Dagdag trial courts inaksyunan ng House

Tinalakay ng House sub-committee on Judicial Reforms ang mga panukalang batas na layong maglikha ng karagdagang Regional Trial Courts (RTC) sa iba’t ibang panig ng bansa para mapabuti ang pangangasiwa at pag-usad ng hustisya.

Sa deliberasyon ng komite sa pamumuno ni Rep. Vicente Veloso (3rd District, Leyte), sinabi nito ang kahalagahan na matugunan ang kakulangan ng mga court salas na isa sa pangunahing problema ng hudikatura. Binigyang-diin ni Veloso, dating  Court of Appeals Justice ang kakulangan sa bilang ng trial courts ang nagiging sanhi ng pagka-antala sa resolusyon o hatol sa mga kaso.

Kasama sa paunang pagtalakay ng sub-committee ang House Bill 652, layong maglikha ng karagdagang sangay ng Regional Trial Court (RTC), isang Municipal Trial Court (MTC), at isang Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC), sa Misamis Occidental na iniakda  ni Rep. Henry Oaminal (2nd District, Misamis Occidental) at paglikha ng karagdagang sangay ng RTC sa Mountain Province, na nakapaloob sa HB 285 na ipinanukala ni Rep. Maximo Dalog (Lone District, Mountain Province).

Samantala, ang House Bill 3492 akda ni Rep. Juan Pablo Bondoc (4th District, Pampanga) ay layong maglikha ng tatlong sangay ng RTC sa Pampanga at HB 3565 ni Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe (2nd District, Zamboanga City), at HB 3749 ni Rep. Celso Lobregat (1st District, Zamboanga City), na parehong maglilikha ng apat na sangay ng RTC sa Zamboanga City.

Ayon kay Oaminal, ang chairman ng Sub-committee on Correctional Reforms, layon ng HB 652 na maibsan ang pasanin ng mga korte at  magpapabilis ang resolusyon ng mga kaso. Layunin ng panukala na maglikha ng karagdagang sangay ng RTC sa Ozamis City; ang gawing MTC ng Clarin ang  MCTC na binubuo sa kasalukuyan ng Munisipalidad sa Clarin at Tudela; at ang pagtatag ng isang MCTC sakop ang mga munisipyo ng Sinacaban at Tudela, sa ikalawang distrito ng Misamis Occidental.

Ayon kay Oaminal masikip na ang mga docket at na-aantala ang resolusyon ng mga kaso dahil na rin sa pagtaas ng bilang krimen at inihaing kasong legal.

Ayon sa mambabatas ang kanyang panukala ay alinsunod sa panuntunan ng estado na magbigay ng epektibong mekanismo para sa pamamahala ng hustisya.

Ipinaliwanag naman ni Dalog na ang kanyang HB 286 na layong maglikha ng karagdagang sangay ng RTC sa munisipalidad ng Paracelis, Mountain Province ay tiyak na tutugun  sa mga usaping kawalan  ng hustisya at pagkapantay-pantay dahil na rin sa kalayuan ng  pinakamalapit na RTC. Ayon sa kanya, kailangan pang bumiyahe  ng mahigit 10 oras ang may-usapin sa kaso mula sa Paracelis, daraan sa mga probinsya ng Ifugao, Isabela, at Nueva Vizcaya para lamang makadalo sa pagdinig sa Bontoc, Mountain Province kung saan naroroon ang korte.

Dahil sa kalayuan ng byahe at gastusin ay nabibigong makapunta sa RTC sa Bontoc ang mga nagrereklamo at mga testigo na nagiging  dahilan ng pagka-dismiss ng karamihan sa mga kaso ayon kay Rep. Dalog.

Sa kanyang HB 3492, sinabi ni Deputy Speaker Bondoc, layon nito na maglikha ng tatlong sangay ng RTC sa Macabebe, Pampanga. Pakay nito na mapabuti ang pagpasya at pangangasiwa ng hustisya, tiyakin ang karapatan ng akusado sa mabilis na pag usad ng hustisya at pagtaguyod ng mahusay na serbisyo publiko.

Binigyang-diin ng mambabatas ang pangangailangang maglikha ng karagdagang korte dahil na rin sa patuloy na pagtaas ng bilang ng mga kasong inihahain sa korte.

No displacement and Congress abolition under federalism

House officials and political experts debunked some misconceptions about federalism, including fears that it would result in the abolition of Congress and the displacement of the House workforce.

They made the clarification during a seminar held for House Secretariat officials and employees dubbed, “Briefing on What is Federalism.” The seminar aimed to ensure deeper understanding on the issue of federalism.

During the Question and Answer” segment of the forum, House Secretariat officials and employees led by Secretary General Atty. Cesar Strait Pareja exchanged their views on the issues and challenges surrounding the issue of federalism.

Pareja allayed the apprehensions of some house officials and employees as to where they will go if the country shifts to federalism.

Pareja clarified the House will only be affected if “we adopt a unicameral or parliamentary system, but not a federal system.” 

