PIA Dispatch - Tuesday, November 18, 2008

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Speech during the Inauguration of the Busuanga airport
Brgy. Ecalachao, Coron, Palawan, November 17, 2008

Thank you very much, Secretary Mendoza, at congratulations sa iyo at lahat ng mga officials ng DOTC dito sa ating napakagandang bagong airport. Congratulations!

Governor Joel Reyes, thank you very much for your kind remarks, at thank you for the recollections of the time when I came here to your fiesta and this was just a dirt airport and it was nice to see it now as a real holiday airport. Congratulations!

Our congressmen, Tony Alvarez and Baham Mitra, congratulations also! And congratulations to Tony for your new airport also in San Vicente which was finished last October 31st; and to Baham, congratulations on your forthcoming terminal which will be finished in May in 2009.

Ambassador Choi Choong Kyung, thank you for this airport which was funded by a grant from KOICA. Thank you for the friendship between the people of the Philippines and the people of Korea. I’m glad that you talked about your early struggles when the Philippines sent a contingent to Korea to help you in your fight against communism, and I’m very honored that, at that time, the one who signed… who authored that resolution to send troops to Korea was Congressman Diosdado Macapagal, my father.

Mayor Mario Reyes and all the officials of Coron in Busuanga, I say that because people get confused; they say, you know, we wanted to go to Busuanga -- Airport but they send us to Coron instead, so we have to tell everybody that it’s one and the same airport, it’s Coron comma Busuanga -- so congratulations to you! And may you be, therefore, now the hub of tourism in the Calamianes Islands.

Tamang-tama ang pagbukas nitong airport para sa Christmas holidays. Sabi nga ni Secretary Larry Mendoza, punong-puno na raw, three times bigger na raw ang traffic dito sa Coron, Busuanga mula noong nagsimula itong pag-ayos ng airport na ito. At, by the end of the year, sabi ni Larry, baka makaabot na ang full capacity ng airport, baka kailangan mag-expand na naman tayo para sa GAA starting next year.

At tamang-tama nga, we’re opening this airport as we open the start of the Holiday Season. Habang papalapit ang Kapaskuhan, dapat nating bilangin ang ating mga grasya at higit na pag-asa at kumpiyansa, harapin ang kinabukasan.

Sabi ng mga dalubhasa, in a very stormy sea of global economic uncertainty, the Philippine economy is a relative island of calm.

Nitong Kapaskuhan, dapat magkasama-sama ang ating taong-bayan upang ipagdiwang ang pananampalataya at pamilya. Dapat magkaisa ang ating mga komunidad at isantabi ang mga personal na banggaan at mga alitan sa pulitika. Kaya ako’y nasisiyahan sa narinig ko, sinabi ni Joel, lahat ng kanyang mga kasamahan dito na nagtatrabaho sabay-sabay, sama-sama para sa kaunlaran ng Palawan.

Dapat talaga ituon ang ating paningin sa mga positibong bagay na kaya nating gawin sama-sama upang ma-ibayo ang ating mga buhay. Naniniwala tayo na magiging maganda ang ating kinabukasan, lalo na ang kinabukasan ng Calamianes Islands.

Naniniwala ako sa pag-asa, pananalig at katatagan ng taong-bayang Pilipino. Titiyakin nating matyag ang pamahalaan sa paghatid ng mga serbisyo sa taong-bayan. Mahalagang pinagsisilbihan kayo ng pamahalaan at naibibigay sa inyo ang mga nararapat na serbisyo.

Ginagawa ng inyong pamahalaan ang lahat sa abot ng kakayahan upang maglagay ng pagkain sa bawat mesa at protektahan ang inyong kita mula sa mataas na presyo ng bilihin at mataas na inflation. Tuloy din nating pinamumuhunan ang sistema ng kalinga sa kalusugan, edukasyon at serbisyong panlipunan ng bansa.

Nagsisikap tayong pababain ang presyo ng gasolina, ng bigas, ng pagkain; at patuloy na paramihin ang mga trabaho at ang pamumuhunan na patuloy na lilikha ng mga pagkakataong trabaho para sa higit pa nating mga kababayan. Kaya sabi nga ni Joel kanina, eto na yung mga nagsimula ng Boracay Boat Station 1 ay maglalagay na dito sa Calamianes. At yung Banyan Tree na nagsimula ng Phuket ay magsisimula na rin ng construction doon sa isang pulo dito sa Busuanga. Kaya kasama sa mga importanteng pamumuhunan na naglilikha ng maraming trabaho ang turismo.

