Legarda on Yolanda Anniversary: Let Us Bring Filipino Resilience to a Higher Level

MANILA-One year after Supertyphoon Yolanda battered Central Visayas and other nearby regions, Senator Loren Legarda today said that the well-known Filipino resilience should be manifested even before a natural hazard occurs.

“The world recognizes the resilience of the Filipino spirit. Even after experiencing the worst disaster, we find reason to smile and laugh, we help others even if we are victims too, and we immediately go about our business. Resilience has been a remarkable strength of our citizens, but at the end of the day, the greater challenge after a typhoon or earthquake is always: how do we rebuild our communities?” said Legarda.

“One year after Yolanda devastated numerous communities in Central Visayas and nearby regions, I hope we all have learned our lessons well. Let us bring our resilience to a higher level—where we need not weep for a lost loved one after a natural hazard and where there is less or no more damaged infrastructure and properties because we have already managed to make our communities safe,” she stressed.

Legarda, United Nations Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, said she hopes that the rehabilitation plan of the government will be carried out well so that the survivors would not face the same tragedy again.

“I am glad that our government has embraced the concept of ‘building back better’. In building back better, we must rebuild communities with the confidence that we are not rebuilding the risks again; we need to ensure that reconstruction of homes and infrastructure will be on safer ground following geohazard maps and sound construction standards; we need to re-start and create livelihoods; and restore normalcy to people’s lives with a stronger sense of hope and confidence for the future,” she explained.

Legarda also reiterated key lessons from Yolanda and other disasters that caused great devastation, such as typhoons Ondoy, Pepeng, Sendong and Pablo.

First, we must focus on managing the risks rather than managing disasters.  Local disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) plans are indispensable. Funds should be sufficiently allocated. Cooperation among local and national governments, businesses, and the communities is imperative.

Second, governments and businesses need to let science work for our communities. The best solutions are possible only with the guidance of science.  Develop land use plans that are risk sensitive.  The dictum is not just to build, but build stronger.  Build for the future.

Third, protect our environment and pursue green urban development.  We need to go back to the basics: protect our ecosystems and natural buffers such as mangrove forests to mitigate floods, storm surges and other hazards. Design and enforce building standards to address future hazards, not past ones.

Fourth, we should all be ‘disaster-literate’. We need to understand and believe in the risks.  Everybody should be part of the solution.

Finally, prepare adequately and engage. While disaster prevention should be the greater focus of our efforts, response preparedness is likewise important to prevent further casualties and reduce losses. Contingency plans are crucial in times of disasters. LGUs must have the political will to implement forced evacuation when called for. With adequate and proper preparation, we would already have won half the battle.

“We do not hope for more natural hazards to come, but that is already part of our lives. We only hope that when the next typhoon or earthquake strikes, the world will laud us for our strength, for the greater resilience of our communities—zero casualty, minimal property damage, quick response and recovery,” said Legarda.

Comelec cancels November 8 plebiscite on Cabanatuan HUC-hood due to fund lack

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija–The Commission on Elections has cancelled the  holding of a November 8 plebiscite to ratify the conversion of this city into a Highly Urbanized City (HUC), the third such cancellation in as many years.

          Sitting En Banc, the Comelec issued Minute Resolution 14-0732 dated October 21 - and released November 4 - cancelling the November 8 plebiscite and resetting it to a later date.

          The resolution was signed by Commissioners Lucenito Tagle, Christian Robert Lim, Luie Tito Guia, Elias Yusoph, Al Parreno and Arthur Lim.

          Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. was on official business at the time of the signing of the resolution although his signature appeared on the document, apparently as a belated signatory.

          In issuing the resolution, the Comelec approved the recommendation of deputy executive director for operations Bartolome Sinocruz Jr. that the new date will be finalized upon the receipt of the certificate of availability of funds from the city government.

          A total of P100.9 million is needed for the conduct of the plebiscite, of which P47.5 million is to be remitted to the Comelec.

          City treasurer Florida Oca said the city government cannot provide yet the required certificate of availability of funds.  

          Sinocruz, in a memorandum directed provincial election supervisor Panfilo Doctor and Cabanatuan election officer Leonardo Navarro to implement the resolution.   

          Doctor and Navarro both declared that if not for the postponement, they are ready to hold the plebiscite which will involve all 1,360,508 registered voters in Nueva Ecija instead of just this city.

