Strengthening Organizational Capacity of ARBs through PBD Lawyering |
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Source: http://www.dar.gov.ph |
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Despite the stride made by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in terms of asset distribution, many Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) still live below poverty line and have to realize the economic potential of their lands. Since 1988, the majority of them, either individually or through their cooperatives have entered into various Agri-Business Venture Agreements (AVAs) with their former landowners or with third parties. A review of the contracts in the databank of the National Agribusiness Evaluation Committee showed that most of the contracts are onerous and do not promote the financial, as well as the economic interests of the ARBs. This prompted the Office of the Undersecretary for Legal Affairs to strengthen the organizational capacity of ARBs and its organizations in the implementation of the Agrarian Reform Communities Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS) through the Program Beneficiaries Development (PBD) Lawyering Part II: Skills Training for Agribusiness Contract Review. This is an offshoot to the first phase of its PBD Lawyering Training Program conducted last year, which focused on setting up a legal entity for the ARBs and their organizations (ARBOs), understanding cash flow, knowledge of credit and how to access available credit facilities. PBD Lawyering Part II is to be participated by selected DAR Legal Division Chiefs and Regional and Provincial Program Beneficiaries Division (PBD) staff. Said skills training started this week from March 17-21, 2014 for the Mindanao group. Succeeding batches will be on May 5-9, 2014 for the Visayas group and May 19-23, 2014 for the Luzon group. The participants to this activity together with the Community Based Enterprise Organizers (CBEOs) are expected to assist the ARB enterprises capture value and private investment; strengthen their ability to manage risks; and create opportunities for their enterprises towards enabling business environment for the ARBs. Overseeing the activity is a team from the Legal Affairs Office, Bureau of Agrarian Legal Assistance, Agrarian Reform Capacity Development Service and Support Service Office of DAR. |
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Pantawid Pamilya pupil looks forward to more happy moments with family |
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Source: http://www.dswd.gov.ph |
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Javier, Leyte – “Because of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, mama and papa already have time for us.” This was shared by Cheska Calinao, 11, Grade 5 student who is a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, during the March 14 visit of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Board of Directors in Barangay Odiong of this municipality. The ADB officials visited the Philippines to check on the implementation of their funded projects in the country to obtain a better appreciation of overall operations, outputs, development impact, and stakeholder participation. Pantawid Pamilya, one of the projects being funded by ADB, aims to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty through investment in human capital. It provides cash grants of as much as P1,400 to households with three qualified children to meet their education and health needs provided they comply to program conditionalities such as sending their children to school and health centers for check up, and attending family development sessions. Cheska, who is the youngest among 10 siblings, expressed how Pantawid Pamilya has improved her family. “Han kami naging beneficiary na han Pantawid, dako an kaibahan kay nakakaon na kami hin magrasa, nakakagproject na ako. Ngan an pinakaimportante ha tanan, an akon mama ngan papa nagkasundo na ngan mayda na nira time ha amon (When we became a beneficiary of Pantawid Pamilya, we can already eat delicious food and I can already do my projects. But the most important thing, my parents don’t argue anymore and they already have time for us).” She related that they now have more time for family bonding. She shared that at night, they would be singing and her papa would be playing the guitar. She is thankful for the additional support to their needs. Mayor Leonardo Javier, Jr., on the other hand, shared how surprised he is on the impact of Pantawid Pamilya on his constituents. He said, “CCT helps us get out of poverty by teaching the people. Children get educated and people get more concerned of their health. Because of the program, people improve their values, they are closer to their family members, and they are taught to be God –fearing.” To date, there are 1,611 active household-beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya here. Nationwide, the program is serving 3,989,548 households from 41,263 barangays in 143 cities and 1,484 municipalities. DSWD-Field Office VIII Assistant Regional Director Virginia Idano said that the “testimonials of the beneficiaries prove that moving poor people from survival level to self-sufficiency is not far-fetched.” |
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DSWD gathers Western Visayas mayors for consultation on community-driven post-disaster rehabilitation |
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Source: http://www.dswd.gov.ph |
