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28 SEPTEMBER 2014.
- Palace joins in the celebration of National Seafarer's Day
- Malacanang announces World Bank grant for new Cebu Bus
Transport System
- People affected by Mayon Volcano, one of President's
priorities
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Palace said on Sunday that it
joins in the celebration of National Seafarer's Day.
"Kaisa natin ang sambayanang Pilipino sa pagbibigay pugay sa mga
masisipag at magigiting na Pilipinong pumapalaot sa buong daigdig sa
pagdiriwang ng National Seafarer’s Day. Kinikilala ang kahusayan ng mga
Pilipinong opisyal at tripulante na siyang bumubuo ng pinakamalaking puwersa
ng mga bansang kalahok sa paggawa at empleyo ng pandaigdigang industriya maritima,"
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio B. Coloma
said in a radio interview in dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
He added that President Benigno Aquino III during his recent working visit in
Brussels reaffirmed his commitment to adhere to the Standards of Traning,
Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers.
"Tiniyak niya ang puspusang pagsisikap ng pamahalaan sa pamamagitan ng
Maritime Industry Authority na sundin at tumupad sa mga panuntunan ng
Standards of Traning, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers na
pinapatupad ng International Maritime Organization at ng European Maritime
Safety Agency," said Coloma. PND (ag)
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The World Bank gave the
Philippines a new financial grant intended for the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit
(CBRT), Malacañang announced on Sunday.
"Malugod na tinatanggap ng pamahalaan ang pag-apruba ng World Bank Board
Executive Directors ng isang financing package na nagkakahalaga ng 141
milyong dolyar para sa pagpapatupad ng proyektong Cebu Bus Rapid Transit o
CBRT," said Presidential Communication Operations Office Secretary
Herminio B. Coloma in a radio interview on dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
The CBRT will run from the town of Bulacao to Talamba in Cebu City. This is
expected to deliver a fast, reliable, safe and climate-friendly transport
system.
"Ang nasabing financial package na kinabibilangan ng 116 milyong dolyar
mula sa World Bank at 25 milyong dolyar mula sa Clean Techonology Fund ay
gugugulin upang itatag ang isang dalawampu’t tatlong kilometrong rapid bus
transit system sa siyudad ng Cebu," Coloma added.
The financial package includes the construction of transit wayas, terminals,
stations, depots and other facilities.
Coloma noted that the government will put in more than 87 million dollars as
counterpart funding.
"Inaasahang mahigit sa tatlong daang libong pasahero ang makikinabang sa
rapid bus transit system na ito araw-araw na naglalayong ibsan ang polusyon
at tiyakin ang kaligtasan at ginhawa sa pagbabiyahe ng mga residente ng
Cebu," said Coloma.
"Ang CBRT ay isang sistema na nagtatampok ng pampasaherong bus na
tumatakbo sa sarili at hiwalay na mga lanes at kayang magsakay nang higit na
maraming manlalakbay kumpara sa ibang uri ng pampublikong
transportasyon," continued the Communications Secretary. PND (ag)
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Even as President Benigno Aquino
III was away for a 12-day five nation working visit, on top of his priority
list are the concerns of those displaced by Mayon Volcano's imminent
eruption, a Palace official said on Sunday.
"Habang nandoon po kami sa Europa at Estados Unidos, araw-araw pong
tinututukan ang sitwasyon at binibigyan po ng karampatang direktiba ang mga
kinauukulan. Nasa mataas na prayoridad po sa atensiyon ng ating Pangulo ang
kaligtasan at kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan na nasa danger zone ng Mayon
Volcano eruption," said Presidential Communications Operations Office
Secretary Herminio B. Coloma, Jr., in a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng
Bayan.
On Thursday, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs)
warned that Mayon Volcano is recharging as it enters another phase towards an
explosive eruption similar to its strong eruption in 1984.
When Mayon erupted in September 23, 1984, more than 73,000 people fled as
pyroclastic flows went down from its side.
"Ang tungkol sa maaring maging pagsabog ng Mayon Volcano, ay masusi po
niyang sinubaybayan at kinausap niya ang mga kinauukulang opisyal mula sa
kung saan mang lungsod siya naroroon at tiniyak na lahat ng mga dapat na
aksyon ay isinagawa para matiyak ang kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan,"
Coloma added.
The Albay Provincial Security and Emergency Management Office (Apsemo)
estimated that the number of evacuees has reached 11,982 families or 54,677
individuals. PND (ag)
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27
SEPTEMBER 2014.
- Palace has no objection to Enrile's
extended hospital detention
- President Aquino to meet with Secretary
Pangilinan over NFA chief’s resignation
Palace
has no objection to Enrile's extended hospital detention
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Malacañang said on Saturday it
does not object to the Sandiganbayan's decision to extend the hospital
detention of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile as he faces plunder charges over the
P10 billion pork barrel scam.
“Thus far, wala naman pong objection. As in the pork scam cases, we’ve always
abided by the decisions of the handling court, especially when it comes to
detention," Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a
radio interview in dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
The Sandiganbayan on Friday granted Enrile's petition to prolong his stay in
a police hospital while his petition for bail is being heard.
Valte said she believes that President Benigno S. Aquino III understands the
decision, considering the senator's advanced age and failing health.
Doctors from the Philippine General Hospital have recommended to the
Sandidanbayan that Enrile, 90, be detained in a hospital as he could suffer a
stroke or a heart attack.
The court said that placing him in a regular jail “would definitely endanger
his life”. PND (ag)
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President Benigno S. Aquino III is
slated to meet with Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural
Modernization Secretary Francis Pangilinan to discuss the resignation of
National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Arthur Juan, a Palace official
has said.
“Ina-arrange na po ng Private Office ‘yung pagkakasunud-sunod ng mga magiging
pulong at pag-uusap ng Pangulong Aquino. I think that also includes the
meeting that the President will have with Secretary Pangilinan on the
resignation that was tendered by Arthur Juan of the NFA,” Deputy Presidential
Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview with dzRB Radyo ng Bayan
on Saturday.
Juan tendered his irrevocable resignation on Thursday amid extortion
accusations made by a rice trader.
Pangilinan, said Juan, 68, cited poor health as the main reason for his
resignation.
Juan, former president of San Miguel Foods Inc. and former head of Monterey
Foods Corp., has been in office for only three months.
He and his assistant, lawyer Patricia Galang, have been accused by rice
trader Jomerito Soliman of extorting P15 million from him after his warehouse
in Bulacan was raided and padlocked upon the discovery that imported Thai
rice was being mixed with animal feed and sold as “sinandomeng” rice.
Secretary Pangilinan has said that he and the President would meet to discuss
the next steps to take following Juan’s resignation. PND (ag)
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26 SEPTEMBER 2014.
- President Aquino arrives in Manila
after five-nation official tour
- President Aquino says he got updates, gave instructions as typhoons
hit the country
- President Aquino generates U.S.$2.35 billion in investment
during visits
- Government agencies are given leeway to
decide to implement four-day workweek, says Palace
- Pope Francis will have the same protection as President
Aquino, says Palace
- Palace says government is talking with
U.S. regarding Islamic State
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President Benigno S. Aquino III
arrived in Manila Thursday evening after a working visit that covered five
nations.
His Philippine Airline PR001 flight from San Francisco, California, United
States touched down at the Manila International Airport past 10:00 p.m.
In his arrival speech at the NAIA Terminal 2, the President reported his
accomplishments during his visits to Spain, Belgium, France, Germany, and the
US.
"Labindalawang araw po tayong nawala, at talaga naman pong sinulit natin
ang mga araw na ito: 94 engagements ang atin pong dinaluhan. Kinausap natin
ang mga pinuno ng iba’t ibang bansa at institusyon upang isulong ang mas
mabuting ugnayan; nakipagpulong tayo sa mga negosyante upang imbitahin silang
mamuhunan sa ating bansa; kinita natin ang ating mga kababayan, at dinalhan
sila ng mabuting balita," said President Aquino.
During his engagements abroad, he expressed the country's gratitude for the
assistance extended to the Philippines after Typhoon Yolanda, for the support
for the peace process in Mindanao, and for allowing our local carriers to
once again travel to Europe.
He also invited investors to set up businesses in the country, or for those
with existing businesses in the Philippines, increase their capital
investment. Moreover, he explained the country's position in the West
Philippine Sea.
The President said he was struck by an idea tabled by an international
banking official, who suggested to make the Philippine Peso a global
currency.
"Baka raw po dapat ay i-globalize natin ang piso. Ang ibig pong sabihin,
kumpiyansa siya sa stabilidad ng ating ekonomiya; naniniwala siyang sulit ang
tumaya sa Pilipinas. Nabigla po tayo sa mungkahing ito; kahit kailan po ay
hindi dumapo sa isip natin ang ganitong hakbang," said the Chief
Executive.
"Talagang kailangan ng mas malalim na pag-aaral ng ganito kalaking mga hakbang,
pero hindi po maikakaila ang sentimyentong dala ng kanyang mungkahi: Ang
dating 'sick man of Asia,' ngayon, bukal na ng kumpiyansa sa ekonomiya; ang
dating pahirapan kung mapansin, ngayon, marami nang nag-uunahang kausapin.
Napakataas na po talaga ang tingin ng mundo sa Pilipinas," he added.
There to welcome the President were Vice President Jejomar Binay, Executive
Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr., Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Health
Secretary Enrique Ona, Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson,
Education Secretary Armin Luistro, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, Interior
Secretary Manuel Roxas, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, Science
and Technology Secretary Mario Montero, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad,
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, Metro Manila Development Authority
Chairman Francis Tolentino, Political Adviser Rolando Llamas, Presidential
Legislative Liaison Office Secretary Manuel Mamba, Presidential Assistant for
Food Security and Agricultural Modernization Francis Pangilinan, and Pasay
City Mayor Antonino Calixto. PND (ag)
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President
Aquino says he got updates, gave instructions as
typhoons hit the country
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President Benigno S. Aquino III
said he was constantly given updates and he gave instructions when Typhoons
Luis and Mario hit the country while he was on his 12-day five-nation working
visit.
"Matagal-tagal din po tayong nawala. Alam ko po, habang ibinibida natin
ang Pilipinas sa ibang bansa, habang pinagtutuunan natin ang ating mga
pangmatagalang pangangailangan ay hinagupit ng ilang mga bagyo ang Pilipinas.
Nais ko pong magpasalamat sa bawat Pilipinong nakiambag upang tugunan ang mga
pangangailangan sa panahon ng kalamidad," the President said in his
speech upon arriving at the NAIA Terminal 2 on Thursday night.
He noted that members of his Cabinet kept him abreast while he was away on
his working visits to Spain, Belgium, France, Germany and the United States.
"Hindi po nagkulang ang ating mga kasamahan sa gobyerno sa pagtawag sa
telepono, sa pag-text, at sa pakikipag-usap sa akin habang tayo ay nasa
biyahe. Tuloy-tuloy po ang pagbibigay natin ng direktiba sa kanila upang
masigurong ang bawat Pilipino ay mabibigyan ng sapat na pagkalinga sa harap
ng sakuna," he added.
The President has said that at one point, he contemplated on cutting his
working visit short due to Typhoon Mario but was assured that there was no
need to return immediately.
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr. led other Cabinet members in dealing
with the effects of the storm when the President was abroad. PND (ag)
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President
Aquino generates U.S.$2.35 billion in investment during
visits
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President Benigno S. Aquino III on
Thursday night reported that his 12-day five-nation official trip has
generated US$2.35 billion worth of investment.
"Aabot po ng 2.35 bilyong dolyar ang halaga ng nakalap nating mga panata
at tiyak na investment, na tinataya namang lilikha ng 33,850 trabaho,"
the President said in a speech he delivered shortly after he arrived at the
NAIA Terminal 2 in Pasay City from San Francisco, California, the United
States.
This, he said, is the fruit of his meetings with 22 corporations in Spain,
Belgium, France, Germany and the United States.
The Chief Executive also noted that Coca-Cola has already expanded its
investment in the country.
"Nariyan po ang Coca-Cola: Ipinangako nila sa atin noon ang pagpasok ng
karagdagang isang bilyong dollars sa bansa bago sumapit ang taong 2015. Sa
biyaheng ito, iniulat nilang naipasok na ang lahat ng puhunang ito, at hindi
pa tayo umaabot sa 2015," he said.
"Ang Volkswagen din po, halimbawa, inengganyo nating dito magtayo ng
kanilang global manufacturing hub; malaking bentahe ang lumalaki nating
middle class, pati na rin ang maganda nating lokasyon at ang husay ng ating
manggagawa, at ipagpapatuloy po natin ang pang-eengganyo sa kanila," he
added.
He
however declined to give more details.
“Hindi
na po natin idedetalye ang bawat isa sa kanila at baka po mausog, pero ang
masasabi ko lang po: Nagkakaisa sila sa kanilang tiwala sa gumaganda nating
ekonomiya at sistemang panlipunan. Alam nila ang bunga ng ating mga reporma;
at umaasa sila sa patuloy nating pag-angat,” he said, assuring that these
investment would turn into more opportunities for the Filipino people. PND
(ag)
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Government
agencies are given leeway to decide to implement four-day
workweek, says Palace
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In line with the Civil Service
Commission (CSC) circular that paves the way for the adoption of a four-day
workweek in government offices, a Palace official said it is up to government
agencies whether or not to implement this scheme.
“The particular agency would be in a better position to address this... While
the Civil Service Commission (CSC) provides the guidelines, the particular
implementing agency has to also look at the guidelines vis-à-vis their work
activities and also their interaction with the public sector,” Presidential
Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda told reporters in a press briefing at the Palace
on Friday.
The CSC Memorandum Circular No. 22 encourages government agencies in Metro
Manila to carry out a four-day workweek scheme, which aims to reduce the
volume of traffic as the Metro Manila Skyway project enters its third phase;
increase employee efficiency and organizational performance; promote work-life
balance among employees; and enhance employee engagement, morale and
productivity.