          “We are prepared insofar as our records are concerned,” Doctor said by phone.

Navarro said that as early as January, the Comelec Cabanatuan office has been 100 percent ready for the plebiscite but the Supreme Court stopped them from proceeding with it through its issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO).

The HUC is contained in Presidential Proclamation 418 issued on July 4,2012 by President Aquino. For the process to be complete, the proclamation needs to be ratified in a plebiscite.

The issue has led to the bitter parting of ways of former political allies, Gov. Aurelio Umali and Mayor Julius Cesar Vergara. Umali is opposed to the conversion which Vergara, a former classmate of President Aquino, is pushing to make Cabanatuan a separate political subdivision.  

The poll body originally set the date of the plebiscite on December 1, 2012 but this was postponed by the issuance of a TRO by the Palayan City Regional Trial Court. Subsequently, the Comelec issued a resolution postponing the plebiscite because of its proximity to the elections.

          On June 28 last year, shortly after the two politicians were reelected, Vergara wrote the Comelec asking it to conduct the plebiscite but the poll body said it was forced to defer all actions until after the barangay polls. 

The Supreme Court directed the Comelec to hold the plebiscite after ruling that all registered voters in the province should vote, granting a petition for certiorari filed by Umali seeking to stop two earlier Comelec resolutions setting the dates for the conduct of the plebiscite on December 1,2012 and January 25,2014 but with only registered voters of the city allowed to vote.

Last January, the SC issued the TRO stopping the Comelec from proceeding with the plebiscite scheduled on January 25. The Comelec, last September then scheduled the plebiscite for November 8.    

Umali  has argued that Novo Ecijanos will be affected once Cabanatuan becomes HUC and thus, it is imperative for them to participate in the  plebiscite. He said no less than two former SC chief justices – Claudio Teehankee and Reynaldo Puno – have held the view that the political units affected by the plebiscite – Nueva Ecija and Cabanatuan – should participate in the electoral exercise.

Vergara said that the conversion of the city into a HUC is long overdue and has been supported by legal experts, among them former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and former senator Aquilino Pimentel who authored the Local Government Code of 1991. 

Umali, a lawyer, said there is already  existing jurisprudence, one of which was the October 19,1992 ruling in Padilla Jr. vs Comelec which stated that when the law states that the plebiscite shall be conducted in the political units directly affected, it means that residents of the political entity who would be economically dislocated by the separation of a portion thereof have a right to vote in the said plebiscite.

“Evidently, what is contemplated by the phrase “political units directly affected,” is the plurality of political units which would participate in the plebiscite,” he stressed, quoting from the ruling.

          He said this is not the first time the issue of who should vote in the plebiscite is raised before the Comelec, citing the first case was Antipolo City’s own HUC bid wherein Rizal Gov. Casimiro Ynares III raised the same arguments.

          The Law Department of the Comelec, he recalled, found basis in the contention of Ynares and officially opined that the conduct of the plebiscite must include the qualified voters of Rizal.

          Vergara’s bid marks the second attempt to turn the city into HUC.  In 1995, Vergara’s predecessor, then-mayor Manolette Liwag pushed for HUC conversion which was subsequently proclaimed by then-President Fidel Ramos.

           However, Cabanatueños rejected its ratification, largely due to the objections of the Josons who were then at the height of their political reign. (Manny Galvez)

Senate to hold necrological services for former Senator Juan Flavier

MANILA-The Senate will hold necrological services for former Senator and Health Secretary Juan Flavier when it resumes its sessions on November 17. Flavier, who served as senator from 1995 to 2007, succumbed to pneumonia last Thursday at age 79.

            Senate Secretary Oscar Yabes said senators to be led by Senate President Franklin Drilon would wait for Flavier’s remains at 9:30 a.m. at the main entrance of the Senate building.

            He said the senators, together with Flavier’s wife and children, the Senate Secretary, Sergeant-at-Arms, Deputy Secretaries, Senate Legal Counsel, Directors-General would escort the urn containing the remains of the former senator to the Session Hall at the Second floor of the building.

            The urn will be carried by pallbearers of the Philippine National Police.

Yabes said senators will deliver eulogies for the former legislator around 9:55 a.m. He said the Senate would also present a resolution expressing the Senate’s “profound sympathy and sincere condolence on the death of the former senator” to Flavier’s family.

