Senate is waiting for Palace’s ‘electricity bills’-Recto

MANILA-Malacanang has been urged to submit its  “electric bills” to Congress as soon as possible so that legislation needed to prevent power price spikes and blackouts in the future  can be hammered out.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said Energy officials should be “burning the midnight oil” by now in crafting proposed amendments to the Electric Power Industry Act (EPIRA), the Presidential Decree (PD) 910 on the use of the Malampaya gas proceeds, and other laws that will remove chokepoints in the building of power plants.

“The DOE guys have good proposals. That agency is not suffering from a mental blackout. All they have to do is package them in one reform legislation,” Recto said.

Recto likened the EPIRA to a power plant “which has been in operation for 12 years and is therefore due for some recalibration.”

But on proposals to grant President Aquino emergency powers,  Recto said  “ it is up to the President to demand them  but my view is that it should be the legislation of last  resort.”

“It is also a move fraught with political risks because once he has it, the onus of solving the energy crisis falls on him.  If electricity rates will go up, for example, the people will expect him to tame the increase on the mistaken belief that he has the power to moderate them.”

“In other words, emergency powers is politically high-voltage that it can electrocute him. People will see it as the magic wand that can make high power rates go away or power plants go up in an instance,” he said.

One proposed amendment to the EPIRA, as broached by Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla,  is to   lift  the  prohibition against the government in operating a plant.

Another portion in the EPIRA which must be revisited is its inability  to dispose  the mountain of  National Power Corp. (Napocor)  debts  which piled up due to soured loans, scuttled plants like the Bataan nuclear power plant, and pricing policies.

This  “stranded cost” was pegged at P900 billion which, Recto explained, “migrated to the state and to the consumers’ pockets” in the form  of “universal charge” in electricity bills, as proceeds from the fire sale of Napocor’s assets  hardly made a dent on its obligation.

Recto said another law  which must be rewritten is PD 910, after a section of it which gives carte blanche  powers to the President to spend energy development royalties  for non-energy projects was struck down by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional.

He explained that unless the PD is amended, the government is barred from using dividends of the Malampaya gas production for activities other than “energy resource development and exploitation.”

Recto believes restrictions on the use of Malampaya income be lifted so that it can be spent for purposes still energy-related in nature, like the repair of power lines downed by typhoons.

“We should also be open to the possibility of tapping it to mitigate steep power rate hikes, during times when plants using more expensive fuel go in line to fill the void left by plants undergoing periodic maintenance,  ” he said.

Recto said transparency provisions in both the EPIRA and PD 910 must be strengthened to prevent a repeat of the recent fiasco when high power rates were negotiated in an electricity market  marked by regulatory failure .

Any environment which encourages price collusion must be expunged, he said.

But according to Recto, the most important bill which the Palace must consider is the removal of constraints in building new plants,  “in light of the universal consensus that massive blackouts loom  beginning next year.”

The DoE said the Luzon grid alone would  be needing  1,000 MW  every three years to meet the growing demand  fueled by rising population and economic growth.

From 2001 to 2013,  Luzon peak demand of electricity  surged by 2,659 MW , from 5,646 MW to 8,300 MW.

Except for the 652 MW coal-fired plant in Bataan, no other plant was commissioned during the period which means demand dwarfed new base load capacity by around 2,000.

Recto, however, said that while Luzon has total dependable capacity of 11,466 MW, roughly one-fifth of this come from hydroelectric plants. “As such, they are at the mercies of the weather.  They are often deemed as God-operated plants.”

While “on paper” proposed plants collaborate for a total  committed capacity of 1,468 MW  that will go on stream  from 2014  to 2016,  Recto insisted “measures, whether legislative or administrative, must be proactively thought of so they will be completed as scheduled.”

“Contingencies must be in place and the kinks must be identified this early and so with the ways on how to iron them out,” he said.

“We should remember that the costliest electricity is the one that doesn’t come,” Recto said.

Legarda to Gov’t: Make New Anti-Trafficking Law Work

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda today renewed her call for the application of more stringent penalties under the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (R.A. 10364) against perpetrators of the crime.

Legarda, principal sponsor of the said law, made the call in support of the overseas Filipino workers who joined the Walk for Freedom in Los Angeles, California to mark the National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month in the United States.

