Pagbuo ng isang puwersa para sa pagbabantay sa karagatan itinutulak ni Barbers 20180310

Itinutulak ngayon ng House Committee on Dangerous Drugs ang pagbuo ng isang puwersang magbabantay sa karagatan ng Pilipinas.

Ayon kay Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, ang puwersa ay bubuuin ng mga kinatawan mula sa militar, pulis at anti-drug enforcement agencies.

Aniya, sakaling mabuo ang puwersa, magsisilbi itong lakas upang tuluyang pigilan at sugpuin ang pagpasok ng mga sindikatong planong pumasok sa bansa.

Idinagdag pa ni Barbers na ang puwersa ding ito ang magsisilbing bantay sa karagatang sakop ng Pilipinas sa oras na may nangangailangan ng tulong.

Sa isinagawang pagdinig ng komite noong Pebrero 5 sa kamara, inamin ng mga awtoridad na mahirap bantayan ang Eastern Seaboards dahil sa libo-libong milyang layo nito sa pampang.

“There is no Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) or PNP Maritime Group personnel constantly manning the eastern seaboard,” ayon kay Barbers.

Kabilang sa mahigpit na binabantayan sa eastern seaboards ang pampang ng Cagayan, Isabela, Samar, Sorsogon, at Albay kung saan paboritong daungan ng international syndicates.

"The Navy said there should be at least 3,000 men present or patrolling the area. But we have none,” dagdag pa ni Barbers.

Bingyang diin din ni Barbers na ang Jin Ming 16, ang barkong pinaghihinalaang may karga ng cocaine at sinubukang ibaba sa Isabela ay nagmula sa the vessel Hainan, China para ibagsak sa Chile noong December 12, 2017. Nasabat ito sa karagatan ng Pambujan, Samar noong January ngayong taon.

"Jin Ming 16, a considerably large sea vessel formerly registered in Taiwan and sold years ago to Togo, West Africa was cruising with fake documentation and was manned only by nine Chinese personnel before it ran aground in Northern Samar allegedly due to Typhoon Agaton,” ayon kay Barbers.

“What is more suspicious or considered as a red flag is that the Jin Ming 16, according to our Navy officials, shut off its AIS (Automatic Identification System). when it entered Philippine waters,” paliwanag ni Barbers.

Idinagdag pa ni Barbers na dahil sa kakulangan ng nagpapatrulya sa karagatan ng Pilipinas at sopistikadong kagamitan hirap ang awtoridad na magbigay ng seguridad sa dagat na sakop ng bansa.

"At present, we have no way of determining how many successful cocaine deliveries had been made on our shores, and who or what drug syndicates or cartel were responsible for it,” pahayag ng kongresista.

“We should find a way to resolve this problem before the country gains the reputation of being the top drug transshipment point in Asia,” dagdag pa nito.#

House to finalize bill on National Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission for the Bangsamoro

The House special committee on peace, reconciliation and unity on Monday created a technical working group (TWG) that will consolidate all the inputs and position papers regarding House Bill 5669, seeking to create the National Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission for the Bangsamoro.

The Commission shall design and formulate mechanisms to implement the Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Program for the Bangsamoro which will address legitimate grievances of the Bangsamoro people, historical injustices, and human rights violations, including marginalization through land dispossession.

In formulating the mechanisms to implement the Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Program for the Bangsamoro, the Commission shall be guided by a framework of dealing with the past that respects, protects, and fulfills the right to truth, right to justice, and right to reparation of the victims and ensure non-recurrence of any violation. For this purpose, the Commission shall adopt its own operational guidelines and rules of procedure.

To assist the Commission in the performance of its duties, four sub-commissions shall be created with specific aspects of transitional justice for the Bangsamoro: sub-commission on Bangsamoro historical memory; sub-commission against impunity and on the promotion of accountability and rule of law in the Bangsamoro; sub-commission on land dispossession in the Bansamoro; and sub-commission on Bangsamoro healing and reconciliation.

The Commission shall be composed of a chairperson and four regular commissioners to be appointed by the President. Each of the commissioners shall be responsible for the four sub-commissions.

Among the functions of the Commission are to investigate, study, and recommend measures to resolve cases of individuals and communities adversely affected by armed conflict, serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, and outstanding land disputes in the conflict-affected areas, generally, and as provided in the mandates of the sub-commissions.

During the hearing. Lanao del Norte Rep. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo said the issue on land conflict and disputes should likewise be considered and addressed in the NTJRCB, citing that in Lanao, there are always two claimants to a land property, a Muslim and a Christian.

He said land dispute is also prevalent in all of Mindanao, and is very hard to solve unless properly is defined and stipulated in the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

Dimaporo also acknowledged  the wisdom in filing HB 5669 seeking to create a Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Program aimed at addressing the legitimate grievances of the Bangsamoro people, correcting historical injustices, and addressing human rights violations and marginalization through land dispossession

Meanwhile, in the case of the Marawi siege, Dimaporo said the government should not lump the terror activities perpetrated by the Islamic State of Iran and Syria (ISIS) with the reconciliation process of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) which is considered an insurgent group with a different ideology.

There must be a clear definition of reconciliation in the Bangsamoro so that it could not be mixed up with the ISIS, he said.

Meanwhile, Rep.  Christopher Belmonte said the decades-long armed conflict in Mindanao is rooted in the legacy of historic injustice suffered by the Bangsamoro people. “Oppressive national integration policies, as well as the economic exploitation of Mindanao by external actors through the use of colonial-era land laws that enabled the dispossession of many original possessors of their land, among others, impelled the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) to engage in a protracted war with the Philippine government that began in the early 1970s and lasted for close to three decades. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which broke away from the MNLF in the late 1970s, likewise engaged in armed revolt until the late 1990s to the early 2000s,” said Belmonte.

Assistant Secretary Rolando Asuncion of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) said that the human rights commission in the Bangsamoro is broader and highly connected with transitional justice issues. Human rights cases or incidents as far back in 1974 are historical cases and more complex that the government should work on so that they could be addressed properly, he said. /JA Menorca

#onehouseforchange

DEPED ALS EQUIVALENCY TEST SHOULD ALSO

BE IN CEBUANO, FILIPINO, SAYS REP. SIAO

DepEd officials failed the fairness test when they made the ALS equivalency exam much harder to pass

DepEd Alternative Learning System (ALS) learners who did not pass the accreditation and equivalency test given in November last year have been allowed to take the test again this March. To pass the test, they need to get a passing score of 60 percent.

I commend Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis-Briones for taking swift and decisive action on the injustice committed against learners who took the ALS accreditation and equivalency last November but failed to pass it because of, among others, the sudden use of English instead of Filipino in the tests on Math and Science.

Secretary Briones was right in lowering the passing rate from 75 percent to 60 percent because the test last November 2017 was more difficult than previous tests.

The DepEd Secretary proved yet again her integrity and courage as an educator when she admitted, on behalf of the DepEd, that the test given last November was “impaired” in terms of fairness.

However, I urge Secretary Briones to, at the very least, issue a written reprimand to the DepEd officials and personnel responsible for subjecting the ALS examinees to the injustice, not mere unfairness, of the test they took last year.

Those officials are supposed to be highly educated and highly trained, yet they failed to serve the public, the examinees in particular, with FAIRNESS.

I appeal to Secretary Briones to direct the DepEd personnel under her to have the Math and Science tests in Filipino, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, Waray, Cebuano and other major mother tongues or languages of the Philippines, so that the examinees can understand the questions and respond accordingly.

The DepEd can enlist the technical support of the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino and the Surian ng Wikang Filipino for this undertaking.

If the DepEd needs a higher allocation for this specific purpose, I will support that budget request when the DepEd budget is heard in Congress at committee and in plenary. (END)

[BACKGROUNDER

(Excerpt from March 2, 2018 Statement of Secretary Briones)

Based on my evaluation, in consultation with all our relevant officers and personnel, the following are the contributory factors that made the current test more difficult than the previous ones, and impaired the fairness of the test:

1. The language used in test questions for Math and Science were changed from Filipino in the previous tests to English in the current test. The negative impact of this was very pronounced in the elementary level examination.

