Villanueva, Hagedorn Hold Joint Motorcade In Bulacan

Independent senatorial bets Eddie Villanueva and Edward Hagedorn joined forces on Sunday to hold a campaign motorcade in Bulacan, affirming the “unwritten covenant” between the two candidates.

Emerging from the Holy Week break, Villanueva and Hagedorn led a 40-vehicle convoy that passed thousands of supporters who lined the streets of Meycauayan City, Marilao, Bocaue, Balagtas, Guiguinto and Malolos City.

The convoy then proceeded to the towns of Plaridel, Pulilan, Baliuag, San Rafael, San Ildefonso and San Miguel.

“We are very happy to see throngs of fellow Bulaqueños who came out to see our motorcade. This is a good way to jumpstart the campaign coming from the Holy Week break, and as we start the last 45 days of the campaign,” Villanueva said.

“The show of support from my fellow Bulaqueños is really very encouraging and heart-warming. This gives us additional energy as we push on with our campaign.

The motorcade started early at around 6:30 a.m. at the section of the MacArthur Highway at the boundary of Meycauayan City and Malanday and proceeded to visit towns in Villanueva’s home province.

Streets were lined with people who took a break from their Easter Sunday celebrations to witness the motorcade.

The joint sortie came after the two candidates committed to support each other’s candidacy as part of an “unwritten covenant” which was reached during Villanueva’s visit to Puerto Princesa earlier this month. As part of the alliance, both camps agreed to schedule joint visits starting with Bulacan and Davao.

According to Villanueva, the joint motorcade was a good opportunity to convey to his supporters in Bulacan his alliance with Hagedorn who is a long-time friend and fellow independent senatorial candidate.

“This sortie is a product of our unwritten covenant to support each other’s senatorial campaign. As I have said before, Mayor Hagedorn shares, in principle, my belief that no one should be left out of the country’s economic growth which sits at the core of my advocacy of ‘politika at ekonomiyang sagigilid’,” Villanueva said.

Bro. Eddie Cautions BIR vs. Discouraging Small Business In New Tax Drive

Bangon Pilipinas lone senatorial candidate Eddie Villanueva on Monday cautioned the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) against stunting the growth of micro and small enterprises in its efforts to intensify tax collection on self-employed professionals and individuals paying less than P200,000 in taxes per year.

​Villanueva said BIR’s efforts to increase tax collection should not add another hurdle in the success of those who are starting or running micro and small businesses such as sari-sari stores.​

He said BIR should adopt specific measures to ensure that its new policy to prioritize the auditing of self-employed professionals and individuals who pay taxes that are below P200,000 will not be used as a barrier to entry or to harass local micro enterprises.​

“While we support the government’s efforts to shore up revenue collection, BIR must ensure that micro entrepreneurs will not become collateral damage in its efforts to aggressively pursue tax collection efforts on high-earning self-employed professionals and individuals,” Villanueva said.​

“What we are afraid of is that in our desire to increase our tax collection, we will be creating another barrier that would prevent poor Filipinos from starting a small business to help improve their family’s future.”

​According to Villanueva, if the BIR intends to improve the compliance of high-earning professionals including lawyers and doctors to tax payment rules, it should issue very specific instructions detailing the scope of its aggressive audit efforts.

​BIR’s new tax drive stemmed from its findings that self-employed individuals and professionals only accounted for 6.8% of the individual incomes taxes paid in 2012.

​BIR data showed that self-employed individuals and professionals paid P15.1 billion in income taxes last year – much lower compared to the P181.7 billion paid out by employees whose taxes are withheld automatically by their employers.

Encourage MSMEs
Villanueva reiterated his earlier call that the government should encourage the development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) throughout the country to spur jobs creation and alleviate poverty.

​By creating institutions that will nurture MSMEs, Villanueva said the government will not only create jobs but will also unleash a potent force that will fast-track the country’s development both in urban and rural areas.

​This policy of boosting employment through enterprise development forms part of Villanueva’s 3Es platform – Ekonomiyang Agresibo’t Walang Napag-iiwanan, Edukasyon na Napapanahon, at Entre-Pinoy na Masang Pilipino ang Nangunguna at Nakikinabang – which he envisions to directly alleviate the plight of the country’s marginalized sectors or the “sagigilids”.

​In particular, Villanueva proposes the establishment of Community Entrepreneurial High Schools throughout the country which 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.​

Villanueva is also pushing for the creation of a National Cooperative Bank, an institution similar to the “Grameen Bank” concept which will encourage small and medium-scale industries and entrepreneurs through a lending institution with increased capitalization, support services, and technical support from the government.

