24-Hour Public Weather Forecast
Issued at 5:00 a.m., 25 April 2014Valid beginning: 5:00 a.m. today until 5:00 a.m. tomorrow
 Predicted Mean Sea Level Wind Analysis for 8 a.m., 25 April 2014 |
 Predicted Mean Sea Level Wind Analysis for 8 a.m., 25 April 2014 |
 Satellite Image |
Synopsis:
Forecast:
The whole country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.
Light to moderate winds blowing from the east will prevail over Luzon and Visayas and coming from the east to northeast over Mindanao. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate.
PAGASA:
Ang buong bansa ay magiging bahagyang maulap hanggang sa maulap na may
pulu-pulong pag-ulan o pagkidlat-pagkulog lalo na sa dakong hapon o
gabi. Mahina hanggang sa katamtamang hangin mula sa silangan ang iiral
sa Luzon at Kabisayaan at mula sa silangan hanggang hilagang-silangan
ang iihip sa Mindanao. Ang baybaying dagat sa buong kapuluan ay magiging
banayad hanggang sa katamtaman ang pag-alon.
GMA resident meteorologist Nathaniel Cruz on 24 Oras:
-Maaliwalas na panahon ang asahan sa malaking bahagi ng bansa bukas.
-Sa rainfall forecast ng The Weather Company, kalat-kalat na mahihinang ulan na lang ang inaasahan bukas. Posible rin ang thunderstorms lalo sa hapon at gabi.
-Sa Metro Manila, may posibilidad ng ulan sa hapon. Gayuunman, posible ang matinding alinsangan dahil maaaring madama ang 39°C na init.
-Maaliwalas na panahon ang asahan sa malaking bahagi ng bansa bukas.
-Sa rainfall forecast ng The Weather Company, kalat-kalat na mahihinang ulan na lang ang inaasahan bukas. Posible rin ang thunderstorms lalo sa hapon at gabi.
-Sa Metro Manila, may posibilidad ng ulan sa hapon. Gayuunman, posible ang matinding alinsangan dahil maaaring madama ang 39°C na init.
ABS-CBN:
Sinabi ng PAGASA na bahagyang tumaas ang tiyansa na magkaroon ng El
Niño ngayong taon na mas mararamdaman sa huling bahagi ng 2014. Bandang
Hunyo pa raw makukumpirma ng PAGASA ang pagkakaroon ng El Niño.
April 25 , 2014 ( Friday ) as of 6:00-7:00 AM
CAVITE : Sunny
LAGUNA : Sunny
BATANGAS : Sunny
RIZAL : Sunny
QUEZON
: Sunny
PIA-4A/BATANGAS:
(Fernando Air Base, Lipa City) Pres. Beningo S. Aquino III arrived at
the grandstand at 10:12 am for the arrival honor.
PIA-4A/BATANGAS:
Nagsasagawa ang mga kawani ng Municipal Agriculture Office sa bayan ng
Lemery nang paggawa ng pataba na mula sa hasang at bituka ng isda na
nilahukan ng pulot.Ang organic fertilizer na ito ay nakatakdang subukan
ng mga magsasaka upang gawing pataba sa lupa.
PIA-4A/QUEZON:
The city government of Lucena recently conducted capability building
seminar for barangay tanod at Fresh air hotel, Lucena City. The seminar
aims to strengthen the role of barangay police in the campaign against
illegal drugs activities in Lucena City.
DZMM: Inaalam na ng DFA kung may Pinoy na nadamay sa magnitude 6.6 na lindol sa Vancouver, Canada kanina.
QUEZON
1. Tagalog news: DTI-Quezon, nagsagawa ng
furniture forum
Wednesday 23rd of April 2014
LUNGSOD NG LUCENA,
Quezon, Abril 23 (PIA) --Isang furniture forum ang isinagawa kamakailan ng
DTI-Quezon para sa mga grupo at indibidwal na gumagawa ng mga muwebles, katulad
ng bamboo houses, bamboo furniture
at iba pang bagay na gumagamit ng kahoy, kawayan at yantok.
Ginawa ang forum sa
DTI conference
room kung saan si
Victor D. Ombajino, chief forester ng DENR, ang pangunahing tagapagsalita.
Ilan sa mga grupong
lumahok ay ang CBAW, Kawayan, Rattan at Kahoy Association, Lingkod Banahaw, New
Gumaca Woodcraft MPC, Paragas Agri Enterprise, Tiaong Farmers MPC at ilang
indibidwal.
Sa pagnanais na lalo
pang matulungan ang mga nasa pagne-negosyo ng kahoy, binabalak ng grupo na
gawin nang ganap na pederasyon ang kanilang samahan.
Napag-alaman ng
samahan na sila’y mangangailangan ng malaking halaga upang maisa-katuparan ang
mga binabalak. Dahil dito, kanilang aanyayahan ang Quezon Federation and Union
of Cooperatives upang sila’y matulungan.
Ang lalawigan ng
Quezon ang may pinakamalaking nasasakupang kagubatan at inaasahang malaking
potensyal ang angking yaman mula sa punong kahoy, kawayan at yantok na
pangunahing gamit sa paggawa ng muwebles.
Dahil sa paliliwanag
ni Ombajino tungkol sa ginagawang pamamahala ng DENR sa kagubatan at ilang
regulasyon na nauukol sa mga punong kahoy na ginagawang tabla, ang pagtitipon
ay nagbigay ng sagot at kaliwanagan sa maraming katanungan tungkol sa mga batas
ng DENR.
Nagbigay din ng dagdag
na paliwanag si Director Marelina Alcantara ng DTI-Quezon tungkol sa ‘shared
service facility’, isang proyekto ng DTI na nagbibigay ng makinarya at iba pang
kagamitang pang-produksyon, at kung paano ito makakatulong sa samahan.
Sa huli, bumalangkas
ng plano ang samahan upang itaas ang antas ng produksyon at kalidad ng mga
muebles na gawa sa lalawigan ng Quezon. (Charlie S. Dajao, DTI Calabarzon
/ Pablito Budoy)
BATANGAS
1. PAF holds change of command and retirement ceremony at Fernando Air Base
By: Carlo P. Gonzaga
Friday 25th of April 2014
LIPA CITY, Batangas,
April 25 (PIA) --The Philippine Air
Force (PAF) is holding today, starting at 10:00 am, the change of command
and retirement ceremony for the outgoing PAF commanding general (CG).
President Benigno S.
Aquino III is expected to preside the occasion being held at the Air Education and Training Command (AETC) grandstand in Fernando Air
Base, this city.