Under the scheme, the normal workweek is reduced to four days – from Monday
to Thursday or from Tuesday to Friday – but working hours are increased to 10
hours a day, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break.
“There are requirements in order for one to use the four-day workweek, that
has not yet been discussed. Most likely, magkakaroon ng discussion diyan,”
said Lacierda.
Government agencies in Metro Manila can adopt the scheme provided their
frontline services can be accessed by the public online; they have a one-stop
shop; they have a functional call center/PABX telephone system that allows
calls to be diverted to the Officers-of-the-Day; and they have baseline data
on their overall performance, as well as on absenteeism, tardiness, state of
health, and turnover of employees, and satisfaction of clients.
As for the Office of the President, Lacierda said one of the deputy executive
secretaries is studying the scheme.
“It will be studied by the Office of the Executive Secretary first before we
make any decision on the matter,” he said. PND (ag)
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Pope Francis will have the same protection as President Aquino, says Palace
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Pope Francis will have the same
kind of protection given to President Benigno S. Aquino III when the Pontiff
comes to visit the Philippines next year, a Palace official said on Friday.
“The President said that the kind of protection that has been provided to him
will be provided to the Holy Father,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin
Lacierda told reporters during a press briefing in Malacañang.
Lacierda however declined to give further details, saying only that the
Presidential Security Group (PSG) will coordinate with the Swiss Guard.
“But as always, the Pope will be as visible as the other Holy Fathers who had
come before,” he said.
Pope Francis is expected to go to areas devastated by Typhoon Yolanda
(Haiyan) in Eastern Visayas when he visits the country on January 15 to 19,
2015. PND (ag)
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Palace
says government is talking with U.S. regarding Islamic
State
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Malacañang said on Friday that the
Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), is
coordinating with the United States (US) regarding the jihadist group Islamic
State (IS).
In a press briefing at the Palace, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda
told reporters that the DFA is “meeting” the US State Department.
“I may just quote si Assistant Secretary Charles Jose, that’s why the DFA is
meeting the US State Department to find out what the US needs and what the
Philippines can provide,” he said. “Talagang nagmi-meeting sila precisely to
identify ano ba ang pwede nating gawin.”
Lacierda called the beheadings carried out by IS militants as “totally
unacceptable”.
“And so, we agree with the principle laid out by the US government, and a
number of countries have joined in this effort against the ISIS or the ISIL,”
he added.
The IS is also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and the
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). PND (ag)
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25 SEPTYEMBRE 2014
- Natapos
na ang 5 araw na 'working visit' ng Pangulo sa Estados Unidos
- Nagtamo ng gantimpala sa New York
ang ‘Grassroots Budgeting’ ng Pilipinas
Natapos na ang 5 araw na 'working visit' ng Pangulo sa Estados
Unidos
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(NUWEBA YORK) Natapos
na ang limang araw na working visit ng Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III sa
Estados Unidos nang baon ang ilang magagandang balita ng mga bagong
pamumuhunan ng iba-ibang kompanya pagdating sa Maynila.
Ika-4:40 ng hapon ng Miyerkoles, oras sa Pasipiko, nang lisanin ng Pangulong
Aquino ang San Francisco International Airport sakay ng Philippine Airlines
chartered flight.
Bago lumisan, nakipagpulong muna siya sa matataas na pinuno ng Caesars
Entertainment Corporation, International Development at Wells Fargo Bank.
Ang mga pulong na ito ang ika-93 at ika-94 na dinaluhan niyang pagtitipon sa
halos dalawang linggong pagiging abala niya sa maraming pakikipagpulong at
pagtatalumpati mula sa Europa hanggang sa Estados Unidos.
Dakong ika-10:00 ng gabi ng Huwebes inaasahan ang dating ng Pangulong Aquino
sa Maynila at inaasahang iuulat niya ang resulta ng matagumpay na working
visit niya sa Espanya, Belgium, Pransiya, Alemanya at Estados Unidos. PND
(hdc/zaf)
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Nagtamo ng gantimpala sa New York ang ‘Grassroots Budgeting’ ng
Pilipinas
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Natamo ng Grassroots
Participatory Budgeting program ng Pilipinas ang pangatlong gantimpala sa
2014 Open Government Awards sa idinaos na pagtitipon ng Open Government
Partnership (OGP) sa Nuweba York Miyerkoles.
Sinabi ni Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte sa
pulong balitaan sa Malacanang Huwebes na si Kalihim Corazon Soliman ang
tumanggap ng Gawad para sa Pilipinas.
Ang una at ikalawang gantimpala ay natamo ng Denmark at ng
Montenegro.
Sa talumpati ni Kalihim Soliman, nagpasalamat siya sa OGP sa
ngalan ng pamahalaan sa pagpapahalaga sa “Open Government Partnership” na
kumilala sa pagsisikaping pamahalaan, pambansa at lokal man, gayundin ng
civil society organizations at mga komunidad na naglaan ng panahon at salapi
sa paglalagay ng programang ito.
Idinagdag ni Soliman na ang paraang ito ng pagbabadyet ay
alternatibo sa karaniwang sa top-down budgeting dahil pinahihintulutan ang
mga komunidad at lokal na pamahalaan na tukuyin at isulong ang sarili nilang
mga proyektong kapaki-pakinabang sa komunidad at popondohan ng pamahalaang
pambansa.
Sinabi ni Soliman na ito ang ikalawang pagkakataon na nagwagi ng
gantimpalang tulad nito ang Pilipinas sapagka’t noong isang taon, natamo ng
bansa ang Bright Star Award sa “OGP Summit” na idinaos sa London dahil sa
Citizen Participatory Audit na proyekto ng Komisyon ng Awdit at ng civil
society.
Ang kilusang binubuo ng 64 na pamahalaan at ng pandaigdig at
pambansang civil society organizations na ang pakay ay lalo pang lumaganap
ang bukas na pamahalaan sa lahat ng kasapi nitong mga bansa.
Lahat ng kasaping bansa ay inaatasang mangako na sisikaping
gawing lantaran, may pananagutan at participatory.
Ang Pilipinas, sabi ni Valte, ay tagapagtatag na kasapi ng OGP
at kasalukuyang kagawad ng “Steering Committee.” Binalangkas na ang ikalawang
“OGP Action Plan” ng bansa kung saan nakalagay ang siyam na pangako na
kinabibilangan ng programa ng GPB, pagpapatibay ng Freedom of Information
Act, at Open Data Philippines, sabi pa ni Valte. PND (ag/zaf)
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President
Benigno S. Aquino III's Arrival Statement after his Official Visits to Europe
and U.S.A., , 25 Sept 2014
NAIA
Terminal 2, Pasay City
25 Sept 2014
Magandang gabi po sa inyong lahat.
Ito na nga po yata ang pinakamahabang panahong nalayo tayo sa Pilipinas mula
nang maupo tayo sa puwesto. Sa Europa, inikot po natin ang mga bansang Espanya,
Belgium, Pransya, at Alemanya. Lumapag naman tayo ng Boston, New York at San
Francisco sa pagtungo natin sa Estados Unidos.
Labindalawang araw po tayong nawala, at talaga naman pong sinulit natin ang
mga araw na ito: 94 engagements ang atin pong dinaluhan. Kinausap natin ang
mga pinuno ng iba’t ibang bansa at institusyon upang isulong ang mas mabuting
ugnayan; nakipagpulong tayo sa mga negosyante upang imbitahin silang
mamuhunan sa ating bansa; kinita natin ang ating mga kababayan, at dinalhan sila
ng mabuting balita.
Ipinarating po natin ang pasasalamat sa mga kabalikat natin sa Europa at pati
na sa Estados Unidos. Malaki ang tulong nilang naipaabot matapos ang bagyong
Yolanda, pati na rin sa proseso ng kapayapaan sa Mindanao. Pinasalamatan din
natin sila, dahil nga po tinanggal na nila ang ban sa pagbiyahe ng ating
local carriers sa Europa. Nabigyan po tayo ng pagkakataong ipaliwanag ang
ating posisyon ukol sa West Philippine Sea; malinaw nga po sa ating pagharap
sa iba’t ibang pinuno, pati na rin sa mga think tank, na nauunawaan nila ang
katuwiran ng ating paninindigan. Ikinalulugod nga po natin ang pagpapahayag
ng suporta ng mga pinunong ating nakausap.
Sa pagdalo naman po natin sa United Nations Climate Summit, pinalakas pa
natin ang panawagan para sa sama-samang pagkilos ng mga bansa upang tugunan
ang epekto ng pagbabago sa klima. Idiniin natin doon: bawat bansa, maliit man
o malaki, ganap nang maunlad o papaunlad pa lamang, ay dapat iambag ang lahat
nang maiaambag upang harapin ang hamon ng Climate Change.
Sari-saring kasunduan din po ang nilagdaan natin. Halimbawa nito ang Cultural
Agreement at Air Service Agreement sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at ng Pransya; at
mga kasunduan para sa ugnayang pang-edukasyon.
Gaya ng lagi, bitbit din natin ang pasalubong sa anyo ng puhunan: Aabot po ng
2.35 bilyong dolyar ang halaga ng nakalap nating mga panata at tiyak na
investment, na tinataya namang lilikha ng 33,850 trabaho. Dalawampu’t dalawa
korporasyon ang nakausap natin sa iba’t ibang mga bansang nilapagan natin.
Ang sabi nga po natin sa kanila: Kung naghahanap kayo ng paglalagyan ng
inyong puhunan, bakit hindi kayo sa amin pumunta, upang makasama nating
pakinabangan ang bunga ng pag-unlad? Hindi na po natin idedetalye ang bawat
isa sa kanila at baka po mausog, pero ang masasabi ko lang po: Nagkakaisa
sila sa kanilang tiwala sa gumaganda nating ekonomiya at sistemang
panlipunan. Alam nila ang bunga ng ating mga reporma; at umaasa sila sa
patuloy nating pag-angat.
Ang lahat ng kanilang puhunan, magbubunga ng mas malawak na pagkakataon para
sa ating mga kababayan. Nariyan po ang Coca-Cola: Ipinangako nila sa atin
noon ang pagpasok ng karagdagang isang bilyong dollars sa bansa bago sumapit
ang taong 2015. Sa biyaheng ito, iniulat nilang naipasok na ang lahat ng
puhunang ito, at hindi pa tayo umaabot sa 2015. Ang Volkswagen din po,
halimbawa, inengganyo nating dito magtayo ng kanilang global manufacturing
hub; malaking bentahe ang lumalaki nating middle class, pati na rin ang
maganda nating lokasyon at ang husay ng ating manggagawa, at ipagpapatuloy po
natin ang pang-eengganyo sa kanila.
Sa isa nga po nating pagpupulong, isang mataas na opisyal ng prominenteng
bangko ng mundo, at hindi naman po ng Pilipinas, ang nagsabi: Baka raw po
dapat ay i-globalize natin ang piso. Ang ibig pong sabihin, kumpiyansa siya
sa stabilidad ng ating ekonomiya; naniniwala siyang sulit ang tumaya sa
Pilipinas. Nabigla po tayo sa mungkahing ito; kahit kailan po ay hindi dumapo
sa isip natin ang ganitong hakbang. Talagang kailangan ng mas malalim na
pag-aaral ng ganito kalaking mga hakbang, pero hindi po maikakaila ang
sentimyentong dala ng kanyang mungkahi: Ang dating Sick Man of Asia, ngayon,
bukal na ng kumpiyansa sa ekonomiya; Ang dating pahirapan kung mapansin,
ngayon, marami nang nag-uunahang kausapin. Napakataas na po talaga ng tingin
ng mundo sa Pilipinas.
Matagal-tagal din po tayong nawala. Alam ko po, habang ibinibida natin ang
Pilipinas sa ibang bansa, habang pinagtutuunan natin ang ating mga
pangmatagalang pangangailangan ay hinagupit ng ilang mga bagyo ang Pilipinas.
Nais ko pong magpasalamat sa bawat Pilipinong nakiambag upang tugunan ang mga
pangangailangan sa panahon ng kalamidad. Hindi po nagkulang ang ating mga
kasamahan sa gobyerno sa pagtawag sa telepono, sa pagtext, at sa
pakikipag-usap sa akin habang tayo ay nasa biyahe. Tuloy-tuloy po ang
pagbibigay natin ng direktiba sa kanila upang masigurong ang bawat Pilipino
ay mabibigyan ng sapat na pagkalinga sa harap ng sakuna.
Siyempre po, ang pinakamatamis na bahagi ng ating biyahe ay ang makita ang
mga ngiti ng kapwa natin Pilipino sa ibang bansa kapag naririnig nila ang
magagandang balitang nangyayari sa Pilipinas. Inilatag po natin sa kanila ang
transpormasyong tinatamasa na ng ating bansa: mula sa pagbasag sa baluktot na
kalakaran hanggang sa pagbubukas ng pagkakataon sa ating mamamayan; mula sa
pag-arangkada ng ekonomiya hanggang sa parating pang magagandang oportunidad;
at maging sa pagtataguyod ng pangmatagalang kapayapaan.
Isipin nga po ninyo ang pinanggalingan ng ating bansa: Mula sa puntong ni
hindi man lang natin makayang mangarap, ngayon, isa-isa nang natutupad ang
ating mga pangarap. Ang dating imposible, hindi lang nagawang posible;
nagiging karaniwan na. Kung nagawa nating makarating sa kalagayan natin ngayon
mula sa punto ng kawalang pag-asa, ano pa kaya ang maaari nating marating,
ngayong mas mataas at mas mabuti na ang ating kinatatayuan? Tumuloy lang po
tayo sa landas na ating tinatahak, at tiyak po, maaabot natin ang
pinakamatatayog nating adhikain para sa Pilipinas.
Lahat nga po ng mga tagumpay na atin nang naisakatuparan sa tuwid na daan, ay
pundasyon lamang sa higit pa nating pag-unlad. Tunay nga po: ibang-iba na ang
pagkilala sa Pilipinas ngayon, at sa atin pong pakikiambag, sa atin pong
pakikisagwan sa iisang direksyon, mas lalo pa tayong igagalang at hahangaan
ng buong mundo.