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ILOILO CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) recently gathered Western Visayas mayors and representatives of local government units (LGU) in a forum on community-driven rehabilitation and development following the impact of Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines. The forum is part of the preparatory work being conducted for the National Community-Driven Development Program (NCDDP). The event also served as an orientation for local chief executives on the program, which is the scaling up of Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS), the community-driven development (CDD) project being implemented by DSWD. According to DSWD Assistant Secretary Camilo Gudmalin, community participation is central to rehabilitation efforts after disaster. He said, “Kung ang mamamayan ang boss natin, mahirap naman na sila ang mahuli. Dapat sila ang mauna (If the citizens are our bosses, it doesn’t seem right that they should be left behind).” While he acknowledged that the relief and rehabilitation efforts following ‘Yolanda’ will be difficult, he said that key to making these initiatives successful is to tighten the coordination among the citizens, the LGUs, and the national government agencies (NGAs). Asec. Gudmalin said, “The work is gargantuan, but the way to work around this is to create a stronger link between the government and the citizens… Together, we will be able to implement the interventions necessary to rebuild affected areas.” While Asec. Gudmalin emphasized the importance of involving the citizens, DSWD-Field Office VI Director Evelyn Macapobre in turn highlighted the critical role LGUs play in post-disaster rehabilitation and development. She said, “LGUs, as basic providers, would like to remain relevant and respond to the needs of their constituents, particularly those affected by Yolanda.” She described the forum as “timely”, as the DSWD is studying ways in speeding up rehabilitation in order to better address the needs of citizens, particularly those who were and will be affected by disasters. RD Macapobre also supported Asec. Gudmalin’s statement on the importance of community involvement, stressing, “LGUs can only do so much, but you have the untapped potential of resources, in the form of community residents, who can work with you in post-disaster rehabilitation.” Their statements were echoed by Department of Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Francisco “Bimbo” Fernandez, who said that there should be partnership between the government and the people. He said, “Local governance needs to step up to minimize risks to life and property. We don’t just need to build back, we need to build back better. That is the lesson we need to learn from ‘Yolanda’.” According to Asec. Gudmalin, DSWD is eyeing around PhP3.94 B in investments for Western Visayas through the NCDDP. The program is targeting coverage of 117 municipalities in the region. NCDDP integrates disaster risk reduction and management in its design. It pays particular attention to the areas affected by ‘Yolanda’. In fact, 554 of its 847 target municipalities are ‘Yolanda’-affected. Last March 5, a similar activity was conducted in Tacloban City, with Eastern Visayas as its participants. Both Western and Eastern Visayas were severely affected by Typhoon Yolanda, which hit the Philippines on November 8, 2013. |
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PNoy admin OKs Pampanga flood control project; Abad: Resiliency and preparedness key to disaster response |
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Source: http://www.dbm.gov.ph |
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The Aquino administration, through the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), has approved the Multi-Year Obligation Authority (MYOA) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) with the Korea Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF). The MYOA will support the implementation of the flood control component of the P3.83-billion Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in the Low Lying Areas of Pampanga Bay Project. According to DBM, P74 million has already been released for the project to cover the fund requirements for FYs 2013 and 2014. The releases were charged against the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for both years. Meanwhile, the budgetary requirements for FYs 2015 to 2017 shall be also accommodated within the budget of DPWH upon approval of Congress. Approving the MYOA gives authority to the DPWH to enter into multiple-year contracts for the flood mitigation project for more than a year, allowing the agency to partner with the EDCF to fulfill the requirements of the project for 5 years. “The Philippines is a very typhoon-prone country and we’ll need a good deal of support in implementing our disaster risk reduction initiatives. We’re very grateful to the Korean government and its aid arm for joining us in our bid to build durable and disaster-proof infrastructure to protect communities in low-lying areas, specifically those in Pampanga,” Sec. Florencio “Butch” Abad said. The Administration will provide P886.1 million in total, while EDCF will contribute P 2.94 billion for the duration of the five-year project. The annual investment cost for the Flood Control Component is as follows:
the project’s flood component—which is to reduce the extent, level, and duration of flooding in Pampanga—another component of the project aims to rehabilitate and repair school buildings for the benefit of the schools in the area. “The challenges of climate change require us to strengthen our disaster risk management capabilities, especially in calamity-prone provinces. This project is definitely in line with the Administration’s goal of ramping up our disaster risk preparedness to avert calamity-related crises and ensure the sustainability of our drive for inclusive growth,” the Budget chief added. |
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DFA Statement on the Crimea |
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Source: https://www.dfa.gov.ph |
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18 March 2014 The Philippines remains deeply concerned with developments in Crimea and hopes for a diplomatic solution. In this regard, the Philippines takes note of UN General Assembly Resolution 3314 and calls for maximum restraint to be shown by all parties. We support actions toward de-escalating tensions in the region and for comprehensive, inclusive and peaceful dialogue and reconciliation, with full respect for the rule of law, to be pursued by all parties. |
