING AGRI-ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM IN PH

MANILA-Senator Sonny Angara has filed a bill that aims to develop and strengthen the agricultural education and training in the country to encourage more Filipinos to become "agri-prenuers."

"Agriculture remains a sector most vital to the overall development of the country, not just as the main driver of food security but also as a source of livelihood. However, Philippine agriculture remains a burgeoning, rather than a flourishing sector, contributing immensely to chronic poverty and hunger," Angara said.

The senator cited data from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics which showed that the average agricultural employment in the country has stayed only between 11 and 12 million from 2003 to 2013.

"Despite the significant number of Filipino graduates from agricultural-related courses, the field of agriculture is seen as less of a profession or business enterprise than a means to daily subsistence. 

“Agriculture needs to be infused with an entrepreneurial spirit," he stressed.

Angara's Senate Bill 2384 or the Entrepreneurial Agricultural Education Act aims to address the need for agricultural entrepreneurship training programs especially in the rural areas.

"With this measure, the country will train men and women as agriculture entrepreneurs or agri-preneurs," said the lawmaker, who is a known advocate of educational reform.

SB 2384 aims to institutionalize an Agricultural Manpower Education and Entrepreneurship System (AMEES), and create AMEES Development School or Farm Business School in each administrative region, excluding the National Capital Region, in the country.

Under the AMEES, educational institutions or training centers will tie up with agricultural, industrial or business establishments to come up with a relevant and effective dual training system, which is a combination of in-school and hands-on training.

Moreover, under the bill, the AMEES will be promoted among poor farming families and out-of-school youth in the rural areas and in agrarian reform communities. 

A trainee who has successfully completed a program in a particular agricultural, industrial or business establishment will be given priority of employment.

Agri-preneurship students will also be provided with funding as start-up capital for their farm business upon graduation.

"With the passage of this bill, we give due significance to farming as a way to eradicate hunger and poverty, provide food security and nutrition, improve livelihoods, and achieve sustainable development," Angara said.

Tap unspent P180-B Malampaya, energy royalties for emergency power needs

MANILA-Unspent royalty payments from Malampaya and other energy projects are expected to reach P180 billion by the end of year making it an abundant source of funds for projects government may undertake once Congress grants President Aquino emergency powers to tackle the looming energy crunch.

“If you read the 2015 budget documents, it says there that there is a balance of P148.8 billion as of December 2013 in government shares from Malampaya and other energy development projects,” Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto said.

“If you add the remittances for 2014, which is projected at P31.6 billion, and deduct about P757 million in withdrawals this year, then the end-year balance is about P179.7 billion,” the senator said.

“Those are not my figures. They’re the ones stated in the Budget of Expenditures and Sources of Financing,” Recto said, referring to a document more known in lawmaking circles by its acronym “BESF” which accompanies the proposed national budget.

With this hoard, Recto said ”theoretically, the government can fully subsidize the estimated P6 billion cost of contracting 600 megawatts of electricity next year in order to bridge supply gaps which are expected to worsen during the summer months when electricity use spikes up.”

“Kung tutuusin pwede ngang sagutin na ng gobyerno ‘yan. Pwede ngang libre, from the point of view of financial capacity,” Recto said.

“P6 billion is what we spend in 30 days for the CCT (Conditional Cash Transfer). That’s equivalent to the government’s payroll and pension expenses in three days. So ‘yung anim na bilyon, 72-hours lang ‘yan na pangsweldo at pang-pension ng ating gobyerno ngayon,” Recto said.   

The senator was referring to the P761 billion earmarked for personal cost or PS of the bureaucracy for 2015.  CCT’s proposed budget on the other hand is P64.7 billion but other financial aid projects of the DSWD has pushed the latter’s budget to P109 billion for next year.

After Energy officials warned of a 400-megawatt to 1,000-megawatt shortfall in the Luzon power supply in the first half of 2015, Malacanang is scrambling to secure emergency powers from Congress so it can contract private power providers to supply 600 megawatts.

