SALCEDA SAYS SLEX TOLL FEE HIKE ILLEGAL,
PETITIONS SC TO STOP ITS IMPOSITION

LEGAZPI CITY — Albay Governor Joey Salceda declared that the toll fee hike imposed by the South Luzon Tollway Corporation (SLTC) is illegal because the franchise given to them by Philippine National Construction Corporation (PNCC) has expired and has not been renewed.

Salceda said the concession agreement between SLTC and PNCC commenced in May 2006 while the franchise given to PNCC expired in May 2007, without being renewed by Congress.

He said without a franchise granted to PNCC, the ongoing toll collection, grant concession to SLTC to increase toll fee are illegal.

Salceda said he has filed with the Supreme Court (SC) a petition asking for a restraining order implementing the 290-percent toll fee increase.

He said that he requested for a full review of the SLEX project.

Construction of TR-1,2 and 3 was supposed to be completed in August 2009. And this was supposedly triggered the turnover of operations. At least one year of cash flows from SLEX have been available to the concessionaire.

In June 2009, RTC Judge Tongco ruled that the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) does not have the authority to grant "administrative franchise" stripping PNCC of any legal camouflage for its toll fee collections, much more for its grant of concession.

Salceda, citing a SC ruling in November 2009 ruled on the Radstock case, that PNCC can not use its corporate assets or cash flows to settle with Radstock/Marubeni as the SC established that these now belong to the national government since its franchise expired.

Thus, he said, toll fee collections should be remitted to the Bureau of Treasury and thereafter any settlement with Radstock would have to be appropriated by Congress through the regular budget process - initiated through the budget submission of the executive, originated by the House of Representatives, approved by Senate and finally by ratified Bicam report.

This SC ruling has vast consequences on the SLTC concession and the TRB toll fee hike approval.

Salceda said in effect, those toll fees were illegally collected by PNCC since it does not have the legislative franchise and the remedy of TRB administrative franchise was struck down by the judiciary as non-existent.

PNCC becomes at best a collector of these toll fees for the national government and not for its own account.

Salceda said, "The cash flows at least from the expiry of franchise up to the actual turnover to SLTC or three years amounting to about P7.5 billion should: have been returned to the motorists, have been remitted to the national treasury in escrow for the paying public but apparently from reports - none have been received by the national government or, as our position on 'ginisa sa sariling mantika' should have been applied to the construction costs and, as far as TRB is concerned, these should have been deducted from the rate based upon which it computed toll fees."

If PNCC does not have a legislative franchise and an administrative franchise does not exist, then the STOA has no legs to stand on. Consequently the TRB approval of toll fee hikes becomes an ignominy, the governor pointed out.

He added that as a Latin statement said “Nemo dat quod non habet - You can not give what you do not have.” Thus, PNCC has no legislative franchise to grant a concession. Thus, its toll fee impositions are effectively illegal, Salceda stressed.

The SLEX project is not covered by a BOT agreement unlike the Skyway and NLEX, he added. Nonetheless, as a national priority project listed in the NEDA IPP, this could not been the subject of an unsolicited BOT proposal, thus, subject only to a Swiss challenge after publication in international and national media. (PNA Bicol)

THREE BICOL RIVERS NOT BIOLOGICALLY DEAD -- EMB

LEGAZPI CITY — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) in Bicol has maintained that three rivers in the region reported earlier as biologically dead are actually not dead at all, according to the agency’s regional official.

Engr. Gilbert Gonzales, DENR-EMB Bicol regional director, recalled that Anayan (Camarines Sur), Malaguit (Camarines Norte) and Panique (Masbate) rivers were earlier reported as biologically dead by media outlets here that prompted uncalled alarm among the residents directly gleaning resources from the rivers.

Gonzales averred the bureau has been conducting surveillance, sampling and monitoring of the rivers to verify their status and environmental quality, consequently found out that these rivers remain in fact being utilized by communities along them.

Paracale and Malaguit rivers are classified as Class C waters while Anayan river is listed in Class D waters as stated in the 2009 annual assessment report pursuant to DAO 34 series of 1990.

“This means that these Class C inland waters could be utilized as fishery water for the propagation and growth of fish and other aquatic resources, recreational water (boating etc.) and industrial water supply for manufacturing processes after treatment, meanwhile Class D waters could be utilized for irrigation, agriculture, livestock watering and industrial water supply for cooling, etc.”, Gonzales explained.

