The Legislative Branch of Government

[Nabartek]

Originally Posted by tyronne

Parang hindi naman ata. Sa products siguro nila, oo, pero labor as export? I don't think so.

That's what I know too. Korea was export-oriented but on PRODUCTS. While we are export-oriented in Labor.

[Poly Arm]

Natatandaan ko pa minsan nabanggit ng instructor namin kung pano nakatulong sa mga Koreano ang pagpapadala ng mga workers nila sa Middle East. Mga around 1970's to 80's yon. Pero di kasing laki ng numbers ng mga pilipino, umabot din sila ng milyong migrant workers noon sa Mid East. Pero mostly sa mga Korean company sila nagtrabaho.

[bartstrife99]

Originally Posted by Nabartek

Did Korea really start it that way? If so, why is it that there aren't many "overseas Koreans" as many overseas Filipinos?

One has to bear in mind that the Korean economy accelerated after the Olympics in 1988....

yup it's true, park.hee used the remittances to built. theirs manufacturing plant which is vital to economic success. a miracle of the han river. many economists call it.

[3cr]

Who’s afraid of Kazuo Okada?
Manila Standard
http://manilastandardtoday.com/2012/...f-kazuo-okada/

Perhaps “afraid” is not the best adjective to describe the people and groups behind what appears to be an orchestrated and well-funded attack against billionaire Japanese casino magnate Kazuo Okada, chairman of Universal Entertainment Corp.

It would seem that the all-out demolition campaign against Okada is being made not so much because the people behind are afraid of Okada but because they want to destroy his credibility in order to derail his $2.5-billion casino and entertainment center project in the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) Entertainment City.

Okada’s Tiger Resort Leisure and Entertainment Inc. is one of the four groups that obtained a license to operate a casino in Pagcor’s Entertainment City.

Underscoring the intensity of the anti-Okada campaign is the fact that two simultaneous investigations are being conducted at the House of Representatives on allegations of bribery of millions of dollars by Okada to former Pagcor consultant Rodolfo Soriano, who is identified with ex-Pagcor chairman Efraim Genuino.

Two simultaneous probes at the House of Representatives for the same issue is rare if not unprecedented but what is even more bewildering is that the Senate, at the initiative of Sen. Koko Pimentel, is also making a separate investigation of the same alleged Okada bribery issue.

A parallel probe had to be conducted because Okada bashers were unhappy with the initial results of the investigation conducted by the House Committee on Games and Amusement chaired by Rep. Amado Bagatsing.

During the hearing, Masahiro Terada, general manager of Okada’s Tiger Resort Leisure and Entertainment, testified that the $5-million payment to Soriano was unauthorized. It was payment for a project of the Okada group in the Subic Freeport and not in Pagcor’s Entertainment City.

Terada disclosed that Okada had filed charges against three of his employees before a Tokyo court because of this. On the reported additional $10 million to Soriano, Terada said this payment also unauthorized and was stopped. The check intended for Soriano was cancelled.

Bagatsing noted that it would appear that the $5 million alleged bribery issue is nothing but a hatchet job against Okada being orchestrated by Okada’s former partner and now bitter enemy Steve Wynn of Wynn Resorts.

Okada used to be largest shareholder in Wynn Resorts until the forced redemption of the Japanese billionaire’s $2.7 billion stake in the company.

Pagcor’s Entertainment City poses a threat to Wynn which operates one of the biggest casinos in Macau.

Bagatsing said that it was highly unlikely that the $5 million alleged payment to Soriano has anything to do with the Okada project in Pagcor’s Entertainment City since Okada obtained his license to operate the casino in Entertainment City in August, 2008 while the alleged bribery happened in 2010 or two years after.

Unhappy with how the Bagatsing committee’s investigation is turning out, Okada bashers have apparently convinced the Committee on Good Government chaired by Rep. Jerry Treñas to conduct a parallel probe on the alleged Soriano bribery issue with the alleged amount now going up to $30 million.

The Committee on Good Government is actually acting on a two-year-old resolution filed by Representatives Teddy Casiño and Neri Colmenares for a probe of “various multi-million anomalies” during the Arroyo Administration.

For reasons we can only speculate on, re-electionist Sen. Koko Pimentel announced that the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement which he chairs would also conduct an investigation into the alleged Soriano bribery.

He did not explain why he has decided to conduct his own investigation when the matter is already being probed not by one but by two committees in the House of Representatives.

