2009 MAY 12congress.gov.ph/legisdocs/congrec/15th/3rd/15C_3RS-42c...na puno ng niyog diyan po sa lalawigan ng Batangas ay hindi na lang po pangamba—mangyayari na at nangyayari na

Vol. 2 Monday, February 4, 2013 No. 42c

RESUMPTION OF SESSION

At 4:00 p.m., the session was resumed with DeputySpeaker Arnulfo P. Fuentebella presiding.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Thesession is resumed.

The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.

PRIVILEGE HOUR

REP. FARIÑAS. Mr. Speaker, considering that today isa Monday, in accordance with our Rules, may I move that wedeclare the holding of the Privilege Hour.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Is thereany objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion isapproved.

REP. FARIÑAS. Mr. Speaker, I move that we recognizeHon. Angelo B. Palmones of the Party-List AGHAM to availof the Privilege Hour.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). TheGentleman from the Party-List AGHAM, the HonorablePalmones, may please proceed.

PRIVILEGE SPEECH OF REP. PALMONES

REP. PALMONES. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.Mr. Speaker, my colleagues:On February 1, 2012 or over a year ago, we brought to

the attention of this august Body the precarious situation ofcoconut farmers in Batangas and surrounding provinces, morespecifically, Tanauan City and its nearby towns. At that time,the scale insect, scientifically known as the Aspidiotusdestructor Signoret, was spreading at an alarming rate,attacking coconuts in these areas. The scale insect sucks thesap of the leaves of coconuts, which leaves then turn brownand eventually die and fall off. This goes on until the entirecoconut tree is devoid of leaves and eventually dies. Thepurpose of our privilege speech then, Mr. Speaker, was tocall the attention of the Department of Agriculture (DA) andthe Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) in particular, andthe Office of the President to the sad plight of our coconutfarmers. We also filed a resolution, House Resolution No.2112, directing the House Committee on Agriculture and Foodto conduct an investigation on the infestation of coconuts bythe scale insects in Batangas Province. A consultation with

Congressional Record15th CONGRESS, THIRD REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

affected farmers was conducted in Tanauan City, Batangason May 31, 2012.

Nagpapasalamat po ako sa Chairman ng Committee onAgriculture and Food, the Honorable Dong Mendoza, for theimmediate response.

During that consultation, Mr. Speaker, the PCA presentedtheir courses of action, and among the courses of action thePCA plans to implement is a massive information campaignon the scale insect. As a control measure, the PCA will undertakespraying the infested coconut trees, although this course ofaction has a downside in that friendly insects are also killed inthe process. Another course of action of the PCA is thepropagation and releasing of predators or natural enemies ofscale insects in the coconut plantations. To slow down thespread of the infestation, it was planned that the pruning ofinfested leaves be undertaken. Further, as a mitigating measure,the PCA suggested that farmers undertake intercropping andlivestock production in the coconut plantations.

In support of the plans of PCA, Mr. Speaker, AGHAMParty-List allocated a sum of P500,000 from its PDAF toBatangas province as assistance to coconut farmers for aprogram to eradicate coconut scale insects in the followingmunicipalities: Tanauan City, Malvar, Sto. Tomas, Talisay,Laurel, Lemery, Cuenca, Agoncillo, Padre Garcia and SanJuan. The Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) for thisallocation was issued on September 14, 2012 by theDepartment of Budget Management (DBM). In addition tothe actions taken by AGHAM, this Representation alsorecommended to the Philippine Coconut Authority theimposition of a quarantine on coconuts coming from infestedBatangas towns. Our efforts, however, to obtain informationfrom the PCA on whether the quarantine was implementedor not were unsuccessful.

Cognizant of the economic impact of the infestation onthe lives of coconut farmers in Batangas, a group of civic-minded residents in Tanauan, led by Capt. Manny Barradas,organized a group of about 20 volunteers, mostly graduatesof the UP Los Baños, to assist the farmers. They set up acommand post in his residence. Some of these volunteers aresoil experts and pest-management specialists. After studyinghow to control the scale insects, they concluded that thespraying of banana oil could contain the infestation. Thevolunteer group informed the PCA of its findings andrequested that this spraying be done. However, Mr. Speaker,the PCA said that it has no funds to buy sprayers andchemicals. The PCA also insisted that the cause of dead ordying coconut trees in Batangas is not the scale insectinfestation but a nutrient deficiency. Could this be the reasonthe PCA did not finance the spraying of the coconut trees?

2 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013

Meantime, the UPLB volunteers were able to raise P2.5million for the spraying; however, the amount was onlysufficient for one spraying. The PCA promised to cover thesecond and third spraying but these were never done. CaptainBarradas offered to spray the coconut trees on the mountainside using his own plane, with him as pilot. He requestedthe DA and the PCA to cover the fuel expense, but the DAand the PCA said the spraying will not be allowed by theFertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) and that it has tobe coordinated with the Department of Health (DOH). Thus,nothing was done about it. Despite this, Captain Barradaswas cited and given a plaque of recognition by the DA forhis voluntary efforts in combating the scale insect in October2012.

Pictures taken on January 28 show the present situationof coconut trees in Batangas. Ayan po, tignan po ninyo anghitsura ng mga niyugan diyan po sa ilang bayan ng Batangas.The PCA pool of experts conducted a confirmatory inspectionand diagnostic assessment of the reported yellowing ofcoconut leaves having close semblance to scale insectinfestations and its lethal yellowing. Suspected scale insectinfestation was reported in coconut trees in Calamba City,Calauan and Alaminos in Laguna that were examined. Scaleinsect infestation was also observed in Malvar, Agoncillo andSan Juan in Batangas. In other provinces such as Cagayan,Aklan, Leyte, Misamis Oriental, Davao del Sur and Davaodel Norte, the yellowing of leaves of the coconut tree wasattributed to the presence of Brontispa longissima, rhinocerosbeetle, mealy bug and slug caterpillar. This was also attributedto strong winds and nutrient deficiency. Some of the treeswith yellowing leaves were planted in waterlogged areas andthose with poor soil conditions.

The PCA reported activities which were implementedsuch as leaf pruning, spraying and fertilization. The thirdstrategy was probably in line with its belief that the cause fordead or dying coconut trees in Batangas is a nutrientdeficiency. It is not clear to this Representation, Mr. Speaker,what nutrients or chemicals, both macro or micro, the coconuttrees are deficient of since there was no report on this matter.Nine municipalities were involved in the activities of the PCAin Batangas, namely: Agoncillo, Balete, Calaca, Laurel,Lemery, Malvar, Sto. Tomas, Talisay and Tanauan. Accordingto the Scale Insect Pest Treatment Report by the PCA, as ofDecember 15, 2012, the estimated total number of individualcoconut trees infested in these municipalities totalled to774,751. Four leaf-pruning activities were conducted onSeptember 30, October 31, November 30 and December 15,2012. The pruning balance—ang hindi pa ho napu-prune—as of December 15, 2012 was reported to be 316,000 trees.The spraying balance was 634,768 trees and the fertilizationbalance was more than 620,000 trees. This means that 42percent of these infested trees were not pruned, 85 percentwere not sprayed and 83 were not fertilized.

The UPLB-graduate volunteers suspected that therecould be some pathogens affecting the coconut trees in tandemwith the scale insects. Thus, leaf samples from infected treeswere collected and they requested the UPLB-BIOTECH todetermine if their suspicion was correct. The pathogensassociated with the scale insect in infesting coconut trees wereidentified as Pestalotia palmarum and Fusarium spp.

According to Dr. Bert Mailum, an entomologist, the lastcycle of the fruiting of the remaining coconut trees in infested

areas will be up to June 2013. Ilang buwan na lamang po angnatitira and after that, the trees would have all died or wouldbe unable to bear fruits. With this prospect, Mr. Speaker, thefarmers agreed to sell their coconut trees for lumber after thePCA held dialogues with them, and they promised tocompensate those who would undertake sanitation/cutting oftheir coconut trees. With prices ranging from P700 to P1,000per tree, the income therefrom would be able to tide themover for some months to come. Allegedly, however, the PCAhas not been able to compensate the farmers. Kaya iyon pongpinangangambahan natin na baka dumami ho ang mapuputolna puno ng niyog diyan po sa lalawigan ng Batangas ay hindina lang po pangamba—mangyayari na at nangyayari na. Ayanpo, tignan ho ninyo.

Mr. Speaker, my dear colleagues, we see here a differenceof opinion on the root cause of this malady. The main reasonwe are making this presentation is to urge the PCA and theDepartment of Agriculture to really pinpoint the real causeof the infestation. Unless we do that, we cannot begin todevelop the strategy for its prevention or cure.

Dalawang araw na lamang po ang natitira dito sa atin saFifteenth Congress, Mr. Speaker. Hindi ko ho alam kungmayroon pa tayong pag-asang maisalba mula po sa mgachainsaw ang mga nalalabi pang mga puno. We have beenbragging that our country is the best source of good bukojuice drink pero mukhang malapit na ho matapos angpanahong iyon, Mr. Speaker.

At this juncture, Deputy Speaker Fuentebellarelinquished the Chair to Rep. Rodolfo C. Fariñas presiding.

Furthermore, Mr. Speaker and Members of the House ofRepresentatives, the PCA should make good its promise tocompensate the coconut farmers for the trees that they hadharvested before they totally lose faith in the government.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, my colleagues inthe Fifteenth Congress.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Fariñas). TheMajority Leader is recognized.

REP. MANDANAS. Mr. Speaker.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Fariñas). TheHonorable Mandanas, what is the pleasure of the Gentleman?

REP. MANDANAS. I would just want to make amanifestation, Mr. Speaker, regarding the privilege speechmade by our colleague.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Fariñas). This is notan interpellation but a manifestation?

REP. MANDANAS. Just a manifestation, Mr. Speaker.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Fariñas). Pleaseproceed.

REP. MANDANAS. I just would like to express mysincerest gratitude to our distinguished colleague from theParty-List AGHAM for his very thorough, energetic and realconcern regarding this malaise that is going on in my province,

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013 3

Mr. Speaker. Of course, I would also want to manifest my100 percent concurrence and cooperation, and also desire towork with him to address this particular issue.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

REP. REMULLA. Mr. Speaker.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Fariñas). Thehonorable Deputy Speaker Remulla is recognized.

REP. REMULLA. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.Will the Gentleman from the Party-List AGHAM be

amenable to answering a few questions?

REP. PALMONES. Gladly, Mr. Speaker.

REP. REMULLA. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.As the Gentleman mentioned earlier, there are certain insects

which have caused these coconut diseases. Mayroon pong mgamaliliit na mga insekto. Ano po ang mga insektong ito?

At this juncture, the Presiding Officer relinquished theChair to Deputy Speaker Arnulfo P. Fuentebella.

REP. PALMONES. Mr. Speaker, based on the studiesconducted by UPLB experts, we identified them as the scaleinsect or the Aspidiotus destructor.

REP. REMULLA. Saan po nanggaling ito? Ito po ba aygaling sa halaman sa abroad o nanggaling po ito sa Pilipinastalaga? Pakilinaw po sa amin.

REP. PALMONES. Mr. Speaker, ito po ay present nadito sa atin pero dati po, dahil mayroon tayong balanse saating ecosystem, nako-control ito ng mga natural predators.May mga beetles na kumakain nito but because of practicesin agriculture using pesticide, naubos ang populasyon ng mgapredatory insect na ito kung kayat naging very dominant angscale insects.

REP. REMULLA. Ilang beses na po akong dumadaansa Tanauan sapagkat karatig ng distrito ko po ito, dalawangbayan lang ang layo, at nahalata ko nga na naninilaw angmga dahon ng mga niyog at tila yata ang ubod ng niyog angkinakain ng mga insektong ito. Tama ho ba ako?

REP. PALMONES. Ang kinakain nito po ay iyong sap,iyong nutrisyon mismo ng puno. Nag-uumpisa ito sa dahonat kapag nawala na ang dahon, pati ang bunga ay sinisipsipna rin ng scale insect na ito.

REP. REMULLA. Ang ginagawang tuba, ito po iyongsinasabi ninyo, G. Ispiker, ang maliliit na bunga?

REP. PALMONES. Oo, ang mga maliliit na bunga. Angnangyayari kasi dito ay pini-plow niya o mayroon siyangano—may covering ito at pini-plow niya ngayon ang dahonso wala ngang init o walang photosynthesis at the same timeat ina-absorb o sinisipsip niya ang nutrisyon ng halaman.

REP. REMULLA. Ano po ang sabi ng PhilippineCoconut Authority? Ang kanilang sagot ba ay bumili muli ng

asin para pataba at hindi nalang gamutin itong sakit ng mganiyog?

REP. PALMONES. Ang pagpapataba, Mr. Speaker, aybahagi ho ng rehabilitasyon but ang pinakamainam na solusyontalaga dito ay, una, i-prune natin o tanggalin ang mgaapektadong dahon at pagkatapos ay i-dispose ito properly parahindi na kumalat pa. At the same time, dapat mag-spray doonsa mga pupuwedeng magamit pa o mga natitirang puno, and asrecommended nga nitong mga UPLB experts, ay puwedenggamitin iyong banana oil— ito ang ginamit nila sa Mindanao—para ma-eliminate ang natitira pang populasyon. At the sametime, kinakailangan din—para huwag nang kumalat ito sa ibapang lugar—na mag-implement tayo ng quarantine.Unfortunately, the quarantine was never implemented.

REP. REMULLA. Iyon nga po, doon po ako papunta.Gaano karami ba ang ating quarantine officers sa buongPilipinas? Tila ho parang kulang na kulang at tuwing mayproblema ay tuloy-tuloy lang ang paglaganap ng sakit.Halimbawa, ang mga botcha ay napakadaling ilipat mula isanglalawigan hanggang sa iba-ibang lalawigan. Ano po angproblema ng ating quarantine system?

REP. PALMONES. Dito ho sa quarantine kasi aykinakailangan talaga ang suporta ng local government becausethe BPI alone, ang Bureau of Plant Industry, at ang Departmentof Agriculture ay hindi po talaga pupuwedeng mag-implementa ng quarantine by themselves. This has to becoordinated with the local government. Ngayon, kung anglokal na pamahalaan ay hindi po tutulong sa pag-iimplementang quarantine kasi sila ang nakakasakop sa law enforcement,mahihirapan ho talaga tayong mag-implementa nito.

REP. REMULLA. Sa ngayon po, ilang lalawigan na angnaaapektuhan ng sakit sa niyog na nakita natin sa Batangas?

REP. PALMONES. Maraming salamat po sa katanungan,the Honorable Remulla, Mr. Speaker. That is precisely thereason we are trying to raise the issue before this august Body.Kasi nga po ay nakakabahala na ito dahil apektado na po omay mga sightings na rin sa may bandang Quezon. Alamnaman natin na isa sa mga produktong pino-produce po nglalawigang ito ay niyog. Nakaabot na rin po ito sa ilang bahaging Laguna at alam din natin na isa sa mga ipinagmamalaki ngLaguna ay ang buko pie. Baka dumating ho ang panahon walana po silang ma-produce na buko pie dahil ubos na po angkanilang mga niyugan. Kaya nakaapekto na ito sa ilang bahaging Laguna and some parts of Quezon, at maging ang PCA ayito na rin po ang kanilang ini-report.

REP. REMULLA. Di mas delikado pa ito kapag umabotito sa Mindanao at ang Kabisayaan kung saan mas maramipong umaasa sa niyog para sa kanilang hanapbuhay?

REP. PALMONES. Posible rin po, Mr. Speaker, namakaabot ito doon kung hindi din natin itutuwid ang mgaagricultural practice natin gaya nang labis na paggamit ngchemical pesticides that destroy the population of predatoryinsects na makakalaban sana ng mga insekto na pumapataysa mga niyugan. Hindi ho ito imposible, and that is preciselythe reason we want to use the Batangas case as a model in


addressing the problem na pupuwedeng mangyari po sa ibapang mga lalawigan.

REP. REMULLA. Anong uri ho, Mr. Speaker, ang mgainsekto o kaya mga hayop na ito na kumakain at nagdudulotng sakit sa mga niyog— ang mga insektong nagdudulot ngsakit sa mga niyog?

REP. PALMONES. Sa report, Mr. Speaker, ng PCA,bukod sa scale insect na ngayon po ay very dominant, dito posa ilang bayan ng Batangas ay andito rin ang Brontispa. Peroiyong Brontispa, karamihan ang inaatake nito ay ang mgamaliliit, ang mga papalaki pa lamang na mga puno ng niyog.Ang problema natin dito sa scale insect ay pati ang mga iri-replant natin, kung hindi natin ma-i-eliminate ang populasyonng scale insect …

REP. REMULLA. Ito ay magkakasakit din.

REP. PALMONES. … bukod sa aatakihin nito ang mgamaliliit na o papalaki pa lamang na mga niyog, ito po ay lilipatsa iba pang mga halaman.

REP. REMULLA. Itong mga ibon po, may mga ibon pobang kumakain ng mga insektong ito?

REP. PALMONES. Hindi po kasi ito madaling hulihindahil nasa ilalim po ito ng dahon.

REP. REMULLA. Opo.

REP. PALMONES. Kung ito ang dahon, nasa ilalim siyaat mahihirapan ang ibon na pumailalim bago matuka niyaito. Pangalawa, may covering nga po ito na parang screenkaya hindi rin po ito basta-basta mapapatay ng spraying.

REP. REMULLA. Ano po ang huling salita o ibinigkasna solusyon ng Philippine Coconut Authority na siyang maymandato na isaayos ang industriya? Mayroon na po ba silangcommitment na isaayos ito? Mayroon na po ba silang peranggagastusin para dito?

REP. PALMONES. Mr. Speaker, kung tayo po siguro aykuntento dito sa ginagawa ng PCA ay hindi na po ako tatayorito. Naglaan na po ako ng pondo galing sa aming PDAF atiyon nga pong mga volunteers ay nag-raise na ng P2.5 millionfrom their own pockets just to address the problem. Kayasiguro naman po ay obligasyon ng PCA at ng DA na maglaanrin ng mas malaking pondo to address this concern.

Simple lang. Nakita naman po nila kung anong solusyonna puwedeng gawin— ang mag-prune massively, pagkataposay i-eliminate po iyong mga na-prune, at pagkatapos ay mag-spray. Sa halip, ang sinasabi po nila ay wala silang pondo tobuy sprayers and the chemicals na nirerekomenda ng mgaeksperto natin. Sa ngayon, ang nangyayari po ay maghihintayna lamang tayo na sana bumalik ang mga plant structuresng mga pinutulan because up to June 30 na lamang popupuwedeng mamunga ang mga nalalabi pang nakatayongmga puno ng niyog dito sa ilang bahagi ng Tanauan at saiba pang apektadong lugar. Kapag iyon po ay hindi nanamunga by June of 2013 ay puputulin na lamang po angmga ito.

REP. REMULLA. Hindi po kaya sinasadya ng iba nahuwag na pong gamutin iyan para gawin nalang coconutlumber ang mga puno ng niyog? Dumadami na rin po ang taongayon sa Batangas at marami na pong nais na i-develop angmga lugar. Hindi po kaya ito ang isang dahilan kung bakitpinababayaan nalang?

REP. PALMONES. Mr. Speaker, kung ganoon po angkanilang layunin ay nakakalungkot po ito dahil bago pomamunga ang isang puno ng niyog, it will take five to sevenyears para ito ay tumubo.

REP. REMULLA. Opo.

REP. PALMONES. Kung nandoon po iyong mga scaleinsect ay wala din pong mangyayari. In the meantime, Mr.Speaker, ang pinakamagandang gawin nga rito, bukod posiguro sa kung ano ang pupuwedeng gawin ng PCA, aymatulungan din ang mga magniniyog natin na makapag-avail ng iba pang mga programa on alternative crops paranaman ma-sustain ang pamumuhay nila. Otherwise, Mr.Speaker, ay nangangamba tayo na baka mas maramingmagutom at alam naman natin na ang taong gutom aynapipilitang gumawa ng kasamaan kahit pa po ito ay hindiniya ninanais.

REP. REMULLA. Magkano po ngayon ang budget ngPCA at saan-saan po ginagamit ito? Kasi tila po kung walasilang—kung wala po silang simpatya sa mga pangyayari,ano po ba ang ginagawa ng PCA? Bakit pa tayo nagkaroonng PCA?

REP. PALMONES. I would like to apologize, Mr.Speaker, pero hindi ko po kabisado kung magkano angnatitirang badyet ng PCA. Ang sinasabi lang po nila na kulangito and so, we have to augment it. That is precisely the reasonna kami po sa AGHAM Party-List ay nagbahagi ng amingPDAF para sa rehabilitation effort na ito.

REP. REMULLA. Mr. Speaker, I would like tocongratulate the Gentleman from AGHAM Party-List for this.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The Dep.Majority Leader is recognized.

REP. QUIMBO. I move that we refer the speech as wellas the interpellation thereon to the appropriate committee,Mr. Speaker.

I so move.


REP. QUIMBO. Mr. Speaker, I move that we suspendthe Privilege Hour.


The Privilege Hour is suspended.


REP. QUIMBO. Mr. Speaker, I move that we proceed tothe Additional Reference of Business.


The Secretary General will please read the AdditionalReference of Business.

