Philippine House Bill 4982

Press Release - - - Aside from the proposed Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity or Expression (SOGIE) Equality Act or House Bill 4982, which the House of Representatives just approved on 3rd and final reading, there are four other bills concerning the LGBT (lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders) sector of our country.

 

These five bills are clear proof that human rights are on the agenda of the 17th Congress. We in Congress firmly believe LGBT rights are human rights.

 

The SOGIE Equality Bill is also clear indication that Congress values the work and legacy of then Akbayan Party-list Rep. Loretta Ann Rosales, former Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights. 

 

I see here an historic opportunity for the LGBT community to gather momentum. After the SOGIE Bill hurdles the House, the Senate is the next battleground, and after that, the bill goes to Malacanang. If the LGBT advocates have a good strategy, now may be the time for them to make that work.

 

We are aware the LGBT rights groups have other items on their legislative agenda. It is now time for them to rethink how they will push for those issues. Success in pushing for laws usually involves small victories over time. Incremental but progressive.

 

Property rights are important. Many LGBTs are in co-habitation situations. That involves property rights, which are also human rights protected by the 1987 Constitution. After SOGIE, property rights for the LGBT are the natural next step. After that, the major hurdle is civil unions.

 

Culture change happens gradually over time. The LGBT have been patient. They have endurance. (END)

COA Report on the PNA reveals discrepancies with the 2017 GAA

COA Report on the PNA reveals discrepancies with the 2017 GAA

About the repeated mishaps at the Philippines News Agency (PNA), now is the time for Secretary Martin Andanar and Undersecretary Joel Egco of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) to investigate.

 

I urge them to file appropriate administrative and disciplinary cases.

 

Let due process run its course. The mishaps at the PNA have now reached the level of several too many. It is now time for some order amid the chaos.

 

Our understanding is Undersecretary Joel Egco now has the unenviable task of cleaning up the PNA. Given what we have seen ever since late 2016, he has a lot of house cleaning to do.

 

Sec. Andanar and Usec. Egco clearly need to enforce discipline and professionalism at the PNA. They should apply the civil service rules on administrative cases.  Have administrative cases been filed?

 

It is reasonable to conclude that such administrative cases would have charges ranging from simple neglect of duty to gross neglect of duty, to dishonesty.  The penalties for these vary from suspension of at least one month to the maximum of dismissal.

 

The 2017 GAA and the 2016 COA report

 

Searching for the PNA in the 2017 General Appropriations Act is not an easy task, unless you know where to look.

 

The PNA is not even mentioned by name in the GAA because it is a part of a little-known agency called the News and Information Bureau or NIB.

 

This year, NIB has a budget of P124.765 million. For 2018, the administration is asking for a P129.125 million budget for the NIB, including the PNA.

 

According to the proposed 2018 GAA, NIB has 266 authorized positions and 169 filled positions.

 

According to the latest Commission on Audit (COA) report on the NIB, the NIB is headed by Director Virginia R. Arcilla-Agtay. The COA report says she is there in an acting capacity.

 

The COA report further says the PNA is a division of the NIB.

 

The state news agency of the entire Philippine Government is a mere division in the entire bureaucracy.

 

The COA report also says the PNA has 99 permanent positions filled and 30 job orders (contractual employees) for a total of 129 civil servants.

 

The 2016 COA report says NIB has 81 job orders in total. That includes the 30 job orders at PNA. We note that in the 2017 GAA for the NIB, the job orders are not counted in the staffing summary.

 

I want to know as committee chair: Who are the PCOO editors, reporters, IT personnel and PNA bureau personnel who hold plantilla positions and who are mere job orders?

 

The COA report says the NIB has 241 authorized plantilla positions but the GAA says the NIB has 266 authorized positions.

 

Which is which? There is a difference of 15 plantilla positions.

 

I also take this opportunity to ask Sec. Andanar and Usec. Egco to count and list all the job orders there in the PNA, NIB, and all of the PCOO.

PCSO Desk in Philippine Hospitals

NURSE NA SOLON INIHIRIT ANG PAGKAKAROON NG DAGDAG NA PCSO DESKS SA MGA OSPITAL

 

Nananawagan si Assistant Minority Leader at AANGAT Tayo Party-list Congressman Harlin Neil Abayon, III na dapat ay dagdagan ng Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) ang mga desks nito sa mga ospital sa buong Pilipinas para mas makapaghatid ng tulong sa mga mahihirap na pasyente.

 

Sa ngayon kasi, meron lamang 45 na PCSO desks sa buong Pilipinas – 16 sa mga government hospitals sa Metro-Manila, 5 lamang sa mga probinsya, at 24 sa mga pribadong ospital.

 

"Nakakaawang makita na yung mga pasyenteng nangangailangan ng tulong ay kelangan pang magsadya at pumila sa tanggapan ng PCSO sa Shaw Blvd, Mandaluyong para lang makakuha ng tulong. Dapat gawing mas accessible ng PCSO ang ayuda nito sa mga mahihirap sa pamamagitan ng dagdag na PCSO desks," giit ni Abayon na isa ring registered nurse.

Sinabihan ni Abayon ang PCSO na magsumite sa Kongreso ng plano kung paano mas mapapabilis at mapapabisa ang implementasyon ng "At Source Ang Processing (ASAP)" Project ng PCSO para magkaroon na ng PCSO desks sa lahat ng 64 medical facilities ng Department of Health na binubuo ng 8 special hospitals, 24 medical centers, 18 regional hospitals, 6 district hospitals, and 8 sanitaria. 

Sa ngayon, binubusisi sa House of Representatives ang budget ng bawat sangay ng gobyerno para sa taong 2018.

 

Bilin ni Abayon na dapat ang nakalagay na sa isusumiteng report ng PCSO ang mga bagong plantilla items, equipment, furniture, internet, at iba pang maintenance and operating expenses para matiyak na magkakaroon ng silbi at gagana nang mahusay ang mga ilalagay na PCSO desks sa mga ospital.