“Approximately 2,000 Filipinos fall prey into trafficking each year. Behind these numbers are stories of individuals whose freedom of choice is impaired by desperation or helplessness, thus rendering them vulnerable to exploitation. Victims are subjected to forced labor, domestic servitude and forced marriage, organ removal and sale, sex trade, and exploitation of children,” she said.

“Our goal is to ensure that Filipinos will no longer be subjected to these forms of slavery or indecent work. Through the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, human traffickers will be deprived of the legal loopholes that have allowed them to escape prosecution and conviction in the past. This will help us achieve greater degree of success in our fight against trafficking in persons,” she added.

The Senator noted that improved strategies to arrest human traffickers and impede various acts of trafficking should now be in place since the law provides for the creation of a permanent Secretariat to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking that will primarily collect comprehensive criminal justice data on trafficking in persons and will train prosecutors and law enforcers.

The law also improves institutional mechanisms and responses to human trafficking by strengthening policies, improving enforcement and enhancing inter-agency coordination both at the local and international levels.

Moreover, it expands the enumeration of acts that promote trafficking and covers attempted trafficking and accessory or accomplice liability.

“Trafficking in persons is a complex problem and trafficking modes and patterns continue to evolve over time as perpetrators of the crime seek to outflank policies and regulations of government. We have already improved the law. The vital step now is to strengthen enforcement and prosecution,” Legarda concluded.

PRO3 DRUG BUST NETS FOUR

 CAMP OLIVAS, CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, PAMPANGA- After the successful buy bust operation of PNP personnel which resulted to the seizure of 182 million pesos worth of Shabu from a Chinese National last November and arrest of a Taiwanese National and discovery of his illegal drug laboratory last December 2013, Police Regional Office 3 under the stint of PCSUPT RAUL D PETRASANTA, RD, PRO3 once again proved that PRO3 is stern in its campaign against illegal drugs as various accomplishments on drug- supply reduction strategy were accomplished by PRO3 through series of drug operations conducted by the different provincial police offices within the region.

 

          On January 11, 2014, elements of Jaen Police Station implemented Search Warrants Nr 02-14 and 01-14 against Mervin BULANAN y De Leon and Virgilio BARTOLOME @ Ver FOR Violation of Sec 5 and 11 of RA 9165 issued by Hon Celso Baguio, Exec Judge RTC Gapan City at their residence located at Brgy Sapang Jaen, Nueva Ecija which resulted in the confiscation of twenty three (23) pcs of heat sealed plastic transparent sachets containing suspected shabu with estimated street value of Php 300,000.00 from Teresita BARTOLOME and one (1) pc heat sealed plastic transparent sachet also containing suspected shabu and digital weighing scale from the possession of BULANAN.        

 

          Both suspects and seized evidence are now under the custody of Jaen Municipal Police Station for proper disposition.

 

Likewise, On January 4, 2013, elements of Balagtas Municipal Police Station arrested Hector FUENTES y Mariano and Janel VERGARA y Estrella for Violation of RA 9165.  

 

Based on reports that reached this Office, at around 10:00 AM of said date, Balagtas MPS received a report that  suspected shabu was being packed by a certain @ “Hector” at San Lorenzo Street, Barangay Borol 1^st.  MAIDSOTG operatives immediately proceeded at said place and suspects were caught red handed.

 

Confiscated from the suspects’ possessions are the following:  a)-one (1) piece of medium heat sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected “shabu” weighing 0.5193 grams; b)-one (1) piece of small heat sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected “shabu” weighing 0.0530 grams; c)-one (1) piece of medium heat sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected “SHABU” weighing 0.0368 grams; d)-one (1) piece of medium heat sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected Dried Marijuana Fruiting weighing 0.1135 grams; e)-Two (2) pieces of medium heat sealed transparent plastic sachets with residue suspected to be “SHABU” ; f)- Five (5) pieces of medium heat sealed transparent plastic sachets g)-One (1) piece of aluminum foil strip containing crystalline substance suspected to be “SHABU” ;h)-Two (2) pieces of disposable lighters;  i)-One (1) piece improvised burner ; j)-One (1) piece of Shabu paraphernalia (bottle cap with wire); k)-One (1) piece improvised water pipe ; l)–One (1) piece of scissor; m)-One (1) piece improvised pipe with containing 0.25501 grams of partially burned marijuana residue; and n)-One (1) piece weighing scale.

