SUMMARY OF PROJECTS & PROGRAMS (2001-2009)

(As funded, initiated, secured and/or approved by Rep. Arthur “Dodo” Y. Pingoy, Jr., M.D.)

With a firm resolve to continue serving his provincemates in any capacity even after his final term in the House of Representatives expires next year, Rep. Arthur “Dodo” Y. Pingoy, Jr. humbly reports to the people of South Cotabato on the various projects and programs accomplished during his incumbency from July 2001 up to present.

P448-M infrastructure projects

Infrastructure cornered the highest allotment in terms of amount in pesos totaling over P448 million funded and secured by Rep. Pingoy from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and from other government agencies and offices. These funds were allocated for the construction, improvement, repair and rehabilitation of at least 130 schoolbuildings, 31 roads (including farm-to-market roads), 25 bridges, 21 flood control structures, 199 multi-purpose buildings, over 43 multi-purpose pavements, 73 potable water systems & other water system structures, as well as more than 20 electrification projects, all of which were implemented by various government agencies and local government units in South Cotabato. (see Figure 1)

Multi-purpose buildings, which amounted to more than P194 million of the total allocation for infrastructure, include more or less 15 day care centers, nine public markets, six health centers, three (12) senior citizens centers, seven municipal gyms, 32 barangay halls, 69 barangay gyms, two (2) barangay stages, and (2) two workshop centers.

More than 50,000 scholarship grantees

From School Year 2002-2003 up to present, Rep. Pingoy continues to provide educational assistance to qualified elementary, highschool and tertiary level students in South Cotabato under the AYP Scholarship Program which has sustained support to at least 51,152 scholars with total funding of ________. (see Figure 2)

Figure 2. AYP Scholars (2001-2009)

A total of 165 computers sets with printers and several typewriters were also distributed by Rep. Pingoy to more than a hundred public elementary and secondary schools, as well as several barangays and government offices in the 2nd District. Books and school supplies were given to 101 schools, including the Special Education Center Program at Koronadal National Comprehensive Highschool (KNCHS).

Seventeen (17) day care centers also received a total of 9,102 sets of notebooks from Cong. Pingoy who likewise distributed more than a thousand free t-shirts to Day Care students in T’boli town.

Over 80,000 beneficiaries of health various program

Rep. Pingoy’s Regular Medical Mission served a total of 62,229 beneficiaries throughout the province with an unprecedented record of 24,008 children circumcised under Operation Tuli -- a feat that could even qualify for a Guiness Record -- while some 23,806 individuals received dental services. Another 13,627 constituents were also attended under the Eye Checkup Program, in addition to at least 788 who underwent minor ear-piercing operations. (see Figure 3)

Figure 3. AYP Medical Mission

At least 20,000 constituents -- as well as their dependents – in the different localities of South Cotabato were enrolled under the National Health Insurance Program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth), made possible because Rep. Pingoy continuously allotted funds to cover their counterpart share in insurance premiums payments, and for which Philhealth Region XII cited the senior lawmaker for having the most number of enrollees to the program under the legislative sponsorship category.

Apart from foregoing, thousands of mostly indigents constituents from the province were granted medical assistance worth P3.2 million since 2001 from Rep. Pingoy’s Medical Assistance Fund which were allocated to the Davao Medical Center (DMC), Philippine Heart Center (PHC), Philippine General Hospital (PGH), and National Kidney Transplant Institute (NKTI) for the use by less fortunate provincemates needing medicines, medical and hospital care services.

Sets of Medical Kits were also purchased and distributed to augment the medical supply of a number of local health centers districtwide.

2,651 recipients of livelihood packages & trainings

Since 2001, at least eight (8) livelihood programs have been sponsored by Cong. Pingoy benefiting some 2,651 families in his District. These programs, which were implemented in partnership with the Technology and Livelihood Resource Center, the Department of Agriculture and Department of Social Welfare and Development, among others, include: community-based credit assistance program through the Self-Employment Assistance for Kaunlaran, otherwise known as SEA-K which involved 1,321 constituents coming from 72 community-based sectoral organizations; Tricyle Pangkabuhayan with 77 beneficiaries; Distribution of sewing machines to 30 qualified recipients; Dispersal program of 305 hogs, 100 cabers, and 50 goats to 455 families; Reflexology trainings for a total of 80 participants; and Livelihood trainings in making fashion accessories to 688 enterprising individuals who were given each a free Livelihood Kit.

