by admin | Apr 21, 2016 | Election 2016, Opinion
On bended knees I begged for help, Government and Women groups turned their back (My sister was raped and brutally Killed)
Maria, A mother of 6, a beautiful young mother, was forced to go abroad because of poverty, like other OFWs in the world now.
She went abroad for work, but went home inside a coffin, she was raped and brutally killed in the Middle East on September 29, 1993, the family was informed of three different versions of her death, the government tried to hide to the family the real cause.
The Philippine Embassy informed Maria’s family only on October 4 for reasons the family didn’t know.
Maria from North Cotabato, her family sought the help of the Secretary of the Department of Labor, the Transportation Secretary and even various women groups including, the militant Gabriela in Manila to help them, and at least- facilitate the transfer of her casket from an international airline in Manila to Davao City, but they failed. Worse they were given a run around.
Maria’s youngest sister, then a correspondent of a known national broadsheet called several women’s group in Manila to help as no one in the family was there to attend for the transfer- the family was struggling to raise funds to pay for the casket, they were told the airfare from manila to Davao is expensive that a human fare.
Endless calls made from October 4 to October 20, but the government was INUTILE and none of the so-called women’s groups either progressive, militant or moderate came to the family’s rescue.
On October 19 at exactly, 12:00 midnight, a stranger visited Maria’s sister in her house in Davao, a man who claims to be a staff of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte informed them, that the transfer and payment for the casket was underway and the family need not worry about the payment because Duterte sent a staff to Manila to help the transfer and the payment.
The same staff told the family “Ayaw na mo sige ug hilak, kay ugma sa buntag moabot na ang lawas diri sa Davao (stop crying, tomorrow morning the cadaver will arrive here in Davao).
Seconds, after the man told the sister, someone was calling him over his handheld radio and the staff told the sister, Duterte wants to talk to her.
In between sobs, she talked with Duterte over the radio, heard Duterte said ” ayaw na kagoul, tabangan ta mo, sultihi lang ko ug naay pay kulang kay aron madala imong igsoon sa iyang pamilya sa North Cotabato (don’t worry, I will help your family, just tell me if you need more help to bring the casket to her family in North Cotabato).
Unknown to the family, Duterte was monitoring the arrival of the aircraft the following morning.
When the cadaver was opened inside the funeral homes along F. Torres St. in Davao, family members were disoriented, the youngest sister horrified but a man with open arms comforted her and told her “be strong, Pray. I understand the pain.”
She did not realize, she was heavily crying in Duterte’s arms.
Inside the room, Duterte comforted the family, he cried with them as the family shouted for justice.
When everyone was settled and calm, Duterte stood up and told the family in vernacular “we have a problem here, the Philippines does not have BILATERAL LABOR AGREEMENT WITH MANY COUNTRIES and EVEN IF WE FIGHT NOW, IT WILL BE AN UPHILL FIGHT.”
Duterte even went to North Cotabato on his motorbike a day before Maria was laid to rest.
The family is coming out now, because they now deep inside their heart, BELOW THE BAD MOUTH OF DUTUERTE, LIES DUTERTE’s SOFT HEART—READY TO PROTECT ANYONE SPECIALLY THE DISADVANTAGED AND THE FAMILY OF POOR RAPE VICTIMS.
THIS IS MY STORY, it took me two days to draft this story, because I cannot continue writing-crying as I remember the tragic moment how my sister was brutally killed, and how a stranger-RODRIGO DUTERTE came to our rescue.
It pains me to hear people crucifying Duterte when they themselves have yet to try his kind of leadership, they don’t know Duterte inside out.
I am Editha Zaragosa Caduaya, youngest sister of Maria.
The girl at the right side of the picture.
Reposted with permission from this Facebook post
by admin | Apr 20, 2016 | Opinion
Political Phenomenon
By Manny Piñol
Many inexplicable and strange things are happening as the Presidential campaign comes to the homestretch.
Following the uproar generated by Presidential frontrunner Rody Duterte’s controversial narrative on the rape and killing of an Australian missionary in the infamous Pugoy hostage taking in Davao City in 1989, I actually expected the readership of this page, MannyPiñol, to plummet as it did after the Papal gaffe in November last year.