“The hard working legislator registered a perfect attendance during the sessions and was instrumental in the enactment of landmark legislations promoting public health care and improving the quality of life of the people,” according to the resolution.

“The passing away of the illustrious senator is a great loss not only to his bereaved family but to the nation as well,” it added.

After the public viewing of the former senator, the Senate will host lunch for the family and relatives of the late Honorable Flavier, senators and guests at the Recto-Laurel Rooms, according to Yabes.

He said the pallbearer will carry the urn to the Ground Floor after lunch for its departure with senators and senate officials in attendance.

“After the departure hymn, the designated pallbearers shall fold the national flag and hand it over to the Senate President who, in turn, will present the flag to the former senator’s family,” Yabes said.

The Senate has been flying the flag at half mast since Flavier’s death as a symbol of its mourning.

Flavier’s remains were moved to the main office of the Department of Health in Manila Tuesday morning. His colleagues requested for a public viewing at the DOH, where he served as its secretary from 1992 to 1995 before he was elected as senator under the administration of former President Fidel Ramos. He will be cremated after the DOH viewing.

            Flavier authored and sponsored several bills that became law such as the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act (Republic Act 8423); Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act (R.A. 8425); Philippine Clean Air Act (R.A. 8749); Indigenous People’s Rights Act (R.A.8371);  Anti-Money Laundering Act (R.A. 9160); law declaring Eidl Fitr as a National Holiday (R.A. 9177); Barangay Micro-Business Enterprise (R.A. 9178); National Service Training Program for Tertiary Students (R.A. 9163); the Dangeous Drugs Act of 2002 (R.A. 9165); the Plant Variety Protection Act (R.A. 9168);  the Philippine Nursing Act (R.A. 9173) and the Tobacco Regulation Act (R.A. 9211).

As UN Panel Warns, Time Running Out to Reach 2ºC Warming Target, Legarda Renews Call for Greater Climate Action

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda today renewed her call for greater climate change action, particularly significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, as she expressed alarm over the pronouncement of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that time is running out to limit global warming to two degrees Celsius.

Legarda, the United Nations Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific, said that the international community, all national governments, all sectors of society and all citizens of the world must unite and work double time to limit global warming to a safer two degrees Celsius because beyond that, the Earth will suffer rising seas, worsening natural hazards and extinction of many species.

“We have been repeatedly warned of what will happen if the Earth’s temperature warms to at least four degrees Celsius—worsening drought and flooding, extreme heat waves, water scarcity, stronger tropical cyclones, and loss of biodiversity. We have to do everything now to prevent such a scenario,” she stressed.

“We hope that world leaders will commit to lead their people out of the crises and uncertainties brought about by climate change by setting and carrying out ambitious targets on cutting down greenhouse gas emissions, among other environmental protection measures. Here in our country, we also continue to encourage the commitment of more local governments, government agencies and other organizations in working for a climate-resilient nation,” she added.

Legarda said that as a nation that is among the most vulnerable to disasters and the effects of climate change, the Philippines should influence other nations to take the necessary actions to halt the warming of the Earth’s temperature through the Philippine government’s own initiatives.

The Senator said that the Climate Change Act, the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, and the People’s Survival Fund Act, as well as other environmental laws, should all be fully operational and implemented down to the local level.

Legarda added that the People’s Survival Fund now has one billion in programmed funds under the proposed 2015 national budget intended to finance climate change adaptation activities of local governments and organizations.

“Our laws, which have been considered model legislation by the UN, must be complemented by effective implementation. This we must do as we continue to call on industrialized countries, which have a historical responsibility for climate change, to financially and technologically assist developing countries in efforts to reduce their vulnerability and adapt to its consequences, while reducing their own greenhouse gas emissions,” she said.

“World leaders must not allow people to continuously suffer from floods, hunger, displacement, and economic setbacks. Climate change, along with the extreme weather events it causes, knows no boundaries and the only way forward is a united global action towards mitigation, adaptation and resilience,” Legarda concluded.

NOLCOM’s Belenismo sa Tarlak Entry Unveils

CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac City- Northern Luzon Command’s much awaited entry for the 2014 Belenismo sa Tarlak Festival will be unveiled tomorrow, November 4, 2014 at 5:30 pm, in front of St. Michael’s Park along Mc Arthur Highway San Miguel, Tarlac City.

