pilipinoako2010

‘Put your act together’ Loren tells sports groups

4urowneyesonly — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 01:51:05 +0000

Senator Loren Legarda yesterday told the sports associations to “stop squabbling and put your act together” in order to prevent another sports disaster for the country in the 25th Southeast Asian Games scheduled for December in Laos.
Loren made the statement as she expressed concern over reports that the officials of the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission have been squabbling and neglecting the needs of the Filipino athletes preparing for the games.
“With barely eight months left before our athletes plunge into action, what I have been reading in the newspapers are the wrangling among sports leaders over, what some say, are their efforts to keep themselves in positions,” she bewailed.
“Are our athletes given sufficient practice, proper food, vitamins and other necessary supplies and equipment adequate for their training? From what I hear even the toilets in the Ninoy Aquino stadium are dripping during rains,” Loren bemoaned.
“Why must an athlete, a defending champion in his event at that, go to the United States all by himself just so he can start training without the help of the government?” Legarda asked. She was referring to long jumper Henry Dagmil, who left for San Francisco to train there on his own and with nary a help from the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) or the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
“I was told that the PSC does not want to help the track and field association because its chairman, former Congressman Harry Angping is at war with Mr. Go Teng Kok. I wish to remind our sports leaders that they are mandated to assist the athletes TO prepare for local and international competitions and not to distract them or to withhold anything that are due them, including training support, equipment and allowances.”
Loren called on sports leaders to exert efforts in looking after the welfare of athletes and not after their own personal interest.
“Two years ago, we ended up sixth in the Southeast Asian Games, our worst in the history of our participation in the biennial competition.
“Last year, none of our Olympians was able to advance beyond the first round of their respective events.
“Our sports officials should stop squabbling and pay more attention to the need of our athletes for the sake of our national prestige in sports,” Loren declared.

SOURCE:http://lorenlegarda.com.ph

Loren cautions DOH on dengue, A(H1N1)

4urowneyesonly — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 03:36:15 +0000

Senator Loren Legarda said yesterday that the Department of Health may unwittingly give Filipinos a false sense of security by saying that dengue is far more deadly than the A(H1N1) virus.
“While that may be true, the DOH must not appear like it is belittling the threat posed by the flu by repeatedly citing dengue’s higher fatality rate,” said Loren.
While saying she’s confident that it was not the intention of the DOH to brush aside the threat posed by A(H1N1), Loren nonetheless warned against such statements lulling the people into complacency.
Loren is the chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography.
“The number of people stricken with A(H1N1) continues to grow and while the DOH is to be lauded for the measures it is implementing against the virus, the DOH’s belaboring of the difference between dengue and A(H1N1) comes off, rightly or wrongly, as an unwitting effort to brush aside the dangers posed by the flu.”
“I know this perception is not accurate and I would like to join the DOH in asking our people to be also mindful and vigilant of the threat caused by dengue. A lot can be done by our people to prevent the spread of dengue by mosquitoes, especially by removing their breeding grounds on stagnant water,” Loren said.
She added that both government and the people must do their share in fighting both dengue and A(H1N1)to save lives and remove health concerns that may even aggravate the present economic woes being faced by the country.

SOURCE:http://lorenlegarda.com.ph

OFWs deserve more than lip service from gov’t – Loren

4urowneyesonly — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 12:02:25 +0000

