24-Hour Public Weather Forecast
Issued at 5:00 a.m., 26 November 2014Valid beginning: 5:00 a.m. today until 5:00 a.m. tomorrow
 Predicted Mean Sea Level Pressure Analysis for 8 p.m., 25 November 2014 |
 Predicted Mean Sea Level Wind Analysis for 8 p.m., 25 November 2014 |
 Satellite Image |
Synopsis:
Forecast:
Caraga, Northern Mindanao and the
provinces of Leyte and Bohol will experience cloudy skies with moderate
to occasionally heavy rainshowers and thunderstorms which may trigger
flashfloods and landslides. The regions of Bicol and Davao and the rest
of Eastern and Central Visayas will have light to moderate rainshowers
and thunderstorms. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be
partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.
Dost_pagasa added 2 new photos — with Sangguniang Bayan Baras Catanduanes and Perfecto Dujale.
30 mins ·
WEATHER BULLETIN NUMBER TWO
TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING: TROPICAL DEPRESSION #QueeniePH
ISSUED AT 10:30 AM, 26 NOVEMBER 2014
TROPICAL DEPRESSION QUEENIE HAS MAINTAINED ITS STRENGTH AS IT CONTINUES TO MOVE CLOSER TOWARD THE EASTERN SECTION OF MINDANAO.
TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING: TROPICAL DEPRESSION #QueeniePH
ISSUED AT 10:30 AM, 26 NOVEMBER 2014
TROPICAL DEPRESSION QUEENIE HAS MAINTAINED ITS STRENGTH AS IT CONTINUES TO MOVE CLOSER TOWARD THE EASTERN SECTION OF MINDANAO.
Location of eye/center: At 10:00 AM today, the center of Tropical
Depression QUEENIE was estimated based on available data at 210 km East
of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur(8.6°N, 128.2°E).
Strength: Maximum winds of 45 kph near the center.
Movement: Forecast to move West at 24 kph.
Forecast Positions: Tropical Depression QUEENIE is expected to make landfall over Surigao del Sur this afternoon and traverse the Northern Mindanao area tonight. By tomorrow morning, it is expected to be at 35 km North of Dipolog City, and at 105 km West of Puerto Princesa by Friday morning. It is expected to be outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Friday evening and at 710 km West of Puerto Princesa or over the West Philippine Sea by Saturday morning.
Signal #1 (Winds of 30-60 kph is expected in at least 36 hours): Southern Leyte, Bohol, Southern Cebu, Negros Oriental, Southern Negros Occidental, Siquijor, Surigao del Norte including Siargao Island, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Compostella Valley, Dinagat Province, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon and Zamboanga del Norte.
• Estimated rainfall amount is from 7-15 mm per hour (moderate-heavy) within the 300 km diameter of the Tropical Depression.
• Residents in low lying and mountainous areas of the provinces with PSWS#1 as well as the rest of Mindanao are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.
• Fisherfolks and those with small seacrafts are advised not to venture out over the eastern seaboard of Visayas and Mindanao.
• The public and the disaster risk reduction and management council concerned are advised to take appropriate actions and watch for the next bulletin to be issued at 5 PM today.
Strength: Maximum winds of 45 kph near the center.
Movement: Forecast to move West at 24 kph.
Forecast Positions: Tropical Depression QUEENIE is expected to make landfall over Surigao del Sur this afternoon and traverse the Northern Mindanao area tonight. By tomorrow morning, it is expected to be at 35 km North of Dipolog City, and at 105 km West of Puerto Princesa by Friday morning. It is expected to be outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Friday evening and at 710 km West of Puerto Princesa or over the West Philippine Sea by Saturday morning.
Signal #1 (Winds of 30-60 kph is expected in at least 36 hours): Southern Leyte, Bohol, Southern Cebu, Negros Oriental, Southern Negros Occidental, Siquijor, Surigao del Norte including Siargao Island, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Compostella Valley, Dinagat Province, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon and Zamboanga del Norte.
• Estimated rainfall amount is from 7-15 mm per hour (moderate-heavy) within the 300 km diameter of the Tropical Depression.
• Residents in low lying and mountainous areas of the provinces with PSWS#1 as well as the rest of Mindanao are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.
• Fisherfolks and those with small seacrafts are advised not to venture out over the eastern seaboard of Visayas and Mindanao.
• The public and the disaster risk reduction and management council concerned are advised to take appropriate actions and watch for the next bulletin to be issued at 5 PM today.
PAGASA Weather Bulletin No. 1 for Tropical Depression #QueeniePH issued at 7:30AM, 26 November 2014
THE LOW PRESSURE AREA (LPA) EAST OF HINATUAN, SURIGAO DEL SUR HAS DEVELOPED INTO A TROPICAL DEPRESSION AND WAS NAMED “QUEENIE”.
Location of eye/center: At 7:00 AM today, the center of Tropical Depression QUEENIE was estimated based on available data at 260 km East of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur or at 310 km East Southeast of Surigao City(8.7°N, 128.8°E).
Strength: Maximum winds of 45 kph near the center.
Movement: Forecast to move West Northwest at 25 kph.
Forecast Positions: Tropical Depression “QUEENIE” is expected to be at 290 km West of Surigao City tomorrow morning and at 95 km West of Puerto Princesa by Friday morning. By Saturday morning, it is expected to be at 705 km Northwest of Puerto Princesa.
Signal No.1: Southern Leyte, Bohol, Southern Cebu, Southern Negros Oriental, Southern Negros Occidental and Siquijor, Surigao del Norte including Siargao Island, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Compostella Valley, Dinagat Province, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon and Zamboanga del Norte.
• Estimated rainfall amount is from 7 – 15 mm per hour (moderate - heavy) within the 300 km diameter of the Tropical Depression.
• Residents in low lying and mountainous areas of the provinces with PSWS#1 as well as the rest of Mindanao are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.
• Fisherfolks and those with small seacrafts are advised not to venture out over the eastern seaboard of Visayas and Mindanao.
•The public and the disaster risk reduction and management council concerned are advised to take appropriate actions and watch for the next bulletin to be issued at 11 AM today.
THE LOW PRESSURE AREA (LPA) EAST OF HINATUAN, SURIGAO DEL SUR HAS DEVELOPED INTO A TROPICAL DEPRESSION AND WAS NAMED “QUEENIE”.
Location of eye/center: At 7:00 AM today, the center of Tropical Depression QUEENIE was estimated based on available data at 260 km East of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur or at 310 km East Southeast of Surigao City(8.7°N, 128.8°E).
Strength: Maximum winds of 45 kph near the center.
Movement: Forecast to move West Northwest at 25 kph.
Forecast Positions: Tropical Depression “QUEENIE” is expected to be at 290 km West of Surigao City tomorrow morning and at 95 km West of Puerto Princesa by Friday morning. By Saturday morning, it is expected to be at 705 km Northwest of Puerto Princesa.
