Interview:Rep. JuanMiguelZUBIRI

June 2007

Vol. 4, No. 1

Official Newsletter of the

House of Representatives

Republic of the Philippines

p.6

p.4

p.6

p.8

HelpingBulakeñasin need

p.7

ISSN 1656-507X

House launches centennial fete

Continued on page 2

Wanted:Nursesfor RP

FROM a placeof GRIEF to aplace of HOPE

Continued on page 5

No desire to retire

Continued on page 2

By Ronald M. Ytem

AT LEAST 60 percent or 39 out

of 65 House Members on

their last term at the close of the

13th Congress said they have no

desire to retire from politics.

In an interview with The

Forum, the legislators said they will

remain active in politics.

The informal survey showed

that only 10 percent, or four said

they will retire. Several will

continue to be active in politics,

either through family members

involved in politics, or through

organizations engaged in political

activities.

Thirty-one percent, or 12, are

undecided on what to do after

bowing out of their congressional

posts in July.

Five third-termers ran for

senator and all but one scored

scintillating victories. Fifteen ran

for governor, one for vice-governor,

six for mayor, and two for vice

mayor.

Majority of the third-termers

ran for other elective posts. Asked

to name their possible successors,

58 percent, or 23 said family

members, relatives and in-laws

planned to take over their seats in

Congress—in efforts to keep

congressional posts in the family.

Rep. Herminio G. Teves (3rd

Dist., Negros Oriental), most

senior in the 13th Congress, will

retire because of age—he is 86 years

old. However, his grandson, who

was provincial board member, won

the grandfather’s congressional

seat. Teves’ son, Margarito, now

Finance Secretary, was also House

representative.

Continued on page 6

By Jacqueline R. Juliano

SAN JUAN and Navotas can now

expect bigger budgets and faster

growth after their municipalities

were declared as Metro Manila’s two

newest cities.

Residents of the two former

municipalities voted for cityhood in

separate plebiscites that ratified

Continued on page 2

JDV urgesintra-Asian

anti-terror links

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal

Arroyo and leaders from nine

parliaments in Europe and Asia led

well-wishers on the launching of

the House of Representatives

centennial celebration on June 7.

The current House traces its

formal roots to the country’s first

elective legislature inaugurated on

October 16, 1907.

Speaker Jose de Venecia and

ranking House leaders welcomed

President Arroyo, who motored to

the House complex from the

airport after arriving from an

official trip to China and Europe.

Vice President Noli de Castro,

Supreme Court Associate Justice

Norberto Quisumbing, and

members of the diplomatic

community also personally gave

their felicitations to the House

during a centennial gathering

which coincided with the

concluding session of the House in

the 13th Congress.

Arroyo praised the House for

its role in helping achieve the

country’s current “improved

President Arroyo, foreign speakers lead guest list

THE HOUSE released a

lavishly illustrated history

book titled Assembly of the

Nation to mark its hundred-

year historical milestone.

During the launching

rites of the centennial year,

Speaker Jose de Venecia

congratulated the book’s

authors Manuel L. Quezon III,

Jeremy R. Barns, Noel A.

Albano, Manuel F. Martinez

and Ricardo T. Jose, as well as

A ‘handsome book’to mark history

AT THE CLOSE of the 13th

Congress, the House

posted a harvest of 6,116 bills,

1,554 resolutions, 37

concurrent resolutions and 21

joint resolutions.

Of the total bills, 1,144

reached approval on third

reading and, of that number,

only 157 became law while one

received a rare veto from

Malacañang.

A total of 966 House bills

of national and local

application were left stranded

in the Senate by the end of

June.

Heading the list of

important legislation

emanating from the 236-

member House under four-

term Speaker Jose de Venecia

were the vital revenue

enhancement and tax reform

measures that saved the country

from a financial meltdown and

gave the Arroyo government

enough resources to put in place

the foundations of the current

economic upswing.

President Gloria

Macapagal Arroyo recently told

a World Economic Forum

meeting that the reform laws

topped by the Expanded Value

Added Tax (EVAT) enabled her

country to start rebuilding its

human and physical

infrastructure to make it a

global and regional competitor.

The government is now

investing in basic education,

public health care and mass

housing to enhance its human

infrastructure and is building a

network of roads, bridges,

airports, seaports, and irrigation

badly needed by surging foreign

investments and global tourism,

as part of the administration’s

legacy program.

House in 13th Congress

More than 1,000bills OKd, only

157 become law

New cities

FELICITATIONS. President Arroyo addresses the House of Representatives atthe launching June 7 of its centennial celebration, which coincided with theclosing of the 13th Congress. Speaker Jose de Venecia in his speech notedthe great strides accomplished by the legislative body through 100 years oflawmaking and, more recently, in the 13th Congress, achieving fiscal stability.

PROGRESS. Sixteen Metro Manila and 12 provincial municipalities achievecityhood. Marikina, divided into two districts, voted its secondrepresentative, Rep. Marcelino R. Teodoro (inset) for the first time in theMay 2007 elections.

2 June 2007

House centennial rites

Continued from page 1

The FORUM is published by the PUBLISHINGAND DESIGN SERVICE, Public Relations andInformation Department, House of Representatives,with offices at Constitution Hills, Quezon City andTelephone Nos. 9315335 and 9315001 local 7651 or7552.

Editor: Dep. Sec. Gen. Emmanuel A. Albano

Managing Editor: Dir. Ferdinand M. Bolislis

Assistant Editor: Melissa M. Reyes

Design & Layout Editor: Waldemar T. Alvarez

Assistant Managing Editor: Virginia B. Rizardo

Writers: Diony P. Tubianosa, Jacqueline Rey-Juliano,Isagani C. Yambot Jr., Ronald M. Ytem, Enrico R.Rosario, Vicki Palomar

Photography: Tobias F. Engay, Jeremias E. Ereño,Perfecto C. Camero, Marceliano C. Achanzar,Genaro C. Peñas

ISSN 1656-507X

Production and Circulation Supervisor: Cynthia A.Bagaforo

Administrative and Circulation Staff: Maricar S.Magbitang, Vanessa T. Valdez, Fedes Maria C. Cruz,Crispin E. Mendiola, Federico Garcia

Editorial Board: Dep. Sec. Gen. Emmanuel A. Albano,Exec. Dir. Ma. Bernadette de la Cuesta, Dir. MyrnaBelmonte, Dir. Ferdinand Bolislis

Entered as second class mail matter at the BatasanPambansa Post Office. All rights reserved.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

Section 176 of the RA 8293 provides:“No copyright shall subsist in any workof the Government of the Philippines.However, prior approval of thegovernment agency or office whereinthe work is created shall be necessaryfor exploitation of such work for profit.”

Continued from page 1

157 laws

economic picture” which allowed

the executive branch to post

billions of savings last year which,

in turn, were “plowed back to the

villages and barangays in terms of

more schools, health insurance,

housing and loans for micro-

enterprises.”

