Senate OKd resolution suspending bonuses, allowances of GOCC execs

By Maila Ager INQUIRER.net MANILA, Philippines— (UPDATE) Senators unanimously adopted on Wednesday a resolution urging President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to immediately suspend all the “unusually large and apparently excessive allowances, bonuses, incentives and other perks of the governing boards” of government owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) as well as of government financialinstitutions (GFIs) It was Senator Franklin Drilon, chairman of the Senate finance committee, who presented Senate Resolution 17 on the floor. None of 17 senators present in the plenary objected to its adoption. “Resolved by the Senate, to urge, as it hereby urges, the President to immediately suspend all the allowances, bonuses, incentives, and other perks being received by the members of the board of GOCCs and GFIs, except reasonable per diems, pending the enactment of the needed legislation for their regulation,” said the resolution. The President, it noted, has the power under the Administrative Code to suspend the excessive bonuses of the board of directors/trustees of GOCCs and GFIs, “If the respective boards of these GOCCs and GFIs would be allowed to continue to grant such bonuses to themselves, the damage to these corporations and institutions would be irreparable and would further erode government revenues,' said the resolution. It also expressed the need to turn over to the concerned GOCC and GFI the fees, bonuses, stockoptions, allowances and other benefits that the board members have been getting while they sit as representatives of government firms in various private corporations. At a press briefing before taking the floor, Drilon clarified that the proposed suspension of bonuses and allowances would not cover executives and employeesof government corporations. “In so far as the executives and the rank and file employees are concerned, we can't touch them at this point unless it's part of a comprehensive reform,” he pointed out. In a letter to Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile dated August 24, Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad conveyed the President's proposal to adopt a “menu” for their 2nd tranche of this year's congressional allocations. “We are aware that there is an existing provision in the 2010 GAA (General Appropriations Act) on the menu that should be adopted for the whole year of 2010,” Abad said in the letter. But the proposed menu items, he said, “all fall within the menu as provided in the 2010 GAA. “The only difference is that the items in the President's proposed menu are more focused and aligned with his priorities. Therefore we would appreciate if this menu can be adopted,” Abad added. For congressional district or party-list representative, the President suggested that the congressional allocation for education, health and social protection should not exceed P15 million and P20 million for projects listed under public infrastructure. And for senators, the President wants a limit of P50 million for education, health and social protection and another P50 million for infrastructure. The project listed under education are scholarships, which includes Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GATSPE) Educational Service Contracting; health covers assistance to indigent patients either confined or out-patients, purchase of medical equipment, andinsurance premium; and under social protection are “community-driven projects” under the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan (Unity Against Poverty) Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The projects listed under public infrastructure are roads and bridges, flood control, hospitals and health facilities, public markets, educational facilities, school buildings, desks and chairs, water supply system, farm-to-market roads, and irrigation projects identified in the master plan of the Department of Agriculture. “Identification of projects and/or designation of beneficiaries shall conform to the priority list, standard pr design prepared by each implementing agency,” said the documents attached to Abad's letter. “Furthermore, preference shall be given to projects located in 4th to 6th class municipalities and limited to indigents identified under the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction of the DSWD,” it added.

Palompon Institute of Technology........38th Charter Anniversary

A weeklong activity will be held from August 31, 2010 to September 3, 2010 at the Palompon Institute of Technology in connection with their 38th Charter Anniversary with the theme: "PIT Doing Great at 38".

PIT which is located in Palompon, Leyte serves the people of Region 8 comprising about six provinces now under the able leadership Dr. Delia T. Combista, current President of the institution which started operating since August 31, 1964 as the Palompon School of Arts and Trades (PSAT) with the enactment of House Bill No. 1106 unto RA 3394.

Supporting Ms. Combista in managing her daily activities at the said school are Drs. Jacinto P. Balunan, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Norberto C. Olavides, Vice President for Administration, and Flordeliza M. Sison Vice President for Research, Extension and External Affairs.

