Chiz bats to intensify human rights power

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 17, 2011-Senator Chiz Escudero,  chairman of the Senate committee on justice and human rights bats to strengthen the functional and structural organization of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) that will exercise concurrent prosecutorial powers and functions where the bill grants CHR visitorial powers to all detention cells all over the country to monitor the state of the facilities and detainees.

Escudero sponsored Committee Report No. 37 which seeks further amendment to the CHR's current charter and equip it with prosecutorial powers similar to that of the Department of Justice (DOJ) over cases involving human rights violation, pointing out that under its present mandate, CHR is neither a judicial nor a quasi-judicial body. Its jurisdiction is limited only to civil and political rights. We want to equip it with significant power to include economic, social and cultural rights.

“The CHR is restricted by the Constitution to preventive measures only such as initiating applications in court for judicial writs and orders, conduct investigation and receive evidence of violations of human rights, among others,” Escudero said, saying that through the measure the commission will be more empowered, thus rendering it more effective and authoritative if its jurisdiction includes quasi-judicial power.

“CHR mandate is vital in ensuring that it enacts the state policy to secure, to protect and to guarantee the dignity of its citizens and to ensure the fulfillment of such citizens' human rights; thus, CHR could no longer be regarded as a toothless tiger,” Escudero said.

The bill stated that CHR's empowerment, any arrests made by any of the law enforcement agencies should be reported to the CHR within 48 hours. (Jason de Asis)

Eight ‘Hukbong Mapagpalaya ng Bayan” killed on Friday the 13th shoot-out in Nueva Ecija: NPA claimed-the deads are criminals not rebels

RIZAL, Nueva Ecija, May 16, 2011-Eight members of the break-away group of the Hukbong Mapagpalaya ng Bayan (HMB) were intercepted by authorities at 8 in the morning  in a checkpoint who were about to pull off another heist were killed in this town last Friday the 13^th.

Supt. Edgar Alan Okubo, chief of the provincial public safety company, identified the three of the suspects as Ka Caesar, Ka Gerry and Ka Ricky who died on-the-spot from multiple gunshot wounds.

The encounter sprung at Sitio Gulod, Barangay Poblacion West here when operating units of the Nueva Ecija Provincial Police Office (NEPPO) under provincial director Senior Supt. Roberto Aliggayu and the 702^nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army led by brigade commander, Col. Felicito Virgilio Trinidad, flagged down the suspects who were traveling on board two vehicles at a checkpoint.

Authorities said that the government troop approached the HMB group to stop but they did not. Instead of stopping, the suspects opened fire, triggering the exchange of burst on both side.

The NEPPO operatives were reinforced by the provincial public safety company under Okubo, the provincial special reaction team under Senior Joseph Sta. Cruz and the provincial intelligence bureau under Supt. Ricardo Villanueva. They were joined by operatives of the 48^th Infantry Battalion of Lt. Col. Kurt Decapia and the 81^st IB under operations officer Capt. Elmer Salvador.

Trinidad said that the suspects were planning to stage another robbery-holdup in San Jose City, targeting the payroll money of a construction company based in Aurora when spotted by the government troops, resulting in a five-minute firefight. No one was killed on the government side although the windshield of the Isuzu Elf of the 81^st IB was smashed in the exchange of gunfire.

“It was Friday the 13^th really on their case,” Trinidad said, saying that there are intelligence reports that the group members belong to a break-away faction of the HMB, the forerunner of the communist New People’s Army. He said they are still checking reports that the group, which is operating in Pampanga and Nueva Ecija, is led allegedly by Bon Alejandrino, who ran but lost in the mayoral elections in Arayat, Pampanga a few years back.

“The operation was the result of a two-week intelligence build-up by the Army and the police’s handling of the checkpoints,” Trinidad said, explaining that the group is also a notorious holdupper operating here in Central Luzon.

“The government recovered five caliber 38 revolvers, one caliber 9mm pistol, two hand grenades, one dark green Toyota Corolla with license plate UGN-659, one silver Mitsubishi Lancer with license plate TNN-891 and live and spent shells for caliber 38 and 9mm in the encountered site,” Trinidad said.

