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| Nine workers displaced by Typhoon Yolanda hired-on-the-spot through employment facilitation help desk |
| Source: http://www.dole.gov.ph |
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Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday said nine workers displaced by Typhoon Yolanda who have evacuated from their devastated home towns have new jobs after they visited the DOLE's employment facilitation help desk that Baldoz has ordered all DOLE regional directors to immediately set-up.
Citing a report of DOLE-NCR Regional Director Alex V. Avila, Baldoz said the nine workers came from various parts of the Visayas, with one coming from Davao City.
"The nine workers came to the employment facilitation help desk after they have heard the Secretary announce on radio its establishment at the DOLE on Gen. Luna Street in Intramuros where we set up one of our desks " said Avila in his report.
The nine displaced workers were Lowel D. Saguban of Jaro, Leyte, who was hired as a janitor; Sonnyboy W. Lago of Tagbilaran, Bohol, who was hired as driver; (3) Joseph M. Diones of Aklan, who was hired as janitor; and (4) Allan M. Ladayon of Davao City, fork lift operator. Their employer is Triple-E Manpower and General Services, Inc.
Also hired were Ritchielyn Q. Dongsal of Palo, Leyte, as cashier/receptionist; Banesa A. Almerola, also of Palo, Leyte, hired as office staff; and Jenny Marie Viajar of Jaro, Leyte. Their employer is Globalink Employment Services, Inc.
Another company, Readyman, Inc. hired Renato A. Lovina of Sulat, Eastern Samar, as an electrician, while Temps and Staffers hired Edsel D. Daloso of Palo, Leyte, as office staff.
Baldoz the other day ordered the establishment of the employment facilitation help desk to provide employment facilitation services to the victims of Typhoon Yolanda, directing all DOLE regional directors and field office heads, including those in typhoon-devastated areas, especially Eastern Visayas, to work with employers in their areas of jurisdiction and help victims and evacuees from typhoon-ravaged areas find jobs or livelihoods.
The DOLE-NCR was first to establish the desk. It was assisted by staff of the DOLE's Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics who manned the registration and profiling of worker-visitors.
Director Avila said the he had coordinated with the 17 Public Employment Service Offices of Metro Manila LGUs for the set-up their respective desks in anticipation of the influx of displaced workers to the metropolis, particularly in the cities of Pasay, Makati and Paranaque, where migrant typhoon victims are expected to have temporary shelters due to their proximity to Villamor Air Base.
"Almost all of the Metro Manila PESOs have established their help desks as the PESO Association of Metro Manila (PAMM) reported this morning. We requested PAMM members to provide all the necessary assistance to the said victims, including simple refreshments," said Nelson C. Hornilla, DOLE-NCR Assistant Regional Director who Avila tasked to supervise desk operations.
"We have, likewise, engaged the Philippine Association of Local Service Contractors (PALSCON) as partner in the provision of employment to worker-evacuees. Participating member agencies have relaxed their hiring requirements in order to accommodate them," ARD Hornilla further said.
