Child sex trafficking and abuse in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan

It is unthinkable to most of us that as well as having to contend with the basic human need of finding food and water, shelter for you and your family and medicine to prevent disease spreading or treat those with wounds, hundreds of thousands of women and girls will face the very real risk of violence, including sexual exploitation and abuse, rape, forced marriage and trafficking.

Child traffickers may take advantage of their situation and persuade those children to engage in sexual slavery and labor bondage.

Since last week, the UN humanitarian team that went to Tacloban city was only able to assist 1.1 million individuals and distributed 837,900 food packs, the UN said.

A British charity is warning aid agencies and authorities in the Philippines of the increased risks of child sex trafficking and abuse in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan, urging them to be vigilant.

Many children were separated from or may have been left abandoned by their parents, a situation that possibly exposes kids to all forms of sexual violence and exploitation.

Many people don’t want to read or think about such harsh and painful realities but it happens and we have to do all we can to prevent this. Preda children's charity is appealing for donations and help to send trained social workers into the devastated area to provide a child feeding station and help find and protect these lost, homeless, abandoned children before they are abducted.

With such challenges before us, we have to summon up the spiritual strength to meet them and overcome them. The Filipino people are a very resilient people and suffer up to twenty typhoons a year and one or two strong earthquakes. Sitting on the pacific ring of fire, it is expected and when there is no exploding volcano to cope with, there are plenty of other natural disasters.

The Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has called for urgent vigilance by aid workers to this form of child trafficking in the areas devastated by the most powerful typhoon in history to hit land. Called Haiyan or by its local name “Yolanda”, it has devastated and flattened entire towns, villages, and killed scores of people in the central Philippines and their children will be known as the lost children of Yolanda. Driven by winds up to 315 kilometers an hour, brutal ordeal will scar the people of the Visayan region for a generation. We too will be judged by how we responded or when we did not.

Education office asked to give update on JO teachers probe

Representative Carmelo Lazatin has asked the Angeles City Division of City Schools Superintendent Luz Arriola for an update on the investigation on 10 public school teachers from Northville Elementary School who were allegedly hired as job order employees of the City Government under the administration of Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan.

In a letter addressed to Arriola, Lazatin cited reports claiming that several people, whose names were included in the list of job order employees in the Cultural Mapping Program of the City Tourism Office, denied receiving salaries of P600 to P650 per day.

A copy of Lazatin’s letter has been forwarded to President Benigno Aquino III and Department of Education Secretary Brother Armin Luistro.

One of the said teachers is Catherine Garcia, daughter of Barangay Lourdes Sur Kagawad Daniel Gutierrez, reportedly claimed that she participated in the program voluntarily and did not receive any salary from the City Government.

Earlier, senior citizens leader Francisco Esguerra, whose name was also included in the list, also denied receiving salary from the city government.

In his appearance in a local radio show, Esguerra explained that he, along with other members of the senior citizens’ federation, participated in the Cultural Mapping as volunteers and did not receive the said P600 to P650 daily salary.

Also included in the job order list is Barangay Margot kagawad Nenita Ferrer who, earlier, joined several other alleged “ghost employees” in filing a Supplemental Complaint Affidavit before the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon.

The affidavit filed by Ferrer and other witnesses supported the complaint filed by local mediaman Robledo Sanchez against Pamintuan, City Accountant Wilfredo Tiotuico, City Budget Officer Fe Corpuz, and City Treasurer Juliet Quinsaat in relation to the controversial job order appointments of the City Government.

Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Adoracion Agbada recently ordered Pamintuan and company to submit their Counter Affidavit within a period of 10 days upon the receipt of the order.

Sanchez revealed that on January 7, he received a copy of the Motion for Extension of Time submitted by Pamintuan and company asking the Deputy Ombudsman to extend the period of filing their Counter Affidavit and grant them an additional 15 days from January 7 to January 22.

by Reynaldo Navales

Mayor slammed for including wife’s name in job order list

Barangay Lourdes Northwest council member William David slammed Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan on Wednesday for including the councilman’s wife in the job order (JO) appointments without her knowledge, adding to the list of “ghost employees.”

