DILG holds skills enhancement training for barangay secretaries in Bulacan

MALOLOS CITY -- Around 100 barangay secretaries recently benefitted in the second batch of skills enhancement training given by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Bulacan.

“Participants were oriented on the roles, duties, and responsibilities of barangay secretaries as well as overview of the Katarungang Pambarangay,” DILG Provincial Director Darwin David said.

“They were likewise trained on how to write correspondences and proper recordkeeping,” David added.

Attendees came from Malolos, Angat, Bulakan, Calumpit, Doña Remedios Trinidad, Pandi, Paombong, San Ildefonso, and Obando. (Vinson F. Concepcion)

Health Microinsurance to augment Universal Health Care program

CLARK FREEPORT -- The soon-to-be implemented Health Microinsurance (HMI) shall augment the Universal Health Care (UHC) program of the government, as outlined in the 2011-2016 Philippine Development Plan (PDP), which safeguards equitable access to healthcare for all Filipinos, particularly the poor.

 

“PDP envisions a National Health Insurance Program that encourages public-private partnerships to respond to the current gaps in healthcare risk protection in the country. PhilHealth provides basic healthcare packages but has not covered medical transport, drugs, and medical supplies outside of the hospital,” Department of Finance-National Credit Council (DOF-NCC) Director Joselito Almario told reporters during the North Luzon Public Consultation on the HMI Policy and Regulatory Framework.

 

According to Department of Health (DOH), 54 percent of the total health expenditure comprised out-of-pocket expenses.

 

“HMI shall augment the UHC program through a viable and sustainable private sector microinsurance industry. It shall respond to the needs and paying capacities of low-income and informal sectors. Products have affordable premiums, the benefits correspond to the risks, and claims settlement is fast,” Almario added.

 

The crafting of the HMI Framework is a collaboration of DOF-NCC, DOH, Insurance Commission, and industry partners with technical support from the German Development Cooperation.

 

Tuesday’s public consultation is the fourth in a series of five after Cebu, Davao, and Laguna.

 

Inputs from the consultations will be collated and reflected in the draft framework with the final version to be launched to the public by second quarter of 2015.

 

Apart from health, the same team is working on Microinsurance for agriculture and climate change. (Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu)

NIA INKS MOA WITH MWSS & NPC TO REHAB BUSTOS DAM

MANILA-NIA Administrator Florencio F. Padernal, NPC Chairman Gladys Cruz-Sta. Rita, and MWSS Administrator Gerardo A.I. Esquivel led the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the rehabilitation of the Angat Afterbay Regulator Dam (also known as Bustos Dam) at the MWSS Headquarters in Quezon City.

This project aims to rehabilitate the dam and its appurtenant structures to prevent further damages, improve irrigation service delivery and cropping intensity in the service area, and to serve as flood control during rainy season. The rehab covers the replacement of 6 bays rubber gates; improvement of apron, training walls, and gates; improvement of main canals, laterals, and other structures; and improvement of operations and maintenance and support services.

As stipulated in the MOA, MWSS will provide the Php1-B funding to cover the project implementation and will maximize the project to ensure domestic water supply. On the other hand, NPC will utilize the project to sustain its power generation capacity.

The Bustos Dam is operated by the NIA Angat-Maasim River Irrigation System (AMRIS) in Region 3. AMRIS serves a total of 31,485 hectares benefitting 23,708 rice farmers in 16 municipalities in Bulacan and 4 municipalities in Pampanga.

Also present during the MOA signing are NIA-Region 3 Manager Josephine B. Salazar and NWRB Deputy Executive Director Jorge M. Estioko.

Legarda: Intensify DRR Programs to Address PHL’s Increased Exposure to Disaster Risks

MANILA-Citing a recent study that showed Philippine cities are most exposed to natural hazards, Senator Loren Legarda today renewed her call for strengthened disaster risk reduction programs in the country.

Legarda, United Nations Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific, said national and local government leaders should address the factors that aggravate disaster risks and build resilience to reduce the effects of exposure of communities to natural hazards.

