Trillanes new UP NCPAG alumni president

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, March 10, 2011-Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV accepted his responsibilities as the new President of the National College of Public Administration and Governance Alumni Association (NCPAG AA) of the University of the Philippines, after an election conducted from his former school.

The Senator was elected when the college was preparing to host the Public Administration International Conference, which will also coincide with the college’s 60th anniversary in June 2012. 

Trillanes said that an alumnus’ journey comes into full circle when asked to join and lead in efforts to help in the development and improvement of his or her alma mater in whatever capacity, adding that he will give his full support in maintaining excellence in public administration education and its societal relevance in pursuing good governance as having been elected as the President of NCPAG Alumni Association. 

Trillanes earned his Master’s degree in Public Administration major in Public Policy and Program Management from the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance where he received two recipient distinction of University Scholar Awards for academic excellence.

The UP NCPAG has been the pioneer and leader of the discipline in the Philippines and in Asia since its establishment as the UP Institute of Public Administration in 1952 and the premier school of public administration and governance in the Philippines. (Jason de Asis)

Oil firms to sacrifice VAT slashing or rolling back fuel prices

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, March 10, 2011-With soaring prices of petroleum and basic commodities, Sen. Ralph G. Recto, Senate ways and means chair yesterday said that the government may have to sacrifice its “extra-ordinary” revenues from VAT in oil products by agreeing to a reduction that could push downward fuel pump prices.

“The Filipino people would welcome a “sacrifice” by government and oil companies through a possible reduction in the 12 percent value-added tax (VAT) or subsidizing a price rollback for fuel used by public utility vehicles (PUVs), he said,” adding that it was not only oil companies reaping windfall profits from the current situation but also the government from its VAT collection in oil products.

He said that the government earns additional income in the form of higher VAT collection for every rise in price of fuel and aside from VAT reduction, the government could also use its VAT windfall to subsidize a price rollback in diesel used by PUVs to ease the burden on commuters.

“Diesel should be restored to its pre-Libya level to provide relief to the commuting masses and ease pressure on fare rate and prices of basic commodities,” he said.

Recto said that to effect a rollback and restore the diesel pump price to its pre-Libya turmoil level with diesel prices rising by at least P3 per liter since last week, the government could use its VAT proceeds.

“I agree with the calls for sacrifice during these hard times. But, would the government and oil companies be also willing to sacrifice? Recto asked.

The senator urged oil companies to participate in the burden-sharing by absorbing half of the supposed price rollback, saying that the government could subsidize half of the price rollback while oil players will pick up the tab for the rest.

“The government will only shell out P1.50 from its VAT income with the other P1.50 price rollback to be absorbed as “sacrificial losses” by the oil companies and let’s do it immediately, Recto said.

“Oil prices are overpriced and that the oil industry was only cashing in on the unrest sweeping major cities of Middle East and across North Africa,” Recto furthered.

The Senator questioned the government’s shift from ensuring cheaper oil prices to sustaining adequate fuel supply, explaining that this could be misleading since the major Arab oil producers are declaring adequate global supply despite the unrest in the Middle East and North Africa.

He said that motorist in Mindanao and Visayas were already toiling from higher price regime compared to the counter parts in Metropolitan Manila, saying that business sector should cooperate to lessen prices for supply concerns. (Jason de Asis)

Ombudsman raps against Lim a petty case

BALER, Aurora March 10, 2011-With the alleged misuse of some Php4.7 million in public funds that supposedly got wasted because of its slogan boo-boo last year, Department of Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim described the graft charges filed against him before the Office of the Ombudsman as a petty Case only.

Henry Giron claimed the money was allegedly spent for lunch during the launching of the “Pilipinas Kay Ganda” slogan blunder on November 15, 2010. He said he was filing a case against Lim under the principle of command responsibility since he exercises control over DOT and resigned undersecretary for planning and promotions Vicente Romano who conceptualized the controversial logo stated in the seven-page complaint.

Giron accused Lim and Romano of illegal use of public funds under Article 220 of the Revised Penal Code, Violation of the Tourism Act of 2009 and violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Lim said the funds were not misused as these were spent in line with the DOT’s mandate to promote the country as a tourism destination.

