TACLOBAN CITY-About 20 survivors of Yolanda from Leyte, one them a female, have graduated from free heavy equipment operator (HEO) course and earned the National Certificate II (NC II) from the Technological Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico “Dominic” Petilla, in an interview said that storm victims who finished from the free training were among the first batch of the series of trainings on the HEO course for this year. Petilla said that with the NC II qualifications from TESDA, the 20 graduates from Leyte can now apply in any business establishments or firms that are in need of their skills here in our country and abroad. The series of free trainings with the period of six weeks for each training course, is sponsored by the Korean military contingent stationed in Leyte in collaboration with TESDA and the Leyte provincial government. “The series of free trainings on HEO course will be conducted this year for more supertyphoon Yolanda victims,” Petilla said. The governor said that the participants were trained on the operations of forklift, truck mounted crane, bulldozer, hydraulic excavation and wheel loader. Petilla also said that throughout the duration of the course, TESDA shouldered the three-week theoretical aspects of the training, the Koreans also assumed the three-week practical side and the hands-on operation of the heavy equipment which they also provided, while his office offered the venue, participated in the planning process and the recruitment of the participants.(RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)
Napolist tainted with uncertainty
Following the strong denial of three prominent journalists belonging to separate giant news networks in the country that they, too, enjoyed the fruits of the PDAF scam, the sure guilt of those named by Janet Napoles as having taken part of the P10-B PDAF stash is wobbly. The authenticity and truth of the sensational “Napolist” is likewise tainted with doubt. Further, the shock that gripped Mike Enriquez of GMA7, Luchi-Cruz Valdez of ABC5 and Korina Sanchez of ABS-CBN for being dragged into the mess cast much aspersion on certainty as to whether or not all other personalities disclosed by whistle-blower Benhur Luy to have benefitted in this stash is likewise placed in a balance. Most of the personalities so name-dropped into the imbroglio were placed in the hot seat at the Senate investigation. The entire Philippines has known the extent of their involvement with the probe given much focus by the national media. Even these newsmen thus named expressed their individual commentary against the scam. This is not a big deal because every citizen has right to know where each centavo of the taxpayers’ hard-earned money contributed to the coffees of the government – local or national goes is going and utilized. Of all citizens in a demicratic nation, newsmen enjoyed the highest rate of credibility next to church leaders. They are more believable than any statesman of any profession. Their integrity is beyond reproach. As between an accuser’s straightforward attestation and a vehement denial of a seemingly impeccable man as to his involvement in a controversial issue, the latter would usually end up clean and victorious. Now in the controversy at hand, whose pronouncement stands to be more trustworthy? If a lie detector machine is not that dependable and the justice system is not at all flawless, what quality verdict could we have in the PDAF scam? If the Napolist is being assialed by those named therein, who can prove as to its truthfulness? In law there is this long respected maxim that states, “The prosecution’s evidence must stand or fall on its own merits and cannot be allowed to draw strength from the weakness of the evidence for the defense.” In the Napolist contention and Luy’s allegation, Napoles, though being a suspect in the PDAF scam and Luy as the whistleblower have the same burden to prove their allegations. Whose testimony is worth believing is a matter for the investigating body weogh at the end of the day.
