Legarda Calls for Green Climate Fund as World Bank Says Global Temperature Could Reach 4 Degrees

MANILA, November 20, 2012-Alarmed with the World Bank study which showed that the global temperature could reach 4 degrees Celsius, Senator Loren Legarda today said that there is an urgent need to operationalize the Green Climate Fund.

“We urged industrialized nations to put up funds for the green climate fund commitment in the wake of the warming climate, wetter months, and more intense rainfall. The changing climate will have its worse effects on the poor, it will make the poor poorer,” said Legarda, the United Nations Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific.

The Senator noted the World Bank report that highlighted the worse impacts of a 4-degree Celsius global temperature, which is likely to happen if nations would not comply with their commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Such warmer climate would increase sea level by up to 3 feet. Furthermore, water scarcity and decrease in crop yield would aggravate hunger and poverty.

“Ms. Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, said that she does not see the Green Climate Fund operational in January, as earlier predicted and promised, due to the Eurozone crisis and the sluggish US economy. But we remind industrialized nations that they have a historical responsibility to assist countries that are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change,” said Legarda.

During the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change held in Durban, South Africa, there were 35 industrialized countries that agreed to extend the Kyoto Protocol beyond 2012, but it is said to cover less than 15% of global emissions, which could warm the world to 3.5 degrees Celsius, dangerously way above the 2 degrees acceptable limit.

Legarda warned that about 30% of all species will face a high risk of extinction if global mean temperatures exceed 1.5 to 2.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Furthermore, due to changes in temperature, rain fall and sea level, crop yield is estimated to decline by 19% in Asia toward the end of the century and rice yield in the Philippines would decline by 75%. A 2 to 4-degree Celsius rise in global temperature will lead to a 3% decline in global GDP.

“Here in our country, we have successfully ushered the passage of the People’s Survival Fund Law, and we hope it will be funded in the 2013 General Appropriations Act. But beyond our respective countries, the world must act more swiftly, more wisely, and more decisively to build resilience to disasters. Reducing disaster risks is a matter of high importance to the world now, especially to developing countries where disaster risks abound, and to the poor and the marginalized who are most affected by disasters,” Legarda concluded.

BICAM OKS P2,500 MINIMUM WAGE FOR KASAMBAHAY

MANILA, November 20, 2012-Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada shares today that conferees to the bicameral conference committee agreed to fix the monthly minimum wages of domestic workers at 2,500 pesos.

 

The second and final round of discussions on the disagreeing provisions of the Kasambahay Bills (Senate Bill 78 and House Bill 6144) conducted Monday evening which lasted until past midnight resolved to include a provision prescribing minimum wages for kasambahay, as introduced by Sen. Estrada.

 

Sen. Estrada, concurrent Chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development and Congressional Oversight Committee on Labor and Employment, states that the panel agreed to set the base pay for domestic work thereby increasing those stipulated in the Labor Code.

 

Currently, the minimum wage for domestic workers as stated in Article 143 of the Labor Code is pegged at P800 in Metro Manila and highly urbanized cities, P650 in other chartered cities and first-class municipalities, and P550 for other municipalities.

 

The panel moved to adopt a Senate provision on minimum wage for domestic workers which prescribes P2,500 monthly salary for those working in the National Capital Region, P2,000 for those in chartered cities and first-class municipalities, and P1,500 for those in other municipalities.

 

Sen. Estrada cites that the last time the minimum wage for household helpers was augmented was 19 years ago through Republic Act 7655 as approved last 1993.

 

“The amounts stated in our Labor Code are very much outdated and unrealistic, considering the high cost of living especially in the metropolis. I think it is high time to increase the minimum wage which can be considered decent compensation,” Sen. Estrada says.

 

Sen. Estrada, together with the members of the bicameral conference committee, believes that the amount is still affordable and reasonable as the panel considered the total income of a middle-class household and its employed members.

 

“We are also not preventing well-off employers from paying much higher wages to their household helpers. We just want to give kasambahay what is due them,” Jinggoy pointed out.

 

After one year from the effectivity of the act and every year thereafter, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards shall review and if proper, adjust the minimum wage rates of household domestic workers.