 

The arrested suspects and the confiscated pieces of evidence were brought to Bulacan Provincial Crime Laboratory Office for examination while appropriate criminal complaint is now being prepared for filing at the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor, Malolos City, Bulacan.

        

             PCSUPT PETRASANTA once again lauded the operating troops for their successful anti- illegal drug operations and said that series of operations on drug- supply reduction strategy will be carried out in the coming days to maximize efforts to eradicate the proliferation of illegal drugs in the region.

NFA RICE IMPORTS ARRIVE AT CENTRAL LUZON

The National Food Authority in Central Luzon made assurance of a sufficient supply of rice for 2014 with the arrival earlier this month of the region's imported rice allocation at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) port.

Around 500,000 bags (25,000 MT) of Vietnam rice arrived last week via the vessel MV Voge Fiesta.  Another vessel, MV Vinh Phuoc shall arrive later this month carrying some 225,000 bags (11,250 MT) of Vietnam rice.  Of the total volume of 725,000 bags, region 2 shall be allocated 200,000 bags while the provinces of Central Luzon shall receive 525,000 bags.

NFA Imported Rice arrives at Subic - MV Voge Fiesta, currently berthed at Subic Port, unloads around 500,000 bags of imported rice intended for region 2 and 3 provinces.  The National Food Authority in Central Luzon made assurance of a sufficient supply of rice for 2014 with the arrival earlier this month of the vessel carrying the region's imported rice allocation.  According to NFA-Region 3 Director Amadeo De Guzman, the imported rice from Vietnam is part of the 500,000 metric tons additional imported rice sought by the agency through the government-to-government import scheme.

ZUBIC, Zambales-According to NFA-Region 3 Director Amadeo De Guzman, the imported rice from Vietnam is part of the 500,000 metric tons additional imported rice sought by the agency through the government-to-government import scheme.

The Vietnam rice is meant to augment the current rice stocks which was badly affected due to the successive calamities that hit the country in 2013.  "It will augment the NFA's food security buffer stocks which was depleted due to the abnormally huge requirement for relief operations after the devastation caused by typhoon Santi and super typhoon Yolanda last year," Dir. De Guzman said.

Dir. De Guzman also said that the rice importation along with the planned aggressive palay procurement of the agency will build enough rice stocks to address the region's rice consumption for this year.

De Guzman further stressed that the agency's rice stocks are all of highest quality because they regularly conduct monitoring of their stocks based on the required regulations and standards.  

"Our current policy is that we do not store rice for more than (6) months, therefore I am assuring the consuming public that our present inventory of local rice stocks, which were recently milled using our newly-procured palay, are all of good quality.  The same goes for the imported rice, since the stocks need to pass NFA's quality standards," De Guzman added.

Army, local execs press return of Army brigade in NE town

BONGABON, Nueva Ecija – Military and local officials have pressed for the return of an Army brigade in this town amid the clamor by concerned citizens and peace advocates who expressed fears its continued absence could trigger the resurgence of the New People’s Army in the province and two adjoining provinces.

Mayor Allan Xystus Gamilla said negotiations to relocate the headquarters of the 702^nd Infantry Brigade in Barangay Calaanan here are on-going.

Gamilla said Gen. Vic Castro, 702^nd IB commander, has been talking with other military officials to effect the transfer of the brigade headquarters from Binmaley, Pangasinan back to Calaanan, where it was based for 25 years.

“Talks are on-going and on our end, we are also negotiating with the owner of the land where the former brigade headquarters used to stand to have him donate a parcel of his land for this purpose,” he said.

The brigade headquarters were set up in 1987 in Calaanan – some eight kilometers from the town proper - through a donation made by Navy Captain Rosendo Herrera. But the brigade relocated in Binmaley in 2012 after Herrera bared plans to sell the land housing the brigade to prospective buyers.

The brigade was replaced by a 74-man 56^th Infantry Battalion formerly stationed in Baler, Aurora and a reconnaissance company from the 7^th Infantry Division based in Fort Magsaysay.

Gamilla said the municipal government is also negotiating with Herrera to donate two hectares of the four-hectare area for the planned return of the brigade headquarters. He said the much smaller 56^th IB does not have enough manpower to cope with internal security threats.

“Besides, their lean force of only 74 men are even farmed out to different areas,” he said.