David questioned the inclusion of his wife’s name in the list of JOs after his father, veteran broadcaster Medardo “Med” David, revealed the names of questionable JOs in his radio program last Friday (November 23).

The councilman said his wife, Irene, has no knowledge about her name being included in the list of the City Government’s JOs and does not even go to the City Hall to collect her supposed salary.

Irene was designated as an administrative assistant in the PhilHealth Program under the Office of the Mayor and is given a daily rate of P500 or P11,000 a month. Her appointment was issued on June 29, 2012 until December 31, 2012 and was signed by secretary to the mayor Leonardo Galanza and approved by Mayor Pamintuan.

“Malaking panlilinlang ang ginagawang ito ng administrasyon ni Mayor Pamintuan,” said David, “Kung nagagawa nila ang ganitong panlilinlang sa mga kagawad, paano pa sa mga ordinaryong mamamayan?”

David also hit Barangay Pandan councilman and Councilmen’s League of Angeles City (CLAC) President Arlon Lacson for allegedly conniving with this scheme by the Pamintuan administration.

David is the CLAC vice president for external affairs.

He encouraged his fellow barangay officials whose relatives’ names have been listed as JOs without their knowledge to come out in the open in order to stop this practice.

“Ang malaking katanungan, kung hindi alam ng mga nakalistang tao na kasama sila sa mga JO, sino ang pumipirma ng payroll ng mga taong ito kada buwan?” he asked.

David also hit Pamintuan for lambasting his father Med David, who aired the issue on the exorbitant number of JOs in the City Hall.

“Tinitira nila ang tatay ko, ngayong base sa appointment papers ng mga JOs, lumalabas na totoo lahat ng sinasabi niya tungkol sa mga ‘ghost employees’ ng City Hall,” David said.

Newsman Robledo Sanchez also called Pamintuan out for having several relatives of barangay officials listed as JOs under the City Government.

On October 19, 2012, Sanchez filed a complaint against Pamintuan, City Accountant Wilfredo Tiotuico, City Budget Officer Fe Corpuz, City Treasurer Juliet Quinsaat and other department heads before the Office of the Ombudsman in relation to the 2,506 job order employees of the City Government.

By; Reynaldo Navales

Dividing CamSur

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, a member of the Senate committee on local government and constitutional amendments, on Tuesday ditched the move to divide Camarines Sur into two provinces, saying it was unnecessary.

In his committee report 387, Marcos recommended for the separation of the fourth district that will be called Nueva Camarines instead of dividing into two the whole province which is composed of four districts.

The Camarines Sur’s fourth district is composed of City of Iriga and municipalities of Baao, Balatan, Bato, Buhi, Bula and Nabua.

Representatives Luis Villafuerte of third district, Rolando Andaya Jr. of first district and Arnulfo Fuentebella of fourth district were present when the Senate failed to approve the bill in second reading.

Villafuerte’s son Gov. LRay Villafuerte opposed the division of Camarines Sur. (PNA

The Senate committee, headed by Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., is now reviewing House Bill

No. 4820 that carves out a new province with 16 towns and one city from the existing 35-town, two-city Camarines Sur.

The new province will include the towns of Caramoan, Garchitorena, Lagonoy, Presentacion, San Jose, Siruma, Tinambac, Goa, Tigaon and Sangay of the fourth district and the towns of Baao, Balatan, Bato, Bula, Buhi, Nabua and Iriga City of the fifth district.

If approved by Congress and signed into law by President Aquino, a plebiscite should be called for residents of Camarines Sur to vote on the new province.

Enrile attempted to divide the chamber but due to lack of quorum, Sotto decided to adjourn the session until Tuesday. There only six senators present that also include Senator Teofisto ‘TG’ Guingona III and Serge Osmena III.

