A Weekend of Everything that Flies

The waiting is over, the 18th Clark Philippines Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is on and the excitement is about to begin. The participants are signed and the schedule is formed. 

The governmental agencies responsible for the operation of the Clark Freeport Zone and Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Foundation Inc. (PIHABF) President Capt. Joy Roa sign the agreement for the latest and greatest show in the Philippines. 

Rumors were previously circulating that the event was going to be cancelled…but happily, those were only vicious rumors. Started by some private party that distributed flyers throughout Angeles City, the rumor stating there would be no hot air balloon show this year…a totally false and unsanctioned effort. 

So, happily, and to the chagrin of the tens of thousands that enjoy the annual event, the upcoming 18th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta titled “A Weekend of Everything that Flies” will be held on February 21-24, 2013 at the Omni Aviation Complex at Clark Philippines. 

18th Hot Air Balloon festival

The Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Foundation Incorporated has set the 18th hot air balloon festival on February 21 to 24, 2013.

A memorandum of agreement (MOA) was recently forged by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), Clark Development Corporation (CDC), Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC), PIHABF, and Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).

Officials present during the agreement signing at the MIAA board room were President and acting CDC President Arnel Paciano Casanova; CIAC President and Chief Executive Officer Victor Jose Luciano and PIHABF President Captain Joy Roa.

The upcoming 18th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta titled “A Weekend of Everything that Flies” will be held at the Omni Aviation Complex in the Clark Freeport.

CDC Tourism Promotions Manager Noemi Garcia, MIAA General Manager Jose Angel Honrado, CDC Executive Vice-President Philip Panlilio, CIAC Executive Vice-President and COO Bienvenido Manga and CDC Assistant Vice-President Bernie Angeles were also present during the MOA signing.

In 2012, some 26 balloons, including six specially shaped balloons with shapes of a car, birthday cake, ice cream, Sunkist, and a Kiwi mascot, were flown.

by: Reynaldo Navales

Withdraw Pamintuan awards – newsman

Veteran mediaman Robledo Sanchez on December 4 forwarded a letter to Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II requesting the agency to review the awards given to the Pamintuan administration.

In his letter, Sanchez said the issue of irregularities surrounding the Pamintuan administration, particularly the controversial “ghost employees” in the job order appointments, do not resonate with the corrupt-free government advocacy of the Aquino administration.

A copy of the letter was also forwarded to DILG regional director Florida Dijan.

Sanchez also cited the case of several barangay officials who denied any knowledge about the inclusion of their relatives’ names in the list of the Pamintuan administration’s job order appointments.

According to the barangay officials, the names of their relatives have been included in the list of job order employees even when their relatives are not even working for City Hall and have never received any salary from the City Government.

Among these officials are Barangay Lourdes Northwest Kagawad and Councilmen’s League of Angeles City (CLAC) Vice-President for External Affairs William David, Barangay Cutcut Kagawad and CLAC Executive Vice-President Roy Ogurida, Barangay Salapungan Kagawad Renato Coronel and Barangay Margot Kagawad Nenita Ferrer.

Sanchez also cited the observations of the City Project Monitoring Committee regarding the projects of the City Government, which are allegedly poorly planned, poorly constructed and perceived to be overpriced.

Sanchez also mentioned the several irregularities cited by COA in its Annual Audit Report for Angeles City for the year 2011, which include unliquidated cash advances amounting to P19.4 million, unbooked hospital equipment donations amounting to P13.9 million, and reimbursements of non-petty expenses amounting to P9.6 million.

On October 19, 2012, Sanchez filed graft and corruption charges against Pamintuan, City Accountant Wilfredo Tiotuico, City Budget Officer Fe Corpuz, City Treasurer Juliet Quinsaat and other department heads over the 2,506 job order employees employed by the Pamintuan administration.

by: Reynaldo Navales

Barangay leaders’ kin tag as ‘ghost employees’

Robledo Sanchez has continued revealing pieces of evidence on the "ghost" job order employees appointed by Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan.