Senator Loren Legarda said today that the millions of overseas Filipino workers OFW) deserve more than the lip service they get from the present administration as they prop the economy with the billions of dollars that they remit each year.
Loren pointed out that the next administration must go hard against illegal recruiters, lower placement and related fees that put a burden on OFWs, and provide them more tangible support services through the Philippine embassies and consulates worldwide.
“OFWs must be prepared well by government for the rigors of working away from their families, from the culture shocks they would have, and for the many challenges inherent to working in foreign countries that have laws different from those in the Philippines,” said Loren.
She lamented that the pre-departure orientation seminars (PDOS) provided to OFWs come short in scope and in seriousness of intent and purpose.
“Sadly, the PDOS for OFWs had been token at most, something given perfunctorily, thus leaving many OFWs wondering if they have any relevance at all,” said Loren.
The senator stressed that the protection of OFWs starts with the government forming bilateral agreements with countries that host OFWs, so that ample protection are given them by their host governments.
Loren said that there is nothing intrinsically wrong with the deployment of OFWs in view of the economies of nations having become interconnected and global in scope and reach.
But what’s important, said Loren, is for the Philippines not to neglect its own industries so that much needed jobs can be created locally, thereby minimizing the need to send Filipino workers abroad.
Loren said that most Filipinos would choose to work in the Philippines given competitive remunerations, favorable working conditions and a clear view of their contribution to the overall economy.
“Nobody wants to be away from our families, and I believe that it’s a no-brainer choice really when it comes to working in your own country and away from it, if most variables like income and career opportunities are equal or, at least, competitive,” she said.

SOURCE: http://63.247.82.66/~lorenleg/

UP honors Loren, Launches “Hibiscus rosa-sinesis “Loren Legarda” [Loren appeals for food security]

4urowneyesonly — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 09:19:41 +0000

LOS BANOS, LAGUNA, July 20 – Sen. Loren Legarda’s dedication to serve the public, particularly in the field of environmental legislation was recognized today by the University of the Philippines – Los Banos. A new hybrid of gumamela under the “Women in Public Service” series was named in her honor.
UP Chancellor Luis Rey Velasco and Dean Vicky Espaldon of the UP School of Environmental Science and Management explained that the hibiscus variety was named after Loren because of her persistent and valuable efforts to promote environmental protection, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.
In thanking the UPLB for naming the hibiscus variety after her, Loren said that she was humbled by the honor, and that she was inspired to exert more in public service for and in the interest of the entire Filipino people, and for humanity in the field of disaster risk reduction.
She also recalled that in her childhood she was fond of beautiful things and one of these was the gumamela.
“I remember asking once why we had not made hibiscus our own national flower. After all, its variety of colors can be found almost everywhere in our country and I knew that its plant is not very difficult to care for,” she said. “Too bad Malaysia beat us to it.”
She added, “If I may put it this way, by your act, I have been immortalized in our society. Hopefully, the future generations will also appreciate the reasons why you have chosen to name a hybrid of gumamela after me.”
In the same occasion, Sen. Loren Legarda called for greater efforts in the country to achieve food security and global competitiveness in the face of the challenges of climate change and the global economic crisis.
Loren, who is the United Nations champion for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in the Asia-Pacific region, said that climate change is “a global issue that has clear human rights implications as its effects will definitely impact our ability to survive and our fundamental right to life, food, shelter and security.”
In her speech, Loren who is also chair of the Senate committee on food and agriculture, commended the UPLB, particularly the Institute of Plant Breeding of the College of Agriculture, “for its efforts to help attain the country’s goal of achieving food security and global competitiveness.”
She noted that through the years, the Institute has worked on various projects to breed better crops for food, clothing, shelter, medicine and other industrial uses. The Institute has developed new varieties of corn, mungbean, chico, guyabano, peanut, soybean, tomato, garden pea, patola, cucumber, sweet potato, cassava, papaya and avocado.
“Your course offerings on bamboo propagation, disease elimination and micro-propagation techniques for musa or abaca, tissue culture for selected plants for crop improvement and mass propagation, hybrid papaya production, hybrid corn seed production, peanut production, gene-banking activities, and the production of high-value crops enable your experts to pass on the agro-technical know-how to neophytes to help the sector and related industries cope with the problem of food security, particularly in the face of the adverse effects of global warming and climate change,” Loren declared.
“As your staunch partner in our advocacy on climate change, and as the UN Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, I have been going around the Asian region in the last several months campaigning, not for the 2010 elections, but for the concerted efforts of the international community in combating the threats of climate change and in disaster risk reduction.
“Evidently, climate change is not just a scientific phenomenon that only scientists or technical experts understand. You and I know that it is a global issue that has clear human rights implications as its effects will definitely impact our ability to survive and our fundamental right to life, food, shelter and security.
“The role of UPLB, through the Institute of Plant Breeding of the College of Agriculture and through the School of Environmental Science and Management in our fight against the real threats of climate change is more crucial than ever. I trust that, under a strong partnership, we shall remain committed towards helping provide a safer and healthier environment for our people to live in.”