Gamilla said that since the 702^nd brigade pulled out its forces, this created a big impact in the community, particularly as it used to control the tri-boundaries of Aurora, Nueva Vizcaya and this province, which used to be known strongholds.

He recalled that when Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista was still its brigade commander, the three provinces were cleared of NPA presence. But when the brigade pulled out its troops and moved its base to Pangasinan, they have noticed an increase in rebel activities in these areas.      

In 2012, Gamilla’s mother, former three-term mayor Amelia Gamilla, objected to the transfer of the Army camp and appealed to  Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Bautista to order it returned.

She said the return of the 702^nd IB has been the popular clamor not only of the people of her town but also in nearby areas, particularly with the spate of incidents involving rebels, including the burning of heavy equipment in Barangay Villa, which also led to the death of an employee of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

          The elder Gamilla said Gazmin assured her he would talk to Herrera and try to convince him not to sell the land.

          She said that when Maj. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. became commanding general of the 7^th ID, the brigade was suddenly transferred and its forces pulled out of the town.

Catapang has since been named commanding general of the Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) based in Camp Aquino in Tarlac.

          The Gamillas said the brigade has helped the municipality and nearby towns and provinces not only to become successful in the counter-insurgency operations and in the maintenance of peace and order but also in forest protection and community service. - Manny Galvez

3 NPA Rebels Surrender to Army Troops in Davao del Sur

Quezon City – Three members of the communist rebel group New People’s Army (NPA) voluntarily surrendered to troops of the Army’s 39^th Infantry Battalion today in Bansalan, Davao del Sur bringing along three high-powered firearms.

The surrenderees were active members of the NPA’s Front 51, SMRC operating in the areas of Davao del Sur and Makilala, North Cotabato. They brought along one M14 rifle and two M16 rifles.

They are now undergoing custodial debriefing at the 39IB headquarters in Brgy. Tuban, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur while the recovered firearms are taken for proper disposition. The former rebels requested that the AFP withhold their identities to the public for fear of retaliation by their former comrades in the NPA.

On the other hand, the military sees the surrender as an act of progress knowing that not all members of the NPAs believe in their leaders’ hard-line stance on armed violence as means to achieve their goals.

Their reasons for joining the Communist movement might have been legitimate ones but after almost two decades of armed struggle, they have not realized that joining a group which causes only violence against our people isn't the answer.

On its part, the AFP reiterates its call to the NPAs who were misled to the violent path, to surrender and give peace a chance and totally abandon the armed struggle. In this way, more innocent civilians will be spared from their unlawful activities which hamper our government’s ongoing efforts towards progress and development for our nation.

Moreover, the military condemns the NPAs for their continued recruitment of individuals who instead of participating in violent activities could have been contributing in the formation of a peaceful and prosperous society.

The rebels recently declared that it will push for violence as they plan to conduct more offensives and recruit 25,000 NPAs this year. In spite of this, the AFP will continue to conduct focused military operations in its effort to uphold the primacy of the peace process.

While the NPA continues to find solutions through violence, the AFP on the other hand will continue to find solutions through peace. This year, the AFP is all-out for peace and development especially in NPA-influenced areas. The AFP will strengthen its support to the government’s undertakings that will address the root causes of insurgency and will bring the decades of armed struggle to a responsible end.

Central Luzon police nab carjackers, recover ‘hot’ cars in Bulacan

CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan—Joint elements of the Marilao and Valenzuela City Police apprehended on Wednesday afternoon a suspected carjacker that led to the recovery of several “hot” cars and assorted parts of cannibalized vehicles.

Chief Supt. Raul Petrasanta, regional police director for Central Luzon, identified the suspect as Pablito Gumasing.

A report submitted to Petrasanta said operatives from the two police stations conducted a joint operation against Gumasing in Barangay Lolomboy, Bocaue town. The operation was detected by the suspect and a firefight ensued.

Gumasing tried to evade the pursuing law enforcers by speeding away on a Hyundai Getz, believed to be a carnapped vehicle, but was wounded and eventually arrested. A follow-up police operation on the safehouse of Gumasing in Barangay Batia in the municipality of Bocaue resulted in the recovery of one Ford Focus; one Honda Civic; one Hyundai Getz and assorted parts of cannibalized vehicles.

