Migrante On Vecina’s homecoming: How about the 20 Pinays in Saudi harem?

Migrante International, a global alliance of Filipino migrant organizations, welcomed the news of May Vecina's homecoming but raised the plight of 20 Pinays who are allegedly being raped in an agency office in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia.

 

"Will the 20 Pinays being rape by Abu Khalid have to wait for two years before they can have the same red carpet treatment from Vice President Noli De Castro? Do they also have to thank the government for failing to give them decent jobs here in the Philippines and become sex slaves abroad?" asked Garry Martinez, chairperson of Migrante International.

 

The group revealed that 5 of the 20 reported domestic helpers being held in Maqpoon Belahodood General Service Company's office in Dammam, Saudi Arabia are allegedly being rape every night when they are summoned by the agency's owner, Abu Khalid.

 

"3 Pinays who recently escaped Abu Khalid's place are now in the embassy premises while the other two ran away to an undisclosed area. Also, 15 Filipina domestic helpers are still left in the agency's office. Up to now, we have not heard anything if the Philippine embassy in Riyadh has already informed the Presidential adviser for OFWs, who is Vice President Noli De Castro," Martinez added.

 

Migrante claimed that they brought May Vecina's case to the attention of the government during the time they were campaigning for Marilou Ranario's case, another OFW whose death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in Kuwait last year.

 

"We urge Vice President de Castro to immediately assist the Filipinas being repeatedly raped in Saudi. We are pretty sure that their case would also help boost his ratings for the coming presidential elections," Martim\nez said.

 

The group demanded that Ambassador Antonio Villamor and Labor Attache David Des Dicang should ensure the safety and wellbeing of the victims and assist them in filing the necessary cases against Abu Khalid.

 

"We would like to remind the government that repatriating the victims alone, without prosecuting the rapist, is tantamount to covering up the heinous crimes committed against our poor kababayans. It is incumbent upon them to make sure that the rapist would not be able to victimize another Filipina," Martinez concluded.

DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. in PICE

KEYNOTE ADDRESS of DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr.

PICE 2009 NATIONAL MIDYEAR CONVENTION

IT IS MY HONOR TO JOIN THE PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF CIVIL ENGINEERS IN ITS
2009 NATIONAL MIDYEAR CONVENTION.

IT FEELS LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY THAT WE WERE ALL TOGETHER UNDER ONE ROOF IN
NOVEMBER LAST YEAR FOR YOUR NATIONAL CONVENTION.

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUING FAITH IN MY WORDS OF WISDOM WHICH COME FROM
43 YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE IN THE NAME OF DEVELOPMENT.

JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, DURING THE 111TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS, MY FELLOW WORKERS IN THE DEPARTMENT SURPRISED ME
BY NAMING ME A LOYALTY AWARDEE, CITING MY OVER 4 DECADES OF SERVICE.

LOOKING BACK AT MY CAREER, I CAN ONLY BE THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
GROW, TO SERVE AND TO LEAD.

AND I AM HOPEFUL THAT MY SERVICE WILL CONTINUE IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

WHAT I HAVE LEARNED FROM MY FOUR YEARS AT THE DEPARTMENT IS HOW IMPORTANT
THE JOB OF THE CIVIL ENGINEER IS, ESPECIALLY IN THE LIGHT OF OUR STATUS AS A
DEVELOPING COUNTRY.

THE SERVICE THAT YOU RENDER, THE EXPERTISE THAT YOU HAVE, THE INSIGHT THAT
YOU BRING TO THE DEVELOPMENT EFFROT ARE ALL BASIC TO ENABLING THE BEST
POSSIBLE INFRASTRUCTURE NETWORK FOR OUR COUNTRY.

I HAVE ALSO BEEN WITNESS TO WHAT ROADS AND BRIDGES REALLY MEAN TO
COMMUNITIES AND CITIZENS ON THE GROUND.

WHILE WE IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH DISCUSS THE IMPACT OF ROAD NETS AND MODERN
BRIDGES ON THE OVERALL ECONOMIC PROGRAM, THE BENEFICIARIES EXPERIENCE NEW
HOPE FROM INCREASED TRADE FROM NEIGHBORING BARANGAYS, EDUCATION RIGHT IN
THEIR OWN TOWN, AND MORE VISITORS TO EXPERIENCE EXOTIC LOCALES.

WHAT IS THEORETICAL TO THOSE WHO PLAN AND EXECUTE BECOMES REAL AND
INSPIRATIONAL TO THOSE WHO USE AND BENEFIT FROM THESE ROADS AND BRIDGES.

IN OUR COUNTRY, THE ROAD IS THE BRIDGE TO THE FUTURE. IT IS HOPE, IT IS
OPPORTUNITY, IT IS A BETTER LIFE.

THIS HOPE, THIS OPPPORTUNITY, THIS BETTER LIFE WE HAVE WORKED TO BRING TO
FRUITION FOR THE LAST 111 YEARS.

FROM DIRT ROADS AND MAKESHIFT BRIDGES IN 1898, WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE
COLLECTIVELY BUILT 29,369.7 KILOMETERS OF ROADS AND 314,453 LINEAL METERS OF
BRIDGES ACROSS OUR 7,101 ISLANDS.

IN 2008, WE NOT ONLY ADDED TO THE ROAD NETWORK BUT ALSO BUILT 3,423
CLASSROOMS TOGETHER WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND SECURED MORE
PLACES FROM PERENNIAL RAINS WITH 1,329 FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS.

WE HAVE ALSO OPENED UP MORE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITIES WITH 79 KILOMETERS OF
NEW FARM TO MARKET ROADS IN COOPERATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
AND THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM.

EVERY ROAD, BRIDGE, SCHOOL BUILDING AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE RESPONDS TO A
NEED ON THE GROUND.

FOR THE COMMUNITY TO GROW, FOR THE FARMER TO HAVE MORE MARKETS TO SERVE, FOR
THE STUDENT TO HAVE A GOOD EDUCATION RIGHT IN THEIR HOMETOWN, FOR THE
TOURIST TO ENJOY MORE OF OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY TRAVELLING ON GOOD ROADS.

THAT IS WHY THIS YEAR, THE DPWH CHOSE A THEME THAT IS ANCHORED ON WHAT IS OF
VALUE TO OUR STAKEHOLDERS: KALSADA ANG TULAY SA KINABUKASAN, SAMA-SAMA
NATING ALAGAAN.

I SHARE THIS WITH YOU TODAY IN THE CONTEXT OF THE THEME OF YOUR CONVENTION:
CIVIL ENGINEERS SUSTAINING INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT AMIDST GLOBAL ECONOMIC
CRISIS.

WHAT CIVIL ENGINEERS DO SUSTAINS NOT ONLY INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT BUT THE
VERY LIFELINE OF OUR PEOPLE.

GIVEN THE PRESENT SITUATION, WHAT CIVIL ENGINEERS MUST DO IS SUSTAIN YOUR
WORK, WITH MORE EFFICIENCY, AND GREATER PRODUCTIVITY.

AS I SAID IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR, WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE A LEADER WHO IS AN
ECONOMIST, AND A GOOD ONE AT THAT.

THAT IS WHY WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HURDLE THE CHALLENGES OF THE GLOBAL
ECONOMIC CRISIS WITH PREEMPTIVE MOVES THAT CUSHION NEGATIVE IMPACTS.

THE PUMP-PRIMING EFFORTS, PARTICULARLY FOR PUBLIC WORKS, ASIDE FROM PUSHING
THE COMPLETION OF THE VARIOUS SONA AND OTHER PRIORITY PROJECTS, HAVE ALSO
BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF JOBS IN THE FIRST SEMESTER.