SOURCE: http://63.247.82.66/~lorenleg/

Loren: State Stimulus Plans

4urowneyesonly — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 08:10:05 +0000

“There’s the very real danger of the P330 billion “stimulus package” of the government becoming yet another fertilizer fund scam. It may be used by the administration for electioneering and to buy votes for its candidates in the 2010 elections. Thus, we must be ever-watchful of the utilization of this fund lest it be misused.

“As per the claim of former budget secretary Benjamin Diokno, this package lacks specific details on what projects are to be financed, while generally funding economic activities that are already funded under the General Appropriations Act. To me, such a set-up is open to abuse because of its lack of transparency. Baka ang kalabasan niyan ay mahulog sa election black hole ang pera.
We cannot allow a situation in which this P330 billion will not be used to pump-prime the economy, but to “stimulate” the election chances of administration candidates next year.”

SOURCE: http://63.247.82.66/~lorenleg/

Haiti quake prods RP to gird for ‘Big One’

4urowneyesonly — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 08:53:10 +0000

MANILA, Philippines – Disaster officials on Friday claimed preparations to make Metro Manila “seismologically sound” are in progress.

The enormity of the suffering in quake-devastated Haiti has highlighted the similar risks faced by Metro Manila should the “Big One” happen here, as the experts have been predicting.

The preparations are being made on many levels, starting with building up the capacity of local government units “because they are the ones who are first to respond to a disaster,” said Glenn Rabonza, executive director of the National Disaster Coordinating Council. According to Rabonza, one of the measures being undertaken was the “pre-positioning” of metal containers holding various rescue equipment under bridges across the capital by the Metro Manila Development Authority.

“Most of these earthquake disaster equipment are used for digging people out of collapsed structures,” he said. Placing rescue equipment under every Metro Manila bridge would ensure unhampered rescue operations in case bridges cave in and debris block major road links, Rabonza said.

“We wouldn’t have to waste time waiting for rescuers transporting equipment from one place to another,” he said.

LGU training
While the acquisition of the necessary rescue equipment has yet to be completed, Rabonza said there are continuing efforts to improve the ability of local government units to respond to disasters, including the training of rescuers.

“The Haiti experience somehow prods us again to prepare, especially the local governments because they are the first responders,” he said.

He noted that the NDCC and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs recently organized “one of the biggest” earthquake response simulation exercises involving countries in the Asia-Pacific at the Subic Freeport. The exercise aimed at familiarizing key government agencies with disaster response mechanisms and tools, cluster coordination mechanisms in a destructive earthquake scenario and test the government’s policies and protocols on international humanitarian assistance, among others.

Prescriptions for Metro
Rabonza said the repair and retrofitting of old bridges and roads have also started in Metro Manila. This was one of the prescriptions of the Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study (MMEIRS) prepared by the Japan International Cooperation Agency. The MMEIRS, conducted from 2002 to 2004, predicted that if a 7.2-magnitude quake were to hit Metro Manila, it could kill up to 33,000 people and injure 114,000, if no adequate preparations are made.

Earthquake drills in schools and public and private offices are strictly carried out quarterly, Rabonza said.

“We are also continuing to upgrade our communication system,” he said.

Adhere to building laws
Rabonza said a mechanism was also in place to tap the UN International Search and Rescue Advisory Group, which has at least eight teams ready to respond to an earthquake-stricken country from any part of the world.