ADDITIONAL REFERENCE OF BUSINESS

The Secretary General read the following House Billsand Resolutions on First Reading, Messages from the Senateand Communications, and the Deputy Speaker made thecorresponding references:

BILLS ON FIRST READING

House Bill No. 6854, entitled:“AN ACT ESTABLISHING A STATE COLLEGE IN

THE MUNICIPALITY OF BAROY, LANAO DELNORTE TO BE KNOWN AS LANAO DELNORTE STATE COLLEGE ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”

By Representative Dimaporo (I.)TO THE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER AND

TECHNICAL EDUCATION

House Bill No. 6873, entitled:“AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE CLASS OF

PERSONS EXEMPTED FROM GUN BANDURING ELECTION PERIODS AND TOENSURE THAT THE MAINTENANCE OFPEACE AND ORDER SHALL REMAIN THESOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PHILIPPINENATIONAL POLICE”

By Representative AlcoverTO THE COMMITTEE ON SUFFRAGE AND

ELECTORAL REFORMS AND THECOMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ORDER ANDSAFETY

RESOLUTIONS

House Resolution No. 3014, entitled:“A RESOLUTION URGING PRESIDENT BENIGNO

S. AQUINO III AND THE BANGKO SENTRALNG PILIPINAS TO PROMULGATE RULES ONTHE PROHIBITION OR REGULATION OF THEIMPOSITION OF CHARGES OR FEES ONTRANSACTIONS IN BANKS COURSEDTHROUGH AUTOMATED TELLERMACHINES, ESPECIALLY ON ACCOUNTS OFEMPLOYEES EARNING MINIMUM WAGE”

By Representative Golez (A.)TO THE COMMITTEE ON BANKS AND

FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

House Resolution No. 3015, entitled:“A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE SINCERE

CONDOLENCE AND SYMPATHY OF THEHOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO THEFAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS OF THE ‘LACASTELLANA AMBUSH’, IN BRGY. PUSO, LACASTELLANA, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL ONJANUARY 27, 2013”

By Representative MirasolTO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES

House Resolution No. 3016, entitled:“RESOLUTION URGING HIS EXCELLENCY

PRESIDENT BENIGNO S. AQUINO III TOADOPT THE FIRST MALOLOS GREENCOVENANT AND TO SUPPORT THECONCERTED CALL FOR ACTION OFNATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTAGENCIES AND ALL STAKEHOLDERS FORLOCAL CAPACITY BUILDING FOR CLIMATE-PROOFING LAND USE PLANS ANDDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND THEPUBLIC RECOGNITION OF BEST PRACTICESAND PRACTITIONERS THROUGH THE‘CLIMATE CHANGE AWARDS’ ”

By Representative FernandezTO THE COMMITTEE ON ECOLOGY

ADDITIONAL COAUTHORS

The list of additional coauthors is reflected in JournalNo. 42, dated February 4, 2013.*

MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE

Message dated January 28, 2013 informing the House ofRepresentatives that the Senate on even date passed withamendments House Bill No. 6232, entitled:“AN ACT CHANGING THE NAME OF STA. MARIA

AGRO-INDUSTRIAL HIGH SCHOOL IN THEMUNICIPALITY OF STA. MARIA, PROVINCEOF BULACAN TO STA. MARIA NATIONALAGRO-INDUSTRIAL HIGH SCHOOL,AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLICACT NO. 8397”

TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES

Message dated January 28, 2013 informing the House ofRepresentatives that the Senate on even date passed withamendments House Bill No. 6450, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE ESTEBAN MADRONA

MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL – BINONGAANANNEX IN BARANGAY BINONGAAN,MUNICIPALITY OF SAN AGUSTIN,PROVINCE OF ROMBLON FROM THEESTEBAN MADRONA MEMORIAL HIGHSCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO ANINDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TOBE KNOWN AS BINONGAAN NATIONALHIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”


* See ANNEXES (printed separately)


Message dated January 28, 2013 informing the House ofRepresentatives that the Senate on even date approvedthe Conference Committee Report on the disagreeingprovisions of Senate Bill No. 2918, entitled:“AN ACT STRENGTHENING CONCILIATION-

MEDIATION AS A VOLUNTARY MODE OFDISPUTE SETTLEMENT FOR ALL LABORCASES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSEARTICLE 228 OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE 442,OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LABOR CODEOF THE PHILIPPINES, AS AMENDED”

and House Bill No. 6686, entitled:“AN ACT STRENGTHENING CONCILIATION-

MEDIATION AS A VOLUNTARY MODE OFDISPUTE SETTLEMENT FOR ALL LABORCASES, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSEARTICLE 228 OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO.442, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN ASTHE ‘LABOR CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES’ ”


Message dated January 28, 2013 informing the House ofRepresentatives that the Senate on even date passed thefollowing House Bills:House Bill No. 541, entitled:“AN ACT ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF SAN FERNANDO,PROVINCE OF CEBU TO BE KNOWN AS SOUTHPOBLACION NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 543, entitled:“AN ACT ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL HIGH

SCHOOL IN BARANGAY LIBURON, CITY OFCARCAR, PROVINCE OF CEBU TO BEKNOWN AS LIBURON NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 595, entitled:“AN ACT ESTABLISHING A CITY SCHOOLS

DIVISION OFFICE IN THE CITY OFANTIPOLO, PROVINCE OF RIZAL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;


SCHOOL IN BARANGAY DAGUPAN,MUNICIPALITY OF QUEZON, PROVINCE OFNUEVA VIZCAYA TO BE KNOWN AS DIPPOGNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;


SCHOOL IN BARANGAY CALIDNGAN, CITYOF CARCAR, PROVINCE OF CEBU TO BEKNOWN AS PIT-OS NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOLAND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;


SCHOOL IN BARANGAY TUYOM, CITY OFCARCAR, PROVINCE OF CEBU TO BEKNOWN AS TUYOM NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 3491, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE TUGA NATIONAL

HIGH SCHOOL – BADO DANGWA ANNEX INBARANGAY BADO DANGWA,MUNICIPALITY OF TABUK, PROVINCE OFKALINGA FROM THE TUGA NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO ANINDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TOBE KNOWN AS BADO DANGWA NATIONALHIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 4004, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE VALENCIA

NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – GUINOYORANANNEX IN BARANGAY GUINOYORAN, CITYOF VALENCIA, PROVINCE OF BUKIDNONFROM THE VALENCIA NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO ANINDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TOBE KNOWN AS GUINOYORAN NATIONALHIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 4005, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE BUKIDNON

NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – SAN JOSEANNEX IN BARANGAY SAN JOSE, CITY OFMALAYBALAY, PROVINCE OF BUKIDNONFROM THE BUKIDNON NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO ANINDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TOBE KNOWN AS MALAYBALAY CITYNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;


NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – KALASUNGAYANNEX IN BARANGAY KALASUNGAY, CITYOF MALAYBALAY, PROVINCE OF BUKIDNONFROM THE BUKIDNON NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO ANINDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TOBE KNOWN AS KALASUNGAY NATIONALHIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”;


NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – CASISANGANNEX IN BARANGAY CASISANG, CITY OFMALAYBALAY, PROVINCE OF BUKIDNONFROM THE BUKIDNON NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO ANINDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TOBE KNOWN AS CASISANG NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”;


NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – CATUMBALONANNEX IN BARANGAY CATUMBALON, CITYOF VALENCIA, PROVINCE OF BUKIDNONFROM THE VALENCIA NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO AN


INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TOBE KNOWN AS CATUMBALON NATIONALHIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 4691, entitled:“AN ACT CONVERTING THE BALATONG

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN BARANGAYBALATONG, CITY OF LAOAG, PROVINCE OFILOCOS NORTE INTO AN INTEGRATEDSCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS BALATONGINTEGRATED SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATINGFUNDS THEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 4778, entitled:“AN ACT ESTABLISHING A SEPARATE CITY

SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE IN THE CITY OFTALISAY, PROVINCE OF NEGROSOCCIDENTAL, AMENDING FOR THEPURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NUMBER 8489,ENTITLED ‘AN ACT CONVERTING THEMUNICIPALITY OF TALISAY, NEGROSOCCIDENTAL, INTO A COMPONENT CITY TOBE KNOWN AS THE CITY OF TALISAY”;

House Bill No. 5119, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE SAN GABRIEL – SAN

ISIDRO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – CAGBIBIANNEX IN BARANGAY CAGBIBI,MUNICIPALITY OF PAMPLONA, PROVINCEOF CAMARINES SUR FROM THE SANGABRIEL – SAN ISIDRO NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO ANINDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TOBE KNOWN AS CAGBIBI NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 5242, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE CAWAGAYAN

NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – SOCBOT ANNEXIN BARANGAY SOCBOT, MUNICIPALITY OFPINUKPUK, PROVINCE OF KALINGA FROMTHE CAWAGAYAN NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO ANINDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TOBE KNOWN AS SOCBOT NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”;


NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL –TONGANTONGAN ANNEX IN BARANGAYTONGANTONGAN, CITY OF VALENCIA,PROVINCE OF BUKIDNON FROM THEVALENCIA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL,CONVERTING IT INTO AN INDEPENDENTNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN ASTONGANTONGAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOLAND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 5266, entitled:“AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PRIMARY SCHOOL IN

BARANGAY INOBURAN, CITY OF NAGA,PROVINCE OF CEBU TO BE KNOWN ASINOBURAN PRIMARY SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;


NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – CONCEPCIONANNEX IN BARANGAY CONCEPCION, CITYOF VALENCIA, PROVINCE OF BUKIDNONFROM THE VALENCIA NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO ANINDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TOBE KNOWN AS CONCEPCION NATIONALHIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”;


SCHOOL IN THE CITY OF CARCAR,PROVINCE OF CEBU TO BE KNOWN AS THETAL-UT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 5386, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE SUMADEL NATIONAL

HIGH SCHOOL – BULO ANNEX INBARANGAY BULO, CITY OF TABUK,PROVINCE OF KALINGA FROM THESUMADEL NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL,CONVERTING IT INTO AN INDEPENDENTNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN ASBULO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;


SCHOOL IN BARANGAY UGONG, CITY OFPASIG, METRO MANILA TO BE KNOWN ASUGONG, PASIG NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOLAND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 5949, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE SAN PABLO CITY

NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – STO. ANGELANNEX IN BARANGAY STO. ANGEL, CITY OFSAN PABLO, PROVINCE OF LAGUNA FROMTHE SAN PABLO CITY NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO ANINDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TOBE KNOWN AS STO. ANGEL NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”;


SCHOOL IN BARANGAY VILLA AURORA,MUNICIPALITY OF MARIA AURORA,PROVINCE OF AURORA TO BE KNOWN ASVILLA AURORA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOLAND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 5980, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE JP CEDRO NATIONAL

HIGH SCHOOL – LIBUAC ANNEX INBARANGAY LIBUAC, CITY OF SURIGAO,PROVINCE OF SURIGAO DEL NORTE FROMTHE JP CEDRO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL,CONVERTING IT INTO AN INDEPENDENTNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN ASLIBUAC NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;


House Bill No. 5981, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE MADRID NATIONAL

HIGH SCHOOL – PARANG ANNEX INBARANGAY PARANG, MUNICIPALITY OFCANTILAN, PROVINCE OF SURIGAO DELSUR FROM THE MADRID NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO ANINDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TOBE KNOWN AS PARANG NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”;


SCHOOL IN BARANGAY LUNAS, CITY OFMAASIN, PROVINCE OF SOUTHERN LEYTETO BE KNOWN AS LUNAS NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”;


SCHOOL IN BARANGAY MOJON, CITY OFMALOLOS, PROVINCE OF BULACAN TO BEKNOWN AS PRESIDENT CORAZONCOJUANGCO-AQUINO MEMORIALNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 5992, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE LOOC NATIONAL

HIGH SCHOOL – BUENAVISTA ANNEX INBARANGAY BUENAVISTA, MUNICIPALITYOF LOOC, PROVINCE OF ROMBLON FROMTHE LOOC NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL,CONVERTING IT INTO AN INDEPENDENTNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN ASBUENAVISTA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 5993, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE TUBARAN NATIONAL

HIGH SCHOOL – DIGKILAAN ANNEX INBARANGAY DIGKILAAN, CITY OF ILIGAN,PROVINCE OF LANAO DEL NORTE FROMTHE TUBARAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL,CONVERTING IT INTO AN INDEPENDENTNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN ASDIGKILAAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 5994, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE MARIA CRISTINA

NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – DITUCALANANNEX IN BARANGAY DITUCALAN, CITY OFILIGAN, PROVINCE OF LANAO DEL NORTEFROM THE MARIA CRISTINA NATIONALHIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO ANINDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TOBE KNOWN AS DITUCALAN NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 5995, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE ILIGAN CITY EAST

NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – KIWALANANNEX IN BARANGAY KIWALAN, CITY OFILIGAN, PROVINCE OF LANAO DEL NORTE

FROM THE ILIGAN CITY EAST NATIONALHIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO ANINDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TOBE KNOWN AS KIWALAN NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”;


NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – AGLAYANANNEX IN BARANGAY AGLAYAN, CITY OFMALAYBALAY, PROVINCE OF BUKIDNONFROM THE BUKIDNON NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO ANINDEPENDENT NATIONAL SCIENCE HIGHSCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS MALAYBALAYCITY NATIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOLAND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;


SCHOOL IN BARANGAY PONGAPONG,MUNICIPALITY OF SAN PABLO, PROVINCEOF ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR TO BE KNOWN ASPONGAPONG NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;


SCHOOL IN BARANGAY SAN SEBASTIAN,MUNICIPALITY OF TABINA, PROVINCE OFZAMBOANGA DEL SUR TO BE KNOWN ASTABINA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;


SCHOOL IN BARANGAY SALAGMANOK,MUNICIPALITY OF KUMALARANG,PROVINCE OF ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR TO BEKNOWN AS SALAGMANOK NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”;


SCHOOL IN BARANGAY SIKATUNA,MUNICIPALITY OF GUIPOS, PROVINCE OFZAMBOANGA DEL SUR TO BE KNOWN ASSIKATUNA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;


SCHOOL IN BARANGAY IBO, CITY OFDANAO, PROVINCE OF CEBU TO BE KNOWNAS EDUARDO GORRE MEMORIALNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 6143, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE TUKURAN

TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL –TAGULO ANNEX IN BARANGAY TAGULO,MUNICIPALITY OF TUKURAN, PROVINCE OFZAMBOANGA DEL SUR FROM THETUKURAN TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO ANINDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO


BE KNOWN AS POTENCIANO SOLONBANDOLON MEMORIAL NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 6209, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE BURGOS NATIONAL

HIGH SCHOOL – UPPER TUMAPOC ANNEXIN BARANGAY UPPER TUMAPOC,MUNICIPALITY OF BURGOS, PROVINCE OFLA UNION FROM THE BURGOS NATIONALHIGH SCHOOL CONVERTING IT INTO ANINDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TOBE KNOWN AS UPPER TUMAPOC NATIONALHIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 6211, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE TAMBONGON

NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – NAPNAPANANNEX IN BARANGAY NAPNAPAN,MUNICIPALITY OF PANTUKAN, PROVINCEOF COMPOSTELA VALLEY FROM THETAMBONGON NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL,CONVERTING IT INTO AN INDEPENDENTNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN ASNAPNAPAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 6212, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE SAN ISIDRO

NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – PAG-ORINGNUEVO ANNEX IN BARANGAY PAG-ORINGNUEVO, MUNICIPALITY OF LIBMANAN,PROVINCE OF CAMARINES SUR FROM THESAN ISIDRO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL,CONVERTING IT INTO AN INDEPENDENTNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN ASPAG-ORING NUEVO NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 6213, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE F. BUSTAMANTE

NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – MAHAYAGANNEX IN BARANGAY MAHAYAG,BUNAWAN DISTRICT, CITY OF DAVAO FROMTHE F. BUSTAMANTE NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO ANINDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TOBE KNOWN AS MAHAYAG NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 6233, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE NABUNTURAN

NATIONAL COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL– NEW SIBONGA ANNEX IN BARANGAY NEWSIBONGA, MUNICIPALITY OFNABUNTURAN, PROVINCE OFCOMPOSTELA VALLEY FROM THENABUNTURAN NATIONALCOMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL,CONVERTING IT INTO AN INDEPENDENTNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN ASNEW SIBONGA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOLAND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 6234, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE LAAK NATIONAL

HIGH SCHOOL – SAN ANTONIO ANNEX INBARANGAY SAN ANTONIO, MUNICIPALITYOF LAAK, PROVINCE OF COMPOSTELAVALLEY FROM THE LAAK NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO ANINDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TOBE KNOWN AS SAN ANTONIO NATIONALHIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 6220, entitled:“AN ACT CHANGING THE NAME OF CANUMAY

NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, IN BARANGAYCANUMAY, CITY OF VALENZUELA TOCANUMAY WEST NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL”;

House Bill No. 6344, entitled:“AN ACT CHANGING THE NAME OF GAUDENCIO

ABORDO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL INBARANGAY BULAWIT, MUNICIPALITY OFLINAPACAN, PROVINCE OF PALAWAN TOBULAWIT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL”;

House Bill No. 6345, entitled:“AN ACT CHANGING THE NAME OF MALALIM

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN BARANGAYMALALIM, CITY OF BATANGAS, PROVINCEOF BATANGAS TO EULALIA TALBAN EBORAMEMORIAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL”;

House Bill No. 6346, entitled:“AN ACT CHANGING THE NAME OF RAMONITO

P. MARAVILLA SR. NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOLIN BARANGAY ESTEFANIA, CITY OFBACOLOD, PROVINCE OF NEGROSOCCIDENTAL TO ROMANITO P. MARAVILLASR. NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, AMENDINGFOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9939”;


SCHOOL IN BARANGAY LANAS, CITY OFNAGA, PROVINCE OF CEBU TO BE KNOWNAS LANAS NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;


BARANGAY CALAVERA IN THE CITY OFNAGA, PROVINCE OF CEBU TO BE KNOWNAS CALAVERA PRIMARY SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;


BARANGAY CABUAN IN THE CITY OF NAGA,PROVINCE OF CEBU TO BE KNOWN ASCABUAN PRIMARY SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 3481, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE PIKIT NATIONAL

HIGH SCHOOL – RAJA MUDA ANNEX INBARANGAY RAJA MUDA, MUNICIPALITY OFPIKIT, PROVINCE OF NORTH COTABATOFROM THE PIKIT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL,CONVERTING IT INTO AN INDEPENDENT


NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN ASRAJA MUDA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 3482, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE PIKIT NATIONAL

HIGH SCHOOL – DATU DALANDAG ANNEXIN BARANGAY DATU DALANDAG,MUNICIPALITY OF PIKIT, PROVINCE OFNORTH COTABATO FROM THE PIKITNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING ITINTO AN INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS DATUDALANDAG NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 3484, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE KIMAGANGO

NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – MALAMOTEANNEX IN BARANGAY MALAMOTE,MUNICIPALITY OF MIDSAYAP, PROVINCE OFNORTH COTABATO FROM THE KIMAGANGONATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING ITINTO AN INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS MALAMOTENATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;


SCHOOL IN BARANGAY BANGKULASI, CITYOF NAVOTAS, METRO MANILA TO BEKNOWN AS BANGKULASI NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 4403, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE TAGASAKA

NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – LOYOLA ANNEXIN BARANGAY LOYOLA, MUNICIPALITY OFHINATUAN, PROVINCE OF SURIGAO DELSUR FROM THE TAGASAKA NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO ANINDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TOBE KNOWN AS LOYOLA NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”;


SCHOOL IN BARANGAY MAYANA, CITY OFNAGA, PROVINCE OF CEBU TO BE KNOWNAS MAYANA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;


SCHOOL IN BARANGAY MAINIT, CITY OFNAGA, PROVINCE OF CEBU TO BE KNOWNAS MAINIT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;


SCHOOL IN BARANGAY TUNGKIL,MUNICIPALITY OF MINGLANILLA,PROVINCE OF CEBU TO BE KNOWN ASTUNGKIL NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 5328, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE GINGOOG CITY

COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL– LURISA ANNEX IN BARANGAY SAMAY,CITY OF GINGOOG, PROVINCE OF MISAMISORIENTAL FROM THE GINGOOG CITYCOMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO ANINDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TOBE KNOWN AS LURISA NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 5329, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE GINGOOG CITY

COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL– BACKKISMI ANNEX IN BARANGAYBINAKALAN, CITY OF GINGOOG, PROVINCEOF MISAMIS ORIENTAL FROM THEGINGOOG CITY COMPREHENSIVENATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING ITINTO AN INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS BACKKISMICOMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOLAND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 5330, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE KALIPAY NATIONAL

HIGH SCHOOL – EUREKA ANNEX INBARANGAY KALIPAY, CITY OF GINGOOG,PROVINCE OF MISAMIS ORIENTAL FROMTHE KALIPAY NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL,CONVERTING IT INTO AN INDEPENDENTNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN ASEUREKA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 5748, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE TABUK NATIONAL

HIGH SCHOOL – BALONG ANNEX INBARANGAY BALONG, CITY OF TABUK,PROVINCE OF KALINGA FROM THE TABUKNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING ITINTO AN INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS BALONGNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 5760, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE KALINGA NATIONAL

HIGH SCHOOL – ASIBANGLAN ANNEX INBARANGAY ASIBANGLAN, MUNICIPALITYOF PINUKPUK, PROVINCE OF KALINGAFROM THE KALINGA NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO ANINDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TOBE KNOWN AS ASIBANGLAN NATIONALHIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 6434, entitled:“AN ACT CHANGING THE NAME OF JOSE J.