Lim said he could not be held responsible on the principle of command responsibility since he and Romano were only doing their jobs and said that he had advised Romano against premature launching of the promotional campaign but the latter did not heed him.

Lim said that the case complainant Giron did not present facts accurately where he believed that the graft complaint against him will be dismissed for being petty.

“I don’t know this guy (Giron). I am willing to face him in any investigation,” he said.

He expressed hope that the Office of the Ombudsman, which is presently investigating the case will, after due process, not give due course to it. “In fact, mali mali ang facts niya (his facts are inaccurate),” he said of Giron’s complaint, without specifying where Giron erred. (Jason de Asis)

Jinggoy seen mess in Aviation probe: needs refinement of RA 9497

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, March 9, 2011-Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said that this is the time for the Senate to look into the situation at the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) where he has observe a probe of the messy situation prevailing in the country’s aviation sector.

He said that RA 9497 needs further refinement or whether those mandated to implement it are just bungling jobs, explaining that the Congress passed it in 2008 over the country’s repeated failure to comply with the international aviation industry’s safety standards as certified by the Federal Aviation Authority of the United States and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Jinggoy said that the CAAP continues to fail to comply with the worldwide best practices and safety regulations in the aviation sector since 2007 and the country pegged at Category 2 only, explaining that for almost two years after the passage of RA 9497 and the creation of the CAAP the situation is still the same. “Walang nagbago,” he said.

Jinggoy reacted on the report of the proliferation of fake pilot licenses allegedly done by syndicate within the CAAP and lax implementation of the law by its officials will bring the country’s negative image in abroad and also to the perception that the country is also a haven for international terrorist groups.

The Senator was bothered for the possibility that some foreign nationals, especially from the Middle East and licensed by the CAAP as pilots would later turn out to be members of terrorist groups as what happened before  where he cited Mohamed Atta, who took flying lessons in the Philippines in 1999 and Atta was among the terrorists who took part in the September 9, 2001 attack in the United States.

Jinggoy furthered that the investigators later established that two more 9/11 terrorists, Marwan Alshehhi and Hassan Banihammad as well as a host of other international terrorists were frequent visitors in the country in the past and of those who launched the 9/11 attack, majority of them were from Saudi Arabia, adding that of the foreign nationals who got their pilot licenses last year at the CAAP under questionable circumstances.

Allegedly, there were flying schools which was suspended by CAAP for the alleged issuance of fake student pilot license and fake documents, following the package deals to pay $30,000 to $50,000 in order to have their pilot licenses, five of them were Saudi nationals. Others include three Indians, two Nepalese and one Japanese national.

Jinggoy said that there is a need to sort out the mess in the CAAP and its affairs to put into order the necessary legislative inquiry and remedial measures or else the country will continue to suffer from the past stigma affecting the credibility and standing of the Philippines, the country will remain in Category 2 status and it will hamper the bringing in tourists and investments. There are some flying schools in the country which are subjects to audit by CAAP. (Jason de Asis)

Government should act in long term for Phl imminent food crisis due to Middle East conflict says Angara

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, March 8, 2011-Senator Edgardo J. Angara said that the imminent food crisis in the Philippines seen due to middle east conflict where he called the government to act against it in long-term following the rising price of crude oil would not just trigger but accelerate the increase of food costs worldwide.

Angara urged the Philippine government leaders to work with the private sector to achieve these goals at the soonest time possible where he explained that the increase of gasoline prices would be felt first and foremost by those living in poverty, saying that it is an immediate backlash from the trouble in the oil-producing countries but we must be warned of its lingering effect on food costs in the nation.

The Senator said that to address future problems he fears that emergency food security measures might not be enough explaining that the average Filipino family spends about half of its income on food alone. “If this expense eats up any more of the household budget, Filipinos will have to scrimp on other basic necessities,” he said.

The veteran legislator said that renewable energy sources and a bolstered agriculture industry would address these national issues as a way to avoid these problems by lessening the country’s dependence on oil as a primary source of fuel, perhaps through renewable energy alternatives which are being developed by our scientists, adding that to become more self-sufficient is by boosting our food security by strengthening the agriculture sector so we can stabilize food prices.

