Archive for August 2008
Charter change pet issue of GMA since 2004
By Jesus Llanto
August 15,2008–President Gloria Arroyo’s recent statement that she is supporting a shift to federal form of government to ensure lasting peace in Mindanao revived the debate on charter change—a process perceived by her critics as her way to stay in power beyond 2010.
Arroyo’s interest in amending the Constitution, however, had started even before she ran for president but she became more vocal about it since she declared her candidacy in 2004.
Based on our research and on official statements of Malacañang culled from government Web sites, Arroyo made charter change one of her key issues when she ran for president, mentioned it in three of her State of the Nation Addresses and has campaigned for amending the Constitution during the latter part of her term.
During the early years of her administration, Arroyo described the debate on charter change as a distraction “from what we need to do to survive.” Her attitude towards the issue, however, changed during the latter part of her administration.
On May 3, 2002, she said in a keynote speech at the First Philippine Political Parties Conference that before the shift to federal and parliamentary form of government, proposed federal states must achieve economic viability and political reforms must be implemented first.
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Photo Credit: http://www.ops,gov.ph/
Arroyo has consistently advocated federalism. Let us count the ways.
Researcher, Newbsreak
August 13,2008–President Gloria Arroyo recently expressed her support for the move to shift to a federal form of government. In a state banquet for Swiss President Pascal Couchepin, she said she is supporting it as a way to ensure peace in Mindanao.
“We thank the Swiss government not only for the values of freedom and civil rights that are enshrined in its culture but also for its willingness to share in its experience of federalism through the Institute of Federalism located in Fribourg in Switzerland which has been helping us do our studies on this form of government. We advocate federalism as a way to ensure long-lasting peace in Mindanao,” Arroyo said.
This is not the first time that Arroyo expressed her desire to have a federal government for the country.
Our research shows that she has been advocating for a shift to a federal form of government since 2004, when she ran for president. The shift to a federal form of government was part of the platform of her party, Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan (K-4). (Read the rest of the story)
(abs-cbnNews.com/Newsbreak)
Photo credit: http://www.ops.gov.ph/
Timeline: ARMM Election
August 1, 1989: The Republic Act No. 6734 or the Organic Act of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, is signed into law by then President Corazon C. Aquino.
November 17, 1989: A plebiscite is conducted in the proposed areas of ARMM (13 provinces and nine cities) to determine if the residents want to be part of the region. Plebiscite was held in the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, Davao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, North Cotabato, Palawan, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur and in the cities of Dapitan, Dipolog, Cotabato, General Santos, Iligan, Marawi, Pagadian, Puerto Princesa, and Zamboanga. Only four provinces—Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur—choose to join the region.
February 12, 1990: Election for the newly-created region is held. Zacaria Candao and Benjamin Loong win as the region’s governor and vice governor, respectively.
March 25, 1993: Election is held for the 2nd time. Liningding Pangandaman and Nabil Tan are proclaimed winners for the gubernatorial and vice-gubernatorial posts.
September 9, 1996: Election is held for the 3rd time. Nur Misuari and Guimid Matalam are elected as governor and vice-governor, respectively.
Research by Jesus Llanto and Fharhana Abdurahim.
DSWD, DepEd, DOH get highest approval rating—Pulse Asia
By Jesus Llanto
Resaecher, Newsbreak
August 7,2008- Filipinos think that government agencies that deliver social services and administer the education and health sector are performing better than other government institutions, a survey by polling firm Pulse Asia showed.
Based on the July 2008 Ulat ng Bayan survey of Pulse Asia, Filipinos give high approval ratings for the performances of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Education (DEPED), and Department of Health (DOH).
DSWD received the highest approval rating of 65 percent among the 20 government agencies included in the survey. The education department got 63 percent approval rating while the health department received 61 percent.
The approval ratings of these three agencies are higher than those received by Supreme Court (39%), the Senate (34%) and the House of Representatives (31%). (abs-cbnNews.com/Newsbreak)
Filipinos want next president to curb prices and enforce the law—Pulse Asia
By Jesus Llanto
Researcher,Newsbreak
August 5,2008–Most Filipinos think that the next president should be pro-poor and should focus on preventing the soaring prices of the basic commodities and reducing poverty, a survey by polling firm Pulse Asia showed.
The Ulat ng Bayan Survey held from July 1-14, 2008 showed that almost four out of 10 (39%) Filipinos thinks that being pro-poor is the most important characteristic the next president should possess.
Aside from being pro-poor, the next president, the survey showed, should be able to enforce law equally on influential as well as ordinary people (35%) and be knowledgeable in the management of government (34%). Respondents also think that the next president should be trustworthy (29%) and fight anomalies in the government (28%)
Power rates can be cut P2 per kWh: UP study
By Jesus Llanto
Researcher, Newsbreak
August 4,2008–Power rates can be reduced by at least P2 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) by adjusting regulatory policies and amending the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), a study by University of the Philippines professors showed.
The study, “Reducing Power Rates By at Least P2.00/kWh”, showed that a combination of regulatory policy adjustments can lower electricity prices of MERALCO consumers by at least P2.0913.
These policy adjustments are:
- reduction of National Power Corporation’s (NAPOCOR) basic average generation charge
- an optimal power mix for MERALCO
- removal of Value-Added Tax (VAT) on systems loss
- amendments on the some provisions of the EPIRA law.
The study, written by professors Allan Nerves, Edna Espos, Ivan Benedicto Nilo Cruz and Rowaldo del Mundo of the UP College of Engineering, said that the amount of reduction that may be estimated at this time using MERALCO’s current supply mix (40% from NPC, 35% from MERALCO IPPs and 25% from others, including WESM), are as follows:
