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| DSWD welcomes volunteers’ feedbacks, calls for greater understanding | ||||||||||||
| Amid various issues raised on the ongoing government disaster operations, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is calling for greater patience and understanding from various sectors in these trying times. “We recognize that efficiency is hampered due to stressful situations, but we are exerting our best efforts to respond to the whole process of addressing the needs of our typhoon-affected countrymen,” the Department said. It added that volunteer efforts and comments are welcome as long as these will facilitate and enhance existing disaster efforts. “Let us all work together to search and implement solutions for the benefit of the victims,” it said. Facebook post The DSWD cited the Facebook post of a volunteer detailing his observations when he and his friends went to the relief hub in Tacloban City. In his post, he raised a number of issues particularly on the relief goods that are “stocked for a long period of time,” on the handling of relief goods, on making the volunteers wait for their turn to repack, and on the Food-for-Work (FFW) Program, among others. The Department is thankful that issues such as these are brought to its attention. It assured the public that lessons are learned and improvements are made along the way. Clarifications The DSWD explained that to date, more than 1.2 million family food packs have already been distributed to victims of Typhoon Yolanda in Eastern Visayas alone since November 8. “That would translate to approximately 82,000 packs a day distributed in all the 40 towns of Leyte, 15 municipalities of Eastern Samar including Guiuan, and the 138 barangays of Tacloban City,” the Department expounded. This means food packs do not stay stacked inside the hubs for too long. They get sent out as soon as vehicles to be used for distribution are ready to be dispatched again. The Department also explained that a shifting schedules are followed in all repacking hubs. The volunteers, whose number has already reached the thousands, are not allowed to go inside the hub all at the same time to maintain order and maximize productivity in the centers. On the claim that bottled water were on the floor and rice were spilled from the sacks, the Department said that there were a few plastic bags of relief goods that were accidentally torn as a result of handling. The bottles of water that were on the floor were being readied for repacking in sacks. These were not packed when they were donated. The goods were piled outside the warehouse for easier loading to trucks and vans. The Department also explained that plastic bags were really a problem since there was no supply in the city as all establishments are closed. It added that the only plastic bag available can only fit three kilograms of rice instead of six. Thus, DSWD personnel would still order the items from Cebu and Manila. The FFW, which is an intervention for disaster victims where they are given food packs in exchange for doing community work such as repacking during relief operations, is exclusively for adults. “The FFW is a one way to facilitate the recovery of the victims from their trauma. Keeping them busy is one way of helping them cope with their traumatic experience and would give them a semblance of normalcy as they are already somehow earning,” it said. On top of the goods that they receive under the FFW, they still continue to receive food packs from the DSWD under the regular distribution cycle. | ||||||||||||
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| PHL attends ASEM High Level Meeting on Disaster Prevention and Relief in response to Climate Change | ||||||||||||
| 22 November 2013 –Assistant Secretary for European Affairs Maria Zeneida Angara Collinson called for a special focus on the agricultural sector in managing disaster risks in the ASEM High Level Meeting on Disaster Prevention and Relief in Response to Climate Change held from November 18 to 19 in Hanoi, Viet Nam. Convened more than a week after super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) struck the Philippines, meeting participants observed a minute of silence in honor of the victims affected by the calamity. ASEM2Themed, “Strengthening Asia-Europe Cooperation for Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainable Development”, the meeting noted that climate change has impacted negatively on sustainable development as seen in the extent of destruction and frequency of disasters in recent years. Participants acknowledged the need to strengthen collaboration and investment in disaster risk reduction and management. Assistant Secretary Angara Collinson, who delivered the closing remarks of the conference, urged the participants “not to lose momentum but rather, galvanize ourselves to find solutions, systems, innovation and technology to diminish the scourge of disasters, to preserve what we have painstakingly built, indeed, to protect our very lives.” The Conference adopted several recommendations for disaster risk prevention and response, including the Philippine proposal to mainstream disaster risk reduction in the policies and planning for the agricultural sector citing grave consequences on the poor and vulnerable agriculture-based communities. The Conference welcomed the Philippines’ hosting of the ASEM Conference on Technology and Innovation for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Climate Change Adaptation in September 2014. The Manila Conference next year will build on the proposals made in Hanoi and will follow it through with concrete actions. | ||||||||||||
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| DOE commits to restore power in Yolanda-hit areas by December 24 | ||||||||||||
| (Taguig City) The Department of Energy (DOE), alongside its attached agencies, continuously coordinates and addresses the status of the energy facilities amid the massive effect of Super Typhoon Yolanda in the central Philippines to restore power by 24 December 2013. In a meeting earlier today, Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla, together with the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) and the National Electrification Administration (NEA), drew out all necessary measures to speed up the mobilization of the rehabilitation efforts in the affected areas, such as technical people, construction materials and equipments, among others. Sec. Petilla also made a request to the agencies that “if technical people of electric cooperatives are available and can help the people of NGCP or the other way around for NEA, they can do so,” in order to quicken the repairs of the transmission facilities. NGCP reported that there were a total of 1,959 transmission facilities that were damaged including backbone transmission lines, steel poles, and a converter station. To speed up the repairs, NGCP said it has been installing Emergency Restoration Systems (ERS) in order to replace the transmission lines along with the continuous rehabilitation of the damaged