Showing posts with label visayas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label visayas. Show all posts

Senator Roxas says Visayas power rate hike unjust

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas has sought an inquiry into the looming generation cost hike by the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) and the Power Sector Asset and Liabilities Management (PSALM) in the Visayas grid.

He filed Senate Resolution No. 946 which seeks an inquiry by the Senate Committee on Energy into the imminent power rate hike of P1.146 per kilowatt-hour in Visayas.
"Hindi tama ito. Dagdag na pasanin itong pagtataas ng singil sa kuryente lalo sa mga kababayan nating apektado ng krisis-pinansiyal (This is not right. With this rate hike, we're increasing the burden of our people who are already reeling from the effects of the financial crisis)," he said.

"Gusto nating malaman kung bakit magtataas ng singil sa kuryente lalo na sa Kabisayaan kung saan pinakamalaki ito. Makatarungan ba ang dagdag-singil na ito? May iba pa bang solusyon na hindi pabigat sa mga kababayan natin? (We want to know why power rates were hiked especially in the Visayas. Is it just? Are there other options that will not put much burden on our people?)," he said.
The Senate inquiry, Roxas said, would determine if there is a need to amend existing energy laws to better protect power consumers. He added that it is the duty of the State to "protect the public interest as it is affected by the rates and services of electric utilities and other providers of electric power."

The Ilonggo senator also wants the Senate to look into the claims of the Federation of Electric Cooperatives in Eastern Visayas that NAPOCOR and PSALM did not notify and inform the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association, various electric cooperatives and local government units in the region of their joint application before the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), as mandated by the Electric Power Industry Reforms Act (EPIRA).

The ERC approved the joint Napocor-PSALM application last month, allowing a hike of P 0.4682 per kilowatt hour for Luzon, P 1.1460 /kwh for Visayas and P 0.7174 /kwh for Mindanao in their basic generation charges. The ERC claimed the increase would alleviate Napocor's current financial difficulties due to current power generation costs.

The ERC decision was met with stiff opposition by local officials in Western and Eastern Visayas, led by Negros Occidental Governor Isidro Zayco and Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia who have asked the Bacolod Sangguniang Panglungsod to file an intervention and opposition in ERC Case No. 2009-004 to the application for higher power rates of Napocor and PSALM.

He added his office has received reports from Western Visayas officials that additional power rate hikes or massive power shortages are likely to happen once two of the power generators in Iloilo province are turned over on March 25 to a private Singaporean-owned firm named SPC Island Power Corporation.

Saturday, March 21, 2009 | posted in , , , , , , , , | 0 comments [ More ]

There will be no Philippines without the Visayas - Mar Roxas

Senator Mar Roxas was in Cebu to grace the opening program of the 1st One Visayas Culture and Arts Festival in the Cebu International Convention Center together with the governors and local officials of the 16 provinces of Visayas. The event showcases the bests of the Visayan provinces from their products to tourist destinations.


Senator Mar Roxas shares a laugh with Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia (center) and Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano (right). Photo courtesy of Cebu Online News

Roxas, being the guest speaker for the event, praised the Visayan officials for their unity. Visayas, composed of 16 provinces namely Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo and Negros Occidental in Region 6 (Western Visayas), Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental and Siquijor in Region 7 (Central Visayas) and Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar and Southern Leyte in Region 8 (Eastern Visayas), has played a major role in the development of the country.
"...a fabric that will cradle each and every Filipino in the Visayas as well as in the Philippines, because even as Visayas still exists without the rest of the Philippines, there will be no Philippines without the Visayas.", Roxas said referring to the importance of the event.
Roxas was also impressed by the presence of governors and other high-ranking government officials during the launching and said that the celebration "is a sign of oneness that will definitely result to economic benefits in Central Philippines", as the effort will connect the Visayas provinces in terms of trade and transportation.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009 | posted in , , , , | 2 comments [ More ]

Bisdak Blogger

I'm a BISDAK BLOGGER!

This blogger is a proud Bisdak Blogger! A Bisdak Blogger is someone who is Bisayang Dako Blogger. I was born here in Cebu and I live here in Cebu and I can call myself as a proud Bisdak Blogger.

