Quality-Affordable Medicines Bill Primer is now up!

The Quality-Affordable Medicines Bill Primer is now up in the blog! The primer entitled "Abot-Kayang Gamot para sa mga Pilipino - Isang Primer sa Quality-Affordable Medicines Bill" (Affordable Medicines for the Filipino - A Primer of Quality-Affordable Medicines Bill) talks about the status quo of the medicine industry in the Philippines and why the medicines in the country are more expensive compared to the medicines in India. It also informs the reader about the solutions that the Quality-Affordable Medicines Bill will lay down as it would be enacted into law to bring down the cost of medicines here in the country.

Let's support Senator Mar Roxas in his crusade to make the medicines in the country affordable to the entire populace. Be sure to forward this Quality-Affordable Medicines Bill Primer to your family and friends!

This primer was brought to you by the Mar Roxas for President in 2010 Blog in cooperation with the Office of Senator Mar Roxas.

Monday, April 14, 2008 | posted in campaign, cheaper medicines bill, mar roxas, philippines | 0 comments [ More ]

The "brave" Mr. Anonymous will report me and Sen. Mar Roxas to COMELEC

After I made a post entitled Brian Gorrell vs. DJ Montano blogging and Mar Roxas for President blogging, a "brave" person who is hiding in anonymity told me that I and Sen. Mar Roxas will be reported to the COMELEC this Monday. That's April 14, 2008.

Hmp! This is quite funny! Mr. Anonymous will go to COMELEC and sue us? Then, why should he/she hide his/her name? I am not related with Senator Mar Roxas in any way and I am not being paid to blog about him. I only do it myself and I'm telling that here, in this blog, over and over again.

I am not also exploiting the Brian Gorrell issue to promote my blog. I was only blogging about my own perspective on the blog usage of Mr. Gorrell to expose the alleged wrongdoings of DJ Montano on him and my blogging activity about Mar Roxas for President in 2010. Blogging nowadays has a big impact on the Philippine society since the Hello Garci controversy. After all, this is MY BLOG and not of Senator Mar Roxas nor anyone related to him! Not even his fellow Liberal Party colleagues.

About my English grammar, forgive me for disappointing you especially those who are really fluent English speakers. They may find that I have a "poor English grammar". I realize that they really have high expectations on the blogger because this is not an ordinary blog and the blogger should be very fluent on English. If Bisaya was the lingua franca, I think I would have been comfortable. But I'll do my best!

Not all anonymous people are rude. Thanks a lot to the anonymous person who informed me that when you use the word "discuss" don't use "about." I had already edited my post. This is just a proof that I blog on my own and no one tells me what to do, no one pays me big bucks, no one proofreads my post expect me.

Sunday, April 13, 2008 | posted in blog, brian gorrell, dj montano, mar roxas, philippines | 2 comments [ More ]

Brian Gorrell vs. DJ Montano blogging and Mar Roxas for President blogging

Brian Gorrell just hit the spotlight when he exposed that DJ Montano allegedly swindeled him US$ 70,000! Until now, I can't still say if I would believe Brian or DJ even though I had already read Brian's blog and saw DJ's interview with Korina Sanchez in ANC's Korina Today.

Earlier, Ms. Sanchez discussed the dangers of blogging together with experts on different fields of law, blogging and etc. before DJ Montano's interview and I realized that on the other perspective, my blogging about Mar Roxas for President in 2010 might be a challenge for the Philippines' election laws as to Brian's blogging against DJ Montano a challenge to Philippines' and Australia's libel and information technology laws.

I once asked myself last year about the legality of what I am doing and if blogging about Mar Roxas for President in 2010 would turn out to be a future legal challenge on me. I am not a lawyer, but I had aspired to be one, and as I had reviewed the 2 Philippine election laws namely the Batas Pambansa Blg. 881 also known as the "Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines" and Republic Act No. 9006 also known as "The Fair Election Act", I'm safe!

