Lagman urges PNoy to certify RH Bill as priority measure, more comprehensive than RP Bill

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) — Minority Leader and Albay 1st District Representative Edcel C. Lagman has requested President Aquino to certify House Bill No. 96 as a priority measure given that it is virtually identical to the proposed “responsible parenthood bill” by Malacanang.

Lagman, principal author of HB No. 96, in a letter dated January 25, 2011 to the President Aquino, said that HB 96 is more comprehensive as reproductive health measure and is already in the final stages of committee action.

He added that the “responsible parenthood bill” reportedly being drafted by Malacañang parallels and complements House Bill No. 96, the principal proposed measure on reproductive health which is pending in the House of Representatives along with five (5) other allied bills.

Lagman pointed out that HB No. 96 prominently includes responsible parenthood as it is even entitled “An Act Providing for a National Policy on Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood and Population and Development, and For Other Purposes”.

The Lagman bill defines responsible parenthood as “the will, ability and commitment of parents to adequately respond to the needs and aspirations of the family and children by responsibly and freely exercising their reproductive health rights.”

The basic human right of parents to freely and responsibly plan the number and spacing of their children was enshrined in the Tehran Convention on Human Rights to which the Philippines became a State Party almost 43 years ago.

Lagman underscored that the RH bill and the projected “responsible parenthood bill”, seemingly favored by Malacañang, have the following common major features:

1) No demographic or population target is espoused.
2) Poverty reduction or alleviation is a principal agenda.
3) Voluntary family planning based on freedom of informed choice is promoted.
4) All kinds of family planning methods from the natural to the artificial which are legal, medically safe and effective are made accessible to acceptors.
5) Abortion remains to be prohibited and penalized.

Lagman said that nowhere in the bills which are pending in the House of Representatives is there a provision setting either a definitive or even loose population growth ceiling.

“The RH bill is not intended to be a population control measure. The reduction of the population growth rate is incidental to the promotion of reproductive health and human development”, Lagman added.

Lagman also said that “while an RH law is not a panacea to poverty, without a clear policy on RH, government’s anti-poverty strategies will continue to be undermined by a ballooning population, high rates of unwanted fertility and equally alarming maternal and infant mortality and morbidity.”

“Central to the pending RH bills and the Malacañang-proposed responsible parenthood bill is the freedom of informed choice,” Lagman also stressed.

Lagman emphasized that “neither the Church nor the State has the right to dictate on the faithful or citizens which form of family planning they should use. The choice primarily and ultimately belongs to the couple, especially to women who bear the brunt of pregnancy, child birth and child care.”

“The bottom line is women and couples are not compelled to plan their families. However, should they decide to do so, the State will empower them with the information and opportunity to have only the number of children they can care for, educate, feed and shelter adequately,” Lagman also added.

The Bicol solon likewise stated that both the RH bill and the projected responsible parenthood bill are against abortion, and “will definitely help lower the incidence of abortion by preventing unplanned, mistimed and unwanted pregnancies, the very pregnancies which are terminated through abortion.”

Lagman also said that “there is an inverse relationship between contraception and abortion. Studies conducted by the Guttmacher Institute reveal that access to contraceptives can reduce abortion rates by a staggering 85%.”

Lagman disclosed that “both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) have consistently declared that contraceptives like pills, injectables, IUDs and condoms are not abortifacients. They either prevent ovulation and/or prevent the sperm from reaching the egg. Consequently, there is no resultant fertilized ovum. Hence, there is nothing to abort.”

“Reproductive Health” is the more comprehensive term which has been internationally accepted since the Program of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) was adopted in Cairo, Egypt 17 years ago in 1994 which the Philippines signed along with 188 other countries.

“Reproductive Health” is defined by the ICPD as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its functions and processes.” HB No. 96 adopts this definition.

The ICPD Program of Action categorically provides that “In no case should abortion be promoted as a method of family planning x x x Any measures or changes related to abortion within the health system can only be determined at the national or local level according to the national legislative process.”

In other words, with respect to abortion the ICPD defers to the supremacy of the domestic or national laws of the country concerned.

Moreover, Lagman explained that responsible parenthood is limited to family planning whereas RH is more all encompassing to cover maternal and child health and nutrition; breastfeeding; and treatment of infertility, breast and reproductive tract cancers and HIV/AIDS, among others.

He added that except for sexuality education for the youth, the rest of the elements of RH are not contentious.

He also underscored that during the ICPD, the Philippines committed to the promotion and protection of the right to overall reproductive health, not merely the right of women and couples to be responsible parents through voluntary family planning. (Office of Cong. Lagman/PIA Albay/mal)


DAC of Bicol RDC endorses P701.335-M capital outplay of DILG family

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) — The Development Administration Committee (DAC) of the Regional Development Council (RDC) in Bicol has endorsed the P701.335 million Annual Investment Program (AIP) of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) family during Thursday (Jan. 27) meeting.