Meanwhile, Alexander Guerrero Command (AGC) of the New People’s Army in Nueva Ecija said that the eight died in the recent encounter were members of a criminal syndicate and not of any rebel faction, saying that they belong to the Vigilante Group, a dreaded syndicate involved in the various cases of gun-for-hire, extortion and other crimes in the province and other parts in central Luzon.

In a statement released by AGC, “It could have been a case of summary execution like what happened to the rubout of 11 Kuratong Baleleng members who were suspected to the Kidnap-for-ransom syndicate several years ago." (Jason de Asis)

Central Luzon cops strengthen all out war versus carnappers and motorcycle riding suspects

CAMP OLIVAS, San Fernando City, Pampanga, May 15, 2011-A police top cop here said that the Philippine National Police (PNP) will continue to intensify their anti-criminality campaign in carnapping and crimes perpetrated by motorcycle riding suspects in the entire region.

Police Regional Office 3, Police Chief Supt. Edgardo T. Ladao said that the Anti-Carnapping and Motorcycle Riding Suspects Strategy which is an innovation of the Police Integrated Patrol System (PIPS) or the PNP’S Anti-Criminality Action Plan focused mainly on carnappers and motorcycle riding criminals, adding that special teams composed of the Regional Highway Patrol Group, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Regional Public Safety Battalion and their provincial counterparts is created to conduct aggressive police operations against carnapping and motorcycle riding suspects.

“We conducted simultaneous operation last May 11, 2011 which resulted in the impounding of 289 motor vehicles, the issuance of 436 citation tickets to violators and the arrest of 6 persons,” Ladao said.

He furthered that on the second day of operation, a total of 127 motor vehicles were impounded and 72 citation tickets for different violations were issued.

Ladao assured that they will intensify operation in the coming days to deter criminality here in central Luzon. (Jason de Asis)

Trillanes sought release of government employee retirement for 30 days

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 14, 2011-Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV, Chairs the Senate committee on civil service and government reorganization chairs, and the committee on government corporations and public enterprises sought for the urgent release of government employees retirement benefits within 30 days after the actual date of retirement of government employee in his proposed legislation in the Senate, citing that the government is the largest employer in the country, with about 1.31 million employees as of second quarter of 2010.

In his sponsorship on the Senate bill No. 2748, he said that the public officers and employees who have spent the best years of their lives in serving the government and the public should not be made to unreasonably wait and suffer unexplainable delay in their receipt of benefits which are due them under the law, saying that there is a need to impose penalties against officials who would cause undue delay in ensuring their timely and expeditious release of retirement pay, pensions, gratuities and other benefits to state employees.

“These erring officials, after hearings and due proceedings, shall be subject to administrative disciplinary action and be penalized with suspension from service without pay from six months to one year, at the discretion of the disciplining authority, except in cases of force majeure and other insuperable cases,” Trillanes said, stressing the Section 49 of Republic Act 8291, or the Government Service Insurance Systems Act of 1997 which provides for the release of retirement benefits to the employee on his last day of service in the government as long as all requirements are submitted to the state pension agency within the reasonable period prior to the effective date of retirement.

Trillanes revealed that retirement benefits could be made available in 15 days if all the requirements have been submitted by the retiring employee.

“However, some agencies do not feel compelled to act in accordance with the law “due to lack of penal provision punishing the agency for its non-compliance,” Trillanes said, saying that his committee had “accounted for numerous instances of delayed release of the employees’ retirement benefits where this delay has become a serious and pervasive problem in the bureaucracy.

“I humbly submit this proposed measure for the consideration of our colleagues, with that basic aim of recognizing the heroism and sacrifices of our government employees, who I think are the unsung heroes of this nation,” Trillanes ended. (Jason de Asis)

Pangilinan bats with agriculture and Malacanang for food security and job creation

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May, 13, 2011-Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, who is current chairman of the Senate Committee on Food and Agriculture bats to work closely with the Department of Agriculture and Malacanang in providing opportunities for those without jobs and displaced OFWs by enjoining them to venture into farming.

“There are a lot of opportunities to be had in farming,” Pangilinan said where he has been going around the country surveying several farms and gathering data, saying that “what is needed is a synergy of the whole chain from the producers to the traders.”

Pangilinan along with the Department of Agriculture and the private sector convened the Agriculture and Fisheries 2025 (AF2025) to address the country’s various agriculture and fisheries issues where they conducted consultation with the representatives from farmers, traders, suppliers and media to craft a long-term plan for agriculture.