LEIDO JR. MEMORIAL NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL IN THE CITY OF CALAPAN,PROVINCE OF ORIENTAL MINDORO TOORIENTAL MINDORO NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL”;


House Bill No. 6435, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE ILIGAN CITY EAST

NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – HINAPLANONANNEX IN BARANGAY HINAPLANON, CITYOF ILIGAN, PROVINCE OF LANAO DELNORTE FROM THE ILIGAN CITY EASTNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING ITINTO AN INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS HINAPLANONNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 6436, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE DALIPUGA

NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – KABACSANANANNEX IN BARANGAY KABACSANAN, CITYOF ILIGAN, PROVINCE OF LANAO DELNORTE FROM THE DALIPUGA NATIONALHIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO ANINDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TOBE KNOWN AS KABACSANAN NATIONALHIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 6448, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE CALAPE NATIONAL

HIGH SCHOOL – LOGON ANNEX INBARANGAY LOGON, MUNICIPALITY OFDAANBANTAYAN, PROVINCE OF CEBUFROM THE CALAPE NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO ANINDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TOBE KNOWN AS LOGON NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 6449, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE CALAPE NATIONAL

HIGH SCHOOL – PAYPAY ANNEX INBARANGAY PAYPAY, MUNICIPALITY OFDAANBANTAYAN, PROVINCE OF CEBUFROM THE CALAPE NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO ANINDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TOBE KNOWN AS PAYPAY NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 6451, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE MAGDIWANG

NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – AGUTAY ANNEXIN BARANGAY AGUTAY, MUNICIPALITY OFMAGDIWANG, PROVINCE OF ROMBLONFROM THE MAGDIWANG NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO ANINDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TOBE KNOWN AS AGUTAY NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 6477, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE TANUDAN

VOCATIONAL SCHOOL – TALOCTOC ANNEXIN BARANGAY TALOCTOC, MUNICIPALITYOF TANUDAN, PROVINCE OF KALINGAFROM THE TANUDAN VOCATIONALSCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO AN

INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TOBE KNOWN AS TALOCTOC GENERALCOMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOLAND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 6580, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE ALEJO M. PACALSO

MEMORIAL NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL –LOACAN ANNEX IN BARANGAY LOACAN,MUNICIPALITY OF ITOGON, PROVINCE OFBENGUET FROM THE ALEJO M. PACALSOMEMORIAL NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL,CONVERTING IT INTO AN INDEPENDENTNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN ASLOACAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 6581, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE PASIL NATIONAL

HIGH SCHOOL – AMDALAO NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL ANNEX IN BARANGAYPOBLACION, GUINA-ANG, MUNICIPALITYOF PASIL, PROVINCE OF KALINGA FROMTHE PASIL NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL,CONVERTING IT INTO AN INDEPENDENTNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN ASCENTRAL PASIL NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOLAND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 6582, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE COMPOSTELA

NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – BANGO ANNEXIN SITIO BANGO, BARANGAY NGAN,MUNICIPALITY OF COMPOSTELA,PROVINCE OF COMPOSTELA VALLEY FROMTHE COMPOSTELA NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO ANINDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TOBE KNOWN AS BANGO NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 6583, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE PASIL NATIONAL

HIGH SCHOOL – BATONG BUHAY ANNEX INSITIO BATONG BUHAY, BARANGAYBALATOC, MUNICIPALITY OF PASILPROVINCE OF KALINGA FROM THE PASILNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING ITINTO AN INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS BATONG BUHAYNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 6584, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE BAGUIO CITY

NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – STO. TOMASANNEX IN BARANGAY STO. TOMAS, CITY OFBAGUIO FROM THE BAGUIO CITYNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING ITINTO AN INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS STO. TOMASNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;


NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – DOÑA AURORA


ANNEX IN BARANGAY AURORA HILL, CITYOF BAGUIO FROM THE BAGUIO CITYNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING ITINTO AN INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS DOÑA AURORANATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;


NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – HAPPY HOLLOWANNEX IN BARANGAY HAPPY HOLLOW,CITY OF BAGUIO FROM THE BAGUIO CITYNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING ITINTO AN INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS HAPPY HOLLOWNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;


NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – LINDAWANANNEX IN BARANGAY LINDAWAN, CITY OFBAGUIO FROM THE BAGUIO CITYNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING ITINTO AN INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS LINDAWANNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 6589, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE PINES CITY

NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – QUEZON HILLANNEX IN BARANGAY QUEZON HILL, CITYOF BAGUIO FROM THE PINES CITYNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING ITINTO AN INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS QUEZON HILLNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;


NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – PINGET ANNEXIN BARANGAY PINGET, CITY OF BAGUIOFROM THE PINES CITY NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO ANINDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TOBE KNOWN AS PINGET NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”;

House Bill No. 5690, entitled:“AN ACT SEPARATING THE HALIAP NATIONAL

HIGH SCHOOL – AMOWEG ANNEX INBARANGAY CAMANDAG, MUNICIPALITY OFASIPULO, PROVINCE OF IFUGAO FROM THEHALIAP NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL,CONVERTING IT INTO AN INDEPENDENTNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN ASNATCAK NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;


NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – DOMINICAN-MIRADOR ANNEX IN BARANGAYDOMINICAN-MIRADOR, CITY OF BAGUIO

FROM THE PINES CITY NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO ANINDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TOBE KNOWN AS DOMINICAN-MIRADORNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;


NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – BAKAKENGANNEX IN BARANGAY BAKAKENG, CITY OFBAGUIO FROM THE BAGUIO CITYNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING ITINTO AN INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS BAKAKENGNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”;


NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – RIZAL ANNEX INBARANGAY PACDAL, CITY OF BAGUIOFROM THE BAGUIO CITY NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO ANINDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TOBE KNOWN AS RIZAL NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”; and


NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – SAN VICENTEANNEX IN BARANGAY SAN VICENTE, CITYOF BAGUIO FROM THE BAGUIO CITYNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING ITINTO AN INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS SAN VICENTENATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”


Message dated January 28, 2013 informing the House ofRepresentatives that the Senate on even date passed withamendments House Bill No. 5495, entitled:“AN ACT DECLARING THE JARO CATHEDRAL,

MOLO CHURCH, THE ILOILO CITY CENTRALBUSINESS DISTRICT, FORT SAN PEDRO,JARO PLAZA COMPLEX, MOLO PLAZACOMPLEX AND PLAZA LIBERTAD COMPLEX,ALL LOCATED IN THE CITY OF ILOILO, ASHERITAGE AND TOURIST SPOTS”

TO THE COMMITTEE ON TOURISM

Message dated January 29, 2013 informing the House ofRepresentatives that the Senate on even date approvedthe Conference Committee Report on the disagreeingprovisions of Senate Bill No. 2921, entitled:“AN ACT STRENGTHENING TRIPARTISM,

AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE ARTICLE 275OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE 442, OTHERWISEKNOWN AS THE LABOR CODE OF THEPHILIPPINES, AS AMENDED”

and House Bill No. 6685, entitled:“AN ACT STRENGTHENING TRIPARTISM,

AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE ARTICLE 275


OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 442, ASAMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THELABOR CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES”


Message dated January 29, 2013 informing the House ofRepresentatives that the Senate on even date requestedfor a conference and designated Senators Ralph G. Recto,Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid and Joker P. Arroyo as confereeson the part of the Senate on the disagreeing provisionsof Senate Bill No. 2855, entitled:“AN ACT PROVIDING ADDITIONAL BENEFITS TO

FAMILIES WITH DEPENDENTS, SUPPORTINGAGING PARENTS AND PERSONS WITHDISABILITIES”

and House Bill No. 5431, entitled:“AN ACT GRANTING ADDITIONAL EXEMPTION

TO AN INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYER, AMENDINGFOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 35(B) OF THENATIONAL INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF1997, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO.9504”

TO THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS

Message dated January 29, 2013 informing the House ofRepresentatives that the Senate on even date requestedfor a conference and designated Senators Ralph G. Recto,Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid and Joker P. Arroyo as confereeson the part of the Senate on the disagreeing provisionsof Senate Bill No. 2856 and House Bill No. 5460, bothentitled:“AN ACT PROVIDING INCENTIVES FOR THE

MANUFACTURE, ASSEMBLY, CONVERSIONAND IMPORTATION OF ELECTRIC, HYBRIDAND OTHER ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES,AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”

TO THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS

COMMUNICATIONS

Letters dated January 17, 21 and 22, 2013 of Vincent Z.Bolivar, Deputy General Counsel, Office of the GeneralCounsel and Legal Services, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas,furnishing the House of Representatives with certifiedand authenticated Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas issuances,to wit:1. Circular Letter No. CL-2012-092 dated 21

December 2012;2. Circular Letter No. CL-2012-093 dated 18

December 2012;3. Memorandum No. M-2012-059 dated 19 December

2012;4. Memorandum No. M-2012-060 dated 27 December

2012;5. Circular No. 779 dated 9 January 2013;6. Circular Letter No. CL-2013-003 dated 8 January

2013;7. Circular No. 780 dated 10 January 2013;8. Memorandum No. M-2013-001 dated 14 January

2013;9. Memorandum No. M-2013-002 dated 11 January

2013;

10. Circular No. 781 dated 15 January 2013;11. Circular Letter No. CL-2013-001 dated 8 January

2013;12. Circular Letter No. CL-2013-002 dated 8 January

2013;13. Circular Letter No. CL-2013-004 dated January

2013; and14. Circular Letter No. CL-2013-005 dated 17 January

2013TO THE COMMITTEE ON BANKS AND

FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

Letter dated January 28, 2013 of Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr.,Executive Secretary, Office of the President, Malacañang,transmitting two (2) original copies of Republic Act No.10363 which was signed on even date by His Excellency,President Benigno S. Aquino III, entitled:“AN ACT CREATING SEVEN (7) ADDITIONAL

BRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRIALCOURT IN THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL REGIONTO BE STATIONED AT THE CITY OFMANDAUE, PROVINCE OF CEBU, FURTHERAMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE BATASPAMBANSA BILANG 129, OTHERWISEKNOWN AS ‘THE JUDICIARYREORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980’, ASAMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR”

TO THE ARCHIVES

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). The FloorLeader is recognized.

REP. DE VENECIA. Mr. Speaker, allow us toacknowledge the presence of the following guests: studentsand faculty of Misamis University, Ozamiz City, guests ofCongressman Loreto “Leo” S. Ocampos.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Pleaserise. Welcome to the House of Representatives. (Applause)

REP. DE VENECIA. The guests of Cong. Benjo A.Benaldo: Brizza Mayh L. Palma, Miss I Love You CDO, andMiss Cagayan de Oro, Miss Greanne Trisha Mendoza.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Pleaserise. Welcome to the House of Representatives. (Applause)

REP. DE VENECIA. The guests of Hon. Acmad M.Tomawis from the Fil-Am Medical Practitioners, North TexasAssociation of the Philippines: Dr. Edna Acuña, head; Engr.Fritz Acuña, Dr. Jeff Morgan, Dr. Kevin Gordon, Dr. JackieMorgan, Dr. Billy Salmon, Dr. Marissa Morgan and NatalinGordon.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Welcometo the House of Representatives. (Applause)

Please proceed, Floor Leader.

REP. BENALDO. Mr. Speaker, I request that weacknowledge the presence of guests of Hon. Giorgidi B.Aggabao from the Isabela State University.


THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Pleaserise. You are all welcome to the House of Representatives.(Applause)

REP. BENALDO. Mr. Speaker, I move that we resumethe Privilege Hour.


The Privilege Hour is resumed.

REP. BENALDO. Mr. Speaker, the Honorable Aggabaowould like to avail of the Privilege Hour.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). TheGentleman from Isabela has the floor and can proceed withhis speech during the Privilege Hour.

PRIVILEGE SPEECH OF REP. AGGABAO

REP. AGGABAO. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.Distinguished colleagues of this august Chamber, ladies

and gentlemen:A pleasant good afternoon!The 21st Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific

Parliamentary Forum, which I had the distinct privilege toattend, was recently held at the historic city of the Vladivostok,Russia on January 26-31, 2013. It was in that very same venue,the Far Eastern Federal University within the beautiful RusskyIsland, where heads of states gathered for the Asia-PacificEconomic Cooperation or APEC in September last year. ThePhilippine Congressional Delegation to the APPF, as it isknown, or the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum, was headedby the eminent Congressman Rufus B. Rodriguez, withCongressman Jun Omar C. Ebdane and myself as members.The APPF, to a great extent, provides the parliamentarydimension of the APEC and serves as a fitting venue fornational parliamentarians of the Asia-Pacific region to discusspressing and emerging issues in the field of politics, securityand economy, and to enhance regional cooperation in mattersof common concern.

The Forum in Vladivostok has gathered 326 delegatesfrom 22 APPF member countries and one observer country,as well as heads of major international organizations such asthe United Nations, the CIS Parliamentary Assembly, theCouncil of Europe and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.Despite the daily average winter temperature of negative 20degrees centigrade, the host country rolled out the carpet andextended a very warm hospitality, impressing the delegateswith its sheer logistical, technical and substantive excellence.Her Excellency Ms. Valentina Matvienko, President of theAPPF and Chair of the Council of Federation of the FederalAssembly of the Russian Federation, in her opening address,defined the agenda of the Forum by emphasizing that the Asia-Pacific Region is in need of a new inter-governmentalrelationship with a view to strengthen peace and security,intensify the development of nations, ease the negative impactof climate change, ensure food and energy security, andenhance regional cooperation.

The delegates, during the first plenary session, discussedissues on strengthening peace and stability in the region and

the prospects of establishing regional collective securitysystem. In the sponsorship statement on the PhilippineResolution by the Honorable Rodriguez (R.), he categoricallystated that while the Philippines is committed to maintainingpeace and stability in the region, we cannot remain complacentwhen our sovereign rights over our national territory areviolated. He called upon the attendees, parliamentarians inthe APPF, to ensure that the freedom of navigation as well asunimpeded lawful commerce in the West Philippine Sea andother waters are sustained. Citing China’s bold display ofassertion by blocking Philippine ships and fishing vessels onthe Panatag Shoal for almost a year now, he denounced theact as a gross violation of the United Nations Convention onthe Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the provisions of theDeclaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea(DOC). He then urged claimants of territorial disputes in theregion to resort to necessary legal steps to peacefully settleterritorial disputes.

At the plenary session on the regional cooperation inAsia-Pacific, the Philippines put forward sponsorshipstatements on energy security as well as on disaster preventionand management and environmental protection.

Mr. Speaker, I had the privilege of sponsoring thePhilippines’ Resolution on energy cooperation, energysecurity dialogue and energy efficiency. Speaking before afull plenary, I underscored the need for a concerted effortamong nations to address key energy issues. The region, whichis home to more than half of the world’s population and wheremore than half of the global trade is taking place, is forecastto double its energy demands for the next 20 years. Alongwith this is the increasing urbanization that is rapidlyhappening in this region. Thus, I urged fellow parliamentariansto strike a policy balance to maximize the developmentalbenefits of energy while minimizing its concomitant costs.Legislative measures must therefore focus on promotingenergy efficiency which, in turn, is the greatest potentialenergy source.

Congressman Ebdane delivered a sponsorship statementon regional cooperation on disaster prevention, managementand environmental protection. Recognizing that the worldis changing and disasters are on the rise, disaster prevention,he stressed, has become a challenge to most countries.United Nations Statistics of 2011, according to the statement,shows that the Asia-Pacific region is vulnerable to manytypes of disasters, including floods, cyclones, earthquakes,drought, storm surges and tsunamis, and the Philippinesreportedly topped the list of countries most frequently hitby natural disasters in 2011. Cities in the region are thereforeurged to develop more efficient mechanisms for theexchange of technical and practical knowledge on disasterrisk reduction, and for APPF member countries andparliaments to utilize international efforts as well on searchand rescue capacities.

Mr. Speaker, over the years, the APPF has retained itsrelevance, as it was originally envisioned by the foundingcountries as the venue to bring together the perspective ofdifferent parliamentarians in the Asia-Pacific region. Ipersonally believe that it is a vital medium for regionalcollaboration and an excellent arena for information sharingof best practices and experiences which could be harnessedby member countries. It is, therefore, my humble submission,Mr. Speaker, that a delegation from our Chamber must


regularly and actively take part in this annual forum or insimilar fora in the future. While it was a perfect opportunityto advertise our tourism slogan, “It’s More Fun in thePhilippines,” it was a rewarding trip as we seized the platformto gain support and collaboration on burning issues whichaffect our country, as well as forged stronger ties with ourcounterparts in the region. I hold strong optimism that ouractive participation as legislators in similar assemblies willcertainly help sustain the gains that we have so far gained asAsia’s newest bright spot.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

REP. BENALDO. Mr. Speaker.


REP. BENALDO. Mr. Speaker, I move that we refer theprivilege speech of the Honorable Aggabao to the appropriatecommittee.


REP. BENALDO. Mr. Speaker, I move that we suspendthe Privilege Hour.


At this juncture, Deputy Speaker Fuentebellarelinquished the Chair to Rep. Jorge “Bolet” Banal.

REP. FARIÑAS. Mr. Speaker, I move that we considerbills on Third Reading.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Banal). Is there anyobjection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion isapproved.


NOMINAL VOTING ON H.B. NO. 1280ON THIRD READING

REP. FARIÑAS. Mr. Speaker, I move that we vote onThird Reading on House Bill No. 1280 and direct theSecretary General to read the title of the measure, and callthe roll for nominal voting.

I so move.


Thereupon, the Secretary General read the title of themeasure, printed copies of which were distributed to theMembers on January 30, 2013, pursuant to Section 58, RuleX of the House Rules.

THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 1280,entitled: AN ACT AMENDING ARTICLE 152 OF ACT NO.3815, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE REVISED PENALCODE,” BY INCLUDING SECURITY GUARDS OF DULYACCREDITED SECURITY AGENCIES WHILE ONOFFICIAL DUTY AS AGENTS OF PERSONS INAUTHORITY.

The Chair directed the Secretary General to call the rollfor nominal voting. Thereafter, pursuant to the Rules of theHouse, a second roll call was made. The nominal voting onThird Reading* on the aforesaid measure appears in JournalNo. 42, dated February 4, 2013.

APPROVAL OF H.B. NO. 1280ON THIRD READING

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Banal). With 186affirmative votes, no negative vote and no abstention, HouseBill No. 1280 is approved on Third Reading.




I so move.



THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No.5910, entitled: AN ACT CREATING AN ADDITIONALBRANCH OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT INTHE TWELFTH JUDICIAL REGION TO BESTATIONED AT THE CITY OF COTABATO,PROVINCE OF MAGUINDANAO, FURTHERAMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 14,PARAGRAPH (M) OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129,OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE JUDICIARYREORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980,” AS AMENDED,AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.


At this juncture, the Presiding Officer relinquished theChair to Deputy Speaker Lorenzo R. Tañada III.




THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Tañada). With 186affirmative votes, no negative vote and no abstention, HouseBill No. 5910 is approved on Third Reading.




I so move.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Tañada). Is there anyobjection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion isapproved.


THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6809,entitled: AN ACT PROHIBITING THE PRACTICE OFGHOST SURGERY OR GHOST ANESTHESIA BYMEDICAL DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS.







I so move.


Thereupon, the Secretary General read the title of themeasure, printed copies of which were distributed to the

Members on January 30, 2013, pursuant to Section 58, RuleX of the House Rules.

THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6852,entitled: AN ACT PROMOTING AND STRENGTHENINGFILIPINO DESIGN, PROVIDING FOR THE PURPOSE ANATIONAL DESIGN POLICY AND RENAMING THEPRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN CENTER OFTHE PHILIPPINES INTO THE DESIGN CENTER OF THEPHILIPPINES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.







I so move.



THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6863,entitled: AN ACT CREATING TWO (2) ADDITIONALBRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT INTHE SEVENTH JUDICIAL REGION TO BESTATIONED AT THE MUNICIPALITY OF BARILI,PROVINCE OF CEBU, FURTHER AMENDING FORTHE PURPOSE SECTION 14, PARAGRAPH (H) OFBATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWNAS “THE JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF1980,” AS AMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR.









I so move.



THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6869,entitled: AN ACT CREATING AN ADDITIONALBRANCH OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THESEVENTH JUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED ATTHE CITY OF BAIS, PROVINCE OF NEGROSORIENTAL, FURTHER AMENDING FOR THEPURPOSE SECTION 14, PARAGRAPH (H) OF BATASPAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THEJUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980,” ASAMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR.

The Chair directed the Secretary General to call the rollfor nominal voting. Thereafter, pursuant to the Rules of theHouse, a second roll call was made. The nominal voting onThird Reading * on the aforesaid measure appears in JournalNo. 42, dated February 4, 2013.






I so move.



THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6877,entitled: AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE CAREEREXECUTIVE SERVICE.



THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Tañada). With191 aff irmative votes, no negative vote and noabstention, House Bill No. 6877 is approved on ThirdReading.




I so move.



THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6878,entitled: AN ACT INSTITUTING REFORMS TOFURTHER PROTECT AND DEVELOP THE NURSINGPROFESSION, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSEREPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED NINETY-ONEHUNDRED AND SEVENTY-THREE, OTHERWISEKNOWN AS THE “PHILIPPINE NURSING ACT OF2002.”









I so move.



THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6879,entitled: AN ACT REGULATING THE PRACTICE OFPHARMACY IN THE PHILIPPINES, REPEALING FORTHE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 5921, THEPHARMACY LAW, AS AMENDED, AND FOR OTHERPURPOSES.

The Chair directed the Secretary General to call the rollfor nominal voting. Thereafter, pursuant to the Rules of theHouse, a second roll call was made. The nominal voting onThird Reading * on the aforesaid measure appears in JournalNo. 42, dated February 4, 2013.






I so move.



THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6882,entitled: AN ACT GRANTING PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIPTO PETER LESLIE WALLACE.



THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Tañada.). With 195affirmative votes, no negative vote and no abstention, HouseBill No. 6882 is approved on Third Reading.




I so move.



THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6883,entitled: AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE PHILIPPINECROP INSURANCE CORPORATION, AMENDING FORTHE PURPOSE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1467, ASAMENDED.









I so move.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Tañada). Is there anyobjection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.


THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6885, entitled:AN ACT REQUIRING THE USE OF ENERGY-EFFICIENTLIGHTING PRODUCTS, PROVIDING PENALTIES FORVIOLATIONS THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.






REP. FARIÑAS. Mr. Speaker, I move that we vote onThird Reading on House Bill No. 577 and direct the SecretaryGeneral to read the title of the measure, and call the roll fornominal voting.

I so move.



THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 577,entitled: AN ACT CONVERTING THE GUSA ROAD INCAGAYAN DE ORO CITY TO J.R. BORJA–CAMAMAN-AN–INDAHAG–BUKIDNON ROAD INTO NATIONAL ROAD.

The Chair directed the Secretary General to call the rollfor nominal voting. Thereafter, pursuant to the Rules of the

House, a second roll call was made. The nominal voting onThird Reading* on the aforesaid measure appears in JournalNo. 42, dated February 4, 2013.





I so move.



THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 3173,entitled: AN ACT CONVERTING THE JCT. BUKIDNONCAGAYAN DE ORO ILIGAN ROAD (BCIR)–AGUSAN–BALUBAL–SAYRE HIGHWAY IN CAGAYAN DE OROCITY INTO A NATIONAL ROAD.







I so move.





THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 5876,entitled: AN ACT CREATING A LAND TRANSPORTATIONDISTRICT OFFICE IN SAN PEDRO, PROVINCE OFLAGUNA AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF.







I so move.



THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6351,entitled: AN ACT CONVERTING THE CEMENTO PAGASABARANGAY ROAD IN THE PROVINCE OF AURORA INTOA NATIONAL ROAD AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR.