In the "Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines", Article X, Sec. 79 (b) states that:

(b) The term "election campaign" or "partisan political activity" refers to an act designed to promote the election or defeat of a particular candidate or candidates to a public office which shall include:

(1) Forming organizations, associations, clubs, committees or other groups of persons for the purpose of soliciting votes and/or undertaking any campaign for or against a candidate;

(2) Holding political caucuses, conferences, meetings, rallies, parades, or other similar assemblies, for the purpose of soliciting votes and/or undertaking any campaign or propaganda for or against a candidate;

(3) Making speeches, announcements or commentaries, or holding interviews for or against the election of any candidate for public office;

(4) Publishing or distributing campaign literature or materials designed to support or oppose the election of any candidate; or

(5) Directly or indirectly soliciting votes, pledges or support for or against a candidate.

The foregoing enumerated acts if performed for the purpose of enhancing the chances of aspirants for nomination for candidacy to a public office by a political party, aggroupment, or coalition of parties shall not be considered as election campaign or partisan election activity.

Public expressions or opinions or discussions of probable issues in a forthcoming election or on attributes of or criticisms against probable candidates proposed to be nominated in a forthcoming political party convention shall not be construed as part of any election campaign or partisan political activity contemplated under this Article.

The "The Fair Election Act" didn't classified blogs nor websites to be as "any broadcast of election propaganda" on its parameters. As stated in Sec. 4.1, only "newspaper, newsletter, news weekly, gazette or magazine advertising, posters, pamphlets, comic books, circulars, handbills, bumper stickers, streamers, simple list of candidates or any published or printed political matter and any broadcast of election propaganda by television or radio for or against a candidate or group of candidates to any public office."

Furthermore, the conditions enumerated to be part of "election campaign" or "partisan political activity" in the "Omnibus Election Code" is allowed if it is "performed for the purpose of enhancing the chances of aspirants for nomination for candidacy to a public office by a political party, aggroupment, or coalition of parties", it's not considered as an election campaign. It's urging, or in other words "drafting", a person to run for a public position and that's what my blog has been doing.

I didn't violated the 2 elections laws and I'm confident that if ever someone tries to challenge me on the court with regards to my blogging activity, I have a strong argument to defend my case.

But I still need a good advice from a lawyer (or lawyers) and I'm tagging those online lawyers to freely give me guidance and advice on what would be the limits on my blogging. Also, I hope to have their reactions if I had violated election laws with regards to blogging about Mar Roxas for President in 2010.

My parting words, on Brian Gorrell's blogging vs. DJ Montano, good luck and don't just keep posting your thoughts on your blog. I encourage Brian and DJ to lay down your respective arguments on the court. But, as what I had said, it's still a challenge on Philippine and Australian libel and information technology laws to set the parameters to resolve this case.

And once again, as for now, I'm safe! :)

Saturday, April 12, 2008 | posted in australia, blog, brian gorrell, campaign, dj montano, korina sanchez, mar roxas, philippines | 5 comments [ More ]

Roxas calls for ASEAN Leaders’ Summit on food security

Senator Mar Roxas, chairman of the Senate trade and commerce committee, called on the Philippine government to take the lead in calling for an ASEAN Leaders’ Summit to address the rice crisis and ensure food security in the region.

In a press release, Roxas announced that he would file a resolution on Monday expressing the sense of the Senate that the Philippines should take the lead in calling for such a special Leaders’ Summit, to ensure food and rice security in the coming months.

“ASEAN has in its membership the world’s two biggest rice exporters and the world’s biggest rice importer. The proposed ASEAN Leaders’ Summit has the opportunity to ease the fear and crisis that is gripping both the producing farmers and consumer families across ASEAN and the region. This kind of crisis is exactly why ASEAN exists. ASEAN must address and intervene in this crisis to prove to the world that it can take the lead in the political and economic integration of its member-nations” the former trade secretary said.

The Filipino leader said the proposed ASEAN leaders’ summit could even include non-ASEAN neighbors as such as Japan, South Korea and China for an ASEAN Plus Three Summit as well as multinational financial institutions, which have a critical interest on both the consumer and producer sides of the current crisis.

“At the ASEAN Summit in Singapore last year, an ASEAN Charter was adopted. This document would be meaningless if the leaders of ASEAN cannot get together to ensure solidarity against hunger made worse by soaring rice and food prices,” the former trade and commerce secretary explained.