In November last year, following Duterte’s decision to run for President, the readership of this page which now has 210,000 Likes was about 4.9-million weekly owing mainly to the posts I made about the Davao City Mayor.
That dropped to about 2-million readers a few days after Duterte cursed the Pope whose visit caused a monstrous traffic in Manila.
I was expecting that to happen again following the Amoranto Stadium event where he made a controversial comment on the rape and killing of the Australian preacher.
But a strange thing happened.
From a weekly average readership of about 1.2-million since I have not been posting articles as often as I used to, the readership suddenly climbed to over 3-million.
As of this writing the readership average was at 4-million and I expect it to rise even further.
That was when I realised that people were willing to forgive Duterte for the gaffes and misstatements he made because their anger against this government and the system is real.
That was when I found out that the attacks and criticisms against Duterte did not shake or change people’s decision to elect him as the next President.
Broadcaster Pia Hontiveros also noticed the same trend in Twitter.
But the more dramatic manifestations that people were not affected by the assault on Duterte, including his so-called psychological condition, were the crowds which gathered in Bacolod City and in Iloilo City, areas which were believed to be territories of the administration party.
Why are the people so angry at this government and the system to the point that the President would get a Zero approval rating in Metro Manila.
Today, I saw four photos posted in the freedom wall by a Facebook user which showed Presidential sister and actress Kris Aquino landing in Dalaguete, Cebu to join a Liberal Party campaign using not one, but five government helicopters.
Immediately, my blood boiled because two weeks earlier, a forest fire broke out in Mt. Apo destroying virgin forests with centuries-old red cedar trees.
The government sent one helicopter to drop water on the firezone to no avail.
But in Dalaguete, Cebu yesterday, Kris Aquino was allowed to use five helicopters to join an LP campaign sortie.
Earlier, an elderly couple en route to the United States so the wife could get a much needed medical treatment was prevented from boarding their plane after they became the newest victims of the Laglag Bala syndicate at the International Airport.
Earlier than that, four policemen, including a lieutenant, were arrested after they confessed involvement in the killing of a businessman whose body was found inside a drum floating in a river in Metro Manila.
Still earlier than that, administration candidate Manuel Roxas’ wife, Korina Sanchez, was seen joining a Department of Agriculture equipment distribution activity in North Cotabato where she was heard asking farmers: “Gusto nyo bang yumaman? Gusto ni Mar yumaman kayo.”
Still earlier than that, victims of Typhoon Yolanda have been asking government why after two years, many of them were still homeless when the Philippine government received almost $2-B in donations from international organisations and foreign governments.
The anger has been building up and it has come to the point that people would rather cast their lot on a Presidential candidate who promises change, never mind if he spews out invectives and profanities.
This explains the unstoppable surge of Duterte in the surveys.
This explains why in spite of the relentless attacks waged by the mainstream media against Duterte and even the negative comments from the ambassadors of Australia and the United States of America, Duterte’s numbers are rising.
The outrage has reached boiling point and it will not cool down until after they have elected Duterte, the man who has promised change.
Unless the administration addresses the source of the anger of the people, there is no way the rise of Duterte could be stopped.
This political phenomenon is now the biggest headache for the other Presidential contenders.
(Photos of the government helicopters and Kris Aquino were sent by an anonymous Facebook user to the Facebook Page of Even Demata and were later posted on the Freedom Wall.)
Source (Manny Piñol)
by admin | Apr 19, 2016 | Opinion
Many still do not know the character and personality of presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
Behind his strong and sometimes intransigent persona seen in public is a compassionate, sincere and principled man.
I have known Mayor Duterte as a public official probably the most than anyone, having served him as chief of staff while he was still an appointed vice mayor in 1986 – a good 30 years ago. Add another year or 2 when he was a prosecutor trying to lock me behind bars of the martial law regime because I joined the anti-Marcos dictatorship mass movement.
I have seen him take the risk and the road less traveled in the course of his dedicated public service.
I can swear to God – the way I took my priestly vows – that he has not taken advantage of his position to enrich his self or any member of his family.
Every single centavo of the money of the people of Davao City were well spent, every resources well allocated, distributed and disbursed and used.
One thing he is intolerant of are the recidivist and incorrigible deviants – felons and criminals.
