Dost_pagasa
6
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24-Hour Public Weather ForecastIssued at: 5:00 AM 19 May 2014
SYNOPSIS: Ridge of High Pressure Area (HPA) extending across Luzon.
FORECAST: The whole country will be partly cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.
Light to moderate winds blowing from the east to southeast will prevail over Luzon and coming from the east over the rest of the country.The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate.
Over Metro Manila:
Maximum Temperature: 3:00 PM Yesterday --- 35.8 ºC
Minimum Temperature: 6:00 AM Yesterday --- 24.8 ºC
Maximum Relative Humidity: 6:00 AM Yesterday --- 88%
Minimum Relative Humidity: 4:00 PM Yesterday --- 47%
High Tide Today: 12:47 PM ....... 1.12 Meter
Low Tide Today: 9:54 PM ....... -0.15 Meter
High Tide Tomorrow: 1:42 PM ....... 1.07 Meter
Sunrise Today: 5:27 AM
Sunset Today : 6:17 PM
Moonset Today: 9:35 AM
Moonrise Today: 10:39 PM
Illumination Today: 78 %
For more information and queries, please call at telephone numbers 927-1335 and 927-2877 or log on to www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph
PAGASA weather forecaster Jori Loiz
on DZMM:
-Mula sa Amihan o northeast monsoon, naiba na talaga ang wind pattern. And hopefully ito (Habagat) na ang magbigay sa atin ng mga pag-ulan. Sa ngayon, sa West Phl Sea pa lamang ito nararamdaman.
-Posibleng sa huling linggo pa ng Mayo ay mahagip na ang bansa ng Habagat.
-Sa katunayan, wala pang nakikitang malawakang pag-ulan sa susunod na dalawa hanggang tatlong araw. Ito'y dahil apektado pa rin ng ridge ng high pressure area ang Luzon.
-Asahan pa rin ang mainit na panahon na may pulo-pulong pag-ulan o pagkidlat-pagkulog sa kapuluan.
-Samantala, sa pagtaya ng PAGASA, posibleng magiging normal ang mga pag-ulan sa Hunyo-Agosto.
-Ibig sabihin 'yan talagang magiging wet ang wet season natin. 'Yung mga pag-ulan na ito, maaaring ito na 'yung maging sagot sa kakaharapin nating epekto ng El Niño by last quarter (ng 2014).
-Posibleng mabawasan ang pangamba sa epekto ng tagtuyot oras na mapuno ang mga dam.
-Sa Hunyo posibleng umiral na ang El Niño ngunit sinasabing mararamdaman ang epekto nito sa huling quarter ng taon hanggang sa pagpasok ng 2015.
-Mula sa Amihan o northeast monsoon, naiba na talaga ang wind pattern. And hopefully ito (Habagat) na ang magbigay sa atin ng mga pag-ulan. Sa ngayon, sa West Phl Sea pa lamang ito nararamdaman.
-Posibleng sa huling linggo pa ng Mayo ay mahagip na ang bansa ng Habagat.
-Sa katunayan, wala pang nakikitang malawakang pag-ulan sa susunod na dalawa hanggang tatlong araw. Ito'y dahil apektado pa rin ng ridge ng high pressure area ang Luzon.
-Asahan pa rin ang mainit na panahon na may pulo-pulong pag-ulan o pagkidlat-pagkulog sa kapuluan.
-Samantala, sa pagtaya ng PAGASA, posibleng magiging normal ang mga pag-ulan sa Hunyo-Agosto.
-Ibig sabihin 'yan talagang magiging wet ang wet season natin. 'Yung mga pag-ulan na ito, maaaring ito na 'yung maging sagot sa kakaharapin nating epekto ng El Niño by last quarter (ng 2014).
-Posibleng mabawasan ang pangamba sa epekto ng tagtuyot oras na mapuno ang mga dam.
-Sa Hunyo posibleng umiral na ang El Niño ngunit sinasabing mararamdaman ang epekto nito sa huling quarter ng taon hanggang sa pagpasok ng 2015.
May 19 , 2014 ( Monday ) as of 6:00-7:00 AM
CAVITE : Sunny
LAGUNA : Sunny
BATANGAS : Sunny
RIZAL : Sunny
QUEZON
: Sunny
CAVITE
1. DTI set to conduct
2-day Diskwento Caravan
By: Ruel B. Francisco
Monday 19th of May 2014
TRECE MARTIRES CITY, CAVITE, May 15
(PIA) – The provincial office of the Department of Trade and Industry announced
that a 2-day “Balik Eskwela” Diskwento Caravan will be held on May 22-23 at the
parking area beside the Government Center Building here.
In a press conference held last
Tuesday, May 13, DTI provincial director Noly Guevara explained that the
caravan is a partnership with local manufacturers and retailers of school
supplies and basic prime commodities in the province. About 17 exhibitors already
confirmed their participation.
These manufacturers will offer
products at discounted rate ranging from 10 to 20 percent to enable the
consumers especially the parents to buy goods at reduced price. Commodities on
sale are school supplies, bags, shoes, uniforms, lunch boxes, umbrella,
raincoats, rice, basic and prime commodities.
Guevarra said they are expecting
that the 2-day caravan will exceed the target sales of Php150,000.
During the 2-day caravan, side
activities such as free haircut will be offered by trainees of the provincial
Technical, Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), an SME corner
limited to local food and handicraft producers with at least 10 percent
discount will be given to the customers, and DTI staff will distribute
information material on fair trade laws.
Since 2011, DTI-Cavite has been
conducting Diskwento Caravan to different places in the province. With positive
results of the implementation, the project continues to address the needs of
the consumers particularly the marginalized sectors of the society.
The expansion of ‘Diskwento Caravan’
aimed to bring basic and prime commodities at discounted prices to the
consumers in the countryside. (PIA-Cavite)
- See more at:
http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=671400131454#sthash.F4xYp2wE.dpuf
BATANGAS
1. Tagalog
news: Climate change communication plan,binalangkas ng lungsod ng Batangas
Friday 16th of May 2014
LUNGSOD NG BATANGAS,
Mayo 16 (PIA) --Isang workshop ang isinagawa ng pamahalang lungsod kamakailan
sa Batangas City Convention Center na naglalayong makapagbalangkas ng mga
stratehiya at makapagbuo ng communication plan upang matugunan ang problema sa
climate change.
Magugunita na ang
lungsod ay napili bilang isa sa mga lungsod na kabilang sa 10 Asian
Cities in Climate Change Resilience Network (ACCCRN). Ang ACCRN ay isang
proyektong sinusuportahan ng Rockefeller Foundation at ipinapatupad naman ng ICLEI-
Local Governments for Sustainability habang ang ICLEI ang
nangungunang samahan ng mga lungsod at lokal na pamahalaan sa
buong mundo na naglalayong i-promote ang local action para sa
global sustainability.
Sinabi ni Ranel
Dedikatoria, program manager, ng ICLEI Local Government for Sustainability
Southeast Asia Secretariat, na layunin ng ACCRN na matulungan ang mga
local government units na makabuo ng climate change resilience strategies
o makapag-identify ng strategies para sa local climate change action plan.
Sa naturang
workshop ay nagsagawa sila ng scoping exercise o situational analysis sa kung
ano ang mga programang ipinatutupad at kung ano na ang na-accomplish
ng lokal na pamahalaan sa pagtugon sa climate change. Itinatakda ng
Republic Act 9729 ang pagkakaroon ng lahat ng LGU ng climate change action
plan.
Idinagdag pa ni
Dedikatoria na ito ang una sa apat na workshop na kanilang isasagawa.
Aanyayahan naman nila sa susunod na workshop ang mga kinatawan ng mga national
agencies.
Dumalo sa naturang
workshop ang mga kinatawan ng ibat-ibang departamento ng pamahalang
lungsod ng Batangas, pribadong sektor at ibat-ibang ahensiya na bumubuo
ng Batangas City Climate Change Core Team. (Ronna Endaya-PIO Batangas City/PIA
Batangas)
- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=681398995812#sthash.PL95kMTS.dpuf
2. Tagalog
news: Organic farming, handog ng pamahalaang panlalawigan sa GK Village San
Pedro
Thursday 15th of May 2014
LUNGSOD NG BATANGAS,
Mayo 15 (PIA) --Isang pagbista ang isinagawa ni Batangas Governor Vilma Santos
Recto sa Gawad Kalinga Village sa Brgy. San Pedro sa lungsod na ito upang
saksihan ang matagumpay na organic farming program ng mga residente na
naninirahan sa nasabing komunidad.
Ang GK Village ay isa
sa mga kumunidad o pamayanan na recipient ng programang pang-agrikultura ng
pamahalaang panlalawigan sa ilalim ng kanyang food security program ng
tanggapan ng panlalawigang pang agrikultura.
Naging matagumpay ang
organic farming ng residente dahil sa masusing pag gabay ng mga farmer
techinician na bukod sa pagbibigay kaalaman sa pangangalaga ng mga binhi ay nag
bigay kaalaman din sa organic farming.
Sa pagbisita ng
gobernadora, magiliw na ipinakita ng mga farmer villagers ang kanilang mga
pananim na gulay na sumasailalim sa kategorya ng high value crops o yaong
mataas ang halaga at pangunahing bilihin sa merkado.
Ilan sa mga ito
ang talong, sili, kalabasa, kamatis, okra at mangga na sinaka at pinalaki
sa pamamagitan ng organic farming method.
Sa kanyang
pakikipagdayologo sa mga farmer residents, ipinahayag ng gobernadora na patuloy
nitong susuportahann ang programang pagsasaka at binigyang kasiguraduhan ang
pagpapabuti ng irigasyon o patubig sa nasabing lugar ganun din ang pagsasaayos
ng lansangan at pakikpag dayalogo sa mga electric power distributors upang
maihatid sa GK village ang serbisyo ng kuryente. (Edwin V. Zabarte-PIO Batangas
Province/PIA Batangas)
- See more at:
http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=681400122607#sthash.VzbSKuHH.dpuf
3. Tagalog news: Manlalarong Batangueno,
kampeon sa Palaro 2014
Thursday 15th of May 2014
LUNGSOD NG BATANGAS,
Mayo 15 (PIA) --Muling nagpakitang gilas ang mga manlalarong Batangueño
sa ginanap 2014 Palarong Pambansa sa Laguna Sports Complex, Sta. Cruz sa
lalawigan ng Laguna .
Namayani sa team and
individual events ang mga delegasyong Batangueno na kumatawan sa CALABARZON
Region (STCAA) kung saan ang mga ito ay nakapag uwi ng 4 gold medals ,
9,silvers at 10 bronze medal sa kabuuang 140 total medal count na
nakuha ng regional delegation.
Nangibabaw ang gilas
ng lalawigan ng pagwagian ng CALABARZON elementary boys na kinakatawan ng
mga Batangueño ballers ang Gold Medal sa basketball event para sa 2014
edition ng palaro .
Ginupo ng STCAA
dribblers sa ilalim ni Coach Erwin Apilo ang Central Luzon basketball sa
semi-finals sa iskor na 80-60 daan upang harapin ng mga ito ang power
house na Cagayan Valley Basketball sa finals na nag resulta sa panalo para sa
CALABARZON sa final score na 77-73.
Nakuha din Batangas
represented 3 0n 3 Basketball event ang Gold para sa Girls Secondary at SPED
Shot Put event sa athletics.
Nakapagtala naman ng
silver medal finish ang CALABARZON sa Elementary and Secondary (boys and
girls); Sepak Takraw (boys elementary and secondary); Elementary Girls Tennis;
Softball Elementary girls; Elementary Football (boys); Boys Taekwondo Secondary
at Athletics High Jump Elementary.
Nag-uwi naman ng
bronze ang WAG Elementary and Secondary Gymnastics, Softball Secondary at
Tennis girls Secondary.
Ang mga medal winners
ay binigyang pagkilala ni Governor Vilma Santos Recto at ang mga ito ay
tatanggap ng cash incentives sa kanilang ipinakitang didikasyon at disiplina sa
kanilang sports discipline .
Mag uuwi ng halagang
P5,000 piso ang mga gold medallist, habang P4,000 naman ang Silver, at 3,000 ang
bronze, P2,000 ang pumang-apat na puwesto, at tig-1,000 sa pang-lima at
pang anim na puwesto. ( Edwin V. Zabarte-PIO Province/PIA Batangas)
- See more at:
http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=681400122405#sthash.0rIKpStc.dpuf
1. Tanay seniors, agrarian group benefit from
DOLE Kabuhayan grant
By:
Gideon Gapayao
Monday 19th of May
2014
ANTIPOLO
CITY, Rizal, May 19 (PIA)— Members of the Samahang Nagkakaisang Nakakatandang
Mamamayan ng Tanay Inc. and the Sampaloc Agrarian Reform Beneficiary
Multipurpose Cooperative (SARBMPC) recently received P364,820 and P375,000
respectively through the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Kabuhayan
grants last April 10.
The
Tanay seniors group aims to utilize the funding for the production of water
lily based sandals, wallets, bags and handicrafts. The funds were turned over
to the Samahang Nagkakaisang Nakakatandang Mamamayan ng Tanay by DOLE Rizal
officer-in-charge Grace Macarubbo and Senior Labor and Employment officer
Victoria Natanauan with Rizal Provincial Social Welfare Development Office head
Monette Martin, staff from DOLE and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) at
the Barangay Kat-Bayani Hall, Tanay, Rizal.
