Tuesday, June 16, 2009
JPE warns of chaos in 2010
Next president to find govt coffers empty
By Rhaydz B. Barcia, Correspondent
LEGAZPI CITY, Albay: Failure of the computerized elections in 2010 would cause “chaos” but, if the polls succeeded, the winner would find the government coffers “empty,” Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said over the weekend.
“I would like to urge the people through the [people of Legazpi City] to be very, very careful in this coming election of the leaders who will handle the Philippines in 2010 and beyond,” he said.
“I would like to tell you that we’re facing a critical period in our history. The elections in 2010 are very critical because, for the first time in our political history, we are going to change the manner of [conducting the] elections,” Enrile added, referring to the fully automated polls next year. He spoke during a program here marking the 50th anniversary of the city.
Enrile expressed fears that the electronic voting could go haywire.
“We’re going to use machines to record and count the votes, [when in the past] we were using human beings or teachers,” he said. “What will happen if the machines break down? What do you think will happen to our country? This country will be in a total chaos, there will be no government or leaders, no soldiers, no policemen, no Supreme Court. What will happen to our country? It will be the rule of the strongest among us. I hope that will not happen.”
Empty coffers
Enrile added that the successor of President Gloria Arroyo would discover that the government was broke.
“If President Arroyo, an economist, a very intelligent woman and a very determined person [has been able to] run the government despite the opposition and the obstacles that have been placed before her [but still] could not manage the nation as we want it to be, how much more the next President [who] will be confronted with so many problems and [who will be expected to] unify a fragmented force? How could he or she do it when the country’s coffers are empty?” he said.
“So, if we want clean governance, it should begin at the kitchen of Malacañang because one of the [problems] in the country is corruption and if you clean up your backyard, the rest [stamping out of the other problems] will follow,” Enrile added.
Lessons from China
He said that the Philippines could draw inspiration from the China experience.
According to him, China used to be the doormat of the world but later became an emerging superpower through the will of the government and the people.
Enrile said that the Chinese had told him that their determination and that of their leaders brought about a modern China free from domination of other countries. The same resolve, he added, could see China outshining the United States.
“I will tell you, in this decade [China] will overtake America. China will become the superpower of the world, because [it has] prepared [itself for that role],” Enrile said.
He allowed, though, that China’s ascendancy entailed economic and political costs. Still, Enrile said, the price the Chinese people paid went to “freedom.”
“True enough, [the Chinese] government is a little bit rigid compared to our government, and I’m not trying to say [that we] adapt the [Chinese] system but, nonetheless, we must work together as a people in order to bring progress and to make our country really free,” he added.
Enrile’s visit to Legazpi City coincided with celebrations there commemorating the 111th anniversary of the proclamation of independence.
He said that his wish for the occasion was to see the country attain economic freedom and freedom from poverty.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
More than 2,000 judges needed, says Chief Justice
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
More than 2,000 judges needed, says Chief Justice
By Rhaydz B. Barcia, Correspondent
LEGAZPI CITY: While the Supreme Court has brought “Justice on Wheels” right at the doorstep of the poor people, there are 2,000 salas throughout the country lacking judges, which has resulted to a backlog of cases in local courts nationwide, observed Chief Justice Reynato Puno,
“This is true in regions or areas with peace in order problems, where they have to deal with insurgency or the MILF. There are precently 19 percent backlog cases all over the country. The backlog is more serious in the trial courts than the appellate courts,” Puno said.
“One of the primary reasons why our Judges are afraid to apply to fill in the vacant salas is due to fear for their lives. Several of our Judges have been killed. If media is the number one victim of killings in the country, second to media killings are the members of the Judiciary, particularly the Judges,” The Chief Justice continued.
Besides fear for their safety, there are no takers for the position considering the low compensation package, specially in conflicted areas.
Puno admitted that the biggest problem of the judiciary department concerns its budget as provided by government. He said the judiciary has been allotted less than one percent of the total budget of government for over a hundred years.
