MABUHAY PHILIPPINES! Greetings from the MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (MAP)! The MAP Board of Governors --- composed of President JUN PALAFOX, Vice President BETH LEE, Treasurer ED FRANCISCO, Secretary CHIT JUAN, Governors POPOY DEL ROSARIO, FRANKIE EIZMENDI, GREG NAVARRO, LYDIA SARMIENTO and JAMES VELASQUEZ --- has adopted "MAPping a Culture of Integrity" as the MAP theme for 2011 and agreed to focus most of its programs on Corruption, Criminality and Climate Change. MAP defines "CULTURE" as "a way of life" and "INTEGRITY" as "adherence to highest ethical standards, good governance principles (transparency, accountability and fairness) and management excellence." We in the MAP urge our government officials to devote more time and resources to programs and projects that address Corruption as well as Criminality and Climate Change. Corruption comes from two Latin words "cor" which means heart and "rupture" which means break; hence, we seem to live in a country with a broken heart. Corruption continues to be one of the biggest impediments to business growth and sustainability, and economic development and prosperity. It has been eroding the moral fiber of the nation, and it deprives the poor of beneficial programs on education, health care and housing. It is blatantly opposed to the "Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap" and "Matuwid na Daan" battlecry of President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III. Criminality and Climate Change, if not properly addressed, will discourage foreign businessmen and tourists to invest and travel in the Philippines. In line with our theme of "MAPping a Culture of Integrity" and our goal this year to address Corruption, Criminality and Climate Change, MAP created MAP PPP Task Forces (PPP stands for "Public-Private Partnership")to enable MAP to be more proactive in putting forward reforms and recommendations, instead of just reacting to issues. By forming MAP PPP Task Forces that will work with government agencies, we hope to help build a globally competitive nation without corruption and we hope to continue advocating for country above self, which requires walking the talk and sacrificing self-interest for the country and the environment. The present Committees and the Task Forces will help selected government agencies pursue their mission and achieve their goals in order to sustain a culture of integrity. The Task Forces are expected to generate the interim recommendations by 30 June 2011 in time for the July 25 State of the Nation Address of President Aquino, and the final recommendations by 30 September 2011 in time for the National Budget preparation. The MAP Task Forces cover the following issues: (1) Airport Improvement – Bal Endriga; (2) 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) or the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Program – Evelyn Singson; (3) Anti-Corruption (Procurement) – Charlie Villasenor; (4) Anti-Corruption (Smuggling) – Beth Lee; (5) Climate Change and Disaster Preparedness – Cora Claudio; (6) Criminality – Fern Pena; (7) Agribusiness – Oscar Torralba; (8) Audit – Bal Endriga; (9) Competitiveness – Cesar Bautista; (10) Education – Jesli Lapus; (11) Health – Alma Jimenez; (12) ICT – James Velasquez; (13) Medium-Term Development Plan – Peter Wallace; (14) Taxation System – Eddie Yap; (15) Tourism and Nationhood (Patriotism in Nation-Building) – Joe Magsaysay; (16) Budget, (17) Energy, (18) Finance, (19) Foreign Affairs, (20) Freeports/Seaports, (21) Labor, (22) Local Governance, (23) Science and Technology, (24) Trade and Industry, and (25) Transportation. map.org.ph Page 1 of 22 Page 2 of 22 Here below is a partial summary of MAP Recommendations, Advisories and Commentaries on the topics alphabetically listed below for the Global Competitiveness of the Philippines and in response to P-Noy’s Clarion Call for "Matuwid na Daan:" Issues Recommendations, Advisories and Commentaries Airline Taxation The following should be viewed as an investment and development strategy for the Philippines: 1. For the DOF to allow the foreign air carriers to exercise the option to register for VAT in lieu of percentage tax (i.e. CCT) imposed under Section 118 of the 1997 Tax Code. 2. For Congress to sponsor and support the passage of a bill seeking to rationalize the airline tax regime through amendments of the 1997 Tax Code. Airports 1. Terminal 1 must be renovated and continue to be the international terminal. It is adjacent to the two major international cargo terminals and much closer to the international runway 06-24. Because of the objections of foreign airlines of its state of disrepair, a program of phased renovation should be done to make it presentable. This terminal has 14 gates against Terminal 3’s 20 gates but the domestic volume of passengers is at least three times bigger than international. If the fuel depot and the NAIA cargo terminal could be relocated (and they must be because the fuel depot is a hazard so close to the passenger terminals) then both Terminals 1 and 2 could be extended towards each other and perhaps eventually connect. Connections between the domestic and international terminals will therefore facilitate passenger transfer without having to go out of the terminals. 2. Terminal 2 can remain PAL’s terminal and because it has become insufficient to the growing operation of PAL both the domestic and the international wing could be extended. The international wing could extend towards the vacated area of Nayong Pilipino while the domestic wing could be extended towards Terminal 1 so that eventually domestic/international connection could happen within the same interconnected building. The extensions of both wings of Terminal 2 can be made much wider than the current one to provide for Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) operation for international flights to be handled at Terminal 1 and the extended international wing of Terminal 2. If the proposal for Terminal 3 is adopted then even the domestic wing of Terminal 2 can be devoted to international making all of Terminal 1 and 2 purely for international use. What used to be the domestic wing can be devoted to the narrow body international flights. 3. Terminal 3 must be used for domestic operation with all 20 gates made operational (now only a few) to cater to the much greater volume of domestic passenger traffic (to reiterate, at least 3x of international). The logic aside from the issue of volume is that it is after all built along the domestic runway. In this case, the useful utilization of runway 13-31 will not be diminished, perhaps even improved because the smaller domestic aircraft can continue to land and take-off on the domestic runway. It will avoid congesting runway 06-24 if Terminal 3 was used for international instead. 4. Terminal 4 or the Manila Domestic Terminal can stay for the continuous usage by the turboprops of SEAIR and Zest Airways which are not conducive for use in the other terminals anyway because they will not fit the airbridges. Instead of being remote-parked in the other terminals, the two airlines staying at T4 will enjoy the closeness of the terminal to the aircraft parking bays rendering the use of airbridges unnecessary. The Airbus operations of the two airlines can then shift to T1 & T2. D. MACAPAGAL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 5. To support the inevitable, it is recommended that the necessary steps to prepare DMIA as the new international gateway be taken by the government and the travel and tourist industry. 6. The construction of a new international terminal befitting a gateway must be seriously pursued now. 7. The construction of a speed railway system connecting NAIA to DMIA must be considered. The current Northrail project might take a long time. The projected stops are far too many to be desirable as transit system for the air travelers. 8. The continuous improvement and widening of the NLEX must be pursued to desirably convert it to speed a several-lane superhighway. LAQUINDINGAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 9. The Laquindingan project has been going on for over a decade and finally almost nearing completion. It must be completed immediately to cater to the developing tourism of Northern Mindanao. 10. The airport must be provided with complete facilities and equipment to accommodate 24-hour operation of both domestic and international flights. A GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORT 11. There have been attempts to transfer general aviation to formerly wide open, obstruction-free areas like Cabuyao and Sta. Rosa. Now the area has become prime real estate development area. It is recommended that other areas be studied particularly those quite close to Metro Manila since many of the general aviation operators are corporate entities which are also vital to the economy. 12. There were proposals before to set up an airport on Talim Island, the island of Rizal Province right in the middle of Laguna de Bay. Perhaps a serious study on this proposal should be made giving attention to the possible downside of the airport contributing to the pollution of the fresh-water lake of Laguna de Bay. 13. Another proposal was reportedly made by the City of Taguig to have an airport built along its shoreline. The same issue on pollution will have to be studied as well as the safety issue of it being too proximate to NAIA and therefore might pose hazard in aircraft maneuvering in two airports so close to each other. 14. Another airport quite close to Metro Manila is Sangley Airport at the Cavite Naval Base, if the military would be predisposed to agree to the conversion from military to general aviation airport. SHORT-TERM – UNTIL JUNE 2011 15. Use of credit cards to pay travel tax and terminal fee 16. Payment of government fees for tickets obtained via Internet. 17. Schedule activities properly to achieve the most from Oct 2010 to June 2011 18. Review the mix and aesthetics of concessionaires and duty free shops. 19. Renovate shopping outlets, duty-free, food concessionaires, gift shops 20. Renovate retail outlets to upgrade them to world-class but Philippine-themed look 21. Study how to improve the mix and quality of products to be sold in retail outlets 22. 7 – Point Road map for the Full Operation of NAIA 3 22.1 Completion of Retrofit Works 22.2 Engagement of Airport Consultants 22.3 Undertaking of Completion Works 22.4 Engagement of O & M Contractors 22.5 Phased Transfer of Airlines 22.6 Final Airline Accommodation 22.7 Consider changing mix of comfort rooms between male and female CR’s 23. Convert some male CR’s into female CR’s to increase capacity for female needs 24. Construct simple new urinals for males along one or two areas and retain a few strategically located cubicles for use by males. MEDIUM-TERM – 2011 TO 2015 Terminal 3 24.1 7 – Point Road map for the Full Operation of NAIA 3 24.1.1 Phased Transfer of Airlines 24.1.2 Provision of Cargo Facility 24.1.3 Implement opening of another gateway at Clark to decongest Metro Manila LONG TERM – 2011 TO BEYOND 2016 Terminal 1 to 4 24.1.4 Terminal 1 must be renovated and continue to be the international terminal. 