“Many studies have already cited the Philippines as among the most vulnerable to natural hazards. The country’s geographical location makes it prone to natural hazards, which can be addressed by building resilience. But the unfortunate truth is that aside from the country’s physical attributes, other factors such as poor urban governance, vulnerable rural livelihoods, and continuing ecosystems decline have made disaster risks more prevalent in our communities,” the Senator explained.

The 5th annual Natural Hazards Risk Atlas (NHRA) assessed the natural hazard exposure of over 1,300 cities around the world and found that of the 100 cities with the greatest exposure to natural hazards, 21 are located in the Philippines; and of the top 10, eight are Philippine cities, including Tuguegarao, Cagayan Valley (2nd), Lucena, Quezon (3rd), Manila (4th), San Fernando, Pampanga (5th) and Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija (6th).

“Disasters as an enemy are becoming more enigmatic and formidable. It is no longer business as usual. The situation calls for a multi-hazard approach for early warning system anchored on close coordination among hazard warning agencies,” Legarda said.

“Our local government units (LGUs) must step up as well. They should plan well and invest public resources wisely with reducing disaster risk as a goal; promote a culture of safety and resilience engaging all stakeholders and sectors; raise awareness of disaster and climate risk at community and family level; and improve local early warning and community preparedness systems,” she added.

The Senator said that disaster risks could be reduced if national and local governments adhere to the five DRR priorities contained in the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA), namely, to (1) make DRR a priority in national and local levels; (2) know the risks and enhance early warning; (3) build understanding and awareness; (4) reduce the underlying risk factors; and (5) strengthen disaster preparedness and response at all levels. 

The HFA, a global blueprint for disaster risk reduction efforts with a ten-year plan, was adopted in 2005 during the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan.

“In the upcoming 3rd World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR) in Sendai, Japan, nations would adopt a new post-2015 DRR priority action framework. The Philippine experience, including its vulnerability to natural hazards, strengths and ongoing DRR programs, as well as best practices, are valuable inputs that we must share to make the successor framework an effective DRR blueprint for the next decade,” Legarda said.

“We head towards Sendai with a global perspective, with the realization that even if there are countries that are more vulnerable, we are all exposed to natural hazards. Beyond our respective countries, the world must act more swiftly, more wisely, and more decisively to reduce disaster risks more effectively,” she stressed.

At the Third WCDRR, Legarda will participate in the IPU Parliamentary Meeting: Governance and Legislation for DRR (March 13) as speaker for the moderated panel discussion, Improving Legislation for DRR. She will co-chair with Japanese Minister of Internal Affairs Sanae Takaichi the High Level Multi-stakeholder Partnership Dialogue on Mobilising Women’s Leadership in DRR (March 14), and join the TV Panel Debate:Can we expect the private sector to strengthen the resilience of the World’s built environment? (March 15).

Legarda Calls For Increased Protection Of Women, Vulnerable Sectors Against Disasters

MANILA-In observance of the International Women’s Day on March 8, Senator Loren Legarda today reiterated her call for increased protection of women, as well as children, the elderly and persons with disabilities, around the world in emergency situations such as disasters caused by natural hazards.

Legarda, United Nations Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific, noted that disasters affect about 200 million people all over the world yearly, half of them women or girls whose special needs and concerns are not properly addressed, putting them at greater risk during disasters.

“We recognize that nations are gaining gradual progress in promoting gender equality and women’s rights, but challenges will never go away and in most communities, there are continuing barriers to women empowerment. The vulnerability of women to disasters is among the challenges that must be addressed with urgency,” she stressed.

The Senator underscored the need to ensure the security and well-being of women and girls through gender-sensitive and risk-sensitive development policies, plans and programs which involve women as equal partners in disaster risk reduction planning and humanitarian response.

Legarda also stressed that there are other sectors more vulnerable to disasters, such as children, the elderly, persons with disabilities and indigenous people, whose special concerns must be given proper attention so that they become part of the solution to reduce risks and build resilience.