Steve Wynn of course is the most likely suspect as the one behind the Okada demolition. But we would not be surprised if incumbent Pagcor chairman and CEO Cristino Naguiat is supporting the Okada bashing effort surreptitiously.

We have already seen that strong commitment to ethical business behavior is not a strong suit of Naguiat who had allowed his family to use Pagcor-owned vehicles, driven by Pagcor-salaried employees and using Pagcor-paid gasoline for personal use.

Naguiat had also been exposed as the beneficiary of lavish entertainment by Okada when he and his wife and other officials had meetings with Okada and his people in Macau. The $110,000 entertainment expense by Okada for Naguiat and company in fact triggered an investigation which is still ongoing by the Nevada Gaming Commission.

The present Pagcor management, in fact, has already publicly expressed support for the probe of the alleged Soriano bribery and in fact announced that if the allegations of bribery are proven, then Okada’s casino license in Pagcor’s Entertainment City might be cancelled.

There was also news that at least four groups are interested in taking over the Okada license. This means there would be new rounds of negotiations with Naguiat and incumbent Pagcor officials. Such a prospect would make Naguiat happy.

[oanari]

Originally Posted by Nabartek

Did Korea really start it that way? If so, why is it that there aren't many "overseas Koreans" as many overseas Filipinos?

One has to bear in mind that the Korean economy accelerated after the Olympics in 1988....

yes they did, after the Korean War, many South Koreans went to work overseas, pinapadala nila yung mga kinikita nila back to their country sa ganun makatulong sila sa pagbangon ng kanilang bansa. South Korean government sent students in Europe, USA, and other part of the world (and yes, even in the Philippines), and nung magtapos ang mga to, they went back to South Korea. Yung napag-aralan nila sa ibang bansa, ginamit nila ito to help rebuild their country.

actually it was in the 1960s that South Korean economy accelerated, and during the 70s and 80s, sila ang nangunguna sa paggawa ng mga barko, gaya ng oil-supertanker.

if I am not mistaken, nagpadala din ng mga estudyante sa abroad si Marcos para mag-aral, at pag nakatapos na sila, babalik sila sa Pilipinas para dun gamitin ang kanilang napag-aralan, kaso ang iba hindi na bumalik sa Pilipinas.

[3cr]

Agree ako diyan para dito sa Pinas especially mahilig naman ang CBCP makialam sa mga palakad ng gobyerno!

Originally Posted by Narnian_King

Sana sa Philippines din. After SIN Tax, sana may religion tax for INC, Catholic Church etc.

Catholic church to lose historic property tax exemption in Italy
Published: 13 October, 2012, 11:38
http://rt.com/news/italy-church-tax-exemption-339/

[hakz2007]

[bartstrife99]

the next bp of ph

[3cr]

Voting 10-9, Senate ratifies bicam report on sin taxes
By: Karl John C. Reyes, InterAksyon.com
InterAksyon.com
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/5...t-on-sin-taxes

MANILA, Philippines - The Senate on Tuesday ratified the bicameral conference committee report restructuring excise taxes on alcohol and tobacco products.

“With the vote of 10 in favor, and nine against, the bicameral conference committee report is hereby approved,” Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile said after explaining his vote against the measure, saying it would kill the local industry.

Those who voted in favor of the measure are: senators Edgardo Angara, Franklin Drilon, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Panfilo Lacson, Lito Lapid, Pilar Juliana "Pia" Cayetano, Sergio Osmena III, Francis Pangilinan, Aquilino Pimentel III, and Antonio Trillanes.

Aside from Enrile, those who voted against the bill are senator Jinggoy Estrada, Joker Arroyo, Francis Escudero, Gregorio Honasan, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Ralph Recto, Ramon Revilla Jr., and Vicente Sotto III.

Absent during the voting are senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Teofisto Guingona III, Loren Legarda, and Manuel Villar.

Drilon, acting chairperson of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, lauded the ratification of Senate Bill No. 3299, saying he was expecting that the sin tax reform law would be effective by January 1, 2013.

“This is a very relevant bill that we have passed. We hope to submit this to the President within the week, so that he can sign it into law before Christmas,” Drilon said.

The government is expected to generate P33.96 billion in additional revenues during the first year of the measure's implementation, according to Drilon.