He hates them.
He most especially hates persons who discriminate, take advantage and assault vulnerable sectors of our society – the lumads, the minority, the disabled, the people with different gender preference and most especially women.
For all his much talked about womanizing ways, he has a very soft heart towards women who are assaulted, raped and killed.
I can count to you how many rape cases he personally attended to and take with extreme unction.
His ‘little town’ reputation, unguarded and unrehearsed manners may offend those who are taught how our national leaders should act, behave and speak. They may find him uncouth, abrasive, and even repulsive. Because that is how the elitists are trying to impose their myopic rules on all our people. Duterte is not in this elitist circle and he is definitely out-of-the-box.
But by God, he is the most sincere, simplest but dedicated leader I have ever worked with.
He inspires people who knows him very well.
For that, I will not exchange him for anyone else in the country.
I urge his believers and supporters to remain steadfast amid the new challenges he and us are facing.
Have faith in the man who already proved that he will place the interest of the people ahead of his. Even putting his own life on the line.
In 3 weeks, we will decide if Mayor Duterte’s selfless dedication deserves to be reciprocated.
I urge you to rally behind, vote for him and protect those precious votes. A vote for him is a vote for tomorrow and the future of your children our next generation.
by admin | Apr 16, 2016 | Local News / Bohol Balita
A Provincial Convergence of Women Micro-Entrepreneurs was recently conducted at JJ’s Seafood Village, Tagbilaran City.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and its partner agencies, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Agriculture (DA) launches the Gender Responsive Economic Actions for the Transformation of Women (GREAT) Project 2.
The activity was attended by 48 women entrepreneurs from different municipalities of the Province. (Photo by DTI-Bohol/MTT)
by admin | Apr 14, 2016 | Editorial
President Benigno S Aquino is not just becoming a lameduck president. He has just shown to us that he is not just lame; he is also a duck.
The son of a president who took over after evicting a dictator, Aquino should have all the time needed to conveniently and permanently scuttle the dream of the Marcoses.
After all, in totality, he and his mother have a combined rule of nearly 12 years, and within that time succeeded in burning the house to scoot out the rats.
Then President Corazon Aquino, mother of this lame duck president, took the helm of power and enjoyed the push of the wind of change in her sails. It should have been that easy.
But when she immediately set her prow to go after the ousted leader and his family, including erasing what was left of their memory because of what she said is grave plunder of government, she only managed to tilt the Marcoses head.
At least, Cory Aquino, whom historians wanted to project as a saint, lightly pressured the judiciary to hand her the Marcoses’ head. But she could not do that even if she wielded all the power.
Not only was she a failure in mustering the government assets to force the Marcoses to return their alleged loot, she also failed in permanently shutting the door for their return to power.
Aquino’s cannons for the Marcoses spewed nothing but smoke grenades when the big guns could do sufficient damage. The smoke of vilification and demonization were shots fired across the Marcoses bow, it did stop one Marcos dead on his track.
And then like a deadly virus, the Marcoses developed a certain kind of immunity that even the harshest of the Aquino’s barrage using the Martial Law had no effect.
The campaign against the Marcoses however, did not stall the family’s cruise to return to power and expose the Aquino government’s hypocrisy.
Aside from Imelda, the wife of the strongman winning a seat of power, daughter Aimee and son Bongbong tauntingly managed to grab key seats in the Aquino government.
Now that Bongbong runs the risk of winning the country’s second highest seat, and racking in on this government’s inutility, the dirty campaign took the young Marcos’in stride.
But the bombardment soon sounded as laughable: either Pinoys found it a bore or took it as a parody against this government.
In the recent surveys, we saw how those opposed to Senator Bongbong are unleashing their deadly arsenal of hate campaign and bashing which borders the toilet kind.
Instead of burying the man’s dream for good, this government watered it instead, the seed of hate grew and grew in to pile heaps of support for the strongman’s son in survey approval ratings.
Why? What has happened?
When this government hoisted Martial Law and the worst of the Marcoses to fool the millennials, they did come with dirtier hands.
With a reign seen as more diabolical than the repressive Martial Law, with the horde of salivating cabinet more known for their characteristic ineptness supporting a three-day president, when the country is sailing into rough waters, there is the rub.
