04 DECEMBER 2013
| P969.3-M released to boost power plants; Abad: Funding to continue electrification of remote areas nationwide | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released P969.3 million to the National Power Corporation (NPC) to support the operational and maintenance requirements of the Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG), which implements electrification projects in the most remote areas of the country. Sourced from NPC’s authorized appropriations from the 2013 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the P969.3-million release will fund the procurement of much-needed spare parts to ensure the efficient and optimal operation of power plants nationwide. “This latest release supports the Administration’s ongoing efforts to bring electricity to remote communities, areas, and islands covered by the NPC nationwide. By putting far-flung areas without electricity on the power grid, we can ensure the gradual economic empowerment and much-needed commercial expansion in these remote communities,” DBM Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said. SPUG is mandated by law to provide power generation and electrify areas that are not connected to the main transmission grid, which can also be referred to as “missionary areas.” As of September this year, SPUG has been operating 312 power plants in 236 service areas, with a total installed capacity of 327,523 kilowatts. This nationwide operation covers 36 provinces consisting of a total of over 670,000 households. In addition, off-grid barangay electrification projects initiated within the year in Cabul-an Island in Bohol, Atulayan Island in Camarines Sur and Palumbanes Island in Catanduanes, are already around 90 percent complete. “For too long, several remote communities have had their socio-economic progress severely limited by the simple absence of electricity in their towns. The Administration’s electrification program is only one of several ways that we’re bringing the benefits of good governance to the Filipino people,” Abad said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Gov’t execs meet with Antique officials | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kalibo, Aklan — As part of their inspection of ‘Yolanda’-hit areas in Western Visayas, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman, Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary (DILG) Mar Roxas and Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Voltaire Gazmin met here on Tuesday with Antique Governor Exequiel B. Javier and the mayors of the 12 Antique towns devastated by the typhoon to discuss the assistance needed by the affected families there. During the meeting, Gov. Javier voiced out that the people now need shelter and livelihood opportunities, such as seaweed farming, rice farming and fishing, more than relief goods. In response to this, Sec. Soliman requested the mayors to submit the list of families with totally and partially damaged houses. The verified list will be submitted to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) which will either build permanent shelters or procure housing materials needed by families to build their houses. Relief and Cash-for-Work Sec. Soliman said that DSWD will continue with relief distribution even if this is not the priority needs of the people as confirmed by the local officials. She reiterated that food packs will be given out until the end of December as a transition to the implementation of the Cash-for-Work (CFW) Program. “We are now identifying those families who will be given CFW. With the cash that they will receive in exchange for rendering community work, they will be able to buy their own food and other necessities,” she explained. The CFW will be implemented for a maximum of 15 days. DSWD is studying possible livelihood activities that have shorter gestation period and will be more sustainable. By January, relief distribution will focus on families who are still not capable to earn. These include those families with female heads, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, pregnant and lactating mothers, small children, and/or sick members. As of December 4, DSWD-Field Office VI has distributed 695,440 food packs worth P147. 6 million to affected families in the region. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| OWWA RWO-6 holds Psychological First Aid Training for Typhoon Yolanda survivors | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration-Regional Welfare Office 6 (OWWA RWO-6), in partnership with UGAT Foundation, conducted stress debriefing exercises and coping mechanism measures to distraught survivors of Typhoon Yolanda in the region. The activity entitled, Psychological First Aid Training for Survivors of Typhoon Yolanda, was held on Nov. 27, 2013 at the Iloilo Grand Hotel. UGAT Foundation facilitators led by Fr. Roberto Carampatan spearheaded the event participated in by 103 affected family members of seafarers from the municipalities of Calinog, Passi, Estancia, Carles, San Dioniso, Concepcion, Barrotac Viejo, as well families from Aklan, Antique, and Capiz, participated in the event. In venting out their feelings, insights, thoughts and deepest emotions after the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda, the feeling of helplessness stood out as the common issue raised by most participants. Another sentiment was the need for financial assistance and livelihood to help them rebuild their lives. Proper handling of children who were traumatized by the storm surge experience was also brought up by the participants. The activity ended with the processing session where the participants were taught coping mechanisms and strategies, among them the need for deep breathing. They were also given available networks for linkages and assistance. The active participation of manning agencies like Marlow Navigation, Magsaysay Maritime Inc., Dohle Philman Manning Agency, and NYK Fil Ship Management, as well as the OFW Family Circles from Passi and Calinog greatly contributed to the success of the activity. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| BSP extends additional special regulatory relief to Yolanda-hit banks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has made available a special regulatory relief package to universal, commercial, thrift, rural, and cooperative banks with head offices and/or branches in areas severely affected by super typhoon Yolanda. The said measure is in addition to the earlier regulatory and rediscounting relief that the BSP extended to banks in the Yolanda-hit areas. The additional special regulatory relief measures are available to banks in Palawan, Iloilo, Aklan, Capiz, Cebu, the Samar provinces and Leyte. These provinces were earlier declared under Proclamation No. 682 as “severely affected” areas. Under the additional special regulatory relief package, affected banks may be allowed to book on a staggered basis over a 5-year period the losses on loans outstanding as of 7 November 2013 that are partially or fully condoned and written off. Impairment losses on bank premises, furniture, equipment and real and other properties acquired as of 7 November 2013 may also be recognized over a staggered period of up to five years. Thrift, rural and cooperative banks with head offices in the affected areas may, likewise, apply for condonation of annual supervisory fees for 2014. Depending on the severity of losses that a bank has incurred, the BSP may, likewise, condone the supervisory fees for up to five years. The BSP will also allow flexibility on branch relocation and temporary offices to a more viable location within the affected area for a period not exceeding six months. In addition, submission of periodic and branch reports for six months by banks with head offices and branches in the affected areas will also be relaxed. Further, relaxation on the presentation of the required documents of clients will also be allowed without sacrificing appropriate controls. The BSP enjoined industry associations to draw common guidelines that member banks can adopt for the reconstitution of the documents of clients and banks in the severely affected areas. The BSP is providing the wide array of regulatory reliefs so banks can extend debt relief to typhoon victims and also continue lending and providing other services to the public in typhoon affected areas and, thus, promote early recovery. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| IC pushes for immediate and swift release of insurance claims Agarang Proseso Program launched | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Right after super typhoon “Yolanda” left the country greatly devastated, the Insurance Commission, together with industry stakeholders, immediately approved and implemented the program, “Agarang Proseso, Benepisyo ay Sigurado” to address the victims’ urgent need of any relief available. With the joint efforts of all industry stakeholders, Agarang Proseso established on-site Claims Action Centers (CAC), namely: CLIMBS General Life and Insurance Cooperative CAC in Tacloban City, CLIMBS CAC in Ormoc City and CLIMBS CAC in Cebu City. Another CAC will be set up by CLIMBS in Tacloban City which will be operational on December 8, 2013. The IC was invited to participate and observe how Microinsurance providers process payments after catastrophic events. Meanwhile, the traditional non-life insurance providers have committed to deploy their personnel to strategic areas in the Visayas in the first week of December 2013 to further expedite the processing and release of the insurance proceeds to the covered victims. A Claims Action Center in Tacloban City Hall is expected to be launched on 13 December 2013. Immediately after the launch of the “Agarang Proseso” program, Microinsurance providers have already released substantial amounts of claims for covered fisherfolks, farmers, vendors and members of the marginalized sector in Tacloban, Ormoc, Samar Southern Leyte and Biliran and in other affected areas in the Visayas: § Php83,641,400.00 – for non-life claims § Php811,000.00 – for death claims § Php680,000.00 – for relief assistance Through its efforts, an active industry player facilitated the release of insurance claims of at least 8,000 insurance policyholders amounting to Php60,000,000.00. Microinsurance providers have additionally approved PhP110,000,000.00 for release to more than 19,000 beneficiaries and claimants in the affected area. This amount is expected to be released in the first week of December 2013. In furtherance of its mandate and to provide an even much faster relief to “Yolanda” victims, the Insurance Commission pushes further for a quicker insurance claims processing. The Insurance