News update Rid RP of corruption

President-elect Benigno Simeon ''Noynoy'' C. Aquino III will have a lot of catching up to do in terms of achieving for the Philippines its Millennium Development Goals (MDG) by 2015.

As soon as he assumes the presidency on June 30, much will be expected from Aquino by the United Nations Millennium Campaign to address significantly at least three major challenges posed by the MDG - corruption, rapid population growth, and bad governance.

''It is crucial for the next administration to take decisive steps in implementing existing MDG supportive policies and formulating policies where they are lacking, so the country can get closer to achieving the MDGs,'' said Minar Pimple, UN Millennium Campaign Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific.

Pimple said the Philippines gained significant progress in MDG Nos. 4, 6, and 7: reducing child mortality; combating malaria; and ensuring environmental sustainability, particularly in access to safe drinking water.

However, more still needs to be done to achieve other issues covered by the MDG.

''There has to be a strong push for localization, making sure that the MDGs serve not just a few, but every Filipino,'' Pimple said.

''This year is particularly crucial, because it is the 10th anniversary of the Millennium Declaration. World leaders, including President-elect Benigno ''Noynoy'' Aquino III, will gather in New York in September for the MDG Summit. They have to come up with MDG Breakthrough Plans that not only sustain policies and programs that have worked for the achievement of the MDGs, but they also have to address the roadblocks that have derailed achievements in some areas,'' she said.

UN data revealed that 33 percent of Filipinos still live on less than US$1 a day, while 5.2 million children of school age are out of school. In addition, 11 mothers die each day due to pregnancy-related causes, and the incidence of HIV among the youth has increased five-fold from 41 in 2007 to 218 in 2009.

''We may have already lost ten years' worth of opportunities to work towards the MDGs, but it's not too late. With committed leadership, the right policies and resources, the Philippines can still achieve the goals by 2015,'' said Pimple.

''Now that the election fever has died down, we see this as the perfect time to remind the new President that there is a lot of work to be done, and the people that we have the right to demand from the new administration a renewed commitment to the MDGs, better policies, and more decisive action.''

The Philippines was one of 189 countries that signed the Millennium Declaration of 2000. The eight MDGs are: eradication of extreme poverty and hunger; achievement of universal primary education; promotion of gender equality and women empowerment; reduction of child mortality; improvement of maternal health; combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases; ensuring environmental ustainability; and development of a global partnership for development. The MDGs are hoped to be achieved by 2015.

News UpdatePadaca: I will continue fighting

ILAGAN, Isabela, Philippines – Despite her heartbreaking election loss, Gov. Grace Padaca declared that she would continue her crusade to rid the province of corruption and other illegal activities.

“I will continue fighting for you but I cannot do it all alone. You have also to help yourself. Be vigilant against those who will take advantage of you... those who have been undermining your rights and dignity,” said the 46-year-old Padaca, hours after her election defeat.

Padaca lost to now governor-elect three-term third district Rep. Faustino Dy III by a narrow margin – 274,557 votes against her 271,319 votes – derailing what could have been her third and final term as governor of this country’s third largest province.

Her loss brought the Dys back to the province’s top post, which the family had held for 34 years until one of its scions – then incumbent governor Faustino Dy Jr. – lost to Padaca via a huge margin of over 40,000 votes.

Padaca, who described the Dys’ reign as marred with corruption, patronage politics and illegal logging, repeated the same feat against another Dy scion, Benjamin Dy, himself a former three-term governor, whom she defeated in 2007 en route to her second term.

Padaca’s key allies also lost miserably in the May 10 polls, including her vice gubernatorial bet, second district Rep. Edwin Uy, who was defeated by Dy’s running mate, outgoing first district Rep. Rodito Albano.

Vice Gov. Ramon Reyes also lost in the race for the province’s third congressional district seat against Dy’s brother, three-term Alicia town Mayor Napoleon Dy.

The three other congressional seats here were also won by the allies of Dy and Albano.

Mayoral bets identified with the Padaca-Uy camp only managed to grab nine of Isabela’s 36 municipalities.

“I weep for Isabela. I’m a little glad for (myself as) I will now be able to sleep a little earlier, no longer overburdened by the pressures of being the governor,” Padaca said, trying to hold back tears.

“But it does not mean that I will be closing my eyes to the problems of my fellow Isabelinos,” added Padaca, a former hard-hitting broadcaster-turned-politician. - By Charlie Lagasca
Spanish Churches in the PhilippinesPhilippine literature: Through the yearsA national report on development in Philippine education since 1986Notes on torts & damages: Under the Civil Code of the PhilippinesClaro M. Recto on United States-Philippine relations, 1935-1960 (University of Hawaii)Handbook on The family code of the Philippines

Estrada seeks redemption

Oct 25, 2009

MANILA - RIDING one of the Philippines' iconic 'jeepney' mini-buses used by the poor, Joseph Estrada burst into Manila's dockside slums to begin a seven-month drive aimed at returning him to the presidential palace.
'This is the last performance of my life,' the 72-year-old former movie star told a crowd of about 10,000 fans in his trademark husky voice as he officially launched his election campaign last week.
Elected president by a record margin during the Asian crisis in 1998, but then impeached for massive corruption and toppled in a bloodless military coup in 2001, Estrada is seeking redemption through his unlikely campaign.
To this day he denies having taken bribes from illegal gambling operators, embezzling millions of dollars in tobacco taxes and wasting his mandate through inept rule.
He insists it was his replacement, incumbent President Gloria Arroyo, who drove the Southeast Asian nation further into poverty and chaos through corruption.
But, although Ms Arroyo pardoned him in 2007 after he was sentenced to life in jail for graft, Mr Estrada maintains he has been deeply victimised by the nation's elite. -- AFP