The budget, up 15% from the P1.227 trillion appropriated this year, is scheduled for third and final approval in the House. The measure remains at the committee level in the Senate but the chamber’s leader has committed to its early approval.

Both chambers said they were looking at realigments, with House Speaker Prospero C. Nograles saying the priority should be food security, education, and health. Senator Edgardo J. Angara, chairman of the finance subcommittee, said the realignments should prioritize infrastructure spending to provide more jobs to Filipinos.

“The early approval of the proposed 2009 budget reflects our commitment to put in place the fiscal guidelines that will ensure smooth operation of the government next year,” Senate President Manuel B. Villar, Jr. said in a statement.

The Senate and the House have also detailed lists of commitments before the next recess on December 17, but have only six weeks to act.

Six common measures — based on the priorities issued by both chambers — appear to have the best chances of being passed before yearend:

* the proposed Magna Carta of Women;
* a five-year extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP);
* rationalization of fiscal incentives;
* amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA);
* reproductive health bill; and
* a national tourism policy program.

Of the six, all but two — fiscal incentives rationalization and the reproductive health bill — are on a joint legislative-executive priority list.

Up for approval by the bicameral conference committee on Wednesday, meanwhile, is the Cooperative Code that provides tax incentives to cooperatives.

Makati Business Club Executive Director Alberto A. Lim favors the legislative priorities. Asked what other measures he would suggest that Congress pass, Mr. Lim said: “Having Congress get through all the pending measures would be enough.”

Edgardo G. Lacson, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the legislature should focus on what the group calls the FIRE (food improvement and security, infrastructure, reengineering education, and energy) program.

Of 22 priority measures listed by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council, Congress has so far approved 10:

* the 2008 budget;
* extension of the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund to 2015;
* Civil Aviation Authority bill;
* amendments to the University of the Philippines charter;
* amendments to the Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises;
* the cheaper drugs law;
* higher tax exemptions for wage earners;
* Personal Equity Retirement Account;
* Credit Information System Act; and
* the Renewable Energy Act.
* Still pending are:
* the EPIRA amendments;
* CARP extension;
* national tourism policy bill;
* a bill allowing the Ombudsman to use private prosecutors;
* the Anti-Smuggling Act;
* a bill imposing stiffer penalties on the illegal explosives trade;
* the Magna Carta of Women;
* the Witness Protection Act;
* modernization of the Fire Code;
* concurrence with presidential proclamation granting amnesty to rebels;
* amendments to the Customs Brokers Act; and
* amendments to the Consumer Act. - BusinessWorld

Arroyo said the World Bank (WB) had committed to initially provide $10 billion as its contribution to the facility.

She said she hoped other multilateral institutions could contribute to the fund to protect the region from the ravages of the global financial crisis.

“The facility can be used to purchase what the bankers call toxic assets and recapitalize troubled financial institutions and private companies,” she said.

Sidelines of WB-IMF annual meet

The finance ministers from East Asia are discussing a Philippines plan for a fund to help neighbors facing severe liquidity problems during the credit crisis, Arroyo said Wednesday.

The discussions took place on the sidelines of the annual International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings in Washington, she said.

She added that the meeting was also attended by representatives from the IMF, WB and Asian Development Bank (ADB).

“They reached an understanding to establish a standby facility to assist ASEAN countries (which) have severe liquidity problems,” she said in a speech to local government officials in Manila.

There was no immediate reaction from the other meeting participants, which included the 10-member ASEAN, China, South Korea and Japan.

She said those at the meeting “welcomed our initiative not only in providing access to financing but also more importantly in boosting confidence in the ASEAN economies.”

She said the World Bank and the IMF “will draft the implementing mechanism as soon as possible, in consultation with ASEAN finance ministers and central bank governors.

“Immediately thereafter, they will convene another meeting to discuss the guidelines for the facility, which we suggested should be quick-disbursing with minimal conditionalities.”

Aside from the Philippines, ASEAN comprises Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos.

ASEAN plus three includes the group’s dialogue partners China, Japan and South Korea. Reuters, Agence France-Presse

At the party’s New York headquarters on 23rd Street in Manhattan, regional party chairman Libero Della Piana, 36, laid out why he thinks Marxist-Leninism’s time has finally come.

“We are very excited, we feel that we are at a turning point,” Della Piana, an imposing half-Italian, half-African American with a pony tail, told AFP.