Macarubbo
later on turned over the grant to the SARBMPC together with Department of
Agrarian Reform (DAR) Rizal Provincial Agrarian Reform officer I James Arthur
Dubongco, DOLE, DTI and DAR personnel at the DAR Compound, Barangay Sampaloc,
Tanay.
SARBMPC
is an agrarian beneficiary group assisted by several government agencies in
processed ginger products including crystalized ginger (salabat) and ginger
candy.
Both
recipient groups aim to use the Kabuhayan funds for raw materials to help boost
their respective water lily handicraft and processed ginger production.
(PIA-Rizal)
-
See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=2261400127806#sthash.0flmhtJ0.dpuf
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Malacanang aims to bring economic reforms beyond the current administration | ||
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Hosting the World Economic Forum is a distinction, say Palace | ||
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HIV testing remains voluntary, says Palace | ||
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Government working to ensure safe, orderly World Economic Forum next week | ||
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Palace assures public of steady supply of electricity | ||
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Implementation of projects for ‘Yolanda’-affected areas will be accelerated: Palace | ||
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| Implementation of projects for ‘Yolanda’-affected areas will be accelerated: Palace |
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Malacanang said Friday the government will speed up the implementation of
projects in areas destroyed by Typhoon "Yolanda." “We expect that the implementation will be done at a much faster pace, ngayong nabubuo na iyong mga plano,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said during a press briefing. A Cabinet meeting was held earlier to discuss the “master plan” for the rehabilitation of areas in Eastern Visayas affected by the typhoon. “President Aquino directed the Cabinet to act with an increased sense of urgency in finalizing the post-Yolanda rehabilitation plan, especially in view of the expected onset of the rainy season in June,” said Coloma. He noted that rehabilitation plans have been completed for the provinces of Leyte, Western Samar and Cebu, and that as much as P65 billion will be immediately made available to carry out the plans. He said the resettlement cluster will meet again within a week to thresh out a policy using science-based multi-hazard maps to determine “safe, controlled, and unsafe zones.” “This will address the problems posed by the strict implementation of the no-build zone policy, especially in coastal and tourist-oriented areas,” Coloma said, adding that the Cabinet will reconvene before the end of the month to finalize the master plan. PND (ag) |
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Multilateral discussion needed to deal with Chinese construction in Mabini reef, Palace says | ||
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Economy is growing even without amending Constitution’s economic provisions, says Palace | ||
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President Benigno S. Aquino III's Speech at the United
Nation World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) - ASEAN International Conference
on Tourism and Climate Change
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The Oriental Hotel, Taysan Hill, Sto Nino Village, Legazpi
City, Albay
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19 May 2014
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Excellencies of the Diplomatic Corps; Secretary Mon Jimenez; Secretary Mon
Paje; Secretary Lucille Sering; Mr. Taleb Rifai; of course, the man of the
hour, Governor Jose Ma. Clemente “Joey” Salceda, who will be bringing back
kimchi after he goes back to Korea, amongst other things, we can also accept
Bulgogi. [Laughter]; Congressman Nando Gonzales and former Mayor Linda
Gonzales; Representative Rodel Batocabe; Representative Delphine Lee; Mayor
Noel Rosal; Governor Roger Mercado of Southern Leyte; Governor Gene Mendiola
of Mindoro Occidental; Governor Araceli Wong of Catanduanes; Heads of
delegation and delegates of the United Nations World Tourism
Organization-ASEAN International Conference on Tourism and Climate Change;
members of the international organizations and non-governmental
organizations present; fellow workers in government; honored guests; ladies
and gentlemen; Again, good morning. A little more than six months ago, Typhoon Yolanda—or Typhoon Haiyan, as it is known internationally—made landfall in the Philippines. You all know the tragedy of Yolanda: It affected 44 of our 81 provinces. Thousands of Filipinos lost their lives, and so many more lost their homes and literally everything they owned, and industries grinded to a halt. All of these happened despite thorough preparations made by government. Typhoon Yolanda, after all, was unprecedented in scale. Nobody had seen anything like it. The storm swept away some of our first responders, along with many of the relief goods we had prepositioned, not to mention some of the equipment needed to conduct rescue and relief operations. It laid waste to our airports, ports, and roads, complicating our relief efforts further. Truly, if it were not for the work and the sacrifice of our dedicated public servants, our people, and the international community, the disastrous effects of the typhoon would have been far worse. Their work allowed all those affected to get back on the road to recovery as soon as possible. It allowed us to build back better earlier than what was expected even by those in the international community who have vast experience in disaster rehabilitation efforts. Now, we are making certain that the houses and the infrastructure we are rebuilding in the damaged areas will be sturdier and more resilient. The Department of Public Works and Highways, for instance, is already preparing new, disaster-resilient designs for roads in that area. Furthermore, to make certain that even the reconstruction of roads proceeds in the quickest manner possible, the National Electrification Administration, amongst others, is ensuring that affected electric cooperatives are following the rules on easement. This involves making certain that poles and towers are constructed in a way that doesn’t hamper reconstruction efforts. The NIA is likewise reviewing how power infastructure can be constructed such that the topping of one tower does not lead to a cascading tumbling of multiple poles and towers in the same system. Despite the progress of our recovery efforts we cannot ignore the resounding message that Typhoon Yolanda said to the world: If we do not tackle it head on, this “new normal” brought about by climate change will be here to stay and we will be forced to make unfair choices between disaster risk management and development. Make no mistake: All of us are stakeholders in this regard. Ignoring this problem means that the increasingly frequent and intense storms will continue to make landfall in our countries; changes in temperatures will continue to decrease our water supply and threaten our food security; and island countries, such as those in the South Pacific, will continue to worry that, within the span of a few decades, their countries may be consumed by the rising water levels and, eventually, cease to exist. These are alarming realities, and we must start taking action now. Taking on the challenge of climate change necessitates an international effort. We must come up with a more focused and more organized strategy to adapt to the risks it poses. This entails each country revisiting the way they approach every facet of governance to take into account how they affect the environment—from infrastructure, to agriculture, to energy. Needless to say, one of the sectors deeply concerned with the evolving demands of the new normal is tourism. This is precisely why we are here, joined by some of the most influential figures in the tourism sector, including the Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, Dr. Taleb Rifai, who is perhaps the world’s most important ambassador of tourism as an engine for growth and inclusiveness. I have always referred to tourism in the Philippines as a low-lying fruit. Our country has so many natural gifts. In fact, I am told that if you look out some of the windows of this very hotel, you can see Mayon Volcano, known around the world as the volcano with the most perfect cone. To be honest with you it took me five trips to this area for Mayon volcano to reveal itself because it was always shrouded with clouds and fog every time I was here. [Laughter and Applause] Such attractions, combined with our people’s natural kindness and hospitality, make our country an excellent tourism destination. This is a significant opportunity for us, because tourism’s impact on the economy is instant: When visitors arrive, they ride local transport, eat in restaurants, and buy souvenirs. On average, each international tourist that visits our country spends almost a thousand dollars during their stay here, and I am told that this number is growing even higher. Moreover, jobs in tourism rarely require lengthy or specialized training, meaning that a wider range of Filipinos can capitalize on the opportunities it creates right away. This is why we have focused our developments efforts on this sector, amongst others, and the early results are extremely encouraging. Just last year, we welcomed 4.68 million international tourists—nearly ten percent higher than the previous year. And we remain committed to breaching the ten million mark by the time my term ends in about two years and one month. [Applause] On top of this, in 2011 we beat our initial 2016 target of 35.5 million domestic travelers, recording 37.5 million in 2011 alone. Allow me to repeat that: We met our target for 2016 five years ahead of schedule. This pushed us to set our sights higher. Now we have increased our 2016 target to 56.1 million domestic travelers, and we will remain in active pursuit of this target as well. Clearly, as long as tourism can be pursued in a sustainable manner, then it is certainly one of the best sectors to focus on—and one of the shortest and most efficient paths to inclusive growth. One of the best examples of how tourism—ecotourism in particular—can revitalize a community is the municipality of Donsol, in Sorsogon, in this region. With the help of the Department of Tourism and the World Wide Fund for Nature, the local government of Donsol was able to capitalize on the presence of whale sharks—or Butandings, as we call them—around their waters. Largely due to the economic and social benefits of the project, as well as the active participation of the local community, Donsol went from a sixth class municipality to a first class municipality in less than five years. [Applause] A municipality falls to sixth class when it earns less than P15 million annually over the previous four calendar years. A first class municipality, on the other hand, needs to have an annual average income of P55 million or more, so from 15 to at least P55 million. This growth has been felt across the board, most especially by the fishermen, whose income has been bumped up from P300 a day to more than a P1000 a day, depending on the season. On top of all this, the Butanding has become an icon of Philippine tourism; they are even featured on the backs of our hundred peso bills. Truly, the success of Donsol is one that we want to replicate in many other potential tourist spots. The long-term viability of such programs, however, is tied to how we deal with the problem of climate change. It is true: We have some of the best beaches and dive spots in the world; sadly, these areas are also the ones most vulnerable to climate risk—whether in the form of loss of biodiversity or coastal erosion. Our immediate response: To plan ahead and reduce the impact of the effects of climate change on our tourist destinations, amongst others. The government has included climate change adaptation and mitigation, as well as disaster risk reduction and management, among the major considerations for future development. Our plan: To mainstream climate change adaptation with local, sectoral, and national plans—all of which will consequently guide the development of tourist destinations and tourism activities per locality. With the increasing risks of climate change, this is something we encourage other ASEAN-member countries, as well as countries around the world, to look into. Of course, we must also address the problem in the long-term by striking a productive, sustainable balance as regards our reliance on fossil fuels. We have taken significant steps in this regard. For instance, we have introduced incentives that promote private sector investments in renewable energy projects. This initiative has borne fruit. In fact, I was just in Negros Occidental last week to inaugurate the 22-megawatt San Carlos Solar Energy Plant—the first large scale commercial solar plant in the country. This is a major step in expanding our country’s energy mix and limiting the devastating effects of overdependence on traditional energy sources. To truly fix the problem, however, efforts such as this cannot come from just one country; this responsibility falls on the shoulders of every person, community, city, and nation—especially the ones that contribute a comparatively high amount of greenhouse gas emissions. I am hopeful that, through conferences like this, we can continue to share ideas, new technologies, and best practices with one another and bring our region—and our world—closer to adapting to and mitigating the effects of the new normal. Indeed, these gatherings will be vital in responding to this issue. Climate change is real. It is a threat not simply to our industries or to our economies; it is a grave threat to all our peoples. The sooner we move on a more united front—and the sooner we agree on a systematic, concerted effort to address the problem—the sooner we can make a more profound impact on changing the effects of climate change. Thus, I invite you all: Let us work even closer together; let us begin turning the situation around before it gets worse; and let us endeavor to leave behind a world still teeming with opportunities—one that is, without doubt, better than how we found it. Thank you, and good day. |
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President
Benigno S. Aquino III's Speech at the Inauguration of San Carlos Solar
Energy, Inc. (SACASOL) Phase 1
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San Carlos Ecozone, San
Carlos City, Negros Occidental
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15 May 2014
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Mga hinigugma kong kaigsunan, maayong aga sa tanan.