 

Apart from increased wages, household workers will also be entitled to membership in Social Security System (SSS), PhilHealth, and PAG-IBIG. The employers will shoulder the payment of contribution for social benefits of minimum wage earners.

 

“It was also agreed upon that Congress shall determine a wage rate wherein both the employees and employers will share in the responsibility of paying contribution to such benefits,” Sen. Estrada clarifies.

 

The bicameral conference committee is set to release a final and reconciled version of the proposed “Batas Kasambahay” this week and have the same ratified by both chambers by Monday.

 

The enactment of a special law for the domestic workers is a priority measure of President Aquino and is one of the legislative proposals discussed before the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

Recto bats for P23B earmarks for PhilHealth Specific allocations from sin tax revenues pressed

MANILA, November 20, 2012-Sen. Ralph. G. Recto today said a part of the total revenues and not mere “increments” from the sin tax reform package should go directly to intended beneficiaries and programs and should not be a “blank check” for disposal of government agencies.

“The people, at the outset, should know where the money that would be taken from them would be used,” Recto said in proposing amendments to the “earmarking” provision of the sin tax reform package being shepherded in the Senate.

“We know the target of P40 billion, but do we know where the sin tax revenues would specifically go?” he added.

Recto proposed that P23 billion from total sin tax revenues be directly released annually to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to meet and sustain the government’s goal of providing universal health coverage and benefit an additional 10.4 million families.

He also proposed that P10 million be allocated yearly to each of the 618 district hospitals operated by local government units (LGUs) for repair and upgrading of facilities and services.

A separate P100 million will be allocated yearly to each of the 16 regional hospitals and 22 medical centers for the same operational and physical upgrading, according to Recto’s proposed amendments.

The senator also pressed for the annual allocation of P100 million to the Department of Health (DOH) for a nationwide information campaign on the ill-effects of smoking and drinking.

Recto said another P750 million be allocated every year for the unemployment package of despondent workers and farmers who will be displaced by the crumbling tobacco and alcohol industry.

The above Recto amendment allocates a specific maximum amount of P150,000 “unemployment insurance” for each displaced worker that could be availed within one year.

To re-tool displaced workers, Recto proposed that the TESDA be tapped and be given P250 million yearly to conduct job trainings for tobacco and alcohol workers seeking a fresh start, with each worker entitled to at least P50,000 worth  of training.

“Let me clarify that if these amendments are accepted on the floor, this would mean that all the proposed earmarking or allocations will be strictly funded yearly regardless if the P40 billion revenue target is realized,” he stressed.

Recto said the balance of the total revenues from the sin tax would be parked in the national coffers.

After sin tax, Drilon defends P2.006 trillion ‘empowerment’ budget

MANILA, November 20, 2012-Senator Franklin M. Drilon has been proving that he has an exceptional capacity for hard work as he would waste no single amount of time to ensure the timely passage of another crucial bill, the P2.006 trillion 2013 national budget, which he is set to sponsor on the floor today (Wednesday), a day after the long debates on the P40-billion sin tax reform bill ended.

In his sponsorship speech, Drilon, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee that reviews the country’s proposed expenditure outlays, would explain his panel’s proposed minimal amendments to the General Appropriations Bill which the House of Representatives submitted to the Senate on October 16. 

“The Committee on Finance has performed its task of scrutinizing the proposed national budget with a fine tooth comb through the recently-concluded round of budget hearings and technical working group meetings,” said Drilon, who just went through tedious deliberations on the sin tax bill.

He would describe the 2013 outlay, dubbed as the “Empowerment Budget”, as a “bridge of hope” – a budget that paves the way to a future where dreams do come true – for almost 100 million Filipinos as it was crafted to address the plight of the poor and the vulnerable Filipinos.

“Let not cold statistics but warm bodies guide our decisions and priorities in this budget. Let us not forget that these numbers pertain to real, flesh-and-blood Filipinos whose empowerment, through deliverance from backbreaking poverty, will ultimately shape the destiny of our nation,” said Drilon.