“Malacanang has fielded the idea of providing hectares of land for lease to informal settlers, and we feel that this plan should also include OFWs and the millions unemployed in the country. We need to propagate the idea of having ‘farmtreneurs’. This means shifting the paradigm away from the idea of leaving the country for greener pasteurs. The opportunities will be here and Filipinos won’t need to leave the comforts of their motherland,” Pangilinan said, explaining that ‘farmtreneurs’ will be different from how farmers are generally perceived.

“We will build their capacity to earn more by providing them the means to sell their products directly to market via our fellow AF2025 convenors. We also have in AF2025 the built-in network to ensure the sustainability of the project,” he said, adding that having farmtreneurs would also address the need for increased crop output.

DA has reported an unprecedented increase in the harvest of palay this year, however, fisheries and livestock continue to lag behind. “For having ‘farmtreneurs’, this will benefit the whole sector as farming becomes more profitable for them. Increased output is essentially what is needed for food self-sufficiency,” Pangilinan furthered.

“This is an out-of-the box way of approaching decades-old problem of unemployment, poverty, and food self-sufficiency. Under the Aquino administration, this is exactly the proverbial shot in the arm needed to boost further what the DA has accomplished,” he said.

“Our agriculture and fisheries sector deserve recognition,” he ended. (Jason de Asis)

Comprehensive policy to fight cyber crimes sought by Trillanes

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 12, 2011-Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV sought for the establishment of a comprehensive policy framework that would put into place the necessary regulations to fight and prevent cyber crimes where he wanted to impose stiff penalties against perpetrators of cyber crimes, who could face up to 12 years in prison and a fine of P800,000 under Senate bill number 14.

  

“Information and communications technologies have revolutionized our lifestyle, information and communications technology enhances and promotes efficiency in facilitating the exchange and delivery of information,” he said, adding that the introduction of computers and computer networks facilitated faster and better data storage, information exchange and communications where this computers are advantageous to improve banking, telecommunications, engineering and data handling in the country.

“A new breed of deviants, new forms of criminals and criminal activities arose such from unauthorized acquisition of vital and confidential information by third parties seeking to profit or benefit from the utilization of such information,” Trillanes said, advising that there is a need for the Philippines to have a law that will define cyber crimes, identify punishable acts involving computers with corresponding penalties, determine legal procedures for the investigation and prosecution of cyber crimes, clarify jurisdictions, provide for a clause on mutual assistance and cooperation, and identify a local body that shall be responsible for providing 24/7 assistance to foreign entities in the resolution of cyber crime cases.

Trillanes would like to categorize and to define certain acts as “cyber crimes” as  computer crimes, defined as any act committed by means of electronic operations that targets the security of computer or communications systems or network and the data they process, such as but not limited to illegal access, illegal interception, misuse of devices and unsolicited commercial communications; Computer sabotage including data interference, system interference, computer fraud and computer forgery; and Computer facilitated crimes including offenses related to cybersex, child pornography, trafficking, prostitution and solicitation.

Trillanes’ proposal soughts for the creation of Computer Emergency Response Council (CERC) under the Office of the President whose task is to formulate and to implement a national plan of action to address and to combat cyber crime.

The senator wanted the government to forge cooperation with other countries for the purpose of detection, investigation and prosecution of computer crime-related offenses.

Trillanes is hoping that thru the passage of the bill, cyber criminals will be discouraged from engaging in illegal act. He added that the passage of the bill is a clear signal to the international community that the country is serious to fight cyber crimes. (Jason de Asis)

Legarda bats for anti-discrimination act

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 12, 2011-Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities bats to sponsor the Anti-Discrimination Act of 2011 which seeks to promote a just and humane society that values the dignity of individuals and guarantees full respect for human rights regardless of race, religion and ethnicity.

“I am hoping that this measure will lesser cases of discrimination in the Philippine society regardless of their racial, ethnic or religious affiliation  which will be treated equally,” she said, adding that this will penalize acts of discrimination in the employment, education, delivery of goods and services, accommodation, media, and in search and investigatory activities.

Legarda explained that a person who is proven guilty shall serve between nine months and twelve years in prison, and/or will be obliged to pay between Php100,000 to Php500,000 where agencies, corporations, companies and educational institutions in the private or public are mandated to create an Equal Opportunity Committee, which shall have administrative jurisdiction over cases involving discrimination and racial profiling.