He further said that if the country shifts to federalism, there will be federal legislature in every federal state, which means that the experience and expertise of the House Secretariat officials and employees will be needed. 

Pareja said the country can even move to the envisioned Association of South East Asian (ASEAN) Parliament if federalism is eventually put in place.

Lawyer Artemio Adasa, House Deputy Secretary General for Legislative Operations, also dispelled fears that the Lower House will be abolished and its employees will be out of jobs if the country shifts to federalism.

Adasa said job displacement and the abolition of Congress are the main worries of some House Secretariat officials and employees. 

Dr. Clarita R. Carlos, a professor of Political Science at the University of the Philippines (UP) and Executive Director of the Center for Scientific Research and Strategic Development, Inc. (CSRSDI), clarified “there will be little change because the legislature will remain, just like the U.S. Congress in Washington.”

“The House of Representatives will be the Federal Congress. You will not be abolished, unless the new Constitution will talk about a new representation or configuration, say, shift to a unicameral system,” Carlos said.

Carlos, the main resource person at the forum, was also asked whether the government has the financial resources for the planned shift to federal system. She replied that money should be the last consideration when the people vote for federalism. 

Regarding the amount needed for the planned shift, she said the figures vary, as  the computations are based on assumptions so they must be thoroughly examined. 

On the question regarding the time frame for the shift, Carlos responded that the country should have a short transition period considering the urgency of the needed changes.

Director Sonny Sarte of the House Printing Service raised the decades-long issue of political dynasties, which he said might be more deeply-seated under a federal system. 

Carlos said the issue can be addressed during the crafting of the respective Constitutions of the federal or sub-national units. She, however, said that banning political dynasties is anti-thesis to democracy, arguing that every citizen has the right to vote and be voted upon. She added that what she expressed is of course a minority view.

Asked whether she prefers a federal presidential or a federal parliamentary system, Carlos said she favors a parliamentary system because there is more accountability, the legislative agenda of both the executive and legislative are the same, and there are more disciplined political parties because parliamentary government is party government.

Among the other issues raised during the open forum were public finance in a federal system, how federalism will suit the Filipino culture, and death penalty under a federal system.

Carlos began her presentation by saying that the fastest way to initiate changes is through the institutional change. She said there is a crucial need to shift to a federal system because the current structure no longer works.

Carlos explained that when speaking of unitary or federal government, it refers to the relationship between the national or central government and the sub-national or federal units. On the other hand, she pointed out that a presidential or parliamentary system refers to the relationship between the executive and the legislature.

She said this is why there is a unitary-presidential, unitary-parliamentary, federal-presidential, or federal-parliamentary system of government.

Moreover, Carlos said that under a unitary system, which is the country’s present set-up, everything is concentrated in the national or central government, which is in Manila. “The action of the local governments is upon the instruction of the central government,”she said.

She emphasized that under a federal system, “a lot of things which we get from the central government will lodge in the federal or sub-national units, and what will remain in the federal government are the coinage, immigration, foreign policy, and defense.”

“Federalism will remove the boundaries which have held us hostage to the national government,” said Carlos. 

President Rodrigo Duterte, as mayor for more than 20 years, must have seen how efforts of a local executive could be “blockaded by national scriptures” under the current system, according to her.

She argued that unitary system is good under a colonial set-up because that is the only way to control from the central authority.

“Federalism is the response to a big government. The national government has intruded so much into the country’s political life, so there is need to undertake actions which are local, which are close to the people’s hearts,” said Carlos.

Carlos said another very good feature of a federal system is fiscal autonomy, explaining that federal states or units must be given the autonomy to raise revenues and the authority on how and where to spend their funds.

However, she cautioned the proponents of federalism that in emulating the other federal states, they must consider the country’s cultural and socio-political milieu, noting the Philippines has also its own unique historical antecedent.

“It is good that we are moving into a new political structure because we are going to align it with our commitment to the ASEAN regional integration. Our planning platform must not just be the national platform, but the regional platform,” said Carlos.

Among the other issues raised during the open forum were public finance in a federal system, how federalism will suit the Filipino culture, and death penalty under a federal system.

Other House officials present during the forum were: Dr. Ramon Ricardo Roque, Deputy Secretary General for Administration; Atty. Arlene Dada Arnaldo, Deputy Secretary General for Committee Affairs; Elisa Navalta, Deputy Secretary General for Finance; Dr. Romulo E. M. Miral, Jr., Deputy Secretary General for Congressional Policy And Budget Research Department; Edgardo Pangilinan, Deputy Secretary General for Legislative Information Resources Management; and Jose Ma. Antonio Tuaño, Deputy Secretary General for Internal Audit.

Passage of Comprehensive Tax Reform Package by June, Pushed

Noting the recent decision of the Supreme Court against the pro-rated application to taxable year 2008 of R.A. 9504 on new personal and additional exemptions, I urge my colleagues in Congress to swiftly act on the proposed and pending Comprehensive Tax Reform Program, of which I am a co-author.

