Hillary Clinton announces

Former Secretary of State Hill- ary Clinton has announced her candidacy for president of the Democratic Party in 2016. President Barack Obama immediately endorsed her candidacy saying she will make an excellent president.

If elected, Hillary will be the first woman president of the United States.

On the Republican side, former Governor Jeb Bush of Florida is the frontrunner, leading other aspirants Senators Ted Cruz of Texas and Rand Paul of Kentucky.

Here in the Philippines, Budget Secretary Butch Abad announced that Interior Secretary Mar Roxas is still the presumptive Liberal Party (LP) candidate for president in 2016 despite his latest low survey rating of 4% in the latest Pulse Asia March 1-7 Survey.

Abad said the President has repeatedly expressed his respect for Roxas and certainly, Mar has much respect for the President, the reason Roxas is still his candidate.

With 15 months to go, Abad believes those numbers can change. He said the President discovered that himself when he decided to run with only eight months to go.

Congressmen Reynaldo Umali (LP, Oriental Mindoro), Jerry Treñas (LP, Iloilo City), and Elpidio Barzaga (National Unity Party (NUP), Cavite) also endorsed the candidacy of Secretary Roxas.

It looks like a return bout for Roxas and Vice-President Jejomar Binay.

The latest to indicate their interest in running for president are Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and former Senator Panfilo Lacson.

Also in the race are Nacionalista Party (NP) Senator Bongbong Marcos and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.

Senator Grace Poe has not indicated any interest in running for president or vice president.

Over importation of rice

The farmgate price of palay has dropped from P18 to P14 per kilo, the Kapisanan ng Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) reported.

Traders have stopped buying more palay because they still have enough stocks and the rice imported by the government has arrived.

Rice traders in Nueva Ecija blamed the huge importation of rice in 2014, totaling a record high 2.8 million metric tons. In 2013, Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso Alcala promised self-sufficiency in rice and no more rice importation. This promise was not fulfilled.

KMP chairman Rafael Mariano said: “Aquino’s continuing policy of rice importation and his continued coddling of rice cartels are the main culprits in the shrinking prices of palay, which are strong grounds for the people to call for Aquino regime’s ouster from power.”

Farmers are now confronted by the predicament of their losses since they are shouldering the high costs of production.

Mariano said that the steep drop in the price of palay from P18 to P14 is also being felt in the Bicol region.

Rice experts believe the record high importation of palay is part of the administration’s fundraising for the 2016 elections.

188,255 government vacancies

Considering the high unemployment and poverty rates, it is difficult to understand why President Aquino has not filled up 188,255 government vacancies.

A few column back, we suggested that the administration hire 600,000 persons, including 100,000 teachers and 50,000 policemen.

Isabela Rep. Rodito Albano III said filling up the vacancies would reduce the number of jobless college graduates.

Davao Rep. Isidro Ungab, chairman of the House committee on appropriations confirmed funds are provided in the 2015 budget for the vacant positions.

LPG Marketers’ Association (LPGMA) Rep. Arnel Ty said it is shameful that tens of thousands of vacancies in the government remain vacant amid the high unemployment rate.

Department of Education (DepEd) has the largest number of vacancies at 59,464. The Philippine National Police (PNP) has 15,592 vacancies.

Nationwide plebiscite

Senator Francis Escudero has rightly pointed out the plebiscite on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) if approved by Congress should be held nationwide, not just in the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) areas.

Escudero correctly pointed out that many provisions in the proposed BBL affect other areas of the country. To begin with, there are about ten provinces in Mindanao who are predominantly Christian with large Lumad populations who need to have their say on the new substate. The measure has to be approved by voters in the areas included in the proposed entity through plebiscite before it can take effect.

Meanwhile, Senator Ferdinand Marcos and Rep. Rufus Rodriguez announced they will look into the issue of Mohagher Iqbal’s alias and his citizenship.

At the Senate hearing yesterday, Iqbal refused to reveal his real name.

Tidbits

Governor Amado Espino Jr. announced this year’s list of outstanding Pangasinenses called ASNA awardees. They are STAR’s Ana Marie Pamintuan (journalism), Fr. Agerico Orbos (spiritual leadership), Rebecca Bustamante ( entrepreneurship), Cecilia Daranciang (culture and arts), Perla Legaspi (public administration), former environment secretary Victor Ramos (environment), Emilio Estrella Sanglay Jr. (music), Vivencio Villaflor (humanitarian and civic leadership) and former energy secretary Francisco Viray (corporate leadership). ASNA is an old form of the word “asin.”

Manuel V. Pangilinan was the guest speaker at the graduation ceremonies of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM); 2,300 graduates were awarded their diplomas.