Press Release
July 10, 2009ROXAS ASKS GMA TO ATTEND OVERSIGHT PANEL PROBE
RESIST PHARMA LOBBY VS CHEAP MEDSLiberal President Senator Mar Roxas today announced that he invited President Arroyo to attend and explain before the Quality Affordable Medicines Oversight Committee her refusal to implement a vital provision of the law that reduces by half prices of 22 essential medicines.
The President will also be asked to shed light into reports that pharmaceutical companies have brought their lobbying against the implementation of the Cheaper Medicines law on the doorsteps of Malacañang; particularly the provision on Maximum Retail Prices (MRP) of medicines.
"Ginang Pangulo, gawin niyo po ang inyong trabaho. Pirmahan niyo na po itong executive order" that would impose the MRP on, and slash by half the prices of, the country's top 22 prescribed but costly medicines, he said.
"Sa kadahilanan nga na nagkaroon ng miting dun sa Malakanyang at hindi natin alam kung ano ang napag-usapan�baka nagkaroon ng aregluhan, baka nagkaroon ng sabwatan kung ano na ang mangyayari dito sa batas�nagtakda tayo ng oversight committee hearing dito po sa pagpapatupad nitong batas," he also said.
The oversight committee had transmitted a notice of invitation to President Arroyo requesting her or her representative to attend to shed light on her alleged meeting with representatives of multinational drug companies held last July 8 in Malacañang.
He said: "Para malaman po natin ang katotohanan: paano nangyari itong miting na nito? Sino ang humingi nitong miting na ito? Kelan hiningi itong miting na ito at kelan pinag-bigyan, bakit nagkaroon agad ng schedule itong miting na ito? Makikita natin sa mga record. Malalaman natin ngayon kung ang gobyerno ba ay tumatayo para sa interest natin o tumatayo para sa interest nitong malalaking kumpanya na ito."
The Visayan senator had earlier lambasted what seems to be a conspiracy between the government and giant drug manufacturing firms to circumvent the implementation of the year-old law, which would bring relief to the public through easy access to cheaper but quality medicines.
Citing highly reliable sources, Roxas had exposed the "confidential meeting" and urged the Chief Executive to be wary of presidential advisers whose personal conflicts of interest might compromise her.
"Nanawagan ako sa Pangulo: Huwag po kayong makinig diyan. Nagla-lobby lang po ang mga iyan. Huwag po kayong makinig sa mga adviser ninyo, nagla-lobby lang po iyan. Panigan po ninyo, tayuan po ninyo, tindigan po ninyo, ang interest ng ating mga kababayan," he appealed to President Arroyo.
He vowed: "Hindi ko bibitiwan itong isyu na ito. Nasa batas na ito. Ang tagal na nating ipinaglaban ito. Ngayong nasa batas na ito, wala ng dahilan kung bakit hindi na mangyari ito kung hindi na lang iyong kagustuhan ng pangulo."
GOD BLESS YOU PRESIDENT CORY!
Showing posts with label PGMA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PGMA. Show all posts
Friday, July 10, 2009
Senator Mar Roxas Asks PGMA to Attend Affordable Medicines Oversight Panel Probe — "Baka Nagkaroon ng Aregluhan ... Sabwatan" — "Makakarma Rin Sila!"
10 July 2009
TV Patrol tonight showed Senator Mar Roxas questioning President Arroyo's apparent "refusal to implement a vital provision of the law that reduces by half prices of 22 essential medicines."
This is the press release from Senator Roxas straight from the Senate website:
Senator Mar Roxas' parting shot, "Makakarma rin sila."
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
PGMA Breast Implants — Punto por Punto with Anhony Taberna, Jarius Bondoc and Sec. Cerge Remonde
7 July 2009
This is Anthony Taberna's Punto por Punto segment on Umagang Kay Ganda discussing with Jarius Bondoc and Secretary Cerge Remonde:
The President's state of health is always a matter of public interest. Full transparency and candidness is expected.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
President Arroyo Ends Two-Day Self-Quarantine, Checks Out of Asian Medical Center at 2PM Today
2 July 2009
Mrs. Arroyo did as expected and cut short her self-imposed quarantine today by checking out of the Asian Medical Center in Alabang, Muntinlupa City at 2 in the afternoon.
It will be recalled that the DOH had relaxed its rules on quarantine just before the President arrived and DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III had said that the Chief Executive did not need to subject herself to any quarantine, a piece of advice that the later promptly ignored.
More on this story in this flash report by Lala Roque courtesy of GMANews.tv:
end
Monday, April 27, 2009
An Open Letter on the Nightmare of Tuition Fee Increases to PGMA, Deped Secretary Jesli Lapus, CHED Chairman Angeles and the Entire Filipino Nation
27 April 2009
Together with a fellow parent, I visited the DepEd NCR last Friday, 24 April, to find out if the school where my youngest child is studying (high school) has filed an application for tuition fee increase.