facilities. ERS is a temporary transmission pole that can last up to 10 years. Permanent poles will be erected as soon as the power situation in the affected areas stabilizes. Also critical for bringing back the power in the Visayas is the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the high-voltage direct current (HVDC) converter station and the Ormoc-Cabacungan 350kv HVDC line which is targeted to be back online by 20 December 2013. The HVDC interconnects the Luzon and the Visayas grids. On the side of the distribution facilities, NEA reported that there are 17 electric cooperatives (EC) affected by the typhoon. These ECs respectively serve the islands of Northern Palawan, Bantayan and Camotes in Cebu and the provinces of Antique, Aklan, Biliran, Bohol, Capiz, Iloilo, Eastern Samar, Samar, and Leyte. As of November 21, several towns are already energized in the provinces of Aklan (5), Antique (13), Bohol (7), Capiz (1), Leyte (2) and Iloilo (29), Camotes Island, Cebu (2), and in the franchise area of Busuanga Electric Cooperative in Palawan (2). Target completion of all restoration efforts in the said areas is on 09 December 2013. The DOE emphasizes that generation, transmission, and distribution facilities must be all together operational for power situation in the affected areas to normalize. Likewise, the DOE continues to appeal to Luzon and Visayas power consumers to exercise energy efficiency and conservation to be able to provide ample supply of power in Visayas via the HVDC line. | ||||||||||||
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| DTI reminds public: keep safe during the holidays, buy only lights with ICCs | ||||||||||||
| Filipinos just love Christmas so much so that the Philippines distinguishes itself to have the longest, brightest, most colourful, most joyous celebration of Christmas in the world. The Christmas season is much anticipated such that many homes come all aglow with multi-colored lights and ornaments as soon as the calendar ushers in the “ber” months. It is a tradition that makes us unique as a people and as a nation. It is one reason we tell the world, “It is more fun in the Philippines.” Hence, as the countdown for Christmas continues by the day, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) issues this reminder once again to the public: Buy only DTI-certified Christmas lights for your safety. Only brands of imported Christmas lights which pass the rigorous tests for quality set by the DTI’s Bureau of Product Standards are issued import commodity clearance (ICC). Look for this sticker when shopping for a new set of Christmas lights, the DTI urges the public. Watch out for the fakes from the genuine stickers as shown below: Better be safe than sorry is an old adage but remains to be an apt reminder for everyone. Always go for quality because the extra money you pay for the DTI-certified lights is always well-spent money. Remember, no investment you make is wiser than those which ensures safety for those whom you hold dearly - your home and your family. So during this Christmas season, let us keep the tradition alive and going. And let’s make it safer too by decking your home not only with gold and silver and holly but also with strings of light that bears a valid ICC. | ||||||||||||
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| Ombudsman orders Napoles, et al. to answer PDAF charges | ||||||||||||
| The Office of the Ombudsman Special Panel of Investigators (Ombudsman Panel) – which is conducting the preliminary investigation/administrative adjudication of the respondents in the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam – directed Janet Lim Napoles, Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile, and their co-respondents to file their Counter-Affidavits and other controverting evidence within ten (10) days from receipt of the Order. The Ombudsman Panel issued separate Orders dated November 19, 2013 after having evaluated the case and found “enough basis to proceed with the preliminary investigation” of the three (3) separate complaints filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against Senators Revilla, Estrada, Enrile and their respective sets of respondents-public employees and non-governmental organization (NGO) officers. Copies of the NBI complaints were attached to the Orders which have been scheduled to be individually served on the numerous respondents since yesterday, starting with the NBI complaint against Senator Enrile, et al. The Ombudsman Panel is poised to issue the next round of “Orders to File Counter-Affidavits” in relation to the five (5) NBI complaints against certain members of the House of Representatives, as well as the related complaints recently filed by the Field Investigation Office (FIO) which were consolidated and assigned to the same Ombudsman Panel. “Failure to file their Counter-Affidavit(s)/evidence, with proof of service thereof to complainants, within the aforesaid period shall be deemed a waiver of respondents’ right to submit controverting evidence and the preliminary investigation shall proceed accordingly,” the Order reads. In an ambush interview after this morning’s budget hearing at the Senate, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales denied the existence of an “eight-page report” purportedly submitted to her, allegedly tagging “Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile as the mastermind of the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam–not businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles,” as one national daily reported today. | ||||||||||||
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| Yolanda-hit Region VIII to get P3.1-B in IRA shares; Abad: Internal Revenue Allotment for region to boost LGU | ||||||||||||
| In line with the Administration’s efforts to speed up relief and rehabilitation activities in Yolanda-stricken areas, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad today said that local government units (LGUs) in Region VIII will receive their Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) shares for December—all totalling P1.57 billion—by the end of the month. This comes in the heels of an earlier P1.57-billion release to the region for its IRA share in November, bringing total IRA releases this month to Region VIII to P3.14 billion. Region VIII, also known as Eastern Visayas, is composed of the major islands of Samar and Leyte. The region includes the cities and provinces of Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Southern Leyte, Tacloban City, and Biliran. “The extraordinary tragedy that Yolanda left in her wake has put many of our affected LGUs in a very difficult position, especially with respect to restoring the delivery of key goods and services to their constituents. We are therefore facilitating the early release of funds representing the December IRA shares of Region VIII, which took the brunt of Yolanda’s force. At the same time, the DBM continues to work with other agencies on ensuring the continuous provision of quick assistance and relief operations to