I so move.



THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6788,entitled: AN ACT DECLARING DECEMBER 29 OF EVERYYEAR AS A SPECIAL NONWORKING PUBLIC HOLIDAYIN THE MUNICIPALITY OF LEON, PROVINCE OFILOILO IN HONOR OF CAPTAIN JOSE CALUGAS SR.TO BE KNOWN AS “JOSE CALUGAS DAY.”







I so move.



THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6803, entitled:AN ACT DECLARING JUNE 21 OF EVERY YEAR AS ASPECIAL NONWORKING PUBLIC HOLIDAY IN THEMUNICIPALITY OF STA. ELENA, PROVINCE OFCAMARINES NORTE TO COMMEMORATE ITS FOUNDING



ANNIVERSARY TO BE KNOWN AS THE “CHARTER DAYOF THE MUNICIPALITY OF STA. ELENA.”





NOMINAL VOTING ON H. B. NO. 6810ON THIRD READING


I so move.



THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6810,entitled: AN ACT DECLARING JULY 15 OF EVERY YEARAS A SPECIAL NONWORKING HOLIDAY IN THEMUNICIPALITY OF CALABANGA, PROVINCE OFCAMARINES SUR TO COMMEMORATE ITSFOUNDATION DAY.





NOMINAL VOTING ON H. B. NO. 6876ON THIRD READING

REP. FARIÑAS. Mr. Speaker, I move that we vote onThird Reading on House Bill No. 6876 and direct the

Secretary General to read the title of the measure, and callthe roll for nominal voting.

I so move.



THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6876,entitled: AN ACT CONVERTING THE JUDGE JOSE DEVENECIA SR. MEMORIAL NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOLIN THE CITY OF DAGUPAN, PROVINCE OFPANGASINAN INTO A NATIONAL TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN ASJUDGE JOSE DE VENECIA SR. MEMORIALTECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL SECONDARY SCHOOLAND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.







I so move.



THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 1137,entitled: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A FLORICULTUREGARDEN IN EVERY MUNICIPALITY IN THEPROVINCE OF SOUTHERN LEYTE, ALLOCATINGFUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.









I so move.



THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 1147,entitled: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A FLORICULTUREGARDEN IN EVERY MUNICIPALITY OF THEPROVINCE OF CAMARINES SUR, ALLOCATINGFUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.







I so move.



THE SECRETARY GENERAL, House Bill No. 1716,entitled: AN ACT DECLARING CERTAIN PORTIONS OFTHE WELFAREVILLE PROPERTY LOCATED IN THECITY OF MANDALUYONG OPEN FOR DISPOSITIONTO BONA FIDE RESIDENTS WITHOUT PUBLICBIDDING AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.







I so move.



THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No.3008, entitled: AN ACT CONVERTING THE OSMEÑAEXTENSION STREET TO THE CDO PORT ROAD INCAGAYAN DE ORO CITY INTO A NATIONALROAD.

The Chair directed the Secretary General to callthe roll for nominal voting. Thereafter, pursuant to theRules of the House, a second roll call was made. Thenominal voting on Third Reading* on the aforesaidmeasure appears in Journal No. 42, dated February 4,2013.








I so move.



THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 3728,entitled: AN ACT CREATING TWO (2) ADDITIONALBRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THETENTH JUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED ATINITAO, PROVINCE OF MISAMIS ORIENTAL, FURTHERAMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE BATAS PAMBANSABLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE JUDICIARYREORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980,” AS AMENDED, ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.







I so move.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Tañada). Is there any

objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion isapproved.


THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 5205,entitled: AN ACT CONVERTING THE LA LIBERTADNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN BARANGAY SOUTHPOBLACION, MUNICIPALITY OF LA LIBERTAD,PROVINCE OF NEGROS ORIENTAL INTO A NATIONALTECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BEKNOWN AS LA LIBERTAD NATIONAL TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATINGFUNDS THEREFOR.

The Chair directed the Secretary General to callthe roll for nominal voting. Thereafter, pursuant to theRules of the House, a second roll call was made. Thenominal voting on Third Reading* on the aforesaidmeasure appears in Journal No. 42, dated February 4,2013.






I so move.



THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 5309,entitled: AN ACT DECLARING JUNE 28 AND 29 OFEVERY YEAR AS A SPECIAL NONWORKING HOLIDAYIN THE MUNICIPALITY OF APALIT, PROVINCE OFPAMPANGA TO COMMEMORATE THE FEAST OF ST.PETER THE APOSTLE.










I so move.



THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 5384,entitled: AN ACT CONVERTING THE LANDTRANSPORTATION OFFICE (LTO) EXTENSIONOFFICE LOCATED IN THE CITY OF TALISAY, CEBUINTO A REGULAR LTO DISTRICT OFFICE,APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOROTHER PURPOSES.







I so move.



THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 5442,entitled: AN ACT CONVERTING THE EXTENSIONOFFICE OF THE LAND TRANSPORTATION OFFICE INTHE MUNICIPALITY OF SANCHEZ MIRA, CAGAYANINTO A REGULAR DISTRICT OFFICE, APPROPRIATINGFUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.







I so move.



THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 5531,entitled: AN ACT CREATING FOUR (4) ADDITIONALBRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THETHIRD JUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED AT THECITY OF OLONGAPO, PROVINCE OF ZAMBALES,FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE BATASPAMBANSA BLG 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THEJUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980,” ASAMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.












THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 5558,entitled: AN ACT CREATING TWELVE (12) ADDITIONALBRANCHES OF THE METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURTIN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION TO BESTATIONED AT THE CITY OF PASIG, FURTHERAMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE BATAS PAMBANSABLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE JUDICIARYREORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980,” AS AMENDED, ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.

The Chair directed the Secretary General to call the rollfor nominal voting. Thereafter, pursuant to the Rules of theHouse, a second roll call was made. The nominal voting onThird Reading* on the aforesaid measure appears in JournalNo.42, dated February 4, 2013.








THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 5621,entitled: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A DISTRICT BRANCHOF THE LAND TRANSPORTATION OFFICE IN THEMUNICIPALITY OF TUBIGON, PROVINCE OF BOHOL,APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOROTHER PURPOSES.









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 5659,entitled: AN ACT CREATING TWO (2) ADDITIONALBRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THEFIRST JUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED ATURDANETA CITY, PROVINCE OF PANGASINAN,FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE BATASPAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THEJUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980,” ASAMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR.




House, a second roll call was made. The nominal voting onThird Reading* on the aforesaid measure appears in JournalNo.42, dated February 4, 2013.

APPROVAL OF H.B. NO. 5659 ON THIRD READING







THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 5895,entitled: AN ACT CREATING SIX (6) ADDITIONALBRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THEFOURTH JUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED ATTHE CITY OF BIÑAN, PROVINCE OF LAGUNA,FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE BATASPAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THEJUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980,” ASAMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR.









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 5896,entitled: AN ACT CREATING THREE (3) ADDITIONALBRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THEFOURTH JUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED ATTHE MUNICIPALITY OF SAN PEDRO, PROVINCE OFLAGUNA, FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSEBATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWNAS “THE JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF1980,” AS AMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR.









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 5955,entitled: AN ACT DECLARING DECEMBER 16 OFEVERY YEAR AS THE SENDONG MEMORIAL ANDDISASTER PREPAREDNESS DAY IN CAGAYAN DEORO CITY AND ILIGAN CITY

The Chair directed the Secretary General to call the rollfor nominal voting. Thereafter, pursuant to the Rules of theHouse, a second roll call was made. The nominal voting on



Third Reading* on the aforesaid measure appears in JournalNo.42, dated February 4, 2013.








THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6033,entitled: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A SATELLITE OFFICEOF THE LAND TRANSPORTATION OFFICE IN IROSIN,SORSOGON AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.










THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6312,entitled: AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN EXTENSIONOFFICE OF THE LAND TRANSPORTATION OFFICE(LTO) IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF MABITAC,PROVINCE OF LAGUNA AND APPROPRIATINGFUNDS THEREFOR.









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6315,entitled: AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE LANDTRANSPORTATION OFFICE (LTO) IN THEMUNICIPALITY OF BROOKE’S POINT, PROVINCE OFPALAWAN AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.











THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6348,entitled: AN ACT CONVERTING THE DINGALAN–UMIRAY PROVINCIAL ROAD IN THE PROVINCE OFAURORA INTO A NATIONAL ROAD ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6349,entitled: AN ACT CONVERTING THE MARIAA U R O R A – D I M A N P U D S O – D I P A C U L A OPROVINCIAL ROAD IN THE PROVINCE OF AURORAINTO A NATIONAL ROAD AND APPROPRIATINGFUNDS THEREFOR.









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No.6350, ent i t led: AN ACT CONVERTING THECASIGURAN–DILASAG PROVINCIAL ROADCONNECTING THE MUNICIPALITIES OF DILASAGAND CASIGURAN IN THE PROVINCE OF AURORAINTO A NATIONAL ROAD AND APPROPRIATINGFUNDS THEREFOR.











THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6459,entitled: AN ACT CREATING A REGIONAL TRIALCOURT BRANCH IN THE PROVINCE OFCAMARINES SUR TO BE STATIONED AT THEMUNICIPALITY OF CALABANGA, AMENDING FORTHE PURPOSE SECTION 14, PARAGRAPH (F) OFBATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWNAS “THE JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF1980,” AS AMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR.









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6484,entitled: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A SEPARATE CITYSCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE IN THE CITY OFVICTORIAS, PROVINCE OF NEGROS OCCIDENTAL,AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO.8488, ENTITLED “AN ACT CONVERTING THEMUNICIPALITY OF VICTORIAS, NEGROSOCCIDENTAL, INTO A COMPONENT CITY TO BEKNOWN AS THE CITY OF VICTORIAS.”









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6486,entitled: AN ACT DECLARING THE PAMITINAN CAVEIN THE MUNICIPALITY OF RODRIGUEZ, PROVINCEOF RIZAL A PROTECTED AREA UNDER THECATEGORY OF PROTECTED LANDSCAPE,PROVIDING FOR ITS MANAGEMENT AND FOROTHER PURPOSES.











THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6487,entitled: AN ACT GRANTING PHILIPPINE CITIZENSHIPTO BEATRIZ BERTA OLGADO ROXAS.









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6595,entitled: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A DISTRICT OFFICEOF THE LAND TRANSPORTATION OFFICE (LTO) INTHE CITY OF BACOOR, CAVITE ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.



THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Tañada). With 197

affirmative votes, no negative vote and no abstention, HouseBill No. 6595 is approved on Third Reading.






THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6724,entitled: AN ACT GRANTING THE FIRST BAY POWERCORPORATION (FBPC) A FRANCHISE TOCONSTRUCT, INSTALL, ESTABLISH, OPERATE ANDMAINTAIN A DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR THECONVEYANCE OF ELECTRIC POWER TO THE END-USERS IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF BAUAN,PROVINCE OF BATANGAS.











THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6786,entitled: AN ACT DECLARING JUNE 23 OF EVERYYEAR AS A SPECIAL NONWORKING HOLIDAY IN THECITY OF BACOOR TO COMMEMORATE ITSANNIVERSARY AS A CITY.









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6787,entitled: AN ACT DECLARING APRIL 16 OF EVERYYEAR AS A SPECIAL NONWORKING HOLIDAY IN THEPROVINCE OF ZAMBALES TO COMMEMORATE ITSFOUNDATION DAY.






REP. FARIÑAS. Mr. Speaker, I move that we vote on

Third Reading on House Bill No. 6789 and direct theSecretary General to read the title of the measure, and callthe roll for nominal voting.



THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6789,entitled: AN ACT DECLARING JUNE 22 OF EVERYYEAR AS A SPECIAL NONWORKING HOLIDAY IN THEMUNICIPALITY OF PIO DURAN, PROVINCE OFALBAY TO COMMEMORATE ITS FOUNDINGANNIVERSARY.









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6790,entitled: AN ACT DECLARING JUNE 18 OF EVERYYEAR AS A SPECIAL NONWORKING HOLIDAY IN THEMUNICIPALITY OF NEW BATAAN, PROVINCE OFCOMPOSTELA VALLEY.












THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6791,entitled: AN ACT DECLARING JANUARY 6 OF EVERYYEAR AS A SPECIAL NONWORKING LEGAL HOLIDAYIN QUEZON CITY IN COMMEMORATION OF THEBIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF MELCHORA AQUINO,A.K.A. TANDANG SORA, THE GRAND OLD LADY OFTHE KATIPUNAN TO BE KNOWN AS THE “TANDANGSORA LEGAL HOLIDAY.”







THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Tañada). Is there any

objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion isapproved.


THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6792,entitled: AN ACT DECLARING FEBRUARY 14 OF EVERYYEAR AS A SPECIAL NONWORKING PUBLICHOLIDAY IN THE PROVINCE OF APAYAO TO BEKNOWN AS “APAYAO DAY.”









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6793, entitled:AN ACT DECLARING DECEMBER 3 OF EVERY YEAR AS ASPECIAL NONWORKING PUBLIC HOLIDAY IN THEMUNICIPALITY OF PALOMPON, PROVINCE OF LEYTE TOBE KNOWN AS “PALOMPON FOUNDATION DAY.”












THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6796,entitled: AN ACT UPGRADING THE SERVICE CAPACITYOF THE FLORENCIO V. BERNABE SR. MEMORIALHOSPITAL IN THE CITY OF PARAÑAQUE, METROMANILA FROM FIRST LEVEL TO SECOND LEVELCOMMUNITY HOSPITAL AND APPROPRIATINGFUNDS THEREFOR.

The Chair directed the Secretary General to callthe roll for nominal voting. Thereafter, pursuant to theRules of the House, a second roll call was made. Thenominal voting on Third Reading* on the aforesaidmeasure appears in Journal No.42, dated February 4,2013.








THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6797,entitled: AN ACT CREATING AN ADDITIONALBRANCH OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THEISLAND GARDEN CITY OF SAMAL AND AMUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT BRANCH TO BESTATIONED IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF STO. TOMAS,DAVAO DEL NORTE, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSESECTION 14, PARAGRAPH (L) AND SECTION 30 OFBATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWNAS “THE JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF1980,” AS AMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR.









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6798,entitled: AN ACT CREATING AN ADDITIONAL BRANCHOF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THE PROVINCEOF MISAMIS ORIENTAL TO BE STATIONED AT THEMUNICIPALITY OF TAGOLOAN, AMENDING FOR THEPURPOSE SECTION 14, PARAGRAPH (K) OF BATASPAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THEJUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980,” ASAMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR.











THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6799,entitled: AN ACT CREATING AN ADDITIONAL BRANCHOF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THE PROVINCEOF BULACAN TO BE STATIONED IN SAN JOSE DELMONTE CITY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSESECTION 14, PARAGRAPH (C) OF BATAS PAMBANSABLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE JUDICIARYREORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980,” AS AMENDED, ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No.6800, entitled: AN ACT CREATING AN ADDITIONALBRANCH OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT INTHE PROVINCE OF CEBU TO BE STATIONED INDANAO CITY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSESECTION 14, PARAGRAPH (H) OF BATASPAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS“THE JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF1980,” AS AMENDED, AND APPROPRIATINGFUNDS THEREFOR.









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6801,entitled: AN ACT DECLARING MARCH 31 OF EVERYYEAR AS A SPECIAL NONWORKING PUBLICHOLIDAY IN THE CITY OF PANABO, PROVINCE OFDAVAO DEL NORTE TO BE KNOWN AS “PANABOCITY DAY.”











THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6802,entitled: AN ACT DECLARING MALUNGGAY(MORINGA) AS “THE NATIONAL VEGETABLE OF THEPHILIPPINES” AND THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER OFEVERY YEAR AS “THE NATIONAL MALUNGGAYMONTH.”










THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6804,entitled: AN ACT DECLARING APRIL 16 OF EVERYYEAR AS A SPECIAL NONWORKING HOLIDAY IN THECITY OF MARIKINA TO COMMEMORATE ITSFOUNDING ANNIVERSARY TO BE KNOWN AS“MARIKINA CITY DAY.”









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6805,entitled: AN ACT DECLARING APRIL 3 OF EVERY YEAR ASA SPECIAL NONWORKING HOLIDAY IN THE PROVINCEOF ALBAY IN CELEBRATION OF ALBAY DAY AND TOCOMMEMORATE ITS EMERGENCE AS A PROVINCE.











THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6806,entitled: AN ACT DECLARING MARCH 14 OF EVERYYEAR AS A NONWORKING HOLIDAY IN THE CITYOF PASSI, PROVINCE OF ILOILO TO COMMEMORATEITS FOUNDATION DAY AS A COMPONENT CITY.









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6807,entitled: AN ACT DECLARING OCTOBER 4 OF EVERYYEAR AS A SPECIAL NONWORKING HOLIDAY IN THECITY OF MEYCAUAYAN, PROVINCE OF BULACAN INCOMMEMORATION OF THE FEAST OF ST. FRANCISOF ASSISI.









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No.6808, entitled: AN ACT DECLARING FEBRUARY 14OF EVERY YEAR AS A SPECIAL NONWORKINGPUBLIC HOLIDAY IN THE MUNICIPALITY OFCALAMBA, PROVINCE OF MISAMISOCCIDENTAL TO COMMEMORATE THE “ARAWNG CALAMBA.”











THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6811,entitled: AN ACT INCREASING THE BED CAPACITY OFTHE MAYOR HILARION A. RAMIRO SR. REGIONALTRAINING AND TEACHING HOSPITAL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6816,entitled: AN ACT DECLARING CERTAIN PORTIONS OFCAGAYAN DE ORO CITY TO BE KNOWN AS THECAGAYAN DE ORO-IPONAN WATERSHED AS APROTECTED AREA UNDER THE CATEGORY OFPROTECTED LANDSCAPE AND ITS PERIPHERALAREAS AS BUFFER ZONE, PROVIDING FOR ITSMANAGEMENT AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6842,entitled: AN ACT DECLARING MAY 15 OF EACH YEARA SPECIAL NONWORKING HOLIDAY TO OBSERVETHE NATIONAL FARMERS AND FISHERFOLK DAY.











THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No.6844, enti t led: AN ACT CREATING TWO (2)ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF THE REGIONALTRIAL COURT IN THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL REGIONTO BE STATIONED AT THE CITY OF TOLEDO,PROVINCE OF CEBU, FURTHER AMENDING FORTHE PURPOSE SECTION 14, PARAGRAPH (H) OFBATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWNAS “THE JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF1980,” AS AMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR.









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6845,entitled: AN ACT CREATING AN ADDITIONAL BRANCHOF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THE TWELFTHJUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED AT THEMUNICIPALITY OF MIDSAYAP, PROVINCE OF NORTHCOTABATO, FURTHER AMENDING FOR THEPURPOSE SECTION 14, PARAGRAPH (M) OF BATASPAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THEJUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980,” ASAMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDSTHEREFOR.









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6846,entitled: AN ACT CREATING TWO (2) ADDITIONALBRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THEFOURTH JUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED ATTHE MUNICIPALITY OF GUMACA, PROVINCE OFQUEZON, FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSESECTION 14, PARAGRAPH (E) OF BATAS PAMBANSABLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE JUDICIARYREORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980,” AS AMENDED, ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.











THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6847,entitled: AN ACT CREATING AN ADDITIONAL BRANCHOF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THE ELEVENTHJUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED AT THE CITYOF DIGOS, PROVINCE OF DAVAO DEL SUR, FURTHERAMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 14,PARAGRAPH (L) OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129,OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE JUDICIARYREORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980,” AS AMENDED, ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6848,entitled: AN ACT CREATING THREE (3) ADDITIONALBRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THETHIRD JUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED AT THECITY OF MALOLOS, PROVINCE OF BULACAN,FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION14, PARAGRAPH (C) OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129,OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE JUDICIARYREORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980,” AS AMENDED, ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.


House, a second roll call was made. The nominal voting onThird Reading* on the aforesaid measure appears in JournalNo.42, dated February 4, 2013.








THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6849,entitled: AN ACT CREATING AN ADDITIONAL BRANCHOF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THE SEVENTHJUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED AT THEMUNICIPALITY OF TALIBON, PROVINCE OF BOHOL,FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION14, PARAGRAPH (H) OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129,OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE JUDICIARYREORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980,” AS AMENDED, ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.











THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6850,entitled: AN ACT CREATING A BRANCH OF THEMUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT IN THE SEVENTH JUDICIALREGION TO BE STATIONED AT THE MUNICIPALITYOF DAANBANTAYAN, PROVINCE OF CEBU, FURTHERAMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE BATAS PAMBANSABLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE JUDICIARYREORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980,” AS AMENDED, ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6851,entitled: AN ACT CREATING AN ADDITIONAL BRANCHOF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THE TWELFTHJUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED AT THE CITYOF KIDAPAWAN, PROVINCE OF NORTH COTABATO,FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION14, PARAGRAPH (M) OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129,OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE JUDICIARYREORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980,” AS AMENDED, ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6853,entitled: AN ACT CREATING SIX (6) ADDITIONALREGIONAL TRIAL COURT BRANCHES IN THE THIRDJUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED AT THE CITYOF ANGELES, PROVINCE OF PAMPANGA, FURTHERAMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE BATAS PAMBANSABLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE JUDICIARYREORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980,” AS AMENDED, ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.






REP. FARIÑAS. Mr. Speaker, I move that we vote onThird Reading on House Bill No. 6855 and direct the



Secretary General to read the title of the measure, and callthe roll for nominal voting.



THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6855,entitled: AN ACT CREATING AN ADDITIONAL BRANCHOF THE MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT IN CITIES ANDFIFTEEN (15) ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF THEREGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THE FOURTH JUDICIALREGION TO BE STATIONED AT THE CITY OFANTIPOLO, PROVINCE OF RIZAL, FURTHERAMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 14,PARAGRAPH (C) AND SECTION 29 OF BATASPAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THEJUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980,” ASAMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6856,entitled: AN ACT CREATING SEVEN (7) ADDITIONALBRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THEFOURTH JUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED IN

THE MUNICIPALITIES OF MORONG AND SAN MATEO,PROVINCE OF RIZAL, FURTHER AMENDING FOR THEPURPOSE SECTION 14, PARAGRAPH (E) OF BATASPAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THEJUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980,” ASAMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6857,entitled: AN ACT CREATING SIX (6) ADDITIONALBRANCHES OF THE MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT INCITIES AND AN ADDITIONAL BRANCH OF THEREGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THE SEVENTHJUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED AT THE CITYOF CEBU, PROVINCE OF CEBU, FURTHERAMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE BATAS PAMBANSABLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE JUDICIARYREORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980,” AS AMENDED,AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.












THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6858entitled: AN ACT CREATING TWO (2) ADDITIONALREGIONAL TRIAL COURT BRANCHES IN THE NINTHJUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED AT THEMUNICIPALITY OF IPIL, PROVINCE OF ZAMBOANGASIBUGAY, FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSESECTION 14, PARAGRAPH (J) OF BATAS PAMBANSABLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE JUDICIARYREORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980,” AS AMENDED, ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.










THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6859, entitled:AN ACT CREATING FOUR (4) ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OFTHE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THE NATIONAL CAPITALJUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED IN THE CITY OFCALOOCAN, METRO MANILA, FURTHER AMENDING FORTHE PURPOSE SECTION 14, PARAGRAPH (D) OF BATASPAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THEJUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980,” ASAMENDED, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6860,entitled: AN ACT BROADENING THE COVERAGE OFTHE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SCHOLARSHIPPROGRAM, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLICACT NO. 7687, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE SCIENCEAND TECHNOLOGY ACT OF 1994,” AS AMENDED.












THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6861,entitled: AN ACT CREATING FOUR (4) ADDITIONALBRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THECITIES OF ALAMINOS, DAGUPAN AND SAN CARLOSAND IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF LINGAYEN, ALLSITUATED IN THE PROVINCE OF PANGASINAN,AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE BATAS PAMBANSABLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE JUDICIARYREORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980,” AS AMENDED, ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.








Thereupon, the Secretary General read the title of the

measure, printed copies of which were distributed to theMembers on January 30, 2013, pursuant to Section 58, RuleX of the House Rules.

THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6862,entitled: AN ACT CREATING TWO (2) ADDITIONALBRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THESEVENTH JUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED ATTHE MUNICIPALITY OF ARGAO, PROVINCE OF CEBU,FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION14, PARAGRAPH (H) OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129,OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE JUDICIARYREORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980,” AS AMENDED, ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6864,entitled: AN ACT CREATING AN ADDITIONAL BRANCHOF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THE FOURTHJUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED IN THEMUNICIPALITY OF STA. CRUZ, PROVINCE OFLAGUNA, FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSESECTION 14, PARAGRAPH (E) OF BATAS PAMBANSABLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE JUDICIARYREORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980,” AS AMENDED, ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.












THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6865,entitled: AN ACT CREATING THREE (3) ADDITIONALBRANCHES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THEFOURTH JUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED ATTHE CITY OF PUERTO PRINCESA, PROVINCE OFPALAWAN, FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSESECTION 14, PARAGRAPH (E) OF BATAS PAMBANSABLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE JUDICIARYREORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980,” AS AMENDED, ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6866,entitled: AN ACT CREATING AN ADDITIONAL BRANCHOF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN THE FOURTHJUDICIAL REGION TO BE STATIONED IN THEMUNICIPALITY OF SINILOAN, PROVINCE OFLAGUNA, FURTHER AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSESECTION 14, PARAGRAPH (E) OF BATAS PAMBANSABLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE JUDICIARYREORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980,” AS AMENDED, ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6867,entitled: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A COMPREHENSIVESYSTEM FOR REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OFSOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCIESAND ACCREDITATION OF SOCIAL WELFARE ANDDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.

The Chair directed the Secretary General to call the roll



for nominal voting. Thereafter, pursuant to the Rules of theHouse, a second roll call was made. The nominal voting onThird Reading* on the aforesaid measure appears in JournalNo.42, dated February 4, 2013.








THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6868,entitled: AN ACT EXPANDING THE UTILIZATION OFTHE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE IN LAMAO, LIMAY,BATAAN FOR BUSINESSES ENGAGED IN ENERGYAND ENERGY-RELATED INFRASTRUCTUREPROJECTS AND OTHER GAINFUL ECONOMICACTIVITIES IN ADDITION TO PETROCHEMICAL ANDRELATED INDUSTRIES, AMENDING FOR THEPURPOSE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 949.









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6870,entitled: AN ACT REGULATING HARBOR PILOTAGESERVICES AND THE CONDUCT OF HARBOR PILOTSIN ALL PORTS IN THE PHILIPPINES, REORGANIZINGPORT AUTHORITIES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6871,entitled: AN ACT SEPARATING THE CATARMANNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL–GALUTAN ANNEX INBARANGAY GALUTAN, MUNICIPALITY OFCATARMAN, PROVINCE OF NORTHERN SAMARFROM THE CATARMAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL,CONVERTING IT INTO AN INDEPENDENT NATIONALAGRO-INDUSTRIAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BE KNOWNAS GALUTAN NATIONAL AGRO-INDUSTRIAL HIGHSCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.












THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6872,entitled: AN ACT SEPARATING THE CARIGARANATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL–JUGABAN ANNEX INBARANGAY JUGABAN, MUNICIPALITY OFCARIGARA, PROVINCE OF LEYTE FROM THECARIGARA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTINGIT INTO AN INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOLTO BE KNOWN AS JUGABAN NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6874,entitled: AN ACT SEPARATING THE PILI NATIONALHIGH SCHOOL–CAROYROYAN ANNEX INBARANGAY CAROYROYAN, MUNICIPALITY OFPILI, PROVINCE OF CAMARINES SUR FROM THEPILI NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING ITINTO AN INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOLTO BE KNOWN AS GOV. MARIANO E.VILLAFUERTE HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.









THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6875,entitled: AN ACT SEPARATING THE ROMBLONNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL–MAYHA EXTENSION INBARANGAY MAYHA, MUNICIPALITY OF ODIONGAN,PROVINCE OF ROMBLON FROM THE ROMBLONNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, CONVERTING IT INTO ANINDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL TO BEKNOWN AS MAYHA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL ANDAPPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.











THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 6881,entitled: AN ACT PROMOTING SOIL AND WATERCONSERVATION TECHNOLOGIES AND APPROACHESFOR SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT IN THEPHILIPPINES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.





REP. FARIÑAS. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.Mr. Speaker, the House and the Senate have approved

on Third Reading House Bill No. 6780 and Senate Bill No.3028, respectively, which propose to create an additionalbranch of the Regional Trial Court in Ormoc City, Leyte. Wehave been informed that the Committee on Justice and theHonorable Lucy T. Gomez, Sponsor and author of HouseBill No. 6780 respectively, are in concurrence with theprovisions of Senate Bill No. 3028.

Mr. Speaker, in accordance with our Rules, I move thatwe adopt Senate Bill No. 3028 as an amendment to HouseBill No. 6780.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Tañada). There is amotion for the adoption of Senate Bill No. 3028 as anamendment to House Bill No. 6780. Is there any objection?(Silence) The Chair hears none; Senate Bill No. 3028 is herebyadopted.


REP. FARIÑAS. Mr. Speaker, the House and the Senatehave approved on Third Reading House Bill No. 6773 andSenate Bill No. 3015, respectively, which propose to createadditional branches of the Metropolitan Trial Court inMakati City. We have been informed that the Committee onJustice and the Honorables Godofredo V. Arquiza, MoniqueYazmin Q. Lagdameo and Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay,Sponsors and coauthors of House Bill No. 6773,respectively, are in concurrence with the provisions of SenateBill No. 3015.

In accordance with our Rules, I move that we adoptSenate Bill No. 3015 as an amendment to House Bill No.6773.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Tañada). Is there anyobjection to the adoption of Senate Bill No. 3015 as anamendment to House Bill No. 6773? (Silence) The Chair hearsnone; the same is hereby adopted.


REP. FARIÑAS. Mr. Speaker, the Senate passedwith amendments House Bill No. 5495, entitled: ANACT DECLARING THE JARO CATHEDRAL, MOLOCHURCH, THE ILOILO CITY CENTRAL BUSINESSDISTRICT, FORT SAN PEDRO, JARO PLAZACOMPLEX, MOLO PLAZA COMPLEX AND PLAZALIBERTAD COMPLEX, ALL LOCATED IN THECITY OF ILOILO, AS HERITAGE AND TOURISTSPOTS.

We have been informed that the Committee on Tourismand the Hon. Jerry P. Treñas, Sponsor and author of HouseBill No. 5495, respectively, have no objections to theamendments of the Senate to the said House bill.

Mr. Speaker, in accordance with our Rules, I movethat we concur with the Senate amendments to House BillNo. 5495.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Tañada). There is amotion for the adoption of Senate amendments to House BillNo. 5495. Is there any objection? (Silence) The Chair hearsnone; the same is hereby adopted.

RATIFICATION OF CONF. CTTEE. RPT.ON H.B. NO. 5360 AND S.B. NO. 3282

REP. FARIÑAS. Mr. Speaker, we are in receipt of theConference Committee Report reconciling the disagreeingprovisions of House Bill No. 5360 and Senate Bill No.3282.



May I ask that the Secretary General be directed to readonly the titles of the measures.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Tañada). Is there anyobjection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion isapproved.*

The Secretary General is directed to read only the titlesof the measures.

With the permission of the Body, and since copiesof the Conference Committee Report have beenpreviously distributed, the Secretary General readonly the titles of the measures without prejudice toinserting the text of the report in the CongressionalRecord.

THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Bill No. 5360,entitled: AN ACT ALLOWING FOREIGN EQUITY INRURAL BANKS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSEREPUBLIC ACT NO. 7353, OTHERWISE KNOWN ASTHE “RURAL BANKS ACT OF 1992”; and Senate BillNo. 3282, entitled: AN ACT ALLOWING INFUSION OFFOREIGN EQUITY IN THE CAPITAL OF RURALBANKS, AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7353,OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE RURAL BANK ACTOF 1992,” AS AMENDED, AND FOR OTHERPURPOSES.

REP. FARIÑAS . Mr. Speaker, I move that we ratify thesaid Conference Committee Report.


The Conference Committee Report is approved.

DESIGNATION OF MEMBERS TO THE BICAM. CONF. CTTEE.

REP. FARIÑAS. I move that we designate thefollowing as members of the Bicameral ConferenceCommittee on the disagreeing provisions of House BillNo. 4867 and Senate Bill No. 3280, Amendments to theInsurance Code of the Philippines, namely: Reps. SergioF. Apostol, Guillermo A. Romarate Jr., Juan EdgardoM. Angara, Hermilando I. Mandanas, and the fifthMember for the Minority, Ma. Amelita A. Calimbas-Villarosa.


The Members nominated are so designated.

REP. BENALDO. Mr. Speaker.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Tañada). Yes.

REP. BENALDO. I move that we resume the PrivilegeHour.


The Privilege Hour is hereby resumed..

REP. BENALDO. Mr. Speaker, I move that we recognizethe Hon. Roilo S. Golez from the Second District of Parañaquefor his privilege speech.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Tañada). Yes, theGentleman from the Second District of Parañaque, the Hon.Roilo S. Golez, is hereby recognized for his privilege speech.

PRIVILEGE SPEECH OF REP. GOLEZ (R.)

REP. GOLEZ (R.). Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.Thank you very much, distinguished Majority Leader.

Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues, this Representationhas delivered since the start of this Congress three speeches onthe South China Sea or West Philippine Sea situation and atthe risk of belaboring the point, I would like to state that thesituation has become so fluid that almost everyday, there issomething very substantive happening that could change thesituation in the South China Sea.

I would like, Mr. Speaker, to share an article that recentlycame out just one or two days ago in Time World, this is theonline Time version. The title of the article is very ominous andvery alarming. I would like to cite this: “A Sea of Troubles: AsiaToday Compared to Europe Before World War I.” I think peoplefamiliar with the history of Europe before World War I arefamiliar with the conflicts, especially territorial conflicts,happening in that part of the world. May I quote from this article:

Despite no one wanting to see conflict in Asia,the ranks of doomsayers and worrywarts seem to growby the day. The specter haunting the continent is thatof China’s geo-political rise. Governments near andfar are watching warily as the budding nondemocraticsuperpower asserts itself on the international stage,tacitly challenging a Pax Americana that has existedsince 1945. Some countries are already locked incombustible disputes with Beijing: the region’s watershave been roiled in recent years by standoffs overbarren islands to China’s south and east; Chineserelations with Vietnam, Japan and the Philippines allsoured as a result.

I would like show a picture of obviously a pro-Chinademonstrator in Budapest demonstrating against the JapaneseEmbassy—this was late last year. The article continues:

The climate of tensions is thick enough to havedrawn comparisons to a perilous moment a centuryago. In separate opinion pieces this week, two formerAsian foreign ministers likened Asia now to pre-World War I Europe, then strung together by a tangleof imperial enmities and alliances.

And the article quoted a very distinguished, a veryrespected statesman, no less than the former Australian Prime

* See MEASURES CONSIDERED (printed separately)


Minister and Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd. And they quotedKevin Rudd, and I quote:

Like the Balkans a century ago, riven byoverlapping alliances, loyalties and hatred, thestrategic environment in East Asia is complex. Atleast six states or political entities are engaged interritorial disputes with China, three of which areclose strategic partners of the United States.

Then the article continues to quote another distinguishedAsian, former Foreign Minister Yoon Young-kwan of SouthKorea, who points to another earlier 20th century parallel,and I further quote:

Back then, Great Britain’s relative power wasin decline while Germany’s had been rising sinceunification in 1871. Similarly, at least in terms ofeconomic capability, the United States and Japanseem to have begun a process of decline relative toChina. Major power shifts define eras in which keypolitical leaders are likely to make serious foreignpolicy mistakes. Poor management of internationalrelations at such critical junctures has often led tomajor wars.

It ended with a quote from the very respected statesmanfrom Singapore, former Prime Minister of Singapore and elderAsian statesman Lee Kuan Yew, who spoke of the“reawakened sense of destiny among China’s people” andwhat Lee dims “an overpowering force” and he is quoted asfollows. Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew said:

“Will an industrialized and strong China be asbenign to Southeast Asia as the U.S. has been since1945? Singapore is not sure… [Neighboring nations]are uneasy that China may want to resume theimperial status it had in earlier centuries.”

That is another episode in history none ofChina’s neighbors want repeated.

And then another article portrayed a move ofChina to conduct exercises, naval exercises, in theWest Pacific area. If we speak of the West Pacificarea, that includes part of the Philippines and the titleof the article is “Chinese Navy Depart for West PacificTraining.” I show here pictures of the Chinese navalvessels, relatively modern by China’s standards.Next slide, please.Next slide shows their helicopter capability, and then a

picture of the PLA Navy Fleet moving from their base inChina’s Qingdao City, which is an eastern city near Japan.The article reads as follows:

A Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) NavyFleet has set off from a military port in east China’sQingdao City for regular open-sea training in the WestPacific Ocean, military sources revealed on Wednesday.

The fleet departed Tuesday morning andcomprises three ships—the missile destroyerQingdao and the missile frigates Yentai andYancheng—carrying three helicopters all from theNorth China Sea Fleet under the PLA Navy.

The training area will include the Yellow, EastChina and South China seas—and that is our area—the Miyako Strait, the Bashi Channel and the seaarea east of Taiwan.

x x xAs part of the ongoing open-sea training, the

fleet held a four-hour maritime confrontation drill,

—I would like to emphasize “maritime confrontation drill”—

in the Yellow Sea on Tuesday with another PLANavy fleet which is to depart for escort missions thein sea area off Somalia.

Now, I would like to quote an article by a noted Filipinocolumnist, a former Press Secretary whose opinions I do not usuallyagree with, but his opinion in this particular case is very interestingin the title that came out in his article, “The Enemy Within,” acolumn in Malaya, and I am referring to former Press Secretary, anoted columnist, Ducky Paredes. I would like to quote him:

I honestly do not understand how young Filipinoswill demonstrate in front of the United States Embassyjust because an American vessel went into theTubbataha Reef and destroyed x x x coral. After all,the United States will surely pay the million or sodollars that is the fine the vessel must pay for thedamage it caused in the world heritage site.

The United States is cooperating with ourofficials and is definitely willing to pay. Big deal. Iwonder how the Chinese would have reacted if itwas their vessel that caused the damage? x x x

And I continue to quote Ducky Paredes:

Where were these demonstrators when the Navyof the People’s Republic of China occupiedScarborough Shoal a few months back. Thesedemonstrators never raised a peep when the Chinesemaps were redrawn to show that China owned a largeportion of what has always been part of the Philippineterritory from the time we became a country.

What are these demonstrators? In the event of aChinese invasion, will they be China’s fifth column?

Sure, it has always been fun to march againstour former colonial masters. It made us feel goodabout ourselves going against the once-feared godswho ruled this land. But really, they haven’t been ofmuch importance anymore in the recent past.

I really do not mind any Pinoy demonstratingagainst the Americans. If that makes them feel good aboutthemselves, they should just go ahead. But, we are in adangerous situation today. China looks very much likeit is preparing for war and, if it is, we must be wary ofour local Communists who would probably prefer theircomrades taking over this country from the Filipinos.

Recently, China’s Foreign Ministry, in a press statementpublished by China.org.cn, lashed out at the Philippines’impending acquisition of a second Hamilton class cutter

—as though this is going to tilt the balance of power in Asia,and that is my comment—


from the United States, as well as our plans to buyfighter jets for the Philippine Air Force.

We are buying 12 patrol ships from Japan,aircraft from South Korea, as well as search andrescue ships from Australia.

In this way, through the help of our allies, wecan at least develop a “minimum credible defenseposture.”

Why should China’s Foreign Ministryspokesman Hong Lei mind this? He said: “ThePhilippine decision to draw a third party into theincident in any way will further escalate the situationand even change the nature of the issue.”

Beijing also quotes an official of China Instituteof International Studies who correctly pointed outthat while the Philippines can buy weapons toimprove its armed forces, it can’t be compared toChina’s military.

At this stage, I would like to comment that nobody istrying to compare our military with China. There is nocomparison. I continue:

That’s right. We are no match for China’smilitary might.

Major General Xu Yan, an official of thePeople’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) National DefenseUniversity points out: “Once (the Philippines) daresescalate the movements of maritime police intomilitary operations, it will suffer a great calamityfrom China’s strike in response to their attack.”

Xu adds that China now has “a large batch” oflarge and advanced ships that can be immediatelydeployed to Scarborough shoal.

According to the US Department of Defense’slatest report on China’s military forces, Beijing has203 destroyers, frigates, amphibious transport,landing ships, diesel and nuclear attack submarines,and coastal patrol vessels deployed in the SOUTHAND EAST CHINA SEAS alone.

According to the Pentagon: “The PLA Navyhas the largest force of principal combatants,submarines, and amphibious warfare ships in Asia.”

We know all that. What worries me is that wehave Communist insurgents in our country that areworking with Communist China and a corps ofdemonstrators who, from their choice ofdemonstration targets could just as well be Chineseagents preparing for the day when their Chinesemasters enter our country as modern-day GenghisKhans.

Considering that the Communist insurgents inthis country are as good as kill-for-pay gangsterswho will burn trucks and heavy equipment if theyare not paid the revolutionary taxes they expect frombusinessmen, it would not be so difficult a task fortheir Chinese masters to pay their Pinoy alipins tocause disruptions in preparation for an eventualinvasion.

A separate commentary published byChina.org.cn, also criticized Japan over its proposedpatrol ships deal with the Philippines.

A commentary written by Chen Guangwen says:“As Japan is already engaged in a dispute with Chinaover the sovereignty of Diaoyu Island, aiding thePhilippines in its territorial disputes with China inthis way could dramatically escalate tensions in theregion.

“It is not hard to understand Japan’s intentions.As a country outside the region, Japan’s activeengagement has two main purposes. One is todistract China’s attention from Diaoyu Island andthe East China Sea. Japan wants to use the disputesbetween China and other South East Asian countriesas bargaining chips in its negotiations with Chinaon the issue of Diaoyu Island. The second purposeis to protect its interests relating to its freedom ofnavigation and resource development in the SouthChina Sea.”

Mr. Ducky Paredes is quoting from a China article:

“Both Japan and the Philippines are concernedabout China’s peaceful rise, despite its good intentionsbased on the policy of ‘building an amicable, tranquiland prosperous neighborhood.’ The Philippines hasalready benefited from China’s rise x x x.”

Mr. Ducky Paredes continues:

I don’t know about the rest of you but, to me, itlooks as if China is talking about a war in the offing.We’re not about to start one; but we should at leastbegin doing something about the fifth column thatChina employs composed of Filipinos who willreveal themselves as traitors to their own country,when China finally makes its move!

According to a report in the Washington Times,China’s new supreme leader President Xi Jinpinghas revamped the People’s Liberation Army, thelargest military force in the world with one mission:“Get ready for a war, quickly.”

China has disputes with Japan, South Korea,Vietnam, Taiwan and us. Without the US, thePeople’s Republic could take us all over—in thePhilippines, with the help of its local band ofgangsters—the New People’s Army. Wake up,Philippines!

That was the ending of the article of Mr. Ducky Paredeswhich I just quoted.

Now, we are talking of this very alarming situationand all of us are praying that peace would prevail, becauseif there is any disruption on the peace that is happening inthe world today, it will have very dire effects on theeconomy and it would be sad because our economy is alsoon the rise. I would like to quote as the final segment ofmy privilege speech, a segue into our Philippine economythat would be adversely affected by any conflict, anyserious physical conflict in the South China Sea or WestPhilippine Sea, and this is from Korean news. The headlineis very uplifting. This Korean news article states:“Philippines is poised to join the World’s 10 fastest-growing economies,” and its headline.


Consumer Boom Fuels Philippines as NeighborsHit by Export Pain

The Philippines is poised to join the world’s 10fastest-growing economies this year and next asFilipinos buying goods from dresses tocondominiums cushion a faltering in exports that’shurt the rest of the region.

