READ: Bill seeks to exempt officials from suspension over charges in past positions.

<h3 style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: magenta;">House leaders file the bill after the Sandiganbayan ordered the suspensions of congressmen Amado Espino Jr and Luis Raymund Villafuerte</span></h3> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>House leaders file the bill after the Sandiganbayan ordered the suspensions of congressmen Amado Espino Jr and Luis Raymund Villafuerte</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQOeaxrNf-O4nXacWc3AqzPLc-vpjKRyZfse4K2eKXchMfsmOCPFM6_u68ZNrKHMkRaknC-hR9VjPARZrp1u84FhJAQ5ObIeqsNP7BDN67p04dOK6LjV-ug6s0HaHDcAuf2oNpp292Bo/s1600/sandiganbayan-20160926_1803917F3FAF42F7A35B6BDA6ADD9C71.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQOeaxrNf-O4nXacWc3AqzPLc-vpjKRyZfse4K2eKXchMfsmOCPFM6_u68ZNrKHMkRaknC-hR9VjPARZrp1u84FhJAQ5ObIeqsNP7BDN67p04dOK6LjV-ug6s0HaHDcAuf2oNpp292Bo/s320/sandiganbayan-20160926_1803917F3FAF42F7A35B6BDA6ADD9C71.jpg" width="320" /></a><b>MANILA, Philippines – Several House leaders filed a bill that would exempt incumbent officials from preventive suspension orders for cases involving their previous positions in government.</b></div> <br /> <b>House Bill (HB) Number 3605 was filed by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, Minority Leader Danilo Suarez, and Kabayan Representative Harry Roque, who is part of the minority bloc.</b><br /> <b><br /></b> <b>As of Monday, September 26, another 52 lawmakers have supported the measure.</b><br /> <b>HB Number 3605 seeks to add the following lines to Section 13 of Republic Act (RA) Number 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act: "That in case such incumbent public officer is no longer connected with the office wherein the offense charged was committed, the preventive suspension order shall no longer be implemented."</b><br /> <b><br /></b> <b>The proponents of the bill reasoned that RA Number 3019 was enacted "with the laudable intent of breathing life into the time-honored principle that a public office is a public trust."</b><br /> <b><br /></b> <b>"As preventive suspension is imposed to prevent an accused from influencing potential witnesses or tampering with records, the change in circumstances of the public officers effectively removes this threat, making the provision in line with the spirit and intent of the law," said Alvarez, Fariñas, Suarez, and Roque in their explanatory note.</b><br /> <b><br /></b> <b>The bill was filed after preventive suspension orders were separately ordered against Pangasinan 5th District Representative Amado Espino Jr and Camarines Sur 2nd District Representative Luis Raymund Villafuerte.</b><br /> <b><br /></b> <b>Anti-graft court Sandiganbayan ordered Espino's suspension for allegedly allowing illegal black sand mining operations in Pangasinan in 2011, back when he was still governor.</b><br /> <b><br /></b> <b>Villafuerte faces graft charges for supposedly allowing the payment for petroleum products to Naga Fuel Express Zone without proper bidding when he was still governor.</b><br /> <b><br /></b> <b>The House of Representatives then held an all-members caucus, where it was decided that the House committee on rules would discuss what actions to take over the 90-day suspension orders against the two lawmakers.</b><br /> <b><br /></b> <b>Fariñas earlier explained that the House's historical practice is to not implement suspension orders issued against congressmen over cases involving their previous positions.</b><br /> <b><br /></b> <b>But Alvarez gave an assurance that they would uphold the law concerning the suspensions of Espino and Villafuerte.</b><br /> <b><br /></b> <b>"Depende kung ano 'yung nararapat, kung ano 'yung legal, 'yun ang susundan natin (We're going to follow what is right and legal)," he said.</b><br /> <b><br /></b> <b><br /></b> <b><br /></b> <b><br /></b> <b>SOURCE: <a href="http://www.rappler.com/nation/147343-bill-exempt-officials-suspension-charges-past-positions?utm_content=buffer736a5&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer">RAPPLER</a></b>

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House leaders file the bill after the Sandiganbayan ordered the suspensions of congressmen Amado Espino Jr and Luis Raymund Villafuerte ...