“The proposed 2013 budget is more than about the national government's expenditures and sources of financing for next year. It is the keystone to good governance in all its many facets — from basic social services to national security, from inclusive economic growth to peace and the rule of law, from disaster prevention and crisis management to anti-corruption and participatory governance,” stressed Drilon.

The Drilon committee maintained the House bill level of P1.25 trillion programmed funds, P117.55 billion unprogrammed funds, and P1.37 trillion new appropriations.

However, the committee proposed incremental funds for a few agencies including the Bureau of Immigration for the purchase of five passport reading machines and the Anti-Money Laundering Council for repairs and maintenance programs.

He also noted there were also realignments within selected agencies to reflect their actual needs and priorities which include the P1 million from the Supreme Court to provide additional funds for the construction of the Manila Hall of Justice, as well as the P500 million for the Commission on Elections to fund purchase of land and construction of building to serve as a warehouse for precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines.

The proposed P2.006 trillion 2013 national budget is 10.5 percent higher than the P1.816 trillion budget this year, and represents 16.8 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2013, he noted.

He noted the rosy economy in the first quarter because of renewed business and consumer confidence, improved external trade, and accelerated government spending resulted in a 6.4 percent growth rate.

“The government intends to further trim the fiscal deficit to two percent of GDP in 2013 from its current target of 2.6 percent to create a robust and sustainable fiscal space,” he added.

By sector, the biggest share of 34.8 percent will go to social services, while 25.5 percent will be for economic services. On the other hand, debt-servicing burden will fall to 16.6 percent next year from 18.3 percent in 2012. General public services will have a 17.3 percent share while defense will get 4.5 percent.

He noted that education sector will continue to be the government’s top priority in the 2013 budget, as mandated by the Constitution, with the Department of Education budget increasing by 22.6 percent to P292.7 billion, from P238.8 billion this year. “A P54 billion increase in funding will help address shortages in education resources such as classrooms, teachers and textbooks. It will also support the department's K+12 program.”

 The DPWH is second with P152.9 billion, followed by the Department of National Defense (P121.6 billion), DILG (P121.1 billion), DA (P74.1 billion), DOH (P56.8 billion), DSWD (P56.2 billion), DOTC (P37.1 billion), DOF (P33.2 billion), and the DENR (P33.2 billion).

Legarda Supports Car-Free Day Campaign for Clean Air

MANILA, November 20, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today expressed support for the “Clean Air? Pwede!!!” Campaign initiated by the Partnership for Clean Air which seeks to promote at least one car-free day in Metro Manila’s roads every November.

“In light of November being the National Clean Air Month, it is high time to raise awareness about the effects of burning fossil fuels and the simple solutions we can undertake,” she said.

Legarda, author of the landmark legislation Clean Air Act (R.A. 8749) and Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, stressed that beyond the careful implementation of our environmental laws, altering our everyday activities, such as choosing modes of transportation that are energy-efficient instead of driving a car, will gradually change the city’s landscape for the better.

“I urge everyone to contribute to this campaign, which will hopefully continue for many years to come. Whenever possible, we must consider energy-efficient transport modes like walking, biking, taking public transport, and carpooling. Now is the time for us to reconsider how we, especially in the cities, are living, and how this is affecting the environment,” she remarked.

The Partnership for Clean Air is a multisectoral body that includes government agencies such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Metro Manila Development Authority, as well as several private entities and civil society organizations.

“Everyone should be made aware that they are responsible for ensuring the quality of the air we breathe. We must ensure that the generations to come will still have access to clean air,” Legarda concluded.

Bicam approves amendments to IP Law

MANILA, November 19, 2012-The bicameral conference committee today approved the reconciled version of the bill amending the Intellectual Property (IP) Code.

 

In a meeting held at Traders Hotel, the conferees from the Senate and the House of Representatives succeeded to reconcile the disagreeing provisions on Senate Bill 2842 and House Bill 3841.

 

Sen. Manny Villar, chairman of the Committee on Trade and Commerce, said there is a need to update RA 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code to better equip the country against intellectual theft and protect copyrighted works.