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DFA Conducts Seminar on Gender Issues in Philippine Embassy in Amman |
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Source: https://www.dfa.gov.ph |
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18 March 2014- In an effort to strengthen the consular and Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) services of the Philippine Embassy in Amman, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) conducted a lecture series and training activity on Gender and Development (GAD) and Violence against Women (VAW) for Embassy personnel, including local hires, officers and staff of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Agency (OWWA). The lecture was held as part of the DFA’s continuing program on raising the awareness of its personnel on gender issues and the impact upon the welfare and personal safety of migrant workers. Philippine Ambassador to Jordan Olivia V. Palala and Consul Cassandra Karemaeh B. Sawadjaan led the roster of 21 participants who attended the training activity from March 4 to 5. The 83 wards of the Embassy shelter participated as well. The lecture series was spearheaded by a team led by DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Jesus Yabes, and included DFA Special Assistant Renato Villa and DFA-GAD Secretariat Head Atty. Dyan Kristine Miranda-Pastrana. The team focused on imparting best practices in handling VAW cases and the administrative guidelines on sexual harassment. While in Amman, the team also dedicated time to meet with the wards of the Embassy shelter and provided them with advice and counsel. |
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Number of Saudi Visitors to Phl on Upward Trend |
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Source: https://www.dfa.gov.ph |
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18 March 2014 – The Philippines is starting to make ground in the Saudi Arabian tourism market, with the number of Saudi visitors to the Philippines on an upward trend since 2009. From only 19,101 Saudi visitors in 2009, the Philippines attracted a record 38,969 last year, a growth of 104 percent. Last year’s total was a growth of nearly 29.7 percent from the previous year, while the average growth of visitor arrivals since 2009 has been at 19.8 percent. The consistent increase has been helped by the Embassy’s tourism promotion activities in the Kingdom, in partnership with Saudi travel agencies accredited with the Philippine Department of Tourism. In April 2013, the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh and the Philippine Department of Tourism participated in the Riyadh Travel Fair. The event drew 998 visitors, with many inquiring about holiday packages to prime destinations like Boracay, Palawan, Bohol’s Chocolate Hills and Panglao Island, and Davao’s Pearl Farm. In December 2013, representatives from the Department of Tourism (DOT) visited the Kingdom to formally launch the Philippine tourism in Riyadh. The event was attended by tourism officials from the Saudi Chambers of Commerce and tour operators in Riyadh and nearby regions. Also, the DOT, in coordination with the Philippine Tourism Office in Dubai, held a familiarization tour of Manila, as well as Tagaytay, Clark and Subic, for selected Saudi travel agents. It was an opportunity for them to personally see the rich experience available in the Philippine tourism destinations. This year, the Department of Tourism and the Philippine Embassy will be participating in the Riyadh Travel Fair 2014 from April 12 to 16, and will also hold promotion activities in the Eastern Province. |
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DepEd, Australian gov't committed to enhance school system |
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Source: http://www.deped.gov.ph |
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Pasig City--The Department of Education and the Australian government continued to advance Philippine basic education through the Continuous Improvement (CI) Program, a program aiming to develop competencies at the school, division and regional levels. "The Philippine government and the Australian government have been partners in pushing for the educational agenda for 15 years. CI program signifies the commitment of both parties to deliver quality education for the Filipino learners," Secretary of Education Br. Armin Luistro FSC said. CI program, launched in July 2013, was first implemented in five (5) regions, nine (9) divisions, and 34 schools in the country by offering not only competency building through trainings and workshops for educators, but also by providing coaching for them. The program focused in five (5) major categories: (1) teaching Reading, (2) teaching Mathematics, (3) managing waste and feeding program, (4) managing class attendance, and (5) delivering remedial science and other major subjects. It employed the Triple A (Assess, Analyze, Act) continuous improvement methodology. Examining CI program DepEd together with school administrators and teachers from different CI program model schools examined the process improvement and impact of the said program on learners in a symposium on Monday. The symposium revolved on the participative empowerment through the engagement of internal and external stakeholders. It also served as a venue for schools to share their CI stories. |
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Statement of Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan at the Philippine Economic Briefing |
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Source: http://www.neda.gov.ph |