He said that of the amount, P23.4 billion would come from increased taxes on tobacco, while P10.56 billion would be generated from taxes on fermented liquor and distilled spirits depending on its historical burden sharing.

The final burden sharing between tobacco and alcohol products for 2013 will be 69 percent for tobacco and 31 percent for alcohol, according to Drilon.

“It was a give and take situation and we came up with a compromise of approximately of 69-31 percent instead of 60-40 in the Senate and 87-31 on the part of the House,” Drilon said.

The rate of excise taxes that will be collected on a five-year period, starting 2013 and ending in 2017, are as follows:

1. For tobacco, the total increment for 2013 is P23.4 billion; P29.56 billion in 2014, P33.52 billion in 2015, P37.09 billion in 2016, and P40.9 billion in 2017 for a total of P164.47 billion.

2. For fermented liquors or beer, it's P4.5 billion in 2013, P6.99 B in 2014, P9.52 billion in 2015, P12.06 billion in 2016, and P15.646 billion in 2017, or a total of P48.53 billion incremental tax in the period of five years.

3. For distilled spirits, it is P6.06 billion in 2013, P6.31 billion in 2014, P7.59 billion in 2015, P7.71 billion in 2016, and P7.82 billion in 2017, with a total excise tax of P35.34 billion.

On a yearly basis, for the three products, the total excise tax collection for 2013 will be P33.96 billion; P42.82 billion in 2014; P50.63 billion in 2015; P56.86 billion in 2016; and P64.18 billion in 2017; or P248.49 billion for five years.

“Let me emphasize that insofar as the financial burden on the cigarette is concerned, we were able to achieve the Senate version. The Senate version imposed P23.55 billion for cigarettes on year one...” said Drilon. "What we came out with is P23.4 billion, so that the financial burden in cigarettes is lower than the financial burden that we approved of in bicam.”

According to Drilon, after deducting the allocations under Republic Acts 7171 and 8240, 80 percent of the remaining balance of the incremental revenue will be allocated for universal health care under the National Health Insurance Program, the attainment of the Millennium Development goals, and health awareness campaigns.

R.A. 7171 is the act promoting the development of farmers in the Virginia tobacco producing provinces, while R.A. 8240 amends certain sections of the National Internal Revenue Code.

"The taxes that will be collected for next year will cover another 5.2 million Filipino families, the second tier of the poorest sector of society," said Drilon.

By 2014, the entire budget of about P25 billion for Philhealth premiums to cover 10.4 million families will come from sin tax," according to the senator.

“The remaining twenty percent will be allocated nationwide based on political and district subdivision for medical assistance and health enhancement facility programs, the annual requirement of which will be determined by the Department of Health,” Drilon said.

Meanwhile, an amendment introduced by Enrile, which calls for the strengthening of the measure’s anti-smuggling provisions, was modified to apply only to cigarettes and distilled spirits.

From Enrile’s original amendment of 20 percent, Section 8 now reads that any manufacturer of tobacco products must source at least 15 percent of its tobacco leaf raw material supply locally, subject to adjustments based on international treaty commitments.

[3cr]

With sin tax approved, BIR 2013 collection target hiked to P1.272-T
Rappler.com
http://www.rappler.com/business/1779...ed-to-p1-272-t

MANILA, Philippines - The 2013 collection target of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), which collects about 3/4 of the country's revenues, has been increased to P1.272 trillion following the landmark approval by lawmakers of the sin tax measure.

The sin tax bill, which increases the excise tax imposed on tobacco and alcohol products, would translate to P33.96 billion in additional revenues for 2013, which would effectively raise the BIR’s 2013 target from the original goal of P1.238 trillion.

This 2012, the BIR is tasked to collect P1.066 trillion.

The Senate and the House of Representatives approved the sin tax measure on Tuesday, December 11, and is expected to be signed into law by President Benigno Aquino III before end-2012.

"This version will allow a collection of P33.96 billion in incremental revenues from tobacco and alcohol for the next year and P184.31 billion over the next four years, adequately covering the financing requirements outlined by the Department of Health for the Aquino administration’s Universal Health Care program,” Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said.

Purisima has been a staunch supporter of the sin tax measure and has spearheaded efforts for a bill that originally sought a P60 billion additional revenues.

Nonetheless, he also thanked the lawmakers for the passing a measure that would finally reform the 15-year-old sin tax regime in the country

“The passage of the excise tax reform on tobacco and alcohol marks a historic victory for health and revenue reform in the Philippines,” he said.