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READ: COA: Office of the Ombudsman broke procurement rules in 2014.

<h2 style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: magenta;">State auditors say the Office of the Ombudsman had unimplemented procurement worth P183.9 million or 65% of its Annual Procurement Plan for that year</span></h2> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXYbg2w3bu5H2BGk9oVIDQuWXA2REzzWV-AFLS0i6W0FFHY02UzfIf4_Eg2JNmTLntVTjXM4eKjrtCW9f0JN0JzK811zaxGeFRqaDqn4CBux90_6sXyFo8PVp8XAT17oTyxMjN14SgBK0/s1600/ombfacade-officeoftheombudsmanwebsite_09fa2e287d5247fea21b8556e09974da_7565169E19754BD0B1630A6EA31C9919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXYbg2w3bu5H2BGk9oVIDQuWXA2REzzWV-AFLS0i6W0FFHY02UzfIf4_Eg2JNmTLntVTjXM4eKjrtCW9f0JN0JzK811zaxGeFRqaDqn4CBux90_6sXyFo8PVp8XAT17oTyxMjN14SgBK0/s640/ombfacade-officeoftheombudsmanwebsite_09fa2e287d5247fea21b8556e09974da_7565169E19754BD0B1630A6EA31C9919.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <h4 style="text-align: center;"> <i><span style="color: magenta;">AUDIT REPORT. The Commission on Audit raises concerns regarding the unimplemented procurement of the Office of the Ombudsman. File photo from the Office of the Ombudsman</span></i></h4> MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Audit (COA) said the Office of the Ombudsman violated procurement guidelines back in 2014 over unimplemented procurement totaling P183.9 million or 65% of its Annual Procurement Plan (APP) for that year.<br /> <br /> In a value-for-money audit released last September 6, COA said the Ombudsman did not observe guidelines under the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act, as well as Government Procurement Policy Board Circular Number 01-2009.<br /> <br /> The law directs government agencies to be prudent in using government funds and requires them to ensure that only equipment and supplies crucial to carrying out their functions should be included in the procurement plan.<br /> <br /> "Of the total APP of P280,832,533.94 for CY 2014, only P96,936,531.47 or 35 percent was undertaken... due to non-adherence to [existing rules]. In addition, the APPs were not within the approved budget," the audit report read.<br /> <br /> Not meticulously planned<br /> <br /> The state auditors also pointed out that the Ombudsman asked for funds exceeding P150 million to purchase items it had no immediate use for.<br /> <br /> "The APP prepared by the OMB-CO was not reflective of the Office's entire procurement activity for one year due to the inclusion of excessive items in the APP that seemed not yet essential in the pursuit of its operations," COA said.<br /> <br /> Based on the report, the biggest unimplemented sum was under the Ombudsman-Central Office with P151.33 million.<br /> <br /> This was followed by the OMB-Office of the Special Prosecutor with P16.64 million, OMB-Luzon with P12.29 million, and OMB-Military and other Law Enforcement Offices (MOLEO) with P3.63 million.<br /> <br /> The items included "property, plant and equipment," with a budget of P134.23 million of which only P31.57 million was spent; "common supplies/materials" which had P16.33 million in allocations but only P5.11 million was utilized; and "building administration supplies" with P16.5 million of which only P0.58 million was used.<br /> <br /> Other procurements included "repairs and maintenance of vehicles/spare parts" which had P12.41 million set aside but only P3.23 million was spent during the year.<br /> <br /> The report cited that procurement implementation ranged from 0% to 1.89% for the Ombudsman-Central Office.<br /> <br /> "With the huge amounts of unimplemented balances, the aforementioned APPs were therefore not meticulously and judiciously planned," COA added.<br /> <br /> In response to the audit report, the Ombudsman said much of the unimplemented procurement was for the new office spaces for the Office of the Special Prosecutor which ended up being delayed.