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On leaving PDP Laban
On Friday, 20 October, I submitted my resignation as the Secretary-General and as a member of the PDP Laban Party. In my resignation letter, I expressed my utmost gratitude to former President Rodrigo Duterte, our party chairman, for the trust and confidence conferred during my incumbency as the PDP Laban Secretary-General. I served the party under him with loyalty and delivered on the duties and responsibilities assigned to me. As a contributing opinion writer in this newspaper, I want to express my opinion on matters concerning national issues affecting ordinary Filipinos without being tied to the political stand of PDP Laban. I was always for nation-building. I believe that after the political season, we can discuss political, economic, and social matters in a manner that is not corrosive but beneficial to our country’s economic well-being. I believe that the incumbent knows their pact with the Filipinos and that they will fulfill it in a manner befitting the proud Filipino class. All of these are written in our Constitution. It is very important for us to support the incumbent, especially when they have a clear political mandate. It is not about the personalities but about protecting our institutions of leadership, like the three branches of our government. This is the only way to have a truly strong republic and attain economic growth. There is this one hypothesis that institutional weaknesses caused by political instability may have been one of the huge reasons why we have left the boat to industrialization. (Jeffrey G. Williamson & Emmanuel S. de Dios, 2014. “Has the Philippines forever lost its chance at industrialization?” Philippine Review of Economics, University of the Philippines School of Economics and Philippine Economic Society, vol. 51(2), pages 47-66, December.) The hypothesis is that perennial political instability and legitimacy crises hinder investment and growth. Between 1983 and 1986, the economy plunged. Then came the Edsa revolt. There was political instability, too, in the incumbency of President Cory Aquino, given the seven coup attempts. Further political instability in the 2000s because of the question of corruption led to another revolt to replace President Estrada. However, questions of PGMA’s legitimacy led to mass rallies and attempted coups- political instability. The political instability during the 1990s prompted investor services to grade the Philippines as a “high political risk” from 1984 to 1991. The timing of the political uncertainties was unfortunate, too. It coincided with the spillover and relocation of Japanese manufacturing to Southeast Asia; Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia benefitted but not the Philippines. As a result, Foreign direct investments to Thailand from 1987 to 1991 were USD 24 billion, while the Philippines only had a measly USD 1.6 billion for the same period. It is clear to me that political stability is the path to economic growth. To not undermine the institutions created under our Constitution. Confidential Funds I wanted to elaborate on my stand regarding the issue of confidential funds in local government. I hope Congress will tackle this not to find fault or to blame anybody but to craft a law prohibiting the practice of it. Giving the discretion to local executives to appropriate confidential funds in their favor is inimical to the interests of the Filipinos. LGUs earn revenues from taxing landholders, however small. It will be similar to the Philippines in the 1800s, with small farmers paying tributes to their Spanish conquistadors without explaining where the money was going. This is why Filipino farmers refused to work on their lands, prompting the Spanish friars to wrongfully brand the Filipinos as indolent. The practice of confidential funds will create dynasties and tyrants at the local level, and soon, even the barangay captains will appropriate for themselves confidential funds. They will claim they have the same rights as their mayor since they maintain peace and order at the barangay level. It is absurd and unjust. It will plunge us into chaos. The elections will be dirty and bloody. Confidential funds in the LGUs will not bring us peace and order, only greater income inequality and poverty. Congress must act. Our nation’s well-being is at stake. The post On leaving PDP Laban appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Catholic school students say no to ROTC
More than half of Catholic school students expressed disapproval of the proposed revival of the mandatory Reserved Officers’ Training Corps or ROTC program in schools, according to a survey conducted by the Catholic Education Association of the Philippines. Published in the May 2023 issue of the CEAP Online Gazette, the study showed 53 percent of the 20,461 respondents said they disapprove of the mandatory ROTC program, 32 percent of which said they “strongly disagree.” CEAP said that among the said population of students who said no to mandatory ROTC, 54 percent said that bringing back the program ‘would be an added burden’ to them, while 42 percent of them also cited burden in expenses, saying that the program would bring additional costs. Some 34 percent of students who disapproved of the mandatory ROTC program also said that they have been “alarmed by the threat of violence and corruption.” Other cited issues include the program clashing with their religious beliefs, health and safety concerns and some personal opinions that it needed to be a voluntary measure in schools. The same study also noted 28 percent of the population sample expressed support for mandatory ROTC, with 68 percent of them citing the need for military training, physical activities, disaster preparedness skills and civic engagement through the program. Nearly 50 percent of them also said that the program would instill discipline, patriotism and nationalism, and would be helpful in compensating students. CEAP conducted the survey from 