In marking the start of the

centennial celebration of the first

popularly elected parliament in

Southeast Asia, de Venecia also led

the unveiling rites for a historical

marker in front of the plenary

building, opened a photo exhibit

and launched a centennial history

book titled Assembly of the Nation

(please see related story, p.1,

“Handsome book”).

Speaker de Venecia, the

longest-serving House Speaker in

the post-war period with four terms,

delivered a centennial address that

highlighted the power of the

national parliament in advancing

the country from colonialism to

independence and in modernizing

the country by transforming the face

of national and local governments,

business and industry, and social

institutions.

De Venecia cited that the

forerunner of the House, the

National Assembly, established the

instruments of modern

government: a civil service, a justice

system, and a national bank to

stimulate capital formation.

President Arroyo and Speaker

de Venecia welcomed foreign

dignitaries who planed in to take

part in the centennial rites, namely:

Cambodian President of Parliament

Samdech Heng Samrin, Finland

Deputy Speaker Johannes

Koskinen, Indonesian Speaker

Agung Laksono, Iranian Speaker

Gholam Ali Haddad Adel,

Malaysian Speaker Tan Sri Dato’

Seri Diraja Ramli Bin Ngah Talib,

Mexican Deputy Speaker Arnoldo

Ochoa, Russian Federation Duma

Vice Chairman Arthur Chilingarov,

Thai President of Parliament

Meechai Ruchupan and Mr. Liu

Minzu, Special Envoy of Chairman

Wu Bangguo of the Chinese

Parliament.

The House’s progenitor, the

80-man Philippine Assembly, or

Asamblea Filipina , opened in

October 1907, following elections

held four months earlier. Sergio

Osmeña was elected the first

Speaker.

Under American rule, the

Philippine Assembly tirelessly

worked for Philippine

independence, supporting the

efforts of leaders like Osmeña,

Manuel L. Quezon and Manuel

Roxas in gaining self-governance

from the United States.

After Independence in 1946,

the House figured prominently inthe national efforts to rebuild the

country’s economy and propel it

towards stability and prosperity.

The latter-day House, under de

Venecia’s leadership, initiated laws

to raise transparency in governance,

protect domestic markets in a

globalized trade environment,

strengthen electronic commerce,

lessen pollution and protect the

environment, create new sources of

economic wealth, and encouragethe discovery and use of alternative

energy sources, among others.

The 13th Congress had 236

members from 212 legislative

districts and 16 party-list

organizations.

Centennial history book

Continued from page 1

the publishing house Studio 5

Designs, for producing the first

book of its kind, “worthy of a

choice spot in the nation’s

bookshelf,” in cooperation with

the House Secretariat.

The authors of Assembly

narrate the birth of the first

institution of representative

democracy in the country in 1907,

the 80-man Philippine Assembly,

to which today’s House traces its

formal roots, and the subsequent

transformations, trials and

accomplishments of this elective

legislature in the eventful decades

of the 20th century and into the

first light of the 21st century.

Pictures from a century of

legislative activity, many from

archives and private collections,

accompany the story of the men

and women who held seats in the

House—carrying with them their

constituents’ hopes, fears and

expectations—thrust into an arena

where one’s duty is to f ind

common ground for the nation’s

interest while keeping an eye on

their unique parochial

commitments.

The book transports the

reader to the exuberant halls of

the first Philippine Assembly, the

convincing theater of the

Japanese-era Assembly, the war-

ravaged but renewed spirit of the

post-World War II legislature, the

free-wheeling forum of the ‘50s

and ‘60s which came to an abrupt

halt on the imposition of Martial

Law, and the exciting changes and

challenges in the post-EDSA

Congress, dominated for 12 years

by Speaker Jose de Venecia.

Inquirer political columnist

Belinda O. Cunanan called

Assembly of the Nation “a handsome

book that rises to an epochal

occasion.”

The Speaker presented copies

of the book, subtitled “A

Centennial History,” to former

Speakers of the House who graced

the launching rites, namely:

Camarines Sur Rep. Arnulfo

Fuentebella, now Quezon City

Mayor Feliciano “Sonny”

Belmonte, and now Sen. Manuel

Villar represented by his wife, Las

Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar.

The families of former

Speakers Querube Makalintal,

Daniel Romualdez, Jose Yulo, Gil

Montilla, Quintin Paredes, Jose

Companion measures of the

EVAT, also known as Republic Act

9337, were the increase in specific

tax rates on alcohol and tobacco

products (RA 9334) and the

special incentives and rewards and

lateral attrition law to improve

revenue collection (RA 9335), all

approved some two years ago.

Other major laws passed of

high impact in national affairs are

the Anti-Terrorism Act or Human

Security Act (RA 9372) to secure

citizens from terrorist threats, the

Bioethanol Fuel Act (RA 9367) to

help provide alternative energy

sources and achieve energy

security, the Anti-Red Tape Act

(RA 9485), the law strengthening

workers’ rights to self-organization

(RA 9481), the Oil Pollution

Compensation Act (RA 9483),

and the amendments to RA 8436

to shore up the integrity of

electoral results (RA 9369).

The House in the 13 th

Congress also left its indelible

mark on social legislation with the

passage of the Comprehensive

Juvenile Justice System Act (RA

9344), the prohibition of the

imposition of the death penalty

(RA 9346), the creation of the

standby fund for the repatriation

and evacuation of OFWs in the

Middle East (RA 9359), the

prohibition of the detention of

live or dead patients in hospitals

and clinics for nonpayment of

medical bills (RA 9439), and the

granting of more incentives to

disabled persons (RA 9442).

MARKER UNVEILING. Speaker de Venecia leads the unveiling rites of theHouse centennial marker at the flagpole in front of the Batasan session hallmain entrance. Watching (from left) are Reps. Arthur Defensor, ArnulfoFuentebella, Cynthia Villar, Raul del Mar and Eric Singson. National HistoricalInstitute Executive Director Rudovico D. Badoy (3rd from left) assists theSpeaker.

FORMER SPEAKERS RECOGNIZED. Speaker Jose de Venecia assisted by HouseSecretary General Roberto P. Nazareno (left) hands out centennial medallionsand copies of Assembly of the Nation to former Speakers Sen. Manuel B. Villar,represented by wife Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia A. Villar (middle), Camarines SurRep. Arnulfo Fuentebella (2nd from right) and former Quezon City Rep. nowQC Mayor Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte (right).

VIP WELCOME. Vice President Noli de Castro (left) and Speaker Jose deVenecia welcome President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who came for thelaunching June 7 of the House of Representatives centennial celebrationthis year.

Laurel Jr., Nicanor Yñiguez,

Cornelio Villareal, Jose Zulueta,

Eugenio Perez, and Ramon V.

Mitra, who joined the launching

ceremonies also received copies of

the book.

