Commentary: Cory as icon of survival
By Bong Pedalino
Tita Cory, as she was fondly called, was a model character of survival, both in ordinary life and in her reluctant entry into Philippine politics.
Her husband, Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, did not mince words when he predicted that the next President after Marcos would wear out after six months in office like a horse manure.
Little did Ninoy knew that her wife would be the next President after Marcos, yet she endured not just a horse manure, whatever that meant as Ninoy described it, but a string of coups-de-etat that rocked her administration.
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The moment she was diagnosed with colon cancer, nobody would have thought she would last a year longer, but she did live more than a year, defying expectations.
At one point, all was A-okay with her, thanks to unceasing prayers and fervent divine petitions that stormed the heavens, until the disease took the better from her, and death eventually intervened.
But the year-long survival was in itself a miracle, showing a woman of spectacular strength and vigor even as she battled it out with a crippling ailment.
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In 2005 she did join calls for the Administration to step down, but that was a signature Cory act, one which takes a stand on issues as she sees fit from her perspective.
Let us respect that, and not let it muddle our sense of loss in her passing, nor make a political capital out of it; certainly you cannot desecrate the name of a revered woman and convert it to advance a selfish brand of politics.
That was her opinion, and in a democratic setting we can always agree to disagree.
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Ninoy had said that the Fiipino is worth dying for, and he literally proved it by facing certain death on a collision course.
In Cory’s case, however, death came as a natural course, the deadend of life’s journey.
With apologies to Ninoy, Cory demonstrated that the Filipino is not just worth dying for — the Filipino is worth living for.
By her life she taught us that a Filipino and the Filipino masses as a whole can survive against all odds.
Surely, such a lesson should be considered as one of her legacy to the Filipino people.
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LOCAL FRONT: At the height of the Cory-Doy presidential campaign in 1986, the Cory-Doy team was in Maasin campaigning hard to convince the crowd gathered at the public plaza that Ninoy’s memory and sacrifice should not be wasted and in vain. I recall many intelligence agents in civilian clothes taking pictures on our every move, but we openly showed our support nonetheless. History had proven us right.
ODDLY YOURS: When Neil Armstrong landed on the surface of the Moon on July 20, 1969, he said something, but the excited, listening world had not quite heard it right. He was heard as saying, “That’s one small step for man; one giant leap for mankind.” In 1999, Armstrong protested, insisting that he said, “That’s one small step for ‘a’ man; one giant leap for mankind.” People on Earth did not hear the “a”. But Armstrong was persistent. “The ‘a’ was intended,” Armstrong said at a press conference ten years ago. I thought I said it. I can’t hear it when I listen to the radio reception here on Earth, so I’ll be happy if you just put it in parentheses.” In 2006, however, there was no need for a parentheses, because a computer analysis found evidence that Armstrong said what he said he had said. And NASA was vindicated it had stood by Armstrong’s side all those years. (PIA-Southern Leyte)
PNP says Cagayan Valley has 30,000 loose firearms
Damian said half of the figure on loose firearms belong to civilians who have failed and or refused to register them by obtaining proper licenses from the PNP.
“We are encouraging holders of loose firearms to apply for their proper licenses through our “Linis Boga” program,” Damian explained.
The ‘Linis Boga’ program will be implemented from the whole month of October to enable holders of unlicensed firearms to register them.
Damian said there is a need among civilian holders of unlicensed firearms to make their possession legal inorder not to be imposed with penalties and appropriate cases once they are caught. (PIA NVizcaya)
NVizcaya to celebrate World IP Day
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya (4 August) — People’s organizations here will be celebrating the World Indigenous Day on August 8 in observance of the recently-approved United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRiP).
Ronald Allan Barnacha, Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) trustee and coordinator of the event said the activity will be held at the Tonus Gymnasium of the St. Mary’s University with the theme: “Protect our Tribe, Defend our Patrimony, Strengthen IP Partnerships.”
The IP day will be attended by members of the NV People’s Organizations (NVPO) said Peter Duyapat, NVPO chair such as the Didipio Earth Savers Multi-Purpose Association (DESAMA), Lower Muta Valley Farmers Federation (LMVFF), Kasibu Inter-Tribal Response for Ecological Development (KIRED), Malabing Valley Tribal Development Association (MVTDA), papaya Farmers Association (PFA) and Quezon Multi-Sectoral Conference (QueMSec).
