File photo of SC Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr.: son in electoral tussle with Marinduque congresswoman.

Detained Juan Ponce Enrile

ENRILE ENDORSED P345M OF ‘PORK FUNDS’ TO BOGUS NGOS–COA  

MANILA, Philippines - Senator Juan Ponce Enrile allegedly endorsed P345 million of his Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) to bogus foundations linked to supposed mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles, a state auditor said on Friday.

During Napoles’ bail hearing on Friday at the Sandiganbayan, Commission on Audit (COA) Assistant Commissioner Susan Garcia said Enrile and his representatives, resigned chief of staff Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes and deputy chief of staff Jose Evangelista, signed nine statements of allotment release orders (Saro) from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for 14 pork barrel projects worth P345 million.

The funds were endorsed to Napoles’ non-government organizations and not to the departments and their attached agencies, Garcia said.

Garcia said Enrile and his representatives confirmed that their signatures on the nine Saros were authentic.

She said Enrile only denied signing a certificate of acceptance for a project and a separate list of beneficiaries for a PDAF-funded project.

Garcia cited as a red flag the practice of endorsing the PDAF projects to NGOs not authorized in the budget law.

“The release to the NGOs is not in accordance with existing rules and regulations,” Garcia said.

Garcia added that Enrile and his representatives were the ones who requested the Saro from the DBM. She said the practice should be for the authorized implementing agencies to request for the Saro.

Third division chairperson and Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang questioned why nobody raised a red flag on the practice of legislators rubbing elbows with the budget department.

“Why did no one ever question that practice? How long has this been [going on]?” Tang asked Garcia, who answered that as far as their audit was concerned, Enrile and his aides had been going to the DBM from 2004 to 2010.

Implicated in the scam for graft were four budget officials - Budget Undersecretary Mario Relampagos and his personnel Lalaine Paule, Marilou Bare and Rosario Nunez.

COA’s Garcia said mayors from Marinduque, La Union, Pangasinan and Compostela valley have denied receiving the pork barrel funded projects from Enrile.

Alleged mastermind Napoles was present in the hearing. At that point, Napoles’ head was bowed while holding her rosary.

Garcia said they validated six of the NGOs linked to Napoles and found that they were located in bogus locations such as garages and residential houses.

Napoles is accused of masterminding the scam of pillaging lawmakers’ public funds to ghost projects for kickbacks. Detained for plunder are Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, as well as aides Richard Cambe and Gigi Reyes. Senator Enrile, meanwhile, is in the hospital under police custody pending his motion for hospital arrest. -Source and Courtesy: Inquirer.Net

Reyes shows her passport and other legal document

Marinduque Rep. Regina Ongsiako-Reyes on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to remove three of its justices from the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) due to conflict if interest.

In a 23-page petition, Reyes said the three magistrates that should be disqualified from being members of the HRET are Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco, Lucas Bersamin and Diosdado Peralta.

Velasco chairs the HRET but has since inhibited from participating in the pending case against Reyes because his son Lord Allan is the petitioner in the HRET case. Lord Allan, who went up against Reyes in the May 2013 congressional polls in Marinduque, is contesting Reyes' victory over issues on her nationality.

In her petition, however, Reyes said Velasco's "continued stay (as a member of) the HRET in relation to his son’s case has become untenable."

“There has never  occurred   an equivalent incident  in the  entire history of the  Supreme Court  --- or  in any  other Philippine governmental body for that matter --- where a son’s  desire  to be  awarded a Congressional seat  would  depend  on  a  body  headed by   his  own Justice-Father,” Reyes said in her plea.

“The Supreme Court  runs the risk of incurring historical  infamy if  it ignores this unprecedented  scenario and contents itself with a complacent  and run-of-the-mill inhibition by the Justice-Father from the case, even if said Justice/Father/HRET-Head still  retains administrative control and moral suasion, and enjoys collegial camaraderie in the HRET," she added.

Reyes said that even if Velasco has already inhibited from the HRET case, HRET members are still "not  hampered from continuing   their interactions with Justice Velasco in other pending HRET cases and administrative  issues (and are) not thereby shielded from his influence," she added.

Like Velasco, Reyes said Bersamin should also be removed from the HRET because both of the justices come from political families, meaning "their job as part of the HRET is now hampered by questions about their impartiality to a political contest."

Justice Velasco’s wife is a representative of a party-list group while Lord Allan ran against Reyes.

Bersamin, meanwhile, comes from a family of Abra politicians, Rep. Reyes said, adding that he had likewise prejudged her case by voting with the majority in the separate petition filed by Velasco’s son before the Supreme Court which  ruled in his favor.

“Like Caesar’s wife, a judge must not only be pure but above suspicion,” said Reyes. “A judge’s private as well as official conduct must at all times be free from all appearances of impropriety, and be beyond reproach.”

