Plaza Bats for the Protection of Our Children

Agusan Rep. Rodolfo “Ompong” Plaza recently stated that the protection of children had been foremost in his legislative agenda in his nine-year stint in the House of Representatives.

In talks with women leaders and mothers, the congressman now gunning for a seat in the Senate under the slate of former Pres. Joseph Estrada's Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino- PDP Laban, said that he would continue working for the protection and advancement of the rights of our children.

Plaza is the author of the House Bill No. 547 declaring Nov. 20 as National Children's Day and co- author of House Bill No. 683 modifying the definition of the crime of rape involving minor children, House Bill No. 6440 making child pornography a crime and R.A. No. 9262 or the Violence Against Women and Children Act.


He lamented that up to now our children are being subjected to strict disciplinary action by their parents and guardians.

He cited a study by the United Nation's Commission on the rights of Children that physical and verbal abuse of our children involved cases when physical force is used to inflict pain or discomfort, including non-physical forms of punishment that are cruel and degrading.

He cited another study by the World Health Organization that in the Philippines' severe physical punishment is commonly used to discipline children, noting that 21% of them are hit with a hard object in many parts of their bodies, 3% are beaten, while another 1% is threatened by a knife or gun and another 1% is choked.
Plaza believed that families that maltreat their children or allowed their children to be subjected to such cruel and degrading punishment reflected the dark side of our society.

“We cannot advance as a strong nation if we do not care for the rights of our children,” he said adding that “if left unchecked, this would lead to the perpetuation of violence in the family and society.”

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Election day should be the Easter of politics - Legarda

"Just as Christ gave his followers renewed hope in their spiritual outlook, public officials should try to emulate his teachings and give their citizens renewed hope in their political outlook, though skeptics and cynics may try to virtually crucify them for their efforts."


NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda issued the statement to mark Easter Sunday, urging fellow candidates to give new meaning and relevance to resurrection and rebirth.


"Candidates know this - that voters, especially the poor majority, look up to them as saviors that would lead them to a better life," Legarda said. "The dishonest take advantage of this just to get elected and then use their office to enrich themselves. On the other hand, the honest public servants use their office to try to improve their constituents' lives."


"Election day should not just be an opportunity for policians to renew their stay in public office but for them to renew the people's trust in democracy," Legarda asid. "It should be the Easter Sunday of our politcal life."

Meanwhile, mNP-NPC-LDP vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda called for a political ceasefire among candidates during the Holy Week.

“Lent is a time for solidarity and forgiveness. This Holy Week, I call on all candidates to stop negativity and toxicity in politics,” she said.

Legarda added, “Hinihiling ko na tigilan na ang patayan sa pulitika. Tama na ang pananakot sa pulitika, tama na ang negative politics. Iwasan na ang toxic politics, text brigades at paninira na aksaya lamang ng pera. Ang sakripisyo ni Hesukristo ang siyang dapat maging ehemplo sa ating lahat, hindi lang ngayong mahal na araw kundi sa mga darating na buwan.”

She also urged her rival candidates to refrain from black propaganda.
“Yung pagmumura at paninira sa kapwa kandidato ay hindi makakalunas sa gutom at hirap sa bansa. Imbes na pagaawayan natin ang mga maliliit at personal na bagay, pagtuunan natin ang kung anong mga magagawa natin para sa bayan,” she said.

She expressed concern over a massive black propaganda against her, such as allegations that she has proposed legislative amendments to decrease or abolish the benefits of workers in the health care, military, police and education sectors.

"Yan ay malinaw na paninira lamang. A review of my legislative agenda and accomplishments will show that I have always been supportive of higher benefits for our health care workers, teachers, nurses, military and police."

Legarda said, “We are all friends in government. Our rivalry is only temporary, competing for the opportunity to serve the people with our respective platforms. So I ask my fellow candidates and their supporters to give due respect to each other despite the differences in our politics and programs.”

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Board of Nursing chair swears in new registered nurses in Pagadian

Pagadian City – For the second time around , the Chairperson of the Board of Nursing Dr. Carmencita M. Abaquin led the oath taking ceremony of the new registered nurses at St. Columban-YDC gym on Monday, March 29.