Though the average dissolve oxygen (DO) level for Anayan River was 6.3 mg/L, Malaguit River – 7.4 mg/L and Panique River – 7.4 mg/L concentration level respectively, however, pH (basicity and acidity of water), temperature (T) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) were also considered in the classification and assessment. Results concluded that it passed minimum requirement.

The term biologically dead which likely mean lifeless (anaerobic environment) or zero dissolved oxygen is not applicable in these rivers since as per assessment by the EMB, there are various aquatic livelihood undertakings such as fish cages, aquaculture and crab fattening that are predominant in the area.

Moreover, the bureau assured the public that a more intensive and pro-active program of action is underway to maintain and hopefully elevate these rivers’ environmental quality. (EMB V/PIA)

ADB INTRODUCES BIO-ENGINEERING TECHNIQUE
TO SORSOGON ARCP2 BENEFICIARIES

SORSOGON CITY — Asian Development Bank (ADB) team member Charles David Salter introduces to the Castilla town's Agrarian Reform Communities Project 2 (ARCP2) beneficiaries, the so-called "bio-engineering" strategy in preserving their upcoming constructed farm-to-market roads.
Salter along with two other ADB representatives and two head officers from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) national and regional office visited recently the municipality of Castilla, Sorsogon, for its Review of Castilla ARCP2.
In a gathering, Salter introduces an approach on how to preserve a road by protecting the soil through "bio-engineering". Bio-engineering is the method used to prevent soil erosion such as planting grass, shrubs, and trees to the road's shoulder.
Agriculture and Enterprise Development Specialist David T. Santos said that with the presentation of Salter, both the community and the Local Government Unit (LGU) appreciated the idea of bio-engineering. "We, in DAR Sorsogon, likewise, support the strategy being introduced," Santos added.
Santos further proposed the use of geo-textiles being produced in Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) here to be utilized for bio-engineering rather than just exporting them.
Likewise, Santos suggested the planting of Vetiver on the road's shoulder like in other countries rather than grasses of little usage.
Vetiver is a tropical grass with heavy, fibrous roots native to India and is used as an excellent erosion control plant especially in countries with warmer climates.
However, Salter suggested instead, the use of plants native in the area to cut expenses on the part of LGUs.
The idea of introducing the bio-engineering emerged during the community's Focus Group Discussion (FGD) where community proposed provisions of four projects such as Concrete Farm-to-Market Road, Irrigation Facilities, Potable Water Supply and Alternative Livelihood that are beneficial to the economic development of Mayon ARC and San Rafael ARC both in Castilla town.
Castilla is among the six fortunate municipalities in the province benefiting from the ARCP2. In the Philippines, ARCP 2 has only six recipient-regions which include Bicol.

In related development, following the ADB review of Castilla town's ARCP2 which highlighted the ADB's observation on how Local Government Units (LGUs) and the community perform an FGD, a site validation of the proposed San Isidro ? Nalup-an farm-to-market road and consultation meeting with non-government units were conducted.

"We are looking for partnership in development as far as our agrarian reform beneficiaries are concerned," said Roseller R. Olayres, Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer II.

Olayres said that the active representation from NGOs and other private sectors such as LIKAS, Aquinas University Foundation, Sorsogon Provincial Coop Bank, Sorsogon Integrated Development Cooperative, People's Alternative Livelihood Foundation of Sorsogon, Inc. and other stakeholders undoubtedly promises successful partnerships in the implementation of the 5-yr ARCP2 in the province.
(BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon/DFR Mallanta, DAR Sorsogon)

MSFPC, CENRO INTENSIFY CAMPAIGN ON ILLEGAL LOGGING,
MEASURES ON FOREST PROTECTION

DAET, Camarines Norte — Some 15,313.07 board feet of illegal logs were confiscated by the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) covering the period January to June this year.

In a meeting of the Multi-Sectoral Forest Protection Committee (MSFPC) yesterday at the PIA provincial Office, Forester II Alejandro Maranan, Forest Protection and Law Enforcemnt/Utilization chief, said that included in the confiscated logs were lumbers, fire woods, white and red lauans and finished products like cabinets and tables.

Maranan further said that the same office apprehended illegal logs thru the help of the members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in various checkpoints.

He added that they had filed four cases, of these 2 cases in the Provincial Prosecution Office (PPO) and 2 cases in the Regional Trial Court (RTC).

