< Back Champion of the Overseas Filipino Workers in the 19th Congress BY FREDERICK N. CASTILLO A television talk show host and movie actress turned lawmaker. This sums up the career path that One Filipinos Worldwide (OFW) Partylist Representative Marissa Magsino took from the early 1980s to the present. For 20 years, she, then known as Marissa Del Mar, had enjoyed a glamorous lifestyle that came with her decorated career as a movie actress who starred with some of the big names in show business and as a multi-awarded talk show host. Magsino may have left show business but she still shines as she makes her mark in Congress as a hardworking lawmaker, being a member of 22 House committees and having been elected by her colleagues as an Assistant Minority Leader. Venturing into politics seems like a major career shift, but Magsinos hares that her desire to be of service particularly to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) actually started when she was in show business. She recalls that her personal encounter with Filipino extras during a shoot in another country deeply influenced her decision to join politics in order to address the pressing issues faced by OFWs. That interaction with the Filipino extras who shared their grievances about not receiving proper salaries and basic necessities like food during the shoot was a profound moment for her as “it highlighted the systemic injustices faced by many OFWs and the urgent need for advocacy and policy reform to protect their rights and welfare.” She realized that public service could have a significant impact in addressing these issues and creating positive change for her fellow Filipinos. This realization was continuously hammered upon her as she interviewed hundreds of OFWs in her shows, until she decided to take her advocacy on OFW rights a step further—to serve our kababayans in a bigger capacity to uplift their lives. She then ran as the first nominee of the OFW Party List during the 2022 national elections and emerged victorious, becoming the lone legislator representing the said sector in the 19th Congress. Magsino has been appointed as Ambassador in the Philippines and Chairperson of the Philippine House of Representatives Sunfull Committee by the Sunfull Foundation, a non-governmental organization in South Korea, which works to counter cyberbullying, hate speech and human rights violations on the internet. Joining her in the advocacy in spreading peace, respect, and positivity in the digital space is Ms. Princess Adriano, Secretary General of OFW Party List, who has been appointed as the Ambassador for Social Media for the Sunfull Peace Movement - K Respect. NEW ROLE, NEW HURDLES The shift in Magsino’s career from an actress and talk show host to being a lawmaker involved significant changes in her roles and responsibilities. And just as there were hurdles in her showbiz career that she had to overcome, she once again had to face new hurdles that come with her role as a congresswoman. Among the challenges that she experienced during her first few weeks as a lawmaker were adapting to the formalities and protocols of legislative procedures, understanding the complexities involved in policy-making, and establishing rapport with fellow lawmakers. Dealing with these challenges, she says, “requires humility, openness to learning, and perseverance.” But these challenges did not bother her as much as politicking did. “I am a straightforward person [so] what you see is what you get. Yet in politics, there are maneuverings that do not align with how I am as a person,” she shares. In time, she had eventually learned to take the politicking in stride. “As long as I am doing the right thing for my constituents, I do not let it bother me,” she states. Now that she has learned the ropes in Congress, another challenge that the first-term lawmaker faces is her being the sole representative of OFWs in the Lower Chamber. She admits that having been “entrusted with the task of advocating for the rights and welfare of millions of hardworking Filipinos working and living abroad who often face unique challenges and vulnerabilities... sometimes feels like a daunting task.” To muster support for bills specifically focused on OFWs requires collaboration and coalition-building across other parties and interest groups. With her fellow lawmakers, she has to work diligently to engage with them as well as to educate them about the issues concerning OFWs. Thus, she considers her task challenging but at the same time a privilege, because it serves as her platform to amplify the OFWs’ voices and push for policies that address their needs. PREPARED FOR CONGRESS Magsino attributes her success asa lawmaker to her background asa multi-awarded talk show hostand an OFW rights advocate. Shesays her years of experience as atalk show host of Up Close andPersonal with Marissa Del Mar, Buhay OFW, and World Class Kababayan honed her communications skills, which is essential for her to effectively convey complex issues to diverse audiences and articulate the concerns of her constituents in a compelling manner.Through her advocacy for OFW rights, she has gained firsthand insights about the challenges that beset marginalized communities and the importance of fighting for their rights. Such insights help her identify her legislative priorities and motivate her to champion policies that promote social justice and equality. The lady solon's awareness and deeper understanding of global issues, particularly those related to migration and labor rights, allow her to engage in debates on international affairs and advocate for policies on human rights both in the domestic and international scenes. BIDA NG MGA BIDA Magsino cannot stress enough the significant contribution of OFWs to our economy, saying that OFW remittances, which amount to $37.2B per year, are the cornerstone of our economic survival.Hence, she considers our OFWs as heroes, deserving to be treated as such. This perspective is reflected in the OFW Party List’s slogan, OFW, ikaw ang bida! (OFW, you are the star!) To make sure that their party’s slogan is actualized, Magsino advocates for policies that will give OFWs star treatment, such as better working conditions, fair wages, and access to essential services. In addition, she engages with government agencies to address issues concerning OFWs such as illegal recruitment and human trafficking, pushing for reforms through legislative proposals and policy dialogues. She also prioritizes programs like skills training and financial literacy to empower OFWs.Among the bills that she has filed to protect the welfare of OFWs from pre-deployment to repatriation are the proposed Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, Anti-illegal Recruitment Bill, and the Internet Voting Bill. HB 7325 or the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers is expected to ensure decent work and safe working conditions for our seafarers. As stipulated in the bill, Filipino seafarers have the right to: a safe and secure workplace that complies with safety standards; fair terms andconditions of employment; decent working and living conditions on board a ship; health protection, medical care, and welfare measures; self-organization; educational advancement and training; relevant information; free legal representation and speedy disposition of cases; appropriate grievance mechanism; and access to communication, among others. HB 7865 or the Anti-illegal Recruitment Bill was crafted to address the growing cases of illegal recruitment, which are evolving through online platforms and multi-country transit point schemes. Magsino says that there have been numerous cases of illegal recruitment of OFWs, particularly targeting Southeast Asian countries and that such cases often lead to human trafficking. Recognizing the challenges on jurisdictional issues faced by our law enforcement agencies due to the cross-border nature of illegal recruitment, HB 7865 includes mechanisms designed to expedite the investigation of violations through coordination with law enforcement agencies abroad. This comprehensive proposed new law against illegal recruitment was crafted in collaboration with the Department of Justice, National Bureau of Investigation, Department of Migrant Workers, and the Department of Foreign Affairs. ASSISTANT MINORITY LEADER REPRESENTATIVE MARISSA "DEL MAR" MAGSINO CONSIDERS OUR OFWS AS HEROES, DESERVING TO BE TREATED AS SUCH THIS PERSPECTIVE IS REFLECTED IN THE OFW PARTYLIST'S SLOGAN, OFW, IKAW ANG BIDA! (YOU ARE THE STAR) In addition, Magsino sponsored the substitute bill for HB 6770 or the Internet Voting Bill to address the long- standing clamor of OFWs for mechanisms that would enable them to exercise their right of suffrage while abroad. This is in support of the Commission on Elections’ (COMELEC) initiativeto introduce internet registration and voting for OFWs by providing a legal basis for it. Magsino says that while she acknowledges the COMELEC’s authority to implement “other means of voting” under the existing law, she sees the need for a bill that would provide a specific statutory basis through legislation for clarity and prevention of potential questions of interpretation. The congresswoman also led the launching of the OFW App, a project of the OFW Party List and her brainchild.This is in collaboration with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). This application is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at providing comprehensive assistance and information to OFWs worldwide through a digital app. Magsino also filed a resolution urging appropriate committees of Congress to review and assess the Philippines’ existing bilateral labor agreements with countries of destination. These labor agreements ensure the protection of the rights and welfare of OFWs, and her initiative to have these reviewed would address the challenges faced by OFWs, such as labor rights issues and inadequate legal protection. “Reviewing bilateral agreements is crucial to identify weaknesses and improve protection for OFWs, covering areas like employment contacts, wages, and legal assistance,” she explains. Other than the bills and resolutions she has filed, she also spearheaded high-level policy dialogues with government agencies and various Philippine embassies, and community stakeholders. Such dialogues have been instrumental in filing effective and responsive legislation. She also fostered collaboration between government agencies, embassies, and non-governmental organizations to leverage resources and expertise that would provide comprehensive support to OFWs and their families. Such collaboration involves initiatives such as skills training programs, financial literacy workshops, and psychosocial support services. With what Magsino has accomplished so far for OFWs, she is definitely the star of these heroes, the bida ng mga bida (star of stars). TOWARDS EMPOWERED OFWS Magsino envisions that in the next few years, OFWs would be “empowered, protected, and recognized for their invaluable contribution to our nation’s development and prosperity.”To achieve such a vision, she will continually focus on policy proposals and programs “that directly affect our OFWs such as retooling and upskilling, capital grants for micro-enterprises for returning OFWs, and other reintegration programs.” Magsino also plans to actively engage with foreign governments and international organizations to advocate for OFW rights abroad, such as helping look for labor markets that are committed to respect and value our OFWs through their adherence to labor standards and strong policies in the host countries. Doing this would prevent deployment to host countries with an unabated record of abuses against OFWs and ensure deployment only to host countries that will truly take care of them. But she also stresses the importance of strengthening our local economy and providing more opportunities for gainful and decent employment in our country “so that Filipinos no longer have to work abroad out of desperation, but only out of free choice.” For the remainder of her term, Magsino will advocate for initiatives that promote the economic empowerment of OFWs and their families, such as programs for financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and skills development. “Empowering OFWs with the necessary tools and resources will not only improve their own livelihoods, it will also contribute to the overall economic development of the Philippines,” she explains. "WITH WHAT MAGSINO HAS ACCOMPLISHED SO FAR FOR OFWS, SHE IS DEFINITELY THE STAR OF THESE HEROES, THE BIDA NG MGA BIDA (STAR OF STARS)." Magsino also intends to prioritize measures that would help returning OFWs to integrate into the local workforce and communities so that they could easily transition back to life in the Philippines. Such measures include job placement programs, vocational training, and psychosocial support. And as response to gender-based violence and discrimination of OFWs, she commits to advance policies that promote gender equality and protect their rights. COMMITMENT TO SERVICE Magsino relishes the idea of “making a positive impact on the lives of the people I represent and the nation as a whole” and is committed to continue pushing for her various initiatives. This, despite the challenges that she faces at the Lower House. “Perhaps the most challenging part of my job is navigating the complexities of the political landscape and balancing competing interests and priorities,” she reveals. “Serving as a lawmaker requires making difficult decisions, negotiating compromises, and overcoming obstacles to advance the common good,” she continues. “Additionally, the fast-paced and demanding nature of a congresswoman’s job can sometimes be overwhelming, requiring resilience, perseverance, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Despite these, I am committed to facing all challenges with integrity, empathy, and dedication.” One particular challenge that Magsino faces, together with other partylist lawmakers, is the continued call forthe abolition of the partylist system. In the face of this, she remains steadfast in her belief that “partylist groups are essential for ensuring inclusivity and representation inour democratic processes.” The system, she underscores, provides a platform for underrepresented sectors, such as migrant workers, farmers, indigenous people, women, and youth, to have a voice in government and advocate for their interests. Abolishing the partylist system, she says, “would disenfranchise these marginalized sectors and undermine their ability to participate in governance and decision- making.” Instead of abolishing the partylist system, the lady solon stresses the need to focus on strengthening it by enhancing transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in the selection and accreditation of partylist organizations. This, she says, will help ensure that genuine representatives of marginalized sectors are elected to Congress and that their voices continue to be heard in shaping policies and legislation that affect their lives. UTMOST GRATITUDE Magsino recognizes the sacrifices that OFWs make every day, being away from their loved ones and facing unfamiliar environments. She assures them and their families that “their efforts do not go unnoticed or unappreciated” and that her office is “tirelessly working to ensure that their contributions are recognized, their rights are protected, and their welfare is safeguarded.” The lady legislator stresses that the support and understanding of families of OFWs is crucial in enabling their loved ones to pursue opportunities abroad. “I commend your strength and resilience as you navigate the challenges of separation and maintain the home front,” she says. Magsino calls on everyone to join her in ensuring the welfare of OFWs and their families. “Together, let us continue to work hand in hand to create a better future for all OFWs and their families,” she stresses. To OFWs, she says, “Your sacrifices and hard work fuel our nation’s progress, and we are deeply grateful for your dedication and commitment. For me, OFWs are the stars!” "TOGETHER, LET US CONTINUE TO WORK HAND IN HAND TO CREATE A BETTER FUTURE FOR ALL OFWS AND THEIR FAMILIES."

