Edita Burgos’ quest for justice, hailed Risa urges SC, CA to revisit Jonas case

 From one mother to another, Risa Hontiveros has expressed admiration for Edita Burgos’ quiet fortitude—and unshakable faith—in the search for her son Jonas, missing since 2007 and believed abducted by certain operatives of the military.

“She has been so faithful in this struggle. Hindi siya bumitiw sa paghahanap sa kanyang mahal na anak,” Hontiveros, a mother of four and a widow, said.

“As women, some of us as mothers, you just have to give her the highest admiration,” added Hontiveros.

Since he went missing in April 2007 after being abducted at a Quezon City mall by men believed to belong to two units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, no evidence has emerged to show Jonas is still alive. On March 18, 2013, almost six years later, the Court of Appeals recognized his abduction as an enforced disappearance and held Maj. Harry Baliaga Jr. as one of those responsible for it.

However painful and seemingly futile her search, and in the absence of proof of life, Mrs. Burgos, wife of the late press freedom icon Jose Burgos Jr. has persisted “without hatred in her heart. Napakahirap gawin nun, to maintain this fight until now,” Hontiveros said.

After being dashed for so long, Mrs. Burgos’ hopes rose last month with the appearance of new evidence apparently leading her search to the abductors. Hontiveros said that the courts should not ignore the evidence, urging “highest court in the land as well as the Court of Appeals to revisit the Burgos case.”

        Being a mother to a young family, whose oldest child, a boy, is 20 years old, she has empathized with the Burgos matriarch.

        "The latest development is encouraging," she said.  “Due process will and must continue at all times. I trust the President to continue to exercise his best judgment in ensuring that justice will be served regardless of whoever is involved.”

        At a press briefing of Team PNoy in Makati on Tuesday, Hontiveros and fellow administration senatorial candidate Bam Aquino said the government must apply the law equally and treat none of the suspected abductors as “sacred cows.”

“Kung sino man ang mapatunayang may kasalanan, nasa posisyon pa iyan o wala, dapat lang parusahan. We should immediately file the necessary charges against those responsible for the disappearance of Jonas Burgos,” Hontiveros said. 

Investments in agriculture key to Phl’s rice self-sufficiency -- Enrile

PALAYAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, April 3, 2013-The Philippines won’t be able to achieve rice self-sufficiency by 2014 unless the government put more investments in agriculture and further increase the number of hectares of irrigated lands.

          United Nationalist Alliance senatorial candidate Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile stressed this point as he suggested that the Aquino administration follow the Thailand example in providing irrigation to farmlands to increase rice production and eventually rice self-sufficiency.

          Enrile, a member of the House committee on agriculture, said he has serious doubts that the country can achieve its Rice Self-Sufficiency Program (RSSP), originally set this 2013 to 2014.

          “Not with this present set-up because of the lack of investments in agriculture,” he said.

          He cited the case of Thailand who, he said, had considerably less population than the Philippines and practically the same land area but has almost 10 times the number of hectares of irrigated lands compared with the country.

          “Thailand has 65 million people and we have 90 million. But they made massive investments in agriculture. They have 10 million hectares of irrigated lands while we only have 1.4 million hectares. It’s no wonder they have left us behind, we have so many undeveloped and underdeveloped lands,” he said.

          Enrile recalled that in the 80s, the country used to be a rice exporter, something which the Department of Agriculture said the government could achieve by 2013.

          “Well and good. Actually, it’s easy to say we are a rice exporter. We can simply accumulate our rice produce in a warehouse then ship them out and say we have exported. But the question is : are we a net rice exporter?” he asked.

          He said only last week, the government came out with an announcement that it would be exporting 180,000 metric tons of rice which is proof that it is far from reaching the level of self-sufficiency as far as rice is concerned.

          Enrile also noted that the country does not have a national food requirement plan. He said that 150 years ago, human species come from 10,000 different varieties of food.

          “After World War 2, when he industrialized, there are now only 150 different varieties of food,” he said.