2. The time gap between the time of completion of ALS interventions and the current test was prolonged because of a number of postponements in test administration.

3. There was a change in the technical reference of, as well as significant increase in, the passing score for the test.

4. An initial comparison of the test questions show a higher degree of difficulty in the present test than the previous one.

5. There were shortcomings in adequately communicating the assessment changes to ALS implementers.

Given the above, I am announcing the change in the passing score from 75% correct answers (relative to total test questions) to 60% correct answers in the November 2017 A&E Test. This is to align the present test with previous standards, as well as to mitigate the unfairness to the examinees brought about by the circumstances mentioned. This same passing score shall be applied to the March 4 and 11, 2018 A&E Test.

A 60% passing score in examinations is generally acceptable.

The November 2017 A&E examinees who still did not make the new passing score shall be allowed to take the March 4 and 11, 2018 A&E Test as walk-in examinees, provided they accomplish the required registration documents at the site immediately prior to taking the exam.]

FILIPINOS' ENGLISH PROFICIENCY AS BEST FOOT FORWARD IS SUFFERING FROM ARTHRITIS

Concerned about test results showing Filipino college graduates' English proficiency declining while other countries are improving, 1-Ang Edukasyon Party-list Rep. Salvador Belaro, Jr recently delivered a privilege speech pushing for English as an official language of the country.

Comparing the results of the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) across ASEAN, Hopkins International Partners found that Thai high school students are more proficient in English than Filipino college graduates.

Hopkins International Partners said Filipinos are ranked only third or fourth among the ASEAN countries in terms of English proficiency and that the Philippines' proficiency is on the decline while others are on the rise.

In the two-year study of Hopkins International Partners, Filipino university graduates average a score of only 630, a far cry from the 850 passable score required by business process outsourcing companies the world over. The study also noted that it is lower than the competency requirement for taxi drivers in the United Arab Emirates, and lower than that of the high school graduates of Thailand and Vietnam.

At the heart of the problem is the Department of Education’s not giving English the proper emphasis it deserves in the instruction of our schoolchildren. Instead of allowing English to grow in conjunction with the teaching of Filipino, our national language, the resulting scenario was that the promotion of Filipino in our schools came at the expense of teaching English, when the ideal but also realizable scenario could be the mutual development of both English and Filipino as languages of instruction.

One practical twin solution to improve English proficiency in our schools is to require, with training and testing costs shouldered by the government, all public school teachers of English to be certified by the TESDA as English proficient.

The proficiency course would be in-service training for those who are already teaching. The incentive for undergoing the English proficiency training can be a two-step increase in salary plus service credits commensurate to the hours of training undergone. English teachers who would need to take the proficiency test again would undergo further intensive training (cost shouldered by the DepEd).

For those who are studying to become English teachers, the TESDA English proficiency training can be embedded into the baccalaureate program as one of the requirements for graduation.

By improving the English proficiency of our teachers, we strengthen the English competencies of our youth. It will help secure a better future for them. (END)

LAWMAKERS CITE LANGUAGE COMPETENCIES AS KEY SUCCESS FACTORS

For Filipinos who are returning to schooling via alternative learning, adapting to their mother tongue is one effective way to reconnect them to the education system, according to Iligan City Representative Frederick Siao.  For those who have remained in school or are teaching upgrading of English proficiency is necessary, says 1-Ang Edukasyon Party-list Rep. Salvador Belaro, Jr.

These two advocates of quality education put forth their positions on the relevance of language in education this weekend through separate official statements.

Rep. Siao commented on the decision of Education Secretary Leonor Briones to adjust the passing rate of the Alternative Learning System (ALS) accreditation and equivalency exams to 60 percent from 75 percent because of the tests given last November were more difficult for the out-of-school learners because of the use of English in the tests on Math and Science.

Siao lauded Sec. Briones for admitting the “unfairness” of the November exams. “The DepEd Secretary proved yet again her integrity and courage as an educator when she admitted, on behalf of the DepEd, that the test given last November was “impaired” in terms of fairness.

He asked Secretary Briones to direct the DepEd personnel under her to have the Math and Science tests in Filipino and Cebuano and other major mother tongues or languages of the Philippines, so that the examinees can understand the questions and respond accordingly.

Siao said the DepEd can enlist the technical support of the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino and the Surian ng Wikang Filipino for this undertaking.

“If the DepEd needs a higher allocation for this specific purpose, I will support that budget request when the DepEd budget is heard in Congress at committee and in plenary, “ Siao also said.

For his part, Rep. Belaro batted for English as an official language of the Philippines and the state-funded upgrading of English teachers’ competencies in English with the TESDA English proficiency course and certification.

“In the two-year study of Hopkins International Partners, Filipino university graduates average a score of only 630, a far cry from the 850 passable score required by business process outsourcing companies the world over. The study also noted that it is lower than the competency requirement for taxi drivers in the United Arab Emirates, and lower than that of the high school graduates of Thailand and Vietnam,” Belaro noted.

Comparing the results of the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) across ASEAN, Hopkins International Partners found that Thai high school students are more proficient in English than Filipino college graduates.

“By improving the English proficiency of our teachers, we strengthen the English competencies of our youth. It will help secure a better future for them,” Belaro said. (END)

KABAYAN SOLON PUSHES FOR NEW ORGAN DONATION LAW (REP. RON P. SALO)

[House Bill 1414 seeks to protect living and deceased organ donors with stricter regulation and supervision]

Everyday hundreds of Filipinos are becoming afflicted with end-stage organ failure, with organ transplant as the only chance of survival. The National Kidney and Transplant Institute, in its website, states that kidney diseases, especially end-stage renal diseases, are the seventh leading causes of death among Filipinos.

Organ transplantation, while universally accepted as a mode of medical treatment to prolong and improve the quality of lives of patients, is limited due to the expense and shortage of donors.

In an effort to encourage and regulate organ donation, the Philippines passed the Organ Donation Act in 1991, authorizing the donation of any or all part of human body after death. Nonetheless, organ donation has been surrounded by cultural, moral, and ethical issues and thus there continues to be a lack of donors in order to implement the said Act.

Some people have invariably resorted to other sources of graft, such as living donors. But these has also been plagued by issues of exploitation of the poor and human trafficking.

In 2008, the Declaration of Istanbul on Organ Trafficking and Transplant Tourism was adopted by States-Parties, highlighting the need for all countries to develop laws and guidelines to govern organ donation and transplantation activities, and to have a transparent regulatory oversight system that ensures donor and recipient safety and the enforcement of standards and prohibitions on unethical practices.

It is imperative therefore that a law be passed seeking to protect, on the one hand, the lives of patients by developing a national system of promoting organ donation from both deceased donors and living donors, and on the other hand, protect living donors from exploitation, abuse, and human trafficking. 

House bill 1414 seeks to strengthen the Organ Donation Act of 1991. It will also ensure the availability of organs and tissues for donation to patients who are in need, while providing stricter regulation and more careful supervision of the practice of organ donation.

HB 1414 supplements the Organ Donation Act of 1991, maintains many of its provisions, but significantly strengthens it by adding additional provisions.

The Philippine Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Program is created to provide the overall direction and system of implementation of organ donation and transplantation in the country, through the Philippine Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Board under the Department of Health (DOH).

The Philippine Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Board is mandated to develop and implement policies on organ donation and transplantation within the framework of Philippine laws and serve as the overall implementing body of the organ donation and transplantation program in the country.

HB 1414 creates the Philippine Network for Organ Sharing (PhilNOS) under the Philippine Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Board to perform the following functions:

1.         Oversee and facilitate donation and organ transplantation involving deceased and living donors in the country;

2.         Act as the central coordinating body to ensure that all organs from deceased and living donors are allocated according to established criteria; and

3.         Promote organ donation from a deceased or living donor

HB 1414 encourages the creation of Organ Recovery Organizations which shall be responsible for identifying, evaluating and obtaining organ donations from deceased donors from hospitals, including the preservation and transportation of such organs.