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS. Malaysian Speaker Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Diraja RamliBin Ngah Talib, Mexican Deputy Speaker Arnoldo Ochoa, and RussianFederation Duma Vice Chairman Arthur Chilingarov were among the foreigndignitaries who attended the centennial fete.

3June 2007

Detaining patients,illegal

H O S P I TA L S

and clinics are

no longer

allowed to

d e t a i n

underprivileged

patients who

wish to leave,

neither can these establishments

stop families of dead patients from

removing the body of their dead

kin.

A new law, RA 9439, formerly

House Bill 68 authored by Reps.

Antonio Yapha Jr., Raul Del Mar,

Mayo Almario, Justin Marc SB.

Chipeco and members of the

health committee, allows

underprivileged patients to leave

the hospital or clinic upon

execution of a duly -secured

promissory note stating the

unpaid obligation.

In the case of patients who

have died, the hospital, clinic or

medical facility shall release their

bodies, their death certificates and

other documents required for

interment, to the surviving kin

despite their unpaid bills and

obligations.

Officers of medical facilities

who detain patients, or bodies of

patients who have died and refuse

to issue the necessary documents

their surviving kin, due to unpaid

medical bills face a fine of P20,000

to P50,000 or imprisonment of

not more than six months, or

both.

Patients who stayed in private

rooms are not covered by the

measure. Isagani C. Yambot. Jr.

Campaigning freely

P E R S O N S

s o l i c i t i n g ,

d e m a n d i n g ,

receiving, paying

or delivering

anything of value

to allow or

prevent any

political party or candidate to

campaign freely for the elections

shall be jailed and barred from

voting and from holding public

office.

The proposal is contained in

HB 1952, which seeks to make

solicitations an election offense,

amending Batas Pambansa Blg.

881, or the “Omnibus Election

Code of the Philippines.”

Party list Reps. Mario

“Mayong” Joyo Aguja, Loretta Ann

P. Rosales, and Ana Theresia

Hontiveros-Baraquel introduced

the bill.

The bill was prompted by the

common practice of soliciting,

demanding or receiving, directly or

indirectly, money or anything of

Promoting e-learning

ONCE enacted

into law, the

Open High

School System

(OHSS) Act of

2006 will allow

students to gain

wider access to

quality education through the use

of multi-media technology.

Students don’t have to

physically attend classes in

conventional classrooms to finish

their high school course, said HB

5580 author Rep. Edcel C. Lagman

(1st Dist., Albay).

The OHSS will deliver the

education materials to students

through print, radio, television,

computer-based communications,

satellite broadcasting,

teleconferencing and similar multi-

media facilities.

The system shall apply to

public high schools with existing

distance learning programs. The

students accomplish their self-

instructional materials for

independent study, multi-channel

learning, and involve school-family-

community partnerships.

The system is open to youths

and adults who finished their

elementary education and passed

the Philippine Educational

Placement Test (PEPT). The

DepEd shall administer and

supervise the system.

Private schools may establish

their own OHSS subject to the

DepEd’s approval. Isagani C.

Yambot Jr.

value, from candidates or political

parties during the elections.

Persons liable are the giver,

offeror, solicitor, acceptor, recipient

and conspirator.

Persons who volunteer

information and willingly testify on

any violation shall be exempt from

prosecution and may avail of the

witness protection program.

Offenders face imprisonment

of not less than six years and not

more than 12 years, and shall not

be subject to probation. Political

parties or candidates caught

making contributions shall be

disqualified from public office and

deprived of the right to vote.

Ronald M. Ytem

More privileges fordisabled

THE DISABLED,

who comprise

one of society’s

most neglected

and vulnerable

sectors, now get

the same

privileges as

senior citizens such as 20 percent

discount on medicines, basic

commodities, doctors’ fees, public

transport, amusement centers, and

restaurants.

Republic Act 9442, “An Act

Amending Republic Act 7227,

otherwise known as the “Magna

Carta for Disabled Persons, and for

Other Purposes,” formerly HB

1214 and enacted into law in April,

also seeks to give income tax

discounts to private establishments

that extend such privileges to the

disabled.

Principal author Rep. Cynthia

A. Villar (LD, Las Piñas) said the

law classifies individual taxpayers

who take care of the disabled as

“head of family,” which means

lower taxes for the caring

individual.

Under the law, persons with

disability get educational assistance,

continued benefits and privileges

from GSIS, SSS and Pag-Ibig, and

mandates commercial and

government establishments to

provide express lanes for them.

The law prohibits verbal, non-

verbal, ridicule and vilification,

contempt toward disabled persons,

mimicking or mocking in words or

writing, that would result in loss of

self-esteem. Violators will be fined

up to P200,000 and imprisoned up

to six years. Ronald M. Ytem

Gov’t employeesbanned from casinos

PUBLIC officials and employees,

including officials of government-

owned-and-controlled corporations

(GOCCs) and their subsidiaries,

shall be banned from entering,

playing in and patronizing casinos

and similar establishments, or face

penalties.

Approved on third reading, HB

5565, or the “Decency in Public

Service Act of 2006,” bans all

government employees regardless of

rank, designation and status of

employment from such

establishments including those

operated by the Philippine

Amusement and Gaming Corp.

(Pagcor) or any private entity,

corporation or proprietorship.

Reps. Roseller Barinaga, Mary

Ann Susano, Rodante Marcoleta

and Del de Guzman said the bill

exempts public officials and

employees who enter such

establishments for entertainment or

are conducting official and work-

related functions including police or

security matters; GOCC officials

and employees on work-related

activities; conduct of investigation

and query; and other official

functions deemed necessary.

Penalties range from P100,000

to P300,000 or six months to six

years jail without probation, or

both. The offender shall be

permanently disqualified from

public office.

Pagcor officials who knowingly

allow government officials or

employees to play in the gambling

establishments shall, upon

conviction, be fined P100,000 to

P300,000 or jailed from six months

to six years without probation, or

both. Melissa M. Reyes

Employment forveterans’ heirs

THE CHILD or grandchild of

Filipino veterans shall be given

employment preference in

government, including

government -owned -and/or -

controlled corporations once HB

1254 is approved.

The bill aims to provide and

enhance the socio-economic

security and well-being of veterans

and their families by directing all

government agencies to hire or

employ the child/children, or in

the absence or disqualification of

a child, a grandchild of a veteran.

However, the provisions of

this measure exclude positions

confidential in nature, policy

determining or highly technical in

nature.

This benefit can only be

extended once to one member of

the veteran’s family, and the child

or grandchild shall not be related

within the fourth degree by

consanguinity to any official or

employee in the government

agency where the veteran’s child/

grandchild shall be hired.

As a safeguard, the

Constitutional provision on merit

and fitness shall remain in force in

the selection process. The child or

grandchild shall approximately be

equal in qualification with other

applicants for the vacant position.

