Under Aquino III: Promoting Ties of Dependency with the U.S.?

Under Aquino III: Promoting Ties of Dependency with the U.S.?
By the Policy Study, Publication, and Advocacy
Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG)
August 14, 2010

Those who are watching the first 100 days of the new administration can now start focusing their lens on President Benigno S. Aquino III’s coming visit to the United States in September - his first major official foreign trip. The decision to make the U.S. as his maiden foreign destination is not only symbolic but will have far-reaching implications not only on foreign policy but also on the so-called special relationship between a former colony and a superpower. In the long run, it will have broad implications on the Filipino people.

Aquino gov’t shouldn’t wash hands off VAT on toll fees

The umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan today criticized the Aquino administration for “washing its hands” in the issue of the Value Added Tax on toll fees set to take effect on Monday. The group said that Malacanang’s reasoning that the VAT is an old law from the previous administration is unacceptable.

"State of the Climate"

Senator Loren Legarda in her "State of the Climate" privilege speech today called for the synchronized implementation of the following laws - Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Climate Change Act of 2009 and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010;

"Never before in history have humans proactively worked together to avert a global catastrophe, as what we now attempt to achieve with the threatening challenge of climate change."

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Climate change asserted, "Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger is impossible to achieve without taking extensive measures to minimize the impacts of recurring floods, droughts, and other hazards that push Filipinos back into poverty. "

"It is time to recognize that disasters, turbocharged by a changing climate, have undone years of development gains, and that unsound and short-sighted development practices themselves are playing a significant role in worsening disaster risk, " Legarda cautioned.

Drilon files resolution calling for Senate probe on excessive salaries of gov't officials

Reacting to reports of excessive and unwarranted salaries and other perks received by certain top government officials, Senator Franklin Drilonl last Thursday filed a resolution directing the committees on Finance, together with the Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises, to conduct an investigation into the matter.

"Reports of excessive and unwarranted monetary remuneration and perks accruing to the benefit of board directors and top officials of government owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) and government financial institutions (GFIs), in the guise of allowances, per diem, honoraria, and bonuses, is like rubbing salt to an already open wound," Drilon laments.

Pia urges employers: "Give breastfeeding moms a (lactation) break!"

Senator Pia S. Cayetano today called on heads of government offices and private employers to comply with a new law that allows breastfeeding employees to take time off during work hours to pump and store their milk, which they could later take home to feed their infant.

Signed into law in March this year, Republic Act 10024, or the "Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009" now permits paid "lactation breaks" to encourage working mothers to continue breastfeeding upon returning to work after giving birth.

"Reporting back to work should now pose less of a hindrance to working moms who want to continue giving breast milk to their newborn," said Cayetano, principal author of RA 10024 and Chairperson of the Senate Committees on Health and Demography and Youth, Women and Family Relations.

Marcoses make political comeback

Three prominent Marcoses duly elected as senator, governor and congresswoman respectively, will be working under the 2nd Aquino presidency. This year marks a comeback for the Marcoses despite past animosity between the two political families.

Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., son of former president Ferdinand Marcos, won a seat in the Senate last May 10 polls. He has earlier expressed willingness to work with President Noynoy Aquino and his administration.

Imee Marcos, daughter of the late strongman Marcos and three-term Congresswoman of the 2nd District of Ilocos Norte, is now governor of Ilocos Norte. She won by a landslide victory against former Gov. Michael Marcos Keon.

State of the Nation Address 2010

State of the Nation Address 2010
His Excellency President Benigno S. Aquino III
26 July 2010

15th Congress of the Republic of the Philippines
Session Hall of the House of Representatives
Batasan Pambansa Complex, Quezon City
26 July 2010


Speaker Feliciano Belmonte; Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile; Vice President Jejomar Binay, Chief Justice Renato Corona, Former Presidents Fidel Valdez Ramos and Joseph Ejercito Estrada; Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate; distinguished members of the diplomatic corps;

My beloved countrymen:

Our administration is facing a forked road. On one direction, decisions are made to protect the welfare of our people; to look after the interest of the majority; to have a firm grip on principles; and to be faithful to the public servant's sworn oath to serve the country honestly.

This is the straight path.