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> SOURCE: <a href="http://audit%20report.%20the%20commission%20on%20audit%20raises%20concerns%20regarding%20the%20unimplemented%20procurement%20of%20the%20office%20of%20the%20ombudsman.%20file%20photo%20from%20the%20office%20of%20the%20ombudsman%20%20manila%2C%20philippines%20–%20the%20commission%20on%20audit%20%28coa%29%20said%20the%20office%20of%20the%20ombudsman%20violated%20procurement%20guidelines%20back%20in%202014%20over%20unimplemented%20procurement%20totaling%20p183.9%20million%20or%2065%25%20of%20its%20annual%20procurement%20plan%20%28app%29%20for%20that%20year.%20%20in%20a%20value-for-money%20audit%20released%20last%20september%206%2C%20coa%20said%20the%20ombudsman%20did%20not%20observe%20guidelines%20under%20the%20revised%20implementing%20rules%20and%20regulations%20of%20republic%20act%209184%20or%20the%20government%20procurement%20reform%20act%2C%20as%20well%20as%20government%20procurement%20policy%20board%20circular%20number%2001-2009.%20%20the%20law%20directs%20government%20agencies%20to%20be%20prudent%20in%20using%20government%20funds%20and%20requires%20them%20to%20ensure%20that%20only%20equipment%20and%20supplies%20crucial%20to%20carrying%20out%20their%20functions%20should%20be%20included%20in%20the%20procurement%20plan.%20%20%22of%20the%20total%20app%20of%20p280%2C832%2C533.94%20for%20cy%202014%2C%20only%20p96%2C936%2C531.47%20or%2035%20percent%20was%20undertaken...%20due%20to%20non-adherence%20to%20[existing%20rules].%20in%20addition%2C%20the%20apps%20were%20not%20within%20the%20approved%20budget%2C%22%20the%20audit%20report%20read.%20%20not%20meticulously%20planned%20%20the%20state%20auditors%20also%20pointed%20out%20that%20the%20ombudsman%20asked%20for%20funds%20exceeding%20p150%20million%20to%20purchase%20items%20it%20had%20no%20immediate%20use%20for.%20%20%22the%20app%20prepared%20by%20the%20omb-co%20was%20not%20reflective%20of%20the%20office%27s%20entire%20procurement%20activity%20for%20one%20year%20due%20to%20the%20inclusion%20of%20excessive%20items%20in%20the%20app%20that%20seemed%20not%20yet%20essential%20in%20the%20pursuit%20of%20its%20operations%2C%22%20coa%20said.%20%20based%20on%20the%20report%2C%20the%20biggest%20unimplemented%20sum%20was%20under%20the%20ombudsman-central%20office%20with%20p151.33%20million.%20%20this%20was%20followed%20by%20the%20omb-office%20of%20the%20special%20prosecutor%20with%20p16.64%20million%2C%20omb-luzon%20with%20p12.29%20million%2C%20and%20omb-military%20and%20other%20law%20enforcement%20offices%20%28moleo%29%20with%20p3.63%20million.%20%20the%20items%20included%20%22property%2C%20plant%20and%20equipment%2C%22%20with%20a%20budget%20of%20p134.23%20million%20of%20which%20only%20p31.57%20million%20was%20spent%3B%20%22common%20supplies/materials%22%20which%20had%20P16.33%20million%20in%20allocations%20but%20only%20P5.11%20million%20was%20utilized;%20and%20%22building%20administration%20supplies%22%20with%20P16.5%20million%20of%20which%20only%20P0.58%20million%20was%20used.%20%20Other%20procurements%20included%20%22repairs%20and%20maintenance%20of%20vehicles/spare%20parts%22%20which%20had%20P12.41%20million%20set%20aside%20but%20only%20P3.23%20million%20was%20spent%20during%20the%20year.%20%20The%20report%20cited%20that%20procurement%20implementation%20ranged%20from%200%%20to%201.89%%20for%20the%20Ombudsman-Central%20Office.%20%20%22With%20the%20huge%20amounts%20of%20unimplemented%20balances,%20the%20aforementioned%20APPs%20were%20therefore%20not%20meticulously%20and%20judiciously%20planned,%22%20COA%20added.%20%20In%20response%20to%20the%20audit%20report,%20the%20Ombudsman%20said%20much%20of%20the%20unimplemented%20procurement%20was%20for%20the%20new%20office%20spaces%20for%20the%20Office%20of%20the%20Special%20Prosecutor%20which%20ended%20up%20being%20delayed.">RAPPLER</a>

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State auditors say the Office of the Ombudsman had unimplemented procurement worth P183.9 million or 65% of its Annual Procurement Plan for...

