Fernando ready to sing during gov’t events

If Bagumbayan Party vice presidential candidate Bayani Fernando gets the post, the government could count not only on his skills as an engineer but also on his talent as a singer.

In an interview, Fernando said he’d be willing to sing in government events, especially in functions welcoming members of the diplomatic corps and visiting heads of state.

A smiling Fernando told the Philippine Daily Inquirer: "If it will create better relationships (why not use my talent)?"

Fernando has been using his talent in courting voters.

He usually gives in to requests for songs in the forums he attends and belts out "Pitong Gatang."

He also gives out copies of his still unreleased CD, which contains recordings of all-original songs. The CD is titled: "May BF ka na ba? (Do you already have a BF?)"

Fernando said: "I think this is an advantage (over other vice presidential candidates). In this campaign, every bit of talent counts."

He did not get any formal voice lessons but singing has been his favorite pastime all these years. He said he probably got his interest in singing from his mother who was a pianist.

He has expressed preference for belting out standards although he occasionally sings country-style pieces.

But his all-time favorite piece is the song "This is the moment" which, he has noted, is also apt for his vice presidential bid.

Fernando also emerged as the winner in GMA7's "Celebrity Duets" in 2008.

He said he liked singing because "when you sing, you can really feel the message that you want to say."

But aside from his voice, Fernando is also confident about his skills as an engineer, which he said he would maximize in office.

In an earlier interview, Fernando said he had been "very hands-on" in his vice presidential campaign, saying that in order to maximize limited resources, "we have to be creative."

His campaign is indeed creative: Fernando designed two trucks to look like "Optimus Prime," a fictional character in the animated series "Transformers." Fernando and his presidential bet, Senator Richard Gordon, have used "Transformers" in their campaign slogans.

The first truck accompanies Fernando and Gordon in the few campaign sorties they hold together; most of the time they campaign separately to maximize time.

The second truck has been going around provinces in Luzon non-stop since the campaign began.

But Fernando said his most important accomplishment was being able to "change the character" of people in Metro Manila when he became Marikina City mayor and chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

Some critics accuse him of being anti-poor, recalling the MMDA's sidewalk clearing operations against illegal sidewalk vendors and other illegal structures during his time, but Fernando said the operations had made streets safer for pedestrians, vendors and motorists.

He said: "It is not anti-poor. It is implementing the law. It is about bringing order."

Church vows 10-million votes for Fernando

Former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando, the vice presidential candidate of Bagumbayan Party, has received the endorsement of the Church Without Wall International (CWOW), a religious group with connection to 20,000 evangelical and Catholic churches in the country.

In a press statement, Archbishop John E. Ayudtud, the head of CWOW, said Fernando is the most qualified candidate for the position, saying there is no other man in political office like Fernando who cares genuinely for the people as evidenced by what he did to Marikina and Metro Manila.

Fernando was former mayor of Marikina City before he assumed the chairmanship of the MMDA.

Ayudtud said he believes that his strategy of “Bayani Evangelism” is an effective vehicle that would help the former MMDA chairman get elected as vice president. This can be achieved through person-to-person evangelization campaign which he called “Conversion-Duplication-Enlistment.”

“As pastors, we are trained to evangelize people, to accept Jesus Christ as personal savior. In the next three months, we will shift our evangelism work to put Fernando into office. Our battlecry in this parallel campaign is: Bayani Cares,” he added.

“I don’t have any doubt that through this strategy, with 100 pastors/workers duplicating exponentially daily up to the May 10 elections, that we will have 10 million voters in our database,” Ayudtud said.

Fernando is the running mate of Senator Richard Gordon under the Bagumbayan – Volunteers for the New Philippines Party.

Gordon and Fernando 'the transformers' get their act on the road

Now, two politician-administrators who pride themselves as "modernizers" have chosen this same town to launch their campaign to win the Philippines' top two posts in the coming May elections, and apply to the entire country what they say they achieved in Olongapo City and Marikina City, respectively.

At their proclamation rally in Imus on Tuesday, Bagumbayan standard bearer Sen. Richard Gordon and his running mate Bayani Fernando vowed to take their "Transformers" image seriously, and improve the education system and provide modernization to ensure progress for the country.

