Legarda Partners with European Union Delegation for Disaster Risk Reduction Conference in St. Bernard, Southern Leyte

MANILA, September 23, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today announced the National Conference for Effective Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation Practices to be held on September 28-29 in St. Bernard, Southern Leyte, the site of the Guinsaugon landslide of 2006.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, is organizing the conference in partnership with Ambassador Guy Ledoux of the European Union delegation, Mayor Rico Rentuza of St. Bernard, CARE Nederland, German Development Cooperation, and the Asia-Pacific Institute for Green Development.

"Six years ago, we witnessed one of the world's deadliest landslides where 1,221 people, including 246 elementary schoolchildren, died. The landslide, which occurred after ten days of heavy rains and a  2.6 magnitude earthquake, is forever etched into the memories of Leytenos," she remarked.

"However, we want to showcase St. Bernard not as a site of tragedy but as a site of hope, recovery, and lessons to be learned," she added, noting that the conference will focus on steps for disaster prevention, such as early warning systems for landslides.

Support from the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) through its disaster preparedness program, DIPECHO, facilitated the implementation of a continuing capability-building program since 2007. Under this facility, the municipal and barangay LGUs were able to maximize regular programs and projects for disaster risk reduction purposes.  A comprehensive development plan was drawn up with strong consideration of risks. 

Legarda stressed that the recently approved Amended Climate Change Act, which she sponsored and which creates the People’s Survival Fund, will go a long way in supporting climate change adaptation activities in the local level through the funding of programs such as the 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.

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

"We have to make our communities safer, more resilient, and more prepared to respond whenever a disaster strikes. St. Bernard should serve as an inspiration, and through this national conference, we hope to further our understanding of the unique risks and cooperate towards implementing our best solutions," Legarda concluded.

Angara says Capitol bid fueled by Aurora mayor’s clamor

BALER, Aurora, September 22, 2012–The cat is finally out of the bag.

Sen. Edgardo Angara – the longest-serving senator in the post-Edsa Senate – who is reportedly eyeing the governorship in 2013, said his Capitol bid was spurred by an overwhelming clamor from majority of the mayors in the province.

Saying he was a “reluctant candidate” who has no gubernatorial ambitions, Angara said that contrary to reports, he was never interested in the post but was forced to seek the governorship because of the endorsement of the municipal mayors.

“In fact, I was the one who proposed a Noveras-Angara tandem which I considered unbeatable. But our political leaders rejected that. Instead, they endorsed me to run for governor,” he said.

He was referring to the supposed tandem between Vice Gov. Gerardo Noveras and his nephew, Rommel Angara which was floated a year ago.

Noveras has since declared he was running for governor, refusing to back out even following a series of backdoor negotiations with the senator’s camp. 

Angara, in an earlier interview said if his younger brother, Baler Mayor Arthur Angara did not stand a chance against Noveras, he would look for somebody else to pit against the latter. But he had an apparent change of mind following the endorsement he received from the mayors.

“I am not really obsessed with the governorship. But there was a clamor from among the mayors of Aurora which snowballed to a point that I have to reconsider. They said that my running would be the only assurance of the continuity of the development programs we have successfully mapped out and implemented in Aurora,” he said.

Angara’s younger sister, Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo is on her third and last term and is seeking a return stint in the House of Representatives where she previously served three terms as congresswoman representing the lone congressional district of the province. 

While he has not made public his decision to seek the governorship, Angara has reportedly already made it “final” and made it known to his close circle of political allies and friends, including deposed former President Joseph Estrada under whose administration he served as agriculture secretary.

Over the past month, the senator has shown telltale signs that he would indeed run for governor.

Last August 13, during the 31^st foundation anniversary and 27^th annual general assembly of the Aurora Electric Cooperative at the Aurelco headquarters in Barangay Reserva where he and Noveras were among the guests, Angara created a stir among the large crowd in attendance when he donated four tricycles during the raffle, drawing cheers from participants.   

Last September 8, during the closing ceremonies for “Aurora Plays Football (APF)” - a football program he launched for kids in the province - he stayed around longer than usual at the Baler Central School. He was even the one who gave the medals to the young players from the various football teams.

“He was not the type who would stay long in social gatherings. That shows you how serious he is in his gubernatorial bid,” a relative said.