Enrile, whose campaign pitch is “Maraming Pagkain, Murang Pagkain (Plenty of Food, Cheap Food),” said he has filed in May 2011 House Bill 4626, also known as Food for Filipinos First (FFFF), which intends to make the agriculture sector a key mover in providing food for the poor and middle class.  (Manny Galvez)

Umali airs concern over flawed PCOS machines, says they are “scary”

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, April 3, 2013 – Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali has expressed grave concern over reports that precinct count optical scanner (PCOS) machines to be used in the May 13 elections in the province are defective and might not reflect the true will of majority of Novo Ecijanos.

          “It’s really a concern. If there is a question over the PCOS functionality, then we’ll gonna have a problem,” he said in reaction to reports that some of the PCOS machines bogged down during a training demonstration to teachers sitting as board of election inspectors (BEIs).

          A total of 5,610 BEIs in the province will undergo training on the operations of these PCOS machines in the run-up to the May polls.

          According to reports, at least six of these machines malfunctioned and encountered glitches when used for demonstration by officials of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

          Reporters tried to get the side of acting provincial election supervisor lawyer Lydia Florentino-Pangilinan but she was unavailable. But a Comelec insider who did not want to be identified because he was not authorized to speak on the issue said the six PCOS machines that conked out may have been overused.

          Umali said in 2010, glitches were encountered in the use of these PCOS machines in the province. He said a particular candidate for mayor in a city got zero vote in his own barangay.

          He said a former congressman also encountered the same problem in two northern Nueva Ecija towns.

          Aside from glitches, the Comelec is also under fire because it does not have the source code to run the PCOS machines.

          The source code is the all-important set of computer commands to make the PCOS recognize and count the vote marks, reject fake ballots, and transmit tallies to canvassing centers.

          The Automated Election Code of 2008 and the initial lease contract of 2009 require the Comelec and its dealer Smartmatic of Venezuela to require the showing of the source code to the public through IT (information technology) experts and to political parties and to a reputable independent tester for accuracy and security.

          Canada-based Dominion is the real and sole owner of the technology offered by Smartmatic for the Philippine elections, a fact it did not disclose before the 2010 polls.

          A citizens’ election monitor alliance said the 2010 PCOS machines which will also be used in the May 2013 polls are “fatally flawed” and have bugs that are “unacceptable in IT standards” and therefore should never be used again.

          Umali said these PCOS machines are not 100% reliable. “It’s scary. I hope the Comelec can do something about it,” he said.

          Umali said that while glitches were not that rampant in the 2010 elections, this is something every Novo Ecijano voter should be worried about.

          “Unless this is addressed, the people would have doubts about the results,” he said. (Manny Galvez)     

SWS POLL SHOWS PINOYS APPRECIATE GOOD GOVERNANCE--MADRIGAL

Things are looking up for the Filipino under the Aquino administration.

The recent Social Weather Stations survey showing that majority of Filipinos are satisfied with their lives proves that, according to former Sen. Jamby Madrigal.

“If four out of five Filipinos are satisfied with their lives, then it only shows that the majority of Filipinos feel that the government is working for them,” said Madrigal, senatorial candidate of the administration coalition Team PNoy.

Dissatisfaction, she pointed out, would indicate that Filipinos do not approve of what the Aquino administration is doing, “or is not doing enough to address their needs and concerns.”

The SWS poll, conducted from Dec. 8 to 11 last year, found four of five Filipinos or 81 percent saying they were satisfied with their lives.

Of the 81 percent, 33 percent were “very satisfied” and 48 percent, “fairly satisfied.”

Madrigal believes that the satisfaction rating would get even higher if the survey is conducted now, citing the recent Fitch Ratings upgrade of the Philippines’ investment status and the increasing number of foreign tourist arrivals as well as the continued strengthening of the peso as contributory factors.

She cautioned, however, that even if most Filipinos are satisfied with their lives, the government would need to focus on the remaining 20 percent who feel dissatisfied.

“The Aquino administration, I believe, is on the right track as far as addressing the source of dissatisfaction is concerned, and steps are now being undertaken to further improve the quality of their lives,” Madrigal said.

Hagedorn declines Erap’s UNA invite, says he’s no political butterfly

PALAYAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, April 2, 2013-Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn said on Tuesday he has been lured by deposed former President Joseph Estrada to join the United Nationalist Alliance which the latter headed together with Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile but declined the offer and remained an independent senatorial candidate so he won’t emerge a political butterfly.