“There are towns and cities across the country without a Hall of Justice like in the city of Manila. If we have at least two-percent of the total budget of the government, at least we could satisfy the needs of the judiciary. We can build more Halls of Justices in the country,” Puno lamented.
Chief Justice Puno, accompanied by Justice Consuelo Ynares-Santiago, the Justice in Wheels committee chairperson, led court officials on Saturday in bringing the mobile court project to the grassroots areas in Bicol.
Puno launched the mobile court program inside the provincial jail compound where Regional and Municipal Trial Court Judges held hearings inside the two salas on the Justice on Wheels bus..
The Justice on Wheels according to Puno is roaming around the country from Friday to Sunday specifically in areas with issues related to insurgency and the MILF. The program is intended to assist the marginalized sector as complimentary effort of the regular court. “I hope this will be pursued by my successor,” Puno stressed.
Puno said that since the introduction of JOW program last year, at least 1,450 overdue cases have been resolved specifically the juvenile and violation against women cases while 4,614 served with mediation, 8,100 free legal lectures particularly to the members of indigenous people, 781 free legal advice and 6,135 free medical services among the poor stricken communities.
Chief Justice Puno also met the village officials of the 70 barangays including the members of Lupon ng Tagapamayapa.
Speaking before the local officials here, Puno urged the strengthening of the Barangay justice system. He stressed that it was the most effective justice system and our Filipino ancestors even before the Spanish colonization introduced it.
“Barangay officials have executive, legislative and judicial powers in other words there’s a lot of trust and confidence in you that’s why your ability to strengthen democratic process is highly recognized. You’re in the forefront of the justice system throughout the country,” he said.
The Chief justice also met with court officials and IBP members held at the People’s Hall of the Albay Capitol. He also inspected the Hall of Justice in Legazpi that was ruined in 2006 when super typhoon Reming battered the Bicol region.
The construction or rebuilding of the Hall of Justice in this city might take several more years due to lack of budget in the judiciary department. Puno also led the inauguration of the newly constructed Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Albay chapter building headed by its new president lawyer Maryilou Duka-Castillo.
More than 2,000 judges needed, says Chief Justice
By Rhaydz B. Barcia, Correspondent
LEGAZPI CITY: While the Supreme Court has brought “Justice on Wheels” right at the doorstep of the poor people, there are 2,000 salas throughout the country lacking judges, which has resulted to a backlog of cases in local courts nationwide, observed Chief Justice Reynato Puno,
“This is true in regions or areas with peace in order problems, where they have to deal with insurgency or the MILF. There are precently 19 percent backlog cases all over the country. The backlog is more serious in the trial courts than the appellate courts,” Puno said.
“One of the primary reasons why our Judges are afraid to apply to fill in the vacant salas is due to fear for their lives. Several of our Judges have been killed. If media is the number one victim of killings in the country, second to media killings are the members of the Judiciary, particularly the Judges,” The Chief Justice continued.
Besides fear for their safety, there are no takers for the position considering the low compensation package, specially in conflicted areas.
Puno admitted that the biggest problem of the judiciary department concerns its budget as provided by government. He said the judiciary has been allotted less than one percent of the total budget of government for over a hundred years.
“There are towns and cities across the country without a Hall of Justice like in the city of Manila. If we have at least two-percent of the total budget of the government, at least we could satisfy the needs of the judiciary. We can build more Halls of Justices in the country,” Puno lamented.
Chief Justice Puno, accompanied by Justice Consuelo Ynares-Santiago, the Justice in Wheels committee chairperson, led court officials on Saturday in bringing the mobile court project to the grassroots areas in Bicol.
Puno launched the mobile court program inside the provincial jail compound where Regional and Municipal Trial Court Judges held hearings inside the two salas on the Justice on Wheels bus..
The Justice on Wheels according to Puno is roaming around the country from Friday to Sunday specifically in areas with issues related to insurgency and the MILF. The program is intended to assist the marginalized sector as complimentary effort of the regular court. “I hope this will be pursued by my successor,” Puno stressed.
