Congressional Record
PLENARY PROCEEDINGS OF THE 15th CONGRESS, FIRST REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Vol. 1 Monday, August 9, 2010
CALL TO ORDER
At 4:00 p.m., Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. called the
session to order.
THE SPEAKER. The session is now called to order.
NATIONAL ANTHEM
THE SPEAKER. Everybody will please stand for the
singing of the Philippine National Anthem.
Everybody rose to sing the Philippine National
Anthem.
THE SPEAKER. Please remain standing for the
Invocation to be led by Hon. Emmanuel D. Pacquiao,
Congressman from the Lone District of Sarangani.
Everybody remained standing for the invocation.
INVOCATION
REP. PACQUIAO. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Let us put ourselves in the presence of the
Lord.
Sa ngalan ng Ama, ng Anak at ng Espiritu Santo.
Panginoong Diyos, maraming salamat sa araw na
ito. Kami ay nagagalak at nagbubunyi dahil kami ay
Iyong pinagpala.
Panginoong Diyos, gabayan Mo po kami dahil
kami ay nandito ngayon upang gampanan ang aming
mga tungkulin bilang Mambabatas ng aming mga
bayan.
Bilang mga tao, bawat isa po sa amin ay may
iba’t ibang opinyon at may iba’t ibang pananaw.
Gayon pa man, tulungan Mo po kami na magkaisa
para sa kapakanan ng nakararami. We pray for
wisdom in making decisions. Give us knowledge in
weighing things. Teach us to be humble. Most of
all, teach us to put our trust in You.
Inaalay po namin sa Iyo ang sesyon sa araw na
ito.
Maraming salamat sa tagumpay na Iyong
gagawin sa aming mga buhay. Ito ang aming samo’t
dalangin.
Sa ngalan ng Ama, ng Anak at ng Espiritu
Santo.
Amen.
No. 7
THE SPEAKER. The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. ROMULO. Mr. Speaker, with the permission of
the Members of the House, may we first be allowed to
acknowledge the presence of some guests of the
Members.
THE SPEAKER. Yes, go ahead.
REP. ROMULO. Mr. Speaker, may we acknowledge the
presence of the guests of Hon. Emmanuel D. Pacquiao: World
Champion Gerry Peñalosa, and former PBA player Zaldy
Realubit and family. (Applause)
Mr. Speaker, may we also acknowledge the presence of
the guests of Cong. Raymond Democrito Mendoza of the
TUCP Party-List: workers from PAL, the officers and members
of the Philippine Airlines Employees Association or PALEA,
led by its president Gerry Rivera. (Applause)
Mr. Speaker, may we request our guests to stand up
when they are acknowledged.
Mr. Speaker, may we also recognize the members of the
Infanta Municipal Cooperative Development Council, First
District of Quezon. They are the guests of Congressman
Wilfrido Mark Enverga. (Applause)
Mr. Speaker, may we also recognize the guests of Cong.
Rodolfo B. Albano of the First District of Isabela, headed by
Vice Governor Rodolfo T. Albano III: former Congressman
Santiago Respicio; and the board members of the Second
District – Hon. Ric Justice Angobung, Hon. Rolly Tugade
and Hon. Kit Bello. (Applause)
Also present here are the guests of Cong. Ana Cristina
Siquian Go of the Second District of Isabela: board members
Mitchy Cumigad and Atty. Cesar Purugganan. May we
also acknowledge the presence of the guests of Cong.
Napoleon S. Dy of the Third District of Isabela: Board
members Atty. Karen Abuan, Hon. Manuel Alejandro and
Hon. Jaime Atayde. They are also the guests of
Congressman Aggabao of the Fourth District of Isabela.
(Applause)
Board members Hon. Leoncio Kiat; Hon. Matt Alindada;
Atty. Noel Lopez, Provincial Administrator; Mr. Napoleon
Hernandez, ABC President; Mr. Niño Cumigad, Sangguniang
Kabataan President; and Mr. Santos, Sangguniang
Panlalawigan Secretary, are, meanwhile, all guests of the
honorable Congressman Rodolfo Albano of the First District
of Isabela. (Applause)
Mr. Speaker, may we also acknowledge the presence of
the guests from the Western Mindanao State University. They
are the guests of our Representative from the First District of
2 MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010

Zamboanga City, Dep. Speaker Maria Isabel G. Climaco. RESUMPTION OF SESSION

(Applause)
THE SPEAKER. The House acknowledges all of the
dignitaries who are visiting us this afternoon.
REP. ROMULO. Mr. Speaker, may we also recognize the
students from UP Diliman. They are part of the Political
Science 14 class headed by Prof. Miriam Coronel Feffer and
are the guests of Hon.Kaka Bag-ao. (Applause)
THE SPEAKER. The House welcomes them.
SUSPENSION OF SESSION
REP. ROMULO. Mr. Speaker, may we have a few minutes
suspension of the session.
At 4:13 p.m., the session was resumed with Deputy
Speaker Jesus Crispin C. Remulla presiding.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The session is
resumed.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. BANAL. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
May we take this opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to
acknowledge the presence of some visitors of Speaker
Belmonte, namely: Mr. Nelson Tan, JCI Senate
Philippines,executive vice president; Mr. Ramon Nanadiego,
secretary general of Junior Chamber, Quezon City Capitol;
and the better Banal, Mr. Speaker, Jorge Banal Sr., past national
president of the Philippine Jaycees, Senate. (Applause)

THE SPEAKER. The session is suspended. THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The gentlemen
at the back are welcome to the House of Representatives.
It was 4:06 p.m. The Chair thanks the guests for coming over.

RESUMPTION OF SESSION ROLL CALL

At 4:07 p.m. the session was resumed. REP. BANAL. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I move that we call the roll.
THE SPEAKER. The session is resumed.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). Is there any
REP. ROMULO. Mr. Speaker, may we acknowledge the objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is
presence of the guests of Members of the House, approved.
specifically, the guests of Hon. Hermilando Mandanas, the
Gentleman from Batangas: Sulatan Esmael Kiram and his The Secretary General is directed to call the roll.
wife; Mr. Abraham Ijirani, Secretary General of the Sultanate
of Sulu; Atty. Liasin Omar Basa, Chairman of the Royal The Secretary General called the roll, and the result is
Advisory Council; Raja Abdul Wahab, member of the Royal as follows, per Journal No.7:
Advisory Council; Colonel Samson Tocino, member of the
Royal Advisory Council; Mr. Hadji Ajid Estino, member of PRESENT
the Royal Advisory Council; and Ms. Sandra Hayre, member
of the Royal Advisory Council. Again, they are all guests of Abayon Asilo
the Honorable Mandanas. (Applause) Acharon Aumentado
Acop Bagatsing
THE SPEAKER. Sultan Kiram, Mrs. Kiram and all Aglipay Baguilat
members of the party are acknowledged. Agyao Balindong
Albano Banal
REP. ROMULO. Mr. Speaker, we have additional visitors, Alcala Barzaga
the guests of the Honorable Ocampos: Rayan Dy, general Almario Bataoil
manager of Rewoco, Quezon City; Benjamin Uy, finance Almonte Batocabe
manager, Rewoco, Quezon City; Wilson Ong, general Alvarez (M.) Bautista
manager, Novawood Forest Industries; and Alex Ong, finance Amante-Matba Bello
manager, Novawood. Amatong Belmonte (F.)
Andaya Belmonte (V.)
THE SPEAKER. All the guests of the Honorable Ocampos Angara Benaldo
are acknowledged and welcomed. Antonino Benitez
Antonio Bernos
SUSPENSION OF SESSION Apacible Bichara
Apostol Binay
REP. ROMULO. Mr. Speaker, may we have a few minutes Aquino Biron
suspension of the session. Arenas Bonoan-David
Arnaiz Briones
THE SPEAKER. The session is suspended. Arquiza Bulut-Begtang
Arroyo (D.) Cabilao Yambao
It was 4:09 p.m. Arroyo (I.) Cagas
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010 3