          “Erap (Estrada’s nickname) is my friend and he’s been calling me to join the UNA senatorial slate. But I didn’t accept the offer so I won’t turn out as a political butterfly,” Hagedorn told reporters here on the sidelines of a pro-women rally arranged by businesswoman Rianne Cuevas.

          Hagedorn said that while he is an independent candidate, he will rely on the support of three big groups : the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP), the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) and the Liga ng mga Barangay.

“I count on their solid support and with this, I hope to get elected in the Senate in May,” he said. He said he has no problem with mobility and logistics, unlike other independent senatoriables.

          Hagedorn said his advocacies will focus primarily on environment, local governance, tourism and agriculture. He said only two percent of environmental laws are being implemented in the country.

          He said he would move for a revision of the Local Government Code and make it attuned to present realities as well as craft legislations that would widen the tax base for local government units by including the value added tax in the computation of internal revenue allotments (IRA).

          “We should base it on the previous year and not on the last three years,” he said, adding he favored the inclusion of coastal areas in the computation of the IRA of coastal LGUs.

          Hagedorn said he is for the return of the four to five-year terms of office of local and national officials without any term limits or restrictions and for the strengthening of safeguards in the enforcement of the recall petition.

          He said he would apply the Puerto Princesa experience in helping spur tourism and agricultural development in the country.

          Hagedorn stressed the need for the government to come up with a national land use plan which will be attuned to the comprehensive land use plan of LGUs.

          He said this was necessitated by a recent development in Puerto Princesa wherein certain quarters wanted to undertake mining activities at the world-famous Underground River which the city government opposed.

          “This proposal to undertake mining at the river was approved in the national level which was made because there is no national land use plan. The thing is, they have to coordinate with local government units. The mere fact it was accepted in the national level means they were raising false hopes among the interested mining companies,” he said. (Manny Galvez)     

Jack to JPE, Miriam : ‘kiss and make up’

PALAYAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, April 2, 2013 – United Nationalist Alliance senatorial candidate Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile has this one fervent wish: that his father, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and the latter’s nemesis, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago would end their bitter word war, kiss and make up and be friends just like the old times.

          “I hope both sides will stop their personal attacks and look back at the times they worked together. That they would remember their harmonious relationship for the sake of the country,” he said at a press conference here following a provincial sortie.

          The younger Enrile graced a gathering of women at Plaza Concepcion here on the invitation of businesswoman Rianne Cuevas.

          The word war between Enrile and Santiago broke out over the additional P2.2 million in maintenance and other operating expenses (MOEE) that Enrile gave 18 senators last Christmas.

          Santiago and three other senators – Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter cayetano, Pia Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes IV – got only P600,000 each  

          Congressman Enrile said he holds no grudges against Santiago in spite of her tirades against his father who, he recalled have spent quite a good time with Santiago as friends. He said that during the lady senator’s silver wedding anniversary, he even represented his father in the event.

          Short of saying the Senate President be spared from scathing criticisms, the younger Enrile said his father is an elderly statesman who is already 84 years old and has served the nation for 50 years already.

“I think he has served well yet this late stage in his political career, it seems he is being targeted,” he said.

He said though that his father understands the game of politics and is very much capable of answering the allegations against him.

The younger Enrile, who graced a pro-women event here said he would gladly accept the title of “Honorary Woman of the Senate” if he gets elected in May.

The titular role once belonged to the late former senator Raul Roco owing to his advocacy of women’s causes during his Senate stint.

Enrile said that as a father of two daughters, issues involving women are closest to his heart.

He said women should be treated equally with men who at times they even beat in certain fields, including politics. (Manny Galvez)      

Ecija congressional bet sets face-off with disqualification petitioners before Comelec

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, April2, 2013–A 32-year-old congressional candidate who is facing a disqualification petition before the Commission on Elections  for allegedly being a US citizen is facing off the two petitioners in a conference set tomorrow at the poll body’s office in Intramuros, Manila.

Magnolia Rosa C. Antonino-Nadres is set to appear before the Comelec’s First Division to answer the petition seeking to disqualify her in the congressional race in southern Nueva Ecija.

Earlier, Clerk of Commission Ma. Josefina dela Cruz, in a summons with notice of conference directed Antonino-Nadres to appear in the Wednesday conference, effectively giving due course to the petition.

