Cayetano Blasts Poe-Escudero for "Manila-first policy"

Office of the Senate Majority Leader

Alan Peter S. Cayetano

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

         

PRESS RELEASE

07 January 2016

 

 

Cayetano blasts Poe-Escudero for "Manila-first policy", rest of the country second priority

 

                                           

“Failure is guaranteed for those who do not even want to try.”

This is what Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said as he contradicted fellow vice presidential aspirant Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero's recent statement that a federalism approach to government would not work well in the Philippine setup.

Reacting to Escudero's criticism over Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte's call for a Federal form of government, Cayetano dubbed the latter's account as a "classic Manila-centric" attitude and remained firm that inclusive growth can only be achieved if power and resources are equally distributed among all the regions.

“It is clear that there are some people who just want to get votes and win but lack the passion and the vision to change the country. They offer the same solutions that have failed miserably in the past and will not go to great extents to create real changes that people want and need,” Cayetano lamented.

"This ‘Manila first, other regions later policy' of Senator Escudero and his running mate, Senator Grace Poe, is actually the main cause for underdevelopment and the lack of jobs for our people in other parts of the country. It's apparent that their tandem only wants to limit economic growth and improvement in the National Capital Region," he added.

Cayetano further said Escudero’s position on the matter is “understandable” because as the former chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, Escudero would naturally defend the national budget, which allocates one-third of the country’s funds to Metro Manila while other regions only get two to four percent each.

The senator also took a jab at Escudero for questioning his motive in backing Duterte’s call, stressing that he has been supporting the same agenda even before his tandem with the Davao mayor was formalized. 

“For the past two years, I have been pushing for the decongestion of Metro Manila by decentralizing government and promoting countryside development. This has been my call since the very beginning,” Cayetano pointed out.

 

“It happens to be very much aligned with Mayor Duterte’s Federalism approach. We share the same vision, that’s why I chose to support him. Dahil pareho kaming naniniwala na ang kailangan ng bansa ay isang gobyernong magbibigay ng matapang na solusyon at mabilis na aksyon,” he added.

Cayetano has long been urging government to fund more programs that will promote development among other regions in the country. He earlier stressed that bolder solutions and swifter action are needed to attain inclusive growth, as many Filipinos living outside the metropolis still feel left behind.

"The very essence of Federalism is to ensure that growth and prosperity are spread to every part of the Philippines, not just in Manila. It's a pity that Senators Poe and Escudero are against this. Kawawa naman ang ibang parte ng bansa kung sila ang mamumuno," Cayetano concluded. ###