Last September 14, during the testimonial dinner tendered by the UP Law Alumni Association at the Manila Polo Club in honor of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, the lady emcee, lawyer Ma. Celia Fernandez-Estavillo, his former senatorial chief of staff, introduced him as the “future governor of Aurora.”

Angara looked amused but jested that it was a “propaganda of Bella,” referring to Angara-Castillo.      

Angara-Castillo stressed his brother’s running would enable the provincial government to finish all the projects she started when she first ruled the Capitol in 2004. “Based on what they (leaders) have seen, it will take somebody like Senator Angara to expedite all the development projects in Aurora,” she said. (Manny Galvez)

          

Religious group hailed as Aurora’s ‘cleanest, greenest’ Church

BALER, Aurora, September 22, 2912-A religious organization based in the municipality of Dingalan in southern Aurora, which is long known for its humanitarian outreach program, has emerged as the cleanest and greenest church in the annual Gawad Punong Lalawigan para sa Kapaligiran (GPLK) Clean and Green search.

          The Holy Place Pentecost Church Tabernacle, Inc., led by its president Mrs. Ruth G. Sanchez, was bestowed the award in the non-Catholic category during awarding ceremonies at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan session hall at the provincial Capitol grounds Wednesday.

          A plaque and a cash prize went with the award which was handed by Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, assisted by Vice Gov. Gerardo Noveras, Environment and Natural Resources Officer Ma. Teresa de Luna and Philippine League of Local Environment Officers representatives Erlinda Creencia, Oliver Gonzales and Raquel Naciongayo.

          Established in 1976 by Mrs. Sanchez’s late husband, Rev. Eustaquio G. Sanchez, the HPPCTI has congregations in Guiguinto, Bulacan; Project 8 in Quezon City, Sto. Tomas in Pampanga, Olongapo City, Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija, Davao City, Barangay Caragsacan, Dingalan and in Hong Kong.

          It also has outreaches in Marikina City; San Miguel, Baliuag, San Rafael and Bustos in Bulacan; Candaba in Pampanga; Binangonan, Rizal; Barangays Camp Tinio and Kalikid in Cabanatuan City; Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija; and in Barangays Umiray and Dikapanikian in Dingalan.  

          One of its notable projects was the “Operation Tulungan” gift-giving project which reached out to thousands of families in Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog and in Mindanao. In Dingalan, the program has been providing relief to impoverished families since 1983.  

          The GPLK is a pet project of Angara-Castillo in line with a province-wide search she launched in 2005 for the cleanest and greenest municipality, barangay, school, church, store/food establishment, hotel, recreation center and best Capitol implementer of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Program (ESWMP).

          She also issued Executive Order 1-2005 creating the provincial search committee.

          The St. Vincent Ferrer Parish Church in Ma. Aurora stood out as cleanest and greenest church in the Catholic category.

          Adjudged as the cleanest and greenest municipalities were Ma. Aurora, San Luis, Casiguran and this capital town in the urban category while Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Dingalan and Dilasag won in the rural category.

          Standing out as the cleanest and greenest barangay was Calabuanan, Baler (urban category) and Barangays Zone 1 (Dinalungan) and Puangi (Dipaculao).

          Emerging as cleanest and greenest schools are Diomes Elementary School, Estonilo ES, Leon Diaz Sr. ES, Bazal ES and Dimanpudso ES, all of Ma. Aurora; Mucdol ES and T. Molina ES, both of Dipaculao; Paulino Bautista ES (Dinalungan), Diagyan ES (Dilasag) and Suklayin ES (Baler), in the small ES category;

          San Luis Central School, Ditumabo ES, Dinalungan CS, Casiguran CS and Baler CS (big ES) category;

          Canili National High School, Don Mariano Marquez NHS, Juan C. Angara Memorial NHS, Dipaculao NHS, Ramada NHS, Aurora National Science HS, Calabuanan NHS, Borlongan NHS, Lual NHS and Dilasag NHS (high school category) and Mt. Carmel College in this town (college/university category).

          The Punta Sierra Verde in Dinalungan and the La Cez Food House won as cleanest and greenest hotel/recreation center and store/food establishment, respectively.

          The provincial tourism office, provincial social welfare and development office and the provincial cooperative office stood out as best office implementer of the ESWMP (without compound category) while the provincial veterinary office and the provincial empowerment and advancement center for employment won in the with compound category.