The President has
appointed MGen Jeffrey F. Delgado AFP as the 33rd commanding general of the
Philippine Air Force.
Meanwhile, the entire
men and women of the PAF are all set to pay tribute and deep respect to the
outgoing CG of PAF Lt. Gen. Lauro Catalino G. Dela Cruz AFP, who will retire
from active militry service effective today.
Lt General Dela Cruz
will be accorded the time-honored military parade and review traditionally
rendered to honor the dedicated service of a military commander.
Succeeding the outgoing CG, PAF came from a list presented by the board of
generals before the President, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the AFP.
The outgoing CG has
spearheaded the entire PAF towards its aspiration for modernization and
transformation, as the Air Force today has acquired more mission-essential air
assets and other equipment, and along with this, are the innovations,
initiatives which include professionalizing the entire Air Force's manpower
which was realized under his leadership.
The new Air Force
chief is expected to continue the momentum and efforts towards the
emerging national security and defense needs and for our territorial
defense initiatives.
RIZAL
1. DOST-Rizal launches STARBOOKS digital
library
in URS-Morong
Thursday
24th of April 2014
ANTIPOLO
CITY, Rizal, April 24 (PIA) – The Department of Science
and Technology
– Rizal and the DOST Science and Technology Information Institute introduced
Science & Technology Academic and Research Based Openly Operated Kiosk
System (STARBOOKS) digital library to the University of Rizal System during its
launch at the URS-Morong Campus last April 3.
STARBOOKS
is a digital library developed by DOST complete with full text, photos
and videos
which is able to function without an internet connection. STARBOOKS will also
be open to public use in order promote education through the utilization of the
databank.
The
launch also included basic training of librarians in the usage of the system’s
interface. Aside from URS- Morong other URS campuses in Tanay, Rodriguez,
Antipolo, Pililia and Binangonan will also have access to the system later on.
Rizal is the third Calabarzon province to use the system aside from Cavite and
Batangas.
Present
during the STARBOOKS launch were DOST Rizal Provincial Director Fernando
Ablaza, URS Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Flordeliza Penaranda and
representatives from DOST and various URS campuses. (PIA-Rizal)
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INTERVIEW OF COMMUNICATIONS SECRETARY HERMINIO COLOMA,
JR.
|
Radyo Singko / All Ready by Orly Mercado
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April 24, 2014
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| ORLY: Good morning, Sonny. SEC. COLOMA: Magandang umaga, Orly. ORLY: Okay, anong reaksyon ng Malacañang dito sa pagtapos nitong ano, behind that (unclear) would be Hong Kong-Philippines’ brawl behind that (unclear). SEC. COLOMA: Tama ang sinabi mo, Orly, ‘no tapos na. Ikinagagalak ng Pangulo na humantong na sa hinahangad na win-win at complete solution, at ngayon ay nagbalik na sa normal ang pakikipag-ugnayan ng Pilipinas sa Hong Kong SAR. ORLY: Sa amin, sa tingin natin na sometimes iyong mga moves ay kinakailangan—ang pinaka-importante sa pulitika, timing eh. Minsan merong tamang-tamang oras ng pagkikita o pagsasabi ng (unclear), sometimes that’s what is achieved by a timing. SEC. COLOMA: Ganun ng, Orly. At kung maalala natin, nagsimula ang solusyon dito nung magkausap sina Pangulong Aquino at Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung sa sideline ng APEC Summit sa Bali. At nagbunga naman ito; medyo natagalan lang, inabot ng anim na buwan. ORLY: Talagang ano iyan eh, medyo in my stint as permanent representative sa ASEAN, noong ako’y ginawang ambassador sa ano … ang importante fill in the blanks, ang nakikita natin is iyong resulta lang, pero marami ang mga bloke iyan, unti-unti, inot-inot, tapos may timing at pagkatapos eh kapag nabuo, saka natin magagawa iyong ano. And this is not to belittle the importance of what former President Erap Estrada has done. I think it was in perfect timing. SEC. COLOMA: Ganun nga, Orly. At nagpapasalamat din tayo kay Mayor and former President Erap Estrada dahil iyong kaniyang inisyatiba at ang mga resolusyon ng Manila City Council ay nakatulong sa natamo nating mutually satisfactory solution. ORLY: Okay, dito naman sa ganitong napipintong pagbisita naman ni Presidente Barack Obama sa Pilipinas. Kahapon ay nagpakita na nang konting … nagpatikim na ang kaliwa ng kanilang mga gagawin na kilos protesta. Ano ba ang masasabi nating paghahanda na nauukol sa pagbisita ng Pangulo ng USA? SEC. COLOMA: Ang pagbisita ni Pangulong Obama, Orly, ay isang mainam na pagkakataon para talakayin ni Pangulong Aquino ang common agenda ng dalawang bansa bilang mga strategic partners, at tatlong larangan ang sakop nito: political and security cooperation; economic development, investment and tourism; at saka iyong people-to-people ties. Malawak at malalim ang pinagsamahan ng dalawang bansa kaya magandang pagkakataon ito para gawing mas matatag pa ang ating pakikipagkaibigan at kooperasyon. ORLY: By that time, tapos na ba … tapos na tapos na iyong pag-uusap na ukol sa hinihingi ng mga Amerikano na magkaroon ng agreement tungkol sa pananatili ng kanilang mga tropa sa Philippine bases natin dito sa ating bansa? SEC. COLOMA: Well, patuloy na tinatalakay iyong mga implementing aspects niyan, Orly. As we speak, patuloy na nagkakaroon nang masinsinang konsultasyon. Sa simula’t sapul, sinabi naman natin na wala namang direct linkage itong agreement na ito sa pagdalaw ‘no, at we are not after any pressure or deadline para pumayag, para pumirma sapagka’t mahalaga rin na tiyakin natin na iiral dito ang pambansang interes ng ating Republika. Pero definitely, iyong aspeto ng pakikipag-ugnayan natin sa Estados Unidos sa larangan ng tanggulan o defense and security ay isang mahalagang bahagi ng ating relasyon sa kanila. ORLY: So, it will be in the agenda definitely, at iyong mga sinasabi ng ano eh, hinihinging assurance or clarification kung ano ang magiging role ng Estados Unidos, at ano ang magiging epekto ng Mutual Defense Treaty dito sa ating kasalukuyang problema sa West Philippines Sea o South China Sea ay— SEC. COLOMA: Ganun nga, Orly, kasi nga kinikilala naman natin na nagbabago na ang mga reyalidad sa ating rehiyon at sa daigdig. At isa sa mahalagang item ‘no sa pagbabagong iyan ay iyong ginagampanang papel ngayon China. At sangkot nga dito iyong usapin sa East China Sea and the South China Sea. At kung makikita natin iyong itinerary ni President Obama, ang kaniyang pinupuntahang bansa dito sa kasalukuyang Asian trip niya ay may mga usaping patungkol diyan. Nasa Japan na siya ngayon, tapos ay Korea, at pagkatapos naman ay Malaysia at Pilipinas. Iyon ang common denominator ng apat na bansa na pupuntahan niya. ORLY: Maiba naman ako ng usapan, Secretary Coloma. Ano ba ang reaksyon ng Malacañang sa pinag-uusapan ngayon sa kasalukuyan, nauukol doon sa kaso ni Janet Lim-Napoles, iyong posibilidad – hindi ko alam kung mataas ang probabilidad – pero iyong posibilidad na maging state