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READ: Rice in the time of Duterte: Will more imports be good?

<div style="text-align: center;"> <h3> <b><span style="color: magenta;">As of August 2016, Filipinos are paying more than twice for a kilo of rice compared to their Thai and Vietnamese counterparts.</span></b></h3> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>Although national attention is currently focused on the war on drugs, the Duterte administration is quietly making gains in another policy area – rice policy.</b><br /> <b><br /></b> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjq0FwbeVqcuBIdTzlGrjrexFUkodGAvfK9BHWbUY_YyI70gzelSp5nljioddh200OsKriQn1WXgm2Etyw2BPSXDu1wo1wxdIItzrlySXa_WuDOjY2IVB0yeeuiFExlzS-OcY5hSoWIo/s1600/jc-punongbayan-20160909-small_A23B99BDBD3D4752B58381A31410B36B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjq0FwbeVqcuBIdTzlGrjrexFUkodGAvfK9BHWbUY_YyI70gzelSp5nljioddh200OsKriQn1WXgm2Etyw2BPSXDu1wo1wxdIItzrlySXa_WuDOjY2IVB0yeeuiFExlzS-OcY5hSoWIo/s320/jc-punongbayan-20160909-small_A23B99BDBD3D4752B58381A31410B36B.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <b>Recently the Duterte Cabinet, led by its economic team, agreed to lift restrictions on the importation of rice by 2017. </b><br /> <div style="text-align: start;"> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><br /></b></div> </div> <div style="text-align: start;"> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>This would usher in greater volumes of rice imports that the government has been trying to put off for more than two decades now.</b></div> </div> <div style="text-align: start;"> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><br /></b></div> </div> <div style="text-align: start;"> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>On the one hand, local rice farmers are naturally worried. They say that this policy will hurt them in the same way that other farmers have been hurt by the influx of cheap imported agricultural goods (like onions).</b></div> </div> <div style="text-align: start;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: start;"> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>On the other hand, some say that this policy will help promote competition, lower prices, and benefit several millions of Filipino rice consumers.</b></div> <b><br /></b> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>Some groups are already hailing the Cabinet’s rice policy as one of its first major economic reforms. To appreciate how exactly this policy can benefit the country in general, it may help to step back and look at key facts about rice consumption and production in the Philippines.</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>How affordable is rice in the PH?</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>Figure 1 shows that the Philippines has always had some of the highest rice prices in Southeast Asia. As of August 2016, Filipinos are paying more than twice for a kilo of rice compared to their Thai and Vietnamese counterparts.</b></div> </div> </div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mRxXtZ2DbGqxoJ0dApLloNa7G69uuyoNk4_yPkHkqbFUZ_9M1WuA1qkMd73VL8Nvex2oBOQVFmuY1L4POS5x7hj0mYjrIvYoXAfQwxNN6jFcXfnrEqilAZQ-OMUVVNcZpEBuUxKov6E/s1600/rice-policy-20160923-01_C27D7629184C45BFAF0398B8E00079CE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mRxXtZ2DbGqxoJ0dApLloNa7G69uuyoNk4_yPkHkqbFUZ_9M1WuA1qkMd73VL8Nvex2oBOQVFmuY1L4POS5x7hj0mYjrIvYoXAfQwxNN6jFcXfnrEqilAZQ-OMUVVNcZpEBuUxKov6E/s640/rice-policy-20160923-01_C27D7629184C45BFAF0398B8E00079CE.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <br /> <b>Figure 1. Source: FAO (Food Price Monitoring and Analysis Tool). Period covered: January 2000 to August 2016. PH data refer to regular-milled rice; Thai and Vietnamese data refer to the 25% broken variety.</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>These high rice prices harm poor Filipino households more than anyone else. Based on recent data, while the poorest households spend around 20% of their income on rice alone, the richest households spend just under 5% (Figure 2).