          The best utility ESWMP implementers were Rhealyn Santelises, Evelyn Samonte, Eufemia Bonifacio, Felicidad Hampit, Ronnel Gelen Dumandal, Jefferson Caruluan and Wengard Quisote.

          Special awards were also handed out to Dinalungan Mayor Tito Tubigan (most environment-friendly mayor), Dinalungan environment and natural resources office (most environment-friendly municipal office), Umiray ES (small elementary), Ditumabo ES (big elementary) and Canili NHS (high school) as most environment-friendly schools and the members of the Provincial Task Force Sagip Kalikasan (PTFSK).     

          For this year’s search, the provincial government gave out a total of P331,000 worth of cash prizes and plaques.       

          This year’s GPLK search committee was composed of Department of Interior and Local Governments provincial director Renato Bernardino, De Luna, Josephine Leander, Cristina dela Cruz, Domingo Gonzales Jr., Rosanna Querijero, Myrna Adeva, Geroldo Custodio, Melchito Romero, Sherylle Bernadette Natividad, Rommel Lombres, Roderic Torre and Andrew Catipon.  

          The awarding rites were graced by Department of Environment and Natural Resources provincial environment and natural resources officer Benjamin Mina, Land Transportation Office chief Renato Macalisang, Aurora Department of Education Superintendent of Schools Dr. Teresa Mababa among others.  (Manny Galvez)

Couple murdered over land dispute --PNP

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, September 22, 2012-A couple who was murdered last September 12 by a lone gunman was killed out of vengeance over a land dispute, the Philippine National Police said yesterday.

          Police Senior Superintendent Walter Castillejos, provincial director,  said Dominador Sumawang and his live-in partner Evelyn Siton were shot dead over a dispute over land which was also blamed as having triggered the killing early this month of Dennis Bautista, son of Siton’s late former lover Bienvenido.

          Sumawang, 49, and Siton, 52, both of Barangay Pantoc, Gabaldon town, were gunned down by a lone gunman while travelling along the Nueva Ecija-Aurora Road, Barangay Bantug Norte in the afternoon of September 12.

          Castillejos said the killing of the duo was possibly related to the earlier murder of Bautista who was shot dead by motorcycle-riding men while tending to his spare parts store in Pantoc the night of September 3.

          Police probers said Bautista and a sister were locked up in a legal battle with Siton over Bienvenido’s land property which Siton inherited.

Following Bienvenido’s death last May 4, Siton attempted to evict his children from their home, prompting them to sue her for perjury before Branch 2 of the Municipal Circuit Trial Court.

When Bautista was killed, Siton and Sumawang were suspected of being the brains behind the attack.

Sumawang and Siton have just attended the hearing and boarded a bus on their way home when a gunman shot them. (Manny Galvez)

ANGARA ELECTED VICE PRESIDENT OF CENTRIST DEMOCRAT INTERNATIONAL

Rome, Italy, September 22, 2012-Senator Edgardo J. Angara was today elected Vice President of the Centrist Democrat International (CDI) during the organization’s biennial Leaders' Meeting in Rome, Italy.

Angara, who attended the meeting as President of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), was elected to the position alongside Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy (Spain), Prime Minister Viktor Orban (Hungary) and Prime Minister Antonio Samaras (Greece). Angara will be representing the Asia-Pacific region.

"The CDI is highly respected across the world," said Angara, the longest serving senator in the post-EDSA Senate. "To be elected to a key position in this institution is a distinct honor for me."

The Centrist Democrat International, originally Christian Democratic International, is an alliance of democratic political parties with membership in 62 countries across the globe. Currently, only the Philippines and Cambodia represent Southeast Asia in the organization.

Founded in 1961, the CDI is the leading global international political group that strongly advocates for core values of human dignity, human rights, women’s rights, and interfaith dialogue and cooperation.

Angara said, "By linking with like-minded political organizations in other countries, the LDP hopes to strengthen its position as a truly platform-driven political party."

Angara is the main proponent of the Political Party Development Act (Senate Bill No. 3124), which aims to institutionalize a strong political party system in the country.

“One major factor that makes our political parties weak is their dependency on personalities rather than issues and political platforms,” said Angara.

“Political parties ought to advocate for clear-cut programs which can define their organization and its members. Only then will people start trusting political parties and not view them as mere vehicles for personalities to exercise power.”

