Maniolas

Senator Bongbong Marcos on Monday pushed for the institutionalization of disaster response and relief protocols of the government. In a privilege speech, Marcos introduced Senate Resolution No. 1056 which directs the appropriate Senate committee to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation on the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the Office of the Civil Defense’s (OCD) implementation of Republic Act 10121 or the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Law. Marcos said with the frequency of strong typhoons entering the country such Yolanda and Ruby, there was a greater need to institutionalize disaster and relief response protocols both in the national as well as local levels. Marcos, who chairs the Senate’s committee on local government, says that government response in Ruby was an improvement compared with that of Yolanda especially in terms of implementing massive and early evacuation. He, however, said the loss of lives could have been prevented further had the people knew of the protocols for disaster response being undertaken by NDRRMC. Based on the figure of the NDRRMC there were more than 6,000 people who died from Yolanda while as of Thursday last week, the NDRRMC recorded 18 casualties from Ruby.  “We thank God that Ruby’s winds slowly dissipated and we did not experience its full fury. I want to know whether we are truly prepared for the effects of a super typhoon or a killer quake. Through this probe, our Senate will be able to identify problem areas, listen to experts and Read More …

The Senate on Monday ratified the P2.6-trillion national budget for 2015, adopting the bicameral committee report on the new definition of savings as well as some realignments due to amendments introduced by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). In his manifestation on the Senate floor, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, chairman of the bicameral panel and the Senate committee on finance, called on his fellow senators to adopt the bicameral report. “Without a negative vote, the Senate hereby adopts the bicameral conference committee report on the disagreeing provisions in the House bill for the 2015 national budget. So ordered,” Senate President Franklin Drilon declared when no opposition was raised on Escudero’s manifestation by the 12 other senators present in plenary. Under the ratified committee report, savings refer to portions or balances of any released appropriations under the 2015 budget but have not been obligated as a result of the following:  an ongoing program, activity or project was discontinued or abandoned and given finality the agency head concerned due to causes that cannot be cited as the fault or negligence of the agency that would implement the program, activity or project impossible the program, activity or project could commence because the appropriations is released due to natural or man-made calamities or other causes not attributable to the fault or negligence of the agency concerned decreased cost as a result of improved efficiency during implementation or until the program, activity or project is completed a difference between the  budget approved for the Read More …

Despite the problems they faced this year, nearly nine out of 10 Filipinos or 88 percent will face the coming New Year with hope, according to a new survey by pollster Pulse Asia. In its survey conducted Nov. 14 to 20, Pulse Asia said this was the “predominant sentiment in every geographic area and socio-economic class.” Only one percent will face the coming year “without hope” while 11 percent are ambivalent, it added. A breakdown of the 88 percent of those facing 2015 with hope includes 86 percent in Metro Manila, 91 percent in Luzon, 89 percent in Visayas and 84 percent in Mindanao. Such a sentiment is prevalent among 90 percent of Class ABC, 89 percent of Class D and 84 percent of Class E. Those facing 2015 “without hope” include one percent in all geographical areas and almost all socio-economic classes—with zero percent of Class ABC having such a sentiment. Christmas 2014 On the other hand, the survey also showed more than half or 52 percent of Filipinos expect their Christmas celebration to be “no different” from 2013. However, it said more Filipinos see a more prosperous Christmas celebration for their families this year than last year. It said this is the majority sentiment in Metro Manila (51 percent), Mindanao (51 percent), and the rest of Luzon (55 percent) and in Classes D and E (53 and 51 percent respectively). Visayans (46 percent) and those in Class ABC (44 percent) share this view or even expect a more Read More …

The head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines over the weekend pushed for efforts by the state and society to thwart human trafficking, even as he echoed Pope Francis’ concern on the scourge. CBCP president and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said it is a Christian duty to do everything to prevent anyone from being trafficked, and to make sure those who fell into the trap are set free. “As serious a duty this is of individual Christians, even more serious it is the duty of the State and society,” he said in a pastoral letter dated Dec. 14. But he also called on Christians as well to make all efforts to “free human traffickers from the motives and attractions of their illicit trade and to draw them back to genuinely good and beneficial pursuits.” “To drown evil in an abundance of good and convert the wrongdoer into a source of good is the ultimate triumph we should aim for in this fight,” he added. Villegas lamented there could be about 150,000 Filipinos among some 30 million presently enslaved. He added about 800,000 children, women and men are trafficked across international borders around the world every year. He said trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery, “not less dehumanizing and cruel than any old form of slavery.” With trafficking, he said men and women are exploited physically, sexually, psychologically, morally, and spiritually for the traffickers’ material gain. Echoing Pope Francis’ thoughts on the issue, Villegas said it is a Read More …

Aside from the issue on the controversial purchase of more than P800 million worth of anti-pneumonia vaccines in 2012, Health Secretary (on leave) Enrique Ona also faces investigation on at least three more questionable procurement transactions, President Benigno Aquino III said on Saturday. In an interview with reporters in Busan, Aquino said Ona, who was questioned for the purchase of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV)-10 instead of the reportedly more cost-effective PCV-13, will remain on leave pending investigations on these issues. “Well, I’ll have to follow up kung kailan matatapos ‘yung lahat ‘nung imbestigasyon,” he said. “It’s not just the PCV. There are several others. In my mind, about three or four other issues that have to be attended to.” While Aquino declined to elaborate further on the other procurement issues, he noted that investigations on two of these have been completed. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is currently investigating why the DOH, under Ona’s watch, purchased expensive vaccines in 2012 despite a reported recommendation for more cost-effective ones. While Ona is on extended leave, the DOH will still be under the supervision of Acting Health Secretary Janette Garin. —Amanda Fernandez/KG, GMA News