October 12, 2011
Mr. President,
The observance of the International Day for Disaster Reduction comes at a time when the grave effects of climate change and disasters increasingly strike all over the world. And today, we urge governments to “Step Up for Disaster Risk Reduction”.
The Philippines has consistently gone up in global rankings on, unfortunately and alarmingly, climate vulnerability. In 2009, the Philippines was number 12 most at risk from cyclones, floods, earthquakes and landslides based on the Mortality Risk Index by […]
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October 5, 2011
Mr. President,
Images of disaster filled our minds in the past week as typhoons Pedring and Quiel wrought havoc in various parts of the country and destroyed millions-worth of infrastructure including school buildings. In fact, for typhoon Pedring alone, 315 school buildings were damaged with estimated cost placed at P146.8-million.[1]
Thousands of children who went back to their schools after the typhoons were welcomed by damaged classrooms . But one strong image stands tall-the teacher. She has to go business […]
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September 26, 2011
Mr. President,
I stand here today, two years since one of the most devastating typhoons unleashed its wrath in our country, to renew my call for the administration to translate “transformational leadership” into measurable gains in protecting people’s lives and livelihoods and building our resilience as a nation against the worsening state of disaster and climate risks.
We already know the risks.
Tropical storm Pedring entered the Philippines exactly two years after three successive tropical cyclones – Ondoy, Pepeng and […]
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September 17, 2011
In 1996, a strong woman who I deeply cherish died battling with the Big C. Bessie Bautista Legarda, my mama, was a victim of breast cancer, and even though she was a strong woman, we knew that the disease hurt her physically and emotionally.
Cancer is a frightening disease. It could mean a beginning of a new way of life. Accepting the changes that come with it entails much personal strength and great support from loved ones. While the cancer […]
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September 14, 2011
Mr. President,
I would like to register my utmost support for the passage of the proposed “Department of Information and Communications Technology Act”.
As we know ICT is everywhere; from governance to social networking, education to fun and games, and selling to shopping. We take pride in ourselves as the texting capital of the world.
The business processing and outsourcing (BPO) sector projects huge amounts of future revenues as well as employment opportunities for the Filipino people.
Information has increasingly […]
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