Day 1   - Tuesday, August 31, 2010 is the Grand Opening Day wherein the following activities were held: 7:00 a.m. - Concelebrated Thansgiving Mass at the PIT Gym by Rev. Fr. Jaime Villanueva as the main celebrant, Vicar Generalm Archdiocese of Palo tpgether with Rev. Fr. Albert Opiniano, Parish Priest of Palompon, Leyte and Rev. Fr. Jubal Meneses, Parish Priest of San Miguel, Palompon, Leyte.

Immediately after the Thanksgiving Mass a parade of all those involved in the 38th Charter Anniversary of the PIT was made in the main thoroughfare of the town showcasing their achievements and talents. being proud to be a part of the school's tradition of excellence in technological, maritime, teacher education and allied courses in these part of Northern Leyte and beyond.

Of course a parade would not be complete if there are no beautiful and amiable ladies being paraded and ogled at by the ever admiring parents, co-students, and kabayans from all over Leyte. The marshalls - NROTC Officers and colors above preceded the morning parade which was immediately followed by the High School Drum and Lyre Corps.

Comes now the College of Maritime Education where students of BSMT, BSMarE and of course the faculty of the said college together with Miss COMEd an aspiring candidate for Miss PIT 2010.

Immediately following the College of Maritime Education were the Laboratory High School students and faculty, Miss LHS, BSHTE and BSET students, BSED and BEEd students together with the faculty and Miss COEd who is also a candidate for Miss PIT 2010.

After a short wait the College of Technology and Engineering bannered by BSIT, BSIT, BSEng students and the faculty together with their muse Miss COTE who is also a front runner in the Miss PIT 2010 contest.

Of course the College of Arts and Sciences would not be left behind. BSSM, AB Communication students and the faculty  were all present to boost their candidate for Miss PIT 2010.

As the name implies, College of Advance Education  would not surrender. Though they are the smallest contingent in the parade they don't want to be left behind. They have the fighting spirit to go along and be recognized. Sabi nga nila "Manalo, matalo, lalaban tayo".

Just what the picture says, it seems they are all alone. not even one companion, but who knows, at the end of the day only a "major, major" problem can also make your day.

At the end of the parade are the Feild Presentation participants composed of Dagimbao Dancers, Maritime Students, and DANS-PIT after which other employees, the Administrative staff and the float of Miss PIT 2009 followed

The much awaited opening of Commercial Booths and Exhibits and the Open House of College Shops/Laboratories was made at around 8:45 a.m. and at 10:00 a.m. or immediately after the parade the Declaration of the Formal Opening of the 38th Charter Anniversary Celebration was made by Dr. Delia T. Combista, College President after the inspiring message of Hon. Bernard Jonathan M. Remandaban, Sangguniang Panlalawigan member of the Province of Leyte as guest of honor.

In the evening, the much awaited Miss PIT 2010 Beauty Pageant was held at the PIT Gym with the President of the school as guest of honor. To be awarded are winners in the following competition: Best in Swimwear, Best in Talent, Best in Long Gown/Formal Wear and lastly the Best in Question and Answer Portion. The best of them all is of course Miss PIT 2010............Long Live Palompon Institute of Technology, which I believe, eventually would become the first university in this part of Northern Leyte. It's about time..................

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Bata, Django go for 3rd World Cup title

Cedelf P. Tupas

 Philippine Daily Inquirer

 

Efren Reyes posing with fan after he won a historic US$200,000 at the 2005 IPT King of the Hill Shootout

              MANILA, Philippines—Just how comfortable is Efren “Bata” Reyes with 

              Francisco “Django” Bustamante?

              So comfortable that he can joke about his bosom buddy even without him around    If you make it to the Hall of Fame, you’re game deteriorates,” Reyes said         

              with a laugh.

              Reyes, of course, was referring to the entry of Bustamante, the reigning              

              World 9-Ball champion, in the Billiards Hall of Fame in June. “Bata” made    

              it to the  elite roster earlier in 2003.