Commission has called upon the industry players to process and release payments to the affected insuring public without the necessity of an actual claim filed before them. Moreover, the Insurance Commission is seriously entertaining the possibility of requiring insurance providers to release insurance proceeds to covered “Yolanda” victims without relying mainly on traditional documentary proofs and notices of loss. Extensive discussions on “satellite imaging” and “crisis mapping” as basis for the payment of property insurance proceeds, in lieu of the traditional and actual documentary proof and professional adjustment, have already been made. If implemented, the processing and release of property insurance claims would be even quicker and more expeditious. Agarang Proseso program is a collective effort and undertaking of the Insurance Commission and all industry stakeholders. Ongoing coordination with the industry stakeholders is being made to ensure proper and prompt actions of all concerned. The affected policyholders, planholders, beneficiaries and other concerned persons are advised to visit the Insurance Commission’s website at www.insurance.gov.ph for updates and other announcements the Commission may issue from time to time. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| More than 18,000 local and overseas vacancies up for grabs, In Region 6, DOLE celebrates 80 years of service with 3 mega job fairs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Over 18,000 local and overseas job vacancies await applicants at the three mega job fairs that the Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office No. 6 will conduct in Western Visayas on the occasion of the DOLE's 80th Founding Anniversary on 8 December. In a report to Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, Regional Director Ponciano Ligutom said the three mega job fairs, anchored on the DOLE 80th anniversary theme, Walumpung Taong Pag-Unlad, Walumpung Taong Paglilingkod, will be held at the 3rd level of Robinson’s Place-Iloilo (Mabini Wing) on 6 December, and at the fountain area of Robinson’s Place in Bacolod City on 4 December. On the same date, another job fair dedicated for the BPO sector will also be held in Iloilo City. A total of 67 participating local and overseas employers and licensed recruitment agencies will offer various job vacancies in key employment generator (KEG) sectors, such as welders, engineers, autocad workers, accountants, sales assistants, cashiers, clerks, salesmen/saleswoman, program assistants, architects, call center agents, and other occupations. Director Ligutom said the job fairs are dedicated to all jobseekers, especially the workers displaced by the recent calamities. “We hope this initiative could bring a difference to the lives of those who desperately need work especially our workers who lost their jobs due to the massive destruction brought about by super typhoon Yolanda to the business sector in worst hit areas,” he said. The DOLE regional office chief appealed to employers' groups in Iloilo and Negros Occidental whose members were not affected by the super typhoon to join the job fairs and bring their vacancies as their contribution to the employment facilitation undertaking. “I call on all the employers in the region not affected by the recent calamities to join us in these job fairs and help facilitate the employment of jobseekers, including the displaced workers. We were spared from this disaster to enable us to assist those badly affected. Together, let us help our workers get back to their feet,” he said. He also encouraged the jobseekers and displaced workers to participate in the job fair, urging them to bring their credentials, such as detailed resumé, transcript of record, 2 x 2 photos, training certificates, certificates of employment, if any, and passport (for overseas employment). Aside from vacant jobs, the job fair will also feature services of DOLE agencies, like free massage and therapeutic services and skills demonstration in collaboration with members of the TESDA-Supervised Schools of Iloilo (TSSAI), Inc. There will be a help desk for services of member agencies of the Regional Coordinating Council and for kasambahay. “We will also set up a help desk for the profiling of workers displaced by super typhoon Yolanda in the northern part of Iloilo, Capiz, and in some towns of Aklan, Antique, and Negros Occidental,” Ligutom said, adding that applicant pre-registration is on-going. The DOLE, in partnership with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI); Panay Service Exporters Association (PANSEA); Iloilo Federation of Information Technology (IFIT); and its family of agencies--Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), Technical Education & Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Professional Regulations Commission (PRC), National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) and Regional Tripartite Wages & Productivity Board (RTWPB), are participating in the job fairs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| DOE to hold forum to boost energy investments in Ph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Department of Energy (DOE) will be conducting the last of its series of investment fora in the country, in view of promoting investment opportunities in the energy sector. The Luzon Energy Investment Forum will