The senator reiterated his call to the government leaders to work hand in hand together with the private sectors and public agencies as the problem is coming, adding that the fluctuating price of gasoline is but a factor in the long-term food security in the country. (Jason de Asis)

Kiko calls for a comprehensive contingency measures in all possible scenarios in the midst of Middle East crisis

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, March 8, 2011-To address rising global food prices, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food in the committee hearing called in the government to be prepared in the contingency measures and also cautions the public and media to temper the issue and not to panic.

The hearing was conducted to assess the government’s preparedness amidst the prolonged political turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa which at the moment is affecting the price of oil. It was attended by Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Greg Domingo, National Food Authority Director Lito Banayo, and representatives from the United Nation’s World Food Programme and Food and Agriculture Organization, National Economic Development Authority as well as representatives from various agricultural sectors and the academe to ensure that the prices remain stable and that there is enough food supply in the country.

Pangilinan presided over an inquiry in aid of legislation on the government’s ability to address the sudden increase of the prices of foods and other agricultural products where he recommends the government agencies concerned through the Executive Department to look at stockpiling measures the same with the other countries doing to protect their buffer of food.

To prevent unscrupulous traders from taking advantage of the situation, Pangilinan urged the DTI and consumers to aggressively monitor prices of basic commodities in the market nationwide.

The committee gathered that the prices of pork and chicken remain stable, and the price of onion has gone down. NFA reported that the country’s rice supply is still sufficient, however the price of flour, milk and sugar are going up and thereby the price of bread to go up while the oil price increases and obviously affecting the prices of all the commodities.

“These are the reasons why we are conducting this inquiry,” Pangilinan said, saying that he wants to make sure that we are not caught with our pants down in the worst case scenario.

“It is better not to panic and be prepared for the possible scenario. Let us be alarmed so that we may not to be caught unaware of the price increases,” the Senator said. (Jason de Asis)

Cops denied the reported Satanic Cult’s ‘killing spree’ sparks “Reign of Terror” in Nueva Ecija

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, March 8, 2011-Senior Supt. Roberto Aliggayu, PNP provincial director quickly dispelled reports of cult’s murder binge where a reign of terror has gripped villagers in this city and several towns in Nueva Ecija where allegedly satanic cult is on the loose in the province, killing children and young students supposedly used as offerings for demonic rituals saying it was a hoax intended to put the Philippine National Police in a bad light.

The Satanic jitters began to spread here after text messages circulated that its members have been making the rounds of this city and in other municipalities and killing people, mostly youngsters.

The text massages spread like wild fire that the cult was responsible for the killing of a nursing student, whose throat was allegedly slit in Barangay Kapitan Pepe Subdivision. A certain Enad reportedly perpetrated the dastardly killing.

Aliggayu said that the cult scare originated in Guimba where seven people were reported stabbed, three of whom reportedly died, by a serial killer who reportedly belonged to the cult. The text messages reached Cuyapo, Gen. Natividad and Gapan.

Aliggayu said that the existence of the serial killer and the cult and its reported killings and abductions were disinformations. He said a certain Ben Tumbling admitted circulating the terror text.

He said that the erroneous report was spread to create a negative impression that the police are not doing anything to preserve the peace and order within the province. He did not say, however, why the PNP in the province was being discredited by certain quarters. (Jason de Asis)

Baler Multi-species fish hatchery to be completed this month

BALER, Aurora, March 8, 2011-A multi-species fish hatchery that was started last February 2010 at barangay   Zabali will  be completed this month where the species cultured in this hatchery are milkfish,   seabass,   tilapia,   pompano   and abalone. The hatchery is accessible to all types of land vehicles and by boat and is located about 100 meters away from Port   Cemento and 10 kilometers from Baler town.  

Mr. Victor San Pedro, chief of the Provincial Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said that the project shall focus mainly on the operation of the fish hatchery to include the management of broodstock and the delivery of the produced fry to available nurseries for growing into fingerlings.