Link error
“Link error.” This was what I would customarily hear from the manager of a giant bank which operates a branch in Tacloban. He would use this as an excuse whenever their automated teller machine would not dispense a single peso bill but does a debit on my remittance from abroad. Link error, as i understood, meant an interference in the communication link berween the two systems that would create such detrimental effect. This does not in any way differ from the link error in communication that could cause a situation on which people could just be anxious about. As in any human relations, miscommunication or worse the lack of communication makes connectivity a little erratic and understanding problematic. Worse is, when a simple confusion escalates into a conflict and naivete into nuisance only because people failed to meet minds. A similar instance was the recent perplexity that enveloped the consciousness of trial court employees in turfs afftected by the supertyphoon Yolanda. The confusion stemmed from the sudden reinstatement of the monthly amortization in the loans secured by trial court employees from the Government Service Insurance System. Although the GSIS has circularized a 6-month moratorium on the payment of loans taken out by concerned lower court employees, these same loans were, without prior notice to the borrowers, soon returned to their payroll after two months reprieve. Some employees wondered why was the moratorium (technically the deferment of payment of outstanding loans) stopped too soon, that is two months after it was commenced, that is March and April 2014? They were of the impression that the moratorium is to be implemented for six months reckoned from the day of its implementation. Little did they know that the moratorium was to be effected simultaneously specifically from November 2013 to April 2014. Only recently, this moratorium was extended to another 6-month period within the same areas hardest hit by megastorm Yolanda, that is from May to October this year. This moratorium is the GSIS’ way of reaching out and helping the members and pensioners in Yolanda-striken towns and cities. Loans covered under the moratorium include consolidated loans, housing loans, policy loans, and eCash Advances, according to GSIS. Lately, it was reported that the GSIS is extending the moratorium from May to October this year. Nevertheless, in the situation of lower courts employees benefitted, the first deferment of payment was only made in March and April. According to an EDP personnel in the Supreme Court this delay was due to the non-receipt of the EDP Department of the official copy of the moratorium and the fact that payrolls for lower courts were prepared two.months in advance. This month of May, the moratorium was not effected due to the same reasons that the EDP personnel disclosed. However, an assurance was made by the EDP incharge of the respective areas that the extension will be felt in June until October 2014. One persobnel claimed that he did not anymore waited for the copy from the GSIS, but took it upon himself to get a copy of the extended moratorium. This delay in the implementation of the moratorium is an offshoot of a link error in communication that could have been avoided had the GSIS been prompt in providing the SC EDP department the official copy of the circular mandated. Thanks to those who bombarded the SC EDP department with complaints and inquiries, and the initiative of the EDP personnel in securing the said copy, most members and pensioners who are covered by the moratorium, could once again enjoy the benefits they could derive from such moratorium.
The PDAF scam may yet be another Marcos plunder cases unresolved with a difference!
At the rate this Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel) the popular P10 Billion scam progresses (or is it retrogressing?) could be a history repeating itself like that of President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos – on his over a billion plunder case during his 20-year presidency. Almost after over 2 decades after he and the members of his family and certified cronies fled to other lands for fear of being lynched by angry Filipinos during the EDSA People Power Revolution, the case is still being heard and worse, the clan beneficiaries are back in our political realm, possibly laughing their hearts out at the inutility of our judicial system that are still being worked out, through their successfully winning elections.
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There are a lot of a group of well-heeled plunder manipulators in our midst who may be involved in the P10 Billion PDAF scam and have benefited from it, who now try to muddle this nauseating issue. Their objective probably is to create a polluted and chaotic situation in order that those primarily involved or who at this point in time are really the guiltiest will be relieved of their being the only focus in the here and now relative to this scam. The emerging lists being paraded by many personalities – known to Filipinos, are creating a serious boggling of their mind situation.
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Our people who were primarily robbed of their taxes paid in government that have become a viable source in this large-scale thievery by supposedly credible public servants (legislators/ and senators in particular) would like to see that this P’noy government itself should handle the investigation. This government is credible and at best has all the facilities, mechanisms, power and initiatives to come up with credible findings about this shameless scam. It has the Commission on Audit which determines how government finances are spent; we have the intelligence community which is capable of unearthing hidden wealth by the police and military establishment to include even hidden agenda of corrupt government officials in our civilian agencies. This intelligence group which formerly belongs to police and military establishments has also been employed now in civilian government agencies.
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In media interacting forum in broadcast channels we were able to monitor a discussion. They said that to investigate the Senators through the Blue Ribbon Committee of the Senate will arrive at a kind of doubtful findings. The committee to hear their peers about the scam will crate a problem. So there is a suggestion that government should create a fact-finding commission to hear these cases. The problem is the fact-finding commissions will still file the cases formally in court, after “years” of hearings. We suggest therefore that this issue should be handled solely by the Department of Justice. The DOJ is still a credible agency in the P’noy administration.
Come to think of it. Where is the Presidential Commission on Good Government?
