KIKO CALLS ON NEW CJ TO CONVENE JELACC “TO ADDRESS DECADES-OLD PROBLEMS”

MANILA, August 25, 2012-With Justice Lourdes Sereno now appointed as the new Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan believes that the time has come to reconvene the Judicial Executive Legislative Advisory and Consultative Council (JELACC) "to lay down budgetary support for the modernization of our justice system," among other pressing issues.

"We need to work towards increasing the judiciary budget to address decades-old problems plaguing it, such as the 25% vacancy rate, the lack of facilities and justice halls, the low conviction rates, and the delay in resolving cases that last an average of six years, among others," Pangilinan says.

The lawmaker and former JBC ex-oficio, who has long been advocating judicial reforms, explains, "There is something terribly wrong with the system when a party litigant has to suffer six years of litigation in the first level, and suffer more years of waiting for the resolution of the appeal. It is also totally unacceptable to have a conviction rate of less than 20 percent in criminal cases. This means that eight out of ten cases end up in acquittals."

"This system is anti-poor and anti-progress," Pangilinan asserts. "We should not be allowed to suffer from this rotten and bankrupt system. It is a justice system that is totally unjust and totally unacceptable."

"No wonder respect for the rule of law is more the exception rather than the rule. The powerful and the mighty scoff at it while the poor and the weak having no access to it are oblivious to it. How can anyone respect a system that doesn't work?"

ANGARA PUSHES FOR MANDATORY ARBITRATION TO DECLOG COURTS

MANILA, August 25, 2012-Following the historic appointment of the new Supreme Court Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, Senator Edgardo J. Angara urged the judiciary to implement mandatory arbitration to resolve disputes quickly and unclog the courts.

Under Republic Act 9285 enacted in 2004, it is the country's policy to encourage the use of alternative dispute resolution to achieve speedy and impartial justice, and declog court dockets.

However, Angara, a veteran lawmaker and lawyer, suggested that instead of just promoting and giving the parties the option to resort to alternative dispute resolution, the judiciary should make it compulsory.

“Maybe we can require parties to put a mandatory arbitration provision in their contracts. If you go to court directly, the court can dismiss the case and ask you to go to arbitration,” said Angara, who made the same recommendation during the recent hearing on the budget of the judiciary.

Under RA 9285, alternative dispute resolution system includes arbitration, mediation, conciliation, early neutral evaluation, or mini-trial involving a neutral third party to help resolve the dispute out of court.

“Arbitration is more advantageous than court litigation, especially in our case where it usually takes several years for the trial courts to hear and resolve the cases filed with them,” said Angara, co-founder of ACCRALaw, one of the biggest law firms in the Philippines.

The senator explained that in the United States, mandatory arbitration is not required by law. But a Supreme Court decision in the 1960s made arbitration of labor disputes mandatory. He explained that the judiciary adopted a system of labor arbitrators that took over labor relations disputes from the courts.

“I think we ought to do here in the Philippines too. It requires a decision of the Supreme Court. Then it would have taken away so many contractual disputes out of the jurisdiction of the judiciary. It will take away so many of these small cases which waste the time of our justices,” he said. (Rikka Sotto w/ Shielo Mendoza)

Legarda Joins in Initiating Massive Manila Bay Clean-up

MANILA, August 25, 2012-Through the Luntiang Pilipinas Foundation, Senator Loren Legarda joined in initiating a massive Manila Bay Clean-up, along the coastline from Navotas to Bacoor, Cavite in order to rehabilitate the bay and contribute to the country’s solid waste management efforts.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change and founder of Luntiang Pilipinas explained that, “the Manila Bay is an effective gauge of the level of water pollution in Metro Manila. The amount of solid wastes present in these waters, which becomes more evident during the rainy season, should be a cause for alarm among all of us. And this clean-up involving a host of stakeholders should only be one among many.”

The Manila Broadcasting Company, represented by radio station DZRH, took the lead in the project, with Luntiang Pilipinas Foundation Inc. as a partner and co-implementor.

“The Manila Bay is one of Metro Manila’s crowning glories, boasting the best view of the sunset as it features prominently in both local and international tourism campaigns. And yet it continues to be neglected: the view of the otherwise beautiful sunset is marred by styrofoam containers, plastic bags, discarded appliances, and many other solid wastes. It is time that we take a stand against this pollution and degradation,” said Legarda, author of the Solid Waste Management Act.