Roxas said the Philippines can invoke a provision in the ASEAN Charter on Summits that allows its leaders to hold a summit to “address emergency situations affecting ASEAN by taking appropriate actions.”

The president of the Liberal Party also quoted from the ASEAN Charter’s preamble that resolved “to ensure sustainable development for the benefit of present and future generations and to place the well-being, livelihood and welfare of the peoples at the centre of the ASEAN community building process.”

| posted in asean, china, food crisis, japan, mar roxas, pgma, philippines, president, south korea | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas: Gov't stoking public emotions by "knee-jerk" moves on rice crisis

Senator Mar Roxas criticized the government for its knee-jerk reactions to the rice crisis that have set off adverse effects on the rest of the food chain and that are stoking the emotions of the people.

“It is clear that the government doesn’t know what it is doing. Until now, the administration has not acknowledged that we do have a rice crisis which affects Filipino families across the nation,” he said, adding that the prices of oil, rice and other food commodities are all inter-connected.

Philippine bakers have recently announced they will hike pan de sal prices by P0.50 centavos each. This, as the price of wheat—which is not being produced locally—has increased steeply in the world market.

“Hindi lang presyo ng pandesal ang tataas kung hindi pati ang palaman sa pandesal dahil sa kabuuan, ang presyo ng pagkain at langis sa daigdigang merkado ay pataas din ng pataas,” Roxas explained.

“In normal times, the workingman’s breakfast is a choice between pan de sal or a bowl of lugaw in a nearby market. But now he is caught in a rut, because both items have become more expensive,” he said.

Roxas added that prices of processed and canned meats would also go up due to several factors, such as tighter quantitative restrictions on imported meat, increasing prices of locally-produced meat and of tin cans as well as higher transport costs due to soaring oil prices. Prices of meat are also affected by the decreasing supply and increasing costs of feeds, such as wheat and corn.

“At the same time, the government is inviting public indignation by randomly announcing raw ideas without prior consultations with the sectors who are concerned and affected,” he said.

“President Arroyo has to take charge, be open to the people and gather the whole national team together to bear upon this multi-faced challenge,” he said.

The senator lamented the administration’s preoccupation with deceptive visuals – only a few lining up for cheap rice, stacks of rice in NFA warehouses, repacking of rice into smaller bags, the use of indelible ink, and soldiers as distributors of rice stocks—that only aggravate public anxieties instead of allaying them.

“Magpakatotoo tayo. Due to the high commercial prices of rice, the NFA’s limited supply of cheaper varieties of rice will never be enough to feed our hungry population,” Roxas said.

The president of the Liberal Party said the government can heed the people’s call for immediate relief by suspending the 12% VAT on oil and petroleum products.

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

Statement of Senator Mar Roxas on Senate's motion for reconsideration re: Neri Case

“I support the Senate’s move to file a motion for reconsideration before the Supreme Court. It is the best means to clarify the true intent of the high tribunal in ruling in favor of the President in the Neri case.

“However, I stand by my view that the Senate should have considered the earlier compromise proposal of Chief Justice Puno. It was a missed opportunity to ask Secretary Neri more questions other than the first three that were already deemed sub judice.

“The effect of this ruling will undoubtedly reveal itself as the Senate initiates hearings on other alleged anomalies such as the so-called ‘swine scam’ and South Rail project.”

Tuesday, April 8, 2008 | posted in mar roxas, pgma, philippines, president, reynato puno, romulo neri, southrail project, supreme court, zte deal | 0 comments [ More ]

Transcript of interview with Senator Mar Roxas on DZMM’s ‘Dos por dos’

On the possibility of a Supreme Court reversal in the Neri case:

MAR: Palagay ko mahirap nang palitan pa nila yung kanilang desisyon. Ibig sabihin na dalawa o tatlo ang magbabago ng isip. Iyon ang dahilan kung bakit noong simula pa ay talagang masugid nating minungkahi na yung maganda sana ay yung ‘compromise’ na kung saan inutusan ng Korte Suprema si Neri na humarap doon sa Senado at matatanong namin siya ng isanlibo o dalawanlibong katanungan bukod lamang doon sa tatlong subjudice. Ang sabi ng Korte Suprema noon na itong tatlong katanungang ito ay subjudice na, ‘nandito na sa amin so bigyan niyo kami ng respeto na madedisisyunan namin ito. Samantala, kung may gusto pa kayong tanungin sa kanya e tanungin niyo na siya at ng sa ganoon mahuhusgahan namin yung konsepto ng executive privilege hindi lamang batay dito sa limitadong tatlong katanungan pero kasama na lahat pa ng iba pang sasabihin ni Sec. Neri executive privilege.

Q: Saka ang tingin po ng iba diyan eh parang binigyan na kayo ng tip o cue ni Chief Justice Puno na ganito ang magiging desisyon nito.

MAR: In fact, kung titingnan nyo ngayon yung desisyon na inilabas ng Korte Suprema, yung dalawa o tatlo doon sa dissenting opinion, doon sa minority sa Korte Suprema, sila yung mga tumulak nitong compromise na ito. Siguro basa na nila yung botohan sa loob kaya sinabi nila para mabigyan ng pagkakataon na matanong si Neri, ‘tanggapin niyo na ito.’

Q: So, ibig nyong sabihin Senator Mar, nagkamali o nagkulang ang Senado doon sa pagharap sa problema?

MAR: Well, mahirap na mag finger pointing, pero ang alam ko lang yung posisyon ko noon ay tanggapin natin ito. Siguro ang bawat isa naman ay maaaring magpaliwanag sa kanilang desisyon.

Q: Yung compromise na inaalok ni Chief Justice Puno ay mukhang higit na masasapol doon ay ang Malacañang.

MAR: Actually, yung nasapol ang paghahanap natin sa katotohanan. Iyon ang parang one step back, three steps forward. Biro mo si Neri mauutusan na humarap doon at sumagot sa kahit ano pang itatanong namin. Sa ngayon, hindi na haharap si Neri at parang nawalan pa kami ng kapangyarihan na ipaaresto siya. Parang toothless na yung pag-iimbita dito sa mga guest natin.

Q: Sinasabi ninyo na parang malabo, mahihirapan ang motion for reconsideration. Ano ho ang pinakamagandang gawin ngayon?

MAR: Una, yung mga bahagi ng hearing na mukhang malinaw na ang larawan katulad doon sa abduction ni Jun Lozada, ay maaari nang tapusin at isulat na ung bahagi na iyon. Dito naman sa ZTE proper, yung kontrata mismo, palagay ko masasabi na rin natin na talagang bumaligtad ang NEDA magmula noong Oktubre 2006, na sabi nila dapat hindi gov’t guarantee, dapat hindi utang, dapat BOT, dapat private sector. Sa loob ng tatlo o apat na buwan ay nabaligtad lahat ito. Iyon ay malinaw na malinaw din. Yung pagka-overprice nito, yung testimonya nung tatlo o apat na mga witness ay nasa record na rin lang at masasabi natin na mula sa private sector ay makakakuha pa tayo ng iba pang mga valuation na magpapatunay na talagang sobrang mahal ito.

On the food crisis:

MAR: Dito sa larangan ng pagkain matagal na nating sinasabi na may problema tayo ang problema dito sa atin ay imbes na hinarap ng ehekutibo, imbes na hinarap ng Malacañang na talaga namang may problema tayo either sa supply o kaya sa pagtaas ng presyo, ano sinagot nila? Nag-grand standing lang yang mga iyan. ‘Wala talaga tayong problema pero tataas ang presyo.’ E kaya hindi maintindihan ni Juan dela Cruz yung kalagayan natin ngayon kasi hindi tayo nagpapakatotoo. Ano ba talaga? Noong tayo ay DTI [Secretary] ang bigas ay nasa 20 hanggang 22 pesos lang eh ngayon ay pumapatak na 28 hanggang 30 pesos. Bakit, kung wala namang shortage, bakit tumataas iyon? Inaamin ba ng ehekutibo may price manipulation? Inaamin ba nila na wala silang magawa sa hoarding? Inaamin ba nila na policy talaga nila na pamahalin ang presyo ng bigas? Kung wala tayong shortage, hahayaang tumaas ang presyo, dapat may dahilan yan. At ano ang sinasabi nila? Wala naman e. So, dapat magpakatotoo tayo. Ok lang sabihin na may problema tayo nang sa ganoon makapagsama-sama, tulung-tulong, maghanap ng lutas dito sa problema.

