Aquino underscores need to improve penology
system
President Benigno S. Aquino III underscored the
importance of improving the Philippines’ system of caring for its inmates
saying it was the responsibility of all Filipinos to effect a lasting change
and improvement on the country’s penology system.
In his speech keynoting the 21st Anniversary of
the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology held at Camp Crame in Quezon City on
Monday, the President said all Filipinos had to pitch-in to ensure that the
correctional system can bring true rehabilitation to the lives of our inmates
languishing in jail for their crimes.
“Tungkulin nating baguhin hindi lamang ang
sistema ng koreksyonal ng Pilipinas, kundi pati na rin ang pagtanaw ng ilang
mamamayan sa kanilang kapwa Pilipinong nasa loob ng bilangguan,” the President
said.
“Hindi nagtatapos ang hustisya sa parusa; hindi
maitutuwid ang kamalian sa pagyurak sa karapatan ng mga kapwa natin sa
bilangguan. Bilang mga responsableng gabay ng mga bilanggo, gawin nating tunay
na lunsaran ng pagbabagong-buhay ang ating sistemang koreksyonal,” he added.
He said that in the two-years that his
administration has been in existence, improving the BJMP’s ability to care for
inmates, through upgrading the agency’s infrastructure and equipment, was on
top of his priority list.
Among these upgrades include: the construction
of an additional 47 prison buildings to house 69,735 inmates around the country
and the computerization of jail records under the National Inmates Monitoring
System (NIMS).
“Sa paraang ito, mas mabilis at mas epektibo na
ang pag-track sa mga kaso, sa haba ng sentensya at impormasyon tungkol sa mga
bilanggo. Sosolusyunan po nito ang kaso ng mga presong tapos na ang sentensya,
nananatili pa rin sa kanilang selda. Tutuldukan nito ang mano-manong paghagilap
ng datos, at ang magulong sistema na kulang na lang ay isulat sa tissue paper
ang pangalan ng mga bilanggo,” the President said.
He added that P500-million has already been
allocated to construct 2,000 housing units for the personnel of the BJMP and
the Bureau of Fire Protection while retired employees will be able to withdraw
their pensions through their bank accounts via ATMs (automated teller
machines).
He called on the BJMP to join government efforts
to rid the bureaucracy of corruption through its various reforms being implemented
and become true instruments of change.
“Tunay nga pong mayroon na kayong gobyernong
kumakalinga sa inyo. Ang pakiusap ko lang po --- pangalagaan natin ang
magagandang bunga ng ating reporma; iwaksi natin ang kaisipang wang-wang, at
maging instrumento ng tunay na pagbabago. Patibayin po natin ang ating
bayanihan tungo sa bayang sakdal-laya at puspos ng ginhawa,” the President
said. (rck)
Aquino leads awarding of top BJMP personnel
President Benigno S. Aquino III led the awarding
of top Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) personnel in ceremonies
held during the BJMP’s 21st Year Anniversary in Camp Crame, Quezon City on
Monday.
The President also led the awarding ceremonies
for the top local government units who have been long-time partners and allies
of the BJMP in the performance of its mandate task of caring and rehabilitating
its inmates.
The awardees are: Senior Superintendent Julian
Mangomoc – Regional Director of the Year; SSupt. Rex Delarmente – Senior
Officer of the Year; Supt. Rinco Montaus – Staff Officer of the Year; Senior
Inspector Socrates Nicart – Junior Officer of the Year; Chief Inspector Wilson
Banasen – Provincial Administrator of the Year;
CInsp. Bermar Adlaon – District Warden of the
Year; CInsp. Renante Rubio – City Warden of the Year; Senior Inspector Jose
Esquinas – Warden, Imus, Cavite; Inspector Lawrence Rosales – Municipal Warden
of the Year; Senior Jail Officer Cecilia Madianda and Senior Jail Officer
Richard Recososa.