The clean-up's operating partners include the Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, PNP Maritime Command, MMDA, DOT, and the Offices of the Mayors of Manila, Malabon, Navotas, Pasay, Paranaque, Las Pinas, and Bacoor.

“Let us take Manila Bay back. Let us reclaim its stunning beauty and proclaim its significance. And let us, above all, work towards a healthy, sustainable, and disaster resilient future through initiating and supporting concerted clean-up efforts,” Legarda concluded.

Drilon to speak at international forum

MANILA, August 25, 2012-Senator Franklin M. Drilon will be among the international speakers who will deliver lectures at the 2012 Asia Conference on August 24 to 28, 2012 in National Chengchi University in Taipei, Taiwan.

The international conference was organized by the Harvard Program on Asia and International Relations (HPAIR). Around 500 delegates from different countries in Asia are expected to attend the forum.

                                                               

Drilon is set to speak on topic “Reappraising the Asian Values Debate in the 21^st Century World”, where he will discuss the universality of human rights and democracy in the Philippines.

“I am honored to have been invited by this Harvard-based group to update the other countries about our Philippine democratic system,” said Drilon.

“We have a very colorful story to tell about our being a democratic country which other countries can draw insights and lessons from,” he added.

According to the HPAIR, this year’s forum will be the first time to feature and discuss critical issues based on the Filipino perspective.

HPAIR has held 26 conferences in both Asia and the United States in a bid to bring together students from the world’s foremost universities and leaders in the fields of government, business, culture, and academia, to engage in thoughtful conversations regarding critical issues affecting Asia and the world.

Past speakers included Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, Singapore President S.R. Nathan, and Cambodia Prime Minister Prince Narodom Ranariddh.

500 Aurora runners Join Takbo para sa Inang Kalikasan Fun Run

MARIA AURORA, Aurora, August 24, 2012-The two (2) campuses of Lyceum of the East in Aurora, in cooperation with the 48^th Infantry “Guardians” Battalion, Philippine Army, successfully held the “Takbo para sa Inang Kalikasan, One Spirit, One Advocay, One Goal…A sustainable National Greening Program (NGP) through Gender and Development (GAD) Principles and Initiatives” at the Lyceum of the East-Aurora Campus in Brgy. Florida, Maria Aurora last August 20, 2012.

The recent run-for-a-cause event was participated by the army, National Statistics Office, PNP Maria Aurora, private sectors and other participants registered for the fun run, which also opened the 1^st “SAYAWIT” competition for the National Service Training Program (NSTP) student of both colleges.

“This afternoon’s affair is three folds: first, republic act 9729 otherwise known as the Philippine climate change, second, republic act 9512, otherwise known as the National Greening Program, third, Republic Act no. 9710, otherwise known as the Magna Carta of Women,” said Mr. Jason Francisco V. de Asis, Program Director of the event, saying that the Significance of these republic acts are greatly affect our ways of life.

He said that it would be observed that climate change has brought us in quandary, when there should be rain, there is no rain, when there should be sunshine, it rains, comparing the temperament of women which is changeable.

“The Magna Carta for women’s rights which was authored by Senator Loren Legarda provides the necessary mechanisms to enforce and guarantee the realization of women’s rights as public servant; public offices are no longer dominated by men. We have women engineers, architects, mechanics, electricians, soldiers. I just fear that someday we might have women loggers or miners,” de Asis said while smiling.

He added that the Lyceum of the East is aware of the program and very receptive to this call of the government; hence, the management assigned the task to the National Service Training Program (NSTP) Department to implement the program.

“It is also the college desire to give fullest effort to support environmental awareness under Republic Act 9512, an act to promote environmental awareness through environmental education under the program wherein the Lyceum of the East, Inc. formulated a program and activity for the National Greening Program to foster patriotism and nationalism,” he furthered.

The runners converged at the Lyceum of the East Aurora Campus Saturday afternoon and took off for their respective three kilometer (3K), five-kilometer (5K) and 7K routes at the signal of the 48^th IB CMO Chief Captain Rozzel Ticar and Mr. de Asis, the NSTP Program head of the two (2) campuses and concurrent Dean of BS Entrepreneurship.

