Cramming for the 2013 Elections: Cavite Governor

There two have been around for a while now. Would have been better if we saw profiles of the plans but at least they have records of their accomplishments.

Powers and functions of Provincial Governors: according to the Local Government Code of the Philippines:


(a) The provincial governor, as the chief executive of the provincial government, shall exercise such powers and perform such duties and functions as provided by this Code and other laws.
(b) For efficient, effective and economical governance the purpose of which is the general welfare of the province and its inhabitants pursuant to Section 16 of this Code, the provincial governor shall:

(1) Exercise general supervision and control over all programs, projects, services, and activities of the provincial government, and in this connection, shall:

(i) Determine the guidelines of provincial policies and be responsible to the sangguniang panlalawigan for the program of government;

(ii) Direct the formulation of the provincial development plan, with the assistance of the provincial development council, and upon approval thereof by the sangguniang panlalawigan, implement the same;

(iii) Present the program of government and propose policies and projects for the consideration of the sangguniang panlalawigan at the opening of the regular session of the sangguniang panlalawigan every calendar year and as often as may be deemed necessary as the general welfare of the inhabitants and the needs of the provincial government may require;

(iv) Initiate and propose legislative measures to the sangguniang panlalawigan and as often as may be deemed necessary, provide such information and data needed or requested by said sanggunian in the performance of its legislative functions;

(v) Appoint all officials and employees whose salaries and wages are wholly or mainly paid out of provincial funds and whose appointments are not otherwise provided for in this Code, as well as those he may be authorized by law to appoint;

(vi) Represent the province in all its business transactions and sign in its behalf all bonds, contracts, and obligations, and such other documents upon authority of the sangguniang panlalawigan or pursuant to law or ordinance;

(vii) Carry out such emergency measures as may be necessary during and in the aftermath of man-made and natural disasters and calamities;

(viii) Determine the time, manner and place of payment of salaries or wages of the officials and employees of the province, in accordance with law or ordinance;

(ix) Allocate and assign office space to provincial and other officials and employees who, by law or ordinance, are entitled to such space in the provincial capitol and other buildings owned or leased by the provincial government;

(x) Ensure that all executive officials and employees of the province faithfully discharge their duties and functions as provided by law and this Code, and cause to be instituted administrative or judicial proceedings against any official or employee of the province who may have committed an offense in the performance of his official duties;

(xi) Examine the books, records and other documents of all offices, officials, agents or employees of the province and, in aid of his executive powers and authority, require all national officials and employees stationed in the province to make available to him such books, records, and other documents in their custody, except those classified by law as confidential;

(xii) Furnish copies of executive orders issued by him to the Office of the President within seventy-two (72) hours after their issuance;

(xiii) Visit component cities and municipalities of the province at least once every six (6) months to deepen his understanding of problems and conditions, listen and give appropriate counsel to local officials and inhabitants, inform the officials and inhabitants of component cities and municipalities of general laws and ordinances which especially concern them, and otherwise conduct visits and inspections to ensure that the governance of the province will improve the quality of life of the inhabitants;

(xiv) Act on leave applications of officials and employees appointed by him and the commutation of the monetary value of leave credits in accordance with law;

(xv) Authorize official trips of provincial officials and employees outside of the province for a period not exceeding thirty (30) days;

(xvi) Call upon any national official or employee stationed in or assigned to the province to advise him on matters affecting the province and to make recommendations thereon; coordinate with said official or employee in the formulation and implementation of plans, programs and projects; and when appropriate, initiate an administrative or judicial action against a national government official or employee who may have committed an offense in the performance of his official duties while stationed in or assigned to the province;

(xvii) Authorize payment for medical care, necessary transportation, subsistence, hospital or medical fees of provincial officials and employees who are injured while in the performance of their official duties and functions, subject to availability of funds;

(xviii) Represent the province in inter-provincial or regional sports councils or committees, and coordinate the efforts of component cities or municipalities in the regional or national palaro or sports development activities;

(xix) Conduct an annual palarong panlalawigan, which shall feature traditional sports and disciplines included in national and international games, in coordination with the Department of Education, Culture and Sports; and,

(xx) Submit to the Office of the President the following reports: an annual report containing a summary of all matters pertinent to the management, administration and development of the province and all information and data relative to its political, social and economic conditions; and supplemental reports when unexpected events and situations arise at any time during the year, particularly when man-made or natural disasters or calamities affect the general welfare of the province, region or country;