 

Villar said among the approved amendments is the provision exempting the blind or visually-impaired persons from securing permission for the non-commercial reproduction of copyrighted works for their use.

 

The committee also amended the law to include a provision that will strengthen the protection of audio-visual performances of Filipino artists.

 

Villar, who heads the Senate panel, expressed confidence that the amendment will be signed into law before the adjournment.

 

“Sa palagay ko naman walang kadahilanan para hindi pirmahan agad ito. Kumukuha na kami ng signatures ngayon para sa lalong madaling panahon ay makakuha na kami ng approval sa Senado at sa malaking kapulungan,” he said.

 

Once signed into law, the Bureau of Copyright under the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines will be created.

.

“This addresses the need for one group to handle copyright matters. The public needs a government agency it can rely on to respond to its copyright concerns,” Villar said.

 

He noted that in the past, copyright concerns have been handled as an ordinary issue, and was proven to be very inefficient and difficult to justify legally and financially.

 

Villar said an updated IP law is needed to boost copyright-based industries and further promote its competitive advantage especially because CBIs contribute almost 5 percent to the country's Gross Domestic Product.

 

Aside from Villar, the conferees from the Senate are Senators Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Loren Legarda and Edgardo Angara. The conferees from the House of Representatives are Representatives Albert Garcia, Tomas Apacible, Joel Roy Duavit, Rufus Rodriguez, Irwin Tieng, Juan Edgardo Angara, Diosdado Arroyo, Mar-Len Abigail Binay, and Magtanggol Gunigundo.

Trillanes: Tap nurses to boost maternal health care

MANILA, November 18, 2012-Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV underscored the need for public hospitals to employ more nurses and other skilled health professionals in order to address a requirement under the proposed reproductive health (RH) bill on maternal health care and skilled birth attendance.

Trillanes made the statement in light of the admission by Patricia Gomez, president of the Integrated Midwives Association, during a Senate committee hearing that the average number of midwifery graduates every year would not be able to meet the required number of health workers under Section 5 of Senate Bill No. 2865.

This section provides that “the Local government units, with the assistance of the DOH [Department of Health], shall employ an adequate number of midwives and other skilled health professionals for maternal health care and skilled birth attendance to achieve a minimum ratio of one (1) fulltime equivalent skilled health professional for every one hundred fifty (150) deliveries per year.”

During the period of individual amendments for SBN 2865, Trillanes proposed to amend the said provision by allowing nurses to be deployed to public hospitals in order to satisfy the required number of health professionals.

“We can tap our nurses since we have large pool of nurses. More than this, they can cover not only reproductive health, but general health care in particular,” Trillanes  said.

“Government hospitals are reported to have been experiencing shortage of nurses but the plantilla positions for nurses in public hospitals are never filled up,” Trillanes further explained during the period of individual amendments to SBN 2865.

Trillanes believed that his proposed amendment would address the high unemployment rate among nurses in the country.

Tirona installed as Caceres’ 4th archbishop

NAGA City, Nov. 17, 2012―Archbishop Rolando Joven Tria Tirona, OCD was installed November 14 as fourth archbishop of the Archdiocese of Caceres in a two hour solemn liturgical rites.

Tirona succeeded Dominican Archbishop Leonardo Zamora Legaspi who served as metropolitan bishop of Caceres for 28 years.

Caceres new Archbishop Rolando Tria-Tirona kisses the crucifix during the liturgical reception at the Holy Cross Parish in Tabuco, Naga City.

The new prelate called on the clergy, religious and laymen and women to further help in making the local church responsive to the needs of the times.

He also expressed his thanks to the “best clergy” he ever knew, the clergy from the Prelature of Infanta, drawing loud applause from the congregation.

The 66-year old Tirona served as Prelate of Infanta, which has the northern portion of Quezon Province and the whole Province of Aurora as territory.

Around 700 to 800 priests and laymen and women from Infanta joined Tirona to Naga City.

The prelate also acknowledged the presence of his predecessor in Infanta, 86-year old Bishop Emeritus Julio Xavier Labayen, a fellow Carmelite.