witness si Janet Lim-Napoles? Ano ang reaksyon— SEC. COLOMA: Paumanhin lang, Orly, wala naman sa ating basis para talakayin sa ngayon iyong sa state witness. Kung maaari lang ay hintayin na lang iyong rekumendasyon ng Department of Justice hinggil diyan. Pero doon sa usapin na merong mga bagong impormasyon na nilahad si Ginang Napoles, hindi natitinag ang commitment ni Pangulong Aquino at ng administrasyon na alamin ang buong katotohanan at tiyakin na magkakaroon ng pananagutan ang lahat ng lingkod bayan na maaaring sangkot sa umano’y maling paggamit ng pondo ng bayan. At iyan ay naaayon sa programa ni Pangulong Aquino hinggil sa tamang pamamahala o matuwid na daan. ORLY: Ito’y regardless of who will the so-called implicated dito, maging iyan ay taga-Liberal Party o talagang malapit sa Pangulo, ang posisyon ninyo ay “let the chips fall where they may,” ganun ba iyon? SEC. COLOMA: Tama iyon, Orly. Palagian nang idinidiin ng Pangulo ‘no and always emphasize: let the evidence point to the direction of the inquiry. Ang dapat pagbatayan lamang ay ebidensya, at kailangang umiral ang katotohanan sa ating bansa. Ang simbolo ng katarungan sa isang babae na may piring sa mata, kaya walang kinikilala, at ang hawak niya ay iyong pantay o patas na timbangan. ORLY: Okay, on that note, thank you very much, Secretary Sonny Coloma. Maraming salamat. SEC. COLOMA: Maraming salamat at magandang umaga, Orly. |
| SOURCE: News Information Bureau - Data Processing Center |
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| DepEd to conduct summer enhancement programs for Region 8, Zamboanga, students |
| Source: http://www.deped.gov.ph |
| Palo, Leyte --
Summer enhancement programs will be conducted in Eastern Visayas and
Zamboanga City to bridge the learning gaps in schools because of the
devastation brought by natural and man-made calamities, the
Department of Education (DepEd) announced.
Education
Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC said, “We have to double our
efforts as we approach the ‘last 2 minutes’ of this administration.
These summer programs would help our learners master the
competencies required in order to move to the next level.” Deped
Region 8 and the Division of Zamboanga were affected by Super
Typhoon Yolanda and the skirmish between government forces and Moro
National Liberation Front (MNLF), respectively. Region 8’s program, "Summer Fun in School 2014," (SFS) complements the efforts of various groups, local and international, in their psychosocial and stress debriefing interventions. It also aims to aid the students in catching up with their academic activities as well as empowering them through child-led exercises. The SFS will be implemented in four elementary schools and one secondary school for the divisions of Eastern Samar, Samar, Tacloban City, Leyte, and Ormoc City. Classes will start on the 28th of April until the 16th of May, 2014. It will be a 4-hour session daily. Part of the activities will be on competency building -- mastery of competencies for the student's current grade level, a child-led Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM), and Hygiene promotion during disasters. The SFS approach will be through academic classes on literacy and numeracy (reading, writing, counting, and problem solving), simulations of disaster drill which will be led by children, and through various activities – music, arts, sports, and games. After the Zamboanga siege The Division of Zamboanga will also start a Summer Enhancement Program (SEP) to supplement the learning competencies of the pupils after classes were delayed by the siege between the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Philippine Army last September 2013. It is a school-based program and will focus on the core subjects: Math, Science, English, Hekasi, and Filipino. Zamboanga Schools District Superintendent Pedro Natividad said that the “duration of the program will depend on the students’ need. It may be for as short as a week to an extended period of 1 month, which will be assessed by the teachers.” He added that the program is open from April to May, with its implementation and duration different for each school depending on their need for the SEP. |
| GSIS opens college scholarship for members' kin |
| Source: http://www.gsis.gov.ph |
| Government
Service Insurance System (GSIS) President and General Manager Robert
G. Vergara announced today that the pension fund is now accepting
applications for the GSIS Scholarship Program (GSP) for Academic
Year 2014-2015 until May 30, 2014. A total of 200 scholars will be
selected this school year. The program provides an opportunity for children of low-income GSIS members to earn a college degree. The GSIS will shoulder up to P20,000 of the actual cost of tuition and miscellaneous fees of the selected scholar per semester. The scholars will also get a monthly stipend of P2,000.00. Under the program, all active and regular GSIS members at the time of application with premium payments for the last six months and are permanent employees in the government with at least three years of service, with salary grade of 24 or below or its equivalent job level, are eligible to nominate their incoming college freshmen-dependents who have been accepted in any four- or five-year course or in priority courses identified by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Since 1998, the GSIS has granted a total of 1,887 scholarships. Over the years, amendments to the program have been introduced to make it more equitable and responsive particularly to members in the low-income bracket. Previously, the mode of choosing scholars was done through an electronic raffle. Since 2012, nominees of members who have the lowest annual basic salary have been given priority in the scholarship grant. "This year, we have enhanced our program by giving half of the slots to those who have been accepted under the CHED-identified priority courses which are those actually needed by the labor market," said Mr. Vergara. "Unemployment is a growing concern. We must establish a fit between the available jobs with that of the skills and knowledge acquired by our scholar-graduates," he added. Four- or five-year courses in agriculture; engineering; math and science; information technology; teacher education; health sciences; arts and humanities; social and behavioral sciences; business administration; architecture; maritime and communication were listed by CHED as in demand. The list of priority courses identified by CHED along with the list of accredited educational institutions and GSP application form are downloadable. Application forms are also available at any GSIS branch office. Qualified members must submit a duly accomplished form, certificate of employment, and school certificate that the scholar has been accepted for AY 2014-2015. Questions about GSP may be directed to the GSIS Human Resource Administration Department at 479-3600 local 3414 or 976-4970. |
| Foreign portfolio investments rise in March |
| Source: http://www.bsp.gov.ph |
| Registered
foreign portfolio investments for March 2014reached US$2.1 billion,
42.7 percent higherthan the previous month’s US$1.5 billion.