San Pedro said that the hatchery is expected to yield 40 million fries per year    of the various species.   As for the 21 day old milkfish, harvest is expected to be 4 million fries per run or per stocking. He said that the project was through the effort of Senador Edgardo J. Angara, Congressman Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, Governor Bellaflor-Angara Castillo and Mayor Arthur J. Angara. (Jason de Asis)

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J.Alcala (right) holds a blue crab (portunus trituberculatus), which is being propagated by the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) at its newly-established blue crab hatchery in Baler, Aurora. When fully operational, the hatchery can produce 500,000 to 1 million crablets monthly to be distributed to fishermen for them to culture in four to six months. Excess production of crablets will be stocked in municipal waters for the benefit marginal fisherfolk in Aurora. Sec. Alcala has instructed the DA-BFAR to put up similar hatcheries near coastal areas, where blue crabs are abundant, to provide livelihood and income to small, marginal fisherfolk and their families. Also shown (from left) are Wilfredo Cruz, BFAR Aurora station chief and blue crab project leader, BFAR national director Malcolm Sarmiento, Jr., BFAR-MCS group head Dr. Alma Dickson, and BFAR Region 3 director Remedios Ongtangco.(Jason de Asis)

Phl considered rice stockpiling policy to ensure food security-Pangilinan

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, March 8, 2011-Amidst an imminent food crisis arising from threats of skyrocketing crude oil price due to the Middle East conflict, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, chairman of Senate Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries, said the Congressional Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries (COCAFM) said that the government is considering a rice stockpiling policy as a contingency measure to ensure food security and working with other agencies on setting contingency measures with regards to any adverse and abrupt impact of rising crude oil price where the government feared to hit to $150 per barrel as futures market already hit above the $110 per barrel level.

Pangilinan insisted that rice stockpiling is something that they raised and responded through the executive department that there should be a definite policy on stockpiling in the event a global crisis without necessarily resorting to panic and be ready no matter what happen.

The National Food Authority (NFA) new policy allowing the private sector to import as much as 75 percent for the immediate rice import volume while Pangilinan assured that the COCAFM which he heads will closely monitor effective delivery of the needed rice volume, saying that the NFA should come in as a regulatory body to ensure the approvals for these permits be granted to those truly deserving, those that have the capacity to deliver to assure rice availability.

Pangilinan said that this is worth the try considering that the government has failed last years in its rice import policy where rice importation track record has not been good, adding that we had a policy of buying rice at a high price.  But this is a new strategy, and we’re hopeful to find solutions.

The private sectors set to import 660,000 metric tons (MT) of the 880,000 T that has to be brought in before July where the NFA’s burden of financing of the import should be eased.

Angelito Banayo, NFA Administrator admitted that there had been some disturbing developments on rice in the world market explaining that six percent of the total rice production in the world is traded; thus the government has to ensure that their population will consume their production.

Banayo furthered that one of the disturbing signals on rice reserve in the world market is Vietnam which traditionally the country’s biggest rice supplier through its state-owned Vina Foods that gave notice last November that it is only exporting 5.5 million metric tons (MT) of rice this year while 6.8 million MT last year.

This resulted to the policy of creating a bigger rice storage area for their people due to rice production problems which came from the Mekong Delta, a source of its irrigation but on which it has conflicts with Laos and China. “India is now limiting its rice export to the high-priced fancy Basmati rice which used to export its rice,” he said.

NFA is scheduled to import 220,000 MT of the immediate volume to be imported or just 25 percent. The inter-agency committee (IAC) composed of representatives from the Department of Agriculture and Bureau of Agricultural Statistics on rice has estimated a rice import volume of 1.1 million MT to 1.5 million MT for 2011.

This must be less significantly less than the 2.25 million MT that the country imported in  2010 and the 2.4 million MT imported in 2009.

The government may still review the IAC volume in light of a threat of rice price that may soar due to the Middle East crisis as reported by the Food and Agriculture Organization.  It is feared rice price may rise to the 2008 levels when price hit $1,000 per MT in the world market. (Jason de Asis)

Legarda lauded ICC President on Rome Statute briefings

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, March 8, 2011-Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations lauded President of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Judge Sang-Hyun Song for a lecture on the ICC and the Rome Statute at the Senate, saying that she was honored like him as a primary resource person sharing with the committee in widening knowledge and experience in ICC and Rome Statute.

