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Escudero: Void secrecy of deposits By Macon Araneta SENATOR Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Monday asked Malacañang to back his proposed legislation which seeks to lift the bank secrecy law for government officials and employees. In a statement, Escudero said the measure is a crucial step to amending the restrictive regulation the government wants to relax for tax purposes. “The President should certify it as a start. Start first with us who are in the government before the ordinary citizens,” said Escudero, referring to Senate Bill No. 16 that he filed in July 2013. The veteran lawmaker also filed a similar bill in 2007 and 2010. “Public office is a public trust. Government officials and employees are accountable to the public.” Escudero said. To ensure that a civil servant does not use his position to enrich himself, Escudero said it is necessary that we put in place a mechanism that will enable the government to audit the finances of the civil servant. Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares said the government would support income tax cuts if Congress would amend the law to allow the agency to “monitor” bank accounts for “tax purposes.” However, Escudero said Malacañang should also prioritize the bill that would require people in government to submit a written waiver of their rights under the law on the secrecy of bank deposits to “show its sincerity and willingness to consider lowering income tax rates. “We in the government should set an example. We should lead in making public our wealth so that the public will not doubt us,” said Escudero. Macon Ramos-ataneta
Traffic situationer. Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito exchanges views with administration officials represented by Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras and MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino during the Senate investigation into the worsening traffic situation in Metro Manila. EY ACASIO
Nuclear plant revival to cost $1b—Napocor By Maricel V. Cruz
REVIVING the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant so as to provide the country with adequate power supply will take at least nine years and $1 billion, Energy officials informed the House energy committee on Monday, At a hearing conducted by the House committee chaired by Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, National Power Corp. president Gladys Cruz-Sta. Rita provided lawmakers the cost for the rehabilitation of the BNPP. “The BNPP can be successfully rehabilitated at $1 billion for a period of four years; our information now is that having a new nuclear power
would cost $5 to $6 billion and will be completed in 10 years,” Sta. Rita said. This developed as Umali stressed the need for the Aquino administration to come up with a decisive action as to whether or not his administration will push for the use of BNPP. “We need to make a policy decision whether to run this or not; this is not to mention the [rehabilitation]
‘JOLY’ BENITEZ PASSES AWAY, 71 HUMAN settlements advocates lamented the untimely demise of Dr. Jose Conrado “Joly” Benitez, whose outstanding achievements in pushing for housing and urban development programs under the Marco government have served as inspiration to many urban and human settlement planners. Dr. Benitez, who at 28 was the youngest member of the Cabinet and human settlements czar of the Marcos era, died Sunday at the age of 71 due to a lingering illness. A member of the First Batasan Pambansa, Dr. Benitez served as deputy minister of the Ministry of Human Settlements under the Marcos administration. As a legislator, he served the lone district of Pasay City. Dr. Benitez was acknowledged as the architect of various housing agencies in the government that address the human settlement requirements of the country. These are the Human Settlements Development Corp., Home Guaranty Corp. and the National Home Mortgage Finance Corp. He was also instrumental in the establishment of the BLISS Development Corp. and the Home Development Mutual Fund. His eldest son, Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo “Albee” B. Benitez, currently serves as chairman of
the House Committee on Housing and Urban Development that is behind the ongoing housing summit. Rep. Benitez is also convenor of the Visayan Bloc of the House of Representatives. A TOYM (Ten Outstanding Young Men) awardee, Dr Benitez was also cited as one of the Outstanding Metro Manila Citizens. Belonging to a family of renowned educators, Dr. Benitez also served as president of the Philippine Women’s University and was credited for introducing several highly effective curriculum innovations such as on-line distance education and continuing education. The Marcos-era technocrat studied development planning and development education in Stanford University. Aside from Rep. Benitez, who is convenor of the Visayan Bloc of the House of Representatives, the deceased is also survived by son, Dr. Francisco Benitez of the PWU; wife, Joanne de Asis-Benitez and daughters, investment banker, Gaia de Asis-Foley and Jana de Asis Benitez, an acclaimed international painter. His remains lie in state at the Capilla del Señor, Santuario de San Antonio, Forbes Park, Makati City. Interment has yet to be finalized. Maricel Cruz
cost but more importantly social acceptance,” Umali said. The government has allocated P50 million yearly to maintain the BNPP. Umali said the cost of rehabilitation would be the determining factor for the Aquino administration whether or not to pursue this plan. “These are matters we consider as a government in determining whether to push for this or not. But, at the same time, I think this is an asset that is already available,” Umali said. “I think it is also imperative for the government, particularly Napocor, to take all alternative uses of BNPP so that when we make presentation and before you make decision we have a fallback. “We have options that many consider other than present it as nuclear power
plant,” Umali added. Umali also urged concerned sectors of the government to come up with “comparative presentations that are more feasible, viable and economical on how the government will use the facility.” Sta. Rita said that the BNPP, once rehabilitated, could provide 620 megawatts of the power supply requirement of the country. Nuclear Regulations Division chief Teofilo Leonin Jr. of the Philippine National Research Institute echoed Sta. Rita’s assessment on efforts to rehabilitate the BNPP. Leonin told lawmakers that the PNRI would need at least five year to assess the four-year rehabilitation made by the government.
Brace for drought–Pagasa By Rio N. Araja METRO Manila must brace for the effects of drought lasting until November with at least 60-percent reduction in the amount of rainfall. Aldczar Aurelio, weather bureau forecaster, said the National Capital Region will be experiencing waybelow-normal rainfall for three consecutive months because of a mature and strong El Niño episode in the Pacific Ocean. “Expect drought in the metro,” he said. But the provinces of Quezon, Aurora and Bicol will be the hardest hit by the drought, he added. According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and As-
tronomical Services Administration, the 2015-2016 El Niño event is potentially among the strongest episodes since 1950, 1972-1973, 1982-1983 and 1997-1998. Temperatures will rise slightly warmer than normal, Aurelio said. While Quezon, Aurora and Bicol region will experience drought, dry spell will prevail over Isabela, Sorsogon, Eastern Visayas (except Biliran), Zam boanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Compostella Valley, South Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Basilan, Maguindanao and Sulu and Tawi-tawi. The drought will affect the supply of water and the agriculture sector, Aurelio said.