Cayetano Wants to Build Strong Majority for Duterte's Legislative Agenda

Office of the Senate Majority Leader

Alan Peter S. Cayetano

Rm. 603 GSIS Complex Senate of the Philippines Roxas Blvd Pasay City

         

PRESS RELEASE

24 May 2016

Cayetano wants to build a strong majority for Duterte's legislative agenda

Barely a month after the 2016 national elections, Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano reiterated his assurance to help President-elect Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte in formulating his legislative agenda.

“Bilang kasama niya araw-araw sa kampanya, ako po ang nakarinig ng mga pangako at mga nais na pagbabago ni President Duterte sa ating bansa,” Cayetano said.

"Build a strong majority"

When asked whether he was interested in the Senate presidency, Cayetano said he wants to focus more on building a strong majority that will help Duterte realize his plans of creating real changes in the country.

“Everyone is interested in the Senate leadership. Wala pa akong nakitang senador na hindi interested maging Senate President. However, it's not really a matter of kung sinong magiging Senate President. It’s a matter of forming a strong majority that can deliver the culture the effectiveness and efficiency. Sa bigat ng legislative agenda ni President Duterte, kailangan ng majority na 15-18," he added.

"Go beyond committees, unite under Duterte's legislative agenda"

Cayetano, however, said that he is not inclined to help in building a majority if the discussions will be limited to who will head the chamber's respective committees. "We should go beyond the committees and positions and discuss the important measures that should be passed by the Senate under President-elect Duterte. Sa aking palagay, kahit sabihin nilang ako ang Senate President, pero hindi sila magko-commit sa legislative agenda (ni President Duterte), hindi ko rin kukunin ang pwesto,” he added.

Among the key measures that Cayetano intends to push in the next Congress are the implementation of a nationwide curfew for minors and liquor ban, increasing the salaries of police officers, improved internet connectivity, and phasing out labor contractualization. They also plan to conduct consultations with regard to their federalism proposal by the middle of Duterte's term.

Meanwhile, in reaction to the plan by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III to run for Senate president, Cayetano said he would rather speak for himself and not for his colleague. “I will let Sen. Koko speak for himself. Malinaw ang kanyang announcement. We talked once. Nagkakaintindihan naman kami at malinaw ang direksyon namin as a group,” he stressed.

Duterte respects Senate independence

Cayetano explained that while Duterte has not publicly announced whom he would endorse for the Senate leadership, the President-elect has made it clear in private discussions whom he wants for the post. “The President will not have an official candidate. Pero meron siyang napupusuan. President Duterte is not declaring public support because he respects the independence of the Senate,” he said.#

Summer Beach Sports Fest Highlights Drive to Mitigate Climate Change Impact

 

 

NABUNTURAN, Compostela Valley (May 11) -- The province’s Summer Beach Sports Festival this year, will center on the contribution of its tourism program to the campaign to mitigate the future impact of climate change on the eco-tourism resources of Compostela Valley.

 

The province’s beach sports festival is held all weekends of May along the coasts of Mabini and Pantukan at the northern edge of ecologically fragile Davao gulf, a key biodiversity area (KBA) in the Philippines listed as one of the world’s 34 biodiversity hotspots.

 

In 2014, the MPLS Protected Area  Management Board conducted a coral reef assessment at the site. Based on the assessment, 53.40% of the seascape’s live coral cover percentage is in good condition. It also identified 46 scleractinian coral genera.  Only 110 genera of scleractinian coral have been identified worldwide, 72 of which are found in the Philippines.

 

Christine Dompor, provincial tourism officer, explained the annual summer beach sports festival was conceptualized in 2008 as a tourism promotion campaign and a mechanism to raise awareness on protecting, preserving, and conserving the endangered marine ecosystem of the gulf particularly within the 3,433-hectare Mabini Protected Landscape and Seascape (MPLS).

 

Dompor said the twin objectives may not be enough now because of climate change. In 2014, she noted, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its fifth Assessment Report that predicted that oceans would rise more than three feet by 2100, a little less than 90 years from now.