Magandang gabi po muli. Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat.
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INTERVIEW OF COMMUNICATIONS SECRETARY
HERMINIO COLOMA, JR.
DZRB /
Pilipinas, Pilipinas by Efren Montano & Albert Sebastian
28 September 2014
ALBERT: Magandang umaga, sir.
Welcome po sa Pilipinas, Pilipinas.
SEC. COLOMA: Magandang umaga sa inyo, Efren at sa ating mga tagasubaybay.
EFREN: Ah, okay po. At iyong opening statement po natin—at welcome back home
dito kay Secretary Sonny Coloma.
SEC. COLOMA: Maraming salamat, Efren. Ang una kong pahayag ay hinggil sa
National Seafarers Day. Kaisa natin ang sambayanang Pilipino sa
pagbibigay-pugay sa mga masisipag at magigiting na Pilipinong pumapalaot sa
buong daigidig sa pagdiriwang ng National Seafarers Day. Kinikilala ang
kahusayan ng mga Pilipinong opisyal at tripulante na siyang bumubuo nang
pinakamalaking puwersa ng mga bansang kalahok sa paggawa at empleyo ng
pandaigdigang industriya maritima. Kaya nga’t noong nakipagpulong si Pangulong
Aquino sa Brussels kamakailan lang sa mga pinuno ng European Union, tiniyak
niya ang puspusang pagsisikap ng pamahalaan sa pamamagitan ng Maritime
Industry Authority o MARINA na sundin at tumupad sa mga panuntunan ng STCW o
Standards for Training Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers na
pinapatupad ng International Maritime Organization at European Maritime
Safety Agency o EMSA.
Ang aking ikalawang pahayag ay hinggil sa ipinahayag ng World Bank kahapon.
Malugod na tinatanggap ng pamahalaan ang pag-apruba ng World Bank Board
Executive Directors ng isang financing package na nagkakahalaga ng 141
milyong dolyar para sa pagpapatupad ng proyektong Cebu Bus Rapid Transit o
CBRP na magbibigay-daan sa pagkakaroon ng isang mabilis, maaasahan, ligtas at
climate-friendly na sistemang pangtransportasyon. Ang nasabing financial
package na kinabibilangan ng 116 na milyong dolyar mula sa World Bank at 25
milyong dolyar mula sa Clean Technology Fund ay gugugulin upang itatag ang
isang 23 kilometrong Bus Rapid Transit o BRP system sa siyudad ng Cebu na
tatakbo mula sa bayan ng Bulacao hanggang sa bayan ng Talamban. Kabilang na
ang pagtatayo ng mga transit ways, terminal, himpilan, lagakan o depot ng mga
sasakyan at iba pang mga pasilidad.
Maglalaan naman ang gobyerno nang mahigit sa 87 milyong dolyar bilang
counterpart funding upang maisakatuparan ang nasabing proyekto. Inaasahang
mahigit sa tatlundaan-libong pasahero ang makikinabang sa BRP araw-araw na
naglalayong ibsan ang polusyon, at tiyakin ang kaligtasan at ginhawa sa
pagbibiyahe ng mga residente ng Cebu. Ang BRP ay isang sistema na nagtatampok
ng pampasaherong bus na tumatakbo sa sarili at hiwalay na mga lanes, at
kayang magsakay nang higit na maraming manlalakbay kumpara sa ibang uri ng
pampublikong transportasyon.
Iyan po ang ating pahayag. Handa na po akong tumugon sa mga katanungan.
EFREN: Okay po. Bago po iyong katanungan ni Gen, itong tungkol dito sa Mayon.
Ano po ba iyong pinakamaiuulat po natin na tungkol sa Mayon Volcano?
SEC. COLOMA: Well, tinututukan po natin ang pag-monitor ng Philvolcs hinggil
sa Mayon Volcano. At nangunguna po sa pagtitiyak ng kaligtasan ng ating mga
mamamayan si Governor Joey Salceda bilang tagapangulo ng Local Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Council. At masinsin po ang kaniyang
pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga iba’t ibang ahensiyang pambansa katulad ng NDRRMC at
Office of Civil Defense, Department of Social Welfare and Development at iba
pang ahensiya.
ALBERT: All right, Sir, question po mula kay Gen Kabiling. Ang sabi niya: Can
DOTC Secretary Abaya and PNP Chief General Purisima still efficiently perform
their respective duties despite facing corruption probe? Has the President
talked to them about the controversies?
SEC. COLOMA: Sa pagkaalam ko po ay—well, wala pa po akong impormasyon hinggil
sa pakikipagpulong ng Pangulo sa dalawang opisyal. Ang batid ko lang po ay
kasama si Secretary Abaya sa mga sumalubong sa ating Pangulo. At kasama rin
naman siya sa unang bahagi ng paglalakbay ng Pangulo sa Europa kung saan
lumahok siya nang aktibo sa pakikipagpulong ng Pangulo sa iba’t ibang pangkat
ng mga namumuhunan at nagnenegosyo sa ating pamahalaan. Sa akin pong
pagkaalam ay buo pa ang patitiwala at kumpiyansa ng Pangulo sa kaniya.
At hinggil naman kay PNP Chief Purisima, mismong ang Pangulo rin po ang
nagpahayag sa pakikipagpanayam niya sa mga kagawad ng media na nais niyang
bigyan ng pagkakataon na magpaliwang si Police Director General Purisima
hinggil sa mga isyu na lumulutang po sa kasalukuyan.
ALBERT: Sir, follow up din po ni Gen. Ang sabi niya: Pabigat na ba sila Abaya
at Purisima sa administrasyon?
SEC. COLOMA: Natugunan ko na po iyan sa aking unang sagot.
ALBERT: All right, Sir, question din mula kay Aileen Taliping. Ang question
po niya: On push to Mayor Duterte’s Presidential bid. Sabi ni Mayor Robredo
[Duterte], mas mabuti pang mamatay na lang kaysa pumasok sa Malacañang.
SEC. COLOMA: Hindi po kami lumalahok sa mga usapin na partisan politics dahil
ang focus po natin ay iyong trabaho po ng pamahalaan.
ALBERT: Okay. From Bernard Taguinod naman, sir. Ang tanong po niya: Sa tingin
ninyo po hindi naman po madadamay at maaapektuhan si PNoy sa kontrobersiyang
kinakaharap ni PNP Chief Purisima?
SEC. COLOMA: Ang Pangulo po ay nangangasiwa sa buong Executive Department.
Siya po ang Punong Tagapagpaganap. Ang kaniya pong perspektibo ay ganap at
malawak, at hindi po siya natitinag ng iba’t ibang usapin. Hinaharap po ito
at binibigyan ng makatuwirang pagtanggap at solusyon.
ALBERT: All right, okay.
EFREN: So, tungkol po kay PNP Chief Purisima. Ibig sabihin ay bibigyan ng
Pangulo ng pagkakataon itong ating Hepe ng Philippine National Police para
maipaliwanag pagdating nito dito sa bansa? At ibig sabihin ay he is holding
or deferring his judgment on Purisima?
SEC. COLOMA: Mismo po ang Pangulo ang nagsabi na niyan.
EFREN: Ah, okay. Thank you.
VANZ: Sir, sa palagay po ba ninyo ay mag-uusap na po si General Purisima at
si Pangulong Aquino, at malalaman natin kung may katotohanan po iyong
ibinibintang sa kaniya na sangkot po siya sa kaniyang mga plunder cases?
SEC. COLOMA: Pinakamainam siguro, Vanz, ay antabayanan na lang natin iyong
pagdaraos ng kanilang pagpupulong.
EFREN: Wala pang nakatakda pong araw para sa kanilang pagpupulong?
SEC. COLOMA: Wala pa tayong impormasyon hinggil diyan, Efren. Batid naman
natin dumating ang Pangulo noon lamang Huwebes ng gabi. Wala tayong
karagdagang impormasyon pa hinggil sa bagay na iyan hanggang ngayon.
VANZ: Sir, tungkol din po ito sa ating mga pulisya. Nararapat po ba na sila
ay bigyan ng tamang disiplina? Kasi ayon po kay Valenzuela City
Representative Sherwin Gatchalian na kailangan magkaroon ng disciplinary,
relief and dismissal systems and processes sa Philippine National Police kasi
hindi daw po nila nalalaman kung ano po ang nangyayari, kasi it’s unfair to
the majority of our men in uniform who serve well. Ano po ang masasabi ng
Palasyo regarding this, sa kaniya sinabi po?
SEC. COLOMA: Ang mga kagawad po ng Pambansang Kapulisan ay sumasailalim sa
sistema ng disiplina ng kanilang organisasyon. At sila rin po ay sakop ng mga
umiiral na batas hinggil sa tamang disiplina at aksyon ng lahat ng mga
lingkod bayan.
EFREN: Ah, okay po. Iyong tungkol naman po dito sa umano’y pag-iisnab ng
ating Pangulo diyan sa mga Fil-Am diyan sa San Francisco. Ano po iyong
maipapaliwang ng Palasyo ukol dito sa naturang insidente?
SEC. COLOMA: Wala pong nakatakdang pagpupulong ang Pangulo sa mga Pilipinong
naninirahan sa San Francisco. Sa napakaikling panahon na paghimpil ng
kaniyang sasakyang panghimpapawid sa San Francisco, ginugol ng Pangulo ang
panahong ito upang makipagpulong sa mga pinuno ng dalawang malaking
pandaigdigang kumpanya sa entertainment at banking na nagpahiwatig ng interes
na mamuhunan o magpalawig ng kasalukuyang partisipasyon sa masiglang ekonomiya
ng ating bansa.
EFREN: Ah, okay po. Ibig sabihin, iyong mga ganitong ulat ay bahagi lang ng
intriga laban kay Pangulo natin?
SEC. COLOMA: Wala pong batayan at wala pong katotohanan.
VANZ: Sir, dito naman po sa pagbibitiw ni NFA Chief Arthur Juan. Si National
Food Authority Chairman Arthur Juan po ang tinutukoy dito na nagbitiw. Ayon
po kay Senator [Secretary] Pangilinan – Food Security [Presidential Assistant
for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization] Francis Pangilinan – na
siya ay naniniwala na walang kinalaman ito sa mga ibinibintang sa kanya na
mga charges. Pero nakausap na po ba ito ng ating Pangulo?
SEC. COLOMA: Wala pa akong impormasyon hinggil diyan, Vanz. Ang aking batid
lamang ay iyon mismong pag-acknowledge ni Secretary Pangilinan na nagbitiw na
o nagsumite na ng pagbibitiw si NFA Administrator Juan. At sinabi nga niya na
ikinalulungkot niya iyong pagbibitiw na ito, at naniniwala siya na walang
kinalaman si Administrator Juan sa mga pinaparatang sa kaniya. Iyan po ang
ating impormasyon mula kay Secretary Pangilinan.
EFREN: Ah, okay po. Iyong tungkol naman po dito sa masasabi o pahayag ng
Palasyo ukol dito sa halos sunud-sunod na pagkatalo nitong ating team diyan
sa Asian (Games), iyong Gilas Basketball Team. May mababanggit po ba ang
Palasyo ukol dito?
SEC. COLOMA: Well, patuloy tayong umaasa at nananalangin para sa tagumpay ng
koponang Gilas Pilipinas sa kanilang laro laban sa Kazakhstan mamayang hapon
sa Asian games sa Incheon, Korea.
Ayon sa mga analysts, kailangang magwagi ang Gilas Pilipinas nang hindi
bababa sa labing-isang puntos; at umasa na tatalunin ng South Korea ang Qatar
para humantong sa triple tie, at manaig ang Pilipinas sa pamamagitan ng
quotient system. At nakikita naman po natin na puspusan ang pagsisikap ng ating
mga manlalarong Pilipino na maipagtagumpay ang ating bansa. Kaya’t patuloy po
ang ating pagtataguyod sa kanila, at umaasa tayo na magtatagumpay sila.
EFREN: Ah, okay. So, iyan po iyong ating pananalig na maipagtatagumpay nila
iyong kanilang inaasam na panalo dito sa Kazakhstan?
SEC. COLOMA: Iyon po ang pagkaunawa natin sa mga balita hinggil sa
posibilidad ng kanilang qualification sa susunod na yugto ng Asian Games
basketball tournament.
EFREN: Ah, okay po. Mabanggit ko lang po din kung papaano natin—kasi may
naibalita noong nakaraang Miyerkules na nasagasaan diyan sa may EDSA, sa may
ilalim ng MRT. Paano po natin kaya—although, ito ay isang DSWD concern, iyong
mga batang hamog na nasasagasaan, nadidisgrasya diyan sa EDSA, sa may MRT, at
isang labing-anim na taong gulang na bata ang siyang naging biktima ng
hit-and-run noong nakaraang Miyerkules ng alas-kuwatro ng madaling araw?
SEC. COLOMA: Tama ang nabanggit mo, Efren, na masusing sinusubaybayan ng
ating Kagawaran ng Social Work and Development ang kapakanan ng ating mga
kabataan. Hindi po natin nais na sila ay nasa lansangan; nais po natin ay
magkaroon sila ng mainam na masisilungan at matutulugan kapag gabi.
Sinusubaybayan po iyan ng ating DSWD, at hinihimok po ang mga kabataang
nabanggit na magpasailalim sa pangangasiwa ng DSWD. Kaya lang minsan siguro
ay hindi na talaga mapigilan at hindi po nasusubaybayan lahat. Pero iyan po
ang gawain at tungkulin ng DSWD, at pinagsisikapan nilang mailayo sa panganib
at matiyak ang kaligtasan ng ating mga kabataan.
EFREN: Opo. At kailangan ay tumulong din itong either MMDA at ang ating
kapulisan para sila nga po ay maiwas sa … away from harm’s way?
SEC. COLOMA: Ganun nga, Efren. Kalungkut-lungkot ang mga kaganapang iyan at
nais nating mailayo ang ating mga kabataan sa ganiyang panganib.