'Infrastructure czar'

Addressing the question of the Sangley Point port facility, Gordon wisely chose to focus on his now-familiar theme of taking a seemingly hopeless case and turning it into a success story.

He said among the first thing he would rehabilitate in Cavite once elected was Sangley Point, and modernize it into a container port. Projects like this, he said, would generate jobs for the people.

Gordon has repeatedly claimed that among his biggest achievements so far was the conversion of the huge Subic Bay Naval Base, a huge US naval facility adjacent to Olongapo City, into the Subic Bay Freeport under the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

Sangley Point, a former US naval base in Cavite, was turned over much earlier to the Philippine government in 1971 but quickly deteriorated thereafter.

In that regard, Gordon said he would appoint Fernando, former chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, as "infrastructure czar" that would oversee all the government projects for modernization, including railways and roads.

Bets should know where to post ads

-All candidates, even former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair Bayani Fernando, who is running for vice president, should direct their people to post their campaign materials only in designated places, said current MMDA Chair Oscar Inocentes.

“Being a former chairman, he (Fernando) knows that there are rules to be implemented. These candidates should be good examples to their followers,” Inocentes said in a statement.

Inocentes vowed to tear down all campaign materials found outside the designated areas in Metro Manila, “irrespective of political parties and affiliations.”

He said campaign posters were destroying the visual landscape of Metro Manila and violated the provisions of the Fair Elections Act regarding common poster areas.

He warned candidates and their political parties that legal cases would be filed against them should they fail to follow the rules on campaign advertisements.

As in previous elections, the MMDA is waiting to be deputized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to be the lead agency in removing illegal posters.

An agreement between the MMDA and the Comelec is expected to be signed at the regular Metro Manila Council meeting on Feb. 18.

Simultaneous with the start of the official campaign period, the MMDA has ordered its Roadway/Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group to remove all campaign materials illegally posted along major thoroughfares

Go Bayani Fernando

I met Bayani Fernando at Mcdo near Terminal 3 and he shakes hands with this blogger. His really friendly and down to earth. The blogger will surely vote for him based on his track record alone. But he is tied with my favorite Mar Roxas. Let just see who I will really vote this coming May 2010 election. If you want to contribute to Bayani Fernando campaign please text me at 09163601420 .

Look at bets’ track records—Dick and Bayani

THE PRESIDENTIAL-VICE PRESIDENTIAL “performance team” of Sen. Richard Gordon and former MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando were the guests at the Kapihan sa Manila for the first time last Monday, and the two told the people to vote according to the performance records of the candidates, not on their pedigree or survey ratings. In a pointed reference to rival presidential standard-bearers, Sen. Noynoy Aquino of the Liberal Party and former Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro of Lakas-Kampi, Gordon asked: “Why do we allow hacenderos to rule our country always?” Aquino, who is leading in the surveys, and Teodoro, who is kulelat, are both members of the Cojuangco clan who owns Hacienda Luisita.

Hacenderos have been the bane of our country and the oppressors of the poor since the Spanish times, Gordon said. That is why the Land Reform Law and the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law were passed by Congress to emancipate the Filipino farmer, but until now the hacenderos still want to rule the country, he said.

They have not even been able to run Hacienda Luisita properly, how can they run the whole Philippines with its numerous problems? Gordon asked. The hacienda is at present beset with labor problems. It was exempted from distribution to the tenants as mandated by CARP during the term of President Corazon Aquino, Noynoy’s mother and Gibo’s aunt.

What Bayani and I are offering the people is proven track records, Gordon said. “Performance, not pedigree.” Look at my performance as mayor of Olongapo, as chair of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), as secretary of tourism, and as senator, Gordon said. Look at the performance of Bayani as mayor of Marikina and as chair of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). Compare them to the performances of Noynoy and Gibo as congressmen for several terms, and recently as senator and defense secretary, respectively. What have they done? What significant bills have they authored?

Noynoy is banking on the assassination of his father and the recent death of his mother, does that qualify him as a good president? Gordon asked. My father (Olongapo Mayor James Gordon) was also assassinated and my mother also died while mayor, but I never used them to boost my candidacy. But there is no mention of the role Noynoy’s grandfather, Benigno Aquino Sr., played during the Japanese Occupation. (Aquino Sr. was president of the Kalibapi, the pro-Japanese and the only political party allowed in the Philippines during the Japanese Occupation.)