A National Transplant Ethics Committee under the DOH shall be established to formulate national ethical standards or guidelines on organ donation and transplantation for approval by the Philippine Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Board.

HB 1414 retains the provisions in the old law as to who may donate organs, who may be an organ receiver or done, the manner in which a donation is executed, manner of delivery to a specific legatee, and amendment or revocation of legacy, as well as the rights and duties of the parties after the death of the donor.

It also retains the provisions in the old law as to which who is authorized to remove and transplant organs.

HB 1414 mandates Organ Donor Cards with which a donor may also indicate the willingness to donate an organ, tissue, or part thereof either through a donor card or the government-issued identification (ID) cards and licenses.

HB 1414 establishes a procedure in the absence of a donation and a protocol for organ donations from a living person, as well as provision for assistance and protection.

It also strengthens the information drive mandated in the old law by incorporating it in the health subjects in our education system.

House OKs Filipino Sign Language (FSL) as language of the deaf

The House committee on appropriations has approved a substitute bill declaring Filipino Sign Language (FSL) as the national sign language of the Filipino deaf and the official sign language of the government in all transactions involving the deaf.

The committee approved the funding provision of the bill as spelled out in its Section 15 after which it passed the measure in its entirety.

The initial funding of the proposed “”The Filipino Sign Language Act” shall be taken from the current year’s appropriations of the concerned government agencies. Thereafter, the amount necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

The bill declares as policy of the State to take all appropriate measures to ensure  the Filipino deaf can exercise the right to expression and opinion. Accordingly, the State recognizes and promotes the use of sign languages embodying the specific cultural and linguistic identity of the Filipino deaf.

The bill declares the FSL as the national sign language of the Philippines. The FSL shall be recognized, promoted, and supported as the medium of official communication in all transactions involving the deaf, and as the language of instruction of deaf education, without prejudice to the use of other forms of communication depending on individual choice or preference.

The Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher and Technical Education (CHED), the Technical Educational Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and all other national and local government agencies involved in the education of the deaf are tasked to henceforth use FSL as the medium of instruction in deaf education.

Likewise, the FSL shall be the official language of legal interpreting for the deaf in all public hearings, proceedings, and transactions of the courts, quasi-judicial agencies, and other tribunals. They shall ensure the availability of a qualified sign language interpreter in all proceedings involving the deaf, without prejudice to the right of the deaf to choose other forms or modes of communication, if they so prefer.

The FSL also shall be the official language of the deaf employed in the civil service and in all government workplaces. All government offices shall take reasonable measures, including the conduct of awareness and training seminars on the rationale and use of FSL, to encourage its use among deaf and hearing-impaired government employees.

In the health system, state hospitals and all health facilities shall ensure access of the Filipino deaf to health services, including the free provision of FSL interpreters and accessible materials upon the request of deaf patients or individuals who have deaf family members.

The FSL also shall be used as the medium of official communication in all other public transactions, services and facilities.

The FSL shall be the language of broadcast media interpreting. The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) and the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) shall, within one year from the effectivity of the Act, require FSL interpreter insets, compliant with accessibility standards for television, in news and public affairs programs.

The bill mandates the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino, in coordination with the DepEd Secretary, CHED Chairperson, TESDA Director-General, Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Chairperson, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Secretary of Justice, and the heads of other relevant agencies, and in consultation with representatives of the deaf community, teachers with knowledge and experience with the use of FSL in deaf education, the academe, interpreters, and other persons concerned, to promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of the Act./ RB Bundang

#onehouseforchange

News Release

06 March 2018

Free tuition for indigent college students pushed

The House committee on higher and technical education on Monday approved the creation of a technical working group (TWG), which will fine-tune House Bill 181, instituting free college education for indigent students.

The proposed “Free College Education for Indigent Students Act” declares it is the constitutional policy of the State that indigent students should be given ample opportunity to pursue tertiary education. State colleges and universities, and private educational institutions should contribute to the instruction of indigent students.

Towards this end, schools covered by the Act are obliged to admit, free of tuition, indigent students/ beneficiaries the number of whom shall be at least 10 percent of the total paying freshman enrolees per semester for each tertiary school and for each course.

The 10 percent shall be based on the actual number of paying freshman students in the immediately preceding semester.

 As defined in the bill, an indigent family is a family whose income does not exceed P15,000 per month. Family income refers to the combined gross income of the students’ parents. It does not include the income of the other members of the family.

A family is not considered indigent if it owns real property or a vehicle. The real property does not include the parcels of land given by the State or any of its instrumentality to informal settlers. The real property referred to under the Act refers to a property acquired through sale.

The admission to school shall be on a first-come first-serve basis. If there is no more slot in the school preferred by the beneficiary, he/she may still enrol in another school that still has remaining slots.

It shall be the obligation of the schools covered by the Act to admit or enrol qualified beneficiaries indorsed by the Regional Scholarship Board and extend these beneficiaries free of tuition.

To qualify for free college education, the student must: 1) be a graduate of senior high school immediately preceding the next school semester of the school he/she wishes to enrol; 2) come from an indigent family; 3) pass the usual qualifying examination for admission of the school; and 4) must be without any derogatory record, or must not be accused in, or adjudged by, a competent court, as having committed an offense or crime under Philippine laws.

The bill prohibits schools from discriminating against indigent beneficiaries. Those who discriminate shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of six months and 11 days to two years, or payment of a fine of P200,000, or both.

The bill mandates the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to promulgate the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the effective implementation of the Act. The IRR shall be approved by the House of Representatives.

The bill is authored by Rep. Vincent Crisologo who said there is still a need to go further by instituting free tertiary or college education for indigent students.

“Up to now, those who have less in life have always been hoping for the day that they could send their children to college free of tuition,” said Crisologo.

Committee chairperson Rep. Ann Hofer requested the CHED, Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC), Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines (COCOPEA), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to submit their position paper to the TWG. / EA Galvez

#onehouseforchange

REP. BERNADETTE “BH” HERRERA-DY         

Bagong Henerasyon Party-list

Chair, Committee on Women and Gender Equality

[WOMEN’S MONTH]

1,733 PINAYS, 224 PREGNANT MOMS GOT HIV HOUSE PANEL CHAIR ON WOMEN NOTES

Since 2011 when the Department of Health started counting the number of pregnant women found living with HIV-AIDS, 224 child-bearing mothers were found to have been infected with the dreaded disease, Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy noted in the latest available official government figures.

“From January 2012 to December 2017, mother-to-child transmission involved 38 women, while 1,733 females got HIV from having sex with a male. These are worrying figures,” Herrera-Dy added, referring to the same DOH report as of December 2017.

Herrera-Dy is Chair of the House Committee on Women and Gender Equality.

To greatly reduce the spread of HIV among women, the Bagong Henerasyon Party-List congresswoman, asked the DOH and DSWD to deploy more health professionals to specific localities where the HIV-AIDS Registry data say interventions are urgently needed.

She said that with the Reproductive Health Law now fully-implementable, DOH and DSWD can work double time to attend to maternal health issues down to the barangay level.

“Single and married women must be armed with information and the various means of personal defense and treatments versus HIV.  1,733 HIV-infected females from 2012 to 2017 is still a significant number although the infection figures for the males is much higher,” the lady House Assistant Majority Leader said. (END)

Reference: Gil Bugaoisan

Contact: 09053398753

Appropriations panel OKs pro-children's safety bill

The House Appropriations Committee chaired by Davao City 1st district Rep. Karlo Nograles has green-lit the funding provision of a proposed law that would mandate parents to keep closer watch on children, especially during ungodly hours of the day.

Gaining the Appropriations panel's nod was the currently unnumbered substitute bill to House Bill (HB) No.894, titled "An Act prohibiting unchaperoned children from roaming, loitering or sleeping outside their abode during unsafe hours, prescribing penalties for their parents or guardians."

