EDITORIAL
Angara’s challenge
is to ease financial
woes of teachers
Education Secretary-nominee Juan Edgardo Angara is on the right track in preparing for his assumption as chief of the Department of Education (DepEd) by looking into the problems of teachers and the way they teach, which have a direct bearing on the growth of knowledge and skills of Filipino students.
A cursory observation has revealed for Angara—who will take over the helm of DepEd on July 19 when the resignation of Vice President Sara Duterte from the department takes effect—that financial troubles, specifically low salaries and loan payments, are hindering the teachers’ classroom duties.
The incoming education secretary yesterday said he would push for easy loan access to teachers with low interest rates, adding this will help them concentrate on their jobs. Angara also said he is confident the salaries of teachers will increase “this year or next,” stressing they are included in the Salary Standardization Law (SSL).
In an interview with radio dyPM, Angara said it has come to his attention that teachers secure high-interest loans, which tie them up with financial institutions for years and adversely affect their teaching chores.
“Ang nakikita ko, for example, ‘yung mga nakukuha nilang mga loan, minsan natatali sila diyan nang matagal at minsan mataas ang interes (I have observed that teachers secure high interest loans from some financial institution which tie them up with the company for years),” Angara said.
Angara said he would talk with government financial institutions like the Government Service Insurance System, Landbank of the Philippines, and the Department of Trade and Industry’s Small Business Corporation to enable teachers to have easy access to low-interest loans.
At present, teachers can borrow as much as eight months’ worth of salary but not over P500,000. The interest rate is 10.5 percent and borrowers must have an existing account with LandBank.
Several surveys and studies have been made and validated that the majority of public school teachers are struggling financially, pressuring most of them to live a controlled and limited financial lifestyle. Moreover, teachers unconsciously practice informal debt, which causes uncontrolled debt.
But why are teachers suffering from personal debt problems? For what expenses are these loans allocated? Another study said teachers take out loans because of their perceived personal needs such as expenses for their wedding, expenses for the baby’s needs, tuition of family members, housing expenses, and to pay previous family debts.
“They should have access to these [GFIs] and they should have preferential treatment. That is my opinion, but I don’t want to preempt (things) because we have yet to talk. But that is one of my plans for them to improve their benefits and access to loans,” he said.
Angara reminded the teachers to put the money they would get from the GFIs to good use, and not for mere caprices in life.
“Every administration grants an increase to teachers’ salaries. I think that within the President’s term, there will be an increase in teachers’ salaries,” he said
Meanwhile, Angara assured the public that he intends to stay with the Cabinet until 2028, brushing aside insinuations that he would run for a local post or as a district representative in next year’s midterm elections.
“I will not run for any position because my term in the Senate will end in 2025. I have no other (political) interests between now and the end of the Marcos administration in 2028. I will not abandon my job just because of my political plans. I think that is one of the worries of the education sector. That will never happen,” he said.
It is well and good that the incoming education secretary is seriously taking on the challenge.
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The missing beauty queen and her BF
“My Best Friend is a person who will give me a book I have not read.”
― Abraham Lincoln
Police and other law enforcement officers in Central Luzon are still investigating the case of the missing beauty queen, Geneva Lopez, and her fiance Yitshak Cohen, an Israeli. Geneva is 26 years old while Yitshak is 37.
The couple was last seen in Angeles City on June 21, a Friday, boarding a sports utility vehicle (SUV). They were going to Tarlac City to meet a middleman who was selling a parcel of land, and they were to meet the broker in nearby Capas.
Geneva and Yitshak disappeared and have been reported missing since then. Police investigators reviewed all the CCTV footage that were available showing the car and the couple. After a few days, they found the SUV abandoned and burned in Barangay Cristo Rey, Capas. Inside the car that was partly consumed by fire were personal items that belonged to Geneva, such as her ATM card and an ID photo.
Some relevant facts about Barangay Cristo Rey.
Formerly known as Camp O’Donnell, Cristo Rey used to be a Naval Transmitting Facility by virtue of the 1947 Military Bases Agreement between the Philippines and the United States.
After the Mount Pinatubo eruption (June 1991), President Corazon C. Aquino issued Proclamation No. 813 that reserves portions of the Clark Air Base military reservation located in the municipality of Capas to be the resettlement site for Mt. Pinatubo eruption victims.
Thus, the O’Donnell Resettlement Site (the biggest with a maximum capacity of accommodating 13,000 families) was established and gave refuge to many evacuees and victims of the eruption from different barangays of Concepcion and Capas.
The community was divided into 147 blocks representing a cluster of settlers grouped according to their place of origin.
In 2003, the provincial board of Tarlac approved the provincial ordinance creating Barangay Cristo Rey from within the O’Donnell Resettlement Area. It has become a huge community with residential houses and business establishments like the Northern Cup and the country’s largest drug reformatory, the Capas Bahay Pagbabago.
An information from an online source said Barangay Cristo Rey has the most complicated road system in the whole of Tarlac province. This may be the case if one is driving inside the confines of the rural village, with Mount Arayat in the background. But when you ride a plane, or fly a drone, you will discover (and appreciate!) that the place has an eight-side polygon that acts like a rotunda, with a square at the middle. A complete octagonal construction of the streets, which can only be made from a completely barren piece of land like this Clark Air Base military reservation before.
But why was the SUV used by Geneva and her boyfriend Yitshak found in Barangay Cristo Rey? Perhaps the said complicated road system can offer an explanation? With such a local road network where there are large spaces without houses yet, it would be easy to bring a car, leave it there and burn it. Especially at night.
