07 SEPTEMBER 2014.
President Aquino attends Philippine Business for Social Progress membership meeting in Davao City
Palace seeks public's understanding, cooperation to resolve port congestion
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The Palace on Sunday asked for the public's understanding
and cooperation while the problem of port congestion in the City of Manila is
being resolved.
In a press briefing over radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Presidential
Communication Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., said
"Hinihiling natin ang dagdag na pag-unawa at kooperasyon ng lahat ng
sektor upang masolusyonan ang problema ng congestion sa Port of Manila."
"Ngayong Linggo at bukas (Setyember 7 at 8) at sa susunod na Linggo at
Lunes (Setyember 14 at 15), lahat ng trak na maglalabas ng cargo sa Port of
Manila ay bibigyan ng pribilehiyong 24-hour last mile truck route sa loob ng
susunod na dalawang linggo o hanggang sa ika-22 ng Setyembre," he added.
Coloma, however, cleared that the single-lane truck route being implemented
only applies during truck ban hours and is limited to Roxas Boulevard only.
"Nililinaw lang natin... ang one-truck lane ay ipinaiiral lang isa oras
ng truck ban dahil iginagalang natin ang truck ban ng iba’t ibang lokal na
pamahalaan. Kaya naman sila pumayag na magkaroon ng single lane ay para sa
oras ng truck ban na kasabay ng peak hour ng traffic ng iba’t ibang sektor na
gumagamit ng ating mga lansangan," Coloma explained.
He added that the President has directed Metro Manila Development Authority
(MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino to create Task Force Pantalan to ease and
regulate the flow of traffic going in and out the Port Area in the City of
Manila.
This Task Force will be headed by Police Chief Superintendent Allen Bantolo
of the Philippine National Police-National Capital Region Police Office
(PNP-NCRPO).
Also part of Task Force Pantalan are the Philippine Ports Authority, Land
Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, local government units and
the port users.
Beginning September 8, all overstaying cargo containers will be transferred
from the Port of Manila to Subic Port.
Coloma reiterated the warning that if overstaying cargo containers will not
be claimed, the government will be charging P5,000 storage fee for each day
beginning October 1. PND (ag)
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President Aquino attends Philippine Business for Social Progress
membership meeting in Davao City
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President Benigno Aquino III will grace the Philippine
Business for Social Progress (PBSP) membership meeting and launch of Mindanao
Inclusive Agribusiness Program in Lanang, Davao City on Monday.
There to welcome the President are Department of Trade and Industry Secretary
Gregory Domingo, Mindanao Development Authority Chairperson Luwalhati
Antonio, PBSP Mindanao Regional Committee Chairman Paul Dominguez, and PBSP
Executive Director Rafael Lopa.
Upon the President’s arrival to the venue at the SMX Convention Center of the
SM Lanang Premier, Lanang, Davao City he will be given a tour of the exhibit
area before proceeding to the stage for the program.
The PBSP’s Mindanao Annual Membership Meeting and Inclusive Agribusiness
launch aims to rally its members and other Mindanao Companies around the idea
of inclusive business in the region and seek the opportunity to engage
business with the Bangsamoro.
PBSP’s Mindanao Inclusive Agribusiness Program is engaged in the harvesting
of coffee, cacao, corn, palm oil and rubber.
The group is also promoting corporate social responsibility programs to help
in addressing poverty, job creation, as well as climate change adaptation and
mitigation strategies. PND (ag)
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06 SEPTEMBER 2014.
President Aquino to promote country as investment and tourist destination in European tour
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Malacanang apologized to the public for the traffic
congestion created by the transfer of containers from the Port of Manila to
Subic on Friday.
"At maaayos naman natin ito, humihingi lang tayo ng pasensya sa kahapong
nangyari. But the plans to clear the port congestion ay inaasikaso at
mino-monitor ang situation," Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said
in an interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday.
"We really need to decongest and we really need to move all the empty
containers so that there can be a space for all the containers there,"
he added.
Based on the report they received, Lacierda said the heavy traffic eased on
Saturday morning at the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).
Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson is working to monitor the
transfer of the containers to Subic so that the cargoes could reach their
destination with ease.
The government has to decongest the Port of Manila because it is a main port
and major shipments will arrive especially as the holiday season approaches.
Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras reported that the Batangas port is now
being utilized to accommodate incoming shipments.
The government gave truckers and importers two weeks to move their cargoes
from the Port of Manila and transfer them to private warehouses.
If they fail to remove their cargoes, the government will transfer them to
Subic and starting October 1, a P5,000 charge will be imposed per container
each day.
Authorities appealed to businessmen and importers to avoid using the Port of
Manila as their warehouse because it results to congestions.
Importers use the port to keep their cargoes since it is cheaper using it
compared to hiring privately owned warehouses. PND (as)
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The Palace reiterated on Saturday that the Enhanced
Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the US is within the bounds of the
law and that government lawyers can depend it in the Supreme Court (SC).
"We are very confident that the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG)
will be able to discuss and to defend the Enhanced Defense Cooperation
Agreement," Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a radio
interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday.
EDCA was discussed lengthily by the Philippine and US teams and it has been
looked at by the Philippine government's legal team, Lacierda said noting
that he believes the agreement has not violated constitutional provisions.
The concerns of those opposing EDCA don't have any basis, according to
Lacierda. He added that in fact, the Department of Foreign Affairs released a
briefer on EDCA saying it is in line with the Constitution.
"And for that particular reason, we are very confident that the OSG will
be able to defend the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement before the
Supreme Court," Lacierda said.
Leftist partylist groups also raised EDCA as one of three impeachment cases
against the President. The lower house trashed the three impeachment
complaints against President Aquino last week.
The Philippines and the US signed the agreement this year that allows
American forces to use Philippine bases on limited and rotational basis.
This is in the midst of the country's ongoing territorial row with China in
the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). PND (as)
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The government said it is addressing the traffic problem
in the country to preserve the economic achievements of the administration.
In a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday, Presidential
spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the government is aware of the problems pose by
bad traffic condition to the country's economy.
"We recognize that. In fact, there has been a JICA (Japan International
Cooperation Agency) on the loss of business due to traffic, and for that
particular reason, we have been studying measures on how do we alleviate
traffic, especially in Metro Manila and NCR (National Capital Region)
area," Lacierda told dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
In the case of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT), he said the government is
addressing the situation by adding additional coaches. He apologized to the
public for the inconvenience of the MRT's service.
Another measure is the establishment of terminals outside Metro Manila's main
thoroughfares, and by not allowing provincial buses to enter Metro Manila,
there will be smoother flow of traffic, he said.
A week ago, the government launched the south station. Buses coming from the
south have started using the terminal in Alabang and passengers going to
Metro Manila have to transfer to another bus.
"We’re also going after the colorum vehicles. That would substantially
cut down the number of colorum vehicles that operate. And plus the fact that
we also have the color-coding," he added.
Another thrust of the government to ease the flow of traffic in Metro Manila
is the construction of NLEX-SLEX (South Luzon Expressway) connector.
Motorists going to the north and vice versa could bypass Metro Manila by
using the connector, thus easing traffic.
While the country experiences these concerns, Lacierda said traffic condition
is also an indication of a growing economy, which is obviously being
experienced by the Philippines right now.
"But as much as it is a sign of a growing economy, we also need and we
recognize the need to make sure that traffic does not impede the flow of
business productivity," he added. PND (as)
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President Aquino to promote country as investment and tourist destination in European tour
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President Benigno S. Aquino III will pitch the country's investment prospects to European businessmen as well as promote Philippine
tourism, according to a Palace official.
The President is expected to leave for Europe and the US this week.
"The President will be able to share our experience," Presidential
spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
"The President will be able to share also what’s happening in the
Philippines in terms of investments, in terms of opportunities for
investments in several fields—tourism, manufacturing, and other fields—which
will truly be attractive to foreign investors," he added.
The trip of the President is also an opportunity to promote the country's
tourist destinations to Europeans.
Asked about the concerns of European businessman on starting a business in
the Philippines that is hampered by red tape, Lacierda they want to know
specific concerns to address the problem.
"Let us know, we will address those concerns of European businessmen.
Our emphasis is really to invite foreign investors to come and we’re making all
the efforts to make the ease of doing business a continuing reality sa
kanila, whether European, or any foreign investor," he said. PND (as)
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05 SEPTEMBER 2014.
The government will launch an “invigorated anti-kotong campaign” in the next two weeks in an effort to help
truckers move containers from the Port of Manila, Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene
Almendras said on Friday.
“We’re going to be launching an invigorated anti-kotong operation,
particularly those that are targeting these trucks, because the truckers have
said that one of their problems is these illegal and unscrupulous
operations,” Secretary Almendras told reporters during a press briefing in
Malacañang.
He said these illegal operations have raised the cost of transporting cargoes
from Manila’s seaport to their destinations.
“Tumaas ho ang presyo, as well as the pressure has been significant, kaya rin
naiipit ang mga cargo. So, we are going to face this challenge head-on with a
new task force under the NCRPO (National Capital Region Police Office) po,”
Almendras said.
He said Philippine National Police Chief General Alan Purisima has assigned a
senior officer of the NCRPO, General Allen Bantolo, to oversee the
anti-kotong operations and inform traffic enforcers of the special facility
to be given to truckers.
Some traffic enforcers who have not been “appropriately informed” of the
special facility, are taking advantage of the situation, he noted.
The Cabinet Secretary reported that Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA)
Chairman Francis Tolentino met with traffic enforcement groups of different
cities and municipalities in Metro Manila to inform them of the special
facility.
To help decongest the Port of Manila, the Land Transportation Franchising and
Regulatory Board and MMDA will be giving tags to trucks moving containers out
of the seaport. The tag will enable the truckers to avail of the two-week
window that will allow them to use the express lanes, even if they go beyond
the 24-hour allotment to transport their goods.
“We’re looking forward to Sunday. As of today, I saw a list of the importers
who all said they are going to draw containers this Sunday, and it’s a good
list. I’m looking forward to a good Sunday, and if we can do that, so much
the better,” Secretary Almendras said. PND (ag)
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05 SEPTYEMBRE 2014
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“Pinag-ibayong anti-kotong campaign” ang ilulunsad ng pamahalaan sa susunod na dalawang
linggo upang tulungan ang mga trak na mabilis na mahakot ang mga containers
buhat sa Port of Manila, sang-ayon kay Kalihim ng Gabinete Jose Rene
Almendras Biyernes.
“Ilulunsad namin ang puspusang anti-kotong operation, lalo na sa mga trak na
ayon sa mga may-ari ay pinahihirapan ng mga ilegal at tiwaling gawaing
nasabi,” wika ni Kalihim Almendras sa pulong balitaan sa Malacanang.
Sinabi ng Kalihim na ang mga ilegal na gawaing nasabi ay nagiging dahilan ng
paglaki ng gugol sa paghahakot ng mga kargamento buhat sa mga daungan ng
Maynila patungo sa iba-ibang lalawigan.
“Tumaas po ang presyo, gayundin ang iba pang mga bagay kaya rin naiipit ang
mga kargamento. Pagtutuunan ng pansin ang bagay na ito at isang bagong task
force sa ilalim ng National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) ang itinatag
para sa bagay na ito,” pahayag pa ni Almendras.