Nograles said the measure, which was authored by Quezon 4th district Rep. Angelina Tan, was previously approved by the Committee on the Welfare of Children.

"The bill seeks to ensure the protection of our kids from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation, and other conditions prejudicial to their development," he underscored.

Once enacted, the bill will make it unlawful for parents and guardians to, knowingly or by insufficient control, allow children to loiter, roam around, or sleep in any public place from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., without justifiable reason.

"It is absolutely necessary for parents to have their children chaperoned during these hours to shield them from dangers such as crime. As we are all aware, the Duterte administration has launched a no-nonsense campaign against criminality; we can do our share in this effort by ensuring that our kids are always out of harm's way."

The original measure penned by Tan covers minors individuals below 18 years old.

As per the substitute bill, erring parents/ guardians together with their child will be made to undergo counseling or other intervention programs upon violation of the Act.

For the third and succeeding offenses, the parents or guardians will be slapped with a maximum fine of P1,000 and/or ordered to fulfill community service for five to 10 days.

Exempted from this prohibition are children who are accompanied by a parent or guardian; are out of their homes for reasons related with education, employment, or official activities sponsored by the government, school, or civic organizations; or are involved in any emergency.

Nograles noted that the bill goes to great lengths to ensure that Filipino youngsters aren't subjected to any type of abuse.

"It prohibits law enforcement officers from exhibiting behavior that tend to traumatize children such as use of vulgar words, sexual harassment or abuse, displaying instruments of intimidation, or inflicting violence or unnecessary force on the child," he said.

Nograles said that the country's barangay captains are mandated to implement the Act.

Meanwhile, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), in consultation with the Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas, Commission on the Welfare of the Children (CWC),

National Youth Commission (NYC) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), is ordered to promulgate its implementing rules and regulations.

NEWS Release

06 March 2018

House OKs “National Hijab Day”

The House committee on Muslim Affairs on Monday approved a substitute bill which seeks to declare the first day of February of every year as “National Hijab Day”.

The bill expressly recognizes the role of women in nation-building, and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law of women and men.

Moreover, the free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination and or preference, shall be allowed.

Under the measure, the term “hijab” refers to a veil that covers the head and chest, which is particularly worn by a Muslim female beyond the age of puberty, in the presence of adult males outside of their immediate family. It may further refer to any head, face, or body covering worn by Muslim women that conform to a certain standard of modesty.

The bill seeks to encourage Muslim and non-Muslim women to wear the hijab and experience the virtue in wearing it.

It also aims to remove the misconception of wearing the hijab that has been misunderstood as symbol of oppression, terrorism and lack of freedom.

Likewise, it is the objective of the bill to stop discrimination against Muslim women “hijabi”.

Furthermore, the bill seeks to promote and deepen understanding amongst non-Muslims about the value of wearing hijab as an act of modesty and dignity to Muslim women.

It intends to promote appreciation for diversity in expression of oneself and one’s faith and religion.

The proposal seeks to promote tolerance and acceptance of other lifestyles amongst the Filipino nation.

The bill states the observance of National Hijab Day shall showcase Muslim women's hijabi rights and Muslim and non-Muslim women are encouraged to don the hijab for one day.

In addition, government institutions, private sectors and schools are encouraged to observe this event in a manner that promotes understanding and awareness among its employees and students as to the objective of the campaign.

The bill tasks the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) to observe this event as the lead agency in promotion and raising consciousness about hijabis in the Philippines.

Aside from this, the NCMF shall conduct activities that aim to deepen understanding of the hijab as a lifestyle choice amongst women.

It may conduct fora, information dissemination campaign and other educational drive to effectively meet the objective of this Act.

The bill substitutes House Bill 968 authored by Rep. Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman. She resigned last year. /MVIP

#onehouseforchange

OFFICE OF AGRI PARTY-LIST REP. ORESTES T. SALON

PRESS RELEASE

06 MARCH 2018

REFERENCE : HANS ARAO ‎(09776912124)

AGRI SOLON TO CHED- "WHERE IS IRR FOR FREE TERTIARY EDUCATION?"

AGRI Party-list Representative Orestes T. Salon today slammed the Commission on Higher Education for its failure to keep its promise to release the implementing rules and regulations of the free tertiary education law by February 22.

CHED officer in charge Prospero de Vera last month vowed to finish the IRR of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act by February 22.

"The deadline to finish the IRR for the free tuition law was set by CHED itself, yet they are eerily silent two weeks after," Salon said.

"What's taking them so long to finish it?," he added.

Salon said that during a recent visit to Sorsogon, some parents dismissed the free education law as merely an empty promise.

Salon is among the authors of RA 10931, which was signed into law July last year.  It mandates the non-collection of tuition and other fees in all 112 state universities and colleges nationwide.

He originally filed House Bill No. 5322 providing full tuition subsidy to the children of farmers, which was consolidated into HB 5633, the version passed by the Lower House.

"We are already nearing enrollment period yet there are fears that the law will not be implemented in time for the start of the new academic year," said Salon.

He also said that the CHED should work double-time as many of the poor in the countryside are enrolled in SUCS.

He expressed fears that students, particularly those who belong to farmer and fisherfolk households who belong to the poorest sectors of society, would altogether choose to not enroll this year because of the non-release of the IRR.

Farmer and fisherfolk households, with poverty incidence of 34.3 and 34 percent, respectively, could just decide to prioritize their basic needs over the education of their children, Salon added.

"I hope that Congress' efforts to find the money to fund the law will not be wasted by CHED's failure to come up with the IRR," Salon added.

Congress was able to re-align funds in the 2018 budget to allocate P51.4 billion for the  law’s first year of implementation.

Photo Release

06 March 2018

UNDER SCRUTINY: Members of the House committee on good government and public accountability chaired by Rep. Johnny Ty Pimentel in a hearing on Monday looked into the funding and implementation of the Department of Health's Barangay Health Stations (BHS) project. The project was approved for implementation during the term of former Health Secretary Janette Garin even before it could be funded. There were also problems on the availability of lots for the BSHs. The committee decided to invite Garin and former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad to its next hearing. The hearing was based on House Resolution 360 filed by Rep. Estrellita Suansing seeking an inquiry into the BSHs construction within the premises of public schools. (P. Camero/ RB Bundang/G. Engay)

#onehouseforchange

News Release

06 March 2018

Alvarez says quo warranto case is proper, can co-exist with impeachment proceedings

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez today said the filing of a petition for quo warranto by the Solicitor General before the Supreme Court to question the validity of the appointment of Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno is a proper course of action.

In an ambush interview, Alvarez noted that on-going impeachment process and the quo warranto petition of the Sol Gen are two separate causes of action that can proceed independently of each other.

“Well tama yun eh, yung quo warranto. Kasi dalawang causes of action di ba? Yung impeachment exclusive yun sa Congress but it presupposes a valid appointment. Ngayon yung quo warranto kinukwestyon yung appointment itself, yung validity.  So tama yun kasi yun naman ay palagay ko talagang exclusive din ng judicial branch of government,” said Alvarez.

(That’s a proper course of action, quo warranto because there are two separate causes of action. The impeachment process is exclusive to Congress but it presupposes a valid appointment. Now what quo warranto questions is the validity of the appointment itself. So quo warranto is proper because that power is exclusive to the judicial branch of government.)

Alvarez allayed the concern that the quo warranto proceedings lodged against Sereno would set a dangerous precedent and open the floodgates of similar suits to seek the ouster of impeachable officials.

“Ah hindi naman, kasi ang kino-quo warranto dito yung validity nung appointment. Kasi kung talaga namang nag comply yung isang appointee sa lahat ng requirement so papano ka mako-quo warranto?” Alvarez said.

(No, it wouldn’t because what is the subject of quo warranto here is the validity of the appointment. If the appointee has complied with all the requirements then he could never be the subject of a quo warranto proceeding.)