Acknowledging his new flock, Tirona also quipped “From today, the best clergy I know comes the Archdiocese of Caceres” to the louder applause from the Bicolano priests and the congregation in attendance.

The Archdiocese of Caceres has over 80 parishes with less than 300 priests serving over a million Catholics.  The average annual ordinandi for the ecclesial province is four deacons.

The provincial government of Camarines and the Naga City government passed resolutions expressing their sincere appreciation for the service rendered to the archdiocese by Caceres Archbishop Emeritus Leonardo Z. Legaspi as its spiritual leader.

The Papal Nuncio Archbishop Giuseppe Pinto wished the new Caceres archbishop well even as he thanked Archbishop Legaspi for his successful ministry in the ecclesial province for nearly three decades.  He also wished Archbishop Legaspi the best of health.

Aside from the Papal nuncio, other archbishops who concelebrated with Archbishop Tirona were Manila Archbishop Emeritus Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales, Manila Archbishop and Cardinal-Designate Luis Antonio G. Tagle, CBCP president and Cebu Archbishop Jose S. Palma and Caceres Archbishop Emeritus Leonardo Z. Legaspi.

About 30 other bishops, mostly from Luzon and the Visayas attended the two-hour installation rites with hundreds of priests from the Dioceses of Daet, Libmanan, Legazpi, Sorsogon, Masbate, Catanduanes, Malolos and the Prelature of Infanta. (Melo M. Acuna/CBCPNews)

Legarda Supports IMF Chief’s Call for Inclusive Growth to Reduce Poverty

MANILA, November 17, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today agreed with the statement of International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde that the Philippines should ensure inclusive growth, especially through support for rural enterprises, to reduce poverty.

Legarda, author of several laws that support rural livelihoods, noted Lagarde’s observation that despite the positive economic growth in the country, 42% of the Philippine population is still poor, living on a budget of less than two dollars a day, primarily because growth is felt mostly only by the rich and the middle class.

“Our country is experiencing positive economic growth as attested to by no less than Ms. Christine Lagarde, the Managing Director of the IMF. What we should also focus on is spreading the wealth. Ms. Lagarde said that inclusive growth can be attained if rural enterprises are supported. We have to ensure that the benefits of our economic gains will trickle down even to the far-flung barangays in the country. We have to make our laws work to be successful on that,” she said.

In line with this, the Senator called for the full implementation of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Act (RA 9501), the Barangay Kabuhayan Act (RA 9509), and the Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act (RA 10000), which she all authored.

“We must invest heavily in the countryside, stimulating growth of MSMEs that will provide more employment opportunities. Training programs should be established in barangays to encourage people to engage in self-employment alternatives. Furthermore, we should extend adequate technical and financial support to our farmers and fisherfolk. Government agencies, such as the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Labor and Employment, and the Department of Agriculture, must coordinate well in implementing our laws on rural enterprises,” Legarda stressed.

The MSME Law strengthens and provides more assistance to MSMEs by requiring lending institutions to allocate at least eight percent of their total loan portfolio to micro and small businesses. It also provides access to new technologies and regular entrepreneurship training programs for workers as well as a comprehensive development plan that would ensure the viability and growth of MSMEs in the country.

The Barangay Kabuhayan Act establishes livelihood and skills training centers in the fourth, fifth and sixth class municipalities in the country.

The Agri-Agra Law requires banks to allocate 25% of their loanable funds to the agriculture sector to finance the acquisition of work animals, farm equipment or machinery, seeds, fertilizers, livestock, feeds and/or other similar items for farm production.  Of the 25%, 10% should be given to agrarian reform beneficiaries and 15% to the agriculture sector.

Legarda Echoes Call for Countries to Ratify UN Conventions on Trafficking Victims and Migrant Workers

MANILA, November 17, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, today echoed the call of the Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN Office in Geneva for countries to ratify international instruments that will protect vulnerable sectors, such as the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo Convention) and the International Labor Organization’s (ILO’s) Convention 189 on domestic workers.

“Even as we celebrate the Philippine ratification of ILO 189, and are working on the proposed Expanded Anti-Trafficking Act, we should also urge other countries to work on these issues, as they affect a great number of women and children. I thus express full support to Ambassador Evan P. Garcia who seeks transnational support for these efforts,” she said.