MSFPC, chaired by Rosalita Manlangit, provincial head of the PIA here, also discussed the initial plans for this year including the continuation of information dissemination campaign (IEC) , Lakbay Tubig and monitoring of the Eco-lege program where some students planted trees for them to cut and sell these for their college tuition fees. (RBManlangit, PIA CamNorte)

EAGLE QUIZ’s 20TH YEAR CONTINUE TO CHARM STUDES

LEGAZPI CITY— The premier environmental quiz challenge, the Eagle Quiz, in the country continues to charm elementary and high school students evident of the significant increase in the number of participants since the project’s inception in 1990.

Now on its 20th year, the Eagle Quiz, will be spearheaded anew by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) regional office here for the provincial and regional finals this June in line with the Environment Month celebration, DENR-EMB Regional Director Gilbert Gonzales said.

“The EQC continues to draw support from participants and cooperators region wide, as only environmental quiz challenge in the country every year it draws an increasing number of contestants from the six provinces,” Gonzales revealed.

DENR Bicol is optimistic of a continuing success in the coming years through the support and cooperation of all the field offices, the major sponsors, the Energy Development Corporation, UNOCAL Philippines, Inc. (formerly known as Philippine Geothermal Inc.) co-sponsored by the Pollution Control Association of the Philippines-Bicol chapter (PCAPI-V), all the participating schools and students, and parents.

The provincial eliminations of the EQC was held June 22, 2010, while the regional finals or the “Battle of the Eagles” that will be heralding new breed of champions as 12 contenders from the elementary and secondary levels outwit each other at the Bicol University, Legazpi City on June 29, 2010. (EMB V/PIA)

SUSPECTED NPA REBELS HURT MILITIAMAN IN MASBATE

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur — An off-duty CAFGU personnel was seriously hurt in a drive-by shooting perpetrated by suspected NPA rebels in Masbate Province last Monday, June 21, 2010.

Lt. Col. Anthony Purugganan, 9th Infantry Battalion commander, has identified the casualty as Ronaldo Mesa, member of the 1st Masbate CAFGU Active Auxiliary based in Puro village in Aroroy town.

Purugganan said that Mesa was standing in front of his residence in Cabangalan village, Aroroy when he was shot by three suspected NPA rebels, hitting him three times in his body. The perpetrators immediately fled towards the direction of Malubi village following the incident.

“Mesa is on vacation when he was shot by the NPA terrorists. This is a clear indication that they continue to target unarmed soldiers and CAFGU personnel who are spending their vacation with their families,” said Purugganan.

Mesa was immediately brought to a hospital in Masbate City for treatment. He is declared to be ‘in good condition’ by attending physicians.

Major Harold Cabunoc, 9ID spokesman, said that seven CAFGU personnel had been killed by NPA rebels since January 2010.

Two soldiers were also among the victims of extra-judicial killings, the latest of whom was Private First Class Francisco Nodado gunned down in Camarines Sur on June 11, 2010.

Cabunoc added that civilians were not also spared in the killings perpetrated by the CPP-NPA. On May 24, 2010, Imelda Madrilejos, the sister of Private First Class Gene Velasco was also shot and killed by NPA rebels in Aroroy, Masbate.

“NPA rebels are becoming very desperate because of the series of tactical losses they suffered from the government forces. They are now intensifying their efforts to kill unarmed military personnel by murdering them while on vacation. We have lodged a complaint before the Commission of Human Rights regarding these violations which they arrogantly owned-up,” said Cabunoc.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, commander of the 9th Infantry Division, has directed all units under his command to be vigilant against the NPA’s attacks on unarmed soldiers and other ‘soft targets’ such as telecom facilities. (HMCabunoc, DPAO 9ID PA/PIA)

MAYON REMAINS UNSAFE FOR CLIMBERS
AS ALERT LEVEL 1 STILL HOISTED

LEGAZPI CITY — Volcanologists here warned anew local and foreign tourists from climbing the slopes of Mayon Volcano due to the resurging rock fall events recorded in the past days as the crater also glowed intensely for several days now.

Alex Baloloy, resident volcanologist here of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), said that aside from the intense crate glow, the institute’s instruments detected tremors of at least up to five times a day on the volcano’s edifice due to molten rocks that cascaded down the volcano’s slopes, a dangerous condition for climbers who are confirmed to be trekking the volcano's upper slopes.