Likewise, Alvarez dismissed the contention of Sereno’s camp that her appointment as Chief Justice is valid because it complied with the basic constitutional requirements and that the submission of the SALN (Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth) is just a supplementary requirement imposed by the Judicial and Bar Council.

“Hindi, yung SALN kasi nasa Constitution yun. Lahat ng government employees kinakailangang mag-submit ng SALN, nasa Constitution yan. Kaya pag hindi ka nag-submit ng SALN hindi lang administrative kundi baka may criminal liability pa yan,” Alvarez said.

(That’s not correct because submission of SALN is mandated under the Constitution. All government employees are required to submit SALN as provided for in the Constitution. If you fail to submit your SALN you are not only administratively, but possibly even criminally, liable.)

Art. XI, Section 17 of the Constitution provides that: “A public officer or employee shall, upon assumption of office and as often thereafter as may be required by law, submit a declaration under oath of his assets, liabilities, and net worth.”

 “As a lawyer, tingin ko may basehan,” Alvarez said.

(As a lawyer, I think there is good basis for the quo warranto petition).

Alvarez also dismissed the call for the inhibition in the quo warranto case of the SC justices who demanded that Sereno take an indefinite leave.

“Mauubos yung justices. Hindi naman siguro, hindi naman dapat. Bakit naman sila mag-i-inhibit  trabaho nila yun? Wala namang personal interest yun na involved,” Alvarez said.

(None of the justices would remain to decide the case. I don’t think so. Why should they inhibit when that’s their job? Beside there is no personal interest involved here.)

Out of respect for the court, Alvarez refused to comment if the action of the 13 justices who asked Sereno to go on indefinite leave is indicative of the possible ruling of the high court in the quo warranto case.

“I don’t know. Anything can happen,” Alvarez said.

But until the SC renders a decision on the quo warranto case, Alvarez said the House can proceed with the impeachment proceedings. The high court has included the quo warranto case for its en banc deliberations today.

“Tuloy pa rin yun kasi magkahiwalay yun. Kami naman i-aassume namin na valid yung appointment niya,” Alvarez said.

(We’ll just continue the impeachment proceedings because that’s a separate process. On our part, we will just assume that her appointment is valid.)

The House Committee on Justice is set to vote Thursday to determine the existence of probable cause to impeach Sereno.  However, Alvarez said the House may opt to await the SC ruling before the plenary decides whether or not to send the case to the Senate for trial.

There is also nothing wrong if the justice committee is reportedly preparing the articles of impeachment even before the actual voting to speed up the process, according to Alvarez.  He noted that Sereno has dared the House to immediately send the impeachment to the Senate for trial.

On the other hand, Alvarez said that the SC rules in favor of the quo warranto case, the ground for Sereno’s impeachment ceases to exist.

“Kasi ang mangyayari dyan kapagka nag-grant ang Supreme Court ng quo warranto ibig sabihin ininvalidate yung appointment so ano pang i-iimpeach namin?  Wala na,” Alvarez said.

(If the Supreme Court grants the quo warranto that means the appointment was declared invalid, so who are we going to impeach? Nobody.)

Alvarez said he is leaving it to the hands of Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas to map out the proper course of action for the House.

If the case reaches the Senate for trial, Alvarez said he would leave the task of prosecuting Sereno to other more qualified lawmakers. Instead, Alvarez said he would rather stay in the sidelines to watch the procedings.

“Taga-palakpak lang,” Alvarez said when asked for his role if Sereno’s impeachment goes to trial.

(I’d just be there to applaud the prosecutors). ###

 #onehouseforchange

NEWS Release

06 March 2018

House to grill former Secretaries Garin and Abad on health stations fund

Members of the House committee on good government and public accountability on Monday decided to invite former Health Secretary Janette Garin and former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad in their next meeting to clarify several contentious issues surrounding the funding and implementation of the Barangay Health Stations (BHS) project of the Department of Health (DOH) in 2015, amounting to P9.3 billion.

The committee is conducting an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on House Resolution 360 to determine which agency is more competent to implement the Barangay Health Stations nationwide within the premises of public elementary schools.

Based on reports, the BHS construction in school premises has yet to be fully completed and is not yet operational to date. In evaluating which is more competent to implement the BHS construction, it would be wiser to give the task to the Department of Public Works and Highways, said Rep. Estrellita Suansing. 

But in the course of the hearing, committee members realized it was not just a simple matter of identifying the proper implementing agency for the BHS. Several contentious issues surfaced which were related to the funding of the BSH and their construction.

For instance, the bidding for the BSH project in 2015 was done in September that year even if it did not have a budget in the 2015 General Appropriations Act (GAA), specifically under the DOH budget.

DOH finance officer Laureano Cruz said the funding source of the project was a SARO (Special Allotment Release Order) released by Department of Budget and Management on December 29, 2015 in the amount of P9.3 billion.

Asked by lawmakers what was the source of the fund, Cruz said the SARO did not indicate the funding source. “Based on the SARO release, there was no specific funding source, except it was written, nakalagay ‘regular agency fund 2015 GAA.’ Wala na pong ibang nakalagay sa SARO,” said Cruz.

Dr. Rio Magpantay, then the  vice chairman of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), said they advertised the project in July 2015 then conducted the bidding in September 2015.

Rep. Doy Leachon said the process was “out of line, scandalous, unacceptable irregularity of a multi-billion procurement project.”

“Scandalous, masyado ng binabasura yung sistema ng gobyerno. Paano po kayo nakapag-bid ng walang pondo? Ang SARO nito Dec. 29, paano kayo nag-pondo? Hindi ko mahagip sa isip ko, wala kayong pondo magbi-bid kayo,” said Leachon.

Magpantay said they conducted the bidding short of award. But Leachon said short of award is properly exemplified by the DPWH. “Ang laki-laki ng perang ito, masyado naman kayong sigurado nun. It’s not even in the GAA. Ang short of award yung ganun sa DPWH, nasa GAA. Nasa GAA ba ito?,” said Leachon.

Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay said only the former DBM Secretary Florencio  Abad would know where the money came from. “May we invite both former Secretaries Garin and Abad to enlighten us about the sources of fund because you know, this is a big amount of money. And it must have come from the savings, and when it comes to savings we have to identify savings of which agency. If this is not the savings of the DOH but the savings of other agencies then it is illegal. Hindi po tama yan. Illegal po yan. Alam naman natin, the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court,” said Pichay.

Suansing asked if the P9.3 billion budget mentioned in the SARO dated December 29, 2015 was part of the DOH budget. Cruz said it was not included in the DOH 2015 budget.

Suansing said Page 1185 of the Official Gazette, which is about the 2015 national budget, states that “Provided the amount of P3,696,174.00 appropriated herein for the construction, upgrading and expansion of Local Government Units (LGU) healthcare facilities shall be released directly to the DPWH” while Page 1154 of the Official Gazette, about the 2016 national budget, states: “Provided furthermore, DPWH constructs LGU healthcare facility only if lots are already owned, acquired by the government.”

With these provisions clearly mandating the DPWH to construct and upgrade LGU healthcare facilities, Suansing asked why the DOH implemented the BSH project. She said this was a violation of the provisions of the 2015 and 2016 GAAs she mentioned.

“Bakit hindi DPWH ang nag implement when under the regular fund it should be the DPWH?,” she said. Cruz referred Suansing’s question to DOH Program Manager Criselda Abesamis.

Abesamis said the request for funding was made on June 15, 2015 through a letter of Garin to the DBM, stating the DOH is respectfully submitting the list of health facilities for implementation of the DOH chargeable against the Health Facilities Enhancement Program in the amount of P8.193 billion and unprogrammed fund in the amount of P10.6 billion, both of CY 2015 GAA. “The unprogrammed fund is based on the available balance from sin tax not located in the DOH budget, “she said.

Among the items for funding cited were the school-based BSH, other requests for infrastructure and equipment.

Rep. Romeo Acop noted that the notice of award for the project was issued on the same day the SARO was released which was on December 29, 2015, based on the timeline. “Upon receipt of the SARO it was awarded, is this regular?,” he said.