“The Commission on Human Rights in coordination with other concerned
agencies will provide for the procedures for the resolution, settlement, or prosecution of acts of discrimination and racial profiling as well as the creation of Equal Opportunity Committees,” she furthered.

Legarda stressed that our Constitution provides that the State has the mandate to protect any person in all encompassing term that applies equally to all human beings, regardless of their racial, ethnic or religious affiliation, saying that the country entered into various international commitments to end racial discrimination including the International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination. “Despite this, we remain a nation that throws all forms of bias and prejudice at those who we perceive to be ‘different’ from the majority,” she said.

The Senator revealed that there is a need for effective and comprehensive legal framework in fighting against discrimination and racial profiling. “As a Filipino citizen, we must build a nation where each individual’s beliefs and principles are respected and everyone is given equal opportunity to achieve his full potential as a human being,” she said. (Jason de Asis)

Metro P22 COLA hike not enough says Estrada

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 11, 2011-“Metro Manila P22 hike in the cost of living allowance (COLA) for minimum wage earners which was approved by the NCR wage board is not enough, adding that the proposed deliberation actual wage increase must move on,” Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada and the concurrent chair of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development and the joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Labor and Employment said.

After the deliberations of the wage board, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced the approval of the COLA hike, revealing that some two million minimum wage earners in Metro Manila would benefit from the increase in the daily compensation of non-agricultural workers in metro to P426 a day.

“This new wage order will be effective 15 days from its publication in at least one newspaper of general circulation and will cover all minimum wage earners in the private sector regardless of position, employment status, or salary scheme,” Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said, adding that the hike in their COLA will somehow help workers cope with rising costs, it is excluded from the computation of their wage-related benefits like overtime and 13th-month pay.

“This COLA is very measly especially in face of the unabated jacking up of prices of petroleum as well as food products and basic commodities,” Estrada lamented revealing his sentiments for the concerned of the workers.

Estrada believes that the country’s employers could provide a much reasonably higher amount to their workers in additional pay. “But more than that there is a need to work for the actual increase in their wages, which would be included in the overall computations of their compensation,” he furthered.

He said that his committee is doing its share in finding the real “win-win solution” in the issue of wage and benefits for the workers, reiterating that there is a need to continue deliberations on the calls of the workers for the actual wage increase by the DOLE and the wage boards in the different regions in the country. (Jason de Asis)

Typhoon ‘Bebeng’ reminds Phl to invest disaster science center says Angara

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 10, 2011-“Typhoon ‘Bebeng’ is another reminder for the government to invest in the development of Philippine Disaster Science and Management Center (DSMC) which will be the center for research and training on disaster preparedness in the country,” Senator Edgardo J. Angara said, in his reaction due to the damaged brought by the recent tropical storm which whooped Luzon and the Visayas region.

“In the preparation of the nation for dealing with disasters like the common storms that hit the country or the devastating earthquake that recently hit Japan, the DSMC is equipped to assist the country to be better prepared to plan and manage disaster,” Angara said who chairs the Congressional Commission on Science Technology and Engineering (COMSTE).

“The DSMC was conceptualized dealing with the goal of assisting the country for a comprehensive prepared plan and manage disasters where the center also conducted series of lectures from distinguished local and foreign scientists and experts that introduced the effects of climate change in the local setting,” Angara said, adding that Japan, Korea and Taiwan have all willingly exchanged information with local experts, sharing their knowledge and data.

“The three countries have all experienced natural disasters and have implemented measures based on Science and Technology to better prepare their citizens for disasters,” he said, citing that Hyogo prefecture that has a Disaster Reduction Learning Center which recently hosted the training of local scientists and engineers from PAGASA and other institutes where the lessons learned from their experiences will be incorporated locally.

Angara stressed that the country need DSMC to help us prepare for the earthquakes and similar disasters that will continue to threaten the country. “There is a need to be understood by the government how to develop an advanced and real-time information dissemination strategy to handle such event so that the citizenry can take precautionary measures and be better prepared against disasters,” Angara ended.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) initially reported yesterday that the recent typhoon resulted to the death of 15 persons, 3 missing and 111,773 individuals were affected. Today, the NDRRMC will conduct survey of the extent of damages caused by typhoon Bebeng. (Jason de Asis)

Senate all set to work on pending legislations

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 10, 2011-Senate Juan Ponce Enrile said that after a month long break, the Senate is set to work now that the impeachment of the resigned Ombudsman Merceditas Guttierez under Senate Resolution number 105 had been set aside and it would be ready to buckle down to address pending legislations on the priority bills outlined by President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino.