Author Rep. Cynthia A. Villar

(LD, Las Piñas) believes the bill is

a way for government to lead the

rest of the country in appreciating

the veterans’ contribution to

national independence. Jacqueline

Rey-Juliano

New PNP employmentguidelines

MEMBERS of the Philippine

National Police (PNP) do not have

to obtain a baccalaureate degree to

get promoted, and shall be given

one year to satisfy weight

requirement.

Likewise, a pending service-

related administrative and/or

criminal case shall not bar the

member from promotion.

The three are proposed

amendments in HB 5568 to RA

8551, or the “Philippine National

Police Reform and Reorganization

Act of 1998,” regarding the

educational and other

requirements for PNP promotions.

Another amendment states

that a uniformed member of the

PNP shall not be eligible for

promotion unless he/she has

successfully passed the

corresponding promotional

examination given by the

Commission or the Bar, or board

examinations for technical services

and other professions.

New applicants must not be

less than 21 nor more than 30 years

old, provided that, except for the

last qualification, the existing

qualifications shall be continuing

in character.

An absence of one requirement

at any given time shall be a ground

for separation or retirement from

the service, such as Filipino

citizenship. Melissa M. Reyes

A LADY TAKES OVER. Estrella de Leon Santos, the newest House memberrepresenting the party-list group Veteran Freedom Party, takes her oath atthe plenary rostrum before Speaker Jose de Venecia, replacing the late VFPRep. Emesto Gidaya. Witnessing the oathtaking, among others, are Reps.Amelita Villarosa and Herminio Teves (background, 2nd and 3rd from left).

Yapha

Lagman

Aguja

Villar

Badelles

It’s English for schools

BEGINNING school year 2007-

2008, English shall be the medium

of instruction, and shall be

mandatory for all public

elementary, secondary and tertiary

schools, as proposed in HB 4701,

or “An Act Prescribing the Use of

English as the Medium of

Instruction in Philippine Schools.”

With English as the lingua

franca of the world, the government

recognizes the need to make

education in consonant with the

requirements and realities of

business life in the global

environment, Rep. Alipio V.

Badelles (1st Dist., Lanao del

Norte) said.

HB 4701 also proposes the

employment of

the regional or

native language

as a medium of

instruction in all

subjects in

preschool and

Grade II, while

all subjects from Grades III to VI

and secondary levels shall be taught

in English, except in Filipino

taught as a subject.

All subjects in the tertiary and

technical and vocational courses

shall be taught in English, except

in Pilipino taught as a subject.

Vicki Palomar

5June 20074 June 2007

Should we requirenursing graduates torender communityservice before leavingfor overseas jobs? While it may be

beneficial torequire them to

render such community service asthis may enhance theircompetence, as well as provide anopportunity for more access tobasic health services to thepeople, however, I believe, itwould be more practical and morebeneficial to our country if we allowthem to go abroad immediatelyonce there is an opportunity.

Firstly, compliance with thesaid requirement might evenhinder them from grabbing workopportunities abroad because it ispossible that by the time they aredone with the said requirement,the demand for nursing jobs mayno longer be there particularly inthe countries where they intend towork.

Secondly, allowing them to goabroad immediately also givesimmediate (not deferred) solutionto our unemployment problems.

Thirdly, once abroad, theycan immediately send theirremittances which, as we all know,help stabil ize the peso andimprove our economy, in general.

Moreover, I believe such arequirement puts in suspensetheir excitement to go abroad andthe hope of their families for abetter life, a situation which maynot be acceptable to manyespecially for those whose onlydream is to go abroad and/or forfamilies whose hope for a betterlife depends solely on their sonsand daughters who are nursinggraduates.

Hence, if the same shouldreally be necessary as toguarantee their competence, Ibelieve it would be better if we justinclude the same in theircurriculum and, at the same time,elevate the standards of ournursing schools rather than allowthem to suffer after they havealready graduated and are readyfor work. Interview by Melissa M.Reyes

N u r s i n gg r a d u a t e sshould render

community service before leavingfor overseas jobs for a minimumof two years because there aremany of our people in localgovernment units that are in direneed of medical care andassistance.

How can the governmentdeliver medical care without thepersonnel? This applies tograduates of all institutions,whether public or private. Interview by Ronald M. Ytem

This is the first timeI have been askedthe question and I

have not thought about it. But myposition is, if our nursinggraduates comply with therequirements for overseasemployment, that’s it, they can goabroad.

I do not think we are going torun out of nurses here. If theemployers abroad do not requiretraining and service, I am notgoing to add any more additionalimpositions upon our graduates.

Interview by Ronald M. Ytem

There are twogood reasonsfor requiring

nursing graduates to rendercommunity service before leavingfor overseas jobs.

First, while it may soundrestrictive for nursing graduates torender community service, it isobviously a partial fulfillment oftheir chosen profession that couldbenefit the public in general.

Secondly, the communityservice that they would rendercould very much contribute to theirwork experience, which couldredound to their benefit as theirmarketability is being enhancedtherewith.

To sum it up, the idea ofrequiring nursing graduates torender community service beforeleaving for overseas jobs will beto the advantage of all the partiesconcerned. Interview by MelissaM. Reyes

of their examinations, why notperform some service to ourcountry in giving and improvingour health services here, ifpossible as an apprentice in ahospital or doing health work infar-flung areas of the country.

That would be a very positivething (rendering communityservice) if they stay behind for twoyears after graduation.

In good hospitals abroad,nurses are not hired unless he/sheis a board passer if they havetaken their CGFNS. That requiresa waiting period of not less thantwo years before the results comeout. That’s one reason I say yes,it would be good for them to rendercommunity service.

However, on the negativeaspect, insofar as our healthservices is concerned, it will bealso good for our country because,if they go abroad and they gethired, they can work in privatehospitals in other countries withouthaving to pass the boardexaminations here. Then theycould probably increase ourrevenues through theirremittances from their workabroad.

The bad effect of the massiveexodus is that our schools fail tolive up to the standards of thenursing profession. The hugenumber of nursing graduates fromnursing schools, which havelikewise increased, have resultedin some schools and nursinggraduates being unable to meetthe standards and requirements ofthe CHEd.

And so, we have someschools which are below standardand the mortality rate in the boardexaminations becomes quite highon that account.

I don’t think there is a dangerof nursing shortage due to thisphenomenon known as the braindrain. The exodus of our nursinggraduates is balanced by thenumber of nurses who pass thenursing examinations. Ourproduction of nurses is quite big—no less than 40,000 nursesgraduate each year. Interview byIsagani C. Yambot Jr.

Rep. NARCISO R. BRAVO JR.(1st Dist., Masbate)

Rep. EDUARDO R. GULLAS(1st Dist., Cebu)

Rep. HERMILANDO I. MANDANAS(2nd Dist., Batangas)

Rep. ROGER G. MERCADO(Lone Dist., Southern Leyte)

Rep. TRANQUILINO B. CARMONA(1st Dist., Negros Occidental)

My answer is yes and no. If we sayyes, that will be good for the healthservices of our country.