Social service assistance to thousands of indigents

Thousands of indigent constituents facing critical or distress situations were also provided by Rep. Pingoy with necessary interventions and financial assistance through the allocation of funds totaling P29 million since 2001 to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) both at its central office in Quezon City and the Regional Field Office XII in Koronadal City. The beneficiaries were provided burial assistance, transport, food, and medical allowances, among others.

P131.60 million fund for LGUs

Recognizing the insufficiency of funds in his District’s seven (7) municipalities to implement government functions devolved from the national to local government units (LGUs), Cong. Pingoy allocated from his PDAF a total P131.59 million as financial assistance to the towns of Banga (P7.50 million), Lake Sebu (P11.50 million), Norala (P21.09 million), Sto. Niño (19.50 million), Surallah (P10.10 million), T’boli (P1.90 million), and Tantangan (P26.62 million).

These funds are on top of the total amount of P33.38 million that Rep. Pingoy allotted to the Provincial Government of South Cotabato.

Support to various organizations

Another P3.15 million was given to more than 30 socio-civic, community-based, and non-governmental organizations and associations as well as cooperatives in the province.

Patrol vehicles, Multi-Cabs, Firetruck & motorcyles

Seven (7) patrol vehicles, 44 motorcycles and 77 patrol-type multi-cabs were distributed by Cong. Pingoy to the different barangays of Banga, Norala, Sto. Niño, Surallah, Tantangan, Sebu, and T’boli, including the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) local chapter, the Provincial Commands of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). He also requested the provision of a firetruck from the Bureau of Fire Protection for the Banga Fire Station.

Republic Act No. 9711

PRESS STATEMENT

By: Congressman Arthur “Dodo” Y. Pingoy, Jr., M.D.

Representative, 2^nd District-South Cotabato, Chairman, Committee on Health

South Wing-Rm. 502, House of Representatives, Constitution Hills, Q.C.; Tel. Nos.: 931-6313; 931-5001 loc 7280

Date of release: 15 August 2009

Republic Act No. 9711
"Food and Drugs Administration Act of 2009"
(BFAD Strengthening Bill) to be signed by GMA on Tuesday (August 18, 2009).

Congressman Arthur “Dodo” Y. Pingoy, Jr., M.D., Chairman of the Committee on Health of the House of Representatives and 3rd termer representative of the 2nd District of South Cotabato said that the Food and Drugs Administration Act of 2009 will be signed into law by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Tuesday (August 18, 2009).

Chairman Pingoy, principal author of the bill, made the announcement following a confirmed advisory by top officials of Malacañang and the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO). He received the confirmation while attending a full-day consultative conference and forum with senior citizens at Maltana, Tampakan, South Cotabato organized by 54 senior citizens key officers of the 14 barangays of the said municipality.

The “BFAD Strengthening Bill” has long been a priority legislative measure of Malacañang aimed at protecting and promoting the right to health of the Filipino people through an effective regulatory system of all health products responsive to the country’s health needs and problems,” Chairman Pingoy said. This legislation goes far more than just renaming the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) to the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) as it strengthens the agency’s administrative and technical capability to effectively perform its regulatory functions of licensing, registration and monitoring. Now, the safety, efficacy and quality of drugs, pharmaceutical and other health products are assured, even long after those products are registered and sold to the market,” he explained.

“An essential component of the bill is the retention of operating funds derived from charges and fees in the agency’s exercise of its regulatory powers to enable the new FDA to upgrade its laboratory equipment and facilities, as well as to augment its manpower personnel not only in its new regional laboratories but also those assigned to closely and periodically monitor all health products, whether they be found at the streets, markets or malls,” he said.

“It can now even order the ban, recall and withdrawal of any health product found to have caused the death, serious illness or serious injury to person, including those found to be imminently injurious, unsafe, dangerous or grossly deceptive to the consuming public, and through the maintenance of bonded warehouses, its personnel will be able preserve the integrity and safeguard the custody of goods confiscated in strategic areas of the country especially at major ports of entry.”