The economy extended a fourth quarterexpansion of at least 6 percent, boosting full-yeargrowth to 6.6 percent, faster than economists hadforecast. Consumer spending has risen to about threequarters of gross domestic product from 63 percent adecade ago, World Bank data showed. The Philippineswill expand 5.5 percent this year, and 5.4 percent in2014, putting it among the fastest-expandingeconomies, according to Bloomberg surveys.

The article continues, and I quote:

“We have a generation that has a better lifestylenow,” said Frances de la Cruz as she waited to pay$100 for a black dress and a belt at a Zara store in apacked mall in Manila one recent Saturday.

Dela Cruz, a 31-year-old call center director is part of anindustry that has helped spur 10 percent income growth in thenation from 2009 to end-2011, along with remittances and aburst of manufacturing from Japanese investments. T

The consumer spending strength means the nation maybe more resilient to global shocks compared with other Asianexport-dependent economies from Singapore to South Korea,where growth slumped in 2012 as demand for goods eased.

Since he took office in 2010, President BenignoAquino has sought to transform the Philippines from a laggardto one of the fastest-growing economies in the region byincreasing government spending, curbing budget deficit andreducing corruption, taking the country closer to aninvestment-grade rating. To continue:

Consumer spending in the nation, among themost consumption-driven in Asia, rose 6.9 percentlast quarter, holding above 5 percent for an eighthquarter. That’s spurred sales of brands from TommyHilfiger to home-grown Suyen Corp.’s Bench.

x x x“The Philippines has proven it’s got particular

strength in mitigating external headwinds becauseits domestic demand has kept the economy runningeven as other nations suffered,” said VishnuVarathan, a Singapore-based senior economist atMizuho Corporate Bank Ltd. “Now, with Aquinoboosting infrastructure, capacity building, the growthpotential over the longer term is rapidly increasing.The Philippines is on a very good footing to remainthe blue-eyed boy in the region.”

These are really very encouraging. To continue:

The Philippine peso has risen about 5 percentin the past 12 months, the best performer among 25emerging-market currencies tracked by Bloomberg.

x x x The benchmark Philippine Stock ExchangeIndex climbed to a record in January.

Southeast Asia’s second-most populous nationalready enjoys a demographic dividend comparedto many of its neighbors, with most of its populationin the 15-to-64 working-age range. Its labor forcewill expand by almost 18 million, or 31 percent, to75 million by 2020 compared with 2010, with amedian age of 23.9, Merrill Lynch has predicted.That compares with 37.8 in China and 43.4 in SouthKorea.

“It’s a young, booming population,” said TrinhNguyen, a Hong Kong-based economist at HSBCHoldings Plc. “There is an energy, a euphoria youcan sense in the Philippines. The domestic marketis burgeoning, thanks to strong population andincome growth. This has attracted flows from foreigninvestors looking to capitalize on the consumption-driven economy.”

Japanese investment into the Philippines grewabout 30 percent in 2011, while global retailersincluding Harry Winston Diamond Corp. (HW),Uniqlo Co., and Forever 21 Inc. have opened shopor expanded operations recently. Auto sales rose 11percent in 2012, according to the Chamber ofAutomotive Manufacturers in the Philippines.

Those are very encouraging words of description of thePhilippine economy. That is why I stood up, Mr. Speaker, inorder to cite this confluence of events that may be affectingthe economy of the Philippines. Let us all hope and pray thatChina will become hopefully a benign rising power and thatthere will be no hostilities that will actually emerge or aphysical conflict that will happen in the South China Sea,because this is going to disrupt in a major way, the economicrise of the Philippines.

So, on that note, I would like to thank the Chair and theMajority Leader for giving me this opportunity to speak onthe South China Sea situation that could affect the rise of thePhilippine economy.


REP. GARCIA (P.). Mr. Speaker.

REP. GOLEZ (R.). Thank you very much, distinguishedMajority Leader.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Tañada). Yes, what isthe pleasure of the Gentleman from Cebu, Deputy SpeakerPablo Garcia?

REP. GARCIA (P.). Will the distinguished colleague yieldto a few questions?

REP. GOLEZ (R.). Yes, very definitely, very willingly,Mr. Speaker, to our distinguished colleague from Cebu.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Tañada). Pleaseproceed.

REP. GARCIA (P.). First of all, I would like tocongratulate the distinguished Gentleman. No doubt, he is


the most knowledgeable Member of Congress on the problemin the South China Sea.

I understand that the Philippines’ position is to submitthe problem for arbitration. Suppose China does not agree toarbitration because it insists on bilateral solution, what wouldbe the possible course of action of our country vis-à-vis theWest Philippine Sea or South China Sea problem if Chinainsists that these disputed islands belong to China?

REP. GOLEZ (R.). Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you,distinguished colleague from Cebu.

I understand from the briefing given by the Departmentof Foreign Affairs (DFA) and even from the documents thatthey used as their submission for arbitral proceedings, that itmay not be necessary for China to participate in the arbitralproceedings. In other words, if China wishes to detach itselffrom the arbitral proceedings then the proceedings may gothrough and this may take three to four years.

Now, it was also cited in the past that when China madethe statement that it would not want to become a party to thearbitral proceedings—and that was their formal statementalready—a lot of people are wondering why the contradiction,because in the case of the Senkaku dispute, China hasmanifested its desire to go into arbitral proceedings. But inthe case of the Philippines, they have refused to do this andthey would rather do it the bilateral way.

I would like to reiterate, based on the briefing and thepapers of the Department of Foreign Affairs, it is not necessaryfor China to participate.

REP. GARCIA (P.). Do you think China will agree toany decision by whatever body that would be constituted toarbitrate?

REP. GOLEZ (R.). Mr. Speaker, I cannot second-guessthe action of China. I am not a China expert. But judgingfrom their statements, I think there is a very small chancethat they will agree. I think the greater likelihood is that theywould not agree, but that would put them in a bind. If thearbitral proceedings would end up in our favor, that wouldput them in a bind because if they agree, then they lose asubstantial portion of what they claim under the nine-dashline. On the other hand, if they do not agree, then they wouldproject themselves as a country that is not responsible as faras the international rules are concerned.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Presidenthave, time and again, reiterated that they want a rules-basedapproach in the resolution of this issue. This is precisely arules-based approach that they talked about earlier.

REP. GARCIA (P.). Supposing, just supposing, all peacefulmeans, negotiations and arbitrations failed, and China will showor indicate that it is prepared to defend militarily its claim tothese islands, what do you think will our position be?

REP. GOLEZ (R.). Well, I would like to reiterate, I thinkthe use of force is against our Constitution. Unless the othercountry would attack, then we would be using force as a meansof defense, not as a means of offense.

If they stay in the territory in question, Mischief Reef inparticular and is part of our exclusive economic zone (EEZ),then it would project them as a country that does not respect

international law, that the principal basis for their staying thereis the use of their might, the use of their military.

Again, this would not project them well. I think a successon the part of the Philippines would also encourage anotherclaimant, in this case, Vietnam. I am sure Vietnam is waitingin the wings and they also have some issues to settle withrespect to the Paracels and with respect to other areas withintheir own exclusive economic zone which are now in dispute,especially with their oil exploration program.

REP. GARCIA (P.). Now, in case of any armed conflict,God forbid, do you think the United States of America (USA)will stand by us if we invoke the Mutual Defense Treaty(MDT) with the United States?

REP. GOLEZ (R.). Mr. Speaker, the Mutual DefenseTreaty is very clear: any military action against ourmetropolitan territory or against a Philippines vessel, aPhilippine aircraft or the Armed Forces of the Philippineswould be considered also an attack by the other party, in thiscase the United States.

REP. GARCIA (P.). Not very long ago when this issuecame out, there was a statement from the US Embassy that asfar as the Mutual Defense Treaty is concerned, these disputedislands, they do not consider these as part of Philippine territory.

REP. GOLEZ (R.). Well, that may be so, but if we havePhilippine vessels there, then that would fall under the MutualDefense Treaty, and I cannot see how our territories, islandsin the Spratly could be attacked without attacking our armedforces there, and without touching our Philippine vessels oreven an aircraft that may be in the area.

It is almost like getting your pound of flesh without adrop of blood. There is no way that …

REP. GARCIA (P.). You expect even when, God forbid,that happens that there is some military encounter in theSpratlys, do you think the US will come to our defense?

REP. GOLEZ (R.). Under the MDT, they should. Butwe all know that this is not going to be automatic. I think theprocess will be, they will see what is happening. I do notthink it will be triggered by one incident. They will see whatis happening, whether the military offensive is an offensivethat pertains to holding territory. If it is holding territory, ifsubstantial injury is being inflicted, then that will trigger avery serious discussion.

At this juncture, Deputy Speaker Tañada relinquishedthe Chair to Deputy Speaker Arnulfo P. Fuentebella.

On the other hand, it would put to test the dependabilityof the United States as an ally. This is something that theyhave to consider also because they have an MDT with Japan,for example. They have an informal alliance with Vietnam,Australia—India is coming to the picture. The moment theyrenege on any of their obligations under the Mutual DefenseTreaty, that would project them as highly undependable. I donot think any country would like to be projected that way,especially when a country is considered a world leader orsuperpower.


But, of course, we all know that in the end, it will betheir national interest that would prevail.

But of course, we all know that, in the end, it will betheir national interest that would prevail. They have aCongress—the President can start hostilities without theimprimatur of Congress. They did that in the case of Vietnam,they did that in Afghanistan, in Iraq and in so many otherplaces. They can do it without the imprimatur of Congress,but Congress can be expected to speak up here. In fact, theUS Senate has already issued a statement that they aresupportive of our claim, that they are supportive of thePhilippines with respect to the freedom of navigation. Theydid so in May last year as part of an action by their Committeeon Foreign Relations.

REP. GARCIA (P.). If the distinguished Gentleman willrecall, during the Fourteenth Congress, we here in the House,in compliance with, I believe, a condition set by theUNCLOS—we had to submit the baselines of the Philippineterritory. We already approved that. However, upon theinsistence of the DFA, we had to recall the baselines and claimthe Spratlys under the so-called regime of islands. Does theGentleman see the significance of this change? If I recall, inorder to convince the House to change the baselines, the DFAinvited former Solicitor Mendoza to explain to us why wehad to abandon the baselines and instead claim it under aregime of islands. Would there be any significance to thischange?

REP. GOLEZ (R.). Yes, that is correct, distinguishedcolleague, from Cebu, Mr. Speaker. We all recall that verydistinctly. We had a meeting in the Rules room with a high-powered delegation from the Department of Foreign Affairs,and the message was to change what we already approvedhere in the Plenary. We used our Kalayaan Island Group aswell as what we call the Bajo de Masinloc as base points sothat they will become part of the baselines, so that the waterfrom the Bajo de Masinloc, as well as the Kalayaan IslandGroup to the mainland of the Philippines, will form part ofour territorial sea, and it would project its own exclusiveeconomic zone. But we were compelled to change that, asthe Gentleman said, to regime of islands. Theunderstanding—and this is not a secret—was, there was alot of pressure exerted by the Chinese Embassy. This issurprising because after we came out with the Baselines Law,there was no objection on their part. The Baselines Lawcategorically stated that the Bajo de Masinloc is an islandof the Philippines, a part of Philippine territory that wouldproject its own territorial sea. But they have againcontradicted themselves because last year, when we had astand-off with China, China started claiming thatScarborough Shoal is theirs. Our understanding was thatthey were agreeable to that version of the Baselines Lawthat simply considered the Bajo de Masinloc or ScarboroughShoal as regime of islands, but still part of Philippineterritory.

REP. GARCIA (P.). And so, as now revealed by thedistinguished Gentleman, the alteration or the change in ourapproved baselines, in order so it would be changed to “regimeof islands” with respect to the Spratlys, this was upon theinsistence of the Chinese government.

REP. GOLEZ (R.). I think there is no doubt in my mind,Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleague, that the Philippinegovernment, the Executive branch caved in under pressurefrom China. And I think one of the reasons would be thefacilities, the loans and other projects being dangled by Chinato the Philippines at that time, which would have beenprejudiced if we insisted on our original House version.

REP. GARCIA (P.). So, it would appear now that thechange, the alteration, as based on the baselines’ demarcationof the territory of the Philippines, were upon the insistence ofChina. Therefore, it would now appear that we yielded to theirpressure, and as far as China is concerned, a change from“baselines” to “regime of islands” is favorable to their claim.

REP. GOLEZ (R.). Yes, that is correct, Mr. Speaker, thatis my belief. There is no doubt in my mind that there wasexternal pressure coming from our giant neighbor.

REP. GARCIA (P.). Does the Gentleman not think,having succeeded the first time in exerting pressure on thecountry, particularly the DFA, would they not exert pressureagain in order so we will give up our claim on the Spratlys orScarborough Shoal?

REP. GOLEZ (R.). Mr. Speaker, in the briefingdistributed by the Department of Foreign Affairs, they madeit clear that they have identified areas which could prejudiceour OFWs in the territories of China like Macau, Hong Kong,and even in the Mainland. They talked of our exports thatcould be prejudiced also. They talked of tourism arrivals fromChina which could also be prejudiced. However, they madeit very clear that we cannot compromise this in exchange forsovereignty, that the government is thinking of safety nets forour OFWs, that the government is thinking of diversifyingour trade to make it less vulnerable to China. The government,in that briefing, also talked of identifying other sources oftourism arrivals so that these things will not become pawnsin what they feel, and I fully agree, is a more important matter,our sovereignty and territorial integrity.

REP. GARCIA (P.). Now, how far are we willing to go?Up to what point are we willing to go in order to defend oursovereignty?

REP. GOLEZ (R.). In the previous administration, Mr.Speaker—I remember because this is not the first time that Itook up this advocacy—in the Eleventh Congress, during thetime of President Erap Estrada, at the height of the controversyon the Mischief Reef when we discovered that theyconstructed permanent structures there and we protested veryvigorously, I had a talk with then DFA Secretary DominadorSiazon. He said that he made it very clear to China, to hiscounterparts in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, thatthey are drawing the line in Scarborough Shoal, they aredrawing the line in the Bajo de Masinloc. In other words, ifChina would do the same thing that they did in Mischief Reef,and that is to construct permanent structures, then that wouldbe a line that will trigger more definite action on the part ofthe Philippine government.

REP. GARCIA (P.). Well, that certain action could not


mean otherwise than military action. Are we prepared to goto that point?

REP. GOLEZ (R.). Well, maybe it is better, Mr. Speaker,distinguished colleague from Cebu, to make the other partyguess instead of telling them what will happen in case anaction is taken. It is better to make them guess. You know, weare not without recourse here. It is not only the physical option,the military option; there is the diplomatic option that I fullysubscribe to. The alliances that we have, like the ASEAN,can help. This year, the Chairman of the ASEAN will be fromVietnam, it is not going to be Cambodia anymore. WithVietnam being the Chairman of the ASEAN, I think ourchances are better because in the last Summit of the ASEAN,Cambodia, as clearly described in the newspaper articles,prevented the issuance of a joint statement for the first timein almost 40 years of existence of the ASEAN becauseCambodia was reportedly pressured by China to refuse, toprevent the issuance of that statement that will be favorableto our claim.

So, we have so many options now. We are getting patrolships. We are already negotiating with Japan. I understandfrom today’s news article that we are using an P11.8 billionRORO project, with financial assistance from France, andconverting this into patrol ships for the Philippine CoastGuard. So we are preparing in order to protect our sovereignty.

REP. GARCIA (P.). There was a statement by the goodGentleman in the course of his speech which would seemdisturbing, and this was his reference to the localCommunists. He said that the local Communists may beencouraged by China to make trouble in our country andthey could possibly be supported militarily or financially. Iseem to have gathered from you that you are also concernedthat the situation in our country might be the same as thesituation in Spain during the civil war. Back then, whenFranco, the head of the revolutionary forces, took Madridin the final battle so easily, he was asked, “How did you doit?” Franco answered that he had four columns surroundingMadrid but he had a fifth column inside Madrid. Wouldthat situation be similar later on to our country?

REP. GOLEZ (R.). Mr. Speaker, distinguishedcolleague, I read a very interesting article that came outtwo, three days ago written by Mr. Ducky Paredes. As Isaid, I do not agree with all of his opinions. In fact, we havedisagreed with each other on a number of times, but thisarticle I found to be generally agreeable. In fact, I have notedthat in the case of Americans, for example, even when anAmerican jaywalks, these people would already run to theAmerican Embassy and cry that the Americans are violatingour rights but they close their eyes on the Mischief Reef, onScarborough Shoal or our Bajo de Masinloc. They do notjust close their eyes, they probably even agree with thisviolation of our sovereignty by a country which they feel,maybe, is their mother country.

REP. GARCIA (P.). I hope that the sentiments, thethoughts of the distinguished Gentleman somehow can becommunicated to the present administration. We have to studyvery carefully when dealing with this insurgency in our countryand look at the bigger picture and not just the local picture.

This may endanger or at least compromise our claim ofsovereignty over the Spratlys and I agree with you aboutyour observation, about how there are demonstrationsagainst the US Embassy for very minor incidents but here,in the case of the Spratlys, where our territorial integrityand sovereignty is at stake, there is no similar demonstrationagainst the Chinese Embassy. Do you notice somethingsignificant in that?

REP. GOLEZ (R.). Mr. Speaker, I think it is very obviousto me where their sympathies lay. They are basically anti-American and pro-China. Because of ideologicalconsiderations, they would demonstrate on the littlest reason,on the littlest stimulus but, as I said, in a horrendous way,they ignore the rape cases that are happening within ourexclusive economic zone, in the Mischief Reef and, of late,Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc.

REP. GARCIA (P.). I am happy with the goodGentleman’s attitude and I hope this can be communicated tothe leadership of our country, or have you alreadycommunicated your thoughts and sentiments on the presentsituation?

REP. GOLEZ (R.). No, Mr. Speaker, I do not claim anydirect route to the powers that be. I do not have that and thatis why I am using this forum which, to me, is the proper forum.

We are going on a long recess. We do not know what isgoing to happen. I monitor everyday the developments in theSouth China Sea, in the East China Sea, the Japan situationwith Senkaku, Vietnam, even India’s moves. And if you lookat it, to a certain extent, it reads like the Winds of War byHerman Wouk, but I hope not. Apparently, no less than theformer Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Australia,Kevin Rudd, looks at it that way. Even the former PrimeMinister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, is looking at it andasking the question, “Will China be as benign as the UnitedStates since 1945?” That is a very serious question consideringthe ethnicity of Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew who, one wouldexpect, to be sympathetic to his roots in China but apparentlyhis—and that should be the case—loyalty is to Singapore.

And that is how it should be, our loyalty should be to thePhilippines.

REP. GARCIA (P.). Let me end my interpellation with astory of what happened in Spain. I think it was in the 1960swhen the Americans had military bases in Spain.

REP. GOLEZ (R.). Rota.

REP. GARCIA (P.). The generals were complainingagainst the abuses of the Americans. They wanted to abrogatethe treaty and then somebody said, “Suppose, America willnot agree.” Then one general said, “Let us declare war againstAmerica.” But another general said, “The problem is, supposewe win the war?” That may be similar to the situation in thePhilippines. At any rate, thank you very much, Gentleman,and I appreciate your continuing interest in the situation vis-a-vis the South China Sea and I hope that your thoughts, yoursentiments, can somehow be inputted to the DFA so that theycan act accordingly.

Thank you very much.


REP. GOLEZ (R.). Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.Thank you very much, distinguished colleague from Cebu. Iknow that there is no way that you would allow oursovereignty and our territorial integrity to be prejudiced justbecause of ideological reasons.

Thank you.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). Verywell.

The Floor Leader is recognized.

REP. BENALDO. Mr. Speaker, I move that we recognizethe Hon. Ben P. Evardone for his interpellation.

THE DEPUTY SPEAKER (Rep. Fuentebella). TheHonorable Evardone has the floor. Please proceed.

REP. EVARDONE. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.Will the distinguished Gentleman from Parañaque yield

to a few questions, Mr. Speaker?

REP. GOLEZ (R.). It will be my honor, Mr. Speaker, to beinterpellated by our distinguished colleague from Eastern Samar.

REP. EVARDONE. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.This will be very short, Mr. Speaker, because I think we

have several colleagues lined up to speak and deliver privilegespeeches during the Privilege Hour, including this Representation.

I would just like to congratulate the two Gentlemen fromCebu and Parañaque for a very intelligent discussion of theissue.

Mr. Speaker, I would just like to follow up on the issueof defining the territorial lines of the country. It was mentionedthat there was a change in the definition from baselines toregime of islands. Is that correct, Mr. Speaker?

REP. GOLEZ (R.). That is correct with respect to theKalayaan Island Group and the Bajo de Masinloc orScarborough Shoal. Originally, we treated them as base pointsso that the baselines can be extended towards the mainlandof the Philippines.

REP. EVARDONE. For this Representation’senlightenment, Mr. Speaker, what is the difference betweenbaselines and regime of islands?

REP. GOLEZ (R.). A baseline means that you have a basepoint; for example, Kalayaan Island Group, we have severalislands occupied there, if that is considered a base point, it willbe similar to the, let us say, base point somewhere in IlocosNorte or Ilocos Sur or even in Eastern Samar. Meaning, fromthe base point to the mainland, that body of water will beconsidered territorial sea and not open sea or not high sea.

REP. EVARDONE. How about regime of islands, Mr.Speaker?

REP. GOLEZ (R.). But in the regime of islands, it is likeHawaii. You know, Hawaii is like a regime of islands, wherethe body of water from Hawaii to the mainland of the UnitedStates is still international water, basically international water,but the island is part of the US territory. Bajo de Masinloc is

treated as a regime of islands, and that in the provision of ourBaselines Law, it would be treated as part of the territory andwe exercise sovereignty over that island. It projects its ownterritorial sea and exclusive economic zone.

REP. EVARDONE. Does that mean, Mr. Speaker, bychanging the definition, we virtually surrender our claim overthe Spratlys or does that mean that it weakened our positionover those islands?

REP. GOLEZ (R.). Well, not necessarily because we stillclaim those features as our territory. However, we lost asubstantial part of what we could have called territorial sea.Imagine, you are talking of, for example, the ScarboroughShoal. Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc is about 180nautical miles from the mainland, from Zambales. There isanother base point somewhere in the coast of Zambales, it willgo to the Scarborough Shoal and from there another baselinewill be projected to another base point in the west coast ofLuzon. That triangle should have been part of the territorialsea. You are talking of maybe a few hundred thousand squarekilometers of territorial sea lost because of that amendment.