Sa una nating State of the Nation Address nung 2001, sinabi natin na higit itutulak ang mga industriyang mabilis lumago at kung saan pinakamarami ang trabahong may matataas na kita. Isa rito ang Information and Communication Technology at, bukod doon, isa pa rin na malaki ang lamang natin ay turismo. Malaki ang lamang natin sa magagandang natural na tanawin sa ating bansa, at sa likas na kabaitan ng ating taong-bayan. Sinasabi nga nila -- eto ha, hindi nanggagaling sa akin ito -- sinasabi nga nila ang pinakamagandang probinsya raw sa buong Pilipinas ay ang Palawan. Eh mabuti sabihin ko na hindi nanggagaling sa akin, narinig ko ito sa ibang tao. Sinabi nating gagawin natin ang mga kalsada at mga pasilidad upang maka-abot ang mga turista doon sa mga magagandang tanawin, at ‘yan ang pinagdidiwang natin ngayon.

Nararapat na pambansang prayoridad ang turismo dahil sa epekto nito sa panlipunang kaunlaran. Sa trabaho, matatawag natin isang “big tent” industry ang turismo. Ano ang ibig sabihin ng “big tent”? Ibig sabihin noon, lumilikha ito ng maraming trabaho, maging skilled o unskilled. Maglilikha ito ng trabaho saan man may potensyal ang turismo, hindi kailangang sa siyudad. At bawat dayuhang bisita, sabi ni Secretary Ace Durano, ay lumilikha ng isang trabaho. At dahil personal ang pag-asikaso dito, personal ang serbisyo, hindi napapalitan ng makina ang tao kaya makakabigay ng katiyakan sa trabaho, yun ang kabutihan ng turismo.

Sa ating State of the Nation Address noong 2006, pinakilala natin ang super region na tinatawag Central Philippines. Itong malaking rehiyon ay sinasakop ang Palawan at Romblon, Visayas at Bohol, hanggang sa mga hilagang isla ng Mindanao na Camiguin at Siargao. At isang dahilan kung bakit inimbita ko si Governor Carrion ng Marinduque ay titignan natin kung ano ang magagawa natin para maisama rin ang Marinduque sa Central Philippines.

Sa pangunguna ng Boracay, Cebu, Bohol at Palawan, itong apat na probinsyang ito, humahatak ito sa mahigit kalahati sa mga turistang dumadayo sa Pilipinas, kaya congratulations sa inyo! Kaya naman ang prayoridad dito ay pamumuhunan sa turismo.

Kailangan ng turismo ng Palawan, gaya nang sabi ko kanina, na ayusin ang airport ng Puerto Princesa, Busuanga at San Vicente. Yun ang sinabi ko noong 2006. At kailangan magtayo ng bagong airport sa Balabac, at kailangan makumpleto ang kalsadang El Nido-Bataraza na nagsisilbing backbone ng buong Palawan.

Gaya nang sabi ko, tapos na yung upgrade ng San Vicente noong Halloween, holiday din. At yung Puerto Princesa, inaayos ang terminal, matatapos sa Mayo at sabi nga ni Baham, para naman maging full development lang, bagamat ngayon kaya na ang mga eroplano galing sa ibang bansang malalapit ay gusto rin ni Baham -- ito siguro masyadong malaki baka hindi tayo makakuha ng grant sa KOICA -- but Ambassador, according to Congressman Baham Mitra, we will try to have a loan from the Korean Exim Bank for the airport development of Puerto Princesa.

Ang Balabac naman, inaasahan natin na pribadong sektor ang gagawa pero halos tapos na ang feasibility study para hindi na sila ang gumastos para sa feasibility study. At marami na ring bahaging natapos sa El Nido-Bataraza Highway. At upang mapabilis ito, sinabi ko kay Secretary Ebdane na kunin ang pondo sa Malampaya funds. At narito tayo ngayon sa pagtutupad ng pangako tungkol sa airport sa bayan ng Coron sa isla ng Busuanga. Inuulit ko, kagaya ng sabi ko, maraming nalilito, akala dalawang airport ang Coron at Busuanga. Hindi nga dalawang airport isa lamang pero napakaganda na. At sinabi ni Governor Reyes na ipapangalan itong airport ng Francisco B. Reyes Coron, Busuanga Airport bilang parangal sa Mayor ng Coron noong 1936 hanggang 1939 na siyang nagbigay ng donasyong lupa na tinatayuan nitong airport ngayon.

