Drilon: Students biggest winners as education measures top Senate approved bills

MANILA-Senate President Franklin M. Drilon today said that Filipino students will benefit the most from a wave of social service measures passed by Congress over the past year.

Since the 16th Congress convened in July 2013, the Senate has passed 44 proposed measures of national importance -  of which 17 became laws in 2014 and four in 2013.

“These laws we passed reflect the government's commitment to address the most basic and pressing concerns of our countrymen which include education, health, social reform package, consumer protection, and our ability to prepare for the dangers of upcoming emergencies,” said Drilon.

Out of the 21 laws, three were aimed at widening access to education, by eliminating major deterrents, according to Drilon. These include Republic Act (RA) No. 10648, known as the"Iskolar ng Bayan Act," which gives automatic admission and provision of scholarship grants by all state colleges and universities to public high school students who belong to the top ten places of their graduating classes; RA 10650 which widens access to tertiary education by institutionalizing open distance learning; and RA 10647 which strengthens ladderized interface between technical-vocational education and training and higher education in the country.

“The education sector and the students are the biggest winners in the laws that we have passed, considering their immense benefits to countless out-of-school Filipino youth." Drilon said.

“Through the enactment of these laws, we are confident that we will finally remove the traditional barriers to the effective delivery of education throughout the country, namely poverty, distance and age,” he then stressed.

Drilon added that there are two more pro-students laws awaiting congressional approval. These include Senate Bill (SB) No. 2277 that seeks to establish the Open High School System in the country and SB 2226 that aims to prevent the commercialization of student-athletes.

On social services, Drilon pointed to RA 10645 or the Mandatory Philhealth Coverage for All Senior Citizens, which entitles all senior citizens to avail of Philhealth benefits for their medical expenses; and RA 10649, which doubles the the burial assistance for military veterans from P10,000 to P20,000.

"We have passed these laws to advance the state of social services in the country, particularly to those who need our care the most, like the  elderly and the sick,” said Drilon.

He also said that the upper chamber also passed on third reading Senate Joint Resolution No. 2 which increases the subsistence allowance of all personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippine and the Philippines National Police from P90 to P150 per day; as well as Senate Joint Resolution No. 10 which extends the period for filing of claims for repatriation of Martial Law victims.

In addition to the host of laws and bills passed by Congress, the Senate chief said the chambers also passed the bill increasing the tax exemption limit of 13th month pay and other bonuses from P30,000 to P82,000 in order to reflect the current consumer price index, and SB 2414 strengthening the country’s campaign against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and ensure our compliance with our obligations under international conventions and standards.

On economic development, the Congress passed RA 10641 which liberalizes the entry of foreign banks in the country, by allowing foreign banks to acquire and invest up to 100% of the voting stock of a domestic bank, or to establish  branches with full banking authority, and by lifting the limitation on the number of foreign banks that can operate in the country.

The Congress likewise enacted RA 10644 or the Go Negosyo Act to improve the ease of doing business, especially for small and medium businesses.

Early this year, the Congress passed a law establishing the Maritime Industry Authority as the country’s single maritime administration to comply with the international standards. The Congress’ swift approval of the law helped protect the employment of 80,000 Filipino seafarers based in Europe from losing their job, noted Drilon.

It also passed RA 10643  which requires graphic health warning on cigarette packages, RA 10639 that mandates telecommunications services to send free mobile alerts in the event of a disaster, RA 10642 which protects consumers against sale of defective vehicles, and RA 1063 that extends the corporate life of the Philippine National Railways for another 50 years.

"As I have told our countrymen in the beginning of the 2nd session of the 16th Congress, we needed to prove that the Senate is still deserving of the respect of the people as a democratic institution. Thus, we have passed laws that will help the poor,  widen the delivery of education and other social services and improve the economy," Drilon said.