Nursing graduates spendabout two years waiting for theresults of their examinationsrequired by employers abroad.

So, in the meantime that ournurses are waiting for the results

Filipino nurses are undoubtedly the most prized recruitshere and abroad. In the United States alone, theycomprise 83 percent of foreign nurses, with Filipinonurses as the top choice among health care workers inhospitals, doctors’ clinics and home care facilitiesthere.

More than 80,000 Filipino nurses graduate each year from thenumerous nursing schools that have sprouted in the country followingthe tremendous demand for these workers overseas. Of this ballparkfigure, however, only 32,000 pass the board exams and only 2,000 getgood jobs, further shrinking the number of nurses that should be workingat home. This reality directly affects the government’s capability todeliver efficient and effective basic health care.

While Filipino nurses who choose to work abroad are of great help totheir immediate families, their exodus greatly affects the extent ofhealth care services accessibility at home.

With the situation worsening, some nagging questions have comeup: Should we allow Filipino nurses to immediately fly to better-payingjobs overseas upon graduation? Should we require them to serve theircountrymen first, albeit for a few years? Is delaying their departure agood solution to our health care gaps?

Our House Members’ views follow:

As thingsstand, theannual flow of

Filipino nurses is now three timesgreater than the annual productionof l icensed nurses. (TheProfessional RegulationCommission or PRC, through theBoard of Nursing, issues licensesto 6,500 to 7,000 nurses a year.)

This is due to a number ofreasons, foremost of which is thatnursing is now the “sure” ticket toa better-paying job abroad—andthe short route to immigrantstatus.

The Philippines will never beable to compete with the salariesoffered to nurses in the developedcountries.

Basic monthly pay abroadranges from $3,000 to $4,000compared to the $169 averagemonthly pay in most cities here.In rural areas, nurses receive from$75 to $95 a month.

In view of the foregoing, Isubscribe to the idea of acompulsory requirement fornurses to render communityservice before leaving foroverseas jobs. The Philippines isone of the few countries inSoutheast Asia that still doesn’thave a National Health ServiceAct. This is a compulsoryrequirement for all licensed healthprofessionals to serve anywherewithin the country for a specifiedperiod equal to the number ofyears it took them to finish theirdegree.

We cannot deny our nursesthe opportunity to have a better-paying job abroad, but we shouldalso not negate the nurse’sresponsibil ity to serve theircountry.

There are attempts to havesuch a law passed, but were metwith objections because they wereagainst the individual’s humanright to move freely and practicetheir profession wherever theywant.

But with globalization and theactive trading of humanresources, and the inevitability ofa severe brain drain to hit thePhilippines, the country’scollective interest and collectiverights should now prevail.Interview by Vicki Palomar

A b s o l u t e l y,n u r s i n gg r a d u a t e s

should be required to rendercommunity service before leavingthe country. That’s the least theycan do for our country. Theystudied here in the Philippines andavailed themselves of all ourservices in the government. Thisapplies to all nursing graduates ofpublic and private institutions.

It’s not fair for them to justleave. They should serve for, atleast, a year after graduating.

If you ask me, this should beexpanded to doctors, midwives,physical therapists and all otherprofessions. I am absolutely inaccord with the question.Interview by Ronald M. Ytem

Rep. EDUARDO C. ZIALCITA(1st Dist., Parañaque)

Rep. FERJENEL G. BIRON(4th Dist., Iloilo)

New cities

Continued from page 1

Republic Acts 9388 and 9387 forSan Juan and Navotas, respectively.

The increased budgetaryentitlements from the nationalgovernment for cities wouldtranslate into more economicactivity, infrastructure and bettersocial services. The LocalGovernment Code stipulates that atown should have an annual incomeof at least P50 million and apopulation of at least 200,000before it can be converted into a city.

Rep. Ronaldo B. Zamora(Lone Dist., San Juan) said that SanJuan’s conversion into a city willenhance its posture and capacity toattract business and industries andincrease its pace of development.

Although one of the smallestamong Metro Manila cities andmunicipalities in terms of area, SanJuan had a gross income of P658.8million last year—much higher thanother cities nationwide. As of 2000,it had a total population of 177,680.

Navotas, the country’s fishingcapital, has an annual income ofP339.3 million and a population of265,846. Under RA 9387, Navotasstands to receive an additional P100million from the nationalgovernment’s Internal RevenueAllotment and will also have its owncongressional district in 2010.

Rep. Federico S. Sandoval II(LD, Malabon City-Navotas) saidNavotas’ upgrading into a city is“long overdue,” as it has “all theamenities and comfort of cityliving, such as commercialestablishments, various industries,banks and educational institutions,both government and private.”

With these developments,Metro Manila now has a total of16 cities, leaving Pateros as the onlyremaining municipality in themetropolis.

In March 2007, the followingtowns were also granted cityhood:Baybay, Leyte (RA 9389); Bogo,Cebu (RA 9390); Catbalogan,Samar (RA 9391); Tandag, Surigaodel Sur (RA 9392); Lamitan,Basilan (RA 9393); Borongan,Samar (RA 9394); Tabuk, Kalinga(RA 9404); Bayugan, Agusan delSur (RA 9405); Batac, Ilocos Norte(RA 9407); Mati, Davao Oriental(RA 9408); Guihulngan, NegrosOriental (RA 9409); and Tayabas,Quezon (RA 9398). The towns ofCabadbaran, Cebu (RA 9434); ElSalvador, Misamis Oriental (RA9435) and Carcar, Cebu (RA9436) were converted intocomponent cities in April 2007.

New districtsMarikina City gained one more

seat in the House of Representativesupon the enactment of RA 9364,which amended the city charter ofMarikina and divided the city intotwo legislative districts.

Marikina City’s new est DistrictI voted for its House Representativefor the first time in the Mayelections.

In the same way, RA 9360divided the province of ZamboangaSibugay, previously the thirddistrict of Zamboanga del Sur, intotwo congressional districts.Likewise, RA 9357 apportionedthe province of Sultan Kudarat intotwo legislative districts, while RA9371 added another congressionalseat to what was once the lonedistrict of Cagayan de Oro City.

6 June 2007

INA Center inauguration

From a place of griefto a place of hope

By Ronald M. Ytem

“USE your grief

to make life

better for other

people,” said

G e o r g i n a

“Manay Gina” P.

de Venecia, leader and consultant

of Inang Naulila sa Anak (INA)

Foundation, during the

inauguration ceremony of the INA

Healing Center at the DSWD

complex in Batasan Hills, Quezon

City on December 16, 2006.

Manay Gina spoke with the

pain she felt upon losing her and

husband Speaker Jose de Venecia’s

daughter KC in a fire that gutted

their home in Makati City in 2004.