Bukod sa turismo, ang Palawan rin ay isa sa mga pangunahing probinsiyang nagtatanim ng palay na inuunang bigyan ng pamahalaan ng pangangailangan sa pagtanim, pag-ani at pagbenta dahil malaki ang potensyal na mapalago ang ani dito. And our farmers are getting the investments they need.

Patuloy ang suporta ng pamahalaan sa agrikultura, pinakamalaki sa kasaysayan. Kung nitong nakaraang taon ay kulang sa 100,000 metric tons na palay ang binili sa mga Pilipinong magsasaka, ngayon gagawin natin itong… ginagawa natin itong isang milyong tonelada, upang ma-engganyo ang pagtaas ng produksyon ng bigas. At bunga nito, umaasa tayo na patuloy bababa ang inflation rate at dapat patuloy ring bumaba ang presyo ng bigas. Inaasahan nating lalaki ang kakayahan ng inyong paycheck o kinikita.

Kaya sa mga magsasaka ng Palawan at sa iba pang probinsiyang nakapag-ani ng surplus, maraming maraming salamat sa inyo.

Sa araw-araw, dapat nating ihandog ang ating sarili sa pagtulong sa ating mga kababayang mahihirap at kapus-palad, ngunit lalung-lalo na sa panahon ng Kapaskuhan. Sa panahong ito ng pag-asa, pagmamahalan at pananalig, dapat magtrabaho tayo upang mabigyan ng oportunidad at pangkabuhayan at pantaong dignidad ang bawat Pilipino.

At itong airport na ito, na magpapalago ng turismo, yun nga ang kanyang magagawa dito sa Northern Palawan.

Ang pagsisikap ng mga magsasaka sa Palawan at ang bagong airport na ito ay nagpapalakas ng tiwala natin sa ating kinabukasan at sa pag-asa at katatagan ng mga Palaweño at ng taong-bayang Pilipino.

Kaya sa inyong lahat mga taga-Coron, congratulations! Mga taga Busuanga, congratulations! Mga taga Northern Palawan at buong probinsya ng Palawan, congratulations sa inyong lahat!

Maraming salamat, may you have many more tourists to come. Thank you.


Obama telephones PGMA to reassure her of continuing RP-US good relations

US president-elect Barack Obama has reassured President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of continuing good relations between the Philippines and the United States.

Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said today that Obama made the assurance in an “early dawn” phone call to the President.

The press secretary said the President herself confirmed Obama’s call to her.

Earlier reports said Obama talked to the President and the leaders of Georgia and Turkey to thank them for their congratulatory messages following his historic election on Nov. 4.

Obama "expressed his appreciation for their congratulations on his election," reports stated.

Obama's call to the President came after he initially failed to return her congratulatory message after the election.

The President had earlier expressed confidence that the incoming Obama presidency holds much promise of enhanced relations between the Philippines and the United States.

In a letter to the President on June 24, 2008 during her working visit to the US, Obama outlined issues and concerns for collaboration between the Philippines and the United States hinging on a ‘partnership that makes progress on 21st-century challenges.”


Malacanang declares Dec. 1, 26, and 29 non-working holidays

In line with her “holiday economics,” President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declares today Dec. 1, 26, and 29 as non-working holidays Dec 1, a Monday, is nearest to Nov. 30, Bonifacio Day which falls on a Sunday this year.
Aside from these dates, the Palace released the list of upcoming holidays for the remainder of 2008, pursuant to Proclamation 1463, which President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed last Feb. 18, 2008.

Regular Holidays: Dec. 25 (Thursday) – Christmas Day; and Dec. 30 (Tuesday) – Rizal Day.

Special Non-Working Holidays: Dec. 31 (Wednesday) – last day of the year.

The declaration also allows families to have long weekends.