I enrolled my daughter as early as 1 April 2009 and the tuition fee increase WAS ALREADY IN EFFECT! NO VALID CONSULTATION WAS HELD BECAUSE ONLY A HANDFUL OF PTA OFFICERS, AMONG MORE THAN A THOUSAND ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL PARENTS, WERE INVITED.
AND THE COLLEGE DEAN WHO CO-PRESIDED OVER THE MEETING WITH THE ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, SPEAKING OF THE TUITION FEE INCREASE, TOLD THOSE PRESENT, "WE DON'T NEED YOUR APPROVAL, WE'RE JUST INFORMING YOU."
To make the long story short, this is what happened at the DepEd NCR:
1) Miss Gloria Alday, a high school education supervisor and DepEd NCR OIC at that time (since Director Teresita Domalanta and her deputies were not around), confirmed that they have recently received such an application, April 22 if I was not mistaken.
2) While Miss Alday was talking to us, Dr. Namoro, another education supervisor, left the room and came back shortly afterwards to tell us that one of the people in the DepEd NCR Legal Department headed by Atty. Joylyn Dulnuan told her that copies of the application for tuition fee increases could not be released to us since it was not yet a "public document" as they still have to process it. Na-receive na ng isang public office pero hindi pa rin public document?
Nakakatuwa po ba so far? Ano pang credibility mayroon ang proseso kung ganyan ang asal ng mga tauhan ng Deped? Imbes na matuwa sila dahil gumugol ka ng pera at panahon upang puntahan ang kanilang opisina sa kagustuhan mong tumalima sa panawagan ni Secretary Lapus para magkaroon ng moratorium on tuition fee increases this school year ay kabaligtaran ang isasalubong sa 'yo!
I'll leave it here for now ... I just need to post this to warn you about what's going and what we can all do to stop this menace of heartless tuition fee increases and the way the DepEd and the CHED are not doing all they can to help and protect us Filipino parents who send our children to private schools.
This is a work in progress partly because I have to run for work now and partly because I would like to give you, my fellow Filipino parents, the opportunity to think more deeply about the problem of tuition fee increases and the solutions to it. As I write, hundreds of thousands of pre-need planholders are scratching their heads thinking how they can enroll their children this school year. Many more parents have actually moved their children to public schools which, unfortunately, year after year are becoming more congested. Other children have simply dropped out of school. This is a developing nightmare and we'd better wake up now before it's too late!
Yes, we Filipinos can do something to stop unreasonable and untimely tuition fee increases. If we join hands and ask God to lead us in this battle for our children's future, we can do something! And the future will be brighter for our children!
To God be the glory!
Join the Global Bayanihan to Save the Life and Help the Family of Jailed OFW Dondon Lanuza
27 April 2009
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV
There is an ongoing bayanihan to save the life of one of our kababayan who is jailed in Dammam, Saudi Arabia and is actually awaiting execution in death row. His name, Dondon Lanuza. Dondon was meted the death sentence reportedly for killing a Saudi national on August 15, 2000.
Using a Facebook account, Dondon sought the help of fellow Filipinos through the Internet with this desperate plea:
"I'm begging you all not to leave me alone in this fight."
Another Filipino OFW, Reggie Jose, who learned of Dondon's plight launched a Facebook campaign to help him in all ways possible -- to help his family and raise blood money to secure his release or maybe, even a commutation of Dondon's death sentence.
In the meantime, Migrante Saudi Arabia has had this message from Dondon posted in its website for more than a year now, since April 23, 2008. In it, he appeals for help not only for himself but for his two kids:
To Whom it May Concern
I'm so sorry for disturbance... Im begging your kindness.. PLEASE HELP... I would want to follow-up my Appeal to anyone...
May dalawang anak po ako, napahinto sa pag-aaral ng huling pasukan dahil po sa kapos sa pinansyal na di po kaya naming mag-asawang tustusan... Nakatali po ang Kamay at Paa ko, di po makakilos para maitaguyod po ang pamumuhay ng 2 anak ko...
Nasaan na po ang mga Programa ng ating Gobyerno para sa mga kapos-palad na mamamayan lalung-lalo na po sa isang OFW na katulad ko na isang PRESO sa Kaharian ng Saudia Arabiya? Di ba po na tinatawag ng Gobyerno na modern hero ang mga OFW dahil sa magandang ekonomiya ng ating bansa, ngayon po ang isang OFW po ay nananawagan sa Gobyerno na bigyang pansin ang masamang sitwasyon.. Malapit na po sumapit ang pasukan!
Ang Edukasyon po ang tanging pundasyon para po sa magandang kinabukasan ng kabataan. Nakaluhod po ako at nagmamakaawa sa inyo! PLEASE HELP US! Utang na loob, for God's sake.. PLEASE RESCUE MY FAMILY FROM HUNGER.....