          Dela Cruz warned Antonino-Nadres that failure to appear before the scheduled conference shall be considered as a waiver and render the petition deemed submitted for resolution.

          A separate notice of conference has been sent to lawyer Tyrone Contado, counsel for petitioners Pedro Fajardo and Desita Garcia.

          Both parties have been given 10 days after the date of conference within which to file their respective memorandum.

          Antonino-Nadres, of San Francisco St., Barangay Langla, Jaen, Nueva Ecija, is the daughter of outgoing three-term fourth district Rep. Rodolfo Antonino.

          More popularly known as Megan, Antonino-Nadres is seeking to succeed her father in the district which covers Gapan City and the southern Nueva Ecija towns of Cabiao, Gen. Tinio, Jaen, Penaranda, San Isidro, San Leonardo and San Antonio.

She is running under the National Unity Party founded by the elder Antonino against two-time San Leonardo Mayor Froilan Nagano, comebacking former two-term Rep. Julita Lorenzo-Villareal and Villareal’s sister-in-law, former San Isidro mayor and Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) executive director Sonia Lorenzo.

          The five-page petition filed by Fajardo and Desita Garcia said respondent Antonino-Nadres is disqualified to run for Congress in the fourth district based on Article 6 of the 1987 Constitution which provides that no person shall be a member of the House of Representatives unless he is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines.

          The petition added that pursuant to Section 2, Article 4 of the same Constitution, it is stipulated that natural-born citizens are those who are citizens of the Philippines from birth without having to perform any act to acquire or perfect their Filipino citizenship.

          Antonino-Nadres’ camp has dismissed the petition as politically motivated and is allegedly meant to sow confusion among the people.

          But Nagano dismissed Antonino-Nadres’ claims, saying the fact that the petition was given due course by the Comelec means there must be some merit on the said petition. He said the conference affords Antonino-Nadres the chance to deny the claims contained in the petition.

“The conference is the proper forum for Antonino-Nadres to deny the allegations that she is a US citizen. There, she is given her day in court,” he said.  

          The petitioners cited some grounds on why Antonino-Nadres should be disqualified among which are that she is a US citizen, she is not registered with the National Statistics Office and she holds an American passport.   

          It cited that in her certificate of candidacy filed on October 2,2012, Antonino-Nadres wrote that she was born in San Mateo County, California which, pursuant to the doctrine of “jus soli” is a citizen of the US.

          NSO administrator and civil registrar general Carmelita Ericta, in a certification issued last February 19 said Antonino-Nadres is not registered with the NSO. Antonino-Nadres only registered as a voter in Jaen in 2006.

The petitioners also claimed the respondent is a holder of an American passport which she had consistently used in entering and leaving the Philippines as gleaned from a certification issued last February 22 by the Bureau of Immigration confirming that she used the foreign passport in her numerous travels since 1996.

          They added that being a citizen of the United States of America or at least having dual allegiance, Antonino-Nadres is disqualified to run for the position of Member of the House of Representatives which requires a natural born citizen of the Philippines. (Manny Galvez)

Team PNoy to stick to issue-based campaign

The Team PNoy senatorial slate will continue its issue-based campaign tact even as it expects mudslinging in the remaining days of the campaign period for the mid-term elections, Bam Aquino said on Tuesday/April 2.

Another Team PNoy senatorial bet, Risa Hontiveros, meanwhile, urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to hold more debates among senatorial candidates to educate voters on various issues and platforms of governance by contending political coalitions.

In a press briefing at the Team PNoy Headquarters in Makati, Aquino said: “One thing that won’t change is the Team PNoy strategy to stick to the issues and push for a clean and issue-based type of campaign.”

 Aquino, who broke into the Magic 12 in recent surveys, said he expects the campaign to heat up in the remaining few weeks, and the opposition to step up its mudslinging tactics against President Aquino's hand-picked candidates to help him in the last three years of his term.

“I’m sure talagang iinit yung laban. Marami sigurong ibabatong mga kung anu-ano. But rest assured na the candidates of Team PNoy will stick to the issues, to our advocacies, sa mga plano natin para sa bayan,” Bam Aquino said.