< Back LEADING WITH THE HEART BY RAGIE MAE TAÑO-ARELLANO THE MAN LEADING DAVAO DEL NORTE IS A RELATIVE NEWCOMER TO LOCAL GOVERNANCE, YET HE IS MAKING HIS MARK IN THE PROVINCE THROUGH HIS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO QUALITY PUBLIC SERVICE. People usually address government officials by their positions as a sign of respect. This also creates some sort of wall between them. This is not the case in Davao del Norte, where the governor is simply called "Kuya Gob." “Kuya” is the Filipino word for older brother, while “Gob” is a shortcut for governor. Everyone in Davao del Norte refers to Governor Edwin Jubahib as “Kuya Gob,” breaking the stereotype of politicians as being difficult to approach. Jubahib explains that his being “Kuya Gob” to his constituents makes him more approachable, compared to being called “Gov" or "Governor,” which gives the impression of someone unreachable and intimidating. THE REMARKABLE RISE OF KUYA GOB Jubahib’s reputation as a dependable elder brother started in 2016 when he served as chief of staff for then-House Speaker and 1st District of Davao del Norte Representative Pantaleon Alvarez. He was the go-to person for the people of Davao del Norte, the one to whom constituents turned for help and guidance. The governor first became involved in the Davao del Norte political scene when he became the campaign manager for Mindanao of former Senator Manny Villar when he ran for the presidency in 2010. Jubahib declined the offer at first, citing a lack of political expertise, but Villar placed his trust in him. Though Villar lost the elections, it did not stop Jubahib from being part of the political landscape of Davao. He met Alvarez in one of Villar’s campaign sorties. He eventually became the Speaker's chief of staff. Jubahib is known in Davao del Norte as a bus conductor turned engineer and construction company owner. He started as a utility worker at Bachelor Express Inc., a bus company in Davao. While working, he enrolled at the University of Mindanao in Davao City. His hard work and dedication did not go unnoticed; he was promoted from bus conductor to supervisor and then to assistant operations manager. He dreamed of becoming an engineer or a lawyer, but since he was self-supporting, he could only afford to pursue a degree in Criminology while working. Then, an offer came to him to study technical engineering in Japan while working. When he became an engineer, he stopped working and decided to open a construction company. Despite these achievements, Jubahib was accused of being a “pseudo-engineer” and a drug addict during the 2019 campaign. These false accusations didn’t bother him, though, because he was aware that they were part of a political ploy to damage his reputation. He acknowledged that he had estafa charges against him for about Php100,000, but he explained that this was just one of the ups and downs of his construction business. He explained that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) had contracted projects with his construction company, but the late President Benigno Aquino, Jr., ordered them to recall those projects. “But we already finished the project; I wasn’t paid, so it was a big loss, so of course, you issued a check for the materials.” SINCE GOVERNOR EDWIN JUBAHIB'S CONSTITUENTS REFER TO HIM AS "KUYA GOB" RATHER THAN "GOV OR GOVERNOR," HE FEELS THAT THIS MAKES HIM MORE APPROACHABLE. Jubahib, however, changed the course of Davao del Norte politics. His victory was a milestone in Davao’s political history because he was a first- time candidate and yet he defeateda candidate from a political clan that dominated Davao del Norte politics for more than 40 years. “ Hindi pala lahat ay pera ang basehan.. Kahit makapangyarihan ka, puede pala na ang tao ay pumili din ng bago. (Not everything is about money. Even if you’re powerful, people can choose someone new.) " He recognized the significance of his victory as a divine gift, a calling from the Lord to lead the people of Davao del Norte toward a brighter future. BROTHERLY CARE Reflecting on the challenges faced by the marginalized and vulnerable sectors of society, the province ' s chief executive officer felt a deep sense of responsibility to initiate change. He understood the people’s struggles in accessing government assistance during his time with Alvarez. From then on, he vowed to bridge the gap between the government and the grassroots. However, he never envisioned himself doing the above as governor. He was hesitant to take on the challenge of running in the gubernatorial race or for any position, especially since he was not certain of his chances of winning against the ruling political clan in Davao del Norte. Jubahaib said that he just answered the call of the religious sector and ordinary citizens who yearned for change. His victory, he says, was not just a political triumph but an affirmation and determination of the people’s will to bring about positive change in the province. “ Parang pinagbigyan ko lang, subok lang. So nung nanalo ako very emotional na ako, sabi ko na pagsisilbihan ko talaga ang mga kababayan ko sa Davao del Norte. (I just gave it a shot, tested the waters. So when I won, I became very emotional, and I said that I would really serve the people of Davao del Norte.)” True to his commitment to serving the public and fulfilling his promise to the people, Jubahib wasted no time in making a significant change. He declared that all health services in Davao del Norte, including those offered in the province’s three district hospitals, would be provided free of charge. This encompassed not just medical treatment but also essential medicines, ensuring that even the most vulnerable members of society could access health care without financial burden. INSURGENCY-FREE PROVINCE It was under Jubahib’s administration that Davao del Norte was declared insurgency- free. It also made the wholeDavao Region insurgency-free as well. This is because, according to Jubahib, the members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) are all based in Davao del Norte. This is a milestone in the province, especially given its reputation as a hotbed of insurgent activities by the CPP- NPA. The governor explains that he recognized the urgency of addressing the root causes of insurgency and sought to engage with the affected communities directly. Together with the officers and men of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP), he went to the hinterlands and checked the conditions of the families of rebels. They also brought with them representatives of local government units, local and national agencies, and the private sector who can help improve the lives of the people in the hinterlands. The approach was holistic. They conducted medical missions, distributed essential supplies such as vegetable seeds, high-value crops, and fertilizers, and assisted in improving the living conditions of the residents. The governor shared how disheartening it was to witness the dire situations in which the people lived—humble dwellings constructed from branches and grass, with roofs barely providing adequate shelter. Jubahib admits that it was challenging at first because there were hesitations and doubts. He, however, saw a glimmer of hope when he extended a hand of support and showed genuine concern for the people ' s well-being. They were able to foster trust and dialogue with the affected communities. He assured them that their grievances would be addressed and that the government was committed to providing the necessary resources for their upliftment. “ Sobrang nakakaawa. Inayos namin ang kalagayan nila at kinumbinsi ko sila na huwag na silang makipaglaban sa ating kasundaluhan, tapusin na namin ang gulo dito sa probinsiya namin. Iba na ngayon, sabi ko kasi nanditona ang gobernador nila. (It’s really pitiful, so we addressed their needs and convinced them not to fight against our military men anymore; to end the conflict in our province. We told them that it's different now, with their governor present among them.) They no longer need to go to the capitol; I would visit their community, and whatever they lack—schools, health centers, roads—I will provide them during my term.” The governor made true of his promise. He led efforts to push for programs and projects in areas that had been long neglected.He invested in infrastructure, education, and livelihood programs to uplift disadvantaged communities. Thousands of NPA members voluntarily surrendered and turned over their firearms, signaling a definitive end to the long-standing insurgency problem in the province. This achievement was not confined to Davao del Norte alone but encompassed neighboring areas like Bukidnon, Agusan, Davao de Oro, and Davao Oriental. Former conflict zones like the towns of Talaingod and Kapalong have now been transformed into emerging tourist destinations, as some areas have been converted into mountain resorts. Making the province insurgency-free is Jubahib’s greatest achievement so far. With Davao Del Norte being a “livable province,” they are now bracing for more developments. THE BATTLE The need for development is also the reason why Jubahib is passionate about efforts to address the pressing issue of high power rates in Davao Del Norte. According to him, excessive electricity charges have not only burdened consumers but also hindered business growth and investment in the province.This explains why he took decisive action against Northern Davao Electric Cooperative (NORDECO), which supplies power to major cities in Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro. Despite his efforts, a group called CAPECs (Coalition Against Privatization of Electric Cooperatives) filed charges against him with the Ombudsman. Jubahib, however, described this move as politically motivated and a distraction from the real issue at hand—the urgent need to provide better services to the people of Davao. The issue reached Congress and upon investigation, it was found that the cooperative was imposing high charges on consumers while providing poor service, resulting in frequent brownouts and unreliable electricity supply. In contrast, private power companies operating in other districts offered lower rates, gave better service, and contributed to community development through corporate social responsibility programs. He is now pushing for private power companies known for their reliability and efficiency to replace the cooperative. “HINDI PALA LAHAT AY PERA ANG BASEHAN. KAHIT MAKAPANGYARIHAN KA, PUEDE PALA NA ANG TAO AY PUMILI DIN NG BAGO." THE VISION Jubahib is quite new to local governance, yet he was already recognized as Governor of the Year during the Nation Builders and MOSLIV Awards in 2022. Davao del Norte was likewise acknowledged as the Most Sustainable and Liveable Province in the Philippines. He expresses joy for the recognition because his implementation of innovative and sustainable solutions to address the pressing issues in the province is acknowledged. He says that the programs of the provincial government of Davao del Norte are directed towards those who are in need. ' He cites the Kaagapay program, where they provided capitalization for 30families organized into people’s organizations. The funds are to beu sed to purchase vegetable seeds.The beneficiaries are also encouraged to plant corn, for which fertilizer is also provided. They are also given livestock such as chickens, goats, or pigs to raise. The families will be responsible for planting, harvesting, and selling crops and livestock. They will sell these to the provincial government to eliminate middlemen. The provincial government pays the farmers in full. " Pinutol ko yung transaction ng middle man na siyang kumikita doon. Intact yung natanggap ng mga magsasaka, kasi kung ano yung retail price sa palengke, yun din ang bili ng probinsiya doon sa produkto nila. (I did away with middlemen, who usually profit from transactions with farmers. The farmers receive the full amount for their products because we matched the market retail price.) They didn’t even need to transport their products themselves because the provincial government went to them. We did everything in order, especially in weighing their products. So, they earn.)” According to Jubahib, this program has addressed the struggles of families who are beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). “Before, there were families who couldn’t even eat for a day. Now, their food is sufficient, and they were even able to buy household items because of the Kaagapay program,” he says. The crime rate in Davao del Norte has also decreased to 3.5 percent, according to the governor. That’s why the Provincial Police Office was adjudged as the Best Performing Police Office in the country in 2021. They also have the Oplan sa Kalinaw, Kaagapay Para sa Kalusugan at Kaginhawaan ng Baryo (Peace Plan, Partner for the Health and Well-Being of the Community) program, which continuously operates. Aside from giving free health services in the entire province, the provincial government also has a mobile clinic where surgeries can even be performed. They also focus on addressing the issue of flooding through various projects, like the distillation program for seawater and the canalization program in rivers within the province. While the province has experienced flooding, these projects, according to Jubahib, have significantly helped mitigate the impact of such. They also have five heavy rescue trucks from Russia which are used not only to rescue but also to serve food and medicines for those affected by floods. The governor dreams of Davao del Norte being named as a must- visit destination in the country.