Phivolcs also advised various disaster councils not to allow their residents and tourists to trek the slopes of the volcano since sudden rock falls may occur endangering their lives.

"We would like to reiterate our warning to those climbers as well as tourist guides not to get near the upper slopes because falling rocks could just hit them at great force and velocity unexpectedly," Baloloy said.

Mayon's foothill residents confirmed that hundreds of local and foreign tourists are trekking the volcano after authorities removed the earlier set up checkpoints and lowered the cone-shaped mountain's five-scale alert level to the lowest 1.

Phivolcs reiterated the warning at least five months after Mayon's alert level was lowered to 1 in January, preceded by a month-long restiveness in December that forced over 10,000 families to take refuge into safer grounds.

Baloloy said the safest and nearest viewing sites of Mayon's glowing crater is at the Mayon Resthouse in Barangay Buang, Tabaco City.

Tourists continue to have a close watch of the old lava deposit in Barangay Mabinit in Legazpi City, and the new lava deposit in Barangay Padang in Legazpi CIty and Barangay Lidong in Sto. Domingo.

Phivolcs further recommended that the public should not enter the six-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone and the seven-km Extended Danger Zone on the southeast of the volcano due to continuing threat from sudden explosions, rock falls from the upper slopes and pyroclastic flows due to sudden collapse of unstable lava deposits.

Active river channels and those perennially identified as lahar prone in the southern sector should also be avoided, especially during bad weather conditions or when there is heavy and prolonged rainfall. (MALoterte, PIA V)

PGMA’s farewell message

Below is the full text of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s speech aired over television and radio stations tonight:

My fellow Filipinos,

We come together tonight as we approach a hallmark of democracy for our great nation – the smooth transition of power to a new leader.

We have just come through a historic election. It was open and it was modern.

As a result, we were able to declare winners in hours and days rather than weeks and months. The face of politics in our nation has changed forever.

Tonight, I once again congratulate president-elect Aquino and vice president-elect Binay.

Nine years ago, I came to the presidency at a time of great turmoil in our nation. I accepted the challenge of the office when it was thrust upon me.

At that time, our country was reeling from political intrigue and a distressed economy.

We set to work to reform our economy and invest in our people. Along the way, we had to make unpopular choices such as raising taxes but we did so against the odds for a very simple reason: we had to have new money for more and better healthcare, education, and job creation.

We needed new and better roads, bridges, ports and a technology backbone to attract new businesses and investors to create new jobs.

Through hard work, determination and a clear plan of action, we helped achieve many of these objectives.

As a result, we have had 37 quarters of uninterrupted economic growth even against the headwinds of a major global recession.

Look around you in our cities as you drive by the office towers that have changed the skyline.

Look around you in our provinces as you drive along the roads, bridges and Ro-Ro ports where we have made massive investments.

This is the face of change.

Eighty-five percent of our people now have access to Philhealth insurance, over a hundred thousand classrooms have been built and nine-million jobs have been created.

We developed the call-center industry almost from scratch. Today there are 500,000 call-center and BPO jobs when only 5,000 existed when I took office.

Yet, these accomplishments are merely part of the continuum of history.

The gains I made were built on the efforts of previous leaders. Each successive government must build on the successes and progress of the previous one.

Advance the programs that work and leave behind those that don’t.

I feel confident that we are leaving this nation much stronger than I came to office but I leave that for history to judge.

Tonight, I call on everyone to unite behind our new leaders. I am optimistic and I am hopeful about our future yet until every Filipino child is born to a family free of poverty, we cannot rest.

We must always set our sights on the future and keep an eye on improving our economy, investing in people and building bridges, not just bridges of iron and steel but bridges between people, generations and governments.

The bridges we must build to the future rest on the hard work, grace and compassion of our people.

The people of our nation are our greatest asset.

You are the backbone that drives our nation forward everyday.

From the fisherman to the farmer, to the taxi driver and the teacher, we are a nation of industrious, hardworking people.

I thank each and everyone for your contribution to help the Philippines achieve our potential.

This time next week I will be moving into new phase of life leading a quieter public role.

We’re all on a journey together. As our nation moves forward let us all join hands in unity and walk confidently towards a better tomorrow.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for giving me the honor and privilege of serving you.

Malaking karangalan ang makapag-lingkod sa sambayanan bilang Pangulo.

