Phl Disaster management center to use US technology in assessing quakes

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 23, 2011-Senator Edgardo J. Angara, chairman of the Congressional Commission on Science Technology and Engineering (COMSTE) revealed that the government’s disaster management center (DSMC) is adopting US technology which will help to mitigate and to cushion the impact of a powerful earthquake by monitoring ground motions.

Angara said that in the event of a powerful earthquake, the new technology will be useful in Metro Manila where 17% of buildings will be heavily damaged and 32.5% partially damaged according to the report.

“To better prepare the country for earthquakes and similar disasters, Angara said that with that kind of game changing technology the DSMC will be useful to utilize disaster mitigation where the COMSTE is now partnered with the Manila Observatory in developing the capabilities of the DSMC.

The commission has a Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study (MMEIRS), a joint study that was undertaken by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to create an earthquake scenario damage map of Metro Manila.

A study revealed that when a 7.8 magnitude earthquake scenario hitting the city, around 8,918 or 17% of all the buildings will be heavily damaged while around 16,374 (32.5%) will be partly damaged. Expected casualties can rise to 12,000 individuals while 4,000 will be injured. The fire damage in this scenario can cover 116 hectares with 49,000 buildings projected to be burnt down affecting 1,600 people.

Angara said the center will evolve into a training center that will focus on scenario-type learning utilizing technology for disaster mitigation and management where Taiwan and Japan are already actively cooperating with training of local experts for situations like floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis.

Angara said that the USGS uses this new technology, called NetQuakes, to better measure seismographic data where the units are installed in homes, public buildings, offices or schools and use wifi or local networks to transmit data via the internet to USGS stations, explaining that the data is measured and used to calculate post-earthquake damage estimates and to develop better engineering standards.

He furthered that the COMSTE is partnered with the Manila Observatory in developing the capabilities of the DSMC. The DSMC is also in possession of the Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study (MMEIRS). The MMEIRS is a joint study that was undertaken by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to create an earthquake scenario damage map of Metro Manila.

Angara noted that the DSMC is needed to help us prepare for the earthquakes and similar disasters that will continue to threaten the country. The government needs to be able to understand how to develop an advanced and real-time information dissemination strategy so people can better prepare to handle such events. (Jason de Asis)

More individual tax payers pay-home sought by Recto

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 22, 2011-Senator Ralph G. Recto, chair of the Senate ways and means said that tax Code revision lifts cap on qualified dependents like parents and special children as additional tax exemptions, saying that aside from a looming increase in wages, ordinary taxpayers could also look forward to additional savings or increased take-home pay resulting from their tax payments by allowing them to declare as tax deductible more than the four qualified dependents currently allowed by law.

“A consolidated bill awaiting plenary presentation will amend the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) or Tax Code and scrap the maximum limit of four qualified tax dependents,” he said.

Recto said that the NIRC sets a cap of up to a maximum of four qualified dependents that a taxpayer could claim as additional allowable tax exemptions, explaining that once the measure is approved, any individual taxpayer could declare more than four qualified dependent children as long as they’re below 21 years old and, in exchange, obtain a tax deduction of P25,000 for every dependent.

“An individual taxpayer who filed for five qualified dependents would be entitled to a P125,000 deduction in his income tax payment,” Recto said, adding that an individual taxpayer living with or looking after his biological parents could declare them as additional qualified dependents as long as the parents are not gainfully employed or are incapable of self support because of mental or physical defect.

“You don’t want them thrown in foster care, which is very un-Filipino. We should take care of our parents during their twilight years,” he said.

The consolidated bill authored by Recto, his co-authors Senators Manuel Villar and Antonino Trillanes IV grant an additional tax deduction of P25,000 to a taxpayer acting as legal guardian to a physically or mentally-challenged person regardless of age.

“This would ensure that the disabled and special children would be taken cared of during their difficult years,” Recto said, lamenting that capping the number of qualified tax dependents to only four persons is effectively a family planning method in disguise.

“You don’t implement your family planning program through a tax fiat,” Recto added.