OUR WORK AS BUILDERS HAS TAKEN ON A NEW DIMENSION WITH THE JOB GENERATION
PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE EMBARKED ON.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT UNDER THE
FLAGSHIP COMPREHENSIVE LIVELIHOOD AND EMERGENCY EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM OR CLEEP,
PUBLIC WORKS CONTINUES THE PRACTICE OF EMPLOYING COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR
ON-GOING PROJECTS IN THE AREA.

AS OF END-MAY 2009, THE DPWH HAS BEN ABLE TO GENERATE 300,924 JOBS IN THE
INFRASTRUCTURE SECTOR SINCE FEB 2009, OR A PERIOD OF 3 MONTHS.

THESE JOBS RANGE FROM ROADSIDE MAINTENANCE WORKERS TO OFFICE PERSONNEL.

SPECIFICALLY, SOME 46,604 JOBS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED UNDER OYSTER ROADSIDE
MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, AND AN ADDITIONAL 33,401 JOBS FOR PUMP-PRIMING
PROJECTS.

IN CLOSING I REPEAT THE THEME OF OUR ANNIVERSARY WHICH HAS BEEN MY
CONSISTENT AND SUSTAINED MESSAGE OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS: KALSADA ANG TULAY
SA KINABUKASAN, SAMA-SAMA NATING ALAGAAN.

KALSADA ANG AMING GINAGAWA AT PINANGANGALAGAAN, DAHIL ITO ANG DAAN SA
KINABUKASAN. BAWAT KALSADANG ATING NATATAPOS AY NAGBIBIGAY NG BAGONG PAG-ASA
PARA SA BAWA'T ISA.

ANG KALSADANG PINAGHIHIRAPAN AT TINATAG NG ATING MGA NINUNO PARA SA
KASARINLAN ANG SIYA NAMANG KALSADANG ATING BABAYBAYIN PARA SA KAUNLARAN.

KAYA'T DAPAT LANG NA SAMA-SAMA NATING ARIIN, MAHALIN AT ALAGAAN: ANG BAWA'T
KALSADANG ATING PINONDOHAN AT BINUKSAN.

IN FULFILLMENT OF PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO'S INFRASTRUCTURE
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, WE HAVE BEEN AT YOUR SERVICE ON THE GROUND IN GREATER
MEASURE OVER THE LAST NINE YEARS.

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK FOR YOU IN COMMUNITIES FAR AND
WIDE.

THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE DPWH WILL CONTINUE TO FULFILL OUR PLEDGE OF SERVE:
TO BUILD OUR COUNTRY THROUGH PUBLIC WORKS FACILITIES THAT ENDURE, AND TO
STAMP OUR NAME ON OUR WORK AND IN THE PAGES OF HISTORY.

I KNOW THE PICE WILL BE OUR PARTNERS IN THE GREAT CHALLENGE, AND I KNOW THAT
TOGETHER, WE WILL ALWAYS DO BETTER

THE ROAD TO THE FUTURE IS LAID OUT FOR US, LET US WORK AS ONE, AND WORK FOR
THE GOOD OF EVERYONE.

MABUHAY AT MARAMING SALAMAT PO!

Chiz cautions Comelec in pursuing team up with Smartmatic

Opposition Sen. Chiz Escudero yesterday cautioned the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from teaming up with Smartmatic, Inc. in implementing the automation of the 2010 elections.

 

"The Comelec is treading on dangerous ground. This option is fraught with possible legal and technical problems," he said.

 

"It is very clear that if there is no joint venture, then no one will sign the contract," said Escudero who co-chairs the Congressional oversight committee on poll automation.

 

Comelec chair Jose Melo has suggested the poll body could work with the Barbados-based Smartmatic, Inc. in conducting the machine count after its local partner, Total Information Management (TIM), withdrew from the joint venture.

 

Escudero, said the Comelec still has time to implement poll automation in at least two highly urbanized cities and two provinces each in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao as mandated by RA 8436 or the amended poll automation law.

 

"That is what is mandated by the poll automation law. If they had done this in the first place, then we won't be faced with all these problems," he said.

 

"What is important, as I have always stressed, is that the elections – manual or automated – are clean, honest, transparent, and accurately reflect the will of the people," he said.

DPWH TO CONDUCT EVALUATION OF PROJECT BENEFITS

With the objective to assess the benefits resulting from projects constructed and completed by the Department of Public Works and Highways. Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr.  has ordered the conduct of Benefit, Monitoring and Evaluation (BME) of completed projects costing P500M above.
Department Order No. 29 signed by Secretary Ebdane directs all concerned DPWH officials to conduct BME for all SONA projects and all other projects to measure their effectiveness and impact in connection with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's desire to achieve unprecedented economic growth and boost national development to meet the national goals of the government.
" This roads, bridges and flood control structures will not only serve as structures that will enhance the living conditions of the people in the community but it will also complement in the national governments effort to build strong foundations of economic development by improving the country's infrastructure facilities" Ebdane said.
Ebdane stressed that his order is timely to guarantee that all completed projects of the Department will serve their purpose especially in improving the living condition of the beneficiaries within the area of each project. " It is also our way of ensuring that the DPWH is doing its mission to provide and manage quality infrastructure facilities and services responsive to the needs of the Filipino people in the pursuit of national development objectives, " he added.
The monitoring and post-evaluation activities will be done by the personnel of the DPWH Regional and District Engineering Offices with the assistance Planning Service.
The BME Reports for SONA projects shall be submitted one month after completion date or in February 2010 whichever comes first, while for the other infrastructure projects, the BME reports shall be submitted one month after the projects' completion date.

NEDA OFFICIAL ASSURES NO SIDETRACKING IN ACHIEVING THE MDGs DESPITE CRISIS

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Deputy Director General Rolando G. Tungpalan recently said that the country's pursuit in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) would not be sidetracked despite the global crisis.

"Let me underscore that despite the global economic crisis, the Philippine government's resolve to achieve the MDGs would not be sidetracked," he said during the launching of the MDG-Fund (MDG-F) Joint Programme on Youth, Employment and Migration "Alternatives to Migration: Decent Jobs for Filipino Youth"
.
Tungpalan, who spoke at the launching on behalf of Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ralph G. Recto, cited the government's Economic Resiliency Plan (ERP) as the strategic tool in addressing the crisis as it focuses on saving and creating jobs and protecting the vulnerable sectors.

"The challenge posed is on how the international development community can help developing countries like the Philippines cushion the impact of the crisis on the lives of people and respond to the threats to achieve the MDGs by 2015," Tungpalan said.

The MDG-F Joint Programme on Youth, Employment and Migration "Alternatives to Migration: Decent Jobs for Filipino Youth" is a three-year US$6 million initiative funded by Spain which aims to improve access to decent work for poor young men and women and improve policy coherence and implementation on youth, employment and migration through full stakeholder participation.

The Programme will likewise provide direct services in the poorest areas focusing on four provinces with high incidences of out-of-school and poor youth, low enrollment rates and where MDGs are least likely to be achieved. These provinces include Masbate, Antique, Maguindanao and Agusan del Sur.

The "Alternatives to Migration: Decent Jobs for Filipino Youth" programme is the third MDG-F Joint Programme in the country. The first is the US$8-million MDG-F Joint Programme on Strengthening the Philippines' Institutional Capacity to Adapt to Climate Change and the second is the US$5.35-million MDG-F on Democratic Economic Governance: Enhancing Access to and Provision of Water Services with the Active Participation of the Poor.