A blogger friend of mine, Winston Almendras (who is also a Bisdak Blogger) of the famous. BatangYagitCom is having a contest among Cebu bloggers on Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and I'm in it. It's a major trend on today's bloggers especially us Bisdak Bloggers in making our post land on the first page of Google's Search Engine Results Page (SERP) using the keyword "Bisdak Blogger".

Click here for more if you want to join this Bisdak Blogger SEO contest.

If you want to know more about SEO, visit SEO Tutorial.

Saturday, January 17, 2009 | posted in , , , , , | 0 comments [ More ]

Thanks for signing the online petition!

I would like to thank everyone who signed the online petition to urge Mr. Hermogenes Esperon to resign from his position as Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process. As of this blogging, 61 people had already voiced out and said enough is enough. If you haven't signed yet the online petition, please do affix your name at http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/esperonresign and help me spread the word about this by telling your family, friends and relatives to sign it.

This afternoon, I would be attending the 3rd Cebu Bloggers' Society Meet-Up to discuss things that would make the organization more compact and strong. We are now rolling up our sleeves in making other Cebu-based bloggers join the group.

On the other hand, I'm quite sad because I can't make it to the Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs in 2008 Event of Ms. Janette Toral tomorrow 6pm at The Legend Villas in Mandaluyong City. But anyways, thanks a lot to the bloggers who voted my blog as one of the Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs in 2008. It's an honor to be one of it! Cheers Janette for the successful writing project!

Would you make me happy today?

If you haven't signed the online petition yet to urge Senator Mar Roxas to run for President, then it's not yet too late. Go to http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/marroxas2010 and add your name. Also, join the Friends of Roxas 2010 (FOR 2010), the social network of Mar Roxas 2010 supporters. Click here to register!

If you had already finished doing these, can you help me tell other people to do the same? Thanks a lot for making this advocacy of ours successful! I share the citation of having one of the Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs in 2008 with YOU!

Cheers everyone!

ORAS NA!

Sunday, August 10, 2008 | posted in , , , , , , , , | 0 comments [ More ]

Statement of Senator Mar Roxas on the killing of RMN-DYVR Anchor Martin Roxas

"I strongly condemn the killing of radio commentator Martin Roxas of RMN-DYVR-Roxas City. A few hours ago, he wsas shot in the back while riding his motorcycle on his way home after his noontime program.

"I call on the police force of Roxas City to immediately get to the bottom of this case, and bring the perpetrators to justice. This is the first time such an atrocity against the media has happened in Roxas City.

"Such violence against the media in the line of duty and such an assault on decency, democracy and the rule of law has no room in Roxas City.

"To the widower and family of Martin Roxas, I am with you in your grief and in your quest for justice."

Friday, August 8, 2008 | posted in , , , | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas seeks expanded probe on Sulpicio Lines for maritime safety; cites gaps in hazardous pesticide handling, insurance coverage

Senator Mar Roxas called for an expanded and comprehensive Senate investigation on the sea tragedy involving Sulpicio Lines' M/V Princess of the Stars that has led to hundreds dead and missing, as well as the discovery of hazardous chemicals and insufficient insurance coverage.

Roxas, who hails from Western Visayas, filed a Senate resolution (Senate Resolution No. 480) in aid of legislation that would amend existing laws in order to upgrade maritime safety standards so that it would conform to the same strict safeguards found in the airline industry.
"Allowing a passenger ship to sail with tons of hazardous chemicals in its cargo, a string of sea mishaps to its name and still not enough insurance protection in case of damages to the environment and local communities is a case study in poor governance. We demand not just answers but concrete solutions so that this would never ever happen again," Roxas stressed.

"We are an archipelagic country sandwiched by seas and oceans. We are a seafaring nation. We should be a global example of maritime safety, not be on the Guinness records for the world's biggest sea tragedies," he stressed.

