Former president and opposition leader Joseph Estrada walks with Sen. Loren Legarda and Makati City Mayor Jomar Binay at the tarmac of Zamboanga International Airport in this undated photo.

Loren backs calls for BFAD strengthening

MANILA, PHILIPPINES (J.P. ESPIRITU/10-08-08) - - "We are what we eat."

That was rather a seemingly forgotten maxim spoken in ancient times by Ayurveda – an ancient Indian Science of Life – to warn people then to be extra cautious in what they ate and drank.

This maxim has valid reason to be uttered once again in these modern times when everybody is threatened by the harmful effects of milk and milk products now found to have been contaminated with dangerous substance called melamine.

"As globalization intensifies, as we engage in trade with other countries more and more, as we subsist in food that undergoes more processes and stages of preparation before we consume them, as knowledge, and researches on health advance, there is all the more need for us to be wary for what we take in. We are what we eat," said Senator Loren Legarda.

Legarda, chair of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs, yesterday made the statement as she filed her co-sponsorship of a senate bill calling for the strengthening of the regulatory capacity of the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) as a result of the serious threat posed by contaminated milk and milk products from China.

Legarda cited a report in which melamine was said to have caused 53,000 infants ill, 12,900 hospitalized, and four infants dead in China as of September 22, 2008. A number of survivors were diagnosed with acute kidney failure.

Melamine is used to make fertilizers and is unethically added to food products in order to increase protein content that came out of this unfortunate event.

While awaiting committee report, Legarda said the bill seeks to broaden the scope of the BFAD regulatory power not only on food and drugs, but also on cosmetics, while renaming BFAD into Foods, Drugs, Cosmetics and devices Administration (FDCDA).

According to Legarda principal author of Senate Bill 2645, adequate testing laboratories and field offices will be established and their human resource complement will be upgraded, to keep pace with the challenges of times.

"I have envisioned a more vigilant regulatory body that will support and improve the protection and promotion of the right to health of the Filipino people," Legarda said, adding that the FDCDA will undertake appropriate health manpower development and research that are responsive to the country's health needs and problems.

She explained that the regulatory capacity of the now-existing BFAD will be enhanced and strengthened to ensure a more effective inspection, licensing, and monitoring of food and drugs.

The leaps and bounds of development in food and health since the founding of the Bureau of Food and Drugs as well as the unprecedented integration of the world economy through increased flow of trade in recent years call for a food and drug regulatory system that has the attributes of the FDCDA which this bill seeks to create, she said.

"Regulation will not stop with food and drugs. Also to be regulated are labels and devices, medical, radiation, and all the other health-related devices," she said.

Part of strengthening, Legarda added, is imposing penalties, actions and remedies for violations of rules and regulations to make sure that adulterated, counterfeited, misbranded, or unregistered products, in short, dangerous products are off our supermarket and pharmacy shelves.

"Whether intentional or due to negligence, endangering the health of the citizenry is a serious matter such that the State needs to interfere with its police powers. Law violators will be meted with criminal and administrative actions," she said.

The FDCDA will receive complaints on products and will order the ban and the recall of such products, after reasonable investigation on the merits of the complaints. It will strengthen the post-market surveillance system, meaning FDCDA will continue monitoring and regulating food and health products even after its production or even when the end products are already on the shelves in stores and markets.

The Philippines imports most of its needs for dairy products from New Zealand and Australia.

"We could have been up in the neck in detecting these brands and recalling them from the markets."

"Even Japan and Taiwan, which have a well-regulated food and drug markets, have reported incidents of melamine contamination."

Under the FDCDA, centers will be created for every major product category. The bill, which complements the Cheaper Medicines Law, will also seek to create the Center for Food Regulation and Research to regulate the importation and sale of milk products. -30-

I Am A Victim Of Local Racism

Greetings. I'm a job seeker from Zamboanga City. I am a graduate of Western Mindanao State University where I finished my Bachelor of Laws.

