Ochoa appeals to law schools to improve legal education
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. has appealed to law schools to raise the quality of legal education in the country amid the declining number of Bar passers.
“Every year, the number of those who take the Bar Exams increases; from around 4,000 plus examinees five years ago, last year almost 7,000 took the Bar. Unfortunately, the passing rate has not improved,” Ochoa said at the inaugural dinner of the Philippine Association of Law Schools (PALS) Tuesday night.
The low number of Bar passers, the Executive Secretary said, should prompt educators to closely examine “if the Bar Exams themselves are the reason for the dismal passing rates or the quality of legal education in the country.”
With no ample checks and balances in place to monitor the proliferation of law schools, Ochoa suggested that the first step to address this was self-regulation.
“You all know that there are many schools that offer law but cannot produce graduates who pass the bar. Accreditation and strict monitoring among your ranks will help ensure that the hard-earned money being invested by aspiring lawyers in their legal education will be rewarded,” said Ochoa, a lawyer himself who joined the Bar in 1986.
“I do ask that you help aspiring lawyers achieve their dreams by helping your peers improve the quality of legal education so that more individuals can earn the title ‘attorney,’” he added.
According to data from PALS, a total of 118 law schools participated in the 2009 Bar Examinations. Of the 118 law schools, 63 had a Bar passing average lower than 24 per cent, while 20 law schools got a zero passing rate. Only 24.58 per cent of those who took the 2009 Bar passed the exams.
In the same occasion attended by some members of the judiciary, Ochoa asked lawyers to support the Aquino Administration despite disagreements over legal points of view.
He said: “Along the way, of course, we may have disagreements over points of law, especially with our counterparts in the judiciary, but that is the essence of democracy… But the important thing is, at the end of the day, it works because it ensures that government uses—and not abuses—its power to serve the people.”
“The bottomline, however, is that this administration, which I have promised to unequivocally support, is honest and transparent… This administration’s leaders will not use their position to enrich themselves and will never serve special interests at the expense of our people’s welfare,” Ochoa said. (PCOO)
Palace appeals for understanding of MRT, LRT fare increase
Malacañang called on the riding public to set aside any protest action against a looming hike in Metro Rail and Light Rail transits (MRT and LRT) fare rates and “hear out” the rationale for these increases.
In a press briefing in Malacañang on Wednesday, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte appealed for calm saying these increases in the MRT and LRT fare will be used to improve the transport service and fund the government’s various development programs.
As with any other issue that is of importance to a certain group of stakeholders, that we can only say is: we appeal for calm,” Valte said.
Valte noted out that while the government has done its best to prevent the fare increase all these years by providing the necessary subsidy to support the service, the increase in fare prices has long been overdue.
In the end, it aims to provide a better service dahil sa tinagal-tagal ng panahon na P15 ang pamasahe sa LRT, ang nagsa-subsidize is yung mas maraming tao na hindi po gumagamit ng actual service,” Valte said.
“Gusto lang po nating bawasan yung subsidy dito para maibigay at mai-pondo doon sa mga programa natin na makaka-benefit sa mas nakararaming tao,” she added.
“So, to the riding public, please set aside your protest actions against the fare rate hikes and let us listen to the rationale behind these fare increases,” Valte said. (PCOO)
Palace assures enough water supply for the summer
Malacañang expressed confidence on Wednesday that there will be no water crisis in Metro Manila in the summer months, assuring that water level in the reservoirs is far from critical.
In an interview, Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the government is closely monitoring the situation to make sure that necessary steps will be made in case of a water shortage.
“The water level now is at around 210 meters, far from the critical level and far from what we experienced early on in the administration when the water level dipped at about 157 meters,” Valte said.
“We are monitoring the situation so we can see if any necessary steps should be taken to avert any crisis,” she added.
The critical water level is 160 meters above sea level.
Residents of Metro Manila expressed apprehension over a looming water crisis following reports that another “dry” season is in the offing as the water level of Angat Dam was forecasted to hit a record low this year.
Valte meantime, said the government is looking into possible options on how to cushion the impact of the oil price hike to the public. She said the Energy department is now studying measures on how to ease the burden.
“Yung sa oil price hike po kasi kailangan i-consider yung mga factors na pumasok dun such as, I understand, medyo mataas po yung presyo per barrel ng petrolyo sa world market, meron po talagang mga pagtataas na hindi natin maiiwasan, but of course titingnan na lang po natin kung ano pa yung magiging development tungkol dito.” Valte said. (PCOO)
Aquino declares Jan. 24 Philippine Tropical Fabrics Day
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared Jan. 24, 2011 as “Philippine Tropical Fabrics Day” to instill patriotism and nationalism among Filipinos, promote the preferential use of locally-manufactured goods using local resources and adopt measures that will help generate wider employment of local fabrics.
Proclamation No. 86 which Aquino signed Dec. 21 last year, defines tropical fabrics as those containing natural fibers produced, spun, woven or knitted and finished in the Philippines for use of office uniforms and government officials and employees and for other purposes.
According to the President, the implementation of Republic Act 9242 provides the needed push for the judicious utilization of natural fibers like pineapple, banana, abaca and Philippine silk on the one hand and the revival and upliftment of the local textile and garments industry on the other, both of which shall redound to creation of livelihood in the agricultural and industrial sectors.
He said as the use of Philippine tropical fabrics unfolds overtime, there will be a growing awareness and sense of pride among Filipinos to patronize and use locally-manufactured textiles.
The President designated the Philippine Textile Research Institute and the Department of Science and Technology to ensure and plan out activities during the observance of the Philippine Tropical Fabrics Day.
The Chief Executive also called on the fabric producers, textile manufacturers and garment industries, including the private sectors, associations and institutions to actively participate in the proper observance of the Philippine Tropical Fabrics Day and to give their full support in the local production and use of local tropical fabrics and recognition of their importance in manpower capability-building. (PCOO)