Kung kulang ho ang energy, hindi pa ho nabibigay sa aking ang piyaya eh. Investments in power are meaningful in every sense of the word: they enliven the local economies and provide honest, decent sources of livelihood; they add to the energy mix and help ensure a more steady supply of power; and, perhaps most importantly, they point to the promise of future growth for the community, the region, and the country. Today, we are not just inaugurating a power plant; we are also making history: The San Carlos Solar Energy, Inc. is the first large-scale commercially-financed and commissioned solar power plant in the Philippines under our administration. Because of this new project, the Visayas grid will eventually benefit from an additional 22 MW, 13 from phase one, which is being completed, and the remaining 9 MW I understand by the end of june, which is not too far away. All this, while SACASOL displaces carbon emissions equivalent to the emissions produced by 14,805 tons of oil for each year of operations. It serves as a shining example of the collective steps we are taking to minimize climate risk—the fruit of our efforts to ensure that future generations will not be subject to the same vulnerabilities as we are now. This is especially important in light of the Philippines’ experience with Typhoon Haiyan, or Yolanda—a storm that ravaged a large part of the Visayas region six months ago. Not only did it challenge us to build back better more resilient communities, and to improve our disaster response mechanisms, it also underscored the adverse effects of climate change and showed the world the new normal of increasingly frequent and intense storms. The responsibility to act in the face of growing climate risk falls on all of us, whether we belong to the government or the private sector. SACASOL is the perfect example of this. This is a project funded by companies with a strong interest in renewable and clean energy investments and a projectsupported by the local government. With your help, we are proving to the world: even developing countries such as ours can do their share in reducing the risks posed by global warming. And we are doing this even at a time when the development of solar power plants remains more expensive than that of plants fueled by traditional sources of energy. We fully recognize the significance of your investment. As much as there are many advocates who support and promote the use of solar energy—and while we believe that it is a necessary and welcome addition to the energy mix, we must be cognizant of its current limitations: the still high cost to harness solar energy as compared to other sources, which includes the additional requirements for ancillary capacity to connect it to the grid. As you might know, there is a need for government to manage the energy mix, from which the cost of power is derived. Unfortunately, renewable energy is still the most expensive component. It follows that if our entire energy mix is derived from renewable sources, then the price of electricity—which people are already complaining about today—will rise even more. Government therefore has to strike a balance between this, and our desire to attract more investments in renewable energy. The situation is compounded by the fact that so many have adopted the wait-and-see, or have adopted a wait-and-see attitude when it comes to investing in these types of power plants. I am glad to see that, today, we are proving them wrong, and I must really congratulate and thank all those involved in this endeavor. [Applause] With this project, you are showing your confidence in your abilities and in what you have to offer—and most importantly, you are showing your confidence in our people, our economy, and our country. SACASOL is indeed at the head of the pack, and it is only right that you are reaping and will be reaping the maximum benefits and incentives—and perhaps are now the subject of envy for those investors who might only follow suit, and come in after the cap on renewable energy has been met. Perhaps, this inauguration gives me the opportunity to issue a gentle reminder to all those who are still of the wait-and-see mindset: you might only be willing to follow the example of Bronzeoak Philippines and Thomas Lloyd Cleantech when these pioneers have proven the profitability of this venture. I should warn you: by that point, you may no longer be entitled to any of the incentives government is currently offering. [Applause] Of course, the success of SACASOL dovetails perfectly with our administration’s goal of having a more diverse energy mix, which is able to meet our country’s needs—thus redounding to a more consistent energy supply. For the year 2013, the average available capacity of the Visayas Grid stood at 1,678 MW. Average peak demand was at 1,390 MW. There are adequate reserves, but, of course, given the current economic momentum of the country, we cannot be content with present conditions; we also have to plan for the future. Peak demand is projected to increase with sustained growth—especially since we expect dividends from peace in Mindanao, which will have a corresponding effect especially on our inter-regional trade. On top of that, the recent resurgence of the Philippines will only continue to add to the confidence of investors from all over the globe. A strong energy surplus will also be an important factor, as we explore the possibility of connecting the Mindanao grid to the now connected Luzon and Visayas grids. In this light, I am pleased to announce that more power plants are underway for the Visayas Grid alone, with most slated for commissioning from this year until 2016: from traditional energy sources, to geothermal, to hydropower, to wind, to biomass, making for an incoming committed capacity of 591.60 MW. SACASOL is part of this—and I should note that you are also leading the way in solar power, since this is the first solar project to be commissioned in the Visayas. Perhaps we can invite Bronzeoak Philippines to consider venturing outside of Negros Occidental—which currently hosts all your projects—and putting up even more power plants elsewhere in the Philippines, maybe as a continuation of this partnership with Thomas Lloyd Cleantech. Investments like this are what our country needs. As we move even closer towards realizing our vision of inclusive growth for the Philippines, we will need partners like you—partners who, like us, are working towards a sustainable future for the country. Thus, let us continue to work even harder, together, towards realizing our vision for the Philippines—let us continue to bring light into people’s homes, into their workspaces and businesses, and illuminate the path to responsible, sustained, and inclusive growth. Thank you, and good day. |
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President
Benigno S. Aquino III's Speech at the Inauguration of the new Himoga-an
Bridge and 3416 KM access road
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Bacolod,
North Road, Brgy. Paraiso, Sagay City
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15 May 2014
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Unang beses ko po itong bumisita dito sa Sagay City bilang
Pangulo. Ngayong kaharap ko na po kayo, lalong lumilinaw sa akin kung bakit
“Sugar Bowl of the Philippines” ang bansag sa kabuuang Negros Occidental.
Bukod po kasi sa laki ng kontribusyon ng inyong probinsya sa produksyon ng
asukal sa buong bansa, ay talaga namang wala ring kasing tamis ang ngiti
ninyong mga kababayan nating Negrense. [Applause] Siyempre po, puro sweet
memories din ang mayroon tayo dito: noon pa man, anumang suporta ang hiniling
ko sa inyo, at pati ang aking ina, ay binibigay at pinaparamdam ninyo. Kaya
naman, hayaan ninyo pong suklian ko ang mainit ninyong pagtanggap sa amin sa
naihanda at napagpraktisan kong pagbati: Madamo gid nga salamat sa mga
pinalangga naton nga Negrense sa padayon nga panglakaton sa tadlong nga
dalan. [Cheers and applause] Mamaya na po ‘yong sa piyaya at sa lumpiang
sariwa.
Simula pa lang ng ating panunungkulan, sinikap na nating itaguyod ang malawakang kaunlaran sa Pilipinas—mula sa mga lungsod na sentro ng komersyo, at lalo na sa mga komunidad at lalawigang sagana sa Pilipinong masipag, maabilidad, at handang kunin ang anumang dumarating na oportunidad, tulad po ni Mark Joseph Escora. Mark, alam mo kinukuwento ka sa akin ni Joel Villanueva. Sabi nga kanina ni Governor Freddie, mula barker ng jeep, ngayon raw ay supervisor ka na yata at ma-propromote pa. At kapag kinausap ka raw ni Joel, eh parang galing ka sa ibang bansa at “wursh-wursh” ka na raw ngayon. [Laughter] Kung tama tanda ko, sinabi ho ni Joel, something to the effect na, “Have you ever been to any other country?” And your answer was something to the effect of, “No, just here.” Kasabay ng pagtutuwid po sa sistema sa lipunan at pamahalaan, pinapalago natin ang mga industriya sa pamamagitan ng sapat na suporta at imprastruktura. Sa paraang ito, masasagad natin ang kakayahan ng Pilipino na makapag-ambag sa pag-asenso, hindi lang ng sarili, kundi ng buong bansa. Kung napansin po n’yo ‘yong illustration ng kalsadang luma’t kalsadang bago, kapag pinaguusapan natin ‘yong layo ng biyahe, bakit kaya ganoong kahaba ‘yong design ng pula? Ano kaya ang purpose ho ng maraming liko-liko? Pero ngayon naman ay ‘yung blue na ating bagong kalsada, ay sigurong mapapadali o mapapabilis ang biyahe at mapapababa ang gastos ng lahat ng tumatawid dito. Kongkretong bunga po ng stratehiya natin ang New Himoga-an Bridge na may habang 105 lineal meters, at ang Access Road na may habang 3.42 kilometers, na sama-sama nating pinasisinayaan ngayong umaga. Ang inilaan nating pondo para sa proyektong ito: P313 million. Ito ang papalit sa dating Himoga-an Bridge, at magkokonekta sa mga lungsod ng Sagay at Cadiz. Ang tanong po: Ano ba ang positibong hatid sa atin ng mga bagong daanang ito? Unahin po natin ang matitipid na oras sa biyahe. Dahil nabawasan natin ng dalawa’t kalahating kilometro ang distansya ng biyahe sa Sagay at Cadiz, at di na kailangang dumaan sa siksikang kalsada sa Bacolod North Road, mababawasan ng hanggang dalawampung minuto ang pagbagtas sa mga lungsod na ito. Isa pa po: Kumpara sa dating tulay, di hamak na mas ligtas na rin ang kalsadang ito dahil sinisiguro nating de-kaledad at mas matibay ang pundasyon nito. At ‘pag dumating ho ang panahon–kanina ho ay may nakita akong bayan na medyo liblib. Sabi ko, pagbalik natin siguro, irereklamo sa atin itong bayan na liblib na ito, “Bakit ho ginawa n’yo ‘to? Ma-traffic na dito.” Kaya, para maghanda na ho, kung napansin n’yo, ‘yong shoulder ho malaki. Ibig sabihin ho niyan, kung gagawin natin four lanes, ‘pag kinailangan, nandiyan na po, naka-ready ‘yong paglalagyan ng four lanes. Inaasahan din natin ang higit pang pag-arangkada ng inyong lokal na ekonomiya. Dahil sa tulay na ito, mas magiging mabilis at madali na ang transportasyon ng tubó mula sa ilang bahagi ng probinsya, patungo sa mga sugar mill dito sa Sagay City. Siguradong makakabawas po ito sa gastos ng produksyon. Gayundin, mapapaundlad natin ang turismo dito sa Sagay dahil mas madali nang makakapunta sa mga destinasyon tulad ng Carbin Reef at Molocaboc Island. Sana nga po, sa susunod kong pagbisita rito, maisingit natin sa schedule ang pamamasyal sa mga tanawing ito. Baka papakitaan ho tayo ni Governor Freddie ng kanyang abilidad sa tugtuging Reggae. Siyempre po, nagpapasalamat tayo sa DPWH—sa pangunguna ni Secretary Babes Singson—para sa matagumpay na proyektong ito. Alam po n’yo, lahat ng ating gabinete, may lalapit sa akin na “ito ang problema.” So ako naman po efficient–papasa ko dun sa sekretaryo ko, “O ito problema na, ayusin mo.” Tapos pagdating ho ng inauguration, dinadamay nalang ho nila ako. Talagang, baka pwede hong humingi ng palakpak ng kaunti para sa ating mga sekretaryo. [Applause] Sabi ko, ang pangako ko lang sa inyo iisa: Baka hindi tayo yayaman dito, pero pagtapos natin dito sa 2016, palagay ko mas marami ang buhok n’yo sa kaysa akin. Gayundin, binabati natin si Governor Alfredo Marañon, si Mayor Thirdy Marañon, at ang katuwang pang LGUs, sa pakikipagkapit-bisig nila sa pambansang pamahalaan—lalo na sa lagi nating maaasahang DILG Secretary na si Mar Roxas. Sa pag-aambagan ng lahat, sa pag-una ng resulta kaysa politika, nagawa nating makumpleto ang proyektong ito. Pinapatunayan natin: Anumang lawak ng mithiin ay talagang nakakamit, kung tayo ay nagkakaisa at sumasagwan tungo sa iisang direksyon. Ngayon po, tatlong taon, sampung buwan, at labinlimang araw na tayong sama-samang tumatahak sa tuwid na daan. At sa panahong ipinagkaloob sa atin upang maglingkod, sinasagad po natin ang bawat paghakbang: hindi na mabilang ang mga kalsada, tulay, o gusaling ating napasinayaan. Ang kailangan lang po nating tandaan: Bawat isa sa mga ito ay hindi kusang tumayo; hindi tayo nagising isang umaga, nag-unat ng katawan, at sa pagbangon ay may nakatambad nang bagong imprastruktura. Hindi tayo aabot sa araw ng paglulunsad na ito, kung sa paglalatag pa lang ng plano at pagbubuo nito, ay kinapos na tayo sa sigasig at dedikasyon, at, idadag ko po: kung mali ang ating direksyon. Ang totoo: Nagagawa nating tumindig sa mismong kalsadang ito, at sa iba pang mga gusaling tunay nang pinakikinabangan ngayon ng Pilipino, dahil tayo rin mismo ang nagdesisyong kumilos upang matupad ito. Ganitong kaisipan din ang nakasandig sa kinabukasan ng kalakhang bansa: Narating natin ang puntong ito dahil nagtulungan tayo; at kung hihinto tayo sa ating agenda ng reporma, ay babalik lamang tayo sa baluktot na sistema. Kaya naman, hinihimok ko po kayo: Panghawakan natin ang pambihirang pagkakataong ito. Mas malayo pa ang ating mararating kung itutuon natin ang ating bawat desisyon at pagpili sa tuwid at tama. Simula pa lang po ang tulay na ito: Darating ang araw kung saan ang kongkretong pagbabagong pinasinayaan natin dito ay manganganak ng mas malawak at mas malaki pang ambag mula sa ating mga mamamayan, upang lumikha ng isang lipunan kung saan talaga naman pong walang naisasantabi at walang naiiwan. Ipa panubli naton ang ginahandum naton nga Pilipinas sa masunod nga henerasyon sang Pilipino. Maraming salamat po. |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III's Media Interview
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Sacasol
Solar Energy
Power Plant, San Carlos City, Negros
Occidental
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15 May 2014
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ON SOLAR ENERGY DEVELOPMENT