As for Justice Peralta, Reyes said  "there are indications that he is equally guilty of failing to appear impartial."

Reyes requested the SC to transfer Justice Velasco to the Senate Electoral Tribunal and to designate Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio in his place.

She also asked that Justices Bersamin and Peralta be substituted by other justices "who do not suffer from the same entanglements."

In its original ruling, the SC magistrates voted 7-4-3 to dismiss a petition for certiorari filed by Reyes, contesting her disqualification by the Commission on Elections.

The high court ruled the Comelec did not exercise grave abuse of discretion when it disqualified Reyes for being an American citizen.

Reyes was still able to participate in the May 13 mid-term elections because at the time, her disqualification was not yet final.

The following day, on May 14, the poll body – in a four-page resolution – junked Reyes' motion for reconsideration, rendering her disqualification final.

Reyes' camp ended up filing a motion for reconsideration twice.

In disqualifying Reyes, the Comelec en banc ordered the Provincial Board of Canvassers (PBOC) of Marinduque to proclaim Lord Allan Jay Velasco, son of SC Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco, as the winning representative in the province’s lone district.

The older Velasco has since inhibited himself from the case.

“The May 18 proclamation of the respondent, Regina Ongsiako Reyes, is declared null and void and without any legal force and effect,” the Comelec said.

Voting 5-2, the Comelec en banc said Reyes lacked the one-year residency required for an elected official. In March, the Comelec First Division canceled her certificate of candidacy on the grounds that she is an American citizen.

Reyes had repeatedly denied that she's an American citizen. She also accused her rival's father, Justice Velasco, of wielding his influence following a high court ruling favoring Reyes' earlier disqualification by the Comelec.

Reyes ended up still being proclaimed as the winning candidate and took her oath after that. Lord Allan tried contesting this, but the Comelec junked his plea, saying the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) has already acquired jurisdiction over the case. -Source and Courtesy: ELR, GMA News

Diesel Power Plant Barge in Balanacan, Marinduque

BOAC, Marinduque - National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) President Ma. Gladys Cruz -Sta. Rita graced the Marinduque Electric Cooperative's (MARELCO) 35th Annual General Membership Assembly, Saturday, August 9 at the Boc Covered Court . About 4,000 consumer/members attended the said meeting. Sta. Rita detailed the NPC's on-going and upcoming programs in the island province of Marinduque during this event.

Among the many projects of NPC are 1.) the acquisition of brand new medium speed generating sets that has the total capacity of 5 M. worth P200,000.00 2.), additional 500,000 liter-fuel oil storage tank tank to augment the company’s existing 300.000-liter fuel tank. and 3.) the improvement of 49 km Boac to Torrijos 69 kilovolts transmission system ensure system realiability.

Napocor will bid out next month the contract for the supply of brand new modular diesel generating sets for Marinduque and expects to complete delivery of the generators with a total capacity of 5 megawatts (MW) next year (2015).

In Boac 1,224-kilowatt’s Diesel Plant, there are three units that needs brand new spare parts that NAPOCOR will procure to extend the lives of these units. Sta. Rita said, “

The Power Barge 120 in Balanacn Port will undergo Dry-docking as part of its maintenance come Nov. 2014. Napocor at this time will lease 3.5 megawatt gen sets to guarantee continuous and sufficient power for the province.

A new mooring faciliity within Balancacan Port will also be constructed by Napocor as part of the expansion program of the Philippine Ports Authority.
There are 47,491 households in Marinduque through its Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG) plants in the province. Its total dependable capacity in the province stands at 9.4 MW while total demand at 8.1 MW.

Sta. Rita also announced that for the islets of Maniwaya, Mongpong and Polo all in Sta. Cruz town, where electricity is limited to 6 hours only, operation hours will be extended to 8 hours.

With all these projects, Sta. Rita reiterated the call of Gov. Carmencita O. Reyes in encouraging private investors to come to Marinduque. She further commended the present MARELCO administration headed by Gen. Manager Gaudencio M. Sol for doing a great job in convincing the consumers to pay on time which in turn allowed the cooperative to have completely paid its dues for 2013. Sta. Rita relayed, Gov. Reyes is very determined to give her constituents good power supply that she even went to my office in Manila.

However, NPC President stated, “let us encourage investors and use renewable energy, para mapababa ang presyo ng kuryente. Kaya nandidito ang NPC kasi wala pa po sila (investors) kaya pagdarating na po sila, aalis na po kami. Kaya lang po ,Hindi naman po pupwede, syempre po wala pa po sila, kaya po anjajan pa din ang NPC, nagsisilbi sa inyo.”

For the anxious consumers on the possibility of power cost increase or electric bill, Sta. Rita emphasized that NAPOCOR could not just impose an increase, it must be approved by the Energy Regulatory Board. “Ngayong taon na ito ay wala pong pagtatas hanggang 2015 na mararadaman ang mga consumers pero merong adjustments po tayong ipa-file at makikita ito ng cooperative but again sa mga consumers po ay walang pagtataas sa 2015.