(2) Enforce all laws and ordinances relative to the governance of the province and the exercise of the appropriate corporate powers provided for under Section 22 of this Code, implement all approved policies, programs, projects, services and activities of the province and, in addition to the foregoing, shall:

(i) Ensure that the acts of the component cities and municipalities of the province and of its officials and employees are within the scope of their prescribed powers, duties and functions;

(ii) Call conventions, conferences, seminars, or meetings of any elective and appointive officials of the province and its component cities and municipalities, including national officials and employees stationed in or assigned to the province, at such time and place and on such subject as he may deem important for the promotion of the general welfare of the province and its inhabitants;

(iii) Issue such executive orders for the faithful and appropriate enforcement and execution of laws and ordinances;

(iv) Be entitled to carry the necessary firearm within his territorial jurisdiction;

(v) In coordination with the mayors of component cities and municipalities and the National Police Commission, formulate the peace and order plan of the province and upon its approval, implement the same in accordance with R.A. No. 6975;

(vi) Call upon the appropriate national law enforcement agencies to suppress disorder, riot, lawless violence, rebellion or sedition or to apprehend violators of the law when public interest so requires and the police forces of the component city or municipality where the disorder or violation is happening are inadequate to cope with the situation or the violators;

(3) Initiate and maximize the generation of resources and revenues, and apply the same to the implementation of development plans, program objectives and priorities as provided for under Section 18 of this Code, particularly those resources and revenues programmed for agro-industrial development and country-wide growth and progress and, relative thereto, shall:

(i) Require each head of an office or department to prepare and submit an estimate of appropriations for the ensuing calendar year, in accordance with the budget preparation process under Title Five, Book II of this Code;

(ii) Prepare and submit to the sanggunian for approval the executive and supplemental budgets of the province for the ensuing calendar year in the manner provided for under Title Five, Book II of this Code;

(iii) Ensure that all taxes and other revenues of the province are collected, and that provincial funds are applied to the payment of expenses and settlement of obligations of the province, in accordance with law or ordinance;

(iv) Issue licenses and permits and suspend or revoke the same for any violation of the conditions upon which said licenses or permits had been issued, pursuant to law or ordinance;

(v) Adopt adequate measures to safeguard and conserve land, mineral, marine, forest and other resources of the province, in coordination with the mayors of component cities and municipalities; provide efficient and effective property and supply management in the province; and protect the funds, credits, rights, and other properties of the province; and

(vi) Institute or cause to be instituted administrative or judicial proceedings for violation of ordinances in the collection of taxes, fees or charges, and for the recovery of funds and property; and cause the province to be defended against all suits to ensure that its interests, resources and rights shall be adequately protected.

(4) Ensure the delivery of basic services and the provision of adequate facilities as provided for under Section 17 of this Code, and in addition thereto, shall:

(i) Ensure that the construction and repair of roads and highways funded by the national government shall be, as far as practicable, carried out in a spatially contiguous manner and in coordination with the construction and repair of the roads and bridges of the province and of its component cities and municipalities; and

(ii) Coordinate the implementation of technical services by national offices for the province and its component cities and municipalities, including public works and infrastructure programs of the provincial government and its component cities and municipalities;

(5) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance.

(c) The provincial governor shall receive a minimum monthly compensation corresponding to Salary Grade thirty (30) prescribed under R.A. No. 6758 and the implementing guidelines issued pursuant thereto.

Cramming for the 2013 Elections: Cavite, who's your Vice Governor?

Yeah yeah, I said I'd post about elections but to be fair, I haven't posted anything in a while.

Their names may be familiar, but I'm finding it difficult to look for more details about those vying to be Cavite's Vice Governor this coming elections.

Let's take away the posters, the who's who and who has a relative in power and/or showbiz, shall we? Here's what I have so far.

 

But what does it mean to be the Vice Governor of Wherever?

The vice-governor exercises and performs the following powers, duties and functions:

(1) Act as the presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Legislative Body) and sign all warrants drawn on the provincial treasury for all expenditures appropriated for the operation of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan;

(2) Appoint all officials and employees of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, subject to civil service law, rules and regulations, except those whose manner of appointment is specifically provided in the Local Government Code;

(3) Assume the office of the governor for the unexpired term of the latter in the event of permanent vacancy (as provided for in Section 44, Book I of the Local Government Code);

(4) Exercise the powers and perform the duties and functions of the governor in cases of temporary vacancy (as provided for in Section 46, Book I of the Local Government Code); and

(5) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance.   