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PHILIPPINE ECONOMIC BRIEFING “Midterm Update of the Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016” Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City 18 March 2014 Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I am pleased to present to all of you the government’s roadmap for inclusive growth. I will start by discussing the recent economic performance and achievements so far. Then I will proceed to the challenges that need to be addressed in order to sustain the growth momentum and eventually achieve inclusive growth. Corresponding to the challenges, I will then present the salient features of the Philippine Development Plan Midterm Update, and then the prospects for the Philippine economy in 2014 and beyond. The Philippine economy has been one of the bright spots in the region. Just last year, our real GDP expanded by 7.2 percent, improving from the 6.8 percent achieved in 2012. These results were realized despite the uncertain global environment, as well as natural disasters that the country has experienced since 2011. Averaging the growth rate per decade, which broadly corresponds to significant policy changes in the country, we find that from an average growth rate of 2.9 percent in the 1990s, growth rate accelerated to 4.8 percent for the first decade of 2000; and finally, 7.2 percent last year. The changes in the composition of growth over time supports our summation that the high growth rate can be sustained. On the demand side, the 7.2 percent growth was mainly contributed by household spending, followed by fixed capital formation. This is primarily due to stronger growth in investments in durable equipment and construction. Moving on to the supply side, we see that while Services continue to be the major contributor to growth, the contribution of Industry has been increasing over the years. In 2013, it was responsible for 3 percentage points of the total 7.2% growth rate. Our strong macroeconomic fundamentals marked by low and stable inflation, favorable interest rates, sustainable and resilient fiscal and external positions, and a stable financial sector are among the reasons behind our economy’s remarkable performance. In spite of the achievements in the aspects of economy and governance, we recognize that we still need to do more to achieve inclusive growth. In particular, the proportion of the population deemed poor based on official poverty lines has remained high from 2003 to 2009, despite modest economic growth. In 2012, poverty declined to 25.2 percent but we had another setback last year as a result of extreme disasters that happened in the latter half. Data also show that the rate of employment generation has not kept pace with the labor force such that there is still a large stock of the unemployed. More than the quantity, we are also concerned about the creation of high-quality and remunerative jobs that provide adequate income for the Filipino workforce. We are aware of the downside risks to growth going forward, some of which can be beyond our control, like natural disasters and political instability in other parts of the world. At the same time, we are mindful of opportunities that can support and even allow us to surpass our growth targets. Our emerging middle class and the growing proportion of our working-age population provide an important source of dynamism for growth. Prudent fiscal management and our upgrade to investment grade have reduced the cost of capital. We have also achieved significant strides towards peace in the South. Moreover, we are part of a region that is becoming a significant player in the world economy. All these increase our attraction as an investment destination. We took stock of the lessons we have learned in the past 3 years. Our achievements, so far, justified our emphasis on good governance, macroeconomic and political stability as the platform for economic growth. At the same time, we know that we need to do much more. In particular, our growth strategies need to take cognizance of spatial and sectoral dimensions to ensure inclusivity. Corresponding to the lessons and taking note of the risks and opportunities to growth, we have identified strategies that we will emphasize in the remaining Plan period. Most of these have already been identified in the original Philippine Development Plan. But we know that the benefits may not immediately be felt by the poor. For this reason, the updated PDP will deliberately address the constraints faced by the poor. These constraints operate in a highly diverse, fragmented and hazard prone environment. Some cities or provinces have been experiencing economic growth, but the poorest families are being left behind. Perhaps the growing sectors did not require the goods or services that the poor can provide. Worse, migrants were being attracted into these cities or provinces, but they too, were unable to participate in the growth process. These provinces, which we have labeled as Category 1, have very high numbers of the poor, although the incidence of poverty is not very high. Meanwhile, some provinces are being left out of the growth process altogether. These are very sparsely populated and remotely located. Furthermore, these provinces are confronted with weather disturbances and armed conflict that reinforce the state of under-development. These provinces have a very high proportion of the population who are poor. These are the Category 2 provinces. Category 3 consists of thirty (30) provinces that are exposed and prone to multiple hazards, such as landslides and flooding. In these provinces, the marginally non-poor people can quickly slide into poverty due to shocks or natural disasters. For Category 1, the interventions should be aimed at increasing investments to create more growth opportunities. We will begin with the growth sectors present in these provinces, like IT-Business Process Management, tourism, construction, manufacturing, agri-business and logistics. We then need to improve the skill sets of these poorest families and undertake more aggressive employment facilitation for better job-skills match especially concerning the poor. The strategy for Category 2 is to provide basic social services that promote economic and physical mobility, while economic opportunities are being created in the area. Small