The Special Awardees are: Elder Cho Sung Hun –
PHL-KHOR Mission Center; Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian – Valenzuela City; Marissa
Dumagat-Carilla – Sanguniang Bayan, Burayen, Leyte; Mayor Ronaldo Aquino –
Calbayog City; Mayor Vilma Abaya-Dimacuha – Batangas City; Mayor Emmanuel
Maliksi – Imus, Cavite; Mayor Michael Fariñas – Laoag City, Ilocos Norte; Mayor
Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta – Batac City, Ilocos Norte; Jail Chief Inspector Ilna
Rita Maderzo – OIC-HSU; JCInsp. Joyce Simplicia Yuchingtat – OIC-Deputy for
Comptrollership; Jail Senior Inspector Rammel Bonavente – Chief, Moral and
Welfare Division; and JInsp. Xavier Solda – OIC-CRS.
The President extended his warmest regards to
the awardees for their dedication and to the BJMP officials and employees for
this milestone they and their agency has achieved.
“Binabati po natin ang bawat guwardiya, warden,
at ang lahat ng bumubuo sa BJMP sa inyong ika-dalawampu’t isang anibersaryo,”
the President said.
“Congratulations din po sa ating mga awardee
ngayong araw na ito. Salamat sa marangal at masigasig na paglilingkod hindi
lamang sa mga bilanggguan, kundi pati na rin sa kalakhang lipunan,” he added.
(rck)
Aquino declares July 14 as special non-working
day in Guihulngan City, Negros Orienteal in celebration of its 5th Charter Day
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
July 14, which falls on a Saturday, as a special (non-working) day in
Guihulngan City in the province of Negros Oriental, in celebration of its 5th
Charter Day.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration
through Proclamation No. 423 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
on July 5 to give the people of Guihulngan City the full opportunity to
celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.
In 2007, Guihulngan became a city by virtue of
Republic Act No. 9409. (js)
President Aquino issues EO to reform mining
sector
President Benigno Aquino III has approved
wide-ranging reforms in the mining industry under Executive Order No. 79 put in
place to strengthen environmental protection, promote responsible mining and
provide a more equitable revenue-sharing scheme amid the projected boom in the
sector.
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said
the new presidential directive, which the Chief Executive signed on July 6, is
envisioned to harmonize mining policies and regulations in the country and make
players in the mining industry more transparent and accountable.
“The executive order is a product of input from
stakeholders at all levels to address their concerns,” Ochoa said. “We are
confident that with the EO in place, we will be able to put order in processing
mining applications and at the same time reinforce protection of the environment,
spur economic growth, and create employment opportunities.”
The
presidential order was based on the joint resolution of the Cabinet clusters on
climate change adaptation and mitigation, and economic development dated March
16, 2012 to improve environmental mining standards and increase revenues to
promote sustainable development and social growth, both at the national and
local levels.
EO NO. 79 identifies zones closed to mining
applications – either for contracts, concessions or agreements – including
areas in the National Tourism Development Plan, critical areas and island
eco-systems, prime agricultural lands covered by RA 6657, strategic agriculture
and fisheries development zones and fisheries development zones an fish refuge
and sanctuaries declared as such by the Department of Agriculture. Mining is
not allowed in areas already identified under the existing laws on mining,
agrarian and protected areas, as well as in sites that may be determined by the
Department of Environment and natural Resources (DENR).
Mining contracts, concessions and agreements
approved prior to the issuance of the new directive remain binding provided
that companies comply with existing laws, rules and regulations, and the terms
and conditions of the grant.
No new mineral agreements will be issued,
however, pending the passage of legislation that will rationalize the
revenue-sharing schemes and mechanisms. In line with this, the DENR and the
Departments of Budget and Management (DBM) and Finance (DoF) are also ordered
to ensure the timely release of the share of local government units (LGUs).
“These agencies are likewise directed to study
the possibility of increasing LGUs’ share as well as granting them direct
access similar to arrangements with the Philippine Export Processing Zones
(PEZA),” the EO stated.
The DENR may continue though to grant and issue
exploration permits under existing guidelines and laws, and grantees will be
given the right of first option to develop and utilize minerals in their respective
areas once a new law is in effect.