“Also, with the establishment of a regulatory enforcement unit (REU) akin to that in the United States, we will expect a more effective enforcement of the agency’s orders and directives, as well as search and arrest warrants issued by the courts in connection with violations under this law and related laws concerning the regulation of health products.”

Rep. Pingoy said that even imported toys offered as part of kiddie meal bundles from popular food-chain stores will not be spared including popular herbal supplements, sub-standard medical devices and cosmetic products widely sold in department stores. With its improved mandate to improve, upgrade and increase its capability to test, calibrate, assay and examine samples of health products and the conduct and/or audit of centers conducting bioavailability and bioequivalence tests based on established pharmaceutical standards, Chairman Pingoy also expects that there will be more drug companies who will venture in the manufacture, packaging and distribution of generic drugs, thereby contributing further to the lowering of costs of available drugs and medicines. “Without a tougher and stronger FDA, the implementation of the Cheap Medicines Law would not be effective and complete, as it is a necessary component to it,” Chairman Pingoy added.

He also vowed to help fast-track current legislative initiatives seeking to restore the tax exemptions previously enjoyed by the country’s senior citizens prior to the passage of the E-VAT law, in reference to a 1992 law (R.A. 9257) that granted 20% discount on their purchase of goods and services like purchase of medicines, laboratory tests and diagnostic services and dental care; a minimum of 20% discount in admission fees in theaters and cinemas, concert halls, and other similar places of leisure and amusement; a 20% discount in fares for domestic air and sea travels as well as in public railways, skyways and bus fares and funeral and burial services; and special discount programs on purchases of basic commodities in markets and shopping centers. # # #

History of Republic Act No. 9711

09 July 2007

Congressman Arthur “Dodo” Y. Pingoy, Jr., M.D., Chairman of the Committee on Health, filed House Bill No. 875. The bill was entitled: An Act Strengthening the Regulatory Capacity of the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) by Establishing Adequate Testing Laboratories and Field Offices, Upgrading its Equipment, Augmenting its Human Resource Complement, Giving Authority to retain its Income and for Other Purposes, Amending Certain Sections of Republic Act No. 3720, As Amended, and Appropriating Funds Thereof. Its short title is the “Bureau of Food and Drugs Empowerment and Strengthening Act”.

31 July 2007

House Bill No. 875 was read during plenary session and referred to the Committee on Health.

12 December 2007

Committees on Health and Appropriations submitted Committee Report No. 203 to the House of Representatives with the recommendation that House Bill 3293 be approved in substitution (after considering the other inputs of some members of the House of Representatives) of House Bill No. 875.

30 April 2008

House Bill read on Second Reading

05 May 2008

Senate counterpart bill filed by Senator Pia Cayetano read on First Reading and Referred to the Senate Committee(s) on Health and Demography; and Finance;

12 May 2008

House Bill read on Third Reading.

30 October 2008

Senate counterpart bill returned to the Senate jointly by the Committee(s) on Health and Demography and Finance per Committee Report No. 104, recommending that it be considered in SBN-2645;

19 January 2009

House of Representatives requested the Senate for a conference on the disagreeing provisions of HBN-3293 and SBN-2645, and designated Representatives Pingoy Jr. (A.), Biron MD (F.), Pichay (P.), Alvarez (A.), Lagman (E.), Garin (J.), Locsin Jr. (T.), Valdez (E.), Escudero III (S.) and Hontiveros-Baraquel (A.T.), as its conferees to the Bicameral Conference Committee on December 16, 2008;

27 January 2009

Senate agreed to the request of the House of Representatives for a conference on the disagreeing provisions of SBN-2645 and HBN-3293, and designated Senators Legarda, Companera Pia S. Cayetano and Mar Roxas as its conferees to the Bicameral Conference Committee on January 22, 2009;

13 April 2009

House of Representatives elected Representative Garcia (P.) as additional conferee to the Bicameral Conference Committee on the disagreeing provisions of HBN-3293 and SBN-2645;

April to May 2009

Legislative Technical Staff of Chairman Pingoy with Legislative Technical Staff of Senator Cayetano, on eight occasions, worked on the final draft of the bill.

Bicameral Committee met thrice to discuss and approve the final draft.