"Let's look at the latest Sulpicio tragedy not as an isolated case but as a manifestation of appallingly weak corporate and public governance," he added.
Roxas, the Liberal Party President, noted that Section 9 of Presidential Decree No. 1144, the Charter of the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, appears not to make a distinction as to the kind of vessel allowed for the transporting of duly-registered pesticides.
"It boggles the mind how and why this hazardous cargo was allowed in a passenger ferry in the first place? The vagueness of this law, coupled by authorities' incompetence to interpret the law in favor of consumer safety, may have been putting passengers' lives at risk even in previous years. The Senate inquiry will result in legislation to clarify all guidelines, orders, and laws and skew it in favor of passenger rights and safety," he said.
Aside from this, Roxas said the ships insurance coverage is insufficient vis-à-vis what's common in the industry, as it is limited only to passengers and cargo. The ship, he said, did not have protective indemnity insurance coverage, which would answer for damages caused to the ship and/or the environment.

The Senator said "I and other industry-standard comprehensive insurance coverage, may already be made mandatory under the existing Republic Act No. 9295, or the Domestic Shipping Development Act of 2004."
"Again, we must ask our regulators why did they stick to bare minimums in the law and not require wider insurance coverage for shipping operators, especially for a company that is associated with sea tragedies over the past several years? The Senate will look into this and the owners of Sulpicio Lines as well as the regulatory bodies concerned must explain such deadly gaps before the victims' families and the public at large," Roxas said.

Saturday, July 5, 2008 | posted in , , , , , | 0 comments [ More ]

Kalibo relief operation by Senator Mar Roxas, Capiz province and MMDA

Here are another set pictures sent to us by Mr. Roberto Acevedo on what happened in Capiz after Typhoon Frank hit the province.



The Capiz Provincial Government, upon the instruction of Senator Mar Roxas and Capiz Governor Vic Tanco sent several heavy equipments to augment in the clearing up of mud around Kalibo proper up to 2:00AM.



MMDA heavy equipments were also there sent by the Mrs. Gloria Arroyo. They started the relief operation by helping the Muncipality of Kalibo upon the request of Mayor Raymar Rebaldo. The removal of mud and operation started yesterday. Because of the heavy mudflood, they roughly estimate to complete the clearing in one month time. The mayor was the first one to operate their payloader after the flood and has been serving well the people of Kalibo. Their funds seemed to have been exhausted.



 

  

  

  

  

  

  

 



If you have pictures on what happened in your province after Typhoon Frank hit the country, please do send it to us at my personal email kevinraychua@gmail.com.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008 | posted in , , , | 0 comments [ More ]

The pictures of Typhoon Frank's destruction in Iloilo

Here are another set pictures sent to us by Mr. Roberto Acevedo on what happened in Iloilo after Typhoon Frank hit the province.



If you have pictures on what happened in your province after Typhoon Frank hit the country, please do send it to us at my personal email kevinraychua@gmail.com.











Monday, June 30, 2008 | posted in , , , | 0 comments [ More ]

The Mar Roxas 2010 blogger with Cebu and Davao bloggers

Before the event, I was in Hidden Valley, that's in Lamac, Pinamungajan, Cebu for a Leadership Traning Workshop together with my friends. The name of the place speaks for itself. It's really a hidden wonder! It's very far from the highway and mostly motorcycles for commuting called "habal-habal" are frequent in the area. Supposedly, the event was slated for June 28-29 but I really need to attend the bloggers' meet-up as promised. So, I cut short my attendance to the event. I rode a "habal-habal" at 10:30 AM but as we went along the road going to Lutopan, Toledo City, the motorcycle stopped for 5 times because of engine problems. I was pissed off! I got wet and dirty because of that. Even though I still didn't reached the Lutopan terminal, they dropped me in the market, which was 500 meters away, and told me to ride another motorcycle. Grrr!! What made me even more angry was that, they let me paid P100 instead of the negotiated payment of only P60! Then, when I arrived in the terminal, I waited for almost 30 minutes inside a V-Hire that would bring me back to the city. After almost 1 hour of the trip (I even slept), I arrived in One Citi-Link Terminal (the area where these V-Hires settle), I immediately went to V. Rama Avenue to ride a 12-L jeepney which passes by Fuente Osmeña. When I embarked from the jeepney, I walked from G. Garcia Street to Bo's Coffee Club. It was still 1:40 PM though, so I took a rest.



