Legarda on Bicam Approval of Kasambahay Bill: The Time Has Finally Come

MANILA, November 23, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today hailed the Congressional Bicameral Conference Committee’s recent approval of the Kasambahay Bill.

“The time has finally come for the Kasambahay Bill. In 1998, during my first term as a Senator, I already filed a bill that seeks to protect the interest of our kasambahays. Now that we have come this close to having the measure approved, I am hopeful that there will no longer be any reason for the delay of its enactment into law,” said Legarda, co-sponsor of the measure.

“I am truly glad that we have taken such major steps in according decent working conditions, just compensation, and sufficient benefits to our domestic workers,” she added.

During the third and final meeting of the bicameral committee, which was convened by Senate Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, who is the principal sponsor of the measure, the conferees agreed that the new minimum wage for domestic workers will be P2,500 within the National Capital Region, P2,000 for those within chartered cities and first class municipalities, and P1,500 for those in other municipalities.

In a related move, Legarda, as Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, spearheaded last August the Senate’s concurrence in the ratification of ILO Convention 189, known as the Convention Concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers. The Philippines was the second country to ratify the Convention.

“As ILO 189 will come into force 12 months after two ILO member-states have ratified it, the Philippines should be justly proud of playing a significant role in improving the employment conditions of domestic workers worldwide. And now, with the Kasambahay Bill nearing a historic triumph, we can begin guaranteeing that kasambahays in the Philippines are treated as workers, not servants,” she added.

“These recent developments herald the dawn of better lives for the 1.9 million domestic workers in the country, and even the 1.5 million more abroad. Both the ILO 189 and the Kasambahay Bill provide rights that are the foundation of inclusive growth that we as a nation aspire for. We are only a few steps away from acknowledging the contributions of our household heroes into the global workforce; no longer as invisible hands but as workers equipped with the rights and benefits accorded others,” Legarda concluded.

KIKO URGES AUTHORITIES TO SPEED UP WHEELS OF JUSTICE FOR MAGUINDANAO MASSACRE VICTIMS

MANILA, November 22, 2012-Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan today urges the Philippine National Police to ensure the safety and protection of kin Maguindanao Massacre victims who have been reportedly receiving threats from anonymous entities. Pangilinan also urges the Judiciary to speed up the wheels of justice in the case, which has yet to achieve more breakthroughs since Ampatuan Sr., his son, former Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., his other son, Zaldy Ampatuan, the former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao were implicated and jailed for the massacre.

"The Maguindanao Massacre case will be the benchmark of how far our justice system has progressed from previous administrations, whether we like it or not. It is then extremely urgent that we exert all efforts to resolve this case as swiftly as possible."

The massacre of 58 people three years ago, most of which are journalists, is said to be the worst political violence that took place in the Philippines in recent history. 

"That act was so brazen and so dastardly—it is horrifying to think that anyone is capable of doing this, and yet it happened,” pangilinan points out. “We must not allow this massacre be trivialized and buried in the annals of our history by the slow grind of our wheels of justice."

“It isn’t only the Ampatuans and their co-accused that are on trial here, but the entire system of justice. The failure to render a timely and just judgement is an indictment on the capacity of the nation to serve justice.”

Legarda Concerned over ASEAN’s Lack of United Stand on Territorial Disputes

MANILA, November 22, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today expressed concern over the reported failure of ASEAN to once again come up with a united stand on how to handle the territorial disputes between China and four of its members – Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

“We recognize that ASEAN unity is vital in addressing the challenges facing the region today, but certainly not at the expense of compromising our national interest. ASEAN unity and the promotion of each member’s national interest are complementary goals that cannot be pursued in isolation of the other,” she said.

The Senator reacted in the context of a reported statement by the Chair of the 21st ASEAN Summit that ASEAN leaders had agreed not to “internationalize” the disputes and would confine negotiations to those between the bloc and China.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, thus supported President Aquino’s move to register its objection to the Chair’s view that “a consensus on putting the discussions within an ASEAN-China framework had been reached.”

“I welcome President Aquino’s unfettered resolve to remind his fellow leaders to achieve unity in ASEAN’s stand and approach in handling disputes with China over conflicting claims to the strategically vital West Philippine Sea. I support the President’s call for constructive dialogue and for a reaffirmation of respect for international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in resolving the disputes,” she remarked.

The Senator said that the Leaders of ASEAN, in April 2012, adopted the “Phnom Penh Declaration on ASEAN: One Community, One Destiny”, underscoring, among others, the commitment of ASEAN members to uphold the collective commitments reflected in the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and the universally recognized principles of international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, and to move for the eventual realization of a regional code of conduct (COC).

“ASEAN needs to be consistent with its declarations.  Clearly, UNCLOS was not considered in isolation of the proposed solutions under this Declaration. I do note that the Leaders have decided to seek early talks with China on a regional code of conduct.  It would be interesting to find out if they have, at least, agreed on an ASEAN position on its key elements and features before they initiate discussions with China,” she said.