Among the groups who participated in the event were soldiers from the 48^th (Guardians) Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, officers from the Maria Aurora Police Office, government employees, officials and staff from the National Statistics Office, Department of Health, volunteer health workers and students from the towns of Baler, San Luis, Dipaculao and Maria Aurora, as well as the barangay and provincial officials. (Ronald Madrid Leander-GMA7)

ANGARA: FAST-TRACK CREATION OF HOUSING PROGRAM FOR PHL TEACHERS

Proper housing for public school teachers in the Philippines should be prioritized, said Senator Edgardo J. Angara during a joint hearing by the Senate Committee on Urban Planning, Housing and Retirement and related committees yesterday.

Angara, chair of the Committee on Education, Arts and Culture, explained that educators  make up one of the  four sectors of the government which make the biggest impact on the public. The first two, the Judiciary and the police force, look after the safety and provide justice, while health and education professionals deal with the overall well-being of the public.

"We should prioritize the housing for our teachers as they are among the most important public servants in any country. They teach and mold our children, and are on the frontline in times of crisis and emergency, such as disaster relief operations. Teachers are also a vanguard of our democracy especially during elections," he said.

However, teachers in the Philippines still earn much less compared to their counterparts in the ASEAN region.

"We can solve this problem by establishing a housing program--through a comprehensive piece of legislation--especially for our educators," said Angara.

"Everyone is entitled to a home. Housing should be considered a universal human right, in the same way health and education are," he added.

Angara then proposed to include housing provision for teachers in a Magna Carta for Public Servants. "This way, we are assured that these initiatives will get adequate funding from government."

ANGARA: FAST-TRACK CREATION OF HOUSING PROGRAM FOR PHL TEACHERS

Proper housing for public school teachers in the Philippines should be prioritized, said Senator Edgardo J. Angara during a joint hearing by the Senate Committee on Urban Planning, Housing and Retirement and related committees yesterday.

Angara, chair of the Committee on Education, Arts and Culture, explained that educators  make up one of the  four sectors of the government which make the biggest impact on the public. The first two, the Judiciary and the police force, look after the safety and provide justice, while health and education professionals deal with the overall well-being of the public.

"We should prioritize the housing for our teachers as they are among the most important public servants in any country. They teach and mold our children, and are on the frontline in times of crisis and emergency, such as disaster relief operations. Teachers are also a vanguard of our democracy especially during elections," he said.

However, teachers in the Philippines still earn much less compared to their counterparts in the ASEAN region.

"We can solve this problem by establishing a housing program--through a comprehensive piece of legislation--especially for our educators," said Angara.

"Everyone is entitled to a home. Housing should be considered a universal human right, in the same way health and education are," he added.

Angara then proposed to include housing provision for teachers in a Magna Carta for Public Servants. "This way, we are assured that these initiatives will get adequate funding from government."

Legarda: Heed the Call for Green, Sustainable Development

Senator Loren Legarda today reiterated her call for the nation to pursue green, sustainable and resilient development to prevent a “bleak and environmentally degraded future” that an Asian Development Bank study revealed.

Legarda, the United Nations Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific, cited information from ADB’s Key Indicators for Asia and the Pacific 2012, which showed that the fast rate of urbanization in Asia has been causing environmental degradation with the rise in pollution, more slum areas, and greater economic and social inequalities.

The Senator explained that other notable data in the ADB study include the alarming increase in carbon dioxide emissions that could rise to 10.2 metric tons per capita by 2050 with the lack of intervening actions to reverse the trend.

“As a nation, we have been engaging industrialized nations, through the annual climate change talks, to cut down on their greenhouse gas emissions. And while we wait for their positive response, our government must undertake a concrete strategy to pursue a green and disaster-resilient development path,” Legarda stressed.

“Our government must design and implement a diversification of our energy systems. We have to explore and continue to develop hydropower, geothermal and wind power as renewable energy sources. We must engage the private sector to invest in clean new technologies, adopt energy efficiency measures and re-engineer corporate social responsibility to reflect the joint values of achieving business sustainability through building disaster-resilient local communities,” she pointed out.

Legarda further noted that the ADB study also revealed that with increasing urban population, over 700 million people in Asian cities could be at risk of coastal flooding and inland flooding.

“We must heed the call for green, sustainable and resilient development. Our nation’s economic development plan should consider the impacts of climate change so that it would actually contribute to the country’s overall progress and not in the worsening of disaster risks,” she explained.

