Sen. Enrile helps urban settlers by speaking about adopting a new housing policy

Sen. Enrile said  that a new approach to the government’s housing policy should be introduced in order to address the shrinking available space for urban settlers and the need to provide them with decent shelter.

“We have to study the whole thing and adopt a new policy sa housing ng ating mga urban settlers lalong-lalo na ‘yung mga low-income group,” Enrile, who is running for reelection under Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), said during a radio interview in Mindoro Occidental. “It is the duty of the government to give them shelter.”

Enrile is proposing to local government units to revisit their land use ordinance and identify potential land area that could be allotted for housing projects for the poor.

As a way of decongesting the urban centers, the veteran legislator is looking at the tenement-house system similar to the public housing projects in Singapore.

“Pag-aralan na mabuti ‘yan sapagkat ang lupa natin ay hindi naman lumalaki. Siguro we will have to go up kagaya sa Singapore but we have to do it like Singapore. Dapat maganda at maayos ‘yung mga buildings para hindi magkaroon ng problema kapag nagka-lindol,” Enrile explained.

Every year, local government units in urban areas have to battle with the influx of illegal and informal settlers due to rising population and increased migration.

Statistics from the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council show that the housing backlog from 2005 to 2010 now stands at 3,756,072 units per family nationwide.

Providing decent shelter and affordable housing is one of the advocacies of Enrile. It will be recalled that the Senate approved two key measures making housing accessible to the less privileged under his watch.

These are Republic Act 9507 which created the Socialized and Low-cost Housing Loan Restructuring Program(check out our previous entry about this), and Republic Act 9653, or the Rent Control Act of 2009, which established reforms in the regulation of rent of certain residential units. Both measures are part of the government’s continuing program of urban land reform to provide affordable houses to the homeless.

Source: http://www.juanponceenrile.com/

Socialized and Low-Cost Housing Loan Condonation Act of 2008

Enrile’s another Legislative Achievements is the Socialized and Low-Cost Housing Loan Condonation Act of 2008.

“An act to establish a Socialized and Low-Cost Housing Loan Restructuring and Condonation Program, Providing the Mechanism therefor , and for other Purposes.”

The law aims to provide underprivileged Filipinos a chance to save their homes from foreclosure through a rational loan restructure and condonation scheme that takes into consideration the credit worthiness and credit discipline of the borrowers and the financial viability of the lending institutions.

From GSIS site:

As an offshoot of Republic Act 9507 or the Socialized and Low-Cost Housing Loan Restructuring Act of 2008, the GSIS is implementing the Housing Loan Restructuring and Condonation Program, which covers housing loan obligations of delinquent borrowers with accumulated arrearages equivalent to at least six monthly amortizations, regardless of the original principal amount of the loan.

The amount of restructuring shall be the sum of the outstanding loan principal, unpaid principal, accrued interests, insurance premiums, taxes, foreclosure and other incidental expenses, less downpayment and discount on accrued interest, if any.

The restructured balance shall be imposed an interest rate of eight percent per annum compounded annually, fixed throughout the loan term.

The maximum term of the restructured obligation shall be 30 years, but should not exceed the difference between the borrower’s age at the time of application and number 80.

There will be no processing fee or downpayment requirement for this program. Moreover, discount on unpaid interest shall be given to borrowers who will pay, partially or in full, their outstanding balances with the GSIS. A payment of 25-49 percent of the outstanding balance is entitled to a 10 percent discount; 50-74 percent payment, 20-percent discount; 75-99 percent, 30-percent discount; and 100 percent, 40-percent discount.

For more information: visit http://www.gsis.gov.ph/default.php?id=52

JPE and his son, Jack Enrile helped in the success of building the North Luzon East Expressway

Cagayan should harness the travel and trade opportunities offered by a new expressway for Northern Luzon, Jack Enrile, economic and development adviser to his father, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, and the province of Cagayan, said Monday.

“Along with existing highways and the Bontoc-Tabuk-Tuguegarao Road, the North Luzon East Expressway will be an opportunity to move faster the agricultural harvests of Cagayan province, the country’s number one rice and corn producer along with Isabela,” he said.

“And it opens an alternative gateway for tourism, complementing the arrivals at the new international airport due to open in October in Lal-lo town,” the young Enrile said as he launched virtually unopposed his candidacy for the Cagayan’s 1st Congressional District.

The 456-kilometer North Luzon East Expressway runs from Quezon City and traverses central and northeastern Luzon, ultimately leading to Tuguegarao City in Cagayan province.

Bypassing half of the North Luzon Expressway, it will significantly reduce travel time to and from Manila for some 65,000 to 89,000 vehicles expected to pass through the expressway each day.

The third phase of the country’s longest expressway project extends the new road corridor to Cagayan Valley.