The contracted power will be divided equally for reserves which can be kicked in during peak demands and to bolster baseload capacity.

Under current laws, government is barred from building power plants but the President may ask Congress for authority to contract additional generating capacity if there is an imminent electricity supply shortage.

Now that the President has asked for emergency powers, Recto said the debate will not center on the wordings of the joint resolution Congress may issue, but “on the costing, the pesos required.”

So that the authority “will be backed by legal tender,” Recto proposed that the amount needed be included in the Special Provision of the Department of Energy (DOE) budget in the General Appropriations Bill.

He explained that aside from the appropriations for DOE, which is P3.3 billion for 2015, the agency is given authority to use proceeds from energy development projects, like the Malampaya, in financing energy-related projects.

For 2015, that add-on is about P974 million, Recto said. “What we can perhaps do is raise this ceiling to accommodate the P6 billion, if that is what’s needed.”

“Mas maganda ang ganito kasi transparent, nasa budget, merong limit sa gagastusin,” he said.

Presidential Decree 910 pools “all government shares representing royalties, rentals, production share on service contracts and similar payments on the exploration, development and exploitation of energy resources” in an off-budget special fund.

For this year, Malampaya will contribute P28.3 billion; coal production, P1.6 billion; geothermal projects, P572 million; oil, P1.1 billion; for a total of P31.6 billion. 

Senate OKs bill granting PhilHealth insurance to all seniors

MANILA-The Senate on Wednesday has passed on second reading the measure providing mandatory PhilHealth coverage to all senior citizens regardless of their social or economic status.

Senate Bill 712, authored by Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto, would automatically enroll all senior citizens of the country in the national health insurance program of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

Currently, only indigent senior citizens are entitled to PhilHealth coverage under Republic Act (RA) 7432 as amended by RA 9994, otherwise known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.

Recto said the target beneficiaries of the proposed measure are the senior citizens who are neither lifetime members of PhilHealth and dependents nor indigents.

“They’re in the grey area of not being too poor to be officially classified indigents but still cannot afford to enroll themselves in PhilHealth. The bill seeks to close this crack where many seniors fall,” he said.

Recto said health insurance can never be called universal if it does not cover all seniors.

“Enrolling them must be automatic, not optional. The ideal is that the minute they blow out the candles on their 60th birthday cake to the moment they breathe their last – they should be PhilHealth members,” he added.

There are approximately 6.1 million senior citizens -- 60years old and above -- in the country today but only 3.9 million are PhilHealth members as of June 05, 2014.

Recto said PhilHealth needs to cover 2.2 million more senior citizens, which would entail premium payments worth P5.2 billion a year, which could be sourced from the National Health Insurance Fund of PhilHealth.

PhilHealth, as of December 2013, has 31.27 million registered members and 45.63 million dependents totaling to 76.90 million Filipinos provided with Philhealth coverage.

In 2013, PhilHealth reported an income from premium contributions amounting to P62 billion, on top of the subsidy of P12.612 billion it received from the national government.

Correspondingly, for 2013, PhilHealth paid P55.559 billion in benefits payment.

The third reading approval of the measure is widely expected anytime soon or before Congress takes a break starting next week.

Recto thanked Sen. TG Guingona, Senate health committee chair, for shepherding the bill from public hearings to the plenary for debate.

"Sen. Pia Cayetano also put in a wide range of valuable inputs and amendments which further improved the measure," Recto added.

The senator said “supportive PhilHealth officers” led by its Chief Executive Officer, Atty. Alexander Padilla, were also on hand to answer queries and provide technical assistance. 

Legarda Lauds Ombudsman’s Solid Waste Act Compliance Program

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda lauded the Office of the Ombudsman for its efforts to ensure the implementation of the country’s environmental laws, particularly the 13-year old Republic Act No. 9003 or Ecological Solid Waste Management (ESWM) Act of 2001.