The veteran lawmaker continued, “Our adhesion to the CDI is a strong statement on the commitment of the LDP to work for political party reform and provide strong leadership in promoting democracy and liberty in the Philippines and in Asia.”

The Meeting, which runs until September 22, is attended by other key world leaders, among them President Giorgo Napolitano and Prime Minister Maro Monti of Italy.

Angara is also set to meet with His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI in Castel Gandolfo, the Pope's Official Summer Residence.

Legarda: Promote Filipino Artistry, Creativity through MSMEs

MANILA, September 22, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda underscored her commitment to promoting Filipino artistry and creativity and strengthening the economy through greater support for the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country.

“Aside from being the lifeblood of the Philippine economy, MSMEs are powerful platforms for promotion of viable rural livelihoods, cultural preservation, socio-economic empowerment of indigenous peoples, and environmental protection,” she said.

Legarda is the author of both the Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and the Barangay Livelihood and Skills Training Act, which are landmark pieces of legislation for entrepreneurs in the country.

“A mat weaving center in Zamboanga del Sur, a handicrafts enterprise in Antique, a small business in Bulacan that markets bags and accessories made from recycled materials —these are a few of the MSMEs which prove that embracing our rich heritage and advancing sustainable development translate into jobs, incomes, and livelihoods,” she remarked.

Legarda detailed that the MSME Law, passed in 2008, provides more assistance to entrepreneurs by requiring lending institutions to allocate at least eight percent (8%), an increase from the previous six percent (6%), of their total loan portfolio to micro and small businesses. It also provides access to new technologies and regular entrepreneurship training programs for workers to ensure the viability and growth of MSMEs in the country.

She added that the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the MSME Council, the DTI-Regional Operations Development Group, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs), and the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) are the people’s partners in synergizing efforts to provide not just jobs but also better earnings to the growing labor force.

“We have to utilize the available resources in the country, encourage the development of the exceptional creativity and artistry of Filipinos, and vigorously implement our laws in order to promote the growth of MSMEs as a main driver of our economy,” Legarda concluded.

5th PD in 3 years Ex-member of 3 UN peacekeeping forces is new Aurora PNP top cop

CAMP RAVINA, BALER, Aurora, September 22, 2012–A former member of three United Nations peacekeeping forces who was twice spot-promoted to the next higher rank for successfully engaging criminal and kidnapping-for-ransom (KFR) syndicates in armed encounters is the new provincial director of the Philippine National Police.

            Senior Superintendent Jose Santiago Hidalgo Jr. assumed the provincial post Monday vice Senior Superintendent Benjamin Hulipas in turn-over ceremonies at the PNP Regional Office 3 headquarters in Camp Olivas, Pampanga presided over by PRO3 director, Chief Superintendent Edgar Ladao. He is the fifth provincial police official in the province in 36 months.

            Hulipas, who was designated just last January, is the fourth consecutive officer to fail  to complete the routine two-year tour of duty of a provincial director in the province. His predecessor Senior Superintendent Ervin Gumban was relieved after only nine months following a crime wave.

            Other provincial directors before them who served abbreviated stints were Gumban’s predecessor Senior Superintendent Rosvi Manulid who was relieved after only seven months and Senior Superintendent Romulo Esteban who was booted out after only a year reportedly over “dismal performances” as Aurora top cops.

The case of Hulipas, a native of Barangay Suklayin here - and the second Auroran to serve as provincial director after Senior Superintendent Zorobabel Laureles in 1993 - was, however, different as he was promoted as chief of staff of the PRO8 based in Palo, Leyte.

Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo expressed satisfaction over the performance of Hulipas, saying the latter should be congratulated for a job well done.

“If only his departure was not because of a promotion, I won’t let him go,” she said of Hulipas, who was credited for the 75% reduction in crimes in the province, already considered the most peaceful among the seven provinces in Central Luzon even before he came in.

Hidalgo, a native of Cuyapo in Nueva Ecija and a member of Batch ’91 or the “Tagapagkalinga Class” of the PNP Academy, comes with very impressive credentials and a sterling background as outstanding police officer.

Aside from being the new provincial director of the Aurora police, he holds in a concurrent capacity the post of battalion commander of the 1,600-strong 3^rd Regional Public Safety Battalion, with four companies under his command. These include the 1^st maneuver company based in Lubao, Pampanga; the 2^nd maneuver company based in Gapan City in Nueva Ecija and the technical support platoon bannered by the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team.