“The opportunities for the economy of Cagayan province to expand are enormous, as the North Luzon East Expressway will touch base with the major urban centers of Quezon City, San Jose del Monte, Gapan, Cabanatuan, San Jose, Cauayan and Tuguegarao,” Jack Enrile pointed out.

“The new economic corridor will match the excellent highway systems of Cagayan province,” he said.

Source: http://www.mb.com.ph

Sen. Enrile oppose VAT on toll fees

Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile and other senate leaders(Pimentel Jr, Roxas, Legarda) objected to the abrupt decision of the Arroyo administration to now impose the value-added tax (VAT) on toll fees purportedly to plug the budget deficit and bankroll propoor programs.

Senators, however, warned against its adverse effects that would trigger another round of transport fare increases and higher cost of food production, among others. Malacañang had retreated from its April 1 effectivity date for the VAT but indicated it was just being reset later in April.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile agreed with the position taken by the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) which warned that the latest VAT imposition will impair obligations under the Build-Operate-and-Transfer contract between toll operators and the government.  According to the TRB, VAT on toll is not part of the toll operation agreements between the two parties.

The BIR issued on March 26, 2010 Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) 30-2010, which reiterated the collection of the 12 percent VAT on toll-way operators as previously mandated under RMC 52-2005 and RMC 72-2009, citing Section 108 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended, on VAT-able sale of services as legal basis.

But Enrile complained that “it seems that the BIR did not study this plan well.  Ultimately, it will be our consumers and the poor people of this country who will suffer and be made to shoulder the cost of this 12-percent VAT on toll fees,” he said.

Enrile also pointed out that “in the case of owners of private vehicles, they already pay their dues to the government under the Road Users Tax to recover the fees expended by the government for the construction and maintenance of these roads.  If we impose additional VAT on toll fees, it will impose additional burden on the vehicle-owners.”

Enrile explained that as it is, “the people are already over-burdened with their financial obligations. If VAT will be imposed on vehicles traversing national roads nationwide, then it will even increase the cost of government because even government-owned vehicles will have to pay the additional VAT eventually.”

Handog Sayo Ni Manong Johnny

Serving the Philippines for more than 40 years

After more than 40 years of service, Senator Juan Ponce Enrile – otherwise known as “Manong Johnny”- still seeks to serve and protect the interests of the Filipino people through legislation – something that he is very familiar with. A veteran scholar of the law, Manong Johnny has become notoriously known to carefully examine and scrutinize each Senate Bill (SB) before it is passed.

Most of the Senate Bills authored by Manong Johnny concern taxes, some of which you might find familiar on our list below: (list is not complete and in no specific order)

1. Comprehensive Tax Reform Program or Republic Act 8424 stipulates the exemption of Overseas Filipino Workers’ (OFW) income earned abroad from taxation

2. SB No. 2068 seeks to increase by at least 100% the personal and additional tax exemptions granted to individual income tax payers

3. SB No. 2089 seeks to reduce the income tax rates on taxable income

4. SB No. 1887 allows the deductibility from taxable income of interest payments on housing, loans, and

5. SB No. 2082 which seeks to exempt all the allowances and benefits granted to public school teachers, including those in state colleges and universities from income tax

6. Anti-Terrorism Bill was eventually enacted as the Human Security Act of 2007 secures the state and protects our people from terrorism

7. Sin Taxes or Republic Act (RA) 9334 otherwise known as the Alcohol, Cigarettes and Tobacco Tax Bill

8. Biofuels Act or RA 9367 requires the use of biofuels of which all liquid fuels for motors and engines sold in the Philippines shall contain locally produced biofuel components

9. Automated Elections System or RA 9369 authorizes the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to use an automated election system for national or local election and in subsequent national and local electoral exercises to encourage transparency, credibility, fairness, and accuracy of elections

10. The Competition Act of 2009 provides protection to consumers against price manipulators by regulating and implementing standard floor and ceiling prices or basic goods and services

11. Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines or RA 8293 protects companies from patent infringement, to foster an environment that is conducive for the development of micro, small and medium enterprises

12. SB No. 3465 calls for the reorganization of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to protect the welfare of both  the industry players and its consuming public by strengthening its existing powers and functions for the agency to cope with the evolving information and communications technology landscape

•    Mandating of calls that lasts less than one minute should no longer be charged full rate of P7.50
per minute and instead be billed on a “per pulse” basis.

These Senate Bills and Republic Acts make good practical and sensible tools that help every Pinoy in their daily lives. I doubt that there are scores of Filipinos out there who have not benefited once from any of these legislation.

While the government has their eye on bigger concerns and bigger fishes, someone is out there watching out for our daily concerns and needs. Be it a student living on allowance, earning blue or white collar, basta kay Manong Johnny, gusto niya, happy ka! Can’t argue much with that.