According to the Senate leader, the public is "steadily being made aware of the Senate's efforts to reform itself and introduce positive changes to the country," as evident in the latest survey by the Pulse Asia, which pegged the performance approval rating of the Senate at 42 percent, a far cry from the 33 percent approval rate it garnered last June. 

NOLCOM Plants Bamboo for AFP’s 79th Founding Anniversary Celebration

CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac City -- The Northern Luzon Command, conducted a Bamboo Tree Planting activity at the creek line of the Military Police Area in Camp General Servillano Aquino, San Miguel, Tarlac City on December 17, 2014, which is the first among the command’s series of activities in commemoration of the AFP’s 79^th Founding Anniversary with the theme: “Sandatahang Lakas: Pitumpu’t- Siyam Taong Naglilingkod ng Tapat Tungo sa Kapayapaan, Kaunlaran at Kasaganahan”. The celebration is from December 17-22, 2014.

The Assistant Chief of Unified Command Staff for Civil-Military Operation, U7 headed by LTC JULIUS MIRANDA spearheaded the said activity and participated in by the officers and men of NOLCOM. Bamboo was planted due to its efficient absorption of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and its ability to prevent soil erosion. This effort will contribute to the country’s effort for climate change mitigation.

NOLCOM Commander, LTGEN FELICITO VIRGILIO M TRINIDAD JR said, “We started the AFP’s 79^th Founding Anniversary Celebration with a tree planting activity to symbolize our role as ecological care takers and the first responder role in times of disasters and calamities. We are always in the forefront when these events occur and we have to take actions to mitigate its effects to the people and environment. Our DRRO mission compels us to take actions in preparedness and mitigation.

Legarda Supports AU Gov’t Efforts to Protect Great Barrier Reef

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda today expressed her support to the Australian Government’s efforts to protect and manage the Great Barrier Reef to maintain its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, made the statement following a meeting with Australian Environment Minister Greg Hunt and Australian Ambassador Bill Tweddell on 17 December 2014.

“I welcome and support the Australian Government’s efforts to protect the Great Barrier Reef and make sure it is not inscribed on the UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger. The Great Barrier Reef is a very important natural resource and the Australian Government needs the support of the international community to effectively carry out measures to further protect the outstanding universal value of the site,” she stressed.

The World Heritage Committee (WHC) has raised concerns over the health and inadequate management of the Great Barrier Reef. In response, the Australian Government developed the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan, an overarching framework for protecting and managing the Great Barrier Reef from 2015 to 2050.

Legarda also said that the Philippines and Australia have many opportunities for cooperation especially in terms of coral reef conservation research based on management practices in the Great Barrier Reef and Philippine marine protected areas.

“Like Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, our Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our countries can work together and share experiences in managing our respective marine resources to come up with a strengthened cooperative effort on reef restoration and protection and marine biodiversity conservation. Even if we are different nations, we live in one planet and we should all do our part in saving the world’s natural treasures,” said Legarda.***

Photo Caption:

Senator Loren Legarda meets with Australian Environment Minister Greg Hunt (right) and Australian Ambassador Bill Tweddell (left) to discuss areas of cooperation between the Philippines and Australia, especially in terms of coral reef conservation research based on management practices in the Great Barrier Reef and Philippine marine protected areas. Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, expressed her support to the Australian Government’s efforts to protect and manage the Great Barrier Reef to maintain its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Legarda Bats for Strengthened Info and Education Campaign to Combat Trafficking

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda today said that a strengthened information and education campaign on human trafficking would help combat the illegal human trade.

Legarda, principal sponsor of Republic Act No. 10364, the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, said that there should be a massive information and education campaign against all forms of human trafficking, including cyber pornography.

“Technological advancements, such as the Internet, are supposed to make life easier and get things done faster. But unscrupulous individuals have been taking advantage of these innovations. The Internet has become a new avenue for human trafficking,” she explained.

“With the Internet allowing communication to cross national borders in a matter of seconds, everything is now within reach, and even human trafficking can now be done online through cyber sex trafficking,” she added.