I applied in ESS Manufacturing Company, Inc. (EMCI) which holds its offices at the 41st, 42nd and 23rd floor of PBCOM Tower, Ayala Avenue, Makati, for the position of Legal researcher/legal indexer

They called me to take their written exam. The next day they called me and they told me that I passed the written exam. Furthermore I have to pass their assessment (I don't have any idea on what's their procedure on this). Later they call me and told me that I passed and I was invited for an interview.

On the day of the interview, I was asked by this interviewer: Where did I take my Bachelor of Laws? I told her: from Western Mindanao State University. She replied: Pardon again. I repeated my answer. Then she blurted: Oh Mindanaooo.. As if there's an expression of awe and surprise. I felt a bit insulted because I sense a negative connotation from the tone of her voice.

And they say that they would call within this week if ever they will decide to hire me.

I know that it is management prerogative to select and hire whom they want to be employed in the company. But as an applicant, we also have a right to be respected. Of our being human, because we have feelings, too. Emotions. We get hurt. We're not automatons or machines.

Also, as emphasis we have the right to be respected of our roots.

I wrote this letter as a preemptive strike if ever I will not be hired because of the word MINDANAO in my resume.

And as always, I will not be ashamed to be called a MINDANAOAN! I am a MINDANAOAN! and I will always be a MINDANAOAN!

People might say that I am overreacting. No, I'm just offended by the way that certain intelligent interviewer uttered the word MINDANAO. As if there's an air of derision and disgust. As if such word MINDANAO will put my application into damnation. Into one of their shredding machines or trash cans.

If they are smart as they think they are, they should have noticed the word MINDANAO in my resume before I was called to take their written exam. Also, why did I pass their assessment? I don't have any clue to how they do it. And later they would dump my application because of the word MINDANAO. They should have had saved me from the expense of going back and forth from my residence in Ermita, Manila to their place. I should not be experiencing asthmatic attacks right now brought by the stress of traveling and city pollution.

This goes to show that these Corporate Indios don't really know how to read. I used the word Indios on these Pathetics because I have Spanish/Mexican blood running in my veins. And I speak a Creole Spanish language called Chavacano. Now, that's throwing their trying hard Racist attitude back at them.

Also, I wrote this letter to warn other Mindanaoans that these trying hard Racist exist. And we as MINDANAOANS should stand up and fight for what we believe is right.

After passing all the requirement, tests, exams,assessments,etc. then Dumping your application in the end because you're a MINDANAOAN is tantamount to Economic Abuse, as defined by law and construed in a liberal and broader context.

This local racism phenomenon must be stopped!

Thank you very much

God bless us all!


Fernan Soria


P.S. This letter is a rough draft and I didn't do some editing or proofreading. I have done this on the spot to capture the essence, emotion and energy of my sentiment as a MINDANAOAN. Please publish this for everyone to know.

Goji

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HEALTH AND PEACE. Dr. Remus Dayrit of Basilan General Hospital checks on one of the nearly 1000 beneficiaries served during the Health, Education and Livelihood for Progress (HELP) Humanitarian Caravan held recently in Basilan. Coordinated by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), the HELP Caravan is a convergence of various government agencies and non-government organizations geared at providing immediate assistance and livelihood support to families affected by armed conflicts, particularly Basilan and Sulu. OPAPP

"HELP" paves the way for peace

BASILAN PROVINCE (OPAPP/ JAN. 31, 2008)--- Over a thousand families in Basilan have recently received various forms of assistance from the combined efforts of government and non-government organizations through the Health, Education, Livelihood for Progress (H.E.L.P.) Humanitarian Caravan.

Following the successful launch of similar undertaking in Sulu days earlier, the inter-agency caravan, armed with medicines, books, scholarship grants, and livelihood packages, including feeding programs for the children, trooped to the towns of Tipo-Tipo and Sumisip to mount humanitarian offensives.

"We thank the national government and partner organizations for the conduct of this humanitarian undertaking," says Basilan Governor Jum Akbar. "This is something that our people in Basilan have longed for and something that we hope can help make way for peace."