 

“What would happen then to our coastal areas … to our ecotourism industry if the waters of Davao gulf rise? We will never know if this, in fact, will happen but it is better to be prepared. It is better to contribute to minimizing the impacts of climate change,” the provincial tourism officer said.

 

She thanked the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office of Maco and MPLS Protected Area Supervisor Julie Español for the 150 mangrove seedlings and the Month of the Ocean tarpaulin that will be displayed on different festival sites.

 

The tourism officer said on May 21, a Saturday, students, soldiers from the 10^th Infantry Division of the province, beach resorts owners and workers, and coastal villagers among others will dozumba at Omandac Beach View Resort in Brgy. Pindasan, Mabini at 5:00 a.m. then proceed to nearby Sitio Casilac in Brgy. San Antonio for the mangrove planting at 6:30 a.m. to be followed by a clean-up of the coastal area. 

 

Mangrove planting is a regular activity of the beach festival to augment the existing mangrove forests of the seascape.

 

Mabini, approximately 70 kilometers away from Davao City, is located in the southeastern section of the province of Compostela Valley.  The Protected Landscape and Seascape includes Kopiat island and Lunod island.

 

Kopiat island, host of the multi-million peso international standard resort Lubi Plantation of Lapanday Properties Inc., is the staging point of the region-wide almost a kilometer Kopiat swimming challenge. This year’s challenge finishes at Omandac Beach View Resort and falls on Sunday morning of May 22.

 

All of the five marine turtle species in the Philippines found in Davao Gulf are the Hawksbill, Oliver Ridley, Green Sea, Loggerhead, and the Leatherback turtles. Two – the hawksbill and the leatherback turtles – lay their eggs on the coasts of  Kopiat island.

 

The Philippine Environmental Governance Project 2 (EcoGov),   a technical assistance project in the Philippines funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), identified Davao Gulf as a feeding ground to 11 species of cetaceans including sperm whales, killer whales, and bottle-nose dolphins.

 

A number of these species regularly swims the channels between the islands and mainland Mabini to feed on the seascape’s seagrasses, rich planktons and krill. But sightings of these endangered marine mammals have become rare in the last years.

 

Beach sports line-up

 

The lined-up beach sports of the festival are: beach volleyball for male and Black Light Party on May 14 and beach volleyball for female on May 15 at Beach View Resort; fire dance, reggae band competitions, and zumba also at Beach View on May 21;

 

Mangrove planting and coastal clean-up at Sitio Casilac in Brgy. San Antonio, Mabini also on May 21; Cheer dance competition, Kopiat Swimming Challenge from Kopiat Island to Beach View Resort, and kite flying in Pantukan on May 22; 

 

On May 28, Water volleyball and Amazing Beach Race at Welborn Beach Resort, Body Painting at Seaworld Oasis, Hip Hop Grand Prix at Jeinos Beach Resort all in Pantukan;  and Frisbee competition at Magnaga Waters Beach Resort. (jpa/pgo-tss/ids)

 

 

 

Photo Caption:

 

Flying, sexy but fierce. Beach volley belles perfectly described last Sunday's Beachfest event. The event is part of the Summer Beachfest Event sponsored by the Provincial Tourism Office of Comval. Other fun activities  are scheduled all weekends of May.(Photo Credits: Comval Tourism/ids comval)

In the jungle, you can't find them ....

One Man's Meat

‘In the jungle, you can’t find them’

BY PHILIP GOLINGAI, THE STAR

Filepic

 

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“WHEN are we going to carpet bomb the Abu Sayyaf?” or “Why don’t the Philippine special forces wipe out the Abu Sayyaf?” are common reactions on Twitter or Facebook whenever there is a report of a kidnapping on the east coast of Sabah.

Early this year, a few months after Sarawakian Bernard Then was beheaded by the Abu Sayyaf in Jolo island, I met a high-ranking Philippine military commander to ask him these questions.