35th ASEAN TOURISM FORUM Enlarge Photo PRESS RELEASE 01 / 05 / 2016 TEN TOURISM CZARS OF ASEAN TO MEET IN MANILA AT 2016 ATF PHILIPPINES - The tourism ministers of the ten countries constituting the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) are meeting in Manila at the staging of the 35th ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) this month to map out an integrated tourism development plan and policy framework for the entire region. The ministers, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT), will also meet with the officers of the national tourism organizations (NTOs) of the ASEAN-member countries during the ATF 2016. Comprising the NTOs are industry players and regulators of the various tourism sectors of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The daily meetings will be held at the Hotel Sofitel Philippine Plaza from January 18 to 22 as DOT marketing arm Tourism Promotions Board rolls out the ATF exhibits at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia, for the entire duration of the 8-day international event, or up to January 25. DOT Undersecretary and ATF 2016 Philippine Host Committee Chairman Benito C. Bengzon Jr. said the ATF exhibits featuring the bests of ASEAN would give thousands of visitors from all over the world an awesome viewing experience. Among the visitors will be hundreds of foreign buyers and members of the international media. “Representing the Philippines at the ASEAN Ministers Meeting is (DOT) Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez Jr., who sees the region emerging as a major player in global tourism,” Bengzon said. “The policies to be formulated and polished will be based on the inputs from the various NTOs and how these can be reconciled with the current laws of the ASEAN-member countries and immediately implemented across the board. The overriding objective is to come up with a single tourism policy infrastructure, legal framework or strategic platform for all of ASEAN that will be in line with the AEC (ASEAN Economic Community) blueprint 2025 formulated recently (Nov. 22, 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) and boost the inflow of tourists, not just to one or two countries, but throughout the region,” Bengzon pointed out. “The objective is to make ASEAN tourism contribute to the overall regional economic integration agenda that is envisioned to address the human requirements of Southeast Asia’s 622 million people,” Bengzon explained. “That regional population is equivalent to a whopping US$2.6 trillion consumer market, which can be translated into a massive human resource with a GDP or total economic output of US$2.57 trillion at a growth rate of 4.6 percent in 2014, or much faster than the developing Europe’s 2.4 percent, Latin America’s 0.9 percent, and the combined Middle East’s and North Africa’s 2.2 percent, all based on World Bank figures,” Bengzon stressed. “And while global financial services firm Morgan Stanley has projected the world economy to contract by five percent last year, the ADB (Asian Development Bank) sees ASEAN economic growth rising by 4.9 percent in 2015 and 5.3 percent in 2016 to help balance the deceleration in China and cushion its global impact,” Bengzon added. He cited tourism as one of ASEAN’s major strategic and tactical weapons in perking up business activities, drawing investments from other global growth centers, generating employment, raising government revenues, increasing corporate and individual incomes, and broadening up the region’s domestic capital and entrepreneurial base to help fight poverty and resist global financial shocks. “We just have to collectively preserve, develop and promote our distinctly natural, historical and cultural tourism attributes as economic assets and use them sustainably in addressing the needs of the ASEAN people. As the saying goes: ‘The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.’ This exactly is what ASEAN tourism integration is envisioned to achieve and inspire through this year’s ATF theme ‘One Community for Sustainability.’ ASEAN’s tourism resources constitute a gold mine yet to be tapped as, indeed, the best is yet to come,” Bengzon stressed. Ref: Joy A. Gador / Tel. No. (63 2) 533-9732 / MEGAReach Emailcast to more than 10,000 online guests worldwide: Department of Tourism - Region III (Central Luzon) G/F Marlim Mansions Hotel Bldg., Diamond Subd., Balibago, Angeles City, Philippines Phone: (63 45) 625-8525 Email: tourismregion3@gmail.com Recipient: PATA Gold Intl Award 2001, Kalakbay Natl Award 2001, ASEANTA Intl Award 2002 for Best Ecotourism Project Log on: www.visitmyphilippines.com MORE THAN 25 MILLION ONLINE GUESTS HAVE VISITED THIS SITE SINCE 2007. FIND OUT WHY!

NAIA and Bus Terminals Jam-Packed as Pinoys Go Back to Work and School

Published January 4, 2016 8:28am

With the holiday season over, it's back to school and back to work for many Filipinos on Monday, a report on Unang Balita said.

Those who spent their vacation in provinces have flocked to bus terminals, while those who went to Manila for the holidays trooped to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for flights back home.

In Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, bus trips were already fully booked on Monday, but this did not prevent people from hoping to be chance passengers.

Police were on the alert to provide security to passengers, the report said.

At terminals in Balanga City, Bataan, buses were full within five minutes due to the volume of people wanting to get a ride in time for the first day of work or school on Monday.

Meanwhile, at the Odiongan Port in Romblon, the queue was already long for tickets. Some passengers even camped out on Sunday night to be able to get in line first.

In Legazpi City, Albay, passengers who had their vacation in the city had difficulty getting tickets to Manila since the bus company does not accept reservations.

Passengers had no choice but wait in line.

The dispatchers however said there were enough buses going to Manila on Monday.

In Baguio, the situation was almost the same, with passengers coming in droves to get on buses going to Manila.

Bus companies had to field out more buses to accommodate all the passengers.

They also gave the assurance there were enough buses for those going back to Manila.

NAIA

Meanwhile, at NAIA, passengers themselves have already expected there will be more people at the airport on Monday.

Many of them were going back home to the provinces after spending the holidays in Manila.

Several passengers went to NAIA early enough for their domestic flights to avoid any inconvenience.