The MDG-F is a global US$700 million funding facility contributed by the Government of Spain to the UN in December 2006. It aims to accelerate progress towards attainment of the MDGs in selected countries by supporting programmes in areas acknowledged as central to the achievement of MDGs and other internationally agreed development goals. These areas are in environment and climate change, gender, culture diversity, democratic economic governance, private sector development, conflict prevention, food security and employment and migration.

DOWNTURN IN STEEL DEMAND AFFECTING IRON ORE MARKET,REPORT SAYS; FALLING PRICES, ORE SHIPMENTS EXPECTED FOR 2009

FALLING PRICES, ORE SHIPMENTS EXPECTED FOR 2009

 

Global iron ore production increased 3.6% in 2008,

despite declining demand

 

Geneva, 26 June 2009 -- Demand for iron ore will surely be lower in 2009 than in 2008, the UNCTAD publication The Iron Ore Market 2008-2010 says, and a current oversupply situation, in which falling steel production is occurring as iron ore production capacity increases, will not go away soon.

The report is published by the UNCTAD Iron Ore Trust Fund in cooperation with the Raw Materials Group of Sweden.

 

The steel industry is facing its worst demand downturn since the oil crisis of 1974-1975, the report says, and the iron ore market is of course affected. Price negotiations for iron ore have again been drawn out and buyers in China, the world's largest customer, have not yet agreed to any new prices.  In the agreements made so far between other Asian steel companies and the major iron ore companies, prices for the "fines" grade of iron ore have been reduced by 33 % for Australian ore and 28.2 % for Brazilian ore, while prices for lump ore have been reduced by 44 %. 

World use of finished steel products decreased in 2008 by 1.4 % to 1,197 million tons (Mt) while crude steel production decreased by 1.5 %, to 1,325 Mt. In 2009, world steel demand is expected to fall by as much as 15 %, although there are signs of resumed demand growth in China. 

In spite of falling demand in the final quarter, world production of iron ore grew by      3.6 % in 2008 to reach more than 1.7 billion tons, the report notes.  Output decreased in most countries, but the fall was more than offset by increases in the major producing countries, including Brazil, Australia, South Africa, and India. China produced 366 Mt, making it the world's largest producer, ahead of Australia.

International iron ore trade also reached a record level in 2008, as exports increased for the seventh year in a row and reached 882 Mt, up 7.8 %. Total iron ore exports have doubled since 1999. Australia's exports increased by 16 %, to more than 300Mt, and it is again the world's largest exporter, followed by Brazil, whose exports rose by 4.5 %.  Indian exports grew for the ninth consecutive year and the country is now, at 101 Mt, the third largest exporter. China is still by far the world's largest iron ore importer.  In 2008, its imports were 444 Mt, an increase of 16 % over 2007.

 

Freight rates peaked at a record level in May 2008, following which they declined sharply as the global financial crisis set in. By late 2008, freight rates had fallen to a low not experienced since the early years of the Millennium. The international freight market will remain depressed this year, the report predicts -- and perhaps for several years to come.

 

New iron ore mining capacity taken into operation in 2008 was reported to be about    88 Mt, a lower figure than in 2007.  The total project pipeline contains more than 430 Mt of new production capacity predicted to come on stream between 2009 and 2011. A majority of the projects most likely to be realized are in Australia.

 

The world iron ore industry currently is operating far below capacity, according to the report, and two important factors affect the outlook:  low freight rates and high costs in Chinese iron ore mines.  Small- and medium-sized Chinese producers with high costs will most likely be forced to reduce their output substantially, particularly as they are no longer protected by high freight costs for imported iron ore.

Migrante calls for urgent rescue of 20 Pinays in Saudi harem

In a press conference held in a restaurant in Quezon City, a global alliance of Filipino migrant organizations revealed that 20 Filipinas are being repeatedly raped in a recruitment office in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

According to Garry Martinez, chairperson of Migrante International, two Filipina domestic helpers were just rescued this Tuesday, June 23, 2009. The OFWs' rescue was facilitated by Migrante Middle East.

Prior to the rescue, the said Pinay OFWs were allegedly being held in the office of Maqpoon Belahodood General Service Company, a recruitment agency owned and being managed by a certain Abu Khalid. The said domestic helpers are now staying in the Philippine embassy in Saudi Arabia.

"Two domestic helpers who were recently rescued were able to tell us by phone of their harrowing ordeal while still in the hands of their Arab recruiter. The said victims were raped by Abu Khalid and we are now very much worried of the situation of other Pinays who were left behind in the said premises. Twenty lives are at stake here and the government should act on this immediately," warns Garry Martinez, chairperson of Migrante International.

The group likewise presented to the media Aileen Baldiray, a domestic helper who also stayed in Abu Khalid's recruitment office last May and gave a detailed account of their plight together with twenty more Filipinas.

"Abu Khalid also tried to rape me. It was about 9:00 in the evening when he summoned me to his office downstairs. Upon entering the room, he told me to sit down in front of his desk and casually told me of his sex life. When he noticed that I was already getting nervous, Abu Khalid immediately took off his clothes. I grabbed a pen that I saw in his desk and warned him that if he pursues with his evil plan I would be forced to stab him," says Ailene.

According to Aileen, Fellow Filipinas staying in the said building have already forewarned her when Abu Khalid summoned her. They too have been raped in the same office when Khalid called them regularly during the evening. They also claim that sometimes, Abu Khalid would even let his son or a friend rape them.

"Khalid became reluctant when he saw me with the pen. He then shouted at me to get out of the office and told me that I was the only Filipina in the building he was not able to 'taste' yet and that he will make sure that he will be able to rape me next time around," added Aileen.

Aileen was able to leave the premises of said agency and stayed a while in the Philippine embassy before she was repatriated back to the Philippines last June 7, 2009.

"We demand that the Arroyo administration conduct an immediate rescue mission to save the 20 Filipinas who are still being held in the harem of Abu Khalid. The Philippine embassy in Saudi Arabia should also ensure that the said Filipinas be brought to a hospital for a medical treatment and that criminal cases be filed against Abu Khalid," Martinez said.

The group likewise calls on the families of the victims to contact Migrante so that the local recruitment agencies here in Manila should also be held accountable. Migrante identified the said recruitment agency as AFT Company whose office is located in Ermita, Manila.

"We likewise urge President Arroyo to put on hold its intensifying labor exportation program. The biggest number of OFWs leaving the country are domestic helpers and their main destination is Saudi Arabia, a country who doesn't even recognize the right of domestic helpers to have a day-off," Martinez concluded.

Escudero calls for truce, resumption of peace talks

Opposition Sen. Chiz Escudero yesterday called for an the immediate truce and the resumption of peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to resolve the humanitarian crisis spawned by the decades-long conflict in Mindanao.

"It's almost a year now since the peace talks collapsed. Today some 600,000 remain in evacuation centers or have fled to safer places to avoid being caught in the seemingly endless cycle of violence in central Mindanao," he said.

Escudero, chair of the Senate human rights committee, said that instead of harvesting peace, the nation has been tagged as having the "biggest displacement in the world" by the Geneva-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Center. 

"Rather than continue putting up temporary evacuation shelters and relying on the Red Cross and World Food Program for food handouts, government should hold its fire and resume peace talks now with the influential clans, indigenous people living in the conflict zones as well as the MILF," Escudero said.

In 2008, refugees in Mindanao made up the biggest group of internally displaced people which totaled 4.6 million worldwide, surpassing even those in war-torn countries like Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

At the height of hostilities last year, more than 8,000 families, or almost 50,000 persons, fled from their homes in Maguindanao alone, one of five provinces making up the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), where fighting was heaviest.