The commander, a dozen of his men and I had a “boodle fight” (dining in among the Philippine military by sharing the same food without regard to rank) at a restaurant in Zamboanga City, about a two-hour boat ride from Jolo island, an island the size of Perlis.

“We try our best, no matter the handicaps we have, such as lack of troops,” said the commander, who requested not to be named.

“Jolo island might be a small dot. But if you are in the area, you can’t cover everything.”

“It is a jungle. It is not an urban area where the enemies are fixed at a location; you have surveillance of them and you can attack them,” said the 50-something military man.

“In the jungle, you can’t find them because they are very mobile. They know the terrain and they have the support of the populace (villagers). My troops have to find a way to corner them. It is like a fishing expedition.”

“In Malaysia, the public will say how come the Philippine military does not launch an operation to rescue the Malaysian hostages?” I asked him.

“The problem is we have available forces but their numbers are negligible,” he said, refusing to give the strength of the army and marine forces in Jolo for security reasons.

“If you attack an enemy, you must have three times the number of men as your enemies. It is not like in the movies where a dozen men can overrun hundreds of bad guys.”

He added: “Your enemies are in an advantageous position as they know the terrain. If you don’t have the numbers, more often the casualty will be on the government side.”

“The Malaysian public will say ‘Why don’t the Philippines use their special forces to wipe out the Abu Sayyaf?’” I said.

“It doesn’t matter if they are special forces. There are many factors to consider.

“I’ll give one. We lack the capabilities to find the enemies. We are procuring drones and other equipment. Right now we are doing it manually,” he said.

“The Malaysian public ask, why don’t the Philippine military just bomb the Abu Sayyaf?” I said.

“That is not possible. I too want to wipe them out – an eye for an eye. But we have international laws and human rights. We want a legitimate encounter with the Abu Sayyaf,” he said.

“We can’t also antagonise the local populace just to get the Abu Sayyaf. We risk creating another generation who will rise up to become Abu Sayyaf.”

“In the last five years, has the Philippine military rescued any of the hostages held by the Abu Sayyaf in Jolo?” I asked.

“We have rescued four hostages. The latest were the two Filipino coast guards,” said the commander.

“The other hostage we rescued was the Swiss bird watcher (who was kidnapped in Tawi island).

“As a result of a military operation on the Abu Sayyaf, the kidnappers became disorganised and the Swiss had a chance to escape.”

“What’s your advice to Malaysia when a Malaysian is kidnapped and brought to Jolo?” I said.

“My stand is just don’t pay ransom, as you will add to their capabilities. They will just buy arms and will repeat another kidnapping,” he said.

“But we can’t do anything if the relatives of the hostage pay the ransom.”

The commander noted that the Abu Sayyaf foot soldiers were getting younger.

He explained that the Abu Sayyaf promised youngsters who were out of school, especially in the hinterlands, 30,000 to 35,000 pesos (about RM3,000 to RM3,500) a month and firearms to join the group.

Many – because they are inexperienced – are killed during military operations. And their families ask for blood money for their deaths.

To replace these dead foot soldiers, according to the commander, the Abu Sayyaf offers 40,000 pesos (RM4,000) a month and firearms to teenagers.

“These teenagers realise that they have signed up for hardship – always on the move, and lacking food and sleep (because of bombardment). Many times they are not paid,” he said.

“Once they realise that life as an Abu Sayyaf was difficult, they would try to escape. Some have gone to Sabah to find safe haven as if the Abu Sayyaf finds them, they will be killed.

“Are these recruits trained?” I asked.

“They are actually not trained as they already know how to use a gun. They are employed to guard the area or the hostages,” he said. “There is no time to train them – unless there is a lull – as we are always hunting them.”

“How well trained are the foot soldiers?” I asked.

“They are innocent about fighting. Most often, they are the ones who are killed. We have video clips taken by the Abu Sayyaf and more often than not the recruits are the casualities,” he said.

“How about the Abu Sayyaf commanders?” I asked.

