Gilbert Teodoro's Platform

GILBERT TEODORO’S PLATFORM

1. Gibo gagawing ‘marangal at profitable’ na propesyon ang pagsasaka (Pilipino Star Ngayon) Updated January 13, 2010 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines – Tiniyak ni Lakas–Kampi CMD standarad bearer Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr., na susuportahan nya ang sector ng agrikultura para maging kapaki-pakinabang at kagalang- galang na propesyon ang pagsasaka sa bansa. Ayon kay Teodoro, kinakailangan palakasin ang nasabing sector upang magkaroon ng food security at maging industriyalisado ang bansa at magagawa ito sa pagbibigay ng investments at insentibo sa mga mag-sasaka. Aniya, kung makikita ng mga anak ng mga magsasaka na aasenso ang kanilang buhay sa pamamagitan ng pagsasaka ay tiyak na susunod ang mga ito sa yapak ng kanilang amang magsasaka. Iginiit pa nito sa kanyang mga campus tours sa Metro Manila kabilang na ang San Beda kung saan siya hinangaan ng mga estudyante na kinakailangan ang modernisasyon sa sector na ito gaya ng pagkakaroon ng matinong farm to market road. Dapat din aniyang pagbutihin ng mga siyentipiko sa bansa ang kanilang research and development para makalikha ng “quick-growing rice” varieties at iba pang fruit crops. Una ng isinusulong ni Teodoro ang Marshall plan type na economic package para sa modernisasyon ng irrigation system para magkaroon ng “matabang sakahan sa bansa lalo na sa Maguindanao. (Rudy Andal) http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=540271&publicationSubCategoryId=92

2. Farmers must be made entrepreneurs — Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate 01/25/2010

Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. has stressed the crucial need to boost food production to match the country’s population growth and elevate the farmers from a “state of permanent peasantry.” Teodoro said the country’s poor agricultural system has spawned the long-running insurgency and poses a threat to food security as population grows by more than two million a year. “We must make entrepreneurs of our farmers. We must teach them modern technology to improve their food production capability,” Teodoro said. More than the welfare of the farmers, he said, is the need to boost agricultural production to “safeguard against a food crisis in the future,” Teodoro told a forum of agricultural experts in Tarlac. The challenge to the agriculture industry involves the food security of our young, the 1989 Bar topnotcher and Harvard-trained lawyer said, adding measures have to be taken immediately to address this. “We will ensure that the farmers will grow rich from their endeavors — and that we will increase agricultural productivity so that we will no longer be the largest importer of rice,” he added. The decades-old rebellion of the New People’s Army, and the Hukbalahap before that, were hatched out of the dire economic situation of agricultural workers, Teodoro said. The insurgency must be stopped in conflict areas, where the return of peace and stability can turn land into productive endeavors, he said. “If we invest the required amount in the Central Mindanao basin project, hundreds of thousands of very fertile land can be put to good use,” Teodoro said. Teodoro is seeking the presidency on a platform of wide-ranging reforms on several fronts geared toward accelerating the country’s catch-up efforts to become competitive and prosperous. “My vision is for the Philippines to be a leader in the Asia Pacific region,” he said. “We can be the purest and fullest democracy in this part of the world and… and be an example to others.” He added he would build a kinder and gentler government under a national leadership attuned to the aspirations of the majority of Filipinos. “It is very important for a president to listen and consult with his countrymen through an exchange of ideas,” Teodoro said, adding it is vital for the national leadership to create a “principled and responsible consensus for the country.” He also said Filipinos should embrace its rich culture and mixture of people of different religions. Teodoro added economic modernization in the country faces major stumbling blocks, among them the lack of a long-term infrastructure plan and the need to establish a stable peace and order situation. Addressing these issues adequately will only happen if the government earnestly listens to its citizens through informed participation and exchange of ideas, he said. http://www.tribune.net.ph/metro/20100125met3.html

3. There is honor in farming – ‘Gibo’ January 15, 2010 10:50 pm

MANILA, Jan. 15 — Taking cognizance of the valuable role farming plays to ensure food security, Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. pledged to provide more investments and financial support to the country’s farming sub-sector.

“We must turn farming again into (an) honorable profession. We can do that by providing the necessary investments and incentives to our farmers so that they can make a good living out of the soil, thus encouraging their sons to follow their footsteps,” Teodoro said in recent students’ forum in Holy Angels University in Angeles City, Pampanga.

The Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer said farming in the rural communities can be given a much needed boost through the provision of credit facility for farmers interested in expanding their operations and development of additional irrigation infrastructures and farm-to-market roads.