Last year, Dr. Abaquin came over upon the upon the invitation of the the City Government to lead the oath taking ceremony.


She led the formal oath of the 370 new graduate nurses who passed the November 2009 Nursing Licensure Examination held in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Butuan, Cagayan de oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, La union, Legazpi, Lucena, Pagadian, Pampanga, Sulu, Tacloban, and Tuguegarao.



“I congratulate you who represent a portion of the 37,257 passers and whom are indeed, among the survivors, Abaquin said.


She challenged the new registered nurses to perform their duties faithfully.


“Please remain true to your professional oaths not just in words, but in action. Not today, or tomorrow, but always,” Abaquin said earnestly. “Please be reminded that an oath is a solemn promise, a commitment that you have to fulfill your duties our people, to our society and to our God,” she added.


Abaquin acknowledges them as the new partners in health care profession expected to perform holistic nursing care to their patients.



The new registered nurses who took their oath were from the 24 different nursing schools in the cities of Manila, Davao,, Cebu, and Pagadian and from the provinces of Lanao del Norte, , Mismais Occidntal, Misamis Oriental, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte, and Zamboanga del Sur.


It can be recalled, that it was the initiative of the city government thru Mayor Samuel S. Co to request the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) that Pagadian City, as the new Regional Center in Region 9 will be a venue for the oath taking ceremony for the new nurses. It is very practical for the nurses in Pagadian City and Zamboanga del Sur and nearby provinces to save money and not to sacrifice their time and efforts in taking their oath in Manila, Davao and Cebu.



Among the personalities who attended the ceremony were : Representatives Victor J Yu (12st dist.) Antonio H. Cerilles (2nd dist.), Atty. Senando Asteban, Director of Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Region IX, Helen Arao, President, Philippine Nurses Association, Zamboanga del Sur and Pagadian City Chapter, and Association of Deans for Philippine College of Nursing,

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COMELEC'S TURNING OFF OF PCOS AUTHENTIFICATION FEATURE TRIPLES CHANCES FOR ELECTION FRAUD - MAZA

Nacionalista-Makabayan senatorial candidate Liza Maza expressed deep concern over the recent reports that Smartmatic-TIM (May 2010 automated elections provider) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) have turned off the UV ink reader, one of the five security features, on all 82,200 precinct court optical scan (PCOS) machines.

“The UV ink reader is one the most important security features of the PCOS machines as it ensures the authenticity of the ballots. The Comelec's decision to turn it off triples the chances for election fraud to occur in May,” Maza said.


“It looks as if the Comelec deliberately kept this from the public. The Commission has known from tests results in January that there is a problem in the UV ink reader feature of the PCOS machine, but it did not inform the public, nor did it try to immediately fix the defects. With the elections only a few weeks away, the Comelec could not anymore conduct thorough research to find the most effective remedy to this problem," Maza said.


In replacement to the built-in UV ink reader, Comelec and Smartmatic-TIM plans to purchase 76,000 portable UV ink readers for the use of Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) on May 10.



“This puts us in a lose-lose situation: If the Comelec does not purchase portable UV ink readers, we could be facing a possibly fatal breach in security in May. If it does, this could be another source of corruption,” Maza said.


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YOUTH LEADERS RALLY BEHIND LOREN

Youth leaders from all over the country have banded together to form the Kabataang Loren force, Tropang Loren Youth Movement and the Philippine Climate Youth Movement to support the candidacy of NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential bet Loren Legarda.


According to the group spokesperson Engr. Reagan Say, “it’s time for the youth to stand up and be counted in the coming electoral exercise as the future of the country is at stake.”


He said, “we need leaders who will not only inspire us and guide us towards building and growing a nation but also understand us and care for us like a mother.”


“We are supporting Loren Legarda for vice president as she is the only one among the vice presidential candidates who has actually worked for protecting and conserving the environment, fought for the welfare of the abused, bravely rescued those held hostage by wanted groups. No other candidate has risked life and limb to save the lives of others. All the others VP candidates engage in mere talk and propaganda,” according to a statement by the Kabataang Loren force.