The best thing to happen to Noynoy was that both of his parents died early, commented somebody from the audience. Both parents of Gordon also died early, the father by assassination just like Ninoy, commented another, but he never used that to attract votes.

But what are they going to do if they are elected? Gordon and Fernando were asked. What reforms are they going to push?

Obviously, there are many reforms needed, said Gordon, but his priorities would be agriculture, education and health. We must assure that the people don’t go hungry. They cannot work if they are hungry. They cannot work either if they are sickly. And they need to be educated so they know what to do. People justify corruption if their families are hungry.

Fernando, an engineer, said he wants to guide the Philippines into the technological age. A lot of good things can be achieved now with technology, he said.

What Cabinet position would he want if elected?

“I want to head this special body to guide the nation into the technological age,” Fernando replied.

What department would he assign to his vice president? Gordon was asked.

“Obviously, the Department of Public Works,” Gordon answered without hesitation. “At least a third to half of funds appropriated for public works projects are lost to inefficiency and corruption,” he said. “Fernando, being an engineer who knows the ropes, should be able to stop that.”

“Or he can be secretary of transportation,” Gordon added. “Products are expensive because of transportation costs. Improve transportation and costs will go down. Plenty of money is lost due to the traffic jams. All of that lost money are added to the costs of the food we eat.”

“The biggest mistake we have committed was to neglect the railroad and to depend on cargo trucks to ship produce from the producers to the consumers,” Gordon continued. “Costly transportation is also the reason we have a serious squatting problem in the urban areas. Workers want to live close to their places of work to save on time and fares. But they don’t have to be squatters in urban areas if they can commute to their homes in the provinces through fast trains. Workers in Tokyo, Japan, for example, commute everyday to their homes as far away as the equivalent of Manila to Tarlac or Pangasinan and La Union because of the Bullet Train.”

Gordon and Fernando continued: “And that’s the reason for the traffic congestion in Metro Manila. Cargo trucks from the northern provinces going south of Manila have to pass through Metro Manila, even when they have nothing to do there, because there is no other way, and thus contribute to the traffic jams. With the railroad, cargo doesn’t have to pass through downtown Metro Manila.”

Another cause of traffic jams is that huge truck-trailers carrying container vans from the piers to their final destinations compete with downtown traffic. There used to be railroad tracks from the piers to the Tutuban terminal and, from there, to points north and south of Manila. Why not rehabilitate these tracks and transport cargo from the piers through the railroad so cargo trucks don’t have to add to the traffic congestion?

Gordon said one of his priorities would be to rehabilitate, modernize, and expand the railroad.

Anything' could happen in women's urinals - Fernando

Vice presidential candidate Bayani Fernando slammed yesterday a plan by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to put up covered women’s urinals along major roads in the metropolis.

“People can do anything inside the covered urinals,” Fernando, a former MMDA chairman, said at the weekly Kapihan sa Manila Hotel media forum.

Instead, he said, the MMDA should put up more standard toilets for women.

“We have so many of these…but the problem is we cannot maintain them,” Fernando said.

However, he said the MMDA must find a suitable design for women’s urinals, adding that Sweden is the only country that has installed urinals for women.

Earlier, MMDA general manager Robert Nacianceno said putting up covered public urinals for women is among the proposed projects of the agency this year.

He said the MMDA will allocate funding to maintain the women’s urinals, the first of which will be installed underneath footbridges constructed by the agency.

The pink urinals, a number of which were installed along busy thoroughfares and other areas in the metropolis during Fernando’s term, are meant to discourage men from taking a leak against the walls.

The use of the urinals is free of charge, though they have become the subject of criticism – the urinals have become smelly due to lack of maintenance.

Bayani Fernando reveals blueprint for Philippines

Proud of being an engineer with a blueprint for the Philippines, Bayani Fernando, running mate of Senator Richard Gordon, is gearing up for his biggest political project to date. He is all eyes on the vice presidency and, unlike rivals for the post, is not interested in any Cabinet portfolio in case he wins.