Calimbas-Villarosa Guanlao Quimbo Tañada

Calixto-Rubiano Gullas Quisumbing Tieng
Canonigo Gunigundo Radaza Ting
Cari Haresco Relampagos Tinga
Casiño Hataman-Salliman Remulla Tinio
Castelo Herrera-Dy Robes Tomawis
Castro Jaafar Rodriguez (I.) Tupas
Catamco Jalosjos (C.) Rodriguez (M.) Umali (C.)
Celeste Jalosjos (R.) Rodriguez (R.) Umali (R.)
Cerafica Jalosjos (S.) Roman Unabia
Cerilles Javier Romarate Ungab
Climaco Joson Romualdez Unico
Cojuangco (C.) Kho (A.) Romualdo Valencia
Cojuangco (E.) Kho (D.) Romulo Velarde
Collantes Labadlabad Sacdalan Velasco
Colmenares Lacson-Noel Sahidulla Vergara
Cosalan Lagdameo (A.) Sakaluran Villafuerte
Cua Lagdameo (M.) Salvacion Villar
Dalog Lagman Sambar Villarica
Datumanong Lapus San Luis Violago
Daza Leonen-Pizarro Sarmiento (C.) Yap (A.)
De Jesus Limkaichong Sarmiento (M.) Yap (S.)
De Venecia Loong Sema Yu
Defensor Lopez (C.) Singson (E.) Zamora-Apsay
Del Mar Loyola Socrates Zubiri
Del Rosario (A.) Macapagal-Arroyo (G.) Suarez
Diaz Madrona
Dimaporo (F.) Magsaysay (E.) The Speaker is present.
Dimaporo (I.) Magsaysay (M.) The House, through the Secretariat, is in receipt of the
Durano Maliksi official notice of absence of the following Members: Reps.
Dy Mandanas Antonio Rafael G. Del Rosario, Jose R. Ping-ay, and Milagrosa
Ecleo Marañon T. Tan.
Ejercito Marcoleta Mr. Speaker, the roll call shows that 223 Members
Emano Marcos responded to the call.
Enverga Mariano
Eriguel Matugas THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). With 223
Escudero Mellana Members present, a quorum is hereby declared.
Espina Mendoza (J.)
Estrella Mendoza (M.) REP. ARROYO (D.). Mr. Speaker.
Evardone Mendoza (R.)
Fabian Mercado THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). Yes, the
Fariñas Mercado-Revilla Honorable Arroyo (D.) is recognized.
Ferrer (A.) Miraflores
Ferrer (J.) Montejo REP. ARROYO (D.). Mr. Speaker, I would like to rise on a
Flores Noel matter of personal and collective privilege.
Fortuno Nograles
Fua Obillo THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Dep.
Fuentebella Ocampos Majority Leader is recognized.
Fuentes Olivares
Garay Ortega (F.) REP. ROMULO. Mr. Speaker, the motion of the Honorable
Garbin Ortega (V.) Arroyo (D.) has preference under our Rules. May we know
Garcia (P.) Osmeña the nature of the personal and collective privilege?
Garcia (P.J.) Pacquiao
Garcia-Albano Paez THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). What is the
Garin Palmones nature of the personal and collective privilege?
Gatchalian Pancho
Go (A.) Panotes REP. ARROYO (D.). Mr. Speaker, I wish to speak about
Golez (R.) Paras decorum and the mutual respect among the Members of this
Gomez Pichay august chamber.
Gonzales (A.) Ping-ay
Gonzales (N.) Primicias-Agabas THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Gentleman
Gonzalez Puno has 10 minutes.
4 MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010
QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE OF REP. ARROYO (D.)
REP. ARROYO (D.). Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Good afternoon. Dios marhay na hapon po sa mga kapwa
kong Representante sa sakuyang mga tugang sa Segundo
Distrito kong Camarines Sur at sa lahat ng aking kapwa
Pilipino.
Mr. Speaker, sa kabuuan ng pangkasalukuyang Kamara,
masasabi siguro na isa ako sa mga mas nakababatang
Representante. Wika nga, may gatas pa sa labi, maski na
nakapagsilbi na ako ng tatlong taon sa aking unang
pagkakataon na manungkulan bilang Kinatawan ng aming
distrito.
Natatandaan ko pa, Mr. Speaker, noong una akong
tumuntong sa Kongreso, magkahalong pangamba at
pananabik ang aking nadama. Pangamba, sapagkat
naramdaman ko ang napakalaking hamon sa akin na gawin
ang nararapat upang hindi mapahiya ang mga taong bumoto
sa akin at umaasang maipagmamalaki ako bilang kanilang
Kinatawan. Pananabik, sapagkat nagkaroon ako ng
pagkakataon, sa pamamagitan ng aking pagkilos at pananalita,
na ipakita ang aking respeto sa institusyon ng Kongreso na
siyang may pangunahing tungkulin na magbigay ng mga batas
at alituntunin na susundin ng buong bayan. Isang
napakahalaga at kagalang-galang na responsibilidad.
Mr. Speaker, sa nakaraang tatlong taon, taas noo ko pong
ginawa ang mga ito sa abot ng aking makakaya upang maging
karapat-dapat na Miyembro ng ating kagalang-galang na
institusyon.
Dadalhin ko sa aking pagtanda ang gunita na minsan,
naging bahagi ako ng Kongreso, ang Kongreso na naging
susi upang mailigtas ang bayan sa amba ng krisis pinansyal
na hanggang ngayon ay bumabalot po sa mundo, lalo na sa
mas mayayamang bansa. Tumugon ang nagkaisa nating
bayan at tumayo upang tulungan ang sarili at naiwasan natin
ang mas malalim na kahirapan. Ganito po kahalaga ang
tungkulin ng Kongreso para sa ating bayan.
Dala ang kaalamang ito, naging karangalan ko po na
mabigyang muli ako ng pagkakataon ng aking mga kababayan
bilang kanilang Kinatawan sa kasalukuyang Kongreso.
Katulad noong unang pagkakataon, naramdaman kong lalo
ang kahalagahan ng aking responsibilidad at alam ko po na
ito rin ang nararamdaman ng mga bago nating kasamahan sa
kasalukuyang Kongreso.
Kaya po, Mr. Speaker, hindi ako makapaniwala at nabigla
ako na sa pinakaunang mga araw ng pagbubukas ng
Kongreso, isang kasuklam-suklam na ehemplo para sa aming
mga mas nakababatang Miyembro at sa mga baguhang
Kongresista ang ipinamalas ng iilan sa mga patuloy ko pa
ring iginagalang na Miyembro ng Kamara. Sila pa na mga
Kinatawan ng sektor na nangunguna sa pakikipaglaban para
sa karapatang pantao ang umabuso sa kalayaang dulot ng
privilege speech at gumamit ng mapangbastos na mga
pananalitang yumurak sa karapatan ng kapwa Miyembro sa
respeto ng kanyang kasamahan.
Mr. Speaker, sa aking paniniwala, ang privilege speech
ay isang karapatang binigay sa Kongreso upang malayang
makapamahayag ang isang Miyembro nito tungo sa ikabubuti
ng bayan. Sa nangyari po noong nakaraang Lunes at Martes,
ang privilege speech ay sadyang ginamit upang makapagtago
sa loob ng saya ng kalayaang dulot nito, para magbitiw ng
mga salitang hindi katanggap-tanggap sa kahit na sinong
tao, sa loob man o labas ng Kongreso, bata man o matanda,
babae man o lalaki.
Ang mas higit pang hindi kanais-nais sa paggamit ng
kalayaang dulot ng privilege speech ay ang kaisipang ito ay
isang paraan upang maisantabi ang kagandahang asal ng
isang Pilipino—ang pagiging maginoo ng isang lalaki at ang
pagiging magandang ehemplo ng isang Mambabatas—tungo
sa mas sibilisadong pamayanan. Ngunit, ang pinaka
nakakagulat dito ay ang kawalan ng konsiderasyon kung saan
dahil sa kanilang mga pananalita ay mismong institusyon ng
Kongreso ang kanilang inilagay sa matinding pagsubok sa
mata ng mamamayan bilang isang magandang halimbawa ng
paggalang at dignidad.
Mr. Speaker, ang pananaw pong ito ay hindi magbabago at
hindi mawawala sa aking pagkatao maging sino man ang naging
biktima ng ginawang pambabastos. Ngunit dahil ang mga hindi
katanggap-tanggap na mga salitang iyon ay nakadirekta sa isang
dating Pangulo ng ating Republika, ang pangyayaring iyon ay
mas lalo pang kinakailangan na ilagay natin sa tama. Kung iisipin
lang natin, walang pangangailangang pagsalitaan ng ganoon
ang isang dating Pangulo.
Sa pagpalit ng administrasyon, lahat ng gawain upang
mailipat ang kapangyarihan ay isinaayos niya. Walang balakid
niyang ipinasa ang mga renda ng isang bansang kahit minsan
sa siyam na taon ng kanyang administrasyon ay hindi
nagkaroon ng recession, maski na lampas 60 porsyento ng
mga ibang bansa sa mundo ay hindi nakapalag sa krisis
pinansiyal. Pinatunayan niya na kathang-isip lamang at
walang kabuluhan at walang katunayan ang lahat ng senaryo
na ipinagsisigawan ng mga kalaban ng dating administrasyon,
tulad diumano ng martial law, No-el at No-proc At mula nang
bumaba siya sa pagka-Pangulo, siya ay nanatiling tahimik
upang magkaroon ng mas malayang panunungkulan ang
bagong pamahalaan.
Sa mga pahayag na ginawa sa SONA at sa mga sumunod
pang pahayag kung saan maraming ibinatong bintang at
alegasyon sa ating dating Pangulo, walang ipinahayag ang
kanyang panig kundi ang linawin ang maling pinagbasehan,
na inamin naman po ng bagong administrasyon, tulad ng,
unang-una, mga maling datos sa budget at sa calamity fund;
pangalawa, ang mga sinabing kalabisan sa dami ng bigas, na
ngayon lamang pala mag-iimbentaryo nito; o kaya, pangatlo,
ang alegasyon sa kalagayan ng MRT kung saan hindi naman
naihayag ang tunay at buong sitwasyon nito.
Sa madaling salita, Mr. Speaker and distinguished
colleagues, walang ginawang pakikipagtunggali ang ating
dating Pangulo sa kasalukuyang pamunuan upang siya ay
gawan ng ganoong pambabastos ng mga kapwa niyang
Miyembro sa Kongreso.
Mr. Speaker, ang pananaw kong ito ay nasa puso ko rin,
lalo na at ang pinagsalitaan ay ang aking ina. Para sa isang
anak, anuman ang kanyang katayuan sa buhay o sa lipunan,
nakapanghihilakbot ang pambabastos sa kanyang ina.
Tanging ang ipinamulat sa akin ng aking mga lolo at magulang
sa paggalang sa nakatatanda at sa mga institusyon ng
pamahalaan ang nagbibigay linaw sa aking isipan upang
magtimpi at pigilan ang aking sarili na makipagbastusan na
rin. Nagpapasalamat ako sa aking mga kasamahan na may
tuwid na paninindigan, maging majority o minority, maging
kapartido man o hindi, at agaran nilang ipinakita ang kawalang
suporta nila sa pambabastos na nangyari noong nakaraang
linggo.
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010
Mr. Speaker, sa pagkondena ng iba’t ibang Miyembro
ng Mababa at Mataas na Kapulungan ng Kongreso, anuman
ang kanilang partido, sa nangyaring pambabastos na ito ay
naitayo ang tunay na paninindigan ng ating institusyon.
Napatunayan nila ang kasabihan na ang pamantayan ng
pagkatao ay makikita sa kanyang pagtrato sa kanyang kapwa.
Habang ang pamantayan naman ng isang maginoo ay makikita
sa kanyang pagtrato sa kababaihan.
Mr. Speaker and distinguished colleagues, alam ko po
na ang mga pangyayari noong nakaraang linggo sa ating
Kapulungan ay magiging mahalagang kabanata ng ating
kasaysayan sa paninindigang ipinakita ng ating mga
Mambabatas, kung saan napatunayan na ang Kamara de
Representantes ay binubuo ng mga Mambabatas na hindi
lamang Kinatawan ng kanya-kanyang mga distrito o sektor
kundi Representante rin ng pagkatao ng isang tunay na
Pilipino. Pilipinong marunong magbigay-galang at magpakita
ng kagandahang-asal.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Dios mabalos po and in addition,
I would like to state that I shall not yield to any interpellation.
Dios mabalos po liwat, Dios marhay na hapon sa inyong
gabos. (Applause)
REP. ROMULO. Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Dep.
Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. GONZALES (A.). Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Honorable
Gonzales (A.) is recognized.
REP. GONZALES (A.). Mr. Speaker, may I be allowed to
make a brief manifestation in support of the privilege speech
of Congressman Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). Please do so.
MANIFESTATION OF REP. GONZALES (A.)
REP. GONZALES (A.). Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Good afternoon to all my dear colleagues.
Gusto ko lang pong ipaalam na ang aking ka probinsiya
sa lalawigan ng Pampanga, lalo na po ang mga kababayan ko
sa Ikatlong Distrito ng Pampanga, ay lubhang nalulungkot
sa nababalitaan nilang panlalait at insultong natatanggap ng
ating Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo dito mismo sa loob
ng Kamara kung saan siya ay isa nang Miyembro ng ating
House of the People.
As their elective Representative, I have to make this
manifestation to show that former President and now
Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo remains well-
loved in her home province and that the insults she
receives hurt the people of Pampanga. Masyado pong
nasasaktan ang aming mga ka probinsiya na mahal po
ang Pangulo, si Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-
Arroyo.
I am also making this manifestation , Mr. Speaker, to show
that the former President had expressed the hope that what
transpired in the last two weeks ay hindi na po mauulit. Dapat
iyong nangyari sa two weeks nating sesyon na panlalait sa
5
ating mahal na dating Pangulo at ngayon ay Miyembro ng
Representante ay hindi na maulit.
As elected Representatives of our districts and party-
list organizations, we are expected to show respect for one
another. While we may have different political backgrounds,
I believe that decency and decorum, especially the way we
conduct ourselves during session days, do not have to follow
any political affiliation. I believe we can disagree without
being rude and unschooled. No less than our Rules call for
decency and decorum on how we should behave towards
one another.
Mr. Speaker, marami pong salamat.
I hope that we can all move forward to start discussing
the many problems that continue to hound our people and
our nation. Ituloy na po natin ang magandang programa. Tayo
po ay nahalal dito sa House of Representatives to support
the legislative agenda, the policies of this new administration.
Kaya sa inyo pong lahat, maraming salamat. Sa mga
Kapampangan, dakal pong salamat.
Good afternoon to all of you. (Applause)
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The
manifestation of the Honorable Gonzales (A.) is noted, for
the record.
REP. ROMULO. Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Dep.
Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. ROMULO. Mr. Speaker, there being no other
Member who has signified his or her intention to interpellate
the honorable …
REP. CASIÑO. Just a short manifestation, Mr .Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Honorable
Casiño is recognized for his manifestation.
REP. CASIÑO. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I do not wish to interpellate our colleague from
Pampanga. Nauunawaan ko po ang sentimiyento ng ating
mga kasama at ang ilang mga kababayan natin mula sa
Pampanga. Subalit para sa Representasyong ito, may mga
bagay na dapat sabihin. I think the truth has to be told and
sometimes the truth hurts; sometimes the truth may be
unacceptable to us. Pero sa amin po, ang Kapulungang ito
at ang plenaryong ito ay dapat panigan ang pagtingin sa
katotohan. Whether we agree or not, hangga’t hindi po
tayo dito nagmumurahan at, sa salita nga ng kasama natin,
ay nagbabastusan sa isa’t-isa, we should allow as much
leeway as possible sa ating pagdidiskusyunan. Iyon lang
naman ang ating punto nitong nakaraang dalawang linggo.
I hope that we have learned lessons from these past two
weeks at sa amin po ay, ipagpapatuloy ang sa tingin namin
ay gawain din namin: ang ilahad ang aming pagtingin sa
katotohanan and for us to deliberate on these issues.
Iyon lamang po, G. Ispiker. Maraming salamat.
REP. BARZAGA. Mr. Speaker.
REP. LOONG. Mr. Speaker.
6 MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). Yes, the
Honorable Barzaga is recognized.
REP. BARZAGA. May I just make also a manifestation.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). Please proceed.
REP. BARZAGA. Section 91 of our Rules...
REP. LOONG. I rise on a question of personal and
collective privilege, Mr. Speaker.
REP. BARZAGA. I have the floor, Mr. Speaker. I will just
make a very short manifestation.
Section 91 of our Rules expressly provides that the
Member who has the floor shall confine himself to the question
under debate, avoid personalities in all cases and refrain from
indecorous words or acts.
Our Rules are very explicit that indecorous acts are not
permitted in the debate or privilege speeches in this august
Chamber. Unfortunately, inasmuch as there had been so many
indecorous remarks uttered in this august Chamber, our
jurisprudence is replete with rulings and principles. However,
in the United States of America where democracy was first
born and where parliamentary courtesy had been duly
observed by all the members of the parliament, it has always
been ruled that a member may not in debate impugn the
personal motives of another member, charge him with
falsehood or deception or denigrate his intelligence. It is also
not in order to debate or to refer in a personally critical manner
to the political tactics of a member and, perhaps this is the
most important, the truth of allegations involving the unethical
behavior of a member is not a defense to a point of order that
the remarks are unparliamentary as engaging in personalities
exclusively or by innuendo.
I just want to put on record these manifestations based
on jurisprudence in the United States of America insofar as
parliamentary courtesy is concerned.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The
manifestation of the Honorable Barzaga is noted and well-
taken.
REP. LOONG. Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Honorable
David Kho is recognized.
REP. KHO (D.). Mr. Speaker, I would like to make a comment
on the raging controversy besetting this august Body.
Mr. Speaker, as one reared and nurtured in an institution
that upholds academic freedom, this Representation cannot
resist stating his position on the raging controversy
surrounding the ethicality of the statements of the Gentlemen
from Akbayan and Bayan Muna. We may not fully agree with
what they said, but we should at least protect and defend their
right to say it because it constitutes the freedom of expression
which occupies a preferred position in the hierarchy of
constitutional values as enshrined in the Bill of Rights.
Freedom of expression must be the hallmark of this august
Body in order to arrive at the truth. According to Justice
Oliver Wendell Holmes, “...the best test of truth is the power
of the thought to get itself accepted in the competition of the
market.”
What could justify the suppression of free speech? Justice
Brandeis of the US Supreme Court thus stated:
Fear of serious injury cannot alone justify the
suppression of free speech and assembly. Men
feared witches and burned women. It is the function
of free speech to free man from the bondage of
irrational fears. To justify suppression of free speech,
there must be reasonable ground to fear that serious
evil will result if free speech is practiced.
In this instance, Mr. Speaker, no such reasonable ground
exists that would justify the curtailment of the Gentleman’s
freedom of expression. Take it from a senior citizen.
Thank you.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The
manifestation of the Honorable Kho is noted.
REP. PACQUIAO. Mr. Speaker, I have a manifestation.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). Hon. Emmanuel
Pacquiao of Sarangani is recognized.
REP. ROMULO. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Dep.
Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. ROMULO. Mr. Speaker, before we recognize the
Honorable Pacquiao for a manifestation, and the
Honorable Ejercito has also signified his intention to rise
for a manifestation on the speech of the Honorable
Arroyo, may I remind the Members of this House that
under our Rules, there is no such thing as a manifestation.
In order for a Member to stand up, he must stand up on a
point of order or on a question of personal and collective
privilege.
As the Chair has been very liberal in giving the Members
a chance to stand, could we have the manifestations
shortened? After the Honorable Ejercito, we will no longer
recognize manifestations.
REP. LOONG. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Chair agrees
with the…
REP. LOONG. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). … remarks of
the honorable Deputy Majority Leader that under the Rules,
there is no such thing as a manifestation, although because
of tradition, we honored the two manifestations because of
certain matters that had to be put on record by certain
Members. Therefore, we will put that into consideration when
we hear other remarks coming from the different Members of
this Chamber.
Before we recognize the Honorable Pacquiao, I would
like to say that the Honorable Ejercito stood first and so, he
has the floor for this purpose.
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010
REP. EJERCITO. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I will just take a few minutes. It is a very short
manifestation.
The President is accountable to the Filipino people. Being
in the Palace is like being in a fishbowl. Dapat handa na kayo
kung anumang alegasyon ibato sa inyo dahil lahat iyan ay
kasama. It comes with the territory, wika nga. Maniwala kayo,
nanggaling na kami diyan. Kung dati ay nakapagtago tayo sa
presidential immunity, huwag naman sana ngayon na pati
ang congressional immunity ay ating gagamitin. Tayo ay nasa
demokrasya, kung kaya’t, sabi nga ni Pangulong Noynoy,
kinakailangang malaman ang katotohanan. Kung wala tayong
dapat itago, wala tayong dapat ikatakot. Iyon lamang, Mr.
Speaker.
Magandang hapon.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). We will now
recognize the Honorable Pacquaio for his manifestation.
REP. PACQUIAO. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Gusto ko lang po sanang sabihin sa lahat na masyado
po tayong naaabala sa isyu na iyan. Kung kailangan nating
magsalita ng hindi magagandang words sa ating kapwa
Congressman o Congresswoman man, ay dapat in a proper
forum like the Truth Commission. Kung Truth Commission
ang pinag-uusapan, siguro puwede doon sabihin, pero dito,
masyado tayong naaantala o nade-delay ang ating mga usapin
dahil sa isyu na iyan. Siguro, sa tingin ko, we have to move
on.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Applause)
REP. ROMULO. Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The
manifestation is noted.
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. ROMULO. Mr. Speaker, there being no other
Member who has signified his intention to…
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). I think Hon.
Tupay Loong stood up.
REP. LOONG. Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). What is the
purpose of Hon. Tupay Loong?
REP. LOONG. I rise on a question of personal privilege,
Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). What …
REP. ROMULO. Mr. Speaker, before the Honorable
Tupay Loong stands on a question of personal and
collective privilege, may I beg his indulgence so that we
can refer the speech of the Honorable Arroyo (D.) to the
appropriate committee.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). Is there any
objection to the motion to refer the speech of the Honorable
Arroyo (D.) to the appropriate committee? (Silence) The Chair
7
hears none; the speech of Hon. Diosdado Arroyo is hereby
referred to the appropriate committee.
What is the nature of the Gentleman’s question of
privilege?
REP. LOONG. Mr. Speaker, this is a manifestation on the
bombing incident in the Zamboanga City International
Airport.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). Hon. Tupay
Loong has 10 minutes.
QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE OF REP. LOONG
REP. LOONG. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Bismillahi rahmani rahim. Assalamu alaikum
warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu. Peace be to all of
you.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly condemn, in the strongest
possible terms, the dastardly act of the perpetrators behind
the Zamboanga International Airport bombing last
Thursday night that killed two persons and wounded 24
others, including the Provincial Governor of my province,
Hon. Abdulsakur Tan. Further, Mr. Speaker, I extend my
sincerest sympathies to the victims and their families and
to the people of Zamboanga for experiencing another
heinous act in their midst. This latest bombing incident is
another cowardly and un-Islamic act that deserves the
strongest form of condemnation from this august Body.
Only the most cruel and merciless are capable of such an
act that victimized ordinary travellers and their innocent
families.
Mr. Speaker, this humble Representation would like to
request that an immediate and thorough investigation be
conducted by our police authorities to determine the real
culprits in the bombing so that justice may be immediately
served. I request, however, that the authorities desist from
using haphazard methods in investigating the bombing
incident. It is the true perpetrators of the crime who must be
arrested, and not the fall guys they will just pick up from the
streets. The perpetrators of last Thursday’s bombing incident
must be put behind bars, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you. Assalamu alaikum warahmatullahi
wabarakatuhu.
REP. FABIAN. Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Honorable
Fabian has stood up. What is the pleasure of the Honorable
Fabian?
REP. FABIAN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask a few
questions to the Honorable Loong, Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). Will the
Honorable Loong yield to a few questions from the Honorable
Fabian?
REP. LOONG. Please go ahead.
REP. FABIAN. Thank you very much, Honorable Loong.
Honorable colleague, I really wonder if the
8 MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010
Representative would also have a little knowledge as far as
the background on the incident is concerned. I am focusing
more on the personalities involved because no less than the
Governor of Sulu, Hon. Abdulsakur Tan, mentioned in an
interview that he already has somebody in mind and, as far as
the motive is concerned, it is, to an extent, a little obvious. I
wonder if the good Congressman can share a little of his
knowledge as far as the background on this incident involving
the personalities involved is concerned, Mr. Speaker.
REP. LOONG. Well, I think it is not within my prerogative
to say something about it. I think it would be better for us to
just wait for the result of the investigation.
REP. FABIAN. May I also ask the good Congressman if
he will also agree with me if I say that measures not only in
the solution of the crime be adopted but also, we should
further improve the airport in Zamboanga, considering that
Zamboanga is fast becoming a metropolis and people from
both provinces in the South and in Zamboanga City are
utilizing the airport.
REP. LOONG. I agree with the Gentleman on that, Mr.
Speaker.
REP. FABIAN. It should also include equipment like, for
example, X-ray machines, et cetera.
REP. LOONG. I did not clearly understand what the
Gentleman was asking.
REP. FABIAN. What I am trying to say is, we are one here
with the other Congressmen from Mindanao in wanting to
further improve the facilities in the Zamboanga International
Airport for us to be able to come up with preemptive measures
to avoid incidents similar to what happened the other day.
Mr. Speaker, with that, I also would like to join the good
Congressman in condemning that dastardly act and calling
on our authorities to conduct a no-nonsense probe as far as
that incident is concerned.
Thank you, very much Mr. Speaker.
REP. CLIMACO. Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Honorable
Climaco is recognized.
REP. CLIMACO. Corollary to what the Gentleman has
said, I also would like to deliver a privilege speech that has to
do with the recent bombing of the Zamboanga International
Airport, corollary to what the Gentleman, the Honorable
Loong, has stated.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). Before the Lady
proceeds with the privilege speech ...
REP. CLIMACO. First of all ...
SUSPENSION OF SESSION
REP. ROMULO. Mr. Speaker, may we have a few minutes
suspension of the session.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The session is
suspended.
It was 4:59 p.m.
RESUMPTION OF SESSION
At 5:00 p.m., the session was resumed.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The session is
resumed.
REP. ROMULO. Mr. Speaker, as the Hon. Tupay T. Loong
has sat down, I move that we refer the speech of the Hon.
Tupay T. Loong, including the interpellations thereon, to the
appropriate committee.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER(Rep. Remulla). The speech of
the Hon. Tupay T. Loong and the interpellations of the
Honorable Fabian thereon are hereby referred to the
appropriate committee.
REP. CLIMACO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to respond
also through a privilege speech.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER(Rep. Remulla). Is this in the
nature also of a privilege speech?
REP. CLIMACO. In the same personal and collective
privilege given by the Honorable Loong.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER(Rep. Remulla). Yes, the Lady
from Zamboanga has 10 minutes.
QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE OF REP. CLIMACO
REP. CLIMACO. I beg the indulgence of the Members of
the Body because this is a matter of great urgency that
happened in the city of Zamboanga.
On the evening of August 5, 2010, at approximately 6:14
p.m., an improvised explosive device was detonated in the
arrival area of the Zamboanga City International Airport. The
blast was so powerful that it ripped the body of the purported
bomb carrier into shreds and pieces, killing his alleged
companion and injuring 22 innocent persons whose only fault
was that they were at the wrong place at the wrong time. This
dastardly and cowardly act, which brazenly penetrated the
tightly-guarded infrastructure of Zamboanga City, is not the
first of its kind to strike our beloved city. As much as it pains
me, it probably would not be the last unless we do something
about it now.
While it is true that no level of security can ever prevent
a determined terrorist from sowing terror into the hearts of
the innocents, I firmly believe that this should not serve as
an excuse for us to sit idly and watch our people repeatedly
suffer from the hands of the malevolent. The question that
constantly lingers in my mind is: how could the alleged
bombers carry out this plot with impunity and without being
detected? It is not as if this unfortunate incident was totally
unforeseeable or preventable. After the September 11
attacks at the World Trade Center in the US, airport security
has never been the same. The 2007 Glasgow International
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010
Airport attack, the failed attempts of a bomber where airplanes
also suffered the same threat in other areas—these are just a
few reminders of what can happen when we let our guard
down.
The Zamboanga International Airport is one of the
busiest airports in Mindanao, second only to the Francisco
Bangoy International Airport in Davao. It has an average of
60 flights monthly, with around thousands of people arriving
and departing thereat day in and day out.
So what happened? Was it a lapse by security
personnel or was it caused by ineffective security
procedures? Was it a result of inadequate security
equipment or the failure to adopt the right preventive
measures? I urge my colleagues in Congress to join us in
our clamor to augment the security requirements of our
airport and for the Anti-Terrorism Council, through the
concerned law enforcement agencies, to ensure strict
implementation of the security plan for airports as well
as seaports. To prevent the occurrence of these
bombings, adjustments have to be made in traffic
management and parking, the control of well wishers in
the terminal area and the provision of security fences, as
well as an upgrade of CCTV units manned by trained
personnel who can spot suspicious persons. A protocol
has to be made to manage emergency situations as a first
response.
Regardless of what the ulterior motive for the airport
blast was, or the contributory factors that led to it, what is
clearly evident is that our airport facilities—an international
airport that serves as the gateway to what is touted as
Southeast Asia’s fastest growing business and cultural hub
and an entryway to the entire Western Mindanao region—
need a major upgrade.
I pass through the Zamboanga City International
Airport so frequently and I flew out today, and I cannot
even recall the number of times I did so. But everytime I go
there, I cannot help but realize how inadequate our airport
facilities are, especially when I compare the same with other
modern airports in our country and elsewhere. As such, I
feel it urgent and imperative to make this speech, not just to
condemn in the strongest possible terms, the commission
of such a callous, cold-blooded and merciless deed, but to
bring to the forefront of national attention, the dire and
urgent need to address the serious concerns of our airport
facilities.
For the information of those who have never been to our
city, our airport is situated right in the commercial hub of our city.
To highlight the sorry state of our airport, there is no
toilet paper and the water supply is poor. The airport is in
bad financial shape that even these most basic sanitation
requirements cannot be addressed. We need proper
maintenance of the airport terminal facilities, and on top
of what was previously requested by our airport manager,
we need local manpower agencies to handle the
maintenance.
On the denial of the request of the Zamboanga
International Airport traffic controllers to return to the 24-
hour monitoring, it goes without saying that our traffic
controllers play a vital role in the operation of our airports
and their continuous presence and monitoring would