LGUs affected by the typhoon,” Abad said. Abad said that for November, a total of P3.84 billion has already been released to Regions VI, VII—with releases of P1.79 billion and P2.05 billion, respectively—representing the regions’ IRA share for this month. The funds will be used to deliver basic social services, which includes support for relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction efforts in the regions’ 16 provinces, 39 cities, 369 municipalities, and 11, 441 barangays. “Our DBM Regional Offices (DBM-ROs) are working ’round the clock to facilitate the swift release of IRA shares to other regions affected by Yolanda, despite present difficulties in communications and operations in the area. However, we can guarantee that enough funds will be made available to our local governments so they can strengthen their respective post-calamity activities and ensure that basic services and goods are still being provided to their constituents,” the Budget chief added. The recent IRA releases to Yolanda-affected regions are on top of the P25.3 billion in government savings (P12.58 billion), the President’s Social Fund (P6.4 billion), Quick Relief Funds (P4.19 billion), Calamity Funds (P1.28 billion), and Contingency Funds (P824 million) that are still available for mobilizing disaster relief efforts in typhoon-stricken regions. | ||||||||||||
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| DOTC: 7 major transport projects get green light from NEDA | ||||||||||||
| Manila, Philippines – Various approvals for 7 major transportation projects were given the nod by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Board today, 21 November 2013, including the implementation of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 7 project, and the bid out of the Light Rail Transit (LRT)-MRT Common Station and two (2) Integrated Transport System terminals. Also approved were the proposed improvements to the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) PPP project, the revisions to certain economic terms of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension (Cavex) PPP project, the acquisition of an 82-meter Vessel for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and minor changes to the Puerto Princesa Airport Development Project. With these developments, bidding for the MCIA PPP project can push through on 28 November 2013. This will be the first airport PPP project bid out by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), and has seven (7) pre-qualified bidders. The LRT-1 Cavex project was approved, but is subject to certain modifications in the proposed changes to the concession agreement, which the transport agency will first incorporate before tendering the project anew. The MRT-7 project has likewise been allowed to proceed, which allows the Department of Finance (DOF) to already issue the required performance undertaking in favor of the proponent. The DOTC will also now begin working on the Common Station project, which will connect the LRT-1, MRT-3, and future MRT-7 lines in the EDSA-North Avenue area. Meanwhile, 2 ITS terminals in the south of Metro Manila – one along the South Luzon Expressway and another along Coastal Road – may be bid out as PPPs. These will provide modern and efficient intermodal transport hubs where commuters from the provinces south of Metro Manila can conveniently transfer to in-city buses, rapid transit rail lines, or take other forms of urban transport such as taxis. Finally, minor changes to the scope of the Puerto Princesa Airport Development project have also been approved, such as a larger passenger terminal building and an expanded apron to accommodate more aircraft. The PCG will also acquire an 82-Meter Vessel, to boost its search and rescue capabilities. | ||||||||||||
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| Business confidence continues to rise in Q4 2013 on stronger domestic demand | ||||||||||||
| Overall Business Outlook on the Macroeconomy Despite the recent looming concerns over the pork barrel issue, US government shutdown last October and the impact of natural calamities, the business outlook for the Philippines is on course to remain positive for the final quarter of the year. The overall confidence index (CI) rose to 52.3 percent from 42.8 percent in Q3 2013. The stronger reading suggests that more businesses are optimistic about the country’s economic prospects compared to that of the previous quarter. Respondents cited the following factors for their more optimistic outlook: expected increase in consumer demand during the Christmas and main palay harvest seasons; more orders and projects leading to higher volume of production; expansion of businesses and new product lines; and continued demand for construction projects (public and private) augmented by rehabilitation efforts from the recent earthquake in Bohol. The favorable macroeconomic conditions in the country, particularly low inflation and interest rates, a strong peso, higher foreign investment inflows and the steady stream of overseas Filipinos’ (OFs) remittances also boosted business confidence in the current quarter. For the next quarter (Q1 2014), business outlook turned less optimistic, with the next quarter CI declining to 40.7 percent from an all-time high of 60 percent registered in the last survey. This means that the optimists continued to outnumber the pessimists for the next quarter but the number of respondents with favorable views declined relative to those who said otherwise. Respondents attributed their less sanguine outlook to the seasonal slack in demand after the holiday season and the political noise brought about by the pork barrel issue. Uncertainties in the global economy, particularly emanating from the US as well as Euro markets contributed to respondents’ lower optimism. Outlook by Trading Activity Importers and dual-activity firms were more bullish in Q4 2013 on account of the expected increase in consumer demand during the Christmas season, continuous business expansion and new product launches as well as stable macroeconomic conditions. However, both importers and dual-activity firms turned less optimistic for Q1 2014 due to the usual slack in demand after the holidays. Meanwhile, exporters’ sentiments were steady in Q4 2013, but turned more upbeat for Q1 2014 given the seasonal increase in production (e.g., automotive parts, electronics, and agricultural produce such as abaca and bananas). Sectoral Outlook Across sectors, the outlook of businesses was broadly upbeat in Q4 2013. The wholesale and retail trade sector was the most bullish, with the confidence index reaching a record-high at 59.4 percent since the start of the nationwide survey in Q4 2006. Respondents’ views were driven by expectations of generally more robust demand during the Christmas season; the favorable business environment; steady inflows of OF remittances; business expansion and product improvement that are expected to boost sales in the fourth quarter. Among the services sub-sectors, hotels and restaurants posted a record-high confidence index since