The next stage of assessment will be on the RDC level which in turn will either endorse or disapprove the AIP financial request.

Up for funding call is the capital outlay of five government agencies, namely: DILG; Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP); Bureau of Jail, Management and Penology (BJMP); National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM); and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Of the total amount, PNP has the highest funding requirement of P581.36 million, followed by BFP, P90.355 million; BJMP, P25.25 million; NAPOLCOM, P2.37 million; and DILG, 2 million.

Police regional office 5 requests listed down firepower requirement or purchase of long and short firearms amounting to P488.69 million as the biggest costing followed by construction of 1 city police station and 7 municipal stations totaling P44.86 million.

Recommended for the construction of police stations are Tabaco City and Rapu-Rapu in Albay; San Lorenzo Ruiz and San Vicente towns in Camarines Norte; Presentacion and Tinambac in Camarines Sur; San Andres, Catanduanes; Baleno, Masbate; and Magallanes, Sorsogon.

PNP, likewise, intends to purchase communication equipment that costs P23.27 million; transportation facilities like patrol car, patrol jeep, motorcycle, troop carrier and water craft amounting to P17.80 million; intelligence and investigative equipment with a combined total of P4.67 million; and CDM gears and apparatus for crowd control as policemen from Bicol are on call to Metro Manila to assist during demonstrations and rallies with a funding requirement of P2.07 million.

Bicol’s BFP capital outlay of P90.355 million will go to acquisition of fire trucks and fire fighting apparatus and purchase of communication equipment.

According to SSupt Igmedio U. Bondoc, Jr., the newly assigned Bicol BFP regional director who presented the plan, the requested 10 additional fire trucks and communication equipment will greatly help in the suppression of destructive fires and enhanced effectiveness in fire and emergency responses.

Meantime, BJMP requires P25.25 million for the construction of eight additional jail buildings and construction of perimeter fence in five jail grounds. The proposed additional jail structures will be put up in the cities of Legazpi, Iriga and Naga; Guinobatan and Pio Duran in Albay; the district jails in Labo (Camarines Norte); Tigaon (Camarines Sur), and Cataingan (Masbate).

To improve jail security, custody and control, BJMP plans to rebuild perimeter fence in the district jails of Labo, Tigaon and Cataingan; and the municipal jails of Oas and Pio Duran in Albay province.

The agency will also purchase 200 additional bed bunks, additional 215 operational equipment that include hand cuffs, metal detectors and cell locks and one staff car for transport services.

NAPOLCOM’s P2.37 million fund request will go to general administrative and support services.

The endorsement of the DAC was made after the committee has determined that the AIP or capital outlay of each office is consistent to the sectoral objectives of the Bicol Regional Development Plan for 2011-2016.

Likewise, starting this year 2011 AIP preparation must be finalized after consultation with the Department of “Budget and Management (DBM) as announced by DAC co-chairperson DBM Regional Director Rebecca Olayon.

Rev. Fr. Ramoncito Segubiense of Social Action Center Albay, chairmanship to the DAC was confirmed through RDC Resolution No. 50, 2010, has presided the meeting. Fr. Segubiense’s. (PIA V/Albay)

Lupi cadastral survey project underway

LUPI, Camarines Sur, (PIA) – Lupi town’s final political boundary will soon be completed following the launching last week of a cadastral survey project the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Barangay Colacling here.

Engr. Pedro Noble, DENR regional technical director for Lands Management Service, said the project launching of Cad-1025-D Lupi Cadastre will benefit 38 barangays of the municipality to settle boundary disputes among claimants, as well as strengthen the development of the town with the establishment of the political boundary.

Noble emphasized the need for the locales to fully support the cadastral project which should be supplemented with the barangay chairmen notifying their respective constituents on the importance of the undertaking.

“The success of the project rests on the support and cooperation of all, including the barangays officials, landowners and claimants”, Noble told barangay chairmen and barangay treasurers of the 38 barangays of Lupi who were all present during the project launching.

Mayor Raul Matamorosa of Lupi also enjoined his constituents to support and cooperate as the cadastral project is underway. “The program is a big help, a milestone towards our development” he said in the local dialect.

Cadastral survey refers to survey made to determine the metes and bounds of all parcels within an entire municipality or city for land registration and other purposes.