“We must link disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation to national and local development planning by building homes, schools, and hospitals that are safe and secure amidst natural hazards; designing and constructing roads, bridges and other infrastructure that help spur economic growth with disaster risk reduction in mind; and recovering and rebuilding from any disaster impacts with building-back-better-and-greener as objective. Disaster risk reduction essentially means genuine development—development that is sustainable and economic growth that is resilient,” Legarda concluded.

PANGILINAN ON RICE SMUGGLING WITNESSES: “CLEARLY, SOMEONE IS LYING”

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, along with fellow senators investigating alleged rice smuggling in the Subic Bay Freeport, were dumbfounded by contradicting statements from key witnesses in Wednesday's hearing in the Senate, prompting the Committee to ask five of these witnesses to show cause letters explaining why they should not be cited for contempt of the Senate for lying under oath.

The five witnesses are Protik Guha, CEO of Amira Foods; Stefani Saño of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority; Cesar Bulaon of Metro Eastern Trading Corporation; Cesar Ramirez of a farmer's cooperative in General Santos; and Vicente Cuevas III.

"Clearly, someone is lying, or everyone is," said Pangilinan, whose Committee is the head investigating committee on rice smuggling. "We seek to know the truth. We will examine thoroughly their documents and decide how to proceed."

On its third hearing, Protik Guha, owner of the contested rice seized by the Bureau of Customs, denied that his company brought in the goods for distribution and sale in Philippine markets. This then prompted BOC Commissioner Ruffy Biazon to say that Guha's statement contradicts Metro Eastern's submitted documents. Guha also claims a farmer's cooperative represented by Ramirez emailed him asking they would be willing to buy the rice off of him.

"These all seem like a long chain of comical series of rigmarole, one that must have been going on for a long time. Only it is not funny, and the Senate investigating committee is not laughing," Pangilinan remarked.

Senate body to scrutinize Judiciary’s 2013 expenditure plan, says Drilon

The Senate Finance Committee will examine today (Thursday) the proposed expenditures plan of the Judiciary, announced its chairman Senator Franklin M. Drilon.

“We have already achieved the most remarkable reform in our judicial system last May, and now, what we need to do is to ensure that all the reforms that our people have been wanting for our judicial system will be carried out in this proposed expenditure plan,” said Drilon, referring to the impeachment of then Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.

The Judiciary will get P17.77 billion, including automatic appropriation, from P15.71 billion this year, or an increase of 13.08 percent, noted Drilon.

“The proposed 2013 budget will support the resolution of about 324,434 cases pending in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and Court of Tax Appeals, as well as to address the needed developments in the Judiciary,” said Drilon.

Of the proposed budget, Drilon said, P15.72 billion will go to the Supreme and Lower courts, an increase of 12.86 percent from P13.93 billion, while P1.32 billion will go to the Court of Appeals, P181.22 million higher than its present budget of P1.144 billion.

Also, P392.44 million will be for the country’s anti-graft court, the Sandiganbayan, P35.18 million higher than its 2012 budget of P357.26 million; P244.33 million to the Court of Tax Appeals, P31.41 million higher than its present budget of P212.92 million; and lastly, P90.94 million will go to the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, P16.42 million higher than its 2012 budget of P74.52 million.

Drilon also said his committee he will look into the allowances of the judges and justices, which the Supreme Court recently sought for its restoration.

Further, the committee will scrutinize the huge vacant positions in the Judiciary which, he added, resulted in a slow disposition of pending cases, noted Drilon.

“Our courts have a humongous collection of unheard and unresolved cases. This should be addressed if the government is reforming our justice system, and we will intervene by means of ensuring that the 2013 expenditures plan will carry enough budget to address the problem,” ended Drilon.

In a related news, the committee is also set to review the proposed budget of the Office of the Vice President amounting P420.55 million, including automatic appropriation, P15.75 million higher than its 2012 budget of P404.8 million, said Drilon. 

PANGILINAN FILES SENATE RESOLUTION HONORING ROBREDO

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has filed Senate Resolution No. 843 honoring the late Interior Secretary Jesse M. Robredo “for his outstanding contributions to governmental reforms in the country.”

