Partylist: Buy local palay first
By Danny O Sagun
Abono President Ponciano Onia told a media forum Wednesday that rice importation only serves the interest of farmers from the rice-exporting countries like Thailand and Vietnam to the disadvantage of local farmers.
The government thru the National Food Authority imports rice to serve as buffer stock during the lean months when prices of commercial rice usually soar up.
Onia, the lone guest at the 31st anniversary of Diwa, Salita at Gawa at the Star Plaza Hotel representing Party chair Rosendo So, urged government to buy rice from the local farmers. “Sana huwag muna silang mag-import, sumugal muna sana sila sa mga Filipino farmers bago mag-import,” he stressed.
Asked if local rice production can meet the country’s total demand, he said that rice production in the country is sufficient. “Kung may kakulangan man maliit lang, yong kulang lang sana ang kanilang punan sa pag-import sa ibang bansa,” he said.
“Kung kailangan talagang mag-import, huwag yong marami,” he also said, noting that up to now NFA bodegas are still full of imported rice. “Sana ubusin muna nila yon, baka maging mabaho pa,” he added.
In an earlier media forum, So sounded a similar call maintaining that local farmers can ably meet the country’s supply of the staple food. The partylist also advocates production of white corn, which it said can be substitute for rice as staple food. “Dyan papasok ang white corn,” Onia said in reaction to an observation that the country might suffer rice shortage if it would only depend on local rice production.
He initially refused to comment when asked why the country continues to import rice and even vegetables. But he later slipped when he said that there was money in importation.
A new partylist, Abono was able to muster two seats in Congress as it garnered most of the votes from Pangasinan, which had some 1.1 million votes cast in the last elections. About half voted for partylists. (PIA Pangasinan)
Lumad Leaders Demand Accountability for GMA’s Crimes Against Indigenous Peoples
In her 2001 SONA speech, GMA said that 100 Certificate of
Ancestral Domain Titles (CADTs) will be distributed every year, but after eight years all she said was “Sa pagpapamahagi ng milyun-milyong ektaryang lupa, 700,000 na katutubo at mahigit isang milyong benepisyaryo ng CARP ay taas-noong may-ari na ng sariling lupa.”
First, she can’t say this smiling and “taas noo” if this is measured against the possible number of indigenous peoples that could have been covered by the implementation of the original 
target of 100 CADTs per year. There are only 107 approved CADTs as of May 31, 2008.
Secondly, the 700,000 beneficiaries is such an incredulously low output for eight years work when weighed against the 11-13 million indigenous peoples population in the Philippines.
Third, indigenous peoples own their lands and these were never, and have never been, for the government to give away.
During the three day State of Indigenous Peoples Address (SIPA2009), the lumad leaders were passionate in their consensus that this should be GMAs last SONA. These are men and 
women who had lived in fear, anxiety and insecurity for the future of their people and territories during the past eight years of the Arroyo presidency. These are individuals who had seen the discrimination against their family members, the displacement of their communities, the destruction of the environment, and the death of their fellow resisters and defenders.
The SONA told of a government that is not of the lumad, told by a president that is not of the lumad.
What they know of the Arroyo government is the neglect in the delivery of basic social 
services, the deceit and force used against them to open up their lands for corporation exploitation; the loss of livelihood and deprivation of economic opportunities, the physical and economic dislocation of their communities, repression and violence against their struggle and resistance, and the corruption and the lies of the president.
We all might still have to endure another year of GMA as president, but we will stand with the indigenous peoples in making sure that she leaves next year, that there won’t be any charter change or martial law, and that GMA finally be held accountable for her crimes against the people.
Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center
Green Advocacy Invites Dialogues with DENR
San Fernando City, Pampanga (29 July) — Not content with the short rally they staged the other day in front of the DPWH Regional Office, green advocates have extended their efforts to save the trees along MacArthur Highway by way of a dialogue with other government agencies including some members of the senate.
And this time, concerned citizens from various parts of City of San Fernando and even priests and nuns from the archdiocese of San Fernando shared their pro-life sentiments to spare the decades-old trees from destruction.
The dialogue between the two contending parties was held a day after the protesters staged a demonstration on July 22 at 7:30am, in front of DPWH Sindalan where the governor spearheaded the demonstration. A’temporary suspension’ of the cutting of trees was announced shortly thereafter.
DENR Regional Executive Director Antonio Principe was unfortunately the only official from his office who was able to shed light on the querries of the advocates. However, he would not elaborate on who was really behind the removal although he admitted that the DENR was given the permit to cut the trees. This fact made the advocates all the more disappointed.
Nuns, residents and other advocates spokeout as several local media men covered the protest action. Also in attendance was Governor Panlilio’s Chief of Staff Amelito Vitug, Rev. Fr. Marius Roque of the Metropolitan Cathedral, broadcast journalist Ces Yumul, City of San Fernando Tourism Officer Ching Pangilinan and Lito Ocampo of FEDHOA. (PIO)
Remonde to demonstrators: Keep rally peaceful and orderly
Secretary Remonde called on the citizenry to listen to the President’s SONA with an “open heart and an open mind.”