The battalion has various complicated functions ranging from public safety and security, crisis incident and crowd dispersal management, explosive ordnance disposal; disaster response, relief and rehabilitation; tactical training, hostage rescue, water search and rescue and VIP protection and security.      

Hidalgo was part of the 80-man UN mission in East Timor in 2000 where he was designated as investigator of the serious crimes investigating unit whose primary function was investigate human rights violations committed by Indonesian military forces. In 2002, he was also a member of the 30-man UN mission to Kozovo and in another UN mission in Nigeria in West Africa in 2005.

To be part of the mission is regarded in police circles as quite an achievement, considering the rigid screening process, including an examination supervised by a UN representative. Hidalgo spent a total of three years in the UN missions. 

Hidalgo was assigned in various capacities as station commander in the towns of Bakakay and Tiwi in Albay; Cainta, Rizal and the Ermita police; as deputy police chief in San Juan, as commanding officer of the Light Reaction Unit or SWAT team of the National Capital Region, as a member of the district police intelligence unit of the Eastern Police District, the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force and its successor, Presidential Anti-Crime Emergency Response.

It was with the NAKTAF and the PACER when his star shone brightest after he was twice spot-promoted, first from senior inspector (captain) to chief inspector (major) and then from chief inspector to superintendent following a series of armed encounters with criminal syndicates and KFR gangs. Being spot-promoted is considered a rare feat but Hidalgo pulled it off twice.

A known protege of Ladao, Hidalgo also had several stints with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group - the crack police unit dealing with high-profile crimes - as deputy chief of the detection and special operations division in Camp Crame, deputy chief of the CDIG Region 2 office based in Tuguegarao, Cagayan and concurrently CIDG provincial officer in Quirino and deputy chief of the unit’s anti-organized crime division. All these under the tutelage of Ladao who was his immediate superior.

When Ladao was named PRO3 chief, he took with him Hidalgo whose last previous assignment was as chief of the district special operations unit of the Northern Police District.    

Hidalgo said he would continue the anti-crime gains posted by the Aurora PNP under Hulipas and run after illegal loggers and violators of special laws. (Manny Galvez)

             

ENVIRONMENTALISTS to culminate month-long Sierra Madre patrol with tree-planting in AURORA

QUEZON CITY, September 21, 2012-As part of the 2^nd year celebration of Save Sierra Madre Day on September 26 and Save Aurora Sierra Madre Day on September 27, combined environmentalists from The Noble Blue Falcons International and the Green-Philippines will conclude their month-long environmental patrol of Sierra Madre mountain range with a culminating climb with tree-planting in Mt Egay in Dibutunan, Dipaculao, Aurora feared for its boulders but loved for its 7 majestic falls. On September 29-30, 2012 Noble Blue Falcons Int’l Environmental Mountaineers (NBFIEM) complemented by the Green mountaineers will gather in Aurora Province as they join Save Sierra Madre Network in celebrating the fight vs. mining, logging, kaingin, squatting, illegal vegetable gardening and wood charcoal-making in Sierra Madre.

As the mountaineers prepare for the First documented conquest and exploration of Mt Egay (Pinondohan) in Aurora Province, Prof. Sardz Colambo-President of Green-Philippines lambasted the pro-mining Provincial Board Members of Aurora in passing recently a controversial resolution allowing the large-scale mining exploration in the Province. “We will exhaust all legal means to stop the death of Aurora tourism due to the mining of its mountains and beaches,” he said. For his part, Prof. Joseph Beatriz Usita, National Chairman of the Noble Blue Falcons Environmentalists and Father of Environmental mountaineering in the Philippines , questioned the credibility and capability of DENR personnel in Aurora to protect its natural resources amidst persistent media reports of unchecked timber-poaching and wood charcoal-making(pag-uuling) in the mountains of Aurora Province.

Founded in March 19, 1996 in the Philippines, Noble Blue Falcons Environmentalists has 444,000 members(maximum cap) scattered nationwide with 8,000 Environmental mountaineers helping the provincial Government of Aurora to protect the province’s fast diminishing forest cover and promoting Aurora’s tourist spots thru eco-tourism advocacy.