Baldoz said she expects all DOLE regional and field offices spared by Typhoon Yolanda to have their respective employment facilitation help desks set-up within the week. |
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| First phase of DOLE emergency employment program for Bohol earthquake victims with P3.2-M in funding benefits 600 workers |
| Source: http://www.dole.gov.ph |
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| Tagbilaran City, Bohol – Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday the first phase of the Department of Labor and Employment's emergency employment program for victims of the 7.2 magnitude Bohol earthquake, also called the BEEP 1, is off to a good start, with the award of a check worth P3.2 million to Bohol Governor Edgard M. Chatto Friday last week. "The first tranche of the Bohol Emergency Employment Program funds for the victims of the recent earthquake that badly hit Bohol was handed out to Gov. Chatto by Undersecretary Ciriaco Lagunzad III during the Bohol Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC)–Shelter and Livelihood Cluster’s Meeting in Tagbilaran City," said Baldoz. "Six municipalities and 300 displaced workers will benefit from the first phase of the program. The workers will work for a minimum period of 15 days in government projects identified by the provincial government, and they will be paid the current minimum wage of P330 per day. The workers will also be covered by GSIS group insurance," Baldoz added. Lagunzad, who attended the PDRRMC-Shelter and Livelihood Cluster Meeting with DOLE Office No. 7 Regional Director Chona M. Mantilla and Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns (BWSC) Director Cha Satumba, said the P3.2 million includes the DOLE's cash counterpart for the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES). He further said that under the second phase of the program, or BEEP 2, about 3,0000 displaced workers in 10 badly-hit municipalities will be benefited. The BEEP 2 is a combination of emergency employment and livelihood assistance, with the latter being called Restoration of Enterprises (ReEnter). It is funded with P17.5 million. The third phase, or BEEP 3, will benefit about 800 displaced workers covering 16 areas that were covered by BEEP 1 and BEEP 2. This is a convergence project of the DOLE attached agencies and other partner line agencies under which through emergency employment and training cum production, the DOLE hopes to strengthen the recovery of the quake victims. The training cum production component of BEEP 3 will be provided by the Technical Education & Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Baldoz hopes that with the start of the emergency employment program in Bohol, disaster-stricken families will immediately have something to start their lives with a source of income and social protection for the most vulnerable. |
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| Q2 2014 targeted for P65B LRT-1 Cavite extension PPP bid |
| Source: http://www.dotc.gov.ph |
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Manila, Philippines – After obtaining the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Board’s approval to sweeten the terms of the country’s biggest Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is now targeting to schedule its bid submission deadline within the second quarter of 2014.
In order to foster more competitive bids for the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 Cavite Extension PPP Project (LRT-1 Cavex), the DOTC aims to give roughly four (4) to six (6) months’ time from the start of the bidding process to allow new players to come into the picture. The bidding process begins upon the publication of an invitation to bid, which the transport agency will do within December 2013.
“This timeline is meant to foster competitive bids. We believe that the improved terms will attract more players, who will need a reasonable period to study the project and prepare their proposals,” said DOTC spokesperson Michael Arthur Sagcal.
The improvements in the terms of the project involve government absorbing the obligation to pay real property taxes (RPT), ensuring the integrity of the facility’s structure for a two (2)-year period, subsidizing unexpected surges in power rates beyond a particular range, permitting a five percent fare increase upon completion of the project, and allowing the submission of negative bids.
The NEDA Board’s approval also entailed an increase in the project cost to P 64.9 Billion, due to the addition of several components to the project’s terms.
These new components, which the DOTC originally intended to pursue as separate projects, will now form part of the winning concessionaire’s obligations, making the LRT-1 Cavex bid more robust.
These new components include:
Some remedial and rehabilitation works for the existing system such as repairing the carriage viaduct, rehabilitating existing trains especially their roofing, as well as making the LRT-1 system compliant with laws and regulations.
Installation of equipment which will be part of the common ticketing system called the Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS), which is being bid out by the DOTC separately, for the Cavite extension portion of LRT-1 only.
Other components including contingency costs, on account of the interface risk with related projects such as the AFCS PPP, the construction of the Common Station which will link LRT-1 with Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Lines 3 and 7 in the EDSA-North Avenue area, and the LRT-1 Cavex components procured under the project’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) portion. |
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| BSP to host the 2013 BSP-UP professorial chair lectures, Part II |
| Source: http://www.bsp.gov.ph |
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The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will host Part II of the 2013 BSP-UP Professorial Chair Lectures on 29 November 2013. The lectures will be held at the Executive Business Center, BSP Main Complex, Malate, Manila. Part I of the BSP-UP Professorial Chair Lectures in 2013 was successfully conducted last 24 May 2013.
The Professorial Chair Lectures provide the opportunity for chairholders to present their research, and for the participants to discuss important issues in economics, statistics, business administration, finance, accounting, agriculture and other related fields as part of the collaboration between the BSP and the academe.
BSP Monetary Board Member Dr. Felipe M. Medalla will give the welcome remarks while UP System Vice-President for Planning and Finance, Dr. Lisa Grace S. Bersales, will deliver the opening address.