Coop members have been very patient listening to all the good news from NAPOCOR and are anticipating actual results or actions soon. They waited until the end of the program hoping to get the grand prize that the cooperative prepared. The raffle draw offered a tricycle, a motorcycle and electric fans. Indeed, these prizes kept the crowd till late in the afternoon waiting for their luck
.Everybody from power consumers to officials of the province anticipate the implementation of these projects that will definitely boost the economy of the province and invites more tourists in the island as the new tourist destination. -Source and Courtesy: Philippine Information Agency-Marinduque (MNL/PIA-4B/Marinduque)

Alexa Kirby of Romansville, Pennsylvania, was crowned here last July as “Miss Philippines-Quest (East Coast) 2014.” She will then compete in Miss World-Philippines onSeptember 21 in Manila and, if she wins there, she will fly to London in December to vie for the biggest crown yet, Miss World.

In the Quest contest, there were 10 competing candidates from the northeast. It was a good selection, considering Filipinos are fewer in the northeast compared with, say, California, which has nearly 1.5 million more Filipinos.

But can we take beauty pageants seriously? It seems such an antiquated tradition. However, avid watchers will tell you these contests serve a purpose beyond all the pomp and pageantry.

Grace Labaguis, the organizer of the pageant through her company Synergy Production, said it’s really about “sharing her inner beauty with the world, being an ambassador to the world.”

But staging a pageant takes a lot of work and commitment both for the organizer, the contestants and the eventual winner.

Labaguis was hesitant to take on the project initially.

“This is not a one-time event. This is an ongoing project and it entails managing the winners. It’s a big responsibility but also a learning process. It helps me in my work with and for the Filipino-American community,” she said.

It was offered to Labaquis by Cory Quirino’s marketing arm in the Philippines. She said she was busy with other projects, but family, friends and Quirino herself encouraged her to take it on.

D. Izzajaye Dungca, a fashion designer who also served as consultant at Dominican beauty pageants, trained the Filipino American candidates and is training the winner, Alexa, before she heads to the Philippines. She said the pageant helps the young girls gain confidence and even make lifelong friends. It also opens doors for them.

“Pageants give them a voice to teach, educate, relay a message or help others via charity,” Dungca said. They become advocates for a cause. It helps them stay away from trouble, as the world becomes less about them but the world they see.

Alexa’s charity work

It looks like having a Filipino-American, Megan Young, winning Miss World 2013 has had the effect of attracting more Fil-Am contestants. Some may say Fil-Ams are not true Filipinos, because they were not born in the Philippines or that they were raised in the States or that they are of mixed race.

There’s an upside. Many of them have no baggage about the past and are only too willing to learn about what their parents have denied them all these years—a Filipino identity.

At 18, Alexa is too young to understand what’s really happening in the world, but it doesn’t stop her from thinking how she can help people in need. “I volunteered at Chester County Hospital for four years,” she said in a sit-down interview last week. In fourth grade, Alexa also volunteered as an altar server at a church.

Born in the States to an American father and Filipino mother, Alexa has been doing charity work with her mother, Maria, since 2010. Maria would collect coupons that she and Alexa used to get goodies for the needy in Marinduque. “We must have sent eight balikbayan boxes to families there, through Philippine Hearts & Hopes USA,” she said.

Alexa is not new to beauty pageants. Two years ago, she was crowned Miss Teen Philippines in her hometown. She also won Best Gown and Best in Swimwear. In bagging the title, she received $1,000 to donate to her charity of choice, which she gave to Sacred Heart Parish Church. She was also part of Miss Teen Pennsylvania.

The 5’8” beauty who just finished work as a camp counselor is hoping to learn more about her Filipino heritage when she leaves for the Philippines end of August. This would give her ample time to train with other candidates in Miss World Philippines.

Alexa knows she will get some more training there, but in the States, Dungca is doing all she can to prepare her. “It may sound superficial, but the pageant industry follows a certain standard of beauty. Aside from the obvious physical regimen, I also mentor the girls to be mentally prepared. I give a rigorous question and answer exercise.”

In all the training that Alexa is getting, she misses eating rice the most. “I’ve hardly eaten rice these past six weeks. It’s mostly fruits and veggies.” She eats mostly Filipino food, with tapa, longganisa, dinuguan and turon as her favorites.

Glide as opposed to bounce

Alexa’s training in New York involves voice projection, some behavior and personality development.

When it comes to personality, Dungca said every candidate is different. “All I can do is enhance their personality, tell them to be true to themselves and to enjoy the process.”

The most important thing she tells them is to be humble. “Humility is a big factor in being a beauty queen,” she said. No wonder many of them could pass off as diplomats.