“Maritime security and cooperation in ensuring freedom of navigation, in combating piracy, and in maintaining peace and stability in the region must be strengthened. ASEAN is in a unique and critical position to help preserve peace in the region by effectively shepherding the process of producing a binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea,” Legarda concluded.

Legarda: US Navy Contractor Violated Gov’t Regulations in Toxic Wastewater Dumping

MANILA, November 21, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today said that the US Navy contractor Glenn Defense Marine Philippines, Inc. violated government regulations when it dumped toxic wastewater in areas that are clearly within the country's Exclusive Economic Zone.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, said that it was clear that the contractor violated government regulations on various fronts, including its failure to secure a dumping permit from the Philippine Coast Guard to discharge wastewater in an area that is still within the country's Exclusive Economic Zone.  

“It is very clear that the Glenn Defense Marine Asia violated our regulations when it did not get a dumping permit from the Coast Guard. Maybe there are other contractors too who are committing the same violation. Second, the wastewater they dumped was untreated and according to the Subic Bay Ecology Center, its level of toxicity was way beyond allowable limits under the DENR regulations,” she stressed. The resource person from the Subic Ecology Center confirmed that the high toxicity levels of the water samples secured from the M/T Glenn Guardian could harm marine resources.

Legarda said the Committee will come up with a report by the end of the month.  The report will try to pinpoint accountabilities, and if warranted, recommend penalties against those who may have violated Philippine laws and regulations.

“I have asked the various agencies to complete their investigation and to submit to the Committee its findings and recommendations.  I also expect these agencies to enforce the law without fear or favor.”  The Senator also said that “there is evidently a need for government agencies to coordinate better to ensure that our environmental laws and regulations are strictly enforced.”

The Senator, however, cleared that the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) is external to the issue with Glenn Defense Marine Philippines.

“I will call for a hearing on the VFA because it is long overdue. But, this issue on the dumping of wastewater has nothing to do with the VFA. And I would like to stress that we will not allow our country to be a waste basket; we will not allow the waste of foreigners to destroy the marine life and source of livelihood of our people,” Legarda concluded.

DRILON LAUDS SENATE APPROVAL OF SIN TAX BILL

MANILA, November 21, 2012-The Senate today approved on third and final reading the bill seeking to generate P40 billion in incremental revenues from increased taxes on alcohol and tobacco products, in an effort to boost government healthcare programs, as well as to address the high prevalence of smoking in the country, announced Senate Ways and Means acting chairman Franklin M. Drilon.

Senate Bill No. 3299 otherwise known as “an Act Restructuring the Excise Tax on Alcohol and Tobacco Products” was adopted with 15 affirmative votes, two negative votes, and zero abstention.

“The passage of this bill is monumental in the history of this chamber. Once again, amidst the differences in our views, we have proven that we care more about saving lives than generating revenues; and that we remain true to serving the nation above personal interest ,” said Drilon who went through tedious debates on the proposed measure.  

Drilon likewise lauded his colleagues for seeing the rationale behind the passage of the bill. “I praise our colleagues for voting swiftly on this important measure, because any delay will only put to further damage the lives of more than 17 million Filipinos, four million of which are youths, who now are cigarette smokers.”  

“I also acknowledge the support of the President throughout the passage of this bill; as well as for certifying the health measure as urgent. Without him, we would not have gone this far,” he added.

Under the bill, the government is expected to generate P40 billion in additional revenues by increasing the taxes on sin products such as cigarettes and alcoholic beverages. Of the amount, P24 billion will come from increased taxes on tobacco, while P16 billion will be generated from taxes on fermented liquor and distilled spirits depending on its historical burden sharing. 

The bill also mandates for a unitary tax rate for all kinds of cigarettes by the start of the fifth year of its implementation. On the other hand, the bill proposes a two-tier system for alcoholic beverages.

“The additional revenues will primarily go to advancing the cause of the health sector that, in particular, will be used for the enrolment of additional 5.2 million poorest Filipino families in Philhealth,” said Drilon.

The sin tax reform bill, he emphasized, is a health measure to address the high case of deaths and illnesses due to smoking estimated at 80,000 Filipinos deaths per year, or 10 people per hour.

Also, smoking, per the Department of Health data, costs the government an estimated amount of P218 billion to P416 billion in annual health care expenses and productivity losses, noted Drilon.

Meanwhile, Drilon underscored the benefits of the bill to the farmers. Of the amount to be generated, 15 percent of it, or around P6 billion, will go to tobacco farmers to help improve their craft and to assist them in switching to a different crop that yields higher income. The P6 billion will be in addition to P4 billion that, at present, is allotted annually to tobacco farmers, explained Drilon.  

“The bill will double the safety net being provided under the law to help them augment their income and to support alternative livelihoods for the farmers,” stressed Drilon.

The safety net, added Drilon, can be used to assist the farmers who want to shift from planting tobacco to farming other more profitable crops like corn, garlic, tomato and pepper.   

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.