sufficiently address the need to keep our air space safe and
our airport accident-free.
9
Other needs: replacement of conveyor belts, the upgrade
of security and monitoring equipment. Our airport needs to
live up to its name as an international airport for the
resumption of future international flights. There is also a
need to add more security equipments such as X-ray
machines, metal detectors and thermal scanners, as well
as upgraded surveillance cameras, sufficient facilities
within and outside the terminal buildings and improved
fire station buildings. We also need to put up a secured
perimeter fence around the airport, and the return of the
CAAP Regional Office to Zamboanga City will enable it
to service the needs of the Zamboanga International
airport.
I also have attached in my speech the needed CAAP
additional requirements for the improvement of the airport as
requested by our CAAP manager. I understand that the
management of the Zamboanga International Airport had been
transferred from the DOTC to the Civil Aviation
Administration of the Philippines (CAAP).
In addition, the terminal fees collected by the airport
authority from departing passengers are remitted directly
to the National Treasury and so, the airport authorities
simply make do with whatever funds are appropriated for
the airport. I believe this is partly the cause of the sorry
state of our airport, which is absolutely disadvantageous
to the people in our area. In this regard, there is a need to
review the existing management of the structure of and the
funding process in the Zamboanga City International
Airport.
Finally, I would like to reiterate the strong clamor for the
transfer of the existing airport to an ideal and sparsely-
populated location somewhere in the East. The current airport
is practically in the heart of the city and bordered by residential
and commercial areas.
I fervently wish and pray that it would not take another
terrible disaster before our government acts on the issues
hounding the ZIA. We have no time to lose, and it is high
time that we act now for the safety and protection of our
people.
Honorable colleagues, Mr. Speaker, allow me once
again to reiterate the urgency of the concerns that we face.
This will also contribute to the development not only of
Region IX, but also of the ARMM and the other areas of
Mindanao.
Once again, I would like to thank my honorable colleagues
for this opportunity. This Representation will just submit my
privilege speech with the data inserted. Because of the earlier
manifestations made, I will not entertain anymore
interpellations to give other Members an opportunity to
present their privilege speeches.
Muchas gracias. Vaya con Dios.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Remulla). The Dep.
Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. ROMULO. Mr. Speaker, I move that we refer to the
appropriate committee, the personal and collective privilege
speech of the Deputy Speaker Climaco.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Remulla). The speech
of the Deputy Speaker from Zamboanga City is hereby referred
to the appropriate committee.
10
APPROVAL OF JOURNALS
REP. ROMULO. Mr. Speaker, I move for the approval of
Journals No. 5 and 6, dated August 3 and 4, 2010, respectively.
I understand that copies of said Journals No. 5 and 6 had
been distributed to all the Members.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Remulla). There is a
motion to approve Journals No. 5 and 6, dated August 3 and
August 4, by the Majority Leader.
Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none;
Journals No. 5 and 6 are hereby approved.
REP. ROMULO. Mr. Speaker.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Remulla). The Dep.
Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. ROMULO. I move that we take up the Reference of
Business and that the Secretary General be directed to read
same.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Remulla). The
Secretary General is hereby ordered to read the Reference
of Business.
REFERENCE OF BUSINESS
The Secretary General read the following House Bills
and Resolutions on First Reading, and the Deputy Speaker
made the corresponding references:
BILLS ON FIRST READING
House Bill No. 1978, entitled:
“AN ACT MANDATING THAT ALL ILLEGAL WOOD
PRODUCTS CONFISCATED BYTHE DEPARTMENT
OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
BE DONATED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION TO BE USED FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION OF CLASSROOM, TABLES,
CHAIRS AND OTHER SCHOOL FACILITIES”
By Representatives Rodriguez (R.) and Rodriguez (M.)
TO THE COMMITTEE ON BASIC EDUCATION AND
CULTURE
House Bill No. 1979, entitled:
“AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6981,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ‘WITNESS
PROTECTION, SECURITY AND BENEFIT ACT’ “
By Representatives Rodriguez (R.) and Rodriguez (M.)
TO THE COMMITTEE ON JUSTICE
House Bill No. 1980, entitled:
“AN ACT PENALIZING UNFAIR TRADE AND ANTI-
COMPETITIVE PRACTICES IN RESTRAINT OF
TRADE, UNFAIR COMPETITION, ABUSE OF
DOMINANT POWER, STRENGTHENING THE
POWERS OF REGULATORY AUTHORITIES,
ESTABLISHING THE FAIR TRADE COMMISSION
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES”
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010
By Representatives Rodriguez (R.) and Rodriguez (M.)
TO THE COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND INDUSTRY
House Bill No. 1981, entitled:
“AN ACT MANDATING A 5-YEAR TAX EXEMPTION
ON NEW INVESTMENTS IN SOUTHERN LEYTE
THAT COULD GENERATE AT LEAST 1000 JOBS”
By Representative Mercado
TO THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS
House Bill No. 1982, entitled:
“AN ACT RESETTING THE SCHEDULED BARANGAY
AND SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN ELECTIONS
FROM THE LAST MONDAY OF OCTOBER 2010 TO
THE SECOND MONDAY OF AUGUST 2011 TO
COINCIDEWITHTHEREGIONALELECTIONSOFTHE
AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO”
By Representative Tomawis
TO THE COMMITTEE ON SUFFRAGE AND
ELECTORAL REFORMS
House Bill No. 1983, entitled:
“AN ACT SEPARATING THE SAN JUAN NATIONAL
HIGH SCHOOL – PAETE ANNEX IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF PAETE, PROVINCE OF
LAGUNA FROM THE SAN JUAN NATIONAL
HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO AN
INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE
KNOWN AS POTEN AND ELISEO QUESADA
MEMORIAL NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE”
By Representative San Luis
TO THE COMMITTEE ON BASIC EDUCATION AND
CULTURE
House Bill No. 1984, entitled:
“AN ACTAMENDING SECTION 87 OF REPUBLIC ACT
8550, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE
FISHERIES CODE OF 1998”
By Representative Sarmiento (M.)
TO THE COMMITTEE ON AQUACULTURE AND
FISHERIES RESOURCES
House Bill No. 1985, entitled:
“AN ACTAMENDING SECTION 89 OF REPUBLIC ACT
8550, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE
FISHERIES CODE OF 1998”
By Representative Sarmiento (M.)
TO THE COMMITTEE ON AQUACULTURE AND
FISHERIES RESOURCES
House Bill No. 1986, entitled:
“AN ACTAMENDING SECTION 88 OF REPUBLIC ACT
8550, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE
FISHERIES CODE OF 1998”
By Representative Sarmiento (M.)
TO THE COMMITTEE ON AQUACULTURE AND
FISHERIES RESOURCES
House Bill No. 1987, entitled:
“AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 18 AND RULE 18.1 OF
REPUBLIC ACT 8550, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010
THE PHILIPPINE FISHERIES CODE OF 1998”
By Representative Sarmiento (M.)
TO THE COMMITTEE ON AQUACULTURE AND
FISHERIES RESOURCES
House Bill No. 1988, entitled:
“AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 124 OF REPUBLIC
ACT 8550, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
PHILIPPINE FISHERIES CODE OF 1998”
By Representative Sarmiento (M.)
TO THE COMMITTEE ON AQUACULTURE AND
FISHERIES RESOURCES
House Bill No. 1989, entitled:
“ANACT CONVERTING THE MUNICIPALITY OF IMUS
INTHE PROVINCE OF CAVITE INTOACOMPONENT
CITY TO BE KNOWN AS THE CITY OF IMUS”
By Representative Maliksi
TO THE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT
House Bill No. 1990, entitled:
“ANACTCONVERTINGTHE BARANGAYIPIL, SURIGAO
CITY – SAN FRANCISCO – MALIMONO – MAINIT
PROVINCIAL ROAD IN THE MUNICIPALITIES OF
SAN FRANCISCO, MALIMONOAND MAINITAND
IN THE CITY OF SURIGAO, PROVINCE OF SURIGAO
DEL NORTE INTOANATIONAL ROAD”
By Representative Romarate
TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND
HIGHWAYS
House Bill No. 1991, entitled:
“AN ACT REQUIRING THE REGISTRATION OF ALL
BUYERS OF PREPAID SUBSCRIBER IDENTITY
MODULE (SIM) CARDS”
By Representative Apostol
TO THE COMMITTEE ON INFORMATION AND
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
House Bill No. 1992, entitled:
“AN ACT ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL HIGH
SCHOOL IN THE POBLACION OF BARUGO,
PROVINCE OF LEYTE TO BE KNOWN AS THE
BARUGO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”
By Representative Apostol
TO THE COMMITTEE ON BASIC EDUCATION AND
CULTURE
House Bill No. 1993, entitled:
“AN ACT ABOLISHING THE GRANT OF ADDITIONAL
COMPENSATION IN THE FORM OF SPECIAL
ALLOWANCES TO THE MEMBERS OF THE
NATIONAL PROSECUTION SERVICES AND THE
STATE COUNSELS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9279”
By Representative Marcoleta
TO THE COMMITTEE ON JUSTICE
House Bill No. 1994, entitled:
“AN ACT ESTABLISHING A SMALL SCALE FISHPORT
IN BARANGAY YUMBING, MUNICIPALITY OF
11
MAMBAJAO, PROVINCE OF CAMIGUIN AND
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREOF”
By Representative Romualdo
TO THE COMMITTEE ON AQUACULTURE AND
FISHERIES RESOURCES
House Bill No. 1995, entitled:
“AN ACT PROFESSIONALIZING THE RECRUITMENT
AND SELECTION PROCESS IN THE BUREAU OF
FIRE PROTECTION (BFP) AND THE BUREAU OF
JAIL MANAGEMENT AND PENOLOGY (BJMP),
AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF R.A. NO.
9263, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”
By Representative Cerilles
TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ORDER AND
SAFETY
House Bill No. 1996, entitled:
“AN ACT PROFESSIONALIZING THE RECRUITMENT
AND SELECTION PROCESSANDTHE PROMOTION
SYSTEM IN THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE,
AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF R.A. 8551,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”
By Representative Cerilles
TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ORDER AND
SAFETY
House Bill No. 1997, entitled:
“AN ACT SEEKING THE CREATION OF THE
NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL OF STA. CRUZ,
PROVINCE OF MARINDUQUE”
By Representative Velasco
TO THE COMMITTEE ON BASIC EDUCATION AND
CULTURE
House Bill No. 1998, entitled:
“AN ACT PENALIZING PERSONS DRIVING UNDER
THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL”
By Representative Acop
TO THE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
House Bill No. 1999, entitled:
“AN ACT ESTABLISHING A THIRTY (30)-BED
HOSPITAL IN THE SECOND DISTRICT OF
ANTIPOLO CITY, TO BE KNOWN AS THE
ANTIPOLO 2 ND DISTRICT HOSPITAL, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”
By Representative Acop
TO THE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH
House Bill No. 2000, entitled:
“AN ACT GRANTING PROVINCES A SHARE IN THE
PROCEEDS OF REAL PROPERTYTAXES IMPOSED
BY COMPONENT CITIES, AMENDING SECTION
271 OF REPUBLIC ACT NUMBER 7160,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991”
By Representative Garcia (P.J.)
TO THE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT
House Bill No. 2001, entitled:
“AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7621,
12
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE CHARTER OF
CEBU PORT AUTHORITY BY PROVIDING FOR
LOCAL GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATION AND
OTHER PURPOSES”
By Representative Garcia (P.J.)
TO THE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
House Bill No. 2002, entitled:
“AN ACT RATIONALIZING THE INCOME
REQUIREMENT FOR THE CREATION OF A
PROVINCE AND THE DECLARATION OF HIGHLY-
URBANIZED STATUS IN THE CASE OF
COMPONENT CITIES, AMENDING FOR THAT
PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED 7160,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ‘LOCAL
GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991’ “
By Representative Garcia (P.J.)
TO THE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT
House Bill No. 2003, entitled:
“AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6958,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS ‘THE CHARTER OF THE
MACTAN CEBU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
AUTHORITY’ ”
By Representative Garcia (P.J.)
TO THE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
House Bill No. 2004, entitled:
“AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE EXEMPTION OF THE
PHILIPPINE ATMOSPHERIC, GEOPHYSICAL,
ASTRONOMICAL AND SEISMOLOGICAL
ADMINISTRATION (PAGASA) FROM THE
GOVERNMENTSALARYSTANDARDIZATION LAW
AND PROVIDING FOR THE SALARY SCALE FOR
PAGASAEMPLOYEESANDFOROTHERPURPOSES”
By Representative Palmones
TO THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
House Bill No. 2005, entitled:
“ANACTPROVIDING FOR FREE PULMONARY FUNCTION
TESTS TREATMENT FOR SMOKE-RELATED
DISEASES INALLGOVERNMENTHOSPITALSAND
CLINICS,ANDFOROTHERPURPOSES”
By Representative Palmones
TO THE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH
House Bill No. 2006, entitled:
“AN ACT SEPARATING THE LOGON NATIONAL
HIGH SCHOOL IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF
DAANBANTAYAN, PROVINCE OF CEBU FROM
THE CALAPE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL,
MUNICIPALITY OF DAANBANTAYAN,
PROVINCE OF CEBU, CONVERTING IT INTO AN
INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”
By Representative Salimbangon
TO THE COMMITTEE ON BASIC EDUCATION AND
CULTURE
House Bill No. 2007, entitled:
“AN ACT SEPARATING THE CARNAZA NATIONAL
HIGH SCHOOL IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010
DAANBANTAYAN, PROVINCE OF CEBU FROM
THE CALAPE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL,
MUNICIPALITY OF DAANBANTAYAN,
PROVINCE OF CEBU, CONVERTING IT INTO AN
INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”
By Representative Salimbangon
TO THE COMMITTEE ON BASIC EDUCATION AND
CULTURE
House Bill No. 2008, entitled:
“AN ACT SEPARATING THE PAYPAY NATIONAL
HIGH SCHOOL IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF
DAANBANTAYAN, PROVINCE OF CEBU FROM
THE CALAPE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL,
MUNICIPALITY OF DAANBANTAYAN,
PROVINCE OF CEBU, CONVERTING IT INTO AN
INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”
By Representative Salimbangon
TO THE COMMITTEE ON BASIC EDUCATION AND
CULTURE
House Bill No. 2009, entitled:
“AN ACT TO AMEND ARTICLE 217 OF THE REVISED
PENAL CODE MAKING THE FAILURE TO
LIQUIDATE CASH ADVANCES WITHIN THE
PERIOD PROVIDED THEREIN PRIMA FACIE
PROOF OF MALVERSATION”
By Representative Romulo
TO THE COMMITTEE ON REVISION OF LAWS
House Bill No. 2010, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE ROXAS CITY –
CAGAY – SIBAGUAN – BALIJUAGAN –
CUDIAN – IVISAN PROVINCIAL ROAD IN
ROXAS CITY AND THE MUNICIPALITY OF
IVISAN, PROVINCE OF CAPIZ INTO A
NATIONAL ROAD AND PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREFOR”
By Representative Del Rosario (A.)
TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND
HIGHWAYS
House Bill No. 2011, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE POBLACION – PAWA
ROAD IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF PANAY,
PROVINCE OF CAPIZ INTO A NATIONAL ROAD
AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR”
By Representative Del Rosario (A.)
TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND
HIGHWAYS
House Bill No. 2012, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE HIPONA – CANAPIAN-
QUINABONGLAN ROAD IN THE MUNICIPALITIES
OF PONTEVEDRAAND MAAYON, PROVINCE OF
CAPIZ INTOANATIONAL ROADAND PROVIDING
FUNDS THEREFOR”
By Representative Del Rosario (A.)
TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND
HIGHWAYS
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010
House Bill No. 2013, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE CONCIENCIA –
TINIGBAN ROAD IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF
PANITAN, PROVINCE OF CAPIZ INTO A
NATIONAL ROAD AND PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREFOR”
By Representative Del Rosario (A.)
TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND
HIGHWAYS
House Bill No. 2014, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE COGON –
PONTEVEDRA ROAD IN THE MUNICIPALITIES
OF PANIT-AN AND PONTEVEDRA, PROVINCE
OF CAPIZ INTO A NATIONAL ROAD AND
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR”
By Representative Del Rosario (A.)
TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND
HIGHWAYS
House Bill No. 2015, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE STA. FE –
CASANAYAN ROAD IN THE MUNICIPALITY
OF PILAR, PROVINCE OF CAPIZ INTO A
NATIONAL ROAD AND PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREFOR”
By Representative Del Rosario (A.)
TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND
HIGHWAYS
House Bill No. 2016, entitled:
“ A N A C T C O N V E RT I N G T H E L A N O T –
LOCTUGAN – PANITAN – BOUNDARY ROAD
IN ROXAS CITY AND THE MUNICIPALITY OF
PANITAN, PROVINCE OF CAPIZ INTO A
NATIONAL ROAD AND PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREFOR”
By Representative Del Rosario (A.)
TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND
HIGHWAYS
House Bill No. 2017, entitled:
“AN ACT CONVERTING THE DUMULOG – GABUAN
– MONGPONG – CULAJAO – BANICA ROAD IN
ROXAS CITY, PROVINCE OF CAPIZ INTO A
NATIONAL ROAD AND PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREFOR”
By Representative Del Rosario (A.)
TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND
HIGHWAYS
House Bill No. 2018, entitled:
“AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9340,
RESETTING THE SYNCHRONIZED
BARANGAY AND SANGGUNIANG
KABATAAN ELECTIONS, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES”
By Representative Gullas
TO THE COMMITTEE ON SUFFRAGE AND
ELECTORAL REFORMS
House Bill No. 2019, entitled:
“AN ACT CREATING A PENAL CODE COMMISSION
13
TO IMPLEMENT THE RE-CODIFICATION OF ALL
EXISTING SUBSTANTIVE PENAL LAWS OF THE
PHILIPPINES, DEFINING ITS COMPOSITION AND
FUNCTIONS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR”
By Representatives Co, Batocabe and Garbin
TO THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT
REORGANIZATION
House Bill No. 2020, entitled:
“AN ACT CREATING A CIVIL CODE COMMISSION
TO IMPLEMENT THE RE-CODIFICATION OF
ALL EXISTING CIVIL LAWS OF THE
PHILIPPINES, DEFINING ITS COMPOSITION
AND FUNCTIONS, AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR”
By Representatives Co, Batocabe and Garbin
TO THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT
REORGANIZATION
House Bill No. 2021, entitled:
“AN ACT ESTABLISHING AND PROVIDING FREE
COLLEGE EDUCATION TO ONE (1) HIGH SCHOOL
GRADUATE BELONGING TO A FAMILY LIVING
BELOW THE POVERTY LINE, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES”
By Representatives Co, Batocabe and Garbin
TO THE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER AND TECHNICAL
EDUCATION
RESOLUTIONS
House Resolution No. 122, entitled:
“A RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT AND THE
PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN RIYADH, SAUDI
ARABIA TO EXERT ALL EFFORTS POSSIBLE TO
EXTEND AID TO BASHIR AYOB IN SAUDI
ARABIA”
By Representatives Rodriguez (R.) and Rodriguez (M.)
TO THE COMMITTEE ON OVERSEAS WORKERS
AFFAIRS
House Resolution No. 123, entitled:
“ARESOLUTIONURGINGTHE DEPARTMENTOFENERGY
TO IMMEDIATELY IMPLEMENT THE PROPOSED
LEYTE-MINDANAOINTERCONNECTIONPROJECT”
By Representatives Rodriguez (R.) and Rodriguez (M.)
TO THE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY
House Resolution No. 124, entitled:
“A RESOLUTION URGING THE COMMITTEE ON
GOVERNMENT ENTERPRISES TO CONDUCTAN
INQUIRY, INAID OF LEGISLATION,TO DETERMINE
THE CONDITION OF THE $565 MILLION GLOBAL
INVESTMENT PROGRAM OF THE GOVERNMENT
SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM”
By Representatives Rodriguez (R.) and Rodriguez (M.)
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
House Resolution No. 125, entitled:
“A RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING THE USE OF
14
AVAILABLE SPACES IN THE BATASANG
PAMBANSA COMPLEX TO SERVE AS OFFICES
OF THE TRUTH COMMISSION OF 2010 AND TO
SERVE AS VENUE FOR ITS PUBLIC HEARINGS”
By Representative Palatino
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
House Resolution No. 126, entitled:
“RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COMMITTEE ON
PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS TO CONDUCT
AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, INTO THE
REPORTED CANCELLATION OF 19 JAPAN
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AGENCY
(JICA) – FUNDED PROJECTS WORTH P 934
MILLION, ALLEGEDLY AS A RESULT OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND
HIGHWAY (DPWH)’S NON-COMPLIANCE WITH
THE PROVISIONS OF THE PROCUREMENT
REFORM LAW, IN ORDER TO COME UP WITH
POSSIBLE REMEDIAL MEASURES TO PREVENT
SIMILAR OCCURENCES IN THE FUTURE”
By Representative Gonzales (A.)
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
House Resolution No. 127, entitled:
“A RESOLUTION IN AID OF LEGISLATION,
DIRECTING THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (NEDA), IN
COORDINATION WITH OTHER RELEVANT
OPERATING DEPARTMENTS AND
INSTRUMENTALITIES OF THE NATIONAL
GOVERNMENT, TO SUBMIT TO THE SPECIAL
COMMITTEE ON THE MILLENIUM
DEVELOPMENT GOALS OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, WITHIN NINETY (90) DAYS
FROM THE DATE OF RECEIPT OF THIS
RESOLUTION, A CONSOLIDATED STATUS
REPORT ON THE SPECIFIC PROGRAMS AND
PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN AS OF DECEMBER 31,
2009 ANDAS OF JUNE 30, 2010, BY THE REPUBLIC
OF THE PHILIPPINES THAT COMPLIED WITH
THE SPECIFIC TARGETS OF PERCENTAGE
THEREOF, OF THE UNITED NATIONS
MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDG)
AND THE PROGRAM OF ACTION
COMMENCING FROM JULY 1, 2010 TO
DECEMBER 31, 2015, IN AID OF CRAFTING A
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA THAT SHALL ENSURE
THE COMPLIANCE OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE
PHILIPPINES WITH THE MDG BY 2015”
By Representative Villafuerte
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
House Resolution No. 128, entitled:
“RESOLUTION URGING THE COMMITTEE ON
NATIONAL CULTURAL COMMUNITIES AND
COMMITTEE BASES CONVERSION TO
INVESTIGATE THE JOINT MANAGEMENT
AGREEMENT (JMA) BETWEEN THE CLARK
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (CDC),
NATIONAL COMMISSION ON INDIGENOUS
PEOPLES (NCIP) AND THE TRIBONG AYTA ON
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010
DECEMBER 6, 2007 CONCERNING THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE CLARK SUB-ZONE”
By Representative Lapus
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
House Resolution No. 129, entitled:
“A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE ON GOOD
GOVERNMENT TO INVESTIGATE, IN AID OF
LEGISLATION, INTO THE ALLEGED OVER-
IMPORTATION OF RICE BY THE NATIONAL
FOOD AUTHORITY WHICH LEAD TO WASTAGE,
CONTRIBUTED TO THE NATIONAL FOOD
AUTHORITY’S GROWING DEBT, AND
DISADVANTAGED LOCAL RICE FARMERS IN
THE MARKET”
By Representatives Bello and Bag-ao
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
House Resolution No. 130, entitled:
“A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COMMITTEE ON
GOVERNMENT ENTERPRISES AND
PRIVATIZATION OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES TO IMMEDIATELY
INVESTIGATE, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, THE
PRIVATIZATION OF WATERWORKS AND
SEWERAGE SYSTEM UNDER REPUBLICACT NO.
8041, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS ‘NATIONAL
WATER CRISIS ACT OF 1995’ AND OTHER
EXECUTIVE ISSUANCES, IN THE LIGHT OF THE
RECENT WATER SHORTAGE THAT HIT THE
GREATER PORTION OF METRO MANILA”
By Representatives Bello and Bag-ao
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
House Resolution No. 131, entitled:
“ARESOLUTIONCOMMEMORATINGTHEFIRSTDEATH
ANNIVERSARYOF BROTHER ERAÑO G. MANALO
AND CONCURRENTLY CONGRATULATING
BROTHER EDUARDO V. MANALO FOR HIS FIRST
YEAR OF VICTORIOUS LEADERSHIPAS THE NEW
EXECUTIVEMINISTEROFTHEIGLESIANICRISTO”
By Representative Castelo
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
House Resolution No. 132, entitled:
“RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COMMITTEES ON
LEGISLATIVE FRANCHISE AND LABOR AND
EMPLOYMENTTO CONDUCTAN INQUIRY, INAID
OF LEGISLATION, INTO THE CANCELLATION OF
SEVERAL INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC
FLIGHTS OF THE PHILIPPINEAIRLINES (PAL)AND
THE RECENTRESIGNATION OF 13 CAPTAINSAND
12 FIRST OFFICERS OF THE SAMEAIRLINE WHICH
AFFECTED THOUSANDS OF PASSENGERS,
DISRUPTED THE TOURISM INDUSTRY AND
DISTURBED THE NATIONAL ECONOMY”
By Representative Revilla
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
House Concurrent Resolution No. 3, entitled:
“CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR THE
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010
LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR FOR THE FIRST
REGULAR SESSION OF THE FIFTEENTH
CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES”
By Representatives Gonzales (N.) and Lagman
TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES
ADDITIONAL COAUTHORS
Rep. Ma. Theresa B. Bonoan-David for House Bills No.
10 and 13;
Rep. Rachel Marguerite B. Del Mar for House Bills No.
14, 15, 282, 371 and 463;
Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora-Apsay for House Bills No.
13, 18, 82 and 108;
Rep. Francisco Emmanuel R. Ortega III for House Bills
No. 62, 64 and 65;
Rep. Ma. Amelita A. Calimbas-Villarosa for House Bills
No. 61, 62, 65, 66, and 204;
Rep. Bai Sandra A. Sema for House Bills No. 711, 726, 733
and 1084;
Reps. Pangalian M. Balindong and Nur-Ana I. Sahidulla
for House Bill No. 1084;
Reps. Eufranio “Franny” C. Eriguel, M.D. and Luis R.
Villafuerte for House Bill No. 1291;
Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez for House Bills No. 1489, 1491,
1492, 1493, 1494 and 1495;
Rep. Eleanor C. Bulut-Begtang for House Resolution No.
121; and
Rep. Raden C. Sakaluran for House Joint Resolution No. 6.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Dep.
Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. BANAL. Mr. Speaker, may we please acknowledge
the presence of the guests of some Members:
From the Lone District of Abra, Congresswoman Joy
Bernos, and her guests are: Barangay captain of Zone 5,
Bangued, Abra, Punong Barangay Sylvia Valera Co, and other
barangay officials. If we may ask them to stand up, please.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). Please stand
up to be recognized, the guests of the Honorable Bernos.
REP. BANAL. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We would also like to recognize the guests of Deputy
Speaker Pablo Garcia and Congressman Pablo John Garcia,
from the Cebu CFI Community Cooperatives, the biggest
cooperative in the Visayas and the hall of famer of the
LandBank of the Philippines’ Ginintuang Gawad Pitak Award.
May we please acknowledge the presence of Judge Esperanza
Garcia, Chairman of the Board of Directors; Vice Chairman of
the Board, Ms. Alma Jaranilla; and the members of the board,
namely: Dr. Carolino Mordeno, Mr. Ramon Dumayag Jr., Engr.
Imelda Perez and Ms. Ofelia Morales.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). Please stand
up to be recognized.
The House welcomes the guests to the session.
(Applause) The Chair thanks them for coming over.
REP. BANAL. This will be the last batch, Mr. Speaker.
We have the guests of Hon. Yevgeny Vincente Emano, all
15
from Initao, Misamis Oriental: Vice Mayor Enerito Acain,
Councilors Leonides Baluran II, Marlou Ratunil, Herman
Balabat, Leo Galarrosa, Larry Lim, and Allan Roa; SB Secretary
Sales Janog; and Municipal Administrator Agustin Caberte.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). Please stand
up to be recognized. Welcome to the House of
Representatives. (Applause)
The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.
PRIVILEGE HOUR
REP. BANAL. Mr. Speaker, today, being a Monday, and
pursuant to our Rules, I move that we hold the Privilege Hour.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). Is there any
objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; we now declare a
Privilege Hour.
REP. ARQUIZA. Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Majority
Leader is recognized.
REP ARQUIZA. Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker.
My personal and collective privilege, Mr. Speaker, …
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Honorable
Arquiza is now recognized.
PRIVILEGE SPEECH OF REP. ARQUIZA
REP. ARQUIZA. Yes, good afternoon, Mr. Speaker, my
fellow Representatives, friends, ladies and gentlemen.
First and foremost, I would like to take this opportunity
to thank all those who supported the senior citizens during
the last election. We got second place and nearly topped the
party-list groups, and this we owe to those who believed in
our cause for senior citizens and the elderly. We will give
back and share the fruits of this blessing at the soonest
possible time to the senior citizens and their families that
made the representation of the Senior Citizens in this Chamber
possible.
Having worked so hard and having sacrificed so much
to become the First Sectoral Representative of the Senior
Citizens, representing over 7.5 million elderly persons in the
country, I found myself asking how to put more meaning into
this bestowed responsibility. From this thinking came my
strong desire to immediately take an opportunity to collate all
the House bills for senior citizens, which initially totalled to
36 bills, that were referred to different committees last
Congress.
Our works are a reflection of our gratitude to this country,
an expression of appreciation and thanks for all the
opportunities opened to us by the Filipino people in general.
The charities, advocacies and public services are also a
reminder that our hard work is not only for our self-interest,
but also to share with our countrymen, especially the poor
and the needy, the blessings from the Almighty.
Today marks a new day for senior citizens. This
Representation will nurture doable and realistic means to
translate into real benefits what is due the elderly.
16
With the approval of Republic Act No. 9994, known as
the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010,” the total well-
being of the senior citizens in society are very much protected.
It provides a comprehensive health care and rehabilitation
system that shall foster their capacity to attain meaningful
and productive aging.
We are grateful for the kindness and support of the
Members of the last Chamber, namely: Congressmen Golez,
Binay, Arroyo, Romualdez, Pancho, Roman, Villarosa, Robes,
Go, Gonzales Jr. , Puno, Enverga, Bichara, Angara, Climaco,
Escudero, Gullas, Magsaysay, Padilla, and Ong, who combined
all their House bills for this Republic Act No. 9994.
At this juncture, I would like to urge all of you to pass
House Bill No. 6910, entitled: “AN ACT PROVIDING FOR
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF GENERAL GERIATRIC
HOSPITAL.” There is concurrently no geriatric hospital in
operation anywhere in the country. Having a geriatric or
senior citizens’ ward in all government hospitals is a good
step towards providing health assistance to our senior
citizens.
Take, for example, Mang Eulogio, a 67-year old who lives
in Baseco, Tondo, Manila. I met him during one of our medical
missions organized for the senior citizens. Mang Eulogio has
barely anything to eat and so his daily meals would consist of
lugaw and salt most days of the week. He is also suffering from
hypertension and needs his maintenance of medicines badly.
Now, multiply Mang Eulogio by the number of senior
citizens who are helpless, aging and tired. Hindi po ba dapat
sila ay tulungan? How can we love God and not love our
elderly brothers who are poor and aged?
Mr. Speaker, alam ninyo, hanggang ngayon, iyon pong
cash allowance ng atin pong mga senior citizens ay nakabitin
pa. Hanggang kailan sila maghihintay, Mr. Speaker? It is not
unusual that there are many Mang Eulogios in our midst. I am
sure all of the Representatives here have seen and witnessed
our older people in their plight. Perhaps they have relatives
or friends who are living in poverty.
While we appreciate discounts on medicines, travel,
recreation and food items in restaurants as being helpful to
the poor and the needy elderly, the more important help that
we can extend during these extremely difficult times is a regular
allowance that can sustain their needs. This was answered
by Republic Act No. 9994, but still, it has not been
implemented yet.
Senior citizens need both medicine maintenance and
regular check-ups. When House Bill No. 6910 is incorporated
into the new law, our senior citizens would definitely benefit
from a ward made especially for them.
We all know that the concern about the welfare of the