“My development plan ranges from highlands to islands—ecotourism development,” he declares. THE SACRIFICE One thing that weighs heavily on Jubahib’s mind is the limited time he gets to spend with his family. It’s a source of sadness for him, knowing that his demanding schedule often keeps him away from his loved ones. Sacrificing what could have been memorable moments with his family is a necessary part of his commitment to serving the people of Davao del Norte. Despite his longing to be with his children more often, his primary focus remains on fulfilling his responsibilities and helping the constituents of his province. He says that his sacrifice is not just a way of thanking the people for the trust and support they have given him but also his assurance of keeping up with his commitment to serve the people of Davao del Norte. However, the thought that Jubahib’s sacrifices are paying off, for they can now gradually experience progress in Davao del Norte, is an assurance that he is doing well as a public servant. He is fulfilled to see that there are families who were once extremely poor but are now experiencing improvements in their lives. Thus, as their Kuya Gob, he calls on the people to continue uniting to fight poverty and conflict. “ Yung problema natin sa insurgency ay natapos na. Patuloy po tayong magkaisa, magtulungan, magdasal sa Panginoong Diyos para sa ikakabuti ng inyong pamilya, at ating mahal na probinsiya (Our problem with insurgency has already ended. Let us continue to unite, help one another, and pray to the Lord our God for the betterment of your families and our beloved province), he ends.” "OUR PROBLEM WITH INSURGENCY HAS ALREADY ENDED. LET US CONTINUE TO UNITE, HELP ONE ANOTHER, AND PRAY TO THE LORD OUR GOD FOR THE BETTERMENT OF YOUR FAMILIES AND OUR BELOVED PROVINCE."

< Back Transforming the Philippine Tourism Industry BY GODFREY T. DANCEL TOURISM SECRETARY CHRISTINA GARCIA-FRASCO CONTINUES TO LEAD SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS TO TRANSFORM THE PHILIPPINE TOURISM INDUSTRY, MAKING USE OF GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES SHE HAD MASTERED AS A LOCAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE. From top local chief executive in the Visayas to top member of the Cabinet. This, in a nutshel, succinctly summarizes Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Fraco's nine years as a public servant. After continuing the transformation of Liloan, Cebu into a model municipality in the Visayas in her two terms as mayor, Frasco has skilfully led the Department of Tourism into one more becoming one of the top performing executive agencies and second top driver of the country's economic growth and development. FROM LOCAL TO NATIONAL Frasco may be a relative newcomer to public service, but her direct exposure to public service as well as her educational background have served her well. She is a member of the Garcia clan of Cebu, which counts among its more prominent members her mother, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and her grandfather, former Governor Pablo Garcia. Her spouse, Cebu Fifth District Representative Vincent Franco Frasco, is one of the current deputy speakers in the House of Representatives. She holds a bachelor’s degree in legal management from the Ateneo de Manila University and earned her law degree from the Ateneo School of Law. Frasco’s first foray into public service came in 2016, when she was elected as mayor of Liloan. She was reelected for her second term in 2019. Under her leadership, Liloan continued to develop economically and socially. In 2019, it was named as the country’s Most Resilient Municipality by the Department of Trade and Industry as well as the Top Philippine Model Municipality by Manila Times. Among others, Liloan also received national recognition for its achievements in the fields of education, business friendliness, and infrastructure. In May 2022, the people of Liloan gave their then-reelectionist mayor an overwhelming mandate to lead them for another term. After all, she had served them meritoriously and had more plans for the first class municipality. Her third term, however, was nipped in the bud as she was tapped to lead a major department under the new administration. Thenincoming President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. had decided to appoint her as secretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT). With her acceptance of the position, Frasco became the youngest member of the Marcos Cabinet. Frasco’s appointment came at a critical time. “At the time, not only were we dealing with the pandemic, but also recovering from the very devastating Typhoon Odette that ravaged much of Cebu,” she recalls. “The effort that I had made as mayor was really to ensure that quality of life in Liloan is high. And toward the future, with our intention of becoming a city, we designed our programs to make sure that not only did we invest in infrastructure, health, social welfare, and the education of our people, but also that we increase the capacity of the people of Liloan to obtain gainful livelihood. And so all of these were still in play at the time that I was reelected as mayor, and then I received the invitation from the president. My response to the president, initially, was to request that I be given the opportunity to consult with the people that elected me, our local leaders, our constituents, and of course, my family.” “In the conversations that I had, both with my family and my constituents—and I did make the effort to do my rounds in the barangays, even up to the mountainside—all were in agreement that an invitation from a president for me to be part of the team that will turn his vision of unity and unprecedented progress for our country should not to be turned down,” Frasco relates. “The opportunity to serve the Filipino people in a larger capacity is one that I'm very grateful for. So, with the blessing of my family and the people of Liloan, I accepted the invitation.” LISTENING TOUR… AND MORE When she assumed the post of tourism secretary, Frasco set out on a listening tour around the country to understand the situation on the ground and connect with tourism stakeholders. “My experience as mayor taught me the importance of listening to your people and of seeing the actual situation on the ground, rather than just simply crafting policy from the comfort of your office,” she shares. “And so the effort was to gain insight, both from our local stakeholders all over the Philippines, and our stakeholders from abroad.” Said activity involved property owners; travel and tour operators; transport operators; micro, small and medium-scale enterprise owners; and even tour guide. “The directive of the president was to increase the global competitiveness of the country. And we could not do that without understanding the lay of the land, as they say, and without also addressing the needs of those that depend on the tourism industry and have invested heavily in tourism. The listening tour which we did across very many sectors of the tourism value chain enabled us to obtain ideas as to how we can innovate within the tourism industry and also very honest feedback on how we can improve,” Frasco stresses. In addition to the listening tour, tourism officials led by their then-newly appointed chief conducted due diligence of the actual state of Philippine tourism, especially vis-á-vis our direct competitors in the Southeast Asian region. “There we found that the barriers to the full ascension of the Philippines in terms of its stature in the ASEAN tourism hemisphere lies in number one, infrastructure; second, connectivity; third, digitalization; and fourth, in the diversity of tourism offerings, as well as the equity of tourism development,” Frasco reveals. A CLEAR TOURISM ROADMAP “All of the insights that the DOT gathered, as well as data from all over the world, aided us in crafting the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) for 2023 to 2028, which the president approved,” Frasco shares. Less than a year after she assumed the DOT top post, Frasco launched the NTDP 2023–2028 during the Tourism Stakeholders’ National Summit in March 2023. The NTDP, she says, is the department’s blueprint for strategies on how to sustain and to grow the impact of tourism on our economy in the next few years. It will serve as the guidebook for mechanisms to ensure sustainability, innovation, inclusivity, and global competitiveness. The NTDP, the secretary also reveals, is the department’s response to the president’s call for tourism officials to transform the Philippine tourism industry into a tourism powerhouse in Asia in the next five years. The above mandate, together with the president’s statement that improving tourism is a priority for the government, Frasco says, gave them the confidence to meet challenges head on. “For one, the foundation of that vision lies in the intention to reintroduce the Philippines to the world from the lens of the Filipino story. It not only provides a purview of the fun and adventure that we're able to offer, and for which we have been known for very long, but also, more importantly, a view into the Filipino culture,” she elaborates. “We can all agree that the greatest strength of the Philippines is the Filipino people. And by allowing the world to get to know the heart and soul of the Filipino, then we have a very good foundation from which to start our ascension to become a tourism powerhouse. The strength of our heritage, the diversity of our culture, the vastness of our history that covers generations of influences as well as the intricacies of our regions that one can discover by tasting Filipino food across our destinations, partaking in our festivals, understanding the living cultural traditions of our indigenous peoples, will all work in our favor,” she adds. With the above, the DOT has come up with various efforts to strategically position the Philippines as a preferred and premier destination for certain tourism products and services, including health and wellness, gastronomy, cruise, and culture. One of these is the Philippine Experience Program which Frasco describes as “a culture, heritage, and arts