The Senator said that the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act aims to address the new challenges brought by human trafficking, such as cybersex.

Under the amended law, harboring a child for purposes of prostitution or production of pornographic materials is considered trafficking under the law.

Moreover, even acts that constitute attempted trafficking in persons are punishable. Accomplices and accessories to the crime will also be meted their due penalties.

“We have shown significant improvements in combatting human trafficking. In the 2014 Global Slavery Index, the Philippines is no. 1 in Asia and no. 29 worldwide out of 166 countries in terms of government response against human trafficking,” said Legarda.

“These numbers should not, however, give us a sense of complacency. While this is laudable, we cannot celebrate just yet because we know that there are still many Filipino women, children and men here in the country and in other parts of the world who are hoping and praying that soon they will be rescued from slavery and be able to tread on a new path for a much brighter future,” she stressed.

Legarda also called for continuous support to the agencies of government forming the Inter-Agency Council Against (IACAT) for the full and effective implementation of the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.

“The illegal human trade is a complex web. Battling it requires a concerted effort from all sectors of society. But preventing the crime and protecting our children from trafficking can actually start at home by educating our children on how they can protect themselves, including on the responsible use of the Internet,” Legarda concluded.

Senate passes fair competition act

MANILA-The Senate today passed on third and final reading a measure which aims to shield small business owners and consumers from companies engaged in unfair business practices which lead to increase in prices of basic goods and services.

Senate Bill No. 2282, otherwise known as the Fair Competition Act of 2014, was introduced by Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, chair of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

“A fair competition policy will level the playing field for Filipino businesses and allow more Filipinos to exercise their entrepreneurial spirit,” Aquino said.

Aquino said the measure works hand-in-hand with the recently enacted Go Negosyo Act (Republic Act 10644) which he also authored. He said SBN 2282 will allow more Filipinos to make a living “out of their own businesses,” which, in turn, will generate more employment and strengthen the purchasing power of more Filipinos.

“The bill puts in place measures that will protect the welfare of businesses and protect honest, hard-working entrepreneurs against abuse of dominance and position, and other unfair practices that put both Filipino businesses and their consumers at risk,” Aquino said.

Senate President Franklin M. Drilon concurred, saying that “having a competition law will lead to lower prices, higher quality of products and services, and more choices for consumers, as fostering a competitive economic environment spurs market efficiency and innovation.”

Drilon also said that the Fair Competition Act contributes to Congress’ goal of passing a package of priority economic measures to improve the Philippine business climate, boost investment and ensure macroeconomic and fiscal sustainability to prepare the country for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015.

He noted that “the Philippines remains the only member of the ASEAN-5 countries (which also includes Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand) where a competition law is not already in place.”

Acts considered as unfair competition include, among others, any competitive agreement between competitors; setting, limiting, or controlling the production of goods and services to the detriment of consumers; the application of contradictory conditions to equivalent transactions with other parties, and price fixing.

To accomplish its goals, the bill mandates the establishment of a Fair Competition Commission which will ensure that industrial concentration would not limit economic power to a few.

Tasked to promote competition, ensure consumer welfare, and penalize abuses of market power, the Commission is also mandated to prohibit anti-competitive agreements and abuses of dominant position that distort, manipulate, or constrict the operation of markets in the Philippines through constant monitoring of business practices being implemented by market leaders.

The proposed measure states that those found to be engaged in unfair competition will face a fine ranging from P50 million to P200 million.

The measure also states that any competitive agreement between competitors shall be penalized by imprisonment from two to five years, or fined an amount not less than P100 million but not more than P200 million or both, with “the  penalty of imprisonment being imposed upon the officers and directors of the entity.”  

 “We believe that the Fair Competition Act is all at once pro-poor, pro-people, and pro-business. It safeguards the welfare of businesses, large and small, and protects honest, hardworking entrepreneurs,” Aquino said.