Idinugtong ni Almendras na si Heneral Alan Purisima, puno ng Pambansang
Pulisya ay nagtalaga ng isang pinuno ng NCRPO, si Heneral Allen Bantolo,
upang manguna sa anti-kotong operations at ipababatid nila sa mga
tagapagpatupad ng batas-trapiko ang special facility na ipagkakaloob sa mga
trak.
Ayon kay Almendras, ang mga tagapagpatupad ng batas-trapiko na hindi
“napagsabihan” tungkol sa special facility ang nagsasamantala sa sitwasyon.
Iniulat din ng Kalihim ng Gabinete na nakipagpulong na si Chairman Francis
Tolentino ng Metro Manila Development Authority sa mga pangkat ng
tagapagpatupad ng batas-trapiko ng iba-ibang lungsod at bayan ng Metro Manila
para ipabatid sa kanila ang special facility.
Upang lumuwag ang Daungan ng Maynila, lalagyan ng Land Transportation
Franchising and Regulatory Board at ang MMDA ng “tags” ang mga trak na
maglalabas ng mga containers buhat sa mga daungan. Ang “tag” na ito ay
gagamitin sa loob ng dalawang linggong palugit na ibinigay sa lahat ng
may-ari ng trak upang gamitin ang express lanes kahit lampas na ang 24 na
oras na itinakda para mahakot nila ang kanilang mga paninda.
“Inaantabayanan namin ang araw ng Linggo. Hanggang ngayong araw na ito,
nakita ko ang isang listahan ng mga importers na nagsabing silang lahat ay
hahakot ng containers ngayong linggong ito kaya nga inaasam ko na ang
pagsapit ng magandang araw ng Linggo. Kapag nagawa namin ito, malaking kabutihan
ang ibubunga,” dagdag pa ni Almendras. PND (ag/zaf)
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President Beningo S. Aquino III's Speech at the 13th Asian Forum on Social Responsibility
Makati Shangri-la Hotel, Makati City
03 Sept. 2014
Allow me to begin by saying that I am indeed very happy to be with you tonight, for two reasons. The first: as
some of you might know, my first job—which was not that long ago—was with the Philippine Business for Social Progress. The PBSP started in 1970—I was not a founding employee at that time of course—with 50 business leaders who made a rather unusual pledge: to give 1% of their gross profits towards funding activities that now fall under the title of “corporate social responsibility”
(CSR). In effect: they pooled resources to fund development efforts at a grassroots level. Working for the PBSP made concrete the lessons that my parents, the Church, and my university had taught me: that we must be men or women for others, especially for those on the margins.
The second reason is that these kinds of events show me that much has changed for the better throughout the years. In the older days, a manufacturing facility probably just considered only the desired inventory, input and output levels, production schedules, among other similar factors of production. In the older days, profit was the end-all and be-all, and businesses could view their responsibilities in isolation from the community. At best, this was a singular, and coldly practical motivation. At worst, it was myopic, with businesses acting as if they operated in a world where their actions did not affect other sectors—believing that they were contributing to society by concentrating entirely on the bottom line.
Today, the paradigm shift is clear. That same manufacturing facility now thinks of how to minimize its environmental impact; how to minimize waste, and by so doing, preserve the sustainability of source materials; and how to preserve and enhance their relations with the immediate community.
When I see corporations focused on social responsibility, I see kindred spirits who, like me, have to tackle issues in their multifaceted forms and complications—who realize that, indeed, no man is an island. After all, your continued growth cannot happen when the environment that allowed you to embark on this business venture is left by the wayside. Your continued profit cannot happen when you manufacture products that are increasingly out of the reach or relevance of your workers.
Here, today, we are honoring a number of institutions that are helping to redefine the concept of “business.” For all of you, corporate responsibility is good business; your shareholders include your employees, consumers, and now, the members of the communities in which you operate: thus redefining value not only in terms of profit, but also in terms of the empowerment of
others.
For instance, we have the Jollibee Foods Corporation, or JFC, from the Philippines, recognized for two unique programs. Through the Busog, Lusog, Talino School Feeding Program, the JFC has worked with partners in both the public and private sectors to provide lunch for undernourished students in kindergarten, and in the first and second grades. The effects are clear: more
than 80% of beneficiaries have reached a Normal Body Mass Index, and absenteeism has been reduced. There is also their Farmer Entrepreneurship Program, which aims to support the livelihood of Filipino farmers by linking them to the supply chain of institutional markets such as Jollibee. To date, they have helped more than 900 farmers nationwide not only to be more
productive, but also to have access to a broader market.
Next, we have Unilever Indonesia, which has worked to promote the health and well-being of millions of young Indonesians, through their School Program—an Integrated Health Hygiene Promotion. Your program brings together the fundamentals of a sustainably healthy lifestyle through simple practices, such as washing hands with soap, drinking safe water, and eating a nutritious
breakfast, among others.
We also have the Dow Chemical for Sustainable Industry program of Dow Chemical Thailand, which has the goal of institutionalizing sustainable and environmentally responsible industry standards and practices for key sectors. They did this by developing and applying Lean Management principles that focus on the production of goods with maximum efficiency, minimum cost, and a
minimal impact on the environment. By coming up with a manual that contains standards and solutions for sustainable organization improvement, they are helping personnel all over Thailand to perform their duties more effectively.
Of course, we cannot forget the Tribal Development through Cooperative Movement program of the Valsad District Cooperative Milk Producer in India. Credit, training, and infrastructure support are provided to tribes, especially to women, in response to the need to produce more quality milk. This does not only address the problem of supply; it also gives the women dignified and meaningful livelihood that allow them to meet the needs of their children without the need to migrate for work.
Finally, there is the Magsaysay Maritime Corporation, which has worked to address the needs of seafarers, from training and scholarship programs focused on improving skills, to employee benefits that foster financial and educational security, and even to the extent of providing SIM cards enabling seafarers to keep in touch with their families at discounted rates.
Diverse though they may be, all of our awardees today are proof of the fact that the growth of companies and of private industry cannot be divorced from the growth of the communities you find yourselves in. This is only common sense. Now that we have the benefit of hindsight, we have to wonder: why was this not a common truth or an accepted idea in the dawn of big business?
After all, in working towards sustainable livelihood, responsible business practices, and employee welfare, you are ensuring a stronger consumer base for your products and services. In investing in the people, you are displaying a strong commitment to the belief that progress must be inclusive, that economic growth, and consequently, the growth of businesses, relies first and foremost on the empowerment of the people. What does social responsibility mean, after all, if not dealing with your fellow men in a correct and upright manner? Doing so leads to greater stability, which is necessary for the continued growth of your companies. This, in turn, requires an even greater immersion and even greater stakes to be held in the community. This is the virtuous cycle of corporate social responsibility, with businesses and the citizenry helping each other thrive.
These events never fail to inspire me—and I hope that they have the same, if not a greater effect on you and even your peers.Through your work, you have already shown that the simplest ideas can bring about the most profound
transformations.
To those who have not yet seen the wisdom of the CSR movement: it is certainly a choice that is left to your discretion, but those of you who are truly worthy of leadership will know that it is not only the right thing to do, but also and more importantly the imperative for each one of us.
Thank you. Good evening.
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05 SEPT 2014
Accountant convicted for non-remittance of GSIS contributions
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The Sandiganbayan convicted the acting Accountant of Cotabato City State Polytechnic College (CCSPC) for
failing to remit Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) contributions for
six years amounting to P8,374,542.26.
In the Decision promulgated by the Second Division of the Sandiganbayan,
Kadil Guiamad, an accountant and college instructor of CCSPC was found guilty
of violating Section 5(a) of Republic Act (RA) No. 8291 or The Government
Service Insurance Act of 1997.
The prosecution established that Guiamad was in charge of remitting to the
GSIS the mandatory contributions and loan repayments of CCSPC officials and
employees; deductions from the salaries of the employees covering the payment
for mandatory monthly premium contributions were reflected in the general
payrolls; and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Regional Office
in Cotabato City released the cash allocations covering the government share
in the mandatory employer contribution via Notices of Cash Allocation.
Notwithstanding the deductions made and the release of government
contributions, the mandatory monthly premium contributions to the GSIS from
1997 to 2003 were not paid or remitted to the GSIS. Guimad even admitted in a
hearing that the GSIS contributions remain outstanding.
Under Section 5(a) of R.A. No. 8291, “it shall be mandatory for the member
and the employer to pay the monthly contributions” and Section 52(g) makes it
criminally liable for heads of offices and personnel of such offices who are
involved in the collection to “fail, refuse or delay the payment, turnover,
remittance or delivery of such accounts to the GSIS within thirty (30) days from
the time that the same shall have been due and demandable.”
The criminal case against CCSPC President Payakan Tilendo was dismissed in
view of his death in July 2010.
The anti-graft court sentenced Guiamad to imprisonment of five years and was
ordered to pay a fine of P20,000.00. In addition, he was meted out the
penalty of perpetual absolute disqualification from holding public office and
from practicing any profession or calling licensed by the government.
Meanwhile, the criminal charge for violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act
No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) was dismissed for failure to
prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
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Sarangani execs convicted for NGO-related fund mess
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The Sandiganbayan convicted Sarangani Provincial Board Member Marlind Marcelo and former Assistant
Provincial Veterinarian Nicolas Sunio for conspiring in the misappropriation
of funds amounting to P129,450.00.
In a 48-page Decision, the anti-graft court found Marcelo guilty of the
complex crime of Malversation through Falsification of Public Documents, and
Sunio guilty of Falsification of Public Document.
In 2003, the Office of the Ombudsman requested the Commission on Audit (COA)
to conduct a special audit on the alleged anomalies in Sarangani on the
release of financial assistance to various non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) and people’s organizations.
Results of the special audit investigation disclosed that financial
assistance rendered to various NGOs were fraudulent or illegal, and the
projects were non-existent resulting to damage and loss to the government.
In convicting the accused, the Sandiganbayan determined that Marcelo and
Sunio falsified Disbursement Vouchers and supporting documents by making it
appear that financial assistance was requested by the Datal Bila
Multi-Purpose Cooperative (DBMPC) despite knowing that the cooperative was
fictitious. The COA audit team established that DBMPC had no certificate of
accreditation from the Cooperative Development Authority and had also failed
to submit its financial statements for the last three years. More
importantly, no Memorandum of Agreement was executed between DBMPC and the
Provincial Government of Sarangani.
Constantino’s former staff member and whistleblower Mary Ann Gadian testified
that “she was assigned a ‘special task’ during employment in the office of
accused Constantino” which “consisted of creating fictitious cooperatives and
falsifying documents relating to cooperatives as a means to get provincial
funds for their personal use.”
Another former staff member and whistleblower Sheryll Desiree Jane Tangan
testified that she signed above the names of the representatives of DBMPC
requesting financial assistance in the amount of P125,000.00 and that she
signed the By-laws of DBMPC.
Marcelo was sentenced to suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua and
perpetual special disqualification, and was also directed to indemnify the
Province of Sarangani in the amount of P129,450.00. Insofar as Sunio is
concerned, the anti-graft court sentenced him to suffer the indeterminate
penalty of four years, two months and one day of prision correccional maximum
as minimum, to ten years of prision mayor medium, as maximum penalty, and to
pay the fine of P5,000.00.
The criminal case of co-accused former Sarangani Vice-Governor Felipe
Constantino was ordered dismissed in view of his death. Co-accused
ex-Provincial Accountant Maria Camanay remains at large.
