Bicam approves Biofuels Act

The two houses of Congress have approved and consolidated their disagreeing versions of the Biofuels Act of 2006 after a marathon deliberation Wednesday night that ended in the early morning of Thursday.

With the bicameral approval of the measure, Sen. Richard J. Gordon, co-author and co-sponsor of this legislative measure, was delighted at the latest development.

"The speedy passage of this measure will promote the use of alternative renewable energy sources, particularly biofuels, which would benefit the country tremendously in terms of reducing our dependence on imported oil, protecting the public health and the environment, and creating jobs and livelihood opportunities in this new industry," he said.

The proposed Biofuels Act of 2006 will mandate the use of biofuels by blending five percent bioethanol with gasoline within two years from the effectivity of the Act and one percent biodiesel with diesel within three months from the effectivity of the Act.

With this mandate, Gordon anticipates the influx of investors in the biofuels industry that would spur agro-industrial development and increase rural employment and income.

He also expressed optimism that the local coconut and sugar cane industries will benefit from the imminent passage of the Biofuels Act, as the biofuel components will be sourced from local farmers.

Gordon added that other industries, like the alternative fuel vehicle industry, are also eagerly anticipating the passage of the proposed Biofuels Act of 2006.

He cited that Ford has even taken the bold step of establishing the Philippines as its ASEAN Center of Excellence for Flex Fuel Technology through the manufacture of the first flex fuel vehicle and an additional investment of a P1.1 billion to build the first flex fuel engine manufacturing facility in ASEAN.

Gordon also said that aside from having a clean alternative energy, the use of biofuels would also have a positive impact on the price of gasoline and diesel for consumers. (PNA)

The People's Champion

Congratulations to Manny Pacquiao for an impressive knock out in the 3rd round!

This shows that if you are truly committed to your craft, you work hard, and you aim high, then you will triumph.

His exemplary performance makes us all proud. He is an inspiration to all Filipinos who want to succeed that is why he is the people's champion.

The Old Lady from Infanta, Quezon

It was about two years ago when an old lady was photographed with Sen. Dick Gordon during relief operations in Infanta, Quezon.

This picture found its way in the back-to-back calling card of Gordon, who is not only Senator of the Republic, but also Chairman and CEO of the Philippine National Red Cross.

After the photo was chosen to be placed in the calling card of Gordon, his staff discovered that nobody knew who the old lady was, because it was only a brief encounter, amidst rescue operations being conducted.

A search was therefore launched, including publications in local papers in Quezon and the neighbor provinces of Batangas, Laguna and Cavite. Finally, someone somehow reached the old lady and informed her that Gordon was looking for the old lady in his calling card.

Suddenly, on 14 November 2006, exactly one year and eleven months after the picture was taken; the old lady boarded a bus from Quezon to Manila, without telling anybody.

Upon arrival at the Raymond Transit Bus Terminal along Legarda Avenue in Sta. Mesa, Manila, and armed only with a copy of the calling card where her picture is featured, she took her chance and requested the bus conductor Mark Chua to send a text message to Sen. Dick Gordon whose number is in the said calling card.

Upon receiving the text message that the old lady whom Gordon was looking for has finally been found or has finally appeared, he immediately deployed his Senate staff, the Emergency Response Team of the Philippine National Red Cross and some volunteers to fetch the old lady and take good care of her, especially focusing on her health and well being.

The ensuing scene at the bus terminal was that of surprise and amazement. People who previously did not believe the old lady were shocked at the successive arrival of cars and ambulances to fetch the old lady, even as it was just a simple text message from a bus conductor that contacted Gordon.

It was the same feeling of wonder and admiration at the hospital when the doctors, nurses and attendants heard from the old lady herself the heartwarming story of how and why she was brought to the hospital after her story began with a calling card.

The old lady is Lola Juana Regado Gloria. She is 93 years old. She is now in the safe hands of the best doctors of the Philippine General Hospital for executive check-up. Finally, after almost two years, they meet again for a happier encounter, no longer submerged in knee-deep mud and flood waters.

Paper trail a safeguard for automated polls

THE safety and integrity of automated polls can be guaranteed by what is called a voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT), Senator Richard Gordon, an advocate of poll automation, said Wednesday.

The head of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments, revision of codes and laws is in California to observe the effectiveness of automated elections.
“The US is the greatest democracy in the world,” he said in a statement. “Protecting the vote of their people is a pillar of this democracy, and they willingly entrust it to an automated election system.”

“A few hours after the people in the US cast their ballots, which they can verify through the VVPAT, the results are in, and this is my dream for the Philippines,” he said, noting that this is the system used in 22 US states.

“I don’t know what we are so afraid of,” he added. “So many countries are already using automated election systems, why can’t we do the same in the Philippines for the sake of fast, orderly, honest, free, peaceful and credible elections?”

Senate Bill 2231, an amendment to the Election Automation Law, was approved by the Senate on October 19, 2006, and is set to be reconciled with the House version in the bicameral conference.

“Filipinos deserve to have their votes counted as they were cast. I’m observing here in the US to gather irrefutable proof that automation is the way to make this happen,” he said.

http://newsinfo.inq7.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=31349
By Veronica Uy
INQ7.net Last updated 05:13pm (Mla time) 11/08/2006

Miriam as Supreme Court Chief Justice

Sen. Richard Gordon said Santiago was obviously “more than qualified” for the post, except that her appointment could be viewed as a political accommodation.

“The question now is there is too much politics going on, and this might be perceived as having political color although we know that she is independent-minded,” Gordon said in a dwIZ radio interview from New York.

Gordon, himself a lawyer, also noted that the people voted for Santiago to be a senator and not Chief Justice.

http://newsinfo.inq7.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view_article.php?article_id=30597
By Juliet Labog-Javellana
Inquirer 11/05/2006

‘Elections first, Cha-cha later’

Sen. Richard Gordon called on the House of Representatives to defer plans to pursue Charter change until after next year’s midterm elections. Gordon said he would even participate in the constituent assembly (con-ass) currently being pushed by administration lawmakers, if this is done after the elections.

According to Gordon, the right time to hold the con-ass is after the May 2007 elections, when members of Congress would have won a fresh mandate.

Gordon said efforts to unilaterally convene Congress without the Senate into con-ass are bound to fail. "It (con-ass) will move forward if the senators are included, and the voting is done separately," Gordon said. "If they do this on their own or with just a few senators, then this would fail."

Gordon noted the claims made by Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay, who said 194 congressmen have already signed a resolution pushing for con-ass. The same threat was issued by Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. who accused senators opposing Charter change initiatives of being "trapped in that political rot."

Gordon, however, emphasized that even with the participation of some senators, the voting must be done separately by the two legislative chambers.

Gordon warned the issue would open another legal controversy before the Supreme Court.

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/News200611050401.htm
By Marvin Sy And Delon Porcalla
The Philippine Star 11/05/2006