Bro. Eddie Thankful For Manny Pacquiao's Support

I am very thankful for the support that Manny is giving to my senatorial campaign. His support for my bid and my platform which focuses on pulitika at ekonomiyang sagigilid gives a strong boost to our advocacy of ensuring that all Filipinos must be included in the country’s economic growth.

Manny’s support will help us bring our message closer to the sagigilids because many of the country’s poor and underprivileged – who are the ultimate beneficiaries of our platform – can relate to him.​

Manny knows first hand the challenges that comes with poverty, and he will help me in showing them that if provided the right environment and the necessary support mechanisms they, too, can reap the fruits not only of their personal labors but also benefit from the country’s economic growth.

Bro. Eddie Villanueva, lone senatorial candidate of Bangon Pilipinas, made a courtesy call to Pacquiao in his General Santos City residence on Wednesday evening, after meeting with local government executives in General Santos City and Muslim leaders in South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City (SOCCSKSARGEN).​

During the meeting, Pacquiao said he will personally support Villanueva’s candidacy and invited Villanueva to be his special guest during a political rally which Pacquiao is organizing in General Santos City on Saturday, 23 March, 6 pm.

Bro. Eddie Tells Government To Address Mindanao Power Crisis Now

Bangon Pilipinas lone senatorial candidate Eddie Villanueva on Sunday urged Malacañang to act now to address the continuing threat of another power crisis in Mindanao, saying massive disruptions will set back decades worth of progress in the region.

Mindanao is bracing for a worse power situation this summer with lowered capacity from the hydroelectric power plants, the island’s primary power sources. Some parts of the region, notably in General Santos City, have reportedly started experiencing 7- to 8-hour brownouts.

Villanueva said the government should aggressively develop Mindanao’s generating capacity and diversify energy sources to lessen the grid’s dependence on hydro power which produces less power during prolonged dry season including summer months.

“If we are to sustain our solid economic performance in the past years, the government should find a sustainable solution to the Mindanao power crisis which is now seeing signs of a resurgence of eight-hour power blackouts in 2010,” Villanueva said.

“Without an interconnection with the Luzon and Visayas grid that will allow generated power in these regions to augment supply in Mindanao, the government should look into developing more indigenous, renewable power sources in the region to meet its growing electricity requirements.”

Development of renewable energy sources
Particularly, Villanueva said the government should provide incentives for the development of renewable energy sources in Mindanao, such as solar power facilities, run-of-the-river and biomass power plants.

Already, some parts of the region have been experiencing rotating brownouts with the continued failure to provide adequate power supply to the region.

For its Sunday’s power outlook, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines predicted a 55-megawatt (MW) power supply shortfall in Mindanao when it hits its daily peak load of 1,222 MW.

Villanueva said the government should look closer into the reasons why private power producers in Mindanao hold off power sales to the grid due to lower power rates in the region compared to those in Luzon and Visayas grids.

“Mindanao’s generation capacity per se is sufficient to meet the region’s power requirements. However, the reluctance of private power producers to sell their generated power to the grid contributes significantly to the supply short fall that the region currently faces,” Villanueva said.

Plight of residents, businesses
“The government should exercise its power to bring this available power into the grid, and consider the plight of residents and businesses in Mindanao who bear the brunt of such business decision to hold off power sales to the grid just to force electricity rate up,” he said.

“Residents and business owners have started complaining about these rotating brownouts that last seven or eight hours because these have disrupted their lives and livelihood,” Villanueva noted. “Government needs to act now to avert any more problems.”

Villanueva noted that the Philippines currently has one of the highest power rates in Asia next only to Japan, suggesting that power generation companies in the country are making big money from their businesses.

“These companies should recognize the public interest imbued in the power generation business. And the government must adopt policies that aim protect the consuming public against profit-oriented mentality in operating a public utility,” Villanueva said.

Bro. Eddie on UP Student's Suicide Due To Inability To Pay Tuition

I join millions in mourning for the death of the UP Manila student who reportedly committed suicide after being forced to file a leave of absence (LOA) from the university for having no money to pay her tuition this semester. I heard that UP Manila has a "no late-payment" policy where students are advised to file LOA if deadline of payment of tuition is not met.

This deplorable death serves as proof that a lot remains to be done in bringing down the cost of education in the country.​

We know that quality education comes at a high cost. But we also believe that the government has the constitutional and moral duty to educate its people – this is why we have been saying that the government should increase its spending for education and make concrete steps to offer free college level education for poor but deserving students.

Our universities and colleges should show more compassion to students facing financial difficulties by taking more aggressive steps to reach out to these students and offering assistance such as conditional scholarships, student loans, or in-campus jobs to help ease their financial and psychological burdens.

​Let us pray that we will all learn from this experience so that a loss of another bright mind will not be for naught.