Acop also cited the problem of unavailability of construction sites for the BSH because some of these spaces were reserved for school classrooms. He also cited a Commission on Audit report about non-existent BHS which were overran by lahar. /RBB

#onehouseforchange

NEWS Release

06 March 2018

House probes PhilHealth alleged misuse of senior citizen funds

The House committee on good government and public accountability on Monday granted legislative immunity to ophthalmologist Dr. Harold Gosiengfiao, sole proprietor of Pacific Eye Institute (PEI), in the committee’s investigation on the alleged anomalous use of senior citizen PhilHealth funds.

The probe is based on House Resolution 1653, filed by Senior Citizen Rep. Francisco Datol, which seeks to investigate the purported misuse of funds on crude eye operations on groups of senior citizens.

The surgeries are said to have resulted in the blindness or deteriorating eyesights of senior citizens. PhilHealth insurance funds allocated for senior citizens have therefore been significantly depleted by the conspiracy of doctors and PhilHealth officials to pocket the funds.

“Some doctors performed cataract surgery even on patients with no cataract, while some charged PhilHealth even without operating on anyone at all. In early July 2015, for example, 10 doctors claimed P500 million in total for PhilHealth, nine of them being eye doctors. For 2014, PhilHealth paid P2 billion for cataract claims alone which means performing about 125,000 cataract procedures. The question, my dear friends, is how much of this were really going to the centers? How much of this were legitimate?” Datol said.

Meanwhile, Gosiengfiao bared a different side to the investigation. Gosiengfiao said PhilHealth closed down eye centers with affordable care like PEI through the 2012 Revised Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) Code of Ethics, which prohibits tie-ups between ophthalmologists and senior citizen groups. According to the PAO, these partnerships constitute solicitation and patient-recruitment schemes.

“This private code is not recognized by the National Health Insurance Act, nor any other government body, agency, or corporation, other than with the sole exception of PhilHealth, which undertook and continues to undertake the enforcement of this private code using public funds. This private code has never been published in the Official Gazette nor in the National Administrative Register,” he said.

PhilHealth had cited a memorandum of agreement (MOA) it had entered into with the PAO in 2007, and enforced circulars that favored the PAO.

The MOA, however, has been ruled illegal by the Philippine Competition Commission and was rescinded in order to avoid sanctions of up to P100 million in fines.

Gosiengfiao alleged that PhilHealth was able to withhold P2 billion worth of payments for eye surgery. The allegations of fraud were extended to medical treatments, with withheld payments of up to P7.6 billion for pneumonia treatments and P4.6 billion for dialysis.

On August 5, 2015, PhilHealth wrote to then Budget Secretary Florencio Abad stating PhilHealth no longer needed the P10.6 billion meant to be used as payment for the senior citizens’ PhilHealth membership contribution.

“In short, senior citizens whose PhilHealth contributions by government had been hijacked were still treated by doctors and institutional providers who, in turn, were then accused by PhilHealth of fraud and denied payment,” said Gosiengfiao. / CMB Engracia

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KABAYAN PARTY-LIST

(Kabalikat ng Mamamayan)

Facebook: /KABAYANParty-list/Twitter: @KABAYAN_Ron

KABAYAN PARTY-LIST CONGRESSMEN PROPOSE PSYCH TESTING FOR

GOV’T OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES

KABAYAN Party-list Representatives Ron Salo and Ciriaco Calalang have crafted and filed a bill proposing that applicants for certain appointive government positions and candidates for most elective posts undergo mandatory psychological and psychiatric tests. 

Rep. Salo said House Bill 7344 (Government Service Mandatory Psychological & Psychiatric Testing Act) is an offshoot of the ongoing hearings on the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno during which one of the issues raised was Sereno’s mental fitness for the post.

It was revealed during House hearings that clinical psychologists who performed tests on then candidate Sereno found her psychologically unfit for the Chief Justice post. Their recommendations, however, were ignored by the Judicial and Bar Council.

Salo also said his goal to make government adopt the private sector practices on administering psychological tests and mental health evaluation is consistent with his advocacy for the Mental Health Bill of which he is one of the principal authors.

“It is standard practice for most, if not all, private companies and non-government and international organizations to use pre-employment tests, such as aptitude and psychological tests, to measure potential employees’ fitness and suitability for work,” the KABAYAN solons said.

Reps. Salo and Calalang said their bill’s psych tests and evaluation will cover all appointive and elective positions that require occupants to exercise discretionary and supervisory power and authority.

Exempted from the psych testing are:

a) Employees who do not exercise discretion or supervisory powers in their functions;

b) Those whose qualifications and bases for removal from office are explicitly provided in the 1987 Constitution;

c) Casual employees;

d) Temporary employees;

e) Co-terminus employees; and

f) Employees in confidential positions.

House Bill 7344 also covers government employees applying for promotion to positions with discretionary and supervisory mandates.

Salo and Calalang believe these tests “offer an objective measure of the applicants’ capabilities and competencies, character, and the ability to perform and deliver under various circumstances.  The end in view is to establish the impact such persons will have on the overall performance of the entire organization.”

“Our people deserve only the highest quality of service from our government and its leaders and workers. Having only the most mentally and psychologically qualified individuals appointed or elected in government positions and offices of higher power and authority is to ensure that the Filipino people shall enjoy this highest quality of service,” Salo and Calalang said in the explanatory note of the bill.  (END)

March 7, 2018

PRESS STATEMENT

Office of Lone District of Muntinlupa City Congressman Ruffy Biazon

Senior Vice Chairman, House Committee on National Defense and Security

Philippines Should Reject “Natural Resources for Collateral” Loan Schemes

Protection and ‪preservation of national interest compels us to reject the Chinese concept of using natural resources as loan collateral. It’s obvious that this is their mode of territorial expansion, as experienced by countries who fell into the Chinese debt trap.

‪It is good to note that Malacañang, through Presidential Spokesperson Atty. Harry Roque, has called the news report quoting Zhuang Guotu as “absolutely false”.

Mr. Zhuang was quoted by Chinese newspaper Global Times as saying, “loans are usually accompanied by repayment agreements, which use certain natural resources as collateral”. Mr. Zhuang is the current head of Xiamen University Southeast Asian Studies Center.

However, it will be a greater assurance for the Filipino people if, aside from describing the newspaper report as false, a categorical statement of rejection of the concept of natural resources as collateral is made by the Philippine government. While we may be confident in the Philippines’ ability pay its debts, putting at risk our national patrimony and even sovereignty by using our natural resources as collateral should not be a condition or option when the Philippines enters into foreign loan agreements.

The Philippines, in considering the loan packages from China, should not be easily swayed by their enticing proposals but instead deftly steer clear from the template that the Chinese have used in their loans to other developing countries.

Countries in Africa and South America have fallen into China’s loan schemes where natural resources are put up as collateral for loans which eventually became a burden for governments to repay.

We are putting our faith in the statement of Spokesperson Harry Roque that the loans offered to us don’t include Philippine natural resources as collateral. But the statement of Mr. Zhuang, taken together with the experience of other countries, should be taken as an indication of Chinese intent with regard to loan offers. We should not let our guard down. And we should let the Chinese know that we will stand our ground on the matter of our natural resources.

PRESS RELEASE

MARCH 7, 2018

REFERENCE:

REP. JOSEPHINE “NENE” Y. RAMIREZ SATO – ‎(0918) 9068294

RACHAEL MORALA, Legislative Focal Person – ‎(0917) 852 3380

‘No Planet B’

Sato calls for global ‘bayanihan’ for biodiversity conservation

“We can lay down many plans; plans A-Z.  But let us all be reminded, there is no ‘Planet B’.  We can share resources. And we should share the responsibility.  I say we push it further and include “shared accountability” towards a real global ‘bayanihan’ for biodiversity conservation.”