caravan that focuses on providing opportunities for well known, emerging, and lesser known destinations to be introduced, not just to our tourists, but also, importantly, to our tourism stakeholders and our foreign diplomats stationed in the Philippines, especially those from countries with existing travel advisories against the country.” “We bring our tourism stakeholders and diplomats to various destinations, and we coordinate with our regional offices as well as our local government units to provide a two to three-day day itinerary that covers the heritage, history, and culture of the regions, provinces, cities, and municipalities,” Frasco explains. “It could also include, where applicable, visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We also highlight health and wellness sanctuaries and of course, provide a view into the local culture and traditions of the place. And especially, it has a buying component so that we are able to benefit the local communities and support local economies as the local stakeholders are able to sell their local goods and wares through this visit. It also includes a culinary component, where we feature the local delicacies of the destinations.” MY EXPERIENCE AS MAYOR TAUGHT ME THE IMPORTANCE OF LISTENING TO YOUR PEOPLE AND OF SEEING THE ACTUAL SITUATION ON THE GROUND, RATHER THAN JUST SIMPLY CRAFTING POLICY FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR OFFICE. Meanwhile, the Bisita, Be My Guest program is the DOT’s way of providing incentives for overseas Filipinos that invite foreigners to come into the country. “We are very grateful to our kababayans, and the entire diaspora of Filipinos from all over the world, as we view them as our tourism ambassadors,” the secretary underscores. Incentives include the possibility of winning a house and lot, a condominium unit, free vacations to the country, free airline tickets, and free shopping sprees. ENGAGING LGUS Being a member of the Cabinet has given Frasco the chance to apply her learnings as a local official on a national scale. “Even if I am no longer mayor, I still very much have a local perspective in national governance,” she stresses. “I am still very much driven by the sense of urgency that all mayors have, knowing that if policy does not change, if programs are not implemented, and if people are not a priority, then nothing positive will happen. So coming into the national government, I have always been very conscious of never forgetting where I came from and understanding that the policies that are crafted on a national scale should take into consideration the needs of our local government units.” A tangible result of the above perspective is the Tourism Champions Challenge, which was launched by the secretary herself during the national assembly of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines in 2023. It is a program where the national government, through the DOT and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, grants financial assistance to local government units that propose tourism infrastructure projects that are of their own idea and of their own creation under the auspices of inclusivity, resilience, and sustainability. “After we launched this program, we received around 98 proposals from all over the Philippines, which then went through a very rigorous process of mentoring and expert advice from national government agencies, private tourism stakeholders, and other relevant experts to make sure that the proposal is fashioned in a manner that would ensure its sustainability and maximum benefits to the community,” Frasco shares. “We also made sure that it is marketable in terms of its attractiveness to international and domestic tourists.” No less than the president himself led the awarding ceremonies where the DOT handed out around 250 awards, in addition to millions of pesos in financial assistance to the 15 LGUs that were shortlisted. With the program, Filipinos can expect tourism infrastructure projects to rise, thus helping ensure that the benefit of tourism are felt in all regions across the country. A SHOWCASE OF GOOD GOVERNANCE One of the hallmarks of Frasco’s leadership of the DOT is the department’s judicious use of its budget. “The Commission on Audit has given the DOT high audit ratings for a number of years. A priority of the department under this administration is really to ensure good governance, and we have managed to maintain the unmodified opinion of the COA since the onset of the Marcos administration,” she reveals. “Affirmations from both our government auditing body as well as from the private auditing sector give us the impetus to continue to make sure that public funds are used in a manner that maximizes the effectiveness of our programs.” The DOT has also managed to renew its quality management systems and ISO accreditations. As an added measure to ensure accountability, transparency, and excellence in government service, the department is also finalizing a balanced scorecard for each of its operating units to make sure that everyone is always accountable for all of their duties and responsibilities. With Frasco at the helm, the DOT has posted record figures in a number of indicators. For starters, the tourism industry posted 6.21 million in employment for 2023, a significant increase from 5.84 million in 2022. This figure also translates to 16 million in indirect employment, taking into account the indirect benefits of tourism. In all, the tourism industry accounted for almost 13 percent of total employment in the country in 2023. Moreover, tourism accounted for an 8.6 percent share of our gross domestic product for 2023, contributing almost Php2.1 trillion to the national coffers. This represents an almost 50 percent increase from Php1.41 trillion recorder in 2022. For 2024, Frasco reported a record-breaking Php760 billion in estimated receipts from international visitor arrivals, adding that foreign tourists stayed longer at an average of 11 days, compared to 9 in 2019. Frasco’s efforts to transform the DOT have not gone unnoticed. Just as she received accolades when she was mayor, including the Presidential Lingkod Bayan Regional Award in 2021, Frasco has also received national and international recognition for her achievements as DOT chief. One of these is the prestigious Tourism Good Governance Award from SKAL International. SKAL International is a network of travel and tourism professionals that promotes travel and tourism worldwide. Meanwhile, in the last quarter of 2024, she emerged as one of the top performing Cabinet members based on a nationwide survey. TRANSFORMATION WITHIN THE DOT Alongside judicious use of resources and effective implementation of the DOT’s various programs, Frasco has also given special attention to reforms within the department. “We have sought to make sure that we take care of our people,” the secretary stresses. “My experience as mayor has taught me that as a leader, you're only as good as your people. And you need to make sure that those from whom you require excellence, service, and sacrifice, have a leader to turn to, especially in the performance of their job, and during times of difficulty.” Frasco shares that within six months after she took over, the DOT managed to renew its collective negotiation agreement with the DOT Employees Union. They have also provided free personal insurance to job order personnel. More importantly, there are now more opportunities for regularization as well as for ascension into a higher position and higher salary grade. More consideration has also been given to employees with special circumstances. For instance, they have launched the Child Minding Center for employees who are mothers. With this, mothers could leave their children at the center, to be supervised by accredited teachers while they are at work. With the DOT performing exceptionally well in the past two and a half years, Frasco is optimistic that the government’s goal of making the Philippines a tourism powerhouse will soon be achieved. Even as she thanks national as well as local government officials for their support, she also highlights the important role of ordinary citizens in achieving the government’s tourism goals. “In our effort to transform Philippine tourism, we have also sought to reignite in our countrymen this burning pride of place and love of country. Knowing that tourism is a force for good, tourism is a source of unity no matter our differences in political opinions, state of life, and geographic location. One thing that we all hold in common is our love for the Philippines. And so I encourage you, our fellow Filipinos to continue to show that love by traveling across the Philippines and by carrying the banner of the Philippines wherever you may go,” she ends.

00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000003 < BACK SENATOR WIN GATCHALIAN Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian’s two-decade career as a public servant has been marked by his relentless pursuit of his vision for better governance. BY GODFREY T. DANCEL PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAR CONCENGCO The LEAGUE team arrives at the Senate building on a cloudy midmorning in October. The place is uncharacteristically quiet. Conspicuously absent are senators and their staff hustling from their offices to the session hall, officials from the executive branch attending hearings, foreign dignitaries paying courtesy visits, reporters trying to get a scoop, and ordinary Filipinos seeking an audience with particular senators. In a conference room at the second floor, however, a bicameral conference committee meeting is going on. It’s a hybrid meeting, with most participants—congressmen and senators, supported by their staff— participating online from their homes. Such has been the practice since COVID-19 radically changed the way we live, including the way Congress works. One senator, however, is physically present: Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Energy. Swiftly ironed out during the meeting were some inconsistencies in the House and Senate versions of the Microgrid Systems Act, the Upper Chamber version of which was primarily authored by Senator Win himself. The act is expected to fill the legal and policy gaps that have hampered the government’s total electrification program. “He’s the only senator who still physically reports to the Senate to hold hearings and meetings [despite Metro Manila being placed under Alert Level 4],” one of Senator Win’s staff members says. “He wants to have instant access to information during hearings.” Ever mindful of the value of time, the senator wants to be able to look at documents and confirm matters with the secretariat whenever the need arises—something he could not do if he were working from home. Clearly, it’s a win-win situation: all stakeholders remain safe from COVID-19 (strict health protocols are also being implemented at the Senate building), and legislative work goes on as it should. This comes as no surprise for those who know the senator well. Senator Win is a known workaholic, and also wants solutions implemented as soon as possible. Entering Public Service Senator Win’s two-decade career as public servant has been marked by his relentless pursuit of his vision for better governance. From his initial foray into politics at the age of 27, he has proven to be an effective public servant both at the local and national levels. “I went into public service because of many frustrations at that time in Valenzuela,” he says of his decision to run as Representative of the 1st District of Valenzuela in 2001. “I was then working in our family business, and I got to interact with the local government unit of Valenzuela. There were a lot of frustrations. It was a tedious task to secure a business permit, you had to talk to fixers, the process was confusing. Instead of just complaining, the young Win did what he thought was best. “Out of