P30-B needed to ease K-12 impact'

MANILA - The Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) are
appealing to Congress to create an estimated P30 billion stabilization fund to help mitigate the
effects of the K-12 program.
During the meeting of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education at the House of
Representatives Tuesday morning, these agencies presented their action plan to help higher
education institutions (HEIs) who stand to lose billions in 2016, as students attend the senior
high school program instead of enrolling in college.
It also aims to help more than 30,000 faculty and non-teaching staff all over the country who
face massive displacement as a result of the program.
The action plan includes several mitigation measures, including an expanded Government
Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) program, livelihood training
and assistance for the teachers.
Most significant is the establishment of the Stabilization Fund that will help augment the income
of the HEIs because of the loss of enrollees for two years. This would help make the institutions
still viable enough to sustain employment of teachers despite the loss of enrollees.
The labor department said that this fund is an anti-displacement measure so that retrenchment
of teachers and staff should be the last recourse for the schools.
However, if schools would still be forced to lay off teachers, the fund can assist teachers
financially by giving them P30,000 every month for two years. This assistance from the
government is on top of the separation package that displaced staff will receive from their
employers.
Displaced non-teaching staff, meanwhile, will receive P15,000 a month for two years.
CHED spokesman Julio Vitriolo said this would help the affected staff during the difficult transition
years, where some would be forced to downgrade from teaching in a college or university to
senior high school.
Meanwhile, college teachers assailed the plan of the government, saying this is based on nothing
but speculation.
The agencies have yet to submit their plan to Congress, where they hope it would be acted upon
and passed into a law before 2016.
Prof. Rene Tadle of the Council of Teachers and Staff of Colleges and Universities in the
Philippines said these issues should have been addressed by now, if only they had been
consulted during the crafting of the bill.
Committee chair Rep. Roman Romulo said he is not content with the presentation of the
agencies, saying some details still need to be studied.
However, he believes that it is not too late to the address these impending problems
Aquino backs Abes bid to amend Japan charter for stronger military
TOKYOPresident Aquino on Tuesday endorsed Prime Minister Shinzo Abes push to amend
Japans constitution and expand the Japanese role on regional security amid Chinas
expansionism moves.

The Filipino leader, after meeting with Abe, expressed his support for Abes proposal to
reinterpret Japans pacifist constitution to allow its military to defend not only Japan but also its
allies that are under attack.
We believe that nations of goodwill can benefit only if the Japanese government is empowered
to assist others and is allowed to come to the aid of those in need, especially in the area of
collective self-defense, Aquino said in a statement after his talks with Abe.
We therefore do not view with alarm any proposal to revisit the Japanese constitution if the
Japanese people so desire, especially if this enhances Japans ability to address its international
obligations and brings us closer to our shared goals of peace, stability and mutual prosperity.
Abe has proposed to revisit Article 9 of the Japanese charter, which bans the right to collective
self-defense.
The proposal faces tough opposition from Japanese citizens who do not want their country to
participate in a war, owing to their experience in World War II.
Japan is only one of two countries with which the Philippines has a strategic partnership, the
other being the United States, which is also a treaty ally.
Strategic partnership is a concept where countries work together to achieve long-term shared
interests, from security issues to economic concerns.
Aquino and Abe both emphasized the importance of strengthening the two countries
partnership.
The Philippines and Japan both deal with the problem of Chinas expansionism and share a
common interest in protecting their respective territories.
This has spurred regular dialogues between the Filipino leader and Abe, who have had four
summit meetings in 12 months.
Aquinos remarks may pique China but the two leaders, in their statements, were careful not to
mention their assertive neighbor.
3 principles
In the face of the regional situation becoming increasingly severe, both nations are closely
coordinating, Abe said in his statement.
I reaffirmed with President Aquino today the significance of the three principles of the rule of
law, which I outlined at the Shangri-La dialogue and at the G-7 meeting.
The three principles Abe referred to are: states shall make and clarify their claims based on
international law; states shall not use force or coercion in trying to drive their claims; and states
shall seek to settle disputes by peaceful means.
The President said both sides updated each other on the current situation in the South and East
China Seas.
In supporting Abes move to allow Japan to exercise its right to collective self-defense, Aquino
said this would redound to [the Philippines] benefit.
He gave as an example the time when Syrian rebels kidnapped Filipino peacekeepers in the
Golan Heights last year.