Entitled, “A resolution expressing the sincere condolences and sympathy of the Senate over the passing of DILG Secretary Jesse M. Robredo and honoring him for his outstanding contributions to governmental reforms in the country,” the document cited Robredo’s achievements as mayor of Naga City, as President of the League of Cities of the Philippines, as Chairman of the Regional Development Council in Bicol, and as Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

The resolution also cited Robredo’s achievements, among them the 2000 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service, the 1998 Konrad Adenauer Medal of Excellence as Most Outstanding City Mayor of the Philippines, and the first-ever “Dangal ng Bayan” Award of the Civil Service Commission.

“The Filipino people are mourning for the untimely death of Secretary Robredo. The country lost a rare and exemplary public servant in the person of Secretary Robredo,” the resolution states.

LET EID'L FITR BE A REMINDER OF OUR GOALS FOR LASTING PEACE IN MINDANAO

Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan today celebrates with the Muslim Filipino community as the holy month of Ramadan comes to an end. As he greets Muslim Filipinos, "Eid Mubarak," Pangilinan adds that this year's celebration of Eid'l Fitr must also mark "a deepening of genuine efforts to achieve lasting peace" in war-torn parts of Mindanao.

"Our dream for the Muslim Filipino community is for them to enjoy lasting peace--the kind that offers stability and paves the way for investments, economic growth, jobs, and true progress," Pangilinan points out. "If we recall, it was in the 1990s when the government pushed for an aggressive peace policy, and it was also at this time when we saw rapid development in cities such as Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and General Santos, among others. We know that this can be replicated in more areas around Mindanao."

Pangilinan, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Social Justice and Rural Development, adds, "We need to put an end to war and senseless violence once and for all. For it is only through lasting peace that we will see the progress and prosperity that have eluded our Muslim brothers and sisters for decades now. Everyone in the Philippines deserves the chance to live a stable, secure, and more abundant life--regardless of their religious affiliations and ethnic backgrounds. Let us break the cycle of violence that has kept many parts of Mindanao in chains, for the sake of a new generation of Filipinos who clearly deserve a better life."

Legarda Calls for Greater Local Government Participation Towards a Disaster-Resilient Agusan River Basin

Senator Loren Legarda today called for greater involvement of local governments in Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Compostela Valley, and Davao Oriental  in the effective and collaborative management of the Agusan River Basin to address the risks and challenges, as well as maximize the opportunities brought by the river basin to their communities.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, is again organizing a Regional Workshop on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction to be held in Butuan City this August 23. It will be done in partnership with the Local Government Academy (LGA) and the Agencia Española de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID), targeting local government officials and other stakeholders.

The Senator, who is also United Nations Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific, earlier led similar workshops covering the Pampanga, Bicol, and Cagayan de Oro River Basins.

“The Agusan River Basin faces several challenges. Beyond the threat of devastating floods during heavy rains, a study conducted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) found that domestic wastewater, solid waste disposal, and sedimentation due to erosion cause serious water quality problems, which threatens lives and sources of income. Seismicity and mercury pollution also put the area at risk,” she explained.

“An important feature of the area is the Agusan Marsh. It is deemed a ‘Wetland of National Importance,’ and hosts the widest expanse found in the Philippines of seven habitat types, including a very large area of swamp forest and peat swamp forest not found elsewhere in the country. We should also look into making the Marsh disaster resilient, as degradation of this area will affect not only people but also the rich biodiversity within,” she added.

In organizing the collaboration workshop, Legarda stressed that the task before leaders, especially of local governments, is straightforward.

“We have to make our communities safer, more resilient, and more prepared to respond whenever a disaster strikes. We should be able to engage all key stakeholders and sectors, to promote cooperation and coordination among themselves, to promote greater risk awareness in communities,” she stated.

“Now is the time to secure the future that we want for our people. Engaging officials and stakeholders at the local government level is a concrete step towards building communities’ resilience to disasters, which is why these workshops have become all the more important,” Legarda concluded.

Signing into Law of People's Survival Fund Bill a Triumph for the Filipino People - Legarda

Senator Loren Legarda called President Aquino’s signing into law of the People's Survival Fund bill a triumph for Filipinos and a concrete move towards a disaster-resilient Philippines.