24.1.5 Terminal 2 can remain PAL’s terminal and because it has become insufficient to the growing operation of PAL, both the domestic and the international wing could be extended. 24.1.6 Terminal 3 must be used for domestic operation with all 20 gates made operational to cater to the much greater volume of domestic passenger traffic. 24.1.7 Terminal 4 or the Manila Domestic Terminal can stay for the continuous usage by the turboprops of SEAIR and Zest Airways which are not conducive for use in the other terminals anyway because they will not fit the airbridges. 25. General 25.1 As a guide to project-program identification and development, the following very specific questions shall be answered: 25.1.1 When can the President make a pronouncement that there has been a breakthrough in the operations of NAIA 3 For the 2011 SONA, what specific accomplishments can the President cite regarding NAIA 3? ASEAN RORO Network One critical policy that must be put in place is the inclusion of the Chassis-RORO (or ChaRO) as part of the RORO service. This entails the amendment of EO 170. The international ports of Batangas, Davao and Zamboanga will play a critical role in the establishment of RO-RO connections between the Philippines and other ASEAN countries. There is, therefore, a need to ensure that government services (like customs, immigration and quarantine) will be provided in these designated ASEAN RO-RO ports. BALIKPROBIN-SIYA The MAP is a partner of BALIKPROBINSIYA, a countryside entrepreneurship advocacy for a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) that brings sustainable livelihoods to rural areas. The Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) coordinates government participation and the MAP promotes private sector involvement. As MAP encourages private business start-ups in agriculture, agro-livestock, agro-industry, agro-forestry, tourism, logistics and ICT; DBP is providing seed funding and coordinating government agency support to enable venture viability. BALIKPROBINSIYA (www.balik-probinsiya.com) is recruiting a volunteer force from the MAP membership, returning Filipino expatriates, resettled urban dwellers, senior retirees, youth sectors, microfinance borrowers and other fledgling entrepreneurs to develop the bounty that makes the Philippines the world’s 5th richest country in terms of natural resources. Among the industry priorities of BALIKPROBINSIYA include revitalization of the coconut industry, establishment of a sunrise bamboo industry, rationalization of agro-livestock sectors, industrialization of agro-forestry and intensification of herbal and vegetable production. These priorities can provide substantial sustainable livelihoods in the rural areas, with the coconut industry already employing over 20,000,000 Filipinos and the bamboo industry capable of creating at least 5 new jobs for every hectare of bamboo planted. The initial projects of the BALIKPROBINSIYA PPP are located in North Luzon, Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog. The sudden return of Filipino expatriates fleeing the Middle East political upheavals and the Japan triple-whammy of earthquake, tsunami and radiation places a greater immediacy for these entrepreneurial efforts. MAP is pleased to be a part of this initiative whose vision is "A Philippines of self-reliant communities anchored on individuated personal values of stewardship, simplicity and sharing." Kabuhayan sa Kabukiran, Gaganda … Ang Ekonomiya, Sisigla! Classroom Shortage It’s Doable: 200,000 New Classrooms in Two Years (2012-2013) It is imperative to urgently address the huge demand to put an end to permanent and accumulating backlogs. By employing innovative and multi-sectoral approaches, it is possible to frontload the construction of more than 200,000 new classrooms in the two years 2012-2013. These approaches include the following: 1. Adopting a more flexible government education budget (GAA) 2. Harnessing private sector resources and expertise through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) 3. Using part of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) 4. Using the Special Education Fund (SEF) of the Local Government Units (LGUs) as collateral and for debt servicing 5. Accessing funds from our international development partners like the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank 6. Promoting donations from the private sector, civil society organizations, and non-governmental organizations With these approaches and possible fund sources, the government can mobilize about Php80 B pesos to finance the building of 238,000 classrooms worth Php190 B during 2012 and 2013, thereby substantially addressing the projected classroom requirements for the same period. 1. GAA Under the 2011 DepEd Budget, a total of Php12 B was allocated for School Facilities, of which Php8.3 B is appropriated to finance new classrooms. Using the traditional approach of pure capital outlay, the government can only build 10,000 classrooms (or 20,000 classrooms in two years). Therefore, the classroom backlog expected to be accumulated in the next years is way beyond the absorptive capacity of DepEd and/or DPWH. By introducing the "rent-to-own" MOOE option in the GAA, the same budget amount can allow five times (5x) more classrooms than if this amount were spent to build (capital outlay). Thus, a Php6 B GAA projection in 2012 translates to 37,500 CLS instead of just 7,500 CLS. Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for Classrooms The PPP framework is another approach in addressing the classroom backlog. This approach is in line with the PPP initiative of the Aquino Administration which offers the following key advantages: • Classroom development is "front-loaded" (i.e., can be delivered within 2 years instead of 10 years – cumulative through the usual procurement system) • The public sector provides the market with business opportunity based on an "economic lot" (scale) that would allow the private sector to do value engineering that would ultimately redound to lower cost and potential savings to the government • It minimizes risks of government systems breakdown and possible corruption by simplifying and standardizing processes, specifications, and lease rates • It utilizes excess liquidity (i.e. Php1.9 Trillion available funds in the Special Deposit Account of the banking sector with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) in the credit institutions properly. a. Build-Lease-Transfer (or Rent-to-Own) Scheme A PPP option can also be introduced nationwide by allowing for a line item under the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) of the GAA. This can be done through a rent-to-own scheme (i.e. Build-Lease-Transfer scheme under the BOT Law). Large and small construction firms in all urban and far-flung areas can participate and earn acceptable returns on investment. The school buildings will be constructed on school or government-owned lands. b. Php5 B for Design-Build (Turn-Key) Scheme The DepEd has a proposed budget for an additional Php5 B a year for the next five years (or Php25 B in total) to be solely used for the PPP program using the Design-Build-Transfer (or turn-key) Scheme. Through this approach, the provision of new classrooms is also being front-loaded. The Php25 B can be advanced by the private sector in the period 2012-2013, which can finance more than 30,000 classrooms. 2. Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) Another source of fund is the PDAF or "Pork Barrel" of legislators. Each congressman is allocated Php70 M per year, while each senator is allocated Php200 M. 3. Special Education Fund (SEF) The local school boards in the country receive annually, through automatic appropriation, 1% of the total real estate tax collections of the LGUs. Called the SEF, it is allocated pursuant to the Local Government Code for the (a) operation and maintenance of public schools, (b) construction and repair of school buildings, facilities and equipment and other education spending. In 2008, the total SEF stood at P15 B. The SEF is expected to increase yearly as real estate values appreciate. Like the IRA, the SEF can and should be used as loan collateral with financial institutions in order to front-load the financing of school buildings. A portion of the SEF (say, 50% or Php7.5 B) can be earmarked as annual debt service for a 7-year loan at 10% interest per annum. 4. WB-ADB Assistance The national government has, in the past, tapped loans from World Bank (WB) or Asian Development Bank (ADB) as budget support for the school building projects. International development assistance agencies (IDAAs) have also shown keen interest in supporting projects that help improve quality of both educational facilities and services. In fact, school building construction serves to be one of the focal points of foreign support. 5. Other Sources: Donations and Aid Through donations in kind from the private sector and civil society organizations, the DepEd has successfully been generating a good number of new classrooms every year. In fact, a number of institutions (e.g. Philippine Business for Social Progress, Fil-Chinese Chamber of Commerce) have expressed intentions to continue helping the government address the classroom backlog in the country. Several successful DepEd programs (e.g. Brigada Eskwela, Adopt-a-School Program) will also continue to register contributions to this effort. Similarly, classrooms had been donated by USAID, AUSAID, Spain, UNICEF and other foreign donors. NOW IS THE "RIGHT" TIME Perhaps, this is the right time to wage the decisive battle against the nagging classrooms shortage problem. There is a government that enjoys the unprecedented popularity to wield the necessary political will. And there is a financial system that enjoys unprecedented excess liquidity eager to invest in the future of the country. Many of the recommended solutions are not new ideas. Some have been presented to Congress, to Cabinet, to the League of Provincial Governors and discussed in PPP workshops on various occasions in the past. Though generally favourably received, the needed concerted and determined implementation in its entirety has not been done. These non-exclusive approaches utilize existing and available resources under doable schemes. GAA and SEF financial leveraging coupled with motivated private sector investments are the main lynchpins. With a strong political will of the government and commitment of the private sector, these solutions can be adopted and executed well within the term of President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III. Indeed, we need not be told what we already know – the reality that there is a huge backlog in classrooms that begs for urgent and innovative action. This paper is an attempt to assert that it is also a reality that it can be done. Compensation for Board Members of GOCCs and GFIs The MAP commends President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III