This was how Occidental Mindoro Rep. Josephine “Nene” Ramirez-Sato opened the 3rd Global Conference on Biodiversity Finance organized by the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Chennai, India on March 6, 2018

Extolling the concept of ‘bayanihan’, a time-honored Filipino tradition of heroism in the rural areas, Sato called on participants of this international conference to enhance the protection and conservation of biodiversity and ensure a fair and equitable sharing from the benefits of valuable genetic resources.

The event aims to address the global financing gap and encourage more investment for the protection and conservation of biodiversity so as to benefit from their sustainable management.

The Philippines is experiencing a problem that mirrors what is happening around the world such as dwindling forest cover, coastal, marine and freshwater systems degradation, biodiversity loss and overexploitation of genetic resources with communities and the country where they originate are being left out, Sato said.

A legislative biodiversity champion in the House of Representatives who has authored several pro-environmental laws, Sato is the highest-ranking member of the Philippine delegation who attended the conference.

She was invited by the UNDP to share the country’s experiences and her insights on how to best protect and conserve biodiversity in the Philippines, one of the 17 megadiverse countries but is also one of the 35 biodiversity hotspots in the world.

The country hosts more than 52,000 known species with more than 50% of plants and animals classified as endemic that are facing numerous threats.

 “Our planet, our only planet has a problem. The problems facing Philippine biodiversity is but a mirror image of what each of us faces at the global crisis on biodiversity,” she said.

The lady solon noted that a lot has been achieved since parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) committed to reducing biodiversity loss in 2010.  However, she said a lot needs to be done.

“While there are successes and increasing positive actions and responses to broaden the extent and biodiversity coverage of protected areas, sustainable forest management, policy responses to invasive alien species, and biodiversity-related aid, more still needs to done to further slow down the rate of biodiversity loss; sustainably use and manage biodiversity resources and equitably and fairly share the benefits of our unique genetic resources.

The Filipino tradition of “bayanihan” can be a rallying point where UNDP BioFin-member countries can all converge towards a solution as a way of pitching-in, she said.

Some of the “bayanihan-inspired” inroads to conservation in the Philippines include the adoption of the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP), which has been included in the ‎2017-2022 Philippine Development Plan.  Sato said it calls for the expansion and strengthening of protected area management, improving access and benefit sharing of genetic resources and ensuring sustainability of ecosystem services.

The adoption of the PBSAP was a result of the “bayanihan” among the national executive government agencies, the legislature, NGOs and private organizations and the BioFin Philippines,” she said.

Another “bayanihan” output is the passage by the House of Representatives (HOR) of the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (ENIPAS) on third and final reading.

In terms of coverage, the proposed measure will increase the number of protected areas from the current 13 to 107 areas.

“In terms of financing, this will increase the annual budget allocations from the national government, from 65 million pesos annually to about 535 million per year, based on current annual average budgetary allocations of 5 million per protected area,” Sato, the author of ENIPAS bill said.

Aside from Sato, resource speakers who shared their thoughts on the importance of biodiversity conservation include Dr. Harsh Vardhan, the Minister of Environment of India, Tarsicio Granizo, Minister of Environment of Ecuador, Nosipho Ngcaba, Director General for Environment in South Africa, Yuri Afanasiev, United Nations Resident Coordinator for India (UNDP) and Namita Vikas, Chief Sustainability Officer, Yes Bank for India. ###

NEWS Release

07 March 2018

CA confirms Alvarez as Colonel of Marines reserve force; 6 others

The Commission on Appointment today confirmed the nomination of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and six other lawmakers to the rank of Colonel in the reserve force of the various services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Alvarez was confirmed as Colonel of the Philippine Navy-Marines.

Also confirmed as colonel of the reserve force of various services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines were Majority Leader Rodolfo Farinas (Judge Advocate General), Deputy Speakers Gwendolyn Garcia (Phil. Army) and Bai Sandra Sema (Phil. Army), and Rep. Roy Loyola.

Likewise, the CA confirmed the nomination of Senators Loren Legarda and Manny Pacquiao as Colonel of the reserve force of Phil. Air Force and Phil. Army, respectively.

In addition, the CA gave its nod to the ad interim appointment Rene Glen Paje to the rank of Major General and that of Marlyn Agabas (PA) to the rank of Colonel of the Philippine Army.

The CA committee on national defense unanimously recommended to the commission’s plenary the confirmation of the nomination of Alvarez and the eight other senior officials of the AFP.

‘After a thorough deliberation your committee unanimously voted to favorably recommend for the Commission’s confirmation and its consent to the ad interim appointments and nominations,” said Sen. Gregorio Honasan, acting chairman of the CA committee on national defense.

In seconding the nomination of Alvarez, San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora noted that in his two years as Speaker of the House Alvarez has voiced out what many in the House and the Senate would like to voice, “taking very controversial positions, but always pushing and very successfully, the legislative agenda of the President of the Philippines.”

“He has not been fearful of to take controversial positions and stance on controversial issues, including those that we have long wanted to take: divorce, nullification of marriages, social positions that previous leaders have failed to adopt,” Zamora said.

Likewise, he noted that Alvarez has relentlessly pursued federalism as central issue for the Duterte administration.

“He has always told us that in the end federalism means true local autonomy—something that not only the chairman (Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III) but even his own equally esteemed father has always championed,” Zamora said.

True federalism, according to Zamora, would bring about true empowerment of local government units, and most importantly of the people of the Philippines.

“This is gentleman who will be a prime contributor to the Armed Forces of the Philippines when he is finally confirmed,” Zamora said of Alvarez.

He also noted that Farinas is equally qualified for his rank, noting that the Ilocos Norte lawmaker has held the position as majority leader of the CA and a Bar topnotcher. ###

#onehouseforchange

NEWS Release

07 March 2018

House OKs creation of Philippine National Railway Authority

The House committees on government enterprises, legislative franchise, and transportation in a joint hearing on Wednesday approved a bill seeking to restructure the Philippine National Railway System.

The unnumbered substitute bill provides for the creation of the Philippine National Railway Authority (PNRA) which shall regulate all aspects of the operations of railway corporations, while its board of directors shall set the necessary routes, fares, and standards on safety and security.

It further mandates the establishment of three separate corporations—the Luzon Railway Corporation, Visayas Railway Corporation (VRC), and Mindanao Railway Corporation (MRC)—to operate railways  in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The corporations shall exist for a term of 50 years, and renewable for another 50.

The authorized capital stock of each corporation shall be P30 billion. Twenty percent, or P6 billion, shall be initially paid-up and the balance shall be paid from a continuing annual appropriation of not less than P2 billion.

Moreover, railway operators are required to secure a franchise from Congress. Operators with an existing franchise or concession agreement with any government agency are granted three years to secure a legislative franchise.

The measure also contains penal provisions for acts harmful to the sustainability and safety of trains, tracks, equipment and other assets, including the safety and security of the riding public.

During the deliberations, the committees accepted an amendment to Section 43, which prohibits the issuance of restraining orders and preliminary injunctions.

The section now reads:

“No court in the Philippines shall have the jurisdiction to issue any restraining order, preliminary injunction, or preliminary mandatory injunction in any case, dispute, or controversy involving any contract or project being implemented by the Authority, to prohibit any person or persons, or entity or government official from proceeding with or continuing on the execution or implementation of such contract or project, or pursuing any lawful activity necessary for the execution, implementation or operation of such railway project or system.”

In addition, the committee members agreed that professional experience specific to public and railway transportation shall be required of the PNRA Administrator. This is in addition to qualifications already required in the bill, such as 35 years of age, good moral character, and recognized executive ability and competence in transportation, business administration, management, finance, or law.

The specific professional experience shall also be required from the Deputy Administrators and Operations Manager.

The deliberations were presided by government enterprises committee chairman Rep. Jesus Sacdalan, legislative franchise committee chairman committee Rep. Franz Alvarez, and transportation committee vice-chairman Rep. Edgar Sarmiento. Also present were Reps. Mark Go and Eugene de Vera. (CMB Engracia)

#onehouseforchange

NEWS RELEASE

Office of Representative Alfred Vargas

07 March 2018

COINCIDING with the celebration of Women’s Month, Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas is advocating twin measures that provide maternal health care during pregnancy and childbirth.