The ceremonial unveiling and ribbon-cutting will be headed by Commander Northern Luzon Command, Lt. Gen. Felicito Virgilio M. Trinidad Jr., together with the Heads of Tarlac Heritage Foundation, namely, Dra. Issa Suntay and Doña Isabela Suntay.

NOLCOM’s Belen was elaborately crafted by NOLCOM’s soldiers from its composite units, through the support of Tarlac Heritage Foundation. These will represent humbleness of military forces in pursuing the Internal Peace Security Plan “Bayanihan” in winning the peace, unity and development; as well as a manifestation of the dedication of Filipino soldiers in serving God, their country and their people.

After the ceremony, NOLCOM’s Belen will be open for public viewing and will be followed by a grand fireworks display as finale. 

Drilon to accuser: Show evidence ICC is overpriced

MANILA-Senate President Franklin M. Drilon today said he was not adverse to any Senate investigation into the Iloilo Convention Center (ICC) but expressed confidence that the Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) will be able to defend the regularity of the project.

“The DPWH, which supervised the ICC, can easily disprove the malicious allegations made against the implementation of the project." Drilon said. “I have no involvement in any way in the bidding process for the project. I was nowhere near that process to intervene, let alone nominate anyone to be the contractor of the project.”

Likewise, the Senate chief said he will never use his position as Senate President “to block or prevent the holding of a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee inquiry into the matter.”

“I have nothing to hide. Any inquiry or investigation will validate the facts and figures of this project, and will just show how absurd these vile allegations really are,” he said.

But Drilon emphasized that it was only proper that those who were responsible for spreading lies regarding the ICC “must be made liable for their actions if their allegations were proven wrong and politically-motivated.”

 “The project was bid out under the supervision of Public Works Sec. Rogelio Singson, who is widely known for his integrity,” he added.

Sec. Singson had earlier disputed the allegations of overpricing, saying that the project was above-board and strictly followed bidding process. In fact, Singson said the actual price of the ICC is even lower than the approved budget for the contract, after they allowed the adoption of value engineering specifically on structural aspects of the building.

Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez had earlier said that he "expressed full trust and confidence in the competence and sincerity of all those involved in the ICC Project."

"I firmly believe that our actions in support of this project will withstand scrutiny. Notwithstanding this unfortunate allegation of overpricing, we will not allow this distraction to derail our mission to make tourism a force for growth and inclusiveness in this country," Jimenez said in a statement.

Drilon said he believed that the public will realize that the issues being hurled against them were mere harassment. "The ICC is a major undertaking by various agencies particularly the DPWH, DOT and TIEZA. To say that Secretary Singson, Secretary Jimenez and I all connived to ruin the integrity of the ICC project is absurd, baseless and malicious," said Drilon.

The ICC’s construction is part of a major campaign to improve Iloilo's capacity to host and accommodate international events and conferences, particularly the 2015 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ministerial meetings.

ANGARA PUSHES ANEW FOR CREATION OF NAT'L SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAM TO FIGHT CHILD HUNGER, MALNUTRITION

MANILA-Amid rising number of malnourished children in the country, Senator Sonny Angara has renewed his call for the establishment of a school feeding and child nutrition program in all public schools in the Philippines.

"The most effective means to combat child hunger and malnutrition is through the public school network where we could target children who belong to poorer families," said Angara, a known advocate of educational reforms. 

The senator lamented that current school feeding programs administered by the Department of Education (DepEd) are limited as these programs rely heavily on allocations from government officials and agencies or donations from private individuals and corporations.

According to the 2013 National Nutrition Survey, 20 percent of Filipino children aged 0 to 5 are underweight while 30 percent are stunted or too short for their age.

Moreover, the Philippines ranked 9th in the world with the most number of stunted children, based on the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) 2013 study.

"Poor nutrition is among the top reasons for school dropouts. Since undernourished children are more susceptible to infection and disease, they absent themselves from school more frequently resulting to poor performance and poor learning outcomes," the senator said.

Since his days in Congress, Angara has been filing the Child Nutrition Act which seeks to mandate a budgetary allocation to institutionalize a school feeding and child nutrition program throughout the public elementary school network in the country.

Under Senate Bill No. 202, the National Nutrition Council (NNC), Department of Health (DOH), and DepEd shall initiate, maintain and expand a system of distribution of milk, fortified snack foods and vitamin supplements to public elementary school entrants.