REP. EVARDONE. So, you are saying, Mr. Speaker, thatwe have actually surrendered our claim when we changedthe definition from baselines to regime of islands becauseyou said that we lost a substantial amount of body of waterbecause of that change.

REP. GOLEZ (R.). Yes, definitely. Not only body ofwater, you are talking of the living and non-living resourcesthere, minerals, especially in the Kalayaan Island Groupbecause if you project, using that as a base point, andprojecting it back to Palawan, you are talking of areas thatare right now being looked at for oil exploration. This evengoes beyond our exclusive economic zone because part ofthe Kalayaan Island Group, some of its islands, are outsideour 200-nautical mile limit.

REP. EVARDONE. So, Mr. Speaker, we could no longerreclaim those areas because we actually surrendered them byvirtue of the change in the definition?

REP. GOLEZ (R.). The sea, yes, but not the islands.

REP. EVARDONE. In our claim lodged before the UnitedNations, Mr. Speaker, did we include those we lost in thatclaim, or did we already abandon that claim, Mr. Speaker?

REP. GOLEZ (R.). Well, I think our claim will have toconform with our existing laws and, of course, the last one isthe Baselines Law. The Baselines Law, as correctly mentionedby our distinguished colleague from Cebu who was part ofthe group that crafted that, provided for those islands as regimeof islands.

REP. EVARDONE. So, Mr. Speaker, we surrendered asubstantial amount of our territory because of pressures fromthe People’s Republic of China?

REP. GOLEZ (R.). That is my belief. In my heart, Ibelieve that there was pressure. In fact, if you look at the


articles that came out, most of the articles referred tothat external pressure. That external pressure wasconveyed to us by this high-powered delegation from theDepartment of Foreign Affairs. We met there in the RulesCommittee room. I think Congressman Garcia was there,I was there, Congressman Cuenco, and the Chairman ofthe Committee on Foreign Affairs at that time was there,almost in tears. In fact, he even refused, almost refusedto stand here in order to re-sponsor this new version of theBaselines Bill.

REP. EVARDONE. So, Mr. Speaker, this Chamber is aparty to that surrender, is that a correct observation?

REP. GOLEZ (R.). Well, not necessarily because in thecrafting of laws, we have to interact with the Executive branch,they are our resource persons. They are considered to beexperts, they advise us on what is doable and what is notdoable, what could become diplomatically complicated. Weyielded, well not, we yielded to the advice of the Departmentof Foreign Affairs.

REP. EVARDONE. So, Mr. Speaker, now that we havelodged that issue before the United Nations, do you think theChinese government will also exert more pressure for us toabandon that claim?

REP. GOLEZ (R.). I doubt it, I do not think so. Definitely,I do not think so. This is a new government. If you listen to thepronouncements of the President, he does not appear to bebeholden to the projects with China in the same way that wewere in the past. We were so beholden to China with respectto, for example, North Rail and communications projects, $2billion worth of projects every year coming from their vastresources. I think that was the carrot. I do not think there wasany stick but that was the carrot that was being dangled to thePhilippine government. At that time, I think looking at it now,we know how deeply we were intertwined to China’s economicresources which they used as a leverage against us.

REP. EVARDONE. So, Mr. Speaker, our claim beforethe United Nations is not only based on the law that we passedbut also based on the UNCLOS, is that correct?

REP. GOLEZ (R.). Not only in UNCLOS, it is based onhistory. It is based on the fact that China did not have anyovert occupation of those areas as even before the 1946declaration, they did not have any occupation. The only timethat the Chinese actually came to this part of the world in ahostile manner, with the intent of occupying, was during thetime of Limahong; this was in 1580 or something, whenLimahong came here. In fact, he landed in one of our barriosin Parañaque but they were repulsed by the people there atthat time and then he went to Pangasinan and settled in theplace of our colleague from Lingayen, Pangasinan. But thatwas the only time. Before that, they had no history. In fact,some of the names that they gave to some of the features inthe South China Sea were simply direct translations of Englishnames which would show you that these are not originalChinese terms but translations already of English termsbecause of European explorers that went there ahead. I alreadyshowed a map, made by a map expert, that indicates that as

early as 1670, the Scarborough Shoal—at that time, it was calledby another name—was considered part of the Philippineterritory and nowhere was there any mention of China Sea.

REP. EVARDONE. So, Mr. Speaker, the distinguishedGentleman from Parañaque is fully convinced that our claimlodged before the United Nations is based on solid grounds?

REP. GOLEZ (R.). Yes, solid ground, very solid grounds–history, UNCLOS, our own law and the action of the other country.

REP. EVARDONE. I think, Mr. Speaker, this Chamber andthe Senate have filed separate concurring resolutions to preciselyexpress our support to the move of the Executive branch to filethe protest before the United Nations to finally settle that issuebecause, I think, we have already exhausted all diplomatic,bilateral and multilateral initiatives to settle the issue.

REP. GOLEZ (R.). That is correct.

REP. EVARDONE. I hope that this Chamber will passthat concurrent resolution to show our support to the initiativeof the Executive Department, Mr. Speaker.


REP. GOLEZ (R.). Thank you very much, distinguishedcolleague from Eastern Samar. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thankyou very much.


REP. BENALDO. Mr. Speaker, I move that we refer theprivilege speech of the Honorable Roilo Golez, as well asthe interpellations thereto, to the appropriate committee.


REP. BENALDO. Mr. Speaker, I move that we suspendthe Privilege Hour.


The Privilege Hour is suspended.

REP. BENALDO. Mr. Speaker, may I request thatwe acknowledge the presence of some guests. We have,this afternoon, guests of the Hon. Walden F. Bello andHon. Kaka J. Bag-ao. We have delegates from theParliament of Sweden. We have MP, Member ofParliament Berit Hogman, MP Leif Petersson, MP(Applause) Helene Petersson, MP Kerstin Engle, MPCarin Runeson, and MP Gunilla Svantorp, all members ofthe Swedish Parliament.

At this juncture, Deputy Speaker Fuentebellarelinquished the Chair to Rep. Janette L. Garin.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). To the


members of the Swedish Parliament, welcome to the Houseof the People.


REP. BENALDO. Mme. Speaker, I request that weacknowledge the presence of the guests of the Hon. Ben P.Evardone of the Lone District of Eastern Samar. We have,this afternoon, the Municipal Barangay Health WorkersPresidents of Eastern Samar.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Please riseto be acknowledged. The presidents of the Barangay HealthWorkers of Samar, welcome to the House of Representatives.


REP. BENALDO. Mme. Speaker, we request that weacknowledge the presence of the guests of the Hon. LeopoldoN. Bataoil of the Second District of Pangasinan. We have, thisafternoon, Mayor and Mrs. Ricardo Camacho and Miss JaniceHidalgo from Bayambang, Pangasinan. (Applause)

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Welcometo the House of Representatives.


REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, the House and theSenate have approved on Third Reading, House Bill No. 4546and Senate Bill No. 3381, respectively, which propose toconvert the Western Visayas Medical Center into agovernment-owned and -controlled hospital.

We have been informed that the Committee on Healthand the Hon. Janette L. Garin, Sponsor and author of HouseBill No. 4546, respectively, are in concurrence with theprovisions of Senate Bill No. 3381.

Mme. Speaker, in accordance with our Rules, I movethat we adopt Senate Bill No. 3381 as an amendment to HouseBill No. 4546.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is there anyobjection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion is approved.

Senate Bill No. 3381 is hereby adopted as an amendmentto House Bill No. 4546.


REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, the House and theSenate have approved on Third Reading, House Bill No. 6735and Senate Bill No. 3399, respectively, which seek toinstitutionalize the Philippine National Health ResearchSystem.

We have been informed that the Committee on Healthand the Hon. Juan Edgardo M. Angara, Sponsor and authorof House Bill No. 6735, are in concurrence with the provisionsof Senate Bill No. 3399.





REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, the House and theSenate have approved on Third Reading, House Bill No.6548 and Senate Bill No. 3338, respectively, which seek topromote agricultural and fisheries mechanizationdevelopment in the country.

We have been informed that the Committee on Agricultureand Food and the Hon. Mark Llandro L. Mendoza, Sponsorand author of House Bill No. 6548, respectively, are inconcurrence with the provisions of Senate Bill No. 3338.


THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is thereany objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion isapproved.



REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, the House and theSenate have approved on Third Reading House Bill No. 5490,and Senate Bill No. 3388, respectively, which provide forstiffer penalties for acts violating the Meat Inspection Codeof the Philippines.

We have been informed that the Committee on Agricultureand Food and the Hon. Mark Llandro L. Mendoza, Sponsorand author of House Bill No. 5490, respectively, are inconcurrence with the provisions of Senate Bill No. 3388.



Senate Bill No. 3388 is adopted as an amendment toHouse Bill No. 5490.


REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, the House and theSenate have approved on Third Reading House Bill No. 6048and Senate Bill No. 2849, respectively, which seek to amendthe National Health Insurance Act of 1995.

We have been informed that the Committee on Healthand the Hon. Marcelino R. Teodoro, Sponsor and author ofHouse Bill No. 6048, respectively, are in concurrence withthe provisions of Senate Bill No. 2849.

In accordance with our Rules, Mme. Speaker, I move thatwe adopt Senate Bill No. 2849 as an amendment to House BillNo. 6048.


The Senate Bill on the PhilHealth Act is adopted as anamendment to House Bill No. 6048.


REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, the House and theSenate have approved on Third Reading House Bill No. 6214and Senate Bill No. 3389, respectively, which seek tostrengthen the National Electrification Administration.


We have been informed that the Committee on Energyand Reps. Arnulfo P. Fuentebella, Rodel M. Batocabe andMichael Angelo C. Rivera, Sponsor and authors of HouseBill No. 6214, are in concurrence with the provisions of SenateBill No. 3389.

In accordance with our Rules, Mme. Speaker, I movethat we adopt Senate Bill No. 3389 as an amendment to HouseBill No. 6214.




REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, the House and theSenate have approved on Third Reading House Bill No. 164and Senate Bill No. 3284, respectively, which seek to set thePhilippine Standard Time (PST) in all official sourcesthroughout the country.

We have been informed that the Committee on Revisionof Laws and the Hon. Magtanggol T. Gunigundo I, Sponsorand author of House Bill No. 164, respectively, are inconcurrence with the provisions of Senate Bill No. 3284.




REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, the Senate passed withamendments House Bill No. 3877, entitled: AN ACTDECLARING EVERY 27TH DAY OF NOVEMBER AS“ARAW NG PAGBASA,” A REGULAR WORKINGHOLIDAY.

We have been informed that the Committee on Revisionof Laws and the Hon. Jorge “Bolet” Banal, Sponsor and authorof House Bill No. 3877, respectively, have no objections tothe amendments of the Senate to the said House bill.

In accordance with our Rules, Mme. Speaker, I movethat we concur with the Senate amendments to House BillNo. 3877.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is thereany objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion isapproved


REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, the House and theSenate have approved on Third Reading House Bill No. 6148and Senate Bill No. 3276, respectively, which propose todeclare the first week of February of every year as “WorldInterfaith Harmony Week.”

We have been informed that the Committee on Revisionof Laws and the Hon. Maria Isabelle “Beng” G. Climaco,Sponsor and author of House Bill No. 6148, respectively,are in concurrence with the provisions of Senate Bill No.3276.





DESIGNATION OF MEMBERS TO THE BICAM. CONF. CTTEES.

REP. FARIÑAS. I move that we designate the followingas members of the Bicameral Conference Committee on thedisagreeing provisions of House Bill No. 5627 and SenateBill No. 3317 which seek to protect the rights of internallydisplaced persons, namely: Reps. Rene L. Relampagos,Lorenzo R. Tañada III, Karlo Alexei B. Nograles, Rufus B.Rodriguez, Joseph Victor G. Ejercito, Janette L. Garin andSimeon A. Datumanong.


The Members nominated are so designated.

REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, in anticipation of theapproval on Third Reading by the Senate of their counterpartBill, I move that we designate the following as members ofthe Bicameral Conference Committee on the disagreeingprovisions of House Bill No. 6565 and Senate Bill No. 3123which seek to amend the Anti-Money Laundering Law,namely: Reps. Sergio F. Apostol, Roilo S. Golez, Sherwin N.Tugna, Jeci A. Lapus and Danilo E. Suarez.


The Members nominated are so designated.The Floor Leader is recognized.

PRIVILEGE HOUR

REP. BENALDO. Mme. Speaker, I move that we resumethe Privilege Hour.


The Privilege Hour is resumed.

REP. BENALDO. Mme. Speaker, considering that wehave three other colleagues who would wish to deliver theirprivilege speech, I move that we extend the Privilege Hourfor another 20 minutes.


The Privilege Hour is extended for another 20 minutes.The Floor Leader is recognized.


REP. BENALDO. Mme. Speaker, I move that werecognize the distinguished Gentleman from the Lone Districtof Marinduque, the Hon. Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco, for hisprivilege speech.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). The Hon.Lord Allan Jay Velasco is recognized for his privilege speech.

PRIVILEGE SPEECH OF REP. VELASCO

REP. VELASCO. Thank you, Mme. Speaker.In a few weeks from now, the winds of a new season will

come to pass, and I must come forward, Mme. Speaker, toaddress very serious concerns relating to citizenship, nationalsecurity concerns and allegiance to the country by thoseseeking elective office.

Specifically, may I draw your attention to Republic ActNo. 9225 or the Dual Citizenship Law that allows ourcountrymen who have acquired foreign citizenship toreacquire Philippine citizenship before they eventually seekpublic office and elective positions in our government. Thissubmission is being made in the light of inadvertentdiscoveries this Representation has made recently and thesad and stark realization of how certain individuals boldlytamper with and manufacture fraudulent public documentsto change their identity and citizenship with relative ease.

Ang pakay po ng ating batas para sa mga dual citizensna nagnanais tumakbo para sa pampublikong posisyon ayisagawa ang panunumpa sa ating watawat, at pagwawaksi sabanyagang bansa na dating kinilala nila, para tiyakin na anginteres ng ating bansa ang pangunahin sa kanilang kaisipanat hindi ang interes ng ibang bansa.

Isa pong kagila-gilalas na ehemplo at dapat maging eye-opener para sa lahat, Mme. Speaker, ay kung paano ang ilangordinaryong mga kababayan natin pala ay nagagawangmagmay-ari ng higit sa dalawang pasaporte, gumamit ng iba’tibang kapanganakan, nationality at sa ganoong estado aymagawa nilang umupo sa pampamahalaang posisyon, bumoto,humangad sa halalan na hindi naaayon sa ating kinikilalangbatas.

Tingnan po natin and ehemplo ng isang nagngangalangRegina Ongsiako Reyes na nag-file bilang kandidato para saKongreso sa 2013. Si Ms. Reyes ay may US passport Blg.306278853 na valid pa hanggang sa kasalukuyan. SaAmerika siya nanirahan ng higit sa 20 taon, nakapagpakasalng dalawang ulit sa panahong iyon at nagkapamilya. Angkopya ng naturang US passport ay hango mula sanganimandin.blogspot.com. Naaayon naman ang detalyengito tungkol sa US passport ni Ms. Reyes sa embarkationand disembarkation records ng Bureau of Immigration andDeportation or BID. Makikita natin na ang naturangpasaporte ay ginamit niya ng makailang ulit sa paglabas-masok ng bansa mula December 10, 2005 hanggang June30, 2012.

Ayon din sa tala ng BID, si Ms. Reyes ay mayroon dingPhilippine passport Blg. SS0154849 at Blg. EB2003107, namagkakaiba ang taon ng kapanganakan niya. Halinhinan dinniyang ginagamit ang mga pasaporteng ito sa panahong 2005hanggang 2013.

As you can see from the screen, she used the Philippinepassport bearing No. SS0154849, which lists July 3, 1959 asher birthdate, from January 2007 to July 2010. Let us now

move on to her US passport bearing No. 306278853, whichlists July 3, 1959 as her birthdate—same with the previouspassport—that she used from December 2005 to June 2012.Now, on her third passport bearing No. EB2003107, noticethat this passport lists a birthdate of July 3, 1964, which issurprisingly different from that listed on the two previouspassports mentioned. She used the said passport from March2011 to January 2013. Moreover, she used the three passportssimultaneously. The overlapping use of these three passports,coupled with the inconsistent birthdates listed on them, showsa clear case of grand manipulation and elaborate scheme ofdeception.

Sa kanyang certificate of candidacy (COC) aydeklarado ni Ms. Reyes na siya ay natural-born citizen.Siya ay hindi raw naging permanenteng residente o nagingimigrante sa isang bansang labas sa Pilipinas. Subali’t itopo ay taliwas sa katotohanan dahil paulit-ulit naman niyangginamit ang kanyang US passport. Sa usapin ngpasaporteng Pilipino, bakit naman kaya ganito kadali namag-produce ng dalawang pasaporteng may magkaibangpetsa ng kapanganakan?

Mag-focus po tayo sa birth certificate. Kapag tiningnanpo natin sa screen ang birth certificate, kitang-kita po natinna talagang identical itong dalawa. May tanging pagkakaibalamang po rito sa birth certificate at makikita po natin ito sa“date of birth.” Doon po sa isa, nakalagay po roon July 3,1959 at doon sa isa ay July 3, 1964. Ang tanging tanong nalang po natin sa ating mga sarili: Ano ba talaga ang orihinalna birth certificate? Kapag tiningnan po natin ang July 3, 1964birth certificate, mayroon po riyan na numero “four” sa buongorihinal na dokumento na ang font po ay pare-parehas angpagkakagamit, pero kapag sinilip po natin ang 1964 at angquatro na ginamit rito, ay mapapansin po natin na ibangmakinilya na ang ginamit sa pag-tamper ng birth certificate.So, puwede na po nating ma-conclude o ma-assume na pekepo ang 1964 birth certificate.

The same person, Ms. Reyes, knowingly presented thelatter, the 1964 birth certificate, as evidence to givecredence to her date of birth as stated in her COC, in aproceeding before the Commission on Elections pertainingto “A petition to deny due course or to cancel certificate ofcandidacy.”

Patungkol po sa service record: I-flash po natin angservice record. This is a blatant violation of RA No. 9225.Ms. Reyes got appointed as a Provincial Administrator byher mother, the Governor of Marinduque, without renouncingher US citizenship.

On the voter’s list, her name remains in the voter’s listbut, again, with a different date of birth. Now, it is 1959,proving that she has not been delisted, proving that she hasvoted in the Philippines all this time without renouncing herUS citizenship. So, it may be safe to say that there areindividuals who are willing to go to lengths in order to concealmaterial and substantial facts about themselves in order totake advantage of our laws and system. This includesconcealment of the possession of a foreign passport andcitizenship, misrepresentation on one’s COC, falsification ofpublic document consisting of birth certificate and assumingpublic office despite the fact that one does not satisfy therequirements of the law under RA No. 9225.

It is undeniable that having dual citizenship has perksand advantages of its own so we might ascertain the motive


for such concealment. I do not know if this elaborate sequenceof continued deception has been inspired by an espionagemovie or whether it just shows how simple it is to circumventand make a mockery out of our laws.

Mme. Speaker, the implication is a cause for legitimateand serious concern. This becomes a question ofimplementation and enforcement, and the adequacy of ourlaws in connection with our citizenship requirement for thoseseeking elective public office. It boils down to the principlesand policies regarding the eligibility of public officers andan issue on national security and sovereignty enshrined inour Constitution. It is the intent and spirit of the citizenshiprequirement of the Constitution that those who wouldeventually be elected to public office through popular voteare those that have the interest of the nation at heart and havecomplete allegiance thereto.

Paano naman kaya kung ang isang citizen ng isang rogueState, halimbawa po lamang, ay maka-reacquire ng Philippinecitizenship, magawang mapasok ang ating pamahalaan dahil samga loopholes sa ating sistema? Paano kung ang interes ng isangrouge country naman pala ang pangunahin niyangpinoprotektahan? Ito po ay isang napakamapanganib na sitwasyon.

This, Mme. Speaker, is exactly the evil we are trying toavoid. The fact that this kind of scenario has a possibility tohappen is a cause for concern for all of us. If a person couldactually get away with such scheme with relative ease, it wouldbe much easier for a dangerous person to replicate suchactions.

Napapanahon na po siguro na ating silipin ang mgaparaan upang mapagtibay ang pagpapatupad ng batas sacitizenship at marapat na pag-aralan ang pagrepaso sa batasupang mapagbuti ang pagsasabuhay ng layunin ng batas parasa citizenship requirement para sa mga pampublikongopisyales, lalo na para sa kanila na mga naghahangad ng halalna posisyon.

In light of this, it is this Representation’s humble opinion,Mme. Speaker, that we consider a suggestion toinstitutionalize an additional requirement under RA No. 9225,aside from that incorporated in Section 5, paragraph 2, forthose seeking public office in the Philippines.

It is my humble suggestion that they be asked to do acounterpart positive act of renunciation of citizenship whichthe foreign country of their second citizenship requires ofthem to effect a valid renunciation which would make itbinding on the foreign country. This way, such renunciationwould have its full effect as Section 5, paragraph 2 of RA9225 merely extinguishes the citizenship of the concernedindividual on the point of view of our country. More so, sincethe oath of allegiance required under RA No. 9225 shall onlyform part of the Bureau of Immigration’s records and no noticeor submission of the oath of allegiance is required to be givento the foreign state of second citizenship.

To demonstrate, Mme. Speaker, in the renunciation of UScitizenship under Section 349(a)(5) of the Immigration andNationality Act of the US, the citizen must appear in personbefore a US consular or diplomatic officer in a foreign countryand sign an oath of renunciation.

It further says that renunciations that do not meet theconditions described above have no legal effect. Thus, it issafe to say that renunciation, on the other hand, under RepublicAct No. 9225 has no effect, not binding to the citizenship ofa person with respect to the United States of America in this

case. In effect, the person concerned is still a citizen of theforeign state despite such renunciation.