senior citizens is global and is not just confined to our country.
Almost every country in the world has done their share in
responding to the growing problem of senior citizens around
the world. We can cite several developing nations like Vietnam,
Brunei, Hong Kong, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand
and Malaysia, to name a few, that have pension programs for
the elderly already in place. China and Korea have special
programs for extending financial aid to the poor and elderly.
In the Philippines, it is about time that we be generous
enough to provide our senior citizens with care that will assist
them in their difficult economic conditions, especially when
the World Bank has continuously placed our elderly people
to be living below the poverty line.
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010
Friends, Mr. Speaker, we do not want this depressing
situation to continue given the helpless capability and
physical limitations of our senior citizens.
Studies reveal that implementing a senior citizens’
allowance gives outstanding effects. Obviously, the lives
of the poor and the elderly will improve. Knowing that the
cash support that can be given is affordable and cost-
effective on the part of the government, this now becomes
indispensable in the delivery of basic and important services
to the elderly.
These benefits and privileges are in line with the
provisions contained in our Constitution declaring that
The State shall endeavor to make essential
goods, health and other social services available to
all the people at affordable cost. There shall be
priority for the needs of the underprivileged, sick,
elderly, disabled, women and children.
For 11 years, Mr. Speaker, there had been no
representation for the senior citizens in this Chamber. Now
that I am tasked to represent them, together with Rep.David
Kho, it is our duty to exert all our efforts to give them all the
benefits and privileges which they may be entitled to in these
difficult times.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development and
the Department of Health were designated to implement the
special provisions concerning medical and dental services,
free vaccination and death benefit assistance, among other
things, under Republic Act No. 9994. We suggest, Mr. Speaker,
that we establish a Committee for Senior Citizens and Persons
with Disability and Senior Citizens and Persons With Disability
Action Center to fully implement the benefits due to the
senior citizens and persons with disablities.
It is not too late for us to do something for our elderly
who had already made their humble and valuable
contributions to our country. Certainly, all of us will eventually
reach the status of being a senior citizen, and many of us
probably are already in that status. This is our lasting legacy,
Mr. Speaker. Let us not waste a single minute to make this
dream come true. Let us not deny them their aspirations but,
instead, uplift their spirits and make them valuable and
respectable people. Let us not make Mang Eulogio wait any
longer. Wala ba tayong pakiramdam? We can certainly do a
lot more to make this world a better place for our senior citizens
to live in. Tatanda din tayong lahat.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for helping me make this a social
responsibility. Mr. Speaker, I also have already sent my request
to the Committee on Rules through the Speaker.
Maraming salamat po.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Acting
Floor Leader is recognized.
REP. NOGRALES. Mr. Speaker, there being no Member
who wishes to interpellate the Honorable Arquiza, I move to
refer his speech to the appropriate committee.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The speech of
the Honorable Arquiza is hereby referred to the appropriate
committee.
Let me remind our colleagues that once a bill has been
filed and has been referred to the committee, we should refrain
from speaking on the subject matter on the floor because this
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010
is already a bar on Members speaking on the floor regarding
the subject matter that has already been referred to the
committee. The jurisdiction of the said speech belongs to the
committee already.
The Acting Floor Leader is recognized.
REP. NOGRALES. Mr. Speaker, with the indulgence of
the entire membership of the House of Representatives, may
we please acknowledge the presence of the guests of the
TUCP Party-List Representative, Congressman Raymond
Democrito Mendoza: the members and officers of PALEA
(Philippine Airlines Employees Association) led by Mr. Gerry
Rivera, their president.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). Please stand
up to be recognized. Welcome to the House of
Representatives. (Applause)
REP. NOGRALES. With the indulgence of the entire
House, we would like to recognize, Mr. Speaker, the guests of
Hon. Jesus Sacdalan, Hon. Nancy Catamco and Hon. Manny
Pacquiao: the Mindanao People’s Caucus headed by its
Secretary General, Atty. Mary Ann Arnado.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). Please stand
up to be recognized. Welcome to the House of
Representatives.
REP. NOGRALES. Mr. Speaker, I now move that the
Gentleman from the First District of Oriental Mindoro, the
honorable Rep. Rodolfo G. Valencia, be recognized to avail of
the Privilege Hour.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Honorable
Valencia is recognized.
PRIVILEGE SPEECH OF REP. VALENCIA
REP. VALENCIA. Mr. Speaker, my fellow legislators, I
rise on a matter of particular urgency and critical importance
to the nation.
On July 26, 2010, His Excellency, Pres. Benigno Aquino
III, addressed this august assembly during the State of the
Nation Address. Among many important concerns in his
speech, the President referred to a seven-point priority
legislative agenda which he asked this Congress to consider.
One important concern that he identified was the National
Land Use Policy.
In this regard, and on behalf of the Committee on Housing
and Urban Development, I wish to respond and assure
President Aquino and the nation that our committee shall
endeavor to engage our distinguished colleagues in Congress
in addressing the all-important concern for a National Land
Use Policy as a sine qua non to national development.
The request of President Aquino is most timely, Mr.
Speaker. Regretfully, the government has continued to neglect
the proper and timely implementation of laws that were passed
as early as 20 years ago in order to ensure order, rationality,
consistency, vision, social equity and long-term security in
the manner in which we use and dispose of the most precious
and fundamental resource of all for national development. I
refer to none other than our use of lands.
17
As a response to the President’s appeal, and as an
expression of my own deep and personal appreciation for the
need and usefulness of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan
(CLUP) to be enacted into zoning ordinances and enforced
by all the municipalities, cities and provinces, I am now
considering to submit to His Excellency, on behalf of our
Committee on Housing and Urban Development, an executive
summary of the National Land Use Plan and implementation
of the CLUP, together with a copy of House Resolution No.
144, which I filed in this Chamber, entitled: A RESOLUTION
URGING HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT BENIGNO SIMEON
C. AQUINO III, THROUGH THE HONORABLE SECRETARY
OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, IN
COORDINATION WITH HONORABLE CHAIRMAN OF
THE HOUSING & URBAN DEVELOPMENT
COORDINATING COUNCIL (HUDC), TO DIRECT ALL
LOCAL CHIEF EXECUTIVESAND LOCAL DEVELOPMENT
COUNCILS TO IMMEDIATELY REVISIT/REFORMULATE/
FORMULATE AND COMPLETE THEIR RESPECTIVE
COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLANS; AND TO
INSTITUTIONALIZE THE REASSESSMENT/REVISIT/
REVISION THEREOF AT LEAST EVERY TEN (10) YEARS.
Mr. Speaker, we have laws on this matter passed way
back 20 years ago. For example, the Local Government Code
of 1991, provided a clear-cut definition of land use plan, which
LGUs are mandated to adopt. We have Section 20 mandating
the LGUs, in conformity with the existing laws, to continue to
prepare their Comprehensive Land Use Plan, et cetera.
Section 447, on the adoption of the Comprehensive Land
Use Plan for the municipality and city, meanwhile, provides
that the formulation, adoption or modification of said plan
shall be in accordance with the approved provincial
Comprehensive Land Use Plan.
Section 458 provides for the enactment of integrated
zoning ordinances in consonance with the approved
Comprehensive Land Use Plan, subject to existing laws, rules
and regulations.
Section 447 prescribes reasonable limits and restraints
on the use of property within the jurisdiction of the
municipality or city.
Section 444 provides the adoption of measures to
safeguard and conserve land, mineral, marine, forest and other
resources of the municipality or city.
Section 476 provides the formulation of integrated
economic, social, physical and other development plans and
policies for consideration of the Local Development Council.
In addition to that, Mr. Speaker, we also have Republic
Act No. 7279, the Urban Development and Housing Act of
1992, which provides a clear-cut definition of the Land Use
Plan which the LGUs are mandated to adopt.
Section 3, for example, defines Land Use Plan as a rational
approach of allocating available value resources as equitably
as possible among competing user groups, et cetera.
Section 6 mandates the Housing and Land Use
Regulatory Board (HLURB) under the direction of the Housing
and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) to
formulate the National Urban Development and Housing
Framework in coordination with all local government units
(LGUs) and other concerned public and private sectors within
one year from the effectivity of the Act, so on and so forth.
Section 7 mandates all cities and municipalities to
conduct an inventory of all lands and improvements thereon,
18
indicating the type of land and the degree of utilization within
one year from the effectivity of the Act.
Section 8 mandates that, after the inventory of the LGUs,
in coordination with the NHA, the HLURB, the National
Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA)
and the Land Management Bureau (LMB) to identify lands
for socialized housing and resettlement areas for the
immediate and future needs of the underprivileged and the
homeless in the urban areas.
Further, government-owned lands, which have not been
used for its reserve purpose for the past 10 years from the
effectivity of the Act, up to year 2002 and identified as being
suitable for socialized housing, shall immediately be
transferred to the National Housing Authority (NHA)
subject to the approval of the President of the Republic of
the Philippines or the concerned LGU for its proper
disposition.
Mr. Speaker, we checked with the HLURB regarding
this and what we did is audit and find out which cities,
municipalities and provinces in this Republic that had in
fact complied with this. We are willing to give you a copy or
put this in our website. In that board, just very briefly, the
total number of local government units are: provinces, we
have 82; cities, we have 122; and municipalities, we have
1,505. With the approved CLUP, we have 59 provinces; 121
cities—the only city that is not able to get an approved
CLUP is Toledo City in Cebu;—and municipalities, we have
1286.
With the updated Comprehensive Land Use Plan
approval, in year 2000 to 2004, we have 38 provinces. In other
words, marami pong hindi updated ang CLUP. For cities, we
have 100 of them that have an updated report; and
municipalities, we have about 870 of them that have an
updated report.
Relative to the updated Comprehensive Land Use Plan
approval, especially from the years 1991 to 1999 or 1978 to
1999, there are 21 provinces that do not have an updated
CLUP. What they have is dated 20 years ago. We have 21
cities and 416 municipalities that do not have an updated
CLUP. For those without Comprehensive Land Use Plan, we
have 23 provinces, one city and 219 municipalities. We have
them on record and this should be made available in the
website that we are putting together for the Committee on
Housing and Urban Development.
Mr. Speaker, the next slide will show you something
else. There are a lot of zoning violations within geo-hazard
territories that include river banks, esteros, drainage,
sewerage lines, among others, which are within the
residential, commercial and public structures. Because of
this neglect, we have, in the past 20 years, allowed
continuing episodes of natural and man-made disasters to
repeat themselves over and over again at enormous cost
to human lives and property, with a demoralizing and
revolting waste of funds and other limited resources. We
have built where we should not have. Imagine, for example,
in that photograph, you have a house built almost on top
of a creek. What do you think will happen in case of heavy
rains? So, I would like to repeat, we have built where we
should not have. We have used land for one purpose when
we should have used it, instead, for another.
We had typhoon Ondoy, Mr. Speaker. As a consequence
of typhoons Ondoy, Pepeng, and Frank last year, many urban
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010
settlements were identified for immediate relocation elsewhere
in order to avoid grave physical risks and hazards to people
in the current location. Why have they not been relocated
yet? Why do we not even know where they are to be
relocated? Where are those lands from which the new
settlements should rise?
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo called a LEDAC
meeting and I was present there in that LEDAC meeting. She
gave explicit instructions and even signed an executive order.
But the question is: bakit hanggang ngayon they have not
yet been relocated? Maghihintay pa ba tayo ng isang Ondoy
para tayo magising dito?
What is true of the urban communities affected by the
recent killer typhoons is true likewise of many other urban
and rural communities in many other parts of the country. By
neglecting to plan and manage their habitats of origin, we
have unwittingly pushed millions of our people deeper into
the urban jungle in search of better opportunities or so they
thought, but where, instead, congestion, pollution, social and
environmental degradation, and an uncertain future have
become a way of life.
In that photograph, you have plenty of people all over
Metro Manila. Mr. Speaker, let us not forget the massive
increase in our population. Three babies are born every minute
or 4,320 Filipinos are born everyday. Can you imagine what
kind of shelter will be provided them in the next years to come
if we do not wake up?
True, we see random oases of development and
modernity here and there, but these are few and far between.
But because there has been no semblance of a national master
plan, they rise and stand alongside slum areas and shanty
towns and are surrounded everywhere by pockets of urban
decay, poverty and deprivation.
There was a horrible news headline this morning in the
Philippine Star. Let me share it with you if you have not read
it yet, my dear colleagues, Mr. Speaker. Incidentally, a
disturbing news report, entitled “Metro Manila Unprepared
for Big Quake” and carrying the byline of a Mr. Cheeko Ruiz
was published in the August 9 issue of The Philippine Star.
The report paints a detailed doomsday scenario of what would
happen to Metro Manila should an earthquake of 7.2 intensity
strike the metropolis, with mind- boggling calamity and
disaster, that may result in 34,000 people being killed instantly,
110,000 injured, 13 percent or 170,000 residential buildings
heavily damaged or collapsed, rendering 1.2 million people
homeless, and 25 percent of public facilities destroyed and/
or damaged.
Attributing the source of the report to the Metro
Manila Earthquake Vulnerability Assessment of a
business research and consulting firm by the name of
Pacific Strategies and Assessments (PSA), the news
article noted that, in terms of urban settlement and
planning, and despite the rapid urbanization in the
National Capital Region over the last four decades, the
national government has failed to adopt a comprehensive
land use plan for Metro Manila.
The lack of coordination and check and balance
mechanisms between the local and the national government
have likewise weakened the enforcement of building
standards, with many residential and commercial buildings
built on hazard-prone areas, using substandard construction
materials.
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010
The same report cite a number of factors to which this
sad state of affairs may be attributed, some of which are
intimately linked to land use studies and land use planning.
For example, in terms of soil composition and liquefaction,
the report said that the different cities in Metro Manila have
varying degrees of earthquake risk due to their sediment
composition. A closer evaluation of Metro Manila soil
composition revealed that the region is dominated by
quatemay allurium which is generally not suitable for the
construction of big infrastructure and buildings.
Additionally, in terms of building codes and corruption,
the same article notes that corruption has long been
established in the building/construction and inspection
processes across Metro Manila. For both privately- and
publicly -bonded projects, many Philippine construction
companies attempt to save money by circumventing and
manipulating building code compliance processes and other
critical provisions. Therefore, many structures have not
undergone structural evaluation and vulnerability
assessment to strong tremors.
There are also illegal conversions. Mr. Speaker, our
Constitution is quite clear that prime agricultural land,
particularly those irrigated rice lands or irrigable lands, must
not be subject to land conversion from agricultural to non-
agricultural use. Mr. Speaker, we have witnessed rampant
violations of this provision of the law. The CLUP will clearly
identify agricultural lands, the conversion of which must be
non-negotiable to give strong importance to the food security
of our people.
Mr. Speaker, my dear colleagues, we must respond to
this urgent situation. We can and must turn around before
the situation gets any worse and move beyond the point of
no return. We can do so if we give the laws that we have
passed the seriousness and respect that they deserve and
accord these the sense of urgency with which their authors
and proponents lobbied for their passage.
The present state of our environment and the needs of
our people for better land use planning and enforcement
demand that we act now. It is high time to finish a job that has
been pending for so long. As old-fashioned wisdom puts it,
“It is better late than never; better sure than sorry.”
Thank you, Mr. Speaker and my dear colleagues, for your
kind attention.
REP. BAGATSING. Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Gentleman
from Manila, Honorable Bagatsing, is recognized.
REP. BAGATSING. Yes, Mr. Speaker.
Will the Gentleman from Mindoro yield to some
clarificatory questions, Mr. Speaker?
REP. VALENCIA. I will be honored, Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). Please proceed.
REP. BAGATSING. Mr. Speaker, the Gentleman and
this Representation were both Members of the Eighth
Congress. I guess that is more than 20 years ago. I distinctly
remember that even as early as the Eighth Congress, the
Gentleman from Mindoro was espousing this kind of
19
housing programs and centering on the CLUP. He
mentioned something about the UDHA which mandates
all local governments to identify land. The UDHA also
requires local governments to submit their land use plan
to the HLURB. Am I correct, Mr. Speaker?
REP. VALENCIA. The Gentleman is correct, Mr. Speaker.
REP. BAGATSING. So, after more than 20 years, it now
appears that little has been done.
REP. VALENCIA. That is correct.
REP. BAGATSING. What seems to be the problem, Mr.
Speaker? Considering that more than 20 years had lapsed,
the problem has become so redundant—paulit-ulit na lang
ito. Ano kaya sa tingin ninyo ang naging problema kung
bakit hindi nabigyan ng buhay ang mga batas na ginawa ng
Kongreso? Luckily, we have also here Cong. Pong Biazon,
who was formerly with the Senate, who was heading the
House contingent in the Senate. So, it seems that we are just
going around in circles. Siguro, baka mayroon na ngayong
maibibigay na bagong proposal ang Kinatawan ng Mindoro
to finally address this problem of land use.
At this juncture, the Deputy Speaker relinquished the
Chair to Rep. Janette L. Garin.
REP. VALENCIA. Yes, Mr. Speaker. I think the Gentleman
is referring to Republic Act No. 7160, the Local Government
Code of 1991, as well as the Urban Development and Housing
Act (UDHA) of 1992, Republic Act No. 7279. The law is quite
clear that the local government units are mandated to come
up with their Comprehensive Land Use Plan. I presented that
actually a big percent of them did so. But many have not
updated their CLUP, actually, this may be up to year 2000 or
1999 and so, they have to update. But the bigger problem is
that there seems to be, you know, parang hindi importante
ito. In other words, there are many CLUPs submitted but the
question is, are these CLUPs being implemented? In fact, no
less than three Presidents had all signed and released
executive orders—President Ramos, President Estrada,
President GMA—mandating the LGUs to do such. But it looks
like that they have not seen the importance of such a very
important plan or master plan, which they must do. So, it is
good that this has been brought forward and actually, we are
very thankful for that and at least, we should all be thankful
to President Aquino that he considers this very important.
Actually, in his SONA, this is item no. 7 of his legislative
agenda, and that is why our committee, I believe, has
responded immediately. In fact, last Friday, I submitted to
President Aquino an executive summary and a brief study
and an analysis of what is happening today on the
Comprehensive Land Use Plans, Mr. Speaker.
REP. BAGATSING. Yes. Mr. Speaker, hindi ko
maintindihan kung bakit hindi maglabas ng land use plan ang
mga LGUs. Please disabuse my mind. I know that the
Gentleman has represented the private sector even before he
became a Congressman. Pero parang hindi ko maintindihan
why the local government units cannot come out with a land
use plan. From where I am standing, if I were an investor at
20
nakita ko sa pamahalaang lokal ang land use policy nila, at
gusto kong mag-develop ng housing program, at iyong local
government concerned ay mayroong land use plan,
pupuntahan ko lang ang mga lugar na nasa plan at doon ako
magpagtatayo ng housing. Kung gusto ko ng industrial zone,
makikita ko rin kung saan.
In other words, pinapadali mo para sa investor ang mag-
invest sa isang pamahalaan. Ang thrust ng pamahalaang
lokal ay imbitahin ang kapitalista at nang sa ganoon ay
makalikom ito ng buwis at makapagbigay ng hanapbuhay at
magkaroon ng development. From what I heard from your
speech, is there is a sense of frustration. Siguro nga dahil
noong araw ko pa naririnig ito mula sa Kinatawan at ito
iyong ina-amplify at ipinaglalaban niya. Sigurado ba na sa
mga panahong ito kung saan muli ang HUDCC ang siyang
mangangasiwa sa shelter program ay mayroon na kayang
posibilidad na mabigyang muli ng HUDCC ng buhay o
maisagawa ang Comprehensive Land Use Plan na mandated
naman by law, so that investors can easily put their money
in friendly LGUs? Kasi po ay hindi ko maintindihan kung
bakit ang LGU ay hindi naglalabas ng kanilang land use
para nga mag-attract ng mga kapitalista.
Does the Gentleman think the Vice President, who is now
head of HUDCC, can finally put to rest ang matagal nang
problemang ito?
REP. VALENCIA. Mr. Speaker, before I reply to that, it
was good that the Gentleman mentioned the advantages of
having a comprehensive land use plan adopted. As he said,
one result of that is it will now expedite the decisions of
investors to come in with their investments, whether it is in
agriculture, tourism, industry or in housing, what have you.
So, it will very easy for them to come in right now and because
of the dynamic system of proper planning, they would decide
to stay later on. If a municipality or a city has an updated land
use plan, madali ho ito makakakuha ng investors.
Number two, for our Republic, definitely, the tax revenue
collection, hindi lang po siguro five or 10 times ang ilalaki.
So much land today is assessed as being agricultural and
so, when it is reclassified as commercial and residential,
marami na ang makakalusot diyan and it will redound as a
big revenue to the government if that will happen. Mme.
Speaker, this will definitely identify land for social housing,
believe me.
Siguro napag-uusapan na natin ito, Mme. Speaker, once
in awhile. Well, let us imagine ourselves in a plane going
home from a trip abroad, leaving beautiful countries like
Singapore, Malaysia and even Hong Kong, Thailand, et
cetera, behind. From where we are going to land, coming from
the north or from the south, what will we see from our window?
Ako pa naman, gustung-gustong ko sa tabi ng bintana ng
eroplano. Habang nagla-landing ang eroplano, ano ang
nakikita mo? Puro bubong ng bahay gawa sa yerong
kinakalawang. Is this what we are going to show our tourists?
Is this what we want to show to them when we ask them to
retire to the Philippines? Sus.
Because of the absence of a Comprehensive Land Use
Plan, Mme. Speaker, there are so many squatters in Metro
Manila, as we had seen in the photo a while ago. The question
is, bakit paglabas natin ng Maynila papuntang Cavite,
Laguna, as far as your eyes can see, there is plenty of raw
land. Why is it that the people are all in the congested Metro
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010
Manila when we have all these lands? Why? Because of the
difficulty of land conversion. Hindi maliwanag ito, Mme.
Speaker. Naging case-to-case ang basis, and to convert our
land these days, we will spend P15 per square meter for a
municipal or city land. I am sorry to say this, at bato-bato sa
langit, ang tamaan huwag magagalit, pero sa total cost,
sometimes it costs about P90 to P100 per square meter just to
convert.
Now, to answer the Gentleman, Mme. Speaker, this may
be one of the many reasons many LGUs would rather do it on
a case-to-case basis at, I am sorry to say, case-to-case din
ang transaction.
Okay, the question is, can this be enforced? I believe so,
Mme. Speaker, because this is the first time that a President
has included in his legislative agenda, as priority item no. 7,
the implementation of a National Land Use Law. I am happy
and , with the help of our Vice President Jojo Binay, who is
known for his really strong management and proper direction
and guidance, I am very sure that it will happen. That is why,
Mme. Speaker, we did not file a new law; there are lots of laws
already. What we just filed is a House resolution urging the
President to implement this law and, knowing how President
Aquino acts these days, I am sure it will happen finally.
REP. BAGATSING. I thank the Gentleman for that
wonderful statement and answers. Bato-bato sa langit, ang
tamaan huwag magalit— pero bato-bato sa langit, ang tamaan
ay nagagalit.
REP. VALENCIA. Mme. Speaker, this time, we have to
discipline ourselves. Do we have to wait for these typhoons
to come? We saw yesterday what happened to Pakistan, India
and other countries all over. We have experienced Ondoy. Do
we have to wait further still until our kababayans suffer again?
This morning, in the Philippine Star, there was, as I had said,
a top story stating that in case of a 7.2-intensity earthquake
happening here, ang kanilang projection ay—I am sorry, it is
a very horrible prediction— 34,000 will die. Can you imagine
that, Mme. Speaker? There will be more than a hundred
casualties. Do we have to wait for this to happen? We must
wake up, Mme. Speaker; otherwise, we might not be able to
anymore solve this horrible problem.
REP. BAGATSING. Mme. Speaker, I share the frustration
of the Gentleman from Mindoro. Tama ang sinabi niya. When
you are riding a plane or a chopper, you can see vast tracts of
land in Southern Luzon and Northern Luzon. I cannot also
understand kung bakit nga ba hindi magawan ng highway
iyan para magamit? Siguro, kung maisasagawa lang iyong
Land Use Law, na palagay ko ay matagal na nating hinihintay,
this can trigger development in the different areas. I am sure
that, from what we have experienced, we can excite the nation,
excite the locality. So, I hope that the resolution will be given
total support because we already have the law but talagang
napag-iwanan na ng panahon. So, I hope that the leadership
will take cognizance of the Gentleman’s speech, and I for one
would totally support the resolution of the Gentleman from
Mindoro.
Thank you, Mme. Speaker. I also thank the Gentleman
from Mindoro.
REP. NOGRALES. Mme. Speaker ...
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010
REP. VALENCIA. Mme. Speaker, the comment of the
Gentleman from Manila was that an additional advantage of
the resolution is that the prioritization of our development
can be properly identified. Now, if we want to do this and to
make that a priority, we can. In fact, marami ho tayong
ginagawang proyekto pero sa kabilang ibayo ay walang kalye.
This will not happen anymore if we have a plan.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin). The Dep.
Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. BANAL. Mme. Speaker, may we recognize Hon.
Winston Castelo from the Second District of Quezon City.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin). Hon. Winston
Castelo is hereby recognized.
REP. CASTELO. Maraming salamat, Mme. Speaker.
First of all, allow me to congratulate the privileged speaker
for taking into issue this very important subject matter which
was included in the speech of President Noynoy Aquino in
his State of the Nation Address.
My question, Mme. Speaker, is, is it already sufficient
for the privileged speaker that a mere resolution emanating
from this House is already adequate to mandate the local
government units to conduct a comprehensive land use
program every 10 years; or it is also necessary that we come
up with a special law that would result in the maximum
compliance of the LGUs to this very sensitive issue?
REP. VALENCIA. Yes, Mme. Speaker, the point is, there
is a law or laws to implement the CLUP. We could implement
them, and that is why we just want a House resolution, and I
know that President Aquino will immediately move on this.
But nobody could stop any Member of our Assembly from
filing a special law if he wishes to. We will support that, of
course, but as we wait for the approval of such a special law,
we have to implement the laws that had already been approved
for the same. But as I said, no one can stop a colleague here
from filing another special law on the Comprehensive Land
Use Plan for our country.
REP. CASTELO. Mme. Speaker, may the Gentleman
from Mindoro and the privileged Speaker update this
Representation if the submission of the Comprehensive
Land Use Plan by the LGUs are solely confined to the
cities or municipalities affected in the area or, as
Representatives of our congressional districts, we also
have this power and authority to at least initiate a legislative
action that would require the LGUs to conduct the CLUP
as soon as possible?
REP. VALENCIA. Mme. Speaker, the Local Government
Code of 1991, Republic Act No. 7160, actually mandates and
pinpoints the local government unit as the one preparing it.
By the way, we normally do this in Mindoro; we do not just
do it at the governor’s or the mayor’s office. There is a special
committee that is composed of representatives from the
Department of Energy, the DENR, DAR, Department of Public
Works, DILG, et cetera. In other words, this is taken very
seriously. It undergoes a very deep study and involves
practically all agencies. So, this is under the baton, under the
21
umbrella of the local government unit. But if we prepare a
special law, and the Gentleman wishes that the District
Congressman should be involved, then by all means, we will
welcome that.
REP. CASTELO. One of the resulting factors, Mme.
Speaker, is that the approval of this resolution now will lead
to the identification or inventory of several idle lands that are
suitable for housing projects. Would that be a result upon
the approval of this resolution, Mme. Speaker?
REP. VALENCIA. Yes, Mme. Speaker, actually, with
comprehensive land use, as I had said, one zone area will be
for a residential area, specifically, a residential area that will
be good for a social housing project. Kasi ho, bihira ang city
o municipality that have identified these areas. If they have
identified these areas, then the National Housing Authority
will have no reason anymore to tell us, “We cannot relocate
those squatters because we do not have land to relocate
them to” when there are thousands and thousands of parcels