I attended the most-awaited meet-up (which was very successful) of Cebu and Davao bloggers here in Cebu. The informal event, held at Bo's Coffee Club in front of Cebu Doctor's Hospital at 2 PM, was organized by two of Davao's prominent bloggers, namely Blogie Robillo and Winston Almendras. Winston, Mark Monta and yours truly had already met before in SM and talked about the status quo of the Cebu Bloggers' Society. Though yesterday, Mark texted me that he can't attend the event. The event was the second that I attended. The first was the one with Ma'am Janette Toral.



The attendees, Wilson Ng, Paul Winston Villacorta, Xerxes Bernadez, Max Limpag, Aldrin Ponce, Rio Calle, Aileen Estoquia, Wilhelmina Sarawi, Mark Abitona, Rodelio Lagahit, Francis Daniel Maning, were very happy that finally, the event would be the start in organizing the blogging community here in Cebu and later, in the entire Visayas hopefully. We had met each other and shared our blogging insights. It was a lively meet-up. I just hope that these event would be a habit for Cebuano bloggers just like the Davao bloggers. I am part of the team consolidating the Cebu bloggers to form an organization same as the successful Mindanao Bloggers, Inc.



I was quite happy that the my fellow bloggers are supportive of my cause though not directly saying that they're voting or not for Senator Mar Roxas if he enters the 2010 presidential derby. Sir Wilson even said that there's nothing wrong with having this kind of blog. Indeed, it's a new thing in the Philippine blogosphere. :) 





Photos courtesy of Xerxes, Max, and from Ng Khai Cebu Pics.

| posted in , , , , , | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas asks gov't agencies to speed up processing of benefits

Senator Mar Roxas has written the Home Development Mutual Fund (PAG-IBIG) and Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), asking both agencies to provide immediate assistance to their members who suffered enormous losses due to typhoon "Frank"
"Our government must now speed up the processing of the necessary documents so that the thousands of typhoon victims who have lost their homes, property and loved ones can receive some relief to help them rebuild their lives," said Roxas, a former representative of Capiz, which was among the provinces in the Western Visayas region that were ravaged by the storm.
He commended PAG-IBIG, which, in a reply to Roxas' office, has already committed to providing P1.5 billion worth of calamity loans for victims in Aklan, Antique, Capiz and Iloilo.
"I thank PAG-IBIG President Miro Quimbo for his responsiveness to my call for expeditious assistance to the typhoon victims. This will go a long way in helping them, and I hope other government offices follow suit," he said, adding that he will also seek the assistance of the Social Security System (SSS).
In the letter to the Senator, Quimbo said he has instructed the PAG-IBIG branches to accept and expedite processing of calamity loans in the Western Visayas provinces.

Roxas, Liberal Party President, called on the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Education (DepEd) and Department of Health (DoH) to provide on-site assistance and coordinate directly with those affected by the typhoon.

The Senator has paid multiple visits to the stricken areas, coordinating relief and rehabilitation efforts, and providing people with basic needs such as food, water and medicines. Several donors from the private sector have also responded to the senator's call for relief goods such as candles, sardines, juice drinks, noodles and bottled water to help the victims.
"The destruction and mounting number of casualties because of typhoon 'Frank' is heartbreaking. We all need to pitch in and help to give rays of hope to those affected by the storm and floods," he said.
Latest reports have pegged the death toll nationwide from "Frank" at 498, of which 416 were from Western Visayas. With regards to the sinking of the M/V Princess of the Stars, there have been 124 found dead, 62 survivors, and over 600 more still missing.

The total number of displaced people has been pegged at 2.4 million people, or about 2.7% of the country's population, with 1.4 million of these from Western Visayas. 487,412 families nationwide were displaced, and damages have been estimated at P5.5 billion. P2 billion of this accrues from damage to farm lands and infrastructure in Western Visayas.

Sunday, June 29, 2008 | posted in , , , , , , , , , , | 0 comments [ More ]

Senator Mar Roxas in Kalibo after Typhoon Frank

Here are pictures sent to us by Mr. Roberto Acevedo on what happened in Kalibo, Aklan after Typhoon Frank hit the province with pictures also of Senator Mar Roxas' inspection in the area.



Emergency assistance is badly needed in Kalibo. The town proper was submerged in water 8-10 feet deep followed by mudfloods after Typhoon Frank. This is the first and the worst flood in the history of Kalibo.