In a press statement, Sanchez said relatives of several barangay officials are under the payroll of Pamintuan as job order employees.

“Ang masama pa dito, ang mga residente ng barangay mismo ang magpapatunay na ang mga kamag-anak ng mga barangay official na kasama sa job order ay hindi naman talaga nagtatrabaho,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez was referring to Edward “Sakurai” Gueco, son of Barangay Malabanias Kagawad Antonia Gueco, who is listed as an Administrative Assistant and earning a daily rate of P500.

Sanchez said barangay residents attest that Edward Gueco is not actually working for the City Government and is, in fact, in Singapore.

Sanchez also cited the case of Nestle Joy Paras, wife of Malabanias Kagawad Edwin Nacu’s brother, who is allegedly not reporting for work because she is at home taking care of her two children.

Paras is also designated as an Administrative Assistant under the Philhealth Program of the Office of the Mayor and is given a daily rate of P500.

“Kung may mga sumesweldo kahit hindi naman nagtatrabaho, ibig sabihin, nagtatapon ang administrasyon ng pera ng mga mamamayang nagbabayad ng tax,” Sanchez said.

Also included in the names of job order employees listed by Sanchez are Jonathan Gonzales, son of Malabanias Kagawad Santiago Gonzales, Norberto Tanhueco, husband of former Barangay Pulung Bulu Chairwoman Gloria Tanhueco, Daniel Zaballa, husband of Pulungbulo Kagawad Lorna Zaballa.

“Mukhang gumagawa ng political machinery ang administrasyon,” said Sanchez. “Pero ginagawa nila ang political machinery na ito at the expense of the people. Pera iyan ng tao.”

On October 19, 2012, Sanchez filed a complaint against Pamintuan, City Accountant Wilfredo Tiotuico, City Budget Officer Fe Corpuz, City Treasurer Juliet Quinsaat and the different respective Department Heads before the Office of the Ombudsman in relation to the 2,506 job order employees of the City Government.

by: Sunstar Pampanga

Clark workers to get more jobs

 Congressman-wannabe Francis Nepomuceno said he is in talks with union leaders of the Clark Freeport Zone (CFZ) in a bid to give more jobs to some 70,000 CFZ workers of the city.

Nepomuceno said he will provide livelihood opportunities, which will come in the form of cooperatives, to the Clark workers through their respective unions such as the Samahang Manggagawa ng DMIA (SMD), Association of Concerned CDC Employees (ACCES), and Association of CDC Supervisory Personel (ACSP).

“Nais po nating pangalagaan ang karapatan ng mga manggagawa sa Clark Freeport Zone dahil sila po ang mga bayani na nagtataguyod sa ekonomiya hindi lamang dito sa Pampanga kundi sa buong bansa,” Nepomuceno said.

The Clark Development Corporation (CDC), earlier, reported that the number of CFZ workers reached more than 70,000, an all-time high employment record.

The CDC-Customer Service Department added there are now 70,097 workers, an increase of 3,874 from June to July of 2012.

Nepomuceno said more workers will be needed as more business firms are to be located in the Clark Freeport Zone. Tourism-related projects in Clark are also expected to increase employment opportunities, not only for the residents of the Metro Clark area, but also in the provinces of Tarlac and Pampanga.

He said several business process outsourcing (BPO) and industrial firms have plans to expand their operations in Clark and this will generate more jobs.

by: Rey Navales

Nothing wrong with backchannel talks

Sen. Drilon said he sees nothing wrong with Trillanes' backchannel talks with the Chinese since these were authorized by Malacañang. Trillanes earlier said it was Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa who authorized the backroom negotiations with the Chinese.

In interviews conducted by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV emerged as the negotiator working independently for President Benigno Aquino in Beijing.

In a phone interview, Trillanes said, “If Secretary Del Rosario was only close to being effective as a foreign secretary, then there wouldn’t be any need for a back channel in the first place.”

Trillanes has made no secret about his opinion that Del Rosario is unfit to represent the Philippines on the negotiating table with China because of his allegedly rabid opposition to any peaceful settlement with Beijing and his purported desire to bring the United States into the confrontation.