For the older generations, they still see the Marcos years as a country sacrificing to get the infrastructure that pitted the country among the best.
For a lame duck administration whose political endorsement is a kiss of death because all it could boast of, are accomplishments better remembered as monuments of stupidity, would one ever wonder why a vote for Marcos is better?
by admin | Apr 14, 2016 | Local News / Bohol Balita
SAN MIGUEL, Bulacan – Mayor Rodrigo Duterte just added this town to the list of its conquests.
Duterte’s admirers swiftly demolished perceptions he is weak in this town by a riotous welcome reserved only for hometown favorites.
No one could miss the landing site because of the long lines of vehicles waiting for the arrival of the front-running presidential candidate.
There was no hint of any effect of the desperate demolition job resorted to be his pursuers.
If any, it served only to fire up the welcoming party even more.
After a brief press conference at the landing site after Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, organizers aborted the announced motorcade due to time constraints, but it made little difference.
Duterte rewarded the patience of those who stood in line to wait for him when he opened the door of the van carrying him to the rally venue to wave and smile at them as he passed by.
Some were more fortunate because they were able to shake his hands during the time Duterte’s convoy had to stop due to heavy traffic.
Mobile phones and cameras were aimed at the passing convoy, recording the moment to prove how important it was to their owners.
The contrasting reactions of those he passed by betrayed the fate of their efforts.
“Nakuha ko sya!” a woman exclaimed, jumping with glee as she did so.
The frown on the face of her companion reflected her disappointment.
Some were more persistent, running after the mayor’s van which was moving at a snail pace, never giving up until they were satisfied with their shots.
Senior citizens and children alike jostled for position as soon as the van loomed in sight.
When the mayor’s party arrived at the San Miguel gym, it was already filled with cheering supporters.
Others who were waiting in the areas around the venue dashed to the rally venue, sending temperatures rising in the unfinished gym that was already steaming hot.
The reception Duterte got was not much different from the ones he got in previous sorties, chants and yells that drowned out the public address system.
Immediately after the mayor uttered his greetings, the gym shook as the crowd roared in approval.
Duterte gave virtually the same message he has given in recent engagements: his disgust with the quality of the competition, corruption by two of his rivals, the growing threat of illegal drugs and criminality and incompetence of those in office.
The repetition proves his fixation with peace and order, his hatred for corruption and the universality of his message.
Duterte does not show signs he is changing his message. There is no need to when even his foes are now changing tactics, revisiting peace and order after being silent on it until he seized the lead.
Opposing camps may dismiss the warm welcome as a fluke.
All they need to do is to visit the same town and generate the same welcome – without resorting to threats and intimidation of local officials and government officials and employees and bribery of local supporters.
Until such time, however, the observation that San Miguel town has fallen to Duterte stands.
With each stop, the
by admin | Apr 11, 2016 | National News
The Philippines now has 18 biomass power plants able to produce a combined 241 megawatts (MW) of electricity – enough to energize more than 300,000 homes, former Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri said Sunday.
“Fired mainly by bagasse and rice husk, 16 of the biomass energy producers are already dispatching power to the grid, while a couple are under project commissioning and ready to supply the grid,” Zubiri, a strong advocate of renewable energy, said.
The 241-MW installed capacity does not include another 166 MW from biomass power generators installed by private firms for their own consumption of electricity, not for grid use, according to the former senator.
“What is great about biomass fuel from energy stored in agricultural waste is that it always available, adds value to farm crops, and is carbon neutral,” Zubiri said.
He said biomass power producers are providing growers additional income from bagasse, the sugarcane fiber waste left after juice extraction, and rice husk, the shell separated from rice grains during the milling process.
Among all renewable energy sources, Zubiri said biomass is the most labor-intensive since it involves the gathering of farm waste – an activity that tends to benefit low-income households.
“Anything that reduces our dependence on foreign oil for electricity is always most welcome,” he said.
Two of the largest biomass power plants are fired by bagasse and were put up in the “sugar bowl” of Negros Occidental by packaged food and beverage producer Universal Robina Corp. (URC) and diversified sugar manufacturer Victorias Milling Co. Inc. (VMC).
URC’s facility in Kabankalan City has an installed capacity of 46 MW, while VMC’s plant in Victorias City has 34 MW, both for grid use.