03 June 2009

Conference Committee Report submitted to the Senate recommending that SBN-2645, in consolidation with HBN-3293 be approved as reconciled; Sponsorship speech of Senator Pia S. Cayetano on the Conference Committee Report;

Conference Committee Report approved by the Senate;

Conference Committee Report approved by the House of Representatives;

06 July 2009

Enrolled copies of the consolidated version of SBN-2645 and HBN-3293 were sent to the House of Representatives for the signature of the Speaker and the Secretary General;

21 July 2009

Enrolled copies of the consolidated version of SBN-2645 and HBN-3293 were received by the Senate already signed by the Speaker and the Secretary General of the House of Representatives;

23 July 2009

Enrolled copies of the consolidated version of SBN-2645 and HBN-3293, sent to the Office of the President of the Philippines, Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for her signature and approval

18 August 2008

Signing of the law.

DISTRICT-WIDE PROJECT

EDUCATION

• Scholarships

Student beneficiaries for Elementary
Student beneficiaries for High School
Student beneficiaries for College

• TESDA Educational Assistance
• CHED Educational Assistance
• DOST Application Center
• School Buildings / Day care Centers Constructed
• Computer Distribution to Schools / Offices
• Books Distribution to various Public and Private Schools
• Chair Distribution to Schools

HEALTH

• Philhealth Coverage of Day Care Workers, BHW's, BNS, Tricycle Drivers, and SEA-K members
• District Wide Rabies Campaign
• Distribution of Medical Kit
  
• Medical/ Dental/Operation Tuli/ Eye Check-up
• Assistance for Individual in Crisis Situation (AICS)

patient assisted in Manila Hospitals
patient assisted in Davao Medical Center
patient beneficiaries of blood services

• Financial Assistance to the DURO-DURO INIDORO Program

INFRASTRUCTURE

• Multi-purpose Buildings
• Multi-purpose Pavements
• School Buildings/ Day Care Centers
• Bridges (construction/ repair)
• Roads (opening/ concreting/ asphalting)
• Drainage / flood control
• Water systems Installation / repair
• Irrigation Systems
• Senior Citizen Buildings

LIVELIHOOD

• SEA-K Livelihood Assistance Program
• Tricycle Pangkabuhayan Program
• Financial Assistance to BHW Livelihood Projects
• Financial Assistance to Sta. Cruz Mission
• Financial Assistance to Cooperatives
• Therapeutic Massage Training and Livelihood Program

TRANSPORTATION

• Vehicles for LGU's/ Offices
• Multi-cabs/ Motorcycles
  

Press Release: Holiday Bill

PRESS STATEMENT

Hon. Arthur “Dodo” Y. Pingoy, Jr., M.D.,

Representative, 2^nd District-South Cotabato

Chairman, Committee on Health, House of Representatives, Congress of the Philippines

Rm. 502-South Wing, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Constitution Hills, Quezon City

Tel. Nos.: 931-6313; Telefax 931-5001 loc 7280

17 July 2009

PGMA signs South Cotabato Holiday Bill

“A long-awaited holiday for South Cotabateños”, says Cong Pingoy

Arthur “Dodo” Y. Pingoy, Jr., a senior member of the House of Representatives and representative of the 2^nd District of South Cotabato announced today that, finally, South Cotabato will enjoy a special non-working holiday starting this year as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed yesterday Republic Act No. 9654 entitled “An Act Declaring July 18^th a Special Nonworking Holiday in the Province of South Cotabato in Commemoration of its Foundation Anniversary and the Culmination of the T’nalak Festival.”

The President signed into law the said holiday bill during his visit to Davao City and Cotabato City where she attended several even like the culmination of the League of Municipalities (LMP) Zero Waste Caravan at the Waterfront Insular Hotel following her trip from Egypt, the inauguration the Awang-cotabato Airport Access Road Project as part of the administration’s initiative to spur tourism and economic development in Cotabato City and the province of Maguindanao.

“The long wait is over. Now, there will be more people especially the greater masses of South Cotabateños who will be able to participate and celebrate the event with appropriate programs and ceremonies with the approval of this law,” Rep. Pingoy said.