The measure was approved on third reading after the inclusion of an amendment by Acting Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto, which further empowers the proposed Commission to consider whether market entities selling their products below cost “are doing so in good faith to meet or compete with the lower price of a competitor.”

SBN 2282 is co-authored by Senators Serge Osmeña III, Teofisto “TG” Guingona III, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada and Antonio Trillanes IV.  (Yvonne Almiranez)

Due to conflicting estimates, Recto calls for audit of coco levy funds

MANILA-Due to conflicting estimates on the value of the “coco levy fund”, Sen. Ralph Recto has called for an audit to determine the present worth of the multibillion-peso fund which grew out of the levy on copra sales during the Marcos period.

“There are lots of numbers being bandied about. One estimate, reportedly from the Asset Privatization Trust, puts it at P100 billion. One briefer presented by a financial institution computes it at P73 billion. Government lawyers place it at P60 billion. A Cabinet member says it’s P72 billion,” Recto said.

“Just today, we were told by the Presidential Commission on Good Government that the fund is in the neighborhood of P80 billion,” Recto said.

The latter was the figure PCCG chair Andres Bautista told a Senate hearing as his agency’s appraisal of the fund’s present value.

Recto said only an audit by the Commission on Audit “can settle the confusion and present us with a clear picture on value, status, interests, income and assets of the fund.”

He said COA has both the expertise and the mandate “to follow the money and catalogue the assets.”

“Because the levies were used to acquire a myriad of corporations and finance ventures, we need an audit to show where these are and the state of investments,” Recto said.

Among the investments are seven oil mills, as well as seven other firms engaged in a wide range of activities - from banking to insurance to chemicals - and 10 copra trading companies.

The investments were made prior to 1982 by the Coconut Industry Investment Fund which in turn was financed in whole by coco levy collections.

One of the investments, the 753.8 million shares in San Miguel Corporation worth P56 billion at the time of buy-back, has been declared by the Supreme Court as public funds. The high court’s partial entry of judgment last week paves the way for its eventual plowback to farmers.

“But for government to properly administer the fund and distribute the dividends, it must have an idea of how much money is involved,” Recto said.

“Hindi naman siguro complicated ang accounting.  Eh kung nabilang nga natin ang lahat ng puno ng niyog sa buong bansa na 338,339,638, siguro naman mas madali bilangin ang fruits ng coco levy funds,” he said.

Birthed by Republic Act 6260, the coco levy was imposed on copra sales purportedly to raise capital investment for the coconut industry.

By 1986, the total amount collected from the various coconut levies from 1971 to 1982 amounted to P9.7 billion.  In the aftermath of EDSA 1, the amount was sequestered by the PCGG, which also triggered a long legal struggle for its ownership.

On May 7, 2004, the Sandiganbayan rendered a partial summary judgment in declaring that the six CIIF-OMG companies, their 14 holding firms, and the CIIF-OMG block of SMC shares as “owned by the Government in trust for all the coconut farmers.”

The Supreme Court, in its decision dated 24 January 2012, upheld the Sandiganbayan.

On the same year, the SMC shares amounting to P57 Billion were paid for by the San Miguel Corporation and was remitted to the National Treasury.

Malacanang is presently drafting an Executive Order which will govern how the interest on the fund will be utilized to benefit the coconut farmers.

In the Senate, Recto has authored SB 455 which prescribes the mechanics of the disposition of coco levy funds and assets.

He has also filed Resolution 30 which calls for an audit on all coco levy investments.

Villar welcomes SC ruling releasing P60B coco levy funds

MANILA-Sen. Cynthia Villar today welcomed the Supreme Court (SC) decision paving the way for the release of coconut levy funds amounting to P60 billion for the benefit of the 3.5 million coconut farmers in the country.

“This partial release of the P100 billion fund is a step in the right direction. We congratulate the coconut farmers for this victory. With this amount, a trust fund can be created to bankroll programs that will directly benefit coconut farmers,” Villar said.

