Sen. Imee Marcos, Lacson guide ‘World Pandesal Day’ commemoration

 

QUEZON CITY — Senator Imee Marcos and former Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Wednesday (Oct. 16) conduct the commemoration of the “World Pandesal Day” at the 85-year-old Kamuning Bakery Cafe.

The celebration was settle with the giving out  of 100,000 Pandesal breads and other foods to town of  impoverish families, and childrens home  

Principal and Very Important Person show by Lacson and Sen. Marcos front  the annual World Pandesal Day civic and cultural project to privilege the meek  yet well known Filipino Pandesal and to emphasize the urgent to find a solution of  the long running worldwide issue  of famine 

Both Marcos and Lacson are running for Senator as Independent candidate in the May 12, 2025 midterm elections. 

During the Pandesal Forum, Sen. Marcos said that she is an Independent candidate but with an alliance with a political party. 

She said that today is the Independent Pandesal Day in the midst of the increase in the price of petroleum products and food products. 

Lacson said that he is greeting the 10th World Pandesal Day, adding that he thought Pandesal is a Spanish word. 

He missed the days that Pandesal were just delivered in the doorsteps of households of Filipino families. 

Lacson stressed “the important thing is to stop the hunger of the Filipino people.”

“There are many unfinished business which should be addressed again,” Lacson. 

Lacson had been in the Senate for the whole 18 years. 

He noted that PHP300 billion savings directly or indirectly is lost to corruption, pointing out that for the last remaining days of his life he would still like to render public service. 

Lacson stressed that the Philippines should learn from South Korea in the fields and films and creative industry which has penetrated not only Asia but the whole world. 

He explained that the PHP300 billion “savings” is scrutinized during the deliberations of the National Budget in both Houses of Congress over the span of 18 years of Lacson in the Senate on “alignments” or “insertions” in the proposed budget. 

Lacson questioned the PHP8.3 billion inserted in the budget of the DPWH for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). 

Over 100 years, Lacson said, the Senate had been renting for its office occupancy which has been frequented by dignitaries from around the world.

“It’s about time that the Senate has its own office building,” he said, adding that the PHP23-billion Senate Building complex in Taguig City may have been due to variations in the design and construction cost. 

The term of reference of the new Senate Building was made in 2022 and it is estimated to be finished in 2026. 

Lacson has always been against pork barrel which the Supreme Court (SC) has declared as unconstitutional. 

He said that the IAS should be made independent from the PNP and be headed by a Director General although its personnel come from the PNP. 

Lacson principally authored the “Free Irrigation Law” which provided for free irrigation to farmers in the Philippines. 

He noted that the powerful Bicameral Committee (Bicam) of both Houses of Congress has no “transcript” of its budget deliberations of the proposed General Appropriations Act such that even if the Bicam report has been ratified, amendments or changes can still be made. 

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., Vice President Sara Duterte, Lacson, Sen. Marcos, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, Rep. Camille Villar, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia and many others have earlier expressed their respective support for the civic and cultural project of World Pandesal Day. 

Among others, joining the World Pandesal Day were YanYan, King Sue, Hobe, Mondelez International, San Miguel Mills, NASH, Caltex, Mega Prime Foods, Wheelstar, Clara Ole, PAGCOR, and OK.

According to Wilson Lee Flores, he bought the Kamuning Bakery Cafe from its original owners since 1939.

Flores noted that there’s no Pandesal in Spain and Mexico and it’s only in the Philippines that Pandesal has become popular Filipino food.

*Lumagui: VAT on Resident & Non-Resident Digital Service Providers will promote a Fair & Competitive Business Environment in the Philippines*

Bureau of Internal (BIR) Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. supports the goal of Republic Act No. 12023, which is to level the playing field between local brick and mortar companies and digital service providers, whether or not the latter have offices in the Philippines. This new law promotes fair competition because it equalizes the Value-Added Tax (VAT) to be paid by both local and foreign companies, as long as they are doing business in the Philippines.

"The BIR supports RA No. 12023. This will promote fair competition amongst businesses that are profiting from consumers here in the Philippines. A level playing field produces better products and services" Commissioner Lumagui stated

RA No. 12023 provides that Digital Service Providers, in the course of trade or business, renders services is subject to VAT. Digital services delivered by non-resident Digital Service Providers are considered rendered in the Philippines if the digital services are consumed in the Philippines.

Digital service refers to any service that is supplied over the internet or other electronic network with the use of information technology and where the supply of the service is essentially automated. This includes online search engines, online marketplace, e-marketplace, cloud service, online media and advertising, online platform, or digital goods.

“This is not a new tax. RA No. 12023 only ensures that the VAT being paid by local digital businesses, will also be paid by foreign digital businesses,” Commissioner Lumagui stated.###

Intersectoral collaboration needed for inclusive growth and just transition amid climate crisis – experts

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Optimizing governance reforms and climate financing is essential for achieving economic, environmental, and social equity in natural resource management and climate action. This was highlighted by experts in a breakout session during the 10^th Annual Public Policy Conference (APPC).

Titled “Natural Resource Use, Climate Transition, and Social Justice”, the session focused on the current state of the planet, the green transition that aims to address this global crisis, and the Philippines’ unique position in the climate effort.

Dr. Selva Ramachandran, Resident Representative United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), opened the session with his presentation titled, “The State of Climate Change and Reflections Moving Forward”. He shared alarming global statistics: 10 million hectares of forest are lost annually, 35% of wetlands have disappeared in 50 years, and over half of the world’s coral reefs have died in the last 30 years. He emphasized that the effects of climate change, like rising temperatures and environmental degradation, directly contribute to food and water insecurity and the displacement of communities.