President Arroyo, Speaker de

Venecia, the de Venecia and Vera

Perez families, DSWD Secretary

Esperanza I. Cabral and fellow

workers in government, INA

members and guests attended the

HEALING CENTER. President Arroyo cuts the ceremonial ribbon assisted bySpeaker Jose de Venecia and wife Gina (right) at the inauguration of the INAHealing Center at the DSWD complex in Quezon City last December 16, twoyears after de Venecia daughter KC died in a fire at the Speaker’s home inMakati in 2004. The first of its kind, the center—built through the efforts ofSpeaker de Venecia, INA and DSWD—offers hope to mothers who have lost achild through support and counseling. Also in photo are (from left) DSWDSecretary Esperanza Cabral, radio-TV personality Ali Sotto, and Azucena “MamaNene” Vera Perez.

Photo B

y Virg R

izardo

gathering, which would have

marked KC’s 18th birthday.

“The foundation will help

them move on from a place of grief

to a place of hope, empowering

them to reach out to others,”

Manay Gina said.

Social worker Rowela Hizon,

OIC, said the center will provide a

support system for mothers who

have lost a child or children,

through meetings, discussions and

gatherings for sufferers and others

left behind including friends.

The center has one

psychologist and a head social

worker with a support staff of

three social workers.

The 1,007 sq. m. center,

which offers psychological, psycho-

social, moral and emotional

treatments and consultations, has

seven rooms and a session hall thatcan seat 100 people.

Last February 27-March 2, 14INA members underwent amentoring and counselingworkshop.

The INA Center can bereached at tel. Nos. 951-5288 or951-7102.

JDV seeks closer

anti-terror linksBy Melissa M. Reyes

AN ANTI-TERRORIST

cooperation between the ASEAN,

Gulf Cooperation Council and

Shanghai Six should stall

extremist movements from

Central Asia, South Asia toward

Southeast Asia, and vice-versa,

Speaker Jose de Venecia said

during the ASEAN leaders’

summit in Cebu City in January.

De Venecia is president of the

27th Assembly of the Asian Inter-

Parliamentar y Organization

(AIPO), now the ASEAN Inter-

Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA),

which had its assembly, also in

Cebu City last September 2006.

De Venecia said the first

trilateral anti-terrorist agreement

between Indonesia, Malaysia and

the Philippines a few days after the

9/11 attack, soon joined by

Thailand and Cambodia, could

link up further with the Shanghai

Cooperation Organization or the

“Shanghai Six” of China, Russia,

Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan

and Uzbekistan.

ASEAN and Shanghai Six

could enter into an anti-terrorist

collaboration and, in turn, the

ASEAN with the Gulf Council of

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain,

The United Arab Emirates, Qatar

and Oman, he said.

The collaboration is part of

de Venecia’s 16-point proposal,

that includes sustained

negotiations between the US and

Iran over the nuclear and peace

issues in Iran’s immediate

neighborhood.

He also said the Philippines,

Vietnam and China should agree

on a joint venture in the South

China Sea, and that the ASEAN

and the GCC should create a

producer-consumer partnership to

ease Southeast Asia’s financial

stresses under the current regime

of high oil prices. He said

petrodollars should be recycled

and invested in Southeast Asia.

His other proposals were: an

ASEAN Regional Parliament, and

an ASEAN Parliamentar y

Assembly after the continental

legislatures in Europe, Latin

America and Africa.

The rest are: an ASEAN

disaster fund; inter-faith, inter-

civilization, and inter-cultural

programs to reconcile religious,

ethnic and communal conflicts.

He urged ASEAN to convince

North Korea to open up its

economy to the world, following

China and Vietnam’s lead.

He also proposed to build a

network of economic, political,

and moral relationship in the Asia-

Pacific community through

sustained dialogue.

To bring the ASEAN closer to

their peoples, teaching ASEAN

Civics in their respective

elementary and high schools

should be encouraged. He also

proposed the establishment of an

ASEAN University with a central

campus.

The proposals came on the

heels of de Venecia’s earlier

proposals for an ASEAN

Microfinance Fund and an Asian

Monetary Fund to fight poverty in

the region.

He had also called for a unity

government in Myanmar, saying a

“negotiated political settlement” in

Myanmar could lead to the release

of Aung San Sun Kyi, and peace

and reconciliation.

JDV AT CEBU ASEAN SUMMIT. Speaker Jose de Venecia, addresses leadersled by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo gathered for the ASEAN summitin Cebu City in January. De Venecia proposed, among other things, thecreation of an ASEAN Economic Community by 2020.

Party List Rep. Renato B.Magtubo of Partido ngManggagawa did not run for anelective post, but was reelected asparty chair. An activist beforesitting in Congress, Magtubo saidhe will continue to be active in hisparty’s political activities.

Rep. Mayo Z. Almario (2nd

Dist., Davao Oriental) ran for vicegovernor and won. His mother,Thelma, also won and took over hisseat in the House. Now vicegovernor, Almario will providelegislative support for theprovincial governor.

Rep. Eladio M. Jala (3rd Dist.,Bohol) will concentrate ondeveloping cooperatives and assisthis son, Adam Nelson, who tookover his seat in Congress, withinfrastructure projects and inimproving their province’sagricultural productivity, at least forthe first six months of his son’scongressional term.

The elder Jala aims to developmulti-purpose, service or consumer

No desire to retire

Continued from page 1

cooperatives of farmers, fishermenand marginal workers in everybarangay in Bohol. He expects to bebusy with cooperatives up to 2010and, perhaps, run for anotherelective post afterwards.

Rep. Orlando A. Fua Jr.(Lone Dist., Siquijor) ran forgovernor and won. His father,Gov. Orlando Fua Sr., ran for hiscongressional seat and also won.

Some third-termers and theirfamilies even competed againsteach other for elective posts. InCamiguin island province, Rep.Jurdin Jesus M. Romualdo (LD,Camiguin) ran for governor andwon. His father, former Rep.Pedro Romualdo, ran for congressagainst another son, NoordineEfigenio (who had converted toIslam and is now known as OmarMuktar). The elder Romualdowon.

In Negros Oriental, Rep.Jacinto V. Paras (1st Dist., NegrosOriental) ran for governor. WifeOlivia ran for his congressionalseat by running against JacintoParas’ brother, Jerome. All losttheir political bids.

ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL. Speaker Jose de Venecia presents to ChinesePremier Wen Jiabao the highest decoration of the House of Representatives,the Congressional Medal of Achievement. De Venecia praised Premier Wenfor carrying on the work of Deng Xiaoping and Jian Zemin in poweringChina. He also called Wen a strong administrator and expert technocrat,who leads by building on consensus, earning a reputation for competence,meticulousness, while focusing on results. Others in photo are (from left)Reps. Monico Puentevella, Mary Ann Susano (partly hidden), Lorna Silverioand Reylina Nicolas (right).

