Senator Mar Roxas is going the way of new media, by inviting a few bloggers to a casual meetup later tonight. Since most of The Filipino Voices writers and contributors cannot make it, they have submitted a few questions for The Senator.

This post will serve as an online Q and A for Senator Mar Roxas, hopefully the questions will be answered. The meeting is supposed to center on The SONA and VAT, other questions will be discussed too. Without further ado, here are the questions that have been submitted thus far.

1. Please outline in precise terms in 3-5 points what he proposes to do differently if given the power. ( from Benign0)

2. what will his policy be with regards to population and reproductive health law. (from Jon Limjap)

3. given that his family is among the Oligarchs of Philippine Society, how does he feel about the need to address the issue of inequality in the distribution of property and wealth? In other words, in his view, what role, if any, do the Oligarchs have in transforming the Philippines into a more equal society? If he can cite concrete proposals, then so much the better. (from Chuck aka CVJ)

4. Mine is a simple question, but a tough policy to implement. Health Care, what are your plans? I know that The Cheaper Medicine’s bill is a start, but what about other aspects of a health care that will see to it that families do not have to worry about finding help when they face a medical problem or crisis. And how will he pay for such a comprehensive plan? If he has a plan, does he have a copy of it? (from Nick)

And the following is from Cocoy,

1. nobody likes taxes. the issue of oil and vat seam to revolve around exuberant price of oil. everyone hopes it’ll go back to US$80, but US$200 isn’t a farfetched thought these days either.

in a recent post, energy blog The Oil Drum linked to a recent published report by the Dutch energy institute, the Clingendael International Energy Program (CIEP) (http://europe.theoildrum.com/node/4358)

“that the floor price of oil is now 110 dollars per barrel, that supply will not rise beyond 100-105 million b/d in the coming decades, that there will be an oil supply constraint for most of the next decade, that there are insufficient quantities of alternative fuels available and that thus demand destruction is inevitable. CIEP is especially important because it is endorsed by amongst others BP, Shell Netherlands, Total E&P Netherlands, three Dutch Ministries, Wintershall, Vopak Oil Europe Middle East and several Dutch energy companies.”

Would any reduction in Oil VAT be cosmetic?

Would it be best to earmark taxes collected on oil to say— preferential treatment for the development and marketing and use of alternative fuels— for example, solar, wind just the tip of the iceberg? Maybe even give preferential treatment to the sale and use of non-fossil-fuel based vehicles. Maybe send this money as a grant to institutions to come up with alternative uses of energy— even maybe the set up of eco communities?

1b. what other ways do you think we should do to reduce our oil dependence?

1c. what do you think should be done going forward— in terms of our country’s energy need.

1d. what is your stand on the notion that today’s answer to oil should be in leap ahead ideas?

2. The president spoke against critics of her government’s policy on importing of rice. She cited that this has been the norm since the Spanish were here. She also cited that our rice fields are perennially on the path of storms and typhoons even as she cited She cited that during her term we’ve increased rice production per annum.

2a. Do you agree with her? If yes, why? What is she doing right?

2b. If you disagree, what do you think should be done instead?

2c. What is your stand on Agrarian reform? is it working? if it isn’t what do you think should be done instead?

3. The President failed (i’d say turned a blind eye entire) to touch on the recent Sulpicio tragedy. Not to mention the perennial cost of floods and storms and rain not just in Manila. I’m talking about the cost of classes being canceled on account of weather. i’m talking about the delay and loss in business transactions because of floods. i’m talking about the cost in lives that could be averted had we have better information. Does the government have figures on annual cost of such waste?

3a. It seems our ability to predict the weather is surprisingly stuck in the 20th century. Would it be possible to simply outsource our weather bureau?
3b. What do you think should be done to improve its present state?
3c. it is outside your current job description but i’d like to know your opinion on our water pumps seem to be filled with garbage and what ought to be done with it..

4. On Mindanao. It is a beautiful place, rich with possibilities and opportunities. The President seem to lean heavily on peace talks, instead of guns. Yet time and time again, the Armed Forces has forced these “terrorists” close to extinction, then we pull back. Would you agree with the assessment that these groups ought to be named bandits, and neither terrorist nor even Muslim extremist?

4a. In your humble opinion, what should be done with the political problem that is Mindanao? How can this country pull that area out and have it firing on all cylinders?
4b. Is federalism the answer?
4c. in a slightly out of topic discussion:

(i’m good if this isn’t answered)— a recent discussion over at a blog— Jon Taplin, on the Cost of Empire (the American empire) link is here: http://jtaplin.wordpress.com/the-cost-of-empire/

critiqued the Americans, saying “War on Terror” shouldn’t really be called a war. that it fools people to thinking Terror requires a military solution. he says that these groups ought to be named bandits. That the problem is a counter-terroristim/law enforcement one, rather than a Military solution.

everyone seem to be going through metal detectors as a precaution. but mall inspections are hardly useful in detecting threats.

4d. what is your opinion with regard to terrorism and what do you think should be done with it in the country?
4e. have we cultivated a culture of fear?

5. Do you think deregulating the transport sector to be a wise move? Let every jeep, taxi, bus operator determine for themselves what they ought to charge their passengers.

6. Graft. Everyone hates it. We all agree it is the elephant in the room that prevents development. Policing it seem to be a shot in the dark, what would you say, if we made graft legal? legislate that commissions and “for the boys” be official government policy— top it at 10% and make it all taxable.  Every consultant, every government official will be allowed to receive a commission for a job well done. it also leaves a clear cut playing field for corporations dealing with government to appropriately price their offer.

7. The president seem fond of intervening in the market place.  take her recent deal with the telecoms— text at 50 centavos. and her push against meralco. what is your position on this? Do you think government should intervene in the market place? How much, or how far should government be an active participant?

Lastly…

8. The country has a lot of hope— i’d like to think in spades. Given our recent political problems and the low trust rating given to the President—- there is also a lot of apathy with regard to government.  In my humble opinion, it isn’t hope we need it is Courage. Given your position as a legislator and maybe something else entire in the future—- and knowing the challenges facing this country going forward, what would you do? what would you do differently?

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