Aquino said further the Team PNoy coalition will work to keep the May 13, 2013 elections “honest and clean as much as possible.”

Aquino called on all political candidates to address directly socio-economic concerns of the greater number of Filipinos, notably poverty alleviation and job-generation.

“Hindi na iyong bangayan na personalan or mga bagay-bagay na hindi naman importante sa taong bayan,” Aquino said.

On the other hand, Hontiveros said: “At kung pwede, my wish sa remaining campaign days, sana mas maraming debate pa. So Comelec, kayo ba ang aking fairy godmother? Media, kayo ba ang aming fairy godmothers? Wish. Sana mas maraming debate pa.”

Hontiveros acknowledged her low-ranking in survey, but noted that she is “nearing the striking distance.”

“I’m still the lowest in our team pero every survey, nag ge-gain ng ilang percentage points. So, iyong mga ganyang survey results, always just inspire me to fight harder, work harder. Ganoon pa rin ang gagawin ko,” Hontiveros told the press briefing.

Hontiveros said she expects to enter the Magic Circle of 12 in the second half of the campaign.

“In this second half of the campaign at umaasa pa rin ako na maging bahagi sa Magic 12 at pumasok sa legislative team ni Presidente sa Senado," she said.

Aquino’s scial enterprise, HAPINOY, has been awarded around the world for its poverty-alleviation program using innovations in micro-enterprise, micro-finance and the Filipino staple, the sari-sari store.

Hontiveros, known in her stint in the House as a defender of the rights of the marginalized and symbol of integrity in public office, is expected to expound on her various advocacies, including women’s rights, for which she was once arrested.

Legarda Proposes Solutions to Mindanao Power Crisis

MANILA, April 1, 2013-Reelectionist Senator Loren Legarda today said the need for a clear framework in managing Lake Lanao and its watershed resources becomes more imperative and urgent with the continued brownouts being experienced in Mindanao.

Legarda said the worsening deforestation of watersheds, including those located in Lake Lanao, and the siltation of river systems are among the reasons the power supply in the island has become erratic.

She said the continued deterioration of Lake Lanao has affected the supply of water from the lake for six of Mindanao’s existing hydroelectric power plants, including Agus, which are collectively responsible for 70 percent of the island’s energy needs.

Legarda has long anticipated the power shortfall in Mindanao, which prompted her to file Senate Bill 3097, a bill establishing an effective policy and regulatory administration over Lake Lanao through the proposed Lake Lanao Development Authority. 

According to Legarda, the proposed authority would ensure the promotion and development of Lake Lanao in a sustainable manner.

“The Lake Lanao Development Authority shall have the exclusive jurisdiction to issue Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECCs)/ Certificate of Non-Coverage (CNCs) and grant permits for any projects or activities in or affecting the Lake Lanao Area. The proposed measure also aims to adopt the integrated water resources management to promote sustainable development in the same area,” she explained.

Aside from the creation of the Lake Lanao Development Authority, the Senator said the Mindanao power situation is in dire need of long-term and sustainable solution. 

The power demand in Mindanao peaks at 1,484 megawatts, but existing power plants can supply only 1,181 megawatts, resulting in a deficit of 300 megawatts.  This has resulted to rotating brownouts in areas that do not have embedded power generation capacity. Unless new facilities are made available, the power situation in Mindanao will remain problematic.

The government no longer controls much of Mindanao’s power facilities.  These have been privatized. 

Legarda said there are two issues therefore that face our Mindanao consumers with respect to the power situation in Mindanao – one is the issue of supply, and the other is the issue of cost.  As most of the power facilities are now in the hands of the private sector, and therefore, power provision is no longer subsidized by the government, the cost of power can only go up.

“Right now, what Mindanao needs is an immediate solution that can address the supply side of the issue,” she said.

Legarda said the acquisition by the government of modular generator sets to offset the supply deficit is a short-term solution.  “We have to look at how we can best maximize the capacities of the government’s remaining assets in Mindanao, including the Agus and Pulangi hydropower facilities.  We need to stop the intentional decay of these facilities only for government to sell them at a ‘give-away’ rate to the private sector.”

