Bangon Pilipinas lone senatorial candidate Eddie Villanueva on Monday questioned the government’s sincerity in compensating Martial Law human rights victims, pointing out delays in the implementation of the landmark Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act.
Villanueva said the elation of Martial Law human rights victims and their families over the passage of the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act is now fast dwindling, seeing no progress in the implementation of the landmark law.
He noted that the administration has yet to make the first step in implementing the law which is the creation of the Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board. The Board is responsible for drafting the law’s implementing rules and regulations (IRR) as well as evaluating and processing the applications for the compensations due to the victims.
“I don’t understand what is taking the government so long just to form the Claims Board. We have so many people qualified to fill up these open positions, and a group of Martial Law victims even provided a list of nominations.”
“We just hope that this will not be a case of ningas cogon. Victims and their families have waited long enough to be recognized and compensated for the abuses they were made to suffer during the Martial Law years. The government should not add to this long wait by dragging its feet on the implementation of the law.”
According to Villanueva, fellow Martial Law victims are expecting a stronger resolve from this administration to immediately implement the law given the President’s first-hand experience on the abuses committed during the dictatorship.
“We owe it to Ninoy and others who were martyred and made to suffer various forms of abuses during the Martial Law to immediately implement the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act. Many of the victims and their families expect PNoy to prioritize this law’s implementation given his proximity to this issue. I hope the government does not disappoint them,” Villanueva said.
Earlier, Villanueva pushed for the appointment of a Martial Law victim to head the nine-member Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board saying this will ensure that the body stays true to its mandate.
Villanueva also encouraged Martial Law human rights victims to band together and reach out to fellow victims and their families to push for the immediate implementation of the law.
He said a sustained vigilance especially among human rights victims will ensure that majority, if not all, of those whose rights were violated during Martial Law are given the much-awaited recognition and compensation.
President Aquino signed the law on Feb. 25 Act to highlight the EDSA People Power revolution anniversary celebration.
Showing posts with label government. Show all posts
Showing posts with label government. Show all posts
Monday, April 1, 2013
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Adopt Measures To Protect Economy Vs. Foreign Capital Flight, Bro. Eddie Urges Government
Bangon Pilipinas lone senatorial candidate Eddie Villanueva on Sunday urged the government economic managers to institute measures to protect the economy against the possibility of capital flight, following warnings from an international credit ratings agency.
Villanueva said the government should take heed of Standard and Poor’s word of caution for the Philippines and other emerging markets in the Asia-Pacific region on the potential reversal of the recent surge in portfolio investments in the local stock market once the United States and European economies recover.“The government should put in place safeguards that will protect our economy from the sudden outflow of foreign hot money. Let's learn the lessons of the 1997 and 2008 financial crises, where hot money, or portfolio investments, was the primary culprit,” Villanueva said.
Focus on attracting solid investments in agriculture
“We should be reminded that any investment in the Philippine stock market can go out as quickly as they came in.”
Villanueva said the government should focus more on attracting more solid investments in the agricultural sector which holds the biggest potential for a sustainable base for economic development.
He noted that the Philippines is an agricultural country and majority of the population – including many poor Filipino households or the sagigilids – belong to the agricultural sector, and that new investments in this sector which directly translates to more jobs and higher incomes for the country’s agricultural workers.
“We should invite more direct investments in agriculture both from foreign and domestic sources in order to build an economy that will concretely benefit our country by providing real jobs and, at the same time, shielding us from the volatility of hot money easily leaving our shores,” Villanueva said.This will also serve to accelerate the recovery of the country’s agricultural sector which has lagged against regional neighbors in recent decades, he added.
Villanueva said government policies that will encourage organic food production, food security, and production of materials for clothing and shelter using agricultural and forestry by-products will provide a much-needed boost to the sector.
Incentives for agriculture sector
The government should also consider giving subsidy for farm implements, work on lifting tariff and customs fees for farm equipment and machineries, and explore the possibility of extending other funding assistance for farmers and farmers’ cooperatives.
Further, the government should also review its policies on the importation of agricultural products and other trade commitments to ensure that the country’s farmers are protected from unfair global trade, Villanueva said.
