Skip to content

Philippines Today

home of the Global Filipino

Menu
  • News Stories
  • Regional News
  • Business & Economy
  • Science & Technology
  • International
Menu

NAPC Sector airs last hopes to the 16th congress

Posted on July 26, 2015

MANILA, July 26 (PNA) — As Congress opens its final regular session this Monday, the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Sector urge Congress to speed up the passage of bills that will lay down pathways out of poverty.

“Hinihiling namin, bago man lang matapos ang Administrasyong PNoy, na maipasa ng ating Kongreso ang ilang mga panukalang batas na makakatulong upang maka-ahon kami sa kahirapan,” said Ruperto “Ka Uper” Aleroza, NAPC Vice-chair for Basic Sectors. (Before the PNoy Administration ends, we ask Congress to pass bills that will help us move out of poverty.)

For more than 30 years, poor coconut farmers have lobbied for a law that will ensure that the P71B coconut levy that was collected from them during the Marcos dictatorship will finally be used to improve their lives. Coconut farmers remain the poorest among the farmers, earning only around P800 a month.

The Kilusan para sa Ugnayan ng mga Samahan ng mga Magniniyog (KILUS Magniniyog), a national farmers federation known for their 71-day march from Davao to Malacanang, filed an Initiative Bill in Congress. The Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food has approved the consolidated measure of the Coconut Farmers Trust Fund Bill. On the other hand, the counterpart committee in the House of Representatives has yet to bring the measure to plenary.

“Tanging ang batas ang makatitiyak na ang P71 bilyong coco levy fund na kinolekta sa amin noong panahong-Marcos ay mapakikinabangan ng mga maliliit at mahihirap na magniniyog,” emphasized Ka Ed Mora, one of the KILUS Magniniyog farmers and head of the NAPC Farmers Sectoral Council. (Only a law can ensure that the P71 billion coco levy fund collected from us during the Marcos era will be used to benefit and uplift small and poor coconut farmers).

The NAPC Farmers Sectoral Council also supports the NOC bill that seeks to extend the acquisition and distribution of lands covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). The measure has already been approved by the Senate but the House of Representatives has yet to pass its version.

The NAPC-Urban Poor Sectoral Council is also pushing for the passage of the bill that seeks to establish on-site, in-city, and near-city resettlement program for informal settler families (ISFs).

The measure has already been approved on third reading by the House of Representatives while a counterpart bill has already been filed by the Senate. Walang buhay ang bahay kung walang hanapbuhay, Sectoral Representative Noel Cano said. On-site, in-city, and near-city resettlement programs would ensure safe, affordable, and decent housing that are accessible to employment and livelihood.

The NAPC Victims of Disasters and Calamities (NAPC-VDC) Sectoral Council meanwhile, call for the swift passage of Senate Bill No. 2785 or the Rights of Internally Displaced Persons Act (RIDPA).

Passing SB 2785 would be a monumental achievement to safeguard basic human rights. Millions of Filipinos are displaced and straddled in precarious living conditions; victims of a vicious cycle of poverty every year,” said Regina Salvador-Antequisa, head of the NAPC-VDC. “For 2013 alone, around 7.5 million people were displaced due to major disasters like the Bohol earthquake, super typhoon Yolanda, and the Zamboanga crisis,” Antequisa elaborated.

The VDC Council also throws in their support for the passage of the BBL. The BBL is a step toward achieving peace, social justice, and progress not only in Mindanao but for the whole country.

And, the NAPC Youth and Students Sectoral Council, calls for the urgent passage of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Reform and Empowerment Bill. The bill will allow young men and women aged 18-21 years old eligible to run as SK officials.

The SK Reform Bill will ensure transparency and accountability of SK officials, that funds will be used for relevant programs. The law will also demolish political dynasties and will ensure fair elections, said NAPC-Sectoral Representative Ninian Sumadia.

There is not much time left but a determined Congress can pass laws that will take definitive steps to end the cycle of poverty. (PNA)

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • More
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit

Related

News Categories

  • Announcement (34)
  • Business & Economy (1,567)
  • Comment and Opinion (74)
    • Random Thoughts (18)
  • Current Issues (425)
    • Charter Change (1)
    • Election (228)
    • Population (6)
  • International (389)
  • Life In Japan (66)
    • Everything Japan (41)
  • Literary (34)
  • Miscellaneous (610)
  • News Stories (5,312)
  • OFW Corner (297)
  • Others (75)
  • People (408)
  • Press Releases (163)
  • Regional News (3,362)
  • Science and Technology (502)
  • Sports & Entertainment (287)

Latest News

  • BSP keeps policy rates anew December 17, 2015
  • NEDA cuts PHL additional rice import for 2016 by 25% December 17, 2015
  • DA cites serious implications of banning genetically modified products December 17, 2015
  • BBL is not yet dead – Drilon December 17, 2015
  • Comelec recognizes Duterte’s CoC for president December 17, 2015
  • NEDA chief sees 2015 growth at 6% despite typhoons December 17, 2015
  • House of Representatives ratifies bicam report on P3.002-T national budget for 2016 December 17, 2015
  • Cebu-based developer invests PHP430M to build 709 townhouse units in north Cebu town December 17, 2015
  • City gov’t eyes P75-M income from economic enterprise December 17, 2015
  • Baguio City LGU presents traffic plan for holiday season December 17, 2015

Archives

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Science and Technology

  • DOST-ICTO targets 500,000 web-based workers from countryside by 2016
  • (Feature) STARBOOKS: A ‘makeover’ for librarians
  • Science, research reduce ‘cocolisap’ hotspot areas in PHL
  • Montejo to further improve PAGASA and empower scientists
  • 1st PPP in biomedical research produces knee replacement system fit for Asians

Press Releases

  • Microsoft to buy Nokia’s mobile devices business for 5.44-B euros
  • New World Bank climate change report should spur SEA and world leaders into action: Greenpeace
  • Save the Philippine Seas before it’s too late — Greenpeace
  • Palanca Awards’ last call for entries
  • Philippines joins the global call for Arctic protection

Comment and Opinion

  • Remembering the dead is a celebration of life
  • Killer earthquake unlikely to hit Panay Island in near future – analyst
  • It’s not just more fun to invest in the Philippines, it is also profitable, says President Aquino
  • How does one differentiate a tamaraw from a carabao?
  • Fun is not just about the place, it is also about the people, says DOT chief

OFW Corner

  • Ebola infection risk low in Croatia
  • Death toll rises to 41, over 100 still missing in landslide in India
  • Asbestos use in construction a labor hazard
  • 500,000 OFWs to benefit POEA on-line transactions — Baldoz
  • 25 distressed OFWs return home from Riyadh
©2025 Philippines Today | Design: Newspaperly WordPress Theme