Umaasa po ako sa pagtugon sa aking hinaing... PARANG AWA NA PO!! Attached existing file: I would like to request from your kindness some financial assistance which im having so difficulty of soliciting from others. I've been confined here in Dammam Central Jail, Saudi Arabia since August year 2000 and my resources has all turned their backs on me even my family, closest and considered friends which has helped me for the past years.
They cannot be blamed for they also have their own families to support of course... I decided to appeal to you as a Brother to facilitate my needs and at the same time to finance some of my families personal needs... Any substantial amount would really be a big help for me and my wife who is in really dire straits as of the moment...
Your kind help and utmost attention regarding this matter would really be highly appreciated... May Almighty God continue to bless you and your family...
Brotherly yours,
Rodelio 'Don2' and Meribeth Lanuza
Email: donlanuza@gmail.com
Mobile: +966551028601 and/or +966531181904
Through Migrante's intercession and Reggie's Facebook campaign, PGMA has been moved, according to the DFA, to write a letter asking Saudi Prince Mohammad Bin Fadh to spare Dondon's life. But this is definitely not enough as the government can take more active efforts to help Dondon and other OFWs who face similar desperate situations.
These gmanews.tv video clips tell us more about this story.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV
For those of us who enjoy our liberty, who can move about and can still take care of our families, please take a moment off your precious time to think of Dondon and his family.
God can save Dondon's life but we have to do our share to make it happen.
Mabuhay si Dondon Lanuza! Mabuhay si Reggie Jose!
Mabuhay ang Migrante KSA at Migrante International!
Mabuhay ang libu-libong Pinoy na sumusuporta kay Dondon Lanuza!
Sabi nga ng Sponge Cola, Dehado kung dehado pero hindi tayo titiklop! Lalaban tayo!
Mabuhay ang ating mga OFW! Mabuhay ang Pinoy!
Let's pray that God demonstrates His tender mercy and his boundless power in the life of Dondon Lanuza.
To God be the glory!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Kaye Failon Says Harsh Police Arrest Might Have Hastened Her Mother's Death (with ABS-CBN Video Update)
16 April 2009 11:03pm
BREAKING NEWS
As I write, Korina Sanchez is interviewing Kaye Failon live at Bandila over ABS-CBN. Kaye says explicitly that the brutal police arrests of their relatives at the New Era General Hospital may have hastened her mother's death. She lamented the fact that her mother was alone when she attempted to take her life yesterday and was deprived of the presence of her brother and sister when she passed away.
"I hope this is not designed to harass Ted Failon or other media personalities," says Atty. Leila De Lima, chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), noting that it was ABS-CBN that took the February 17, 2009 video of the shooting incident involving suspected car thieves that was investigated by the CHR.
"Grabe 'yung ginawa nila sa 'kin," Pam, sister of Trinidad Etong, said of the way police handled the investigation regarding her part in the incident.
I do not dispute the possibility that Ted Failon and/or other members of his household might be guilty of wrongdoing in what happened to Trinidad Etong. But they should be presumed innocent until proven guilty and, even when subjected to arrest, should be accorded all the rights of an accused and should not have been subjected to the harsh treatment that was shown all over national television.
In a democratic society which purports to respect the dignity of human beings, the abusive manner of the arrests we saw on TV should not be allowed to go uncriticized. That is how we lose our rights without our noticing it ... little by little ... until we wake up one day to see that they're gone! And then, magtataka tayo, kung bakit at paano nawala. We get the government that we deserve!
This blog asks PGMA to discipline any police officer found guilty of abuse of authority or violation of due process in making these arrests.
What do you think? Pababayaan na lang ba nating mangyari nang paulit-ulit ang ganitong asal ng ating kapulisan?!
17 April 2009 1:24 am VIDEO UPDATE
Direct from the ABS-CBN website, here is the link to the video footage of Kaye Failon's interview (I'm having some difficulty hosting the video here):
Let's join hands to turn this tragedy into a plus for the Filipino nation -- a turning point in stopping the abusive manner by which our police authorities oftentimes go about their duty to "serve and protect" the people.
Let's continue praying for God's grace, strength, comfort, and guidance for the whole Failon family at this most difficult hour in their lives.
23 April 2009 1:39pm VIDEO UPDATE
You may now view Kaye's interview with Korina here:
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Jobapalooza '09, The Biggest Job Fair in the Philippines
28 March 2009
The following news item is taken from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) website. The article is entitled "Labor unions to spearhead Labor Day Jobapalooza '09. " Jobapalooza '09 is billed as the biggest simultaneous job fairs event in the country. It brings the promise of local and overseas jobs across the country for those who will be fortunate enough to find favor with participating employers and recruitment agencies.
