Archive for February 2009
Smoking ban in most LGUs unsuccessful
By Jesus F. Llanto
Researcher, Newsbreak
January 28, 2009
Authorities need to intensify monitoring, make more apprehensions, impose bigger fines
In the Philippines, the national government spends P276 billion every year for citizens’ treatment of four major diseases related to smoking, according to a study on poverty and tobacco use released in 2006.
If that amount were used instead to implement anti-smoking ordinances by local government units (LGUs), each of the 1,631 cities and municipalities across the country would have had P169.22 million a year.
Yet, based on figures that some cities provided Newsbreak, LGUs that have a smoking ban only spend from P300,000 to P2 million yearly to sustain their campaign. In fact, there are only at least 340 LGUs that have this campaign.
No wonder, the anti-smoking drive in the country has barely made strides.
According to representatives of seven cities, as well as health experts, interviewed by Newsbreak, LGUs need to intensify their monitoring of people and public places, be strict when apprehending violators, and impose bigger fines if their smoking bans are to succeed.
As elections near, LGUs getting ‘bigger’
By Jesus F. Llanto
Researcher, Newsbreak
February 19, 2009
A year into the election season, a number of local government units (LGUs) across the country are expanding—creating new barangays, seeking independence from mother units, and lobbying for new congressional districts. These expansions, in turn, will pave the way for new local positions that politicians may seek.
Recently released data from the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) showed that 13 new barangays were created, and a city was converted into a highly-urbanized city in the last quarter of 2008.
At the House of Representatives, there are bills seeking the creation of 18 new congressional districts in 15 provinces and cities. There are also bills seeking the creation of 4 more provinces, 7 municipalities, and 24 barangays.
Most, if not all, of these proposals were encouraged by the recently released 2007 census. Localities naturally saw increased populations, thus many of them finally met the minimum population requirement for the creation or expansion of political units.
Timeline: The road to the World Bank controversy
Research by Jesus Llanto (Newsbreak)
February 2000—The World Bank approves the $150-million National Roads Improvement and Management Program-1, which is to be implemented from February 2000-March 2007.
2003—Signs of procurement problems are identified in the NRIMP-1 by the World Bank.
Between 2003 and 2006—The World Bank rejects two large contracts in three rounds of bidding after it discovers “strong signs of collusion and excessive pricing” among several construction firms. It reports this observation to the Integrity Vice President (INT) that conducts an investigation on the issue.
November 2007—The World Bank’s Integrity Vice President (INT) closes its investigation and a referral report, which contains summary of the INT’s findings, is issued. Findings of the investigation show “evidence of a major cartel involving local and international companies bidding on the NRIMP-1 contracts.”
November 16, 2007—The Department of Finance, according to Secretary Margarito Teves, receives the copy of the referral report of the World Bank.
November 19, 2007—The Department of Finance sends the World Bank report to the Office of the Ombudsman.
May 2008—Notice of sanctions proceedings are received by the companies involved in the World Bank probe.
May 13, 2008—The second phase of the NRIMP is approved by the WB Board of Directors. The new project contains a more comprehensive set of anti-corruption measures.
Best LGU practices cited, from reducing disaster risk to collecting more revenues
By Jesus F. Llanto
Researcher, Newsbreak
February 11, 1009
A scorecard to measure performance and improve governance in the city. A barangay government code that has resulted in more revenues and better peace and order situation. A market organized by the provincial government but run by farmers. A disaster risk management and risk reduction program of a calamity-prone province.
These are programs of four local government units (LGUs) that were recently given special citation by the Galing Pook Awards—which recognizes best practices of LGUs—for their programs that provide incentives at the local level to improve performance and governance.
The local governments that received the Special Citation on Local Capacity Incentive Mechanism for Good Governance are: Barangay Sanito in Ipil Zamboanga Sibugay, San Fernando City in Pampanga, and the provinces of Negros Oriental and Albay.
Eddie Dorotan, executive director of the Galing Pook Awards told abs-cbnnews.com/Newsbreak that the citation highlights efforts of the local government to come up with innovative programs that give incentives to further improve the delivery of basic services.
According to the souvenir program of the Galing Pook Awards, the recipients of the special citation proved that LGUs have “taken up the challenge of decentralization” brought by the enactment of the Local Government Code and have “continually innovated to make delivery of services more efficient.”