“The declaration of our foundation day as an official non-working holiday marks a new era that gives greater opportunity for us to pay our respect to all our forebears and all those who came here before us, as well as to every South Cotabato resident today who are collectively working to shape an even better future for our beloved province,” he said.

Rep. Pingoy, Chairman of the Committee on Health, noted that during the previous years, the participation in the different activities during the celebration was mostly limited to the provincial employees and some volunteer and civic groups due to the fact that July 18 always fell on a regular working day. He said that the only exception is if it falls on a Sunday.

Now on his third and last term, Rep. Pingoy describes the approval of the South Cotabato Holiday bill as very timely and momentous as it was made a day before the culmination of the T’nalak Festival this year.

This annual festival of the province showcases the richness of the culture and historical development of the province and the unity of its people amidst their cultural diversity, as well as the notable achievements and sterling advancements of the South Cotabateños in the promotion of peace, trade, investments and tourism of the province.

“I filed this legislative initiative since the year 2001 during my first term in Congress. I remained ardent and steadfast on this initiative, and campaigned vigorously all these years not only with my colleagues at the House of Representatives but also with the Senate, knowing that South Cotabateños had long clamored for this long-awaited holiday.”

“Finally, on the eighth year of my labor and campaign, my efforts bore fruit and as I begin to serve the last year of my term this July, this year, may this successful legislative endeavor be one of my lasting gifts for all the people of South Cotabato, aside from the reforms I have initiated and led notably in the field of public health policy and medical care and social welfare legislation.”

“I thank House Deputy Speaker Pablo Garcia and the Chairman of the House Committee on Revision of Laws, and Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri for successfully steering this measure at the Senate, and my special thanks, too, to Senator Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” C. Aquino, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government, and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile for supporting me on this legislation, as well as to our beloved President, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,” Pingoy said.

The province of South Cotabato was created by virtue of Republic Act No. 4849 which was enacted on July 18, 1966. The following year marked the first observance of its foundation anniversary and since then, every July 18 of the year became the traditional celebration of such occasion.

Mabuhay! 10th T'nalak Festival of South Cotabato

Cong. Arthur "Dodo" Y. Pingoy,. Jr. M.D.
sponsoring the

HOUSE BILL #01125

"AN ACT DECLARING JULY 18TH AS SPECIAL NONWORKING HOLIDAY IN THE PROVINCE OF SOUTH COTABATO IN COMMEMORATION OF ITS FOUNDATION ANNIVERSARY AND THE CULMINATION OF THE T'NALAK FESTIVAL"



NO. HB01125

FULL TITLE : AN ACT DECLARING JULY 18TH AS SPECIAL NONWORKING HOLIDAY IN THE PROVINCE OF SOUTH COTABATO IN COMMEMORATION OF ITS FOUNDATION ANNIVERSARY AND THE CULMINATION OF THE T'NALAK FESTIVAL

SHORT TITLE : Declaring July 18 as Special Nonworking Holiday in the Province of South Cotabato
BY CONGRESSMAN PINGOY, ARTHUR "DODO" JR. Y. M.D.
DATE FILED ON 2007-07-16

CO-AUTHORS:

GARCIA, PABLO P.

REFERRAL ON 2007-08-01 TO THE COMMITTEE ON REVISION OF LAWS
SIGNIFICANCE: LOCAL

SUBJECT: HOLIDAYS

DATE READ: 2007-08-01
COMMITTEE REPORT NO.00273 submitted on 2008-02-20
SUBMITTED BY:REVISION OF LAWS
RECOMMENDATIONS:approval without amendments
DATE INCLUDED IN OB:2008-02-26
BUSINESS FOR THU/FRI ON:2008-03-04
BILL APPROVED ON SECOND READING :2008-03-05
DATE DISTRIBUTED :2008-03-05

REMARKS :On Mar. 05, 2008, the Body approved to consider the Explanatory Note of the Bill as the sponsorship remarks on the measure; terminated the period of sponsorship and debate thereon; approved the amendments as contained in the Ctte. Rpt.,if any; terminated the period of amendments thereon; and approved the same on Second Reading.

DATE APPROVED BY THE HOUSE ON THIRD READING :2008-03-10

HOUSE VOTES: YEAS:197 NAYS:0 ABSTAIN:.0

House Bills Co-Authored

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.