Signal No.1: Southern Leyte, Bohol, Southern Cebu, Southern Negros Oriental, Southern Negros Occidental and Siquijor, Surigao del Norte including Siargao Island, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Compostella Valley, Dinagat Province, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon and Zamboanga del Norte.
• Estimated rainfall amount is from 7 – 15 mm per hour (moderate - heavy) within the 300 km diameter of the Tropical Depression.
• Residents in low lying and mountainous areas of the provinces with PSWS#1 as well as the rest of Mindanao are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.
• Fisherfolks and those with small seacrafts are advised not to venture out over the eastern seaboard of Visayas and Mindanao.
•The public and the disaster risk reduction and management council concerned are advised to take appropriate actions and watch for the next bulletin to be issued at 11 AM today.
-Uulanin ang Caraga, Northern Mindanao at mga lalawigan ng Leyte at Bohol ngayong Miyerkules dahil sa LPA. Makakaranas ang mga nasabing lalawigan ng katamtaman hanggang sa kung minsa'y malakas na pag-ulan at pagkidlat-pagkulog na posibleng magdulot ng pagbaha at pagguho ng lupa.
-Papalapit na sa kalupaan ang LPA at huling namataan sa layong 315 kilometro silangan ng Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.
-Inaasahang tatawid ang LPA sa pagitan ng Visayas at Mindanao at tutumbukin ang Palawan.
-Pero pagdating po sa bandang Palawan area, posible po itong mag-intensify (maging bagyo) then e-exit na po siya ng PAR dito po sa West Philippine Sea.
-Samantala ngayong Miyerkules, mahina hanggang katamtamang pag-ulan at pagkidlat-pagkulog ang aasahan sa Bicol at Davao Region at sa nalalabing bahagi ng Eastern at Central Visayas.
-Magiging bahagya hanggang sa maulap na may pulo-pulong pag-ulan o pagkidlat-pagkulog sa Metro Manila at nalalabing parte ng kapuluan.
NDRRMC1: 26NOV14-02 GALE WARNING No. 01 for strong to gale force winds enhanced by LPA @5AM
>Strong to gale force winds is expected to affect the eastern seaboard of Visayas and the northeastern seaboard of Mindanao.
>SEABOARDS: Eastern seaboard of Visayas and the northeastern seaboard of Mindanao (Samar, Leyte, Surigao and Dinagat Provinces)
>WEATHER: Cloudy skies with scattered to widespread rainshowers and thunderstorms
>WIND FORCE (kph/knots): (52 - 63/28 - 34)
>SEA CONDITION: Rough to very rough
>WAVE HEIGHT (meters): 3.4 to 4.5
>Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves
>Strong to gale force winds is expected to affect the eastern seaboard of Visayas and the northeastern seaboard of Mindanao.
>SEABOARDS: Eastern seaboard of Visayas and the northeastern seaboard of Mindanao (Samar, Leyte, Surigao and Dinagat Provinces)
>WEATHER: Cloudy skies with scattered to widespread rainshowers and thunderstorms
>WIND FORCE (kph/knots): (52 - 63/28 - 34)
>SEA CONDITION: Rough to very rough
>WAVE HEIGHT (meters): 3.4 to 4.5
>Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves
NDRRMC1: 26NOV14-01 PWF @5AM
>SYNOPSIS: @4AM today, the LPA was estimated @315km E of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur (8.5 deg N, 129.2 deg E)
>FORECAST: Caraga, Northern MIN & the provinces of Leyte & Bohol will experience cloudy skies w/ mod-occasionally heavy rainshowers & thunderstorms w/c may trigger flashfloods & landslides. The regions of Bicol & Davao & the rest of Eastern & Central VIS will have light-mod rainshowers & thunderstorms. Metro Manila & the rest country will be partly cloudy-cloudy w/ isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms
>Mod-strong winds blowing from the E to Northeast will prevail over the Northern & Eastern sections of LUZ & coming from the Northeast to Northwest over the Eastern section of VIS & MIN. The coastal waters along these areas will be mod-rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light-mod coming from the Northeast to North w/ slight-mod seas.
PAGASA weather forecaster Melo Mendoza on DZBB:
Re: Lagay ng panahon
-Ang ating binabantayang LPA ay huling namataan sa layong 625 km Silangan ng Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.
-Bunga nito ang Mindanao at Silangang Kabisayaan na makakaranas ng maulap na kalangitan na may mahina hangggang sa katamtamang mga pag-ulan, pagkidlat at pagkulog.
-Sa Metro Manila at nalalabing bahagi ng bansa ay magkakaroon ng maaliwalas na panahon maliban lamang sa pulu-pulong pag-ulan, pagkidlat at pagkulog.
-Ang inaasahang agwat ng temperatura sa Kamaynilaan mula 23 hanggang 32 degress Celsius.
-Sa Manila Bay ang high tide ay magaganap mamayang 11:19 ng gabi at may sukat na 1.16 mters.
-Ang araw ay lumubog kanina sa ganap na 5:24 at muling sisikat bukas sa ganap na 6:02 ng umaga.
GMA resident meteorologist Nathaniel Cruz:
-Posibleng tumama bukas sa may Mindanao, partikular na sa northeastern section, ang LPA na huling namataan sa layong 625 km silangan ng Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. Paglabas ng bansa ng LPA, posibleng lumakas pa ito.
-Katamtamang hanggang sa malakas na ulan ang inaasahan sa Mindanao, partikular na sa eastern section.
-Uulanin din ang Visayas, lalo na ang eastern at central part.
-Sa Luzon, magiging maulan sa southern section.
-Sa Metro Manila, may tsansa ng ulan bukas ng hapon.
-Posibleng tumama bukas sa may Mindanao, partikular na sa northeastern section, ang LPA na huling namataan sa layong 625 km silangan ng Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. Paglabas ng bansa ng LPA, posibleng lumakas pa ito.
-Katamtamang hanggang sa malakas na ulan ang inaasahan sa Mindanao, partikular na sa eastern section.
-Uulanin din ang Visayas, lalo na ang eastern at central part.
-Sa Luzon, magiging maulan sa southern section.
-Sa Metro Manila, may tsansa ng ulan bukas ng hapon.
November 26, 2014 (Wednesday) as of 6:00-7:00 A.M.
PIA4A/QUEZON : Fair Weather in Lucena City
PIA-4A/QUEZON:
Local tourist guides and reception officers in Quezon Province attended
the seminar on tourist reception and guiding techniques organized by
the Department of Tourism (DOT) - 4A as part of its efforts to improve
the tourism industry and increase tourist arrivals in the province.
PIA-4A/RIZAL:
Various government agencies and NGOs headed by the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources-CALABARZON and the Rodriguez Municipal
Government led the book launching of "The Philippines as the Pilgrimage
Country of Grace: The Rizal Prophecy, The Fatima Prophecy" at Sitio
Wawa, Brgy. San Rafael, Rodriguez, Rizal. Interfaith leaders from
various leaders also blessed the said book linked to the environmental
and religious sectors.
|
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Admin to rev up SUC rehab with P290-M; Abad: State education is a top gov't priority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: http://www.dbm.gov.ph | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has recommended
the release of P290.4 million to the Commission on Higher
Education (CHED) for the rehabilitation of 23 State Universities
and Colleges (SUCs) that had been affected by various calamities
in the past years.
Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said, “The Aquino
administration’s efforts to repair damaged public facilities are
only some of the ways through which we’re improving access to
quality education. The country is prone to calamities and
man-made crises, so it’s even more important for us to ensure
the safety and continuing education of our college and
university students in our state-run schools.”
Pending the approval of this release by the Office of the
President, the amount of P290.4 million will cover the
replacement of damaged equipment and devices, the procurement of
energy-saving devices and generator sets, and the rehabilitation
of existing water systems of various SUCs nationwide. The amount
will be charged to the 2014 Rehabilitation and Reconstruction
Program (RRP) and will help SUCs affected by the 7.2-magnitude
Bohol and Cebu earthquake, the Zamboanga City siege, and the
typhoons Odette, Vinta, Santi, Labuyo, and Sendong.
The following is the allocation breakdown per SUC:
Abad said, “These repair activities are also preemptive, in the
sense that our SUCs will be better prepared for future disasters
or possible power shortages. This is an important investment
towards better tertiary education.”
The amount of P987.3 million chargeable to the 2014 RRP had been
previously released to 35 SUCs for repair and reconstruction
costs last May. Under the 2014 RRP, a total of P3 billion had
been earmarked for SUCs for the repair and rehabilitation of
their academic buildings, including the purchase of equipment
affected by calamities.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Former Lanao Del Sur mayor indicted for anomalous procurement | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: http://www.ombudsman.gov.ph | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales found probable cause to indict
a former mayor of Binidayan, Lanao del Sur for procuring heavy
equipment without public bidding and entering into a loan
agreement with the Philippine National Bank (PNB) without prior
authority from the Sangguniang Bayan. In a 13-page Resolution, Ombudsman Morales approved the filing of an Information for violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) against Aman Misbac Datumulok. The Resolution narrates that on 14 February 2008, Datumulok secured a P20 million loan from the PNB for the acquisition of a brand new dump truck and wheel loader. Contrary to the terms of the loan agreement, however, Datumulok purchased second-hand equipment from EB Ople Trading through direct contracting at prices considered grossly disadvantageous to the local government. Documents show that public bidding was never considered as EB Ople Trading was paid for the equipment on 20 February 2008 or merely six days after the loan agreement was approved. Ombudsman Morales stated that “Datumulok, as the local chief executive and head of the procuring entity, is tasked with the obligation and the duty of ensuring the municipality’s compliance with the laws on procurement, specifically as it involves a great amount of money for which the government will have the burden of paying.” Meanwhile, the charge for Malversation against Datumulok was dismissed without prejudice to its re-filing on the basis of the investigation to be conducted by the Commission on Audit-ARMM and upon evaluation by the Office of the Ombudsman. Likewise, the charges against Municipal Treasurer Acmad Tabua, PNB officials Victorio Sison and Charles De Jesus were dismissed for insufficiency of evidence. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MTC judge convicted of bribery | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: http://www.ombudsman.gov.ph | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ombudsman prosecutors secured the conviction of former San
Ildefonso, Bulacan Municipal Trial Court (MTC) Judge Henry
Domingo for Indirect Bribery in connection with extortion
activities committed in February 2003. In the Decision rendered on 19 November 2014, the Sandiganbayan found that Judge Domingo extorted money from a litigant with a criminal case pending before his sala. Private complainant Ildefonso Cuevas testified that during the 07 February 2003 hearing, Judge Domingo invited him inside his chambers and asked “paano ba kita matutulungan nyan…” The accused suggested that they meet the following week in a restaurant located along Baliwag, Bulacan. Out of fear, Cuevas sought the assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) who then conducted a surveillance of their 14 February 2003 meeting where Domingo agreed to accept the amount of P20,000.00 in exchange for the dismissal of the Cuevas’criminal case. During the actual payoff on 17 February 2003, NBI agents arrested Domingo after he was caught red-handed with the bribe money consisting of P10,000.00 in cash and a check amounting to P10,000.00. The anti-graft court gave no credence to the defense of the accused that he was framed stating that “the defense of frame up, just like denial and alibi, is looked with disfavor…because it could easily be concocted.” In convicting Domingo, the Sandiganbayan stated that the clear and straightforward testimonies of complainant and agents of the NBI, “coherently establish with moral certainty, that the accused received the mark money and check from Cuevas during the entrapment operation on 17 February 2003. Judge Domingo was sentenced to suffer the indeterminate penalty of imprisonment of six months and one day of prision correccional as minimum, to three years, six months and 21 days of prision correccional, as maximum. Article 211 of the Revised Penal Code punishes the crime of Indirect Bribery which is committed by a public officer who accepts gifts offered to him by reason of his office. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BSP conducts Learning Outreach Activities in Surigao City | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: http://www.bsp.gov.ph | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will conduct the sixth leg
of its Economic and Financial Learning Program (BSP-EFLP) for
2014 in Surigao City on 2-4 December 2014. The BSP-EFLP
consolidates the learning outreach activities of the BSP under
one flagship program. It includes a series of learning sessions
that aim to promote greater public awareness and understanding
of key economic and financial issues. The EFLP also embodies the
goal of the BSP to promote economic and financial education
among its stakeholders, who can then become more effective
partners of the BSP in safeguarding price stability and in
ensuring a stronger and safer banking and payments system. The following programs will be conducted at Hotel Tavern, Borromeo Street, Surigao City: “Be up to SPeed on BSP,” Information Campaign on the Role of the BSP in the Economy, 2 December 2014, Tuesday, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (module for professionals), and 3 December 2014, Wednesday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (module for students); Financial Education Expo for the Working Sector, 3 December 2014, Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; “Paghahanda sa Kinabukasan,” Financial Learning Campaign for Overseas Filipinos and their Beneficiaries, 4 December 2014, Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; and Financial Education Expo for Students and Members of the Academe, 4 December 2014, Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The “Be up to SPeed on BSP” information campaign will cover recent economic developments and the role of the BSP in the economy, with emphasis on the three pillars of central banking, i.e., price stability, financial stability and efficient payments and settlements system. Two sessions will be conducted: one for professionals (including representatives from government agencies, business sector, and banking community), and another for students and members of the academe. The “Paghahanda sa Kinabukasan” Financial Learning Campaign for Overseas Filipinos and their Beneficiaries (FLC-OF) aims to educate participants on the importance of using remittances to build up savings and directing these into investments in financial products and business ventures. Through this learning advocacy, the BSP hopes to help overseas Filipinos and their beneficiaries achieve financial security, bring them into the fold of the formal financial system, and enable them to participate more meaningfully in the country’s economic development. Officials from the BSP, as well as from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) will give briefings on topics such as the importance of remittances, financial planning, investment/business options and agri-business opportunities. Meanwhile, the Financial Education Expo offers various financial education activities for students, professionals and others from the public and private sectors. It features learning booths with audio-visual presentations, graphic displays and interactive activities that will help participants become self-reliant in promoting their financial welfare. Two separate sessions of the Financial Empowerment Course, which is an integral part of the Expo, will also be conducted for students and members of the work force. The learning sessions will present the importance of financial education, the Philippine financial system, basics of budgeting, saving, investing and borrowing, financial planning for life-cycle events, and credit card awareness. Interested parties may contact Ms. Georgina O. Fabreag at telephone number: (+632)306.2707, or email address: gortiz@bsp.gov.ph. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 300 families in Iloilo town get aid for house repair | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: http://www.dswd.gov.ph | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ajuy, Iloilo – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) recently released P9 million to 300 family-survivors of Typhoon Yolanda in this town for the repair of their houses. Each family whose house was totally damaged by the typhoon received P30,000 under the Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA). Families with partially damaged houses will get P10,000 each. The recipients were based on recommendation of the local government as they have not received any aid from other organizations for the repair of their houses. DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman commended the local government for its prompt submission of the required documents, the reason why it was the first to receive the ESA. DSWD requirements for payment of ESA include the validated list of those with totally and partially damaged houses duly signed by the mayor and the Local Social Welfare and Development Officer, certificates of eligibility, and photocopy of valid identification cards of each individual in the list. Armina Buendia, 90, is one of those who received the shelter assistance. Now living with her four grandchildren, Lola Armina said that she will use the money to buy galvanized iron sheets and wood for the repair of their house. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Baldoz and Qatar Labor Minister Abdullah Saleh Al Khulaifi meet; agree to resume bilateral talks in January | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: http://www.dole.gov.ph | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Doha--Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz,
here in the Gulf State of Qatar on her way to the 3rd Abu Dhabi
Dialogue in Kuwait, yesterday met with Qatar Labor and Social
Affairs Minister, Dr. Abdullah Saleh Al Khulaifi, to discuss
bilateral labor issues between the Philippines and Qatar. The
two officials, exuding warmth to each other even if this was
just their first meeting, promptly agreed to resume the talks on
the existing agreement concerning the employment of Filipinos in
Qatar at the level of the PH-Qatar Joint Committee Meeting (JCM)
on Labor Matters. “Ours was a brief, but a very productive meeting,” said Baldoz in a release to the media she issued after the meeting. “Labor and Social Affairs Minister, Dr. Abdullah Saleh Al Khulaifi, and I agreed to resume the talks at the PH-Qatar Joint Committee Meeting in January. I have instructed our Philippine Overseas Labor Office to coordinate with the Philippine Embassy in Doha and with the Qatar Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs to fast-track the preparation of the agenda for the meeting,” said Baldoz. “This will only be the second meeting of the JCM and Qatar will host it. The Philippines hosted the first JCM in Bohol in March 2009 yet, and I am very much delighted that after a hiatus, both countries have again exhibited strong initiative to resume the talks. This is long overdue,” she added. The PH-Qatar labor agreement was signed on 10 March 1997, formalizing and outlining the procedures for the deployment of Filipino workers in Qatar. Baldoz, who was joined in the meeting by Philippine Ambassador to Qatar Crescente Relacion and DOLE Undersecretary Ciriaco Lagunzad III, thanked the Qatari government through Minister Saleh Al Khulaifi for hosting 190,000 Filipinos in Qatar. She also congratulated Qatar for winning the bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup and expressed hope this will open more opportunities for Filipinos in the infrastructure projects planned for the said event. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Report to Congress, January-June 2014, a total of 175, 000 of the 190,000 Filipinos in Qatar are regular migrant workers and dependents, while 15,000 are irregular or undocumented workers. In terms of job category, 22,000 of the regular migrant workers are professionals; 92,500 are skilled; and 29,000 are semi- or low-skilled workers. “The number of household service workers has gone down from 33,000 in December 2013 to only 31,500 workers in June 2014,” noted Baldoz, who has been pushing hard for more protection among Filipino HSWs in countries of destination. “We acknowledge Qatar’s hospitality in hosting our workers who we believe contribute greatly to Qatar’s economic development, thus, I have instructed our Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) to institute an incentive and rewards system for Qatari employers who are protective of our workers’ welfare,” she said to the Qatari labor minister. “We are also continuously reviewing our rules and regulations to make it easy for foreign employers to hire Filipino workers. There is no reason why we should make it difficult for them to employ Filipinos when they treat them well. We assure you we continue to ensure that the workers we send to Qatar meet your manpower requirements,” Baldoz added. On his part, Minister Saleh Al Khulaifi said Qatar is channeling its resources to further improve its economy and infrastructure, such as roads and public health facilities, and this means further need for skilled manpower. He said in one hospital alone, there is an immediate need for 500 nurses and medical technicians. “Our employers like the Filipino workers very much, so much so that this is reflected in the very few complaints our legal affairs receive. To be honest with you, I have been very tough on those who mistreat migrant workers, particularly those who charge exorbitant recruitment fees. Of the complaints we received from foreign workers, we have solved internally 450 complaints and only 36 have gone to the courts,” Minister Al Khulaifi said to Baldoz. During the meeting, Al Khulaifi outlined to the Philippine labor and employment chief some of the reforms Qatar is pushing in light of its desire to modernize its labor laws. One of these reforms, he said, is the e-payment Wage Protection Scheme, which allows the payment of workers’ salaries through electronic banking, and which now includes even foreign banks in Qatar. He also said that Qatar has adopted technology-based kiosks that entertain and receive complaints. “We have deployed these kiosks, which are like ATM machines, in strategic places. The facilities are equipped such that they “speak” five languages,” he said. Al Khulaifi also briefed Secretary Baldoz on the developments on Qatar’s move to amend its labor laws, saying an amended law may pass the legislative hurdle this year. A part of this legislation is a proposal to replace the “kafala” or sponsorship system, It also provides for the abolition of the exit permit requirement for migrant workers leaving the country. “We are moving from a sponsorship-based to a contract-based employment scheme for migrant workers and we hope our Parliament can accelerate the process,” Al Khulaifi finally said. Baldoz congratulated Minister Al Khailifi for his country’s efforts to fast-track its labor law reforms, saying this augurs well to freer labor mobility. The meeting of the two labor ministers ended with a promise from both to see each other again at the 3rd Abu Dhabi Dialogue in Kuwait. Minister Al-Khulaifi, who was appointed Minister of Labour and Social Affairs on 26 June 2013, holds a PhD in economics from the Southern Illinois University (USA). He is also the Chairman of Qatar’s Constitutional Committee. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| POLOs to provide incentives and rewards to ‘good employers’—Baldoz | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: http://www.dole.gov.ph | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Doha—On the last day of a two-day official visit to Qatar, her first as labor and employment chief, Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz met with selected members of Qatar’s private recruitment services sector and reiterated a new policy to further secure the welfare and protection of overseas Filipino workers: an incentives and rewards system for excellent performance in the hiring of Filipino workers that she would like to see rolled out in January. “I have unveiled this new policy when I met yesterday with H.E. Dr. Abdulla Saleh Al-Khulaifi, Qatar Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, and I want to reiterate that we are pushing for its implementation the earliest in January 2015,” Secretary Baldoz said to the members of Qatar’s private recruitment services sector, also called foreign placement agencies (FPAs), at a meeting at the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Baldoz was joined in the meeting by Philippine Ambassador to Qatar Crescente Relacion, DOLE Undersecretary in charge of the Middle East Ciriaco Lagunzad, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration chief Hans Leo J. Cacdac, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration head Rebecca Calzado, Philippine Overseas Labor Office