The new province will be called “Nueva Camarines."  It is now pending before the Senate, where debates have been more passionate.

Yesterday, Trillanes announced in his privilege speech he was withdrawing from the majority because he had already lost his confidence in Enrile.

He alleged Enrile was trying to influence the passage of the Senate version of the bill because of his close ties to the former President.

New Cebu International Airport

Conglomerates Ayala Corp. and Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. have forged a memorandum of agreement to establish a 50-50 joint venture company that will serve as their vehicle to bid for and develop the country’s second largest international airport and main gateway to the Central Visayas.

Identified as one of the priority projects under the government’s Public-Private Partnership program, the MCIA involves the construction of a new world-class passenger terminal building in Mactan, Cebu that can accommodate eight million passengers yearly as well as the operations and maintenance of airport facilities.

The airport is currently operating at over capacity with passenger volumes exceeding five million annually and is projected to grow at an even faster pace with the expected increase in tourist arrivals.

More than half of the flight operations at the decongested Mactan-Cebu airport are commercial carriers flying more than 10,000 passengers daily. Passenger traffic has increased at an average of 21 percent a year for international and around five percent for domestic routes.

Ayala Corp. president and chief operating officer Fernando Zobel de Ayala said: “We are excited about this partnership with the Aboitiz Group. Both groups strongly believe in the potential of the Mactan Airport to be a compelling gateway to the country for international passengers and to the Visayas for the growing domestic travelers. We share the vision of creating an airport that provides passengers an efficient and pleasant travel experience. We look forward to leveraging each other’s strengths in developing and running a modern airport facility that Cebu and our country can be proud of.”

“We cannot think of a better partner for this project than the Aboitiz group who has not only built a long history and heritage in Cebu but also has a successful track record in undertaking significant size projects in multiple industries,” Zobel de Ayala said.

For his part, AEV president and chief executive officer Erramon Aboitiz said the partnership gives the company the “opportunity to enter into a strategic new segment that is crucial to developing both the country’s transportation infrastructure as well as its tourism potential.”

The strategic partnership also allows the group to harness its competencies in construction, logistics, utilities, and real estate development and management, Aboitiz said.

“Combined with the Ayala group’s strengths and competencies that have also been honed over more than 100 years of doing business, we are very optimistic about the success potential of this project. Moreover, the fact that the project is in Cebu, which is home to the Aboitiz Group, gives it more special meaning to us,” Aboitiz said.

The Aboitiz clan traces its roots to the late 1800s as a simple family enterprise trading hemp in Leyte, an island northeast of Cebu. It expanded by venturing into other businesses such as power generation and distribution, banking, food and land development.

The Ayalas, on the other hand, have steadily built a significant presence in country’s second largest city through its property arm Ayala Land, which has amassed close to 200 hectares of land. These properties include some of the city’s landmarks such as the Cebu Business Park, the Ayala Center Cebu, the Asiatown IT Park and high-end residential developments.

Both parties will enter into a definitive agreement once the bid rules or the terms of reference for the project have been finalized and published by the government. The government is expected to announce the bidding for the project before the end of the year.

The Ayala/Aboitiz consortium may also take in experienced global airport operators as partners in the project.

The government wants to increase tourism arrivals yearly and by 2016, it aims to have ten million visitors a year compared with 3.5 million visitors last year.

The bid battle is expected to draw powerhouse companies such as Metro Pacific Investments Corp. of telecommunications magnate Manuel V. Pangilinan, taipan John Gokongwei’s JG Summit Holdings, and maverick businessman Ramon Ang’s San Miguel Corp., which is now operating Boracay Airport (the closest air gateway to the popular resort island).

The construction of the MCIA is likely to be undertaken in two phases with the first phase targeted for completion by 2015.

When completed, the MCIA is expected to immensely contribute to the government’s target of developing “safe, efficient, viable and strategic transport infrastructure in the country.” It is also seen to promote tourist access to Cebu Province and Central Visayas, thereby increasing local employment and income generation.