</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxzUXQihEmtNfZrcjSxW3BSqK-Lxx6l-5ZL-b8a61XkwqUgxcNrCzrNZqJZ0FLudk11DO1IabKoks2qgi_HCF-rlMGJ0MGsTqzwAcp4V6lSSldChBGQLZAg_MhMnCTie3TwAc7ly5Ocw/s1600/rice-policy-20160923-02_F1A0FF3B54244A5E9E6F0DE0631552A3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxzUXQihEmtNfZrcjSxW3BSqK-Lxx6l-5ZL-b8a61XkwqUgxcNrCzrNZqJZ0FLudk11DO1IabKoks2qgi_HCF-rlMGJ0MGsTqzwAcp4V6lSSldChBGQLZAg_MhMnCTie3TwAc7ly5Ocw/s640/rice-policy-20160923-02_F1A0FF3B54244A5E9E6F0DE0631552A3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <b>Rice prices are harmful not only when they are high, but also when they are volatile. Figure 3 shows that since 1991 we experienced three major spikes in rice prices: 1995 (a 45% increase in price prices), 2008 (60% increase), and 2014 (20% increase).</b></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmcFYeX01AhFMiQnb7HThLZ4Ymvim-5CfAq44Rpkw5lW7Dugb4WJFdO0xWX1fC5Ye6szISJwQOupx72Qh52Vy_wAR83WYpxIp57DIGvm2mkWzlvKfW0gliA1DPKz3mvxsdHiak40INuk0/s1600/rice-policy-20160923-03_9A2AD98703FE49E2B66B0619087623FE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="465" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmcFYeX01AhFMiQnb7HThLZ4Ymvim-5CfAq44Rpkw5lW7Dugb4WJFdO0xWX1fC5Ye6szISJwQOupx72Qh52Vy_wAR83WYpxIp57DIGvm2mkWzlvKfW0gliA1DPKz3mvxsdHiak40INuk0/s640/rice-policy-20160923-03_9A2AD98703FE49E2B66B0619087623FE.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="color: magenta;">Figure 3. Period covered: January 1990 to July 2016. Trend displays growth in the price of regular-milled rice, which mimics the trend for other types of rice.</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="color: magenta;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>Such significant jumps in rice prices can have devastating impacts on the poor. A 2015 study found that at the height of the 2008 rice crisis, the inflation rate faced by the poorest 30% of the population was about twice the inflation rate faced by the general population. This significantly eroded the purchasing power of the poor and led more households into hunger and poverty.</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>Some studies also show that poor rice farmers are, in fact, net consumers (rather than net producers) of rice, meaning that they consume more rice than they produce. Hence, poor farmers are hurt by high rice prices as well.</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>What makes rice extra expensive for Filipinos?</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>High and volatile rice prices in the Philippines are borne by a myriad of factors, but largely geography and policy.</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>On the one hand, the Philippines has a relative disadvantage when it comes to rice production because of our peninsular geography. Unlike Vietnam and Thailand, we do not enjoy as much vast, uninterrupted rice plains and access to natural irrigation at the scale of, say, the mighty Mekong River.</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>On the other hand, expensive rice is also due to government policies, particularly the National Food Authority’s (NFA) status as the sole importer of rice in the country.</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>Every year the NFA decides how much rice to import in a given year based on forecasts of domestic rice demand and supply. This heavy-handed tinkering with the market, however, can occasionally lead to disaster when planning becomes faulty.</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>Specifically, the NFA may at times fail to import sufficient quantities of rice, leading not only in smuggling (which is really a manifestation of a large unmet demand for rice) but also in catastrophic shortages and price spikes.