PNP spokesperson Jean Fajardo said the PNP Highway Patrol Group (HPG) went to the address of the registered owned of the vehicle that was abandoned and burned. They learned that the registered owner had sold the car to other people.
While the Israeli embassy in Manila has been notified of the case and is cooperating with the government in solving the case, the Cohen family is offering a P250,000 reward to anyone who can provide information on the missing
couple. Joe Cohen, a brother of Yitshak, said they are offering the reward money to help in finding his brother and his girlfriend. Joe said the family’s assumption is that the two are still alive, since they did not receive any information that might suggest that the duo were kidnapped for ransom. Joe appealed to any one who saw them or knows any information about them to help the Cohen family to resolve this case.
Moreover, PNP chief General Rommel Marbil ordered the creation of a special investigation task group (SITG) to focus on the probe on the mysterious disappearance of Geneva and Yitshak.
Details are trickling in
As the days pass, details and more information about the case are coming in in trickles.
Police said there is a third car that was seen moving in convoy with the couple’s vehicle. They traced the movement in Barangay Armenia in Tarlac City, the place where the piece of land for sale is located. The car was also found abandoned in Barangay Tibag in Tarlac City, said Capas PNP chief Lt. Col. Librado Manarang.
According to Fajardo, however, the middleman who was brokering the sale to the couple is a former policeman assigned in Angeles City but was discharged from the service for being AWOL. He now makes a living by selling real estate, or facilitating the sale of land by arranging meetings between the owners and buyers.
Geneva Lopez’s claim to being a beauty queen rests on her being a candidate for the Mutya ng Pilipinas Pampanga 2024, a pageant where she represents Sto. Tomas town, Pampanga. Geneva’s handler and the organizers of the event wondered why she was late for rehearsals, something that the beauty queen was careful not to do.
The search for Geneva and Yitshak continues.
In the legislative process, the implementation of a bill is often accompanied by the drafting of its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). However, there is a pressing need for greater public sector participation in the development of these regulations to ensure that they align with the true essence and objectives of the proposed bill. It is crucial that the voices of various stakeholders are heard to bridge the gap between legislative intent and practical application.
The significance of public Sector participation is ensuring alignment with legislative Intent.
Public sector participation in drafting IRs is essential to ensure that the regulations are in line with the original intent and spirit of the proposed bill. By involving relevant government agencies, experts, and stakeholders in the process, the IRR can be tailored to effectively implement the policy objectives set forth in the legislation.
It also enhances clarity and consistency. Involving the public sector in the development of IRs can enhance the clarity and consistency of regulatory frameworks. By soliciting input from those who will be responsible for implementing and enforcing the regulations, potential ambiguities and inconsistencies can be addressed early on, leading to more effective and enforceable rules.
It Promotes Transparency and Accountability.
Public sector participation fosters transparency and accountability in the regulatory process. By engaging a diverse set of stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organizations, and the public, the drafting of IRs becomes a more inclusive and democratic process. This transparency helps build trust in the regulatory framework and ensures that regulations serve the public interest.
Harnessing Expertise and Insights is a must.
Government agencies and public sector entities possess valuable expertise and insights that can significantly contribute to the development of practical and effective IRs. By tapping into this knowledge base, policymakers can benefit from a more comprehensive understanding of the potential impacts and implications of the regulations, leading to more informed decision-making.
I strongly advocate public sector participation in the drafting of Implementing Rules and Regulations for proposed bills for it is crucial for ensuring that regulatory frameworks effectively translate legislative intent into practical application. By engaging a wide range of stakeholders in the regulatory process, policymakers can create more robust, coherent, and responsive regulations that better serve the interests of society as a whole.
It is imperative that governments encourage and prioritize public sector involvement to bridge the gap between legislative proposals and their meaningful implementation.
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Where there are laws in the Philippines that cover hacking and other forms of cybercrime. The primary law that addresses hacking and other cybercrimes in the Philippines is the "Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012" or Republic Act No. 10175. This law aims to provide a legal framework for the detection, investigation, and prosecution of cybercrimes such as hacking, identity theft, cybersex, and other offenses committed using the Internet.
Under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, hacking is defined as the unauthorized access to any computer system or network. Engaging in hacking activities is considered a criminal offense in the Philippines, and those found guilty can face penalties including imprisonment and fines
It's important to note that laws and regulations may change over time, so it's always a good idea to check for any updates or amendments to existing laws regarding hacking and cybercrime in the Philippines.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) in the Philippines plays a crucial role in leading efforts to enhance the country's cybersecurity capabilities and combat cyber threats, including hacking. The DICT is tasked with developing and implementing policies, plans, programs, and guidelines related to information and communications technology (ICT) in the Philippines, including cybersecurity.
The DICT collaborates with other government agencies, law enforcement authorities, and the private sector to strengthen the country's cybersecurity posture and respond to cyber incidents effectively. The DICT also works on promoting cybersecurity awareness, capacity-building, and training initiatives to bolster the cybersecurity skills of individuals and organizations in the Philippines.
In addition to the DICT, other government agencies such as the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center (CICC) are also involved in combating hacking and other cybercrimes in the country. These agencies work together to investigate cybercrimes, enforce cybersecurity laws, and provide support to victims of cyber incidents.
While efforts are being made to address cyber threats like hacking, cybersecurity remains a dynamic and evolving challenge. Continuous collaboration, resources, and expertise are needed to effectively curb hacking and other cybercrimes in the Philippines.