Mayors oppose bill relaxing cityhood - Manila Times

Local officials contend creating more cities will reduce IRAs for existing cities

By Francis Earl A. Cueto Reporter

THE League of Cities of the Philippines are up in arms over a new bill in the Lower House that relaxes the stringent requirements of the Local Government Code in the transformation of a locality into a city.

League President and Manda­luyong City Mayor Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. said in a press briefing that the Lower House never consulted them over House Bill No. 24, authored by Zamboanga Sibugay Second District Rep. Ann Hofer, that exempts capital towns of provinces from the annual income requirement of P100 million to be qualified as a city.

The League, composed of 120 cities nationwide, expressed fear that their internal revenue allotment (IRA) will decrease if Congress will pass the bill. The mayors said that in 2007 alone, 16 towns were converted into new cities. If House Bill 24 becomes a law, there will be 27 new cities, which will further reduce the per capita IRA share of existing cities.

The bill states, among others, that “the capital towns of provinces without a city shall be exempted from the annual income requirement of P100 million,” Likewise, it stated “that capital towns of provinces where there is no existing city shall be priority for conversion into component cities…”

League members said that they will stage a “Black Monday” on January 28, wherein employees of their cities will be wearing black armbands. The Philippine flag will also be flown at half-mast to express their opposition to the bill.

“The cities will be in a crisis. The cities will face extinction with this bill,” Abalos said.

Abalos warned that a locality’s delivery of basic services, which include health and education, would be greatly affected by the bill’s passage. Likewise, cities may have to undertake a massive retrenchment.

Lower allotment for cities

A media presentation on the effects on the bill cited as an example Sorsogon City, which was supposed to get an IRA increase of P41.9 million if it was not converted to a city, or a 15-percent increase from last year’s IRA. However, after its conversion to a city, Sorsogon will now only get an increase of only P8 million or a 3-percent increase. As such, the city’s IRA is P33.8-million less because of its conversion to a city.

Another example is Puerto Princesa, which was supposed to get an IRA increase of P146.1 million before its conversion into a city or a 15-percent increase from last year’s IRA. However, after conversion, the city will get an increase of only P1.7 million or a measly 0.18-percent increase. As such, the city’s allotment is P144.4-million less because of its conversion to a city.

Abalos explained that in 1996, the IRA per capita for Philippine cities is 20 percent higher than that of the provinces and municipalities. Nine years later, the situation has been reversed.

Today, the IRA per capita for Philippine cities is now 30 percent lower than the allotment per capita of provinces and municipalities, he added.

Still Life

STILL LIFE - a film by Katski Flores.

Still Life is the story of James Masino, a gifted Filipino painter who finds out he is affeclted with a paralyzing disease known as Guillain Barre Syndrome. Faced with a future where he can no longer paint, James leaves his life in the city and goes on a self-imposed exile to paint one last time, one final masterpiece. Unable to imagine a life without his art, he plans to kill himself once he finishes this painting. But Fate intervenes and derails this grand scheme when James learns that he must share this exile with Emma, a beautiful and mysteroius young girl who at 19 has lived a life much too old for her years. But it is her courageous and unfailing optimism despite what life has dealt her that ultimately inspires james to realize a life beyond his canvass. her search for meaning propels his journey towards hope and redemption. PDI

Robinsons Movieworld Ermita
November 28 to December 04

New barangay, SK officials start serving today

The more than 670,000 reelected and newly elected village and youth officials in most of the 41,995 barangays all over the country start today their three-year terms of office after their mass oath-taking at 12 noon pursuant to Section 2 of Republic Act 9340. MB

Extreme Hunger in the Philippines

In the released statement of the Social Weather station that hunger as defined "involuntary" if the there is no option of having something to eat. Moderate Hunger refers to those who experienced hunger "only once" or a "few times" for last three months. Severe hunger refers to those who experienced hundger "often or always" on the same period.

According to SWS:

1% represent to over 725,000 families experience severre hunger in the past 3 months.
57% represent to 2.2 million families who experienced hunger at least once in the past quarter which dit not receive any form of help.
21.5% represent to 3.8 million families who experienced hunger in the past three months
17.49% represent to 3.1 million families who experienced moderate hunger.


62% represent to 11 million families nationwide - did not receive any kind of help in the past 3 months.

According to International Food Policy Research Institute that 11 million Filipino families live on less than 1$ (43 pesos). It is EXTREME POVERTY as defined by the United Nation.



only:
18% - received food
16% - received money gifts
13% - money loans
23% - from their family
8% - from their friends
7% - from government ( what a pity)
8% - private person.

Patriotic Oath of the Philippines.

Patriotic Oath of the Philippines.

MySpace Comments / Glitter Graphics
I love the Philippines,
the land of my birth,
The home of my people,
it protects me and helps me
Become strong, hardworking, and honorable.

Because i love the Philippines
i will heed the counsel of my parents,
i will obey the rules of my school,
i will perform the duties of a patriotic citizen,
serving, studying, and praying faithfully.
i offer my life,dreams, successess
to the Philippine nation.


MySpace Comments / Glitter Graphics

this is the national pledge we recite after the singing of the national anthem at school, it is required by law at all public and private schools for the majority of Filipino students.

Britney Spears - "Piece of Me" Lyrics

Amo ini ang kanta ni Britney Spears na

“Piece of Me” by Britney Spears

I’m Miss American Dream since I was 17 Don’t matter if I step on the scene Or sneak away to the Philippines They still got pictures of my derrière in the magazine You want a piece of me? You want a piece of me… I’m Miss bad media karma Another day another drama Guess I can’t see no harm In working and being a mama And with a kid on my arm I’m still an exception And you want a piece of me I’m Mrs. Lifestyles of the rich and famous (You want a piece of me) I’m Mrs. Oh my God that Britney’s Shameless (You want a piece of me) I’m Mrs. Exta! Extra! this just in (You want a piece of me) I’m Mrs. she’s too big now she’s too thin (You want a piece of me) I’m Mrs. ‘You want a piece of me?’ Tryin’ and pissin’ me off Well get in line with the paparazzi Who’s flippin’ me off Hopin’ I’ll resort to startin’ havoc And end up settlin’ in court Now are you sure you want a piece of me? I’m Mrs. ‘Most likely to get on TV for strippin’ on the streets’ When getting the groceries, no, for real.. Are you kidding me? Causing panic in the industry I mean, please, do you want a piece of me?

I’m Mrs. Lifestyles of the rich and famous (You want a piece of me) I’m Mrs. Oh my God that Britney’s Shameless (You want a piece of me) I’m Mrs. Exta! Extra! this just in (You want a piece of me) I’m Mrs. she’s too big now she’s too thin (You want a piece of me) I’m Miss American Dream since I was 17 Don’t matter if I step on the scene Or sneak away to the Philippines They still got pictures of my derrière in the magazine You want a piece of me? You want a piece of me… You want a piece of me? I’m Mrs. Lifestyles of the rich and famous (You want a piece of me) I’m Mrs. Oh my God that Britney’s Shameless (You want a piece of me) I’m Mrs. Exta! Extra! this just in (You want a piece of me) I’m Mrs. she’s too big now she’s too thin (You want a piece of me) I’m Mrs. Lifestyles of the rich and famous (You want a piece of me) I’m Mrs. Oh my God that Britney’s Shameless (You want a piece of me) I’m Mrs. Exta! Extra! this just in (You want a piece of me) I’m Mrs. she’s too big now she’s too thin (You want a piece of me) Oh yeah You want a piece of me