The Lupi cadastral project site is composed of 38 barangays, with an estimated 19,912 hectares (has.), a surveyed area of 3,039.4535 has. an unsurveyed area of 10,969.2943 has. Its estimated area of timber land is 5,903.2522 has. while the total estimated number of lots is 4,509 has. (ASAraya, DENR V/PIA Albay/mal)

‘Worst’ forms of child labor noted in Masbate

MASBATE—This island is one of several provinces in the country where the “worst” forms of child labor remain prevalent, often depriving children the chance to attend school and learn the skills they need to live a fruitful adult life.

This was revealed in a study which was disclosed by Carlos Onding of the Department of Labor and Employment before a meeting of the Masbate Provincial Council for the Protection of Children.

According to Onding, the exploitation of a number of children in mining to extract gold, prostitution, farming and deep-sea fishing was a problem that cropped up in a study conducted in the towns of Aroroy and Cawayan and Masbate city by Ateneo de Naga.

Onding said the report of the Ateneo de Naga will be used by the Masbate Provincial Council for the Protection of Children in addressing the child labor problem in the province.

Masbate’s effort to eliminate the worst forms of child labor in the next five years has the support of the International Labor Organization which has provided funds to fuel the province’s anti-child labor activities. (EADelgado, PIA Masbate)

PAMB pushes for the Mt. Bulusan Natural Park Protected Area Bill
By Irma A. Guhit

SORSOOGN CITY, (PIA) — Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Office V Forester Yolanda G. Sa-ong during the monthly meeting of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) just recently at the Sorsogon Provincial Management Office (SPMO), presented to the group the draft resolution of the Protected Area (PA) Bill of Bulusan Volcano Natural Park (BVNP) which she said is now on its second reading.

“We have been undertaken by the change in events, last 2010, approval of the PA Bill which was sponsored by former congressman Rodolfo Gonzales was not tackled during the 14th Congress. Hopefully after some review and some refinements done by the PAMB members, we will be able to forward the PA Bill for approval to the 15th congress with the assistance of the newly elected representative of the 2nd district of Sorsogon, Congressman Deogracias Ramos to sponsor the bill,” Sa-ong said.

Presiding officer of the PAMB, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENR) Officer Oscar Dominguez said that the approval of the PA Bill will be a great accomplishment of t he PAMB specifically on the conservation and management of the BVNP resources. Thus, being one of Sorsogon’s best ecotourism destinations.

The PA Bill specifically will clearly define the declaration and boundaries of the 5-terrirorial municipalities around the natural park composing of Bulusan, Barcelona, Irosin, Casiguran and Juban.

The bill will also clear some isues regarding management and will provide initiatives for complementation of programs and projects towards the sustainable development of BVNP.

Strengthening the capabilities and issuing the deputation papers of the recommended Bantay Gubat within the park was also tackled during the meeting.

Former governor of Sorsogon, now executive director of the Sorsogon Provincial Management Office (SPMO) recommended to the board members the inclusion of attendance and orientation of the newly elected mayors of Bulusan, Juban, Irosin and Barcelona.

She said that as new leaders, first and foremost, they should know the functions of the members of the PAMB and be the ones to lead in its operationalization and should include development programs in their legislative agenda.

“They should also forge together to push for the approval of the PA Bill,” she added. (PIA Sorsogon)

DAR reports 16 farm-to-market roads that need immediate rehab in Albay

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) — The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) provincial office here has reported a total of 16 farm-to-market roads (FMRs) across Albay that need immediate repair following the devastation brought about by flooding and landslides spawned by heavy continuous rains for almost a month since December 24, last year.

Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Salve C. Tongco said rehabilitation of the said road networks needs immediate attention to prevent disruption of delivery of agricultural produce.

Tongco added that the repair will also hasten the donors’ reach to families that are affected by calamities recently.

Tongco said the 16 sixteen FMRs damaged include the Buga-Malolos via Panganiban road, San Jose-Harigue, Buga-Bariw via Balatingo road, San Jose-Malabiga and Villa Petrona-Libtong road, all in Libon town; Ogob-Bulang, Bulang-Quinarabasahan, both in Malinao town; Buyo-Sitio Calpi in Manito town;

Banquerohan-Villahermosa in Legazpi City; Bayandong-San Andres-Salvacion in Sto. Domingo town; Balinad-Hacienda Madarietta in Polangui town; Mauraro-Mapaco in Guinobatan town; Agol-Basicao Interior in Pioduran town; Mayon-San Ramon-San Vicente-Biga in Daraga town; Balogo-Parina-Labadami, and San Juan-San Vicente both in Oas town.

Tongco said these roads were heavily damaged by the recent continuous rains that caused landslides and flashfloods, estimating a P96 million budget needed to restore them and be of proper use by farmers and local traders.

