Issues I raised during Senate Committee Hearing
I recently attended the Senate Committee Hearing of Senator Panfilo Lacson. The hearing was focused on the proposed bill “An Act Instituting Reforms In Real Property Valuation And Assessment In The Philippines” which is authored by Senators Lacson, Lapid, Angara, and Biazon.
During the deliberation, I raised some concerns regarding Section 16 of the proposed bill which deals with the preparation of scheduled of market values. It says, inter alia, that assessors “shall prepare a Scheduled of Market Values (SMV) for the different classes of real property and special purpose property situated within their respective local government units, in consultation with the concerned Sanggunian, pursuant to the valuation standards and specifications set” by the National Valuation Authority. In the same sections it says in part that that National Valuation Authority “shall review and approved the SMV within ninety (90) days upon receipt of the same, otherwise, the said schedule shall be deemed approved.” It adds, “the approved Schedule of Market Values shall be sent back to the concerned Sanggunian for enactment of ordinance for the general revision of real property assessments within ninety (90) days from receipt thereof. After the lapse of the said period, the ordinance shall be deemed enacted and thereafter, a general revision of real property assessments shall be made in said local government units using as basis the approved SMV.”
I questioned the rationality of this section by asking the committee to consider the role of the Sanggunian concerned. I said that if the phrase “in consultation with the concerned sanggunian” would be tantamount to getting the comments only of local legislators without public consultation, then I strongly oppose it. On matters like this, it is the interest of good governance that the concerned sanggunian cannot decide unilaterally without a rigorous public consultation on the proposed SMV. It is the responses of the people to this public consultation that the concerned sanggunian can base its impartial and judicious decision whether or not to enact the corresponding ordinance for the general revision of real property assessments in its respective jurisdiction.
I emphasized that the power to review and give approval of the SMV should not be lodged exclusively to the National Valuation Authority. Otherwise, this would bring frustration to the sanggunian and worse embarrassment because it would make a mockery out of what the sanggunian is responsible of doing. It must be noted that in this case the sanggunian has the legislative authority to enact the required ordinance and this is not within the ambit of authority of the National Valuation Authority.
Senator Lacson though assured me that the concerned sanggunian will not be chained. However, I still believe that the Section in question should be better phrased for clarity’s sake and to give proper respect to the sanggunian on matters of legislation that are within its authority.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Insensitive president
Insensitive president
This refers to the article “Arroyo to CIA Chief: Blasts are nothing” (PDI 7/12). I am deeply troubled by these offensive remarks of the president. For a president to say to a visiting CIA chief Leon Panetta that waves of bombings in Mindanao is not a cause of worry is not a joke. It is symptomatic of an insensitive president. The intent of the president may not be one of malice but she can never take back what she said. It is pretty juvenile to make such imprudent remarks amidst the mourning and anguish of victims of these Mindanao bombings.
Was the remark made in jest? That would be unpresidential. We, Filipinos, claim that we are humorous but I don’t see and any humor in these insulting and derogatory remarks of a president. I opine that such uncalled for remarks have profound negative consequences for the people from Mindanao. I consider it too as an affront to our Muslim brothers and sisters.
The president is so fixated with a tunnel view that everything going on in the country is rose-colored and promising. I hope that the CIA chief have also asked people other than the president about what is really happening in the country especially in Mindanao. I am not saying that Panetta cannot get a true picture of what is happening in Mindanao from the president but there is always the tendency for a pro-government people to draw a romanticized picture of Mindanao.
Panetta should realize that telling lies and making deceits are favorite pastime of many of our politicians. Panetta should then be cautious in this country of lies. He should resolve not to be easily swayed by the wagging tongues of liars who deserve some blasts of wet baby diapers.
This refers to the article “Arroyo to CIA Chief: Blasts are nothing” (PDI 7/12). I am deeply troubled by these offensive remarks of the president. For a president to say to a visiting CIA chief Leon Panetta that waves of bombings in Mindanao is not a cause of worry is not a joke. It is symptomatic of an insensitive president. The intent of the president may not be one of malice but she can never take back what she said. It is pretty juvenile to make such imprudent remarks amidst the mourning and anguish of victims of these Mindanao bombings.
Was the remark made in jest? That would be unpresidential. We, Filipinos, claim that we are humorous but I don’t see and any humor in these insulting and derogatory remarks of a president. I opine that such uncalled for remarks have profound negative consequences for the people from Mindanao. I consider it too as an affront to our Muslim brothers and sisters.
The president is so fixated with a tunnel view that everything going on in the country is rose-colored and promising. I hope that the CIA chief have also asked people other than the president about what is really happening in the country especially in Mindanao. I am not saying that Panetta cannot get a true picture of what is happening in Mindanao from the president but there is always the tendency for a pro-government people to draw a romanticized picture of Mindanao.
Panetta should realize that telling lies and making deceits are favorite pastime of many of our politicians. Panetta should then be cautious in this country of lies. He should resolve not to be easily swayed by the wagging tongues of liars who deserve some blasts of wet baby diapers.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
I was nominated as a Senator
I was nominated as a Senator
I recently received a letter from Dr. Martin Martinez, chairman of the National Electoral Committee of Ang Kapatiran Party and Eric Manalang, president of the party, informing me, among others, that my humble self was nominated as a Senator by a concerned citizen. Frankly, I was on cloud nine and could only thank in prayer the citizen who nominated me.
I read carefully the founding principles and platform of AKP and its Code of Conduct. The party calls for the building of a nation of character. It urges the integral development of the Filipinos through values formation. The language used is without embellishment with quotes like “Abolish all forms of gambling,” and “Abolish the death penalty.” The party works towards an ideal society where the citizens are sovereign and that there is no room for the ambitious, greedy, and tyrannical politicians.
I opine that the target “constituencies” of AKP are those Filipinos who believe in ethical and servant leadership. Many are disgruntled about the present crop of leadership in this country and they want a nationwide moral change. Personally, AKP provides an additional and an alternative spectrum in our political field challenging our voters to exercise their judgment within the bounds of reason and morality as to what political parties can best respond to the needs of our times.
After consulting with my wife, relatives and friends, I made the decision: I accepted the nomination.
I recently received a letter from Dr. Martin Martinez, chairman of the National Electoral Committee of Ang Kapatiran Party and Eric Manalang, president of the party, informing me, among others, that my humble self was nominated as a Senator by a concerned citizen. Frankly, I was on cloud nine and could only thank in prayer the citizen who nominated me.
I read carefully the founding principles and platform of AKP and its Code of Conduct. The party calls for the building of a nation of character. It urges the integral development of the Filipinos through values formation. The language used is without embellishment with quotes like “Abolish all forms of gambling,” and “Abolish the death penalty.” The party works towards an ideal society where the citizens are sovereign and that there is no room for the ambitious, greedy, and tyrannical politicians.
I opine that the target “constituencies” of AKP are those Filipinos who believe in ethical and servant leadership. Many are disgruntled about the present crop of leadership in this country and they want a nationwide moral change. Personally, AKP provides an additional and an alternative spectrum in our political field challenging our voters to exercise their judgment within the bounds of reason and morality as to what political parties can best respond to the needs of our times.
After consulting with my wife, relatives and friends, I made the decision: I accepted the nomination.
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