No communication services are operating within the area except SMART. Many people are homeless. Electricity in the area and potable water are unavailable. Most of the stores and business establishments are closed expect for Andok's and Lunas Restaurant at Roxas Boulevard. Two 4TMT of potable water was sent to Kalibo from Roxas City, Capiz.





The municipality of Kalibo, Aklan needs your help. Send your donations to this address:



Municipality of Kalibo

Province of Aklan

Municipal Hall,  Magsaysay Park, Kalibo, Aklan 5600

c/o Mayor Raymar A. Rebaldo




You can call them at (63 36) 2623241, (63 36) 2684110 or email them at lgukalibo@glinesnx.com.ph



If you have pictures on what happened in your province after Typhoon Frank hit the country, please do send it to us at my personal email kevinraychua@gmail.com.

Friday, June 27, 2008 | posted in , , , | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas urges DA to assess impact of Typhoon Frank's damage on RP rice supply

Senator Mar Roxas called on the Department of Agriculture to assess the impact of typhoon damage – amounting to half a billion pesos and causing the loss of crops in 300,000 hectares in Western Visayas and 12 other provinces –on the country's dwindling rice supply.
"It's not enough to know the damage in peso terms but on how this will manifest itself in terms of rice and food prices and supply. Let's be more open and transparent about this and other problems, to come up with an integrated plan for rehabilitation and mobilization of resources in the wake of typhoon 'Frank'," he said.
Roxas has been aiding in and coordinating with different agencies on relief and rehabilitation efforts in Capiz and Iloilo since Friday.

The Chairman of the Senate trade and commerce committee, said the external shock of a global rice crisis combined with the internal shock of a major typhoon disaster requires a long and hard look at existing strategies and the need for long-term programs to avert a more acute rice and food shortage.
"Typhoon 'Frank' shows how vulnerable our food supply and its affordability are to internal shocks caused by weather disturbances and natural calamities. All the more we need to invest in our farmers and make sure that they get the support needed to recover from this latest setback," he added.
Roxas also called on the Department of Trade and Industry to activate the National Price Coordinating Council as an initial step to preventing unjustified price increases of goods and services by unscrupulous traders.

The price of ordinary commercial rice has gone up from P32/kg a month ago to P36-P39/kg at present. Roxas has repeated that the worldwide shortage in the commodity is forcing the country to focus on raising domestic production and attain self-sufficiency, to meet local demand.

Hard flour (Wellington), used for making pan de sal, is now at P980 per 25-kg bag, a more than 50% increase from P640 a year ago. Meanwhile, soft flour, used for making noodles, is at P840 per 25-kg bag, from about P500 a year ago.

He also noted that the price of petroleum products has increased for successive weeks now. Unleaded gasoline now costs P57.96 per liter and diesel now costs P50.94/L, after an increase last weekend of P1.50/L. Liquefied petroleum gas has increased by P1/L to P32.22/L or P653.70 per 11-kg tank, further burdening consumers struggling with high prices of food.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008 | posted in , , , , , , | 2 comments [ More ]

Roxas: Gov't, private sector help urgently needed as storm "Frank" batters Visayan provinces

Senator Mar Roxas called on the government and private groups to help in relief efforts in Panay Island and neighboring provinces, which have been battered and continue to be battered by tropical storm “Frank” over the past couple of days.
“I ask the National Disaster Coordinating Council and the Departments of Social Welfare and Development and of Interior and Local Government, as well as private individuals or organizations, to provide assistance to these areas in Visayas most affected by typhoon “Frank”,” the Senator and former Capiz representative said.

“The DILG should help the local governments under a state of calamity, while the NDCC and DSWD should look at temporary shelter, food and health needs of those whose homes were destroyed or are in flooded areas,” he said.

“If there are relief items to give, these should be sent to offices of the Provincial Governor or City Mayor,” he advised the public.
Roxas arrived in Capiz yesterday, Friday, for the opening ceremonies of a 15-megawatt diesel power plant in Panit-an, but this was canceled due to the bad weather.

The storm is still ongoing, and the affected areas are suffering from a power outage. Communication is limited, with little or no cellphone signal reception as well.