In a sense, to us, it is very real, Aquino said at a press conference. There was an instance
already that we conceivably could have needed their assistance and they would not have been
able to [help].
Asked if the Philippines and Japan would forge a security cooperation, the President said the two
countries were advancing the dialogue to that.
He said the intention to discuss a defense agreement was signed in 2012.
Strategic partners
Were getting one step further from that, Aquino said.
Will the Philippines and Japan have a defense tie-up similar to the Enhanced Defense
Cooperation Agreement between the Philippines and the United States?
Aquino stressed the importance of cooperation between two defense forces, especially in times
of disasters, similar to the Philippine-US cooperation in coping with the destruction caused by
Super Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) in the Visayan region.
If we have interoperability and we know each others systems, we know each others strengths
and weaknesses, Aquino said.
TOKYO TTE--TTE President Aquino and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan shake
hands during a joint press conference at the Prime Ministers Official Residence in Tokyo on
Tuesday. MALACAANG PHOTO
We have those practices with the Americans. Its more sporadic with the Japanese. Since they
are our only two strategic partners, doesnt it behoove us to have more coordination with these
two strategic partners? the President said.
Territorial disputes
Abes ruling Liberal Democratic Party is in the midst of tough negotiations with its coalition
partner, the New Komeito, which has so far balked at Abes proposal to allow collective selfdefense with other states.
Under the current interpretation of the constitution, the Japanese military can use force only to
defend Japan.
Aquinos support comes as Japan and the Philippines deepen security ties in the face of Chinas
military expansion and territorial disputes both they and other Asian nations have with China.
Neither Aquino nor Abe mentioned China by name, but both referred to the changing security
environment.
Chinas rise is a potential challenge to US dominance in the Pacific, and control of vital shipping
routes as well as potential undersea oil and natural gas.
China has criticized Japans push for collective self-defense, warning against the return of
Japanese militarism that wreaked havoc across much of Asia before and during World War II.
Aquino acknowledged the devastation the Philippines suffered in the hands of the Japanese, but
said his countrys relations with Japan had been marked by trust and unfailing support in the
years since.
Aquinos and Abes comments highlight how regional neighbors are forging alliances to counter
an increasingly muscular Beijing as it presses its influence in nearby waters.

Tokyo and Manila, former World War II enemies, have been drawn closer in recent years as they
have tackled their parallel disputes with China.
Maritime defense
Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, even waters approaching the shores of
neighboring countries, and has become more aggressive in enforcing what it says are its
historical rights.
When Abe visited Manila in July last year, he pledged Japans help in strengthening the
Philippines maritime defense capabilities.
Part of that was a promise of 10 patrol boats for the Philippines poorly equipped Coast Guard,
which is in the front line of Manilas spat with Beijing.
The Philippines has lodged repeated protests over Chinas growing military and civilian presence
on islands and in waters within what it considers its exclusive economic zone.
Relations between Japan and China have plummeted over their competing claims to the
Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.With reports from AP, AFP and
Kristine Angeli Sabillo of INQUIRER.net
NCCA may resubmit Nora Aunors name for National Artist award
(Updated 4:28 p.m.) The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is considering
resubmitting actress Nora Aunor's name for the National Artist award, the commission's legal
consultant said Monday.
In a phone interview, NCCA lawyer Trixie Angeles said representatives of the commission and the
Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) will meet this week to tackle Aunor's exclusion from this
year's National Artist awardees.
The NCCA and the CCP act as the Order of the National Artists Award Secretariat, which plans,
organizes and implements the National Artist awards.
"They have two options: resubmit the name immediately or to wait until the next selection
cycle," Angeles said in a phone interview on Monday.
Last week, President Benigno Aquino III named six new National Artists: Alice Reyes (for Dance),
Francisco Coching (for Visual Arts), Cirilo Bautista (for Literature), Francisco Feliciano (for Music),
Ramon Santos (for Music) and Jose Maria Zaragoza (for Architecture, Design and Allied Arts).
Aunor's name was the only one excluded by the President from the list submitted by the NCCA
and the CCP, Angeles said.
Aunor, known to Filipinos as the "Superstar," is a multi-awarded actress who starred in critically
acclaimed films such as "Himala" and "Thy Womb."
Over the weekend, the Manila Bulletin reported that Aquino was hesitant to confer the National
Artist award on Aunor because the actress was involved in drug possession issues a few years
ago.
Not issues vs. Aunor
Angeles said Aunor's past drug issues, as well as her reported tax evasion case in the United
States, should not have been held against the actress in her bid for the National Artist award.