“Let us take the SONA with an open heart and an open mind. Pakinggan nating mabuti ang kanyang mensahe. Suportahan natin yung kanyang mabubuting adhikain at i-criticize natin kung sa tingin natin hindi tama but let us all do that in the right political atmosphere,” he added.
The Press Secretary also called on the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to do their job of keeping the peace during the anticipated rallies “but we ask you do it with maximum tolerance.” (PIA)
Rebel Returnee Group Seeks Gov’t Help to Fast-track Claims, Village Road Network Projects
Cabarroguis, Quirino (28 July) — A rebel returnee group in the province of Nueva Vizcaya has sought the intervention of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) to help all rebel returnees in the region to fast track all their claims when they turn to the folds of law.
Rebel returnee leader Calvin Magno of Nueva Vizcaya sought the help of RPOC Chairman Dakila Carlo Cua during the Regional Peace and Order Council meeting (RPOC) held here last Thursday (July 23) to make the necessary move to fast track all the necessary claims so that his active rebel comrades will follow his footstep to surrender to the government and live a normal life.
However, Mr. Magno lamented on issues relating to the procedures in extending of financial assistance being offered to the rebel surrenderees which he said would discourage other rebels to go down.
He also voiced out the concern of his fellow rebel returnees regarding the construction of roads in far flung barangays in Nueva Vizcaya that are often the route of NPA rebels between the boundaries of Nueva Vizcaya and Nueva Ecija.
Magno said he is asking the council’s action for the construction of road networks linking the remote barangays in Nueva Vizcaya and Nueva Ecija whom the residents in the said areas are claiming that the national government can take to deliver its services and prevent insurgency uprising in said areas.
On the part of the 5ID Philippine Army, newly promoted Brigadier General Fajardo of the 502nd IB, who represented Maj. General Nestor Ochoa said that the 5ID is doing its part in the implementation of the “Balik Baril Program” and the Social Integration Program (SIP) of the present administration.
On road construction, Gen. Fajardo said he will refer to the 5ID engineering battalion the concern of Mr. Calvin Magno and will coordinate with the local government units before the engineering brigade would enter the area.
RPOC Chairman Dakila Carlo Cua assured action on Mr. Magno’s concern for his fellow returnees and will support their aspiration to trust to the government once again. (PIA Isabela)
Indigenous Peoples in Luzon
July 27, 2009 –Members of various indigenous peoples in Luzon expressed their disgust for GMAs 8 years of presidency by kicking a mock-up seal of parliamentary government ministered by Pres. Arroyo in front of the Commission of Human Rigths (CHR) the morning before the State Of the Nation Address (SONA). They are in Manila for a 3-day conference dubbed State of the Indigenous Peoples Address (SIPA) in UP Campus, Diliman, Quezon City. (LRC-KSK/FoE Phil./AKP-images/Buck Pago)
Indigenous Peoples in Luzon
July 27, 2009 –Members of various indigenous peoples in Luzon expressed their disgust for GMAs 8 years of presidency by kicking a mock-up seal of parliamentary government ministered by Pres. Arroyo in front of the Commission of Human Rigths (CHR) the morning before th State Of the Nation Address (SONA). They are in Manila for a 3-day conference dubbed State of the Indigenous Peoples Address (SIPA) in UP Campus, Diliman, Quezon City. (LRC-KSK/FoE Phil./AKP-images/Buck Pago)
State of Indigenous Peoples Address
July 27, 2009 –Members of various indigenous peoples in Luzon expressed their disgust for GMAs 8 years of presidency by kicking a mock-up seal of parliamentary government ministered by Pres. Arroyo in front of the Commission of Human Rigths (CHR) the morning before th State Of the Nation Address (SONA). They are in Manila for a 3-day conference dubbed State of the Indigenous Peoples Address (SIPA) in UP Campus, Diliman, Quezon City. (LRC-KSK/FoE Phil./AKP-images/Buck Pago)
State of Indigenous Peoples Address 2009
QUEZON CITY -July 26, 2009 –Members of various Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines performing their rituals during the opening of the State of Indigenous Peoples Address 2009 (SIPA 2009), a three day forum in the University of the Philippines tackling issues on the Indigenous Peoples’ rights and environmental concerns.(LRC-KSK/FoE Phils./AKP-images/Buck Pago)
Members of various Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines
QUEZON CITY -July 26, 2009 –Members of various Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines performing their rituals during the opening of the State of Indigenous Peoples Address 2009 (SIPA 2009), a three day forum in the University of the Philippines tackling issues on the Indigenous Peoples’ rights and environmental concerns.(LRC-KSK/FoE Phils./AKP-images/Buck Pago)