              With a partnership built on confidence in each other’s game, the two   

              legends will defend the PartyPoker.Net World Cup of Pool crown against 

              31 other international pairs next month at Robinson’s Place Midtown in  

              Manila.

              Reyes and Bustamante, who also topped the maiden edition of the event 

              in 2006,   ruled the tournament last year by stunning Germany’s Thorsten            

              Hohmann and Ralf Souquet, 11-9, in an enthralling final at the SM North.

              Dennis Orcollo, who reached the semifinals together with Ronnie Alcano,      

              last year will have a new partner in 2007 WPC finalist Roberto Gomez in the other Philippine team.

“We were surprised we won last year. It’s not going to be easy defending the title,” said Reyes during a recent press launch of the event at the Solar Century Tower in Makati.

Chinese-Taipei aces Ko Pin-yi and Chang Jung-lin, Englishmen Daryl Peach and Karl Boyes and the German pair of Souquet and Oliver Ortmann lead the foreign charge in the $250,000 event which dangles a $60,000 purse for the champion duo.

Super "SWAT" was kept out of the loop

By DJ Yap Philippine Daily Inquirer Most Read MANILA, Philippines—At the Manila Police District (MPD), there’s a faction within the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit known mockingly as “Super SWAT,” an elite squad composed of veteran marksmen and arms experts. But Super SWAT was kept out of the loop during the Aug. 23 hostage drama at the Luneta Park that left eight tourists and the hostage-taker dead, much to the frustration of its leader, Senior Insp. Jonathan dela Cruz. “That’s not the SWAT I know,” he said of the unsure, bumbling unit of men whose assault on the bus taken hostage by former Senior Insp. Rolando Mendoza was captured live by cameras and made the subject of international derision. “It’s embarrassing. We’re going to be used as an example of what not to do in a hostage situation,” he said Thursday night in an interview with some of his team members in a Manila restaurant. Dela Cruz was supposed to have taken command of the MPD SWAT on Aug. 23, but a petition by some existing members—those who did not belong to his trusted circle—succeeded in retaining Chief Insp. Santiago Pascual as commander and keeping Dela Cruz and his team out of the action. Pascual was later relieved with three other SWAT leaders as a result of their handling of the hostage crisis. “Everybody here knows that it’s Dela Cruz who’s good. It’s a shame he wasn’t in command,” an MPD official not connected with SWAT nor with Dela Cruz said in a separate interview. “Politics did him in,” said the official, who did not want to be named for lack of clearance to speak on the subject. Watching in frustration At the height of the crisis, Dela Cruz said he was relegated to the sidelines, watching in frustration as the events unfolded. “I kept getting calls from people, from SWAT units in Metro Manila and my SWAT friends in the United States and Australia, and even British reporters, asking me what I was doing. They thought I was in command,” he said. “I just told them: ‘I’m not there.’” He said even his young daughters asked him, “Nandon ka (Were you there)?” and he felt embarrassed. He would do it differently Dela Cruz, 46, said he was not in any position to criticize and point out mistakes the SWAT members committed during the hostage crisis. However, he said he would have done things differently. First, with regard to intelligence work, he would work closely with the negotiators and interrogate hostages who had been released to determine the positions of those inside the bus, he said. Once their positions were known, the next step would be to determine the entry point and where to breach the vehicle. He said he would deploy only three people to storm the bus, but all of them must be fully decked in “Level 4” gear with bullet-proof vests and kneepads, Kevlar helmets, flashlights, M-16 rifles and handguns. “Then we would decide on what action to take during the worst case scenario. If the worst case scenario is that the hostage-taker starts shooting at the hostages, then we go in,” he said. Breach the front Dela Cruz said he would order his men to use a detonating cord to blast the front part of the bus, which, in his opinion, was the ideal place to breach. The three men would storm the vehicle, with halogen lights in position behind them to momentarily blind the hostage-taker. Their M-16 rifles would be equipped with flashlights to immediately zoom into the suspect and shoot him if necessary. “The most damage he could have done was to shoot one of us, but he wouldn’t be able to take all three of us down,” he said. “This would have been a good opportunity for Manila SWAT to show what it’s made of,” he said. “If the operation was successful, and I or one of my men died as a result, it would be worth it,” he said. Glory days Dela Cruz was commander of the MPD SWAT from 2007 to 2008, a period his subordinates liked to consider the “glory days” of the unit. “At that time, we were the ‘Best of the Best SWAT’ in the country, according to the SAF (Special Action Force),” he said. Super SWAT earned the moniker from its members’ penchant for wearing Level 4 gear all the time—decked out in bullet-proof vests, helmets and kneepads and carrying top-of-the-line M-16 rifles and handguns. “Some people thought we looked arrogant because we were wearing all our equipment. That’s when they started calling us ‘Super SWAT.’ They said we were elitists,” Dela Cruz said. One of his men chimed in: “It was not meant to be a compliment.” Improvise But Dela Cruz said: “We would need all that gear and equipment if we’re going to walk into a situation with confidence.” He said confidence was crucial in dealing with potentially deadly situations, citing one hostage-taking incident when his squad was called in. “When the hostage-taker fired a shot, the men from other units ducked for cover, but we remained standing. Then we walked over to get to the suspect.” He said his team, composed of less than 20 members, was a tightly knit family bonded together by a common interest in weapons and tactics. Dela Cruz said a good SWAT unit did not need astronomical funds to be effective. The commander just has to be resourceful in finding equipment for his team, he said. He said this was what he did when he was SWAT commander, constantly on the lookout for new devices and equipment and would improvise based on the resources they had. “In SWAT you don’t buy your equipment, you make your own,” he said, noting that the MPD SWAT currently uses Kevlar helmets and kneepads that he helped design when he was still commander. “But more than the equipment and gear, the most important thing in a SWAT unit is the people. These are the people behind you and in front of you. You want men who are skilled and you can trust,” he said. Trimming the fat Which was why as SWAT commander, Dela Cruz trimmed the unit’s personnel down from 100 to 25, provoking an outcry from those who did not make the cut. Dela Cruz said with scarce resources, he did not need 100 men to run a capable and efficient SWAT unit. “One bullet can give you experience ... It’s not about quantity of the manpower. It’s about the knowledge that your men have,” he said. He said his team was composed of men mostly in their 30s, unlike those deployed during the Luneta hostage crisis. “Those guys looked like they were still courting girls. They didn’t look like men raising families and building a future.” Floating status In 2008, Dela Cruz left the MPD SWAT to join the team of his former boss, Roberto Rosales, who was then just recently appointed director of the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO). He was assigned to the NCRPO’s Light Reaction Unit. Then early this year, he was recommended to resume duty at the MPD SWAT. If he had been allowed to re-assume command, he would have trimmed the bloated personnel again. This was probably why the current SWAT members were reluctant to have him on board. The complaining members sent a petition to Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim asking him to retain Pascual as commander, a request that Lim granted. “I was put on floating status as a result,” he said. US-trained Sought for a reaction, Lim said he did not know Dela Cruz and was not privy to the internal workings of the MPD SWAT. Now, Dela Cruz said he had been recommended anew to head the MPD SWAT. But he said he was not confident that he would be reinstated. “With this interview, I don’t know if I’ll be allowed to go back. But I’m OK with that. I just felt somebody had to say something. Now is the time for everyone to evaluate what went wrong and what should be done,” he said. A civil engineering graduate of the Technological Institute of the Philippines, Dela Cruz joined the police force in 1987. “I rose from the ranks. I was PO1, PO2 and so on,” he said. From 1991-1996, he received training in counterterrorism strategy and tactics from specialized police forces in Louisiana, US. The training was sponsored by the US Embassy. Hostile encounters As MPD SWAT commander, Dela Cruz had faced a number of hostile encounters with criminal elements, from hostage dramas to hijacking incidents and pursuits of fugitives. But none were of the scale of the Aug. 23 incident at Luneta. By reputation, Dela Cruz is seen as something of a loose cannon. He often terrified subordinates by “trying out” bulletproof gear while they were wearing it, that is, he would shoot it to demonstrate that the bullet would not penetrate it. He also liked to experiment with explosives as a breaching tool. He admitted that a civilian was injured during one such experiment. “I took care of the hospital bills,” he said Published in Philippine Daily Inquirer August 28, 2010..