</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>Our last two rice crises attest to this. In 1995 and 2008, erroneous supply forecasts, external factors, and badly-timed imports led to massive rationing and queues. These were relieved only through belated importation of massive amounts of rice.</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>In the aftermath of these events, a select number of private agents have been allowed to import rice, but with a collective limit of 805,000 metric tons per year and levied with 35% tariff rates.</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>It is these import restrictions that the Duterte Cabinet is seeking to abolish by next year. By allowing more private agents to import rice, the NFA need not second-guess domestic demand and supply conditions, thus avoiding over- or under-importation of rice in any given year.</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>More importantly, this policy also means more competition in the domestic market that could lead to lower and less volatile prices, as well as food security for the vast majority of Filipinos.</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>This is not to say, however, that the NFA no longer has any significant role to play. For instance, it could focus on maintaining a buffer stock of rice to prepare for emergency shortfalls and provide immediate relief to avoid events like the violent Kidapawan protests last March. The NFA could also maintain a small tariff from which it can earn revenues to support farmers adjusting to this new era of freer rice trade.</b><br /> <h4 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA872y27l4bDjFn_wmOJFPtZ6ocS485OiiRIj5zrtYbzx6BfgNdCSMyPR9DmTYDGfSQZOi51jzW_K_uQtf376L6eUgqRtpmjg0E-W8tqMvBDVPHl6ZETOe1I4pV7to6Gktnv1ebbRdvCg/s1600/rice-imports_37D5B0DC4AE44327B186ED574E8C7DA1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA872y27l4bDjFn_wmOJFPtZ6ocS485OiiRIj5zrtYbzx6BfgNdCSMyPR9DmTYDGfSQZOi51jzW_K_uQtf376L6eUgqRtpmjg0E-W8tqMvBDVPHl6ZETOe1I4pV7to6Gktnv1ebbRdvCg/s640/rice-imports_37D5B0DC4AE44327B186ED574E8C7DA1.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="color: magenta;">RICE IMPORTS? The government tries to balance between keeping rice farmers happy and keeping prices low for consumers</span>. AFP file photo</h4> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>Conclusion: Good rice policy as a low-hanging fruit</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>The Duterte Cabinet’s proposal to lift rice import restrictions promises to benefit millions of Filipino rice consumers, especially the poor.</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>However, rice producers have already protested the Cabinet’s recent pronouncements. There are even renewed calls to reestablish the NFA’s status as the sole importer of rice. Hence, the Duterte Cabinet’s success in bringing rice policy reforms is yet to be ensured.</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>Such policy could arguably enjoy more success if it found support in the President himself. After all, there are about 101 million rice consumers in the country. In contrast, there are just 1.8 million drug users in the country as of 2015. Hence, shifting even a bit of attention away from drug policy and into rice policy can potentially benefit a far greater number of Filipinos.</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>Of course, it seems that the current drug war is here to stay. But given the potential benefits, here’s hoping that the present leadership brings at least as much interest and enthusiasm into rice policy. In the vast tree of social policies, this could very well be one of the lowest-hanging fruits out there.</b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><br /></b></div> <h3 style="text-align: center;"> SOURCE: <a href="http://www.rappler.com/thought-leaders/147136-rice-duterte-more-imports?utm_content=buffer14fb5&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer">RAPPLER</a></h3> </div>