Q: Makapagsasagawa pa ba ng imbestigasyon ang Senado sa mga binanggit ninyo?

MAR: Maari naman siguro magpaimbestiga pero titingnan natin ngayon kung dadalo o anong datos ang dadalhin. Palagay ko makikita natin ngayon yung sinseridad ng ehekutibo para malutas itong mga problema na ito. Yung sa ZTE, o sige isantabi natin yan. O dito na lang sa bigas, palagay ko lahat naman ng ating mga kababayan naghihikahos doon sa sobrang pagmahal ng bigas. Dito sa mga farm inputs, pinag-aaralan natin ngayon iyan, lalong-lalo na yung seeds. sobrang mahal ngayon ng mais, sobrang mahal ngayon ng kopra at oil na ginagamit na substitute sa feeds ng mga hayop. Eh lahat yan sooner or later sa manok at baboy mag-rereflect na rin iyan. Pero ang importante dito ngayon ay huwag lang tayong tapon ng tapon ng pera.

Sa nakaraang food summit, more or less 50 billion pesos ang naka-earmark sa pagharap nito. Unang-una, bagong pera ba iyan? Dagdag ba iyan o yung dating pera na ng agri na ni-repackage lang para sa photo-op? Ano ba itong pera na ito? Saan nanggaling ito? Saan ilalagay ito? Eh kailangan magkaroon muna tayo ng masusing analysis kung ano talagang problema ng sa ganun yung pera natin na limitado ay malagay natin doon sa tamang lugar, hindi lang tapon tayo ng tapon ng pera na sa katapusan wala rin tayong nagamot.

Monday, April 7, 2008 | posted in food crisis, mar roxas, philippines, president, reynato puno, rodolfo lozada, romulo neri, supreme court, zte deal | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas calls for 10-year food security plan

“The Food Summit should have been convened long before the DA’s admonition for the people to start eating brown rice or half-a-cup of rice. The government was obviously caught flat-footed by the shooting up of rice prices in the world market and we now see an adrenaline rush among executives to come up with abrupt measures.

“We must now convert the current crisis into a genuine opportunity for agricultural reforms. What we need is a ten-year food security plan done quietly but competently in consultation with experts and stakeholders, attuned with global trends and realities but with very clear domestic targets and a realistic to-do list. Otherwise, we will continue to muddle our way through a global regime of soaring food prices. The well-meaning recommendations of different groups during the one-day Summit can be integrated into this ten-year plan.

“A ten-year food security plan must be done soup-to-nuts style, meaning from seed distribution to market access and with social programs to help farmers in between cycles. It must identify the number of driers that the DA will purchase for our farmers per municipality to prevent spoilage and wastage. It also must include a nationwide irrigation plan and funds for R&D attuned to specific rice productivity targets for the next ten years. It should include a detailed plan for other non-agricultural food sectors as well.

“We must also consider the fiscal sustainability factor as we are confronted with a humongous rice import bill for the coming months alone. I reiterate my call on the President to convene the LEDAC so we can reach a consensus on interim and long-term solutions to the current food crisis and its impact on our country’s fiscal and economic situation.

“As to public accountability, let’s start with the government’s rice importation program. How much in totality are our rice imports? When were they negotiated, for how much per metric ton, and when will these rice imports actually arrive in Manila? The release of such information is the best assurance to our people that there will indeed be adequate supply of rice in the country for the coming months. I ask the DA and DBM to present this bill of particulars to the people as a sign of their commitment to transparency and accountability in the use of agriculture funds.”