Legarda, principal author and sponsor of RA 9003 and Chair of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, said that the Ombudsman’s “Solid Waste Management Law Voluntary Compliance Assessment and Promotion Program” will be a big boost in the campaign to compel all local government units (LGUs) to implement the law.

The program, which was launched in 2013 together with the National Solid Waste Management Commission, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Zero Waste Philippines, Mother Earth Foundation and Bangon Kalikasan, aims to recognize LGUs that have complied with the ESWM Law and urge voluntary compliance of other LGUs.  

“This program of the Office of the Ombudsman is a welcome initiative and we hope this could finally lead to 100% compliance with the ESWM law. We have a very good solid waste management law, but its benefits are yet to be felt because up to now very few LGUs have been implementing it. In fact, the 2012 statistics from the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) showed that ten years after the law was enacted, only 414 of the 1,610 LGUs nationwide have complied with the national plan. This translates to only 25.7% compliance rate,” she said.

According to Environmental Ombudsman Gerard Mosquera, letters were sent to LGUs asking them to rate themselves regarding their compliance with key provisions of the ESWM Law, particularly on mandatory segregation of wastes, materials recovery facilities, no segregation/no collection rule, closure and rehabilitation of open/controlled disposal facility, use of sanitary landfill or alternative technology, and submission of 10-year solid waste management plan.

The self-assessed compliance reports will be validated and the ESWM Excellence Awards will be conferred on LGUs with best compliance programs.

“With the Ombudsman, through its Office of the Environmental Ombudsman, leading this program, I am confident that more LGUs will be encouraged, if not compelled, to take up their responsibility of implementing the solid waste management law and other environmental laws to ensure safe, clean and disaster-resilient communities,” Legarda said.

“This law is very important especially in our efforts towards disaster risk reduction, to prevent flooding and other disasters such as the tragic trash slides of the past,” Legarda concluded.

.2-M Ecijano voters may lose right of suffrage in 2016-- Comelec

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija – A massive disenfranchisement of voters is looming in vote-rich Nueva Ecija as more than 200,000 registered voters may lose their right to vote in the 2016 synchronized local and national elections over their failure to update their voters’ records using the biometrics system eligibility requirement prescribed by law.

          Lawyer Panfilo Doctor Jr., provincial election supervisor, said that based on latest records from the Commission on Elections provincial office, a total of 213,141 registered voters are still without or have incomplete biometrics and thus, are automatically disqualified to vote.

          Doctor said this figure represents roughly 15 percent of the total number of registered voters in the province of 1,360,508.

          Of the 213,141 voters without biometrics, this city – the province’s trade and commercial center – has 63,116 voters or 27 percent of its total of 228,191.

          Aside from this city, other areas with large number of registered voters without or have incomplete biometrics are San Jose City (21,541 out of 99,179 voters, 20%), Talavera (15,418 of 77,407, 19%), Guimba (11,188 of 65,384, 17%) and Gapan City (10,100 of 78,527, 12%).   

          Leo Navarro, city election officer of this city, said only 165,075 voters have biometrics data. He said that they have embarked on a massive information campaign in the city’s 89 barangays to prevent the voters’ records from being deactivated for lack of biometrics.  

          The mandatory biometrics registration of voters is provided under Republic Act 10367 signed by President Aquino on February 15,2013.

          Biometrics refer to the quantitative analysis that provides a positive identification of an individual such as voice, photograph, fingerprint, signature and other identifiable means.

          RA 10367 mandates voters to undergo “validation” which it defines as the process of taking  the biometrics of registered voters whose biometrics have not yet been captured.

          The city and municipal election officers have been tasked to conduct the validation which started in July 2013 consistent with the continuing registration specified under Resolution 9853.

          In the province, only 7,014 registered voters applied for validation out of the 213,141 who did not have biometrics, or a measly three percent.