head Labor Attache Leopoldo de Jesus, Welfare Officer Amy Empanado, and International Labor Affairs Bureau Director Saul de Vries. Earlier in her meeting with Minister Al-Khulaifi, Baldoz said the POEA, an attached agency of the DOLE, is continuously reviewing its rules and regulations to make it easy for foreign employers to hire Filipino workers. “There is no reason why we should make it difficult for them to employ Filipinos, who are very well-liked here in Qatar and globally-preferred, when they treat them well,” Baldoz told Al-Khulaifi. The incentives and rewards system that Baldoz directed the POEA and POLOs to establish should have more or less the same criteria as those for the Excellence Awards that the POEA, under her term as its administrator, conferred on outstanding foreign employers and which she said the POEA is reviving soon. “The idea is to reward excellence in the recruitment of Filipino workers and best performance in ensuring their protection and welfare. It will really separate the chaff from the grain, the notorious under-performers from the consistently excellent ones, and I am sure there are many of them, not only in Qatar, but in other parts of the world,” Baldoz explained. “This will certainly promote legal and ethical recruitment,” she added. The labor and employment chief said some of the incentives that could be incorporated in the system include relaxation of approval and accreditation of principals, approval of open job order systems, and express lane for workers’ documentation and processing. The criteria could also include a ‘no-case’ track record, meaning the employer or FPA has not been complained about in the POLO, POEA, and in Qatari government bodies, as well as a measure of the readiness of POEA-licensed recruitment agency-partners of FPAs to deploy workers fast and according to employers’ requirements, which could only be made possible if the recruitment agencies have a ready pool of qualified manpower. “We are considering two categories under the incentives and rewards system—one for household service workers, or domestic workers, and another for the skilled and the professionals,” she stated. Baldoz expressed confidence that with the incentives and rewards system, a much-reduced time of processing the hiring of an OFW, from nearly three months to only a month from the time the employer gives the job order to the agency, will be achieved. She also said that the POEA is ready to engage Qatar authorities in the Philippines, particularly the Qatar Embassy, if the delay in the processing of documents which some of the FPAs attributed to the embassy, is valid. “This policy, to be very safe and effective would need the consideration and approval of the POEA Governing Board which I chair,” Baldoz said. She set the deadline of end of the month for the policy to be refined. “I want it officially unveiled and announced at the POLO Conference set for 18-19 December,” she stated. Relative to this, Baldoz instructed Administrator Cacdac, ILAB Director de Vries, and Labor Attache Leopoldo de Jesus, whom she also asked to join the 3rd Abu Dhabi Dialogue in Kuwait this week, to already develop and finalize the system’s criteria for all POLOs. Baldoz categorically stated, however, that the incentives and rewards system will not in any way compromise the protection and welfare of OFWs. “On the other hand it should underline it and it must contribute to more enhanced and stronger protection for all OFWs,” she said. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DILG, PNP: 30 Kidnappers arrested this year; Watchdog group | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: http://www.dilg.gov.ph | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In a press conference, the Department of the Interior and Local
Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP)
revealed that a total of 30 kidnappers-for-ransom were
successfully arrested from January to November this year. Police Senior Superintendent Rene Aspera, Chief of Staff of the PNP-Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) revealed that among those arrested were Tyrone dela Cruz and his live-in partner Jean Loise Bitoy, captured last November 7 in Brgy. Bahi, Alburquerque, Bohol. The warrant of arrest was issued by Judge Alberto Serrano of RTC Branch 92, Calamba City, Laguna. Dela Cruz heads the Dela Cruz Kidnap-for-Ransom Group (KFRG), that is responsible for at least six kidnapping incidents in Metro Manila and Region 4. The police also reported the arrest of Reccinte Padillo last October 16 in Pasay City, after a Quezon City judge issued the arrest warrant. Padillo is the leader of the notorious Padillo KFRG involved in the widely publicized kidnapping of Sally Chua on July 5, 2013 in Quezon City. DILG Undersecretary Tomasito Villarin said that the PNP-AKG’s accomplishments were a result of DILG Sec. Mar Roxas’ implementation of the “whole of PNP approach” in targeting criminals. "This was made possible through Sec. Roxas’ focused, deliberate, and programmatic approach," said Usec. Villarin to describe how PNP strategically pooled its sources of intelligence to eventually capture the criminals. Architect Ka Kuen Chua, Chairperson of the Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order (MRPO) and Teresita Ang-See, the Founding Chairperson, in turn expressed their gratitude to the DILG and the PNP for the arrests. "We recognize the invaluable contributions of Sec. Roxas and PNP Chief Gen. Alan Purisima for this very much welcome development,” said Ang-See. She added that the arrests of Dela Cruz and Padillo are in fulfilment of the secretary's commitment to the citizens to put wrongdoers and law offenders behind bars. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DepEd, Save the Children partner up to achieve EFA goals | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: http://www.deped.gov.ph | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Department of Education (DepEd) and Save the Children
formalized its partnership by signing the memorandum of
agreement focusing on the continuing advancement of educational
provisions in the country for 2015 onwards. The partnership involves programs in Early Childhood Education, Basic Education, Literacy and Mother-Tongue Based Multilingual Education, School Health and Nutrition (SHN), Child Protection, Education in Emergencies, and Disaster Risk Reducation/Climate Change Adaptation (DRR/CCA). In order to achieve the Education for All (EFA) goals, DepEd and Save the Children will combine its efforts to universalize Kindergarten education through the KapitBahayan-Aralan (KBA) program, a child-focused, developmentally-appropriate, play and active learning-based early education program which serves children from marginalized and disadvantaged communities. DepEd and Save the Children both agreed to combine efforts and maintain working relationships in the implementation of Mother Tongue-based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) to further improve children’s learning and reading outcomes. Luistro emphasized the importance of MTB-MLE in the learning process of the learner. He said that MTB-MLE shall provide children with a strong education in the first language and develop cognitive and reasoning skills. Both parties also collaborated to improve health and nutrition services and education, and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities and community support and policies. The tie-up allows for the capacity building of teachers on Children’s Rights and Positive Discipline to advance the implementation of DepEd’s Child Protection Policy. Aside from capacity building for teachers, schoolchildren, and school personnel on DRR/CCA, DepEd and Save the Children will also strengthen cluster education formation and frontline responders training. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20.50% pass PNP entrance exam | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: http://test.napolcom.gov.ph | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A total of 2,323 or 20.50% out of the 11,332 examinees passed
the Philippine National Police (PNP) Entrance Examination
conducted by the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) on
November 9, 2014 in designated schools in Metro Manila and other
testing centers nationwide. This was announced by NAPOLCOM Vice-Chairman and Executive Officer Eduardo U. Escueta as the Commission released the list of successful examinees in the PNP Entrance Examination. The result of the Promotional Examinations shall be released soon. “The immediate release of the result of the PNP Entrance Examination is in consonance with the Commission’s commitment with the PNP and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to make the examination results in synch with the police recruitment process to enable the PNP to hire the most competent and qualified applicant to enter the police service,” Escueta said. Vice-Chairman Escueta reiterates the Commission’s earlier warning for applicants of the PNP Entrance and Promotional Examinations not to commit any form of examination irregularity, such as cheating, impersonation, perjury or violation of examination rules, since the NAPOLCOM has a computer system that keeps track of the answer patterns of examinees. Escueta said that the list of successful examinees is posted at the NAPOLCOM central office in its new building located at the DILG-NAPOLCOM Center, NAPOLCOM Bldg., Edsa Corner Quezon Avenue, West Triangle, Quezon City, and can be viewed at the NAPOLCOM website at www.napolcom.gov.ph. Individual reports of rating will be mailed to all examinees. Verification of test results will be entertained at the NAPOLCOM central office and its regional offices nationwide starting first week of December 2014. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Power coops anchor disaster preparedness plans on DOST-Project NOAH | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: http://www.dost.gov.ph | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The continuous supply of electricity is the main concern of