agriculture-based enterprises linked to the supply chain in the nearby developed areas should be encouraged. In areas where human security is particularly at risk because of violence or armed conflict, peace-building efforts should be earnestly pursued. Building resilience is the main strategy for Category 3 provinces. These include disaster-risk reduction and mitigation, social insurance and social protection, and income diversification. Also supportive of our targets for the rest of the medium term are the priority programs and projects which are expected to substantially contribute to the attainment of the development objectives. The total estimated public investments are about Php 4.2 trillion. More than half is for infrastructure development, followed by social development (21%), agriculture and fisheries (15%), and sustainable and climate resilient environment and natural resources (5%). Majority will be started before and perhaps finished by 2016, but some may extend beyond the Aquino administration. Most of the investment targets, 80%, are proposed to be funded by the national government (NG) at PhP2.7 trillion. This fund source includes proceeds from official development assistance (ODA) loans and grants. With these strategies, we strive to sustain our economy’s growth over the medium term. The economy is targeted to grow by 6.5 to 7.5 percent in 2014, 7 to 8 percent in 2015, and 7.5 to 8.5 percent in 2016. Industry sector is projected to grow the fastest, while services is expected to remain robust during the period. On the supply side of the economy, growth will be driven by a number of sectors, most especially manufacturing, construction and logistics, agri-business, tourism and IT-BPO. On the other hand, the demand side of the economy will be buoyed by the following growth drivers: fixed capital formation, both coming from public and private sectors, household consumption and stronger exports, including export of services. Ultimately, the goal is to achieve inclusive growth. Our target is to reduce the unemployment rate from 7.0 percent in 2012 to at most 6.7 percent in 2016. More importantly, we are committed to improving the quality of employment, and this will be reflected as a reduction of underemployment rate from the current 20 percent to about 17 percent in 2016. The growth drivers that we have identified are expected to generate high-quality remunerative jobs. We also aim to reduce income poverty to 18 to 20 percent by 2016, which admittedly, will fall short of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) target of 17 percent by 2015. This new target takes into consideration the slow response of poverty to economic growth beginning 2006 and the setback in 2013 due to the wide-scale destruction resulting from natural and man-made disasters. The updated Plan will also monitor the incidence of multi-dimensional poverty, which measures deprivation in several dimensions, such as in health, education, water and sanitation. The target is to reduce this from 28 percent in 2008 to 16-18 percent by 2016. This demonstrates the commitment of the Aquino administration not only to reduce poverty based on income, but also to address the deprivation that could result in future income poverty. These targets, as well as other intermediate targets will be diligently monitored by the Cabinet through the different NEDA committees and Cabinet clusters. This ascribes urgency to the matter and at the same time, is an acknowledgement that the goal of inclusive growth requires no less than an all of government approach, actively engaging with private sector and civil society. Salamat at Mabuhay tayong lahat! |
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Flying Kiss, The Movie: There is life after TB |
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Source: http://www.doh.gov.ph |
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There is life after getting sick with tuberculosis. In commemoration of World TB (Tuberculosis) Day on March 24, the Department of Health (DOH) in cooperation with the Sinehan Advocacy Media Projects, Inc. (SAMPI), the Philippine Business for Social Progress through the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Malaria, & Tuberculosis present the movie, Flying Kiss. Starring Carl Guevarra, Wynwyn Marquez, Fabio Ide, Ma. Isabel Lopez, Maey Bautista, Ate Gay Morales, Gio Medina, Andrea Tatad, Cheska Carillon and Ralph dela Paz, Flying Kiss tells a story of a young woman who is about to achieve all her dreams but everything was put into a halt when she was diagnosed with tuberculosis. It is about her struggles in regaining the life that she almost lost because of the disease. “This event seeks to help people understand those who contract this deadly but curable disease. This is an event to help fight tuberculosis or TB,” Health Secretary Enrique Ona said. The comedy-drama advocacy movie showcases the use of film as a medium for information and education campaign that utilizes language and situations that are relatable to its intended audience. It is intended to augment and bolster the public awareness campaign of the DOH that seek to inform the public on how tuberculosis can be prevented and cured, as well as to lessen the stigma that is accorded to those who have acquired the disease. Apparently, many people die of tuberculosis because of misinformation and lack of knowledge on how to deal with it. “Flying Kiss”, written and directed by Crisaldo V. Pablo, is an event-for-a-cause coming to selected SM Cinemas, such as SM Megamall, SM City North EDSA and SM Manila. Part of the proceeds shall go to anti-tuberculosis advocates called the TB Task Forces. They are groups of private citizens that roam the streets of Metro Manila, and brave even the most dangerous and least accessible areas of the metropolis to talk and educate the people about tuberculosis. They also look for possible TB patients and convince them to avail of the needed interventions to save them from dying with the disease. And more importantly, they take care of