“Only when we succeeded in providing this prerequisites’ to our farmers will our country be able to experience food security and get out of the maws of poverty,” Teodoro stressed.

The 1989 Philippine Bar Examination topnotcher also added that a vibrant and continually developing farming sector is a valuable aid in the economic development of any country. Aside from the cash and infrastructure support, Teodoro also added that the country’s scientists must also take time to develop quick growing rice and fruit crops that will bring the most financial benefits to the farmer groups.

“They (scientists) must be like Luther Burbank (the famous agronomist) who managed to develop quick growing and fruiting crops that aided greatly in the development of the United States’ agriculture industry,” the Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer added.

Teodoro earlier said that modernizing irrigation system will double or even triple the region’s agricultural productivity. “Maguindanano has perhaps the richest and most fertile farming lands in the entire Mindanao region. What is stopping from reaching its fullest economy potential is the lack of adequate water supply needed for year-long farming. If we will just expend a little resource in developing the province’s irrigation facilities, I have no doubt that Maguindanao will contribute greatly to our food security,” the Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer pointed out. Aside from this, Teodoro also vowed to provide farming communities with the necessary communication and road networks needed to transport their products and market it efficiently to the nearest population centers.

“By providing the farmer groups in the region with irrigation and infrastructure support, we are reducing poverty Maguindanao, which is the primary trigger of violence and crime in Maguindanao, thus ensuring peace for the coming generations,” the Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer pointed out.

And to insure that the gains of the agricultural communities will not be destroyed by lawless elements, Teodoro also proposed to station more peace-keeping units in Maguindanao to “preserve the gains of peace.”

Besides this, Teodoro is also requesting the national government to provide indigenous tribes and marginalized residents of Maguindanao with the livelihood assistance to provide them with a decent means of supporting their families and keep them away from engaging in crime and violence.

“All of these, additional security forces and modern road networks, will came to naught if we are unable to address poverty in the region. Inability to support themselves and their families is the primary cause of lawlessness in Maguindanao. If we are able to provide them with peaceful way of making a decent living, then all incidence of violence in the region will be greatly minimize or even be removed completely,” he further said.

He pointed out that this approach has proven very successful in rehabilitating war-ravaged Japan in 1945 and in neutralizing the communist threat in the Philippines in 1950’s.

4. Gibo: Maguindanao needs modern agriculture system By Jaime Laude (The Philippine Star) Updated January 03, 2010 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines – Reconstruction in economic system is the key to a more peaceful Maguindanao, Lakas-Kampi CMD presidential bet Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro said yesterday. Teodoro said he favors a Marshall Plan type of economic package that would modernize the province’s irrigation system. He also suggested that building a network of farm-to-market roads would boost the area’s agricultural productivity. Noting that Maguindanao has some of the most fertile farming lands in Mindanao, Teodoro said developing and expanding the province’s irrigation facilities to cover more acreage is a key to unlocking its economic potential that could double or triple its current agricultural yield. “If we will just spend a little resource in developing the province’s irrigation facilities, I have no doubt that Maguindanao will contribute greatly to our food security,” he said. However, Teodoro noted that there should be a consistent defense system in the province in order to maintain the proposed reconstruction. Teodoro added that necessary road and communications infrastructure support should also be made and strenghtened to boost productivity and enable farmer groups to market their products to the nearest population centers in the province and region. “By providing farmer groups in the region with irrigation and infrastructure support, we are reducing poverty in Maguindanao, which is the primary trigger of violence and crime in the province, thus ensuring peace for the coming generations,” Teodoro said. The former defense secretary urged the national government to provide Maguindanao’s indigenous tribes and marginalized residents with livelihood assistance. This is a primal exercise to enable them to support their families through decent means and steer them away from lawlessness. He said that this approach proved successful in rehabilitating war-ravaged Japan in 1945 and in neutralizing the communist threat in the Philippines in the 1950s.