Obscene

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Most Read

THE NEWS that Malacañang has slashed the subsidies of government-owned and -controlled corporations in the proposed P1.645-trillion national budget for 2011 is the first concrete response by the government to the problem of runaway salaries of GOCC officials.

From P32.3 billion this year, the proposed subsidy has been cut to P23.3 billion. The difference—as much as P16.016 billion—is a huge amount, and represents a welcome dose of fiscal sanity in a system that looks very much like institutional highway robbery.

It’s a good initial step, but Malacañang must not stop there. The revelation that executives and employees of these GOCCs are the highest-paid workers in the government payroll prompts the question: What do they need the government subsidies for?

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, for instance, must have, in Sen. Franklin Drilon’s wry formulation, run out of letters of the alphabet to call its laundry list of bonuses. The perks come with the most commonplace names, but the amounts they guarantee, and the fact that they repeat themselves in ever more desperate-sounding variations, ensures the generosity of the largesse. Just for the holiday season, the MWSS dispenses three kinds of bonuses to its board of trustees: the Traditional Corporate Christmas Package (TCCP), Traditional Christmas Bonus (TCB), and Additional Christmas Bonus (ACB).

 Pray tell, how are they different from each other? There are also bonuses for such milestone events as the “anniversary of the privatization of MWSS,” “family week celebration” (separate from the “family day” bonus) and “government corp/employees week,” on top of the “collective negotiation agreement incentive,” “rate rebasing incentive,” “educational assistance” and “additional educational assistance,” among other things.

Since the MWSS and other firms like it are swimming in so much money that they have to employ absurd nomenclature to justify giving the cash away, why do they still receive subsidies from state coffers? Ah, their executives will tell you: because their charters say so. GOCC charters not only grant these companies fiscal and administrative autonomy, they also require the government to provide automatic allocations for them in the national budget.

And there is the gaping loophole Congress and Malacañang must plug if they are serious about reining in these outrageous emoluments.

The Department of Finance has also announced it is studying the creation of a centralized body that will streamline GOCC operations. Any office established for such purpose will have its work cut out for it. Its first task is to find out whether maintaining all these corporations at crippling government expense is still worth it. Part of the 158 or so GOCCs “are no longer operating,” Finance Undersecretary Jeremias N. Paul Jr. said. Why hasn’t anyone looked into abolishing such costly deadwood?

Congress, too, must revisit the charters of these organizations, and root out esoteric provisions that, over the years, have only managed to shield these companies from the glare of public accountability and transparency. The defense that such charters exempt GOCCs from the ambit of regular governmental oversight has allowed these corporations to make short shrift of the normal rules on rational pay and auditing practices, directly giving rise to the problem of astronomical bonuses.

A memorandum order issued by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2001, for example, explicitly barred any GOCC executive from receiving salaries twice the regular pay of Cabinet secretaries (about P69,000 monthly, gross). But documents submitted to the Senate show that board members of the Government Service and Insurance System were paid as much as P6 million each annually, or P500,000 every month. Their work? Attending two board meetings a month.

Officials of the Social Security System were even more handsomely rewarded for their efforts. Four of them reportedly raked in millions as designated board members of Philex Mining Corp., where the SSS holds some P14.3 billion in investments.

What happened to the GMA memorandum? Ignored just like that?

This is unacceptable—a completely anarchical state of affairs that, in time, would drive the country to penury. Obscene is the word, and that describes both the staggering amounts that have changed hands, and the people who have had no compunction receiving them.

Published in Philippine Daily Inquirer August 28, 2010.