for issuing EO 24 which rationalized the compensation structure for members of the Boards of Directors/Trustees of GOCCs and GFIs guided by the principles of transparency, accountability and prudence. While the structure can be improved in the future in terms of equity, competitiveness and scope, EO 24, as promulgated, is a good start. The issuance of the EO reflects the sense of urgency of the Aquino administration in addressing malgovernance practices that could be acted upon immediately. "Quick wins," such as this, are important in the efforts to rebuild the credibility of and confidence in our GOCCs and GFIs, many of which were taken advantage of in the past by opportunistic directors, trustees or commissioners and such abuses directly impacted on the reputation and integrity of said GOCCs and GFIs. However, there is more to good corporate governance than the competitiveness or fairness of a firm’s compensation structure, GOCCs or otherwise. By the end of this year, MAP hopes that a more comprehensive law instituting other reforms in corporate governance can be enacted to ensure the public here and abroad that this administration is indeed serious about reforming the corporate governance environment in this country. After all, good corporate governance is globally acknowledged as one of the key determinants of a country’s competitiveness. Corruption In line with our theme of "MAPping a Culture of Integrity," we in the MAP urge our government officials to devote more time and resources to programs and projects that address Corruption as well as Criminality and Climate Change. Corruption continues to be one of the biggest impediments to business growth and sustainability, and economic development and prosperity. It has been eroding the moral fiber of the nation, and it deprives the poor of beneficial programs on education, health care and housing. It is blatantly opposed to the "Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap" and "Matuwid na Daan" battlecry of President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III. Corruption comes from two Latin words "cor" which means heart and "rupture" which means break; hence, we seem to live in a country with a broken heart. Criminality and Climate Change, if not properly addressed, will discourage foreign businessmen and tourists to invest and travel in the Philippines. In the April Council meeting of the Asian Association of Management Organizations (AAMO), of which MAP is a member, Prof. Ryokichi Hirono of the International Management Association of Japan presented a panorama of the world’s top 20 economies by 2025 where the Philippines will be number 19; and by 2050, our country will be 17th top economy worldwide if there will be good governance and no corruption in the country. With the correct anti-corruption programs, the Philippines can make it to the world’s Top 20 economies since the Philippines is no. 1 in marine biodiversity, sailors and in musicians; no. 2 in BPOs and call centers; no. 3 in the longest coastlines; no. 4 in gold; no. 5 in other mineral resources; and no. 12 in human resources as Filipino expatriates are the preferred employees of kings, queens, sheiks, developers, hotels, universities, etc. In this regard, we urge the government to consider and support the anti-corruption measures being espoused by MAP (e.g., the Integrity Initiative which aims to promote integrity and accountability in business) and those of the following: 1. Supreme Court Associate Justice Conchita Carpio Morales who was the Inducting Officer at the 25 January 2011 MAP Inaugural Meeting and Induction of 2011 MAP Board of Governors. She urged MAP members and the public to report any malfeasance or misfeasance being committed by public servants, more so if they are stationed in the judiciary. 2. Coalition Against Corruption or CAC (cac.org.ph), headed by former MAP President David L. Balangue, which is an alliance of the academe, business sector, civil society organizations, and the Church that fights corruption. CAC implements counter-corruption projects in the area of procurement and delivery of essential public services. Among CAC’s projects is to expand the pool of professional observers and engage stakeholders to participate in the nationwide implementation of RA 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act). 3. Mr. TONY KWOK, former Deputy Commissioner and Head of Operations of the Independent Commission on Anti-Corruption of Hong Kong, who urged the government to: (a) criminalize private sector corruption; (b) establish investigative agency with adequate resources; (c) provide 24-hour report center to receive complaints; (d) encourage reports and media publicity; (e) implement zero tolerance policy and investigate every pursuable complaint; and (f) do aggressive publicity on successful prosecution. 4. USAID Integrity Project (integridad-ph.com) and (philippines.usaid.gov/programs/democracy-governance/integrity-project), headed by MAP Member Jim Wesberry, which is a two-year (Oct. 2009 – Sept. 2011) project designed to assist the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice in developing a system for monitoring the progress of corruption cases. The project also provides technical assistance to the Constitutional Integrity Group (CIG), composed of the Ombudsman, Civil Service Commission and the Commission on Audit, for a more effective corruption detection and deterrence environment. The project is also supporting the application of corruption diagnostics in selected local government units. For a more proactive anti-corruption vehicle, we encourage the Aquino Administration to certify the Freedom of Information (FOI) Law as urgent and for Congress to immediately enact the FOI Law which will give the access to information heretofore hidden from public scrutiny, and provide the necessary protection for truth-tellers and whistle-blowers. CSR The MAP, through the MAP CSR LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE, has been challenging businesses to expand their responsibilities beyond their shareholders and reach out to the other stakeholders who are affected by or who impact on their operations like the community, the local government, the media, the supply chain, and most certainly, their very own employees. The MAP strongly believes that the legislation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is not necessary. The practice of CSR should be a voluntary commitment to ethical business principles. We, however, encourage the practice of CSR among the country’s corporate citizens who should perform as responsible members of society by behaving ethically, contributing to economic and sustainable development, and improving the quality of life of their workforce and their communities. Many businesses have actually been fulfilling their societal obligations to ensure a healthy business environment for its investors, communities, clients and other stakeholders. We agree with article authors, Porter and Kramer, that "When a well run business applies its vast resources, expertise and management talent to problems that it understands and in which it has a stake, it can have a greater impact on social good than any other institution or philanthropic organization." We highly recommend that precious time and resources be spent on urgent pending bills that are more important than those pertaining to CSR. Competi-tiveness The 4 Key Actions that will bring early wins – business experts to work with relevant government champions: 1. Lower the cost of energy �� The TF will identify simple measures (e.g., reducing the business sector’s energy consumption by 20%, improving the governance of cooperatives so they can charge less) that can bring power cost to a more competitive level. �� Energy cost needs to be addressed because it is among the factors (including labor cost) that bring up the cost of doing business in the Philippines. �� If energy cost can be tempered, the Philippines may become the preferred investment destination in the region. 2. Continue the professionalism of key government agencies (selected departments, etc.) �� The TF will push for the continuation of NCC’s efforts in improving the professionalism of government agencies, specially the following: 2.1 Department of Education (DepEd) 2.2 Department of Health (DOH) 2.3 Department of Public works and Highways (DPWH) 2.4 Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) 2.5 Philippine National Police (PNP) 2.6 Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) 2.7 Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 2.8 Civil Service Commission (CSC) 2.9 Philippine Navy 2.10 Philippine Army 2.11 Philippine Military Academy (PMA) 2.12 National Electrification Administration (NEA) �� The TF will base its recommendation on NCC’s successful initial outcomes using the Harvard Balanced Scorecard System being championed by the Institute of Solidarity for Asia (ISA). �� Dealing with professionalized government agencies will certainly help decrease the cost of doing business in the Philippines. 3. Pursue infrastructure strategic to the BIG WINNERS and define 3-4 key policies to improve their competitiveness (8 business product groups) �� The TF will push for necessary infrastructure and policies to improve the productivity of priority sectors like the following: 3.1 Agribusiness 3.2 Tourism 3.3 IT-enabled Services (BPO, etc.) 3.4 Electronics 3.5 Logistics-enabled products (food, soft, hard components, etc.) 3.6 Health, Wellness, Retirement 3.7 Manufacturing 3.8 Mining �� There should be appropriate infrastructure and policies to ensure effective linkages from investors’ sources of assets/resources to the processing centers to the distribution centers to domestic/overseas markets. �� Some policies may require legislation but many only need executive action. �� Major gateways (e.g., NAIA 3 which was installed at huge cost) must be made fully operational soon. �� The TF will request for a meeting with National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director-General and Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Cayetano Paderanga, Jr. for a discussion on the government’s infrastructure programs for next five years. 4. Establish a robust Investor Assistance Office �� The TF will push for the setting up of a Strong Investors Assistance Office similar to the PEZA model to send a strong signal to investors that there will be no more hustling of investors. �� If handled properly, it will immediately improve the investment attractiveness of the Philippines. Country Brand The MAP strongly endorses the adoption of "You’ll love it here. MABUHAY PHILIPPINES!" as the country brand for the Republic of the Philippines. MAP believes that "You’ll love it here. MABUHAY PHILIPPINES!" will effectively and strategically ignite pride among Filipinos.   