3 to 24 April of this year with 20,461 respondents, 65 percent of which are females, and 35 percent males, and 70 percent of whom are enrolled in senior high school and the remaining in higher education. The return of mandatory ROTC in schools has become a highly-disputed issue among the youth and academic sector, yet President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte, expressed their support for reinstating the program in schools. In legislation, mandatory ROTC, through a two-year National Citizens Service Training program, has been approved in the House of Representatives. The Senate has yet to approve their version of the bill, with six bills on the measure currently pending. One thing to note is that the opinion polls on the issue have been different, with Pulse Asia’s March survey saying that eight in 10 Filipinos support ROTC, while the Social Weather Stations’ poll said that only 42 percent support the program as an optional measure. The post Catholic school students say no to ROTC appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
House vows intensified public service
The House of Representatives, elated at receiving three consecutive high approval and trust ratings, vowed to redouble its efforts to pass laws that would bring the Marcos government’s eight-point socioeconomic agenda to fruition. Speaker Martin Romualdez, who received 55 trust and 59 percent approval ratings in a survey conducted by a private firm, pinned the success on his colleagues in the House by their unwavering support and cooperation, which allowed him to steer the chamber in advancing measures that address the needs of the public. “This is not just a personal achievement but also a tacit recognition of the tireless efforts of the entire House and the dedication of my fellow lawmakers to pass laws and policies that benefit our country and our people,” Romualdez said. “I would like to assure the public that under my leadership, we will redouble our efforts to prioritize the needs and concerns of the Filipino people.” The survey — conducted from 24 to 28 March — came out barely a week after the release of Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations surveys, in which the House scored a 51 percent approval rating and a “very good” or +56 net satisfaction rating in the fourth quarter of 2022, respectively. “We will press on for the timely passage of laws for progress and development and those meant to address the serious challenges that our nation face,” said the House Speaker. In terms of legislation, by the time the House adjourned for the Holy Week recess on 23 March, it had approved on third and final reading 23 of the 31 bills identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council as priority measures of the Marcos administration, with the remaining eight measures already in advanced stages of deliberation. The post House vows intensified public service appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marcos Jr., Sara get high trust ratings in poll
President Marcos received high trust and satisfaction ratings in the latest survey by The Issues and Advocacy Center as the new administration completed its first six months in office......»»
High approval, trust ratings for Marcos, Sara
President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte received high approval and trust ratings, according to a nationwide survey conducted by the RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc......»»
OCTA: Marcos, Sara get high trust approval ratings
President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte obtained high trust and satisfaction ratings, according to a survey released yesterday by the OCTA Research Group......»»
Duterte endorsement still holds power – Pulse exec
Despite criticisms over his administration’s war on drugs and handling of the COVID-19 crisis, President Duterte’s endorsement power will still matter come 2022 elections given his high approval and trust ratings, according to Pulse Asia Research director Ana Maria Tabunda......»»
The Philippines reopens
Overwhelmed by the people’s 91-percent unprecedented job approval and trust ratings for their president, Rodrigo Roa Duterte is returning their gesture of solid support......»»
Duterte 91% rating is costly for pollster
The rather high 91 percent approval and trust ratings garnered by President Duterte in the latest Pulse Asia survey are beginning to look quite costly for the private pollster’s professional reputation......»»
High ratings spur House to work harder – Speaker
Speaker Martin Romualdez yesterday expressed his gratitude to the Filipino people for the high trust and performance ratings he received, as shown in a recent survey conducted by the OCTA Research group......»»
DBP cited for good governance
The Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) has received recognition for its exemplary corporate governance practices. The government's chief corporate regulator, the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG), has honored DBP with the Corporate Governance Scorecard (CGS) Hall of Fame award for consistently ranking in the top ten of the CGS ratings since 2017. DBP President and CEO, Michael O. de Jesus, highlighted the significance of this accolade, emphasizing the bank's unwavering commitment to best practices in corporate governance. Established under the GOCC Governance Act of 2011, the GCG utilizes the CGS to evaluate and assess the corporate governance initiatives of government-owned and controlled corporations. Moreover, DBP was also recognized as a Top 4 performer in the Corporate Governance Scorecard for 2022, attaining a high score of 100. De Jesus reaffirmed the bank's dedication to fortifying its corporate governance mechanisms, aligning with its core values and the national agenda for good governance. He emphasized DBP's resolve to uphold the highest standards in corporate governance, underscoring its support for the government's efforts to foster sustainable and inclusive economic growth......»»