be held on 05 December 2013 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Makati City. DOE previously conducted an Investment Forum for Mindanao last September and a similar forum for Visayas last October. Aside from tackling energy investments opportunities in the country, resource speakers from various energy industries will give talks on different energy scenarios, measures, and experiences including but not limited to regulatory framework and financing facilities of energy projects. The said forum will be attended by participants from different government agencies, private sector, financial institutions, donor agencies, generation companies, private distribution utilities, companies, and electric cooperatives. The Luzon Energy Investment Forum is one of the main activities of the DOE in its celebration of the National Energy Consciousness Month (NECM) this December. NECM is a month-long celebration to increase public awareness on energy-related campaigns, programs and policies of the government, pursuant to Proclamation No. 1427. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| DepEd receives tablets for recovery of school documents | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PASIG CITY – The policy of the Department of Education (DepEd) with regard to disasters is the immediate resumption of classes as soon as it is safe and there are learning spaces available. But tents and teachers are not the only things needed to resume normal schooling. In a turnover ceremony last 29th of November, 2013 (Friday) the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) donated 40 Samsung tablets to DepEd. The delegation was headed by Her Excellency Ambassador Hatice Pinar Isik, the foremost official of the Turkish Mission to the Philippines. This effort was made to help the Department, as well as regional and division offices in recovering what was left of the documents in the schools ravaged by super typhoon Yolanda. “Restoring and preserving records is just as important as providing education. The most affected group here are graduating students,” explained Assistant Secretary Reynaldo D. Laguda, emphasizing on the urgency needed to restore as much school records as possible. With these 40 tablets on hand, the department would be able to ensure the proper documentation of school records which were soaked, soiled, or totally destroyed. This project also ensures the longevity of school documents from being further damaged by such calamities. The said effort has four major phases to ensure an organized filing of the salvaged documents. It starts with the deployment of division-assigned personnel for the capturing of documents, with the use of the tablets, in the affected schools. The data would then be off-loaded to the home divisions for proper reviewing and renaming of the files. Once the files have been recorded and accounted for, they will be distributed back to the individual schools for their own record keeping. Once the system is in place, it will then be replicated for the schools and other division offices as disaster risk mitigating initiative. “By next week, we will be bringing these (tablets) to Leyte and Samar,” Laguda adds. “This assistance from TIKA would surely help speed up the process in bringing back normalcy to the students’ school calendar and would eventually sustain our schools in the prevention of the same problem in file storage for similar disasters in the future.” | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Philippine Airlines resumes flights to Riyadh, Dammam | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 03 December 2013 - The Philippines’ official flag carrier, Philippine Airlines (PAL), made its much-awaited inaugural non-stop Manila-Riyadh-Manila flight on December 01. The twin-engine Airbus 330-300 with flight number PR 564 was operated by Captain Jose Reginald David, assisted by Captain Ruel V. Isaac and Second Officer Erik Lee Isaac landed at the King Khalid International Airport at 2:01 p.m. carrying 376 passengers from Manila. Philippine Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ezzedin H. Tago was at the airport to welcome the passengers and the crew onboard the PAL flight, together with PAL and Saudi immigration officials. The inaugural ceremony started at the check-in counter at King Khalid International Airport’s Terminal 1. The check-in counter opened at 11:30 a.m. followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Ambassador Tago with Mr. Otham Al Zamil, Director for Operations and Fire Service and by the airport’s Manager for Terminal Operations, Mr. Ali Al Rashid. They were assisted by PAL officials based in Riyadh. During the event, Ambassador Tago said, “We are very happy to welcome the Philippine Airlines back to Saudi Arabia, with today’s flights to and from Riyadh and on 3 December to and from Dhahran. I hope the return of the Philippine Airlines to the Kingdom will restore further interest in the Philippines among Saudi tourists and provide a more familiar travel option to our kababayans (nationals) in Saudi Arabia”. PAL’s most recent foray into the Saudi Arabian airline market appears to be very successful, with most flights in December 2013 already fully-booked. The return flight of PR 655 is fully booked with 391 passengers. Aside from Riyadh, PAL will also make its inaugural flight at the