“These sectors are disproportionately affected by disasters because they have distinct needs that are not sufficiently addressed. But we have to realize that they can also make positive contributions to disaster risk reduction and management if we only give them the necessary support,” she stressed.

Persons with disabilities can be engaged in assessing vulnerabilities, and in establishing effective early warning systems in the communities, together with civil society groups concerned. Meanwhile, the elderly can provide vital information on local risks to health since they are familiar with local history, geography and culture. They can also be sought for advice on response and recovery efforts, owing to their experience and wisdom.

“We should also recognize the role of children and young people in building disaster-resilient communities. When we create an enabling environment for children to witness and practice DRR early on in life, we inculcate in them a level of disaster preparedness that will be passed on to the succeeding generations when they become adults,” Legarda said.

The Senator has filed Senate Bill 2502, which mandates the Department of Social Welfare and Development to set up a Children’s Emergency Center in every city or municipality declared under the state of calamity which shall provide the necessary child care services and shall coordinate with the lead agencies to effectively respond to the needs of children in the area.

“When we empower both men women, and capacitate the young and old, persons living with disabilities and ethnic groups, we reduce their vulnerability to disasters. Building resilience should be everybody’s attitude. With this kind of mindset, we can promote the scaling up of existing government programs to rectify the social and economic structures that breed disaster risk and trap the poor and vulnerable citizens in the vicious cycle of risk and poverty,” Legarda concluded.

ANGARA PUSHES FOR PPP TO HASTEN PH’S INFRA DEVELOPMENT

MANILA-In a bid to hasten infrastructure development in the country, Senator Sonny Angara has a filed a bill that seeks to promote and authorize public-private partnerships (PPPs) for the financing, construction, operation and maintenance of infrastructure facilities and services.

"For the country to build on its recent economic gains and to ensure the proper investment environment in our country, the private sector must be further encouraged to make investments through a modernized and enhanced PPP law," said Angara, chairman of the Senate ways and means committee.

The lawmaker noted that the government has traditionally been in charge of providing and financing infrastructure in the country, but investment requirements had exceeded the capacities of the government, prompting the public sector to enable private participation in infrastructure development.

In the past two decades, a number of services in utilities, transportation, property development and information technology are provided through contractual arrangements such as the build-operate-transfer (BOT).

"The BOT law has been in existence since the 90s. Gains have been made with the passage of this law and yet, the full potential for the synergy of the public and private sectors in improving and expanding the country’s infrastructure, such as our airports and rail systems and even in the building of schools and hospitals, have not been fully taken advantage of," he added.

Angara's Senate Bill 2672 or the PPP Act provides for more liberalized government regulations and procedures to better address the needs and bureaucratic concerns of PPP investors.

The proposed measure provides for the automatic grant of administrative franchise, license or permit in favor of the winning bidder, subject to the compliance with the requirements of the regulator and payment of appropriate taxes and fees.

SB 2672 likewise aims to protect public interest by ensuring fair and reasonable pricing, timely delivery of quality infrastructure, goods and services, and by requiring full public disclosure of all PPP transactions.

"We must be more transparent and competitive in the process of selecting our private sector partners. We must learn from successful and failed projects in the past, as well as global best practices in PPP," the senator said.

In addition, upon certification and recommendation by the Investment Coordination Committee, and prior consultation with the Department of Interior and Local Government, the President may classify certain projects, such as energy, toll road, mass transit, water, sewerage and such other projects, as "projects of national significance."

All real properties which are directly used for such projects shall be exempt from any and all real property taxes, while all local taxes, fees and charges imposed by a province, city or municipality on the project proponent shall not exceed 50 percent of one percent of gross sales or receipts of the preceding calendar year.

The bill also seeks to institutionalize the PPP Center that will serve as a link between the government and the private sector.

It will be tasked to assist implementing agencies in identifying, developing, promoting, facilitating, monitoring and evaluating PPP projects. It must report to the Office of the President and Congress on the implementation of the PPP programs and projects of the government at the end of each year.