Six lectures will be delivered. These lectures will be followed immediately by discussions. These will be:
1. Time to Outgrow ‘Physics Envy’
By Dr. Raul V. Fabella, BSP Sterling Professor of Monetary and Banking Economics
Discussant: Dr. Shanaka J. Peiris
IMF Resident Representative
2. Development Progeria: Genesis and Healing
By Dr. Raul V. Fabella, BSP Sterling Professor of Monetary and Banking Economics
Discussant: Dr. Dante B. Canlas
Member, Board of Directors
Philippine National Oil Company
3. Money, Banking and Financial Markets: A Survey of Philippine Research
By Dr. Epictetus E. Patalinghug, BSP-UP Centennial Professor of Finance
Discussant: Dr. Angelo A. Unite
Professor, School of Economics
De La Salle University
4. The Composite Leading Economic Indicator and Real Gross Domestic Product Growth
By Dr. Ana Maria L. Tabunda, BSP Sterling Professor of Government and Official Statistics
Discussant: Dr. Cayetano W. Paderanga, Jr.
Professor, UP School of Economics
University of the Philippines Diliman
5. Macroeconomic Policy Regimes in the Philippines
By Dr. Cayetano W. Paderanga, Jr., BSP-UP Centennial Professor of Money and Banking
Discussant: Dr. Gonzalo M. Jurado
Vice President for Finance and Development
Kalayaan College
6. Strengthening Palay Seed System in Southern Tagalog and Bicol Regions
By Dr. Jose E. Hernandez, BSP-UP Centennial Professor of Agriculture
Discussant: Dr. Frisco Malabanan
Senior Technical Consultant
SL Agritech Corporation
Invited participants from the academe, government agencies, private institutions as well as BSP officials and staff will be attending the lecture series. |
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| Press con on National Accounts slated on November 28 |
| Source: http://www.nscb.gov.ph |
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The National Statistical Coordination Board announces the holding of a Press Conference on the Performance of the Philippine Economy for the Third Quarter of 2013 with National Economic and Development Authority Director General and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan as resource person on November 28, 2013 (Thursday) at 10:00 a.m. at the NSCB Operations Room, 5th Floor Midland Buendia, Bldg., 403 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City.
The press conference will also be streamed live on the Internet through the NSCB USTREAM channel http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nscb.
Highlights of the press conference will be tweeted live all throughout the duration of the press conference through the NSCB Twitter account @NSCBPhilippines. The hashtag to be used is #PHgdp.
JOSE RAMON G. ALBERT
Secretary General |
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| Social workers hold play therapy for kids at tent city |
| Source: http://www.dswd.gov.ph |
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Pasay City – As more Typhoon Yolanda evacuees from Eastern Visayas continue to arrive at the Villamor Airbase via C-130 planes, social workers from both the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the city not only continue to provide for the basic needs of the victims but also their emotional needs, especially the children’s.
At the tent city here, social workers have been conducting play therapy sessions for the children-evacuees since the weekend.
The DSWD encourages the conduct of play therapy to help them cope with their traumatic experience. Reading and story telling sessions are also held for them.
Earlier, DSWD and city local government have partnered for the setting up of a tent city at the Villamor Airbase Elementary School. Fifty tents were set up with 200 beds.
Some 14 families or 42 individuals are currently staying at the tent city.
The tent city became the drop-off point of evacuees who are waiting for their loved ones or who do not have relatives to go home to. DSWD and DSWD- accredited non-government organizations (NGOs) also opened their facilities for them.
As of November 25, some 3,841 family-evacuees or 15,554 individuals have already arrived at the airbase.
Transportation, food, medical, temporary shelter and psycho-social services also continue to be provided in coordination with other government agencies, NGOs and volunteers at the operations center here.
DSWD said that 2,792 family food packs were already distributed to the families who have gone to their relatives residing in Metro Manila and other provinces in Luzon. |
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| DILG R-3 takes on Google cloud computing and LGU database system |
| Source: http://www.dilg.gov.ph |
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In line with the Department’s program outcome to strengthen internal governance in terms of Communication Systems Development and LGU Database Development, DILG R-3initiated a One-Day Orientation and Hands-on Training on Google Cloud Computing and LGU Database System on November 19, 2013 at DILG R-3, Local Governance Regional Resource Center, City of San Fernando, Pampanga. It was participated in by designated Provincial/City Information Technology (IT) staff regionwide and Regional Program Focal Persons from the 3 divisions.