Q: Hi, sir, mainit na umaga. PRESIDENT AQUINO: Mainit na aga rin sa’yo. Q: Mr. President, given the benefit of solar energy to us ay may plano po ba ang pamahalaang Aquino na ikalat ito sa buong bansa, given na medyo may problema tayo (sa kuryente) lalo na sa Mindanao? PRESIDENT AQUINO: Well, kanina ipinaliwanag ko sa speech nga, ano, na ‘yung renewable energy unfortunately ay mas mataas talaga ‘yung gastos at ‘yung ating gastos sa kuryente ay binabase doon sa paghahalo ng lahat ng pinanggagalingan ng ating energy. So ang mangyayari ‘pag puro renewable kaagad tataas ‘yung kuryente at saka solar—Secretary (Jericho) Petilla is here—hindi natin pwedeng masabing parang dependable as for the demand—‘yung baseload na plants, ‘di ba? Kailangan kasi para mangyari nang mangyari ‘yon—umuulan, et cetera—meron ka talagang kuryente na equivalent doon sa demand, ‘di ba, ‘yung baseload. Ito peaking, pangdagdag. Nakakatulong sa ating environment. Nakakatulong sa, ‘di ba, hindi pag-uubos ng mga fossil fuels and other traditional sources pero kailangan nating balansehin ‘yung pakinabang niya at saka ‘yung sobra namang pagpapataas ng presyo ng kuryente. So sinabi nga ni Secretary Petilla kanina ‘yung 50 megawatts na cap ‘yun ay pinag-aaralan nila para maging 500 megawatts para sa renewable para doon sa benefits. So itataas natin ‘yung component ‘nung renewable energy so long as manigurado tayo na konti lang ‘yung dagdag sa presyo ng kuryente. Q: Sir, nauna po dito sa Negros, meron bang plano na sundan agad either sa Mindanao or sa Luzon? PRESIDENT AQUINO: Meron na rin sa Mindanao pero ito first na commercial, puro private sector. ‘Yung sa Mindanao subject to, ano, to certain grants. Ngayon baka I can ask Secretary Petilla to say where else ‘yung solar—kung solar lang o pati other renewable. Q: Pwede rin, sir, pwede rin. PRESIDENT AQUINO: Icot, please? Q: Kasi, sir, may problema tayo sa kuryente, lalong-lalo ‘yung mga brownouts. SEC. PETILLA: Ang peak kasi natin si 50 megawatts. Dito is 22 na. This is a race, unahan ito, at so far kung nakikita nilang nauuna na lahat, ‘yung iba umaatras. So here we have 22, and in Cavite we have at least another 30, mapupunuan na natin ang 50. So that is the reason why we’re thinking of increasing the quota para ‘yung mga interesado ay magtayo pa sila. Kasi nakikita naman natin na it’s really viable. Nagtayo sila, kulang ‘yung quota natin, so sa tanong mo kanina, that is our intention na damihan natin pero minimal impact din sa rates natin. Q: So ito ‘yung part ng ano, sir—Mr. President—‘yung mga investment, mga investors na pumapasok sa atin? SEC. PETILLA: Part ng mga investors, at the same time, some of them are actually just waiting for the quota to be increased. ‘Yung iba parang handa na. You have to take note that this particular plant was constructed in October. Mayo pa lang ngayon, nag-inaugurate na tayo. So this is really a fast to construct na resources na kailangan din ng bansa ngayon. ON EDCA Q: Mr. President, siguro ibahin ko lang nang konti, ligaw lang ako nang konti— PRESIDENT AQUINO: Konting-konti lang ha? Q: Ang aking istorya. With the last provocation action again by China against Vietnam last Monday ay paano po kung sa atin nagawa o gawin ito? Makakatulong po ba ang EDCA given that China is always also asserting its authority para sa claims nila sa South China Sea? PRESIDENT AQUINO: Baka imbes na parang mag-predict na tayo ng things that might happen, baka dapat ay trabahuhin na lang natin ‘yung mga kilos na ginagawa natin tulad ‘nung pagsusulong ng ASEAN ng Code of Conduct at saka ‘yung arbitration para nga magkaroon na ng liwanag: Ano ba ang karapatan, ano ba ang obligasyon ng bawat isa, lalo na dito sa usapin tungkol sa teritoryo or sa exclusive economic zones? At ‘pag naresolba ‘yon, e ‘di siguro naman mawawalan na ng hindi pagkakaunawaan, dahil maliwanag na kung ano ang karapatan at ano ang obligasyon ng bawat panig. ON CABINET SECRETARIES TAGGED IN PORK SCAM Q: Magandang umaga po, Mr. President. First question po is paano niyo po sasagutin ‘yung banat ng mga kritiko doon po sa desisyon ninyo na panatilihin sa posisyon itong sina Secretary (Florencio) Abad, Secretary (Proceso) Alcala, and Secretary (Joel) Villanueva despite the fact na they are officially involved basing doon sa papers na lumabas from the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee doon sa P10-billion pork barrel scam? PRESIDENT AQUINO: Ang bigat ‘nung term e: ‘officially involved’. Bakit ‘officially involved’? Q: Basing doon sa— PRESIDENT AQUINO: Hindi, officially alleged, ‘di ba? Q: Officially alleged. PRESIDENT AQUINO: Well, teka muna, paano naging official? Senate Blue Ribbon Committee ba alleged or they just showed you what they received as a document? Can I ask, ano—parang hindi naman sa pag-avoid ng question, ano—sinong critics actually ang nagsasalita at ano ba ang sinasabi? Kasi, sorry ha, hindi ko nabasa kanina pagbasa ko ng mga dyaryo itong mga kini-question. Q: Okay po. And— PRESIDENT AQUINO: Hindi, sino nga ‘yung critics who are saying that I should be, what? I should fire them? Q: No, sir, actually marami pong mga leftist group na sinasabi you should dispose off these people, your secretaries— PRESIDENT AQUINO: “Dispose”. [laughter] Meron kami… Baka hindi alam ng ating mga kaibigan sa kaliwa, ano, pero dito sa bansa natin karapatan ng bawat isa ang pinangangalagaan at isa sa mga tenets ng ating batas ‘innocent until proven guilty’. Hindi ‘guilty until you prove yourself innocent’—number one. Number two, kung ang ating secretary ay nagtatrabaho, ‘di ba, merong matutuwa; merong hindi masyadong matutuwa. Lahat ng hindi natuwa, naging kritiko, automatic palitan natin ‘yung secretary. So kailan kaya tayo magkakaroon ng Gabinete kung basta may mag-criticize, tanggalin? Okay. Now, having said all of that, siguro ang dulo nito isa lang ang official family ko. May tiwala ba ako sa kanila o wala? Ano ba actually ang allegation sa kanila? At ipinangako ko naman sa inyo—at palagay ko nakita na ninyo—(‘pag) may ebidensya tayong supisyente, dalhin natin sila sa korte, at ‘yon nga ang nangyari na ‘nung dinala ‘yung ating information sa Ombudsman. Okay, now, ‘pag tapos ‘yung—‘di ba? Kailan lang, as in last week, tinatanong tayo doon sa fertilizer scam o fertilizer fund scam. Bakit daw nabasura ‘yung kaso? So ipinaalala natin, hindi tayo ang naghain nitong complaint na ito, pero tayo ang pinapasagot. At hindi pa naman umabot sa husgado kaya pwede pang buhayin ‘yon, ano, na mas matibay ang kaso. So palagay ko obligasyon ko sa sambayanan manigurado (na) ‘pag naghain tayo ng kaso matibay ang ebidensya para talagang maparusahan ‘yung nagkasala. Ngayon, ang kabaligtaran naman ‘non, kung maghain ka lang ng haka-haka, kung maghain ka lang ng, hindi ba, parang walang basehan na akusasyon; ginarantiya mo, dinala mo sa korte, mababa[sura]—‘di ba, madi-dismiss ‘yung kaso, ‘yung tao, lalo na ‘yung taong may kasalanan, binigyan mo na ng perpetual ‘get-out-of-jail card’ free dahil, ‘di ba, may double jeopardy tayo. Hindi mo na pwedeng sampahan ulit ng kaso. So ulitin ko lang, ano, mali siguro na may nag-criticize, ‘di ba, dapat tanggalin na kaagad. Siguro ang importante: May ebidensya nga ba? For instance, ano—not to pre-judge—ipinakita sa akin ni Secretary Villanueva ‘yung alleged na request niya. Ang nakalagay doon sa letterhead niya ay partylist na hindi CIBAC. ‘Yung partylist kung saan siya tumakbo CIBAC. ‘Yung partylist na nakalagay doon sa letterhead, doon sa alleged document from him, ay ibang partylist. So doon ba, ‘di ba, ‘yon ba supisyenteng ebidensya na para tanggalin si Secretary Villanueva? So ako naman siguro ‘pag tinanggal ko siya dahil sa ganoon: Sorry ha, na-tsismis kang ganito o pinag-usapan kang ganyan, kaya thank you na. Thank you na lang doon sa 91 percent na graduates mo dito sa semiconductor at saka electronics industry na nagkaroon ng trabaho. Sorry na lang doon sa 62 percent na average mula 26 na napapatrabaho sa graduates ninyo. Siguro ‘pag ganoon ang ginawa ko lahat ng graduates nila na nakinabang sa pagpapalakad ng TESDA ni Joel nang matino ay magagalit naman sa akin, lalo na ‘yung mga mawawalan ng oportunidad kung ang papalit sa kanya hindi kasing galing. ON ‘NAPOLIST’ Q: Thank you po, sir. Next question is nakausap niyo na po ba si Secretary (Panfilo) Lacson about doon sa scam? Ano po ‘yung sinabi ninyo sa kanya if ever nakausap niyo na siya? PRESIDENT AQUINO: Tinatandaan—kasi ‘yung primary topic ‘yung ‘Yolanda’ e, ano, at status and actually… [talks to one of the Cabinet secretaries by his side] This week, next week, kailan ba ang ano natin...? Meron akong briefer on the status of all the ‘Yolanda’ projects tomorrow, okay. Nadaanan lang naming nang pahapyaw ito at tinanong ko lang: Saan mo ba nakuha ito? Ano ba ‘yung—ilan ba talaga ang itinuturo doon sa listahang tangan mo? At saka doon nga lalong naging maigting na iba-iba ‘yung… ‘Di ba, kinuwento ko nga nga ‘nung nasa Myanmar tayo recently, ‘yung unang listahang binigay sa akin 14 ang senador. ‘Yung sumunod—at supposed to be galing kay Ms. Napoles ito—‘yung sumunod na dumating naging 11. ‘Yung kay Ping yata ganoon rin e, parang 11. So bakit iisa ang source, paiba-iba ‘yung tinutukoy niya? Tapos kahapon sa dyaryo 25 na ‘yung nakalagay naman na pangalan—both incumbent and ‘yung ex-senators, ano, at meron pa doon dead senators. So ngayon, ano, ihahain ba natin ‘yung kaso ng 25 bahala na si Batman? Or manigurado tayo na ‘pag hinain natin, ano, kung tayo’y naniwala na may ginawa itong taong ito, nandyan lahat ng ebidensya, isampa natin sa tamang oras ‘yung kaso para siguradong magbayad ‘yung mga may utang sa bansa. ‘Yung baligtad nga, ulitin ko, ano: Basta may nagsabing ganito, isampa mo, tinapon dahil wala kang ebidensya, hindi mo na pwedeng ihabla ulit ‘yung taong ‘yan doon sa parehong kaso dahil papasok nga ‘yung double jeopardy. Q: And lastly, sir, may we have your thoughts on the appeal of some senators to have Ms. Janet Lim-Napoles and Benhur Luy to appear again in the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigation? PRESIDENT AQUINO: Well, ‘yung… Honestly, ano, saan ba patungo ito? Sana… ‘Yung isa sa pinaka… Balikan ko lang ‘yung list, ano, bakit isang tao—at least as far as I know, ano—one list or one set of lists says it’s 11 and another set of list from the same person says 14? So kaagad bakit pabago-bago ka? Ikaw ba ay tutulong maglinaw sa usaping ito o ang habol mo lang paguluhin? Para dahil kaka-explore natin ‘nung lahat ng akusasyon, kaka-imbestiga, gusto nilang ma-time out na ako para wala nang maisampa ‘yung kaso. So syempre kailangan mag-ingat tayo diyan. So, as you know, ‘yung may unang grupo na nga na ipinasok na natin sa Ombudsman at hinihintay natin ‘yung desisyon ng Ombudsman tungkol doon sa inihain na nating unang complaint. Tapos ‘pag na-develop ‘yung ebidensya doon sa iba pa, ano, ganoon din ang magiging proseso. So baka naman pwedeng idire-diretso na natin ‘yung proseso. At siguro kailangan ko lang idiin, ano, ang pagkaintindi ko si Ms. Napoles ‘yung kanyang affidavit ay hindi pa raw tapos—work in progress. Ano naman kaya ‘yung Chapter III or third revision? Baka naman six months from now lahat ng wala sa listahan ngayon ang nasa listahan na at ‘yung nandyan ay babawiin naman niya? So importante makuha natin ‘yung kanyang testimonya na makakatulong malaman ‘yung katotohanan imbes na kung saan-saan tayo dinadala na para—baka gusto nila tayong mahilo at mawindang at hindi tayo papayag ‘non. ON NEGROS ISLAND Q: Mr. President, this is a domestic question and it’s an easy question. PRESIDENT AQUINO: Wow, thank you. Q: It’s about the proposal of the Negros Island officials to create a one-island region that would make Occidental and Oriental parts one region. They’re asking that perhaps you could issue an executive order to create it. PRESIDENT AQUINO: ‘Yung… Dumating na raw pala ‘yung request sent to the DILG who is currently studying it, who’s responsible for recommending it. Then, of course, we will get the inputs also from NEDA, ano, ‘yung a region has a Regional Development Council. Is it sufficient ‘yung Negros by itself or the two Negros islands… Two Negros islands? Ay, two Negros provinces to have all of the necessary components to ensure their growth. So I’m awaiting the findings from the DILG before I can take action on it. Q: Would there be a timeline on that? Because it’s a proposal that’s been made since the time of Governor Lacson and it’s repeatedly been made through the years. PRESIDENT AQUINO: Well, as you know, Secretary (Mar) Roxas comes from this area and I’m sure he will expedite it to its logical conclusion. |
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SOURCE: Presidential News Desk
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| Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario to Travel to Cairo on Official Visit |
| Source: http://www.dfa.gov.ph |
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16 May 2014 - Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario will
undertake an official visit to Cairo, Egypt on May 19. During the
one day visit, Secretary Del Rosario will meet with his Egyptian
counterpart, Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy. The visit is aimed at bolstering bilateral relations between the two countries and exploring various fields of cooperation. Three agreements are expected to be signed during the Secretary’s visit. The Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism Cooperation and the Visa Waiver Agreement for Holders of Diplomatic Passports will be signed by the Secretary and the Egyptian Foreign Minister. The two officials will also witness the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce. Secretary Del Rosario will brief Foreign Minister Fahmy on the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and on regional developments, such as the West Philippine Sea Issue and the outcome of the 24th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Myanmar on May 11. The two foreign ministers will also exchange views on the situation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Egypt opened its borders to 3,000 transiting Filipinos who were evacuated from Libya in 2011. The Philippines and Egypt established diplomatic relations in 1946, and the two countries will celebrate their 70th anniversary of the establishment of their bilateral relations in 2016. The Philippines opened an embassy in Cairo in the 1960s, the only Philippine post in the Arab and African region until mid-1970s. His Excellency Claro S. Cristobal is the Philippine Ambassador to Egypt, while His Excellency Mahmoud Mostafa Ahmed is the current resident Ambassador of Egypt to the Philippines. |
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| Roxas to LGUs: Use APPS, modern tech in updating Disaster Preparedness plans |
| Source: http://www.dilg.gov.ph |
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Interior Secretary Mar Roxas has advised all local executives to
avail of the latest breakthroughs in modern technology, particularly
those involving weather information applications, in updating
disaster risk reduction and management plans for their respective
communities. Roxas issued the call as the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and other agencies of the government undertake a national information and education campaign aimed at enhancing the capacity of local governments to better prepare for and quickly respond to Yolanda-like phenomena. The campaign dubbed as “IBA NA ANG PANAHON: Science for Safer Communities,” which runs until the end of May this year, is an inter-agency government program aimed at providing science and technology-based disaster and weather information, tools and technologies that will help local communities to prepare for natural calamities. Other agencies involved in the campaign include the Office of Civil Defense of the Department of National Defense, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority. In a directive to all provincial governors and city and municipal mayors, DILG Secretary Mar Roxas encouraged them and their disaster managers and officers to participate in the campaign being held in all regions of the country, and come up with their respective disaster risk reduction plans. “Hinihikayat ko ang mga LGUs na lumahok sa proyektong ito at gamitin ang mga makabagong pamamaraan ng syensya at teknolohiya tulad ng mga hazard maps, websites at applications upang makagawa ng epektibong DRR plans,” Roxas said. “Gawin natin ang lahat ng makakayang gawin para siguruhing ligtas sa kapahamakan ang bawat pamilyang Pilipino. Mahalaga ang bawat oras, mahalaga ang bawat buhay,” he added. As part of the activity, the DOST and Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) were directed to share information, tools and technologies that are crucial in preparing DRR plans for communities. The DENR-NAMRIA, for its part, will share its maps while the DND-OCD will help local governments prepare their disaster plans using DOST’s tools and technologies. Roxas said the Science for Safer Communities campaigns were already held each in Regions III, IV-A, IV-B, VI, VII, IX, X, XIII and ARMM, attended by governors, city and municipal mayors including their respective DRR managers. The regional campaign for Regions I, II, CAR, V, VIII, XI, XII and NCR, on the other hand, are set in the whole month of May, 2014. |
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| DPWH requires contractors to include Tax Clearance as eligibility requirement |
| Source: http://www.dpwh.gov.ph |
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A Tax Clearance is now a prerequisite to contractors and suppliers
of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) intending to