TB patients who stay at home and help ensure that these patients follow the needed daily medications for six months so that they can fully recover. Most of these Task Forces do not have the necessary resources to continue their advocacy. SAMPI, through the movie FLYING KISS, would like to help them raise funds so that they can sustain their activities, and also to at least compensate the efforts of their members. These men and women who are members of the Task Forces devote most of their time for free, for the sake of pursuing a noble advocacy to promote normal and healthy lives for other people. It is time to somehow help and support them. And it is also high time to have a movie that will help as many people as possible learn the truth about tuberculosis, on how to prevent and cure it. This campaign is joined in by companies with Corporate Social Responsibility such as Hewlett-Packard Philippines, Yamaha Motors Philippines, Western Digital, Monteverde Sewing Machines (the official Philippine distributor of Singer Sewing Machines), Asian College, Yadu Bags, Nyogi, Quezon City TB Task Force Association, Mandaluyong TB Task Force Federation, Makati TB Task Force Federation, Las Pinas TB Task Force, Pasay TB Task Force. The DOH encourages everyone to join this rare opportunity to make a difference. Cinema screenings can be sponsored by purchasing bulk tickets that can be distributed as passes to family members, friends, co-workers, employees, students and acquaintances. For any inquiries about this matter, please contact SAMPI through 0947-297-4677 or 0926-756-4401 or email sinehanadvocacymedia@gmail.com cc sinehandigitales@gmail.com. SINEHAN ADVOCACY MEDIA PROJECTS INC in partnership with Philippine Business for Social Progress through the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis and Department of Health National TB Program and National Center for Health Promotion |
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MMDA To Wrap Up 'Linis Palengke' Program |
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Source: http://www.mmda.gov.ph |
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After cleaning up several public markets in Metro Manila, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will wrap up its “Linis Palengke†program next week at the Mega Public Market in Pasig City. In a span of only five months, MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said the cleanup activity has covered a total of 100,879 square meters of public market land areas since it was launched on October 8, 2013. MMDA workers, backed up by barangay personnel and volunteers from the local government units, also cleaned up 2,935 wet stalls and 4,163 dry stalls, aside from conducting lectures for market personnel and vendors about cleanliness and environmental conservation. The last market cleanup activity will be held at the Mega Public Market in Pasig City on March 21. “We’re done with the Linis Palengke as of now because we will resume our ‘Estero Blitz’ program before the onset of the summer season,†Tolentino said, referring to MMDA’s extensive cleanup of esteros and waterways in Metro Manila. Aimed at increasing the awareness of market vendors on environmental protection, the Linis Palengke program was conducted in selected public markets in Manila, Quezon City, Parañaque, Muntinlupa, Pasay, Mandaluyong, Valenzuela, Las Piñas, Marikina, and Pasig. MMDA also donated garbage bins, utility carts, aprons, and compressor washers to the public markets. Markets cleaned up by MMDA were Dagonoy Public Market (Manila); Murphy Market (Quezon City); Parañaque Public Market, Muntinlupa Public Market, Pasay City Mall and Public Market, Mandaluyong Public Market II, Polo Public Market (Valenzuela); New Las Piñas Public Market, and Marikina Central Public Market. |
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MMDA inaugurates two new pumping stations in San Juan |
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Source: http://www.mmda.gov.ph |
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The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will inaugurate this afternoon two new floodwater pumping stations in San Juan City. MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino and San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez will lead the inauguration ceremonies at the new facilities, which are located along Rivera Street at Barangay Rivera and Morales Street at Barangay Salapan. Senator JV Ejercito is also expected to attend the event. “These additional facilities will complement the Balong Bato pumping station which became operational last year. Hopefully, these pumping stations will totally spare the city of San Juan from flooding,†Tolentino said. “Having not just one but three pumping stations here in San Juan will provide great relief for the city government and its residents as it would not just rid San Juan of floods but would also save lives and precious properties.†The Rivera pumping station has two pumps and floodwater catchment area measuring 2.8 hectares. The facility also has one set of trash screen for garbage retrieval. The Salapan pumping station, on the other hand, has two pumps that siphon two cubic meters of water per second. It has a floodwater catchment area of 18 hectares with two sets of trash screen equipment. The MMDA now has 54 pumping stations all over Metro Manila. |
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New BI A/D Card simplifies immigration processing |
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Source: http://www.immigration.gov.ph |