Year-on-year, however, registered investments were lowerby 8.8
percent asa result of the tapering of the quantitative easing (QE)
program in the United States (US) in January this year. Investments during the month were in PSE-listed securities (76.7 percent) and Peso GS (23.3 percent). For PSE-listed securities, the main beneficiaries were: holding firms;banks;property companies;food, beverage and tobacco firms; and telecommunication companies. Outflows amounted to US$2.2 billion,19.8 percenthigher than the US$1.9 billion recorded in February in reactionto news of further reductionby another US$10.0 billion of the USQE program starting April, and plans to end the QE by year-end. While transactions resulted in net outflows of US$92million,this nevertheless reflected a significant improvement fromthe previous net outflows in February 2014 (US$361 million) and March 2013 (US$395 million).This may be attributed to positive investor reaction to the Federal Reserve’s announcement to maintain its current monetary policy coupled with better-than-expected March inflation rate for the Philippines of 3.9 percent versus 4.2 percent in January and 4.1 percent in February. Transactions in PSE-listed securities yielded net inflows of US$153 million, a rebound from the US$483 million net outflows a year ago and an improvement from the February 2014 net inflows of US$148 million. The reverse was noted for peso GS where net outflows of US$231 million were posted compared to last year’s net inflows of US$77 million. The net outflows were, however, much lower than the February 2014 figure of US$509 million. Peso Time Deposits resulted in net outflows of US$14 million. The United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Malaysia, and Luxembourg were the top five (5) investor countries for the month with combined share to total of 79.7 percent, while the United States continued to be the main destination of outflows receiving 84.5 percent of total. Registration of inward foreign investments with the BangkoSentralngPilipinas (BSP) is voluntary under the liberalized rules on foreign exchange transactions. The issuance of a BSP registration document entitles the investor or his representative to buy foreign exchange from authorized agent banks and/or their subsidiary/affiliate foreign exchange corporations for repatriation of capital and remittance of earnings that accrue on the registered investment. Without such registration, the foreign investor can still repatriate capital and remit earnings on his investment but the foreign exchange will have to be sourced outside the banking system. |
| DPWH warns public versus unscrupulous solicitors |
| Source: http://www.dpwh.gov.ph |
| The Department
of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reiterates anew the public
warning against a modus operandi involving unscrupulous individuals,
who impersonate DPWH officials to solicit cash or favors. Secretary Rogelio L. Singson reminded public works contractors, suppliers, and consultants including officials and employees of the Department to be wary of solicitors pretending to be Secretary Singson or either Undersecretaries Jaime A. Pacanan, Romeo S. Momo, and Rafael C. Yabut. The DPWH Secretary and the above named Undersecretaries have been receiving reports of people dragging their names to pressure target individual or entity to get money and favour from unsuspecting donors. In an incident reported to DPWH, supplier Tri-Globe Transport Services Trading Inc. has received call from an individual claiming to be Undersecretary Pacanan purportedly to pressure their company in buying 10 medical-dental mission sponsorship tickets of the Citizen’s Organization for Reform and Public Safety, Inc. amounting to P60,000.00. On another occasion, an unscrupulous solicitor called Tri-Globe and presented himself as Secretary Singson and later as Undersecretary Momo offering any project they want. “Since 2010, I have been warning the public that the Department with its officials and employees is not in any fund raising activity, and neither endorsing any individual, entity or group for solicitation”, said Singson. DPWH focus is to increase mobility and connectivity through effective and efficient national road network and by providing safe environment through flood control structures and as such, we will not deal with the affairs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) which has the control when it comes to charitable activities, added Singson. Presidential Decree 1564, or the Solicitation Permit Law, gives DSWD the authority to issue permits for solicitations meant for charitable purposes like welfare programs and fundraising events. DPWH has been also receiving requests for donations from growing number of non-government organizations, associations and societies’ various civic programs which are regretfully declined due to lack of fund allocation intended to support these activities. |
| DTI hosts 9th Meeting of ACCP |
| Source: http://www.dti.gov.ph |
| The
Philippines, through the Department of Trade and Industry Consumer
Protection Group (DTI-CPG), hosts the 9th Meeting of the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Committee for Consumer Protection
(ACCP). Delegations from the ASEAN-member countries, namely Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam, and the Philippines, expect to continue their discussions on the ACCP’s initiatives to ensure measures that will assist consumers in coping with the effects of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) 2015. Among these ACCP initiatives are the Development of complaint and redress mechanism models in ASEAN; Supporting of research and dialogue in consumer protection and publication of consumer protection digests; Development of public awareness models for consumer protection; Strengthening of technical competency for consumer protection in ASEAN; Notification and information exchange on recalled/banned products; ACCP website (aseanconsumer.org); and ASEAN leaflet. A workshop hosted by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will also be conducted after the ACCP meeting. |
| Baldoz eyes bigger EPS share in Korea as Filipino illegal 'stayers' decrease from 30.6 in percent in 2012 to 22.7 percent in 2013 |
| Source: http://www.dole.gov.ph |
| Noting
that South Korea's annual quota for foreign workers under its
Employment Permit System (EPS) is decided through comprehensive
consideration on the rate of illegal stay of workers, among other
factors, including labor market trends, level of labor shortages,
and economic condition, Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda
Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday expressed hope that South Korea will
consider increasing the EPS quota for the Philippines because of its
good performance in the program. "As one of the original six countries that signed on 23 April 2004 a memorandum of agreement with South Korea's Ministry of Employment and Labor during my tenure as Administrator of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, I have high hopes that our EPS quota will increase because our EPS performance has been consistently good as reported to me," said Baldoz during a luncheon meeting she tendered in honor of Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Hyuk Lee, Human Resource Development Service Director General Eunhee Jeong, and Consul Jaehoon Lim of the Korean Embassy. The EPS memorandum of agreement is valid for two years and is renewable. Since 2004, the Philippines and Korea have renewed the agreement three times, twice under Baldoz as POEA administrator. Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Joel Villanueva, Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for the Office of Asia and Pacific Affairs Minda Calaguian-Cruz, POEA Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac, Deputy Administrator Liberty Casco, Director Nimfa de Guzman, and Director Alberto Valenciano of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administrator joined Secretary Baldoz in the luncheon meeting. "Last year, there was a huge reduction in the number of Filipinos who have illegally stayed in Korea after their EPS stint, from 30.6 percent in 2012 to only 22.7 percent in 2013. This is a good sign that our aggressive strategy of addressing the issue of illegal staying EPS workers in South Korea is bearing fruit," Baldoz added. There are an estimated 8,247 Filipino EPS workers illegally staying in South Korea, and Baldoz, at the beginning of the year, said the POEA is determined to reduce the number to achieve an increase in the Philippines's EPS quota. As of March 31, 2014, the total number of Filipino workers who have been deployed to Korea is recorded at 35,936, three percent of whom have since returned to their Korean employers after coming home to the Philippines at the end of their EPS stint. Korea call such returning EPS workers as "committed" or "sincere" workers. Administrator Cacdac had reported to Baldoz that for 2014, the "ceiling" for new comers to Korea's manufacturing industry under the EPS is 4,700, or 500 more than the "ceiling" in 2013. The Philippines's job seekers' quota, on the other hand, is 8,000, or 100 more than last year's quota. "While most of the 15 sending countries under the EPS have received a reduced quota due to the reduction of the overall quota for EPS of 53,000, the Philippines is an exception and this is, indeed, a good sign," said Cacdac. The Korean government adopted the EPS to introduce non-professional foreign workers in its small and medium industries under a transparent and efficient process of selecting, sending, and receiving foreign workers through a government-to-government arrangement. Baldoz thanked the Korean government through Ambassador Lee, saying that in the last ten years, the EPS has immensely benefited both countries. "The EPS has become a global model for ethical, efficient, and transparent recruitment that has benefited South Korea's SMEs and Filipino workers who have gained a lot of skills and competencies," she said. On his part, Ambassador Lee said most Korean companies have grown accustomed to Filipino workers and prefer them for being capable and very well-mannered. "In fact, it should be us in Korea who should be tendering an appreciation luncheon meeting for you, Secretary Baldoz, because Filipinos have benefited a lot of Korea's SMEs," Ambassador Lee said. |
| ROXAS: Cordillera Region to recieve over P2 Billion for Anti-Poverty Projects |
| Source: http://www.dilg.gov.ph |
| The national
government has allocated over P2 billion in the next two years to
boost local economic development and help fight poverty in the
Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR), Interior and Local Government
Secretary Mar Roxas announced today. For this year, Roxas said the city government of Baguio and Tabuk as well as 52 other local government units (LGUs) in Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province will get a total of P809,683,750 under the Grassroots Participatory Budget Process (GPBP). Under the same program for 2015, all municipalities in the Cordillera Region are entitled to P15 million each while the two cities are given a budget cap of P50 million, or a total of P1.225 billion. Roxas explained that the GPBP is a new initiative being facilitated by DILG in which project identification and monitoring of implementation are implemented by LGUs in partnership with non-government organizations (NGOs) and people’s organizations (POs). For the year 2014, the national government has allocated a total of P20.03 billion under GPBP to fund 19,553 poverty-alleviation projects that were identified by 1,226 local government units all over the country in coordination with civil society organizations in their respective communities. The bulk of the P20-billion budget were sourced from Department of Agriculture (P9.286 billion); Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); (P2.638 billion); DILG (P2.476 billion); Department of Education (P1.449 billion); and Department of Health (P1.355 billion). Other implementing agencies include Department of Agrarian Reform (P574 million); Department of Trade and Industry (P549 million); Department of Labor and Employment (P507 million); TESDA (P423 million); Department of Environment and Natural Resources (P417 million); Department of Trade (P175 million); Department of Energy (P97 million); and National Electrification Administration (P78 million). The GPBP institutionalizes the Aquino government’s “bottom-up” approach in budget preparation process, which was introduced in 2013, according to Roxas. “Sa pamamagitan ng GPBP, ang LGU sa pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga community-based organizations ay tumutulong sa paghanda ng kaukulang budget para sa mga proyekto na sila mismo ang magpapatupad kasama ang DILG,” Roxas said. The DILG chief explained that previously, the national budget is being prepared from the top, with government leaders deciding what projects to fund at the local level. The GPBP, he said, reverses the process by allowing would-be project beneficiaries to identify the projects that the government will in turn include in the preparation of the annual budget. The GPBP, he stressed, empowers not only the LGUs but the NGOs and POs as well in deciding what to do with the annual budget allocated for local government units under the program. Under GPBP, municipalities are qualified to receive a maximum of P15 million while cities are entitled to P50 million annually to fund local projects that include Municipal Water System, Livelihood Projects, Farm to Market Road, Irrigation System, Pre-Planting and Post-Harvest Facilities, Agriculture Production, Processing and Marketing, Livestock Raising and Plant Propagation. For this year alone, Roxas said a total of P270 million has been allocated for Abra; P60 million for Apayao; P150 million for Benguet; P34,683,750 million for Kalinga; P105 million for Kalinga and P90 million for Mountain Province. Next year, budget allocation under GPBP for each provinces are broken down as follows: Abra, P405 million; Apayao, P105 million; Benguet P205 million; Ifugao P165 million; Kalinga, P155 million and Mt. Province, P150 million. “Sa ilalim ng GPBP, ang LGUs at ang taong bayan ay binibigyang kapangyarihan na maging may-ari ng mga proyekto na makakatulong para labanan ang kahirapan. Isa itong paraan para tiyakin na ang lahat ay kasama natin sa pagtahak ng tuwid na daan,” Roxas said. Part of task of the NGOs and POs, he noted, is to monitor the implementation of the project to ensure that they are implemented according to plan. Meanwhile, under the Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) of the DILG, an estimated P70 million awaits “performing” LGUs. PCF is an incentive fund given to qualified LGUs which have been conferred the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG), previously known as Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH). Under the PCF scheme, qualified LGUs are entitled to incentive fund amounting to P1 million for municipalities, P3 million for cities and P7 million for provinces. The DILG has also allocated P6,405,256 for a number of water and potable water supply projects, mostly in Mountain Province. “Ang mga proyektong ito ay magiging pag-aari ng taong bayan dahil sila ang nag-isip kung anong magandang proyekto na makakatulong sa kanila kaya sila mismo ang magiging bantay habang ito ay ipinatutupad hanggang sa matapos,” Roxas said. |
| Oil monitor as of 22 April 2014 |
| Source: https://www.doe.gov.ph |
| WORLD OIL
PRICES (April 14-18, 2014 trading days) World crude prices continue to go up during the week due to: • Renewed violence in Ukraine threatened to destabilize an accord reached last week in Russia, the world’s largest energy exporters; • Civil unrest has decimated production and shipments from Libya, the holder of Africa’s largest crude reserves and a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. On the movement of the Asian market, Platts noted sentiment in the Asian gasoline market remained supported on limited supply in the region from refinery turnarounds, which also prompted some importers to seek additional barrels. Premiums on 10 ppm Sulfur Gasoil remained supported on steady demand from Australia and reduced exports from North Asia because of schedule refinery maintenance. There were also concerns China might export more diesel amid weak domestic consumption due to a slowing economy. Adding to this, demand is expected to climb ahead of Muslim fasting month Ramadan, which begins late June this year. Overall, Dubai crude increased week-on-week by US$2.00 bbl. MOPS gasoline and diesel increased as well by about US$2.50 and US$2.20/bbl, respectively. FOREX: Week-on-week value of Peso appreciated against the US dollar by P 0.14 to P44.48 from P44.62, in the preceding week. |