Ayala Corp. is one of the oldest and most respected conglomerates in the Philippines with a diversified business portfolio that includes real estate development, banking and financial services, telecommunications, water distribution infrastructure, automotive dealerships, electronics manufacturing services, business process outsourcing, and power, among others.

Remembering Sec. Jesse Robredo

Jesse Manalastas Robredo (May 27, 1958 – August 18, 2012) was a Filipino statesman who served as Secretary of the Interior and Local Government in the administration of President Benigno Aquino III from 2010 to until his death in 2012.

On August 18, 2012 (PHT), the Piper PA-34-200 Seneca I aircraft (registered RP-C4431) carrying Secretary Robredo crashed off the shore of Masbate City. He was scheduled to go home and watch his daughter's swimming competition in Naga City. The Philippine Department of Interior and Local Government  said that the pilot sent a distress call to the Masbate airport requesting an emergency landing. The plane never made it to the airport and crashed in the sea. His body was retrieved three days later, August 21, 800 meters from the shore and 180 feet below sea level.

When he was appointed as DILG secretary in 2010, Robredo brought the same values to the agency, focusing on drumming up public support for the Full Disclosure Policy. This would require local government units to disclose in public places the 12 key financial documents that show how their funds are spent.

"Hindi rin sapat na tayo ay mahusay lamang. Hindi lahat ng matino ay mahusay, at lalo namang hindi lahat ng mahusay ay matino,” he is fond of telling colleagues, according to the DILG website. “Ang dapat ay matino at mahusay upang karapat-dapat tayong pagkatiwalaan ng pera ng bayan.”

Under Robredo’s term, the DILG has initiated the investigation and filing of charges against individuals involved in spurious procurement contracts.

The agency said Robredo had also been "tirelessly improving" the disaster risk reduction and mitigation capabilities of LGUs by introducing the Seal of Disaster Preparedness, an incentive mechanism.

One of his supporters, actress Mae Paner, better known as Juana Change, posted on her Facebook account: "Sec. Jesse rest in peace! Our prayers for you and your family! And our deepest gratitude for your GOOD WORK! Ipagpapatuloy namin ang iyong sinimulan!"

For all his accomplishments, at the time of his death and after a long wait of more than two years, Robredo had yet to get confirmation as DILG Secretary from the Commission on Appointments (CA).

Robredo was appointed in July 2010, among the last to be named to Aquino’s Cabinet. After the government’s inept handling of the August 23, 2010 Manila hostage-taking crisis, however, Robredo was named acting Secretary instead of being issued an “ad interim" appointment for transmittal to the CA.

Eventually, Robredo’s name was submitted to the CA, but he was one of the five Cabinet secretaries whose confirmation was bypassed after Congress adjourned its session last June 6.

Robredo also had an occasionally testy relationship with the President, who revealed to the media that he had disagreements with Robredo during the 2010 campaign, especially when it came to scheduling.

Despite the personal setbacks, Robredo remained steadfast in his vision for the DILG and the country.

“Pinapangako ko po na marami pa tayong pakikinabangan sa mga repormang pinalakas natin sa DILG. Paiigtingin pa natin ang pagbabago sa lokal na pamahalaan at sa Interior sector upang suportahan ang ginagawa nyo sa national,” reads his prepared statement for his scheduled Commission on Appointments hearing.

In college, Robredo wanted to be an engineer, excelling in science and math. Though he was accepted at the University of the Philippines in Los Banos, he chose De La Salle University, which enjoyed a good reputation for engineering courses.

“It was the intellectual challenge Robredo liked most about De La Salle. He also found time for sports and played basketball with the engineering school's intramural team. But he shunned parties and nights out with his peers, although he allowed himself an occasional movie. He preferred to stay home to study or to watch television,” according to the RM bio.

Robredo earned two bachelor of science degrees at DLSU in six years, for mechanical engineering and industrial management engineering.