Meanwhile, the Tropang Loren Youth Movement gains ground as it successfully recruits students from Metro Manila and the country’s other regional centers.



Tropang Loren is headed by 500 youth leaders from all over the country who share Legarda’s environment and youth advocacies.


“Loren is a role model for the youth. She exemplifies the traits that the Filipino youth seek – nationalism, compassion for the poor and needy, intelligence and active environmentalism,” said 24-year old Cristine Baysa, a student at Perpetual Help College of Manila and head of the Tropang Loren Movement.


Baysa added, “bilang kabataan, excited kaming makilahok sa pagpili ng magiging pinuno ng bansa. Many of our members are first time voters, and we want to take this opportunity to make our vote count. We are solidly for Loren Legara. She is our vice president.”


The Philippine Climate Youth Movement (PCYM), meanwhile, is rallying behind Legarda’s environmental protection campaign. Led by 23-year-old Esperanza Garcia, PCYM has successfully mobilized young "climate heroes" from every region, city, school, and university in the country.


Garcia was the Philippine's only youth delegate to the Copenhagen Summit on Climate Change in December.







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PGMA inspects prices of basic commodities in Ramon Magsaysay

Pagadian City - To ensure that the prices of basic commodities have remained stable despite the adverse effects sparked by the prolonged El Niño phenomenon, President Gloria Macapagal-arroyo visited the 4^th class municipality of Ramon Magsaysaysay in Zamboanga del Sur.

The President arrived Thursday at the public market of Poblacion, Ramon Magsaysay together with the newly installed Secretary of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Jesli Lapus, the President was warmly welcomed by the host Mayor Pacifico Bulahan Jr. of Ramon Magsaysaysay, with the local officials, Governor Aurora E. Cerilles, Representatives Victor J. Yu (1^st dist) and Antonio H. Cerilles (2^nd dist.), municipal mayors, DTI Regional Director Nazrullah Manzur, and C/Supt. Angelo Hipolito Sunglao, Regional Director sa PNP Region 9.

President Arroyo shows that the government give constant attention and is properly responding to the problems brought about by the ill effects of El Niño. She visited the public market and checked the prices of basic commodities such as fish, rice, and canned goods; milk and sugar, if these are within the range specified by law. She checked the prices in the displayed Price Bulletin Board with DTI Regional Director Nazrullah Manzur, who briefed her on the current prices of commodities.

Also, she checked the ‘Timbangan ng Bayan’, and Consumer Welfare Desk located inside the market to ensure that the interest of the consumers against deceptive, unfair and unconscionable sales acts and practices is exercised , and that consumers are provided with adequate rights as contained in R.A. 7394 otherwise known as the Consumer Act of the Philippines.

The President approached Esther Panugaling, a fish vendor, and was asked the price of the fish she sold at the market.

Panugaling sold ‘gutob’ at P80 per kilo and ‘tulingan’ at 100 a kilo.

“Maayo! Barato lang kon ikumpara sa presyo sa ubang dapit.” (Good! It’s cheap compared to the price in other places) Arroyo said.

Jeffrey Abeledas, a vendor displays NFA rice in his ‘‘Bigasan ni Gloria sa Palengke’ and sells NFA rice at P25 a kilo, thanked by the President for selling NFA rice to the consumers.

“Nalipay ako nga ikaw nagbaligya ug barato nga NFA rice dinhi sa inyong dapit,” (I’m happy that you sell cheap NFA rice here) Arroyo happily said.

The President left Ramon Magsaysay with a big smile plastered on her face after she’ve found out that prices of basic commodities have remained stable. (GCC/PIA9, Pagadian City)

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LEGARDA: I AM NOT A HALF-HEARTED VP ; MOBILIZE GOV’T RESOURCES TO ALLEVIATE POVERTY

In a briefing with members of the press on her Tarlac sortie this week, NP-NPC-LDP Vice-Presidential candidate Loren Legarda reiterated her commitment to her vice presidency bid, saying that “it was never a second choice for me”.

