SCRAP THE LATERAL ATTRITION LAW (LAL)

It was gut-wrenching to hear that the emperor in the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and his henchmen received a hefty sum of more than 400 million pesos just for simply doing their work. Not only is this practice full of loopholes, it is also very prone and open to abuse. Simply connive with the Department Secretary to lower the bureau’s revenue targets for a certain year and you will be seeing more millionaires in one of the country’s top agencies most perceived to be corrupt (together with BIR and the Public Works and Highways Department)

Moreover, the purpose of the Lateral Attrition Law is to encourage BIR and BOC employees to work hard so that the respective bureaus can exceed their revenue targets for the year, thereby contributing to the country’s growth and development. It was not the intention of the law to make government employees rich enough to build their own mansions in Mount Olympus. When asked during a Senate inquiry why he supposedly received more than 5 million reward, BOC Chief Napoleon Morales blurted, “It is legal.” But then, what is legal may not be necessarily moral.

The law should be scrapped for a variety of reasons. One, the agencies benefiting from the LAL are two of the most notoriously corrupt agencies in the country. The law would be better applied to those who really do something exemplary like the teachers, social and health workers, dedicated policemen and soldiers in the battlefield.

Also, public funds should be allocated for public purposes. Giving more than 400 million pesos to undeserving government officials is far from being a public purpose. It has served only to fatten the already bloated pockets of the BOC officials.

Furthermore, nationalism and love of country should be the primary motivation of members of the government work force, just like the motto “Mamamayan Muna, Hindi Mamaya Na” (Our First Priority Is Service to the Nation, Not Procrastination), and not monetary rewards.

Given these, the law should be repealed and the money given to the BOC officials should be returned to the public treasury.


You may email your comments to advocacydeparment@gmail.com or directly here in this blog.

PCCI bares 2-year plan under its new president

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the country’s biggest and most influential business organization unleashed its 2-year plan under its new president, shipping and logistics magnate, Edgardo G. Lacson.

Lacson formally assumed office as PCCI’s 16th president last 01 July 2008.

In a press conference held to celebrate Lacson’s inauguration, PCCI bared key fundamental policy and sectoral initiatives it will pursue during the 2-year term of Lacson as its president.
Among the critical areas of interventions PCCI will champion include, the implementation of its Energy Roadmap which underscores the involvement of the private sector through PCCI in implementing the EPIRA Law, privatization of NAPOCOR’s assets, lowering of power generation, transmission and distribution charges and implementation of alternative and renewable energy programs and policies to mitigate the global energy crisis.

“Our energy advocacy is systematic to effect a win-win solution for both government and private sector on the energy sector. While PCCI remains supportive on the imposition of VAT on oil products, other measures such as new investments on power plants and investments in alternative and renewable energy resources remain as other important priorities in our energy agenda,” Lacson said.

In the area of Infrastructure Development, PCCI vowed to continue to monitor initiatives that implement President Arroyo’s SONA Commitments on Infrastructure Development around the country through its membership in the Pro-Performance Infrastructure Task Force.

“We note the immense participation we are generating from among our local chapters nationwide to validate the impact of the various infrastructure projects in countryside development. Likewise, the opening of NAIA 3 sends a clear signal on our direction to collaborate with government on key and meaningful projects that serve the interest of the greater public,” Lacson added.

PCCI also highlighted its support for the country’s participation in ASEAN economic integration and the subsequent FTAs with its dialogue partners, the ratification of Japan Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) and Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC).

“These trade agreements are important in our effort to muster our competitiveness might in a global scale and broaden our investment perspectives and prospects for economic development. While we fully underscore the need for our county to maximize opportunities from these trade treaties, we also acknowledge that the business community must closely examine their negative effects and work towards reforms and adjustment measures that will address the need and plight of our micro, small and medium enterprises including the jobs and income that they support and provide,” Lacson stressed.

Lacson further re-affirmed PCCI’s role as the inevitable champion of the MSMEs. At the same time, he noted the great need for more business-led interventions to instill long term planning to address gaps in food production and maintain the prices of key and basic commodities.

“PCCI supports corporate farming as a way where private sector can provide sufficient food supply to their stakeholders especially in the labor sector. What is needed as well is for the private sector and government to finally work on specific programs that will encourage private sector investments to upgrade farm technologies and mechanization as well as promote specific products of interest to our food security. This can only be done through the creation of an enabling environment that is supported by market-driven policies provided for by the comprehensive agrarian reform law (CARL) and moratorium on the conversion of agricultural lands through an effective land use and zoning policy,” Lacson said.