“By putting agriculture at the center of the government’s economic agenda, we will not only develop a solid base for economic growth and ensure food security for our people, but we will also bring the country back on the global map as a producer of one of the most vital commodities in the world, which is food,” Villanueva said.
Villanueva said the government should take heed of Standard and Poor’s word of caution for the Philippines and other emerging markets in the Asia-Pacific region on the potential reversal of the recent surge in portfolio investments in the local stock market once the United States and European economies recover.“The government should put in place safeguards that will protect our economy from the sudden outflow of foreign hot money. Let's learn the lessons of the 1997 and 2008 financial crises, where hot money, or portfolio investments, was the primary culprit,” Villanueva said.
Focus on attracting solid investments in agriculture
“We should be reminded that any investment in the Philippine stock market can go out as quickly as they came in.”
Villanueva said the government should focus more on attracting more solid investments in the agricultural sector which holds the biggest potential for a sustainable base for economic development.
He noted that the Philippines is an agricultural country and majority of the population – including many poor Filipino households or the sagigilids – belong to the agricultural sector, and that new investments in this sector which directly translates to more jobs and higher incomes for the country’s agricultural workers.
“We should invite more direct investments in agriculture both from foreign and domestic sources in order to build an economy that will concretely benefit our country by providing real jobs and, at the same time, shielding us from the volatility of hot money easily leaving our shores,” Villanueva said.This will also serve to accelerate the recovery of the country’s agricultural sector which has lagged against regional neighbors in recent decades, he added.
Villanueva said government policies that will encourage organic food production, food security, and production of materials for clothing and shelter using agricultural and forestry by-products will provide a much-needed boost to the sector.
Incentives for agriculture sector
The government should also consider giving subsidy for farm implements, work on lifting tariff and customs fees for farm equipment and machineries, and explore the possibility of extending other funding assistance for farmers and farmers’ cooperatives.
Further, the government should also review its policies on the importation of agricultural products and other trade commitments to ensure that the country’s farmers are protected from unfair global trade, Villanueva said.
“By putting agriculture at the center of the government’s economic agenda, we will not only develop a solid base for economic growth and ensure food security for our people, but we will also bring the country back on the global map as a producer of one of the most vital commodities in the world, which is food,” Villanueva said.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Government Fails On Its Promise To Bring Prosperity To The Poor - Bro. Eddie
Bangon Pilipinas lone senatorial candidate Eddie Villanueva on Tuesday said government has failed to deliver on its promise to alleviate the plight of the marginalized sector, citing data which shows a growing distance between the country’s rich and poor populations.
“Clearly, the increasing gap between the rich and poor Filipinos show how the government has failed in its decades-old promise of bringing development and prosperity to the country’s poor,” Villanueva said.
At a recent economic forum, data presented by former economic planning director-general Cielito Habito show that in 2011 the wealth growth of the 40 richest individuals in the country is equivalent to 76% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth. This is the highest in Asia as the wealth growth of Thailand’s top 40 was only at 33.7% of its GDP growth while it was 5.6% for Malaysia.
nder the Forbes 2012 list of the wealthiest people in the Philippines, Henry Sy and Lucio Tan posted a combined wealth of over $13.6 billion which is equivalent to 6% of the entire Philippine economy.
Villanueva said the government’s economic managers need to give more focus on bridging the increasing divide between the two groups, noting that these numbers provide empirical support behind the common sentiment that very few are benefitting from the country’s economic growth.
“While unfortunate, this data supports our advocacy of pursuing our politika at ekonomiya ng sagigilid that brings the interests of our poor to the fore of the government’s policies,” he added. “This validates the need for urgent reforms in the government’s policies to ensure that the poor is not left out of economic gains.”
Villanueva’s campaign is anchored on inclusive growth that will benefit the country’s underserved, under-represented, and poor sectors – or those he collectively refers to as the “sagigilid”.
Villanueva’s 3Es platform – Ekonomiyang Agresibo’t Walang Napag-iiwanan, Edukasyon na Napapanahon, at Entre-Pinoy na Masang Pilipino ang Nangunguna at Nakikinabang. Economy – pushes specific policy reforms that will empower marginalized Filipinos and provide necessary infrastructure to allow them to benefit from the country’s economic gains.
