IVY SCHOLARS SA LILIW, NAGTAPOS

Nagtapos na nang nakaraang Linggo ang grupo ng Ivy Scholars sa bayang ito na sumailalim ng pagsasanay sa Kursong basic computer training na binubuo ng 268 sa pakikipagtulungan ng TESDA at Bagong Henerasyon (BH) Party List.

Sa nasabing bilang ay 208 ang nagsanay sa computer literacy, samantalang 60 ang kumuha ng computer technical na kaalaman na pawang pinagtibay ni TESDA Provincial Director Luisita de la Cruz makaraang kumpirmahin ni BH Partylist Congresswoman Bernadette Herrera-Dy ang kanilang pagtatapos

Ang computer learning program ay bahagi sa isinusulong na adbokasiya ni Laguna 3^rd District Congresswoman Maria Evita Arago sa buong distrito kung saan libo-libo na ang natulungan sapul ng masimulan noong Pebrero nang nakaraang taon.

Naniniwala si Arago na ang teknolohiyang ito ay sagisag ng makabagong panahon kaya marapat lang aniyang makaangkop ang mga taga ika-3 purok ng lalawigan.

Magugunitang tatlong ulit nang nakapaghandog ng pagsasanay sa computer learning sa Lunsod ng San Pablo at dalawang ulit na sa bayan ng Victoria sa pamamagitan ng AiHu Foundation computer van aralan. Nagdulot ito ng malaking bilang ng mga nagtapos sa TESDA na dahil sa skills na natamo ay marami na rin ang nagtatrabaho na.

Ang BH computer van aralan ay pinangangasiwaan ng kanilang computer instructor na sina Mark Joseph Inawat at Elbert Santiago, sa pamamatnubay ni Cong. Herrera-Dy.

(L-R) Atty Hizon A. Arago, San Pablo Bar Association President, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr and IBP President Libarios. Photo taken at Subic, Zambales during the 13^th National Convention of Lawyers under the auspice of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP).

SAN PABLO LAWYERS ATTEND CONVENTION

Members of San Pablo Bar Association headed by its president, Atty. Hizon A. Arago, left for Subic, Zambales on April 7, 2011 as official delegates to the 13^th National Convention of lawyers under the auspice of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

The 4-day gathering (April 7-10) with this year theme, “IBP, LIVING UP TO THE STANDARDS OF INTEGRITY AND COMPETENCE IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION” had as keynote speaker, Vice-President Jejomar Binay who underscored the significant roles lawyers play in building a just and humane society. He said that lawyers are agents of change with paramount influence to protect the poor and the powerless from those who break the law with impunity.

Highlights of the convention included the main address of Chief Justice Renato C. Corona to the delegates extolling the relentless efforts of IBP “to upgrade the professional standards of the legal profession and wield the law as an instrument for the protection of rights and liberties.”

The convention was a powerhouse of legal luminaries who collectively recognized the need for pro-active participation of lawyers in nation building. Senator Francis Escudero, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr., Justice Santiago M. Kapunan, Secretary of Justice Leila de Lima, Cong. Ma. Milagros H. Magsaysay, Mayor James Gordon, Jr., former senator Aquilino Pimentel, Chief State Prosecutor Claro A. Arellano, SC Spokesman Midas P. Marquez, Cong. Neri Colmenares and UP Dean Raul Pangalangan were among those who addressed the delegates.

The convention incorporated lectures on various fields of law credited as full compliance with the prescribed requirements under the Rule on Mandatory Continuing Legal Education.

Delegation from San Pablo consisted of Atty. Hizon A. Arago as head, Attys. Deogracias Reyes, Edmundo Garcia, Alvin Exconde, Cosen Exconde, Karen Agapay, Restituto Mendoza, Butch Javier, Roderick Urrea, Von Supeña, Marcus Robles, Candido Javaluyas, Jr., and Prosecutor Leda Aninias.

An unprecedented volume of lawyers from all over the country numbering more than 3,000 signed in as delegates to discover and learn the latest Supreme Court issuances, laws, jurisprudence, trial techniques and other skills in legal advocacies.

Atty. Arago said that his attendance and participation in the convention significantly broadened his perspective and skill as a lawyer. (SEVEN LAKES PRESS CORPS)

3RD DISTRICT NG LAGUNA: YES!

Sa botong 212 YES, 40 NO at 4 ABSTAINTION ay pumasa sa plenary ng Kongreso ang resolusyon ng impeachment kay Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez upang tuluyan na siyang malitis sa Senado sa mga usaping kanyang kinakaharap at nakasaad sa article of impeachment.