frustration, not only mine but that of everyone in Valenzuela, I presented myself as part of the solution. I was given the chance to serve one term as congressman and three terms as mayor, [and I used these opportunities] to provide solutions. Because I really believe that if you keep on complaining, nothing will happen. So you just have to do your share, do whatever you can to solve problems. Of course, you cannot solve everything all at once. But at least you’re there to lead the way.” He would later on return to the Lower House, serving for another three years. By then, he had become known for championing good governance and quality education, and fighting corruption. “After my stint in Valenzuela, I learned a lot… and I thought, maybe I can make a difference using that experience, this time on a nationwide scale. So I tried my luck. I ran as senator, despite the odds. Dahil yung surveys ko malayo. [Survey results had me trailing.] It was a blessing that I was given the opportunity to serve,” he recalls. Guiding Principles Senator Win describes his leadership style as “basic.” “I lead by example. I believe that every leader should be a good example. In the way you dress, the way you follow simple office rules, the way you come in early for work, that’s an important trait in a leader,” he shares. “At the same time, you have to shun corruption. If the leader is corrupt, everyone in the organization will be corrupt for sure. [Good governance] should start from the leader.” Senator Win also keeps in mind valuable pieces of advice from former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel. “Pag mapakinggan mo sya, marami kang matututunan,” he says. “I also watch a lot of videos of Barack Obama because everyone’s mesmerized with his eloquence. But at the same time, his policies as well as the way he handles crisis situations is admirable considering that the United States is a complex country. Then his way of analyzing and dissecting problems and executing solutions is also quite admirable.” The above, combined with his experience as top executive of a number of their familyowned businesses prior to 2001, have helped Senator Win remain true to his promise of being part of the solution to the nation’s problems. Prioritizing Education Education reforms have always been among Sen. Win’s advocacies. “In 2016, I campaigned under one advocacy: to remove tuition fees in state universities and colleges,” he recalls. “At that time, that was unheard of because people thought it’s financially and fiscally impossible.” Seven months into his term as member of the Upper House, Senator Win filed, together with Senators Ralph Recto, Joel Villanueva, JV Ejercito, Bam Aquino, Kiko Pangilinan, Sonny Angara, and Loren Legarda, Senate Bill 1304, which sought to provide full tuition subsidy to students enrolled in state universities and colleges (SUCs). After another seven months, the bill was signed into law as Republic Act 10931. With the law, almost 1.7 million students in SUCs, local universities and colleges; and state-run technical-vocational schools now enjoy full tuition subsidy. “Malaking bagay yan (That is significant) because college was viewed as being for people who have the financial capacity. But now college is viewed as being for those who are qualified and should be supported [to have a better future] through a college diploma,” he explains. As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture, Senator Win is also well aware of the problems in the field of basic education. For one, he has a very firm stand when it comes to errors in basic education textbooks. “[Such errors are] definitely unacceptable,” he asserts. “We need to improve the quality of our textbooks and reading materials. I have flagged the Department of Education many, many times, to ensure quality and to ensure that the books are reviewed many times before these are released to our learners.” Highlighting the Need for Energy Transition Another of the senator’s advocacies is clean energy. While describing the move to clean energy as an imperative, he also cautions against haphazard steps that may prove costly in the long run. He has highlighted the need for a comprehensive transition plan that takes into account our bureaucratic structure, consumer welfare, and the fight against climate change. “Going renewable is inevitable. The whole world is moving toward that direction. It’s really just a matter of how fast we can do it. We cannot do it fast. That’s why the buzzword now is energy transition. We have to do it in a just and economical manner. In other words, we cannot rush into shifting to solar and wind. That will take time to build and the cost is substantially high,” he explains. All things considered, the senator is pushing for a well-studied transition plan that has to be implemented as soon as possible. “So it’s a transition, and we need to start that transition already. Unfortunately, our country has not yet started significantly, meaning we have the laws, some mechanisms in place, but a formal transition has not yet commenced. So that’s what I’m pushing for right now. To jumpstart the Philippine-style energy transition,” he stresses. Senator Win points to consumers’ price sensitivity, limited technology, and a complex bureaucracy as among the things that the legislature, the Department of Energy (DOE), and energy experts must take into account as we set out with the transition. Looking Ahead With a little over half a year left before the elections, Senator Win remains hopeful that key bills will still be approved by Congress. One such proposed law is Senate Bill 726, which seeks to penalize nuisance political candidates. The importance of tackling this bill, which he refiled back in July 2019, became more obvious recently, as almost a hundred personalities filed their certificates of candidacy for president. “Hopefully, that would get approved,”he says of the bill which he originally filed in 2016. “Parati kong pinupush yung nuisance candidate bill. Nakakainis na kasi yung mga taong pupunta tapos nakacosplay costume (I’ve always pushed for the approval of the nuisance candidate bill. It’s annoying to see people coming in as if they were going to a cosplay event),” he stresses. More than the physical appearance, however, it’s the intent that bothers him. “It’s really annoying to see people mocking the elections, mocking the system, and mocking our country, to be honest about it. It’s sad, but it’s the reality. Like this time, 97 persons filed their candidacy for president. Alam naman natin maraming matatanggal dyan. Ilan lang yung matitira. [We know that majority of them will eventually be disqualified.] People are just mocking our elections.” Still on political reforms, Senator Win co-authored a bill banning substitution of candidates due to withdrawal. With him as Senate Bill 2439 co-authors are Senators Migz Zubiri, Nancy Binay, Grace Poe, and Joel Villanueva. “Recently, substitution became some sort of a political strategy,” he says. And it doesn’t only create instability in the process because obviously you cannot print the ballots right away. But again, in the same manner [as nuisance candidates do, substitution due to withdrawal also] creates a mockery of the elections.” The senator wants to avoid a situation where unscrupulous individuals would not only make a mockery of the system but actually benefit financially from it. “There could come a time when placeholders (those who file their candidacies but have no actual intention of running), would put their slots up for sale. So before it becomes that bad, we’ll remove that feature in the law,” he explains. Man on a Mission Senator Win has come a long way since entering the field of public service in 2001. One thing, however, has remained constant: his silent yet effective and dedicated style of public service has consistently borne practical solutions to the nation’s many problems. Buoyed by this, he has pledged to continue with his mission of helping bring about a worldclass yet affordable educational system, a competitive and investor-friendly energy sector, and electoral reforms. In the end, every piece of legislation Senator Win is able to steer to enactment into law, every improved government policy he is able to contribute to, every problem he is able to offer a solution to, is not only a personal victory for him. It is also a check mark in the win column for every Filipino.

< Back A Shared Vision in Service BY MARIANNE JANE S. ZARA AS PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE CHIEF POLICE GENERAL ROMMEL MARBIL RETIRES FROM SERVICE, HE LEAVES A LEGACY OF A REFORMED INSTITUTION CENTERED ON THE CONTINUITY OF PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS INTENDED FOR A SMOOTH DELIVERY OF PNP SERVICE, INTEGRITY, AND BOOSTING THE POLICEMEN’S MORALE. The Philippine National Police (PNP), whose mission is to enforce laws, prevent and control crimes, maintain peace and order, and ensure public safety and internal security with the active support of the community, has often been in the spotlight of challenges and controversies. It thereby needs a leader whose dedication centers on service and integrity. As PNP Chief Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil approaches the close of his distinguished career, he leaves a legacy of a reformed institution now known for a smooth delivery of services, integrity, and having a force with high morale. As his personal goal alongside his wife is leaving the position unscathed with no corruption record, this value translates to the whole of the PNP—a true-to the-job, simplified police service of crime prevention and crime solution, as well as a trustworthy PNP. CHIEF MARBIL BELIEVES IN BUILDING ON EXISTING PROGRAMS RATHER THAN STARTING ANEW WITH EACH LEADERSHIP CHANGE, ENSURING A SMOOTH TRANSITION, SUSTAINABLE PROGRESS, AND CONTINUITY OF GREAT PROGRAMS IN PLACE. With a shared vision in service, his wife, Mary Rose Marbil, has supported the PNP chief unwaveringly and has shared the same vision, leading initiatives with heart, humility, and purpose. Her “LAB Virus” initiative has identified and assisted policemen across the country who are sick. The flagship project has certainly nurtured the humanity of each policeman under the project. Together, PNP Chief Marbil and Mrs. Marbil have redefined service, fostering trust, ensuring continuity, and boosting the PNP morale as a whole. A VISION ROOTED IN CONTINUITY For Police General Marbil, leadership was never about making a mark for himself. He dismissed the idea of leaving a legacy tied to him; instead, he emphasized the importance of building upon the foundations laid by his predecessors. He strongly believes in continuity, strengthening and improving existing systems and programs rather than replacing them for recognition. “I believe in continuity—that’s what I always do, continuation. What I did, as chief of the Philippine National Police, was just to fine tune or improve the programs of the previous PNP Chief. In fact, we retained the good programs and projects. We continued such as projects of the PNP itself. I don’t want to put names or labels and tie a project to a person. Because what’s happening here is that they claim that “this is my project,” so when the PNP chief is replaced, the new chief will discontinue the initiatives. He maintains that his role was to ensure good governance, value performance more than politics, simplify police service, and ensure effective crime prevention and crime solution. He resisted unnecessary personnel reshuffles of regional directors and prioritized consistency in leadership at the regional and provincial levels. He believes that personnel reshuffles will simply cause delay as there would be a learning curve and the new directors would need several months to adapt to the job therefore making him an ineffective leader. The new director would only have less than a year to execute the reforms, programs, and projects