ALBERT: All right. Sir, question po mula kay Bernard. Ang tanong niya: Bakit
po kaya binibitin ng Palasyo ang paghahayag ng kanilang kandidato sa 2016
presidential elections samantalang naghahanda na ang ibang presidentiables?
SEC. COLOMA: Napakarami pang inaasikasong programang pangreporma ang ating
pamahalaan, at nais ng ating Pangulo na maipatupad ang mga repormang ito.
Nais niyang maging higit na matibay ang pundasyon ng reporma at
transpormasyon ng ating lipunan. At siya na rin mismo po ang nagsabi na mas
mahalaga sa kasalukuyan iyong pag-focus sa nation building at economic
development efforts po natin kaysa iyong mag-ukol ng panahon sa usaping
partisan politics.
Hindi pa po ngayon ang takdang panahon. Mayroon naman pong election calendar
tayo, at marami pa pong buwan at linggo ang lilipas bago po tayo humantong
diyan. Napakarami pa pong mas mataas na prayoridad ang ating Pangulo at ang
ating pambansang pamahalaan para pag-ukulan iyan ng pansin sa kasalukuyan.
VANZ: Okay, sir, from Butch Fernandez ng Business Mirror. Ang tanong po niya:
Will PNoy ask Purisima to go on leave so he could fully address charges of
unexplained wealth?
SEC. COLOMA: Uulitin ko na lamang, Vanz, dahil mismong ang Pangulo naman ang
nagsabi na nito sa mga kagawad ng media na nakapanayam niya kailan lamang:
Ang pinakamainam ay iyong matanggap niya ang paliwanag ni PNP Police Director
General Alan Purisima hinggil sa mga usaping naiharap hinggil sa kanyang
panunungkulan. Bigyan po natin ng pagkakataon na maganap po iyong
pagpapaliwanag.
ALBERT: Okay. Sir, question po from Bernard. Sabi niya: May plano ba si PNoy
na pasyalan ang mga Mayon evacuees?
SEC. COLOMA: Aalamin lang po natin. Bigyan naman po natin ng kaunting panahon
ang ating Pangulo na maisaayos iyong nais niyang maging hugis ng kanyang
schedule. Kararating lang naman po. Tiyak naman pong isa iyan sa mga
prayoridad.
Habang nandoon po kami sa Europa at Estados Unidos, araw-araw pong
tinututukan ang situwasyon at binibigyan po ng karampatang direktiba ang mga
kinauukulan. Nasa mataas na prayoridad po sa atensyon ng ating Pangulo ang
kaligtasan at kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan na nasa danger zone ng Mayon
Volcano eruption.
EFREN: Ah, okay po. So, wala na po yatang katanungan. Iyong parting message
po natin, at I’m sure ay bibigyan ng panahon ng ating Pangulo iyong pagpunta
diyan sa naturang Mayon Volcano?
SEC. COLOMA: Tama iyon, Efren, dahil kahit naman naglalakbay ang Pangulo,
talagang tinututukan niya nang masinsin ang mga kaganapan dito sa ating bansa
partikular na iyong paghagupit ng Typhoon Mario, iyong pag-ulan at pagbaha sa
kalakhang Maynila at malaking bahagi ng Luzon, at pati na rin iyong eruption
ng Mayon Volcano. Masusi po niyang sinubaybayan iyan at kinapanayam niya ang
mga kinauukulang opisyal mula sa kung saanmang lunsod siya naroroon, at
tiniyak na lahat ng mga dapat na aksyon ay isinagawa para matiyak iyong
kaligtasan at kagalingan ng ating mga kababayan.
EFREN: So, bale parting message na rin po at banggitin din natin iyong sinabi
ng CSC na tungkol dito sa 4-day work week na kapag hindi epektibo ay
ipatitigil po nila?
SEC. COLOMA: Katulad po nang naipaliwanag na ‘no, ito ay pinag-aaralan po
kasi nga may mga partikular na aplikasyon po ito. Ang mahalaga pa rin ay
iyong pagtiyak nang paghahatid ng serbisyo publiko na hindi po ito maaantala
at hindi rin naman magkakaroon nang pagbaba ng antas ng serbisyo dahil
nabawasan iyong araw ng pagtatrabaho.
Iyong isang aspeto po kasi, iyong pag-address sa traffic problem, mas
mahalagang aspeto rin naman iyong quality of public service na hindi naman
dapat maapektuhan ng pagkaantala nang paghahatid ng serbisyo. Kaya iyon po
ang sinusuri hinggil sa patakarang inilabas ng Civil Service Commission.
ALBERT: All right. Sir, pahabol po mula kay Gen. Sabi niya: Who will replace
Arthur Juan at the NFA to ensure uninterrupted service of the food agency?
SEC. COLOMA: Hintayin na lang po natin sapagka’t ito ay dadaan pa naman sa
proseso ng … sa administrative processes po. Bilang presidential appointee,
kailangan po munang opisyal na tanggapin ng Pangulo ang kaniyang pagbibitiw
at ma-inform po siya. Mayroon din pong proseso sa paghirang ng bagong pinuno.
Antabayanan lang po natin at tiyak namang gagawin ang nararapat para huwag
pong magkaroon ng puwang sa pagbibigay ng serbisyo publiko sa aspeto ng
National Food Authority.
ALBERT: Sir, follow up din po ni Gen: Will Kiko Pangilinan be asked to assume
the post for the meantime? Ano ang qualities na hinahanap ni Presidente sa
bagong NFA Chief?
SEC. COLOMA: Iyan pong NFA ay nasa ilalim ng supervision at pangangasiwa ni
Secretary Pangilinan. Maikling panahon lang naman po iyong transition, kaya
antabayanan na lang po natin. Siyempre po ang kinu-consider na criteria dito
ay iyong qualification, kasama na diyan iyong integridad at track record na
kakayanin iyong mabigat na responsibilidad ng isang NFA administrator.
ALBERT: All right, so with that, sir, marami pong salamat sa inyong oras na
ibinigay po sa bayan.
SEC. COLOMA: Maraming salamat at magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat.
***
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SOURCE:
Presidential News Desk
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27 September 2014
- Acceptance speech of DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman
- PHL Embassies, Consulates General in the Americas vow
to enhance protection for kababayans against human trafficking
- Institutions, LGUs make tech-voc education work
- PH cited for promoting people’s participation in budget
process
- MB places Fil-Agro Rural Bank, Inc. under PDIC
receivership, all valid insured deposit claims will be paid
- Donations for PNP “white house” all accounted for
- Total approved foreign investments down by 38.8 percent
in Q2 2014
- DA moves to ensure pork and chicken supply for the
Holidays
- Philippines bags Gold Award for
Grassroots Participatory Budgeting: Recognizes Govt efforts in empowering
and engaging the Filipino people
- DBM: Tiangco's DAP figures
erroneous; Abad: Complete list open to public scrutiny
- Vacancy postings reach 320,000; registered
establishments tally 5,200 in Jan-June 2014
- Bangsamoro bill is for genuine autonomy, not separate
state
- Philippines participates in World Routes Tourism Summit
2014 in Chicago
- PHL chairs 6th Meeting of ASEAN Committee in Seoul in
2014
- SSS unveils provident fund for members
- Statement of Sec. Jun Abaya on the investigation into
the MRT-3 maintenance contract
- Philippines bags Gold Award for Grassroots
Participatory Budgeting; Recognizes govt efforts in empowering and
engaging the Filipino people
- Pantawid Pamilya Model Family: A blessing to their
community
- 152 OFW dependents from Davao region to take the OWWA
scholarship exams
-
DOJ: Telcos must be honest with advertisements
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(Delivered during the awarding
ceremonies of the Open Government Award in the United States of America,
September 25, 2014)
For 2014 USD 450.9 million and in 2015, about USD 470.1 million in projects
were discussed, debated and agreed by citizens, elected duty bearers of the
government local level, national government implementers – built consensus on
a local poverty reduction action plan and on that basis propose the
allocation of funds from the national budget. This is power of the people,
this is grassroots participatory budgeting.
This effort involved an estimated of 10,000 citizens organizations and CSOs
in 1,590 cities and municipalities implementing 16,269 projects.
The constructive engagement of all stakeholders – citizens, CSOs , government
/ is key in the process; changing the ways we do project design,
implementation and evaluation and audit trail are some of the challenges we
continue to face.
Thank you for the recognition and I am accepting this award on behalf of all
the citizens of the Philippines who invested time, talent and treasure in
this effort.
Thank you.
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PHL Embassies, Consulates General in the
Americas vow to enhance protection for kababayans against human trafficking
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27 September 2014 -
Representatives from the Philippine Embassies and Consulates General in the
Americas committed to providing enhanced protection to Filipinos who are
vulnerable to or have been victimized by human trafficking at the closing of
the second Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Regional Workshop on
Anti-Trafficking in Persons for Foreign Service Posts (FSPs), in partnership
with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The Regional Workshop, which was held from September 22 to 26 in Mexico City,
was aimed at improving the institutional capacity of the FSPs in Argentina,
Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico and the United States to assist Filipinos who
are victims of or vulnerable to human trafficking.
"We will never be passive bystanders -- we will fight human trafficking
with all of our abilities," the participants pledged. "We will
enhance protection to persons vulnerable to being trafficked. We will assist
victims and ensure their full reintegration to society."
The Workshop modules discussed the basic concept of trafficking in persons
(TIP), the international and Philippine legal frameworks in combating human
trafficking, proper victim identification and protection, the national
referral system, available aid to victims, case management, psycho-social
counseling, caring for the service providers, and the link between gender and
trafficking.
The participants benefited from the experiences and insights of esteemed
experts, including resource persons from the UNODC, namely: Regional Adviser
Felipe De La Torre, International Cooperation Regional Officer Mariana Alegret,
Technical and Logistical Assistant Nayely Sánchez, Project Assistant Ian
Hrovatin and Consultant Yuriria Álvarez.
Speakers from the Philippines include Senior State Prosecutor Lilian Doris
Alejo from the Department of Justice; Directors Margarita Sampang and Dulfie
Shalim from the Department of Social Welfare and Development; Labor Attaché
Angel Borja, Jr. from the Department of Labor and Employment; Executive
Director Reynaldo Catapang and Atty. Joel Peralta from the Department of
Foreign Affairs-Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs
(OUMWA) and Ms. Angella Gilberto Alfafara from the DFA-Office for the United
Nations and Other International Organizations.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) likewise sponsored a resource speaker
in the person of Philippine Overseas Employment Administration Director
Robert Larga.
Each participating Embassy and Consulate General presented a snapshot of the
human trafficking situation in their host countries, highlighting the
challenges and best practices in combating TIP.
Director Sandra Patricia Mendoza from the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs
shared her country's experiences in promoting the welfare of Mexican
nationals in other countries. She emphasized the importance of raising the
awareness of overseas Mexican communities of their rights, forging
partnerships with local authorities and community organizations, and training
consular and diplomatic personnel.
The Regional Workshop was spearheaded by DFA-OUMWA, headed by Undersecretary
Jesus I. Yabes, and the Philippine Embassy in Mexico, led by Ambassador
Catalino Dilem, Jr.
This Workshop follows the pilot training program organized last April for the
FSPs in the Middle East and Africa. The next Regional Workshops will be
organized for FSPs in the Asia-Pacific and Europe. Each Workshop produces a
DFA Regional Anti-TIP Action Plan following the 3Ps framework that focuses on
prevention of TIP, protection for the victims and other vulnerable persons,
and prosecution of traffickers.
In 2013, the DFA assisted 2,947 Filipino victims of human trafficking and
illegal recruitment. Of this number, 2,201 came from the Middle East and
Africa, 432 from the Americas, 298 from Asia and the Pacific and 16 from
Europe.
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Local government units (LGUs) and
institutions that are partners of the Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA) are crucial in molding the youth to be skilled
and competent graduates that the agency envisions them to be.
They provide support to TESDA's programs and projects related to workforce
development such as training, assessment, scholarships, donations and
provision of technical assistance in skills competitions, standards and
curriculum development.
Once a year, TESDA honors those who gave it a little more push to help
further technical vocational education in the country, make it within reach,
especially of the poor, and use it to produce graduates with relevant skills.
For 2014, the Philippine-Nippon Technical College of Region XI emerged as the
national winner for the Kabalikat Award Institutional Category, while
declared winners for the LGU partner category were the Municipal Government
of Masinloc, Zambales (Region III) and City Government of Candon, Ilocos Sur
(Region I).
Phil-Nippon was established in Davao del Sur in 2007 as a satellite office of
its main branch in Calamba, Laguna. Originally, it served largely as an
orientation venue for scholars before they start their training at the
school’s main site. Due to the demand, however, the Davao del Sur branch soon
began to offer full language courses, which gave the students the necessary
competency in Japanese Language.
It currently offers four Japanese courses and a short 160-hour Factory Words
course. The school is affiliated with 160 companies in Japan as potential
employers of their graduates. From 2011 to 2013, it has placed around 600
beneficiaries as interns in Japan, while another 61 of their 2014 graduates
are awaiting deployment.
Today, Phil-Nippon Davao continues to train and develop young professionals,
who wish to learn and improve their talent and skills and to become
intern-workers in Japan.
For 11 years, the City of Candon has been a partner of TESDA, promoting and
supporting tech-voc and other related activities. From 2011-2013, more than
960 individuals were trained under various tech-voc programs with more than
1,300 assessed. During the same period, it donated more than P13 million for
different tech-voc activities, and allotted P420,000 for promotion and
advocacy activities.
Aside from training, the city government has also provided such assistance in
the conduct of job fairs, livelihood programs and career guidance to its
constituents.
A fourth class city in Ilocos Sur, Candon is also known as the tobacco
capital of the Philippines, being the largest producer of Virginia tobacco in
the country.
Masinloc in Zambales has been a TESDA partner since 2007, and puts in
practice its mission to “harness resources in partnership with the
community."
