28 NOVEMBER 2013.
| |
| President Aquino returns to Bohol to inspect repaired bridges |
| |
| (TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol) President Benigno S Aquino III returned on Thursday to Bohol province to personally inspect the repaired bridges after the province was hit by magnitude-7.2 earthquake last October 15. Upon his arrival, the Chief Executive presided over a meeting attended by Cabinet Secretaries, Bohol Governor Edgar M. Chatto and officials of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and other local officials at the Cafe Dolores, Bohol Tropics Resort Club, Graham Avenue in Tagbilaran City. Joining the President during the meeting were Defense Secretary and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Chairman Voltaire T. Gazmin, Public Works and Highways Secretary Secretary Rogelio Singson, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman, Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho L. Petilla, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, Health Secretary Enrique Ona, Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas, among others. President Aquino was briefed on the progress of the rehabilitation efforts for Bohol. Around 2 p.m., the President went to the municipality of Alburquerque where he inspected the Tagbuane Bridge that was damaged by the strong earthquake. The bridge, with 39.624 -meter length, was declared impassable after the earthquake, prompting the Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) to provide bridging equipment intended for the temporary steel bridge. The infrastructure works on the Tagbuane Bridge started on October 28. The bridge became passable on November 3. The DPWH decided to install temporary steel bridges on the sites of the collapsed structures. The building of temporary bridges would take three to four weeks while the permanent bridges would take time. Restoring the damaged roads would also take weeks, officials said. After inspecting the Tagbuane Bridge, the President proceeded to Maribojoc town to inspect the Abatan Bridge The President's visit was his third to Bohol province since the October 15 earthquake.PND (js) |
| |
| President Aquino issues directives to prevent Yolanda disaster |
| |
| President Benigno S. Aquino III has issued directives to appropriate government agencies to prevent a repeat of the loss of lives and property caused by natural disasters like super typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan). At a media briefing, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said this is aside from the President’s approval in principle of the Cabinet’s recommendations on critical actions to be taken after Yolanda. “Livelihood assistance for farmers and fishermen has also been prioritized due to the extreme damage to crops and coconut trees and the disruption of fishing activities in the typhoon aftermath,” he added. He said the President will meet with the Cabinet anew Friday afternoon to resume discussions on the rehabilitation and reconstruction plans. Such plans will also cover the work that will be done in Bohol, Zamboanga and Central Luzon post-Typhoon Santi. Coloma said the proposed supplemental budget for this is P38.8 billion, nearly 80 percent of which is for the reconstruction of destroyed or damaged homes and repair of classrooms, hospitals, public markets and public facilities like town halls and government offices. Coloma also said President Aquino issued the following directives to the following officials and agencies: - To Department of Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo: to update the list of the most severely affected towns and cities as priority areas for rehabilitation and reconstruction, based on a 50-km radius covered by the movement of the eye of Typhoon Yolanda. The center of Yolanda had packed winds of up to 250 kph and a powerful storm surge. - To Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje: to issue a detailed Memorandum Order on the implementation of No-Build Zones. This bars the building of structures within three meters in urban areas, 20 meters in agricultural areas; and 40 meters in forest areas. - The DENR was also ordered to implement a mangrove reforestation program to the coastlines of Leyte and Samar provinces and similarly affected areas. - To Secretaries Joseph Abaya (transportation) and Rogelio Singson (Public Works): To prioritize the repair and rebuilding of Tacloban Airport, considered the hub of transport in Eastern Visayas. The two were also directed to study the construction of an “all-weather airport” in line with the DPWH’s program to make structures more resilient. - To all government agencies: to submit to DOST and DPWH complete geo-tagging reports on damaged public facilities, which will be a basis for post-disaster needs assessment and appropriate recovery and reconstruction plans. - To DOST and the Communications Group: Fine-tune communication, education and information programs; use available resources of government media. Coloma noted that in communicating the dangers of a storm surge, Montejo had said a storm surge cannot be likened to a tsunami since there are differences, including in the preparation time involved. “Secretary Montejo clarified that a storm surge requires organized evacuation that can be undertaken within a 24- to 48-hour preparation period while a tsunami alert requires outright, spontaneous evacuation where the lead time can be as short as 30 minutes,” he said. Coloma likewise said President Aquino ordered the issuance of Memorandum Circular No. 59, which directs government financial institutions (GFIs) to grant a six-month moratorium on outstanding loan payments. This will also extend interest-free loans to people affected by Yolanda. Covered by the circular are: Land Bank of the Philippines, Development Bank of the Philippines, Government Service Insurance System, Social Security System, National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation (Pag-IBIG), People’s Credit and Finance Corp., Philippine Postal Savings Bank, Philippine Retirement Authority, Quedan Rural Credit and Guaranty Corp. United Coconut Planters Bank. PND (jl) |
| |
| Palace vows political will in enforcing no-build zones during mangrove reforestation |
| |