A pioneer in Environmental Mountaineering, the Noble Blue Falcons Int’l is the biggest environmental group in the country today in terms of manpower strength while the Noble Blue Falcons International Environmental Mountaineers is the first and only mountaineering division in the Philippines organized solely for environmental protection. Green-Philippines, on the other hand, supports eco-tourism-based small- scale industries in the countryside.

Villar to open Villards Cup in Bulacan

BULACAN, sEPTEMBER 21, 2012-Sixteen aspiring pool players from Bulacan will take a shot at joining the likes of Efren “Bata” Reyes, Francisco “Django” Bustamante and Dennis Orcollo as they compete in the Villards Cup, which resumes this Sunday (September 23) at Starmall in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.

Now on its fourth year, this series of billiards tournaments started by Senator Manny Villar has travelled to different parts of the country and inspired many, particularly the youth, to take up the sport “which we, Filipinos, are on top of the world.”

“Villards Cup is our own little way of encouraging the youth to engage in sports, and move them away from illegal drugs. Alam kong marami pang katulad ni Efren Bata o ni Orcollo sa ating mga kabataan. Gusto kong maging instrumento ang Villards Cup na matuklasan sila at mabigyan ng pagkakataon na makilala din.” Villar said.

“Billiards now matches the popularity of basketball among Filipinos, especially the youth. Support for this sport should be encouraged and enhanced,” added Villar, who will grace the opening ceremonies along with Reyes, Bustamante, Orcollo and fellow former world champion Ronnie Alcano.

The 16 amateur players, who emerged from a series of qualifiers, will also vie for cash prizes worth almost P300,000, which will be awarded by Congresswoman Cynthia Villar, Managing Director of the Villar Foundation during the closing ceremonies on Monday.

Meanwhile, Senator Villar authored proposed Senate Resolution No. 875 commending Orcollo for winning the 2012 China Open held in Shanghai recently.

“Orcollo’s win solidifies the Filipino’s dominance over billiards. For years, more and more Filipinos are getting international fame in this sport and like boxing, people are seeing billiards as the Filipino’s game,” Villar said.

Orcollo defeated Chinese-Taipei’s Lu Hui Chan, 11-9, in the finals to add another prestigious title. He had earlier won the World 8-ball Championship, International 10-ball Championship, World Pool League, World Pool Masters and the US 10-ball Championship.

P-Noy to inaugurate Aquino-Diokno memorial and AFP Human Rights Center in NE today

FORT MAGSAYSAY, Palayan City, Nueva Ecija, September 21, 2012-Coinciding with the 40^thanniversary of the declaration of Martial Law, President Benigno Aquino III will lead today the inauguration of Aquino-Diokno Memorial and new Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Center for Human Rights Dialogue inside Fort Magsasay in Nueva Ecija.

 

The memorial recreates the 1973 detention facility of former Senators Benigno Aquino Jr. (Codenamed: Alpha) and Jose Diokno (Codenamed: Delta) inside the camp and honors the ideals these statesmen personified.

 

Moreover, AFP’s Center for Human Rights Dialogue will serve as an avenue for regular interaction between military personnel and the community in national pursuit for peace and development.

 

The establishment of the center demonstrates AFP’s seriousness in embracing principles of human rights.

 

Both structures underscore the transformation of AFP as one of the concrete gains from the 1986 EDSA people revolution that ousted a dictator. (Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu)

THE COUNTRY NEEDS MORE LEADERS LIKE LEAN – KIKO

MANILA, September 20, 2012-On the death anniversary of celebrated activist Leandro “Lean” Alejandro, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said that the country could use more leaders in Lean's mold.

“Lean was selfless, dedicated, brilliant, and was willing to make—and, in fact, did make—the supreme sacrifice for what he believed in,” Pangilinan shared.

Pangilinan, who was also a student activist alongside Alejandro during the Martial Law years, added that Lean's advocacy of social transformation would fit well with the country's thrust for good governance and economic progress.

“Ipinaglaban at isinabuhay ni Lean ang 'tuwid na daan' bago pa man ito naging 'buzz word.' Kung nabubuhay siya ngayon, isa siya sa mga magtataguyod nito,” the lawmaker said.

Pangilinan added that Lean had also practiced “tsinelas leadership” decades before it became a popular phrase following the death of Interior Secretary Jesse M. Robredo.

“Lean would go around the campus in slippers. He was a man of the masses and took up the cudgels for the poor, the marginalized, and the disempowered.”