Q1 2008 in anticipation of brisker business during the holiday season while financial services remained buoyant with the increase in demand for credit by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and Business Process Outsourcing (BPOs). Construction firms’ outlook edged higher as respondent firms continued to expect the acceleration of construction activities in the last quarter of the year. However, the outlook of industry firms was less sanguine. In particular, mining and quarrying firms cited volatile metal prices in the global market while agriculture, forestry and fishing firms mentioned the impact of past typhoons and the end of the fishing season as reasons for the decline in their outlook. For the next quarter (Q1 2014), business confidence turned less optimistic across sectors. Business Confidence on Own Operations With respect to the outlook on their own operations during the current quarter, businesses across sectors were less optimistic due largely to the anticipated lower volume of business activity in the next quarter. Access to Credit and Financial Conditions Firms were of the view that their liquidity requirements could be met through available credit as more respondents continued to report easy access to credit compared to those that said otherwise. Meanwhile, firms that expected tighter financial conditions continued to outnumber those that said otherwise but the number that said so declined relative to that in the previous quarter. Expansion Plans and Average Capacity Utilization The percentage of industry firms with expansion plans declined to 30.5 percent (from 32.1 percent). Meanwhile, the average capacity utilization for the current quarter remained broadly steady. Expectations on Key Economic Indicators Respondents who expected inflation to go up continued to outnumber those that held the opposite view in the current and next quarters but the number that said so declined compared to the previous quarter. Businesses expected that the rate of increase in commodity prices are likely to remain well anchored at 2.9 percent in Q4 2013 and 3 percent in Q1 2014 (lower than 3.2 percent and 3.3 percent, respectively, in the previous quarter’s survey results). More respondents expected the peso to appreciate in Q4 2013 and Q1 2014. Meanwhile, interest rates were expected to decline in the current quarter as respondents that expected lower interest rates continued to outnumber those that said otherwise. For the next quarter, more respondents expected interest rates to increase. About the Survey The Q4 2013 BES was conducted during the period 1 October - 11 November 2013. There were 1,550 firms surveyed nationwide. Respondents were drawn from the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Top 7,000 Corporations in 2010, consisting of: 603 companies in NCR and 947 firms in AONCR, covering all 17 regions nationwide. The survey response rate for this quarter was steady at 83.1 percent (from 83.4 percent in the previous quarter). The response rate was lower for NCR at 80.4 percent (from 82.2 percent in the previous quarter) but higher for AONCR at 84.8 percent (from 84.1 percent in Q3 2013). | ||||||||||||
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| NEDA board approves 7 Infra, health projects | ||||||||||||
| The NEDA Board today approved seven (7) projects: three (3) rail projects, one (1) airport project, one (1) transport terminal, one (1) health facility and one (1) water supply project. Six (6) of these projects will be implemented through public-private partnership (PPP). Of the seven projects, only the LRT Line 1 North Extension Project - Common Station is locally funded and not financed through PPP. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said: “The rail projects will connect the train systems and make it convenient for passengers to transfer from one train to another. This will also help reduce passengers’ travel time.” “The Mactan-Cebu International project will enhance the operational efficiency of the airport and will also provide convenience for airport passengers.” “The transport terminal project will make various modes of transportation accessible to people coming from nearby provinces to commute to and from Metro Manila. It will also ease traffic along EDSA.” “The water supply project will address supply gap in Bulacan and environmental problems including subsidence and salt water intrusion.” The total cost and scope of the projects are the following: Proponent: Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) 1. LRT Line 1 South Extension Project Total Cost – PhP64.9 billion Scope – The project involves the extension of the existing LRT Line 1 South. Currently, Line 1 covers 21 stations from Roosevelt Avenue to Monumento (north link) to Baclaran. The total length of service line is 20.7 kilometers. The extension project extends this service line by 11.7 kilometers covering 10 more stations and will pass through Paranaque and Las Pinas up to Bacoor, Cavite. “The project will be implemented through Public Private Partnership (PPP), where on one hand, the private sector shall undertake civil works and electro mechanical works. On the other hand, the government shall provide the rolling stock and depot through official development assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA),” said Balisacan. 2. MRT 7 Project Total Cost – PhP62.7 billion Scope – The project involves the construction of a 22.8-kilometer rail system from North Avenue station in EDSA Quezon City, passing through Commonwealth Avenue, Regalado Avenue and Quirino Highway up to the proposed Intermodal Transportation Terminal (ITT) in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. This project will cover 14 stations. “This project will be implemented under an unsolicited Build-Gradually Transfer-Operate and Maintain (BGTOM) arrangement between the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) and the Universal LRT Corporation Limited (ULC),” Balisacan said. 3. LRT Line 1 North Extension Project – Common Station Total Cost – PhP1.4 billion Scope – The project involves the provision of a common station among LRT 1, MRT 3 and MRT 7, as well as road-based transportation systems. Head to head platforms for LRT 1 and MRT 3 with a 147.4-meter elevated walkalator to MRT 7 at North Avenue will be constructed. This is a locally funded project. 4. Mactan-Cebu International Airport New Passenger Terminal Project Total Cost – PhP17.5 billion Scope – The project involves the construction of new passenger terminal, renovation of existing terminal, operation and maintenance of both the new and the existing passenger terminals during the entire concession period, and relocation of Philippine Air Force facilities. 5. Development of Transportation System at FTI and PRA under PPP Total Cost – PhP7.7 billion (with cost of land) ; PhP6.1 billion (without cost of land) Scope – Development of two mass transportation terminals at the Southern outskirts of Metro Manila to be located at the following: o South – SLEX Terminal at FTI Property in FTI Compound, Taguig City to serve passengers travelling to and from Laguna and Batangas o South – Coastal Road Terminal at PRA Property beside Asiaworld/Uniwide along Manila-Cavite Expressway (R-1) Expressway in Paranaque City to serve passengers travelling to and from Cavite. Proponent: Department of Health (DOH) 1. Modernization of the Philippine Orthopedic Center Total Cost – PhP 5.6 billion Scope – 700-bed super specialty tertiary orthopedic hospital Proponent: Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) 1. Bulacan Bulk Water Supply Project Total Cost – PhP24.4 billion Scope – potable water supply to Bulacan | ||||||||||||