electric cooperatives (ECs) in the country, during times of
natural calamities like strong typhoons or habagat (southwest
monsoon) episodes. that topple down power lines and put entire
communities in darkness. Similarly, this is every housewife’s
nightmare, when electricity is out and she has to prepare the
day’s meal. Because of these fortuitous events, the National Electrification Administration or NEA, the government agency overseeing the electric cooperatives consulted the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards or Project NOAH for information regarding the changing weather patterns, natural hazards and their impact and disaster preparedness. The consultation is an important input in the formulation of the NEA’s contingency plans. During NEA’s 45th anniversary celebration recently, DOST Assistant Secretary and co-project leader of Project NOAH Raymund E. Liboro presented to more than a thousand representatives of ECs the DOST’s disaster preparedness programs aimed at addressing the problems brought about by climate change. Asec. Liboro emphasized that the ECs serve as the vital “lifelines” that will keep the community going and act as the important link in restoring normalcy after devastation by strong typhoons or earthquake. Thus, they have to prepare for the worst scenarios. It is then important for them to get the correct and timely information about the hazards. Aside from this, they must also know what they should do before, during and after a calamity in order to minimize the ill-effects of disasters. “Project NOAH is a digital platform of weather and hazard information that provides us a six-hour lead time before the occurrence of flood thereby allowing us ample time to prepare,” Asec. Liboro informed the group. “Likewise, with this tool we can track the path of the typhoon and anticipate the extent of possible damage strong winds and heavy rainfall may cause.” NEA Administrator Edita S. Bueno said that by tapping Project NOAH, they hope to sustain the success of the Sitio and Barangay Energization Program. She further underscored the need to synchronize their work plans with those of DOST in developing initiatives and strengthening capabilities of the member ECs in adapting to the risks involved. (S&T Media Service) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Imports growth to remain positive in 2014 despite decline in September – NEDA, improved logistics efficiency needed for expected rise in economic activity in Q4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: http://www.neda.gov.ph | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MANILA – Imports growth is seen to remain positive for 2014
albeit its recorded contraction by 2.6 percent in September,
according to the National Economic and Development Authority
(NEDA). The Philippine Statistics Authority reported that total payments for imported goods fell to US$5.6 billion in September 2014 from US$5.7 billion in September 2013. Imports of raw materials and intermediate goods reached US$2.1 billion in September 2014, lower by 11.0 percent from the US$2.4 billion in the same period last year. “Overall growth trend of imports remains anchored on the general sentiment of the economy for the period. Current quarter outlook index for both consumer and business confidence show a relatively weaker traction due to seasonal weak demand and a slack in industrial production. Still, imports are expected to pick up in the beginning of the fourth quarter in time for the holiday season,” said Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan. But for the first three quarters of 2014, total imports increased by 3.4 percent to US$48.1 billion from US$46.5 billion a year ago. Moreover, with faster growth in exports (9.9%), trade-in-goods deficit for the January to September 2014 period narrowed significantly to US$1.5 billion from US$4.1 billion in the comparable period in 2013. “In time for the anticipated increase in economic activity towards the end of the year, the government should remain vigilant on the logistical challenges that may arise especially those involving importation of consumer goods,” the Cabinet official added. Sustained growth in household consumption increased the total import payments for consumer goods by 17.3 percent, reaching US$779.6 million in September 2014, from US$664.4 million in September 2013. “But the government needs to have close monitoring of the successive decline in the importation of materials and accessories for the manufacture of electronic equipment, as this could be a leading indicator of the country’s external prospects, especially in the exports of manufactured goods,” added Balisacan, who is also NEDA Director-General. On the other hand, the downward trend in international prices encouraged the purchase of mineral fuels and lubricants, which increased from US$978.1 million in September 2013 to US$1.3 billion in September 2014. “The anticipated low energy prices especially for crude oil could be a promising support to the growing energy demand of the country in the short run. The government and the private sector could take this opportunity to acquire future oil contracts to maintain stability of power supply in the country while exploring and expanding alternative energy sources,” he said. Meanwhile, the People’s Republic of China remained as the country’s top source of merchandise imports in September 2014 with a 14.0 percent share to total imports bill amounting to US$781.0 million. Second was Taiwan with a share of 8.8 percent, followed by the United States of America (8.6%), Japan (7.7%), Republic of Korea (7.6%), Singapore (6.6%), Thailand (6.3%), Indonesia (5.3%), Malaysia (4.6%), and Germany (4.1%). |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu delivers speech at DFA on Turkish Foreign Policy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: http://www.dfa.gov.ph | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25 November 2014 - Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Acting
Secretary Laura Q. Del Rosario welcomed the Prime Minister of
the Republic of Turkey Ahmet Davutoğlu and his official
delegation to the DFA on the occasion of his address on November
17 before the members of the diplomatic corps, Philippine
government officials, academia and think-tanks. Present during
this event were former President Fidel V. Ramos and the
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Secretary Teresita
Deles. Acting Secretary Del Rosario noted, in her welcome remarks, that bilateral ties between the Philippines and Turkey have steadily become stronger since the establishment of diplomatic relations 65 years ago. In his speech, entitled "Pillars of Turkish Foreign Policy and the Asia Pacific," Prime Minister Davutoğlu enumerated the major transformations in the last 35 years that have been the basis of current foreign policies of countries: the end of the Cold War, the attacks of 9/11, the 2008 global crisis and the Arab spring. He expounded on the three principles which guide Turkish foreign policy at present: domestic peace and the balance of freedom and security, active foreign policy in the neighborhood, and the opening up to new regions/continents. Prime Minister Davutoğlu spoke about the multi-dimensional character of Turkey. It is considered a country which is European, Asian, Middle Eastern, Caucasian, Balkan and Mediterranean. At the open forum, former President Ramos recalled his meeting as President with then Turkish President Süleyman Demirel when they agreed that the Philippines and Turkey should act as a gateway to the Pacific and Europe, respectively. The Prime Minister offered to pursue this initiative by former President Ramos and former President Demirel, who was the first Turkish President to visit the Philippines. Prime Minister Davutoğlu took note that the Philippines assumes the Chairmanship of APEC at the same time that Turkey holds the Chairmanship of G20, and that further cooperation between the Philippines and Turkey could be explored in this context. Foreign Service Institute (FSI) Director Carlos D. Sorreta presented Prime Minister Davutoğlu with a Board Resolution expressing the appreciation of the members of the FSI Board of Directors for the Prime Minister’s presentation. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PHL Ambassador swears in new PHL Honorary Consul in Austria | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: http://www.dfa.gov.ph | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25 November 2014 - Philippine Ambassador to Austria Lourdes O.