Social Involvement
Getting at least 10 points in the mobile application Flappy Bird is supposed to not create too much ruckus in a third world country. But here in the Philippines, it does. Who doesn’t have the app in their gadgets? We seem to have a knack in always being updated with the latest and the most talked about. I am not surprised because this is not a first; however, it is pretty much disappointing. This third world country, for crying out loud, has bigger problems to problem. We are surrounded by anomalies and risks of death but we are unreservedly lethargic of them. I believe our societal web is at the peak of its trying times. The media have not failed to report our despicable political system, and, Mother Nature has not failed to whip us with her fatal wrath, but, we still disregard them. Majority of us may still be ignorant of what is causing too much national deficiency and most of us may still be uneducated of the effects of our climate’s quantum leap. The public lacks enthusiasm for more significant issues. People are more concerned with entertainment and leisure, and hold back their interest when subject matters become less engaging. For example, the name Cedric Lee and Deniece Cornejo, former anonymous personalities, have now become household favorites. Even elementary pupils can tell a brief background of the issues that cling to Lee and Cornejo. They have become huge Youtube sensations with more than a million views and with more than one featured video in the site’s news feed. How about David Tan, the alleged big-time rice smuggler who is believed to have smuggled rice amounting to millions of pesos? Who knows him? Who knows his face? Who knows the outcome of his suspected stealing? He had his time in the front pages of premier newspapers yet my close friend, a college instructor, does not know him. More people are busy watching the CCTV footages and deciding whether Vhong Navarro is lying or not. But only a few would reread a post or a share regarding advancements for the fight against global warming. In truth, we should be most appreciative of any progress against global warming since we are one of the most affected countries. I can feel that the youth, the ones that should be more knowledgeable on earthly changes, are much more pre-occupied with trend and gossip. Ostensibly, a lot more netizens are concerned with app game scores rather than consequences that may arise should we pay no heed to climate change. I am not spoiling the fun, nor am I dejecting involvement in show business, entertainment and amusement. From time to time, it is very fine to divert our attention to pacific and relaxing things. The problem with today is that we have given the lion’s share of our consciousness to these shallow issues. Apathy towards socially relevant issues is like shunning our identity as Filipinoes and depriving our children of a livable future. I can only beg for everyone to realize the importance of social involvement, because the points that we harvest from doing so, may be more rewarding than the points we earn from tapping and sitting all day.
New DAR regulation assured protection to tenants
SAN ANTONIO, Northern Samar – Agrarian reform adjudicators from the region have convened here recently for the cascading of Administrative Order No. 02 series of 2014 which aims to protect coconut land tenants who are affected by fortuitous events or natural disasters like supertyphoon Yolanda. The rules and regulations on leasehold operations on leasehold operations on planted coconut lands affected by fortuitous events, natural disasters or calamities were discussed during the gathering. AO No. 2 of the Department of Agrarian Reform defines fortuitous events as not only events that are unforeseeable, but also those which are foreseeable but inevitable. It may either be an “act of God,” or natural occurrences such as floods or typhoons, or an “act of man,” such as riots, strikes, or wars. In a press conference, former DAR Assistant Secretary Augusto P. Quijano has explained the salient features of A. O. No. 2 which was issued last January as one of the actions of DAR to help the victims of Yolanda. Quijano has cited E. O, No. 2 Policy Statement (A) stating that “No tenant shall be ejected or dispossessed or removed from his/her farm holding due to the non-payment of lease as a result of a fortuitous event or natural calamity/disaster, except when his/her dispossession has been authorized by an appropriate body or court in a judgment that is final and executor. In the case of tenants who have left their farm holdings to look for temporary livelihood in other places like Manila, Quijano has explained that they should be given a chance to return once they have already rebuild their lives. A. O. No. 2 also states that “…tenant-lessee shall renegotiate a new leasehold agreement with the landowner specifying the new terms and conditions of their tenancy relation or agreements, particularly with respect to the payment of the lease rental, planting or crops, and change of crop, if necessary and upon agreement.” The consideration for the lease shall not be more than the equivalent of 25% of the average normal harvest during the three agricultural years immediately proceeding the date the leasehold was established after deducting the amount used for seeds and the cost of harvesting, threshing, loading, hauling, and processing, whichever are applicable. If the land was cultivated for less than three years, the initial consideration shall be based on the average normal harvest of the preceding year/s when the land was actually cultivated, or on the harvest of the first year in the case of newly cultivated lands, if that harvest is normal. Where the coconut trees on the subject landholding are heavily or totally damaged due to a fortuitous event or natural calamity/disaster resulting in a crop failure, the tenant-lessee’s security of tenure shall be maintained despite the failure to pay lease rentals. During the period when the landholding is being rehabilitated, through the re-planting of the principal crop (coconut trees) and while the said principal crop is still in the gestation state or where production has not yet attained its average normal harvest, the tenant-lessee shall be allowed to plant other crops subject to the preceding paragraph. The other crops planted shall serve as the temporary crop. (GARRY A. VACUNAWA)