One balikbayan family was seen with their luggage wrapped in cling wrap, since they said they heard the news about the laglag-bala scam.

Authorities reminded passengers to be at NAIA at least two hours before their domestic flight, and three hours before their international flight to avoid any inconvenience. —KG, GMA News

Disney On Ice Manila 2015 - Mickey Mouse and friends

Happy New Year / Frohes Neues Jahr 2016

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White Christmas – white winters?

MON, DECEMBER 28, 2015 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINION
KLAUS DORING

We all know the difference between enjoying a white Christmas or white winters. With record-breaking temperatures around the world this winter, the people in my home country Germany but also neighboring Austria and Switzerland – known for winter wonderland tourism – are really missing white winters. Surely, it reflects on the absurdity of negotiating a global temperature. Who of us could be in another opinion?

I remember well my first winter in Germany still being a little boy: it was cold, so cold. Breath away taking cold. Living in the deep at the time, I was astounded to see people skiing along the forest path on the stretch of park I typically biked through to get downtown. Winter during my childhood, was also harsh. Even my Filipina wife experienced and established her own personal limit below 0 degrees Celsius for bike-riding or even travelling around.

Both of us were enchanted with how snow transformed the drab surroundings into a “winter wonderland.” One of my friends in Berlin had become a sledding enthusiast – she had so much fun, that I bought myself a used sled that spring at a flea market. Once upon a time: Christmas is over, but the snow hasn’t come again.

Let’s talk about the world. Globally, this “winter” had been the warmest on record until this year. Of course, winter is not yet over, but what can we expect more? And next year could continue to break records – because the planet is warming. Since pre-industrial times, average global temperature has increased by about a degree Celsius. Not a good thing, indeed. Staying in the Philippines for good since 17 years now, I observed this not good thing even here.

Some people might point out that warmer winters – especially in central Europe – are a boon. Less people will die due to extreme cold, and the growing season is longer. Global warming looks likely to make grape cultivation – and thus wine production – possible in Scandinavia, for example.

Although there might be a few bright spots resulting from global warming, the big picture does not look good. As past years have already indicated, climate change is resulting in more severe storms, heavy flooding, and prolonged heat and dry periods.

This harms ecosystems, and systems we humans depend on: food production, water supply, healthy oceans.

As climate change marches on, around the world – and also in Europe – we will ever more directly feel the results of this massive experiment that humans are conducting with the Earth. As I mentioned before: winter sports have also taken a hit due to this year’s warm winter. Sure, while covering the climate summit in Paris, at one point I was struck with the absurdity: How can people negotiate the temperature of the planet? Many were pleased with the stated 1.5-degree goal that came out of the Paris Agreement. But just imagine: If what we are seeing now is 1 degree, what will another half degree be like?

Be mad at me. Call me a pessimist. But, negotiating the climate is not only absurd, it’s astoe undingly arrogant.Innumerable species and human lives hang in the balance. If the global community were to truly take responsibility, we’d stop burning fossil fuels this very moment. And here in the Philippines the uncounted fires of our neighbors because of non-existing waste management … ! Maybe someday I will relate to my grandchildren what snow was like. Maybe my complaint is premature – maybe the weather will swing into the other direction, and we’ll have massive blizzards. In summer perhaps. Maybe Greenland’s ice sheet melt-off will plunge Europe into a new Ice Age, as some predict. As we all know: we’re talking now about climate CHANGES… .

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Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me in Facebook or Twitter or visitwww.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com.

No More Sad Christmas for Public School Teachers

Office of the Senate Majority Leader

Alan Peter S. Cayetano

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

         

PRESS RELEASE

27 December 2015

 

 

No more sad Christmas for public school teachers under Duterte-Cayetano

"The country's public school teachers will have a merrier Christmas under a Duterte-Cayetano government."

 

This was the pledge made today by presidential contender Davao City Mayor Rodrigo "Rody" Duterte and his running mate Senate Majority leader Alan Peter Cayetano.

 

The tandem said if elected in 2016, they will grant an additional P 10,000 compensation for public school teachers over and above the Salary Standardization Law (SSL).