Renato Solidum Jr., the director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), who met with Rabonza and other NDCC staff on Thursday to discuss various disaster-preparedness programs, said damage to life and property can be minimized if owners followed the correct design and adhered strictly to construction and building laws.

Fighting chance
“It is important to make sure that buildings are sound because if these will not collapse, there won’t be too many people that would need to be rescued,” Solidum said.

Sen. Richard Gordon, who chairs the Philippine National Red Cross, said “nobody can prepare for the Big One” but believes the agency has “a fighting chance” to respond adequately to a disaster of the same magnitude as occurred in Haiti.

Since taking over the helm of the PNRC in 2004, Gordon said the agency has acquired six rescue trucks equipped with machinery that can cut into cement and concrete to rescue people trapped underneath collapsed buildings.

The PNRC has also acquired audio and television equipment that can detect people trapped beneath rubble and enable rescue workers to communicate with them.

The agency also has K-9 (canine) units, or a team of dogs trained specifically to assist in rescue operations, on hand.

Ambulances on C-130
Gordon said the PNRC has tie-ups with volunteer groups, particularly the Chinese business chambers, so that fire trucks can be tapped for PNRC rescue efforts.

“We have also acquired ambulances that can be loaded on to C-130 planes to deliver relief goods to any part of the archipelago with an airport,” Gordon added.

He said the PNRC has currently 4 million volunteers nationwide with 44 personnel assigned to each barangay under the Red Cross 143 program.

“These are blood donors and people who provide us information to quickly identify priority areas,” Gordon said.

He encouraged every Filipino to volunteer under the Red Cross 143 as “our fighting chance against a major earthquake will come from manpower.”

Key Strategies
Sen. Loren Legarda said the Philippines is not totally helpless to cope with the impact of a magnitude 7 earthquake. “It is certain that a strong earthquake will occur, a fact as real as the presence of major earthquake faults in Metro Manila. The only question is when will it strike and how prepared are we to respond and cope,” said Legarda.

The key is the implementation of preparedness and risk-reduction strategies, said Legarda, the United Nations “champion” for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.

“In many cases, these losses can be reduced. It is in our power to control many of the factors that lead to disasters … the human elements such as how we manage our lands, where we develop our cities, and how we build our houses,” she said.

These risk-reduction strategies include building safe hospitals and other public infrastructures, conducting risk assessment studies in local government units and retrofitting of high-rise structures, houses and condominiums.

It is also imperative that housing developers should not be allowed to further build homes on quake-prone areas, Legarda said.

Protect hospitals
Legarda called on the government to protect public and private hospitals against earthquakes as they are critical when disaster strikes and victims need emergency services and medical care.

She said that based on international studies, disaster-proofing a hospital or health facility would add only 4 percent to the cost of construction.

The government can grant tax incentives to hospitals that invest in risk reduction-related structures, equipment and facilities, she said.

Legarda also suggested that Congress revisit the National Building Code to determine whether there is a need to update its provisions to meet the requirements of effective disaster risk reduction.

SOURCE:http://63.247.82.66/~lorenleg/news_057_Haiti_quake_prods_RP.php

Gasgas na paninira kay Loren

4urowneyesonly — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 07:19:22 +0000

KASABAY ng umiinit na panahon, ang umiinit ding tensyon sa eleksyon. Naapektuhan na rin yata ng El Niño Phenomenum ang daigdig ng pulitika sa bansa dahil sa mga nag-aapoy na patutsadahan ng mga magkakatunggaling kandidato.

Sapagkat automated na nga ang sistema ng botohan, kaya’t hi-tech na rin ang paraan ng mga paninira at ‘black propaganda’ ng mga pulitiko sa karibal na pulitiko. Mabenta ngayon ang internet at short messaging system (SMS) na lunsaran ng mga email at text brigade ng paninira.