The ownership of the recovered vehicles is currently being verified by the Regional Highway Patrol Group. (RAMON EFREN R. LAZARO)

JINGGOY DISPROVES PORK BARREL PLUNDER RAPS

MANILA-Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada filed today his counter-affidavit in response to the charges filed against him by the National Bureau of Investigation and Atty. Levito Baligod in relation to his alleged involvement in the so-called pork barrel scam.

Sen. Estrada maintained that he did not amass, accumulate or acquire ill-gotten wealth and that he has no participation or knowledge in the transfer of any amounts forming part of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocation to anyone other than the legally intended beneficiaries thereof.

He also categorically stated that he did not receive any amount from Janet Lim Napoles or any person associated with her or the non-government organizations she supposedly owned or controlled.

“I believe that these are nothing more than a high-level political ploy to undermine the opposition of which I am part in light of the coming 2016 national elections,” Jinggoy said.

Sen. Estrada lamented that the charges leveled against him are not supported by hard facts and evidence, but merely by bare allegations of secondhand information, hearsay, malicious suspicion and speculations. 

Jinggoy further noted that the government witnesses even explicitly admitted in various instances that they have no personal knowledge of the supposed transaction between him and Ms. Napoles. Witnesses for the complainant confessed under oath in one of the Senate inquiries of their extensive falsification of documents and forgery of signatures.

Sen. Estrada reiterated that as a duly-elected legislator, he has no hand in the implementation of the projects under the PDAF, and that his participation is limited to identifying a project from a menu of projects for funding as provided by law.

Sen. Estrada asserted that his endorsements of certain NGOs from a limited list of duly and previously accredited NGOs were “recommendatory at best” with the choice of NGO still left to the implementing agency.

“These endorsements merely reflected the choice of intended project beneficiaries and was based on the willingness of the NGO to undertake the chosen project, and subject to compliance with existing accounting and auditing rules and regulations,” Jinggoy pointed out.

Sen. Estrada also noted how the COA in its special audit report on the PDAF clearly stated that it is the implementing agency’s responsibility to look into the feasibility of the project proposals and the qualifications of the NGOs proposed to be involved in the projects.

“Had there been any objections or problem with respect to the endorsements made for the NGOs, I should have received word from the implementing agency or the COA which conducts post-audits of the projects. I received none,” he said.

Sen. Estrada also defended his former appointments secretary Pauline Labayen, who is among those accused of plunder, saying there is no probable cause to hold her for plunder.

“At no time did I instruct or persuade any of my staff to commit and participate in any illegal act, specifically in any irregular and unlawful transaction involving my PDAF allocation, nor did I order or influence them to receive any commission, kickbacks or rebates from Napoles, Benhur Luy, and their associates,” Jinggoy emphasized.

Comelec sets January 25 plebiscite on Cabanatuan’s conversion into HUC

CABANATUAN CITY – The Commission on Elections has set for January 25  the holding of a plebiscite on the conversion of this city from a component city into a Highly Urbanized City.

          In Resolution 1353, the Comelec, sitting En Banc, approved the date of the plebiscite with only registered voters of the city allowed to participate in the exercise.

          The six-page resolution was signed by Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. and Commissioners Lucenito Tagle, Elias Yusoph, Maria Gracia Cielo Padaca, Christian Robert Lim, Al Parreno and Luie Tito Guia.

          In a memorandum, Comelec deputy executive director for operations Bartolome Sinocruz Jr. forwarded copies of the resolution to Comelec regional director for Central Luzon Rafael Olano, Nueva Ecija provincial election supervisor Panfilo Doctor Jr. and Cabanatuan city election officer Arsenio Reyes.

          The setting of the plebiscite came on the heels of a November 29 letter  from Cabanatuan Mayor Julius Cesar Vergara requesting the Comelec to proceed with the said plebiscite for HUC conversion now that the May 13 national and local elections as well as the October 28 polls were over.

          President Aquino issued on July 4,2012 Presidential
Proclamation 418 converting this city into a HUC. The proclamation will have to be ratified in a plebiscite at a date to be fixed by the Comelec.

The conversion is being opposed by Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali whose stand resulted in a bitter feud with Vergara, his erstwhile political ally.

          The poll body originally set the date of the plebiscite on December 1, 2012 but this was postponed by the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order by the Palayan City Regional Trial Court. Subsequently, the Comelec issued a resolution postponing the plebiscite because of its proximity to the national and local elections.