          Last May, Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said 9.6 million registered voters or 18 percent of the 53 million registered voters nationwide have no biometrics.

The Comelec has stated that the registration will not be extended and failure of old voters to update their records through the biometric system would mean they could not exercise their right to vote in 2016.

The system would not affect new voters since they will automatically undergo the biometrics process.  

The Comelec provincial office said their personnel have been going to the various barangays of the province to encourage registered voters to update their records but many would not respond.

Based on the poll body’s records, the list of areas with recorded biometric deficiency in the voters’ records  are the Science City of Muñoz (6,843 of 55,642, 12%), Palayan City (5,311 of 32,668, 16%) and the municipalities of Aliaga (7,736 of 40,667, 19%), Bongabon (2,865 of 40,919, 7%), Cabiao (3,088 of 43,897, 7%), Carranglan (4,206 of 24,938, 16%), Cuyapo 2,739 of 35,733, 7%), Gabaldon (1,232 of 19,938, 6%), Gen. Natividad (1,603 of 25,054, 6%), Gen. Tinio (2,574 of 30,322, 8%), Jaen (627 of 44,792, 0.01%), Laur (2,097 of 20,524, 10%);

Licab (2,055 of 16,662, 12%), Llanera (2,890 of 24,989, 11%), Lupao (3,557 of 26,668, 13%), Nampicuan (626 of 9,439, 0.06%), Pantabangan (4,141 of 22,304, 18%), Penaranda (1,587 of 20,669, 0.07%), Quezon (3,048 of 18,834, 16%), Rizal (3,843 of 32,924, 11%), San Antonio (4,939 of 47,511, 10%), San Isidro (1,376 of 27,175, 5%), San Leonardo (4,163 of 35,060, 11%), Sta. Rosa (8,375 of 40,533, 20%), Sto. Domingo (5,922 of 35,874, 16%), Talugtug (769 of 12,734, 0.06%) and Zaragoza (3,566 of 25,440, 14%). – Manny Galvez

Founders, participants of the Integrity Initiative commended

The Senate adopted a resolution commending the founders and participants of Integrity Initiative for their efforts to institutionalize integrity standards among all sectors of society and curb corruption in the country.

Sen. Teofisto "TG" Guingona III, who introduced Resolution 868, said the founders and participants of Integrity Initiative deserves to be recognized for its efforts to minimize if not totally eradicate corruption since it’s the greatest impediment to good governance, transparency and accountability in any nation.

Guingona said the resolution also urged government to require all private firms engaged in business to sign the “Integrity Pledge,” a formal agreement to adhere to ethical business practices and to support a national campaign against corruption.

“Private sector initiatives such as this reignited hope for the nation and helps the government restore the trust and confidence of its people,” Guingona said.

"Integrity, transparency and accountability are the three main ingredients needed to finally curb the culture of corruption in our society. We are all called not only to do our jobs competently, but to live our lives with integrity," Guingona said.

A commendation, he said, is in order for the founders, participants and supporters of the Integrity Initiative. (Mae Joy Albano- Miranda)

NIA Administrator leads harvest festival in Isabela, hails increase in farmers income

The Administrator strikes a pose at one of the display booths at the side of the Roxas Astrodome during the Rice Harvest Festival on September 12, 2014. (left to right) MARIIS-Division III Manager William B. Oppuer, NIA-Public Affairs and Information Staff Manager Pilipina P. Bermudez, MARIIS Administrative and Finance Manager Editha Valledor Daguio Morales, Roxas Mayor Benedict C. Calderon, and MARIIS Operations Manager Mariano G. Dancel.

ROXAS, Isabela - Despite the water supply challenge during the start of this cropping season, farmers in the NIA-Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (MARIIS) are now reaping their golden harvest.

Administrator Florencio F. Padernal, together with MARIIS Operations Manager Mariano G. Dancel and Isabela Governor Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy, led the ceremonial harvest on a rice farm under the North East Siffu Council of Irrigators Association here on September 12, 2014.