| Spurred by the huge loss of life and property in the wake of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), Malacañang on Thursday assured it will practice political will in enforcing the no-build zones in high-risk areas. However, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said the government will also provide assistance to fishermen and residents who may be affected. “You can be certain that even with more political will the government will implement this policy given the widespread loss of life and damage wrought by Typhoon Yolanda,” Coloma said at a media briefing. Citing data from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, he said mangroves should be restored especially in coastal areas, to provide protection from storm surges. Such mangroves may also provide spawning grounds for crustaceans and shellfish, Coloma added. “Kung napanatili iyong mga mangrove forest na dati ay natural feature of our coastlines siguro ay naiwasan iyong ganyang lalim at lawak ng kalamidad (Had we maintained our mangrove forests which are a natural feature of our coastlines, we could have avoided the Yolanda tragedy),” he added. However, Coloma also said the government will assist fishermen in the area, and may build waterways to provide them continuing access to fishing areas. Coloma said the government will extend assistance to the fishermen, who he said are not barred from fishing. “Ide-designate lang siguro further out dahil kinakailangang mag-umpisa na iyong mangrove replanting at reforestation (We might designate fishing zones while the mangrove replanting and reforestation is ongoing),” the Communication Secretary said. He added Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson had indicated the mangrove planting will be done purposively so as not to dislocate or diminish the income of fishermen. On the other hand, Coloma said the government will be level-headed in convincing residents in high-risk areas to leave their homes. “Dadaanin naman po sa mahinahon at mahusay na paliwanagan at pakikipag-usap upang kumbinsihin sila that it is for their enlightened self-interest, that their lives and safety are adequately protected by the government (We will use level-headed explanation in convincing them it is for their enlightened self-interest, that their lives and safety are adequately protected by the government),” he said. PND (jl) |
| |
| Palace prepared to certify supplemental budget bill as urgent if needed |
| |
| If needed, Malacañang is prepared to certify as urgent a proposed measure that will provide a supplemental budget of P38.8 billion for post-Typhoon Yolanda rehabilitation work in 2014. Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said Thursday such an action will depend on how the bill fares in both houses of Congress. “Palagi naming ine-emphasize that we are prepared to do what is needed. Depende ito sa proseso nila (We have always emphasized we are prepared to do what is needed. It will depend on Congress’ processes),” Coloma said at a media briefing. He said the usefulness of certifying a bill as urgent will come in if there are few session days left, and a bill has to be passed on second and third reading on the same day. The present legislative calendar of the 16th Congress indicates both houses of Congress will go on Christmas break from Dec. 21 to Jan. 19, 2014. Coloma said the matter of whether President Benigno S. Aquino III will certify the bill as urgent will now depend on Congress. “Handa ang Pangulo to do what is needed ... Hinihintay ang senyales mula sa Kongreso (The President is prepared to do what is needed. For now, the ball is in Congress’ court),” he said. PND (jl) |
| |
| President Aquino inspects the repaired Abatan Bridge damaged by earthquake in Bohol |
| |
| (MARIBOJOC, Bohol) President Benigno S. Aquino III inspected the repaired Abatan Bridge which was damaged by magnitude-7.2 earthquake last October 15, as part of the efforts to restore normalcy in the province of Bohol. After inspecting the Abatan Bridge in Barangay Lingkod here, the Chief Executive briefly monitored the traffic situation. The Abatan Bridge which links Bohol northern towns from the capital city of Tagbilaran, was reopened to traffic after 18 days of infrastructure works. He then proceeded to the nearby Brgy. Lingkod Livelihood Product Center where he was briefed by Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson about the progress of the infrastructure projects in the province. The Abatan Bridge became impassable after the strong earthquake that shook the province. In response to President Aquino's directive, Singson immediately deployed engineers to assess structural integrity of structures in the province. The full scale operation on the damaged Abatan Bridge started on November 6. Mobilization of personnel and equipment was hampered by landslide along the only access road leading to the Abatan Bridge project site. Typhoons Yolanda and Zoraida also delayed the completion of the building of the temporary bridge. The President earlier inspected Tagbuane Bridge in the municipality of Alburquerque. PND (js) |
| |
| Sound economic fundamental a buffer against downside risks, Palace says |
| |
| Malacanang welcomed the 7 percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the third quarter of this year noting that this positive development will serve as the country’s shield against the risks posed by the natural disasters that hit the country recently. “This achievement is proof positive that the country’s sound macro-economic fundamentals provide a solid buffer against downside risks such as natural disasters,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said in a statement on Thursday. “Our economic management team is determined to adopt appropriate measures for overcoming the challenges to the economy,” he said. In light of this development, Coloma said the Aquino administration remains committed to implementing reforms that strengthens the country’s public institutions, and establishes a stable infrastructure for good governance that sustains inclusive growth. Citing NEDA’s statement, Coloma said the 7 percent third quarter growth rate boosts the 2013 first nine months growth to 7.4 percent from 6.7 percent last year. With this figure, Coloma said the Philippines remains a star performer among counties in Asia based on the observations of reputable financial analysts. According to the report of the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), the third quarter growth was driven by the services sector with the robust performance of the real state, renting and business activities, trade and financial intermediation sustained by the accelerated growth of the industry sector. On the demand side, the growth came from increased investments in fixed capital, reinforced by consumer and government spending and the robust growth in external trade. The NSCB also reported that on a seasonally adjusted basis, the GDP posted a positive growth of 1.1 percent in the third quarter of 2013 but this was a deceleration from 1.6 percent in the previous quarter. It also noted that the agriculture sector rebounded its seasonally adjusted growth to 0.7 percent from a decline of 0.7 percent in the previous quarter while the industry sector decelerated to 0.3 percent from 1.4 percent. The services sector on the other hand, recorded a 1.6 percent seasonally adjusted growth for the third quarter of 2013 from 2.1 percent in the previous quarter with the positive growth of all its subsectors, the NSCB said. PND (as) |
No comments:
Post a Comment