The approved measure also removes the price classification freeze that has pegged tobacco products to 1996 prices as the basis for their tax classification.

“This version provides for a unitary tax regime by 2017 for tobacco and fermented liquor, a shift from the current multi-tiered system that has allowed smokers to downshift to lower-priced products,” he said.

As a health measure, the approved sin tax bill also indexes the tax rates of tobacco and alcohol by 4% every year so that these products do not become more affordable over time.

More importantly, Purisima said the measure reflects the Aquino administration’s good governance agenda by pushing to reform the 16-year old sin tax regime existing in the country.

"President Aquino's agenda for good governance has succeeded in working with industry vested interests for the benefit of the country," Purisima said.

[3cr]

LP, NPC leadership: 'Pass RH bill'
Rappler.com
http://www.rappler.com/nation/17760-...p-pass-rh-bill

(UPDATE) MANILA, Philippines - At the eleventh hour, the leadership of both the ruling Liberal Party (LP) and key ally Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) have taken a stand to support the passage of the Reproductive Health bill (RH bill).

LP president Manuel Roxas II called LP members in the House of Representatives to a lunch meeting in the LP headquarters on Tuesday, December 11, to announce the party leadership's support for the controversial Reproductive Health bill (RH bill). Budget secretary Butch Abad was also present.

The House is scheduled to put the bill to a vote on Wednesday, December 12.

"Hinikayat ng liderato ng Partido Liberal, kabilang na sina House Speaker Sonny Belmonte at Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales, na bumoto at suportahan ng mga kongresista ang panukalang batas na ito (The leadership - among them Speaker Sonny Belmonte and Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales, urged party members to vote in favor of the RH bill), reads an LP statement issued after the meeting.

"Nanindigan ang Liderato ng LP, na huwag talikuran ang Pangulo sa isyu ng RH Bill, at bumoto para maipasa na ito sa mababang kapulungan. (The leadership of the LP stand firm - not to abandon the President on the issue of the RH - and vote to pass the measure in the House of Representatives), the statement further reads.

This is a departure from the ruling party's previous position that relied on each member's conscience vote as far as the measure was concerned. Staunch critics of the bill were not present. It is the "sway-able" LP who were present, said an LP solon who attended the meeting.

LP has a total of 92 members in the House.

NPC, too

The NPC leadership made the same position to support the RH bill.

Pangasinan Rep Kimi Cojuangco told reporters about 50 party members also held a meeting in the House of Representatives before the session on Tuesday.

"We feel na kawawa naman si President. Hindi siya nag-iisa. Nandito kami para sa kanya," said Cojuangco

"It's not a party stand. We had a nice friendly discussion. But we told them a vote of yes is a vote for the President," Cojuangco added.

NPC has over 50 members in the House.

Bishops to watch voting

Catholic bishops said they will be present in Wednesday's voting, in an apparent show of force by the sectors opposed to the bill.

The ruling party has been divided on the measure that seeks to provide reproductive health services - including free contraceptives - to the poor who cannot afford them.

Despite an earlier call by President Benigno Aquino III to put the bill to a vote, some LP members in the House still voted in favor of motions that were meant to further delay the process. This led advocates of the RH bill to call on the President to crack the whip.

[3cr]

Senate probes rice smuggling
Journal Online
http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/...rice-smuggling

THE Senate panel investigating rice smuggling wants former National Food Authority (NFA) administrator Angelito Banayo to answer allegations by a rice trader that he “favored” some rice importers over domestic farmers in the allocation of rice importation.

Simeon Sioson of the 4SM Agri Venture Mutli-Purpose Cooperative said he was ready to divulge more details concerning Banayo’s alleged bias toward rice importers in an executive session.

The Senate leadership has granted Sioson 24-hour security after he revealed that he had been receiving death threats and is under surveillance by parties displeased by the ongoing probe of the chamber’s agriculture committee.

Banayo had attended previous Senate hearings as NFA head but he had already resigned from his post to run for Congress. Sioson also linked Banayo’s associate, the late Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) chairman Nixon Kua in the controversy. Kua was gunned down last July outside the residence of his brother in Laguna.

“Ang pinapaboran ni Mr. Banayo ‘yung grupo ni Miss Elizabeth Faustino (of Biklat Cooperative. Marami pong instances na may allocation ang federation namin pero tinwist po nila (ang resulta). Dummy lang kami at ‘yung sinasabi nila (cooperatives) na tumatanggap sila ng Php5 (per rice bag) hindi po totoo ‘yun,” Sioson said.