Enrile:Northern Samar Special Economic Zone Act of 2007

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE AND FREE PORT IN THE PROVINCE OF NORTHERN SAMAR, COVERING THE MUNICIPALITIES OF SAN JOSE, BOBON AND CATARMAN, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

Scope: Local
Subject(s): Northern Samar Special Economic Zone

Primary committee

Secondary committee
Local Government
Ways and Means
Finance

Mabilisang aksyon ng pamahalaan para sa nawalan ng trabaho,hiniling ni Enrile

Iginiit kahapon ni Senador Juan Ponce Enrile sa pamahalaan na paspasan ang ano mang plano nito para tulungan ang mga nawawalan ng trabaho sa harap ng patuloy na bulusok ng ekonomiya sa bansa at sa buong mundo.

Ito ang naging reaksyon ni Enrile sa ginawang pag-amin ng Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) na nararamdaman na ng bansa ang epekto ng pandaigdigang dausos ng ekonomiya sa sektor ng pag-gawa.

Matatandaang ang mga economic managers ng bansa ay mistulang kumpyansa pa sa harap ng mga babala mula sa iba’t-ibang ahensiya sa bansa at sa ibang bansa na ang Pilipinas bilang dipendyente sa ekonomiya ng ibang bansa ay hindi makakaiwas sa pag kuluntoy ng pandaigdigang ekonomiya.

Ipinaliwanag din ni Enrile na dapat din na pakaisipin muna ng pamahalaan ang plano nitong pag gasta ng daang bilyon piso sa sinasabing stimulus package, dahil anya ang problema ay nasa ibang bansa.

Isa sa napektuhan ng pandaigdigang pagtaob ng ekonomiya ay ang Intel, kung saan humigit kumulang 2000 mangagawa ang nawalan ng trabaho.

Sa tala ng DOLE sa pagitan ng disyembre 1 at Enero 19, mayron ng 15,6000 empleyado ang nawalan ng trabaho, at patuloy pa rin ang paglaki ng bilang.

Samantala, pinayuhan din ni enrile ang mga nawalan ng trabaho na bigyan ng konsiderasyon ang pag-iiba ng linya sa pagtatrabaho, lalo pa’t ang bansa ay nangangailangan ng 10,000 mga guro.

Aniya, ang mga dating nasa Intel na nagtapos at may kakayahang mag turo, ay dapat na sumailalim sa isang seminar o training na popondohan rin ng pamahalaan mula sa pinag-ambaganang stimulus fund.

Ayon kay Enrile, napakaraming bakanteng posisyon sa pamahalaan at pribadong iskwelahan, particular na ang teaching job.

Source: http://www.juanponceenrile.com

JPE responsible for the Philippine Anti-Trust Act

AN ACT PROHIBITING MONOPOLIES, ATTEMPT TO MONOPOLIZE AN INDUSTRY OR LINE OF COMMERCE, MANIPULATION OF PRICES OF COMMODITIES, ASSET ACQUISITION AND INTERLOCKING MEMBERSHIPS IN THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF COMPETING CORPORATE BODIES AND PRICE DISCRIMINATION AMONG CUSTOMERS. PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR. AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Scope: National

Legislative status: Consolidated/Substituted in the Committee Report (4/29/2009)

Subject(s):
Anti-Trust
Monopoly/Monopolies

Primary committee:
Trade and Commerce

Committee report:
No. 321 – Competition Act (4/28/2009)

Enrile warned the Filipino voters to beware of bets with deep pockets

CEBU, Philippines – Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile on Wednesday, March 03, 2010, warned Filipino voters to beware of candidates who are spending a fortune to attain an elective post.

Enrile issued this warning amid claims by presidential candidate Richard Gordon that a rival, Nacionalista Party standard-bearer Sen. Manny Villar, tried to bribe him to withdraw from the race. (Read: Gordon says Villar tried to buy him out of race)

“Alam mo eh hindi na ako nagtaka dahil ako rin eh ganun ang nangyari,” he told reporters.

The Senate president earlier accused Villar of also trying to buy him off before the Senate took up last January the Committee of the Whole’s report recommending Villar’s censure for unethical conduct in connection with the C-5 road project. (Read: Enrile claims Villar tried to buy him off )

He said voters should think twice about voting for Villar who has been reported to have spent over P500 million on ads from October to December 2009 alone, landing him in 14th place in the country’s top 20 advertisers.

“You know it’s dangerous for people to spend too much money to attain an elective position. I cannot believe that a person who will spend almost a fortune or is not almost but a fortune which cannot be attained by so many Filipinos, would do it only for public service. There must be something, more interesting motivation behind it,” Enrile said.

source:http://www.abs-cbnnews.com

Sen. Enrile always stands for Truth, Good and Justice for the people