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12th Development Policy Research Month
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State think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), in celebration of the 12th
Development Policy Research Month (DPRM), has organized a series of fora
for the whole month of September anchored on the theme “Addressing the Jobs
Challenge toward Inclusive Growth”. The series of fora will gather
policymakers, program planners, development researchers, and labor leaders to
identify the causes of unemployment and underemployment and to seek ways on
how to effectively address these.
To formally launch the DPRM, a press conference is scheduled on August 28,
2014, Thursday, from 10:30AM to 1:30 PM at the Romulo Hall, NEDA sa Makati Building,
Amorsolo St., Makati City.
“This year’s DPRM is very timely since job creation is a central feature of
the Aquino administration’s strategy for inclusive growth,” PIDS president
Gilberto Llanto said. “PIDS conducted several studies to address this
critical development issue. We hope that the evidence-based policy
recommendations offered in these studies, along with the inputs of experts
from concerned government agencies and the academe, would help shape
employment policy directions to make economic growth more inclusive through
more welfare-enhancing labor regulations and poverty-reducing employment
generation programs,” he added.
Income inequality and poverty incidence in the Philippines remain high and
stable in the last two decades despite a rapidly growing economy. It is
widely believed that this failure to attain greater inclusiveness is due to
widespread joblessness and underemployment owing to the country’s inability
to rapidly expand quality job opportunities.
Discussions about the jobs challenge is strong from various sides of the
sociopolitical spectrum of the country, as well as among international
development agencies.
Confirmed panelists are National Economic and Development Authority Deputy
Director-General Emmanuel Esguerra, Department of Trade and Industry
Assistant Secretary for Industry Development Dr. Rafaelita Aldaba, Bureau of
Local Employment Director Dominique R. Tutay and PIDS Senior Research Fellow
Dr. Aniceto Orbeta, Jr.
September of every year is observed as DPRM per Presidential Proclamation No.
247 dated September 02, 2002. The DPRM aims to promote and draw nationwide
awareness on the importance of policy research in national development
planning and policymaking. Under the proclamation, PIDS is designated as the lead
government agency in the observance of the DPRM.
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Preliminary data showed that the country’s gross international reserves (GIR) rose to US$80.785 billion as of
end-August 2014, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando M.
Tetangco, Jr. announced today.1 This level was higher by US$0.141 billion
than the end-July 2014 GIR of US$80.644 billion. The GIR remains ample as it
can cover 11 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and
income. It is also equivalent to 7.9 times the country’s short-term external
debt based on original maturity and 5.7 times based on residual maturity.2
The increase in reserves was due mainly to the foreign exchange operations of
the BSP, net foreign currency deposits by the Treasurer of the Philippines
(TOP), and income from the BSP’s investments abroad. These inflows were
partially offset by payments for maturing foreign exchange obligations of the
National Government (NG).
Net international reserves (NIR), which refer to the difference between the
BSP’s GIR and total short-term liabilities, also increased to US$80.779
billion as of end-August 2014, compared to the end-July 2014 NIR of US$80.638
billion.
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1 The final data on GIR are released to the public every 19th day of the
month in the Statistics section of the BSP’s website under the Special Data
Dissemination Standards (SDDS). If the 19th day of the month falls on a
weekend or is a non-working holiday, the release date shall be the working
day nearest to the 19th.
2 Short-term debt based on residual maturity refers to outstanding external
debt with original maturity of one year or less, plus principal payments on
medium- and long-term loans of the public and private sectors falling due
within the next 12 months.
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DOLE’s wage reforms support PH competitiveness bid
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Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday said the wage reforms being pursued by
the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) and its Regional
Tripartite Wage and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) support the country’s initiatives
to promote worker and enterprise productivity towards making the country more
globally competitive.Citing the DOLE's two-tiered wage system (TTWS), a reform in minimum wage setting adopted in 2012, she said the
TTWS clarifies the parameters for minimum wage setting in the country,
thereby putting discipline in the wage-setting process.
"More importantly, it serves as a deliberate strategy to encourage enterprises and workers to voluntarily
implement productivity improvement programs and engage in the fair and
reasonable sharing of gains from such programs," Baldoz said.Baldoz made these comments after
the World Economic Forum had released its 2014/2015 Global Competitiveness
Report placing the Philippines in 52nd position out of 144 economies, up by 7
notches from 59th in 2013/2014. The annual GCR assesses and ranks more
than 140 countries according to 12 pillars of competitiveness.
Baldoz noted that in one of the 12 pillars of competitiveness--the labor market efficiency pillar--the country’s
ranking had improved 9 notches from 100 in 2013/2014 to 91 this year.
Under this pillar, the country’s performance improved the most in the flexibility in wage determination
indicator by 23 notches (109th to 86th) and in the pay and productivity
indicator by 17 notches (44th to 27th).
The labor market efficiency pillar has 10 indicators, and in the 2014/2015 Global Competitiveness Report, the
Philippines has registered very visible progress in 8 of the 10 indicators,
moving up to the 50 percentile in five of these, namely, (1) cooperation in
labor-employer relations (29th); (2) effect of taxation on incentives to work
(47th); (3)pay and productivity (27th); (4) reliance on professional
management (29th); and (5) country capacity to retain talent (60th).
Baldoz said that the NWPC, in the 2013 policy guidelines on the TTWS, had directed the RTWPBs to issue
advisories on productivity based incentive schemes to guide enterprises in
developing and adopting productivity incentive schemes.
"Following this directive, 13 RTWPBs have issued advisories for their region’s growth or priority
sectors. The rest of the Boards are expected to issue their advisories
within the year," Baldoz bared.
The labor and employment chief also said that the DOLE, through the NWPC and the RTWPBs, provide free
technical advice and assistance on productivity improvement to micro, small,
and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through the conduct of orientation,
training, and provision of technical advice.
According to her, the NWPC also conducts the National Productivity Olympics, a biennial national competition
of the best productivity improvement programs among MSMEs.
The National Productivity Olympics is a productivity promotion program that recognizes the importance of PIPs to
improve the performance and enhance competitiveness of enterprises.
The other day, Baldoz announced the conduct of the National Productivity Olympics this October.
"Our RTWPBs have adopted a value chain approach in the delivery of productivity training programs to
ensure industry- or sector-wide improvements in productivity performance.
Some of these training programs are on ISTIV-PAP, ISTIV-Bayanihan, 5S,
Service Quality (SQ) and Green Productivity," Baldoz said, adding:
"All of these are in support of our country’s bid to improve its global competitiveness ranking."
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DOLE Region 1 holds special job fair for OFW repatriates set in Lingayen, Pangasinan
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Regional Director Grace Ursua of the DOLE Regional Office No. 1 yesterday reported to Labor and Employment
Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz that the regional office has scheduled a
special job fair for OFW repatriates from 12-13 September at the Provincial
Employment Service Office of Pangasinan. Ursua said Pangasinan PESO Manager
Alex Ferrer, which helping organize, and will host, the job fair, has
informed the DOLE regional director that the Pangasinan PESO has invited
local companies to join and participate in the special job fair, as well as
overseas placement agencies that charges no placement fees.
"We are willing to provide employment facilitation services to OFWs displaced due to
crises or emergency situations in Libya, Syria, Israel, Iraq and other
countries," Ferrer said in a letter to Ursua. Baldoz lauded the DOLE
regional office and the Pangasinan PESO for their initiative, saying that the
job fair will be helpful for OFWs who opt to look for other jobs, either
locally or overseas, after being dislocated. "Your job fair comes in the
wake of the successful job fair that the DOLE, through the Bureau of Local
Employment, had conducted last week in Quezon City for OFW-repatriates from
Libya," said Baldoz.
The job fair, according to Ursua, is in support of the Assist WELL Program of the DOLE. Secretary Baldoz established the Assist
WELL program through DOLE Department Order No. 139, series of 2014 to ensure
that OFWs who are compelled to go home under mandatory repatriation due to
crises or emergency situations, are successfully reintegrated in the
mainstream of Philippine society. Assist WELL is a package of comprehensive
reintegration assistance and services under the Assist WELL Program that
addresses the welfare, employment, livelihood and legal assistance needs of
repatriates.
The employment assistance involves the provision of job placement/referral for local or overseas employment and competency assessment
and certification for repatriated workers who wish to confirm whether they
possess the competencies required in a preferred workplace. The Overseas
Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), as head of the welfare assistance
component, provides airport assistance; temporary shelter and accommodation;
transport assistance to residence; emergency medical assistance and stress
debriefing. It also offers entrepreneurial development training; livelihood
skills training; hands-on business mentoring and support and business loan
assistance. There are three programs that repatriated workers can avail of under
the livelihood component of Assist WELL.
These are the P2-B Reintegration Loan Fund for OWWA members; Balik-Pinay, Balik-Hanapbuhay for distressed
OFWs; and the P10-K Livelihood Assistance for non-documented workers. The
Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, which is in charge legal
assistance, provides legal advice; conciliation-mediation proceedings to
afford repatriated workers and their recruitment agencies a venue to discuss
the possibility of amicable settlement; assistance in the preparation and
filing of complaints for illegal recruitment, recruitment violation, and
disciplinary action cases; and counseling during preliminary investigation
and hearings of criminal cases for illegal recruitment.
"All these services will be brought by the DOLE to the special job fair. In addition,
the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority will also be there
and bring its programs and services to job applicants," Ursua said.
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Civil Society Kailangan sa Kampanya ng Gov't at PNP vs Krimen - Roxas
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Inatasan ni Interior at Local Government Sec. Mar Roxas ang National Police Directorate at National Capital
Regional Police Office (NCRPO) Command na pag-aralan ang posibilidad na
magkaroon ng opisyal na ugnayan ang PNP at civic organizations.
Ibinaba ni Roxas ang direktiba matapos ang ulat ni NCRPO Director Carmelo
Valmoria na nagtala ng malaking pagbagsak ang insidente ng kriminalidad sa
Kamaynilaan sa nakalipas na dalawang linggo.
Tinukoy ni Valmoria ang kaso ng theft at robbery na naitala mula Agosto 11-17
sa Metro Manila na umabot sa 757 kaso ay bumaba sa 692 mula Agosto 18-24 at
higit pang gumanda sa panahon ng Agosto 25-31 sa bilang na 605.
Samantalang ang murder o insidente ng pagpatay ay nabawasan din mula Agosto
11-17 na 38 kaso ay bumbaba sa 32 kaso ng murder mula Agosto 25-31.
“Malaking bagay ang pagkalat nitong ating mga pulis, itong mga blue shirts
natin kahit police trainees pa lang sila dahil malaking tulong na ang
nagagawa nila para mabawasan ang krimen," pahayag ni Roxas.
Kaugnay nito, inatasan ng Kalihim na repasuhin ng NCRPO command ang mga units
nito na maaaring pagkunan ng dagdag na puwersa na idadagdag sa naunang 1,000
augmentation force na nasa Kamaynilaan na.
"Ang tanong ko lang saan pa tayo maaring kumuha ng blue shirts na
idadagdag natin dito sa naka-augment ng operatiba ng PNP sa Metro Manila,”
dagdag ng Kalihim.
Bunsod nito, hiniling ni Roxas kay Police Deputy Director Leonardo Espina na
pag-aralan kung maaaring makatulong ng PNP sa police visibility ang civic
groups gaya ng Kabalikat, Barangay Patrol, Liga ng mga Barangay at ibat-iba
pang civic action team at civic communication groups.