Faustino, treasurer of the Federation of Cooperatives, has testified that she helped finance the bid of “winning cooperatives” because they cannot raise the needed “service fees” amounting to at least Php60 million.

She claimed that it was Kua who provided her the money. Kua, in turn promised to give her 30 percent commission and Php5 commission per sack of rice. “Meron pong tumulong sa amin, si Mister Nixon Kua. Sabi po niya sa ‘kin sa kanya ako humingi ng pang-bid,” Faustino said.

Meanwhile, the Senate has released rice trader Magdangal Diego Maralit Bayani III after detaining him for 45 days for his refusal to reveal his financier. Bayani of St. Andrews Field Grains and Cereal Trading finally revealed that it was a certain Danilo Garcia who financed his venture.

Bayani said that it was Kua who had told him about the rice shipment in Subic. “Sabi niya (Kua) sa akin po na meron nga pong bigas na nasa Subic kung interested ako na bilhin ‘yun. Lumalabas na agent siya na nagbebenta,” Bayani said.

[3cr]

Yes it's about time!

House approves RH bill, nominal voting to confirm voice vote
By Christian V. Esguerra, Leila Salaverria
Philippine Daily Inquirer
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/323173/...proves-rh-bill

“Obviously, the ‘ayes’ have it.”

With this declaration by Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada III, the House of Representatives approved by voice vote on second reading Wednesday night the controversial reproductive health measure, or House Bill No. 4244.

But Navotas Rep. Tobias Tiangco made a motion for nominal voting to confirm the results of the voice vote. Tiangco was supported by one-fifth of the House or 45 members, the required number for nominal voting. As of 11:30 p.m., the nominal voting was still going on. Of those who had already explained their votes, 70 voted yes and 49 no to the RH bill.

HB 4244 now moves to the third and final reading, a significant step for a measure that had not come this far for the past 13 years in Congress.

The focus now shifts to the Senate where a version of the RH bill is still in the period of individual amendments.

HB 4244 was approved on second reading despite serious concerns raised by the Catholic Church, including several lawmakers, on how it would affect the mentality and sexual habits of the youth, and the economy in the future.

The “nays” were as loud as the “ayes” in the voice voting, but Tañada said the “ayes” had it. He said the crowd in the south wing of the gallery, apparently referring to anti-RH bill advocates, had joined the lawmakers who said “nay.”

Some members of the crowd doubted Tañada’s call, saying the “nays” seemed to have the louder voices. A nominal vote will confirm if Tañada’s call was correct.

Deputy Speaker Pablo Garcia earlier moved to proceed directly to nominal voting. But he was overruled by Tañada, who said nominal voting could come after the voice vote.

Garcia and other anti-RH lawmakers got their wish after one fifth of House members agreed to put the matter to nominal voting wherein each lawmaker would explain his or her vote.

Batangas Rep. Tomas Apacible, a member of President Aquino’s Liberal Party, voted against the RH bill.

“The President says this is a conscience vote and I believe it and I support him in that stand. But I am also a father more than a legislator,” he said in explaining his vote.

Outgoing Palawan Rep. Antonio Alvarez, rejected HB 4244, saying, “what is good in Batasan is not always good for the barrios.”

“All the purported things that this bill would do are already covered by a multitude of laws. So it’s a matter of implementation,” he said.

Rep. Emmeline Aglipay threw her support behind the measure, saying: “I am not against life. I am against ignorance.”

Akbayan Rep. Arlene Bag-ao, a coauthor of the bill, said: “I vote yes for this bill because it affirms life, it upholds choice, and it underscores responsibility.”

Nominal voting began at exactly 8:15 p.m., three hours after the chamber resumed the period of amendments.

Earlier, with supporters and opponents closely watching deliberations from the gallery, lawmakers wrestled with controversial provisions of HB 4244 particularly the one mandating sex education for pupils.

Clad in bright red, a symbol of sacrifice and fidelity in the Church, prolife groups filled up the south wing of the plenary gallery, awaiting the outcome of the scheduled voting on the floor. At least seven Catholic bishops also stayed on to closely monitor the proceedings.

RH supporters were just as passionate, but were slightly outnumbered as they occupied the opposite gallery.