The Supreme Court said because RA 9504 took effect before the close of the taxable year of 2008, the new rates of personal and additional exemptions applied also to 2008.

If this taxable year of 2017 Congress is able to approve by June the CTRP, including the new and lower personal income tax rates, employers can quickly recompute the tax component of salary deductions, thereby giving private sector and government employees higher take-home pay.

The 763,000 public school teachers nationwide, the thousands more in the state universities and colleges, as well as regular TESDA and CHED personnel, represent perhaps the biggest chunk of fixed income taxpayers in our country today.

Filipino households would immediately feel the impact of CTRP as a major reform measure.

More money in their pockets, wallets and bank accounts means consumer spending and savings-both of which will have positive impact on the national economy.

CHED needs much more than P8 billion for free SUC tuition in 2018

Hon. Salvador B. Belaro, Jr. – 1-Ang Edukasyon Party-list

We commend the CHED and DBM on finally releasing their guidelines on the P8-billion free college tuition program of the Duterte administration.

This is effort is a good first attempt at easing the financial burden on all Filipino students who will enroll in state universities and colleges in the coming academic year.

P8-billion is a finite resource and so it is understandable that the DBM and CHED had to prioritize incoming freshmen, then graduating students, and non-graduating students. Miscellaneous and other fees are also not covered.

It is also fortunate that the volume of incoming freshmen is not high because the colleges and universities are waiting for the graduates of senior high school.

Full implementation of Grade 12 has yet to happen in June and so the graduates of that batch will come in summer 2018.

Anticipating the resurgence of freshmen enrollment next year, I am therefore going to push for ample funding for the Higher Education Support Fund in the 2018 CHED budget. Certainly, CHED will need much more than P8 billion given the expected higher college enrolment in 2018.

Statement of Deputy Minority Leader Harry Roque on the Letter filed against President Duterte befor the International Criminal Court

The filing of the letter by Atty. Jude Sabio, lawyer of Edgardo Matobato, before the International Criminal Court (ICC) is premature, suspect, and bound to fail.

The ICC was established as a court of last resort. It was intended to complement, not replace, national courts in ending the gravest crimes against the international community. I maintain that while I fully support the fight against impunity, I do not believe that engaging the ICC is appropriate.

The Principle of Complementarity provides that the ICC will only exercise jurisdiction when Philippine courts are unwilling or unable to do so. There are various remedies available within our legal framework that have yet to be exhausted.

The Senate has independently investigated allegations that the President has been involved with the Davao Death Squad (DDS). The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is conducting its independent investigation on drug-related violence. Cases filed against policemen allegedly involved in drug-related violence are proceeding. It cannot be said that the Philippines has not or cannot investigate these concerns.

Thus, it appears that the filing of this letter at this moment is an attempt to discredit the President and the Philippine government as the ASEAN Summit begins. It is regrettable how maneuvers like this to cast a negative light upon the Philippines have become more and more common. I urge all those who seek a better Philippines to have more faith in the systems in place.

In any case, the letter filed by Atty. Sabio does not formally initiate any case before the ICC. It is up to the Prosecutor to determine whether there is a reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation. Only then will she submit to the Pre-Trial Chamber a request for authorization of an investigation. I do not believe this case will even reach that stage.

AIPA kick off with Alvarez opening message

The Philippine House of Representatives led by Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez takes center stage this year when it hosts the 38th annual meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) which will kick off this Friday with a Preparatory Meeting for the ASEAN-AIPA Leaders’ Interface Meeting slated the next day.

As host institution, the House of Representatives will be at the forefront of forging stronger and deeper inter-connection among different ASEAN legislatures, parliaments, and governments.

At the Preparatory Meeting this Friday, Speaker Alvarez, as the AIPA President, will deliver the Opening Remarks wherein he will welcome fellow lawmakers or Members of Delegation (MOD) from the different AIPA member-Parliaments namely, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam; the Heads of Delegation (HOD); and AIPA Secretary General, His Excellency IsarSunthornvut.

Expected to grace this week’s events are : Speaker PandikarMulia and Hon. HasbiHabibollah of Malaysia; His Excellency Nurhayati Ali Assegaf and Hon. Juliari Batubara of Indonesia; Deputy Speaker Charles Chong of Singapore; His Excellency IsarSunthornvut, AIPA Secretary General; His Excellency Prof. Porn PetchWichitcholchai of Thailand; His Excellency PhungQuocHien of Vietnam; Hon. Prof. Dr. EksavangVongvichit of Lao DR; His Excellency PehinDatu Haji Abdul Hamid Bakal of Brunei; His Excellency Mahn Winn KhaingThann of Myanmar; His Excellency Post Dr. Cheam Yeap of Cambodia; and Hon. PanyYathoutou of Lao PDR

Alvarez’s speech is expected to also highlight the AIPA’s foremost objectives which are to encourage understanding, cooperation, and close relations among member-Parliaments as well as Observer Member Parliaments and other legislative (parliamentary) organizations; the country’s support for the building of a cohesive and rules-based ASEAN community that is peaceful, secure and stable; and the importance of the Preparatory Meeting and the subsequent ASEAN Leaders and AIPA Representatives Interface Meeting.