“The enactment of amendments to the Climate Change Act of 2009, primarily the creation of the People’s Survival Fund (PSF), strengthens the three-year-old law by helping achieve its objectives through provision of funds to local governments and communities for their climate change adaptation programs. As we have seen clearly over the past few weeks, there is a pressing need to financially support disaster prevention efforts of local government units. The President's approval of the PSF affirms our nation's commitment to building communities’ resilience to disasters,” she said.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, principal author and sponsor of the Climate Change Act of 2009, and principal sponsor of the amendatory measure to the climate law, said that Congress approved the PSF bill in June. It was immediately transmitted to President Aquino who signed the law last Friday, August 17.

The PSF is a special fund in the National Treasury—in the amount of one billion pesos that will be appropriated annually under the General Appropriations Act—for the financing of adaptation programs and projects based on the National Strategic Framework on Climate Change. The fund may also be augmented by donations, endowments, grants and contributions.

“The degradation of our environment, coupled with the effects of climate change, such as heavy monsoon rains, prolonged droughts, and other extreme weather events, places us on a highly precarious position and endangers the lives of our citizens. The PSF will help local governments' adaptation activities, such as in the areas of land and water resources management, agriculture and fisheries, health, infrastructure development, and natural ecosystems,” she explained.

“This will also support the improvement of the monitoring, controlling and prevention of diseases triggered by climate change, establishment of forecasting and early warning systems, and strengthening institutional development, for local governments, for preventive measures, planning, preparedness and management of impacts relating to climate change,” she added.

Legarda, the United Nations Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction for Asia-Pacific, is also responsible for crafting and sponsoring several environmental laws like the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Awareness Education Act, the Renewable Energy Act, the Solid Waste Management Act, and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.

“We are called upon by the Filipino people to safeguard them against the death, destruction, and poverty trap caused by disasters. There is no substitute for national and local government programs and budgets that are climate change-adaptive. The PSF will allow us to pole-vault toward ensuring disaster- and climate change-resilient communities,” Legarda concluded.

The amendatory law to the Climate Change Act of 2009, authored by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Senator Loren Legarda, also mandates the Department of Budget and Management to undertake the formulation of the annual government budget in a way that ensures the appropriate prioritization and allocation of funds to support climate change-related programs and projects.

Legarda Shares in Celebration of Eid’l Fitr

Senator Loren Legarda today expressed solidarity with Filipino Muslims as she enjoined all Filipinos, regardless of religious and spiritual beliefs, to share in the celebration of Eid’l Fitr.

“I wish to extend my greetings to our Muslim brothers and sisters on the occasion of Eid’l Fitr. You have once again displayed deep faith and devotion, discipline and obedience as you observed the holy month of Ramadan.  The faith, humility, and patience that Eid’l Fitr symbolizes are virtues that we must all have as Filipinos,” Legarda said.

“As a feast of great importance to Muslims, the Eid’l Fitr has been a familiar occasion even to a Catholic-dominated nation, and I hope that it goes beyond familiarity as it paves the way for deeper respect and understanding among Filipinos regardless of faith or religious belief,” she stressed.

Legarda authored R.A. 9177, or the Eid’l Fitr Law, which decreed that the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar is a national holiday for the observance of Eid’l Fitr. R.A. 9177 further decreed that the tenth day of Zhul Hijja, the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar is a regional holiday in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) for the observance of Eid’l Adha.

Eid’l Fitr is celebrated on the sighting of the crescent moon by the billions who follow Islam, including the estimated 4 million Filipino Muslims.

“To our Muslim brothers and sisters, I wish you a joyous and meaningful celebration. And to the non-Muslim Filipinos, I enjoin you to take this occasion more than just another holiday. Let us all share in the celebration of this important occasion, as we witness the spiritual dedication that our Muslim brothers and sisters embody,” said Legarda.

Legarda Praises Humanitarian Workers on World Humanitarian Day

On World Humanitarian Day, Senator Loren Legarda praised the invaluable contribution of humanitarian workers, particularly those who were involved in rescue and relief efforts during recent disasters caused by typhoons and monsoon rains.

“We must recognize the herculean tasks that all humanitarian workers face and the inspired ways through which they address these challenges, especially now that natural hazards abound,” she said.

Noting the high number of natural hazards that occur in the Philippines, Legarda underscored the significance of humanitarian workers’ contributions to the Filipino people.

“We were the world’s worst-hit by disasters in 2011, and just last week we experienced flooding that submerged 80% of the nation’s capital. The contributions of humanitarian workers in the lives of the millions affected by these disasters cannot be understated. They often risk their own well-being as they save and help the vulnerable from the dangers that hazards bring and support authorities in delivering assistance,” she remarked.