Dureza makes light of fuss over opening prayer

Press Secretary Jesus Dureza today made light of the opening prayer he delivered at the start of the Cabinet meeting in Malacanang this morning (Tuesday) that had sparked speculations in the media that he was calling on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to serve beyond her term which ends in 2010.

The object of instant conjecture was the part of Dureza’s opening prayer for the President to have the “tolerance to serve the nation until 2010 and beyond.”

But he told members of the media covering Malacanang that what got lost in the interpretation was his closing phrase -- “in her personal and private capacity.”

Even the President, who has repeatedly foresworn any ambition to extend her term beyond 2010, was apparently taken aback when she heard Dureza mention the eyebrow-raising phrase.

Dureza said that he had somehow “left my prepared text” of the prayer that he was scheduled to deliver at the opening of the Cabinet meeting, so he decided to just deliver a “light prayer, so I went on.”

“God has a lot of sense of humor… In the end, I prayed for the President to have the tolerance to serve the nation until 2010 and beyond – in her personal and private capacity…”

But he said that the conclusion of his prayer was drowned out, even as he stressed that it was his idea to have his prayer declared “off the record.”

“She was not,” Dureza responded, when he was asked if the President was exasperated over his prayer, considering that the Arroyo administration had time and again insisted that the President will just finish her term which ends on June 30, 2010.

“We were bantering, as a matter of fact. It was a light prayer. If (the others) did not get it right, they have no sense of humor,” he said.

“We had a good laugh after. But that is my prayer to the Lord. We are too serious sometimes, eh,” he added.

“Ako humiling na off the record (because) it might not be taken (as it is – a light prayer),” Dureza said.

“You pray in a light manner,” he later advised media as he joked that, henceforth, all media briefings by him would start with an opening prayer, with him doing the praying so members of the Malacanang Press Corps would already have stories based on his prayer.



PGMA leads launch of project D.R.I.V.E Wednesday

Spouses and immediate family members of drivers and conductors of public utility vehicles (PUVs) will finally get their share of the “Katas ng VAT” as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo launches Project DRIVE in Malacanang tomorrow.

The Project DRIVE or Dagdag Regular Income Via Entrepreneurship was the offshoot of the President’s pronouncement during the forum on Alternative Fuels for Public Transport Group held last July 16, 2008, where she announced the release of P500 million from VAT revenues to extend livelihood project to wives and immediate family members of drivers and conductors of PUVs in response to the high price of oil.

Thus, the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Transportation and Communications signed a memorandum of agreement to pursue the project.

The project entails the provision of no interest, no collateral capital assistance to some 95,000 target beneficiaries that will be adopting the Self Employment Assistance – Kaunlaran (SEA-K) scheme of the DSWD.

The DOTC is the lead agency for the project and will be responsible for the pre-identification of the beneficiaries while the Philippine Postal Savings Bank, will be the fund manager of the program, and the Presidential Management Staff is the oversight office for project DRIVE.

The capital assistance ranges from a minimum of P5,000 for individual or a maximum of P150,000 for an association with 30 members.

At present, the DSWD has partnered with LTFRB and the Office of Transport Cooperatives for the regional allocation of funds for the transport groups and cooperatives.


Gov’t may resume informal talks with NDF-CPP

The Arroyo administration may soon hold informal talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines – National Democratic Front (CPP-NDF) and its armed group, the New People’s Army (NPA), in another attempt to reach a common ground on how to restart formal talks on ending the decades-old communist insurgency in the country.
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Hermogenes Esperon, in a press briefing in Malacanang this afternoon, said the government is “indeed considering allowing our panel to go to Norway” upon the proposal of the government of Oslo for a third informal meeting after formal peace talks between the government and the NDF-CPP-NPA collapsed in Aug. 2004.

Esperon said an agenda of the informal talks will have to be put in place before the government panel headed by former Labor Secretary Nieves Confesor proceeds to Oslo.

Among the key topics the government would like to take up during the informal meeting, according to Esperon, are those on different modes of ceasefire taking into account models from other peace processes in other countries, and discussions on putting a stop to the NPA’s illegal taxation and recruitment of children for combat.

He also said the NPA’s violent activities on the ground must be discussed. Among the crimes committed by the NPA during the last 10 months were 34 rape cases, 104 liquidations of which 94 were civilian victims; 14 kidnappings, five robbery/holdups, and 66 arson cases.