During the sessions of the Preparatory Meeting, the Speaker will steer the discussions on the draft Program of Activities and the draft AIPA Message for the consideration and adoption by the delegates.

House Deputy Speaker and South Cotabato Second District Rep. Ferdinand Hernandez, the head of the Philippine Delegation, will assist in moving for the approval of the Program of Activities and AIPA Message. 

The next day, Saturday, the delegates will assemble and depart for the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) where the Interface Meeting of Asean Leaders with AIPA Representatives to be held in the afternoon. 

The Interface Meeting will commence with President Rodrigo Duterte delivering the Opening Remarks. Thereafter, Speaker Alvarez will deliver the AIPA Message which was adopted by the AIPA delegates beforehand.

Other AIPA events include the meeting of the AIPA Fact-Finding Committee (AIFOCOM) to Combat the Drug Menace on July 4 to 8, 2017 to be held also in Manila. The annual AIPA meeting will be highlighted by the holding of the AIPA General Assembly later this year.

The 38th AIPA General Assembly coincides with the 50th founding anniversary of the ASEAN which will be held also in the country following the Philippines’ assumption of the ASEAN chairmanship last year.

The AIPA’s theme this year is “ASEAN and AIPA: Partnering for Inclusive Change.”

The AIPA was born in Cebu City, Philippines during the 27th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organization or AIPO held from September 10 to 15, 2006, following a consensus to transform the organization into a more effective and closely integrated institution. It was then that the AIPO General Assembly reached a consensus to change the organization’s name from AIPO to AIPA.

AIPA was formed to support and contribute to the realization of ASEAN goals through inter-parliamentary cooperation.

The historic move was hailed as a step toward the creation of an ASEAN Parliament which is a long-standing goal of the AIPA. The idea of an ASEAN Parliament was initiated by the Philippines in the early ’80s during the 3rd AIPO General Assembly held in Jakarta, Indonesia, and reintroduced in Cebu City in 2006.

For years, the ASEAN and AIPA have been working closely together, especially towards the establishment of a truly genuine and progressive ASEAN Community whose foundation are the three pillars, namely, ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC), ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC).

During last year’s 37th AIPA General Assembly held in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar from September 29 to October 3, the Philippine House of Representatives renewed the call and challenge to Southeast Asian parliamentarians '"that if AIPA should decide together to play a greater role in the ASEAN, it should actively consider an idea which has already been floating for years which is the establishment of an ASEAN Parliament.”

The country’s delegation led by Deputy Speaker Raneo Abu (1st District, Batangas) reaffirmed the commitment of Philippine legislators to fully support the AIPA in its initiatives and resolutions to make it a more effective pillar of community-building in the ASEAN region.

“We have come to the 37th AIPA General Assembly to add our collective efforts to build a cohesive and rules-based ASEAN community that is peaceful, secure and stable, but more than that, we are here to foster the closest possible relations with our fellow AIPA parliamentarians,” said the Philippine delegation.

One of the main highlights of the Nay Pyi Taw parliamentary gathering was the turn-over of Presidency of the 38th AIPA to Philippine House of Representatives’ Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez by the Union Parliament of Myanmar Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than. The task was gladly accepted by Deputy Speaker Raneo Abu on behalf of Speaker Alvarez.

In his acceptance speech, Rep. Abu reassured the AIPA delegates that the Philippines “will continue to be an active member of AIPA and is committed to do its share in strengthening inter-parliamentary relations and cooperation to strengthen the ASEAN Community.”  He urged members to ensure that “the ASEAN Community be characterized by inclusive economic growth and development that translates into concrete improvements in the lives and welfare of the people.”

AIPA kicks off with Speaker Alvarez opening message

The House of Representatives is forging stronger and deeper inter-connection among different Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) legislatures when it hosts the 38th annual meeting of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) on Friday, April 28, at the Makati Shangri-la Hotel in Makati City.

House Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez, in his capacity as the AIPA president, will deliver the opening remarks to welcome fellow lawmakers from the different AIPA member-parliaments, heads of delegations and the AIPA Secretary General Isra Sunthornvut.

Alvarez is expected to highlight the AIPA’s foremost objectives which are to encourage understanding, cooperation, and close relations among member-parliaments, and build a cohesive and rules-based ASEAN community that is peaceful, secure and stable. The AIPA’s theme this year is “ASEAN and AIPA: Partnering for Inclusive Change.”

The Speaker will also speak on the importance of the meeting and the close working relationship of the ASEAN and AIPA over the years, especially towards the establishment of a truly genuine and progressive ASEAN community founded on the three pillars, namely, ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC), ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC).

Four other ASEAN speakers are attending the meeting namely Madame Pany Yathotou of the National Assembly of Lao PDR; Tan Datuk Seri Panglima Pandikar Amin Haji Mulia of the House of Representatives of Malaysia; Mahn Winn Khaing Thann  of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw and Amyoth Hlutaw of Myanmar; and Prof. Pornpetch Wichitcholchai of the National Legislative Assembly of Thailand.