“They are not trained as fighters. But they have combat experience.

“They might know how to assemble a bomb but through experience they know how to engage with the army and marines. They are more adept at evading or escaping from the military,” he said.

“If they are not well trained then is it easier for your men to hunt them?” I said.

“Yes, ideally. But they have the advantage of the terrain and the populace. Once we enter a barangay (village), the villagers will text message that the military are here and they will get out of the area,” he said.

The commander added: “It is not easy to fight the Abu Sayyaf. It is only incidental, coincidence or good luck that we are able to catch them off guard.

“And that is a very rare moment.”

TAGS / KEYWORDS:Philip Golingai , columnist

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Die Deutsche Botschaft Manila gibt bekannt. German Consular Day in Davao City

Die Botschaft der Bundesrepublik Deutschland in Manila gibt bekannt, dass am

Dienstag, den 7. Juni 2016 von 8 Uhr bis 12.30 Uhr und von 14 Uhr bis 17 Uhr

ein Konsularsprechtag stattfinden wird in der University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP) Board Room, Office of the President, Inigo Street, Haupteingang (in der Naehe der N. Torres/Cervantes und Porras Streets), Barangay Obrero, Davao City (hinter Victoria Plaza Mall), Tel/Fax: 082 - 221-7737 und 082 - 225-4696. Ansprechpartner ist Herr David Baumgaertner, Mitarbeiter des Rechts- und Konsularreferats der Botschaft Manila. 

Als Ansprechpartner vor Ort wenden Sie sich bitte an Herrn Klaus Doering, Tel. 082 - 227 1761 oder 0915 - 219 9002.

Bitte beachten Sie, dass wegen biometrischer Daten (u.a. Fingerabdruecke) nur noch vollstaendige Antrage auf Ausstellung vorlaeufiger Reisepaesse und Kinderreisepaesse - nicht jedoch Antraege fuer Europapaesse - entgegengenommen werden koennen.

Fuer eine erfolgreiche Bearbeitung Ihres Anliegens (z.B. Beglaubigungen etc.) setzen Sie sich bitte rechtzeitig zwecks Vorbereitung der Urkunde mit der Botschaft in Verbindung (rk-11@mani.diplo.de).

Informationen und Formulare finden Sie auf der Webseite www.manila.diplo.de .

+++

The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Manila would like to inform you that Mr. David Baumgaertner, Consular Officer of the German Embassy Manila will be present on

Tuesday, June 7, 2016 from 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM and from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM 

.

at the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP), Board Room, Office of the President, Inigo Street, Main Gate (near N. Torres/Cervantes and Porras Streets), Barangay Obrero, Davao City (in the back of the Victoria Plaza Mall), Tel/Fax: 082 - 221 7737 and 082 - 225 4696.

 Contact person in Davao City is Mr. Klaus Doering, Tel. 082 - 227 1761 or 0915 - 219 9002.

Please note that due to the biometric specifications only complete applications for German Temporary Passports and Children's Passports can be accepted. Application for Regular Passports with biometric specifications (e.g. fingerprints) cannot be accept.

Unfortunately, visa applications cannot be accepted as well. Inquiries regarding visa applications will not be answered and should be directed to the Visa Section of the Embassy.

Kindly contact the Embassy well in advance in case legal documents have to be prepared.

You may also visit our website www.manila.diplo.de for information and application forms.

Cebu Yolanda Survivors to Duterte: Don't forget about us!

Survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda in Cebu seek help from president-elect Rodrigo Duterte, hoping that he would speed up rehabilitation of typhoon-hit towns

By Richale 

Cabauatan

UNFINISHED. Prescilla Jumao-as stands in front of her house, which was constructed after Super Typhoon Yolanda struck in 2013. The house remains unfinished.

CEBU, Philippines – Filipinos in northern Cebu will never forget who and what they lost to Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) on November 8, 2013.

Yolanda destroyed towns in the Eastern Visayas before plowing through northern Cebu.