How do they train for that smile which they wear all night? Dungca said they do some facial exercises along with some proper walking, posing and body language. “You glide, not bounce.” Then there’s the customary “duck walk” (walking squats), which is supposed to strengthen their legs and thighs.

And if you wonder how these candidates can still manage to smile while answering a tough question and have presence of mind, that’s all part of the show. “I constantly remind the girls that there is no right or wrong answer and to speak from the heart and to make it brief,” Dungca said.

That’s comforting. Perhaps it helps for some candidates to know when they’re on that stage and they can barely see anyone in the dark because the spotlight is on them. “I don’t see anyone (when I’m up there),” Alexa said as if it were the most natural thing.

Meanwhile, the entire world can see them. In fact, everyone is watching, hanging on their every word—and smile–and hoping they don’t trip up in the Q&A.

This time around, though, it would be a nice change if–instead of saying they wish for world peace–they can broker a peace deal. Perhaps it takes a woman to do that. -Source and Courtesy: Inquirer by Dennis Clemente

Mr. Pedrito Nepomuceno

Sa balakin ng Pamahalaang Lalawigan ng Marinduque na mangutang muli ng halaganag Php 500,000,000.00 sa Development Bank of the Philippines o Land Bank, muli ko pong inilalathala ang aking katugunan sa mga pahayag ni Gobernador Reyes. Kaugnay po dito, tahasan ko pong ipinahahayag ang aking personal na pagtutol dahil ito ay, sa aking personal na paniniwala, ay magdudulot ng pag-dislocate ng pananalapi ng ating lalawigan at mga pangunahing gawain ng ating pamahalaang panlalawigan. Mayroon pa po tayong binabayarang P73,000,000.00 sa Land Bank of the Philippines kaugnay sa heavy equipment na binili noong panahon ni Gov. Bong Carrion na ang karamihang equipment na nagkakahalaga ng P45,000,000.00 ay hinidi na inilabas sa Bureau of Customs .

Isa pa pong dahilan kung bakit ako tumututol ay dahil sa kawalan ng program o pagpaplano kung saan gugulin ang P500,000,000.00. Idagdag na rin natin ang halaganag P120,000,000.00 na hindi ginastos ng pamahalaang panlalawigan at ito ay maaring ilaan sa pangangailangan sa mga pangunahin proyekto ng lalawigan.

Inuulit ko po hindi natin kailangan mangutang dahil napakaraming pondo, na ang dapat lamang nating gawin ay mag drawing, magplano at gumawa ng program at hilingin sa national govertnment na kaalyado naman ng kasalukuyan administrasyon, na laanan ng pondo para maisakatuparan. Maaring ito ay sa mga kalsada at tulay, eskwelahan o sa pagamutan.

Taong 2013

Katugunan sa mga pahayag ng Kgg. na Gobernador Carmencita O. Reyes kaugnay sa balakin ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan na mangutang muli ng milyon milyon piso, karagdadan sa P75,000,000.00 unang inutang sa banko ng nakaraang administrasyon ng dating Gobernador Jose Antonio N. Carreon.

Ang sambayanang Marinduqueno po ay nangangamba sa binabalak na pag-utang muli ng milyon-milyon piso ng kasalukuyang administrasyon ng butihing Gobernador Carmencita O. Reyes. Sa punto pong ito na nagbigay ng mga pahayag ang ating Gobernador hinggil sa binbalak na pag-utang ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ako po bilang isang mamamayang nagmamalasakit at nangangamba rin para sa ating magandang kinabukasan, at bilang dating Mayor ng Boac at dating Bokal ng lalawigan at bilang isang bankero na may sapat na kaalaman sa pananlapi, pribado man o pampubliko, ay nagbibigay ng mga tugon o mga sagot sa mga pahayag ng ating butihing Gobernador Carmencita O. Reyes. 

Una: Matindi ko pong pinabubulaanan na ang aming pagtutol at pangangatuwiran ay mula sa pinalabo at malisyosong pananaw na may halong pulitika . Wala po kaming balak na wasakin ang pagkakaisa ng mga Marinduqueno. Isa lamang po ang gaming layunin, ang pangalagaan ang interes at kapakanan ng bawat Marinduqueno sa pamamraang maayos, mahinahon, makatarungan at naayon sa batas;

Ikalawa: Tama po, ang ekonomiya ng ating lalawigan ay nakasandal sa tradisyunal na industriya; ang pangingisda, pagsasaka at paghahayupan na sa matagal ng panahon ay napabayaan at walang naging pag-unlad, kaya hanggang ngayon ay umaasa pa rin tayo sa halos namamatay nang industriya ng pagniniyog. Sa hinaba-haba ng panunungkulan ng nakaupong gobernador, mawalang galang na po, maitaanong ko lamang, bakit wala tayong nabuo o naitayong industria at mag kalakalang makapagbibigay ng trabaho at hanapbuhay sa ating mga kababayan? Bakit hanggang ngayon ay umaasa tayo sa pagniniyog samantalang alam na natin na hindi na maasahan ang industriya ng niyog mahigit ng 40 taon ang nakakaraan;