"Ginagawa na ng ating civil society, mga civic groups at action team ang
ganitong pagtulong sa mga kababayan natin kapag panahon ng Mahal na Araw
dahil panahon ito ng ating mga kababayan na bumiyahe at mag-uwian sa mga
probinsiya. Kung magustuhan nila, baka puwede natin silang i-accredit at
bigyan ng guidelines para makatulong sa ating police visibility bilang isang
paraan ng pagpigil sa krimen," paglilinaw pa rin ni Roxas.
“Ang krimen, maging ito ay kidnapping, carnapping at theft, at robbery ay
nag-uumpisa sa pagmamanman ng mga tao sa aktibidades ng target nila. Inaalam
ang gawa ng posibleng biktima, mga dinadaan, kinakausap o kasama ng target
para maisayos nila ang masamang balak,” babala ng Kalihim.
Inirekumenda din ni Roxas ang pakikipag-ugnayan ng pulisya sa mga unibersidad
at magkaroon ng pag-uusap kung maaari din makatulong ang ROTC para sa mga
paaralan na mayroon pa nito at Literacy Training Service (LTS) naman at
kahalintulad na programa para sa ibang unibersidad o kolehiyo.
"Baka puwede natin na kausapin ang mga eskuwelahan at tignan natin kung
maaari nating bigyan ng karampatang credits ang mga estudyante at paaralan na
lalahok sa atin," pahayag pa rin nito.
Ipinaalala ni Roxas na: “Habang ginagawa ng kapulisan ang trabaho nila, we
need to keep an eye on each other. Kailangan natin magtulungan para alagaan
natin ang isa’t isa.”
Dagdag pa nito: “Tinatawagan ko din ang ating mga kasangga katulad ng Liga ng
mga Barangay, BPATS at Kabalikat na makiisa at tulungan tayong magmanman sa
kapaligiran sa mga gawaing kaduda-duda ng mga taong may balak na gumawa ng
kidnapping. Mahalaga na magkaroon ng malinaw na ugnayan ang pamahalaan, PNP
at civil society habang sinususugan ang modernisasyon ng PNP upang magawa
nila nang mas mahusay ang kanilang tungkulin para sa kapakanan ng mga
mamamayan na umaasa sa kanila para protektahan ang kanilang mga buhay at
ari-arian.”
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Creation of investment ombudsman team seen to boost investments
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The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) lauded the creation of the investment ombudsman team as an
innovation that will further boost investments in the Philippines, strengthen
investor confidence, and build an "enabling business" environment
for foreign and local investors.
“With the establishment of the investment ombudsman office, we advance the
policy thrust of the Aquino administration for good governance and
transparency, and attract more investors in the country,“ DTI Undersecretary
Ponciano C. Manalo, Jr. said.
By virtue of Office Order No. 327, series of 2014, that took effect on 01
June, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales created the Investment Ombudsman Team
(IOT), and has named Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur H. Carandang as
the Investment Ombudsman of the team.
Manalo noted that consistent with the goal of the government to attract more
local and foreign investors, providing speedy action on investment-related
grievances and complaints of existing and potential investors will also
elevate the country’s global competitiveness ranking.
Board of Investments - Investment Assistance Center (BOI-IAC) Executive
Director Raul V. Angeles said that the BOI, the DTI, and DTI's other attached
agencies already met with the team to discuss the details of the Office Order
and set related capacity training programs.
This September, the DTI and its attached regulatory agencies are scheduled to
brief the IOT on their mandates and functions and to discuss the coverage
investment related issues.
“In line with these administrative arrangements, the BOI is also pursuing
cooperative agreements with other government agencies on the joint
facilitation of business permits and licenses for its registered firms and
applicants,” Angeles said.
To date, the BOI already signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with
Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Environmental Management
Bureau (DENR-EMB), and is currently negotiating agreements with the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Housing
and land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB), Bureau of Customs (BOC), and
Department of Agriculture (DA).
“In addition to these initiatives, the BOI will set-up its One Window Network
(OWN), a project that will enable investors to make electronic transactions
with the agency,” Angeles said.
Angeles noted that through this planned initiative, transactions with the BOI
can be done online through computers and mobile phones. An investor can log
on to a website to post queries or complaints, which will be initially
scanned and passed to concerned agencies within the network. Then, the
investor will be notified in real time.
At present, the BOI is working with the University of the Philippines
Information Technology Development Center (UP-ITDC) to design and develop the
website and customer relationship management (CRM) application for the
project.
“With these current developments and initiative in delivering our services to
the business community, we further encourage economic activity in a
competitive setting and increase job creation in the country,” Manalo said.
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DOE Sec. Petilla: Renewables pave the way to energy security in the Philippines
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The recent geo-political issues in
Indonesia and armed conflict in Iraq serve as a reminder that the Philippines
– which imports 90 percent of its fuel requirements – is highly susceptible
to fluctuating global prices and the looming threats to energy crisis.
To address the country’s energy issues, among the thrusts that the DOE is
pushing for is formulating the right mix of renewable energy (RE) with
traditional sources, such as coal and diesel. “At present, the Philippines is
harnessing 30 percent of RE in our energy mix. If we keep it at that level,
we will have a secure energy source, even if oil prices go up or if there is
a shortage in supply in the international market,” DOE Secretary Carlos
Jericho Petilla said.
“Because RE is indigenous which means it is locally available, we can depend
on it for energy security even if there are political issues such as war in
other countries,” Secretary Petilla added. This benefit alone, he said,
should outweigh the cost implications associated with RE.
According to Secretary Petilla, detractors are quick to point out that the
infrastructure needed to harness RE is expensive. “However, we must clarify
that the equipment only entails one-time cost, not repeated costs. Also,
private citizens can actually benefit more for own-use of RE such as solar,
wind and biomass in self-generation of electricity for their own use,” he
stressed.
“As a simple example, the cost of electricity from a coal plant can run up to
P5.50 per kilowatt hour, plus P6.50 for distribution and transmission, which
amounts to P12.00. If you install solar panels on your rooftop, you will only
spend P9.00 per kilowatt hour for generation and no cost for distribution or
transmission. This already saves you up to P3 per kilowatt hour,” Petilla
said.
With the Philippine RE Act of 2008, net-metering was approved as the first
non-fiscal incentive mechanism, taking effect in July 2013. Under the
net-metering rules, qualified residential and commercial consumers are
allowed to install an on-site RE facility – such as solar panels installed on
roofs – not exceeding 100 kilowatts (kW) in capacity to generate electricity.
Any electricity generated that is not consumed by the RE user will
automatically be exported to the distribution utility’s (DU) system. The DU
then gives a peso credit for the excess electricity received, equivalent to
the DU’s blended generation cost, and deducts the credits earned to the
customer’s electric bill. This translates to a lower monthly bill.
Secretary Petilla said in encouraging homeowners to use solar energy, DOE is
also pushing for energy efficiency. “If they generate their own electricity,
customers will now be more conscious and involved on managing their
electricity consumption,” he said.
To promote the use of RE on a larger scale and to attract new investments for
RE facilities, the government is banking on the feed-in-tariff (FIT) system,
according to Secretary Petilla. FIT is a premium rate paid for electricity
fed into the electricity grid from a designated renewable electricity
generation source like solar energy system or wind power plant. Approved by
the Energy Regulatory Commission in July 2012, the FIT rates in the
Philippines is considered to be one of the lowest in the world. The impact of
FIT to the electricity rate, estimated at 2 centavos per kWh, is marginal
compared to the expected increase in the cost of traditional fossil fuels,
like coal, in the coming years. This is the reason why DOE is pushing for the
increase of the installation target for solar from 50 to 500 megawatts.
“The FIT is a testament that while RE seems to be more expensive than
traditional energy sources, admittedly, it is needed because it is essential
to the country’s energy security,” Secretary Petilla said. Because of this,
the DOE seeks to out RE in place using FIT in its short-term vision to
achieve grid parity. “In the long term, we hope to develop systems in order
for RE to compete toe-to-toe with traditional energy resources and eventually
lower the cost of electricity,” he said.
Despite ongoing issues, Secretary Petilla said RE is a must-have in the
future of the Philippines’ energy mix. “In addition to contributing to our
energy sources which ultimately translates to energy security, utilizing RE
is needed for environmental reasons. Since it is clean energy, harnessing RE
can cushion the effects of climate change,” he said.
DOE is working with other government agencies such as the Climate Change
Commission (CCC) and organizations like Deutsche Gesellschaft für
Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to improve the perception on renewable
energy and propel the shift towards a more sustainable energy supply in the
Philippines.
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Peace Month kicks off on positive note with Azkals' Peace Cup semis win
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MANILA – The Philippine Azkals scored big Wednesday night at the Peace Cup as it dominated Chinese Taipei
5-1 at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, ensuring a face-off with Myanmar
at the finals on Saturday, Sept. 6.
Azkals' win puts on high gear this year's observance of the 11th National
Peace Consciousness Month or Peace Month.
Themed "Nagkakaisang Bayan para sa Kapayapaan," Peace Month aims to
instill peace consciousness on the general public and an understanding of the
comprehensive peace process.
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles said that
Peace Month “is an occasion to thank all those who work tirelessly to build a
more peaceful and progressive society.”
In a statement, Deles gave a call for support for the peace processes in
Mindanao and around the country. “We call on every Filipino to help shape
history by joining our quest for peace,” she said. “This is our time, our
legacy, and our journey – let us be the generation that inspires the world
with the true essence of a just and lasting peace.”
“We are, given our shared aspirations, one country united for peace,
democracy, and a just and better way of life,” Deles said.
This is the third year that the Peace Cup has been organized by the
Philippine Football Federation as part of the observance of Peace Month.
Completing the four-country line up in the Peace Cup is Palestine, which was
booted from the finals with a surprising win of Myanmar at 4-1 over the Asian
Football Challenge champion.
Other Peace Month activities
Aside from the Peace Cup, other activities have already been lined up for
Peace Month. Highlights include an art workshop and contest for students from
across the country, launching of the European Union Peace Journalism Awards
and a basketball clinic topbilled by a celebrity.
In partnership with the House of Representatives' Special Committee on Peace
and Reconciliation, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace
Process (OPAPP) will be hosting on September 15 MasterPeace, an art workshop,
contest, and exhibit featuring 16 select high school students representing
the different regions.
The workshop, to be led by renowned Mindanao artist Rameer Tawasil, will help
participants hone their skills in the visual arts while educating them on the
peace process in the Philippines. Participants will get to exhibit their
works while qualifying for an art contest. Winners will be selected through
on-site and online balloting. The exhibit will run for a week at the House of
Representatives.
On September 24, the EU will be launching the first Peace Journalism Awards
in Cotabato City to encourage print, broadcast, and online journalists to
produce more peace stories and mainstream peace reporting. The grand winner
will win a trip to Brussels, Belgium.
On September 27, OPAPP will host Basketball for Peace, a basketball
exhibition game and clinic for children coming from different religious
backgrounds. The event will be led by peace ambassador Gerald Anderson.
At the same time, OPAPP just launched 'People for Peace,' an online
photography contest open to professional and amateur photographers. Running
until September 30, contestants are encouraged to send photographs, featuring
people or scenes with people, that tell a story about peace. They may log on
to www.opapp.gov.ph/people-peace-photography-competition for details.