Lawmakers against the bill won some points, but lost many as Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, principal author and sponsor of the bill, rejected one key amendment after another during marathon deliberations that officially began at 5:17 p.m.

A major point of contention was the provision requiring “mandatory age-appropriate reproductive health and sexuality education.”

Lagman rejected a proposal to start teaching such lessons to “senior high school” students, not to Grade 6 pupils as contained in the substitute bill.

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez expressed fear that the current age bracket might lead to “misunderstanding” among Grade 6 pupils who would be exposed to lessons on “sex, sexuality and reproductive health.”

“It’s irreparable if these children will misapprehend (the lessons),” he said on the floor.

But Lagman insisted that starting at senior high school—or at age 16 or 17—would be “too late.” He assured Rodriguez that the provision would not “make teen sex maniacs.”

Lagman later accepted a proposal to amend the provision, which now states: “Age-appropriate reproductive health and sexuality education shall be taught by adequately trained AND QUALIFIED teachers…”

He also agreed to a proposal by Rodriguez to include the sentence: “Upon due notification by the Department of Education and private educational institutions through the principals in writing two weeks before classes start, parents shall be informed of the option of not allowing their minor children to attend classes pertaining to reproductive health.”

RH opponents also suffered significant losses during the period of amendments on Tuesday night.

Rodriguez said the rejection only unmasked HB 4244 as a “birth control bill.” Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez sought to delete the provision on “population and development,” saying it was a “buzz word for population control.”

Lagman slammed the door on efforts to include definitions of “birth control,” “contraception” and “responsible parenthood.” But accepted those on “natural family planning” and “contraceptive devices” (as stated in an existing law).

A major battleground was Paragraph I of the guiding principles, which stated: “While this act recognizes that abortion is illegal and punishable by law, the government shall ensure that all women needing care for post-abortion complications shall be treated and counselled in a humane, non-judgmental and compassionate manner.”

While there was no quarrel over the opening clause, Rodriguez said the succeeding portion would “really encourage abortion.”

“It is unnecessary,” he said during the six-hour deliberations that ended at around 10 p.m. “This kind of language will give the impression that precisely that is OK, you have abortion. You will be taken care of (anyway). That has no place in the law.”

A number of bishops, including Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, stayed on to watch the proceedings. Together with prolife supporters clad in red shirts, they filled the south wing of the plenary hall.

Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing agreed with Rodriguez, saying doctors had the duty to “treat all these patients” even if they involved women who had sought abortion.

Lagman replied before rejecting the amendment: “It is just like an encounter between government forces and rebels and a rebel is wounded. It is the obligation of the government to bring the wounded rebel to the nearest medical facility. But it is not condoning rebellion.”

In the end, the provision was amended as: “While this act recognizes that abortion is illegal and punishable by law, the government shall ensure that all women needing care for post-abortion complications AND OTHER COMPLICATIONS DUE TO PREGNANCY, CHILDBIRTH AND RELATED ISSUES shall be treated and counselled in a humane, non-judgmental and compassionate manner WITHOUT CONDONING ABORTION.”

Rodriguez moved to delete another provision stating “that a comprehensive reproductive health program addresses the needs of people throughout their life cycle.”

“This would mean that by buying condoms and contraceptives, it will solve the problems of all the people of this country. That is not so,” he argued, but was rejected by Lagman who said: “What is misleading are the conclusions and statements—I am sorry to say—of the distinguished gentleman.”

Golez did not get to delete the provision on “population and development.” But Lagman acceded to another proposal, which amended part of the provision. The term would now refer “to a program that aims to (1) help couples and parents achieve their desired family size IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR RELIGION.”

Deliberations became occasionally heated, especially after Lagman accepted none of the proposed amendments during long stretches. When he finally agreed to include a definition of “natural family planning,” Rodriguez reminded him that he had rejected “six definitions in a row.”

“No reason to jump like chimpanzees for 1 over 7,” he said.

Golez succeeded in introducing a condition in the definition of “reproductive health and sexuality education.” There is now a portion stating that such lessons would not be “inserted into disciplines like mathematics, literature, history, geography and other subjects that are not directly related to sexual education.”

“If it’s sex education, then let it be sex education and not disguised as some other subjects,” Golez argued.

[3cr]

One more to go! Senators please pass the RH Bill! The country needs it badly!