          On June 28, shortly after Vergara got reelected, he wrote the Comelec asking it to revisit the conduct of the plebiscite but the poll body said it was forced to defer all actions until after the barangay polls. 

          In his November 29 letter, Vergara said there is no more legal impediment as the TRO issued by the Palayan RTC has already lapsed and the Supreme Court has not issued a TRO on the same.   

          Earlier, the poll body denied the petition of Umali  to allow all qualified voters in the whole province to take part in  a plebiscite that will ratify the proclamation of this city into a HUC.

In his petition,  Umali  said Novo Ecijanos will be affected once Cabanatuan becomes HUC and thus, it is imperative for them to participate in a plebiscite that would ratify Presidential Proclamation 418. He filed a verified motion for reconsideration which was also denied by the poll body.

The poll body has directed the use of previously printed official ballots, election returns, statement of votes and other election forms for the aborted December 1,2012 plebiscite.

In pressing for Novo Ecijano voters to be allowed to cast their vote in the plebiscite, Umali, a lawyer, said there is already  existing jurisprudence, foremost of which is a July 11,1986 Supreme Court ruling in the case of Tan vs Comelec regarding the creation of a new province of Negros del Norte wherein 2,768.4 square kilometers from the land area of the parent province were to be removed to create a new province whose boundaries would be substantially altered.

          He mentioned the separate concurring opinion of Chief Justice Claudio Teehankee stating that to limit the plebiscite to only the areas to be partitioned and seceded from the province is “as absurd and illogical as allowing only the secessionists to vote for the secession that they demanded against the wishes of the majority” and to nullify the majority rule principle.

          Another case in point, he said, was the October 19,1992 ruling in Padilla Jr. vs Comelec which stated that when the law states that the plebiscite shall be conducted in the political units directly affected, it means that residents of the political entity who would be economically dislocated by the separation of a portion thereof have a right to vote in the said plebiscite.

          “Evidently, what is contemplated by the phrase “political units directly affected,” is the plurality of political units which would participate in the plebiscite,” he stressed, quoting from the ruling.

          Umali said this is not the first time the issue of who should vote in the plebiscite is raised before the Comelec, citing the first case was Antipolo City’s own HUC bid wherein Rizal Gov. Casimiro Ynares III raised the same arguments.

          The Law Department of the Comelec, Umali recalled, found basis in the contention of Ynares and officially opined that the conduct of the plebiscite must include the qualified voters of Rizal.

It is the second attempt to convert the city into HUC.  In 1995, Vergara’s predecessor, then-mayor Manolette Liwag pushed for HUC conversion which was subsequently proclaimed by then-President Fidel Ramos.

          However, the move lost badly during the plebiscite, largely due to the opposition made by the camp of the Josons who were unseated by Umali a decade later, ending their half-century reign at the Capitol. – Manny Galvez  

Drilon: Sec. Singson’s competence, integrity unassailable

MANILA-Senate President Franklin M. Drilon has expressed his complete support for Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, who he describes as “the most honest, efficient, and decisive Public Works secretary” he has seenthroughout the last few administrations.

“I know for a fact that Sec. Singson would not stand for any shenanigans. He has shown zero tolerance for corruption since day one in office. His integrity and competence is unassailable,” said Drilon.

Drilon said that it is only under the leadership of Singson that genuine reforms such as improved procurement procedures, as well as competitive and transparent bidding have been effectively implemented in the department.

He lauded the strict adherence of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to the policy requiring the preparation of Program of Work with detailed estimates for each capital outlay, instead of indiscriminate releasing of project funds.

“The effective implementation of these reforms resulted in P16 billion savings which can be utilized for additional infrastructure projects,” emphasized Drilon.

Meanwhile, the Senate chief said he believes that the allegations of overpricing in the construction of bunkhouses for Yolanda-hit victims are counterproductive, especially at a time “when DPWH’s attention is badly needed elsewhere.”

Drilon said that as with the President, he expressed satisfaction and confidence with the explanations provided by the DPWH secretary regarding the issue.

“In fact, the secretary’s recent offer to immediately resign if the allegations of overpricing are proven to be true is an admirable sign of class and character befitting a true public servant,” ended Drilon. 