Adopting this country brand will enable the government to save some funds that could just be used in developing the appropriate applications of our proposed country brand. Here below are sample applications: For LGU : "CamSur - You’ll love it here. MABUHAY PHILIPPINES!" "Boracay - You’ll love it here. MABUHAY PHILIPPINES!" For Tourism : "Love the ADVENTURE - You’ll love it here. MABUHAY PHILIPPINES!" For Trade and Investments: "Love the PEOPLE - You’ll love it here. MABUHAY PHILIPPINES!" For Arts and Heritage : "Love the COLORS - You’ll love it here. MABUHAY PHILIPPINES!" For Governance : "Love the WARMTH - You’ll love it here. MABUHAY PHILIPPINES!" MAP shares the government’s efforts to promote the Philippines as a business and investment destination. However, we also recognize the complexity of the challenges that the Philippines faces given the increasingly competitive global landscape, which calls on the Philippines to identify and leverage on its competitive advantages. This calls for the public and private sectors to work together in creating a strong brand for the Philippines. MAP believes that a positive country brand enhances nationhood and strengthens national pride; improves international credibility; serves as a shield from possible reputational risks; increases the value of domestic products, services and destinations; and leads to higher and more sustainable growth for business and enterprise. In this light, MAP proposes the establishment of a National Branding Council to develop the Philippine country brand, as what South Korea, India, Thailand and other successful nations have done. The mandate of the proposed Council is to: 1. Establish a compelling Philippine brand; and 2. Positively position the Philippines in terms of investment, tourism, export capabilities, credit worthiness, and international diplomacy and relations. For the National Branding Council to succeed in carrying out its mandate, MAP believes that it should be represented at the highest levels of the executive body of government. In addition, the Council should be composed of representatives of key government agencies, including the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Tourism (DOT), and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), as well as representatives of the private sector and civil society. With a strong country brand, we are confident that the Philippines will gain a bigger share of investments, trade and tourism, which will ultimately redound to the benefit of every Filipino. The MAP stands ready to extend any support and assistance in creating the proposed National Branding Council, and ultimately, a strong country brand for the Philippines. "You’ll love it here. MABUHAY PHILIPPINES!" MAP will be happy to help the proposed Council, through a Public-Private Partnership, in identifying the specific strategies, policies, plans, and tactics to develop, promote, nurture and sustain a strong country brand for business and investments. Selected MAP members can share their expertise with the Council in identifying the core identity and key competitive advantage of the Philippines, how to leverage on it, and how to differentiate the Philippines from the rest of the world. Through a well executed country brand, the Philippines will gain a bigger share of investments, tourism, consumers, trade, and power that will redound to the benefit of every Filipino. The Philippines cannot leave its reputation to chance. It must endeavor to develop itself into a country brand. Because when all else is equal, a strong country brand makes the difference. Culture of Integrity The MAP has adopted "MAPping a Culture of Integrity" as its theme for 2011 and agreed to focus its activities in addressing Corruption, Criminality, and Climate Change. MAP organized the MAP PPP Task Forces to help selected government agencies pursue their mission and achieve their goals in order to sustain a culture of integrity. The Task Forces are expected to generate interim recommendations in time for the July 25 SONA of P-Noy, and the final recommendations in time for the National Budget preparation. The MAP Task Forces cover the following issues: (1) Airport Improvement; (2) 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) or the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Program; (3) Anti-Corruption (Procurement); (4) Anti-Corruption (Smuggling); (5) Climate Change and Disaster Preparedness; (6) Criminality; (7) Agribusiness; (8) Audit; (9) Competitiveness; (10) Education; (11) Health; (12) ICT; (13) Medium-Term Development Plan; (14) Taxation System; (15) Tourism and Nationhood (Patriotism in Nation-Building); (16) Budget, (17) Energy, (18) Finance, (19) Foreign Affairs, (20) Freeports/Seaports, (21) Labor, (22) Local Governance, (23) Science and Technology, (24) Trade and Industry, and (25) Transportation. We support the strategic approach toward becoming a TIGER ECONOMY and its 2-step program to increase employment and livelihood opportunities (reduce poverty gap). Disaster Preparedness Despite our country’s history and frequency of disasters --- including very destructive earthquakes, typhoons, floods, fire, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and rising water levels due to climate change --- our cities, towns, and communities have been developed without or with lack of urban planning, architecture, engineering, and other considerations for disaster prevention. Based on present available data, it has been predicted that if Metro Manila is hit by a severe earthquake, a large percentage of buildings and structures will be destroyed and there will be large human and material losses. To make Metro Manila and other places less vulnerable to disasters, it is necessary not only to make the buildings safer, earthquake-resistant, flood-proof, and fire-proof, but also to improve the roads, open spaces, and parks that can prevent the spread of fire. At the same time, government’s and citizens’ preparedness for disasters must be raised in order to minimize the potential loss and damage to life, limb, and property. There have been many blueprints and plans for disaster preparedness but execution by both government and the private sector has been wanting. Disasters take precious lives and damage valuable property, aside from setting back economic growth. Both government and the private sector must implement land use plans, allocate resources to build disaster reduction and response capability at the community level, and heed expert warnings on the likely effects of climate change. MAP recommends the following, which are part of the sixty (60) recommendations which MAP endorsed to the government: 1. Actively promote studies and researches aimed at prediction of earthquakes, and concretize the measures to be taken once the warning has been issued. 2. Urge citizens, the national government, the local government units, and private enterprises to fulfill their responsibilities and join efforts in creating cities, towns, communities, and neighborhoods which are less vulnerable to disasters and are safe to live in, work, shop, dine, worship, and learn. 3. Look upon disaster prevention as a basic tenet in urban planning, urban development, engineering, construction and management. 4. Develop and strengthen urban facilities which can check the spread of fire occurring after a big earthquake, and create safe and comfortable disaster-proof living zones, and designate evacuation places. 5. Enhance citizens’ awareness and school education in disaster prevention to make citizens well-prepared to anticipate and prevent/reduce disasters. 6. Improve citizens’ ability to fight disaster through establishment of disaster prevention/reduction education centers and training of men and women who can serve as leaders in preventing and responding to disasters. 7. Set up an accurate, speedy, sustainable system of communication that will facilitate appropriate emergency measures and prevent panic in the time of disaster. 8. Implement adequate and comprehensive measures that will prevent potential adverse impact of disasters, with the participation of all stakeholders. 9. Develop and maintain an integrated database system that will make results of zoning, mapping and assessment efforts available to the public, especially to policy and decision makers at both the national and local levels. 10. Review the various government agencies in charge of urban and metropolitan development that have many overlapping functions and synchronize their activities. 11. Update the Building Code, the Structural Code and other codes to make them more relevant to the times, and strictly enforce them without corruption. 12. Learn from best practices and worst experiences elsewhere in the world in disaster preparedness, response, reconstruction and management. Disaster preparedness saves lives, limb and property. There is no better time to prepare than now. Long-term Targets 1. In order to create disaster-proof cities against earthquakes, promote fireproof and earthquake resistant measures for urban areas and secure open spaces to check the spread of fire and designate evacuation places. 2. Develop and strengthen urban facilities which can check the spread of fire occurring after a big earthquake, and create safe and comfortable disaster-proof living zones. 3. Create individual citizen’s awareness for disaster prevention thereby eliminating some of the factors leading to disaster, while at the same time uniting citizens’ efforts with those of the administration in building up preparedness for disaster, taking into consideration the Metro Manila’s and other cities’ daytime and nighttime population. 4. In order to create a flood-proof city, undertake extensive flood-control measures, tree-planting, drainage, sewerage, spillways, dikes, water retention basins, and cisterns, which take into consideration the individual characteristics of each river basin. Urban Planning and Urban Development to Prevent Fire Spreading in Cities 5. Identify key disaster prevention spots in the centers of fire prevention districts. 6. Develop effective use of projects for the prevention of urban fire and disaster, as well as providing funds to make buildings fireproof and encourage joint undertaking of buildings. 7. In order to prevent fire in areas where wooden houses are built close together on soft ground, change the source of domestic kerosene, wood, or gas to a less dangerous one. 8. Draw up a "Basic Plan for Urban Redevelopment/Urban Renewal Plans" to serve as a master plan, and call for concerted action by the public and private organizations concerned. 9. In the disaster prevention areas, undertake various redevelopment projects, in order to secure safe evacuation spaces and to improve living environments. 