Pro-Duterte supporters magnify survey showing Sara with high trust rating
GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews / 20 December) – Results of a recent survey showing Vice President Sara Duterte having the highest trust rating among top national government officials are being magnified on social media (socmed), especially by supporters egging her to run in the 2028 presidential race. Publicus Asia, Inc. released its PAHAYAG 2023 End […].....»»
Zamora, Duterte top performing leaders in Davao Region
Zamora and Duterte have been identified as the top-performing leaders in the Davao Region, according to a survey conducted by RP-Mission Development Foundation Inc. Mayor Sebastian Duterte, son of former President Rodrigo Duterte, ranked seventh among city mayors with a rating of 85.26%. He was followed by Panabo City Mayor Jose Relampagos and Tagum City Mayor Rey Uy. Meanwhile, Davao de Oro First District Representative Maricar Zamora secured the fifth position among district representatives with a trust rating of 90.3%. The survey assessed leaders based on various benchmarks such as service delivery, financial acumen, economic progress, and constituent services. The survey involved 10,000 respondents and had a 95% confidence level with a one percent margin of error. Zamora expressed gratitude to her constituents for their support, while Duterte urged his critics to withhold their support in the upcoming election......»»
PBBM skips PCCI annual event’s end
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. failed to attend the final day of the 49th Philippine Business Conference and Expo, or PBCE, sending Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin instead. PBCE is the main assembly yearly of the country’s biggest trade group Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry. An incumbent president usually attends the second day of the PBCE to personally receive the business group’s resolution and suggestions on various issues. Malacañang did not give any detail on Marcos’ failure the biggest gathering of businessmen yearly. However, Vice President Sara Duterte attended the first day of the conference, in which she urged PCCI officials and members to join the Department of Education in reviewing the current senior high school system and provide valuable insights on skills matching in order to produce employable graduates. Besides the President, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual also did not make it which according to the Department of Trade and Industry communication’s chief, Undersecretary Kim Lokin, Pascual has not been feeling well since Wednesday. Cabinet officials, however, were in the event. They included Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John Uy, Energy Assistant Secretary Mario Marasigan and Internal Revenue Commissioner Artemio Lumagui Jr. Resolution submitted Bersamin received PCCI’s resolution, handed over by PCCI president George Barcelon and PBCE chairperson Felino Palafox. The resolution included the positions of various sectors, namely agriculture, energy and power; the environment and climate change; education and human resources development; industry and trade; ease of doing business and stability of rules and regulations; infrastructure, transport and logistics; innovation and digitalization; taxation, and tourism. Under the sectors of agriculture, energy and power, the business group urged the national government to develop a long-term plan to attain food security in agriculture and fishery through infrastructure support, technology transfer, product diversification, export enhancement, economies of scale, and adherence to the improvement of value chains and supply chains. For energy and power, the PCCI wanted the Marcos administration to ensure adequate and affordable power supply throughout the country by considering modern technology and harnessing renewable energy resources that meet the criteria of reliability and affordability. In terms of caring for the environment and climate change, PCCI officers and members also wanted the government to update and continue the execution of the National Framework Strategy on Climate Change (2010- 2022) which envisions a climate risk-resilient Philippines with healthy, safe, prosperous, and self-reliant communities and thriving and productive ecosystems. For education and human resources development, the government was urged to propel the Philippine education system to world-class status by harnessing new technologies, fostering innovation, and implementing comprehensive reforms that will prepare students for success in the digital age and the globalized world of work. Empowering businesses For industry and trade, the Marcos administration wanted to empower industries and enterprises by providing them with the necessary tools, resources, and support programs to enhance their competitiveness both in the domestic and international markets, contribute to economic growth, and promote innovation in the Philippines’ industrial and trade sectors. Furthermore, the government was also advised to provide a stable and predictable business environment by ensuring clear, consistent, and transparent regulations, streamlining and simplifying bureaucratic processes, reducing