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Foreigners and returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are now finding the experience of traveling to and from the Philippines more pleasant than before. The favorable feedback from travelers only indicates that the Bureau of Immigration (BI) was successful in the implementation of expedited and hassle-free processing at the country’s entry and exit points, particularly at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Since the March 1st implementation of the use of the new and simplified Arrival and Departure Cards, thousands of arriving and departing travelers have been spared from the usual human “traffic congestion” at NAIA terminals. “I must say, it’s a lot better than the usual hassle that everyone has to go through at the Manila airport (NAIA),” said Carl Lemon III, who is in the country for business purposes in his capacity as a coffee company executive. “It sure did take away the fun every time you had to get stuck in line after that long trip,” Lemon went on to say. Albie Fiedacan, a balikbayan from Vancouver, Canada, said she never got used to filling out papers with personal information. “This new system at the Immigration at NAIA is a great improvement,” Fiedacan said. A Korean national, who requested anonymity, said she is now thankful that there is not much to fill out since she is still struggling with transcribing English materials. The lady from Seoul, who came to visit her Christian church affiliates, also expressed gratitude for the “extraordinary friendliness” of Immigration and Customs Officers at NAIA. BI Commissioner Siegfred B. Mison said, “Since most of the basic information of the passengers is already indicated in their e-passports anyway, we decided that there is no need for too much paperwork on the part of the travelers.” Mison assured that the BI is headed in the right direction with less red tape and towards a more traveler-friendly immigration service at the country’s air and seaports. “We are moving towards the direction of paperless (immigration) processing,” he stressed. BI supervisors at the four NAIA terminals said that the new approach have eased crowding of passengers waiting in line to get their “paperwork” done and their passports stamped, which was commonplace over the years. Under the new setup, only foreigners and Filipinos with immigrant status abroad are required to accomplish a simplified form of Arrival Card. Filipino passport holders, who are either on temporary vacation or OFWs abroad, are no longer required to fill out the card. On the other hand, Departure Cards are only required to be filled out by Filipino passport holders. Foreigners need not do the same. With the new A/D Cards, travelers’ personal information such as date of birth and sex, among others, are already indicated in their passports and are therefore no longer required. The simplified forms of the new A/D Card scheme have eliminated the cumbersome paperwork that had beset travelers arriving at and departing from Manila and other ports throughout the country. The new passport sized A/D Cards are color-coded, in blue for arrival and red for departure. Ed Monreal, Cathay Pacific Airlines’ Station Manager, welcomed the new policy. "It is now the practice in Asian neighboring countries, and it saves the government from printing costs." During the first night of the paperless clearance, the 233 passengers that arrived on Cathay Pacific's 11:56 pm Friday flight only presented their passports at the Immigration counters. "It took them only a few minutes to clear the area," Monreal stated. Within 30 minutes, the Immigration area was cleared of the passengers of two succeeding planes that arrived: Air China with 91 passengers and Asiana Airlines with 144 passengers. The new BI A/D Card system is expected to cut the almost 16 million sheets of paper that passengers used in 2013 by half. |
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Experts present innovative health care practices in support of inclusive growth |
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Source: http://www.pids.gov.ph |
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Health sector stakeholders gathered at Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro City to discuss some best healthcare innovation practices in a forum organized to encourage adoption of these practices and address persistent disparities in health amid a growing economy. Four innovative health programs were presented in a roundtable discussion led by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), the government policy think tank tapped by the Washington-based Center for Health Market Innovations for the implementation of the project Health Market Innovations. More than100 participants from local government units, academic institutions, health offices, regional offices of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., Center for Development offices of the Department of Health, and nongovernment organizations participated in the roundtable discussion last March 6. PIDS President Gilberto Llanto said health innovations show the creativity of Filipinos in addressing the very large disparities in health. It is indispensable for the country to deal with the very large underinvestment in health where government health staff stagnated at around 36,000 since year 2000 despite the countrys 1.7 million annual population growth, he said. We need to innovate to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for health, said Oscar Picazo, PIDS senior research consultant and board chairman of the Philippine NGO Support Program, Inc. The Health Market Innovations project builds linkages among health innovators, funders, and policymakers. It also provides information for those who do not know that there are funders for better health care delivery, he added. One of the health innovations introduced was the EVAcoh Project (Eastern Visayas Area Cooperation in Health). The project aims to setup and operate social health enterprises using cooperatives community development funds, said Roberto Nebrida, executive director of the Philippine NGO Support Program, Inc. The EVAcoh Project considers social health enterprises such as cooperative-based pharmacies as an innovative method of investment in the provision of health services and commodities. EVAcoh social health enterprises have served a total of 10,348 women of reproductive age, said Nebrida. Its total sales have reached a whopping PHP6.1 million. Another innovation, RTI Internationals Wireless Access for Health Project(WAH), recognizes the benefits of wireless connectivity in enhancing health care planning and delivery in rural health units (RHU).The WAH project uses 3G wireless technology to improve health care by reducing time required for data reporting as well as improving access to accurate patient information at the RHU level, said Felipe Canlas, RTI International local project coordinator.It helps rural clinicians spend more time for patient care rather than spending half of their time on patient information recording and reporting, he explained. |