Beneficiary students will be required to eat and take their free snacks and vitamin supplements inside the classroom during recess time, five times a week.

The bill intends to make young students aware of the importance of good nutrition by providing relevant and user-friendly nutrition information and education materials.

SB 202 provides for social mobilization and training among DepEd personnel, parents and children in order to orient them on the program's objectives and to generate support for the program.

"There should also be a simultaneous health and dental examination and deworming of the participating children during the meeting-orientation of parents and teachers to monitor the children's health condition. Students found with defects or ailments must immediately be given proper treatment or referred to hospitals," Angara said.

An initial sum of P100 million from the national budget would be appropriated for the first year of implementation of the program while a counterpart fund of at least 20 percent of the cost incurred for feeding programs will be provided by local government units where the school districts are located.

In case of shortage of funds, the implementation of the school feeding program shall first be undertaken in provinces where malnutrition rates are most severe, as may be determined by the NNC.

Private companies that would donate food, milk, juices vitamin supplements or other similar products are entitled to incentives under the proposed measure.

Hold summit on ASEAN econ integration to cushion impact on onion farmers, DA urged

BONGABON, Nueva Ecija – Mayor Allan Xystus Gamilla has urged the Department of Agriculture to call a summit on the forthcoming integration of the member-economies of  the Association of Southeast Asian Nations amid what he termed was the apparent lack of prior strategic planning of the DA with regards to the integration’s effects on the competitiveness of the country’s onion farmers, particularly in this town, the country’s onion capital.

          Gamilla said the DA should draw up a comprehensive road map to make onion farmers competitive amid the expected entry of imported onions with the economic integration in 2015.

          “As of now, the DA has no clear plan to prepare our onion farmers for the coming integration. That’s why I think we need to hold a summit and discuss how onion farmers could cope with  the coming integration,” he said. 

          Gamilla said Bongabon remains as the country’s top producer of onions yet local farmers’ fear being unable to compete with their counterparts from other member economies. “We might be placed at a disadvantage unless there are interventions in place. Maybe, the government should consider subsidizing us,” he said.

          He said onion farmers spend P150,000 per hectare as production cost for red creole and P200,000 for yellow granex.

          There are an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 onion farmers in this town which produces roughly 60 percent of the country’s onions. However, farmers suffer from low income due to the entry of imported onions believed being smuggled into the country.

          As stipulated in the ASEAN economic community blueprint, free trade paves the way for the establishment of a single market and production base among countries in the region namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.

This means that there will be a free flow of goods, including rice, onions,  services, investment, capital and skilled labor to these countries. The goal is to create a highly competitive single market that would boast of an equitable economic development.

Under the ASEAN free trade regime, imported products will become cheaper which poses a real challenge to Filipino farmers.

Gamilla said the municipal government has not been remiss in undertaking steps to help local onion farmers cope with integration. He said they have been going to the barangays showing to the farmers modules for ideal planting of alternative products.

He added that the municipal government also provided P7 million worth of seeds to onion farmers under the grassroots participatory budgeting process.

Earlier, DA Secretary Proceso Alcala said they have come up with their own road map to prepare the agribusiness sector for the Asean Economic Community, adding they plan to invest heavily on farm mechanization, irrigation and financing to strengthen the farmers’ capacity to compete in the Asean region.

However, Alcala was viewed to be referring only to rice farmers as there was no mention of how DA intends to prepare other sectors, such as those engaged in the onion industry. (Manny Galvez)

VP BINAY ON DRAGGING YOUNGEST DAUGHTER IN SENATE INVESTIGATION: "SOBRA NA"

MANILA-Vice President Jejomar C. Binay today decried the recent move of the Senate Blue Ribbon Subcommittee to drag his youngest daughter into their effort to malign his name.

“Alam mo ba nakakalungkot, ako'y sinisiraan pati ba naman 'yung anak ko na bunso? Isinasama pa sa kinukutya at hinahamak. Bahala na Diyos sa kanila,” Binay said in Camarines Sur.

“Sobra na po. Sobra na,” he added.

Sen. Allan Peter Cayetano on Thursday presented photos posted on Instagram by Binay’s youngest daughter showing her inside the Batangas estate owned by Sunchamp.