 

"Tatapusin natin ang malulungkot na pasko ng ating mga guro. Hindi dapat sila tinitipid at kinakaligtaan. Makakaasa ang ating mga guro ng matapang na solusyon at mabilis na aksyon para itaas ang kanilang mga sahod at iba pang benepisyo," Cayetano said.

 

The senator lambasted the government's proposed salary increase for public school teachers calling it "inconsiderate" and "negligible."

 

Cayetano said the government's proposed entry-level position of teachers is to grant an additional amount of P2,205.00 from the present P18,549.00 or a meager increase of less than 12%, spread over a period of four years, making the annual increase of a little more than P500.00, the lowest in recent history.

 

"Instead of repairing the government's erroneous compensation scheme for teachers, which past and present salary laws classified teachers as among the lowest paid government professionals, its proposed salary increase only reinforced this flawed system," Cayetano said.

 

"This what Mayor Duterte and I want to end. We will restore the dignity of the teaching profession. No more cheapskate wage increases which do not address burdensome taxes, cost of living and living conditions in general," Cayetano added.

                                                                                                                       

Cayetano said their proposal is part of his Senate Bill 94, that grants public school teachers, locally-funded teachers, non-teaching personnel, and non-teaching personnel of the Department of Education (DepEd) additional compensation. 

Mindanao – Time To Talk About It

November 29, 2015/in becomingfilipino /by kyle

It didn’t take long. Within hours of an article being posted by a National Newspaper in New Zealand about a beauty queen (http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/74332702/kiwi-beauty-pageant-contestant-flees-philippines), Cagayan de Oro and Mindanao became a national talking point in the Philippines. Articles with most major national news sites and Facebook pages in the Philippines popped up pretty quick, discussing and highlighting the negative thoughts. The article and its stereotyping of Cagayan de Oro as being “worse then Afghanistan” and the negative experiences of a foreign beauty queen quickly escalated Filipinos to start to judge, debate, defend and get to the bottom of the statements made. It was a hot topic all over the country and of course here in Cagayan de Oro City, the place I call home in Northern Mindanao.

Yes, I am a foreigner living here in Cagayan de Oro. Although to be honest I don’t feel foreign here at all. I have lived here now on and off for over two years. I have become close with this community and am proud to call this city my home. Since day one I have always been aware of the advisories, negative issues and stereotypes that face the people here in Northern Mindanao and Mindanao in general. At first they definitely put a little bit of fear into my life. I was a little more cautious and fearful then my usual self. There are so many negative thoughts thrown around about Mindanao on a daily basis, through media, internet and in general chit-chat that it would be hard not to have a little fear when you hear that word.

So where am I going with this?

Well the more I read articles and comments about this beauty queen, and the article written overseas. The more I see Filipinos take uproar about how ridiculous and overly negative the statements about Cagayan de Oro City and Mindanao were… The more I started thinking about it all.

It is a fact that Filipinos are interested in foreign opinions. Most of the time if there is an article of praise or criticism about the Philippines involving a foreigner they will be more popular. In fact I am living proof of that. I am aware that many people are probably intrigued about my opinions because I am Canadian and have no Filipino background. It provides a different insight.   Knowing this, I also have to be careful whenever I write or post and remember the effect it could have.

But when it comes to this “Mindanao Issue” and stereotypes. I have developed a strong belief on the topic. It is a homegrown issue that needs to be addressed in the Philippines first and foremost. What do I mean by “addressed in the Philippines?”

Let me share with you what happens often when I am outside of Mindanao travelling:

Filipino: “Hey Man! Where are you from.”

Me: “I am from Canada but I live in Cagayan de Oro, Mindanao (I will share this in Bisaya/Tagalog).

Filipino: “What! Abu Sayaff! Aren’t you afraid of the bombs! You shouldn’t be there! You will be kidnapped!

Me: “Excuse me. I have lived there for two years and driven around every province in Northern Mindanao on a scooter exploring. It is beautiful and I love living there.”

Filipino: “No it is too dangerous.”

Me: “Have you been there?”

