National Campus Press Freedom Day

Bill to Mark ‘National Campus Press Freedom Day’ Filed

MANILA — Bayan Muna (People First) Rep. Teodoro Casiño filed on July 25 a bill that would recognize the observance of the said date as the National Campus Press Freedom Day.

Aside from marking July 25 as a special day for the campus press, House Bill No. 6611, or “An Act Recognizing the Observance of July 25 of Every Year as the National Campus Press Freedom Day, and for Other Purposes”, also aims to recognize the promotion and protection of the inviolable right of the campus press.

In his explanatory note, Casiño underscored the contribution of campus press during the dark days of martial law for exposing the true state of affairs of the country and how they continue to promote freedom of the press and defend the interest and the welfare of the Filipino people.

July 25 is a historical day for the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), the largest, oldest existing and only student organization of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region. Founded on July 25, 1931, the Guild celebrates its 78th founding anniversary this year.

Casiño also recognized the number of student journalists and alumni who sacrifice their lives as they safeguard the ideals of campus press and strive for the fulfillment of its mission.

The proposed date of the National Press Freedom Day is also the birthday of Ernesto Rodriguez Jr., a former editor-in-chief of the official student publication of National University, The National, and founder of CEGP.

HB 6611 mandates elementary, secondary and tertiary levels to support and provide assistance to any events and activities organized by the students in recognition of the National Press Freedom Day. (Bulatlat.com)

Investigate, stop the Laiban Dam deal

News Release
July 22, 2009

Bayan Muna Partylist Representative Teddy Casiño warns that the shady deal between the Metropolitan Waterworks Sewerage System (MWSS) and the San Miguel Bulk Water Company, Incorporated (SMBWCI) to build the Laiban Dam in Tanay could wreak havoc on the lives of around 10,000 residents, Metro Manila consumers who will have to pay higher water rates, and the Filipino people in general as the deal adds to the long list of corruption cases under the Arroyo administration.

According to Casiño, "Its apparent that the negotiations between the MWSS and the SMBWCI were hastily done without the benefit of an open bidding, considering the project would involve more than P48-billion pesos of taxpayers money".

"There seems to be utter brazenness and lack of transparency in this deal, just like in other anomalous billion-peso projects under the Arroyo administration that we have consistently exposed and opposed," said Casiño.

To date, the Arroyo administration is host to controversial deals such as: the IMPSA deal (year 2001, involving $2 million), PIATCO (2003, $20 million), Northrail project (2004, $50 million), Mega Pacific deal (2004, P500 million), Diosdado Macapagal Blvd. (2004, P600 million), NBN-ZTE broadband deal (2007, $32.9 million), and World Bank road projects (2009, $33 million).

"These funds, had they been properly allocated under a pro-people government, could have provided for the health, education and other basic needs of the people," said Casiño. "But instead, under Arroyo's bankrupt regime, taxpayers' money easily go to the corrupt and greedy," he added.

Casiño said that the progressive partylist bloc had earlier filed House Resolution 510 in March 31, 2008 because the Laiban project threatened to displace thousands of indigenous peoples, destroy their ancestral lands and cultural heritage, and severely affect their very survival as a people.

"In addition, we are filing another resolution for an investigation of this bigger-than-the-NBN-ZTE deal involving MWSS and big businessmen allied with the Arroyos," said Casiño.

"If the deal contains nothing inimical to the people's interests, if there is nothing onerous or suspicious, if the parties involved here have nothing to hide, then the details surrounding this Laiban Dam project should be revealed. The public deserves to know these things," said Casiño.

Under the deal, the MWSS may be obliged to buy water from the SMBWCI and pay for unused water. This will result to higher water rates to be burdened by the consumers while both the MWSS and the SMBWCI are assured of huge profits. The Laiban Dam project could increase the cost of water in Metro Manila to P45 per cubic meter from the present P30 to P33 per cubic meter.

Casiño said "The present water shortage in some areas can be addressed by the Manila Water and Maynilad by repairing all leaking pipes, and by minimizing theft so that 4,000 MLD of raw water may be delivered".

"Even if the aim to build a new dam to provide for the needs of consumers were decades-old, rushing into a "sweetheart deal" only spells disaster for the people. The progressive partylist bloc aims to stop this Laiban deal not only to protect the people's rights to clean, safe and affordable water. We are opposing the project for the clear danger it brings," concludes Casiño.###

One-year freeze on housing rent

News from Manila Standard Today, July 15, 2009
By Joyce Pangco Pañares and Fel V. Maragay

..Families and individuals who live in rented dwellings will not have to worry about any rental increases for one year as President Arroyo has signed the Rent Control Act of 2009.

..The law imposes a one-year moratorium on rent increases and prohibits any rental hike for houses, apartments and other residential units including boarding houses, dormitories, rooms and bed spaces being offered for rent.

..The rent control law is also authored by Rodolfo Biazon in the Senate and House Speaker Prospero Nograles, Rep. Rodolfo Valencia, Rep. Teodoro Casiño and Rep. Amado Bagatsing in the House of Representatives.

..The measure covers all residential units in Metro Manila and other highly-urbanized cities where monthly rental does not exceed P10,000 and P5,000 for other areas.

..It also limits the advance payment to the equivalent of one-month rent and deposit to not more than two months worth of rent.

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In relation to this, here's a news release from Bayan Muna, dated last February 12, 2009, regarding Rep. Teddy Casiño's initiative to push for a new rent control bill:

In response to economic crisis, Party list solons push for 2-year freeze on housing rent

CEBU CITY – Party list representatives today pushed for a new rent control law that would freeze any increases in rentals of low-end residential units for the next two years.

In a Congressional hearing held at the Cebu Provincial Capitol this afternoon, Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño sponsored House Bill No. 5849 entitled "An Act Establishing Reforms in the Regulation of Rent of Certain Residential Units, Providing the Mechanisms Therefore and for Other Purposes" providing for a two-year moratorium on any rent increases for residential units not exceeding P15,000 a month in Metro Manila and P8,000 a month in other parts of the country.

The bill also provides that after the two-year moratorium, rent for such residential units may not be increased by more than 10% for the succeeding three years.

The prohibition would apply to house and lot units, apartments and other dwelling places including boarding houses, dormitories, rooms and bedspaces offered for rent by their owners. It also includes residential units used for home industries, sari-sari stores or other business purposes which doubles as dwelling places for the business owner.

The proposed bill seeks to replace the Rent Control Act of 2005 which expired on Dec. 31, 2008. Rep. Casiño said the expiration of the old law would adversely affect 1.54 million families living in rented houses, thus a need for new legislation.

"The state has to act to protect these families from higher and unreasonable rental payments at this time when we are feeling the adverse effects of the global economic recession. Everyday, businesses are closing down, workers are being laid off, wages are being cut. Families will find it hard to pay their rent, much more any increases in rent," said Casiño.

He added that at this time, the State should intervene in the market in order to protect the interest of low income families and individuals who still opt to rent.

"This is more concrete than the Arroyo government's imagined P330 billion stimulus package that has proven to be nothing but a pack of empty promises," he added.

House Bill No. 5849 is co-authored by Bayan Muna representative Satur Ocampo, Gabriela representatives Liza Maza and Luzviminda Ilagan, and Anakpawis party representative Rafael Mariano.###