do business. Secretary Rogelio L. Singson thru Department Order 47 ordered the inclusion of Tax Clearance as one of the Class “A” documents in determining the eligibility of the Department’s prospective bidders in compliance with Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Resolution No. 21-2013. To ensure that prospective bidders are aware of the Tax Clearance policy, Secretary Singson directed Bids and Awards Committee in Central, Regional and District offices to discuss this documentary requirement in the bidding of goods, infrastructure projects and consulting services under the amended Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act. 9184 otherwise known as Government Procurement Reform Act (GPRA). The Tax Clearance issued by Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) also indicates the current assets and liabilities of the taxpayers, in relation to the computation of Net Financial Contracting Capacity (NFCC) of prospective bidders. Prior to the approved GPPB Resolution, Section 23.1 (a) and 24.1 (a) of IRR under RA 9184, Clause 12.1 of the Instruction to Bidders (ITB) of the Philippine Bidding Document (PBD) only entails registration certificate from Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for sole proprietorship, or Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) for cooperatives and Mayor’s permit where the prospective bidder is located as Class “A” document requirements. Also previously, Section 34.2 (a) of the IRR of RA 9148, Clauses 29.2, 28.2 and 27.2 of the ITB of the Procurement Bidding Documents (PBD) require the submission of Tax Clearance only after post-qualification of a bidder with the Lowest Calculated Bid or Highest rated Bid. “This requirement application will certainly expose the real capacity of contractors in handling major projects of the Department,” added Singson. |
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| OWWA-9 conducts 2-Day training for OFWs |
| Source: http://www.owwa.gov.ph |
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The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Region-9 conducted a
2-day Entrepreneurship Development Training and Organizational
Development Training for Overseas Filipino Workers at Lutong Pinoy
Resort and Restaurant, Tugbungan, this city. The training which started 8 o’clock of Friday morning was participated by 80 OFWs coming from different parts of the region. Different modules were discussed by OWWA-9 and its partner institutions during the 2-day training such as Business Registration and Champion Products which was facilitated by the Department of Trade and Industry, Financial Literacy Training facilitated by LandBank of the Philippines and Orientation on OWWA’s Programs and Services. Leonilo Y. Daymiel, Head of the Programs and Services Division of OWWA-9 said that the training is intended for OFWs and their beneficiaries who wish to avail of the programs and services under the National Reintegration Centre for OFWs. Regional Director of OWWA-9, Hassan Gabra T. Jumdain, expressed his pride for the OFWs who have been greatly contributing to the economy of the country. “Filipinos are very hard-working people. In fact, Filipino workers are in over 200 countries across the globe. So it is just right that we give priority in helping these people who are considered to be the new heroes of this country,” Jumdain said. On Day 2 of the training, Director Jumdain found time to be with the OFWs and dependents and have shared valuable insights about the benefits of being an OWWA member. The participants of the training had the chance to ask questions and raise their concerns directly to the Regional Director which the latter gracefully and comprehensively answered. Consequently, an election of new set of officers for OFCs was conducted as a culminating activity of the 2-day event. On the same day, prior to attending the training, Director Jumdain attended a commencement exercise of one of the computer technology institutions in the city, CADDNET, as the school’s Guest Speaker. In his speech, he posits the importance of acquiring skills in landing a better employment in the global arena and has encouraged the graduates not to be afraid of committing mistakes and learn from it. To date, the OWWA-9 already has eighty seven (87) scholars who have graduated at the said educational institution and most of which are now working abroad. |
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| Aringay LGU pioneers e-AlkanSSSya in La Union |
| Source: http://www.sss.gov.ph |
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The Social Security System (SSS) has cited the Municipality of
Aringay as the first local government unit (LGU) in La Union
province to comply with the e-AlkanSSSya Program for job order (JO)
and contractual workers under an agreement signed by the SSS and the
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) early this year. The SSS-DILG agreement provides for the social protection of JO and contractual workers in LGUs all over the country who fall outside the mandated coverage of the Government Service Insurance System. Under the e-AlkanSSSya, the LGU will facilitate the collection and remittance of its JO and contractual workers' monthly contributions as self-employed members, so that they can avail themselves of SSS benefits and loan privileges. Photo shows Aringay Mayor Eric Sibuma (seated) turn over the check worth P60,060 to SSS La Union Officer-in-Charge/Branch Head Francisco Pentecostes (3rd from right), with SSS account officers as witnesses, at the Office of the Mayor of the Aringay Municipal Hall on May 9. The check represented the contributions of 91 JO and contactual personnel for April 2014, with a respective monthly salary credit of P6,000. The municipality of Aringay was also the first LGU in the province to implement the AlkanSSSya Program for market vendors in July 2013. |
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| Bill amending PDIC Charter filed in Congress |
| Source: http://www.pdic.gov.ph |
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House Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries Chairman Rep.
Nelson "Sonny" Collantes has filed with the House of Representatives
on May 12, 2014, House Bill No. 4392, a bill amending the Charter of
the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC). House Bill 4392 aims to institute much needed reforms to the PDIC Charter as it seeks to enhance bank resolution and depositor protection by establishing a framework that will address gaps and allow the Philippines to conform to international standards. The enhanced resolution framework shall provide PDIC with more options to resolve problem banks. A more efficient and prompt resolution process shall help minimize the negative impact of bank closures on the stability of the banking industry. It will also maximize recovery of depositors and other creditors, and allow the prompt settlement of their claims, Rep. Collantes said in the Explanatory Note of the Bill. HB 4392 also proposes measures to introduce additional modes of liquidating a closed bank such as bridge banking, to enhance PDIC's authority as Liquidator of closed banks. Adhering to the principle that bank rehabilitation should happen while the bank is still open, the bill is also pushing for the removal of the 90-day receivership period for closed banks. Instead, banks will be given opportunities to address their problems while still open. The Bill also covers changes in the liquidation process in the event bank closure becomes inevitable. Rep. Collantes said that the ability to deal with bank failures via a quick, efficient and cost-effective resolution framework and liquidation process contributes to the resilience of the banking system. The proposed bill also aims to institute various measures to further protect the depositing public by allowing the PDIC to settle claims based on authentic evidence of deposit. This will further expedite settlement of deposit insurance claims. Stiffer sanctions and penalties for bank fraud and various offenses that adversely affect the bank, its depositors and creditors are being proposed. Governance and institutional capability-building and financial strengthening measures shall support these measures. Justifying the importance and urgency of the Bill's passage in the Explanatory Note, Rep. Collantes said, "What we have before us is an opportunity to advance and to apply the lessons learned, not only from the recent global recession, but also from experiences of the past." The PDIC welcomed this Congressional initiative to amend the PDIC Charter citing that the move affirms the important role the state deposit insurer plays as a financial safety net player in the light of legislative reforms in the financial system. PDIC Officer-in-Charge and Executive Vice President for Receivership and Liquidation Cristina Q. Orbeta said that the proposed amendments will enable PDIC to be a responsive and effective co-regulator of banks. She said, "Lessons from the financial crisis taught us that a strong resolution and liquidation framework over banks is crucial to depositor protection and to the stability of the banking system." The move to amend the PDIC Charter comes on the heels of legislative reforms to strengthen the financial sector such as the passage of the Insurance Code of the Philippines and proposal to amend the Charter of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. |
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| Announcement for CALAX pre-qualified bidders |
| Source: http://www.ppp.gov.ph |
| 16 May 2014 - To all the pre-qualified bidders of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway, there will be a meeting to discuss the alignment issues on Monday, May 19, 2014 (9 A.M.), at the DPWH Operations Room 2nd Floor . Representatives for each bidder is limited to five. |
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| DOTC bares rules VS. Drunk and drugged driving |
| Source: http://www.dotc.gov.ph |
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Abaya: Safety Measures Stricter For Public Utility Vehicle Drivers Coinciding with the Road Safety Month of May as designated in Presidential Proclamation 115-A, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) today published the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) No. 10586, otherwise known as the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act, which penalizes drivers who are caught driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances. “This will permit law enforcers to begin implementing the safety measures imposed by RA 10586. Among other things, it limits the allowable blood alcohol level to below 0.05% for most drivers. In the case of drivers of buses and other public utility vehicles, however, they cannot have any amount of alcohol in their blood at all, since people’s lives are in their hands” said DOTC Secretary Jun Abaya. The IRR was drafted jointly by the DOTC, the National Police Commission through its Chairman, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas, and Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Enrique Ona Under the IRR, an apprehended driver who is suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol will be subjected to three (3) field sobriety tests: The Eye Test (or “horizontal gaze nystagmus”), which requires the driver to follow with his gaze an object that the law enforcer moves horizontally, around one (1) foot away from the driver’s face; The Walk-and-Turn Test, which requires the driver to walk nine (9) steps forward in a straight line, turn, then walk back the same distance without difficulty; and The One-Leg Stand, which requires the driver to stand on one leg and raise the other around six (6) inches from the ground for about sixty (60) seconds. If the driver passes these tests, he will be apprehended for his traffic violation only, and not for a violation of RA 10586. In case, however, that the driver fails any of the 3 tests, he will then be subjected to an Alcohol Breath Analyzer (ABA or “breathalyzer”) Test. An ABA refers to equipment which can determine the blood alcohol level of a person through the testing of his breath. The ABA test will verify whether the driver is in violation of the following blood alcohol level limits: VEHICLE OF DRIVER ALLOWED LIMIT Private motor vehicle below 4,500 kg. Below 0.05% Public Utility Vehicles, Trucks, Buses, Motorcycles 0.0% A driver who is found to have a higher blood alcohol level than the prescribed limits above will be put under arrest and his vehicle impounded. Otherwise, if he is found to be within allowed limits, he will be apprehended for his traffic violation only. In instances wherein a law enforcer has reasonable grounds to believe that the driver is under the influence of dangerous drugs or other substances, the driver shall be brought to the nearest police station, where he will be subjected to a drug screening test in accordance with existing laws. The penalties for violations of RA 10586 range from a minimum of a 3-month imprisonment plus a P 20,000 fine, to a maximum of a 20-year imprisonment plus a P 500,000 fine. It will also entail a 12-month suspension of a non-professional driver’s license for the first offense, and perpetual revocation for a second offense. For professional driver’s licenses, the first offense alone will result in perpetual revocation. The IRR provides for mandatory alcohol and drug testing of drivers involved in motor vehicle accidents which result in death or physical injuries. It also empowers the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to conduct random testing of public utility drivers at transport terminals nationwide. |
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| Foreign portfolio investments yield net inflows in April 2014 |
| Source: http://www.bsp.gov.ph |
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Transactions in April 2014 for registered foreign portfolio
investments yielded net inflows of US$324 million, an improvement
from last month’s net outflows of US$92 million. While registered
investments of US$1.9 billion were lower by 12.1 percent compared to
the previous month’s US$2.1 billion, outflows declined to US$1.5
billion from US$2.2 billion in March 2014. The net inflows arose from investor optimism about the economy’s growth and strong quarterly corporate results, ignoring the possibility of a further cut in the United States Federal Reserve’s quantitative easing program. About 76.7 percent of the investments went to PSE-listed securities (holding firms; property companies; banks; telecommunication companies; and utilities firms) and 23.3 percent to Peso GS. Transactions in PSE-listed securities yielded net inflows of US$217 million, higher than the March 2014 figure of US$153 million. Peso GS likewise yielded net inflows of US$112 million in contrast to last month’s outflows of US$231 million. On the other hand, net outflows of US$5 million were recorded for Peso Time Deposits, compared to the US$14 million outflows posted a month ago. The United States, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, and Luxembourg were the top five (5) investor countries for the month with combined share to total of 78.8 percent, while the United States continued to be the main destination of outflows, receiving 80.0 percent of total. Registration of inward foreign investments with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (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. |
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| Personal remittances post stronger growth in March 2014; First quarter level reaches US$6.1 billion |
| Source: http://www.bsp.gov.ph |
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Personal remittances from overseas Filipinos (OFs) rose by 6.9
percent year-on-year to US$2.1 billion in March 2014, higher than
the 6.0 percent growth posted in February. This brought personal
remittances for the first quarter of 2014 to US$6.1 billion, up by
6.6 percent relative to the level recorded in the same period a year
ago, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando M. Tetangco, Jr.
