Rep. Rico: Build more Bohol power projects

Rep. Erico B. Aumentado

By JUNE S. BLANCO

  

REP. Erico Aumentado (2nd District, Bohol) will push for more hydroelectric and biomass power projects for the province to ensure against shortage the Department of Energy (DOE) projects to hit Central Visayas in 2016.

This after Engr. Rey Maleza, DOE Energy Management Division supervisor said Central Visayas will need 50 megawatts more in three years to support business, industry and service connection needs.

Aumentado said Bohol is abundant in rivers, dams and biomass materials waiting to be tapped for renewable energy – among them the proposed Cantakoy Hydroelectric Plant in Danao town. However, the solon rued, this project is being challenged by the Provincial Board, particularly by Board Members Josephine Socorro Jumamoy and Romulo Cepedoza and Trinidad Mayor Roberto Cajes. The lawmakers had separately expressed their opposition in separate privilege speeches.

Aumentado said he could not get heads or tails on their opposition because pre-feasibility studies show that the project is for the common good of the Boholanos who are the citizens that public servants are supposed to have sworn to serve.

He said the P1.3-billion Cantakoy Hydroelectric Plant funded by the Ayalas and the Sta. Clara Power Corp. that formed the Quadriver Power Corporation as a joint venture can generate 10 megawatts of additional power for Bohol.

He said Jumamoy’s opposition is apparently due to apprehension that while the siltation and power dams are to be designed to prevent the submerging of Inabanga town, it might adversely affect the sand and gravel quarry she is operating under the name allegedly of other persons as permittees in a move to circumvent tax laws and other duties.

On the other hand, Aumentado said, politics is the unseen hand holding Cepedoza because he had endorsed the Cantakoy project until he and his brother Jose, the incumbent vice mayor, clashed with Mayor Louis Thomas Gonzaga and the latter’s family over dissenting political stands in spite of their being close relatives..

The solon added that Cajes’ opposition to the project is similarly politically motivated – to get the sympathy and votes of Jumamoy and her son Jono the incumbent mayor of Inabanga, and their followers.

Aumentado said records at the Bohol Investment Promotion Center (BIPC) would show that the province now has only 103.3 MW of power of which 75 MW are the average load already during peak hours. The increase is brought on by more businesses and private residences applying for power connections, explained General Manager Carlos Itable, manager of the Bohol II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Boheco 2) that serves the power distribution needs in northern and eastern Bohol.

Aumentado said the current excess will fall short when the New Bohol Airport in Panglao Island will be operational, hence the need to lay the groundwork now for more generation to avert outages like what the Ayala and Sta. Clara joint venture has been doing. Engr. Asisclo Gonzaga heads Sta. Clara. Companies like Quadriver are in the best position to devewlop hydroelectric power as well as even giant irrigation dams, he explained.

This is also his reason in pushing for the Bohol Northeast Basin Multi-purpose Dam (BNBMPD) project that can irrigate some 19,000 hectares in Danao, Dagohoy, San Miguel, Trinidad, Bien Unido and Ubay towns. On top of the 10 MW of power the dam can generate, it will also serve as flood control for low-lying areas in Danao, Inabanga, Dagohoy and San Miguel, with eco-agri tourism to boast of to boot, Aumentado explained.

He added that concreting of the access road to the proposed plant site from the Carmen-Dagohoy boundary to Brgy. Concepcion in Danao is almost finished. The P114-million concrete road with another P130 million for a bridge along this road on top of comfort rooms for travelers are support infrastructure for the BNBMPD, he added.
 

At the same time, Aumentado is also pushing for the Bayongan Dam Hydro Power project that the Sunwest Power and Water Corporation will construct next year. It is expected to generate at least another three MW that experts say will not divert, lessen  or waste of the dam’s irrigation water for San Miguel, Trinidad ug Ubay, as well as the potable water for the San Miguel Waterworks System using modern Korean technology in filtration and chlorination system.

“Compromise” bill to benefit coco farmers, coco industry

sample photo only

 

By JUNE S. BLANCO

  

REP. Erico Aumentado (2nd District, Bohol) has filed a “compromise” bill seeking to allocate the coconut levy fund for coconut farmers and to develop the coconut industry.

House Bill 6714 proposes to allocate the over P84 billion coconut levy fund adjudged by the Supreme Court to be owned by the government to be used only for both purposes – “marrying” the positions of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and Senator Joker Arroyo.

Alcala wants to use the fund exclusively for the rehabilitation and development of the coconut industry. On the other hand, Arroyo wants the fund to be given directly to the coconut farmers as desired by them.

In a recent decision, the Supreme Court declared that the CIIF companies are owned by the government. The CIIF Oil Mills Group constitutes the biggest and the most integrated conglomerate in the Philippine coconut industry.

