House Bill 6195: $50 Contribution From Every OFW Leaving The Country

The News

Manila Representative Ma. Theresa Bonoan-David authored House Bill 6195 seeking to amend Republic Act (RA) 8042 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995. The House measure provides that for every worker recruited or deployed overseas, the recruitment agency or its employer shall be required to pay $50 or around P2,100 as contribution to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) Emergency Repatriation Fund before leaving the country.

"The bill intends to provide the necessary measures for the government to carry out its responsibilities to assist distressed OFWs in cases of war, epidemic, disaster or calamities, natural or man-made, and other similar events, and promote their general welfare," Bonoan-David said.

RA 8042 has already created and established an Emergency Repatriation Fund under the administration, control and supervision of Owwa with an initial funding of P1 million.

"There are millions of OFWs all over the world which the Philippine government is mandated to protect and safeguard under RA 8042 but it seems incapable to efficiently help distressed OFWs due to financial constraints," Bonoan-David said.

The Opposition

Overseas Filipino workers (OFW) group Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) voiced out its strong opposition against the bill proposed by a Manila congresswoman that imposes an additional fee of $50 to sustain the government’s emergency repatriation funds.

“Rep. Bonoan-David’s proposal is ill-advised. She may be misinformed because the issue is not about lack of fund,” said John Leonard Monterona, M-ME regional coordinator.

Monterona said that OFW funds held in trust by OWWA is now about P13 billion. “And yet the OWWA does not have enough programs and welfare services for OFWs and their dependents,” he said.

Monterona also questioned whether the OWWA is using the Emergency Repatriation Fund properly. “The OWWA has not been transparent on the real status of the OFWs trust fund and where it is being spent,” he said.

He said David’s proposal is clearly anti-OFW.

“For one, it is just an added burden to the already overburdened OFWs. The proposal is also against the mandate of the Migrant Workers Act of 2010 or R.A. 10022,” he said.

Instead of imposing additional fees or charges on Filipino migrant workers, Bonoan-David should channel her “pork barrel” to OWWA’s Emergency Repatriation Fund, said Monterona said.

“Pro-OFW lawmakers should do the same,” Monterona said.

“We, through our Migrante International leaders in Manila might seek a dialog with Rep. Bonoan-David to hear our side and position. If she will insist, then we have no choice but to intensify our campaign against her proposal. We are not milking cows. We will campaign against her anti-OFW bill,” he said.

M-ME likewise underscored the OFW’s huge contribution to the government in terms of cash remittance, which for April alone reached $1.7 billion.

My Verdict

Filipinos applying for a work abroad are being buried in debts even before they flew out of the country for seeking a greener pasture or just because of the lack of job opportunities in the Philippines. Most of them are applying for a loan from lending companies to pay for their placement fees which could amount up to $1,700.

And now, a member of the congress filed a bill requiring our OFW's to pay an additional of $50. I know, it was specifically stipulated on that bill that the additional payment will not be shouldered by OFW themselves but will be paid by recruitment agencies or their employer.

How would she plan to enforce it? I'm 100% sure that that additional payment will be pass on to our OFW. Another burden for our already burdened "heroes".

According to POEA, there are 4,500 OFW leaving the country every day. And if we do the math, the government could collect $225,000 a day or $82,125,000 in a year.

I have to agree with the proposal of the Migrante for our congressmen to channel a portion [or at least 5%] of their Php 70 million pork barrel to OWWA’s Emergency Repatriation Fund. The government could easily get $23,800,000 additional funding from 286 congressmen.

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Now that the verdict has been rendered, what's next?

The 44-day hiatus of the impeachment trial of CJ Corona has ended with no apparent drama both from the prosecution and defense panel.

It's satirical to say that the verdict by the Senate impeachment court against Corona as “a victory of the people.”

I don't see this as a victory to the masses. Its a strong political partisan that I see and I see no hope for change to the better. It could even be a change to get worst. 