The Visayas now has an installed capacity of 136 MW from biomass energy, Luzon has 81 MW, and Mindanao, 24 MW.
The Renewable Energy Law of 2008 authored by Zubiri has accelerated the development of the country’s “green” energy resources and is now driving jobs growth in the countryside.
According to the Renewable Energy Management Bureau, more than 2.9 million jobs — mostly in construction and engineering services — have been created by the boom in wind, solar, geothermal, hydro and biomass power projects.
The Renewable Energy Law — Republic Act 9513 — aims to lessen national dependence on electricity generated from imported and highly pollutive fuel oil and coal.
Under the law, the Energy Regulatory Commission can guarantee fixed rate per kilowatt-hour – the FIT rates – for power producers harnessing renewable energy under the FIT system.
A trust fund also provides grants, loans, equity investments, loan guarantees, insurance, counterpart fund or such other financial arrangements to renewable energy developers.
by admin | Apr 9, 2016 | Local News / Bohol Balita, Tech Talk
By: Zion Campo
Startup Weekend Bohol 2 is coming!
Time is almost up and we’re getting pretty pumped up! It’s time for Boholano innovators to volt in. Startup Weekend Bohol 2 will sure be a whirlwind event with startup enthusiasts, aspiring entrepreneurs and established businessmen congregating to celebrate the awesomeness of innovation, tech and entrepreneurship!
Seriously though, a lot of things will happen this Startup Weekend Bohol 2. Ideas will get pitched, teams will argue, some might sizzle and others might triumph. The whole event will be chaotic for the uninitiated so here are some things you need to remember to stay sane this coming Startup Weekend Bohol 2.
1. Prepare. Prepare. Prepare.
Before you drop by this coming April 15, be sure that you are all ready for war. Because it will be a battleground out there. You only have 60 seconds to for the firepitch round so you’ll need to prepare what you’ll say. Those 60 seconds are important to get your idea to the next round and convince others to join you.
Research your idea. BUT DON’T BUILD IT YET. Rehearse your 60 second pitch. Think of something that will make people remember you and your idea.
Don’t forget to book your lodging if you’re out of the area since it will be a long night ahead of you! Assemble your Startup Weekend starter kit a.k.a. whatever you need to do great work. Don’t forget to bring your business cards too!
Startup Weekend Bohol 2 is a great avenue to connect with great people who do extraordinary work.
2. Shed Your Shyness
You’ll get the most of Startup Weekend Bohol 2 if you go out there and mingle. I know you’re scared, a little bit worried that you’ll embarrass yourself but what’s life without a little bit of hiccups.
Honestly, other people around you are probably just as scared as you are. Don’t be afraid to say hi, introduce yourself and connect. Hold a conversation with someone, hold a genuine conversation.
During Startup Weekend Bohol 2, if you’re working with your squad or team, we’ll most likely separate you from your buddies and introduce you to new people. We encourage you to expand your circle of human friends!
3. Listen to Your Customers
One thing you should be doing during Startup Weekend Bohol 2 is to validate your idea. How should you do it? Get out there and talk to your customers!!!
And we don’t mean, ask your friends to like your facebook page and consider that as validation. Ask people offline and do a survey online. Message your Facebook friends list. Leverage your connections. Don’t be squeamish about talking to your customers.
It’s hard to listen when the people you talk to tells you that your idea isn’t something they would use or pay for. But it’s harder if you build it, then nobody’s going to actually use it because you didn’t actually validate your idea. Don’t waste your time building something people don’t want!
Don’t make that mistake. Your customers are your lifeblood if you’re going to do a startup. Make sure you’re building what they want, what they really want. Ask them questions.
4. Work With Your Team
Your idea can only go a long way without a good team. Work with them.
Even though you might be complete strangers in the beginning, you’ll get to know each other much better over the weekend. Know what each member brings to the table. Is it sales experience? Tech development knowledge? Project management skills? Design prowess?
Get to know your people better. You’ll be spending three days with your team. Don’t just tell them to do this and do that just because it’s your idea. Work with them and make good friends.
5. Ask Help From Mentors
Don’t forget we have mentors!