7June 2007

Helping Bulakeñas in needBy Melissa M. Reyes

AURITA “Au-

Au” S.

Enriquez, 46,

w o u l d

r e g u l a r l y

attend Mass at the Sto. Niño

Parish Church in Meycauayan,

Bulacan. Her religiosity paid off.

She heard about—and enrolled

for—the free tailoring and

dressmaking course announced by

their parish priest, Msgr. Macario

R. Manahan.

Virginia “Aling Virgie” A.

Estrella, 53, had had no

previously-learned skill. Hearing

about the course, she immediately

applied. During the training her

husband died, but she

determinedly finished her course.

Fe A. Lozada, 55, a registered

midwife, would take care of older

people for free when she was

young. She worked in a

government hospital then went

into private practice. A devout

Catholic, she would busy herself

with church activities. When she

heard about the free training, she

applied.

Au-Au, Aling Virgie and Fe

are now proud holders of the

National Certificate (NC) II for

dressmakers, the POEA license

equivalent for applicants of

garment factory or dressmaking

overseas jobs. They pooled their

savings and began taking sewing

job orders.

Their lives turned around,

thanks to the Sto. Niño-TESDA

By Enrico R. Rosario

HEEDING the

pleas of local

movie producers

who have been

complaining of

poor returns on

their movies, Congress enacted

Republic Act 9167, thus creating

the Film Development Council of

the Philippines.

RA 9167 ultimately aims to

upgrade the art of film making

and encourage the production of

films for commercial purposes

basically by providing a viable

system of rating local movies and

giving incentives, by way of tax

exemptions, to local films which

make the grade.

The Film Development

Council, as the agency tasked to

carry out this lofty purpose, is

composed of a chairperson and 10

members, seven of whom are

appointed in ex-officio capacities,

including the secretaries of the

Departments of Trade and

Industry, and Education, the

president of the Cultural Center

of the Philippines and the

chairperson of the Film Academy

of the Philippines.

The three regular members

are to be f illed up by

representatives from the local

filmmakers association, theater

owners association and academe,

all of whom—just like the council

chairperson—to be appointed by

the President.

Two of the main tasks of the

council are the establishment of a

rating system for

local movies and the

development and

implementation of

an incentive and

reward system for

producers.

Actual rating and

evaluation of movies,

however, fall upon the

shoulders of the

Cinema Evaluation

Board, likewise created

by virtue of RA 9167.

Composed of a

chairperson and 30

members mostly coming

from the film industry, the

board’s main duty is to rate

Philippine movies based on

direction, screenplay,

cinematography, editing,

production design, music scoring,

sound and acting performances.

Movies landing an “A” or “B”

rating—the highest marks that may

be given by the Board—entitles

Rep. Reylina Nicolas, Meycauayan

City Mayor Joan Alarilla and

TESDA-Bulacan Director Luisita

dela Cruz as principal sponsors.

The first 39 graduates

completed 174-hour lectures and

hands-on, and 80 hours on-the-job

training from September 11 to

December 12, 2006. An adjacent

room turned over to the Sto. Niño

parish became cosmetology

classrooms, now with 25 students.

About 14 tailoring and

dressmaking trainees will graduate

this April.

The Commission on

Education and Scholarship of the

Sto Niño Parish Pastoral Society

selects trainees from applicants

recommended by the sub-pastoral

councils from six barangays (Pajo,

Pantoc, Perez, Camalig, Bahay-Pari

and Bagbaguin). A minimal

entrance/registration fee covers

administrative expenses. Trainees

spend for their own materials,

tools and supplies.

Volunteer-members—mostly

retired professionals—manage the

center. The Board of Trustees and

Sto. Niño Parish Pastoral Council

donated the 17 manual and high

speed sewing machines. Msgr.

Manahan started the center with

13 parishioners that included Rep.

Nicolas. The goal: to establish a

foundation to educate needy, but

deserving, parishioners. Nicolas

shoulders the honoraria for the

TESDA trainors.

The for women-only classes

also teach values formation,

personality development, basic

arithmetic and English, social

graces, industrial safety, personal

hygiene and grooming, fashion

designing, entrepreneurial

development and fund sourcing

skills integrated into the standard

TESDA course modules. For men-

only trainings are being planned,

such as cellphone and auto repair.

Under Sto. Niño Pastoral

Society president Bro. Rodolfo

DC Enriquez, the parishioners

put up the seed capital. Aspiring

members are required to share in

the form of trust and/or donation

used to defray scholarship

expenses.

Nicolas has infused her

PDAF in courses in reflexology,

pillow-rugs-candles-fabric softener-

dishwashing liquid-soap-balloon

making, food processing and

baking, meat and fish processing,

bag making, flower arrangement,

and novelty items-making. She has

also supported hotel and

restaurant management, banking,

and computer training.

Her past projects were

conducted in cooperation with

the Sangguniang Bayan,

Barangay, among others, Lawa

Committee on Livelihood, PUP-

Sta. Maria and Fortunato F. Halili,

Sto. Niño Homeowners,

Immaculate Concepcion Parish,

Senior Citizens of Sta. Rosa I,

Office of the Senior Citizens

Affairs, Pambayang Konseho ng

Kababaihan sa Obando, Sta. Cruz

Cooperative, Marilao Livelihood,

Rotary Club of Mutya ng Sta.

Maria, Daughters of Mary

Immaculate Parish, Banga

Cooperative, Soroptomist of San

Jose del Monte, Belmont Parc

Village Homeowners, Van Arlan,

Aihu Foundation, Malhacan,

Karla Ville Homeowners, and

Barangay Pulong Buhangin.

STRONG WOMEN. Women-only livelihood and educational classes areproviding the necessary boost in Rep. Reylina Nicolas’ (inset) turf inBulacan. Photo above shows graduates receiving their certificates and ina pose for posterity (below). The training courses were organized incooperation with the Sto. Niño Parish in Meycauayan.

Vocational Training Center, the

newly-created educational arm of

the Sto. Niño Parish Pastoral

Society Inc., functionally under

the Commission on Services,

Knights of Columbus and the

Catholic Women’s League of the

Sto. Niño Parish Pastoral Council

Central Organization.

The 50-sq.m. training center

within the church complex was

inaugurated last September with

Republic Act 9167

The Film Development Councilof the Philippines

their producers to an incentive in

the form of exemption from the

amusement tax imposed by local

governments.

Neither the council nor the

board, however, has the power to

cut, delete, shorten or modify in

any manner the films being graded

by the board, nor are they allowed

to suggest cuts or deletions or any

other form of modification.

To ensure the effective

implementation of the tax

exemption scheme for exception

local films, fines up to P100,000

are authorized by the statute to be

imposed on any person or entity

failing to abide by RA 9167’s

provision.

Theaters refusing to remit the

tax collected, which will eventually

be rebated to the film producer,

face closure for a period not

exceeding 15 days. Under RA

9167, movies given an “A” rating

will be entitled to a 100%

exemption from amusement tax

while those meriting a “B” rating

will receive a 65% exemption for

the same tax.