How could this be a victory of the people? CJ Corona did not do anything against the common Filipino citizens. He is not a corrupt official unlike those who prosecuted him. This is a victory of those few who have an interest in that position, to those who are in the upper echelon of the society who has pending cases in the Supreme Court waiting for a favorable verdict. This is a victory of the lead prosecutor whose father has a pending case of graft and corruption in the Ombudsman. This is a victory of Noynoy Aquino and his TUPA's. This is the victory of Aquino-Cojuangco for Hacienda Luisita, plain and simple. I see this as a victory for injustice. 

Senator judges took the stage for their grandstanding and voted to convict and became an advocate of injustice, for their self-political-interest. How could one admire them as server of our beloved country, much more a hero?

 I applaud the three senator judges (Defensor-Santiago, Joker Arroyo, Bongbong Marcos) who voted to acquit Corona because they based their judgement on legal grounds and without any political slant. If an omission in good faith in the SALN carries that heavy penalty, then the Administration must also PUNISH Health Secretary Enrique Ona and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad for submitting incorrect SALN. But how could this be done if the highest man in the country is defending them?

The House of Representative reportedly spent 5.7 million during the impeachment trial and the Senate is yet to announce how much they have spent. Well, this is nothing compared to 70 million and 200 million the congressman and senators will receive as pork barrel from the President's budget.

So, what's next? Or rather, who's next? 

I am hoping that this historical event will jump start the much needed government reforms. Congressmen and senators alike should now go back to their duties and should pass bills to resolve the lope-holes of our constitution. I am hoping that who ever Aquino chooses to be the next Chief Justice will fully implement the decision to distribute the land of Hacienda Luisita.

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Mini-hydro Power Plants in Irrigation Canals.

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is planning to put up 40 mini-hydro power plants. NIA administrator Antonio S. Nangel said they have already identified 20 locations in Luzon, 10 in Visayas and 10 in Mindanao.

Nagel came up with the idea of putting up mini-hydro powers in irrigation systems following his recent visit in Japan where he saw mini-hydro power plants installed in irrigation canals. He said while it can be done in Japan, it can also be done in the country where the same elevation of irrigation canals abounds.

"Our irrigation systems are mostly located in far-flung barangays and putting up this project is a great help to the prospective beneficiaries," he said.

An irrigation system, the NIA said, could produce at least 20 megawatts of electricity daily.

Each mini-hydro power plant would cost P20 million and would be shouldered by local investors. 

Nangel expressed optimism that the project will take-off as 12 firms have submitted Letter of Intent (LOI), and targeted 12 sites for development.

He said there are two memorandum of agreements (MOAs) already signed for the project but he declined to name the investors.

What is Mini-Hydro Power Plants?

Mini-hydro power plants is a type of hydroelectric power that typically produce up to 100 kW of electricity using the natural flow of water. These installations can provide power to an isolated home or small community, or are sometimes connected to electric power networks. An example of this is the Momura micro hydropower in Japan. 

The Momura Micro Hydro Power Plant in Japan

Mini-Hydro Power Plants Pros and Cons

A study on the pros and cons was published by the Alternative Energy on October 26, 2006 citing that there are some common misconceptions about micro-hydro power that need to be addressed.

PROS

1. Efficient energy source
It only takes a small amount of flow (as little as two gallons per minute) or a drop as low as two feet to generate electricity with micro hydro. Electricity can be delivered as far as a mile away to the location where it is being used.

2. Reliable electricity source
Hydro produces a continuous supply of electrical energy in comparison to other small-scale renewable technologies. The peak energy season is during the winter months when large quantities of electricity are required.

3. No reservoir required
Microhydro is considered to function as a ‘run-of-river’ system, meaning that the water passing through the generator is directed back into the stream with relatively little impact on the surrounding ecology.

4. Cost effective energy solution
Building a small-scale hydro-power system can cost from $1,000 – $20,000, depending on site electricity requirements and location. Maintenance fees are relatively small in comparison to other technologies.