Historic passing of RH bill on second reading
INQUIRER.net
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/323261/...cond-reading-2

MANILA, Philippines—After fourteen years of being stuck in Congress, legislators finally put to a historic vote and passed the Reproductive Health Bill before dawn Thursday.

Although resounding ayes (yes votes) initially filled the plenary Wednesday evening, struggles by opponents of the bill gave way to nominal voting which lasted until the next morning.

With 113 votes on affirmative, 104 negative and 3 abstention, RH Bill was approved on second reading, the most critical voting period for a legislation. There were 217 solons present and most explained their votes to fellow members of the House.

Unlike his earlier statement that the closing of the amendment period would be initiated by the opposition House majority leader Neptali Gonzales II moved to terminate the period of amendments quarter to 8 p.m. This was after legislators finished discussing amendments to the 27-page bill.

This was despite the overwhelming number of Catholics present during session, led by Archbishop Ramon Agruelles, Bishops Teodoro Bacani Jr., Broderick Pabillo, Jesse Mercado, Honesto Ongtioco, Gabby Reyes and Monsignor Clemente Ignacio.

Even Nueva Ecija Representative Rodolfo Antonino’s attempts to delay the proceedings by proposing amendments which have already been suggested by other legislators and turned down by Lagman in the end proved to be ineffective.

The RH Bill also lost co-authors Deputy Speaker Jesus Crispin Remulla and Iloilo Representative Augusto Boboy Syjuco in the process.

Albay Representative Edcel Lagman, the sponsor of the bill, said that the bill was more about “human rights, maternal and infant health and sustainable development.”

“The choice belongs to couples and women who shall freely and responsibly determine the number of their children” he told fellow lawmakers, maintaining that the bill “addresses the population issue” but was not on “population control.”

“Let us have children by choice, not by chance,” he said.

Gonzales, in explaining his affirmative vote said: “Wala namang mali sa magiging resulta ng pananaw natin dito, magkakaiba lang tayo. Magkakaiba lang ang ating pamamaraan.”

“Nais kong mapaghandaan ng mga tao ang kanilang kinabukasan,” he said.

“(The RH Bill) is not about religion nor population control. This is pure and simple legislation,” said Iloilo Representative Janette Garin, a proponent of the bill. She said that the measure “responds to the call of our people.”

Her sister-in-law, Aambis-OWA Partylist Representative Sharon Garin, said it was wrong to call supporters of the RH Bill immoral. “I do not believe that we will become promiscuous or immoral because of the RH Bill. Every woman needs access to basic health services, information on reproductive health.”

Pangasinan Representative Kimi Cojuangco, who has strongly supported the bill, said that she voted for its passage “for all the women in the Philippines who cannot afford quality health care.”

Even Muslims backed the RH Bill, according to Muntinlupa City Representative Rodolfo Biazon, who said that a fatwa was even issued in support for the measure. He said that many are demanding for the passage of the bill.

Proving this, Sulu Representative Tupay Loong voted for the RH Bill, saying that the population should be at a level that is sustainable by the country.

Akbayan Representative Kaka Bag-ao, another co-author of the bill, explained her yes vote, pointing out how the measure “affirms life, upholds choice.”

“Enactment of this bill will not make anyone less Catholic or religious,” she said.

Gabriela Partylist Representatives Emmi de Jesus and Luz Ilagan voted for the passage of the bill but said that she did so “with reservation.” They are co-authors of the RH Bill but said that they were wary of provisions which they felt promoted population control.

Gonzales said that their staff has been working to prepare the amended version of the bill for easier transmission to their members.

The RH Bill has not been certified as urgent by President Benigno Aquino III and will take three days before it is put to a vote for third and final reading.

The earliest that the measure can be put to vote for third reading is on Monday, said Gonzales.

A version of the bill is also set to be voted on second reading at the Senate.

[bartstrife99]

another important measure must be pass.

[mahadlikha]

beware and be vigilant, the Hepa administration may have some insidious agenda corrupting the RH bill infiltrating it for its selfish interest by bribing legislators with pork barrel that would be detrimental to the welfare of the citizenry just as it did with the cybercrime law.

[nayki]

[Parchie]

Originally Posted by nayki

Wala yan nito:

[expatdingdong]

FOI NAMAN!!!!!


FOI
FOI
FOI
FOI
FOI


TAENA FOI NAMAN!!!!!!

[amigo32]

sa FOI babawasan ng 100M bawat bumoto