Aside from these problems, other areas such as in Iloilo province have been flooded, up to the second floors of many houses. Even with many volunteers, there is little transport available to them for them to participate in rescue operations.

Sunday, June 22, 2008 | posted in , , , , , , , | 2 comments [ More ]

Roxas condemns ambush on Biliran Rep. Glenn Chong's father; calls on DILG to step in, ensure justice is done

Senator Mar Roxas condemned the attack on Biliran Rep. Glenn A. Chong's father on Saturday evening, resulting in the death of two security escorts.

"We condemn this attack on Rep. Chong's father in the strongest terms. It is an affront to democracy, the rule of law and our civilized ways of living," the Liberal Party President said.

According to news reports, four armed men fired their guns at Charlie Chong when he was just about to enter his house after arriving from work. Two of his security escorts died in the assault.

"I call on the Department of Interior and Local Governments to step in and order an immediate investigation into this despicable act of violence," Roxas said.

He also expressed concern over the safety of the Chong family while the perpetrators remain unidentified.

Rep. Chong, 32, is a Liberal Party stalwart and a first-term congressman. His father was able to survive the ambush unhurt.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 | posted in , , , , , | 0 comments [ More ]

Rice crisis a direct threat to Food-For-School recipients, Roxas says

Senator Mar Roxas expressed dismay that over 20,000 grade school students in Eastern Visayas will now stop receiving rice allocations under the food-for-school program of the Department of Education due to the worsening rice crisis.
"The food-for-school program has been successful in improving nutrition and reducing drop-out rates among school children. It is extremely worrisome that the rice crisis now poses a direct threat to the viability of this education program," Roxas said.

"While the government is harping on its rice access card program, what we don't know is that it's also cutting funding for other programs. It is giving rice cards to poor families in Metro Manila while taking away rice allocations that would keep poor children in school in the poorest provinces of the country. We're taking away food from one mouth to put in another. Rice access cards program are under DSWD and DA while the food-for-school program is under DepEd. Does the left hand know what the right hand is doing?" he said.
The Liberal Party President said things are bound to get worse before they get better, considering the failed auction of the National Food Authority (NFA) where only one bidder showed up.

Roxas said the failed bid forced the NFA to admit that there was a "tightness of supply" in the world market. He added that this should serve as a fair warning to government to consider long-term solutions to the rice problem.
"First, admit that there is a problem. Secondly, come up with a concrete plan that includes both short-term and long-term solutions to solve the problem. Ang problema, sa unang hakbang pa lang ay hindi na tayo nagpakatotoo," Roxas lamented.
Roxas urged the executive branch to cut public expenditures in other areas in order to sustain the government's food-for-school program.
"Officials serving in the boards of government-controlled and -operated corporations should make the supreme sacrifice of giving up some of their perks as a sacrifice for the country. We can also look into restoring a four-day work week in government so we could save on energy costs," he said.

"More importantly, the revenue collection agencies should increase their collections. Let's do what needs to be done to keep these poor children in school," he said.
The Senate Trade Committee Chairman is also for the expansion of the food-for-work program, where poor families are harnessed to help in their communities. He has misgivings about a rice rationing system, such as the rice access cards, because it could be susceptible to politicking.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008 | posted in , , , , , , , , , , , | 0 comments [ More ]

Photos of Sen. Mar Roxas during his latest Cebu visit

Senator Mar Roxas serves some soup to a fellow marketgoer during breakfast at the Pinamungajan Public Market, where he recently held one of his regular palengke visits in which he gets to inspect prices of basic goods as well as equipment and facilities in the area, and mingle with the townsfolk in the wet market.

Senator Mar Roxas lends a hand at Tsuneishi Heavy Industries & Shipyard in the municipality of Balamban, Cebu, during a recent visit. He held a dialogue with the workers wherein he was able to discuss and explain his own advocacies, such as the Quality Affordable Medicines bill which is now at the bicameral level, and a proposal to suspend the value-added tax on oil products to cushion the impact of high oil prices worldwide.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008 | posted in , , , , , , | 0 comments [ More ]

Sen. Roxas to arrive at Davao City tomorrow

Senator Mar Roxas will be arriving at Davao City tomorrow Wednesday, to attend the 1st League of Municipalities in the Philippines (LMP) Mindanao Island Cluster Congress.