5. Power for developing countries
Because of the low-cost versatility and longevity of micro hydro, developing countries can manufacture and implement the technology to help supply much needed electricity to small communities and villages.

6. Integrate with the local power grid
If your site produces a large amount of excess energy, some power companies will buy back your electricity overflow. You also have the ability to supplement your level of micro power with intake from the power grid.

CONS

1 Suitable site characteristics required
In order to take full advantage of the electrical potential of small streams, a suitable site is needed. Factors to consider are: distance from the power source to the location where energy is required, stream size (including flow rate, output and drop), and a balance of system components — inverter, batteries, controller, transmission line and pipelines.

2. Energy expansion not possible
The size and flow of small streams may restrict future site expansion as the power demand increases.

3. Low-power in the summer months
In many locations stream size will fluctuate seasonally. During the summer months there will likely be less flow and therefore less power output. Advanced planning and research will be needed to ensure adequate energy requirements are met.

4. Environmental impact
The ecological impact of small-scale hydro is minimal; however the low-level environmental effects must be taken into consideration before construction begins. Stream water will be diverted away from a portion of the stream, and proper caution must be exercised to ensure there will be no damaging impact on the local ecology or civil infrastructure.

My Verdict

Micro hydro power is a very good source of clean alternative energy. It is a source of energy that is both efficient and reliable.These small hydropower systems should never pose any problems like wind turbines that noisily dot the countryside, or stack gas emissions coming from fossil fuel fired power plants. There won’t even be a vapor flume from a cooling tower. Any way you look at this form of hydropower, it comes up a winner. 

The only question here is what would happen to the surplus electricity that this mini-hydro power plant produce? I'm sure it would be feed to the grid, but then, will the consumer  feel the effect of this cheap energy source?

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The Effect of the Growing Population in the Philippine Economy

Population vs. Economy

The Aquino administration must have been deluding themselves by believing that our country's rising population is a boon rather than a bane in our economy.

It is no wonder, President Aquino did not pressure his allies  in the Lower House to push for the passing of the RH Bill. Just like the pasts administrations, our government has no backbone on population issue compared on the hard opposition from the Catholic Church hierarchy.

I'm not an economist, so my knowledge on the effects of high population growth on economic development is solely based from the research I have done, and it clearly oppose the government's stand.

While it is true that high population could translate to an increase in demand for goods and services and it can spur domestic-demand driven economy, so is the fact that people don't have the money to spend.

The Philippines per capita income of $2,050 is very low compared to our Southeast Asian neighbors like Indonesia and Malaysia that has per capita income of $2,580 and $7,900 respectively.

For the government to claim that high population is more favorable to our economy, they should address first three key factors that directly affects the spending power of Filipinos.

1. Corruption - Well, a credit was due to Aquino government for the increase of Philippines' Corruption Perception Index (CPI) by the global watchdog Transparency International of 0.2 from 2.4 in 2010. But the government should work harder in eliminating corruption because we are still lagging behind Vietnam with 2.9 CPI, Indonesia with 3 CPI, Thailand with 3.4 CPI and Malaysia with 4.3 CPI.
2. Unemployment - High population means an increase labour supply. With so many able-bodied worker but very low job opportunities, the unemployment rate rocketed. The Philippines has one of the highest unemployment rate at 7% amongst Southeast Asian countries.
3. Poverty - Poverty incidence in the Philippines is very high at 26.50% compared to Indonesia with 13.33% and Malaysia with only 3.6%.

To summarize, if the country has high CPI rating, more foreign investors will likely invest in the Philippines. More investments translate to more job opportunities which can lower unemployment rate. With low unemployment rate, naturally means lower poverty incidence.

The link between high population and economic development is more likely to have a negative impact rather than a boosts to our economy.