announced today.1 The steady increase in personal remittances during
the first three months of the year was driven by strong growth in
remittance flows from both land-based workers with long-term
contracts (4.5 percent) and sea-based and land-based workers with
short-term contracts (10.9 percent). Similarly, cash remittances from OFs coursed through banks increased robustly by 6.5 percent year-on-year to US$1.9 billion in March 2014. On a cumulative basis, cash remittances for the first quarter of the year rose to US$5.5 billion, 6.0 percent higher than the level posted in the comparable period last year. Cash remittances from both land-based (US$4.1 billion) and sea-based (US$1.4 million) workers grew by 4.5 percent and 10.9 percent year-on-year, respectively, during the January-March 2014 period. The major sources of cash remittances were the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Japan, and Hong Kong.2 Robust cash transfers in the first quarter of 2014 were supported by the sustained demand for skilled Filipino manpower. Preliminary data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) indicated that in January-March 2014, approved job orders totaled 239,022, of which 24.5 percent were processed job orders intended for service, production, and professional, technical and related workers in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Taiwan, Kuwait, and Qatar. Likewise, the continued expansion of the network of banks and non-bank service providers and innovations in financial products in the remittance market have facilitated the wider capture of fund transfers through formal channels. As of end-March 2014, commercial banks’ established tie-ups, remittance centers, correspondent banks and branches/representative offices abroad reached 4,771 from 4,750 in the comparable period last year. ------------------------- 1 The BSP started to release data on personal remittances in June 2012. As defined in the Balance of Payments Manual, 6th Edition (BPM6), personal remittances represent the sum of net compensation of employees (i.e., gross earnings of overseas Filipino (OF) workers with work contracts of less than one year, including all sea-based workers, less taxes, social contributions, and transportation and travel expenditures in their host countries), personal transfers (i.e., all current transfers in cash or in kind by OF workers with work contracts of one year or more as well as other household-to-household transfers between Filipinos who have migrated abroad and their families in the Philippines), and capital transfers between households (i.e., the provision of resources for capital purposes, such as for construction of residential houses, between resident and non-resident households without anything of economic value being supplied in return). 2 There are some limitations on the remittance data by source. A common practice of remittance centers in various cities abroad is to course remittances through correspondent banks, most of which are located in the U.S. Meanwhile, remittances coursed through money couriers cannot be disaggregated by actual country source and are lodged under the country where the main offices are located, which, in many cases is in Canada. Therefore, the U.S. and Canada would show up to be the main sources of OF remittances because banks attribute the origin of funds to the most immediate source. |
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| DOST-ICT office kicks off SEED.PH startup workshops for 2014 |
| Source: http://icto.dost.gov.ph |
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The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), through the
Information and Communications Technology Office (ICT Office, is
launching a key component of its Seed.Ph Program with a series of
Startup Workshops this 2014 which will be held in various cities of
Lingayen, Iligan, Tuguegarao, Naga, Dumagete and General Santos
City. The program will kick off its first leg of workshops in
Lingayen on May 2, 2014. The ICT Office has been leading the efforts in collaborating with the industry stakeholders and partners to foster ICT-based innovations and entrepreneurship among Filipinos. As part of the Philippine Development Plan 2016 to achieve Competitive Industry and Services sector, the government is undertaking programs to promote e-commerce and ICT-based startups as a driving force to achieve its goals of becoming a significant player in the global digital economy. It further pursues innovation as an essential factor in harnessing culture of competitiveness. Through its Seed.Ph Program, it aims to boost the development of the country’s startup ecosystem and targeting at least 50 local startups based in the Philippines with average annual revenues of at least 10 Million Pesos each by the end of 2016. The recently released Philippine Startup Report authored by renowned Silicon Valley startup personality, Bowei Gai, illustrates the Philippines’ great potential in becoming a startup hub with the strengths that its ecosystem presents. The report cites the country being the fastest growing economy in Asia, transforming into investment grade status, having low operation costs, having majority of the population speaking in English, and having a large local westernized market with minimal business competition. These are the major elements that provide the local startup community great opportunities. According to the report, the Philippines has these strengths to take advantage of to become a prominent community that hosts high valued local as well as international startups. With the thrust to promote ITpreneurship as a viable career for IT enthusiasts and practitioners, the Seed.Ph Program will be bringing the workshops to 6 cities of different regions to discuss basic concepts and methods applied in building startups. Prominent Startup industry movers and successful founders will discuss startup basics and hope to inspire young audiences to seriously consider the terchnopreneurship track as a career. In one of his speeches in a Startup event last year, ICT Office’s Executive Director Louis Napoleon Casambre states “The budding local startup community has been a catalyst in creating efficient solutions as well as inspiring change in the country. We see the impact that startups like Facebook and Google have in our everyday life. This movement is now admirably being led by the youth who are strongly adept to current technological trends and have the drive to create positive changes in society”. The Startup workshop sessions include topics on Startup Innovations and Trends, Startup Ecosystem and Support, Intellectual Property Concepts, Pitching Basics and Fire Pitches and breakout sessions. The Seed.Ph workshops targets participants from different universities especially students in the fields of computer studies and business management, professors and school administrators and representatives from the private business partners and local government units. About DOST-ICTO – The Information and Communications Technology Office of the Department of Science and Technology is the Philippine Government’s lead agency on ICT related matters. Its primary thrusts are in the ICT Industry Development, eGovernment, ICT policy development, Internet for all and Cybersecurity. |
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| OWWA Western Visayas opens application for EDSP, OFWDSP |
| Source: http://www.owwa.gov.ph |
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The Overseas Workers Werlfare Administration Regional Welfare Office
VI is now accepting applicants for the Education for Development
Scholarship Program (EDSP) and the Overseas Filipino Workers
Dependents Scholarship Program (OFWDSP) for this school year. The EDSP is a scholarship consisting of a maximum of PhP60,000.00 allowance per school year, leading to a four-to-five year baccalaureate course in any college or university. The applicant in this scholarship must be a fourth year high school student. The OFWDSP on the other hand is a scholarship consisting of a maximum of PgP20,000.00 assistance per school year leading to a baccalaureate or associate degree in a state college or university. OFW parents must have a monthly salary of not more than $400.00. The applicant must be accepted or enrolled as a first college student at any state college or university during application. Eligible applicants must be the legal beneficiary of OFWs whose OWWA membership is valid at the time of application. For a single OFW the beneficiary must the sibling (brother or sister) of the worker. For a married OFW, the beneficiary must be his or her child. Deadline for submission of requirements and forms for EDSP is on July 31, 2014. The deadline for submission of forms for OFWDSP on the other hand is on June 13, 2014. Interested applicants can get the requirements list and application form at the OWWA Region VI Office at the 3rd Floor, Robinsons Place, Iloilo City or at the Bacolod Satellite Office located at the Old City Hall Building, Araneta cor. Luzuriaga Sts., Bacolod City. |
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| A tale of two mothers’ strength and resilience |
| Source: http://www.dswd.gov.ph |
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Dulag, Leyte - Meet Rosemarie and Jocelyn, two mothers who have once
again proven that no typhoon or calamity, even with the strength of
Typhoon Yolanda, can cripple them from fulfilling their
responsibilities for their loved ones while contributing to the
improvement of their communities. Rosemarie Librado, 42, has nine children whose ages range from four to 21. She lives with her husband and seven of their children since the other two have already settled with their respective families. Rosemarie, together with her husband and three of their children, works as a pasuhol or someone who is hired to do any job. As a pasuhol, Rosemarie works in the rice field. She receives P25 a day for a piece of land she sows with rice seeds to produce rice seedlings. These seedlings are then harvested and prepared for planting. Rosemarie is paid P80 a day for doing such. Despite the hard work, Rosemarie shared that the highest income that their family has received in a day is P300. “Hindi talaga kasya ‘yung kinikita namin. Kulang na kulang. Lalo na kapag walang kumukuha sa amin na mag pasuhol. Buti na lang at merong Pantawid [Pamilyang Pilipino Program] (What we are earning is really not enough especially if no one hires us. Good thing, there is Pantawid),” Rosemarie said. Three of Rosemarie’s children are Pantawid Pamilya grantees. Pantawid Pamilya gives cash grants to poor families to ensure their education, health, and nutritional needs. It is implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). In Eastern Visayas alone, there are 28,763 household-beneficiaries of the program as of March 2014. “Pinipilit kong makapasok ang mga anak ko. Lalo na pagkatapos ng ‘Yolanda’ dahil marami silang nakalimutan. Gusto kong matutunan nila ‘yung bagong ituturo ng guro (I make sure that my children go to school especially after ‘Yolanda’ because they already forgot many of their lessons. I want them to learn new things from their teachers),” Rosemarie shared. “Kahit noon, gustong- gusto ko silang makapag-aral kaso walang pera. Pero dahil sa Pantawid, hindi ko na iniisip ‘yung gagamitin nila sa eskwelahan ( Even before, I really wanted them to go to school but we do not have money to support them. With Pantawid, I am not anymore bothered with where to get money to buy their school needs),” she added. Aside from being a Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary, Rosemarie is also one of the 545 participants of the Cash- for- Work (CFW) program of the DSWD and the local government. CFW provides job opportunities and income to those who have been victims of disasters. “Kasama po sa CFW activities namin ‘yung paglilinis doon sa Baye Creek. Kapag umuulan kasi nababaha ‘yung mga taniman namin kaya tinanggal namin ‘yung mga bara. Naglilinis din kami sa provincial road (Cleaning the Baye Creek is one of the CFW activities. When it rains, our plants are flooded so we decongested the creek. We also clean the provincial roads),” Rosemarie shared. Aside from these, Rosemarie also helps in the maintenance of their zone’s communal garden. “Nagga-garden din po kami. Nagtatanim ng mais, sitaw, talong, at okra. ‘Yung pinagbebentahan namin, pinaghahatian namin. ‘Yung nakuha ko dito sa CFW, ibinili ko ng yero ng bahay namin. Kahit wala pang dingding, meron nang bubong ( We also do gardening of corn, string beans, eggplants, and okra. We divide the proceeds of our sale. I used the money I got from CFW to buy galvanized iron sheets for the roof our house although there are no walls yet), ” she added. At present, the walls of their home are still made of used tarpaulins but Rosemarie remains optimistic that soon they will be able to buy additional materials to build a better house. Like Rosemarie, Jocelyn Tapa, 51, had to work hard for her family. But she had to double her efforts as her husband, Romulo, had to stop working for the treatment of his tuberculosis. “Pasuhol din ang trabaho ko. Oo, mahirap magtrabaho lalo na kasi mag-isa lang ako na naghahanap-buhay. Tapos na ‘Yolanda’ pa ( I also work as a pasuhol. Yes, it is hard especially that I am the only one working. Then we were hit by ‘Yolanda’),” Jocelyn said. Although only two of her seven children are now staying with her, Jocelyn still needs to spend more time and attention for them especially that her older child, Jazen, 16, is sickly. “Minsan hindi ako makaalis para magtrabaho kasi kailangan ko siyang [Jazen] bantayan. Kaya lang kailangan ko ding kumita ng pera para sa kanila (Sometimes I cannot work because I have to attend to Jazen. But then I need to work also for them),” Jocelyn shared. But despite these challenges, Jocelyn’s hope for her family never falters. “Maganda na lang at may Pantawid Pamilya kasi nakakatulong sa pag-aaral ng isa ko pang anak na si Romulo, Jr. (Good thing there is Pantawid Pamilya, it helps me with Romulo, Jr’s schooling),” Jocelyn said. Romulo Jr. has been a part of Pantawid Pamilya since 2010 and the grants that he receives have been a great help. “Ginagamit naming ‘yung grant para sa kanyang damit at school supplies. Para talaga sa pag-aaral niya. Bumibili na rin ako ng gatas niya kaya pati si Jazen nakakainom ng gatas (The grant is for his school needs and clothes. I also buy milk for him and Jazen),” Jocelyn further narrated. Due to the onslaught of ‘Yolanda’, Jocelyn’s house is among those that were damaged. “Namumulot po ako ng yero sa eskwelahan, ‘yun muna ang ginamit namin. Kasi ‘yung pera na natatanggap ko, nakalaan talaga ‘yun para sa pangangailangan ng pamilya ko (I get scrap materials from a nearby school and used these temporarily for the house. The money from Pantawid is allotted for my children),” Jocelyn added. Aside from being a Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary, Jocelyn is also a participant of the CFW. “Magkakatulong po kami nila Rosemarie. Sa akin po sa garden ang tinatanim ko ay kamote. Isang lata ay 150 pesos. At kapag kumita ako, ibinibili ko ng gamot ng asawa ko at para sa mga anak ko (I work with Rosemarie in the CFW. I am assigned to plant camote which I sell for P150 a can. I use my earnings to buy medicines for my husband),” Jocelyn shared. Aside from her responsibilities as a mother, Jocelyn never forgets her role in the community. “Gusto kong tumulong sa mga gawain dito sa barangay, lalo na ngayong na-‘Yolanda’ kami (I want to help in our barangay especially with the aftermath of ‘Yolanda’),” Jocelyn said. “Kailangan naming magsikap ngayon, kaya sana patuloy pa rin ‘yung suporta sa amin, lalo sa sa pag-aaral ng mga anak namin at nang sila ay makahanap ng trabaho (We need to work harder. We hope that the help will continue so that our children can continue their schooling and will someday find a job),” Jocelyn said as she emphasized the hope that education brings to her family. And when that time comes, definitely, it would not just be a glass of milk that Jocelyn’s children would have. Rosemarie and Jocelyn described their lives to be difficult especially after ‘Yolanda’, but what is remarkable with these two mothers is their strength and resiliency to bounce back and achieve a better future for their loved ones which they are willing to work for. - See more at: http://www.dswd.gov.ph/2014/05/a-tale-of-two-mothers-strength-and-resilience/#sthash.c7Bg60VP.dpuf |
