Sen. Roxas' opening statement during the NBN Project Joint Committee Hearing

First of all, to Mr. Lozada: Welcome, we are all glad that you are safe. For many hours, so many across the nation were worried about your well-being, and we’re glad that you’re here before us.

This is not going to be an inquisition. I see nervousness in your face. Just relax. Like everyone else, we just want to know the truth. We sympathize with you, with the predicament that you’re in. It was a very difficult last several days, weeks or months for you, and perhaps today, which is Constitution Day by the way, today, the truth will set you free.

It is so hard to do the right thing in our country today. And so I congratulate you for trying to do the right thing. I assure you that we here in the Senate will help you do the right thing, whatever that right thing is, and whatever that will mean. So we congratulate you, we applaud you, and we support your efforts to do the right thing.

What has happened to you shows that this broadband deal is not about modernizing the Philippines. It is about lining the pockets of those in power. It is not about serving the Republic, it is about syndicated looting of our Treasury.

How high does this conspiracy go, to silence you?

I agree with former Senator Salonga that the controversy arising from the NBN deal is a quarrel among thieves, and I am not taking any sides in this issue except for the people’s side.

I hate it when functionaries in Malacañang call you a liar, and call senators grandstanders, when Cabinet members themselves are invoking executive privilege to escape the scrutiny of people.

And so I make this appeal to you: Even as we understand your predicament, be certain, be assured, that all we want is the truth. God bless you in today’s hearings.

Friday, February 8, 2008 | posted in angel atutubo, avelino razon, benjamin abalos, mar roxas, pgma, philippines, rodolfo lozada, zte deal | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas demands copy of purported Lozada request for PNP security

Senator Mar Roxas today called on Philippine National Police Director-General Avelino Razon to furnish the Senate with a copy of the purported letter of Rodolfo Lozada, potential witness for the National Broadband Network probe in the Senate, requesting for security upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport yesterday.

“There is clear conflict between what Lozada’s family is saying and the claims of the PNP,” Roxas, co-chair of the NBN hearings, said.

“The only way to clear the air is for the PNP chief to produce the purported letter of Lozada and thereby show that all the actions of his subordinates were and continue to be above board,” he added.

The Liberal Party President also scored NAIA security authorities, headed by retired general Angel Atutubo, for negligence of the highest order in allowing a PNP impostor to enter the airport premises and take custody of Lozada.

“PNP Chief Razon has stated to the media that the policeman identified as SPO4 Roger Valeroso, who allegedly took Lozada, is not in the official rolls. Why was he given access to the most sensitive tarmac area without a thorough identity check?” Roxas asked.

He lamented, “This is an absurd situation, considering that the airport is a high security zone where people are subject to identity and baggage checks of the most stringent kind.”

Thursday, February 7, 2008 | posted in angel atutubo, avelino razon, benjamin abalos, mar roxas, pgma, philippines, rodolfo lozada, zte deal | 0 comments [ More ]

Sen. Roxas' statement on SC Order regarding Neri's arrest

"We will wait for the Supreme Court’s official order that allowed Secretary Romulo Neri his freedom for the meantime. As co-chairman of the joint committee hearing the NBN investigation, I will discuss with my fellow senators on our next step.

"It will be recalled that I, along with Senator Noynoy Aquino, filed with the Supreme Court a separate case to clarify the bounds of executive privilege, which Neri has been hiding under. It is my hope that the tribunal settles this issue at the soonest possible time, so that we can proceed in our investigation.

"However the Supreme Court decides in the end, we still hope for Neri’s voluntary cooperation, for the sake of transparency."

Wednesday, February 6, 2008 | posted in mar roxas, noynoy aquino, pgma, philippines, romulo neri, supreme court, zte deal | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas vows to push for immediate relief thru oil VAT suspension

Senator Mar Roxas vowed to continue the fight for the suspension of the 12% value-added tax (VAT) on petroleum products, even if the administration has repeatedly rejected the said measure, which seeks to bring immediate relief to commuters and consumers.

“Ilang beses nang ni-reject at tinanggihan ng gobyerno ang ating simple ngunit kongkretong panukala para tanggalin ang VAT sa langis. Pero hindi ibig sabihin nito na titigil tayo sa pagpupursigi na maipasa ito bilang batas at mabigyan ng agad na ginhawa ang ating mga konsyumer,” he said.

“Our simple yet concrete proposal will bring immediate relief worth P4 per liter of diesel and P65 per 11-kilo tank of LPG. If the government does not want to listen to the people’s plight, then we will. We’ll work to pass this as law, and the government will have to follow,” he added.

While recognizing that many of the proposals that resulted from the Energy Summit are good, especially for the long-term, Roxas warned the government against giving any illusion that these would result in immediate relief for the people from all-time high world oil prices.