These guys are experienced people who know their stuff. They are there during Startup Weekend Bohol 2 to share their expertise. Listen to them young padawan.
Exercise caution though.
Take advice and consider if it will work for your startup idea. Don’t just gobble up everything they say. Be smart with taking advice. They are there to tell you what they’ve learned with their experience. But what might have gone well for them, might not go well for you.
Ask help from mentors but don’t swallow everything. Consider what they say. Implement what you think will be good for your startup idea.
6. Practice Your Pitch
During the end of the weekend, you’ll get on stage again to pitch your idea in front of judges.
Be sure you’ve practiced your pitch over and over and over again. You’ll be given ample time to practice. It’s your chance to shine and sell your idea so do your best. Don’t worry about messing up.
Everybody is nervous. Just breathe in, calm yourself and get the ball rolling.
7. Enjoy!
Startup Weekend Bohol 2 isn’t just all work, there’s also some having fun here and there. Don’t be so focused on trying to win the first prize that you forget to enjoy working over the weekend.
As they always say, the best thing about going after success is the journey towards it. Be in the NOW! It’s the weekend. Have fun!
by admin | Apr 8, 2016 | Opinion, Tech Talk
By: Jerome Auza
I openly support Rodrigo Duterte to be the next president of the country. Together with my wife, our family, our friends and colleagues, we have come to agree that Duterte is the right leader at this time, to steer the country for the next six years.
We’ve spent quite a sum of time and money campaigning, buying t-shirts and giving them away to people, printing hundreds of stickers and distributing them to the public and frequently promoting Duterte to our friends on Facebook. I may have overdone the Facebook part already and I might be already a “Dutertard” to some of my friends. Who knows some might have already unfollowed, or worse, unfriended me.
As we did our part as volunteers in the past few weeks, I had that feeling of familiarity to what we were doing. Contributions from thousands, if not millions, of volunteers towards a common cause seemed to be something very familiar to me as if I had been doing it for a long time.
And one day, it dawned on me. Duterte’s campaign is like open source software: made of contributions from so many people in different areas of expertise towards a common goal. The best example of a very successful open source software project is the Linux operating system.
Conceived in the early 1990s, Linux made its way into server systems, had difficult time penetrating the PC market but lately, it has become ubiquitous after Google built the Android operating system for mobile devices based on Linux.
Linux and other open source software are released to the public including its source code. Any developer can scrutinize the code, learn from it, improve it and possibly get his improvements accepted into future versions. By making the source code public, more eyes can review and study the code and discover defects or bugs.
Linux and FreeBSD (another open source operating system) have started to dominate the market with Android and Chromebook based on Linux and the MacOS based on FreeBSD. They have become so successful that Microsoft, the company that was the “opposite” of the open source software, has started to embrace open source software and have themselves, released some of their development platforms on Linux and open source.
The one thing, among others, that the open source software licenses guarantee, especially if the software uses the GNU Public License, is the freedom to use the software as you like. But you can’t claim to own it. Violate the license and you will get vilified by the open source community.
Contribute to the open source project and thousands and maybe millions of other users will benefit from your contribution.
Duterte’s volunteers are like the horde of seasoned software developers volunteering their time and expertise for a common good: free software. Free to acquire and give, free to use, free to be scrutinized and free to learn from. Some developers create new features, others fix bugs, others improve existing features and others organize the whole flow of development work from around the world. Other contributors write the documentation, create graphics, promote the software, help other people learn to use the software and many more.
However, instead of free software, the common goal of Duterte’s supporters is to give back to the Filipinos many freedoms it has lost in the past decades. Artists come up with designs for campaign materials. Musicians come up with songs, dancers choreograph dance moves, writers come up with blogs, owners of printing shops allowing the use of their equipment for free, photographers and videographers covering his rallies and many more. All done to help convince the Filipino voters to choose Duterte to be the 16th president of the country.
The Filipinos have lost or about to lose their freedom to walk the streets unharmed, their freedom to to scrutinize public information to help ensure effective use of national resources, their freedom to raise the youth free from drugs and other forms of addiction, their freedom from poor government service due to incompetent and corrupt public servants, their freedom to live in a peaceful environment and many other freedoms the normal Filipino citizen has been gradually losing in the past decades. Heck, we do not even have the freedom to enjoy fast and reliable Internet at a price comparable to western countries.