Moreover, to address implementing inadequacies, it ishigh time that we explore the possibility of giving moreresponsibility to the COMELEC in terms of verifying theauthenticity of documents submitted to them, and institute acredible, effective system for said purpose, and not relyingmerely on the representation of the submitting parties. Afterall, the screening of would-be candidates who could possiblyform part of the leadership of our government in the future isvery much impressed with public interest. Such policy appearsto be sound, as of this juncture, owing to the nature of itsimportance to us as citizens and to our national interest andsecurity.

Hindi po natin dapat payagan kailanman na magpatuloyang mapanlinlang na layunin ng ilan sa atin na ginagawangkatatawanan ang ating mga batas at mga institusyon. This isnot in any way to prejudge the case pending before theCOMELEC or intrude into its powers, but this speech isintended to bring to the fore the adverse effects of thesubstantial provisions, or lack thereof, in our present lawsand the perceived flaws in the present procedure ofverification.

In closing, I enjoin everyone to take a serious look into thismatter. I call on the DFA, the NSO, the COMELEC and theBureau of Immigration (BI) to do something about this. I thinkthis is another battle beckoning us to launch a crusade againstthe threat it currently poses. This battle should start now.

Thank you, my colleagues. Thank you, Mme. Speaker.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). The FloorLeader is recognized.

REP. BENALDO. Mme. Speaker, I move that we referthe privilege speech of the Honorable Velasco to theappropriate committee.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is thereany objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the speech ofthe Honorable Velasco is hereby referred to the appropriatecommittee.


REP. BENALDO. Mme. Speaker, I move that werecognize the Hon. Antonio L. Tinio, from ACT TeachersParty-List, for his privilege speech.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). TheHonorable Tinio is hereby recognized for his privilege speech.

PRIVILEGE SPEECH OF REP. TINIO

REP. TINIO. Thank you, Mme. Speaker.Today, February 4, marks the anniversary of an event of

great significance in our history. Unfortunately, it is also adate and an event that is largely forgotten by the vast majorityof Filipinos.

It is a universal practice among nations to honor theirwar dead. In the Philippines, for instance, we have thoseofficial holidays to commemorate, for example, the war ofliberation against Spain, or the Philippine Revolution of 1898,which is in the month of August, or in November when we


commemorate Bonifacio Day. We have April 9, Bataan Day,to commemorate and give honor to those who died in WorldWar II in the war against Japanese imperialism. Since mostof the armed conflicts in our history have been unfortunatelyinternal conflicts pitting Filipinos against Filipinos, we havedates such as September 21 and the anniversary of the FirstEDSA Revolution of 1986 to commemorate those heroes andmartyrs who fought against martial law.

However, the same cannot be said for one of the bloodiestconflicts in our history, and I speak of the Philippine-AmericanWar of 1899. There is no official holiday, no monument, nomarkers, not even a press statement from Malacañang. Theheroes and martyrs of the great war for Philippineindependence from US imperialism remain unrememberedand unmourned. Any memory of the events, heroes andmartyrs of the war has nearly been obliterated from thecollective memory and consciousness of our people.

February 4, 2013, today, marks the 114th Anniversary ofthe outbreak of the Philippine-American War. On this day,114 years ago, despite strong domestic opposition to UScolonial expansion and retention in the Philippines, US troopsinitiated the Philippine-American War with the shooting ofCpl. Anastacio Felix of the 4th Company Morong Battalionand two other Filipino sentries at an outpost in Sociego St.,Sta. Mesa, Manila. The shot signaled not only the opening ofhostilities against the armed forces of the First Republic ofthe Philippines, but also the launching of a war or aggressionagainst seven million Filipinos, the population of thePhilippines at that time, who just newly won their liberty fromthe colonial rule of Spain.

The Filipinos, our ancestors, faced overwhelming oddsin defending against an occupying force that was vastlysuperior—economically and militarily— resulting in crushingdefeats with lopsided casualties on the Filipino side duringthe opening phase of the war. In order to incapacitate theguerilla forces and as a form of retaliatory slaughter forsuccessful guerilla operations, once the Filipino forcesdecided to shift to guerilla tactics, the American militarytargeted whole populations throughout the archipelago,displacing whole communities and interning them inconcentration camps, employing scorched earth tactics thatdestroyed homes, crops, food stores, livestock and watersupplies, establishing so-called “dead zones,” making use ofcordon tactics and instigating what they called “depopulationcampaigns” in which civilians were killed indiscriminately.

Such atrocities were committed by US forces in theirconquest of Panay, Marinduque and Samar, which wasnotoriously turned into a “howling wilderness” upon theorders of US Gen. Jake Smith, and Batangas where Maj. Gen.J. Franklin Bell’s use of concentration camps led to theoutbreak of cholera and other diseases that killed over 100,000people there and in other provinces.

American soldiers gained notoriety for usingwaterboarding, the so-called “water cure,” and other forms oftorture as a means to elicit information from guerillas andcivilians alike. We must note that the current controversy aboutthe use of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the UnitedStates, particularly their deployment of the water cure as a so-called “enhanced interrogation technique” in the war on terroris not new as far as US imperialism is concerned. It is not onlyin Afghanistan, Vietnam and Pakistan where they make use ofthis tactic, it was used on our own people over a century ago.

The Filipino people matched American brutality withnationwide resistance to the imposition of US colonial rule,persisting well beyond the fall of the First Republic, the so-called Malolos Republic, and the official declaration of theend of the war in July 1901, carried forward by freedomfighters labeled as bandits by the colonizers, includingFaustino Guillermo and his new Katipunan; Simeon Ola andthe guerillas of Bicol; Papa Faustino and the Pulajanes ofLeyte; Papa Isio of Negros; Apo Ipe of Bulacan; and MacarioSakay who declared the Republika ng Katagalugan in 1902,as well as the Moro people’s resistance to the US occupationmarked by the massacres of Bud Dajo in 1906 and Bud Bagsakin 1913. All these resistance went unabated until 1916.

The Philippine-American War stands as one of thebloodiest chapters in our nation’s history with conservativeestimates placing the number of Filipino soldiers killed at34,000, together with at least 200,000 civilian deaths whileothers have claimed, based on population figures before andafter the war, that over one million Filipinos lost their livesas a result of the conflict.

The above-mentioned conduct of US forces during thePhilippine-American War constitutes war crimes that violatefundamental principles of Human Rights and InternationalHumanitarian Laws such as the distinction betweencombatants and non-combatants, and the concepts of militarynecessity and proportionality.

Both the International Humanitarian Law and theInternational Human Rights Law recognize the rights ofvictims to reparation which covers apology, includingacknowledgment of the facts and acceptance of responsibilityfor State-sponsored war crimes. If we really want relationsbetween the Philippines and the United States to be based onequality and mutual respect, it must be grounded on thetruthful acknowledgment of a common history.

Mme. Speaker and my dear colleagues, on the 30th ofApril, the fleet, the so-called Asiatic Squadron of Comm.George Dewey of the US Navy, first appeared in Manila Bayand the day after, the famous Battle of Manila Bay took placewhere, in a few hours, the US ships sank practically the wholeso-called Oriental fleet, the Oriental Armada of Spain whichtook place on May 1, 1898 and on May 2, 1898, CommodoreDewey ordered the landing of a US Marines contingent inCavite. That was the first time ever that US soldiers set footon Philippine soil and from that time up to the present, therebegan a military presence of the United States on Philippinesoil which has remained up to this day. Currently, there arenow at least 200 Special Forces troops of the United Statedunder the so-called Joint Special Operations Task Force whichare permanently based in Camp Navarro at least since 2002.

Just a few days ago, on February 1, the nuclear-poweredattack submarine USS Cheyenne made a visit and it is probablystill in Subic right now for a routine port of call. It should benoted, and the press release of the US Navy says so, that thisUSS Cheyenne is one of the most capable “nuclear attacksubmarines in the world.” Further, that the USS Cheyenne’senhanced war-fighting capabilities include vertical-launchcruise missiles including the Tomahawk missile. For theinformation of this Body, the well-known Tomahawk missilecan be armed with tactical nuclear warheads. Hence, thequestions arise: Is there not a violation of our constitutionalban on nuclear weapons when our government allows the so-called routine port of call of this possibly nuclear-armed attack


submarine of the United States? What is the government doingto ensure that our Constitution is not being violated? Ofcourse, at this very minute, the USS Guardian remainsstranded on our World Heritage Site, our cherished TubbatahaReef.

Recent reports have just noted that the damage to theReef has been far more extensive than originally reported,not just one-square kilometer but four-square kilometers haveactually been damaged due to the unauthorized andunexplained presence of this USS Guardian in our protectedwaters. To add insult to injury, reports have also said and theUS Navy itself has admitted, that even the one month-longsalvage operation which is necessary in order to remove theUSS Guardian will cause even further damage to Tubbataha.

In other words, Mme. Speaker and colleagues, thecommemoration of February 4 remains of utmost importance.It is not just the commemoration of a past, a dead historicalevent, but literally it continues to raise questions, fundamentalquestions regarding our sovereignty, our independence as anation. In this connection, let me make the followingproposals:

First of all, in view of the near total, very successfulobliteration of practically all memory of the Philippine-American War and of the commemoration of our ancestorswho fought and sacrificed in order to defend the newly wonPhilippine independence from the US colonizers, I call onour government to ensure the education of all Filipinos,especially the youth, regarding February 4 as the anniversaryof the Philippine-American War. For this purpose, I proposethat February 4 be declared as Philippine-American WarMemorial Day.

On this day, schools are enjoined to hold activities thatwill educate, especially our youth, on our history and thesacrifices made by our ancestors in the name of independence.The government can initiate a mass media informationcampaign to inform our public regarding our heroic past inrelation to the Philippine-American War and the governmentcan put up a national monument or a shrine on the Philippine-American War. Up to now, there is not a single monument,not even a plaque or a marker, that commemorates thisimportant bloody event in our history. This national monumentcan serve as a focal point for remembering, forcommemorating, for honoring our heroes and martyrs. Wecan also call on local governments to lead commemorations,especially in those areas where real sacrifices were madeduring the Philippine-American War, at the local level.

My second proposal in relation to the commemoration ofthe 114th Anniversary of the Philippine-American War isaddressed to the US government and this is, that our governmentrespectfully demand an apology, an acknowledgment that therewas, in the first place, a war between the Philippines and theUnited States; that it was a war of a sovereign people againstUS occupation and not a mere insurrection. Unfortunately, upto now, this is how this period in history is depicted in somehistory books in the United States and even in the Philippines.It was not a mere Philippine insurrection, it was a Philippine-American War. So, it is not a mere insurrection against apurportedly legitimate US colonial authority.

I reiterate: our government, in behalf of our people,should demand an acknowledgment and an apology in thesame way that other countries in the world have issuedapologies for their historical behavior during times of war. I

can cite, for instance, the case of Germany, the case of Japan,and this goes beyond apology which is important but alsotowards reparations which is something that should also beaddressed by our government.

Finally, I support the call of a large number of Filipinos,a growing number of Filipinos, especially in the light ofthis most recent incident in Tubbataha. I support the callfor the scrapping of the unequal Visiting Forces Agreementand all other military agreements between the Philippinesand the United States, including the Mutual Defense Treatywhich places our country on an unequal footing with thegreatest imperial power in the world and which enables thecontinuing dependence of our country on another in mattersof national defense, particularly external defense, andnational sovereignty. With that, Mme. Speaker, once again,I urge our colleagues to remember this day, remember ourfallen heroes from the Philippine-American War. I thankeveryone.

Good evening.

REP. RODRIGUEZ (R.). Mme. Speaker.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Thehonorable Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez is recognized.

REP. RODRIGUEZ (R.). Thank you, Mme. Speaker.Would the Gentleman from ACT Teachers Party-List bewilling to receive some interventions from thisRepresentation?

REP. TINIO. Gladly, Mme. Speaker.

REP. RODRIGUEZ (R.). First of all, Mme. Speaker,let me congratulate the honorable Rep. Antonio L. Tinio ofACT Teachers Party-List for a very well-researchedprivilege speech in relation to the Philippine-American War.He mentioned about the heroes from all over the countrywho fought in the war so that we can continue to havefreedom after we fought Spain. It will be remembered thatSpain was already losing to the Philippine government ofEmilio Aguinaldo, but then the Americans came whopromised Aguinaldo, at first, that they will grantindependence but when they came, they changed their mindsand they, under the benevolent assimilation policy ofPresident McKinley, would now also dominate and colonizethe Philippines. However, I would just like to ask why thethree big heroes of Cagayan de Oro who fought theAmericans were not mentioned in his speech.

REP. TINIO. Mme. Speaker, and to the honorableRepresentative of Cagayan de Oro City, I sincerely apologize.Well, it was not the intention of the speech to be acomprehensive commemoration of all the heroes. Pleaseunderstand, it is beyond the capability of this Representationto do so, but I did mention that all over the country or inmany parts of the country, there are many heroes that up tothis day remain unremembered. I am aware, Mme. Speaker,that the Honorable Rodriguez (R.) has a bill which wasdeliberated upon. I had the privilege of sitting in thedeliberations on this bill in the Basic Education Committee,which is precisely to commemorate the heroes of thePhilippine-American War from Cagayan de Oro.


REP. RODRIGUEZ (R.). Thank you. I do not blame thedistinguished Gentleman because it is unfortunate that historybooks are written by people from Luzon, especially in MetroManila. The history of the revolution against Spain and theconsequent war against America and in other jurisdictions,especially in Mindanao, have not been given prominence inthese history books. Even the book of Teodoro Agoncillo,the book of Antonio Molina, the book of Gregorio Zaide,would have very scant historical facts on the war forindependence by the Philippines against Spain and thePhilippine-American War. But I would just like to put onrecord that in the Philippine-American War, we have threegreat heroes of Cagayan de Oro and their names are nownames of main streets and avenues in Cagayan de Oro City.

The first one is Gen. Nicolas Capistrano, one of the lastgenerals who surrendered or was captured by the Americansin 1901. He was the one who directed the great battle ofMacahambus Cave. Well, it was one of the first victories ofany Filipino group who fought for freedom, not as insurgents,but fought for freedom in Mindanao. In the battle ofMacahambus Cave, 24 Americans were killed and two werecaptured. Of the Cagayanons who died, only one died in thatparticular fight in Macahambus Cave which is now a shrinein Cagayan de Oro. So, that was Gen. Nicolas Capistrano.That is now the name of the street where one would passthrough the City Hall in Cagayan de Oro.

The second one has his name on the biggest street thatwe have, called Del Mar Street before. Now, it is calledApolinar Velez Street Gen. Apolinar Velez likewise foughtthe Americans in three battles. First, the Battle of Cagayande Oro near the Gaston Park and the second was the battlein Agusan. This Gen. Apolinar Velez certainly ranks amongthe heroes of the Philippine-American War. The last one, Iwould like to mention, is Capt. Vicente Roa who, in theBattle of Agusan, in Barangay Agusan, was the one whotold the Americans, “You come over to the barangay; youare in the center, you come over, let us fight here in Agusan.”And that is where he died with his boots on because whenhe was already cornered, Capt. Vicente Roa, with his saber,no more bullets left, fought and died there. So, we havethese three heroes who were therefore very crucial in thefight against the Americans.

Now, one more thing I would like to also ask, to addto the proposals of our distinguished Representative fromthe ACT Teachers Party-List is, it is about time that wealso encourage both the national government and the localgovernments to write the local history. If the local historyis not written, then everybody would grow up, especiallythe children, who are in their elementary grades, highschool, then college, and they would not even know it. If Idid not start writing the history of Cagayan de Oro, I wouldnot even know that the monument I was climbing at whenI was a child, had a hole inside it where you can see clothesat the bottom bellow. These were clothes of the heroes of1900, of the Battle of Agusan. So, in other words, if thehonorable distinguished Representative would propose thatwe should commemorate, the first thing to do is to haveeach and every local government write its local history.Once local history is there, then everybody would be ableto know, not only the local governments, the teachers andthe students would know why the streets were named as suchand who these heroes were. That is what I would like to

propose to my honorable colleague, that local historyshould now be written because if you do not have localhistory, the national history that we will only have is thehistory of Metro Manila, Batangas, Cavite and Laguna.That is all the national history there is, because there is nomention especially of Mindanao. That is why I filed theMindanao Heroes Bill.

But according to the late Sonny Escudero, being a heroshould be left in the minds and hearts of the people. Youcannot legislate heroes, which I would also probably agreeto. But certainly, these are the heroes of the Philippine-American War and therefore, I support your privilege speechwhen you said they have to be commemorated.

It should be remembered that the Philippines foughtagainst the Spaniards and the Americans. For example, theBalangiga Massacre. Now we should also request ourauthor that we should also demand the return of theBalangiga bells. There are three bells involved here. Thetwo big bells were taken by the Americans and brought toFort Warren Air For Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Theyare there now and those are our bells. But the third bell,the small bell, is in South Korea in the American contingentnear Panmunjom and in this particular case, that small bellwas the one used to ring out so that the insurgents in thechurch and everywhere will come out. Of the 72 Americansin Balangiga, 40 were killed and 30 were wounded. Thatis why as you have said, suddenly, the Americans, throughGen. Jake Smith, “Howling Wilderness” Smith, were saidto kill everybody from 10 years old up. So they killedeveryone in Samar. That is the “Howling Wilderness.” Ifyou go there to Balangiga, you can see the structure, thememorial that was built by Napoleon Abueva, courtesy ofCongressman Libanan. That reminds us of our history whenwe fought against the Americans, and that is how we cameto know about the three bells that were used. Therefore,we would like to demand also that the Americans returnthe three bells, two in Cheyenne, Wyoming and one inSouth Korea, which are all rightfully owned by the Filipinopeople. That is a way of reparation for what they did. So,congratulations again, Mme. Speaker. Congratulations toour distinguished colleague, and I would now stop myinterpellation.


REP. TINIO. Mme. Speaker, just a very brief response.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). TheGentleman may please proceed.

REP. TINIO. Mme. Speaker, I thank the Honorable RufusRodriguez for sharing to us the names and exploits of theheroes of the Philippine-American War from Cagayan de Oro.At least, this day has not passed without us remembering someof the heroes of that war and hearing his stories about thestreets in Cagayan de Oro being named after those heroes,and that there is a shrine dedicated to the heroes of thePhilippine-American War in Cagayan de Oro, as well as inSamar and in Balangiga, which all further highlight the pointthat, at least, the local governments now are leading the wayin commemorating the Philippine-American War heroes. We


should put more pressure on the national government that itshould play its part in remembering our heroes and educatingour youth.

Lastly, I do support his suggestions regarding theimportance of local history and the return of the Balangigabells. Thank you, Mme. Speaker.

REP. BENALDO. Mme. Speaker.


REP. BENALDO. I move that we refer the privilegespeech of the Honorable Tino, as well as the interpellationthereto, to the appropriate committee.


The privilege speech of the Honorable Tinio is herebyreferred to the appropriate committee.


REP. BENALDO. Mme. Speaker, I move that weterminate the Privilege Hour.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is thereany objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the PrivilegeHour is hereby terminated.


REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we proceedto the Additional Reference of Business.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). TheSecretary General will please read the Additional Referenceof Business.

ADDITIONAL REFERENCE OF BUSINESS

The Secretary General read the following HouseResolution on First Reading and the Presiding Officer madethe corresponding references:

RESOLUTION

House Resolution No. 3023, entitled:“RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE

CONGRESSIONAL HONOR GUARDS FORTHEIR COMMITMENT AND SELFLESSDEDICATION IN THE PERFORMANCE OFTHEIR DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS”

By Representatives Belmonte (F.), Gonzales (N.) andSuarez


DESIGNATION OF MEMBERS TO THE BICAM. CONF. CTTEE.

REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, I made the motion

earlier to designate the members of the Bicameral ConferenceCommittee on the disagreeing provisions of House Bill No.4867 and Senate Bill No. 3290. I move that we designatetwo additional members in the persons of the Hon. GiorgidiB. Aggabao and the Hon. Benjo A. Benaldo.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is thereany objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; ourdistinguished colleagues mentioned are hereby designated asconferees to the Bicameral Conference Committee on thedisagreeing provisions of Senate Bill No. 3290 and HouseBill No. 4867.


REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we directthe Secretary General to transmit immediately to the Senateall the bills we approved on Third Reading earlier.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is thereany objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the SecretaryGeneral is hereby directed to transmit to the Senate all nationaland local bills approved on Third Reading.


REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we suspendthe session until Tuesday ...

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). The Dep.Majority ...

CONSIDERATION OF H.RES. NO. 3023

REP. FARIÑAS. All right. Mme. Speaker, I am sorry.I move that we consider House Resolution No. 3023.May I ask that the Secretary General be directed to read

only the title of the measure.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is thereany objection? (Silence) The Chair hears none; the motion isapproved. *

The Secretary General is directed to read only the titleof the measure.

With the permission of the Body, and since copies of themeasure have been previously distributed, the SecretaryGeneral read only the title thereof without prejudice toinserting its text in the Congressional Record.

THE SECRETARY GENERAL. House Resolution No.3023, entitled: RESOLUTION COMMENDING THECONGRESSIONAL HONOR GUARDS FOR THEIRCOMMITMENT AND SELFLESS DEDICATION IN THEPERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES ANDFUNCTIONS.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). The Dep.Majority Leader is recognized.

REP. FARIÑAS. I move for the adoption of House BillNo. 3023.

* See MEASURES CONSIDERED (printed separately)


ADOPTION OF H.RES. NO. 3023


House Resolution No. 3023 is adopted.The Dep. Majority Leader is recognized.

SUSPENSION OF SESSION

REP. FARIÑAS. Mme. Speaker, I move that we suspend

the session until tomorrow, Tuesday, February 5, 2013, atfour o’clock in the afternoon.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Rep. Garin, J.). Is thereany objection? (Silence) The session is suspended untiltomorrow, February 5, 2013, at four o’clock in theafternoon.

It was 7:34 p.m.

Published by the Publication and Editorial Service, Plenary Affairs BureauThe Congressional Record can be accessed through the Downloads Center of the official website

of the House of Representatives at www.congress.gov.phFLL/AZB/041613/1600

Documents

2009 MAY 12congress.gov.ph/legisdocs/congrec/15th/3rd/15C_3RS-42c...na puno ng niyog diyan po sa lalawigan ng Batangas ay hindi na lang po pangamba—mangyayari na at nangyayari na