From 2011 to 2013, the municipal government donated more than P27 million to
support its training and tech-voc advocacy. During this period, more than
5,100 Masinloqueños were trained under its scholarship programs, with about
390 assessed. These were in skills training programs like Welding,
Dressmaking and Hair Cutting. Livelihood training programs provided included
Candle Making, Flower Making and other similar handicraft skills.
Placement assistance to their beneficiaries includes career guidance and
employment coaching services. Further job placement assistance is ensured by
the municipality’s linkages with industry partners.
Awarded regional winners for the Institution Category were Temasek
Foundation, Singapore (Central Office); Manantan Institute of Science and
Technology (Region I); KRYZ Culinary Arts and Restaurant Services Institute
Inc. (Region VI); Phil-Nippon Technical College Inc. (Region XI); AMA-CLC of
Agusan del Sur (Caraga Region); Tarlac School of Arts and Trades Inc (Region
III); Cebu Science of Welding and Skills Technology Inc. (Region VII);
Kananga-EDC Institute of Technology (Region VIII); Lyceum of the Philippines
University - Batangas (Region IV-A); Holy Trinity College of General Santos
City (Region XII); and, Paradigm Colleges of Science and Technology (Region
IV-B).
For the LGU Category, the following were the regional winners: Provincial
government of Rizal (Region IV-A); Provincial government of Agusan del Norte
(Caraga region); City government of Muntinlupa (NCR); City government of
Baguio (CAR); City government of Candon, Ilocos Sur (Region I); Municipal
government of Gonzaga, Cagayan (Region II); Municipal government of Masinloc,
Zambales (Region III); Municipal government of Aroroy, Masbate (Region V);
Municipal government of Mina, Iloilo (Region VI); Municipal government of
Jagna, Bohol (Region VII); Municipal government of Gutalac, Zamboanga del
Norte (Region IX); Municipal government of Lugait, Misamis Oriental (Region
X); and, Muncipal government of Polomolok, South Cotabato (Region XII).
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PH cited for promoting people’s participation in budget process
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Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman received the
Philippines’ Gold Open Government Award for Grassroots Participatory
Budgeting (GPB) in the inaugural Open Government Partnership (OGP) Awards on
September 24 at the United Nations Head Quarters in New York City.
The country was recognized for its outstanding efforts to deepen citizen
engagement in the budget process. The other awardees were Denmark and
Montenegro.
In receiving the award, Sec. Soliman stated, “This effort involved an
estimated of 10,000 citizens’ organizations and civil society organizations
(CSOs) in 1,590 cities and municipalities implementing 16,269 projects.”
“The constructive engagement of all stakeholders – citizens, CSOs, and
government is key in the process; changing the ways we do project design,
implementation and evaluation and audit trail are some of the challenges we
continue to face,” Sec. Soliman added.
GPB, formerly known as Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB), is an approach in
formulating budget proposal of national government agencies, taking into
consideration the development needs of poor municipalities as identified in
their respective Local Poverty Reduction Action Plan (LPRAP) formulated with
strong participation of local government units (LGUs), civil society
organizations, and peoples organizations.
Sec. Soliman explained that the GPB deviates from the traditional budgeting
process wherein government officials decide on what projects should be
implemented in the grassroots level.
It seeks to make the national budget more responsive to the needs of the
community, encourage local governments to implements reforms and ensure
transparency in the budgeting process and to deepen citizen participation.
“For this scheme, ordinary folks have a say on what projects to propose for
their own development which will then be included in the budget of
implementing national agencies,” Sec. Soliman said.
Under the GPB, DSWD implements sustainable livelihood, small-scale
infrastructures, and protective services for the marginalized sector.
In 2013, DSWD got P938.6 million for the implementation of 798 projects. To
date, 381 have been completed and the rest are on-going.
For 2014, DSWD’s budget is approximately P3 billion for the implementation of
3,422 projects in 17,036 barangays in 704 municipalities in Regions I to XII,
CAR and CARAGA. Social preparation is on-going in these areas.
The gathering was attended by various heads of state, including United States
President Barack Obama, French President Francois Hollande, Mexican President
Enrique Peña Nieto, and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudyohono.
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MB places Fil-Agro Rural Bank, Inc. under PDIC receivership, all
valid insured deposit claims will be paid
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The Monetary Board (MB) placed the
Fil-Agro Rural Bank, Inc. under the receivership of the Philippine Deposit
Insurance Corporation (PDIC) by virtue of MB Resolution No. 1486 dated
September 25, 2014. As Receiver, PDIC took over the bank on September 26,
2014.
Fil-Agro Rural Bank is a four-unit rural bank with Head Office located along
McArthur Highway, Poblacion II, Marilao, Bulacan. Its branches are located in
Calumpit, San Jose Del Monte and Santa Maria, all in Bulacan. Latest
available records show that as of June 30, 2014, Fil-Agro Rural Bank had
2,926 accounts with total deposit liabilities of P52.1 million. A total of
2,920 deposit accounts or 99.8% of the accounts have balances of P500,000 or
less and are fully covered by deposit insurance. Estimated total insured
deposits amounted to P51.7 million or 99.3% of the total deposits.
PDIC said that upon takeover, all bank records shall be gathered, verified
and validated. The state deposit insurer assured depositors that all valid
deposits shall be paid up to the maximum deposit insurance coverage of
P500,000.00.
The PDIC also announced that it will conduct the Depositors-Borrowers Forum
from October 3-6, 2014 to inform depositors of the requirements and
procedures for filing deposit insurance claims. Claim forms will be
distributed during the Forum. The schedule and venue of the Forum will be
posted at the bank premises and in the PDIC website, www.pdic.gov.ph. The
claim forms and the requirements and procedures for filing are likewise
available for downloading from the PDIC website.
Depositors may update their addresses with the PDIC representatives at the
bank premises using the Mailing Address Update Forms to be furnished by PDIC
representatives. Duly accomplished Mailing Address Update Forms should be
submitted to PDIC representatives accompanied by a photo-bearing ID with
signature of the depositor. Depositors may update their addresses until
October 1, 2014.
Depositors with valid deposit accounts with balances of P50,000.00 and below
need not file deposit insurance claims. But depositors who have outstanding
obligations with Fil-Agro Rural Bank including co-makers of the obligations,
or have incomplete and/or have not updated their addresses with the bank,
regardless of amount, should file deposit insurance claims.
For depositors who do not need to file deposit insurance claims, PDIC will
start sending payments by mail to their addresses based on bank records by
the second week of October, 2014.
For depositors who are required to file deposit insurance claims, the PDIC
will start claims settlement operations for these accounts not later than the
third week of October, 2014. The schedule of the claims settlement operations
will be announced through notices to be posted in the bank premises and other
public places as well as through the PDIC website, www.pdic.gov.ph.
According to the latest Bank Information Sheet (BIS) as of June 30, 2014
filed by the Fi-Agro Rural Bank with the PDIC, the bank is owned by Nestor S.
Custodio (34.15%), Ligas Kooperatiba Ng Bayan Sa Pagpapaunlad (34.15%), Eddie
U. Bolina (33.28%), Cooperative Insurance System of the Philippines (16.48%)
and Francisco S. Tan (2.00%). Its Chairman is Eddie U. Bolina and its
President is Daryl G. Liangco.
For more information, depositors may communicate with PDIC Public Assistance
personnel stationed at the bank premises or call the PDIC Public Assistance
Hotlines at (02) 841-4630 to (02) 841-4631, or send their e-mail to
pad@pdic.gov.ph. Depositors outside Metro Manila may call the PDIC Toll Free
Hotline at 1-800-1-888-PDIC (7342).
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Donations for PNP “white house” all accounted for
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The PNP has clarified issues
surrounding the Deed of Donation for materials and services used in the
construction of the PNP “White House”.
“The construction project for the PNP ‘White House’ or the official residence
of the Chief, PNP is above board. It is not a real property given to Police
Director General Alan La Madrid Purisima, the incumbent PNP Chief, as a
person but a tangible asset of the PNP that will be issued to future PNP
Chiefs.” PNP Public Information Office Chief, PCSupt Reuben Theodore C.
Sindac said.
Furthermore, the donors’ privacy and security issues had to be seriously
considered, hence, their identity could not be immediately revealed.
As mentioned many times before, the White House was undertaken through a
“design and build” project in line with the donors’ Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR). It was borne out of the need to replace the old “White
House” which was badly damaged by Typhoon Ondoy in 2009.
According to the flood assessment by the Department of Public Works and
Highways (DPWH) dated February 27, 2013, due to the topographic conditions of
the Compound and its surrounding roads, the rain always flow towards the
North-Eastern Block of Camp Crame where the “White House” is located and
happened to be the catch basin of EDSA and Col. Bonny Serrano Avenue that
causes flood during times of heavy rain.
“There was no urgency at the start, but due to the controversies that were
raised, we had to expedite the processing of the Deed of Donation to comply
with the auditing requirements.” Chief, PIO explained.
It was found out that the deed of donation was signed and executed after full
completion of the Chief PNP quarters’ finishing touches and architectural
improvements, and was largely dependent on the availability of donors.
“A Deed of Donation can only be executed once the structure is completed”
PCSupt Sindac added.
It is the basic requirement of the Commission on Audit (COA) that there
should be a delivery and acceptance of the project from the donor to the
donee before these could be considered as a donated asset thru the execution
of a deed of donation.
The Deed of Donation could not be executed if the subject property is not
absolutely finished. For this reason, the Deed of Donation is being presented
after the completion of a certain project.
The Deed of Donation of PNP White House was explained prior to the submission
of the said document to the Senate.(PNP-PIO)
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Total approved foreign investments down by 38.8 percent in Q2
2014
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Total foreign investments (FI)
approved in the second quarter of 2014 by the seven investment
promotion agencies (IPAs), namely: Board of Investments (BOI), Clark
Development Corporation (CDC), Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), and
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) as well as the Authority of the
Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB), BOI-Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao
(BOI-ARMM), and Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) amounted to PhP 36.0
billion, declining by 38.8 percent from the PhP 58.8 billion recorded in the
same period last year. Meanwhile, total approved FI for the first six months
of 2014 reached PhP 73.4 billion, down by 32.7 percent from the amount
recorded last year at PhP 109.1 billion.
Sources of data:
AFAB, BOI, BOI-ARMM, CDC, CEZA, PEZA, SBMA
The top three prospective
investing countries for the second quarter of 2014 include Cayman Islands,
Singapore, and British Virgin Islands. The Cayman Islands topped the list,
pledging PhP 10.0 billion or 27.7 percent share during the quarter. Following
behind are Singapore and British Virgin Islands, committing PhP 7.8 billion
and PhP 5.5 billion, or 21.6 percent and 15.2 percent of the total approved
FI, respectively.
Manufacturing contributed the largest amount of committed foreign investments
in the second quarter of 2014. The investment pledges for the industry was
registered at PhP 18.5 billion or 51.4 percent of total FI during the
quarter. Real estate activities came in second with investment pledges valued
at PhP 7.2 billion, contributing 19.9 percent, followed by accommodation and
food service activities, which accounted for 15.2 percent or PhP 5.5
billion.
Approved investments of foreign and Filipino nationals reached PhP 257.8
billion in the second quarter of 2014, increasing by 45.8 percent from last
year’s PhP 176.8 billion. Filipino nationals continued to dominate
investments approved during the quarter, sharing 86.0 percent or PhP 221.8
billion worth of pledges. Bulk of the investments committed by the foreign
and Filipino nationals are intended to finance activities in electricity,
gas, steam and air conditioning supply, contributing PhP 167.1 billion or
64.8 percent, followed by real estate activities at PhP 25.4 billion or 9.9
percent share, and manufacturing at PhP 24.6 billion or 9.5 percent share.
Total projects of foreign and Filipino investors approved by the seven IPAs
for the second quarter of 2014 are expected to generate 118,835 jobs, an
increase of 186.0 percent from last year’s projected employment of 41,552
jobs in the same period. Out of these anticipated jobs, 92.6 percent would
come from projects with foreign interest.
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DA moves to ensure pork and chicken supply for the Holidays
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The Department of Agriculture (DA)
has called chicken and pork suppliers to a consultation meeting to ensure the
sufficient supply of the commodities and keep the market prices stable on
September 25, 2014 in DA Central office, Quezon City.DA consulted with
concerned meat stakeholders as Christmas season nears.
Currently, the Agriculture agency is monitoring the prices and supply to
prevent possibilities of price spikes and shortage when the demand for these
commodities increases during the holidays.
The prevailing price on pork is at P200-P220 per kilo, while chicken is at
P140. However, some markets in Metro Manila sell at P125-P135 per kilo.
It was agreed between the DA and the attendees to peg the suggested retail
price (SRP) on pork at P175 (pigue) and P185 (liempo) per kilo, while the
chicken SRP is pegged at P135 per kilo.
Aside from the preparation for increase in demands for chicken and pork in
the coming months, Undersecretary for Livestock Jose Reaño said that the
agency aims to put in place systems and strategies for the sector in
preparation for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) next year.
He said that the DA aims to give opportunities to all the livestock and
poultry stakeholders including the consumers, citing that the agency is
currently developing safety standards on marketing meat.
“We want to boost the retail market to ensure the incomes of our local
producers (farmers) and sustain the local poultry and livestock industries.”
He said that the DA is also aiming to help the local farmers become more
competitive not only in the local market, but in the international market as
well.
Assistant Secretary for Agribusiness and Marketing Leandro Gazmin said that
the DA will submit the SRP for the two commodities to the Department of Trade
in Industry, which on the other hand issues the SRP.
Gazmin also called for a regular bi-weekly meeting to closely monitor the
prices of the meat commodities in the next two months. He also invited more
attendees and participants from the chicken and pork market value chain to
contribute in the succeeding dialogues
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Philippines bags Gold Award for Grassroots
Participatory Budgeting: Recognizes Govt efforts in empowering and engaging
the Filipino people
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The Philippines was granted the
Gold Open Government Award for Grassroots Participatory Budgeting (GPB) in
the inaugural Open Government Partnership (OGP) Awards last September 24,
2014 at the United Nations Head Quarters in New York City.