of lands that are available. The only point is, we do not have
a plan and therefore, we must have one. If we do this once
and for all, ang mga squatters ng Metro Manila, mga squatters
ng mga probinsiya at ciudad, mayroon na po silang
malilipatan. The relocation would be very much easier than it
is today.
REP. CASTELO. There are idle lands, Mme. Speaker, or
government properties that are already suitable for housing
projects. Would the proposed resolution now incorporate
them? There are several government properties, nationwide
or in the localities or in my district that are available; however,
their utility has not been put to good use. What would happen
now to these idle lands? Would they now be converted into
socialized housing projects to allow housing opportunities
for my constituents, Mme. Speaker?
REP. VALENCIA. Yes, Mme. Speaker. In fact, it is
embodied in Republic Act No. 7279, the Urban Development
and Housing Act of 1992. In fact, from 1992, they were given
only one year to identify these lands. But that was already 18
years ago and up to today, if there have been submissions,
siguro five percent lang. Now, if we will enforce this, then
maybe, in about one or two years, a lot of these idle properties
can be put to good use, especially for social housing.
REP. CASTELO. I think the problem, Mme. Speaker, is
that it resides on his premise on the enforcement. In Metro
Manila alone for example, when I was listening to the
privileged speaker, he said that 17 cities and municipalities of
Metro Manila have complied with the CLUP; however, there
are lots of violations. May I know from the privileged speaker
if there is a provision in the resolution that would allow the
national government or the different housing agencies to act
on violations of the CLUP?
At this juncture, the Presiding Officer relinquished the
Chair to Deputy Speaker Jesus Crispin C. Remulla.
REP. VALENCIA. Yes, not only violations of the law
that required them to do so, but there were also provisions
of the Building Code that were violated. That is why the
22
news story this morning stated that there are so many
buildings here that were given approval on certain sites
where these buildings should not have been built. So, I
think it is high time that the LGU, particularly, of the area
concerned, should look into all these before a big earthquake
comes, so that we will be able to correct whatever mistakes
that had been made.
REP. CASTELO. With that, Mr. Speaker, I would like to
reiterate and emphasize my support for the resolution, with
the end in view of providing housing opportunities for the
poorest of the poor, especially in this district.
Again, we congratulate the privileged speaker. Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
REP. VALENCIA. I also thank the Gentleman.
REP. BIAZON. Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Honorable
Biazon is recognized.
REP. BIAZON. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Will the Gentleman from Mindoro yield to some
questions?
REP. VALENCIA. To my good friend, the past Chairman
of the Committee on Housing in the Senate, definitely. It will
be my honor.
REP. BIAZON. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, there are apparently five competing needs
for land now. The first need for land is food production. We
are a nation categorized to be an agricultural land or
agricultural country, but through the years, we have been
increasing the importation of our staple rice. From a mere 200
to 300 metric tons of rice four, five or six years ago, this year,
we had to import something like three million metric tons to
feed our people. We need land for food production, Mr.
Speaker. Second, we need land for shelter, Mr. Speaker. Third,
we need land for industrial, commercial and job-generating
use. Fourth is the institutional use of land for our schools, for
our public facilities, for our offices. We need to preserve land
to address our concerns on environmental issues, Mr. Speaker.
Would the Gentleman agree that we need a closer
examination of each of these needs for land so that when we
formulate or craft our proposed national land policy, none of
the five competing needs for land is taken for granted and,
therefore, is disadvantaged? Would the Gentleman agree?
REP. VALENCIA. Yes, I do agree one hundred percent,
Mr. Speaker, because, well, when we consider land
conversion, we do not just convert it. We have to look into
the physical character of the land, location, et cetera, before
we can allow the land to be converted.
Now, I would like to go further on the question of my dear
colleague, Mr. Speaker, about providing lands for other uses. I
remember that, just for the information of our colleagues here,
there was a study done by the GTZ, a German foundation,
together with the Department of Agrarian Reform, on land
converted from agriculture to non-agriculture uses, or land
that had been parcelized to be covered by agrarian reform.
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010
Mr. Speaker, the 2006 report indicated that there were
about 7,000 hectares—no, I am sorry, seven million hectares
parcelized in compliance with the Comprehensive Agrarian
Reform Law. We also extended it so that we could parcelize
another one million hectare of land. So, definitely, about eight
million, more or less, parcelized agricultural lands had been
awarded by the DAR. Compared to the conversion of
agricultural to non-agricultural, Mr. Speaker, only 50,000
hectares of land have been converted from agricultural to
non-agricultural use. If we divide 50,000 hectares by seven
million hectares, that is not even one percent of the land, just
0.07 percent—again, not even one percent. Therefore, there
is still a long way to go. The point is, there are so many lands
that could be converted because these are not prime
agricultural lands; these are not irrigable lands. But we must
agree, once and for all, to utilize these lands for other socio-
economic uses.
REP. BIAZON. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, this country had considered crafting the
national land use policy 20 years ago. Between then and
now, there are new factors that must seriously be considered.
The first, of course, is population. Twenty years ago, we
were only hitting about 60 million people. Mr. Speaker, but in
the estimate of the National Statistics Office (NSO) in its
census taken last summer, we are now hitting 93 million simply
because we are giving birth to more than 20 million babies a
year. Meaning, in another four years, we will be breaking 100
million population of this country.
So there you go. We have to consider that; we have to
provide for those five competing needs for land, Mr. Speaker.
We need to input into the equation this factor. For example,
there is a marked exodus of the people from the rural areas to
the urban areas. The national population growth averege is
2.04 percent. Laguna is registering something lie four percent,
way above the national average. Cavite, which is vastly
becoming a “bedroom” of industrial Metro Manila, initially
registered something like five percent. It is beginning to go
down, of course. Rizal has more than three percent, et cetera.
However, there are regions and provinces in the rural areas
whose population growth register way below the national
average. Bicol is exhibiting something like 1.2 or 1.3 percent
population growth. Negros Oriental is registering 1.7 percent,
way below the national average. Meaning, we need to input
this factor into our equation so that we can come up with a
proposed national land use policy.
Mr. Speaker, there is another trend, a new trend, and this
is the non-traditional use of land. One example is the adoption
of a policy to allow the use of land for the production of
biofuels. That is the reason there is now a great debate in the
world on whether or not we are going to allow the use of land
for biofuel production instead of food production, and I take
the position that we first must give priority to the use of our
land for food production, shelter, et cetera, rather than allow
the use of land for the production of biofuels. The other
factor is allowing or giving the control of our land to foreign
land-grabbers. There is now an international trend, a global
trend for land-grabbing. This is very apparent in Madagascar
where there was a revolution because the President allowed
the use of one million hectares by Daewoo of Korea. There
was a revolution because of this and the President was
overthrown.
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010
This was, I think, three or four years ago, and our
colleague here, Hon. Walden Bello, knows this very well.
This is also happening in Indonesia and in Laos, and we had
been targeted, Mr. Speaker. Three or four years ago, President
Arroyo, in one of her State of the Nation Addresses, made an
announcement that she was going to encourage the Chinese
to come into this country and take control of 1.24 million
hectares of land to be planted to what, we do not know. Worse,
we do not know the disposition of the harvest. I raised this
issue but sadly, I think there was fast-tracking of that
announcement because they are already here, Mr. Speaker.
The Japanese are in Northern Luzon, in the Ilocos Region, in
Ilocos Norte, my home province. The Japanese are there and
allowed to plant coconut trees for biofuel production. The
Koreans are in the Bondoc Peninsula in Mindoro, in the
Gentleman’s home province, Mr. Speaker. There are many
others who would like to come into this country. That is the
reason, Mr. Speaker.
Would the Gentleman agree to a proposition for us to
take a look at this—crafting a national land use policy approach
must be more expansive than what it is today—like creating a
commission so that all the five competing needs for land
such as food production, shelter, industrial, commercial, and
job-generating ventures, institutional use and environment,
will be presented in that study in the crafting of a national
land use policy, Mr. Speaker?
REP. ROMULO. Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Deputy
Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. ROMULO. With the indulgence of the Honorable
Valencia and Honorable Biazon, the time allotted for the
Privilege Hour has lapsed. There are still many Members who
wish to interpellate the Honorable Valencia and so, I move
that the Privilege Hour be extended by another 20 minutes. I
so move, Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). Is there any
objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the Privilege Hour
is extended by another 20 minutes.
REP. VALENCIA. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would like to respond to the smorgasbord or multiple
question or analysis or opinion of our dear colleague, the
past Chairman of the Committee on Housing in the Senate.
First, all the more that we need to plan this, especially
when we talk of our ever-increasing population. Mr. Speaker,
the Gentleman is correct that we are about 93 million today,
increasing at the rate of 1.9 percent per year, three babies
every minute or about 4,320 new Filipinos a day being born.
By year 2030, it is projected that we will have something like
about 120 or 130 million Filipinos. By year 2040 or 2045, we
may have to consider something like 150 million Filipinos. So,
all the more that we must plan. We have the capacity today to
plan for their coming in, especially this new generation. Mr.
Speaker, that is why it is so important that we must plan.
Second, the Gentleman had mentioned that we must consider
food production, we must consider areas or plantations for
biofuels as alternative energy or power sources, et cetera.
We must consider housing, we must consider tourism, we
23
must consider industrial—yes, precisely, Mr. Speaker. Maybe
we do not need anymore to organize a commission for this. In
the provinces, it is a common practice where they organize
what is known as the Provincial Land Use Committee (PLUC).
That PLUC is composed of directors coming from the DILG,
Department of Agriculture, DENR, DTI, Department of
Agrarian Reform, the Department of Public Works and
Highways, and the Department of Agriculture, practically
everybody, Mr. Speaker.
So, the CLUP will have to pass the honest-to-goodness
approval of this group of very competent directors coming
from the different agencies and then later on, they will submit
this report to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for approval,
and if it is approved by the board members, then the governor
will approve the same. After that, it is now filed with the
HLURB for approval.
I am quite familiar with that because I did that when I was
a governor. Definitely po, we have to consider the land
character, whether it is good for agriculture or for biofuel. Is it
good for industrial use? Is it good for forestry? Or we should
not even negotiate any conversion because this is prime
agricultural land. Lalabas lahat po iyan sa analysis.
Considering the population that we now see is happening, or
forthcoming or will happen, all the more that we must plan,
once and for all, for the land use of this country.
REP. BIAZON. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Relative to the last issue on housing in the urban areas.,
when we talk of urban areas, we are not only talking of areas
in, for example, Makati, Ortigas or Roxas Boulevard. We are
talking of the areas within Metro Manila. Little by little, we
are running out of land that can be used for housing. In
Muntinlupa, from the initial 400 hectares, a total of 72 hectares
had been given to individual beneficiaries. Would the
Gentleman agree that in the formulation of housing policies
for urban areas, we should maximize the number of
beneficiaries in the use of land, Mr. Speaker?
REP. VALENCIA. Mr. Speaker, we have to distinguish
between urban and rural territories, especially high-density
areas like the cities of Manila, Malabon, Parañaque, et cetera.
We have to consider the land value, the land cost, because
we cannot build single-detached, duplex or even town houses
in Metro Manila because it is not going to be economically
feasible. So, in Manila and thereabouts, in high density
areas, we would normally have vertical development. That
is why we now see so many vertical developments
sprouting all over. But in the rural areas where the land is
cheap, we can find single-detached houses selling at
P500,000 or P600,000. We can find town houses thereat
selling as low as P400,000, and with the Pag-IBIG loans
available today, it is only about P2,700 in monthly
installment or about 90 percent lower than rental. That is
now rampant in the countryside, Mr. Speaker.
So, I agree that we must do that, but again, the feasibility
would depend on land valuation, on land value. The feasibility
will also depend on the supply and demand factor, because
no private developer will go into any kind of housing
development if he is not going to make money out of it.
Therefore, the viability of the housing is very important, and
this will depend on the area, the value of land and the present
available market.
24
REP. BIAZON. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
One last question. How do we evaluate the use of land,
specifically, the former Smokey Mountain site where there
is a six-story tenement housing? How does the Gentleman
from Mindoro assess that in relation to having to provide
shelter as well as jobs for our marginalized sector, the urban
poor?
REP. VALENCIA. Mr. Speaker, I would not want to further
reply on that there has been a Supreme Court decision already
stating that the project is highly feasible and viable.
REP. BIAZON. Yes.
REP. VALENCIA. In fact, the Supreme Court has
supported it.
REP. BIAZON. So, is this not the concept that we are
looking at insofar as providing shelter for the marginalized
urban poor within the industrialized areas of Metro
Manila?
REP. VALENCIA. Well, if you ask me about that from the
point of view of a developer, I would say here and now that I
believe that the development of a Smokey Mountain project
is correct. I have seen it and it is based on the best use of the
land. It is therefore correct to have it done. We have a little bit
of a medium-rise community because that is the only way
that they could provide the needs for those many squatters
residing in the area before. So I think the development has
conformed to what they call in the real estate as the best use
of the land.
REP. BIAZON. Does it satisfy the question of
affordability?
REP. VALENCIA. Yes, Mr. Speaker. In fact, one cannot
consider a project viable unless a target market can afford
to pay to acquire a unit out thereat. It is occupied and
therefore it has been made affordable to those who are now
occupying it. Otherwise, they will be kicked out if they paid
nothing.
REP. BIAZON. I would like to congratulate our colleague
for raising this very important issue.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
REP. VALENCIA. Maraming salamat po.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Dep.
Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. BANAL. Mr. Speaker, may we recognize Hon. Aurelio
“Dong” Gonzales from the Third District of Pampanga.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). Hon. Aurelio
“Dong”Gonzales is recognized.
REP. GONZALES (A.). Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank
you also to my colleague, Congressman Valencia of Mindoro.
I saw the slide showing the picture a while ago at baka gusto
niya ring amendahan ang National Building Code with relation
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010
to this national land use policy. I saw the many channels or
bridges built over the river, the encroachment on the land
owned by the government.
Mr. Speaker, does the Gentleman also want to review
the National Building Code of the Philippines as regards
vertical developments so that the people therein will not
encroach on the land which is the property of our
government, Mr. Speaker?
REP. VALENCIA. Mr. Speaker, if I go by the report this
morning, I am terrified by that report stating that, if a 7.2
intensity earthquake would hit Metro Manila, 34,000 will die
and the immediate casualties or injured would be more than
about 130,000. That statement did not come from me; it was
written in that paper. Because of that, I believe that the more
there is now wisdom and importance for us to review why
this is so. Let us see the current Building Code, which may
already be outdated today. Let us review that, but let us also
review how in the hell, pardon my language, this was
approved. We have to look into that before this tragedy of an
earthquake happens, and earthquakes happen without us
waiting for it. See. It could happen any moment. The same
thing happened when typhoon Ondoy came—unprepared
tayo. Nabigla tayo. What happened to us? Giba ang
Philippines, giba ang area natin. Therefore, to answer my
friend, my colleague, yes, if necessary, we would like to review
even the Building Code.
REP. GONZALES (A.). Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I just would like to put things in the proper perspective.
This is a good resolution by the honorable Congressman
from Mindoro, the proposed National Land Use Policy and
the implementation of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan.
The United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) approached
me to investigate also the encroachment, and says that there
are so many violations of the National Building Code. They
are violating the National Building Code. Kaya po sana, at ito
ang sinasabi ko, na mabuti po ay sumasang-ayon kayo, that
we should properly implement not only this National Land
Use Policy, but also the National Building Code of the
Philippines.
So, Mr. Speaker, my dear colleagues, thank you, and I
would like to congratulate my colleague from Mindoro.
Salamat po, Mr. Speaker.
REP. VALENCIA. I also thank the Gentleman for his
questions.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Dep.
Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. BANAL. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I move to refer the speech of the Honorable Valencia to
the appropriate committees.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The speech
of the Honorable Valencia, including all the interpellations
thereon, is hereby referred to the appropriate committee.
REP. VALENCIA. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
REP. BANAL. Mr. Speaker.
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Dep.
Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. BANAL. Mr. Speaker, before we entertain the next
privilege speaker, may we acknowledge the presence of some
guests.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). Please go ahead.
REP. BANAL. We have students from the Ateneo de
Manila University headed by Dana Buñag. They are guests
of the Representative from Akbayan Party List, Hon. Kaka
Bag-ao.
May we ask them to rise, please. (Applause)
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). Please stand
up to be acknowledged. Welcome to the House of
Representatives.
REP. BANAL. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
May we now recognize the next privilege speaker, the
Representative from the TUCP Party-List, Hon. Raymond
Democrito Mendoza.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). Hon. Raymond
Democrito Mendoza is recognized. (Applause)
PRIVILEGE SPEECH OF REP. MENDOZA (R.)
REP. MENDOZA (R.). Mr. Speaker, fellow legislators:
Philippine Airlines (PAL), the crown jewel of the
Philippine aviation industry, is once again in a mess. PAL is
our flag carrier and it provides critical services, not only in
transporting passengers but also of goods, medicines, mails,
equipment, monies and other important items, locally and
internationally.
PAL serves as our number one hospital runner, bank
runner, mail runner and even military runner, among other
critical services that it provides for our nation. It cannot be
overemphasized that PAL is an enterprise that is vested with
public interest. We must all help in finding ways to prevent
the situation in the airline to further deteriorate. Every one of
us has a stake in the future of PAL.
It is imperative, however, that we first understand
w h y PA L i s e x p e r i e n c i n g t r o u b l e s t o d a y. T h e
management of PAL would have us believe that PAL
has been badly affected by the downturn in the
economy, and that it is in dire financial straits—the
reason for recent moves to cut cost. But let it be known
that PAL is not a losing company. It is still a highly-
profitable enterprise, based on its official financial
documents submitted to government authorities. In fact,
Mr. Speaker, vice presidents of PAL receive salaries of
700,000 to a million pesos monthly. It is for this reason
that this Representation believes that the present
difficulties in the airline are caused by unfair labor
practices on the part of PAL management, that is, the
deliberate undermining of the worker’s fundamental
rights and core labor standards, using the veil of
corporate sustainability and competitiveness.
Mr. Speaker, the present problems of PAL are due to the
fact that the airline’s management does not know the meaning
25
of justice, that is, giving what is due to the workers. PAL
workers, from pilots to stewardesses to the maintenance and
service crews, are clearly not getting what is due them—
recognition, appreciation and fair and just rewards for their
committed and proficient service to the company.
PAL management would have us believe that it is the
overpaid pilots of PAL who are at the heart of the problem.
PAL management would have us believe that it is the self-
satisfied stewardess which is the cause of its woes. PAL
management would have us believe that it is the failure of
communications between management and workers that
triggered the resignation of the pilots, the threatened strikes
of the stewardesses and the ground personnel. But it is the
belief of this Representation that, in fact, it has been the
deliberate and the calculated strategy of PAL management to
lower labor standards, to undermine workers’ security of
tenure, and to outsource essential services which triggered
the sequence of events leading to its current mess.
For a long time since its privatization, PAL’s dedicated,
highly-skilled and competent workers—pilots, flight
attendants and ground workers, “the geese that lay the golden
eggs” for PAL’s stockholders and owners—worked, and are
still working, to provide safe and reliable services to the riding
public even under an atmosphere of unfairness and work
insecurity.
At this juncture, Dep. Speaker Remulla relinquished
the Chair to Rep. Janette L. Garin.
It is understandable that PAL, like any private company,
must make money by increasing revenues and decreasing
costs in order to sustain itself and protect its bottom line. But
when PAL became hell-bent on reducing its operational costs
to gain the highest return on investments, even to the extent
of being unfair and unjust to its own workers, complications
started to pile up.
PAL’s highly trained pilots who recently resigned en
masse cannot be faulted for their decision. They are
professionals and they want and deserve to have the best
quality of life for them and for their own families. They should
be paid world-class wages for delivering world-class
services. They left the company because they feel that PAL
is not concerned about their well-being. First, their rights
to organize and to collectively bargain were not respected.
They do not have their own union and a collective
bargaining agreement (CBA) with the company. Thus. PAL’s
pilots are receiving far less than their counterparts in the
region in terms of salaries and benefits. To add insult to
injury, some of them were forced to work for Air Philippines,
PAL’s sister company, with even lower pay and no benefits,
and without security of tenure.
They were being asked to go on leave without pay, then
accept contractual terms to fly Air Philippines in the meantime,
with a P30,000 monthly pay-cut. Management even dangled
the promise that should PAL need their services once again,
they would be given a notice to return. PAL management
wanted to bake their cake and eat it too, as management
insisted that when they went on leave, they could not look
for other employment, trapping them to the unfair arrangement
to fly Air Philippines at less pay. Those resigned pilots were
forced by circumstances to leave the country and their
families.
26
PAL management wants their pilots to be loyal to the
company and yet, they really do not care about the welfare of
their personnel. That is simply unjust to the workers.
That is not the end, Mme. Speaker, of PAL’s list of
transgressions against its employees. If pilots, who belong
to a so-called mission-critical industry, and whose services
are highly sought after elsewhere in the world, can be
oppressed and exploited, then their colleagues such as the
flight attendants and ground crew are also vulnerable to the
unfair practices of PAL management.
The Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the
Philippines (FASAP) recently exposed the discriminatory and
biased employment policies of PAL against its own flight
stewardesses. PAL’s compulsory retirement age for newly-
recruited flight attendants is only 40 years, as compared to 60
years for pilots and 65 years for other employees. It is said
that life begins at 40. But for PAL stewardesses, it seems that
life ends at 40. What will happen to those flight stewardesses
who will be out of work after reaching 40? How can they
sustain themselves and their families after they are
compulsory retired from the company at a relatively young
age?
PAL’s policy implies that it wishes to have a new crop of
flight attendants who are still young, supple and attractive.
Mme. Speaker, this is not a beauty contest. In fact, in an
emergency situation, we need experienced people and we
need those who do not easily panic. As PAL’s slogan says,
“it is about experience.” This is patently unjust and
discriminatory. It is also a scheme of cost reduction because
PAL will not have to maintain “more expensive”—and I
intended to say “mature” — flight stewards who are already
entitled to higher wages and benefits that they have earned
through their long years of devoted service to the airline.
To make matters worse, PAL management is refusing to
negotiate with the union for a new collective bargaining
agreement. The FASAP-PAL CBA had already expired in 2007.
Refusal to negotiate on the part of management means that the
flight attendants cannot gain better and fairer terms of work,
including higher salaries and benefits. It will not be unthinkable
that in the future, PAL will not only lose all its excellent pilots,
but also the best flight attendants to foreign airlines while the
company continues to shortchange its workers.
The ground workers are, of course, not exempted from
the injustice and the insensitivity of PAL management. PAL
had already dramatically reduced its operations costs and
yet, PAL is still planning to outsource the services of 2,600
regular ground employees manning airport services, in-flight
catering services and call center operations. Again, this is
not because PAL is losing money. The objective is clearly to
further cut down on labor costs and increase corporate profits,
stockholders’ dividends and officers’ salaries. The
management decision to outsource the said regular functions
is a blatant violation of the existing CBA or the collective
bargaining agreement between the Philippine Airlines
Employees Association or PALEA, which members are here
in the first gallery, and PAL management.
Article XXIV, Section 4 of the said CBA states:
The Company undertakes not to contract out
existing positions, jobs, divisions and
departments presently occupied by present or
future regular employees within the collective
bargaining unit.
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010
A collective bargaining agreement is a contract, it is a
law between management and labor which must be
respected and upheld. But PAL management seems not to
care about what its contractual obligations with its workers
are. For PAL management, its CBA with its workers is just a
piece of paper.
This Representation is just wondering why then Acting
Secretary of Labor Romeo C. Lagman, through an official
order issued on June 15, 2010, approved the plan of PAL to
retrench 2,600 regular/permanent workers, majority of whom
are leaders and members of the union. What could be the
many reasons that moved the Acting Secretary to decide in
favor of management with haste and under suspicious
circumstances?
PAL’s labor flexibilization program is a violation of
workers’ security of tenure, and a clear attempt at union
busting. What will happen to the terminated workers
when they are supposedly absorbed by the new service
providers and the subcontractors of PAL? Just like what
has happened to thousands of laid-off employees in
other companies—reduced wages and benefits, no
security of tenure, substandard working conditions and
increasing exploitation. Only effective, efficient, highly
competent, well-paid, justly treated and happy
employees can deliver outstanding services to
customers. If PAL management will continue being unfair
to its workers by undermining their security of tenure
and other fundamental labor rights, then certainly, PAL
workers’ quality of service will be negatively affected
as a result.
Mme, Speaker, if PAL workers will continue to feel
insecure about their jobs, if they will continue to be bothered
by the nagging sense of unfairness of their situation, then, it
will be hard for the riding public, local and foreign tourists,
and for us fellow lawmakers and our families, to expect that
we can still get safe and reliable services from PAL as we
used to enjoy.
This Representation vows to protect not only the rights
of PAL pilots, flight attendants and ground workers, but the
interests and welfare of the 36 million Filipino workers who
continue to be marginalized despite their vital contributions
to the economy and society.
I am calling on the PAL management: please stop being
unjust to your workers if you do not want your present
problems to worsen. Take care of your employees and they
will take care of you. Respect their right to organize.
Respect their right to collectively bargain. Respect their
security of tenure. Follow the law. For if you will continue
to degrade and depreciate your workers, you cannot expect
the best from them. I repeat, pay your workers fair and just
salaries, treat them well and they will provide excellent
services.
If PAL’s uncaring style of treating its workers will
continue without sanctions from this government, then, other
companies and industries will take the cue and use this as a
precedent to undermine the rights of their own workers. That
must not happen. I call on my fellow lawmakers not to allow
any further deprivation of our workers who are the backbone
of our economy and society.
At this juncture, the Presiding Officer relinquished the
Chair to Dep. Speaker Jesus Crispin C. Remulla.
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010 27