About 117,000 metric tons of palay have been harvested from 23,000 hectares of rice lands in the System.   Engr. Dancel proudly shared that MARIIS is the first to harvest palay for this cropping season.

“Water supply was low from April to May but we pushed for early water delivery and now farmers are getting higher prices for their produce,” he said.

He said that in 2012, MARIIS farmers reported an average income of P36,000 per hectare but for this year the reported average income has increased to P67,000.

Administrator Florencio F. Padernal congratulated the MARIIS farmers for a very good harvest.  “But we have to look forward to the next harvest which should be better,” he challenged.

He said the National Irrigation Administration will always support the MARIIS farmers and provide them with efficient irrigation service.  “In turn, this would result to improved income for the irrigators groups and farmers,” the Administrator said.

More farmers to plant rice in Isabela, thanks to new irrigation structure

SAN ISIDRO, Isabela-Corn farmers in four barangays in San Isidro, Isabela can now shift to rice farming as the Patanad Diversion Dam and Patanad Pumping Station start to operate after years of waiting. This will eventually contribute in the National Irrigation Agency (NIA)’s efforts in increasing rice production in the country.

The Patanad Diversion Dam, which was inaugurated on April 23, 2014, reuses water from Quitabayag Creek that traverses Barangay Patanad to irrigate 200 hectares of farmland that were previously used mostly for corn. The construction of the diversion dam sparked hope among corn farmers who wanted to shift to rice and to those with farmlands in elevated areas.

Part of the project is the construction of the Patanad Pumping Station, which was opened on June 26, 2014, that would irrigate about 250 hectares in four barangays namely Patanad, Camarag, Gomez, and Doña Paulina. It started irrigating 115 hectares of rice land for wet crop 2014 and the rest of the benefitted area will be irrigated on the next cropping season once lands have been converted from corn to rice farming. Prior to the pump system, farmers have been using their own diesel-powered pumps.

Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (MARIIS) Operations Manager Engr. Mariano G. Dancel said that the presence of the project signals the beginning of a more progressive agricultural economy in the municipality. As of December 2013, MARIIS had been irrigating 60% of agricultural lands in the municipality and the construction of the project will surely increase irrigated areas.

Farmer-beneficiaries, as well as local government officials, expressed their gratitude to NIA because of the positive impact of the project to the municipality. San Isidro Mayor Rey Socrates L. Velasco said the project will surely improve the lives of farmers who have long been waiting for irrigation. Barangay Patanad chief Virgilio Castillo on the other hand said that the construction of the diversion dam was the happiest event held in their barangay and that it will truly change their lives.

Engr. Dancel, speaking on behalf of NIA Administrator Florencio F. Padernal, said that farmers could count on the agency to look for more lands to irrigate as it is NIA’s mandate and to provide farmers with improved irrigation service.

13 senators signed as co-authors Drilon: Bangsamoro bill gets bipartisan support

MANILA-The Bangsamoro Basic Law draft is drawing a strong bipartisan support in the Senate, according to Senate President Franklin M. Drilon, with more than half of the senators including the four members of the minority group signing as co-authors of the bill.

“The BBL draft is getting broad support from both parties in the Senate. The minority bloc led by acting minority leader, Senator Vicento Sotto III signed as co-authors of the proposed measure,” said Drilon.

The BBL draft will be filed today. It will then be referred to the Senate Committee on Local Governance headed by Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  and the Senate Committee on Peace, Unification and Reconciliation chaired by Senator Teofisto Guingona III.

Drilon welcomed the minority bloc's acknowledgement of the BBL as a crucial instrument of peace and progress: "It only shows that the desire of peace knows no political color.”

"It is good to know that the majority of the senators support the quest for peace. The concept of having a new organic act that will establish the new Bangsamoro political entity seems acceptable to them,” said Drilon.