OPAPP takes the lead in the celebration of Peace Month by virtue of
Proclamation No. 675 series of 2004.
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DOST launches food innovation hub in Tuguegarao
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The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Regional Office II launched the Food Innovation Center
(FIC) during the opening day of the Northern Luzon Cluster Fair at the
Cagayan State University - Carig Campus, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. The Center
is envisioned to help transform the agriculture-based Cagayan Valley into a
food processing haven. A one-stop-shop food research and development center,
it aims to improve the region’s local food products to reach a sizeable share
of the local and national markets.
Housed at the Center are locally developed food technology equipment designed
to fit the needs of the local industry. Among such equipment are the vertical
fill form seal for the packaging solid food products; vacuum packaging for
meat and dried fruit products; freeze dryer for dehydrating heat-sensitive
food products; vacuum fryer;
Water retort for sterilizing glass and PET or polyethylene Therepthalate
bottles; spray dryer for making powdered products; pulverizer/grinder for
grinding corn, nuts, rice, and other grains; deep fryer for frying chips,
crackers, and fries; dough mixer, noodle maker; noodle cutter; and
single-screw extruder that is used in filling snacks and breakfast cereals.
According to DOST II Regional Director Urduja Tejada, Cagayan Valley may
still be relying heavily on its agricultural products but it is now time to
add more value to crops through processing and product development. On the
competition in the processed food sector in the local market, Dir. Tejada is
positive that with the Center, more local small entrepreneurs in the region
will be able to create new products and expand through the equipment and
services offered by the Center.
Aside from the food technology equipment, other services offered by the
Center include the use of the research and testing laboratory, technology
information system, trainings, consultancies, and packaging and labeling.
Mentioning the ubiquitous banana chips as an example, Dir. Tejada says that
through the Center, the product packaging and label, usually plastic and
photocopied paper respectively, can now be made more durable, attractive and
competitive in the market.
“The product can also undergo shelf-life testing, nutritional labeling, food
quality and safety testing,” she says.
Meanwhile, CSU Chief Executive Officer Archimedes Articulo says that the
Center can be a venue for the University to perform its various functions,
such as instruction, research, extension and production, benefitting the
students, faculty, community, enterprises, and cooperatives.
The Food Innovation Center at the CSU is the first in Luzon and second in the
country, with the pioneering Center launched in Davao City last May. Another
Center is expected to be established soon in the Visayas Region. (S&T
Media Service, DOST-STII)
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South Korea’s incoming Consul General in Cebu calls on PHL Ambassador
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05 September 2014 - Before his posting to the Philippines in September, the incoming head of South Korea’s
new Consulate General in Cebu called on Philippine Ambassador Raul S.
Hernandez on August 26 at the Embassy Chancery.
Lee Ki-seog, Deputy Director General of the Planning and Management Bureau of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), has been tasked to open the consular
mission covering central Philippine islands popular among Korean travelers,
including Cebu, Bohol, Negros, and Boracay.
“I am confident that as new Consul General, you will be able to enhance
cooperation between the Philippines and Korea in the fields of trade and
investment, socio-cultural and people-to-people exchanges and other consular
assistance,” Ambassador Hernandez said, wishing Mr Lee “a meaningful tour of
duty in the Philippines.”
A veteran Arabic hand with three of five previous postings in the Middle
East, Mr. Lee emphasized the need to see primarily to the needs of 15,000
residents and 400,000 travelers from South Korea, but added that the
promotion of economic relations, including trade and tourism, as well as
Korean culture are part of his mandate.
He did not specify a date for the opening of the new Consulate General, which
will be temporarily based out of a hotel in Cebu until a suitable and
permanent office location can be established. Two consuls will assist him in
Korea’s newest consular post, which will report to the South Korean Embassy
in Manila.
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Philippine Science High School wins recognition at Moscow International Student’s Science Fair
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05 September 2014 - A delegation from the Philippine Science High School-Diliman (PSHS), composed of Adrielle
Theresa DL. Cusi, John Christian G. Nacpil, and Lizbeth Joy G. Tan, won
recognition at the 10th International Student’s Science Fair (ISSF) held in
Moscow, Russia from August 8 to 12.
Their research, titled the “Development of a Leap Motion Controller-based
Program for Finger Range-of-Motion Measurement,” was one of the three
projects awarded as “Most Creative and Innovative” out of 23 projects in the
Biotechnology, Health, and Medicine cluster. The PSHS students were
accompanied by teacher/adviser Donna Salve P. Cornes.
The ISSF is a yearly event that aims to facilitate networking and information-sharing
among students and teachers from various countries in the fields of science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
The 10th ISSF was hosted by the Moscow Chemical Lyceum #3103 (MCL) in
collaboration with the Lift to the Future organization and the People’s
Friendship University of Russia. Delegates from 25 countries presented a
total of 120 projects in both poster exhibitions and roundtable discussions.
Projects were divided into five different clusters namely, Biotechnology,
Health, & Medicine; Energy, Engineering & Robotics; Information
Technology & Telecommunications; and Sustainability & Environmental
Science.
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Inflation remains at 4.9 percent in August 2014, stays within government expectation
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MANILA – Headline inflation rate in August 2014 settled to 4.9 percent, the same as in July 2014, according to
the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). Increases in the
price of food and electricity pushed up inflation, while prices of other
commodities remained relatively stable.
Food inflation increased by 8.3 percent in August 2014 resulting from faster
year-on-year growth in almost all major food items during the period.
“Food prices, while expected to remain elevated, are seen to normalize as
government steps up its rice importation,” said Economic Planning Secretary
Arsenio M. Balisacan.
He added that the commencement of the harvest for main season corn, which is
expected to be completed by mid-September, is seen to provide additional
buffer to supply.
“Given the potential upside pressures linked to possible increases in food
and oil prices and pending petitions for adjustments in utility rates, short
term interventions should focus on ensuring supply sufficiency of key
commodities,” said Balisacan, who is also NEDA Director-General.
He added that in the case of rice, timely importation to augment local
production is warranted, given the expected 1.2 percent decline in domestic
palay production in the second half of 2014.
“The relatively high probability of El Nino towards the fourth quarter of
2014 implies that the government should intensify efforts to implement
programs that will help the areas which are highly and moderately vulnerable
to the adverse impact of a dry spell,” said Balisacan.
He added that pest control measures such as the eradication of “cocolisap”
should also be accelerated, given coconut products’ relatively strong linkage
in the production of many food and non-food manufactures for domestic
consumption.
Meanwhile, electricity rates rose as Meralco’s generation charge increased by
PhP0.59/kWh. Outages of power plants have led to supply shortfall,
translating to higher cost of electricity generation. Also, the collection of
universal charges (deferred in previous months) began in August 2014, thus
contributing to the hike in power rates.
“Notwithstanding upward pressures on prices, the overall market expectations
on inflation remain well-anchored,” said Balisacan.
He cited the effect of Monetary Board’s recent move to hike interest rates by
25 basis points to 3.75 percent for the overnight borrowing or reverse
repurchase facility and 5.75 percent for the overnight lending or repurchase
facility.
“Such policy action by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is expected to put a
brake on potential price pressures,” said Balisacan.
Core inflation, which excludes selected volatile food and energy prices,
accelerated to 3.4 percent in August 2014 from 3.0 percent in July 2014 and
1.9 percent in August 2013. But core inflation in the first eight months of
2014 remained subdued at 3.0 percent.
Also, year-to-date headline inflation rate stood at 4.4 percent, still within
the Development Budget Coordination Committee’s inflation target of 3.0 to
5.0 percent for 2014.
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Department of Agriculture Statement on reported DOJ investigation on garlic prices
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The Department of Agriculture welcomes the reported conclusion of the investigation undertaken by the
Department of Justice (DOJ) on the increase of garlic price in June as an
assurance to the public that this administration is relentless in its
campaign for good governance to uphold the interest of the Filipino people.
The Department has cooperated and assisted the DOJ investigation seeing it as
another opportunity to reinforce the reforms that we have been instituting in
the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI). While we await the transmittal of copy of
the official report from DOJ, we assure the public that we shall not tolerate
any of our officials when proven guilty of any wrongdoing that lead to the
perceived manipulation of garlic prices.
Based on the initial assessment of our Agribusiness Marketing Assistance
Service (AMAS), there was really no shortage in the over-all supply of garlic
as of June, but we acknowledged that there was a problem in distribution of
locally-harvested garlic because some stocks were still being held by the
farmers in their areas. DA-AMAS intervened by helping the farmers bring their
yields in various Metro Manila markets to offer lower price versus imported
garlic that initially softened the prices until they normalized in July. May
we enlighten the public that BPI is not issuing “import permit” but only
sanitary-phytosanitary import clearance (SPSIC).
SPSIC is a document issued prior to importation to ensure that the products
being imported meet standards to protect human, animal or plant life or
health, ensuring that the products are safe for consumers and to prevent the
spread of pests or diseases among animals or plants. Such document also
prescribes the conditions to be complied with by the importer for the
maintenance of quality and suitability of the product for the intended
purposes.
The National Garlic Action Team (NGAT) that was cited in the media reports is
a multi-sectoral group that comprises the national garlic industry. They are
the farmers/cooperatives, processors, traders, vendors, the academe - who
responded to support the government in the effort to resurrect the dying
local garlic industry. Also members are DA agencies BPI, High Value Crops
Development Program, AMAS, Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards,
Police Reseach Service, Agricultural Training Institute, Bureau of
Agricultural Research, Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) and Philippine
Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech); and
representatives from DOF – Bureau of Customs and DILG. It is convened by the
National Agricultural and Fishery Council (NAFC), now Philippine Council for
Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF).
NGAT is a consultative group that recommends course of action to the
Department based on its assessment being the stakeholders of the industry.
Import allocation is never part of its mandate. Again, while we await the
copy of the DOJ report, we assure the public that your Department of
Agriculture is always committed to protect the interest of the Filipino
farmers and Filipino people. Mabuhay!
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PRC postpones the schedule of the 2014 licensure exam for fisheries technologists
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Manila, September 5, 2014 --- The Professional Regulation Commission announces the postponement of the
licensure examination for Fisheries Technologists originally set on October
23 and 24, 2014 in Manila, Davao and Iloilo.
The lone member of the Board of Fishery Technology recommended the postponement of the licensure exam due to
vacancies in the membership of the Board rendering the Board of Fisheries
Technologists short of the requirement for a quorum to validly perform its
duties and functions, specifically in the formulation and extraction of test
items, conduct of the examination proper and releasing of the results.
PRC Resolution No. 2014-862 dated August 13, 2014 sought to indefinitely postpone the Fisheries Technologist
licensure exam until the new members of the Board have been duly appointed
and qualified.
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August 2014 Physician Licensure Examination results released in four (4) working days
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The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announces that 2,218 out of 2,730 passed the Physician
Licensure Examination given by the Board of Medicine in the cities of Manila,
Cebu and Davao last August 2014.
The members of the Board of Medicine who gave the licensure examination are
Dr. Miguel L. Noche Jr., Chairman; Dr. Edgardo T. Fernando, Dr. Restituto C.
De Ocampo, Dr. Jose Y. Cueto, Jr., and Dr. Mildred N. Pareja, Members.
The results were released in four (4) working days from the last day of
examination.
Registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card (ID) and
Certificate of Registration will be on September 11, 12, 15 & 16, 2014.
Those who will register are required to bring the following: duly
accomplished Oath Form or Panunumpa ng Propesyonal, current Community Tax
Certificate (cedula), 1 piece passport size picture (colored with white
background and complete name tag), 2 sets of metered documentary stamps and 1
short brown envelope with name and profession and to pay the Initial
Registration Fee of P600 and Annual Registration Fee of P450 for 2014-2017.
Successful examinees should personally register and sign in the Roster of
Registered Professionals.
The date and venue for the oathtaking ceremony of the new successful
examinees in the said examination WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER.
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PDIC to pay depositors of the closed Banco Carmona starting September 9
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The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) will start servicing the deposit insurance claims of
depositors of the closed Banco Carmona, Inc. (A Rural Bank) on September 9,
2014.
Servicing of claims for the bank's Head Office and its PTC Branch will be
conducted from September 9 to 11, 2014 from 8 AM to 5 PM at the bank's the
Head Office located at J.M. Loyola Street, Carmona, Cavite. The state deposit
insurer announced that depositors, regardless of amount of their deposits,
should file a claim for deposit insurance.
Banco Carmona was ordered closed by the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral
ng Pilipinas on August 1, 2014. It was taken over by the PDIC on the same
day. The PDIC earlier informed depositors that there will be a delay in the
payout operations because the owners, officers and employees of the bank did
not properly and promptly turn over to the PDIC the records and assets of the
bank. Without the complete and updated records, the PDIC was unable to
promptly validate bank deposits and determine the amount of insured deposits
for payment. In view of this constraint, the claims settlement operations for
Banco Carmona has been delayed by 24 days. Payments should have commenced
last August 15, 2014.
Furthermore, all depositors of the bank had to be required to file claims due
to need to establish validity and ownership of deposits. In line with
procedures adopted for other closed banks, PDIC has dispensed with filing of
claims by depositors with balances of up to P50,000, and mails checks to the
depositors within 14 days from takeover date.
When filing deposit insurance claims, depositors are advised to personally
present their duly accomplished Claim Form, original copy of evidence of
deposit such as Savings Passbook and Certificate of Time Deposit, and two (2)
valid photo-bearing IDs with signature of the depositor. Depositors may also
file their claims through mail and enclose the same set of document
requirements.
Depositors who are below 18 years old should submit either a photocopy of their
Birth Certificate issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO) or a duly
certified copy issued by the Local Civil Registrar as an additional
requirement, with the Claim Form signed by the parent and the other
requirements. Claimants who are not the signatories in the bank records are
required to submit an original copy of a notarized Special Power of Attorney
(SPA). In the case of a minor depositor, the SPA must be executed by the
parent. PDIC may require additional documents to prove validity and ownership
of deposit accounts
The procedures and requirements for the filing of deposit insurance claims
are posted in the PDIC website, www.pdic.gov.ph. The Claim Form and format of
the Special Power of Attorney may also be downloaded from the PDIC website.
Depositors who are not able to file their claims during the claims settlement
operations period may submit their claims either through mail to PDIC or
personally at the PDIC Office, 4th Floor, SSS Bldg., 6782 Ayala Avenue corner
V.A. Rufino Street, Makati City starting September 22, 2014.
In accordance with the provisions of the PDIC Charter, the last day for
filing deposit insurance claims in the closed Banco Carmona is on August 1,
2016. After this date, PDIC as Deposit Insurer, shall no longer accept any
deposit insurance claim.
The PDIC said that all valid claims will be paid. For deposits to be
considered valid, it must be recorded in the bank's records and must have
evidence of inflow of funds, based on the results of PDIC examination. PDIC,
as Receiver, has the authority to adjust the interest rate on unpaid
interests on deposits of a bank if such rate is deemed unreasonable.
For more information, depositors may contact the Public Assistance Department
at telephone numbers (02) 841-4630 to 31, or e-mail at 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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Cabinet officials back impact evaluation of gov't programs
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Two top officials of the Aquino administration on Wednesday (Sept. 3, 2014) backed efforts to integrate
evaluation practices into development programs, saying these measures ensure
the efficient and prudent use of public and donor funds.
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said evaluation practices
have "provided effective feedback of lessons learned for the improvement
of program and project designs of future development projects."
"This year we are taking it a step further by including in the national
budget a significant amount to conduct process assessments and impact
evaluations of more government programs," Balisacan said in his opening
remarks at the start of the international conference dubbed "Making
Impact Evaluation Matter: Better Evidence for Effective Policies and
Programs" being held at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) headquarters.
"With impact evaluation, the objectives of government transparency and
accountability become a reality and do not remain mere slogans," said
Balisacan, the director-general of the National Economic and Development
Authority and chairman of the board of trustees of the Philippine Institute
for Development Studies (PIDS).
At the conference's opening plenary session, Social Welfare and Development
Secretary Corazon Juliano Soliman said impact evaluation could not be done
away with as it helps achieve the intended goals of development projects as
well as in the allocation of resources. "Impact evaluation tells us if
we are transforming the lives of families, children, and communities,"
she added.
The second wave of impact evaluation of the government's conditional cash
transfer program, known as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps,
"negates" criticism that the program encourages dependency, Soliman
bared. Moreover, program beneficiaries have a better outlook on the future,
she said.
Soliman urged impact evaluation practitioners to address a communication gap,
saying that the dissemination of findings of evaluation studies should appeal
to non-specialist audiences by using less jargon and graphs.
Paul Gertler, economics professor at the University of California, Berkeley,
said the experience of Indonesia on family planning programs was instructive,
as it was found that 70 percent of the reduction in fertility was in fact due
to women's education.
Impact evaluations are useful in three ways: as input to funding decisions, to
inform program design, and as a means of influencing ideas, he said.
"What you do in the Philippines will influence the rest of the world if
it's documented," Gertler said in the opening plenary.
More than 400 delegates are in Manila for the first-ever large-scale
international conference on impact evaluation in Asia, co-organized by the
ADB, the US nonprofit International Initiative for Impact Evaluation or 3ie,
and PIDS. The conference will run until Sept. 5.
PIDS, the state policy think tank, has been tapped by the Aquino
administration to lead a PHP 300-million research project that will conduct
process assessments and impact evaluations of key government programs.
PIDS is spearheading the observance of the 12th Development Policy Research
Month this September with a series of fora and other activities in support of
evidence-based policymaking. The theme for this year's celebration is
"Addressing the Jobs Challenge Toward Inclusive Growth."
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Last Updated: 04 SEPTEMBER 2014
Please click on thumbnails to magnify
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President Benigno S. Aquino III witnesses as AIM-RVR Center for
Corporate Social Responsibility Advisory Board chairman Dato Paduka
Timothy Ong and Board Member Ramon del Rosario, Jr. present the medals
and plaques to the 2014 Asian CSR awardees during the 13th Asian Forum
on Corporate Social Responsibility (AFCSR) at the Rizal Grand Ballroom
of the Makati Shangri-La Hotel in Makati Cityon Wednesday night
(September 03). The conference theme this year is: “Building Resilient
Communities: How Business, Government, and Social Enterprises Can Work
Together.” AFCSR is the largest annual conference on corporate social
responsibility (CSR) in the region. It was launched in 2002 by the Asian
Institute of Management-Ramon V. del Rosario, Sr. (AIM-RVR) Center for
Corporate Social Responsibility, one of the first research centers in
Asia concentrating on corporate responsibility issues. (Photo by Robert
Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the 13th
Asian Forum on Corporate Social Responsibility (AFCSR) at the Rizal
Grand Ballroom of the Makati Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City on
Wednesday night (September 03). The conference theme this year is:
“Building Resilient Communities: How Business, Government, and Social
Enterprises Can Work Together.” The AFCSR is the largest annual
conference on corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the region. It
was launched in 2002 by the Asian Institute of Management-Ramon V. del
Rosario, Sr. (AIM-RVR) Center for Corporate Social Responsibility, one
of the first research centers in Asia concentrating on corporate
responsibility issues. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Robert Viñas /
Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III witnesses as AIM-RVR Center for
Corporate Social Responsibility Advisory Board chairman Dato Paduka
Timothy Ong and Board Member Ramon del Rosario, Jr. presents the medals
and plaques to the 2014 Asian CSR awardees during the 13th Asian Forum
on Corporate Social Responsibility (AFCSR) at the Rizal Grand Ballroom
of the Makati Shangri-La Hotel in Makati Cityon Wednesday night
(September 03). The conference theme this year is “Building Resilient
Communities: How Business, Government, and Social Enterprises Can Work
Together.” The AFCSR is the largest annual conference on corporate
social responsibility (CSR) in the region. It was launched in 2002 by
the Asian Institute of Management-Ramon V. del Rosario, Sr. (AIM-RVR)
Center for Corporate Social Responsibility, one of the first research
centers in Asia concentrating on corporate responsibility issues. (Photo
by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III is welcomed by AIM-RVR Center for
Corporate Social Responsibility Advisory Board chairman Dato Paduka
Timothy Ong and Board Member Ramon del Rosario, Jr., upon arrival for
the 13th Asian Forum on Corporate Social Responsibility (AFCSR) at the
Rizal Grand Ballroom of the Makati Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City on
Wednesday night (September 03). The conference theme this year is
“Building Resilient Communities: How Business, Government, and Social
Enterprises Can Work Together.” The AFCSR is the largest annual
conference on corporate social responsibility in the region. It was
launched in 2002 by the Asian Institute of Management-Ramon V. del
Rosario, Sr. (AIM-RVR) Center for Corporate Social Responsibility, one
of the first research centers in Asia concentrating on corporate
responsibility issues. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Robert Viñas /
Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III huddles with the Foreign Chamber Council
of the Philippines (FCCP) officers for a photo souvenir during the
oathtaking ceremony at the President’s Hall of the Malacañan Palace on
Wednesday(September 03). The set of FCCP officers are (from left) Edward
Ling FCCP Vice Chairman Internal Affairs, Ramesh Genomal FCCP Vice
Chairman External Affairs, Abdulgani Macatoman FCCP Vice Chairman-Trade
And Commerce, Ram Sitaldas FCCP Executive Vice Chairman, Philip Chien
FCCP Chairman, Ferdinand Sarfati FCCP Vice Chairman-Ways and Means, and
Petteri Makatalo FCCP Vice Chairman Social Responsibility, Eddie B H Yeo
FCCP Vice Chairman Tresury and Michael Lin FCCP Vice Chairman Media And
Information. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III inducts into office the Foreign Chamber
Council of the Philippines (FCCP) officers in a ceremony at the
President’s Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday (September 03).