Sa inyong lahat na napag-silbihan ko sa mahirap ngunit makasaysayang landas, maraming maraming salamat. (PIA V Release)

Seaports, airports, highways were drivers of growth -- DOTC execs say

MANILA — The Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH) and airport projects under the “super regions” strategy of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo have been cited by officials as major contributory factors to the development of the country’s transport and tourism industries and inter-regional trade.

At the last Malacanang news briefing of Executive Secretary and former Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Leandro Mendoza, he reported that the 919 kilometers of nautical highway established in the western, central and eastern seaboard since 2001 have impacted positively to the country in terms of movements of people, tourists and commodities.

SRNH was opened to the public in 2003, connecting the provinces and cities of Oriental Mindoro, Tagaytay City (Cavite), Marinduque, Romblon, and Batangas City in Luzon; Aklan, Antique, Iloilo, Capiz, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Cebu, Guimaras, and Siquijor, in the Visayas; and Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, and Dapitan City in Mindanao.

Mendoza’s successor at DOTC, Secretary Anneli Lontok, added during the briefing that the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has invested at least P16 billion to complete port projects nationwide, which are presently being serviced in 12 routes by 25 roll-on roll-off (RORO) ferry operators.

With the completion of these port projects, Lontok said passenger traffic reached three million passengers while cargo traffic increased by 65 percent in the western nautical highway alone.

Lontok said the port and road network projects in the nautical highway spread economic growth and increased regional trade among the islands, boosted tourism, increased agricultural productivity, and enhanced logistics operations and strategies of the business sector.

“The nautical highways has impacted positively on the socio-economic development of the country and has achieved its objectives of reducing transport cost by 10 to 60 percent while offering several options for our farmers and agri-businessmen,” Lontok said.

With the government investment in ports and maritime safety, Lontok said the World Bank study showed the country’s logistics performance index increased from 2.69 in 2007 to 3.3 in early 2010.

Another major accomplishment of the Arroyo administration, Lontok said, was boosting the tourism industry through the upgrading and establishment of new tourism airports.

Lontok said these include the completion of the Davao International Airport, Bacolod-Silay International Airport and Iloilo International Airport; and the upgrading of other airports in tourism areas such as the Kalibo airport in Aklan; and Puerto Princesa City Airport and Busuanga Airport both in Palawan.

Lontok reported that yearly average growth rate in domestic air passenger traffic was recorded at 9.8 percent while international arrivals stood at 7.7 percent.

“Overall, domestic traffic almost doubled while international passenger traffic grew by 65 percent since 2001,” Lontok said.

Aside from growth in investments, Lontok said dramatic increase in passenger traffic were recorded in Busuanga, 500 percent; Ozamis City, 4,000 percent; Butuan, 300 percent; and Kalibo 400 percent.

To date, Lontok said the Philippines has also signed several air services agreement with other countries, contributing to the increase in international traffic.

Lontok said the country has signed the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) memorandum of understanding on air linkages, and the ASEAN multilateral agreement on air services and full liberalization of air freight services.

Lontok added major road networks completed include the closing of the loop from LRT-1 to MRT-3, which made travel around Metro Manila much easier.

Lontok said the Northrail linkage project which became operational last week will open rail network all the way to Bicol with the inauguration of the 50-meter San Cristobal bridge which was destroyed by Typhoons “Milenyo” and “Reming” in 2006.

“On June 25, we will have the first rail travel from Manila to Bicol,” Lontok announced.

Lontok said enhanced connectivity between growth centers came with the establishment of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX); completion of the Alabang-Calamba Road; the finishing touches on the Calamba-Sto. Tomas, Batangas expressway route which will connect to the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) Tollway leading to the Batangas International Port.

Other important ongoing projects, Lontok said, are the South Metro Manila Skyway Stage 2 and the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway. (PIA V Release)

PGMA opens, declares renovated MET as National Cultural Treasure

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo officially opened today (June 23) the newly-renovated Manila Metropolitan Theater, also popularly known as MET and one of Manila’s important cultural and architectural landmarks.

The Chief Executive led the unveiling of a marker from the National Museum, declaring MET as a National Cultural Treasure.

The President prompted the renovation of MET when she directed the National Commission on Culture and Arts (NCCA) to release P50 million in 2004 and authorized the release of another P50 million in 2009 to revive the glory of MET that promotes Filipino art forms and culture.