Legarda, who sponsored both the Expanded Anti-trafficking Act and the Senate ratification of ILO Convention 189, among other efforts to safeguard vulnerable sectors, stressed that these issues should be among the top priorities of legislators all over the world.

“We saw the ratification of ILO Convention 189 last August, which was a milestone for Filipino domestic workers both here and abroad. We are also positive that we will soon have the Expanded Anti-trafficking Act, which will strengthen the prosecution of preempted acts of trafficking and provide protection to trafficked victims, among others,” she explained.

“In our increasingly globalized environment, countless persons are threatened by those who take advantage of others for their own gain. It is our responsibility to ensure that these injustices do not happen, not just on our own soil, but in all countries,” Legarda concluded.

PNOY CERTIFIES SIN TAX BILL AS URGENT DRILON SAYS BILL TO BE OK’D BY MONDAY

MANILA, November 16, 2012-President Benigno S. Aquino III yesterday certified as urgent Senate Bill 3299 or the sin tax reform bill that, in effect, allows the proposed measure to be approved on second and third reading on Monday sans the three days interval rule, announced Senator Franklin M. Drilon.  

“The President certified as urgent the sin tax reform bill for he believes the passage of this very important piece of legislation will buttress government health agenda and address the high prevalence of smoking in the country,” said Drilon.

The certification, which was signed by the President before he leaves for Cambodia to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit, gives authority to Upper Chamber to vote on a measure on second and third reading without having to observe the three days interval rule, explained Drilon.

As a rule, a bill must undergo three readings on three separate days except when the President certifies a bill as urgent to meet a public calamity or national emergency.

“Pursuant to the provisions of Article VI, Section 26 (2) of the 1987 Constitution, I hereby certify to the necessity of the immediate enactment of Senate Bill 3299 to address the urgent need to restructure the excise taxes on alcohol and tobacco products in order to enhance revenue generating potential of the tax system, and utilize the incremental revenues therefrom to augment the funding for the universal healthcare program of the government,” the President said in the certification letter.

“We are in the final stretch. We are only one step farther before the passage of this bill; but, certainly, without the support of the President, we would not have gone this far,” said Drilon who also chairs the Senate Finance Committee.

Drilon said SB 3299, which faced a thorough scrutiny of senators during the five extended session days, will face individual amendments on Monday prior to its ratification.

“After all interpellations on the committee amendments were closed and the committee amendments having been accepted, then we now go to the period of individual amendments wherein the Senators can propose amendments. If these amendments are accepted by the Chamber, they will be considered as part of the bill.”

“I am confident that our colleagues have seen and realized the importance of this reform measure to a great majority both as a health measure and as a finance bill. I am confident that they will vote for its passage when session resumes on Monday,” ended Drilon.

Bishop seeks justice for slain parish worker

MANILA, Nov. 15, 2012— A Catholic bishop has demanded justice for a female parish worker who was killed last Tuesday outside a church in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

Bishop Angelito Lampon, OMI

Jolo Bishop Angelito Lampon wants to see the killer of Conchita “Ching” Francisco, an elementary school principal of the Mindanao State University, brought to justice as soon as possible.

According to him, Francisco’s husband, Jhun, was also murdered six years ago and the case remains unsolved until now.

“It’s very pathetic. The victim also has a 4-year old child which has a mental problem,” Lampon told Radio Veritas Thursday.

Francisco has worked for many years as a member of the Our Lady of Most Holy Rosary Parish Pastoral Council in Bongao.

Initial investigation revealed that the victim was shot in the head after attending an evening Mass. The gunmen and motive for the killing remain unknown. (RL/CBCPNews)

On the Political & Economic Risk Consultancy, Limited (PERC) Report

MANILA, November 15, 2012-In a banner year in strengthening political institutions, the Philippines ranked 4th lowest among 12 Asian nations in terms of domestic political risks, according to a report by the Political & Economic Risk Consultancy, Limited (PERC). Among Southeast Asian countries, the report also placed the Philippines second only to Singapore in the same risk category.