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity ELECTION OF MEMBERS TO COMMITTEES
to remind all other employers and business owners, whom we
in the TUCP treat as our social partners towards progress and REP. GONZALES (N.). Mr. Speaker, continuing
development, that we in TUCP believe we can sustain a with the organization of the committees in the House,
harmonious relationship if we will just share our common I move for an omnibus motion for the election of the
decent work agenda. We in TUCP have fostered and will following House Members comprising the Majority
continue to cultivate a cooperative stance with our partners in contingent in the following House committees, as per
the private sector. But to our friends in business, make no Journal No. 6:
mistake. Please do not threaten the basic rights of workers.
Nor should you violate core labor standards. The core labor COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ORDER AND SAFETY
standards include the workers’ rights to organize, to collectively
bargain and to strike as their last resort to defend and protect 1. Rep. Pablo John F. Garcia
their well-being. 2. Rep. Mel Senen S. Sarmiento
This Representation will run after you until you learn to 3. Rep. Scott Davies S. Lanete
respect the dignity of your workers; until you understand 4. Rep. Rodolfo W. Antonino
the meaning of equity, justice and fairness; until you accept 5. Rep. Rodolfo G. Biazon
the fact that we, the workers, are the ones who created the 6. Rep. Christopher S. Co
stupendous wealth that you and your families are now 7. Rep. Romeo M. Acop
enjoying. 8. Rep. Guillermo A. Romarate Jr.
Be just and fair to your employees. That is all we from 9. Rep. Loreto Leo S. Ocampos
TUCP ask from you. 10. Rep. Benjamin R. Asilo
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. (Applause) 11. Rep. Francisco “Lalo” T. Matugas
12. Rep. Maria Jocelyn V. Bernos
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Dep. 13. Rep. Joselito “Jonjon” R. Mendoza
Majority Leader is recognized. 14. Rep. Joseph Emilio A. Abaya
15. Rep. Jesus N. Sacdalan
REP. BARZAGA. Mr. Speaker. 16. Rep. Vicente F. Belmonte Jr.
17. Rep. Danilo Ramon S. Fernandez
REP. BANAL. Mr. Speaker. We move to refer the speech ... 18. Rep. Marcelino R. Teodoro
19. Rep. Nur G. Jaafar
REP. BARZAGA. Mr. Speaker. 20. Rep. Maria Zenaida B. Angping
21. Rep. Eufranio “Franny” C. Eriguel, M.D.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Honorable 22. Rep. Anthony Rolando T. Golez Jr.
Barzaga is recognized. What is the pleasure of the Honorable 23. Rep. Mark Llandro L. Mendoza
Barzaga? 24. Rep. Marlyn L. Primicias-Agabas
25. Rep. Ma. Georgina P. De Venecia
REP. BARZAGA. Will our distinguished colleague from 26. Rep. Benhur L. Salimbangon
the TUCP be willing to entertain some questions from this 27. Rep. Nelson L. Dayanghirang
Representation? 28. Rep. Tupay T. Loong
29. Rep. Raden C. Sakaluran
REP. BANAL. Mr. Speaker. 30. Rep. Randolph S. Ting
31. Rep. Ranulfo P. Canonigo
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). I think he 32. Rep. Wilfrido Mark M.Enverga
wishes to sit down already and so, we will just defer the 33. Rep. Mark A. Villar
questions to another day, when this is referred to the 34. Rep. Pedro P. Romualdo
appropriate committee where we can discuss the matter 35. Rep. Antonio T. Kho
lengthily. 36. Rep. Antonio M. Diaz
37. Rep. Thelma Z. Almario
REP. BARZAGA. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. 38. Rep. Roilo S. Golez