On Wednesday, seven magistrates, namely Chief Justice Loudes Sereno and Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco, Jr., Mariano del Castillo, Martin Villarama Jr., Jose Mendoza, Bienvenido Reyes, and Marvic Leonen unanimously voted for the immediate issuance of the judgment concerning SC’s Sept. 4, 2012 resolution, causing its execution.

The court in its 2012 decision, declared 753,848,312 San Miguel Corp. shares as public funds as they were acquired through taxes levied on coconut farmers during martial law.

“The coconut farmers who earn only P50 a day are the poorest in our country. The levy funds rightfully belongs to the farmers and should be used to improve their condition,” she said.

Villar, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, authored Senate Bill2126 or the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Act, which seeks to establish a trust fund that will pay for the implementation of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan.

The bill mandates the creation of the Coconut Farmers and Industry fund, a trust fund which shall be perpetually maintained for the development of the coconut industry for the ultimate benefit of coconut farmers and farm workers.

Under the bill, the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan will be prepared for the development and rehabilitation of the coconut industry. It will include, among others, a national program for coconut productivity, replanting, intercropping, rehabilitation, scientific and medical research, crop protection, crop insurance, integrated downstream processing, and market promotion.

It will also include local programs that directly benefit small coconut farmers and farm workers, such as medical and health and life insurance services, educational scholarships for deserving students coming from families of coconut farmers, or beneficiaries of the coconut levy funds.

In a dialogue with the KM71 coconut farmers who marched from as far as Davao to Manila to push for the creation of the coco levy trust fund, Villar gave the assurance that the bill will be passed early 2015.

Ilocos Cops Gear Up to Counter Terrorism

In strategic partnership with Civil Relations Service (CRS) Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), AFP Civil-Military Operations School and Media and Civil Affairs Group CRS AFP, and 1st Civil Relations Group CRS AFP, the PNP’s Regional Public Safety Battalion 1 (RPSB 1) conducted a Community Engagement and Information Support Affairs training at the Police Regional Office 1 (PRO 1) at Camp Oscar Florendo in San Fernando, La Union.

December 11, 2014, San Fernando, La Union – As 2014 closes and the military slowly shifts to external defense, the Philipine National Police (PNP) is set to take greater Internal Security Operations (ISO) responsibility and accountability.

The big question – “Is the PNP prepared to take on a bigger role in counter-insurgency?”

In strategic partnership with Civil Relations Service (CRS) Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), AFP Civil-Military Operations School and Media and Civil Affairs Group CRS AFP, and 1st Civil Relations Group CRS AFP, the PNP’s Regional Public Safety Battalion 1 (RPSB 1) conducted a Community Engagement and Information Support Affairs training at the Police Regional Office 1 (PRO 1) at Camp Oscar Florendo in San Fernando, La Union.

This capacity building activity for police officers in Region 1 aims to be a model for harnessing PNP-AFP collaboration towards smooth and effective transition.

The 50 trainees comprising the officers and leaders of RPSB and Provincial Public Safety Companies (PPSC) in Region 1 were oriented on the endgame required to finally resolve the communist banditry in the country.

The participants were given instructions and skills-training on engaging stakeholders and undertaking counterpropaganda operations against the communists terrorists’ enslaving control and deception.

What’s new in this training is the emphasis on competence.

“Competencies are observable abilities, skills, knowledge, motivations or traits defined in terms of behaviors needed for successful job performance. The three elements of ISO readiness are deemed essential to assure the effectiveness of public safety forces as counter-insurgency agents.

“First is performance through service delivery and tactical skills.  The police must be able to perform the basic services of law enforcement and crime prevention. Tactical skills consists of basic combat, troop leading procedures, intelligence, investigation, and self-protection that includes the ability to escape when captured or detained by the enemy.

“Second, partnering or people skills are essentially expertise in community organizing, which consists of social investigation, communication and counter-propaganda and criticism and self-criticism.