The objectives of the activity are 1.) Raise awareness of the United Nations’ Concern for Indigenous Peoples, 2.) Impart to the local indigenous communities the assertion of self determination, 3.) Build awareness of local authorities on human rights and mining, 4.) Identify possible campaign and advocacy activity support to the communities and 5.) Call for collaborative effort in support to intensifying provincial campaign and advocacy to respect and support indigenous Peoples in the province. (PIA NVizcaya)
“Philippines in Figures 2008″ now off the press, says NSO
By Rizalie A. Calibo
The publication, according to the NSO, contains about 250 indicators covering a wide range of topics such as population and demography; labor and employment income and prices, construction and housing services and tourism; education and literacy; health and welfare crime and delinquency; and other statistics on different sectors like agriculture, fishery; and forestry; manufacturing; mines and minerals, energy, gas, and water; transportation and communications; trade; banking and insurance; national accounts; and public finance.
It also includes a brief historical background of the country; its construction and government, an updated list of the number of provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays in the Philippines, as well as the latest population counts based on the 2007 Census of Population, the NSO said. Some international statistics on world population, area, and density are likewise presented, it added.
The data, which were sourced from the National Statistics Office and various government agencies, are presented on a three-year series for easy comparison and trending. This makes it ideal for students, researchers, planners and policymakers, businessmen, and travelers who would like to have a quick glance of the country.
The PIF is available in hard copy at the Databank and Information Services Division, Publication Sales Unit located at the Ground Floor, Solicarel Building II, Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard, Sta. Mesa, Manila, with telephone numbers 713-7081. Copies may also be available at NSO Siquijor Provincial Office, Siquijor, Siquijor. It is likewise downloadable from the NSO website: http://www.census.gov.ph. (NSO/RTG)
DTI to launch OTOP Awards system
Tuguegarao City (3 August) — The awarding of the outstanding One Town, One Product (OTOP) projects and stakeholders were contributed to the program’s success will highlight the 2nd Regional OTOP Congress to be held here on September 23-30, 2009.
The Awards will give honor to deserving micro-small and medium OTOP entrepreneurs and development partners such as the local government units (LGUs), government institutions, private sector organizations and associations for their extraordinary efforts that placed the OTOP Philippines Program in the forefront of economic development.
Atty. Ma. Esperanza C. Banares, regional director of the Department of Trade and Industry, said the awards will be categorized into: Best OTOP Implementers, Outstanding OTOP Small and Medium Enterprise (SME), and the Most Supportive Partner Organization.
The Best OTOP Implementer will be awarded to LGUs which have shown enthusiasm in implementing OTOP, committed resources and have taken concrete actions towards the attainment of the program’s objective.
The Outstanding OTOP SME will be awarded to micro-small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) which have cooperated with the LGUs and partner-agencies, invested resources in the program, thus, contributing to the local economy in terms of employment and trade and to the local economy.
The Most Supportive Partner Organization will also be awarded to organizations and agencies for providing crucial assistance in terms of resources, program support, linkages, and others, thus, influencing positively the progress of the program.
Nida Tumaliuan, division chief of the regional office said the awards will further motivate the stakeholders to strive and perform better.
“We hope to institutionalize these awards system as a mechanism to further boost the commitment of our stakeholders,” she said.
There will be one awardee per category at the provincial, regional and national levels.
Cash prizes as program funds will be awarded to the national and island winners while the regional and provincial winners will be given gift checks. (Zet/PIA 2)
GSIS members post problems on loans, contribution updatesb lyrics lyrics
Tuguegarao City (3 August) — The none updating of membership contributions and loan repayments appeared to be the most serious concerns of the Government Service Insurance System’s members (GSIS) in Region 2.
This is the result of a survey of issues and concerns of GSIS members in the region which was floated to the government employees of different regional line agencies.
In the survey, the respondents’ concern is focused more on the none updating of membership contributions with 86 percent, followed by none updating of loan repayments with 80 percent.
The result also showed that other concerns such as the unprocessed loan applications and the release of insurance benefits that are either unjustified, delayed or not released.
The employees association of the region has submitted a formal letter to GSIS, signed by 72 employees requesting for an updated record of their membership contributions and loan repayments, but GSIS said they cannot produce updated record because of their ‘reposting activity’.
GSIS also explained that due to the problem created by the company who contracted their computerization program, they are currently reposting the records of its members.
The association has also submitted a letter addressed to Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile requesting for a Senate inquiry to address the pressing problems of the employees on their GSIS memberships.
However, the association is yet to confirm whether the Senate President has acted upon their request. (Oliver B./PIA 2)
RDC-2 elevates GSIS members’ complaints to Congress
Tuguegarao City (3 August) — The Regional Development Council (RDC) Region 2 has formally elevated to Congress the complaint of government employees against the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) on inefficiency of service despite its full automation program.