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Abad: PNoy's leadership yielded unprecedented gains for Ph |
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Source: http://www.dbm.gov.ph |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III’s leadership and unique management style have made possible the unprecedented gains that the Philippine economy is now seeing, Budget and Management Secretary Florencio B. Abad today said. He said this in countering Senator Sergio R. Osmeña III’s description of President Aquino as an “awful manager.” “We respect the views and even the frustration of Senator Osmeña on recent developments concerning the Philippine energy sector. With due respect, however, the good senator’s comments on the quality of President Aquino’s leadership is too sweeping a generalization. In many respects, the President’s skill as a manager has actually made it possible for the country to achieve several groundbreaking gains,” he said. “Through the President’s unique management style—one of rigor, attention to detail, a determined focus on measurable performance, and most of all, his deep commitment to his Social Contract with the Filipino people—he steered the country towards unprecedented economic expansion. His political will has been decisive in achieving important reforms,” Abad added. Abad said that President Aquino’s leadership has resulted in government 1) spending within its means, 2) investing in the right priorities, and 3) pursuing reforms for measurable results. He said that it was through President Aquino’s commitment to prudent fiscal management that allowed the country to reach investment-grade status as ranked by top international ratings agencies. The President, he said, delivered on his commitment to contain the fiscal deficit from 3.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2010 to 1.4 percent in 2013; and to reduce the debt stock from 54.8 percent of GDP in 2009 to 49.2 percent in 2013. “Through his leadership, the Administration has been able to aggressively increase the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s tax collections, which grew by 15 percent last year, without the need to enact new taxes except for Sin Tax Reform. At the same time, we were able to file successive cases against tax evaders and smugglers, as well as initiate reforms at the Bureau of Customs that no other Administration before had been able to pursue,” he said. Abad also said the President has directed his Cabinet to maximize scarce resources. This reshaped the National Budget towards more investments in social and economic services. “Ten years ago, debt servicing ate up the largest slice of the Budget at 30 percent, while social and economic services were only at 28.9 percent and 19.4 percent, respectively. This year, debt servicing has dwindled down to 15.6 percent, enabling us to give larger shares to social and economic services at 37.2 percent and 26.2 percent, respectively,” he said. This, he said, enabled the government to make remarkably high investments to deliver key services to support inclusive growth. From the P10.9-billion allocation for the Conditional Cash Transfer program for one million households in 2010, the budget for the program has significantly risen to P62.6 billion this year to cover 4.3 million households and provide support to 4.3 million high-school students. The education sector has also increased annually by an average of 14 percent from 2010 to 2014, enabling the government to close longstanding gaps in the supply of classrooms and teachers. During the same period, the health sector budget has also increased by an average of 32 percent annually, enabling the government to cover 14.7 poor and near-poor households under the National Health Insurance Program. Abad also said that the Administration is increasing infrastructure spending to 3 percent of GDP this year and towards the global benchmark of 5 percent of GDP by 2016. This, he said, is a lasting investment in the country’s renewed economic competitiveness. Furthermore, Abad said the President has been persistent in improving the speed, quality and effectiveness of public service delivery. For one, the President, through Administrative Order No. 25, has pursued the roll-out of a harmonized Results-Based Performance Management System in government together with Performance-Based Incentive System. Similarly, he instituted the Office of the Cabinet Secretary to closely keep tabs of each department and agency’s performance in fulfilling the President’s priority programs. On the public expenditure management side, he enabled the roll-out of key reforms such as the GAA-as-Release Document to streamline budget execution; and the Performance-Informed Budget to clearly link allocated resources with performance metrics. “The improved speed and quality of public spending during the current administration has significantly contributed to the country’s stellar GDP growth: at 7.2 percent in 2013, second only to China in the region. This alone demonstrates the effectiveness of the President’s leadership and unique management style,” he said. |
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Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Presidential Communications Operations Office - Other News Online
Presidential Communications Operations Office - Other News Online
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