“Third, personal effectiveness or accountability, which is all about self-management/regulation, police ethics and living up to the PNP core values- pulis na maka Diyos (regardless of religion, he believes in a Higher Being or a God), makabayan (patriotic), makatao (humane) at makakalikasan (pro-environment).

Finally, what’s innovative in this capacity building even is the cross-training. The AFP and PNP officers shared best practices and lessons learned in the field.  It was a no holds-barred cross-fertilization with an objective of learning from past mistakes and embarking on more creative and resourceful means of rescuing the people from the deception of the enemy.

In his closing address, Police Chief Superintendent Roman A. Felix, Regional Director PRO 1 challenged to the police officers, “countering communists terrorism is not just the job of the AFP.  Whether lead or support, the police has a critical role in the fight.  For the NPA bandits have accumulated a long list of criminal offense, murder, extortion, arson, Violence Against Women and Children, among others.”

“Remember, the police do not live in co-existence with criminals. The way to win over insurgency is through competent law enforcement.  This is the best communications message to convince the people that that the PNP is here to provide protection against terrorist organizations like the NPA.”

Felix further challenged the officers that as leaders of the PNP intensified counter-terrorism campaign, the endgame is really up to them.  He emphasized that the loss of life and limbs are not necessary. For the PNP, the way we can win against insurgency is by winning hearts and minds of the people, and that is through the effective community engagement of one competent and disciplined policeman, one day at a time. “Do your job and do it well. Win the people and win the war,” he concluded.

Decal-for-sale, curfew trigger protests inside Fort Magsaysay

FORT MAGSAYSAY, Palayan City – Motorists passing inside the military reservation here are being required to secure decals for a fee, triggering massive protests from local officials and citizens who already have to deal with a curfew imposed by the leadership of the Army’s 7^th Infantry Division.

Each decal costs P510 and issued to vehicles passing through Barangay Militar inside the military camp where strict security procedures such as a curfew also prevail.

Protesting motorists have sought the help of Mayor Adrianne Mae Cuevas who earlier criticized the sudden imposition of a curfew in barangays Doña Josefa and Langka covered by the reservation, which she said, restricted the movement and civil liberties of residents, particularly during nighttime.

          She accused 7^th ID officials of failing to consult the civilian leadership before setting up checkpoints in the two barangays which has caused alarm and inconvenienced the residents.

          Former councilor Analyn Boncawil, a resident of Militar, said even retired soldiers are required to have their decal or they will be barred entry inside the camp.

          A retired Army sergeant said sometimes, temporary stubs are issued the motorists in place of the decals. “When we return the next day to get our decals, we are no longer issued one,” he complained.

During a three-hour dialogue Wednesday, Cuevas confronted Camp Commander Lt. Col. Edgar Batenga who was accompanied by Capt. Mark Ruelos, division spokesperson.

Batenga earned the ire of Cuevas and the other city officials after he ordered closed Gate 5 manned by the Alorma detachment at the camp and implemented a curfew from 9 pm to 4:30 am.

Doña Josefa barangay chairman Aurelio Lapagao said the policy has affected even Pinatubo victims and indigenous  peoples (IPs)living in the place.

Batenga said they imposed the security measure to prevent the indiscriminate intrusion of informal settlers inside the camp.

“We are just following orders from higher authorities and what is provided by law,” he said.

He said the reservation used to cover a vast expanse of land covering 76,000  hectares but its land area has shrunk to only 44,000 hectares due mainly to the entry of informal settlers.

Lawyer Paul Cuñano, city legal officer, said the affected barangays have been established by law and are supposed to have access to national roads but have been restricted with boundaries.

It was not the first time that this military camp, considered the biggest in the country and one of the biggest in Southeast, was linked to repression and violation of human rights. It was here when President Aquino’s father, late former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino and fellow senator Jose Diokno were placed under solitary confinement to stifle dissent during the Martial Law years.