Ikatlo: Totoo po wala tayong base ng pagkakakitaan tulad ng ibang bayan na maraming pumapasok na namumuhunan na nagkapagpaunlad ng kalakalan at nagtatayo ng mga industriya. Bakit nga po baga walang pumapasok na namumuhunan sa ating lalawigan. Isa po at alam nating lahat na ang pinakamabigat na dahilan ay ang kawalan ng maayos, maasahang supply ng kuryente, patubig, at iba pang pangunahing pangangailanagn ng mamamayan at ng mga nangangalakal at ng namumuhunan sa pagtatayo ng negosyo at industriya sa isang lugar. Salat po tayo sa mga pangunahing pangangailangan at dahil dito ay maitatanong po natin kung ano ang nangyari sa mga dekadang dumaan na sana ay naisaayos na at naitayo ang mga pangunahing inpraestruktura ng ating lalawigan. Sa kawalan ng maayos na programa at pamamalakad, hanggang ngayon ang ating lalawigan ay salat at sa mahabang panahon ay naghahangad pa rin ng mga simple at pangunahing pangangailangan, tulad ng maayos kalsada, eskwelahan at maayos na hospital at kuryente at patubig;

Sa mga nakalipas na panahon po ay masasabi kong meron tayong naging base ng ating pagkakakitaan, ang pagmimina. Pero bakit po wala tayong napala sa halos 30 taong pagmimina sa ating lalawigan. Tandaan po natin na ang pagmimina, pag nahukay na po ang mineral sa ating lupain ay yaan po ay tuloyan ng nawawala kaya nararapat lamang na ang kapalit ay ang tamang buwis na maipagpapagawa ng mga pangunahing pangangailangang inprastruktura. Noog panahon ng pagmimina ang Balanacan Road at ang Circumferential Road na 120 km lamang ay hindi man lamang naipatapos masementuhan. Bakit wala tayong napala sa pagmimina sa ating lalawigan, Napinsala pa ang ilog Boac at nakaamba pa ang panganib ng mga Dams sa Marcopper.

Ikaapat: Totoo po na may mga kalsada, tulay at eskwelahan na napagawa na, subalit hindi pa rin kumpleto at hanggang ngayon po ay hindi pa rin tapos ang pangunahin kalsada sa buong lalawigan.

Kahit sino naman po ang nag-upo bilang Congressman o Gobernador ay taon taon ay may pondong inilalaan para sa mga Congressional District at ito ay sa pagpapagawa ng mga pangunahing inprastruktura ng mga Distrito, tulad ng mga kalsada, tulay, eskwelahan, atb.. Kahit sino po ang Congressman ay maitatayo ang mga eskwekahan, magagawa nag mga kalsada at tulay, at mga iba ng gawaing pang-nasyunal. Ganyan din po ang sa pagpapailaw – ito po isang National Government Project at kahit sino ang naka upong Congressman ay ito ay darating sa ating lalawigan. Hinid po dapat akuin ito ni Gobernadotr Reyes na siya ang nagpagawa dahil lahat ng ito na proyekto ng natiobnal government nation llamang na siya ang nakaupo bilang congressman noong panahong na ipinatutupad ang pagpapailaw sa mga probinsiya, at kanayunan. Ganoon din po san mga kalsada ay tulay at eswkwelahan . Ang tanong po naman, bakit hindi naging sapat ang pagpapagawa nila sa loob ng napakahabang panahon nila sa katungkulan. Inuulit ko po, kahit sino po ang nakaupo ay darating sa ating lalawigan ng mga proyektong pang-nasyunal.

Kung ating po ihahambing ang mga nagawa sa loob ng mahabang panahong sa ating lalawigan at ang nagawa sa ibang bayan at ibang mga lalawigan, makikita po natin ang malawak na agwat sa mga inpraestruktura. Naiwan na po tayo sa lahat ng aspeto ng kaunlaran, inpraesturktura, ekomomiya at kabuhayan.