The set of FCCP officers are (from left) Philip Chien FCCP Chairman, Ram
Sitaldas FCCP Executive Vice Chairman,Ferdinand Sarfati FCCP Vice
Chairman-Ways and Means, Abdulgani Macatoman FCCP Vice Chairman-Trade
And Commerce,Ramesh Genomal FCCP Vice Chairman External Affairs, Edward
Ling FCCP Vice Chairman Internal Affairs,Eddie B H Yeo FCCP Vice
Chairman Tresury, Michael Lin FCCP Vice Chairman Media And Information
and Petteri Makatalo FCCP Vice Chairman Social Responsibility. (Photo by
Benhur Arcayan/ Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III administers the oath of office to newly
appointed government officials in a ceremony held at the Rizal Hall of
the Malacañan Palace on Monday (September 01). (Photo by Ryan Lim /
Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III administers the oath of office to newly
appointed National Peace and Order Council officials in a ceremony at
the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Monday (September 01). Also in
photo is Supreme Court Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza. (Photo by
Marcelino Pascua / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III shares the stage with newly sworn in
government officials for a photo souvenir after administering the oath
in a ceremony at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Monday
(September 01). Also in photo are Interior and Local Government
Secretary Manuel Roxas II and Supreme Court Associate Justice Francis
Jardeleza. (Photo by Lauro Montellano, Jr. /
Marcelino Pascua /
Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III shares the stage with newly sworn in
Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Jose Favia for a photo souvenir
after administering the oath in a ceremony at the Rizal Hall of the
Malacañan Palace on Monday (September 01). (Photo by Ryan Lim /
Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III congratulates National Youth Commission
(NYC) Commissioner-at-Large Jose Sixto “Dingdong” Dantes III after
administering the oath in a ceremony at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan
Palace on Monday (September 01). Also in photo are Interior and Local
Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II and TV host/actress Marian Rivera.
(Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the launching of Ligtas sa Tigdas
at Polio Mass Immunization Campaign at the Department of Health (DOH)
Convention Hall in San Lazaro Compound, Sta. Cruz, Manila City on Monday
(September, 01). With the theme “Ligtas sa Tigdas: Magkaisa, Magpabakuna,"
this nationwide campaign is a follow-up to the 2011 Measles Rubella
Supplemental Immunization Activity to interrupt current transmission of
measles in the country. Also in photo are Health Secretary Dr. Enrique
Ona and Health Undersecretaries Dr. Teodoro Herbosa and Dr. Janette
Garin. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the launching of Ligtas sa Tigdas
at Polio Mass Immunization Campaign at the DOH Convention Hall in San
Lazaro Compound, Sta. Cruz, Manila City on Monday (September 01). With
the theme “Ligtas sa Tigdas: Magkaisa, Magpabakuna," this nationwide
campaign is a follow-up to the 2011 Measles Rubella Supplemental
Immunization Activity to interrupt current transmission of measles in
the country. Also in photo are Health Secretary Dr. Enrique Ona and
Health Undersecretaries Dr. Teodoro Herbosa and Dr. Nemesio Gako. (Photo
by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the launching of Ligtas sa Tigdas
at Polio Mass Immunization Campaign at the DOH Convention Hall in San
Lazaro Compound, Sta. Cruz, Manila City on Monday (September 01). With
the theme: “Ligtas sa Tigdas: Magkaisa, Magpabakuna,” this nationwide
campaign is a follow-up to the 2011 Measles Rubella Supplemental
Immunization Activity to interrupt current transmission of measles in
the country. Also in photo are Health Secretary Dr. Enrique Ona and
Health Undersecretary Dr. Teodoro Herbosa. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan /
Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the launching
of Ligtas sa Tigdas at Polio Mass Immunization Campaign at the DOH
Convention Hall in San Lazaro Compound, Sta. Cruz, Manila City on Monday
(September 01). With the theme: “Ligtas sa Tigdas: Magkaisa, Magpabakuna,"
this nationwide campaign is a follow-up to the 2011 Measles Rubella
Supplemental Immunization Activity to interrupt current transmission of
measles in the country. Also in photo are Health Secretary Dr. Enrique
Ona and Health Undersecretaries Dr. Teodoro Herbosa, Dr. Janette Garin
and Dr. Nemesio Gako. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo
Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the launching of Ligtas sa Tigdas
at Polio Mass Immunization Campaign at the DOH Convention Hall in San
Lazaro Compound, Sta. Cruz, Manila City on Monday (September 01). With
theme: “Ligtas sa Tigdas: Magkaisa, Magpabakuna,” this nationwide
campaign is a follow-up to the 2011 Measles Rubella Supplemental
Immunization Activity to interrupt current transmission of measles in
the country. Also in photo is Health Secretary Dr. Enrique Ona. (Photo
by Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III witnesses as Health Secretary Dr.
Enrique Ona leads the ceremonial “patak” of oral polio vaccine during
the Launching of Ligtas sa Tigdas at Polio Mass Immunization Campaign at
the DOH Convention Hall in San Lazaro Compound, Sta. Cruz, Manila City
on Monday (September 01). With the theme: “Ligtas sa Tigdas: Magkaisa,
Magpabakuna," this nationwide campaign is a follow-up to the 2011
Measles Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity to interrupt current
transmission of measles in the country. Also in photo are Health
Undersecretary Dr. Janette Garin and Health Assistant Secretary Dr.
Enrique Tayag. (Photo by Ryan Lim/ Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo
Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III congratulates Randy Halasan from the
Philippines as being one of the 2014 Ramon Magsaysay awardees during the
presentation ceremonies Sunday (August 31) at the Cultural Center of the
Philippines in Pasay City, Philippines. Established in 1957, the Ramon
Magsaysay Awards is Asia's highest honor and is widely regarded as the
region's equivalent to the Nobel Prize. (Photo by Gil Nartea /
Malacanang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III presents the medal and certificate to
Randy Halasan from the Philippines as one of the 2014 Ramon Magsaysay
awardees during the presentation ceremonies Sunday (August 31) at the
Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City, Philippines.
Established in 1957, the Ramon Magsaysay Awards is Asia's highest honor
and is widely regarded as the region's equivalent to the Nobel Prize.
(Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacanang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III presents the medal and certificate to
Wang Canfa from China as one of the 2014 Ramon Magsaysay awardees during
the presentation ceremonies Sunday (August 31) at the Cultural Center of
the Philippines in Pasay City, Philippines. Established in 1957, the
Ramon Magsaysay Awards is Asia's highest honor and is widely regarded as
the region's equivalent to the Nobel Prize. (Photo by Gil Nartea /
Malacanang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III presents the medal and certificate to
the representatives of the The Citizen's Foundation from Pakistan as one
of the 2014 Ramon Magsaysay awardees during the presentation ceremonies
Sunday (August 31) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay
City, Philippines. Established in 1957, the Ramon Magsaysay Awards is
Asia's highest honor and is widely regarded as the region's equivalent
to the Nobel Prize. (Photo by Gil Nartea/Malacanang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III presents the medal and certificate to
Omara Khan Masoudi from Afghanistan as one of the 2014 Ramon Magsaysay
awardees during the presentation ceremonies Sunday (August 31) at the
Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City, Philippines.
Established in 1957, the Ramon Magsaysay Awards is Asia's highest honor
and is widely regarded as the region's equivalent to the Nobel Prize.
(Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacanang Photo Bureau) |
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President benigno S. Aquino III presents the medal and certificate to
Saur Marlina Manurung from Indonesia as one of the 2014 Ramon Magsaysay
awardees during the presentation ceremonies Sunday (August 31) at the
Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City, Philippines.
Established in 1957, the Ramon Magsaysay Awards is Asia's highest honor
and is widely regarded as the region's equivalent to the Nobel Prize.
(Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacanang Photo Bureau) |
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President benigno S. Aquino III presents the medal and certificate to Hu
Shuli from China as one of the 2014 Ramon Magsaysay awardees during the
presentation ceremonies Sunday (August 31) at the Cultural Center of the
Philippines in Pasay City, Philippines. Established in 1957, the Ramon
Magsaysay Awards is Asia's highest honor and is widely regarded as the
region's equivalent to the Nobel Prize. (Photo by Gil Nartea/Malacanang
Photo Bureau) |
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President benigno S. Aquino III poses with the 2014 Ramon Magsaysay
awardees (from left) Randy Halasan, Philippines; Wang Canfa, China; The
Citizen Foundation (two representatives), Pakistan; Saur Marlina
Manurung, Indonesia; and Ho Shuli, China during the presentation
ceremonies Sunday (August 31) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines
in Pasay City, Philippines. Established in 1957, the Ramon Magsaysay
Awards is Asia's highest honor and is widely regarded as the region's
equivalent to the Nobel Prize. (Photo by Gil Nartea/Malacanang Photo
Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his message at the presentation
ceremonies of the 2014 Ramon Magsaysay Awards at the main theater of the
Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City Sunday (August 31). The
Ramon magsaysay Awards, established in 1957, is Asia's highest honor and
widely regarded as the region's equivalent to the Nobel Prize. (Photo by
Gil Nartea/Malacanang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III sings the national anthem at the start
of the program during the presentation ceremonies of the 2014 Ramon
Magsaysay Awards at the main theater of the Cultural Center of the
Philippines in Pasay City Sunday (August 31). The Ramon magsaysay
Awards, established in 1957, is Asia's highest honor and widely regarded
as the region's equivalent to the Nobel Prize. (Photo by Gil Nartea /
Malacanang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III shares a light moment with Oriental
Mindoro Governor Alfonso Umali, Jr., and Public Works and Highways
Secretary Rogelio Singson during the briefing on the infrastructure
projects in the Province of Oriental Mindoro held in Barangay Talipanan,
Puerto Galera on Friday (August 29). (Photo by Exequiel Supera /
Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the briefing on the
infrastructure projects in the Province of Oriental Mindoro in Barangay
Talipanan, Puerto Galera on Friday (August 29). Also in photo are
Caloocan City 2nd District Representative Edgar Erice, Occidental
Mindoro Lone District Representative Josephine Sato, Oriental Mindoro
2nd District Representative Reynaldo Umali, Public Works and Highways
Secretary Rogelio Singson and Interior and Local Government Secretary
Manuel Roxas II. (Photo by Exequiel Supera / Malacañang Photo Bureau /
PCOO) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the briefing on the
infrastructure projects in the Province of Oriental Mindoro held in
Barangay Talipanan, Puerto Galera on Friday (August 29). Also in photo
is Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso Umali, Jr. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan
/ Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the briefing on the
Infrastructure projects in the Province of Oriental Mindoro held in
Barangay Talipanan, Puerto Galera on Friday (August 29). Also in photo
are Occidental Mindoro Lone District Representative Josephine Sato,
Oriental Mindoro 2nd District Representative Reynaldo Umali, Public
Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson and Interior and Local
Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan /
Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III is welcomed by Oriental Mindoro Governor
Alfonso Umali, Jr., and Oriental Mindoro 2nd District Representative
Reynaldo Umali upon arrival for the briefing on the infrastructure
projects in the Province of Oriental Mindoro held in Barangay Talipanan,
Puerto Galera on Friday (August 29). (Photo by Benhur Arcayan /
Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the briefing
on the infrastructure projects in the Province of Oriental Mindoro held
in Barangay Talipanan, Puerto Galera on Friday (August 29). Also in
photo are Caloocan City 2nd District Representative Edgar Erice,
Occidental Mindoro Lone District Representative Josephine Sato, Oriental
Mindoro 2nd District Representative Reynaldo Umali, Public Works and
Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson, Interior and Local Government
Secretary Manuel Roxas II and Puerto Galera Municipal Mayor Hubbert
Christopher Dolor. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the briefing
on the infrastructure projects in the Province of Oriental Mindoro held
in Barangay Talipanan, Puerto Galera on Friday (August 29). Also in
photo are Caloocan City 2nd District Representative Edgar Erice,
Occidental Mindoro Lone District Representative Josephine Sato and
Oriental Mindoro 2nd District Representative Reynaldo Umali. (Photo by
Gil Nartea / Exequiel Supera / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the briefing
on theoil nfrastructure projects in the Province of Oriental Mindoro
held in Barangay Talipanan, Puerto Galera on Friday (August 29). (Photo
by Gil Nartea / Benhur Arcayan / Exequiel Supera / Malacañang Photo
Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III in an exclusive interview with Elmar
Acol of Bombo Radyo Philippines at the Music Room, Malacañan Palace on
Monday (August 27). (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Gil Nartea / Malacañang
Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III exchanges pleasantries with Peter
Maurer, President of International Committee of the Red Cross during the
courtesy call at the Music Room of the Malacañan Palace Tuesday (August
26). Also in photo are Alain Aeschliman, ICRC head of operarions for Far
East, Paul Maucle, head of the delegation, and Graziells Leite-Piccolo,
also of ICRC. (Photo by Gil Nartea /
Rolando Mailo/ Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III receives a framed photograph showing his
mother, former President Corazon Aquino,receiving officials of the
International Committee of the Red during a courtesy call in Malacanang
in her time. Peter Maurer, President of ICRCO, gifted the President with
the picture. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Gil
Nartea / Rolando Mailo/ Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomes Peter Maurer, President of the
International Committee of the Red Cross, during the courtesy call at
the Music Room of the Malacañan Palace on Tuesday (August 26). (Photo by
Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III confers the Order of Sikatuna on
Japanese ambassador to the Philippines Toshinao Urabe in Malacanang
Tuesday (August 26). (Photo by Gil nartea/ Rolando Mailo/ Malacanang
Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III confers the Order of Sikatuna on
Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Toshinao Urabe in Malacanang
Tuesday (August 26). Also in photo are Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene
Almendras, DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario, Minister Tetsuro Amano,
Deputy Chief of Mission , and Minister Horonori Shibata, Political
Minister. (Photo by Gil Nartea/ Lauro Montellano Jr./ Rolando
Mailo / Malacanang photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III leads the nation in commemorating
National Heroes Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio,
Taguig City on Monday (August 25). This year's theme is “Bayaning
Pilipino: Lumalaban para sa Makatuwiran at Makabuluhang Pagbabago.”