Sunday, April 6, 2008 | posted in food crisis, mar roxas, pgma, philippines, president | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas pushes for immediate passage of minimum wage tax break

Senator Mar Roxas said he will push for the immediate passage of his bill to exempt minimum wage earners from paying income taxes when Congress resumes session in April, saying that workers need relief in the face of socioeconomic pressures.

He said he supports the call of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines urging Congress to pass the bill as part of the upcoming Labor Day celebration on May 1. The Liberal Party President, however, added that it also takes political will on the part of the administration to have this bill passed.

“Paparating na naman ang Labor Day, pero itong isang pangako ng administrasyon sa ating mga manggagawa ay hindi pa rin napatutupad. Patuloy pa rin ba silang aasa sa wala, sa gitna ng kagipitan?” he said.

“Giving a tax break to minimum wage earners is imperative in light of the increasing prices of fuel and of food. It will only take a determined push from the President to get the ball rolling in the administration-dominated House,” he said, noting that all tax measures should emanate from the House of Representatives, as required by the Constitution.

Roxas earlier filed Senate Bill No. 103 seeking to exempt from income tax all minimum wage earners and all government employees from Salary Grades 1 to 3. The Senate Committee on Ways and Means has tackled the bill, but is awaiting House action before it could transmit its report to plenary.

As the TUCP noted, the bill would exempt about half a million workers from paying income taxes. Although the Finance department has estimated a revenue impact of P951 million, Roxas said this would be outweighed by the increased spending and savings among minimum wage earners.

“Sa panahon ngayon na pataas nang pataas ang presyo ng bigas, langis at iba pang mga mahahalagang produkto, ito ay isang kongkretong solusyon na magbibigay kaginhawaan sa ating mga manggagawa,” he said.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008 | posted in food crisis, mar roxas, minimum wage, oil, pgma, philippines, president | 1 comments [ More ]

Roxas warns gov't against excessive secrecy

Senator Mar Roxas warned the Government against excessive secrecy in the treatment of routine information with no bearing upon national or diplomatic security, saying that placing capricious limits to the people’s access to public information violates the Constitution and weakens the principle of democratic checks and balances.

“It is unfortunate that our government habitually withholds routine information from the public just as the executive continues to use and abuse the claim of ‘executive privilege’ to further clamp down on information vital to the fight against corruption and general public discourse needed for democratic governance,” he said.

“Kung wala namang itinatago, walang dapat katakutan. Pero mukha yatang ang policy ngayon ng administrasyon ay ‘minimum disclosure,’ ” he added, citing a report by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism on recent moves of the government to restrict public information.

Roxas said the executive could show its sincerity in addressing corruption by supporting his Senate Bill No. 109, the proposed Free Information Act.

“Oras na para pagtibayin ang karapatan ng mga mamamayan sa malayang impormasyon. Ang impormasyong ito ukol sa kung paano pinapatakbo ang gobyerno at paano ginagasta ang perang pinaghirapan nila ang siyang magbibigay ng ‘empowerment’ sa ating mga mamamayan laban sa mga pang-aabuso,” he said.

“We need laws such as the Free Information Act to promote transparency and accountability and empower Filipinos. Once enacted, the law will sharpen the checks and balances needed for democracy to be stable and strong,” Roxas said.

The bill requires all government agencies to respond to all requests for information within two days. Only requests for information pertaining to national security, diplomatic relations and similar matters can be refused.

Roxas has also filed other bills in the interest of transparency: amendments to the Government Procurement Reform Act to clarify that even executive agreements are subject to public bidding; and to the Overseas Development Assistance Law to require all foreign assistance-funded projects to be ratified by the Senate.

Roxas noted the continued refusal of the Government to present to the Senate the NEDA-ICC documents pertaining to the controversial NBN project, claiming “executive privilege.”

“These documents of the NEDA have always been open to the public, and for good reason: these NEDA-approved projects use public money. Paano na natin malalaman kung paano ginagamit ang pera natin?” Roxas said.

The Liberal Party President and Senator Noynoy Aquino, a fellow LP stalwart, have filed a petition with the Supreme Court for the executive to produce the NEDA-ICC documents.

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