| Bersales is new National Statistician, Head of PSA |
| Source: http://www.neda.gov.ph |
| MANILA—Lisa
Grace S. Bersales, former vice-president for planning and finance of
the University of the Philippines (UP) System and erstwhile dean of
the UP Diliman School of Statistics, is the newly-appointed National
Statistician and head of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan, who is also the PSA Board Chairman, led the oath-taking ceremony on April 22, 2014 at the NEDA Central Office, Pasig City. President Benigno S. Aquino III appointed her on April 21, 2014. Prior to assuming the post, Bersales was the UP System’s Vice President for Planning and Finance, a position she has held since February 10, 2011. A member of the UP Diliman faculty for more than 30 years, she was director of graduate studies while also dean of the School of Statistics in the late 1990s. Bersales earned her bachelor’s degree in Statistics, cum laude, in 1978, MS in Statistics in 1981, and PhD in Statistics in 1989 in the same university. Her publications and research papers have mainly been on applying statistical analysis to a wide range of issues related to social development, agriculture, and the economy. She has been involved in several projects with government agencies, such as the former National Statistics Office (NSO) that is now under PSA, and the Departments of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Education (DepEd). Her most recent projects include the “Enhancement of the Municipal Talakayan for the DSWD’s KALAHI-CIDDS Monitoring and Evaluation Team,” and the “Quantitative Assessment of the Project Impact on Beneficiaries from Particularly Vulnerable Backgrounds” for the International Labor Organization. Among the duties of Bersales as National Statistician are the following: direct and supervise the general administration of the PSA; and prescribe rules and regulations, instructions, schedule and form of business of the PSA in the collection, compilation and dissemination of statistics and other information and in the conduct of any census. Furthermore, she will also provide the overall direction of the Civil Registry Law’s implementation, technical supervision over the civil registrars, and will act as ex-officio Chairperson of the PSA Board Secretariat, among others. The PSA was created by Republic Act 10625 on September 12, 2013. It consolidates the various statistical offices and bureaus of the different national government agencies under one authority, and is comprised of the former National Statistics Office (NSO), the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), and the Department of Labor and Employment’s Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics (BLES). |
| Phl Embassy in Rome assists 15 Filipino seafarers stranded at sea for 8 Months |
| Source: https://www.dfa.gov.ph |
| 24 April 2014 –
Fifteen (15) Filipino seafarers are now back home in the Philippines
with their loved ones after being repatriated from Malta last 18
April 2014 (Good Friday) following their 8-month ordeal stranded in
Maltese waters on board the MV B Lady Bug. The company which owned
the vessel went bankrupt and abandoned the crew. The long-wait came to an end last April 17 as the 15 Filipino sailors finally disembarked from the ship, made possible by the Court of Malta’s decision to approve the sale of the vessel to new owners. With fresh funds available, a replacement crew was hired, which paved the way for the 15 Filipino seamen to leave the ship. The Filipino crew also received favorable financial settlement which included the payment of their back wages/allowances (with interests) and repatriation costs. For eight months, the Philippine Embassy in Rome actively led coordination efforts to assist the Filipinos on board MV B Lady Bug with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Labor and Employment in Manila, and through Mr. Paul Falzon of the International Transport Workers’ Federation, Mr. Kevin Attard and the government authorities in Malta. The Embassy further ensured that the 15 Filipino seamen were properly assisted until the end with their disembarkation in Malta, meeting with Maltese lawyers to settle their unpaid wages/allowances and repatriation to the Philippines. Present in Malta was the Embassy’s Consul Enrique V. Pingol who travelled all the way from Rome. The entire crew conveyed heartfelt appreciation for all the support provided them by Filipino and Maltese authorities to see through to a positive end of their ordeal. Crew arrived in the Philippines on April 19, in time for the Easter celebrations. |
| Joint statement concerning the Quirino Grandstand incident |
| Source: https://www.dfa.gov.ph |
| Following is a
joint statement issued today (April 23) between the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Government
of the Republic of the Philippines concerning the Quirino Grandstand
Incident: Pursuant to the agreement of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), C Y Leung, and Philippine President Benigno S Aquino III to work towards a mutually satisfactory conclusion to the Quirino Grandstand Incident which took place on 23 August 2010, the HKSAR Government and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines have agreed that the four demands made by the victims and their families on apology, compensation, sanctions against responsible officials and individuals, and tourist safety measures will be resolved and settled as follows. The Philippine Government expresses its most sorrowful regret and profound sympathy, and extends its most sincere condolences for the pain and suffering of the victims and their families. The Police Director General of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines has written to all victims or their families. In the spirit of solidarity and in acknowledgement of the loss of the victims and their families, an additional token of solidarity will be given to the victims or their families as a most sincere gesture of compassion of the people of the Philippines. The Philippine Government has assured the HKSAR Government that measures are being undertaken to hold to account those responsible and to see the outstanding proceedings conclude as soon as possible. Details on the administrative and criminal proceedings pursued are set out in Annex A. The Philippine Government undertakes to keep the HKSAR Government informed of progress made in resolving the outstanding proceedings. The Philippine Government has assured the HKSAR Government that it is committed to ensuring that such an incident will not occur again. Details on the measures implemented to guarantee the welfare and safety of those visiting the Philippines are set out in Annex B. Ends/Wednesday, April 23, 2014 Issued at HKT 15:45 link: http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201404/23/P201404230609.htm |
| Greater public participation in environment protection urged |
| Source: http://www.denr.gov.ph |
| The Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has called for greater
public participation in environmental protection to combat climate
change that aggravates the impacts of natural calamities like super