She was welcomed by Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Presidential Assistant on Culture Cecille Guidote-Alvarez, NCCA Chairman Vilma Labrador, Manila Historical and Heritage Commission Vice-Chairperson Gemma Cruz-Araneta and MET Council co-chair German Moreno

Also greeting the President were various cultural performances by the Cardona Musical Ensemble, St. Dominic Salvio College Dancers, PUP Banda Kawayan, DepEd Drum and Lyre and the beneficiaries of the Kalahi Cultural Caregiving program, a poverty alleviation project of the government which offers arts workshops to marginalized groups and the differently-abled.

In his brief speech, Mayor Lim thanked the President for the release of P100-million for MET’s renovation.

For her part, Alvarez lauded the President for the “special concern” she had shown to revive the MET.

“This has happened because of the special concern of the President that a National Treasure like the MET should not remain sleeping, but should be opened as a haven for the diversity of cultures of our country and the artistic genius of our people to be reflected,” she said.

“MET was an empty shell. And now, it is slowly being revived,” she added.

After the unveiling, the President made a tour and inspection of the renovated MET. Inside the theater, the President and the guests were given a taste of a Las Vegas-entertainment with a brief performance of dancers dressed in elaborate costumes, singing and performing aerobatic dance.

MET, also called the “grand dame” of theaters, is owned by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) with the City of Manila as the usufructuary and the NCCA as the general cultural oversight.

According to historical accounts, the theater was destroyed during the Battle of Manila in February 1945. Fortunately the building retained most of its structural integrity.

In the following decades, it was meticulously restored and it was declared as a National Landmark by the National Historical Institute upon its complete restoration in 1978.

In 1996, MET was closed down due to foreclosure.

The MET is an art deco building constructed in 1931 by Juan M. Arellano. Arcadio Arellano also an architect and brother of Juan complemented the work with adapted Philippine stylized ornamentation.

The front façade is of colored glass, colored tiles similar to transitional Malay cloth. Its grand foyer with elegant marble finish, graced two mural paintings done by Fernando Amorsolo and two figures of Francisco Riccardo Monti sculpture pieces. The highly stylized relief carvings of Philippine plants by the artist Isabelo Tampingco decorate the lobby walls and interior surfaces of the building. (PIA V Release)

PGMA lauds success of Bangit’s short stint in AFP

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo lauded the achievements of Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit, whose early retirement took effect Tuesday (June 22), 13 months ahead of his mandatory retirement.

The outgoing Chief Executive said though Gen. Bangit’s retirement came 13 months ahead of his 56th birthday which is on July 31, 2011, “he chose the early exit as the more honorable option for the sake of the country and for the harmony and continued professionalism” of the uniformed service.

At the testimonial parade and review in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City in honor of Bangit and the assumption of Lt. Gen. Nestor Ochoa as Acting Chief of Staff, the President also lauded the whole military for its invaluable contribution to the country’s continued peace and security and for the successful holding of the first-ever automated elections in the country.”

“We close another chapter of our storied nine years of service to the country which had been marked by heroism of our men and women in the armed forces, and Gen. Bangit was one of them,” the President said.

President Arroyo said that even when she was vice president, “I saw Gen. Bangit’s dedication and readiness in ensuring the fight against terrorism, which has been recognized by the Legion of Honor award by the President of the United States.”

“And during typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, we saw how the military under Gen. Bangit’s direct supervision, got deeply involved in the relief, rescue and rehabilitation efforts for our typhoon victims,” the President said.

The President said Bangit enhanced the successes of his predecessors especially in professionalizing the service.

The President also credited Bangit for the AFP’s role in the May 2010 elections saying “he reached out to all sectors to ensure the successful conduct of honest, orderly, peaceful and the most credible automated elections.”

She added that even the previously known election hotspots were no longer placed under Comelec’s control in the last elections because the Armed Forces made extra effort in ensuring the dismantling of private armed groups.

She thanked Gen. Bangit for all the sacrifices he made to push the agenda of a professional military service and for touching the lives of so many soldiers and civilians.

The President then cited some of the achievements of her administration in creating 9 million jobs, many of them in the Armed Forces of the Philippines for new soldiers; in the construction of 100,000 new classrooms many of them helped by the Armed Forces and the roads, rail and nautical highway infrastructures, including ports and seaports, also with the involvement of AFP engineers.