“To continue taking care of their parents and people with physical and mental defect, this proposed measure makes easier for taxpaying individuals who are already burdened by tough economic times,” he said, stressing that even with or without the promise of additional tax deductions, children should always take care of their parents and should have a caring heart for the disabled and special children. (Jason de Asis)

Aurora four logging firms permitted to haul old cut logs

Photo Courtesy: Arnel Turzar, DZJO FM-CMN Baler, Aurora

BALER, Aurora May 21, 2011-The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) regional executive director for Central Luzon Ricardo Calderon has given four logging companies operating in this province only until today to dispose inventoried logs and lumber which were cut prior to the issuance of President Aquino executive order number 23 directing a moratorium on tree-cutting in natural and residual forests nationwide.

Calderon identified the four firms permitted as the Industries Development Corporation (IDC) and sister firm RCC Timber Company Inc., CKY World Trading and Pacific Timber Co. (Pateco) only until May 21 to haul, process, transport and dispose the inventoried logs that were cut prior to the issuance  E.O. 23 as mandated in Resolution 2011-001 of the Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force.

Photo Courtesy: Arnel Turzar, DZJO FM, CMN Baler, Aurora

The IDC is considered the largest logging concessionaire in the province has an Integrated Forest Management Agreement covering 48,877 hectares in the northern towns of Dilasag and Casiguran which is to expire on December 5, 2026 and has log and lumber dealer permit which is set to expire on October 31, 2012 whose President is Mr. Michael Ong.

Prior to the issuance of EO 23, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Benjamin Mina said that the clearances were issued to the four following the conduct of an inventory and validation by field personnel, saying that the issuance of permits were granted by the DENR through a memorandum issued by Undersecretary for field operations Ernesto Adobo Jr. to give time to the logging firms to dispose of the cut logs and manufactured lumber inasmuch as these were left in their cutting area, log pond and sawmill yards.

The operations of the logging firms, along with the San Roque Sawmill and Benzon Realty Corp. were suspended last February due to EO 23. They have sealed all sawmills and ordered pulled out all heavy equipment deployed in concession areas to ensure that the companies comply with the directive.

Alfredo Collado, DENR community environment and natural resources officer for northern Aurora said that the IDC’s wood processing plant permits for sawmill and veneer, including log and lumber dealer permits are suspended pending review and evaluation of its area and operation.

DENR inventory stated that the IDC has 26,500 board feet of lumber, some 2,041.76 cubic meters of logs and 15 cubic meters of veneer in cutting areas in Sitio Dipayak, Barangay Tinib, in barangays Abuleg and Ditawini and at its log pond in Barangay Dibacong, Casiguran. Its sister firm RCC Timber Company has 82 pieces of remaining logs with a volume of 329.17 cubic meters.

CKY World Trading of Johnny Chua has 2,000 pieces of logs measured at 3,877.20 cubic meters at its sawmill compound and cutting area in barangays Dinadiawan, Dianed and Calaocan in Dipaculao town while Pateco has 12,542 pieces of lumber with a total volume of 371,047 board feet and 2,200 pieces of logs measuring 3,370.42 cubic meters while there was no report on the stockpiles of Benzon and San Roque owned by Filipino-Chinese businessman Ben Ching.

It could be remembered that five major logging concessionaires in the province have been ordered stopped in pursuant to E.O. 23 issued by President Aquino III directing a moratorium on tree-cutting in natural and residual forests nationwide. Affected were the IDC and sister company RCC Timber Company Inc., CKY Trading, San Roque Sawmill, Benzon Realty Corp., and Pacific Timber Co. (Jason de Asis)

Angara calls for peaceful discussion on RH bill

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 20, 2011-In the ongoing debate on the controversial reproductive health (RH) bill, Senator Edgardo J. Angara urged solons for a peaceful, calm and reasonable debate for the enlightenment of the citizenry in the measure that was filed in the Lower House and in the Senate.

Angara advised that they should continue with the dialogue instead of threatening each other, citing the same issue has gone through many Catholic countries, even more Catholic and devout countries as Brazil, Portugal, Spain, Italy but without this traumatic debate and name calling.