5. Marshall Plan

“The Marshall Plan approach has proven very successful in eradicating violence in society ravaged by generations of fighting. If properly implemented in Maguindanao, people living in the region could do their part in helping the country achieve economic stability and greatness,” Teodoro said. Following the dismantling of the Ampatuan clan’s private army in Maguindanao last month, Teodoro had asked the government to undertake parallel and intensive efforts to rebuild Maguindanao’s ruined economy and strengthen its civil service. http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=537562&publicationSubCategoryId=67

6. Teodoro favors cash perks for natural birth control By TJ Burgonio Philippine Daily Inquirer First Posted 03:35:00 01/28/2010

MANILA, Philippines —Presidential candidate Gilbert Teodoro Wednesday offered no apologies for abandoning the reproductive health bill, and even proposed granting cash incentives poor families practicing natural birth control methods. The administration standard-bearer found himself defending his and his wife’s decision to withdraw support from the controversial measure before doctors and medical students in a forum at the University of the Philippines in Manila. At the forum dubbed “Make Health Count,” Teodoro explained that the debate over the measure in the House of Representatives had become so “acrimonious” that the stakeholders totally forgot about the problem of population. Big debate “The big debate is whether or not the government can shape a moral choice. And that is the argument of the Church. That the government should not actively advocate for making a moral choice. The debate stopped there,” he said. Teodoro indicated that he agreed with the Church position, and said that the government should be “neutral” but should support the “moral choice” of every individual with resources. The Church, for its part, should take it upon itself to shape the “moral choice” by acknowledging the problem of a growing population, he added. “What should the government do? Instead of being involved in debate, we should support a moral choice,” he said in response to former Health Secretary Alberto Romualdez’s question why he and his wife Tarlac Rep. Nikki Prieto-Teodoro withdrew support from the bill. “I’d rather have resources to support a moral choice rather than fight over a bill.” Teodoro said there was a need to come to a “mutual and common understanding” on addressing population “whereby the government respects the moral choice and provides resources toward supporting that moral choice.” Pending for years “If they use the rhythm method, we can have some resources to support that by a conditional cash transfer if they do not a have birth within a year or so for the poorest of the poor,” he said, referring to the government’s program of granting cash to poor families with children enrolled in public schools. The bill known as the “Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008” has been pending for years in the House due to fierce opposition from the Church. It promotes information and access to both natural and modern family planning methods, and assures an enabling environment where women and couples have the freedom of informed choice on the mode of family planning they want to adopt based on their needs, personal convictions and religious beliefs, according to its authors. Romualdez was unimpressed with Teodoro’s explanation, observing that he merely reduced the debate to a problem of population and economics. “I think he has a problem with appreciating the problem of reproductive health as simply a problem of population and economics. It’s an issue of the rights of women to determine what to do with themselves,” he said in an interview. He branded Teodoro’s pronouncement that the government should support the people’s choice as a “motherhood statement.” “He has caved in to the Church and agreed with his President, whose position is the reason why we have a big problem in population,” Romualdez said. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100128-249869/Teodoro-favors- cash-perks-for-natural-birth-control 7. A GIBO PRESIDENCY ON THE CORPORATE WORLD

His answer on the question as to what a Gibo Presidency would be towards the corporate world is a complex one, because he touches on the general needs of the country of which the corporate world will essentially be beneficiary to any of the plans he aims to pursue. And so, his answer touches on the need to develop physical, technological, and managerial infrastructure, thus setting the stage for development. The aim and vision is actually focusing on the public sector so that it can be an inviting environment for investment. Thus the aim is a focus on good governance, transparency, and a long term infrastructure investment plan [Physical, Technical, and Managerial] However, he does convey that he is open to provide some corporate tax relief, provided that it will not widen our deficit gap appreciably. He also mentions specifically FDI which is Foreign Direct Investments as well as DOMESTIC INVESTMENTS as a means for growth. This basically means that he will most likely pursue the trajectory of the current administration in terms of pursuing more investments for our nation. In terms of Physical Infrastructure, he specifically points out the goal of ease of transportation and cites NLEX and SLEX, C5 AND C6, as examples. There is a aside, as he highlights the fact, that focus on the corporate world should not be limited to Metro Manila, thus he is again, inserting the notion of a decentralized aspect of governance, where the other regions will have a chance to vie for investments as well. He terms this, as having enhanced autonomy of certain regions in order to foster competition. As he goes back to the need of infrastructure as it relates to physical and even transportation infrastructure, he goes into the costs of these projects. And in Metro Manila, according to Teodoro, P208 Billion is still needed for reconstruction for safety concerns. To paraphrase, the corporate world is just part of the greater macro economy of The Philippines and will benefit from these public sector initiatives. Which is why he starts out stating that no president can directly affect the corporate world, but by laying the foundation of infrastructure for greater investments, all sectors will eventually benefit. Last statement on this subject is that he believes a crucial job of the president is to sell the country to an international audience.