Alejandro was generally acknowledged as the face of the anti-dictatorship movement. After the restoration of democracy, he had started to embark on a career in mainstream politics when he ran for congress in 1987. However, Alejandro was killed by an unknown assassin on September 19, 1987, cutting short what could have been a successful career in politics.

Pangilinan added, "He would have been in his 50's by now. He would have been truly great in instituting genuine reforms in government had he lived to continue his political career. We are now starting to see the fruits of those who have tirelessly labored and fought hard against tyranny and status quo that have long crippled our nation."

"The country would do well to remember and honor unheralded heroes such as Lean. Theirs is the foundation upon which we are now rebuilding our nation."

Legarda Hails Senate Approval of Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill

MANILA, September 20, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today hailed the Senate’s approval on Second Reading of the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Bill, which will provide substantive amendments to Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.

“Every year at least 2,000 Filipinos trafficking victims are rescued by non-government organizations. It is about time that we save Filipinos from slavery, forced labor and exploitation. The amendments to the existing Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act will aid in harmonizing our policies, building capacities of agencies, and strengthening enforcement and prosecution of human traffickers,” said Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

Legarda, sponsor of Senate Bill No. 2625 or the proposed Expanded Anti-Trafficking Act of 2012, explained that the proposed measure fills voids in the existing law by expanding the enumeration of acts that promote trafficking, to include an act to destroy or tamper with evidence, to influence witnesses in an investigation, or to utilize one's public office to impede an investigation or the execution of lawful orders.

“Among its salient features are removing the privilege of confidentiality now being enjoyed by the accused in a trafficking case, extending the protection to trafficked victims in various stages of the investigation and prosecution process, and punishing acts that constitute attempted trafficking,” Legarda detailed.

   

“Through the expanded law, we now have a more effective legal framework in order to achieve greater degree of success in our fight against trafficking in persons. As perpetrators become more innovative in their actions, so should government be more deliberate in its efforts to strengthen policies, improve on enforcement, and enhance inter-agency coordination, both at the local and international level,” Legarda concluded.

Drilon calls groups claims about Iloilo dam project baseless, unfounded

MANILA, September 20, 2012-Senator Franklin M. Drilon debunked claims of a few groups that the P11.2-billion Jalaur River Multi-Purpose River Project will lessen productivity of farmers and fisherfolks, and that the project, the biggest dam that will be constructed outside Luzon, will be sitting on an active fault line.

On the contrary, Drilon said the project will improve agricultural productivity which will be Iloilo’s contribution to rice self-sufficiency target of the government as it is expected to provide uninterrupted irrigation water supply to 32,000 hectares of farm land and benefit more than 783,000 farmers.

“This project will increase the irrigated lands in the region by around 10 percent and the annual regional rice production by around five percent. It will likewise expand the production areas of sugarcane and other crops,” explained Drilon.

“Aside from being one of the most significant green projects in Panay Island in the recent years because of its pro-environment features, this project will serve as a major step in improving the agricultural productivity and ultimately secure the rice self-sufficiency for the Philippines,” he said.

Drilon added that the project will also generate approximately 17,000 local jobs equivalent to P1.3 billion in basic wages per year.

Drilon also allayed fears of Pamalakaya, People’s Coalition on Food Sovereignty and Ibon Foundation on the safety of the project, reiterating that the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) already issued a fault certification stating that the site of the project is not prone to ground rupture hazard brought about by movement of active fault line.

Citing a report from PHIVOLCS, Drilon said the proposed Jalaur main dam and reservoir is 11 kilometers away from the nearest active fault line in the area which is the West Panay Fault.

That, he added, is still farther than the distance of the Pantabangan Dam located across Pampanga River in Pantabangan Nueva Ecija to the nearest mapped Digdig Segment of the Philippine Fault. The measured distances of its main and secondary dams to the fault line are approximately 5.5 and 3.1 kilometers, respectively.

Quoting PHIVOLCS Director Renato U. Solidum Jr., Drilon said that even if one of the project’s component dams is situated 5km east of the fault, it is still safe from effects of an earthquake.

ANGARA URGES GOV’T TO SUPPORT SMALL INDUSTRIES TO CURB UNDEREMPLOYMENT

MANILA, September 20, 2012-Senator Edgardo J. Angara called on government to support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to the arrest the escalating rate of underemployment in the country.