Ikalima: Totoo po napakaliit ng ating kinikita sa ating lalawigan, ngunit hindi po ibig sabihin nito ay hindi natin makakamit ang kaunlaran sa ating lalawigan. Nasa maayos na pag-paplano at pamamahala at tamang paghawak ng pananalapi nakasalalay ang pag-unlad ng ating lalawigan. Hindi po natin masasabing dahil sa kakarampot na ayuda na galing sa Pamahalaang Nasyonal sa pamamgitan ng “Internal Revenue Allotment” (IRA) ay hindi na natin maisusulong ang kaunlaran ng ating lalawigan. Ang halagang P360 Million mula sa IRA ay hindi natin masasabing kakarampot. Hindi rin kakarampot ang tunay na kinikita ng lalawigan na P26 Million. Nasa maayos na paggamit ng pananalapi lahat nakasalalay ang ating pag-unlad. Maliban po sa nabanggit ng halaga ay meron pang P70 Million ang ating Congresista at nadadagdagan pa ito taon taon. Meron nga pong taon na mahigit sa P300 Million ang mga proyektong pinapatupad ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), at hind pa rin po kasama ang nilalaan ng ibang mag Departamento ng Pamahalaang Nasyunal. Marami pong pananalpi ang ang pamahalaan at hinid kinakailangang mangutang sa Banko para maisulong ang proyektong pangkaunlaran ng bayan.

Ikaanim: Parang ngayong lamang po nasabing marubdob niyang hangarin madulutan ng kaginhawahan ang ating mga kababaynan sa kanilang paglalakbay sa isang maayos na konkretong daan. Napakatagal naman po niya bago napansin ang ating kasalatan sa maayos na daan. Ano po ang ginawa nila noong sila ay magkatuwang sa loob ng 9 na taon?

Ikapito: Sinasabi po kinakailangang mangutang ng pamahalaang panlalawigan na gugulin sa mga sumusunod:

1. Farm to Market Road - hindi po natin kailangang mangutang para sa Farm to Market road dahil ang Department of Agriculture (DA) at Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) ay pupuwedeng pagkunan ng pondo para sa pagpapagawa ng Farm to Market road;
   
2. Pagpapaayos ng Marinduque Airport - hindi kinakailanagn gastusan yan ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ng Marinduque dahil yan po ay nasa pamamahala ng Nasyunal na Pamahalaan at ang mga proyektong pagpapaayos po ng Paliparan, tulad ng Daungan ay nasa poder ng National Government. Bakit po natin aakuin at gagastusan ang proyektong dapat ay ginagawa ng National Government?

Sinasabi po ang utangin ay isang “Credit Line” lamang na sasagot sa mga gagastusin sa pagpapagawa ng Airport. Ito po ay isang panglilinlang dahil wala pong ganyan sistema sa ating pamahalaan. Hindi rin po kapanipaniwala na isasauli ng Department of Transportation and Communication ang halagang gagastusin sa pagpapagawa ng airport. Sa piniiral sa polisiya ng pamahalaan, lahat po na sinasabi nila ay walang katutuhanan. Ang Credit Line po ay ginagamit sa negosyo pero sa pamahalaan po ay walang gumagawa ng ganito.

Meron pamamaraan ng isang pag-garantiya sa isang proyektong gagawin para mapatibay ang pagbabayad sa isang nangunguntrata. Ito po ay ang tinatawag na “Letter of Credit” na sa pagtatapos ng isang kontrata ay siyang sasagot sa pagbabayad. Pero hindi rin po ito karaniwang ginagamit sa Pamahalaan.

At kung totoo pong garantiya lamang ang inuutnag nasaan po ang mga kontrata o Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) mula sa DOTC at sa Banko at Provincial Governtment of Marinduque (PGM)?

Bakit ngayon lamang naisip na ipagawa ang Airport na sa napakatagal ng panahon ay hindi sila nagpursiging hilingin sa DOTC ang pagpapaayus ng ating airport. At isa pa, ano po ang nangyari sa proyektong sinimulan noong 1998 na naglalayun na pahabaain ang airport runway. Isa po sa dahilan kung bakit tumigil ang pag serbisyo ng PAL sa Marinduque ay ang short runway, kaya naman ito ay ipinagawa noong bago magdekada 2000, Kaya nga lamang po, mukhang hinid natapos, Tapos daw ang pondo pero hindi natapos ang proyekto.

Tulad po sa aking pagpupursige noon sa pagpapagawa ng Talao talao Access Road sa Dalahica Commercial Port (noong panahon na walang gumagalaw na mga pulitiko dahil sa mga botanteng eskwater sa lugar ng Talao-talao) at para na rin mabuksan at magamit ito para sa mga pasahero ng Marinduque, sana ay nangulit din sila noon pa man para maipagawa ay ating Airport.

Ununulit ko po wala pong basehan at walang bisa ang garantiyang sinasabi sa ulat ng butihing Gobernador Carmencita O. Reyes.

Nakakatawa po ang sinabing ang uutangin ay Credit Line lamang, pero gagastusin sa pagpapagawa ng Airport at ito ay babayaran ng DOTC. Kailan at saan po kayo nakakita na ang mahirap na lalawigan ang magpapagawa ng proyektong dapat ay gugulan ng Pamahalaang Nasyonal.