Meanwhile, Deputy House Speaker and South Cotabato Second District Rep. Ferdinand Hernandez will head the Philippine delegation that includes Deputy Speaker Sharon Garin, Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, Deputy Majority Leader Juan Pablo Bondoc, Minority Leader Danilo Suarez; Rep. Dakila Carlo Cua, Rep. Rose Marie Arenas, Rep. Linabelle Ruth Villarica, Rep. Elenita Milagros Ermita-Buhain, Rep. Arthur Yap, Rep. Xavier Jesus Romualdo, Rep. Ruby Sahali and Secretary-General Atty. Cesar Strait Pareja as delegation advisor.   

During the meeting, Alvarez will steer the discussions on the draft program of activities and the draft AIPA message for the consideration and adoption by the delegates.

Hernandez will assist in moving for the approval of the program of activities and AIPA Message while Majority Leader Fariñas will act the rapporteur.

After the meeting, the Speaker will host a dinner for the AIPA delegates at the Makati Ballroom.

On Saturday, April 29, the delegates will assemble and depart for the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) where the Interface Meeting of ASEAN Leaders with AIPA Representatives will be held in the afternoon. President Rodrigo Duterte is delivering the opening remarks for the Interface Meeting will commence with. Thereafter, Speaker Alvarez will deliver the AIPA Message.

Other AIPA events this year include the meeting of the AIPA Fact-Finding Committee to Combat the Drug Menace on July 4 to 8, 2017, in Manila. The annual AIPA meeting will be highlighted by the holding of the AIPA General Assembly later this year.

The 38th AIPA annual meeting coincides with the 50th founding anniversary of the ASEAN which will be held also in the country following the Philippines’ assumption of the ASEAN chairmanship last year.

Malaysian speaker in MNL for ASEAN. House Deputy Speaker Ferdinand Hernandez (right) welcomes Tan Sri Datu Seri Panglima Mulia, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Malaysia, and his wife, Madame Puan Sri Hadijah Teng Abdullah, upon their arrival in the Philipppines. The couple was the first to arrive among the delegates to the 38th annual meeting of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) this week. The Philippines is hosting the AIPA meeting, including the Interface Meeting of the ASEAN leaders with AIPA representatives on Saturday, April 29, at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila.

Fight vs 'Pambansang Photobomber' raised people's consciousness on the importance of preserving our historical landmarks

Statement on SC’s decision on Torre de Manila

By House Deputy Speaker Pia S. Cayetano

With the Supreme Court's recent decision, it looks like the so-called 'Pambansang Photobomber' will forever cast a long and dark shadow over the Rizal Monument.

This brings much sadness to me and heritage advocates because it degrades the sacredness of the Rizal Monument. After being the centerpiece of the historic Luneta landscape for more than a century, the shrine built in honor of our national hero will now have to share the iconic skyline of Rizal Park with a towering condominium. 

I do not regret fighting for this, though. It is a fight that has brought to the consciousness of our people the importance of protecting and preserving our cultural heritage and historical landmarks. And I remain hopeful that this will make people and government officials more vigilant and responsible when it comes to preserving these sites.

I would like to read the full text of the decision before I make any further comments.  

But for now, I will work on finalizing a draft bill that ensures full protection of our national heritage sites to include not just their physical integrity but also their visual corridors, so that this does not happen again. It's not 'Consumatum est!' yet for this advocacy. #

Note: As the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture in the 16th Congress, Senator Pia S. Cayetano led the Senate probe on the construction of Torre de Manila in 2014. The Senate probe uncovered how zoning laws in Manila were sidetracked to allow the construction of the 49-storey condominium tower.

File photo: Then Senator Pia S. Cayetano holds a media briefing at 'Kilometer Zero' in Rizal Park. (August 28, 2014)

Sato bats for bigger budget for global biodiversity conservation

Occidental Mindoro Rep. Josephine Ramirez-Sato is batting for bigger budget to boost global effort in biodiversity conservation and protection and prods United Nation member-countries to adopt a “bayanihan” or “whole of government approach” to close the financing gap.

Speaking during the 3rd United Nations Environmental Programme (UNDP) Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) workshop in Almaty, Kazakhstan on Wednesday, April 26, Sato said there is room for an improved ‘whole of government’ approach in terms of mobilizing financing for biodiversity conservation.

Sato, a member of the House of Representatives ecology committee, is championing biodiversity conservation through proposed bills she had filed in the House of Representatives.

“Recognizing the urgent requirements to address the continued biodiversity loss in the Philippines and particularly recognizing the massive requirement to secure resources to finance biodiversity plans, programs and projects – a concept comes to my mind – Bayanihan” Sato said in her keynote speech.

In the Philippines, “bayanihan” is a time-honored tradition in rural villages where almost the entire community is mobilized to help a family literally move their home to another place.

Bayani, or hero, and “bayanihan” – which is a collective action having clear-cut roles and responsibilities to achieve a single objective, says Sato, is appropriately done with the government working in unison.  In the case of the Philippines, it should involve the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of government working together, she said.