“Local officials often have insufficient preparation, capacities and in some cases, very limited resources, to respond to the new demands and challenges…Some LGUs have found creative ways to better serve their constituents, in part by looking to themselves, their communities and their peers for new ideas and approaches,” the souvenir program reads.
BPO growth slowed down in 2008
By Jesus Llanto
Researcher, Newsbreak
Feb. 9, 2009
The revenue growth of the business process outsourcing industry in 2008 has slowed down to 26% as a result of delays in projects last year, an industry expert said.
Speaking at the 9th E-Services Global Conference in Pasay City, Oscar Sanez, chief executive officer of the Business Process Association of the Philippines (BPAP), said the industry grew only by 26 percent in 2008 because of delay in projects during the last quarter.
“Initially we are estimating that we will be hitting 30-35 percent growth but we did not hit that,” Sanez told reporters. “Some of the projects in the last quarter have been delayed to 2009.”
The latest industry data presented at today’s conference showed that the industry generated revenue of US$6.06 billion last year, from US$4.9 billion in 2007. Data also showed that the number of workers employed by the industry grew by 25% from around 297, 000 in 2007 to 371,965 in 2008.
Sanez said they are expecting a growth of 20-30 percent in 2009. In an interview last December, Sanez told abs-cbnNews.com/Newsbreak that a slower growth in 2009 is expected as companies implement re-structuring policies and review their expansion plans amidst the global economic slowdown and the recession in the United States, where most BPO clients are located.
“A 30 percent growth in 2009 will get us to US$7.5-8 billion dollars,” Sanez said, adding that they are still on track with the target of attaining the 2010 target of US$13 billion, or 10 percent share of the global market.
RP population growth burden on economy
By Jesus F. Llanto
Researcher, Newsbreaak
January 29, 2009
The continuous increase in population in the country is expected to put additional pressure on the Philippines as it suffers from the effects of the global economic slowdown, the head of the country’s anti-poverty commission said.
Speaking at a forum on hunger mitigation, population management and poverty reduction at the University of the Philippines, National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Secretary Domingo Panganiban said that slowdown in economies abroad would mean a decrease in trade, reduction in foreign investments and higher levels of unemployment.
“The bleakness of that prospect is multiplied many times over as our ever-increasing population exerts ever-increasing pressures on our nation’s resources,” Panganiban said.
“Already, a host of unemployed Filipinos face the grim problem of existence and an equally great number of employed workers toil with little return,” he added.
The latest census in 2007 showed that there are 88.6 million Filipinos. The population grew at 2.04 percent from 2000-2007 and is expected to double or reach 177 million in 2041. This means that population will grow by 1.8 million Filipinos every year.
The Philippines is the 12th most populous country in the world. A reproductive health bill that seeks more funding for a government campaign to promote natural and artificial family planning among Filipinos is pending at the House of Representatives but is facing tough opposition from the influential Roman Catholic Church.
Bulacan, Rizal communities up in arms against landfills
By Jesus F. Llanto
Researcher, Newsbreak
January 28, 2009
An environment group and local residents of two towns near Metro Manila are opposing the construction of two landfills, which, they claim, are both located in watershed or forest areas.
Environment group Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan-PNE) and local groups from San Mateo town in Rizal province and San Jose del Monte in Bulacan province told reporters in a forum Wednesday that the landfills constructed in these towns would pose risks to residents and to nearby watershed areas.
Fr. Anacleto Ignacio, one of the leaders of those who oppose the landfill in Barangay Minuyan Proper in San Jose del Monte, said the local government allowed the construction of the landfill despite the health risks it poses to the residents.
“We are saddened by the fact that there are government officials and businessmen who will risk the life of our people and destroy the environment for the sake of profit,” Ignacio said, adding that the landfill is in Barangay Minuyan Proper, which is also the site of the water treatment plant of the town.
Clemente Bautista, national coordinator of Kalikasan-PNE, added that the San Jose del Monte landfill still does not have an environmental compliance certificate (ECC).
Similarly, residents of Barangay Guinayang in San Mateo town in Rizal are calling for the closing of the landfill project in their area. Tony Balute, a local resident and member of Coalition for Garbage-Free San Mateo, said that aside from the dangers it pose to their health, there are anomalies surrounding how operators obtained the legal requirements.