Binay said that contrary to Cayetano’s claims, having a photo taken inside the property does not prove ownership of the estate.

“Ano po bang masamang magpa-litrato. Yung place na iyon, may lease hold iyon. Tumatanggap ng bisita ang may ari noon. So evidence po ba iyon na nagpa-litrato ka sa isang lugar at sinabi mong in this place, ikaw na ang may ari? Hindi naman siguro evidence of ownership iyon,” he said.

Binay also slammed the blatant disregard for protocol of the senate subcommittee when they prevented United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) Interim Secretary General JV Bautusta and UNA Interim President Tobias Tiangco from attending the hearing.

“Wala ng respeto sa protocol. Si Cong. Toby Tiangco pinaalis at balita ko binitbit pa palabas,” Binay said.

“Yan po ang tatak Cayetano. Akala niyo kung sino. 'Yun na lang per protocol na lang. Pati naman ho 'yung abogado, 'yung karapatan ng mga pinatawag doon na magkaroon ng abogado pinaalis pa. Ewan ko na, iba na ho talaga ang batas na nalalaman nitong mga taong 'to sa Senado,” he added.

Binay also appealed to members of the subcommittee to raise the standards of politics and not resort to mudslinging.

“Sana matauhan naman po itong mga naninira sa aming pagkatao. Sana maitaas po natin ang lebel ng halalan. Hindi na ho 'yung pulos kasinungalingan, paninira sa tao. Magpresenta po tayo kung ano ho ang inaasam-asam natin, ano ho 'yung mga advocacies ho natin. Sana isang malinis po na pulitika,” Binay said.

Recto wants P17.5 B ‘mega lump-sum’ for civil society used in fight vs hunger

MANILA-The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will disburse P17.5 billion worth of grants to civil society and local governments next year and a senator wants part of this earmarked for food production and processing projects that will benefit malnourished children.

Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto described the P17.5 billion proposed allocation for the “Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services-National Community-Driven Development Project” or “KC-NCDDP” as “one of the biggest unitemized lump-sum items” in the 2015 national budget.

It is also one of the budget items which will post the biggest increase – from P498 million this year to P17.5 billion next year.

The program intends to fund 6,735 grassroots projects next year at an average project cost of P2.6 million.

While government agencies will be the conduit of funds, the implementation will be handled by a “community entity”, Recto said.

This prompted Recto to urge DSWD officials to ensure that the bidding out of projects fully comply with government procurement laws and that projects be subject to audit by the Commission on Audit (COA).

A COA representative told a Senate finance subcommittee chaired by Recto that “historically, COA has only been able to audit 10 percent of KALAHI projects.”

Despite these “curable issues,” Recto said the KC-NCDDP can be used to boost food inventory in the community.

“The budget for that program next year is big. It is almost thrice that of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and 43 times the money that will be given to the Philippine Carabao Center next year,” Recto said.

“If some of the recipients are SMEs, then the budget of the KC-NCDDP is four times the appropriations of the department in-charge of SMEs, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), for 2015,” Recto said.

“Kung ganoon kalaki ang pondo ng KC-NCDDP, siguro naman makakahanap sila ng mga proyektong magpapalakas ng huli ng isda o pwedeng magbigay ng gatas ng kalabaw sa mga bata,” Recto said.

 “The idea is to attach a food security peg to this P17.5 billion mega fund,” Recto said.

 “If hunger and food scarcity are two of the biggest issues in the grassroots, then this fund should be able to address these,” he said.

Recto said KC-NCDDP should be able to fund food security projects like irrigation and farm roads “in places whose residents have identified these as the kind they need.”

The KC-NCDDP is a P43.9 billion five year project financed by loans from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.

“Kung 25 years from now binabayaran pa rin ito ng ating mga apo, dapat lang siguraduhin natin na mapunta ito sa mga proyektong magbibigay ginhawa sa buhay,” Recto said, referring to the 2022 to 2045 repayment schedule of the loan.

“There may be loan conditionalities. But we should insist that it should serve our interest. And we can begin by using this as a tool to fight hunger,” Recto said. 

Legarda: Include PWDs, Elderly in Disaster Resilience Efforts

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda today called for the inclusion of every citizen, including persons with disabilities (PWDs) and older persons, in the country’s disaster risk reduction and management programs.