“The spirit of bayanihan is exactly what we want to serve as model for our ‘whole of government approach’ to financing  biodiversity conservation,” Sato said.        

In her brief speech, Sato said being one of the 17 mega-diverse countries in the world, the Philippines has much to gain in working with its neighbors to strengthen the protection and conservation of biodiversity.

An archipelago composed of over 7,500 islands and islets, the Philippines hosts more than 52,000 known species of plant and animal wildlife, more than 50 per cent of which are endemics or species that can only be found in the country and nowhere else in the world.

However, Sato said Philippine biodiversity is seriously threatened.  The Philippines, she said, is among the world’s biodiversity hotspots, citing a report by international nongovernment organization (NGO) Conservation International in 2014 which identifies 35 biodiversity hotspots all over the world, including the Philippines.

Biodiversity hotspots refers to countries that harbour vast numbers of plants and animal species found nowhere else in the world.

Globally, she said biodiversity loss is happening for various reasons.

“All are heavily threatened by habitat loss and degradation, making their conservation crucial to protecting nature for the benefit of all life on earth,” she said.

Citing a report by sustainability       writer Natalie Mayer, the Philippines rank as the tenth most threatened biodiversity hotspots in the world.     

The former Governor of Occidental Mindoro said arenas for improvement also include broader participation from citizens; linking and improved coordination among branches of government; and mobilization of local governments

“To me, there is no one formula for biodiversity financing.  We should continuously identify new and additional sources and mechanism for cooperation and financing biodiversity conservation,” she said.

Sato said the challenge is “creativity and openness” in terms of thinking outside the traditional sources of funds.

“As what we, a community of nations, collectively, did when we started veering away from business-as-usual mode in climate change-adaptation and disaster risk reduction financing, the same urgency must be accorded to financing conservation,” she said.

Sato is championing biodiversity conservation through several bills she filed in the House of Representatives including House Bill 177 or the National – Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Bill; Mindoro Watershed Reservation Act (HB 4617); Philippine Genetic Resources and Access and Benefit-Sharing Bill (HB 2163); and Unlocking the use of Malampaya Fund for Biodiversity Conservation and Renewable Energy Bill (HB 4604).

Sato is supporting the plan to localize the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (PBSAP) 2015-2028, as well as effort to close the biodiversity financing gap in the Philippines.

The PBSAP is the country’s blueprint to protect and conserve its rich biodiversity.

While the Philippines is committed to protecting and conserving its rich biodiversity as a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Implementing the PBSAP will cost the government P24 Billion/year from 2017/2028. Current spending of the Philippines for biodiversity conservation stands at P5 Billion/year, leaving a financing gap of P19B/year.

BIOFIN is testing finance mechanism such as budget realignment, private sector engagement and accessing earmarked funds.

Student union slams IRR on free tuition policy, asserts no tuition collection

Last year, Filipino students nationwide welcomed the introduction of free tuition in all state universities and colleges (SUCs) for academic year 2017-2018. Because of the student movement’s clamor for free public education at all levels, the Congress granted the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) an additional budget of P8.3 billion to fund all 114 SUCs in lieu of collecting tuition from 1.4 million students.

The special provision on tuition collection in the 2017 General Appropriations Act clearly states that no tuition shall be collected from all SUC undergraduate students in School Year 2017-2018. However, President Rodrigo Duterte placed the said provision under conditional implementation saying that financially disadvantaged but academically able students must be prioritized.

After five months, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and CHED issued the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the free tuition policy (FTP). Under the scheme, students who are recipients of Student Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAPs) and those who belong to a household that is or was a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) will be prioritized. The remaining students eligible will be “ranked according to their per capita household income”, similar in essence to the University of the Philippines’ Socialized Tuition System (STS).

The National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) denounces the IRR of the FTP as it clearly translates to a nationwide socialized tuition system. “Learning from the experience of the University of the Philippines, by subjecting students to a competition of “poorest of the poor” to prove their worthiness, this has resulted to the edging out of the poor, by those coming from the upper/middle class who has relative capacity to comply with various requirements imposed by SUCs,” said NUSP National Spokesperson Mark Vincent Lim.

According to CHED’s own calculations, at least 1 million students are expected to enroll for A.Y. 2017-2018, 85% of whom the FTP can only shoulder, with the computation of P9,345 tuition for 42 units per year.

“Since the FTP only covers tuition, students still need to shell out for other school fees (OSF) and expenses. Worse, SUCs administrations could take advantage of the FTP to hike OSF so as to compensate profit loses that will be incurred from the implementation of the policy,” added Lim.

“The targeted implementation of the FTP undermines the right of all citizens to free education regardless of socio-economic status. NUSP strongly opposes a nationwide socialized tuition which translates to profiteering in SUCs nationwide,” said Lim.