The ICC is an independent entity based on a treaty, the Rome Statute which governs its jurisdiction and functioning as well as the permanent court that tries persons accused of the most serious crimes of international concern like genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

She said that the Philippines shared the principles upon which ICC’s mandate is anchored upon where it is our fundamental duty, as articulated in our Constitution, to protect human rights, to include the right to human life and dignity, and remained steadfast in the policy to condemn and to penalize perpetrators of the most atrocious acts.

The Senator noted that the Philippines has Republic Act 9851 law that defines and penalizes crimes against international humanitarian law, genocide and other crimes against humanity as a nation that gravely condemns the most heinous acts against humans, adding that Mr. Song’s visit was greatly timely where we learned from his wisdom of ICC’s experienced.

  

She said that in addressing the most serious crimes of international concerns genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and aggression, Mr. Song served as a catalyst time in the ICC’s growing role.

Legarda explained that millions of Filipinos are deployed in various parts of the world where we cannot help but be deeply concerned with the events that occur in foreign lands especially when circumstances become threats to the lives and safety of our countrymen.

“Thousands of our citizenry remain trapped in Libya in the midst of the continuing unrest, make us all the more persistent and eager in seeking ways to strengthen the protection of our citizens’ life, welfare and rights,” the Senator ended. (Jason de Asis)

ASEAN Leaders need to Prioritize Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation says Legarda

Hanoi, Vietnam, March 7, 2011-To avert further losses of lives and livelihoods from disasters, Senator Loren Legarda, Chairperson of the Philippine Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, urges the member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to prioritize disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) in national development agenda.

In addressing high-level officials of the Government of Vietnam led by Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai at the Second National Forum on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation held in Hanoi, Legarda said that we cannot content ourselves with merely reacting to disaster events that claimed countless of lives, ruined properties, and left lingering effects on people’s livelihoods and the environment; thus, there is a need to protect our development gains from the regressive impacts of disasters, adding that in order to win against disaster climate change there is a need to be proactive.

  

Legarda noted that the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) and the United Nations Regional Coordinating Mechanism (UN-RCM) agreed to prepare the ASEAN-UN Strategic Plan of Cooperation on Disaster Management for 2011-2015 which shall cover risk and vulnerability assessment, preparedness and early warning, among other disaster risk management activities where the 3^rd ASEAN-UN Summit was held in Hanoi, Vietnam last October.

Legarda said that if national leaders govern with commitment, responsibility, and accountability to bring about a safer and more resilient society the rising trend of disaster risk can be stopped, adding that climate change has already made its effects in our region like extreme weather events, stronger typhoons, heavier rains, severe floods, and devastating droughts have become recurring events, a common concern for many countries in Asia.

She furthered that the ASEAN member-states, based on what was agreed upon at the ASEAN Summit, must actively collaborate and pursue efforts to build disaster and climate-resilient communities within the region, saying that if national leaders consider risk reduction not as a cost but a wise investment disasters can be prevented.  

Legarda added that no conscientious leader would want to see the poor and most vulnerable constantly drawn back by disasters into abject poverty for lack of government action and no responsible politician would want the government to waste millions on public infrastructure that can be instantly destroyed by earthquakes and floods.

The Senator was invited in Hanoi to share the 2009 Climate Change Act and the 2010 Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act that she authored and sponsored and now considered legislative models by the UNISDR and the Inter-Parliamentary Union for other nations to emulate.

Legarda revealed the UN report that Asia is the world’s most disaster prone region, saying that the Asian people are four times more likely to be affected by disasters caused by natural hazards than those in Africa; and 25 times more likely than those in Europe or North America. (Jason de Asis)

Senator Loren Legarda discussed integrating risk reduction and climate change adaptation at the 2^nd Natonal Forum on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation at the Sheraton Hotel in Ha Noi, Vietnam. The UNISDR Regional Champion for Asia and the Pacific was invited by Vietnam government where she shared the Climate Change Act of 2009 and the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 that she authored. (Jason de Asis)

Senator Loren Legarda met the Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai at the 2^nd National Forum on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation at the Sheraton Hotel in Ha Noi, Vietnam. (Jason de Asis)

Drilon eyed new law to regulate plea bargaining agreement

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, March 7, 2011-Amidst the irregularities uncovered in the highly controversial plea bargain agreement forged between state prosecutors and a former military comptroller accused of plunder but was later charged with lesser offenses, Senator Franklin Drilon, a former justice secretary proposed a new set of policy that would govern plea bargaining agreement in the criminal cases under Senate bill No. 2732 otherwise known as Plea Bargaining Act of 2011.