“I am expecting that senators will get back to work now that the impeachment of Gutierrez had been set aside,” he reiterated.

After reporters noted that Congress had only 12 working days before it goes on a sine die break starting June 10, Enrile said that we will try to do whatever we can do, saying that Senators enjoy a six-year term each. “We are not going to do everything that we have to do in six years, in a day, or in a month or in a year,” he furthered.

Enrile revealed that he received official communication from Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupaz Jr., chairman of the House Justice Committee that initiated the impeachment proceedings against Gutierrez, informing the Senate that the impeachment trial was no longer necessary because Gutierrez resigned last week.

“The Senate is now composed of 23 senators that’s why I am expecting that the Senate will be more productive in its legislative work with the return of  Senator Panfilo Lacson after a long absence,” he said, explaining that the bigger number is always a better number working with them.

Enrile mentioned the priority bills that is set to tackle in the Senate are the Anti-Trust Bill, the proposed measure seeking to reform the National Telecommunication Commission, the proposed revision to the Public Land Act, the proposed Cyber Crime Prevention Act of 2010 and the proposed People’s Survival Fund bill, amending the Climate Change Act.

Before Holy Week break last March 26, the Senate tackled five bills such as the GOCC Governance Act of 2011 (SBN 2640), sponsored by Sen. Franklin Drilon, which aims to reform the structure and operations of GOCCs to exact from them efficient and effective public service; the Career Executive System Act (SBN 2671), which seeks to strengthen the bureaucracy by professionalizing the ranks of government managers and executives, authored by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV; and a bill Decriminalizing Vagrancy (SBN 2726), sponsored by Sen. Francis Escudero, which aims to remove vagrancy as a criminal offense in the Revised Penal Code. Approved on third reading, these bills are now pending in the House of Representatives.

“Also awaiting in the second reading at the Senate are the proposed Foster Care Act of 2010 (SBN 2486), the proposed Expanded Anti-trafficking in Persons Act of 2010 (SBN 2625), the Night work Prohibition of Women Employees Bill (SBN 2701), the proposed Meat Labeling Act of 2011 (SBN 2746) and the proposed Corporate Social Responsibility Act (SBN 2747),” he said.

Enrile also disclosed that the Senate will attempt to tackle the proposal of Malacanang to postpone the scheduled elections in the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao “if we have the time”, explaining that the Senate notified informally by the Commission on Elections to be prepared just in case they cannot really enact the law, although that has been certified by the President as an urgent bill.

“I did not believe that the proposed Reproductive Health Bill will be given a priority status in the Senate. I don’t think it is a priority as far as we are concerned here,” he said, adding that he is not ready to tinker with anything that is an act of God.

In the name of national interest regarding the position of pro-RH bill advocates that Congress should approve the measure urgently, Enrile said that there are many ways to improve the lives of the people instead of trying to constrict the normal growth of the population, saying that instead of reducing the number of people that will participate in the pie, we should enlarge the pie. “That, in a nutshell, is the policy position that I am taking,” he ended. (Jason de Asis)

Jinggoy to PNoy: Pangilinan as the next ombudsman versus corruption

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 10, 2011-Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada suggested Senator Kiko Pangilinan to be the next ombudsman as an ally against corruption for being actively instituting reforms within the judiciary and an advocate for good governance.

Estrada said that President Aquino’s administration must appoint an ombudsman with good reputation and good credibility in exercising prudence and the use of best judgment in appointing the said position, saying that the post is very crucial in defining his term as president.

The Senator said that PNoy ran under an anti-corruption platform during the campaign for the presidency, and the fifteen million people who voted for him expect nothing less than eradication of corruption under his watch, adding that the Ombudsman takes the role of the country’s number one graft-buster, with the defeat of his first Executive Order creating the Truth Commission which aimed at putting closure and delivering justice to past graft and corruption cases.

“The qualifications to fit in the position must be someone who has untarnished record in the public service and competent in the field of law and he or she must be one with the administration’s relentless crusade of running after and punishing the corrupt,” Estrada said.