Just two years prior, the Hong Kong-based business consulting firm ranked the Philippines 10th in Asia and 5th in Southeast Asia, showing a considerable turnaround following the assumption of the Aquino administration in June 2010.

PERC was emphatic in its assessment of the President and his government, referring to his stewardship as, "one of the few in the country's modern history that has made headway on the population's political aspirations." Among the achievements cited by the firm are: improved government fiscal position, upgrades by credit rating agencies, and serious headway into a peace agreement with the MILF.

We take the results of this report with the constant awareness that more needs to be done to further establish the gains we have made over the past two years. Restoring social trust in our institutions continues to be the overarching aspiration of the Aquino administration with the President himself leading by example.

Roxas relieves PNP chiefs in Zamboanga del Sur, Pagadian City over Aman Futures scam

MANILA, Philippines – Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas today relieved Zamboanga del Sur Provincial PNP Director Senior Superintendent William T. Manzan and Pagadian City Chief of Police Superintendent Kenneth H. Mission in connection with the Aman Futures investment scam that victimized thousands in the province and parts of Mindanao.

Roxas said this is meant to avoid chances of whitewash in the ongoing police investigation into the latest “get-rich-quick” scheme that has reportedly duped some 15,000 individuals into investing about P12 billion of their hard-earned money.

The DILG chief also said Manzan and Mission were suspended for their supposed negligence in stopping Aman Futures early on in their operations.

“This scam has been perpetrated beginning as early as February this year and there have been very loud indicators that this scam was happening. People were lining up as early as 2:00 in the morning to try to get in the premises of Aman,” he said.

“The fact that there was no report that filtered up from the City PNP to the province to the region all the way to headquarters indicates, at the very least, negligence or laziness,” Roxas added.

Roxas said apart from Manzan and Mission, 21 other PNP officers who reportedly invested in Aman were recalled back to camp. He said this is to ensure that they do not use their authority to exact revenge against Aman Futures and its representatives.

Roxas also said the DILG has requested treasurers of local government units in Lanao del Sur and Zamboanga del Sur to submit their respective LGU bank balances for examination. This is to verify reports that public funds may have been used to invest in Aman.

The government is conducting a manhunt for the officials of Aman, including its president, Manuel K. Amalilio and Fernando “Nonoy” R. Luna, head of the Aman operations in Pagadian City.

Aman Futures was able to lure investors, mostly in Pagadian City, by offering a 30-percent to 40-percent return on investment within eight days, and a 50-percent to 80-percent profit for 18 to 20 days.

Aman Futures claimed that the profit would come from a customer agreement with Malaysian brokerage firm Okachi (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. that in turn engages in futures trading of commodities such as oil, manganese, palm oil and nickel.

At first, the victims could receive cash by just showing their official receipts. But later, investors were issued post-dated checks with a 50-day maturity date in lieu of cash. Investors started to panic when the Aman office in Pagadian closed last September 26.

P1.8-M ‘hot logs’ seized in NE

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, November 15, 2012–At least P1.8 million worth of illegal logs had been seized by government operatives in Nueva Ecija following a series of operations in the province since last month.

Maximo Dichoso, regional executive director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Luzon, said the 30-day campaign, codenamed “CamPlan NE2012,” is aimed at neutralizing syndicates operating in Gen. Tinio, a known hotbed of illegal logging.

Gen. Tinio and the towns of Bongabon and Gabaldon have been classified by the DENR as illegal logging “hot spots.”

He said the campaign has so far resulted in the seizure of about 20,000 board feet of forest contraband and 8,024 board feet of premium hardwood dipterocarp valued at P500,000 and 329 sacks of charcoal.

Dichoso said aside from DENR operatives, the government composite team also consists of teams from the 702^nd Brigade and 56^th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, and the Nueva Ecija Protection and Security Command of the provincial Philippine National Police.

         

Seized from the backyard of furniture maker Apid Maducdoc of Sitio Batog in the village of Rio Chico are contraband wood species such as yakal, bagtikan, and apitong, which according to DENR informants, were cut from the mountains of Sierra Madre in Dona Remedios Trinidad in Bulacan, and floated down the river of Sumacbao in Gen. Tinio.Maducdoc remains at large.