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| Duque reiterates gov’t fight against red tape |
| Source: http://www.csc.gov.ph |
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“The head of office or agency shall be primarily responsible for the
implementation of the Anti-Red Tape Act,” said Civil Service
Commission (CSC) Chairman Francisco T. Duque III upon the release of
CSC Memorandum Circular No. 9, s. 2014 reiterating agency compliance
with the landmark law aimed at curbing red tape and improving
frontline service delivery. “It is command responsibility,” added Chairman Duque, detailing that appropriate charges may be filed against the head of office or agency in case of failure to comply with the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) rules. The memo enumerated other pertinent provisions of the ARTA and its implementing rules and regulations. The Citizen’s Charter, an information billboard listing the step-by-step procedure of services available, the person responsible for each step, time needed to transact, documents required, and fees, should be posted at the main entrance or most conspicuous place in the office written either in English, Filipino, or in the local dialect. The office or agency shall review the Citizen’s Charter whenever necessary but not less than once every two years. Heads of offices or agencies which render frontline services shall adopt appropriate working schedules to ensure that all clients who are within their premises prior to the end of official working hours are attended to and served even during lunch break and after regular working hours. Officers or employees at the frontlines or those directly transacting with the clients shall wear an official identification card. Offices shall establish a public assistance and complaints desk which should be manned during working hours. Fixing and collusion with fixers are considered grave offenses with a corresponding penalty of dismissal and perpetual disqualification from public service. Penalties for fixers are imprisonment not exceeding six years, a fine of not more than PHP200,000, or both fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court. The end goal of ARTA is excellent public service and customer satisfaction. The public must see improvements in their overall experience in transacting with government. CSC already started the Report Card Survey for 2014, an annual nationwide client satisfaction survey to check agency compliance with ARTA. The following service offices shall be subjected to the survey: Bureau of Internal Revenue, Government Service Insurance System, Home Development Mutual Fund, Land Registration Authority, Land Transportation Office, Philippine Statistics Authority – National Statistics Office, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Professional Regulation Commission, and Social Security System. |
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| “Just 1: PWD Day” job, trade and scholarship fair for differently-abled persons gets multi-stakeholder support |
| Source: http://www.dole.gov.ph |
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“Just 1: PWD Day” job, trade and scholarship fair for
differently-abled persons gets multi-stakeholder support "The DOLE also celebrates Labor Day for differently-abled persons, also called persons with disabilities (PWDs), and not just for formal sector and informal sector workers. Some differently-abled persons are also workers who need social protection." Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz emphatically stated this yesterday after DOLE-National Capital Region (DOLE-NCR) Regional Director Alex Avila reported that the DOLE-led job, trade, and scholarship fair for PWDs held last 2 May at SM Fairview in Quezon City had successfully cobbled up multi-stakeholder support that bodes well for PWDs and encourages the regional office to plan a bigger celebration next year. "On 2 May, DOLE-NCR through the Quezon City Field Office had gathered 14 employers in the job fair and 235 PWD job applicants. This was a bright note in the 2014 Labor Day celebration," Avila reported. What was remarkable, according to the DOLE regional chief, was the support the job, trade and scholarship fair elicited from several multi-sectoral partners, namely, Bigay Buhay Multi-Purpose Cooperative; Office of Congressman Alfred Vargas; United States Agency for International Development (USAID); People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP); Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Philippine Association of Local Service Contractors (PALSCON); Diocese of Novaliches; SM City CARES; Department of Education; Technical Education and Skills Development Authority; Department of Science and Technology; Social Security System; and PhilHealth. Ronald Abello, BBMC project coordinator, said the one-day event gave PWDs the opportunity to find employment, explore livelihood options, and showcase their talents and skills. Fr. Nonnette Legaspi, parish priest of the Christ the King Filinvest II Parish, said the event's trade and scholarship component allowed PWDs with existing small businesses to display and sell their crafts, and others to continue their education through the DepEd's Alternative Learning System and TESDA's vocational and technical courses. "This was the first time in 23 years of the BBMC's existence that it had conducted a job, trade and scholarship fair," said Richard Arcenio, the differently-abled BBMC general manager observed. "We were able to help PWDs and at the same time, we had a platform to mount our advocacy that hopefully will lead others to recognize PWDs' strengths and abilities," he added. Assistant Secretary Gloria Tango, head of the DOLE's Worker's Welfare, Social Protection and Internal Affairs Cluster, expressed appreciation to the BBMC for the event. Highlighting the importance of social protection for members of the vulnerable sector, such as PWDs, she said that the DOLE implements the Tulong Alalay para sa Taong may Kapansanan (TULAY) which PWDs can access to achieve decent employment and to improve their lives. On his part, Rep. Alfred Vargas of the 5th District of Quezon City pledged continuous livelihood opportunities to help PWDs through his PWD Office. Vargas has filed a bill in Congress entitled, 'PWD Economic Independence Act’, that strengthens the economic rights of PWDs. |
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| POLO-Hongkong, OWWA and POEA reach out to OFW Uychiat and her family |
| Source: http://www.dole.gov.ph |
| POLO-Hongkong, OWWA and POEA reach out to OFW Uychiat and her family Heeding the instruction of Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz to look into the case of abused OFW Rowena Uychiat, Philippine Labor Attache to Hong Kong Manuel Roldan yesterday reported that the Philippine Overseas Labor Office has met with Uychiat to discuss the abuse she suffered in the hands of her Hong Kong employer. In his report, Labor Attache Roldan said Welfare Officer Kris F. Furaque, together with Vice Consul Charles Andrei P. Macaspac and Assistance-to-Nationals Officer Hermogenes G. Cayabyab met with OFW Uychiat on 11 May at the Office of the Mission for Migrant Workers Ltd. (MFMW) to obtain more information about her plight. The MFMW is the charitable organization currently sheltering Uychiat. Ms. Edwina Aquino of the MFMW was present at the meeting. OFW Uychiat, a widow, has a 19-year old daughter Justine, currently taking up Criminology at Bago City College, and a 13-year old son, Ryan. In the Philippines, Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration chief Carmelita Dimzon reported to the Secretary that the OWWA Regional Welfare Office No. 6 had met with Uychiat's family in Cadiz City and talked to the daughter who is staying in Bacolod City. "Our welfare officer in Bacolod advised Justine to contact the OWWA Regional Welfare Office in the event her mother communicates any problem she might be having," Dimzon said. At the meeting with POLO officials, OFW Uychiat narrated the circumstances that brought her to the MFMW. She said she has been working for her employer, Yiu Anna Hoi Yin, since 23 July 2013 without any rest day and statutory holidays, with her employer promising to pay her these days. Her employer confiscated her Hong Kong identity card, passport, and employment contract. "I was made to work for long hours which resulted to my taking my meals late, and I was made to sleep in the kitchen," she said. Uychiat alleged that her employer physically assaulted her for three months after she started working for her. "I would be hit, slapped, and my hair would be pulled even for simple mistakes," OFW Uychiat said. OFW Uychiat was with her employer at the Festival Mall sometime in November 2013 when a Filipina OFW noticed the bruises on her arm. The OFW briefed her on how to call 999, Hongkong’s emergency number. When Uychait's employer saw her talking to the OFW, she grabbed her mobile phone and twisted her left ear upon reaching home. On 16 December 2013, while Uychiat was listening to her male employer--who asked why she did not understand the instructions he gave her earlier while they were in the car--her employer hit her with a wooden stick on her legs and slapped her face. Her male employer did not stop the assault, and Uychiat sustained bruises all over. Sometime in February this year, Uychiat's female employer slapped her, then pushed her until she fell on the floor, and kicked her in the ribs, simply for the reason that she forgot to change her clothes. Then on 21 April, the employer hit both Uychiat and the employer's daughter who took two hours to finish her food. The following day, the employer hit her with a lint brush she found in an iron box. Uychait suffered a big bruise. On all occasion that her employer was assaulting her, OFW Uychiat did not file a police report out of fear of being arrested since she is not in possession of her Hongkong ID. This was also the reason why she was not able to see a doctor. Uychait saw an opportunity four days later. On 25 April, while her employer and family were in Macau, Uychiat went to the Sham Shui Po Police Station, accompanied by a distant relative, Liezl Mateo, another OFW. The police arranged for her to see a doctor at the Caritas Medical Center. It was OFW Mateo who brought her to the MFMW. On 1 May, Uychiat was able to take back her passport and employment contract from Gracious Employment Agency Ltd., the foreign recruitment agency (FRA) that deployed her to her Hong Kong employer, against which she filed a case on 27 April. Roldan said Uychiat had requested POLO-Hong Kong’s assistance for loan and livelihood for her mother and for the education of her children in the Philippines. "She also asked for help for the suspension of Gracious Employment Agency Ltd.’s accreditation as an FRA; for refund of her placement fee; and for assistance on her incidental expenses, such as the cost of visa extension which amounted to HK$160 (P899.94)," said Roldan. Welfare Officer Furaque explained to Uychiat that she can avail of the Balik Pinay-Balik Hanapbuhay” livelihood assistance of the National Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO) after she returns home. She also informed her that her 19-year old daughter can avail of the OWWA’s Skills for Employment Scholarship Program (SESP), while her 13-year old son will be included on the list of Tuloy Aral Program beneficiaries. Baldoz assured Uychiat's family that the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, in coordination with the POLO, will assist Uychait in the filing of a complaint against NAR Training and Management Service, the Philippine overseas placement agency which made her to pay P45,000 in placement fee, as well as against Nittan Capital Finance Incorporated with which Uychait contracted a P50,000 loan to pay for the placement fee. Baldoz also directed the POEA to file a case against a certain Ms. Joy of NAR Training and Management Service who deducted P5,000 from the loan proceeds allegedly as processing fee. "Upon request and proper documentation, we will give her HK$160 for the cost of her visa extension," Baldoz said. With regards the suspension of the accreditation of Gracious Employment Agency Ltd, Welfare Officer Furaque advised Uychiat to bring the matter to the POLO and Edwina Aquino of the MFMW promised to bring here there. “We are also conducting an investigation on the alleged withholding of Uychiat’s passport by the Hong Kong agency. We will submit other information and further developments on the case as soon as possible,” Labatt Roldan stated in his report. |
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| DOE, CCC inks MCOU for re roadmap |
| Source: https://www.doe.gov.ph |
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(Manila) The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Climate Change
Commission (CCC) has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation and
Understanding (MCOU) in an effort to aggressively push for renewable
energy to address the adverse effects of climate change in the
country.
Anchored on the government’s
thrust for “Sustainable Energy Road Mapping Program,” Energy
Undersecretary Raul B. Aguilos and CCC Commissioner Heherson T.
Alvarez signed the MCOU yesterday (14 May 2014) at the Malacañang.
Witnessing the signing ceremony were DOE- Energy Planning and Policy
Bureau Assistant Director Carmencita Bariso, CCC Assistant Secretary
Rex Lorez, and Malolos City Mayor Christian Natividad.
“Our continuing goal is to triple
our RE capacities by 2030. To date, we remain confident that this
aim will be achieved,” said Usec. Aguilos.
He also added that the Local
Government Units (LGUs) will also play a significant role in this
endeavor for the speedy development and successful implementation of
RE programs executed under their localities.
Other guests during the event were
former Department of Education Secretary Ermie Dumlao, Former
Senator Nina Rasul, Mother Earth Foundation Chair Sonia Mendoza,
Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy President Amina Rasul
Bernardo, officials from the DOE and local government units,
attached energy agencies, and financial institutions.
The MCOU enjoins both the DOE and
the CCC to foster sustainable development objectives through broader
cooperation, systematic exploitation, utilization and
commercialization of renewable energy resources throughout the
country.