"With the additional incentives provided under our measure, it is our hope that we could attract more potential private investors to help the government fast-track and improve the construction of public infrastructure and services to boost the growth of the Philippine economy," Angara said. 

Senate okays resolution to address power shortage; seeks to amend Bio Fuels Act

MANILA-The Senate has approved on third and final reading a Joint Resolution which would allow President Benigno Aquino III to address any potential power shortage during  the summer.

Senator Serge Osmeña, chair of the Committee on Energy and the sponsor of Senate Joint Resolution 12, said the measure would authorize the President to address the projected imbalance of power supply and demand in the Luzon grid, particularly in the months of April and May of this year.

Senate President Franklin M. Drilon,  author of the resolution, said that it was important for the country to avert a critical electricity situation due to the expected effects of the El Nino phenomenon, the 2015 Malampaya turnaround and continuing outages of power plants, which could affect both businesses and ordinary homes.

     “If we did not act, then it would have been a great inconvenience and grave disservice to our citizens, especially ordinary Filipinos who will have to endure the summer season without electricity,” he said.  

      Apart from bringing a solution to the foreseen summer outages, Drilon said that the resolution was part of efforts “to establish a clear energy agenda and to address the growing concern over the perceived inability of the country's power sector to keep up with the growing demand that is intricately linked to the Philippine economy's immense economic growth."

      While the average electricity demand was projected at 8,700 MW, Osmeña said, the highest demand of power on the hottest day and hour in April and May would peak at 9,000 megawatts (MW).

“Having 9,000 MW guarantees a brownout since a certain number of power plants break down while some go on scheduled maintenance because no power plant could operate continuously the entire year,” he explained.

Osmeña said the resolution proposed “a more efficient way to solve the power crisis in a much cheaper way” than what the executive department earlier recommended.

He said the President would not be given a blanket authority under the resolution nor would it provide exemptions from existing laws such as the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act.

“The resolution is not mandatory and would enable productions from hydro and gas plants to be tweaked,” Osmeña said.

The House version of the bill included the suspension of pertinent laws, rules and regulation and made it mandatory for self-generating facilities to participate in the Interruptible Load Program (ILP), a provision not found in the Senate version.

Under the ILP, owners of generating sets would be asked to deload from the Luzon Grid and to use their own gensets at certain hours.

Osmeña said the adoption of the ILP would cost consumers a low P7 to P8 per kilowatt an hour as compared to the P35 per kilowatt an hour under a Department of Energy proposal to lease 300 MW in gensets at a cost of P6 billion for two years or P10 million per MW.

“In this manner, up to 1,400 megawatts may be deloaded for a few peaking hours on certain days,” he said.

He said Mindanao and Cebu had adopted the ILP system since 2010 due to the chronic electricity shortages in the areas.

Meanwhile, the Senate also approved Senate Bill 2622 on third and final reading today. The measure seeks to exempt power plants from the mandatory implementation of Republic Act No. 9367, otherwise known as the Biofuels Act of 2006.

Osmeña said Senate Bill 2622, which would augment power supply when the Malampaya natural gas experiences supply shortages, would allow natural gas plants to use pure or neat diesel as their alternative fuel.

“The Biofuels Act mandates the use of biodiesel. Pure diesel cannot be utilized anymore anywhere in the Philippines, and since the power plants were built before Congress passed the Biofuels Act in 2006, they are not geared to deal efficiently with biodiesel, which clogs their filters,” he explained.

He cited the Korea Electric Power Company (KEPCO), owner of the 1,200 MW Ilijan gas plant, which decreased its production rate from 600 MW to 420 MW, or a difference of 180 MW per power plant, because of its use of biodiesel.

Osmeña said an exemption from the Biofuels Law would allow the Ilijan gas plant to deliver 160 more megawatts.

