NAVOTAS City Rep. Toby Tiangco is really on the right direction and timing with his proposed measure seeking to declare as unlawful the issuance and use of Protocol Plate No. 8 that must get full support from his colleagues at the House of Representatives.
As a result, Speaker Bebot Alvarez immediately issued instructions especially on former lawmakers to return the protocol plates issued in the previous Congresses.
But Congressman Toby wants in his House Bill 413 that the current Congress should not be spared. “We don’t need those protocol plates in doing our job as lawmakers and in serving our constituents. They serve only as symbols of perks and privilege,” according to the Navotas lawmaker who reveals that its use has been gravely abused as he cites instances that vehicles bearing this protocol plate have either been spotted in indecent places or figured in crime-related activities.
Some politicians have even been abusing this through the years to circumvent traffic rules, Rep. Tiangco says while proposing that a violator will face a fine of P25,000 or imprisonment of one month and one day as minimum and six months as maximum.
DENR, CIVIL SOCIETY PARTNER TO EMPOWER THE MARGINALIZED
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is partnering with civil society organizations to enable the marginalized to improve their lives through the agency’s programs, particularly the National Greening Program.
Secretary Gina Lopez said the DENR will tap the knowledge, experience and expertise of CSOs, which are often at the forefront of poverty reduction efforts and promotion of social justice.
She recently met with leaders of civil society organizations across the nation, for a planned convergence toward helping marginalized communities. The meeting was dubbed: Salu-salo at Ugnayan para sa Kalikasan or SALUGNAYAN.
The DENR has identified at least 14 areas throughout the country which CSOs can adopt and provide with livelihood opportunities to ultimately serve as “models of entrepreneurship.”
BISTEK JOINS GLOBAL MAYORS
Quezon City Mayor Bistek Bautista has joined 18 local chief executives from around the world in commending the mayor of Rio de Janeiro for successfully hosting the recently concluded Olympic Games.
“As the historic 2016 Olympic Games draw to a close in Rio de Janeiro, we commend C40 Chair, Mayor of Rio de Janeiro Eduardo Paes not only for a successful world-class event, but also for investing in and developing legacy Olympic projects that will benefit the city and its inhabitants in the long-term,” a manifesto signed by the global mayors read.
Mayor Bautista is the only local chief executive from the Philippines who signed the manifesto. QC is the only Philippine city included in the so-called C40 group which counts major cities around the world that made a commitment to the UN to come up with measures that support initiatives for a sustainable future. GOOD RIDDANCE/ARLIE CALALO