Yparraguirre swore in Mag. Thomas Hohenberg as the new
Philippine Honorary Consul in Austria in ceremonies held at the
Philippine Embassy in Vienna on November 13. In her remarks, Ambassador Yparraguirre hailed Mr. Hohenberg’s assumption as Honorary Consul, stating that it is a step towards raising the Philippines’ profile in Austria and a boost to the Philippine government’s efforts in the protection of Filipinos abroad. Consul Hohenberg is an Austrian lawyer of Filipino descent and is a well-known and respected figure in the Filipino community in Austria for his assistance to distressed Filipinos and his charitable work. He also has extensive contacts in the Austrian business community. Consul Hohenberg shall take office in the Province of Vienna, and shall have consular jurisdiction over the other Austrian Provinces of Burgenland, Carinthia, and Styria. He vowed to help strengthen the bilateral relations between the Philippines and Austria and to cooperate closely with the Philippine Embassy. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CSC organizes leadership series to improve competitiveness | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: http://web.csc.gov.ph | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best-selling author and leadership coach, Dr. Barry Posner led
the string of speakers who shared best practices in human
resource management and organization development during the
first in the series of leadership events organized by the Civil
Service Commission (CSC) held recently at the Asian Institute of
Management (AIM), Makati City. The Leadership Series aims to bring to fore the issue of upgrading the competence of the country’s human capital, specifically in the public sector. “The conduct of such events mirrors CSC’s dedication to develop people, empower agencies, and translate government services into drivers of citizen satisfaction. I believe that the reforms we have and continue to put in place are now working because this time, we are focusing on the development of the people in government,” said CSC Chairperson Francisco T. Duque III. The Human Capital Report released by the World Economic Forum in 2013 underscored that the key to the future of any country or any institution lies in the talent, skills and capabilities of its people. This is why countries are investing in developmental initiatives to capacitate their human capital as studies show its effects on productivity. For its part, the Philippines shows promise as it ranked 66th out of the 122 countries surveyed. It garnered top scores for the education and gender gap indicators as well as a strong 15th rank for economic participation. Aside from CSC Chairperson Duque and Dr. Posner, other resource speakers for the Leadership Series were Associate Director Cheryl Lim of the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (PEMANDU) of the Prime Minister’s Department of Malaysia; and Dr. Antonio C. Roldan Jr., lead consultant/workshop facilitator from the Department of Public Works and Highways. The Leadership Series will be held quarterly to gather public sector leaders and will serve as venue to provide them with updates and emerging trends in the field of human resource management, leadership and organization development. It is a learning and development intervention developed by the CSC’s external training arm, the Civil Service Institute (CSI), and is equivalent to eight (8) hours of credited leadership and management training for successful participants. For more information on succeeding events, please contact CSC’s CSI at telephone numbers  (02) 931-4182, (02) 931-8019, (02)
951-4724, (02) 951-2572, and (02) 931-8047, or email
training@webmail.csc.gov.ph. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GSIS commits responsive service to members, pensioners | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: http://www.gsis.gov.ph | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lucena City. The Government Service Insurance System headed by
President and General Manager Robert G. Vergara held a
consultation in this city as part of its efforts to engage with
and update its 1.8 million members and pensioners on the key
service breakthroughs the System implemented for the past four
years. "At the outset of this administration, the new GSIS promised to be more consultative, transparent and member-focused to regain our members' trust and confidence," Vergara said. Following a review of policies that were deemed unfriendly to the interests of members, the GSIS implemented key landmark policies for the greater benefit of its stakeholders. "We restored the survivorship benefit for the survivors of deceased members who are receiving income or pension from other institutions. This benefit is an earned right and should not be taken away." Vergara said that the restored benefit is applied retroactively to 2009. "Surviving pensioners whose pensions were previously suspended or denied, had their accrued pensions restored and computed retroactively." Another landmark policy is the cancellation of the requirement for old-age and disability pensioners to personally appear in GSIS offices to renew their active status. "Except for our pensioners based in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and abroad, our old-age and disability pensioners need not come to our offices anymore to renew their status for the continued receipt of their monthly pension." GSIS instead partnered with the National Statistics Office that will now determine the status of pensioners to provide greater convenience for its over 300,000 old-age pensioners. The pension fund also increased the minimum basic pension of more than 57,000 old-age and disability pensioners to Php5,000 in January 2013. Vergara further said that the pension fund replaced the notorious Claims and Loans Interdependency Policy or CLIP, where the outstanding loan balances of retiring members were unilaterally deducted from their separation or retirement benefits. "Under the Choice of Loan Amortization Schedule for Pensioners or CLASP, we are empowering our members by giving them a choice in settling their loan balances either in part or in whole through a restructured loan payable in equal installments over a period of three years." He added that members who are about to retire need not fear that their housing loan balance will be deducted from their retirement benefit as this can be settled through the Housing Loan Remedial and Restructuring Program. The program condones all unpaid penalties and surcharges and extends the payment terms. In July last year, GSIS also took the unprecedented step to lift the suspension of employees working in suspended agencies. "We believe that it's wrong for employees to suffer the consequence of their agencies' failure to pay the premiums and loan amortizations of their employees, when these are mandatorily deducted from their salaries." Suspended agencies can now choose from any of three options to restore the loan privileges of their employees: pay their premium delinquencies in full; or restructure their arrears and commit to settling these through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with GSIS; or upon payment of at least 90% of any three consecutive months' premium obligations beginning July 2013, sign an undertaking to enter into a MOA with GSIS for the settlement of its premium deficiencies. As a result, from 315 suspended agencies in 2010, only a little over 100 agencies remain suspended covering nearly 5,000 employees. Vergara informed the body that GSIS has become more efficient in posting and collecting members' premiums and loan payments. "Overall, posting and collection efficiency for social insurance premiums is at 100% and 91% for loans." In terms of financial standing, the pension fund chief told the nearly 500 dialogue participants that GSIS remains financially solid with total assets of over Php800 billion as of September 2014. Revenue which includes members contributions and earnings from investment has reached Php120 billion. "More importantly, the life of the fund is a healthy 34 years. This means that our members are assured that when they retire, GSIS will be there to pay their pension throughout the duration of their retired life." The pension fund continues to bring its services closer to its stakeholders by deploying nearly a thousand kiosks nationwide particularly, in provincial capitols, city and municipal offices, DepEd's district offices and selected Robinsons' malls. "We also launched a contact center that our members and pensioners can reach 24 hours, seven days a week. Add to that our 56 service desks in remote areas that our members can visit twice a week for their GSIS concerns." Vergara said that the service innovations the GSIS implemented over the past four years has earned an "excellent" rating under the Anti-Red Tape Act-Report Card Survey administered in 2014 by the Civil Service Commission. "From a failed rating in 2012, our customer service delivery performance improved to a "good" rating in 2013 and to an "excellent" rating this year." In closing, Vergara promised that the focus of GSIS will always be the interest of its members and pensioners. "We will continue to regain our members' trust and confidence, the only way we know how-- one policy at a time, one member and pensioner at a time and one day at a time." |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SSS cites Best Employer for NCR | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: https://www.sss.gov.ph | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Social Security System (SSS) President and Chief Executive
Officer Emilio de Quiros, Jr. (second from left) awarded J.C.