Quoting the UN Secretary-General, Ramachandran emphasized that human activities are the root cause of this crisis, which also means they are the ones who can solve it. Despite global challenges, Ramachandran pointed to encouraging trends, particularly the promise of nature-based solutions. These solutions, along with the just transition to a low carbon economy, are crucial to meet the required greenhouse gas reduction targets indicated by the Paris Agreement.

In the Philippines, the idea of a just transition is gaining traction. Climate finance is crucial not only for addressing vulnerabilities but also for accelerating development.   Ramachandran emphasized the country’s stake in climate change saying, “We must protect the vulnerable. This is critically important, especially for the Philippines. We are in a race against time in this rapidly changing climate, so adaptation must not be forgotten.”

However, a successful green transition requires not only good governance, but also engagement from constituents. Dr. Rodel Lasco, Executive Director of the Oscar M. Lopez Center shared factors affecting climate engagement as he highlighted the dual perspectives of a scientist and a civil society leader, focusing on both the scientific and societal responses to climate change.

Beyond delivering data, Lasco stressed the importance of touching people’s emotions and making them aware of the risks they face. He presents a framework on how to influence people’s beliefs and actions towards climate change, which requires a combination of factual information and emotional engagement. “It is not just climate change facts and figures, it is more of how people perceive climate. Through this, we are hopefully able to make a difference in the belief system, risk perception, and tugging the emotion, therefore pushing them to action,” Lasco emphasized.

Dr. Mirza Sadaqat Huda, Lead Researcher at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, reinforced Lasco’s insights with their own findings from their own public perception survey, which included respondents from the Philippines. Huda noted that Filipinos are among the top four national respondents in climate outlook surveys, demonstrating strong perceptions and a keen interest in participating in climate-related activities. He added that a significant majority of respondents expressed concern over whether the government is allocating enough resources to address climate change. Filipinos are particularly worried about tropical storms and floods, with data showing that 72.9% of Filipinos have experienced these impacts firsthand and are more aware of the worsening effects of climate change.

Additionally, Huda shared that the Philippines is among the biggest supporters of cutting fossil fuel subsidies. However, this is matched by an equivalent apprehension if the country has enough energy resources to decarbonize. “The Philippines has more than enough alternate energy resources, particularly geothermal, hydropower, and wind. So that is essentially the job of people like us, think tankers and academics, to get the information out there about the availability of resources in the Philippines,” he said.  

As all sectors become involved in climate action, the goal is not only for the country to survive but to thrive. Dr. Marian Delos Angeles, Chairman of the Board of the Resources, Environment, and Economics Center for Studies encouraged the session’s audience to view the natural world as an asset alongside the country’s physical, financial, and social capital. Managing these assets together is the key to achieve the country’s sustainable development goals, and turn the challenges brought by climate change into opportunities for all.

A key focus of her talk was the recently legislated Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System (PENCAS), designed to provide vital data on natural resource use and its economic implications, enhancing traditional indicators like Gross Domestic Product. Delos Angeles noted that natural capital accounting offers a more comprehensive understanding of the economy's interaction with the environment and stressed the importance of collaboration. “We need to enhance all this scientific information with social science … To transition justly into better paths of using natural resources, we need all this information. We need to work together,” she said.

This breakout session is one of four parallel sessions at the APPC, focusing on strategies for achieving inclusive growth through natural resource management and renewable energy. Other sessions addressed the role of digitalization across various sectors, the importance of investing in education and skills development for a future-ready workforce, and how technology can improve access to information and promote public participation in development.

Watch the recording of the breakout session on ‘Natural Resource Use, Climate Transition, and Social Justice’ at https://bit.ly/10thappcbor1 or access the full APPC session at https://bit.ly/appc2024_. ###

 

8 Billion Ransack case order by TASK FORCE KASANAG in Preparation for PAQUIL BAY BRIDGE CONTRACTORS

 A press conference was occur at Max’s Restaurant, Quezon Memorial Circle, where Task Force Kasanag (TFK) Founder John J. Choing report the filing of multiple cases, together with a stunning  ₱8 billion ransack case, before the Office of the Ombudsman. The cases are manage against the contractors and a handful of  key solitary involved in the Paquil Bay Bridge Project in Mindanao.

The Paquil Bay Bridge, which was envisioned as a major developmental boost for the region, has been plagued with issues, from delayed timelines to cost overruns. Chiong emphasized that the project’s mismanagement not only wasted public funds but also undermined the trust of the Filipino people in government-led infrastructure initiatives.

During the press conference, Choing detailed how TFK had conducted an in-depth investigation into the bridge project, uncovering massive discrepancies between the original budget allocation and the actual expenditure. According to Choing, the alleged overpricing and fraudulent practices amounted to a loss of ₱8 billion in public funds. “This is a betrayal of the public’s trust. We cannot allow this level of corruption to continue unchecked,” Choing stated during his speech.

The Paquil Bay Bridge Project, intended to connect several regions across Mindanao and boost economic growth, was seen as a pivotal infrastructure undertaking aimed at improving transportation and trade in the area. However, the project has been marred by controversies since its inception, with delays and issues in construction prompting public outcry. The filing of the plunder case marks a major step in exposing what Choing referred to as “deep-rooted corruption” within the project. “This project was supposed to uplift the lives of many Filipinos, especially in Mindanao, but instead, it has become an avenue for graft and plunder. We must hold the guilty parties accountable,” Choing said. Choing also promised that Task Force Kasanag would continue its mission to expose corruption and serve as a watchdog for the public interest.