Drilon filed the said bill following the Senate Blue Ribbon committee’s sixth round of inquiry into the plea deal by former Gen. Carlos Garcia, who was allowed to post bail despite glaring evidence and testimony exposed in the chamber’s hearings.

“There should be a clear cut law that would establish a formal policy implementation of plea bargaining agreements,” Drilon said, explaining that without legislation, individuals accused of grave offenses like plunder would just enter into a plea bargain with the prosecution even without the consent of the offended party.

Drilon furthered that the proposed legislation would form part of the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon committee that allows a plea of the accused in a criminal case to a lesser offense with the consent of the offended party, in a move that trails the Garcia case grossly disadvantageous to the government part.

He said that during or after the presentation of the prosecution evidence, the prosecution may enter into plea bargaining with the accused with the consent of the offended party, but before the presentation of the defense evidence, and in no case after the dismissal by the court of a demurrer to evidence, the following conditions must be provided and presented such as the evidence of the prosecution is insufficient to prove the offense charged beyond reasonable doubt; in cases involving the recovery by or restitution to the offended party of property in crimes against property and those committed by the public officers in relation to public funds such as, but not limited to, the crime of plunder, graft and corrupt practices, bribery, and malversation, the accused makes a full restitution of the property or public funds involved; and in cases of conspiracy, the accused fully cooperates in the prosecution of principal conspirators responsible for the commission of the offense charged who are the most guilty, including in the provision of documentary, object and testimonial evidence, in the event that the accused has not yet qualified as a state witness in accordance with the Rules of Criminal Procedure.

“When there is no private offended party in the offenses charged,” Drilon said that the party whose consent is necessary shall be the People of the Philippines as represented by the prosecution, the Republic of the Philippines as represented by the Office of the Solicitor General and the government agency represented by the Solicitor General responsible for the enforcement of the law violated by the offense, adding that if the penalty imposable for the offense charged is prison mayor or six years and one day imprisonment, or higher, or a fine exceeding P12,000, the plea bargaining agreement shall first be approved in writing by the city prosecutor, provincial prosecutor or the prosecutor general in criminal cases handled by the National Prosecution Service, the Ombudsman in cases handled by the Office of the Special Prosecutor, or the head of the agency in the case of other agencies authorized to prosecute criminal cases, before it is submitted to the court for approval. Without the written approval of the respective approving authorities the plea bargaining will not be allowed.

Drilon, who is a staunch critic of the Garcia plea bargain who strongly urged the Ombudsman to drop the motion to approve the plea bargain before the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court explained that the guidelines setting will ensure that the process does not become a mere vehicle for diluting the gravity of the offense charged against the accused, for destroying the deterrent value of the law intended to prescribe the offense committed or for creating opportunities for graft and corrupt practices.

Drilon noted that there are instances that a plea bargain is needed but there should be check and balance, adding that a fine ranging from Php6,000 to Php60,000 to any violation with the penalty of imprisonment ranging from six months and one day up to six years shall be the punishment. (Jason de Asis)

COMSTE to boost Phl electronics and semiconductors industry-Angara

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, March 7, 2011-To boost the competitiveness of the Philippine electronics and semiconductors industry through integrated circuit (IC) design, the Congressional Commission on Science Technology and Engineering (COMSTE) is pushing for the establishment of the Industrial Research and Development Institute (IRDI).

The IRDI is modeled after a similar institute in Taiwan, the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), which is credited with creating an environment for industry and government to partner which in turn helped Taiwan become a technology leader.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara, Chair of COMSTE, said that the project was conceptualized after studying Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), which was a key factor in Taiwan’s economic success, a model we want to replicate here.