Ikawalo: Tungkol po sa P75. Million Loan ng nakaraang Administrasyon ni Gov. Bong Carreon na sinabing hinid pa rin dumarating ang mga heavy equipment, ang totoo po nito ay hindi nila kinukuha sa Pier ang mga natitirang ekwipo na hindi nailabas noong termino ni Gov. Bong Carreon dahil sa hindi malaman kung sino raw ang magbabayad ng cost of storage at Demurrag ng kinakalawang na ekwipo sa pier. Ang totoo po ay saguting yan ng Pamahalaang Palalawigan kung walang tinutukoy sa kontrata kung sino ang magbabayad ng singil sa storage at demurrage.

Sa akin pong palagay, dahil po sa pamumulitika ay hindi na kukunin ang mga natitirang ekwiposa pier sa Maynila. Dahil matagal na pong panahon ang lumipas ang mga equipment po ay considered abandoned na at sa aking pagtantiya ay nailit na ng Bureau of Customs (BOC) o ibang pananalita ay forfeited na in favor of the government.

Ako po bilang concerned citizen at naghihinayang sa mga equipment ay nag-offer ng serbisyo para makuha nag mga equipment at ma-release from BOC custody pero hindi po ako nakatanggap ng kasagutan mula sa Goberndor.

Dapat po nating malaman at maintindihan na consummated na po ang pag-utang at ang bilihan ng mga heavy equipment na inaprubahan ng Sangguniang Panlalawigan at ng Gobernador at kung ako ang tatanungin ay ang titulo na ng mga equipment ay sa Pamhalaang Panlalawigan na at dapat kuhanin para mapakinabangan na.

Sa totoo lang po ay isa kami sa nag parating ng reklamo sa Commission on Audit (COA) para i-audit itong pangungutang na ito at ang pag-iwan sa pier ng mga ekwipo.

Mayroon pong mga kasalukuyang Bokal na kasama sa pag-utang at pag-bili ng Heavy Equipment pero na ngayon ay tahimik at walang ginagawa tungkol sa naiwang equipment sa pier.

Noon pong 1999 ay may Ordinansang Panlalawigan na Nagtatayo ng 2 Motor Pool, at 2 ring set ng Heavy Equipment, isa sa Sta Cruz para sa Sta. Cruz at Torrijos, at isa sa Boac, para sa Boac, Mogpog, Gasan at Buenavista, at ito ay nagsasaad ng maglalaan ng at least P5 Million para sa pagkumpleto ng heavy Equiopment para sa naturang 2 Motor Pool. Bakit kaya hanggang ngayon ay hinid pa rin makumpleot ang ating mga equipent? Saan napupunta ng P5MM every year na allocation na sa loon ng halos 10 taon at kung tutuusin at maroon ng P60Mllion kung tinutupad ang paglalaan ng P5MM taon taon.

Pagpapatayo ng sports complex. Noong 1988 pinatuyo po namin ng Pammahalaang Bayan ng Boac ang isang Sports Oval sa lugar (Boac Reclamation Project) na sinasabing pagtatayuan ng Sports Complex. Sana po noon pa ay sinundan nga ang pagpapagwa ng Sports comllkex dito para naman sana ay sa panahon ngayon ay tapos na, ginagamit na at napapakinabangan na n gating mga kababayn lalo pa ang mga eskwela. Bakit ngayon lang nila naisp ang ganitong proyekto? Dahil ba may pinapagawa na Sports Complex Sta Sta. Cruz?

Ang ibang pondo ay gugulin sa edukasyon ng kabataan. Bakit ngayon lang? At saka libre naman po ang edukasyon mula elemntarya hanggang Mataas na Paaralan o High School. Bakit gugulan nga edukasyon?

Sinasabi na “maikli na ang panahon mga anak”, dipo ba dapat “napakahabang panahon na mga anak”. Ang tanong po bakit po ngayong lang kayo nakaisip ng mga ganitong pangungutang at pagpapagawa ng kalsada , sport coml.;elx etc.

Sumasangayon po ako na hinid masama ang mangutang. Ang mga negosyante at ang mga nagtatayo ng industriya ay nagngungutang, pero dapat po nating malaman at maintindihan na ang isang nagngungutang ay dapat magbayad, hindi lamang ang halangang inutang kung hindi pati na rin ang interes of tubo sa inutang. Sa negosyo at industriya, sila ay umuutang dahil sa ang pinalalaanan nila ay pamumuhunan at alam nating lahat na ang negosyo ay may balik na kita at ang kinikita nila ang kanilang ipambabayad sa kanilang inutang na halaga kasama ng tubo. Sa kaso po ng Pamhalaang Panlalawigan ay ang uutangin ay gagastusin sa pagpapagawa ng proyektong Nasyunal at pag natapos po ang proyekto wala namng imaibabalik at sa katagalang ay muling ipapagawa at walang tunay ibabalik sa kaban ng bayan.

Bakit ngayon lang.