Through a formal complaint lodged by the employees association to RDC, the council has formally endorsed the resolution requesting the Chairmen of the Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises of the Senate and the Committee on Government Enterprises and Privatization of the House of Representatives to conduct an investigation on the complaint lodged to GSIS by its members.
RDC said despite the full automation program of GSIS, government employees are experiencing problems in transacting business with the GIS which indicates that there is gravity and wide scope of the problem, not only in Region 2 but also to other regions.
The common problems being experienced with GSIS include the non-posting and/or delayed posting of contributions and loan amortization; delayed release of claims and benefits such as retirement pay, matured policy claims and educational policy claims; discrepancy on loan records; outdated on-line records; and delayed release and no-receipt of dividends and computation of such remains undisclosed.
The RDC also stated that instead of implementing immediate remedial measures that will address the looming problem, the GSIS seems helpless and insensitive to the plight of the members.
The council further said, as an easy way out, GSIS put blame on its computer system that allegedly bogged down, which could be just one of the operational problems that really needs investigation to ferret out the truth and identify practical solutions to the real problem besting its operation.
RDC 2 also attached same resolution filed by RDC of Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Region 1, 3, 6, 7 and 10, and further attached copies of articles to numerous print media on the proliferating problems on GSIS’ inefficiencies. (Oliver Baccay/PIA 2)
RDC urges ERC to lower power cost in Region 2
Tuguegarao City (3 August) — Members of the Regional Development Council (RDC) Region 2 has unanimously endorsed the resolution requesting the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to conduct a power study to lower the power rate in Cagayan Valley.
The decision was made after scrutinizing the result of a “study on power rates and its effect on households and commercial establishments” in the seven electric companies in the region.
The study showed that despite the existence of 2 power producing dams, Magat Dam in Isabela and Casecnan Transbasin Tunnel in Nueva Vizcaya, that produces big volume of electric power through water resources of the region, the electric companies posted an average power rate of P6.4 per kilowatt-hour which is the highest among other regions nationwide, even higher than the national average of P4.56 per kilowatt-hour.
The study also showed that despite the presence of the two dams that contribute electricity to Luzon grid, there are 96 barangays representing 4.05 percent remained un-energized in the region.
With these, to lower the Generation Charge, RDC requested ERC to study the possibility of lowering the generation charge for region 2 in consideration of its being the host region of Magat Dam and Casecnan Transbasin Tunnel.
On System Loss, RDC requested ERC to further lower existing systems loss caps of 14 percent to 9 percent. The EPIRA clearly provides that the systems loss cap can be reduced to a rate lower than 9 percent.
On Government Revenues, RDC also requested ERC to strictly enforce the specific provision of EPIRA (Sec. 4) for Local Government Units (LGUs) to impose franchise on distribution charge only, and not on all other charges as currently enforced.
The LGUs must also exempt households with a monthly power consumption of less than 100 KWh from paying the government revenue charge.
It is further specified to the endorsement that the National Grid Corporation must establish backbone of transmission to cover the entire stretch of a province to reduce connection charges.
To help resolve the issue, the RDC further encourage LGUs to develop cheaper alternative renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and bio-diesel.
The study also recommended RDC to request to the electric companies to periodically conduct massive educational campaign for energy use and efficiency, right of way clearing operation, and intensify monitoring activities of its anti-pilferage program to reduce system loss. (Oliver Baccay/PIA 2)
32 unassisted former rebels to get P.64 million livelihood aid
Calamba City, Laguna (3 August) — Thirty Two (32) unassisted former rebels from Quezon province will receive today a total of P.64 million or P20,000 each livelihood support as part of the government’s previous commitment to communist rebels who yielded prior to the implementation of the Social Integration Program (SIP).
The said former rebels were located and informed about the livelihood grant in their respective communities in Quezon through the efforts of the Quezon Social Integration Committee (QSIC) and with the help from the different MSWDO Officers in the province.
Dubbed as kasama sa reporma (partners in reform) or KRs, the former rebels who come from different municipalities in Quezon will be awarded during the CALABARZON Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) meeting at the Ding-Hao Restaurant, National Road, Halang, Calamba City.