"How much longer is government going to stand by while refugees suffer from unemployment and disease, lack of food and medicine, and the education of children in the region is delayed? Such insensitivity is appalling while the President goes globetrotting!" he said.

Escudero said that if the vision of Mindanao being the land of promise is to be realized, the basic needs of its population should first be met.

"Before progress and prosperity can be felt, there must be peace. And the first thing government must do is to go back to the negotiating table," he said.

 

RP TO RECEIVE US$90 M WORTH OF ASSISTANCE FROM USAID

For the U.S. Fiscal Year 2009, nearly US$90 million worth of development assistance would be provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to the Philippines.

This was discussed during the annual consultations of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the USAID. The two agencies reviewed results achieved over the past year in the following program focus areas: governance, economic growth, environment and energy, health, education, and Mindanao peace and development.  

USAID's anticipated development assistance to the country is in line with the priorities of the new U.S. Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) for the Philippines for 2009-2013. The U.S. Government will support four priority assistance goals during this period: accelerating growth through improved competitiveness; strengthening governance, the rule of law, and the fight against corruption; investing in people to reduce poverty; and promoting a peaceful and secure Philippines.

Led by NEDA Deputy Director General Rolando G. Tungpalan and USAID/Philippines Mission Director Jon D. Lindborg, the key staff of the two organizations reviewed program accomplishments and plans for the coming year.

During the consultations, Tungpalan advised that the current Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) will end in 2010 but the Philippine government has mechanisms which would allow for continued periodic validation of foreign assistance programs. "NEDA is working on materials that would be a basis for recommendations for the next MTPDP so that when the next leaders come on board, they would be familiar with the strategies set for the next six years," Tungpalan said.  

In his comments, USAID/Philippines Mission Director Jon D. Lindborg noted "…the long and productive U.S.-Philippines bilateral relationship, not only through U.S. assistance programs, but also through robust trade and investment linkages, people-to-people ties and security cooperation."  The group also viewed U.S. Secretary of State Clinton's June 12 Philippines Independence Day video message in which she stated,



"The United States is grateful for our friendship and partnership with the Philippines which has brought many benefits to the people of both our nations, and we are committed to continuing our friendship and finding new ways to work together in the months and years to come, for the good of our two countries and the world."

        The NEDA and the USAID completed annual consultations on U.S. Government (USG) assistance partnerships in support of Philippine development priorities.  

Migrante: New immigration rule in KSA puts runaway migrants in "double jeopardy"

 

The largest overseas Filipino workers' (OFW) alliance today urged the government to protest the latest immigration rule in the Kingdom Saudi Arabia that blacklists foreign workers who runaway from their employers.

 

Asserting that hundreds of migrant workers in the Kingdom are forced to runaway from their employers to escape physical/sexual abuse, maltreatment and other unspeakable forms of violence, Migrante International Chairman Garry Martinez said the new rule means "double jeopardy for runaway migrants in Saudi Arabia."

 

"It is like victimizing the victims all over again," he said.

 

"By putting runaway migrant workers in a blacklist, the Saudi government essentially shuts down the chances of these poor migrants' from obtaining justice while their abusive employers go unpunished," Martinez further explained.

 

"This is why we are calling on the Philippine government to take decisive action by protesting this inhumane immigration rule," he said adding:

 

"With the threat of horrific deportation proceedings further aggravated by another threat this time of blacklisting among OFW runaways in the Kingdom; the Philippine government should not be contended with issuing mere warnings on the new rule just like what our Consulate General in Jeddah is doing."

 

"Rather, it should intervene in behalf of our compatriots in the Kingdom and confront this draconian rule head on."

Migrants group assails DFA for condoning modern-day slavery in Sabah

A global alliance of Filipino migrant organizations staged a picket in front of the Department of Foreign Affairs building in Pasay City to criticize the agency in ignoring the practice of bonded labor against Filipino nationals in Sabah, Malaysia.

 

According to Garry Martinez, chairperson of Migrante International, the Philippine embassy in Malaysia is planning to whisk the 15 Filipinos back to the Philippines through the 'backdoor' to avoid the filing of criminal and labor cases against the See Hoy Chan Plantation. The company is allegedly practicing bonded labor in its farm estate in Sabah.

 

"The staff from the Philippine embassy is due to arrive today  at the plantation allegedly to help them, but instead of defending the aggrieved Filipinos and assisting them to get compensated by filing charges against labor violations, we expect that the15 OFWs will instead assisted to exit through the Sandakan – Zamboanga route like fugitives," Martinez revealed.

 

The OFWs in distress are Joenel Caro, Roland Casis, Nelio Casquejo, Ruben Cortel, Moisis Cortel, Michael Duran, John Mark Libuna, Vicente Libuna, Rene Lim, Ariel Lorena, Ian Rey Lorena, Butch Pastolero, Quizy Pastolero, Romeo Pedregosa and Zandro Camda. They are all working in a company called See Hoy Chan Plantations in Jalan Jeroco, Sabah.

 

"Ambassador Victoriano Lecaros continuous to ignore the fact that modern day slavery exists in Sabah where thousands of Filipino nationals are working in palm plantations, poultry farms and construction sites. Failing to file charges against the Plantation company is tantamount to covering up the crimes they have committed. It is incumbent upon Ambassador Lecaros to expose the predicament of Filipinos suffering in Sabah," Martinez lamented.

 

Migrante likewise rebuked Ambassador Lecaros for claiming that diplomatic teams were deployed to Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan to provide assistance to Filipino nationals in Sabah. A fact-finding mission, in which Migrante was a part of, to investigate the conditions of OFWs in Sabah, revealed contrary facts.

 

 "We would like to inform Ambassador Lecaros that we were able to talk to some members of the diplomatic team. An Embassy official in the diplomatic team, who requested anonymity, informed us that they were sent to Sabah only to issue passports. If they are really there to help distressed Filipinos, they could have easily gone to the plantation. Our Post in Malaysia is an Embassy of pathological liars," exposed Martinez.

 

 Martinez added that the said Embassy official has not been authorized to handle any legal or labor issue concerning Filipino nationals since this may cause political complications to the Philippine claim to Sabah.

 

"Based on the statements of the Filipinos we interviewed, the embassy's diplomatic teams allowed the overcharging of passport fees. Issuance of passports in the Embassy at Kuala Lumpur only cost RM196 (Php2,548) while Filipinos in Sabah pay as much as RM250 (Php3,250). Embassy officials should be thoroughly investigated and, if found guilty, must be immediately prosecuted for their crimes before they victimize more Filipinos who are already suffering in Sabah," Martinez demanded.

 

Migrante emphasized that overcharging OFWs who are allegedly receiving slave-level wages is inhuman and unforgiveable. The group revealed that poultry farm workers in Kota Kinabalu receives as low as Php3,900 a month without any day-off. The amount would be further cut into half due to deductions for working permit and travel expenses incurred upon their recruitment.

 

 "Not only are Embassy officials liars, they are also callous and heartless. We can not imagine how these people can stomach to exact more money from our poor kababayans in Saba. They are thriving on the anguish of other people. We demand that Ambassador Lecaros be recalled immediately and that a thorough investigation on the Philippine embassy in Malaysia be conducted," Martinez concluded.

 

NSCB Announces Call for Entries to the 1st NSM Media Awards

The National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) is calling for entries to the 1st National Statistics Month (NSM) Media Awards. This award recognizes the important role of media practitioners, specifically reporters from print, radio, television, and online news service from both the government and private media organizations, who have made significant contributions in promoting, popularizing, and using statistics in information dissemination and other relevant purposes.