“Si Mar, kung hindi tumakbo si Noynoy sa pagka-pangulo, yan sana ang ambisyon nya. Nagparaya lamang sya dahil alam nyang si Noynoy ang pipiliin ng partido nila para suportahan. Kaya he settled for the vice-presidency, something he wasn’t even sure of and until now, di nya pa mapapatunayang gusto nya talaga ang pagbaba nya ng ambisyon,” she asserted.

Legarda dispelled comments that the vice-president is a sitting-duck position when asked why she chose to run for it and not the presidency. “The VP is not a sitting-duck position. It’s up to you to use your position whether for good or bad. Throughout my career as a broadcaster and a Senator, I have used my position to help people. Madali akong lapitan. I don’t know if I can say the same for Mar,” she said.

“I have always gunned for the vice-presidency, even in 2004. Noon ko pa gustong maging gabay sa pangulo at magsilbing ilaw sa tahanan ng mga Pilipino. I have always given all my heart to the vice-presidency, kaya nararamdaman kong mas karapat-dapat ako. Kailangan ng sambayanan ang pagkakalinga ng isang ina ng bayan,” Legarda shared.

Meanwhile, Legarda stressed that mobilizing government resources to alleviate poverty.

There is a need for the government to mobilize its resources to maximize the production capability of the agriculture and fishery sector in order to hasten countryside development and reduce the country’s poverty incidence particularly in the rural areas, according to NP-NPC-LDP vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda.

“We have to alleviate rural poverty as the rural poor ratio is still two thirds of the country’s poor. And to achieve this goal, the government must ensure the rational allocation of resources to the local governments to enable local leaders to do their part efficiently particularly in providing technical assistance, production support and social services to farmers, fisherfolk and their families in their locality,” Legarda said.

Legarda issued the statement in reaction to an Asian Development Bank’s report last year which states that “the economy’s strong performance in the last four years has not translated into poverty reduction. Between 2003 and 2006, poverty incidence increased from 30.0 percent to 32.9 percent despite the average GDP growth of 5.4 percent. The Gini coefficient remains high at 0.45. Both urban and rural poverty increased on average and only 4 of 17 regions recorded an improvement in the poverty headcount. Falling real incomes of families and compression of public spending contributed to the rise in poverty.”

“The challenge of rural development lies heavily on the leadership of local officials – from Governors down to the officials in the barangay levels,” said Legarda, chairman of the Senate committee on agriculture and food.

“While I commend the Governors and Mayors and other local officials who have done their part to uplift the living condition of their constituents, I am encouraging them and those who would be elected to local posts this coming elections, to be development- oriented, imaginative and creative,” the lady senator said.

“I advise you to coordinate with local offices of the various national government agencies and find out what budget and programs of these agencies could be utilized and implemented in your locality,” Legarda said.

“For example, you can use Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) - managed institutions and funds for agriculture and fisheries in equipping farm and fish-farm households with non-farm skills such as repair and maintenance of vehicles, farm machineries, electricity, modern carpentry, furniture making, training in production of agri-tourism goods and services,” she said.

“Farm and fishing communities need these skills as an alternative source of livelihood in times of disasters such as typhoons, flooding and other calamities that damage croplands such as the drought which we are experiencing now,” she elaborated.

“LGUs could also tap State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) for the use of their extension programs, particularly those with academic programs related to creative industries, in teaching both lowland and upland farmers and fisherfolks set up simple agri-tourism business such as small eateries and cafes near the seashores, mountains, and in the middle of rice fields and in creative packaging of food and non-farm products,” the lady senator said.

“The Department of Environment and Natural Resources could also provide local governments with livelihood creating-activities in agro-forestry. The LGUs could tap religious organizations, alumni associations, youth organizations or any group who are interested and are looking for mountains to adopt for reforestation,” Legarda said.

“LGUs could also access the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) for the use of small borrowers particularly in the production of livestock with limited supply such as hogs, cattle and goats,” she added.

According to Legarda, another important factor that will contribute to the reduction of poverty in the countryside is the full support of the national government in providing the subsidized farm inputs and infrastructures necessary in farm activities such as farm-to-market roads, farm machineries and post-harvest facilities.

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