BRO. EDDIE SLAMS MALAYSIA OVER UNFAIR TREATMENT OF FILIPINOS IN SABAH, QUESTIONS GOVERNMENT'S 'CONDITIONAL' ASSISTANCE OF FILIPINO EVACUEES

Bro. Eddie Villanueva on Thursday slammed the Malaysian government for continuously denying access to Filipinos arrested by Malaysian forces as a result of the ongoing situation in Sabah.​

This, as he criticized Philippine government officials for placing conditions in helping Filipinos coming from Sabah.​

A victim of the Martial Law who was jailed twice for opposing the Marcos regime, Villanueva said he sympathizes with Filipinos now detained in Malaysia over suspicions that they belong to or sympathize with the group that occupied a village in Lahad Datu and sparked a standoff with Malaysian authorities.

"As a former Martial Law prisoner, I know how it feels to be jailed without cause, without knowing if I will still see the light of day,” said Villanueva, the lone senatorial candidate of the Bangon Pilipinas party.

"I sympathize, especially with the families of those arrested, because they have no way of knowing how their loved ones are doing."

Villanueva stressed that reports of maltreatment against the Filipinos suspected of sympathizing with the Sultanate of Sulu should be addressed immediately.He pointed out that despite the numerous requests of the Philippine government for access to the detainees, these seem to be falling on deaf ears.

"The government has been taking a diplomatic approach from the start, but it does not seem to be working… The government should more aggressively assert its right to gain access to our fellow Filipinos in Sabah," Villanueva said.

"What's taking the Malaysian government so long to give the Philippine government access to the detainees? Malaysia's iron-clad laws have no space for a democratic community.”

Villanueva also called on the Malaysian government to spare Filipino children, women and elderly against forced repatriation. He added that many Filipinos have been living and working in Malaysia for years.

​"Filipinos and Malaysians share a common Malay lineage and blood. We are brothers," he said.​

Meanwhile, Villanueva lambasted Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte and DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman for saying that Filipino evacuees from Sabah should have affidavits or documentation before government assistance is extended to them.​

"Our government needs to provide humanitarian assistance to those affected by the conflict in Sabah immediately and without any pre-conditions. Ensuring the protection of our fellow Filipinos’ basic human rights takes precedence over such documentary requirements anytime... We are facing a crisis, and this is not the time for bureaucratic wrangling," Villanueva said.

Villanueva likewise expressed concern over the silence of the Commission on Human Rights and its chair Etta Rosales despite numerous allegations of human rights abuses against Filipinos in Malaysia.

"The reported atrocities by Malaysia against Filipinos should prompt the CHR to send a fact-finding team to check on the situation, and forward a communication to the United Nations Human Rights Commission regarding the situation," he said.

Bro. Eddie Questions Government's Rice Exports Plan

Bangon Pilipinas lone senatorial candidate Eddie Villanueva on Wednesday questioned the government’s plans to export up to 100 metric tons of rice this year.

The government should prioritize the country’s goal of achieving rice self-sufficiency before establishing a footing as a rice exporter, Villanueva said. “There seems to be a disconnect here. While the country has yet to achieve the objective of producing enough rice to supply our local requirements, the government is already moving toward exporting rice.”

Villanueva posted his opposition as he also expressed concern over the capability of government to ensure rice sufficiency in resettlement areas in Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi with more Filipinos from Sabah coming back to the Philippines as a result of the Sabah situation.

“If half of the 800,000 Filipinos in Sabah returns, can we feed all of them?,” he said. “What contingency plans are in place to ensure that not only prices of food in the areas remain stable, but more importantly there is enough supply to go around?”

Earlier, Agriculture Assistant Secretary and National Rice Program coordinator Dante Delima said the Philippines plans to export 50MT to 100 MT of premium rice to Hong Kong, Macau, and Europe this year.

Villanueva noted that instead of focusing on rice exports, the government should 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.

“The government should review its plans to increase rice exports because it is a fact that we are not yet self-sufficient. Before we feed other countries, let's ensure that we feed our fellow Filipinos first with good, quality rice,” Villanueva said.

“This goes not only for our rice production but for our overall local food production.”

Accelerate food security goals
To meet the country’s food security goals, Villanueva said the government should consider providing subsidy for farm implements, lifting tariff and customs fees for farm equipment and machineries, and extending other funding assistance for farmers and farmers’ cooperatives.

He said the government should also consider combining the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Agrarian Reform – a move that will improve the government’s focus and enhance harmony of government programs in ensuring social justice and agricultural productivity.

“Real progress in our agricultural sector will have a direct impact in alleviating the lives of the sagigilid, considering that majority of our population – including many poor Filipino households – belong to this sector,” Villanueva said.