Legarda Stresses Importance of Safe Structures Amid Issues on Bunkhouses in Typhoon-Hit Areas

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda today stressed the importance of building safe and resilient homes and structures, especially in rebuilding communities devastated by disasters.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, made the statement amid concerns raised in the construction of bunkhouses for typhoon survivors. Reports say that these temporary shelters were allegedly overpriced and non-compliant with safety standards and best practices.

“In aiming for a resilient recovery, the structural integrity of homes, buildings and other structures should not be compromised. We have to realize that these survivors have already lost their homes, and many even their loved ones,” she said.

“We need to rebuild communities with the confidence that we are not rebuilding the risks again. We need to ensure that construction of homes, even the temporary shelters, will be on safer ground following sound construction standards,” Legarda reiterated.

Earlier, the Senator said that Typhoon Yolanda is the new benchmark for disaster prevention, which means that the country should raise the standard for building structures. For instance, structures must be designed to be able to resist winds of more than 300 kph.

Legarda said that local government units must include in their development and investment plans the establishment of shelters that are resilient to typhoon, storm surge and tsunami.

“It is important that we immediately provide survivors with shelters to ease their suffering and to help them get back on their feet immediately. However, although the urgency is recognized, it will be imperative that these shelters are located and constructed safer,” she stressed.

“The way forward is to aim for resilience and we should start treading this path while we are rebuilding typhoon-hit communities. We need to ensure that we rebuild lives and communities better, stronger and more resilient. We should give typhoon survivors not only hope for the present, but also confidence in the future. We must build back better communities to be able to build a resilient nation,” Legarda concluded.

AFP Turnover P300k Donations to Sagip Kapamilya Foundation

Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City—The Armed Forces of the Philippines turned over today, January 6, over P300,000 in cash donations raised through various charity projects facilitated by the AFP’s Northern Luzon Command.

The total amount was handed over to Sagip Kapamilya Foundation thru Ms Tina Monzon-Palma in a ceremony held at the GHQ Conference Room here.

The series of fund raising projects started immediately after the attack on Zamboanga City last September. The first project, which is the crafting of furnitures out of uprooted trees due to typhoon Santi, was hatched in a command conference in NOLCOM presided by Lt. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr.

A few weeks after the Zamboanga incident came the earthquake in Bohol; then on the early part of November, Typhoon Yolanda devastated parts of Visayas. It was also agreed that several fundraising activities will be done to help our people in the south even as central Luzon was also hit by typhoon Santi.

Hundreds of uprooted trees ranging from decades old Acacia and Mahogany and other trees like Gemelina were gathered and crafted into dining sets, TV racks, cabinets and other furniture by soldiers of NOLCOM.

The auction of said items was held on December 16 and was met with enthusiasm from the local folks. Even before the actual selling, all the furniture sets have already been reserved and sold due to the overwhelming support of the people and different stakeholders who want to help our countrymen in Zamboanga, Bohol, Samar and Leyte.

The Golf for a Cause and Firing Tournament was held on Dec 18. The two tournaments were attended mostly by military personnel and businessmen from Central and Northern Luzon and National Capital Region who committed their support for the fundraising projects for calamity victims.

The Enduro Challenge and Battle of the Bands concert for a cause was held on Dec 20 which was participated in by different local bands who pledged support for the fundraising activity for our people in the south.

Sagip Kapamilya was chosen due to the stable partnership of the AFP and ABSCBN Sagip Kapamilya Foundation and the long list of joint projects which were undergone in this partnership specially the school building projects of Sagip Kapamilya under the Program "Gusto Kong Mag-aral" where engineering equipment and expertise comes from the AFP while construction materials is being provided by Sagip Kapamilya and the labor force consist of Bayanihan of local populace and soldiers.

The partnership on school building projects was started in 2011 with the then AFP National Development Support Command and Sagip Kapamilya. The first school constructed in this partnership is the two-classroom schoolbuilding in Brgy Yunot, Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro which benefitted the Hanunuo Tribe.

In 2011 alone Sagip Kapamilya in partnership with the AFP constructed a total of 124 classrooms nationwide including the 50 classrooms in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan which were constructed after typhoon Sendong. In 2012 a total of 86 more classrooms nationwide were constructed under this partnership.

In 2013, in Northern and central Luzon area a total of 27 school buildings were constructed under this partnership.

Right now, three more schoolbuildings are being constructed. These schoolbuildings are also designed to be utilized as evacuation centers during calamities.