Food Corporation as the Top Employer for the NCR Group during
the Balikat ng Bayan Awards for the NCR Group Level held on
October 01, 2014 at the SSS Main Office in Quezon City. Other division winners were Goldwin Manufacturing Corporation for East/West Division, Kajima Philippines Inc. for South Division and J.C. Food Corporation for North Division. Photo also shows Social Security Commissioner Ibarra Malonzo (right), Vice President for NCR Division Jose Bautista (left), Assistant Vice President for NCR East/West Leticia Barbers (third from right), Assistant Vice President for NCR South Ma. Lourdes Flores (second from right) with (from left) J.C. Food Corporation Director Edna G. Chua, Magnolia Casimiro of Kajima Philippines Inc., and Goldwin Manufacturing Corporation Vice President for Finance Florida Go. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alcala, Villar lead BFAR’s TARGET Program launch | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: http://www.da.gov.ph | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala and Senate Chair for
Food and Agriculture Committee Cynthia Villar led the
commencement of the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) program aimed at
providing livelihood interventions to smallholder fishermen. The program dubbed as Targeted Actions to Reduce Poverty and Generate Economic Transformation (TARGET) in the Fishery Sector, launched in Tanza, Cavite on November 24, 2014, follows President Benigno S. Aquino’s social agenda of poverty alleviation and inclusive growth for sectors with high poverty incidence including the fishery sector. Secretary Alcala said that the fishery sector is vital in sustaining food security in the country, citing that it has produced 4.86 million metric tons of fishery and aquatic products valued at P237.7 billion in 2012. This represents 15.5 percent (%) of the total agriculture inputs in the same year. On the other hand, the National Statistics Coordinating Board reports that fishermen exhibited the highest poverty incidence at 39.9% among the nine basic sectors in the country. Moreover, BFAR data says that 1.7 million fisherfolk derive their livelihood, directly or indirectly from the fishery sector, majority of which belongs to the municipal fisheries sub-sector. Alcala said that the government aims to augment the income of poor fisher folk by at least 4% through the program. “I am optimistic that we can even surpass this under TARGET. We will directly identify what type of livelihood support will suit best a particular community and provide them necessary interventions like fish cages, seaweed farming, and seashells production,” continued Alcala. Under the program, 33,206 fisherfolk in 100 coastal communities listed under BFAR’s Fisherfolk Registration System (FishR) and National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTSPR) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will be provided for with livelihood assistance and aquaculture inputs. Aside from the livelihood component, TARGET will also focus on resource enhancement, resource management and protection, and post-harvest and marketing support. DA Undersecretary for Fisheries and BFAR Director Asis Perez said that among the issues BFAR hopes to address through the program is the illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which hurt the livelihood of fishers in the municipal waters. He added that this will be done through enhanced fishery law enforcement and reinforced regulatory activities. F or her part, Senator Villar expressed support to the new BFAR program, saying that she is now pushing for strengthened regulatory and enforcement functions of the agency through the Senate Bill 2414, which also aims to grant more stringent penalties to IUU fishing, particularly of commercial deep sea fishing vessels. She added that with higher penalties and sanctions, BFAR is expected to collect around P1 billion a year which will be used for strengthening the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils (FARMCs), capacity-building of smallholder fishers, establishment of shared facilities, and scholarship. (Catherine Nanta, DA-AFID) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PDIC inks cross-border cooperation agreement with Thailand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: http://www.pdic.gov.ph | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) and the
Deposit Protection Agency of Thailand (DPA) signed a memorandum
of understanding (MOU) to strengthen the cross-border
partnership between the two deposit insurance agencies. The MOU
was signed by PDIC President Cristina Q. Orbeta and DPA
President Sorasit Soontornkes on November 20, 2014 at the PDIC
Office in Makati City. The signing of the MOU aims to promote cooperation and collaboration between the PDIC and the DPA, as well as to facilitate effective information-sharing that would help develop and enhance the effectiveness of the deposit insurance systems of the Philippines and Thailand. The MOU provides for the sharing of knowledge, expertise and experience; conduct of study visits, trainings, seminars and bilateral meetings; and assistance on technical inquiries and cross-border issues between the two agencies. Both the PDIC and DPA are members of the International Association of Deposit Insurers (IADI) and the MOU will enable both agencies to further enhance their compliance with the IADI Core Principles for Effective Deposit Insurance Systems, specifically the Core Principle on cross-border issues. PDIC President Orbeta expressed optimism over the cross-border partnership and hoped that the two deposit insurance agencies would be able to fully implement the terms of MOU. She also looked forward to activities and initiatives that would further strengthen cooperation and understanding on a bilateral basis. DPA President Soontornkes stressed that the agreement between the deposit insurance agencies presented a good opportunity for the exchange of knowledge, experiences and information that will enhance the organizational efficiency and effectiveness of PDIC and DPA. The partnership with DPA is the fifth cross-border agreement that the PDIC has embarked on since 2013. The Corporation has cross-border cooperation agreements with its counterparts from Japan, USA, Malaysia and Korea. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No comments:
Post a Comment