1.

ASEAN INTEGRATION BENEFICIAL TO THE PHILIPPINES

ASEAN INTEGRATION is creating united ASEAN countries in 2015 wherein
the region will be transformed into a single and equal market, production base, and
above all a highly competitive integrated into the global economy.
The following are the key points why ASEAN Integration is beneficial to the
Philippines:
1st point: THE PHILIPPINES IS WELL SITUATED. In integrating with ASEAN
we are the youngest in terms of labor force and the second largest in terms of
population, thus our labor force is very much in-demand because of the young work
force we have in the region.
2nd point: TOURISM AND TRADE WILL PROSPER. With ASEAN Integration,
common visa policy will be implemented. With these, tourists within the southeast Asian region will have already an easy access to all the member-countries and
that includes the Philippines with its beautiful beaches and resorts that are popular
worldwide thus creating more jobs in the country.
3rd point: FREE TRADE AGREEMENT. With Free Trade Agreement, tariffs on
all member countries will be reduced thus giving our little exporters the equal play
to export their products in to other ASEAN countries to have a wider field of trade
for their own, thus creating new connections.
With these points, I strongly believe the Philippines is relatively well-positioned to
reap the benefits of ASEANs upcoming economic integration but reforms must
continue to make the country a more competitive investment destination.
AS WHAT, THE LATE COMEDIAN ROBERT WILLIAMS ONCE SAID, NO MATTER
WHAT PEOPLE TELL YOU, WORDS AND IDEAS CAN ONLY CHANGE THE WORLD

2. DAP (DISBURSEMENT ALLOCATION PROGRAM) BEING

UNCONSTITUIONAL BY THE SUPREME COURT
The DAP (Disbursement Allocation Program) is a reform intervention to speedup public spending and to boost economic growth. It is not a fund, but a
mechanism to support high-impact and priority programs using savings and
enabled the government to introduce greater speed, efficiency, and
effectiveness in budget execution.
And I believe the Supreme Courts decision declaring
unconstitutional is just and right for the following reasons:

the

DAP

1st Point: THE PRESIDENT CANNOT TRANSFER FUNDS. It is very clear in our
1987 constitution, that the President has limitations on transferring funds from one
department to another. Thus making the DAP a violation.
2nd Point: ONLY THE CONGRESS HAS THE POWER TO RE-ALLOCATE FUNDS.
It is very clear that the President violated the constitution when he by-passed the
power of congress to allocate funds through DAP. Thus avoiding the congress right
to check and balance the appropriation of the general fund.
3rd Point: THE SUPREME COURTS RULING MUST BE RESPECTED. The
Supreme Court of the Philippines ruling about DAP must be respected by all means
because it is the highest court of the land. With a ruling of 13 0 against the DAP, it
is very clear that the DAP is unconstitutional and that the ruling was carefully
examined and studied by the members of the Supreme Court.
With these points, I strongly believe that the Supreme Courts ruling about the
Disbursement Acceleration Program being unconstitutional is just a clear example of
checks and balance in the government even though the intent of the President is to
speed up the economic growth of the country yet we must at all times be abided by
the constitution.
AS WHAT, THE LATE COMEDIAN ROBERT WILLIAMS ONCE SAID, NO MATTER
WHAT PEOPLE TELL YOU, WORDS AND IDEAS CAN ONLY CHANGE THE WORLD

3. PDAF (PRIORITY DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE FUND)

UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND BE ABOLISHED
The Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or we all commonly refer to
as the Pork Barrel is a special fund given to every members of Congress to be used
and be allocated to any priority projects subject to the discretion of a congressman
or a senator of which the Supreme Court declared as unconstitutional and against
the constitution.
I strongly believe that the high courts decision to declare the PDAF
unconstitutional is just and right with the following points.
1st Point: CONGRESSMEN AND SENATORS ARE LEGISLATORS. These
honourable gentlemen were elected by their constituents as legislators of which
their main focus must be on developing and passing new laws and regulations and
also on strengthening existing laws.
2nd Point: TO ELIMINATE UNFAIR AND BIASED DISCRETIONS OF
LEGISLATORS. Since PDAF is subject to the discretion of legislators, many rural
areas where left unaided because of the personal discretion of a legislator whether
to give or not to give priority to a certain area thus making PDAF biased against the
right of every constituents.

3rd Point: TO ELIMINATE CORRUPTION. PDAF as we know it as of today is

mask by various corruption anomalies and issues thus making legislators image in
the perspective of every Filipinos unreliable and full of doubt. And in order to end
this corruption issue, it is now time to abolished PDAF from their hands and focus on
their main duty and that is to pass and enact laws of the country.

Removing Filipino as a subject in the new GEC is not just a local issue; it is a moral issue that
goes against the integrity of our race. Prof. Patrocinio

College and university professors in Filipino are up in arms against the memorandum of the
Commission on Higher Education/CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 20, Series of 2013.
The said memorandum aims to remove Filipino as a subject to be taught in college by 2016 as
part of the new General Education Curriculum (GEC).

Removing Filipino as a subject in the new GEC is not just a local issue; it is a moral issue that
goes against the integrity of our race
It is in the higher levels of education that the intellectualization of language takes place, this is
needed to ensure that the language is used in all levels and disciplines, she said.