convicts testifying vs De Lima Duterte invites Obama LP into drug probe Marine Lt. Col. Ferdinand Marcelino The RICE Policy READ: Rice in the time of Duterte: Will more imports be good?

As of August 2016, Filipinos are paying more than twice for a kilo of rice compared to their Thai and Vietnamese counterparts. Although...

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READ: US commits P320M for law enforcement in PH.

<h2 style="text-align: center;"> <b><span style="font-family: inherit;">These funds 'will be used in strict compliance with US legal obligations, and basic international law enforcement and policing standards,' a US official tells Rappler</span></b></h2> <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIFPYcduCqoPIDuHuN4Zzx2JkJZUIHaa3qlEG1F6LhFC45LevTQpG_MNQENafnygzJZldkc9GElrDBSgr0t5exctizAn4rR-up-8jqiqXcGM6zl0Ozg_PeJkQqngif51C5Fs4A48Ln3o/s1600/william-brownfield-20160923-1_E2D94AB5A87D41E288F85B938E0C8AB2.jpg"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIFPYcduCqoPIDuHuN4Zzx2JkJZUIHaa3qlEG1F6LhFC45LevTQpG_MNQENafnygzJZldkc9GElrDBSgr0t5exctizAn4rR-up-8jqiqXcGM6zl0Ozg_PeJkQqngif51C5Fs4A48Ln3o/s640/william-brownfield-20160923-1_E2D94AB5A87D41E288F85B938E0C8AB2.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: magenta;">TOP OFFICIAL. US Assistant Secretary of State William Brownfield listens during a briefing at the Foreign Press Center on February 24, 2015, in Washington, DC. Photo by Brendan Smialowski/AFP</span></span></h3> <b><div style="text-align: center;"> <b>MANILA, Philippines – The United States this week committed around P320 million ($6.7 million) to boost law enforcement in the Philippines, an official of the US State Department told Rappler.</b></div> <br />William Brownfield, Assistant Secretary for international narcotics and law enforcement affairs of the US State Department, said he approved this contribution "for the support of rule of law and law enforcement."<br /><br />Brownfield said the US sent the Philippines a diplomatic note about this new commitment earlier this week.<br /><br />The exact amount involved is P323.304 million ($6.725 million), according to the US State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).<br /><br />Speaking to Rappler through a phone call from the US, Brownfield said he hopes to spend this money on programs to:<br />Strengthen the rule of law in the Philippines<br />Provide greater due process in the country's justice system<br />Improve the country’s maritime security<br /><i><br />"Wherever the funds eventually go, these will be used in strict compliance with US legal obligations, and basic international law enforcement and policing standards," Brownfield explained.</i><br /><br />Brownfield once served as US ambassador to Colombia, which is known for a decades-long war on drugs. Before this, he was US ambassador to Venezuela and Chile.<br /><br />He is married to former US ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney, who is now counselor of the US State Department.<br /><br />Brownfield approved this new contribution as the Duterte administration faces two major law enforcement issues:<br />Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs, which has killed more than 3,330 people<br />The dispute between the Philippines and China over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea)<br /><br />Human rights abuses barred<br /><br />On the US' P323.304-million contribution, Brownfield said: "The funding is now available for programs and support in the Philippines. 'Available' means the two governments can now discuss and reach agreement on where and how it would be spent."<br /><br />When is the soonest that the Philippines can get hold of this funding?<br /><br />It depends, for one, on "where we agree to put the funding," he said.<br /><br />If the funds will be used to improve courts or to boost maritime security, the funding "could move fairly swiftly, and we could find that by the end of this year, these programs are actually operational."<br /><br />He said that this is because "no one would criticize efforts to improve due process and access to justice in the Philippines."<br /><br />Brownfield said, too, that "there are no accusations that maritime security and maritime law enforcement are producing any abuses."<br /><br /><i>"On the other hand, if we move into more complicated areas, it could take a very long time, because we obviously have to ensure that the government of the Philippines is comfortable with the program," the US official said.</i><br /><br /><i>"Obviously, any program in the Philippines eventually must be decided by the government of the Philippines, but I also have to be assured that the program would not put us in violation of US law. And if the program is in any sensitive area, this could take a good period of time," he added.</i><br />In his case as US Assistant Secretary of State, Brownfield said US law prohibits him "from providing assistance to any individual or any unit – security force, police, or military – that has engaged in human rights abuses."<br /><br />'Rigorous vetting'<br /><br />The US earlier said it <a href="http://www.rappler.com/nation/141087-john-kerry-duterte-meeting-assistance-law-enforcement">is ready to give the Philippines</a> around P1.54 billion ($32 million) for law enforcement training and services.<br /><br />The INL Bureau of the US State Department said that P224.46 million ($4.665 million) of this larger amount "is set to be transferred soon, via an Interagency Agreement, from INL to the US Coast Guard."<br /><br />This funding aims "to support maritime security in the Philippines."<br /><br /><i>"There is additional money which was previously appropriated by Congress for use in the Philippines, but no decisions have to be made on that funding's use until next year," a spokesperson for the INL Bureau said.</i><br /><br />Duterte earlier said the US' pledge of $32 million for law enforcement was a way of making amends with the Philippines.<br /><br />The US reacted by saying that this "is not new funding, but rather cumulative funding previously appropriated."<br /><br />The US said this funding is subject to "rigorous vetting" as in the case of other forms of security assistance. The US said all of its security assistance, in turn, "promotes human rights."<br /><br />Duterte, however, has chastised the US over human rights.<br /><br />On a planned meeting with US President Barack Obama, which was later aborted, Duterte said that "nobody has the right to lecture" him on human rights.<br /><br />Duterte said he will "answer" Obama if the US president explains America's deadly pacification of Muslims in the southern Philippines at the start of the 20th century.</b><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><h4> <br />SOURCE: <a href="http://www.rappler.com/nation/147196-us-funding-philippines-law-enforcement?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=referral">RAPPLER</a></h4> <div> <div> <br /></div> </div>