Puno said that since the introduction of JOW program last year, at least 1,450 overdue cases have been resolved specifically the juvenile and violation against women cases while 4,614 served with mediation, 8,100 free legal lectures particularly to the members of indigenous people, 781 free legal advice and 6,135 free medical services among the poor stricken communities.
Chief Justice Puno also met the village officials of the 70 barangays including the members of Lupon ng Tagapamayapa.
Speaking before the local officials here, Puno urged the strengthening of the Barangay justice system. He stressed that it was the most effective justice system and our Filipino ancestors even before the Spanish colonization introduced it.
“Barangay officials have executive, legislative and judicial powers in other words there’s a lot of trust and confidence in you that’s why your ability to strengthen democratic process is highly recognized. You’re in the forefront of the justice system throughout the country,” he said.
The Chief justice also met with court officials and IBP members held at the People’s Hall of the Albay Capitol. He also inspected the Hall of Justice in Legazpi that was ruined in 2006 when super typhoon Reming battered the Bicol region.
The construction or rebuilding of the Hall of Justice in this city might take several more years due to lack of budget in the judiciary department. Puno also led the inauguration of the newly constructed Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Albay chapter building headed by its new president lawyer Maryilou Duka-Castillo.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Global warming more urgent issue than financial crisis-EU
Top Stories
Global warming more urgent issue than financial crisis–EU
By : By Rhaydz B. Barcia Manila Times 30 November 2008 12:10 AM
The world is headed to irreversible and catastrophic changes if global warming results in an average rise in temperatures of more than 2 degrees Celsius, Europe’s top envoy warned yesterday.
“The Philippines given its geography is one of the countries particularly at risk from climate change, whether in terms of extreme weather like super typhoons, sea level changes or simply from the effects of a less certain climate on agriculture,” said Ambassador Alistair MacDonald, head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to the Philippines.
More than the global financial meltdown, the threat of a global meltdown because of climate change is “the most pressing issue” today, he said.
“The global challenge of climate change [is a] more urgent matter than any other global meltdown,” MacDonald said during the awarding ceremonies of 2008 Climate Change Photo Contest sponsored by the EU.
“All of these issues are particularly in the spotlight at the moment but global warming is already causing changes in the world’s climate and these changes will become increasingly severe unless urgent action is taken to reduce carbon emissions,” he said at Ateneo De Manila University.
“The Philippines has a tremendous renewable-energy potential like vast untapped biomass such as bagasse, rice hull and wind energy resources,” MacDonald said.
“There is much that can be done in terms of energy efficiency and the European Union has been happy to work with the Philippines in supporting a number of initiatives in relation to renewable energy and efficient energy,” he said.
He said he has urged local environment and other officials who will attend an international conference on climate change in Poznan, Poland, this week to strengthen global efforts against global warming.
“If we are to stand a chance of keeping the temperature increase below the 2 degrees Celsius target, [greenhouse gasses] emissions from industrialized countries should be cut by 60 [percent] to 80 percent by 2050 as part of a multilateral agreement,” the envoy said.
The EU is already committed to reduce its overall emissions to at least 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, he said, adding it is ready to scale up this reduction to as much as 30 percent.
There were more than 100 entries in the 2008 Climate Change Photo Contest. Linus Escador of the Manila Bulletin bagged the top prize on the single image category with his piece “Baceso Tornado Aftermath.”
Other winners were Charlie Saceda, second prize, of the Philippine Star with his piece “Rescue;” Randall Cipriano, 3rd prize, with his entry “Wane;” and Pepito Frias, 4th prize, with his entry “Rising sea water.”
Honorable mention awards in the single photo category went to Linus Escandor with his entries “When the wind blows” and “Irosin Residents Agree to Leave Homes;” and Ramon Castillo’s “Frogs as indicator of environment health.”
Awards of excellence were given to Rhaydz Barcia of The Manila Times for “Aerial photo of denuded mountain somewhere in Camarines Sur;” Pacifico Jose Jr. for “Floating;” Bobby Timonera for “Medel’s cross;” Fernando Zapata for his “Frosted Salad;” Gregorio “Jhun” Dantes Jr., for “Water world;” Keith Kristoffer Bacongco for “Sea of Empty Waves;” and Vicente Jaime “VJ” Villafranca for “Monsoon Nights.”