The activity aims to establish an on-line reporting and monitoring system of DILG Region 3 reports for easier retrieval, consolidation and submission by the Field and Regional Offices to Central Office such that timeliness in reporting is achieved. It also aims to create, develop and establish a database which shall contain information about the LGU that can be readily accessed and utilized primarily by the DILG Region 3 personnel for its operations and/or in providing technical assistance to the LGU, and other services.
DILG Region 3 has embarked on innovations and activities on Information Technology (IT) such as the LGU website development project, the LGU database system, and the plan to apply the Google Cloud On-line Reporting System which are linked together to achieve a DILG-LGU Information Portal of Central Luzon on the web. With this, the region will be able to achieve the 3 Es of Management: Economy, Efficiency and Effectiveness.
The benefits of Google Cloud Computing and the process of using the Google Drive in the adoption of the DILG R-3 On-Line Reporting and Monitoring System were explained. There was also a presentation on LGU Database System which will be linked to the DILG R-3 website. Steps on how to populate the system were imparted. In the process of data uploading and updating, DILG Field Officers will be the authorized users to upload and update data in each LGU profile. |
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| DTI reminds public: keep safe during the holidays, buy only lights with ICCs |
| Source: http://www.dti.gov.ph |
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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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| DOST-Microsoft tie up for imagine cup to boost support for Pinoy software developers |
| Source: http://www.dost.gov.ph |
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The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has embarked on a partnership with Microsoft Philippines to conduct the 12th edition of Imagine Cup, an annual student competition of software applications addressing national problems in health, education, e-government, and others, as DOST’s Information and Communications Technology Office (ICTO) continues to support local talents in the industry.
To be held in April 2014, Imagine Cup aims to encourage schools to institutionalize ICT-enabled innovation initiatives in their respective campuses in order to become hubs for ideas that will help solve real-life problems.
DOST’s Information and Communications Technology Office (DOST-ICTO) Deputy Executive Director Monchito Ibrahim, who represented the Department in the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with Microsoft last November 5 at Shangri-la Makati, said that Filipino software developers are definitely at par with their foreign counterparts as they are naturally resourceful and creative.
According to him, it is not impossible to see their out-of-the-box concepts implemented and make the operation of government offices faster, more reliable and more efficient. The key to a concept’s marketability, he said, is for the software developer to consider issues and challenges in the Philippines that may be addressed by ICT-enabled solutions prior to product development. Having fulfilled this, the software developer may be considered as a viable contributor in the country’s drive towards sustainable development, Ibrahim noted.
Some of the recent winners of Imagine Cup are team Divide Zero that developed KidCAMP, a web and mobile application that enhances special education to improve autism communication tools, and Team Signum Fidei that developed a mobile application puzzle game called Conjuct, where the player is required to clear boards overlaid with photos of real-life problems around the world. The Imagine Cup 2012 grand prize winners will represent the country in the Microsoft Cup Design Competition.
“Microsoft’s Imagine Cup is vital to promoting the science and technology capability of our student developers in achieving innovations that are geared towards delivering economic and social benefits,” said DOST Undersecretary Louis Casambre.
“We look forward to more partnerships like this with Microsoft in order to sustain the development of programs that harness the talents and skills of Filipinos in science and technology and at the same time, give them the opportunity to potentially contribute to the economy through entrepreneurship,” he added.
Last year, ICTO teamed up with the Philippine Software Industry Association (PSIA) for the Spring.ph initiative, a start-up coaching and mentoring program that aims to produce at least 10 start-ups with annual revenues of at least US$1M by 2016. ICTO intends to align and harmonize efforts in promoting entrepreneurship in ICT, in order to strengthen the Philippine startup ecosystem and support new and upcoming startups for them to be globally recognized, Ibrahim said.