(Photo by Ryan Lim / Robert Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the
commemoration of National Heroes Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Monday (August 25). This year's theme is
“Bayaning Pilipino: Lumalaban para sa Makatuwiran at Makabuluhang
Pagbabago.” Also in photo are Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of
Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr., Defense Secretary Voltaire
Gazmin, National Historical Commission of the Philippines chairperson
Dr. Maria Serena Diokno and Taguig City Mayor Ma. Laarni Cayetano.
(Photo by Gil Nartea / Ryan Lim / Robert Viñas / Rey Baniquet /
Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III, assisted by Armed Forces of the
Philippines Chief of Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr., offers a
wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers during the commemoration of
the National Heroes Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio,
Taguig City on Monday (August 25). This year's theme is “Bayaning
Pilipino: Lumalaban para sa Makatuwiran at Makabuluhang Pagbabago.”
(Photo by Gil Nartea / Robert Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III, assisted by Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr.,
offers a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers during the
commemoration of the National Heroes Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani
in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Monday (August 25). This year's theme
is “Bayaning Pilipino: Lumalaban para sa Makatuwiran at Makabuluhang
Pagbabago.” Also in photo are Taguig City 2nd District Representative
Lino Cayetano, Taguig City Mayor Ma. Laarni Cayetano, National
Historical Commission of the Philippines chairperson Dr. Maria Serena
Diokno and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin. (Photo by Ryan Lim / Rey
Baniquet / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III offers a wreath at the Tomb of the
Unknown Soldiers during the commemoration of National Heroes Day at the
Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Monday (August
25). This year's theme is “Bayaning Pilipino: Lumalaban para sa
Makatwiran at Makabuluhang Pagbabago.” (Photo by Gil Nartea / by Ryan
Lim / Robert Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III troops the line during the commemoration
of National Heroes Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio,
Taguig City on Monday (August 25). This year's theme is “Bayaning
Pilipino: Lumalaban para sa Makatuwiran at Makabuluhang Pagbabago.”
(Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III, accompanied by Armed Forces of the
Philippines Chief of Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr., troops
the line during the commemoration of National Heroes Day at the Libingan
ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Monday (August 25). This
year's theme is “Bayaning Pilipino: Lumalaban para sa Makatuwiran at
Makabuluhang Pagbabago.” (Photo by Gil Nartea / Rey Baniquet /
Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III arrives for the commemoration of
National Heroes Day at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio,
Taguig City on Monday (August 25). This year's theme is “Bayaning
Pilipino: Lumalaban para sa Makatuwiran at Makabuluhang Pagbabago.” Also
in photo are Taguig City Mayor Ma. Laarni Cayetano and Taguig City 2nd
District Representative Lino Cayetano. (Photo by Robert Viñas /
Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III sprinkles holy water over the grave at
the Manila Memorial Park in Sucat, Parañaque City where a Holy Mass was
held to commemorate the 31st death anniversary of his late father,
former Senator Benigno “Ninoy" Aquino, Jr., on Thursday (August 21).
Also in photo are Presidential sisters Victoria Elisa (Viel) Aquino-Dee
and Kristina Bernadette (Kris) Aquino and Presidential nephew James
Carlos "Bimby" Aquino. (Photo by Gil Nartea / LauroMontellano, Jr. /
Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III prays before the grave of his parents at
the Manila Memorial Park in Sucat, Parañaque City where a Holy Mass was
held to commemorate the 31st death anniversary of his late father,
former Senator Benigno “Ninoy" Aquino, Jr., on Thursday (August 21).
(Photo by Gil Nartea / BenhurArcayan / LauroMontellano, Jr. / Malacañang
Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III shares the stage with newly sworn in
Philippine National Police officials for a photo souvenir after oath
taking ceremonies held at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on
Wednesday (August 20). (Photo by Ryan Lim / Gil Nartea/ Malacañang Photo
Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III administers the oath of office of newly
promoted Philippine National Police officials in ceremonies held at the
Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday(August 20). (Photo by
Ryan Lim / Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III exchanges pleasantries with Governor
Corazon Malanyaon of Davao Oriental during the courtesy call at the
Music Room of the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday (August 20). (Photo by
Ryan Lim / Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III greets Davao Oriental Governor Corazon
Malanyaon during the courtesy call at the Music Room of the Malacañan
Palace on Wednesday (August 20, 2014). (Photo by Gil Nartea / Ryan Lim /
Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the
inauguration of the Ninoy Aquino Bridge and its connecting road networks
at the Tuao East Town Center Gymnasium in Tuao, Cagayan on Monday
(August 18). The newly constructed 360-meter Ninoy Aquino Bridge across
the Chico River, costs P599.40 million, is connected to two other small
bridges, the 40-meter Malummin and the 20-meterAngag bridge. It will
permanently connect Cagayan to the provinces of Kalinga and Apayao and
also an inter-regional link between Regions I, II and the Cordillera
Administrative Region. Also in photo are League of Provinces of the
Philippines national president and Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso
Umali, Jr., Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II,
Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson, Presidential
Legislative Liaison Office Head Manuel Mamba, Metropolitan Manila
Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino and Tuao Municipal
Mayor Francisco Mamba, Jr. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo
Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III, assisted by Public Works and Highways
Secretary Rogelio Singson, unveils the marker during the inauguration of
the Ninoy Aquino Bridge and its connecting road networks in Barangay San
Luis, Tuao, Cagayan on Monday (August 18). The newly constructed
360-meter Ninoy Aquino Bridge across the Chico River, costs P599.40
million, is connected to two other small bridges, the 40-meter Malummin
and the 20-meter Angag bridge. It will permanently connect Cagayan to
the provinces of Kalinga and Apayao and also an inter-regional link
between Regions I, II and the Cordillera Administrative Region. The
bridge is expected to boost the local economy of the three regions for
it shortens the travel time and eases the transportation of goods and
agricultural products of farmers and traders to any point of Regions I,
II and CAR. Also in photo are Tuao Municipal Mayor Francisco Mamba, Jr.,
Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Presidential
Legislative Liaison Office Head Manuel Mamba and Public Works and
Highways Region II Director Melvin Navarro. (Photo by Rodolfo Manabat /
Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the Inauguration of the Ninoy
Aquino Bridge and its connecting road networks at the Tuao East Town
Center Gymnasium in Tuao, Cagayan on Monday (August 18). The newly
constructed 360-meter Ninoy Aquino Bridge across the Chico River, costs
P599.40 million, is connected to two other small bridges, the 40-meter
Malummin and the 20-meter Angag bridge. It will permanently connect
Cagayan to the provinces of Kalinga and Apayao and also an
inter-regional link between Regions I, II and the Cordillera
Administrative Region. The bridge is expected to boost the local economy
of the three regions for it shortens the travel time and eases the
transportation of goods and agricultural products of farmers and traders
to any point of Regions I, II and CAR. Also in photo are League of
Provinces of the Philippines national president and Oriental Mindoro
Governor Alfonso Umali, Jr., Interior and Local Government Secretary
Manuel Roxas II, Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson,
Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Head Manuel Mamba and
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino.
(Photo by Rodolfo Manabat / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the inauguration of the Ninoy
Aquino Bridge and its connecting road networks in Barangay San Luis,
Tuao, Cagayan on Monday (August 18). The newly constructed 360-meter
Ninoy Aquino Bridge across the Chico River, costs P599.40 million, is
connected to two other small bridges, the 40-meter Malummin and the
20-meter Angag bridge. It will permanently connect Cagayan to the
provinces of Kalinga and Apayao and also an inter-regional link between
Regions I, II and the Cordillera Administrative Region. The bridge is
expected to boost the local economy of the three regions for it shortens
the travel time and eases the transportation of goods and agricultural
products of farmers and traders to any point of Regions I, II and CAR.
(Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III distributes PNoy baller bands to the
crowd as he graces the inauguration of the Ninoy Aquino Bridge and its
connecting road networks in Barangay San Luis, Tuao, Cagayan on Monday
(August 18). The newly constructed 360-meter Ninoy Aquino Bridge across
the Chico River, costs P599.40 million, is connected to two other small
bridges, the 40-meter Malummin and the 20-meter Angag bridge. It will
permanently connect Cagayan to the provinces of Kalinga and Apayao and
also an inter-regional link between Regions I, II and the Cordillera
Administrative Region. The bridge is expected to boost the local economy
of the three regions for it shortens the travel time and eases the
transportation of goods and agricultural products of farmers and traders
to any point of Regions I, II and CAR. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang
Photo Bureau) |
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President Benigno S. Aquino III receives a warm welcome from the locals
during the inauguration of the Ninoy Aquino Bridge and its connecting
road networks in Barangay San Luis, Tuao, Cagayan on Monday (August 18).
The newly constructed 360-meter Ninoy Aquino Bridge across the Chico
River, costs P599.40 million, is connected to two other small bridges,
the 40-meter Malummin and the 20-meter Angag bridge. It will permanently
connect Cagayan to the provinces of Kalinga and Apayao and also an
inter-regional link between Regions I, II and the Cordillera
Administrative Region. The bridge is expected to boost the local economy
of the three regions for it shortens the travel time and eases the
transportation of goods and agricultural products of farmers and traders
to any point of Regions I, II and CAR. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Ryan Lim /
Malacañang Photo Bureau) |
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Please email us at pcoo.edp@gmail.com
if you need a copy of last week's photo releases of PNOY
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