Under his platform, Villanueva proposes legislative measures that will support a “genuine” agro-industrial development which, he said, will directly increase earnings of many poor Filipino households that belong to this sector.
He also supports legislation that will protect and uphold the rights and interests of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and measures that will prepare the local environment for their eventual return to the country.
As part of his economic platform, Villanueva proposes amendments to the Local Government Code that will focus on enhancing the sharing scheme of both internal revenues and the national wealth.
On education, Villanueva advocates higher government investments in the sector, consistent to his belief that competitiveness is not only a function of relevant physical infrastructure, but also of a highly educated human resource.
On employment through entrepreneurship, Villanueva seeks measures that will establish Community Entrepreneurial High Schools throughout the country. These schools are envisioned to transform students, parents, and communities into entrepreneurs capable of growing micro, small, and medium businesses with the help of teachers and the local government.
“No real progress leaves out majority of the population in the throes of poverty and insecurity. With the increasing gap between the country’s rich and poor populations, it is even more important now for us to push government to adopt policies that will shift how it views development and see it in terms of how it will ultimately impact the country’s “sagigilid”,” Villanueva said.
“Clearly, the increasing gap between the rich and poor Filipinos show how the government has failed in its decades-old promise of bringing development and prosperity to the country’s poor,” Villanueva said.
At a recent economic forum, data presented by former economic planning director-general Cielito Habito show that in 2011 the wealth growth of the 40 richest individuals in the country is equivalent to 76% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth. This is the highest in Asia as the wealth growth of Thailand’s top 40 was only at 33.7% of its GDP growth while it was 5.6% for Malaysia.
nder the Forbes 2012 list of the wealthiest people in the Philippines, Henry Sy and Lucio Tan posted a combined wealth of over $13.6 billion which is equivalent to 6% of the entire Philippine economy.
Villanueva said the government’s economic managers need to give more focus on bridging the increasing divide between the two groups, noting that these numbers provide empirical support behind the common sentiment that very few are benefitting from the country’s economic growth.
“While unfortunate, this data supports our advocacy of pursuing our politika at ekonomiya ng sagigilid that brings the interests of our poor to the fore of the government’s policies,” he added. “This validates the need for urgent reforms in the government’s policies to ensure that the poor is not left out of economic gains.”
Villanueva’s campaign is anchored on inclusive growth that will benefit the country’s underserved, under-represented, and poor sectors – or those he collectively refers to as the “sagigilid”.
Villanueva’s 3Es platform – Ekonomiyang Agresibo’t Walang Napag-iiwanan, Edukasyon na Napapanahon, at Entre-Pinoy na Masang Pilipino ang Nangunguna at Nakikinabang. Economy – pushes specific policy reforms that will empower marginalized Filipinos and provide necessary infrastructure to allow them to benefit from the country’s economic gains.
Under his platform, Villanueva proposes legislative measures that will support a “genuine” agro-industrial development which, he said, will directly increase earnings of many poor Filipino households that belong to this sector.
He also supports legislation that will protect and uphold the rights and interests of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and measures that will prepare the local environment for their eventual return to the country.
As part of his economic platform, Villanueva proposes amendments to the Local Government Code that will focus on enhancing the sharing scheme of both internal revenues and the national wealth.
On education, Villanueva advocates higher government investments in the sector, consistent to his belief that competitiveness is not only a function of relevant physical infrastructure, but also of a highly educated human resource.
On employment through entrepreneurship, Villanueva seeks measures that will establish Community Entrepreneurial High Schools throughout the country. These schools are envisioned to transform students, parents, and communities into entrepreneurs capable of growing micro, small, and medium businesses with the help of teachers and the local government.
“No real progress leaves out majority of the population in the throes of poverty and insecurity. With the increasing gap between the country’s rich and poor populations, it is even more important now for us to push government to adopt policies that will shift how it views development and see it in terms of how it will ultimately impact the country’s “sagigilid”,” Villanueva said.
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