Osmeña, however, said the exemption has limitations. He said the exemption could only be invoked when (1) there is a supply shortage as determined by the DOE; (2) the pure or neat diesel is an alternative fuel of covered plants; (3)  the use of the pure or neat diesel will solely be for the production of electricity; and (4) the exemption will be only for the duration of the supply shortage.

Osmeña said the Committee on Energy had consulted and coordinated with more than two dozen agencies, groups and parties to come out with alternatives to avert the looming power crisis.

“The intent is to optimize existing assets and to bring down the average cost of electricity for the benefit of the consumers,” he said. (Pilar S. Macrohon)

Senate seeks to replace 45-year old Pharmacy Law

MANILA-The Senate passed on third and final reading Senate Bill No. 2436 or the Philippine Pharmacy Act of 2014 which aims to regulate the practice of pharmacy, integrate the pharmacy profession, and enhance professional competence through mandatory continuing development and research.

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, sponsor of the measure, said the proposed measure will replace the outdated Pharmacy Law (Republic Act No. 5921) to standardize pharmacy education, and regulate the registration and licensing of pharmacy graduates.

“Advances in science and technology, particularly changes in the health sector platform, coupled with the rapid expansion of the global economy, have made the 45-year old Pharmacy Law outdated, if not obsolete,” Trillanes said.

           “It is imperative that we update this law to keep the practice of the profession abreast with these developments and to make it relevant to how it is practiced in the country,” he added.

Senate President Franklin M. Drilon said that the measure was part of efforts to modernize and improve the capacities of different key industries such as the health service, business and agriculture sectors, in light of new challenges faced by the country such as the ASEAN integration slated to begin this year.  

         “We need to ensure that important sectors like the pharmaceutical industry, which directly affect the lives of our countrymen, are not being left behind by their regional and international counterparts in adopting the latest structural innovations and systems that will allow them to provide better services and products,” Drilon said.

Trillanes, chairman of the Committee on Civil Service and Government Reorganization, said that the bill was intended to equip the pharmacists with the “necessary tools to further improve and maintain our vibrant pharmaceutical industry and provide them with the necessary competitive edge to be able to compete in the international arena.”

Trillanes said the proposed legislation calls for the establishment of a Professional Regulatory Board of Pharmacy. Under the measure, he said, pharmacists in government service shall receive a starting salary equivalent to Salary Grade 15 under Republic Act No. 6758 or the Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989. Those in the private sector, will receive an entry-level salary equivalent to at least 35 percent above the prevailing minimum wage in the National Capital Region.

The Philippine Pharmacy Act of 2014 also sought to integrate pharmacists under one nationally accredited professional organization, according to Trillanes.

He said one provision of the bill was to provide for a foreign reciprocity to allow a foreign-registered pharmacist to practice in the country, provided that his/her country of origin allows Filipino pharmacists to practice within its territorial limits.

           “The enactment of this measure is intended to complement the talent and competence of our professional pharmacists by providing them with an updated regulatory framework. This bill seeks to repeal Republic Act No. 5921 with a new law that is responsive to the current needs and practice of our professional pharmacists,” Trillanes said. (APPLE BUENAVENTURA, PRIB)

PIA, DENR set Regional Songwriting tilt Grand Finals on March 5

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga -- March 5 is a red letter day for the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as they hold the Grand Finals of “LiKhALIKASAN: Likhang Awit para sa Kalikasan” at The Event Center of SM City Pampanga.

 

“The contest seeks to instill awareness on positive behaviors and perspectives as resiliency safeguards against the effects of climate change; promote environmental awareness, protection and preservation; and recognize people empowerment and involvement towards measures leading to preserving the well-being of the environment as act of protecting not just it but more so protecting people’s lives,” PIA Regional Director William Beltran said.

 

It is the culminating activity in Central Luzon of the yearlong national climate change adaptation and mitigation advocacy campaign of DENR and PIA, which carries the brand “Nagbabago na ang Panahon, Panahon na para Magbago!”

 

10 finalists were chosen from dozens of entries submitted by budding composers from all seven provinces of the region.