According to Ochoa, the presidential directive
also calls for the full enforcement of environmental standards, tasking the
DENR and local government units (LGUs) to ensure that large- and small-scale
miners comply with the laws or face appropriate sanctions.
On top of this, the DENR-led multi-stakeholder
team is directed to assess the performance of existing mining operations
regardless of size, punish violators and purge the list of non-moving mining
rights holders.
While the EO allows the opening of areas for
mining rights and mining tenements over areas with known and verified mineral
resources and reserves, including those owned by the government and expired
tenements, this should be undertaken through a competitive public bidding,
which guidelines and procedures should be formulated by the Mines and
Geosciences Bureau (MGB).
Potential and future mining sites with known
strategic mineral reserves and resources, however, may be declared as mineral
reservations for the development of strategic industries identified in the
Philippines Development Plan and a national industrialization plan.
To improve small-scale mining operations, the EO
outlines steps to ensure that activities comply with the Small-Scale Mining Act
of 1991 and the Environmental Impact Statement requirements spelled out in
Presidential Decree No. 1586. Specifically the law designates Minahang Bayan or
the People’s Small-Scale Mining Areas, and mandates the creation and operation
of Provincial/City Mining Regulatory Boards.
The use of mercury in small-scale mining is
strictly prohibited, the EO stated.
Ochoa also underscored the key provisions of the
presidential directive that enjoin concerned national government agencies and
LGUs to closely coordinate to harmonize mining policies on conservation,
management, development and utilization of the state’s mineral resources.
In fact, Ochoa added, the Union of Local
Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) will be represented in the Mining
Industry Coordinating Council (MICC) that will be created under the EO.
The MICC, co-chaired by the head of the Cabinet
clusters on climate change adaptation and mitigation, and economic development,
is tasked, among others, to conduct assessment and review of all mining-related
laws, rules and regulations, issuances and agreements toward the formulation of
recommendations for better coordination between the national government and
LGUs.
Additionally, the MICC shall launch campaigns
against illegal mining, serve as oversight committee over the operations of the
Provincial/City Mining Regulatory Boards, monitor the implementation of mining
laws and regulate small-scale mining participants, who are equally accountable
to the same environmental and social obligations as large-scale mining
companies.
Funding for the implementation of the EO, which
takes effect immediately upon publication in a newspaper of general
circulation, will come from existing budget of all government agencies
involved.
Aquino's suspension of the Kalinga governor
affirms government's commitment to protect members of media
President Benigno S. Aquino III's decision to
suspend Kalinga Governor Jocel Baac for attacking a radio commentator of
government-run Radyo ng Bayan DzRK-Tabuk last year is an affirmation of the
government’s commitment to protect the members of the media, a Palace official
said on Monday.
"We have always stated that the members of
the media should not be subjected to any threat, to any harm - verbal and
physical and this affirms our commitment po natin," Deputy Presidential
Spokesperson Abigail Valte said during the regular press briefing in Malacanang
on Monday.
Reports revealed that Kalinga Governor Baac
reportedly attacked Jerome Tabanganay while he was doing his commentaries at
the station five minutes before signing off his program.
The Chief Executive ordered the month-long
preventive suspension of Baac who "had shown lack of decorum, propriety
and respect in his dealings with other people.”
“The conduct and behavior of all officials and
employees in the public service should be circumscribed with the heavy burden
of responsibility. This is so because the image of the government is
necessarily mirrored in the conduct, official or otherwise, of the men and
women who work thereat,” President Aquino said in his order.
The President asked Governor Baac to “adhere to
the standards of morality and decency in order to preserve the government’s
good name and standing for which they serve.”
"The suspension order is dated June 29,
2012 and it was released by the Malacanang Records Office. If you remember,
Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma came out very strongly when this incident
happened," Valte said.
In his official statement released last year,
Secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office condemned the
alleged intrusion of Kalinga Governor Baac inside the announcer’s booth of the
said radio station while broadcaster Jerome Tabanganay was doing his radio
program “Agenda” in June, 2011.