The award will be based on substance of the article or report, specifically its significance and relevance to the needs of the country and the Filipino people especially at this time of global financial crisis. Basically, the article or report can include both qualitative and quantitative analysis using statistics released during the period of November 2008 up to July 2009. Articles/broadcast releases which make use of statistics should be user friendly and can be easily understood by the masses. It should also positively motivate readers/ viewers/listeners to deeply understand the use and importance of statistics in improving people's lives through informed decisions. Nominees should be Filipino citizens who are media reporters affiliated with local and national news organization/company in both government and private media. 

Applicants can either apply or be nominated by submitting the following requirements on or before July 31, 2009: 1) Comprehensive bio-data; 2) Accomplishments, copy of media output (e.g. write ups/articles or tape of broadcast program; 3) Endorsement from affiliated organization/company to :

The Chair

NSM Media Awards Working Group

G/F Midland Buendia Bldg.

403 Senator Gil Puyat Avenue

Makati City

 

A plaque and cash award of P20,000 shall be given to the winner on October 1, 2009 during the 20th NSM Opening ceremonies.  For more information, interested parties may contact the NSM Secretariat at 890-9405, or email at info@nscb.gov.ph or visit our website at http://www.nscb.gov.ph/nsm/MediaAwards/2009/default.asp.

 

ROMULO A. VIROLA

Secretary General

 

FERIA DAMAGES INFRA PROJECTS - DPWH

Heavy rains brought about by typhoon Feria for the past two days caused damages to infrastructure including impassable roads and bridges nationwide.

Reports from Department of Public Works and Highways field offices to Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr. revealed that among the affected infrastructure that are now impassable to traffic are the Cantingas, Ipil and Ituralba Reiforced Concrete Deck Girder (RCDG) Bridges, Pili, Cansapay, Silum Steel Bridges, Cantingas Bailey Bridges, all along Sibuyan Circumferential Road in Sibuyan Island due to washed out approaches; and Calatrava - San Agustin - Sta. Maria Road in Romblon due to series of landslides. The reported landslide along Tulingonn - Nabas section of Kalibo-Caticlan road has already been cleared and removed and the road is now passable. Also closed to traffic is the Catmon Bridge in Masbate Province due to eroded and hanging approach slab.

In Central Luzon, the following roads are closed: Candaba-San Miguel Road and Baliwag-Candaba-Sta. Road due to flooding; Nueva Ecija-Aurora Road due to landslide.

Meanwhile in Eastern Visayas, the following roads are hardly passable: Sambulawan-Calasigue-Calubian Road, Lemon-Leyte-Biliran Road, and Bato-Bontoc Road (all in Leyte) due to landslide; and the Catbalogan North Road; Catbalogan-Calbiga Road (Jiabong Section) and Samar-Leyte Road and Lagundi Section along Daang Maharlika (all in Samar) due to falling big trees and rock slide; Kawayan-Clulaba Road, Caibiran-Cabugayan Road due to washed out surface materials; Tucdao, Uson, Talibong Bailey Bridges in Biliran due to washed-out and scoured bridge.

In Western Visayas, the following are closed to traffic: Arellano Bridge in Panay, Capiz due to damaged bridge; Bogo Bridge in San Remegio, Antique due to totally washed-out bridge; and the Naba-Caticlan Road (Tubingan Section) due to washed-out road.

In Malabon, Metro Manila, Sanciangco Street from Bustamante Street to Governor Pascual Avenue is impassable to all types of vehicles due to flooding reported to be 0.4 meters high.

Upon the order of Secretary Ebdane, all regional directors and district engineers are on full alert and closely monitoring unexpected incident that may occur. Maintenance crew and equipment are mobilized and deployed in different critical areas to respond on any emergency road situations. Moreover, warning and precautionary signs were installed on both ends of affected roads and bridges to war incoming motorists.

All other parts of the country reported no damages of infrastructures and all national roads and bridges are passable to all types of vehicles but motorists are advice to take precautionary measures while traveling.

GMA 2007 travels enough to fund PUP, SolGen's 2009 budget

Opposition Sen. Chiz Escudero said yesterday that President Arroyo is practically circumnavigating the world in just eight days in her latest overseas trip.

"President Arroyo's on-going Manila-Tokyo-Los Angeles-Cartagena-Recife-Rio-Dubai-Hong Kong-Manila voyage is practically a circumnavigation of the globe. And she will be doing all of these in just eight days," Escudero said.

"We will have to ask for an accounting of the benefits gained from all these trips," he said.

Escudero also said Malacanang's travel expenses in 2007 alone were more than enough to fund the operations of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) or double the budget of the Solicitor General's Office for that year.

The Commission on Audit report shows the travel expenses of the Office of the President in 2007 amounted to P693 million -- P96 million were used for local travel and P594 million for foreign trips, he said.

By comparison, he said the Polytechnic University of the Philippines has a budget of P665 million for this year..

 It was also higher than the 2009 budgetary allocation for agencies such as the National Labor Relations Commission (P455 million); the Office of the Solicitor General (P296 million) and the Land Registration Authority (P460 million).

Mrs. Arroyo left Manila for Tokyo on June 17 for a three-day official visit. She proceeded to Brazil by way of Los Angeles, took a side trip to Colombia before heading for Brazil. On her way back, she flew to Dubai and is expected to return to Manila on June 27.

Citing the same COA report, Escudero said the total travel expenses of the national government amounted to P5.91 billion in 2007, with Malacanang accounting for more than 11 percent. From 2002 to 2007, the total travel expenses of the Office of the President exceeded P2 billion.

"It is particularly dismaying at this time that these foreign travels are taking place during difficult times. The money could have been spent for programs that will help create jobs, jobs, and more jobs, said Escudero. 

 "The times call for judicious use of the government's dwindling resources. If government needs to stimulate the economy, this is not the way to do it," he said.

Chiz warns vs more borrowing to ease budget gap

Opposition Sen. Chiz Escudero yesterday warned the government against auctioning the future of the country's youth by going on a borrowing spree to cover the widening budget deficit.

 "This government would rather borrow money rather than address the fundamental problem of poor revenue collections. This policy makes victims of the Filipino youth who will be the ones to shoulder these debts," he said.

The government's budget deficit from January to May this year has soared to P123 billion, as borrowings surged to 258.59 billion, up by 29.7 percent. Foreign loans reached P101.45 billion during the period, up 141 percent over the same period last year.

"The performance of our revenue collection agencies leaves much to be desired. While it is incumbent upon government to conduct pump-priming during the economic crisis, our leaders should be more prudent in fine-tuning the government stimulus plan, especially when it comes to borrowings," Escudero said.

"If the government is really sincere in its obligation to keep the economy afloat, it should pay particular attention to revenue collections. Why should the people bear the consequences of the government's poor performance in revenue collections?" he said.

During the same five-month period, collections by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) have dropped by 6.6 percent while the tax take of the Bureau of Customs slipped by 7.4 percent, compared to that of 2008.

He said the government stimulus plan should also include concrete measures on curbing graft and corruption in government.

"If we talk about plugging loopholes and improving collections, then we must address the issue of graft and corruption squarely. Plugging collection loopholes by itself can already raise billions of pesos in additional revenues," the senator explained.

"This administration, by its policy of increased borrowings supposedly to address the budget gap, is admitting that it is easier and more convenient to just borrow money rather than clean house to boost revenues. This is a skewed national policy which is unacceptable," Escudero said.