 

Those who made the cut include “Let’s Make It Stay” by Mark Vincent Duero of Angeles City, “Kahanga-hangang Pilipinas” by Clement Samin Dela Cruz of Tarlac City, “Habang May Oras Pa” by Kenneth Quiambao Macapugay of City of San Fernando, “Pagtugon” by Ver Mercado Orquia of Angeles City and “Panahon Na” by Noel Manzano of Baler, Aurora.

 

Completing the list are “Kalikasan” by Jimmary Clavo of Iba, Zambales; “Nagbabago na ang Panahon, Panahon na para Magbago” by Frederic Buenaventura of Baliuag, Bulacan; “Tayo na sa Pagbabago” by Jay Garcia Gopez of City of San Fernando, “Ngunit bakit ganito?” by Darwin James Singca of Orani, Bataan; and “Tabing Ilog” by Aaron Rondilla of Samal, Bataan.

 

Entries will be judged in the finals based on the following criteria: Originality and Creativity (songwriting style, technique, skill) – 30%, Lyrics (emotional appeal, message appropriateness to theme)- 30%, Melody (recall, strength)- 30%, and Overall Appeal (suitability as recording and environmental advocacy material)- 10%.

 

The grand winner takes home P30,000 and plaque while the second and third placers shall be awarded with P20,000 and P10,000, respectively and plaque.

 

Seven other finalists, on the other hand, will each receive P5,000 and plaque. (Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu)

Drilon: Liberalized PHL legal profession needed for ASEAN integration

MANILA-Senate President Franklin M. Drilon today underscored the need to liberalize the Philippine legal profession to permit foreign lawyers to practice in the country, and help Filipino law practitioners to keep pace with the market and policy shifts as a result of the ASEAN integration. 

At the ASEAN Law Association Assembly last February 27, Drilon told justices, judges, and other leading law practitioners in the ASEAN region that the ASEAN integration poses a challenge to members of the legal profession. 

"As the integration calls for a free exchange of resources, we must ask ourselves: what does integration mean to the legal profession? What is its impact to the practice of law? In this era of integration, the ASEAN lawyer must learn to navigate multiple legal jurisdictions," Drilon said. 

"At current growth rates, it is predicted that the ASEAN would become the fourth-largest market, after the EU, U.S. and China, by 2030. However, full ASEAN integration poses a challenge to every ASEAN member country. The existing legal framework may not be sufficient for the region to achieve a completely free exchange of goods and services," Drilon said. 

He underscored that a stronger and more efficient legal apparatus will help the Philippines capitalize on all the economic and development opportunities provided by the ASEAN integration. 

"Currently, in the Philippines the practice of law is currently restricted only to Filipino lawyers. This proposal for liberalization allows for collaborative work between Filipino and foreign lawyers where the matter or transaction involves both domestic and foreign law," he explained. 

He said it is time to establish a procedure in which foreign lawyers and firms may be able to assist their clients in cross border transactions where the Philippines is involved. 

"The liberalization of law practice will help strengthen the country's legal profession, and will help the country face the many challenges in the political and business sector being created due to the ASEAN Integration starting this year," stressed Drilon. 

He however, said that the proposed liberalization of law practice must ensure that foreign lawyers will live up to the standards and principles of lawyering in the Philippines, a practice that requires loyalty to the rule of law, and fidelity to the cause of the client. 

The Senate leader then said that he hopes that the country's legal sector and policy makers will realize early the importance of adapting and liberalizing the country's  legal profession, and hoped that it will be a leader among ASEAN members in reforming and improving its practice of law. 

"While the practice of law in the ASEAN region may be a challenge, the liberalization of the legal profession will ultimately benefit the region as a whole. The long-term effect of a legal profession that recognizes no territorial boundaries goes into the success of the ASEAN integration itself." Drilon said. 

Senate to pass DICT bill

MANILA-The chair of the Senate science and technology panel said a consolidated version of five bills creating a Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will be reported out for floor debates before Holy Week.