Undersecretary Pedro Cesar Ramboanga Jr. of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) will be represented by BGen. Sergio Belleza (Ret) of OPAPP and Quezon Gov. Rafael Nantes will lead the simple awarding ceremony along with Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary V. Puno, as the Guest of Honor. CALABARZON Presidential Assistant Emiliana Jabola; CALABARZON RPOC Chairman Hon. Joaquin M. Chipeco, Jr. Mayor of Calamba City; M.Gen. Roland M. Detabali, commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Southern Luzon Command; and BGen. Jorge V. Segovia, Jr. Commanding General of the 2nd Infantry Division, will be attending the said event.
Also in attendance are:Charleston Tan, SIP-OPAPP Regional Officer for South Luzon; Col. Virgilio M. Espineli, Commanding Officer, 202nd \nfantry Brigade; Ltc. Ernest Marc Rosal, Commanding Officer of the 1st Infantry Batallion; and Ms. Sonia Leyson, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office Head.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo approved the provision of livelihood aid to unassisted rebel returnees early this year upon recommendation of former peace process adviser Sec. Hermogenes C. Esperon, Jr.
The amount, which was previously at P12,500 was increased to P20,000.
At present, the government has been providing the said assistance to hundreds of un-served former rebels around the country as part of the closure of the Balik-Loob program, which is the previous rebel returnee program.
The SIP is a process whereby former rebels and their dependents are provided a set of interventions to facilitate their integration into the mainstream society.
To be able to achieve this objective, the program is guided by the principle of convergence and cooperation primarily between the different national and local agencies of the government, national and local government units, non-government institutions or organizations and the community as well. each stakeholder plays a unique role in the integration process.
Through the SIP, the OPAPP under the present leadership of Secretary Avelino I. Razon Jr., spearheads the implementation of the program with the support of the AFP, PNP and other government agencies, the local government units and Non-Government Organizations in the pursuit of genuine and lasting peace in the region. This event is hoped to promote peace and unity among all stakeholders towards peace and development in the area and in our country as a whole. (OPAPP/PIA4A)
P100 treatment packs offered to Philhealth-sponsored members
Legazpi City (3 August) — Eligible sponsored members of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) can now avail of additional benefits from the agency’s following the launching of the P100 drugs and medicine package.
Orlando Iñigo Jr., PhilHealth Bicol regional vice president, said the P100 treatment package entitles members to avail of coverage of drugs and medicines even beyond the member/patient’s confinement period.
Iñigo said the new benefit package, by virtue of PhilHealth Circular No. 20, S. 2009, intends to ensure financial protection of sponsored members in times of sickness, especially members of the marginalized sector or indigents
He added the new benefit package for indigent members is guaranteed by RA 9502 or the “Universally Accessible Cheaper Medicines Act of 2008.”
He pointed out the P100 drugs shall be given/prescribed to sponsored members, as applicable, during confinement and extra pack(s) needed beyond the confinement period subject to the following limitations:
a. Full course treatment (maximum of two weeks) for infections covering antimicrobial drugs;
b. For chronic illnesses, P100 drugs shall be limited to cover two weeks for maintenance dose after discharge;
c. For other acute illnesses, P100 drugs shall be limited to one extra pack as take home medications after discharge;
d. Should be within the prescribed in-patient benefit limits for drugs and medicines.
Iñigo further said all sponsored members and their qualified dependents, with date of confinement within the validity period of their membership as indicated in the Family Health Card/Member Data Record (MDR), are eligible to avail of the P100 treatment packs.
“Members must ensure that their qualified dependents are included in the MDR to avoid any delay in availing PhilHealth benefits,” he stressed.
The P100 treatment package took effect for benefit claims of sponsored members with admission date starting June 1, 2009.
Drugs and medicines covered by the P100 treatment package are Anti-Hypertensive – Amlodipine 5 and 10 mg tablet, Atenolol 10 mg tablet, Felodipine ER 2.5, 5, and 10 mg tablet; Anti-Infectives/Antibiotics/Antibacterial – Cefalexin 500mg capsule, Clindamycin 150mg capsule, Cotrimoxazole 800/160mg tablet, Co-Amoxiclav 625mg table, Amoxicillin 500 mg tablet; Anti-gout – Allopurinol 100mg tablet; Antiprotozoal/Anti-amoeba – Metronidazole 500mg tablet; Antidiabetic – Glibenclamide 5mg table, Metformin 500mg tablet; Anti-ulcer/Gastrict acid suppressant – Omeprzole 20mg capsule, Ranitidine 150mg tablet; Anti-Asthma – Salbutamol 2mg/2.5mg nebulas; Anti-hyperlipidemia/Anti-cholesterol – Simvastatin 10, 20 and 40mg tablet; Multivitamins – Ascorbic Acid 500mg tablet. (PhilHealth/PIA)