The country was recognized for its outstanding efforts to deepen citizen
engagement in the budget process. Along with Denmark and Montenegro, this was
one of the three gold awards given out this year to recognize innovative and
citizen-driven initiatives in designing and implementing public policy.
The gathering was attended by various heads of state, including President
Barack Obama (US), President Francois Hollande (France), President Enrique
Peña Nieto (Mexico), and President Susilo Bambang Yudyohono (Indonesia).
Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary (DSWD) Corazon “Dinky”
Soliman and Patricia Sarenas of the Mindanao Coalition of Development NGO
Networks (MinCODE) accepted the award on behalf of the Philippines.
“This award is an affirmation of the government—both national and local—and
the thousands of civil society organizations and communities for their
dedication and hard work to make this program possible.
The GPB has continued to attract critics because of the game-changing nature
of the program, helping us veer away from the culture of patronage and
towards empowering our people to work closely with government.
We have a lot to accomplish but this recognition means so much to us,
encouraging us to all the more work towards open government,” Sec. Soliman
said in her acceptance speech.
The GPB engages local communities, civil society organizations (CSOs) and
other stakeholders to work with city and municipal governments in proposing
projects to be included in the National Budget.
From its pilot implementation in 2012, the GPB has now expanded to 1,590
cities and municipalities and has resulted in a larger allocation of P21
billion for 16,000 locally-identified projects to be included in the 2015
National Budget.
The Open Government Partnership, of which the Philippines is a founding
member, is a movement comprising of 64 governments as well as international
and national civil society organizations with the common objective of
deepening the practice of open government across its member countries.
The Philippines had recently crafted its second OGP Action Plan which
contains nine commitments. This includes the Grassroots Participatory
Budgeting Program, the Seal of Good Local Governance, and the passage of the
Freedom of Information Act.
“The country’s recognition is a testament to the unwavering commitment of the
Aquino administration for transparent, accountable, and participatory
governance. As much as we are proud of this achievement, we are all the more
humbled because the efforts of our local government units and communities
have made it possible for the Philippines to be recognized on the world stage
and reminding us that the challenges and trials of reform we face are not in
vain,” Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said. ( Source: Department of
Budget and Management)
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Department of Budget and
Management (DBM) Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad pointed out inaccuracies in
the figures cited by Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco on funds released for
Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) projects, after the lawmaker alleged
that the list released by the DBM on legislator-nominated projects under DAP
was inconclusive and incomplete.
“The list that we published has all the pertinent details of every project
funded through DAP. It’s as exhaustive as it can get. The list identifies all
the names of all DAP-supported projects and their respective proponents. It
shows all the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) numbers, plus the actual
amounts released to their respective implementing agencies for the projects
endorsed by legislators. It’s all there,” Abad said.
“We’ve also indicated proponents from the LGU and the National Government
Agencies. We all have access to the same list. There should be no confusion
on the numbers, and we must be careful about spreading erroneous data when
the source already gives us the clearest information,” Abad said.
According to the list of DAP-supported projects released on September 18—and
which contains details of the program’s corresponding proponents—initiatives
endorsed by legislators amounts to P12.3 billion or 8.5 percent of the P144
billion released under DAP, contrary to Tiangco’s calculation of P8.8
billion.
Of this P12.3 billion, the proposed projects all senators from 2011 to
2013—with the exception of former Senator Panfilo Lacson, who did not endorse
projects, and then-Senator Benigno S. Aquino III, who was later elected
President—were supported by the spending program. DAP also supported projects
endorsed by 175 representatives for the same period.
Tiangco said that the list identifies only 138 lawmakers.
In addition, a total of P2.66 billion was released to 101 Local Government
Units (LGUs) for their priority programs and projects, in line with the DAP’s
purpose to ramp up public spending and boost economic growth.
Meanwhile, 89.6 percent of funds—or P129.38 billion—released through DAP were
endorsed and/or requested by national government agencies and
government-owned or controlled corporations.
The Budget chief also said that the DBM will publish another list today, this
time identifying only those projects with legislator-endorsers and local
government units (LGUs). This list, he said, will allow the public to come up
with accurate data on which projects had been nominated by various lawmakers.
“Rep. Tiangco erred in identifying projects with certain legislator-endorsers,
thus inflating the amount for projects endorsed by the ‘Top 10′ lawmakers he
named. To give the public an easier time in sifting through all the
information, we’re releasing a list that’s composed only of projects endorsed
by legislators and LGUs,” Abad said.
Abad also pointed out that of the total P12.3 billion released to
implementing agencies for legislator-endorsed projects, 51 percent went to
infrastructure projects, which includes the construction of school buildings.
Meanwhile, 49 percent went to “soft” projects, such as medical and hospital
assistance and social welfare initiatives.
“The public needs to know that the DBM never releases funds directly to
legislators. As you can see, 9 percent of DAP had their respective
proponents, but the funds for these were released to implementing agencies,”
Abad said.
“We also urge everyone to study, examine, and scrutinize the DAP list
carefully. This is the very reason why we made the list accessible to the
public in the first place,” Abad added.
To view the list of DAP projects and their respective proponents, please go
to:
http://www.dbm.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/DAP/Dap%20Page/Projects/DAP%20with%20Proponents%20FINAL_9-22_1.pdf
To view the DAP Annex with details on project proponents, please go to:
http://www.dbm.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/DAP/Dap%20Page/Projects/DAP%20ANNEXbreakdown%20of%20DPWH%20OVLP%20FINAL_9-22_1.pdf
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Vacancy postings reach 320,000; registered establishments tally
5,200 in Jan-June 2014
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With enhanced Phil-Job.Net in
full-swing
Vacancy postings reach 320,000; registered establishments tally 5,200 in
Jan-June 2014
Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday expressed
elation over the report of the Bureau of Local Employment (BLE), a DOLE
bureau, saying job openings posted by employers in the government’s job
search and job and skills matching facility, the Phil-Job.Net, have reached
320,440 vacancies during the first semester of the year, majority of which
are in local establishments.
"This demonstrated the continuing growth of opportunities in the local
labor market," said Baldoz, adding:
“Overseas employment opportunities have also been posted in the job portal by
accredited overseas employers which safeguards applicants from illegal
recruitment.”
The BLE, the DOLE’s bureau tasked to monitor and maintain the operations of
the enhanced Phil-Job.Net, reported that vacancy postings in regions for the
first semester have reached higher levels, as follows:
NCR—137,897; CAR—15,601; Region 1—15,527; Region 2—2,655; Region 3—48,348;
Region 4A—3,112; Region 4B—56; Region 5—9,097; Region 6—6,502; Region
7—34,146; Region 8—550; Region 9—1,808; Region 10—1,517; Region 11—29,256;
Region 12—7,309; and CARAGA—7,059.
According to BLE Director Dominique R. Tutay, the BLE, which hosts the
Phil-JobNet, continues to campaign hard for employers to register their
vacancies, in consonance with the overarching goal enunciated by President
Benigno S. Aquino III, in his 22-point labor and employment agenda “to invest
in our country’s top resource, our human resource, to make us more
competitive and employable” by “addressing the labor-mismatch problem and
promoting better coordination between employers, academia and government.”
Baldoz observed that the enhanced Phil-JobNet is now the leading job search
and job and skills matching portal in the Philippines, with its private
sector partners closely trailing behind.
"Thus, the Phil-JobNet is gaining increased reliance from a wide range
of local and overseas employers," she said.
Director Tutay also reported that the e-Phil-JobNet has now a total of 3,818
accredited establishments out of the 5,237 registered establishments in the
site.
This number is distributed per region, as follows:
NCR—899 accredited out of the 1,605 registered establishments; CAR—200 of the
214; Region 1—88 of the 98; Region 2—104 of the 105; Region 3—991 of the
1,072; Region 4A—34 of the 80; Region 4B—50 of the 82; Region 5—62 of the 83;
Region 6—130 of the 208; Region 7—177 of the 360; Region 8—87 of the 96;
Region 9—42 of the 57; Region 10—139 of the 158; Region 11—180 of the 339;
Region 12—404 of the 449; and CARAGA—231 of the 231.
Tutay further reported, however, that while the enhanced facilities of the
website have gained much favor from a dynamic pool of employers, the
Phil-Job.Net still needs to be popularized, the reason why according to her,
the BLE has outsourced the development and design of a new logo and website
for easier recall and better recognition.
Last week, the DOLE signed a memorandum of agreement with SFI Group of
Companies; Career Hub Network Corp.; JobStreet Select, Inc.; Quantum X, Inc.;
and The NowGroup to ensure a wider reach of the e-Phil-JobNet.
In emphasizing active private sector participation to address the job-skill
mismatch, the labor and employment chief emphasized to the new DOLE partners
that the "government needs your active engagement for us to succeed. We
can make a difference by working together to enrich the DOLE-business
community partnership towards decent and productive employment for all.”
As partner organizations, the said companies have agreed, under the MOU, to
provide the best career and employment opportunities for jobseekers free of
charge, as well as facilitate the search for qualified manpower of employers
through the enhanced Phil-Job.Net.
“The Phil-Job.Net has functioned continuously for more than a decade now
since it was first launched in 1998; and its utility will continue to grow.
Our thrust to enhance the site as an engine of labor market information and
job-skills matching is in pursuit of the agenda of the Aquino government to
reinvigorate labor and employment,” Baldoz finally said.
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MANILA – As Congress began
discussions on the Bangsamoro bill for its swift passage into law, the
Government of the Philippines (GPH), Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF),
and Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) spoke in unison that the future
Bangsamoro will exercise genuine autonomy within the flexibilities of the
Philippine Constitution.
They assured that the Bangsamoro will not be a separate state, but will
remain part of the Philippines and under the supervision of the President.
“Supremacy of the Philippine Constitution is a fact found in the Bangsamoro
bill.
It states that the Bangsamoro is within Philippine territory and it will be
under the President's supervision as mandated in the Constitution,”
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles explained.
She emphasized that “autonomy (for the Bangsamoro) does not mean
dismemberment from the country, as the future region will still be part of
the Philippines.”
BTC and MILF Peace Panel Chair Mohagher Iqbal, also cited in his opening
statement that “there are enough flexibilities in the Constitution to allow
the establishment of the Bangsamoro.”
Deles and Iqbal, together with GPH Peace Panel Chair Professor Miriam
Coronel-Ferrer were among the main resource persons invited at the House of
Representatives on Wednesday to present and discuss the proposed Bangsamoro
Basic Law to the Ad Hoc Committee on the BBL, which is headed by Cagayan de
Oro 2nd district Rep.
Rufus Rodriguez. Members of the BTC and legal teams involved in the crafting
of the draft BBL were also present as well as civil society groups. Deles, in
her opening statement, underscored that “it is their (GPH, MILF, and BTC)
joint intent that throughout the entire legislative process (for the passage
of the Bangsamoro bill), they will continue to work and speak as one.”
The proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, filed as House Bill 4994 in the House of
Representatives and Senate Bill 2804, is the enabling law of the
Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) signed between GPH and MILF
on March 27 of this year.
It aims to establish a Bangsamoro region, which will exercise genuine
autonomy, that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)
by 2016. Lawmakers’ support, scrutiny of the bill Meanwhile, a number of
lawmakers affirmed support for the Bangsamoro bill as they sought
clarifications with the BTC, GPH, and MILF on some provisions of the priority
measure.
North Cotabato Rep. Nancy Catamco, Chair of the House Indigenous Peoples’
Committee, manifested her support for the passage of the law, saying it is
because she can see that IPs in the proposed Bangsamoro territory are
supportive of the bill which has explicit provisions on the respect of IPs
rights.
Anak Mindanao Rep. Djalia Hataman, a member of the Ad Hoc Committee expressed
hope and prayers that as a legislator, she can help “get this law passed.”
She shared that “heated, passionate debates will ensue not just among legislators,
but the public in general,” but prays that “we do not come out of this
divided. Let this be a true exercise of democracy.” Deles in responding to
clarifications to the Bangsamoro bill expressed her appreciation for the
rigorous scrutiny of the proposed organic act to ensure that it becomes the
best autonomy law that will be passed. “We welcome scrutiny.
That is a sort of engagement we expect,” she said while relaying that the
GPH, MILF, and BTC will pursue dialogue with Congress to build understanding
on the substance and spirit of the Bangsamoro bill. Magdalo Partylist Rep.
Gary Alejano also relayed support to ensuring that the Bangsamoro bill will
be “constitutional and acceptable to all stakeholders.”
Appeal to Congress Actor Robin Padilla, who attended the committee hearing,
appealed, to Congress to take on their monumental role for the successful
passage of the Bangsamoro law which he believes is crucial for peace in the
south. “Nag-aantay po ang lahat. Magiging historical po ito para po sa inyong
mga mambabatas.
Ito po ang iiwan ninyong legacy sa Pilipinas na kayo po ang naging daan upang
makamit talaga ang tuwid na daan. (Many are waiting. This [passage of the
Bangsamoro bill] will be a historical [role] for you lawmakers.
This is your legacy to the Philippines; that you became an instrument in
achieving the straight path.),” said Padilla. Padilla said that the success
of the Bangsamoro law, which is within the hands of Congress, will also
benefit and bring more peace and progress in other areas in the country. BTC
commissioners Timuay Melanio Ulama and Abdullah Camlian, during the committee
hearing, also expressed their appeal to Congress for the passage of the law.
Ulama is confident that that the Bangsamoro law respects IP rights, while
Camlian, in an emotional speech, underscored the historical background and
significance of resolving the Bangsamoro aspiration for self-governance
through genuine autonomy for the Bangsamoro region.
Coronel-Ferrer, on her part, said that “ending the internal conflict in the
south through the implementation of the Bangsamoro peace agreement” signed
with the biggest rebel group in the country “will provide a viable atmosphere
to uplift the lives of our people” in parts of Mindanao which for decades
have been mired in conflict and poverty. Iqbal emphasized that the MILF
“trust the wisdom of both houses of Congress to pass a good legislation,”
referring to the Bangsamoro bill.