that he intends to do during his tenure. He also shares that the tenure of the PNP Chief spans about a year or two, and if they don’t focus on the continuity of programs in place, it would be harder to execute new policies. Marbil also adds that changes in programs and projects would change the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOEs) which could also delay the processing and execution of a program or project. He, however, believes in simplifying police work, investing in technology, and shifting the PNP’s strategy toward modern threats like cybercrime. He advocates for modernization, highlighting the need for AI-powered CCTV systems in combating modern crimes like cyber threats, as such can make crime predictable and preventable, shifting the focus to proactive policing. INTEGRITY AND PUBLIC TRUST The PNP Chief also emphasizes a police force that upholds dignity and earns public trust, recognizing that the reputation of the police hinges on internal discipline. He shares that the issue of public trust is because when policemen make mistakes, the other policemen use it as trophy points such that policemen highlight and boast that who they arrested are policemen. Therefore, it gets embedded in the public that policemen are kidnappers, or involved in robbery. “Because you make the policemen your trophy points when you make mistakes. ‘These are our policemen, they are involved in kidnapping. The policemen I caught are involved in robbery, kidnapping.' Just imagine, at the back of your mind, people will say police are kidnappers, or involved in robbery. I said, it shouldn’t be like that because it’s embedded in our people. It seems like you want to embarrass the organization so that you can say that you’re good. It shouldn’t be. Another example that the police general gave was the PNP having been blamed regarding drug problems or traffic in EDSA, which are both not under the PNP in nature but the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and Metro Manila Development Authority, respectively. There is also a mix-up in the public’s perception of the assignment of the PNP. But under his watch, the PNP was reoriented toward internal discipline, and public trust, with a conscious decision to avoid political interference or superficial achievements. THE LAB VIRUS BY MRS. MARY ROSE MARBIL A former corporate professional, Mrs. Marbil transitioned into a public servant, a role supporting her husband’s mission and the welfare of police families through PNP OLC Foundation Inc. What was once a club transformed into a foundation that nurtures policemen, making them feel supported and valued. Her passion project, the “LAB Virus,” exemplifies her dedication to understanding and addressing the real challenges faced by police personnel nationwide. LAB Virus aims to identify policemen needing help and assistance due to sickness. WE MAKE SURE THAT [OUR POLICEMEN’S] MORALE IS HIGH. IT ADDS TO THEIR MORALE HAVING TO NOTICE THEM AND BUILD PROGRAMS FOR THEM. Her initiatives include extending financial and emotional support to families, especially those with critically ill members. She also emphasizes the importance of maintaining individual identity and supporting spouses in their pursuits, encouraging a balanced life amidst the demanding environment of public service. Through this project, Mrs. Marbil saw the bedridden officers, silent spouses, and responded to once-overlooked needs. Mrs. Marbil recounts a touching story as she implemented the LAB Virus project, a testament to how small acts of kindness ripple into greater trust and morale. “When the wife came, she didn’t say anything but ‘My husband is bedridden.’ She kept on repeating that until she started crying and hugged me. So, I ended up crying too. All she said was, my husband is bedridden. I just hugged her back. Then after that she said, maraming salamat maraming salamat kasi napapansin sila (thank you so much, thank you so much, you’ve given them the attention they need). Police General Marbil adds that there are programs being implemented by his predecessors such as a feeding program, and adopting a family under the Police Community Relations (PCR), which he strongly believes is already the mandate of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. “Our PCR has to be within the police community,” the police general says. He adds that initially, he didn’t like the Officers Ladies Club back when it was a club. That is why the organization’s leadership changed it to a foundation whose primary purpose is to look at the welfare of the police personnel: identify the policemen who are sick and extend help to these people. Mrs. Marbil brought professionalism, empathy, and structure to the foundation. Under her leadership, the OLCFI focused on meaningful service, offering moral and sometimes financial support to those in uniform. “We make sure that their morale is high. It adds to their morale having to notice them and build programs for them.” Mrs. Marbil adds. A SHARED VISION IN SERVICE What sets this couple apart is their deep alignment of values and objectives. Their conversations reveal a mutual understanding that leadership extends beyond policies—it’s about fostering trust, ensuring continuity, and nurturing the human element of policing. In fostering trust, they specifically chose people whose spouses will not meddle in the affairs of the PNP, especially when it comes to politicizing promotions. “Don’t meddle with your husband’s work.” Mrs. Marbil stresses. Police General Marbil proudly mentions that they already had plans to establish a system for promotions that would bring in the most competent candidates to lead the stations, at the municipality, city, or provincial level. In practice, the choosing of the provincial directors is up to the provincial governor, because that’s the law. But the general’s idea is to put the best candidates up for the choosing of the governor. To do away with politics, he led an initiative to make the system of promotion more performance based. “We improved the system of placements because before, the placements in PNP were controlled by the Central Office but now regional directors are given autonomy so they have accountability. For performance, we also improved a lot on the basis of individual and unit performance. We also improved the system to see the performance at their level. We want to see meritocracy that’s why we asked the help from the Ateneo School of Government to come up with better policy systems of placement and promotion. FOR PERFORMANCE, WE ALSO IMPROVED A LOT ON THE BASIS OF INDIVIDUAL AND UNIT PERFORMANCE. WE ALSO IMPROVED THE SYSTEM TO SEE THE PERFORMANCE AT THEIR LEVEL. WE WANT TO SEE MERITOCRACY THAT’S WHY WE ASKED THE HELP FROM ATENEO SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT TO COME UP WITH BETTER POLICY SYSTEMS OF PLACEMENT AND PROMOTION. Moreso, we can remember the legacy of the Marbil couple’s partnership on how they changed the focus of the OLC from being a ladies’ club more for social gatherings to OLCFI which has a mission to aid the police community. The purpose-driven couple has empowered and enabled a social club to have a deeper purpose. With her limited time, Mrs. Marbil left a legacy of using the OLCFI as a platform to shift the focus to the police community, to relate to them, to see them, and to help them. Indeed, boosting the morale of the PNP through this paradigm shift. GROUNDED IN FAITH, UNITED IN PURPOSE Despite their busy schedules, the Marbils prioritize faith and service. Embedded in their leadership is a strong sense of faith. “Kapag pinagdasal ko, natutupad. [When I pray for something, it comes true.] I have faith in my prayers,” says Police General Marbil, explaining his belief that prayer and intention are key drivers of their success. Mrs. Marbil agrees, adding that she relied on quiet strength and trust during high-stress moments of her husband’s career. Their teamwork throughout the general’s term as PNP chief was very evident, as both focused on continuity, effectiveness, and the quiet power of purpose-driven work. They associate this with having the same principles. While one reformed the nation’s police force, the other ensured that the people behind the badge were seen, heard, and helped. Police General Marbil’s emphasis on internal reforms, such as decentralizing appointments and promoting performance-based advancement, was complemented by Mrs. Marbil’s focus on the welfare and morale of police families. Asked about the legacy they are leaving, both emphasized continuity and sustainability. Mrs. Marbil says, “We have the same objectives in mind that everything should be continuous, all must proceed as planned. There’s no such thing as ‘This initiative is just mine.’ ” Police General Marbil adds, “Dapat yung ginawa ko na ganoong kahirap, dapat ang makinabang yung next sa akin. Lahat ng pagbabago, ginawa ko dahil kailangan ko ayusin lahat. Dapat ang makinabang yung next set of leaders, yung next generation of police officers. Yun ang legacy ko. [Whatever I worked hard for during my term should benefit those coming after me. I did what I had to do in order to fix things. The next set of leaders, the next generation of police officers should benefit from such. That is my legacy.]” To those who were surprised by the unwavering support of the PNP chief to his wife Rose, “It’s because we’re aligned in our objectives and our direction. It’s just that we have the same set of guiding principles,” the police officer says. To Mrs. Marbil, her legacy is the foundation itself and she hopes that it will continue to help the police community in the future. They designed it in a way that they can be part of the board of directors so it would be easy for them to be consulted, if the new members need help, as a measure for continuity. At the same time, she mentions that they have drafted a playbook so that the program would be easy to sustain. I DID WHAT I HAD TO DO IN ORDER TO FIX THINGS. THE NEXT SET OF LEADERS, THE NEXT GENERATION OF POLICE OFFICERS SHOULD BENEFIT FROM SUCH. THAT IS MY LEGACY. A MESSAGE TO THE POLICE FORCE “Let’s value our service. Let’s put dignity in our uniform. So let’s go with our mantra. Sa bagong Pilipinas ang gusto ng polis ligtas ka.” (In the new Philippines, the police want you to be safe.)” says Police General Marbil For Mrs. Marbil, it is support without overstepping, and “you always have to keep your identity within you.” To add to this, Police General Marbil says that it is also because of the identity of Mrs. Marbil who was part of the corporate world and is used to having all the systems in place that he tried to adapt. “I learned from her,” he says. FINAL THOUGHTS As their tenure ends, PNP Chief and Mrs. Marbil are looking forward to spending the days with family. To the PNP Chief, his parents who he didn’t get to be with due to far assignments. To both, it’s the board exams and the wedding of their daughter in the following year. Police General Marbil’s narrative reveals a leader who strives for an efficient and sustainable police service, that values performance over politics for a trustworthy police force. His emphasis on decentralization and internal discipline fosters accountability among police officers. Chief and wife Marbil’s story summarizes a vision of leadership rooted in service, integrity, and community. It highlights the importance of internal reform and genuine care for personnel. As they step back from their official roles, their hope is a PNP that continues to evolve toward an effective and trustworthy national police force. In an era where public trust is hard-earned and often short-lived, the Marbils offer a refreshing reminder that leadership, done quietly and sincerely, can leave a deep and lasting mark. LET’S VALUE OUR SERVICE. LET’S PUT DIGNITY IN OUR UNIFORM. SO LET’S GO WITH OUR MANTRA. SA BAGONG PILIPINAS, ANG GUSTO NG PULIS LIGTAS KA. (IN THE NEW PHILIPPINES, THE POLICE WANT YOU TO BE SAFE.