  

“Let's not mislead our people, if they are for it. They live in poverty and misery everyday so they need both their government and church. But let's not divide and fragment the nation just because of one single issue,” he said, saying that he is inclined to support the bill because of its provisions for maternal and child health however he is not in favor of abortion which he think is part of the bill.

“There is a need to inform the people respectively saying what this bill is all about, what measures the RH Bill is seeking so that each person has enough knowledge to make their own decisions on the matter,” Angara pointed out.

It could be remembered that the RH bill is pending in the 15^th Philippine Congress. The measure was filed during the 8^th congress during the time of Corazon Aquino Administration and has been refilled in the succeeding sessions that seeks to promote on a national level access to information and availability of natural and artificial contraception and to empower couples in responsible family planning through education and access to legal and medically safe birth control.

The bill is still in the midst of continues battle of the brain debate in the lower house and in the senate where it was strongly opposed mainly by the Roman Catholic Church, Pro-Life Philippines, National Coalition for Family and Life, Abay Pamilya and the Philippine Nurses Association. (Jason de Asis)

Trillanes calls for investigation on the BIRs delay of tax refund claims

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 20, 2011-To address the gaps in the rules and regulations of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV has filed a resolution seeking for the investigation by the Senate Committee on Finance to look into complaints against the BIR for the alleged failure to act expeditiously on pending tax refund claims.

“Tax refund procedures are very tedious and cumbersome,” Trillanes lamented, saying that the process of claiming tax refund could take several months just for a revenue officer to be assigned to process the claim.

“The taxpayer will be subjected to a tax audit, a process which often leads to the filing of tax deficiency against the claimant after several reviews and documentation,” he said, explaining that instead of refunding the claims, the taxpayer is required to pay the tax deficiency before receiving the tax refund or tax credit.

“Numerous complaints from men in uniform as well as civilians where expressing dismay over BIR’s lengthy process of filing a claim. Worse, the bureau issues Tax Credit Certificates (TCCs) instead of paying cash to claimants entitled for refunds,” Trillanes cited.

He pointed out that this affects the morale of the Filipino soldiers and the citizenry where they feel that they are being cheated and short-changed by the government when it comes to money the government actually owes them.

Trillanes reminded the BIR about the Supreme Court opinion that if the State expects its taxpayers to observe fairness and honesty in paying their taxes, it must hold itself against the same standard in refunding excess or erroneous payments of such taxes, adding that they should not enrich itself at the expense of the taxpayers.

Trillanes advised that there is a need to balance states interest of maintaining its lifeblood through taxes against the contravening interest of the taxpayers claiming refund and should consider the values of fairness and justice. (Jason de Asis)

Cost analysis in RH bill should be cleared first says Recto

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 19, 2011-Senator Ralph G. Recto, chairman of the senate ways and means urged the major proponents of the reproductive health (RH) bill to clear a cost analysis in the recent national debate on enacting the measure which is not only an issue of moral or religious one but also on its funding or budgeting.

“How much the proposed law would burden the national government, local government units (LGUs) and even the private sector,” Recto asked, saying that there’s obviously a price tag for this bill. There are costs involved and no one seems to be talking about it.

“Ultimately, before we discuss about the ‘birds and bees’, let’s talk about the fees,” Recto said, adding that to bankroll the RH bill and to ensure its effective implementation once enacted into law, billions of taxpayers’ money would be needed yearly.

“The costs would entail “guaranteeing universal access to medically safe, legal, affordable, effective and quality RH care services, methods, devices, supplies and relevant information and education,” Recto added.

“Where will the funds be sourced,” he asked, stressing that it is impossible to push for the bill without knowing the costs where he advised to clear the costs first before legislate something on the bill.

Recto said that the preparation and production of politically correct relevant scientific information materials that would be disseminated by the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and Department of Health (DOH) would involve staggering costs not to mention the logistical requirement to deploy them.