For instance, he said the counter-proposal of the government to provide a VAT refund to consumers through a “coupon system” might be too complex and thus unresponsive to Juan de la Cruz’ urgent needs.

“Do not dangle expectations of immediate relief from these convoluted and untested proposals like this proposed coupon refund system. What the people need are direct and immediate relief, not these tedious measures that may not even achieve intended results,” he told the administration.

“The proposals during the Energy Summit are good for the long term, and I would even support some of these, like the Renewable Energy bill, which I’ve long supported. But at the same time, our people need measures for immediate relief, which we seek through the suspension of the VAT on oil,” he added.

The proposal for VAT refund through a “coupon system” was floated by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in her speech during the concluding rites of the Energy Summit. Said coupon system would be funded by excess revenues from the sale of Transmission Corp. and the National Power Corp., and proceeds from the Malampaya Natural Gas Project.

| posted in e-vat, mar roxas, margarito teves, oil, pgma, philippines | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas urges new Speaker: Heal the House

Senator Mar Roxas urged newly-installed House Speaker Prospero Nograles to seize the moment and shake off embittered partisanship to consolidate the House not behind any interest or faction, but behind the people and their urgent needs. “Let us now stop the conflict of factions and families and get straight to the business of the people without any more bickering,” he said.

“I call on the new House Speaker to start healing the wounds of the House so Congress could now speed up on the people’s legislation,” he said.

He cited the Quality Affordable Medicines bill, which has already been approved by the Senate and House, and set for discussions next week by the Bicameral Conference Committee. Roxas earlier said that 80%-90% of the provisions of the Senate and House versions could easily be reconciled.

Roxas, Liberal Party President, stressed that politicians are in power not for their sake but because the people put them there to look after the people’s interests.

“Itong kontes na ito, sa pagitan lamang ito ng mga pulitiko, at hindi naman talaga kasali si Juan dela Cruz dito. Tulad ng mga miting-miting na naganap bago itong paghalal ng bagong Speaker—mga golf sessions man o ‘gulp sessions,’—hindi naman kasali si Juan dela Cruz,” he said.

“At the end of the day, regardless of who bangs the gavel in Batasan, the people want to see a Congress that is working for their interests and not the interests of a few,” he stressed.

| posted in cheaper medicines bill, mar roxas, pgma, philippines, president, prospero nograles | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas: We are ready to pass medicines bill

Senator Mar Roxas affirmed that the Bicameral Conference Committee on the Quality Affordable Medicines Bill convening this Wednesday are "ready and willing" to pass the bill soonest, as he allayed fears that the House Speakership row will impede speedy action by the legislature on the urgent health measure.

Roxas also brushed off concerns that contentious provisions in the Senate and House versions would set back the bill's timetable, emphasizing that "80% to 90%" of standing provisions are "easily reconcilable" if all sides set their sights on the common target of public interest.

"The need of Filipinos for quality and affordable medicines is much more urgent than any of our disagreements,” he said.

Roxas lauded the members of the House panel and the proponents of the bill in the lower chamber for working with the Senate in the spirit of common interest as he shot down speculations that the current leadership row in the House will set back the bill's timetable.

“We are glad that our counterparts in the House—led by Rep. Antonio Alvarez (House Committee on Trade chairman)—are as gung-ho as we are in having this bill passed. We are not going to be hampered by politics,” he said.

“Hindi tungkol sa pulitika ang panukalang batas na ito kundi sa malubhang pangangailangan ni Juan dela Cruz para sa de-kaledad at abot-kayang gamot. Huwag sanang makasagabal ang anumang kaguluhan ngayon sa Kamara sa ating layunging maipasa kaagad ang Affordable Medicines Bill,” he said.

Senate Bill No. 1658 proposes amendments to the Intellectual Property Code to allow parallel importation of affordable medicines from other countries, and to help generics firms to develop quality and affordable generic medicines.

The bill also contains provisions allowing the President to impose drug price ceilings in times of calamity, public health emergencies, events that cause artificial and unreasonable price hikes, the prevalence of illegal price manipulation and whenever prices have risen to unreasonable levels.

The bill also recommends allowing the Bureau of Food and Drugs to retain its operating income to upgrade its facilities and human resources.

The Bicameral Conference Committee will formally meet on Wednesday starting 9:00 a.m. at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Pasay City; following a pre-bicam meeting of the Senate and House panels to clean up and focus the agenda.

Sunday, February 3, 2008 | posted in cheaper medicines bill, mar roxas, philippines, president | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas: No need for econ stimulus plan, just suspend VAT on oil

Senator Mar Roxas today said there is no compelling need for Congress to consider any economic stimulus plan, as the proposed six-month suspension of the value-added tax (VAT) on oil would be enough to enliven consumer spending and invigorate the economy.