< Back LEADING THE BIR TOWARD THE RIGHT DIRECTION By Godfrey T. Dancel PHOTOGRAPHY BY RENJIE TOLENTINO Discover why BIR Commissioner Lilia Guillermo is considered a perfect example of the kind of personnel the BIR is looking for: competent and dedicated to public service. When you put one of the most powerful and dedicated women in the country in one of the most powerful government agencies, you get the perfect combination to come up with quality service that the people deserve. Such is the case with Commissioner Lilia C. Guillermo leading the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). Guillermo, an alumna of the University of the Philippines Diliman, knew early on that she wanted to go into public service. “I was a scholar in the University of the Philippines, so I told myself that I have to give back,” shares the Bachelor of Science in Statistics and Master of Science in Industrial Engineering graduate. And after over four decades of public service, she definitely has given back to the nation she feels indebted to. LOOKING BACK The commissioner’s educational background and her experience in other government agencies, like the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), have served her well as she handles the challenges at the BIR, this time as head of the agency. “I was taken in from BIR [where I was already an undersecretary] to DBM because of my background, because they needed an undersecretary to handle the digital transformation at the DBM,” she shares about her stint as DBM undersecretary and chief information officer. “So I went to DBM and handled the modernization of the Public Finance Management Program, from revenue generation to expenditure.” Simply put, her efforts helped bring about the timely and effective monitoring, allocation, management, and spending of public funds. “You know, the application of information and communications technology is similar all throughout, regardless of function, because as long as you know how application systems are developed, how infrastructure supports all of these applications,” she explains, referring to her successful efforts in the three important government agencies. “I’m a systems person, so it’s easy for me, regardless of the function, to apply development strategies for use in a particular field.” Guillermo recalls how she turned things around at the BSP. “There was no chief information officer (CIO) at the Bangko Sentral, so I asked the governor to designate me,” she says, referring to then-BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno, with whom she also worked at the DBM. “I handled the modernization of the BSP internal systems, knowing that the BSP’s system should be better than that of the lower banks. So that was a big challenge. Another very important aspect which I introduced is data governance. This involved a whole of agency approach. It used to be that each of the different groups had their own system, so there was no single database. With several databases, management had a hard time accessing and making sense of the data.” As BSP’s CIO, Guillermo led the crafting and implementation of the BSP’s IT Modernization Roadmap of 2018-2023. Her success at both DBM and BSP came as no surprise, having previously spearheaded the BIR’s Tax Computerization Program, described as the biggest IT undertaking by any government agency to date. As challenging as the tasks she had to perform at the BIR, DBM, and DSB were, Guillermo took these on and passed with flying colors. “As I mentioned, if you have the support and the trust and confidence, the commitment of the management, that they will support digitalization of the systems and functions, things will go smoothly,” she says matter-of-factly. A GLIMPSE OF WHAT IS IN STORE Months into her term, Guillermo has proven once again that there is always room for improvement within the BIR. Just recently, the BIR was commended by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) for being among the top 10 government agencies in complaint resolution from January to June 2022. “Actually, we follow the 3-7- 20 rule,” she reveals. If the complaint is simple, we see to it that it’s resolved in three days. If it’s of medium gravity, resolved in seven days, and if it’s quite a complex or technical complaint, 20 days. So these are the rules of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) and its Action Center. We also have an office called the Public Information Education Division that actually handles the resolution of these cases. We see to it that valid cases are addressed at once.” With tax collection the major thrust of the BIR, Guillermo is bent on improving the agency’s tax collection performance. This, especially because of concerns raised in previous years about the BIR’s ability to live up to its mandate. “Actually, to improve tax collection performance needs action on both internal and external facets,” she states. “First, for the external, we see to it that we have enforcement programs like the Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) program, [through which we identify and prosecute high-profile tax evaders]. We also have the Oplan Kandado through which we close businesses if they’re not paying taxes correctly. We have activities on broadening the tax base as well as intensified audit and investigation. As for the internal aspect, we see to it that we recruit the right people, that we have regular sessions on capability building. We strengthened budget management and our Integrity Management Program. And actually last but not the least, is our digital transformation program. And that’s [in line with] the call of the president, for the entire country to be digitally prepared, digitally transformed, so that we will be competitive.” HOLISTIC TRANSFORMATION THROUGH TECHNOLOGY Guillermo puts emphasis on the role of taxpayers in the success of the BIR and all of its programs. At the same time, she notes that while there are challenges, there has been considerable success in reaching out and working together with taxpayers and taxpayer groups. “Well the biggest challenge is partnership with taxpayers. [But one thing we have done is to reach out to] associations like the associations of lawyers, certified public accountants, and businessmen, like the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce. During my first 100 days, I talked with them and discussed the direction the BIR is heading,” she reveals. “We want digital transformation as well as moral transformation,” Guillermo continues. “So we said that if BIR transforms or goes digital but if the taxpayers will not use it, it will not be successful. For example, with regard to the use of electronic receipts and invoices, we looked at 100 large taxpayers who have not complied. We explained they have to be prepared to be digitally transformed. And that’s a very big challenge because they say that they will have to revise their systems. They will have to allot a budget for it, and do so many other things. That’s a very big challenge for us. But with the help of the associations, through their coordination with us, we have made considerable progress.” “Resistance to automation of our systems is another matter,” the commissioner laments. “So that’s a very big challenge because I need cooperation from all taxpayers, big and small. We have to see to it that they embrace technology. They have to realize that the only way for us to really meet our targets, despite the economic conditions now, is to use technology.” Despite the bumps that the BIR leader has met in her efforts to transform the agency, she looks forward to a brighter future. “I hope that our transformation efforts continue and that we will be able to serve our taxpayers effectively so that they will be happy. I mean, it’s hard for them to comply, but they have to see clearly how technology helps us on these things,” she says, pointing out how important it is for taxpayers to see that the BIR’s systems do work. This, to her, will help convince taxpayers to embrace the BIR’s new systems and processes powered by modern technology. READY FOR MORE CHALLENGES Guillermo is confident that in time, the many challenges at the BIR could be resolved given a committed leadership with the right approach. “For [the BIR] to be successful, it starts at the top [echelon of government], she says. “And I’m very happy that the president and the secretary of finance have made digitalization a priority. Because really, without the direction from the top, it will be very hard. So for me, it’s a matter of getting commitment from top [officials of the land] and I know I have that, their trust and confidence.” As for the notion that an effective BIR commissioner should be a lawyer, a certified public accountant (CPA), or a CPA-lawyer, Guillermo has a categorical answer. “I don’t need to be a lawyer. I don’t need to be a CPA, either. I have very good lawyers, very good CPAs, around me.” What is important, she stresses, is that she knows the direction the agency should be heading, and she is ready to lead it to such. “I’ve been with the bureau for the past four decades,” she reveals. It goes without saying that she knows the ins and outs of the agency. “I understand procedures, processes, pertinent laws—both old and new. If there are new laws, I discuss these with my lawyers [so we could understand their ramifications and how these impact the BIR].” For Guillermo, heading the BIR takes unparalleled commitment to undertake actions meant to achieve all the set goals. “It’s really political will. As the head of this agency, I should have the political will to reach our collection targets so that the Philippines will be able to fund priority projects, and at the same time, political will to change the image of the bureau.” Doing things right is a crucial factor Guillermo has identified in cleansing the image of the BIR. “I know I cannot really stamp out graft and corruption [right away] a hundred percent, but I am sure we can minimize it. And I believe that technology will help us fulfil this commitment. Internally, we also have image-building efforts. We tell our people to really see to it that they will be fair and just in the performance of their duties. As for our new recruits, we tell them, “Please do not come here to enrich yourselves but to serve the country.” Guillermo is herself a perfect example of the kind of personnel the BIR is looking for: competent and dedicated to public service. REWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS Guillermo, throughout her decades of dedicated service to the nation, has received rewards and commendations as validation of her excellence. A few, however, stand out and have personal significance to her. “One is [the result of] the World Bank Tax Computerization program, which gave me a break. I am a statistician but when I went into systems, it gave me a break [to serve the BIR and the country in another way, this time] through the proper management of important data. So because of that, I was awarded as one of the most powerful women in IT in the Philippines [for 2003], no mean feat because usually it’s the males who dominate the IT industry,” she declares. “And then, another significant recognition I received was the Presidential Career Executive Service Award given to me by the Career Executive Service Board in 2019.” Her promotion as DBM undersecretary and later on as assistant governor of the BSP are of particular significance to Guillermo, as she had previously thought that she would retire at the BIR. Her meritorious service, however, led her to the two other agencies. Of the two aforementioned posts, she considers the latter as the “most important step” in her career. “Whenever I was walking down the halls of the BSP building, I would keep telling myself I did not dream of being with the BSP, but maybe [being able to continue serving the country] is my reward [for the service I had previously rendered].” One thing that has moved Guillermo to unselfishly share her talent and do her best in the various capacities she has occupied in different agencies is the prospect of receiving “retirement benefits that are out of this world.” She continues, “for 40 years, I have worked not only for the country or for the government, but for the Lord. The ‘out of this world’ retirement benefits I expect to receive refer not to the material benefits, but the benefits that I will receive when I face the Lord.” SETTING OUT TO FINISH WHAT SHE STARTED As her term as BSP assistant governor and CIO was about to come to an end earlier this year, Guillermo’s name was floated as a possible BIR head. After all, she had had a long and fruitful working relationship with Diokno, whose name was then being floated as a frontrunner for the position of finance secretary. As the BIR is under the Department of Finance (DOF), their possible appointment to the BIR and DOF, respectively, presented a perfect chance for them to further collaborate, albeit in another department. “It was really hard for me to accept it,” Guillermo says of the offer to head the BIR. “But I told myself, maybe it’s God’s plan that whatever I started at the BIR, I have to finish.” With the wealth of experience that Guillermo brought with her in her homecoming at the BIR, as well as the continued confidence in her capabilities, she is sure to make a major impact on ensuring that taxation, from which the nation’s lifeblood flows, will be carried out efficiently and with utmost integrity. Editor’s Note: Commissioner Lilia Guillermo was replaced by tax lawyer and erstwhile BIR Deputy Commissioner for Operations Romeo Lumagui Jr. as head of the BIR in mid-November 2022. Buy magazine here