Two of the heavily damaged were that of Bayandong-San Andres-Salvacion FMR in Sto. Domingo town and Balogo-Parina-Labadami FMR in Oas town which needed at least P10 million each.

The DAR provincial chief has already sought endorsement by Albay Governor Joey Salceda for funding of said rehabilitation program by the provincial government. (MALoterte, PIA V/Albay)

Former Masbate mayor faces graft charges
By Ernie Delgado

MASBATE CITY, (PIA) —The Ombudsman is filing graft charges against a former town mayor accused of incurring cash advances of more than P26 million during his tenure.

To be charged with malversation of public funds before the Sandiganbayan is former Mayor Bernardito Abapo of Milagros, Masbate.

In a statement, Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez said she ordered the filing of graft charges against Abapo for incurring some P26,509,594 in cash advances that state auditors said have remained “unliquidated.”

Abapo, who was at the helm of the municipal government of Milagros from 1998 until 2007, incurred the cash advances between January 2002 and December 2004, according to the Ombudsman’s resolution.

Abapo was not immediately reached for comment on the filing of charges against him before the anti-graft court. But his former aides talked to local media, insisting the disbursements of the amount were supported by documents. (PIA Masbate)

20-40 years for carnappers – Chiz

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) — Senator Chiz Escudero is seeking stiffer penalties of up to 40 years imprisonment against carjackers in a bid to stop the string of car thefts in the country.

The senator said penal provisions had rendered the existing law inutile in the face of the series of carjacking and had allowed criminal syndicates to carry out the criminal activity with ease.

Escudero, chairman of the Senate committee on justice and human rights, has filed a bill increasing the penalty for carjacking to a minimum of 20 years to 30 years if the offense was committed without violence and intimidation.

When carjacking is committed by means of violence against a person, Escudero wants a jail term of 30 years to a maximum of 40 years.

Under the current penal provision of Republic Act No. 6539, carjackers face a minimum of 14 years to a maximum of 17 years jail term, and 17 to 30 years imprisonment if the crime is committed by means of force or violence.

As such, it falls short of the minimum period for reclusion perpetua, which is at least 20 years and one day, a requisite to deny bail as a right under the above cited constitutional provision to be present.

“The criminal minds are no longer deterred by our penal code. Under the current law, the accused is entitled to post a bail as a matter of right. The crime has become very lucrative for these carjackers that they can just easily shell out money to post bail and walk scot-free,” Escudero pointed out.

The senator explained that once the minimum penalty is increased to 20 years and one day, it will satisfy the period covered by reclusion perpetua.

According to Escudero, strengthening the penal provision for carjacking would also deter the proliferation of other crimes.

“Logically and naturally, you will not use your own vehicle if you plan to commit a crime. Gunrunners, robbers, drug traffickers have always been found to use a get-away vehicle snatched from other innocent individuals,” the senator said. (Office of Sen. Escudero/PIA Albay/mal)

Fourteen schools in Catanduanes receive green slippers
By EA Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes (PIA) — A total of 1,000 pupils from 14 elementary schools in the province have received green slippers customized with "I love Catanduanes" seal from Congressman Cesar Sarmiento and some close friends from Manila during their one-day school visit last January 28.

Sofia advertising company president Chito Serra with his six-year old daughter Sofia has shown that this island province is never at far in his heart by helping the congressman to make this "Caring through Sharing Program" feasible.

Municipal Mayor Jose Alberto and his party also joined Cong. Sarmiento and his team in the distribution of Cesar Slippers in five selected elementary schools in town of Virac namely Batag Elementary School, Marilima Elementary School, Buenavista Elementary School, Calampong Elementary School and Casoocan Elementary School. While Vice Mayor Mary Ann Teves of San Miguel assisted team CS on the launching of the said activity in three public schools in her municipality namely Boton Elementary School, Pangilao Elementary School and Paraiso A & B Elementary School.

World Boxing Champion Bernabe ‘Abe’ Concepcion, the island’s pride has also assisted in the Caring through Sharing Program with the Care and Share youth organization from Catanduanes College and Catanduanes State Colleges chapter represented by Darwin A. Tatel, Bryan Dave Rubio, Alex Tubis, Markfred Isidoro, Jenny Nazareno, Juanita Condeno, Marjhon M. Tablizo, Alex Torres, John Michael dela Cruz, and Aljhon Perena completing the congressional team who roved around the province for this program.

Congressman Sarmiento also distributed medicines from PAGCOR to Municipal LGU of Viga with Viga Mayor Abelardo Abundo and Vice-Mayor Emeterio Tarin. Sarmiento further assured that through these donations, medical needs of Viganon especially indigent families will now be accessible. (PIA/Catanduanes with reports from Joriza Dela Rosa)