This Wednesday (Jan 27) on ‘Probe Profiles,’ Fernando talks about his plans to transform the country by focusing on two basic features of governance: enforcing the law and instilling discipline. He cites his track record as three-term mayor of Marikina and chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority as proof that what the country needs is a leader with political will.

In a one-on-one interview, Probe Profiles’ host Cheche Lazaro examines the self-styled Mr. Political Will, who critics believe fits the mold of a dictator. She asks Fernando about his personal circumstances, including allegations that his family businesses benefited from contracts inked while he was in office.

Enjoying Dinagayang

IT WAS a colorful Iloilo last weekend as hundreds of thousands of visiting local and foreign tourists trooped to Iloilo City and a million crowd altogether enjoyed Iloilo Dinagyang, the best tourism event in the Philippines.

After the Holy Mass to honor the Sto. Nino, our grouped moved on the Freedom Grandstand where fellow media figures awaited the big event preceded by the arrival of national and local officials of the country among them led by Mayor Jerry Trenas and Vice Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and Councilor Jamjam Baronda of Iloilo who joined Governor Sally Zaldivar Perez, Sen. Tito Sotto, MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando, Senator Dick Gordon of the Red Cross and Congressman Bongbong Marcos including the beauties of Dinagyang.

Iloilo Red Cross Chairman Ramon Cua Locsin and JCI National VP Jomarie Moriente also enjoyed the festivity along with GMA TV Bacolod Station manager Tina Magbojos, SM City Bacolod PR lady Lorena Martinez, and San Miguel Beer boss Emil Baja and Roger Macrohon.

It was another mark for Iloilo and those who were there could not forget the highlights enjoyed by many from the downtown area up to Smallville.

We came to enjoy Dinagyang and as we met former Marikina Mayor Bayani Fernando along the road we simply trailed on him as we enjoyed the festivity.

Till the next Dinagyang! Viva Senor Sto. Nino!

MMDA to seize hung laundry

Another good story and good work from Bayani Ferando..

METRO Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando said yesterday MMDA agents will confiscate clothes hung outside houses in the metropolis as part of its “Metro Guapo” beautification program.

Fernando said members of the sidewalk clearing operation unit of the agency will seize laundry or whatever other things that are hung to dry on clotheslines, especially in front of houses.

The confiscation of clothes and other eyesores is part of the agency’s Metro Guapo project, which aims to beautify Metro Manila.

“You should stop hanging your lingerie and other clothes outside your houses, particularly in front of your residences. Our people would confiscate if they see them,” Fernando yesterday warned Metro Manilans during his radio program.

He said clothes that are hung in front of homes is not a pretty sight and some residents even hang their clothes in the streets.

“We should be disciplined enough to avoid using the streets and roads as a place for our clothes. These things could obstruct the pedestrians passing these streets,” he said.

Meanwhile, as part of the agency’s Metro Guapo project, the MMDA chief also warned shirtless, or “topless,” men from wandering in the streets.

“Before you go out of your houses, make sure you are dressed appropriately,” he said, noting that topless men are also considered eyesores.

Shirtless men caught by MMDA personnel will be told to return to their homes and put on clothes before they could go back outside.

The banning of shirtless men originated in Marikina City, where Fernando used to serve as mayor years ago.

The ordinance in the Shoe Capital of the Philippines is still in effect and is now being implemented by Fernando’s wife, incumbent Mayor Marides Fernando.

Bayani Fernando

Bayani Fernando is the current chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority, or MMDA. Previously, he was the mayor of Marikina City, Philippines. He has done several cleanliness and beautification projects.

SECRETARY BAYANI F. FERNANDO

When Secretary Fernando assumed office as Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways in January 15, this year, he announced his policy directions in the Department. These are:

Better Engineering

One of our major policy thrusts in the DPWH is better and proper engineering. This is a practical instrument to cut down costs of infrastructure, while safeguarding its quality and service standards, and to curb graft and corruption. This will be pursued in the following areas:

1.1 Engineering Design

We have directed our technical staff to provide more resources to engineering surveys and investigations and designs. This will reduce the incidence of large variation orders during project implementation.