“With more people working on the BBL, we can better scrutinize every detail of the bill and ensure that every single word in the proposed measures will be reviewed, examined and debated upon,” underscored Drilon.

The Senate leader thus encouraged his colleagues to take an active role in the crafting of the BBL and devote time and effort to scrutinize the bill.

“We cannot afford to err on this most-sought piece of legislation. Our people won’t forgive us if we fail to pass it on time. It is therefore incumbent upon us to make sure that the efforts exerted by both panels will not be put in vain, by ensuring that the BBL we will debate upon will be in accordance with the Constitution and can withstand judicial scrutiny,” he emphasized.

Aside from Sotto and the minority bloc senators Nancy Binay, JV Ejercito and Gregorio Honasan, the other lawmakers who signed as co-authors include Senate Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto, Senate Majority Leader Allan Peter Cayetano, Sen. Loren Legarda, Sen. Guingona, Sen. Francis Escudero, Se. Bam Aquino, Sen. Sonny Angara, and Sen. Pia Cayetano.

REMULLA: VP BINAY FLIES TO CAGAYAN, ISABELA TO CHECK NEEDS OF TYPHOON VICTIMS

Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla, the Vice Presidential spokesperson for political concerns, said that Vice President Jejomar C. Binay has decided to postpone his live address on issues raised in recent Senate hearings and instead see to the needs of the victims of typhoon Luis in Cagayan and Isabela.

“There will be an appropriate time to address the issues raised during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing. The Vice President believes the needs of the typhoon victims are immediate and should be attended to,” Remulla said.

“Work continues for the Vice President amidst accusations against him and his family. Right now, his priority is the welfare of the people of Cagayan and Isabela who are suffering from the onslaught of typhoon Luis,” he added.

The Vice President is now in Cagayan to personally assess the damage caused by the typhoon. He is currently in Peñablanca and will proceed to Iguig, Amulong and Alcala.

Binay is also expected to extend help to typhoon survivors in Isabela, his home province.

Senate passes Chemistry Profession Act

The Senate today approved on third and final reading a bill which seeks to regulate and modernize the practice of chemistry in the Philippines.

            Sen. Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV, author and sponsor of Senate Bill No. 914, also known as the Chemistry Profession Act of 2014, said that the existing Republic Act 754 which was enacted in 1952 needed to be reformulated in order to make the law more responsive to the recent developments in Science and Technology.

            Trillanes said that during the 15^th Congress, the bill was passed on final reading in the House of Representatives but had not been approved in the Senate due to time constraint.

            “Significant changes brought about by the rapid developments in chemistry, science and technology, the rise of international standards, global competition, as well as concerns for the environment, climate change and sustainable development necessitate changes in the chemistry law so that it wil1 be more responsive to these modern developments,” Trillanes said.

            Trillanes said the bill also aimed to update the definition of chemistry and the scope of its professional practice, rationalize the relationship between chemistry and its allied professions and bring the practice of chemistry in line with the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Modernization Act of 2000 (RA 8981), as well as national concerns related chemistry, such as toxic and hazardous and nuclear waste Act (RA 6969) and dangerous drugs Act (RA 9165).

            He said the bill called for the creation of the Professional Regulatory Board of Chemistry which will supervise and regulate the practice of the chemistry profession in the Philippines. The board shall also determine the requirements and evaluate the qualifications of the applicants for registration and renewal of license of registered chemists and registered chemical technicians.

Under the proposed legislation, the board shall be composed of a chairperson and two members under the administrative control and supervision of the PRC to be referred to as the Commission. Members of the board shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines.

Trillanes said that a person who wished to practice chemistry and chemical analysis must obtain a certificate of registration and pass the licensure examination given by the Professional Regulatory Board of Chemistry.  

            “Chemistry plays an important role in every aspect of life -from scientific or academic endeavor to its application in everyday life. Without the proper regulation of its application and practice, it has the potential to become a threat to the safety of the public,” Trillanes said. (Olive Caunan)