typhoon Yolanda. In its “State of the Philippine Environment” report made known during the celebration of the Earth Day, the DENR said that while progress is being made, much more needs to be done to protect the environment and mitigate the impacts of climate change. “We have done much. But there is still much more to be done,” DENR Undersecretary Demetrio Ignacio Jr. said in a speech at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City, where the Earth Day celebration was held on Tuesday. Ignacio said the government formulates various policies for environmental protection but these turn out to be successful if there is active participation by the general public. The environment official said the threat from global warming is real and urgent, citing a recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate on Climate Change that if greenhouse gases continue to rise, global temperature will increase 3.5 to 4 degrees centigrade by the 21st century, double the target increase of 2 degrees centigrade. “This has serious implications for the Philippines considering that we are one of the most vulnerable countries on the impact of climate change,” Ignacio pointed out. “We need to strengthen our adaptation measures and contribute more to climate change mitigation.” He added: “To do these, we need to unify and redouble our efforts. We need to put in more investments. We have been successful in making our people aware of the environment. We now need to translate this high level of awareness into actions.” In fact, Ignacio said the Philippine government – through the DENR and other concerned agencies – has recently made positive progress in environmental protection and in ensuring effective mitigation and adaptation to climate change. He said that even prior to Yolanda, which has given the country the stark reminder of the vulnerability of its communities to extreme weather events, the DENR has already came up with measures to prevent or minimize the loss of lives and properties during disasters. The DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau has already completed the geohazard mapping of the entire Philippines at 1:50,000 scale and distributed 85,000 map sheets showing where landslides and flooding can occur at the barangay level. It is also expected to complete this year a more detailed geohazard mapping covering all cities and municipalities at a scale of 1:10,000. The 3D version of these geohazard maps will also be out soon. President Benigno Aquino III recently ordered the release of P1 billion for the mangrove and beach forest plantation in Yolanda-stricken areas. Ignacio said that many deaths and destruction during Typhoon Yolanda could have been prevented if the country’s shorelines were adequately protected with trees and mangroves. “We have already started mangrove planting in Tacloban. We will expand to cover Leyte, Samar and other areas devastated by recent typhoons, including the coastal devastations caused by the fighting in Zamboanga City,” he revealed. Ignacio also noted how the government’s massive National Greening Program (NGP) by the end of the year would have planted trees in over a million hectares, surpassing the total area planted for the previous 23 years. When completed by 2016, the NGP is expected to improve the country’s air quality and reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) by absorbing 38 million tons of carbon with improved forest cover from watersheds in the uplands down to the mangrove forests along the coastlines. Increasing the country’s forest cover, which at 24 percent of the land area currently ranks the second lowest in Southeast Asia, will also provide habitats for the country’s varied wildlife and provide food and water security for all. Alongside the ecological benefits, Ignacio stated that the NGP has also employed more than 144,000 people in the upland and rural communities, and provided them with food and high value crops such as fruit trees, coffee, cacao and rubber for possible additional income through sustainable agriculture. He added that many of the 232 protected areas (PAs) or national parks in the country that are all part of the NGP, are also priority ecotourism sites, which are being developed together with the Department of Tourism, local government units (LGUs), the private sector and surrounding communities. Aside from actively involving stakeholders in protecting, conserving and managing the PAs, the ecotourism sites are also possible investment sites that could provide local communities with jobs and income. Ignacio also said that the air quality in bustling Metro Manila has continued to improve, as indicated by the reduction of dust particles by 33 percent since 2011. In a bid to further clean the air, the DENR has started to expand its air quality monitoring to include finer dust particles. The agency is likewise promoting the use of alternative fuel and means of transportation and advocating for clean emissions to reduce pollution and carbon emissions. At the same time, The DENR has enlisted the support of 400 corporations and local government units (LGUs) in cleaning up and rehabilitating some 250 waterways and water bodies nationwide. Aside from improving water quality and making them safer for human use, this also reduces flood risks during the rainy season. |
| SC decision was for qualified farmer beneficiaries, not for any single group – DAR |
| Source: http://www.dar.gov.ph |
| The Department
of Agrarian Reform (DAR) today clarified that the Supreme Court
decision to distribute the land of the Hacienda Luisita estate did
not favor any single group, even as it belied claims by the Unyon ng
Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) that the said decision was in favor
of the Ambala solely. DAR Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Anthony Parungao said that the SC decision was clear in ordering the distribution of the land to farmer beneficiaries that meet the requirements or criteria it had set in its landmark decision. He added that Supreme Court had ordered the DAR to distribute land to farmworkers of the hacienda in 1989, which, Parungao said, the Department painstakingly followed. “That was what the Supreme Court asked us to do”, Parungao added. “There was never any reference in the SC decision to favor any particular farmers' group. It would be grossly unfair to the other groups and farmers which advocated for its distribution, or to the vast majority of unaffiliated beneficiaries, for any one group to claim the land,” he said. Parungao also said that the DAR has posted in several public locations the names of persons it had deemed as qualified beneficiaries. It has even given the different farmworker groups this list. No one, however, formally filed any petition or action for the removal of any beneficiary. Parungao then emphasized that the DAR has been engaged in sustained operations to speed up the monumenting of farm lots after the Department allocated farmlots to the qualified beneficiaries and subsequently distributed certified true copies of the titles to the land to the identified farmer-beneficiaries in the last quarter of 2013. He said that, to date, 87.5 per cent of the monumenting work has been completed. Around 6,024 farm lots had been monumented and about 4,716 farmworker-beneficiaries have been installed in more or less 5,500 lots (or almost 76% of those in the masterlist), despite reported instances of harassment of survey teams and actual destruction of ‘mohons’ by those opposed to the DAR effort. DAR is confident that the remaining 860 lots on balance will be monumented shortly, and that the remaining farmer beneficiaries will be installed by next month, barring any further acts of harassment or obstruction, he said. Parungao also said that the DAR is assisting farmer-beneficiaries in the 10 barangays of the Hacienda Luisita estate in voluntarily organizing themselves to enable them to better access support services and credit so that they can immediately work on their land. Some 1,187 beneficiaries have already participated in preliminary organizing activities and are now members of these newly-formed farmers organizations. Parungao expressed confidence that more farmer beneficiaries will join up as the farmers organizations become more stable and engaged in enterprise building. “Upon the registration of their CLOAs, the farmworker-beneficiaries became the actual owners of their individual parcel of lands. As owners, these beneficiaries are free to determine what they want to do with the same, subject only to the limitations provided by the law.” said Parungao. In the meantime, Parungao reported that there were indeed parts of the Hacienda owned by TADECO, not Hacienda Luisita Inc., which were not part of the Supreme Court decision, which are being processed under rules and laws pertaining to land acquisition and distribution of CARP. He emphasized that the processing thereof will be subject to the general rules under the CARP law (R.A. No. 6657, as amended), and not the principles laid down by the Supreme Court in the Hacienda Luisita Incorporated case. |