Esperon also said NPAs must stop attacking mining and construction companies and cell sites.

Likewise, they must put a stop to using landmines, and the killings in the countryside, he added.

Esperon also said the government panel will put forward the Arroyo administration’s new paradigm of peace based on disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR), and seek a more efficient implementation of the Joint Agreement on Security and Immunity Guarantees or JASIG.

“We will await the response of the other side,” he said.

Esperon said that the government remains open to negotiating peace with the NDF even as he stressed that the informal talks will only be “exploratory, no commitments.”

The government has insisted on a ceasefire before the holding of the peace talks so that the rebels can prove that they are not terrorists, after all, he said.

He pointed out that removing the rebel group from the list of terrorist organizations is something the government cannot do because it cannot dictate on other countries like the members of the European Union (EU), which have blacklisted the NPA as a foreign terrorist organization.

The Oslo-brokered talks between the government and the CPP-NDF-NPA collapsed after members of the NDF panel walked out of the negotiations in 2004 in protest over the groups’ inclusion in the EU terror list.



Palace welcomes Enrile, like it welcomed Villar – Dureza

Malacanang today said it welcomes the installation of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile as it welcomed Sen. Manuel Villar when the latter became Senate president.

In his regular Tuesday briefing in Malacanang this afternoon, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said: “We welcomed Senator Villar when he became Senate president. We also welcome Senator Enrile as the new Senate leader now.”

Dureza pointed out that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself has not said a word about the change of leadership in the Senate. “She has not said anything to us. We were focused on the issues of the two sectors – the NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority) and the NSC (National Security Council).”

“Whoever is head of the Senate, the Palace will continue its agenda and appeal to that chamber to act on priority bills. Our priorities are still the same – we would like to see them move in the Senate. How to act on these is up for them to determine,” he said.

Asked if the Palace expects a “more cooperative Senate,” Dureza said, “We have our own expectations (but) we keep it to ourselves. Let us let the Senate set its own priorities under Senate President Enrile.”

Faster action on administration measures? “We leave it to them. They are an independent institution. We’d rather they determine it according to their own pace,” said Dureza.

He admitted, however, that the administration would “want early action on the budget and faster action on the amnesty proclamation and other measures but it is entirely within the competence and mandate of the Senate to determine what their priorities are – the palace does not want to interfere.”

“’Yun kasing revamp in the Senate is an internal matter that the Senate can adequately handle under the new leadership of Senator Enrile. He will steer the Senate accordingly. So let’s just wait and see how the new leadership will handle it as the Senate is an independent chamber.”

Dureza added that “Senator Enrile has a wealth of experience spanning generations.”

“Parang ‘man for all seasons’ ‘yan (Enrile). We will see how Senate steers the Senate. We are confident that the nation will benefit from his long experience and competence. Let’s just wait and see how the Senate will proceed according to its own agenda.”

Asked if the Senate is expected to be more supportive of Charter reforms with Enrile’s ascent to the presidency of the chamber, the Press Secretary said: “Ipaubaya na lang natin sa kanila ang reform action to be taken.”

He added: “Continuing ang advocacy ng Palace We take the position that they (the senators) would do something according to their priority.”

“Matagal na nating advocacy ‘yan na dapat may reform na economic at political. Ang timing would depend on the decision of the Senate and the House (of Representatives). Sila and magka-craft ng resolution, whether it would (be acted upon).”


P6 Billion released to women clients of micro-finance, says BSP official

Iloilo City (PIA)- :Some P6 billion-fund were released to the women clients of microfinance as of June this year said Microfinance Consultant Eduardo C. Jimenez of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) in a forum held in Iloilo City, recently.

Jimenez, who discussed on the topic Microfinance said that about 95% of microfinance clients in the country come from the women sector.

“Helping the poor help themselves” is the essence of microfinancing, said Jimenez as he explained that microfinance is the provision of a broad range of financial services such as deposits, loans, payment services, money transfers/remittances and insurance products to the poor and low-income households for their microenterprises and small businesses, to enable them to raise their income levels and improve their living standards.

He said that clients come from the low income bracket, lack of physical collateral, are usually employed in the informal sector, and are engaged in closely interlinked household/business activities.