The increase of 15% on DepEd's budget is not a guarantee to drive domestic-demand driven economy in the near future. Indonesia is a good example for this as their government only spends 1.2% on education, a 1.9% lower compared in the Philippines. Instead, they focus on reducing their population growth rate which is 0.83% lower than the Philippines at 1.069%. They also invest more to create more job to increase per capita income which is $530 higher than the Philippines at $2,580.

Many developing countries have also learned that lower population growth rate is more beneficial to their economy. Malaysia, with 1.576%, and Thailand, with 0.566%, has long been addressing their population growth, thus lowering their poverty rate to 3.6% and 9.6% respectively.

This comparisons clearly shows the links between population, poverty and good governance. Malaysia is a good example on all three counts. Malaysia's CPI which was at 4.3, coupled with low population growth rate, results in economic growth and poverty reduction. While Vietnam, with also low CPI score at 2.9 clearly implies that low population growth rate at 1.077% significantly reduce their poverty rate to 9.6.

My Verdict

With all this data I have mentioned here, it was very clear to me that high population has a clear negative impact in a country's economy. But if the Aquino government believe otherwise, I might suggest our beloved president to marry and have lots of children to help spur our economy even long after he step down from power.

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Manila, Philippines Once Again in the Top 10

Yeah!!!! You read it right, mate. Philippines is once again in the Top 10, in fact we are at rank 3 on a survey conducted by CNN's travel site, the CNNGo.com, last April 18, 2012. But before you start jumping from your seat, read this:

"World's 10 Worst Cities for Driving"

Now, you still too excited? I bet you're not. And I could imagine smoke going up from your ears eh...

Manila was in rank 3 because according to CNNGo.com, Filipinos are more concern getting to work on time, thus, this makes the traffic congestion as our number one problem.

CNNGo.com admitted that this ranking is "non-scientific", albeit this does not mask the negative impact for our country.

But Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Atty. Francis Tolentino go into bickering by questioning the survey's "scientific" basis. He says that he drove around the metro yesterday to prove his claim that driving in Manila was not as bad as the survey says.

Well good, he tried it and he made his point.

Tolentino asked "What's the basis? Did they take into account the number of vehicles or the quality of the road network?"

But he must have forgotten to include this on his list:

1. Abusive traffic enforcers.
2. The endless road constructions that seems to peak as election nears.
3. Floods on rainy days.
4. Garbage, garbage, and garbage that drivers need to navigate.
5. Poorly lighted roads.
6. Traffic signals not working properly that confused drivers.
7. Abusive PUV drivers
8. Pedestrians that plays "patintero" with cars.

Well that's just 8 but I'm sure one could think of more reasons why Manila was rank 3 in the survey. It could not just be the proverbial traffic problems that CNNGo.com took into account in determining the ranks but also the safety of drivers and commuters alike.

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Playa Calatagan

Playa Calatagan gained the monicker as the Boracay of the South. It is located in, of course, Calatagan, Batangas.
A haven for a family bonding and for those who love the sands and the sun.
I really enjoyed my trip there. Courtesy of a friend. (again. lol)

Being at Playa Calatagan's beach front? A relaxing moment.

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Wet Summer?

What's happening here now? At this time of year, I'm usually wearing a sleeve less cotton shirt or a basketball jersey as I eat halo-halo to make me feel cool. But now, I have to wear sweat shirt or jacket, or even my rain coat as we are experiencing a weather suppose to be only on rainy seasons.

 The Philippines officially have three (3) seasons of weather.

• Hot Season (tag-init or tag-araw) – March to May
• Rainy Season (tag-ulan) – June to November
• Cold Season (tag-lamig) – December to February

 We should be experiencing a hot weather now. I could be hanging-out with my friends in the mall so that I don't need to use my air conditioner at home to save electricity. I could be in the kanto eating halo-halo or just enjoying an iced-cooled palamig.

But now? I had to stay indoors, where I'm comfortable and dry. Enjoying a cup of cappuccino while interacting with my friends in social media.

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