The Duterte supporters will put in the leader who they believe has the will and capability to give back to the Filipinos the many freedoms it has lost or about to lose. They have seen through the facade of traditional politicians who are backed by oligarchs. They will not be fooled again.
However, Duterte is not the long term solution. He will be running the affairs of the country for just six years. The Dutertards like me, and the rest of the Filipino people, will still be responsible for the long term success of the Filipino nation.
A Duterte presidency will just be like a new Linux version. It will be the 16th version of the Philippines. Hopefully, this time, the bugs of this country will get fixed or at least mitigated significantly. Corruption, incompetence of public servants, too much red tape, loopholes in the law, rising drug trade and crime. They are like persistent software bugs that bother you everyday and prevent you from being productive, from living life in freedom. People who keep creating bugs will get their butts kicked until they behave or leave or die if they violently resist arrest.
Just like the open source software community continuously contributing to Linux, the Filipinos need to continue contributing to the progress of the country, doing their part, disciplining themselves, following the law, paying taxes and staying vigilant in case any public servant tries to enrich himself. Some of us will be scrutinizing our systems looking for bugs and inefficiencies.
Lastly, many of us will keep an eye on Duterte and make sure he performs as mandated. Rest assured, we the Dutertards, will also be the ones to make sure that he delivers. Collectively, we have spent millions, if not billions campaigning for him. We will not let Duterte get away with lackluster performance. We will be a demanding horde of contributors.
All these going towards a much improved next version of the Philippines six years from now.
by admin | Apr 7, 2016 | National News
Key agencies involved in the government’s Manufacturing Resurgence Program (MRP) made a commitment to double their efforts in vigorously implementing programs and projects that will propel the country’s manufacturing sector to further upgrade, thrive and become catalysts and engines for sustained and inclusive growth.
At the First Quarter MRP Cluster Meeting which convened recently at the Board of Investments (BOI), MRP-implementing government agencies agreed that the various MRP projects being implemented are relevant and critical to the manufacturing industry’s growth and development and be globally competitive.
“The growth of the manufacturing sector has been very encouraging especially in the last five years. With this as the ongoing trend, there is high probability that the growth of the manufacturing industry will be sustained in the coming years,” said Trade and Industry Assistant Secretary Aldaba at the meeting’s opening.
Chaired by Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) Assistant Secretary for industry development Rafaelita Aldaba, the meeting that was attended by representatives from various MRP-implementing agencies namely DTI’s BOI and the Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprise Development (BSMED), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Agriculture (DA), , Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), National Electrification Administration (NEA), National Power Corporation (NPC), and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).
In pursuit of the government’s goal of achieving inclusive growth, the government implements the MRP with DTI as lead coordinating agency. The MRP aims to improve the existing capacity of industries, strengthen new ones, and maintain the competitiveness of industries with comparative advantage. It also seeks to build-up agriculture-based manufacturing industries that generate employment, and support small-holder farmers and agri-cooperatives through product development, value-adding, and integration to big enterprises for marketing and financing purposes.
In the meeting, each of the agencies gave updates on the progress and assessment of projects implemented from 2014 to 2015, the ongoing projects and how these projects are supporting manufacturing development, plans for 2016 and proposed projects for 2017.
Assistant Secretary Aldaba reported DTI’s ongoing MRP projects namely the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) Program, Die & Mold Making and Design Training in partnership with the MIRDC and the PDMA; Philippine Rubber Investment and Market Encounter; enhancing the competitiveness of the Philippine coffee, establishment and implementation of an Aerospace Quality Management Systems Project; Product and Technology Holistic Strategy Project for the electronics industry, Study by the UP School of Urban Planning, Economics and Anthropology on the revival of key industries in the Sixth District of Quezon City; Cottage Industry Technology Center Transformation Project, Sectoral Value Proposition Development, Regulations review for priority sectors, Industry Roadmapping Project including the development of roadmaps for the footwear and garments and textile sectors; conduct of regional conferences and localization of industry roadmaps; and forum and conferences on trade and industry development talks and updates on various industries and sectors.
DTI’s BSMED on the other hand separately reported its MRP initiatives including the conduct of SME Roving Academy, establishment of Shared Services Facilities and Negosyo Centers.