She said, “While we recognize the need for baseload power generation capacity in Mindanao, we have to balance this with the need to generate clean and renewable energy.  The cost of renewable energy, particularly geothermal, hydropower, and biomass is very competitive.   Mindanao has an agriculture-intensive economy.  We need to be able to harness the agricultural wastes of Mindanao to fuel biomass facilities.  The off-grid communities of Mindanao should benefit from solar energy whose cost has significantly gone down over the past years.  In 2011, the cost of solar panels went down by as much as 50%. Mindanao hosts Mt. Apo, a geothermal energy resource.  Mindanao’s indigenous energy resources need to be developed to address its growing power needs.”

The Senator said the Renewable Energy Law, which she had co-sponsored and co-authored, should be fully implemented. “It is no longer true that all forms of renewable energy are expensive.  Hydropower, geothermal, and biomass are now competitive with the cost of conventional energy sources.  They are undoubtedly cheaper than the diesel-fired power facilities and the power barges that the government will be mobilizing in the interim to address the power woes of Mindanao.  It is time that the government prioritize renewable energy development as well in our country.”

Finally, Legarda said, government needs to conduct sustained efforts in involving the public in demand-side management efforts.  “We need to switch behavioral patterns of consumers on energy use.  We need to encourage the public to use energy efficient lighting systems and appliances; promote energy conservation; changing the time of use of electricity at home so that we help lessen the peak demand during the day; among others.  Those who generate electricity for their own use should also be given incentives to voluntarily contribute their excess capacities to the supply stream.”

Legarda: Ensure Safety of Filipinos in South Korea

MANILA, April 1, 2013-Sen. Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, today called for active preparation by the government to secure the safety of Filipinos in South Korea as the declaration of state of war by North Korea directly puts at least 40,000 Filipinos in South Korea in harm's way.

“Our country needs to prepare for this. We need to secure the safety of Filipinos in South Korea,” Legarda said as she welcomes the early activation by the Department of Foreign Affairs of contingency plans for Filipinos in South Korea. 

“I hope that the appropriate means to deliver them to safety should the situation arise are available.  We cannot wait for the situation to worsen before the details of our contingency plan are firmed up -- from activation of emergency area coordinators, conducting resource inventory, designating holding areas, and identification of safe evacuation routes,” Legarda stressed.

She said the declaration of state of war by North Korea against its southern neighbor is another flashpoint in the region, not to mention the conflicting territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea.

“The uncertainties and dangers exist.  All these could lead to regional instability and erode the progress realized by countries in the region, including the Philippines.  It is hoped that restraint and greater sense of responsibility to regional and world peace will reign over rising tensions in the region,” Legarda concluded.

Feature: Charcoal production will reduce wastes

Garbage disposal has been a perennial problem in barangays and towns.

But with the charcoal briquetting project of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), there will be a reduction in the volume of waste taken from these areas.

Biodegradable waste and agro-forestry wastes such as peanut shells, rice hull and buko husks are the main components of charcoal briquettes.

DENR Regional Director Maximo Dichoso said the office gave Cabiao, in Nueva Ecija; Victoria in Tarlac and Bagac in Bataan complete sets of charcoal briquetting equipments worth P120,000 each.

The production of charcoal in these towns will provide additional livelihood to the residents and alternative source of fuel that is cheap and environment-friendly.

In Cabiao, the charcoal produced is marketed by the local cooperative. They have also producedmixture of biochar and fertilized soil which is a medium for more healthy plants.

In Bagac, they sell the charcoal at P60 per kilo.

Samples of charcoal briquettes were given to other local government units in Victoria by the proponents of the project in Tarlac.

Dichoso added that for every ton of charcoal produced form biodegradable wastes, 88 trees with 10 centimeters in diameter are preserved. (Rebecca Grace S. David)

News Feature: Magic Sugar is cancer-causing

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, March 30, 2013-Beware of the use of magic sugar!

The Department of Health warns the public of the proliferation of the use of magic sugar by peddlers of buko juice , gulaman at sago and other juice drinks.

DOH Adminsitrative Order No 103-A prohibits the use of non-nutritive sweeteners in any food or drug intended for general use.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Environmental Health Coordinator Susie San Juan said magic sugar is a sweetener that contains sodium cyclamate and saccharin which are cancer-causing ingredients.