If you have any details to share about them or any corrections about the data above, let me  know. 

Adventures on Easy Street: Spending the Night with Nocturnal Creatures and the Question of Where have you been all my Life

In college, my thesis/feasib/fishmates and I would spend countless nights in fast food joints along Timog Avenue or Katipunan Avenue in the hope that we would get some work done for school. Our rationale was simple, by doing this, we would

•  be able to keep each other awake and focused by working together (guys, did that work?)
• not starve to death what with all the energy we were burning through brain activity
• not die of dengue by working in a clean-enough environment 
• have wi-fi for our sanity and (supposed) productivity

While this worked well enough for us (insert brags about our fantabulous grades given by one of the most notorious professors in our college), we really could have used an area that could have answered to all our needs without the hullabaloo of fast food joints.

Which is why I was so wowed when, through a friend, I recently discovered Midnight Owl.

Personally, I think it’s a blessing for all the students in the area who have the same reasons as us for studying out so late. Or for those who just can’t stay awake when they’re at home.

Not only do they offer a wide array of brain and comfort food, they even have forms which people can fill-up when they want to have short naps and want to be awaken by the staff.

The glass boards, white boards and chalk boards are also free for anyone to use- either for work or play.

It’s a little embarrassing to go there to chat with friends what with all the studying students but it can still be achieved either with hushed tones or by opting for the outside seats.

As for the food, well.

I became a fan of their picture-ready chicken ala king even though I thought it had too much salt when eaten on its own. The pocket pie dough it was served with was able to balance the flavor out well, though.

The roast beef was tender and well seasoned and was served with a small serving of creamy mashed potato.

The Korean Beef Stew was another favorite. Served steaming hot, this sweet-and-(tiny bit) spicy concoction had melts-in-your-mouth tender cubes of beef.

The fried chicken looked and was too small to quench our appetites even with the side of Russian potato salad.

The real showstopper for me though, were the Cookie Smores. They were topped with marshmallows and as if that wasn’t enough, a chocolate square. It comes in three variants—milk chocolate, white chocolate and dark chocolate. The crumbly texture of the cookie itself was well balanced with the chewy marshmallow. Served heated, it felt like the perfect comfort food.

Was good enough to inspire me to make my own version which gave birth to this fantabuous Campfire Cookie I cannot help gushing about. But that’s another story.

Midnight Owl Snack Cafe

Mapagkawanggawa st. corner Mabait st. Teachers Village East, Diliman, Quezon City

(+632) 4352186, 0917-8428048

Mon - Thu: 4:30 pm - 4:30 am

Fri - Sun: 5:00 pm - 3:00 am

Vote for the Philippines! Know your candidate-- List for Cavite (part 1)

Being an election year, one of my personal projects is to Vote for the Philippines (as in, bumoto para sa Pilipinas)- and give people the opportunity to do the same by giving them information on candidates.

And because I’m die hard probinsyana like that, I’m focusing on candidates from Cavite.

To begin with, let’s start by publishing the list of candidates for those vying for positions in the House of Representatives. Now what we have to remember is that because the municipalities of Bacoor and Imus have been converted into cities in 2012, they will each have a representative in Congress.

Source: List of Candidates for the 2013 Local and National Elections

What we have to accept now is that people usually have very little idea about what their representatives do or more importantly, what they're elected to do.

Committees, or small groups of representatives (called congressmen/women) study proposed laws (bills), and other matters relating to issues and concerns affecting our lives and our society. They, together with the members of the Senate, form the government's Legislative Branch-- or basically the branch in charge of enacting law.

In the next few weeks, I'll post the other lists and some information about the candidates and their parties. I think I'll try to write this series in Filipino so that the demographic I'm targeting will better understand it (good luck with that, self).

 

Adventures on Easy Street: A flightless night at Lord of the Wings

When my friend and I decided to finally (FINALLY!) go through with our (much belated, frequently cancelled) dinner plans, we decided to just wing it. That is, see where our hunger would take us. Not very far, apparently, because we wound up a stone’s throw away from my office.

Lord of the Wings is a recently-opened restaurant owned by Chef Diego Castro along Maginhawa. Surprisingly, there was no reference whatsoever to Tolkien's Lord of the Rings but the interiors had old-school microphones and radio sets and my favoite, old comic strips on the tables!