The exemptions are on top of

whatever the council might in the

future give as incentives to

Filipino films that will get the nod

of the Cinema Evaluation

Board.

8 June 2007

� Interview with Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri

Biofuels: Giving one more bang out of the buck

TO POSTMAN: PLS. DELIVER TO ADDRESSEE OR CURRENT OCCUPANTPUBLISHING AND DESIGN SERVICE, PUBLIC RELATIONS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

BATASANG PAMBANSA COMPLEX, CONSTITUTION HILLS, QUEZON CITYTEL. NOS. 9315335 and 9315001 LOCAL 7651 OR 7552

HON. JOSE C. DE VENECIA JR.OFFICE OF THE SPEAKERHOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESCONSTITUTION HILLS, QUEZON CITY

For updates, visit www.congress.gov.ph

PENALTY FOR PRIVATEOR UNAUTHORIZED USEOF OFFICIAL MAIL P500

W I T H

i n c r e a s i n g

imported oil

prices, the

search for

alternative fuels, particularly for the

transport sector which uses the

chunk of these imports, has

reached fever pitch.

Of the alternative and

renewable energy sources thought

capable of displacing regular fuels,

biofuels got the high-five. Hence,

RA 9367, “An Act to Direct the

Use of Biofuels, Establishing for

this Purpose the Biofuel Program.”

Principal author Bukidnon

Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri defended

the bill when it was still a fledgling

in the House of Representatives.

House Bill 4629, or the Biofuels

Act of 2005, became law on 24 July

2006.

The Act promotes bioethanol

or ethyl alcohol and other fuels as

an alternative fuel. It establishes a

National Biofuels Program,

mandating the use of biofuels

requiring all liquid fuels for motors

and engines sold locally to contain

locally-sourced components.

Within two years upon

effectivity of the Act, the National

Biofuel Board, to be created under

the Act, mandates that at least 5

percent bioethanol comprise the

annual total volume of gasoline

fuel actually sold and distributed

by oil companies in the country,

requiring that all bioethanol

blended gasoline contain a

minimum 5 percent bioethanol

fuel by volume.

Within four years, if the NBB

finds it feasible, it shall recommend

to the DoE to mandate a minimum

10 percent bioethanol by volume

into all gasoline fuel distributed

and sold locally, to a minimum 1

percent biodiesel by volume, then

to a minimum 2 percent within

two years, as to local supply and

locally -sourced biodiesel

components available.

For this landmark bill, Zubiri

earned the moniker “Mr.

Ethanol.”

Following are Zubiri’s views:

What are biofuels?

It refers to any organic matter,

available on a renewable or

recurring basis, including trees,

crops and associated residues, plant

fiber, poultry litter and other

animal or industrial wastes, and the

biogradable component of

municipal solid waste.

Biofuel refers to hydrous or

anhydrous bioethanol suitably

denatured for use as motor fuel.

Why is RA 9367 significant?

It is basically pro-consumer,

pro-environment and pro-

employment. Not only do we have

lower fuel costs—it will be lower by

P10 compared to existing premium

gas prices, i.e. regular gasoline—, we

can also generate more

employment.

When more lands are planted

to biofuel feedstock, the DA

projects about 300,000 new farm

jobs. Bioethanol plants—two are

being built in Negros and

Bukidnon—will hire 10,000

workers.

As an environmentalist, I

know it is a big benefit for health.

It is clean fuel that will save

billions in medical costs and lost

income from air pollution.

Through the DoE, harmful

gasoline additives shall be

gradually phased out. In fact, the

Act’s main purpose is to mitigate

toxic and greenhouse gas (GHG)

emissions.

It is indigenous: materials can

be sourced locally. The country

has enough land planted to crops

to guarantee steady supply. Our

energy security may yet lie, not on

the oil below the ground, but on

the five Cs planted above: cane,

coconut, corn, camote, cassava.

We have 2.4 million hectares

planted to corn, 3.2 million to

coconut, 390,000 to sugarcane,

and 330,000 to cassava and

camote. Lambanog and corn can

run cars. Cassava is also for petrol.

Any human food that

contains sugar can be

processed to ethanol.

Starchy grains like corn

fermented and distilled to

200 proof can be pumped

into car’s tanks. When oil

is pressed from plants like

coconut, heated, and

methanol and other

catalysts added to it to

separate glycerol and esters,

it can form biodiesel.

It is estimated that

locally-produced biofuels

will dislodge 10 percent of

imported oil, resulting in

P32 billion savings yearly,

based on my 2004 estimate

of 115.6 million barrels of

oil at $50/barrel and

P55:$1 exchange rate.

Please explain your “raft of

incentives” for bioethanol

producers.

They are fiscal incentives, non-

fiscal incentives, financial

assistance from government

financial institutions like the DBP,

LandBank and Quedancor, and

other government institutions that

provide financial services.

According to their charters or

under applicable laws, such

agencies should give high priority

financing to bioethanol fuel

feedstock producers including

sugarcane, cassava, sweet sorghum

and corn.

How about taxes?

It will be VAT zero-rated. If

sold today, it will be P10 cheaper

than regular gasoline. However, the

gasohol blend will have the same

rate as unleaded gasoline upon the

law’s enactment.

Biofuel producers get tariffs

and duties exemptions when they

import inputs they need, like

machinery. Gasohol gets the same

rate as unleaded gasoline upon the

law’s enactment. Even if unleaded

tax is increased, gasohol tax shall

remain at the old level for 10 years.

Non-fiscal incentives include

classifying all investments in the

production and blending of

bioethanol fuel and its feedstock as

“pioneering”” or “preferred areas

of investment” and get fiscal and

non-fiscal incentives under the

Omnibus Investments Code. The

BOI shall identify other incentives

for domestic production of

bioethanol fuel.

How will you achieve these

objectives?

The law assigns a role for each

public agency involved to jumpstart

the program. The DoF shall review

the tax code recommending to

Congress tax realignments of

denatured and undenatured

bioethanol for motor fuel vis-a-vis

other petroleum products.

To protect local producers, the

BIR and BoC shall create an anti-

smuggling plan.

Regarding quality, the DoE

shall define fines and penalties for

counterfeit and substandard

biofuels to maintain public

confidence. The DoE shall be the

“biofuel police” to cause petroleum

companies in the country to rightly

blend ethanol with gasoline.

How will you nurture this

infant industry in its nascent

stage?

We will protect it from unfair

trade competition. The Tariff

Commission will create a tariff

line for bioethanol fuel and

gasohol. These, however, will be

harmonized with WTO and

AFTA agreements. We don’t want

these bodies running after us.

It is estimatedthat locally-

produced biofuelswill dislodge 10

percent ofimported oil,

resulting in P32billion savings

yearly.