Pending for approval in the House of Representatives are House Bill 1382 or an “Act Increasing the Maternity Leave Period to 100 days for Female Employees in Government Services and in the Private Sector, and Granting an Option to Extend for an Additional 30 days Without Pay” and House Bill 1806 or “An Act Establishing a Pregnancy Support Services Office under the Department of Health (DOH).”

In filing these two bills, Vargas underscored the need to reduce maternal mortality and provide better health care for children, especially the newly born.

Citing various studies of the DOH and World Health Organization (WHO), the Philippines has a lifetime risk of maternal death of one in every 140 mothers.

Records showed that around 11 Filipino mothers die every day or an estimated of 4,500 mothers every year due to severe hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders, sepsis, and problems related to obstructed labor and abortion.

In addition, the Philippines is among 68 countries which contribute to 97 percent of maternal, neonatal and child health deaths worldwide.  About half of the deaths of Filipino children under five years old happen in the first 28 days of life.

Vargas has proposed increasing the maternity leave period from the regular 60 days to 100 days, which gives more time for the mother to take care of her child and herself.

“We recognize and appreciate the sacrifices of women in giving birth, and as a way to protect them, let’s give them more essential time to rest with proper health care,” Vargas said.

 “Recent studies show that extending paid maternity leave for new mothers reduces infant mortality. The cause is yet to be known but it may be linked to longer periods of breastfeeding and better health care,” he added.

In support to the first measure, Vargas is also proposing the establishment of a Pregnancy Support Services to be initiated by the DOH.

Vargas, Vice Chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations, said the proposed offices will be tasked to encourage and assist pregnant women to carry their children to live birth by providing services during and after pregnancy.

This measure alleviates pregnant women and their families from the difficulties that may otherwise lead to abortion or death of a child during childbirth.

Under the bills, the DOH is mandated to develop and implement a public outreach campaign to provide information on pregnancy support services to vulnerable women, including those in low-income, urban, and rural areas.

Vargas, a member of the PDP-Laban is urging his colleagues to give importance to these two bills because in least developed countries like the Philippines, pregnancy is 300 times deadlier.

 “Saving the lives of mothers and their newborns requires not just medical intervention but also education on how to improve maternal and child health care,” Vargas said. (END)

OFFICE OF REP. JB BERNOS

Lone District, Abra

SOLON FILES BILL TO TRANSFER SMUGGLED RICE TO NFA SANS EO

Amidst the debacle on the rice shortage of the National Food Authority (NFA), a lawmaker filed a measure that authorizes the turnover of seized smuggled rice to that agency without the need for an executive order.

Rep. JB Bernos from the Province of Abra, a predominantly agricultural province, filed House Bill 7348 that mandates the Bureau of Customs (BoC) to turn over seized smuggled rice to the NFA within fifteen (15) days after its confiscation.

"The main objective of this Bill is to ensure that the NFA has a comfortable supply of rice that can be used to supply the market with cheaper rice and to feed victims of natural disasters in relief operations," Bernos said. "It cannot be denied that the recent dilemma of the NFA raised the alarm on rice supply and induced panic among suppliers and consumers alike."

In order to ensure the safety of the confiscated rice, the BoC will ascertain its quality and the signatures of the agency heads of NFA and BoC will be needed upon turnover.

Last month, the lawmaker noted that there had been a reported surge of rice smuggling that cripples the farmers' income and destabilizes government efforts to combat the undocumented entry of rice.

"We have to maximize available and viable resources to address food security problems and bureaucratic inefficiencies in the country," Bernos explained. "I believe that through this measure, we will discourage smugglers from illicitly importing rice because BoC will stop them, penalize them, and their rice will not bring money to their accounts."

"The public is assured that our supply of food, especially rice that is a staple part of the Filipino culture, is and will be sufficient enough to meet our needs," Bernos ended.

Photo Release

07 March 2018

WILDLIFE PROTECTION:  The House committee on natural resources chaired by Rep. Arnel Uy has approved the creation of a technical working group to harmonize four House bills seeking to impose stiffer penalties for violations of Republic Act 9147, or the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act. The TWG, to be chaired by Uy and Rep. Francisco Jose Matugas II, shall thresh out HB 4375 by Rep. Delphine Gan Lee, HB 6296 by Rep. Michael Romero, HB 5892 by Rep. Harry Roque, and HB 6182 by Reps. John Marvin Nieto, Edward Maceda, Dale Malapitan, and Eric Martinez. The bills seek to protect wildlife resources by adopting increased penalties and sanctions. Resource speakers from the Biodiversity Management Bureau, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Trade and Industry, and environmental law organization Tanggol Kalikasan were asked to submit their position papers for the consideration of the TWG.  Also present during the hearing were Reps. Gil Acosta, Orestes Salon, Mark Go, and Joseph Paduano. (CMB Engracia/G Engay)

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NEWS Release

07 March 2018

House to study 2019 budget proposal for Mindanao

Members of the House committee on Mindanao affairs on Tuesday approved the creation of a technical working group (TWG) that will review and work on the proposed budget for Mindanao for 2019.

          The TWG will be composed of the six vice chairpersons of the committee, namely, Zajid Mangudadatu, Ruby Sahali, Alberto Ungab, Aurora Enerio Cerilles, Nancy Catamco, and Evelyn Mellana; and representatives of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), and National Economic Development Authority (NEDA). 

          During the hearing, committee chairman Rep. Maximo Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City), said the proposed 2019 budget for Mindanao, which was presented by MinDA Secretary Datu Abul Khayr Alonto, is 21 percent higher than this year’s budget.

“We need around P1.25 trillion spread over five years to ensure that we get the minimum 21 percent of the budget. So, ito ‘yung master plan natin,” said Rodriguez.

But Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo (2nd District, Lanao del Norte) said the NEDA did not absorb the ideas of Alonto.

“There should a discussion so that NEDA will adopt our ideas. I think what Secretary Alonto is doing, is for us to take it (2019 budget) up with the DBM and NEDA,” said Dimaporo.

Rodriguez said the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department (CPBRD) of the House of Representatives came out with a report dated September 12, 2017 on how Mindanao fared in the budget along with all the agencies included in the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

The CPBRD report stated that under the 2018 National Expenditure Program (NEP), Mindanao’s share of 12.5 percent to the total national budget is almost the same as its average share in 2014 to 2017.

However, it can be observed that the difference between the shares of the National Capital Region (NCR) and Mindanao widened from 1.9 percentage points, compared to the 2014 to 2017 average of 11.3 percentage points. The same widening gap in budget shares occurred between Mindanao and nationwide allocations, the report stated.

 Considering that Mindanao has 40 percent poverty incidence and still has the lowest budget, Rodriguez said “12.5 percent is too small for us.”

Budget and Management Director Amanella Arevalo corrected the figure, saying based on the table from the budget expenditure, Mindanao has 16.2 percent share of the total allocation.

Arevalo explained to the committee how the DBM formulated the budget for a given year. She said the DBM issued a budget call which specified all the requirements that an agency had to submit before its budget proposal for the year will be developed.

 Arevalo said the DBM is following the Two-Tier approach in the formulation of the budget. She said the budget call contains all the requirements for Tier 1, including the budget calendar that the agency should follow before the finalization of the budget.

Tier 1 covers the cost of on-going programs and projects while Tier 2  covers all the new or expanded cost of existing projects, Arevalo said.

“As of now, we are developing the Tier 1 level,” said Arevalo.

MinDA assistant secretary Romeo Montenegro said the DBM sets the parameters for the proposals that are submitted by different line agencies and puts a cap in the ceiling of the budget proposals.

Montenegro said there were budget items of some agencies, which they have studied and reviewed, that were affected by the ceiling.

Meanwhile, Rep. Prospero Pichay (1st District, Surigao del Sur), moved that all public infrastructure projects should be implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). (E.A. Galvez)

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