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| TBs, RBs and Coop banks loan quality improves in Q2 | ||||||||||||
| The combined non-performing loans (NPLs) of thrift, rural and cooperative banks represented 7.32 percent of their total loan portfolio (TLP) of Php 597.57 billion at the end of second quarter this year. The gross NPL slightly improved from the 7.77 percent in March 2013 as the banks’ NPLs declined by less than one percent amid a five percent quarter-on-quarter rise in TLP. The banks’ loan loss reserves (LLR) for the soured loans, meanwhile, stood at 68.26 percent of NPLs in end-June from the 66.52 percent figure posted in March 2013. Provisioning for NPLs is a prudential measure for mitigating potential credit losses. Thrift, rural and cooperative bank loans represented 10.76 percent, 2.74 percent and 0.22 percent, respectively, of the Philippine banking system’s TLP amounting to Php 4.36 trillion in June this year. Thrift banks’ (TBs) posted a 5.94 percent gross NPL ratio in June, lower than the 6.13 percent registered in March this year. The drop in gross NPL ratio was matched by a rise in TBs’ LLR, which grew to 72.28 in June from 70.43 percent last quarter. Rural banks’ (RBs) gross NPL ratio, meanwhile, stood at 12.36 percent in June, higher than the 11.83 percent posted a year ago. RBs’ LLR for soured loans, however, decreased to 59.65 percent in June from 61.54 percent three months ago. Cooperative banks’ gross NPL ratio dropped to 12.38 in June from 28.46 percent in March this year, while their loan loss provisioning increased to 81.26 percent of NPLs from 55.63 percent during the same period. The monitoring of banks’ loan quality is part of measures to ensure that financial intermediaries continue to adhere to high credit standards. This is essential to maintaining financial stability, which is a primary objective of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. | ||||||||||||
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| Couple conducts storytelling for kids in evacuation centers | ||||||||||||
| Cebu City – While various agencies and volunteers are busy assisting in the relief operations and ensuring that victims of Typhoon Yolanda meet their daily food needs, couple Joey and Lorna Eguia of Books in Bags chose to help children meet their continuing need for learning. For two weeks now, the couple has been holding storytelling and reading sessions for children at evacuation centers managed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Central Visayas. When news broke out that ‘Yolanda’ will also hit Cebu, preemptive evacuations were made particularly in high-risk areas in the province. Couple Joey and Lorna joined the evacuation at IBC, Banawa, Cebu City. “We have been inside the evacuation center a night before ‘Yolanda’ entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR),” the couple said. Knowing that there would be nothing much to do at the evacuation center, they brought along with them books to read together with the children. At the height of ‘Yolanda,’ the couple gathered the children in one corner where they taught them how to do origami while waiting for the typhoon to pass. “Reading is both professional and personal to me. We hope that through our Story and Play Therapy (Sessions), we would help hasten the healing of children, inspire them more to read, and eventually transform their lives,” said Lorna. A teacher and a librarian by profession, Lorna was able to encourage her students to join her advocacy and be storytellers. Currently, she has 20 volunteers who join her in every play therapy session. “I have been doing this even before the tragedy and it compels me to do more upon seeing that the kids are happy listening to meaningful stories,” Lorna added. For grade six pupil Roman Gonzales, the activity is interesting because he gets to listen to different stories. “Importante nga ang bata maaram bumasa ug sumurat. (It is important for children to know how to read and write),” shared Roman whose family is at the evacuation center. His favorite subject is English and dreams to become a teacher someday. “Karuyag ko maging Teacher para makatulong ha mga bata nga diri nakakapag-aral, (I want to become a teacher so that I can help children who cannot go to school.),” Roman said. Aside from the kids, Eguia’s group also caters to youth and mothers encouraging them to share their life stories and dreams. The couple also introduced a new strategy through Bibliotherapy. Bibliotherapy generally refers to the use of literature to help people cope with emotional problems, mental illness or changes in their lives, or to produce affective change and promote personality growth and development. “Part of rebuilding is knowing and tracing back your history, and history is found in books,” Lorna emphasized. In coordination with the DSWD, Books in Bags will set a regular visit to different evacuation centers in the region as part of the psycho-social intervention for the evacuees. | ||||||||||||
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| Secretary Soliman appeals to Luzon LGUs to support ‘Yolanda’ victims | ||||||||||||
| “We appeal to our local government units in Metro Manila and nearby provinces in Luzon to join us in continuously helping the affected families of Typhoon Yolanda as they temporarily leave Eastern Visayas,” Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman said. With the great impact of Typhoon Yolanda in Eastern Visayas, many of the affected families already decided to leave their hometown to safer places. At present, the exodus of evacuees to Metro Manila and other provinces continues. “Let us all welcome our brothers and sisters who are continuously arriving from typhoon-affected areas. They need to move out to help them recover from their trauma and losses. Their desire to flee from their hometown is a natural reaction of survival and self-preservation,” Secretary Soliman added. Pasay City is one of the LGUs which has given support to the evacuees. It established a tent city in coordination with the DSWD as temporary shelter for them. Likewise, the Municipality of Rosario, Cavite expressed its willingness to adopt some families in their area. “We seek the understanding of the local government units as they are also called upon to extend public service to the evacuees,” the Secretary said. The Secretary added that the national government is aware that assisting the evacuees will surely impact their daily operations. ‘This is why we are asking for their cooperation and understanding,” she said. She emphasized that “no disaster can dampen the Filipino values of hospitality and strength of character, for which we are internationally known for. Sama-sama, kakayanin natin ito (Together, we can surpass this).” | ||||||||||||