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Philippines
participates in World Routes Tourism Summit 2014
in Chicago
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26 September 2014 - A high level
Philippine delegation flew in from Manila to participate in the 20th World
Development Forum, also known as World Routes Tourism Summit 2014, held at
the McCormick Place in downtown Chicago from September 20 to 24.
Philippine Consul General Generoso D.G. Calonge and Vice Consul Alena S.
Borra of the Philippine Consulate General in Chicago accompanied the
delegation, composed of top officials from the Philippine Department of
Tourism (DOT), the Philippine Department of Transportation and Communications
(DOTC), Manila International Airport Authority, Clark International Airport
Corporation, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, and the Civil Aviation
Authority of the Philippines.
World Routes is a global gathering for aviation organizations from all
countries, bringing together senior representatives from airlines, airports,
tourism authorities, and civil aviation authorities to conduct business for
the development of new routes.
DOT Assistant Secretary Benito C. Bengzon, Jr., head of the Philippine
delegation, was featured as one of the speakers in a panel discussion on
“Global Tourism: Where is the shifting traveler demand?” held on September
22. The discussion was moderated by BBC World News news anchor and presenter
Aaron Heslehurst and featured other speakers from the delegations of Cyprus,
India, and the city of Austin, Texas.
It was also announced during the forum that the 2016 Routes Asia will be held
in Manila from March 06 to 08, 2016, to be hosted by the Philippine
Department of Tourism and co-hosted by the Manila International Airport
Authority, the Tourism Promotions Board, and the Mactan-Cebu International
Airport Authority. A signing ceremony at the Philippine booth confirmed the
decision.
The 2016 event would be a good opportunity for the Philippines to promote
further growth of its international tourism market and showcase the results of
the planned upgrading of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport as well as of
the country’s secondary airports.
The Philippines was one of five final nominees considered for the Best in
Destination Marketing Award during the summit.
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26 September 2014 - Philippine
Ambassador to South Korea Raul S. Hernandez chaired the 6th Meeting of the
ASEAN Committee in Seoul (ACS) in 2014, effectively kicking off the
Philippines’ turn at heading the 10-member coordinating body on September 15
at the Embassy Chancery in Seoul.
The two-hour ACS Meeting, the first under the Philippines’ leadership of the
six-month rotating chairmanship, was attended by eight ambassadors and two
deputy chiefs of mission from the embassies of the 10 ASEAN member states in
South Korea. It was the first meeting attended by the new Myanmar Ambassador
U Soe Lwin.
Ambassador Hernandez acknowledged the excellent attendance of his
counterparts, saying it “reflects the importance all the ASEAN ambassadors
attach to the ACS as a collective body in pushing our common interests here
in Korea.”
He also thanked them in advance for their advice, assistance and complete
cooperation during the Philippines’ chairmanship, which coincides with a
crucial period of ASEAN-Korea relations: the 25th Anniversary of ASEAN-Korea
Dialogue Partnership Relations and the 5th anniversary of the establishment
of the ASEAN-Korea Centre.
The Meeting mainly focused on the proposed schedule of the ACS for the second
term in 2014, which mixed social events to promote solidarity among the ASEAN
embassy officers and personnel, such as golf and badminton tournaments as
well as an outdoor walk, with meetings with ministers and other senior
officials of the Korean government.
The gathering also agreed to establish a troika mechanism in order to
facilitate the rotation of the ACS leadership, similar to what is being
practiced under the ASEAN Chairmanship, with the preceding, current and
succeeding heads working together to ensure continuity.
Under such a system, the current troika is then composed of the Philippines
as current chair, Malaysia as predecessor and Myanmar as successor.
In June 2014, Ambassador Hernandez, upon the invitation of Malaysian
Ambassador Dato’ Rohana Binti Ramli, accepted the invitation to assume
chairmanship of the second term of the ACS pending assumption of the
ambassador of the Union of Myanmar.
Upon the completion of the Philippines’ turn at the end of December 2014, the
six-month rotation of the ACS will then revert to its usual alphabetical
rotating chairmanship with Myanmar taking its turn in January 2015 to be
followed by Singapore in July 2015 and so on.
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The Social Security System
(SSS) has opened a voluntary provident fund program that offers its members
an additional way of saving for their retirement.
SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio S. de Quiros, Jr said the
new retirement savings scheme called the SSS Personal Equity and Savings
Option (SSS PESO) fund is an alternative and tax-free investment that would
help members accumulate adequate income in retirement and earn a reasonable
rate of return.
“SSS PESO savings can be used to supplement the benefits available under the
regular SSS program. It offers guaranteed earnings based on rates higher than
those at brick-and-mortar banks.” De Quiros said.
The SSS PESO fund is open to all members below 55 years old with six
consecutive SSS contributions within the last 12 months prior to enrollment
and have not yet filed final claims with the SSS. Qualified members can
participate for a minimum contribution of P1,000 up to a maximum of P100,000
per year.
“One's membership will start upon receipt of first contribution. Succeeding
SSS PESO Fund contributions can be made anytime as long as there is a
corresponding SSS contribution on the month of contribution,” De Quiros said.
De Quiros said self-employed, voluntary and OFW members should be paying the
maximum SSS contribution to qualify. “They will also need to pay the maximum
SSS contribution for the month they are to save in the SSS PESO Fund,” he
added.
Savings in the SSS PESO Fund are invested in sovereign guaranteed
investments, where 65 percent of the total fund is allocated for retirement,
and 35 percent is for medical and general purposes. SSS PESO accounts will be
charged a one-percent administration fee annually.
“The portion for retirement is guaranteed to earn income based on interest
rates of five-year Treasury yields, while earnings of the fund allotted for
medical and general purposes will be based on 364-day Treasury bill rates,”
De Quiros said.
Aside from the guaranteed earnings, De Quiros said SSS PESO Fund members may
also get excess earnings, which will be credited automatically to their
accounts, depending on the actual year-end performance of the SSS PESO Fund.
Savings in SSS PESO fund can be withdrawn upon the member’s effective date of
retirement or total disability with the SSS either in monthly pensions over a
minimum period of 12 months and P1,000 payment per month, in lumpsum, or
combination of both.
“In case they incur a need to withdraw funds early, they may only touch the
portion of their equity allocated for medical and general purposes, and it
will be subject to penalties and service fees if withdrawn earlier than five
years,” De Quiros said, adding that if a member died before the maturity of
his SSS PESO savings or expiration of the pension period, the member’s
beneficiaries will receive the savings in the form of death benefit to be
paid in lumpsum.
Launched on September 25, the SSS PESO Fund was created in accordance to
Sec.4(a)(2) of the Social Security Law.
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Statement
of Sec. Jun Abaya on the investigation into the
MRT-3 maintenance contract
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If you have nothing to hide, there
is no reason to fear any investigation.
As always, we will cooperate fully with the investigation of the Office of
the Ombudsman, just as we have with investigations undertaken by different
branches and agencies of government, such as the Senate, the House of
Representatives, and the National Bureau of Investigation.
We remain committed to transparency and the eradication of corruption in
government. Ultimately, it is the public that will benefit from the search
for truth.
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Philippines
bags Gold Award for Grassroots Participatory
Budgeting; Recognizes govt efforts in empowering and engaging the Filipino
people
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The Philippines was granted the
Gold Open Government Award for Grassroots Participatory Budgeting (GPB) in
the inaugural Open Government Partnership (OGP) Awards last September 24,
2014 at the United Nations Head Quarters in New York City. The country was
recognized for its outstanding efforts to deepen citizen engagement in the
budget process. Along with Denmark and Montenegro, this was one of the three
gold awards given out this year to recognize innovative and citizen-driven
initiatives in designing and implementing public policy.
The gathering was attended by various heads of state, including President
Barack Obama (US), President Francois Hollande (France), President Enrique
Peña Nieto (Mexico), and President Susilo Bambang Yudyohono (Indonesia).
Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary (DSWD) Corazon “Dinky”
Soliman and Patricia Sarenas of the Mindanao Coalition of Development NGO
Networks (MinCODE) accepted the award on behalf of the Philippines.
“This award is an affirmation of the government—both national and local—and
the thousands of civil society organizations and communities for their
dedication and hard work to make this program possible. The GPB has continued
to attract critics because of the game-changing nature of the program,
helping us veer away from the culture of patronage and towards empowering our
people to work closely with government. We have a lot to accomplish but this
recognition means so much to us, encouraging us to all the more work towards
open government,” Sec. Soliman said in her acceptance speech.
The GPB engages local communities, civil society organizations (CSOs) and
other stakeholders to work with city and municipal governments in proposing
projects to be included in the National Budget. From its pilot implementation
in 2012, the GPB has now expanded to 1,590 cities and municipalities and has
resulted in a larger allocation of P21 billion for 16,000 locally-identified
projects to be included in the 2015 National Budget.
The Open Government Partnership, of which the Philippines is a founding
member, is a movement comprising of 64 governments as well as international
and national civil society organizations with the common objective of
deepening the practice of open government across its member countries.
The Philippines had recently crafted its second OGP Action Plan which
contains nine commitments. This includes the Grassroots Participatory
Budgeting Program, the Seal of Good Local Governance, and the passage of the
Freedom of Information Act.
“The country’s recognition is a testament to the unwavering commitment of the
Aquino administration for transparent, accountable, and participatory
governance. As much as we are proud of this achievement, we are all the more
humbled because the efforts of our local government units and communities
have made it possible for the Philippines to be recognized on the world stage
and reminding us that the challenges and trials of reform we face are not in
vain,” Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said.
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Pantawid
Pamilya Model Family: A blessing to their
community
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“Ang Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino
Program ay nagbukas ng napakaraming oportunidad sa amin. Lugmok kami sa
kahirapan noon na akala ko ay hindi na kami makakabangon, pero, ngayon, kami
ay nagawaran bilang Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya dahil kami mismo ay
nakakatulong na din sa pag-unlad ng aming komunidad (Pantawid Pamilya opened
a lot of opportunities for us.
We already hit rock bottom as if we could no longer get out from poverty, but
now my family is chosen as Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya in the Regional Category
because we are able to help our community towards development),”
Jessie Odiame narrated in front of officials and employees of the Department
of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) during the Monday’s flag raising
ceremony at the Central Office. Jessie, his wife elena, and four children
hail from Villa Cruzes, Manggahan, Pasig City.
The Odiame Family was chosen as this year’s Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya in the
National Capital Region (NCR). They will vie for the National Huwarang
Pantawid Pamilya Awards to be given on September 28.
The family has been a Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary since 2008. Jessie stated
that the program saved them in every sense of the word. “Merong mga
pagkakataon na talagang nawawalan na ako ng pag-asa kasi tila ba hindi kami
nauubusan ng problema lalo na sa pera. Hindi namin alam kung saan kami kukuha
ng pangtustos sa pangangailangan ng aming mga anak.
Sa pamamagitan ng Pantawid Pamilya, nasagot lahat ito (There would be instances
that I almost gave up. It seemed that we would never run out of problems. We
do not know where to get money for the needs of our children, but Pantawid
Pamilya helped us),” Jessie related.
Role model Though unable to provide material things for his children, Jessie
tried his best to meet their basic needs. He worked hard to provide for his
family. He became part of the Trabahong Lansangan, a joint project of the
DSWD and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) which was launched in
2011. It provides employment to beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya along road
maintenance, declogging of drainage laterals, and cleaning of streets.
Because of his good record and performance in the Trabahong Lansangan, he was
hired as a regular laborer by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
(MMDA).
Aside from his regular work, Jessie became involved in community activities.
He became the President of Villa Cruzes Association where he spearheaded the
negotiation to acquire land for the village folks since most of them do not
own lands.
Jessie is also an active member of Empowerment and Reaffirmation of Paternal
Abilities (ERPAT) group in their barangay.
ERPAT was initiated by DSWD to give importance to the development and
enrichment of knowledge, attitude, and skills of fathers in performing their
paternal roles and responsibilities. Seeing the value of being active in the
community, Jessie influenced Elena to also join in the different barangay
activities. Elena, then, became a Parent Leader of Pantawid Pamilya.
She is presently the coordinator of parent leaders in Barangay Manggahan.
Furthermore, Elena became a member of the Self-Employment Assistance –
Kaunlaran (SEA-K) Association of the Sustainable Livelihood Program, which
helped the family expand their rag making business.
“Dati-rati nakatutok lang ako sa pamilya ko dahil problema ko talaga kung
paano namin mairaraos ang araw-araw na pangangailangan namin, pero ngayon
pati mga kapitbahay namin ay naaabutan ko na rin ng tulong (Before, my only focus
is to ensure the daily survival of my family, but now, I can also extend help
to my neighbors),” Elena said. Also, Jessie and Elena are now able to send
their children to school.
Their eldest daughter, Melissa Jane is a graduate of Hotel and Restaurant
Management Course. She is also helping her family by working as a promo
agent. Jessa May, the second child is pursuing her college degree in Business
Administration and a recipient of the Bobby C. Eusebio Scholarship program in
Pasig City.
John Cedrick, the third child, is a grade 8 student in Manggahan High School
while the youngest, Ellen Joyce, is a grade 6 student in San Lorenzo
Elementary School. Both are enrolled in Pantawid Pamilya.
John Cedrick and Ellen Joyce are doing good both in academic and
extracurricular activities, reaping awards and making their parents proud of
their achievements. Aside from the children’s education, the family has
started to save for their home.
They can now afford to buy small appliances and pay for their water and
electric utilities.
The Odiame Family became popular among the villagers, not only because of
their active participation in their community, but also because of the good
advice they share to their neighbors regarding marital conflict.
“Dahil sa tulong ng DSWD, sa pagtutulungan naming mag-asawa, at kooperasyon
ng mga bata, nakamit namin kung ano man ang natatamasa namin ngayon na
kaginhawaan (With the help of DSWD, the constant support of my wife, and the
cooperation of our children, we now enjoy little comforts in life),” Jessie
ended.