unnecessary red tape, and eliminating barriers that hinder business growth and development. Bersamin received PCCI’s resolution, handed over by PCCI president George Barcelon and PBCE chairperson Felino Palafox. Despite the ongoing Build, Better More infrastructure program, PCCI urged the government to implement a comprehensive national infrastructure, transportation and logistics master plan that outlines a long-term vision for connectivity and country-wide development. Together with the goal of urban decongestion, the strategy shall encompass the development of growth/business centers in different regions to create more employment opportunities and encourage people to relocate outside Metro Manila. The post PBBM skips PCCI annual event’s end appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
High expectations from winners (4)
Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte-Carpio took very seriously the job given to her by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to prepare a curriculum relevant to producing competent, job-ready, active, and responsible citizens. In her report on basic education in the Philippines, she revealed in detail the problems confronting it, the teachers, and learners; and crafted means to overcome them, guided by the Constitution and the convention on the rights of the child, reaffirming our country’s commitment to improving the quality of basic education in the Philippines. “The four learners at home — one in kindergarten, one in Grade 4, one in Grade 7, and one in Grade 9 — enable me to see different kinds of problems being experienced by learners every day.” “In my work as Secretary of Education, I am in the company of 28 million Filipino learners throughout the country. I can see numerous problems faced by them every day.” “Four learners at home, plus 28 million more throughout the land, these, my countrymen, make my interest in the future of Philippine education a very personal matter.” “Filipino learners are not academically proficient. In time, Filipino learners experience emotional abuse and exhaustion. Some of them suffer from psychological fatigue. And being academically insecure, many of them may fail to meet the standards of a demanding and competitive world. These are caused and triggered by conditions present at home, in our communities, and even in our schools as a result of problems ingrained in our system. This is the truth. This is our future. But this is a future that we can change. That is why we are here.” “We have to take good care of our teachers. They are the lifeblood of the Department of Education. Without our teachers, our mission to carve a better future for our children will fail.” “And to empower our learners with the relevant skills and knowledge, we shall focus on upscaling their knowledge and capacities as public servants. The assessment of the K-12 curriculum revealed the weak teaching methods of our teachers in addressing 21st-century skills. Studies done by the Research Center of Teacher Quality, the World Bank, and UNICEF showed that our teachers need further support, particularly in explicitly and strategically teaching critical thinking and problem-solving skills.” “While critical thinking was the most evident in the curriculum, it was also the least taught to students by the teachers. Instead, lessons leaned towards conceptual or content-based teaching. And lessons lacked in-depth processing to cultivate critical thinking and problem-solving. Finally, there appears to be insufficient knowledge on developing 21st-century skills, including higher-order thinking skills among learners. This is not the fault of our teachers—whose dedication, integrity, and commitment to serving Filipino children and the country strengthen our collective effort to achieve our shared dreams for our learners. The sad reality is that the system has failed them.” “This is the system that burdens them with backbreaking and time-consuming administrative tasks, a system that provides no adequate support and robs them of the opportunity to professionally grow and professionally teach, assist and guide our learners.” “Our teachers must return to our classrooms and they must teach.” Studies and tests were conducted to measure the literacy of the learners. It was discovered that the issue of literacy is alarming in our basic education. We must address it appropriately and effectively. The 2018 study results showed that 81 percent of Filipino learners could not deal with basic math problems, 81 percent had trouble understanding texts of moderate length, and 78 percent could not recognize correct explanations for scientific phenomena or draw valid conclusions from given data. “We can do better than this,” Sara said. “We are better than this. Studies like these are opportunities for us to thoroughly examine our system and defects that hurt our children’s abilities.” (To be continued) The post High expectations from winners (4) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sara, Concepcion explore SHS entrepreneurship training
Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte met with Go Negosyo recently to explore the possibility of incorporating entrepreneurship to support or complement the senior high school curriculum......»»