Kabilang sa biktima at target ng grabeng paninira sa internet at mga text messages ang Vice Presidential aspirant na si Sen Loren Legarda. Sabi nga kasi ni UP political analyst Prospero de Vera, si Loren ang maliwanag na mananalo sa halalan sa pagka-bise presidente kung kaya walang puknat ang banat sa kanya ng mga karibal.

Kunsabagay may kasabihan na ang punong hitik sa bunga ang parating pinupukol. Kaya lang bara-bara ang pagdampot ng batong ipinupukol kaya’t mas madalas na nagbu-boomerang ito pabalik sa nagpukol.

Sablay kasi ang kanilang birada kay Loren, na kesyo pinabababa ng senadora ang suweldo ng mga manggagawa samantalang siya pa nga ang naghain ng panukalang batas at resolusyon sa Senado para itaas ang suweldo at kita ng mga guro, sundalo, pulis at iba pang mga manggagawa sa pamahalaan.Wika nga ni Loren, kumbaga sa pelikula ay “flop” ang banat sa kanya dahil malayo ito sa katotohanan, bagkus ay kabaligtaran pa nga.

Isa lang ang Senate Bill 1611 sa mga panukala ni Loren na nagsusulong ng umento sa mga manggagawa sa pamahalaan, partikular sa mga guro, na nais niyang gawing salary grade level 19 ang minimum na pasuweldo mula sa salary grade 10.Dagdag pa rito ang Senate Resolution 26 na nagbigay ng awtorisasyon sa Pangulo na itaas ang base pay ng mga sundalo at iba pang unipormadong tauhan ng pamahalaan. Kinalampag din ng senadora ang Department of Budget and Management (DBM) dahil sa pagbinbin nito ng pabonus sa mga empleyado ng gobyerno.

Ang totoo gasgas na ang paninirang ito kay Loren dahil ginamit na rin ito laban sa kanya noong 2004 at 2007 elections pero hindi bumenta dahil mismong mga titser, sundalo at pulis ang dumepensa sa pagsasabing hindi totoo ang mga paratang laban sa kanya. Katunayan nahalal pa nga si Loren bilang number 1 senator noong 2007.

Anupa’t para sa mga gumagasta ng milyun-milyong piso sa pagpapadala ng bulto-bultong texts na hindi naman totoo at mga nagpo-post ng paninira sa internet, i-donate niyo na lang pera n’yo sa mga mahihirap at biktima ng mga kalamidad gaya ng ginawang pagdamay ni Loren sa mga biktima ng bagyong Ondoy, Pepeng at Santi at nitong huli sa mga nilikas ng pag-aalburuto ng bulkang Mayon sa Albay.

SOURCE: http://www.mixx.com/stories/10318769/ramblings_gasgas_na_paninira_kay_loren_legarda

Loren urges review of policies as RP competetiveness declines

4urowneyesonly — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:59:39 +0000