Presently, Jimenez said, there are some 229 Rural Banks in the country that are involved in Microfinance.

The BSP has undertaken several measures to encourage the participation of banks in microfinance, Jimenez said.

Among other measures, BSP Circular 272, issued in early 2001, laid down the guidelines to implement the provisions of the General Banking Law of 2000 on microfinance operations. Through Circular 273, BSP lifted the moratorium on the issuance of licenses for the opening of new thrift and rural banks, as well as branches for existing banks, to encourage banking institutions to venture into microfinance.

Aside from policy and regulatory aspects, the BSP has undertaken significant initiatives for training and capacity building as well as promotion and advocacy.

Jimenez along with the other BSP representatives were in Iloilo City to conduct “Public Information Campaign on the Role of the BSP in the Philippine Economy” at the West Visayas State University which was participated in by the students and officials of the said University.

The other BSP lecturers with their topics are: Ma. Farah C. Diangson-Angka, Deputy Director of the OMD-Monetary Policy Sub-Sector- Role of the BSP in the Philippine Economy; and Amy Doreen S. Cruz, Bank Officer V, Department of Economic Research- Recent Economic Developments. (PIA 6/T.Villavert)


BFAR brings "ulang" culture to Aklan for extra income of fisherfolks

Kalibo, Aklan -- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is introducing the culture of "ulang" in some municipalities here to provide extra income and additional food sources to Aklan's fisherfolks

"Ulang" culture, one of the many programs of BFAR to help insure food security in the county, is also seen as the government's way of putting up alternative sources of fish or food sources, so marine resources would not be so depleted and will have time to produce enough grown fish for consumption of the population, according to Alicia L Robello, Aquaculturist II of BFAR-Aklan.

"If the government will not move to effect measures for fish conservation and culture, our fish sources will be depleted, because there is more consumption than production," Robello revealed when she guested recently at Kapihan Sa RMN-Kalibo, a weekly program of the Philippine Information Agency aired over DYKR here. With her was Rico B. Magno, Technical Staff of BFAR-Aklan.

Robello also said that although there is no shortage of fish and marine products in markets in Aklan, people suffer from high prices, because most of the better catch is brought to Boracay Island. Aklan has to source supplies from nearby provinces too, according to Robello.

Besides "Ulang" culture, BFAR is also sustaining other programs for fish and marine products conservation and production like the putting of artificial reefs, seaweeds production, abalone and grouper culture, Palayamanan, and catfish and tilapia culture.

For "ulang" culture, Robello said BFAR has already distributed "ulang" fries to Santander, Buruanga, Janlud, Libacao, and Badio, Numancia.

The "ulang" fries are hybrid and sourced outside the province.

Robello said the culture of "ulang" was already tried in Tangalan but the pond was destroyed when Typhoon Frank struck the province last June 21.


Pro RH groups support dialogue with Bishops but caution authors

Supporters of the highly controversial Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008 welcome bishops’ call for a dialogue with the RH authors but caution legislators and civil society advocates to fully study the points for negotiation.

“The Catholic Church, as one important institution, should remain relevant by being part of what would become the watershed legislation on Reproductive Health. The bill is being revised and being perfected. Towards this we welcome the call for dialogue and the constructive input of religious sectors, particularly the Catholic Church”, Ramon San Pascual, Executive Director of the Philippine Legislators Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc. (PLCPD) said.

He stated that RH supporters are delighted that finally Catholic bishops are now willing to dialogue with RH authors. San Pascual recalled that it was the RH authors and supporters who first offered the dialogue with the Catholic hierarchy to thresh out differences but some bishops closed their doors and instead attacked and simply rejected the bill.

San Pascual stressed, “While we are glad with this development, we appeal to all stakeholders to see to it that this dialogue should not interrupt the ongoing deliberations in the plenary of Congress but rather hasten the process by harmonizing the difference of the various provisions of the bill.”

“While we respect such initiative to discuss how to improve the bill further, we appeal to our legislators to remain firm to the intentions of this proposed policy to make affordable and available all reproductive health services and information to in the country without any bias,” San Pascual concluded.=##=

Referent Official
Virginia F. Benosa
Media Relations Officer
Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc.
Cellphone Number 09182936786
Landline Nos. 921-1044/931-5354/931-5001 loc. 7430