Two and a half years later, most of the survivors of Yolanda are still suffering. Many of them say they have not fully recovered. (READ: Yolanda rehab: Only 30% complete as 2016 begins)

Last Monday, May 9, they trooped to the polls and voted for the first time since the typhoon struck.

What do the Yolanda survivors want from their leaders?

'We want homes'

"Kung maka-storya man gani nako ang sunod nga presidente... i-ampo gyud nako nga kami, mga biktima sa Yolanda, hatagan niya ug mga balay nga matawag gyud namo nga puy-anan," said a teary-eyed Prescilla Jumao-as.

(If I could talk to the president... I pray that he would give us, victims of Yolanda, houses we can really call home.)

Jumao-as, 65, said the government promised her a new home in 2013. Two and a half years later, she's still waiting.

What's worse, she added, is that her grandchildren had to suffer with her.

MAKESHIFT HOME. Tents housing Yolanda survivors haven't disappeared in Daanbantayan, Cebu. Photo by Richale Cabauatan/Rappler

Jumao-as was dropped from the list of survivors who needed housing and was never told why. She believes it's because she knows no one from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). NGOs which promised to help also never returned.

Jumao-as said it seems that the government has forgotten about them. "And maybe God has, too?" she wondered.

She is now pinning her hopes on president-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

Free education

DREAMING. Catherine Bentulan dreams of free education for her children.

"Dili gyud siya sayon uy. Dili gyud," said Catherine Bentulan, a mother of 4.

(It's not easy. It really isn't.)

"Giampo gyud nako nga kung kinsa man gani ang musunod nga presidente, iyaha gyung himuon nga libre ang edukasyon para sa pareha namo nga dili pa gyud kaya ipadala sa eskwelahan ang among mga anak," Bentulan told Rappler.

(I pray that whoever the next president is, he makes education free for people like us who can't afford to send our kids to school.)

Bentulan's eldest child is in college; the second one, a 9th grader; and the third one, in elementary school. Her youngest is a toddler.

She was 4 months pregnant the day Yolanda destroyed their house, which had just been standing for a week and hadn't even been furnished yet. She had a miscarriage in the days following the typhoon.

Although Bentulan often wishes that her baby had lived, she said that what happened might have been for the best: "I'm glad he or she didn't live a day to experience our hardships."

Bentulan shared that even before Yolanda came, they struggled to send their kids to school.

She hopes to see the next president, even if he weren't the one she voted for, prioritize education for under-privileged families like hers.

Higher pension

PENSION. Lorita Alarde hopes president-elect Rodrigo Duterte will prioritize increasing pensions for senior citizens like her.

"I hope pensions will rise. Today, it's not enough to raise a family. I'm old, you see. I can't work anymore. They don't hire the elderly and I have grandchildren to feed," said Lorita Alarde, 85 years old.

When Alarde's husband, Fernando, died in 1985, she had to make do with the small pension he left her. She had no job. She was always tending to the house and to the children.

A P3,500-pension today is not enough to provide for her 6 grandchildren, she said.

Alarde hopes Duterte will listen to the elderly like her – and fast – because she believes she doesn't have much time left.

Programs for farmers, fishermen

CABINET. Ruben Jumao-as shares that the cabinet behind him is the only possession that he was able to save during Super Typhoon Yolanda.

"I hope he gives more attention to the farmers and the fishermen. Give them more jobs and privileges," said Ruben Jumao-as, who has worked as a caretaker of a hacienda for more than 20 years.

Yolanda damaged hectares of the sugarcane plantation he takes care of. Tall sugarcanes turned into twigs scattered on the ground after the typhoon came. The plantation has yet to fully recover.

Jumao-as said it's painful for him to see the farmers working under these conditions. "They always seem tired and unappreciated," he said.

Big businesses, he added, make it even worse for farmers and fishermen who make so much less even with all their efforts combined.

Jumao-as relayed his message to Duterte: "Mr President, please take care of our farmers and our fishermen." – Rappler.com

Richale Cabauatan is a Rappler intern and Mover.