“We deplore the unwarranted entry of Kalinga
Governor Jocel Baac into the announcer’s booth of DZRK-Tabuk while there was an
ongoing broadcast by Mr. Jerome Tabanganay, an employee of the Philippine
Broadcasting Service since 1988”, the statement read. (js)
Aquino governments assures new mining policy is
globally competitive
The Aquino administration assured that the new
mining policy is globally competitive and attractive to domestic and
international investment.
Environment and Natural Resources Secretary
Ramon Paje issued the statement during the regular press briefing in Malacanang
on Monday following the release of Executive Order No. 79 (Institutionalizing
and implementing reforms in the Philippine Mining Sector providing policies and
guidelines to ensure environmental protection and responsible mining in the
utilization of mineral resources).
"Our belief (is) that it is already
attractive because I think the attraction would be more on the volume and
quality of our deposits. We are already at par with the other countries except
for these royalties and excise tax. And if we increase it, for example to five
to seven percent, that is still within the international standard and that is
what they are paying if they are operating abroad," Paje said.
Executive Order no.79 aims to improve
environmental mining standards and increase revenues to promote sustainable
economic development and social growth, according to Paje.
With the crafting of the EO, the government is
now implementing a stricter enforcement of environmental laws and rules, and
holding violators accountable.
The mining policy is also paving the way for the
government to implement other measures such as identifying additional areas
closed to mining, the conduct of review of the performance of mining operations
and cleansing of non-moving mining rights holders, assess and improve small-scale
mining conditions, the use of integrated maps and Programmatic Environmental
Impact Assessment.
The Department of Enviroment and Natural
Resources is tasked to conduct proper accounting of the Environmental
Protection and Enhancement Programs (EPEP) of mining companies and to use geo
hazard and multi-hazard maps and climate change forecasts in determining “go”
and “no-go” areas.
The Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC)
is directed to carry out the explore use of mandatory and compulsory insurance
coverage for mining affected areas and to adopt the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation and Liability Act of the USA. It is also tasked to
conduct resource accounting or full-cost benefit analysis. (js)
New mining policy is consistent with national
laws
The new mining policy aims to ensure that the
ordinances issued by the local government units (LGU) are consistent with the
national laws with regard to mining, Environment and Natural Resources
Secretary Ramon Paje said.
"What the EO (Executive Order No. 79) is
saying is that somehow there must be consistency between national laws and
local laws. And, of course with this, the local ordinances cannot be against
national policies," Paje said during the regular press briefing in Malacanang
on Monday.
President Benigno S. Aquino III signed on July
6, 2012 Executive Order No. 79 (Institutionalizing and Implementing reforms in
the Philippine mining sector providing policies and guidelines to ensure
environmental protection and responsible mining in the utilization of mineral
resources).
"Sec. 12 (of EO No. 79) recognizes the need
for national laws and local ordinances to be harmonized to ensure the proper
management and regulation of the mining industry," Paje explained.
The EO also aims to reconcile the roles of the
national government and the local government units (LGUs) as far as mining is
concerned.
With the crafting of the EO, the national
government shall coordinate and cooperate with the LGUs in ensuring the proper
implementation of mining related laws, rules and regulations, especially
small-scale mining.
Concerned government agencies are directed to
study possible legislation increasing LGU shares from the utilization of
resources and to provide mechanisms to hasten the release of their shares
through proper coordination between and among agencies.
The Provincial/City Mining Regulatory Boards
(P/CMRBs) will help the LGUs to properly regulate small-scale mining and
provide an appropriate forum for the different stakeholders. The local
government units, the EO said, shall be a part of the Mining Industry
Coordinating Council (MICC) to ensure that their position and concerns are
addressed.
"But if there are local ordinances, like
the one in South Cotabato—it remains valid because there is a process in
invalidating it. It remains valid until it is invalidated by competent
authorities or through the courts," Paje said.
The EO directs the national government, through
the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), to work with the LGUs
to ensure that local ordinances are consistent with and conform to national
laws, issuances, and policies, to ensure the proper implementation of laws such
as the mining act. (js)