“Our timetable in the Senate is to pass it before it ends its second session year in June,” Recto, who is also the Senate President Pro Tempore, said.

“Insofar as the Senate is concerned, it will pass the DICT bill,” Recto said.

He believes the measure will also hurdle the House as the “leadership of both chambers, led by the Speaker and the Senate President, in several meetings, has deemed it a priority measure.”

“The marching order given to me by the leadership is to consolidate in the Senate the five bills – authored by Sens. Antonio Trillanes, Teofisto Guingona III, Loren Legarda, JV Ejercito, Sonny Angara – into one,” Recto said.

Recto described the DICT bill “as one of those ‘Groundhog Day’ measures, that predictably goes through the legislative wringer every Congress only to stall in the final round for lack of one final push.”

In the last Congress, both chambers passed the measure, but failed to convene the bicameral conference committee which would have reconciled the differences of the versions they had passed.

To prevent this from happening again, Recto said the Senate will finetune one area of the bill which has prompted “tepid support” from the executive – and that is to ensure that the proposed department’s organization will be lean.

“It will not create a huge bureaucracy, or burn a deep hole in the taxpayer’s pocket. It will be revenue-neutral, and will maintain, if not lessen, the present operating cost of the agencies which will be folded into it,” Recto said.

“For example, we’re trying to limit the undersecretaries and assistant secretaries. In the creation of regional offices, we won’t be making it mandatory. Why have a large physical office when one of its mandates is to promote e-governance?” Recto said.

Recto said senators recognize information and communications technology as the third utility, after power and water.

“It is also the third biggest source of dollars after electronics and OFW remittances. It is a growth driver. Every 10 percentage points in broadband penetration is said to boost the GDP by 1 percent,” he said.

On the public sector side, Recto said a government which spends P2.5 trillion a year “needs a DICT to get more bang out of the buck, and prevent bribe from being squeezed out of the peso.” 

“We are now living in the electronic republic, where views of the sovereign are advocated online, and services must be rendered to them on the same platform,” he said.

“Permits, licenses, land titles should now be electronically-applied for, processed and issued. Let us leave to the MRT the exclusive franchise of organizing long lines,” Recto said. 

Legarda Urges A United Front Against Climate Change

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda today urged governments of the world to build a united front against climate change and has asked the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) to join the cause.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, made the call during a discussion with ICAPP Chairman Jose De Venecia, Jr., who said that he will convene the ICAPP to join a global alliance to fight climate change and its impacts.

“ICAPP Chairman De Venecia has readily agreed to our call for all governments of the world to join the global action versus climate change and they will also urge the Council of African Political Parties (CAPP) and other global political parties to join,” she said.

Legarda said that this is in line with the joint Philippines-France statement, Manila Call to Action on Climate Change, which engages “the international community, all stakeholders and world opinion, on the urgency of addressing climate change seriously, efficiently, and equitably.”

The call to action, which was read by Legarda and French actress Marion Cotillard, was launched in Malacañang yesterday as a highlight of French President Francois Hollande’s state visit to the Philippines.

The Senator noted Hollande’s statement, “The Manila appeal is for the world to be more fair between developed countries and fragile ones, between wealthy countries and poor ones, between generations as well, those who had all their time to extract resources from the planet and who now have a duty to act so their children, their grandchildren as well can live.”

Legarda recalled that in 2008, The Manila Call for Action of Parliamentarians on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation was adopted by parliamentarians from the Philippines, Cambodia, China, Costa Rica, Ghana, Jordan, Republic of Korea, Uganda and the East African Legislative Assembly.

The 2008 call for action was a result of the consultative meeting for global parliamentarians, which Legarda convened as UN Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific.

“We launched the 2008 Manila Call for Action with the goal of creating an enabling environment for promoting disaster risk reduction, to mainstream it into socioeconomic development, and make it a national and international priority. Yesterday, the Philippines-France Manila Call to Action stressed the need to act now to address climate change and its impacts. Then and now, our call has always been: collective action towards sustainability and resilience,” said Legarda.