Especially important is our objective of exploring more cost-effective designs than those presently applied. Our target is to generate at least 30 percent savings in project costs. This involves the use of “value engineering”, adopting innovative or new appropriate technology suited to the specific requirements at hand.

Savings derived from improved engineering will be used to implement more infrastructure which will directly benefit the public.

1.2 Quantification

With more thorough engineering surveys and designs, the DPWH will also undertake more precise quantification of work items and costs to lessen cost overruns.

Better quantification will likewise be introduced in the project implementation, particularly measurement of actual works completed to ensure that there is no “overbilling” and that payments to be made are commensurate to the work actually done.

1.3 Quality Control

The supervision of projects will be guided by the rigorous implementation of quality control standards to ensure that work is strictly carried out in accordance with approved plans and specifications. More quality assurance and inspectorate teams will be in place, and computerized project monitoring reports will be submitted. No final payment shall be made to any contractors unless he has completed his “clean-up activities.”

2. Maximize the Use of Existing Roads and Other Infrastructure

The DPWH is taking several measures to maximize the use of existing national roads. This will enable us to avoid costly expansion or new construction. Among these measures are the following:

2.1 Removal of Obstructions Within the Road Right-of-Way

We have issued DPWH Department Order No. 52, s. 2003, whereby all District Engineers are directed to immediately remove or cause the removal of all obstructions and prohibited uses within the right-of-way (ROW) of all national roads, pursuant to the provisions of Section 23 of PD No. 17 (Philippine Highway Act) and the National Building Code and its implementing rules and regulations.

2.2 Infrastructure Maintenance

Maintenance and repair of national roads will be intensively done.

2.3 Traffic Engineering and Management

The DPWH is collaborating with the MMDA in instituting immediate, low-cost and doable measures through traffic engineering and management.

2.4 Pedestrian Overpasses

The DPWH will build more pedestrian overpasses especially across major thoroughfares to provide for public safety and convenience.

2.5 Application to Major Corridors

The abovementioned measures will be immediately adopted to the major radial and circumferential routes in Metro Manila.

3. Rationalization of Roads and other Transport Modes

3.1 Construction of Bridges

We are giving priority to the construction of bridges across rivers and other waterways to ease traffic flow. These bridges will be strategically located, preferably where there are exis-ting connecting roads, and where they could divert substantial traffic from congested routes.

4. National Building Code

The DPWH is finalizing the amendment of the set of implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the National Building Code to make it more responsive to the need to provide for a safer and healthful environment. The Department will exercise its authority under the law as the overall adminis-tration and enforcement arm of the Code, through the Building Officials.

Honorable BAYANI F. FERNANDO

MMDA Chairman Bayani F. Fernando formally assumes his post as Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) after outgoing DPWH, now Justice Secretary Simeon A. Datumanong turned-over the responsibility in a ceremony held yesterday (January 15) at the DPWH Head Office, Manila.

Fernando, aged 55, holds the DPWH Secretary position concurrently with his position as MMDA Chairman.

Fernando, an engineer, has been the mayor of Marikina City for nine (9) years and MMDA chair since June last year.

During his incumbency as Marikina Mayor, Fernando has been conferred with at least 55 major regional and national awards such as 1998 The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL) award by the Philippine Jaycee Senate and the Insurance Life Assurance Company, Konrad Adenauer Medal of Excellence Award, 1999 by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) and Local Government Foundation (LOGODEF), Philippine Quality Award and 1998 and 1999 by the Development Academy of the Philippines and the Department of Trade and Industry, and many others.

He also served as President of the Metro Manila Mayors’ League from 2000 to 2001 and Vice-Chairman of the Metro Manila Authority from 1994 to 1995.

In his speech, Fernando enjoined the employees to just do their respective duties and responsibilities.

On the alleged corruption in the DPWH, Fernando said that he will deal with it through engineering approach.

“There are engineering ways to prevent the commission of graft,” he said.

When asked on his priority as DPWH secretary, Fernando said that he will direct DPWH regional directors and district engineers to clear the roadways of obstructions.

He also said that as DPWH Secretary who has supervision on the implementation of the National Building Code, he will see to it that the said law be strictly enforced.

For his part, an emotional outgoing DPWH Secretary Datumanong thanked the DPWH officials and employees for the support they have extended to him during his incumbency.