The President then asked the newly-installed Ochoa to continue what Gen. Bangit had done and to ensure professionalism in the uniformed service. (PIA V Release)

General Bangit: No regrets, no tears

MANILA — Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit bade farewell Tuesday (June 22) to the military saying said he had “no regrets” leaving the uniformed service earlier than expected.

“Nor regrets, no tears because for so many years I had looked forward to this day when I would leave,” he said in a speech during the military exit honors for him and the installation ceremony for his successor Lt. Gen. Nestor Ochoa.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who picked Bangit last March 8 to head the AFP was the guest during the change-of-command ceremony and retirement honors.

Bangit said he was leaving behind a professional AFP. “You stand strong that way because you are professional,” Bangit stressed to the troops.

Others who attended the Camp Aguinaldo rites were Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile; Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales; Military Bishop Leopoldo Tumulak; commanders of the major AFP services and unified commands and foreign armed forces attaches

At a light moment in his farewell speech, Bangit gave the following reminders to his successor, Gen. Ochoa: 1] Don’t expect to gain anything without hard work; 2] stay professional no matter what your next leader tells you and 3] nourish to the fullest every friendship you develop in the armed forces even as you try to obey what your commander tells you.

Finally, he said, when you leave the service you will find out that more than your position, the friendships are more important in your life.

“Don’t get tired of standing up for what is good. Protect the Armed Forces Philippines and fight as one Armed Forces. We are unbeatable when we are one,” Bangit said. (PIA V Release)

PGMA presented with 2 legacy books

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo personally received the first two copies of books chronicling the achievements of her administration from 2001 to 2010, during a simple book-launching ceremony held Tuesday (June 22) in Malacañang.

Deemed a fitting and timely tribute to the Chief Executive’s achievements in her nine years as President, the books “Beating the Odds” and “Beat the Odds: Another Stone for the Edifice” were launched by their respective editors through the ceremonial presentation to the President.

The first book was "Beating the Odds," co-authored by former Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Chief Renato Velasco and Presidential Spokesperson Ricardo Saludo, which recounts major issues and challenges the President faced early in her administration.

It is an analytical close-up of policy-making, decision-making and action-taking by a Philippine President under the most challenging circumstances, the authors said.

The book portrays President Arroyo’s leadership around six issues that stalked the Philippines at the turn of the century – terrorism, the Mindanao peace process, the drug threat, the global emergence of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), an attempted coup d’etat against the government and a hounding budget deficit.

According to Presidential Management Staff Undersecretary Andy Cui who also served as the program’s master of ceremonies “the book is heavy with statecraft and highlights of presidential decision-making.”

The second book, “Beat the Odds: Another Stone for the Edifice” which was published by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), was edited by Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Gary Olivar and University of the Philippines Professor Gonzalo Jurado.

It contains “a collection of essays on the key achievements of my administration,” the President wrote in her foreword for the book.

“The strategy at the center of my administration’s overall economic and social plan was encapsulated by the program I called “Beat the Odds”, a title that enumerates many of the major themes we pursued in key areas of fiscal policy, educated reform, infrastructure, employment creation, political governance and social and cultural modernization,” the President said.

Beat the Odds stand for:

B – Budget Reform;
E – Ensuring education for everyone of school age, establishing conditions conducive to learning, providing necessary facilities and equipment;
A – Automating elections for clean, honest, accurate exercise of suffrage;

T – Transportation and digital infrastructure development;
T – Terminating hostilities with armed rebel groups;
H – Healing the wounds of EDSA;
E – Electricity and water provision to every barangay in the archipelago;
O – Opening opportunities for employment to some six to 10 milion members of the workforce;
D – Decongesting Metro Manila, including decentralizing governance, in order to spread the positive effects of government to the various regions; and
DS – Developing Subic-Clark corridor into the most competitive international service and logistics center in Southeast Asia.

Jurado, a senior faculty member at the UP School of Economics and a former mentor of the President and Olivar, rated the book with a Grade of “1,” the same grade he gave to the President when she was still his student.

He said the book gives concreteness to words already spoken on the President’s achievements and gave the “1” rating particularly on the President’s direct cash assistance program for the poor including the unprecedented budgetary allocations to human and physical infrastructure “which can be seen all over the country.”

Olivar said the book also contains technical notes and vigorous points of view of experts not connected or influenced by the government. (PIA V Release)