King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Eastern Province on December 03 Tourism to the Philippines from Saudi Arabia has increased steadily over the past three years, with the Philippines increasing its tourism promotion activities in the Gulf region, especially in Saudi Arabia. Flights from Riyadh will leave every Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 1:30 p.m. The flights from Dammam will leave every Monday, Tuesday and Saturday. The General Services Agent for the Philippine Airlines in Riyadh is Al-Tayyar Travel, while it is Kanoo Travel in Dammam. PAL first started flying to and from Saudi Arabia on July 03, 1982, landing in Dhahran International Airport. As part of the tradition forinaugural flights, the PAL flight was showered with water from fire trucks as it taxied on the tarmac heading to its assigned gate. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Philippines re-elected to IMO Council | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 03 December 2013 - The Philippine Embassy in London reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Philippines was re-elected as Member of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council under Category C at the 28th Regular Session of the IMO Assembly held on November 29 at the organization’s headquarters in London. The Philippines was re-elected to the Council for the 2014-2015 biennial under Category (c) after obtaining 126 votes (there were 157 votes cast, 154 valid ballots, and three invalid ballots), placing ninth among the 20 IMO Member States elected to the Council under the said category. The IMO Assembly elected 40 Member States to its Council under the following categories: Category (a) - 10 States with the largest interest in providing international shipping services: China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Norway, Panama, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Category (b) - 10 States with the largest interest in international seaborne trade: Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, The Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden. Category (c) - 20 States not elected under (a) or (b) above, which have special interests in maritime transport or navigation and whose election to the Council will ensure the representation of all major geographic areas of the world: Australia, Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, and Turkey. The Council is elected by the Assembly, which is composed of all IMO Member States, for a two-year term beginning after each regular session of the Assembly. It serves as the executive organ of the IMO and is responsible for, inter alia, supervising the work of the organization. In his statement shortly before the election, Ambassador Enrique A. Manalo, Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Permanent Representative to the IMO, remarked that: "the Philippine interest in protecting and ensuring the safety of international seaborne trade stems from its location, being at the crossroads of major maritime routes in the Pacific and East Asia.” He also stated that “Filipino seafarers account for at least 30% of all non-military maritime crews." He also noted that "the Philippines serves as host to the IMO Regional Coordinator for the East Asian countries that facilitates the compliance of member states with the IMO instruments." At the same meeting, representatives of various delegations expressed their sympathies and concern for victims of typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in the Philippines. Notably, Malta, who also won under Category (c), announced its donation of £10,000 to the IMO's Typhoon Haiyan Appeal. Like the Philippines, Malta did not host a reception for its campaign and mentioned that the money that it has saved would be donated to the typhoon victims and expressed hopes that the same would also be used to rehabilitate the maritime schools that were destroyed by the typhoon. Ambassador Manalo thanked these delegations for their expressions of sympathy. The IMO is the United Nations' specialized agency with a special mandate to ensure the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Cities/Municipalities considered worst hit by super Typhoon Yolanda | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Province of AKLAN Province of ANTIQUE Province of CAPIZ Province of CEBU Province of EASTERN SAMAR Province of ILOILO Province of LEYTE Province of NEGROS OCCIDENTAL Province of PALAWAN Province of WESTERN SAMAR
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| Yolanda-hit borrowers and businesses get relief in SSS payments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Social Security System (SSS) has announced a moratorium on housing and member loan payments and lower interest rates for borrowers in areas devastated by Super Typhoon “Yolanda,” while calamity-stricken employers are given an extended payment deadline for their monthly contributions. The relaxed payment terms for contributions and loans are among the recent enhancements in the SSS Calamity Relief Package for victims of “Yolanda,” as approved by the Social Security Commission (SSC) on November 27. These cover specifically areas in central Philippines declared by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) under a “State of Calamity,” such as Leyte, Bacolod, Samar, Palawan, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo and Cebu. “Employers are required to remit contributions only for the months that their business has been actively erating. Because of the destruction wrought by Yolanda, we understand that employers in the typhoon-stricken areas have had to stop operations,” SSS explained. “As part of the relief package, the deadline of all employer contributions that correspond to the months of actual operations from October 2013 to March 2014 will be on April 30, 2014. This extended deadline will enable affected companies to use their current resources in fully restoring their businesses.” Resumption of regular payment deadlines will take effect for employer contributions on April 2014 onwards. Companies that remain non-operational after March 2014 must submit an accomplished SSS Form R-8 (Employer Data Change Request), along with the supporting documents, to suspend or terminate their membership with SSS. Borrowers affected by “Yolanda” will also get a reprieve from their SSS payments under a moratorium on loan amortizations that fall due on November 2013 to June 2014. The moratorium will benefit only calamity-hit borrowers with housing, salary and other short-term member loans, as well as those paying for acquired SSS housing assets in monthly installments. “The moratorium gives affected borrowers an eight-month grace period on loan payments due to the adjustment in their due date. This will help them use their limited funds for their subsistence needs and rebuilding expenses, without their worrying about the monthly loan penalty of one percent,” SSS added. The interest rate for amortizations within the moratorium period was dropped to one percent per annum --- in line with Malacañang's directive to grant interest-free loans, while still adhering to the SSS Charter's requirement for investments to earn at no less than the average Treasury-bill rate. The applicable interest rate for new salary loans and Salary Loan Early Renewal Program (SLERP) availments under the enhanced relief package will also be one percent per annum, lower than the regular rate of 10 percent. Loan repayment will start on the sixth month after the loan grant, instead of the usual two-month grace period before the start of loan amortization. As for loan renewals under the SLERP, deductions from the loan proceeds shall only include the outstanding principal and interest. Accrued penalties, if any, will not bear any interest and may be incorporated into the monthly amortizations of the new loan. Borrowers can directly claim their loan checks from the SSS branch where they filed their application for a quicker loan release. The enhanced relief package also includes the increase in advance pensions to six months from the original three months for calamity-stricken pensioners. SSS also waived the P300 replacement fee for members who lost their SSS IDs or Unified Multi-purpose Identification System or “UMID” cards during the typhoon. Earlier announced as part of the SSS relief package are the SLERP, which enables current borrowers to renew their salary loans ahead of the prescribed period; the waived one percent service fee for both new salary loan and SLERP applications; and the reduced six percent annual interest rate and waived application fee of up to P3,000 for House Repair and Improvement Loans. The deadline of applications for the SSS Calamity Relief Package for “Yolanda” is on April 30, 2014, while members interested in the special House Repair and Improvement Loan have one year from the issuance date of the SSS circular to file their application. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| PHL to host biggest food show in ASEAN, gets full D.A. backing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Department of Agriculture has expressed its full support to the staging in the Philippines in June 2014 of what could be Southeast Asia’s largest food exhibition. It is an opportunity for the country’s food, agriculture and agribusiness industries to pitch their export products to the world. “SIAL or Salon International de l'Agroalimentaire (SIAL) is coming to Asia next year via SIAL ASEAN, and DA is proud to support and take part in it,” said OIC-Asst. Sec. for Marketing and concurrent Agriculture Agribusiness Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS) director Leandro Gazmin. He made the announcement on Friday’s Stakeholders’ Appreciation Night organized by AMAS to honor key collaborative partners from the country’s agribusiness sector at the Philippine Army Officers’ Club in McKinley Hill in Taguig City. Assistance from DA will be in form of sponsorship, Director Gazmin said in an interview after the program. Filipino farmers and fishers – who provide the raw materials for the exporters and processors – stand to benefit from the trade and networking activities that will take place throughout the duration of the four-day affair.Holding it in the Philippines offers a chance for more local participation among local exporters, processors and other agribusiness players, who could take the opportunity to showcase a wider array of their best products and services – all at lesser logistical costs. SIAL ASEAN expects 800 exhibitors – half of whom are international – and 15,000 visitors, the official website reports. Focused on the theme"Best-Kept Secret for Food Business in Asia," the SIAL ASEAN