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| PRC warns public, conducts investigations | ||||||||||||
| Two PH stem cell therapy associations operate without PRC endorsements PRC warns public, conducts investigations The Department of Labor and Employment yesterday warned the public on the use of Stem Cell Therapy (SCT) for medical and aesthetic purpose, following a recent report which revealed that certain SCT associations in the country have been operating without the requisite endorsement from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Professional Regulatory Board of Medicine (PRBOM). In an inquiry made by the PRC to the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), it found out that the Philippine Society for Stem Cell Medicine, Inc. (PSSCM) and the Philippine Stem Cell Society (PSCS) have falsified, if not failed, to submit such documentary requirements that legally consummates its SEC registration. “The PRC and the PRBOM constitute the regulatory body for the practice of medicine in the country. In essence, the competencies of specialists, practice of SCT, and the consequent SEC registration of SCT-related associations fall under their control and authority,” Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said. “Failure to acquire such approval from these regulatory bodies,” she added, “only means that they did not pass the scrutiny and monitoring procedures of its Institutional Review Boards or Ethics Committees.” Ferdinand Sales, Acting Director of the SEC-Company Registration and Monitoring Department, said “the Commission is already conducting an investigation and has instructed the Board of Trustees of the PSSCM to file their answer; otherwise, we shall be constrained to proceed with the revocation of corporate registration on the ground of fraud in procuring its certificate of incorporation.” As to PSCS, which failed to submit a PRC endorsement, Sales said the Commission will initiate the proper proceedings, adding that: “To avoid similar incidents in the future, we shall no longer accept endorsements to be hand carried by registrant corporations. We shall strictly implement the policy that said documents should be mailed officially from your [PRC] end.” Citing the Second Position Paper of the Professional Regulatory Board of Medicine on Stem Cell Therapy and related concerns, PRC Chair Teresita Manzala said the government is wary on the growing number of unscrupulous physicians misrepresenting themselves as experts in this field. “We are concerned about reports that many doctors get the term “fellow, Philippine Society for Stem Cell Medicine” appended to their names only have to bring 10 patients for treatment, buy the machine, and pay a certain amount to get their fellowship,” Manzala said, adding: “Physicians should avoid adopting an “innovative procedure” mainly on the basis of commercial promotions and marketing when the value or benefit of the procedure has not been proven. Objectivity and integrity should always be maintained. This is what professionalism and ethics in the practice of medicine dictate.” The PRC, on this note, strongly called on public to help expose similar incidents to their attention by calling telephone numbers, (632) 310-0026 or (632) 735-4476, or visiting their main office at P. Paredes St. corner Morayta St., Sampaloc, Manila. | ||||||||||||
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| In Region 6, Baldoz approves P5.036-M in emergency employment for 1,212 Typhoon Yolanda Victims | ||||||||||||
| With the primary intention of alleviating the plight of Western Visayas workers displaced by Typhoon Yolanda, Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz has allocated P5,036,000 million for the emergency employment of 1,212 workers who were severely affected when the super typhoon hit the region last 8 November 2013. DOLE Regional Office No. VI Director Ponciano Ligutom Jr. said the emergency employment funds were realigned from existing unutilized programs of the regional office. “We needed to defer some projects in order to raise additional funds to provide bridging income to workers who desperately need help,” Ligutom explained. The funds will be equitably distributed among the provinces in the region but will prioritize towns and barangays which suffered extensive damages, such as Iloilo and Capiz. They will be employed by the local government units (LGUs) for an average of 15-days work at the minimum rate of P277 per day to work in rehabilitation projects such as clearing of sewerage systems, rebuilding of government buildings and schools, and cleaning of plazas and markets, among others. Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council VI placed the amount of damage on the region’s crops, livestock, and fisheries at P1,985,743,649.11 affecting 556,377 families in 2,941 barangays. On the other hand, the Department of Agriculture Region VI disclosed that the aggregate number of affected farmers sum up to 3,861. “This is the most critical time for our workers who have lost their livelihood. They need employment to earn income. The number of days that we can give them to work may be limited but the income that they will earn will definitely help buy food and other basic necessities for their families,” Ligutom said Driven by the need to expand the emergency employment program to be able to enrol more displaced workers, Ligutom said that the regional office has already requested the amount of P18,078,405 as additional program fund to be able to support the employment of 4,351 more workers. “If granted, the additional fund will benefit 4,351 workers, increasing the number of emergency employment beneficiaries from 1,212 to 5,563 workers,” Ligutom said. "Our aim in implementing emergency employment and livelihood programs is to enable disaster-stricken families to rebuild their lives, with better access to social protection and sustainable income sources," Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said. End/rhev With reporting from Amalia N. Judicpa, LCO, DOLE Region VI | ||||||||||||
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| Iloilo ready to take IT-BPM to the next level | ||||||||||||