The DENR is eyeing charges against Maducdoc for violations of Section 68 of Presidential Decree 705 or the Forestry Reform Code of the Philippines, as amended by Executive Order no. 277 of 1987.

         

Dichoso said if proven guilty, Maducdoc will face a maximum prison term of 20 years under Articles 309 and 310 of the Revised Penal Code.

Dichoso said he has ordered a through investigation into the possible involvement of some local officials in illegal logging operations in Gen. Tinio.

         

Resolution No. 2011-006 of the Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force (AILTF) states that all forest products coming from natural and residual forests after February 28, 2012 shall be considered as property of the state.

         

Last year, the DENR  in Central Luzon seized 212,517 board feet of assorted forest contraband and conveyances worth at least P7 million. (Manny Galvez)

Legarda Stresses Women’s Role as Effective Agents of Change at Gathering of Women in Cavite

MANILA, November 15, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today stressed on the role of women as silent but effective agents of change and leaders of society at the gathering of women in Cavite for the first anniversary of the Nagkakaisang Kababaihan ng General Trias.

“The role of women in our society has continuously evolved through the years. However, more women participating in decision-making, whether within the family, the community, or the nation, does not mean they are already considered equal to men. For instance, in times of disaster and economic stress, women are the primary caregivers. They also carry out much of the household workload after a disaster,” she said.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, noted that women and girls account for 52% of the world’s population and over 100 million of which are affected by disasters annually. They have distinct nutritional needs that make coping with disasters tougher and harsher.

“Despite these, women have been silently and effectively at the frontline of disaster prevention and climate change adaptation efforts,” she stressed.

Legarda cited several environmental and disaster risk redection programs initiated by women in the Philippines, such as the women farmers in Montalban, Rizal who practice agroforestry to adapt to the prolonged wet season; a group of women fisherfolk in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur who reforested over a hundred hectares of mangrove areas to protect their settlements from storm surges; and the women of San Francisco in Camotes Island, Cebu, who are in charge of environmental protection and disaster prevention programs in each and every purok.

“I am certain that the women of General Trias are also active participants in the local initiatives to protect the environment, such as the municipal-wide clean-up drive and the use of “eco-bags,” instead of plastic. These are important steps in making our communities safe against disaster risks,” she said.

“Women around the world and here in the Philippines are silently making their invaluable contribution to society. It is time to usher a new phase where women and girls are no longer portrayed as victims but heroes,” Legarda concluded.

Legarda Urges DRR Practices in Schools, Hails ASEAN Winner on Disaster Preparedness

MANILA, November 15, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today urged all schools in the country to institutionalize disaster preparedness measures to ensure the safety of children in the event natural hazards occur.

Legarda, the United Nations Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific, made the statement as she lauded the Iliranan Elementary School in San Carlos, Negros Occidental for winning second place in the 2012 Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) - Japan Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Award. There were 17 other school contenders from the Philippines.

“It is very reassuring to see that learning institutions, schoolchildren and our youth are becoming directly involved in efforts to make our communities safe from disasters. Institutionalizing disaster preparedness practices in our schools is crucial in making every community disaster-resilient and also because children are most vulnerable to disasters,” she stressed.

The Iliranan Elementary School was chosen as one of the winners for their Iliranan Disaster Education Programme (IDEP) and School and Community Always Prepared and Equipped for Disaster (SCAPED). Earlier, the same school was also bestowed the ASEAN Eco-Friendly Schools Award, a recognition given to learning institutions that promote environmentally-sustainable policies.

“I encourage all schools and the whole education sector to give due focus in making our schools safe from all kinds of hazards. Schools are critical public infrastructures that serve as second home to our children and emergency refuge in times of disaster. Aside from ensuring safe physical structure, schools must have disaster preparedness and contingency plans so that students will survive and continue their schooling in the aftermath of disasters,” the Senator said.

“In making our nation disaster-resilient, we not only protect our young people, but also invest in our country’s future,” Legarda concluded.