Duterte invites Obama Obama 'briefly talk' before ASEAN dinner. The PRESIDENT Citing words From US Pres. Lincoln US commits P320M READ: US commits P320M for law enforcement in PH.

These funds 'will be used in strict compliance with US legal obligations, and basic international law enforcement and policing standard...

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READ: Duterte invites Obama to PH to probe killings.

<h2 style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: magenta; font-family: inherit;"><i style="font-weight: normal;">This follows a similar invitation Duterte extended to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and European Union officials</i></span></h2> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRLtBfI_Gwyu63l-XIE3b6VUDHjw5toGhJGf7eQA8OzJzwXCl4kRFWW5F_TYwq2ikpq1fmUASt8dBAfQIQTZSIwJY0oV-wlmm58fOaI5dBpr8zJUQbhxuVWc_EDvm7XSwdLiqyj-J6Yo/s1600/obama-duterte_E55F5F891F2A49B891576F2B9814CB8F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRLtBfI_Gwyu63l-XIE3b6VUDHjw5toGhJGf7eQA8OzJzwXCl4kRFWW5F_TYwq2ikpq1fmUASt8dBAfQIQTZSIwJY0oV-wlmm58fOaI5dBpr8zJUQbhxuVWc_EDvm7XSwdLiqyj-J6Yo/s640/obama-duterte_E55F5F891F2A49B891576F2B9814CB8F.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <h4 style="text-align: center;"> <i><span style="color: magenta;">MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte also invited United States President Barack Obama to come to the Philippines to probe extrajudicial killings</span></i>.</h4> <b><i>"‘Yung mga human rights, halikayo. Halikayo. (Those big on human rights, come here.) So I would be inviting the Human Rights Commission, the EU, Obama if he wants to come here," said Duterte on Friday, September 23.</i><br /><br />He was speaking at the Philippine National Police Region 12 headquarters in General Santos City.<br /><br />The previous day, Duterte invited United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, other UN officials, and European Union lawmakers to conduct their probe into the Philippines.<br /><br />His only condition is that they allow him to ask them questions too in an open forum.<br /><br />Though Duterte has said he has ordered Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to send the invitations, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a Friday statement that "there is no formal invitation" as of the moment.<br /><br />Obama is another critic of his controversial "war" on drugs. In a regional summit both Duterte and Obama attended, the US leader said there is a "right way" to fight drug syndicates.<br /><br />He also said the cost of fighting drugs the "wrong way" is that "innocent people get hurt, and you have a whole bunch of unintended consequences that don't solve the problem."<br /><br />At the ASEAN summit, Duterte and Obama were supposed to meet for bilateral talks but this was postponed after the Philippine President went on a curse-laden tirade against Obama and the US.<br /><br />According to police, deaths linked to drugs number over 3,300. Of these, around 1,200 were killed in police operations because they allegedly fought back. But more than half, or around 2,200, were victims of vigilante-style killings.<br /><br />Duterte has emphasized that these extrajudicial killings are not sanctioned by his administration. <br /><br /><br /><br /></b><h3> <b>SOURCE: <a href="http://www.rappler.com/nation/147141-duterte-invites-obama-philippines-probe-killings?utm_content=buffere1c3c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer">RAPPLER</a></b></h3>

BILATERAL TALKS. US President Barack Obama and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte Duterte invites Obama Obama 'briefly talk' before ASEAN dinner. postponed bilateral meeting with President Obama READ: Duterte invites Obama to PH to probe killings.

This follows a similar invitation Duterte extended to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and European Union officials MANILA, Philippines...

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