| Iloilo, despite being hit hard by super typhoon Yolanda, is all set to bring the Information Technology – Business Process Management (IT-BPM) industry in the province to the same level as that of Bacolod and Cebu. This was revealed at the 8th leg of the Next Wave Cities Road show held in the Iloilo City this week. The event was organized by the Iloilo Federation for Information Technology (IFIT) and the DOST- ICT Office supported by IT-BPM Industry associations. It was attended by more than three hundred students, local industry stakeholders and members of the local community. Iloilo currently employs 9,000 workers in eight (IT-BPM) companies located in the province. It is currently in the top 10 next wave cities, together with the likes of Baguio, Davao, Metro Laguna, Dumaguete and Naga. According to Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog “As one of the leading next wave cities in the country, and a leading IT-BPM destination, Iloilo city prides itself in having the right ecosystem required to support the industry such as stable energy and power facilities, an army of skilled human resource, IT-BPM-ready real estate and robust telecommunications infrastructure.” Jess Palmares, President of IFIT said that; “ Northern Iloilo was badly affected by the last typhoon but with our resilience I know we can recover. Everything is in place for Iloilo City. Development has occurred in several areas by developers such as Gaisano, Megaworld and Ayala. We have also continued to develop manpower capability in the province supported by educational institutions, DOLE and TESDA. We are ready to take Iloilo to the next level and become an IT-BPM Center of Excellence like our neighbors Bacolod and Cebu.” The Iloilo Next wave cities leg was well supported by the Industry and coincided with the Animation Council of the Philippines (ACPI)’ Animahenasyon festival which was held in West Visayas State University, also in Iloilo city. IT Business Process Association of the Philippines President Jo Mari Mercado commented that; “Iloilo has developed a good eco system to attract multinationals and BPOs, the next step is now for Iloilo to develop its local ICT industry, that is why we have brought resource persons from ACPI, the Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP), Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP), Philippine Software Industry Asociation (PSIA), and Healthcare Information Management Outsourcing Association of the Philippines (HIMOAP) to motivate students to take up IT related courses and capacity development programs supported by the industry to support the human resource requirements of the IT-BPM industry of Iloilo. About DOST-ICT Office – The Information and Communications Technology Office of the Department of Science and Technology is the Philippine Government’s lead agency on ICT related matters. Its primary thrusts are in the ICT Industry Development, eGovernment, ICT policy development, Internet for all and Cybersecurity. | ||||||||||||
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| Metro congressmen vows support for Yolanda survivors | ||||||||||||
| In support of the government’s “Yolanda” disaster response in the Visayas, Metro Manila members of House of Representatives have committed to help survivors of the supertyphoon who have fled the Visayas to seek refuge in Metro Manila. Quezon City 2ndDistrict Rep. Winston “Winnie” Castelo, chairman of the House committee on Metro Manila development said allied lawmakers like Rep. Jorge “Bolet” Banal (3rd District, Quezon City), Rep. Alfred Vargas (5thDistrict, QC), Rep. Christopher “Kit” Belmonte (6thDistrict, Quezon City), Rep. Sandy Ocampo (6thDistrict, Manila), Rep. Edwin Olivarez (1stDistrict Paranaque) have committed help and support behind the “Lakbayanihan” initiative of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP). “Lakbayanihan” is ULAP’s response to the call of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas for LGU support to maximize the government’s “Yolanda” disaster response in the Visayas. Roxas, vice chairman of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) earlier appealed to the private sector and local governments to support the government’s “Yolanda” disaster response.He said because of the scale of the devastation wrought by the supertyphoon, the national government will be needing all the help it can get to address the situation. Metro Manila lawmakeers have launched “Oplan Yakap” and “Oplan Hatid” as part of Lakbayanihan to complement the on-going relief efforts in the typhoon-affected areas in the Visayas. Many are still fleeing Visayas to seek refuge in Metro Manila after totally losing their homes and livelihood after the typhoon. Oplan Yakap aims to adopt “Yolanda” survivors with no place to stay in Metro Manila while “Oplay Hatid” aims to provide free transportation or ride for the survivors to reach their family members in various locations in Metro Manila. Castelo said that under Oplan Yakap, members of the House of Representatives are asked to adopt Yolanda survivors, providing them temporary shelters, food, water, clothing. So far, under “Oplan Hatid”, Castelo said that 1,200 families have been brought safely to their families in different locations. He also said that he had also arranged to reserve the Sinag Tala covered court in Barangay Batasan Hills, Quezon City in coordination with Barangay Captain John “Jojo” Abad for the temporary shelter of “Yolanda survivors” with no families to go to but nevertheless decided to seek refuge in Metro Manila to start a new. “Nakahanda na ang temporary shelter para sa ating mga kababayan mula sa Visayas,” he said. Pasay City lone Rep. Rep. Imelda Calixto along with Pasay City Mayor Antonio Calixto on Tuesday launched the “tent city” at Villamor Air Base Elementary School to provide temporary shelter to “Yolanda” survivors from the Visayas who sought refuge even if they have no families in Metro Manila. | ||||||||||||
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| DOE urges energy efficiency in Luzon, visayas after Yolanda | ||||||||||||
| (Taguig City) Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho L. Petilla urges consumers in Luzon as well as in the Visayas to exercise energy efficiency and conservation to be able to provide ample supply of power in Visayas after Super Typhoon Yolanda caused major damages to its energy facilities. Since 8 November 2013, the Visayas grid lost an average of 500-MW with the non-operation of the Unified Leyte Geothermal Power Plant. Luzon is expected to share power to the Visayas through the Ormoc-Cabacungan 350kV High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Line, which interconnects the two grids. On this note, Sec. Petilla appeals to power consumers especially in Luzon to practice energy efficiency measures amidst the boost in energy demand and consumption during the holiday season. “Not only will you save on electricity, you are also saving your fellow Filipinos in the Visayas,” Secretary Petilla said, adding that “any reduction in demand in Luzon will mean added available capacity to supply the Visayas grid.” The DOE likewise calls on large power-consuming establishments to reduce electric consumption by executing energy-efficient methods such as lessening the use of air-conditioning and unplugging unnecessary electrical equipment. Meanwhile, household consumers can contribute to the energy efficiency and conservation efforts, simply by unplugging electrical appliances, turning off the lights when not in use, use of energy efficient technologies, and to cut down use of holiday lights and energy-consuming decors. The DOE is continuously coordinating with the National Electrification Administration, National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, power generation companies, and distribution utilities to ensure restoration of power supply to major parts of the Visayas before the target date of 24 December 2013. | ||||||||||||