Filipino: “No I wouldn’t go! Like I said, it is too dangerous, the people there are bad and Abu Sayaff and terrorists are there.”

I didn’t over-exaggerate this conversation what so ever. I have been to 32 provinces now all over the country on a scooter, including every one in Northern Mindanao. This is very common and something that happens all the time when the word “Mindanao” is mentioned and discussed with Filipinos from outside of Mindanao. Now I am not taking away from the fact that yes Abu Sayaff exists, yes bombs have gone off, and yes there are areas that are very tense, dangerous and best be avoided by people who are not local. But, those things are not representative of Mindanao as a whole. If you have lived here for a long time and travelled around you will soon understand that Mindanao is massive, diverse and home to many beautiful, safe and happy places to explore! Just like anywhere in the world, you just need to do a bit of research and take the necessary precautions.

I have written articles about this before. But this New Zealand beauty queen issue really opened my eyes to something else…

I am completely convinced that the first thing that needs to be tackled is this negative perception at home in the Philippines. To me, when someone responds to Cagayan de Oro, or Mindanao with the words “Abu Sayaff, kidnappings and bombings” that is the ultimate in extreme talk. That is the kind of talk that doesn’t educate, is very extreme, is unproductive and simply put… is dangerous.

Why is it dangerous?

Because it is preaching negativity without experience, discussion and knowledge.

Millions of foreigners will come to the Philippines every year for travel, adventure, and holidays. A vast majority of them will go to places outside of Mindanao due to advisories and safety concerns. Even though I personally believe that Northern Mindanao is no different then travelling other areas of the Philippines, I completely respect and understand how others can be deterred from coming here. I would never take offence to that. The travel advisories that exist have their purpose and I don’t take offence to making people aware.

But what I do take offence to…

The thought that if these millions of foreigners mention “Mindanao” during their holidays outside of Mindanao, there is a high probability that they are being responded to in such an extreme way.

Earlier I said:

“It is a fact that Filipinos are interested in foreign opinions. Most of the time if there is an article of praise or criticism about the Philippines involving a foreigner they will be more popular.”

Well with the newspaper article in New Zealand. That was the case. It was negative extreme talk about an area in the Philippines. It had to be addressed. But what hit me the most about it? Negative talk about Mindanao is already everywhere in the Philippines. It is incredibly common from Filipinos all over the country and world. That type of extreme stereotyping and generalizing happens all the time on a local basis. Filipinos do it everyday.

I strongly believe the only way it is ever going to change in a positive way is if Filipino media and Filipino people around the country start to discuss it, interact about it, and challenge it more. I’d love to see more headlines challenging perception and Mindanao, discussing it, educating and interacting about it. Not just when it has foreigner perception.

Yes I am a foreigner and it may sound ridiculous that I am writing about Filipinos, challenging Filipinos without foreigner perception. But in regards to Mindanao…

This country needs more of it.

I believe it is more damaging how Filipinos view Mindanao. Not how a national Newspaper in New Zealand does. I believe the only way to truly stop the blunt negativity is by Filipinos making it a national talking point not just when foreigners are involved.

What is Becoming Filipino?

#BecomingFilipino is an adventure. It is the journey of a 26 year old Canadian trying to “Become Filipino”. Simply put, I am not Filipino. I don’t have a Filipino passport and it would be almost impossible for me to get one. Truth is I will never be able to say “I am Filipino” (and never deserve/would have the right to). But there are so many simple beautiful things that I have experienced and witnessed that make up Filipino culture… Things that I would be honoured to learn from, and be honoured to share with the world around me.

I love the Philippines and would be honored to be able to call myself “part Filipino.”

I am asking for help. I need help creating a list, but not just any list… a list that will help me in #BecomingFilipino. I need to experience Filipino things. I need to better understand the People, Environment, Food and Culture. I need to better understand what it means to be Filipino. What it takes to be able to have those simple beautiful things that make up the heart of a Filipino. I have decided to make lists… The lists will be focused on those four things… and well anything that will help me learn from this culture and these people that have inspired so much happiness in my life.

Super Apir!