Although magic sugar is banned in the country, there are instances when they are smuggled in and sold here cheaper than sugar. Magic sugar comes in powder form while sugar appear in crystals.

The Regional Inter- Agency Council on Environmental Health (RIACEH) will call all Municipal Sanitary Inspectors and Municipal Health Officers to plan measures to address the problem. (Rebecca Grace S. David)

Drilon says positive effects of historic investment upgrade should be felt by poor Filipinos too

Team PNoy campaign manager Sen. Franklin M. Drilon today welcomed the unprecedented investment grade status to the Philippines but said the new resources that come with new investments should be utilized to create new jobs, infrastructure projects and additional health and education services to make the upgrade relevant to poor Filipinos.

In a statement, Drilon echoed the statements of international economists that the Philippines achieved the investment grade rating for the first time after Fitch Ratings upgraded the country's creditworthiness mainly due to a resilient economy and improved fiscal management under President Aquino.

With an investment grade status, Drilon explained, the local industries could now attract more foreign investments since the cost of funds would be usually lower as the rating indicates a well-managed Philippine economy in fiscal and monetary terms that serves as an assurance to creditors that they will be promptly paid. 

However, Drilon said the positive effects of the investments upgrade would be meaningless to poor Filipinos unless the fresh investments would result in the creation of new jobs, additional infrastructure projects and improved delivery of basic social services in the field of health and education.

“While we welcome this unprecedented investment status upgrade that basically acknowledges the positive reforms under the Aquino administration, we must see to it that these fiscal advantages and benefits should lead to more jobs and better incomes for poor Filipinos,” Drilon said.

“We, in the Team PNoy senatorial team, will continue to support the fiscal reforms and good governance programs of President Aquino in the next three years so that these economic benefits will be felt by the poor in terms of better employment and education opportunities, improved health services and more infrastructure projects,” Drilon added.

For her part, Team Pnoy senatorial candidate Risa Hontiveros, lauded the historic investment grade status for the Philippines, saying that the development is expected to strengthen the foundation for the government’s anti-poverty agenda.

“The historic investment grade bolsters the government’s arsenal in fulfilling its anti-poverty agenda. It shows that we now have the momentum to pursue the second half of the ‘kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap’ promise,” Hontiveros said, adding that the economic team of the government and President Aquino deserve to be lauded for the upgrade.

Hontiveros said that now was the time for the nation to roll its sleeves to eliminate poverty.  “The government is now in a better position to use economic growth to eradicate poverty,” Hontiveros added. 

In a statement Wednesday, Fitch said it upgraded the Philippines from BB+ to BBB-, which reflects an investment grade rating. The debt watcher also noted that the outlook for the Philippines is stable.

"This rating is unprecedented in the Philippines and can trigger the kind of investment that will help carry the country into its next phase of development," said Norio Usui, Country Economist at the Asian Development Bank.

“The Philippines' sovereign external balance sheet is considered strong,” Fitch said, noting a persistent current account surplus on the back of strong remittance inflow, which proved resilient through the global financial crisis that has rocked the world since late 2007.

Fitch said the Philippine economy—which expanded by 6.6 percent last year—remained strong amid a weak global economic backdrop. “Strong domestic demand drove this outturn,” the debt watcher said, forecasting growth to hit 5.5 percent this year.

Legarda: Easter, A Chance to ‘Resurrect Mother Earth’

In celebrating Easter, Senator Legarda encouraged Filipinos to reflect and engage in a personal renewal and contemplate on what can be done to protect and “resurrect Mother Earth.“

"The Lenten season reminded us of the importance of prayer, penance, and sacrifice. It was the time when we gave up on small indulgences, as we strived for spiritual renewal. Let us find the time to reflect and let us show our love for God and for His creation: the environment," Legarda said.

The Senator said that Filipinos should reflect on their moral and spiritual obligations to keep their personal lifestyles in check as human-induced actions have led to the deplorable state of the environment.

“Easter is a reminder of the great compassion of our God and Jesus Christ’s ultimate sacrifice. In return, we should respect the gift of God, protect and conserve what has been given to us. No matter how small, slight adjustments in our lifestyle will contribute to a greener and healthier environment for this and the next generation," Legarda concluded.