He suggested Pangilinan who is qualified in the position for he has been active in instituting reforms within the judiciary and an advocate of good governance. (Jason de Asis)

Angara urged for the Phl mothers’ protection

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 9, 2011-Senator Edgardo J. Angara urged the government for the protection and improved welfare of one of the most important pillars of society as the world celebrates Mother’s Day, explaining that there is a need to create an environment in which mothers can attend to the health and welfare of their children by making sure that these women have access to the needed healthcare and educational facilities and providing them with equal opportunities in society.

  

The State of the World’s Mothers 2011 study revealed that the Philippines had a Mother’s Index ranking—an indicator of a maternal wellbeing—of 49 among 79 less-developed countries which was conducted by the Save the Children foundation which serves marginalized children and families worldwide.

  

1 in 320 risks of maternal death during childbirth—a function affected by the number of children and spacing between pregnancies, health and nutrition status, as well as the conditions under which mother gives birth according to study, revealing that only 62% of births are attended by qualified health workers in the country.

  

Angara said that the number of maternal deaths in the country is decreasing but not fast enough to reach the Millennium Development Goal of reducing it by three-quarters by 2015.

The Senator said that there is a need to ensure first the welfare of a vital sector pertaining to the mothers who are the most important women in our lives to secure the well-being of our society as a whole.  

Angara also filed the Community Health Placement bill that seeks to decrease both infant and maternal mortality rates by establishing health centers even in remote towns and barrios. The bill enhanced access to healthcare that would boost the percentage of women getting pre and post natal checkups. 

In 2009, Angara had authored the Magna Carta for Women which was signed into law and now serves as the “bill of rights” for women in ensuring gender equality in the political, industrial and cultural spheres. (Jason de Asis)

Bidder winner to get 15 billion peso price tag for privatization of MRT-LRT

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 9, 2011-Sen. Ralph G. Recto, who chairs the Senate ways and means committee revealed that the P15 billion price tag for the bundled Metro Rail Transit-Light Rail Transit (MRT-LRT) privatization is the amount that the government to pay to the winning bidder and not the amount that it would earn from the transaction where he asked the government to be forthright to the Filipinos by disclosing that price tag for the privatization of MRT-LRT is actually a ‘pay-out’ to the winning private bidder and not the other way around.

“The first project under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program would instantly cost the government some P15 billion instead of deriving fresh revenues from its decision to let go two crucial mass transport rail systems,” Recto said, adding that the P15 billion would be paid by government to the winning bidder, which would operate and maintain the MRT-LRT lines.

He said that the government is oblige to pay the winner bidder to operate the rail lines plus perhaps they would avail tax holidays, cheap loans from state banks and an almost sure option to jack up fare prices.

“Under the O&M contract (operate and maintain), the winning private operator is not obligated to pour in new money in terms of additional rolling stocks or coaches and rail infrastructure,” he said, pointing out that if such is the case, this will give the PPP project a bad name. Later on, if that will always be the case, people will be angered.

“To maintain low fares for MRT riders alone, the palace economic managers may justify the P15 billion ‘pay out’ to the private operator if compared to the almost P7 billion to P8 billion that government shells out in yearly fare subsidies,” he furthered.

“The P15 billion ‘pasalubong’ to the winning private bidder may be justified but the prospect of commuters eventually paying higher MRT-LRT fares negates such justification,” Recto said, adding that the PPP auction of the MRT-LRT lines should redound to cheaper fare rates since the PPP dictum should be race to the bottom (lower fares), not race to the top (higher fares).

“Such imminent fare hikes in MRT-LRT would be unfair to taxpaying commuters while jeepney and tricycle drivers are getting direct subsidy through the government’s ‘Pantawid Pasada’ program,” Recto explained.

Out of the 44 companies that have expressed interest in the project, the government has slated the bidding for the MRT-LRT contract on July 11 with at least eight big groups landing in the short-list of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

The winning bidder will get to operate and to manage the two rail lines that would be integrated eventually for four years, with an option to extend by another year.

LRT-1 runs along Taft Avenue from Baclaran in Paranaque City to Roosevelt-Munoz, Quezon City while the MRT runs from Taft Avenue in Pasay City to North Avenue in Quezon City.