Coordinated by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), the H.E.L.P Humanitarian Caravan is a joint initiative of government and non-government organizations to respond to the immediate needs of affected communities through the simultaneous and convergent delivery of social and economic services, targeting the Provinces of Sulu and Basilan.

During the Basilan caravan, a total of 881 patients were provided with free medical and dental services, including medicines by a team of doctors and health workers from the Department of Health (DOH).

Meanwhile, the livelihood cluster of the caravan awarded thirty (30) PGMA Training for Work Scholarships under the Technical Skills Development Authority (TESDA), dispersed twenty-four (24) carabaos for farming and distributed farm seedlings from the Department of Agriculture (DA), and turned-over one million peso fund support for the One Town One Product (OTOP) project of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI - ARMM).

In addition, the education cluster also provided 6,300 textbooks for pre-school and elementary levels, 1,250 kilos of rice for elementary pupils under the Food for School project of the Department of Education (DepEd) and distributed hundreds of used clothing for the children.

In an effort to strengthen educational and teaching standards in the area, the DepEd in partnership with the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC), offered a review program to public school teachers who failed in the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET). With this, DepEd committed to temporarily hire these teachers for a maximum of three (3) years until they pass the LET.

Further, DepEd and the Department of Energy (DOE) will also install a Solar Powered Science Laboratory for High School in Basilan, along with the allocation of P12 million to fund the construction of school buildings to be built in partnership with the AFP Engineering Brigade.

According to Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza, the convergence effort will be a continuing activity to be carried out every quarter in Basilan and Sulu, covering the areas perennially affected by conflict. OPAPP

Youth group warns Arroyo of reviving Cyber Education Program

Kabataan Partylist warns President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo not to revive the anomalous and overpriced Cyber Education Program in tomorrow's Education Summit at the Manila Hotel.

Kabataan Partylist president Raymond Palatino is worried that Arroyo, who will be the
keynote speaker in the summit, may use the ocassion to resurrect the controversial education project.

The Education Summit will be convened to tackle solutions to the crisis of education. But Kabataan Partylist believes the summit will be a convenient venue for Arroyo to force the implementation of education programs which will exacerbate the problem of Philippine education.

Palatino expects Arroyo to defend the cyber education program, the lifting of tuition cap, use of English language as medium of instruction, reduction of subsidy for public universities, and deployment of soldiers in campuses.

Palatino advised the organizers that if they really want to improve education, they must make first make Arroyo accountable for her education policies.

"It is true that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inherited a flawed education system. But Arroyo is also responsible for aggravating the crisis of education. A relevant, robust and efficient education system is not one of Arroyo's legacies in the past seven years.

Arroyo's education program has further diminished the capability of schools and decreased the opportunities for learning in the country," Palatino explained.

Palatino dismissed the summit as a futile endeavor since the proposed reforms articulated by the government do not address the roots of the crisis. Palatino said the summit will feature palliative measures which are deemed useless and ineffective to raise the standards of Philippine education.

The Kabataan Partylist, together with other stakeholders of Philippine, has drafted an 8-point education reform agenda which seeks to overhaul the education policies of Arroyo.

The agenda highlights the crucial role of the government in reversing the decline of Philippine education.

The group is proposing the following alternative solutions to the ills of education instead of the bankrupt, self-serving, anti-student, anti-people education agenda of Arroyo:

1. Increase the budget of education. National spending on education should be equivalent to 6 percent of the Gross Domestic Product. The education sector should receive at least 20 percent of the national budget.

The government has enough resources to allocate higher funding for education.
Lawmakers can give up a portion of their pork barrel in favor of education investments. Payment for anomalous debt contracts should be cancelled outright. A significant fraction of debt servicing and intelligence funds of Malacanang should be realigned to education services.

2. Use Filipino as medium of instruction. Language is an important factor in the cognitive development of children. Students learn better and faster if the national language is used in schools. Arroyo's language policy, aside from reinforcing the colonial character of Philippine education, restricts the learning ability of students.