“NUSP calls on the Duterte administration to implement the free tuition policy in state universities and colleges within the framework of free education. The Unions calls on all Filipino students and the general public to mount sustained protests nationwide as we endeavor to junk all neoliberal policies, to reclaim the public character of SUCs, and to institutionalize free public education at all levels,” concluded Lim.

Solons to Duterte: Raise salaries! No to new taxes!

At a press conference of teachers on Labor Day issues, ACT Teachers Party-List Representatives Antonio Tinio and France Castro urged President Duterte to heed the call of workers for a national minimum wage of Php750 a day for employees in the private sector and Php16, 000 a month for state workers.

The solons pointed out that pay increases are among the top concerns of the Filipinos including other economic issues such as controlling inflation and creating more jobs, citing Pulse Asia's March 2017 Ulat ng Bayan Survey. “The Duterte administration should therefore heed this resounding clamor of the people by enacting laws that will increase salaries and wages of the working people,” said Tinio.

"We find it alarming that the current administration’s legislative agenda, as announced in its Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022, does not include salary increases for public and private sector workers, and instead only plans to pass a productivity incentives bill for the private sector," noted Castro. 

The productivity incentives bill for the private sector will entrench the two-tiered wage system that effectively prevents increase of minimum wages, rather than raising them in time with inflation. This proposed scheme only provides incentives to big capitalists and reducing their labor costs instead of attending to the needs of Filipino workers.

"We urge the Duterte administration to scrap the two-tiered wage system in the private sector and Performance-Based Incentive System (PBIS), Strategic Performance Management System, and similar schemes in the public sector, which both serve to suppress wage levels and impose additional burdens on workers and employees,” Tinio stressed. “It should instead raise the national minimum wage and implement a new round of salary increases in the public sector to enable Filipino workers and their families to have decent lives.”

“Public school teachers are among the professionals and government employees that have been suffering under divisive schemes that provide additional compensation based on work performance such as the Performance Based Bonus, Results-based Performance Management System and PBIS,” said Castro. “What we need in the education sector is Php25, 000 minimum pay for the entry-level teaching position in public schools, Php16, 000 for non-teaching staff and set the minimum Php 27,000 for faculty in State Universities and Colleges."

“In addition, Pres. Duterte should reconsider the proposed new excise taxes on fuel and expansion of the value-added tax coverage which are currently being discussed in the Lower House as these would worsen the skyrocketing prices of basic commodities. We challenge the President to side with the toiling Filipino workers and uphold their rights to decent permanent jobs and living wage.” the solons urged.

CHED-DBM "free tuition IRR" is “socialized tuition” scam implemented nationwide - Anakbayan

The Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) recently released by the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) exposes the Free Tuition Policy (FTP) for State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) to be nothing more than the nationwide implementation of the University of the Philippines’ socialized tuition system (STS), said youth group Anakbayan today.

“Pressure from our collective action forced government to re-align P8 billion to fund tuition for our state universities and colleges. However, the IRR now being dished out by Ched and DBM exposes this so-called free tuition policy to be a re-hash of UP’s much-hated socialized tuition scam,” said Anakbayan National Chairperson Vencer Crisostomo.

The youth group said this the materialization of President Duterte’s marching orders for the conditional implementation of the free tuition measure, which under the Ched-DBM FTP IRR limits free tuition to students who are under the 4Ps dole-out programs or are beneficiaries of Student Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAPs). The rest will receive benefits “according to their per capita household income”.

“Instead of giving free education to all students, this bogus ‘free tuition policy’ further discriminates against the poor who will have a harder time complying with various requisites just to prove they are not well off. UP’s very experience shows that ‘socialized tuition’ in the guise of helping poor but deserving students has only subjected them to commercialization schemes,” said Crisostomo.

The FTP is bound to further deprive the poor access to higher education by following the STS model, wherein 1 of 10 students apply for loans, and 3 out of 4 appeal for a lower bracketing. In the year 2015 alone, UP amassed P11.4 billion, a big part of which comes from tuition and other school fees collected by the country’s premier state university from students.

Anakbayan called on the Filipino youth to expose and oppose the deceptive FTP as a neoliberal policy that furthers the commercialization and privatization of SUCs. The youth group also demanded the junking of other neoliberal policies on education like the Education Deregulation Act of 1982 and Higher Education Act of 1997, among others, while reiterating the call to give for free education for all.

On the ICC case against Duterte

The ICC case against Duterte is only the latest symptom of the continued call for accountability that this administration continues to evade. Populist acceptance is not an excuse to stand by while the killings continue.

We support all legal and Constitutional means to exact accountability from the President in his continuing policy of advocating murder in his campaign against drugs.

This government has seemingly closed all avenues to do this, and the ICC is a last resort against this government's inaction over the 8,000 deaths reported so far.

We dare the President to account for the words he has said instead of relying on his spin masters to twist the truths of what he has publicly stated: he condones the employment of violence against drug suspects.

The Filipino people need to understand that the Philippines is part of a global family of countries to which we have committed to respect the rule of law and human rights.