The Pantawid pasada program will also be adapted by the Indonesian government as assistance to their driver-operators of transport vehicles. This was disclosed by the Indonesian leader during the ASEAN meeting. (Jason de Asis)

LGU’s environment protection and climate change adaptation lauded by Legarda

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 8, 2011-Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change lauded the provincial government of Bukidnon’s maintain a tree park project and Quezon City’s tax credit scheme for green buildings in their initiatives on environmental protection and climate change adaptation that are timely needed.

Legarda cited Quezon City’s new and retrofitted buildings that can avail of up to 25% property tax refund depending on the eco-friendly practices being implemented like the use of renewable energy, cutting down power consumption and managing solid waste, among others while the Bukidnon, LGUs, non-government organizations and cooperatives wish to avail of financial assistance from the provincial government and entrepreneurs who will be registering or renewing their business permits must plant trees and maintain tree parks as a requirement.

“These stories of local communities-inspiring, trailblazing, pioneering-are slivers of light in a country of garbage dumps, mine tailings and bald mountains,” Legarda said, adding that more LGUs are heeding the call to act to revive our ecosystems, protect our environment and make our communities disaster and climate resilient.

“I am hoping that this would create a bandwagon effect with other LGUs making their own eco-friendly programs and green policies,” Legarda said.

To help resuscitate our degrading environment, Legarda said that all local governments should show dynamism and creativity in pursuing the projects for the welfare of the country’s environment, explaining that the LGUs set up offices at ground level, provide the staff, pass local ordinances and resolutions, and organize stakeholders to support and to complement environmental protection and climate change adaptation; thus, we have to ensure the continuity of their efforts. (Jason de Asis)

A$21.584 Asian development bank finance project on Phl water and sanitation extended-Angara

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 7, 2011-Senator Edgardo J. Angara, Chair of the Congressional Commission on Science Technology and Engineering (COMSTE) revealed that Australia has extended a grant worth A$ 21.584 through the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to finance trust funds for the country’s water infrastructure and clean energy initiatives which will be used to help finance projects that will bring water sanitation and clean energy to areas in Asia and the Pacific.

Angara said that to improve the country’s water and sanitation infrastructure, the ADB is actively supporting many projects in the country and it will be opened to help finance similar projects.

“I urged the government once again to improve the country’s water and sanitation to avoid crisis,” Angara said who recently held a conference called Water W.A.T.C.H. (Wise Adaptation of Technologies for Clean H2O) to promote the deployment of the latest in new technologies and best practices for water resource management in light of numerous studies that show that there could be a worldwide water crisis due to climate change.

The Senator said that there is a need to dispel the prevailing notion that have adequate water supply to last for generations, revealing that some areas have an abundance of clean water while some areas are arid.

To properly distribute and manage our water resources, Angara said that innovative water management is essential and the best way to do this is by utilizing science and technology, explaining that Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) plays a vital factor here.

“Since the government can only move so fast, a swift and sure solution would be for LGU’s to reach out to private funding institutions to develop the necessary infrastructure in water and sanitation and lessen our yearly losses,” Angara said, adding that the water crisis is a silent crisis in the Philippines, because issues concerning water have long been neglected. And yet, it encompasses a myriad of problems that affect our bid towards sustainable development.

“The water is a health issue,” Angara said, explaining that more than one third of diseases in the Philippines are water-borne. “It is also a food security issue,” Angara furthered, saying that rice is our staple food and is heavily dependent on water.

Angara added that approximately 3,000 liters of water is needed to grow one kilogram of rice and more than a third of our labor force depend on agriculture, water also affects rural livelihood, and development in the countryside.

“Our failure to recognize issues concerning water has affected the quality of life of most Filipinos. The UN has ranked the Philippines as 84th out of 177 countries in the Human Development Report, and one of the main reasons for there is the poor distribution of water and sanitation in the country,” Angara said.

Angara said that there is a need to start taking action against the water crisis as the Asian Development Bank, river and groundwater systems in the Philippines will fail by 2025. “We have to start cleaning up now to prevent crisis,” Angara said.

“Science and innovative technology can provide us solutions to the water crisis. What we need is a sound strategy in the use of technologies in ensuring adequate water supply that is clean and healthful,” Angara said, citing the rain harvesting systems in India and Japan that have existed for hundreds of years. (Jason de Asis)