Final MEDIA ADVISORY: END MODERN DAY SLAVERY IN SABAH, MALAYSIA-MIGRANTE

 

MEDIA ADVISORY:

Reference: Ailyn Abdula, Media Officer,

 

END MODERN DAY SLAVERY IN SABAH, MALAYSIA-MIGRANTE

 

Migrante International will protest in front of the Department of Foreign Affairs to demand the Philippine government to immediately rescue the 15 OFWs in See Hoy Chan Plantation in Jalan Jeroco, Sabah, Malaysia.

 

Migrante emphasized that overcharging OFWs in Sabah who are allegedly receiving slave-level wages and the insufficient food supplies and worst working condition is inhuman and unforgettable.

 

The larger criminal neglect of the Embassy officials and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on the plight of workers is not acceptable anymore given the crisis both on political and economic is concern. 

 

Thursday, 25 June, 10:30 AM

Department of Foreign Affairs

Pasay City, Metro Manila

 

Media coverage is highly requested

Interviews and photo opportunities will be available

FORTUNA KIN THANK MOURNERS

The family of the respected journalist, columnist and nationalist Julius Fortuna has thanked mourners, friends, colleagues and associates in various fields who attended his wake at the Paz Memorial Chapels in Araneta Ave., Quezon City.

 

            His wife Sabina, son Amilcar "Shotti" and daughter, Jillian, along with brother Edmund, sister, Ma. Victoria F. Tobari, and brother-in-law Chizuka Tobari, said the outpouring of grief and sympathies was, indeed, heartwarming.

 

            In lieu of flowers and wreaths, which have overflowed, the family asks friends, colleagues and associates to simply donate cash for undertakings in Julius' memory. Donations may be deposited at Account No. 4459-0017-14 of Amilcar Lim Fortuna at the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), West Ave.-Baler Branch, Quezon City.

 

            Interment details will be announced later.

 

            A founding member and vice president of Samahang Plaridel, he was also one of the founders and host of the weekly Kapihan sa Sulo since its inception more than a decade ago; alternate-host of the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel  and was a regular at the Ciudad Fernandina Forum hosted by the late Ambassador Noel Cabrera.

 

            Fortuna, a staunch nationalist, was one of the leaders of the historic First Quarter Storm Movement (FQS Movement) in the 1970s. He studied in UP Diliman before transferring to Lyceum of the Philippines , where he became one of the top student activist leaders of the time. He  was a member and officer of the militant Kabataang Makabayan (KM) and was secretary general of the pre-martial law Movement for a Democratic Philippines (MDP0, the umbrella organization of all militant student, worker and peasant activist organizations in the country which opposed the Marcos regime.

 

            Captured in Central Luzon, he was subjected to severe anguish and languished for eight years in martial law prisons, including the National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa and Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig. He was the longest-held prisoner of the Marcos martial law era.

 

            Released in 1981, Fortuna soon plunged into journalism, joining The Observer Magazine, for which he covered the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and soon became acknowledged as the dean of diplomatic reporters.

 

            After EDSA 1, he  worked for the defunct Philippine Tribune, then joined the Daily Globe. With the closure of the Daily Globe, he joined the reestablished Manila Chronicle. He also wrote for Sun-Star Manila .

 

            Later, he wrote columns for the People's Journal and the Manila Times. At the time of his passing, he was writing for the Manila Times.

 

            Regarded as a commentator of high repute, he wrote on a variety of raging nationalist, geo-political and diplomatic  issues affecting the Philippines , the peace talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF), the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the internal squabbles in Malacanang, the Senate and the Lower House.

 

            Known far and wide for his insights into the events of the day and the political possibilities in the future, Fortuna also became an officer of the National Press Club of the Philippines for several years and assisted other organizations of journalists in pursuing welfare issues.

 

            He also represented the NPC in the Confederation of Asean Journalists (CAJ).

 

 

 

Migrante: Government urged to conduct rescue mission in Sabah

Migrante International, a global alliance of Filipino migrant organizations, calls on the Arroyo administration to send a rescue mission for the 15 OFWs who are being held in a palm oil plantation in Sabah.

 

"The 15 OFWs are going to starve to death if the government will not act on the situation immediately. The company refuses to let them leave the plantation and have likewise denied them of their food supplies since June 17, last Wednesday," warns Garry Martinez, chairperson of Migrante International.

 

The said OFWs are Joenel Caro, Roland Casis, Nelio Casquejo, Ruben Cortel, Moisis Cortel, Michael Duran, John Mark Libuna, Vicente Libuna, Rene Lim, Ariel Lorena, Ian Rey Lorena, Butch Pastolero, Quizy Pastolero, Romeo Pedregosa and Zandro Camda. They are all working in a company called See Hoy Chan Plantations in Jalan Jeroco, Sabah.

 

"The OFWs are being held against their will without any food in retaliation for their refusal to work due to inhuman conditions in the plantation. The OFWs are calling for help and needs government intervention so that they can be repatriated back to the Philippines," Martinez added.

 

Migrante claims that the Philippine embassy is well aware of the conditions of the OFWs since April 29, 2009 but has not acted on the matter. The Asia-Pacific Mission for Migrants, an NGO base in Hong Kong, has already requested assistance for the workers more than a month ago.

 

"If only our embassy officials have acted on the case immediately, the OFWs could have been spared of their predicament at present. Unfortunately, we have now come to a life and death situation due to the inutility of our embassy officials," laments Martinez.

 

The OFWs are allegedly being paid meagerly from RM100 (Php1,300) to RM500 (6,500) only, depending on their work load or the quantity of produce they were able to harvest. Migrante explains that the said income will then further diminish with the monthly deduction for the levy, working permit and food supplies.

 

"This is modern day slavery. We call on congress to make an inquiry on this matter. The situation of the 15 OFWs in See Hoy Chan Plantation is not an isolated case. We have recently participated in a Fact Finding Mission in Sabah and we were appalled by the conditions of our kababayans in the said region," exclaimed Martinez.

 

Martinez reveals that Migrante together with other NGOs went to Sabah, Malaysia from June 11-17 for a Fact Finding mission that aims to document the situation of migrant workers in Sabah.

 

Other NGOs who participated in the Fact Finding Mission were the Asian Human Rights Commission, Rep. Luz Ilagan of Gabriela Women's Party; Tenaganita; Migrante International; APMM; Legal Aid Institute of Yogjakarta Indonesia; ENGENDER; Osan Migrants Center; and the Asian Students Association (ASA).

 

"The Arroyo administration along with its embassy officials is going to be accountable if they fail to rescue the 15 OFWs. We urge them to visit the said OFWs immediately and insure their safety along with their demands for a just compensation," Martinez concluded.###

Migrant group extends support to Filipino temporary workers exploited in South Australia

Earlier this month, Federal Police and the Department of Immigration have raided South Australian painting contractor for exploiting nine temporary Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) sponsored under 457 visa program.

 

A team from Migrante Melbourne flew to Adelaide, South Australia to meet the OFWs and extend its support to the abused workers who were badly mistreated by the company. Even before the raid, Migrante has been providing direct legal, political and

advisory assistance to the abused workers and is instrumental in bringing together the necessary support from unions and community groups in Adelaide.

 

Migrante Australia chair, George Kotsakis, states that all of the OFWs were being underpaid and were forced to work long hours and weekends without pay.

 

"This is a very clear case of a modern-day slavery", adds Mr Kotsakis. "This is an outright exploitation of temporary workers' position who are willing to sacrifice everything for the betterment of the lives of their families back home".

 

All were receiving almost half of their contracted wage because of non-payment of award entitlement and excessive deductions for their accommodation costs on the house which was owned by the employer himself.

 

Two of the nine OFWs were hired as IT Support personnel; but when the IT section of the Mattena Corporation did not materialize, they were forced to do painting and concreting jobs.