In March 2006, Aunor was reported to have pleaded guilty to drug possession charges before the
a court in Los Angeles City in California.
"Miss Aunor's drug case has already been expunged from the records. There are no records that
she has a tax evasion case. These should not have been issues against Miss Aunor," the NCCA
lawyer said. She added that as far as the NCCA is concerned, Aunor "complied with the process
and has a good standing."
Angeles admitted, however, that the President's move to drop Aunor's name from the list of
National Artist awardees did not violate any law.
A Supreme court ruling last year stated that the President has "the authority to alter or modify or
nullify or set aside" the NCCA and the CCP's recommendation for National Artist awardees.
The same high court decision, which invalidated the conferment of National Artist awards to four
personalities including film director Carlo J. Caparas, states that the President cannot add any
names to the list submitted by the NCCA and the CCP.
Policy changes
Angeles further said that the NCCA may propose policy changes to depoliticize the selection of
National Artist awardees.
These policy recommendations may include amending existing executive orders or laws to draw
clear parameters for the President in choosing National Artist awardees.
"The President is a political animal. His or her considerations in choosing National Artists may
include factors other than artistry," Angeles said.
The NCCA may also propose the formation of an independent body to ultimately screen National
Artist nominees, she added. KG/BM, GMA News
Vietnam Vows Stand Against China as Sea Collisions Continue
Vietnam accused Chinese ships of ramming one of its fishing boats yesterday, saying relations
between the two countries have been deeply damaged by the their standoff over a disputed oil
rig in the South China Sea.
Vietnams sovereignty and security as well as regional peace are threatened by Chinas
decision to place an oil rig off Vietnams coast on May 2, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen
Sinh Hung told legislators in Hanoi. The friction at sea, which has led to collisions, the sinking of a
Vietnamese fishing boat on May 26 and anti-China riots in Vietnam, is hurting ties between the
two communist countries, Hung said in his address.
A high-level meeting between Vietnamese leaders and Chinas top foreign policy official on June
18 failed to ease the daily sea skirmishes near the oil rig. The dispute is fraying ties between the
communist countries and adding to regional tensions even as leaders from both sides promised
to manage disagreements using peaceful measures.
The sea strife poses the most serious foreign policy crisis for Vietnams leaders in decades, said
Ha Hoang Hop, visiting senior fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore.

Vietnams politburo is torn about their policy on Vietnams relationship with China, he said in a
phone interview. The fear is China wont compromise. The last chance for sitting down and
trying to resolve the dispute in the South China Sea is this summer. Otherwise, Vietnam will bring
the case to an international tribunal.
Bitter Fruit
Yang Jiechi, Chinas top foreign policy official, said in Beijing on June 21 that his country will
never trade our core interests or swallow the bitter fruits that undermine our sovereignty,
security and development interests. China says Vietnam has sent armed vessels to disrupt its
oil operation.
China claims about 90 percent of the South China Sea under a 1940s-era map, including
theParacel Islands off Vietnams coast and the Spratly Islands to the south. Vietnam and China
on June 18 held their first high-level meeting on the rig issue after Yang visited Hanoi under the
auspices of the annual China-Vietnam Steering Committee on Bilateral Relations.
In an interview posted on the government website June 21, Vietnamese President Truong Tan
Sang said his country always treasures its relationship with China. He also said Vietnam will
defend our land and sea.
Sang quoted Vietnamese King Le Thanh Tong, If you dare to concede even a single inch of the
land of our ancestors to the enemy, it will be a crime deserving of death.