PEDRITO M. NEPOMUCENO

Dating Alkalde ng Boac

Dating Bokal ng Marinduque.

GSIS Logo

Mayor Gil Briones of Torrijos

National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation

BOAC, Marinduque - Isinagawa kaninang umaga ang culminating activity o pagtatapos ng pagdiriwang ng 36th National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week ng Department of Health (DOH) sa PDRRMC Training and Convention Center, Boac.

Ang DOH MIMAROPA Office Team sa pamumuno ni Executive Assistant Rhodora Tayag, kinatawan ni DOH Regional Dir. Eduardo C. Janairo ay dumating upang isagawa ang programang ito sa tulong ng provincial government of Marinduque sa pamumuno ni Gov. Carmencita O. Reyes at ni Congresswoman Regina O. Reyes. Sa mga salitang binitiwan ni Tayag, hindi magkakaroon ng katuparan ang proyektong ito kung hindi sa tuong ng Punong Lalawigan at ng Kinatawan sa Kongreso ng Marinduque, Ate Gina.

Ipinahayag din ni Tayag ang mga nais maiparating at maipaalam ni Dir Janairo na: ang programang pangkalusugan para sa Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) o mga taong may kapansanan ay isa ng prioridad sa rehiyon upang masiguradong mabibigyan sila ng pantay na opportunidad o equal access sa programang pangkalusugan lalo’t higit ngayon, Agosto 1 kung kalian ipinagdiriwang ang 36th National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week dito sa lalawigan ng Marinduque at maging ibang lalawigan sa MIMAROPA (Mindoro Orriental, Occidental, Romblon and Palawan), ganito din ang ipaliliwanag at ipagkakaloob sa mga PWDs ng DOH.

Nagkaroon ng pagpapatala ang mga PWDs ngayong araw. Tinimbang ang mga may kapansanan, nagkaroon ng blood typing, kinunan ng blood pressure at nagkaroon ng initial consultation ang mga nakapagpatala na.

Ayon sa programa ng DOH, matapos ang mga paunang evaluation and diagnosis, magpapadala ng mga medical professionals at espesiyalista upang mas matukoy pa ang sakit o pangangailang ng mga PWDs at mabigyan ng tamang lunas o intervention para sa kanilang kalusugan at kapakanan.
Dagdag pa ni Tayag, ipinahahatid din ni Janairo na magsasanay din ang DOH ng mga health workers sa Basic Sign Language upang mas maging maayos ang pakikipagusap nila sa mga may kapansanan sa pandinig.

Ang talaan ng mga PWDs sa barangay at sa lalawigan ay napakahalaga sa pagbibigay ng mga lubhang kailangang mga “health provisions” at benepisyong maaring maipagkaloob sa pamamagitan ng Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities o Republic Act No. 7277, na siyang nagbibigay ng medical benefits at iba pang mga diskwentro at prebileho sa isang rehistradong PWD at ang Republic Act No. 10070 na nagsisigurong maipatutupad ang mga programa at serbisyo para sa mga PWD sa bawat lalawigan, siydad o munisipalidad.

Ang programa ng pagpapatala o registration ng PWDs ay sa pakikipagtulungan sa Department of Social Welfare and Development’s National Household Targeting System (NHTS) and Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO), at unang isinagawa dito sa lalawigan ng Marinduque sa pakikipagtulungan sa pamahalaan ng Marinduque.
Ayon kay Dir. Janaire sa kanyang ipinarating na mensahe, ang Marinduque ay isa sa mga lalawigan sa MIMAROPA na may mataas na bilang ng PWDs.

Napagalaman na sa talaan ng Philippine Statistics Authority sa 2010 Census of Population and Housing, may 4,900 katao o 2.1 percent mula sa 227, 585 household population ang may kapansanan. Ang proporsiyon ng taong may kapansanan (PWDs) noong 2000 ay 2.4 percent mula sa 217,244 household population ng lalawidan ng taong nabanggit. Ang kabuuang bilang ng PWDs sa taon ding nabanggit ay more or less 5,100.

May 400 na PWDs na ang nakapagpatala kaninang umaga at patuloy pa ang pagpapalista hanggang ngayong hapon.

Nagkaloob din ng mobility and financial assistance si Gov. Reyes at Congw. Reyes sa ilang PWDs. Ayon kay Congw. Reyes ang ibang mobility assistance kagay ng wheelchairs at crutches ay naipamahagi na sa ibang munisipyo at ang iba ay ipamamahagi pa.

Naglagay din ng iba’t-ibang booths dito para sa mga ahensiyang maaaring makatulong sa mga PWDs kagaya ng Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development. May mga representante din ang Bureau of Internal Revenue at Regional Trial Court. -Source and Courtesy from Philippine Information Agency-Marinduque (MNL/PIA-4B/ Marinduque)

PNP Marinduque