Senator Loren Legarda’s Holy Week Message

As we observe the Holy Week, let us find the time to reflect and have a deeper understanding of Christ’s suffering. Let us contemplate and renew our relationship with God and find the true meaning of Jesus Christ’s ultimate sacrifice. I wish everyone a peaceful, safe and solemn Holy Week.

Senator Loren Legarda’s Holy Week Message

As we observe the Holy Week, let us find the time to reflect and have a deeper understanding of Christ’s suffering. Let us contemplate and renew our relationship with God and find the true meaning of Jesus Christ’s ultimate sacrifice. I wish everyone a peaceful, safe and solemn Holy Week.

Legarda Encourages Fasting that is Environment-Friendly

MANILA, March 27, 2013-As the Holy Week approaches, Senator Loren Legarda encouraged Filipinos to "carbon fast"—a kind of fasting that is environment-friendly.

“Filipinos are encouraged to do fasting in many other ways. Aside from fasting from food, we are asked to fast from vices and activities that we can do without, as we focus and usher in a period of reflection and spiritual growth. One best way is to carbon fast,” said Legarda.

“No less than Pope Francis said that we are the stewards of God’s creation and we must protect all things He created including our environment. To carbon fast is to reduce our individual carbon emissions, which is a concrete action on climate change and will ultimately help in saving our ailing ecosystems. It would be best if we  practice a low-carbon lifestyle, even beyond the Lenten season,” said the Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change.

Legarda said that the Environmental Studies Institute of the Miriam College has given a simpler explanation of this way of life.  Low-carbon lifestyle is the conscious effort by individuals and communities to change their daily routine and practices to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and to create carbon dioxide sinks. The aggregate of these individual and community efforts will considerably mitigate climate change. 

“Learning how to manage our local resources will eventually lead to the sustainability of our country. Ultimately, the objective is to help the world manage its ecological assets more judiciously so that humanity can live within the Earth’s limitations,” the senator stressed.

Legarda outlined several ways to "carbon fast" —(1) opt for food that is local, plant-based, and in-season because food from distant places utilizes more energy for transportation and preservation, resulting to greater carbon emission; (2) venture into modes of transportation that are energy-efficient, such as walking, biking, taking public transport, and carpooling whenever possible; (3) economize on energy consumption and shift to indigenous and renewable energy sources, use low-wattage appliances, unplug electronics when not in use, and other similar practices; (4) practice solid waste management by segregating at the source, composting biodegradable wastes and recycling; (5) consume water wisely like gathering and storing rainwater for daily chores; and, (6) plant trees, create forest parks, protect natural forests and undertake reforestation.

Legarda Observes Century-Old Family Tradition during Holy Week

MANILA, March 27, 2013-Senator Loren Bautista Legarda continues to observe the century-old tradition of the Bautista family during the Holy Week and encouraged Filipinos to likewise practice the Lenten traditions they grew up with.

“The Lenten Season, especially the Holy Week, is a time for contemplation. We renew our relationship with God as we reflect on the sacrifices of Jesus Christ. There is no better way to do this than by engaging in Church activities and observing Filipino Holy Week traditions,” said Legarda.

The Senator said that her great grandparents, Gregorio Bautista and Agapita Torres-Bautista, started the Bautista annual pabasa in the early 1900s in their house along Avenida, Rizal in Manila. The chanting and singing of the Pasyon did not stop even during the worst times of the Japanese occupation.

“With the impending arrival of the Japanese during World War II, my grandparents hid two sacred images over which the Pabasa was sung. The images were cared for by a couple who used to live in the place where San Lazaro Hospital presently stands,” she narrated.

“The statues survived the war. Today, the two life-sized images of Christ - the Scourging at the Pillar and the Crowning With Thorns - are located in our ancestral home in Malabon. These statues came from Spain and are believed to be already 200 years old,” she added.

Legarda said that she, her brothers and cousins continue to observe the tradition with their aunties every Holy Wednesday and they intend to pass on the tradition to their children.

“Not only does our annual pabasa bring our family closer together, but it also gives me the perfect opportunity to share with Jesus Christ’s suffering. I hope all Filipinos, no matter how busy they are, would also find time to reflect on the sufferings of Christ and prioritize the observance of our religious traditions especially this Holy Week,” Legarda said.