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| Philippines leads Asia-Europe greater cooperation | ||||||||||||
| 21 November 2013 - Philippine Sensor Foreign Affairs Adviser and Ambassador Rosario G. Manalo, in her capacity as Governor for the Philippines, led the 51-strong member Asia Europe Foundation (ASEF) during its 30th Board of Governors meeting at the Orchard Hotel Singapore where various issues were discussed including membership enlargement and strengthening partnerships toward greater mutual understanding between Asia and Europe. The Governors from the two regions' member states and the European Union underlined the immense strides ASEF has made since its birth in 1997, reaching out to a wider audience in both regions and facilitating cooperation between their governments. “ASEF has substantially contributed to the development of the ASEM process (Asia Europe Meeting) particularly in enhancing civil society participation and people-to-people exchanges between these two regions. This significant role of ASEF was recognized in the recently held 11th Foreign Ministers Meeting in New Delhi, India”, remarked Ambassador Manalo who chaired the ASEF Board of Governors meeting. She was elected unanimously last year as Chair of the Board of Governors and holds the distinct honor of being the first female Chair from Asia. In her welcome remarks, Ambassador Manalo challenged the Governors, comprised of high-level officials and Ambassadors from Asia and Europe, to further strengthen ASEF’s role in fostering partnerships between and within these two regions aimed to bring them even closer together. The Philippine official also thanked the Asian and European governments and NGOs who extended humanitarian assistance to the victims of typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). Prior to the Governors' meeting, Ambassador Manalo chaired the Executive Committee meeting and participated in the Financial and Audit Committee discussions whose recommendations were endorsed to the Board of Governors. ASEF advances mutual understanding and collaboration between the people of Asia and Europe by acting as an interface between civil society on one hand, and Asian and European governments on the other, thus contributing to the ASEM process. ASEF was established in February 1997 by ASEM partners and remains to this day the only established institution of ASEM. Although based in Singapore, ASEF operates in all ASEM countries. ASEF is funded by contributions from member states. Since its inception, ASEF has initiated various sectoral and thematic projects participated in by over 17,000 individuals and experts from Asia and Europe. | ||||||||||||
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| DFA celebrates United Nations week | ||||||||||||
| 21 November 2013 - The Department of Foreign Affairs hosted a wreath-laying ceremony at the tomb of Gen. Carlos P. Romulo, former Secretary of Foreign Affairs at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City. The ceremony was held in honor of Gen. Romulo, one of the founding fathers of the United Nations and long-time Secretary of Foreign Affairs from 1950 to 1952 and 1969 to 1984, who dedicated his iife to diplomacy and the peaceful settlement of disputes. The event was hosted by the Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario and was attended by Dr. Beth Day Romuio (wife of the Gen. Romulo), Roberto R. Romulo (son of Gen. Romulo and former SFA), Ms. Luisa Carvalho (United Nations Resident Coordinator), Judge Aurora Recina (President of UN Association of the Philippines), members of the Romulo Family, DFA Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries, members of the Diplomatic Corps, and the UN Country Team. | ||||||||||||
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| Coastal forest restoration eyed for storm-hit areas in Eastern Visayas | ||||||||||||
| The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is looking at restoring mangrove and beach forests in some 380 kilometers of coastline in Eastern Visayas, including Leyte and all other portions ravaged by Super Typhoon Yolanda, to protect these communities against the devastating effects of future storms. DENR Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje said the tragedy caused by Yolanda underscores the need to revive the region’s degraded coastal forests to make its coastlines less vulnerable to extreme weather events. Paje said that a massive tree-planting activity under the government’s National Greening Program (NGP) may take place in coastal areas in Tacloban City and Dulag town in Leyte; municipalities of Guiuan, Llorente and Balangiga in Eastern Samar; and the town of Basey in Samar to provide livelihood to residents and allow them to take part in building a “green wall” against storm surges. “By reviving the coastal forests in these areas, we seize this golden opportunity to begin the journey of our people in Eastern Visayas from victims to victors on the right footing,” Paje said, adding that Yolanda “has practically seized the nation’s attention to the increasingly important role of mangrove and beach forest belts.” The environment chief said the department is also looking at the “reversion of abandoned government-leased ponds to mangroves” in order to boost coastal protection, food resources and livelihood opportunities for coastal communities. “The best way to protect the city from storm surge is through mangrove reforestation under the NGP,” Paje stressed. Relative to this, he said that the NGP implementation in Eastern Visayas may have to be “reconfigured” to give more priority to “coastal intervention” over reforestation in upland communities. At the same time, Paje pointed out that keeping the affected shorelines off-limits to informal settlers is a “key” to such undertaking. He said the department will soon conduct ground validation to pinpoint what areas are viable for mangrove rehabilitation and those for beach forest within the 20-meter easement zone along the shoreline as provided for in the Philippine Forestry Code. | ||||||||||||
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| Schedule of registration for passers of the October 2013 Criminologists Licensure Exam | ||||||||||||
| Manila, November 22, 2013 --- The Professional Regulation Commission hereby informs all those who passed the October 2013 Criminologists Licensure Exam in Manila of the schedule of their initial registration at the PRC Auditorium, 5th Floor, Annex Building:
Registrants are advised to download the Oath Forms HERE and to bring their duly accomplished Oath Forms during their schedule for registration. Registrants are also advised to strictly observe the schedule for initial registration to avoid any inconvenience. | ||||||||||||
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