The senator said this was shown by a series of actions Del Rosario had allegedly made that appeared to intensify, rather than ease, the conflict between the two countries.

Trillanes earlier accused Enrile of being a lackey of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, saying the Senate President is pushing for the passage of a measure to split Camarines Sur.

On the other hand, Enrile accused Trillanes of selling out the country to Chinese interests after being involved with backchannel talks with Chinese officials

Sen. Franklin Drilon on Thursday admitted he is saddened by the ongoing word war between Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

Drilon said it was the first time that he has seen such conduct in his 15 years in the chamber especially after the two senators started resorting to personal attacks.

Next DILG Secretary

President Aquino will announce his choice for the new interior and secretary before he leaves for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit in Russia next week.

We saw posted in Facebook last week a news item about Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson confirming his interest in the position of DILG secretary

A closer look at the news item, however, showed that the date was June 2012 after President Aquino announced that two senators are being eyed for a cabinet position after their elected term expires in June 2013.

When asked if they were Lacson and Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Aquino replied, ““Those two in particular.”

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama  made his own proposal, saying former tourism secretary Robert “Ace” Durano would be a suitable DILG secretary.

He said Durano proved his management capabilities during his time as tourism secretary.

Durano also has a background in local governance being a former congressman of Cebu’s 5th district, Rama added.

Among the nominees for the DILG post were Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya.

Abaya is being lobbied by Transportation and Communications Secretary Mar Roxas while President Benigno Aquino III reportedly has  eyes set on Sen. Panfilo Lacson.

Like Robredo, Rama said the next DILG Secretary should have occupied a local elective position or has ties with the academe with exemplary management capabilities.

“If the next DILG secretary has no exposure with local government units he will have  a hard time,” he said.

Rama said Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim is another likely candidate due to his previous stint as DILG secretary.

As chairman of the Regional Development Council (RDC), Rama said he can campaign for Durano’s candidacy.

He said he tried but was unable to contact Energy  Secretary Rene Almendras and Budget Secretary Buth Abad about his suggestion.

Robredo, whose appointment as DILG secretary was made only in June 2011 after almost a year as acting secretary (he was never confirmed by the Commission on Appointments ) was asked if he thought he still enjoyed the trust and confidence of the President and he said,”Yes.”

It is understandable that political groups would want dominion over DILG because not only does it have supervision over the Philippine National Police but also the local government units.

The LGUs are composed of 79 provinces, 38 cities and Metro Manila. It’s a potent political network.

Balay is said to be concerned that if Lacson makes good at the DILG, especially in the matter of peace and order, he would think of running again for president in 2016 and would be a stumbling block to Roxas presidential bid.

Just a thought: if Lacson makes good in the DILG, would that not be good for the country? Why would the peace and order situation in the country be held hostage by the presidential ambition of one politician?

One legitimate observation about Lacson, however, is that his rigid style of leadership may not sit well with local politicians.

Even if Lacson would not join the presidential race in 2016, he is seen as more leaning towards the Samar faction than Balay. If that’s the case, Balay would be worried that the LGU network would be used for Binay instead of them using it for Roxas.

Two factions in President Aquino’s Cabinet—dubbed the “Balay” and “Samar” groups, based on their area of operations during the 2010 presidential campaign—are competing to have their candidates fill in the DILG post.

Robredo’s successor would be the main agenda at the Aug. 29 meeting of the Liberal Party at its Balay headquarters in the home of Roxas, also LP president, in Cubao, Quezon City.

Aside from Abaya and Lim, also being considered were former Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca and Davao City Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

But sources said the emergence of Vice President Jejomar Binay of the Samar group as a potential successor of Robredo in the DILG has led some party members to call on Roxas “to step up to the plate and move to the DILG.”

The Samar group was Mr. Aquino’s campaign team on Samar Avenue in Quezon City.

In Cebu, a caravan held by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and Community Investigative Support (CIS) to honor Robredo passed by major streets in Cebu and Mandaue cities yesterday afternoon.