| April 2014 Criminologist Licensure Examination results released in nine (9) working days |
| Source: http://www.prc.gov.ph |
| The
Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announces that 4,688 out of
13,873 passed the Criminologist Licensure Examination given by the
Board of Criminology in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de
Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi, Lucena, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga
this April 2014. The result of examination with respect to one (1)
examinee was withheld pending final determination of his liabilities
under the rules and regulations governing licensure examination. The members of the Board of Criminology who gave the licensure examination are Hon. Lourdes W. Aniceto, Chairman and Hon. Ernesto V. Cabrera, Member. The results were released in nine (9) working days from the last day of examination. Registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certificate of Registration will be on May 5, 6 & 7, 2014. Those who will register are required to bring the following: duly accomplished Oath Form or Panunumpa ng Propesyonal, current Community Tax Certificate (cedula), 1 piece passport size picture (colored with white background and complete nametag), 2 sets of metered documentary stamps and 1 short brown envelope with name and profession and to pay the Initial Registration Fee of P600 and Annual Registration Fee of P450 for 2014-2017. Successful examinees should personally register and sign in the Roster of Registered Professionals. The date and venue for the oathtaking ceremony of the new successful examinees in the said examination WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER. |
| TESDA, Coke project to double beneficiaries for 2014 |
| Source: http://www.tesda.gov.ph |
| The Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and Coca-Cola
Bottlers Philippines hope to expand its ongoing program to cover
more provinces, providing access to training and other resources to
women sari-sari store owners and retailers. For 2013-2014, the Sari-Sari Store Training and Access to Resources (STAR) program targets to double its covered sites to 22 provinces and cities, raising the total number of beneficiaries to 17,637. The program, which gives training to select women retailers and sari-sari store owners to assist them in managing their business, is currently present in 11 sites and so far has a total of 7,986 graduates. "Thousands of women enter the local economy every year, and they help reshape the world of business," Secretary Joel Villanueva, TESDA Director General, said. "Whether as future employees or entrepreneurs, we want to equip women with skills that would make them succeed," he added. Launched in 2012, the STAR program targets to empower 200,000 women sari-sari store owners and operators all over the country by 2020 through skills training focused on managing their business such as simple accounting and access to microfinance. The training also includes Gender Sensitivity Training for the beneficiaries and focal persons involved in the program. In the two years of its implementation, the program has taken a great leap forward with a number of activities making a positive impact in women's lives. According to the accomplishment report submitted by the TESDA and Coke National Program Management Team (NPMT), training for the women beneficiaries and focal persons manning the program are ongoing. In January this year, STAR focals attended a Gender Sensitivity Training and Database Management Training to orient them on a new system to be used to better monitor and assess the performance of the beneficiaries. Last year, convergence partners of the program held a meeting to get inputs on the proposed amendments on the implementing guidelines. A planning-workshop was also held for regional and provincial directors together with the STAR focals. International officials and Coke partners led by Coca-Cola International president Ahmet Bozer visited TESDA in October last year to observe the implementation of the program. TESDA also partnered with microfinance institutions for the program. To date, there are three institutions helping provide assistance to the beneficiaries, namely, Alay sa Kaunlaran Inc. for Luzon; Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation Inc. for Palawan and the Visayas Region; and First Community Cooperative for Mindanao. "As we venture to expand the STAR program, the solid partnership with microfinance institutions will help ensure the sustainability in the post-training component by making available the access to financing," Villanueva said. "Women entrepreneurs need people willing to invest in them. When stakeholders such as Coke and TESDA embrace their potential, the whole society can benefit from them," he said. The target areas and number of beneficiaries for 2013 to 2014 are the following: TESDA Women's Center-Taguig City (500); Benguet (750); Pangasinan (1,000); Cagayan Valley (1,343); Bulacan (2,000); Pampanga (244); Tarlac (1,200); Nueva Ecija (1,000). Batangas (500); Palawan (1,000); Mindoro Oriental (250); Mindoro Occidental (250); Albay (750); Iloilo (500); Aklan (500); Negros Occidental (1,000). Bohol (500); Cebu (300); Misamis Oriental (1,250); Lanao del Norte (500); Bukidnon (1,000); and, Davao City (1,300). |
| PDIC advises borrowers of Gulf Bank (Rural Bank of Lingayen) to pay their obligations |
| Source: http://www.pdic.gov.ph |
| The
Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC), the Receiver of the
closed Gulf Bank (Rural Bank of Lingayen, Inc.), reminded borrowers
of the bank to continue to pay their loans and transact only with
authorized PDIC representatives. In a statement, PDIC advised borrowers of the Gulf Bank to pay their loans and other obligations directly at any Philippine National Bank (PNB) Branch under account name, PDIC FAO BURL GULF BANK. The Receiver cautioned borrowers that it has discontinued the engagement of the bank’s collectors. PDIC has not engaged any person to collect the loans of the bank. To ensure proper recording of payments made by borrowers, it further advised borrowers to keep copies of the PNB Deposit/Payment Slips. The Receiver emphasized that only payments with validated PNB Deposit/Payment Slips shall be considered valid payments. Official receipts will be issued by PDIC upon validation of payments. For proper accounting of their payments, borrowers who do not receive their official receipts are advised to send a copy of their deposit slips by mail to the Deputy Receiver for loans Mary Ann C. Crisostomo at the PDIC Office, 5th Floor, SSS Bldg., Ayala Avenue corner V.A. Rufino St., Makati City or send via e-mail to Ms. Crisostomo at mccrisostomo@pdic.gov.ph or to Ms. Bettina Acosta at bnacosta@pdic.gov.ph. The Monetary Board (MB) placed the Gulf Bank under the receivership of the PDIC by virtue of MB Resolution No. 543 dated April 3, 2014. As Receiver, PDIC took over the bank on April 4, 2014. Upon takeover, all bank records were gathered, verified and validated. Gulf Bank is a five-unit rural bank with Head Office located at No. 3 Avenida Rizal East St., Lingayen, Pangasinan. Its branches are located in Alaminos, Dagupan City and Mangatarem in Pangasinan; and in Baguio City. Borrowers of the bank may also communicate with the PDIC – Loans Management Department I at (02) 841-4982 or 841-4764. Queries may also be sent through email at pad@pdic.gov.ph. |
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