World Humanitarian Day was established in December 2008, marking the day of the bombing of the UN Headquarters in Baghdad, where Special Representative of the Secretary-General to Iraq, Sérgio Vieira de Mello, and 21 of his colleagues perished in the course of humanitarian efforts.

“On World Humanitarian Day, beyond lauding their achievements, I also hope we can take the time to honor those who have lost their lives as they were saving others, and reflect on how we can contribute to the work that they do. Ultimately, humanitarian workers all over the world remind us that no task is too difficult when done in the service of others,” Legarda concluded.

HALOS P2 BILYONG PISONG PONDO NG ACEF, MAIPAPAMAHAGI NA SA MGA MAGSASAKA

Inaasahang magiging malaking tulong ang napipintong paglabas ng pondo ng Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) sa mga nangangailangang maliliit na negosyante sa sektor ng agrikultura matapos mapagkasunduan ng Department of Buget and Management, Department of Finance, Department of Agriculture, at Congressional Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization (COCAFM) na mailabas na ang nasabing pondo.

Sa isang en banc meeting ng COCAFM noong Huwebes, August 16, sa Club Filipino, na pinangunahan ng Chairman ng Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, Senador Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, naipangako ng DBM na aasikasuhin na nila ang pag-proseso ng mga nauprabahang mga grants at loans ng ACEF. Base sa kasalukuyang patakaran ng ACEF, 60 porsiyento ng pondo ang nakalaan para sa grants, 30 porsiyento para sa pautang, at 10 porsiyento naman para sa mga scholarships.

"Matagal nang nabinbin ang pondo dahil nirepaso muna natin at sinikap na maitama ang mga naging pagkakamali sa ACEF na ikinalugi nito," ani Pangilinan. "Natutuwa tayo at malinaw na ngayon na mailalabas na ang pondo para sa mga nangangailangang mga magsasaka at agri-preneurs."

Kasama rin sa nasabing pagpupulong ang mga kinatawan ng iba't ibang kooperatiba sa bansa na binigyang pagkakataon mailahad ang kanilang hinaing at pangangailangan mula sa programang ACEF.

"Layon naman talaga ng ACEF na gawing competitive ang maliliit na negosyo ng ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda upang makaahon sila at makasabay sa mga malalaking negosyante," dagdag ni Pangilinan. "Medyo nalulugi lang ang pamahalaan dahil sinamantala ito ng ibang indibidwal at grupo na di naman kwalipikado na makatanggap mula sa ACEF. Yan ang ating sinikap na maayos nang sa gayon e di naman parang gripo ang pagluwal ng pera mula sa kaban ng ACEF. At ngayon nga na mailalabas na ang pondo sa mga kwalipikado, inaasahan natin na aangat ang kita ng ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda."

Sinabi naman ni DA Secretary Proceso Alcala na sisimulan na ng kanyang tanggapan ang pagtanggap ng mga aplikante sa ACEF para sa scholarships.

"Natutuwa tayo na nagkakasundo ang iba't ibang ahensya ng pamahalaan para maiangat ang kabuhayan ng maliliit nating mga magsasaka at mangingisda," dagdag ni Pangilinan, na siya ring Chairman ng COCAFM. "Naiintindihan natin na mayroong alinlangan ang DBM dahil nga sa nangyari sa ACEF noong nakaraan. Naipaliwanag naman natin nang maigi sa kanila na maayos na ngayon ang sistema at sisiguraduhin ng COCAFM at ng DA na mapupunta ang pondo sa tamang mga kooperatiba at negosyo. Tapos na ang panahon ng panlilinlang at panloloko. Mahigpit na ang proseso. At ngayon, mailalabas na ang pondo para matugunan nag pangangailangan ng ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda."

"Ang ACEF ay isa sa mga programa natin na makakatulong ng malaki para umangat ang kita ng ating mga manggagawa sa sektor ng agrikultura at pangingisda. Ito ang dahilan kaya di natin ito isinantabi lamang. Ang pag-angat ng kita ng ating magsasaka at mangingisda ang dapat nating prayoridad. Pag lumaki ang kanilang kita, aangat ang kabuhayan sa kanayunan, at magiging progresibo ang ating bansa."