 

The Department of Immigration has issued a sanction on the Mattena Corporation to cancel its sponsorship and bar the company from making any further sponsorship for breaching its sponsorship conditions.

 

The Department has provided temporary accommodation to the nine abused OFWs immediately after the raid.

 

The CFMEU is now assisting the workers to find a suitable employer sponsor to extend their lawful stay in Australia.

 

Migrante assisted the OFWs in working out their claim for unpaid wages which was filed with the Workplace Ombudsman in South Australia. Migrante also coordinated its contacts in South Australia who assisted in organizing community support groups. This Filipino community, help the OFWs with their basic day-to-day needs and allowances.

 

"We must continue to educate the public on this issue so that overseas foreign workers' rights are protected and that exploitation of these vulnerable group of people is stopped", says Mr Kotsakis.

Economic crisis needs urgent attention now -- Chiz

Malacanang should snap out of denial about a so-called "silver lining" to the economic crisis in the country and immediately draw up a plan to keep the economy afloat, opposition Sen. Chiz Escudero said yesterday.

"In the last few months, the Arroyo administration has been telling us that our economy is not about to contract, that we can, in fact, still post a one-percent growth. As usual, naloko na naman tayo," Escudero said.

"There is no silver lining to this economic crisis. The government has been in denial for too long. It must start from the premise that things will get worse before they get better. The question now is: what will government do?," he added.

The World Bank on Monday said it expects the Philippines to be one of the few Asian countries to slip into "outright recession" this year. The Philippine economy is seen to shrink by 0.5 percent.

"This dire development should prod the government to attend to the economic crisis immediately, starting with a contingency program. Clearly, its so-called stimulus program will not be enough," Escudero said.

The opposition senator said a contingency program should take more urgency in light of the dwindling collections of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), which reported a shortfall of P4.2 billion for the month of May.

"The government should realize the gravity of these developments and its impact on employment, which in turn will impact on hunger and poverty levels. Huwag ng hintayin pang lalong lumala ang malala nang sitwasyon," Escudero said.

He said government economic managers must be able to reconcile higher spending for pump-priming against dwindling revenues.

"The government should pay particular attention to the middle class, which is the main base for income tax collections. While minimum wage earners are being given relief, similar measures must be extended to the middle class," Escudero said.

 

Fw: Drilon says gov't must regulate OFW remittances fees now

Noting a slow but steady increase in the remittances of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) even in a midst of a global financial meltdown, former Senate President Frank Drilon today urged government to carry out its long-standing promise to reduce remittance fees, starting with the scrapping of 1.5 percent Documentary Stamp Tax on remittances.

 

At the same time, Drilon said the Central Bank of the Philippines must now regulate the remittances fees imposed by banks and other remittance centers in the country, lamenting that exorbitant charges were practically eating up a big amount of the money sent by OFWs to their families in the Philippines.

 

In his blog site frankahan.com, Drilon, who is also national chairman of the Liberal Party, noted it was high time that Arroyo administration fulfill its long-standing pledge to help the country's estimated eight million OFWs by taking concrete steps to lower remittance fees.

 

"In the face of difficulties that come with the global financial slowdown, now is the time for the Arroyo government to show its sincerity and really help our OFWs by cutting down on remittances fees," said Drilon, who served as labor secretary during the administration of then President Corazon Aquino. "Now is the time for government to put its money where its mouth is, instead of merely hailing them as our modern-day heroes."

 

Under the prevailing market rates, Drilon explained that OFWs are required to pay the 1.5 percent Documentary Stamp Tax and remittance fees ranging from 3.5 percent to 5.5 percent every time they send money to their families in the Philippines.

 

"On the average, a typical Filipino overseas worker remits $500 (or P25,000) monthly to his family in the Philippines. Under prevailing rates, he is required to pay remittance fees, including the 1.5 percent Documentary Stamp tax, and that translates to sums ranging from P1,125 to a high P1,750 every time he or she sends money to the Philippines," Drilon said. "So for a period of one year, an OFW pays a total of P21,000 in remittances fees alone. These rates are too oppressive and unfair."

 

Citing a recent study of the International Monetary Fund, Drilon noted that an estimated $1.72 billion or 13.5 percent of the total $12.8-billion remittance in 2006 by OFWs went to remittance fees alone.

 

"Perhaps, Malacanang, the Department of Labor and Employment and the Central Bank must now put their heads together and implement policy changes to help our OFWs by lowering the remittances," Drilon said.

 

By reducing these remittance fees, Drilon said, overseas workers would be encouraged to course their remittances through the formal banking channels which would mean higher remittances.

 

"Our OFW's are our top dollar earners and their remittances are the only reason why our national economy remains afloat. This government must show its sense of gratitude by reducing the charges on the dollars they remit to their families," Drilon said.

 

Drilon pointed out that despite the global economic slowdown triggered by financial problems in the United States and other developed countries, remittances from Filipinos working abroad remained strong, thus saving an otherwise skidding Philippine economy.

 

On Monday, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. revealed the OFWs remittances rose by 2.6 percent in the first four months to $5.5 billion, lifting hopes it should still rise this year despite widespread expectations to the contrary.

 

As labor secretary, Drilon cancelled the licenses of hundreds of delinquent recruitment agencies in a no-nonsense campaign against illegal recruitment and was responsible for the establishment of halfway house shelters for runaway OFWs in several countries hosting Filipino workers.

 

Earlier, Drilon said the Arroyo government failed to rationalize the remittances fees collected from overseas Filipinos despite a commitment made by US government during President Arroyo's state visit to the United States in May 2003.

         

***

 

The former Senate President said he was disappointed over apparent inaction of the executive department in pushing for the reduction of charges on remittances sent by Filipinos working in the United States to their families in the Philippines.

Drilon recalled that during President Arroyo's 2003 US visit, the Philippine government was able to secure a commitment from then President George W. Bush that the US government would launch a project to lower remittance fees.  

 

"Despite the commitment of the highest US official then, the Philippine government has not been able to take advantage of the situation to help our overseas Filipinos on the matter of reduced remittance fees," Drilon lamented.
         

 

Chiz wants influence peddlers jailed, fined

Opposition Senator Chiz Escudero yesterday said influence peddlers should be fined, if not jailed, to deter corruption in government.  

"The recent controversies surrounding the ZTE broadband deal, the multi-million peso fertilizer scam and the alleged bid-rigging activities of some contractors involved in World Bank-funded projects were all alleged to have been brokered by some very prominent and even high-ranking officials. It is high time we make it a crime to do so," he said.

Escudero filed Senate Bill 1242 defining the crime of influence peddling and imposing a jail term of not more than six years and a fine not exceeding P100,000 on violators of the proposed law. 

 "Prior to the receipt of any bribe or the actual act of intervening, however, is the offer or representation made by a person that he can influence the public official or employee required by law to intervene or be able to assist and/or facilitate a transaction, contract or request with the government which, up to now, remains unabated," he said.

The 39-year-old senator said that existing laws seeking to prevent or abate graft and corruption in government already penalize persons who receive bribes and those who actually intervene, directly or indirectly, in any business, transaction, application, request or contract with the government.

The bill seeks to plug this loophole in our current anti-corruption laws by  penalizing influence peddling or the mere act of representing oneself to another person having a transaction or request with the government even before any bribe is given.

The bill, which is now pending before the Committees on Civil Service and Government Reorganization and on Justice and Human Rights, also seeks to disqualify those found guilty of influence peddling from holding any public office.#

 

MMDA needs a reality check on traffic speed on EDSA

 

Opposition Senator Chiz Escudero yesterday said that the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) needs a reality check on its claim that travel on EDSA has improved to an average speed of 39 kilometers per hour.