DA meanwhile reported the highlights of its accomplishments of programs and projects identified under MRP namely the High-Value Crops Development Program which assisted coffee growers, the establishment of rice processing centers for farmer associations, the Philippine Rural Development Project’s I-REAP Component, and the Farm-to-Market Development Program which provides connectivity of the agri-fishery production sites to the processing and market centers.
During the meeting Assistant Secretary Aldaba highlighted the importance of DTI and DA’s close coordination since most of the projects of the two agencies are interrelated. As identified in the Comprehensive National Industrial Strategy (CNIS), the country’s blueprint detailing the overall industrial strategy, the strong linkage of the manufacturing sector and agriculture will stimulate economic growth.
PCA reported the Kaanib Coco Hub Project which aims to increase the income of participating coconut farmers by providing processing hubs for coco-based products such as virgin coconut oil, coco sugar, coco coir, among others. PCA also reported it is currently working on the coconut roadmap together with the industry players.
Meanwhile DOE, NEA, and NPC separately reported on their MRP initiatives, all of which are geared towards providing sufficient energy resources to stimulate the growth and development of various industries and sectors.
The body also had the opportunity to hear the insights of Dr. Armin Bauer, Principal Economist and Coordinator of Asian Development Bank’s Inclusive Business Initiative, on modernizing the competitiveness of Philippine industries under an Inclusive Business (IB) Agenda. Dr. Bauer discussed the basics of inclusive business, what the industries and businesses can potentially gain from government support programs, some examples of IB models in manufacturing, how industry promotion programs adopt IB, and the steps government and businesses can do to support IB.
For more information on the services of the DTI, log-on to http://www.dti.gov.ph
by admin | Apr 3, 2016 | Opinion, Tech Talk
By: Jerome Auza
The 2016 national elections is developing into an unprecedented event in the country with social media harnessed heavily for campaigns aside from traditional media. In the 2010 and 2013 elections, social media was also used but this year, the difference is that we have one presidential candidate who has limited funds for ads but is doing very well in the surveys.
Currently 2nd in a formal survey but almost always 1st in various mock elections and informal surveys nationwide, presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has appealed to supporters to help him with the campaign as he will not be accepting donations from big businessmen. The response is an overwhelming support and a real grassroots initiated campaign for Duterte. In social media websites like Facebook and Twitter, there are hundreds of comments, photos, stories and expression of support for Duterte every day. These help his name recall.
Of course, Duterte also has some TV ads but the exposure time pales in comparison to that of most other candidates. Duterte’s campaign has been aided by volunteers who believe in his platform and leadership capability to lead the nation. These volunteers post updates, comments and pictures and graphics to help promote Duterte on their social media accounts. The volume of such posts overwhelm the paid ads and show of support for the other candidates.
Outside the digital domain, the volunteer support is also evident. Free T-shirt printing is being provided by supporters. A friend of mine who prints stickers for his business would utilize the waste cutouts of the stickers and print Duterte stickers. Brochures, banners and tarps are printed and paid for by the volunteers and are distributed around. Many of these are coordinated on Facebook.
Will Duterte’s non-traditional approach to the campaign prove to be the winning move in his bid for the presidency? Would the incumbent advantage of the LP party enough to propel Roxas to victory? Can Poe’s name recall from her adopted father’s fame in the movies do the trick of getting the most votes? Will Binay’s Makati convince the voters to let him run the country? Can Santiago’s brilliance get her on top?
It still remains to be seen.
The campaign strategy of the other candidates seem to be dictated from the top down to the front liners. Duterte’s campaign is simply coordinated by his campaign manager, Maribojoc Mayor Leoncio Evasco, Jr. The volunteers have a loose structure and there is no formal organization imposed on them.
While the public is bombarded with the political ads of the other candidates on TV, the grassroots support and volunteerism is being concocted on social media.
Is this the new form of People Power? 30 years ago, the warm bodies that showed up in EDSA booted out a dictator. Back then there was no social media.
At present, there’s no need to go to EDSA to change the leadership. The click of the send button after tapping words using two thumbs on a mobile device might be enough to start a peaceful revolution that brings positive change to the way things are run in the status quo.