Medyo naging mainitan ang talakayang nangyari sapagkat umabot hanggang hatinggabi ang debate sa plenary dahil may mga interes pa ring pumipigil upang hindi ma-impeach ang ombudsman sanhi ng mga lihim na posibling mahukay sakasakaling umakto na ang mga senador bilang mga hukom sa usapin.

Ang ilan sa mga nakapaloob sa impeachment ay ang ukol sa fertilizer scam at NBN-ZTE broadband deal na talaga namang kasuklam-suklam ang pagtatakip ng ombudsman upang hindi maisampa ang kaso sa Sandigang Bayan sapagkat siguradong lilitaw ang partisipasyon ng mga taong kanilang diumano’y pinuproteksuyan at pinangangalagaan.

Hindi nga natin batid kung bakit nga ba sa hinabahaba ng panahon ay nabinbin ang mga usaping ito sa Ombudsman ganoong matagal nang tapos ang pagsisiyasat. Mabuti na lamang at dulot na rin ng kanilang kawalang ingat na makipag-“Plea-bargain” kay dating AFP Comptroller Gen. Carlos Garcia ganoong plunder ang kasong kinakaharap nito, ay nabuksan muli at narepaso ang mga nakabinbin pang mga usapin.

Halos in full force ang mga mambabatas nang tuluyang isalang ito sa plenary upang pagbotohan ang nasabing impeachment na marahil ay dahil na rin sa bigat ng usapin. Umabot nga sa 212 ang mga sumang-ayon sa impeachment ganoong 94 na boto lang ang kailangan upang ito ay maisakatuparan.

Kahit nga si Laguna 3^rd District Congresswoman Maria Evita “Ivy” Arago na sampung araw pa lang na nagpapagaling sa caesarian operationg nang isilang ang kanyang baby ay hindi nagpabaya sa tawag ng tungkulin.

Personal pa ngang pinayuhan ni President Noynoy Aquino si Cong. Ivy na huwag ng mag-attend sa House session dahil baka makaapekto sa kanyang kalusugan, subalit hindi nagpaawat ang mambabatas na maipaabot sa bansa ang damdamin ng mga kadistrito.

Dahil nagbi-breast feed si Cong. Ivy sa kanyang baby ay isinama niya ito sa kongreso at matiyagang sumubaybay sa House Proceedings mula alas tres ng hapon hanggang maghahating-gabi, na pagsapit ng botohan ay kanyang sinabing “the good people of the third district of Laguna vote YES for the impeachment.”(SANDY BELARMINO)

JUSTICE BRION INDUCTS INCOMING SAN PABLO BAR ASSOCIATION OFFICERS

San Pablo City- Supreme Court Associate Justice Arturo D. Brion inducted incoming officials of elite San Pablo Bar Association in a fitting ceremony here also attended by Court of Appeals Justice Danton Q. Bueser. IBP Vice-President Atty. Roan I. Libarios and other legal luminaries of the profession last Thursday.

Brion lauded the assumption of Atty. Hizon A. Arago to the presidency of San Pablo Bar Association along with Atty. Antonio A. Lat, vice- president; Atty. Ereczurez A. Lanzuela, secretary; Atty. Jerson L. Belen, Treasurer; Atty. Epifanio E. Gamo Jr., and Atty. Deogracias C. Reyes, Jr., PRO; Attys Bienvenido V. Reyes, Gregorio T. Villanueva, Dionisio G. Aquino, Antonio Lacsam, Candido G. Javaluyas, Jr., Edgardo M. Maralim and Edmundo C. Garcia, board of directors,, as he give full confidence to the association as partner and officer of the court.

Given honor during the affair was Judge Dinah Evangeline Belulia-Bandong on her promotion to the RTC Lucena and welcome recognition to new passer and members of the club.

In his inaugural message Arago assure colleagues that the association in his leadership will contribute its tradition in the effective preservation and upholding of the Rule of Law, will exercise superior degree of fairness, observe reputable and reasonable behavior and worthy partner of the judiciary in the administration of justice.

Introduced by San Pablo RTC Branch 30 Judge Agripino G. Morga, as godfather of San Pablo Bar, Brion reiterated his trust and confidence to the association as important part in the promotion of justice which the courts alone can not do without the help of the practicing bar.

With the theme “the bench and the bar side by side for justice,” present during the induction were retired judges Bienvenido Reyes, Abelardo Escoses and RTC Judges Amy Melba S, Belulia and Honorio Guanlao. Atty Butch Javier was master of the ceremony. (Sandy Belarmino. Seven Lakes Press Corps)

WHO OWN THE CITY'S SEVEN CRATER LAKES?

The Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) was organized in 1966 by virtue of Republic Act No. 4850 authored by Senator Wenceslao Rancap Lagumbay from Laguna, as a quasi-government agency with regulatory and proprietory functions. Its powers and functions were further strengthened with the issuance of Presidential Decree No. 813 by President Ferdinand E. Marcos in 1975; and modified with the promulgation of Executive Order No. 927 in 1983.

Executive Order No. 927 expanded the so-called Laguna de Bay Region, so that Laguna Lake Development Authority will have authority or proprietory rights, control and supervision over the city’s seven crater lakes, as well as over all other bodies of water in as far as in Mauban in Quezon Province; in Tanauan City and Malvar in Batangas Province; and in Carmona in Cavite Province.

President Fidel V. Ramos issued Executive Order No. 149 to transfer the administration or administrative supervision over the LLDA from the Office of the President to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Executive Order No. 240 to devolved some administrative control to the local government units in the CALABARZON Region to help establish the mechanics of cooperation in order that the framework of a comprehensive development program could be properly formulated.

Former Presidential Legal Adviser Antonio Carpio, now a justice in the Supreme Court, and former Secretary General Camilo Sabio of the House of Representatives issued separate opinions that Presidential Decree No. 813 and Executive Order No. 927 can only be amended, modified or repealed through act of Congress. These confirmed that the proprietary rights over the Seven Crater Lakes still belongs to the Laguna Lake Development Authority, though the City Government of San Pablo under the Local Government Code of 1991 or Republic Act No. 7160 is vested with specific powers to chart its own course, determine its own destiny by setting its own goals, and every member of the community have their own role to play for mutual benefit of every one.

Water coming from Calibato Lake through Palakpakin Lake and Mujicap Lake generate a hydro-electric plant for the Philippine Power Development Corporation, though the plant site is located within the jurisdiction of the adjoining town of Calauan.

During a meeting presided by then Laguna Governor and LLDA Chairman Jose D. Lina Jr. in March of 2000 held at the Barangay Training Center expressed his belief that the concept of synergy must be employed in planning, wherein every sectoral representatives can play an important role in translating the LLDA Programs into specific projects and activities. While local leadership believes that the administrative control and management of the lake must be returned to the City Government of San Pablo. (Ruben E. Taningco)

PROGRAMA NG PAGLILINGKOD, ISAGAWA NG MAY SISTEMA - REP. ARAGO

San Pablo City - Mahigpit ang naging tagubilin ni 3^rd District Congresswoman Maria Evita Arago sa kanyang mga staff at volunteer dito hinggil sa mga gagawing pagpapatupad ng mga programa upang higit na mapaigting ang pagtugon ng kanyang tanggapan sa pangangailangan ng distrito.

Sa pulong na ipinatawag ng mambabatas sa kanyang district office ay hinimok niya ang mga ito na maging masigla sa paglilingkod, lagyan ng sistema ang nakalaang gawain at tuwinang isaisip ang papel na ginagampanan ng isang huwarang lingkod bayan na kaya nandoon ay upang tumugon sa maraming hinaing ng mga mamamayan.

Ayon sa kongresista ay “Public Office is a public trust, kaya ipadama sa mga constituents ang init ng paglilingkod na nararapat upang hindi mangimi ang nangangailangan ng tulong sa paglapit at maipabatid sa kanila na may pamahalaan silang masasandalan.”

“At upang mas mapagaan ang mga gawain”, dugtong pa ni Cong. Ivy “ay lakipan ninyo ng enthusiasm ang pagganap dito upang maibsan ang dalahin ng mga kababayang may mga suliranin.”

Ipinatawag ni Arago ang pulong sa mga staff at mga katulong ng kanyang tanggapan kaugnay sa nalalpit niyang pagluluwal ng sanggol at dahil na rin sa payo ng manggagamot na umiwas muna sa sobrang pagod at ipa pang stressful activities na kanya nang nakagawian.

Sa kaugnay na ulat ay muling magsasagawa ng MOBILE PASSPORTING ang tanggapan ni Cong. Arago sa darating na Pebrero 26 sa Villa Evanzueda, Sityo Baloc, Brgy. San Ignacio sa lunsod ding ito.

Bagamat 500 lang ang inihayag na maiisyuhan ng passport ay umabot naman sa 700 ang mga aplikanteng nagsumite ng requirements sa district office ng kongresista subalit dahil sa ipinatutupad na sistema ni Cong Ivy na may kanya-kanyang time schedule ang mga ito ay inaasahang hindi magkakaroon ng siksikan at ang lahat ay maluwag na mapaglilingkuran. (seven lakes press corps)