In his explanatory note on the bill, Aumentado named these companies to be the Southern Luzon Coconut Oil Mills (Solcom), Cagayan de Oro Oil Co., Inc. (Cagoil), Iligan Coconut Industries, Inc. (Ilicoco), San Pablo Manufacturing Corp. (SPMC), Granexport Manufacturing Corp. (Granex), and Legaspi Oil Co., Inc. (Legoil), and 14 holding companies – Soriano Shares, Inc., ACS Investors, Inc., Roxas Shares, Inc., Arc Investors, Inc., Toda Holdings, Inc., AP Holdings, Inc., SMC Officers Corps, Inc., Te Deum Resources, Inc., Randy Allied Ventures, Inc., Rock Steel Resources, Inc., Valhalla Properties Ltd., Inc. and First Meridian Development, Inc..

Together with the CIIF Block of San Miguel Corporation (SMC), these companies own stocks totaling 33,133,266 shares as of 1983, as well as all dividends declared, paid and issued, plus increments, but not limited to the exercise of pre-emptive rights (Petitioners COCOFED, et al. G.R. Nos. 177857-58 and Danila S. Ursua, G.R. No. 178193).

To resolve the Alcala-Arroyo impasse, Aumentado said his measure aims to install a compromise mechanism: 40% for all coconut farmers cash share; 40% for the development of the coconut industry; and 20% as revolving fund for the scholarship program of the coconut farmers’ children to pursue their education, dreams and aspirations.

The revolving education fund can be accessed exclusively by the farmers’ children as a concessional loan to be paid on installment basis from their employment the soonest possible time.

Those who will take up agriculture courses shall be prioritized in the availment of the student loan fund. This aims to encourage more students to take up agriculture and provide the necessary technicians and experts to develop the agriculture industry in the country, the solon explained.

Further, he said, the legislation could avert a possible agrarian problem if the coconut farmers are totally divested of their just share of the coconut levy fund which they had contributed in the first place, if all of the said fund shall be channeled to the development of the coconut industry which was the very foundation and reason of the coconut levy created under Presidential Decree (PD) 755.

The proposed “Coconut Levy Fund Allocation Act of 2013”.provides that the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), in consultation with the coconut farmers’ cooperative officials and the Department of Agriculture shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) the new measure within a period of 90 days from its enactment into law.

It wll take effect 15 days after its publication in at least two national newspapers of general circulation, or the national gazette.

House commends NBI for busting pyramiding scam

 

By JUNE S. BLANCO

THE Lower House is commending the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for busting another pyramiding scam that has scalped at least 15,000 people of an aggregate P12 billion.

Introduced by Rep. Erico B. Aumentado, House Resolution 2910 commends the NBI under Director Nonnatus Caesar Rojas and Deputy Director for Regional Service Virgilio Mendez for busting the scam perpetrated by the Aman Futures Group Philippines, Inc.

NBI investigation pointed to one Manuel Amalilio, a Malaysian, as the Aman chair and brain of the most notorious pyramiding scam that victimized investors mostly from Mindanao and the Visayas.

The bust has prompted five members of the Aman board of directors to voluntarily surrender to the NBI, even seeking its protective custody;

Justice Secretary Leila De Lima has identified the directors as Leila Lim Gan, Eduard Lim, Wilanie Fuentes, Nazelle Rodriguez and Lurix Lopez;

The resolution said the timely action of the NBI prevented the Aman Futures Group from defrauding more investors as well as in the early prosecution of Amalilio and others who conspired with him to commit the “biggest and worst” pyramiding scam in Philippine history;

For its vigilance and fast positive action on the Aman scam, Rojas, Mendez and the NBI deserve the commendation and plaudits of the Filipino people as expressed in the resolution proffered before the House of Representatives as the duly constituted voice of the Filipino people.   

Aumentado calls for balance: freedom of info, right to reply

Rep. Erico B. Aumentado

By JUNE S. BLANCO

QUEZON CITY – The Freedom of Information (FOI) BillI is very much alive.

Rep. Erico Aumentado (Bohol, 2nd District), took exception to the editorial of the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) and the commentary of Ma. Ceres Doyo on the alleged murder of the FOI in its November 14 issue. He said the editorial and the commentary do not speak well of the Lower House and of the Aquino administration.

While Aumentado accedes that the attack of the PDI editorial and the Doyo column are not without basis, he insists that “there is a cogent necessity to pass the bill to support the Aquino administration’s mantra for transparency, accountability and his righteous path or daang matuwid of governance.”

He said the FOI bill is anchored on Section 7, Article III, the Bill of Rights of the Philippine Constitution that says: The right of the people to information on matters of public concern shall be recognized. Access to official records, and to documents, and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions, or decisions, as well as to government research data used as basis for policy development, shall be afforded the citizen, subject to such limitations as may be provided by law.

The Bohol solon said even the Supreme Court relies on that provision in its rulings.

He said the new constitution now expressly recognizes that the people are entitled to information on matters of public concern and thus are expressly granted access to official records, as well as documents of official acts, or transactions, or decisions, subject to such limitations imposed by law.

The incorporation of this right in the Constitution is a recognition of the fundamental role of free exchange of information in a democracy, he explained. There can be no realistic perception by the public of the nation’s problems, nor a meaningful democratic decision-making if they are denied access to information of general interest. Information is needed to enable the members of society to cope with the exigencies of the times, he said.