As a signatory to the Rome Statute establishing the ICC and adopting this through RA 9851, the Philippines recognizes the legitimacy of the ICC's authority. When our own government is unable and unwilling to shield its own citizens from harm by acts of omission and commission, that same community of civilized nations has a responsibility to protect us from our worst impulses.

And the impulse in question before the ICC is the consent and exhortation that Duterte has given, quite explicitly, to the murder of our own citizens and the culture of impunity that allows for the dead bodies to pile up: promising pardon for police forces, killing as jobs for displaced OFWs, promotion for controversial police officers involved in extra judicial killings etc.

Massive security preparations betray exclusivity of ASEAN Summit 

The massive security preparations for this week's 30^th ASEAN Summit, including the deployment of 41,000 police, soldiers and uniformed personnel to secure the summit venue, has exposed how ASEAN has become the domain of the region's rich and powerful elite.

“ASEAN’s political leaders and big business interests have become so afraid of criticisms and protests that they have decided to create a fortress. In that place there is no room for ASEAN's impoverished peoples to even talk about how hard life has become under ASEAN’s neoliberal economic policies,” said the People's Campaign for a Free, Sovereign and Peaceful Southeast Asia (People's SEA Campaign) on the eve of the ASEAN Summit in Manila slated April 26-29, 2017. 

The People's SEA Campaign is composed of labor unions, farmers groups, indigenous peoples and other sectors adversely affected by ASEAN's neoliberal economic model. It is organized by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (New Patriotic Alliance or Bayan), People Over Profits Network (POP) and the International League of People's Struggles (ILPS).

Under the theme “Resist imperialist globalization and war! Struggle for an independent, sovereign and peaceful Southeast Asia!” the group is planning to hold protest actions during the various ASEAN meetings and events this year, including ASEAN'S meeting with US Pres. Donald Trump and other world leaders in November. 

“It is time for ASEAN's peoples to be heard. Before pandering again to foreign investors from the US, China, Japan and EU, our leaders in ASEAN should first cater to the needs and interests of their people. The first step is to allow our people to air their grievances and solutions to the problems of poverty, joblessness and environmental destruction,” the group said.

People’s SEA Campaign will hold a press conference onWednesday, April 26, 10 a.m. at the Mabuhay Restop, South Drive, Rizal Park (across the old Army Navy Club) to present their campaign for ASEAN 2017. The media is cordially invited to attend.

Jobs and wage increases will allow urban poor Filipinos to pay monthly dues

Amortization can be transformed into community development payments

Reference: Michael Beltran 09554571061, Gloria Arellano, Chairperson – 09213927457

KADAMAY says that given adequate jobs and wage increases urban poor Filipinos can pay for community development that will directly benefit residents. This will improve their overall standards of living. They say that forcing amortization costs upon the poorest of the poor and repeating problematic housing practices will only lead to more idle housing.

“The poor should be able to pay for the development of their community, not for capital investments of the government and corporations. Most are unable to pay the high amortization, the COA report proves this. There are no jobs available and no sustainable sources of livelihood. Kahit may bahay, pero kung hindi isinasaalang-alang ang trabaho, hindi rin ito mababayaran. Lahat ng maralitang Pilipino nagsisikap para sa katiting na kita sa anumang paraan pero kulang na kulang. People are willing to work, the government should undertake efforts to create jobs with liveable wages for the people. With this we propose a moratorium on payments for ALL housing projects in the next few years,” explained Gloria “Ka Bea” Arellano, KADAMAY Chairperson.

She mentioned the Commission on Audit report which outlined the current trend of dramatically decreasing collection rates for amortization the past few years. Housing projects are typically without basic utilities and far from any type of livelihood, yet the government has insisted on collecting payments despite this. Since 2015, the Philippines has also had the highest unemployment rate in the ASEAN at 6.3% according to the World Bank.

“When we say free, we mean free from amortization. Amortization is unworkable and has no place in public housing, this is something used for private subdivisions and real estate properties. Instead, affordable and just payments can be made for community development purposes, such as repairs, maintenance and the creation of public facilities when the beneficiaries have adequate income. 

Payments should directly benefit the people. Privatization and the treatment of housing as a business is unjust and is one of the main reasons behind this current crisis,” noted Arellano.

The National Housing Authority was urged to re-orient itself towards affording services to the people instead of raking in investments like a corporation. To do this, KADAMAY says that increasing the housing budget is fundamental for the state to fulfill its role of providing adequate housing for all Filipinos. At the moment, the NHA budget for informal settler housing and resettlement is only a mere P4.8 billion.

“The national government can act quickly to increase the budget for housing in the next few years so that the NHA will not be reliant on investment returns. Spending 5% of our GDP on housing is equivalent to P680 billion, that is not impossible,” said Arellano.

With the peace talks proceeding smoothly, the group says that the government can use this as an opportunity to make significant reforms in housing and employment. 

Arellano said that “By taking steps towards national industrialization and genuine agrarian reform, the main causes of poverty will be significantly undercut. The agreement on free land distribution is a welcome development and should translate into other social necessities. Ang trabaho at pabahay ay bahagi ng pinag-uusapan sa peace talks,”