will be held at the World Trade Center Metro Manila on Roxas Boulevard on 11-14 June 2014, in conjunction with the Manila Food and Beverage Expo (MAFBEX) of MAFBEX Events Management, which will be conducted in a separate venue inside the WTC complex. It also coincides with SIAL’s 50th anniversary. Established in 1964 in Paris, SIAL is responsible for the organization of other trade events such as SIAL China, SIAL Middle East, SIAL Brazil, and SIAL Canada. The Philippine hosting of SIAL ASEAN was sealed through a memorandum of understanding between French events organizer Comexposium and MAFBEX Events Management in October this year in Makati. “For a country that derives a significant part of its export earnings from agricultural commodities, SIAL ASEAN is a vote of confidence about the potential and prevailing dynamism of Philippine agriculture,” said DA Secretary Alcala in a separate interview. Data from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics showed agricultural exports – led by coconut oil, fresh bananas, tuna and pineapple – accounted for nearly 10% (9.62%) of the country’s total exports in 2012. For the first six months of this year, export revenues from agricultural products reached $3.22 billion, accounting for 12.6 percent of total outbound shipments valued at $25.6 billion. During that period, the country successfully slashed its agricultural trade deficit by 70 percent as compared to the same period in 2012, as exports soar while imports dropped. BAS data revealed that farm and fishery exports from January to June expanded by 30.7 percent, while imports fell by 6.27%, to $3.65 billion. The government, under its Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016, has identified investments in food and agriculture as a major imperative as it works to achieve food security, raise quality of life in rural areas, and sustain economic prosperity. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 22nd PSQ National Finals tomorrow | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The National Statistics Office (NSO) and the Philippine Statistical Association (PSA) will hold tomorrow the national finals of this year’s Philippine Statistics Quiz (PSQ) at the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in Quezon City. Sixteen (16) regional champions will compete in three rounds of questions and answers on statistical theories and problems. Winners will receive, among others, modest cash prizes, trophies, certificates of recognition and several gift items from the various sponsors and donors of the undertaking. The program will start with a message from PSA President Ms. Nieves L. Osorio. Participants will be welcomed by Dr. Patricia B. Licuanan, CHED Chairperson. On the other hand, the closing remarks will be delivered by NSO Administrator Carmelita N. Ericta. Expected to grace the occasion are heads and employees of statistical agencies, representatives of sponsoring agencies, and relatives and peers of the national finalists. The board of judges for the 2013 PSQ national competition will be chaired by Dr. Romulo A. Virola, former Secretary-General of the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), with Dr. Mercedes Concepcion, an academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), and Mrs. Nelia R. Marquez, former NSO Deputy Administrator, as members. The PSQ is now on its 22nd year since it started in 1992. A brainchild of former NSO Administrator Tomas Africa, the annual competition aims to instill the value of statistics among students and to elicit awareness on its importance in national development planning and thereby generate support and public cooperation in government statistical activities. The CHED began endorsing it in 1994. Last November 14, regional eliminations were held all over the country, spearheaded by the PSQ regional steering committees, with the support of local officials, government agencies and private institutions. College freshmen students representing various colleges and universities, both public and private, participated in the contest. Those who emerged as regional champions will be the official representatives to tomorrow’s national competition. The regional winners and their respective coaches have been provided by the PSQ organizers with modest accommodation, two-way transportation expenses and per diem for the duration of the national finals. Last year, Jay Nelson Corbita, a BS Mechanical Engineering student of Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro City brought home the 21st PSQ national championship trophy. This year, live updates on the contest can be viewed at http://www.census.gov.ph/events/psq. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| PRC cancels Lucena and Iloilo as Testing Centers for the December 2013 Electronics Engineers and Electronic Technicians Licensure exam | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manila, December 2, 2013 – The Professional Regulation Commission and the Professional Regulatory Board of Electronics Engineering announces the cancellation of Lucena and Iloilo as Testing Centers for the December 2013 Licensure Examination for Electronics Engineers and Electronics Technicians due to low turn-out of applications. The PRC advises applicants and examinees from Lucena and Iloilo to take the examination in Manila. The Electronics Engineers and Electronics Technicians Licensure Exam will proceed as scheduled on December 13, 14 and 15, 2013 in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cebu and Davao. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| PDIC raises P56.9-M from public bidding of closed banks’ assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) successfully sold 23 properties collectively worth P56.9 million during its November 19 public bidding held at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) office in Legaspi City, the fourth to be conducted this year. The assets sold are closed banks’ properties and the aggregate bid offers generated a premium of P8.9 million for the various closed banks against the minimum disposal price of P48 million. The PDIC bidded out a total of 158 real properties for a combined minimum disposal price of P90.04 million. The properties are located in the various cities and provinces of the Bicol Region including Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur and Sorsogon. The regular conduct of public biddings is in line with the PDIC’s strategic direction to expeditiously dispose non-financial assets. When closed banks’ properties are sold, the proceeds are automatically added to the funds held in trust for the closed banks and are used to help settle claims of uninsured depositors and creditors. As mandated by law, payment to these parties is subject to the rules on concurrence and preference of credits. Aside from public biddings, the PDIC disposes non-financial assets through negotiated sale. Interested buyers who were not able to participate during the public biddings may still avail of the assets for sale posted in the PDIC website, pad@pdic.gov.ph. Prospective buyers are encouraged to use the PDIC’s Property Finder in its website for information on available inventory of assets for disposal. They may also call the Asset Management and Disposal Group (02) 841-4650 for inquiries on assets for sale. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 22nd The CES plants trees, hope; gets recognition from DENR | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A (green) thumb’s up. DENR Undersecretary Demetrio L. Ignacio hands over a plaque of recognition to CESB Executive Director Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones, in appreciation of the agency’s continuing commitment to the environmental programs of the government, as demonstrated by its support to the National Greening Program. “May you perceive this tree-planting activity not just a part of performing your office or club duties. Take this as an opportunity to fulfil your role as a creator and giver of life here on earth,” the officiating priest told participants in a thanksgiving mass that preceded the 4th joint tree planting activity of the Career Executive Service Board (CESB), the South Luzon Expressway Inc. (SLTC), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the Rotary Club of Makati Rockwell in support to the government’s National Greening Program, November 16, 2013. In a short program held after the mass, DENR Undersecretary Demetrio L. Ignacio expressed in his keynote speech, “We are not only planting, we are also making history. The National Greening Program is the biggest reforestation-tree planting program in the Philippine history. We are targeting to plant 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million hectares from 2011 to 2016.” He noted that “in the South East Asia, the forest cover of the Philippines is second to the lowest. This is why we need your help because our initiatives would help improve our forest situation in the coming years.” Dubbed “All roads lead to the greening program,” the event has successfully gathered a crowd of participants from the public and private sectors who planted more than 3, 000 saplings of Golden Shower trees (Cassia fistula) along a stretch of about 15.7 km of road easement from Greenfields Exit all the way to San Pedro, Laguna, northbound. But not only trees were planted that day, also seeds of hope, recovery and new beginnings. In her message of support, CESB Executive Director Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones acknowledged the presence of Department of Energy Assistant Secretary Daniel A. Ariaso, Sr., and his family--his wife Rowena and son Danny Jr. “Asec. Danny’s family survived the storm surge in Tacloban. And now, they are taking refuge with us and sharing our roles as source and stewards of life here on earth.” The activity also served as a venue for the recognition of the CESB and its continuing commitment to the environmental programs of the government, as demonstrated by its support to the National Greening Program. The program was followed by a ceremonial tree-planting led by Executive Director Allones and Deputy Executive Director Arturo M. Lachica who were joined in by the 200-member CES contingent consisting of the CESOs and representatives from the Department of Health-Center for Health and Development (DOH-CHD) - Mimaropa, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR), DENR, National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), Department of Education (DepEd) – Makati, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Air Liquide Philippines and the CESB Secretariat. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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