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The Makati . Business Forum |
Forum Updates 2004 |
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The Makati . Business Forum |
Forum Updates 2004 |
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.. December 16, 2004 Brought to you by:
South Sea Surety & Insurance Co., Inc. Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) and the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) ... Visit
The Makati Business Forum Channel at OFW-TV ► Please click here. ... Special Report: Ten Outstanding Metro Manila Cleanliness Aides for 2004 (TOMMCA 2004) Awards Night "Billionaire" LGUs to help in the rehabilitation of typhoon-devastated areas
(fr l-r) Guest panelist Nestor Abrematea, publisher/editor of the Manila Newsweek; Atty. Monina Camacho, executive assistant, League of Provinces of the Phils.; Sandy Paredes, executive director, Union of Local Authorities of the Phils. (ULAP); and forum moderator Esther Gallardo, Central Luzon Media Association. ... Confronted by the massive financial
requirements needed to
effect the rehabilitation and recovery of affected
provinces whose towns, cities and barangays were devastated by the
recent typhoons that hit Luzon, local government leaders gear up to
face the challenges that lay ahead. Officers of the Union of Local
Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) and the League of Provinces of
the Philippines (LPP) "Big
brother, small brother...;"
This move, which was originally conceived for developmental purposes, will now greatly help the provinces whose infrastructure, roads, bridges, residential houses, school buildings, business and agriculture were totally damaged by the recent typhoons, in their bid for socio-economic rehabilitation and recovery. Billionaires’ Club Paredes announced that ULAP has a project involving the LGUs in Metro Manila with IRAs of P1-billion and above. They are called the “billionaires club” of LGUs. Out of the 42,000 LGUs all over the country, Paredes explained that 28 belong to the “billionaires club”. This includes 10 provinces, including the MMDA, and 18 cities, 12 of which are in Metro Manila, with whom ULAP is presently working with to provide financial support to the poorer LGUs. A serious discussion on the matter is set to take place in January 2005. ▲ top Sin taxes strengthens IRA position (See related story click here) Paredes also expressed satisfaction with the approval of the sin taxes bill, which is tantamount to the strengthening of the internal revenue allotment (IRA). With this development IRA will remain intact and in full force, she added. She said that, had it pushed through, the downgrading of their IRA would result to the decrease in the cash positions of LGUs, which will adversely affect their respective credit standing. Sin taxes, the budget of which will be passed based on the 2004 level, will be prioritized by February, she clarified. The IRA is the rightful and just share of all the
41,939 barangays, 1,499 municipalities, 117 cities and 80 provinces
(including MMDA) throughout the country. From the period 1991-2004 the
total IRA amounted to P1,119,406,000. Out of this P223,900,000
represents the LGUs 20% development fund. ▲ top Relief Funds
Camacho said that during a seminar workshop of the league of provinces conducted on how to help in the ten point agenda of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the LGUs made a commitment to allocate 5% of their IRA for calamity funds. ▲ top Selective log ban When asked about her opinion on the total log ban, she said that she is in favor of selective log ban because there are no alternative sources of livelihood for the firewood gatherers and charcoal makers. These people may be allowed to cut branches of some trees to sustain their source of income. It must be done strictly on a case-to-case basis, except in areas where the trees are buffered for the seas and ocean, in which case a total log ban is a must. These, however, are her personal opinions and do not reflect the position of the league of provinces nor its national president, Camacho clarified. ▲ top Positive re-enforcement Camacho once again mentioned the need for values formation, because according to her that is what our people truly need. “The government had been extending aids to the grass roots but still the turn out is not good,” she said. “Let us talk about positive things and offer our people symbols of hope,” Camacho emphasized. “Let us highlight positive things that can serve as the selling points of our country, rather than its weaknesses,” she said. “And when we criticize make it constructive,” she quickly added. People who
wallowed in poverty for some time also develop the kawawa and api
culture, which others call the poverty of values. More over, it is
easier to put the blame on others, particularly the government as
instigated by some sectors, rather than asking ourselves what we can do
for our country. (Excalibur News) ▲ top Visayan publisher back as guest panelist at The Makati Business Forum
Abrematea is publishing two community newspapers in
Tacloban City. He is also publisher of The Manila News Weekly
a tabloid newspaper circulating in the national capital region. Nestor is an officer of the Publishers' Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PAPI) and the Nat'l. Federation of Phil. Press Clubs (NFPPC). He is also the provincial correspondent of Manila Bulletin in Region 8. He was accompanied by Roy C. Tolibas of PRTV 12 Tacloban and Pepe P. Virtudes of the Tacloban Star. (Excalibur News)
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both under the stewardship of Bohol
Governor Erico Aumentado, are thinking of more novel ways to muster the
strength and resources that they badly need in the light of the fiscal
problems faced by the national government. 
Sandy Paredes, executive director
of ULAP, said that they are pursuing a new project to help other low
income LGUs. Under this scheme, Paredes explained, the LGUs with IRAs
amounting to P500-million and above will pool funds to help the other
LGUs with smaller IRAs.
Atty. Monina Camacho, executive
assistant of the president of the League of Provinces of the
Philippines (LPP), said that based on reports submitted by the regional
disaster coordinating councils (RDCCs), financial assistance amounting
to P150,000 has been immediately given to each of the provinces
affected by the recent typhoons.
In line with Excalibur's desire to broaden its reach by
inviting community publications to serve as its network of
provincial media outlets, a noted provincial publisher Nestor
Abrematea, is back again with us as our special guest panelist for the
week. 