8. WITH REGARDS TO DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT

The fact that we know we are a country that is prone to natural calamities and disasters, it was asked why the funding does not reflect the actual need of departments and agencies that deal directly with these disasters. He points to one overarching and important problem with regards to funding, and that is the problem of limited government resources. He acknowledges the fact that there has been limited budget for education, health, national defense, and the like. So the first task is to seek greater investment and revenue for funding purposes. We currently have P290 billion budget deficit. Also, the focus should be, because we are victims of climate change, we should focus on climate change adaptation, and disaster risk reduction. We have to build infrastructures in urban areas, and adequately equip rural areas, based on available information in a geohazard sort of way.. According to the DENR, 85% of the country has already been geohazard mapped, and only 15% of the country is left. On those areas not urbanized, we have to already have laid down land use plans, and those should be followed. Now because the initial plans for the development of Metro Manila, as an example, was not followed such as exit points of water being plugged up because of improper land use, reconstruction of Metro Manila, for the purpose of disaster risk management will cost The Philippine government an estimated 208 Billion.

Also there are other structural measures that need to be done. 1) Forming of Philippine disaster risk management agency

2) To change the paradigm because under the National Disaster Coordinating Council law, The LGU are the first responders to any natural calamity, however, we realize the limit to the capacity of this model, because:

a) the differing capacity of individual LGU units and

b) the fact that when a disaster strikes a local area, the reality is that the LGU can become incapacitated too. So you have to have a national backbone.

The two agencies, in terms of natural disasters, that you want to properly equip should be the Coast Guard and The Bureau of Fire Protection, because in other countries, the fire agencies form the backbone of any civil defense program, and that’s what you want to do here. Also, right now, under the law, the LGUs can only act, when there is already a declared calamity. And they can only use a total of up to 5% of their revenue for calamities when it has already struck. He proposes that the law should be amended so that at least that 5% can be used not only for disaster response but for disaster risk management, to include preparedness, and mitigation, and rehabilitation. He also says that the Philippines should also lead in the effort to make those who emit greenhouse gases the most to own up to their responsibilities to us who are the most affected by their emissions and who really feel the brunt of it.

9. REGARDS TO RESOURCES

Question was asked regarding resources, and that when we usually talk about resources, we talk about direct investments, and foreign debt, but what about plugging up all the holes, such as corruption, the kickbacks. He answers that first we have to have an adequate estimate on how much corruption costs, but it does have leakages, but not as much as we think according to Teodoro. He continues, the biggest leakages is the lack of budgetary support. The revenue system, our tax collection. And that in government financing, we have to plug leakages, but it’s not that big compared to the capital investments needed.. He touches on IMF and Worldbank serving as watchdogs. Excellent quote is “You can have the best laid plans, but the devil is in the implementation.” And it takes a good politicians to implement something like that. Ends with quote: “I have faced wrath before, even though it was not my fault”

10 . ON THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH BILL

Teodoro and his wife were once supporters of The Reproductive Health (RH) Bill, but had changed their minds. Essentially, according to Teodoro, the issue is that if our government should be our moral guardians when essentially it should be a personal choice. “We know that The RH Bill will not pass”, Teodoro said, so he asks what good is fighting for this bill when the problem continues to fester. He says that population management is a problem because of limited viable land. The government is not the right moral guardian, the debate should not stop there though. He proposes that since the government is not the right moral guardian, and that the moral guardians themselves should be accountable, but if at some point, it is shown that the “experiment” is not succeeding, then the government should step in. To use his own words, the government must not influence a choice, but must support a choice.

11. ON THE AWARDING OF CONTRACT TO HAWKER PACIFIC

The specific question for this was: The Presidential air-wing has 3 Bell 412s, the helicopters used by presidential staff. The repair of these have been bided out and won by AAC, and is estimated to cost the government about a million US dollars. Why have you or the DND given the contract (through direct contracting) to Hawker Pacific? His answer is straightforward, although, he may have lost cool on this one. According to him, this is not under the Philippine air force, or under the DND, so this question is best addressed to The Office of The President.

12. REGARDING THE BUDGET DEFICIT

Because there is a need to fund a great many programs and services, and due to the still weak global economy, he will try to balance the budget by 2014. And hopefully through certain measures, but the most important is confidence in our country, focus on peace and order, and a massive blast for tourism. His answer, in my opinion greatly deviates from the question, but let’s continue. Also, once again, goes back to education, offering maybe foreign language in schools, which also addresses our tourism issue. We must have some form of political stability for everything to work. Naturally, we will have to have local government supervision. With the deficit, it’s a reality that we have to live with, but we have to be more productive but with regards to corruption, in is an aspect, but it is not THE aspect. He shares what he has done in his own department, so if he can do it in his department, he can do it on a national level. He says that the problem with corruption is that you have to provide incentive for good behaviour. Try to avoid people being tempted by building up their fortitude, building up their quality of life that can only be done very difficulty through public sector reform.