“We can afford to be less on the defensive for the first time since Ronald Reagan, and we can say our word in rebuilding America on a new basis, rebuilding a better world, instead of one based on the greed of the few.”

The US Communist Party was founded in 1919 and never really took off. It was ostracized during the Cold War and members faced discrimination, even firing from their work, during the anti-Communist drive of the 1950s.

Today, the party claims to have 3,000 to 3,500 members — seemingly not a threat to the giant Democratic and Republican parties contesting next month’s White House election.

But American communists think that the collapse of Wall Street and huge disillusionment among the public with the economy has put them on a roll.

“We receive more and more phone calls, we have more inquiries from people, we see an increase in interest,” Della Piana said. “We hope to be part of the discussion. I can see a role for the Communist Party in this next period.”

“The crisis’ number one lesson: the market cannot regulate itself,” he said. “Otherwise it goes out of control.”

Communist youth coordinator Erica Smiley, 28, said “the major issues for the young are: peace, jobs, health care, education, and we provide them with answers.”

Whether the communists will be able to deliver remains open to question.

One plus is that their recently renovated New York headquarters, featuring the obligatory tomes of Lenin and Marx, is prime real estate — a serious and very capitalist nest egg.

But few people were about during a visit by AFP on Monday and the atmosphere was collegial and slightly sleepy, rather than revolutionary.

“They are all out working to get people to vote,” explained Bill Davis, 65, who has been a faithful member for 37 years.

There is no communist running for the White House and the Communist Party does not endorse Democrat Barack Obama.

Yet many staff here wore his picture on lapel buttons, while Republican John McCain was relegated to a box of tissues — the tissues being pulled through his mouth.

However, the senators said they would respect the decision and vowed to continue their pursuit of the truth in relation to the deal.

Senator Francis Escudero described the decision as “erroneous” and warned it would shield corrupt government executives linked to anomalies.

“I believe that this is an erroneous ruling that will henceforth be used as a subterfuge of the corrupt and those who want to escape accountability while holding public office, this is a dark day indeed for constitutionalists and our legal system,”he said.

In another interview, Senator Aquilino Pimentel described the ruling as a “terrible, unreasonable decision.”

For his part, Senator Francis Pangilinan said that he was “saddened” by the decision but added that they would have to respect the ruling.

“While we will have to recognize and respect the ruling, we are nevertheless saddened that the SC has opted to take the side of Malacanang in this controversy but nevertheless, it is a sad day for greater transparency and accountability,”he said.

Senator Manuel Roxas II echoed Pangilinan in saying that the Senate would respect the decision.

However, he said that the Senate still believes that the privilege should only cover issues that threaten “national security, diplomatic relations, and peace and order.”

“Executive privilege should not apply to projects such as the (ZTE deal), or other matters where graft and corruption are alleged,” Roxas said.

He added that the Senate still awaits the high court’s decision on the government’s claim of executive privilege over the the NEDA documents pertaining to the ZTE project.

“These documents have always been open for all to see, and rightly so, because they are of public interest and relate to projects and programs paid for by the public,” Roxas added.

Roxas, however, stressed that the Senate will be firmly committed on its quest for truth.

“Our search for the truth on this matter is far from over. We will continue to exhaust all legal resources to get some accountability on this anomalous deal,” Roxas said. - Amita Legaspi, Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV

In this mode, dubbed the “piecemeal legislation,” the amendment can be initiated by a House resolution which can act as counterpart of the Sen. Aquilino Pimentel’s Senate resolution no. 10 - the bill which calls for the shift to federalism.

The fourth mode is outside the three other options – constituent assembly, constitutional convention and people’s initiative – which the legislative can avail of.

The fourth mode was based on a proposal of Reps. Hermilando Mandanas of Batangas and Giorgidi Aggabao of Isabela.

It is said to be the brainchild of constitutionalist Fr Joaquin Bernas.

Aggabao said the fourth mode will “undergo the usual legislative process” where it will start from the committee level, pass the three readings and voted by a three-fourths of the 238 total congressmen.

It will then be sent to the Senate for approval.

“It will be subject by ratification by the people. The fourth mode is not mutually exclusive. Puwedeng i-una iyun, iyun ang sabi ni Fr Bernas,” Aggabao said.

However, he said that like La Union Rep. Victor Ortega, he found the mode’s chances as “slim.”