Under the MCOU, both agencies will
work together to establish model renewable energy systems, guide
program participants, and disseminate information on RE systems,
technologies and their benefits to local communities and the
environment.
The signing of MCOU also supports
the DOE continuous efforts to triple the RE capacities in the
country by 2030 from the current 5,000 megawatts capacity.
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| Roxas sounds alarm on extended dry spells |
| Source: http://www.dilg.gov.ph |
|
Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas urged local
governments to prepare for extended dry spells by constructing water
impounding facilities in their localities. The DILG chief sounded the alarm during a visit to Isabela, where he led officials in the region in the inspection of on-going projects undertaken using the Seal of Good Local Governance-Performance Challenge Fund (SGLG-PCF). According to Roxas, the water impounded during the rainy season will be released gradually in summer for the irrigation needs of small farmers. He said the facilities, usually built on elevated land areas, will also prevent flash floods when heavy rains come. “Heavy rains and dry spells will be the norm in this era of harsh, erratic climate due to global warming,” Roxas said. “It is thus necessary that we take the necessary measures to prepare and protect our people, especially the marginal farmers among us.” Roxas, vice chairman of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, advised local governments to make use of funds available under the national government. He cited as example the Grassroots Participatory Budgeting Process (GPBP) in which municipal governments can access up to P15 million and city governments can access up to P50 million to fund projects jointly identified by LGUs and local sectoral, community and people’s organizations. He pointed out that these funds can partly finance climate-change adaptation measures. For the whole province of Isabela, for example, under the GPBP the government has allocated close to P225 million. “Through these programs we hope to mitigate the effects of climate change on the farmers, while at the same time create and institutionalize a strong economy,” Roxas. “That is why we need to build water impounding facilities, especially in those areas where the people do not have the resources that the Cagayan Valley Region enjoys,” Roxas said. |
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| Increased investments from employers needed for poverty reduction – NEDA |
| Source: http://www.neda.gov.ph |
|
MANILA – Increasing investments from
employers to generate high-quality and remunerative employment is
vital in achieving rapid poverty reduction towards inclusive growth,
according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio
M. Balisacan told participants of the 35th National Conference of
Employers that while poverty incidence in the first half of 2013 has
remarkably improved, more needs to be done to substantially reduce
poverty and ensure inclusivity.
“The generation of remunerative
employment remains a big challenge in the country. Data show that
the rate of employment generation has not kept pace with the labor
force growth such that there is still a large stock of the
unemployed,” he said in a speech delivered by NEDA Deputy
Director-General Rolando G. Tungpalan during the event at the
Marriott Hotel, Pasay City.
However, Balisacan noted that more
concern must be directed toward the creation of high-quality jobs
that provide adequate income for the Filipino workforce, rather than
the quantity.
He then outlined the strategies
being done to accelerate job creation and to improve labor and
employment situation in the country.
“These strategies include continuous
build-up of capital, promotion of priority sectors, stable
macroeconomic fundamentals, investment in research and development
in the agriculture, industry and services sectors, and reducing the
cost of doing business,” said Balisacan, who is also NEDA
Director-General.
Also, Balisacan explained to the
employers the country’s need for greater support for economic
sectors with high growth potentials.
“Investing in manufacturing,
tourism, information technology-business process management
(IT-BPM), construction, logistics, and agribusiness can provide
remunerative jobs for a great number of the poor,” he said.
Under the Philippine Development
Plan 2011-2016 Midterm Update, the government aims to reduce the
unemployment rate from 7.0 percent in 2012 to 6.5 to 6.7 percent in
2016. An improvement in the quality of employment will also be
reflected through a reduction in underemployment rate from the
current 20.0 percent to about 17.0 percent in 2016.
“We hope that the Employers’
Confederation of the Philippines would continue supporting us in our
efforts to generate high-quality and remunerative employment that is
key to rapid poverty reduction,” Balisacan concluded.
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| ICCROM Director-General visits PHL, vows to help restore damaged heritage sites |
| Source: https://www.dfa.gov.ph |
|
16 May 2104 – Dr. Stefano de Caro, Director
General of the International Centre for the Study of the
Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), paid a
courtesy call on Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Special and
Ocean Concerns Rafael E. Seguis on May 13 to discuss issues related
to the restoration of Philippine heritage sites, most especially
those that were damaged during the recent calamities such as the
earthquake in Bohol and Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
Undersecretary Seguis conveyed
the Philippines’ utmost appreciation for ICCROM’s assistance in the
aftermath of such calamities.
Prior to Dr. De Caro’s visit, a
team comprised of specialists from ICCROM, the National Commission
on Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International
Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) went to Manila and Central
Visayas from December 2 to 12 last year to assess the situation and
damage caused by the natural disasters, identify immediate needs and
emergency safeguarding measures, as well as medium-term
interventions needed for rehabilitation and recovery.
Dr. De Caro was accompanied during the call by NCCA Chairperson
Felipe M. De Leon whose agency is hosting the former’s visit to the
Philippines from May 12 to 18.
After Manila, Dr. De Caro is scheduled to visit Vigan from May 14 to
15 and Bohol from May 16 to 17.
Dr. De Caro and Chairperson De Leon then participated in a
roundtable discussion with selected Foreign Affairs officials,
namely Ambassador Jose Maria A. Carino, Head of the Cultural
Diplomacy Unit;, UNESCO National Commission Secretary General
Virgina A. Miralao;, European Affairs Director Bernadette Therese C.
Fernandez; and Strategic Planning and Policy Coordination Director
Rosario P. Lemque. Office of United Nations and Other International
Organizations Director Gonaranao B. Musor moderated the discussion.
ICCROM is Rome-based inter-governmental organization dedicated to the conservation of cultural heritage, including monuments and sites. |
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Last
Updated:
16 MAY 2014
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| Google+ Photo Releases of PNoy | |
| Please click on thumbnails to magnify | |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III presides over the meeting on Yolanda rehabilitation updates at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room of the Malacañan Palace on Friday (May 16, 2014). (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
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President Benigno S. Aquino III leads his official family in prayer before presiding over the meeting on Yolanda rehabilitation updates at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room of the Malacañan Palace on Friday (May 16). (Photo by Gil Nartea / Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
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Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. delivers a speech during the16th Philippine Quality Award (PQA) Forum held at the Ballroom of the Heritage Hotel Manila, in Pasay City on Thursday (May 16, 2014). The Philippine Information Agency, one of the agencies attached to the Presidential Communications Operations Office, received the PQA Award this year. PQA is the highest level of national recognition for exemplary organizational performance. | ||
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President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the inauguration of the new Himoga-an Bridge and Access Road in Bacolod North Road, Barangay Paraiso, Sagay City, Negros Occidental on Thursday (May 15). Also in photo are Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. and Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas III. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
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President Benigno S. Aquino III, assisted by Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr., Sagay City Mayor Alfredo “Thirdy” Marañon, Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla, Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II and Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson, unveils the marker of the newly completed Himoga-an Bridge and Access Road during the inauguration ceremony in Bacolod North Road, Barangay Paraiso, Sagay City, Negros Occidental on Thursday (May 15). The Php313 million road project will provide safe infrastructure facilities to the commuting public to improve the land transport and its accessibility that will boast local economy of the two provinces of Negros. Travel time of commuters from the North going to Bacolod City and new Bacolod – Silay Airport will be shortened by 20 to 30 minutes. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
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President Benigno S. Aquino III, accompanied by Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr., Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson and Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II, leads the inaugural drive-through to formally open the new Himoga-an Bridge and Access Road in Bacolod North Road, Barangay Paraiso, Sagay City, Negros Occidental on Thursday (May 15). (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
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President Benigno S. Aquino III converses with Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla during the inauguration of San Carlos Solar Energy, Inc. (SACASOL) Phase I at the San Carlos Ecozone in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental on Thursday (May 15). The SACASOL project is a greenfield, stand alone solar farm that would supply daytime base load power to the local grid throughout the entire year. Also in photo is Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
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President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the inauguration of San Carlos Solar Energy, Inc. (SACASOL) Phase I at the San Carlos Ecozone in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental on Thursday (May 15). The SACASOL project is a greenfield, stand alone solar farm that would supply daytime base load power to the local grid throughout the entire year. Also in photo are ThomasLloyd Group chairman T.U. Michael Sieg, Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. and Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
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President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the inauguration of San Carlos Solar Energy, Inc. (SACASOL) Phase I at the San Carlos Ecozone in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental on Thursday (May 15). The SACASOL project is a greenfield, stand alone solar farm that would supply daytime base load power to the local grid throughout the entire year. Also in photo are Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson and Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
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President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the inauguration of San Carlos Solar Energy, Inc. (SACASOL) Phase I at the San Carlos Ecozone in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental on Thursday (May 15). The SACASOL project is a greenfield, stand alone solar farm that would supply daytime base load power to the local grid throughout the entire year. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO) | ||
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President Benigno S. Aquino III, assisted by Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla, SACASOL chairman Jose Maria Zabaleta and president Jose Maria Zabaleta, Jr., and ThomasLloyd Group chairman T.U. Michael Sieg, leads the Ceremonial Switch-on of the San Carlos Solar Energy, Inc. (SACASOL) Phase I during the Inauguration Ceremony at the San Carlos Ecozone in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental on Thursday (May 15). The SaCaSol project is a greenfield, stand alone solar farm that would supply daytime base load power to the local grid throughout the entire year. (Photo by Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO) | ||
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President Benigno S. Aquino III, assisted by Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla, SACASOL chairman Jose Maria Zabaleta and president Jose Maria Zabaleta, Jr., ThomasLloyd Group chairman T.U. Michael Sieg and Senator Loren Legarda, lead the ceremonial switch-on of the San Carlos Solar Energy, Inc. (SACASOL) Phase I during the Inauguration Ceremony at the San Carlos Ecozone in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental on Thursday (May 15). The SaCaSol project is a greenfield, stand alone solar farm that would supply daytime base load power to the local grid throughout the entire year. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
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President Benigno S. Aquino III, assisted by Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla, SACASOL chairman Jose Maria Zabaleta and president Jose Maria Zabaleta, Jr., leads the ceremonial switch-on of the San Carlos Solar Energy, Inc. (SACASOL) Phase I during the inauguration ceremony at the San Carlos Ecozone in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental on Thursday (May 15). The SACASOL project is a greenfield, stand alone solar farm that would supply daytime base load power to the local grid throughout the entire year. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Benhur Arcayan / Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO) | ||
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President Benigno S. Aquino III, assisted by San Carlos Solar Energy, Inc. chairman Jose Maria Zabaleta and president Jose Maria Zabaleta, Jr., leads the ceremonial switch-on of SACASOL Phase I during the inauguration ceremony at the San Carlos Ecozone in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental on Thursday (May 15). The SACASOL project is a greenfield, stand alone solar farm that would supply daytime base load power to the local grid throughout the entire year. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO) | ||
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President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the inauguration of San Carlos Solar Energy, Inc. (SACASOL) Phase I at the San Carlos Ecozone in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental on Thursday (May 15). The SACASOL project is a greenfield, stand alone solar farm that would supply daytime base load power to the local grid throughout the entire year. Also in photo are Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla and Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
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President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the inauguration of San Carlos Solar Energy, Inc. (SACASOL) Phase I at the San Carlos Ecozone in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental on Thursday (May 15). The SACASOL project is a greenfield, stand alone solar farm that would supply daytime base load power to the local grid throughout the entire year. Also in photo are Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas III and Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
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President Benigno S. Aquino III leads the unveiling of marker at the foot of the Himoga-an Bridge and 3.416 kilometer access Bacolod North road in Barangay Paraiso, Sagay City, assisted by DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson, Negros Occidental Governor Alfred Marañon Jr., Negros Occidental Rep. Rafael Cuevas and Sagay City Mayor Alfredo Marañon III. (Photo by Marcelino G. Pascua / PCOO-NIB-Malacanang Photo) | ||
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President Benigno S. Aquino III leads the inaugural drive-thru of the new Himoga-an bridge and 3.416 kilometer access road Bacolod North road in Barangay Paraiso, Sagay City on Thursday (May 15). Also in photo are DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson, DILG Secretary Manuel Roxas, Negros Occidental Gov. Alfred Marañon and Negros Occidental Rep. Rafael Cuevas. (Photo by Marcelino G. Pascua / PCOO-NIB-Malacanang Photo) | ||
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President Benigno S. Aquino III exchanges pleasantries with the Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Family Bishop Jean Laffitte during the courtesy call at the Music Room of the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday (May 14). Also in photo are the secretary of Bishop, Laffitte Fr. William Santiago; Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan; Bishop of Antipolo and Episcopal Commission on Family and Life head Bishop Gabriel Reyes and Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting national chairperson Ambassador Henrietta de Villa. (Photo by Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
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President Benigno S. Aquino III exchanges pleasantries with the Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Family Bishop Jean Laffitte during the courtesy call at the Music Room of the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday (May 14). Also in photo is secretary of Bishop Laffitte, Fr. William Santiago. (Photo by Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
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President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomes the Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Family Bishop Jean Laffitte during the Courtesy Call at the Music Room of the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday (May 14). Also in photo are Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan and Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting national chairperson Ambassador Henrietta de Villa. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
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President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomes the Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Family Bishop Jean Laffitte during the courtesy call at the Music Room of the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday (May 14). Also in photo are Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan and Bishop of Antipolo and Episcopal Commission on Family and Life head Bishop Gabriel Reyes. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
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President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomes the Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Family Bishop Jean Laffitte during the courtesy call at the Music Room of the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday (May 14). (Photo by Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Malacañang Photo Bureau) | ||
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