According to the figures released by the National Statistics Office (NSO), the number of underemployed persons in July 2012 was estimated at 8.5 million, the highest since 2006.

The data further revealed that a large percentage of the underemployed were working in the services sector at 42.5% and agriculture sector at 41.5%. The underemployed in the industry sector accounted for 16%.

Angara said the government should extend financial assistance to MSMEs to help them grow and expand. 

“It's important to double our merchandise and services export in order to create higher paying and better quality jobs for the new graduates and those in the countryside,” he said. 

The veteran legislator noted that almost 90 percent of jobs in the country are generated by MSMEs, and doubling the merchandise and services export can create at least 9 million job opportunities.

He added that past amendments to the Magna Carta for MSMEs (RA 9150) requires lending institutions, under the supervision of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, to set aside 8 percent of their loanable funds in favor of micro and small enterprises and at least 2 percent for medium enterprises.

"Sometimes, MSMEs proprietors just need a little more leeway in terms of financial support for their enterprises to flourish. The opportunity for growth must be institutionalized," explained Angara.  

Meanwhile, Angara urged Philippine universities, colleges and technical-vocational institutions to work closely with the industries to ensure our schools teach the skills that industries need.

“We need to take advantage of the continuing growth in the services sector, particularly in the fast growing business process outsourcing (BPO) industry by integrating courses on Information Technology in the curricula of several universities and colleges in order to create more employment opportunities for Filipinos." 

On the Pulse Asia Ulat ng Bayan survey for the 3rd Quarter of 2012

MANILA, September 19, 2012-The Pulse Asia Ulat ng Bayan survey for the Third Quarter shows both performance and trust ratings for the President at all-time highs. Public satisfaction with the President’s performance surged to +78, a noteworthy increase of 11 points from the Second Quarter 2012 Ulat ng Bayan survey. Trust in the President also shot up to +78 representing a significant 13-point jump from his +65 in the last rating in May 2012.

Strong positive scores across all geographic regions and social classes pushed ratings of the President to within the margin of error of his personal best of +79 for performance and +80 for trust in the Fourth Quarter October 2010 Pulse Asia survey. Moreover, the President has consistently received the highest ratings since Pulse Asia started conducting its trust and performance surveys.

These ratings further amplify the public’s overwhelming support for the President and the success of his initiatives towards positive change as shown in surveys and reports from respected local and international organizations.

We have always maintained that public office is a public trust. These sustained ratings affirm the Filipino people’s belief and confidence in the President, his leadership, and his administration’s relentless pursuit of reform.

Villar pushes Senate commendation for Orcollo’s China Open win

MANILA, September 19, 2012-Sen. Manny Villar lauded Dennis Orcollo, one of the country’s top billiards players, for winning the 2012 China Open held in Shanghai recently.

 

“Orcollo’s win solidifies the Filipino’s dominance over billiards. For years, more and more Filipinos are getting international fame in this sport and like boxing, people are seeing billiards as the Filipino’s game,” Villar said.

 

Villar authored Proposed Senate Resolution No. 875 commending Orcollo for beating Chinese-Taipei’s Lu Hui Chan with the 11-9 score.

 

Orcollo branded the win, his first in a Chinese pro event, as the most special win of his career.

 

Previously, Orcollo won in some of the biggest pool tournaments in the world, including the World Pool League, World Pool Masters, Derby City Classics, US Bar Table and Billiards Congress of America.

 

“Billiards now matches the popularity of basketball among Filipinos, especially the youth. Support for this sport should be encouraged and enhanced,” Villar said.

 

In 2009, Villar started the Villards Cup which provided budding billiards players a venue to compete against amateur players and play alongside veteran players like Orcollo, Efren ‘Bata Reyes, Alex Pagulayan, Ronnie Alcano, Django Bustamante, Gandy Valle, Warren Kiamco, Lee Van Corteza, Ramil Gallego, Roberto Gomez and others.

 

This year, the Cup will resume on September 23 at Starmall San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.  Sixteen amateur players from all over the province qualified for the competition.

 

“Villards Cup is our own little way of encouraging the youth to engage in sports, and move them away from illegal drugs. Alam kong marami pang katulad ni Efren Bata o ni Orcollo sa ating mga kabataan. Gusto kong maging instrumento ang Villards Cup na matuklasan sila at mabigyan ng pagkakataon na makilala din.” Villar said.