It boasts of having six different types of sauces for their chicken wings. But because we didn’t know this, it wasn’t something we ordered. Which you know, is weird of us to do—not order any chicken at a chicken store.

Instead, we chose to carbo-load and ordered two types of pasta and potato wedges. Because there isn’t much anyone can say about potato wedges, we’ll go to the pastas.

Lord of the Wings' Sweet Angel Carbonara and Crispy Adobo Pasta were disppoing but then again, the restaurant isn't called Lord of the Noodles.

The Crispy Adobo Pasta was a disappointment mostly because it was far too oily while the adobo not too crispy. They weren’t so much of adobo flakes as they were adobo crumbs. It was a challenge to eat.

The Sweet Angel Carbonara wasn’t that special or any different from the usual carbonaras but it was more tolerable than the Adobo Pasta.

As much as the different types of sauces for the chicken make me curious, I don’t think I’ll be coming back any time soon.

Lord of the Wings
36 Maginhawa Street, U.P. Village, Quezon City
 

Trying out something new somewhere old

Having a mom from Bicol meant we grew up knowing good food, which thankfully, had not been limited to dishes peppered with chili peppers or swimming in coconut milk. And it might surprise many that though I’m half Bicolana, I’ve never eaten Bicol Express or Pinangat (a blend of taro leaves, meat or shrimp and coconut milk wrapped in more taro leaves and tied securely with coconut leaf which may or may not be chilli).

That is, until my latest visit to the region.

The famous Dad's Pinangat and me and the officemates posing with the famous Dad (3rd from left)

My first taste of Pinangat wasn’t even at the famous Dad’s Pinangat which was supposedly the original and best tasting pinangat in the province. It was in a restaurant called Ceña Una (Old House or Sinauna).

Located along Calle F. Lotivio St. in Daraga, Albay, this colonial-house-turned-restaurant is, like most of the establishments, are some 10-15 minutes away from the airport (according to our trusty Department of Toursim accredited driver). You may experience some traffic going here, though, as you’ll have to pass by Daraga Town proper and a few schools along the way.

If you’re not a big old-house-lover and the exterior doesn’t get you, the charming accessories inside surely will. While the house is filled with antique furniture and figurines, the were dedicated to maintain the old-Filipino feel that they even created wooden-looking cases for their modern furniture- from the air conditioners to the electric fans. If you’ve fallen in love with some of their decorative pieces, you can even call them up and have them make some for you, or just drop by their shop in Mandaluyong if you’re Manila-bound.

But the real winner of the night was the Pasta Ceña Una Espesyal.  It’s fettuccine pasta made with a seemingly deconstructed pinangat—Coconut milk, taro leaves and shrimp topped with spear mint and with a dash of saffron. It’s served with white bread which, on the bad side, could use some flavour, but on the good side, doesn’t take the spotlight away from the dish.

Pasta Ceña Una Espesyal (photo from foodtrippings.com)

If I had known Pinangat tasted these great, I should have probably tried them waaaaaaay back. It was one of the best dishes I’ve tasted during our stay here in Albay (and boy-oh-boy there were some pretty tasty dishes). That’s saying a lot from someone not a fan of fushion food, too.

Ceña Una Chocolate Cake (photo from flashbulbjunkie.blogspot.com)

The English Vanilla Cheesecake with Blueberry Sauce (nomnomnom) was nice soft but the dessert round was taken but the Ceña Una Chocolate Cake which felt like a challenge to my chocolate-cake-baking skills (which I have not yet tried, btw). It wasn’t as sweet as it looked, was moist and had pili nuts.

Kind of makes me think that eating in Bicol is a danger to the cholesterol levels. But that’s probably why Becilanos eat so much greens.

If you’re ever in the general area visiting the majestic Mayon, this is a place you should definitely make time for, too, especially since like most places around Albay, it's just 10 minutes away (at least according to out DOT-accredited driver, Kuya Al :))).

Contact details

Lourdes Villanueva (0524354338 / 09178684030)

513 F Lotivio Street, 4501 Daraga, Albay.

belaycenauna@gmail.com

http://www.balaycenauna.com/menu.html
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cena-Una/71303103946

Schedule

Mon - Wed: 10:00 am - 10:00 pm

Thu: 1:00 am - 10:00 pm

Fri - Sat: 10:00 am - 10:00 pm

Sun: 11:30 am - 9:00 pm