REP. BANAL. With that, Mr. Speaker, we wish to move COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL SERVICE
to refer the speech of Hon. Raymond Democrito Mendoza to
the appropriate committee. 1. Rep. Arturo B. Robes
2. Rep. Ma. Georgina P. De Venecia
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The speech of 3. Rep. Godofredo V. Arquiza
the Honorable Mendoza is hereby referred to the appropriate 4. Rep. Czarina D. Umali
committee. 5. Rep. William Irwin C. Tieng
6. Rep. Maria Evita R. Arago
REP. GONZALES (N.). Mr. Speaker. 7. Rep. Arnel M. Cerafica
8. Rep. Teddy Brawner Baguilat Jr.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Majority 9. Rep. Fernando V. Gonzalez
Leader is recognized. 10. Rep. Rosenda Ann Ocampo
28 MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010

11. Rep. Winston “Winnie “ T. Castelo 21. Rep. Mark Llandro L. Mendoza
12. Rep. Josephine Veronique R. Lacson-Noel 22. Rep. Rex Gatchalian
13. Rep. Nur-Ana I. Sahidulla 23. Rep. Ramon H. Durano VI
14. Rep. Kimi S. Cojuangco 24. Rep. Maria Zenaida B. Angping
15. Rep. Alfredo D. Marañon III 25. Rep. Edgar S. San Luis
16. Rep. Edgar S. San Luis 26. Rep. Alfredo “Albee” B. Benitez
17. Rep. Raden C. Sakaluran 27. Rep. Neil Benedict A. Montejo
18. Rep. Tupay T. Loong 28. Rep. Jorge T. Almonte
19. Rep. David L. Kho 29. Rep. Antonio C. Alvarez
20. Rep. Christopher S. Co 30. Rep. Evelyn P. Mellana
21. Rep. Imelda R. Marcos 31. Rep. David L. Kho
22. Rep. Cresente C. Paez 32. Rep. Thelma Z. Almario
23. Rep. Abigail Faye C. Ferriol 33. Rep. Nancy A. Catamco
24. Rep. Emerenciana “Emmi” A. De Jesus 34. Rep. Eleandro Jesus F. Madrona
25. Rep. Raymond Palatino 35. Rep. Imelda R. Marcos
36. Rep. Mark Aeron H. Sambar
COMMITTEE ON SUFFRAGE 37. Rep. Antonio M. Diaz
AND ELECTORAL REFORMS 38. Rep. Antonio Rafael G. Del Rosario

1. Rep. Elpidio F. Barzaga Jr. COMMITTEE ON WOMEN AND GENDER EQUALITY

2. Rep. Andres D. Salvacion Jr.
3. Rep. Francisco Emmanuel R. Ortega III 1. Rep. Ma. Angelica M. Amante-Matba
4. Rep. Antonio A. Ferrer 2. Rep. Josephine Veronique R. Lacson-Noel
5. Rep. Neri J. Colmenares 3. Rep. Evelyn P. Mellana
6. Rep. Ma. Angelica M. Amante-Matba 4. Rep. Ana Cristina Siquian Go
7. Rep. Marcelino R. Teodoro 5. Rep. Susan A. Yap
8. Rep. Giorgidi B. Aggabao 6. Rep. Luzviminda C. Ilagan
9. Rep. Rex Gatchalian 7. Rep. Mylene J. Garcia-Albano
10. Rep. Ana Cristina Siquian Go 8. Rep. Czarina D. Umali
11. Rep. Marlyn L. Primicias-Agabas 9. Rep. Lucy T. Gomez
12. Rep. Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco 10. Rep. Maria Evita R. Arago
13. Rep. Karlo Alexei B. Nograles 11. Rep. Maria Jocelyn V. Bernos
14. Rep. Arthur R. Defensor Jr. 12. Rep. Linabelle Ruth R. Villarica
15. Rep. Rodante D. Marcoleta 13. Rep. Maria Zenaida B. Angping
16. Rep. Pedro P. Romualdo 14. Rep. Eleanor Bulut-Begtang
17. Rep. Antonio M. Diaz 15. Rep. Josefina M. Joson
18. Rep. Walden F. Bello 16. Rep. Kimi S. Cojuangco
19. Rep. Carol Jayne B. Lopez 17. Rep. Milagrosa T. Tan
20. Rep. Antonio L. Tinio 18. Rep. Mercedes K. Alvarez
19. Rep. Maria Valentina G. Plaza
COMMITTEE ON TOURISM 20. Rep. Ma. Theresa B. Bonoan-David
21. Rep. Catalina Leonen-Pizarro
1. Rep. Florencio T. Miraflores 22. Rep. Mary Mitzi L. Cajayon
2. Rep. Milagrosa T. Tan 23. Rep. Nancy A. Catamco
3. Rep. Antonio F. Lagdameo Jr. 24. Rep. Jane T. Castro
4. Rep. Alfredo A. Garbin Jr. 25. Rep. Imelda R. Marcos
5. Rep. Bernardo M. Vergara 26. Rep. Anna York P. Bondoc
6. Rep. Maximo B. Dalog 27. Rep. Ma. Rachel J. Arenas
7. Rep. Lucy T. Gomez 28. Rep. Emerenciana “Emmi” A. De Jesus
8. Rep. Carlo V. Lopez 29. Rep. Abigail Faye C. Ferriol
9. Rep. Rachel Marguerite B. Del Mar 30. Rep. Emmeline Y. Aglipay
10. Rep. Henedina R. Abad 31. Rep. Antonio L. Tinio
11. Rep. Mylene J. Garcia-Albano 32. Rep. Bernadette R. Herrera-Dy
12. Rep. Jocelyn S. Limkaichong 33. Rep. Kaka J. Bag-ao
13. Rep. Loreto Leo S. Ocampos
14. Rep. Francisco “Lalo” T. Matugas COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
15. Rep. Joaquin Carlos Rahman A. Nava
16. Rep. Tomas V. Apacible 1. Rep. Roger G. Mercado
17. Rep. Rodolfo G. Valencia 2. Rep. Eleandro Jesus F. Madrona
18. Rep. Deogracias B. Ramos Jr. 3. Rep. Carlo V. Lopez
19. Rep. Rene L. Relampagos 4. Rep. Alfredo “Albee” B. Benitez
20. Rep. Bai Sandra A. Sema 5. Rep. Nelson L. Dayanghirang
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010 29

6. Rep. Magtanggol T. Gunigundo I 2. Rep. Antonio Rafael G. Del Rosario

7. Rep. Fernando V. Gonzalez 3. Rep. Ma. Georgina P. De Venecia
8. Rep. Cesar V. Sarmiento 4. Rep. Rodolfo W. Antonino
9. 5. Rep. Seth P. Jalosjos
10. Rep. Acmad M. Tomawis 6. Rep. Maria Evita R. Arago
11. 7. Rep. Eduardo R. Gullas
12. Rep. Arturo B. Robes 8. Rep. Rodolfo G. Biazon
13. Rep. Ben P. Evardone 9. Rep. Hermilando I. Mandanas
14. Rep. Henedina R. Abad 10. Rep. Jocelyn S. Limkaichong
15. Rep. Danilo Ramon S. Fernandez 11. Rep. Herminia B. Roman
16. Rep. Sergio F. Apostol 12. Rep. Linabelle Ruth R. Villarica
17. Rep. Rene L. Relampagos 13. Rep. Pangalian M. Balindong
18. Rep. Mel Senen S. Sarmiento 14. Rep. Sonny P. Collantes
19. Rep. Romeo M. Acop 15. Rep. Florencio C. Garay
20. Rep. Erineo S. Maliksi 16. Rep. Marlyn L. Primicias-Agabas
21. Rep. Benjamin R. Asilo 17. Rep. Nur G. Jaafar
22. Rep. Andres D. Salvacion Jr. 18. Rep. Josephine Veronique R. Lacson-Noel
23. Rep. Vicente F. Belmonte Jr. 19. Rep. George P. Arnaiz
24. Rep. Eric G. Singson Jr. 20. Rep. Enrique M. Cojuangco
25. Rep. Niel C. Tupas Jr. 21. Rep. Mercedes K. Alvarez
26. Rep. Franklin P. Bautista 22. Rep. Giorgidi B. Aggabao
27. Rep. Rodolfo G. Biazon 23. Rep. Antonio C. Alvarez
28. Rep. Francisco “Lalo” T. Matugas 24. Rep. Pablo John F. Garcia
29. Rep. Rosenda Ann Ocampo 25. Rep. Gabriel L.R. Quisumbing
30. Rep. Tomas R. Osmeña 26. Rep. Victorino Dennis M. Socrates
31. Rep. Nur G. Jaafar 27. Rep. Antonio A. Ferrer
32. Rep. Ramon H. Durano VI 28. Rep. Godofredo V. Arquiza
33. Rep. Victor J. Yu 29. Rep. Erico Basilio A. Fabian
34. Rep. George P. Arnaiz 30. Rep. Imelda R. Marcos
35. Rep. Mark Llandro L. Mendoza 31. Rep. Anna York P. Bondoc
36. Rep. Ma. Georgina P. De Venecia 32. Rep. Walden F. Bello
37. Rep. Josefina M. Joson 33. Rep. Teddy A. Casiño
38. Rep. Neil Benedict A. Montejo 34. Rep. Ferjenel G. Biron
39. Rep. Scott Davies S. Lanete 35. Rep. Jose Ma. F. Zubiri III
40. Rep. Anthony Rolando T. Golez Jr. 36. Rep. Roman T. Romulo
41. Rep. Jesus Emmanuel M. Paras
42. Rep. Elpidio F. Barzaga Jr. COMMITTEE ON INFORMATION AND
43. Rep. Benhur L. Salimbangon COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
44. Rep. Renato J. Unico Jr.
45. Rep. Jane T. Castro 1. Rep. Sigfrido R. Tinga
46. Rep. Karlo Alexei B. Nograles 2. Rep. Joel Roy R. Duavit
47. Rep. Albert Raymond S. Garcia 3. Rep. Roman T. Romulo
48. Rep. Randolph S. Ting 4. Rep. Vincent P. Crisologo
49. Rep. Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco 5. Rep. Ma. Rachel J. Arenas
50. Rep. Antonio C. Alvarez 6. Rep. Rene L. Relampagos
51. Rep. Anna York P. Bondoc 7. Rep. Ben P. Evardone
52. Rep. Al Francis C. Bichara 8. Rep. Catalina Leonen-Pizarro
53. Rep. Mark A. Villar 9. Rep. Cesar V. Sarmiento
54. Rep. Emmanuel D. Pacquiao 10. Rep. Joseph Emilio A. Abaya
55. Rep. Rodel M. Batocabe 11. Rep. Ronald M. Cosalan
56. Rep. Antonio T. Kho 12. Rep. Joseph Gilbert F. Violago
57. Rep. Susan A. Yap 13. Rep. Tomas V. Apacible
58. Rep. Romeo M. Jalosjos Jr. 14. Rep. Mel Senen S. Sarmiento
59. Rep. Joseph Victor G. Ejercito 15. Rep. Amado S. Bagatsing
60. Rep. Tobias Reynald M. Tiangco 16. Rep. Andres D. Salvacion Jr.
61. Rep. Mariano Michael M. Velarde Jr. 17. Rep. Jerry P. Treñas
62. Rep. Roilo S. Golez 18. Rep. Reynaldo V. Umali
63. Rep. Eduardo R. Gullas 19. Rep. Paolo Everardo S. Javier
20. Rep. Rodolfo G. Biazon
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS 21. Rep. Edgar S. San Luis
22. Rep. Patricio T. Antonio
1. Rep. Al Francis C. Bichara 23. Rep. Neil Benedict A. Montejo
30 MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010

24. Rep. Josefina M. Joson 3. Rep. Maria Valentina G. Plaza

25. Rep. Juan Edgardo M. Angara 4. Rep. Ana Cristina Siquian Go
26. Rep. Scott Davies S. Lanete 5. Rep. Joseph Victor G. Ejercito
27. Rep. Anthony Rolando T. Golez Jr. 6. Rep. Antonio T. Kho
28. Rep. Elpidio F. Barzaga Jr. 7. Rep. Roy M. Loyola
29. Rep. Rommel C. Amatong 8. Rep. Neri J. Colmenares
30. Rep. Maria Valentina G. Plaza 9. Rep. Guillermo A. Romarate Jr.
31. Rep. Antonio A. Ferrer 10. Rep. Joaquin Carlos Rahman A. Nava
32. Rep. Jose Benjamin A. Benaldo 11. Rep. Jose Carlos L. Cari
33. Rep. Mark A. Villar 12. Rep. Mel Senen S. Sarmiento
34. Rep. Christopher S. Co 13. Rep. Joselito “Jonjon” R. Mendoza
35. Rep. Abigail Faye C. Ferriol 14. Rep. Sigfrido R. Tinga
36. Rep. Maximo B. Rodriguez Jr. 15. Rep. Erineo S. Maliksi
37. Rep. Bernadette R. Herrera-Dy 16. Rep. Romeo M. Acop
38. Rep. Teddy A. Casiño 17. Rep. Rogelio J. Espina, M.D.
39. Rep. Daryl Grace J. Abayon 18. Rep. Loreto Leo S. Ocampos
40. Rep. Mariano Michael M. Velarde Jr. 19. Rep. Niel C. Tupas Jr.
41. Rep. Joseph Victor G. Ejercito 20. Rep. Isidro S. Rodriguez Jr.
42. Rep. Roilo S. Golez 21. Rep. Josefina M. Joson
43. Rep. Tomas R. Osmeña 22. Rep. Luis R. Villafuerte
44. Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora-Apsay 23. Rep. Milagrosa T. Tan
45. Rep. Winston “Winnie” T. Castelo 24. Rep. Kimi S. Cojuangco
25. Rep. Eufranio “Franny” C. Eriguel, M.D.
COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT 26. Rep. Pedro B. Acharon Jr.
27. Rep. Tupay T. Loong
1. Rep. Emil L. Ong 28. Rep. Jorge T. Almonte
2. Rep. Ronald M. Cosalan 29. Rep. Evelyn P. Mellana
3. Rep. Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza 30. Rep. Narciso R. Bravo Jr.
4. Rep. Mark A. Villar 31. Rep. Randolph S. Ting
5. Rep. Romeo M. Jalosjos Jr. 32. Rep. Jonathan Cabilao Yambao
6. Rep. Joseph Victor G. Ejercito 33. Rep. Oscar G. Malapitan
7. 34. Rep. Anna York P. Bondoc
8. Rep. Linabelle Ruth R. Villarica 35. Rep. Ferjenel G. Biron
9. Rep. Florencio C. Garay 36. Rep. Tobias Reynald M. Tiangco
10. Rep. Herminia B. Roman 37. Rep. Raden C. Sakaluran
11. Rep. Danilo Ramon S. Fernandez 38. Rep. Roilo S. Golez
12. Rep. Maria Evita R. Arago
13. Rep. Rosenda Ann Ocampo COMMITTEE ON MUSLIM AFFAIRS
14. Rep. Sonny P. Collantes
15. Rep. Arturo B. Robes 1. Rep. Tupay T. Loong
16. Rep. Julio A. Ledesma IV 2. Rep. Jim S. Hataman-Salliman
17. Rep. Anthony Rolando T. Golez Jr. 3. Rep. Nur-Ana I. Sahidulla
18. Rep. Pedro B. Acharon Jr. 4. Rep. Raden C. Sakaluran
19. Rep. Patricio T. Antonio 5. Rep. Bai Sandra A. Sema
20. Rep. Juan Edgardo M. Angara 6. Rep. Pangalian M. Balindong
21. Rep. Albert Raymond S. Garcia 7. Rep. Nur G. Jaafar
22. Rep. Agapito H. Guanlao 8. Rep. Ranulfo P. Canonigo
23. Rep. Angelo B. Palmones 9. Rep. Acmad M. Tomawis
24. Rep. David L. Kho
25. Rep. Jonathan Cabilao Yambao COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL CULTURAL
26. Rep. Rodel M. Batocabe COMMUNITIES
27. Rep. Alfredo A. Garbin Jr.
28. Rep. Seth P. Jalosjos 1. Rep. Teddy Brawner Baguilat Jr.
29. Rep. Walden F. Bello 2. Rep. Eleanor Bulut-Begtang
30. Rep. Emerenciana “Emmi” A. De Jesus 3. Rep. Nancy A. Catamco
31. Rep. Emmeline Y. Aglipay 4. Rep. Maximo B. Dalog
32. Rep. Rafael V. Mariano 5. Rep. Mylene J. Garcia-Albano
6. Rep. Eric G. Singson Jr.
COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT 7. Rep. Manuel S. Agyao
8. Rep. Dakila Carlo E. Cua
1. Rep. George P. Arnaiz 9. Rep. Acmad M. Tomawis
2. Rep. Jerry P. Treñas 10. Rep. Rolando G. Andaya Jr.
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010 31

11. Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora-Apsay COMMITTEE ON MUSLIM AFFAIRS

I so move, Mr. Speaker. 1. Rep. Simeon A. Datumanong

2. Rep. Fatima Aliah Q. Dimaporo
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The
aforementioned names are hereby deemed elected to COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL CULTURAL
the respective committees. COMMUNITIES

REP. GONZALES (N.). May I ask for the recognition Rep. Fatima Aliah Q. Dimaporo
of the distinguished Minority Leader for his
nomination. COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ORDER AND SAFETY

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Minority 1. Rep. Leopoldo N. Bataoil
Leader is recognized for his nominations. 2. Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla

SUSPENSION OF SESSION COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL SERVICE

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The session is 1. Rep. Imelda Q. Dimaporo
suspended. 2. Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla

It was 7:06 p.m. COMMITTEE ON SUFFRAGEAND ELECTORALREFORMS

RESUMPTION OF SESSION 1. Rep. Simeon A. Datumanong

2. Rep. Victor F. Ortega
At 7:06 p.m., the session was resumed. 3. Rep. Orlando B. Fua
4. Rep. Erico B. Aumentado
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The session is
resumed. COMMITTEE ON TOURISM

REP. LAGMAN. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 1. Rep. Erico B. Aumentado

minority, we move for the election of the following 2. Rep. Orlando B. Fua
Members to the following committees: 3. Rep. Diosdado “Dato” M. Arroyo
4. Rep. Imelda Q. Dimaporo
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS 5. Rep. Jesus “Boying” F. Celeste

1. Rep. Gloria M. Macapagal-Arroyo COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

2. Rep. Victor F. Ortega
3. Rep. Ignacio T. Arroyo Jr. 1. Rep. Erico B. Aumentado
4. Rep. Imelda Q. Dimaporo 2. Rep. Rodolfo B. Albano
5. Rep. Arthur C. Yap 3. Rep. Maria Milagros “Mitos” H. Magsaysay
6. Rep. Leopoldo N. Bataoil 4. Rep. Philip A. Pichay
5. Rep. Aurelio “Dong” D. Gonzales Jr.
COMMITTEE ON INFORMATION AND 6. Rep. Imelda Q. Dimaporo
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY 7. Rep. Arturo O. Radaza
8. Rep. Arthur C. Yap
1. Rep. Diosdado “Dato” M. Arroyo
2. Rep. Fatima Aliah Q. Dimaporo COMMITTEE ON WOMEN AND GENDER EQUALITY
3. Rep. Maria Milagros “Mitos” H. Magsaysay
4. Rep. Arthur C. Yap 1. Rep. Gloria M. Macapagal-Arroyo
2. Rep. Imelda Q. Dimaporo
COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT 3. Rep. Fatima Aliah Q. Dimaporo
4. Rep. Reena Concepcion G. Obillo
1. Rep. Philip A. Pichay 5. Rep. Lani Mercado Revilla
2. Rep. Juan Miguel Macapagal Arroyo
3. Rep. Reena Concepcion G. Obillo Mr. Speaker, I would request for an omnibus reservation to
nominate for the election of members of the minority to complete
COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT the allocation of the minority in the aforesaid committees.