To hasten assistance to workers affected by the global crisis, the country's largest labor unions will lead the conduct of the biggest simultaneous job fairs in all regions nationwide on May 1, 2009, Labor Day, in collaboration with the government and the private sector, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) today said.
Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque said the social partners have recognized the need for collective action and mutual collaboration in mitigating the effects of the global crisis on the workers and the economy, adding they agreed to lend a hand in helping workers particularly the displaced as well as new graduates find jobs locally and overseas through the conduct of job fairs all over the country.
Roque said the trade unions and labor groups unanimously approved to celebrate Labor Day with the conduct of what would be considered, so far, the biggest job fair dubbed "Labor Day Tayo Na! Trabaho Na! Jobapalooza 09," which will be held simultaneously in 16 regions on May 1 in collaboration with sponsoring firms, employers, recruitment agencies, local government units, Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs), and the DOLE and other government agencies.
He said that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo would launch the main celebration on May 1 at the SMX Convention Hall at SM Mall of Asia (MOA) in Pasay City. The DOLE with the social partners in other regions would also spearhead a similar event in their areas of jurisdiction.
The DOLE Chief also said that about 1,000 employers and recruitment agencies nationwide would participate in the Labor Day Jobapalooza to offer hundreds of thousands of local and overseas jobs to workers particularly the displaced and new graduates.
He said that even as the economy continues to exhibit resiliency, efforts are needed to facilitate the employment of workers through job fairs to diminish the crisis' impact on the people.
Roque hailed the organized sector and the sponsoring firms for cooperating with the DOLE in planning for the conduct of the Labor Day Jobalooza on May 1 as part of the national efforts to promote employment and, thus, mitigate the effects of the global crisis on the workers and the economy as a whole.
Apart from the job fair, there will also be skills demonstration, livelihood products display and sales, and distribution of training and scholarship certificates. To cap the night, an "Alay sa Manggagawang Pilipino" concert featuring the country's top bands will pay tribute to the country's working men and women at the MOA grounds near the SMX.
The participating trade unions are the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, Federation of Free Workers, Associated Labor Union, Philippine Transport General Workers Organization, All Workers Alliance Trade Union, Trade Union of the Philippines and Allied Services, Alliance of Filipino Workers, Philippine Organization of Labor Unions, and the National Association of Trade Union.
The sponsoring partners are Globe Telecom, Banco De Oro, SM, Jobstreet,com, STI, Philippine Online Chronicles, and the City Government of Manila.
I'm just a little curious as to how large or how small a percentage of those who attend these job fairs actually land jobs. Those who have had experience with these job fairs are most welcome to send in their comments and share their experiences.
30 April 2009 Update:
Please see the latest Jobapalooza '09 post, I Hope It's True — They're Saying 200,000 Jobs in Jobapalooza '09.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
A "Spartan" Graduation Rites Message from PGMA
26 March 2009
In an exception to the rule. this blog now gives way to to an important message from PGMA to DepEd Secretary Jesli Lapus and to CHED Chairman Angeles:
To: Sec. Lapus, Chairman AngelesRe: No Frills Graduation RitesDate: 20 February 2009In time for the graduation season, the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education should issue reminders to schools that graduation rites should be lean on cost and long in the imparting of valuable messages.It has become a habit for lavish and excessive graduation ceremonies to be paid for by collections from students. Schools at all levels should desist from such practices.We should usher in a paradigm shift. Graduation rites should not be exercises in splurging and display of pomp and pageantry but should be Spartan affairs that exhort civic duties, sense of community and personal responsibilities.School administrators should be reminded that it is their duty to curb excess in every form and guise, especially with the cost being borne by others.Curbing excess also makes economic sense. Money saved from tempering excess in graduation rites can be used to fund the cost of an elementary student going to high school, a secondary student going to college and a college graduate moving to graduate school.Across the globe, citizens are more aware now of their civic duty to curb excess and immoderation in their lifestyles.That the global economic meltdown was partly driven by Gilded Age lifestyles -- with excess and intemperance overridding good economic decisions -- has pushed the citizens and leaders further into the realm of prudence and responsibility and away from irresponsibility.We are lock-step with the global movement. In that light, the curbing of excess should start at the basic level. That includes graduation ceremonies.Graduation rites can be memorable, exciting and animated without the baggage of extra cost and excessive spending.
I would like to thank Mrs. Corazon Gonzales, Asst. Superintendent/OIC of the DepEd Division Office in Caloocan City for giving me a copy of this memorandum from PGMA.
This is a seminal message loaded with recurring appeals to "curb excess in every form and guise." The paradigm shift has began, from an unexpected quarter, and we should sustain it-- because it will benefit not only this generation of Filipinos but also future ones -- to include not only excessive graduation fees and other expenses but also to place a moratorium on increases in tuition and other school fees. It's about time!
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