Policymakers need to understand the pedagogic value of using the Filipino language in schools.

3. Improve teachers' welfare. Teachers are the most important human resource in Philippine education. Yet they continue to suffer from work overload while receiving low wages.

Congress should pass the bill that would raise the salaries of public school teachers and other government employees by P3,000.

4. Moratorium on tuition and other fee increases. Education officials are not seriously performing their duty to regulate school fees. At a time when prices of commodities are rising, and when household incomes continue to fall, a moratorium on tuition increases in both private and public schools can bring immediate relief to poor families.

Congress can pass a law that will clarify and strengthen the mandate of the government to regulate school fees.

5. Develop a nationalist and relevant curriculum. School courses or subjects should prioritize the country's needs over the manpower requirements of other countries and multinational corporations.

Vocational/Technical education should match the actual needs of the local economy.

Science education should be pursued to promote national industrialization and develop a productive agricultural system.

Medical and nursing education should be reformed to meet community health needs.

School courses should inculcate patriotism and inspire students to serve the people.

6. Invest in science, research and technology development. National spending on research and development should be equivalent to 1 percent of the GDP. Government should grant generous incentives to scientists, promote R&D in schools and use science and technology to solve hunger and poverty in the country. R&D should also be directed towards the protection of natural resources against exploitation by big companies.

7. Promote transparency in education programs. There are various initiatives to improve Philippine education.

However, many of these programs are tainted with corruption. Taxpayers' money is wasted when corrupt bureaucrats take the lead in sponsoring programs with minimal or even dubious benefit to the public. The Cyber Education Program is an example of an overpriced, redundant and scandal-ridden project.

There should be transparency in implementing education reforms. Stakeholders should be consulted first before approving major education programs.

8. Uphold democratic rights in schools. Teachers and students are among the victims of extrajudicial killings, forced abductions and other forms of political repression. The perpetrators of these crimes should be brought to justice.

Democratic rights should be respected inside campuses. The vilification and psy-war operations conducted by the military and police in schools and universities against progressive student and teacher organizations under the guise of socio-civic activities should be ended immediately. Soldiers and police forces deployed or operating inside schools should be pulled out at once. (Kabataan Partylist)

CELSO: P115-M IRA CUT RISK INFRA PROJECTS

ZAMBOANGA CITY (CITY HALL/PR) - - Citing as “grossly unfair,” this southern port city joined 119 other cities across the country in the protest of the conversion of 16 municipalities despite of not meeting the requirements.

The conversion brought the consequent Internal Revenue Allocation (IRA) reduction effective this year.

Mayor Celso Lobregat said the impending decrease by P115 million in the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) share of the city this year due to the conversion of 16 municipalities into cities, will greatly affect the delivery of services including the implementation of infrastructure projects.

Zamboanga City is the third hardest hit by the IRA reduction at P114.971 million. Supposedly, the city would receive P1.166 billion in IRA share this year but this was reduced to P1.051 billion after the conversion of the 16 municipalities.

As compared to the 2007 figure of P1.015 billion, Zamboanga City’s IRA increase was supposed to be P150.8 million but after the conversion, the increase became P35.87 million or a difference (in increase) of P114.97 million.

“We are not against the conversion of municipalities as long as they meet the requirements”, Mayor Lobregat stressed.

The League of Cities, the alliance of the 120 existing cities in the country, in a paid advertisement in a national daily the other day declared its protest against the conversion of the municipalities sans the requirements as mandated in the Local Government Code of 1991.

According to the League of Cities, the law requires “among others a P100 million locally generated income in order to be a city but the 13th Congress in 2007 enacted cityhood laws which exempted 16 cities from this requirement”.