He quickly got a job at San Miguel Corp. and eventually followed his boss who was transferred to Magnolia, the ice cream division, where, at age 26, he met an early challenge at fighting corruption and carrying out reforms.

Amid reports of warehouse pilferage and a questioned promo contest, Robredo cleaned up the plant's warehousing system “by improving the use of resources, cutting down on overtime, and improving productivity.”

But such determination and skill in charting and enforcing reforms would apparently serve merely as a preparation for much bigger challenges in effecting authentic, pro-people change when he later decided to leave private work for public service.

Some of those who followed his career and compared his winning ways to Ramon Magsaysay,  the man honored by the awards bestowed on Robredo 12 years ago, could not help but note the remarkable timing of Robredo's date with destiny in the Masbate Sea last Saturday: August is the RM Awards month, when all laureates from around Asia are introduced and then are honored in gala rites on August 31, coinciding with Magsaysay’s birthday. And, Magsaysay himself died in a spectacular plane crash on Mount Manunggal 55 years ago, stunning a nation that adored him.

Robredo’s own accident evokes memories of that similar national tragedy, a seeming reminder that for those who wish to serve the people, there is no waiting around for opportunities to do so. Every deadline is “yesterday” and every mission urgent.

Benham Rise belongs to the Philippines

The United Nations has approved the Philippines’ territorial claim to Benham Rise, an undersea landmass in the Pacific Ocean potentially rich in mineral and natural gas deposits, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said.

“We own Benham Rise now,” Paje said in a media interview. “This is for future Filipinos,” he added, noting that the 13-million-hectare area off the coast of Aurora province has been shown to have rich mineral deposits.

Paje said the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) sent the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) a letter last week informing the agency that the landmass is part of the country’s continental shelf and territory.

Benham Rise, a seismically active region facing Luzon’s eastern seaboard, is rising slowly to the surface of the Pacific Ocean, Paje said. Perhaps, in a million years—a blink in the planet’s geological time—it will be habitable, he said.

The plateau is a massive formation of basalt, a common volcanic rock, and is within coordinates 119°30’E to 132°00’E and 12°10’N to 20°30’N latitude.

Paje said Benham Rise, named after an American surveyor, is larger in area than Luzon. It has been shown to have natural gas deposits and manganese nodules, vital in the production of steel, he added.

Despite Benham’s proximity to the Philippines and its location within the country’s exclusive economic zone, the government did not claim it until 2008. Then, the next year, the government submitted a formal claim to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. The Philippine submission noted that the country reserves the right to submit further claims in the area.

The Philippines is the sole claimant of Benham Rise. The country is currently embroiled in territorial disputes over several islands in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

China and the Philippines are feuding over Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, 220 kilometers (124 nautical miles) west of Zambales province.

The Philippines and some of its Southeast Asian neighbors are also disputing with China and Taiwan ownership of parts of Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea.

The Spratlys are believed to be sitting on vast deposits of minerals and natural gas, in an area spanned by sea lanes vital to global trade.

BENHAM RISE is a 13-million-hectare undersea region that lies east of Luzon and off the provinces of Isabela and Aurora.

Also known as Benham Plateau, it is a massive formation of basalt, a common volcanic rock, and is described in a study as a thickened portion of the Philippine sea plate’s oceanic crust.

The formation lies within the continental shelf of the Philippines as defined by the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos), under which a coastal state’s exclusive economic zone extends 370 kilometers (200 nautical miles) from its continental shelf, while its extended continental shelf extends for another 278 km (150 nautical miles).

Benham Rise is not subject to any maritime boundary disputes and claims.

Studies conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) have indicated large deposits of methane in solid form in the area.

In August last year, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje announced that the Philippines will gain additional territory should the United Nations approve the country’s claim to Benham, which the country submitted to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf in New York on April 8, 2009.

According to Paje, an American geologist, Andrew Benham, discovered the area, which was between 40 meters and 2,000 meters below the waterline, in 1933. Paje said gas deposits in the area would enable the country to achieve energy sufficiency.