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152 OFW dependents from Davao region to take the OWWA scholarship
exams
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Some one hundred fifty-two (152)
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) dependents are set to take the scholarship
examinations on 21 September 2014. The examinees are graduating high school
students belonging to the 20 percent of the graduating class.
Of these numbers, one hundred thirty-three (133) examinees are for the
Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) and nineteen (19)
examinees under the Congressional Migrant Workers Scholarship Program (CMWSP)
which will be administered by the Department of Science and Technology -
Science Education Institute. The 250 nationwide passers will automatically qualify
for the scholarship program.
OWWA scholars under the EDSP will be provided with education assistance of
Sixty Thousand (P60,000.00) pesos per school year leading to a four-to-five
year baccalaureate degree in any college or university of their choice. The
CMWSP, on the other hand, is a scholarship program mandated by RA 8042
(Migrant Workers Act of 1995) as amended by RA 10022 and is funded by the
Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. The program caters to qualified OFW
dependents who intend to pursue courses in the field of science and
technology as identified by the DOST.
Examinees may proceed to the following designated testing venues:
Davao City - Ateneo de Davao University (College Department)
Davao del Norte – Tagum National High School
Davao del Sur – Ramon Magsaysay Central Elementary School
Davao Oriental – Davao Oriental Regional Science High School
Compostela Valley Province – Nabunturan Comprehensive National High School
Per memorandum issued by the OWWA Head Office, applicants who are not in the
masterlist shall not be allowed to take the test. The “No Permit, No Exam”
policy shall be observed. Examinees who are not included in the masterlist,
shall not be allowed to take the examination.
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The Department of Justice-Office
for Competition (OFC) issued today an Advisory to notify consumers of their
right to be informed of the details of the mobile or internet services for
subscription. It reminded telecommunications companies to be clear and
truthful in their advertisements.
"Truth in advertising is an access issue," said Secretary of
Justice Leila M. de Lima. "Economic justice requires that those who
possess the information duly and timely disclose them," she said.
The Advisory calls on the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the
National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to monitor, enforce and
implement sanctions on erring telcos under the Consumer Act and the Public
Telecommunications Policy Act.
"Slow and expensive internet needs to be addressed for development to
happen and it starts with fair pricing and fair use," said Assistant
Secretary Geronimo L. Sy, head of the DOJ-OFC, which was tasked by the Senate
Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship to provide the issuance.
"Broadband speeds must be stated in the minimum rather than 'up to' with
the level of service reliability in the same manner as telcos expect prompt
payments," he said.
Previously, the OFC released statements on airlines' obligations to include
all fees in the promotional piso fares, clarified that gift certificates have
no expiry dates, and reminded banks not to coordinate their increase of ATM
fees. It also completed its Report on the Garlic Industry to resolve the
price hikes of said prime commodity.
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Senate Committee approves DILG
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Interior Sec. Mar Roxas yesterday
successfully defended the Dept. of the Interior and Local Government's
proposed P104.57B 2015 budget before the Senate committee on finance chaired
by Sen. Francis 'Chiz' Escudero.
Of the amount, P16B will go the local government sector while P88B are
allotted for the interior sector.
However, Escudero reminded Roxas to submit the documents they required from
the DILG.
Among these documents were proposals to increase the subsistence allowance of
the 85,200 prisoners nationwide.
At present, each prisoner is only allotted a P50 meal allowance per day which
translates to only P15 per meal; and P5 per day for medicines or a total of
P1,825 per prisoner per year.
Roxas agreed that under such subhuman conditions, there is little chance that
these prisoners can be rehabilitated which is the current thrust of the
country's penal system.
The DILG was also asked to submit budget proposals for the expansion of jails
being maintained by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
The committee also recommended that a lifestyle check be conducted on the lowest
ranking police officers to check on their situations and determine if the
government is giving them enough, for the possibility of giving them
additional benefits.
Roxas committed to comply with the committee's requests.
The committee recommended that the DILG's approved budget be forwarded to the
plenary for deliberation.
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Dentist from Binondo charged with tax evasion for grossly
underdeclaring service income received thru credit card payments
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The Bureau of Internal Revenue
(BIR) today filed a criminal complaint with the Department of Justice against
DR. STEVE MARK G. GAN (DR. GAN) forWillful Attempt to Evade or Defeat Tax,
Deliberate Failure to Supply Correct and Accurate Information in his Income
Tax Return (ITR), and Willful Failure to file his Quarterly Value Added Tax
(VAT) Returns, for taxable years 2009, 2010 and 2011, in violation of
Sections 254 and 255 of the National InternalRevenue Code of 1997, as amended
(Tax Code).
DR. GAN was likewise charged with Failure to Register as VAT Taxpayer for
taxable year 2009 in violation of Section 275, in relation to Section
236(G)(1) of the Tax Code and Revenue Regulations No. 3-2012.
DR. GAN is engaged in dental services with registered addresses at 822 Regina
Regente St., Binondo, Manila and 1708/1709 Medical Plaza, Amorsolo St.,
Legazpi Village, Makati City.
The case against DR. GAN stemmed from a confidential information denouncing
the dentist for tax evasion. Investigation showed that DR. GAN declared in
his ITRs for taxable years 2009, 2010 and 2011 service income amounting to
P14.29 million, broken down into: P3.12 million in 2009; P3.04 million in
2010; and P8.13 million in 2011. Further, DR. GAN did not file his Quarterly
VAT Returns for the said three-year period as he opted to register under
Percentage Tax and file Percentage Tax Returns with its lower tax rate of 3%
of his gross receipts.
Access letter addressed to Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) was
also sent by the investigators requesting for certifications as to income
payments made to DR. GAN. RCBC is a credit card company whose services were
utilized by the clients of DR. GAN to pay him. Certification from RCBC
revealed that the bank paid DR. GAN a total amount of P47.49 million, broken
down into: P11.96 million in 2009; P23.21 million in 2010; and P12.32 million
in 2011.
A comparison and evaluation of DR. GAN’s declared service income as against
the income he actually received from the said banks showed that he
substantially underdeclared his correct taxable income/receipts by 283.13% or
P8.84 million in 2009, 664.46% or P20.18 million in 2010, and 51.43% orP4.18
million in 2011.
Under Sec. 248 (B) of the Tax Code, under-declaration of taxable income by
more than 30% constitutes a prima facie case of fraud.
As a consequence of his acts and omissions, DR. GAN was assessed a total
deficiency tax liability amounting to P36.49 million, inclusive of surcharges
and interests, broken down into: 2009 - P10.27 million (Income Tax - P6.68
million and VAT – P3.59 million); 2010 - P20.47 million (Income Tax - P14.06
million and VAT – P6.41 million); and 2011 - P5.75 million (Income Tax -
P2.59 million and VAT – P3.16 million).
The case against DR. STEVE MARK G. GAN is the 301st filed under the RATE
program of the BIR under the leadership of Commissioner Kim S.
Jacinto-Henares. It is likewise a RATE case of the National Investigation
Division.
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Six more ADB Filipino bank employees charged with willful failure
to pay taxes
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The Bureau of Internal Revenue
(BIR) today filed separate criminal complaints with the Department of Justice
against six (6) Filipino Asian Development Bank (ADB) employees for Willful
Failure to Pay Taxes for taxable year 2013 under Section 255 of the National
Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended (Tax Code).
Charged were MARIAN G. ARELLANO, EILEEN PURITA Q. BATTUNG, ELBERT E. BUENO,
HELEN Y. CARNECER, MARY ANNE A. CHANECO, and ANNA S. CERVANTES. The six (6)
respondents are registered taxpayers and Filipino nationals employed at the
Asian Development Bank (ADB) located at No. 6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong City,
within the jurisdiction of BIR Revenue District Office (RDO) No. 41,
Mandaluyong City.
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ISO: Have your say on draft International Standards for QMS
and EMS
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The International Organisation for
Standardisation (ISO), through its 163 member-countries, calls all sectors to
have their say on the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 draft International Standards
(DIS) on Quality Management Systems (QMS) and Environmental Management
Systems (EMS), respectively.
The ISO lays down on the table the ISO/ DIS 9001–Fundamentals and Vocabulary
and the ISO/DIS 14001–Requirements with guidance for use, for the review,
comments and inputs of standards officers, regulatory bodies, systems
experts, industries, consumers, and, academe. The ISO reviews its standards
every five years to establish if a revision is required to keep it abreast
and relevant for the marketplace.
The ISO 9001 is one of ISO’s most famous international standards. It
specifies the terminologies and fundamentals for QMS. ISO expects that the
revisions on ISO 9001 will respond to the latest trends and be compatible
with other management systems such as ISO 14001.
The ISO 14001 is also a widely used international standard. It provides the
requirements for an EMS to manage an organization’s environmental impacts.
Similarly to ISO 9001, the ISO intends to develop a new copy that will
complement other management standards such as ISO 9001. Moreover, ISO expects
that the new version will include a requirement to understand the
organization’s context in order to better manage risk, with more emphasis
made on leaders within organizations to promote environmental management. In
addition there will be a shift towards improving environmental performance
rather than improving the management system.
The new ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 are due for publication prior to the end of
2015.
The Department of Trade and Industry’s Bureau of Philippine Standards
(DTI-BPS) is the Philippines’ full member to ISO. The BPS urges all sectors
to provide their reactions on the draft International Standards so the
Philippines can have their say.
The BPS will accept submissions of technical views and comments on or before
01 October 2014 for ISO 9001 and on or before 05 October 2014 for ISO 14001.
Kindly send them to bps@dti.gov.ph. The BPS will also accept notifications
that the drafts are acceptable. These inputs will be referred to the ISO
Central Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland for consideration.
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Duque wins ‘People Manager’ award
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Civil Service Commission (CSC)
Chairperson Francisco T. Duque III was named People Manager of the Year in
Public Sector at the 38th People Management Association of the Philippines
(PMAP) Awards held on Sept. 18 at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City.
It was the first time for PMAP to recognize a public sector manager (National
Official level) and Duque was the first to receive the award.
Duque led the paradigm shift in the CSC from transactional to strategic human
resource management and organization development with focus on citizen
satisfaction.
He was awarded for charting a brighter and better course for the bureaucracy
as head of its central human resource institution.
Since his appointment as Chair of the Commission, he crafted the strategy map
that defined the course of the CSC in its governance transformation journey.
Under his leadership, the CSC received three Silver Governance Trailblazer
Awards in the Performance Governance System.
The CSC also received four ISO 9001:2008 certifications in its core
processes, namely, cases adjudication, exams administration, appointments
processing, and external training services. Two other services—public sector
union accreditation and Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA)
registration—are now recommended for certification.
The Commission also received a consistent rating of Good in two Pulse Asia
Report Card Surveys on citizen’s feedback on the quality of its frontline
services. CSC also got an overall citizen’s satisfaction rating of 98 percent
in the same survey in 2011 and 2013.
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World oil prices were not deterred
by the prospect of OPEC production cuts considering over-supply in Europe and
Asia and a strong U.S. dollar.
Crude prices instead hit a two-year low point last Friday because of swelled
supplies and dampening demand growth. U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate
(WTI) has dropped 13 percent since mid-June to just over $92 per barrel,
while Europe’s Brent and Asian Dubai was down by 15 percent to around $98 and
$95 per barrel, respectively, in the same comparative period. Dubai level of
$95/bbl was last seen in July 2012.
A report of US crude stockpiles, which showed a weekly surge of 3.7 million
barrels, higher than the 1.2-million barrel decline expected by the market,
also supported the recent price decline.
Meanwhile, Platts noted that Asian gasoline market is finding support going
into October on Indonesia, the region's largest gasoline importer, seeking
additional barrels amid lower output from domestic refineries.
On the other hand, Asian gasoil/diesel market remained saddled with supplies,
while demand continued at a slow pace. Platts disclosed that refiners in
India and Taiwan were heard to be holding high inventories in tank, as they
tried to find buyers. These further add up to commercial onshore stockpiles
of middle distillates in Singapore that climbed nearly 14% from the previous
week to stand at 11.598 million barrels in the week ended September 17. Said
higher stockpiles were due to higher imports of diesel.
Overall, Dubai crude decreased week-on-week by about US$1.70/bbl. MOPS diesel
and gasoline decreased as well by about US$1.90 and US$0.60 per barrel,
respectively.
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DepEd supports preparedness efforts of Albay
LGU, ensures continued delivery of educ needs in affected schools
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Albay—In its mission to ensure the
safety of students and school personnel, the Department of Education
(DepEd)—in close coordination with the local government unit (LGU) of
Albay—has implemented preventive measures such as organizing a skeletal force
and safeguarding records and equipment in schools within the permanent danger
zone (PDZ) and extended danger zone (EDZ), and preparing evacuation centers
ahead of actual evacuation in areas affected by the Mayon volcano
disturbance.
Of the 724 schools in the province, 76 have been identified as affected. These
affected schools are those within the PDZ and EDZ. Of these, 28 have already
resumed classes as of September 23. To date, 676 out of 724 schools have
regular classes in the province despite Alert Level 3.
DepEd has implemented interventions to foster a sense of normalcy among
learners. The Department has worked together with the local government of
Albay and UNICEF for the deployment of 155 tents for the 38 schools used as
evacuation centers in five towns and two cities in the province. These
evacuation centers are closely monitored and co-managed by DepEd school
personnel.
These 38 schools used as evacuation centers are also accommodating the
student enrolment of displaced schools to ensure the continued delivery of
education needs. For instance, San Jose Elementary School in Malilipot, Albay
has taken in Calbayog ES pupils. On September 23, some 1,200 students are
expected to report, to be accounted for, while 18 tents are being set up to
provide for their needs. School personnel are likewise tasked to do daily
tracking of all students by grade level.
Together with the Albay provincial government, DepEd continues to work toward
class resumption in affected schools in Albay, Legaspi, Tabaco, and Ligao.
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