The paid ad stressed that the 2008 IRA share of the 120 existing cities is reduced from P14.3 percent to only P4.7 percent or a loss of P4 billion. Davao City is number one in the list with a potential loss of P194 million; second is Puerto Princesa with a loss of P144.4 million. Santiago City is 4th with a loss of P81.8 million; 5th is Iligan City with a loss of P68.8 million; 6th is Butuan City with a loss of P68.1 million and 7th is Calbayog with a loss of P65.8 million.

What is worst, the League said, House Bill 24 which seeks to convert all capital towns of province into cities and exempting them from income requirements, has been passed at the committee level in Congress that will in effect result to an additional 27 new cities.

The League calls for a moratorium on the creation of new cities until a more in-depth study “is undertaken for a more rational basis for cityhood”.

Lobregat on Monday will lead city officials and employees in staging the city level protest action. Mayors of the 119 other cities will replicate the move in their areas during the flag raising ceremony.

Black armbands will be worn by all employees and officials and other stakeholders and the Philippine flag will be flown in half mast. The mayor will read a manifesto.

The 16 municipalities converted into cities are Batac (Ilocos Norte); Tayabas (Quezon); Catar (Cebu); Bogo (Cebu); Naga (Cebu); Borongan (Eastern Samar); Baybay (Leyte); Catbalogan (Western Samar); Lamitan (Basilan); El Salvador (Misamis); Mati (Davao); Cabadbaran (Agusan Norte); Boyugon (Agusan Sur); Tandag (Surigao Sur); Gijolngan (Negros Oriental) and Tabuc (Kalinga).

Two municipalities converted into cities followed the requirements, these are Navotas and San Juan, all located in the National Capital Region. (Sheila Covarrubias/PIO Zamboanga City Hall)

H.E.L.P Caravan kicks off in Sulu today

MANILA (OPAPP/JAN. 17, 2008)- A collaborative effort of government agencies and various non-government agencies to address the immediate health, education and livelihood needs of communities affected by conflict through the convergent delivery of social and economic services dubbed as the Health, Education, and Livelihood for Progress (H.E.L.P) Humanitarian Caravan is set to start in Sulu today January 18 and January 23 in Basilan.

Created by virtue of Administrative Order 192, the H.E.L.P Caravan is spearheaded by Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) in partnership with various government and non-government agencies, specifically established to respond on the recent crisis in Basilan and Sulu as well as in other areas in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

According to the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza, H.E.L.P is a mechanism designed to address the needs of communities in crisis due to the prevailing conflict in the area.

“This effort of the government will focus on health, education and livelihood to continuously provide development in the areas greatly affected by conflict,” Dureza said.

The peace adviser further said that the H.E.L.P initiative is also aimed at consulting with the communities on their medium and long term concerns particularly on livelihood and employment aspect as well as provide a humanitarian face to the ongoing conflict in Sulu and Basilan.

Among the areas to be covered by the caravan are the municipalities affected by rounds of hostilities in Basilan and Sulu namely, Tipo-tipo, and Sumisip in Basilan. While in Sulu are, Barangay Tugas, Patikul, and Barangay Pang, Kalingalang Caluang.

In the effort to effectively implement the program for the region, agencies were grouped into four (4) clusters to identify project and services that will be delivered for health, nutrition and sanitation; education; livelihood and employment; and other programs and services.

Heal, nutrition and sanitation will implemented by the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Local Water Works Utilities Administration (LWUA), National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), National Nutrition Council (NNC), Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Armed Forces of the Philippines-Department of National Defense (AFP-DND), ARMM Regional Government (ARMM-RG), and civil society groups.

Handling education sector for H.E.L.P are the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Energy (DOE), Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), ARMM-RG, and private sectors.

Meanwhile, other programs and services of the project will be led by DILG, DPWH, AFP, DND, PNP, OPAPP and civil society groups involved in the said development initiative.

In addition, Secretary Dureza stressed that pursing peace in Mindanao goes hand in hand in implementing full development in the entire island region.

“This convergence effort shows government’s sincere desire of achieving sustainable peace and development in the region particularly in the areas affected by conflict,” Secretary Dureza said. OPAPP