Gibo Teodoro for President? His take

Highlights of the Philippine Star Villar Profile:

ADVISORS:
Economic: Joey Salceda, Chavit Singson (?!), Peter Favila.
Foreign Affairs: I have some experience and constitutional knowledge on that.
Security & Peace: I have a clear idea where we're headed.
Politics: Partymates.
Media: Mike Toledo.
Health: Esperanza Cabral, Francisco Duque.
Education: Jesli Lapus (this guy isn't even making it to the meaty parts and he's already a fail. I can honestly say that this guy is not doing much for education except take credit for projects that started way before he came and effed things up even more. Bologna Accord may not have been his doing but not flagging it? Big FAIL.)

Environment: Tony Oposa (mini-save. Atty. Oposa is great!)

ECONOMY/TRADE/FINANCE:

• Will increase FDI and local investments with long-term plans, peace and order, easy to follow policies, reward investor friendly LGs.
• No model for economic development. Philippines is unique.
• To lower power cost and improve energy security, firms should be allowed to import generation units tax-free, wave penalties for firms with own generation units, discover alternative resources, look into nuclear energy, but not BNPP.
• Alternative energy policy can be pursued in the long-term.
• Communications, all-weather roads in growth regions, more air and sea ports will be infrastructure priorities, funded through BOT.
• New taxes and priority tax policies: excise, specific and consumption taxes, but not income and corporate taxes.
• Agriculture, post-harvest facilities as complement to agrarian reform are priority economic sectors for development.
• Agriculture, marine resources, mineral resources are sectors to be protected/subsidized.
• Tourism, Education, services like lawyering are sectors to be liberalized.
• Foreigners should own land for certain residential, some tourism, industrial and commercial land but not agricultural, mineral or marine resources.
• Middle class to be expanded through quality jobs and more services.
• No open pit mining.
• Make us an investment destination, reduce cost of doing business, improve communications and transport facilities, ease tax rates, high-quality qorkforce, review tax incentives.
• Subsidize farmers, establish post-harvest facilities, easier access to markets, irrigation.
• Ports of entry should cater to cruise ships.
• Make beneficiaries agro-entreprenuers. Mechanize, go slow on acquisition.
• Give leeway to corporations as long as they disclose material information.
• Incentivize customs service to stop smuggling.
• Allow government employee-inventors to keep ownership of invention and charge royalties.
• Institutionalize role of Anti-Money Laundering Council and enforce law.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

• China, Japan and the US are vital to the Philippines. But also Middle East, EU and Australia.
• Economically, China is a big trading partner, big source of potential tourism and foreign investments. In security, they have spent a massive amount on unlimited military build up and no clear intentions on foreign security policy.
• No travel for first 6 months.
• Strengthen ties with EU, South America. Revitalize the BIMP-EAGA (?).
• Pursue claim on Spratlys due to baselines law.
  

ENVIRONMENT:

• Relocate informal settlers in vulnerable areas, provide employment opportunities in those sites to deal with extreme flooding. Construct a Paranaque spillway to drain Laguna de Bay. More elevated mass transport systems like the LRT or MRT in case of evacuation.
• Implement Clean Air Act. Institute lifestyle changes. Have SWM. No open dumpsites.
• Map the remaining natural forests in the country. Logging ban for natural forests, regeneration of trees in wooded areas.
• Implement an old law that each barangay should have rain water catchments.

HUMAN RIGHTS:

• focus on crime prevention and solution.
• Remove internal security from the AFP. Sustained deterrence against insurgents.

NATIONAL SECURITY:

• Peace in Mindanao must be solved under local circumstances, like the local peace and order councils, because each area has distinct customs and traditions.
• Communism is legal but can't advocate with funs.
• Additional funding to maintain AFP capability upgrade/modernization.
• Give president discretion for term of AFP chief.
• Dismantle private armies.
• US military aid is important.
• Closer military alliance with as many countries as possible.
• Military should not intervene in political issues.
• Private watchdogs in AFP.

EDUCATION/CULTURE/ARTS/SPORTS:

• introduce literacy in preschool, including in native tongue. P1.5 billion a year in teacher training. Set up special student loan fund in SSS.
• Additional years.
• Do away with degree consciousness for promotions. (?? I'd rather have a manager with a Master's than one with none at all)

HEALTH CARE:

• Universal participative healthcare.
• Respect moral choice but government must help support the choice.
• Promote medical tourism.
• Provide incentives for local medical manufacturers.

JUDICIARY:

• Restore definition of judicial powers under old Constitution.
• GMA should not appoint CJ.
• Provide judiciary with more resouces by appointing qualified appointees.

CORRUPTION: full disclosure of any transaction except on national security. Create a culture and attitude against corruption in bureacracy.

STANDS ON:

Cha-cha: Yes, if transparent, constitutional convention.

VFA: continue.

Right of reply: some sort of reply.

Death penalty: against.

Divorce: already in Muslim laws.

Marriage expiration: that's crazy.

Gay rights: should be talked about objectively.