“It is possible that contributions of both employers and employees to PhilHealth, Government Service Insurance System and Social Security System would increase as a result of compliance to the soon-to-be passed law,” he asked, noting that the delivery of RH services such as the provision of modern family methods, devices and supplies to poor families would be funded by PhilHealth, national government (NG) and LGUs under the proposed measure.

Recto said that private employers also have to cough up money to support the RH law such as making available health care facilities and services like contraceptives and sexual dysfunction treatment to all their employees.

“So instead of ‘conditional cash transfers (CCT)’, employers from time to time would give out 'conditional condom transfers' or hold “Viagra nights” in exchange for increased productivity?” he asked.

Meanwhile, the LGUs are mandated to pick up the tab along with the national government in the rolling out of RH services like information, care and supplies including medicines aside from hiring midwives to man birthing centers.

Recto eyed another possible cost is the additional pork barrel needed to finance the acquisition of mobile health clinics/vans for each congressional district that would deliver RH supplies and services to their constituents as mandated in the proposed law.

“Where are we going to take the money? Would this mean more pork barrel, higher LGU taxes and higher contributions to PhilHealth, GSIS and SSS?” he asked, saying that the earmarking of the budgets of the DOH for its family planning program and that of the Commission on Population (POPCOM) as initial outlay for the RH law amounted to P3 billion is not enough.

Recto stressed that there are so many unfunded laws and we don’t need another one; nevertheless, he agrees with most of the content of the proposed bill but has strong reservations over the other provisions that should be taken away or be subjected to refinements.

Recto said that no one could argue to the right of women to safeguard their health and safety when they are pregnant and to give birth. (Jason de Asis) 

Solons outline rules on Phl disaster risk reduction and management

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, May 18, 2011-The Congressional Oversight Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (COCDRRM) was convened to draft the rules of procedure that would enable to oversee and to monitor the implementation of Republic Act 10121 otherwise known as the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.

At all levels, R.A. 10121 provisions bats for the identification of the areas vulnerable to calamities, projected climate risks, the enhancement of disaster preparedness and response capabilities, and appropriated P1-billion revolving fund  for the Office of the Civil Defense  as the lead agency.

The Philippines was ranked No. 1 with the most number of disasters that hit a country worldwide according to the Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction in Geneva.

COCDRRM Senate Committee Secretary Elpidio Calica said the Senate Oversight Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction was constituted during the plenary session last February where the Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Gringo Honasan, Loren Legarda, Antonio Trillanes IV and Pia Cayetano were the committee members.

Calica explained that Sen. Panfilo Lacson, as chairman of the Committee of Defense, automatically became a chairman of the Congressional Oversight Committee pursuant to the provisions under R.A. 10121, Sec. 26, adding that the chairman of the Defense Committee at the House, Muntinlupa Representative Rodolfo Biazon automatically became Lacson’s counterpart.

           

COCDRRM members included are Lanao del Sur Rep. Pangalian Balindong, Nueva Ecija Rep. Josefina Joson, Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, Ang Kasangga Rep. Teodorico Haresco and Camarines Sur Rep Diosdado Arroyo.

Calica revealed that last Monday was an organizational meeting where the Congressional Oversight Committee is set to meet again on June for the adoption of the rules of procedure which was tasked to evaluate the accomplishments and impact of R.A. 10121 as well as the performance and organizational structure of its implementing agencies every five years or as necessary to ensure that it remains relevant at all times.

COCDRRM rules of procedures stated that the Committee has the authority to prescribe and adopt guidelines that will govern its work;  recommend the adoption of legislation and other legislative measures pursuant to its findings; conduct hearings, investigations, receive testimonies and reports relevant to its mandate, summon by subpoena any witness to testify before it or require by subpoena to produce documents, books, records and other papers as may be necessary in the performance of its functions; and secure from any department, bureau, office or instrumentality of government any assistance as may be needed, including technical information, preparation and production of reports and submission of recommendations and plans as it may require.

Last year, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed R.A. 10121 to strengthen the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRMC) and to institutionalize disaster risk management at all levels of government to better cope with the various calamities that hit the country yearly. (Jason de Asis)

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)