He praised the LMP for its efforts in furthering unity and progress in Mindanao, noting how its programs reflected “Unity Amidst Diversity Towards Genuine Peace, Progress and Countryside Development,” which is the theme of the event to be held at the Grand Regal Hotel in Lanang, Davao City.
Roxas, keynote speaker for the event, said “It is about time that we change the perception that national development primarily presides in Manila. We have begun our efforts as early as 1991 with the Local Government Code, but our industries in the countryside remain hampered, due in part to the lack of sustainability of peace and order.”

“I believe that our provinces have a lot to gain, and have a lot to contribute, as a result of a peaceful environment,” he added.
Ramon Abalos, mayor of Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat and President of the LMP, is organizing the event, to be attended by about 40 other municipal mayors of Mindanao. Also invited are President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Cabinet members.

Roxas, the Liberal Party President, said the LMP would have a lot to gain as well from listening to what their constituents had to say.
“It is important to get the pulse of the people, and learn from them what their needs are, and how local officials can help in this regard,” he said, noting that he has already held talks with some leaders on initiating a Visayas-Mindanao Development Agenda.

“By holding consultations, we can find out what industries need the most attention, and devise a comprehensive plan that would make the most of what we have, and create new wealth and value for each constituency,” he said.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008 | posted in , , , , , | 0 comments [ More ]

Senator Mar Roxas gets the support of Mayor Tom

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña is supporting Senator Manuel "Mar" Roxas if he runs for the presidency in 2010.

While it has been part of Filipino culture to choose the more popular candidate, he said he always chooses the candidate, who is competent to be president.

“I'm supporting Mar basically because he comes from a very decent family and to me integrity is very important. He also has the best working knowledge of the country's economy,” he said.

He said both their fathers were also close to each other. Sergio Osmeña Jr. and Gerry Roxas fought against the Marcos regime during their time.

Thursday, January 24, 2008 | posted in , , , , , | 0 comments [ More ]

Mar Roxas in Ati-Atihan and Sinulog

Whew! Actually, I was a member of the crowd control for the Sinulog celebration last January 20. It was really hot! I mean, the sun was hot! I was there from sun up to sun down near Jolibee Gorordo. I was not only the one enjoying the festivity. There's Senator Mar Roxas who joined the Ati-Atihan in Aklan and the Sinulog in Cebu (he was in the Cebu City Sports Complex with Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia). Many people are asking me for pictures, but I don't have one. I was not able to take pictures because I was, as I said, a member of the crowd control group. But yesterday, Ate Jenny Bugarin of Senator Mar's media staff sent me these pictures of Senator Roxas during the festivities:

Tuesday, January 22, 2008 | posted in , , , , , , | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas-Garcia or Roxas-Osmeña?


Would it be a Mar Roxas-Gwen Garcia tandem in 2010 or a Mar Roxas-Tommy Osmeña?

Well, that's the current buzz here in Cebu after Liberal Party leaders Neric Acosta, Butch Abad and Emilio Abaya hinted a possibility of having a Cebuano as the next vice president in 2010.

Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, whom I met during the LP National Convention last November 26, told SunStar that she and Roxas would be “more interesting as a love team rather than a political tandem—for now."

Meanwhile, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said, “I am the son of a presidential aspirant before Martial Law. Sergio “Serging” Osmeña was the favorite choice of the Cebuanos. I realized that (running for senator) would hurt Cebu because all those who have ambitions would hurt Cebu. That is why (there are those) who consolidated my father’s enemies. They consider my father a threat to their ambitions. So if I will aspire for national office, Cebu will suffer, SRP will suffer, and everybody will try to run amok with our projects here.”

But wait a minute, Gwen and Tommy had been in feud after the land-swapping fiasco! Would this mean that if Gwen is chosen as Roxas' VP, Tommy would withdraw his support to Roxas? Or the other way around? That's spooky!

Given the record of Cebu with 3 million plus voters, it would really determine every Philippine election on who's gonna win. Garcia and Osmeña are potential candidates but it's up to them if they would decide to run for vice president.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007 | posted in , , , , , , | 0 comments [ More ]

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