For “Photo Story” category the top prize went to Gregorio “Jhun” Dantes Jr. for “Water world” and Maria Virginia Cruz for “Burning Planet.”
Honorable mention awards for photo story category went to Bill Willard Gange for “Typhoon Frank Flash Flood;” Maria Virginia Cruz for “Poisoned Solution;” and Vicente Jaime Villafranca for “Monsoon Nights.”
Global warming more urgent issue than financial crisis–EU
By : By Rhaydz B. Barcia Manila Times 30 November 2008 12:10 AM
The world is headed to irreversible and catastrophic changes if global warming results in an average rise in temperatures of more than 2 degrees Celsius, Europe’s top envoy warned yesterday.
“The Philippines given its geography is one of the countries particularly at risk from climate change, whether in terms of extreme weather like super typhoons, sea level changes or simply from the effects of a less certain climate on agriculture,” said Ambassador Alistair MacDonald, head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to the Philippines.
More than the global financial meltdown, the threat of a global meltdown because of climate change is “the most pressing issue” today, he said.
“The global challenge of climate change [is a] more urgent matter than any other global meltdown,” MacDonald said during the awarding ceremonies of 2008 Climate Change Photo Contest sponsored by the EU.
“All of these issues are particularly in the spotlight at the moment but global warming is already causing changes in the world’s climate and these changes will become increasingly severe unless urgent action is taken to reduce carbon emissions,” he said at Ateneo De Manila University.
“The Philippines has a tremendous renewable-energy potential like vast untapped biomass such as bagasse, rice hull and wind energy resources,” MacDonald said.
“There is much that can be done in terms of energy efficiency and the European Union has been happy to work with the Philippines in supporting a number of initiatives in relation to renewable energy and efficient energy,” he said.
He said he has urged local environment and other officials who will attend an international conference on climate change in Poznan, Poland, this week to strengthen global efforts against global warming.
“If we are to stand a chance of keeping the temperature increase below the 2 degrees Celsius target, [greenhouse gasses] emissions from industrialized countries should be cut by 60 [percent] to 80 percent by 2050 as part of a multilateral agreement,” the envoy said.
The EU is already committed to reduce its overall emissions to at least 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, he said, adding it is ready to scale up this reduction to as much as 30 percent.
There were more than 100 entries in the 2008 Climate Change Photo Contest. Linus Escador of the Manila Bulletin bagged the top prize on the single image category with his piece “Baceso Tornado Aftermath.”
Other winners were Charlie Saceda, second prize, of the Philippine Star with his piece “Rescue;” Randall Cipriano, 3rd prize, with his entry “Wane;” and Pepito Frias, 4th prize, with his entry “Rising sea water.”
Honorable mention awards in the single photo category went to Linus Escandor with his entries “When the wind blows” and “Irosin Residents Agree to Leave Homes;” and Ramon Castillo’s “Frogs as indicator of environment health.”
Awards of excellence were given to Rhaydz Barcia of The Manila Times for “Aerial photo of denuded mountain somewhere in Camarines Sur;” Pacifico Jose Jr. for “Floating;” Bobby Timonera for “Medel’s cross;” Fernando Zapata for his “Frosted Salad;” Gregorio “Jhun” Dantes Jr., for “Water world;” Keith Kristoffer Bacongco for “Sea of Empty Waves;” and Vicente Jaime “VJ” Villafranca for “Monsoon Nights.”
For “Photo Story” category the top prize went to Gregorio “Jhun” Dantes Jr. for “Water world” and Maria Virginia Cruz for “Burning Planet.”
Honorable mention awards for photo story category went to Bill Willard Gange for “Typhoon Frank Flash Flood;” Maria Virginia Cruz for “Poisoned Solution;” and Vicente Jaime Villafranca for “Monsoon Nights.”
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