"This is the fair and compassionate approach: for Congress to temporarily lift the VAT on oil in view of abnormally high oil prices that have caused economic difficulties to ordinary Filipinos," Roxas said.

"People are reeling from unusually high fuel prices—from the small fisherman who needs gas for his motorized boat, to the farmer who needs fuel to run the pumps irrigating his farm, to the average household that is now paying three times for a tank of LPG," Roxas lamented.

According to the Department of Energy (DOE), the suspension of the VAT on oil, as proposed by Roxas, would effectively reduce pump prices by about P4 to P5 per liter, and in the case of LPG, by about P65 per tank.

A number of advisers to Malacañang have proposed an economic stimulus plan that would cost the government an extra P75 billion, to be contained in a supplemental budget, supposedly to cushion the economy from the potential unfavorable impact of an economic downturn in the United States, the Philippines' largest export market and biggest source of foreign direct investments.

Roxas, chairman of the Senate committee on trade and commerce, said his proposal to suspend the VAT on oil, as put forth in Senate Bill 1962, would cost the government only P30 billion in a year, or P15 billion for six months. This is according to the testimony of the Department of Finance in a recent committee hearing on the said bill.

"Our proposal simply means allowing the people to keep an extra P15 billion in their pockets over the next six months: money that otherwise would have gone to the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Or worse, to leakages and corruption,” he said.

“The people can then spend the P15 billion to cover other forms of personal consumption. And this will have the effect of stimulating the economy, " Roxas concluded.

| posted in e-vat, mar roxas, oil, philippines, president | 0 comments [ More ]

Someone who cares for the people in need

Senator Mar Roxas, in a visit to the Commonwealth Market, talks to Jaymar, a polio victim, who sought the Senator’s assistance to buy a wheelchair, during the Liberal Party's 62nd Anniversary Celebration held in Barangay Commonwealth in Quezon City. The LP opted to celebrate its anniversary with the people, offering them medical and dental services, livelihood training and a jobs fair, and held a town hall meeting to hear the community’s concerns.

| posted in feliciano belmonte, franklin drilon, kiko pangilinan, mar roxas, noynoy aquino, philippines, president | 0 comments [ More ]

Sen. Roxas' statement on the dispersal of students during the Education Summit

“I’m disturbed and aghast by the reportedly violent dispersal of students and teachers who staged a rally at the Education Summit, where some were caught or injured in the process.

“Isang kabalintunaan ang pangyayaring ito: ang mga mismong estudyante at guro na mga pangunahing stakeholder ng education system ay sila pang itinaboy at hindi inilahok.

“The summit was held to hear all voices on the education issue, not to stifle them.

“Ayaw ba ng pamahalaan na makinig sa mga estudyante at guro mismo ukol sa mga problema ng edukasyon sa ating bansa? May kinatatakutan ba silang malaman mula sa kanila?

“The organizers of the Summit and the police must explain why this happened, and why these students and teachers were, as they were complaining, not included in the Summit.”

Saturday, February 2, 2008 | posted in education, mar roxas, pgma, philippines, president, romulo neri, students | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas: $500M RP bond offer aggravates OFW plight

Senator Mar Roxas today cautioned government fiscal managers regarding the recent floatation of $500 million in sovereign bonds, saying this aggravates the plight of Overseas Filipino Workers and exporters in light of the strengthening peso versus the dollar.

He called on the government to exercise greater prudence in foreign borrowings and to look more carefully into the effect of such moves on the peso-dollar exchange rate, and consequently, on OFWs, exporters, business process outsourcing and the tourism industry.

“We are shooting ourselves on the foot by bringing in more dollars into the system, which is already flooded by dollars,” he said.

“We are no longer in ‘fiscal crisis’ mode and local interest rates are at an all time low; why do we still have to borrow in dollars?” he asked.

Roxas earlier proposed that in order to help OFWs and other dollar-earners—who are now earning 20% less in pesos compared to the previous year—the government should instead borrow in pesos than in dollars to roll-over or amortize its existing debt.

The Finance department responded by announcing that it would increase peso borrowings by P20 billion and decrease foreign borrowings by the same amount, which Roxas described as “not enough.”

“Kung ang remittances ng ating 8 bilyong OFW kada taon ay $12 bilyon, $1,500 ang tinatanggap ng bawat OFW. Kung noong nakaraang taon ay P76,500 ang tinatanggap at ginagastos ng mga pamilyang may OFW, ngayon ay P61,500 na lang ito, bawas ng P15,000 na maaaring ipambayad sa matrikula ng isang anak o ng kuryente sa isang buong taon,” he stressed.

| posted in mar roxas, ofw, pgma, philippines, president | 0 comments [ More ]