10. In a district where the "degree of danger" is high such as an urban area where wooden houses are built close together, inform the citizens of danger, and through urban planning by methods which suit the individual characteristics of each area, eliminate firefighting trouble spots. Securing Open Spaces 11. Since open spaces in urban areas such as parks play important roles in disaster prevention, they receive top priority in those areas where they are lacking. • Large-scale parks, open spaces (metropolitan, etc.) as evacuation sites and disaster recovery bases. Improvement and construction of metropolitan parks. • Smaller parks (city, town, barangay and villages) as disaster-prevention activity bases and rendezvous sites. Secure a park for every town block/barangay. • Roads (village, barangay, municipal, city, provincial and national roads) as firebreaks and evacuation routes. Improvement of roads in high-risk areas. Creation of Disaster-Proof Living Zones 12. In order to prevent fire from spreading following a severe earthquake, divide the urban areas into disaster-proof living zones of roughly the size of an elementary or high school planning district, by using firebreaks made up of roads, rivers, creeks, and canals as boundaries. 13. Consolidate roads, rivers and parks which make up the firebreaks, as well as promoting fireproof measures for areas along the firebreaks. 14. Utilize the barangay system and village homeowners associations in order to consolidate public squares or open spaces and minor roads, and to improve the area’s living environment and its capacities to fend off disasters. 15. In order to facilitate disaster-fighting in the event of an actual disaster, promote various disaster prevention measures including consolidation of supply facilities of firefighting water and disaster-fighting drills. 16. Foster citizens’ awareness for disaster prevention, and create communities, which are well-prepared to fight disasters. Establishing Preparedness for Disasters Prevention 17. In order to foster citizens who are well-prepared to fight disasters, enhance school education in disaster prevention. 18. Through establishment of disaster prevention education centers and training of men and women who can serve as leaders in preventing and fighting disasters, generate interest in disaster prevention and improve citizens’ ability to fight disasters. 19. Foster citizens’ voluntary disaster-prevention organizations. Setting Up System for Fighting Disasters 20. In order to improve the preparedness for disasters in the area and to complement it in central areas, establish a comprehensive, wide-area disaster prevention base on the premises of the open spaces, equipping it with such facilities, and a helipad. 21. Set up an accurate and speedy system of communication, in order to facilitate appropriate emergency measures and to prevent panic in the time of disaster. 22. Advocate the "emergency broadcasting system" which enable television and the radio to receive warnings and information regarding earthquakes and other disasters. 23. Strengthen the overall firefighting ability of the barangay, town, and city by improving the existing fire stations and their branches, which become emergency bases in the time of disaster. 24. Consolidate emergency rescue and medical aid systems by storing of food and water, preparing wide-area medical facilities for the severely wounded, and by establishing the preparedness for road clearance for emergency vehicles. 25. Actively promote studies and researches aimed at prediction of earthquakes, while at the same time working to concretize the measures to be taken once the warning has been issued. 26. On locations in volcanic belts, improve observation systems, consolidate roads, airports, and harbors, and establish emergency preparedness. Securing Evacuation Space and Routes 27. In order to protect lives from earthquake disasters, improve and construct evacuation sites, routes, and bridges along the routes. 28. Eliminate the areas allocated to distant evacuation sites, and promote safety and fireproof measures for areas around and along evacuation sites and routes closer to population centers. 29. The evacuation sites are to have an area of at least 10 hectares, and a per evacuee space of at least one square meter. Preparing for New Disaster Policies and Measures 30. Update and tighten laws and regulations and guidelines in order to prevent fire in high-rise buildings, schools, hospitals, churches, and shopping malls. In addition, conduct to improve evacuation facilities and establish emergency preparedness, as well as setting up individual fire prevention and control systems. 31. For gas, electric, and water supply facilities, make the conduits quakeproof, install safety devices, and construct utility tunnels. 32. In order to eliminate the danger of falling objects and walls, tighten regulations on building standards, as well as instructing building- and home-owners on safety maintenance. In particular, to eliminate the danger of falling objects from tall buildings, tighten regulations and guidelines on the design of buildings and securing of open spaces from the structural view point. Promotion of Comprehensive Flood-Control Measures 33. Step up improvement work of rivers, which enable them to take in rainfalls of high volume, and further devise measures to cope with excessive rainfalls. 34. Consolidate river water-control facilities such as a reservoir set in a park as a scenic pond. 35. In order to check sudden and large flow of rainwater into rivers, promote measures to store and filter water into the ground. 36. In order to reduce flood damages in the lowlands: 36.1.1 encourage proper use of land through such measures as making past flood records known; and 36.1.2 promote redevelopment by making use of high-floor buildings and artificial foundations. 37. Build flood-control lakes when developing large tracts of land. 38. Enable sewerage systems to store rainwater. 39. Use pavements, which can filter water through. 40. Improve sewerage systems into those, which have filtration boxes to filter water into the ground. Flood Prevention in the Lowlands 41. Consolidate anti-flood facilities such as quake- and tidal wave-proof embankments. 42. For added protection against floods in the time of a severe earthquake, reconstruct the riverbanks and other major rivers into ones with less slope and approachable for the citizens to walk down the waters. 43. In order to prevent flood in the urban areas, consolidate drainage systems there. Flood Prevention in Mountain and Hillside Villages and Islands 44. Consolidate sand-arresting works in order to prevent landslides resulting from heavy rainfall. 45. Consolidate shore maintenance works in order to protect shoreline from erosion by typhoons and seasonal winds. Comprehensive Flood-Control Measures 46. Mountains – Maintenance of water-holding capacities, reforestation, and tree planting 47. Factories – Installation of rainwater storage tanks 48. Apartment Complexes – Enable non-building spaces to store water and construction of flood control lakes. 49. Roads – Improvement with water-permeable pavements and filtration boxes 50. Schools – Enable school-yards to store rain water 51. Farmlands – Maintenance of the soil’s water-holding capacities 52. Residential Areas – Rainwater harvesting at individual households 53. Rivers – Improvement of river banks 54. Parks – Construction of multipurpose flood-control lakes 55. Buildings – Underground water storage, harvest rainwater 56. Mouths of Rivers – Protection against reverse tides from the sea Immediate Action Now 57. Prepare and publish Hazard Maps for earthquakes, flooding, volcanic eruption, tsunami, fire, and rising water levels due to climate change and other hazards. 58. Structural, hydrologic, and geologic audit of buildings and infrastructure particularly those built by government, like schools, hospitals, and bridges. 59. Learn lessons from countries less prepared for disasters, like Haiti. 60. Learn Best Practices from advanced countries like Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, USA and other more developed countries in Europe and North America, and update the Building and Structural Codes. The Government should immediately carry out a 10-year plan of programs and projects from 2010 to 2020 well into the 21st Century I. Creation of Fire Prevention City A. Promotion of Fire Prevention (Projects for the prevention of urban fire and disaster) 1. Project Target: Designate evacuation sites and routes and areas around them as fire prevention promotion zones and promote nonflammability of surrounding buildings. B. Built-up Area Redevelopment for Disaster Prevention 2. In order to facilitate disaster prevention in high-risk areas and to improve their living environment, undertake disaster prevention redevelopment projects. C. Urban Renewal/Land Readjustment for Disaster Prevention 3. In urban areas, particularly in urban poor communities, where wooden structures are built close together, undertake land readjustment projects for urban renewal in parallel with projects for the promotion of the fire prevention, like establishing firebreaks. A. Consolidation of Disaster-Proof Living Zones 4. Project Target: In order to create disaster-proof living zones, consolidate firebreaks and give subsidies and guidelines for model projects. 5. Situation: Firebreaks for (a) roads, (b) parks, (c) rivers, creek, canals, and railroad tracks. 6. Contents: (1) Subsidies, awards, and guidelines for model projects; and (2) consolidation of firebreaks in roads and parks with fireproof measures along evacuation routes 7. Remarks: The cost for the consolidation of firebreaks is to be included in the individual project costs for roads, rivers, creeks, canals, parks, open spaces, etc. III. Establishing Preparedness for Disaster Prevention A. Improvement of Disaster Prevention Education Facilities 8. Project Target: In order to foster citizens who are prepared to fight disasters and to enhance the disaster-fighting ability of firemen, set up disaster prevention educational centers and training centers, as well as upgrading the curriculum and facilities of the Fire Academy. 9. Situation: Disaster prevention education center, Disaster prevention training centers, and Fire Academies. 10. Contents: (1) Disaster prevention education centers – new ones to be established; (1) Disaster prevention training centers – to be established; and (3) Upgrading of the Fire Academies – study and design. B. Creation of Disaster Prevention Bases 11. Project Target: As the main base for disaster prevention in the area as an auxiliary facility for disaster prevention in central areas, establish a disaster prevention base on the premises. The facilities include emergency medical and information centers, among others. 12. Contents: Consolidation of facilities to be completed – (1) Emergency medical and information centers, (2) Relief-base facilities including warehouses for reserve supply of food, water, medicine, etc. (3) Communication facilities, (4) Aviation facilities including the Metropolitan Police Departments and the Fire Departments, and (5) Administrative complex office buildings and accompanying facilities including the Police Departments. C. Consolidation of Fire Stations 13. Project Target: Consolidation of fire stations and their branches in the area and the urbanizing outer suburbs. 14. Situation: Fire Stations and Branches to be upgraded. 