Maintaining the flow of such information depends on protection for both its acquisition and its dissemination since, if either process is interrupted, the flow inevitably ceases, he added. However, restrictions on access to certain records may be imposed by law. Thus, access restrictions imposed to control insurrection have been permitted upon a showing of immediate and impending danger that renders ordinary means of control inadequate to maintain order, he explained.

Above all the FOI bill – once enacted into law – will become a single, strong and vital deterrent force against graft and corruption which goes into the heart of President Aquino’s winning tagline: Kung Walang Kurap, Walang Mahirap.

The FOI bill problem came about when his Nueva Ecija colleague insisted to insert a provision on the right of reply in the freedom of information measure tackled by the Committee on Public Information.

Aumentado said the proponent wants to ensure that those being maligned or attacked in media must have the same opportunity to defend himself. It is a highly reasonable ground in terms of practical consideration; and perhaps in a restricted sense, as an adjunct of the freedom of expression.

But the eminent constitutionalist, Fr. Joaquin J. Bernas, in his column, Sounding Board, also in the PDI, said should the right of reply become part of the FOI Bill or of the cybercrime law, it will be a good issue to take up as speech and not just as illicit taking of property.

However, the advocates of the right to reply are not without recourse. For the Journalists Code of Ethics formulated by the Philippine Press Institute (PPI) and the National Press Club (NPC) in Section 1reminds practitioners to scrupulously report and interpret the news, taking care not to suppress essential facts or to distort the truth by omission or improper emphasis.

In the same vein, the 2007 Broadcast Code of the Philippines provides adequate safeguards for the right to reply. In Article II, Analysis and Commentaries, Section 6 thereof provides however hostingpposing or contrasting sides of public issues should be fairly presented.

It is therefore clear, the Bohol solon said, that the right of reply is being enshrined in the Journalists Code of Ethics for print media with the PPI and NPC as the enforcers, and the 2007 Broadcast Code of the Philippines with the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas as the implementing arm for broadcast journalism.

Both the print and broadcast media codes provide sanctions and penalties like the FOI bill, for violators to suffer after the right to due process is satisfied.

To balance the equation, the government must discipline its ranks in the enforcement of the freedom of information, if enacted into law; while media must see to it that the code of conduct for journalists, whether in print or broadcast media, must likewise be enforced without fear or favour, Aumentado said.

This way, the freedom of expression – as the quintessence of a vibrant democracy – can flower and grow more expansively under a condition where the government and media industry could work together to strengthen the foundation of a transparent, accountable and righteous governance, that has earned the trust of the Filipino people and the global community as well, he added.

House panel OKs P50B capitalization for PPA

Tagbilaran City, Bohol port

  

By JUNE BLANCO and ROY PADEL

  

QUEZON CITY – The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is another step closer to building more roll on-roll off (roro) and fast craft ports.

This after the House Committee on Transportation approved House Bill 4396 authored by Rep. Erico Aumentado (2nd District, Bohol), seeking to increase PPA’s capitalization to P50 billion.

General Manager Juan “Boy” Sta. Ana expressed elation over the new PPA capitalization, saying on top of building more roro and fast craft ports, it can better maintain and improve the existing ports under the PPA system nationwide.

The approval came after Aumentado justified the measure, saying that PPA has consistently remitted to the national treasury not less than P1 billion pesos yearly as 50% of its net revenues from operation. The solon said the PPA is one of the few government owned and controlled corporations that give dividend every year to the national government instead of being subsidized by the latter.

To recall, the original capital of PPA amounted to P5 billion only. The amount has been exhausted, Aumentado explained, that is why PPA needs a bigger capitalization to accomplish its mission and vision.

As of now, PPA has estimated assets of P150 billion, but it needs liquidity or capital to build and improve more ports and support infrastructure like terminal buildings and fast craft facilities.

To note, during Aumentado’s governorship of Bohol, PPA improved by leaps and bounds the ports of Tagbilaran, Tubigon, Ubay and Jagna – all of which have become major components of the strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH).

Due to its additional capitalization, PPA will have funds for the Bohol cruise port in Loon and fast craft berths at the Getafe port and for other ports development in the 2nd District of Bohol.

Getafe now has two Star fast crafts owned by the Ouanos plying everyday from Cebu and back to bring more tourists, business and commerce to Bohol, while Tubigon port has additional fast crafts with the entry of Lite Shipping of Lucio Lim Jr. and soon, that of former PPA General Manager Alfonso Cusi.

Other ports needing improvement are the Ubay port which requires a new access road and causeway, as well as dredging, to accommodate bigger vessels and the Tapal wharf also in Ubay which is now handling the bulk of cargoes from all points of the country in the 2nd District.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is undertaking the construction of a new access road to the Ubay port costing P37.4 million to prevent accidents in its present narrow access road passing through the busy Ubay market. It will also provide a better entry and exit road for thickly populated barangay Tapon for easy access to fire trucks in case of conflagrations and facilitate the delivery of basic social services as education, health and sanitation therein.

The ports in Clarin and Bien Unido are now also being developed by The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) as feeder ports for tourism, cargoes and passengers. They are also eyed for PPA possible development due to their strategic locations.