Sen. Loren Legarda yesterday urged the government to undertake an immediate review of its economic policies following a survey released by the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) showing that Philippine competitiveness has fallen to 43rd among 57 countries.
“The release of this survey is very timely now that we are a week from the State of the Nation address of the President,” Loren said. “For the sake of our people, the government should stop bragging about its successful development efforts. Instead it should review its policies and performance and take immediate action to correct them.”
She pointed out that “of importance is infrastructure, which according to world economists, is the reason why we have failed to attract more direct foreign investments. Government inefficiency should be eliminated so that business and the people should have more confidence to engage in development activities.”
Loren urged the people to watch and listen to the President’s state-of-the-nation address on July 27 “and evaluate if they have truly felt the developments that this administration is claiming.”
In a survey released by the AIM last July 13, the Philippines ranked 43rd out of 57 countries in the 2009 World Competitiveness Yearbook compiled by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD).
The Philippines fared worse in four factors of competitiveness namely: economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency, and infrastructure, report said.
“We are the lowest ranked among ASEAN countries and despite accomplishments claimed by this administration, this survey will prove otherwise. We are the 56th in ranked in terms of infrastructure and 2nd to the last in Asia in terms of labor productivity,” Loren deplored.
“What should also be underscored is the fact that we have the worst pupil-teacher ratio in high school and elementary levels where we ranked 57th and 56th respectively in the same survey. Education is a right for every Filipino. The National Statistical Coordination Board reported for 2008 that the net enrolment ratio dropped from 84.4% to 83.2%.
“This is the net enrolment ratio for the age group corresponding to the official school age in the elementary or secondary level to the population of the same age group in a given year. The number of students per classroom in the country is fifty while our neighboring countries have twenty students per classroom,” Loren said.
She asserted that “while education gets the biggest chunk in our budget next to debt servicing and internal revenue allotments, the budget is not enough to cope with the growing population that depends on public education. According to Social Watch, enrolment grows at an average of 2.5% annually while the education budget grows only at about 2% in real terms annually.
“In the meantime that a lot of people are still debating about the system, let us get things moving by building thousands of classrooms and school facilities all over the archipelago and producing better teachers (better paid, too). We should also improve our facilities and provide more books and teaching aides from laboratories to computers.
“We should tap the private sector for creative joint ventures. We should also consider issuance of educational infrastructure development bonds to get the needed funds and jumpstart our effort.”
The 2009 World Competitiveness Yearbook also reported that from rank 40th last year the Philippines went down to 43rd this year.
“This is an indication that government efforts are insufficient and bolder and concrete actions must be taken by the government,” Loren declared. “The SONA that PGMA will deliver on the 27th must show the real condition of the country. How can we move towards progress and development if we do not acknowledge our real condition?”
“Despite the reports of this government of its accomplishments in its more than seven years of administration, why is it that we ranked lowest in the four points of competitiveness – economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency, and infrastructure?” Loren asked.
“We can do better than this. The Filipinos deserve better. What is important is that government must acknowledge the real condition of the country. We have to consolidate all efforts to eliminate corruption which eats up more than 30% of our budget and re-evaluate the government priorities so as to have a balanced approach to the problems that our country is facing.”

SOURCE: http://lorenlegarda.com.ph/article-1248087283.html

Loren Legarda: Right to Reply

4urowneyesonly — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 03:52:13 +0000

The House of Representatives is reportedly set to take up next week
the Right to Reply bill that would force the media on pain of
punishment to publish or broadcast the reply of those who believe they
have been unfairly treated in published articles or broadcast news or
commentary.
The media have already recognized the right of individuals to reply to
any item they consider unfair to them. The media have said so in their
Code of Ethics, obliging themselves to grant this right. But when this
right is enforced from outside, fettering the prerogative of editors,
columnists, commentators and broadcast practitioners on the manner by
which such right shall be granted, it becomes an intrusion on the
fundamental right of freedom of the press and expression. Thus it
violates the Constitution.
It must be borne mind that the freedom of expression does not belong
to media alone. It belongs to our people. So if this bill passes, a
fundamental right of our people shall have been abridged.

SOURCE:http://lorenlegarda.com.ph

Loren Legarda: Transition Government

4urowneyesonly — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 09:15:58 +0000

SOURCE:http://lorenlegarda.com.ph
All the vital signs are there that the administration is planning
something rotten and despicable to derail the 2010 elections for the
purpose of prolonging the stay of those now in power. These vital
signs have been detailed by former Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz in
his speech before the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and by the
national security adviser, Norberto Gonzales.
The people, who will be the biggest victims of an administration coup,
should therefore be on full alert and should voice out in no uncertain
terms that they object to this conspiracy to sabotage our democratic
system. The political opposition should also prepare to unite to lead
our people against any attempt to tamper with the constitution
illegally for this nefarious purpose.
If President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is not a party to this
conspiracy, she should speak out now and chastise her allies in no
uncertain terms for sending out these signals of troubled times ahead.