15. Contents: New fire stations to be completed and new branches to be constructed. D. Securing of Drinking Water for the Time of Disaster 16. Project Target: In order to set up water supply stations within 1.5 to 2km-distance from every household and to secure a minimum of 3 liters of drinking water per person per day, construct emergency water-supply tanks and place emergency water-supply equipment on or near evacuation sites. 17. Contents: (1) Additional water-supply tanks each holding tons of water; and (2) Placement of water-supply equipment. IV. Promotion of Comprehensive Flood-Control Measures A. Improvement Works for Rivers, Lakes, Creeks, and Canals 18. Project Target: Undertake river, creek, canal, and lake improvement works in order to enable rivers and other bodies of water to take in more rainfall. In addition, for higher protection against flood, undertake extensive flood-control measures of river basins including construction of flood-control lakes. 19. Contents: (1) River, creek, canal, and lake improvement works in urban area to be constructed and completed; and (2) Construction of flood-control lakes for high-risk rivers. B. Improvement for Rivers in the area 20. Project Target: In order to protect the lowlands from earthquakes and floods, consolidate river channels and quake-proof embankments. 21. Situation: (1) Drop in the normal water level, (2) Quake-proof embankments, and (3) Drainage pumping station. 22. Contents: (1) Consolidation of river, creek, and canal channels in the area, and (2) Consolidation works in the area to be completed. C. Consolidation of Anti-Tidal Wave Facilities 23. Project Target: In order to protect eastern lowland and littoral regions from tidal waves, consolidate anti-tidal wave facilities, including breakwaters and embankments. 24. Content: Breakwaters and Embankments to be completed. To carry out the above recommendations, we need good urban planning, architecture and engineering, funding, and political will – a strong Public-Private Partnership towards a globally competitive Philippines. Disaster Prevention Present Situation and Problems Despite our country’s history and frequency of disasters including very destructive earthquakes, typhoons, floods, fire, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and rising water levels due to climate change, our cities, towns, and communities have been developed without or with lack of urban planning, architecture, engineering, and other considerations for disaster prevention. This has led to the development of our communities, towns, and cities which are highly vulnerable to disasters, as can be seen in the growth of urban areas where houses and buildings are built closer together, the lack or absence of open spaces, and the ubiquity of storage facilities for dangerous substances. In addition, the wide use of natural propane gases and kerosene stoves and with the increase of high-rise buildings, large-scale underground shopping, poorly built public schools and hospitals, and automobile traffic, has aggravated the potential dangers. The danger areas identified vulnerable for some time, include cities, provincial towns and some of the rural areas. It has been predicted that if Metro Manila and other metropolitan and urban areas are hit again by another severe earthquake, a large percentage of the cities will be destroyed, along with large human and material losses. If Metro Manila and other cities are to be made less vulnerable to disasters than at present, it is necessary not only to make the buildings safer, earthquake-resistant, flood-proof, and fireproof, but also to improve the roads, open spaces, and parks that can prevent the spread of fire, while at the same time raise government’s and citizen’s preparedness for disasters in order to minimize the potential loss and damage to life, limb, and property. Furthermore, in the basins of creeks, canals, rivers, lakes and other bodies of water, urbanization has caused the lowering of the areas’ water-holding capacities, and the resulting increase in the amount of rainwater, mud, and garbage flowing directly into these waterways has increased flood damages. In addition to the improvement of these waterways, it will be necessary to prevent floods by implementing extensive measures to control the flow of rainwater, mud, and garbage into them. In order to do so, the citizens, the national government, provincial, city and local government units, municipalities, barangays, and private enterprises must fulfill their responsibilities and join their efforts in creating cities, towns, communities, and neighborhoods which are less vulnerable to disasters. A public-private partnership is needed. Moreover, it will be necessary to look upon disaster prevention as a basic tenet in urban planning, urban development, construction, education and through accumulation of policies and measures which suit the individual characteristics of each area, create or redevelop our towns and cities safe to live in, work, shop, dine, worship, and learn. Long-term Targets 61. In order to create disaster-proof cities against earthquakes, promote fireproof and earthquake resistant measures for urban areas and secure open spaces to check the spread of fire and designate evacuation places. 62. Develop and strengthen urban facilities which can check the spread of fire occurring after a big earthquake, and create safe and comfortable disaster-proof living zones. 63. Create individual citizen’s awareness for disaster prevention thereby eliminating some of the factors leading to disaster, while at the same time uniting citizens’ efforts with those of the administration in building up preparedness for disaster, taking into consideration the Metro Manila’s and other cities’ daytime and nighttime population. 64. In order to create a flood-proof city, undertake extensive flood-control measures, tree-planting, drainage, sewerage, spillways, dikes, water retention basins, and cisterns, which take into consideration the individual characteristics of each river basin. Urban Planning and Urban Development to Prevent Fire Spreading in Cities 65. Identify key disaster prevention spots in the centers of fire prevention districts. 66. Develop effective use of projects for the prevention of urban fire and disaster, as well as providing funds to make buildings fireproof and encourage joint undertaking of buildings. 67. In order to prevent fire in areas where wooden houses are built close together on soft ground, change the source of domestic kerosene, wood, or gas to a less dangerous one. 68. Draw up a "Basic Plan for Urban Redevelopment/Urban Renewal Plans" to serve as a master plan, and call for concerted action by the public and private organizations concerned. 69. In the disaster prevention areas, undertake various redevelopment projects, in order to secure safe evacuation spaces and to improve living environments. 70. In a district where the "degree of danger" is high such as an urban area where wooden houses are built close together, inform the citizens of danger, and through urban planning by methods which suit the individual characteristics of each area, eliminate firefighting trouble spots. Securing Open Spaces 71. Since open spaces in urban areas such as parks play important roles in disaster prevention, they receive top priority in those areas where they are lacking. • Large-scale parks, open spaces (metropolitan, etc.) as evacuation sites and disaster recovery bases. Improvement and construction of metropolitan parks. • Smaller parks (city, town, barangay and villages) as disaster-prevention activity bases and rendezvous sites. Secure a park for every town block/barangay. • Roads (village, barangay, municipal, city, provincial and national roads) as firebreaks and evacuation routes. Improvement of roads in high-risk areas. Creation of Disaster-Proof Living Zones 72. In order to prevent fire from spreading following a severe earthquake, divide the urban areas into disaster-proof living zones of roughly the size of an elementary or high school planning district, by using firebreaks made up of roads, rivers, creeks, and canals as boundaries. 73. Consolidate roads, rivers and parks which make up the firebreaks, as well as promoting fireproof measures for areas along the firebreaks. 74. Utilize the barangay system and village homeowners associations in order to consolidate public squares or open spaces and minor roads, and to improve the area’s living environment and its capacities to fend off disasters. 75. In order to facilitate disaster-fighting in the event of an actual disaster, promote various disaster prevention measures including consolidation of supply facilities of firefighting water and disaster-fighting drills. 76. Foster citizens’ awareness for disaster prevention, and create communities, which are well-prepared to fight disasters. Establishing Preparedness for Disasters Prevention 77. In order to foster citizens who are well-prepared to fight disasters, enhance school education in disaster prevention. 78. Through establishment of disaster prevention education centers and training of men and women who can serve as leaders in preventing and fighting disasters, generate interest in disaster prevention and improve citizens’ ability to fight disasters. 79. Foster citizens’ voluntary disaster-prevention organizations. Setting Up System for Fighting Disasters 80. In order to improve the preparedness for disasters in the area and to complement it in central areas, establish a comprehensive, wide-area disaster prevention base on the premises of the open spaces, equipping it with such facilities, and a helipad. 81. Set up an accurate and speedy system of communication, in order to facilitate appropriate emergency measures and to prevent panic in the time of disaster. 82. Advocate the "emergency broadcasting system" which enable television and the radio to receive warnings and information regarding earthquakes and other disasters. 83. Strengthen the overall firefighting ability of the barangay, town, and city by improving the existing fire stations and their branches, which become emergency bases in the time of disaster. 84. Consolidate emergency rescue and medical aid systems by storing of food and water, preparing wide-area medical facilities for the severely wounded, and by establishing the preparedness for road clearance for emergency vehicles. 85. Actively promote studies and researches aimed at prediction of earthquakes, while at the same time working to concretize the measures to be taken once the warning has been issued. 86. On locations in volcanic belts, improve observation systems, consolidate roads, airports, and harbors, and establish emergency preparedness. Securing Evacuation Space and Routes 87. In order to protect lives from earthquake disasters, improve and construct evacuation sites, routes, and bridges along the routes. 88. Eliminate the areas allocated to distant evacuation sites, and promote safety and fireproof measures for areas around and along evacuation sites and routes closer to population centers. 89. The evacuation sites are to have an area of at least 10 hectares, and a per evacuee space of at least one square meter. Preparing for New Disaster Policies and Measures 91. For gas, electric, and water supply facilities, make the conduits quakeproof, install safety devices, and construct utility tunnels. 