1. Rep. Erico B. Aumentado THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The omnibus
2. Rep. Maria Milagros “Mitos” H. Magsaysay reservation is noted.
3. Rep. Victor F. Ortega The aforementioned names stated by the Honorable
4. Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla Lagman are hereby deemed elected to the appropriate committees.
32
REP. LAGMAN. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Dep.
Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. ROMULO. Mr. Speaker, as the time allotted for the
Privilege Hour has expired, but there are still a number of
Members who wish to avail of the Privilege Hour, may we move
that the Privilege Hour be extended by another 10 minutes.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Privilege
Hour is hereby extended by another 10 minutes.
REP. ROMULO. Mr. Speaker, one of the Members who
wish to avail of the Privilege Hour was Hon. Augusto “Boboy”
Syjuco, but instead of rising during the Privilege Hour, he
has requested that his privilege speech on TESDA’s True
State Today be inserted in the records of the House. So, I so
move that the speech of Hon. Augusto Boboy Syjuco
entitled: “TESDA’s True State Today” be inserted as part of
the speeches under the Privilege Hour.*
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). Is there any
objection?
The Honorable Escudero has objections?
REP. ESCUDERO. It is not an objection, Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). What is the
pleasure of the Honorable Escudero?
REP. ESCUDERO. On matters wherein a Member of the
House simply submits his or her privilege speech, may we
request that the Members be provided a written copy so that
we will know what his version of the status of TESDA is. This
Representation is concerned because I am the principal author
of the creation of TESDA.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). That is principally
the issue at hand because once you request for the speech to
be inserted, then everybody will get a copy through the Journal.
So, I believe that is the rule set for insertion in the Record; the
whole speech is printed in the Journal.
REP. ESCUDERO. Is the whole speech printed in toto,
Mr. Speaker?
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). It will just be
inserted in the Record but the Journal will only give us a
summation of the speech.
REP. ESCUDERO. That is precisely the point, Mr. Speaker.
We want to know the details, especially on controversial
issues like the status of the TESDA.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). Then, we will
request the Secretariat to disseminate the said speech to all the
Members.
REP. ESCUDERO. To those interested, Mr. Speaker.
* See ANNEXES (printed separately)
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). To those
interested in the speech. The motion is well-taken.
REP. ESCUDERO. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Dep.
Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. ROMULO. Mr. Speaker, the next Member to avail of
the Privilege Hour is the Gentleman from the Party-List
Anakpawis, Hon. Rafael V. Mariano.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Gentleman
from Anakpawis Party List is recognized. We have 10 minutes
left in the Privilege Hour.
PRIVILEGE SPEECH OF REP. MARIANO
REP. MARIANO. Maraming salamat po, G. Ispiker at sa
mga kapwa ko Kinatawan.
G. Ispiker, mga kapwa ko Kinatawan, noong nakaraang
Biyernes, Agosto 6, 2010, bisperas ng ika-isang taong
anibersaryo ng Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program
Extension with Reforms o CARPER, Republic Act No. 9700,
ay ginulantang ang mga magsasaka at manggagawang bukid
ng Hacienda Luisita at ang buong bayan ng isang matatawag
na huwad at iligal na compromise agreement na nilagdaan sa
pagitan ng pamunuan ng Hacienda Luisita, Inc. (HLI) at ng
mga diumano ay lider ng mga manggagawang bukid ng
hacienda na nagmi-misrepresenta sa interes at kapasyahan
ng mga lehitimong manggagawang-bukid doon.
Ang mga sumusunod ay ilan sa mga mayor na nilalaman
ng compromise agreement:
First, farmworkers opting for land distribution
shall return to Tarlac Development Corporation,
being the original owners, all HLI shares given to
them pursuant to the MOA or memorandum of
agreement. In lieu thereof, land shall be given to
them for free and clean of any and all lien or
encumbrances. Whatever is the total percentage of
shareholdings in HLI of the farm workers opting for
land distribution shall be the equivalent percentage
of the size of the land to be given to them from the
remaining HLI land actually devoted to agriculture,
with a total area of 4,102 hectares, approximately.
The MOA shall remain valid and effective as far as
farm workers who decide to stay with the Stock
Distribution Option (SDO).
Second, farm workers opting for land distribution
hereby waive all their rights or interests on the
remaining assets of HLI. They also hereby give HLI,
or its assigns, the right of first refusal should they
decide to lease, sell, transfer, encumber, convey, or
enter into joint-venture or any other mode of business
relations or transaction that would involve the land
given to them, or any rights thereto, or any portion
thereof. Should HLI, or its assigns, fail to match the
best offer given to the farm workers within 360 days
from the receipt of a written notice, then the farm
workers may proceed to deal with third parties.
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010
Third, to optimize land productivity and
create job opportunities, the farm workers herein
hereby express support and/or interpose no
objection to the further developments of HLI
lands, even for non-agricultural purposes. Said
farm workers who would choose SDO (Stock
Distribution Option), or their heirs, shall be given
preference in employment.
Fourth, pursuant to this compromise
agreement and the financial assistance given, the
parties herein hereby waive and agree to withdraw
any and all claims, including those arising from
employer-employee relationship, complaints,
petitions filed, or to be filed, with the DAR or PARC
(Presidential Agrarian Reform Council),
administrative, quasi-judicial and/or judicial bodies,
or any other matter arising from or incidental to the
MOA, or any dispute between HLI and the farm
workers, and hereby release and hold harmless each
other from any and all other liabilities or claims, of
any form and kind, which one may have against
the other and its officers, or which may arise now
or in the future between HLI and the farm workers,
or as a result of or incidental to the implementation
of the MOA.
Mr. Speaker, mga kapwa Kinatawan, ang panibagong
maniobrang ito ng pamilyang Cojuangco-Aquino ay patunay
lamang na hindi bibitiwan ng pamilya ng Pangulong Benigno
Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III ang kanilang mahigit kalahating
siglo ng pag-aari at kontrol sa mahigit 6,453 lupain ng hacienda.
Patunay ito na walang interes ang pamilyang Cojuangco-
Aquino na bitiwan ang maka-isang panig at kontra-
magsasakang Stock Distribution Option. Hindi nito binabasag
ang pag-aari, monopolyo at kontrol ng mga Cojuangco-
Aquino sa malawak na lupain ng hacienda.
G. Ispiker, mga kapwa Kinatawan, ang huwad na
kasunduang ito ang pinakamalaking panlilinlang sa serye at
nakaugalian nang mga panlilinlang ng mga Cojuangco-
Aquino sa uring magsasaka at manggagawang-bukid. Mas
masahol pa ito sa naunang SDO noong 1989. Malinaw na isa
sa mga ultimong layunin nito ay i-preempt o unahan ang
anumang magiging desisyon ng Korte Suprema na nakatakda
nang maglunsad ng oral arguments sa ika-18 ng buwang
kasalukuyan, Agosto.
G. Ispiker, mga kapwa Kinatawan, nais kong bigyang-
diin ang mga malalakas na batayan kung bakit ni-revoke ng
Presidential Agrarian Reform Council (PARC) ang SDO noong
pong December 22, 2005.
Ayon sa PARC, ito ang mga basehan ng pagre-revoke
ng Presidential Agrarian Reform Council sa kanilang
Resolution No. 2005-32-01:
1. The policy of “no-work, no-shares of stock” is
contrary to law and public policy.
2. The set-up under the1989 MOA is one-sided in favor
of HLI. The work schedule, upon which the extent of
entitlement to be granted shares of stock, is wholly within
the prerogative and discretion of HLI management and a farm
worker can still be denied thereof by the simple expediency
of not giving him any working hours/days. This is made
possible by the fact that there are more farmesr/farm workers
in its employ than what is, according to HLI, necessary to
make it operational.
33
3. The matter of issuance/distribution of share of
stocks in lieu of actual distribution of the agricultural land
involved was made totally dependent upon the discretion/
caprice of HLI. Under the set-up, the agreement is grossly
onerous to the farm workers as their man days of work
cannot depart from whatever management of HLI
unilaterally directs.
4. Despite the lapse of sixteen (16) years from the time
the SDP (Stock Distribution Plan) was approved in November
1989 by a resolution of the Presidential Agrarian Reform
Council or PARC, that is the acquisition and the distribution
(herein under the Stock Distribution Plan only the shares of
stocks) are yet to be fully completed; the farm workers, instead
of the promised/envisioned better life under the CARP (herein
as corporate owner) still live in want, in abject poverty,
highlighted by the resulting loss of lives in their vain/futile
attempt to be financially restored at least to where they were
before the CARP (SDP) was implemented. While they were
then able to make both ends meet, with the SDP, their lives
became miserable.
5. Noncompliance with Section 11 of Administrative
Order No. 10, Series of 1988.
6. The farm workers remain ordinary farmers and/or
farm workers and the lands remain under the full ownership
and control of the original owner, the Hacienda Luisita,
Incorporated (HLI) or Tarlac Development Corporation
(TADECO).
7. The contemplated profitability, increased income
and greater benefits enumerated in the SDP have remained
mere illusions.
8. The agricultural land involved was not maintained
“unfragmented.” At least 500 hectares thereof have been
carved out after the land use has been converted to non-
agricultural uses.
9. HLI made allocations to recipients who are not in the
ARBs (agrarian reform beneficiaries) original master list as,
admittedly, it distributed to about 11,955 stockholders of record
59,362,611 shares representing the second half of the total
number of shares earmarked for distribution when, in fact, there
were only 6,296 farm workers or less, at the time when the land
was placed under CARP, under the SDP/SDO scheme.
10. What actually transpired was a deferment of giving
the shares of stock to farm workers for thirty (30) years before
there is full stock distribution and till then, the ARBs (agrarian
reform beneficiaries) remained farmworkers and not
stockholders. The attempt to distribute the balance after only
sixteen (16) years, which, however, was rejected for loss of
interest as explained elsewhere, is more of an admission of
the initial but fatal error of TDC (Tarlac Development
Corporation)/Hacienda Luisita Incorporated’s SDP that was
submitted and approved by PARC in 1989.
11. The HLI could not fully account for, and failed to
clearly delineate, its full and complete compliance its
obligation to:
a. give the farm workers the guaranteed three percent
of gross sales every year, which benefit is supposed to be an
additional corporate augmenting benefit.
b. give dividends from the retained earnings or profits
of the corporation that the law requires to be payable to
stockholders and other financial benefits.
c. give the production shares equivalent to three
percent of the gross sales form the production of the lands
34
and the profit shares equivalent to 10 percent of the net profit
after tax.
12. The farm workers lamented that their economic
conditions has become onerous and has miserably deteriorated.
13 The approved SDP or stock distribution plan
undoubtedly failed to satisfy one of the essential criteria/
requisites for SDO acceptance—that the plan for stock
distribution to qualify beneficiaries would result in increased
income and greater benefits to the farm workers than if the
lands were divided and distributed to them individually or
collectively.
G. Ispiker, mga kapwa Kinatawan, kung sa SDO noong
1989 kagyat na nailigtas, naiiwas, naitakas sa distribution
ang 1,538 ektarya—mula sa kabuuang 6,453 ektarya ng
Hacienda Luisita ay 4,915 ektarya na lang ang natira at
ipinaloob pa sa makaisang-panig na SDO—ngayon,
lumalabas na 1,366 ektarya na lamang daw ang saklaw sa
ilalim ng nasabing “kasunduan” o compromise agreement,
dahil ayon mismo sa mga Cojuangco-Aquino, 33 porsyento
lamang ng mga assets ng Hacienda Luisita Incorporated ang
katumbas ng lupa ng magsasaka at manggagawang-bukid.
Hindi nito binabasag ang monopolyo ng mga Cojuangco sa
malawak na lupain at dahil nasa HLI din ang right of first
refusal, higit pa nitong pinalakas ang kontrol ng mga
Cojuangco-Aquino sa malawak na lupain.
Kung sa SDO noong 1989 ay may basbas pa ng
Presidential Agrarian Reform Council at ng Department of
Agrarian Reform, ngayon ang mga Cojuangco-Aquino na
lamang at mga “anino” nila ang nagkasundo.
Sa pagtanggal ng mga karapatan ng mga magsasaka at
manggagawang-bukid para tutulan ang kumbersyon ng lupa,
higit na lumilinaw ang plano ng mga Cojuangco-Aquino sa
Hacienda Luisita. Walang habas na kumbersyon ng lupa ang
magaganap sa hacienda, at dahil hindi na agricultural ang lupa
ng hacienda, kung gayon ay mawawala na rin ang karapatan sa
lupa ng mga magsasaka at manggagawang-bukid doon.
Lubhang mapanganib at nakababahala ang ipinapaabot
na mensahe ng nilutong “compromise deal” na ito ng mga
Cojuangco-Aquino, G. Ispiker, mga kapwa ko Kinatawan.
Magsisilbi itong bad precedent sa libu-libong kaso ng reporma
agraryo at inilalatag ang kabuuang balangkas ng programa ni
Pangulong Aquino sa repormang agraryo. Malinaw na
ipinapakita ng kasunduang ito kung anong klase ng reporma
sa lupa ang ipapatupad ng gobyernong Aquino sa ilalim ng
panunungkulan nito. Isang kontra-magsasaka, maka-
panginoong may lupa, at makadayuhang may agri-business
na patakaran ng reporma agraryo ang haharapin ng magsasaka
sa ilalim ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Aquino.
Mga kasama sa kapulungang ito, ang huwad at
mapanlinlang na compromise agreement na ito ang
nagpapaliwanag kung bakit wala man lang nasambit ni isang
kataga patungkol sa repormang agraryo ang Pangulong
Aquino sa kanyang kauna-unahang State of the Nation
Address (SONA).
Gayunpaman, hinuhubaran po nito ang balatkayo ng mga
Cojuangco-Aquino at nagpapakita na wala pang 100 araw sa
poder ang Pangulong Aquino, nagwawasiwas na ng tinatagurian
at itinuturing ng mga lihitimong manggagawang-bukid ng
Hacienda Luisita na pang-aabuso at panibagong maniobra at
panlilinlang na naman ng kanyang mga kamag-anak.
G. Ispiker, mga kapwa ko Kinatawan, hindi maiaalis ang
pananagutan mismo ng Pangulong Noynoy Aquino bilang
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010
ex-officio Chairman ng Presidential Agrarian Reform Council
sa kasalukuyan sa usapin ng huwad ng kasunduang ito na
ibayong nagkakait sa karapatan sa lupa ng mga magsasaka at
manggagawang-bukid sa hacienda. Unang araw pa lamang
ng kampanyang elektoral, nangako na si Pangulong Aquino
na ipamamahagi nito ang Hacienda Luisita sa mga
magsasaka—iyon nga lamang maghintay ng limang taon.
Kamakailan lamang, G. Ispiker, mga kapwa ko Kinatawan,
sinabi mismo ni presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacieda na
“aware” o may nalalaman ang Pangulo sa nagaganap na
umano ay negosasyon at nagsabi pang, and I quote, “if we
can resolve this amicably, then, I am all for it.” Mabuti pa ang
Presidente, alam ang nagaganap na negosasyon samantalang
si Ka Lito Bais, tumatayong pangulo ng United Luisita
Workers’ Union o ULWU, ay walang alam sa anumang alok
ng HLI o “compromise agreement.”
Gayundin, sa ilang ulat ng media, sinabi rin ng Pangulo
na ang nagaganap sa Luisita ay isang “intra-corporate
dispute.”
G. Ispiker, mga kapwa Kinatawan, ang nagaganap sa
Hacienda Luisita ay hindi simpleng intra-corporate dispute.
Ang nagaganap sa hacienda ay ang pakikibakang napakalaon
na ng mga magsasaka at manggagawang-bukid doon para sa
tunay na repormang agraryo. Ito ay pakikibaka para kamtin
ang hustisyang panlipunan para sa mga magsasaka at
manggagawang-bukid na iginapos sa tanikala sa lupa ng mga
panginoong piyudal doon.
Hindi lamang mga magsasaka ng Hacienda Luisita, kung
hindi ang buong bayan ang lumalabas na nililinlang at niloloko
sa huwad na kasunduang ito. Hindi ito repormang agraryo, at
lalong hindi ito hustisyang panlipunan. Ito ay panloloko sa
mga magsasaka at manggagawang-bukid, panloloko sa
taumbayan.
Maiaalis ninyo po ba sa mga manggagawang-bukid at
magsasaka sa Hacienda Luisita o sa buong bansa kung
sasabihin nila na inilalantad ng Hacienda Luisita case ang
pulitika ng bagong rehimeng Aquino? Ang pulitika ng
panlilinlang.
G. Ispiker, mga kapwa Kinatawan, hinihiling po ng
Kinatawang ito sa Committee on Agrarian Reform na kagyat
na imbestigahan ang maniobrang ito ng mga Cojuangco-
Aquino. Gayundin, hinihiling po ng Kinatawang ito ang
kagyat na pagbubuo ng Congressional Oversight Committee
on Agrarian Reform o COCAR upang malalimang siyasatin at
suriin hindi lamang ang implementasyon ng CARPER, kung
hindi maging ang naglalakihang kaso ng pangangamkam ng
lupa sa mga magsasaka sa kanayunan, lalo na ang
pinakabagong maniobrang ito ng Cojuangco-Aquino sa
Hacienda Luisita.
Ang Hacienda Luisita ang pinakamalaking simbulo ng
kabiguan ng CARPER, simbulo ng nagpapatuloy na pang-
aalipin ng uring panginoong may lupa sa uring magsasaka at
manggagawang-bukid, simbulo ng inhustisya sa lipunang
Pilipino at simbulo ng pakikibakang magbubukid sa buong
bansa para sa lupa at para sa tunay na reporma sa lupa.
G. Ispiker, mga kapwa Kinatawan, para sa mga magbubukid
na hanggang ngayon ay walang sariling lupang sinasaka,
mga magbubukid na pinapatalsik sa lupa at sinasampahan ng
mga gawa-gawang kasong kriminal at sibil, mga magbubukid
na naggigiit at nagtatanggol ng kanilang karapatan sa lupa,
wala silang ilusyon sa CARPER. Lalo’t higit na walang ilusyon
ang mga magbubukid na sa ilalim ng bagong rehimeng Aquino
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010
na, kung ganito ang tunguhin, kung maipapatupad ang tunay
na reporma sa lupa.
G. Ispiker, mga kapwa Kinatawan, isang taon na ang CARPER
pero nagpapatuloy pa rin ang pangangamkam at pagkakait ng
lupa sa masang magsasaka. Sa loob ng isang taon ng CARPER,
lalong nagiging malinaw sa magbubukid na ito ay instrumento
ng higit na pagpapahigpit ng pag-aari, kontrol at monopolyo sa
lupa ng malalaking panginoong may lupa. Kung kaya’t dapat
lamang na ito ay itinatakwil ng masang magbubukid bilang
kontra-magsasaka at mapanlilang na programa.
Para sa uring magsasaka, naglaho na ang anumang
ilusyon na inilako ng CARPER. Gayundin, uulitin ng
Kinatawang ito, walang ilusyon ang masang magbubukid
na magpapatupad ang bagong rehimeng Aquino ng tunay
na reporma sa lupa. Higit na napapatunayan na nasa sama-
sama at organisadong pagkilos at matatag na paninindigan
ng magbubukid ay makakamit ang tunay at puspusang
reporma sa lupa— ang tunay na reporma sa lupa na ang
sentral na layunin at nilalaman ay libreng pamamahagi ng
lupa sa mga magsasakang wala o kulang ang lupang
sinasaka.
Tuloy ang laban ng uring magsasaka! Tuloy ang laban
para sa tunay na reporma sa lupa!
Maraming salamat po, G. Ispiker, mga kapwa ko
Kinatawan. (Applause)
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Dep.
Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. ROMULO, Mr. Speaker, there being no Member
who has signified his or her intention …
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). No, I think the
Honorable Casiño stood up. We will now have to extend this.
Is there a motion to extend the Privilege Hour?
REP. ROMULO. Mr. Speaker, as the topic is very current,
may we move for an extension of another 10 minutes of the
Privilege Hour.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Privilege
Hour is extended by another 10 minutes.
The Honorable Casiño is recognized for his interpellation.
REP. CASIÑO. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would like to ask our distinguished colleague from
Anakpawis if he would yield to a few clarificatory questions
from this Representation.
REP. MARIANO. Very gladly, Mr. Speaker, mga kapwa
ko Kinatawan.
REP. CASIÑO. Salamat po, Congressman Mariano.
Unang-una, nais ko pong i-commend ang ating kasama
sa pagbibigay ng isang talumpati na napaka timely,
napapanahon at napakahalaga para sa kanyang mga
kinakatawang mga magsasaka.
Distinguished colleague, mayroon lang po akong ilang
mga paglilinaw na nais gawin doon sa binabanggit ninyong
compromise agreement, allegedly, sa pagitan ng mga
magsasaka ng Hacienda Luisita at ng management.
Dito po sa apat na punto na sinabi ninyong mga mayor
na nilalaman ng compromise agreement, doon po sa number
35
one ay may binabanggit kayo na…. Unang-una, nais ko po
munang itanong, ano ba iyong pinirmahan talaga ng mga
magsasaka umano at ng management ng HLI? Ito po ba talaga
ay isang compromise agreement? Saang kaso po ito naging
compromise agreement at ano ba talaga iyong pinirmahan?
Kasi may ilang media reports na nagsasabi na ito daw ay
isang survey or that this is a referendum, but that some reports
call it a compromise agreement? Puwede ba nating malaman
mula sa ating kasama kung ano ba talaga iyong sinasabing
dokumento?
REP. MARIANO. Ang sinasabi pong dokumento ay
isang compromise agreement sa pagitan ng Hacienda
Luisita Incorporated na kinakatawan ni Atty. Eufrocinio C.
Dela Merced at ng sinasabing Presidente ng AMBALA o
Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang-Bukid ng Hacienda
Luisita sa katauhan ni G. Noel Mallari ng United Luisita
Workers’ Union daw—ang presidente nito ay si G. Eldifonso
Pingol—at ng supervisory group of Hacienda Luisita
Incorporated.
Ano po ba at sino ba ang pumapasok sa kasunduang
ito? Sinasabi nila na marami na raw mga farm workers ng
Hacienda Luisita ang sumasang-ayon dito, ayon sa survey
or census. Hindi po nila idinidiin na referendum kasi pag
referendum, dapat katulad ng proseso noong 1989 na bago
nila maaprubahan iyong SDO agreement ay kinailangan nila
ang approval ng Presidential Agrarian Reform Council at
magkaroon din ng referendum na pinangasiwaan ng
Department of Agrarian Reform. Kaya doon pa lamang po ay
malaking tanong na kung anong authority o authorization
mayroon itong G Noel Mallari at G. Eldifonso Pingol. At dahil
po sa ating pagkakaalam, itong si G. Noel Mallari ay hindi
kailanman naging Presidente ng Alyansa ng Manggagawang-
Bukid sa Hacienda Luisita. Siya po ay dating Vice President
ng AMBALA na ang kaso po ay nasa Department of Agrarian
Reform dahil nag petition po iyong mga manggagawang-bukid
sa pamumuno ng AMBALA para ipa-revoke iyong SDO. Ito
pong si Ginoong Mallari, sa prosesong pang-organisasyon
ng AMBALA, ay tinangggal po sa nasabing organization
dahil po, ayon sa mga liderato at kasapian ng AMBALA,
itong si Ginoong Mallari ay pasikretong nakikipag-negotiate
sa Luisita management without authority mula sa nasabing
organisasyon.At ito naman pong si G. Edilberto Pingol ay
naging vice president po ng Luisita Workers’ Union subalit
wala po siyang authority to represent the union dahil siya po
ay hindi naman po napagkalooban ng ganoong otoridad ng
United Luisita Workers’ Union. Iyan po ay ayon kay G. Lito
Baez, ang siya pong vice chairman ng AMBALA at tumatayo
ding acting president ng United Luisita Workers’ Union. Kaya
po, ayon sa mga lehitimong manggagawang bukid, itong
ginawang pakikipag-negotiate at pagpasok ni Ginoong Mallari
at Ginoong Pingol ay misrepresentation ng kanilang interes
at kapasyahan.
REP. CASIÑO. Maraming salamat sa Ginoong Kinatawan.
Ang ibig sabihin nito, kung ito ay compromise
agreement, maaari bang malaman muna saang kaso ba itong
may compromise? Ito ba ay compromise agreement kaugnay
ng kasong nakasampa ngayon sa Korte Suprema, o
compromise agreement kaugnay ng kasong nasa DAR? Saang
compromise ito nakapatungkol? Aling kaso po ang inaayos
umano sa Korte Suprema?
36
REP. MARIANO. Ito po ang nakasampang kaso ngayon
na nasa pagitan ng pamunuan ng Hacienda Luisita, Inc. at
Tarlac Development Corporation at ng Alyansa ng
Manggagawang-Bukid sa Hacienda Luisita, AMBALA, at ng
United Luisita Workers’ Union o ULWU. Mayroon pong
pending cases o petitions po sa Kataas-taasang Hukuman o
Korte Suprema at mayroon na pong nakatakdang oral
arguments ang Korte Suprema kaugnay sa mga petitions na
may kaugnayan sa kaso ng Hacienda Luisita. Kasi po iyon
pong Hacienda Luisita, Inc. makaraan po na magpasa ng
resolusyon ang Presidential Agrarian Reform Council noong
December 22, 2005 na kung saan ay pinapawalang-bisa na ng
PARC ang Stock Distribution Option of land sa Hacienda Luisita
ay umakyat po sa Korte Suprema ang mga Cojuangco at Aquino
sa pamamagitan ng SLI at doon po ay kinukuwestyon nila ang
jurisdiction ng PARC. Iyon nga po ang nakakatawa diyan dahil
noon pong kailanganin nila ang approval ng PARC doon sa
SDO agreement noong 1989 ay kinailangan nila iyong approval
ng PARC. Ngayon namang ang PARC na mismo ang
nagdesisyon base po doon sa 13 puntos na rason ay
kinukuwestyon nila ang jurisdiction nito.
Ako po ay hindi abugado pero iyon pong isang
institusyon, halimbawa ang PARC, na may karapatang mag-
apruba o may poder para mag-apruba ng isang agreement,
siyempre mayroon din pong karapatang mag-revoke o
magpawalang-bisa o magbawi noong kanyang ibinigay na
pagpapatibay. Kaya po iyan ay nakabinbin sa Korte Suprema,
with the prayer sa petisyon ng Hacienda Luisita, Inc. ng pag-i-
issue ng temporary restraining order (TRO). Kaya po ang
Supreme Court ay nagbigay ng TRO sa Hacienda Luisita, Inc.
at iyon nga lamang po, mahigit apat na taon na ang TRO na na-
isyu ng Supreme Court since June 14, 2006. Mabuti naman po
at noong halos katapusan ng Hunyo ng taong kasalukuyan ay
nagpahayag na ang Punong Mahistrado ng Korte Suprema na
iparerepaso na niya iyang Hacienda Luisita case at mayroon
na nga pong nakatakdang oral argument sa August 18. Kaya
nga marami po ang nagtatanong, at sa tingin ko naman po may
basehan iyong pagtatanong nila, at iniisip na hindi ba ito isang
maniobra ng pamilya Cojuangco-Aquino para i-preempt o
unahan na ang magiging kapasyahan ng Supreme Court.
REP. CASIÑO. Ngayon, Ginoong Kinatawan, ibang
klaseng compromise agreement po ito kasi mukhang may
dalawang choices ang ating mga manggagawang-bukid, ang
mga magsasaka doon sa Hacienda Luisita. Iyong isang choice
ay, they opt for land distribution. Ibig sabihin po ay mapapasa-
kanila na ang lupa. Ang isang option naman po ay papasok
pa rin sila sa Stock Distribution Option (SDO) program ng
HLI. Tama ho ba iyon?
REP. MARIANO. Ganoon po ang pagkakaunawa ko sa
nilalaman at isinasaad nitong tinatawag na compromise
agreement.
REP. CASIÑO. Ngayon, doon ho sa mga tatanggap ng
lupa o hindi papasok sa SDO, ang sinasabi ho dito ay ang
makukuha nilang lupa ay iyong total percentage
shareholdings in HLI of the farm workers opting for land
distribution equivalent to the percentage of the size of the
land to be given to them from the remaining HLI lands
actually devoted to agriculture, with a total area of 4,000
hectares.
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010
Matanong lang ho natin, kung ang isang magsasaka po
sa HLI ay pumayag sa ilalim ng compromise agreement na
mapasa-kanya na iyong lupa, gaano kalaking lupa po ba ang
ibibigay sa bawat magsasaka?
REP. MARIANO. Una, wala pong tiyak na sukat ang
lupang maaaring maipamahagi sa bawat isang farm worker sa
ilalim ng compromise agreement na ito. Ang mangyayari po,
sa aking pagkaintindi, iyon pong farm workers ay makakaroon
ng shares of stocks doon sa HLI at kung pipiliin niya ngayon
na magkaroon ng lupa doon sa libu-libong ektarya na lupang
iyon ng HLI, iyon pong shares niya ay mababalik doon sa
Tarlac Development Corporation. Kung magkano po ang
katumbas na halaga noon sa halaga ng lupa, siyempre po ang
magpapasya ng halaga niyan ay ang pamilyang Cojuangco
at Aquino rin. Sa kalagayang ang karaniwang naging bilang
po ng araw ng pagtratrabaho ng mga manggagawang-bukid
diyan ay mga dalawa o tatlong araw lang sa isang lingo, kaya
magde-depende po iyan sa kung ilan ang shares of stocks
nila. Base sa bilang ng araw na ipinagtrabaho nila at kung
magkano lamang po iyon, iyon ang tutumbasan doon sa
halaga ng lupa na for distribution. Sa ganitong maniobra ay
inilalagay muli ang manggagawang-bukid sa walang katiyakan
na kalagayan dahil nga po magde-depende rin iyong sukat
ng lupa sa kung magkano ang halaga ng shares of stocks na
ipinagkaloob sa manggagawang-bukid base sa bilang ng araw
na kanyang ipinagtrabaho mula noong umiral po iyong SDO
aAgreement noong taong 1989.
Ngayon po, iyon namang sinasabing mga
manggagawang-bukid na ang pipiliin ay shares of stocks …
REP. CASIÑO. Sandali po, Ginoong Kinatawan, lilinawin
ko lang. So, this is a compromise agreement that, if you choose
to own the land, hindi ka na papasok sa Stock Distribution
Option. Pero kung gusto mong ikaw na ang magmamay-ari
ng lupa, hindi sinasabi sa iyo kung gaano kalaking lupa ang
puwede mong ariin.
REP. MARIANO. Hindi po. Ito ay naka-depende po sa
shares of stocks.
REP. CASIÑO. Para ma-compute iyong lupa mong
makukuha, ibabatay pa rin ito doon sa Stock Distribution
Option program.
REP. MARIANO. Opo, doon po sa maipamahagi sa inyo
na shares of stocks ng HLI bilang korporasyon.
REP. CASIÑO. Kaya parang sinasabi, aalis ka na sa SDO
pero iyong lupang ibibigay sa iyo ay batay pa rin sa SDO.
Kaya parang, in effect, hindi ka rin nakawala?
REP. MARIANO. Ganoon po. Hindi ka rin nakawala at
hindi ka rin nakalaya sa mapanlinlang at kontra
manggagawang-bukid na Stock Distribution Plan.
REP. CASIÑO. Posible hong maiwan sa iyo iyong isang
pasong lupa?
REP. MARIANO. Iyon po ay hindi natin iniaalis na
puwedeng mangyari sapagkat, papano nga kung iyong shares
of stocks mo ay mababa naman ang balor o magde-depende
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010
lang po doon kung ilan din ang sukat ng lupang
maipamamahagi sa iyo kung pipiliin mo ay lupa sa halip na
shares of stocks.
REP. CASIÑO. Sige po at dedetalyihin po natin iyan sa
imbestigasyon ng komite. Nakalagay din dito na, if you opt
for land distribution, you waive all your rights or interests on
the remaining assets of HLI. Kaya sinabi mo na na hindi ka na
kasama sa Stock Distribution Option, iyo na lang ang lupa,
kaya ang nakalagay din dito na bibigyan mo pa rin ang HLI
ng right of first refusal. Tapos, kung ikaw ay papasok sa joint
venture o iba pang relasyon sa entity labas sa HLI, kailangan
bigyan mo ng pagkakataon ang HLI na tumbasan iyong
papasuking transaksyon within one year. Tama ba iyon? Iyon
po ba ang laman noon?
REP. MARIANO. Iyon po ang, sa aking pagkakaintindi,
magiging katatayuan ng mga farm workers na ang pipiliin ay
pamamahagi pa rin ng shares of stock sa ilalim pa rin ng SDO
agreement na nagsimula nang umiral noong 1989. Ang masakit
nga po diyan ay iyong mga karapatan nila doon sa iba pang
assets ng HLI ay mawa-waive na dito sa ilalim ng compromise
agreement na ito.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Dep.
Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. MARIANO. Kaya mapapansin po ninyo na mula
sa dating 6,453 hectares, ang ginawa, nila ay nag-create sila
ng Hacienda Luisita, Inc. na siyang naging may-ari at
tagapangasiwa ng 4,915 hectares na lamang. Ngayon, sa
panibagong maniobra na iyan sa tinatawag na compromise
agreement na iyan, ay nasa 1,336 hectares na lang ang
sinasabing maaaring ma-ipamahagi ng pamilya Conjuangco-
Aquino sa mga farm workers na ang pipiliin ay magkaroon
ng lupa sa halip na manatiling magmay-ari o pamahagihan
ng corporate shares of stock sa ilalim ng Hacienda Luisita,
Inc.
REP. ROMULO. Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Dep.
Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. ROMULO. Mr. Speaker, as the time for the Privilege
Hour has expired, I have conferred with the Honorable Casiño
and he would need a little less than 10 minutes more. So, I move
for an extension by another 10 minutes of the Privilege Hour.
REP. MARIANO. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The time is
extended by another 10 minutes.
REP. CASIÑO. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Ang ibig sabihin lang po doon sa aspetong ito ay
sasabihin na ng magsasaka na “Akin na lang iyong lupa at
hindi na ako sasali sa stock distribution option. Pero dahil sa
right of first refusal, kung anuman ang gusto niyang gawin
doon sa lupa ay dapat dadaan muna sa HLI.
REP. MARIANO. Dadaan pa po muna sa HLI.
37
REP. CASIÑO. Tapos kung makikisosyo siya sa negosyo,
halimbawa, may kukunin siyang ka partner para magtanim
doon sa lupang ibinigay sa kanya ...
REP. MARIANO. O sa joint venture.
REP. CASIÑO. ... joint venture, kailangan pa ring hintayin
niya ang isang taon ...
REP. MARIANO. Opo.
REP. CASIÑO. ... na tumbasan ng HLI iyong joint venture
niya o iyong pakikipag-transaksyon niya sa ibang third party
bago payagan.
REP. MARIANO. Opo, kasi may right of first refusal ang
HLI.
REP. CASIÑO. Kaya parang ibinigay iyong lupa sa iyo
pero in a way, binabawi rin iyong lupa sa iyo. Wala ka pa ring
kontrol pala doon sa lupang ibinigay.
REP. MARIANO. Ang ibig pong sabihin niyan ay hindi
pa naibibigay sa iyo, ngunit sa compromise agreement ay
binabawi na.
REP. CASIÑO. Kung gusto mong gamitin sa ibang
paraan, talagang maghihintay ka pa ng isang taon dahil
kailangang hintayan mong mag-match o magbigay ng offer
ang HLI.
REP. MARIANO. Bibigyan mo ng pagkakataon ang HLI
na tumbasan o tapatan ang offer ng isang, halimbawa, isang
kompanya o korporasyon na may kakayanan na pumapasok
doon sa pagkikipagkasundo sa farm workers na ang kanyang
pinili ay either iyong pamamahagi ng shares of stocks o iyong
pamamahagi ng lupa. Hindi po malayong mangyari na kung
papasok man iyong farm worker na ang pipiliin ay ang
mapamahaginan siya ng lupa, dahil may first refusal right
iyong HLI, baka sa iba ring korporasyon na pag-aari din ng
pamilya Cojuangco at Aquino siya mapupunta. Halimbawa,
mayroon po diyang Luisita Industrial Park Corporation.
Mayroon diyang Luisita Realty Corporation. Mayroon diyang
Centenary Holdings, Inc. Ewan ko lang po itong Luisita Estate
Management, kung kasama ito. Kaya po parang sa harap,
tagilid, talikod, maging sa kanan o kaliwa ng mga
manggagawang-bukid, ay nakapaligid ang mga korporasyon
na pag-aari din ng pamilya Cojuangco at Aquino. Kaya
malakas po ang aking paniniwala na ang manggagawang bukid
ay walang pupuntahan.
REP. CASIÑO. Walang kawala.
REP. MARIANO. Wala pong kawala talaga.
REP. CASIÑO. Sige po. Mukhang malinaw na ho iyon.
Talagang ibinigay iyong lupa sa iyo pero wala kang kawala.
Sa kanila lang talaga ito mapupunta.
Pangatlo po, kagalang-galang na Kinatawan mula sa
Anakpawis, doon naman sa papayag sa SDO, lumalabas dito
na ang kondisyon ay papayag kang pumasok sa Stock
Distribution Option pero hindi mo na puwedeng tutulan ang
38
anumang development ng lupa sa HLI, even if it is not for
agricultural purposes. Ang ang pagkakaalam ko ho sa Stock
Distribution Option, ay parang part owner ka, so as owner of
stock ...
REP. MARIANO. Wala kang tinig.
REP. CASIÑO. ... puwede ka namang mag-object at puwede
kang magsabi ng gusto mong sabihin doon sa management.
Pero dito sa kanilang compromise agreement, iyong patuloy
na paglahok mo pala sa Stock Distribution Option means that
you cannot pose any objection to the further developments of
HLI lands even for non-agricultural purposes. Para po saan at
naging part owner ka pa, pero ni hindi ka pala puwedeng
manghimasok sa management ng lupa? Iyon ho ba, Ginoong
Kinatawan, ay makatarungan o makatwiran?
REP. MARIANO. Hindi ho makatarungan iyon. Alam po
ninyo, iyang probisyon na iyan ay ipinapaloob lamang ng mga
pamilyang Cojuangco at Aquino sa isang quote, and I quote,
“compromise agreement.” Sila ay naging praktikal at ginawa
na nilang, alam po ninyo, bahagi ng 4,915 hectares na saklaw
ng SDO agreement simula noong 1989. Alam po ba ninyo na
may 500 hektarya na diyan ang na-isyuhan ng conversion order
ng Department of Agrarian Reform kung saan wala man lamang
naging bahagi sa pagpapasya o hindi man lang tinanong ang
manggawang-bukid, “Gusto ba ninyo, bilang stockholders o
shareholders ng Hacienda Luisita, Inc. na i-convert ang 500
hectares na ito na bahagi ng 4,915 hectares?” Hindi man lamang
po tinanong sila, hindi man lamang ho kinuha ang consent o
pag sang-ayon ng mga farm workers.
REP. CASIÑO. Hindi ho ba sila ang may-ari niyan,
Ginoong Kinatawan? Saan ka nakakita ng ipapa-convert ang
lupa mo nang hindi ka tinatanong?
REP. MARIANO. Doon po sa Hacienda Luisita,
nangyayari iyan at noong nangyari na ito, sa aking
pagkaintindi ngayon, ay ipinapasok lang nila sa compromise
agreement para masabi nila na pumayag naman sila kaya
ngayon, pwede na silang hindi tanungin. At sinasabing “kung
hindi man kayo natanong noon ay pumasok na kayo rito sa
compromise agreement at kahit papaano nakipag-kasundo
kayo.” At iyan po ang masakit tanggapin, kagalang-galang
na Kinatawan Casiño ng Bayan Muna, Mr. Speaker, mga
kapwa ko Kinatawan.
REP. CASIÑO. Mr. Speaker, as a last point, I think this is
the worst part of the agreement. Dito sa compromise
agreement, once they agree to the the Stock Distribution
Option or the land distribution option, iyong mga magsasaka
po will hereby waive and agree to withdraw any and all claims,
including those arising from employer-employee
relationships, complaints, petitions filed or to be filed with
the DARP, PARC, quasi-judicial or judicial bodies, or any
other matter arising from or incidental to the memorandum of
agreement or any dispute between HLI and the farm workers.
Aba, G. Ispiker, mukhang ang nililibre nito ay hindi lang iyong
instant case na nasa Supreme Court, but even future cases,
whether ito po ay kaugnay sa trabaho o sa lupa o any other
matter! Ibig sabihin, para nawalan ka na ng karapatan kapag
pumasok ka rito sa compromise agreement.
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010
Doon ko nga po sinasabing na hindi makatarungan at
mapaglinlang ang compromise agreement na ito.
REP. CASIÑO. Dito sa compromise agreement ay para
hong binusalan natin ang sariling bibig natin at tinali ang
sariling kamay at halos wala na tayong karapatan na
magreklamo man lang sa kahit na anong bagay kaugnay sa
agreement.
REP. MARIANO. Ito ho ang compromise agreement na
kung saan ay ka- partido ka sa agreement pero wala kang
karapatan na sampahan ng kaso ang Hacienda Luisita,
Incorporated, maghabol sa iyong mga benepisyo o ano pa
mang karapatang mayroon ka, at dito ay pina-waive sa iyo
halos lahat. So, iyon ba ay sang-ayon sa public policy?
REP. CASIÑO. Huling tanong, Mr. Speaker, kagalang-
galang na Kinatawan. Bakit sinasabi nila na mayorya daw ng
mga magsasaka sa Hacienda Luisita ang sumasang-ayon sa
ganitong isang napaka-hindi makatarungan, napaka-hindi
makatuwirang compromise agreement na mismong ang mga
pumirma ay mukha namang walang otoridad na pumirma?
Ano ho ba ang katotohanan hinggil sa diumano ay mayorya
daw ng magsasaka ay pumayag sa ganitong one-sided
onerous compromise, Mr. Speaker?
REP. MARIANO. Alam po ninyo, Mr. Speaker, dear
colleague, hindi ako magtataka kung sabihin man nila na may
malaking mayorya o malaking bilang ng mga farm workers sa
Hacienda Luisita ang sumasang-ayon dito sa compromise
agreement. Alam ninyo po kung bakit? Noong pirmahan po
ang SDO agreement noong 1989, ang sinabi lang nila doon
na bilang ng mga manggagawang-bukid na nasa master list
nila ay humigit-kumulang 7,000 na mga manggagawang bukid.
Sabi nila, “nalulugi ang Hacienda Luisita Incorporated kaya
huwag ninyo kaming sisihin kung bakit dalawa o tatlong araw
lang kayo nakapagtratrabaho sa hacienda.” Ngayon, kung
nalulugi pala at lumiliit iyong man-days, iyong araw ng
pagtratrabaho ng mga manggagawang-bukid, papaano lalaki
at magiging 10,000, 11,000, 12,000 na raw ngayon ang bilang
ng mga farm workers? Hindi po ba magkatunggali iyon?
Ngayon, iyon pong petition ng AMBALA, ng Alyansa
ng mga Manggagawang-Bukid sa Hacienda Luisita na na-file
sa Department of Agrarian Reform sa Setyembre 2003 pa,
doon po naka-attach iyong pirma ng may 5,335 na mga
manggagawang-bukid. So, iyon po ang bale petitioners para
i-revoke ang SDO. Ngayon, kung pinalalaki nila na 10,000,
11,000, 12,000, aba, di puwede ngang sabihin nila, “Ah,
mayorya na kami” kasi 5,339 naman iyong mga
manggagawang-bukid na siyang petitioners doon sa petition
ng AMBALA na inihain sa Department of Agrarian Reform
noong Setyember 2003. At iyan po ay para masuhayan din
iyong kanilang palaging argumento na, “Ah, iyong lupa,
kapag na-parcel out mo iyan sa may 10,000 na mga
manggagawang-bukid, hindi na magiging economically
feasible and viable iyan kaya dapat diyan ay manatiling nasa
ilalim na lang ng Stock Distribution Option.” Sa isang banda,
wala ngang karapatan din iyong mga manggagawang-bukid
na magdesisyon kaugnay sa pag-dispose noong mga land
assets diyan. Hindi rin po sila natanong doon sa 84 hectares
na tinamaan ng SCTEX, Phase ll, doon sa road right- of-way.
Hindi rin po sila tinanong at hindi kinuha iyong kapasyahan
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010
nila doon sa dinaanang lupain ng interchange mula sa SCTEX
patungo doon sa MacArthur Highway.
Iyan po sa Hacienda Luisita, may dalawang matuwid na
daan: iyong dinaanan ng SCTEX, Phase ll, at iyong diretsong
daan mula sa SCTEX papunta roon sa MacArthur Highway.
Iyon po ang alam kong matuwid na daan sa Hacienda Luisita,
Mr. Speaker, dear colleague.
REP. CASIÑO. Hindi ho ba baluktot na daan iyon?
REP. MARIANO. Kapag tinanong po ninyo, may
kasabihan po tayo, hindi po ba? Matagal na po itong kaso ng
Hacienda Luisita, 1957 pa. Kaya naman nabili po iyan ng mga
Cojuangco ay dahil nangutang sila sa Hanover. Ano ba iyon?
Isang trust company sa US kaya kailangang garantiyahan ng
Central Bank. Sabi ng Tabacalera, “Papayag lang kaming bilhin
ninyo iyong majority shares ng Central Azucarera de Tarlac
kung bibilhin ninyo rin iyong lupain ng hacienda.” Eh, walang
pambili daw itong sila Don Pepe Cojuangco kaya nangutang
po sa GSIS at pitong milyong piso ang pinautang ng GSIS.
Kaya po, sa pamamagitan noon, ay nakuha nila iyong
Hacienda Luisita lands at majority shares ng Central
Azucarera de Tarlac sa kundisyon na after 10 years,
ipamamahagi nila ito sa mga magsasaka ng Hacienda Luisita.
Pero hindi pa po nangyari iyon at hanggang ngayon, heto na
po tayo. May kasabihan nga po tayo, hindi po ba, “Sa hinaba-
haba ng prosisyon, dapat sa simbahan ang tuloy.” May
napapanahong kasabihan po ngayon, kapag ating i-a-apply
sa Hacienda Luisita na, “Sa hinaba-haba ng prosisyon, sa
baluktot na daan din pala ang tuloy,” Mr. Speaker, dear
colleague.
REP. CASIÑO. Ginoong Kinatawan, maraming salamat
po sa pagsagot sa aking mga katanungan. Mr. Speaker, I think
that Congress should immediately conduct an investigation
on this very onerous and apparently illegal and unjust so-
Published by the Publication and Editorial Service, Plenary Affairs Bureau
The Congressional Record can be accessed through the Downloads Center of the official website
of the House of Representatives at www.congress.gov.ph
AZB/08092010/1830
39
called compromise agreement and take this golden
opportunity to correct the historical injustice that has been
happening in Hacienda Luisita.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
REP. MARIANO. Maraming salamat po, dear colleague,
Mr. Speaker.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The Dep.
Majority Leader is recognized.
REP. ROMULO. Mr. Speaker, there being no other
Member who wishes to interpellate the Honorable Mariano, I
move that the speech of the Honorable Mariano be referred
to the appropriate committee.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The speech
of the Honorable Mariano and the various interpellations
thereon are hereby referred to the appropriate committee.
REP. ROMULO. Mr. Speaker, I move that we close the
Privilege Hour.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). Is there any
objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the Privilege Hour
is hereby closed.
ADJOURNMENT OF SESSION
REP. ROMULO. Mr. Speaker, I move that we adjourn the
session until 4:00 p.m. tomorrow, August 10, 2010.
THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Remulla). The session
is adjourned until tomorrow, August 10, 2010, at 4:00 p.m.
It was 8:07 p.m.