13. PLANS FOR THE OFWS

His basic view on this is that until we are able to build acceptable alternatives in the Philippines, we have to try to build our country and economy so that there are opportunities for Filipinos to come back to. It’s a very difficult problem, he says even if we would like to keep them here, we cannot restrict them, so we must provide safeguards for them. Regarding the question of a person languishing in jail, the only thing the government can do, according to Teodoro, is to ensure that their rights are protected.

14. ON PROPER BUDGET ALLOCATION AND WASTEFUL SPENDING WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGU)

He will not impound any funding from the budget that is legally owed to The LGUs, but he says we should give incentives for good management of these funds May support increasing the LGUs share from 40 percent as long as they can prove their capacity for less reliance on the national government for basic services, so that national government can concentrate on national infrastructure and national issues.. He says that here’s no strong state in the world where national government still has to take care of basic services.. So that rather than prohibition, why not give incentives for good practices.

15. PLANS FOR THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

He realizes we are a big consumer of rice per person. He believes there’s a big prospect for food security, if you clear conflict areas in Mindanao alone, and allow for farming in those areas, and provide adequate infrastructures. But before that, he emphasizes that there should be stability in ownership of land. He’s okay with Agrarian Reform, but according to Teodoro, we must stop once implemented, because it is no longer reform if it continues, but it becomes a sort of government funded peasantry program. We should support those who have already been beneficiaries of land, and provide avenues for them to be more productive. So that the goal is financial freedom. We must also be versatile in terms of being able to shift position of farmers, not only in terms of relocation when it is needed, but also in terms of options of livelihood.

16. ON THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY

Teodoro says that he honestly thinks that there has been no successful livestock industry here in The Philippines. He does acknowledge with regards to this industry the need to find the right kind of livestock, and highlights both hog raising and poultry as well. He proposes a concentration on hogs and chickens because he believes that there is demand.

17. VISION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR OUR NATION, AND VIEWS ON NON- GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS LIKE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND GAWAD KALINGA

He supports as much private sector participation as there can be. But he emphasizes that affordable housing must be provided in concurrence with job opportunities, so that people can avail of government supported housing.

18. WITH REGARDS TO INFORMAL SETTLING

The problem is also a question of opportunities, but as a policy it should not be condoned. It is a hazard. And actually, with regards to this, Teodoro explains that we would have to physically relocate them and provide opportunities for them. It must be controlled, it must be stopped.. There are several legal and constitutional rights of all to inhabit anywhere in the country. He ends by acknowledging that it’s a problem.

19. WHAT IS YOUR AGENDA REGARDING THE PEACE AND INTERNAL ORDER SITUATION

He will set conditions two conditions with regards to peace and order, and that is:

1) That the primacy of the Philippine constitution and the Philippine government must be upheld at all times.

2) There must always be government presence in these conflict areas not only to protect but as a deterrent.

He contends that lack of soldiers and policemen is the reason we cannot follow up in these conflict areas.

Two glaring quotations came out of this part of the interview: “But now, is there a solution to Mindanao? I don’t know. I don’t know. It’s up to the Mindanaoans to determine the solution” “NOBODY CAN SAY HE HAS THE MINDANAO SOLUTION” The Mindanao problem is not a problem of Christians and Muslims, according to Teodoro, but is a problem of many factors. It’s a problem of land ownership. It is a state problem, specifically that the state cannot guarantee peace and order in the area. He says that he can have the most complex solution, but would not be sure still if they would work. Not even multilateral solutions may work, because if people don’t want it to work, it won’t. “I’m not as ambitious as the others, I can’t see that far ahead” To paraphrase his answer would be this: peace and order first

20. ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

He stated that Environment Protection would be high on his priority list, because for economic development, we must have the infrastructure, and environment protection is also important in terms of protecting the places where people have to live, and should be ingrained into our public infrastructure program. And in terms of what he has talked about with regards to tourism, Environment Protection is also part of that so that we can have sustainable tourism. Without blinking an eye, he segued and moved towards the topic of mining which he quickly surmises the question was leading to. He believes that mining is the one of the biggest potentials of The Philippines; however he explains that it is such a complex question. Involving local and national policies and sentiments. the community in the area of mining must be convinced of the fact of the benefits. But there also has to be an honest to goodness exit plan which means leaving the area in pretty much the same condition prior the mining being done.