92. In order to eliminate the danger of falling objects and walls, tighten regulations on building standards, as well as instructing building- and home-owners on safety maintenance. In particular, to eliminate the danger of falling objects from tall buildings, tighten regulations and guidelines on the design of buildings and securing of open spaces from the structural view point. Promotion of Comprehensive Flood-Control Measures 93. Step up improvement work of rivers, which enable them to take in rainfalls of high volume, and further devise measures to cope with excessive rainfalls. 94. Consolidate river water-control facilities such as a reservoir set in a park as a scenic pond. 95. In order to check sudden and large flow of rainwater into rivers, promote measures to store and filter water into the ground. 96. In order to reduce flood damages in the lowlands: 96.1.1 encourage proper use of land through such measures as making past flood records known; and 96.1.2 promote redevelopment by making use of high-floor buildings and artificial foundations. 97. Build flood-control lakes when developing large tracts of land. 98. Enable sewerage systems to store rainwater. 99. Use pavements, which can filter water through. 100. Improve sewerage systems into those, which have filtration boxes to filter water into the ground. Flood Prevention in the Lowlands 101. Consolidate anti-flood facilities such as quake- and tidal wave-proof embankments. 102. For added protection against floods in the time of a severe earthquake, reconstruct the riverbanks and other major rivers into ones with less slope and approachable for the citizens to walk down the waters. 103. In order to prevent flood in the urban areas, consolidate drainage systems there. Flood Prevention in Mountain and Hillside Villages and Islands 104. Consolidate sand-arresting works in order to prevent landslides resulting from heavy rainfall. 105. Consolidate shore maintenance works in order to protect shoreline from erosion by typhoons and seasonal winds. Comprehensive Flood-Control Measures 106. Mountains – Maintenance of water-holding capacities, reforestation, and tree planting 107. Factories – Installation of rainwater storage tanks 108. Apartment Complexes – Enable non-building spaces to store water and construction of flood control lakes. 109. Roads – Improvement with water-permeable pavements and filtration boxes 110. Schools – Enable school-yards to store rain water 111. Farmlands – Maintenance of the soil’s water-holding capacities 112. Residential Areas – Rainwater harvesting at individual households 113. Rivers – Improvement of river banks 114. Parks – Construction of multipurpose flood-control lakes 115. Buildings – Underground water storage, harvest rainwater 116. Mouths of Rivers – Protection against reverse tides from the sea Immediate Action Now 117. Prepare and publish Hazard Maps for earthquakes, flooding, volcanic eruption, tsunami, fire, and rising water levels due to climate change and other hazards. 118. Structural, hydrologic, and geologic audit of buildings and infrastructure particularly those built by government, like schools, hospitals, and bridges. 119. Learn lessons from countries less prepared for disasters, like Haiti. 120. Learn Best Practices from advanced countries like Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, USA and other more developed countries in Europe and North America, and update the Building and Structural Codes. Education Economic Zone (EEZ) Productivity and competitiveness shall guide and drive the development of SUC natural resource endowments and commercial application of SUC research knowledge in an economic zone environment with strong private sector participation for long term cooperation with SUC. Clustering of locators brings into the economic zone their capital, technology, support services and management expertise, to realize the greatest productivity of SUC land and sea grants as well as research knowledge. Thus, thousands of hectares of land and sea grants, together with SUC social, educational, technical and research infrastructure shall be harnessed into productive uses aligned to the government agenda for food security and job generation. The private sector, being the key driver of economic growth, shall be encouraged to provide capital for development, technology, farm inputs, market access, entrepreneurial spirit and business management expertise, under the corporate umbrella of an EEZ. SUC endowed with abundant land and sea grants, competency in instruction and research in agriculture, fishery, forestry, animal science, shall be registered as an Education Ecozone for Agribusiness. SUC endowed with resources and competencies compatible to the factors of success for competitive knowledge-based enterprises, such as BPO and related service providers, shall be registered as Education Ecozone for ICT. Whenever feasible, an SUC Ecozone can be the hub for both Agribusiness and ICT industries. Thus, the EEZ in SUC shall be the institutional platform with a corporate structure for an integrated, systematic, sustainable synergy among the GIA stakeholders, pursuing their respective primary goals in a cooperative policy environment for the development and governance of the EEZ. The Management Policy Framework for EEZ Good governance principles and practices shall guide the administration of the EEZ and conduct of locators. The management of the Ecozone as a corporate entity shall be separate and autonomous from the management of the academic affairs of the SUC and shall not infringe on academic freedom. Locators shall abide by the terms and conditions of their respective agreement with the Ecozone developer and administrator. Likewise, the Ecozone developer and each locator shall comply to the conditions of their respective registration with the PEZA or BOI. Long-term lease agreements between the developer and the SUC shall conform with government laws and relevant rules for faithful compliance of both parties. SUC representation in the Board of Directors of the Ecozone or individual locator may be allowed for purposes of coordination in the planning of the Ecozone development, linkages of R/D programs with Ecozone locators, apprenticeship, on the job training (OJT), IPR agreements, promotion of Ecozone to prospective local and foreign locators. Funding policy framework for EEZ 1.1. The SUC shall derive income from the following sources originating from the Ecozone: 1.1.1. Long-term leases of its land and sea grants. 1.1.2. royalties for transferring its IPR to any locator in the Ecozone. 1.1.3. compensation for research engagement subject to SUC internal policy 1.1.5. proceeds from sale of SUC harvest as materials for Ecozone processing 1.1.6. apprenticeship or OJT of students 1.1.7. other sources as compensation for services benefitting the ecozone or proceeds from sale of SUC products to ecozone 1.2. The SUC funds shall not be used for any part of the development cost or for the maintenance of the Ecozone. 1.3. The private sector developer and locators shall be solely responsible for raising the capital needed for the Ecozone development and upkeep. 1.4. The private sector developer and locators shall likewise fund for their respective technology provisions. Environment and Natural Resources MAP recommends the following: 1. Greening of EDSA by 1.1 having small planters on sidewalks and overpasses in partnership with MMDA, LGUs, etc., 1.2 tree planting within setbacks of private residences, military camps and other establishments along EDSA 2. Tree-planting in selected areas in partnership with other organizations 3. Changing street lights to LED in partnership with LGUs, barangays, homeowners’ associations, shopping malls, military camps, etc. 4. "No plastic" policy in partnership with LGUs (e.g., Muntinlupa, Makati) Educational Agribusiness Zones (EAZs) We are now too familiar with industrial parks that are jotting the landscapes of the countryside. Wouldn’t it be nice if we can have EAZs to showcase technologies that can improve the lives of ordinary Filipino farmers and at the same time provide the financial resources to support the operation of the FBS? The idea is to establish an EAZ within the campus of an SUC. How will this go? The proponent of the FBS shall lease a portion of the property of SUC for 25 years with option of renewal for another 25 years. The proponent in turn enters into joint venture arrangement (with land and facilities if there are as equity contribution) with interested parties who would like to have a demonstration farm or site for their technology. Lot sizes to be awarded will be dependent on the needs of the project proponent. One important consideration for accepting a lessor is that they make their project open to the students for their on-the-job-training and to the public for visits and that these are relevant to ordinary farmers. Any project of interest to farming related to crops, livestock, poultry, fishery, and forestry will be of interest. Projects that involve processing of agricultural products are also welcome. The EAZ shall be managed like any other industrial park where common service facilities (i.e. water, electricity, garbage collection, security) are provided to locators. For such services, locators will be charged accordingly in the form of monthly fees or direct service fees. Income that shall accrue from the operation of the EAZ shall be used to support student scholarships, faculty training, and research/extension activities of the FBS. LOG BAN The MAP commends the Office of the President for issuing Executive Order No. 23 which declared a moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in national and residual forests, and created the Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force whose mandate is to take the lead in the country’s anti-illegal logging campaign. Illegal logging has resulted in flash floods, hazardous flooding and widespread landslides in many parts of the country which caused significant loss of life and massive destruction of property. Our growing population and rapid industrialization make imperative the protection of our forests. Preventing further forest denudation is extremely necessary, especially with the increasing adverse impact of climate change. MAP urges its members to make their employees, families and stakeholders aware of the negative impact of climate change so that they will be more responsible and accountable for all their actions concerning the environment. MAP also encourages its members to plant more trees in their respective communities and help fund tree-planting activities in flood-prone parts of the country. MAP also encourages all businessmen and government officials to undertake win-win partnerships that promote environmental protection and aim to achieve both investor profit and community benefit at the same time. Luzon Logistics Corridor We recommend the issuance of a policy (i.e., Executive Order) that would shift foreign cargoes from the port of Manila to the newly