Ortega, chairman of the committee on constitutional amendments, told reporters that a counterpart of Pimentel’s resolution had been filed by Cebu Rep. Antonio Cuenco, and this will be among the issues they will vote on in their Aug. 26 hearing.

When asked what he thinks would be the most feasible mode to amend the constitution, Ortega – a law professor – said it would be constitutional convention, as it would be least expensive if the election of delegates are held during the May 2010 polls.

Ortega, who belongs to the administration coalition, said it was not practical to utilize the constituent assembly mode, which still has problems on the way Congress (Senate & House) will vote.

He added that the results of a ConAss will always be suspect.

“The constitutional convention will be supreme in their own sphere,” he said. read more…

China, a relative latecomer to global peacekeeping, has about 1,800 peacekeepers deployed abroad, making it the second largest contributor after France from among the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council.

“This is an area where China stands tall,” Ban said in a speech given to students at Beijing’s Foreign Affairs University.

“You are one of the U.N.’s leading member states, and you now rank among our top 10 contributors of both funds and peacekeeping forces. China will need to rise even higher in both rankings if we are to meet growing global challenges,” Ban said. read more…

In a brief meeting, the President and McCain exchanged pleasantries and discussed RP-US relations.

”The Filipinos are watching this elections in the US and hoping for the new government to continue the relations of the US and the Philippines,” the President told McCain.

The President said she and McCain also discussed US’s support in the achievement of peace in Mindanao, through the application of the ”hard and soft” approach.

She thanked McCain for supporting the Veterans Equity bill and also asked the US to lead the efforts in addressing food security concerns. (PIA/Bohol)

The event will also feature the presentation of the party’s candidates in the 2008 elections in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) led by incumbent ARMM Gov Datu Zaldy ‘Puti’ Uy Ampatuan.

The formal merger of the two administration’s political parties will be held at the Apo View Hotel and will be held after Mrs Arroyo inspects the newly replaced Governor Generoso I (Bankerohan) Bridge at the center of this sprawling city’s business district, a palace statement said.

Scheduled for 1 p.m., the Lakas-Kampi merger caucus here will also feature the presentation of the party’s candidates in the 2008 elections in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Ignacio R. Bunye, who ended his six-year stint as Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman said ARMM Regional Governor Datu Zaldy ‘Puti’ Uy Ampatuan will be running for reelection, with Ansaruddin ‘Hooky’ Alonto Adiong as his runningmate.

Bunye added that 20 incumbents also running for reelection as members of the 28-member regional legislative assembly, as well as the candidates for the lone districts of Maguindanao, Shariff Kabunsuan and Tawi-Tawi.

The candidates being fielded by the administration party are: Umbrah Datumanong, Khadefeh Mangudadatu and Pike Mentang for Maguindanao (lone district);

Jackson Bandila, Roonie Sinsuat and Bongarsa Tomawis Jr. for Shariff Kabunsuan (lone district);

Suhayla Salic, Samer Salic, Zia-Ur Adiong and Al Hamid Diron for Lanao del Sur (1st district); and Saaduddin Alauya Jr., Yasser Balindong, Hosni Macapodi, Rasmia Salic and Alexander Menor (2nd district);

Alhabsi Hassan, Rizal Tingkahan Jr., Nahil Maidisa and Nivocadnezar Tulawie for Sulu (1st district); and Nurwisa Tulawie, Maulana Omar and Nashruper Daud (2nd district);

Rejie Sahali and Shameera Matolo for Tawi-Tawi’s lone district; and Rajam Akbar, Bonnie Balamo, Hatimil Hassan and Juhan Hataman for the lone district of Basilan. GMANews.TV

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Thus lamented Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo – the elder of two congressman sons of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo — when asked for his opinion about the continuing barrage by the De Venecia family against the Arroyos.

The De Venecias have been blaming the Arroyos for the former speaker’s fall from the House speakership which he held for several years.

Rep. Arroyo stressed that a total of 174 congressmen voted for democracy in the House of Representatives, thus successfully replacing the then seemingly invincible former speaker.

Asked how his parents are taking the latest barrage from De Venecia’s spouse, Rep. Arroyo said: “I don’t think they are minding her.”

“My mom (President Arroyo) is very focused; while my dad is (busy) revitalizing his health…” , said Arroyo. (PIA/Bohol)

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