This camp also figured prominently in a series of coup attempts against the administration of President Aquino’s late mother, then President Corazon Aquino in 1989 staged by then-colonel and now Sen. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan. (Manny Galvez)

Pangilinan on Poe-Kiko in 2016 : ‘it’s just a joke’

CABANATUAN CITY – A Poe-Kiko tandem in the 2016 elections?

          It may sound catchy, funny and interesting but it’s nothing but a joke, according to Presidential Adviser on Food Security and Modernization (PAFSAM), Secretary Francis Pangilinan.

“Joke lang ‘yon (It’s a joke at best),” Pangilinan, nicknamed Kiko, told reporters at the sidelines of the Christmas party of the National Irrigation Administration at its central office along Edsa attended by the agency’s regional directors, project managers and employees Thursday afternoon.

He was responding to a question on whether he could be the running mate of Sen. Grace Poe, who is being mentioned as one of the prospective candidates for president in the 2016 synchronized elections.

Political analysts, the media and even ordinary citizens have been having a grand time talking about a Poe-Kiko tandem not only because it is catchy but also because of sexist tone. 

They say it sounds more like a play on words referring to a woman’s private part but in a humorous tone.

“Imagine during the campaign, you will hear people chanting “Puke ko, puke ko (my private part, my private part). It will surely get everybody’s attention,” one of them commented with a laugh.    

Poe, daughter of the late movie actor and ex-presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. , has emerged second to Vice President Jejomar Binay in a survey of possible presidential bets with a rating of 18%. She has denied any plans to seek higher office.

Poe’s name has been floated after Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, a senior member of the Liberal Party, revealed Thursday that an outsider like the lady senator could be considered as the party’s standard-bearer in the 2016 presidential race.

One of the elder Poe’s early supporters, Washington Sycip, founder of the accounting firm SGV & Co., has been egging the younger Poe to run for the presidency.

Pangilinan said he has not yet made up his mind on whether he would make a political comeback. “Everything is still up in the air at this point,” he said. (Manny Galvez)

Legarda Urges Nations’ United Effort Towards Marine Conservation

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda today said that nations should unite towards the protection of our high seas and the responsible use of marine resources.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, made the statement during the Regional Seminar on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity beyond Areas of National Jurisdiction held at the Century Park Hotel in Manila on December 12, 2014.

The event was organized by the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF), in cooperation with Greenpeace Southeast Asia and The Pew Charitable Trusts.

“There is no question that marine biological diversity is enormously important for the Philippines and the world. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) recognizes this importance and very early came up with a work programme on marine biological diversity. However, the CBD is fairly limited to national biodiversity,” Legarda explained.

“It is the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS that governs the use of marine resources in the high seas. But when the UNCLOS was negotiated in the 1980s, we did not yet have the knowledge and insight we now have on marine biological diversity. Today, we need a new implementing agreement under UNCLOS,” she added.

The Senator noted that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations warns that about 80% percent of the world’s fisheries are already fully exploited, over exploited or significantly depleted. Moreover, the World Bank states that an estimated $50 billion worth of economic benefits are lost annually due to overfishing.

She added that in the Philippines, among the poorest in are those in coastal communities, with 4 of 10 coastal residents living under poverty line, despite the fact that the country is located within the coral triangle, at the center of the highest marine diversity in the world.

“This situation, along with the fact that the Philippines is considered an epicenter of biodiversity and evolution, demands special focus on marine conservation efforts. However, conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity should not be concentrated in individual countries alone,” said Legarda.

“Our nations are interconnected, and an ecosystems approach towards a more holistic, multisectoral, integrated and sustainable coastal management and fisheries, across countries, governments and communities will be beneficial to all,” she stressed.

“As different nations living in one planet, we need to unite towards the protection of our high seas and the responsible use of marine resources. We need an UNCLOS agreement for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. We must act now and work together to find the much-needed balance in using the resources of our oceans and protecting its biodiversity,” Legarda concluded.