"In what universe do you see traffic in EDSA averaging almost 40 kilometers per hour? Maybe our friends in MMDA are monitoring traffic at 4 in the morning?" he said.

Escudero said instead of griping about a study made by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) showing the average traffic speed along EDSA at 10 kph, it should instead check its veracity.

The DPWH study says that the proliferation of billboards, especially sexually suggestive advertisements, is one reason why traffic crawls along EDSA, putting Metro Manila only second to Bangkok in the list of the Asian cities with the slowest traffic speeds.

Escudero said that the findings of the MMDA seem to be based only on speculations as it presented no credible study to back up its claims.

"Managing Metro Manila's traffic is one of the core mandates of MMDA and yet it casually dismisses the DPWH study without presenting evidence to the contrary," he said.

"Ask any frequent EDSA traveler and he or she will tell you that you will have to crawl your way through traffic, especially during rush hour, to reach Makati from Monumento?" Escudero said.

Escudero reminded the MMDA of the billions in money and opportunities lost due to the traffic gridlocks not only along EDSA but also throughout Metro Manila. 

He said that studies show that around P140 billion a year is wasted due to the worsening traffic situation in Metro Manila.

 

TUVALU PM, WIFE VISITS RP

            The Prime MInister of the island-state of Tuvalu and his wife will start a three-day visit to the country tomorrow, June 24.

            Prime Minister Apesai Ielemia and First Lady Sikinala Ielimia will arrive tomorrow morning and will be billeted at the EDSA Shangri-la Hotel in Ortigas.

            Tuvalu Honorary Consul General-designate Herculano "Joji" Co, also the longtime president of the Philippine Confederation of Grains Associations (Philcongrains), said Prime Minister Ielemia seeks closer bilateral ties with the Philippines and the visit will accord him the chance to explore business opportunities here.

            The visiting head of state and his wife will be honored with a dinner at 7 p.m. tomorrow at the Gloria Maris Restaurant in Greenhills.

            A series of meetings and a tour of Metro Manila are scheduled for the visiting dignitaries on Thursday, June 25. Another dinner will be tendered for him and his wife at the Filipino Restaurant at 7 p.m.

            The following morning, another meeting by the Tuvalu Prime Minister with Filipino businessmen has been set at the Ortigas Center.

            He will leave for Tuvalu at 2:20 p.m. on Friday, June 26.

********

 

 

More questions than answers in poll automation hearing -- Chiz

Opposition Sen. Chiz Escudero yesterday expressed dissatisfaction over the failure of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to answer questions regarding its preparedness as well as the capability of the winning bidder Smartic-TIM to conduct automated elections in 2010.

 

Escudero, who heads the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of codes and laws, made the remarks after conducting the hearing on the poll automation attended by officials of the winning bidder Smartmatic-TIM and the Commission on Elections (Comelec.)

 

"I am still waiting to be convinced by Smartmatic and the Comelec that they can
conduct a credible and fail-safe automated election next year," he said.

 

"I am not against poll automation. I just want to ensure that there will be no failure of elections. The future of our democracy rests on this exercise," Escudero said.

 

In the same hearing, Escudero asked the Comelec to submit all necessary papers including the proposed contract with Smartmatic-TIM for review by the committee.

 

The committee also asked the Smartmatic-TIM for 24 hours during which the Senate general counsel will review the papers.

 

"We want to make sure that there is nothing illegal, unconstitutional, and uncalled for in
 the contract," Escudero said. "We don't want a repeat of the Mega-Pacific deal."

 

 Escudero also said that the next hearing on the poll automation process will include their counterparts in the Lower House.

 

NEDA'S TUNGPALAN URGES CITIZENS TO ENGAGE IN SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP

National Economic and Development Authority Deputy Director-General Rolando G. Tungpalan urged ordinary citizens to step up to the challenge of creating socially-relevant enterprises.  

Speaking at the first anniversary of the Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia held recently at the Ateneo de Manila University, Tungpalan said "ordinary citizens and the private sector are the stars in this social entrepreneurship movement".

"While we in government strive to provide an enabling environment, it is the citizens who will have to act and initiate the formation of these enterprises," he stressed. 

"Social enterprises integrate social development bottom line with the financial profit bottom line and as such, challenge the traditional model of a private enterprise. And rather than just provide grants to finance development programs, social enterprises are driven by business models that ensure the sustainability and achievement of socioeconomic objectives" explained Tungpalan. 

The NEDA official cited government efforts in promoting social entrepreneurship, which he says plays an important role in achieving poverty-reduction goals. He said that the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan calls for the development of an "entrepreneurial culture" by improving access to information, raw materials, training, fund sources, and the latest technologies. He added that government is stepping up efforts to expand microfinance. 

Tungpalan, who is also presidential spokesperson for economic affairs, added that government is working with the donor community, private sector and civil society to encourage the development of social enterprises.

Clean Air Act a dead-letter law -- Chiz

DIRTY AIR SLOWLY KILLING THOUSANDS IN METRO MANILA

 

 

Opposition Sen. Chiz Escudero yesterday pushed for stricter implementation of emission standards and higher penalties for violators of the Clean Air Act to check the unmitigated air pollution that is slowly killing thousands every year in Metro Manila.

 

Escudero said that according to a World Bank study, close to 5,000 Metro Manila residents, or 14 people daily, die from pollution-related diseases such as pneumonia in children, cardiopulmonary disease and lung cancer.

 

"Metro Manila air has proven to be lethal to Metro Manilans, killing over thousands every year. The deaths have not drawn much attention because pollution kills slowly and silently," he said.

 

The Clean Air Act, which was enacted in 1999, has largely been ignored because of the failure of regulatory agencies to strictly implement emission standards and the low penalties imposed on violators.

 

The fines imposed by the Land Transportation Office for smoke belching ranges from P100 to P150, depending on the number of previous violations.

 

Under the Clean Air Act, owners and drivers of motor vehicles found to be violating emission standards face penalties of a fine not exceeding P2,000 for the first offense; a fine not less than P2,000 and not exceeding P4,000 for the second offense; and a one-year suspension of the Motor Vehicle Registration (MVR) and a fine of not less than  P4,000.00 and not more than P6,000.00 for the third offense.

 

"These fines and penalties are not enough to compensate for the damage wrought on the people and the environment by these polluters. Perhaps it is time to revisit the law and make changes to make it more effective?" Escudero said.

 

He also called for stricter regulation of emission testing centers to make sure that vehicles are properly examined and pass the required standards.

 

Citing data from the World Bank's Philippine Environment Monitor, Escudero said Metro Manila has a Total Suspended Particulates (TSP) level, a measurement used to determine air quality that is oftentimes five times higher than the World Health Organization Air Quality Guidelines.

 

He said that all pollution monitoring stations in Metro Manila show that the level of total suspended particulates exceed standards of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DENR).

 

Escudero said that particulate emissions are largely from motor vehicle (84%), solid waste burning (10%), and industries (5.5%).

 

"A total of 70 percent of motor vehicle emissions come from more than 200,000 diesel-powered utility vehicles such as jeepneys and the 170,000 gasoline-powered motorcycles and tricycles in the metropolis," he said.

 

Escudero also said studies show that the costs associated with treating pollution-related diseases amount to P962 million.

 

"This is aside from the lost income of some P6.7 billion a year attributed to these diseases. And what is more shocking in the figures released by the World Bank is that Metro Manila accounts for the most premature deaths due to outdoor pollution, which is at 4,968, or about 12 percent of all reported deaths in the metropolis," he said.