Entrepreneurship eyed in SHS curriculum
The possibility of including entrepreneurship as a subject in the current senior high school curriculum is underway, said Go Negosyo chairperson Joey Concepcion following a meeting with Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte. Concepcion discussed with the Vice President several avenues in which entrepreneurship skills can be included in the school curriculum, among them through direct mentoring by veteran entrepreneurs, and another is through the help of private companies, specifically those engaged in the agriculture sector. “Our idea is if we open up this avenue to young people, there would be a way for them to find an alternative path to success,” Concepcion said. Under the current curriculum, Filipino children in public schools attend a minimum of 13 years under the K-12 program. An average of four more years would be added if the student decides to pursue higher education,” the Go Negosyo chairman said in a statement on Thursday. He added that not all families have the resources to support children through the completion of the entire curriculum, noting that “We could help these young people find their path, focus on it, and maybe one day the students can turn it into a business.” He said that there are many successful entrepreneurs who succeed even without the benefit of higher education. Concepcion noted that among the possible paths that were discussed in which entrepreneurship can be incorporated into the curriculum is through proven mentoring programs that are already being implemented by Go Negosyo. One of these is through roadshows in which a successful entrepreneur is sent to mentor the students at their respective schools; another way is for students to observe actual mentoring with active and aspiring entrepreneurs. Moreover, he said Go Negosyo has employed different methods of reaching out to potential entrepreneurs. It has conducted plenary events targeted toward women, the youth, OFWs, as well as thematic events that focus on introducing MSMEs to digital platforms and to opportunities offered by the tourism sector. During the pandemic, it ported its mentoring programs to social media and conferencing platforms, enabling it to continue mentoring entrepreneurs in the provinces and even across the ASEAN region. The post Entrepreneurship eyed in SHS curriculum appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
From the Newsrooms: Drop in trust and approval ratings across three branches of government
DESPITE the corruption and violence that marred his six years in office, Rodrigo Duterte remained popular until the end of his tenure. He maintained a rating of 70 and above throughout his six-year term, except for the 64 percent rati.....»»
From the Newsrooms: Drop in trust and approval ratings across three branches of government
DESPITE the corruption and violence that marred his six years in office, Rodrigo Duterte remained popular until the end of his tenure. He maintained a rating of 70 and above throughout his six-year term, except for the 64 percent rati.....»»
Approvals drop
Double-digit drops were seen in the trust and approval ratings of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte, as published by Pulse Asia. These numbers may have been normal for certain officials of past administrations, but for Marcos and Duterte, these figures could be unsettling. We must be reminded that our top officials were elected by the majority of the voting public in a virtual landslide against their competition. Further, this steep decline was not realized by our previous populist president. Thus, this should be taken seriously by our leaders. President Marcos Jr. downplayed the decline, saying he was “not surprised” by it. He correctly pointed out that among the reasons for the drop would be the government’s failure to lower the price of rice — a campaign promise often repeated. Another reason could be his concurrent holding of the Agriculture Secretary position, which is a delicate Cabinet post since it relates directly to bringing food to the table of every Filipino. Rice matters in the Filipino household. The United States Department of Agriculture reported that the Philippines is now the world’s top rice importer, overtaking China. According to its report titled “Grain: World Markets and Trade,” the USDA projected that the Philippines would reach 3.8 million metric tons of rice imports for the marketing year 2023-2024, compared to China’s decreased projection of 3.5 million MT. This is a sad statistic, considering the Philippines used to be known as a leading rice producer, even the go-to country for our neighbors to learn about rice production. Our Banaue Rice Terraces is a heritage and tourist site that may very well belong in a museum since rice irrigation may be a thing of the past. Food security was a campaign promise that should be endeavored to be achieved. There is no rice crisis because of the incessant importation of rice by prominent businessmen, but it has become difficult to encourage other investors to put their capital into rice farming. The government should provide the answer by incentivizing farmers and businesses to invest in rice farming, but all this is easier said than done. As for our Vice President, her ratings drop should be related to the controversial confidential and intelligence funds she defended heavily in the budget hearings. I cannot fathom a worthy explanation for why the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education should have P650 million in these funds without proper accounting and explanation. As for the reported realignment of these funds by the House of Representatives to agencies tasked with the protection of our national sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea, we are still waiting to see if this will happen after it hurdles the Senate and is later signed by the President. The ratings drop may be ignored, but it’s continuing cannot be risked. The ratings can be expected to rise, especially if the surveys are taken during the Christmas season when the Filipino nation becomes forgiving. The leadership should take concrete action on how to cause an uptick, such as by providing concrete solutions to the promises made during the campaign. If something can be learned from former President Rodrigo Duterte, it would help to be very visible locally to show your genuine and sincere compassion and empathy for your countrymen. But as I have written before, it is unfair to compare two leaders with varying styles. Let’s trust our President, and he has the privilege of time to make a huge turnaround. For comments, email him at darren.dejesus@gmail.com. The post Approvals drop appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»