“IRDI will be a Public-Private Partnership that is industry led model. As envisioned by the COMSTE Electronics and Semiconductors panel Government and academe can support R&D initiatives in the institute,” Angara said, adding that COMSTE is currently working with a worldwide industry leader in IC design to establish a training center that would be available to colleges and universities.

The training center shall have access to the facilities and personnel that are currently employed by the IC design company where the training modules for undergraduate students, graduate students and faculty would also be provided by the company.

“The guidance of an industry of the leading company enables the universities to develop circuits that would have an end use industry,” Angara said, and that it would enable engineers to develop skills necessary to enter seamlessly into the workforce and eventually set up their own startup companies.

Students from De La Salle, Ateneo, Mapua Institute of Technology and the University of the Philippines have expressed their interest to take part in the IC design training. (Jason de Asis) 

Trillanes meets Samahang Magdalo Visayas Chapter

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, March 6, 2011-At least 18 chapters of the Samahang Magdalo Visayas chapter convened yesterday led by Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV at Cebu International Convention Center, Cebu City until today.

Since Trillanes was released last December after seven years of incarceration, Trillanes personally thanked them for helping him won in the last 2007 senatorial election, saying that this is the first time that Trillanes convened with members and volunteers of the Samahang Magdalo.

The said convention served as a venue to discuss local concerns and identify solutions to forward the welfare of the people in the Visayas.

Trillanes said that the Magdalo firmly believes that the only way toward achieving its vision of peaceful, progressive and prosperous country is to have a united, responsible and empowered citizenry; thus, the group has decided to open its doors to all people from all walks of life who shared the same dreams and aspirations for the love of the country.

The Visayas convention is the first of a series of meetings the Magdalo plans to hold, as preparations are under way to hold gatherings in Luzon and Mindanao.

The Samahang Magdalo was established last November 28, 2008, a socio-civic organization and well known group of reformist officers and men of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Magdalo is a national movement that advocates good governance and social justice where its vision is to have a peaceful, progressive and prosperous country with a united citizenry.

It was founded by a group of reformist officers and men of the AFP who upheld their constitutional mandate as the protector of the people and the state, bravely fought the alleged corrupt and oppressive Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo regime where it’s members were eventually incarcerated for their conviction and yet after several years of detention, they remain steadfast in their belief that the Filipino people deserve a better government. (Jason de Asis) 

Legarda pushes the urgent passage of Vietnam’s disaster risk reduction and management law

HANOI, Vietnam, March 6, 2011-During the 2nd National Forum on DRR and CCA at the Sheraton Hotel, Ha Noi, Senator Loren Legarda, the UNISDR Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) for Asia and the Pacific, yesterday pushed the urgent passage of a disaster risk reduction and management law in Vietnam.

Legarda said that for more effective and sustainable DRR and CCA programs like the Philippines, Vietnam has compelling reasons to develop an enabling institution, law, and policy environment and yet accomplishing these required a concerted effort of key stakeholders and the unrelenting commitment of leaders to bring about needed change.

The common concern of the two (2) countries are the extreme weather events, stronger typhoons, heavier rains, more severe floods, and devastating droughts have become recurring events, adding that the Philippines regularly exports some of its typhoons to Viet Nam and that the weather events in Manila serve as effective early warnings for Hanoi.

“Vietnam’s disaster risk management legislation is pending in the Parliament, Legarda said, noting that the two new Philippine laws that she had shared with them are a product of passion and perseverance where she hopes that the legislature of Vietnam would find them useful.

“The 2009 Philippine Climate Change Acts provides that the strategic framework for a comprehensive program and action on climate change at national and local levels while the 2010 Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act strengthens the country’s institutional mechanisms for disaster risk reduction and management and lends great importance to disaster prevention and mitigation,” she furthered, saying that the ministries of Vietnam may consider taking the same path to effectively build resilience to disasters like the Philippines. 

Legarda concluded that in order to succeed to reduce disaster and climate risks building linkages and promotion of common understanding and cooperation among stakeholders are ways of consolidating forces, expertise and resources, whereas our country resorted to these ways when the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and the Commission on Climate Change entered into a Memorandum of Agreement to do certain initiatives together. (Jason de Asis)