< Back The Balancing Act of Philippines-China Relations HAS CHANGE COME TO OUR FOREIGN POLICY? BY HERMAN JOSEPH S. KRAFT President Duterte campaigned with the slogan of “Change is Coming!” and a key area where this has been prominently noticeable is in foreign policy. The “pivot to China” has been seen as a sea-change in how the Philippines approaches its foreign relationships. From a focus on being a key non-NATO ally of the United States to the new country coordinator for ASEAN-China bilateral relations seems to be a complete turn-around. In reality, Philippine relations with the US remain fundamentally the same. For all the criticism (to say the least) that President Duterte has heaped on the US, the institutionalized linkages that have made it the key strategic partner of the Philippines in its international relations remain unchanged. There is more than something, however, to the idea of change in Philippine-China relations with the turn-around happening in such a short time. Seen from a historical perspective, the relationship between the two countries has HAS CHANGE COME TO OUR FOREIGN POLICY?What can the Philippines expect in its relationship with China beyond the Duterte administration?PHILIPPINE-CHINA RELATIONS: been steadily improving since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the Republic of the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China in 1975. The tendency to see the Duterte Administration’s “pivot to China” as a major shift in Philippine foreign policy is only in the context of conditions, albeit important and intense conditions, in the last 10 years regarding the West Philippine Sea. To be sure, developments regarding the disputing claims to land features (and even the waters themselves on the part of China) located there had spilled over into different aspects of the bilateral relationship between the two countries. And there were even concerns over how this might blow into a conflict involving the two great powers in the region—the US and China. Given historic trends, however, it is probably more accurate to characterize the Duterte administration’s approach as a normalization of the bilateral relations rather than a “shift.” The most noticeable foreign policy priority of President Duterte upon his accession to power was the restoration of Philippine-China relations. The difficulty lay in the fact that this had significantly deteriorated during the Aquino administration. The confrontation over Scarborough Shoal in 2012, the challenge posed to China at the 2012 ASEAN Summit, and eventually the initiation of an arbitration case against China by issuing a Notification and Statement of Claim in accordance with the dispute settlement provisions of UNCLOS, particularly under Art. 287 and Annex VII have all contributed to a situation where almost all lines for dialogue had been cut off. China had indicated, as the case prospered, that any discussion to restore Philippine-China relations would have to await the emergence of a new presidential administration. This pretty much signaled that relations with the Philippines were dead in the water as long as Aquino was at the helm of the government. At the start of his presidency, Duterte worked hard to assure China of his good intentions. Buttressed by three visits to China within the first year of his administration, he was able to turn relations with China around. A major part of this turn-around was when the decision of the arbitration court came out within a month after the accession of Duterte to the presidency. The fundamental ruling went completely against China. Despite the “win,” President Duterte decided not to bring up the Arbitral Award in its pursuit of improving relations with China. This was the key ingredient of observations of a “shift” in Philippine foreign policy towards China. President Duterte claimed that this did not mean that the Philippines was giving up on its claim but that this will be raised before his administration ends at “an appropriate time.” He explained this position by claiming that he did not want to go to war with China – an event that could only be disastrous for the Philippines. In the meantime, the Philippines would instead seek to harvest economic benefits from an improvement in relations with China.In a number of visits to Beijing and meetings with Xi Jinping between 2016 and 2018, Duterte was able to secure Chinese goodwill and promises of investments and loans of up to US$24 billion. In late February 2018, President Duterte was quoted as explaining cooperation between the Philippines and China on jointly sharing in the resources of waters surrounding the disputed features in the South China Sea as similar to “co-ownership.” While his spokesperson explained this away as a simplification of a more complex notion of joint development, it raised the hackles of critics of the President’s policies regarding the South China Sea. The statement, however, illustrates the attitude of President Duterte and the policies that guided his approach to the issue. At the same time, China’s own policies moved towards favoring the Philippines. In February 2018, the two leaders agreed to set up a joint panel to draft a framework agreement on exploring oil and gas in the South China Sea. At the turn-over ceremonies of ASEAN in Singapore last November 2018, the Philippines was given the mantle of being the country coordinator for ASEAN-China bilateral relations. This is not a role that is driven by a rotational assignment, and would not have happened without the explicit agreement of the Chinese government. This shows how far China was willing to demonstrate its acceptance of the new relationship with the Philippines. It is, however, in the economic side that the Duterte administration has bet more fully on Philippine-China relations. The promise of the pledges of huge amounts of Chinese capital that would be invested in the Philippines is the key driver of the Duterte foreign policy of pivoting to China. With the “Build, Build, Build” economic thrust, capital is something that the Duterte administration will be needing a lot of. An initial estimate of US$180 billion is going to be needed for the highly ambitious infrastructure-driven economic strategy. Granted that this is something that needs to be done (in fact should have been done a long time ago), it is a huge undertaking, one that is certainly not going to be completed in the course of one presidential term. But it must be done, and has to be started. If it is correct to assume that the pivot to China is largely economically-driven, what has this led to? A number of changes facilitated by improvements in the Philippines’ relations with China has become evident in the last few years. Overall the trend has been modest, but steadily rising across most indicators. According to information provided by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, there has already been an uptick in foreign direct investments from China to the Philippines. The increase seems to be cautiously restrained but the rate has been steadily going upwards. It reached nearly US $30 million at the end of 2017 from just above US $10 million in the beginning of 2016. Tourist arrivals have also been going up since 2016. The Department of Tourism has reported that the volume of tourist arrivals from China in 2018 increased by 42%. In fact, the number of Chinese tourists to the Philippines had passed tourist arrivals from the US. This leap in numbers is attributed to the improved ties between the Philippines and China, the addition of air routes, and the Visa Upon Arrival (VUA) option for Chinese nationals. Others, however, point to the increase in the number of Chinese nationals that have been given permission to work in the Philippines – an issue raised by Senator Franklin Drilon, among others.Likewise, there has been a mild increase in trade relations between the two countries. Between April 2017 and April 2018, there was a 34% increase in the volume of trade between China and the Philippines. A significant part of this, however, was accounted for by a huge surge in imports to the Philippines from China. Over the same period of time, the trade imbalance between the two countries has been growing significantly in China’s favor. Overall, the fulfillment of the expectations of China’s involvement in the economic programs of the Philippines has been less than impressive. Japan and Korea retain a much larger share of investments to the Philippines compared to China. China has surged in ranking as a trade partner of the Philippines, but this overwhelmingly favors China. There is something to be said about Duterte’s pursuit of better relations with China as the crowning consideration of his foreign policy. For all the fawning that has been done, however, the numbers are quite underwhelming. In the case of trade, it would even seem that the Philippines is becoming a dumping ground for surplus Chinese products. Perhaps it is too much to expect dramatic changes given that it has only been less than three years since President Duterte came to power, and the turn-around in relations with China. Beyond questions of numbers, we still have the unresolved issue of the Arbitral Decision and other issues related to the South China Sea. With the current good relations so connected to the personality and preferences of President Duterte, what can the Philippines expect in its relationship with China beyond the Duterte administration? Click here to read full article for free

< Back Philippine Institute of Volcanology & Seismology (PHIVOLCS) Anatomy of an Earthquake The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) sheds light regarding the ‘Big One’ and the importance of risk reduction and preparation in mitigating its impacts. BY MAIELLE MONTAYRE PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROMEO PERALTA, JR. When the Earth moves and the ground shakes, the tendency is often toward fear and panic. People forget what to do and run every which way. But there is more to learn about the normalcy of earthquakes, and the key toward facing this phenomenon is risk reduction and preparation. As the lead agency for this, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) aims to understand these events in order to enlighten the public regarding these natural phenomena. Established in 1982, PHIVOLCS is the primary agency concerned with volcanic eruption, earthquake and tsunami activity, and other geotectonic phenomena. It is a service institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) mandated to ensure disaster preparedness and mitigate catastrophes resulting from volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis. Dr. Renato U. Solidum, the Officer- in-Charge of PHIVOLCS, has 35 years of experience with the agency. He also serves as the DOST Undersecretary (Usec.) for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change, where he works to supervise both PHIVOLCS and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG- ASA). “The goal is to make sure that both PHIVOLCS and PAGASA are able to provide the public with the best service by having improved systems, integrated projects, and support from other government agencies. It is also our role to operationalize and transfer the technology that can be used by local government units (LGUs) and other sectors of society,” he says. MAPPING OF FAULTS Last April 22, 2019, the province of Zambales was rocked by a 6.1 magnitude earthquake, which was also strongly felt in Metro Manila.. “When the earthquake occurred, when the [geologic] fault moved beneath the mountains, it released energy. That energy travelled and that was what we felt as intensity,” Dr. Solidum explains. As one tectonic plate passes over another, they slip and bump against each other allowing energy to build up. When the plates move again, this energy is released along the Earth’s crust as seismic waves. The point on the surface where this occurs is called the epicenter. The measure of seismic energy released from the source of an earthquake is called the magnitude, measured by the Richter magnitude scale. It measures the strength or “size” of an earthquake. On the other hand, the severity of the shaking caused by an earthquake, with particular regard to property and human destruction, is called the intensity. Thus, for the 6.1 magnitude earthquake with the epicenter in Zambales last April 22, 2019, the intensity in Manila was around 4 to 5. In areas nearer the epicenter, the intensity was around 6 to 7 with many structures damaged in the neighboring province of Pampanga.

< Back Reskilling the Filipino As the agency marks its 25th anniversary, TESDA Director General Isidro Lapeña talks about his leadership mandate and strategies for developing a world-class workforce. BY MARCO NICANOR PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAR CONCENGCO The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is celebrating its 25th year since its inception through RA 7796 in 1994. More than ever, TESDA needs a firm and strong leadership in empowering the Filipino labor force with adequate skills training to be globally competitive and achieve social equity with reduced poverty. Secretary Isidro Lapeña is the man tasked by the President to get this job done. The director-general has been part of President Rodrigo Duterte’s trusted circle and dependable ally to his promise of getting back the trust of the people in the government by ridding it of corruption and inefficiencies. When President Duterte assumed office in 2016, Lapeña was already almost a decade retired from service after having served as the Deputy Director General of the Philippine National Police (PNP). But when he was called back to duty by the President, he answered. Lapeña was initially named as the Chief of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and later assigned as the Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) where he set record-breaking revenue collections by cleaning house and instilling discipline and ridding the bureau of corruption and inefficiencies. And now, the veteran public servant is at the helm of the country’s authority for technicalvocational education and training (TVET). ABOT LAHAT Since assuming the position as the Director General of TESDA, Secretary Lapeña has instilled a new slogan for the agency: “TESDA ABOT LAHAT.” He shares that he wants everyone in TESDA and its affiliates to imbibe this battle cry and have the mindset of reaching out to everywhere and everyone who needs skills training. Click here to read full article for free

< Back DILG Culminates Orientation for Newly Elected Officials DILG CULMINATES ORIENTATION FOR NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año addressing the newly elected city mayors. BY HELEN HERNANE Recognizing the important role of local executives in achieving national development, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) recently held the NEO (Newly Elected Officials) Program for city mayors. Held at the Century Park Hotel in Manila from July 10 to 12, the orientation course for city mayors is part of the program to capacitate newly elected local government officials for their administrative and governance responsibilities. The NEO program is “a continuing intervention of the DILG through the Local Government Academy (LGA) in its commitment to provide a harmonized and holistic capacity development delivery mechanism for local governments all over the country.” Starting from their assumption of office this July 2019 until the end of their three-year terms by 2022, the NEO Program aims to prepare officials to meet the needs of their local government units. The 2019 phase of the program consists of five components: 1) Ensuring Smooth Transition. This covers proper turnover of documents and a discussion on the current state of the LGU. 2) Jumpstarting Local Governance. Starting with the NEO Orientation, this component includes developing the relationship between the executive and legislative branches of government. Lastly, it also includes NEO Online, an online platform containing various modules on health and education governance, urban development, environmental management, etc. 3) Creating the Roadmap for LGU Development. The third part aims to steer the LGUs toward more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable development. 4) Sharpening the Competencies of LGU Officials and Staff. This component involves not only elected LGU officials but also their staff and other individuals that are critical to the LGU. 5) LGU Performance Management. Focusing on the performance assessment of the LGUs, the final component of the 2019 program will be initiated and managed by the Bureau of Local Government Supervision (BLGS) with the DILG Regional Offices.