Based on a report released by PSIA, the software development industry is expected to generate revenues of $1.5 billion by the end of 2013, compared with the $1.16 billion it earned last year. At the same time, the number of I.T professionals is also expected to grow higher by 33 percent from 60,000 in 2013 to 80,000 by the end of 2013. |
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| UK ready to provide further assistance to Phl |
| Source: https://www.dfa.gov.ph |
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25 November 2013 – The United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for International Development, the Right Honorable Justine Greening, MP, met with Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario on November 24 to assure the Philippines that the UK is ready to provide further assistance to the Philippines on top of the 110 million pound sterling already announced.
Secretary of State Greening earlier personally visited the typhoon-ravaged areas to assess the situation and monitor ongoing British search and rescue and relief operations. Having had the opportunity to see the gravity of the situation first hand, she stated that the UK government will continue to contribute to relief operations and at the same time, stands ready to join in the recovery and rehabilitation program for areas in Central Philippines most devastated by Haiyan/Yolanda.
In response to the request for further information from the UK Member of Parliament for Putney, Roehampton and Southfields, Secretary del Rosario, joined by DOH Secretary Enrique Ona, AFP Chief of Staff General Emmanuel Bautista, Treasurer Rosalia de Leon, DSWD Undersecretary Mateo Montalbo, DFA Assistant Secretary Zeneida Angara Collinson, Assistant Secretary Jesus Domingo and Philippine Ambassador to UK Enrique Manalo, apprised the UK delegation of the latest situation, progress, assessed needs to date, and government plans for the affected areas. Based on preliminary estimates, a total of USD2.55 Billion will be needed to cover post-disaster relief, early recovery and rehabilitation.
As of November 21, the UK government has pledged 53 million pound sterling in humanitarian assistance while 57 million pound sterling have been raised by the disasters emergency committee, a group of 14 leading UK aid charities. The royal navy aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious will take over from the Royal Navy Destroyer HMS Daring from November 24 to provide logistical support to civilian humanitarian operations.
The UK delegation confirmed its support for the Philippine government's leadership in managing the after-effects of Typhoon Haiyan. Noting that any government would have been overwhelmed by the sheer size of the strongest typhoon to make landfall in recorded history, they offered to take an active part in the immediate recovery efforts as well as in the mammoth rehabilitation program. |
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| Russia extends additional aid to Phl through the World Health Organization |
| Source: https://www.dfa.gov.ph |
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25 November 2013 - Ambassador Nikolay R. Kudashev informed Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for European Affairs Maria Zeneida Angara Collinson that the Russian Federation extended another package of assistance worth €50,000 to the victims of typhoon “Yolanda” in Central Philippines, in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO).
The latest assistance package took the form of five (5) emergency medicine modules and fifty (50) basic medical kits containing medicines, consumable supplies, medical equipment and instruments that can provide health care and treatment to 150,000 disaster victims in one month.
Ambassador Kudashev emphasized that Russia’s humanitarian assistance is in recognition of the close ties of friendship between Russia and the Philippines. The Ambassador expressed hope that his Government’s assistance made through the World Health Organization will help alleviate the sufferings of the victims and contribute to their early recovery and rehabilitation.
The Russian government, through its Ministry of Civil Defense, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disaster (ENERCOM) had earlier donated 55 tons of canned beef stew, tuna and sugars that arrived in Cebu on 14 November 2013. |
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| September 2013 results of Licensure Examination for Teachers released in forty (40) working days |
| Source: http://www.prc.gov.ph |
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The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Board for Professional Teachers (BPT) announces that 19,384 elementary teachers out of 62,160 examinees (31.18%) and 25,755 secondary teachers out of 64,792 examinees (39.75 %) successfully passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers (L.E.T.) given last September 29, 2013 in 17 testing centers all over the Philippines.
The Board for Professional Teachers is composed of Dr. Rosita L. Navarro, Chairman; Dr. Paz I. Lucido, Dr. Paraluman R. Giron and Dr. Nora M. Uy, Members.
The result of examination with respect to one (1) examinee was withheld pending final determination of his liabilities under the rules and regulations governing licensure examination.
Registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certificate of Registration will start on December 6, 2013. The requirements for the issuance of Certificate of Registration and Professional Identification Card (ID) are the following: 1) duly accomplished Oath Form or Panunumpa ng Propesyonal; 2) latest Community Tax Certificate (Cedula); 3) 1 piece passport size picture (colored with white background and complete nametag); 4) metered documentary stamp for the Oath Form; and 5) the Initial Registration Fee of P600 and Annual Registration Fee of P450 for 2013-2016. Successful examinees should PERSONALLY register and sign in the Roster of Registered Professionals.
The dates and venues for the oathtaking ceremonies of the new successful examinees in the said examination WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER. |
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| More solar night lights for typhoon-hit areas |
| Source: http://www.tesda.gov.ph |
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More locally-assembled portable solar night lights will soon be available to light up areas devastated by typhoon Yolanda.
Technical-vocational graduates, trainers and volunteers target to initially produce as many as 1,300 units of the solar lights under a joint project of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and My Shelter Foundation called the "Liter of Light."
Most of these will go to Tacloban City in Leyte, which was among the hardest hit by the typhoon. The rest will be distributed to other heavily-affected areas.
A total of 50 units were earlier given to TESDA employees affected by the typhoon.
Storm surge triggered by strong wind and heavy rain swept away houses, flattened structures and toppled trees and electric posts in a number of provinces in the Visayas region, resulting in the deaths of over 4,000 people and damage to agriculture and infrastructure.
The Department of Energy said a number of areas, including Tacloban City, would be in total darkness at night until before Christmas day.
"These lights can help bring a sense of normalcy to families, who lost every material possession, and some, even their loved ones," Secretary Joel Villanueva, TESDA director general, said.
The solar lights will also make families save whatever little money they have because they do not have to purchase kerosene, Villanueva said.
Ilac Diaz, executive director of My Shelter Foundation, said the country is now embarking on a new revolution -- green revolution-- with the project.
In time with the country's commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio, who began the revolution for independence, TESDA and My Shelter Foundation will distribute some units on November 30.
The original solar bulb was "retrofitted" with solar-powered LED with a very simple design using locally available materials that can be easily fabricated and repaired. The light uses solar energy to power the lamp that will illuminate the bottle at night.
The US Embassy gave the initial funding of US$10,000 for the project, which was augmented by money from TESDA.
Villanueva said he hopes the agency could secure more funding to produce more solar lights for the typhoon victims.
The agency, he said, has also expanded its training-cum-production approach for the solar lights through the TESDA Technology Institutions in the Bicol Region so that units could be transported to the typhoon victims in Samar and Leyte through the ports in Matnog and Bulan towns in Sorsogon.
"We shall be tapping donors and sponsors for this project in partnership with My Shelter Foundation. As more funds come in, more can be produced," Villanueva said. |
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| VP Binay asks SC to reduce workload of Maguindanao massacre judge |
| Source: http://ovp.gov.ph |
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Vice President Jejomar C. Binay asked the Supreme Court to consider reducing the workload of the judge handling the 2009 Maguindanao massacre case to speed up its trial.
“I ask the Supreme Court to consider relieving Judge Jocelyn Reyes of the other cases she is handling so she could focus on the Ampatuan trial,” Binay said.
“It has been four years since the massacre. We owe it to the victims and their families to give them the speedy justice they deserve. As they say, justice delayed is justice denied,” he added.
Judge Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court’s Branch 221 started handling the Ampatuan case in December 2009, after a fellow judge refused to try it for personal reasons.
A total of 194 people were charged of 58 counts of murder, including Andal Ampatuan Sr. and Jr. as well as other members of their clan. Of this, 104 have been arraigned, 88 remain at large, one died and one freed.
“The sheer number of the persons involved reflects the enormity of the case. If we are to provide justice and closure to the affected families, then we will need a judge whose sole focus is on the case and in speeding up its resolution,” Binay said.
At least 58 people, including 32 journalists, were killed in November 2009 while accompanying the family of then Buluan Mayor Esmael Mangundadatu to Shariff Aguak to file his certificate of candidacy.
The massacre was deemed to be the worst single political killing in the country since martial law. |
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| DSWD welcomes volunteers’ feedbacks, calls for greater understanding |
| Source: http://www.dswd.gov.ph |
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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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