On education, PCCI vowed to champion continuous educational reform and development through its program on addressing skills mismatch.

“Backed by the Presidential Task Force on Education, PCCI sees education through skills upgrading as another important component of our 2-year development plan supporting both government and the academe for gainful and entrepreneurial employment. We remain hopeful that through our projects on the ground in this area, we will be able to increase the hiring rate of the industry at the same time influence policy making and reform in the education sector in the country,” Lacson emphasized. Lacson further said that “What you will notice in our 2-year agenda, we are going back to ‘basics…’ Food, energy, infrastructure, education—these are fundamental to our everyday living. In the past, in our effort to move ahead and forward, some of these essentials may have been overlooked or somehow neglected. What we are emphasizing the need to effect a clear mindset for change and our vision for our country’s competitive edge; we need to make these basic needs work to the welfare of our stakeholders and our people. We are never too late in addressing the gaps that impede our nation’s development–we are just a little behind.”

Labinlimang Araw (Fifteen Days)

Labinlimang araw na ang lumipas
Nang ika’y huli kong makita
Sa Pier na ito kung saan kamay mo’y huli kong nahagkan
Ako’y tila barko na walang patutunguhan
Walang gagawin kundi ikaw ay isipin
Umaasang muling babalik ang Prinsesa ng mga Bituin

The Dire Consequences of Spot-Zoning

In this period when the competitiveness of the Philippines to attract investors has sunk to low levels, we now have another uncertainty: the Spot-Zoning practice of LGUs as upheld by the Supreme Court in the case involving Social Justice Society (SJS) and Cabigao against Shell, Petron, and Chevron and ordering the enforcement of Ordinance No. 8027 which reclassified the area of the Pandacan terminals from industrial to commercial.

We respect the ruling of the High Court in the aforementioned case. We are worried, however, about its implications to investor confidence and the economy as a whole in the long run. We believe that giving a blanket, absolute, and unfettered affirmation of the local government unit’s power to declare zoning may be too injurious to the competitiveness of the Philippines in attracting investors to the country. While cities have the power to reclassify land, we believe that this must be consistent with an integrated and comprehensive land use plan and must not be discriminatory.

Arbitrary spot-zoning ordinances should not be allowed, as this will make the business environment unpredictable and unattractive to investors. If we allow local governments to spot-zone everywhere, industries will not be ensured with continuous tenure in the areas in which they operate, and this will be a serious disincentive to investments.

Industries will not spend millions of pesos in a particular city or province if a local government unit can effectively kick them out anytime by re-classifying the area where their office, factory, or establishment is located.

Given this, we hope that the National Government and concerned stakeholders will consider taking a second look into this matter of critical importance due to its dire, long-term economic consequences.

Who's Next for Boxing's Finest

After the victory of Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao last Sunday against former WBC Lightweight Champion "Dangerous" David Diaz, many people was wondering "Who's next for the People's Champ?"

For me, the biggest challenger for Manny is still Juan Manuel Marquez, who almost beat the Pacman during their bout earlier this year. Only Marquez provided Pacquiao with a real toe to toe challenge from the starting bell. Not Barrera, not Morales, not Diaz, it' s Marquez!

Happy Birthday Bhel!

Happy birthday to my beautiful and loving wife Bhel. We (me and our daughter Kate) love you very much from the bottom of our hearts. Incidentally, this is also our sixth year anniversary. I am looking forward to spending the rest of my life with you. My heart is yours forever. - Noel

Spectacular Performance

Congratulations to Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao for winning the WBC Lightweight Belt. Although David Diaz didn't give much of a fight, given Manny's almost unscathed face, you got to give it to the guy. He has heart. He held on to the belt as hard as he could but he ran through a tough, Philippine made brick wall called "Pacquiao".

To all the Politicians, whom Manny said during the interview that he could not name because they are so many, shame on you all for using taxpayers money for your transportation and hotel fee. Just make sure you are all paying for your own expenses. But then, how can we know? There is no transparency on how the pork barrel is being spent.

Anyway, this is a big day for Philippine boxing, a real history in the making. Thanks Manny for lifting up our spirits in these harrowing days of crisis. You make us proud!