developed international ports in Batangas and Subic. Initially, the effort may be directed at the Batangas Port since there are enough cargoes coming from the 1,000 locators in 42 Industrial Estates operating in the CALABARZON. The capacity of Batangas Port is only 1/5 of the current foreign cargo traffic being handled in Manila. According to the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), 86% of export-import cargoes come from the PEZA-registered companies, of which 60% originate from the CALABARZON area. In this regard, it is recommended that all exports and imports going to and coming from South Luzon should be handled at the Batangas Port. PPA and PEZA must simultaneously issue the following Memorandum Circulars to the effect: • The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to issue a Memorandum Circular directing the International Shipping Companies, through its association (AISL), to service their clients based/operating in South Luzon at the International Port of Batangas. • The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) to issue a Memorandum Circular directing its Economic Zone locators to load and unload their foreign cargoes at the International Port of Batangas. Office of the Ombudsman as Anti-Corruption Tool We in the MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (MAP) requests the Office of the President to appoint immediately a highly-qualified Ombudsman with proven honesty, integrity, transparency, accountability and good governance, and with unquestionable good moral character so that the government can finally use the Office of the Ombudsman as a management tool in eradicating corruption in government. Corruption continues to be one of the biggest impediments to economic growth and prosperity in the country, and it has been eroding the moral fiber of the nation. The selection of the next Ombudsman is highly critical in regaining the independence and effectiveness of the Office of the Ombudsman in discharging its vast powers like making public officials accountable for their actions, investigating and prosecuting erring officials and meting out administrative penalties, and recommending policies that will eliminate government inefficiency and corruption. We urge the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) to bring out to the fore the background and qualifications of each candidate being considered to encourage greater public participation in the scrutiny, evaluation and selection of the new Ombudsman. The resignation of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez gives the government a prime opportunity to move forward with greater speed, and the resolution of the charges can serve as a strong signal and clear example of P-Noy’s non-negotiable, anti-corruption drive. Peace and Order The MAP is deeply alarmed over the escalating number of carnapping and murder cases and other vicious crimes in Metro Manila. These crimes not only threaten the lives and well-being of our citizens; they also disrupt our economic life and they set back any progress that may have been made in dealing with the other major economic problems of the country. The country's desirability as an investment and tourist destination is adversely affected by these crimes. Our international image has already been devastated so we cannot allow it to deteriorate even further. We urge the Philippine National Police (PNP) to catch quickly the perpetrators and prosecute them for the crimes they have committed. We urge the PNP and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to go after the criminals involved in passing off stolen vehicles as legitimate items. If the government is to build and sustain a corrupt-free society, it must --- to begin with --- focus on protecting the lives of its citizens and residents. Instead of ad hoc responses to specific crimes, a plan is needed to comprehensively address the root of these crimes and minimize their incidence over time. The government should take decisive steps to protect the citizens of this country. An example must be set in this case of tough, uncompromising government action. The government must now show the people that it is fully in control. "PERA NG BAYAN" In line with its 2011 theme of "MAPping a Culture of Integrity," the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) fully supports the "Pera ng Bayan" online initiative of the Department of Finance (DOF) for an improved monitoring and feedback system for its projects and those of its attached agencies. MAP earlier commended the DOF for the anti-corruption steps it has already taken and for enhancing the capability of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to step up counter-corruption initiatives to address rampant smuggling of many products like oil and motor vehicles. We encourage the DOF to aggressively pursue with maximum speed and intensity its campaign to prosecute, convict and jail major tax evaders and smugglers as plugging this continuing plunder would go a long way in addressing the country’s fiscal problems. A smuggling-free Philippines will not only improve the country’s standing in the world competitiveness rankings but will also address the revenue gap and provide much needed funds for education, health and infrastructure. MAP encourages all its 743 members to use the "Pera ng Bayan" initiative (www.perangbayan.com) in reporting their good and bad experiences in dealing with the DOF, the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the BOC. MAP will facilitate the gathering and generation of reports among its members who may have complaints falling within the purview of "Pera Ng Bayan." We support the policy advocacy of the PPP Coalition calling for the: 1. Issuance of an EO creating a 10th variant (on Joint Ventures) under the BOT Law 2. Amendment of the BOT IRR (especially the deletion of the granting of "provisional" franchise) 3. streamlining of right-of-way (ROWA) negotiation and court procedures 4. appointment of a PPP Center head with the rank of Secretary, PPP Center to be transferred from NEDA to the Office of the President 5. establishment of PPP units within the implementing agencies in order to support the newly-created PPP Center. Bid out a few ready-to-go projects (LRT 1 South Extension, LRT 2 East Extension and CALA) considering that these projects have existing feasibility studies, commercially interesting to the developers and financial institutions, socio-economically viable, part of the government’s priority projects, and can be bidded out immediately. Separation of PPA’s regulatory and development functions We recommend the issuance of an EO rescinding LOI 1005-A. All other provisions of LOI 1005-A are in the current mandate of PPA, hence rescinding will not have an effect on PPA except or the fact that it cannot share anymore from cargo handling revenues. We also support the Administration’s initiative to separate the regulatory and development functions of PPA, CAB, etc. Smuggling The MAP commends the Department of Finance (DOF) for the anti-corruption steps it has already taken and for enhancing the capability of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to step up counter-corruption initiatives to address rampant smuggling of many products like oil and motor vehicles. A smuggling-free Philippines will not only improve the country’s standing in the world competitiveness ranking but will also address the revenue gap and provide much needed funds for education, health and infrastructure. Smuggling of petroleum products alone is conservatively estimated to result in a revenue loss of at least P30 billion per year. We therefore encourage the DOF and the BOC to aggressively pursue their efforts with maximum speed and intensity as plugging this continuing plunder would go a long way in addressing the country’s fiscal problems. We encourage the DOF to do the following: 1. Aggressively pursue its campaign to prosecute, convict and jail major tax evaders and smugglers. 2. Quickly come out with results of all pending investigations and audit. 3. Immediately file cases as soon as there are findings of tax evasion, smuggling and corruption. 4. Continue filing cases against those who violate the laws as part of its Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS). 5. Observe transparency in giving tax amnesty for those importers who voluntarily approach BOC for their undervalued products by publishing clear tax amnesty guidelines that are approved by Congress. 6. Speedily conduct an audit on the value of products declared by the importers and the tax payments to ensure that government always collects the right taxes and duties. 7. Improve and strengthen the import accreditation process so that those who actually do not product. 8. Establish a single efficient point of contact that will enable importers to track electronically where their documents or cargoes are. 1. Leisure, shopping and entertainment 2. Adventure marine sports 2. Medical Tourism The TF agreed to serve as the unifying body in getting tourism stakeholders (particularly the DOT and the Tourism Congress) to work together harmoniously. The TF agreed to work closely with the Tourism Congress in finalizing its recommendations and in making the Philippines a more attractive tourist destination. Truck Overloading We support the position of the Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines (SCMAP) and Philippine Confederation of Exporters and Importers (PHILEXPORT) on the issue of truck overloading – i.e., that we adopt the per axle limit as the criterion – maximum of 13.5 tons per axle and increase of the gross vehicle weight (GVW) limits per truck configuration, to be consistent with the per axle limit and the ISO international container weight limit. The current GVW limits are very restrictive and in effect will result to a reduction of the load per container which will ultimately redound to higher transport cost and un-competitiveness of exports.

Ehem -- the anti-corruption initiative of the Philippine Jesuits echoes the urgent call for cultural reform against corruption in the Philippines.
Ehem aims at bringing people to a renewed sensitivity to the evil of corruption and its prevalence in ordinary life. It seeks ultimately to make them more intensely aware of their own vulnerability to corruption, their own uncritiqued, often unwitting practice of corruption in daily life.
Ehem hopes to bring people, in the end, to a commitment to live the way of Ehemplo --- critical of corruption, intent on integrity!

 

Management Association of the Philippines 
MAP is a management organization committed to promoting management excellence. The members of the MAP represent a cross-section of CEOs, COOs and other top executives from the top local and multinational companies operating in the country, including some top officials of government and the academe.

iPro supports the process of reducing corruption by seeking synergies between Government of the Republic of the Philippines agencies and civil society at all levels.

 

 

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