Speaking at the Symposium for the International Day for Disaster Reduction and ASEAN Day for Disaster Management, which was organized by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), Legarda stressed that “building resilience should be everybody’s attitude,” hence, even the PWDs and the elderly should be involved in disaster resilience efforts as their special needs are being addressed as well.

“We have the laws in place and the mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation into our development processes is now a national policy. Yet much remains to be done to realize the benefits these laws ought to bring, especially to the poor and the vulnerable who are most in need of help and protection against disasters and most deserving of participation in resilience building,” Legarda said.

In the past years, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) has been highlighting the needs and strengths of various members of society. In 2013, the focus was on PWDs. For 2014, the vulnerability and strengths of the elderly were highlighted. Meanwhile, this year’s ASEAN Day for Disaster Management focuses on the importance of the active participation of everyone in ensuring resilience of communities during disasters.

Legarda, the UNISDR Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific, said that PWDs are disproportionately affected by disasters. A survey by the UNISDR among persons with disabilities revealed that, if a disaster occurs, 80% said they would be unable to evacuate immediately without difficulty, while six percent said they would not be able to evacuate at all.

Meanwhile, older persons, or people aged 60 years and above, also suffer disproportionately from disasters. Seventy five percent (75%) of those killed by Hurricane Katrina in the United States were over 60, but they comprise 15% of the population in New Orleans. During the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami, 56% of those who died were 65 years old and above, but they comprise only 23% of the population.

“Our PWDs are twice more likely to lose their lives or be injured than any other person, but their disability does not mean inability. Actually, they can and should be active partners in making communities safer and more resilient,” said Legarda.

“Meanwhile, the elderly can also make positive contributions to disaster risk reduction and management. We must tap their knowledge and experience. The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that we seek the help of older people in providing vital information on local risks to health since they are familiar with local history, geography and culture. They can also be sought for advice on response and recovery efforts, owing to their experience and wisdom,” she added.

“Building resilience should be everybody’s attitude. With this kind of mindset, we can promote the scaling up of existing government programs to rectify the social and economic structures that breed disaster risk and trap the poor and vulnerable citizens in the vicious cycle of risk and poverty,” Legarda concluded.

Drilon bats for quick passage of BOC modernization law

MANILA-The upcoming holiday will be merrier if gifts and “balikbayan” boxes will make it to their recipients on time for Christmas.

But that does not always happen, Senate President Franklin M. Drilon said, citing numerous cases of delayed and inefficient delivery of packages during the holiday season, caused by existing limitations in the customs procedure and structure.

To address this, the Senate leader said that Congress must act on the proposed Customs and Tariff Modernization Act which seeks “to institute electronic processing of import and export, simplify the customs procedure for ordinary citizens, and increase the operating flexibility of the Bureau of Customs.”

According to Drilon, a prominent feature of the proposed measure is to overhaul the BoC's processing of export and import products and goods from its current person-to person format to an automated system. The move, he added, will speed up current custom procedures, limit human interface at customs transaction, and foster transparency and accountability.

"Yearly, many Filipinos with loved ones in other countries deal with the cumbersome process of trying to claim gifts or packages which are stuck at the ports, because the BoC personnel could not immediately attend to the inspection, monitoring, and clearance, thus creating a wave of delays,” said Drilon.

“That will be addressed in the bill. More than creating ease for the business industry, the modernization will benefit millions of ordinary Filipinos who suffer from the inefficiencies in the handling of incoming and outgoing goods,” he underscored.

The Senate leader said that the bill will also help eradicate smuggling and other major criminal activities proliferating in the flow of products entering and leaving the country, noting that in 2013 alone, government losses to smuggling operations have cost an estimated P200 billion in revenues.

In an automated system, Drilon said opportunities for smuggling will be minimized: “By upgrading to electronic processing, not only we are able to make the importation and exportation procedures faster and more effective, we are also reducing human intervention, thus thwarting any chance for anyone to strike illegal deals or transactions.”

Drilon added that the proposed measure seeks to simplify the customs procedure for ordinary citizens, so that the average Filipino will not have to worry about being burdened by overly-bureaucratic procedures. It will also complement government’s efforts to decongest ports.

The bill, currently being heard by the Senate in the committee level, is among a package of economic reform measures the upper chamber is determined to pass at the soonest, in light of the nearing establishment of the ASEAN 2015 Economic Community (AEC).